Familyhistorian's 2019 Reading Adventure part 3

Still looks like winter here so might as well go with it, I suppose.

Not sure what to do with this extra posting box that LT decided to insert so I will say

WELCOME!!

My name is Meg and this is my sixth year as one of the 75ers. At the end of last year I became overwhelmed with finishing off my challenge books and library holds. Somehow the joy of read lost some of its sparkle and the books on my shelves kept growing. That wasn't working so this year I am signing up for less of the challenges and have set myself a personal challenge of reading more from my own shelves. I also couldn't keep up with all the threads I had starred last year so I have to be smarter about LT time as I want to keep up with the threads I follow as well as find more time for my writing, genealogy and other adventures.

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My next series of posts will be about travelling for research because it will soon be that time of year. Check out the weekly posts at: A Genealogist's Path to History

Little Free Library

Books culled in 2019

January 3

February 6

March 8

Challenges

Reading Through Time

Quarterly
January-March 2019 - 20th Century: World War I (1914-1918) - A Question of Honor by Charles Todd - DONE
April-June 2019 - 20th Century: Between Wars (1919-1938)
July-September 2019 - 20th Century: WW2 (1939-1945)
October-December 2019 - Modern History (1946-present day)

Monthly

January: "I Will Survive" - Krakatoa by Simon Winchester - DONE
February: "Be My Valentine" - The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty DONE
March: "Downtown" - The Blitz Detective: Fifth Column by Mike Hollow
April: "The Wonderful Emptiness" - The Great Central Plains of America
May: "Myths"
June: "Cryptography & Code Breaking"
July: "Travel"
August: "Philosophy and Religion"
September: “Women Pioneers”
October:
November:
December:

2019 Nonfiction Challenge

January: Prizewinning books, and runners up. - The Massey Murder by Charlotte Gray - DONE
February: Science and Technology: Innovations and Innovators. - The Epigenetics Revolution by Nessa Carrey - DONE
March: True Crime, Misdemeanors and Justice, Past and Present Day - A Treasury of Victorian Murder: Compendium Vol. 1 by Rick Geary - DONE - Murder by Milkshake by Eve Lazarus - DONE
April: Comfort Reads
May: History. In this case, my cutoff date is 1950.
June: The Pictures Have It!
July: Biography & First Person Yarns
August: Raw Materials: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral
September: Books by Journalists
October: Other Worlds: From Spiritual to Fantastical
November: Creators and Creativity
December: I’ve Always Been Curious About…

Books read in 2019

Books read in 2019

First quarter

January

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
All True Not a Lie In It by Alix Hawley
A Fever of the Blood by Oscar de Murier
Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass
No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen
Fortunately the Milk by Neil Gaiman
The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman
Kissed a Sad Goodbye by Deborah Crombie
Ravished by Amanda Quick
Plaid and Plagiarism by Molly MacRae
The Massey Murder by Charlotte Gray
Murder on Millionaires Row by Erin Lindsay
Old Filth by Jane Gardam
A Killer in King's Cove by Iona Whishaw
Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston
Stand Firm: Resisting the Self-Improvement Craze by Svend Brinkmann
The Poison Squad: One Chemist's Single-minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century by Deborah Blum
Things I Don't Want to Know: A Living Autobiography by Deborah Levy
A Dedicated Man by Peter Robinson
Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883 by Simon Winchester

February

A Midsummer Night's Scream by Jill Churchill
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
The Darkness by Ragnar Jonasson
Anne of Green Gables: a graphic novel by Mariah Marsden
Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross
Miss Treadway and the Field of Stars by Miranda Emmerson
Evil Under the Sun adapted by Didier Quella-Guyot
The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam

Books acquired in 2019




January

The House on Tradd Steet by Karen White
Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Becoming Belle by Nuala O'Connor
Death in a Darkening Mist by Iona Whishaw
Scones and Scoundrels by Molly MacRae
Book Love by Debbie Tung
The Snooty Bookshop by Tom Gauld
Woman World by Aminder Dhaliwal
The Law Enforcement Handbook by Desmond Rowland and James Bailey
The Crime Writer's Guide to Police Practice and Procedure by Michael O'Byrne
Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA and More Tell Us About Crime by Val McDermid

The next one is yours.

Hope this new thread provides the motivation you want, Meg. Happy New Thread!

>11 ronincats: Thanks Roni, so far it isn't that good as LT stuck in an extra post. *sigh*

Checking out the new thread, Meg!

>13 alcottacre: Good to see you here, Stasia!

Happy new thread, Meg.

I love the idea of those mini libraries.

29. The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

The Hypnotist’s Love Story was an Aussie love story with a twist. Patrick seemed to be the one for Ellen, the hypnotherapist. The complication was not his school age son, but his stalker. Could the stalker be one of Ellen's clients? Was Ellen getting more than she bargained for in this relationship?

The story was really well done as we got to see the affects of Patrick's previous relationship which led to the stalking from many points of view. The reader also sees the effects of the stalking on everyone involved. The results were a well balanced and nuanced story.

>15 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul. Have you come across any Little Free Libraries in your travels?

>17 Familyhistorian: Yes but rarely Meg. The climate is certainly not conducive for that over here.

>18 PaulCranswick: Probably not well used in the rainy season, then. They aren't the best in rainy places as we are prone to be.

Happy new thread, Meg. Still winter here, too, if that helps, lol!

>20 jessibud2: Hi Shelley, thanks for the commiseration but it doesn't really help. We just want to get back to normal and a whole month with snow is just not normal.

30. Last Friends by Jane Gardam

Terry Veneering's story, Last Friends brought the Old Filth triology to a close. But it didn't seem to be told from Veneering's point of view as much as the other stories were told from the focus character. There was also a lot about the last surviving people of the old set that included Old Filth and Betty, the raj/Hong Kong mob.

The reader did find out about Veneering's origins but much was told in heresay and with pointers to where the other characters' stories overlapped. It was also about who gets to tell the stories when all the rest are gone.

>21 Familyhistorian: - We are heading into 2 days of balmy weather, possibly up to +7C by Saturday (enough to melt a lot of the ice of the past week), then the next wave of winter hits on Sunday into Monday. This is really getting old fast.

>23 jessibud2: Balmy weather sounds nice but makes you optimistic before pulling the rug out from under. We are supposed to get more snow tomorrow which is bad timing for me as it is book club tomorrow so I may not be able to go because the meeting is at the top of snake hill.

Happy new thread, Meg. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we don't get any more snow, I think we got a lot less than you did as ours is all gone now, but even so, I don't want any more!

>25 DeltaQueen50: There are a lot of bare patches here now, Judy, but there is still snow around here and there was still a lot of snow around in Surrey when I was there on the weekend. You are lucky that most of yours is gone. Hopefully we only get rain tomorrow but I'm not counting on that the way things have been going.

Happy new thread. I love the topper.

Happy New Thread, Meg. I like the winter topper, too. Spring is not far off.

Happy new one, Meg. Great topper, even if it's winter :)

Happy new thread!

>27 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. That is my depiction of skating on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa.

>28 jnwelch: Ha Joe, it is hard to remember spring when the snow is falling outside AGAIN! WTF? This is Vancouver, we don't do months of snow here.

>29 katiekrug: Hi Katie, and thanks!

>30 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita!

Steady snowfall out my window this morning. I am not impressed. Webinar about to start, back later.

Happy new thread, Meg! Enjoy the Webinar!!

Happy new thread, Meg. We're expecting another foot of snow on Sunday. I don't know where it's all going to go. I must take a picture of our snow.

Happy new thread!

>33 Carmenere: Hi Lynda and thanks. It was a good one.

>34 BLBera: Yeah, that's the thing, Beth, it all has to go somewhere. Hope for a gradual warm up when it comes.

>35 drneutron: Thanks Jim!

Hi Meg my dear, happy new thread, hope you are having a good week my dear and wish you a really lovely weekend and send love and hugs from both of us to you dear friend.

>37 johnsimpson: Hi John, I hope that you have a wonderful weekend and hugs to both you and Karen.

31. The Wrong Kind of Blood by Declan Hughes

When Ed Loy left Dublin it was for bigger and better things. But that didn't happen. Now back for his mother's funeral, there were missing pieces in his life that he needed to fill. One of those was finding out what happened to his father. Would the new woman in his life, the one that wants him to find her missing husband although he doesn't have a license to act as a PI in Ireland, help him find the answer?

Loy's return brought him into contact with Dublin's underworld quickly. It was questionable if he was going to survive, let alone solve the riddle behind the bodies which kept showing up. It kept me turning the pages.

Happy Friday, Meg. Happy New Thread! I hope you have a fine weekend, with plenty of book time.

32. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

I read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine for book club but, unfortunately, I won't find out what everyone else thought because book club and snow came on the same day.

I found this book a bit of a slog, to be honest. The first part of the book was especially hard to get through because of the way that people reacted to Eleanor with her social ineptness and strange appearance. It got better towards the middle as Eleanor basically hit bottom and then found help to move on.

From the positive reviews the book has received, this story must strike other people in different ways than it did me. I hope I enjoy the next book club pick better.

>40 msf59: Hi Mark, nothing planned for this weekend so I should find time for the books. On second thought, I do have an article due and have more genealogy stuff to do so maybe not as much reading time as I thought.

Hi Meg! You and Lori are the two genealogists I know so I'mma tell y'all my weird story.

I've spent my whole life hearing that my paternal grandfather was Bavarian catholic. Suddenly my sister, hooked in to the genealogy fans on both sides of our family, tells me we're actually Estonian! ...WTF...and today, in a truly strange event, a man named Mark Derus Junior sends me a friend request on Facebook. He must be family, we're the only Deruses there are.

...or are we...

HIS family's origin story is Lithuanian via Napoleon's Grand Armée. Some local lassie snagged her a French dude and the name came from French "de la Russie" or "from Russia." Now I'd heard that as well only it was Russian Poland that it was said of, and was a dodge used by a fleeing 1848 Socialist rebellion ancestor when asked where he and his wife were from as they boarded ship for Milwaukee.

Fascinating. I have no way to gauge if any or all of this is so, but I'm endlessly intrigued by this intersection of Life and History.

>43 richardderus: Intriguing family history, Richard. All of that is further complicated by migration and moving borders. I am not too sure of the history in that part of the world.

>43 richardderus: - Richard, Life is history, isn't it? :-)

I too, am endlessly fascinated by this sort of stuff, though not enough to do the legwork. And I am somewhat skeptical of all those genealogy sites. But I have a couple of cousins who did do family trees, even before the internet and I love poring over them. And, when reading a book that involves generations, I love when there is a family tree diagram at the beginning of the book to refer back to, as I often do, frequently, throughout my reading.

>44 Familyhistorian:, >45 jessibud2: I guess Life is History to the individuals...and family trees often (fascinatingly, to me at least) follow national and/or ethnic borders. Invaluable things, family trees, especially in Royalty-themed reads.

>45 jessibud2: The key to it is documenting the connections and not relying on "undocumented trees." Make sure you have the right person at each step and not a "same name" person.

>46 richardderus: Eastern Europe's borders did change a lot, and I'd guess you'd be looking at a "Poland" immigration record up to a certain date, but without more specifics on your family, it might be difficult to tell more. I know more German experts than experts on Poland and former Soviet Republics.

>45 jessibud2: It is fascinating, Shelley, but you are right to be skeptical of the genealogy sites. They are wonderful for finding info but only if you know what you are doing and don't grab just any person with the right name and stick them on to your family tree.

>46 richardderus: Family trees can be pathways to some interesting stories which are affected by history and become history too. I am more into finding out the stories behind the people that I research, in part because I am nosy and want to know why they did what they did.

>47 thornton37814: Hi Lori, I hadn't read your reply when I wrote the answer to Shelley. Guess we are saying the same thing in different words.

Happy new thread, Meg! Sorry to hear you're still getting snowed on. Doesn't the snow know that it's supposed to be spring?

You've certainly read a lot already - I have noted a few things down but the reserve slot situation isn't looking so great :-)

>48 Familyhistorian: - Meg, do you ever watch the CBC tv program on Friday nights called Marketplace? One of the hosts is actually an identical twin, so she and her sister submitted their DNA to 5 of the most popular genealogical sites to see what would happen. What should have happened, is that their results should have been identical or nearly so. What actually happened was not quite what was expected!

https://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2017-2018/dna-ancestry-tests-can-you-tru...

Happy new thread, Meg!
Genealogy is interesting, but it never really grabbed me enough to search for myself. Some family members on my fathers side of the family dived into it and keep the results online, so I can find if I want.

Hi Meg and happy new thread!

>16 Familyhistorian: I really liked the three Moriarty books I've read and have one more on my shelves waiting for the right time.

Hi Meg - Great comments about Eleanor Oliphant. It's too bad you missed your BC discussion; I think it might be a good book club book. I felt similarly to you about it; I didn't love it as much as some did.

>41 Familyhistorian: Oh no! I recently aquired that one. I shall put it way at the bottom of the pile to read.

>49 susanj67: Hi Susan, we are getting very tired of the snow but it might be coming to an end soon (fingers crossed). I think my reading has picked up because of those library holds - they keep coming in bunches!

>50 jessibud2: I don't actually watch Marketplace but did see the info about the identical twins with the different ethnicities, Shelley. The DNA companies entice people with finding out their ethnicity but genealogists are more interested in the matches which they hope will led to more discoveries in their lineages.

>51 FAMeulstee: Genealogy is not for everyone, Anita. I grew up with family stories that fascinated me and it is the stories that I try to uncover while doing my family history. Family trees are just the framework on which those stories hang.

>52 karenmarie: Thanks Karen. That was my first Moriarty and I didn't know what to expect. I enjoyed it but don't have any others on the shelf.

>53 BLBera: According to the text response I got about the book club evening the consensus was that the members liked the story. Sounds like I would have been out numbered, Beth.

>54 figsfromthistle: Well, Anita, the members of my book club like the book and it has garnered some good reviews so maybe you should read it and decide for yourself.

It was my 11th Thingaversary on February 10 and, strangely enough, I have been having difficulty purchasing the 12 books to mark the occasion. (Maybe it is the thought of all my book piles that is making it so hard.) I finally bought the last two books today but another one squeaked in there as well, so I ended up with 13 books to mark the occasion which are:

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict
Good on Paper by Rachel Cantor
The Evening Chorus by Helen Humphreys
How to Be Alone: If You Want To, and Even If You Don't by Lane Moore
Innocent Blood by P.D. James
Night of a Thousand Stars by Deanna Raybourn
The Fatal Flame by Lyndsay Faye
Pretty Jane and the Viper of Kidbrooke Lane by Paul Thomas Murphy
A Rabble of Dead Money by Charles R. Morris
Who Killed Tom Thomson by John Little
Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson
Romance is My Day Job by Patience Bloom
The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester

Most of the books were on sale or came from second hand book stores.

>41 Familyhistorian: Meg, good comments about Eleanor Oliphant. For me it was an okay read but I wondered what I was missing compared to others' enthusiasms. Happy 11th Thingaversary! That is a very good book haul. Today is our 45th wedding anniversary so we will have a night out on the town and be home by 8:30! Wild things.

>56 Familyhistorian: Nice Thingaversary haul! Mine comes up the end of next month. I won't have any trouble finding books to purchase; the problem will be cutting it down to the 13 I get for my 12th.

Great haul, Meg. :)

>57 mdoris: I think we are on the same page on Eleanor Oliphant, Mary. 45 years is an amazing milestone. Hope you had a wonderful and early celebration.

>58 thornton37814: I normal don't have a problem getting my Thingaversary books, Lori. It felt so different this year as I seem to be more in culling mode than acquisition mode

>59 DeltaQueen50: Thanks Judy!

The sun is shining and I am off to do errands in a bit - actually the purpose is to put more miles on my car which is going in for bi-annual service this week. Apparently there are so many electronic gadgets on new cars that it drains the battery if you don't use the vehicle often. I feel like a slave to my possessions sometimes!

Happy new thread, Meg! Here is hoping we are finished with winter and can start the spring weather.

>41 Familyhistorian: - I am one of the readers that loved Eleanor Oliphant, but I should point out that I listened to the audiobook read by Cathleen McCarron and I think McCarron's narration really sold me on the story - that, and I tend to gravitate towards social awkward characters like Eleanor.

>56 Familyhistorian: That's a most respectable Thingaversary haul! I'm wending my way through my TBRs to Who Killed Tom Thomson?. I'm very curious.

Happy Thingaversary, Meg. Hooray for eleven years. Nice book haul too. Battle Cry of Freedom is outstanding.

>62 lkernagh:



I saw these today, Lori. I think maybe spring is on its way (fingers crossed). Perhaps I would have taken to Eleanor more if I hadn't been the one supplying her voice during my read.

>63 richardderus: I've read quite a few books about Thomson, his art and his death. For me it is also genealogical research. I'm looking forward to a new take on the mystery. Hope you get to it soon, Richard. I might just dive in quickly myself.

>64 msf59: Thanks Mark. I got Battle Cry of Freedom in the used book store. Nice to hear that it is a good one. I am interested in the Civil War - more genealogical research and actually related to Richard's interest in the book about Tom Thomson because the Civil War soldier in my family was Tom Thomson's uncle.

33. Blacklands by Belinda Bauer

Steven lives in an unhappy home with his mother, grandmother and little brother. There is a reason for the unhappiness, his mother's brother (his grandmother's favourite) was killed by a serial killer when he was just a young lad, about the same age as Steven. Steven longs to set things right and thinks that finding his uncle Billy's body might just make him a hero in his mother's and grandmother's eyes. He starts searching Exmoor, but it is vast so he enters into correspondence with the killer.

What a tense plot and well written book. I am amazed that it is a first novel for Belinda Bauer.

>67 Familyhistorian: - That was the first Bauer I read, and it got me hooked. Such a good novel. I've liked the couple of others I've read of hers, too.

34. The Cut Out Girl: A Story of War and Family, Lost and Found by Bart van Es

Before WWII the Netherlands was looked upon as a safe haven for Jews but once the Nazi's came it proved anything but. Many Jews were caught and sent to concentration camps but there were some that survived. One of them was Lien, a young girl whose parents sent her into hiding. For a time Lien lived with the van Es family. Bart van Es, was a descendent of the couple who had taken Liens in but, somehow, there had been a falling out between Bart's grandmother and Lien. Bart was driven to research Lien's story.

The story was both about the history of the Netherlands in WWII and, more particularly, the lives and deaths of the Jewish population. It was a harrowing time and its affects continued to haunt the lives of those who had survived, especially the children who were brought up in hiding and moved from family to family.

>68 katiekrug: I didn't realize that she had more books out, Katie. I will have to look for the other ones.

>70 Familyhistorian: - Yep, she has several. I've read Rubbernecker and Snap. The latter was longlisted for the Booker last year.

>68 katiekrug: I just looked at my library's website and she has lots of other books there.

How is your basement repair going, Katie? The contractor for my insurance company just sent me a text that they will be sending in the demolition crew tomorrow. Wow, he was just here to have a look on Thursday. Suddenly things are happening quickly not what I expected when the sewer back up happened in December!

>72 Familyhistorian: - It hasn't started yet. Not sure when it will (certainly by the spring, I think) but we've had no more problems *knock on wood*

>65 Familyhistorian: - How lovely! I have noticed some green shoots - not sure if they are for daffodils or tulips - so I will join you in crossing fingers that Spring is on its way (again). ;-)

>73 katiekrug: I hope that there are no more problems before the repairs start, Katie.

>74 lkernagh: I noticed some snowdrops in another place today too, Lori, but I also noticed some buds on a rhododendron that looked like they had frozen in the cold. I just hope that it warms up too soon.

Well, I just spent two hours cleaning some of the stuff out of the laundry room because they are coming to do the demolition around 8:00 am tomorrow. I got a text from the contractor for the insurance company around 5:00 pm. I am impressed by the sudden speed for damage that happened over 2 months ago but I'm not sure if the actual repair will be done as quickly. I hope so because I don't want to be without a laundry room and 2nd bathroom for long.

I am another huge fan of Belinda Bauer, Meg. I've loved everything that I have read by her, but my favorite still remains Blacklands. That book is actually considered the first in a trilogy although I found the second and third books were more connected.

>78 DeltaQueen50: The first book not being that well connected to the trilogy makes sense, Judy. It was her first book. I will definitely read more by Bauer.

>77 Familyhistorian: - Wow, good news, Meg. And good luck! I would think that if the demolition is beginning, the work will be done. Why else would they start and not just do it all?

>77 Familyhistorian: I hope they don't dawdle and get things done quickly.

Happy Tuesday, Meg! I am very late to wish you happy on your newest thread.

>67 Familyhistorian: This was also my first Belinda Bauer read - it was Katie recommended during my very first year on the threads. SO good. Rubbernecker is also good, though not as good as Blacklands.

Hoping your repairs go quickly and smoothly.

>80 jessibud2: It might take a while, Shelley. Some of the damage is not obvious so they will be taking samples.

>81 thornton37814: Me too, Lori.

>82 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie. I didn't realize that Blacklands had come out a while ago because there are still holds on it at the library. Nice to know that Rubbernecker as also a good read.

Much Belinda Bauer love, I see. Blacklands has come home from and gone back to the library several times, so far without being read. One day.

>84 richardderus: The next time you get Blacklands out of the library you definitely have to read it, Richard. It is really good, IMHO.

My week isn't turning out as I planned. Not only are the guys here doing the demolition which I didn't know about until late yesterday, but it appears that I need a new phone. The one I have is very old and I haven't been downloading versions of IOS thinking it would last longer (it probably did because it is an I phone 4S) but now the link between my computer that updates the Fitbit site no longer syncs. Looks like I will need to get a new phone. *sigh*

I do hope your demolition goes quickly, Meg. I would also hate to be without my 2nd bathroom and also my laundry room. And sorry about the phone! Whoa, and Iphone 4 Yes, I think it would need replacing. I think I have an Iphone 6. My husband's phone got so old and out of date that telus was shutting down the old network that it used, so a couple or more years ago, both of us got new phones. He still prefers a plain old flip phone and no Iphone. He has no interest in texting etc.

Amazingly, my copy of The Cut Out Girl: A Story of War and Family, Lost and Found arrived from Blackwells in the UK in a matter of two weeks! I'm not sure as to whether it was just a fluke, or has our mail service improved?

>86 Familyhistorian: - Well, that is a double whammey. Good luck with both the demo and the new phone purchase! I am kind of worried that my current smart phone may decide to pack it in (I have had it for 4 years). We have been trying to arrange for my other half to get a new phone so that I can switch to his 2-year old iPhone 7, but he has been frustrated by the phone offerings (and the plans) the Big 3 have. He is seriously considering ditching his current provider (Telus) and flipping to Freedom, but the network is still being built here in Victoria, and not sure it would be a good choice as he sails and Freedom coverage seems to be focused in the larger urban centres.

>87 vancouverdeb: The demolition they did this morning went quickly but they had to take samples of the drywall to get them analyzed to see if there is asbestos. So we are waiting on lab results before they can continue. I mainly use my phone to text and follow up with LT so data is high on my list, Deborah. I knew what I wanted and went to the Apple store and got a new phone today.

I hope you like The Cut Out Girl. I did. We can only hope that is a sign that our mail delivery is improving but my brother and SIL sent me a card for my birthday and it took 2 1/2 weeks to get to me so I am not so sure about any improvement.

>88 lkernagh: I have never been tempted by Freedom because of the limits of its network coverage. I'm not sure that is the best way to go, Lori. I'm sure your reservation are correct. I want to continue with my current plan because they don't offer a plan like that any more and anything more would cost more. I went to the Apple store to buy a phone and they were able to set it up on my ongoing plan. It costs more upfront but I have the phone and plan that I want. I now have an iPhone 8.

>88 lkernagh: I did the same type thing last time I needed a phone. No need to change plans. I really like the service at the Apple store better than other places too.

Hi Meg!

Happy 11th Thingaversary.

>56 Familyhistorian: Ooh, a Simon Winchester! He’s one of my favorite nonfiction authors. And Battle Cry of Freedom is a stunner.

>60 Familyhistorian: I seem to be more in culling mode than acquisition mode Me, too! I’m trying to be more selective in what I buy and I’ve been heartlessly culling this year. So far I’ve acquired 27 and culled 88. Of course there’s the spring Friends of the Library book sale coming up March 28-30, I’m Treasurer and so there all three days for support. I’m not always needed, though, which means I can browse the sections. I always find way too many good books.

>67 Familyhistorian: Definitely a book bullet! I just ordered it on Amazon and got it ‘free’ - I used some of my Amazon Visa points for it.

>89 Familyhistorian: Good luck on the demolition – it would certainly be better if there wasn’t asbestos. And congrats on your new phone.

I too like the service at Apple Stores. A few months ago I needed a new phone and thought I was going to choose between an iPhone 8 and an iPhoneX but when I got to the store the young lady helping me asked questions about how I use the phone and what is important to me and recommended an iPhone 7 saving me a couple of hundred dollars and giving me a phone that is perfect for my needs.

Wow to the amount of time it took to get your card for your birthday! Was that within Canada? Interesting information re your Apple Phone and purchasing at the Apple store to enable to you keep using your existing plan. My Iphone 6 - I think it is, is fine, but a good idea for when I need to replace it. I find I don't use much data on my Iphone, so I sure don't want to pay more for my data plan . I'm with Telus too. We just learned about the possibility of asbestos being in our town homes too. So far , several places have had renovations done , and no asbestos has been found. But the complex was built over a 2 year period, and I believe that the strata council here decided that each individual unit would have to undergo it's own asbestos testing as you sell or renovate. I think that the strata council decided that testing each unit at once and having a everyone in the complex pay for that would be too expensive for the owners.

I recall you and I having a discussion re kids in our complex and you mentioned that there were quite a few kids in your complex, whereas in mine, not that many at all. We too are within 5 minutes walk to the secondary school as well as the elementary school, so I'm not sure why there is such a difference in children / teens in our complex. Who knows? It seems to me that there are fewer and fewer of kids in our area. Across the field from our secondary school was another secondary school ,which had been around since the late 1950's and it was turned - sadly - into luxury townhomes about 10 or so years ago, and the secondary school that that is closer to us was enlarged. My younger son found himself in the amalgamated highschool in Grade 12 . That was difficult , in that each school had it's history and the two had to combine names and students and traditions, etc. The elementary school near to us is fairly small. So perhaps we are just in area of declining enrollment school wise?

Well, what a day politically here in Canada. Off to walk the dog.

>91 thornton37814: The service at the Apple store was great, Lori. The set up of the new phone was so easy when they assisted. The clerk who was helping me suggesting taking one of their classes on how to use the phone. Did you partake of any of those?

>92 karenmarie: I was on my way out of the used book store when I saw the Winchester and had to grab it. I enjoy his books, too. You are doing a lot better on the culls than I am. I'm reading my books between library books and most of my books are then culled but lots of library holds keep coming in around the same time. I'm sure you will enjoy Blacklands. I'm hoping that there is no asbestos and the rest of the repairs can go ahead soon.

>93 RebaRelishesReading: I found the people at the Apple store very helpful, Reba. What was even more impressive is that they actually listen to you rather than trying to up sell.

>94 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, the card was sent from London, Ontario. No idea why it took that long. I knew going into the Apple store that I wanted to keep my existing plan with Rogers and the Apple folks were able to set things up for me with my carrier so it was painless. I think it was the possibility of asbestos that delayed my repairs because the adjuster was trying to get the info about asbestos in the units from my Strata company. The units are over 38 years old but I think that the drywall that has to be changed was part of a reno that happened many years later so I don't think there is asbestos in what they will be fixing.

Yes, there are lots of kids in this complex and in the rental units in the next complex too, from the looks of things. We border on a middle school and there are elementary and high schools within a few blocks. Apparently our population is slightly younger than the BC average (I looked up Coquitlam demographics by age). Oh, looks like Richmond's median age is older. Maybe that is the answer.

I wasn't aware of the news even though I am watching Global while on LT so I looked it up and then Chris and Sophie mentioned watching the monitors all day keeping track of the people who were speaking for both sides. I was glad I had Googled it so I knew what they were talking about.

>90 Familyhistorian: and >91 thornton37814: - Good advice, Meg and Lori. Also, really happy to see all the satisfied customer reports for purchasing directly from the Apple store! Now, do we have an Apple Store in Victoria.... checks Google ... no, we don't. That is small town life for you. Darn it

>99 lkernagh: Looks like there were rumours of an Apple Store opening in Victoria, Lori. Not sure if that will happen. We have lots of them in the Lower Mainland. Mine is so close that I walked to it yesterday and it is always busy. Not as busy as the one that I went to in Glasgow, though. That was a zoo.

35. Land of Marvels by Barry Unsworth

The Great War was looming and the various factions carving out a niche in Mesopotamia were carrying on with outward plans while plotting behind the scenes. The story pit a failing archealogist looking for a big score in an obscure dig, against German transportation interests and an American looking for oil deposits. Whose interests will win out and who will face defeat? The reader won't find out until all the pages are read in Land of Marvels.

It was very well done but, unfortunately, a slow read for me.

36. The Epigenetics Revolution by Nessa Carey

After learning about how parents' and grandparents' experiences can have an effect on the present generation because of the affect on a person's genes, I became very interesting in learning more about this. The science behind the turning on or repressing of genes is called epigenetics.

I wanted to find out more and one of the books that I read on the subject is The Epigenetics Revolution. It had stories like the lingering affects of the Danish Hunger Winter and other known events that can be tracked forward to find out the effects on later generations. It also had a lot more scientific explanations. So scientific that there were chemical diagrams included. I was expecting the book to be more about the written theory but understand a bit more about how the mechanisms of epigentics operate now.

It was good, but sometimes hard to grasp.

37. Exiles of Erin: Irish Migrants in Victorian London by Lynn Hollen Lees

One of the things I would really like to find out is where in Ireland some of my ancestors came from. They ended up in the East End of London and there have been a number of books written about Irish Londoners. I am making my way through them to see if I can find any clues.

Exiles of Erin was an interesting one and pointed out the origins of many of the London Irish which was good. It also concentrated on the Roman Catholic Irish – not so good. My London Irish were CofE, and, I gather, there was a certain amount of pride in that. The book also said that Irish tended to marry Irish and not mingle with the other folk in London. That certainly isn't the case with my lot so I am left wondering just when did they cross the Irish Sea.

The book was good for the pointers it gave but tended to concentrate on later day Irish immigrants and painted many of the Irish with the same brush. I think there may have been more difference in experience but, perhaps it would have been more difficult to find that information.

>65 Familyhistorian: Our garden is full of crocusses and snowdrops. It looks so lovely when spring is round the corner.

>101 Familyhistorian: Oh, I remember that reading. I needed a lot of time too going through it, but I liked it.

Sweet Thursday, Meg.

>102 Familyhistorian: Epigenetics is pretty fascinating, isn't it? It doesn't sound like this book was exactly what you were looking for, though. You'd think someone would write a good book on the subject of human ancestry and epigenetics from a journalistic point of view. A lot of people would be interested.

>104 Ameise1: I hope that spring is here soon for us both, Barbara. Funny that Land of Marvels was a slow read for you too. Have a great day!

>105 The_Hibernator: The journalistic point of view about epigenetics is definitely what I am looking for, Rachel. Maybe something written by a genealogist which is how I am looking at it. I am particularly interested in the handing down of such things as alcoholism which tends to run in families.

This morning I looked out and it had snowed again. I went back to reading and by the time I looked again all the new stuff was gone - at least I think I saw it. Anyway it looks good out there now and I am off to the library to pick up a couple of holds and take a bunch of books back.

Hi Meg: Happy Thingaversary. Nice book haul.

>65 Familyhistorian: Nice. Any flowers around here are buried under feet of snow.

>67 Familyhistorian: I have this one on my shelf. I should get to it.

>101 Familyhistorian: This sounds good. I haven't yet read anything by Unsworth although I know he gets a lot of love around here.

Sweet Thursday, Meg. How is things going with the renovation?
Glad your snow didn't stick around. It has been dry here but still very cold.

>108 BLBera: Hi Beth, thanks re the book haul. I hope that we have seen the last of the snow here now. I hope yours lets up soon. Blacklands is a good one and a fast read.

>109 msf59: Hi Mark, they came and took away the floor on Tuesday. Still waiting to hear when they will do the rest of the demolition - ie take out the drywall. They are waiting for lab reports. The whole thing seems like it could take a while. We still have snow, just the new stuff disappeared, which was good and I can see green grass again.

>95 Familyhistorian: I've used iPhones for years and never took a class. The girl at the store did show new features to me though. The mobile carriers never show that to you.

>103 Familyhistorian: Looks like a good one even if it didn't fit your family perfectly.

>111 thornton37814: I didn't get much on new features so might see if I can learn more through Apple. She was talking about one about taking photos that sounded interesting - when I have the time. The Exiles of Erin was good and learned a lot about the Irish in London. The book has been around a long time.

>102 Familyhistorian: I'm fascinated by epigenetics, so hopeful that this tome will arrive shortly. Happy weekend, Meg.

>113 richardderus: That was a very scientific book about epigenetics, Richard. It was a bit hard for my non-scientific mind to grasp at time. I hope that Genealogy, Psychology and Identity will cover some of the same ground in a less sciency way.

Meg, I put a couple of links on my thread re the sudden spring. Maybe I got it slightly wrong. It seems that spring will not be upon us until March 20 or so, but apparently it will be here all of a sudden with temps above normal for the season. We'll see. We've had no more snow for ??? 2 weeks / 10 days? It's still nippy out, but it's been sunny.

>115 vancouverdeb: It was pretty warm today, Deborah, but I think that was just the contrast with the much colder temperatures we have been having. I would like the snow to be over but we'll see.

So today was my volunteer afternoon at the genealogy library and they now have a computer at the reception desk that I sit at. The other volunteer and I had to check it all out. It is one of those ones with a large screen with everything in it (no cpu). Funny, it didn't look like you could plug anything into it like a usb stick.

Happy Sunday, Meg.

>117 Familyhistorian: Oh yay! But no USB port? Is that even allowed in 2019?

>117 Familyhistorian: Do you remember what brand it was? Perhaps you could look it up on Amazon or online and see where it might really be. The Dell ones seem to be kind of hidden behind the "stand" on the back of the "monitor." HPs are on the back of the "monitor." Lenovo's are on the side of the "monitor." Acer appears to be on the back of the "monitor." iMacs are on the back of the "monitor." Asus is also on the back of the "monitor." All these are based on online photos.

>118 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. Have a great week!

>119 richardderus: I thought it was rather odd, Richard, but maybe I didn't look hard enough?

>120 thornton37814: I don't remember the brand, Lori, but will look the next time I am in. Thanks for the list of possibilities.

38. One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson

The second book in the Jackson Brodie mysteries, One Good Turn, was even better than the first. This time there were many incidents but one over-arching mystery that Jackson had to resolve. As usual, his life wasn't going that well, although he now had money. Truthfully he felt a bit rootless and was in Edinburgh because he was involved with an actress at the festival as a sponsor/hanger on. He gets more involved when crime starts happening around him and, as usual, he gets the brunt end of some violence, but it wouldn't be Jackson if that didn't happen. It was an interesting mystery with well defined characters. I really must get to the next book in the series soon.

39. The Body in the Wardrobe by Katherine Hall Page

The Body in the Wardrobe was a Faith Fairchild mystery which divided its scenes between what was going on in Faith's life in small town New England (I think), and the events in newlywed Sophie Maxwell's life now that she had moved to be with her new husband in Savannah. There were changes going on in both places but the bodies were showing up in Savannah. So, Faith had to travel to Savannah to help Sophie by the end of the story.

A lot of time was spent setting the scene, especially in the Savannah location but there were also some unexplained anomolies in Faith's New England sphere as well. It was a decent mystery but this seemed quite far on in the series and I probably would have enjoyed visiting with the characters more if I had seen them developing from the beginning and had a better feel for what was going on in their lives.

>123 Familyhistorian: I enjoy a lot of the books in the series. I read enough of the early ones that I now read them out of order without any problems. My favorite in the series actually features one of Faith's friends as the main sleuth--The Body in the Fjord.

>123 Familyhistorian: I read some of these ages ago and don't remember much. I think I liked the series though because I read a few of them.

>124 thornton37814: It felt like a long running series, Lori. So there must be quite a few fans. It's interesting that guest sleuths show up. Does that happen often in the series, Lori?

>125 BLBera: It seems like a series that you could get cozy with, Beth.

Hi Meg!

>122 Familyhistorian: I read the first in 2009, the third in 2010, and only then realized it was a series. I've got them all on my shelves, and may plan a complete read/re-read later this year or early next year.

Our library has 2 genealogy computers. In their 'advertising', they specifically tell people to bring a flash drive to download data.

>126 Familyhistorian: No. Faith is the sleuth in almost all of them. The one was just different.

>127 karenmarie: I just read Case Histories last year right around the time that I attended a presentation by Kate Atkinson when she was tooting her latest book. Because of LT I knew the Jackson Brodie books were a series so I knew where to start.

Your library is very trusting asking people to bring in flash drives to download data. We were very happy the last time we were in Edinburgh that Scotlands People allowed us to download data to our flash drives but they don't allow it any more, not since they ended up with a virus.

>128 thornton37814: It didn't seem like Faith did much sleuthing in The Body in the Wardrobe, more of that action involved Sophie, but good to know that Faith is usually the main amateur detective, Lori.

40. King Arthur: The Making of the Legend by Nicholas J. Higham

When I reserved the book King Arthur: The Making of the Legend I thought I would be reading about tales of derring do from the past featuring King Arthur and his knights. That was not what this book was all about. It was a careful review of the existing historic documentation which looked at where the legend of Arthur originated and if he was a real person or a storied figure.

It was well done and thorough but not a fast read. I have some other books relating to Arthur on my shelves and I am sure I will think about the arguments in King Arthur: The Making of the Legend when I read them.

Well, things aren't quite happening as quickly as I thought they would. My basement bathroom and laundry room are still as they were after the initial demolishing was done. At least they hooked up the washer and dryer when they left.

As for my trip plans, I thought that I would be onto my pre-research by now but booking excursions for the cruise has taken up more time than I thought it would. So for my weekly blog post last Saturday I wrote about some of the changes i have seen in my lifetime - think communications, household goods etc. Check it out at A Genealogist's Path to History

Hi Meg my dear, I have been a little re-miss on not visiting your thread as often as I would have liked. I missed congratulating you on your 11th Thingaversary, I love the books that you got and then I seemed to have missed the trauma of the flooding in your basement.

I can see from some of the posts that I have seen that things are being done to sort it out but not as quickly as you would like. I am glad to see that you have use of your washer and dryer my dear. It would seem that you have had some highs and lows recently but hope that it will only be highs from now on. I hope you have a really lovely cruise my dear and fully enjoy all the excursions you have booked.

We are both fine, we have had one or two date days and picked up a few books and Amy has started her new job and is enjoying it which is great news for us.

I hope that you are having a good week and send love and hugs to you from both of us dear friend.

>122 Familyhistorian: Oh, I love the Jackson Brodie series! You are in for a treat. Congratulations on your 11th Thingaversary. There was sleet out yesterday when I was out with the dog!!! What is happening? Argh! Today is nice though. I'm sure true spring is around the corner. Crosses fingers.

I'm sure you are impatient for the basement to be complete. We've had so much flooding in this area that I'm sure a lot of people are hoping the contractors get to them first. I know my boss had to deal with insurance this week so he could get his repaired after it flooded. Some houses were completely submerged in some areas. I'm thankful to live up a small mountain!

>133 johnsimpson: Hi John, I have been remiss in visiting a lot of threads so far this year so I am in the same boat as you in that regard. The basement flooding wasn't really a trauma. It only affected a small part of the basement and didn't get near my bookcases which, I am sure we can all agree, was a good thing. In fact by the time that I saw the damage I couldn't figure out what had happened. Having repair work done was not what I was bargaining for especially when it is such a long drawn out process.

Thanks for the good wishes for my week. Maybe you can send good wishes for no more snow while you are at it. We are not used to the extended cold weather and keep wondering when it will be over.

>134 vancouverdeb: We had full on snow yesterday, Deborah and then it came again today. I am getting very tired of this! As I was walking back from my meeting today (I walked because it was snowing) I could see the buds are coming out on the trees. I think they are ready for spring too. Now if only we could get the weather to cooperate.

The Jackson Brodie series is good. I should get to the third in the series soon.

>135 thornton37814: Actually it wasn't hard to live with when it was just damaged, Lori. It wasn't a full on flood and there was very little water by the time I saw what had happened - just a small puddle under the sink and some towels I left on the floor were sopping wet. I debated whether I should make a claim but the flooring had bubbled up in places so it really needed to be replaced. I am just impatient as they came and demolished part of it a week and a half ago and I haven't heard anything since and the damage actually happened and I made the claim before Christmas. Three months with no repair seems like a while.

>137 Familyhistorian: Grrrr, hope you can keep warm, Meg.

Spring coming into bloom despite the weather is a miracle of nature isn't it?

Full on snow! That's just dreadful, Meg. Today and the weekend look promising.

>139 PaulCranswick: Well I woke up to more snow this morning but then it was sunny and even relatively warm so I hope the snow melts quickly and the crocuses I saw last week are still in bloom. We are ready for Spring when it comes, Paul. But then we were anticipating that Spring was going to start in February.

>140 vancouverdeb: I had cleared my car off yesterday thinking that it would be a good day today, Deborah. I had to clear about two more inches off this morning so it must have snowed here overnight as well. After that it was sunny and things started to melt so there is hope that my little corner of the complex might actually lose the snow that has stayed there since the beginning of February.

Well, I guess my complaints about my house repairs were heard. This morning I got a text asking if I was home for the worker from the repair company to show up this morning. Lots of notice there! I was meeting friends for Dim Sum so the worker is supposed to come on Monday.

Dim Sum was good. It was fun to get together with friends.

Hi Meg!

>132 Familyhistorian: A very pleasant jog down memory lane, always excepting that I can't imagine a sewing-machine needle through a fingernail...

I hope the repairs start soon and end quickly.

>143 karenmarie: Better not to imagine the sewing-machine needle through the fingernail, Karen. I don't remember it well because I was about 6 at the time.

Someone from the contractor is showing up on Monday so hopefully that means things will happen with the repairs soon. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend, Karen.

Happy Sunday, Meg. I am so glad you are enjoying the Jackson Brodie series. They are remarkably consistent and she has a new one coming out, later this year. Yah!!

We have not turned the corner, in the weather department, (Boo!!) but it is supposed to get warmer this week, at least for a few days.

>145 msf59: Hi Mark, I hope you are enjoying your Sunday in spite of the cold. The Jackson Brodie mysteries are fun. I can't wait to get to the next one. I wonder if she will continue the series beyond the latest one? There was a lot of positive audience reaction when she announced there was a new one coming out this year.

Hi Meg! Glad you'll get some work on your house done on Monday. Finding good help is hard.

>147 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel, I am not sure exactly what they are doing on Monday so I will see. I didn't have to look for a contractor for the work. It is a company my insurance company uses so, hopefully, they are good.

I am up early on a Sunday as I booked a half day writing course in downtown Vancouver. I didn't realize that it was the day the clocks change when I booked it. Hope everybody remembers and shows up at the right time!

>149 Familyhistorian: So Canada changes clocks too!

Meg--Hopelessly behind on LT, but I see you've read some great books, and I hope you have your laundry room back ASAP and happy month-ago Thingaversary!! How was the writing course? : )

Good thing you woke up early on your own, Meg. Poor old Dave is working over the weekend, and his usual compressed work week. 11 1/2 hour days. So I really felt for him as he got up at 5:45 am today. He had all of our clocks changed over at 9 pm or so last night. I would love year round daylight savings time. Some sort of yellow flower had made its way up through a neglected container pot in front of our townhouse . A nice sign of spring. I'm not even sure what kind of flower it is, but not a dandelion.

>150 thornton37814: Most of Canada changes times except Saskatchewan, Lori, although it does seem rather unnecessary in this day and age.

>151 Berly: I know that hopelessly behind feeling, Kim. There aren't enough hours in the day for reading, RL and keeping up with LT. The writing course was really good. It was half a day and about researching and using research in historic fiction. The teacher was Janie Chang who wrote Dragon Springs Road.

>152 vancouverdeb: I changed my clock before I went to bed, Deborah. I was surprised that no one showed up for late for the class. I don't see the need for changing the clocks either. I wonder what your yellow flower is. I have seen a few dandelions in bloom in the last little while.

Today the contractors are here to cut out two feet of drywall where the water went through the wall. It looks like things are being done a bit at a time. I am missing one event that I normally attend but that is no big deal. I would like the repair to be wrapped up soon as it is a headache to be available for them to come in as I often have other things booked during the day.

>156 Familyhistorian: - I know exactly what you mean, Meg. My basement water returned for the 4th time yesterday and I have just sent an email to my property manager asking that he authorize the cleanup company to leave their equipment (3 fans and a dehumidifier) here, as a long-term rental so that the constant calling, delivering and retrieval of equipment can come to an end for much the same reasons as you mention. As our temps are above zero the last few days and into this week, the big melt (and therefore, more water) is pretty much a given. I won't be seeing an end to this any time soon. If ever, it feels like. :-(

>157 jessibud2: Not again, Shelley. I don't have it near as bad as you do because the damage was a one time event but yours keeps going on and on. Maybe if the equipment is on long term rental it will give them more incentive to fix the problem.

The guys today just took out the bottom 2 feet of drywall in the bathroom where it was damaged. So now I have holes in the wall. This time they left an even noisier fan.

Hi Meg, I’m all caught up with you once again. Sending commiserations on the noisy basement project at your place. The noise and dust aspects of my remodeling project are over but there are lots of little things that need to be completed. Unfortunately, we are being ‘worked in’ as our crew is on another job. It’s taking much longer than I anticipated.

Belated congratulations on your 11th Thingaversary. My #12 is coming up later this month. I am definitely not going to acquire that many new books as I’ve been working hard to downsize my collection. I will buy one (or 2 or 3) at the new independent bookstore that is slated to open here in a few weeks to celebrate and to help a new and much-needed bookstore. I want it to thrive as several have come and gone in recent years.

Hi, Meg.

Adding my commiserations on your basement and bathroom projects, holes in the wall, and noisy fans.

I know what you mean about waiting for workmen to show up. I understand the unpredictability of knowing how long a particular repair stop will take, but it doesn’t make the scheduling and waiting any easier.

I’m glad you were able to squeeze in an enjoyable dim sum get-together.

>159 Donna828: Thanks for the commiserations, Donna. Looks like this repair will take a while since so far they have showed up for a morning once a week. Sometimes it is better not to know how disrupting it will be going in, which sounds like what happened with your project. I actually hesitated before I made the claim because I know all too well what it is like living with work being done as I lived in a house that was completely redone while we were living there.

Congrats in advance on your 12th Thingaversary. I don't blame you for not wanted to add that many books. I hope your new independent book store last way longer than the others.

>160 jnwelch: I am just glad that this happened when I wasn't still working. I am not sure how I would have been available for them to show up without having some kind of known schedule. It's always good to get together for a friendly meal, isn't it Joe? Too bad that my trip to London this year is scheduled in May, way before yours, or else we may have been able to arrange to meet-up at last. Some day maybe schedules will coincide.

41. Stitches by David Small

I enjoy reading memoirs and the illustrations in graphic memoirs add another layer to the story. Stitches takes full advantage of the graphics to convey the author's very personal story.

He grew up in a time that was more repressed than now. How well I remember the idea that things should be kept hidden, especially if it was about something not quite nice. What happened to David Small would fit into that definition. I am happy to see that he was able to move forward from his childhood.

>163 Familyhistorian: Stitches is a powerful read isn't it?

>164 SandDune: A more powerful read than I expected to find in a GN, Rhian. It is a genre where I often find surprising depth.

Hi Meg, I sure hope it didn't snow over your way yesterday, all we got here was rain. Today was sunny and quite Spring-like so I am feeling very hopeful that Spring has arrived.

>166 DeltaQueen50: Only rain here yesterday, Judy, so it was all good and the snow is slowly disappearing. It should disappear completely next week as the forecast is that we will have record breaking temperatures - in the other direction this time. So confusing!

42. Death on the Family Tree by Patricia Sprinkle

Death on the Family Tree was the first book in a series featuring Katharine Murray, a woman whose children have left the nest and whose husband is away for work during the week. She was at lose ends when she received a legacy from an honorary aunt. It was a legacy which included a mysterious death.

It was touch and go whether Katharine would be able to solve the mystery and keep control over the items that had been left to her by the legacy. There were a few would-be helpers with suspicious motives so Katharine had to use her wits and the experience she had honed running a household by herself. It was an interesting mystery and I look forward to following this series.

>168 Familyhistorian: Oh heck. The library even has it!

>168 Familyhistorian: I think I read that one before I began recording everything on LT.

Oh my, Meg. May in London?! That would have been a treat, to meet up there. We've seen Darryl (kidzdoc, from Atlanta) there many times now, but only once in the U.S. We go to London every September, which has similar advantages to May in terms of weather and not so many tourists. Maybe that would work for you some year?

Hi, Meg. Happy Wednesday! I am glad you enjoyed Stitches. It was one of the very first GNs, that made a strong impression on me and set me on my current GN course. I just finished his latest, Home After Dark. It is a solid read but it doesn't have the impact Stitches did.

>169 richardderus: They may have the first book, Richard, but I could only find the second book in the series as an e-book.

>170 thornton37814: I figured it would be something you had read, Lori. Did you read any of the rest of the series?

>171 jnwelch: Ha, the last time I was in London it was in October and it was too late for your visit there, Joe. One of these days I will get it right but my London visits usually are part of a larger trip so depend on that timing. I'll see if I can find something that ends up with me there in September next time.

>172 msf59: Stitches had a definite impact, Mark. I was set on the GN course through my childhood love of comics. They are like comics for adults especially with the themes they explore. Have a sweet Thursday.

>174 Familyhistorian: I read Sins of the Fathers. I gave it 3 stars in 2010 which would translate into a lower rating now. That's probably why I never got around to the final one.

Meg, I figured out what type of yellow flower(s) are trying to make their way in the outdoor container pot. I mentioned it to my husband and he said a neighbour of ours gave him a couple of pansies to try out in our container. Apparently if you plant them in the late fall - which Dave did, they will survive into early spring. I had no idea, but Dave has been feeding the flowers a bit of water with plant food once a month over the winter. Still, with the snow and frost etc, I am really surprised that the pansies made it. Dave is surprised too.

Hi Meg - Good luck with the home repair project! I remember when I remodeled my bathroom. I shouldn't complain because everything was done according to schedule, but it seemed like it took FOREVER.

I can't wait to hear more about your trip.

>177 thornton37814: That's too bad, Lori. I had high hopes for the series and have the next 2 waiting on my e-reader. I gave the first one away to a friend at my genealogy society meeting on Wednesday night and it elicited a lot of interest.

>178 vancouverdeb: I have noticed early pansies in a few gardens, Deborah, but I always thought that someone put in early bedding plants. They must be like the ones Dave tended over the winter, now that I come to think of it.

>179 BLBera: Hi Beth, I knew what I was getting into going in as the last place I lived in had many renovations done to it while I lived there including putting a bathroom in the basement (there was only one bathroom in the house so the timing on that was tricky as the upstairs bathroom had to be renovated as well especially as there was leakage into the basement), then the whole basement was finished and then the upstairs was done, with new kitchen included. So this repair is small by comparison.

Trip planning is still happening.

43. A Question of Honor by Charles Todd

I had never read any of the Bess Crawford mysteries before I picked up A Question of Honor. Another series started in the middle, it seems.

This was an interesting mystery as Bess was on the trail of a man who was once an officer in her father's regiment in India. This man was thought to have fled after killing civilians in England and his parents in India. He disappeared in the Khyber Pass and was though to have died there. But did he? Apparently there were indications that he could be among the British troops on the WWI front where Bess was a nurse.

This mystery ranged widely from the past in India, to the front in France and back to England where Bess was a frequent visitor. Along the way the reader learned more about the British Army in India, nursing in WWI and the children who were sent from India to be raised in England. (Shades of Old Filth there.) It was a good mystery and a good way to find out more about the history it covered.

Have a wonderful time while away on your trip! Loving the pansy talk on your thread. I have had winters that were milder than our current one that I had pansies blooming in a protected place all winter long. But in our present place it is buffeted by huge south east winds and plants need to be much tougher than lovely pansies.

>184 mdoris: I went for a walk today and noticed all the pansies in the garden of the park where I walk, Mary. I hope your spring has started and your flowers are starting to come out. The crocuses were in full bloom today and it was so warm that I had to take my coat off and carry it.

Happy Saturday, Meg. Still waiting on springtime and yes, I am getting impatient. Cool here all weekend. I just started Quiet Girl in a Noisy World.

>186 msf59: It's spring here now, Mark. I went for a walk yesterday and had to take off my coat it was so warm and it was my lighter coat, too. It's nice and sunny today and I am about to go out on a walk. You remind me that I haven't yet cracked the covers on Quiet Girl in a Noisy World. I am currently reading Harper's The Lost Man which you might be interested in.

44. Tuesday's Gone by Nicci French

Tuesday's Gone was the second book in the Frieda Klein mystery series. This time Frieda was called in to deal with a woman who had so far lost touch with reality that she was keeping a dead man in her flat. Who the dead man was and what he had been up to contribute to the mystery and strange goings-on that form the basis of another foray into the psychologically strange world of Frieda's London.

Yesterday didn't go as planned. The contractor contacted me in the morning and arranged to come over. We discussed the work and set up a schedule for the repairs to be done. Looks like they might be done by next Friday!

45. Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan

This month's pick for my book club was Manhattan Beach. I knew it was a popular book but didn't know what to expect going in. It was a WWII story based in New York and it focused on the work done by divers working at the Navy yard in that location.

It was also a story about New York's underworld and those who gained a living in that shadow world. It was a hard struggle for those at the bottom, like Anna Kerrigan's father. Even harder was keeping life together with a disabled child to look after. When her father disappears, the women, Anna, her mother and her disabled sister are left to fend for themselves. That was hard but Anna must make her way in the world of work. Not one to be denied the right to work because of her gender, Anna becomes one of the Navy divers. Even reaching that goal doesn't stop her from wanting to know what happened to her father.

It was a dramatic and, at times, surprising story that brought the New York of that time period to life in a believeable way.

46. The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

What a charming story about a prince who longed to dress as a princess and the dressmaker he found in a house of couture in Paris. She was more than happy to create designs for him until his double life denied her the ability to take ownership of her own designs.

This was a delightful story told through colourful graphic illustrations. The ending was a bit unrealistic but then so are most fairytale endings.

Saturday was a beautiful day to go on a guided walk of Port Coquitlam's murals. This is one of the ones that we saw.

>192 Familyhistorian: It looks like you had beautiful weather for your walk, Meg. I love murals.

>193 BLBera: It was a lovely warm day, Beth. So nice to wear a light jacket rather than the winter coat I was wearing earlier in the week. Your turn will come!

I am still behind with write ups on the books I have finished recently. At least the loud fan has been taken away. I have written about my library reads as I am off to the library today to pick up some holds and take some back because it looks like I will be stuck at home for a most of next week. I can't complain because the timing is good as I have a bunch of events I signed up for the following week.

It is another gorgeous sunny day here. As soon as the dryer has done its thing I will be out walking. (Have to get the laundry done while I still have access.)

Good luck with the repairs Meg. Hope all goes very smoothly and they can finish quickly.

>196 mdoris: I'm just hoping that they finish within the timeline I was given, Mary. That would be a first. How do you like the weather lately? Looks like spring has sprung!

I agree Meg, Spring has sprung around here! It's quite an adaptation - what to wear while outside? The light transition season jacket I think. And it's supposed to warm up more this week. Into the short sleeved tops.

>198 vancouverdeb: I wore a light jacket today and that was a bit too warm, Deborah. I saw people in t-shirts and shorts, not sure I would go that far. Maybe it's time to start work on the tan.

47. A Treasury of Victorian Murder: Compendium Vol. 1 by Rick Geary

Rick Geary has written a series of GNs focusing on famous murder cases. I have a few of them on my shelves as I am a history buff who is fascinated by crime stories. I think I come by that interest naturally given my family history.

A Treasury of Victorian Murder: Compendium Vol. 1 was the first of Geary's collected works that I read. The rest have been smaller works about one famous murder case. As always, this book gave the gist of the famous murder case which filled in details which, in many cases, I had not come across before. This was particularly true of the death of James Garfield, but I did know a lot more about Jack the Ripper and H.H. Holmes. The illustration of Holmes' castle in Chicago was an effective use of the GN medium.

Meg, I am LOVING this weather and today looks like it will be another solid good one. My garden is starting to burst. I'd better get out there. Today is the day to cut back the rose shrubs.

Glad spring is finally arriving there, Meg.

>201 mdoris: Definite gardening weather, Mary. I went for a stroll along a walk with lots of planting and there were many flowers starting to peek out.

>202 ronincats: Spring was arriving here in January, Roni, but then winter showed up when we and the plants were least expecting it. I am not sure what are new flowers and which are the ones that started out in January and put things on hold for the next month and a bit.

Hi, Meg. I also found Manhattan Beach a nice surprise. I need to read more of her earlier work. I have a couple on shelf. I thought you had read Quiet Girl. It has been very good.

>204 msf59: I never would have read Manhattan Beach but for it being a book club pick, Mark. It was a very pleasant surprise, not what I was expecting at all. I talked about Quiet Girl as I have it on the shelf but Joe was the one who warbled about it because he actually read it. I really should pull it off the shelf soon but the library holds keep coming in. (Maybe because I keep clicking the button? I'm my own worst enemy that way, I suppose.)

It is another beautiful day here. Temperature is currently 19 C. I am waiting for one of the contractors to let me know when he is coming over so stuck home for the afternoon but I did make a break for freedom this morning. Got a few errands done and might have visited a book shop. Everything is so busy because of sunshine and March break! It feels like summer.

>190 Familyhistorian: I have Manhatten Beach on the shelf that I received as a present last year. I must get around to it...

>207 SandDune: Manhattan Beach was much more my kind of book than I expected, Rhian. Give it a try.

The first day of spring feels more like the first day of summer here. I looked at the temperature while I was out walking and it said it was 20 C which I didn't believe. Now that I am home I checked again and it now says 23 C. That's what it feels like!

I think that of course just as you get colder weather in winter, we get slightly cooler weather in the spring/ summer. It's been lovely though! 23 C! I've not checked the Richmond Temps as yet today. Edited to add - just checked the temps - the high here today was 15 C. Still feels very warm to me. But the furnace is on.

How strange to go from worrying about snow one week to digging out my sandals the next! I went for a walk yesterday and was too warm in my light jacket. I think they are forecasting a cooler turn but the last couple of days have been heavenly!

>210 vancouverdeb: As only a fence separates me from Port Coquitlam I go by their temperatures, Deborah. PoCo is right next door to Pitt Meadows, often sited as a place with high temperatures on the weather forecast. It makes sense that Richmond would be cooler as you are closer to the ocean and have those breezes. It was really warm yesterday, no jacket needed!

>211 DeltaQueen50: We were remarking on that when I went for the mural walk in PoCo on Saturday, Judy. It was just the week before that we were wearing winter coats. Yesterday I didn't even bother wearing a jacket and really felt that the light shirt I was wearing was a bit too hot once I got walking for a while. Heavenly was the right word!

There was a lot of work done on my basement repair yesterday. I was stuck at home for hours! The work is still not finished though. Looks like they will be back next week. *sigh*

The computer I do my book write ups on is in the basement so, with the renos/repairs taking up that space, I am behind once again. I'll see if I can write up a few before book club this afternoon.

>215 Familyhistorian: - Meg, can you bring your computer upstairs? I still have the fans and industrial dehumidifier down in my basement and just went down to unplug everything so I could do some laundry. I swept the floor and man, was it dusty!! I swept and filled and emptied my dustpan 4 times. I am not happy about what that will mean for the sofa bed that's still down there but dust in your computer might be a bit more serious, I would think!

Hoping for you a hasty repair to be finsihed pronto. Not fun to have the upheaval (and time away fromt he books!)

>216 jessibud2: The dust in the basement isn't too bad, Shelley, but once the workmen are done I will have to dust all of my books! There are about 2000 of them down there. I wouldn't want to move that computer as it is the one attached to the wifi components and the printer. It just happens to be the one I do my write ups on. I do have two more computers up on the next level.

>217 mdoris: Thanks for the fast repair wishes, Mary. I haven't had as much time for the books lately because of writing deadlines and trip preparations although staying home for the workman has led to some reading time here and there.

48. How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long

Sometimes I need a quick read like an historical romance to lighten the mood. How the Marquess Was Won was a good example of the genre. Phoebe was a teacher and sometime paid companion, not the woman to catch the eye of a calculating nobleman. But she did, much to everyone's surprise. How these two got together made for an interesting story.

>163 Familyhistorian: Coincidentally, I just read Stitches and really enjoyed both its GN nature and the story.

>190 Familyhistorian: I have Manhattan Beach and hopefully someday soon I will get to it!

Good luck on the repairs and the dusting. I just dusted off and rearranged all my books and shelves downstairs. Still cataloging away...

Have fun on the trip preparations!

49. The Lost Man by Jane Harper

I am a fan of Harper's series with detective Aaron Falk. The Lost Man was not a part of that series but a stand alone novel set in the harsh landscape of Queensland where a lack of water and shade can lead to death. The novel begins with such a death involving a husband and father who dies out in the relentless sun miles from his vehicle. But why was he stranded there? The reader slowly finds out the truth as the extended family of the dead man, which includes his two brothers gather together to mourn the dead.

The story was told from the point of view of the oldest brother and the most troubled, Nathan. But as the family dynamics were revealed this reader was led to wonder if he was the most sane of them all.

>220 Berly: Stitches was good, Kim. Coincidentally my book club meeting to discuss Manhattan Beach (among other things) is this afternoon.

It is not time to start dusting yet because the workmen aren't finished but I did sweep the floor when I noticed all the dusty footprints I was leaving on my black yoga mat!

The trip preparations are coming along still a lot to do though. I need to do all the pre-research for the genealogy research I will be doing along the way.

Surprisingly I will be in London at a time when I can attend a family event. My cousin, who lived in Ottawa, died in December and her husband and son will be scattering her ashes where her mother (my aunt) rests at Kew. I was not able to attend my cousin's funeral but will be in London so that I can attend the event in Kew and see other family members who gather there.

50. Murder by Milkshake by Eve Lazarus

A larger than life radio personality, Rene Castellani was tired of his wife and wanted to marry his mistress. His thoughts turned to murder and soon his wife was suffering from a life threatening illness that doctors couldn't diagnose. She died and all appeared to be going Rene's way until the body was exhumed and tested for poison.

The murder happened in Vancouver in the '60s. It was interesting to see the city back in those days, the events that were happening around that time and the strange goings on in the local world of radio. The murder and trial affected more than just the perpertator and victim. There were children and other family members whose lives were changed. The book looked at the wider picture and reminded this reader than these kinds of deeds don't happen in isolation.

>50 jessibud2: Interesting book, and nice review, Meg. I never thought much about the crime scene in Vancouver back in the 50 and 60's. I was not born until the very early 60's. I do remember the problems surrounding The Penthouse Bar and some sort of possible Mafia related problems going on there. I'm not one for true crime, but it sounds like it could be fun.

>224 vancouverdeb: It covered quite a bit of the early Vancouver scene, Deborah. The people involved ran some of the downtown Vancouver restaurants at that time and one of the stunts that the radio station put on was having the promotions guy (who turned out to be the murderer) spend a week living on top of the Bowmac sign. The daughter of the family in the book attended the first Beatles concert in Vancouver, too. That was also covered.

So we talked a bit about Manhattan Beach at book club today - most were not that impressed and felt there was too much book for the story. Most of our time wasn't involved with books, though as we were making gnocchi. We all got some to take home to freeze but we sat down for a meal while we were there, salad, gnocchi and different sauces to try. We did remember to choose a book for next month, The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer.

Sorry your book club didn't like Manhattan Beach, Meg. I love Egan and am eager for her new one. Your meal, however, sounds great. I just finished The Wife by Wolitzer. I love her. I would think The Female Persuasion will give you a lot to talk about.

>227 BLBera: I think I liked Manhattan Beach a bit more than the book club ladies did, Beth. I really enjoy reading about history and there was a lot of that in the book. One of the women is currently reading The Interestings and wanted to read more by Wolitzer so she recommended we read The Female Persuasion. The group production of gnocchi and the meal after were fun and lively. I am slowly getting to know the ladies in this group which has been together for a long time.

51. Killing the SS by Bill O'Reilly

I remember reading a lot about WWII growing up. It was recent history at that time so no doubt a lot of books were written in the aftermath. Stories about individuals and what happened to them were what interested me the most.

In Killing the SS the focus was on the individuals who had been active in the SS. My previous extensive reading had made many of the names familiar to me so reading about what happened to them after they fled and the reality of life in hiding filled in some of the gaps. Some of it read like a spy novel especially when the Mossad was involved.

It was an interesting book but fell off a bit at the end. I am not sure that I would pick up any more of the killing series but this was a good book that furthered my knowledge about WWII and its after effects.

One of my current reads is Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger. I came to a part of the book under the subtitle A Repressed Majority and speaking of female rage, it says:

"It is a loud and livid objection to the kinds of control that have long been in place in a nation built by white men who, when they angrily broke free of imperialist control themselves, promptly encoded projections of liberty and independence only for themselves, building their new nation on slavery and the oppression of women, on the legal and civic subjugation of that nation's majority."

This is so similar to what I have read in Jill Lapore's These Truths.

Hi, Meg. Good review of The Lost Man. Since I recently read and enjoyed The Dry, I will definitely be trying out this stand-alone.

Murder by Milkshake also sounds interesting. I like a good true-crime book, now and then.

>230 Familyhistorian: That sounds very interesting Meg!

>231 msf59: I really enjoy Harper's books, Mark. I just hope she comes out with a new one in the Aaron Falk series soon as I am up to date on that. Not often I get to say that about a series because I like to lag behind knowing there will be more ahead of me.

I really like reading books about places that I know so Murder by Milkshake fit the bill and had a very interesting true crime story as well. A lot of the info came from the Vancouver Police Museum. I really have to go there soon!

>232 mdoris: Hi Mary, Good and Mad is a very new book and quite popular - I had to wait for the hold to come in for a good while. It is good so far and I was struck at how the ideas in it are similar to Jill Lapore's in These Truths, the subject of our group read.

Last night I attended the AGM for my strata. One of the things they were handing out was the proposed new zoning for our area of the city. We were told that the city will make their decision about rezoning in the summer after consultation with citizens. This will be what we are waiting for to see if we will be able to proceed with selling our strata. Our proposed new zoning will be medium density which would be an increase from what it is now. If that is accepted then we will be able to proceed with potential sale.

>235 Familyhistorian: The outcome will be interesting, Meg. Are you hoping they will go ahead with the rezoning, or hoping to stay where you live?

Is there a possibility that you won't have to move, Meg?

>236 vancouverdeb: >237 jessibud2: I am actually hoping they go ahead with the rezoning at this point because there is so much development going on around here. It won't be the same neighbourhood if we stay. I just wish I knew one way or the other at this time because it is hard being in limbo. I notice that there are no for sale notices up lately and there haven't been for a very long time. Usually these units sell quickly as there is a lot of floor space for the price.

Yesterday was busy with meetings and last night I checked out a new-to-me local genealogy society meeting. They had a trivia contest and I won! I think this is an ongoing sign that I should continue my family history research. At the OGS conference I also won two major prizes. Today I am putting on my writer's hat to attend Whale of a Crime, the Left Coast Crime 2019 conference. Will report back. I also need to start a new thread soon, it is spring and I need a new look.

Advice for the day - don’t run up an escalator while wearing 🥿 flats.

<235> What's a "strata"?

>241 RebaRelishesReading: BC has many properties that are owned as strata properties. Strata properties are ones that divided into lots, like condos or townhouses, which are owned by individuals. The strata itself also owns common property, like the parking lot and grounds of our townhouse complex. So when I talk about selling our strata it is all the lands and buildings which comprise our complex of 58 townhouses.

How does your jurisdiction deal with the legalities of condo and townhouse ownership, Reba?

52. Murder at the Manor by Lesley Cookman

Murder at the Manor was a cozy mystery in the Libby Sarjeant series. It was the first one I have read and came somewhere in the middle of the series. Libby and her fellow investigator, Fran, who has psychic flashes, were clearly established characters as were the supporting cast. It was an interesting case but I probably would have enjoyed it more if I knew the characters better.

This was a book that LT chose for me at random, not the first book because it kept choosing cookbooks or how to genealogy books. This was the first real readable book chosen.

53. The Chess Men by Peter May

I finally completed Peter May's Lewis trilogy. It was good but took me a long time to read. I felt that the current day mysteries were slowed down a lot as the hero, Fin, recalls his memories of the island and the people he knew and the events he lived through. The Chess Men brings up even more of the past as it was the reason behind the present day mystery.

This book also serves to round out the story arc of the trilogy. It was good but I found all the past stories bogged the current mysteries down a bit so that it was a slow read.

>242 Familyhistorian: We distinguish between condo ownership (where you own a specific unit and rights to the use of common areas) and coop's (you own shares in the company that owns the property with right to use a specific unit -- these are VERY unusual in CA but I believe they're fairly common in NY). "Townhouse" is used here to describe a style of construction where the unit is attached on one or both sides to another unit. Most commonly these are owned as condos but they can also be done with an actual deed to the land the unit sits on and then they may or may not have a home owner's association.

So when you said "sell your strata" you meant selling the unit you own that is part of a strata, right?

>245 RebaRelishesReading: -Here in Toronto, we used the term townhouse. I first heard *strata* from the BC LTers! We have 2 kinds of townhouse ownership: condo (the kid I am in, which is described by your first definition) or freehold, where you own the unit you live in but it isn't a condo set-up.

>245 RebaRelishesReading: I thought it might be kind of different there, Reba. When I talk about selling the strata, I am not talking about selling my unit. I am talking about the whole 58 townhouses and common land being sold. It is not me who wants to move but developers who will be interested in the whole parcel of land to building denser housing.

>246 jessibud2: I know that BC has laws around strata corporations so it appears that this is a province wide way of setting up condo and townhouse ownership. We do things differently out here, Shelley.

It is quite similar to being in a co-op because we have a committee that oversees maintenance etc as well as dealing with the finances to run everything. The strata also hires a property management company who deals with other stuff for us.

54. Heirs and Graces by Rhys Bowen

For something a bit lighter I read one of the Royal Spyness Mysteries. Although someone always ends up being murdered, these who-dunnits featuring Lady Georgiana are always fun and show the strange side of the British aristocracy. Besides, I never know how Georgie's friend, Belinda, and beau, Darcy, will end up in the book. The by play between those who know Georgie best and the rest of the characters in the book are often highlights of the novels.

I am only on book seven Heirs and Graces so many more to look forward to in this series although, I understand, the final book in the series came out recently

>248 Familyhistorian: - Actually, that is how our condo corp is run, Meg. We were a self-managed condo for many years but 2 years ago, we moved to a property management model. Too few homeowners wanted to do the work and it had been the same people for far too long and things were starting to get *iffy* about the way they were running things. There a sort-of coup (it was ugly) but we now have a property management company though we still have to have an on-sight condo board, and though they work in tandem, decisions are discussed before they are acted upon. Which is why, in part, my basement issues are taking forever.

>250 jessibud2: I think, but I am not sure, that the strata property act requires that we have a property management company involved. It would definitely be a safe guard. I was involved in a brand new co-op where the treasurer embezzled a lot of funds. Not a good thing to do when it is federal money.

Many thanks Meg, for recommending The Strings of Murder to me. It was a great read and I will definitely continue with this series.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

>252 Ameise1: I'm glad to liked The Strings of Murder, Barbara. I read the second book as well which was also good, which reminds me that I should get back to that series. I hope you have a wonderful weekend too.

Hi Meg - I'm going to pull the first of the May trilogy off my shelf. I've recently seen so many great comments about it.

I have a busy weekend ahead. Actually I have been busy since Wednesday with a meeting to start and then a new-to-me genealogy group meeting. Thursday was the first day of the Whale of a Crime conference put on by Left Coast Crime. Yesterday I caught up a bit with chores before going to a retirement celebration. It was actually Robert's last day of work that day and he was kind of punchy in a good way. I don't think reality had set in for him yet. It was good to catch up with people.

Today I am off to a genealogy seminar. I love setting up all this events for myself but really it is exhausting going to them all back to back. Such are the joys of being an introvert.

>254 BLBera: I hope you enjoy Peter May's trilogy, Beth. They are mysteries with depth.

>246 jessibud2: We have both kinds here too although the condo version is much more common.

>247 Familyhistorian: California law requires a Board of Directors for any condominium. Before we moved to the 6-story condo building we're in now we lived in a townhouse that was one of four, all of which were owner-occupied. We took turns doing the various board jobs, met once a year to decide the budget and any other business and had no management company. Here there are about 100 units in two buildings (plus four business units that have a separate board and association). We elect five of the owners to serve as board members for 2-year (staggered) terms and hire a management company to deal with the day-to-day. That's by far the most usual model for larger properties in California.

Most interesting that you're interested in selling the entire project. That will certainly be a complicated deal!

>257 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks for the explanation, Reba. I thought things were different elsewhere.

Actually, it wasn't the strata that was interested in selling. We were approached by developers because the changing plans for the community due to the new transportation lines in from the city. The whole area is changing and we have no choice but to change with it.