Donna's Book Therapy: Second Session

Time spent reading saves my sanity!
Two of the bookshelves in my reading sanctuary aka my snuggery.

I’ve been getting inquiries about the remodeling project we started in early January. Here are some pictures. Before and after views of the foyer and the living room. These are the only two rooms that are completed.





And a picture of the unfinished space between the kitchen and family room where we took out part of the wall.

Who can resist a new puppy? Meet Maverick, my new granddog! He’s a sweet 9-week old Golden Retriever.



I think Haley and Molly are in love. ❤️

January Reading
1. Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny. 3.8 stars. Comments.
2. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. 4.2 stars. Comments.
3. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. 3.8 stars. Comments.
4. The Line Becomes A River: Dispatches From the Border by Francisco Cantú. 4 stars. Review.
5. My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie; audio by Cassandra Campbell. 4 stars. Comments.
6. The Chosen by Chaim Potok. 4.5 stars. Comments.
7. The Promise by Chaim Potok. 4 stars. Comments.
8. Sabrina by Nick Drnaso. 3 stars. Comments.
9. Hunger by Roxane Gay. 2.7 stars. Comments.

February Reading
10. The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King; audio by LeVar Burton. 3.5 stars. Comments.
11. The Paragon Hotel by Lyndsay Faye. 3.8 stars. Comments.
12. Quiet Girl In A Noisy World: An Introvert's Story by Debbie Tung. 4 stars. Comments.
13. History of the Rain by Niall Williams. 4.8 stars. Review.
14. The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai. 4.4 stars. Comments.

March Reading
15. The Library Book by Susan Orlean. 4 stars. Comments.
16. A Catalog of Birds by Laura Harrington. 4.5 stars. Review.
17. Circe by Madeline Miller. 4.2 stars. Comments.
18. Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear; audio by Orlegh Cassidy. 3.5 stars. Comments.
19. Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear; audio by Orlegh Cassidy. 3.5 Stars. Comments.
20. Among the Ruins by Ausma Zehanat Khan. 3.7 stars. Comments.
21. The River by Peter Heller. 4.2 stars. Comments.

April Reading:
22. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. 4.5 stars. Comments
23. Four Boots-One Journey by Jeff Alt. 3 stars. Comments.
24. The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen. 4 stars. Comments.
25. Troubles by J. G. Farrell. 3.9 stars. Comments.
26. Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. 3.8 stars. Comments.
27. Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk by Kathleen Rooney. 3.8 stars. Comments.
28. These Truths by Jill Lapore. 4.4 Stars. Review.

May Reading
29. Little Faith by Nicholas Butler. 4.3 stars. Review.
30. A Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear; audio by Orlagh Cassidy. 3.5 stars. Comments.
31. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. 4.3 stars. Comments.
32. My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. 3.3 stars. Comments.
33. In the Garden Of Beasts by Erik Larson. 4.1 stars. Comments.
34. A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane. Audio by Jonathan Davis. 3.7 stars. Comments.
35. Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss. 4 stars. Comments.
36. Bibliophile by Jane Mount. 4.3 stars. Comments.
37. The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold. Audio by Lloyd James. 3.7 stars. Comments.

June Reading
38. Bird Box by Josh Malerman. 3.4 stars. Comments.
39. Spring by Ali Smith. 3 stars. Comments.
40. My Kitchen Year by Ruth Reichl. 3.4 stars. Comments.
41. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. 4.5 stars. Comments.
42. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. 4.2 stars. Comments.
43. A Lowcountry Heart by Pat Conroy. 4.5 stars. Comments.
44. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. 4 stars. Comments.
45. Big Sky by Kate Atkinson. 4.2 stars. Comments.

July Reading
46. A Cold Day in Paradise by Steve Hamilton. Audio by Nick Sullivan. 3 stars.Comments.
47. Fallen Mountains by Kimi Cunningham Grant. Audio by James Patrick Cronin. 3.5 stars.
48. Lost by Alice Lichtenstein; audio by Carringtom Macduffie. 3 stars.
49. There There by Tommy Orange. 4 stars. Comments.
50. Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson. 4.2 stars. Comments.

1. The Shadow of the Wind
2. The Sympathizer
3. A Catalog of Birds
4. The Curse of Chalion
6. The Great Believers
7. Salvage the Bones
10. The Secret Garden
11. Bird Box
12. Among the Ruins
14. Circe
15. History of the Rain
16. A Lowcountry Heart
19. Sabrina
20. The Line Becomes A River: Dispatches from the Border
23. Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body
25. My Sister, the Serial Killer

Book No. 21: The River by Peter Heller. Library, 256 pp., 4.2 stars.

"Imagine. That's what Jack thought. Imagine feeling that way. Like God held you in the palm of his hand or whatever. Wynn could take all the philosophy courses he wanted, and he had taken a few, and he could read the arguments of Kant, the treatises of Schopenhauer and Nietzsche, and he did, and he got really excited about them, tried to explain them to Jack, but in the end though he did not think of himself as religious in the least. Wynn would bet all his chips on goodness." (144)

So, two college buddies are on the trip of a lifetime camping and canoeing the wilds of northern Canada. They are enjoying their leisurely break from studies at Dartmouth with their long idyllic days when they start smelling smoke. Things get crazy in a hurry as they try to outrun the rolling smoke and jet roar of the hungry fire bearing down on them. They had just enough time to pick up a badly injured woman which made their journey even more dangerous, especially since her husband and two other unsavory campers were also on the river in survival mode.

Peter Heller is one of my favorite authors and he knows the wilderness well. There is quite a bit about fishing and paddling here that is beyond my scope of experiences. I was still riveted with the story of Jack and Wynn's friendship and the choices they had to make in order to survive. There was plenty of conversation around the campfires about literature to keep the book lover in me satisfied. It was only the rushed ending that kept me from giving this book a higher rating. I needed more resolution than I got.

Happy new thread, Donna!

The renovated rooms are beautiful Donna. And welcom to he new Grandog. He's a cutie. I'm sure everyone is smitten.

Happy new thread!
Love the reno and puppy pics!

Wow Donna, look at all that remodeling...better you than me lol. Of course it's always worth it in the end. It's just the getting there that's no fun at all.

You got me with The River. I really liked both The Dog Stars and The Painter. And congrats on the new grand dog. I've got four of those myself.

Donna--Happy new one! LOVE the before/after photos. Things are looking GOOD! And a new puppy? So cute. The River sounds really good despite the rushed ending.

I love the reno pictures! Your new renos look just great! Such lovely grandchildren as well -and a grand puppy! My sister and her husband are getting their entire upstairs renovated - moving walls - etc , taking out a bedroom to give them more room in the living / dining / kitchen area. They are going to have to live in their downstairs for 5 months - and without a kitchen. They have a BBQ and microwave and a brand new laundry room washtub to do the dishes. Yikes, I'm not sure I could handle that. They do live near to their daughter and her family , so they plan to spend some of their time over there. My sister and husband both work full time, so at least they won't be home during the day with the renovators. They looked around at other homes, but really like their location, so the big reno it is.

I do hope you enjoy My Sister the Serial Killer. I had a lot of fun with that.

Happy new thread. Your renovations look very nice!

I love that you posted renovation pictures, Donna, as I had been craving them. And what a cute puppy!

Happy new thread, Donna. Your new foyer and living room are looking beautiful and congrats on the new family member.

Happy new thread, Donna! The renovations look amazing. So worth all the discomfort you've had to contend with.
Welcome, Maverick! Golden Retrievers are my favorite breed.

Happy new thread, Donna!
I love the pictures of your bookcases and the renovations. Grandpuppy is way too adorable :-)

Happy new thread!

Love your new thread, your reno, the puppy and grandkids!!

Happy new thread, Donna. Thanks for sharing your remodel photos with us.

Your grandpuppy is adorable. Yes, I'd say he has some fans.

I have Dog Stars waiting for me. It's on my read-soon pile, so I hope to get to it this year.

Happy new thread, Donna.

>2 Donna828: Looks charming. A place that I'd like to visit one day!

Happy New Thread, Donna. Thanks for sharing the remodeling photos and hooray for Maverick. Nice looking Golden.

Glad to see you enjoyed The River. I have a copy on shelf, so I should get to it, in the near future.

Happy new thread Donna. Loved looking at your reading lists in >4 Donna828: and getting some ideas. What an adorable new grand-dog and of course gorgeous grandchildren. Good luck with the reno completion. It is so great when it's over!

Happy New Thread, Donna!

The remodeling looks gorgeous. Any new bookshelves coming in?

Great photo of Maverick and the girls. He looks like a sweet one.

Happy New Thread, Donna!

Your reno looks like it is coming along wonderfully and the newly redone space looks very inviting.

Maverick - what a sweetie!

I think you just hooked me with your review of The River in >6 Donna828: . I haven't read anything by Peter Heller, so I guess it's time to give him a try. At this rate, I'm not making as much progress as I'd like into my books living on Planet TBR.

I'm glad your family and grands enjoyed the Lion King. I also had a seat with the costumed actors coming right by me as they entered. So amazing. I have no words for the costumes. Am I correct in saying that you had seen it before and that this outing was so the grands could see it?

Wow Donna, your renovations are beautiful!

And a new grand puppy! And a golden retriever! The perfect dog for a young family. What fun they will have!

The Dog Stars is still my favorite book of Heller’s. The River is probably my second favorite now but still far below The Dog Stars.

So many visitors! That is one of the benefits of starting a new thread. I appreciate each one of you…

>7 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori.
>8 Caroline_McElwee: Smitten indeed, Caroline. I got to dogsit two afternoons last week so Maverick and I got to bond. I miss having a dog in the house, but they sure are a lot of work, especially in the puppy stage.
>9 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle.
>10 brenzi: I love all my Grands, Bonnie…the children and the dogs. Love them and send them home! Haha. Peter Heller has another winner in The River.
>11 Berly: Hi Kim. You know me, I always have to have something negative to share about a book. I'll be sure to let you know when I come across the perfect book.
>12 vancouverdeb: Oh Deb, I feel for your sister having to live with the noise of mess of a 5-month renovation. It sounds like they are doing much more than we did. Ours shouldn't have taken over a month in my opinion. The contractor simply has taken on too much work.

>13 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita. It's good to see you here.
>14 ronincats: I'm happy to satisfy your cravings, Roni. I, too, love it when others share pictures of their lives. Your pottery and cat pictures bring me much joy…also like what you did in your office.
>15 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara.
>16 Carmenere: Hi Lynda. I think Golden Retrievers are gorgeous animals with great temperaments. Win win! And I agree that the changes we've made in our house are worth the inconveniences. Easy to say that now that the end is in sight.
>17 FAMeulstee: Thanks for those kind words, Anita. Maverick IS totally adorable.
>18 drneutron: Thank you, Jim.
>19 RebaRelishesReading: Hi there, Reba. Thanks for including the grandkids. I think they are being upstaged by the new puppy. Things will get back to normal soon.

>20 BLBera: Beth, my "read soon" pile is currently being ignored as the library requests keep coming. I must get back on track and read some of my own books. Thanks for stopping in.
>21 PaulCranswick: Paul, you will be most welcome when you make your grand tour of the U.S. I know that is on your back burner as real life intervenes. The invitation remains open.
>22 msf59: Mark, I think you will love The River. Lots of action and great writing.
>23 mdoris: Mary, I hope to be doing the Happy Dance soon when our contractor makes time to finish our project. His electrician was here on Tuesday so that's one more thing I can cross of the list.
>24 jnwelch: Nice thought, Joe, but we are good on bookcases. We have built-ins scattered throughout the house. It makes looking for a specific book kind of like a treasure hunt. Maverick is a sweetheart. I'm just glad he doesn't live here during his chewing (and peeing) stages. lol.
>25 streamsong: Janet, you must put Peter Heller on your reading radar. He writes beautifully about the Rocky Mountain region. His books are all stand-alones so you can start anywhere. The Dog Stars is my favorite by him. I saw The Lion King at Disney World a few years ago. It was the short version, though, giving me the desire to see the full deal. I was not disappointed!
>26 Copperskye: Hi Joanne. I am right with you on The Dog Stars being my favorite Heller book. I will never forget the joy of meeting him with you in Boulder. He is definitely my "Bookthrob"! I will probably love everything he writes. We are all excited about having a Golden in the family. As you well know, they are wonderful dogs. It's hard to believe that Maverick is a rescue dog. He came from a puppy mill that was shut down for many violations but it doesn't seem to have dampened his zest for life.

Book No. 22: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. Mine, 728 pp., 4.5 stars.

"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. To begin my life with the beginning of my life, I record that I was born (as I have been informed and believe) on a Friday, at twelve o’clock at night. It was remarked that the clock began to strike, and I began to cry, simultaneously."

Thus begins this classic book said to be Dickens' most autobiographical work. It's interesting to note that David Copperfield's initials are the reverse of Charles Dickens. Like many 19th century English novels, David Copperfield was first published in monthly installments, which helps to explain Dickens' wordy writing style. I could tell you the summary in one paragraph yet he meanders and writes in great detail about the extensive cast of characters that wander in and out of young David's life.

I first read this book as a school assignment many, many years ago. I remember the first quarter of the book about David's impoverished childhood very well. The underprivileged of England's working classes of the early 1800's are major themes of many of his novels. I read where Dickens spent part of his childhood in debtor's prison with his family and he shared DC's experience of working in a factory at a young age. He writes very well of what he knows. My other memories are of some of his well-drawn characters. Uriah Heep in particular stands out as a classic Dickens villain.

I can't say that Dickens is a favorite author of mine. I have to be in a particular mood to read his books…and have plenty of reading time available. If I had to choose a favorite, it would be A Christmas Carol for the timely and beloved story of Scrooge. A Tale of Two Cities would probably come in as a close second because of my love of historical fiction. DC is next on my list. It is a bit like reading a soap opera about the travails of everyday life filled with humor, pathos, and drama. The setting may be archaic but some of the problems are still around. I like triumph over adversity books, and this one does just that. It shows that one can overcome the worst of obstacles and still remain a decent and caring human being. Well done, Mr. Dickens.

>30 Donna828: of the half a dozen Dickens novels I've read Donna, David Copperfield was my favourite.

>30 Donna828: Glad you made it through. I had that edition, but it had "xliv, 974 pages" (1018 altogether). You must have omitted some of the supplemental stuff and footnotes. I tend to read all that stuff, including the footnotes.

Happy new thread, Donna. The renovated living room and foyer look really great, worth the time it took? Renos always take longer than advertised, I find. We lived in a house that was renovated from bottom to top on both floors and, thankfully, only were without a kitchen for a week. Still, the renos took forever.

Your grandpuppy is such a cutie, golden retriever puppies are so cuddlable!

>31 Caroline_McElwee: You are in good company, Caroline. I have been reading about Dickens' books and their popularity on Google. Of course, there is no definitive answer, but it appears that many favor either Bleak House or David Copperfield as their favorite, closely followed by Our Mutual Friend. Perhaps we should do an LT poll! I got pretty bored with the long courtroom scenes in Bleak House and have yet to read Our Mutual Friend. I own a copy so I will try to read it before too long, but not this year. A little Dickens goes a long way with me.

>32 thornton37814: It's true confession time, Lori. I got my page number count from Answer.com! I alternated my reading between my Gutenberg Project Kindle version and the unabridged audiobook on Hoopla read by Simon Vance. Neither one of those gave any indication of pages and there are so many different editions on Amazon with pages numbers from the 400s to the 1000s like your copy. I chose the edition I did because I liked the cover. I know, pretty shallow.

In doing my limited research, I found this list of word counts:

1. David Copperfield: 357,489
2. Dombey and Son: 357,484
3. Bleak House: 355,936
4. Little Dorrit: 339,870
5. Martin Chuzzlewit: 338,077
6. Our Mutual Friend: 327,727
7. Nicholas Nickleby: 323,722
8. The Pickwick Papers: 302,190
9. Barnaby Rudge: 255,229
10. The Old Curiosity Shop: 218,538
11. Great Expectations: 186,339
12. Oliver Twist: 158,631
13. A Tale of Two Cities: 137,000
14. Hard Times: 104,821

Now I just need to be able to convert the number of words to the page counts.

>33 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. I think the pain and suffering of our reno was worthwhile. We weren't without kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom facilities at any time. It was just the noise, displaced furniture, and construction dust that bothered me. I did learn to be more patient which is a very good thing. I need to get in some Maverick cuddles soon. My daughter-in-law told me he has a brother that needs a new family. Nooooooo….I don't need that kind of temptation.

Happy new thread, Donna! Thanks for posting the renovation photos - everything looks great! Adorable grand dog!

Happy Friday, Donna. Good review of David Copperfield. I had a good time with that one too. I am a fan of Dickens, although I agree he can get long-winded. Thanks for supplying the word count list. WOW! If you have not read Bleak House, it is one I highly recommend.

Good work with David Copperfield, Donna! In my young twenties ( I presume before my oldest son was born ) I read several books by Charles Dickens. I'm quite sure I read Nicholas Nickleby, The Pickwick Papers as well as Hard Times . I enjoyed them at the time, but Jan 2018 was the first time I read a Dickens since my young years. Great Expectations was certainly a colourful and memorable book. As you mention, many of his books were published as installments , I think in newspapers, and so no wonder the word count was high.

>29 Donna828: Invitation very welcome and I am sure that Hani and I will make it Stateside for a protracted trip sometime in the not too distant future.

Have a lovely weekend.

We had a perfect spring afternoon here in the Missouri Ozarks. Temps in the upper 70s with a gentle breeze. I took the opportunity to get my glider out of storage and spend some quality reading time outside. My favorite thing to do!

>35 AMQS: Thanks, Anne. We are getting close to finishing our home improvement project. Our contractor took advantage of the good weather to do some work. We now have doors on our utility room closets. Yay!

>36 msf59: Mark, I liked Bleak House but got a little tired of the drawn out courtroom drama. I have a copy of Our Mutual Friend so that will be up next when the spirit moves me.

>37 vancouverdeb: Thanks for sharing your Dickens journey, Deborah. I have good memories of Great Expectations from 8th Grade. It held up well when I read it again several years ago.

>38 PaulCranswick: You are going to make a lot of LTers happy, Paul, when you and Hani make that grand tour of the USA.

—————————————————————————-—————

Wow! The Baylor Lady Bears just won the Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament. My Missouri State Bears we’re lucky enough to be in the tourney and made it to the Sweet Sixteen. They were defeated by Stanford but put up a good fight. Go Lady Bears!

Hi Donna! I love the picture of the new granddog! What a beautiful dog!

David Copperfield is one of my favorite books. I didn't care much for Bleak House. Like you, the protracted court scenes were not to my liking.

No official announcement yet, but it's looking like Kellie Harper will be the new coach of the Lady Vols. I know you'll hate to lose her at Missouri State.

>39 Donna828: That looks just perfect (except for the book which I didn't like very much) :)

>41 cbl_tn: Oh No! I am very glad to have your visit, Carrie, but your news makes me sad. I am not surprised, though. Kellie’s heart lives in Tennessee. Maverick is a handsome boy. Like a baby, he will grow quickly.

>42 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba. We will be discussing the book in the picture tonight. I’ve already heard from two people who didn’t care for it. I rather liked it so I will probably be in the minority. I’ll give a full report tomorrow if I have time.

This could very well be the young couple featured in the book. The writing was mediocre
so I decided to use one of the John Muir quotes from the book as my book quote.



Book No. 23: Four Boots: One Journey by Jeff Alt. Mine-Kindle, 237 pp., 3 stars.

I love a good book about hiking. This one had a good premise. A young married couple loses a close family member to suicide and decides to honor him by creating a foundation to increase the awareness of the role of depression in suicide. Jeff Alt is an Appalachian Trail hiker who knows the benefits of hiking as a mood lifter. He persuades his young wife (who loves her comforts) to endure the primitive John Muir Trail in Yosemite National Park as a way to honor her beloved brother. As I said, the premise is good, but the execution is just adequate. I didn’t feel the burn!

>43 Donna828: It's official now. The university has released a statement and graphics with Coach Harper's picture on it. Press conference tomorrow.

>39 Donna828:. Like!👍

Hi, Donna.

I liked Our Mutual Friend, so I look forward to seeing your comments on it. I was going to join Mark in plugging Bleak House; I think that's one of his best. I'm glad you liked it, at least. I can understand your getting tired of the drawn out courtroom drama.

That list in >34 Donna828:, with page counts, is helpful. I think The Old Curiosity Shop might be my next one of his. Great Expectations is probably my favorite so far.

>44 Donna828: The mountain picture and quote look interesting. Too bad the writing was mediocre.

>45 cbl_tn: Not only is Kellie leaving, but she convinced Jennifer Sullivan to leave Ohio and go with her. Jennifer is the one who recruited our Fantastic Four Freshmen (Sophomores next year) that gave our team the spark to go to the Sweet Sixteen. She was my choice for Kellie's replacement.

>46 brenzi: Thanks, Bonnie.

>47 jnwelch: Great Expectations is pretty great, Joe. ;-)

>48 Familyhistorian: Yes, it was too bad. I think the author warned readers against hiking in cotton clothes at least three times. There were too many details about hiking in general. It was supposed to be an adventure story not a hiking manual. A good editor was needed methinks!

Book No. 24: The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen. My copy, 493 pp., 4 stars.

"While I chose to live two lives and be a man of two minds, it was hard not to, given how people had always called me a bastard. Our country itself was cursed, bastardized, petitioned into north and south, and if it could be said of us that we chose division and death in our uncivil war, that was also only partially true. We had not chosen to be debased by the French, to be divided by them into an unholy trinity of north, center, and south, to be turned over to the great powers of capitalism and communism for a further bisection, then given roles as the clashing armies of a Cold War chess match played in air-conditoned rooms by white men wearing suits and ties." (361)

This winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 2016 was a winner for me. I was kind of surprised about all the negative comments I read about it after I finished it. I agree that the protagonist was not an easy person to like, but I did feel sympathy for him. He states on the first page that he was "a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces." He also lets us know up front that this book is a confession written to placate the Commandant, although we don't know the details about his specific situation until much later in the book. Jaded by the aftereffects of the brutal Vietnam War (known as The American War in Vietnam), The Captain, as our unnamed narrator is referred to, gives the Vietnamese perspective of losing the war, even though he was a spy for his native North Vietnamese side. Indeed, The Captain was a man of "two minds".

For a debut novel, Nguyen did some things very well. I thought the scenes at the Saigon airport as the last planes left before the Communist takeover were superb. I could feel the heat, terror, and heartbreak felt by the persons lucky enough to be leaving the country as well as those left behind. He did a fine job of showing the political travesties of the 1970s that I remember all too well. He personalized a war novel with a poignant tribute to his mother and his story of friendship with his two blood brothers, both on different sides of the Vietnam division while he was in the middle playing the espionage game. The scenes of rape and torture were difficult to read but hard to avoid in a book about war. For the most part, I loved the writing style that had more than a dash of dark humor, although he did seem to get carried away with some of his frequent similes and metaphors. This probably won't be on my list of favorites for the year, but it will be stuck in my head for some time.

ETA: Our discussion leader for my book group got sick at the last minute so our group was left to answer some questions found online about the book. We started with those and then got down to the nitty gritty on our own. As usual, we had some in the group who liked it more than the rest, but I think for the most part we agreed that it was a powerful book about a contentious war.

Hi Donna!

Happy new thread. Thanks for sharing the renovation photos - I love before and after pictures. Your house looks lovely.

I'm avoiding my own group read thread of David Copperfield because I just can't seem to be able to read it right now. I just really need to read a bit every day.

It sounds like The Sympathizer provoked a lot of discussion for your book group, which is always a positive. You liked it more than I did, but I'm glad I read it.

Happy Easter weekend, Donna.

Hi Donna. I am taking advantage of a rainy Easter Monday to get caught up with threads. Happy new thread! Looks like success on the renovation front and Maverick is adorable!

>39 Donna828: - What a lovely reading spot!

>51 karenmarie: Thanks for those kind words about the reno, Karen. Don't worry about the David Copperfield group. You set it up and Peter and others talked it up. I didn't add much of anything, but I sure enjoyed the comments.

>52 BLBera: The Sympathizer wasn't a pleasant read by any means, Beth, but I thought it was a different look at the Vietnam War and very well written. I believe it will stand the test of time. And, yes, there was lots to talk about. I love a good book discussion.

>53 Ameise1: Thanks for the Easter chuckle, Barbara. I was too busy with a houseful of guests to appreciate it on the day but it made me smile when I saw it today.

>54 lkernagh: I love to read outside under the trees, Lori. The rest of my family left yesterday afternoon and I headed out there immediately for some downtime. We're having a rainy patch the next few days so my reading will be done indoors for awhile.

Book No. 25: Troubles by J. G. Farrell. My copy, 465 pp., 3.9 stars.

"The Major only glanced at the newspaper these days, tired of trying to comprehend a situation which defied comprehension, a war without battles or trenches. Why should one bother with the details, the raids for arms, the shootings of policemen, the intimidations? What could one learn from the details of chaos?" (171)

I've been looking forward to reading this book for a long time so I could better understand the Troubles that plagued Northern Ireland for over 30 years in the mid-to-late-20th century. I still don't have a clear understanding of this period except to know that it was one example of the waning days of British imperialism. The book was actually set in the 1920s, just after the Irish War of Independence wherein Northern Ireland remained a part of The British Isles and the southern part became an independent republic. Everyone was war weary including the protagonist Major Brendan Archer an Englishman who was recovering from "shell shock" after fighting in WWI. He goes to Northern Ireland to rectify a misunderstanding with a young woman he met on leave who had the idea they were engaged. He hardly sees Angela but becomes entangled with her "mad family" and the once grand hotel they owned which, like the country of Ireland, has seen better days.

This is a slow read. After I got over my initial disappointment, the absurdity of The Major's situation grew on me. I loved the descriptions of The Majestic Hotel that was literally falling apart. It was home to some very odd characters, mostly old women who had nowhere else to go, who tried to ignore the decrepit conditions they lived in. The subtle humor makes the harsh conditions the Irish had to endure easier to read about. There is a gothic feel to the book as the hotel crumbles and a sense of collapse and violence builds. This is a book I will be pondering for awhile. I own the trilogy so will read the other two after a much-needed break from the gloom and doom.

The book won the Lost Booker Prize awarded in 2010 for the 'best' book of 1970 which fell through the cracks due to a change in the eligibility rules. The circumstances are almost as complicated as Irish history. Unfortunately, the award came 30 years after Farrell's untimely death in a drowning accident. It's good for him, though, that he was still around in 1973 when he was awarded The Booker Prize for The Siege of Krishnapur which I will probably read sometime this summer.

Hi Donna - I remember the Major and the odd characters, but not much else about Troubles. I did just finish a really excellent non-fiction about the more recent battles in Ireland which culminated in the Good Friday agreement of 1999. Fascinating and well-written. Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe.

Thanks, Vivian. I’ll look into that one as that is the time period I was expecting to read about. I guess the Troubles in Ireland lasted a long time. ;-)

I can’t believe I’ve read three very depressing books in a row. I tend to like books on the dark side, but Salvage The Bones put me over the edge. It caused me to break my unwritten rule of posting comments on a book before starting a new one. I’ve dipped into the fresh waters of Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk to lift that dark cloud settling onto me. My tongue-in-cheek thread title of Book Therapy may drive me into the arms of a psychiatrist if I don’t read something lighter. Lol.

Sweet Thursday, Donna. Good reviews of both The Sympathizer & Troubles. I really enjoyed both but I think the latter was the better of the two. I need to read more Farrell. Whenever you are up for The Siege of Krishnapur. I will join you.

>60 msf59: Thanks, Mark. I plan to read the other two books in The Empire Trilogy this year. How does mid-summer sound to you for The Siege of Krishnapur? The book is sitting out in my TBR area so I won't forget. I'll give you a reminder in early July. I'm looking forward to it.

Book No. 26: Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. Mine - Kindle, 288 pp., 3.8 stars.

"The house is a drying animal skeleton, everything inside that was evidence of living salvaged over the years…Because everyone else was crying, I clung like a monkey to Mama, my legs and arms wrapped around her softness, and I cried, love running through me like a hard, blinding summer rain. And then Mama died, and there was no one left for me to hold on to." (from Ch. 4)

I'm probably the last one on LT to read this book so there may be spoilers ahead. This book got under my skin so I shared more of the story than usual. I knew about the dog fighting and put off reading this book as long as possible. I finally got up the courage.

This is 15-year-old Esch's story about the Batiste family living in extreme poverty in the bayou country of coastal Mississippi in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina. It's a raw and gritty tale of a family's survival as they cling together with a fierce love. Esch has two older brothers: Randall is a star basketball player but lacks the funds for the summer camp that will help him find the way out of the swampland. Skeetah is next in line and is striving to help his family by raising pit bulls for the fighting ring. This part was so hard for me to read, especially since Skeetah loved his dog China with his whole heart: "China is white as the sand that will become a pearl, Skeetah black as an oyster, but they stand as one before these boys who do no know what it means to love a dog the way that Skeetah does." (Ch. 8) And then there is Junior, a typical 7-year-old boy getting on everyone's nerves. Daddy Claude is a drinker but he tries to provide for his family the best he can.

Claude knows a hurricane is on the way, and it's a bad one this time. He goads the older boys into helping him board up the windows with scrap lumber. When he sends Skeetah to the store with a handful of money, he comes back with two big bags of premium dog food and a few cans of potted meat, peas, and lots of Ramen noodles. Maybe Dad should have been in charge of the shopping.

Jesmyn Ward knows about Katrina because her family lived through it…and she knows how to write. I cringed through the parts about China and her puppies and the craziness of dog fighting in general. As difficult as it was to read about that, it was even harder to hear Esch's sad tale of being sexually exploited by her brother's friends (starting at age 12) and the way her current partner Manny disregarded her as a person. One has to look hard to find the hope in this book. I did like how she found comfort in the pages of her mythology book and in the obvious love this broken family had for each other. I liked how the structure was built around motherhood…beginning with the mother's death after giving birth to Claude Junior, then China and her puppies, and culminating with Esch's "situation".

The writing is the real star of this book. This quote near the end of the book is so beautiful and is a fine example of the author's talent:

"I will tie the glass and stone with string, hang the shards above my bed, so that they will flash in the dark and tell the story of Katrina, the mother that swept into the Gulf and slaughtered. Her chariot was a storm so great and black the Greeks would say it was harnessed to dragons. She was the murderous mother who cut us to the bone but left us alive, left us naked and bewildered as wrinkled newborn babies, as blind puppies, as sun-starved newly hatched baby snakes. She left us a dark Gulf and salt-burned land. She left us to learn to crawl. She left us to salvage. Katrina is the mother we will remember until the next mother with large, merciless hands, committed to blood, comes."

>62 Donna828: Nope, you’re not the last one, Donna. I’m not in any rush to get to it for the same reasons you mentioned, but I avoided reading far into your review in case I do decide to read it.

>56 Donna828: I picked up a copy of Troubles at the Boulder Bookstore a couple of years ago. I really need to get to it.

>39 Donna828: Such a lovely view. It might even be too distracting! It certainly looks as if spring has sprung in MO.

Enjoy your weekend!

>63 Copperskye: Hi Joanne. Spring has definitely sprung here. The flowering trees (with their extravagance of pollen) have been beautiful. Ah-choo! I enjoyed Troubles but found it a little difficult to get into because of the strange situation The Major was in. I found it strange/funny that the book I read before it referred to the main character as The Captain. Now I need to find a book featuring "The Colonel"!

I'm glad I found some light reading to follow my third dark book in a row. I think you liked my choice as you were one of the many good reviews I read about it here on LT.

Book No. 27: Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk by Kathleen Rooney. Library, 287 pp., 3.9 stars.

"I am old and all I have left is time. I don't mean time to live; I mean free time. Time to fill. Time to kill until time kills me. I walk and walk and think and think. It gets me out, and it keeps me healthy…" (61)

You Go, Lillian! I liked this spunky 85-year-old woman who reflects on her life and career as she walks the streets of New York City on New Year's Eve of 1984. Although I am not overly familiar with the streets of New York, I am a fan of walking and ruminating. I just hope I can still do it when I reach Lillian's age. By the way, the author has based her story on the life of Margaret Fishback who was also a poet and the highest paid female copywriter in the 1930's.

There is a sense of melancholy for the changing of the times in the fictional account. I wonder what Lillian would think of her beloved New York another 35 years into the future. My guess is she would have adapted and done just fine. She was on the feisty side with a keen sense of humor that gave the book its light tone that softened the bittersweet look back on a life well lived.

>62 Donna828: I really must read that one, but Sing, Unburied, Sing is also on my TBR list.

>66 thornton37814: Both are very well written, Lori, but very gritty. Jesmyn Ward is quite a writer.

I've been reading this book for four months now. It is an excellent panoramic view of American History. I'm glad Kim's group read enticed me into buying the book and reading it.



Book No. 28: These Truths by Jill Lapore. My copy, 792 pp. (not including the notes), 4.4 stars.

"There were not one but two American revolutions at the end of the eighteenth century: the struggle for independence from Britain, and the struggle to end slavery. Only one was won." (76)

"By the middle of the nineteenth century, the struggle over slavery that had begun on the shores of the Atlantic had reached the shores of the Pacific--across three thousand miles hatched and crisscrossed with train tracks and telegraph wires. (260)

These Truths is an ambitious one-volume history of the United States from the time of the Mayflower in 1492 until the present day. That's a lot of history. Lepore deserves much credit for a gallant attempt to capture the changes over five centuries of history, immigration, politics, and technological advances that no one dreamed of when our founding fathers established their vision of self-government. Much research obviously went into this book. The clear and perceptive writing is enhanced by many illustrations that add to the comprehension of an intricate and often perplexing overview of history.

We are a nation of contradictions that started with the idea of freedom but built on the reality of slavery. I love my country yet have to accept that we are a complex and hypocritical nation. Beginning with the conquest of our Native Americans and a long history of subjugation of minorities, including black people, immigrants, and even women, we are still working on that liberty and equality thing.

It's been a real struggle governing a diverse nation, and we've had some heroic, memorable, and divisive leaders over the years. Lepore does a good job giving us examples of the people who have led us and the problems they have faced. She has for the most part provided a fair look at how we have arrived to the 21st Century as a democracy that is still looking for answers to the question of how we can live up to the goals of our forefathers who truly believed in the idea of human rights but got bogged down in the messy course of events that sidetracked their lofty ideals. Power and greed got in the way then and is still a problem in our country. We have a long way to go before the self-evident truths of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness become a reality for all Americans.

This is an informative and sobering book that I highly recommend. I'm glad I bought it and read it with the group. Now I just have to figure out how I can get my older grandkids to read about this kaleidoscope of events so they can understand the relevance of history to the times they are living in.

>65 Donna828: Yay for Lillian!

>68 Donna828: I need to get to that one one of these days. You make it sound very appealing, Donna.

>68 Donna828: Nice review! I think our opinions of it line up pretty well.

I'm another one who hasn't read Salvage the Bones, Donna. Like Joanne, I'm not in a hurry to get to it. I did like her Sing, Unburied, Sing, but I'm not as big of a fan as others here are.



Mark and Dr. Jim ganged up on me at our recent LT Meetup, and convinced me I must read These Truths. I'm glad to see that you had such a positive reaction to it.

>68 Donna828: this is on my pile Donna, maybe my long Autumn read.

Oh Yeah! Visitors!

>69 Copperskye: Hi Joanne, that Lillian is quite a gal. I can see why someone like you who knows NYC well would love the book. She does a great job of describing it to one who has only been in the airport!

>70 drneutron: Thanks for chiming in, Jim! I'm glad to be on your team anyday.

>71 jnwelch: Joe, I don't mind a little gritty reality in my books, but Ms. Ward makes it cringe worthy. I think we're done, although I do think she is a terrific writer. I would have loved to have been in that gang at your meetup. These Truths is worthy of the big block of time it takes to read it. I didn't even think of skimming because I didn't want to miss a thing she had to say.

>72 Caroline_McElwee: I really enjoy reading at least one Big Book every year, Caroline. Last year it was A Suitable Boy.

Book No. 29: Little Faith by Nicholas Butler. Library, 320 pp., 4.3 stars.

"Although Lyle had stopped believing, he never really stopped attending church, Indeed, he often suspected he was not alone in this, that many millions of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Taoists, and Mormons all around the world attended their churches, temples and mosques as much out of routine or obligation as out of any real fervor or belief…For others, it might be boredom or loneliness. But for Lyle, so much depended on his childhood friend Pastor Charlie and that lovely old country church in which he had spent so many Sundays as a child, shuffled into that hard-backed pew by his now long-departed parents. (37, 38)

I have to admit that I read this book from a grandparent's bias. To me, nothing is sweeter than the bond between the young and the old. It's a special relationship that Mr. Butler captures perfectly. Lyle is happy with his easygoing life in rural Wisconsin where he spends his golden years working in an apple orchard. He has time to reflect on his life and his losses as he works hard during the week and goes to church on Sundays even though he is just going through the motions. There is a lot of religion in this book, but there's also a lot of doubt and no judgments are made. It is not a preachy book.

When Lyle and Peg's wayward daughter comes home with a "surprise" grandson named Isaac, they are over the moon. The oldest and youngest members of this blended family form a close bond that is broken when the daughter, Shiloh, becomes entangled with a cult religion. I didn't really understand Shiloh and felt her character needed more development. That is my only quibble with this heartrending tale that is based on a true story. Some will probably think the book is slow. To me, it was the perfect pace to match the gradual change of seasons that structured the narrative. There is a lot of life and love depicted in the gentle flow of events that make up life in small-town America.

Edited to correct touchstone.

Yay! I just read that our library raised $148,356.70 at last week’s used book sale. I bought five books for me, five for DH, and one we might both enjoy.

Here’s my list:
And Ladies of the Club 1,176 pp.!
A Lowcountry Heart by Pat Conroy
Mohawk by Richard Russo

Two intended rereads for my permanent collection:
Plague Of Doves
Strength in What Remains

The one I will share with my husband:
The Keeper Of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen.

I could have bought many more but my groaning bookshelves wouldn’t thank me. I’ve been working hard to keep my library under control...and off the floor.

That's a great fund raiser, Donna! And congrats on finishing These Truths. I've started Part 4 and hope to finish by the end of this month.

>75 Donna828: Congrats to your library! And Ladies of the Club certainly brought back memories. I read it 100 years ago, still have it and still remember really liking it :)

>61 Donna828: Midsummer sounds great for The Siege of Krishnapur. We will have to remind each other.

Your reading is amazing, as usual, Donna. Good review of Salvage the Bones and those stunning quotes. I LOVED the book too. Good reviews of Lillian Boxfish and These Truths too. No wonder, we are long time pals.

>75 Donna828: Let me know, when you intend to read Mohawk. I also have it on shelf.

>76 ronincats: Our library sales are big money-makers, Roni. I'm not sure what the FOL is going to to do with the funds this time. There is always something that needs attention. Good job on nearing the end of These Truths. Btw, I downloaded Curse of Chalion for my upcoming road trip per your suggestion.

>77 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba. I know that's a really old book, and I've been meaning to read it for about 100 years! I'm looking forward to it when I get in the mood for a doorstopper.

>78 msf59: I have both of those books on my TBR pile, Mark. It will be fun reading Russo's first book with you. It's good to have a Book Buddy!

Book No. 30: A Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear. Audio by Orlagh Cassidy. Hoopla, 336 pp., 3.5 stars.

This was the eleventh installment in the Maisie Dobbs Series and another good listen. I was kind of taken aback by fast forwarding four years and catching up with Maisie in Gibraltar where she was on a stopover on the way home to England when she discovered a body. Being Maisie, she had to stay and investigate. Not only does she love a mystery, she needed some time to herself before reuniting with family after she suffered two devastating losses. You will have to pick up the book and read or listen to it to find out what befell our intrepid sleuth. I will tell you she ventured into Spain so we could get a peek into the Spanish Civil War. Oh, that Maisie!

Hi Donna, I absolutely have to make room for Lillian Boxfish and soon hopefully. I appreciated Salvage the Bones a couple of years ago. Rough stuff. And I never got beyond the first Maisie Dobbs. Hmmm I don't know why.

Well, Bonnie, I don't find Maisie Dobbs riveting but her story grows on you as it is developed. They are just pleasant comfort reads (or "listens" in my case) for me. I think you will like Lillian if you make her acquaintance.

Congratulations to your library's fundraiser! Good for you, supporting the cause, Donna.

>80 Donna828: I must get back to Maisie; I'm behind in the series.

>83 BLBera: Supporting the cause…cheap books. I'm all for a good cause like that! You are ahead of me, Beth. The books read quickly which is part of the reason I like them. They are excellent "in between" books for me.

Book No. 31: Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. Library, 413 pp., 4.3 stars.

"Two days after Christmas, Rachel and some thirty other patients were transported by wagon from Kalihi to Honolulu Harbor. A few of them were as old as sixty years; none was younger than Rachel. Some held the entirety of their worldly goods in worn carpetbags, while others had more substantial belongings int he cargo hold. Henry made certain that the steamer trunk containing Rachel's dolls was safely stowed aboard…" (55, 56)

Rachel was seven years old when she was separated from her family because she was in the beginning stages of leprosy. The more proper name for her affliction is Hansen's Disease, but, by any name, it was greatly feared in the early 20th Century. There was no cure and quarantine was the standard practice. Even for a child as young as Rachel. The first section was heartbreaking, although eventually Rachel connected with her uncle and his friend who became a second mother to her. She had to live in the children's dormitory under the care of the nuns who selflessly cared for these doomed children. The care was adequate for the time, however, the only amenities were the lush surroundings. Gradually, Rachel acclimated to her new "home" and made friends. She looked forward to the infrequent visits from her father and learned to love surfing. "At seventeen Rachel was still lithe and strong; if not for a few small sores on her legs no one would have suspected she had leprosy…Haeleola could see the wide smile on Rachel's broad face as the next wave rolled beneath her surfboard and she stood up on it, the board skimming the surface of the sea like a flat stone skipped across a pond…poised but fluid, her knees bending and hips twisting as she shifted her weight to change the board's direction. Not serene, perhaps, but graceful and self-assured." (142)

This fictionalized account spans approximately 80 years and includes the history of the time and some of the older myths about ancient Hawaii. The attack on Pearl Harbor was seen through the eyes of the locals. One of the most touching scenes was a small group of the outcasts climbing to the highest point on Moloka'i to view the columns of smoke over the harbor in Honolulu. They were stunned and overcome with their grief which poured out into the singing of "Taps". This book may have bordered on the sentimental side, but it also gave a face to what it might have been like for a young girl to be separated from her family and forced to make a new life. There was a lot of deep sadness but the joy of life overcame much of it. Rachel's second surrogate mother, Sister Catherine, summed it up well with her thoughts near the end of the book: “Love, marriage, divorce, infidelity... life was the same here as anywhere else, wasn't it? She realized how wrong she'd been; the pali wasn't a headstone and Kalaupapa wasn't a grave. It was a community like any other, bound by ties deeper than most, and people here went to their deaths as people did anywhere: with great reluctance, dragging the messy jumble of their lives behind them.”

>85 Donna828: Very nice review, Donna! Are you going to post it? (you should).

>85 Donna828: Ooh, I'll definitely have to move that one up the TBR list, Donna. It's been a favorite with book clubs in my area, and when the sequel Daughter of Moloka'i came out, I took the opportunity to purchase both books for the library collection.

Good Golly, Miss Molly!

I’m proclaiming Molly Week in honor of her Kindergarten graduation yesterday. The picture on the right was taken on Mother’s Day. It has been a lonely year for me since she started school last August. I missed our fun times together on a regular basis and had to make do with quick visits at Haley’s sports events or the occasional dinner together. I’m looking forward to summer. Big sister Haley is enrolled in summer school and four different sport camps! Molly wants to go to Grandma School.💜 I will have her for a full day once a week, just like the old days. *Big Smile*

>86 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba, for both the kind words and the recommendation of a wonderful book. There are 168 reviews on LT. I think that is plenty.

>87 bell7: Hi Mary. I am planning on reading the sequel this summer. I’m glad you take care of your library patrons so well.

>79 Donna828: Oh, I am SO excited! I can't wait to hear your review.

Book No. 32: My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. Library, 226 pp., 3.3 stars.

“It takes a whole lot longer to dispose of a body than to dispose of a soul, especially if you don’t want to leave any evidence of foul play.”

This slight novel about loyalty and family secrets got my attention but ultimately felt like a letdown after all the buzz. It’s a book about sisters in a lopsided relationship narrated by Korede, the practical and more dependable of the two. Her spoiled sister Ayoola is a beautiful girl. The only thing she is lacking is a conscience. Men adore her, and she enjoys their company until she is done with them. And I mean done. Korede has always had to look after her younger sister: “Ayoola would break a glass, and I would receive the blame for giving her the drink. Ayoola would fail a class, and I would be blamed for not coaching her. Ayoola would take an apple and leave the store without paying for it, and I would be blamed for letting her get hungry.” (93)

I think the book had potential and needed to develop the character's motives further. The sketchy flashbacks to an abusive father were not enough for me to develop much sympathy for the despicable actions of these grown women. It is ludicrous to me that in a book touted as "playful" by the Washington Post critic that my favorite character was Muhtar who spent most of the book in a coma! Sometimes when I take a chance on a book that doesn't seem to be my style things work out, just not this time.

>88 Donna828: Look at that cutie. I feel your longing for the old days with your Mollie, Donna. My Mia starts kindergarten in September. Where the heck does the time go.

>91 Donna828: I liked that one a little better than you but yes, it was a disappointment.

Book No. 33: In The Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson. My copy, 448 pp., Book Group, 4.1 star.

Dodd gave her an arch grin. "I had no delusions about Hitler when I was appointed to my post in Berlin. But I had at least hoped to find some decent people around Hitler. I am horrified to discover that the whole gang is nothing but a horde of criminals and cowards." (150)

Erik Larson always makes his well-researched nonfiction revelations read like blockbusters. Beasts is no exception. I read this chilling look into how Hitler came to power through the eyes of a midwestern family on the edge of my seat, at least part of the time. It started out slowly for me after William Dodd, his wife, and grown children moved from Chicago to Berlin where Dodd had been appointed ambassador by FDR. I was taken aback by the sexual antics of 24-year-old Martha (who was married at the time) as she fell in lust with one high-placed Nazi after another. I must say, however, that Martha's adventures added spice to the rather dull experience of a reluctant emissary.

It wasn't until Ambassador Dodd began to develop a backbone, as he began to see through the promises of peace made by Chancellor Hitler, that the political drama heated up. Even though I knew the outcome, the buildup of events kept me riveted to the behind-the-scenes action. The intimate portrayals of Hitler and his henchmen combined with the fear and paranoia of both German citizens and Hitler's underlings contributed to the growing dread in these prewar years of 1933-1937. Our book group had its usual lively discussion that couldn't help but drift into correlations between Hitler's Germany and modern world events.

I've been rushing around all day getting ready for our road trip to Denver tomorrow. In between doing laundry and running a lot of errands I almost forgot to review the last two books I read. After I respond to my visitors, I will finish packing and gratefully fall into bed.

>90 ronincats: I hope you are patient with me, Roni. The Curse of Chalion is a 19-hour audiobook. That would be perfect for the drive to Denver and back home, but DH is driving out with me tomorrow. We will be listening to A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane. I'll listen to the Bujold book on my solo trip home which is only 12 hours. Did you notice Molly's shirt in the picture I posted? It's kind of scrunched, but there is an iconic bird featured.

>92 brenzi: Well Bonnie, kids do grow up, don't they? I had forgotten how life changing Kindergarten can be. I just hope Molly still likes coming to Grandma's house as much as she used to. We are going to tour some of the many libraries in the area and focus on reading. I seem to have a reluctant reader in the family. Unacceptable!

Re: Serial Killer. My biggest disappointment was the thinness of the story. Like I hinted at in my comments, if she had given more background details, I probably would have liked it better. I also thought she could have made more use of my favorite comatose character. ;-)

Donna--Well, I am still in the middle of Lillian Boxfish; I have been enjoying it immensely, but I can't seem to find the time to read lately! And I haven't even finished These Truths, a group read I kicked off. Oops. Dang RL. : )

I hope you have a great time in Denver. Sleep well!

Enjoy your trip Donna.

>91 Donna828: I liked it more than you, Donna, but I found as more of the flashbacks revealed that though it had humorous parts, it was actually quite dark. For me, it was more of a caper story where you started out kind of rooting for the villain (Korede more than Ayoola, for likeability) and then realizing how bad they both were, and feeling like you were as much at fault for liking her to begin with. Korede starts out sounding more innocent than she is, and it gives you a really unsettling feeling for how the psychopath/enabler relationship they have will continue.

How sweet that Molly wants to go to Grandma camp this summer. I can't believe how big she's getting.

Happy Molly Week! Love >88 Donna828:. How great you two will get a day together each week. I still remember loving to go visit my grandma - who lived near us - from all those years ago.

Sorry you got buzz-overkill before reading My Sister, My Serial Killer. I knew little about it when I read it, and that no doubt helped. I found it a page-turning and surprising read. I wonder whether you would've liked it better if it were an obscure staff pick in some little bookstore that you came across. It struck me as that kind of book, kind of like the quirky Convenience Store Woman. (Which I came across as a staff pick in a not-obscure bookstore!)

Donna - I was underwhelmed by My Sister, the Serial Killer as well. Your comments are spot on.

The Garden of the Beasts sounds like a good one.

My Scout starts kindergarten in the fall, and I will lose our one day a week together. They grow up too fast!

>65 Donna828: I was thinking of picking up that one but I was worried that I would find it a bit dull since I'm not overly familiar with the city and it's a lot of walking and thinking and not much action.

>88 Donna828: Adorable!!

Have a good trip, Donna!

Wait, wait, the hubby would like The Curse of Chalion too! If he just tried it. Why must you always defer to his tastes? (a little hyperbole here for effect)

Wishing you a wonderful time in Denver!

>93 Donna828: - Excellent review! I have not read that one. Larson did manage to draw me in with The Devil in the White City but I am not sure I am up for another Larson non-fiction read, not right now anyways.

Donna! I haven't visited in a while and I almost missed Maverick! What a cutie!

I am a fan of Erik Larson but haven't yet read In the Garden of Beasts. Your review is compelling.

I'm also noticing that you are listening to the Maisie Dobbs series. I have read a couple of them but will be looking for something interesting to listen to while walking/jogging on my new treadmill when I return to the US and real life (sigh). I might give the Maisie Dobbs a try in audio format. I've greatly enjoyed the Walt Longmire series in audio.

The girls are indeed growing so quickly, as they do. I'm glad you get to spend time with them and that there is interest in grandma camp this summer! What fun!

I'm visiting Denver May 28-31 for a conference. I'm presenting as part of a panel and I really will need to attend most of the conference but I'm also planning an excursion to the Tattered Cover at some point while I'm in town!

We are heading to Denver too but in early July when daughter #4 has her first baby. It will be such happy news for us but always hoping for a meet up with you at Tattered Cover. Enjoy your time in Denver Donna!

Is all well back at home after last night's storm, Donna?

>95 Berly: Hi Kim. I loved doing the Group Read Of These Truths. It’s a book I wouldn’t have read on my own. Thanks for getting us started. You can always pop back in when your life calms down.

>96 Caroline_McElwee: I’m ready to hit the home stretch tomorrow, Caroline. It snowed (!) while I was in Denver so it put a cramp in some things I wanted to do. Oh well, 5-year-old Hope was my focus, and she was as entertaining as usual.

>97 bell7: I appreciated your take on Serial Killer, Mary. “Unsettling” was a good description of my feelings about the experience.

>98 jnwelch: I think you are on to something, Joe. I probably went into Serial Killer with a negative vibe.
I love creating memories with my grandkids. They keep me young(ish). Lol.

Hello Donna. I hope all is well with you.

Did you decide on Bird Box. I'm still warbling although I've moved on to Crouch's Pines.

>99 BLBera: Beth, I’m glad I’m not alone in my disappointment with Serial Killer. And, yes, these kids do grow up too quickly. I am in KC now where my older granddaughters are taking finals and Griffin just graduated from elementary school. I miss the days of Barbies and sandbox play.

>100 ChelleBearss: You described Lillian Boxfish to a T, Chelle. I didn’t know that much about NYC either, but still had fun walking and ruminating with Lillian. There’s that age thing, though. I could identify with an older woman looking back on life.

>101 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba. It has been an interesting trip. Always fun to see Hope.

>102 ronincats: Haha, Roni. My husband is pretty spoiled. But he can probably say the same about me. I don’t think he would have lasted 30 minutes with Ms. Bujold. Even the Lehane crime thriller was a little too literary for him.

>103 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori. I enjoy Larson’s books. I’m glad my book group chose that one because I’d been putting it off because of the Hitler angle. It really did shed some light onto how he became so powerful so quickly.

>104 EBT1002: You will love The Tattered Cover, Ellen. They have a smaller airport store now if you can’t work in a visit to one of the larger stores into your conference schedule. Maisie Dobbs has been one of my favorite series on audio. I hope you like them as you get those steps in!

>105 mdoris: I will probably be in Northern Michigan in July, Mary. I think it would be difficult to tear yourself away from a new grandbaby, even for a TC meetup. My next trip there will be in mid-September. We will definitely have to coordinate our visits sometime soon.

>106 ronincats: Roni, I just heard from my SIL that one of the big trees on our street is down...and hit a neighbor’s house. Deja vu! It happened to us too recently. We seem to be passing it on. I am in KC now. It looks like I will have to check the radar tomorrow so I can avoid thunderstorms between here and Springfield. I am enjoying The Curse Of Chalion but I do miss Miles.

Some pictures from my visit to the out-of-town grandkids in Colorado and Kansas City, Kansas.


This is why I cut my trip short!


Before the snowfall but still a cold day at Ken Mitchell Park in Brighton.


Hope and Rebecca at the “Anythink” Library. Love that name.
Hope is into FlyGuy books.


Hope had to check out my bed to see if it was comfortable. It was!

On to Kansas City to see my oldest grands...


Audrey (Freshman) and Sadie (Junior) heading off to their last day of finals. They were much happier when they got home.


Grandma and Moses got to walk with Griffin to school on his last day of Fifth Grade.
He probably won’t let me do that in Middle School!

>108 brodiew2: Sorry, Brodie, I missed you up there. I am still waiting for Bird Box from the library. I’ll let you know what I think about it. The premise gives me shivers!

Glad you had a great time with the grandkids Donna. Brrr, I can understand why you headed home early though.

Your review of The Garden of Beasts is the first I've read that convinces me I should read it. I get rather burned out on the subject of Hitler and WWII, but this sounds like a unique perspective.

Great photos of the grands. I agree "Anythink" is a wonderful name for a library!

Yuck on the snow. It was in the 40's and 50's in Montana over the Memorial Day weekend but is supposed to be warming up. It's in the low 60's now and feels like a heatwave.

>114 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. I am always happy to see my grands, but I wasn't expecting snow AND thunderstorms. One or the other might have been fine. I was still gone a week which is close to my limit. I'm a real homebody these days.

And now I get to report on the strange mix of books I read and listened to while I was gone...

Book No. 34: A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane. Audio by Jonathan Davis. Hoopla, 368 pp., 3.7 stars.

A cleaning lady supposedly steals some documents from some Boston politicians. They hire the start-up team of Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro, whose "office" is in a Catholic church in one of the rougher parts of the city. They are friends who grew up in the area so they have street smarts. They also have integrity and end up siding with the "thief" instead of their shady clients in this noir type of mystery/thriller.

I liked the book well enough even though there was more violence in it than I was expecting. This was Lehane's first book and I got really tired of his descriptions of what people were wearing and about Patrick's harsh upbringing. I do hope we get to continue with the series, however, as I think the writing will improve. After all he wrote Mystic River, one of my favorites.

Love the photos of the grandkids. Looks like a great visit.

Book No. 35: Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss. Library, 132 pp., 4 stars.

"…that was the whole point of the re-enactment, that we ourselves became the ghosts, learning to walk the land as they walked it two thousand years ago, to tend our fire as they tended theirs and hope that some of their thoughts, their way of understanding the world would follow the dance of muscle and bone. To do it properly, I thought, we would almost have to absent ourselves from ourselves, leaving our actions, our reactions, to those no longer there. Who are the ghosts again, we or our dead?" (29, 30)

It's a good thing I had a free afternoon to read this book in one sitting because I did not want to put it down once I got into the story of 17-year-old Silvie and her parents joining a small anthropology class living as ancient Britons in northern England . Silvie knows more about the Iron Age than the university students because of her father's obsession with the time period. She tags along with them on their excursions but still has to be under her father's thumb. Not easy. The book drips with atmosphere and tension. I'm a little disappointed that it didn't make the Bailey's Women's Prize for Fiction (Orange Prize is so much simpler) Shortlist. I would have been happy if it had bumped off either My Sister the Serial Killer or An American Marriage which were just so-so in my book. ;-)

>115 streamsong: You sneaked in there, Janet. I almost missed you. I dragged my feet on Beasts because of Hitler fatigue, too. Thank you for those kind words.

When I lived in Colorado, I got used to the March and April snows and learned (the hard way) not to even think about planting any flowers until after Mother's Day. That's why I planned the trip for late May when the weather begins to turn balmy. Wrong! I think this was the latest measurable snowfall in the Denver area in almost 50 years.

>118 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! It was a good visit. I'll soon forget the disappointment with the weather and will long remember making more memories with the loves of my life.

Book No. 36: Bibliophile by Jane Mount. Library, 224 pp., 4.3 stars.

"Feel free to step out of your favorite genres; there are stunning surprises everywhere. Any one (or many!) of these small magical doorways might lead you to love a new book, and to love the new world inside it."…from the Introduction.

What a happy surprise to have this book waiting for me when I got home from my trip. I had barely unpacked before I dove into the bookish pages of colorfully painted bookstacks and lots of fascinating tidbits about books and the people who love them. I read through it quickly and will keep it for awhile and go back and read parts of it more carefully.

Jane Mount begins with this sentence: "The goal of this book is to triple the size of your To Be Read Pile." Well done, Jane. I'll be rereading with pen and paper in hand to jot down those titles recommended by the Bookish People she features, even though I don't know most of them, even by reputation. All I need to know is that they love to read and have suggestions for me. I am the target audience for a book of this type, and I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't own it before the year is over.

P.S. If you are still on the fence about this book, be sure to read Lynda's (Carmenere) review. It is wonderfully witty and spot on. Good job, Lynda!

Book No. 37: The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold. Audio by Lloyd James. 448 pp., Hoopla and Kindle, 448 pp., 3.7 stars.

Reading a book about Medieval society, and a Fantasy to boot, was a challenge for me. A challenge that I'm glad I accepted. I had a difficult time connecting with the story. Luckily, I had it on my Kindle so after my confused first hours of listening, I went back and read it to get all the characters and the time period settled in my mind. After that I just let myself go and became immersed in the World of the Five Gods. I even got over the idea of The Bastard as being one of those five gods and learned to appreciate the stab at humor.

I think Bujold's appeal to me lies in her characterizations. After listening to The Vorkosigan Saga I was crushed to know there would be no more Miles Vorkosigan books. He was a one-of-a-kind protagonist. Lupe dy Cazaril was not as charismatic, but I did like his role as the proverbial unassuming hero. The two female lead characters were also well drawn and believable. I'm glad that the magic wasn't heavyhanded, at least until the death curse went awry and had horrible repercussions in the world's worst stomach ache. I guess that could be a spoiler, but I won't go into the gory details so I'll let it stand.

Fantasy will never be my favorite type of book to read, but I liked this one well enough to read the next in the series. It sounds like faint praise yet I went into it with reluctance so I'm pretty sure that readers who enjoy fantasy will love it.

>122 Donna828: This is what I checked into your thread to find, Donna! Yaay! I solemnly predict that you will like Paladin of Souls even more! Ista as protagonist is even better than Caz!

I've been staying up past my bedtime waiting for your comment, Roni. Haha. I'm not sure when I'll get to the Paladin book. I rather liked Caz, just not as much as Miles. Ms. Bujold gently introduced me to good science fiction so I'm hoping she will do the same for fantasy. She sure knows how to tell a good story! Thank you again for another good recommendation.

;-D

>121 Donna828: your link goes to a different book Donna.

>126 Caroline_McElwee: I fixed it. Thanks, Caroline. Touchy touchstones...

Hi, Donna. Always catching BBs, when I stop over here. I NEED to request Ghost Wall and I sure love those shorties. Hooray, for Bibliophile. I enjoyed that one too.

I know you were not a fan of My Sister, the Serial Killer, but I did start the audio today. Too early to tell...

>121 Donna828: Wasn’t Bibliophile wonderful?! (Funny...the first touchstone to pop up was “Homicide in Hardcover”... lol). Your review has prompted me to pull it off the shelf and leaf through it again. Such a treat.

>117 Donna828: Lehane’s Kenzie and Gennaro series was probably the first mystery/detective series that I read, one after the other and mostly in order (I received Moonlight Mile as an ER book and read it first). I loved the whole series. I still haven’t read Mystic River. (I loved the movie.)

>119 Donna828: I’m going to have to give Ghost Wall a chance.

>128 msf59: Mark, I think Ghost Wall will be right up your reading alley. It can be read in an afternoon. I also think you probably liked Serial Killer. I was not in the mood to be amused by the subject matter. Some books are like that for me. I tend to be a serious reader and saw nothing "playful" in the book. Yeah, I'm a lot of fun at parties, too. Haha!

>129 Copperskye: Hi Joanne. Yes, Bibliophile was a treat and one to be visited over and over. Too bad mine was a library book.

I think I can convince DH to listen to the second book in the Kenzie/Gennaro series. I hope he becomes a fan because audiobooks are a way we can bond on long trips. He keeps telling me John Sandford is his favorite author. I know that. I also know he has read everything out there by him. He's not exactly stubborn, he just knows what he likes. *shrug*

Please do give Ghost Wall a chance. It is a well-written and thought provoking book. Plus, it's a quick read so you don't need to make a huge time investment. Have a great week!

Happy June Everybody! This year is getting away from me. I need to settle into my glider and get busy on my summer reading plan. Like the rest of you, I never lack for books to read. Finding more time in my life to read is the problem. Family is my priority. Speaking of which, yesterday was Haley and Molly's annual dance recital. I'm told this may have been the last one as their interests are changing. I hope not because I sure enjoy seeing their progression on stage. They both did well in their respective dances. Haley is quite the hip-hopper!


Haley (8), Molly (6)

Book No. 38: Bird Box by Josh Malerman. Library, 262 pp., 3.4 stars.

“The children have never seen the world outside their home. Not even through the windows. And Malorie hasn’t looked in more than four years. Four years.”

And that pretty much summarizes the action in the book. I'm being flippant, however, the book did seem to drag for me. It is billed as a chilling horror story in the advance praise accolades on the back cover. To me, it was more eerie than scary. I thought it was a fairly good behavioral study of how people react in a survival situation, even one as strange as this. We all probably have a fear of the unknown and this book keeps the secret of what was causing those who saw "it" to go instantly insane resulting in murder, if there was anyone nearby to kill, and ultimately suicide.

The action takes place in two time periods before and after the birth of the two 4-year-old children known only as Boy and Girl. The psychological suspense is well done, although I thought the plot could hold together better and the characters developed more to make me care about them. I can see why people are talking about this book and the movie it spawned yet I would suggest Stephen King if one wants a truer example of the horror genre.

Hi Donna, I never had a desire to watch the Birdbox movie on Netflix and I doubt I'll ever read the book. Ghost Wall on the other hand is on my Overdrive list and I hope to read it soon.

For some reason I have The Curse Of Chalion sitting on my Kindle. I can only assume there was a Kindle deal and I heard some chatter about the book so I purchased it. I'm not a fantasy reader by any stretch of the imagination so who knows what I was thinking lol.

I suppose dance lessons don't hold the interest forever but the disturbing thing is that these grandchildren all seem to grow up and change their interests. Sad. (Tongue firmly in cheek)

Bonnie, I was curious about Bird Box because I do enjoy a well-written post apocalyptic novel like Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake trilogy. I downloaded The Curse Of Chalion to my Kindle on a whim like you did. I try to be strong, but we have to be prepared for anything, right?

Ah, these kids who have to grow up. I’m just glad Haley has fallen in love with softball and other organized sports instead of video games. That is coming I’m sure. I’m learning to go with the flow but I do miss the old days of them sitting on my lap and reading to them. Perhaps I’ll try that with Molly on her day with me tomorrow. ;-)

Book No. 39: Spring by Ali Smith. Library, 340 pp., 3 stars.

"This made the place that pays her a salary like a kind of underworld, she thought. Place of the living dead. The gate to her underworld was the new little rows of hedge sprigs in the boxes they'd put at the front between the car park and the building to smarten or maybe soften the place up for visitors arriving. Every day now, going into work then leaving for home at the end of the shift, she nodded at them, DMZ between underworld and rest of the world." (132)

While I enjoyed Smith's first two seasonal novels about current events in Britain, this meandering exposé of an Immigration Removal Center where immigrants are let in the front door and kept well beyond the allotted 72 hours, seemed like a rehashing of old topics. There were some bright spots as when Brittany (to remind us this is a book about Britain?), a Detainee Custody Officer who feared she might be losing her soul, meets up with the almost mythical 12-year-old Florence. Hmmm, Smith used Florence in the same way she used Lux in Winter, as a change-of-force device. The other storyline featuring the grieving Richard was okay until he just happened to meet up with Brit and Florence in a somewhat remote part of Scotland. The coincidence scene is so overdone these days.

I get that detention centers are horrible places and that the author is probably brilliant. Sometimes, though, books can be so wordy and full of allusions and underlying messages that reading feels more like work than a rewarding experience. I expected some fresh approaches in a book connected with the season of hope and new beginnings. The critics loved this book, but I thought it was overdone and lacked innovation.

Book No. 40: My Kitchen Year by Ruth Reichl. Library, 327 pp., 3.4 stars.

Ah, this book was a real palate cleanser! Some comments Mary (from Vancouver Island) made on her thread about reading cookbooks piqued my interest so I picked this up from the library shelf last time I was in there. I am not a foodie at all so when I saw this was a memoir about the "136 Recipes that Saved My Life" after the author lost her job as editor of Gourmet Magazine in 2009, I thought it would make an interesting triumph over adversity tale. And, as I flipped through it, the pictures were amazing. The story was fine but what most impressed me as a non-gourmet type of cook was Reichl's casual approach to preparing food:

"Most cookbooks, I thought as I reached for an orange and began to squeeze it for juice, are in search of perfection, an attempt to constantly re-create the same good dishes. But you're not a chef in your own kitchen, trying to please paying guests. You're a traveler, following your own path, seeking adventure. I wanted to write about the fun of cooking, encourage people to take risks. Alone in the kitchen you are simply a cook, free to do anything you want. If it doesn't work out--well, there's always another meal." (169)

Hi Donna - Scout is also a fan of Fly Guy, which Anne says is very popular with the younger kids.

Great comments here. I have been working my way through Bibliophile, which is so much fun.

Donna I recently read Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl and it did not wow me. It was a little too much" lives of the rich and famous" and "shall we drink some champagne darling" for my taste.

>135 Donna828: Very good review of Spring. Wonderful to get a fresh opinion.

>131 Donna828: - What a lovely picture!

>135 Donna828: - Great review! I have had my eye on Smith's series(?) for some time now. While I don't expect an author to sustain the same level of reader enjoyment (hard to do when readers have different reading tastes) but good to know that the books in the series come across a bit uneven.

>137 BLBera: Molly and I have been visiting various libraries around our city this summer. I need to introduce her to Fly Guy. They are cute books and easy to read. I think I've been enjoying our field trips as much as she has.
Isn't Bibliophile great? I had to take my copy back to the library. ;-(

>138 mdoris: Mary, I think I'm done with narrative cookbooks for awhile. They make me feel guilty about my shortcuts in the kitchen! I am going against the grain with my comments on Spring. Gotta tell the truth as I see it, though. It just didn't work as well as the other two…at least for me. I think I will read Summer (no touchstone yet) when it's released. I'm such a completist!

>139 lkernagh: Hi Lori, that's so true about different reading tastes. I'm beginning to think my mood has affected my reading even though I really liked my last two books. I find postmodernism (not even sure if that's the word for Ali Smith's style) too edgy most of the time. Any maybe it's my dislike of authors with strong agendas. Whatever… Now on to the books I liked!

Book No. 41: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. Library, Reread for Book Group, 4.5 stars (again!)

No need to go into much detail on this one as I talked it up two years ago when I read it for the first time. I remembered the ending which allowed me to focus on how Honeyman told her story leading up to the end…trying to be vague here. I can say that the book was well-received by the 16 people who attended book group last Tuesday night. That may be a record for attendees. The consensus was that it was a book with much to discuss. It was also a book that showed the value of therapy after childhood trauma. We loved that Eleanor survived and took the responsibility to do the hard work to overcome her obstacles. It had it's humorous moments, but it was mainly a dark look at a damaged person and her unique look at how to help herself.

Happy Saturday, Donna. Sorry, to hear that Spring wasn't as strong as it's predecessors. I still plan on getting to it this year. And hooray for Eleanor Oliphant! I found that one to be a nice surprise too.

>135 Donna828: Well, panning this one makes my decision on whether to read this Quartet a lot easier Donna. I was almost to the point of giving it a shot but now......probably not. Too. Many. Books.

Yay for Elinor Oliphant. I really liked that one too.

I thought Ghost Wall was prize worthy too, Donna. It may have been short but it packed a punch and stays with me still even though I read it a few months ago. Enjoy your Molly days!

I wish I'd been a fly on the wall for your book club's discussion of Eleanor Oliphant. I'm glad folks found lots to discuss; that sure makes sense to me. I loved it, after wondering what the heck I'd gotten myself into when reading the beginning.

Glad to see that your book club enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. I remember really enjoying that one!

>142 msf59: Mark, I’ve been in a funk lately so Spring might have been better than I reported. I’ll look forward to seeing what you think when you get to it.

>143 brenzi: See my message to Mark, Bonnie. I agree, though, with your Too Many Books observation. We’ll never run out of the good stuff to read, and, if a book slips in there that doesn’t quite make the grade, there are many good ones that make up for it.

>144 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. My Molly Days have been interrupted by real life. I sure hope they can return the second week in July.

>145 jnwelch: Joe, you are welcome to my book group at any time...as a fly on the wall or a sentient being. We do have interesting discussions. I loved Eleanor from the first page, but several people had to warm up to her.

>146 ChelleBearss: Thanks for reviving my thread, Chelle. Eleanor was certainly a memorable character.

Molly Days got off to a good start. She is definitely the bright spot in my life this summer.


Molly and Kaylee, our temporary canine resident.


Molly driving the book train at The Library Station. Notice the train track at ceiling level. Yes, it’s a working train. This branch library is about 30 minutes from us so I rarely go there.

Our Second Molly Day:


Springfield’s Carnegie Library opened in 1905. It had one librarian for the first several years and was only open 3 days a week for 4 hours. We went there for a hand’s-on musical instrument program, but Molly enjoyed the space theme in the children’s room even more.
This branch library is about 20 minutes from my house. My children liked going there when they were growing up.


Beam me up, Scotty!


Molly the Future Rocket Scientist!

Things have been very unsettled here lately with a family illness that culminated in the unexpected death of my sister-in-law last Saturday as I was writing my Eleanor Oliphant review. In the flurry of cleaning house for my rotating family guests, my notes for Pachinko have been lost. I really liked the book which will be wiggled in to my permanent library.

Yikes. So sorry to hear about your SIL, Donna. "Unexpected" - that's the worst. Diminished/no chance to say good-bye. Our condolences.

I was happy to see the lovely photos up above. That top one in >149 Donna828: with Molly and her furry pal reading the Library book is so sweet!

I'm glad you enjoyed Pachinko. Me, too.

Book No. 42: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. My copy, 500 pp., 4.2 stars.

“It was still hard for a Korean to become a Japanese citizen, and there were many who considered such a thing shameful—for a Korean to try to become a citizen of its former oppressor. When she told her friends in New York about this curious historical anomaly and the pervasive ethnic bias, they were incredulous at the thought that the friendly, well-mannered Japanese they knew could ever think she was somehow criminal, lazy, filthy, or aggressive—the negative stereotypical traits of Koreans in Japan.”

I chose this quote because it represented what I learned from the book. I had no idea about the twisted relationship between the Japanese and Korean people. Next time my Korean friend JoLee comes to town, I will ask her what the feelings are today. I didn't know that Japan had colonized South Korea for 35 years before the end of WWII. The author chooses the post-war time frame to tell the story of a South Korean family's struggles after they emigrated to Japan. They were looked down on by their Japanese neighbors and could only survive by faith and hard work. How ironic. One of the main prejudices against Koreans was their "laziness". The characters in this book were anything but lazy. The women in the story seemed tireless as they spent nights making their candy to sell on the street the next day.

As in many generational sagas, the original characters are more well-developed than the later progeny. I could not read fast enough in the beginning but my interest waned as more and more secondary characters were introduced. I think some good editing might have made this a more balanced book. I still liked it and learned from it so it stays in my library and gets a recommendation from me to those who enjoy good historical fiction.

Adding my condolences Donna, as Joe sad, unexpected adds additional sadness. Thinking of you and your family.

I agree, the Molly day photos are lovely. More women in science is definitely what we need. I like her furry friend too.

>152 jnwelch: Thank you for those kind words, Joe. I got reacquainted with my SIL in January after she had a knee replacement here in Springfield. I was the closest (distance-wise) relative so got to know her much better over the past few months. Her last few weeks were spent in and out of the hospital for testing. The only physical ailments they could come up with were low sodium blood levels (easily fixed with a day or two on an IV) and an adjustment in her blood pressure meds. After the second hospitalization, her daughter made arrangements for 24/7 care at home. On her third day home, she suffered a stroke and couldn't be resuscitated. "No chance to say goodbye"…yup, that's what hurts the most. I have her sweet cocker spaniel here with me, but will send her home to Colorado with my niece next week. In the meantime, I'll get over this and deal with my aunt's inoperable brain tumor next. We are going up to Marquette, MI, as soon as my niece gets her mother's affairs in order.

>154 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you so much, Caroline. I haven't been posting nearly as much as normal the past few months because of the family illnesses. At least I am getting the opportunity to say goodbye to my aunt in early July. She is more like a sister to me…only four years older. We always spent our vacations with her and my grandparents in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Sorry for your tough times Donna.

>156 mdoris: Thank you, Mary. I finally found a book I can read after picking up a couple and reading a few pages without success. A Lowcountry Heart: Reflections on A Writing Life is a collection of essays, speeches, and letters by Pat Conroy, a favorite of mine. Short doses of concentration are working best for me right now.

So sorry to hear your sad family news but glad you have Molly to add a note of happiness to your life.

Sorry to read about your SiL and aunt, Donna.
Good to have Molly and Kaylee around...

Oh dear Donna I'm sorry to hear about such sadness in your life. Molly is a treasure for you at this time I'm absolutely sure.

Donna - I'm sorry to hear about your sister-in-law.

Great comments on Pachinko - I had the same issue with the later characters. It seemed crowded and hurried to me in the end.

I'm adding my warmest condolences as well.

>157 Donna828: Click. I loved his My Reading Life Donna.

Hi Donna. Stopping by to get caught up and love your Molly Days posts. Both libraries sound like they have wonderful appeal, beyond the books on the shelves!

Very sorry to learn about things you are coping with on the family front (your SIL and your aunt).

I keep seeing such wonderful reviews for Pachinko), including your review in >153 Donna828:. I must think about finally biting the bullet and pick up a copy.

>158 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, I am learning the lesson of the ups and downs of life. What goes up eventually must come down. I am grateful for my many blessings and for the pure joy that Molly scatters along the way.

>159 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita. Kaylee left us yesterday to be a Colorado dog. She was a comfort to me for the past three weeks but also enough extra work that I remember how tied down one gets with a dog in the house. I am going to enjoy my granddogs when we have our visits--and I am going to enjoy my freedom even more. I'm not saying there will never be a permanent pet in the house just that the timing isn't quite right as we are still mourning our Lucky after these past seven months.

>160 brenzi: Well, we all have our sad times as you well know, Bonnie. Life will be different but it will go on. Geez, I'm starting to sound like a philosopher.

>161 BLBera: Thanks for the condolences, Beth. Despite the rushed ending, I still liked Pachinko. It is crowded into my "L" shelf. I need to read something in that area (that I can let go) to free up some space. Haha.

>162 vivians: Thanks very much, Vivian. I am thinking of you as you travel abroad. I remember Paris as a 20-something. I think I need to get reacquainted.

>163 Caroline_McElwee: My Reading Life was a real treasure, Caroline. My latest Conroy also has a soft spot in my heart. More on that in a few minutes…

>164 lkernagh: Lori, I am enjoying our library visits as much or more than Molly. It's so easy to go to the closest library to me that I get in a rut. I am coping much better now that my sleep is getting back on track. I don't do well with having extra mouths to feed even though I loved having everyone here for support. The house is quiet (and clean) once again…so I can start missing the mayhem. (!)

Book No. 43: A Lowcountry Heart by Pat Conroy. My copy, 300 pp., 4.5 stars

“To have attracted readers is the most magical part of my writing life. I was not expecting you to show up when I wrote my first books. It took me by surprise. It filled me with gratitude. It still does.”

“I don’t know when reading books became the most essential thing about me, but it happened over the years and I found myself the most willing servant of what I considered a rich habit.”

I am a big Pat Conroy fan. I like his books even though many of them are overwritten. His flowery language naturally flows out of his love for life. Unfortunately, that life was cut off by pancreatic cancer three years ago at the age of 70. I've always felt a closeness to him because we are about the same age and both grew up in a military family, although my experience was nothing like his. He is very candid in writing about the abuse he suffered as the oldest of seven children.

It's a no-brainer that I would love a collection of his letters, speeches, and interviews. I especially enjoyed his dabblings on the internet. His blog always started out with "Hello, out there." He tended to ramble on about his reading, writing, love life, publication tours, and whatever else struck his fancy. He wrote like he was talking to a friend. Here is a brief excerpt from his first offering:

"This is the first letter I've ever written for a website, modern times seem to require it of all human beings… The Internet remains a mystery to me as vast and untouchable as any ocean. I don't understand it but the wizards and snake handlers who control me tell me that all this is part of the inexplicable strangeness of the world we now inhabit… (He goes on to talk about his declining health and the three books he wants to write). I close the first letter with relief and some anxiety. They tell me I should do this every now and then. In some ways it seems like a nightmare for someone who never learned to type, in other ways an opening to the light."

I was repeatedly touched by his standard ending by his messages to his fans: Great love out there… (Pg. 18)

Book No. 44: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. My copy, 228 pp., 4 stars.

"If you look the right way you can see the whole world is a garden."

I've had trouble concentrating lately with so much company and a very confused dog to look after, so I took out one of my comfort reads from my childhood. I have had a lifelong love of books featuring characters who have obstacles in their life to overcome. In this one, Mary (quite contrary!) Lennox was uprooted from India and sent to England after her entire family died of cholera. No wonder the book started with this: "When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwait Manor to live with her uncle, everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen."

Her sour face mirrored her spoiled and unloved inner self. She slowly, so very slowly, comes out of her funk through the hidden garden she discovers and shares with the other unloved resident of the house, her cousin Colin Craven. Together they let the magic of nature heal their souls. It was first published in 1911 and is a very simple story compared to today's standards. It did comfort me so I guess it still has that charm that made it a classic.

Book No. 45: Big Sky by Kate Atkinson. Library, 392 pp., 4.2 stars.

"By the time Jackson was thirteen his mother was already dead of cancer, his sister had been murdered, and his brother had killed himself, helpfully leaving his body--hanging from the light fixture--for Jackson to find when he came home from school. Jackson never got the chance to be selfish, to sprawl and make demands and fold his arms sarcastically. And anyway, if he had, his father would have given him a good skelping. Not that Jackson wished suffering on his son--God forbid--but a little less narcissism wouldn't go amiss." (14)

I may have gotten my Reading Mojo back with this complex and very entertaining book featuring one of my favorite fictional characters. Jackson Brodie has aged well in the 8-plus years since Atkinson's last book featuring him. He is living by the sea close to his ex-wife Julia so they can share the raising of 13-year-old Nathan. And, yes, there is an aging Labrador Retriever I could relate to who is also part of the deal. Kate Atkinson is unique in that she can create a mystery series that is written in her capable lyrical style with a huge cast of well-delineated characters. I admired how Jackson's friends were typed as to how he thought of them, as in golf friends vs. friend-friends.

It takes awhile to figure out what's going on, but it's so much fun getting to know everyone that I didn't care. Some of the characters I would ordinarily dislike turned out to be on my favorite list. Crystal was special to me because she overcame her inner demons and was a good mother. But, most of all, I respected Jackson's sense of justice. I don't always need a satisfying outcome, but I was thrilled with the way it turned out. This is a first-rate book. I hope we don't have to wait as long for the next episode!

Hi Donna!

>65 Donna828: Good review of Lillian Boxfish.

>68 Donna828: Informative and sobering, exactly right.

>75 Donna828: $148,356.70. In just one sale? Amazing. Stunning. Wow.

>85 Donna828: Grandma School. Sweet.

>91 Donna828: I liked it better than you did, but absolutely could not understand how loyalty to the amoral Ayoola could so completely wipe out Korede's own personal morals and ethics.

>93 Donna828: I had a copy of In the Garden of Beasts but gave it away as WWII-Nazi books aren’t my usual cuppa, but it sounds like I need to get a copy for myself again. Larson’s books are so good.

>149 Donna828: and >150 Donna828: Lovely Molly Days. Thanks for sharing the photos.

>155 Donna828: I’m so sorry to hear about your SiL. And your aunt’s inoperable brain tumor.

>167 Donna828: I agree with you about Pat Conroy’s fiction, but I absolutely adored his My Reading Life.

>169 Donna828: Skipping this review because after watching Case Histories I’ve decided to read the series straight through – I’d already read 1 and 3 and have 2 and 4 on my shelves. I’ll get Big Sky sometime down the road…

>169 Donna828: I had trouble years ago getting into the first Kate Atkinson book. I may need to try it again. It may have just been the time I was reading it. I don't remember what was going on in my life at that time--and I don't even remember which year I tried it.

>170 karenmarie: Thank you for that detailed message, Karen. I appreciate you taking the time to read through my thread and make some thoughtful comments. My Reading Life is in the stellar company of my 5-star books. I think you are wise to read The Jackson Brodie books straight through. I plan to do that myself someday.

>171 thornton37814: Lori, I think Kate Atkinson takes her time setting up her many characters. I find if I’m patient and hang in there that the payoff is well worth the complexity of her books. I do hope you give her another chance.

>169 Donna828: I have this one waiting for me at the library so I'll be reading it by the weekend Donna. Can't wait!

Road trip tomorrow! It is almost 900 miles between Springfield, MO, and Marquette, MI. It will be worth it, however, to spend time with my Upper Michigan family, especially since my 75-Yr-old favorite aunt was diagnosed with a fast-growing inoperable brain tumor a few months ago. We are going to be very flexible in our few days up north and follow her cues as to what we do and how much time we spend with her. I’m sure we’ll find time to hike and beachcomb along the restorative shores of beautiful Lake Superior. It’s my favorite place to be.

Shipping is still a big industry on Lake Superior. This is an ore boat in the fog ready to dock.


I never get tired of the views from the bluffs around Marquette.

Hi, Donna. The Conroy book sounds good. Nice review. Hooray for Big Sky. Many of us, have been waiting for this one, for quite awhile. Glad it was worth the wait.

Have a safe trip MI tomorrow and a great visit with your family.

Have a great trip Donna! Hope everything goes smoothly and that your aunt is in good shape for your visit. I just love the UP!

>174 Donna828: >175 Donna828: Wonderful. I wouldn't get bored f those views either Donna.

Wishing some very special time with your aunt.

We got home from Michigan over the weekend. Things have been busy since then…we had a water leak in the attic from an HVAC pipe that wasn't sealed properly so we're back in the home repair nightmare. One wouldn't think a little leak could cause this much chaos!

Lovely photos from your Michigan trip. I hope you had a wonderful time with your family.

Oh what a nightmare to come home to, though! I hope it can be resolved soon.

>180 streamsong: Well, Janet, it’s always something, isn’t it? I’m just glad we could get the leak fixed before we left town. But it wasn’t much fun coming home to this:

>181 Donna828: Donna that does not look good. We came home once to that kind of mess. The bathtub pipes burst as the pipes are only designed to last 15 years. So what happens when you live in a house for longer than that?.......a major leak!

Hope you can get help soon.

It’s been a crazy morning. I thought I finally had some LT time, and then had to make a paint run. I appreciate the good wishes for the Michigan trip. My aunt and uncle were happy to see us. She has quit the chemo treatments and is now under Hospice care. It’s a fast-growing brain tumor so she probably has less than six months to live. So sad. I’m glad, though, that she recognized us and was able to get out and go to the 4th of July parade. We had a few laughs despite her weakness and confusion. It was good to see her before she deteriorated further.

>176 msf59: Mark, I waved at you as we swung around the Chicago area. One of these times, I’ll pay you a visit.

>177 RebaRelishesReading: I love the Upper Peninsula, too, Reba. Of course, I loved it more when it wasn’t so “touristy”. I had much fun as a kid exploring the sand dunes and creek near my grandparents’ house. It was a short bike ride to Lake Superior. Good times!

>178 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks for helping keep my thread warm, Caroline. It’s good to be home.

>182 mdoris: Mary, the help is here! The good news is that we are getting one of the four bedrooms upstairs painted and getting a new ceiling as well. The leak went down the wall to the dining room which recently got a facelift. They didn't have to do any drywall work in there, thank goodness. We've been in our house for 20 years now so I guess we were overdue for something like this.

So we listened to some books during our 30 hours on the road…


Book No. 46: A Cold Day in Paradise by Steve Hamilton; audio by Nick Sullivan. Hoopla, 256 pp., 3 stars.
We've listened to this author before on our trips to Upper Michigan with greater success. He does know the area well and creates the special atmosphere of the woods and great lakes. This one fell short on the believability scale for both of us with it's twisted ending. After reading a few online reviews, I think we are in the minority. Maybe our lackluster opinion had something to do with road hypnosis.


Book No. 47: Fallen Mountains by Kimi Cunningham Grant; audio by James Patrick Cronin. Hoopla, 302 pp., 3.5 stars.
The decades old secrets of small-town Pennsylvania fared a little better with its tired listeners. Although it was hard to listen to the betrayal by a good friend that lead to the rape of Chase's beloved ranch in the form of logging and fracking, the author gently led us back in time with the key words of "Before" and "After" to keep the time periods straight. She developed the characters well and kept our attention as the highway miles dragged along…


Book No. 48: Lost by Alice Lichtenstein; audio by Carringtom Macduffie. Hoopla, 256 pp., 3. stars.
This book sounded better than it was. My husband opted out of it early on, but I listened because I thought it had potential. I also thought it sounded familiar, but then I've read many books whose characters had Alzheimer's Disease so didn't think much about it…until I entered it here and realized I read it ten years ago! My review is posted on the book's page if you are interested in why I thought it was just so-so. I really think I was brain dead from the unending miles on the road because I usually have a better memory for what I've read.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have a conundrum...
I love my audio books, especially on road trips, but I will do better next time with my choices. I started another one on my own and will continue with it to see how it develops.

Has anyone else read or heard anything about Courting Mr. Lincoln by Louis Bayard? I've been interested in the author for awhile but I'm not sure what to think about the new-to-me information on a beloved President. From the research I've done since I started, I don't believe President Lincoln was gay; however, the author doesn't make it clear, and I kind of resent the insinuation… Any thoughts from those who know more about our 16th President than I do?

Book No. 49. There There by Tommy Orange. Library, Reread, 304 pp., 4 stars.

Last night was my book group. We discussed There There by Tommy Orange which I first read last summer. I recalled the gist of the story and also remembered the trouble I had keeping the characters straight so I did a reread even though it was a fairly recent book. My opinion didn't change and I didn't change the 4-star rating, but I did manage to make better connections between the large cast of characters. We got way off track at last night's discussion onto the subject of worldwide social concerns and atrocities. I usually don't mind too much when that happens, but I did want to talk more about this particular book. Oh well. Here are my comments from my first reading last August:

"For powwows we come from all over the country. From reservations and cities, from rancherias, forts, pueblos, lagoons, and off-reservation trust lands…We all came to the Big Oakland Powwow for different reasons. The messy, dangling strands of our lives got pulled into a braid--tied to the back of everything we'd been doing all along to get us here. We've been coming from miles. And we've been coming for years, generations, lifetimes, layered in prayer and handwoven regalia, beaded and sewn together, feathered, braided, blessed, and cursed." (135)

Set against the backdrop of an Indian Powwow in Oakland, CA, the plight of the urban Native American is unveiled through the viewpoints of a dozen or so characters. Each one has a sad story to tell. Their narratives intermingle to the point where the reader needs to pay strict attention to the way these lives connect.

The book begins with a prologue that lists every atrocity experienced by our first inhabitants as the early settlers expanded across the country. It appears that modern day descendants haven't fared much better than the early natives. Poverty, alcoholism, crime, sexual abuse, and high suicide rates are all too common. It's not a pretty book, but then the story of our native people is not a pretty one either. However, Tommy Orange manages to overcome some of the grittiness with his heartfelt and beautiful writing. It's a powerful debut novel, and I look forward to his next book.

>187 Donna828: Good review Donna. It's on the list!

Glad the trip was good, and quality time with your aunt especially.

Grr re the leak and damage though. Hope it is all sorted soon Donna. Doesn't look like any books suffered :-)

>181 Donna828: Yikes!

I'm glad you got to spend time with your aunt, Donna.

I also loved There There; it seems like there would be a lot to talk about...

>181 Donna828: Yikes!! So sorry you're having you house all torn up again just after you got it all beautifully remodeled.

I am so glad to have visitors. It's been lonely on my thread lately.

>188 mdoris: Thanks, Mary.

>189 Caroline_McElwee: No books in that room (other than a few bedtime story books for my grandchildren). That's the room my older granddaughters call the "creepy doll room". The dolls are packed away and will remain so until someone requests them. I don't know how I got five granddaughters who only seem to like Barbie dolls.

>190 BLBera: I agree, Beth, that the book had plenty to talk about. Our leader kept trying to get us back on track, but with little success. Personally, I think the group is getting too big. We had 16 people in June and 11 last night. It seems to work better for discussion purposes when the number is 8 or less. How many do you have in your book group…and do they stay on topic?

>191 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, we seem to have cross-posted. I'm beginning to think we need to keep someone on permanent retainer with this 3-story house. Your New York cottage would suit me perfectly. I would love to downsize but my husband wants to stay here so I will stick it out. I also don't want to move over 1,000 books which is a small library by LT standards.

Hi, Donna. Glad to see you back home safely but sorry to hear about the leak and need for repairs.

We usually have five or six people attending, Donna. We stay on topic pretty well although it varies with the book. There are a few of us who do try to keep people on topic, and there are a few who like to digress! It all works out. I agree that your group sounds big for a discussion.

Hi, Donna.

I'm another fan of The Secret Garden, and it held up well fairly recently for me, as an adult reader. The transformations - kids and garden. Oh my.

Good comments on The Big Sky. I had a great time with it, too. I have a soft spot for Reggie Chase from the previous book, and I was delighted when she showed up in this one! I had accepted that KA wasn't going to write any more Jackson Brodie mysteries; I'm so glad that turned out to be wrong. Now I'm hoping for more. The poor guy's love life seems cursed - I can't believe that he got smacked in the teeth by that conwoman. And Julia seems amused by and dispassionate about him. I'd sure like it if he and Louise found each other again.

14+ plus hour drive! I salute you. We just had a 12 hour one back from TN, and that was plenty for me. You had a pretty quick turnaround, too. Sorry to hear that your favorite aunt is struggling. I hope you had an enjoyable visit with everyone.

Good review/revisit with There, There. I'll need to fit that one in somewhere.

Oh Donna, you have no idea how free-ing downsizing can be.

I just finished There, There this morning and found the characters so complicated that I soon had to list them as I went along and take notes on their roles and relationships. That said I thought it was a powerful novel and actually liked it a bit more than you. The prologue was grim.

Hi Donna!

Sorry about the leak and attendant stress.

>192 Donna828: My daughter didn't even want to play with my 1960s Barbie. Soft animals only for her.

Our book club is 12 members. We're usually pretty good at staying on track although there are two of our members who like to hear their own voices...

Ugh - I hope the water damage is repaired quickly.

I attend the local library book club, which means it is open to all, and varies in size. It's fun to get more points of view, but the discussion is much more fractured with larger groups. There are always a few who haven't read the book, but want to talk about the topic in general.

Great review of There, There. I definitely want to read it and your review has moved it up a few notches. It does sound like a tough read.

Trust that everything is dried out Donna!

Have a lovely weekend. xx

Happy Sunday, Donna. I am glad you were able to revisit There, There. It is a worthy choice. I can only imagine him getting better and better.

>193 ronincats: Thanks, Roni, it wasn't much fun, but it turned out well. The leak was a sneaky way for me to get a bedroom makeover done!

>194 BLBera: Beth, our book group has done well keeping on topic for many many sessions. We have some new people who tend to dominate and get us off track. "Somebody" is going to have to be the bad guy and jump in when this happens and redirect us back to the book. I'm trying to work up my nerve…maybe I'll talk to our librarian/leader. She gets paid for it!

>195 jnwelch: Joe, you definitely need to read There There. I think you will be a fan. Those long drives are exhausting, aren't they? I'm so grateful for audiobooks! Thanks for the comments on The Secret Garden and Big Sky. It looks like we are on the same wave length with both of those.

>196 brenzi: Bonnie, I got more out of the second reading of There There. 4 stars is a pretty solid rating for me. So many characters and such good writing. I'm looking forward to seeing what else Mr. Orange has in store for his new fandom.

>197 karenmarie: Stress is my middle name this summer, Karen. Haha. Things are getting better now that I can get back into my routine.

There is usually one or two in a group who like to monopolize. Sometimes that's more than fine with me as I like to sit back and listen to others. It's when they get off-topic that I get annoyed. I want to talk about the book and save the chit-chat for after the meeting.

>198 streamsong: My group meets at the library, too, Janet. We can't limit the number and I don't really want to. I just feel bad when there are people there who never get to say anything. I think There There will strike a chord with you. It was interesting to read about the Urban Native experience.

>199 PaulCranswick: Everything is dry and prettied up with new paint and the popcorn scraped off the ceiling of another room. The weekend went well here. I hope you get moved tomorrow, Paul. It seems like we are both operating on Plan "B" these days!

>200 msf59: I agree, Mark. It was hard to believe that There There was a debut. I will be starting Mohawk by Richard Russo soon. Looking forward to it. I hope you can read along with me.

Book No. 50: Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson. Library, 272 pp., 4.2 stars.

“I can see that living alone, as you do, leaves empty space around you, and that can feel lonely. Living together with other people, as I do, can feel lonely, too.”

This was a charming little book that captivated me. Sometimes I use the word "charming" as a code word for "schmaltzy" but not this time. I was enthralled by the letters going back and forth between Tina in England and Anders in Denmark. Their correspondence begins when Tina writes to one of her childhood heroes, Professor Glob who once wrote a book about the Tollund Man whose preserved body was discovered in a Danish bog. This is a real happening but I wouldn't consider this a historical novel. Since the Professor had passed away, the new museum curator answered the letter in great detail…and so begins an epistolary novel and a growing relationship between two lonely people.

It's a quiet book with little plot and a little archaeology thrown in. I quite enjoyed the literary philosophical musing and the way that two strangers built up the trust to share their innermost lives. I think the thing that sold me on the book, though, was learning that the author is my age and wrote this thoughtful debut novel at the "young" age of 70! Way to go, Ms. Youngson.

Hi Donna, you have been through the wringer this summer and it's only half over! I hope things improve. Sorry to hear about your SIL and your aunt. What a mess to come home to! I hope that more Molly time is now on your agenda.

>203 Donna828: I really enjoyed this novel too Donna. I look forward to her next.

>203 Donna828: I've heard good things about this one, Donna. Sigh. Another one to add to the list.

Hi Donna,

Oh, I am just getting caught up here. What a summer you've had! I'm really sorry to read the news about your sister in-law and your aunt. And then to come home to that mess... I'm just sorry. Hope things are getting easier. It is so hard to lose loved ones, and to watch them suffer.

Thank you for posting photos of your adorable grands. I can hardly believe that's Hope! Where did the baby go?

I really enjoyed Meet Me at the Museum when I read it earlier this year. You got me a few times, particularly with Bibliophile and A Lowcountry Heart.

>204 Familyhistorian: Thank you for the support, Meg. Things have improved as I've gotten more rest and am back to my routine. Molly Time has helped a great deal, and I've even seen her busy older sister, Haley, a few times since we got back from Michigan.

>205 Caroline_McElwee: I hope she is working on something, Caroline. I enjoyed the story and her comforting writing style. I need a break from gimmicks and overwritten books.

>206 BLBera: I know, Beth. That TBR list just keeps growing and growing. It used to intimidate me, but now I'm just glad to know that I will never run out of interesting books to read.

>207 AMQS: Hi Anne. I really appreciate your concern. Yes, things are getting easier for me now that I've had time to adjust to my aunt's situation. And, yes, I miss my babies! It's hard to believe Hope will be starting school in less than a month. I can't wait to hear the stories. She is quite a character and is very vocal in her feelings. ;-)

You can't go wrong with Bibliophile and, if you can get past the flowery writing, A Lowcountry Heart is another wonderful book about books and writing.

I think I'll go ahead and start another thread now that I'm halfway to my reading "goal". I've relaxed my standards, but 100 books is still the Holy Grail that I hope to reach. I also want to put the down times in my personal life behind me as I try to regain my more upbeat attitude. Be gone dark clouds!