vancouverdeb attempts to read in 2015 thread 3

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The picture above is one of the places where I walk Poppy, our dog. Sorry the picture is so big, but I'm not good at resizing pictures.

Welcome to my new thread - please drop a star!

January
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Bannerman 4 stars
As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley 4.5 stars
Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively 3.5 stars

February
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers 4.24 stars
After The War Is Over: A Novel by Jennifer Robson 3.3 stars
Washington Square by Henry James 3.5 stars
The Vanishing Act Of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell 4 stars
A Fine Summer's Day: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery by Charles Todd 3.8 stars

March
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins 4 stars
A Test Of Wills: The First Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery by Charles Todd 3.8 stars
Aren't We Sisters by Patricia Ferguson 4.25 stars

April
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler 4.5 stars
And No Birds Sang by Farley Mowat 4 stars
The Midwife's Daughter by Patricia Ferguson 3.8 stars
The Evening Chorus by Helen Humphreys 3.7 stars
Leaving Tomorrow by David Bergen 4 stars
El Deafo by Cece Bell 3.3 stars

May
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert 3.5 stars
The Farm by Tom Rob Smith 4.3 stars
Inside the O'Briens: A Novel by Lisa Genova 4 stars
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah 5 stars *

June
The Crossing Places: A Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths 3.6 stars
Our Souls at Night: A novel by Kent Haruf 4.5 stars
The Janus Stone: A Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths 4 stars

July
The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths 4 stars
A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths 4 stars

August
A Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths 4 stars
Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans 4.3 stars
The Illuminations by Andrew O'Hagan 4. 3 stars

Happy New Thread, Deb. What a gorgeous photo with all those lupines.

David Bergen is a Canadian author who has won the Giller Prize and has been shortlisted for other Can Lit prizes, so I was eager to read his new book, Leaving Tomorrow. I have read a couple of his other novels and very much enjoyed them. Leaving Tomorrow did not disappoint.

This is a coming of age story. Young Arthur is born into an interesting family. His mother is of the Mennonite faith, though this aspect does not figure prominently in the story. Mom Doreen is a nurse and a practical , strong person. Dad is a non- Mennonite man, a rancher and a keen reader. Arthur grows up in small town called Tomorrow, which is south of Calgary, Alberta. He is small of stature, intelligent , curious and more than a bit of a dreamer. Arthur's older brother, Bev, is an angry fellow who usually chooses to act rather than think.

Arthur is interested in the life of Gustave Flaubert , among other authors, so at the age of 19, he arranges to go to France for a year. There he tutors a young boy in the English Language, while pursuing his romantic dreams of living in France.

David Bergen is a wonderful writer , and fills out each character fully and sensitively. Arthur's adopted cousin , Isobel, arrives in France and observes to Arthur: " You're pale and thin and diminished. This is not you. If you want to be true to yourself, Arthur, if you want to tell a true story, it is not the story of a young artist who comes to Paris, and finds a lover and visits the haunts of famous dead writers. That is trite. Your story is back home". page213

A wonderful and hopeful story of the maturing of a young man.

4 stars.

Thank you Barbara, for visiting my thread and you are first! :)

Yes, the lupines, which are not yet in bloom are really gorgeous! They bloom later in the spring and summer as wild plant. It is really a gorgeous place!

Hi Deborah - Happy new thread. I love the lupine. Nice review of Leaving Tomorrow. Lots of good reading here. Have a great Sunday.

Happy New Thread, Deborah! What a lovely picture!! Is that a park bench in the background? I think I'll mosey on over with my book and read there for a bit. Have a great Sunday!

Happy Sunday, Deb! Happy New Thread! Love the gorgeous topper. It's a beauty.

Good review of Leaving Tomorrow. Sounds interesting.

Happy new thread Deborah!

Happy new thread, Deborah! I also like the sound of Leaving Tomorrow :-)

Happy new thread, Deb. What a gorgeous photo opener! And thumb up for your wonderful review of Leaving Tomorrow. Bergen's name is familiar to me … ah, just came from his author's page. I'd read The Matter with Morris a few years ago, which I enjoyed.

Happy new thread, Deb! Love the lupines up top. Hope you're having a good weekend.

Happy New Thread!

Hi Deb, love the photo at the top of your new thread my dear, I just love Lupins.

Leaving tomorrow sounds great. Gorgeous picture too.

@8 Beth - I think I've been reading rather slowly this year, but yes, enjoying my reads very much.

@ 9 Yes, there a benches in the park and along the trail. I tend not to use to often as there is often bird poop on them :) As the weather grows nicer, that is less of a problem , Lynda.

@10 Mark, there is never a shortage of wonderful toppers when I look for a picture from the Vancouver area. This one just happens to be about a mile from my home. Loved your review of Aquarium.

@11 Thanks Heather! Let's hope this thread will have lots of good reads!

@12 Susan, thanks! Do give Leaving Tomorrow a try! I did really enjoy it.

@13 Thanks Nancy! I've not read The Matter With Morris, but I read The Time in Between and The Age of Hope , the latter of which I really loved and reviewed. It might have even been a 5 star read for me.

@14 Joe, yes , fine weekend it has been! I'm quite keen on Lupines myself.

@15 Thanks Amber! Always a fair bit of work to start a new thread , it seems to me.

@16 Hi John . I hope you and Karen has a wonderful weekend too!

@17Charlotte, you are such a fast reader , you could probably gobble up Leaving Tomorrowvery quickly!

I also read the graphic novel, El Deafo, which I enjoyed. An interesting memoir of a Cece, a young girl who becomes deaf due to menigitis and her struggles to fit in with her classmates and accept her loss of hearing and adapt to the various types of hearing aids that were offered to her.

Stopping by to get caught up with things happening in your world Deb and love your review of Evening Chorus back on your previous thread. It is always hard when a book starts out great and then kind of loses it by the end.

You are on quite the reading roll! Wahoo!

Nice new thread and glad that you enjoyed El Deafo. Great new thread topper, great picture at the top.

>20 vancouverdeb: I do love the cover of this. Surely tempting lots of readers in :-)

Gasp! What a striking thread topper. Lucky you and Poppy getting to walk in that beautiful area.

Happy new thread, Deb. What a beautiful place to go for walks with Poppy!

Great review of Leaving Tomorrow which I've just added to my OWL.

Yah, for El Deafo! I really enjoyed that one too, Deb. I am so glad you like to dip into a GN, now and then.

Happy Lone Ranger!

>19 vancouverdeb:, We had a lovely weekend thank you Deborah, the only thing is that it seems to pass by so quickly.

There you are, Deborah :) Wow, what a place to walk the dog.

Leaving Tomorrow sounds very interesting. As said, I love coming of age stories. I better keep a note on that one.

OK, here's pure joy:

@21 Yes, Lori, I'd say I'm a slow but on a good roll of reading, :) How is the herb garden? I'll to stop by your thread and have a look - see!

@22 I did enjoy El Deafo, Mary. It was interesting to realize that it was a memoir and not just a story. I'd never heard of the "phonic ear" , but a very interesting story.

@23 Charlotte, talk about tempting - you and your thread with the reviews of books from the Guardian newspaper! Oh so tempting! El Deafo is a graphic novel that has been making the rounds here on LT!

@24 It is a lovely place to walk with Poppy, though we do vary our routes each day. And today, Donna, today the conditions are " misty" which means the end of my nicely straightened hair. Sighs to self!

@25 Always glad to send a book bullet, Caro! Thanks for visiting!

@26 Mark, I dip into a graphic novel a lot more often if my library carried them. I had to ask about El Deafo and the librarian looked quite puzzled and it arrived as a " childrens comic." My library does not seem to have a lot graphic novels, more Manga Comics, or whatever they area.

@27 The weekends do seem to pass quickly , yes John. For me, my husband works 4 on, 4 off so I'm more attuned to his days on and off - which does not create a lot of weekends :)

@28 Ah Carsten such a smile ! Such a joyous pair, Charlie Brown and Snoopy - let's hope Poppy is in a happy Snoppy mood for her walk today! :) I am sure that you would enjoy Leaving Tomorrow - do keep an eye our for it!

Happy new thread, Debbie!

Looks like you've been doing some wonderful reading as well. A book set close to Calgary has to go on my list. I'll have to check to see if my library has a copy of Leaving Tomorrow. He would be a new to me author, but I love checking out Canadian talent. :)

>28 ctpress: hehe, just LOVE Carsten's Pure Joy! Here's some more for you, Deb, in the tulips, LOL:

@ Valerie, do try Leaving Tomorrow. I think you would like it. I'm not entirely sure that there is a place called Tomorrow ;) south of Calgary - but yes, it mainly based in Alberta. But happily for me, the main character, Arthur is born in BC - but he and his family don't stay in BC for long. Not sure what there issue was - house prices?;0 but the family based themselves in Tomorrow AB. David Bergen lives in Winnipeg - and I think he's a quite an excellent writer.

@31 Ah, Nancy, now colourful joy! Poppy and I are just back from our " Chi Walk " which is not so chi when you stoop and scoop and met a lot of other dogs! :) But it's fun and friendly!

What beautiful lupines, Deb. They will probably be up sooner this year as isn't it already late spring? The bears seem to think so.

LOL, thanks for the morning chuckle on Chi Scooping, Deb!

@33 Meg, yes I think the lupines will be up sooner then later this year, it has been an early spring this year. Yesterday while I was out walking the dog, I wished I'd put on capri's or shorts, it was so warm! Today is a little cooler. Thankfully I've no bears to fear in my neck of the woods!

@34 Perhaps I could write a book on Chi Dogwalking, Nancy. And of course the art of Chi Scooping and walking with the specimen in hand until you find a garbage can!

I've set myself the task of reading Madame Bovary and I'm about 150 pages in. And a task it is. Perhaps Gustave Flaubert can turn a lovely phrase and spent 4 1/2 years writing Madame Bovary but it is lost on me. ;0 Here is the edition I am reading - at least the cover is kind of pretty.



I've set myself to the task of reading 50 pages per day and today I should get to page 200 of 400 pages. LOL! The reason I decided to read Madame Bovary is because in Leaving Tomorrow by David Bergen referenced , Madame Bovary and the The Letters of Gustave Flaubert several times, as well as few other books. Don't let that put you off reading Leaving Tomorrow but I needed to understand Madame Bovary , though it's not needed at all to read Leaving Tomorrow. I think David Bergen referenced those works because the life of Gustave Flaubert was one which the character of Arthur wished to try to living, in a small way , when Arthur went to Paris in the hopes of expanding his horizon. I'm sure that there is more to it, but let me continue reading Madame Bovary. So far I'm just reading it like it is assignment which it is and I'm just reading my prescribed pages each day . It's wordy as heck, but the topic matter is very dry.

For my reward each day, I've been watching an episode of Call The Midwife , which I've purchased Season 1 and 2 and now 3 for my watching pleasure. My husband and the dog do not much like CTM due to all the moaning and screaming of the pregnant women. For the record I was a calm and silent mom to my two sons. Truthfully when I had my first son , the labour and delivery area was chock full of 5 or 6 women in close proximity and I said to my husband in one of my lucid moments - It's like a bunch of screaming banshees in here. It really was - but somehow the anesthetist did not get up with pain epidurals for hours, I think because it was a Saturday night in December and I suspect he was at a Christmas Party. sighs to self.

Hi Deborah! Yes, those personal birthing stories stay etched in our brains forever and EVER!!! I've really enjoyed CTM and am coming to it late like you!

Happy New Thread! I love your photo topper. What a beautiful place to walk with your dog!

Glad you are enjoying CTM, Deb. It will never let you down. Your doggy is missing a very fine show. What's a little screaming anyway?

@37 Mary, isn't that the truth! Our personal birth stories will definitely stay etched in our brains for ever! It's nice to come to CTM late and then be able to binge on the shows! :)

@ Thanks Carrie! It really is beautiful here! At least I think so! No where more beautiful in the world!

@39 Poppy just kind or cries a bit , or runs and hides. She is getting used to it now. LOL! What's a little screaming anyway? Last night I had the patio door open because we had a very warm day. I hardly wanted the neighbours to wonder what is going on at our place! ;)

Gosh, well done with Madam Bovary. Have you come across the book (and film) Tamara Drewe? A bit more my level I think - was also serialized before publication http://www.theguardian.com/books/cartoon/2005/sep/17/tamara-drewe-1
(edited to add - key point - based on the Mme Bovary story)

I do the very same thing you are doing with Madame Bovary when I really want to read something but the material is dense, or taxing, or whatever: I assign myself 50 pp a day.

LOVED Call the Midwife. Apparently it is not to Dave and Poppy's taste? LOL! Here's to anesthesiologists and Christmas parties and screaming banshees. You do have a line, Deb!

We have just binged on the Marie's Mind for Murder. It is a German production (very fun and clever and well done) and I asked the library to purchase it and they did. I LOVE THE LIBRARY! So it is 10 x 90 minute episodes (800 plus minutes) to view in a week. The library gives the whole thing at once. Yikes. We did it though and loved it. OK, square eyes the only repercussion.

Way to go for setting achievable goals for yourself, Deb. Madame Bovary is a classic that I haven't read yet. I tend to space those books out in my readings because they aren't my favourites..ha!

@ Charlotte, I'll have to have a closer look at the publication by Tamara Drewe. Thanks for the link!

@42 Reading Madame Bovary is not as bad as I thought at the start. Yes, it's wordy and dense and fairly boring, but there are a few bits that actually interest me! On page 200 and will be on page 250 later tonight! Bonus - it turns out there are only just over 300 pages to the book! You know me, Nancy, as far as labour etc I call it as I sees it! ;) Very glad I did not have to call the midwives. :) An epidural is the only way to go. Would you get your teeth pulled out the "natural way" ie no anesthesia? Not me , especially after the 30 hours sans epidural in the case of my first son.

@43 - Mary, I'll have to look into Marie's Mind for Murder. The library is fabulous, but I think the DVD's can only be borrowed for 3 days, and I can't binged on the CTM that heavily.

@ 44 Valerie, I just pretend I'm back at school and make myself read stuff I don't really like in a manageable way. It's really not that bad, Madame Bovary. I can tell you that I disliked Atonement by Ian McEwan far more and The Thousand Autumns by David Mitchell much more.

Aside from the fact that Madame Bovary is really quite boring, LOL , it is interesting to understand that Gustave Flaubert is " the father of the modern novel " that is to say that he tried to write a novel that was not moralistic and full of preaching , like so many of his day . It's interesting to think that when it was published people were scandalized! Goodness sakes, I read far worse in my Harlequin Romance days in my early teens! I suppose it helps that I am not expecting to enjoy it and so when I get some entertainment value out of Madame Bovary I am quite pleased! :)

That said, I still have 100 pages to read, so perhaps I have yet to be scandalized! :)

Hi, Deb! Hope your week has been going well. If you can find a copy of H is for Hawk, snatch up that baby. It is quite a read.

>20 vancouverdeb: Hello and Happy Day to you! I am adding this book to my tbr pile. There are two little girls who are our neighbors, and both are hearing impaired. The older child was misdiagnosed and spent her first few years struggling. Both girls wear hearing aids and are very good about keeping them in and not losing them.

Ashlee, the older girl is making great progress in second grade. She went from starting at a level which was one class behind to closing the gap to 1/2 year behind. She is making great progress.

Very interesting, Deb: Gustave Flaubert is " the father of the modern novel " that is to say that he tried to write a novel that was not moralistic and full of preaching , like so many of his day . It's interesting to think that when it was published people were scandalized! Think I read this at the time I was reading Bovary, but I'd forgotten. Yes, she is a scandalous woman, LOL!

@46 Mark, yes the week is going well. I'll keep a look out at the library for H is for Hawk.

@47 Hi Stasia! Yes, do see if you can find El Deafo. It is interesting to know that one of the girls next to you was initially misdiagnosed. In the story the little was also not diagnosed for a few months after losing her hearing and was misunderstood too. I am happy to hear that both girls are doing well.

@48 It is really interesting to think that back in the day people actually read Madame Bovary perhaps as we might read Fifty Shades of Gray - disclaimer I have not read the second book!;) and be entertained but also perhaps somewhat aghast . Meanwhile I read it as a dry old classic. Interesting indeed, in a lot of ways.

>49 vancouverdeb: and >48 lit_chick: Are people really scandalized by Fifty Shades of Grey? I don't feel scandalized, but I suppose my mom might be. :)

I have a friend who has (more than once) read Madame Bovary for its "erotica". So apparently it has its charm still. Haven't read it myself.

Happy weekend!

A girl :)

Happy Saturday Deb! Love love your opening photo!

I know you love the royals, Deb and I thought of you when I was reading articles of the very recent addition to their family. So beautiful. Kate never ceases to me amaze at how put together she looks (and yes I know she probably has a crew of people to help...but STILL!!). Now for the name...hmmmm. ;)

Are you on the next flight to GB?

@49 Rachel, I'm not sure if people are actually " scandalized by 50 Shades of Gray but I know that I have no interest in it, nor does anyone that I know in real life. ( or at least they are not admitting to it! ;) That said, I don't mind at all if others want to read Fifty Shades of Gray for enjoyment or curiosity. Despite being married for nearly 32 years ( child bride :) , and having 2 children - perhaps I could have also been a nun! LOL!

@51 Carsten, I just knew you were hanging out outside the Lindo wing for the past 2 plus weeks with the Royal Fanatics! Just last night when I was getting ready to go to bed a friend of mine put a notice on my facebook page -" she's in labour." I kid you not, back when Diana and Charles got married in the middle of the night and I was the same age as Diana, my sisters , my mom and several of my friends all stayed up for the excitement. I was on holiday in the Okanagon when Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew got married and I watched that wedding on a really crappy black and white tv in a beach side hotel. When Diana died, I was at a party with about 30 plus people and most of stopped conversing and eating once we heard the news that Diana had been in an accident and most of us sat glued to the TV. So yes, I am a royal watcher. I really did not think it was going to be a girl -but oh the name - I'm hoping for Charlotte and not Alice but I'll get used to whatever it is.

@52 Happy Saturday, Chelle! Hope you are having a wonderful day!

@53 What! Even you know that I love the Royals! I thought I only teased poor Carsten and sometimes Nancy about my love of the Royals. :) I can't believe she had the baby so quickly and left the hospital the same day ! Personally I would have loved to leave the hospital the day I gave birth, but it seems no one would let you do that back in the day. With Daniel, I had him on a Sunday and because it was a difficult labour, my GP wanted me to stay til the following Friday! I tried to bargain for Tuesday , but ended up feeling forced to stay til Wednesday! I agree, Kate looks so put together and so well , even if she does have a team of people to help her. Yes, the name! I think to name the baby Diana would be a terrible mistake - too much to live up to and too much to live down with that name. My kids had names as soon as they were born, but my brother and his wife took sometimes a week to hammer something out Can't wait to know the name, Valerie!

@LOL! Oh Mary! You are so funny! If I was not flying phobic I might just be on a flight to GB!! As it is I try to convince Carsten to take on Royal Press duties for the UK royalty, but despite my persuasive powers, Casten politely stays in Denmark to cover the news there. :)

So I finished Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. It was not as bad as I expected. Not as dry and densely boring as I expected. Maybe that helps. It had a lot of boring bits and lot of words for nothing, I thought, but overall, not too bad. It was not even that depressing , but then I came in with low expectations, so I think that helped. I think what was most interesting for me is understanding that Gustave Flaubert was one of the first authors who tried to write a realistic book - that is, one without much/ any moralizing or judgement. So I was able to appreciate that . The story itself had a few page turning moments, but not a lot. As for it being "racy" , not all for this reader. Nothing at all is explicit . Madame Bovary's affairs were more or less confined to words such " she gave herself in the garden" or the like. No " sweaty sex" as Mark has coined for books like Hausfrau. So I was pleasantly surprised. Not a book I would say to someone - oh give it a read, you'll love it , because it's actually really boring. That said, it was better then I expected and I'll give it 3. 5 stars because it was moderately interesting and I'm happy with myself for reading a classic! ;) I'm still interested in Gustave Flaubert as person, but not so much his works.

Enjoyed and share your thoughts on Madame Bovary, Deb. Think I gave it 3.5* too. Like you, I can appreciate Gustav for his work in bringing the modern novel to life. Also did not find it racy.

>49 vancouverdeb: Rachel, wouldn't say I found Fifty Shades racy … it was quick, chick-litish entertainment. I was curious. Read the three of them in a heartbeat, and haven't thought much about them since.

Glad it was better than expected. Serious bragging rights re having read such an influential novel!

Happy Sunday, Deb. I have never read Madame Bovary. Disappointed there is not any "sweaty sex". What?? I will get to it one of these days.

What are you reading next?

@57 Nancy, certainly there is nothing racy about Madame Bovary. It's more of a plodder, just better than expected, which is always wonderful!

@ 58 Yes, Charlotte, it is nice to read an " influential novel " every now and then. What led me to reading Madame Bovary was my previous read, Leaving Tomorrow by David Bergen, a noted Canadian author.

@59 Happy Sunday to you. No, no sweaty sex, the wonderful word that you have coined, but you could get through in no time. 300 +pages and not to bad at all. Thanks again for reading Hausfrau which one review stated was a cross between Madame Bovary and 50 Shades of Gray. Now I know to skip it , since you found it both depressing and full of sweaty sex.

As for what book is next, I've not quite settled on that as yet . I think it's between The Nightingale , which just came in from the library, Girl Runner , a book by a Canadian author, or maybe my Murder and Mayhem May book, Wings of Fire . I'm quite interested in reading the new book by Kate Atkinson , God in Ruins , which I was going to pre - order, but I've read some good reviews, some not so good, so I think I'm going to look for the book in a store and decide from there.

Good in you for persevering and finishing the book Deb! Oh I'll be interested to see your through on The Nightingale since I am quite partial towards Hannah.

I loved the fact that Kate was able to leave the same day. They don't let you do that today either unless maybe if you delivered with a midwife.

Lovely new thread Deb. I must say Poppy is one lucky pooch to get to walk those paths regularly!

Yes, I don't remember too much sweaty stuff in Flaubert. I do remember it being pretty stuffy though. His Sentimental Education is particularly heavy going as I recall.

@61 Hi Valerie! I've never read a book by Kristin Hannah before, so I'm glad that you enjoy her works. I kept seeing The Nightingale in Chapters and it has had a lot of buzz from Chapters - so I put a hold on it at the library and it finally came in. Yes, I think that most often they want to keep you for 24 hours just to be certain your baby does not develop jaundice and that mom is doing well. But I imagine Kate has a nurse or midwife who would be quite happy to keep an eye on that as she rests at Kensington Palace and eventually Anmer Hall. Oh to have a nanny and baby nurse for the nights. And a cook and gardener and someone do my hair and makeup! Not a lot of privacy though.

@Poppy is a lucky dog indeed, Paul. She out off leash with her pals and on leash too. She does have a rather good life! Yes Paul, Flaubert was more stuffy than racy by a long shot. I think a lot of car commercials ( just saw one ) are a lot more sexed up than Madame Bovary . :)

Currently 120 pages into The Farm by Tom Rob Smith and quite enjoying it. I'm quite sure Valerie and Mark enjoyed it , as did my sister, so when I saw it the library a day ago, I grabbed it for May Murder and Mayhem.

Happy Friday, Tonto! Hope you had a good week. I was a big fan of the Farm. Good choice. I plan on reading A God in Ruins this month.

@ Happy Friday, Lone Ranger! Yes, I'm enjoying the week! Nice sunny weather , supposed to be in the 70's F today and over the weekend. Do let me know what you think of A God In Ruins as I've been to read that too.

>64 vancouverdeb: Looks interesting - had not come across this at all, although his name seems familiar (maybe just from the library shelves though). I'll be popping back to see what you think, of course.

I hope you are enjoying your time with The Farm Deb! Tom Rob Smith is perfect for May M&M. I listened to it on audio and of course you know how much I liked it. :)

@67 Charlotte, I suspect that you know the name Tom Rob Smith. He has written quite a few psychological thrillers, the most well -known being Child 44 , which was long listed for the Booker Prize and has won quite few prizes. He is the author of The Farm. It is the first book I have read by Tom Rob Smith but wow, it's a ride! :)

@68 I'm enjoying The Farm very much , Valerie! What a gripping book. At this point in time - about 2/3 through the story, I am not sure what to think of Tilde vs Chris. What a lot of fun!

Hi Deb, I wish you a lovely weekend.

I gave Madame Bovary 3.5 stars myself when I read it five years ago. It was my choice for our book club. Our facilitator at that time was a college English Professor. It was one of his favorite books and he made me see it through his professory eyes. Boy, my spell-check does not like that word! Anyway, it was an okay read and I'm glad it's behind me. I hope your weekend is going great, Deborah.

@70 Thanks Barbara for the lovely picture! Yes, we are having a lovely weekend here! Almost to0 warm for me! No breeze and it's about 23 C or about 75 F .

@71 That is about how I feel, Donna. Madame Bovary was an okay read, but I am glad that it is behind me. I've read a few notes of Madame Bovary on line , so I have a wee idea of how it might be viewed by proffersory eyes! Yes, the weekend is going nicely , just a wee bit warm for my tastes

Thanks Mark! I did have wonderful Mother's Day . Last Sunday my younger son and his finance incited us to his condo and the two of them made us dinner , complete with a yummy Mother's Day Chocolate Cake! :) They invited our older son too, which was really nice. This is just the second time I have been to William's condo and it is really lovely. Serenade is gradually adding her touch too, and come mid July , they will be married.

Last night William and his fiance dropped to give me a bowl of home made shortbread cookies that said " MOM" , so that was lovely.

Today I also had to go the dentist, which always me so anxious I have to down a tranquillizer, so I've been asleep for most of the day. NO cavities! :)

Finished The Farm by Tom Rob Smith. What a fabulous psychological thriller. It is from the library, but my husband is going to see if it is to his taste and maybe read it too. It is seldom that we share a love / like of the same sort of book, so we will see. But I'd highly recommend The Farm to anyone who likes a psychological thriller. It's very well told and I think much better then the The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. One thing to be prepared for is that for a large portion of the book, mom Tilde tells her story to her son about what she has seen and experienced in Sweden. Daniel's mom and dad headed for Sweden from England to retire in small cottage in rural Sweden, but soon things go wrong and mother Tilde is certified as mentally ill in Sweden, but it let go by the authorities. She flees back to England in the hopes that her son Daniel will believe her. Meanwhile, Tilde's husband tells Daniel a different story. Which person do you believe? Daniel sets out to try to find the truth. An excellent read . 4. 3 stars .

I have just started Inside the O'Briens: A Novel by Lisa Genova. I could not resist purchasing it in the store, for $20 . Bargain! :) It is the story of man who discovers he has Huntington's Chorea . I'm only a few pages in, but it seems to be an enjoyable and interesting read. I have not read Still Alice by the same author, because I read Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healy, both of which are about dementia / Alzheimers.. so this is my first read by author Lisa Genova. Quite keen on it!

How nice to be able to talk about your book with your partner if he likes it...
(edited to make the sentence make sense: sorry Deb!)

Hi, Deb! I am so glad you enjoyed the Farm. I was a big fan too. I managed to snag an audio copy of Inside the O'Briens, so I will be watching closely for your final thoughts.

I think you might like Wolf Winter.

Deb, so glad you had a lovely Mother's Day : ).

Woot! The Farm does sound just like my cuppa, if I ever get finished in my house, LOL! Hope you will enjoy Inside the O'Briens. Loved Still Alice by Genova.

>77 charl08: Ha! I'm not certain half of my dashed off comments make sense, Charlotte, so nothing to worry about there. But yes, I will be interested in whether my husband likes The Farm. I'm a bit concerned that the initial narrative with just the mom, Tilde, speaking about her experiences may go to slow for Dave's liking. But I can hope!

>78 msf59: Mark, yes I very much did enjoy The Farm. I have Wolf Winter out of the library - in fact I made a request to purchase it. However, I'm wondering if it might be to dark for my liking. I recall how dark Burial Rites by Hannah Kent was, though it was interesting.

>79 lit_chick: Ah! The domino effect when it comes to home renovations. When I was at my son's place, Serenade mentioned changing the paint colour, but then went onto say they'd have to change the flooring and the cupboards etc and , well, you know how that goes! :) Their place is new and great looking already, so no need for any renos! I think The Farm would be your cuppa, Nancy. I'm not sure I expressed myself to well in my quick comments, but it was a very well done psychological thriller -and sort of " Scandicrime.". While the son lives in London, the real action takes places in rural and deserted Sweden. The author is of British and Swedish parentage. It's looking very good for Inside the O'Briens.

I think Wolf Winter and Burial Rites, have a similar tone and of course, both are historical. I hope you give it a try.

I will give Wolf Winter a try , Mark. I've got at home from the library and if I don't get to it this time round, there is always next time. I have a quite few books vying for my attention. Nice review of Wolf Winter on your thread.

>80 vancouverdeb: I'm definitely sold on The Farm. Onto the WL! Thanks, Deb.

Oh, Serenade, I completely understand changing paint and then this and then that. Do not put the process in motion in a brand new condo! I'll bet it's lovely!

I was a whole thread behind, Deborah, and now I'm not!
What a lot of good reading you're doing! Congratulations for powering through *Mdm. B*. I try, but I just can't force 50 pp a day of *Reformation*, and I really am interested in it. Maybe I should be watching *CtM* as a reward?

A good psychological thriller with some Scandinavian flair to it. Thanks for digging that up, Deborah. Or maybe I should wait on Dave's analysis?

Deb, so glad The Farm hit the right notes with you. Smith does a great job of leading you down one path and then blindsiding you with a totally unexpected turn of events.
It was also a book that I told my hubby about and he stayed up late a few ones to finish it and he is not a reader. :)

@83 Nancy , good to know I've sold you The Farm . I think you'll really enjoy it! As for Serenade, I'm pretty sure they won't put the process in motion. Already the two of them went to $$$$ store and had a handmade grey wood table made for them and 6 fabric covered chairs. That matches the granite counter tops and I think they will be able to leave the rest of it alone - except for maybe the new couches when Serenade moves in after they marry and who knows what sort of headboard etc they will feel that they " need."

@ Lizzie, I suggest a reward for 50 pages a day of a very dense book . CTM - yes , maybe a good idea, though it eats up even more time! :)

>85 ctpress: Carsten, I suggest The Farm for you. I think you would enjoy it. You could wait to Dave's" analysis" , but so far he says " where are the colourful characters, where is the humour? It's okay, just a drama ." Dave likes authors that move along pretty quickly, only mysteries of thrillers, no former army guy books , because he feels there is just too much endless shooting in those.

@>Valerie, The Farm has to be very good for both of hour husbands to actually read! Okay , off to walk the dog! Story of my life! Back later!

>82 vancouverdeb: I have Wolf Winter waiting at the library for me. Yahoo.

> Mary, I hope you are enjoying Wolf Winter! It looks to be very dark!

>89 vancouverdeb: HI Deborah, I havent' picked it up yet. I am juggling with books that need to be read before I pick up more. Oh the pressure! I am reading The Big Fat Surprise about how saturated fats are A.o.k.. Fine by me, I LOVE cheese. It's a bit disconcerting that we are "fed" the info that big business wants us to accept so we will buy their products. Food sales are BIG MONEY. Nutrition science seems very flaky and biased and shall we say corrupt or results interpreted on some very small studies with few individuals followed . Yikes. What will I have for breakfast?

Happy Friday, Tonto! Hope you have a nice weekend planned, with plenty of reading on the agenda.

>90 mdoris: Mary, I know just what you mean, trying to juggle our books! I'd agree with you, that the information that we get about food certainly varies from year to year and decade to decade. A bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, maybe? Or is that not gluten free, or too carb loaded? What is the glycemic index?

>91 msf59: Mark, it is warm here . Yes, a nice weekend planned. My husband is of course working tomorrow , so that is that for our long weekend. However , I think Dave and I have worked out which portable air conditioner we are going to purchase and then it is one of of son's birthdays, so we will have to sort out a day to celebrate. I'm sure I will sneak a bit of reading in. I am really enjoying Inside the O'Briens - it is turning into a page turner. Really an interesting read.

Hi Deb, I wish you a wonderful weekend.

Hi Deborah, hope you are having a lovely Saturday my dear, sending love and hugs.

>93 Ameise1: Such beautiful flowers , Barbara! You brightened my Saturday already! Thank you!

>94 johnsimpson: Hi John! I hope you and Karen are having a lovely weekend too! It's nice and sunny and warm here.

Hi Deb, I wish you a relaxed weekend.

Thank you Barbara, for lovely blooms!

Everyone, I am still here, and I've finished two books, Inside The O'Briens , and The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I'll say more about them when I get a chance.

Right now I am busy with wedding preparations for my son and his finance, and also, my husband suffered a torn retina over the weekend. We have been back and forth from Vancouver General Hospital twice on Saturday and on Tuesday, Dave goes back to see another ophthalmologist specialist and again on Wednesday. Then we will see how many more times he has to be seen. Dave had a torn retina in the opposite eye late last fall, so we are familiar with the process, - they use lasering to repair the tear if caught at an early stage . But each appointment is very time consuming - driving into VGH and the appointments tend to run about 3 hours. So all will be fine, but I'm sure my husband and I will be happy to get this behind us and get on with normal life.

Thanks for visiting!

Morning Deb! Sorry, to hear about your husband's eye issues. I hope they get this under control, quickly. Keep us updated.

Do we have a TC game going? I have not checked yet today...

Look forward to hearing about your books - and sorry about the stress of your husband's eye problems. That does not sound fun.

Greetings Deb! So sorry to read of your husbands torn retina. Of all times, right!? Hope it's at an early stage and all can be mended.
Keep calm and carry on, everything will work out.

Morning, Deb, sorry to hear Dave has a torn retina. I do remember when he had same last fall, opposite eye. Sounds painful, though I don't know much about this process. What causes it? Best to you both. I'm sure you'll be glad to be done with the appts and back to normal.

Hi Deborah, very sorry to hear about Dave's eye challenges. Hope the mending is easy and fast! Not fun all that traveling to appointments and waiting. I'm interested what you will say to Nancy as I don't know much about a torn retina. I saw your 5 stars for The Nightingale and put in on reserve at the library. Thanks! Speedy recovery for your guy.

Hi deb, sorry to hear of your husbands torn retina, hope it can be sorted out ok my dear, sending love and hugs.

Oh, what bad timing indeed, Deborah. That must put a strain on both of you. hope things will get back to normal soon.

First of all I'll just explain a bit about retinal tears/ detachment since so many asked. Here is a link. http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/eye-health-retinal-detachment#1

The main risk factors are family history of retinal detachment, extreme nearsightness , and an eye injury and of course, increasing age. There are other factors like diabetes, untreated glaucoma etc, but the first ones I think the biggest contributors. A retinal tear, as Dave has had, is the beginning of retinal detachment, which if not caught quickly lead to loss of vision, or partial loss of vision. Once the tear has progressed to a detachment, one needs surgery within about 24 hours to preserve vision. A detachment can happen very quickly so that one does not have time to repair the tear ,one can an immediate detachment. In my husband's case, he has a family history of retinal detachment ( his dad, who had surgically repaired successfully). Dave also is extremely nearsighted. Coincidentally, as Dave has been going back and forth to Vancouver General Hospital Dave's older brother just had a small retinal tear repaired in Ontario. This time round there is not a tear, but Dave's vitreous tore away from his retina. It all looks okay, but he has to go back in another two weeks to make sure a tear to his retina has not started, but so far, so good - it just ate up a lot of time .

So for now, we are quite optimistic that it will not tear .

>98Mark, I think I ran out of time on our TC game. Are you reading A God in Ruins as yet? I am being good for now and waiting on the library, but I shal see how long I can wait. I think am number 22 on 24 copies - so I think it should not be too long.

>99Charlotte, I need to come by and check out your reads. But both of my reads were very good!

>100Lynda, yes I have kept calm and carried on. I think I was more anxious about it last fall, because I worried that Dave would need inpatient surgery like his dad, but knowing what you are dealing with helps a lot to allay anxiety. At any rate, the retina doc is not seeing a tear at this time.

>101Nancy, great to see you! A torn retina is not painful in itself, but one gets a lot of black spots, strings, cobwebs , flashing lights etc when one gets a torn retina. Last time Dave had a small black crescent where he had temporarily lost a bit of his vision, but this time that is not the case. Dave says he would rather have a root canal then have the laser repair and the poking and prodding at his eyeball. So I suppose it does hurt.

>102 mdoris: Thank you Mary, yes, I think this time round it appears Dave will most likely not need laser surgery. I loved The Nightingale , and I'll write a few more comments later on. But yes, I gave it 5 stars

>103 johnsimpson: John, thanks for your well wishes and it seems we have Dave's eye sorted out.

>104 ctpress: Great to see you, Carsten! I guess the Mother of Groom will have to begin in earnest next week! Perhaps you could still something from Carole Middleton's closet for me, as I do not think I can fit into Duchess Catherine's clothes. I'm really not a shopper and I am also a casually dressed sort of person, so this is a challenge to me!

Thank you everyone for your concern and well wishes. I'll be back a little later with some comments on my last two books.

In my "absence" I finished reading Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova. I had not read Still Alice by the same author, but I now have it on hold at my local library.

It a very interesting novel. It focuses on Huntington's Disease. I knew that this was a neurological disease, but I did not know much about it. Among other things , it is an inherited disease that is autosomal dominant - that is to say that a parent suffering with Huntington's Disease has a 50% of passing it on to a biological child. Joe O'Brien, the patriarch of the O'Brien family works for the Boston Police , loves his wife Rosie and they have 4 young adult children. Quite early on it is discovered that Joe O'Brien is suffering with Huntington's Disease. How that disease affects Joe and his family is the topic of this novel and it is very compelling. The disease can be detected before symptoms show by a genetic blood test. The disease is also a neurodenerative disease, eventually lethal to the sufferer. Learning of the cruel symptoms of Huntington's disease and how the family handles or does not handle the disease makes for fascinating reading. For the young adult children, do they choose to be tested or not? There is quite a story to the novel, aside from the Huntington's Disease. It is a compelling read , and one from which I learned so much about this disease. Not that many people suffer with Huntington's Disease, so this a real eye opener for me.

Highly recommended for both the story and the information about what is essentially an underfunded dreadful disease. Lisa Genvoa handles the topic with both sorrow and hope, and shines a light on this dreadful inherited disease.

4 stars

I also read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, which I loved! I think it is my favourite book of 2015 so far, closely tied with A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler. I'll add a few comments about The Nightingale tomorrow but for now I'd say run to your library/ store and grab a copy of The Nightingale. 5 stars! I have the new Kent Haruf arriving tomorrow.

Hi Deb, so glad Dave's eye problem has been solved, it must be a great weight off your minds my dear, sending love and hugs to you and the family my dear.

Deb, thanks for the information on retinal tears. I'm glad Dave's prognosis is good and hope that all will be well in a couple of weeks when he has it checked again. Yikes, this says a LOT: Dave says he would rather have a root canal then have the laser repair and the poking and prodding at his eyeball. It's so uncomfortable to even have a speck of dust in one's eye … having someone one prodding around in there takes the discomfort to another level!

I'm very intrigued by Inside the O'Briens. No time right now, can't even get through A Man Called Ove, another rec from you which is very good! Glad you've put Still Alice on your radar! That was excellent IMO, and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie. Julianne Moore is apparently superb in the role.

Hi Deb, health issues and a wedding - I think you deserve an easy and relaxing summer after all that!

Well, if am awake in the middle of the night, I might as well make use of the time.

@109 Thanks so much John for your well wishes. It is a weight off our shoulders for certain!

@110 Nancy, thanks so much for your concern. Dave finds the laser uncomfortable, but last time round the doctor had to laser over his optic nerve and he warned Dave that unfortunately that would be painful. We are not entirely out the woods as yet. Dave just told me that the retina specialist told him that due to his history , having his vitreous humour shrink up and pull at his retina still poses a threat of a retinal tear. He told Dave it will be " touch and go" for a little while yet. At least it did not happen for Williams' upcoming wedding in mid July , though never say never. I think he is finding it challenging to get used to all of the the floaters etc . I found an interesting retinal tear/ detachment simulator on line here. http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/detached-torn-retina/vision-simulat...

A Man Called Ove is definitely really interesting! Inside the OBriens is really a fascinating and a fairly quick read, but I completely understand not having much time to read . I have been suffering with that problem lately. I found my mother of the groom dress this week, as the our son's wedding is in mid July. What a hassle. I am not a big shopper and the whole mother of the groom thing kind of scares me. I tried on so many lace numbers, floral shifts etc etc and finally found a dress that I liked, but I'm not sure the bride fully approves. I had my dear mom and sister along and they were such a great help - telling me - oh that one makes you look 20 years older, that one makes you look like a Sunday School teacher, oh that one is really sharp.

@ 111 Meg, thanks so much! Yes, I'd like to have a relaxing summer after the wedding. I try to remember the words of a friend of mine , whose son got married last year. She says a wedding is just a big party. As she was also the mother of the groom she said to me, I think our job is to wear beige and stay in the background! :) If only!

Morning Deb! Happy Saturday! Hope the week went well and I hope your current reads are treating you dandy.

I've just realized that I've been commenting here in my head, thinking I've been commenting for real! I'm so sorry for the troubles you and your husband are going through - you're both in my thoughts!

>107 vancouverdeb: All I know about Huntingdon's Disease I learned from reading Joe Klein's Woody Guthrie: A Life, as the singer suffered from HD. It sounds like an absolutely terrible disease, especially for the sufferer's loved ones. The Genova book sounds very good.

I was sorry to read about your husband's eye difficulties. I hope everything continues to improve and he doesn't have to have the laser surgery! I also saw on Mark's thread that you mentioned he has been reading Greg Iles — I love that author's Penn Cage series. They are really high quality mysteries. I'm glad Dave is enjoying them.

Like Amber, I make many comments in my head... Thanks for informing us about retinal tears. Eye troubles to a reader is a disaster. The laser surgery does not sound like fun. I hope your Dave does well so he can read The Farm. I plan to as your recs are hard to turn down, Deborah!

Hi Deb, delighted you found your mother-of-the-groom dress. Post us a picture! Would love to see it!

The retinal tear simulator is frightening stuff. Yikes!

Interesting review of Inside the O'Briens - and great the novel is such an eyeopener into the Huntington's Disease. I don't know much about it either.

Looking forward to hear more about best book of the year....have a great weekend, Deborah.

So glad the dress selection is done! I agree shopping for "grown-up-lady-dress-up" not my thing either.

Hope wedding prep is going well Deb.

Hi deb, I wish you a fabulous weekend.

Hey Deborah. Can this bring you back to LT?

https://mobile.twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/607275513686720514?lang=da

Our family has had lots of eye trouble, including a retinal detachment for Mrs. Banjo. Thankfully she had a great surgeon and is OK now. But it's really good to know the symptoms because emergency eye care can be so hard to access.,

Hi Deborah, How are the wedding plans going? Hope all's well!

Missing, Tonto! Hope you are doing all-right, my friend. Let us know...

Hi Deb! Stopping by to see what all have been happening in the past month since I last stopped by - where does the time go? - and see that you have been very busy with wedding preparations.... Congratulations to your son and his fiance!

Sorry to read about your husband's eye issues. Hopefully he is on the mend.

Inside the O'Briens is the only Genova I haven't read. Very happy to see the four star reveiw you have posted! I think Genova really gets inside her characters and does a great job presenting the medical conditions they face. I really must get around to reading this one but I made a promise to try and read more books off my current TBR pile. Darn the shiny books!

Hang on everyone. I'm just piled up with a lot of things right now. First my husband's eye thing, then he had some cardiac concerns, not big ones, but ones that have required looking into and he is not finished that as yet. It has concerned me quite a bit. Then I have an appointment with the priest at my sons wedding church, which I had to cancel last week due to all the stress. Now my son emailed me that I can go to see the priest on Tuesday. Meanwhile some health issues with me have come up. I still need to find my shoes etc etc and I'm just feeling overwhelmed with too much stress. I'll be so glad to get the wedding done with, I hate to say. I have to go meet the Catholic Priest in downtown Vancouver to confirm that Williams finance is not my adopted daughter , William has not killed a spouse , nor been married before. I'm going to have a hard time keeping a straight face when I meet the priest - and William and his finance are 25, so why they have to meet the a parent is ??? to me. Let's just say the stress is getting to me in a lot of ways .

I really recommend The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. It's been long back at the library, but it is one of my favourite books of the year. Initially I had thought - yes, it's a " Heather's Pick" at Chapters, but really I have read so many books about WW1 and WW11 that how can there be another book on the topic? But what a fascinating and enjoyable read about two sisters during WW11. One is a conventional sort of person, but ends up having to board an SS Captain during the occupation of France during WW11, while her sister is a part of the resistance movement. The two think little of each other, but in the end, they realize how much they have in common. It is just plain a great read.

Also read Our Souls At Night and it's a 4. 5 . I think I preferred Benediction by Kent Haruf, but this was wonderful too. Kent Haruf may have written about everyday events, but Our Souls at Night is very Kent Haruf and very unique.

Also read Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths for a light , easy mystery read and now have just started the The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths. Interesting mysteries, just perfect for when I don't have a ton of concentration.

Thanks for keeping my thread warm and so sorry I have not been here. Hang in there and I'll try to do so too. Last week when I was supposed to meet the priest, I could not sleep that night. Then he had to cancel that day and rebooked the next day, but late that day we got some non - conclusive but somewhat concerning info back re Dave's cardiac tests. Essentially, Dave had an episode of chest pain, - but not so much that we thought of heading to the ER. Then two weeks later Dave had an arrhythmia , as far as he and I could tell, but Dave refused to go to the ER or let me call an ambulance. It lasted about 1. 5 hours He does also have a low heart beat , 46 BPM. Anyway, things seem better but everything is not investigated as yet and maybe it's all " innocent. " Men, so stubborn about going to the ER or the doctor! Dave is slim and fairly fit , but he is 58 and his dad ended up needing a pacemaker, just like Dave's dad had a retinal detachment like Dave has a had tear. Genes can sometimes trump everything it seems. Dave has had some near fainting spells over the past few years, we assume due to his low heart rate, but we did not worry unduly, but now I am.

So just send good thoughts or say a prayer -though I am Baptist , not Catholic.

Hanging in there. :) Barely. Still must find some shoes etc for the wedding. Will try not to fall apart.

It is so good to see you check in, Deb. I hope your stress levels abate. I hope Dave will be okay. Keep us updated.

We miss you but come back when you can. Hugs!

>127 vancouverdeb: I'm on the Janus Stone too Deb - for similar reasons. Hope Dave is ok, that must be stressful waiting for all the tests.

Thinking of you, Deb, and hoping things get less stressful for you soon!

Thinking of you Deb and sending lots of positive vibes. Take step by step and don't overdo, please. xx

Hi Deb, oh what a time you and Dave are having! So sorry to hear about all things stress! The wedding will all fall into place, you know it will. And why you are meeting a priest when your son is 25 is beyond me, but … whatever! At least you're getting lots of reading done, which is a bonus! I seem to go running in all directions when I'm stressed and get very little to no reading done … I've added The Nightingale to my list : ).

Oh, Deborah, and here I thought that after the dress was picked it was all smooth sailing until the yes and amens in church.

You and Dave get a Baptist prayer for me for good health and a good talk with the priest. I'm sure he will not grill you about the Catechism. But better learn the first two answers just to be sure.

I hope the doctors do find out what causes Daves heart issues.

I actually had some of that burning chest pain two years ago. After some tests the doctor ordered healthier food and more d-vitamin which was rather low. And the chest pain went away.

Hi Deb, glad you enjoyed Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths, I have also read this and look forward to reading more of them. Hope you and the family had a good weekend my dear and send love and hugs to you.

Hi Deb, I am sorry to hear about all the health issues and hope they and the stress of the wedding clear up soon!

Hi Deb, I wish you a relaxed weekend.

Deb- I lost you. You have a lot going on right now. Good luck with all of it.

Oh, no! I hope things are beginning to calm down, now, and that all the health issues turn(ed) out to be nothing serious. Also that you "pass" your interview with the priest — count me among the surprised that you have to do that when your son is 25!

Just a quick update and I am sorry I don't have time to address each one of you, but I so appreciate you stopping by. Dave's eye issues seem to have resolved and he has seen the retinal specialist 4 times to keep checking and this time it was just the vitreous humour that dried up but did not tear his retina. Still, he finds it fairly bothersome because it takes a while for the spots and what not to clear from your vision and Dave discovered this time it hit his " dominant eye." I don't either of us realized that one had a dominant eye until now - the one that you naturally use , with your other eye just filling in for you, for lack of a better explanation. As for his " ticker" aka heart issues, he had a some blood tests and EKG, and a holter monitor. Some of the results were unusual, such as him having pulse of 46 , but the doctor felt that was okay, but at 45 beats per minute, then they are concerned. Nothing showed up a abnormal rhythm , so for now we are just trying not to worry about it, but should it happen again we will head into emergency or call an ambulance so that if Dave is indeed having a " significant arrhythmia ", then it can be caught on an EKG . Dave spoke with his brother in another province and his brother has had no heart issues, but even so his doctor put his through a battery of tests due to his having a heart rate in the low 50's. So I think we feel a bit frustrated by our family doctor, but if there is a next time, Dave won't refuse to act on it. So I have my head wrapped around all of that now and feel much better.

As for the wedding, yes it has been stressful. I chose some shoes and clutch and some jewellery, but I'm not quite sure about my jewellery and the bride wishes I had purchased sandals in gold or silver, I fear. However I don't think the dress would go with silver ( or gold ) sandals, so I am sticking with my black pumps. I think I have to back about the jewellery though. I was consulting with my sisters earlier in the day and like me, they are not " fashion mavens" to quote one of my sisters.

But yes, I passed the interview with the priest . So gradually things are getting sorted out. It seems at this particular Catholic Church a parent of each person who is getting married must answer questions to do with their child's " Freedom To Marry" . So I had to swear to tell the truth and show ID, sign a paper and answer questions like am I the natural mother of my son , has my son killed a spouse, has he been married before, is he under any duress to marry etc. I did ask my son - what if both me and Dad were dead and he was 50 year old or something? Apparently then he would need two close friends or relatives to go in and have the same interview with the priest.

Still reading - I am on a Elly Griffith's binge. Third book now in the series. They are just right - interesting mysteries with a lot character story arc , but not demanding reads. Perfect reading for right now!

Deb, glad to hear that things are calming down. Whoa, you had a too-busy run going there. Very glad to hear that Dave's eye is mending, but I agree the arrhythmia is something of a concern.

Here's to the fashion mavens, LOL, a position I also do not share. Good one on your sister for the expression! And your black pumps will be just fine. Can't wait to see pics!

Hi Deborah - I have things stay calm for you so you can enjoy the wedding. My vitreus collapsed a few years ago, and I have a permanent "bee" in that eye. I don't notice it as much anymore, but I guess it's there for good.

@140 Nancy, yes, things are gradually calming down. I was hoping to get back on the wedding jewellery trail today, but it is just soooooo hot! We have our new " portable " air conditioner, but am unable to move it from the bedroom to the living room without Dave. He'll be home at around 7 pm or a little later. I'll drag my carcass back to the mall tomorrow. I'm thinking I might want to return a bracelet that I purchased . I purchased two and my sister - the non - fashion maven favoured the thinner bracelet. At this point I'd like to get a a fake bling ear clip and maybe a fake " grill of bling on my teeth." I am not a formal kind of dresser. I can see the wedding now. The bride's side all really formal, my side of the family - what we found in our closets and is not too warm.

@ 141 Thanks Beth. I hope things stay calm between now and the wedding, which is about 3 weeks out. Sorry to hear about your permanent "bee." I know Dave, my husband, still has visual " stuff" from his torn retina , which no longer bothers him but he is still having trouble with the new eye. It is much improved but I think it takes a few months for it to settle down. I am blessed as yet to not have eye issues .

Hi Deb, I wish you a fabulous weekend.

Hope you have a Happy Canada Day, Deb and that you will soon be able to relax!

@143 Thanks Barbara! Such a lovely photo!

@144 Happy Canada Day, Meg, and well, another 20 or so days and then I should be able to relax after the wedding festivities of my son and his wife to be. Such a cute photo! Thank you!

Happy Canada Day, Tonto! Hope you are doing well. Miss, seeing you around.

Hi Deb, I wish you a lovely weekend.

@146 Good to see you, Kemosabe! Doing okay, just more of wedding touches - just two weeks now before the big day. Really hot here!

@147 Thank you for the lovely garden scene, Barbara! How refreshing and cool looking!

Hope the new AC cools things down for you both. I was just getting in the swing of our unexpectedly warm temperatures (I never know what to wear, apart from anything else) and then I got completely caught out by the rain today. Drowned rat waiting for my bus home (although the big bag of bargain books did make it bearable!). British weather moan officially complete. Fingers crossed for your outfit final touches.

Thanks for stopping by, Charlotte! The new A/C has been a huge blessing! Today, however, all of the forest fires in B.C - my province, have gotten so out of hand that we have a very smokey haze in the air. It looks rather surreal - kind of an orangey haze. Usually in my area we are not affected by the forest fires. This has really been a warm summer. We always get forest fires in British Columbia, but not this many and not so early in the summer. Usually our summers are just like yours, one never knows from one day to another whether it will rain or be sunny. I'd rather get caught out in the rain at the moment, but just wait until the rain returns and then I'll be crying a different tune.

As for the finishing touches, I've got the jewellery , the dress, the shoes and let's pray that my hair cut and colour goes well this Tuesday in advance of the wedding! :) Perhaps just a few more things to finish up the outfit.

Hi Deborah, Are you doing the count down to the BIG DAY? Thinking of you!

Wedding day is looming (in a fantastic way!), I hope it goes off in spectacular style and there are happy faces all around!
Oh, and why have I not been here sooner!! What is wrong with me!?

@151 Mary, yes I am counting down the days! I'll be glad when it's all behind us! Shhhh - don't tell my son and nearly daughter in law. I am sure it will be a wonderful day, but very busy for my tastes!

@ Megan, indeed, the wedding is looming as you say! Just yesterday I thought - how to ensure a good hair day? So I made an appointment at a " blow out bar" where they wash and blow dry your hair, hopefully in the way you want! Cross your fingers that they know what they are doing! It's going to be one rushed day. I suppose once we get to reception part, I'll be able to relax more. Oh it scares me to go not my usual stylist, but we are going to stay downtown for a couple of nights so as not to have all of the traffic to contend with on the big day. Good to see you Megan!

Deb, was thinking of you today … that in a week your son will be married, and you'll have a daughter-in-law : ). Lovely that you and Dave will stay downtown for a couple of days.

Happy Sunday, Deb.

Kick off to wedding count down. Wishing you and family all the very best for a very happy and relaxing day. Enjoy yourself! Hope that you show us some pictures after the event. Will be thinking of you on the 18th and hoping for fabulous weather.

Have fun at the wedding, Deborah. Such a special day for everyone! Best wishes to you all.

Have a great time at the wedding. Congrats mother of the groom.

Hi Deb, hope you have a wonderful day at the wedding mother of the groom. It is my daughter's wedding in fifteen weeks time and I need to sort out my speech.

Hi Deb, thinking of you lots today, and will be thinking of you even more tomorrow! Have a wonderful, wonderful day at your son's wedding. You'll be a smashing mother of the groom : ). Can't wait to see pics, my friend.

Woo Hoo! The Big Day is finally here. I wish all good things for you and your family, Deborah. Weddings can be so stressful.

My husband and I got married at a German 'justice of the peace' (or whatever they are called in Germany) with a translator to assure that we are really and truly married. Then we went and ate at a wonderful Italian restaurant. Go figure. At least we weren't stressed out!

I'm glad you have discovered an author to read during stressful times. I am making a note about Elly Griffith.


Best Wishes to your son and his bride!

By now it's all over, but I sure hope it went great, Deborah!

I am sure the wedding was beautiful, Deb! Now, you can relax. Hugs to my pal.

Hi Deb, I hope the wedding went well and you are enjoying a well deserved rest and wind down!

Hi Deb. I'm assuming you are continuing to enjoy the post-wedding glow. Congratulations!! and I hope you fully enjoyed the day. Lots of work, lots of celebration, and now to unwind and rest!

@154 Nancy, I am sitting in the heat of our home , so happy that the wedding day is behind us and yes it went very well! Staying downtown was very good option but it was not relaxing! Packing up on Thursday night and Friday and taking Poppy the dog off to her dog sitters -unpack at the hotel Friday late in the day, forage for food :) next morning rush around hair/ makeup /clothes get to the church on time!Rest a bit, off to the reception. But it all went beautifully!

@155 Barbara, thanks for the beautiful flowers! I saw lot of beautiful flowers at my son's wedding and even got to wear - err r some sort of purple flower with some other kind of white kind of flower! :)Not sure what it was! :)

@156 Thank so kindly for your thoughts, Mary! Oh it was hot in the Church! It was downtown in the Holy Rosary Cathedral and oh boy, it was warm! It's a heritage building, so no air conditioning or anything, but a very lovely church! I think it was 29 C with the humidex! Hot!

@157 Joanne, yes it was a lovely day. The bride had a very beautiful dress and William our son did really well! Everything went off without a hitch, but a busy , hot day! And oh my heels really pinched!

@158 Thanks so much Beth! I am glad I was only the mother of the groom and not the mother of the bride - that much more pressure on the bride's mom, I think!

@159 Thank you John! Yes, sorting out speeches and clothes and hair - so many things to do! I am excited for you - just 15 more weeks til your daughter's wedding! It sounds to me like you and Karen have it all well in hand!

@160 Nancy, I did have fun and even danced! William and Serenade gave beautiful speeches and it was a really a memorable day. No pix as yet. My sister took pictures and uploaded to them to my facebook, so if you are a facebook friend of mine, I have shared my sister's pictures. As yet I don't have any pictures of my own to load onto LT here! Will try to do so soon. They had a great photographer and videographer all day long , so in time I should have some pictures.

@161 Donna, thank you for the good wishes and yes, wedding can be stressful and yes, it was, but once it got going, then I felt fine. Did not cry a tear - pre- cried in the week before hand :) I say go for the justice of the peace- quick and easy and stress free. I had a wedding but it was much more dialed down. Wedding at my own church, 5 minutes from home and afternoon buffet lunch a nice hotel, but still just in the area I live in . My wedding started at 11:30 am and was all over by 4 pm! Just my our kind of thing. For our wedding " breakfast" I popped out to McDonald's by myself to get an Egg McMuffin before Dave and I headed out to Kelowna for week long honey moon! ;) Dave was busy packing up the car for the trip while I fueled up. Dave and I only knew one another for 18 months between our first date and getting married.

@162 Julia, yes , so glad it is over. Part of me feels a bit sad. Not because I miss the wedding drama - but now my son belongs to his wife more then me! When he was 4 , he wanted to marry me! Now. I am just a wee bit sad about that . My baby is gone - living a whole mile or so away! :)

@163 Thanks for the hugs, Marky Mark! Yes, finally I can relax! Boy it is hot here today!

@164 Meg, yes, first thing we did pick up our dog Poppy and come home , unpack a little and run some laundry through and then both of us had a nap! Still have not eaten supper,, and it is 10:45. Must go do that soon!

@165 Truthfully I am only enjoying being home and relaxing! I feel like Dave and I had enough activity to last us couple of weeks! Thanks Ellen!

Photographs from the Professional Photographer - a sneak peek is here - http://www.cakewalkmedia.ca/portfolio/2015/4/13/serenade-william

You will see that it was a very" East West Wedding. " As yet, no pictures of Dave and me or much of my family, mainly a few of the Bride and Groom and some of Serenade's family - also the church - more to come later.

Congrats on the wedding. Hope you and Dave get to sit and relax now. Those photos are beautiful, I love the bride's red and gold.

Those are great pics!

Thanks for sharing the pics, Deborah. They are beautiful.

I loved the Sneak Peek! What wonderful photos of both the wedding and the engagement pictures. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more of these gorgeous pics. Thanks for sharing both the pictures and the story of how you and Dave got married, Deborah. I really enjoy knowing more about my LT friends and their families. I'm wishing you a restful week!

Hi Deborah, I'm so very glad that things went well for your son's wedding. I thought of you on Saturday as it was such a scorcher. The pictures look amazing and look forward to seeing more. I remember the post-wedding time after our daughters' weddings and there are lots of emotions.

Glad to read that the wedding went wonderfully, even if it was a bit hot in the church. I am starting to wonder if we will ever see the end to this heat and sunshine. ;-)

Nice sneak peak. They are a lovely couple! Thanks, Deb.
Enjoy relaxing and settling back into ordinary life. You deserve it!

Whoa, those photos of the wedding are amazing! What a gorgeous couple. Congrats to them both - and to you for surviving the wedding, too! Ha!

What gorgeous photos, Deb. Congrats to the newlyweds and to you for surviving the excitement!

What a lovely couple! Congrats!

A picture of the wedding. Our son William, me, husband Dave, other son Daniel. Serenade is the bride, and her mom and dad and sister and her sister's husband are all in the picture. Can't believe I managed to put a picture on my LT thread! This a picture taken by my brother in law, while the professional photographer took the same picture, but from straight on.

Oh, Deb, what a beautiful photograph of William and Serenade with both of their families! Everyone looks so lovely. Love your dress!

>178 vancouverdeb: Nice!

Great wedding photo, Deborah. You all look so beautiful and happy.

Lovely family picture. A day to remember.

Lovely photo, Deborah. Thanks for sharing.

Great photo. You make a very chic mother of the groom, Deb. Love the outfit!

@168 Thanks Charlotte. I do think that Serenade, the bride, looked really lovely in the red and gold.

@169 Thanks Jim!

@170 Thanks Beth! It is kind of you to bother to look at the pictures.

@171 Donna, like you, I am always interested in the lives and stories of my LT friends. Reading about your courtship and marriage was most interesting! I know my aunt and uncle went out - and on the third date, my uncle proposed to my aunt, and they were married within 3 months of beginning to date. Fascinating to me.

@172 Yes , Mary, it was hot day. Thankfully the hotel that we stayed in was air conditioned as the reception, but not the church. And you are so right - there are more emotions that go along with a son / daughter getting married than I had expected. Even though William moved out about 4 months ago, and he and Serenade dated for 7 years - still , I feel this sense of loss about him getting married.

@173 Thanks Lori. Well, we at least have had some rain, but yes indeed, it has been a very warm dry summer and spring. I've gotten so used to long sunny days I wonder if I can adapt back to rainy days! I am not sure!

@174 Thanks Ellen! Gradually relaxing back into normal life. The last of my out of town family left this past Sunday. On the bride's side, there is still family in town from Hong Kong until Friday.

@175 Amber, surviving the wedding was not a sure thing until it happened, so thanks for the encouragement!

@176 Meg, thanks so much. Yes I survived the excitement.

@177 Thank you Rhonda. They do make a very lovely and happy couple.

@180 Thank you Nancy. I was very uncertain about my dress! I had looked and tried on so many dresses, but this black and white dress seemed to be the one that I loved. I was very uncertain about wearing black and white to my son's wedding ( as was the bride , I might add ;) but I think it worked out fine after all. It really is nice to have a lovely picture of all both sides of the family

@ 181 Thanks Joe! :)

@182 Carsten, such kind words!

@183 Charlotte, it really is a day to remember. I look forward to the professional photographers pictures.

@184 Once again, Beth, thanks you!

@185 Lori, I tried to be a decent MOG - mother of the groom Chic- I am not so sure, but I gave it the old college try! At 11:30 am on the day or the wedding I was over at Blow Dry " Bar" for my hair. Boy I was anxious! Having the curly / problematic hair that I have, I was really anxious about getting my hair blown out by a stranger, rather than my usual hair stylist.

Anyway, gradually I am getting back to normal. Somehow I am stuck reading the Elly Griffiths Ruth Galloway series, still. I do have Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans arriving on Tuesday or Wednesday. It was long listed for this years Orange/ Bailey prize, so I am hoping to vary my reading somewhat. For whatever reason , my concentration is not as good as usual as yet.

I am really enjoying the Elly Griffiths series, and I am nearly finished the fourth in the series, A Room Full of Bones and I've got the next one in the series. I feel I should vary my reading a little more, but for the moment, they are keeping my attention and I am enjoying them.

Wow! What a wonderful opening photo.

Deb, enraged at Cdn government antics regarding literature in the PUBLIC DOMAIN I read about today at Gutenberg. See the post on my thread about emailing government contacts! Pass this along to Canadian readers, please!

@188 Thanks Stasia!

@189 Will do, Nancy. I am not happy at a smaller thing that is taking place at my local library system Instead of 4 week loans, only 3 week loans, and in the past , if a book had no holds on it, one could renew a book or another 4 weeks. Now it is changing to allow you to re - new your books for 1 week. Apparently the cost of e-books is the cause of this new policy. Not very happy about that.

Hi Deb! I love the wedding photo! What a great looking bunch! You clean up nice, Tonto!

CeCe Bell is one amazing lady! I got to meet her one day in the fall and the stories she told us and what she went through was.... I wish there were better words to explain this, but amazing! (This is why I love sign language, because you can express feelings visually where there may not be words in the English language that expresses it). This book is amazing and so is the author!

>190 vancouverdeb: Yes, the cost of ebooks, or more specifically, their licensing, seems to be a mixed-up, fly-by-night afterthought. Honestly! Makes me furious!

@191 Thanks Mark! Well, I try to clean up nice, Lone Ranger. I'll have to check on what you are reading soon!

@192 Britbee - how exciting that you got to meet CeCe Bell of El Deafo fame! I think I understand when one meets someone amazing, it is hard to describe in words!

@193 I am with you in my unhappiness about the change in my library, due to the licensing fee! They did not explain that in the email from my library, but rather used the excuse that ebooks are being used more, thus physical books will be less available But thinking back, I am quite sure that I read in the local paper that the Richmond Library needed extra funds this year, due to a shortfall. That is pretty unusual for here. So yes, it would seem likely that the ebook cost was not properly calculated by the library. The library has been " flogging" ebooks like crazy and has had all sort of devices on display, and try out - like Sony e-reader, Ipad , Ipad mini, Kobo etc.

Lovely wedding photo, Deborah and congratulations to you all!

I'm a big fan of the Ruth Galloway series.

I have the fourth in the Ruth Galloway series waiting for me to read. Just got to find the time!

@195 Thanks , Joanne! It was all quite a ride and I am still getting accustomed to my son being married! Oh course it is what a mother dreams of , but a part of me, don't laugh to hard, misses that little boy of 3 or 4 who wanted to marry his mother! I thought maybe William was the only boy that actually said that aloud or even thought it , but now he is totally devoted to his wife. I'll have to make do with my husband and our dog! :)

@196 Charlotte , I almost feel guilty that I am on my fouth Ruth Galloway, but I do enjoy the familar characters and the character development arcs from book to book. The mysteries and the characters are nicely quirky and they are enjoyable, engaging reads.

I did get Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans, which was longlisted for the Orange prize and I've got Lila on my kindle, so perhaps my next read will be one or the other of those books.

Oh, I hope you like Crooked Heart Deb. It made me laugh out loud, as well as being a great story.

Good to know, Charlotte! When I am finished A Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths - I just realized I am on my 5th Ruth Galloway mystery, I'll look at Crooked Heart. I hope I enjoy it as much as you do! I can only read one book at time :)

>178 vancouverdeb:, Absolutely gorgeous wedding photo Deb, sorry it has taken awhile to get on here but we have just got back from our holiday and the Wi-Fi around the hotel was poor. Sending love and hugs to you my dear.

I'm a bit behind right now on L.T. but wonderful wedding photo. Thanks for sharing. Fabulous MOG dress you chose!

@200 Thanks John! I suppose your daughter's wedding date is soon upon you and Karen! I look very forward to the photos! Glad you had a wonderful holiday.

@201 Thanks Mary! You have no idea what agony was put into choosing that dress. I tried so many on and though I would have liked to pick something that was not black and white, I could not find anything in the floral or lacy sort of dresses that did anything for me . So your kind words about my MOG dress mean a lot!

Belated congratulations with your son's wedding. Such a handsome couple and look at the beautiful mother of the groom!
I noticed you're on a Ruth Galloway-spree. I vaguely remember reading a few of her books and I think I kind of liked them at the time. Maybe I should pick up where I left.

@203 Great to " see " you, Joey. Yes, I am on a Ruth Galloway spree. I am enjoying them. I picked on up on a whim and found I really enjoyed the sense of place, the character development from book to book and the quirkiness of each story. I find them to be an enjoyable , at times gripping reads. Great series to read for pure enjoyment and when you feel the stress of your son getting married! Now I am addicted to the series! Thanks for the congrats re my son's wedding!

I love the wedding photo — good-looking bunch of people right there, especially the MOG. Like everyone else, I think your dress is perfect. And from what I can see your hair looks great, so the stranger stylist must have been OK.

@205 Julia - thanks for your comments re the wedding! :) I can tell you that going to the " stranger stylist " was quite stressful! First off she was running over 15 minutes late and time was of the essence! I took along my own hair products and she was nice enough to use them and I gave her a little direction . My usual stylist does a better job, but this was certainly better then if I attempted to blow dry my hair myself for the wedding . :) The past few days I've been so sick of styling it I'm just letting it dry curly and it is so wild. Sometimes I wonder why I try so hard to go against nature.

Seriously, I would give anything to have curly hair! When my hair started growing back in after chemo it started coming in curly and I was so excited. Sadly, after a year it was mostly back to being straight as a stick. So let those curls fly, Deborah!

I also love the photo and the dress! I have to agree that a new stylist would be stressful. But she did a good job, it looks like.

@207 Julia, my hair is such a hassle! It's curly enough to be a big mess, but not quite curly enough to be just right! It's the bane of my existence, or one of them! ;)

@208 Rhoda, you are so kind. I was grateful that stylist was so understanding and amenable to my suggestions. I had to tell her a couple to times to " calm my hair down" - she was letting my hair get a little too curly and full ;) Never quite happy with my hair!

My hairdresser once told me that most people who have straight hair want curls and most people who have curls want straight hair. I don't know about people with something "in between", but from what I see on your photos, it looks just perfect, Deb.

@Joey, - Truthfully my hair is much more on the curly side. I would just like it to curl perfectly symmetrically each day, instead deciding to go in every direction, never mind the ' frizz factor :)

I have failed to post what I have read and am reading - here is a quick summary

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah 5 stars and possibly my favorite read this year. It was a " Heather's Pick" at Chapter's /lndigo and really worth the read! A WW2 story told from two sister's very different points of view. I felt at the time I had read enough about WW11, but this was a very different perspective. Highly recommended. Occupation of France during WW11

The Crossing Places: A Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths 3.6 stars. I saw the latest installment of this series on bookstore shelf somewhere and decided to give the series a chance, but of course I had to start at the first book. As Kirkus reviews says - A gem packed with offbeat , well developed characters, and a quirky challenging mystery." I was less keen on this 1st in the series, but I enjoyed it enough to be go one a series binge as you will see!:)

Our Souls at Night: A novel by Kent Haruf. I have read four other books by Kent Haruf and loved them all! This was wonderful read, if a little sad, knowing that it was Kent Haruf 's last book. 4. 5 stars and well worth the read. My only comlaint - it seemed to end very suddenly - perhaps as Kent Haruf passed. A very small complaint indeed and unique story about two elderly widowed people and a young child and the comfort they find in each other.

No! Not more book bullets! Sounds like you've had some good reading here.

The Janus Stone: A Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths 4 stars. Continuing on my " Ruth Galloway " mystery binge! :) And enjoying this book that much more then the first. Ruth Galloway is single , 40 year old woman who is an forensic archeologist who is somewhat insecure about herself ,and the character development of the several on going characters, Nelson, Cathbad, Clough etc is fascinating and really well done. I enjoy the characters as much as the mystery.

@ Charlotte 215, Charlotte, just trying to catch up with my past reads quickly here! Always glad to send along a book bullet or two! The Ruth Galloway series is a British Series, mainly taking place in Norfork, or East Anglia - so perhaps you would enjoy them?

The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths. Yes, number three in my Ruth Galloway Series binge. Wonderfully atmospheric! From the book blurb" Brimming with fascinating forensic detail ( but not too much - my own note ;), action packed scenes of terror, and one of the most engaging cast of characters to have appeared in recent crime fiction , The House at Sea's End is a brilliantly plotted , tense and thrilling mystery.

Truthfully, while it is suspenseful and at time quite creepy, you'll be able to sleep at night. A wonderful series though. And fabulous character arcs from book to book. Do read them in order if you decide to read them.

A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths Another 4 star read in my Elly Griffiths binge! :)



Perhaps a rather ugly cover image, but hey, it was from the library . Another 4 star read.

A Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths 4 stars Another intriguing read with Ruth, Kate, Cathbad ,the sometimes druid, DI Nelson and a death or two! Featuring neo- pagans! Much enjoyed! Number 5 in the series with 2 or 3 more waiting for me :)

Currently reading the 2015 Bailey's Prize long listed Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans. It only became available to read in Canada in late July of this year and I am keen to read it. So far , about 60 pages in and very much enjoying it.

Wow, Deborah, you have been on a Ruth Galloway binge. She is a great character, isn't she?

I hope to get to Crooked Heart in the next week or so.

Happy Sunday, Deb! Just checking in with Tonto! It looks like you are doing some fine reading.

Glad to hear you loved Our Souls at Night. You should add your thoughts to the AAC tribute thread. I have it on shelf and I hope to get to it soon.

Crooked Heart does sound appealing. Glad you are enjoying it.

Oh my goodness, Deb, what fabulous reading you've been up to. I confess I have been on the run with one thing or another, so that my summer reading time has been seriously impeded. I've got both The Nightingale (your rec) and Our Souls at Night on my list. I adore Kent Haruf, as you know. eta: Forgot to add, Crooked Hearts looks promising, too!

Auch, a few BB's here. Kent Haruf seems like an author I'd like to explore and 5 stars for The Nightingale, well, that just calls for a closer look.

>So glad you enjoyed Our Souls at Night, Deb. Me, too!

>221 vancouverdeb: Love that cover Deb. Much better than the UK hardback one I think.

@222 Beth, if left to my own devices, I'm very good at going on a particular mystery binge! :) Ruth Galloway and her friends and associates make great reading! The perfect reading pre and post wedding , where my concentration was not as great. It was a great escape into Norfolk . Elly Griffiths has a great ability with characterization and atmosphere. And while Ruth Galloway is a forensic archeologist, don't be put off by that, as the big emphasis in the books is not overdone with carbon dating etc.

@223 HI Mark! Great to see you, Lone Ranger. Yes I very much enjoyed Our Souls at Night. I was chomping at the bit to read it!

@224 Nancy, this is my reading back until the end of May! I just did not find the time to put up the covers of the books, so I've not been doing my usual amount of reading. Do read The Nightingale - it is my only 5 star read this year . I kept looking at The Nightingale at Chapters and also at the library and I'm not sure what kept me from deciding to read it for so long - but it's a fabulous read . Whether I'd enjoy other books by the same author, I'm not sure, but The Nightingale was so worth the read. I know you will enjoy Our Souls at Night. A quick read.

@ 225 Joey, I've enjoyed 4 or 5 books by Kent Haruf. I suspect that you would enjoy them too. There is a very everyday quality about them , but so peaceful and so quietly powerful.

@226 Hey there Joe! Anything by Kent Haruf is difficult not to love! Glad you enjoyed it too!

@ 227 Charlotte, I did see the UK cover and yes, I'd agree that though rather plain, the North American cover is much superior to the UK cover. The UK cover gives on the idea that one is going to read some sort of Sci -Fi story, which is not the case at all!

Well, now you've gone and done it, Deborah. I've checked the first Ruth Galloway mystery out of the library. And after I promised myself I wouldn't start any new series, too!

Hi Deborah. I really must get back to the Elly Griffiths series. I've only read The Crossing Places.

I'm also chuckling after your photos of the wedding. It looks like it was beautiful. Our nephew just got married this weekend. It was lovely. The service was amazingly short. The bride and groom each spoke only two words each, but I guess they are the words that matter!
Oh, and we had family from Vancouver here for the wedding and all celebration events around it! :-)

>228 vancouverdeb: I've read all but one of Haruf's books, Deb, and loved all but one of those I read - an early one (Where You Once Belonged) that I liked, but didn't love like the others. The one that's left for me is The Tie That Binds.

@229 50 lashes to me, Julia! Forcing a new series onto you! I'll warn you that Crossing Places is not her strongest book in the series, but they get better. I hope you enjoy!

@230 Ellen, I guess your nephew and partner just said " I will." I was at the longest wedding ever with my sons'! :) The Chinese Tea Ceremony etc took all morning, afternoon at the church, evening at the hotel reception. It was lovely, but it was long!

@231 Ah, Joe, I've read The Tie that Binds and very much enjoyed it. I have not read the early one, Where You Once Belonged , and I guess no rush to read it.

>213 vancouverdeb: I picked up The Crossing Places in a recent trip to Black Bond Books. Good to know that the books in the series get better as they go along.

Ahhh, another lover of The Nightingale. I must get to this one soon. Everyone seems to love it! I hope you are still basking in the after-glow of the wedding. Wow! a day-long affair. I guess that's a good way to find out who your true friends are. Lol.

@232 Meg, Definitely the series improves after the 1st book, Crossing Places. That I gave a 3.6 rating too, but her others in the series have all been 4 stars! I have my crazy rating system. In my world ;) 3. 5 means a little more than passable, whereas 4 mean I really enjoyed it .

@234 Donna, I don't know what took me so long to read The Nightingale myself. Not entirely " basking in the wedding afterglow " though . More like still recovering and adjusting to the new reality! LOL!

Hi Deb, I started the Griffiths' serie this early summer. I just got the second one from the library. I'll intend to read all of them

Hi Deb, I just finished the amazing A Place called Winter and thought of you because so much is set in Canada. I saw you had it in your library but wasn't sure if you had got to it yet? I just loved it, wonderful characters and story.

@237 Once again, great minds and all of that! :) I requested the purchase of A Place Called Winter to be purchased at my library - and what do you know, they got it in. But while I had it out it was the time of my son's wedding, so I did not get a chance to read before it had to go back to the library. I'll have to put in a hold on it! Thanks for letting me know that it was a great book, as I had hoped!

Finished and loved Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans. What a wonderful story! It was long listed for the 2015 Bailey / Orange Prize. It's the story of a 10 year orphaned boy who lives with his godmother. Not long after he must be evacuated out of London to escape the Blitz and lands up in " the care" of one Vee ( Vera ) Sedge. She is living a shady, rather unhappy life. Young Noel Bostock is still mourning the loss of his godmother. Vee is in search of some cold hard cash. In some ways it's sad story, but in most ways and intriguing and very tender story. A portion of the back of the book give the best summary I could come up with : In conjuring a vivid portrait of two lost souls - Vera Sedge , a petty criminal , and Noel Bostock, an orphan and a boy genius - who find an unlikely kinship amid the privation of wartime London. Evans has written a sensitive , intelligent novel that revises Satre's old axiom : Home is other people. The idea that home is other people really resonated with me. 4. 3 stars.

Wonderful review of Crooked Hearts, Deb! Think I've already added this one to my list based on your earlier comments, but will check : ).

Well, I've gone and read The Crossing Places thanks to you, Deborah. I quite like the characters though the mystery wasn't much, so I'll look forward to loading up the next in the series. Thanks for the tip!

>239 vancouverdeb: It makes me really happy to read how you enjoyed this book. I loved it, and am keen to reread it. If the UK paperback has that cover with the foxes I'm going to be so tempted to buy my own copy...

@240 Nancy, I'm quite sure that you will enjoy Crooked Heart. I hope your library has it, and if they don't , they should! I think the story would have a broad appeal.

@ Julia, Crossing Places is her weakest novel. For me , the characters are at least half of of the book. The mysteries are quite good, and sometimes even creepy, but in the main it's a series with intriguing characters as much as it a mystery series, which is why I enjoy it so much, I think. I hope you enjoy the next in the series . The series definitely improves after the first book! I hope you enjoy!

@242 Charlotte, Crooked Heart is a wonderful book! I did so enjoy it! I hope you get the better cover in the UK! Even our Canadian edition is a little plain , but at least it is not all sci - fi looking like the UK copy is.

Currently reading The Illuminations by Andrew O'Hagan. It is long listed for the 2015 Booker Prize, so I'm having a go with it. So far most of it takes place in a sheltered living building for seniors, and the other part of the story is in the battlefields of Afghanistan. I'm not enjoying the battlefields of Afghanistan as much, but very much enjoying the story and characters in Britain and the sheltered living building. The two parts of the story are intertwined and I hope that we are soon in Britain full time rather than in the cursed ( and I mean that literally - ever other word is " fucken" ) battlefield . Overall so far a very promising story.

Hi Deborah - I just finished Crooked Heart and loved it! Evans is becoming one of my favorites. I have The Illuminations from the library and hope to get to it soon.

I'm still waiting for The Illuminations to come in to the library - looking forward to it, fun to read about Blackpool.

Morning, Deb, The Illuminations sounds promising …

ETA: just checked at my library, and have put holds on both Crooked Heart and The Illuminations. Thanks, Deb : ).

Auch, Deb, two BB. Although I thought I'd had enough of World War II-misery, I'm very tempted to read The Nightingale and Crooked Heart after reading your comments on it. Just throw in some rubbish or something I've read already, will you, please?

@ Beth, yes I really loved Crooked Heart and The Illuminations is getting better! Not so much time in the battle fields as I initially feared ! :)

@246 Charlotte, it looks like a few of us are keen on the same books , Crooked Heart and The Illuminations.

@247 Oh exciting, Nancy! I think you will really love both of the books. I'm only 1/3 of the way through The Illuminations, but I think you will enjoy both of the books.

@248 Monica, so happy to hear of your happy health results! I too thought I'd had enough of WW11 reading for a while, but The Nightingale was fabulous , as was Crooked Heart. I'll do my best to find some rubbish to read! :) That should be easy enough! :) Sorry for the BB's!

Deb, I reckon if you like the sample of A History of Seven Killings why not go for a copy. Would say that the hardback weighs a ton though, so might be worth waiting for the paperback if you want to take it anywhere.

I'll do my best to find some rubbish to read! Oh, Deb, you crack me up! That sounds like a fine idea, actually. My patio days are becoming very numbered, and I've spent so little time out here reading … rubbish here I come!

@250 I think you mean The Year of the Runaways by Sunjeev Sahota as per our conversation on your thread, Charlotte! :) No worries, you read so widely that I'm not surprised that one could mix them up. I might just got for The Year of the Runaways, and I think it is about 500 pages, rather than 700 pages as I think A History of Seven Killings is supposed to be.

@251 Nancy, the credit for finding rubbish to read must go to Monica, aka just Joey at post 248. Apparently I have struck her with too many Book bullets and she hopes I can find a bit of rubbish to read. I'm quite sure I can!

Quite enjoying The Illuminations , but I seem to be out with the dog , walking and getting more mosquito bites than reading as of late!

Hi Deb! Just checking in! It looks like you are doing some good reading. I liked your thoughts on Crooked Heart, (I also love that cover) and The Illuminations sounds promising too. Enjoy!

>252 vancouverdeb: Ha! Thanks for understanding the mix up. I'd probably say the same thing. Both great books.

Hi Deb, hope everything is well with you and the family my dear, sending love and hugs.

@253 Mark, yes I have been doing some enjoyable reading! I'm quite sure you would enjoy The Illuminations and likely Crooked Heart as well.

@254 No worries Charlotte, with the things that sometimes type in a hurry it is a wonder that anyone can make sense of of my stuff!:)

@255 Things have really calmed down since the wedding and the newlyweds are off to Hawaii for a week. Love and hugs to you!

Happy Weekend, Deb.

@257 Barbara, Thank for the well wishes! A beautiful image as always!

Wow, Deborah - you have devoured novels at an uncontrollable pace in my prolonged august LT-absence.

Your five-star best of the year The Nightingale sounds very good. I’m a sucker for WWII-novels. One to get back to.

You certainly go all in on your Elly Griffiths mystery binge - haven’t heard of this one before but another one for the unread pile of crime fiction series.

Crooked Heart is the novel which mostly appealed to me of your recent reads. And of course the new Ken Haruf which I already have bought from audible.

Reading has been very slow for me in july and august, but hopefully a lust for literature will return soon :)

Oh Carsten, I'm not sure that I have devoured books at a uncontrollable pace - but it is kind of you to say so! Do read Crooked Heart, it is a charmer! The Nightingale so worth the read as well! Yes, I really enjoyed my Elly Griffiths binge very much! I am missing her right now!

I finished The Illuminations by Andrew O'Hagan a couple of days ago and I really loved the book! As usual, making comments about the book as held me back from posting about it , but here is goes! :) It is long listed for the 2015 Booker Prize and well worth the read.

It's an interesting story of several related characters in different situations. Elderly Anne Quirk is living in a sheltered living accommodation in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire. A younger ( 62 year old woman) named Maureen takes a special interest in assisting Anne Quirk, as Anne is suffering with dementia. Anne's time in the shelter accommodation will soon come to and end for a higher level of care. The daily comings and goings in the shelter accommodation are quite interesting - at rate I quite enjoyed that portion. Both Maureen and Anne have family and as is usually the case, both have issues with their daughters . Anne Quirk also has a grandson, Luke Campbell, who is on a tour of Afghanistan. The story goes back and forth between Anne and her situation and her grandson in Afghanistan. In time, Luke returns from Afghanistan, where things have gone very wrong and have shaken up Luke's thoughts about war, loyalty and life in general. Shortly after Luke returns from war, Luke visits his grandma, Anne Quirk and both of them have things they would rather forget. Luke takes his grandma to Blackpool to see the " Illuminations" , a festival in Blackpool, and in so doing, not only is Blackpool illuminated at night, but so are family secrets and Luke's understanding of his family. As Luke discovers the truth about his grandma's early life, he is more able to forgive himself , and understands that each of us has our own story. It was a great read and immensely satisfying .

a snippet from the Guardian Review,which is such a great summary :The Illuminations is a book at once both tender and ambitious. In the writing of it, O’Hagan has cast a shimmering light on love and memory, life and loss and on the secrets we keep from those closest to us, sometimes even from ourselves.

Highly recommended! 4. 3 stars.

Great review of The Illuminations, Debbie. I have been both tempted and hesitant about reading this because I've heard the parts where the story takes place in Afghanistan are harrowing. I might add that onto my wish list at the library anyway.

Woot! Great review of The Illuminations, Deb! Love the quote from The Guardian, too. Put this one on my list when you started it and it sounded so promising. Glad it came through!

262 Caro, I think I would encourage you to try The Illuminations. I have read books where war was prominent, like All Quiet on the Western Front , and When No Birds Sang by Farley Mowat and both of those were pretty graphic. The Afghanistan had bits were it was graphic, but mostly I found the war part to a be a tad slow and way too much " fucken " talk. :) Overall, it's really a wonderful story, you could always ditch it if you did not like the Afghanistan bit.

@263 Nancy, it really did come through! I am quite sure you will enjoy it!

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