Lori Reads While Petting Cats in 2017

I'm in for 2017 along with my "basket of adorables."



Since no one knows what 2017 will bring, I won't make a prediction about how many books I'll read this year. I generally make it to over 100. One year I had an especially good year, reading well over 200. I doubt I'll come near achieving that. I'm not even sure a "double" (i.e., 150 books) is achievable. I'll just see how the year shapes up and be satisfied with whatever I achieve reading-wise.

I really want to work my way through some things on my TBR list this year. I'm always drawn to "shiny new" books too. I posted some possible reads over on my category challenge thread which I'll share here as well as I have time to post them. This thread is now open for business.

Welcome back! I'm going to try to work down my TBR too. We'll see... :)

>2 drneutron: I think a lot of people want a year of mostly "free reading" this year. It seems to be a year when people are tired of too many commitments. I think finally crossing books off the TBR that got pushed aside because commitments to challenges pushed them off the radar will be a good thing for me!

A few years ago, my niece made the comment on Facebook she wished she had some of the white chocolate pretzels my mom used to make and send at Christmas. Pretty soon, the nephews, nieces, and even a grandniece all chimed in they wished they had them too. I went out, bought the almond bark and pretzels, and made and shipped them all some. This year they got a message from me that their pretzels would be late because I didn't have time to make them until I got back from Raleigh (which was last night). I've been making pretzels pretty much all day -- with time to dry the batch between them. I should be able to ship them out tomorrow on my way to Sevier County for the day. I need to stop at the Sevier County Library's genealogy room and then pick up a few final gifts in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. Most of the stuff will be supplementary stuff, but I do lack one gift. I am not sure what he's going to end up receiving. I'll have to wrap a couple of things tonight, but most wrapping will be done Saturday. Most of the stuff being mailed tomorrow is just candy.

My prospective reads are organized around my category challenge themes. A few books could fall into multiple categories, but I've placed them in only one.

The first category is an "Around the world" theme. Basically it is part of a longer term goal to read a book set in or about each country of the world. Some larger countries may be broken down into smaller categories. I do have a few items I'll be using toward that overall goal in other categories, but here's some of my current thoughts on what I might read for this one:

Land of Love and Drowning by Tiphanie Yanique (Virgin Islands)
The Devil Takes Half by Leta Serafim (Greece)
Detective Inspector Huss by Helene Tursten (Sweden)
Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat (Haiti)
Justine by Lawrence Durrell (Egypt)
A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn (South Africa)
The Abandoned Room by Wadsworth Camp (Panama)
Children of the Street by Kwei J. Quartey (Ghana)
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan)
The Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison (Tibet)
Gardens of Water by Alan Drew (Turkey)

I also have a category for "Borrowed Books." These are books I really need to return to the owner to get them out of the house and so she can decide to keep them or trade them for credit at the local used bookstore. I have at least twice this many on hand, and I may try to add some to the list just to return a few more. Here are some of the prioritized reads from this category:

Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng
Thus Was Adonis Murdered by Sarah Caudwell
Strawberry Yellow by Naomi Hirahara
Funeral Music by Morag Joss
The Banks of the Boyne by Donna Fletcher Crow
Why Shoot a Butler by Georgette Heyer
Seneca Falls Inheritance by Miriam Grace Monfredo
The Fish Can Sing by Haldor Laxness - completed 6 Jan 2017
Death Assemblage by Susan Cummins Miller
Slight Mourning by Catherine Aird
The Case of the Gilded Fly by Edmund Crispin
The Alto Wore Tweed by Mark Schweizer

Another category for me is "Christian Classics." I have lots of options here, and some of these are re-reads:

The Treasury of David by C. H. Spurgeon
Confessions by St. Augustine
The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
God in the Dock by C. S. Lewis
A Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelly
The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi by St. Francis of Assisi
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
A Simple Way to Pray by Martin Luther
Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross

"Series" is another category. These are the actual next in series books for several series underway. I really will probably read more than one of some of these if I can so I can "catch up." I may have a few others. In some cases, the next in series may be the first. It may be because I started with a later book or because it's a new-to-me series.

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny
A Prayer for the Night by P. L. Gaus
Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Krueger
Red Velvet Revenge by Jenn McKinlay
Scandal in Skibbereen by Sheila Connolly
Stake & Eggs by Laura Childs - completed 2 Jan 2017
Back to School Murder by Leslie Meier
Bowled Over by Victoria Hamilton
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good by Jan Karon
Death on Blackheath by Anne Perry
The Dream Stalker by Margaret Coel
A Deadly Cliche by Ellery Adams
Eggsecutive Orders by Julie Hyzy
Blood Atonement by Dan Waddell
Manna from Hades by Carola Dunn
Ashes and Bones by Dana Cameron
While My Pretty One Knits by Anne Canadeo
The Dead in their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley
The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye

Hi Lori! I love your opening image of a basket of cats. Animals bring such joy to us!

All good wishes for a healthy 2017. May it be filled with lots of time for reading and things that you enjoy.

Much Love!

My Literary Classics category is partially inspired by the "Authors" card game I played as a child. The last thirteen of these sixteen are taken from that game. For those unfamiliar with the game, each number or face card is represented by a certain author. The "suits" for each are four works by the author. In some cases, the work is a poem or short story, but if I find it as a stand-alone, I may use it that way. If not, I may read a collection which includes it. Many of these may be re-reads.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville (to be read with a book by Nathaniel Philbrick)
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Travels with a Donkey in the Cevannes by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Mysterious Stranger by Mark Twain
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
The Virginians by William Makepeace Thackeray
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
The Spy by James Fenimore Cooper
The Alhambra by Washington Irving
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Village Blacksmith by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The Lady of the Lake by Sir Walter Scott
Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott
The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe

>9 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda! I plan to enjoy lots of good books this year!

Hi Lori just dropping of a * Hope your holidays go well and you have enjoyable reading in 2017!

It's star-dropping time! I love love love that kittens always make it into your thread titles as well as your thread toppers!

SO glad you brought the basket of kittens over here! Happy new one, Lori - dropping my star.

An excellent thread-topper, Lori!

>4 thornton37814: Do you make other confectionery as gifts for Christmas as well? This year we've made two types of candy so far — buckeyes and chocolate-peanut butter fudge — but will likely make regular peanut butter fudge as well (as it is my favorite).

>12 BBGirl55: Thanks so much!

>13 EBT1002: They insist, you know. ;-) Barney is in "my seat" at the moment, so I'm pushed off to the side in a less comfortable position. Sherlock was with him when I came over to the couch after coating the last batch of pretzels. I'm not sure if I need to make one or two more batches today. I'll know when I bag the last ones I coated.

>14 Crazymamie: It's truly the cutest picture so I had to use it!

>15 harrygbutler: I sometimes do. It's been a bit too wet this week to attempt the fudge. I need to make my Mom's cranberry fudge recipe before heading to Mississippi if at all possible. I make chocolate, butterscotch, and peanut butter fudge also. I also make a type of fudge with nuts in it that you break into pieces. It's really easy to make. My Aunt Rae used to make the best buckeyes. I had one at the choir's Christmas party this year someone else made, but it wasn't as good as Aunt Rae's. I should ask my cousin if he has Aunt Rae's recipe for them.

Happy new thread, Lori! Good luck on your reading goals next year. You reminded me that I also own Claire of the Sea Light, so I'll add it to my list of potential reads for 2017.

>17 kidzdoc: Yes - I've still got 5 more categories to report on. I'll try to post those tomorrow if I have time. I'm tracking down something I think will be in the library over there, but I also need to finish up some Christmas shopping and support the Gatlinburg economy so they get back on their feet.

Happy new thread for the next year, Lori, the cats in the basket are still adorable.

Interesting to see all your lists, Lori - I have been known to make one or two of my own!

Great to see that you will be along as usual. xx

Hi Lori and cats! I've dropped my star.

Hi Lori! Love all your plans!

Hi Lori, dropping a star here. That's already an impressive list of books you have put together.
I did not know you were travelling your way around the world too. I started in 2010, but have been sedentary for too long. I'll get my backpack ready again for 2017. Hope to meet you often here and there.

>19 FAMeulstee: That's the cutest picture of late so I decided to use it for the thread topper.

>20 PaulCranswick: I've still got some lists to add here. I only got about half of the lists posted, and a couple of the ones in the last half are longer than the earlier ones.

>21 DianaNL: Thank you! I'm still dropping my stars. I always enjoy seeing what you are reading.

>22 streamsong: Thanks. I'll drop some of the rest of the plans in a bit.

>23 Trifolia: I've wanted to do the entire world for a long time. I finally decided there's no time like the present. I did Europe Endless Challenge when a bunch of us did that one. I also did the 50 states challenge. I've had categories for other regions, but I think it's time to start counting reads toward a global "around the world" challenge.

>16 thornton37814: The cranberry fudge sounds good! Is it a regular fudge with fresh or dried cranberries in it, or does it make use of jellied cranberries in some way?

Lori, the cats are truly adorable! I'm just dropping my star, and looking forward to following your reading in the coming year.

>26 harrygbutler: It's a regular fudge with fresh (or frozen but thawed) cranberries. No chocolate in mom's version. It's a rather interesting story. She bought some at a place on the Oregon Coast when they were traveling in their RV. She continued to order it each year until the place went out of business. She tried another place, but it wasn't as good, so she decided to try to re-create the recipe. She did a pretty good job of it! It's much better than that other place's was. I'll have to try to dig out the recipe.

>27 Matke: Thank you for stopping in and dropping your star. The boys (cats) thank you for your kind words about them. They meowed their thanks as I was reading it. ;-)

If there's fudge left next week, it needs to be part of our celebration. Just saying.

Hi Lori! Looking forward to seeing what you read!

>28 thornton37814: Sounds quite good. And I like the story of your mom's discovery and recreation of the candy.

>30 cbl_tn: I'll have to see about making some when I get back. I think it's not going to be made at Jim & Gwen's given the apparent schedule we have there. It's pretty pointless for me to make it when most people won't be there after tomorrow night. I'll be doing well to even make it back to their house after getting the cats situated at the hotel.

>31 The_Hibernator: Thanks. I'm sure it will only vaguely resemble my prospects list, but at least I have prioritized some reads.

>32 harrygbutler: It really is quite tasty!

Time to pick back up where I left off at listing prospective reads for the year. The next category is a history and genealogy one. A few options are:

Elizabeth of York by Alison Weir
Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie
The Plantagenets by Dan Jones
Albion's Seed by David Hackett Fischer
Colonial New England on 5 Shillings a Day by Bill Scheller
The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer
Child Life in Colonial Times by Alice Earle
The Jew Store by Stella Suberman
Cabins in the Laurel by Muriel Earley Sheppard
Where We Lived by Jack Larkin
Rethinking Home by Joseph Anthony Amato
A Storm of Witchcraft by Emerson W. Baker
Seventeenth-Century America by James Morton Smith
Letters from Forest Place by E. Grey Dimond
The Highland Scots of North Carolina, 1732-1776 by Duane Gilbert Meyer
Cemeteries and Gravemarkers by Richard E. Meyer
The Famine Ships by Edward Laxton

If I don't get to The Transformation of Virginia, 1740-1790 by Rhys Isaac by the end of this year, it will be on the list. I expect to read Milton Rubincam's Pitfalls in Genealogical Research, a classic in the field, before the end of the year, but if I don't get to it, it will be one of the first 2017 reads also.

I also have a category for historical fiction. Among the candidates for reading are:

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The Queen's Vow by C. W. Gortner
The Accidental Empress by Alison Pataki
The Malice of Fortune by Michael Ennis
When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman
Katherine by Anya Seton
The Violin of Auschwitz by Maria Angels Anglada
Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant
The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier
The Illuminatorby Brenda Rickman Vantrease
Broken Music by Marjorie Eccles
A Simple Murder by Eleanor Kuhns

Adding:
A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell

Children's and YA literature is always fun to read, so I included it. Here are some short-listed books:

That Book Woman by Heather Henson
Cats, Cats, Cats by Leslea Newman
The Best Cat in the World by Leslea Newman
The Knights Before Christmas by Joan Holub
The Greek Who Stole Christmas by Anthony Horowitz
The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech
One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Bound for Oregon by Jean Van Leeuwen
World of Pies by Karen Stolz
The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan

Of course, all the Newberry and Caldecott winners will be prospects when announced in January.

Non-fiction possibilities include:

Storm Kings by Lee Sandlin
The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap by Wendy Welch
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
The Violinist's Thumb by Sam Kean
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Forever Liesl by Charmian Carr
Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet by Jeffrey Alford
A New Turn in the South by Hugh Acheson
Books to Die For by John Connolly
If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name by Heather Lende
Debbie Macomber's Christmas Cookbook by Debbie Macomber
Why Read Moby Dick by Nathaniel Philbrick
The Cooking of Southwest France by Paula Wolfert
The Story of Charlotte's Web by Michael Sims
How to Read Novels Like a Professor by Thomas J. Foster
The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma
Promised Land: Thirteen Books that Changed America by Jay Parini
At Home with Books by Estelle Ellis
Line by Line: How to Edit Your Own Writing by Claire Kehrwald Cook
The Good Book by Andrew Blauner
Our Father Abraham by Marvin R. Wilson
Sin and Syntax by Constance Hale
A People and Their Quilts by John Rice Irwin
See Rock City by Donald Davis

Fiction and Other Literature is probably subject to lots of changes due to book bullets and shiny new books and ARCs. Still, I decided to prioritize a few reads:

A Lowcountry Wedding by Mary Alice Monroe
The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank
Plainsong by Kent Haruf
New Mercies by Sandra Dallas
School for Love by Olivia Manning
The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas
A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse
Finn by Jon Clinch
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart
The Land of Green Plums by Herta Muller
Dog Songs: Poems by Mary Oliver
Good Poems, American Places by Garrison Keillor
Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters

I love your topic title! Reading while curled up with my kitty is my favorite thing!

>40 emilyesears: Generally they are on top of me or curled up next to me when I'm reading.

Oh! Plainsong by Kent Haruf! Yes!

And I have The Land of Green Plums on my TBR shelves, too.

I love your comment about the literature category: "...subject to lots of changes due to book bullets and shiny new books and ARCs." Yep. Me too.

>42 EBT1002: I couldn't resist making that comment because I knew it was the absolute truth.

Happy 2017 Thread, Lori!! "basket of adorables." Ha! Love that!

Hi Lori! Back for more of your cute kittens and great books--look at the list you have going already!!!

Dropping my star. : )

Happy New One, Lori.

Found you and

>44 Carmenere: Yes - one of my genealogy friends called this photo by that on Facebook, and I had to agree with her.

>45 Berly: I'm behind on recent threads, but I'll get caught up although it probably won't be tonight. I'm exhausted after the long drive.

>46 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara!

I love your basket of adorables!

>48 carlym: I do too. They are currently all snuggled next to me.

>49 thornton37814:: aww, nothing better!

>39 thornton37814: I hope to have another go at A Novel Bookstore.

>50 carlym: Absolutely the best place for them!

>51 PensiveCat: It's been on my wish list/to be read list for awhile so I'd like to mark it off.

Holiday Hauls

SantaSwap (from Joanne):
1. Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards
2. Dying in the Wool by Frances Brody
3. The Cozy Cookbook (which includes recipes from Avery Aames, Daryl Wood Gerber, Ellery Adams, Connie Archer, Leslie Budewitz, Laura Childs, Cleo Coyle, Victoria Hamilton, B. B. Haywood, Julie Hyzy, Jenn McKinlay, and Paige Shelton. It also includes excerpts from the books!

SantaThing (selected by LibraryThing programmer ccatalfo):
4. Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich
5. Debbie Macomber's Christmas Cookbook by Debbie Macomber

Sevier County Public Library/Sevier County Genealogical Society:
6. The Historic Architecture of Sevier County, Tennessee by Robbie D. Jones

Amazon purchase:
7. Births, Deaths, and Marriage Notices from Lamar County Alabama Newspapers by Veneta Aldridge McKinney

McKays purchase:
8. Ancestors and Relatives: Genealogy, Identity, and Community by Eviatar Zerubavel
9. From Memory to History: Using Oral Sources in Local Historical Research by Barbara Allen and Lynwood Montell
10. Writing Family Histories and Memoirs by Kirk Polking
11. Scottish Surnames & Families by Donald Whyte
12. Writing the Family Narrative by Lawrence P. Gouldrup - This is a duplicate. I didn't think I owned it and was in a hurry and didn't check LibraryThing. At least it was only $1.50.

Gifts from family members:
13. Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams
14. Scandal in Skibbereen by Sheila Connolly
15. Make It Ahead: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten

>53 thornton37814: 15! Very nice Holiday Haul. ; ) And the best part -- reading them -- lies ahead!!

>54 Berly: Yes. Most will probably be read in 2017. There is one that is more or less a reference book for me to have at home. Still - I think most of the fiction titles were already listed to be read next year. The genealogists over at the Sevier County library gave me a copy of the architecture book to assist with a genealogical lecture I'm preparing. They had extra copies. I'm sure I'll find a few new recipes among all the cookbooks. Ina Garten is my favorite TV chef, and I loved that one just by browsing through it. I may have checked it out of the Morristown library and reviewed it earlier, but I have my own copy now (as requested)!

Hi Lori! I adore your basketful of kittens. You're now starred..... *smile*

>56 karenmarie: The basket is empty at the moment, but they are all curled up beside me. That's better!

Happy New Year!

>58 DianaNL: Happy 2017 to you also.

As I was mentioning things I might read in 2017, I mentioned one of my categories for the Category Challenge was inspired by the card game Authors, at least to an extent. Here is what the current decks of the game look like:



Of course, there are official rules for the game:



It's pretty obvious you can also use them as a substitute deck for regular cards. I don't remember the original game having the regular cards option. The info on the cards themselves and the titles was much larger, at least in my memory.

Hi Lori, love your basket of adorables! Happy reading and ...

Great lists, Lori! If I had a vote, I'd pick Time Traveler's Guide, The Summer Before the War (most folks would probably vote for All the Light We Cannot See), The Poet's Dog (Teddy!), Mountains Beyond Mountains, and Plainsong (what a shocker that I'd pick Plainsong!)

>60 lit_chick: Thanks. They love being adored and are probably mad at me for leaving them for so long today. I needed to work on an upcoming lecture for a national conference at a repository in Sevier County. Made progress but will return tomorrow to see if I can knock out a few more resources.

I am part of the group.
I love being part of the group.
I love the friendships bestowed upon my by dint of my membership of this wonderful fellowship.
I love that race and creed and gender and age and sexuality and nationality make absolutely no difference to our being a valued member of the group.

Thank you for also being part of the group.

>63 The_Hibernator: Happy New Year!

>64 PaulCranswick: It's fun to be part of a LT group. Of course, sometimes when life gets busy, it all gets a bit overwhelming. Everyone else is in the same boat though and understands.

Happy reading in 2017, Lori!

>66 FAMeulstee: I'm sure I will have some excellent adventures in reading!

Let's up the number of Christmas books to 16. Carrie (cbl_tn) and I just met for lunch and exchanged gifts. Among my gifts was Lost Attractions of Sevier County by Tim Hollis. As I saw it, I commented there were more lost attractions now. I think we both had Sevier County on our minds as most of what was in the package I gave her came from Sevier County. She also gave me a puzzle of that great Charles Wysocki painting, Frederick the Literate, that features a cat curled up around the books on the shelves, and a bookmark from Mexico. That's all I'll mention since it's the only book-related stuff.

Happy New Year! (dropping a star)

>69 ronincats: Thanks. I need to get back and find everyone else's threads since the last time I wondered off my starred page. I'll have time in a bit to do it. I want to finish one last book for 2016.

I wish you from my heart health, happiness, satisfaction and much exciting read in 2017. May all your wishes come true.


from my hometown Zürich, Switzerland

>71 Ameise1: Thank you very much, Barbara!

2016 Book Meme

Describe yourself: Waiting

Describe how you feel: Sorrow without End

Describe where you currently live: Appalachia

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?: Beneath the Book Tower

Your favorite form of transportation: Gone Camping

Your best friend is: Anne of Green Gables

You and your friends are: Tailing a Tabby
. . . and yes, it's probably one of mine

What’s the weather like?: Reading Up a Storm

You fear: A Fatal Winter

What is the best advice you have to give?: To Live Is Christ: Joining Paul's Journey of Faith

Thought for the day: Things Fall Apart

How I would like to die: Sudden Death

My soul’s present condition: Hand in Hand: Walking with the Psalms Through Loneliness

Top 11 for 2017

Note: The top 5 were all 5 star reads. The next 6 were all 4.5 star reads. (I hated to omit just one since those are the only ones that made it above 4 stars. I am trying to arrange them in order of how well I enjoyed them.)

1. Pennies for Hitler - Jackie French
2. Felicity - Mary Oliver
3. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
4. The Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence
5. Carolina Cradle: Settlement of the Northwest Carolina Frontier, 1747-1762 - Robert Wayne Ramsey
6. Hag-Seed - Margaret Atwood
7. Sifting Through Ashes: Words & Images - Robert Miller
8. Oliver the Cat Who Saved Christmas - Sheila Norton
9. The Return of Sir Percival: Book 1, Guinevere's Prayer - S. Alexander O'Keefe
10. Farming Dissenters: The Regulator Movement in Piedmont North Carolina - Carole Watterson Troxler
11. The Thousand-Year Flood: The Ohio-Mississippi Disaster of 1937 - David Welky

Happy New Year, Lori!

>75 jnwelch: And to you as well!

The Authors game looks like fun, Lori. We played Reverse Charades on Christmas. There is only one person guessing and the team mates get to make fools of themselves acting out the clue. I think I would like Authors better. Haha. I like the fact that your basket of kittens is keeping you warm while you read. I look forward to some more pictures when you have a chance. Your thread topper is soooo cute.

Happy New Year, Lori!

Happy New Year and new thread, Lori!

>73 thornton37814: Your Meme was a sad one, Lori. I hope that it was only the availability of the book titles that caused it. xx

Hi Lori, thank you for stopping by my thread with your lovely New Years wishes! Love your "basket of adorables", even if one of them is sticking its paw in another one's face! ;-)

>53 thornton37814: - Love the Holiday Hauls!

>73 thornton37814: - Great meme answers and thank you for reminding me... I have to go and prepare my 2016 wrap-up meme!

Relying on my Irish heritage to leave you the following New Years wishes for you and your family:

Happy New Year, Lori and kitties!

I wish MY best friend was Anne :) Great meme, Lori.

i like the variety of your best reads, a blend of fiction and non-fiction. I agree. War and Peace is great.

I love your answers to the book meme.

>77 Donna828: It's hard to catch all three of them.

>78 harrygbutler: >79 susanj67: Happy New Year to you all also.

>80 PaulCranswick: I honestly didn't think too much about it, and most were definitely what was the best available answer. I've been feeling a little lonely during the holidays. It's mainly just missing Mom and Dad though. I did choose the last answer (about the soul's present condition) because the Psalms have been helping me overcome the loneliness.

Sixteen Xmas books and chocolate pretzels? Sounds wonderful. Happy new thread.

>81 lkernagh: My adorables keep me entertained! I'll look forward to reading your answers.

>82 Carmenere: Happy New Year to you also.

>83 ctpress: I thought about separating out fiction/non-fiction, but I prefer to include both in a single list since I read both genres. I thought Anne was a perfect best friend. Does that make me Diana?

>84 BBGirl55: Thanks. It's always fun to see what you read in the previous year that fits or makes the most interesting answer to the meme.

>86 charl08: I guess I can get fat while reading! LOL Actually I only brought one quart bag with about 48 pretzels home with me. (That's what I put in most of the quart bags based on what would fit on the cookie sheet at a time.) Maybe I won't get too fat. I'm doing a good job rationing them.

Happy New Year, Lori! I love your meme answers. I should give that meme a try again with the past year's books.

Lots of great books on your lists!

Yes, I think it does, Lori. Ah, well, I'll have to settle with being a Kindred Spirit. Not too bad after all.

>89 tymfos: That meme is always fun. You never know what you'll come up with until you give it a try.

>90 ctpress: Being a kindred spirit is always a good thing to be!

1. Lost Attractions of Sevier County by Tim Hollis and Mitzi Soward

Date Completed: 1 Jan 2016

Category: Richard Thornton (History & Genealogy)

TIOLI Challenge: Challenge #4: Read a book you received for free in December 2016

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: I am not sure when I first visited Sevier County, Tennessee, but it's been a favorite place since the 1970s. Sometime in the late 1980s after both my parents retired, they purchased a membership in one of the campgrounds in Pigeon Forge. I lived in Cincinnati at the time, and I would often join them for my vacation or for the weekends while they were staying a couple of weeks. During that time I saw many changes in the attractions offered in the area. I often remarked, "That wasn't there the last time, but what was there?" I could no longer remember. This book by Tim Hollis, an Alabama native who studies tourism in the South, and Mitzi Soward, a long-time resident of Sevier County, brings back memories of many of those lost attractions. In his research, Tim even came across some ads for businesses no one seems to remember. I've lived in the area for almost eighteen years now, and the area continues to change. I enjoyed this look at the past, but I hope someone comes up with a companion volume of some of the other businesses catering to tourists which once served visitors in Sevier County. Perhaps some of these are in books on the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg themselves.

Count me as another one who is looking forward to seeing more about your mother's cranberry fudge! Enjoyed your 2016 Book Titles Meme.

I love your thread topper pic! Too cute.

>93 countrylife: I need to dig out that recipe for you all!

>94 LibraryLover23: Thanks! I love those boys!

This photo serves as proof I ate the required foods for New Year's Day -- pork, blackeyed peas, greens (in the form of spinach), and cornbread.

Looks yummy.

>97 Ameise1: It was very good.

Dropping in to say hello and Happy New Year! I didn't know you lived in Sevier County - my mom and stepdad are planning on retiring to the area. They visit as often as they can, they love it there!

>99 DFED: I just live near Sevier County. It feels more like home though than where I do live which is Hamblen. It's about a 30 minute drive to Sevierville. If you go back roads to avoid the traffic, it's about 35 minutes to Gatlinburg.

Happy New Year Lori! Dropping off a star and getting caught up. :)

>101 nittnut: Good luck on the getting caught up part. I'm really behind. I haven't managed to make my way to all the threads yet.

Happy New Year, Lori! You did quite well with your holiday haul! I hope 2017 is a great reading year for you!

>92 thornton37814: Nice review! If there's a Pigeon Forge book I'll have to be on the lookout for it.

>103 porch_reader: Yes. I did manage a pretty good holiday haul!

>104 cbl_tn: There is a Pigeon Forge book (and also a Sevierville and Gatlinburg one as well as some on Elkmont, Cades Cove, etc.). I just added them all to my wish list (at Amazon -- I'll get them over in the thornton38821 account soon).

A happier and healthy new year, Lori. You're in my thoughts.

Hi, Lori. Just stopping by to drop a star. Those kitties are soooo grown now.

>106 Matke: Thanks so much!

>107 rretzler: It's amazing how fast they grew up!

>85 thornton37814: I think we do reveal something of ourselves or at least our state of mind with those MEMEs. Of course we need to read a few books to have much to choose from.

I am a bit homesick actually and have been increasingly over the last couple of years. I think Yasmyne studying in Edinburgh and my mum's illness, coupled with the need to move forward the family business is sort of dragging me homeward.

Great to see you start 2017 on the threads like an express train. xx

>109 PaulCranswick: LOL - Choo! Choo! Hopefully your homesickness will be gone when you are able to move. I'm sure you'll miss Kuala Lampur though.

>110 thornton37814: Most definitely; especially the food and the absence of snow.

>111 PaulCranswick: We're supposed to have a little bit of snow Friday according to the forecast. I guess we'll see if they are accurate in their predictions or not.

Happy New Year, Lori! Wishing you all good things for 2017.

As usual, I haven't heard of most of your books listed. :D

Katherine is one of my favorite books of all time with 10/10 stars. One Hundred Years of Solitude and Plainsong are a good ones with 7/10 stars. Angela's Ashes didn't impress me and I gave it 6/10 stars. I adored Eight Cousins as a child. Not so much as an adult (5/10 stars.) I'd like to read The Scarlet Letter if and when you get to it. I got it for SantaThing 2016 and still haven't picked it up.

Lastly, I've never heard of buckeyes and now I'm drooling over them. Yum!

Hi Lori--Popping in to wish you lots of good things for 2017! And I particularly like the weather answer from your meme: What’s the weather like?: Reading Up a Storm!

>113 karenmarie: Wishing you good reads in return.

>114 Morphidae: I'm looking forward to many of my reads and re-reads. I didn't get around to making Aunt Rae's Buckeyes this year. The recipe makes too many for one person. I might make them in January or February when I'm back at work and can share.

>115 Berly: I think that was my favorite meme answer too. The minute I saw that book title, I didn't bother to see what other options were available.

Happy new year, and thanks for visiting my thread! Your meme answers were good, if a bit melancholy.

>117 foggidawn: I guess my best answers were melancholy this year.

2. Stake & Eggs by Laura Childs

Date Completed: 2 Jan 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (series)

TIOLI Challenge: Challenge #16: Read a book in which bad/extreme weather plays a part

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Suzanne hears snowmobiles near the Cackleberry Club and then hears an accident. When she investigates, she finds a decapitated snowmobiler who fell victim to a taut wire. She calls Sheriff Doogie. She finds a young boy one evening in the Cackleberry Club who borrowed a key from her employee Joey. This one has lots of suspects--some local and some not. The small town flavor of this series really makes it fun. There is plenty of humor interspersed as well. I might even try one of the recipes at the end!

Hi Lori, finally starring your thread and wishing you a happy reading year in 2017!

>120 aktakukac: Thanks, Rachel! I've had two good reads so far so I'm happy. I started another last night, but I've not had much time to read today because I've been working on presentations and doing a little client research.

Finally catching up with your thread, Lori. Looks like you have a lot of potential reads in your future. A lot of them look familiar. I hope you had a Happy New Year.

Happy New Year, Lori! Sorry for the late greeting, but I've finally finished with my Christmas and New Year's Day work stretch and now have time to make the rounds.

>122 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. It was okay. Nothing special. I've been working on genealogy-related stuff mostly. Most of it was my own projects, but I did take a couple of clients. I think I'll have one more client before I go back to work for something that should only take a couple of hours at most. Just waiting on the contract to come back signed.

>123 kidzdoc: If it's the "Year of the Rooster," I hope there's also a hen that lays golden eggs.

3. The Fish Can Sing by Halldor Laxness

Date Completed: 6 Jan 2017

Category: Rev. Stephen Batchelder (Borrowed Books)

TIOLI Challenge: None

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Alfgrimur's mother left him in the home of a man and woman in Brekkukot when he was born and before she left to pursue dreams in America. His "grandfather" was a fisherman, specializing in lumpfish. His grandmother, who was not married to the grandfather but kept his house, seemed to always be up,never sleeping, but attending to the needs of the grandfather, Alfgrimur, and other guests. Alfgrimur grew up wanting nothing more than to follow in his grandfather's shoes as a lumpfisherman. Alfgrimur had a nice voice and was often asked to sing at funerals. Gardar Holm grew up in the village known as Georg, but he left to pursue a career in music years before. Alfgrimur is sent to the university where he meets Holm, but he eventually returns to Brekukkot. His grandfather wishes him to become a clergyman; others want him to become a singer; he would be content to be a lumpfisherman. The novel takes place in the days when Iceland is forging its identity. Of course, the parallel is that Alfgimur is forging his own identity at the same time. It's not really that long of a novel, but its reading should not be rushed in order to savor the imagery and depths of the novel. It's a coming of age story of both Alfgrimur and Iceland.

Stopping by to drop my star, Lori.

Loved you answers to the meme. Always find the transportation and weather ones the hardest for answers. Your picks are splendid! Also liked you various reading lists. The Summer Before the War is good clean fun. A sort of Downton Abbey for the reading set. Huge fan of Gods of Gotham, but must warn you it is part of a three part series. You'll definitely be hooked! Mountains Beyond Mountains was truly inspirational and one I recommended to my Church reading group.

Wishing you a wonderful 2017 full of good reading and happiness!

>126 michigantrumpet: As long as it is the first in the series (and it is), it should be fine. It sounds like I probably ought to switch it over to the series category though! That's easy enough to do. I had several other options for both of those categories, but camping is something I enjoy (although I don't like "roughing it"; I'm more of an RV type) and once I saw "Reading Up a Storm", any other choices paled in comparison.

Is your snow sticking yet?

>128 ronincats: It appears to be. I can't really tell too much because we have so little light in the subdivision, but it looks to me like my driveway and the road are both covered with at least some snow. I guess I'll be shoveling and using Ice Melt tomorrow afternoon.

How are you making out today, Lori?

Whew! Looks like you're in the deep freeze like we are here in NC. I hope you're doing okay and staying safe and warm!

Oh, ugh: snow shoveling. I used to love it for the first 30 minutes (who was I back then?) but then it turned into a slog, every time. I hope it's not too awful for you. No snow here but extremely cold and windy. Staying in today.

>130 kidzdoc: We got about 4 inches. I just finished shoveling my very long driveway and using ice melt on it. My driveway is all uphill and then there is a turn where it goes toward the garage, and that is uphill too. I also clear a turn-around spot beyond my garage that is paved. I only had to do two rounds of shoveling, but I took a break and got something to drink before I went and spread the ice melt on the lower part of the drive.

>131 karenmarie: I saw earlier that Burlington had 8 inches of snow (at that point) and that there was only freezing rain and sleet at RDU. Nothing worse than a layer of ice under the snow.

>132 Matke: I managed to get it done. I was nearly done when a neighbor boy from up the hill drove by and offered to finish doing it for me. I only had about 5 minutes to go so I told him I had it. I figured I needed the exercise. However, I was in better shape than I thought I was to be able to do it in only two rounds.

This was the view out my window this morning. It was still accumulating at the time.

>134 thornton37814: beautiful. I wish I was somewhere snowy

Whoof! I finally found you, Lori. Starred you so I don't lose your thread. It's amazing just how large this group has grown in the last few years.

I'm enjoying a lazy snow day today by staying indoors while the snow continues to fall. Watching 'The Wind and the Lion' on tv now with a freshly made bowl of French onion soup and garlic bread.

>134 thornton37814: I like this view. It's so calm.

>134 thornton37814: A beautiful view, Lori. It is still snowing here; I'll do the shoveling tomorrow, as we don't have anywhere to go.

>135 eclecticdodo: Trade you. I wish I were somewhere warm!

>136 cameling: Now I wish I'd pulled out the soup instead of going for the burger. I'd decided to have soup for lunch tomorrow though -- unless I decide to eat out with people from church (assuming any restaurants are open and we make it to church). It will be for supper in that case. I'm going to need to make another crockpot full before too long so I'll have some made up.

>137 Ameise1: Snow is quite calming. I do love being up on a hill (well, mountain, actually) so I can look out at other places.

>138 harrygbutler: I waited until the snow was over, and I waited until noon to begin shoveling because the temperatures are so frigid. The sun did come out this afternoon even though it never got above freezing so it began to melt things. I didn't want to risk black ice. I put quite a bit of ice melt out, particularly in the shady places.

Pretty snow picture, Lori. Nice that you have ice melt to use. Salt is something we rarely use so we had very little on hand. You basically had to be in the store when they delivered some to get any. In Vancouver they had salt wars when the city decided to hand out salt to citizens (probably had something to do with the footage of on the new of people ice skating on the streets.) I hope you didn't get too much snow.

>140 Familyhistorian: We had about 4 inches here. I guess I'll see what roads are like today. I plan to leave in a few minutes to go to church. I hope to grab a bite of breakfast on the way. Our church is holding only one (of three) services this morning and everything for tonight is cancelled. Normally I'd be finishing up first service about now.

Nice that you can get out to church this am. Ours is cancelled due to unsafe conditions. We are all going to be a little cabin feverish by the time we get out. Tuesday? Wednesday? At least we have lots of books. :)

>142 nittnut: The back roads were not great, but by the time church was over, they were improving. Several of us went out to eat afterwards, including many who don't normally eat out on Sunday for lunch. I think most people just wanted to be out while they could be out. The restaurant didn't have as long a line as we expected. Wait was only a couple of minutes.

Hi Lori--We have been hit by winter weather as well. Hoping things are not too icy this morning. Glad you had fun yesterday after church; I don't have cabin fever...yet. LOL

Hi Lori! Is everyone recovering from the snowy weekend? The snow did not reach up to northern Ohio but suffered sub 0 temps. Brrr. Today looks good so I'll do my running around while I can.

>144 Berly: I drove all over East Tennessee today doing client research. The main roads are not too bad. Sidewalks and back roads are!

>145 Carmenere: I'm not enjoying the cold weather we had, but it only got to the single digits here.

Hoping I manage to have enough time to finish the book I've been reading in print tonight. I have no idea how much longer is on the audio book, but I suspect I'll be listening to it the rest of the week. I'm hoping the client project for today will take less time overall than the one yesterday did, but I suspect it will take about the same amount of time. The good thing is I only need to visit one repository rather than two so I won't have as much travel time.

I finished one tonight, but I'll have to report it when I have time -- hopefully tomorrow.

Sounds like you managed alright in the snow, Lori. I hope your weather has improved.

>149 Familyhistorian: It's been above freezing and raining all night. It's still dark, but I suspect all the snow is gone.

4. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Date Completed: 10 Jan 2017

Category: Johannes Lantz

TIOLI Challenge: None

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: This story is set around 1967 to 1970 during Nigeria's Biafran war. It is narrated by Ugwu, who works in the household of Odenigbo. Odenigbo's partner is Olanna, and she has a twin sister Kainene. The novel centers around the families of all these people as well as the war itself. The novel appeared to be well-written although the editor needed to do additional work in some of the non-spoken sections to make those conform to grammatical rules and to get rid of passive tenses. As I read the story, I wondered how the war affected some friends I met in graduate school who lived in Nigeria during that time. Sadly I lost touch with them so I may never know the answer.

I decided to treat myself yesterday afternoon to one of Sevier County's restaurant for "lupper" (the combination lunch and supper meal - when you skip lunch and eat an early supper). I chose Paula Deen's Restaurant.

 

 

You choose 3 meats per table, 4 vegetables per table, and 1 dessert. They bring you a hoe cake with sweet potato butter and that amazing buttery, garlicky biscuit that was sitting atop it. For the meats, I chose her cheesy meat loaf, catfish, and fried chicken. I was a little disappointed in the texture of the meat loaf. I think I grew up eating my mother's meat loaf which had more filler in it, giving it a crumblier texture, so when it's more solid, I don't enjoy it as much. The catfish was really good. I'm pretty picky about catfish, and this is the first catfish in East Tennessee that is worth eating. The fried chicken is reminiscent of what my grandmother used to make. For the veggies, I selected green beans, creamed potatoes, squash casserole, and macaroni and cheese. (They had other options including salad, slaw, blackeyed peas, creamed corn, etc. I chose to go with things not eaten this year. All were good. I picked the banana pudding which was good but had more whipped topping than I really enjoy. Next time I'll probably try her gooey cake (or whatever it called). I can't remember the third option, but I think it was a peach dish, maybe cobbler.

I was past stuffed. I'm glad I had plenty of time before bed for some of it to settle. It's a bit pricy, but it was a treat.

Happiness is a lap full of cats.

>152 thornton37814: My mother's family is from Iowa and we always visit the Amana colonies when visiting family. The spread is amazing, just like your pic from above. I got stuffed just reading your description!

Kitties are wonderful, no doubt about it!

>154 karenmarie: Definitely fun trip!

>153 thornton37814: AW! SO sweet! And your lupper looks mighty yummy, Lori. I want the buttery, garlicky biscuit.

>151 thornton37814: An author I've had on my list to delve into. Any other books you'd recommend?

>152 thornton37814: Yum! What a great idea -- lupper!

>156 Crazymamie: I want another one of those biscuits myself. I'm always happy to have a lap full of cats.

>157 michigantrumpet: I don't think I've read others by Adichie, but others here probably have. Hopefully they can recommend. I do "lupper" a lot when I'm not working.

>152 thornton37814: I'd like a biscuit or two myself, but I will definitely pass on the catfish!

>152 thornton37814: If we ever done that way, I certainly want to try that restaurant. It sounds wonderful.

We call that meal "linner" - lunch and dinner.

>159 aktakukac: When catfish is done correctly, it is worth eating!

>160 Morphidae: It is good. I ate at her restaurant in Savannah years ago, but this one at "the Island" opened in the last year or two.

5. Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park by Lee H. Whittlesey

Date Completed: 11 Jan 2017

Category: Richard Thornton (History & Genealogy)

TIOLI Challenge: Challenge #4: Read a book you received for free in December 2016

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Yellowstone historian Lee H. Whittlesey did a magnificent job of documenting deaths occurring in or near Yellowstone National Park. He spent hours pouring through newspaper accounts and locating testimony of persons who witnessed the accounts as well as reading official superintendent reports which often included accounts of such incidents. The "in Yellowstone" portion of the title is a bit misleading as some of the reported deaths took place outside the park or in gateway cities. Since I was listening to the book in audio format, I wish these portions had been omitted to make the book not quite so long and seemingly repetitive. I really think this is a book which probably works best in print or e-book format where one can "skim read" portions. Much of this book needs to be read by persons preparing to visit Yellowstone so they are aware of the dangers of not following guidance of rangers and park literature. The narrator, Stephen R. Thorne did a good job convincing the reader he was the author and witnessed much of the book although he pronounced a few names of Southern locations a bit strangely. I received the audio version of the book from the Tantor Media through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for a review. This review refers to a reading of the 2nd edition of the book.

Hi Lori! Interesting book - I've got a friend who lives near Bozeman and I was always impressed by her spatial awareness and understanding that the environment can be rather hostile.

>163 karenmarie: The author makes it very clear nature present dangers. Persons were literally boiled off their skin in some of the thermal features. People often tried to get too "up close and personal" with animals. It's an interesting book, but I really think I would prefer this one in print.

6. Mexican Ice Cream: Beloved Recipes and Stories by Fany Gerson

Date Completed: 12 Jan 2017

Category: Joseph Fowlkes

TIOLI Challenge: Challenge #11: Read a book that contains some illustrations alongside the text

Rating: 4 stars

Review: This is an amazing collection of recipes for sorbets and ice creams from different regions of Mexico. The author spends time discussing traditions, the regions, and the ingredients. It includes traditional recipes as well as some more modern takes on the favorite dessert of summer. While I'm not likely to make the ice cream that featured grasshoppers as an ingredient, it was interesting. The author includes a recipe for sugar cones as well as for several toppings. The recipes do require an ice cream churn/freezer. I received an electronic copy of an e-galley for review purposes from the publisher through NetGalley. However, I liked this book so much I'm certain I'll be ordering my own copy before summer.

>165 thornton37814: We received an ice cream machine a couple of summers ago. Have been on an ice cream/sorbet making odyssey ever since. This one sounds intriguing. I would strongly recommend David Lebovitz's Ice Cream book. I've made tons of his recipes and am rarely disappointed!

>166 michigantrumpet: I'll check out his book sometime. I own a small machine but not one which will make big freezers of ice cream. I'd already decided it was time to remedy that next summer so new recipes will come in handy, although I'm sure I'll make our family's favorite Butter Pecan Recipe. It's a recipe Dad brought back to Mom after he'd gone to Wichita Falls for training one month. He went home with one of his fellow students from Oklahoma one weekend and came back with the recipe.

7. The Queen of the Frogs by Davide Cali and Marco Soma

Date Completed: 12 Jan 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (children's & YA)

TIOLI Challenge: Challenge #13: Read a book whose title includes, or whose subject concerns, an animal that hibernates

Rating: 4 stars

Review: A group of frogs is enjoying life at the pond until one day a frog finds a crown in the water and is named Queen of the Frogs. The other frogs tell her what a queen does, and she complies, but they find life not quite so pleasant working for the queen and her advisors. It is a beautifully illustrated story, translated from the Portuguese. It teaches a moral lesson which may not be quite so obvious to young readers but can be drawn out of them by asking questions. I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.

Earlier today I was going to log into the public library's catalog to determine if some books were available. To my horror, I got a message saying my library card had expired. Why do they not warn you of impending expiration? They had my email address. It makes no sense. I called but found out it could only be renewed in person. Needless to say, I went to the library after work so I would still be able to download e-books and audiobooks.

Recently I noticed some books which are in my "to be read" list saying they were available at the library are no longer showing in the catalog. I learned today they had weeded 3800 books from the collection and moved things around. I guess I need to check to see which books are no longer available at the library so I can try to locate them elsewhere if they are ones I really want to read.

>169 thornton37814: That sounds like how Netflix does things. And why don't they give you any warning? Not like they don't know what's on your list and have your email address. *mutters*

>170 Morphidae: It seems they would send you an email about a month prior to your expiration to let you know (or even by snail mail), especially in this digital age. They asked me if I wanted to continue to use my same card or get a new one. I told them I had a big wish list on TN Reads and wished to be able to keep using it and not be forced to recreate it.

>167 thornton37814: We've been pretty happy with the Cuisinart 1-1/2 quart ice cream maker that we got a couple years ago. It has something like the material in freezer packs in the freezing chamber, so no need for rock salt -- and by keeping that chamber in the freezer, we can make ice cream anytime, in around 20 minutes.

I have a cuisnart one that freezes, but it's smaller than 1.5 quart.

8. A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson

Date Completed: 13 Jan 2107

Category: Godfrey Dearborn (Literary Classics)

TIOLI Challenge: Challenge #11: Read a book that contains some illustrations alongside the text

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: I remember owning an abridged version of this book as a child. I later located a copy of the complete version in a library to read. I just re-read the complete version. The poems are age appropriate for children, but I suspect many of them are a bit dated for today's children. Still many of the poems stand the test of time. The edition I read was from 1905 with illustrations by Jessie Willcox Smith. These are watercolor plates chosen to illustration some of the poems. Most poems are accompanied by line drawings as well.

Note: This book was rebound by a library. I have no idea which cover matched it. I chose the cover from my childhood abridged volume to display in this message.

>167 thornton37814: I think I need that Butter pecan ice cream recipe!

>169 thornton37814: Noooo! That happened to me as well recently for my local town account. No notice at all that expiration was pending.Fortunately, I could go online to renew. I also have an account through the Boston Public Library and I am afraid about what will happen there if that ever expires. You would think it should be fairly easy to notify one about an impending expiration.

>175 michigantrumpet: I'll have to look for the recipe when I get home.

I read Death in Yellowstone eight years ago; gave it the same rating you did. By the end, I wished I'd read it before our family trip there.

I didn't know there was a Paula Deen restaurant! Looks yummy!

>177 countrylife: Of course, Paula's flagship restaurant is in Savannah, but she's franchised several restaurants, mostly in tourist destinations. I agree Death in Yellowstone should be read "before" a park visit. This updated edition includes several new cases as well as the results of further research on some of the old ones.

9. The Not-Quite States of America: Dispatches from the Territories and Other Far-Flung Outposts of the USA by Doug Mack

Date Completed: 14 Jan 2017

Category: Joseph Fowlkes (Non-Fiction)

TIOLI Challenge: Challenge #4: Read a book you received for free in December 2016

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: This combination travelogue and history presents a fascinating look at territories owned by the United States. Mack took trips to the U.S. Virgin Island, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marianas, and Puerto Rico where he commented on the culture and infused it with a bit of the history of the islands. Readers get a sense of what each of these islands are today, but the book is not quite what I expected. Many of these territories are over-commercialized; some are not. I appreciated the historical parts more than the travelogue portions, and I sincerely wish more attention to what the culture was like at the time the territories were acquired so readers could compare it to what the United States was like at that time and then draw present-day comparisons based on a number of factors. Mack points out few Americans really know much if anything about the territories. His book was designed to bridge that gap for himself and somewhat for his readers. While I'm glad I read the book, I am interested in reading other books about these territories which may be more aligned with my own interests. For example, Mack focuses on the economy and on political factors, but rarely addresses religion which is a strong interest of mine. Fortunately Mack includes a brief bibliography of other materials at the end of the book for those who want to delve a bit deeper. An advance review e-galley of this book was received by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

That one sounds interesting!

I wasn't aware that my library card would expire until I just happened to look at my account. You would think they could send an email. I know my library sends me a notice when books are due. Good that you are up and running again.

Our current library circ system sends an email automatically a month before card expiration to patrons who have an email address on file (it actually comes from the library consortium) but that's a relatively new feature. Our old system did not have that, and there's no way a staff person could take the time to manually search out and e-mail expirations in advance.

I guess it depends on the circ system a library can afford, or which meets their most pressing needs, or is required for use by the library system with which they are affiliated.

>180 drneutron: It was. I got it as an ARC, but it should be coming out soon.

>181 Familyhistorian: I wasn't down very long. I'm sure I'd logged in within the last two days when I got the message.

>182 tymfos: My email address was correct in the system. Just seems odd not to receive a notice. In academia, they all expire at the end of the year and are automatically repopulated if you are still employed or re-enroll as a student.

>181 Familyhistorian: Library cards expire? I better go and check mine for Wakefield Libraries.

Have a great weekend, Lori.

>184 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Hope you have a good one too.

Wow - grasshopper icecream - that isn't green mint. They had a mango chili powder icecream? And tamarind? That book sounds kind of fun. Love your cat pics! And glad to see a familiar face from the Category challenge over here!

>169 thornton37814: Argh! It is so frustrating when the library does something like that! I don't think our library cards expire, but over the years, the library has changed their system a couple of times. It used to be that for the ebooks, you could see a history of what books you had rated, which I used to keep track of whether I had read something or not (just in case I forgot to keep track somewhere else). Well, that's gone now - there is no way to keep track of whether you have read a book or not. Also, on the main website, you used to be able to see the history of what physical books you had checked out. That went away so years of history were lost, but then it came back again, but with none of the previous history! And another rant...it is really frustrating what the library decides to keep and what to cull. Our library system doesn't even have all of the Hugo Winners, or even half of the Agatha Christie novels. So, now, anytime I see a book I want to read, I immediately request it. They are pretty good about getting most requests, but it does take a while. Sorry for the rant - you just struck a chord with me!

>174 thornton37814: I had that same book when I was little. and I may have to take a look at >179 thornton37814: too.

>187 rretzler: my university library had a thing where you could look up all the books and journals you'd ever checked out and I loved it! At the end of my time I had a reassuringly long list spanning dozens of pages. Sadly I didn't download a copy. My local library system lists 10 books for me, but I don't know if that's the last 10 books, or all books since they changed the system over recently.

>187 rretzler: I just checked with our library and this is what they said about expiration:

"There are some circumstances under which library cards will expire. If a card hasn't been used in several years, the card will become inactive. There are also certain types of cards (such as organizational cards) that need to be renewed on a regular basis. But for most cards, they shouldn't expire unless not used in a long time."

Stopping by to wish you a lovely Sunday, Lori.

>187 rretzler: I apologize in advance for the rant here:

In a perfect world where libraries were properly funded, maybe none of these problems would exist.

However, we live in a world where public libraries often struggle just to keep the doors open. We don't have the funds to pay for computer systems with all the bells-and-whistles features everyone wants. Nor can we afford to build additions so we can keep all the books everyone wants. That's why we have ILL.

Cards expire because contact information needs to be kept updated, so people don't abscond with our materials with no way to track it down. Even with enforced yearly contact updates (which, in our system, must be done in person in order to see proof of address) we lose hundreds of dollars worth of materials every year from patrons who can't be bothered returning them (or who brag about selling them at their yard sale -- really happened!).

We have to change computer systems because the old ones become obsolte or too expensive, regulations change, people want new features, or because the county, state, or consortium requires us to change. Then we lose information. It's not just your book list that gets lost -- we lose information we need to do our reports, keep track of our stuff, etc. It's gone because each software vendor keeps "proprietary" aspects to their system that prevents transfer of certain info to a competitor's system. We also have to answer to the privacy regulations, which prevent us from keeping information in-house about what patrons have checked out in the past.

Considering the fact that our funding has been cut to pre-year-2000 levels while having to add all kinds of 21st-century technology, I think libraries, on the whole, do a pretty good job.

Really sorry for the rant, but y'all hit a real sore spot with me.

Just stopping by to wish you a good week, Lori.

>186 cammykitty: This one definitely had grasshoppers on it. Lots of interesting flavors in it.

>187 rretzler: I don't really know the new director of the public library, but I suspect he uses the "if it hasn't checked out in __ years, it goes" philosophy. Let's just hope people check out the classics. It's nice to know I wasn't the only one with the small abridged version of the book. The real one is much longer with lots more poems. Hope you enjoy the book on the territories if you get around to it.

>188 eclecticdodo: Our university's system only stores who the last person to check out a book was. As soon as it is checked out again, the history is gone.

>189 Morphidae: I've mostly used mine for e-books lately because my life became too busy to try to catch the library open in the last few minutes before they closed (after I got off from work). I did, however, noticed they are open a little later now so it won't be quite as rushed.

>190 lkernagh: It was a quite busy Sunday. I pretty much spent the day at church. We had a birthday celebration for a man who used to be the minister of education years ago but is still very active in the church and is its historian this afternoon. About the only time until after the evening service was over I wasn't there was when I ate lunch.

>191 tymfos: I do understand the need to keep up-to-date contact information, but it seems the system could "flag" someone for a contact information check every so often rather than having things expire when people are using electronic book collections. People can't keep those checked out anyway. They automatically return.

>192 Matke: Thanks. It will start out with a day off so that's always good!

A belated Happy New Year to you, Lori! Darling basket of your boys on the top. Thank goodness library cards don't need renewal here! However, if you had a very old card, it would not jive with library system. I have not had to renew my library card in 15 years, though I have lost my card a time or two, so I've had to get a new one. My husband got his first library card and was quite flummoxed that he had to fill out the information on a computer first and then take that to the librarian and show ID.

There are a lot of things I'd like our circ system to do. I was really glad when one of our software updates added a feature that emailed patrons a month before their cards expire. Makes perfect sense to me. My point is that locally we have no control over that.

Me, I wish our consortium software didn't automatically send emails for overdue items. I really would like to be able to actually check the shelves first and have control over the actual sending, like I do for the written notices that go to patrons with no email address on file.

Hi Lori!

I had to get a new Library card several years ago, and they gave me a lovely little barcoded tag that I put on my keychain so I don't have to carry the actual card around. I don't take advantage of our library like I should even though I'm on the board of our local Friends of the Library. We, the Friends, provide funds to the library every year for things the county won't/can't supply. I'll have to ask when they changed software.

I hope you have a wonderful week.

Morning, Lori! In Indiana, I think our library cards did not expire - at least, I don't remember them expiring. Here, in Georgia, we have to provide proof of address every two years in person, which makes complete sense to me.

Hoping that this week is kind to you. Please give the kitties my love.

>195 vancouverdeb: I'm glad they don't expire somewhere!

>196 tymfos: Software creates all sorts of headaches. Hopefully more software will be patron friendly in the future. I know we have students who would like a list of everything they've ever checked out from time to time, but we can't provide that for them. Maybe ours is a bit too "forgetful." Of course, that's a privacy thing.

>197 karenmarie: My library card is also a key ring one. I do, however, have the number memorized for purposes of logging into the system.

>198 Crazymamie: That is why I had to go in person and it couldn't be handled online. Still it is frustrating when it is working the night before, you get no notice you are about to expire, and all of a sudden the next day, you "expired."

10. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury

Date Completed: 17 Jan 2017

Category: Francis Aldridge (Fiction and Other Literature)

TIOLI Challenge: None

Rating: 4 stars

Review: This coming of age story is set in the summer of 1928. It's a fascinating look at the carefree summers of yesteryear and the memories made of small things--things as simple as "dandelion wine." Bradbury has a way with words, and he does an excellent job evoking the time and place. A series of vignettes give the novel its form.

It's Supercat!



Mr. B got into the stash of plastic bags and managed to get one around his neck. He tried really hard to get it off. I snapped this photo before freeing him of his new Ingles cape.

^ Poor Mr. B, getting himself tangled in a plastic bag!
He was probably glad when you came to rescue him, Lori.

>201 thornton37814: They will get into things, won't they? Thanks for sharing the pic!

>202 FAMeulstee: He looked so frustrated. He couldn't figure out how to get off it.

>203 karenmarie: They will!

You've done some great reading, Lori. Unfortunately I can't find a copy in my library.

>205 Ameise1: It's always sad when libraries lack books we want to read!

Lori--Sorry your card expired without notice.

Terri--And I'm sorry that our libraries are underfunded.

And...

11. The Inflated Story of Noah by Dr. Dan Bellamy

Date Completed: 19 Jan 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (Children's/YA Literature)

TIOLI Challenge: Challenge #16: Read a book in which bad/extreme weather plays a part

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Dan Bellamy tells the story of Noah with balloon sculptures. He shot photographs of his balloon sculptures in North America, Central America, the Galapagos Islands, and Israel. The text includes the sort of humor many young readers enjoy. This is definitely a winner for young readers.

Note: Since this book needed original cataloging, I thought I might as well read it while I was cataloging it.

>208 thornton37814: That looks absolutely adorable. Almost makes me wish I had a kid so I wouldn't be totally embarrassed to check it out. LOL!

>209 Morphidae: At the moment, we are the only library owning a copy. The author is probably an alumnus. It really is quite cute!

12. The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel

Date Completed: 19 Jan 2017

Category: Johannes Lantz (Around the World)

TIOLI Challenge: None

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Three stories--ranging from 1904 when cars were novelties until the late 20th century--are connected to a village in the high mountains of Portugal and to a crucifix in the church there. The connection runs a bit deeper, but readers are unaware of this until the end. It's a strange story, and while I never thought about dropping the book, I'm not certain I enjoyed it. I think it's the way the novel wraps up that leaves me somewhat dissatisfied. Readers deal with death, grief, religion, and even Agatha Christie, in the pages of the book, but I'm not sure the author's intentions in his theme are fully realized. I'm not even certain I know the author's intentions. It's a strange and somewhat disturbing novel.

Lori, I am amazed at how much reading you've accomplished so far this year. Some of the books are unfamiliar to me...and now I have a craving for home-made ice cream. I'm glad you were there to rescue Supercat Mr. B before he got too frustrated. Never a dull moment with your furkids around!

>212 Donna828: I'm surprised how much I've managed to date also. I don't think I'll be able to keep up the pace once other responsibilities start filling my time more. I'm just trying to keep the reading streak going as much as possible at the moment.

>200 thornton37814: Dandelion Wine is one of my favorite books of all time. I'm glad it worked well for you.

>214 jnwelch: I enjoyed Fahrenheit 451 so much when I read it I decided to try something else by Bradbury. I'd seen others mention it here so that's the one I tried.

Is anyone else watching the Inaugural Balls? I'm quite impressed by Pelican 212 at the Freedom Ball. I'm surprised at how well those young kids play their horns!

Barney is watching the Inaugural Balls. He's decided he wants to join "Lord of the Dance".

 

Such a lovely picture! Thanks for sharing it.

I am amazed at how much libraries manage to do with cuts in funding, but also get frustrated when things happen that make no sense to me. One of the things that I like about being on LT is being surrounded by people who also care about our libraries.

>211 thornton37814: My library has got a copy of it. I put it on my list.

>216 thornton37814: LOL

Happy weekend, Lori.

>217 charl08: Library funding has been drastically cut in recent years, even as they are trying to keep up with more formats and journal prices that are skyrocketing. I'm in an academic library. We pared the print collection down drastically even before electronic journals. We now subscribe to very few titles in print -- mostly Baptist ones for the archives.

>218 Ameise1: Hope you enjoy Martel's book when you get it.

13. The Confessions of Saint Augustine by Augustine; translated by Edward B. Pusey

Date Completed: 20 Jan 2017

Category: Nathan Ward (Christian Classics)

TIOLI Challenge: None

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Augustine reflects on his life before and after he committed it to God. He often quotes (or near quotes) entire passages of Scripture in doing so. I read the version translated by Pusey and published in the Modern Library. It's a Christian Classic which has endured for generations, but it is not the easiest read because Augustine's tendency to "ramble."

Note: I picked a random cover.

^ I remember reading Confessions in college, and sadly, the thing I remember is the rambling. Lol

>200 thornton37814: I think Dandelion Wine is a Bradbury I've missed, but it sounds like something I would like, so I'll be looking for it now.

>216 thornton37814: It looks like Barney enjoyed the show! We didn't watch the inaugural balls here; I didn't even know they were being broadcast until I saw your post. How were the rest of the performances?

>220 thornton37814: I like the Confessions better than you did, but I can certainly understand the criticism about the digressions.

Have a great weekend, Lori!

Thanks for pointing me towards Pelican 212 -- Wow!

Here's an incredible video -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5DsOx1gtfM

I read Confessions in college, but did a re-read a few years back. Must say that as I age (and my faith matures) my appreciation has really increased for the book.

>221 nittnut: His rambling was memorable.

>222 harrygbutler: I really enjoyed the inaugural balls. There were a lot of talented musicians. Hope you enjoy Dandelion Wine when you get to it. I really suspect a more modern translation might increase enjoyment of the Confessions, but I don't think it would push it up by more than a half-point.

>223 michigantrumpet: I'm glad you enjoyed Pelican 212. They blew me away. I appreciated the book, but it was a bit difficult to read.

I have Confessions on Mount TBR. I'll keep the ramblings in mind when it comes time to read it and schedule it out over weeks or more.

>216 thornton37814: Barney is one of the few in the mood for dance at the moment, Lori. Good for him!

Have a lovely weekend.

>225 Morphidae: That's probably a good idea to just read it a bit at a time.

>226 PaulCranswick: Paul, quite a few of my friends are in the mood to dance. I live in a part of the country that overwhelmingly voted against Hilary. I did not like either candidate, but I voted for one of the two main candidates so my vote would not be wasted, but my vote was more for vice president than for president. I will give him a chance.

>211 thornton37814: - Great review of the Martel book!

>201 thornton37814: and >206 thornton37814: - Love the antics of your adorable felines! I remember one of our cats used to chase cars that he "thought" were going to come out the side of the old floor model TV we had when I was growing up. You should have seen his look of confusion when no car appeared where he expected it to be!

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, Lori.

>228 lkernagh: LOL at your cat's antics. Thanks for the wishes for the week. Hope you have a good one too.

>220 thornton37814: I've had a copy of Confessions waiting to be read for years. Who knows when I'll manage it

>230 eclecticdodo: I completely understand.

A couple of weeks ago my tire pressure light came on. We assumed it was the weather because it had been fluctuating so much, but when it came on today after the tires were filled a couple weeks ago, I decided I must have a leak. Indeed, they found a nail in my tire. I'm so glad I quit going to the place where I purchased my tires. A friend told me her husband always got his tires there so I went there, but I regretted it almost instantly. The man who owns it is not very friendly, and whenever I went for anything I felt like he didn't really want me there. I finally started going to another place which is much friendlier and very busy. They do good work and don't rip you off. I'm not sure how the first place stays in business because of the attitude, but I definitely know why all the recommendations I heard later were for the place I now go for tire-related things.

Glad you found a better service center. We've been fortunate in the choice we made (with no guidance) when we moved here several years ago, but we've certainly used less-than-stellar shops at times in the past.

>233 harrygbutler: I generally use my car dealership for most service but for tires and such, I use a place that specializes in tires (or as this one does tires and brakes). I actually used them for brake service back in the late summer or early fall. They'll be getting all my tire and brake business now.

While researching my family last night, I uncovered a "black sheep" cousin who met her death by homicide last night. In order to get access to a database which includes the newspapers I need to find more of the story, I am paying the out of county fee for Knox County Public Library. I was told I'd need a library card number to access the databases even in the library. The good news is it will provide me with access to additional e-books and audiobooks. I sent in the fee, and they are supposed to email me my library card number so I can begin using databases immediately. I'm hoping I get the email tomorrow or Friday since all our mail goes through Knoxville in the first place. It would have cost me more than the out of county card fee to drive to the state library and archives in Nashville to get the needed article. Now I'll be able to do it in my own home, and I'll be able to see if the annual fee is worth paying for increased e-book and audiobook access. I decided I will always check my local library's collection first so I really can evaluate the amount of unique things they provide.

Hi Lori!

One of my kitties watches my cell phone and computer the way Barney watches TV in >216 thornton37814:.

Good luck with your researches into your "black sheep" cousin.

>236 karenmarie: Barney is the one most fascinated by the TV. I really don't turn it on nearly enough, but he's still fascinated when I do.

14. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

Date Completed: 25 Jan 2017

Category: Joseph Fowlkes (Non-Fiction)

TIOLI Challenge: Challenge #7: Read a book whose author's name does not reveal their sex

Rating: 3 stars

Review: I expected to like this book much more than I did. The story of what Paul Farmer did in providing health care in Haiti intrigued me. I did, however, feel the story bogged down in places -- mainly when it got "too medical" or "too political" for a mainstream audience. I'm glad Kidder decided to share Farmer's story with the world; however, it could have been more readable.

>235 thornton37814: I am sorry, Lori, I assume you weren't close, but homicide is always terrible :-(

>239 FAMeulstee: I didn't know she existed until I started pulling that line forward. It's just a shock to find it, and this was particularly gruesome.

Yikes. That's quite intense. I've come across various illegitimacies, as well as an ancestor who was a German Privy Counsellor in London which means I am also related to Australia's first Surveyor-General, but a homicide is a different kettle of fish altogether. Shocking but also fascinating, in a macabre way.

>241 lunacat: I'm trying to find out now whether anyone was ever arrested (and convicted) for her death. What I'm finding so far doesn't really answer that question. There are other ways to go about getting at the answer, and I'll try to get to the ways which don't place surviving family members in uncomfortable situations requesting information.

>242 thornton37814: Yeah, the last thing you want is to rock the boat over something that serious and upsetting. I wish you good luck with the search, and keep us updated. I'm very interested in how it turns out.

>243 lunacat: Will try to do.

A friend of mine managed to find a photo of the two of us at the infamous Mary Tyler Moore statue depicting the hat toss in Minneapolis to post to Facebook.

Lori--Glad you got your tire fixed and found a new place to go. Love the MTM photo! I am sad she is gone.

>246 Berly: Yes. It is sad Mary Tyler Moore is gone. We always watched her show at my house. My mom loved it.

>238 thornton37814: I'm sorry that the book Mountains Beyond Mountains didn't grab you more, Lori. It's one of my top NF's; I really loved it. Such a terrific story; too bad it dragged for you in places. Strength in What Remains is another good one of his, although you might have a similar reaction to it.

>248 jnwelch: I own Home Town so I suspect it will be the one I read next if I read another.

I expect to complete at least 3 more this month. Two are in process--one on my Kindle app; the other in print. The third is a YA book which should read quickly. I don't expect to finish the audio book until next month. It's my "commute" book.

>249 thornton37814: Home Town is good. I've read most of his.

>251 jnwelch: Good to know!

A big Tracy Kidder fan here. Loved House and Among Schoolchildren. Mountains Beyond Mountains was a read for my Church's book group.

Sorry the touchstone for House is wonky. Perhaps go to the author's page no get to it from there.

>253 michigantrumpet: Glad you enjoy Kidder. I probably won't get to another one this year, but maybe next.

15. Devonshire Scream by Laura Childs

Date Completed: 26 Jan 2017

Category: Lucinda Virginia Phillips (series)

TIOLI Challenge: None

Rating: 4 stars

Review: In this enjoyable installment, Theodosia attends a high-end jewelry show at her friend Brooke's shop. A smash and grab incident results not only in the theft of all displayed jewels but also in a death. Detective Burt Tidwell arrives on the scene. Brooke asks for Theodosia's help in finding the thieves/killer. Theodosia notices more than most of the persons at the event, but she purposed to find any clue which might aid the police from her crouched position. The FBI is involved in the case, and one of the agents seems somewhat interested in Theodosia. As usual, readers can drool over Haley's creations and Drayton's teas, and Theodosia puts herself in danger when she tries to go it alone without Tidwell's help. Fortunately, he's on speed dial. This one kept me guessing, and the ringleader was not a person I expected. It's nice to be surprised by an outcome once in awhile.

16. One Came Home by Amy Timberlake

Date Completed: 28 Jan 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (Children's/YA)

TIOLI Challenge: Challenge #11: Read a book that contains some illustrations alongside the text - Each chapter has drawings of pigeons at the beginning. I'm assuming that works.

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This Newbery honor book starts off a bit slow with a little too much detail about pigeons. However, once the story about Georgie's missing sister Agatha begins to take over, and Georgie and Billy go looking for her, the story begins to improve. Georgie's home is in Placid, Wisconsin so some of the action takes place there. It's a bit of an adventure, and some middle school readers are certain to enjoy it, but for others it will likely not resonate.

17. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Date Completed: 29 Jan 2017

Category: John Perkins (Historical Fiction)

TIOLI Challenge: None

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Two sisters--Isabelle and Vianne-- living in France during its Nazi occupation help persons escape over the Pyrenees and rescue young Jewish children. It's also the story of their family, friends, and network. It shows the horrors of the Holocaust. The author also created a modern aspect to the story as one of the sisters prepares to visit France for a 50 year reunion. This element was created mostly to produce an update on what happened to the various characters. The story seemed a bit slow to really develop, but once the story began to draw in the reader, it was absorbing.

Great review, Lori.

>258 Ameise1: Thanks. I struggled on what to say without revealing spoilers.

Hi Lori! Good reviews - I very rarely put spoilers in reviews but when I do I hide them. That way people can look at them if they want to and not look at them if they don't want to.

>260 karenmarie: I do that also if I feel it absolutely essential to include.

18. Down by the Riverside by Jackie Lynn

Date Completed: 30 Jan 2017

Category: Rev. Stephen Batchelder

TIOLI Challenge: Challenge #2: Read a book with a compound word in the title

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Rose Griffith, recently divorced from Rip, leaves behind Rocky Mount, North Carolina and the life she's known, bound for Arizona, when she has car trouble. One man is willing to give her a lift to Shady Grove, a campground run by an ex-con who turned his life around and tries to give other ex-cons the same chance. Rose decides to take her mother's maiden name Franklin. As they are pulling up to the campground, the sheriff's department is pulling the body of the undertaker, Mr. Franklin out of the river. Although Rose never met the man, she's sure he didn't commit suicide and begins to investigate. She's also using her nursing skills to help a family camped nearby who have a daughter with cancer being treated at St. Jude across the river and another daughter donating the bone marrow for the transplant.

Even though this novel includes a mystery, it seems to be somewhat minor in comparison to the theme of second chances. The mystery itself was somewhat lacking. I'm very familiar with the area, and several things struck me as "unbelievable," including the fact anyone who led a nurse's lifestyle, even a place like Rocky Mount, would find the West Memphis area appealing. It's known primarily as a place trucks stop going into and out of Memphis, and it has a less than stellar reputation in regards to criminal activities. I like the idea of a series set in a campground. I grew up in a household that camped frequently. In fact, as a child I used to dream of writing a series of children's books set in a campground. My reactions to the book are mixed. I might give the second in the series a chance if I come across it.

I've lend The Nightingale from my father, so I better soon get on with it. Thanks for the warning of the slow start - my father haven't read it yet, but I've heard good things about it - and now also here :)

#245 - Joyous and uplifting, photo :)

>263 ctpress: Yes. Don't give up on it too quickly.

19. Cats, Cats, Cats by Leslea Newman

Date Completed: 31 Jan 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (Children's/YA)

TIOLI Challenge: None

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: Old Mrs. Brown is the ultimate crazy cat lady! This book if a quite enjoyable illustrated poem. It's certain to please crazy cat ladies like myself as well as young readers, especially those who adore cats.The illustrations are nice, but not as cute as the poem itself.

20. The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan

Date Completed: 31 Jan 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (Children's/YA)

TIOLI Challenge: None

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: Teddy, a dog once owned by Sylvan the poet, rescues a couple of children in a blizzard. He takes them to the cabin where they stay until they can get out. The story is told through the dog's voice. The poet taught him words. I don't want to give away too much, but this book would be great for elementary school kids to read and enjoy. It would also work well as a read aloud book.

>266 thornton37814: I hope to get to that one soon :-)

>267 FAMeulstee: We had a time finding it at the library, but after checking in about 5 places the librarian and I finally found it. It said it was "on the shelf" so we kept looking. I picked up the book bullet from someone here on LibraryThing.

You remind me to read more by MacLachlan, Lori. I've enjoyed the three first in the Sarah, Plain and Tall series - very good. This also sounds excellent.

>269 ctpress: I was also a big fan of Sarah, Plain and Tall. I picked up the book bullet from someone here in November or December.

>266 thornton37814: "Like" I'm another fan of the Sarah Plain and Tall series (I've read 3), and I LOVED The Poet's Dog.

>271 jnwelch: :-) It was a wonderful book.

I'm listening to one book. (It's a Louise Penny book.) I am reading 6 other books. One of these is the Bible. One is a collection of short stories which are generally being read one per week for the "Awesomely Awful Book Club," which consists of professors and librarians where I work. One is a book of poetry. One is a children's/YA book. One is a cozy mystery. The other is historical/literary fiction. This is the first time I recall with so many in progress. It makes it difficult to complete one with so many underway.

>272 thornton37814: I know what you mean. I tend to have several books going at once, in different genres, and what usually happens is that I finish more than one at about the same time, which may leave me casting about for something to fill, say, the adventure "slot."

>273 harrygbutler: I often have about 3 besides the Bible going, but I think this is the first time I've had 7 going at once.

>238 thornton37814: Sorry that one didn't grab you. I read it years ago and remember really liking it. Probably because I liked the medical and political aspects. Lol I also read Strength in What Remains, but I don't remember liking it quite as much.

>266 thornton37814: The Poet's Dog is on my list. Nice to see some more happy warbling about it. I am a huge fan of the Sarah, Plain and Tall series.

>275 nittnut: I think most, if not all, MacLachlan books I read were well-done.

7 Books going at once is way too much for me!! I prefer two: one in print and one audio. But I currently have 4 going. Maxed!! Happy Friday, Lori.

>277 Berly: It's about too much for me, but part of it is because I have a book of poetry and another book going at work. The book of poetry is generally being read while I'm working the front desk until the circulation supervisor arrives. The other book is my lunch book. I was somewhere the other day where I only had my iPad with me. I had not started anything yet, but I'd just downloaded a book which had become available from the public library I intended to read in February, so guess what I did? I have one going in my bedroom. The short stories are being read for the book club -- only one at a time -- and I won't confuse them with anything else. The audiobook has been going for a little over a week. The Bible is just a few chapters a day. It's really not that bad, I suppose.

>274 thornton37814: I always have multiple books going to suit my mood. It's fairly normal for me to have a fiction book, fiction audio, non-fiction book, non-fiction audio, christian non-fiction, christian devotional, bible, and poetry all being actively read. Having said that, I find I get taken with a particular book and tend to read the last third or half uninterrupted.

>27 Matke: I suspect I'll finish one of the fiction books faster than the other.

>279 eclecticdodo: That's what tends to happen with me. I'll alternate among books for the first half or two-thirds of a given book, but after that, at least for mysteries or adventure novels, I generally read straight through to get to the resolution of the plot.

Wow, Lori! So many books. I am feeling close to paralyzed with only 4 - soon to be 5 - going. I'm reading The Literary Study Bible, Bleak House, The Righteous Mind, a fluffy Regency romance called The Dutiful Daughter, and must start and finish by tomorrow at 6 p.m. The Old Man and the Sea for tomorrow night's book club discussion.

Good luck and I hope you can get back to whatever the 'normal' number is for you.

>281 harrygbutler: Being sick this weekend has brought most of my reading close to a halt. I don't feel like staying up long enough to read.

>282 karenmarie: I'm sure it will dwindle when I begin feeling better.

You have read a lot, Lori! I feel like a piker next to you.

Usually I have 3 books going: novel, nonfiction, and mystery. I don't red them at an even pace though; a really good novel may draw me in, or an especially intriguing mystery. I only have two currently, but am actively seeking the third, and perhaps fourth choice.

Have a great week, Lori.

>283 thornton37814: Here's hoping you get well soon, Lori! I've been a bit under the weather myself, and sleeping a lot, so I can certainly understand.

>284 Matke: I'll likely finish one tomorrow. I found someone to cover my night shift.

>285 harrygbutler: I'll decide tomorrow if I'm going to the doctor. I need to get some Marie Callendars pot pies and baking potatoes tomorrow. I think I can hold those down.

Lori--I hope you feel better soon, or that you can get in to the doctor right away. No fun. Sending good mojo!!

Get well soon, Lori. Sending lots of healing vibes.

Yay for Marie Callendar pot pies! Our favorite is Creamy Mushroom Chicken.

>287 Berly: Thanks. It appears I had the flu. I'm doing a bit better this evening. The fever dropped today after spiking yesterday. I need to be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to work so I'll be home at least tomorrow.

>288 Ameise1: Thanks!

>289 Morphidae: I take mine without the fungus. I can eat mushrooms, but I'm not crazy about their texture. Jeff will not eat mushrooms at all.

21. Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien

Date Completed: 6 Feb 2017

Category: John Perkins (Historical Fiction)

TIOLI Challenge: Challenge #17: Read a book by an author whose full name is at least 5 syllables long

Other Challenges: Canadian Author Challenge

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Set largely in China, readers become acquainted with the families of Sparrow and Kai at the Shanghai Conservatory in the 1960s, pulling the narrative forward from the Communist Revolution to the demonstrations at Tiananmen Square and even providing updates after that event. The book shows a relationship between mathematics and music. As a genealogist, I was particularly drawn to the mentions of the "Book of Records." As a musician, I was drawn to the rest of the story. I enjoyed the frequent mentions of one of my favorite Russian composers, Shostakovich. The writing was strong. A more in-depth knowledge of twentieth century Chinese history would make the work more enjoyable than it already was. The book was well-deserving of its shortlisting for the Man Booker Prize.

Hi Lori! How are the felines?

Seven books would be too many for me. I usually have one novel, one audiobook, and maybe one additional nonfiction read going at once. I keep trying to weave a collection of essays in there but don't seem to be very successful yet.

Good review of Do Not Say We Have Nothing and pretty much in line with my take on it.

Good thoughts on Do not Say We Have Nothing, Lori. Sounds great - a relationship between mathematics and music - Shostakovich and Chinese history - I'm intrigued. I've been wanting to read more about Chinese history and this might spur me on.

>292 EBT1002: I'm afraid I only knew the basics of Chinese history. I, of course, remember Tienanmen Square. Most of my knowledge of the communist revolution was in the context of Communism in general, but overall, I knew more about Russia than China. I'm down to maybe five now--Bible, library e-book, two books at work, and the audiobook. I have one tempting me at the moment, but I'm going to try to finish the e-book before I begin. I do need to post a review for a children's book I read last night in one sitting even though it was 211 pages. At least the were written in poetry form, even though it was more of a story than a poem.

>293 ctpress: Yes. Many years back in the faculty dining room we actually discussed how many musicians were good at math. Needless to say math and music professors were at the table. I believe a philosophy professor was in the mix as well. I think you'll enjoy Do Not Say We Have Nothing. It's probably my favorite of last year's Booker nominees (short and long list) read to date.

22. Little Cat's Luck by Marion Dane Bauer; illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell

Date Completed: 7 Feb 2017

Category: Mary Ann Harris (Children's/YA)

TIOLI Challenge: Challenge #18: Read a book with a title word beginning with "L"

Rating: 4 stars

Review: This delightful book tells the story of Patches the cat who longs for a special place. When the screen pops off the window, she finds a special place right in the home of the meanest dog in town, Gus. She's lost and doesn't know how to get home. Needless to say Patches gives birth to a litter of kittens right in Gus' doghouse. A bond between dog, cat, and kittens is made. There's more to the story, but I'll let you read it for yourself. The book is written as though it is poetry, but it's really prose disguised as poetry. The short lines should make it easier for more advanced younger readers to enjoy. It shows a 4.7 reading level with a 760L lexile. I suspect many third graders could enjoy it and perhaps even some advanced second graders. Many of the lines are shaped to go along with the text. Illustrations are sparse. It would make a good read aloud book. Marion Dane Bauer continues to be one of the better writers of children's books.

Sorry to hear you've got the flu. I hope you begin to feel better soon.

>296 lunacat: I'm feeling better today. No fever so far. Hoping it stays that way. I suspect the fever I ran last night was the end of it. I hope so. I love spending time with my cats, but I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. When I didn't even feel like working on genealogy, you know I was sick.