RebaRelishesReading 2016 - part 1

For those new to my thread, I'm a retired city planner living in San Diego. I spend summers at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York state. When in San Diego I spend my time volunteering with Knitting4Peace and the Assistance League, going to the symphony, enjoying the many wonderful restaurants in our neighborhood, doing needlework and, of course, reading. My favorite genre's are fiction, biography and history. I'm working on reading all of the winners of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and at least one work by each of the Nobel winners for literature. I've been on Library Thing for over eight years and this is my 5th year with the 75er's. I enjoy meeting my LT friends, have had seven meet-up's so far and am looking for more.

Books read in 2016 (I hope to do better than last year!)

1. The Men Who Lost America by Andrew Jackson O'Shaughnessy****1/2
2. Finding Perfect by Susan Mallery*** 1/2 (audio)
3. Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery*** 1/2 (audio)
4. What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada****1/2
5. Sister of the Bride by Susan Mallery***1/2
6. War of Two by John Sedgwick****1/2
7. Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell**
8. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez*****
9. The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny****1/2
10. Outpost of Occupation:How the Channel Islands Survived Nazi Rule 1940-45 by Barry Turner***1/2
11. Home BY Marilynne Robinson*****
12. Potsdam by Michael Newberg****(audio)
13. Dubliners by James Joyce****
14. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson****
15. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante**** (audio)
16. The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante****(audio)
17. Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker****(audio)
18. The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker****(audio)
19. Black Diamond by Martin Walker****(audio)
20. The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen**
21. The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker****(audio)
26. Honey in the Horn by H. L. Davis****
27. Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante****(audio)

PULITZER PRIZE WINNERS (for fiction) read in 2016:
68. The Sympathizer (2016) by Viet Thanh Nguyen
69. Honey in the Horn (1936) by H.L. Davis

Pulitzer Prize Winners read before 2016:
1. The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1928) by Thornton Wilder
2. The Magnificent Ambersons (1919) by Booth Tarkington
3. The Stories of John Cheever (1979)
4. The Optimist’s Daughter (1973) by Eudora Welty
5. The Able McLaughlins (1924) by Margaret Wilson
6. His Family (1918 – first award) by Ernest Poole
7. Early Autumn (1927) by Louis Bromfield
8. The Reivers (1963) by William Faulkner
9. A Death in the Family (1958) by James Agee
10.The Good Earth (1932) by Pearl Buck
11.Angle of Repose (1972) by Wallace Stegner
12. A Visit from the Goon Squad (2011) by Jennifer Egan
13. Tinkers (2010) by Paul Harding
14. Olive Kitteridge (2009) by Elizabeth Strout
15. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (2008) by Junot Diaz
16. The Road (2007) by Cormac McCarthy
17. March (2006) by Geraldine Brooks
18. Gilead (2005) by Marilynne Robinson
19. The Known World (2004) by Edward P. Jones
20. Middlesex (2003) by Jeffrey Eugenides
21. Empire Falls (2002) by Richard Russo
22. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (2001) by Michael Chabon
23. Interpreter of Maladies (2000) by Jhumpa Lagiri
24. The Hours (1999) by Michael Cunningham
25. American Pastoral (1998) by Philip Roth
26. Independence Day (1996) by Richard Ford
27. The Stone Diaries (1995) by Carol Shields
28. The Shipping News (1994) by E. Annie Proulx
29. A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain (1993) by Robert Olen Butler
30. A Thousand Acres (1992) by Jane Smiley
31. Rabbit at Rest (1991) by John Updike
32. The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love (1990) by Oscar Hijuelos
33. Breathing Lessons (1989) by Anne Tyler
34. Beloved (1988) by Toni Morrison
35. A Summons to Memphis (1987) by Peter Taylor
36. Lonesome Dove (1986) by Larry Mcmurtry
37. Foreign Affairs (1985) by Alison Lurie
38. Ironweed (1984) by William Kennedy
39. The Color Purple (1983) by Alice Walker
40. Rabbit is Rich (1982) by John Updike
41. A Confederacy of Dunces (1961) by John Kennedy Toole
42.Humboldt’s Gift (1976) by Saul Bellow
43. House Made of Dawn (1969) by N. Scott Momaday
44. To Kill a Mockingbird (1961) by Harper Lee
45. The Old Man and the Sea (1953) by Ernest Hemingway
46. The Grapes of Wrath (1940) by John Steinbeck
47. The Yearling (1939) by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
48. Gone With the Wind (1937) by Margaret Mitchell
49. Arrowsmith (1926) by Sinclair Lewis
50. So Big (1925) by Edna Ferber
51. One of Ours (1923) by Willa Silbert Cather
52. Alice Adams (1922) by Booth Tarkington
53. The Age of Innocence (1921) by Edith Wharton
54. The Orphan Master's Son (2013)
55. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren (1947)
56. The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter (1966)
57. The Keepers of the House by Shirley Ann Grau (1965)
58. Martin Dressler: A Tale of an American Dreamer by Steven Millhauser (1997)
59. The Fixer by Bernard Malamud(1967)
60. Elbow Room by James Alan McPherson (1978)
61. A Bell for Adano by John Hersey (1945)
62. The Late George Apley by John P. Marquand
63. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (1975)
64. The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk (1952)
65. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (2014)
66. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (2015)
67. The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron (1968)

Books by Nobel Prize Winners read in 2016

Book by Nobel Prize Winners read before 2016

1. Ernest Hemingway (1954): A Moveable Feast, The Sun Also Rises, Old Man and the Sea
2. Pearl Buck (1938): The Good Earth
3. W. B. Yeats (1923): A Poet to His Beloved: The Early Love Poems of W. B. Yeats
4. William Faulkner (1949): The Reivers
5. Doris Lessing (2007): The Sweetest Dream
6. Gunter Grass (1999): The Box: Tales from the Dark Room
7. Rudyard Kipling (1907): Captains Courageous
8. Yasunari Kawabata (1968): Snow Country
9. Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1982): Love in the Time of Cholera
10. Mario Vargas Llosa (2010): The Storyteller
11. Sinclair Lewis (1930): Main Street, Babbitt, Arrowsmith
12. John Steinbeck (1962): The Grapes of Wrath
13. Saul Bellow (1976): Humboldt’s Gift, Herzog
14. Toni Morrison (1993): Beloved, The Bluest Eye
15. John M. Coetzee (2003); Disgrace
16. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse (1946)
17. Fatelessness by Imre Kertesz (2002)
18. Vipers' Tangle by Francois Mauriac (1952)
19. Red Sorghum by Mo Yan (2012)
20. Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot(1948)
21. The First Man by Albert Camus (1957)
22. Cain by Jose Saramago (1998)
23. The Appointment by Herta Muller (2009)
24. Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahrouz (1988)
25. Dear Life by Alice Munro (2013)
26. One Day in the Life of Ivan denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1970)
27. Silent House by Orhan Pamuk (2006)
28. Old Love by Isaac Bashevis Singer (1978)

note: the year in parenthesis is the year the author was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature

My reading goals for 2016:
- read more than I buy
- read at least 75 books
- enjoy what I read and don't stress over the numbers

If this list looks familiar, it's because I didn't do well in 2015 and am repeating the goals in hopes of meeting them this year.

Welcome one and all!! I hope you have a wonderful 2016 full of great reading and I hope to see you here often :)

Welcome back!

Welcome home!


Happy New Year!

Reba, one of those stars is going to be permanently affixed to your thread. I think your reading goals for 2016 are right on especially enjoy what I read and don't stress over the numbers. Reading is Fun not a chore. Have a wonderful reading year.

Starred!

Hi Reba, I've got you starred!

Happy New Year, Reba! There's nothing wrong with repeating goals - practice makes perfect :-)

Happy New Year, Reba! Dropping my star...

Hi Jim, Roni, Donna, Katie, Diana, Susan and Mamie!! So nice to see you all. I have you all starred and ready to go too :) Hope you had a fun new year holiday and that 2016 is going to treat you well.

Have a wonderful bookfilled 2016, Reba.

Hi Reba! I look forward to keeping up with your reading and your travels in 2016!

Happy 2016 to you and your family!

You're starred, Reba! Happy New Year to you.

Hi Paul, Amy, Rhonda and Anne -- it's really nice to see you here! Hope you all have a wonderful 2016 too.

Happy New Year!

(Your topper isn't working on my screen, who knows why!)

>21 sibylline: Nor in mine.

I don't know either. I'll try to find something else to put there tomorrow :)

Hope this topper is working better.

>24 RebaRelishesReading: I see it! Hi Reba!

Me, too, Reba!

Hi Susan and Mamie -- glad it's working.

The beginning of a week-long train-of-rain has arrived. It's so nice to be getting some wet weather again :)

This sign on a library near my house gave me a chuckle this morning -- had to share :)

Has to be the branch on Park Avenue next to the Sprouts--I've chuckled at it many a time. Did you get the tornado warning? They've cancelled it now but we still have the flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings. The pictures from yesterday's storm were bad enough--did you see the San Diego Mission?

>28 RebaRelishesReading: That's a great quote!

I'm supposed to be headed your way for a meeting in a couple of weeks! I think Lori (@thornton37814) has mentioned this on Roni's thread. We're going to the same meeting, but sadly we won't be in control of our schedules or transportation. I love San Diego and I'm looking forward to even a brief visit.

>28 RebaRelishesReading: I have that quote on my office coffee mug.

Glad I finally found your thread - you are duly starred!

>29 ronincats: Indeed it was Roni. I needed to renew my library card and was in the area so, although that isn't my favorite branch, I stopped. And, yes, my cell phone kept busy with weather warning yesterday. I also saw the Mission on the news. We need the water but, of course, when it comes this way it's a bit much. At least there's blue sky overhead right now :)

>30 cbl_tn: Hi Carrie, nice to see you here. It would be nice to try for a meet-up with you, Lori, Roni and me when you're here. I'm going to be out of town from 26th to Feb 3 but am fairly free until then. Where is your meeting?

>31 Copperskye: Perfect quote for you Joanne -- hope you smile when you see it :) Glad you've found my thread.

That is one of my favorite quotes, Reba. It makes me laugh every time.

That flooding rain and tornado warning yesterday were crazy, not to mention scary! I hope things have all calmed down now and that you (and Roni) remain safe and relatively dry.

>32 RebaRelishesReading: Our meeting is at Point Loma University. Our small group tends not to plan our meal locations too far in advance. We usually eat at Point Loma Seafood once during the meeting, and most of the time we end up at an Ocean Beach restaurant for one of our meals.

Enjoy!

>33 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie -- nice to make you laugh since you make me smile so often

>34 Storeetllr: Hi Mary -- we're fine. I didn't even get wet. We park in a garage in our building so I don't get wet getting to the car and every time I went out there was a break in the rain when I got where I was going. When the tornado warning said to go to a "central room on the lowest floor of your house" I did worry a bit since we live on the corner of the 6th (top) floor of our building but there weren't any actual tornados so all was well. Today the sky is blue and the sun is shining on a lovely clean world. Did hear we got 5-6 inches of rain (depending on location) in this series of storms which will really help the drought!!! The redwoods in Balboa Park have been looking really, really stressed lately...maybe they'll perk up now.

>35 cbl_tn: Hi Carrie -- I'll PM you my email. Let me know if you have a little notice of when we might meet up and I'll see if we can arrange something.

>36 DianaNL: Dank je wel, Diana. Ik hoop dat jij ook een fijne weekend heb!

Happy Saturday, Reba!

>34 Storeetllr:, >37 RebaRelishesReading: Oh, wow, I hadn't heard 5-6 inches of rain fell. Happily, I haven't heard of any mudslides either, so that's a good thing. Glad you are safe and stayed dry! Happy for the trees and other plants that are probably so grateful for the rain.

Wow, that's a lot of rain! In CO, it's often feast or famine for us: terrible drought, or torrential rain that floods. I know your moisture was much needed, but I hope you stay safe!

Mornin' Marie, Mary and Anne -- thanks for your concern. We're fine and unlikely to ever be involved in a disaster, except perhaps an earthquake. I vaguely heard about some mud-slides up in the L.A. area but there was nothing serious that I know of here in San Diego -- just some flooded roadways and a few dwellings with wet floors. Serious enough if they're your floors, of course, but not life-threatening.

The Men Who Lost America by Andres Jackson O'Shaughnessy ****1/2

from the jacket"

"...a remarkable book about an important but curiously under appreciated subject: the British side of the American Revolution."

"...unique account of the American Revolution, told from the perspectives of King George III, Lord North, General Burgoyne, and other British leaders, brings to light the real reasons behind the British Empire's stunning and unexpected loss".

This interesting book provides a brief personal description of ten British leaders of the war to keep America and then describes the obstacles they were facing that led to their failure. It makes the case that these were able, earnest men and not bumbling, arrogant fools (as they are sometimes depicted), capable leaders who were facing huge problems including distance from their homelands, more resistance that was expected in America, and lack of allies. I listened to most of it on audio which was very well read but then bought the book to make it easier to use for reference. It's very good either way.

>42 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, that does look like an interesting one. I suppose the British never come out of it well in US history classes :-)

True, Susan. One of the great revelations of my young life was when I got to university and took American history from an English professor. This book seems equally anxious to vindicate the subjects to British history though. I think you would enjoy it...in fact, I'll have to go see how I came to know about it because I assumed it was one of the many I heard about from you.

>42 RebaRelishesReading: I think that one's already on my wishlist or library TBR list. I'm glad to hear it's such a good read!

>42 RebaRelishesReading: That looks like one with a different perspective, Reba. Probably a perspective that I am more used to having studied history north of the US border. I became interested in the American Revolution while researching my family history. An ancestor received a land grant in Canada West (Ontario) in 1897 and I thought he might be a late loyalist. I was very surprised to find his pension records from having fought for the US side!

I've finally discovered your thread. It would be fun to meet up while Carrie and I are in San Diego. I don't know how easy it will be to get free time because we tend to be in meetings most of the time we are there. I know that our agenda has increased a bit in the last month so I'm hoping we will have just a bit of time.

Nice review, Reba! That looks like one I would like, so I'll have to see if the library has it.

>45 cbl_tn: Hi Carrie -- hope you enjoy it when you get it

>46 Familyhistorian: Interesting twist, Meg. Do you have any idea now why he moved north

>47 thornton37814: Hi Lori -- At this point it looks like I'm fairly free so maybe could respond on short-notice. It isn't far. I'll send you a PM

>48 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie -- hope you can find it.

I took a course in college of the colonization of NA from the pov of everyone else - read some original documents then that must have gone into this book, which I might have to go find. Fascinating stuff.

>49 RebaRelishesReading: Probably for land I would think as land grants were being given. A lot of the land went to Loyalists but it looks like some other Americans must have tagged along too.

> Hi Lucy. I agree, history in general is fascinating to me but especially when presented from a new point of view.

>51 Familyhistorian: Mornin' Meg. I just bought Liberty's Exiles: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World by Maya Jasanoff. I expect to find out more about such things from it.

>52 RebaRelishesReading: I got Liberty's Exiles last month, Reba. I am starting to get a few books about the revolution to get a better idea of what was going on at the time. Now to find the time to read it!

We all know there are two sides to the story…to bad we only get the slanted version most of the time when we are in school. That's why reading is so great, we can explore all angles of a subject. Thanks for calling this book to our attention, Reba. I always say I am going to read more nonfiction...

Hi Meg -- I'll be interested to hear what you think about it. I do know what you mean about finding the time to read it. I've done very little "reading with my eyes" in the past year and much more listening to audio books because I can do that while I walk or work on embroider project.

Hi Donna -- indeed

Finding Perfect by Susan Mallery ***1/2

These books set in Foods Gold nearly fall into a category of "guilty pleasure" reading but it is interesting how she manages to include some modern issues in the discussion. In this book, Pia's widowed best friend dies and, without warning or discussion, leaves her frozen embryos to Pia who has to decide whether to have them implanted or not and raise the resulting children or not. It is in no way "preachy" but does quietly raise an issue that leaves you wondering what you would do under similar circumstances.

Have a lovely weekend!

What a wonderful picture - makes me smile every time I look at it. Hope you're having a good weekend too, Diana.

Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery ***1/2 (audio)

Another day with nothing on the calendar which meant I actually took a walk (with my audio along) and then spent most of the rest of the day embroidering while listening to this second in the Fool's Gold series. I got mixed up and read the third one second which doesn't really matter because each book is basically the story of a different character. Even though there is clear sequence the accent on individuals one per book makes it less important that they be read in sequence. It's been a long time since I indulged in pure romance such as these books but it's a pleasant break from non-fiction and more serious fiction.

>59 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, what a lovely day - embroidery and an audiobook! I will pretend I didn't see that you'd read them out of order :-) I hope your Sunday is just as stitchy.

What Do You Do With an Idea?} by Kobi Yamada ****1/2
illustrated by Mae Besom

This lovely book looks like a children's book but describes itself as "a story for anyone, at any age, who's ever had an idea that seemed a little too big, too odd, too difficult". It came to me as a Christmas gift in thanks for work I do for an organization called "Knitting for Peace". The illustrations are beautiful and so is the message of the book.

>60 susanj67: Hi Susan. Thanks for over-looking my out-of-order-reading lol. Today will also include some embroider and audiobook I hope, although not as much. I've cued up book four and notice it's only a little over 2 hours so I should finish that one today without a problem. Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday too.

The new topper photo appeared on a friend's Facebook -- I couldn't resist :)

So cute, Reba! I LIKE!

An audio book while cross-stitching seems like a good option for me at some point. However, I think I would have to put that audio book on the laptop or iPad instead of the phone so the battery doesn't drain as much. I put the ones for the car on the phone so I can plug into in the little audio jack that goes into the car's audio system.

Morning Lori -- I use my mini-iPad because I never seem to have enough memory on my phone I bought an inexpensive cross-body bag so I can carry it easily when walking and it sits on the table beside me very politely when I'm embroidering. If my hubby is around I plug in my earbuds; if I'm alone I use a little bluetooth speaker.

Hi Reba! Glad that you are getting some good reading in.

Good morning, Rhonda -- nice to see you

>61 RebaRelishesReading: I recently bought this one for Charlie - it's just lovely, isn't it?

Hi Amber -- yes "lovely" is the perfect word.

Hello hello! Don't you love days with "nothing" on the calendar. So rare, so precious.

Just complained over on Mamie's thread that my fitbit doesn't register properly when I am x-country skiing - so it looks as though I haven't been making 10,000 when, in terms of effort and distance, I have indeed been doing so most of the time. There have been a few less than 10,000 but pretty much my usual "once a week". And yet, somehow, I gained almost two pounds, the regulation amount in the last two months. Bleh!

Sorry you're having Fitbit problems. I've learned that if I'm carrying something in my right arm or pushing a grocery cart my steps don't register but if I take my Fitbit off and put it into my pocket they do. I haven't checked whether it's 100% accurate that way but it's better than nothing. I haven't been walking by 10,000 lately because I've been busy and unable to find the time. We're going to Chautauqua next week and when we get back I plan to really get going again.

Thank you, Diana. Hope your father is doing well.

Hello Reba, happy weekend to you!

>66 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba! I have an iPod Nano that works well for audiobooks. Like you, I use a little bluetooth speaker for listening unless I'm cleaning and need to use the earbuds. I was too sleepy to read on the plane today so I listened to my audiobook on the Nano while I worked puzzles on my iPad.

Thanks, Anne. Hope yours was great too.

Hi Carrie -- sounds like a plan :)

We're heading off to Chautauqua tomorrow to see about maybe buying a slightly larger condo there. Should be an interesting experience for a couple of Californians in a western New York winter landscape :) Thank heavens the blizzard missed us so there are a couple of inches of snow on the ground instead of a couple of feet. I'm not taking the laptop with me so will be out of touch until we get back to San Diego.

>78 RebaRelishesReading: Having just been in San Diego and having left and come back to snow, I don't envy you the trip. Will be looking forward to hearing what you decide about the condo.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Have a great time at Chatauqua!

I might try putting the fitbit in my pocket when I ski, maybe that will help?

Happy Friday, Reba!

War of Two by John Sedgwick ****1/2 (audio)

This well-written (and very well read) book provides parallel biographies of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr showing how their background varied and how their lives became entwined as adults. I read a biography of Hamilton a few years ago so I knew the general outline of his life but I really knew almost nothing about Burr except that he had been Vice President and that he had killed Hamilton in a duel. My goodness, what a life that man led! I think that anyone interested in the founding of the U. S. would thoroughly enjoy this book either in audio or written form.

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell** (audio)

OK, what do I say about this one... For starters, I think I would have liked it much better if I had read a paper copy instead of listening to it. Its sassy sarcasm might have been amusing in print. It contains a reasonable amount of information behind the sarcasm, although I've been reading a fair amount of early U. S. history lately and there was nothing new in this one. The real problem was that the book was read by the author who has a nasal voice and jerky reading style that was very annoying and sometimes hard to understand. Worse yet, the book it about half quotes (most of which are redundant to what she just wrote and add nothing to the book) and there is a cast of people who voice those quotes with attempts at accents imagined to match the original speaker. They are distracting, emphasize the redundancy of the quotes and are often difficult to understand. I don't think I would have managed to get beyond the first chapter except my husband and I were listening together during the quiet evenings at Chautauqua and he didn't think it was as bad as I did.

The Book of Unknown Americans by Christina Henriquez*****

And then I was rewarded with this lovely book!!! The Book of Unknown Americans deals with the lives of various immigrants to the U. S. from different South and Central American countries who end up living in the same run-down apartment building in Delaware. It includes everyone's background, why the came to the U. S. and how their lives in Delaware are going. It's touching, beautifully written and a pure delight.

Hi Lori, Diana, Lucy and Mamie -- so nice to find you waiting for me when I got home :)

We had a great time at Chautauqua. We both were a bit apprehensive about a trip to the Northeast in mid-winter but it turned out not to be a problem. We had a requested (and got) a small SUV with 3-wheel drive and all-weather tires but we really didn't need it in the end. When we arrived Tuesday night the roads were all clear and remained so through Thursday. On Friday the temps dipped to a high of 21 and it snowed most of the day but we didn't need to drive anywhere so we just left the car parked until Sunday, by which time the roads were clear again. When we left yesterday it was 62 degrees in Erie -- the same as the high in San Diego yesterday.



The snow that fell was pure powder and, since Chautauqua is very quiet in the winter, it stayed white the entire time we were there. It was SO beautiful. The day after the snow storm was sunny (but cold) and we got to take a ride around the grounds on a horse drawn wagon. I was like a kid!!

As to the reason for the trip...we looked at seven houses/condos on Wednesday afternoon and immediately discarded five of them but two townhouses, which had the same floor plan in the same project, seemed to fit our needs. The less expensive one had a location we liked better so we made an offer on that one and we're now under contract and will probably own it in a month. This changes our summer plans since we had intended to go to Chautauqua starting week 5 (late July) but now we'll go in early June so we can move our personal things from our "tiny home" (which is now for sale) to the new place.

Reba, that's exciting news about the new house! And I love your snow pictures. I have just read The Book of Unknown Americans and also thought it was excellent. It seems to be very popular on LT right now, so I'm glad I found it.

Welcome home, Reba! We missed you! Sounds like you made excellent use of your time - congrats on finding a property that you liked. And I love the photos! Thanks so much for sharing those. You got me with War of Two - adding it to my giant list!

Hi Susan -- glad you like the photos. It was really magical. I hadn't seen it snow for t least 15 years and I really enjoyed it...although a week was about enough :)

Thanks Mamie, how nice of you to say all of those things. Hope you get to War of Two. I thought it was really good.

Reba, such wonderful news about the new house!



Have a good one!

Ah, you're *back* from Chataqua! Time seems to have gotten away from me... War of Two is a definite BB. And I'm so glad you also liked The Book of Unknown Americans!

Hi Diana -- hope your weekend is going well too :)

Yep, Katie, we're back. I may have gotten the BB from you for The Book of Unknown Americans (I think I did)...I've told a bunch of RL friends about it this weekend. Great book. I really liked War of Two as well. You are not going to believe what all Burr got up to!

What a successful trip to Chautauqua! I love the picture of the horse drawn wagon. I'm glad you found a townhouse you liked! And I'm thrilled that you liked The Book of Unknown Americans. It was one of my favorites from last year, even better than I had expected.

Congrats on your new home! How exciting:)

Great pictures and hooray for a successful trip. Nice book reviews! I put War of Two on my wish-list,...

Congrats about finding the right house in Chatauqua. The photos are beautiful.

Yah, I've heard Sarah Vowell on NPR and I don't know if I could take her voice for a whole book. For a short, humorous essay, fine.

Hi Amy -- that horse drawn wagon ride was so wonderful I felt like a kid on Christmas morning The Book of Unknown Americans fit perfectly into our flights home. I started it as we left Erie and finished it as we were in the final stages of descent over San Diego. I hate flying but that book make it quite bearable.

Thanks, Anne -- yes, we're excited although will be more so when we actually get to move in next spring.

Hi Rhonda -- I don't think you'll regret The War of Two. I really found it interesting and enjoyed the read/listen

Hi Lucy -- I'm pretty sure I would have given up on Sarah Vowell if it hadn't been our "evening entertainment" at Chautauqua

I met a friend for a walk this morning. We had to go early because it's supposed to be 80 degrees today!! It was still pretty warm even at 9:00 a.m....but beautiful :)

Wow you've been busy! Congratulations on finding a house so quickly! The photos are lovely, although I still cringe at the sight of snow, just a little. :)

I did it!! At 7:30 last evening I finished the table cloth I've been working on for the past 2 1/2 years. It was fun, and really quite relaxing, but I'm ready to move on to something else...like maybe reading with my eyes instead of my ears for a change :)

Hi Jenn -- thanks for stopping by. I loved the snow for the week we were there although I wouldn't be up for a whole winter of it. On the other hand, I wish our winter here in San Diego wouldn't be 82 degrees like it is today. A nice cool, occasionally rainy, winter season would be nice :)

Nicely done, Reba! It is a thing of beauty, for sure. Truly gorgeous! I would never have had the patience for that.

Thanks Mamie. I found it relaxing, unlike a lot of cross stitch that requires constant pattern checking and thread switching. I did it in sections and I knew the pattern for each part after one or two and then could just go on auto pilot from there. Also, I did one color at a time so no hassle there either. I enjoyed doing it but I am quite ready to move on to something else now.

Lovely tablecloth. Beautiful colour. What an achievement (I admire your patience as well as the craft skills).

Reba, that is *stunning*!!!!! What a lovely thing to have made. Congratulations on a beautiful finish!

Oh, that's gorgeous!! Well done, you!

Charlotte, Susan and Mary -- thank you all. It was fun.

Santa honored my request for a Mahjongg set this year (I've asked before but he never took me seriously) so Hubby and I are learning to play. We found another interested couple and a friend and some of her Mahjongg group are teaching us. Second lesson this afternoon. It's a surprisingly complicated game...but fun.

>100 RebaRelishesReading: That is lovely

Gorgeous tablecloth, Reba! And the mah jongg sounds like fun!

>100 RebaRelishesReading: Gorgeous!! Well done. :)

That's beautiful, Reba!



Have a happy weekend.

Thank you so much Katie, Jenn and Diana -- hope you all have a great weekend too :)

So I'm finally reading "real" books again (as opposed to audio) and am in the middle of the latest Louise Penney. I really want to finish here and go read but I have to clean the house...:(...really I do because it's very dusty and people are coming over this afternoon...don't wanna...wahhhhhh

>100 RebaRelishesReading: Lovely tablecloth!

Thanks, Lori :)

The Nature of the Beast by Louise penny****1/2

A 9-year-old boy known for his wild tales of adventure runs into the Three Pines bistro claiming to have seen a huge gun with a monster on it. Used to his fantasies, no one in the room believes him or gives it much thought. But there is a beast who has been in the woods near Three Pines for years without anyone knowing about it.

Another gripping, fun read about the good people of Three Pines and their recently arrived neighbor, Chief Inspector Gamache, retired.

I don't know how Louise Penny does it! I've loved everyone of her books. Glad you enjoyed this one, Reba!

Happy Valentine's Day, Reba!

A new Three Pines! They are a bit silly, but I enjoy then.

-25 here this a.m. so your blossoms look surreal to me.

Hi Amy -- I don't know either. This one wasn't my favorite but it was still great. Still looking forward to the next one.

Thanks Mamie -- you too :)

Hi Lucy -- it's a bit unreal for here too. Our temps should be in the 60's in February but are in the 80's instead. Ornamental pear does usually bloom in January though, so that's "right" at least. Love the photo -- that isn't Posy is it? Stay warm!!

I had lunch with Roni yesterday and I'm here to testify that the blue streaks in her hair look awesome!!

I suppose if I actually posted something I might have a visitor. I'm trying to get back into a walking routine so left the house about 9:30 this morning trying to get back before it got too hot. I'm listening to Potsdam by Michael Newberg as I walk and was so interested I just keep walking and got my entire 10,000 steps before I got home. I'm feeling quite smug this afternoon :)

Look at you! You are ahead of me today so far, Reba - I only have 5,681 steps, so I need to get going. I love when an audiobook grabs you like that!

What a good way of walking, when the audiobook is so good you keep on going. :-)

>125 Crazymamie: I need to go check the Fitbit site and see how we ended up last night :)

>126 DianaNL: I'm still working on the walking and the listening. It's a really interesting book.

>124 RebaRelishesReading: Oh dear. I am horribly behind with this series. Must be good if you did all the steps at once - that's quite a recommendation. What's the narrator like?

Morning, Reba!

>128 charl08: Hi Charlotte! I think the narrator is great. Very easy to listen to. Book is very interesting too. Lots of new perspective on an event in history I thought I knew something about.

>129 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Nice to see you here :)

Nice to see our two lovely West Coast ladies have had another meet up.

I realised just now that I haven't delurked here for a while Reba so I thought it opportune to wish you a lovely Sunday.

Morning, Reba! Happy Sunday!

Hi Paul and Mamie -- thanks so much for stopping by (and letting me know about it). I hope you have/had a great Sunday too.

Hi Reba :-) I hope your weekend with the grandchildren is going well, and the waffles were excellent.

Thanks. Susan. The waffles were great and made by my grandson with only supervision from me. He did a super job!! We went to movies on Saturday and saw Ernie the Eagle which we all four loved. It has a message of persevere, don't let other people's negative talk get into you mind, work hard, etc. that I think is important for kids plus it's funny and heart-warming. Very good weekend.

Hope you had a good one too!

Reba, that does sound like a most excellent weekend! Plus, waffles.

Thanks, Mamie, it was. You feeling better?

I am. Much better, thanks for asking. Happy Tuesday to you!

Tuesday was busy. I went to Michael's for embroidery thread, then drove up to Carlsbad to a European market to get some treats for my son who is deployed in Kuwait, then visited a friend in the hospital before going to lunch at a new Japanese restaurant my husband found. In the afternoon I tried to catch up a bit at my desk and then, finally, found time to read and finish a book. (note, no mention of walking in there except that associated with the errands).

>139 RebaRelishesReading: That does sound busy, Reba, but it looks like they were all enjoyable things.

Well, some walking is better than no walking, Reba. I haven't been getting much of it done myself lately. Your Tuesday does sound busy. Hoping that your Wednesday is more relaxed.

Outposst of Occupation: How the Channel Islands Survived Nazi Rule 1940-45 by Barry Turner ***1/2

We bought this book on Guernsey this summer and my husband read it then. My interest was awakened both by our visit to the Channel Islands and by The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society which I read (and very much enjoyed) a couple of years ago. This non-fiction account is written from a rather defensive position in response to notion that "come what may, (no one in the U.K.) would ever have surrendered" and that there is something blameworthy in the fact that the Channel Islands were occupied. There were also suspicions that those who tried to continue civilian government under the Germans during the occupation were collaborators. Turner points out that the U. K. had left the Channel Islands totally undefended because they didn't they think were important enough to either side to worry about. He also takes the position that those who worked with the Germans to administer the islands were protecting the population and making the occupation as endurable as possible.Given that there was one (sometimes more) German soldier per islander, and their weapons had been taken from them, there was little else they could do. When the Germans started building the Atlantic Wall and brought prisoners to the islands, islanders risked their lives to help those who escaped and other acts of personal bravery are recounted but, overall, there was simply little the people of the Channel Islands could do to resist.

The book does a good job of making this case and does, in the process, provide a sense of what life was like. I was hoping the emphasis would be more on the daily lives of those living under the occupation than a defense of their relationship with the Germans.

Just waving hello :)

>143 nittnut: And hello back, Jenn. Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Thursday, Reba!

Thank you, Mamie and Diana. I hope you both have lovely weekends.

Go Reba! with the walking!!

Oh my, I got so far behind. Thanks for not giving up on me, Reba. I enjoy your visits to my thread.

Congratulations on your New York townhouse. I would imagine the tiny place will sell quickly with the updates you've made. Will you be spending more time there? I loved the snow pictures. Quite a contrast to San Diego.

What a lovely tablecloth. I had no idea it was so big. I would put plastic placemats down for the grandkids when they come to eat.

Thanks for the encouragement Lucy. I seem to have gotten busy again and haven't been doing well for the past few days. Your words remind me to get busy.

Hi Donna. Thanks for the good thoughts about selling our tiny place at Chautauqua. We do plan to spend some more time there in that we now plan to go for the entire season each summer plus a couple of weeks before and after. We hit that snow just right. We had one day of beautiful snow-fall, one day of beautiful snow on the ground with sunshine and then it went away. I understand it's going to be in the 60's this week.

As to the tablecloth. I think I'll be somewhat cautious what I serve on it and I don't plan to put it on the table with the grandkids are here -- at least for a while :)

Wow, this is being a weird week! We had lunch with Hubby's best friend of 50 years, C, and his lady on Monday. Conversation full of talk about possible future trips. Meanwhile the husband of my best friend (of 30 years) is very ill in hospital. He was moved to ICU yesterday and I wouldn't have been surprised to get "a call" this morning. Instead, we got a call from the lady friend of C informing us that he had died in his sleep last night. Wow!! Can't really believe it yet. Hubby is doing well so far but I know it hasn't really sunk in for him either.

Reba, I've read this through a half dozen times and am still having trouble wrapping my head around it, and I've never even met the people concerned. My sympathy to you, your husband, and all your friends. What a shock!

Thanks Roni. We've never lost a really good friend before though and it is a shock. Good news on one front, however. My friend with the sick husband reported an hour ago that he has improved a bit.

>151 RebaRelishesReading: Sorry to hear about your husband's friend. So unexpected, and so shocking. I'm glad your friend's husband is doing better. Fingers crossed.

Oh Reba, what terrible news. My sympathy to you and your husband. Please take care. xx

I am so sorry to hear about the death of your friend, Reba. That just boggles the mind. Keeping you and your husband in my thoughts and prayers.

Add my thoughts to everyone else's. So sorry.

Thank you Jenn, Diana, Mamie and Lucy. I appreciate your kind thoughts.

Oh Reba, my prayers for you and your husband. What a shock to lose a friend right after seeing him.

Thanks, Amy. We are very grateful we had the nice time with him on Monday though.

Hi Reba! I'm working on getting caught up around LT. So sorry to hear about the sudden loss of your friend. What a shock!

It was, Katie -- thank you.

So sorry about the death of your friend. What a shock!

Thanks, Rhonda. It was indeed. Meanwhile, other friend is doing well, so that's a relief.

So, to cap off last week, on Friday I developed a back cramp. Worst I've had in a long time. Finally got to the doctor yesterday and got some muscle relaxers and pain meds so I'm a bit doppy today (even more than usual lol) but at least it doesn't hurt anymore. Hope to be back to normal by tomorrow.

Sorry to hear about the back pain. I'm having a good day today--stomach pain is gone!

Hi Roni -- glad you're feeling well again. I think I am too. Took pills when I got up this morning but none since and not even a twinge :)

Home by Marilynne Robinson*****

A benefit of being somewhat laid up the past few days was time to finish this lovely, sad book. it is a companion to Gilead and Lila in that it deals with the namesake of Rev. Ames, Jack Broughton, who is the son of Ames' best friend, Rev. Broughton. Jack had a troubled youth but was still his father's favorite. As a young adult he disappears and has no contact with the family for twenty years before returning home at the beginning of this book to join his frail father and youngest sister who is back home suffering from heart break herself. Beautifully written as are all three of Robinson's books that I have read.

Potsdam by Michael Newberg**** (audio)

I very much enjoyed this description of the people involved in the Potsdam conference that followed World War II and of the conference itself. I learned a number of things that were totally new to me and also gained a better understanding of the goals and background understand of the various participants were. My husband will like this one too so I plan to listen to it again in May/June as we drive to Chautauqua. Good read (or, in this case, listen).

I "need" to start a new book today and just noticed the photo of a blackboard on Katie's thread that suggested reading Joyce. I bought Dubliners last summer when I was in London and thought we were going on to Ireland. We skipped Ireland and I skipped the book but I just dug it out to start today. Hear that, Susan? I'm going to start Dubliners this afternoon :)

Did I hear my na - oh, hi Reba! Yay for Dubliners! I hadn't even reminded you for a while :-)

I'm so sorry about your husband's friend. What a terrible shock for you all.

I hope your back is doing OK again.

I got it out but never found time to start it. My back is doing fine. The death was indeed a shock but Hubby is doing OK with it. I'll try to keep you posted on the Dubliners 🙂

I'm glad you and hubby are doing OK.



Happy Weekend!

Thank you Diana. Hope you guys are too.

I noticed that Marilynne Robinson had written a fourth novel (her first) called Housekeeping so I ordered it from Amazon. Look what a cute little thing arrived in my mailbox yesterday!!

I hope you enjoy Dubliners, Reba! And Housekeeping is wonderful, too!

That's a gorgeous edition - hope you enjoy it.

Thanks Char and Katie! So far I'm still working on the introduction to the Dubliners which is an interesting mini-biography of Joyce. It's been a busy weekend and tomorrow we're going to Yuma to meet-up with some friends so won't get anything done then either. Maybe I'll make it to an actual story on Tuesday.

The Dubliners is a good one. Sorry to hear about your friend.

Thank you, Meg, that's very kind of you.

>168 RebaRelishesReading: I've read a lot of Robinson's books, but I don't remember reading Home. I'm sure I'll get to it sometime.

Have a wonderful Easter.

Thank you, Diana and Paul. I hope you have a zalig Pasen, Diana and that you have a great weekend, Paul.

It's a good read, Lori. Hope you get to it and enjoy it.

>168 RebaRelishesReading: That one is on my shelf. Great review! I need to bump it up the list and get to it soon.

Thank you, Jenn. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante**** (audio)

Translated from Italian, this first of four "Neapolitan" novels is the story of two smart girls growing up in a working class neighborhood in Naples in the 1950's. I found the characters to be well-drawn and interesting but beyond the attraction of the people in the story, I was also drawn to the description of life in Naples in the mid-20th century. A thoroughly enjoyable book. (I'm loading the second volume as I write this. Can't wait to continue).

Hi Reba! I haven't gotten to Ferrante's books yet, but it sounds like I need to get to them soon!

And your comments on Home make me want to go back and re-read all of Robinson's books. I love her!

Hi Amy! Nice to see you. I'm working on the second Ferrante now and still enjoying them. I've never read anything set in Naples before and I think she does a great job of putting you in the place plus describing the lives of these girls coming of age in mid-20th century working class there.

I'm going to start Robinson's Housekeeping today.

Dubliners by James Joyce****

I bought this book last summer in London because we were supposed to be going on to Dublin and I like to read books with a connection to places I'm visiting. When our plans changed and we didn't go to Ireland I put the book aside for "later" (since I've always been rather intimidated by Joyce). I decided to get it out for St. Patrick's Day, started it a few days later and enjoyed it! The edition I bought has an interesting introduction with a short bio of Joyce and a discussion of his books. It also has a very useful appendix with translations of Irish expressions and Gaelic words plus information about places that are named int he book, all of which was very helpful. The book itself is a series of short stories about people in Dublin. I'm not a great fan of short stories because I prefer to get to know the characters better than is possible in that genre and most of these are very short stories. Nevertheless, they are so well written that I enjoyed them a great deal. It also helped that I lived in Dublin for two years in the early '80's and am familiar with many of the locations and the cultural setting. Almost makes me brave enough to tackle Ulysses (not!). :)

>190 RebaRelishesReading: I enjoyed The Dubliners too although I am also intimidated by Joyce. It seemed like a great introduction to his work but I haven't yet had the ambition to tackle a complete book by him.

>190 RebaRelishesReading: I've successfully avoided Joyce so far but you're tempting me with your review of Dubliners. I like the sound of the map and glossary too.

Go for it, Reba! I could see LISTENING to the brilliant Donal Donelly reading Ulysses but with a copy of the book handy for looking this and that up. He reads it so well, that it all makes perfect sense. He does a huge amount of the interpreting for one. I promise!

Hi Meg. I'll be interested to hear what you think if you do decide to go for a longer book by Joyce.

Char -- just to be clear, there wasn't a map but a short description about several of the sites. The appendix really was helpful though.

Thanks, Lucy. I will keep the idea of listening to Ulysses in mind and may give it a try. I'm listening to a lot more books now that I'm trying to walk more. It's a great incentive to get me out there. I'm working on the Naples series right now but maybe when I finish...

Oh, Dubliners is *wonderful,* isn't it? Nothing like is other stuff, I'm afraid.

Hi Amber! Thanks for the warning. I've been toying with the idea of trying something else by him but....maybe not.

I have Dubliners on the shelf, Reba. In fact, I have that exact Penguin Deluxe Edition of it. Not sure when I'll get to it, but your review makes me feel hopeful that I will like it. Wishing for you a weekend filled with fabulous!

>197 Crazymamie: Mamie: The Penguin Deluxe Edition?! Oh, I'm turning a lovely shade of pea green...

>198 scaifea: You know I can't resist those Penguin Deluxe Classic Editions, Amber. They have deckled edge pages and everything. *does happy dance*

Hi Mamie -- gota chuckle out of your comment about deckled edges -- I think of you everytime I pick up a book that has them. The Dubliners is actually a fairly quick and quite enjoyable read. I'd say dig it out and go for it :)

Hi Amber -- yep, it's quite a nice edition.

Good for you, taking on Joyce! I haven't had any luck in the past.... I get lost after a few pages.

Hi Rhonda! Dubliners helps. It's short stories and the ones at the beginning are only 3 or 4 pages long -- no time to get lost:)

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson****

This first novel by the author of Gilead, Lila and Home is the story of sisters, Lillian and Ruth, who (quoting here from the foreword of my edition) "grow up haphazardly, first under the care of their competent grandmother, then of two comically bumbling great-aunts, and finally of Sylvie, the eccentric and remote sister of their dead mother". Most of the book is a rather sad but lovely story of the childhood of these two girls but the last 50 pages or so were rather too philosophical and verbose for my taste. Still, overall, it's an interesting and worthwhile read.

Reba, there is a very well-done film of Housekeeping that's worth seeking out. I think it stars Christine Lahti.

Thanks, Katie, I'll look for it.

Went to the mall last night and was surprised to be greeted by a little free library!

>207 RebaRelishesReading: Nice!

I first saw it last November, when it still had books. Nobody seems to be keeping it up the last few months--it's always empty.

(Note the yarn bombing.)

Actually there were three or four books lying on their sides in it the other night. I didn't look to see what they were but my grandson opened the door and as I glanced in they looked to be in good condition. I didn't see any yarn bombing...but was focused on the library. Now I want to go back and see if the yarn is still there. I love that!!

What a lovely discovery! I hope someone fills up that Little Free Library soon. Housekeeping was the book I used to push on all my friends. I still have some extra copies laying around that I have picked up at library book sales. I like philosophizing in books as it makes me feel smart. Lol. I was glad when Ms. Robinson decided to write some more fiction books after her 24-year hiatus!

<Oh way! Just looked at my own photo -- yarn isn't there any more. Too bad :(

Heading out in a few minutes for a road trip north. We'll be in the Bay Area this weekend and then attending a daughter's concert with the Oregon Repertory Singers next weekend. Weather forecast is for 70's and sunshine the whole way. Hope it's right! :)

Sounds great - have a good trip!

Wishing you safe travels, Reba!

Thanks Mamie and Katie! We'll do our best.



We had a beautiful drive up 101 today. About 70 and sunny all the way. Traffic through LA wasn't even too bad. We had apple pie for dinner in San Luis Obispo and walked around the river a bit before heading on to our stop for the night in Atascadero. Tomorrow we'll visit the Monterey Aquarium and then head on to San Francisco. So relaxing and fun.

Beautiful photo, Reba! Safe travels - have fun! I've always wanted to go to the Monterey Aquarium.

Oh, gosh, your trip sounds amazing so far! I hope you have a blast in San Francisco!

Thanks for stopping by Joanne and Amber.

We're having a great trip. We headed to Monterey to visit the aquarium in the morning. Hubby loves fish, especially when they're schooling, and there are a couple of amazing exhibits of schools. I am a huge fan of jelly fish and they have some wonderful ones of those too. We both love sea otters and there were three of those on display, although they were just drifting around napping when we were there. A docent explained that they have five females at the aquarium but that two of them were "off exhibit" to mother some orphaned wild otters right now.

After a nice visit to the aquarium, we headed out on the famous 17-mile drive along the coast of the Monterey peninsula ending in Carmel where we walked around a bit and had a lovely lunch before heading on up to San Francisco. Adventures in the city tomorrow :)

Gorgeous view in that picture, and the aquarium sounds fun. I like watching otters - the way they lie on their backs and use their paws to eat seems so clever to me. Hope your city visit is fun too.

>220 charl08: Thank you. For full disclosure, the photo of the aquarium is from the net. You would have to be in a plane to get that shot,

Reba, your trip sounds wonderful! And that's a lovely picture of you in >216 RebaRelishesReading:. I hope it continues to go well.

Thanks, Susan. We both woke up early today so will probably be in "the city" early. There's a wonderful farmer's market at the Ferry Terminal on Tuesday's and Saturday's and today they're having a goat event of some kind. That will be our first stop.

Your trip sounds great, Reba! I've been wanting to take a similar journey on the Pacific Coast Highway, but I was less eager to do so as a solo traveler.

I love the Farmers' Market at the Ferry Terminal Building! There is one stand that sells my all time favorite pie, an organic strawberry rhubarb one made from ingredients grown on its farm and made with a perfect crust. I also love Cowgirl Creamery inside the market, along with Blue Bottle Coffee, and Acme Bread, and Hog Island Oyster Company, and...

I hope that you make time for a visit to City Lights Bookstore, too.

>219 RebaRelishesReading: Glad you had a good time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Are you continuing north from San Francisco? I grew up in the Monterey Bay area - if you are not done with the region, you should stop by the Giant Artichoke in Castroville for some fried artichoke hearts!

Your travels look quite wonderful!

Oh, I love Monterey! So beautiful.... Glad you are having such a great trip!

Hi Darryl, Ursula, Lori and Katie -- thanks for stopping by.

Darryl -- yes, we love the Farmers Market at the Ferry Terminal. When we lived in Sausalito we used to go fairly often. It was especially nice because we could take the ferry so it was a totally stress-reducing outing. We love Cowgirl Creamery too. I can get their cheese in San Diego, though. Hope you find someone to travel up the CA coast with -- it's a great trip.

Ursula -- quite a few years ago we were traveling north from Monterey and happened upon the artichoke festival in Castroville. We had them cooked all kinds of ways that day. We're actually on our way from San Diego to Portland but decided to take time to enjoy some of our favorite California spots on the way. We spent Friday in Monterey then yesterday in San Francisco. Today we drove up the Napa Valley, sampling as we went. Tomorrow we plan to visit the Russian River and Anderson Valley wine areas, then Tuesday we get more serious about getting to Portland.

Thanks, Lori & Katie -- we're having a great time and the weather has been amazing so far.

Hi Reba -- lovely pictures! Sounds like a dream trip to me -- wine country, Monterey, AND the artichoke festival (my favorite food)? Love it!

Love your Little Free Library photo! Exciting news at my school: I am the faculty adviser for our Student Leadership Team, and the kids decided to try to get a Little Free Library established at the park across the street to support literacy and reading in our somewhat remote mountain community. Students presented at a board meeting of Evergreen Parks and Recreation and were approved! We ordered our LFL and hope to have it installed before the end of the school year!

>228 RebaRelishesReading: Trip sounds wonderful. Love your picture of the vines - it all looks so green and warm.

>228 RebaRelishesReading: Ah, sounds like a fun trip. We spent our honeymoon up in Mendocino/Fort Bragg. I'd never been that far north in California before, but my husband went to college in Arcata.

Hi Anne, nice to hear from you. We won't be at the artichoke festival this trip -- it was years ago and probably later in the year -- but we are really enjoying the trip. Congratulations on your Little Free Library. I think those things are SO neat and glad you're involved in a project to support your community.

Thanks, Char -- it is lovely and certainly warm (it was near 90 degrees F yesterday in Napa)

Hi Ursula -- we'll be passing through Arcata tomorrow! We'll wave at Humboldt State in honor of your hubby.

The California coast north of Bodega Bay

Today we drove a big loop going west from Sebastopol to the ocean, then north along Highway 1 to Mendocino for lunch, then east through a redwood forest to the Anderson Valley for a little wine tasting, then on to Highway 101 and south back to Sebastopol. Pretty long day in the car but the weather was fantastic and we had a wonderful time.

Such a beautiful drive. Thanks for sharing the photos. :)

Oh I love these photos, years ago we did pretty much this same trip with friends!

Thanks Jenn and Lucy. Here's one from today for you :)



For today's adventure we headed further north with the main objective being the Avenue of the Giants where we spent some time admiring the Coastal Redwoods in Humboldt Redwood Park. Then we went on north to charming Ferndale, a small town with lots of Victorian buildings, where we had lunch before driving nearly to the Oregon border where we're not resting in a lovely room at an Indian casino. Tomorrow--Portland.

What a great photo!

Thanks, Katie!

Great pictures!

Thanks, Rhonda. Glad you like them.

The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante****(audio)

The second in the Neapolitan series by Ferrante, this book takes the friends from the neighborhood into their early twenties with marriages, children, breakups, businesses and study. I continue to be engrossed in the lives of the main characters and can't wait to start the next book.

Highlight of today was a visit to Powell's Books where I bought:
Mohawk and The Risk Pool by Richard Russo
The Sellout by Paul Beatty, and
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Isn't Powell's wonderful! You got off easy:)

It is and I did :)

We went to a "bad movie party" at daughter #1's last night. Met some of her friends for the first time and watched "Teenagers From Outer Space" which is, hands down, the worst movie I've ever seen but watching it with this group was a hoot. Lots of clever comments and laughter. It was a really fun evening.

>242 RebaRelishesReading: Oh I want to read The Sympathizer. Love the shelf picture at Powells...

Thanks Char. I'm looking forward to The Sympathizer too :)

I am loving all the photos, Reba! And I am jealous that you have a copy of The Sympathizer - I am wanting to read that one! And how fun that you got to go to Powell's!!

Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker**** (audio)

Thanks to all of you who mentioned the Bruno series (Mamie I think you were first). This is a perfect series to listen to on audio. I think the best part was the way he puts you into the life of a French village...true arm-chair travel.

>248 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie. Afraid the photos are over for a few weeks though since we're back home again. I plan to start The Sympathizer as soon as I have some time to read a real book (as opposed to audio which allows multi-tasking). I too love Powell's -- aside from the daughters it's the main reason to go to Portland :)

OH! You liked Bruno!! Hooray for that - I felt sure that you would.

Took a nice walk over to Balboa Park this morning. It was SUCH a beautiful day and the park looked lovely.

The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker**** (audio)

I think I'm embarking on a Bruno marathon! Just finished the second book and am in the process of downloading the third. It's fun getting to know these characters and vicariously experiencing life in a French village.

WE went for a walk today in our own neighborhood, but I got an ocean shot while we were out yesterday!

>252 RebaRelishesReading: Fond memories of Balboa Park.

Hi Roni -- I saw your beautiful ocean shot. We woke up to rain this morning. You get any?

Diana -- I'm fine, thank you. How are you? And that cat photo will give me a smile overtime I see it :)

Lori -- It is a treasure, isn't it? I feel very fortunate that I live so near to it.

We went to lunch with friends today and I decided to walk home for the exercise. I took I route I hadn't done on foot before and was rewarded by finding a wonderful used bookstore I didn't know was there. It's one of those small, stuffed-to-the-ceiling, hard-to-move-around-in, places -- just wonderful. I went in briefly and then decided I would have to go back later with my list and more time. What a find!!

What a great surprise, Reba - you have been rewarded for being healthy! I so wish we had a used bookstore - I really miss The White Rabbit in Muncie - it was just like you describe "stuffed to the ceiling".

Where was the bookstore? And yes, we had rain and, more importantly, we had it for a couple of hours at our outdoor craft fair this morning. The canopy kept us from getting more than damp and I sold 3 bowls, 3 mugs, and several pieces of jewelry, which made for a good day especially since there was no booth fee.

>242 RebaRelishesReading: I must get to Powell's bookstore, I must get to Powell's bookstore.

Have a lovely weekend, Reba.

Loved seeing all your photos, Reba! What a great trip.

Bruno is a little addictive. I don't usually read series books one after the other. I bet they are great on audio!

>259 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie. Sorry you don't have a used bookstore. We don't have as many as I think we should have We have a big-ish one just up the street but the guy who runs it is so rude I refuse to go in there. There's a small new/used bookstore across the street from that one but it tends to have more new-age stuff that I don't really read. Then a high-end one a couple of miles from here and a good solid used bookstore a couple of miles in the opposite direction. Until today those were the only ones I knew of but this one is walking distance from here and it looks GREAT so I'm really excited.

>260 ronincats: Sorry you had to be out in the rain this morning but glad you had a successful sale. I went to recycle this morning and got a bit damp. The bookstore I found is called Footnote Books and is at 1627 University -- on the south side of the street a block or so west of Park. I was amazed when I saw it.

>261 PaulCranswick: You're right, Paul, you must get to Powell's. It's truly amazing.

>262 Copperskye: Thanks Joanne. Glad you enjoyed them. It was a great trip. As to Bruno...I started the third one today :) I am enjoying them on audio and find them a perfect thing to listen to while walking...even do an extra block or so from time to time just to listen longer.

The wife of the couple we had lunch with today is French and they just came back from a month in France. I mentioned Bruno and it turns out they have read them all and have a standing pre-order for them as they come out. Interesting thing was they said they are just now being translated into French.

I'm mad for Richard Russo especially those earlier books!

Hi Lucy -- glad to have a fellow lover of Russo. I started The Sympathizer and I'm listening to Bruno as I walk so I'll have the Russo's are going to wait a little while. That's not so bad because the anticipation is fun too :)

Reba, it was so nice of you to include us in your tour of the California coast. Such beautiful scenery--especially that shot of Powell's. Haha. Like Paul, I must get there someday. How much fun that you made the bookstore discovery. I love places like that because I know there is buried treasure just waiting for me. I hope you find something good.

I am eager to hear how you like The Sympathizer. I hope to be reading it before too long.

Hi Donna -- I should finish The Sympathizer this week. So far, I would say it's thought-provoking but a bit boring. Hope it picks up soon.

Black Diamond by Martin Walker**** (audio)

OK, I'm hooked. I just finished the third book in the Bruno, Chief of Police series and I'm downloading the fourth while writing this. It's a fun detective series set in provincial France featuring a clever, dedicated chief of police who is also a 40-year-old single man in search of love. All of the main characters are likable and the descriptions of rural life in France make me want to spend time there. They're the perfect books to listen to while walking or doing some other task that begs for something to fill the ears and mind.

I am so glad that you are loving Bruno -I just knew that you would!

A moment of motherly pride...Here's a link to my son singing at a party given for the mothers in his unit in Kuwait

https://youtu.be/d3S-cidtkdI

Reba, your son has a lovely voice! How great to have a video, especially as he's so far away.

And yay for the new bookshop! I dream of things like that :-)

Thanks, Susan. As to bookshop, you have Daunt's as a consolation (but you're always welcome to come visit the one in my neighborhood 🙂).

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen**

The main character of this year's Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction is an unnamed narrator who is the half-Vietnamese half-French son of a priest and his teen-aged housekeeper. He grows up in the mid-20th century being taunted by classmates for not being pure Vietnamese and not feeling like he really belongs anywhere. He becomes a communist but works as an aide to a South Vietnamese general and escapes to the U. S. with the general as Saigon falls. The story continues with a description of life in the U. S. for the Vietnamese refugees and with the narrator's work as a sleeper agent for the communists.

The book is described on the jacket as "Magisterial. A disturbing, fascinating, and darkly comic take on the fall of Saigon and its aftermath and a powerful examination of guild an betrayal." I did find it somewhat disturbing but I found it boring rather than fascinating and simply dark rather than "darkly comic". It makes me think perhaps I will change my goal of reading all of the Pulitzer Prize winning fiction to reading all of the 20th century winners.

The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker**** (audio)

This fourth book in the Bruno, Chief of Police series deals with a modern body found on an archeological site, missing persons, Basque separatism, and Bruno's love life. I continue to like the main characters and enjoy the stories of French village life. I agree with Joanne and Mamie, however...not necessary nor acceptable Mr. Walker!

I haven't had a post in, like, forever! Did I fall off the boards?

Hi! I've been out of town and just got back home this evening. Haven't had much to say about your books because I don't know them!

>274 RebaRelishesReading: I just finished the next book, The Devil's Cave, so I guess I forgive him. The series is terribly addictive. I'm very tempted to try the audio versions sometime. They aren't as readily available from the library but I'm sure I could get an IL loan.

Hope you're having a good weekend, Reba!

Thanks for posting!

Hi Roni -- welcome home. Hope you had a good trip.

Hi Joanne -- I decided to go back to the third book of Ferante's Naples series before I forgot where I was with that series but I think I'll move back to Bruno as soon as I finish that. I really like the way the Bruno series is read, by the way. If you can get one I'd give it a try.

Hope your weekend was good too.

I walked over to my "new" used book store yesterday (which, as it turns out, has been there for 25 years) and came away with two books:
Lucky Us by Amy Bloom
King Coal by Upton Sinclair

I was hoping to fill in some of the blanks in my collection of Pulitzer winners but they didn't have any. I think I'm pretty much down to the hard-to-find ones and I may have to resort to Amazon. These two called to me from the stacks. I don't really know why Lucky Us appealed to me but King Coal was because I really like Sinclair and haven't read this one.

Morning, Reba! I am catching up with the threads after being absent most of the weekend. I am enjoying reading the Bruno books with you and Joanne - so fun to compare notes. And I am completely jealous of your "new" used book store - so great that you discovered it!

You have passed me on the Fitbit board, so I am going to try to catch you today!

Hi Mamie -- always great to find you here :) I'm going walking with my friend-who-can-walk-my-legs-off again today so we'll see (although you and she both walk a lot more than I do normally). Your "challenge" will be a great motivator, however.

That's too bad that you didn't like The Sympathizer. I had been looking forward to it.

Have a good walk!

>279 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, your "new" bookstore sounds like a real find! (I typed "read find" there at first, but actually that also works).

For a few shining hours on Sunday I topped our Fitbit leaderboard, but it couldn't last. Not least because y'all in the US were still asleep at that point. I need someone to distract Katie. Who's closest to Dallas? :-)

>282 banjo123: Maybe you'll like it, Rhonda. It just wasn't my cuppa but that doesn't mean that's true for everyone.

>283 susanj67: I'll be going through Dallas in December but can't do much before then lol (and I love "read find", that's great)

Realized I hadn't commented on your new bookstore, there on University. I was in it once, many years ago, but they didn't have a large enough selection of science fiction/fantasy to entice me to deal with the parking in the area.

Reba!! I passed you (and Katie), but now you (and Katie) are ahead of me again! Wicked, wicked creature! Just kidding - I am loving the challenge. I am going to try to get you again today.

>285 ronincats: Yes parking in Hillcrest can be a challenge. That's one of the nice things about living here. We have two personal parking spaces at home and can walk to many things, including the Footnote.

>286 Crazymamie: It's so exciting to be ahead of you, even if only for a couple of hours lol. Heading out again this afternoon with my very fit friend so I may keep it interesting for at least one more day. A week from today we will head east and spend way too much time in the car for the next 13 days so you're sure to be way ahead then but when I get to Chautauqua, look out!

I hope this works. This is a video clip a friend posted on FaceBook that I felt I had to share especially for the cat lovers among you

https://www.facebook.com/MrDrewScott/videos/10153548258424331/

It worked! How hilarious. I've never seen such mellow kittens!

ETA Sun came out early today--I'm down to a tank top after not coming out of sweats at all yesterday!

My fitbit battery gave out a month ago and I couldn't get it together until this week to get a new one but now I'm baaaaackkkk, so watch out!

I've been a little absent on LT due to being distracted by all sorts of things. I'm trying to at least visit my regulars regularly and you are certainly one of them!

Coming East soon!! How many hours a day do you drive?

>289 ronincats: -- isn't that adorable?! I walked in the afternoon today and was glad May Grey came back early here :)

>290 sibylline: -- how nice of you to say I'm "one of your regulars" -- you certainly are one of mine. I've been good about walking this week both because I'm trying to get back into the groove and because I've been walking with a dear friend who is very fit.. Walking with her is a real workout.

Yes, we're leave next Wednesday morning to head east. We're making a few stops on the way this year -- Vegas, Iowa (to visit the Grant Wood home and museum), Chicago, and my cousins in Northern Indiana. We usually drive about 6 hours a day but have been known (twice) to drive from El Paso to home which is something like 12 hours or so.

Morning, Reba! Those kittens are too funny!

>290 sibylline: Lucy! I wondered what happened to you!

Hi Mamie -- I look just like the kitten in front when I get my back massaged, lol.

So it's a nice May Grey kind of morning here. I need to get out and walk before it goes away and gets all sunny...although I'm thinking about doing things in stages today. I have knitting group at 3:00 and can get about 3,000 steps each way if I walk so I may do that and have a shorter walk this morning.

I'm glad everyone is getting back into Fitbit walking and reporting. It really helps to keep me motivated. So, Susan, Mamie, Katie, Lucy and Roni --- bring it on!! (lol)

Consider it brung ;-)

Hi Reba!

Hi Katie :)

>270 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, thanks for sharing that video of your son with us. Marvelous! I love that song and he did well to honor the service mothers.

>273 RebaRelishesReading: Now I'm not disappointed that my library has been slow getting this book.

I love that we have a Fitbit group of 75ers! My DH and dog both follow me with their puppy dog eyes every morning until I put on my walking shoes. That's more than enough motivation for me!

Tired reading about all this walking - I am going to have to join you all soon and probably walk it all the way Stateside - safer than flying anyway if I could figure out how to traverse the Pacific.

Have a great weekend, Reba.

>236 RebaRelishesReading: That photo made me smile. :)

Bad week for Fitbit here. I had an ear infection and wasn't sleeping, also it rained a Lot, so I logged more sleep hours than usual during the day. Feeling a bit better, so hopefully next week will be much more active.

>296 Donna828: Hi Donna. Nice to hear from you. Thank you for the kind words about my son's singing. I, of course, love to hear him :) So you're a Fitbitter too? I understand about the motivation of a dog. We don't have one so I have to look elsewhere.

>297 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. Nice to see you....so how's your rowing? that and walking should get you here in a few months lol

>298 nittnut: Hi Jenn. Sorry to hear you haven't been well. Hope it's better soon. If you're interested in being Fitbit friends I'll send you my email (goes for you too Donna but sounds like you're good with your dog...that sounds a bit strange but hope you know what I mean)

Honey in the Horn by H. L. Davis****

Honey in the Horn won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1936. Full of interesting characters and action, this 500-page novel held my attention to the end. It provides a full picture of turn-of-the-20th century Oregon and the challenges faced by those settling there.The jacket has the following description: "...Honey in the Horn blends hearsay and legend with first-hand fact to create a full-bodied picture of america's frontier wilderness during the homesteading days We become part of the colorful adventures of Clay Calvery, a hard-mouthed young hell-fry who is obliged to keep traveling, one step ahead of "justice". And we share his shy meeting with Luce, the beautiful, strong-willed daughter of an itinerant horse-trader, who gives meaning to his life. Honey in the Horn is an American classic that pulses with all the passion of the people who conquered the Oregon wilderness at the dawn of the twentieth century."

Leaving Wednesday so it's time to get serious. I have a meeting this morning but then must do laundry and pack this afternoon so we can load the car after I do my final volunteer stint (for this year) tomorrow morning. Can't believe it's here. You plan for months and then in the end it sneaks up on you.

Morning, Reba!

Mornin' Mamie :) I have some volunteer duties this morning and then need to finish packing and load the car for the trip east. No time for a "walk" today although I will probably get a fair amount of movement in. You're going to be pulling way ahead again though.

I went to the Sketchers store yesterday and found two pair :) I went to the web site to find a picture but couldn't find either one. I don't really want to post a photo on FaceBook and don't know another way to get it here so I'll just try to describe them. One pair has elastic laces and fades from black very near to the sole to light grey on top. The other has no laces and is hot pink. I wore the pink ones all afternoon and found them wonderfully comfortable. I'm going to try the ones with laces today. Thanks, Susan, for motivating me to do this.

Safe travels!

> 300 Hello Reba! Thank you for your thoughts on Honey in the Horn. I have never heard of this book, but your review gives me pause. I will have to look into it further.

Adding to the wishes for a safe trip, Reba!

Thank you Lucy!

Hi Brodie. Glad to hear you're interested in reading Hone in the Horn. I thought it was quite good and, the more I think about it the more I find it interesting that it was written less than 30 years after the period it's set in. I was surprised to find that the setting was early 20th rather than mid- to late-19th century which makes that short time-lapse seem more interesting.

Well we have the car all packed and ready to go first thing in the morning. We squeezed everything in except for one picture. It will have to wait until next summer. I'm rather proud of my space utilization skills as demonstrated by what we DID manage to get in :)

Hooray for good packing skills! Safe travels to you and your husband, enjoy the journey!

Safe travels, Reba!

Safe travels, Reba.

Thank you Joanne, Katie and Diana -- we had an excellent day today. Took our time and still arrived in Las Vegas mid-afternoon. Had a rest and then went to a really neat development called The District for dinner and a quick stop at a casino where I won $38 on a slot machine in less than 30 minutes. :)

Las Vegas is an easy drive from San Diego--except for the traffic! Are you going cross country on I-70 or I-80?

Reba, well done on the packing, and the slot machine :-) I hope today goes well, and you manage to get out and try those new Skechers :-)

Hooray for the new shoes, Reba! Your first day of traveling sounds like a good one. Wishing you safe passage as your journey continues.

Hi Reba! Happy travels.

I am definitely going to read Honey in the Horn. Have you read any Jane Kirkpatrick? She did a great job with A Sweetness to the Soul.

This was the view from our lunch table in Las Vegas yesterday. We have had wonderful weather so far -- upper 60's and sunny.



Here is the Virgin River Gorge which you pass through heading northeast from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City. It's a very dramatic landscape and interesting because the canyon formed by the river gets narrower downstream that it is upstream. Most unusual.

Hi Roni -- we're going I-80 this time. We were talking about doing I-70 again next year though.

Hi Susan -- thanks. I'm pleased with the packing and get a good laugh every time we open the trunk or back door and have to try to smoosh everything back in so we can re-close. I managed 10,000+ both yesterday and the day before but we were on the road all day today so have a miserable 3314 right now. May be I'll do better tomorrow although it is another driving day.

Thanks Mamie -- we're having a good trip and I am very happy with my new shoes.

Thanks Jenn -- No I haven't read anything by Jane Kirkpatrick but I'll keep A Sweetness to the Soul in mind.

(I have no idea why these photos are such different sizes. I first put them both in as "img width=400" and they came out like this. Then I changed the top one to "500" and the bottom to "200" but it didn't change anything. Oh well)

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante****(audio)

This is the third book in the Neapolitan series. The main character, Elena, has graduated from the university and is trying to find her place in the world. Old friends in Naples have married, have children, etc. and life in "the neighborhood" seems the same in many ways but that isn't what Elena wants. This volume follows her into her thirties and the story and characters continue to be interesting. Can't wait to start the fourth, and final, book in the series.

I-80 is a much easier drive than I-70 through the Rockies, if not so scenic. Good call.

Are you doing any meet-ups on the way?

>320 ronincats: True, it's a much easier climb but we also did it just for a change. We were talking as we went today and agreed we'll do I-70 next year. It was lovely and cool today (in the 50's) with a lot of snow left, even right beside the road. We've dropped down to Cheyenne for the night and it's warmer (mid-60's) here. No meet-ups planned.