Familyhistorian's Year of History and Mystery part 11

This picture is to remind me of last year. A frozen Lafarge Lake.

Little Free Library

Number culled in February - 6

Number culled in March - 10

Number culled in April - 3

Number culled in May - 4

Number culled in June - 5

Number culled in July - 1

Number culled in August - 5

Number culled in September - 5

Number culled in October - 4

Number culled in November - 2

Number culled in December - 9

Total 2017 culls

My name is Meg and I love reading, especially histories and mysteries. This is my fifth year as one of the 75ers. It is great to find out what other people are reading but very dangerous, beware of flying book bullets! I keep myself busy with research and writing and hope to uncover more mysteries in family history this year.

Lafarge Lake this November.

Challenges I will do my best to partake of in 2017

American Author Challenge

January- Octavia Butler - Wild Seed - DONE
February- Stewart O' Nan - A Prayer for the Dying - DONE
March- William Styron - The Confessions of Nat Turner - DONE
April- Poetry Month - The Silence Now by May Sarton - DONE
May- Zora Neale Hurston - Dust Tracks on a Road - DONE
June- Sherman Alexie - Flight - DONE
July- James McBride - Song Yet Sung - DONE
August- Patricia Highsmith - A Game for the Living - DONE
September- Short Story Month - The Last Drive and other stories by Rex Stout - DONE
October- Ann Patchett - State of Wonder - DONE
November- Russell Banks - The Reserve - DONE
December- Ernest Hemingway _ The Sun Also Rises - DONE
12/12

British Author Challenge

January: Irish Britons – Elizabeth Bowen & Brian Moore - A World of Love by Elizabeth Bowen - DONE
February: Science Fiction & Fantasy – Mary Stewart & Terry Pratchett - The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart - DONE
March: A Decade of British Novels: The 1960s - 10 Novels by Men; 10 Novels by Women - The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks - DONE
April: South Yorkshire Authors: As Byatt & Bruce Chatwin - The Biographer's Tale by A.S. Byatt - DONE
May: Before Queen Vic: 10 Novels written prior to 1837
June: The Historians: Georgette Heyer & Simon Schama - Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer - DONE
July: Scottish Authors: D.E. Stevenson & R.L. Stevenson - Miss Buncle Married by D.E. Stevenson - DONE
August: Britain Between the Wars: Winifred Holtby & Robert Graves - South Riding by Winifred Holtby DONE
September: The New Millennium: A novel chosen from each year of the new century - Longbourn by Jo Baker - DONE
October: Welsh Authors: Jo Walton & Roald Dahl - James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl -DONE
November: Poet Laureates: British laureates, children's laureate, National Poets - Selected Poems: John Dryden - DONE
December: Wildcard: Elizabeth Gaskell & Neil Gaiman - The Books of Magic - Neil Gaiman - DONE
11/12

Canadian Author Challenge
January : Anne Michaels & Robertson Davies - Fugitive Pieces - by Anne Michaels - DONE
February : Madeleine Thien & Rohinton Mistry - Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien - DONE
March : Anne Hebert & Alistair McLeod - No Great Mischief by Alistair Macleod - DONE
April : Magaret Atwood & Guy Vanderhaeghe - The Englishman's Boy by Guy Vanderhaeghe -DONE
May : Louise Penny & Leonard Cohen - The Murder Stone by Louise Penny - DONE
June : Heather O'Neill & Dan Vyleta - Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill - DONE
July : Carol Shields & Wayson Choy - Jade Peony by Wayson Choy - DONE
August : Ruth Ozeki & Douglas Coupland - Souvenir of Canada by Douglas Coupland - DONE
September : Lori Lansens & Steven Galloway - The Girls by Lori Lansens - DONE
October : Alice Munro & Arthur Slade - John Diefenbaker: An Appointment With Destiny by Arthur Slade - DONE
November : Gil Adamson & Guy Gavriel Kay - The Outlander by Gil Adamson - DONE
December : Donna Morrissey & Wayne Johnston - The Deception of Livvy Higgs by Donna Morrissey - DONE
12/12

More Challenges

The 2017 Non-fiction Reading Challenge

January: Prizewinners - Liberty's Exiles: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World by Maya Jasanoff - DONE
February: Voyages of Exploration - Road to the Isles: Travellers in the Hebrides 1770-1914 by Derek Cooper - DONE
March: Heroes and Villains - The Jack the Ripper: Whitechapel Murders by Kevin O'Donnell - DONE
April: Hobbies, Pastimes and Passions - Family Matters: A History of Genealogy by Michael Sharpe - DONE
May: History - A History of Scotland: A look behind the mist and myth of Scottish History by Neil Oliver - DONE
June: The Natural World - Corpse: Nature, Forensics, and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death by Jessica Snyder Sachs - DONE
July: Creators and Creativity - Falling Backwards by Jann Arden - DONE
August: I’ve Always Been Curious About…. - The King's Grave: The Discovery of Richard III's Lost Burial Place and the Clues It Holds by Philippa Langley & Michael Jones
September: Gods, Demons and Spirits
October: The World We Live In: Current Affairs - March: Book One by John Lewis - DONE
November: Science and Technology - Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong - and the New Research That's Rewriting the Story by Angela Saini - DONE
December: Out of Your Comfort Zone or BB - The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine T. Bettinger - DONE
12/12

Reading Through Time

Quarterly

January-March 2017 - Renaissance/16th century - Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer DONE
April-June 2017 - 17th century - Trapped at the Altar by Jane Feather DONE
July-September 2017 - 18th century - The Silent Boy by Andrew Taylor DONE
October-December 2017 - Napoleonic Era - Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal - DONE
4/4

Monthly

January 2017: First Encounters - Scotland Farewell: The People of the Hector by Donald MacKay - DONE
February 2017: Storico Italia - The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich - DONE
March 2017: Meeting Madness - Agatha: The Real Life of Agatha Christie by Anne Martinetti, Guillaume Lebeau & Alexandre Franc - DONE
April 2017: It's a Family Affair - My Dark Places by James Ellroy - DONE
May 2017: Oh What a State of Affairs - A History of Scotland: A look behind the mist and myth of Scottish History by Neil Oliver - DONE
June 2017: Fight for your Rights - Triangle: The Fire that Changed America by David Von Drehle - DONE
July 2017: Viva La Revolución! - America Goes to War: A Social History of the Continental Army by Charles Patrick Neimeyer - DONE
August 2017: Art: Making it, Preserving it, Collecting it, Stealing it - Tom Thomson: Trees by Joan Murray - DONE
September 2017: Historically Significant Event The Contexts of Acadian History 1686-1784 by Naomi E.S. Griffiths - DONE
October 2017: Gothic - The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield DONE
November 2017: Noir or Darkness - The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett - DONE
December 2017: Twisted Fairytales - Wicked by Gregory Maguire - DONE
12/12

BLOG



My family history research has uncovered a pioneer family in Upper Canada! I have written about their life and times in A Time in Old Ontario. It is ironic that a lot of what is known about this family comes from their applications for pensions due to the gentleman's participation in the American Revolution, on the American side. Check out my blog at A Genealogist's Path to History and see.

Books read in 2017

November

The Spirit of Africville by The Africville Genealogy Society
John Diefenbaker: An Appointment With Destiny by Arthur Slade
No Word From Winifred by Amanda Cross
Martin Luther King: The Peaceful Warrior by Ed Clayton
The Lost Ancestor by Nathan Dylan Goodwin
The Norfolk Mystery by Ian Sansom
The Reserve by Russell Banks
Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong – and the New Research That's Rewriting the Story by Angela Saini
Let Loose the Dogs by Maureen Jennings
The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
March: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin & Nate Powell
Selected Poems: John Dryden
Chapter & Hearse by Lorna Barrett

Books acquired in 2017

November

How to Write Your Personal History by J. Malan Heslop and Dell Van Orden
Organize your genealogy: strategies and solutions for Every Researcher by Drew Smith
Breathe Life into Your Life Story: How to Write a Story People Will Want to Read by Dawn and Morris Thurston
From Family Tree to Family History by Ruth Finnegan and Michael Drake
From Family History to Community History by W.T.R. Pryce
Communities and Families by John Golby
The End of the European Era, 1890 to the Present by Felix Gilbert
Farthing by Jo Walton
No Man's Mistress by Mary Balogh
The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkley – thanks Judy
London Fog by Christine Corton
Bohemians, Bootleggers, Flappers and Swells: The Best of Early Vanity Fair edited by Graydon Carter
Ring in the Year with Murder by Auralee Wallace
Beloved Poison by E.S. Thomson
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World by Debbie Tung
Fifth Column by Mike Hollow
Blood of the Isles by Bryan Sykes
On the Origin of Species by means of natural selection by Charles Darwin
Tightening the Threads by Lea Wait
A Killer in King's Cove by Iona Whishaw
Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069 by William Strauss and Neil Howe
The British: A Genetic Journey by Alistair Moffat
The Witch of Lime Street by David Jaher
The Inheritor's Powder by Sandra Hempel

December

The Black Cat by Martha Grimes
Sully: My Search for What Really Matters by Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III and Jeffrey Zaslow
The Cereal Murders by Diane Mott Davidson
Death of a God by S.T. Haymon
Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz
The Waterways of Britain by Anthony Burton
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart
Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters
Kiss Hollywood Good-by by Anita Loos
The Withdrawing Room by Charlotte MacLeod
George Raft by Lewis Yablonsky
A Very Particular Murder by S.T. Haymon
Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding
The Changing Face of Britain by Edward Hyams
House of Thieves by Charles Belfoure
The Long Way Home by Louise Penny
Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths
The Inheritance by Charles Finch
Murder at Brightwell by Ashley Weaver
The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen
The Confabulist by Steven Galloway
Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo
The Final Silence by Stuart Neville
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy Sayers
Only a Few Bones by John Philip Colletta
The Lady Travelers Guide to Larceny with a Dashing Stranger by Victoria Alexander
Far East Air Operations 1942-1945 by John Grehan
American Spring: Lexington, Concord, and the Road to Revolution by Walter R. Borneman
Eavesdropping on Jane Austen's England by Roy & Lesley Adkins
Baking with Kafka by Tom Gauld

Reading Stats

Total books read 115

Fiction 78
Non-fiction 36

Female authors 69
Male authors 44

Books on tap for December

Currently reading:

The Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom: A Celtic Shaman's Source Book
Do Not Say We Have Nothing
The Gods of Gotham
The Outlander
The Sun Also Rises
Longbourn
Pride and Prejudice
Wicked

Not yet started:

Sinking the Sultana
The Books of Magic
Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy
The Deception of Livvy Higgs
Gone to Amerikay

These are my reading totals for the last three years.

2014 115

2015 117

2016 118

My reading numbers have been pretty consistent and slowly, very slowly, increasing. It looks like I will finish quite a few more this year. I'll see how far I can get - 120? 130? 140? 150??

Want to make a guess?

Total 2017 acquisitions

Wow, that went fast. I've been busy today and didn't get to LT this morning. Now I find you've a whole new thread going. Anyway, in response to 186 from your last thread: no, my hubby says he isn't familiar with Kulula. In response to 188: his book is Unusual Airlines and Airliners.

>16 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, you're my first visitor and your prize in honour of the season:



Thanks for the book title.

Happy new thread, Meg!

Happy New Thread, Meg. Happy Saturday. Love the topper.

Happy new thread, Meg!

I like all the pictures you've posted, but especially the one with your kitties and the advent candle.

>14 Familyhistorian: I think I will reach 125 this year. I already exceeded last year's total.

My totals from previous years.
2016 - 112
2015 - 165
2014 - 114
2013 - 189
2014 - 242
2011 - 229

Like the chilly topper, Meg!

Happy new thread and wishing you also a perfect weekend. xx

Happy new one, Meg! The kitty on the left in >17 Familyhistorian: looks exactly like our Mischief!

Happy new thread!

>17 Familyhistorian: Love this photo especially!

>18 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley.

>19 msf59: I hope your Saturday goes smoothly, Mark, so you can get home to the beer and books. Thanks re the topper. That is a reminder to myself that the weather could be worse. I am hoping not to see a repeat of the frozen lake this year!

>20 karenmarie: Hi Karen, unfortunately, I can't take the credit for the photo of the kitties and candle. I found that one on the internet. No cats here since my last moggy past on a few years back.

>26 Familyhistorian: Well, the other photos that you did take are nice, too!

>21 thornton37814: Good luck on reaching 125 this year, Lori. Maybe you can make it further? It looks like there is an overall downward trend in your reading, must be a result of RL becoming more active?

>22 PaulCranswick: It was an odd year last year, the first one where that lake actually froze enough for people to go skating on it. It was a pretty scene but I hope there isn't a repeat this year. Hope you have a great weekend, Paul. When do you go travelling?

>23 Crazymamie: Your Mischief is a nice looking kitty then, Mamie. Have a great weekend!

>24 tymfos: >27 tymfos: Thanks Terri, the other photos are all mine! I hope you have some time off from your studies soon.

>31 Familyhistorian: Final exam is Dec. 14, then I have a month off from school. Yay!

It is Saturday morning and I am off to my volunteer gig at the BC Genealogical Society library. I usually volunteer one Saturday afternoon a week but they are having some treats for the volunteers in the morning.

>32 tymfos: Good luck with the exams and the studying. I know you will appreciate the month off!

Happy new thread!

>17 Familyhistorian: Wow this thread is still moving fast! Thank you for the beautiful photo award for being first, Meg.

Happy New Thread, Meg!

Interesting history in >8 Familyhistorian:. I bet Canadians are once again concerned about Americans flooding into (upper) Canada, as they flee Trump's America.

I look forward to your reactions to Do Not Say We Have Nothing. I've been eyeing that one for a while.

Hi Meg, I hope your weekend is going well and you are managing to stay dry. I zipped out to the library this morning and, boy, it was cold! The rest of today I am staying indoors. We have been so busy the last few days that I am looking forward to spending some time on LT and catching up. The good news for me is that my grandkids are coming for dinner as their parents have gone to Seattle for the weekend.

Happy new thread Meg my dear, hope you are having a really good weekend so far dear friend, sending love and hugs.

>35 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

>36 RebaRelishesReading: You're welcome. I thought you would appreciate the kitties, Reba.

>37 jnwelch: Not quite as concerned, Joe. We haven't just been on the opposite sides of a conflict. Besides we are much, much more sympathetic to the American plight at this time.

I am not sure if I am the best one to listen to about Do Not Say We Have Nothing. I started it many months ago for the CAC and stopped. I will be starting it up again because I just joined a real life book club and that is their book for January.

>38 DeltaQueen50: It was chilly and wet for sure, Judy. I went for a walk before a gathering for our BC Genealogical Society volunteers this morning, did my volunteer stint and was off by 3:00. I got back from Surrey and just ducked into Chapters for a minute, well maybe 30 or 40 minutes, by the time I came out it was dark and raining. I went for another walk. Have to get in those steps. Have fun with your grandkids!

>39 johnsimpson: Thanks John, the weekend has been good so far. I hope you and Karen are enjoying the weekend too.

116. Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

I am not a big reader of fantasy but had an idea what I was getting into. I have never read anything by Mary Robinette Kowal but I have seen and heard her at the Surrey International Writer's Conference. She rocks as a puppeteer.

Shades of Milk and Honey was a romantic tale with magic touches. The heroine and one of the men she is interested in, have the power to infuse art and vignettes with magic touches of glamour. Of course, there is another love interest, other potential couples, misunderstandings and some dasterdly dealings. It was an enjoyable read.

I was excited to see evidence of the sun off in the distance when I went out for a walk today. Maybe there will actually be some sunshine in my neighbourhood in the next few days but today it was almost enough that there was no rain!

Happy new thread, Meg.

>33 Familyhistorian: - YUM!

>45 Familyhistorian: Nice photo. And hooray for no rain! May, it continue.

>46 lkernagh: Thanks Lori. I agree, mincemeat tarts are some of my favourite holiday treats.

>47 msf59: No rain again today, Mark. I might get spoiled at this rate.

Three days of no rain and counting! Today I went for a walk in New Westminster up the hill to Royal City Centre only to find out that the Black Bond Books there will be closing. The one near me just closed a couple of months ago. Their last day will be December 24. I will have to make it back before that happens. Besides, there is a Ukrainian bakery on the way up the hill.

Sorry your bookstore is closing.

Fascinating discoveries in your genealogical quest! Very cool! Interesting also that your ancestor came down to fight in the Revolution.

>45 Familyhistorian: I finished my growing up in western NY state and we called those -- "a Geneseo sunset" (for the name of our town). That area has the gloomiest weather in the US after Seattle and we could go weeks with no sun. But right at sunset there would often be five minutes where it would peek tantalizingly through a slight opening in the clouds. In our family you say, "Oh that was like a Geneseo sunset" to mean a tantalizing promise of something that would never actually happen!

>45 Familyhistorian: Nice photo Meg.

Just popping by to prove that I don't only post over at Chez Moi! xx

>51 sibylline: Hi Lucy, actually my ancestor started out in New York state and came up to Canada with the promise of land. He was born in Dutchess County, NY in 1761. I find it particularly interesting to have such links to the US and Canada as I wasn't born on this continent. It feels strange to have early ancestors in a country in which you are an immigrant.

I can relate to gloomy weather because I live just north of Seattle and, yes we have quite a few of those "Geneseo sunset's".

>52 PaulCranswick: Good to see you off your own thread, Paul. LOL! I see you lots around the threads. What I don't understand is how you find the time to read and post and run a business.

>50 Familyhistorian: Sad to see a bookstore closing. We have a very tiny Books A Million (chain store) and Lifeway (Christian bookstore) in town. We don't have an independent one here. There's a used bookstore down in White Pine which stocks a few new books and hosts some local author book signings. For a chain store, I like the really nice and larger Books a Million in Sevierville for new books. If traffic is moving, it takes about 30-40 minutes to get there, depending on if I'm at work or home. If it's not moving, it can take twice that long. The joys of tourist destinations!

Is it too late to wish you a happy new thread? I mean you just started it three days ago! : ) I am guessing you will hit 127.

>55 thornton37814: It is sad to see bookstores closing, Lori. There is still one within walking distance of where I live but there used to be two, so there was variety. It was the independent bookstore that closed in my neighbourhood. The one that I saw today that was closing is a a couple of cities over (they all run into each other) but the same independent chain.

>56 Berly: Hi Kim, not too late at all, thanks. I could well hit 127 as that is only 11 more books. (Well, actually 10 more because there is one I haven't posted about.)

Still rain-free? Fingers crossed.

>59 msf59: There was actually full on sunshine today, Mark!

>54 Familyhistorian: It is the clones doing most of the work......shhh don't tell 'em. xx

Happy New thread, Meg. Sorry to read about the closing of bookstores in your area. We just have a small indigo/Chapters in my neck of the woods. There are also two second hand bookstores about 10 minutes away, which is handy, but not the same as a nice big bookstore. Like you, if I want to walk a big bookstore, it Broadway and Oak- via the bus and Canada Line and bus again, or car , but driving in and finding parking is such a hassle. I have not been to the Chapter's at Broadway and Oak for quite a while. I tend to use the library a lot, of amazon, and the odd book from my local bookstores.

Hooray for full on sunshine. We are full on winter, at least temperature-wise, for the next few days. Hope those books are treating you well.

Happy Wednesday, Meg! And hooray for your day of sunshine! It was sunny here yesterday, but it is dark and rainy today, which I am very happy about since I feel like sitting and reading and a rainy is conducive to that.

We have just a small Books A Million, and it is in the mall - but at least it has its own outside entrance. No used bookstores any where close, which is sad. I miss all the bookstore choices that we had back when we were living in Indianapolis - more than two decades ago. Ahem.

Hi Meg!

Sorry that your book options in town are diminishing. (mental note: spend more time in our little indie Circle City Books.)

>61 PaulCranswick: Ha, you must have an army of them, Paul, but doesn't it get crowded?

>62 vancouverdeb: Hi Deb, there is actually a Chapters near me at the mall across from Coquitlam Centre but I do like the variety. I sometimes go to the Chapters downtown store at Broadway and Granville which is bigger and has more selection and, once in a blue moon, hit the one at Metrotown. I miss the main store that used to be on Robson. I know what you mean about taking a car downtown, it is such a hassle! I usually take transit and add a trip to the downtown library to make the trip worthwhile but that means toting a lot of books going back home! I haven't found any second hand bookstores in my area. I used to go to some in New Westminster but those have all closed down too. Maybe it is a good thing to be far away from bookstores like you are, you probably don't end up with huge book hauls every month, like I do.

>63 msf59: Well, hopefully winter weather is just temperature and not the other white stuff, Mark. I hope you are enjoying a day off cozying up to some books.

>64 Crazymamie: With the way the book selling industry is these days, Mamie, even if you were still living in Indianapolis there would probably be fewer book stores. Lots of stores are feeling the affect of online shopping. I miss browsing among the stacks in different stores. You never know what will catch your attention.

Enjoy your rainy day reading. I rarely read for pleasure once I am up and have begun my day - too much research and writing to do, I guess. Maybe I should learn to take things a bit easier?

>65 karenmarie: It is a good thing to support your independent bookstores, Karen. Sadly, though sometimes that doesn't seem to be enough.

Whew, busy day and fun being among the retired. I met some ex- coworkers and a fellow retiree for dim sum, then met a couple of fellow retirees for coffee and then went to a potluck for my women's group in the evening. I am not sure why everyone chose the same day but it was great to see everyone and I got out of the cafe just as it was getting dark so I was able to take a walk around the lake and see the Christmas lights when the crowds were thin but the lights were bright.

Happy newish thread, Meg! Isn't being retired just the bomb?! I too had coffee with a fellow retiree yesterday. Fabulous. indeed.

Happy new thread, Meg, enjoyed all the pictures of the lake, with and without ice.

I rarely read for pleasure once I am up and have begun my day - too much research and writing to do, I guess." Um...aren't you retired? You're doing it wrong, Meg. *cheeky grin*

Your day out sounds full of fabulous - glad you had fun, and how lovely to get to enjoy the Christmas lights before returning home.

>72 Carmenere: Yes, no more trying to figure out times to get together in the few hours available around work! I love it, Lynda. But last night at the potluck I was with a bunch of women I have known for 15 years, all around the same basic age. One of them retired this year just ahead of me. She is so happy to have gone back to work half time because she was missing it. One of the things she missed the most was the social part of being with coworkers. I told her I get to see my coworkers regularly and am really enjoying this part of my life.

>73 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita. The park with the lake is one of my regular walking spots and just a few blocks from my home.

>74 Crazymamie: Ha, only retired from my day job, Mamie, not from the things that give me a sense of purpose, research and writing. Yesterday was fun and I just took in the lights so that I could get in my steps on the way home. It was nice to be there when it was dark enough to get the full effect.

117. Only Enchanting by Mary Balogh

I have lots of books to finish by the end of the year so, of course, I had to read something that was not on my list of must reads. Only Enchanting was one of the Survivors' Club Novels by Mary Balogh, about a group of people who have come back from the Napoleonic Wars disabled in some way, an interesting way to create conflict for the characters in this series of novels. This romance of Flavian, a man with holes in his memories, and his unlikely choice for a bride was a good entry in the series.

118. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway was a man's man, or at least his tastes leaned in that direction. He was interested in fishing and bull fighting, amongst other things, and wrote about what he knew in The Sun Also Rises. His characters were group of people too young to be called old and too old to be so aimless. They spent their time looking for adventure and travelled to exotic places like Pamplona to experience the bull fights but spent most of their time anesthetized by alcohol. That, of course, led to bickering, fist fights and maudlin regrets. Maybe that was a true portrait of those who came along after WWI who were dubbed “the Lost Generation”.

>79 Familyhistorian: I enjoyed your thoughts on The Sun Also Rises. I am planning on rereading this, for the AAC. It is has been over a decade since I read it.

>80 msf59: Thanks Mark, I think. I wasn't too thrilled with it - kind of reminded me of life in the '70s or alcoholics I have known.

We read The Sun Also Rises in American Lit class in high school. I really don't remember much about it except the bullfighting and drinking, and how the teacher tried to keep our attention by emphasizing the naughty bits and sexual metaphors.

I wonder what I'd think of it if I read it now? But I have For Whom the Bell Tolls on the shelf for this month's AAC. Another day, another Hemingway . . .

>82 tymfos: I really don't remember much about it except the bullfighting and drinking. Then you basically remember the whole book, Terri. There is not much more to it.

The Sun Also Rises should be the name for the weather in Vancouver, I think, somedays, Meg! Boy we've had our share of fog and overcast and rain this fall. I'm not sure if I read the book in school or not. Many books I remember, but I suspect I have not read The Sun Also Rises. I think I'll skip it. Thanks for reading it for me!

>69 Familyhistorian: So true about the book industry, Meg. I miss the bookstore on Robson too. Browsing around and finding unusual books. The books in the shops have been supplanted with mugs, blankets etc at Chapters. Even on amazon ca, where I do order book, I notice that some of the new books disappear after 6 weeks after publication. I was considering ordering myself Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, but amazon ca no longer has it for sale! You can order it without a definite shipping day, so I got into the hold queue at my library. I would order from the Book Depository, but it takes? 2 months or more for a book to arrive. It is frustrating. It almost reminds of trying to shop at Costco! Purchase it right away, or it's gone, never to return. Frustrating!

>85 vancouverdeb: - I order sometimes through Abebooks and often, the Book Depository is the vender I end up with. It only takes a few weeks, not months, and often, there aren't even shipping charges from the UK!

Hi Meg!

>75 Familyhistorian: My husband’s friend’s wife Becky retired 2 years ago and is bored out of her mind. I absolutely cannot fathom that in any version of the world as I know it. She’s been spending a lot of time up north because of family issues, which makes her husband unhappy down here without her. I’m glad you get enough social interaction with friends and are enjoying retirement so far!

>79 Familyhistorian: I love Mary Balogh books and actually still have some on my shelves still unread. I thought it was maybe 1 or two, but it turns out to be SIX, so will pull one for a quick read for my goal of 100 this year.

>80 msf59: Like @vancouverdeb, thank you for reading it for me! I have read The Old Man and the Sea and loved it, but I'm not sure if I'll read any of the 3 books still on my shelves, unread.

>86 jessibud2: I keep forgetting about Book Depository but it's very hard to compete with Amazon's free shipping on most books for Prime members here in the US and 2 day delivery. Instant gratification!

Hi Meg, I started Inferior How Science Got Women Wrong and I think I got the idea for reading it from your thread. It is VERY interesting! Thanks for the tip.

>84 vancouverdeb: I think that's a good call, Deb. We actually saw sun for hours today. Not sure if you saw my photo of the Barred Owl on Mark's thread, he shifted to a new thread soon after I posted it. This is a photo I took off my deck back in August.



Yes, the book selling industry hasn't changed for the better, has it?

>86 jessibud2: Good to know, Shelley.

>87 karenmarie: What, when does it get boring? I am just hitting my second wind!

The Balogh read will be a quick way to increase your reading numbers, Karen. I find that I can breeze through a book like that in hardly any time at all.

>88 mdoris: It is very good, Mary. I hope you enjoy it. I found out about it on someone else's thread but had to wait to get it at the library because there were so many holds ahead of me. So it is popular on more than LT.

>89 Familyhistorian: I LOVE this photo of the Barred Owl. Lucky you. My time will come, my friend...

>93 msf59: And I didn't have to leave home to see the owl either. I was sitting at my dining room table when I saw him.

Pushed those clones aside to wish you a wonderful Sunday, Meg. xx

>95 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the wishes from the real you, Paul. I hope you have a great week.

That is a fabulous picture a barred owl, Meg! You live in a beautiful area! I'm a real Richmondite and I think I'd be afraid of your bear issues, but there is no denying that seeing owls and such outside your window is lovely. I am worried enough walking just after dark due to the coyotes that hang out around the Stevenson area. Yes, we've been seeing sun during the day too! I don't even want to tangle with a skunk or a racoon. One of my sons's was partially " skunked" parking his car and walking into our townhouse years ago and oh, getting his winter coat cleaned was enough for me ( took it to the Cleaners) . And the raccoon fights in the cherry trees behind me - that's all the nature I can take! :-)

>97 vancouverdeb: I do live in an interesting area, Deb. I am right next to Coquitlam's city centre and yet there is so much wildlife around. I have lived in this area for 30 years and it didn't used to be like this but then they started building up on the mountains and the wildlife had no where to go. I would miss my mountains if I lived in Richmond, but I guess it is whatever you get used to.

Hi Meg!

You were so busy your first month or so of retirement that I can easily understand that you're just catching your second wind! Yay retirement.

I just pulled Secrets of the Heart by Balogh off my shelves.

>99 karenmarie: It was a whirlwind in the first month and a half or so after I retired. I planned it that way. Now it is so busy because of the Christmas season. Maybe it will slow down in January? Ah, yes the Balogh book will help you get to 100, Karen.

Gasp! Miss the mountains in Richmond! I think Richmond is the perfect compromise.! No hills, but you you can see the mountains nicely in the background. But I do think it's all what you get used to, of course. The only other city I have lived in was Winnipeg, so flat is fine by me.

>101 vancouverdeb: There is nothing like the views of the mountains that you get coming down some of the hills in Coquitlam, Deb. I would miss the different views if I lived somewhere flat.

>102 Familyhistorian: Yes, I think it's all in what one gets used to living with, Meg. And by the way, Meg is such a pretty name!

>103 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb. I like the name Meg which is why I chose it. I don't like the name that it is derived from.

119. The Outlander by Gil Adamson

When I first started The Outlander I wasn't sure if I could read a whole book where the main character is a woman who doesn't seem to be in her right mind. Of course, she had just become a widow by her own hand and was running from her late husband's relentless brothers who are on her trail.

By the end of the novel I found myself rooting for the widow, Mary. For most of the story she managed to survive and elude her trackers. Throughout her flight she was befriended by many characters and through it all she has grown into a resourceful woman and determined character. I liked her character in spite of my initial misgivings, the sign of a really good book.

>5 Familyhistorian: quite a different image from the previous year! Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos

>105 Familyhistorian: - Interesting, Meg. I started this book earlier this year and abandoned it. It was during a reading slump when it seemed I was starting and abandoning every other book but this one truly didn't grab me, in fact, it put me off somewhat. I don't think I'll go back to it but it's good to know that it redeemed itself for you!

>106 Whisper1: Hi Linda, photo #5 is like it usually is, the frozen lake with people on it hadn't happened in about 20 years.

>119 karenmarie: I can see why that would happen, Shelley. I really didn't like the heroine when the book first started especially when she took things from people who were being kind to her but she really grows throughout the book until I wanted things to go right for her in the end. I wanted to finish the book because is was part of the CAC - last months challenge but still, I am a bit of a completist.

After a marathon session last night I got all the individual letters to go in the Christmas cards finished and mailed the cards out today. One thing done. Even better, my son is back from China. It's good to see him home.

120. Abbey Cooper, Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie

Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye is the first book in a new-to-me mystery series. Abby is a psychic who does readings for people. She is not involved with the police until getting romantically involved with a detective. Neither of them knows what to make of it when murders start happening and she starts to pick up what is going on. It was a fun start to a new series.

121. Murder Between the Covers by Elaine Viets

My next mystery, Murder Between the Covers, was billed as a dead-end job mystery. The hero, Helen, is hiding out from her ex and working under the table in a bookstore in Florida. Things are going downhill at the store. There are rumours that it is going to close and then the store owner ends up dead in Helen's neighbour's bed while the apartment building is tented by exterminators. He could have been done in by pesticide except for the knife in his back. Can Helen find out who the killer is to clear her neighbour without revealing her true identity?

I quite enjoyed The Outlander, Meg! Glad you did too! I think I've got all of my Christmas cards mailed, unless I get an unexpected card that I want to quickly reply to. I'm in a reading slump - not sure why - the winter blues? But anyway I picked up few couple of books from the 2 nd hand shop today, one is the first in the series by Peter Robinson . It has been a month where I pick up a book , and then drop it. I 'm a bit frustrated with myself!

And your son, what sort of adventures did he have while in China? Was he gone for long?

>110 Familyhistorian: How great to have your son home again. : ) I got all my Christmas cards out today. Happiness all around.

>113 vancouverdeb: I hope you get over you slump soon, Deb. It is probably more a case of to much to do for the season, I would think. My son was in China for 2 weeks. No adventures unfortunately, they were working 6 days a week and he wasn't interested in exploring. Oh well, to each his own, I guess.

>114 Berly: It is nice to have him home, Kim. It was strange to be alone here. I am usually the one that goes travelling. It was a relief to get the Christmas cards done. Now I don't feel so bad when their cards show up here.

This evening I went to the Christmas meeting for the BC Genealogical Society. As part of the event they have a book sale. You can bring books for them to sell and buy books for $0.25 each or 6 for $1. I had good intentions. I took in 8 books, but I brought 12 home.

>117 Familyhistorian: The best intentions gone awry. LOL

Hi Meg!

>110 Familyhistorian: Good for you! I finally gave up about 20 years ago and write a holiday letter, otherwise I'd never tell anybody anything - I absolutely hated writing notes in Christmas cards, Some folks get a picture, too - used to just be a photo of our daughter but this year we're going to a family party and I'll get a cousin to take a photo of the three of us. Then a quick trip to Walmart to get prints and I'll mail the last 48 cards on Monday.

So glad that your son is home.

>117 Familyhistorian: It always seems to go that way when it comes to books. *sigh*

>119 karenmarie: I did a holiday letter one year but didn't feel inspired this year. I have a small list of people that I send to. It has twindled over the years. This year in particular I wanted to get in touch personally with the people I had visited this year so personal letters seemed the best way to go.

I was nice to partake of holiday cheer with my fellow genealogists last night. The book haul was a plus. I picked up:

The Black Cat by Martha Grimes
Sully: My Search for What Really Matters by Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III and Jeffrey Zaslow
The Cereal Murders by Diane Mott Davidson
Death of a God by S.T. Haymon
Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz
The Waterways of Britain by Anthony Burton
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart
Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters
Kiss Hollywood Good-by by Anita Loos
The Withdrawing Room by Charlotte MacLeod
George Raft by Lewis Yablonsky
A Very Particular Murder by S.T. Haymon

Congrats on the book haul, Meg!! The only one of those I have read is the one by Sully

Nice book haul Meg my dear.

>105 Familyhistorian: Hooray for The Outlander! I am also a fan of this one. Glad you enjoyed it.

>122 Familyhistorian: Great book haul, Meg. I loved Confederates in the Attic. That book need to get more attention.

Great book haul, Meg! Lake Lafarge and it's Christmas decorations made the Vancouver Sun as one of the top places to go in to enjoy the Christmas Season! Enjoy!

Did you son have the freedom to explore much? Maybe that is less possible in China? I'm no expert at all, but my cousin took a trip to China this fall and went with a bus tour. He is just in his early 40's , but I think he felt it was safest with a group organized tour. He's in the midst of a sad divorce and I think he just wanted to get away. Brave guy to go with a group of unknown people for 10 days in China. He really enjoyed himself, but said it was quite a unique experience and a microcosm of interesting people , his fellow tour bus buddies. His sister and her husband took a similar tour to China the previous year and likewise they did an organized tour.

>122 Familyhistorian: Nice book haul. I think I need to attend the BCGS Christmas party. ;-)

>123 jessibud2: Most of the books are very old hard covers, Shelley, probably why you haven't heard of them.

>124 johnsimpson: Thanks John, I hope you and Karen are having a good week.

>125 msf59: I'm glad that I didn't put The Outlander don't at the beginning as I was tempted to do, Mark. It turned out much better in the end. I am looking forward to reading Confederates in the Attic. I am interested in the US Civil War and its aftermath, another history interest that comes from my far flung family. I had a many times great uncle who fought as a Union soldier.

>126 vancouverdeb: The lights at Lafarge are really well done, Deb. I am not surprised that it made the Vancouver Sun's top Christmas places.

A tour group would probably have been a better way to explore China. I don't think he was overly impressed by the part of the country that he saw but then it must be difficult to work in a place where everything is foreign including the language.

>127 thornton37814: You would fit right in with all those BCGS folks, Lori.

Today was the Christmas lunch for PoCo Heritage. It was fun to get together with 24 of the other members when we were all relaxing for a change. On the walk home, yes I am getting in my steps between holiday celebrations, I stopped in at the two places that I have coupons/gift cards for. They are from the silent auction that where I ended up with two of the auctioned items. Turns out that both places give art lessons/sessions. So I guess that I will be getting into art in the New Year. It should be fun but now I just have to find time in my schedule. I just signed up for one water colour class so far.

>133 Familyhistorian: Ooooh! Water color. That takes courage. But it's art, and it's fun, so there!

Nice book haul, Meg!

I have Confederates in the Attic on my shelves and remember loving Mary Stewart's books but not reading any in a while.

Happy Friday, Meg! Cool that you signed up for water color! Even more cooler that you're living in a walkable community.

>134 Berly: Not just watercolours, Kim. I spoke to Laury, who teaches the classes and they offer introductory courses to watercolour, acrylics and oils (there are two courses to the oils). I have 4 coupons so will take more than the watercolours one to see which medium I am interested in. I just have to find room in my schedule as they are offered midday on Saturdays which tends to be a busy day for meetings and such. They also offer an intro on alcohol inks, which is a popular new medium. I know that the friend that I visited in Nova Scotia was very much in to the inks and when we were touring around we looked in at a gallery and she and the owner/artist had a long discussion about inks, places to get them and courses to take. I think I will have to give that course a look see as well.

>135 karenmarie: Thanks Karen. I am looking forward to cracking their covers and, by January, they will all be ROOTs. I recently read Mary Stewart's The Ivy Tree which I received through Santa Thing one year. I really enjoyed it so the Mary Stewart kind of leapt into my hands, well it would have except that it is a thick hard cover. Confederates in the Attic looks like it will add to my knowledge of the US Civil War which I would like to know more about as my many times great uncle was caught up in the conflict.

>136 Carmenere: Happy Friday to you too, Lynda. I am looking forward to the art course. It is a very walkable community especially now that the bears should be hibernating. Unfortunately, it looks damper out there today.

*smile* Everything on my shelves will become ROOTs, too, come January 1.

By your reading more about US history, you remind me that I need to crack my Canadian History for Dummies next year. I'm going for smallish books to get to my goal of 100...

>140 karenmarie: I love reading in January when I don't have to think about whether a book off my shelves will help me meet my ROOT goals! Interesting how the school systems don't teach the history of our nearest neighbours. Have fun with the Canadian history book.

>140 karenmarie: - Oh, I see that it is by Will Ferguson. He is a hoot! I've read at least one other book by him, possibly 2, I can't remember at the moment. I just heard an interview with him on the radio recently about his most recent book. He is good; it should be an enjoyable read. Maybe I'll look for it; can't hurt to have a *refresher! ;-)

>142 jessibud2: Um, hi Shelley.

>143 Familyhistorian: - Hi Meg! :-)

>144 jessibud2: :-)

Sounds like you are keeping busy, Meg! I still have to do my cards. I tend to type up a basic shell that has the news that I want to share with everyone, then personalize the first and last paragraphs for the individual person.

>146 ronincats: That's a good way to do it, Roni. I did copy and paste between a few of the letters. Yes, it is busy but I keep thinking that is because of the season.

122. Gone to Amerikay by Derek McCulloch

The story of Gone to Amerikay told of two different sets of Irish immigrants who moved to New York. One set in 1870 and one in 1960. Their stories were different, given their circumstances and how New York changed in that time, but they were also intertwined.

There was a third strand to the story, which involved a wealthy man who was looking for the stories of the destitute woman who immigrate in the 19th century and the musician who sangs about her who immigrated in the 20th century. It was the wealthy man's search that showed us the connections between the stories. It was an interesting tale and a good way of comparing the experiences.

Happy Saturday, Meg. hope you had a good week. It looks like the books are treating you well. Are you still getting lots of rain?

>137 Familyhistorian: That all sounds like great fun! I love taking art classes. I am hoping to get a Christmas GC for my favorite glass place so I can sign up for another one soon. Fingers crossed.

>122 Familyhistorian: Great haul!
And congrats on the new art class - I wish I was retired!

>149 msf59: Lots of reading been done, Mark. I have a book or ten to finish before the end of December. Unfortunately, that doesn't leave room to bookhorn in any spontaneous reads. The rain hasn't started yet today but we are supposed to have a few wet days and then back to dry which I will appreciate.

>150 Berly: It has been years since I took any art classes. It should be interesting. I also have a GC for another place that I got at the silent auction as well. Turns out those are also art classes. Good luck getting a GC for glass work for Christmas. Surely whoever gave you the last one knows how much you enjoyed it.

>151 charl08: LOL, Charlotte, didn't you just start your job recently? I can remember being in awe of your copious reading while you weren't working and I was, not that working has slowed down your reading much. The art class should be fun and I have coupons for 3 more!

123. The Enclyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom: A Celtic Shaman's Source Book by Cailtlin & John Matthews

It was a slog reading through The Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom: A Celtic Shaman's Source Book and, as I was going through it, I envisioned myself putting it up for grabs in the Little Free Library. But I think that the book will be of value as a resource as I try to understand my Celtic roots. The stories contained in the book are the mythology on which the Celtic culture is based. It also contains interesting information on ancient beliefs in magic, shape-shifting and second sight.

Hi there Meg! What a wet, dull day! I put the Christmas lights on already, just so I can see a little light outside!

>155 Familyhistorian: That looks like something I should go and look for, Meg. As I get older I become more and more interested in my Irish roots.

Enjoy what is left of your weekend. xx

>156 vancouverdeb: I went out for a walk in it, Deb. What ugly weather! The good thing is that they are predicting that it will only last a couple more days.

>157 PaulCranswick: Well, I am warm and dry now after venturing out in the sodden wetness so the rest of my weekend will be more enjoyable. Are you sure you want to move back to a place with seasons?

I have long been interested in my own Celtic roots, Paul. I suppose it is only right as I have a dose from ancestors on both sides; Irish on my father's side and the Western Isles on my mother's. The book talked about the suppression of Celtic culture by the dominant Anglo one, which can be seen in the history of both of those places.

Meg, could you send some of your rain this way? We have had NO rain in December, part of our rainy season.

>160 ronincats: Gladly, Roni. I think we had enough in November to take care of at least two months of rain fall. Besides, from the sounds of the news you could use it more than we can.

124. The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman

I was brought up with comics and love graphic novels which seem to be the adult extension of that genre. One of the better GNs that I have read is Neil Gaiman's The Books of Magic. The novel is split into 4 parts, each showing a different aspect of the world of magic to young Tim Hunter.

There is plenty of scope for the artists to draw weird and wonderful things and the reader gets to enjoy the worlds, bond with young Tim and wonder about the motives of his guides into the magical realms. It was an entertaining story, well drawn.

>162 Familyhistorian: Sounds like fun. I enjoyed the GN version of How to talk to girls at parties. Have had plenty of rain here, so hoping for a drier Xmas.

>163 charl08: It was a good one, Charlotte. How to talk to girls at parties is on my wish list, good to hear that you enjoyed it. I heard that you had snow as well as rain. Has the snow all been washed away? The weather forecasters promised us a dry Christmas, but then they also promised is 2 days of sunshine in the next short stretch but last night it was down to one day.

Hi, Meg.

>162 Familyhistorian: I'm another fan of Gaiman's Books of Magic. The two GNs of his The Graveyard Book are really good, too.

His Sandman series is amazing, but some find it not easy.

Hi Meg, hope you had a good weekend my dear and wishing you a good week ahead in the run up to Christmas. Thank you for your message on my thread and I answered your question about the Turkey Crown. Karen was busy for most of yesterday making festive treats for friends and as presents as well as some for us, she made some nice peanut brittle and a number of truffles and other goodies. Sending love and hugs from across the pond.

Hi Meg. I have taken note of The Books of Magic by Neil Gailman - I am a big fan of his. We have been busy with Christmas visiting and prep. but underneath we are both feeling a sense of panic as to how much we have to do to get this move finalized! January is going to be a crazy month for us!

>165 jnwelch: Those GNs sound very tempting, Joe. There are a lot of Sandman books? comics?

>166 johnsimpson: Ah, so that is a turkey crown, it is similar to what I get, which is billed as a boneless turkey breast roast. It sounds like you will be having quite the Christmas feast. I left the end of my Christmas shopping to the end of the season this year and went to the mall today. The stores were crowded and people seem to be distracted, it saw one car accident and a near miss in just a couple of minutes from each other when I was walking to the mall. I hope the week goes well for you and Karen.

>167 DeltaQueen50: Sounds like you will be too busy to get to The Books of Magic any time soon, Judy. What more do you have to do to get the move finalized? I thought that you had already cleared out a lot of stuff and made arrangements for some of your furniture to go to other people.

>105 Familyhistorian: - I had a similar reaction when I read The Outlander.

I was a little surprised to see Environment Canada issue a weather advisory of possible snow for parts of Vancouver Island on Wed/Thurs.... right in time of the holidays, sort of. The weather has been rather unusual this fall/winter so I guess, anything goes. ;-)

>171 lkernagh: I am glad that I persisted in reading The Outlander because it turned out to be a good read.

The snow forecast just came up today, probably a case of better safe than sorry after the multi-vehicle pile up on the Coquihalla Highway. I don't think that we are supposed to get anything that falls where I live. I am at the bottom of a mountain or 2.

>167 DeltaQueen50: We have done all that and perhaps we are just over-analyzing what still needs to be done, but as time gets closer we are seeing more things to organize, more furniture to find a new home for, and a lot of packing to be done. I am going away right after Christmas for a week, but will be home around January 3rd, and then we need to get to work!

>173 DeltaQueen50: You sound like you have thought a lot of things through already, Judy. Once that is done, it doesn't take as long to do the physical work. Relax and enjoy your time at home and your time away.

>169 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg, the week is going well for us and I have wrapped the small gifts I picked up for Karen. We haven't gone overboard on our spending as I said that if there is anything we really want we are better waiting for the sales in January as we will probably save quite a bit.

When I went to the mall on Saturday it was busy but I was there early and did what I needed to do and left before it got way too busy and that was the same the day before when I went into Leeds, I knew that Saturday would have been hectic so got done what I had to do and then left.

I hope your week is going well my dear.

>168 Familyhistorian: If I'm counting right, Meg, there are 11 books in the main Sandman series by Gaiman, including the most recent one, Sandman Overture, which you should read last (it's much better if you already know the rest).

The first one is Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes. Long story short, the first was under certain restrictions relating to other characters, and the ones after are, IMO, even better.

There are some "side books", too - Sandman Dream Hunters, and two involving the character "Death" (my favorite character after "Dream").

Sadly we have snow. It started snowing early this am, and turned to rain by 11 am or so . I guess it will freeze over! sighs! Hoping to pop out to the mall for some last minute Christmas gift " top ups" . Oh snow and ice! Not my thing. Apparently there was a fatal crash on the Burrard Street Bridge over night. Taxi and a car. Sad thing, that.

>175 johnsimpson: It's a good plan to wait until after Christmas for whatever else you need, John. I was out shopping today and saw a few boxing day sales already. The shops weren't too busy but that might have been because of the snow that fell today. I hope the week into the lead up to Christmas is going well for your and Karen.

>176 jnwelch: Thanks Joe. I put a hold on Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes and I am number 2 in line at the library. I am looking forward to this series.

>177 vancouverdeb: We had rain until about noon, Deb, but the snow came down heavily after that. It remains to be seen what will be around tomorrow. I didn't hear about the fatal crash on the Burrard Street Bridge but the news is just on now and it looked pretty fiery.

125. The Deception of Livvy Higgs by Donna Morrissey

In The Deception of Livvy Higgs, the story of the main character, Livvy, is told when she is an old woman. As she struggles to make sense of the world in which she is now, her past, the past in which deception and longing play a great part, intrudes into her thoughts until she can't tell where she is.

It is a story of people who have made families based on lies. Then along comes Livvy trying to find out the truth and make peace with her family's past. Has she been able to find peace or have the lies robbed her of that?

Morning Meg. I'm trying to make the rounds, catching up with LT friends during my sick day.

You have left 100 in your dust. Congratulations on passing the century mark for 2017.

>181 Familyhistorian: So, did you like it?

>182 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, I hope that you are off today as well, I can't tell from the timing of your post. I hope that you are feeling better.

Do you also have lots of snow on the ground? I sounds like it is chilly and crunchy out there. I haven't ventured out yet, I am hoping it will warm up a bit.

Thanks for the congrats. I have made it past 100 since 2014, which was the first full year that I posted on the 75ers thread. Before that I didn't count the books that I read. I think that retirement has boosted my numbers. I am interested to see how many I will read next year when I won't have a daily job to go to for any of the year.

I think I did enjoy The Deception of Livvy Higgs, the story certainly drew me in.

Hi Meg. We haven't had a flake of snow in Seattle yet this year but the mountains got dumped on in the past day or two. I have a colleague who was taking today off to go snowboarding and she said they had predicted 3 feet of new snow in the last 24 hours. I hope she had a blast!

It's Wednesday here and I did stay home today. I was also home on Monday and spent most of Tuesday at the doctor's office. I expect I'll be home again tomorrow but go to the office on Friday. Friday should be very quiet and I'll be able to get a lot done. Plus, I should be feeling better by then!

I've only passed 100 two years, this year being one of them. I would think retirement would boost the numbers; at least that is what I'm hoping for (when my turn comes).

>184 EBT1002: You are lucky, Ellen. We had snow yesterday and it is sticking around because it is cold. Today it the sun was melting it off the trees which could shower on you if you walked under them.



This is the view at the end of my street.

I am glad to hear that you stayed home today and took care of yourself. I am hoping to get higher reading numbers with a full year of retirement but it is so busy that I don't know how that will go.

You take care of yourself and don't push yourself to go back to work on Friday. I am sure that Abby would be happy to have you around.

I have been very good at not buying many books this December. I want to make sure that I don't duplicate my Santa Thing gifts. Today I went to check out the book store that is closing December 24. They had a buy two of certain tagged books and you get a third one free. I got three books, thought I was good for the deal, and then saw two more that I wanted to get. When I got to the till I was told that I could get another free book because the two extra books also had the same tags on them. So I ended up with 6 books. *sigh* That is 6 books for the price of 4. That was the easy part, then I had to carry them home. At least it was downhill on the way home.

Six books for the price of four is pretty good! You could wrap them up and gift them to yourself. Heh.

I love the view at the end of your street. It looks like you live in a lovely area (my neighborhood is much more urban than that).

>187 EBT1002: I thought that was a good excuse for buying those books, Ellen. I bet there are going to be similar deals after Christmas as well. Maybe that is part of the reason my book collection is running out of shelf space.

You would think from the photo that it isn't an urban area, but there are multiple condo towers about a block and a half and a major shopping mall within four blocks not to mention city hall which is about 2 blocks from the mall. The trees to the left of the photo are in the park beside the river as the cities wisely decided to make trails there instead of allowing more housing.

Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.

>189 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. All the best to you and your family over the holidays.

>188 Familyhistorian: Yay for trails among the housing!



Merry Christmas to you, Meg. I wish you and your family light, laughter, love, and many good books.

Hi Meg, stopping by to wish you and your loved ones peace, joy and happiness this holiday season and for 2018!

Hi Meg. I can't add pictures but I wanted to add my best wishes for the holiday season to you and your family.

It is that time of year again, between Solstice and Christmas, just after Hanukkah, when our thoughts turn to wishing each other well in whatever language or image is meaningful to the recipient. So, whether I wish you Happy Solstice or Merry Christmas, know that what I really wish you, and for you, is this:

>191 EBT1002: Well, they would have had to make some allowances for the river anyway. All the best to you and P for the holiday season, Ellen.

>192 lkernagh: Thanks Lori. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

>193 jessibud2: Still no pictures, Shelley? That is odd. I hope you have a great holiday season.

>194 ronincats: I think that the world is a need of all that good stuff even more than ever these days, Roni. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.

Hi Meg, wishing you a very Merry Christmas my dear and sending love and hugs to you from both of us dear friend.

Hi Meg!



Stopping by to wish you and yours all good things this holiday season.

^Have a great holiday, Meg. Are you planning on receiving a lot of bookish gifts?

Happy holidays, Meg!!

(Or in other words, Happy Christmas, to you and yours!)

Happy Christmas, Meg :-) I hope all the right books show up because you wouldn't want to run out of things to read. People say that can actually happen.

Wishing you all good things this holiday season and beyond.

>199 johnsimpson: All the best of the season to you and Karen, John. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas feast.

>200 karenmarie: All the best to you and your family for the holiday season, Karen.

>201 msf59: Only bookish gifts will be those from Santa Thing, Mark. That is, if they ever show up. I hope that you receive a few bookish presents yourself. Have a great Christmas.

>202 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

>203 SandDune: Thanks, Rhian. All the best to you and your family for the Holiday Season!

>204 susanj67: Can one really run out of things to read! It doesn't look like that will happen around here, Susan. I hope you have a happy Holiday Season!

>205 PaulCranswick: All the best to you in the Holiday Season, Paul. I hope that your family is reunited soon.

Merry Christmas from Philadelphia, Meg!

>209 kidzdoc: I hope you are having a good Christmas, Darryl. Happy Holidays to you and your family.

126. Sinking the Sultana by Sally M. Walker

The American Civil War resulted in a lot of causalities on both sides. Once the hostilities were winding down, the prisoners who were finally being released must have breathed easier when arrangements were being made to get them home. But even that journey could be fraught with danger as told in Sinking the Sultana.

The Sultana was a Mississippi paddle steamer, vastly overcrowded with returning Union soldiers, when the boilers exploded and the ship went down. The background of the soldiers, the greed that led to the overcrowding and the story of those who survived and those who didn't, makes for an interesting look at this lesser known disaster of the Civil War era.

127. A Fine Place for Death

I enjoy Ann Granger's Mitchell and Markby series but I seem to pick them up randomly. In A Fine Place for Death Meredith is still fixing up her own place and resisting Markby's pressure for marriage. An added complication is that his new female sargeant is rooming with Meredith's next door neighbour.

Of course, there is a mystery, a young woman's body is found. Just a young teen, she had been picking up men in a local pub. It seems there is some link to a local manor. Markby and his sargeant are busy puzzling together the pieces when Meredith gets involved. It was another good installment in the series.

>212 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg, did you read Lizzie Martin & Benjamin Ross series and the Campbell & Carter series too, because my library has got copies of these series.

Still a bit under construction, but here's the new group: https://www.librarything.com/groups/75booksin2018

Happy Boxing Day!

Happy Boxing Day!!

>213 Ameise1: Hi Barbara, I am actually reading the Lizzie Martin & Ben Ross series in order (I don't do that often) but haven't checked out the Campbell & Carter series. I tried to read a Fran Varaday one but didn't actually care for it. Are the Fran Varaday ones in your library as well?

>214 drneutron: Thanks Jim for all that you do to keep us 75ers going. I hope you are having a great Boxing Day!

>215 Berly: Thanks, Kim. Boxing Day is more like avoid the stores day around here! But then there are online sales as well and I do have a GC for Chapters, our local bookstore, hmm.

>216 Familyhistorian: I took a online look at my library. they don't have that series.

>212 Familyhistorian: I found a large print edition of the first installment in that Ann Granger series in the Knox County library at the Farragut branch. I'll have to see about getting it shipped to a branch nearer me so I can read it, but I'll have to plan when I can get to it.

>220 thornton37814: If it's the Fran Varady series, I hope you like it more than I did, Lori.

>221 Familyhistorian: It's Mitchell and Markby. You said you liked that one.

>222 thornton37814: Yes, Mitchell & Markby is a good series, I wonder if I have read the first one. What title are you starting with, Lori?

>223 Familyhistorian: Say It with Poison is labeled as the first in series so it's the one I'll dip into first.

Happy Holidays, Meg!

HI Meg, Wishing you a wonderful 2018 full of amazing reading.

>224 thornton37814: That's the first? It's on my shelves, I knew the cover looked familiar but from the description I haven't read it. I'll have to dig it out. I hope you enjoy it Lori.

>225 jnwelch: I hope you and your family are having a wonderful Christmas season, Joe!

>226 mdoris: Thanks Mary. All the best to you in 2018 - good books to read is a given!

Hi, Meg. Did you ever receive your Santa books? Fingers crossed...

>230 msf59: Not yet, Mark, but then there was a huge backlog at Canada Post. I saw that the weather in Chicago is very cold. The showed a clip of a Chicago mailman on his route and asked him how he was doing.

128. Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Whew, still trying to finish off my reads for the end of the year. It is crunch time. Why do all of the books I'm reading have so many pages?

Case in point was Wicked. Not a short read it was a look at the story of the Wizard of Oz based in the land of Oz. The focus in this book was on the little green girl who grows up to be the Wicked Witch of the West. She wasn't all bad but circumstances and the Wizard pushed her that way. It was interesting but long. I also haven't figured out how they made a musical out of it.

129. Learning to be Old: Gender, Culture, and Aging by Margaret Cruikshank

I picked up Learning to be Old thinking it would be a good book to research for how aging was treated in history. It was more up-to-date than that. It was a very interesting look at how the aged are treated in Western society. Many of the examples, especially monetary ones related to what goes on in the US. Not that helpful as many things are different outside of that country. I could agree with many of the other topics in the book.

The author writes about how older people are over medicated and how many of them take on the sick role in part because that is expected of them. Also touched on are the difference in how the old are treated by different ethnic groups and how there is a trend to separate the interests of the aged from the rest of the population as in “the aged are a threat to society's well-being”. Of particular interest was the information on ageism. It was an interesting look at growing old in America.

>232 Familyhistorian: I've never read it but saw the musical which I liked very much.

Nice review of Learning to Be Old, Meg. I'll keep an eye out for it.

Hi Meg!

>232 Familyhistorian: My sister loved the musical. I started the book once and put it down.

Earlier in the month I shamelessly deliberately chose some short books to help with me with my numbers. Took a load off my mind, for sure. You've blown past your target by a long shot. Have you decided on your goal for 2018?

Greetings, Meg and happy belated Christmas and Boxing day cheer to you!

>234 Ameise1: It would be interesting to see the musical having read the book. I have been told that they changed the ending from the book, which I would probably like.

>235 kidzdoc: Thanks Darryl. According to Learning to be Old much of being a "senior" is a social construct, so yes, very interesting.

>236 karenmarie: It was hard to get into Wicked in the beginning, Karen. That's probably why you put it down. I had incentive, it was a ROOT and also full filled a Reading Through Time challenge so I had to finish it and for this month too!

Congrats for meeting your goals, Karen. My 75ers goal for 2018 will be 75, of course. LOL I am really hoping to get to 150 but we'll see how it goes. I upped my ROOTs goal to 55 but really that should be 150 to move some of the books out of here.

>237 Carmenere: Hi Lynda, I hope you had a great Christmas and all the best for the New Year!

It's a cold rainy day out there and my trek to the library was decidedly damp. I'm home now and enjoying the aroma left over homemade turkey pot pie in the oven. (Yum, I think that it is better than the turkey dinner that preceded it.) I am enjoying being warm at home with the power working, many people to the east of where I am got hit by freezing rain and power outages. I hope the outages don't last long.

Homemade turkey pot pie! That sounds delicious, Meg, and just the thing for fighting off the cold and the wet. Glad to hear that you didn't lose your power.

>243 Crazymamie: The turkey pie is good but all gone now, sadly, Mamie. I am very happy that I was able to get into the property market early enough that I didn't have to buy to the east as so many people had to with Vancouver's crazy real estate market. I have seen a visible snow line that starts as you head east from Vancouver on the Trans Canada. That eastern part is where the freezing rain fell and power was lost.

>231 Familyhistorian: I never see any reporters, when I am out there on the route, but I keep looking for one. Smiles...

Ooh, homemade turkey pot pie! Sounds perfect.

>245 msf59: My ears did perk up when they mentioned that they talked to a postie from Chicago, Mark. Looked like there was a bit of snow on the streets. The turkey pot pie warmed the cockles. LOL

Dang. I missed the turkey pot pie. ; )

Homemade turkey pot pie. Drat.

>247 Berly: >248 karenmarie: It was so good we had homemade turkey pot pie two days in a row! Yum. I really cook turkey with the pie in mind since turkey dinner is not really a favourite, just a tradition.

Me too. I'm a big fan of turkey pot pie and of turkey soup. Like you, in a way I like what you can do with the left overs better! I do LOVE the stuffing though from a roast turkey.

>250 mdoris: Stuffing in a real turkey can be really good but sometimes not so much. We just get a turkey roast and don't have any stuffing, so maybe a less rich if less interesting turkey dinner.

130. Longbourn by Jo Baker

I picked up Longbourn because it was a BB from some other threads. It sounded interesting but from all accounts, that it would be better to know the story it was based on. Somehow I had to find time to also read Pride and Prejudice to understand what was going on from both sides of the class divide. So I read the books in tandem, although I sometimes got a head in one book or the other, but I am glad to report that they actually dovetail very well.

Longbourn focuses on the servants who make possible the Bennet's easy life. While the Bennet girls go about society with the expectation of attracting a husband, life is more basic and gritty for the servants who attend to their needs and wants. This was a wonderful imagining of what went on behind the scenes in the Bennet's household and had its own share of romance and tragedy.

131. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Strangely enough, I had never read anything by Jane Austen. As I caught a book bullet for Longbourn, I thought it would be interesting to read Pride and Prejudice at the same time. So now I have a basic knowledge of the story behind all those references to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy which people drop from time to time.

There were other events in the novel, which are not so widely quoted, so some of the events that unfolded came as a surprise. It was a well written, if wordy, tome but then, the writing of this time period as well as the speech and customs are a bit removed from our own.

Buh-bye 2017...

So interesting, Meg. I also never read anything by Austin. Well, that's not actually true. I read Pride and Prejudice in high school but have very little recollection. However, I recently listened to an audiobook called First Impressions by Charlie Lovett and now I would like to read all of Austin's books, if for no other reason than to see how much of Lovett's work is based on fact It wasn't the best book in the world but it was interesting. I would also like to get to Longbourn at some point.

Happy New Year, Meg.

I'll be trying this reading business anew in 2018, hoping to do better both in numbers (just...just...well, uh....a half-dozen more would be satisfying) and in being more social (getting around the threads, tipping the hat, sharing a smile). See you on the other side, my friend.

Buh-bye 2017...

132. The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine T. Bettinger

It took me a while to read The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy but that was because I kept bringing up the website for the DNA testing that I have done. I wanted to see for myself the points that the writer was bringing up. I now have a better understanding what I am looking at when I look at my test results and also have more ideas on how to take things further. This will be a very handy reference as I pursue more DNA testing in the future.

>254 weird_O: >256 weird_O: I hope you have a great New Year, Bill, and lots more good reading in 2018!

>255 jessibud2: I didn't even read Austen in school, Shelley, but lots of readers talk as though they have intimate knowledge of what happens in her books. It really made more sense to read P&P to understand what was going on in Longbourn although it could have stood on its own.

>257 Familyhistorian: Do you have Genetic Genealogy in Practice? I usually recommend it for when you've completed that one. It's more of a workbook approach. There'll be some duplication, but it's designed a little differently.

>259 Familyhistorian: It looks familiar, Lori, but I don't have it. I will have to add it to my personal library. What did you think of NextGen Genealogy?

>260 thornton37814: Now I know why I don't have it. Amazon won't sell it to me. I have contacted NGS to see if they will ship it to Canada.

>253 Familyhistorian: I haven't read any Jan Austen either, Meg. I remember trying Emma years ago and abandoning it halfway. I am going to try Northanger Abbey next month...

>252 Familyhistorian: >253 Familyhistorian: Hooray for Longbourn and P & P! What a terrific pairing. I am way overdue for Ms. Austen.

Morning, Meg. Happy Sunday. Hope to get plenty of R & R in today, before meeting friends later on.

>261 Familyhistorian: I know David, the author, as he lives in Middle Tennessee. I'm going to private message your with my reply to that question.

>257 Familyhistorian: Is it readable for someone who knows very little about the subject? You may have me with a bb if it is.

Hi Meg, just stopping by to wish you a Very Happy New Year my dear and hope that 2018 is a really good year, sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

Hooray for your first Austen, Meg! Pride and Prejudice is probably my all time favorite novel. And I thought Longbourn was really well done - how clever of you to read them in tandem.

Hi Meg!

Longbourn is on my shelves, just waiting to be picked up in 2018. I'm glad you liked it and P&P.

Cheers for your first full year of retirement coming up.



Peace, Health, and Happiness in 2018

>263 FAMeulstee: And here I thought I was one of the few hold outs on the Austen reading, Anita. I hope you enjoy Northanger Abbey.

>264 msf59: I hope you are enjoying your R&R in the warmth, Mark. Have a great New Year celebration!

>265 thornton37814: Thanks Lori. I will check for your PM. Have a Happy New Year!

>266 RebaRelishesReading: It is a very good guide that takes you right from the basics, Reba. It was recommended to me by a couple of people who are into DNA and genealogy and they were right!

>267 johnsimpson: I hope that you and Karen have a very Happy New Year, John.

>268 Crazymamie: Well, for someone who didn't know what happened in P&P it only made sense to read it at the same time as Longbourn, Mamie. I think that the events in Baker's novel made much more sense knowing the back story.

I hope that you all have a Happy New Year!

>269 karenmarie: I am looking forward to my first full year of retirement, Karen. It sounds like you are taking full advantage of yours. I hope that you have a wonderful New Year!

Wishing you the happiest of Happy New Years, Meg! Enjoy your first full year of retirement!

>277 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary. Your greeting is very appropriate. I hope you have a Happy New Year!

133. Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien

I started Do Not Say We Have Nothing back in February for the CAC of that month. I found the first quarter or so of the book very confusing. It flipped about from Canada to China, from one set of people to another and I had a hard time remembering which name attached to which Chinese character and whether they were young or old, male or female. I put the book down.

I attended my first real life book club meeting in November. The hostess choice for the next book for the January meeting was, you guessed it, Do Not Say We Have Nothing. So I picked it up again towards the end of December. After a few more chapters it began to get interesting and I understood the rythm of the writing. I also figured out who was who in the cast of Chinese characters.

It was a really interesting story of a group of people who were affected by recent events in China, from the Cultural Revolution to the student protests in Tiananmen Square. It showed the cruelty of basing society on ever changing ideologies. No one was safe and even the ones who left the country were unable to shake off the affects of what had been done to them in the name of the state.

Reading Stats

Total books read 133

Fiction 97
Non-fiction 40

Female authors 81
Male authors 48

Challenges I will do my best to partake of in 2017

American Author Challenge 12/12

British Author Challenge 11/12

Canadian Author Challenge 12/12

The 2017 Non-fiction Reading Challenge 12/12

Reading Through Time

Quarterly 4/4

Monthly 12/12

Books acquired in December besides the book haul from the genealogy meeting:

Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding
The Changing Face of Britain by Edward Hyams
House of Thieves by Charles Belfoure
The Long Way Home by Louise Penny
Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths
The Inheritance by Charles Finch
Murder at Brightwell by Ashley Weaver
The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen
The Confabulist by Steven Galloway
Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo
The Final Silence by Stuart Neville
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy Sayers
Only a Few Bones by John Philip Colletta
The Lady Travelers Guide to Larceny with a Dashing Stranger by Victoria Alexander
Far East Air Operations 1942-1945 by John Grehan
American Spring: Lexington, Concord, and the Road to Revolution by Walter R. Borneman
Eavesdropping on Jane Austen's England by Roy & Lesley Adkins
Baking with Kafka by Tom Gauld

Happy New Year Everyone!