DeltaQueen's 2020 Reading Room of Follies and Quirks - Part II

Welcome!

pictures by Avril Haynes

I've opened my second thread with winter pictures of cats and one dog to represent the various Cat/Kit Challenges and the Bingo Dog that I participate in.

My name is Judy and I have been doing the Category Challenge for 10 years. I live in the suburbs of Vancouver, British Columbia with my husband. My two daughters live not too far away and I have two wonderful grandchildren, a boy and a girl. As we are getting on in our years, we live a pretty quiet life but I am always up for a joke or a shenanigan! I read vociferously and from many different genres. I am always ready to put the kettle on for visitors so please feel free to comment on this thread, whether it’s about books or life in general, the welcome mat is always out.

This year I am building my challenge around an LT feature as well as some of the various challenges that I like to participate in. There is a feature on Library Thing called the Folly and this in turn leads to a Librarything Roulette which I am going to use to help me read from my shelves this year. With a push of a button one can find various books in various ways – from following a random tag to finding an unread book on your own shelves. This works for me as I have catalogued all my TBR, Kindle books, and library wishlists on LibraryThing. I have identified 6 captions from the Librarything Roulette that I will use every month to pick 6 separate books. I am giving myself the opportunity to hit the folly button more than once so I can find books of mine that will fit.

When it comes to quirks, one of mine is that I can’t resist a reading challenge, so the rest of my categories will be to help me feed the fever of the Cat and Kit Challenges, the Reading Through Time Challenge, 1,001 Books List Challenge and the TIOLI Challenges. This will give me the option of reading 15 plus books a month and I will allow books for the Bingo to also be used elsewhere. I may not use all categories every month, but hopefully by year’s end I will have at least 10 books in each category.

picture by Luci Bilodeau

Categories

A. Random Member - using the folly button to bring up a random LT member and then choose a book that we have in common. I will only use members that have at least 25 plus books in common with me.

B. Random Tag – Again using the folly button to bring up a random tag and then find a book of mine to match that tag.

C. Random Awards or Lists – I will chose a book to read that has been in contention for winning the Award or being on the List that comes up.

D. Random Character – Clicking on this brings up a random character from fictional names to real people. I will read a book that either has a connection to the real character, or has a part of the fictional name in one of characters in my book. Example: I clicked and got a fictional character called Max, checking my books for the name Max, I find I have a number of choices that I could read that have a character named Max.

E. Random Place – While it doesn’t have to be the main setting, this random place must come into the book somehow, either in setting or in discussions.

F. Random Book of Mine: A book from my own library comes up and if I haven’t read it, it will be the choice for that month. If the book is part of a series, I will read the next book in the series that I haven’t yet read.

G. RandomCat: A surprise every month as the theme is chosen by that month’s host.

H. GeoCat – A different location every month!

I. The Alpha Kit

J. The Scaredy Kit

K. The SFFFKit

L. The 2020 Bingo Challenge

M. Reading Through Time Challenge: A new theme every month as chosen by the host

N. 1,001 Books to Read Before You Die List: My ongoing project and competition with my brother

O. Take It Or Leave It Challenges: This will be a place to add books that I want to read for these monthly challenges that don’t fit elsewhere. Hopefully I won’t need to use this option every month.

P. Others: For challenges that I won’t be doing every month such as the Non-Fiction Cat & MysteryKit and also Group Reads and other books that don’t fit elsewhere.

Tickers

1. Books Read




2. Pages Read




3. Books Read From My Shelves

How I Rate Books:

I am not a professional book critic nor do I consider myself to be an expert on literary standards, my reviews are based on my reaction to the book and the opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings.

2.0 ★: I must have been dragged, kicking and screaming, to finish this one!

2.5 ★: Below Average but I finished the book for one reason or another.

3.0 ★: Average, a solid read that I finished but can't promise to remember

3.5 ★: Above Average, there's room for improvement but I liked this well enough to pick up another book by this author.


4.0 ★: A very good read and I enjoyed my time spent with this story

4.5 ★: An excellent read, a book I will remember and recommend

5.0 ★: Sheer perfection, the right book at the right time for me

I use decimal points to further clarify my thoughts about the book, therefore you will see books rated 3.8 to show it was better than a 3.5 but not quite a 4.0; etc. These small adjustments help me to remember how a book resonated with me.

A. Random Member



Books Read

1. Thou Shell of Death by Nicholas Blake - 4.0 ★
2. Arsenic Labyrinth by Martin Edwards - 3.3 ★
3.

B. Random Tag



Books Read

1. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor - 4.0 ★
2. My Life on a Plate by India Knight - 2.8 ★
3.

C. Random Awards & Lists



Books Read

1. I Am Not Esther by Fleur Beale - 4.0 ★
2. After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall by Nancy Kress - 4.2 ★
3.

D. Random Characters



Books Read

1. The Trespass by Barbara Ewing - 5.0 ★
2. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty - 4.2 ★
3. The Drowned World by J. G. Ballard - 4.0 ★

E. Random Place



Books Read

1. The Red Box by Rex Stout - 4.0 ★
2. The Outlaw Album by Daniel Woodrell - 4.1 ★
3. The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang Van Goethe - 3.2 ★

F. Random Book of Mine



Books Read

1. Fast One by Paul Cain - 3.0 ★
2. Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal - 4.2 ★
3. Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid- 4.0 ★

G. 2020 RandonCat Challenge



Books Read

1. January - Challenge Yourself: The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner - 3.3 ★
2. February - Leap Year: The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers - 4.0 ★
3.

H. 2020 GeoCat Challenge



Books Read

1. When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi - 4.5 ★
2. Piglettes by Clemetine Beauvais - 4.0 ★
3.

I. 2020 AlphaKit



Books Read

1. A - The Fever by Megan Abbott - 4.0 ★
2. B - Divorcing Jack by Colin Bateman - 4.0 ★
3. C
4. D
5. E
6. F - The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg - 4.1 ★
7. G
8. H
9. I
10. J
11. K
12. L
13. M
14. N
15. O
16. P
17. Q
18. R
19. S
20. T
21. U - Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea - 4.0 ★
22. V
23. W
24. X
25. Y
26. Z

J. 2020 ScaredyKit



Books Read

1. The Rats by James Herbert - 4.0 ★
2. Swerve by Vicki Pettersson - 2.0 ★
3. No One's Home by D. M. Pulley - 4.0 ★

K. 2020 SFFFKit



Books Read

1. A Blade of Black Steel by Alex Marshall - 4.2 ★
2. The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook - 4.0 ★
3. A War in Crimson Embers by Alex Marshall - 4.1 ★

L. 2020 Bingo



Books Read

1. Title contains a pun:
2. "Library or "Thing" in title:
3. Published under a pen name or anon: The Year At Thrush Green by Miss Read
4. A Book about books, bookstores or libraries:
5. A non-U.S/U.K. Author:
6. Epistolary or Letters: The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
7. An element from the Periodic Table is in Title: Arsenic Labyrinth by Martin Edwards
8. Book is from a Legacy Library: The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner (Virginia Wolff's Library)
9. A Mystery or True Crime:
10. 3 Letters from bingo, consecutively: The Vanishing Raiders by Fred Grove
11. A story based on mythology or folklore:
12. Set in Asia: When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi
13. Read A Cat:
14. Published in your birth year:
15. Book cover is predominantly red:
16. Published in 1820 or 1920: The Loudwater Mystery by Edgar Jepson
17. Book not set on earth:
18. Published in 2020:
19. About birth or death:
20. Proper Name in Title: Divorcing Jack by Colin Bateman
21. Weird book title:
22. Small press or self-published:
23. Involves a real historical event: Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
24. LT Author: Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea
25. About journalism or written by a journalist: Dispatches From the Edge by Anderson Cooper

M. 2020 Reading Through Time Challenge



Books Read

1. The Burning of Bridget Cleary by Angela Bourke - 2.8 ★
2. Bronze Summer by Stephen Baxter - 4.0 ★
3. The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress by Ariel Lawhon - 3.2 ★
4. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah - 2.8 ★

N. 1,001 Books To Read Before You Die Challenge



Books Read

1. Passing by Nella Larsen - 4.0 ★
2. The Diviners by Margaret Laurence - 4.0 ★
3. Vernon God Little by Dbc Pierre - 3.8 ★
4. The Sea by John Banville - 4.0 ★
5. Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard - 4.5 ★

O. 2020 Take It or Leave It Challenges



For those TIOLI Challenges that don't fit any other challenges.

Books Read

1. January TIOLI #8: Hobby/Skill/Sport - Read a Cozy Mystery: Sprinkle With Murder by Jenn McKinley - 3.8 ★
2. January TIOLI #13: Rolling Challenge Based on Genesis - The Stalking Moon by T. V. Olsen - 3. ★
3. January TIOLI #2: From a Best Books of 2019 list - My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
4. January TIOLI #8: Tag Mash of 20th Century fiction and Existentialism - The Grifters by Jim Thompson
5. January TIOLI #15: Published or Set in any XX20 Decade - The Loudwater Mystery by Edgar Jepson - 3.7 ★
6. February TIOLI #10: Author has a Sorority Connection - Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink - 3.5 ★
7. February TIOLI #2: Morphy's Challenge - Tag Mash of Favorite, Romance - How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff - 4.0 ★
8. February TIOLI #4: Book Title Contains one of the 32 NFL Teams - The Vanishing Raiders by Fred Grove - 3.8 ★
9. February TIOLI #7: Next Book in a Series by a Woman Author - The Year At Thrush Green by Miss Read - 4.3 ★
10. March TIOLI #8: Book Title Includes a Mathematical or Astrological Term - Girl on A Plane by Miriam Moss - 4.1 ★
11. March TIOLI #10: Tour de Suisse - All That I Have by Castle Freeman Jr. - 5.0 ★
12. March TIOLI #12: Anthology of Genre Fiction - Nevertheless She Persisted - 3.7 ★

P. All Others - Extra Cats & Kits, Group Reads etc.



Books Read

1. January Non-FictionCat: Journalism & News - Dispatches From the Edge by Anderson Cooper - 3.6 ★
2. February Non-Fiction Cat: Travel - Paris in Love by Eloisa James - 4.5 ★
3. February Fantasy Month: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson - 4.0 ★
4. March MysteryKit: Golden Age - Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers - 4.2 ★
5. March Non-FictionCat: Biography/Memoir - Aprons and Silver Spoons by Mollie Moran - 4.0 ★
6. March MysteryKit - Dancers in Mourning by Margery Allingham - 4.2 ★

2020 Hosting Plans & Group Reads



February: Non-Fiction Cat – Travel
& ScaredyKit - Psychological Thrillers
March: Reading Thru Time – Mothers and Daughters
April: GeoCat – Australia, New Zealand & Oceania
May: RandomCat
May & June: Group Read - Queen Margot by Alexandre Dumas
June: SFFFKit: Aliens and Mythical Creatures
September: Group Read - Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann
October: MysteryKit: New-To-You Authors

Am I first? Am I too early?

Happy new one, Judy!

Since Katie's here, I'm coming in, too. Happy new thread, Judy!

>23 katiekrug: & >24 Crazymamie: Your timing is impeccable - as always!

18. My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyankan Braithwaite - 4.0 ★
Category: TIOLI Challenges
January TIOLI #2: From a Best Books of 2019 List



Korede has always been told that as the elder sister it is her duty to look after, help, and protect her beautiful younger sister Ayoola. So what’s a girl to do when she realizes that her sister has a penchant for murder. My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite examines this exact issue in a unique and darkly humorous way as Korede becomes increasingly bitter about her baby sister’s inconvenient habit of killing her boyfriends.

Korede is a nurse at the local hospital in Lagosm, Nigeria and she is quietly in love with one of the doctors, Tade, who considers her a friend. Her only confidant is the patient in room 313, lying in a coma, forgotten by his friends and family. Her younger sister has learned to use her great beauty to sail through life, twisting everyone around her little finger. So when sociopathic Ayoola turns her eyes on Tade and he falls like a ton of bricks, Korede becomes increasingly concerned that he will be next on the list.

The jealousy, protectiveness, love and anger expressed between these two women make the sister’s relationship feel real. Who else is Ayoola going to call in the middle of the night to clean up another one of her messes? The narrative flows easily and despite the abrupt ending and a few other minor flaws, My Sister the Serial Killer is a delightfully witty and wry read.

Following to you new thread, Judy! Love the winter animal scenes. So sweet! Happy new thread and wishing you a wonderful weekend (what is left of it, anyways).

I'm joining the party to say Happy New Thread. Lots of interesting books so far.

>27 lkernagh: Hi Lori, I hope you are enjoying your weekend as well.

>28 dudes22: Hi Betty, January is speeding by so quickly! I've been lucky with my books so far, here's hoping that continues.

You KNOW that I love your cat toppers and your cat themes this year, Judy! Happy New Thread!

>30 ronincats: I aim to please, Roni. Since I can't have any pets where I live, I have to settle for pictures!

New thread already, wow! The cat pictures are gorgeous, I'll be back to drool.

Love the cats!

Yes, chiming in, love the pictures. So adorable.

Happy New Thread, Judy. Good review of My Sister, the Serial Killer. Thumb! I liked this book too.

Ha! It looks like most of us love cats as well as books!

>32 MissWatson:, >33 mysterymax:, >34 Kristelh: Welcome!

>35 msf59: Thanks for the thumb, Mark. I thought My Sister, the Serial Killer was very well done and I can't wait to see what she will write about next!

19. When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi - 4.5 ★
Category: GeographyCat
January GeographyCat: Asia, Part 1
BingoDog: Set in Asia
January TIOLI #4: Rolling Challenge - Clue to a Murder



When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi is one of the most moving books about the refugee experience that I have ever read. I’ve seen the thousands of migrants on the news, desperate to reach a safe place and start a new life but to actually read of the difficulties that these families must endure was eye-opening. The book opens by introducing Fereiba and her life in Kabul. Her mother died when she was born and she was raised by a distant father and more or less indifferent step-mother. She is given in marriage to a young man and is lucky enough to find love. Their early years are set against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan which was a dangerous time but still Fereiba was able to work as a teacher and she and her husband flourished. When the Taliban gained control their life changed drastically and then came the night that her husband was taken.

Knowing she had to get out Afghanistan for the safety of her family, she, her thirteen year old son, eleven year old daughter and 3 month out baby begin the long, heart breaking journey to England where they have relatives. At this point the narrative switches between Fereiba and her son, Saleem as they become separated. Fereiba must make the difficult decision of continuing her journey in order to get her younger children to safety while Saleem must try to complete the journey by himself.

When the Moon is Low paints a vivid picture of the danger and despair that is experienced by displaced people. The book is very relevant as this scenario is being played out in many corners of the world today. This is a compelling, strong story that held my interest and I appreciated that the harshness of the story was softened somewhat by the author’s bittersweet ending.

Happy new thread, Judy! You're so popular!

Happy New thread!

>26 DeltaQueen50: Good review. I'll check to see if I can pick it up from the library.

>37 DeltaQueen50: Timely subject. Not sure I will read it just now as I'm trying to stay away from books/news/social media sites that will depress me, but I'll definitely put it on my TBR list.

>38 mstrust: Well, thanks, Jennifer. (But I think everyone comes here to see the cats)

>39 Storeetllr: I hope you enjoy My Sister, the Serial Killer Mary. This was the second book by Nadia Hashimi that I have read recently. In December I read The Pearl That Broke Its Shell and it was also a very powerful and emotional read - she's become an author to watch.

I love the cats & dogs in your thread heading - though my kitties would not be nearly so happy being out in the snow!

>26 DeltaQueen50: Your review makes this book more enticing for me than its title - I will add it to my TBR from the library.

Happy new thread, Judy. I hope that you are over your cold and got to enjoy the brief respite we had from the rain.

>41 leslie.98: Hi! I know - all the cats I've ever know try to avoid snow like the plague.

>42 Familyhistorian: Brief respite is right, Meg. Woke up this morning to pouring rain once again. My cold has passed and luckily didn't develop into a cough.

20. The Grifters by Jim Thompson - 5.0 ★
Category: TIOLI Challenges
January TIOLI #8: Tag Mash of 20th Century Fiction and Existentialism



The Grifters by Jim Thompson is a powerful story about life on the downside, a life of cons and rackets. The story focuses on Roy Dillon, a successful grifter at the short con, his mother, Lily who works for the mob and his girlfriend, Moira, no stranger to working a swindle herself.

Roy takes a blow to the stomach while working one of his cons, and as the pain gets worse, his mother drops by for an unexpected visit. She rushes him to the hospital and essentially saves his life as he was bleeding out internally. Roy is not especially thankful for Lily’s intervention as their relationship has never been an easy one. Giving birth to him at 14, she has never been the "motherly” sort. Lily and Roy’s girlfriend, Moira, take an immediate dislike for one another, each well able to see what the other is about. Roy has been thinking of getting out of the criminal life, going straight but with these two women around him his plans don’t have much of a chance. While the book is told from Roy’s point of view, it is his mother, Lily who dominates. She’s brutal and manipulative, getting what she wants either through her brains or her body, or simply with threats of violence that she is well able to follow through on.

Thompson’s books almost always have plots that rely on paranoia, sexually dysfunctional relationships and the choices people make when their backs are put to the wall and The Grifters excels at this, describing the constant struggle to get ahead, the urge to go legit versus the joy making a fast buck, a lifestyle of ups and downs against the boredom of normality. The author brings these dark, damaged characters to life in this subtle yet savage morality tale and is yet another reason why this author is so highly rated for his hard-boiled literature.

I love your graphics! I have four kitties and one of them joined me to look at the pictures. He highly approves.

Happy new thread, Judy. I love the cats and dogs!

>44 DeltaQueen50: So glad you liked The Grifters! That's Thompson's idea of a "family" story.

>44 DeltaQueen50: Great review, Judy! Adding that one to The List and also adding my thumb to your review.

>44 DeltaQueen50: I'm also taking a BB for The Grifters.

>45 LadyoftheLodge: Thanks. I bet your kitties approve of the pictures but aren't fans of the snow!

>46 BLBera: Thanks, Beth.

>47 mstrust: Jennifer, I loved The Grifters - now I wonder what would be an appropriate Mother's Day gift for Lily?

>48 Crazymamie: Thanks for the thumb, Mamie. I think you would love The Grifters as well.

>49 LisaMorr: I hope you enjoy The Grifters, Lisa. Jim Thompson certainly has the gift for showing the dark side of life.

21. The Loudwater Mystery by Edgar Jepson - 3.7 ★
Category: The TIOLI Challenges
BingoDog: Published in 1820 or 1920
January TIOLI #15: Published or Set in any xx20s Decade



Originally published in 1920, I thoroughly enjoyed The Loudwater Mystery by Edgar Jepson. The murder of the highly unlikable Lord Loudwater gave the police plenty of suspects but timing, alibis and evidence slowly eliminated each one. Also with all the witness lying to protect one another, the police have a lot of checking and re-checking to do. During the course of the book, the reader becomes acquainted with each suspect and find themselves hoping that the case is never solved as everyone in the book is much a much better person than the departed Lord Loudwater.

I wasn’t a big fan of the twist at the end of the book but realize that this was a nod to the morality of the day but overall I did find The Loudwater Mystery to be a satisfying read.

Happy new thread, Judy!

>37 DeltaQueen50: Your great review has prompted me to add When the moon is low to my wishlist.

>44 DeltaQueen50: This sounds like it was the origin of a movie I saw years ago with the same title.

I enjoyed all the kitties you decorated your thread with.

>52 VivienneR: Vivienne, there is a movie of the Grifters starring Angelica Huston, Annette Benning and John Cusack and it's supposed to be very good. I can't believe I haven't seen it as I am a fan of John Cusack and I certainly pictured him while I was reading.

>53 hailelib: Thanks, Trisha.

>51 DeltaQueen50: This has been on my Kindle since 2011. Your review encourages me to read it. And the Bingo Square, of course.

>54 DeltaQueen50: Yes, that was the movie I was thinking of. It was a good one if memory serves.

>51 DeltaQueen50: That one sounds like it might be a good option for that BINGO square. If I don't have a literary classic published in 1820 or 1920, I will consider that one.

>44 DeltaQueen50: Have that on my TBR!

>55 pamelad: I chose to read The Loudwater Mystery because it fit the Bingo square, but I wasn't disappointed.

>56 VivienneR: I hope that I will be able to track down a copy of "The Grifters" film, I'd love to see how it was filmed.

>57 thornton37814: Glad I was able to give you another option, Lori. :)

>58 Tess_W: It's a good one!!

22. The All-Girl Filling Station's Final Reunion by Fannie Flagg - 4.1 ★
Category: AlphaKit
February AlphaKit - F
February TIOLI #11: A Curious, Intriguing or Provocative Title



The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg is a cozy, gentle story about family, caring, and learning about yourself told in the author’s warm, folksy manner that draws the reader into her heart-felt stories. Sookie Poole is a warm-hearted, generous yet timid woman who tries her best to satisfy her family and live up to her overbearing mother’s expectations. She has been raised to honor her Southern roots so she is thrown for a loop when she discovers that she was adopted as a baby, and her real background appears to be a Polish-American family from Wisconsin.

Over the course of the book, Sookie slowly discovers more about her birth background and in doing so discovers that her adventurous relatives include four sisters who ran a filling station and flew planes during World War II. The story includes a history of the Woman’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS) who flew non-combat flight missions and were the first women to fly military planes in America.

With plenty of plot twists, humor, adventure, heartbreak and family loyalty, The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion was an interesting, joyful and comforting read.

>60 DeltaQueen50: I joined you in TIOLI on this one and may make this my next read, after I finish my current cozy mystery by Lorna Barnett.

>60 DeltaQueen50: I like Fannie Flagg's books and have a couple not read yet on my bookshelves. Maybe I should try to fit one in this year.

>60 DeltaQueen50: - I listened to this one a few years ago and think I enjoyed it. I don't remember much about it. I tend to find Flagg's books charming but kind of forgettable.

>60 DeltaQueen50: That sounds like a fun cozy, Judy. Do you have any white stuff on the ground out by you?

>60 DeltaQueen50: I had almost given up on Fannie when this one came along. She had several in a row that were disappointing to me but this hit the spot.

I haven't been here on LT very much the last few days as unfortunately my knee has taken a turn for the worse. I guess the cortisone shot wore off and it just kept getting worse and worse. We went off to emergency last Friday and they gave me Tynol 3 for the pain and froze it which only helped that day. Basically they said there isn't anything they can do that I need to see a surgeon. I have an appointment with my doctor on Thursday and hopefully when she sees the shape I am in, she can get me in to see someone. Tomorrow an organization called "Nurse At Home" is coming to assess me and see what I need. At this point I can't hardly walk, can't get into a bathtub, and don't trust myself in the shower. I got out of bed last night and managed to fall down and we had to call the paramedics to come and get me up as I just couldn't get my feet under me. My husband also suffers from bad knees and a bad back so he couldn't help me at all. Everyone that I have seen at this point seems to feel that this isn't just arthritis but that I have damaged the cartiledge or tendons. Anyway, I seem to spending my days in a drug infused haze right now, so I am not even getting much reading done either. Anyway, I will try to check in here as often as I can but did want to let everyone know where I have disappeared to.

>61 lindapanzo: I noticed that we were both going to read The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion, Linda. I hope you enjoy it.

>62 dudes22: I like Fannie Flagg as well, although I do find her work can be a little repetitive so need to put lots of time between her books.

>63 katiekrug: I find her pretty much the same, Katie. Very enjoyable at the time but not the kind of literature that stays with you.

>64 Familyhistorian: Meg, it's been snowing on and off all day but so far it isn't sticking. My fingers are crossed that this doesn't develop into anything as we need to be able to get out to the doctor and mushing through the snow has no appeal!

>65 clue: This was only the third Fannie Flagg that I have read and would say that while it wasn't as good as Fried Green Tomatoes, it was better than the other one that I read, A Redbird Christmas. I will read more by her but will space them out.

Hi, Judy. Good review of The Grifters. Thumb! I loved this book too. The film version is excellent too.

Sorry, you are having problems with your knees. I hope you find some relief.

I'm so sorry about your knee. I'll keep you in my thoughts and I'm hoping that your doctor will refer you to the right doctor and that she will be able to do something about the pain or maybe get you a brace so that you can move around. You've been living with pain for too long!

>66 DeltaQueen50: I am so sorry to hear that things have gotten worse. Thank you for checking in. I have you in my thoughts.

Hi Judy, it is supposed to change back to rain so there should be no problem getting out for your medical appointment. I hope they are able to do something to get you immediate relief and come up with a quick plan to fix up your knee.

So sorry to hear about your knee pain, Judy. I hope you can get some effective treatment very soon. Your experiences are alarming. Take care!

>66 DeltaQueen50: So sorry to hear about your knee. From experience I know how painful that can be. I hope you find relief soon!

That sounds like a really awful night, Judy. I hope your doctor is able to give you some relief and get you taken care of.

So sorry your knee is giving you such trouble. I hope the doctor can help.

All the best for getting on top of your knee problem.

I hope the docs can sort things out soon, and you are not experiencing so much pain. It sounds awful :(

I look forward to having you back full time!

So sorry to hear about your knees! Fingers crossed that the doctors can quickly figure out some way to help on a more permanent basis than cortisone shots provide.

Ouch! Hoping your knee gets sorted out soon. Thinking of you!

Thanks for all the good wishes. We saw the "Nurse Next Door" today and they are going to start coming twice a week to assist me in the shower and to help with some of the housework. I was surprised that my husband didn't want more help with the cooking, but for now, he seems to be enjoying the planning, cooking and serving - he says it gives him something to do. Tomorrow we are going to see and doctor and hopefully push her into referring me to a specialist.

I won't answer every message this evening as my time on the computer is limited by how long I can sit in this position. I did finish two books today so have a couple of reviews to add.

23. The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers - 4.0 ★
Category: February RandomCat - Leap Year
February TIOLI #12: Book is Divided into More Than Just Chapter Headings



I found The Yellow Birds by Kevin Power a very disturbing story about the experiences of soldiers serving in Iraq. The author himself enlisted in the Army at the age of seventeen and served as a machine-gunner in Iraq. When he writes about soldiers keeping themselves awake by rubbing Tabasco sauce into their eyes or taking amphetamines, he is drawing on his own experience.

The novel follows Private Bartle on his journey and we experience the fear of combat along with him. We also experience his slow shut-down and mental withdrawal as the war takes its toll on him and the soldiers he is serving with. As well as the cost and futility of war, we also see how difficult it was for Bartle to rediscover his life when he does return home. He leaves the war, but the war never leaves him.

The Yellow Birds is a lyrical and haunting story as the main character comes to terms with the brutal and inexplicable loss of his friend, Murphy, and the role he himself may have played in the incident. The story unfolds in a non-linear style that illustrates the inner conflict of this soldier. The Yellow Birds is not a book to be read for enjoyment and unfortunately I am not in a good place right now for the senseless violence and meaningless despair that is so brilliantly described here. At another time I would probably rate this even higher.

24. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty - 4.2 ★
Category: Random Character - Rachel
February TIOLI #16: The Author's Name Contains 4 or More Different Vowels



The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty is another quick, absorbing read that delves into the lives of an assorted group of people whose lives interconnect in various ways. Tess has been told by her husband that he has fallen in love with her cousin. She immediately packed up herself and her son and moved to Sydney to be close to her mother. She enrolls her son in the local school and runs into Connor, the handsome gym coach and an old boyfriend who still makes her heart skip a beat. She also meets Cecilia, the mother of three young girls who has just found a strange letter that her husband had hidden away in the attic, advising that it is to be opened only upon his death. Although her husband, John-Paul is very much alive, Cecilia is very tempted to read the letter. Rachel is a little older than these two women, a widow, she works part-time as the school secretary and is still hunted by the death of her seventeen year old daughter, who was murdered in 1984. Rachel is increasingly convinced that Connor, who was dating her daughter at the time, is the murderer.

The story revolves around these people and their stories. I was completely absorbed as I listened to an audio version of the book as read by Caroline Lee, who has become the voice of Liane Moriarty to me as she has been the narrator to all three Moriarty books that I have read so far. While The Husband’s Secret is certainly no great work of literature, it is a story that held my attention and made me want to unravel all the secrets that these women were involved in.

>We've been on the road so I'm just now catching up with threads. I do hope your doctor helps you get to see someone and make a plan to help you out.

Hi Judy, sorry to hear about the knee, and I hope that the doctor has an answer for you soon! I'm thinking that I must have read The Husband's Secret, but for the life of me I can't remember the story line.

Sorry to hear about your knee problems, Judy. Hope you can get everything resolved.

I was sorry to read about your knee problems. I hope this doctor can figure out a good treatment plan for you that works. Take care of yourself.

Hi, how did the doctor visit go? Will you be seeing a specialist about your knee? It's so frustrating on top of everything else to be unable to do for oneself, but I'm glad you're getting help.

Stopping by to get caught up and sorry to hear about your continuing health problems, Judy. I hope the doctor is able to get you on a good course of treatment/correction.

Hope you are feeling well again soon and that you will get the help you need.

Hoping the doctor was able to help you today, Judy!

Finally getting caught up again Judy, and sorry to hear of your knee trouble. My Dad is starting to struggle with one of his knees and it's so debilitating. I hope your doctors are able to come up with a good plan for you.

>66 DeltaQueen50: Judy--Best of luck getting that knee repaired-so sorry!

>60 DeltaQueen50: I am a fan of Fannie Flagg, but haven't read this one yet--I will be keeping an eye out for The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion. Thanks!

Thanks to everyone for visiting my thread and checking up on me. I did see my doctor on Thursday and she has referred me to a orthopedic surgeon but I have a feeling that it could be a long wait. Meanwhile she suggested that I contact the doctor who gave me the cortisone shot and get another one to hopefully get me back on my own feet. We had our first visit from the 'Nurse Next Door' organization and she helped me to have a shower, wash my hair and feel more presentable. Legally these care workers have to stay for 2 hours so we were a little stretched to find things for her to do. I have another visit coming on on Tuesday, so my hubby and I need to put together a list of things that she can help with.

>83 dudes22: Thanks, Betty.

>84 lsh63: I love Liane Moriarty but there is definitely a similarity to her stories. This was my third book by her and I enjoyed them all at the time of the reading, but thinking back, I actually don't remember the second one (Truly Madly Guilty) at all!

>85 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda.

>86 hailelib: Thanks, Trisha.

>87 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, I think my doctor was rather shocked at how things have gotten so bad so quickly. It definitely seems to be getting worse everyday.

>88 lkernagh:, >89 JayneCM:, >90 ronincats:, >91 SouthernKiwi: & >92 Berly: Thanks for dropping by, it's definitely a struggle right now but hopefully there's going to be an improvement with the cortisone shot and then finally getting to see the specialist for some permanent relief.

25. Bronze Summer by Stephen Baxter - 4.0 ★
Category: Reading Thru Time
Reading Thru Time Quarterly Time Period: Prehistoric
February TIOLI #8: A Metal is Named in the Title



Bronze Summer is the second book in author Stephen Baxter’s Northland Trilogy and centuries have passed since the first story. The British Isles are still connected to the European mainland with the ocean being held back by an enormous wall. The connecting land has become a rich farming and trading country. With both drought and famine gripping Eastern Europe and Asia, traders are arriving that see these Northlands as a key to their future. Meanwhile, a volcanic eruption in Iceland is chilling the air and heralds a change to the ecosphere.

The author continues to excel with his research into ancient cultures and the natural history and he uses this information to build a world that feels authentic and real. Peopled by powerful characters the story is gripping and smart. The story follows a number of various characters from survivors of the Icelandic volcano, traders from eastern Mediterranean and people of the Northlands.

Although I found this book to be a little over long, this imaginative prehistoric saga continues to hold my interest and I am looking forward to the concluding volume.

So glad to see you back! My mum was the same when she had her hip done. They would get everything done and then have a chat and a cup of tea, which sometimes is just as beneficial.

I am so sorry to hear about your knee, Judy. I hope you don't have to wait too long to get some relief, either with a shot or surgery.

The Yellow Birds sounds like a powerful book; it has been on my shelves for a long time. I guess it's about time I read it!

Sending healing thoughts your way.

>95 JayneCM: Thanks, Jayne. We are hoping to be better prepared when she comes again on Tuesday. It's awkward but it certainly doesn't take 2 hours to get me in and out of the shower!

>96 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. This has been just terrible for both of us. I feel so sorry for my husband as he is now left with dealing with all the household chores as well as me! The Yellow Birds is a powerful book and one that I would have appreciated much more if I was in a better place myself right now. I think I need to adjust my reading choices and try to stick to the light and humorous right now.

26. Paris in Love by Eloisa James - 4.5 ★
Category: Other Challenges
February Non-Fiction Cat: Travel
February TIOLI #3: Cover Shows Something You Would Wear on Your Face



When she lost her mother to cancer and went through a battle with that disease herself, romance writer Eloisa James decided to celebrate life and packed up her family and moved to Paris for a year. She and her Italian-American husband took sabbaticals from the university where they lectured, enrolled their kids in an Italian school in Paris and found themselves an apartment.

Rather than a detailed step-by-step story, Paris in Love is a series of entries from her journal that she kept that year and touches on many things but her love of Paris shines through it all. Humorous, joyful, interesting and informative this book was a delight. Whether she is writing about her children, 14 year old Luca and 10 year old Anna, her studies of how Frenchwomen are so fashionable and chic, or rhapsodizing over the food this was a lovely way to be introduced to that world famous city. Definitely falling into the class of travel memoir, James avoids expressing her inner thoughts and emotions and keeps the narrative light and lively.

I have not read anything by this author before, but I am definitely now in the market to try one of her romance novels. Paris in Love was a lovely introduction to this author, the short diary-like entries made this a great book for dipping in and out of and for anyone who has ever fantasized about running away to Paris, this is a great way to do just that.

>98 DeltaQueen50: - I tried to listen to this one on audio and couldn't get through it. It might have been the narrator's fault; I'd be willing to give it a try in print.

James' historical romances are a bit inconsistent - some are very good and others barely mediocre. I remember enjoying Fool for Love, The Duke is Mine, and Kiss Me Annabel, among others.

>99 katiekrug: Katie, I think Paris in Love would be better in print as it is comprised of such short entries. I think an audio version would be quite choppy. I picked up A Kiss at Midnight as that was the book she worked on while in Paris, and Desperate Duchesses as it is the first in a series.

27. After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall by Nancy Kress - 4.2 ★
Category: Random Awards - Locus Awards
February TIOLI #11: A Curious, Intriguing or Provocative Title



After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall by Nancy Kress is a strong post-apocalyptic story that mixes time travel, global disaster and mysterious aliens into a short book that certainly deserved it’s 2012 Nebula and Locus awards. In the year 2035 a small group of human survivors live in a prison-like shell from which some of them are able to time travel back to 2013 and grab items from before the earth was destroyed. The most important items are young children that will help to repopulate the world.

Meanwhile back in 2013, brilliant mathematician Julie Kahn is working with the FBI to solve a number of strange kidnappings. As she untangles the puzzle her predictive algorithms begin to reveal much more than just simple kidnapping is going on. The story advances into 2014 when global disaster strikes and the future of humanity is at risk.

I was totally captured by this story and although it is of a bleak and despairing nature, the author ended her story with a strong message of hope which I appreciated. This novella length story is a quick read and the author makes the world’s end very credible and scary. After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall is a unique, well-paced and gripping tale.

Nice review, Judy. I've read articles by Kress about the writing process but none of her fiction yet. This sounds like a good place to start.

>102 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary. This story really drew me in and I will be looking for more by this author.

28. Arsenic Labyrinth by Martin Edwards - 3.3 ★
Category: Random Member - firedrake 1942
BingoDog: An Element from the Periodic Table in in the Title
February TIOLI #13: At Least Three Names are Mentioned on Page 1



The Arsenic Labyrinth by Martin Edwards is the third book in his Lake District Cold-Case Mysteries and I believe, probably last one of the series that I will be reading. I find these quite slow moving and even after three books, I haven’t really warmed up to the main characters, Detective Hannah Scarlett and Historian Daniel Kind. Their slow dance around each other has been going on since book one and I am not really interested enough to continue reading to see if they ever actually do get together.

The mystery here is a combination of a woman who has been missing for 10 years and an even older murder, the bodies are uncovered but it appears that someone is quite desperate to keep the past hidden. The most interesting character is con-man Guy Koenig, who has connections to the missing woman and appears to be threatening to expose old secrets.

I originally started this series as I was intrigued by the Lake District setting but have found that this series cannot compare to either Anne Cleeves’ Shetland Island Mysteries or Elly Griffith’s Dr. Ruth Galloway Mysteries for atmospheric settings. The slow pacing, boring characters and lack of Lake District essence left me less than satisfied with this police procedural.

29. Vernon God Little by Dbc Pierre - 3.8 ★
Category: 1,001 Books List
February 1,001 Group Challenge: Group Zeitgeist - list of "characteristic works"
February TIOLI #1: First Word in Book Starts with a Vowel



Vernon God Little by Dbc Pierre presents itself as a comedy, but the subject matter is very dark as it takes a hard look at American society. We follow the experiences of Vernon Little, a Texas teenager whose best friend has just killed sixteen of their classmates and then himself. The townspeople seek both answers and vengeance and because Vernon was the killer’s closest friend, he becomes the focus of their fury. Vernon comes across as a deceptively simple boy, rather cynical and certainly unlucky and relying heavily on gross-out humor.

While this satire effectively captures a teenager’s self-absorption, it also manages to skewer mindless consumer culture, the media’s penchant for turning tragedy into entertainment, and the craving of fame by average citizens. While humor and mass murder are uneasy companions, the author does manage to pull off a story that, although bizarre, holds one’s attention, and while I personally found myself wincing more than smiling, this irreverent book was certainly highly readable.

I've been sitting round feeling very sorry for myself today. I saw the orthopedic surgeon yesterday and he's told me that there isn't anything he can really do. I had more x-rays and again, was told that this is not arthritis but trauma from previous injuries. He feels that the problem is in the displacement of the kneecap. He can't do a MIR because I had a stint put into my artery and the magnets could cause some damage to that. He also said they discontinued doing the operation where they place a camera inside to see what the problem is, and because of my heart problems I am not a candidate for exploratory surgery. So I feel like I am back to square one. I will most likely get another cortisone shot but if it doesn't last more than a couple of months then the price of $600 is too steep to continuously keep getting these shots. My other options are to lose some weight and see if some physio therapy can strengthen the leg muscles to help support the knee.

Oh, Judy, I'm really sorry to hear that. I can imagine how frustrating that must be. I wonder if acupuncture would help. My nephew had bad back problems and that helped him a lot. Does Canadian medicine allow a second opinion?

Judy, I am so sorry that you are experiencing so much knee pain and that there is a decided lack of options for treating it. If it were me, I think I would go see another orthopedic surgeon just to get a second opinion. But how very frustrating and demoralizing to be told that you pretty much just have to deal with it. Keeping you in my thoughts and sending you my very best mojo.

>101 DeltaQueen50: A direct hit!

I'm adding my sympathy for your situation. That's rough to have the surgeon say he can't do anything, but there might be hope in the physio therapy.

Oh dear Judy! I wish I had something constructive to add but can only offer my sympathy & best wishes for a return to mobility. Perhaps doing some physical therapy while the cortisone shot is effective will help at least somewhat.

Oh, man, that does suck. I agree with others who suggested a second opinion and/or acupuncture, as well as your idea to lose some weight and see if that helps. It helped with my hip and knee (and foot) pain to lose 15 lbs., though the pain isn't completely gone. I also agree with you that $600 a shot for only a couple of months' relief is a bit steep, though if it really helps to keep the pain at bay, at least while you're losing weight and getting physical therapy to strengthen your leg muscles, maybe not too steep?

>107 dudes22:, >108 Crazymamie:, >109 mstrust:, >110 leslie.98:, & >111 Storeetllr: I am trying not to get too down over this. I have booked a cortisone shot for next week and I will discuss with my GP as to what my next step should be. I am still waiting to hear from the physio-therapist but meanwhile I will try to take it day by day.

I am so sorry to hear about your pain and lack of resolution for your issues. I hope you can find some relief somehow.

30. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink - 3.5 ★
Category: TIOLI Challenges
February TIOLI #10: Author Has a Sorority Connection



Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink is a children’s historical fiction story about a young American pioneer girl who lives on the Wisconsin frontier in the 1860s. Although most girls are expected to learn proper behavior and lady-like skills, Caddie’s father decided that letting her run and play with her two brothers would be a better choice for her to grow strong and healthy after she was a rather ill and weak baby.

Caddie and her brothers have many simple adventures and learn many life lessons. The American Civil War is being fought but is very much a distant war for her family. Although many settlers still fear an Indian uprising, Caddie and her brothers have befriended an Indian and when some whites consider attacking the Indians first, Caddie makes an heroic effort to warn the tribe of the danger they are in.

The author based this book on her own grandmother’s pioneer life and these snippets from her life paint a picture of a spirited young lady on the brink of maturing. Caddie Woodlawn is an enjoyable adventure story written for young children, but I felt the lack of depth and prefer the charm of the “Little House” books.

>113 JayneCM: Thanks, Jayne.

>114 DeltaQueen50: I agree with your comparison!

Just catching up and really sorry to hear the verdict on your knee. Weight loss and therapy are worth a try especially with the shots costing so much. We’ll all be rooting for you.

>116 Tess_W: :)

>117 hailelib: Thanks, Trisha.

31. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson - 4.0 ★
Category: Other Challenges
February Fantasy Month
TIOLI #9: Planning Your Date With An Author



The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson is the first book in her Fire and Thorns trilogy, and it has totally hooked me into wanting to continue with this fantasy story. The author has created an intriguing fantasy story with an excellent main character. Even though she has the mysterious Godstone implanted in her navel, 16 year old Princess Elisa has been a disappointment to her family. Plain, overweight and rather unmotivated, she is married to a handsome neighboring king to bind the two countries into an alliance. Both countries are under the threat of an invasion by the superior forces of the Invierne.

It is only after she goes through many adventures that she matures and learns how to fulfill her destiny. Although the trope of a fat girl becoming a curvy beauty is a familiar one, I was pleased that in this case Elisa needed to develop her intelligence and inner strength in order to claim victory. And while this first book had a good ending, there is still a lot more to explore in the trilogy.

The author gives her story depth with her layered characters and intricate world-building but it is the quick pace and interesting story that keeps the pages turning.

>106 DeltaQueen50: I'm so sorry to hear the diagnosis, Judy. I hope you are able to find a solution and relief soon. At least a cortisone shot will keep you going while you work on other fixes.

>106 DeltaQueen50: I know it's awful to be continually in pain when you want to walk. Here's hoping that they can find a viable solution.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. All my best wishes that you'll find a solution.

>120 VivienneR:, >121 Tess_W: & >122 MissWatson: Thanks, the important thing right now is to keep my spirits up and not to let myself get too depressed. Hopefully there will some kind of solution in the near future. Meanwhile, thank heaven for my husband, my family and my books!

Since today is the 15th of the month, I have selected my Random Folly books for March:

Random Member: KrissieMarie - The First Days by Rhiannon Frater (Yay - a zombie book!)
Random Tag: "Adapting" - Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Random Awards/Lists: ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers - The Raft by S. A. Bodeen
Random Character: Robert - The Drowned World by J. G. Ballard
Random Place: Germany - The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Random Book of Mine: Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

>124 DeltaQueen50: Some good choices made for you! I have The Drowned World on my cli fi list, so look forward to hearing what you think.

>125 JayneCM: I tried to keep most of my choices light and easy but always like to add a couple of 1,001 Books to the list.

32. Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal - 4.2 ★
Category: Random Book of Mine
February TIOLI #15: Birthstone Challenge - Purple Cover



Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal revolves around the issue of gender selective abortions. This is a practise that, although illegal, is not uncommon in India, where tradition and culture favors the birth of a male heir. In this story, pregnant with their second girl child, Nikhil and Isha are offered an abortion. They are incensed that the doctor, and Nikhil’s parents think this is an acceptable choice yet while Isha simply changes doctors, her husband gathers evidence against the abortionist but before he can go to the police he is murdered. We then follow Isha as she leaves her in-laws home and tries to make a life for herself and her children.

This is an excellent story that draws the reader into the life of this young mother as she tries to build a new life for herself and her daughters. She is helped along the way by a caring sister-in-law who goes against her parents wishes to help her and by a young doctor who becomes involved with the small family and grows to love them.

Set in contemporary India, the book becomes equal parts of a family drama and a murder mystery. With it’s poignant story line, well developed characters and intriguing setting, Forbidden Daughter is well worth a read.

>127 DeltaQueen50: - OK -you got me - BB

>106 DeltaQueen50: I am so sorry to hear all this, Judy. How frustrating. I hope you can find an option, that will give you some relief. Sending healing vibes from the Midwest!

Glad to see the love for The Yellow Birds up there. Terrific novel.

>128 dudes22: I surprised myself by how much I liked Forbidden Daughter Betty, I think I was expecting it to be a much lighter read than it was.

>129 msf59: Hi Mark, I am taking everything day by day right now but I am looking forward to the upcoming cortisone shot. I note that Yellow Birds was originally a BB from you!

Hi Judy. I am so sorry to hear about your knee. I imagine you are feeling very frustrated right now. I'm surprised there's nothing they can do -- not even a replacement?

>97 DeltaQueen50: It sounds like light books are a good idea for you right now.

>104 DeltaQueen50: I've been wondering about this series. Doesn't he also write the Bruno series? I've read only the first one, but I really enjoyed that.

>114 DeltaQueen50: My daughter used to play Caddie at recess. She was always Caddie.

Hi Judy - chiming in while I have some time this weekend (or what's left of it!) to catch up on various threads.

I'm so sorry to hear about your knee issues, and sending healing thoughts your way from the Southeast. And what a great amount of books you have written about, from all different genres. I have read your reviews with a great deal of interest in the variety and thought you put into your selections and reviews.

>131 BLBera: Hi Beth. I can see that "Caddy" would be a character that young girls would aspire to be. Martin Edwards does have a few series, but the Bruno series is written by a different Martin - Martin Walker.

>132 threadnsong: Thanks for the healing thoughts - I need all I can get right now. I enjoy writing my thoughts about the books I read, and I've noticed that since I've started doing so, I tend to remember my reads in much greater detail than before. Glad you like reading them. :)

33. Piglettes by Clementine Beauvais - 4.0 ★
Category: GeoCat
February GeoCat: Europe
February TIOLI #13: At Least 3 People Are Mentioned on Page 1



Translated by the author from it's original french, Piglettes by Clementine Beauvais was a delight to read. Not wanting people to know how she really feels about being lauded as one of the three ugliest girls at school, Mireille embraces her status as a Piglette and uses her wit and humor to shield herself. When the three Piglettes get together they form a friendship and embark upon a coming of age journey that has the girls setting off on a bike trip to Paris, their plan is to gate crash a garden party with the French President and each girl has her own particular reason for wanting to be there.

I found Piglettes to be a light hearted, cheerful and funny story that actually covers some very serious issues about judging people by how they look on the surface and bullying. These girls, Mireille, Astrid and Hakima are quirky, interesting characters that are fun to cheer on.

The author’s unique style, tongue-in-cheek humor and strong feminist ideas form the backbone of this book. I did wonder if Mireille seemed a little too sophisticated to be a sixteen year old but her background could easily explain this so I just accepted it and went along for the ride. This is an adventurous story about blossoming friendship, hope and finding ones own inner power.

>134 DeltaQueen50: Added this to my list! How could I not with a title like that.

>135 JayneCM: It was the title that drew me to this book as well. It's a quick, short read that really has a sense of play and fun about it. I hope you enjoy it.

Stopping by with Happy Family Day wishes, Judy. Very sorry to learn about the diagnosis/lack of options for your knee. I have my fingers crossed that the cortisone shot will have a long-term effect.

>124 DeltaQueen50: - I continue to love your Random Folly category challenge!

>137 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori. I am enjoying my Random Follies and it is helping to pull some books from my shelves that I've had for a long, long time.

34. The Outlaw Album by Daniel Woodrell - 4.1 ★
Category: Random Place - Missouri
February TIOLI #13: At Least 3 People Are Mentioned on Page 1



The Outlaw Album is a collection of short stories by Daniel Woodrell and although I am a huge fan of this author, I would suggest that newcomers to his work start with one of his novels rather than this collection of inventive, gritty stories that are about tough characters who always choose the dark side. The stories pull no punches whether they are about murder, rape or revenge. His characters are mostly backwoods folk from the Ozarks familiar with drugs, liquor and guns and it is often impossible to find any redeeming or likeable qualities in them.

As with all short story collections, I preferred some stories over others but all are written in his hauntingly simple, heart-felt prose that paint vivid pictures of the Ozark countryside and the intense people he places there. The Outlaw Album is a book filled with tense stories, hard characters and brutal actions and I am happy to include this timeless, provocative collection on my shelf alongside his other works.

>133 DeltaQueen50: Duh! Well, two Martins...

>139 DeltaQueen50: I need to get to this one soon. It sounds perfect.

>140 BLBera: With all the books we read, it's amazing that we can keep so many authors' names in our heads!

>141 RidgewayGirl: Yep, you need a shot of Daniel Woodrell every now and again!

35. Divorcing Jack by Colin Bateman - 4.0 ★
Category: AlphaKit
February AlphaKit - B
BingoDog: Proper Name In Title
February TIOLI #16: Author's Name has 4 or More Different Vowels



Divorcing Jack by Colin Bateman is the first in his series that features a witty Belfast newspaper columnist named Dan Starkey who excels at drinking and partying. One night at a party he is caught by his wife kissing another woman, and this misdeed leads him into a horrendous week of murder and politics with both the police, the IRA and the Loyalists all after him.

Divorcing Jack is a wonderful combination of Irish noir and black comedy with a highly likeable anti-hero as the main character. As he stumbles and bumbles his way around Belfast at the height of the Troubles he runs into gangsters, politicians and thugs and while not always entirely credible, the story is always entertaining.

I have had this book sitting on my shelves for more years than I care to count. I don’t know why it has taken me so long to finally start this series, but I will be continuing on with Starkey’s adventures in the near future.

>143 DeltaQueen50: I remember reading and enjoying that one a while back, Judy.

Nice to see your reading is slowing down none.

>144 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Have very little mobility these days means I seem to be spending even more time with my books.

36. The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress by Ariel Lawhon - 3.2 ★
Category: Reading Thru Time
February Reading Thru Time: Mystery
February TIOLI #9: Rolling Challenge - A Date With An Author



Before the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa captured the imagination of the public, there was the disappearance of another man, New York State Supreme Count Judge Joseph Crater who also disappeared never to be seen again. Both these men had dealings with organized crime and most likely both overstepped a boundary that ensured they were murdered and their bodies well hidden. In The Wife, The Maid and the Mistress author Ariel Lawhon re-imagines the 1930 disappearance of Judge Crater by highlighting three women in his life, his wife, Stella; his maid, Maria; and his mistress, showgirl Ritzi.

This had all the ingredients for a fantastic story, but unfortunately I felt the author rather missed the mark on bringing this book to life. She does provide an interesting backdrop of 1930s New York contrasting the high society soirees with the dark and sinister speakeasies and mob owned nightclubs. With his political connections and shady dealings, Judge Crater should have been a more interesting figure, as indeed, the three female characters should have been as well, but for me they all came across rather flat and one dimensional.

Knowing that this was a real life story based on power, corruption and ambition, it was disappointing that it didn’t have the emotional depth or character development needed to bring it to life. The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress was this author’s debut novel, and looking at her catalogue of works I can see she chooses interesting subjects to write about so I plan to try one of her later novels at some point to see if she improves her craft.

So glad you enjoyed Divorcing Jack. I commented on another thread where you mentioned it.

>127 DeltaQueen50: The Forbidden Daughter sounds really interesting -- thanks for the BB! >119 DeltaQueen50: I've also heard good things about The Girl of Fire and Thorns, so I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.

>147 VivienneR: At first I was afraid that Divorcing Jack was going to be a little dated, but his wit and humor totally won me over. I am looking forward to continuing with the series.

>148 christina_reads: You're welcome for the BB, Christina. I can't believe that I hadThe Girl of Fire and Thorns lingering on my TBR as long as I did - it was worth the wait!

37. The Sea by John Banville - 4.0 ★
Category: 1,001 Books List
February 1,001 Challenge Read: From the List of Group Characteristic Works
February TIOLI #16: Author's Name Contains 4 or More Different Vowels



The Sea by John Banville is a novel about love and loss, as the main character, Max Morden tries to come to terms with his wife’s death from cancer by retreating into his memories of his past, in particular, his childhood vacations at the seaside. Taking this a step further, he returns to the seaside boarding house where an event that affected him greatly took place. The reader does not discover what this event was until near the end of the book.

There isn’t much of a story to this novel, rather it appears to be a series of reflections on mortality, grief, death and childhood memory. The author evokes a quiet, haunting atmosphere in which to set his beautiful writing. He also cleverly uses the power of scent as a trigger to many of the character’s memories. The flawed main character is not particularly likeable as he constantly questions his motives, finds solace in a bottle, and seems to revel in his melancholy and regret.

The Sea is not a story to be read for entertainment but rather one to admire for it’s luminous wording and to reflect upon the complex patterns that Banville presents with these words.

>150 DeltaQueen50: I see you enjoyed that one as much as I did. When I reviewed it, I wrote, "The story's words seem carefully chosen, allowing the reader to savor their use."

>151 thornton37814: Although I usually like more of a plot than The Sea had, I was totally absorbed by Banville's writing ability.

38. The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook - 4.0 ★
Category: SFFFKit
February SFFFKit: Transformation
February Fantasy Month
February TIOLI #1: First Word in First Paragraph Starts With a Vowel



The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook was a lively, fun fantasy read with a strong female lead and an interesting, layered plot that revolves around both a royal coup and a mysterious game being played by secretive players who see everyone as pieces to be moved or sacrificed as needed.

Princess Contessa has been raised as a proper princess with lessons in decorum, diplomacy, and politics as well as fashion and shopping. She was also trained in how to protect herself by Chancellor Kravenlow and carries various easily hidden weapons including knives and venom-laced darts. But her world comes crashing down when, on eve of her betrothal, she is told that she actually isn’t the real princess, but a decoy raised in public so that the proper heir could be raised safely in secret. Before she can come to terms with this revelation, her betrothed, the evil, power-hungry Prince Garrett, kills the king and queen, tries to hold Tess a prisoner and sends out a force to kill the proper princess. His plan is to marry Tess and control the kingdom. The pampered princess now finds herself on the run, being hunted by Garrett’s strange Captain of the Guard, Jeck.

I really enjoyed The Decoy Princess, it drew me in with it’s many twists and turns. The moral ambiguity of several characters keeps the reader guessing and makes the story unpredictable. Romance was kept to the minimum and nothing was as it seemed which makes me eager to pick up the sequel.

39. Swerve by Vicki Pettersson - 2.0 ★
Category: ScaredyKit
February ScaredyKit: Psychological Thrillers
TIOLI #1: First Word of First Paragraph Starts With a Vowel



I didn’t like the psychological thriller Swerve by Vicki Pettersson for a number of reasons. Firstly, it took the victimization of a woman way too far out of my comfort zone. Secondly, the whole plot was hinged on the reader being willing to suspend belief but I could not turn off my inner voice that said this is totally unbelievable.

When Kristine and her finance, Daniel are attacked at a way station off the interstate, Daniel is held prisoner while Kristine is led through a series of sick tasks in order to win his freedom. From running over a man, to offering a blow job to a stranger in a restaurant, each episode becomes more sadistic than the previous one.

I thought it was pretty obvious who was behind this monstrous ordeal and obviously the author realized this so the second half of the book follows a different path. Unfortunately by this time I had pretty much lost patience and had disconnected from the book. I struggle with the credulity of thrillers most of the time anyway, and the story line of Swerve didn’t help. It was simply too improbable for me to accept this vicious nightmare as anything but an outlandish fairytale.

40. How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff - 4.0 ★
Category: TIOLI Challenges
February TIOLI #2: Morphy's Challenge - Tag Mash of Favorite, Romance



How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff is an unusual story of modern day war as experienced by 15 year old Daisy. She has come to England from New York to stay with her cousins. And while Daisy isn’t the most reliable narrator, it becomes obvious that her home life was difficult as she and her stepmother didn’t get along so even though the times are precarious, Daisy has been sent away. Now, living in the English countryside with her eccentric cousins, Daisy experiences a different world. Her aunt is an international peace negotiator and absent much of the time. Her four cousins are an unusual assortment and their unchaperoned country life and their strange ways appeal to Daisy. Isaac is able to talk to animals, Piper understands and knows nature, and Edmond appears able to read her mind. She is attracted to Edmond and even though they are first cousins, they decide that they are soulmates and embark upon a passionate affair.

While the children are left to fend for themselves, war breaks out. At first it is a distant affair and the children mostly ignore it, but slowly the food shortages and lack of services begin to affect them. When soldiers seize the farm, they divide the family, sending the girls off separately from the boys. Daisy becomes determined to keep herself and her young cousin Piper alive and to reunite with the boys. The war and survival become frighteningly realistic as Daisy matures and takes on the responsibility of keeping herself and Piper alive.

How I live Now was a page turner and totally drew me in. I was a little put off at first with the unconventional relationship between Daisy and Edmond but grew to accept it. My biggest concern with the story was how rushed the ending was and how choppy the timing seemed but overall this was a gripping and involved story.

My 12 year Thingaversary is coming up in June and I fully intend to purchase 13 books to celebrate, but 13 at one time is a little overwhelming so I am going to purchase a few towards my total over the next few months.

I started with ordering a couple of books about to be published:

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn

and then one more to count toward the total:

The Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

Three down and ten to go!

ETA: Although it wasn't deliberate on your part, thanks for inspiring me to do this, Meg. :)

>156 DeltaQueen50: You're welcome, Judy. I just finished buying the last of my thingaversary books today. It has been hard. I never thought I would ever say that but my anniversary date was February 10th and I started in January. Amazing how hard it was to chose the books considering I was buying about 20 books a month until this year.

Sorry to hear about the lack of options for your knee. I thought for sure an operation would fix you right up. I hope the cortisone shot helps and that you and your doctor can come up with a plan to get you back on track.

>156 DeltaQueen50: - I think that's a really good idea, Judy. My Thingaversary in right at the beginning of Jan and I find it hard to buy books in the bustle of cleaning up from the holidays and getting ready to go away for a couple of months. Maybe I'll start mine when I start my Christmas shopping.

May I ask, what is the Thingaversary? Mine is in August but is there some kind of tradition that goes with a thingaversary?

>159 Kristelh: Kristel, the tradition is that you get to purchase one book for each year you've been on LibraryThing plus one to grow on. My 13th is next month so I'm entitled to 14 books.

>156 DeltaQueen50: I'm also eagerly awaiting The Glass Hotel. My Thingaversary was Saturday. I bought six books last week and I'll buy the other half at a library booksale or piecemeal, but I refuse to forgo the pleasure of this tradition!

>157 Familyhistorian: I am really liking this idea of stretching my book buying out - gives me an excuse to shop and makes me happy seeing new books arrive.

>158 dudes22: That sounds like an excellent plan, Betty!

>159 Kristelh: 7 >160 thornton37814: Lori has explained the Thingaverary tradition perfectly and it is a wonderful way to mark our original discovery of this site and the on-going enjoyment we get from it (plus an excuse to buy books!!)

>161 RidgewayGirl: I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of The Glass Hotel I suspect it will be the book I read for the "Published in 2020" Bingo square.

I haven't mentioned my knee issues for awhile but I am feeling cautiously optimistic after having my cortisone shot last week. It feels stronger and more able to support me. I am going to cancel the home care visits for now as I can shower quite easily now that we have had support bars installed in the shower. I have been using a walker and exercising in the hallway of the apartment that I live in. My next goal is to start using just a cane and see how that goes. My husband has an appointment next week and he would like me to come with him and just using a cane would be so much easier.

The doctor that gave me the shot spent a lot of time with me. It's been affirmed that the problem is that a piece of cartiledge has bunched up and is restricting the bending of the knee. He also gave me a number of saline shots in an effort to flush it out and then he worked my knee by pulling and pushing on my leg. I don't think it worked as I still feel twinges behind my kneecap, but at least he made an effort.

If this shot fades after just two months, he has suggested one more option. I don't fully understand it, but they draw some of my blood - mix it with oxygen and maybe something else and then reinsert it. This is done over three separate occasions so at least I have something in my back pocket if the cortisone wears off too quickly.

>163 DeltaQueen50: I'm glad you're getting some relief.

>163 DeltaQueen50: I'm glad to hear things seem to be looking up a bit. I hope the cane works well too.

So glad the cortisone shot helped you too, Judy!

>164 RidgewayGirl:, >165 Jackie_K: & >166 ronincats: Thank you, it really gives me a lift to see even the slightest improvement.

41. My Life on a Plate by India Knight - 2.8 ★
Category: Random Tag - Occasion
February TIOLI #3: Cover Shows Something You Would Wear on Your Face



In her debut novel, My Life on a Plate, author India Knight uses sharp humor and wry observations to tell the story of Clara Hutt, who at 33 appears to have her life in order. Married to a successful man with whom she shares two children, Clara’s biggest concerns seems to be that she is slightly overweight and rather inefficient at running a smooth household. Calling herself Jabba the Hutt on bad days, she finds herself constantly questioning if “this is all there is”. She expected her husband to be more attentive and for she herself to be less bored and happier.

Overall this book was a miss with me. Clara seemed to be whining a lot and lacked self-confidence, her husband was distant and cold. He was a totally absent father, leaving all child rearing and home-making decisions to Clara. Then when he whisked her off on a romantic weekend to Paris, I thought all issues were going to be discussed, resolved and that a happy ending was in sight. Instead her husband finally reveals what he wants from life leaving Clara to pick up the pieces as best she can. From here we quickly reach an unrealistic conclusion that made me want to throw the book across the room.

My Life on a Plate seemed to be about self-centred people dealing with their mid-life crises and I really felt no connection to these trite, smug people.

I'm glad your feeling some relief, Judy. The doctor seems to be taking all things into consideration to find you a good solution.

>168 DeltaQueen50: - I can see this book title being an answer to one of the meme questions at the end of the year.

>168 DeltaQueen50: - Sounds like a miss. I read her Comfort and Joy (or, rather, listened to it) a few years ago. It was a Christmas novel, and I remember enjoying it. But I also remember the narrator was excellent, and a good narrator can redeem a bad book for me :)

I'm glad you've gotten some relief from the knee pain. I hope it continues!

Morning, Judy!
Good to hear you're getting some relief with your leg, even if there may be more procedures ahead. I'd never heard of the blood & oxygen procedure before, but aren't they clever?

>169 dudes22: Thanks Betty, you gave a disappointing book a positive spin - that title just may come in handy!

>170 katiekrug: I also have read and really liked Comfort and Joy, Katie. My Life on a Plate is her debut book so it looks like she improved as she went along.

>171 mstrust: Thanks, Jennifer. We are saving that option till last as it is considered optional so not covered by medical insurance - and it's very expensive!

42. The Vanishing Raiders by Fred Grove - 3.8 ★
Category: TIOLI Challenges
BingoDog: Title Contains 3 Consecutive Leeters from the word Bingo (ING)
February TIOLI #4: Title Contains one of the 32 names of the NFL Teams



The Vanishing Raiders by Fred Grove is a collection of 8 short and 1 novella length western stories. A few of these short stories take place in the 1920’s in Osage Country, Oklahoma, which was where oil had been found on the Indian reservations and then drew many greedy, lawless men out to try to steal or cheat the profits away from the Indians. Grove himself was part Indian and grew up Fairfax, Oklahoma and much of what he writes about here was from his memories of that time.

The Vanishing Raiders is a quick read and covers an interesting time period. The 1920s were a bridge from the days of the wild west to the beginnings of modern day law and order. These stories often deal with relations between the Indians and the whites with issues of trust, prejudice and the importance of standing up for what is right. My favorite was the novella length story that is a coming-of-age story about a young man who comes out west to work for his uncle only to find his uncle isn’t the upstanding honest man that he makes out to be. As in all short story collections, I preferred some of the stories over others but they were all well written and the stories felt authentic and real.

Glad you are getting some relief from knee troubles. Walking in your condo hallways is a great idea that should help a lot.

>168 DeltaQueen50: Thanks for the comment on My life on a plate. I had it on my wishlist for a long time and never got around to it, now I can skip it. Like >170 katiekrug: I enjoyed Comfort and Joy although mine was a paper book.

>174 VivienneR: I also enjoyed Comfort and Joy, Vivienne, so I won't totally remove this author from my mind. Hopefully this was just an odd one out.

43. The Year At Thrush Green by Miss Read - 4.2 ★
Category: TIOLI Challenges
BingoDog: Published Under a Pen Name
February TIOLI #7: Next Book in a Series by a Woman Author



The Year at Thrush Green by Miss Read is the twelfth book about a small rural village in a small corner of England known as the Cotswolds. The inhabitants of Thrush Green are now well known friends and it was a joy to catch up with the latest news and goings-on. The author chose to spread this book over the twelve months of a year, giving us a close look at the passing seasons and how the natural world adapts to the changing weather.

From picturesque descriptions of the countryside to lively gossip about the residents this books was everything I love about this series. Thrush Green in all it’s glory of tidy gardens, thatched cottages, and friendly neighbours comes to life on the pages. These simple stories have a charm and nostalgia that is unique to these books, and with only one book left in the series, I know I am going to miss my visits to Thrush Green.

>176 DeltaQueen50: I want to plan a reread of Miss Read as it is just so lovely. Sometimes you need a delightful read.

>177 JayneCM: I've been enjoying the Thrush Green series for a number of years now and I will be sorry when I'm finished but at least I still have all the Fairacre books ahead of me.

>178 DeltaQueen50: I read the Miss Read books first and ended up favoring them although most people prefer Thrush Green. You can't go wrong with either.

>176 DeltaQueen50: >179 thornton37814: I've passed these by many times on the library shelves, but am going to look to them next time I need a light read.

>179 thornton37814: I love the Thrush Green series but I am looking forward to the Fairacre series as well. I have read a few of them but this time I will read then in their chronological order.

>180 markon: They are great light reads that harken back to days long gone when things were slower and less complicated.

>176 DeltaQueen50: I discovered Miss Read in an article I read (years ago now) about novelists to read if you love Jane Austen. The article listed 5-6 authors which included Miss Read, Angela Thirkell & D.E. Stevenson - I don't recall the others which is a shame as I have delighted in the books by the 3 I have named. They all include humor with "clean" romance (meaning no bodice-ripping or soft porn). It has been too long since I read any Miss Read books - I need to move her up in my internal queue!

Hi, Judy! Good to hear the cortisone shots worked so well and that you have a plan in case it doesn't last.

>153 DeltaQueen50: >155 DeltaQueen50: Ow! Ow! Two direct hits by BBs! :)

>156 DeltaQueen50: I'm looking forward to reading your take on The Glass Hotel, though I may read it myself first so as not to be unduly influenced. I liked her Station Eleven, though not as much as others did.

>163 DeltaQueen50: I'm glad the knee is feeling better, Judy. Fingers crossed.

>156 DeltaQueen50: Nice choices for your Thingaversary. I can't wait to get my hands on The Glass Hotel!

>183 leslie.98: I have read plenty of Miss Read, with more to come and I have both Angela Thirkell and D.E. Stevenson on my shelves so I am well prepared for some delightful reads when I need them.

>184 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, I can't believe the difference that the cortisone shot makes - I am just hoping that it doesn't wear off too soon. I really liked Station Eleven and I am looking forward to reading The Glass Hotel.

>185 BLBera: After your recommendation, I picked In the Time of Butterflies as one of my first purchases and I am looking forward to reading it. I will probably add a couple of books this month to my Thingaversary list - I'm still sorting through my selections.

44. Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard - 4.5 ★
Category: 1,001 Books List
March TIOLI #16: March Birthstone Challenge - Aquamarine Cover



Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard tells the story of mob-connected loan shark Chili Palmer, who chases a deadbeat client out to Hollywood from Miami and then finds he loves the L.A. lifestyle. Chili has become dissatisfied with life in Miami so with an idea for a movie simmering in his head, he goes about trying to get it made even though it may be the death of him. He hooks up with Harry Zimm a producer of low budget horror films who is looking to step up the quality of his films.

Chili Palmer is a fantastic character, big on style, wise in the ways of those who operate outside the law and enthusiastic about films and Hollywood. Along with Chili, Leonard fills this book with interesting backup characters, great dialogue and an ingenious plot with plenty of humor and action.

This is a story that grabbed me from page one. Get Shorty with it’s sharp and clever style is both cool and fun as well as an excellent send-up of how business is conducted in Hollywood.

>153 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy - First, glad to hear that your knee is helped by the cortisone shots and that the Doc may have figured out what is giving you such difficulty.

This book you read for the SFFKit February Fantasy challenge reminded me of the book I read for the same. While the characters are nothing alike (mine was Kushiel's Dart, they are both about daring women who arm themselves, either with actual arms and venom-laced darts (sounds pretty cool!) or the ability to listen to what is behind the words spoken. That, and Phedre has learned many languages which stands her in good stead.

Keep on reading some great books, and happy Thingaversary!

>188 threadnsong: Thank you. Yesterday my husband took me out for lunch and it was wonderful to get out of the house and be around people. I have to use my walker to keep steady but my knee is feeling stronger every day.

I really enjoyed The Decoy Princess and will have to look into Kushiel's Dart now. :)

45. Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers - 4.2 ★
Category: Other Challenges
March MysteryKit: Golden Age Mysteries
March Murder & Mayhem Month
March TIOLI #2: Rolling Challenge - March Themes



Gaudy Night is the twelfth novel in Dorothy Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series. It is also the third book to feature Harriet Vane. Harriet has returned to the all-female Shrewsbury College, Oxford to attend the annual Gaudy celebrations, but things take a rather sombre turn when someone begins a series of malicious acts that include obscene graffiti, poison-pen letters and vandalism. Harriet eventually asks her friend and suitor, Wimsey to help her investigate.

Over and above the mystery, this was the book where Harriet finally realizes that she is in love with Peter Wimsey. He has been proposing to her on a regular basis but now she finally is able to accept. They make an interesting couple, their relationship is built on friendship, equality and mutual respect and I am looking forward to the next few books in the series. While Shrewsbury College is entirely fictional, the author’s love and knowledge of Oxford creates a wonderful academic atmosphere that works well with the subject matter.

46. Girl on a Plane by Miriam Moss - 4.1 ★
Category: TIOLI Challenges
March TIOLI #8: Book Title Includes a Mathematical or Astrological Term



Fifteen year old Anna is flying back to England for school after spending the summer with her family in Bahrain. Her plane is hijacked by Palestinian guerrillas and forced to land in the Jordanian desert. Demands are made to the British government and if these demands are not met, the guerrillas are planning on blowing the plane up with all the passengers on board. Thus begins Girl on a Plane by Miriam Moss, a YA story that was tense and suspenseful yet also felt very real.

Anna has to endure during four days of watching the clock count down, living through extreme desert conditions while on starvation rations and very little water. With a growing sense of desperation, she wonders if she will ever see her family again.

At the end of the book I discovered that this scenario actually happened to the author when she was fifteen. Girl on a Plane is about ordinary people living through extraordinary circumstances and I for one, was totally engrossed by this story.

Gaudy Night is one of my favorites, Judy. It's a go-to when I am in a book funk.

Girl on a Plane does sound like a great story.

I'm glad the knee continues to improve. Fingers crossed.

Good luck with the knee issues.

I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of Emily St. John Mandel's new book. She is doing an event in my city at the beginning of April and I so wanted to go, but my daughter is playing in an orchestra concert the same evening. :(

Glad to hear the cortisone shot continues to help. Mine is still helping as well, but I'm starting to feel twinges now and then.

>192 BLBera: Gaudy Night is definitely one of my top favorites of the Peter Wimsey books. I really like this couple and how they act with each other. I'm looking forward to the next book to see what happens with them.

>193 mathgirl40: Oh that's such a shame that you have conflicting events but, of course, family comes first. I am looking forward to this book but also trying not too get my expectations too high.

>194 ronincats: Hi Roni. Yes, I get the odd twinge as well and it makes me very nervous. I didn't have the best day yesterday, but so far, it feels much better today. I hope your knee continues to improve.

47. The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe - 3.2 ★
Category: Random Place - Germany
BingoDog: Epistolary
1,001 Books to Read Before You Die List
March TIOLI #6: Book Has An Odd Number of Pages



Originally published in 1774, The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe is an epistolary style story that captured the imagination of the public when first published. Men dressed in Werther’s signature outfit and women wore “Eau de Werther”. This novella is one of the first examples of romanticism, a movement in arts, music and literature in the late 18th century that emphasized inspiration, emotion and glorification of nature.

The sensational story is about a young artist who heads for rural solitude after becoming entangled in an inappropriate romance. While in the country, he falls for Lotte, the daughter of a land steward. She is engaged to another and cannot return his affections. Werther’s extreme passion and torment at Lotte’s rejection leads him to contemplate suicide as his only solution.

This fictional story is in actuality based on the author’s own bout with unrequited love and in this story he captures how Werther becomes fixated with the ideal he has built in his mind rather than having real feelings toward an actual woman. The Sorrows of Young Werther, although a little dated, is a well written story about the painful emotions of obsession and rejection,

48. Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid - 4.0 ★
Category: Random Book of Mine
March TIOLI #5: Had on my shelf since before January, 2020



At first Let’s Get Lost by Adi Alsaid appears to be about a teenage girl, Leila, and her road trip north to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. However, it soon becomes apparent that this book is actually a series of interconnected short stories, with Leila being the one thing they have in common. As Leila travels she meets other young people and she seems to arrive just when they really need someone to help them figure out their life. Leila gives advice on romance, family problems, university plans and over the course of one crazy prom night, how to get the girl of your dreams.

When I started this YA book, I wasn’t sure that it was going to be a book for me, but the stories drew me in and I ended up really enjoying the experience. While Leila offers insight, advice, support and friendship to the teens she meets, she reveals very little about herself so I was anticipating the final story which I was sure would be about her.

Like all good road trips, the destination isn’t as important as the actual journey and Let’s Get Lost was a fun trip. The author included plenty of humor and brought an overall feeling of lightness to the book, yet each story had a definite message to pass along. I listened to an audio version of the book as read by Amanda Cobb whose voice perfectly suited these stories. Although I am far from the targeted age for this book, I nevertheless found it a nice escape read.

>196 DeltaQueen50: Oh, I have that book & need something for the epistolary square! I had been thinking of Dangerous Liaisons but it is quite long...

>198 leslie.98: The Sorrows of Young Werther would work perfectly for your epistolary square. It is only about 149 pages and although a little dated and over-the-top emotionally, it isn't a difficult read.

49. A War in Crimson Embers by Alex Marshall - 4.1 ★
Category: SFFFKit
March SFFFKit: Series
March TIOLI #5: On My Shelves Since Before January, 2020



A War in Crimson Embers by Alex Marshall is the third book in the Crimson Empire trilogy and when we last left off, the heroes had all been separated and sent off to face their own trials. Scattered over their vast star, each character faces tremendous difficulties as they fight their way back to each other. As each hero wins through and they reunite, they now face their greatest test as they must stave off an apocalypse and hold back the nearly immortal devils and monsters of Jex Toth.

This epic fantasy story is filled with danger and betrayal at every turn. As the mortals get set for the final confrontation with the demons, there are many dark twists and turns. As Cold Zosia tells the group, “Let’s save the Star, stay alive and get f_ _king drunk – in that order!” The author does not shy away from extreme violence and gore but does pepper his story with plenty of humor and spicy romances. With larger than life characters, bold language and vivid descriptions A War in Crimson Embers was an excellent closing to this inventive, brutal and fun fantasy trilogy.

50. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah - 2.8 ★
Category: Reading Through Time
BingoDog: Involving a Real Historical Event
March Reading Through Time: Mothers and Daughters
March TIOLI #3: Honoring Plant a Seed Day



Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah is about the difficult relationship between two sisters and their mother but unfortunately, this story just didn’t ring true to me. Meredith and Nina Whitson are sisters that are very different from one another, but what they have in common is that they grew up with a warm and protective father and a cold, distant mother. Their father always tried to bring the family together, to make excuses for their mother but the girls always felt unloved and unwanted by her.

On his deathbed, their father asks his wife to tell her story to the girls and for the girls to really listen to what their mother is saying. Even though their own lives are falling apart, both girls invest the time to listen and then they realize that this story is more than a Russian fairy tale. What is slowly being revealed is that their mother lived through a great tragedy during WW II when she survived the German siege of Leningrad.

While the Leningrad story is heart-breaking, I found the rest of the story just too great a stretch for me. Surely, the father would have brought his family together before he was on his deathbed, his wife was such a dysfunctional mother that someone would have had some serious questions at some point. I also wondered why one or both of the sisters had never investigated their Russian family roots. The ending of the book was entirely too contrived to be believable and I highly doubt that years of rejection and emotional abuse could be turned into empathy and affection that easily.

>199 DeltaQueen50: "over the top emotionally" is an understated way of putting it!

>202 RidgewayGirl: LOL! Well, I didn't want to scare a prospective reader off.

51. All That I Have by Castle Freeman Jr. - 5.0 ★
Category: TIOLI Challenges
March TIOLI #10: Tour de Suisse



The novel All That I Have was my first experience with the author Castle Freeman Jr. But it certainly won’t be my last. This is a captivating story about Sheriff Lucian Wing as he faces the trials and tribulations of his daily life. In his quiet, laconic manner this Vermont country sheriff deals with both domestic concerns about his marriage, local crime enforcement, and an upcoming election.

For Lucien, being sheriff is like being a shepherd guiding his flock. He would rather resolve most encounters peacefully, without resorting to gun-play or violence. When a local bad boy makes the mistake of stealing something from the home of a Russian gangster, Lucien knows that he must retrieve and return the stolen item, get the local boy to safety and encourage the Russians to leave his county. Concealing his sharp wit and keeping a low profile with no uniform and no gun, Lucien is often underestimated but he understands people and knows how to get the job done.

All That I Have is a brilliantly written story. The author uses sparse prose, but each word fits perfectly. The humor comes from his knowledge of people and how they think and act. I was reminded of another favorite character, Sheriff Walt Longmire of Wyoming, both of these men are thoughtful, caring of their community and use humor as a very effective weapon. I listened to an audio version of the story as read by Steven Roy Grimsley, whose voice fit the story perfectly. I highly recommend All That I Have by Castle Freeman Jr.

ETA: I should note here that this book was another excellent Book Bullet from RidgewayGirl. Thanks, Kay!

That sounds good and I haven't read anything by Freeman yet. Thanks for the review. My mom loves Longmire so it might be a good one for her too.

>205 mstrust: I hope you and your Mom enjoy this one, Jennifer. I've also seen in the reviews that many people compare this to Cormac McCarthy's No Country For Old Men (without the violence), another book I haven't read yet but am looking forward to.

>204 DeltaQueen50: - Well that's a BB for me.

>204 DeltaQueen50: I'm not surprised that you loved this one, too!

Happy Sunday, Judy! I hope you are doing well. I am so glad you loved Get Shorty. This is Leonard at his best. I am a big fan, although I have read very little of his work, in the past two decades. I may need to do some revisiting. All That I Have sounds fantastic. I have Go With Me on shelf. I should move it up.

>207 dudes22: I think you will love this one, Betty. :)

>208 RidgewayGirl: I'm still all excited about disovering another author that I love. Can't wait to read more by him.

>209 msf59: Hi Mark. I am a fan of Leonard as well, though I have read more of his westerns than his other stuff. All That I Have was fantastic - I still have two more of his on my shelf, including Go With Me.

52. Aprons and Silver Spoons by Mollie Moran - 4.0 ★
Category: Other Challenges
March Non-FictionCat: Biography/Memoir
March TIOLI #11: A Non-fiction Book by a Woman



Aprons and Silver Spoons by Mollie Moran is a wonderful memoir of young country girl who at age 14 becomes a scullery maid. She finds herself working 15 hours a day doing the most menial and dirty of jobs, but she is irrepressible and lively and makes the best of her situation. She becomes life-long friends with a kitchen maid, observes and trains under a strict cook and works her way up, first as a kitchen maid and then finding a job where she herself was the main cook for a large household.

During her time in service she grew to be a woman, cooked for the rich and famous and met her RAF husband. Both headstrong and ambitious, Molly was determined to succeed and becoming a cook at age twenty was almost unheard of. The story covers not only Molly’s life, but the many changes that have occurred in Britain from the 1920s right up to the 2000s. She comments on many things including fashions, politics, technology and of course, cooking. She has lived through so many changes during her life yet even at age 96 she is both alert and aware.

Aprons and Silver Spoons brings the worlds of Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey to life as Molly Moran writes about her times with fondness and nostalgia. She also includes some pictures, recipes and household tips that help to make this an interesting and fun read.

53. No One's Home by D. M. Pulley - 4.0 ★
Category: ScaredyKit
March ScaredyKit: Haunted Places
March TIOLI #6: Book has an odd number of pages



No One’s Home by D.M. Pulley is a dark tale of a house haunted by it’s past history of tragedy and the family currently living there. The Spielmans have moved to Cleveland looking for a fresh start and to escape from the secrets of their own past. They purchase and renovate Rawlingswood, ignoring the rumors of hauntings, but once they move in strange things start to happen.

This is a story of murder with supernatural elements. It seems like the house feeds on people’s troubles and the Spielmans have a history of guilt, addiction and dark secrets. The story delves into the past and the readers learn of the various tragedies that have occurred to all five families that have lived in the house.

I found No One’s Home to be both chilling and spooky, and I admired the way the author kept control of the story and didn’t let it become too far-fetched. Instead she allows the creepy atmosphere and an ominous sense of foreboding to propel the story and keep the reader on edge. Personally I find that flicker of movement seen from the corner of one’s eye or a dark shadow that moves across a window much more scary that in-your-face details. Overall, I found No One’s Home to be a good ghost story that kept me involved.

Good to see that the shot helped your mobility, Judy. That must be a relief. I hope it last a long time. Still working on those Thingaversary books? After I finally gathered all the ones that I needed book buying became fun again and I am finding more that I actually want to buy.

>213 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. I am hoping that the cortisone continues working for some time. I have no trouble finding books to buy - controlling myself - well, that's another matter. I have a couple more in mind to buy this month to add to the Thingaversary list and will probably order them next week.

54. Nevertheless, She Persisted a Flash Fiction Project - 3.7 ★
Category: TIOLI Challenges
March TIOLI 12: An Anthology of Genre Fiction



When Senator Elizabeth Warren was silenced on the floor of the U. S. Senate for reading aloud the words of Coretta Scott King, three short lines rang out over the internet, and have come to represent the struggles that woman have faced throughout history.

“She was warned
She was given an explanation
Nevertheless she persisted.”

Now Tor Publishing has assembled a flash fiction collection of eleven stories featuring many well known female writers of Science Fiction/Fantasy. Flash Fiction is extremely short, usually around 1,000 words. Each writer opens her story with the above iconic three lines and then delivers her unique take on these words.

As always with short stories, I felt more connected to some of the stories but I am happy that I have read these offerings from such authors as Charlie Jane Anders, Seanan McGuire, Jo Walton and Alyssa Wong just to name a few.

55. Dancers In Mourning by Margery Allingham - 4.2 ★
Category: Other Challenges
March MysteryKit: Golden Age Mysteries
March Mystery & Mayhem Month
March TIOLI #4: A Word In Title is Often Misused or Misspelled



Dancers in Mourning by Margery Allingham is the 9th book in her series featuring Albert Campion and was originally published in 1937. I really enjoyed this one as it merged the world of musical comedy with a country house murder. Campion is asked to check out a series of nasty practical jokes that are being played on Jimmy Sutane, the famous dancer who is starring in a production of “The Buffer”, based on the fictional memoirs of Campion’s friend William Faraday.

These nasty jokes are escalating and while Campion and a number of others are spending the weekend at Sutane’s country home, the death of a co-star occurs. Although ruled an accidental death, Campion isn’t so sure. He, himself is struggling with this case, as he has fallen in love with Linda, the wife of the star. He tries to remove himself, but then a home made bomb takes a terrible toll and Scotland Yard asks for his assistance.

In Dancers in Mourning the readers get to see a different Campion. Instead of the jaunty, unflappable man-about-town, he is preoccupied with his feelings, not wanting to hurt Linda yet afraid that her husband could be implicated in the crimes. Dancers in Mourning is destined to be a personal favorite of mine for a number of reasons but mostly for showing us a new side to Campion as he deals with his emotional uncertainty.

>215 DeltaQueen50: I think that inspired quite a few anthologies - I read an ER book a couple of years ago which again was an anthology of short stories called Nevertheless, She Persisted too.

>217 Jackie_K: Those three short lines seemed to have inspired so many!

I ordered two more books to count toward my 12th Thingaversary today:

Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates
The Rules of Wolfe by James Carlos Blake

This brings my total to 5 books out of 13 - 8 to go!

Congrats on your Thingaversary! Enjoy your book buying!

Happy Thingaversary, Judy! I picked a good day to drop by your thread.

Enjoy your books!

>220 mstrust: & >221 Dejah_Thoris: Thank you but actually my Thingaversary isn't until June - I'm just spreading out my celebratory book buying over the next few months. ;)

>215 DeltaQueen50: Now that sounds interesting - I will have to see if my library has it.

>223 JayneCM: I think that this flash fiction piece is only available for the Kindle, the upside is that it is free.

>224 DeltaQueen50: Thanks for the info!

56. The Drowned World by J. G. Ballard - 4.0 ★
1,001 Books List
Category: Random Character - Robert
March TIOLI #16: Birthstone Challenge - Aquamarine Cover



The Drowned World is a 1962 science fiction novel by British author J. G. Ballard that is still very relevant today. Foreseeing the future, this novel depicts a world where global warming has caused the polar ice caps to melt and the oceans to rise. Some areas are silted up and due to the warmth of the sun areas that were temperate are now tropical and most uninhabitable. Most of the remaining human population lives either at the poles or northern Greenland.

This story takes place over the city of London. The city is gone, covered by water and this area has become a series of lagoons and tropical swamps suitable only for the many insects and reptiles that have taken over. We join a survey team that is checking out some of the major cities to see if they could become habitable again. Dr. Robert Kerans is part of the team of scientists and they are slowly transformed, both physically and psychologically by this prehistoric environment.

For me, the story was secondary. The author has created a realistic post-apocalyptic future that is both imaginative and ahead of its’ time. The book is full of striking images and descriptive passages. J. G. Ballard used extreme climate to create The Drowned World and his unique vision has obviously influenced many of today’ science fiction authors.

Hi Judy - You are zipping through the books!

All That I Have sounds wonderful. Onto my list it goes. I have been looking at The Drowned World for a while. I love to read the 50 -year-old books and find how prescient they are.

>227 BLBera: Hi Beth, yes, lots of reading going on around here. I find a lot of the older science fiction stories were ahead of their time. They also went into more science details than today's authors. All That I Have was wonderful and I am looking forward to reading more of Castle Freeman Jr.'s works.

Since my husband and I are at the age that is most vunerable to this horrible virus, we are taking precautions but also trying not to get too carried away. I went to my doctor the other day for 1 prescription but she insisted on giving me 3 months of prescriptions for everything I take - just in case of medical shortages down the road she said. That really hit home. We are going out today to pick up my prescriptions and a few groceries adding a few cans of tuna and some pork and beans just in case. I am also trying to keep updated but not watch too much news as a constant barage of covid-19 can drive one crazy!

My sister-in-law lives in the northern part of Washington state and they are also trying to stay home these days but she says she is about to go stir-crazy. Thank heaven both my husband and I are avid readers as staying home with a good book is a pleasure not a punishment.

Don't forget the toilet paper!

Two women in Western Australia were arrested for brawling over a trolley-full of toilet paper, and a man in Tamworth was tasered! Some supermarkets have security guards guarding the toilet paper to ensure that customers only take one packet. It's a national obsession.

>230 pamelad: Panic-buying toilet paper is so weird.

>229 DeltaQueen50:

At my last visit to the doctor’s office I got new prescriptions and was advised to stay home except for more medical stuff. We’ve also stocked up on groceries so that my husband doesn’t have to go out much either.

I stopped by as I really need to catch up (on my own thread, too) and to say hello. Now I have two more books on my wishlist.

It was good to hear that your knee is better and here’s hoping it stays that way.

Well, it was a crazy day out there. The grocery store shelves are emptying and I don't understand why some of the stuff is so popular. There was no toilet paper, no paper towels and no Kleenex to be had. All the canned soups were gone, in fact, most canned goods were pretty picked over. It does seem that people here aren't as concerned about sweet things as there was plenty of canned fruit and frozen fruit to be had but all the frozen vegs. were gone. Luckily we were able to get most of what we wanted except for the tuna fish and a can of cream of mushroom soup. We did find ourselves having to control that crazy urge to start buying things. I am going to trust that the shelves will be restocked and we are not going to have to go without too many things.

The drug store had a notice up that they were out of paper products like toilet paper, as well as medical masks, hand sanitizers and thermometers.

>230 pamelad: Luckily we weren't looking for toilet paper as there wasn't a wisp left. Apparently they are looking at putting restrictions on how much of certain items you can buy as people have been caught turning around and selling things on the internet for a tidy profit. Times of crisis seems to bring out both the best and the worst in people.

>231 RidgewayGirl: I was watching Trevor Noah the other night and he says we first-world people have no idea how to panic buy- toilet paper is the last thing to be concerned about.

>232 hailelib: Hi Trisha. One of my daughters is a nurse and she keeps at us to stay home and I think we will listen to her and keep our social distance from others right now. I am so pleased with my knee right now, I only hope it stays this good for some time to come. I have no concern over running out of reading supplies since I have over 2,000 books on my shelves, Kindles and Audible account. Take care of yourselves and stay healthy!

Glad your knee is better! Same thing at stores here--all paper products and soups gone! We always bought paper products at Sam's anyway, so already stocked up. Sam's had no ground beef today nor canned tuna, but I was able to get everything else. They were limiting water and cases of TP to 2 per card.

I've used the Folly program to select my random reads for April:

Random Member: Cathyskye and I picked The Missing and the Dead by Stuart MacBride from her books
Random Tag: Wolves - I chose The Wolf Border by Sarah Hall
Random Award: International Dublin IMPACT Award - I went with The Reader by Bernhard Schlink from the 1999 Short List
Random Character: Zoe - I chose The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
Random Place: Liverpool, England - I chose Leaving Liverpool by Lyn Andrews
Random Book of Mine - Death Message by Mark Billingham

A couple of these will also work for April's AlphaKit - S

Good idea to stay home and read! If only more people would do that, we might end the pandemic sooner and end up with a bunch of smarter people.

Last week, I bought one big package of toilet paper that should last me a month (maybe less if my daughter's family need to borrow some since they DIDN'T buy a big supply of the stuff), but I usually get that much at a time, especially if it's on sale, so I don't have to keep buying it every week. I figure, if this thing lasts more than a month, we are screwed past the point of needing giant amounts of toilet paper or, you know, anything.

Have a lovely weekend, Judy!

I got so angry Wednesday at a friend. She is wealthy and was laughing and telling me that she and another of her friends, also very well off, had been on a "treasure hunt" all day going from store to store to see what they could buy. She lives alone in a condo and didn't even know where she was going to put everything she had bought. I asked her if it ever occurred to her that there were people in our town that don't have money to stock up for weeks and in fact have a hard time even buying what they need from week to week.

Our two largest supermarkets, WalMart and a local regional chain, Harps, both announced yesterday that should have everything back in stock by mid next week but will limit the number one person can buy.

I heard what I think was the original comment on CBS News when a broadcaster reported that toilet paper "could" become short supply and I'm sure that one remark made it happen.

>234 Tess_W: At this point I am finding it all very interesting, I guess if it continues I will be more concerned about not being able to get certain things. I don't think limiting is a bad thing if it controls people re-selling things at a large profit.

>236 Storeetllr: I think staying home could work for many people, but I do feel sorry for people who have to go to work in order to keep their family fed. Also for young families with the schools and now day cares closing - I hope the various governments come up with solutions for these people. I wasn't very impressed with your president's response yesterday - or with his hand shaking! Meanwhile our Prime Minister has gone into isolation as his wife has been diagnosed with the virus. He is still in control, we are being assured, just quarantined for everyone's safety. You have a lovely weekend as well, Mary.

>237 clue: Wow, one chance remark and look what's happend and in more than one country as well. I hope people stop and think about others before hogging all the supplies. I think rationing of certain items will be put in place here in Canada as well.

Happy Saturday, Judy. I think laying low for awhile during this virus crisis, is a fine idea. i am sure you have plenty of books to keep you company, right? Have you read The Stone Diaries? I am finally getting to it and enjoying it very much.

>240 msf59: Yep, staying low is our plan. I have not read The Stone Diaries but it is on the 1,001 list so on my radar. I will be watching for your comments.

It sounds like a good idea to stay home, Judy. I'm glad the knee is better. Toilet paper?? I can never figure out some things.

Glad that you have enough medication and I also agree staying home is a good idea, especially if you enjoy it anyway. I am a homebody so I am not too fussed on staying home more.
My dad went to a supermarket in Melbourne yesterday and they had a security guard in the toilet paper aisle and at the checkouts. And there have been lines of 200+ people waiting for supermarkets to open. We have been fairly civilised where I live. I think being in a small country town where everyone knows everyone makes a difference. Although the cashier I spoke to today said she has copped some abuse for not 'letting' people buy more than one pack of toilet paper. I can imagine it can only get worse.
I saw on the news that the UK may introduce compulsory self isolation for those over 70, to keep them safe from the virus. I hope they also introduce some help for them, like bringing them groceries, etc.

I saw on the news this am that they want all people who have returned to the US from overseas in the past 14 days to self-quarantine for 14 days. Except, we came back on the 5th and promptly went out and bought groceries when we returned. I have no problem with the staying in either as I have reading and quilting to keep me busy. There were a couple of things that I thought I needed to do, but I think I can put them off.

>244 dudes22: Is that just a recommendation? Ours is a law with a fine of up to $50,000. Not sure who would be policing it though?

When I watched the news tonight, they were interviewing people at the airport. A guy who had just arrived back from somewhere in Europe expressed great pleasure that he arrived before the deadline so wouldn't have to isolate. Wouldn't you think your own conscience would tell you that you have just come back from a hotspot so you should do it anyway? I don't understand some people.

So, when I went through my prescriptions that I picked up yesterday I realized that I am missing one - and, of course, it's the one that I originally went to the doctor for as I am running low. So I am going to have to go back out today to get that one filled. Ugh!

>242 BLBera: I'm trying to stay home, Beth, but something keeps coming up that requires us to venture out.

>243 JayneCM: Compulsory isolation would be very dfficult - both to do and to police. Here in Canada they are suggesting anyone 70 plus stay home as much as possible but luckily I am not 70 quite yet.

>244 dudes22: I was wondering about that Betty. When I come home from a trip, the first thing I do is go out for groceries or even stop on the way home to pick up essentials.

>245 JayneCM: I hate to say this, but I think my sister would never voluntarily isolate herself. When I last talked to her, she dismissed this whole thing as over-hyped. Since we know the situation is constantly changing and I haven't talked to her in three days she may be feeling more cautious now.

>245 JayneCM: - I think the people it's "mandatory" for are those who have specifically had symptoms. We have a school here where a student has been diagnosed, so for the students/teachers from that school, it's required. I think this other precaution is a request.

>246 DeltaQueen50: - I'm sure that's true of most anybody. Besides - what good is it to tell me today that I should have done it 8 days ago?

For those of you who are movie buffs - do you realize that Tom Hanks is once again on an island with Wilson?

>247 dudes22: I bet Tom Hanks is much happier with this Wilson than the last one!

On a more lighthearted note, we Aussies all had a little laugh at Tom Hanks' photo of his Vegemite toast. It was amazing how quickly comments came in from Aussies with offers to teach him how to eat Vegemite properly! Even a true lover of the 'Mite' would not have that much.

>249 JayneCM: You gotta give the guy A for effort - at least he is being positive and enjoying his Australian visit!

I've opened a new thread so please click on the blue continuation link and come join me.

Judy--Hope the knee continues to improve. Also glad you have enough TP (!) and, more importantly, books!!

>53 hailelib: No One's Home sounds delightfully creepy. ; )

>251 DeltaQueen50: Don't see the link to your new thread....

>253 Berly: I'm a little late answering you, but I know that you found my new thread so all's well. :)