Ronincats targets Books off my own Shelves for 2017: Sector Two

Winter Sunset at Seaport Village, San Diego

This is a shot I took a few years ago at Christmas, and I thought of it when we were down there last week, as it looked very similar.

I’m Roni in San Diego and I’ve been a member of the 75 book challenge group since 2008. I have a husband, 3 cats, 1 dog, a garden, many books, and am retired. I spend my time reading, gardening, crocheting, and making pottery and wire jewelry. Last year I did miserably on my reading goals, not meeting a single one. This year I want to focus on reading books already on my shelves. My main focus in reading is in speculative fiction (science fiction and fantasy) but I also try to read at least a dozen nonfiction books per year and am keeping up, more or less, with 4 mystery series. Welcome to my thread. If you are a speculative fiction reader, comment on my thread and I’ll come visit you. I follow those members with similar tastes or that I forged friendships with back in the days when this group was smaller--there is no way I can keep up with everyone, although I would love to be able to.

Goals for 2017:

I will continue my goals to read 150 books and 50,000 pages, as I have met that goal 6 out of 9 years, but amount is really not a focus.

Previous goals have included limiting the number of books acquired to fewer than the previous year and to de-acquisition as many books as acquired. This year I will set a goal of limiting acquired books to 85 and to send at least 50 books on their way out of my house.

I have done very poorly on my goal of reading unread books already on my shelves, but I really want to highlight that this year, and so I’m setting an all-time high goal of 50 books. I did read 40 such books in 2013, but only 41 in the last three years combined.

Books read in 2017:

January:
DNF Daughter of Gods and Shadows by Jayde Brooks (135 pp.) (2015)
1. The Kindred of Darkness by Barbara Hambly (248 pp.)(2016)
2. Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them by J. R. Rowling (42 pp.) (pre-2011)
3. The Story of Charlotte's Web by Michael Sims (305 pp.) (2015)
4. Starship's Mage by Glynn Stewart (299 pp.) (2016)
5. The Heart of What was Lost by Tad Williams (222 pp.) (2017)
6. I Shot the Buddha by Colin Cotterill (342 pp.) (library)
7. Linesman by S. K. Dunstall (372 pp.) (2016)
8. The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman (361 pp.) (library)
9. Everything is Miscellaneous by David Weinberger (260 pp.) (pre-2011)
10. Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire (192 pp.)
11. The Iron Tactician by Alastair Reynolds (94 pp.) (2016)
12. Dawn by Octavia Butler (256 pp.) (pre-2011)
13. Spoiled Harvest by Leah Cutter (222 pp.) (2016)
14. Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire (352 pp.) (reread)
15. Where Shadows Dance by C. S. Harris (342 pp.) (library)
16. Where Maidens Mourn by C. S. Harris (341 pp.)
17. Evicted by Matthew Desmond (420 pp.)
18. The Creeping Shadow by Jonathan Stroud (445 pp.)

February
19. The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch (298 pp.)
20. Deeds of Honor by Elizabeth Moon (152 pp.)
21. Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett (265 pp.)
22. Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt (360 pp.)
23. Juana & Lucas by Juana Medina (90 pp.)
24. Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (447 pp.)
25. Why Kings Confess by C. S. Harris (340 pp.)
26. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill (388 pp.)
27. What Darkness Brings by C. S. Harris (353 pp.)
28. The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin (106 pp.)
29. Wanderings: Chaim Potok's History of the Jews (431 pp.)
30. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (243 pp.)

Books acquired in 2017:

January:
1. The Heart of What was Lost by Tad Williams (Kindle)
2. Evicted by Matthew Desmond
3. Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge by Paul Krueger
4. Zeroes by Chuck Wendig
5. Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire (Kindle)
6. Silver on the Road by Laura Anne Gilman (Kindle)
7. The Unwinding by George Packer (Kindle)
8. Rough Crossings by Simon Schwama (Kindle)
9. The Inkblots by Damion Searles
10. The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch (Kindle)
11. Juana & Lucas by Juana Medina (Amazon)
12. City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett (ER)

Welcome, everyone! Open for business. Given the pervasiveness of general lurgy on the threads, I’ve decided to go medicinal for my welcome beverages this time.

Love the thread topper, Roni.

Happy new thread my dear and medicinal beverages are always welcome even when I am feeling better!

Parking here to mark my spot Roni. I'll be traveling early in the am, so I'll visit later tomorrow evening.

Happy new thread!

No! No lurgy here!

New thread already! Gosh I need to get my game on. :)

Good luck with the pest removal!
At Christmas we bought a gag gift for my MIL as she has a neighborhood cat that uses her garden as a litter box
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B015TZ4HMW/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

Back to your prior thread: yes, wait and see Loving at home. I wept deeply at the end ~~ triumph at the (we already knew so no spoilers here) successful outcome of the legal battle but still poignant and heartbreaking, too.

How's the new mattress?

Happy new thread, Roni. I love the topper. Gorgeous.

Starred and along for the ride!

Oh, thanks so much fir the tea bar. I take a seat there. Happy new one, Roni.

Happy new thread, Roni, I love sunset pictures :-)

Ooh, cinnamon sore throat tea!! Never heard of that! I'll have to give it a go the next time I'm suffering. Hot Toddies on the other hand.... very much part of a convalescent's tool kit around these parts, although I'm not so sure about my mum's version which involves hot butter. She swears it's absolutely necessary but I'm on the fence!
Happy new thread by the way, and good luck with your mysterious garden visitor. Are you thinking about some kind of garden surveillance to try and catch them in the act?? Probably a bit selfish on my part, but I'm hooked into the mystery element of this garden problem!

Ohh, definitely a hot toddy for me please. If not required now, I'll have it as a defence against further colds.

Morning, Roni! Happy new one! I love your thread topper - so beautiful.

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread!

I love all the book reorganization that you are doing. Darn all those pesky unread books and the new shiny ones!

Love the last batch of pottery that you posted. My favorite is the one with the unglazed bottom. Is that a new technique for you?

Welcome to the new thread, friends. Always good to see you stop by, Paul (#1!), Ro, Zoe, Morphy, Melissa, Chelle, Ellen, Beth, Kim, Barbara, Anita, Hannah, Jenny, Mamie, Jim and Janet!

Chelle, that spray isn't available down here in the States but would be a good idea.

Ellen, I think streaming it at home is the better idea. I always hate to lose it completely at the movie theater. The mattress sleeps a little firmer than we are used to (it will soften up a bit with use) but is very comfy. We slept in this morning, listening to the rain coming down.

Hannah, I'd love to surveil but haven't a camera system to do so. I am curious also. And I'll have to wait until the rain is over to try Chelle's idea of chili powder or pepper flakes.

Janet, the bottom actually is glazed but with a matte glaze--therefore not shiny. I've used it occasionally, often with the carving where I want the carving to stand out.

Happy new thread, Roni Thanks for the tea -- perfect for this cozy, rainy morning.

Got a couple of short ones out of the way last night!



Book #10 Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire (192 pp.)

McGuire proved she knows how to tell a ghost story in Sparrow Hill Road. This book is shorter by a third and less complex, but still does a fascinating bit of world-building.



Book #11 The Iron Tactician by Alastair Reynolds (94 pp.)

This story was my November 2016 Early Reviewer selection. Evidently there is a whole series of stories about this character, Merlin, roaming the spaceways to find a weapon to fight humanity's foe, the Huskers. The world-building was interesting, and the story adequate, but Merlin's character and his decision-making were confusing to me. I don't know if familiarity with prior stories would have made it more understandable, but based solely on this story, I would rate it only average for that reason.

ETA Hi, Reba. Certainly. I've just finished my coffee and oatmeal and will be switching to tea for the rest of the day!

Happy new one, Roni!

>24 ronincats: I loved Every Heart a Doorway and I've got DDDD sitting at home right now. I think I'll be reading that this weekend.

Hi Roni, happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Roni!

Happy new thread! I've escaped the lurgy so far, though last night I thought I felt the first twinges of a sore throat. Was fine when I woke up this morning, but I'll have some hot tea with honey this evening just in case, I think!

Happy new thread, Roni. I hope you have been having a good week.

Happy new thread, Roni!

>26 tapestry100: I don't think you'll regret reading DDDD this weekend :-)

Morning, Roni. I hope you have a good weekend.

Hi Roni - just wanted to say thanks for posting about the Simon & Schuster event in NY - much appreciated!

Hi Roni, just stopping by to say hello and extend New Year's wishes. I just saw a photo of the Pacific Beach pier that you posted on someone else's thread and I wanted to say thanks! I lived in Ocean Beach for many years and I've been missing it more and more lately through our dark New Hampshire winters. Here's to good reading in 2017!

Book Riot has an article on some YA fantasy that are stand-alones. Uprooted is the only one I have read and they all sound good.

http://bookriot.com/2017/01/18/3-ya-theme-stand-alone-fantasy-reads?utm_source=S...

And if I'm ever in Portugal, I want to stay here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/literary-man-hotel-with-books_us_587e69a4e4b...

>25 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie.
>26 tapestry100: Go for it, David!
>27 aktakukac: Thanks, Rachel. Check out the book link above.
>28 susanj67: Thank you, Susan.
>29 foggidawn: Sounds like a wise precaution, foggi.
>30 thearlybirdy: Productive, Birdy. I've gotten my paperwork filed and sorted!
>31 archerygirl: Thanks, Kathy. I agree.
>32 thearlybirdy: You were definitely the early bird today, Birdy. 4:16 am my time.
>33 vivians: Vivian, glad to oblige!
>34 muddy21: Welcome, Marilyn. Yes, that was my Christmas photo. But today is dark and gloomy with rain, although I'll bet that at 55 F we are warmer than you are. A Hodad's burger would taste good.

Evicted has become my bathtub book. I can't read too much of it at a time, too painful. I am a landlord myself, although only of the "granny flat" on the alley behind our house, and know the hassles of keeping your property up and finding good tenants. But I have the same issue with this that I had when I read Kozol's Savage Inequalities about education. There is no way in California that you could rent a unit that had been found uninhabitable, like the author says they can do in Milwaukee. I have a two-volume book on the laws and responsibilities of landlords in this state and the renters' rights. Likewise, our physical plants even in the poorest school districts were nowhere near the dilapidation described in schools back East. It's like a different world in that respect. Having said that, I know there are slum lords around here, and I'm sure there are deplorable conditions to be found. I've found them several times myself coming in to clean up our unit after tenants left.

And I started Dawn last night for the Octavia Butler read and quickly got 7 chapters into it.

Happy Friday, Roni. Thanks for the link to the Stand Alone Fantasies, I've added a couple to my wish list.

>36 DeltaQueen50: First thing I did, Judy, was open my library's catalog and tag all those titles into my For Later list. Everything was available there except Wintersong, which isn't actually out until next month.

>37 ronincats: Ha - that explains why my library didn't have Wintersong! Hopefully they will get it.

>35 ronincats: Looks like a great hotel! But probably way out of my price range, going by the photos.

>22 ronincats: that pot is beautiful! I love the contrast between the shiny dark and matte light glazes, and the carving is striking. I like the shape, too, such a delicate and balanced curve.

Ooh, love the look of that literary hotel in Portugal!! We have talked about a holiday to Portugal before, I think that has definitely bumped it up the list of desirable locations!

>35 ronincats: Love x million the Portugal hotel! I would never leave!

Wishing you a happy weekend, Roni!

Happy Saturday, Roni.

I swear I posted here the other day...but it is nowhere to be found! Oh well. I raved about how I love your pot in >22 ronincats:, with the contrast in finish, color and texture. Really striking! And I just found out that Evicted author Matthew Desmond is coming to Portland to speak, so I better get a copy and start reading if it must be read a little at a time. Thanks for the heads up!

Hi Roni! I'll have some cinnamon sore throat tea, please! My throat's not sore at the moment, but I love cinnamon, so maybe it would be a good preventative?

Happy Weekend! Love the pot at >22 ronincats:!

I'm still waiting for the library to get DDDD in. It's ordered just not in yet. *twiddles thumbs*

>47 Morphidae: Had to scroll up to see what you meant but it is an interesting title for sure.

>45 cbl_tn: Some of the things I love:

coriander
cinnamon
this thread

Have a great weekend, Roni.

Just ignore me. Duped message.

I got the recipe for the cinnamon sore throat tea - still recovering from a nasty bout of cold, and coughing a lot. I'll try that tonight.

You sort of got me with a book bullet in your last thread - reminded me I have, and have not read, Everything is Miscellaneous. I have no idea where it is, though, so it goes on the "read as soon as I find it" list.

I agree the blue pitcher is absolutely gorgeous, and deservedly bestowed.

I have DDDD on my phone - I'll get to it soon. Still in the middle of the Rihannsu series by Diane Duane - which I'd started and paused on long ago. I'm kind of glad I did pause - just got to the end of Swordhunt and no, not acceptable. It's not even a cliffhanger, just a chapter break - to the next book. Sheesh! So now I have all the books and can read them straight through - if I'd read as it came out, I'd have been furious.

>38 DeltaQueen50: Yes, it took me a second look to figure that out, Judy.
>39 justchris: I'm sure it's out of mine as well, but what a concept and execution!
>40 bluesalamanders: Thank you, blue.
>41 HanGerg: Hannah, you'll have to check it out for us!
>42 michigantrumpet: That looks like such a comfy reading spot, Marianne.
>43 thearlybirdy: And happy Sunday, Birdy!
>44 Berly: Thank you, Kim, and you are most welcome.
>45 cbl_tn: I think that's a great idea, Carrie.
>46 nittnut: Thank you, Jenn, and hope yours is lovely as well.
>47 Morphidae: Drat, Morphy, I hope it comes in soon.
>48 PaulCranswick: Make sure you are getting enough relaxing time, Paul!
>49 Morphidae: Never!
>50 jjmcgaffey: Hi, Jenn. Have you gotten enough rain? We had 2.4 inches in our rain gauge from the second storm. The third is coming in tonight. Much as I like Diane Duane, I don't read Star Trek or Star Wars books so I am spared aggravation re: the Rihannsu series.

I thought about going to our local march, which was large by our standards but not to compare to Boston or Chicago, but it was still raining through midmorning plus my #1 Jayhawks were playing a 11 local time, so I didn't go in person although I was there in spirit. Last week I threw 12 pieces (half of them were the small shaving soap bowls so not that impressive) after only throwing one piece in the prior 4 weeks (2 weeks studio closed over holidays and one week glazing what I brought home last week. Today I trimmed those pieces and threw a mug body and a jar. It will probably be three weeks before I bring anything home, unless those 6 little bowls dry out quickly and are bisque fired this week. With our rain, though, that may not be likely.

So the last two days I've organized a lot of paperwork on my desks and also all my show stuff back into a neat pile in the corner of my dining room, which incidentally resulted in the dining room table being cleared off. Also mailed off a bunch of books to PBS and my sister and taken the culled books to the library as a donation. Tomorrow it will be raining again (we had a break from about 11 am until night) and I will get out the sewing machine and do some mending, watch football playoffs and continue watching the Australian Open as I am doing this evening.

I am continuing with Evicted in the bathtub, Dawn for the Octavia Butler read, and started my ER book from October, Spoiled Harvest by Leah Cutter. I had read her first book Paper Mage back in 2004 or so and found it a little depressing so had not picked up anything more. This is the third in a urban fantasy series so I'm coming into the middle of a series, but that doesn't usually matter in this type of series. I'll let you know if it does when I finish it.

>51 ronincats: Yes - lordy, it's pouring. Yesterday I was out and about, and didn't hit any rain all morning and half the afternoon - there was even sunshine for a few minutes. Then as I was coming out of the store, it started to rain, and then pour! I was soaked through by the time I got to my car and got my bags in. Bah. It hadn't been raining when I went in, so I wasn't wearing my jacket, just a fleece vest. It was cloudy this morning, started raining just about sunset and is due to continue until...Monday afternoon, I think.

I read all of the early Star Trek books - the logs and the novels, didn't miss a one. Then some really _stupid_ books came out; I read them, and kind of stopped following the series. Now I'll look at a Star Trek book if it's by someone I recognize - and there have been some really good books, by authors I knew (Duane prominent among them). I mostly read TOS books (Kirk et al) - I watched some of Next Generation (and have read a few of the books), and a very little of the other three series. I never got into Star Wars, though I read a couple novelizations - I have seen most of the movies, but the story just never snagged me.

I've gotten two Leah Cutters through ER...and yeah, she tends towards the depressing, to my eye. Her characters seem determined to make bad decisions. I haven't read this series, so maybe it'll be better.

I knitted my pink hat and everything and was ready to go to Montpelier yesterday - but I didn't go as I woke with a migraine. I'm sad I didn't go, but I think it's all right - they had 15-20,000 in our rather small capitol city and had to shut down the interstate ramps around the city. I'm not wild about huge crowds (they were predicting more like 4000!) so it's ok, and my one more body and one more car, maybe not necessary. I wore my hat all day. I might have managed it if I'd organized a ride, but I usually do irish music there Sat afternoon and I couldn't think of anyone who would want to do both. I imagine that was a zoo however, so again, I have to let my regret go.

Vermont's population is around 600,000 so that many is actually a sizeable figure! I'm terrible at math but that's around 1 in 300 showing up! If you factor that approx. 300,000 of our pop. are women and that it was probably 80% women, the numbers get even more impressive! Probably approx 1 in 200(ish) (not even trying to calculate that, just guessing).

I haven't liked the more recent Alastair Reynolds as much as the older ones.

Good afternoon, Roni. We had a lot of rain here too.

Salutations on your newest Thread. I could really use some of your Cinnamon Sore Throat Tea, although maybe I should go for the hot toddy instead. Woke up yesterday with a headache and the sniffles. Sucks, especially since our weather has been pretty nice.

Stopping by to wish you a lovely week ahead (and a Happy New Thread!) and to let you know that I really appreciate you flagging your reviews with a note when a book is part of a series (like the Hambly book). I am trying to not add to my series reading so I will just have to make note of books that I can think about adding to my reading when my current series reading gets under control.... like that is ever going to happen!

Gong back to yuor previous thread:
- fresh from the garden veggies in January.... so JEALOUS!
- more beautiful pottery, I particularly like the bowl with the lovely feline sales assistant
- great job with the book organizing/culling!
- Grrrr on destroyer of plants

Huge shout out for 11 books read! Way to go!

>51 ronincats: So many things to talk about!

I didn't even try to attend the local march. I decided I needed to concentrate on health (tai chi) and work (extra hours in the office), considering the problems I've had lately. But I was lending moral support, and was happy to see so many people pass through my neighborhood with signs and pinks hats.

I have read a handful of Star Trek novels and kept only 3, one of those by Duane. I had gotten the impression that there might be related stories but never bothered to hunt them down. It's been interesting looking up all the Rihannsu books by Duane. Not sure I'll actually pursue them.

I went to a birthday party today at an art studio with options to paint canvas, do a fused glass project, or paint a ceramic item. I opted for one of the clay cups with glazes. I think I was the only one who went that route. I thought of you and that beautiful blue pitcher you're sending out. I opted for a midnight blue base layer and indigo over it, except for trying for a hopefully black mark on one side to make it identifiable at parties. I have a tendency to lose small things that I can set down and walk away from.

Good morning, Roni. I hope you have a good week.

Happy Tuesday, Roni. I hope it's a good one.

I can see blue sky out there!! Hope you can too.

>52 jjmcgaffey: Well, we got lucky with the third storm--lots of wind and chilly temps but not nearly the rain they were predicting, which is well and good because Thursday and Friday gave us 3 inches (this in an area where 10 inches a year is normal). I haven't been out to see what we got in the rain gauge because it is still wet out, although the sun is out right now.

I'm still in the middle of the Leah Cutter book, but they've saved the world from ending in both the previous books and this one needs it as well. That's usually a sign to me of overblown writing. I'll let you know when I get to the end.

>53 sibylline: Sorry about the migraine, Lucy. We had about 40,000 here, and a lot of San Diegans went to Washington. This was actually my first Alastair Reynolds, believe it or not.

>54 thearlybirdy:, >58 thearlybirdy:, >59 thearlybirdy: Good morning, Birdy!

>55 hairballsrus: Hope the sore throat was a false alarm, Paula.

>56 lkernagh: Hi, Lori, glad you found me. I have to review a book differently when it is in a series than if it were a stand-alone, so I do mention it. Thanks for all the encouragement!

>57 justchris: I hope your mug came out beautifully, Chris. I actually think it is harder to paint ceramic than to glaze bisqueware. But you can do different things with it.

>58 thearlybirdy: It was raining here about 45 minutes ago, but the sun came out for about 30 minutes. It's back behind clouds now though. Sounds like that's just the kind of day it's going to be here, Reba.

So the rain didn't get here until around sunset Sunday, instead of in the morning as they'd predicted. We stayed home nonetheless and watched football and Australian Open tennis, which meant I got a fair amount of crocheting done on my purse, even if half of it was correcting stuff I'd missed while watching basketball on Saturday. Need to look at those directions more carefully regarding those color changes. It was a pajama day all around.

Yesterday I stayed home as well. There was on-and-off raining and it is still very wet out. I got all my craft stuff cleared off my work table where it had been piled, and pulled all my containers from under the table and the shelf in my office. Most beads and tools and wire are organized, but I am still working on findings, special beads, old jewelry, and miscellaneous on the dining room table to organize so I can find what I need when I need it. That is today's project prior to the dental cleaning this afternoon and then the basketball game at 4.

I finished one of my books last night.



Book #12 Dawn by Octavia Butler ( 256 pp.)

This is the first book of the Xenogenesis Trilogy, which I have owned for years and never read until the Octavia Butler challenge this month provoked me into pulling it off my shelf. It is perhaps the most science-fictional of her books and explores themes of the nature of humanity, sexuality and aggression. Humanity has destroyed itself and an alien race has rescued the few who have survived. What price survival? As always with Butler, thought-provoking and disturbing.

ETA My husband just went out back and I had him check the gauge. Another full inch. That's 4 inches from Thursday through now.

Have fun organizing your craft room! My craft room is still being used as box storage and I have only have the space I would want. Maybe some day.

I went to my local march and froze myself through, but I'm really glad I went. Now I'm trying to figure out what I should do next - being a UK ex-pat, writing to Theresa May (with a lot of other people) to ask her to discuss women's rights with Trump on Friday feels like a good start.

I think I'll put Dawn onto the list for reading this year.

>62 ChelleBearss: Chelle, my crafts are actually spread out over three rooms. If I got rid of some books, I could have them all in my office , but we all know how that plays out! I have a shelf in my office devoted to bead supplies, a corner of the dining room has all my show stuff piled up (and the dining room table often used as a work surface) and a library table and cart in the living room have my tools and many of my beads, as well as providing another work space. Then my yarn is in the armoire in the living room as well.

>63 archerygirl: Good for you! I agree that we all need to stay involved at this point, since just voting has proved not to be enough.



Book #13 Spoiled Harvest by Leah Cutter (222 pp.)

I received an ebook edition of this book as my October 2016 Early Reviewers win. This is the third in an urban fantasy series featuring Cassie (aka "A Kickass Cassie Novel"), a lesbian postcog set in a familiar world except for the presence of the Blessed (those with paranormal skills) and a corporation bent on finding and controlling them. In each of the prior books, Cassie and/or her colleagues have saved the world by intervening with gods who appear to their abilities. This book continues the pattern. This is a perfectly acceptable urban fantasy to read for light entertainment. I think the author is judging too many plot lines, only one of which is resolved in this book, and that the character development is minimal and somewhat stereotypical.

>64 ronincats: Roni, for some reason your copy was not combined with the other copies of Spoiled Harvest. I combined the 2 listings into one and you are now review #4. You might want to edit your review's last sentence

Hi Roni! I am not a marcher, but I marched in Denver with 200,000 comrades and my family, and I'm glad I did, and glad it worked out that we all could. It probably didn't change any minds, but it felt good to be in such a positive group.

Do you always have a bathtub book? Love it! I read int he bath, particularly in winter, but I don't have a dedicated book for it. Maybe I should :)

>65 RBeffa: Thank you, Ron. I actually didn't post that sentence in the review--didn't feel it was appropriate there, and I'll edit it here in my thread now. Still don't see any reviews at all for it on Amazon, though. ETA oops, I did too post it--I had intended to trim it off when I copy and pasted and obviously got distracted before doing so. So THVM because I didn't intend for it to be there.

>66 AMQS: Yay, Anne. Yes, I usually have a designated bathtub book, although that doesn't mean it doesn't occasionally get bumped by a faster paced book I can't put down!

Just for everyone interested, www.womensmarch.com is proposing 10 actions in 100 days and sending suggestions on a schedule if you sign up! Sounds like a winner to me.

Dang! That is a lot of rain. Hope it dries out fro you soon. I am enjoying Kindred by Octavia Butler, and I love sci-fi, so I will definitely have to check out more of her work.

>67 ronincats: I thought you might want to fix it! We've had big rain and storms up here in the Bay Area. the rain gauge from the first round of storms when I dumped out it topped out at 5 inches and went above to the brim and now in the last couple days we've got another 3 1/2 inches. Wettest winter we've had in many years.

>64 ronincats: Get rid of books to make room for crafts? You are such a good crafter that would be like choosing which of your children you like best, I can imagine!

Morning, Roni. That was a nice review.

>61 ronincats: Ro I love a pajama day!

It's been a whirlwind with some minor emergencies since I got back from Vegas, sick aunt, sick dog, dead car. Luckily everything is somewhat back in order. I received in the mail yesterday this very lovely pitcher. Thank you for your kindness. It's even more beautiful in person!

>72 luvamystery65: Gorgeous. I'm jealous, you lucky dog! :D

>72 luvamystery65: It is beautiful, nice you wear a matching blue :-)

>72 luvamystery65: Beautiful work, Roni! And it suits you, Roberta.

>73 Morphidae: >74 FAMeulstee: & >75 rosalita: It is gorgeous, beautiful and any other lovely thing you can think of! The matching blue wasn't planned, but I do love dark blue. Thank you.

Beautiful!

very nice indeed!

>61 ronincats: I read Dawn many years ago and didn't warm to it that much. I don't think she's entirely my cup of tea although I did enjoy Parable of the Sower (though not the sequel).

Four inches? Dear heavens, that's a lot. The past several days have all been gloomy and rainy. Trying to improve my mood by reminding myself at least it's not snow.

>68 Berly: Hey, Kimmers, that is definitely a lot of rain! And my trees and plants are loving it all. Our county water authority announced us out of the drought today for the first time in 7 years. Some of our lakes even have water in them!

>69 RBeffa: Love all that snow up in the mountains east of you, Ron--that's our water supply!

>70 rosalita: Oh, books come first, Julia, but it is a difficult choice.

>71 thearlybirdy: Thanks, Birdy.

>72 luvamystery65: Put it all down to serendipity, Ro. A lovely generous person exhibiting it at just the right time to reap unexpected benefits!!

>73 Morphidae: Sorry, Morphy. Really, I am.

>74 FAMeulstee: I didn't even notice until you pointed it out, Anita! Yes, perfect color match.

>75 rosalita: It does suit her, Julia.

>76 luvamystery65: :-D

>77 cal8769:, >78 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Carrie and Reba.

>79 TadAD: I also liked Parable better than the sequel, but I was immediately drawn into Dawn and thought it addressed serious issues.

>80 michigantrumpet: Rain is out of our forecast for the next week, Marianne, so we will have a chance to dry out naturally and let our plants bask in the moisture. Watch the Golf Channel for a look at our weather now--in the 60s and sunny, although supposed to get windy tomorrow.



Book #14 Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire (352 pp.)

This was a reread for a book discussion on Tuesday. I love McGuire's writing. She IS smart and snarky and imaginative--all the things Cutter was trying to be in the previous book but not as successful at. This is the New World, where humanity unknowingly exists with the nonhuman Incryptids, and the Price family "curates" them. That is, the Price family has taken the responsibility in North America for managing human and Incryptid populations so that they live in harmony (i.e., basically humans are clueless and incryptids are supported and protected as long as they don't make humans prey.). But over in the Old World, the Covenant has been focused on wiping out all incryptids for centuries. The Price family revolted and disappeared for dead from their purvieu a century or so ago, but are considered traitors to humanity. So when a Covenant man shows up in NY, where Verity is policing the incryptids AND trying to make a career as a competitive dancer, and a snake cult starts sacrificing virgins trying to wake a dragon sleeping beneath Manhattan, that's just the start. Are we having fun yet?

Roni--You know there is something wrong when you say, "Some of our lakes even have water in them!" Glad your plants are thriving.

>82 Berly: lol welcome to CA :)

>81 ronincats: I recently got a copy of Discount Armageddon (and the next four books, too.) Everyone around here seems to love Seanan McGuire, so I'm looking forward to diving in, even though I'm not usually a big urban fantasy person.

>81 ronincats: Oh, pooh. I don't want you to be sorry. Pretend you didn't even read my post. It was a elbow to the ribs of a girlfriend type comment.

Are you still having problems with something visiting your garden, Roni? A lot of the damage done to our lawns recently is due to birds digging up chaffer beetles. So don't rule out some kind of bird snacking in your garden.

I love the blue jug and the fact that it went to the person who loves the colour so much that her shirt is even the same hue!

Beautiful jug, Roni. Wishing you a relaxed weekend.

Love the jug too.

I am dreaming of a lovely weekend UI not the Portuguese book hotel you posted up there. Sounds to me like a great place for a Lt meetup...

>82 Berly:, >83 RebaRelishesReading: You let Kim know how it is, Reba!
>84 kgodey: Just relax and let the humor and the chapter quotes carry you along, Kriti. Although you might also prefer her October Daye series, more traditional Fae.
>85 Morphidae: I know that, Morphy, but I'm still sorry you couldn't have it.
>86 Familyhistorian: All the rain seems to have put a stop to the digging. We'll have to see if it resumes.
>87 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara, same to you.
>88 charl08: Wouldn't that be nice, Charlotte?



Book #15 Where Shadows Dance by C. S. Harris (342 pp.)

This is the 6th book in the Regency-era London-based St. Cyr mystery series. The action continues apace, as does the emotional intrigue. And I love that the linchpin of this mystery involves a little-known historical fact! Harris embeds her story in very real and readable history. I have the next book here in my hot little hand.

Dear Friend Roni.

I am in awe of your many talents....you make incredibly beautiful pottery; you fashion lovely jewelry; you read many excellent books, and you take marvelous photos. Oh, and best of all, you are a marvelous friend.

Much love.

May 2017 be filled with lots of books that take you to lovely places:

Hey, Roni. I hope you enjoy the next book in your series.

Oh -- if that was your first Reynolds, go back to the early ones, let me think, Pushing Ice is a good story, a stand-alone, and The Prefect is just about my favorite, set in the "Redemption" uni. The whole Redemption Ark series is quite good, the imagery especially.

All caught up with you, Roni. Hoping that your Sunday is full of fabulous!

Roni, it's too bad that some of that rain couldn't be saved until you hit a dry spell. I always say that in late summer Missouri. Seems like we have lush spring rains, then nothing when we really need it. I hope your Sunday is going well. I am in sunny Kansas City for the next week…and beyond...

I found you again!

I am back from ALA and found a few SciFi/Fantasy ARC' but even though I came back with more books than normal, I din't get a big haul in this genre. The reason - TOR didn't sponsor as many events as it does at the summer conference.

I have been warbling non-stop about the Queen of the Tearling series. Great stuff in those novels that makes the reader think. The ending is a gobsmack.

>90 Whisper1: Linda, you are such a darling! I am in awe of your compassion, your endurance, your joy in others.
>91 thearlybirdy: Oh, I did, Birdy. See below.
>92 sibylline: Lucy, Pushing Ice is the one I have on my tbr shelves, so that's probably what I'll try of his next.
>93 Crazymamie: Mamie, I went to the pottery today since the KU-Kentucky game yesterday was during my usual time slot, and trimmed a mug and what was going to be a jar but when they took it off the batt, there was a hole in the bottom. So I removed the bottom and carved it to be a luminaria with a candle inside.
>94 Donna828: Donna, we have a chance of rain on Thursday. My southernmost raised bed is drying out already, ungrateful thing! Enjoy Kansas City!
>95 benitastrnad: I have Queen of the Tearling near the top of my tbr pile, Benita, after all your warbling. I have to finish a few more books for January first.



Book #16 When Maidens Mourn by C. S. Harris (341 pp.)

I stayed up late last night to finish this next segment of the story, starting 4 days after the last book ended. I'm halfway through the existing series now, and am already mourning the point where I reach the end. So good!

I'll be reading Queen of Tearling shortly, too!

I'm glad the next book was good, Roni.

#96 & 97
The series is worth the time it takes to read them. Exciting stuff. Great characters. Adventure. And did I mention Plotting?

>99 benitastrnad: Nope. No mention of plotting. Is the plotting any good? :D

>97 Morphidae: February for sure, Morphy!
>98 thearlybirdy: Me too, Birdy.
>99 benitastrnad: Thank you for the continued warblish, Benita.
>100 Morphidae: *snork*



Book #17 Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond (420 pp.)

Extremely powerful picture of how substandard poor housing and evictions maintain the cycle of poverty, especially for black women with children. The methodology was outstanding, the information vital to solving inner city problems. As a landlord myself (full disclosure: the granny flat on the alley allowed me to purchase and keep my house. The fact that we are in the inner city means I have had experience dealing with low-income tenants.) this was both painful and eye-opening for me.

Would anyone like this hardbound edition that Ro (luvamystery) sent to me when she had finished it?

>101 ronincats: That looks like an interesting read. Did it have any suggestions as to how to improve the situation?

Good morning, Roni.

>101 ronincats: sounds like an important read. Well done!

Oh, hurrah, huzzah, I won a copy of City of Miracles from Early Reviewers!!

Here's a photo of what I brought in from the back yard when I was spreading the deck furniture out on the deck, the rains having finally denuded the deciduous trees overshadowing it, in the 75 degree sunshine.


I didn't sit out there and read, but I did finish the last of my three library books due today last night (and immediately started in on The Hanging Tree, which appeared on my Kindle at midnight eastern time).



Book #18 The Creeping Shadow by Jonathan Stroud (445 pp.)

Stephen reminded me recently that I hadn't read the fourth of the Lockwood & Co. series, which came out in September, so I requested it from the library. Stroud writes (nominally for children) in his usual wickedly humorous style of an England where ghosts are read and dangerous and can only be seen by children, who are thus the only ones who can fight them. I thought this book was better than the third and back on track with some big questions coming forward about the state of things in England! Recommended but start at the beginning.

>102 sirfurboy: and thank you, Stephen, for the reminder above! Yes, he did have some suggestions, noting that they may not be a cure-all but would definitely be less expensive than the results of the current system.
>103 thearlybirdy: Good morning, Birdy, which it still is here although not there.
>104 michigantrumpet: It is, Marianne. Thank you!

I finished book 5 in the Throne of Glass series. Empire of Storms was a much of a thrill ride as the others in this series. I will have a hard time waiting for the next book in this epic series.

>105 ronincats: Lovely daffodils, Roni, I have to wait for those. Only the small crocus and snowflakes show a bit of green above the ground.

>105 ronincats: I am glad I reminded you about The Creeping Shadow and that is a good review of it too. Thanks. Also thanks for the recommendation of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. That does look interesting.

>105 ronincats: Those are so lovely, Roni. Are they gardenias?

Morning, Roni. Those flowers are beautiful.

>106 benitastrnad: That's a series I haven't gotten to yet, Benita.
>107 FAMeulstee: Yes, spring comes earlier here, Anita.
>108 sirfurboy: I'm glad too, Stephen.
>109 Crazymamie: Anita has it right, Mamie. Those are a type of daffodil known as paperwhites.
>110 thearlybirdy: Morning, Birdy (just barely your time!). Aren't they, though?

January Summary:

Books read: 18
Pages read: 5250
Pages/book: 292
Pages/day: 169

New to me books: 17

Reread: 1
Library: 5
Books off my Shelves: 9
Books bought and read this month: 3

Genre: Science fiction-4, fantasy-6, children's-2, nonfiction-3, mystery-3

Author gender: female-10, male-8

Author nationality: US-11, England-4, Wales-1, Canada-1, Australia-1

Books Acquired: 10

Format: Kindle-6, Hardback-2, Trade Paper-2

Genre: science fiction-1, fantasy-5, nonfiction-4

Books completed in same month-3

Amount spent: $29.94
Average price per book: $2.99

Books out the door: 7 (2 pending)

beautiful days! Makes me think spring may be springing :)

I am not very good with the plant knowledge, Roni, but I do recognize beauty when I see it. Thanks for that.

>112 RebaRelishesReading: A little chillier today, Reba, but still lovely.
>113 Crazymamie: You certainly do, Mamie! Look at that family of yours.

Okay, teasers for February:

British Author Challenge: choose a Pratchett to reread.
Nonfiction Challenge: Wanderings by Chaim Potok (Book off my Bookshelf)
Obama Reading List Challenge: The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin (library)
SSF Challenge: Leviathan Wakes by James Corey (BOMB)

New publication: The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch (Kindle, published 1/31/17)

Hi Roni -- just passing through. Great January reading!

Morning, Roni. Happy Groundhog's Day!!

>51 ronincats:, >53 sibylline: women's march
I went to DC. An awfully long day to merely add one more body to the crowd, though in the aggregate this small city contributed, I've heard, 21 full buses. Next up is the March for Science.

>101 ronincats: Evicted
I read this last year for a RL book group. One member is a landlord with several buildings, inner city and often section 8, always a waiting list because she and husband, for both moral and practical reasons, maintain the properties and keep tenants long term.

Hi Roni! Just trying to get caught up... Not much to add :)

Roni--I am hoping to hear the author of Evicted talk here in Portland in march. After which I want to read the book. Love your flowers up in >75 rosalita: but I am more than a little jealous of the 75 degrees temps!! Love your Jan book summary. Mine is not quite as detailed, but then again, I have never done one before so it is a step in the right direction!

>115 AMQS: Good to see you surface on the threads for a bit, Anne, before your day job pulls you back under!
>116 thearlybirdy: Same to ya, Birdy!
>117 qebo: That's a lot of participation, Katherine. I have section 8 at the moment, but we're having some problems because she doesn't communicate, as when her (adult) son has now moved in and she hasn't contacted us at all about it.
>118 katiekrug: Katie, glad you enjoyed your Indian food. Know you've been busy.
>119 Berly: More flowers, Kim! I've been keeping a spreadsheet for 7 years now, and it took a couple of years to get to its present format. Back down into the 60s now, typical winter daytime temps here.

And here are two roses blooming on my Peace rosebush today.


And I finished my first book for the month last night.



Book #19 The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch (298 pp.)

This is the sixth book of the Rivers of London series. These books combine police procedurals with a touch of magic and dry humor. I love it when I can catch the allusions, as in the following:
"Now, personally, I'd have been happier driving an armored personnel carrier in through the front door. But since we're the Met, and not the police department of a small town in Missouri, we didn't have one."

Remember that news article a year or two ago? Anyhow, these are fun and multicultural and start at the beginning!

Edited to add: Jenn (jjmcgaffey) and Morphy, your books went out in the mail today.

Who hoo! Thanks!

Beautiful roses, Roni. Well, I've to wait another three months until I'll see the first one blooming in my garden.

>120 ronincats: The roses are beautiful, Roni!
It is nice to know there are places where roses are blooming, when my snowdrops are just an inch above the ground ;-)

>120 ronincats: Thanks!

And argh, I've fallen behind on the Rivers of London series - I think I haven't read book 5 yet. Or if I read it, I didn't review it (or book 4, and I think not book 3 either). Have to catch up so I can read this one.

>120 ronincats: Those roses are beautiful, Roni, and great pictures.

>120 ronincats: my mum has a peace rose, they really are beautiful. Such heavy flower heads you wonder if it can hold them up.

There has been some buzz about the Rivers of London series around the threads for a couple of years, so I need to get some of them read.

Well, this has basically been a wasted day. First I finished an ebook I started last night, but when I went to add it to my spreadsheet I realized that I had indeed already read it when I purchased it almost exactly two years ago, although only the last of the stories seemed at all familiar to me.



Book #20 Deeds of Honor: Paksenarrion World Chronicles by Elizabeth Moon (152 pp.)

These are short stories that are backstory from the POV of minor characters in the main Paks series. As such, they provided a welcome opportunity for revisiting that world, but evidently they are not that memorable. ;-)

Then I read threads and drank coffee until lunchtime, took my bath and read several chapters of Wyrd Sisters before getting dressed and eating lunch and playing computer games instead of finishing the organization of my craft supplies and thereby clearing the dining room table. Got bored with that and cleaned the kitchen and made a tuna casserole for dinner. Now listening to the PBS News Hour and back on the threads. I have NO library books out at the moment (although the book for the Obama challenge is on its way).

Hi to Morphy, Barbara, Anita, Jenn, Birdy, Jo and Benita and thank you for visiting.

Beautiful roses! We are under cold and crunchy snow so no roses for me any time soon!

>128 ronincats: did you enjoy it the second time around? Because it's not a wasted day if you still enjoyed it :)

Oh, beautiful flowers! Thanks so much for posting. We're still buried in snow with quite a bit more forecast for the next few days.

And I'm impressed with your January summary and reading. Wowza on the number of pages.

What is your Obama challenge? I think I've seen some lists of his favorite books, etc. Is it one of those?

Gorgeous roses. Mine are just at the new green leaf stage. Months to go yet!

I was very impressed by Evicted, although the situation he described made it hard reading for me.

I have a Peace rose bush, but I won't be seeing any buds in the near future, so thanks for sharing yours! Hope your Obama book arrives soon. : )

>120 ronincats: That is a very beautiful plant, Roni. Thanks for sharing. I've always wanted to get into roses, but they intimidate me. They seem to be the gardening equivalent of orchids among houseplants and sourdough among bakers--a very specialized and dedicated subculture of fanatics/enthusiasts and a reputation for being difficult to maintain.

>129 ChelleBearss: You are quite right. I did enjoy it.
>130 streamsong: There are several lists, but there is also a thread for the challenge here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/247375
>131 charl08: Hard for me too, Charlotte.
>132 Berly: Glad you enjoyed it.

ETA Harper Voyager is publicizing a new book of theirs, Heartstone by Elle Katharine White. It's a debut novel, a retelling of Pride and Prejudice in a fantasy world. Fairly good reviews. I liked Jo Walton's Tooth and Claw, hated Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Trying to keep an open mind about this.

The Amazon write-up:
A debut historical fantasy that recasts Jane Austen’s beloved Pride & Prejudice in an imaginative world of wyverns, dragons, and the warriors who fight alongside them against the monsters that threaten the kingdom: gryphons, direwolves, lamias, banshees, and lindworms.
They say a Rider in possession of a good blade must be in want of a monster to slay—and Merybourne Manor has plenty of monsters.
Passionate, headstrong Aliza Bentaine knows this all too well; she’s already lost one sister to the invading gryphons. So when Lord Merybourne hires a band of Riders to hunt down the horde, Aliza is relieved her home will soon be safe again.
Her relief is short-lived. With the arrival of the haughty and handsome dragonrider, Alastair Daired, Aliza expects a battle; what she doesn’t expect is a romantic clash of wills, pitting words and wit against the pride of an ancient house. Nor does she anticipate the mystery that follows them from Merybourne Manor, its roots running deep as the foundations of the kingdom itself, where something old and dreadful slumbers . . . something far more sinister than gryphons.
It’s a war Aliza is ill-prepared to wage, on a battlefield she’s never known before: one spanning kingdoms, class lines, and the curious nature of her own heart.
Elle Katharine White infuses elements of Austen’s beloved novel with her own brand of magic, crafting a modern epic fantasy that conjures a familiar yet wondrously unique new world.

>123 FAMeulstee: What Anita said! :-)

Glad to see you also enjoyed The Hanging Tree. Now the wait starts for the next one........

>134 ronincats: That writeup of Heartstone doesn't sound too bad. I've been afraid to try Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Haven't been able to get 50 pages into Jane and the Ghosts of Netley. So I hear you on the caution toward derivative works of beloved classics.

A tricky premise, isn't it, setting a beloved classic in a fantasy world --- I'll await your opinion.

Amazing flower photos.

>134 ronincats: I liked the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies movie (mostly because I've become a fan of Lily James). I don't know that I could read the books, but I am curious to know if Jane was bitten. I may have to get the books after all!

I enjoy most retellings of the classics, just for the twists people put on them.

Morning, Roni! Your roses are gorgeous! I just started listening to The Hanging Tree last night, so I am not very far into it yet.

>137 sibylline: What Lucy said.

For many years we gave my mother a rose bush on Mother's Day. One of those was a Peace Rose. That bush bloomed for many years and brought much joy to our hearts.

Mom has stopped trying to grow roses, but I still have memories of some of those beautiful flowers. It always makes me happy to see others growing roses. I hope you have lots of happy hours in your gardens.

>105 ronincats: Gorgeous image, Roni! I'd print and frame it if I had taken it!

Am waiting impatiently for The Hanging Tree to come to a library near me.

McGuire isn't familiar to me. Am going to have to give her a try. Heartstone also sounds intriguing. I wouldn't have thought I'd enjoy this type of melding of classic and fantasy, but I liked Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, The Eyre Affair and Jane Steele and others like it that I've read.

Hi Roni -- thanks for posting the photos of your beautiful Peace roses -- wow!

Ooh, lovely roses! I'm planning this year's gardening endeavors, and I may just have to see if I can find a spot for a rose bush or two.

>133 justchris: Missed you up there, Chris, as you posted while I was composing. Other than annual pruning, I don't really do too much with my roses. In the midwest, we just let them naturalize when I was a kid. But I know those who are aiming for the perfect flower can spend a lot of time on them.

So glad my roses are a big hit, Heather, Lucy, Jo, Benita, Mamie, Mary, Anne and foggi. These were the best blooms I've had on that plant in ages--I imagine all the rain had something to do with it.

>135 souloftherose: Yes, I did like The Hanging Tree, Heather. It always saddens me, in a way, to think of all the hours and hours of work by the author it takes to give me a couple of hours of pleasure.

>136 justchris:, >137 sibylline: The library has ordered it, so I will wait for their copy rather than purchase it myself.

>141 Storeetllr: You could do worse than starting with Discount Armageddon, Mary. I like the October Daye series more but they are definitely darker and more complex.



Book #21 Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett (265 pp.)

This reread was for the British Author Challenge for February but also counts for the reread challenge. I have long preferred the Death and Watch strands of Discworld to the Witches, with the Wizards being the least favorite, and so it has been a long, long time since I read this first book involving Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrit. I enjoyed getting reacquainted with it. Lots of broad and subtle humor interwoven--a good grounding in Shakespeare and in early American comics (Marx Brothers, Laurel & Hardy, Chaplin) . Lots of twists and turns, made more fun for me because I remembered the main one.

I do love how people have so many different preferences with Pratchett. Witches is definitely my least favourite strand, but I wonder if I haven't given them a good enough chance. One day I'm going to set out to read all the Pratchett books again (now there is no risk of any more coming which is an awful prospect..........no more new Discworld? :( ) but do so in one of those complicated chart orders rather than simply chronologically. I think it might work for me.

>120 ronincats: Wow, I was skimming and didn't realize those were yours. They are gorgeous! I can just feel those velvety petals! And the colors. Just wow.

>144 ronincats: I borrowed Sparrow Hill Road on audio from the library. I think I remember you saying you enjoyed it. Also, for me, dark and complex is good.

Glad you are enjoying the St. Cyr mysteries. It's one of my favorite historical mystery series (except the last one I read which didn't charm and which I hope is an anomoly).

>144 ronincats: Thanks for the late reply! I hear you on letting things go a little feral in the Midwest. The house we bought in 2010 had a couple of neglected rosebushes on one side. They continued to be neglected by us, beyond me cutting them back once in a while. Anyway, one of them has really gone walkabout and set up a second home near the driveway and front sidewalk, covering a huge swathe with canes and putting out an impressive number of small white flowers last summer (first time it has flowered, I think). Pretty to see, bit hazardous to walk by. Not my problem or my pleasure anymore.

>137 sibylline: "A tricky premise, isn't it, setting a beloved classic in a fantasy world..."
That cracked me up. Tricky indeed. I am among those who have generally avoided Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. But I tend to avoid zombies anyway (although I did read Joyce Carol Oates novel by that name and thought it was pretty brilliant).

Hi Roni!

>149 EBT1002: Have you tried World War Z? I'm not much into zombies but I loved it. It's much more about the social, cultural, business, and government aspects of what would happen if there really was a zombie outbreak.

>147 Storeetllr: Well, if you want dark and complex, Sparrow Hill Road is excellent. Though do be aware it was originally written as multiple short stories, so there's some repetition in there.

>150 Morphidae: I've heard good things about World War Z. I haven't really gotten into zombie stories myself, and only saw part of the movie. And of course, the movie focuses on the lone hero storyline and doubtless elides or disposes entirely of the meaty interesting parts of the book like what you're describing.

Hi Roni, your daffodils at >105 ronincats: and beautiful Peace rose at >120 ronincats: has done my heart good. Just the other day I noticed that both our daffodils and hyacinths were poking through the ground but not they lie buried under 8 inches of snow! I am so ready for Spring and some warmer weather!

>145 lunacat: The Witches books depend more on elaborate set pieces as a background than the other books, I think, Jenny. Macbeth for this one, Phantom of the Opera for Maskerade, and that may be why I don't like them as much as the Watch and Death strands. On the other hand, any Pratchett is enjoyable. And I did like this better this time around.
>146 Morphidae: Yes, those are the best roses I've ever had off of that bush, Morphy.
>147 Storeetllr: I did like Sparrow Hill Road, a lot, but it has rather a different structure. Note Jenn's comment at >151 jjmcgaffey:.
>148 justchris: Now those are feral roses. Even though roses are pretty drought tolerant once established, they don't get enough rain here to spread like that.
>149 EBT1002: Yes, I tend to avoid zombies on general principles, even those books by Seanan McGuire in her Mira Grant persona.
>150 Morphidae: If I did read one, Morphy, it would be that one with all the positive comments by LTers. It seems to be an intelligent one.
>151 jjmcgaffey: Thanks for chiming in, Jenn.

Well, my #3 Jayhawks came back after their loss Saturday to edge out our cross-state rivals tonight! And I've made lots of progress on my crochet during all the games lately. I may take a picture tomorrow.

Wow, it's visiting time on the West Coast!
>152 justchris: Ha, see, great minds think alike--see my reply to Morphy above.
>153 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. I do hope your pneumonia is dissipating apace and that spring comes soonest there!

>152 justchris: About the only things the movie has in common with the book are the name and zombies. :D

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed both. But they are completely different animals.

At the end of the movie, I said to MrMorphy, "Oh, that was a good movie! ....and had nothing to do with the book but the name...and it had zombies in it." True quote!

Note to self, must read more Pratchett. Roses are gorgeous! & had to laugh and your repurchase and reread. I fear doing that myself, especially now that I've gotten sloppy about entering my books in LT! Got some new ones today still not entered, and won't today. Threads more fun!

>157 cammykitty: Just got back from your thread, Katie! I didn't actually repurchase it, just found it flipping through my Kindle and didn't think I'd read it yet. But yes, I did purchase The Hanging Tree twice just now. Fortunately the physical book had a binding flaw so I could return it. :-)

>156 Morphidae: I bet it made a better movie than a book, Morphy.

Finally got my craft stuff cleared off the dining room table today. I'm working on Okay for Now, which is sad and wonderfully crafted and I want to get back to it but it is my bathtub book because...

Wanderings: History of the Jews by Chaim Potek would have been my bathtub book but it is 11.5 by 8.5 by 1.75 inches and weighs over 4 pounds. Can't handle that in the bath! It's a beautiful book with wonderful artwork, but it reads slowly.

Book #22 Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt (360 pp.)

I bought this book in 2011, the year it came out, when Linda (Whisper1) absolutely raved about it, and it has sat upon my tbr shelves ever since. This spring I am prioritizing reading the children's books on my shelves as my favorite school librarian will be retiring and I want to get these to her before she does.

I loved this book. Take baseball, then art, an abusive family situation, the Vietnam war, and middle school and layer them together into an intricate symphony underlying one of the most distinctive voices in children's literature, and you have Okay for Now. Wonderful characters, hilarious situations, tragic situations, laugh out loud one liners. The structure is amazing. I don't know how this book was not also at least a Newberry Honor book like two previous ones by the author, if not the winner.

With all my love, it's not perfect. I have two minor quibbles, both at the very end of the book. I thought the book could have ended quite well with Lil's illness not being so serious and the level of commitment not being so strong--they are only 8th graders after all. And while I could believe in the dad finally stepping up, his character does not inspire confidence in any long term reformation without a lot of support. But, as others have said, it is a middle school book after all, albeit one not afraid to plumb a lot of pain and suffering.

Regardless, it's a hell of a book. Go read it for yourself.

That one went straight on to my TBR. Thanks.

Just listened to The Wyrd Sisters recently -- I'm going through the Pratchett's by series, but listening with the LD when we are on road trips together. We're on the next one right now - Witches Abroad. Next week the LD returns to school and we'll be driving southwards so we'll finish that one. I love the witches! Esp Granny Weatherwax.

>160 sirfurboy: You are welcome, Stephen.
>161 sibylline: Have you read Pratchett's final book, The Shepherd's Crown? Of course, you have to read the first 4 Tiffany Aching books before that to appreciate it. This apropos of Granny Weatherwax.



Book #23 Juana & Lucas by Juana Medina (90 pp.)

This book was mentioned by foggi, I believe, and seemed a perfect fit for my old school's library, so I bought the book to donate to it. It is about a girl in Bogota, Colombia, and her struggle to learn English, with lots of Spanish words sprinkled in, so thought it would be perfect for our Spanish-speaking population.

>120 ronincats: Nuts, now I've got yet ANOTHER series to get working on. *sigh* Adding to my Rivers of London to my wishlist.

>162 ronincats: Yes, that was me! I hope the students get a lot of use out of it.

Beth asked me about G. G. Kay. Chime in here if you have a different opinion than I do.

>120 ronincats: What beautiful roses! I especially appreciate them today because we had a snow storm that left patches of slippery ice.

Hi Roni. Lots of BB from your thread! I'm rereading Pratchett as well. The Watch, Death, and the Witches are my favourites (oh, and the Librarian)
Loved your roses. Before it started to snow here, I had some buds left, but now all have gone.

Hi Roni - Happy Saturday. I am far behind, but love your flowers.

I enjoyed the first two books in the Harris series when I read them. You make me want to get started on them again.

I hope to read Evicted this year as well.

Juana & Lucas looks like one I should add to my Scout library.

> 134 Thanks, Roni, for the link to the Obama reads. I had not seen it. I'll keep an eye on it, and may join in depending on how all my other challenges are going.

Hi Roni! Just passing through. Glad to see you finally got around to the latest Jonathan Stroud.

I agree that there are so many different ways to love Terry Pratchett. I'm a City Watch gal myself, although my favorite character is still Moist Von Lipwig. My hubby is getting into the Johnny Maxwell stories. We watched Johnny and the Bomb a few weeks ago.

I see it's been three days since I posted, although I've been through to see what other people are saying. It's been fairly quiet. I went to the pottery on Saturday and glazed a bunch of stuff, but nothing to bring home. I'm getting ready to make a hanging pocket thingy for a walker for my friend for her birthday, washed the fabric and setting up my sewing machine today, but will wait to do the stuff needing concentration as I'm watching the Grammies tonight. Jayhawks barely won yesterday, and I'm making good progress on the crochet purse that Heather and I am both making. I need to finish two more rows on the front and then I'll post a photo. Reading--I'm reading consistently on Chaim Potek's Wanderings at night; it's a huge book. And I'm working on Queen of the Tearlings for the bathtub book. Haven't read further in Leviathan Wakes, but I need to!

>163 michigantrumpet: I know I'm not the only one to warble about the Rivers of London series on here, Marianne!
>164 foggidawn: I think it will be a good one for them, foggi.
>165 TadAD: I did, Tad, and it wasn't!
>166 Whisper1: Spring is officially here, Linda, in San Diego. Lots of ornamental pear trees are in full bloom.
>167 EllaTim: Sorry about your roses, but love the Pratchett love!
>168 BLBera: I have the next two Harris books here from the library, Beth, waiting for me.
>169 DianaNL: Thank you, Diana.
>170 streamsong: Hope to see you there, Janet.
>172 hairballsrus: Yes, the Strouds are lots of fun. I see there's now an even newer one out now. And I'm a City Watch girl too, but with a soft spot for DEATH (and Susan totally rocks!).

Caught up!

<173> I'm also reading Leviathan Wakes here! Well, rereading, but it's the same thing :-)

Sounds like you're busy as usual. I'm not sure how you're stopping yourself from being outside yesterday and today. It's so beautiful out there.

>174 archerygirl: I'm barely in, the first three chapters, and still need to get caught up into the storyline.
>175 RebaRelishesReading: Oh, I've been doing a little gardening as well. Two big harvests of fresh peas, filling the bird feeder, watching my new roses leaf out. My front yard plantings are flourishing as a result of all the rains, spreading out and filling in that area of the yard and very pretty--I'll have to take a picture. And I need to plant more carrots and beets before this weekend's rains. My carrots are almost ready to harvest that I planted last year. And we're headed out on errands today.

>176 ronincats: I was going to say we still have snow on the ground but we don't or won't. Come this upcoming weekend, it's going to be in the 50s. It will be in the 30s and 40s all week. This isn't common for February. We're supposed to be in the 20s. In fact, we haven't had a "common" winter in years. It's been warm and not very snowy. It's worrisome.

I just came back from a weekend road trip with a couple of friends. The driver threw in an audiobook. I didn't recognize the title or author name. Eventually, I figured out it was Rivers of London, but I swear that is not what she said the title was (I even asked her to repeat it). But when she started describing the story, and I heard the first chapter, I was like oh! Been hearing so much buzz about this on LT!

Sadly, I didn't get to hear the whole story because I kept dozing off. Plus, the trip ended in the midst of the last chapter, and the driver said she couldn't remember just how it ended. So a cliffhanger for me and other friend, and I clearly must now follow up with reading the book. My friend prefers the audiobooks because the voice actor is so perfect. Can't say she's wrong.

>178 justchris: It got published as Midnight Riot in America, so it's possible that's why you didn't realise it was Rivers of London at first.

>177 Morphidae: This is actually the normal time for spring to arrive at this latitude, unreal as that seems further north.
>178 justchris:, >179 archerygirl: Good point, Kathy, that's probably where the confusion arises. Hope you follow up, Chris--I'm sure you will enjoy the series and especially Peter's POV.

Guess what just walked into my house (courtesy of the postman and the husband)? The latest Newbery Award book, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, in hardcover, so I can read it and donate it to my former school's library.

>179 archerygirl: That's the title she told me! Thanks for clearing that up, Kathy.

>180 ronincats: Congratulations on the surprise book delivery!

>181 justchris: Yes, congrats. It'll be at least later Spring/early Summer before I get it from the library!

>181 justchris: Thanks, Chris.
>182 Morphidae: I would not have gone ahead and bought it instead of getting it from the library had I not intended to donate it to the school library, Morphy.

Here's the proof of spring. This isn't the prettiest one I've seen, but it was in the parking lot where we had lunch so it was easy to get a picture.

We are not there yet, but thanks for reminding me that Spring is coming! Congrats on the book delivery. : )

>183 ronincats: I'm very jealous of your spring weather!

Spring? What a strange concept? Even though we have a short winter, I'm always convinced spring won't actually arrive. Today is the first sunny day in a while and I'm sure it's lulling us into thinking winter is over, and then it will drop to freezing again.

>186 lunacat: Sounds like Wales in June.

OK, Roni. Here's a better one for you...taken by a friend of mine in Balboa Park yesterday.

It's starting to feel a bit springlike here in Seattle, too. We saw a camellia in bloom a couple of days ago and the crocus and daffodils are putting up greenery. It's been a colder than usual winter.

Oh love the springtime photos here! We have no flower yet but today is sunny and the snow is melting!

No flowers here yet, either, but there are some little green points poking up under a tree in my back yard. I'm curious to see what sort of bulbs they turn out to be, since I haven't been in this house long enough to know what sort of blooms I can expect.

Morning, Roni. I hope you have a good day. I'm glad you can see spring.

Happy Wednesday, Roni. What gorgeous spring photos.

I seem to have lost the star on your thread a few days ago and had to go back to the threadbook. Smart husband getting you The Girl Who Drank the Moon. I have it home from the library so should read it, though I have about 20 books all saying 'me next'.

Spring? Never heard of it. Snowing here!

>195 sibylline: And here! AGAIN.

Good morning, Roni.

Morning Roni. I hope you are well.

I noted that it's feeling springlike here. It's also very wet. We've already had more than twice the usual allotment of rain for the month of February and it's only half over! But right now the sun is out so there is that.

Hello, all. I've been in and out and around the threads, but not posting that much.
Thanks to Kim, Kathy, Jenny, and Stephen for the spring-related comments.
Reba, that is a much better photo of our current trees. Balboa Park is my favorite place for pictures too. Thank you!
I thought you just had snow, Ellen. Has it all melted now? (I assume.)
Chelle, you are so far north of us, I know you have to wait so long for spring.
You'll have a spring of discovery, foggi--what fun!
Hi, Birdy. You have an early spring like we do, I assume. We are at about the same latitude.
Thank you, Barbara. Hope your work load has let up with your partner on her feet again.
Lucy and Kathy, I feel your pain. Or I would, if it were snowing here. Which it hasn't in the 38 years I've lived here (although I can visit it in our mountains).
Hi again, Birdy.
Ellen! Oh dear, I hope you are feeling better. We have another big rain storm coming in tomorrow. Bring it on!

So, when we were at Costco on Monday, we found the biggest king snow crab legs I've ever seen, so we got some and had them with mac and cheese and fresh peas from the garden for dinner on Valentine's Day, with chocolate-covered strawberries (also from Costco) for dessert.

And some reading.



Book #24 Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (447 pp.)

Benita, you were right in your warbling. It took me a bit to get into it, but this is a great YA fantasy story of the same quality as Rae Carson's books. Reminds me a bit of The Goblin King but with more action and less politicking. I really like the characters and the world-building and have the next two on order from the library.



Book #25 Why Kings Confess by C. S. Harris (340 pp.)

The next in the St. Cyr Regency-era mystery series continues the story of Devlin and his involvement with mysterious deaths in London in the early 1800s. Still good, still engrossing.



Book #26 The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill (388 pp.)

This children's fantasy just won the Newbery Award for 2016. I liked it better than her Iron Hearted Violet, which had all the right elements but not the soul for me. I suspect I will like this much better as a reread, as I found it somewhat dense and complex and had to take my time with it. It is very well-constructed with lots of elements weaving together.

And my January ER win, City of Miracles, arrived in the mail yesterday.

Hi Roni, I have decided to give Ancillary Justice another chance but I am going to copy you and simply try to read one chapter per day until the story grabs me. If I still feel totally confused with the book by the time I finish it, then I will abandon plans of reading the other two.

>183 ronincats: >188 RebaRelishesReading: lovely Spring trees!
Meanwhile, our nights are getting little shorter.....reminding me that Autumn is coming for us Sthn Hemispherians ;)

Morning, Roni. I'm not sure we ever had winter, to be honest. Congrats on three more books down.

How do I get so far behind here? How??

>183 ronincats:, >188 RebaRelishesReading: SPRING!!!

Glad you're enjoying the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries. I thought they were fun. I think there might have been a new one since I last read them. I will have to check.

I am interested in Queen of the Tearling - particularly as you say there is less politicking. Lol

Lots of warbling around here for the latest Newbery offering. I need to remember to add it to our Newbery Award envelope so it's an option when we draw our next book.

>199 ronincats: We're supposed to have a break from the snow for a week, so I'm feeling slightly less bitter about winter...for now! Your review of Queen of the Tearling has got me adding that to my library list. I'll wait to put it on hold, though, because my hold list is ridiculous right now!

>199 ronincats: My daughter has really enjoyed the Tearling series

Book #27 What Darkness Brings by C. S. Harris (353 pp.)

Since I (*horrified shudder*) read the next book of this series out of order by mistake, I had to hurry up and correct my error. Peggy thought this one rather flat and, although it was still good, I agree in that we get relatively little development of the personal plot line to balance the core mystery. Only one major development along that line, and none of the consequences. I would rate Why Kings Confess as a much more interesting book. (Only three more to go!)

>200 DeltaQueen50: Judy, I'm glad to hear that and I hope it turns out to be rewarding for you.
>201 LovingLit: Oh, you topsy-turvy people! Hope it's been a lovely summer.
>202 thearlybirdy: Well, not a Midwest winter at any rate, Birdy.
>203 nittnut: Hi, Jenn. Glad you found me.
>204 archerygirl: I know, my hold list is growing too.

Overcast and windy outside, the rain is supposed to move in this afternoon.

>199 ronincats: Sounds like you had a fabulous Valentine's dinner. Much better than facing the crowded restaurants for sure.

>206 ronincats: The big wind and rain has been up here since sometime during the night when that roaring sound of wind in trees woke me up.

>199 ronincats: And my January ER win, City of Miracles, arrived in the mail yesterday.

Oh you lucky person you.

Just popping by to sit under the beautiful flowering trees you've got blooming here on your threads. Just let me sit and dreamily think, "... Someday ...."

>207 RebaRelishesReading: That's what we decided, Reba.
>208 RBeffa: How much rain are you getting, Ron? The wind is really lashing the trees around here, but we have a couple of hours before the rain is supposed to arrive.
>209 swynn: I had won the second one so figured I had a good chance at this one, Steve.
>210 michigantrumpet: Enjoy, Marianne, although it's likely those trees are losing some of their blossoms in today's storm. Still, it's 61 F. here, so not complaining.

So I'm going to stay at home and get started on sewing the walker caddy project for my friend's birthday next week. Pictures to follow. Except I just realized I took pictures of the purse project a couple of days ago and never posted one!

>211 ronincats: My rain gauge says 7/8" for overnight and this morning. Just sprinkles now and the wind has died down to almost nothing - kind of freaky. We do get the odd gust suddenly come up though.

Lucky you, with pictures of spring. It will be a while here, even though we are having a warm stretch. Love the purse.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon sounds great. I will have to check that one out.

>212 RBeffa: The rain is just now coming in, Ron. And there are trees down, including three across the northbound lanes of 163 out of downtown.
>213 BLBera: Hi, Beth. Thanks. Here is this afternoon's project.



This is a walker caddy for my friend whose birthday is next week. It hangs over the front crossbar of a walker and serves to hold and keep handy assorted items as needed. I found the pattern online but had to fiddle with it a bit as I was using directional fabrics and wanted the cats upright on both sides. The back side is essentially the same but with deeper pockets and only two so they can hold bigger items. There are ties at the bottom of each side to tie to the walker. And yes, she is a cat-lover as well.

I may be prejudiced since I love cats, but that is beautiful Roni. And very sweet of you to make it as a gift for a friend.

Roni--I'd say you did just fine!! What a fun and thoughtful gift. I think you and the sewing machine are going to get along just fine. : )

Wow! It is beautiful, Roni. What a great gift.

Good morning, Roni. >214 ronincats: That is so cool, and very thoughtful, Roni!

>214 ronincats: wow, that's so nice! What a great idea!

>211 ronincats: I love that. The colours and the patterns work so well.

>183 ronincats: & >188 RebaRelishesReading: When the trees are in blossom, the world is well with itself.

Have a lovely weekend.

>214 ronincats: What a nice and thoughtfull gift, Roni!

>222 FAMeulstee: I know that if I used my walker outside the house instead of my wheelchair, I'd certainly find it a delight.

>214 ronincats: Nice job and practical, thoughtful gift. Kudos!

I love both the purse colors and the walker caddy.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Oh huzzah, Roni. I'm glad you liked Queen of the Tearling and The Girl Who Drank the Moon. We seem to be in a time of very good fantasy writing, don't we?

Wow! Thanks to all of you for your kind words about my sewing project, Ron, Kim, Beth, Birdy, Chelle, Charlotte, Paul, Anita, Morphy, Reba and Janet. And yes, Joe, there is a lot of good fantasy out there.

Here is my haul from the pottery today, along with the house critic.

>227 ronincats: Ooh, pretty! I especially like the green one with the scallopy edge at the back right. The blues are lovely, too.

>214 ronincats: The cat print with the black background is very striking, Roni.
>227 ronincats: I see your lovely model is helping to show off your pottery again. I love the bright blue bowls.

Wonderful pottery haul, Roni. Happy Sunday.

Wonderful pottery, Roni. I love the little bowls.

Hi, Roni! You've been busy! Lots of good reading! Glad you continue to enjoy the St. Cyr mysteries and agree that some are better than others, but as a series it shines! I enjoyed the first two Tearling books too and look forward to reading the third.

Quick question for you about Liaden. Someone asked on another thread what is "the significance of discovering you are a "dragon" say, as opposed to a Healer or a dramliza or whatever...are you the primary defender of the Korval clan? Directly "inherited" role from Jela? I hadn't really thought about it before, it was just part of the story, but now I am wondering myself.

>214 ronincats: Gorgeous! If I used a walker (which may be coming), I would want one just like it! Except maybe with parrots. :)

>200 DeltaQueen50: I had a lot of trouble getting into the first Ancillary book too, Judy, but on the third try decided to push through and am so glad I did because I really enjoyed the trilogy! I hope it's the same for you.

>214 ronincats: What an excellent idea and thoughtful gift. Those are lovely.

>227 ronincats: And as per usual, gorgeous pottery. I had lunch with friends yesterday, one of whom was the one who hosted the crafty birthday pottery. She had picked up everyone's projects and were delivering them individually so that she could see them once they were unwrapped from the packing material. My cup is beautiful. And the image I included one side didn't drip at all.

The weather here is unseasonably hot. I got a little over warm walking to work today. And my bird feeder pole tipped over thanks to the softened ground and the ice rink I had inadvertently set it in (wasn't a lake in the summer). So I repositioned it and tried to sink it in deeper for greater stability before heading off to the office on the very busy bike path in the bright sunlight.

>227 ronincats: Beautiful bowls and a beautiful house critic, Roni. The walker carrier is very clever and perfect for a cat lover.

I love the walker caddy!

Thank you again for all the kind words and for coming by, foggi, Meg, Barbara, Beth, Mary, Chris, Julia, and Lucy. It is so hard to get the true colors captured, especially in a group picture. This is the jar in the top left corner, for example.




Book #28 The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin (106 pp.)

This is my February nonfiction read for the President Obama Reading List challenge (at http://www.librarything.com/topic/247375). Two relatively shore writings by Baldwin, written in the early 60s. Looking at them, one is able to both see how much has changed--and how little has! Very good!

The pottery is gorgeous!!! As for the Obama read, wasn't it hard to choose which one? I've got Giovanni's Room somewhere in the house unread so I decided to go with A Kind and Just Parent which I've only read the intro on so far. Glad you enjoyed The Fire Next Time and I'll have to read more of his writing!

Beautiful pot - you're right, the colors are much better in the individual portrait.

>236 ronincats: I am a sucker for those shades of blue! And I share your frustration with trying to get the colors right in photos. It seems I so seldom have really good daylight for taking photos, nor a very good place to "stage" things. But really, I think your photos are quite good considering the built-in limitations of trying to photograph items of several different colors at once.

>227 ronincats: I love them all, but that one on the left in the white and gray color is my favorite part of your haul!

>236 ronincats: The jar is one of my favorites. Not just because of the juxtaposition of colors but because of the shape especially the sharpish rim.

The other piece I like is the blue plate in back. Again, the mix of different blues - the cloudy against the dark appeals to me. Plus I like the tall rim.

>237 cammykitty: Thanks! Actually, I'd been wanting to read Baldwin for a long time, so this month's choice wasn't that hard for me.
>238 RebaRelishesReading: I can do much better with single pieces, but don't want to load up my thread with so many different pieces, Reba.
>239 rosalita: Thanks, Julia. I do try!
>240 thornton37814: You want her? She is such a pill!! She'd whip your laid-back boys into shape.
>241 Morphidae: Thanks, Morphy. The blues are a favorite with my customers.



Book #29 Wanderings: Chaim Potok's History of the Jews by Chaim Potok (pp. 431)

This is an OLD book off my book shelf, over 10 years old, given me by a friend who is now deceased. It is huge, weighing over 4 pounds, with the most gorgeous illustration plates, many in full color. It starts with Abraham, goes through the Jewish Bible and then all the way up to mid-twentieth century. Fascinating perspective and very readable, but did I mention BIG?



Book #30 Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (243 pp.)

I picked up this Coretta Scott King Award winner after Linda (Whisper1) warbled about it on her thread a number of years ago. Set in the Depression years, this story of an orphaned black boy of 12 looking for his unknown father is touching and, despite its pathos, funny.

And that is two more BOMBs out of the way. That's 12 for the year so far, nearly a quarter of the way to my goal. I'm prioritizing some of my children's books like the one above, as I mentioned before, as I want to donate them to my previous school's library before my friend retires as librarian at the end of the school year.

On the Fitbit side of things, my Charge HR has not given up the ghost, but its little bar with the button that gives me access to it and holds the charger in place has worn out. I was really liking having two, as one could be charging while the other was worn, but alas...

Beautiful pottery, its truly an art form isn't it. I love the squat bowls too, they would look great with my muesli in them!!

Catching up Roni...

>211 ronincats: Oh wow, the purse is looking good and the colours you chose are lovely. I've blocked mine but got no further - trying to focus on some knitted cardigans before the babies they're for get too big!

>214 ronincats: I love the cat fabrics you've chosen for your friend.

>227 ronincats: I love the colours of the big blue bowl at the back and the colours of the jar.

Lots of gorgeous on this thread, Roni! All of your crafting is so beautiful. And what a thoughtful gift for your friend with the walker.

I read the second October Daye book, and you and others were right that it has some issues. Glad you warned me ahead of time - I have requested the third book from the library, so I'll read it when it comes in for me.

#242
Bud, Not Buddy also won the Newbery Award. I love Curtis as a writer. Many of his books are tied together with characters from one book appearing in another. For instance, Mighty Miss Malone has a couple of scenes in which Buddy appears. There are some stand alone novels but some of them have those connections and it is interesting to try to find them as I read through the books.

I listen to many of Curtis' books and they make great commuter listening.

>243 LovingLit: Thanks, Megan!
>244 souloftherose: I put my purse together tonight, Heather. I counted my stitches and they were the same on each piece, so I didn't bother with blocking, and it went together fine. I have to do about 6 more rows of the single crochet at the top.
>245 Crazymamie: I had lunch with my friend today, and she seemed to really like the walker caddy. I put it on her walker right away and it fit perfectly. Glad we had the foresight to warn you about the second Toby Daye book! Forge ahead, Mamie.
>246 benitastrnad: I've also read Elijah of Buxton by this author, and he is a quality story-teller.

Starting Mortal fire for book club next week.

Oh I love the cat caddy for the walker - such a useful present. I remember being laughed at by my brothers when i bought my mother a little red wagon for her Christmas present years ago, but I pointed out that it's far easier to pull a wagon around the garden than manoeuvre a loaded up wheelbarrow once you get on in years. She loved it and even got a replacement one a few years ago.

Love the pottery too.

Have you read Lady Helen series by Alison Goodman? I've just brought book #1, The Dark Days Club home from the library. I loved her Singing the Dogstar blues. It's dedicated to her mother for giving her her first Georgette Heyer book.

>248 avatiakh: No, I've never heard of the Lady Helen series, Kerry, but it certainly sounds interesting and the library has the first book and is ordering the second--I've put a hold on both. Thank you very much! And I've put her other book on my For Later shelf.

Well, it's certainly been quiet around here for the last 24 hours! Hi, everyone. I'm working on three books:

Three Times Lucky is my bathtub book, one Linda (Whisper7) chose for me when she was my LT Santa, and a children's book that I will donate to the elementary school library along with the books described above next Friday when I go down to Read Across America.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is on my Kindle and is for the Space Opera theme for the SFF category challenge this month.

Mortal Fire is for my book club on Tuesday. It is moving quickly.

However, I've gone from two weeks with no library books to probably library overload now, which means my BOMBs will undoubtedly take a hit. I brought home Bliss (recommended by Morphy), The Bookshop on the Corner recommended by several LTers but most lately Kathy (archerygirl), and the second and third books of the Tearling trilogy, warbled by Benita and seconded by Joe. So, four books. Not too bad, right? But then there are the books on hold, still trickling into my local library:
The Skill of Our Hands-not LT's fault, a new Brust
The Dark Days Club--Kerry's (aviatakh) fault
The Dark Days Pact--ditto
Men Explain Things to Me--another with multiple LT recs
Heartstone--this is the fault of one of my booky e-letters

And then, the Nebula Award nominees came out this week. Five books nominated for best novel--I've read All the Birds in the Sky and have The Obelisk Gate on my nightstand. And 7 books nominated for the Andre Norton Award for Outstanding Young Adult SF or fantasy book, of which I just read the Newbery Award winner, The Girl Who Drank the Moon. And every single one of the others is actually available through my library. So, two are on my hold list and the other 10 are on my For Later bookshelf on the library website, as I can't handle more that 8 books on hold at once. They are:
Borderline
Everfair
Ninefox Gambit

The YA
The Star-Touched Queen
The Lie Tree
Arabella of Mars
Railhead
Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies
The Evil Wizard Smallbone

And they all sound good! These are the awards voted upon by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, while the Hugos are voted upon by fandom. Hopefully there will be some overlap when the Hugo nominees come out next month. But if not, I have lots of good reading to look forward to.

Wow, Roni, looks like you have some great reading ahead of you! I have Arabella of Mars on my wishlist, it sounds like a fun one. Also The Lie Tree and Railhead sound intriguing. Ah, so many books!

That walker caddy is such a thoughtful gift, Roni. I know from just carrying a cane occasionally when my knee bothers me how difficult it is not to have one's hands free, having those deep pockets will be appreciated, I'm sure.

I ran into my friend today, Judy, at a new restaurant where we stopped purely upon a whim, and she reiterated how much she liked it and how many comments she had gotten about it!

> 250 I was pleasantly surprised by the Nebula list, since I've read all but one. Eighty percent coverage prior to a shortlist announcement is a record for me, and one that probably won't be repeated soon. You're in for a treat with Ninefox Gambit and Borderline; and with any luck we will both enjoy Everfair.

The YA lst is more like what I am used to: 0 for 7. Though I did add The Girl Who Drank the Moon to the Someday Swamp once everybody started talking about it.

>250 ronincats: I hope you are enjoying Mortal Fire. I've read Railhead and The Lie Tree and both are quite wonderful reads, the sequel to Railhead is available and it's pretty good too.

I've had my reading dominated by library books since early December and I'm trying to get it under control so I can read some of the doorstopper novels that I own and keep ignoring.

Hi Roni! I hope you're having a lovely weekend. I love seeing your latest pottery and projects. It's inspiring. I haven't read anything on the Nebula list. I've been reading so much NF the last year or so, my fantasy reading has suffered. Lol

Howdy Ro! I loved the Becky Chambers book and hope to get to the sequel soon for the SFFKIT.

Love all the pottery photos and the walker caddy is very cool and practical.

>250 ronincats:, >253 swynn: Just finished up Ninefox Gambit this morning and it was great! Thanks to Morphy for picking it out for me in last year's Secret Santa.

I can't catch up, but I can adore the walker caddy! I'm not sure that my ma needs one yet, but I'll keep the idea in mind.
And the latest pottery - my favorite is the brown/green at 2:00. NICE!
I have *Kings Confess*, but I can't start it yet. Whereas, you are steaming through the books, I'll be happy to have read 5 this month. Maybe March will be better!

Wow, that's a long list (lists?) of books. With this lovely weather you are going to be challenged I fear.

>253 swynn: Everybody started talking about it when it won the Newbery Award earlier this year, Steve. I bought it to donate to my old elementary school library. I'm looking forward to reading these nominees. Even the YA ones look like more fun than angst!
>254 avatiakh: I am enjoying Mortal Fire--it's moving a lot quicker than the Dreamhunter books did for me.
>255 nittnut: Balance, Jenn, balance! RL is important, but so is fantasy.
>256 luvamystery65: Hi, Ro. Great to have you visit. Hope RL is calming down.
>257 drneutron: Great review, Jim.
>258 LizzieD: That is a lovely bowl, Peggy. Good taste.
>259 RebaRelishesReading: I'm off to the pottery, Reba, so outside a bit--with a jacket!