RebaRelishesReading 2017 - part 1

I'm a San Diego grandmother who has been retired for 13 years. In addition to loving my family and friends, I love to read and I love to travel. My husband and I have started spending out summers at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York and like it so much we bought a little townhouse there. Part of what I enjoy at Chautauqua is that every week at least one author speaks in a lovely outdoor pavilion.

We enjoy road trips so we usually drive to Chautauqua and try to vary our routes and stop to visit friends/family and see sights as we go. We also enjoy cruising (sea days are wonderful opportunities to read while someone else takes care of making the bed, doing the laundry, cooking the meals, etc). We even fly to distant lands sometimes, although I prefer to travel any way besides air.

As to reading, my favorite categories are fiction (both classic and modern), history and biography. As is true for many of us, I tend to buy more books than I can read and have an annual goal to reduce Mt. TBR. (I think I even made a little headway in 2016).

I hope to see many LT friends from previous years and also add some new ones this year. Please stop by for a visit :)

BOOKS READ IN 2017

January
1. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead ****1/2(Pulitzer winner 2017)
2. The Patriarch by Martin Walker **** (audio)
3. Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener **** (Pulitzer winner 1948)

February
4. Now in November by Josephine W. Johnson***** (Pulitzer winner 1935)
5. Game of Crowns by Christopher Andersen***(audio)
6. Scarlet Sister Mary by Julia Peterkin **** (Pulitzer winner 1929)
7. Dragon's Teeth by Upton Sinclair****(Pulitzer winner 1942)
8. Lamb in His Bosom by Caroline Miller*****(Pulitzer Winner 1934)
9. Laughing Boy by Oliver La Fage ****1/2 (Pulitzer Winner 1930)
10.To Marry an English Lord by Gail MacColl and Carol McD. Wallace **(audio)
11.Years of Grace by Margaret Ayer Barnes ****1/2 (Pulitzer Winner 1931)

March
12. The Bible
13. The Town by Conrad Richter **** (Pulitzer Winner 1951)
14. The Store by T. S. Stripling****1/2 (Pulitzer winner 1933)
15. In This Our Life by Ellen Glasgow ****(Pulitzer winner 1942)
16. Journey in the Dark by Martin Flavin*****(Pulitzer winner 1944)
17. Guard of Honor by James Gould Cozzens*** (Pulitzer fiction winner 1949)
18. A Fable by William Faulkner** (Pulitzer fiction winner 1955)

April
19. The Way West by A. B. Guthrie, Jr.*****(Pulitzer fiction winner 1950)
20. Andersonville by MacKinlay Kantor*****(Pulitzer fiction winner 1956)
21. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan****(audio)
22. The Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor****(Pulitzer fiction winner 1962)
23. The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer****(Pulitzer fiction winner 1980)

May
24. Advise and Consent by Allen Drury*****(Pulitzer fiction winner 1960)
25. The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters by Robert Lewis Taylor****(Pulitzer fiction winner 1959)
26. A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline****
27. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith*****
28. The Kennedy Wives by Amber Hunt & David Batcher**** (audio)
29. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See*****
30. The Wind is not a River by Brian Payton*****
31. Eight Girls Taking Pictures by Whitney Otto***
32. News of the World by Paulette Jiles (audi) ****

I can't believe i forgot to change my title before saving the first message...AGAIN!! Dang.

Happy new thread!!!

Happy new thread! I've got it in the zthreadbook as thread #2.

Happy new thread Reba. Don't worry about the title thing, we'll all catch on. I have made the same slip loads of times. xx

Reba--Look at you cranking out The Pulitzers!! Impressive!!

Happy new thread! And your title doesn't matter. Just that your peeps can find you and you can have fun reading together. : )

Hi Banjo, Jim, Paul and Kim -- Thank you all for coming by and for understanding about my goof. I look forward to seeing you here often :) And, yes, Kim I'm on a push to finish up the Pulitzers. The ones that are left are mostly chunks, however, so things will be slowing down but I still hope to finish by summer.

Happy new thread, Reba! I love the way you serve eggs, by the way...

>10 scaifea: :)

Happy new thread, Reba! I share your egg preferences. And you've inspired me to get back to the Pulitzers!

Happy new one, Reba!

Hi Susan -- glad I'm inspiring you because you inspired me with your list of 100 Must Read's from Women.

Thanks, Diana !

Happy new one, Reba! Your topper made me laugh.

Thanks, Mamie -- made me laugh too which is why I used it

Happy new one, Reba!
Your topper is perfect - I shared it with The Wayne who doesn't like eggs, and he whole-heartedly agrees :)

Happy New Thread!

Thank you Katie and Lori! Actually I like eggs in many forms, but the little sign just made me smile so I decided to share it. Will probably change it before too long.

I walked over to Balboa Park with my BFF yesterday. We had a salad and a glass of wine at the art museum patio (building behind her head), then visited an exhibit on Irving Gill (early 20th century architect of note who did a lot of work here) at the History Museum before seeing "The Blameless" at the Old Globe. Totally wonderful afternoon even if it did involve no reading at all :)

That does sound full of fabulous, Reba.

We were there at nearly the same time, Reba. We walked across the Laurel Street bridge from 6th street right at noon, then around to Spanish Village and back across the way with Molly. It was a lovely day for a walk.

Checking in on the new thread, Reba!

Hello! Love the picture in Balboa Park, I've spent so much time there over the years. How did you like "The Blameless"? I remember a field trip to the Old Globe in elementary school. Haven't been there in years.

Hi Mamie -- it was indeed

Hi Roni -- would have been a kick if we had run into each other. In fact, we may have been on the bridge at the same time since we left here at 12:30. We're so lucky to have such a wonderful resource nearby.

Hi Stasia -- Thanks for stopping by

Hi Heather -- I really liked "The Blameless". It's heavy but presents some worthwhile issues and the production was wonderful.

Sounds like a lovely day, Reba!

In This Our Life by Ellen Glasgow***** (Pulitzer winner 1942)

It seems that Pulitzer judges really liked books set in the American South during the 1930's and 40's since this is the fourth (I believe) in a row that I've read which was set there. In This Our Life takes place in Virginia in the early 20th century. The story is told from the perspective of Asa Timberlake, a 60-year-old man who works in the stemming room of a factory once owned by his grandfather. When he was 12 his family lost all of their money and, although he was a good student and worked hard, he didn't have the drive to be a business success. His wife, Lavinia, is the niece of the town's wealthiest man, her Uncle William. Lavinia and Asa have three children. A son Andrew, who is happily married, a daughter, Roy, who is in her early twenties and married to a surgeon and a daughter, Stanley, who at age 18 or 19 is engaged to be married to an attorney. (I have no idea why these girls have such male names...I found it confusing in the beginning).

Uncle William is generous with financial help for the family, especially for Stanley whom he adores. Lavinia, is an invalid who rarely leaves her room (or bed apparently) and who requires someone to be in the house with her at all times to see to her needs. Roy is an attractive young woman who works as an interior designer and is reliable and giving. Roy is her father's favorite. Stanley is the pretty, helpless, girly-girl of the family who is spoiled by everyone because they can't resist her. While everything appears to be going pretty well for the family, there is an undercurrent of trouble. As the story progresses the characters are more fully developed and relationships are explored as are the nature of family ties, the role of freedom and a person's right to seek individual happiness. Although the center of the book is the family story, there is also a stark portrait of their relationship with the African-Americans who work for the family, or worked for the family in the past and the general treatment of people of color in the South in the early 20th century. A good read and a worthwhile book.

My BFF and I have been doing some serious (for me) walking the past few days. Today we're walking downtown to an author tea at the Westgate Hotel. I heard the author, Christina Baker Kline, interviewed on NPR a couple of weeks ago and immediately ordered her new book a piece of the world (she doesn't use capitals in the title). I'll have it with me to be signed today and am looking forward to seeing her in person.

Belated happy new thread, Reba!
I hope you enjoyed the author tea, it sounds like fun.

Great review of the Glasgow, I have yet to read any of her books. Must fix that.

Since you are starred, I automatically pick up your new threads. No problemo!

Hi Anita. Thank you for stopping by. The tea was delightful. Fancy, yummy food and a GREAT author talk. Unlike some who just read to you (which always annoys me since I'm capable of doing that without their help) Ms. Kline talked about why she chose the topic, interesting side notes about Wyeth and Christina's lives, how the painting was influenced by and influenced other works, etc. She's alway really warm and friendly. There are photos which I will share as soon as they are posted.

Hi Lucy -- nice to see you. As you can till, I really recommend the Glasgow book. Hope you get a chance to read it and that you enjoy it.

Just home from the movies where we saw United Kingdom which is a VERY well done retelling of Botswana becoming independent and the really honorable leaders it had during that time (and seems to still have). I have a huge soft spot for Botswana so I especially enjoyed this film. It didn't hurt that our local cinema has installed recliners in three of their theaters so we watched from a comfy, supine position :)

>27 RebaRelishesReading: I went to add that one to the BlackHole only to discover it is already there. Surely a sign I need to read it! Unfortunately, my local library still does not have it.

Happy New Thread, Reba!

Thank you Darryl. Glad you're able to be around again.

Journey in the Dark by Martin Flavin***** (Pulitzer winner 1944)

Beginning in the early 1880's, the author presents the story of the Braden family with the spotlight on Tom Braden, the youngest of four children. The mother, Sarah, was "a Hathaway---old colonial stock". The father, Jim, "was tall and handsome rough and uncouth, but with a certain dignity. He had something of the air of an adventurer, which women find intriguing, and which may have stimulated Sarah's fancy. But this was a deception. He was in reality a lazy, shiftless, discontented man--the kind of a man who, if he had been there when the Indians sold Manhattan for a pair of leather boots, and had had a pair of boots, which wouldn't have been likely, well, he would not have bought the island. He would have winked his eye and grinned, too shrewd to be taken in by anything so obvious. He would have gifted out in his thick handsome head that somewhere up the river in the neighborhood of Nyack would be a better bet. But he would not have purchased even then because he would not have had the boots. He was saved from bad investments all his life by no greater virtue than his indigence."

Seeking a better (easier?) life, Jim takes the family west as far as their money will take them and ends in Wyattville, Iowa with two dimes in his pocket. The job of marshall was vacant, however, (the local marshall had died a few days earlier) and Jim is offered the job. The family moves into the run-down house that goes with the job, and that is where Sam is born a few years later.

Sam is bright and hard-working but is forced to leave high-school in his first year to hep support his family. He has come to understand that his family is poor and the difference that makes. He has secretly loved the daughter of the local banker since childhood but knows well that he doesn't fit in her world...but he is determined to leave the world of shanty town and make something of himself.

The themes of the book are responsibility, ambition and family ties. It is a solid portrayal of nearly 20th century America with solid character portrayal. This is the first book in a long time that brought me to tears.

Very nice review of Journey in the Dark, Reba.

Thank you Darryl :) Nice to have you stop by.

Excellent progress with the prize winners, and lovely review. It sounds a fabulous book.

>39 lunacat: Thank you. I've been working on it for years but the end is in sight. Books like this one make it easier.

I went to an "author tea" with friends last Saturday to hear Christina Baker Kline (in the black top at the left of the photo above) talk about her new book a piece of the world. She's a charming, warm lady who gave an interesting discussion of the book, its background and connections, and her interest in the subject. Exactly what I hope to hear when an author speaks.

I hear her on NPR a couple of weeks before this event and had immediately ordered the book so I had my copy with me for her to sign.

>41 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks for sharing the pictures of the author tea, Reba, it looks like everyone had a good time!

>42 FAMeulstee: It was such fun and she is so lovely!

>41 RebaRelishesReading: Nice!

Hi Darryl -- thanks for stopping by. Yep, it was indeed nice.

Fabulous photos, Reba! I just picked that one up from the library the last time I was there.

An author tea! How does that come about? I'm fascinated. So nice and intimate. Had you all read the book? Or was it mainly social?

Hi Mamie -- I haven't started it yet (I'm trying to focus on the Pulitzers) but look forward to reading it. Hope you enjoy it.

Hi Lucy -- I heard about it through a group called Adventures By The Book which puts together all kinds of events involving authors. I was at a free one with a local author which involved a hike in a canyon she has written about and they mentioned the tea. The tea was at the Westgate Hotel which regularly sponsors "Literary Teas" (I had never heard of them before). I'm not sure which group really put it together. There were about 50 people there. We were served an elegant tea. Ms Kline came around and talked with each table and then gave a presentation on the book -- why she wrote it, the painting, Wythe and Christina, etc. Then she signed books and stood up for a photo with each person she signed for. She was amazingly warm and gave a great presentation. I had heard her on NPR a couple of weeks earlier and had ordered the book right afterwards so I brought it to have her sign but they also had them for sale. A few of the people had read the book but I think most hadn't. I'm going to be on the lookout for more events like these.

I had my second cataract removed this morning and went to drug store this afternoon to get some reading glasses so now I have excellent distance vision (without glasses) and the reading glasses will serve their purpose until I can get "proper" glasses in six weeks or so. Glad to have it done :)

>49 RebaRelishesReading: Glad to hear that the cataract surgery went well! Soon you will be back to being a reading fiend.

>48 RebaRelishesReading: Those sound like wonderful events!
>49 RebaRelishesReading: Glad the surgery is over and hope your eyes rebound wonderfully.

Thank you Stacia. I had a lovely read after I got home with my drug store readers. Even with them my vision is much better at all distances than it was. Just about perfect in fact.

Hi Roni - the events were cool. You may want to check them out at http://adventuresbythebook.com. I had never heard of them but a friend of a friend lives on the canyon we walked on the first one and heard about it from her hoa. As to my eyes, they're great. I'm driving hubby nuts announcing how clearly I see everything :) I'm thrilled.

Well done on kicking that cataract to the curb, Reba! All the better to read with, my dear. :-)

Indeed, Julia, indeed :)

The billboard across the street from us has a message I really like

What a fun looking Author tea!

Hi Reba, just getting caught up! The author tea looks wonderful!

Hi Rhonda and Katie -- it was and now I'm looking forward to tea tasting with Lisa See on the 18th

Guard of Honor by James Gould Cozzens (1949 Pulitzer fiction winner)***

This book takes place over a weekend during WWII when the air force is becoming a separate entity. It's an interesting, although not riveting, story about relationships and interactions among officers. Some are a bit too smart for their britches, others are solid and dedicated, some take the blame for things their superiors did, some are over-the-hill, some are partiers, etc. It's not a bad read but it didn't really seem to go anywhere and left me a bit "bleh".

A Fable by William Faulkner** (1955 Pulitzer fiction winner)

This is by far the most complicated, confusing, obtuse book I have ever tried to read. A hundred or so pages in I went on-line to find a "Cliff's Notes" for help and learned that Faulkner had worked on the book for 10 years and wanted it to be "the best work of my life and maybe of my time". Nevertheless, it is now considered one of his "lesser works".

The story takes place over a week in 1918 and deals with WWI but it is so full of symbolism (sometimes rather obscure) that it is often hard to recognize when or where it is taking place. It does raise some interesting, thought-provoking, ideas though such as: what would happen if a large part of an army, say a regiment, were to simply refuse to fight?

Reba--Congrats on the successful cataract surgery, and the walk about with your BFF and the author tea!! Life is good around here. : )

>60 RebaRelishesReading: Growing up in Mississippi, we read a lot of Faulkner, but that is one I did not read. I'm sure I'll read it at some point.

Hi Kim -- yep, life is good!!

Lori -- I was afraid of Faulkner for many years but then I read The Reivers and Light in August and liked them both. This one, on the other hand, not so much. I read it because of my personal Pulitzer challenge but man, was I ever glad to be finished!!

>63 RebaRelishesReading: Those are the ones we read back then, along with tons of his short stories.

>36 RebaRelishesReading: Did your version of the book come with a list of Harper Prize winners at the back? I had never heard of the Harper Prize until I saw that list at the end of the library copy I checked out.

>64 thornton37814: Well I did enjoy those -- A Fable was so difficult I would not have finished it had it not been a Pulitzer winner (and I have, to date, finished every book I have started -- one was several years later -- I'm stubborn that way).

>65 alcottacre: No, there wasn't. I have a soft cover version so wouldn't be likely to be same edition a library would have

>66 RebaRelishesReading: It was an interesting list. Most of the books and authors were ones I had never heard of so, of course, now I have to investigate them. Several of the Harper Prize books also won the Pulitzer Prize.

>66 RebaRelishesReading: I guess the other one we read was As I Lay Dying. I've re-read that one a couple of times because it is short.

The Way West by A.B. Guthrie, Jr. ***** (1950 Pulitzer fiction winner)

Even though he has a good enough life in Missouri, Lije Evans decides to join a wagon train to Oregon with his wife and teen-aged son. He convinces his neighbor, a man who has lived as a "mountain man" in the west for many years, to join as scout after the neighbor's wife dies. Other families and single men join up and the group heads west in the early spring hoping to be one of the first trains so that there will be more grass for the livestock and so that they can cross the western mountains before snow. Guthrie provides a clear picture of live in a wagon train and peoples it with very human characters. "Western" books are usually not my favorites but I simply loved this book and found it difficult to put down. I cared about the main characters and couldn't wait to see how they met their next challenge. If you're at all interested in the history of the western U.S., I think you would really enjoy this book.

Only three more Pulitzers to go!! (but one is The Executioner's Song with is >1000 pages long)

>67 alcottacre: I had never heard of the Harper Prize either so looked it up and I noticed that several where also Pulitzer winners. I have a couple of other lists I want to "work on" when I finish this one but may try some non-Pulitzer Harper winners in the future.

>68 thornton37814: Hi Lori. I may try that one after I recover a bit from A Fable :)

>69 DianaNL: Hi Diana (and furry friend) -- thanks for stopping by :)

HELP PLEASE.

I've always kept my book wish list in a little paper notebook which I never have with me when I'm in a bookstore and which is getting really ratty so I decided it would be a good idea to move it to the LT wishlist but I can't figure out how to post things there. I tried looking in "help" but didn't find anything there either. Can anyone help me?

You have to go to the Add Books tab and add each book to your library just like a book you have read but when you do it click the Wishlist Category under collections instead and then save.

Reba, I believe if you simply use the "add books" function, you can add the books from your paper wish list to the LT wish list on an individual basis. You just need to make sure that "Wish List" is what you are adding them to.

And I see Kim beat me to it while I was typing, lol.

Here is the danger, Reba. Every book you hear about sounds good, and pretty soon you have 348 books on your wish list.

Thanks Kim and Stasia (and thanks for the warning Rhonda lol). Will they show up in my "library" too if I do that?

They will show up under your collections, but not your library. Your library plus the WL should equal the number in your total collections.

Have fun!! : )

Thanks so much, you guys!! I may start the move in the morning.

So, I moved my wish list to LT this morning and, in the process, learned to use the "collections" feature and decided to organize my books that way instead of using "labels" as I had been doing. Big job, but much better I think.

Doesn't it feel nice to organize your catalogue? I'm glad you find collections beneficial.

Morning, Reba! All caught up with you, and I was happy to read about the successful cataract surgery - whoot! And Faulkner - ugh! He is not my cup of tea, although I did like Light in August, I have not liked anything else I have read by him.

>82 Heather19: I'm an organizer and always feel better when things are tidy lol.

>83 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie -- I liked The Reivers too but A Fable was everything I was afraid Faulkner would be. I don't think I will read anything more by him. Great to hear from you especially since I assume that means you weren't damaged by the second round of storms. Hooray!!

Yesterday, I started The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan in the audio version for listening to on my walks. So far I'm charmed. May be doing better with my stepping for a while :)

>85 RebaRelishesReading: Nice to hear you have found a good companion whilst you are walking :-) I have the Colgan on my wishlist.

Hi Charlotte -- Colgan didn't do her work well enough to get me to walk yesterday but I'm about to go out and see how our heroine is doing :)

:-) Yes, you need to get to work on your stepping. I was shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, to see myself ahead of you (barely) on the week's statistics!

It's all Faulkner's fault...but you're right, I need to get better. I'm really enjoying The Bookshop on the Corner so it will get better. I have 6000+ so far today :)

Happy Friday, Reba! I got my steps in today and yesterday, and I am feeling mighty good about it. It's been a while for me.

A while ago I read When Books Went to War and was amazed to learn about Armed Services Editions of books that were provided to members of the military during WWII. I had never heard of these and was fascinated by the idea. I decided it would be fun to have one and looked on eBay to see what I could find. I wanted one to keep and that I would feel some connection to. Finally found it -- Geography in Human Destiny. Since my husband is a retired Geography professor it seems perfect. It arrived today and I'm really excited to actually hold one in my one hand :)

>90 Crazymamie: Good for you Mamie and thanks for giving me a little nudge. You and Roni keep it up and I may actually get back on track.

>91 RebaRelishesReading: Oh, I am totally jealous! What a fabulous idea, Reba! I would choose the Great Gatsby - those Armed Services Editions are what restarted Fitzgerald's popularity. I wish my Dad was still alive so that I could ask him if he had gotten any of those when he served and if so, which ones.

>91 RebaRelishesReading: That is really neat, Reba, and even more so since your husband has a connection to the topic.

Oh that stepping! I am obsessed with it. I realized when I was starting to look forward to going to bed early last night that I had over 3,000 steps to get in. So onto the treadmill with Spain in Our Hearts. I get most of my steps in outside but never listen to books when I'm walking as I'm usually with my husband. I think my numbers would soar if he ever quits walking with me!

Your author tea looked like so much fun. I would love to do something like that. I hope you have a great weekend, Reba.

>93 Crazymamie: The Great Gatsby would be a great choice but I never saw it listed in the times I checked eBay but it wouldn't hurt to keep looking. I may buy another one or two since they aren't that expensive and I think they're really interesting.

Hi Julia. Thanks for stopping by and, yes, I'm thrilled with my new little book. I may even read it :)

Hi Donna. I must admit that I walk more when I'm "in to" the book I'm listening to. My hubby and I used to walk together but lately he doesn't walk as fast as I do and generally goes for just 1/2 hour so we don't walk together so much or we start out together but he comes home before me. In either case, I get some walking/listening time in and a good book REALLY helps :)

We're off to see about buying a new car today. We looked at (and drove) the two we're interested in on Tuesday then came home to decide (1)whether to buy now or wait and (2)if now, which car. Now the part I really dread...negotiating. Wish us luck :)

Good luck, Reba!

Good luck with the new car!! Which kinds are you looking at?

Thanks Mamie and Amber. We spent 5 hours at the dealership yesterday but came home with a beautiful new dark blue Subaru Forrester. It has a load of safety features, comfortable seats and lots of room for hauling things. We traded both of our old cars since we almost never drove them at the same time and, when we did, it we could always have rescheduled so as not to both need a car at the same time. We're happy with the price we paid and the young man we dealt with was so nice it was (almost) fun. Still I have to say "whew, that's over with for several more years".

>101 RebaRelishesReading: Oh, nice! Tomm looked at a Forrester a few years ago - they're lovely vehicles.

>101 RebaRelishesReading: - Yay for new cars! We've gone to one car, and it's worked out just fine.

(Actually, our second car is still in the driveway - it's a VW Passat TDI that VW is supposed to buy back, but we keep forgetting to finish the paperwork :-P )

*peeks in*

Yay for new car! The process isn't all that fun, but the end result is great!

I've never heard of Armed Services Editions, that's really interesting.

Congrats on the new car! I've got an Outback that's 4 years old and am still loving it.

>103 katiekrug: Hi Katie. With your hubby commuting by train I can imagine that works just fine. We went to one car some years ago and did just fine with it. During the time we've had two cars again we almost never drive them at the same time, so we'll be fine I'm sure.

>104 Heather19: Hi Heather. I had never heard of them until I read When Books Went to War -- which is a really interesting book imho. It was full of things I never knew.

>105 drneutron: Hi Jim. I hear that sort of thing from Subaru owners all the time. Consumer Reports also listed the Forrester and the #1 pick for compact SUV which is why our shopping was limited to the Rav4 (which also rated high and which we have been interested in for a long time) and the Forrester. Comparing the 2017 models of those two it didn't take us long to pick the Forrester.

Hmm. I am planning to read Faulkner in the future, but your review of A Fable doesn't encourage me to do so. Thanks for taking one for the team.

No problem Darryl. Actually I did enjoy The Reivers and have read elsewhere that it's a good "entry to Faulkner" book. I would certainly stay away from A Fable, however.

Congrats on the new car, Reba! I know a couple of people who have a Forester, and they absolutely love it. In fact, they have so much good to say that I seriously considered getting an Outback last time, and would definitely consider again the next time — which won't be for a good long while!

Hi Julia -- so far we love the Forrester. We'll be taking it across country to NY in June which will be the acid test.

Oohh why are you going to NY? Recreation, relatives, work?

>111 Heather19: Hi Heather -- we spend our summers in western New York at the Chautauqua Institution. It's the highlight of my retirement :)

Well, happy me, my new passport has arrived. I only sent the renewal application on March 11 so that's quite quick. Much better than when I last renewed in 2007.

Wow, that seems like a quick turnaround. I have my appointment Friday, cross fingers for me...

I love the idea of owning one of the special war edition books. Is there any sign of ownership in your copy? Did they bind anything particular army in the book, or is it as per the usual one?

>113 RebaRelishesReading: That's good to know. My renewal is due next year so six months out falls later this year. I'm glad to know the turnaround is so quick.

>114 charl08: Hi Char -- There's nothing bound into it or written on it, just the standard issue. Check out eBay they always have some.

>114 charl08: and >115 thornton37814: Hi Lori. I was pleased with the turn-around especially after my 2007 experience. It was a month and I didn't do expedited or do anything in person. I just mailed the application regular mail and back it came. Now I have to make an appointment to go get my existing Global Entry Permit linked to the new passport, however. We'll see how that goes.

Andersonville by MacKinlay Kantor 1956 Pulitzer fiction winner

What a powerful book!!! I don't think I can do it justice with my own comments so I'll quote the back cover:

"Widely regarded as the most powerful novel ever written about our nation's bloodiest conflict, MacKinlay Kantor's bestselling Andersonville vividly portrays the notorious Confederate Prisoner of War camp where fifty thousand Union soldiers were held captive -- and fourteen thousand died -- under inhumane conditions. Based on twenty-five years of research, Kantor's Pulitzer Prize-wining masterpiece tells the interweaving stories of camp prisoners, commanders, nearby planters and families, and roving bandits, pieced together by the brutal struggle between North and South. This is the inspiring, unforgettable story of the Civil War, and of America itself."

Although the book is long (747 pages) and is based on some horrific history, it is something of a page-turner. Although, of course, the outcome of the war and the camp is known, Kantor's characters are so vivid that I really wanted to know what happened to them next as individuals. Beyond the interest in the fictional characters, I also was riveted by the horror of the place, like the wreck you can't stop looking at.

Several friends mentioned that they had read Andersonville in high school. It wasn't required when I was there, nor on any reading-lists that I can remember, and it might be a bit much for a young reader, however, I would certainly recommend it for all American adults. It's a part of our history we should fully know about.

Hmm. I'm not much for history novels, but on the other hand the cruelty of humans is something I'm interested in... I might have to check that out. I've never heard of it before, though, definitely not required in high school.

Reba--Congrats on the passport arrival and the new car!! Andersonville sounds like a powerful book.

I've had Andersonville in my On Deck stack for a long while now - I need to get started on it soon.

Hi Heather -- people who have told they read it in high school are my age and were in high school not too many years after the book came out. It certainly does show the cruelty of humans and the ugliness of the Civil War.

Thanks Kim -- two major items ticked off from our pre-summer-trip list. Yes, Andersonville is powerful...very powerful.

Hi Amber -- it isn't a fun read but it is certainly a worthwhile book.

>117 RebaRelishesReading: I'm always amazed by the amount of great books I've never heard of! Will see if it's available here.

>122 charl08: Do you know much about the American Civil War? It might be a bit strange out of context.

The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan **** (audio)

What a perfect book to listen to on my walks. Nina is a timid 30-ish librarian who is about to lose her job because the library system is closing branches and moving to a more electronic, "modern" emphasis. Her housemate/landlady is losing patience with the stacks and stacks of books that Nina has all over the house (literally) and is even worried the weight with damage the structure. She's pretty much said "either fewer books or you have to move". What's poor Nina to do?

If you're looking for a light-hearted, charming book this could be it :)

*immediately adds book to wishlist* Sounds delightful!

Reba, I'm finally delurking!

I've wishlisted Andersonville (I know a bit about the Civil War, plus I have watched North and South) but it seems the library system has the original 1956 copy. Dear God, what sort of state will that be in?!! I might explore Better World Books for a reissued version.

Congratulations on the new car :-) My Dad and stepmother went down to one car when they moved to the smaller house although Dad does have his mobility scooter for local errands...

Hi Heather -- I think you'll enjoy it. I certainly made me want to go for my daily walk knowing that was when I could listen to it.

Thank you, Diana -- I hope you have a lovely Easter too.

Susan -- may be they still have the original copy because no one has ever checked it out lol. I did buy a reissued, new copy, however. It IS a tough read with some images I may never get out of my mind but a very worthwhile book.

When we moved to our current place, 7+ years ago we only had one car and did just fine. But then we bought a motorhome and couldn't tow that car so we bought a Smart to tow and that couldn't be our only car, then in 2013 we traded the motorhome + Smart for a new large sedan for driving across country but kept our Prius for in the city. The Subaru is a good size for both city and cross-country (and has comfort features to make it good for long cross-country drives). It helps that we live where we can walk to many things and the bus stops across the street from our building...so....we should be fine.

Or just Happy Sunday!!

Thank you Kim -- happy Easter to you too!

A little bit of San Diego spring for y'all :)

Walking down the street on the way to lunch today I saw this sign and had a little chuckle --

>131 RebaRelishesReading: San Diego spring is not showing up, which is a pity because it is a BE-YOU-tiful day here!

Another happy Subaru owner here. I have a cross-trek, but sometimes I wish I'd gone with a Forester, for the extra room.

Good on you for reading Andersonville, Reba. I have had that book on my shelves for a while now but it is daunting both in size and subject matter. A gentleman in my family line was a Union soldier who was captured in Georgia. Lucky for him the timing was such that he was not sent to that notorious prison.

*giggles at sign*

Happy Easter/Sunday to you!

>132 RebaRelishesReading: LOL!

>132 RebaRelishesReading: That is funny!

>132 RebaRelishesReading: Ha! Made me laugh.

>133 ronincats: Sorry photo isn't showing up, Roni...but then you get the real thing :)

>134 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda. Seems everyone I talk to who has a Subaru loves it -- one of the reasons we bought one.

>135 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg. It was certainly challenging emotionally. I knew its reputation but the details were hard to take.

>136 Heather19: Hi Heather, Kim, Anita and Char -- glad you got a giggle. It's sort of mean, I guess, but I thought it was rather funny.

The Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor" **** (1962 Pulitzer fiction winner)

So...89 down and 2 to go...which sounds like I'm looking forward to being finished with the Pulitzer fiction winners which isn't totally true. I've enjoyed nearly all of them very much but, on the other hand, it does feel good to reach a goal.

This book is about the Catholic Church, but also about human beings and their relationships, is told from the perspective of Father Hugh Kennedy, a 50-something Irish Catholic priest in a fictional north-east city. Father Hugh is a recovering alcoholic now back in his home town serving in an old church in a run-down parish. John, Hugh's best friend from childhood, is now pastor in the affluent parish where John and Hugh grew up and where Hugh once was pastor. Hugh is invited to John's father's 82 birthday party and reconnects with this family he knew so well as a child.

In his introduction to the edition I read, Ron Hansen reflects on why this book was out of print for many years and says: "Some books are so much of their age that they can quickly seem as quaint, old-fashioned, and nostalgic as foxtrot tunes. And that, I think, was the fate of The Edge of Sadness after Vatican Council II (1962-65), widely regarded as the most significant religious event in the Roman Catholic Church since the sixteenth-century Reformation." While that is true as far as some surface elements of the book (mass is "said" in Latin, etc.) I think the basic human elements of the story are timeless. While certainly not a "page-turner", I happily picked The Edge of Sadness up whenever I had a moment to see how these very real characters were doing and I very much enjoyed the book.

>41 RebaRelishesReading: Oh the author tea must have been a lot of fun!

Just stopping by to say hello! *waves*

>142 Copperskye: It was. Tonight Hubby and I are going to a tea tasting/Chinese food evening with Lisa See. That should be fun too.

?143 "Hi" Heather. Thanks for stopping by :)

>144 RebaRelishesReading: Nice!!

Congratulations on the new car, Reba. It sounds great. Also congrats on reading Andersonville. I do want to tackle that one someday but right now I think The Bookshop on the Corner is more my speed. Thanks for calling it to my attention. And I see you are adding Lisa See to your repertoire of author friends. Tell her "Hello" from me. ;-)

Hi Donna. I didn't actually get to speak to Ms. See (decided the line was too long and she had already signed the books) but I did have a nice conversation with her step-grandmother while in line to check in. I learned her mother was Carolyn See, a noted author, critic, columnist and professor at UCLA. The grandma I was talking to had raised Carolyn in her teen years and was clearly close to her until her recent death Lisa got her desire to write from her mother. The talk itself was just what I want from an author, the story of what inspired her to write this book, how she went about it, etc. The initial idea for The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane was seeing an anglo-American couple with their adopted Chinese daughter walking down the street near the beach in Santa Monica. It was followed by learning about a special, very expensive, Pu'er tea from Yunnan and about the Akha people who grow it. In writing the book she visited the Akha people to learn about their culture and the tea and also contacted scores of young women who had been adopted to the U. S. from China to learn about their experiences and feelings. I'm really looking forward to reading the book (but I'm going to wait until the Pulitzer's are finished!).

>147 RebaRelishesReading: - Lisa See was one of the authors at the event I went to last month with multiple Simon & Schuster authors. She spoke on similar themes and made me very excited to read her new book. I have a few others of hers on my shelves, but haven't read any yet.

Hi Katie -- I've read three of hers and enjoyed them all (probably wouldn't give them 5 stars, more like 4 probably). I bought the new one last night and another I hadn't read and I'm looking forward to reading them both -- maybe in May :)

>147 RebaRelishesReading: That sounds like a great event. If she makes it over here I'll add her to the wishlist.

Hi Char -- is she known in the UK? She's had several best sellers here but I have no idea how far she reaches.

Dagnabit Reba, now I have to add The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane to my wishlist. Between your post and reading the reviews, I must read it. Isn't meeting authors amazing? Especially when they talk about their inspiration.

Hi Heather -- Yes, I love hearing from the author when they talk about the inspiration and circumstances surrounding a work. I don't like it when they just read to me (poets excepted), however, which, unfortunately, some of them do. I won't be starting The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane for a while yet but I'm really looking forward to it when its turn comes :)

I read the first mystery in the series and thought it was interesting, but not quite enough to draw me onward. I have a very beat-up copy of the second if anyone is interested, too beat up to put on PBS (where I posted the first one.)

Hooray for cataract removal. Mine are developing and it is a royal pain.

Hi Lucy -- good news is that cataract removal is really easy. Six weeks of frequent eye drops is a bit of a pain but being able to see clearly (at least beyond arm's length) is wonderful. Now to get some bi-focal or progressive lens glasses in early May and all will be wonderful.

I appear to not be reading but just thought it I would report that I really am reading a lot. It's just that I'm at the last three of my Pulitzer's and, of course, I saved the really big ones for last. I'm now just over half-way through the 1047 pages of The Executioner's Song. I had no idea what it was about and was startled when I started it to find it's the story of Gary Gilmore who was executed for murder in Utah in the 1970's. Turns out it's quite interesting. Next up is Advise and Consent which is 700+ pages so the slow page (of reporting, not reading) will continue for a while.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Advise and Consent is wonderful! My junior year in college, I did a semester in Washington, and my internship was with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Christmas before I left, my parents gave me an old edition (I should check to see if it's a first edition....) of the novel, and I gobbled it up. It is very of its time, but has a timeless pacing and plot that was really entertaining.

Hi Katie -- It sounds great. I'm about 2/3 of the way through The Executioner's Song and will be moving on to Advise and Consent when I finish. It sounds like it will be a great way to finish up the Pulitzer's.

>156 RebaRelishesReading: I read The Executioner's Song when I was in high school and it had a big impact on me. If after reading it you're interested in learning more from another angle, Gary Gilmore's brother Mikal (at one time a writer for Rolling Stone magazine) wrote a memoir about his brother Shot in the Heart that was very powerful.

Hmm. I've looked at The Executioner's Song before but have never actually read any of it. The page count is a little daunting to me. Do you think it's worth it, for someone who usually reads much shorter novels? I am interested in the subject matter.

It's good to hear that you are doing okay!

>159 rosalita: Hi Julia. Mikal writing for Rolling Stone is mentioned in the book. I'm not sure how I feel about reading more about this once I finish The Executioner's Song. It's interesting but very long and has a lot more about people who are pretty peripheral to the story that I would have liked. That said, it does really get to you and hearing more about Gary Gilmore and from a different perspective would be interesting. I'll keep it in mind.

>160 Heather19: Hi Heather. I'm reading it because I gave myself a challenge a few years ago to read all of the Pulitzer fiction winners and I'm now down to my last two so couldn't avoid it any more :) I vaguely remember when Gilmore was executed but wasn't paying a lot of attention at the time. If you're interested in criminal justice I think it would be worth reading. Maybe you could read it in stages. It's broken up into seven major parts so you could read one, move on to something else, read another, etc.

I really liked Shot In the Heart and was thinking about a reread. I haven't read Executioner's Song, sound like that'd be worth picking up.

Reba, you're getting so close to finishing your challenge! (Far closer than I am :-) ) Good luck with the chunksters - they really do seem daunting.

>161 RebaRelishesReading: I can understand that. There were 20 years or more between my reading The Executioner's Song and reading Shot in the Heart so it wasn't as oppressive as it would be for you to read them close together.

Hi Rhonda and Julia -- Thanks so much for the recommendation. I'm going to put it on the wish list and see how I feel in the Fall.

Susan -- yes I'm close but I've been working on it for several years. You just started yours! I'm on page 901 of Executioner's Song so I'm hoping maybe I can finish today -- then just one more :) I do like reading to lists, though, so I'm going to (slowly) start on Pulitzer biographies next. I also try to read many of the books on the list Chautauqua puts out each summer (most recent of writers who will be there), not to mention Mt. TBR which always seems to be crying for attention.

The Executioner's Song by Normal Mailer****(Pulitzer fiction winner 1980)

I not only saved some really long books for last but also some of the most difficult to read. Andersonville was probably the toughest but The Executioner's Song isn't easy either. It's the story of Gary Gilmore who was executed in Utah in 1977 after killing two men in cold blood. He had been out of prison on parole for armed robbery for just over 9 months at the time of his execution. The book is fictionalized history which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Over a hundred people were interviewed, some for many hours, in sorting out the events surrounding the murders as well as the life stories of the people most closely involved. It's a powerful, engaging story. As I said above, my only real criticism is that it seems to me too much was included about people who weren't central to the story which made the book very long (1050 pages).

You finished it! Way to go! Now only one more left, right? Exciting!

Thank you Heather.

Actually, I discovered yesterday that there is another one I haven't read so two to go. I'll start Advise and Consent later today and I have ordered The Travels of Jaime McPheeters and hope to be ready for it when it arrives. Yes, I'm getting excited to be finished not because I'm not enjoying the books but because it was a big goal which I will have met :)

A friend and I walked over to the art museum in Balboa Park this morning to see "Art Alive", a show where florists display arrangements inspired by art next to the piece that inspired them. It's an annual event but I'd never been before. It was beautiful.



This one was inspired by the book of calligraphy shown in the case behind.



Wish the light had been better on the floral piece but you can see the connection.



This beauty was inspired by the "flying" piece on the wall in the photo below.





Some of the floral tributes were quite literal in their interpretation but many just echoed shapes and colors from the original.

>169 RebaRelishesReading: What a nice idea, Reba, some of the flower arrangements are amazing.

Hi Anita -- it was beautiful. I'm blown away by creativity on that scale.

What a lovely idea for an exhibit! The flower arrangements are beautiful on their own, but paired with the art pieces makes it even more special.

Wow! I can't believe you are so close to finishing ALL the Pulitzers for fiction. How cool is that? If we were meeting in person, I would ask if I could touch you! LOL

And I love the art/flower pairings. A very beautiful concept.

Wow, that exhibit looks wonderful! I'll be in Balboa Park in June for my birthday, I'm wishing this wonderful flower exhibit had waited until then.

Thanks for sharing those pictures. What a great idea to work with the florists, they look like beautiful results.

Hi Julia -- It was really fun seeing what the florists chose to emphasize and what inspired them.

Hi Kim -- Lol!! Yes Arts Alive is a really cool idea

Hi Heather -- too bad indeed. Also too bad that I will be in western NY when you're here I would have loved to suggest a meet-up.

Hi Char -- you're welcome. I thought it was too good not to share. :)

Very behind on the thread, Reba, so rushing to catch up now.

Congratulations on getting close to the end of your Pulitzer Prize journey. I am sure it will be bittersweet once done.

I tried reading Andersonville and just could not do it. I am sure the book is excellent, but the dialect did me in. I could not handle it at all. On the other hand, I appreciated (loved is certainly not the right word and I do not think enjoyed is either) The Executioner's Song and understood why it won the prize.

Good morning Stasia -- They were both difficult books. Andersonville was one of several books with southern dialect that I read recently so I was getting better with it by then but the content was really difficult for me. There are some images from that book that I would love to erase from my mind and doubt I ever will. I agree with you that I appreciated Executioner's Song but didn't "enjoy" it.

I'm actually going to continue with Pulitzer's when I finish fiction by following (sort of) Susan into non-fiction except I'm going to do biographies rather than the general non-fiction category. I'll start slowly as I did with the fiction because there are many books in Mt. TBR that I'm anxious to get to.

You are very ambitious, to tackle Pulitzer biographies next! Good for you!

Hi Heather -- well I plan to do them like I did the fiction, just read them along with everything else and try to do a few a year. It'll take a while but I like having a list to work to.

Advise and Consent by Allen Drury ***** Pulitzer Fiction winner 1960

Speaking of Pulitzer winners, here is the next to the last one for me and what a delight it was! I was a poli sic minor in college and have retained some interest in the workings of government so reading about the Senate was right up my alley. The book deals with the Senate's consideration of the nomination of a new Secretary of State with all of its twists and turns. I loved every single one of its 714 pages.

I discovered about a week ago that I had missed the 1959 winner The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters so I quickly ordered it and hoped it would arrive before I finished Advise and Consent but it didn't make it so I guess I'll be taking a (hopefully) brief break from the Pulitzer fiction winners until it comes. I have now carefully checked and McPheeters will finish out my Pulitzer fiction winners when it comes and I read it.

>181 RebaRelishesReading: I'm so glad to hear that Advise and Consent was so pleasing, Reba! I picked that one up in an ebook sale last year but wondered if it would seem dated. I'll have to move it up the list a bit.

>178 RebaRelishesReading: I think I would probably enjoy the nonfiction Pulitzers more than the fiction. Maybe one of these centuries I will attempt it. My hat's off to you!

Congratulations on getting so close to your goal! Mailer is a great writer - his personality (and doings) got in the way of being able to appreciate him.

Never read any Drury, my parents had all of his books on the shelves. I did read most of Andersonville (also on the parents' shelves) yonks ago, because Mckinlay Kantor was a distant cousin and I met him once (the McKinlay side) in my late teens. i struggled along, but I am fairly sure I didn't finish. Although there are images yet in my head.

Beautiful photographs of Art Alive show.

>182 rosalita: Hi Julia -- I think it probably is dated somewhat. For example, senators form friendships "across the aisle" -- don't think that happens much if ever any more. Still, it's a good book.

>183 alcottacre: Stasia -- I enjoy fiction but also history and biography. I really enjoyed the Pulitzer fiction, even the very old stuff (actually maybe especially the old stuff). It generally reflects its age which is rather interesting. I am looking forward to the bios though. I have read some of them and liked them a lot.

>184 sibylline: Thanks Lucy. I'm feeling a nice sense of closure...if only that darned McPheeters would get here :) I've never read Drury before either but enjoyed his style as well as the subject matter. I wouldn't say I "enjoyed" Andersonville but it was certainly worth reading...now if some of the images would just fade a bit.

The Travels of Jamie McPheeters arrived yesterday afternoon and I'm about 100 pages into it. The end is near :)

The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters by Robert Lewis Taylor **** (Pulitzer fiction winner 1959)

The book begins in 1849 in Louisville, Kentucky. Jaimie McPheeters is the rascally (think Huck Finn) son of an "Edinburgh educated" doctor. Jaimie regularly gets into trouble for which his mother wants to see him punished with a spanking but his kind-hearted father smacks Jaimie's bed with the roll-up magazine instead of using it on Jaimie. The father, although highly competent, never wanted to be a doctor and doesn't like dealing with the pain and suffering involved. He is liked by all and described by another character as one who has "... got to chase his dreams all of his life."

As the story begins, the father's drinking and gambling have left the family deeply in debt. Creditors are threatening legal action and so the father decides the only solution is to skip town in the night and make his way to California to find riches in the gold fields. He takes Jaimie with him leaving his wife and two daughters behind to live from a small income provided by some money the wife has.

The tale of crossing the country by wagon train is graphic and, given the bibliography, well documented but told with a tongue in cheek humor and recounting of Jaimie's escapades that make it humorous -- not laugh-out-loud funny but grin funny. There are plenty of difficulties but the pair meet with some good people and Pa never loses his optimism.

So, my personal Pulitzer (fiction) challenge is finished. What a fun journey it has been. All by all, even though I don't usually like adventure stories or tales of the old west, I really enjoyed this book and it was a great way to end the challenge.

*cheers* Your challenge is done! That's awesome! That last book sounds good, I've read a fair number of books about traveling by wagon train and it's always so interesting.

Congratulations on completing your challenge, Reba! That's a real accomplishment.

>187 RebaRelishesReading: Way to go, Reba!

Have a lovely weekend.

Thank you Heather, Roni and Paul!! It feels really nice. Now to read more contemporary "stuff" for a while :)

Reba, huge congratulations on finishing the challenge!

Thanks, Susan. I'm pleased. Now to follow (sort of) your footsteps over to the biography category.

We're having a rainy weekend (in May in San Diego -- "the weirding of the weather" for sure). Went to the farmers market and it was easy to find a parking space (hooray!!) and summer fruit is starting to come in so we got apricots, nectarines and cherries. Already had blueberries, watermelon, apples, pears, oranges and bananas from the store. I think we're going to be eating a lot of fruit this week -- which is OK because we both love it. Now I'm in "cozy clothes" (sweatshirt and cord pants) and ready for a reading afternoon. I love this weather!!

Oh man I love rainy weekends. It's been very dry and hot over here lately, I would love some rain. Curling up with a good book while listening to the rain is kind of magical.

Congrats on finishing your Pulitzer challenge, Reba!

Wow! Congrats on finishing your challenge.

Salutations on finishing the Pulitzer fiction challenge, Reba!

Hi Heather -- We live on the 7th floor so don't really hear the rain unless it's just pouring but it was nice, and very unusual, to have rain in May here in SoCal.

Thank you Katie, Rhonda and Julia :)

And not only rain. 4-6 inches of snow in San Diego County mountains as well. Didn't set a record for May 7; in 1915 they had 7 inches.

A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline****

This is a fictionalized biography of the woman in Andrew Wyeth's painting "Christina's World". She was a middle-aged woman with an undiagnosed disability that left her nearly unable to walk when Wyeth met her during a summer in Maine. He spent several years painting in the ramshackled farm house she lived in with her brother. Christina's story is sad, but she's also brave and stubborn and persistent.

Reba--You did it!! Great job finishing off the Pulitzers. : )

Thanks, Kim. It always feels good to finish something, doesn't it?

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith*****

When I read When Books Went to War last year, I learned that A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was (one of?) the most popular book in the Armed Services Edition program. Although I had heard of it all my life, I had never read it and decided that I should.

I loved every second of this book!!!

Francie was born in Brooklyn December 14, 2001 and we meet her when she's 11. She's the granddaughter of Austrian immigrants on her mother's side and Irish immigrants on her father's side. Her father is charming and handsome but has little education and a big drinking problem. Her mother is hard working and sensible, also has little education but is determined to bring her children up to be "better" than she is. As part of this plan, she requires them to read a page of the Bible and a page of Shakespeare every day. We follow the family until Francie is 17.

In her forward to the Modern Classics edition, Anna Quindlen says:
"If afterwards, someone asked, 'What is the book about?' -- surely one of the most irritating and reductionist questions in the world for reader and writer alike -- you would not say, well it's about the pedophile who grabs a little girl in the hall, or about the time a man went on a bender and lost his job, or about a woman who works as the janitor in a series of tenement buildings. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is not the sort of book that can be reduced to its plot line. The best anyone can say is that it is a story about what it means to be human."

I've heard of that book all my life too, and never read it. I'm glad you liked it!

Hi Heather. Thanks for stopping by. If you want a lovely, quiet read someday, I would definitely recommend A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

I loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when I read it many years ago. Such a vivid slice of life!

>169 RebaRelishesReading: What a great exhibit!

Congrats on finishing your challenge, Reba!

>204 RebaRelishesReading: Like Julia, I read and loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I remember little of it though, only that it was one of those books I wanted to hug.

Congrats on finishing your challenge.

I am another fan of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - one of those books which even the title makes me smile.

Hi Julia, Joanne and Char -- Thank you for the congrats. Nice to have you all visit.

Joanne: "A book you wanted to hug" -- that expresses it perfectly.

The Kennedy Wives by Amber Hunt and David Batcher****(audio)

This well-written and well-read book provides a short biography of five women who married Kennedy men: Rose (wife of Joseph, the patriarch), Ethel (married Bobbie), Jackie (married Jack), Joan (first wife of Ted) and Vickie (second wife of Ted). I knew very little about the early lives of Rose, Ethel or Joan and almost nothing at all about Vickie. I don't really think I would have been interested enough to read a full biography of any of them but the book was just right.

>211 RebaRelishesReading: The Kennedy family is still able to interest all of us aren't they? You are probably right, Reba, not enough for a book about each but as a collective they are well worth a biography.

Have a great weekend.

>212 PaulCranswick: I enjoyed it, anyway :) Hope you have a great one too.

Nice review of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I need to re-read that.

Thanks Rhonda. I'm so glad I finally read it. I mentioned it to my granddaughter (she's 14) the other day but she said it sounded "sad" so didn't want to read it. I think I'm going to press her a bit though because I think it's wonderful and I really think she would like it.

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See*****

Lisa See is Chinese-American and she focuses her writing on those two cultures. When I heard her talk about her books a few weeks ago she said that she intentionally focuses on a different one of the Chinese minority cultures in each of her books. In this latest one, the focus is on the Akha people of Yunnan Province. The Akha live in remote mountains where they traditionally have been tea farmers. Ms. See researched both the Akha culture and tea production and marketing thoroughly in preparing to write this book and provides a lot of interesting information about both in addition to an engrossing story of a young Akha girl from a very traditional family who is drawn into the modern world through a series of choices she makes. "No coincidence, no story" are, appropriately, the first words of the story but there are also choices people make and outside forces that influence that story. Very enjoyable book.

I'm completely impressed by your Pulitzer accomplishment! Most of the titles and/or authors are familiar, but The Travels of Jamie McPheeters had slipped my mind. I read The Caine Mutiny this year, which was entirely deserving of its prize. You may have inspired me...

Please do urge your granddaughter to read A Tree Grow in Brooklyb. I first read it at about her age and absolutely loved it. I think it's an amazing and timeless story.

Thank you, Gail. I hope I have inspired you, It was a quest that led me to read a number of books I hadn't heard of and other that I had heard of but never read. I was really glad I read nearly every one of them.

I do plan to keep nudging my granddaughter to read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Her "promotion ceremony" from 8th grade in in four weeks and I think she may be more open to the idea when school is over. I hope so.

The library for my part of town is quite small, cramped and dated so I was delighted when the city bought a much larger site a few years ago and put a large sign on the former union headquarters building saying it was the future neighborhood site. But then it just sat there, year after year. A week or so ago I noticed there was machinery apparently tearing out the old parking lot and yesterday I passed by and the building is completely gone. Looks like we're going to get that new library after all :)

I adore A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It's an old favourite of mine, and I reread it at least every other year. I'm glad to see you enjoyed it so much.

>220 lunacat: I'm going to tell my granddaughter how much everyone likes it and hope it'll encourage her to give it a try.

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane sounds like something I might like to read. Glad you enjoyed it!

Ohhh new libraries are always fun! We got a new main library here about six years ago and the "newness" still hasn't worn off.

I can't seem to stop myself from buying books (OK, I don't really try too hard to stop) so I don't actually use the library much but I think they're so important to the future of the world that I get really excited when there's a new one. We got a new main library a few years ago too and I wondered if they were going to stop building new neighborhood ones. I delighted we're getting a new one. I think it's very important for the world that libraries are available and attractive.

We could use a new library. Or at least a renovation. The building is lovely but needs some help...

Hi Katie!! One can hope, eh?

The Wind is Not a River by Brian Payton

I was surprised to see that I got this book in 2008. It came to me from The Book Passage First Editions program and has been sitting in Mt. TBR for nearly 9 years waiting its turn.

John Easley is a reporter who wants to cover the WWII action in the Aleutian Islands partly to further his career with a "scoop" and partly because he is concerned that the American public doesn't know that there is anything going on there even though some of the islands are occupied by Japanese troops. His wife is tired of being left alone and tells him that if he goes away again he doesn't need to come back. Those are her last words to him before he leaves to try to work his way to the action in the northern Pacific. He manages to get aboard an Air Force plane. He survives the plan being shot down but is left to survive on Japanese occupied Attu.

What a survival/adventure story! What a love story! I could have read it straight through if I had had time.

>226 RebaRelishesReading: Nice review! That sounds good.

>226 RebaRelishesReading: Sounds good. I've added it to the wishlist.

Hi Rhonda and Char -- hope you get to read it and enjoy it

>226 RebaRelishesReading: This seems to be a good one! Happy Sunday, Reba.

Thanks, Diana. Even though your's is nearly over by now I hope you're having a good one too.

>223 RebaRelishesReading: The library closest to me is abysmal. It's in a different county, so there's a $3 fee. It's not worth it, honestly.

The library I volunteer in is in another state, but it's a pretty good one. I work in the main branch, and have been able to get quite a few surprise books there. The drawback is that if ine lives outside their chosen area--in all fairness, quite a large area--there's a $35 annual fee. Seems like a lot, but I pay it anyway.

I'm a firm believer in the worth of public libraries.

>232 Matke: Hi Gail! Even a library in a different county would be pretty much impossible from where I live so I'm very glad the city continues to improve the ones we have. I don't really think anyone from another state or county would be likely to use ours either but I do think a modest fee would be reasonable if they wanted to. Glad you have a good one within reach at least.

I'm glad to hear your part of town is next in line for a new library. And the new one will be nearly 4 times as large and closer to you. It would be a little difficult to go out of county to a library, no? 90 minutes north or 2 hours east to get to one. I've certainly used my local branch more and more since a) we got the new one a number of years ago as part of redevelopment and b) the card catalog went online. I love being able to see what the entire system has, how many and where, and to arrange with the click of a key for a book to be delivered to my local branch, only 3 blocks away. Almost all of my nonfiction comes from there.

I was astounded by how much I loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I picked it up casually at someone's house and then wanted very much to take it with me when I left, had to quick get a copy to finish it!

>226 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, that one sounds really good! And I looked up the library catalogue and it seems to be on the shelf at the library over the road (which I went to at lunchtime, darn it). It's published over here as All This Will Be Lost. I might have to go back after work :-)

>234 ronincats: Hi Roni. Yes, I'm looking forward to the new branch even though I probably won't use it much. When the grandkids were small I used to take them a lot and we usually went to the one near Ikea in Mission Valley. They loved the outside area there. Even the old branch was/is an easy walk from home but the new one will indeed be quite a bit closer.

>235 sibylline: Hi Lucy. I was surprised by how much I liked it too. Glad you happened on to it and liked it.

>236 susanj67: Hi Susan. Interesting title in the U.K. version. I'll have to give some thought to how it relates. Either way, I think you'll enjoy the book. Hope so :)

Eight Girls Taking Pictures by Whitney Otto***

This was the December 2012 selection from the Book Passage First Editions Club and is another reduction to Mt. TBR. It's sort-of a collection of short stories, each about a different fictional (although they were inspired by real "ground-breaking" photo artists) woman photographer. The settings range from 1917 to the 1980's and reflect the changing status of women during that time. It is said that Otto "explores their struggle to balance their creative impulses with societal expectations and traditional gender roles", an issue of interest to me. Nevertheless, I'm sorry to say, the book really didn't do much for me.

News of the World by Paulete Jiles (audio) ****

in the post Civil War south, "Captain" Kidd makes his living by holding "readings" from various newspapers for which he charges 10 cents per person admission. Johanna is a 10-year-old German-American girl who was taken from her family at age 6 by Kiowa Indians who had killed her mother, father and younger sister. The Indians have now "sold" her back to a government agent who asks the Captain to return to her family is southern Texas. He is an honorable, elderly man who knows how to travel safely. The book is the story of their journey. When I started listening I first though I was really going to dislike the book but it was only five hours long so I decided to keep on. I ended up liking it very much. A sweet story with some suspense makes for an excellent audio book.

I've just been notified that I have earned my 10-year badge. I think that's a good place to end this thread and move on to #3 for this year.

>238 RebaRelishesReading: I love the idea of that book- recently saw a photo exhibition that included pictures taken by Victorian women. What a shame it didn't work so well, though.