Beth's Books in 2018 (BLBera) Part 7

My name is Beth. I love books – talking about them, writing about them, reading about them. I also love to read with my granddaughter Scout.

I teach English at my local community college, so I am always looking for books I can use in my classes. I like to discover new writers.

I tend not to plan my reading, other than for my book club, which meets once a month. We meet in January to plan our year’s reading.

I tend to read more fiction than nonfiction and more women authors than men.

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

Currently Reading

Woman's Fiction Longlist 2018
It's here! Longlist:
Read
🌼 The Idiot by Elif Batuman SL
🌼 Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
🌼 The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy
🌼 A Boy in Winter by Rachel Seiffert
🌼 Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward SL
🌼 Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie SL WINNER!
🌼 Miss Burma by Charmaine Craig
🌼 Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

To Read
H(A)PPY by Nicola Barker
Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar SL
Sight by Jessie Greengrass SL
When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife by Meena Kandasamy SL
Elmet by Fiona Mozley
See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt
The Trick to Time by Kit de Waal

Electric Literature 46 Books by Women of Color to Read in 2018
January:
🌸When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and asha bandele
🌸 This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins
🌸🌸Halsey Street by Naima Coster
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee
🌸The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

February:
🌸An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
🌸The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore by Kim Fu
🌸🌸 The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
🌸Call Me Zebra by Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
Song of a Captive Bird by Jasmin Darznik
Secrets We Kept: Three Women of Trinidad by Krystal Sital
🌸 Feel Free: Essays by Zadie Smith
Heart Berries by Terese Mailhot
The House of Erzulie by Kirsten Imani Kasai

March:
Bury What We Cannot Take by Kirstin Chen
The Parking Lot Attendant by Nafkote Tamirat (I was supposed to get this as an ER)
Everyone Knows You Go Home by Natalia Sylvester
Go Home!, edited by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan
My Old Faithful by Yang Huang
🌸 The Beekeeper by Dunya Mikhail
🌸🌸Happiness by Aminatta Forna
Whiskey & Ribbons by Leesa Cross-Smith

April:
Poignant Song:The Life and Music of Lakshmi Shankar
Heads of the Colored People
Disoriental

May:
The Ensemble
Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture

June
Sick: A Memoir
🌸 Number One Chinese Restaurant
Tiny Crimes
🌸 Convenience Store Woman
Old in Art School

July
🌸 Fruit of the Drunken Tree
How to Love a Jamaican
Love War Stories
What We Were Promised

August
A River of Stars
If You Leave Me
Everyday People: The Color of Life
This Mournable Body

October and Later
All You Can Ever Know
And It Begins Like This
Useful Phrases for Immigrants
The Body Papers

Book club books for this year:

🌼 The Power
🌼 Home Fire
🌼 Bad Feminist
🌼 A Gentleman in Moscow
🌼 Homegoing
🌼 The Innovators
🌼 The Lightkeepers
🌼 Fifteen Dogs
If the Oceans Were Ink
🌼 Snow Child
🌼 Reader, I Married Him
Mothering Sunday

The Walter Scott prize longlist (Historical fiction)
The Clocks In This House All Tell Different Times by Xan Brooks
A dark social-realist fairytale, spotlighting the shadowy underside of 1920s England
🌷Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore
🌷Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan SL
🌷The Last Man In Europe by Dennis Glover
Sugar Money by Jane Harris SL
A tale of slavery and freedom, innocence and experience, love and despair set in the 18th century Caribbean
Prussian Blue by Philip Kerr
France, 1956. Bernie Gunther is on the run. The twelfth book in the renowned series
The Draughtsman by Robert Lautner
1944, Germany. A novel which shines a light on the complex contradictions of human nature and examines how deeply complicit we can become in the face of fear
Grace by Paul Lynch SL
An epic coming-of-age novel and a poetic evocation of the Irish famine as it has never been written
The Wardrobe Mistress by Patrick McGrath SL
A portrait of a woman struggling to make sense of her past and imagine a future in the seedy glamour of London’s theatrical world
Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves by Rachel Malik SL
1940s rural England sets the scene for a multi-layered tale of an unlikely friendship
The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers SL
Eighteenth-century Yorkshire. A gang of weavers and land workers embark upon a criminal enterprise that will capsize the economy and become the biggest fraud in British history
The Horseman by Tim Pears
An unexpected friendship between two children, set in Devon in 1911
🌷The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley

November
113. The Last Policeman* REREAD
114. A Long Way from Home
115. Unsheltered
116. The Library Book 🎉
117. Parable of the Talents* 🎉
118. The Snow Child*
119. Station Eleven* REREAD
120. The Two Mrs. Abbotts*
121. The Road 🎉
122. The Book of Unknown Americans* REREAD

November reading
Read: 10
Rereads: 3
Women: 7
Men: 3
Fiction: 9
Nonfiction: 1

December
123. The Labyrinth of the Spirits
124. Evensong*
125. Coraline*
126. Becoming 🎉🎉
127. Death Comes to Kurland Hall*
128. Reader, I Married Him*
129. Money in the Morgue
130. Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy
131. Transcription* 🎉
132. Kingdom of the Blind
133. There There

Read 2018
January
1. Edited to Death*
2. Books & Islands in Ojibwe Country*
3. Love That Dog* 🎉
4. The Power* 🎉
5. Cranford*
6. Walk Two Moons*
7. Go, Went, Gone 🎉
8. Out in the Open
9. Under Another Sky
10. Eternal Life
11. The Crypt Thief

* Off my shelf

January Reading Report:

Books read: 11
Women: 9
Men: 2
Nonfiction: 2
Fiction: 9
In translation: 2

February
12. The Origin of Others*
13. Halsey Street 🎉
14. Regency Buck*
15. What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky 🎉
16. The Weight of Ink
17. Parable of the Sower* 🎉
18. Here in Berlin
19. The Wedding Date*
20. A Catalog of Birds 🎉
21. The Fire Next Time*
22. The Chilbury Ladies' Choir
23. Citizen: An American Lyric*

* Off my shelf

February Reading Report
Books read: 12
Women: 11
Men: 1
Nonfiction/Essays: 2
Poetry: 1
Fiction: 8
Short story collection: 1

March
24. Call Me Zebra
25. A Hanging Matter*
26. The Queen of the Tearling*
27. So Long a Letter
28. A Wrinkle in Time* REREAD
29. An American Marriage
30. Home Fire*🎉
31. The End We Start From
32. The Invasion of the Tearling
33. When They Call You a Terrorist 🎉
34. The Fate of the Tearling
35. Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
36. The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore
37. Happiness 🎉

*Off my shelf

March Reading Report
Books read: 14
Women: 14
Men: 0
In translation: 1
Nonfiction: 1
Fiction: 13

April
38. Death on Nantucket*
39. Dear Friend, from My Life I Write to You in Your Life*
40. Prayers for the Stolen*
41. The Reader on the 6.27*
42. Miss Burma
43. The Merchant's House*
44. Brave New World* REREAD
45. The Female Persuasion 🎉
46. The Knowledge
47. A Long Way Gone* REREAD
48. The Beekeeper:Rescuing the Stolen Women of Iraq

*Off my shelf

April Reading Report
Books read: 11
By women: 8
By men: 3
In translation: 2
Nonfiction: 3
Fiction: 8

May
49. Hole in My Life
50. The Glass Castle*
51. The Heart Goes Last* REREAD
52. Exposure 🎉
53. Twisted Prey
54. A Gentleman in Moscow* 🎉
55. Dead Trouble*
56. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?*

May Reading Report
Books Read: 8
By Women: 5
By Men: 3
Fiction: 6
Nonfiction: 2

June
57. The Absolutist
58. A Dangerous Crossing
59. A Howl of Wolves
60. The Nonesuch*
61. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
62. The Last Man in Europe 🎉
63. We Were Eight Years in Power 🎉
64. Educated: A Memoir
65. The Dark Angel*
66. The Penderwicks at Last*
67. Florida 🎉
68. The Blue Castle*
69. The Jump-off Creek* 🎉
70. The Lost*

June Reading Report
Books read: 14
By women: 11
By men: 3
Fiction: 12
Essays: 1
Memoir: 1

July
71. A Piece of the World*
72. Island of the Mad
73. The Removes
74. On Turpentine Lane*
75. Fight No More 🎉
76. Improvement
77. Thunder Bay*
78. World Made by Hand*
79. The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
80. An Unmarked Grave
81. Convenience Store Woman
82. Clock Dance

July Report
Read: 12 - all fiction
By women: 8
By men: 3
By a couple: 1
Translation: 1
Short story collection: 1
Graphic novel: 1

August
83. Red Clocks 🎉
84. All the Birds in the Sky*
85. Crossbones Yard*
86. This Will Be My Undoing
87. My Name Is Leon* 🎉
88. Incognegro
89. Armada Boy*
90. From a Low and Quiet Sea
91. The Lightkeepers*
92. You Think It, I'll Say It
93. The Paris Architect
94. Welcome to Lagos
95. Suicide Club
96. Fruit of the Drunken Tree
97. An Uncommon Murder*
98. The Incendiaries

August Report
Read: 16
By women: 13
By men: 3
Fiction: 15
Memoir/Essays: 1
Short stories: 1
Graphic novel: 1

September
99. Warlight
100. Severance
101. The Guilty Dead
102. Only Child
103. The Giver* REREAD
104. Fifteen Dogs*
105. When God Was a Rabbit* 🎉
106. The Silence of the Girls 🎉

September Report:
Read: 8
Women: 6
Men: 2
Fiction: 8
Reread: 1

October
107. Cat's Cradle* REREAD
108. Washington Black 🎉
109. The Shadow District*
110. The Friend 🎉
111. The Dry
112. Feel Free 🎉

October Report:
Read: 6
Women: 4
Men: 2
Fiction: 5
Essays: 1

2018 Favorites
Darn! All my covers disappeared.

Fiction
What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky
Love that Dog
Halsey Street
Go, Went, Gone
Happiness
A Catalog of Birds
Fight No More
The Friend
Red Clocks
Home Fire

Nonfiction
We Were Eight Years in Power
Becoming
The Library Book

114. A Long Way from Home starts as a road race adventure for Irene and Titch Bobs, as they participate in the grueling Redex race around Australia. They want to promote their car dealership. The sense of place and Carey's descriptions of Australia are outstanding.

Titch and Irene take their neighbor Willie Bachhuber with them to be the navigator. His secret past is revealed as they travel to parts of Australia with an Aborigine population. Set in 1950s Australia, the novel goes from a madcap road race to a sober commentary on the destruction of the Aborigine people and culture. As Willie discovers when he becomes a teacher on an isolated ranch in the west: "I used the opportunity to have them teach me their language. Only then did I discover how many tribal languages were in that cave, all those broken pots with all their shards swept in together, including little Charley Hobbes who was one of a dozen descendants of a slaughtered tribe. They were prisoners of a war not mentioned by the education department."

The story is told mainly by Irene Bobs and their neighbor Willie Bachhuber, but the voices are not always distinct, and at times I had to read a bit to figure out who was speaking. For me, the novel wasn't entirely cohesive, but I enjoyed Carey's descriptions, and this first novel that I've read by him won't be the last.

Next: Barbara Kingsolver's new one.

I always listen to my Twin. That's all. The next one is for you.

Off to a grand start, Beth.

I've got to read some Peter Carey. I've got two, both of them Booker Prize winners.

>9 BLBera: It's about time!! Happy new one. : ) I look forward to your thoughts on the next Kingsolver--I love her.

Happy new one, Beth. I like your topper image.

I am looking forward to your thoughts on Unsheltered.

Happy new thread, Beth. Like Katie, I loo forward to your thoughts about Unsheltered. I'm reading All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg and rather enjoying it so far.

Happy new thread :)

Happy New one: love the cover of the Kingsolver. All very tempting.

>10 weird_O: Thanks Bill. I have a Carey or two on my shelves as well.

>11 Berly: I always listen to you, Twin. I'm off to try to get a good start with the Kingsolver.

>12 katiekrug: Thanks Katie. I like it, too, although I think it would be cold lying on the ground.

>13 EBT1002: I haven't read anything by Attenberg, Ellen, although she is on my list.

>14 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita.

>15 charl08: It IS a pretty cover, Charlotte.

Happy new thread!

Thanks Jim.

Happy new thread, Beth! I like Peter Carey. I think True History of the Kelly Gang was my favorite that I have read, but it's been a while. I keep meaning to re-read.

Happy New Thread, Beth!

Happy newthread, Beth. I also read and liked True History of the Kelly Gang and I have Jack Maggs on my shelf which I hope to get to one of these days. A Long Way From Home sounds very interesting so I am adding that to my list as well.

I love the picture at the top of your thread. It reminds me of me as a kid.

Happy New Thread, Beth! I love that you have Fight No More, in your top reads of the first half. B.A.G.

I thought Washington Black was an excellent read and I have Unsheltered on shelf. I hope you are enjoying it.

>19 banjo123: Hi Rhonda. This was my first Carey although I do have a few of his on my shelves, including True History of the Kelly Gang. Maybe I'll try that one next.

>20 ronincats: Thanks Roni. It was time -- acording to my Twin.

>21 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy - True History of the Kelly Gang seems to be a favorite, so that will be the next Carey I read.

>22 NanaCC: Thanks Colleen - that picture jumped at me. Often I have to look through many before choosing one.

>23 msf59: Hi Mark - Yes, I think Fight No More may make the end-of-year list. I am enjoying Unsheltered so far. I don't know that I'll get much reading done tonight -- I'll probably be glued to election returns.

I got the Kingslover book as my BOTM club selection this month. Hopefully it's good.

I like it so far, Rachel.

Is is too late to wish you a happy new thread, Beth? I do.....
You just reminded me that I never read Manhattan Beach, and now I see that I can afford a used copy. Ordered! YAY!!!
I'll be eager to hear what you think of the new Kingsolver.
I have a couple of Careys but haven't read them. Too many good books! NO. That's a lie. Just not enough time.
Hope all is going well with you and your classes.

Hi. : )

Happy new one, Beth! Hoping your Thursday is full of fabulous!

>28 Berly: I know it is, Twin. What does that make me?

>29 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie. It didn't start too well, but things are improving.

Happy new thread, Beth. Good to see all the positive posts about The True History of the Kelly Gang. I picked that one up for the title never having read anything by the author before. Looks like I should move it up on the TBR stacks.

>30 BLBera: And we look so innocent, too!

>32 Berly: Love it!

>31 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. It does sound like that is a good one.

I wish I had a tape recorder. Scout was in great form today.
1.
Scout was telling me a story about bad guys trying to get her.
Me: "Were you scared?"
Her, insulted, but patient with an idiotic question: "No Tita. I'm super."

Yes she is.

2.
She asked me if I knew the song "Defying Gravity,"by the "'Frozen' lady," who is a really good singer. Scout, she informed me, is also a really good singer, but that it is important to practice. Mom, she told me, is not such a good singer.

115. Unsheltered , Barbara Kingsolver's new novel alternates between the time of Trump's campaign for president and the post-Civil War era. Alternating between two time periods has become a common plot device that isn't always effective. There always seems to be one story that I prefer, making me impatient with the interruption.

But Kingsolver uses the device well, juxtaposing two times of uncertainty and change. After the Civil War, in Vineland, New Jersey, a supposed utopia, Thatcher Greenwood arrives to teach school -- only to find that he is constrained from mentioning Darwin. Willa and her family arrive in Vineland after the college where her husband was teaching, closed. Once again, he's an adjunct. At first it seems lucky that Willa has inherited a house in Vineland, but when they arrive, the family finds that the house is falling down: "The fact that taking all the right turns had led her family to the wrong place, moneyless and a few storms away from homelessness. Also, the fact that she couldn't legitimately feel sorry her herself while carrying a Gucci diaper bag." Even a family with two advanced degrees, it seems, is not immune from hard times.

Kingsolver's attempt to explain Trump's popularity and to draw parallels between the two times may seem a little heavy handed at times -- chants of "Lock him up," directed at Darwin -- but above all, the novel tells the story of people, all of whom want to do the right thing. They are just no longer sure of the rules by which they are playing. As Willa's daughter tells her, "You and Dad did your best. But all the rules have changed and it's hard to watch people keep carrying on just the same, like it's business as usual." Tig goes on to say she's waiting for the old guys in power to die; they've had their chance. Now it's her turn. With Tig's words, I think of the young activists and feel hopeful. This, in the end, is a very hopeful novel. Everyone loses things but perhaps gains some peace.

Next: The Library Book, which I've just started and already it's SO quotable: "I couldn't walk into a bookstore without leaving with something, or several somethings. I loved the fresh alkaline tang of new ink and paper, a smell that never emanated from a broken-in library book. I loved the crack of a newly flexed spine, and the way the brand new pages almost felt damp, as if they were wet with creation."

Nice review of Unsheltered, Beth. It's been getting such mixed reviews, but I am eager to read it after going with Vivian to see Kingsolver speak in Brooklyn last month.

Happy new thread Beth! I was actually a whole thread and a half behind so taking the opportunity to catch up now and from a quick skim of your last thread sorry to hear about poor Stinky and I hope Scout has been consoled with her new hamster now.

>35 BLBera: Interesting review of the Kingsolver Beth - seeing that she has a new book out has reminded me that I have so many of her other books languishing unread on my shelves. I should make an effort to pick one of them up.

>35 BLBera: Great review, I do hope that it comes in at the library. I will try to be patient.

Love the library quote. So true!

>36 katiekrug: Thanks Katie. I can see where the mixed reviews come in, but I thought the story shone through. I would LOVE to hear her speak.

>2 BLBera:
37 Hi Heather. Well, Sofia is still a bad hamster. I think Scout is resigned to getting bitten and having a wild girl. I like Kingsolver a lot although some of her books are much better than others. I loved The Bean Trees and Flight Behavior; those, I think are my favorites.

>38 charl08: Hi Charlotte. We were posting at the same time. I think the Orlean book will be a big favorite here. Her description at the beginning of going to the library with her mother is lovely.

I hope you get your hands on the Kingsolver soon because I know you are running out of books.

>40 BLBera: Ha! Trying to get them all in my bag now...

Happy new thread, Beth! I'm glad you liked the Kingsolver, because I am looking forward to that one.

Scout is so funny:-) I was wondering how Sophia Nuts was getting on (specifically whether she was still, um, with us, so it's good to hear that she is her normal crabby self :-) )

Happy Sunday, Beth! Good review of Unsheltered. If you post it, I will Thumb it! Looking forward to reading it.

I finished The Spirit Catches You. 5 star read, all the way.

HI Mark - Happy Sunday to you. I like Fadiman and am embarrassed at how long this one has been on my shelves.

>41 charl08: Good luck with the packing, Charlotte.

>42 susanj67: Hi Susan - I guess I missed you. Yes, Sofia Nuts is still nuts and bites. I think you'll like the Kingsolver.

I'm so glad you enjoyed the Kingsolver Beth, and I'm looking forward to it. Just not sure when I can fit it in. The Library Book is my book group's pick for next month!

I hope you're enjoying your day off, Beth!

>45 BLBera: Beth, no, I didn't post - I was just randomly wondering :-) I've moved up a place on the list for the Kingsolver again - someone read it really quickly, it seems!

>46 vivians: I am loving The Library Book, Vivian. I suspect it will be popular here. I'll watch for your comments.
>47 rosalita: I am grading, Julia. I have no idea how I got so far behind, but I'm trying to get caught up, oh, and answering panicked student emails. Suddenly, in week 11, they care about their grades...

>48 susanj67: It's a fairly quick read, Susan. I hope you get it soon. Happy Monday.

Hi Beth. Just stopping by to say exactly that.

Hi back, Judy. I hope all is well with you.

It's been too long but stopping in to say hello and I LOVE that topper image.

>34 BLBera: Love it!

Hi Juli - I haven't been around much lately, either. Thanks for the visit.

116. The Library Book is a wonderful history of the Los Angeles Public Library. Orlean first becomes interested in writing about the library when she learns about the 1986 fire that destroyed thousands of books. However, her research takes her back to the beginnings of the library and leads to some very colorful characters who served as librarians. This is really a love story to the library - to all libraries. All book lovers and library patrons will love this book. I'm thinking of Susan and Charlotte -- and probably most of LT!

" A library is a good place to soften solitude; a place where you feel part of a conversation that has gone on for hundreds and hundreds of years...The library is a whispering post. You don't need to take a book off a shelf to know there is a voice inside that is waiting to speak to you..."

And a description of the fire:
"They formed a human chain, passing the books hand over hand from one person to the next, through the smoky building and out the door. It was as if, in this urgent moment, the people of Los Angeles formed a living library. They created, for that short time, a system to protect and pass along shared knowledge, to save what we know for each other, which is what libraries do every day."

Hi Beth, I’m glad to see you liked The Library Book. I have a egalley that I’ve yet to read but I was looking at the hardback in the bookstore this morning and it’s such a lovely book, I may wait to read it that way!

Scout is a hoot! :)

>54 BLBera: Good to see that you enjoyed The Library Book, Beth. I reserved my library copy at the end of July so there must have been something on LT at that time to bring it to my attention. I may get to read it in a month or so from the looks of things - the library is slowly acquiring the books.

Hi Beth. Happy newish thread. I too just recently completed Unsheltered and thought it a good solid read…but not my favorite Kingsolver. I liked the early novels about Turtle, closely followed by The Lacuna and The Poisonwood Bible. Loved what you said to end your review: "Everyone loses things but perhaps gains some peace." I agree that the ending gives us hope for the future.

Hey, I just noticed something. You don't rate your books anymore. Thoughts on this? I know how difficult ratings can be and mine are very arbitrary. I usually end up doing some tweaking of ratings at the end of the year when I look at the list of books I've read.

>55 Copperskye: Hi Joanne - Yes, Scout is a hoot! I always look forward to her new thoughts. I thought that perhaps I might like to own a copy of The Library Book as well. It's designed really well. My only complaint is that I would have liked a bigger picture of the library.

>56 Familyhistorian: You will love it, Meg. I don't remember where I first heard of it, either.

>57 Donna828: Thanks Donna. I do rate the books on the book page, but I don't include the stars in my comments here.

I agree, it's not my favorite Kingsolver. I haven't read The Poisonwood Bible yet, but I didn't care for The Lacuna. I loved Flight Behavior and the Turtle books as well.

117. Parable of the Talents begins about five years after the end of Parable of the Sower. In some ways, life seems better, but then a new president, Andrew Jarret is elected. He encourages his supporters to fight evil, to make America great again. Butler wrote this in 1998, but there is some prescience here:

"So now we have another group that uses crosses and slaughters people...Jarret insists on being a throwback to some earlier, 'simpler' time. Now does not suit him. Religious tolerance does not suit him. He wants to take us all back to some magical time when everyone believed in the same god, worshipped him in the same way, and understood that their safety in the universe depended on completing the same religious rituals and stomping everyone who was different. There was never such a time in this country. But these days when more than half the people in the country can't read at all, history is just one more vast unknown to them."

Olamina continues though, and the story continues to the end of her life. I liked the first one better, but Butler is genius at creating a believable dystopia and questioning what we will do to survive. I'll look for more of her work.

Happy Friday, Beth. I can't wait to read The Library Book. I am trying to track it down on audio, first. I hope you have a nice weekend planned.

Hey Mark. No plans. I'll probably watch football Sunday night. :)

The Library Book sounds really good Beth. Onto the list it goes.

You will love it, Bonnie.

I'll be watching Sunday night too. Go Bears!

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one, Mark.

>54 BLBera: I really hope that one comes to the UK, Beth!

>59 BLBera: Those two also sound good. I've heard of Octavia Butler but haven't read anything.

I hope you have a good weekend, Beth, and that grading doesn't get in the way of it.

Adding that Butler to the list of Butlers I need to read. Weirdly prescient. Thank you Beth!

>66 susanj67: Hi Susan - I know you will love it; I would think you will get it eventually. I really loved the Butler books. I will have to look for some of her SF.

I hope to not spend the entire weekend grading, Susan, but it is getting toward the end of the semester, so there is pressure to be caught up. Also, the last day of class is Dec. 21, and I want to be able to turn in my grades before Christmas.

>67 charl08: Yes, indeed, Charlotte. I think you will enjoy it.

We had our book club meeting yesterday and discussed The Snow Child; I didn't have much to contribute, having only read the first 60 pages. But everyone was enthusiastic about it, which I think was a first. And we set the date for our January party, where we'll choose books for next year. That sounds odd; the end of the year is fast approaching.

Off to visit threads and then some school work.

Nice review of the Octavia Butler, Beth. I keep saying I want to read more of her work after enjoying Kindred, but I keep forgetting to look at the library. I need to change that!

Did you get snow last night? We were on the edge of snow/sleet, so I think we ended up with a couple of inches. I'm not going anywhere today, so hopefully it will be clear once I have to do errands to tomorrow.

Julia, Yes, I need to shovel a bit today. I haven't been out yet, so I don't know how much ice is under the snow. It is still coming down a bit, so another gray day, good for curling up with a good book. At some point, I do need to make a grocery run. I'm responsible for pies, so I need the supplies.

>54 BLBera: What a wonderful review of The Library Book. I owe my love of reading to a small-town library where I visited to escape whatever was happening in my life that was sad or something I just could not understand.

This book is now on my TBR pile.

I am always curious how we find our books that we read. Where did you learn of this book? And, what prompted you to read it?

Thanks Linda. I don't remember where I first heard of it. I did read The Orchid Thief, so I was familiar with Orlean. I do look at the new book descriptions on the library site; perhaps I saw it there. I'll watch for your thoughts on it when you get to it. I suspect it will be popular on LT. :)

William Goldman has died.

https://www.npr.org/2018/11/16/668572662/william-goldman-writer-behind-butch-cas...

He was a real treasure. The Princess Bride, both book and movie, are among my all-time favorites.

I loved The Princess Bride as well, Vivian. I have fond memories of watching the film with my kids. My daughter always wanted to skip the swamp part; she found it too scary. It's funny. Scout does the same thing. If we're reading something that she finds scary, she closes the book.

Hi Beth! Great reviews of Unsheltered, The Library Book, and Parable of the Sower. I will wait to read the first when it comes out in paperback, I will keep an eye out for a copy of the second (Joanne's comments about the book itself being so lovely got my attention), and I'll look forward to reading the Parable book after I read the first in that series. So much great reading to do!!!

We fly to NC/TN on Monday and I'm looking forward to seeing my sister, her partner, my aunt, and my cousins. I'm also just happy to be on vacation until November 28. And, of course, to some holiday reading time.

My Seahawks won on Thursday so we have a Sunday with no real football to draw us. Today has been all about football, mostly because our floors are being refinished so we have been sequestered in our basement. I could have gone for a walk or run, but.... tomorrow.

Have a great Sunday!

Oh, and I agree that Scout is super. :-)

Thanks Ellen. As I was reading The Library Book, I was thinking that it was one that I would like to own. So much book love!

In Minn., we say our second favorite team on any given week is the one playing the Packers, so I'm very happy for the Seahawks.

I see you're reading Lincoln in the Bardo. I'll watch for your comments. One of my colleagues is a huge Saunders fan, and I'll share his comments after you've finished.

You deserve a vacation, and I imagine you'll get some reading in. Your sister always seems to have some good recommendations.

Thanks Beth. I'm ready for this vacation. I'm already relaxing some! I haven't really done any reading today because of the distraction of our floors being sanded above us (we're in the basement, the guy doing the work is on the main floor). But we have a long day of travel on Monday and I'll certainly be doing some reading then!

>58 BLBera: Well, The Library Book hasn't come in for me yet. It's surprising what does show up in my hold list. It is never what I am expecting. I hope you are having a great weekend and aren't spending all of your time marking.

I thought there were some interesting choices here and some books I have never heard of.

https://nylon.com/american-books

>78 EBT1002: You deserve a vacation after the intensity of the new job, moving, new house, etc. Happy travels!

>79 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. You will love The Library Book when you get your hands on it.

Hi Twin! I agree with you about Parable of the Talents--first one was better, but still very good. What did your students think? Hope you enjoy your short work week. Are you celebrating Turkey Day with lots of family?

Well, I am back from my mini-vacation and now I am rushing around trying to catch up on my chores, thinking about starting my Christmas shopping, and of course, reading like crazy to hopefully finish off all my 2018 challenges! Enjoy your Thanksgiving, Beth.

>82 Berly: Hey Twinnie - my students only read the first one, but it has been one of their favorites. A am celebrating with family. I'm making pies. What about you? Will all the young 'uns be home?

>83 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy - I was buying a birthday present for my sister yesterday evening, and thought, "Well, this will be the last time shopping is bearable until the new year."

>59 BLBera: Really glad you enjoyed the Parable duology Beth - I was alarmed to be struck by how much prescience there was in those books given they were written 20+ years ago....

I know, Heather. It is frightening.

Hi Beth and Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm loving Mistress of the Art of Death. It's a mystery but quite a literary one, set in Britain in 1171.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Ellen. I LOVED Mistress of the Art of Death! Enjoy.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Beth :)

Hope you have lovely holiday. Any Key Lime on the go for me to live vicariously?

>89 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita.
>90 charl08: Thanks Charlotte. No Key Lime. How about some pumpkin?

118. The Snow Child is set in 1920s Alaska. The state is one of the overwhelming presences in the novel. Ivey creates a vivid sense of the cold, dark winters and long, mosquito-infested summers. That was one of my favorite parts of the novel.

Mabel and Jack some to Alaska in an effort to forget the sadness of their stillborn baby. They find more than they ever suspected. When a small girl emerges from the woods surrounding their cabin after a snowfall, Mabel is reminded of the Russian fairy tale about a snow child. Is the girl real? Is she the result of Mabel's desire for a child? You'll have to read to find out. And even then...

My book club read this, and all liked the book, maybe a first. We did have a good discussion.

>92 BLBera: Good review of The Snow Child. I really enjoyed this book too.

Happy Thanksgiving, Beth. I hope you had a great holiday.

Thanks Mark. I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful.

>84 BLBera: All the kiddos were here for Turkey Day. We made way too much food, but I love the leftovers. : )

I am a fan of The Snow Child! Just glad I don't have that weather here. LOL

Enjoy your long weekend, Twin!

I had leftovers for lunch today, Twin. We went to my niece's house in Champlin. They have a HUGE house, a basketball court in the basement. So, they had space. I rode with my favorite daughter and granddaughter.

I sat in the back with Scout.
Scout: I'm going to have a party with Charlie and Lola in the garage in the night.
My daughter, turning around: What did you say?
Scout: I was just kidding.
Then, in a loud whisper to me: I wasn't kidding. I'm really going to do it, but don't tell Mom.
My daughter: What are you whispering about?
Scout: Nothing.

It was hilarious. We listened to music from "Wicked" and "Hamilton" on the way.

>91 BLBera: I'm a bit ambivalent about the pumpkin, but that may be because I've only had one *I* made. Bought a lovely mini cheesecake yesterday, so I'm hoping that addresses all the pie cravings following reading about all the baking going on in LT kitchens...

Hope Scout had a fun party with Charlie and Lola. Her imagination is a joy even at this remove.

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of pumpkin pie, either, Charlotte.

I'll ask if she had her party yet the next time I see Scout.

120. The Two Mrs. Abbots is the satisfying end to Stevenson's Miss Buncle series. It takes place during the war but focuses on life in the village. Even though we have soldiers, evacuees, shortages, and even a German spy, life in the village goes on. Enjoyable, gentle journey to the past.

Hope you had a nice holiday, Beth, and enjoy a relaxing weekend!

Thanks Katie. I have schoolwork to do, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. We did have a good holiday. Lots of nieces and nephews home, and it's always good to catch up.

Wising you a wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend, Beth

Thanks Paul.

Hi Beth! I am glad you had a good thanksgiving. Happy weekend!

Thanks Rhonda. It was nice to see all of the nieces and nephews and spouses.

Winding down from too many holiday meals, and catching up with threads...

>92 BLBera: I remember making note of that one some time ago, and still have not managed to read it. I think my daughter liked it a lot. It sounds like a tale I would enjoy.

>99 BLBera: I loved this series, and The Two Mrs Abbots was a good one.

>106 laytonwoman3rd: Hi Linda. I passed it on to my sister. It was well done, especially considering it was a first novel. I have her second one on my shelves. I hope to get to it next year. She works in a bookstore in Palmer, and I was there when I was in Alaska. Maybe I even met Ivey without knowing it!

>107 NanaCC: I think Miss Buncle's Book was my favorite, Colleen, but they are all good. It was just what I needed during the distractions of the holiday.

>96 BLBera: Oh, that little rascal. She is going to be TROUBLE!! LOL

Hi Twin - Yes, she is going to be a handful.

121. The Road is my first Cormac McCarthy, and it was a good one. In it, an unnamed boy and his father take to the road to head south after some kind of apocalyptic event that has sent ash into the atmosphere, creating a twilit, cold world. The road is a dangerous, violent place, filled with groups of cannibals.

McCarthy's style takes some getting used to, no apostrophes and no quotation marks. His sentences are short, succinct, yet they pack a punch. He manages to convey the brutality of the world, and the effort it takes for the man and his son to keep their humanity, to keep "carrying the fire."

I thought about using this for my dystopian lit class, but I think the style might be challenging for the students...We'll see.

Happy belated new thread, Beth! and T-day greetings as well!

OOOO! I hope you choose The Road for your class. That is one dystopian novel that absorbed me completely and one that is not all that implausible. hahaha the kids could probably relate to the absence of punctuation. Isn't that what texting is all about ;)

Morning, Beth. Happy Sunday. It looks like we are going to get hit pretty hard later today and tonight. Ugh! Not looking forward to trudging through the snow, especially in November.

I enjoyed your thoughts on The Road. I hope to revisit that one, at some point.

>111 BLBera: Oh gosh, that book hit me hard when I read it. Lovely comments, Beth.

I’d go for The Road - then you can talk about how the style and the story work together.

I went back to high school just last week, and it is a far piece ahead of when I was a student. Based upon the lit class I visited, I'd say drneutron has it right. Go for it.

I think you can pull off The Road in your class. I read it in HS. ; )

I think I'm all caught up - and I had a great time.

I love the Scoutisms! Thanks for sharing them!

And I'm loving all the dystopian book reviews. I had read Parable of the Sower several years ago, but had never gotten to Parable of the Talents. Thanks for the reminder.

I think I've seen the movie The Road- love Viggo Mortensen - but not read the book. According to LT, I have a copy hidden in the stacks of TBR.

>112 Carmenere: You are so funny, Lynda. I was talking to one of my colleagues, and she said the students wouldn't even notice the missing apostrophes. I know they would miss the quotation marks. I've had complaints on other novels without them. Still, we'll see. It would pair well with Station Eleven.

>113 msf59: Thanks Mark. I hope the snow isn't too deep today. It sounds like the highways and airport were a mess. We missed it here. I wouldn't mind a snow day...

>114 rosalita: It was intense, Julia. I woke up thinking about it. The film seems good, too.

>115 drneutron: Hi Jim! Great idea. Although sometimes discussions of style end up with my talking about style.

>116 weird_O: Hi Bill - it is a definite possibility. I have to change out some of the books we're reading this semester.

>117 Berly: But you are smarter than the average student, Twin. :) By the way, I asked the students to choose their favorite read so far, and Parable of the Sower won.

>118 streamsong: Hi Janet! thanks for the visit. You should read The Road. If you are a fan of dystopian lit, you will love it.

Yes, Scout is pretty entertaining.

I was looking through my library books yesterday and picked up The Labyrinth of the Spirits. At 800 pages, it should keep me busy for a while, or at least until mid December when it's due.

Did I mention there is talk of a dystopian session of my book club? I will be drawing on your thread for suggestions: I think this might be my cue to finally read The Handmaid's Tale.

Hi Beth! You really think The Road would be challenging to community college students? I don't remember it being such a challenge, but, then, I haven't read it in a while. It is an excellent example of a dystopia. Of course, you could also go for more simplistic like The Postman, where you can tell if they just watch the movie instead of reading the book. lol For some reason, I really liked that book. But then, I was a teen when I read it.

Hi Beth, as you know I love dystopia and The Road is right up there at the top of the list. The setting of Station Eleven would seem like a paradise compared to The Road!

>121 charl08: Draw away, Charlotte. You will love The Handmaid's Tale. It's one of my all-time favorites -- notice that I'm not teaching it. Never teach a book you love. The students will rain on your parade.

>122 The_Hibernator: Rachel - You are a reader. Most of my students are not. It might work. I have a while to think about it.

>123 DeltaQueen50: Judy, I'm smiling because one of my students thought Station Eleven was too happy! He thinks The Road, the film, is much more realistic.

And the lists are starting! I love NPR's book concierge.

https://apps.npr.org/best-books-2018/

Hi, Beth. I really enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing. I think that one lived up to the hype. I plan on starting Friday Black, in a couple of days. It will be my first vacation book.

>125 BLBera:. I love these lists Beth. They’re the best thing about the end of the year lol

>125 BLBera: I am always amazed, when I see lists like this, how many of these books I have not even heard of. Wow! This was a banner year!

Mark: Enjoy your vacation. I'll look for your comments on Friday Black.

Bonnie: Lists are great! Here's another:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/19/books/review/100-notable-books.ht...

HI Beth, Thanks for the NPR link. Just spent some time there. Wow, where does a girl start? I love these year end lists.

I know, Mary. Well, it gives us something to put on our Christmas lists, right?

I'm a list fan too...but very frustrated that I can't find a way to print the NY Times list without pages and pages of book covers!

Hmm, Vivian. I'm sure there is a way. But I'm not a techie. As I was looking through the list, though, I thought that you had read a fair number of them.

Hi Beth!
I have a copy of The Snow Child but haven’t read it yet. You’ve pushed it up...maybe I’ll get to it in January.

I also love NPR’s book concierge and like the way The NY Times did their list this year, too. I spent a lot of time going through both lists this week.

>132 vivians: I was wondering about that, too. We get the Sunday NYT delivered and I haven’t seen the list in the print edition yet. Maybe it will be printable after that.

I was just here for a quick visit until you distracted me with lists, Beth. I might have ended up with a couple more books on my library hold list - probably a good thing I didn't have a bookseller site up instead. I finally have The Library Book but I am finishing two other library holds before I crack it open. That hold list seems to be driving my reading lately, there are another 3 ready for me and a 4th coming in.

Hi back, Joanne! I did really like The Snow Child. I think you might like it as well. Good luck getting to it.

I know what you mean about the lists; it gave me a lot of ideas...

Meg - I know what you mean. I have way too many library books, and they are popular ones, so I can't renew. Right now I am reading and totally engrossed in The Labyrinth of the Spirits, only 800 pages, and I just brought home Michelle Obama's memoir, which I am dying to read. I need to retire.

I'll watch for your comments on The Library Book - I think it will be one of my favorites this year.

Scout update: Sofia Nuts escaped. According to Scout, "Mom and Dad are talking about another hamster. This would be number four."

Also: "I tried to have my middle-of-the-night party, but Mom caught me."

I can completely relate to the library hold list pressuring the reads. I am loathe to see what is waiting for me and what is coming. Yikes!
Love the Scout stories.

>137 BLBera: Brave mum and dad going for the 4th hamster!

>137 BLBera: Oh no, but Scout seems to take the losses well.

Also, the way that’s worded, it’s apparent Scout has been successful in the past. :)

>138 mdoris: Thanks Mary. Scout is a lot of fun. I'm hoping to have time over the holidays to get through some of the library books.

>139 charl08: We'll see if it actually happens, Charlotte.

>140 Copperskye: Joanne, she never got very attached to Sofia because Sofia was so wild and tended to bite. I think she was more attached to Stinky.

>137 BLBera: Beth, sorry to hear that Scout is hamster-less again. But I do have a sneaking admiration for the wild Sophia Nuts, refusing to conform to expectations and be tamed and then making her break for freedom. There's probably a children's book in there somewhere :-)

Sorry about Sophia Hamster. I am glad that Scout is holding up.

I also loved The Snow Child.

Another lost hamster! So sad. Poor little Scout (although she seems rather philosophical about it all).

Over Thanksgiving I started watching the lists. I was pleased that I had read many on the NY Times list, and had others lined up (or had at least heard of them) although there were still many of which I had no awareness whatsoever.

I'm reminded that I need to read Educated: A Memoir. It seems to be showing up on lots of 2018 lists.

>142 susanj67: There may be, Susan. Although you might feel less admiration if you had been bitten several times.

>143 banjo123: I think she didn't bond much with Sofia Nuts because of the biting, so she wasn't as upset as she was with Stinky.

>144 EBT1002: Hi Ellen! The lists are fun, aren't they? I think that since I joined LT, I am familiar with many more books from the lists. You'll like Educated, I think.

123. The Labyrinth of the Spirits wraps up the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. The characters from the previous novels return, and we meet some new ones. Old characters' stories are are fleshed out, and once again, Barcelona stars. The city is a constant presence throughout the four novels, and it is wonderful.

This one may have been my favorite. It wraps up the story of the Sempere family and brings Barcelona to the end of the twentieth century. The eight hundred pages were riveting; I found it hard to put down.

Next: Michelle Obama's memoir Becoming

Hi Beth! Just delurking.... When is your winter break?

Hi Katie: Lurk away! I've been doing a lot of that recently as well. Our last day of class is Dec. 21! And then we have grades to finish. I'm hoping to be done by Christmas...

Hi Beth! I finished The Library Book over the weekend and really enjoyed it (perhaps a tad less than you did). I loved all the tangents - about libraries in general, about book burnings and especially the sections about the evolution of the LA Central Library into a community gathering place. I was less enthused about the biographies of the various directors, but now that I think about it the whole extremely-competent-woman-gets-fired-because-director-has-to-be-a-man conflict was pretty gripping. I also was fascinated by the arson controversy, but had been wishing for a tidier resolution.

Vivian - The resolution, or lack of one, didn't bother me so much. I did find the discussion of arson investigation pretty interesting. I would have liked some pictures as well.

I did love the tangents -- the book was a lot different from what I originally expected. Some of my favorite parts were the sections in which she discussed going to the library with her mother.

The LA librarians were a colorful group; I think you're right though. Some of the bios could have been shorter.

What's next for you?

Oh, I read The Shadow of the Wind several years ago. I hardly remember it and hadn't realized it was first in a series. Hmmm, what I need is another series to follow....

Each one works as a standalone, Ellen, and they can be read in any order. There are four of them. I think he's done now.

>136 BLBera: Yes well, retirement doesn't actually improve the library holds situation because then you have more time to put books on hold and believe you actually have lot and lots more time to read but, as you did all the rest of your life, you overestimate what you can read when looking at bright shiny books.

Sorry to hear about Sofia Nuts but does Scout really want another hamster?

Still, retirement sounds pretty good at this point.

I think perhaps Scout is going to get a kitten instead of a hamster; she loves cats and has been trying to get another one, so her parents are giving her a choice... I'll let you know what happens. I have a sneaking suspicion that she'll end up with both. :)

>154 BLBera: “Both” sounds like a possible disasterous situation... ;-)

Well, Colleen, she already has her two dogs, Charlie and Lola, Annie cat, Annie fish, so I guess, the more, the merrier?

>146 BLBera: My bookclub is reading Becoming in January--can't wait! Holding my breath on the cat/hamster decision...

Happy Wednesday, Twin.

Both! How exciting. Would it be an adult cat or a kitten?

>157 Berly: I wish In could persuade my book group to read this...

Loved the lists and have now wasted spent too much glorious time perusing them. I agree - there are quite a few of even the bestest of the best that I have not heard of.

My library's book club will be voting on books next week for 2019. Educated is on the list, so I might be doing a reread of that. I daresay it would be interesting a second time.

Almost all of our voting list this time is non-fiction, some of it quite political.

>157 Berly: Hey Twin. We'll see. She just got a report from school that she doesn't pay attention, so maybe there will be no new animals for a while.

I haven't made much progress with Becoming. Too much school work.

>158 charl08: I think it would be a kitten, Charlotte. But her mom is upset about the note from her teacher, so....

>159 streamsong: I found some good kids' books for Scout from the NPR list, Janet, but yes, I too spent way too much time looking at it.

My book club meets in January to choose our books for the year. We usually have only a couple of nonfiction ones.

124. Evensong is a lovely, elegiac novel. After suffering a heart attack, Maggie Doud remembers her life and prepares for death. As she spends time with her daughters and granddaughters, remembering, she feels regret, but she is also ready to go. No one is left who knew her as a child: "Standing in the cemetery in Denver, waiting for Estelle to go into the ground next to Harry, I was suddenly the only one left who remembered it all."

Beautifully written.

I think this was a recommendation from Ellen. Thanks!

Beth, I'm surprised that school doesn't get out until Dec. 21. That really cuts into your Christmas preparation time. I hope you have a long break before the next semester starts. Btw, Octavia Butler is on my list because your class voted her book as their favorite. And, yes, the end-of-year lists make fascinating reading in themselves. I was glad to see Washington Black was in the New York Times' Top Ten. I just finished it and really enjoyed it.

Sophia Nuts is on the loose!?! Your daughter has more patience than I ever had. I was glad when my kiddos got over the rodent phase. Oldest son got stuck (actually it was me that got stuck) with his girlfriend's rabbit, middle daughter had a hamster that seemed to lived forever, and youngest son had some very prolific gerbils. The rabbit and hamster were very tame and friendly but the gerbils had a bit of Sophia in them and liked to bite people…and each other.

I can't wait to see the books your group will be reading next year. My book club is starting off with Shadow of the Wind. I plan to reread it and pursue the series. It's good to know that Labyrinth of the Spirits resonated so well with you. I'm already getting a longish list of books I want to read next year.

Hi Donna - Yes, our long semester doesn't allow for much enjoyment of the season. For example, I am up to my ears, trying to get caught up with grading, waiting for the final onslaught. Luckily, I don't have much shopping to do anymore. The year-end lists make a nice change from student essays.

I think Scout has been convinced to get a kitten instead of a hamster. We'll see. Her teachers say she has a hard time staying on task, so she has to do better with that before she gets another animal.

My book club read Shadow of the Wind and loved it. The last one is 800+ pages though, so that won't be a future selection. I loved it so much I'd like to read through the cycle again.

I am reading - slowly - Becoming and really enjoying it.

Sorry you are trapped in the Slough of Despond, etc, aka grading season. Our finals week is next week and then we are done, but the spring semester starts a week earlier than usual so it all evens out, I guess.

Thanks Julia. Slough of Despond did make me laugh.

Happy Sunday, Beth. You did some great reading.

>145 BLBera: Beth, yes, undoubtedly I was caught up in the romance of the situation and not the reality :-)

>146 BLBera: I've reserved the first one in this series after seeing your comments about how much you enjoyed the books, but it doesn't seem to be on the move yet.

>160 BLBera: Sorry to hear about the school report. Perhaps the world is just too interesting to focus for ages on one task when there are so many other things out there to look at and think about.

Your gr*ding sounds like a nightmare. I hope you can get it all done and read some pages.

I'm a bit bemused the teacher is not just wowed by Scout' s total awesomeness.

Evensong sounds lovely. Although having filled my new bookshelf all but completely with books I have yet to get to, I'm thinking I might have to rein myself in re new books for 2019.

>166 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara.

>167 susanj67: Hi Susan - I think Scout wants a kitten, so she is trying hard to be a good listener. I agree with Charlotte that they should be awed by her awesomeness, and I'm not too worried, because the teacher said most of the time she doesn't listen when it's time to clean up -- and what kid wants to pick up? I finished one group of pretty bad essays. Still have some stuff to go.

>168 charl08: What, Miss 300 Books a Year! There's always room for one more, and it is a short one.

Isn't Scout pretty young for this paying attention in school stuff?

Trying to decide whether to re-read Shadow of the Wind before I try Labyrinth of the Spirits. I did read #2 and #3; but neither really held up to the first book, IMO.

Rhonda - I don't think you'd have to reread Shadow of the Wind; Labyrinth of the Spirits actually could stand alone. I agree about 2 and 3.

I'm with you about the paying attention thing with Scout. I can just enjoy her and don't have to worry about that stuff. I do ask her to help me pick up, and she's usually pretty helpful.

>161 BLBera: It was indeed a recommendation from me and I'm glad you enjoyed it! I knew the author when we were both in graduate school at University of Illinois. I was studying psychology, she was earning her MFA. This is Kate Southwood's second published novel and I have quite liked both of them.

Hi Twin! Sorry that you are swamped with grading. What a grind. But I know you always give it your best and I am sure the kids get great comments from you.

I am not worried about Scout. She rocks! Must take after her Grandma or something...!

A kitten sounds like a better choice for Scout. I'm with her on the not listening at clean up time!

Hi Ellen - Go Vikes! Will you watch?

I did read Southwood's first novel as well. They are both very good. I knew there was a personal connection with you.

Hey Twin! I am reading a lot of essays about human trafficking. Did you know it is bad? Seriously, my colleagues and I are tearing hair right now.

Definitely Scout takes after her Tita.

We'll see, Meg. Scout is very smart. I'm guessing she may end up with both a kitten and a hamster.

Pehaps a kitten could help ferret - nope that's wrong - *kitten** out where the hamster escapee has gone.

Well, you (and Ellen) got me with Evensong. It sounds lovely!

Hi Beth, I have also been checking out some of the "Best of 2018" book lists and my wish list has grown accordinly. Christmas plans have kept me busy this last week or so, but I am looking forward to spending some time with my family. I can imagine that Scout will certainly bring the Christmas cheer to you!

>176 streamsong: Hi Janet. I suspect Annie cat already knows.

>177 Copperskye: You're very welcome, Joanne. I think you'll like it.

>178 DeltaQueen50: The lists have swollen my WL as well, Judy.

126. Becoming gave me new respect for a women I already admired. It's a candid view of her life, both before and after being a First Lady. I found the early years the least compelling, but this woman is amazing. She is so thoughtful: "For me, becoming isn't about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self."

This book is great -- it is certainly one of the year's best.

Oh, and she is not a fan of politics, no running for office for her.

Next: my book club book, Reader, I Married Him

Just coming off of lurk mode to say hi, Beth. I can commiserate with the grading crunch--thankfully those days are behind me!

>180 BLBera: I'm so looking forward to reading this one!

Did Scout decide on a kitten?

>180 BLBera: I'm definitely adding this to my list - so glad you loved it.

Thanks Roni. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

>182 EBT1002:, >183 EBT1002: You will love it, Ellen. I felt more optimistic about our country than I have felt for a long time. This is one I will definitely reread. I borrowed it from the library, but I will have to own a copy.

Scout did decide on a kitten. So, no more hamsters, at least for now.

>184 vivians: Vivian - You will love it. In fact, it's going to be difficult to find something to follow it. And I still have about 10 days left of school, so I won't have much time for reading.

Hi, Beth. I hope you have been doing well. Hooray for Becoming. I am glad to hear you loved it. I am going to kick off the New Year, with it.

Currently, I am having a good time with Transcription.

Another list: https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2018/12/12/674672972/code-switchs-2018-b...

Hi Mark: I hope to read Transcription over break.

Beth! I can't cope with all these fab lists. So many new to me books. I was thinking (for about five minutes) I'd try not to buy any new books in 2019.

Glad you've got some light at the end of the marking tunnel.

I know, Charlotte. I was thinking I would try to read solely from my shelves next year, but I can see now that that will last until Jan. 2.

Regarding grading, at this point, I can make fewer comments, and if I get into the zone, can skim through, grade holistically. At this point, few students' grades will change, so the ones I have to pay closest attention to are the ones on the borders. That helps as I look at piles of essays.

Yay for lists! They wreak havoc with my wish list but they are so fun.

How is the kitten adventure going?

Hooray for kittens! So cute and so naughty!

>190 EBT1002: You should see my break reading list, Ellen. That assumes I do nothing else for two weeks!

I think she's getting the kitten for Christmas.

>191 banjo123: Yes, Scout loves her Annie Cat, so I'm sure she will love her kitten whose name will be Rose Flower. At least that was the name the last time I asked.

I hope you both are having a wonderful Sunday. I was very productive, so now I think I can take the rest of the day off.

If the Seahawks would get their act together and beat the 49ers, my day would be much more wonderful. Ugh.

My Vikes had a good day, but I don't see them doing much in the playoffs.

I'm glad you can see light at the end of the grading tunnel, Beth!

Thanks Julia. I am really looking forward to a break.

127. Death Comes to Kurland Hall is a light, mildly entertaining mystery. I enjoyed the first two more, or maybe it suffers in comparison to Michelle Obama's memoir. I'm sure I won't remember a thing about it in a couple of months. I mostly read it at the gym on my e-reader.

>197 BLBera: Thank goodness I won't have to add another series ;). Hope you get through the grading process soon and can move on to your own reading. I'll be eager to hear what's on your vacation list.

Hi Vivian - One thing about the lightweight mysteries is they do serve a purpose at times. Right now I don't think I could stand anything that makes me think too much. My goal is to be done by Monday. We shall see.

>199 BLBera: I like reading light stuff around Christmas. I seem to need the distraction from other stuff!

>198 vivians: Oh, Vivian. So far I have Transcription, The Overstory, and the new Penny on my list. :) I think there are others as well, but those come to mind.

>200 thornton37814: Yes! It is nice to pick up something that doesn't demand too much.

>180 BLBera: That looks so good, Beth. I haven't heard any negative comments about it. I am now #880 on the hold list at my library. Good luck with the grading.

>192 BLBera: Beth, Scout picks the most delightful names for her pets :-) I loved the escaped Sophia Nuts, as you know, and Rose Flower is perfect for a kitten.

Sorry to see you're still grading - I hope it ends soon.

The first Carlos Ruiz Zafon book is "in transit" in the library reserve system :-)

>201 BLBera: Oh boy, I can't wait to hear what you think about The Overstory. I hope it hasn't been too hyped.

I'm almost done with the marvelous Heart's Invisible Furies and next up is The Essex Serpent which I remember you liked.

Winter break -- yay! I hope you get through your grading soon! It's quiet on campus this week and I've had a few meetings get canceled. I'm getting some things done and my office is now so tidy I hardly recognize it. And it's only Tuesday!

I also like Rose Flower.
Our campus is also near empty.

I've had my first mince pie in years that I actually like (I usually convince myself that I might like them, and then find I still don't). Hope the marking is moving...

>202 Familyhistorian: You will love it, Meg. 880? How many copies does your library own? I hope you have other things to read. ;)

>203 susanj67: I'll watch for your comments on The Shadow of the Wind. I hope you get it soon.

As for the grading, I do see light.

Scout does come up with good names.

>204 EBT1002: Ellen, I'm expecting great things from The OVerstory. I hope all the hype hasn't inflated my expectations. I do want to read Heart's Invisible Furies soon. I hope you like The Essex Serpent. Hooray for winter break. I hope you get lots of reading done.

>205 charl08: I'm nearly done with grading, Charlotte. I hope to have all my grades turned in by Sunday. I've never had mince pie.

Never? Not one? Oh, I'm jealous. Sending encouraging marking support noises.

So far The Essex Serpent is promising to be as good as you have indicated.

Jeez Louise! Get that grading done. Back in the day, grading was as simple as tossing the pile of papers down some stairs. Doesn't that work anymore?

I'm being tugged toward stupid happy and toward frustrated unhappy. Back and forth, back and forth.

Had a visit from Christman's Septic Sucking Services and only $340 later, all that sh*t is gone away. What can I say? We don't miss it.

Happy Winter Solstice, Beth!

Good luck getting the grading done so you can be on break! I might leave a little bit early today although I'm trying to get hold of the travel agent we use so she can book my flights to Columbus, OH. I'm attending a meeting there on January 31 and I fear that the flights will be dicey if I wait until January 2 to book.... Should've thought of this earlier, I know.

>207 charl08: Thanks Charlotte. I'm hopeful I can finish on Sunday.

>208 EBT1002: I thought you would like it, Ellen. Have a wonderful break. You should pass through Mpls. on your way to Columbus. We can have a meet up. :) Happy Winter Solstice to you, Ellen. I'm always happy to put the shortest day of the year behind me. My least favorite thing about winter is the dark at 4 p.m.

>209 weird_O: Hi Bill. Well, I'm sure some still grade that way. Hope all systems are go now. :)

128. Reader, I Married Him was my book club selection for this month. I found the collection a bit uneven, some really good stories by Francine Prose, Susan Hill and Sally Vickers and some forgettable stories by others. Although all stories were supposedly inspired by the phrase from Jane Eyre, "Reader, I Married Him," the connection wasn't apparent to me in some of the stories. Members of my book club had similar opinions. It was interesting to see which stories people liked.

This is not one I'll keep. Anyone who would like to give this one a try, PM me your address and it's yours.

Hoping your holidays are filled with good friends and good books

>212 BLBera: I'll pass on the book, but I enjoyed your comments on it. And I hope all your grading is now done and you can really settle into Christmas with Scout and her menagerie. :-)

Happy Holidays Beth

Beth, I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. I am just about ready for Christmas but one of another of my daughters keep phoning and asking if they can bring one more lonely person to brunch on Christmas Day - we are now up to 12 so I hope there's no more - but then I hate to think of anyone being alone on Christmas. I be on the lookout for your new 2019 thread when I return after spending some time with my family over the holidays.

Done! I am now officially on break.

Thanks for all the holiday wishes. Back at you!

Happy Holidays to all my LT friends.

I'll be back to visit individuals after Christmas and update my reading.

Congratulations on finishing! Have a lovely break, Beth.

Thanks Julia and Ellen.

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Happy Christmas, Beth! Excellent news about the grading :-) Enjoy your break, and may it be filled with many Scout stories for sharing afterwards!

Happy holidays, Beth.

Best wishes to you for a very merry Christmas!

Thanks Barbara, Chelle, Susan, Paul and Anne. I'll try to pass by your threads later today to wish you the best.

139. Money in the Morgue is a mystery that Ngaio Marsh started but never finished. Stella Duffy finished it and remained true to the tone and style of Marsh's books. This one takes place in New Zealand during WWII, and Roderick Alleyn is spy hunting. While it was fun to read one more book about Alleyn, I missed Fox and Troy.

This one was a variation on a locked room mystery. Payroll is stole from an isolated hospital, and a storm cuts them off from any outside help. Alleyn is called on to solve the mystery while keeping the real reason for his presence at the hospital secret. Entertaining.

140. Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why it Still Matters. In this very readable book, Rioux makes a compelling case for the continued relevance of Little Women. She points out the many contradictions and complexities of the novel: "Maybe it's not such a bad thing that Little Women is such an ambiguous novel. In its competing narratives of quest and romance, rebellion and resignation, rejection and adjustment, Little Women offers its readers multiple options, none of which is the one message of the text."

In one of my favorite chapters, she discusses why the novel is no longer taught in schools. She explains that one of the key reasons is the concern that boys won't like it. As an educator, this is one of the infuriating things I come up against -- it's fine for girls and women to read books by and about men, but boys and men can't be bothered to read books by and about women. As Boyd points out: " When we relegate Little Women to home reading and to girls only, we miss the opportunity to engage in the larger debates the book raises about gender and what it means to grow up. Little Women is one of the most valuable texts we have for helping readers young and old, male and female, to think about the complex issues of identity formation and maturation, and what roles gender plays in them. Why then would we tell boys that it's not a book for them?"

I found the discussion fascinating. For me the chapters that detailed the films and plays and other works based on the novel were the least interesting. I enjoyed reading about the scholarly work done, the discussion of its use in the classroom, and the biographical information. Anyone who has read and loved Little Women will find this book worthwhile.

It makes me want to reread Little Women. It has been several years since I reread it.

Currently reading and loving Transcription.

I also got a lovely Christmas gift: Well-Read Black Girl, my ER book, and I have started that. What's not to love about a book about books?

Enjoy your holiday break, Beth, and thanks for all the good book recommendations in 2018!

>229 BLBera: Sold! I loved this book as a kid, although I used to skip the sad Beth bits on rereads. Like you owe it a reread. I want to read a biography - it's been on my wishlist for a while... maybe I'll treat myself for my birthday.

>206 BLBera: Not to worry, my library has 69 copies of Becoming and I am now number 827 in line. I am currently working my way through 5 library holds which are due soon so I have plenty to be going on with.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, Beth.

Stopping by to add my Christmas wishes to you and the family Beth, and to add Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters to my wishlist.

Hope you're enjoying your break. I took New Year's Eve off so I'm looking forward to a nice long weekend.

I'm going to listen to the audio of Becoming once I finish my current audiobook. I scored tickets for my friend and I to her book tour event in Portland in early February. I'm so excited.

Hi Beth. I hope you are not getting too much snow. We are just getting rained on, which I will take any day over the white stuff.

>230 Donna828: Happy Holidays to you, Donna. I've gotten more than a few recommendations from you as well. I look forward to more in 2019.

>231 charl08: Beth dies, the saddest words ever, Charlotte. :) I always cry at that part.

>232 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg: It seems like you might have a wait. It's lucky you have other things to read. I hope your Christmas was wonderful as well.

>233 souloftherose: Thanks Heather. Merry Christmas to you as well.

>234 SuziQoregon: Enjoy your long weekend, Juli. Lucky you, to get to see Obama! Will she sign books as well?

>235 rosalita: It's raining today, Julia. I'm just hoping it doesn't freeze.

Well, back to Transcription.

131. Transcription is another winner from Kate Atkinson. Set in the 1940s, 1950s and 1980s, it follows Juliet Armstrong as she rather accidentally becomes a spy for MI5. She starts by transcribing conversations of fifth columnists and progresses to various "tasks" given her by her bosses. She remains naive and removed from the war throughout.

I loved the character of Juliet and the way Atkinson portrayed her as a dreamer. She would be conversing with another person, thinking irreverent thoughts only tangentially connected with the conversation, often the person she was speaking to would recall her to the conversation.

As Julia aptly put it, Atkinson shows the mundane part of spying. Most of Juliet's work was tedious. Oh, and as she often does, Atkinson delivers a twist at the end. I'm still thinking about that.

Next: I'll continue to read the essays in Well-Read Black Girl and keep on with There There

>236 BLBera: Everything locked in ice for you Beth? Freeways seem fine but the side roads are all a mess in the Cities.

>237 BLBera: Happy Holidays, Twin!! My LT SS (Paul) was nice enough to get me Atkinson's One Good Turn--- I love her stuff. And I have to hold off on There There until later in the year for my RL bookclub. Hope you are able to get out and about with all the snow. Sending lots of hugs!!

Erik: The sidewalks are slippery, but I haven't taken my car out yet. I suspect the side roads will be a mess, so maybe I'll stay home today. :)

>239 Berly: Hey Twin! Nice SS gift. I hope you're having a great holiday.

Interested in how you like There There. I was thinking I wanted to read it and it made a lot of "lists" in 2018 but I read a couple of not-so-hot comments (not sure they were really "reviews") so I wasn't sure.

Touchstones not working.

Hi Ellen - How is your break? I am loving There There. I checked the e-book out, but I wish I had a paper copy. There are a lot of characters, and with a paper book it would be easier to look back and refresh my memory. I think you would like it.

>242 BLBera: Okay, that is good to know. I'll keep it on the wish list (and think about acquiring a paper copy instead of going with the ebook).

My break has been pretty relaxing and wonderful, although as I have been chatting about on my thread, the insomnia has been palpable. I've done less reading than I would have hoped and expected. On the other hand, P and I saw two movies: Mary Poppins Returns (which I LOVED) and The Favourite (which was very good but a bit weird and a bit disturbing).

Scout and I went to see "Mary Poppins Returns" as well. She hardly moved. When I asked her which part she liked the most, she said, "All of it." Then later she talked about the scene where they go down the bathtub drain and "Tripping the Light Fantastic."

I've been trying to keep to my sleep schedule, but it's hard not to stay up late, reading.

Mary Poppins is on my list. Gad you guys liked it so much. Of course, I trust Scout's verdict the most. : )

I’ve a few movies I’m hoping to see before they leave the theater, Beth, and Mary Poppins is one of them.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and peaceful new year.

We saw Mary Poppins Returns on Thursday and enjoyed it very much, particularly since my son has a small part in it - he rides a bike with the leeries in 'Tripping the Light Fantastic', but doesn't dance, and for a full half second he plays the part of Mary Poppins as she gets on a bike. I'm glad Scout enjoyed it too!

Hiya, Beth! Hope you're enjoying your little vacation! So cute, Scout liked ALL of Mary Poppins Returns! One always is a bit weary of a return of anything in the movie world but especially of one so loved. Glad it lived up to the hype.
Enjoy the rest of 2018 and I'll see you next year when I check out all the new threads

>245 Berly: Of course, she is the best judge, Twin. She is in Arizona right now with her parents and other grandparents. She called me before they left and asked if I would go with her because she would miss me. How sweet is that?

>246 NanaCC: I hope you get to Mary Poppins, Colleen. Happy New Year to you as well. I look forward to more book talk in 2019.

>247 CDVicarage: How exciting that your son has a part in the Mary Poppins movie! Did he have any stories to tell about the filming? Happy New Year, Kerry.

>248 Carmenere: Happy New Year to you as well, Lynda. I will be around in 2019, maybe a bit less but still here.

>244 BLBera: Oh, good! I want to see it, and yet I don't, if you know what I mean. But many people are coming down on the side of "It's SO good" that I'm sure I will, eventually.

132. Kingdom of the Blind is the latest Three Pines mystery. It begins with Armand Gamache at an isolated farmhouse in a blizzard. But it's not, as one might expect, a murder scene. Instead, Gamache has been summoned there to be informed that he has been named as an executor for a will -- of a woman he doesn't know. Eventually, of course, there is a murder.

Besides the mystery relating to the will, there is the matter of the missing drugs that has carried over from the previous novel. The opioid crisis has also affected Quebec, and the descriptions of the back alleys and junkies are the most harrowing parts of the novel.

Familiar faces are back, but I suppose I shouldn't say more because there might be spoilers. This novel was well plotted and a nice mix of the personal with the mystery. It was hard to put down. I hope there will be another one.

Now, on to finish There There this year.

>250 laytonwoman3rd: Hi Linda - I think you have to take it on its own terms, not compare it to the original. That's difficult because we're so familiar with Julie Andrews, but Emily Blunt and Lin Manuel Miranda did fine jobs.

I can't wait to see Mary Poppins, but having a tough time convincing my 17 year old to come along. I know she'll enjoy it, I just think she doesn't want to be seen in a theater full of little kids!

I'm listening to Kingdom of the Blind now. I wouldn't rate it as the best of the series but I'm still listening at every chance I get.

Happy New Year, Vivian. I hope you get to see Mary Poppins. You might be surprised by all the adults in the audience.

I really liked the Penny. Lots happening. I wonder, though, where she will go from here?

133. There There is my last book for 2018, and it was a good one. The title comes from a quote by Gertrude Stein, "...she was talking about how the place where she'd grown up in Oakland had changed so much, that so much development had happened there, that the there of her childhood, the there there, was gone, there was no there there anymore. Dene wants to tell him it's what happened to Native people..."

There There portrays the lives of several Native Americans in Oakland. Most of the characters are born and raised there -- this is a story of urban Indians, and how many of them feel divorced from their roots, their heritage. This rootlessness results in drinking and drug use. In the portrayal of the destructiveness of alcohol, Orange reminds me a little of Sherman Alexie.

There are a lot of characters, many of whom are connected in some way. I sometimes had to look back to remind myself of the relationships. That, and the necessary brief appearance of many of the characters, were the only weaknesses of the novel. I would have liked to learn more about many of the characters. Still, even though many of the characters did appear only briefly, Orange gave each one life. I'll remember Opal, Edwin, and Orvil for a long time.

Great first novel. I can't wait to see what he does next.

A great way to end the year.

>251 BLBera: I'm about to read Glass Houses. I hope to get to that one mid-year to space it out a bit!

Thanks Lori.

Enjoy the Penny - I'm jealous that you still have some unread ones.

Happy New Year to you! I'll see you in 2019.

>255 BLBera: I heard an interview on NPR with the author of that one, and he made some really interesting points about wanting to write a book that reflected the urban experience of Native Americans, most of whom do not live on reservations. It wasn't something I had given a lot of thought to, but it makes sense that it would be a very different life. This one's been on my wishlist for a while, and your comments make me want to get to it soon.

Happy New Year, Julia. I think you'd like it. I'll have to listen to the interview.

I meant to add the link, Beth, and then I got distracted by (gasp!) work. Here it is, from June:

Native American Author Tommy Orange Feels A 'Burden To Set the Record Straight'

>251 BLBera: Glad to see that you enjoyed Kingdom of the Blind. I also hope that she writes more but who knows after the way she finished it

Happy New Year's Eve!!

>255 BLBera: Most positive review of There There I have seen yet, Beth. I hope you have a Happy New Year!

Thanks Julia, Chelle, Twin, and Meg.