BLBera's Reading in 2016 - Part 6

My name is Beth. I love books.

I teach English at my local community college. I tend not to plan my reading. I belong to a book club that meets once a month.

I tend to read more fiction than nonfiction and more women authors than men. This year, once again, I would like to read more diversely, in every sense of the word. I like to discover new writers. In 2015, three of my favorites were first-time novelists.

I would also like to include more volumes of poetry in my 2016 reading.

Welcome to my thread. Lurk or stop and say hello.

Currently reading:

November
101. The Bones of Paradise
102. The Gustav Sonata
103. March: Book One
104. World of Trouble
105. Sleeping on Jupiter*
106. Another Brooklyn
107. The Poet's Dog*

October
92. The Bookseller*
93. A Bed of Scorpions
94. The Association of Small Bombs
95. News of the World
96. The House by the Lake
97. Northanger Abbey*
98. The Last Policeman*
99. Countdown City
100. Hot Milk

Books read in 2016
January 2016
1. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
2. Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms*
3. And After Many Days*
4. The Man in the High Castle
5. The Pure in Heart*
6. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry*
7. The Tenderness of Wolves*
8. Golden Age
9. The Hanging Girl
10. A Trail through Time*
11. The Risk of Darkness*

February 2016
12. The Lake House
13. My Brilliant Friend*
14. These Old Shades*
15. Shylock Is My Name*
16. Girl Waits with Gun*
17. Vinegar Girl*
18. An Elegy for Easterly

March 2016
19. All Roads Lead to Austen*
20. The Big Green Tent
21. Ways to Disappear
22. Station Eleven* REREAD - Still great
23. Arcadia
24. Spider Woman's Daughter*
25. Speak
26. My Life on the Road
27. Good on Paper

April 2016
28. The Language of Secrets
29. A Visit from the Goon Squad* REREAD
30. River Road
31. Lighthouse Island*
32. The Little Red Chairs
33. Etta and Otto and Russell and James*
34. The Dream Keeper and Other Poems*
35. The Improbability of Love
36. Bitter River*
37. A Cold and Lonely Place*
38. Even in Paradise*

May 2016
39. Eligible
40. The Murder of Mary Russell
41. The Thirteen Clocks*
42. The Kindness of Enemies
43. The Quality of Silence
44. My Name Is Lucy Barton
45. The Portable Veblen
46. El Deafo*
47. The Woman in Blue
48. Last Night in Montreal*
49. Extreme Prey

June 2016
50. Sweet Lamb of Heaven
51. Boar Island
52. Death of an Englishman*
53. The Vanishing Velazquez
54. The Noise of Time
55. Into the Beautiful North*
56. Murder Is Binding*
57. LaRose*
58. Copper River*
59. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet*
60. Salt to the Sea
61. Kitchens of the Great Midwest*

July 2016
62. Spain in Our Hearts
63. The Crime at Black Dudley*
64. The Lanvin Murders*
65. A Country Road, A Tree
66. The Penderwicks in Spring*
67. Moon Tiger*
68. Life After Life* REREAD
69. Remarkable Creatures*
70. Homegoing
71. Outsider in Ansterdam* REREAD

August 2016
72. Pond
73. This Must Be the Place
74. Book Scavenger*
75. The Nightingale*
76. A Test of Wills*
77. Hell's Bottom, Colorado*
78. Three Day Road
79. The After Party*
80. Here Comes the Sun
81. The Sixth Idea

September
82. Hag-Seed*
83. A Murder of Magpies
84. Lost in Translation*
85. Multiple Choice
86. How to Set a Fire and Why
87. Conspiracy of Silence*
88. Behold the Dreamers
89. The Underground Railroad
90. A Great Reckoning
91. Commonwealth

*Off my shelves

Orange Prize Longlist for 2016:
Read
✔Kate Atkinson: A God in Ruins
✔Hannah Rothschild: The Improbability of Love*
✔ Elizabeth Strout: My Name is Lucy Barton
✔ Elizabeth McKenzie: The Portable Veblen*
✔ Becky Chambers: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

Shirley Barrett: Rush Oh!

Cynthia Bond: Ruby*

Geraldine Brooks: The Secret Chord

Jackie Copleton: A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding

Rachel Elliott: Whispers Through a Megaphone

Anne Enright: The Green Road*

Petina Gappah: The Book of Memory

Vesna Goldsworthy: Gorsky

Clio Gray: The Anatomist’s Dream

Melissa Harrison: At Hawthorn Time

Attica Locke: Pleasantville

Winner: Lisa McInerney: The Glorious Heresies*

Sara Nović: Girl at War

Julia Rochester: The House at the Edge of the World

Hanya Yanagihara: A Little Life*

*Short list

National Book Award Longlist
Chris Bachelder, The Throwback Special*

Garth Greenwell, What Belongs to You

Adam Haslett, Imagine Me Gone

✔Paulette Jiles, News of the World*

✔Karan Mahajan, The Association of Small Bombs*

✔ Elizabeth McKenzie, The Portable Veblen

✔Lydia Millet, Sweet Lamb of Heaven

Brad Watson, Miss Jane

✔ Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad*

Jacqueline Woodson, Another Brooklyn*

Best of 2016 so far


Also: The Bones of Paradise, The Vanishing Velazquez, Commonwealth, News of the World

Happy new thread, Beth!

I love your thread topper, Beth. There are a few of us who live by that philosophy.

Back to your prior thread, I read the first Louise Penny and thought it was fine but perhaps not terribly compelling. So many folks love the series that I do want to give it another try.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Mark Pryor. I liked it too and will read the next in the series. It's The Crypt Thief which I should put on hold at the library. Because I don't have enough library books to work my way through. Ha ha.

The Seattle Library allows patrons to keep books for 21 days. We can renew up to two times but not when there is a long queue. So, I expect to get The Underground Railroad in November but one can never really tell.

I'm really enjoying This Must Be the Place so thanks for the recommendation!

Thanks Susan.

Hi Ellen - The Penny series gets better, I think. It's been a while since I read the first one, and I think it was more of a cozy-type mystery. They get darker, and the characters go through some difficult times.

I must have heard about the Pryor from you! I knew it was someone on LT. I am a sucker for novels with a strong sense of place, and Paris was brilliantly portrayed. I got the ebook on sale. I'll have to check to see if my library has the next one.

In Rochester, we can check books out for a month and renew twice. If there are more than five people waiting for the book, the loan time shortens to two weeks, and there are no renewals. Here I Am is 600 pages with a long list of people waiting; there's no way I'm going to finish it in the next two days, so I'm thinking I may just return it and take my place at the end of the line.

I'm so happy This Must Be the Place has another fan!

Happy new one, Beth!

To answer your question on your last thread - we should have a date from the moving company this coming week. Still don't know when, exactly, I will pull up stakes and head north. I am supposed to be talking to my boss this week about "things"...

Hi Beth! Happy new thread!

Happy new thread Beth. The renewals policy here is you get three weeks and can renew up to ten times - unless someone else has requested it, in which case no renewing. Usually there is more than one copy of a popular book, and sometimes a nice person returns their copy and I get to keep mine for longer. But with Pond there's just one, so I better get on and finish it!

Love the thread topper, Beth! Just dropping my star ...

Hi Katie - Good luck with your conversation with your boss - you're trying to work remotely, correct? Fingers crossed.

Hi Carrie. Thanks.

Hi Charlotte - Thanks. Ten renewals? Nice. You're reading Pond? I loved it. It reminded me of Walden in some ways.

Thanks, Nancy. I thought the topper would "speak" to my LT friends. Thanks for the star.

I used to think they wouldn't let me renew a library book if anyone else had requested it and was in the queue. But sometimes it lets me renew even when it says a few people are in the queue. I should ask the librarian next time I go in what the rubric is.

Have a great week, Beth!

Happy new thread!

Interesting, Ellen. It sounds like your library system is huge. Maybe that allows for more flexibility - or maybe you're such a good patron that you get special treatment. :)

Thanks Rhonda.

Happy new one, Beth! I am jealous of the library policies I am reading about here - I get two weeks, and can renew twice if there is no one waiting for it.

I just looked at our library's policy. Three week loans, and only one renewal. Weird, I'm surprised the renewals are so restricted.

Happy new thread, Beth!

Hi Mamie - Wow, two weeks is not very long, especially if one has a few books checked out.

Hi Ursula - One renewal? I suppose you could return it and check it out again...

Hi Darryl, Thanks.

When I lived in Cincinnati, it was a 3 week loan period. When I moved to Tennessee, the loan period is only 2 weeks. They can be renewed. I just really wish they would provide 3 week loan periods (at least) initially. I really think a 2 week loan period is based on policies set in the 1960s or 1970s that fit lifestyles and borrowing habits of the time. I think they need to update their policies for 21st century business.

Hi Lori - I am OK with a two-week loan if there is a long list of reserves, but I do appreciate the longer loan times.

I decided to return Here I Am; it's due tomorrow and I still had 500 plus pages to go. I'll reserve it again.

Instead, I'll read A Bed of Scorpions, the second in the series by Judith Flanders.

>23 BLBera: Well, the new items were 7 day items and could be renewed twice. I mostly checked out back list so I'd have longer loan periods unless it was something I just had to read as soon as it came out.

Wow, Lori - a week isn't very long if you have other books out and if it's a long one. I guess I won't complain about our loan periods anymore.

Happy New Thread, Beth! The topper is so very true!
I looked at the Bailey's/Orange Prize website and it mentions that the 2017 winner will be announced in June, 2017. Are the books your reading now in >5 BLBera: for that prize? That would be a long time to wait to learn of the winner.

Hi Lynda - No, the Orange books are those from this year. I keep them up all year because I usually like most of them.

Well, the Vikings are playing. Sorry, Katie, but Eli is going down.

>27 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. You can answer this during a commercial break............. So, normally, when would a long list be revealed for the 2017's?

I've resigned myself to another loss :-/

Thanks Lynda - I think the longlist is usually announced in March? I'll look back to when I first posted it this year. I'll also add the year to the list so I don't confuse people.

ETA: I first posted the list on March 25.

We can still be friends, Katie. May the best team win.

Interesting to see they are cutting down to longlist to 12 titles. I am kind of sad - that list of 20 manages to include a big range of genres and first time authors.
http://www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/2016/society-of-authors-to-administer-the...

Hmm - I hope the numbers on the longlist are the only changes. I've been impressed with the majority of the Orange list books that I've read.

On the other hand, you'll be able to zip through the list in about a week!

Happy new thread, Beth.

>31 charl08: I liked the longlist long too, Charlotte.

Hi Beth! I have a shirt with your thread topper on it. Love it!

I've only read one of your best of 2016 so far list (The Underground Railroad). I definitely want to get to some of the others.

Morning Beth, thanks for the Orange info.

Hi Paul - Thanks.

Great T-shirt, Amy! Yes, I 've had a pretty good year of reading, so far.

No problem, Lynda.

NBA finalists:
http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8120eb79bde996c5a76e8f595&id=5dacbbcebf&...

Fiction:
The Throwback Special
News of the World
The Association of Small Bombs
✔ The Underground Railroad
Another Brooklyn

93. A Bed of Scorpions is the second mystery featuring Sam Clair, an editor. In this novel, she once again becomes involved in her Scotland Yard lover's case. An ex-boyfriend, Aiden, tells her that his business partner has killed himself and that the police are investigating. Of course, Sam becomes involved.

I didn't like this one as much as the first one, but I do like Sam and the bits about publishing, so I'll continue on with the series when the next one comes out. The plot became a little too involved, but I can forgive a lot in books with characters who love books: "I liked dealing with paper, but only, I now realized, because books are magic. A book works if it means something to the reader. It doesn't matter if what it means to the reader isn't what the author intended. If it speaks to the reader, then it works..."

So, yeah. I'll read more.

Next: I'm continuing with the nonfiction, The House by the Lake and plan to start The Association of Small Bombs, both library books that are due next week. News of the World is waiting for me at the library. I'll pick it up tomorrow.

>38 BLBera: Makes me realise how many great series I am yet to get myself into. Will look out for that one.

Have a wonderful weekend, Beth.

Hi Paul - I keep saying I won't start any new series, but I'm not very good at resisting when I see favorable comments. I have Charlotte to thank for this one.

Have a great weekend.

I love the opening image. I went to a local library today with Diane Keenoy. It was such a great feeling to find books at a very reasonable price. I do NOT need more books. But, it sure want them.

Thanks Linda. Our library's bookstore just had a sale, too. I popped in for a minute and found one book. I felt very virtuous, because, as you say, we don't NEED more books. Have a great Sunday.

Need and Want are entirely different, but sometimes Want speaks louder! Managing your library books sounds like a full-time job, Beth. I am so grateful for our library systems. This time of year the want in me takes over and I request a lot of books. My old books look shabby to me after reading some of the new ones. I will probably do another purge of the shelves this winter.

Any Scout stories? Molly was out of sorts on Wednesday which is our day together. That is unusual for her. We are going to start Story Time at the library this coming Wednesday. I think she will love it!

Just one book? That's very restrained. I went into Oxfam today and came out without a book. I feel like I did it wrong...

I was reading an op-ed by Maureen Dowd and laughed aloud at this:

"Trump is right. He shouldn’t be compared to a child. As the Texas state representative Poncho Nevárez told me: 'It’s not fair to children. Children are awesome.'”

Hi Donna - Miss Scout is awesome. I get her on Thursday afternoons. She pretty much tells me what to do, and I do it! One rainy Thursday, I suggested that she help me make cookies. She looked at me and said, "And eat them?" She is willing to help bake but keeps her eye on the prize.

Thanks Charlotte - Of course, I didn't mention the package from the book depository that was waiting for me when I got home...

The Association of Small Bombs is heartbreaking. I'm enjoying The House by the Lake.

>45 BLBera: :-)

Happy Sunday, Beth. And Happy New Thread. I have been hearing some buzz on News of the World. Sure sounds like my cuppa. I also have The Association of Small Bombs and Another Brooklyn lined up on audio.

BTW- You might like my current memoir, Hillbilly Elegy. Just sayin'...

I'm glad to hear that The Association of Small Bombs is a moving read, Beth. I bought it last month, and I'll probably read it next month.

That Maureen Dowd article is in the Sunday Review section of today's NYT, and I read it this morning as well. I liked that comment, and the paragraph that concluded the article, in which she compared Trump's impulsivity to that of a Labrador:

"Throw a tennis ball, the black Lab goes after it. But it's not fair to compare Trump to a dog. Dogs are awesome."

>46 BLBera: Beth, Scout is obviously a very focused young person, with good attention to detail :-) I hope there were some cookies left for you by the end.

Go Vikes.

Yes, Charlotte, we have to laugh about something.

Hi Mark - Happy Sunday. I'll check out Hillbilly Elegy.

Hi Darryl - Yes, I saw that. I'm trying not to comment on politics, but it's hard sometimes. Dowd does have a way with words. I hope you're feeling better. When do you have to go back to work?

Yes, Susan - She is remarkably focused for three. She was showing me her three fingers yesterday; it's hard to do, to hold up three fingers. I counted, "One, two, three," to show her I could do it as well. She answered, "I'm not a lot of numbers, I'm just three." We have a child genius here.
;)

>52 BLBera: I (finally) go back to work tomorrow, Beth.

Good luck, Darryl. I hope you feel better and don't pick up anything at work.

Just stopping by to say hi, Beth. Happy sort-of-new thread. (I'm always late to the party these days . . .)

It's never too late, Terri. Thanks for stopping by.

Waving hello!

The Association of Small Bombs looks very interesting. I'm tempted to put it on hold at the library but the library hold situation is, as usual, completely out of control. I now have 8 library books in a stack on my bedside table and I'm about halfway through Ian McGuire's The North Water. It's a great read but with some heartbreaking scenes for anyone who loves animals. Or children. :-|

I hope you have a great week ahead of you, Beth!

Waving back, Jenn.

Well, Ellen, it sounds like something lighter might be the ticket after The North Water. The Association of Small Bombs is not a light read. Mahajan is a really good writer.

I hope you have a great week as well. We're almost halfway through the semester. Well, I have a couple of things to do to get ready for class tomorrow.

Good night.

My last read, A Whole Life, wasn't light, exactly, but it wasn't emotionally unsettling at all. So it's okay that my current read is a bit challenging on that level. And, The North Water has some great mystery built into it and I want to find out what happens. I love that in a novel.

Love the Scout counting story. It is important to be accurate!!

Morning Beth! I've read all of the shortlisters except News of the World and
The Association of Small Bombs which I will start later today. I've read so many interesting books lately and loving my trip through award nominees.

Oh, Beth, thanks for the Scout chuckle! Smart little girl: She is willing to help bake but keeps her eye on the prize.

Happy Monday, Lynda. I'm reading The Association of Small Bombs now; beautiful writing but heartbreaking. I just picked up News of the World from the library. I've loved Jiles' past work and am looking forward to this one.

You're welcome, Nancy. Any time you need a lift, I am happy to share a Scout story; she is a lot of fun.

Ellen - I checked out your comments on A Whole Life and it sounds great.

Charlotte - Any time you want to laugh, just ask for a Scout story. Luckily, her mom is writing them down.

Happy new thread, Beth. I was absent several weeks from LT due to a busy RL but try to do better in the future.
I wish you a wonderful week.

Um, I don't necessarily need a laugh but I wouldn't mind a Scout story. :-)

The North Water was excellent and I'm so glad I read it.

Yes, I love the Scout cookie story.

Hey Beth! I'm feeling I took on too much

Beth, a quick question for you: my office roomie is flying to Minneapolis this evening for a wedding over the weekend, and can't work out what weight of coat would be appropriate for the weather there right now. Any tips?

Thanks Barbara.

Ellen: She was trying to stuff little people into her playhouse, and the doors wouldn't close. She was talking to herself and said, "This is a catastrophe." I asked my daughter where that came from but she wasn't sure.

Yes, Rhonda, we have a lot of good stories. We're trying to remember to write them down. She's growing up so fast!

I empathize, Lynda. I have library books in the double digits right now...Some are going to have to go back unread.

Hi Susan - I also posted a note to you, but a fall jacket should be enough. Layers are a good idea right now. It's fairly cool in the morning, but it warms up during the day. One reason I end up leaving my jacket in my office when I leave for the day.

Thanks Beth! And I also love the Scout story :-)

Go Bobby Dylan - the latest Nobel Prize for Literature winner!

You're welcome, Susan. Today is my Scout day, so I'll probably have more.

>73 BLBera: The pride of Hibbing, Minnesota! I am a big fan of Bobby D. This is a well-deserved honor.

Hi Beth. Catching up and enjoying the Scout stories - she sounds like she's at a very enjoyable age :-) From your last thread you hit me with a BB for The Underground Railroad.

It's a little late to be arriving at your "new" thread but nevertheless here I am. I picked up a Colson Whitehead at a second-hand bookstore the other day and you won't be surprised that I chose his zombie book, Zone One. ;)

I think it's an inspired choice, Julia, but I know there will be protest. Salman Rushdie praised the choice, but some other writers, not so much. Yes, Hibbing will have to put up a sign.

Hi Heather - Scout is a lot of fun. She's getting very independent, so I must be patient and not try to "help" her too quickly.
Today she was having a little melt down and I asked if she needed a time out. She said, "Yes, I need to go upstairs." She went upstairs for two minutes, and then came back all smiles.

Hi Judy - It's never too late. Of course, zombies. You'll have to let me know how it is. One of these days, I'm going to have to read something with zombies.

>78 BLBera: Sounds like she's a very sensible young lady, knowing when a timeout might help.

There are some great jokes about the Dylan choice. If nothing else it has certainly got the prize discussed outside lit circles.

What would be your favourite song? I don't know his music hardly at all.

>78 BLBera: Apparently Winston Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953 for his speeches, so I'm not sure the "that's not literature!" crowd have much of a leg to stand on. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of the hit musical Hamilton, tweeted that the writers who objected to Dylan winning the prize "don't look good in green."

I'm impressed with Scout knowing when she needs to stop and take a time out! I know a lot of adults who aren't that self-aware. Go, Scout!

I don't really care about the Nobel (or other prizes, really) but the Dylan win has annoyed so many people, the contrarian in me is happy he got it :)

Scout passed out this afternoon and took an hour and a half nap. I thought her mom would be upset but she got her revved up and we had a rousing game of keep-away before they went home. Now, Tita needs a nap.

Charlotte - I don't have one favorite song of Dylan's; I loved the albums (I know, I'm dating myself Blonde on Blonde and Tangled up in Blue and lots of early work. I'm excited because now I can use the Prize and teach his lyrics when we start poetry in a few weeks.

I love it, Julia. If Rushdie could say it was a good choice, I don't think others have much to complain about. Rushdie should be getting one one of these days.

Yes, Nancy, her parents are doing a good job. My daughter told me once, "I don't want to have a bratty child." She expects me to uphold standards as well.

Yes, Katie, there is that, as well. It is something to take our minds off the presidential campaigns. ;)

I agree with Nancy that a lot of grown-ups would benefit from a time-out. Now I just have to bite my tongue and not suggest it to them... Beth, I hope you got your nap :-)

Hi Susan - Instead of a nap I went to a Pilates class, so I am tired but feeling virtuous.

I am SO GLAD it's Friday.

94. "I think the small bombs that we hear about all the time, that go off in unknown markets, killing five or six, are worse. They concentrate the pain on the lives of a few. Better to kill generously rather than stingily."

The Association of Small Bombs is the heartbreaking story of the Khuranas and the Ahmeds, two families whose sons are in a 1996 bombing in Delhi. Both Khurana sons are killed, while Mansoor Ahmed survives with a badly broken arm. Yet the effects of the bombing stay with Mansoor his whole life.

The novel takes us through the fifteen years that follow the bombing and reveal the lasting effects of acts of terror. Yet, we also see how disaffected young people choose terror as a way to be heard. The strength of the story lies in the portrayals of the individual lives, and the individual reactions, of those touched by one "small" bombing.

Next: News of the World

Looking forward to reading this one. Sounds important. I thought The Reluctant Fundamentalist was a good look at how someone could be radicalised, but it didn't cover the side of the victims.

I hope you're having a relaxing weekend. Despite predicted rain it's sunny here and I should probably be gardening. Instead I'm reading Finnish crime fiction.

Hi Charlotte - I'll have to get to The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Finnish crime fiction? I'll watch for your comments. I am tidying things, doing laundry and grading today. Tomorrow I get to go to the theater.

Next week is a short week of classes; I get Thursday and Friday off, so I am looking forward to some concentrated reading.

I started News of the World and it is starting off strong. I want to read instead of grade.:(

Beth - I have the same problem when I have a stack of grading and a good book sitting side by side. Somehow the book always seems to win out!

I will have to look for the Association of Small Bombs, it sounds interesting. I did not much like The Reluctant Fundamentalist... somehow I could not believe the main character. And really, there are not many cases like that, where a Princeton grad with a Wall Street job abandons it all for fundamentalism.

>87 charl08: & >88 BLBera: Of all the Scandi countries Finland is probably the least explored in terms of crime fiction. I will also look out for your comments.

Have a lovely weekend, Beth.

Wishing you a lovely Sunday, Beth.

I hope to get to The Association of Small Bombs later this month or in early November. Nice review, Beth.

Morning Beth! Happy Sunday! So glad you enjoyed The Association of Small Bombs. I have that one lined on audio and plan to listen to it later in the week.

I started Another Brooklyn. What a beauty! This year has been phenomenal for book great book releases.

Oh yeah- Go Vikings! They have been Red-Hot!

Morning, Beth! I loved all of the Scout stories. What a charmer!

Hi Amy - I know. News of the World is really good. But, I need to put it down and do some grading. (After I visit some LT friends, of course).

Hi Rhonda - I haven't read The Reluctant Fundamentalist, but The Association of Small Bombs focuses more on the victims of the bombing. It mostly takes place in India although Mansoor Ahmed does leave to study in the States for a while. He was one of the survivors. We also see the falsely accused and their families. Overall, it's a sad book.

Thanks Paul.

Thanks Barbara.

Thanks Darryl. I'll watch for your comments. I trust that you are well again and happily back at work?

Hi Mark - The Vikes have the day off. And how about your Cubbies? I am waiting to get Another Brooklyn from the library. It has been a good reading year.

Hi Mamie - Thanks. She is a lot of fun.

Hi Beth wishing you a lovely week.

"Catastrophe" is a big word for a little girl! I love it.

I've put The Association of Small Bombs on hold at the library. It looks and sounds excellent.

I am into the last segment of Homegoing and very much enjoying it.

Hi Beth, hope you have a good week. With Thursday and Friday off and reading planned it sounds like you are all set.

Thanks Rae.

Yes, Ellen, Miss Scout makes me laugh with her vocabulary. She is read to. I think you'll like The Association of Small Bombs. I loved Homegoing; the fragments of stories don't always work and I thought the ending was a little contrived, but it's a strong first novel.

Hi Meg - Unfortunately, I'll also have some grading to do over the weekend, but it will be nice to have a couple of days off.

95. News of the World is a beautifully written historical novel. Jiles captures the Texas Hill Country with passages like: "They came to a destroyed cabin...Here were memories, loves, deep heartstring notes like the place where he had been raised in Georgia. Here had been people whose dearest memories were the sound of a dipper dropped in thew water bucket after taking a drink and the click of it as it hit bottom. The quiet of evening. The shade of the Devil's trumpet vine over a window, scattered shadows gently hypnotic. The smell of a new calf, a long bar of sun falling into the back door over worn planks and every knot outlined."

Besides the writing though, she has created two memorable characters that we come to love as we follow them through their odyssey. Jefferson Kyle Kydd travels from small town to small town to read the world's news to crowds. The Civil War recently ended and chaos reigns in much of Texas. Outlaws and Indian raids threaten travelers on the isolated roads. When Captain Kidd, as he is called, is asked to return to her family a young girl who was kidnapped by the Kiowa, he reluctantly takes on the responsibility. This is their story.

As they travel, we learn more about the Captain and Johanna, and come to care about them, hoping for a happy ending.

Wonderful novel, beautifully written with unforgettable characters.

Next: Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid for my book club this month.

Songs and stories of the ’61 Freedom Riders
At the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement, brave women and men of all backgrounds said goodbye to their families, boarded buses and headed into the Deep South to battle discrimination. Arrested and imprisoned in Mississippi’s notorious Parchman Farm Penitentiary, these Freedom Riders endured by creating a nightly variety show called “The Parchman Hour.” The Parchman Hour is a captivating play with music, one that reveals a defining chapter in American history while celebrating the hope and resilience of a community that joined together to stand against segregation.

I saw this at the Guthrie yesterday. It was fabulous.

>102 BLBera: Glad you liked it. I thought it was fabulous too.

>101 BLBera: Looking forward to getting hold of this one!

>102 BLBera: Sounds wonderful. Hope it makes it over here too.

Hope the grading is a small part of your 'time off'. Otherwise it would be a 'catastrophe'(?!)

HI Erik - The voices and music were great.

Hi Charlotte - I'll manage to ignore the grading and get some reading done.

I'm battling bronchitis now, too, so I hope I feel better.

Oh no! Hope you feel better soon.

>102 BLBera: I recently added New of the World to the tbr list. Thanks for your wonderful review!

And, thanks for your recent visit to my thread. I noted there that a few minutes prior to your post, I wrote a note to a friend who lives in Wayzata, MN. Where do you live in MN, and, do you like it there?

Good review of News of the World and I love the quote. I can not wait to get my greedy mitts on that one, Beth. Sadly, I have still not read Jiles.

Great review of News of the World, Beth. Have just st requested from our library, #22 in line.

Thanks Charlotte - The coughing is exhausting.

Thanks Linda. I do like Minnesota, mainly because so much of my family is here. I also love that my commute to work is 15 minutes. I don't like the long winters.

Hi Mark - I think you'll like it. I have loved all the Jiles novels I've read. Enemy Women is my favorite, I think.

Thanks Nancy. It's short, so maybe it won't take long for you to get it.

96. The House by the Lake is subtitled "One House, Five Families, and a Hundred Years of German History." This describes perfectly this fascinating look at this house on the Groß Glienicke Lake, a few kilometers outside of Berlin. I liked the personal connection; the author is the great grandson of the original owner of the house. I also found the East German years fascinating; we read a lot about WWII, but I haven't read much about the years when Germany was divided.

The house of the title was originally built in the early 20th Century. It was part of a larger estate at that time. The Alexanders used the house as a vacation home - Alfred Alexander was a successful physician in Berlin. He was also Jewish, and the family left the house and moved to England before the war started. Eventually, the Nazis claimed the house and it was sold on to another family. After the war, the Berlin Wall ran through the backyard of the house, separating it from the lake. The house witnessed a lot of history.

Recommended for those who like history with a personal touch. There are plenty of photos, and the efforts to turn the house into a cultural and educational center are ongoing.

I first heard about this from other LTers - maybe Carrie? Anyway, thanks!

Next: I'm continuing with Northanger Abbey for my book club tomorrow.

I really enjoyed this one too. The family side of it was really good. Being able to talk to the residents of the village about their experience of the wall was fascinating.

Hi Beth! I've just started Small Bombs and after that News of the World. I've loved reading the longlisters and seeing what new in literature.
I'm going to try to read some non-fiction longlisters too but I'm not sure i'll get them done before that award is announced. Oh to nothing but read and lounge around the house!

Hi Charlotte - Maybe it was from you that I first heard about this one. I also found the part about the Wall fascinating.

Hi Lynda - I'll look for your comments. There's a lot of great reading going on around here now. I loved both books although News of the World beats out Small Bombs.

I did do a lot of lounging today, trying to kick the bronchitis. I do feel better right now.

Hi Beth! You've sold me on News of the World. I've added it to my library wishlist.

Glad to share, Carrie.

97. Northanger Abbeyby Val McDermid is part of the Jane Austen Project. McDermid delivers in this one, updating the Austen novel in an imaginative way.

Like the original Cat Morland, McDermid's Cat is overimaginative, this one obsessed with vampires. Her naiveté is explained partly by the fact that she is homeschooled. As she visits Northanger Abbey, she asks herself if the Tilneys are really vampires, ignoring any evidence to the contrary: "But no young woman has ever allowed reality to stand in the way of her romantic fantasies, and in this respect, Cat was no exception to the rule."

McDermid has fun with the story, and stays true to the original intent. If you're a purist who objects to these retellings, avoid this. If you're curious about how Austen's story translates to modern day, pick it up and prepare to be entertained.

Morning, Beth! That retelling sounds like one I would like - adding it to the list.

>117 BLBera: I loved that one! It's my favorite of the Austen Project books.

Thanks for the encouragement to get on with Behold the Dreamers - definitely preferred the second half. Will look for her next book too.

Hi Mamie - Happy Friday to you. The McDermid version of Northanger Abbey is fun.

Hi Carrie - I've only read this one and Eligible, both of which I enjoyed. I should look for the others.

Charlotte! - I think Behold the Dreamers will be one of my favorites this year.

98. The Last Policeman is an interesting take on dystopian fiction. Hank Palace is a young policeman in Concord, New Hampshire. The twist is the fact that law and order are disintegrating after the announcement that a huge asteroid will collide with the earth in six months. It will be an apocalyptic event. So, people are leaving their jobs, killing themselves, and doing things they would never have otherwise done. The police department has stopped investigating suicides.

When Hank finds a man who supposedly hanged himself, something doesn't feel right to him, and he decides to investigate, despite getting no encouragement from his bosses. Through this novel we get to know Hank and discover that he is a boy scout. He will continue to do his job until he's told to stop. It also makes us question what we would do in similar circumstances.

This is the first in a trilogy, and I am anxious to see what happens in the next two books.

Next: Hot Milk

>122 BLBera: Well I have just finished Hot Milk, Beth and I am glad it has no sequel!

Have a lovely weekend.

>122 BLBera: I liked this series a lot. Hope you continue to enjoy it too.

I loved The Last Policeman - nice review of it, Beth. I need to get to the next one in the series.

The House by the Lake, sounds really interesting---I will have to look for it.

>122 BLBera: Glad you liked it enough to want to continue! I thought Hank was such a great character.

Beth, Your last few reads look great. I wondered whether The House on the Lake might be a bit depressing, but I keep seeing good reviews on LT. The Parchman Hour sounds great too. It's far too long since I've been to the theatre.

Happy Sunday, Beth.

Hi Paul - I just started Hot Milk, and I think perhaps it has more appeal to women than men. I hope your weekend was fabulous.

Hi Charlotte - I zipped through the second one yesterday and enjoyed it as well. Interesting premise - I can't wait to see how he ends it.

Hi Mamie - It does seem to be popular here.

Hi Rhonda - I really enjoyed The House by the Lake. I think anyone interested in history and how it affects ordinary people will like this.

Hi Joanne - Hank is a great character - besides the premise, the real strength of the novels.

Hi Susan - I see you've been stepping! Congrats. This bronchitis is putting a damper on my steps. I hope to feel better soon. I didn't find The House by the Lake depressing at all.

Thanks Barbara. Happy Sunday to you, as well.

Go Vikes!

99. Countdown City is the second book in The Last Policeman trilogy. In it, Hank continues to do what he does, even though he is no longer officially a police officer: "There are a million things I might be doing other than putting in overtime to make right one Bucket List abandonment...But this is what I do. It's what makes sense to me, what has long made sense."

This second novel brings the world closer to the collision of the asteroid, and order seems to be breaking down even more. Hank continues to try to help people, this time trying to find an old friend's husband who has disappeared. It leads him to some interesting revelations. Hank is a great character and is the real backbone of these books.

One thing I question is the idea that society has broken down so completely. I'm not sure I buy that. Still, I'm anxious to see how Winters finishes the series.

Next: Back to Hot Milk

>130 BLBera: Beth, sorry the bronchitis is still with you. I hope you're soon free of it. I'm intrigued by The Last Policeman books. I might have to cautiously explore the library catalogue.

Thanks Susan - I think I'm getting better. I'm at the point right now where I'm just tired of being sick and am feeling a little sorry for myself. Coughing is exhausting. I'm hoping to get a nap in today and some good sleep tonight.

Uggh. Coughing is tiring. Brandy, I think, is the answer.

Screeeeech! That's me putting on the reading brakes. I picked up some spooky books from the library and hope to wiz through Hollow City, Tales of the Peculiar and Ghostland quickly then back to National Book Award short listers.
My go to medicine is Vicks Vabor Rub. I use it for almost everything. Hope you feel better soon!!

Thanks Rhonda. Actually, when I was a kid with a chronic cough, one of my aunts gave me wine. It worked.

Hi Lynda. I think it's getting better. I still get bronchspasms though, which wear me out. So I am at the self-pity stage. I'll give the Vicks a try; that brings back memories...

Happy Sunday, Beth. Sorry to hear, that you aren't feeling well. Hope the worst is behind you.

I really enjoyed The Last Policeman books. I am glad you found your way to this trilogy.

Hi Beth! You make me want to read the Last Policeman series!

News of the World is going right onto my wish list. It sounds great.

I hope you have a great week ahead of you!

Hmm, wine for a cough? And we're coming into winter, so the timing's perfect, LOL!

>131 BLBera: Since the backdrop of that series kind of forces the series to end, is there any hint that Winters will pull a rabbit out of the hat and not have the asteroid hit Earth? Or, do you get the sense that the final book will end with either a bang/imminent bang?

>78 BLBera: Beth, I love that Scout knew when she needed a time-out. Even in my thirties I sometimes still feel like I need those....

>117 BLBera: I've heard good things about the Val McDermid retelling of Northanger and liked the idea that vampire novels are the gothic novels of today :-)

Sorry to hear you've been feeling sick - I hope you feel better soon.

Hi Beth, sorry to read that you have been suffering with bronchitis and I hope you will soon be feeling better. On the other hand, you have been reading up a storm! New of the World sounds like it's right up my alley and I've had The Last Policeman on my wish list for far too long. I read a lot but never seem to be able to catch up with all my reading plans!

I hope you feel better soon, Beth!!

>140 TadAD: Great question!

Feel better, Beth!

>131 BLBera: The breakdown of society is not a nice picture in any of these books. I'd like to think we'd putter along but I suppose with the threat of the complete end of the world I'd be tempted to knock off a few things from my bucket list too (rather than sit where I was keeping something going).

Things like medicine for serious conditions don't bear thinking about though.

Happy Wednesday, Beth! Hoping that you are feeling better very soon.

Thanks for keeping my thread warm, all. I finally feel like I am going to live. One of my colleagues said it took her four weeks - I'm only at two right now.

Good luck to your Cubs, Mark. I still have the last of the Last Policeman trilogy to get through. I have it on my e-reader, so when I get back to the gym, I'll start it.

Thanks Ellen - News of the World was great. It will be one of the top reads this year. Still, I think I favor The Underground Railroad slightly for the NBA win. Thanks.

Nancy - I haven't resorted to alcohol yet, but if I keep coughing, I might!

Tad - Excellent question. I think that is one of the reasons I am so anxious to read the third book. One hopes, of course, for salvation...

Thanks Heather - McDermid did an excellent job of "updating" NA. I think the authors are having fun with this, and also discovering that Austen is still relevant.

Hi Judy - You're not too shabby with the reading yourself! I'm amazed at how many books you've read so far this year. I think you would like The Last Policeman trilogy and News of the World.

Thanks Joanne.

Charlotte - I think it would be better not to know -- unless there are preparations to make to help some people survive. All of these dystopian novels paint a dim picture of human nature, which is very discouraging.

Thanks Mamie

Sorry if I missed anyone. I hope to visit some threads later.

So glad you are starting to feel better, Beth. Take care not to overdo it at first.

Thanks Roni. Too late. I felt better so I walked to my library. Now I need a nap.

Hi Beth
Hope you're feeling better. Four weeks for your colleague to feel grim sounds awful. Hope your recovery is quicker. I have a little work for next week, hoping it's a step in the right direction.

Ohhh sorry about the cough. I know that when I had a dreadful cough after having the flu some years ago, my doctor told me that only codeine really works to suppress a cough. It worked. I had been beginning to vomit I was coughing so much. However, I am not sure with bronchitis. Maye a " productive cough" is a good thing to get the stuff out of your lungs? At any rate, I hope you are feeling better soon.

Thanks Charlotte. What work do you have for next week. Good - will it lead to something more permanent?

Thanks Deborah. I do feel better, but I know the cough will linger for a while.

Hi Beth! I'm sorry you've been under the weather. I always seem to come down with something every time the season changes from summer to fall or winter to spring. Ugh!

100. Hot Milk has a lot going on, but at its center, it's a story about mothers and daughters. Rose, Sofia's mother, has been suffering from undiagnosed vague ailments for years. Sofia put aside work on her dissertation to help her mother. As a last resort, they go to a specialist in Spain.

Rose and Sofia are maddening, yet in them Levy has created characters that we come to care about -- even as we are tearing at our hair at some of their choices. Symbols abound, adding layers to the story.

Next: The Hour of Land, a collection of essays about our national parks. Williams writes beautifully.

My fiction choice is Jonis Agee's new historical novel The Bones of Paradise.

Hi Beth! I hate coughing. I hope that you are all better and that you are done with coughing for the winter. I can't wait to see what you think of The Hour of Land. I have my eye on that one. My kids were working on their Christmas lists today, and I realized that mine is mostly books!

Happy Sunday, Beth. Hope you are feeling better. And I hope you love The Hour of Land, as much as I did. I also have The Bones of Paradise saved on audio, so I will be watching for your thoughts.

Happy Sunday, Beth! So glad you're feeling more like yourself! Just to be sure, read two books and get plenty of rest today!

Amy - I think the cough will linger. Yesterday, though I only took cough medicine once, so that is progress. I love Williams' writing and the first essay was lovely; I look forward to the rest.

Hi Mark - I'm sending you good karma for your Cubs. It would be too bad for them to lose in Chicago. The Bones of Paradise is outstanding so far. If you like historical fiction, especially Westerns, this will be perfect for you.

Hi Lynda - Your Indians are doing well, I see. Still, I have to hope for seven games and may the best team win. Thanks for the prescription. :)

Lots of grading to catch up with, but I hope to get some reading done today.

"The Bones of Paradise is outstanding so far. " Wow! That is good news, Beth. And thanks for the encouragement on the Cubs. We need to win at least one at home, right?

I think they deserve a home win, Mark. Sending good karma your way.

Glad to read you've got a good book on the go. Hope that your recovery continues.

100 up and well done, Beth. Not sure that I quite agree that Hot Milk is more of a female read than a male one it was just that the story seemed to meander a little for my taste. It was far from the worst of the Booker shortlist (I liked it better than the winner) but it was not amongst my favourite reads of 2016.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Thanks Charlotte.

Thanks Paul. I was thinking since Hot Milk is about mothers and daughters that that might account for the fact that I think Lynda and I liked it more than you and Darryl. I have yet to read The Sellout; I'll give it a try although satire isn't really my favorite thing.

Nice comments about Hot Milk, Beth. I'm looking forward to reading it and I thought your comment that it's focus on mothers and daughters might account for some divergence of appreciation between, say, you and Lynda vs Paul and Darryl. I'm curious to see how it lands on me.

In the meantime, I started Do Not Say We Have Nothing last night and I'm very optimistic that it's going to be a rewarding read. I also have The Last Policeman from the library and I'm thinking I might designate it as my "carry" book -- to read on the Light Rail during my daily commute. It's a lot lighter than DNSWHN.

I hope you're having an excellent Sunday and continuing to feel better!

Oh, and I asked on my thread, but I'll ask here as well. Are you reading or listening to The Hour of Land? I listened to it and I think Williams' reading was quite good.

Thanks Ellen. I think you're right about The Last Policeman; it was my ebook that I read at the gym. From others' comments it seems as though Do Not Say We Have Nothing might be one to savor.

I am feeling better. I hope to get back to steps and the gym this week.

I'm reading The Hour of Land. Did Williams read it? I would like to listen to her reading. She writes so beautifully. It is one to savor.

I see your Seahawks are in a tight one. The Vikes play tomorrow night. Just as well. I'm working my way through a pile of essays.

Congrats on 100 books, Beth! You hit me with some book bullets but I think Joanne got me first with The Last Policeman trilogy. When am I ever going to get all these books read? I like your idea of reading at the gym except I don't go to the gym. We have a treadmill in the basement game room but I prefer to do my walking outside…and listen to the birds.

Thanks for the Scout stories. Cookies and counting. So cute. She and Molly would have so much fun together. Hope, too. I got to spend lots of time last week with my two youngest granddaughters. Happy me!

Bronchitis is nasty stuff. I'm glad you are feeling better and hope that the cough goes away soon.

Thanks Donna. You would also love News of the World and the novel I'm reading now The Bones of Paradise. Both are great historical novels.

I do like to walk outside when the weather is nice, but unfortunately, we are approaching the time of year when that isn't so much of an option.

Scout now has two kitties. My daughter told me that this morning she was reading stories to Arthur. We have no idea how she came up with the name, but she named both of them. Arthur and Annie.

The cough is improving. It's still worse at night, but thank goodness for Nyquil.

>101 BLBera: That's a BB.

>102 BLBera: I would love to see that. It sounds amazing.

Sorry you've been sick. I had bronchitis while we were moving and the cough lingered a long time. I resorted to night time meds too. It's the worst when you can't sleep.

I love that Scout is reading to her kitties. Annie and Arthur. Adorable.

>163 BLBera: I was thinking since Hot Milk is about mothers and daughters that that might account for the fact that I think Lynda and I liked it more than you and Darryl.

I don't think this completely explains my dislike of Hot Milk. The central element of Bodies of Light, Sarah Moss's brilliant novel, is the relationship between a difficult, complex and overbearing (but well meaning) mother and her anxiety ridden daughter, whose future as one of the first women physicians in England is all but completely determined by her mother. I loved that book, and I'm still very upset that it wasn't chosen for the Bailey's Women's Prize or the Booker Prize longlist last year. Hot Milk is a trivial piece of chick lit in comparison, IMO.

Thanks Jenn. I hope the house hunting is looking up.

Hi Darryl - Chick lit?

Hey, we both hit the 100 book mark at the same time, Beth! Congratulations!

And congratulations to you, Roni.

Oops, I missed number 100, Beth! Congratulations :-)

Thanks Susan.

>169 kidzdoc: I would like to think it a coincidence too that two guys liked Hot Milk less than two ladies did. Is it a book better appreciated by ladies? Don't really know because I just didn't find it particularly good. It wasn't the theme or the subject matter rather the meandering and somewhat disconnected style.

Have a great weekend, Beth.

Hi Paul - I think it's all my feminist theory reading that makes me look at gender while reading. I do think men and women read differently, aside from individual differences in taste.

I hope your weekend was wonderful as well. We're enjoying a mild autumn here, with no snow as yet. Typically we have a "trace" amount in October.

I'm almost finished with THe Bones of Paradise - a really great Western.

Hey Beth, Sorry I didn't respond and support you sooner regarding Hot Milk, I've been going through World Series withdrawal.

>169 kidzdoc: >175 PaulCranswick: The reason I liked Hot Milk was due to the fact I somehow identified myself with Sophia. Helping a parent through an illness is always tough and a situation in which men and women can relate and feel a connection. Of course, the setting influenced me as well and for that reason I thought it a good summer read but certainly wouldn't consider it chic lit. I didn't find anything fluffy about it. It's the mental games parents sometimes play with their kids which make the children feel guilty that they've not done enough for their parents.

With that said, perhaps, the author may be lacking in her ability to make the story more accessible to readers of both sexes unless that's what she intended to do. Then again, I felt totally disconnected to Beatty's, Sellout and we all know where that got him ;}

>154 BLBera: >175 PaulCranswick: I'm another one who couldn't get into Hot Milk, although I enjoyed her previous book Swimming Home. Just couldn't get any enthusiasm for the characters at all.

I'm almost finished with THe Bones of Paradise - a really great Western. ... Woohoo! I love a great frontier novel, Beth. Sounds like another one for the list.

Beth, I've just wishlisted The Bones of Paradise!

I meant to follow up on your helpful advice about the weather for my office roomie recently. She took the right clothes, and they loved Minnesota. "People in the midwest are so friendly!" she said. Some of the groom's friends took her and her husband sightseeing the day after the wedding, having only met them on the day of the wedding. We agreed that this would not happen in London :-)

Thanks Lynda - Great comments on Hot Milk - I found both characters maddening, but the fact that they were so frustrating shows what a good job Levy did with them; I found them very realistic. I wouldn't describe it as fluffy, either. :)

Hi Rhian - Yes, the characters were maddening.

More comments when I finish, Nancy. I hope to get through the last 50 pages or so, today.

Susan - Thanks - I've been meaning to ask about how your office roomie did on her trip. I'm glad things worked for her.

I'll comment more on The Bones of Paradise when I'm finished.

Go Vikes.

101. The Bones of Paradise is a sprawling historical Western set in the Nebraska Sand Hills at the end of the nineteenth century. In the opening pages, rancher J.B. Bennett is killed as he discovers the dead body of an Indian girl, setting in motion a struggle over the title of the land and a search for the killer.

The Sand Hills are wonderfully evoked by Agee's descriptions: "A person had to keep his eye on the smallest detail while the vast emptiness constantly tugged at his vision. You can get lost in a heartbeat out here, he'd told his wife. It took him most of his life to realize the significance of his own words." Throughout the novel, we are treated to the sights, sounds, and smells of this hard place.

But the novel isn't just about the challenges of ranching life; Agee also visits the massacre of the Ghost Dancers at Wounded Knee, recognizing that many of the ranchers lived on land stolen from the Indians, "who mourned the land, not as wealth but as the place where all was alive, all living, in one form or another. The whites took it but the dead still walked it, the spirits, whatever they were."

Dulcinea Bennett, J.B.'s wife and Rose, the murdered Indian girl's sister, are strong women, great characters who work together to fight for their place in this unforgiving country generally considered a man's world, as well as to find the murderer of their loved ones.

Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction with a strong sense of place.

Hi Beth--I'm not trying to fully catch up with anything around here but I did notice that you've been posting favorites as you go. I've not ready ANY except for Moon Tiger but I do have one or two on my shelves.

Hi Anne - Good to see you back, even if briefly. I've been checking to see what you've been reading, and it looks as though you've had a good -- and prolific -- year in reading.

Congratulations on hitting 100 books! I seem to in a Can Lit phase as this is the Can Lit prize season.

Hi Beth! I finished and very much enjoyed The Last Policeman so thank you for your positive comments. I also got Hot Milk from the library yesterday (along with five others, and I still have six from my last library run...) so I hope to read it soon. The Underground Railroad was also in yesterday's pickup, so I have some good reading ahead of me.

Do Not Say We Have Nothing has been a slow read for me. It's really excellent but life has been kind of crazy so I've had a hard time sinking into it. This afternoon I was able to spend a steady couple of hours reading and it's just so moving in places. It also has me checking out various works by Bach and Beethoven.

Terry Tempest Williams did read The Hour of Land and, of course, her voice was perfect for it.

Have a great week!

Stopping in to catch up with you, Beth. Congrats on passing the 100 mark! Hoping you are feeling much better.

Hi Beth! I've added the Agee book to my WL...

Thanks Deborah - There are a lot of good Canadian writers.

Ellen - I'm happy that you liked The Last Policeman. I have the e-book for the last one checked out and hope to start it soon.

I'm always happy to hear of others with double digits' worth of library books - I currently have 12 checked out. I suspect some will have to go back unread. I'll be interested in your comments on Hot Milk, a challenging book in some ways.

I think I'll save Do Not Say We Have Nothing for a time when my mind is relatively unengaged in other things - like school, etc.

I'd love to hear Williams read - I keep meaning to post samples from The Hour of Land. I'm really enjoying it.

Thanks Mamie - I am feeling better. I haven't taken cough medicine since Friday! Real progress.

Hi Katie - I'll be watching to see what you think of it when you get to it.

Well, given the comment above: I have 17 out. Whoops.
I'm enjoying The Power a lot - some great stuff about gender. I would love to sit in on a bookgroup discussing this.

Happy to hear it, Charlotte! Welcome to the library book overload club.

I'll have to check to see if my library has The Power; we're talking about gender in my comp class now.

Terry Tempest Williams writes about nature better than anyone else. Here are some gems from The Hour of Land

Grand Teton National Park
"Wolves howl in the bright light of the moon. Bison remain wild, not tamed. And on dark days, when everywhere we turn war is waging and violence around the world seems to be rising, a dozen trumpeter swans fly in formation over snow-covered peaks."

Theodore Roosevelt National Park
"Each time I look out and see the bends in the river of the Little Missouri, these grasslands, these ships of clouds floating over the prairie, I am possessed by a sense of discovery, a vision of what the American landscape holds -- this openness, these unending views, the silences, the empyreal sky. This -- wholesomeness -- completes me."

>190 BLBera: "I'll save Do Not Say We Have Nothing for a time when my mind is relatively unengaged in other things..." I think that is a good idea. That said, I do recommend it. It's a bit unsettling given our current political climate and the essay that you posted on my thread. The stories of artists living under totalitarian rule are just heartbreaking.

>193 BLBera: I'm glad you're enjoying it. Although her reading was lovely, I did find myself wishing I had a hard copy so I could more effectively savor some of the most beautiful passages. (I couldn't just say "wait! stop! read that again!")

>193 BLBera: That first quote is lovely. Can picture it. I've never heard of him!

I think The Power would get discussion going - and yet it's very readable as a thriller. Teenage girls with amazing power - how does that change their relationships, their position in society - and then on to think about what that might do to people trafficking...

Hi Beth, I am another one who has taken a hit with The Bones of Paradise. Great to hear you are feeling better and congrats. on passing the 100 Books mark. :)

Thanks Ellen - I was thinking of what I would miss if I listened to Williams instead of reading her. I would want to go back and listen again.

Hi Charlotte - Thanks. The Power sounds fascinating.

Hi Judy - I think The Bones of Paradise would be perfect for you. I can't believe I hit 100 already.

Well, off to watch election returns and crack open a bottle of wine - either to celebrate or drown my sorrows.

So sorry about the politics. He is all over the news here -I have switched it off.

On a better note, reading Robert Bolaño's essays: so many recommendation for reading. I am wondering if library will be able to cope with requests for Chilean women writers in translation...

Hi Beth. Just checking in to see how you're doing. This has been a double tough week.

Take good care ~~~

Thanks Charlotte. We are feeling anxious here.

Thanks Ellen - I imagine my feelings are similar to yours. I'm sorry work is tough now, too. Take care of yourself.

My cousin posted this on Facebook: When her twelve-year-old daughter saw the electoral map on Wed. morning, she asked her mom, "Can we ask France if they want the Louisiana Purchase back?"

My Somali students and immigrant students are stunned.

>200 BLBera: I love your cousin's twelve-year-old daughter!

The fear among our immigrant students is extremely high right now and I have heard of several verbal assaults on our African American students. I recommend David Remnick's essay in The New Yorker. I quoted from it substantially on my own thread but the whole thing is better than the excerpts. :-)

Meanwhile, I finished reading a wonderful collection of poems by Ada Limón, Bright Dead Things. Reading poetry is still somewhat new for me but I plan to purchase a copy of this collection.

Have a great Friday, Beth.

>201 EBT1002: I thought the Remnick piece was excellent.

Ellen - Remnick's essay is great. For those interested: http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/an-american-tragedy-donald-trump

I think we all need to be especially vigilant and speak out against racism, sexism, any kind of hate speech, now more than ever before. I hope that the office will put the brakes on the president-elect, but I am not optimistic. To date, he hasn't exhibited any ability for self control. I would hope that any decent people would call out words and actions that are hateful.

Bright Dead Things has been on my list. I'll have to pick up a copy.

Have a great Friday, Ellen. I hope work is improving. At school yesterday, I walked a student to the counselor's office. He was telling me that things have been hard lately and he had had to call a suicide help line; whenever students mention suicide, I try to get them to the counselor's immediately. I am not qualified to determine whether they are suicidal. He went with me eagerly, which makes me think he did need some help. I expect I'll see more worried students in the days ahead, especially those of color or immigrants. I also have some gay and transgender students who are concerned. I really thought we were better than this.

It was indeed, Erik. I hope we can continue to have first amendment rights.

>203 BLBera: Thanks for doing that Beth. I hope students will get the support they need. One of the things that helped after Brexit was hearing that others felt the same way.

102. The Gustav Sonata follows Gustav Perle. Like a sonata, the novel is divided into three parts: Gustav's childhood; his parents' marriage before he was born; and Gustav's middle age. Gustav lives in a small Swiss city, and his life has been shadowed by his father's early death and disgrace and his friendship with Anton, a Jewish boy he met in kindergarten. Erich Perle's story is based on the true story of Paul Grueninger, a Swiss police chief who was fired after falsifying entry dates on visas for Jews entering the country just as WWII was beginning. We see the price that was paid for neutrality.

Gustav is a great character, and I enjoyed following his journey. I also enjoyed the setting.

This was my first novel by Tremaine, but it won't be the last.

Thanks Charlotte?

Another fan of Tremaine here, Beth, but I've not read The Gustav Sonata. Excellent review.

>200 BLBera: Odds are, no... Good thought, though.

Bones of Paradise does sound good.

I'm so glad you're enjoying The Hour of Land. I'm only midway through still, but purposely taking it slow.

Hi Nancy - What is your favorite Tremaine? I have Restoration on my shelves, as well as a couple of others.

Hi Joanne - I think you would love Bones of Paradise, a Western with women protagonists. The Hour of Land is a great book to savor. I'm just starting on the Gettysburg park right now.

>205 BLBera: I liked the setting too: very atmospheric. Hope you can find some more Tremain. I did like the Merivel novel I read, and Music & Silence too.

103. March: Book One is a graphic memoir by John Lewis and just the ticket for today. In Book One, Lewis talks about his childhood -- his story about his chickens was very funny -- and goes to the Nashville sit-ins.

I enjoyed the framing device of Lewis telling his story to a family in his office as he was getting ready for the Obama inauguration.
I'll certainly continue to read the others.

Thanks Charlotte - I'll keep those in mind.

>208 BLBera: Beth, I loved both The Colour and Trespass, probably the first a wee bit more.

Thanks Nancy!

Hi Beth! I am going to have to look for March. Sounds like a good thing to read now.

>203 BLBera: "...whenever students mention suicide, I try to get them to the counselor's immediately." Perfect. It's exactly what our counseling center encourages faculty and advisors to do. I'm glad the student was so forthright with you and that he went willingly with you to meet with a trained counselor.

I'm holding onto hope that the people who voted for Trump who (I don't get this) say that they don't think he will really keep all those promises to do terrible things will, indeed, speak out when he begins implementing his stated agenda. I mean, it may be awkward to say, "no, that's not what I meant when I voted for you," but we can hope that thoughtful citizens will speak up.

I'm loving The Underground Railroad so far. It has managed to push through my disrupted concentration.

Paul C sent me a copy of Rose Tremain's The Road Home a few years ago and I loved it. I have long been saying that she is an author whose oeuvre I want to read. The Gustav Sonata sounds like one to add to the wish list. So, that is done.

Have a great weekend!

Rhonda - There are three books, and the first one was perfect for right now. I am planning to read books two and three as well.

Hi Ellen - I always try to get them real help; I'm happy to listen to students, but I have no expertise in counseling. Unfortunately, funding cuts have left our counselors short staffed. Sigh.

I think we all have to speak up now, more than ever before.

I knew you would love The Underground Railroad - have you read anything else by Whitehead? I would like to read more of his books although I'm hesitant about the zombie one.

The Gustav Sonata was one of those books that is deceptively simple; yet I think I'll be thinking about it for a long time. The characters are fabulous.

Scout and I went to Barnes & Noble this morning. We left Mom at home to take a shower. We found some Frog and Toad and Henry and Mudge books, played with the train set they have in the children's area, listened to some good penguin stories and had a treat in the coffee shop. We were sitting in coffee shop, when Scout, who was looking behind me, said, "What beautiful hair." I turned and it was a young woman with purple hair. I got up and told her, and she got a big smile on her face and said, "Thanks," to Scout.

When we were driving home, she commented on the trees, the traffic lights, "It's red, Tita, you have to wait," and generally a good time was had by all. I also got to meet one of her kitties, Arthur. Now, back to work.

I'm rereading All the Light We Cannot See for my book club. I liked it well enough the first time; the reread will let me see if I am more wowed by it as so many others were.

Hi Beth! The Gustav Sonata sounds interesting. The only experience I have with Rose Tremain is The Colour. I didn't love it, but it's stuck with me.

I finally reached the top of the holds list for an Overdrive copy of All the Light We Cannot See, so I guess I'll be reading it with you!

Hi Carrie - The Gustav Sonata is my first Tremaine, and I loved it. I'll definitely look for more by her.

I'll watch for your comments on All the Light We Cannot See; the first time I read it, I liked it, but I wasn't as crazy about it as many were. I'm going to see if my opinion changes on the reread.

I read Sag Harbor last year for Mark's challenge. It was sort of meh.
I have Zone One on the shelves but haven't read it yet.

Okay, this is weird. I know I read Sag Harbor! But it's in my "to read" collection with no review or rating. It will take some digging to see if I can find comments I may have made about it in a thread last year.

ETA: I figured it out. I was confused. I read That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo for Mark's AAC. It was meh. I have not read any other Colson Whitehead works other than the currently going The Underground Railroad.

Stopping by to say thinking of you Beth (and all my American friends).

>203 BLBera: So sorry to hear some young people are feeling so affected by this. I also feel quite fearful even in a different country - I sincerely hope all our fears turn out to be unjustified.

>205 BLBera: Glad you liked The Gustav Sonata - I've also had Rose Tremain on my list for some time but still haven't read any of her books.

>210 BLBera: March: Book One is on my wishlist, I think from Darryl's recommendation - seems like an important book to read at the moment.

>216 BLBera: Scout sounds so cute at the moment.

Morning, Beth! >218 BLBera: Funny that. I read All the Light early on and although I thought it a well told story I was surprised just how many people thought it so extraordinary. My friend has never returned it to me so it may be awhile before a reread occurs if it does at all.

Morning Beth! Happy Sunday! Always enjoy catching up with your reading. Glad you loved March: Book 1. I should finish book 3 today. It is a perfect trilogy, although I think you should space the reads. Absorbing the difficult struggles of these brave people can be a bit overwhelming. True heroes.

Hi Ellen - The same thing happens to me. I get confused about whether I've read something, and if it was before LT, my records are not that great. The Intuitionist will probably be the next Whitehead I read.

Hi Heather - Thanks for your words of support. I also hope that things won't be as bad as we think they will be.

I have a couple of Tremaine books on my shelves, but I probably won't get to them this year.

I highly recommend March:Book One; I plan to read the following ones as well.

Yes, Scout is adorable.

Hi Lynda - I probably wouldn't reread All the Light if it weren't my book club choice... It is very good, and Doerr writes beautifully, but I didn't think it was the greatest WWII novel I've ever read.

Hi Mark - Thanks - I think I saw March on your thread, so give yourself a pat on the back. Yes, they are true heroes. It's too bad they have to keep enduring the same struggle over and over.

I also finished the Last Policeman trilogy; I liked it well enough, but I think it could have been one book. I found the plot repetitive after the first one: earnest young policeman tries to continue to solve crimes, etc. I mostly continued to see how Winters ended it. That was pretty great.

Happy Sunday to you, too. I hope you have a good football game, unless of course, you're playing the Vikings.

Well, I have to do some grading and get read for class tomorrow. Later.

>223 BLBera: I will look for The Intuitionist. I also may dig out my copy of Sag Harbor (since my LT records say it's "to read" which means I own it).

I'm thinking about dedicating most (I want to say "all" but am worried about the impact of not leaving myself room for the occasional exception) of my 2017 reading to authors from marginalized or disempowered groups, diaspora, or regions of the globe with which Western readers rarely interface. I'm not sure exactly how to define this and, honestly, I don't feel up to developing a good rubric for myself. I don't want to get into "does this qualify?" conversations, with myself or others, but I do want to dedicate myself to more broadly hearing the voices of those whose voices have historically been silenced. Maybe that is the way to say it.

I have no idea what this will lead to but, in addition to wearing a safety pin, it feels like a way to stay focused on moving the world toward greater equity and understanding. Of course, my charitable giving and volunteer time are about to take a notable up-bump, too. This afternoon there is a group of local immigration lawyers and mental health providers making themselves available for our local immigrant community, to provide free legal advice as well as support and advice for helping their children understand and cope in these times. I can't give time today, but I am going to drop off some coloring books and crayons, maybe a few other things to help entertain the children, and some cookies for treats.

It feels important to do something. So, these are my starting ideas/plans.

>225 BLBera: Your comments about the Last Policeman series reflect my impression of the series. I enjoyed the first but imagine the second and third to be not all that different? I am curious about the ultimate ending so I will look for used copies of the second and third books.

Have a great Sunday, Beth!

Ellen - Great minds! I was thinking of doing the same for my 2017 reading. I have a large stack of unread books that would fit in that category, so it will be easy to do.

I agree that we must all stay engaged.

I read all the Last Policemen books on my e-reader at the gym, and it worked well. By the third one, I was rather bored. I think it would have been much stronger as a single novel, but oh well.

Well, back to grading.

One of my book group members dropped by this afternoon to leave some books for my mini free library and mentioned she hadn't been able to get a copy of All the Light We Cannot See; since I've read it, I lent her my copy.

Instead I picked up Sleeping on Jupiter, which caught my attention right away.

>216 BLBera: Beth, I loved reading about your excursion with Scout :-) You watch those red traffic lights, now...

Oh I loved Sleeping on Jupiter, and even managed to persuade my mum to pick it up (she tends to like slightly different fiction to me, although we do overlap in places).

I liked Scout's enthusiasm for brightly coloured hair. Hope for the future, accepting diversity :-)

I'd also be up for something that reminded me to read diverse literatures next year. Litsy has a challenge going at the moment and I've added several books to the wishlist featuring deaf characters, for example.

Hi Susan - Yes, she was telling me that her mom went through a red light...

Hi Charlotte - Did your mom like Sleeping on Jupiter? It is hard to put down. The writing is beautiful, and the story is gripping.

Yes, I think Scout will be a kind child. When we were at the bookstore and other kids came to play with the train, she handed them trains, without being asked.

I have a lot of diverse reading on my shelves; maybe I'll challenge myself to read around the world next year...

Beth, Donna wrote such a wonderful review of Miss Jane - do try to find it! It is a beautiful, quiet story. I enjoyed Sleeping on Jupiter which I would not have found without Charlotte's encouragement.

Hi Deborah. I am enjoying Sleeping on Jupiter. Unfortunately, I should be grading.

Sharing like Scout is impressive stuff. I have been watching a documentary on 4 year olds (hidden cameras in a specially set up playgroup). How kids negotiate each others egos and fears is fascinating.

(and yes, my mum said she did enjoy Sleeping on Jupiter, we even had a proper book conversation about it, a tribute to the author's writing I think)

Yes, Charlotte, she is a generous little girl.

I am enjoying Sleeping on Jupiter.

Colson Whitehead won the NBA for fiction.

John Lewis also won: "In an emotional speech, Mr. Lewis, a revered civil rights activist, teared up as he described how, growing up in rural Alabama with little money for books, he and his siblings were turned away at the public library, told it was for whites only. “And to come here and receive this award, it’s too much,” he said.

I loved Lewis's statement.

Oh that makes me a bit weepy at the edges. Must get Lewis's latest book.

Catching up with you, Beth. Your morning out with Scout sounds like just the thing, and we were big fans of Frog and Toad and Henry and Mudge.

Love the Lewis quote - I was so thrilled that he won.

>238 BLBera: Thanks for sharing the Lewis quote.

I liked the idea of focusing more on authors from or books about marginalised or underrepresented groups in 2017 - I think I'm also going to consider trying to do read more in that area next year.

I have to admit, Charlotte, that I did get a little misty.

Hey Mamie - Scout is a hoot. Yesterday we read a LOT of Henry and Mudge. She's also starting to like Madeline. Has anyone else ever read Madeline and the Bad Hat? My daughter and I were laughing because one of the naughty things the boy does is to build a guillotine and chop the heads off chickens. We don't see too much of that in today's children's books. :) The book was my daughter's when she was little. Anyway, Scout has been fascinated by that and has gone back to that book over and over.

Hi Heather - I think among all of us here on LT, we should be able to come up with some good ideas, right?

Well, off to finish Sleeping on Jupiter and to listen to the wind howl around my house.

Rae loved Henry and Mudge, and we also read all of the Madeline books. Has Scout read Mouse Tales and Mouse Soup? Those were two of Rae's favorites.

I don't think she's read the Mouse ones yet, Mamie. I'm pretty sure my daughter has those, though.

>238 BLBera: Shocking that that sort of thing was happening not so long ago isn't it? I have just finished reading Kindred which, unlike me, was a sort of sci-fi look at racism through the eyes of a black lady married to a white guy in 1976 being transported back to the plantation of her ancestors in Southern Maryland. There was quite a bit about the punishments meted out by the slaveholders to those slaves with the temerity to try to learn to read.

Have a lovely weekend.

Hi Paul - I loved Kindred when I read it; it is a powerful novel. I hope your weekend is wonderful.

105. Sleeping on Jupiter is a novel about loss. A young woman who as orphaned, three elderly women on a pilgrimage, and a temple guide all come together briefly in this novel.

Each person is searching for something in this hard-to-describe book. Nomi is a puzzle to the three elderly friends who share a train berth with her. She is going to Jarmuli, a city of temples, to make a film. But she also has other reasons for visiting the city. We discover these as the novel unfolds.

Badal is a temple guide who lives with an abusive uncle and, while he guides visitors through the temple, wants more from life.

The temple city filled with pilgrims also hides a scandal in the past. Vulnerable people are easily exploited, especially children. And the businesses that surround the temples have corrupted them, turning them into a commercial, more than a spiritual, concern.

If you like plot-driven novels, this is probably not for you. Beautifully written, this novel gives one a lot to think about. And I loved the way it ended.

Next: Another Brooklyn, which I finally got from the library.

In my book club on Friday, we discussed All the Light We Cannot See. Everyone liked it with the exception of one person who had read the first 150 pages and was ready to put it down. Several people mentioned that it did start slowly, which was surprising to me. All agreed that Doerr writes beautifully, with lots of sensory details. A couple of people had marked passages.

It was quite a good discussion. Often when people generally like the book, that is not the case. But for this novel, people talked about the language, the way it was plotted, and the parallels between Hitler and Trump. And, as one person stated, "It powerfully evokes the waste of war."

Morning, Beth! I have All the Light waiting for me on my bookshelves - I need to get round to it soon.

Hi Amber. Thanks for stopping by.

On the happy news front for today: Scout and I are starting our holiday baking with Thanksgiving cookies.

Lovely review of Sleeping on Jupiter, Beth. I found Another Brooklyn on audio at my library ... will listen to both it and Brown Girl Dreaming.

>248 BLBera: Sounds like a great meeting Beth. I've still not read that one yet. It's fallen foul of the over exposure thing for me - so many people reading it, seeing it in shops... Very silly. I should just pick it up.

Thanks Nancy. Another Brooklyn is lovely, so far. I still have to read Brown Girl Dreaming as well.

It was a really good discussion. You should read it. What did you think of the end of Sleeping on Jupiter? I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I really liked it.

Hi Beth! I'm catching up after a couple of crazy work weeks. I'm glad to hear you liked March: Book One. I put the trilogy on my Christmas list after Lewis won the NBA. What an amazing man! Good luck with the last few weeks of the semester.

Hi Beth! Thanksgiving baking sounds like fun. I hope you and yours have a great Thanksgiving week!

106. Another Brooklyn is the coming of age story of August, in Brooklyn of the 1970s. Beautifully written, this is the story of the loves and hopes of childhood and the loss that comes with growing up.

Woodson says, "I wanted to write about the bonds we share as young people and of all the parables of those bonds..." She does so beautifully.

Next: Human Acts, an ER book that I am excited about.

Hi Amy - Thanks - The next few weeks will be crazy. Good luck to you, as well.

Hi Jenn - Yes, we went through a lot of sprinkles. Safe travels for you.

Hi Beth! I am interested to see how you like Human Acts. I thought it was brilliant, but so very hard to read.

>256 BLBera: Some genius has added Another Brooklyn to the library catalogue, so I'll hopefully get to read it soon. Thanks for the nudge from your review.

107. The Poet's Dog is a wonderful, heartwarming story for young readers. Thanks to Lynda, I think,? for bringing it to my attention. Teddy the dog rescues two children during a blizzard. He takes them back to the cabin he had once shared with Sylvan. They spend five days together.

A great story to read around the holidays.

Rhonda - I just started Human Acts, and it is immediately gripping.

You're very welcome, Charlotte, especially since I currently have at least two library books that were your recommendations. :) It's only fair.

Time for some National Park love from Terry Tempest Williams:
Acadia National Park
"For all of us, Acadia is another breathing space. Perhaps that is what parks are -- breathing spaces for a society that increasingly holds its breath. Here on the edge of the continent in this marriage between wind and sea, the weaving of currents offers a tapestry of relief."

Lovely.

I loved your thoughts on Another Brooklyn, Beth. I have it checked out from the library but will probably read News of the World first. I was completely blown away by A Gentleman in Moscow. It's also a hard-to-describe book about a Russian aristocrat under house arrest in a luxurious hotel. Of course, he had to live in a tiny storeroom in the attic…but he makes the best of his situation. Very uplifting.

I've been getting some good ideas for Molly's reading from Scout. I have quite a few children's books around here but I also have a lot of toys which she gravitates towards because her toys spend much of their time in the time-out closet. Molly is not the best about cleaning up…I usually have to bribe her to lend a hand...

Thanks Donna. I loved News of the World; I'll watch for your comments. Jiles is one of my favorites.

I'll check my library for A Gentleman in Moscow; it sounds excellent.

Yes, we're trying to get Scout to pick up things now, as well. She is usually a pretty good helper.

She does love her books.

Happy Thanksgiving, Donna. Will you be traveling or will you host?

>260 BLBera: Book bullet. I read several of MacLachlan's works years ago, but not that one. It sounds good.

Thanks Lori. The Poet's Dog is heartwarming - great for a holiday read.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Here's a lovely Galway Kinnell poem from Caroline Kennedy's A Family of Poems:
Saint Francis and the Sow

The bud
stands for all things,
even for those things that don't flower,
for everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing;
though sometimes it is necessary
to reteach a thing its loveliness,
to put a hand on its brow
of the flower
and retell it in words and in touch
it is lovely
until it flowers again from within, of self-blessing;
as Saint Francis
put his hand on the creased forehead
of the sow, and told her in words and in touch
blessings of earth on the sow, and the sow
began remembering all down her thick length,
from the earthen snout all the way
through the fodder and slops to the spiritual curl
of the tail,
from the hard spininess spiked out from the spine
down through the great broken heart
to the sheer blue silken dreaminess spurting
and shuddering
from the fourteen teats into the fourteen mouths
sucking and blowing beneath them:
the long, perfect loveliness of sow.

>267 BLBera: Nice poem, Beth. You should share it over on the AAC.

Glad you enjoyed Another Brooklyn. I am a big fan of her work too.

Curious about Human Acts. I had mixed feelings about The Vegetarian but I recognize her talent.

>262 BLBera: Love TTW!

I have requested The Poet's Dog. Joe warbled about it, on Sunday.

>262 BLBera: I love that idea about being able to take a breather in a park. The library where I volunteered today has trees all around and it makes a difference to me.

The Poet's Dog looks like a lovely book, Beth. I'll have to look for it at the library.

Happy Thanksgiving, Beth!
Glad you enjoyed The Poet's Dog. Joe discovered that little beauty and his warble is echoing throughout 75er's land.

Happy Thanksgiving, Beth.xx

Hi Mark - Happy Thanksgiving. Human Acts is wonderful, hard to read because of the atrocities, but Han is a wonderful writer. TTW rocks.

Hi Charlotte - I think we all need a quiet space, whether it's a library or a park.

Hi Deborah - You will love it - it will only take you about an hour to read.

Happy Thanksgiving, Lynda. I'm giving you credit for The Poet's Dog because I first heard about it on your thread. It's a great book to read around the holidays.

Thanks Paul. I have much to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my LT friends. I will spend the day with my family.

Woman, do you think it is time for a new thread?! LOL. Enjoy your family and best wishes for a

Gee, Kim, I was hoping to finish the year with this one... Thanks, Happy Thanksgiving to you, too.

Thanks Roni - Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.