Sandy's Books: 2020 🌸🌷🌺 the Third

Welcome to thread #3: Leap Year Day seems a perfect time to begin the march toward spring.
(Okay, yes ~ it was a terrible play on words).

My plan for thread #3 is to upload an image of an illustration on a cherished book cover, whether we own it or saw it elsewhere.
I think I'll do this around about every 20 to 30th-post, yours and mine, combined!
Here's the cover for Post #1:

Source: 1898 ~

We do not own this book, but I loved the design and "cherish" it online.
If you admire vintage covers from the 19th century, this link showcases about thirty examples.

The first two months of 2020 were a case of new authors, many BBs and let's face it,

Data overload! ~

JANUARY
1. Smoke & Mirrors (Elly Griffiths)
2. A Dream of Death (Connie Berry)
3. Same Place, More Space (Karl Champley, Karen Kelly, Arthur Mount)
4. Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor (Lynda Barry)
5. Finding Moon (Tony Hillerman
6. A Legacy of Murder (Connie Berry)
7. The Codfish Dream (David Giblin)
8. A History of the County of Antigonish, Nova Scotia (DJ Rankin)
9. Liquid Rules (Mark Miodownik)
10. Echo in Onyx (Sharon Shinn)
11. Still Waters (Viveca Sten)
12. Echo in Emerald (Sharon Shinn)
13. Echo in Amethyst (Sharon Shinn)
14. The Minimalist Cooks at Home (Mark Bittman)

FEBRUARY
15. A Death in Chelsea (Lynn Brittney)
16. After the Hector (Lucille Campey)
17. Inevitable Illusions (Massimo Piattelli-Palmarini)
18. Harpist in the Wind (Patricia McKillip)
19. The Clairvoyant Countess
20. The Unravelled Knot
21. Kaleidoscope (Dorothy Gilman)
22. Polar Bears: Survival on the Ice (Jason Viola)
23. Armada Boy (Kate Ellis)
24. Deep Secret (Diana Wynn Jones)
25. Back to Blakeney (Editors: McGrane, Romanow et al.)
26. The Merchant's House (Kate Ellis)
27. The Gauguin Connection (Estelle Ryan)

MARCH
28. Steal Like An Artist (Austin Kleon)
29. The Bodies in the Library (Marty Wingate)
30. Lost Future of Pepperharrow (Natasha Pulley)
31. Safecracker (Ryan Wick)
32. Hotel du Lac (Anita Brookner)
33. The Dante Connection (Estelle Ryan)
34. Kissing the Demons (Kate Ellis)
35. The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax (Dorothy Gilman)

APRIL
36. And Dangerous to Know (Darcie Wilde)
37. Watching the Ghosts (Kate Ellis)
38. Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore (Matthew Sullivan)
39. The Cow in the Parking Lot (Leonard Scheff)
40. Lessons in Enchantment (Patricia Rice)

MARCH has been updated in the previous post and April started; alas, my reading speed has seriously suffered from the distractions of COVID-19.

Open for business: ~ You'll find me here:

Hi Sandy! Happy new thread :-) Sorry you still have snow :-(

Hi Susan, it's the Canadian version of the Russian steppes...

so we have cold weather with a lot of (we hope) spring snow storms. That may sound strange (the 'we hope' part), but technically as a desert, the prairies cannot count on much rain, so the snow provides our spring moisture.

Did you know, this area has about one afternoon of an English-style spring, then it is summer!

>1 SandyAMcPherson: Nice thread-topper, Sandy. If you ever visit Philadelphia, I will take you to The Rosenbach, a museum and library of antiquarian books with many gorgeous volumes that you can see and touch (under supervision). I once went to a 'hands-on tour" where I got to hold the first US edition of Pride and Prejudice.

Hi Laura, that sounds really great! I may very possibly take you up on that.
I've said before, you are a great Philly-promoter and I think it would be such a fine city to visit.

Happy new thread, Sandy!

>1 SandyAMcPherson: I have some favorite book covers, too, so will be interested in seeing your cherished book covers.

>4 SandyAMcPherson: Of course coffee. Medium roast, french roast, or other? Just curious.

HAppy new one!

Happy new one, Sandy.

Have a great weekend.

>9 karenmarie: Hi Karen; looking forward to having book cover glee with you.
Coffee around here is Diabolique, a medium dark roast blend (Sumatra, PNG {Papua-New Guiana}, Colombia, Brazil).
I buy it online and get free delivery 'cause we order 5 Lb beans at a time.

>10 figsfromthistle:, >11 PaulCranswick:, Anita and Paul ~ Great to see you all here, pretty soon all this lovely visiting will mean that I'll be uploading a new book cover illustration in no time! I have a vintage one photographed today, in fact!

>12 SandyAMcPherson: At first I read that as "we order 5 beans at a time". HA!

Dark roast is the brew of choice chez nous, specifically La Colombe's Corsica because a) LaColombe's flagship store is in our neighborhood and b) the corner market also carries it.

Happy new thread!! Can't wait to see all the book covers! It is one of my gripes on Kindle and my phone that I don't get to see the cover of the book when I open it up again.

Happy new thread!

>12 SandyAMcPherson: I got my first coffee grinder a couple of years ago after Peet's stopped giving me a free cup with 1/3lb bean purchase. I now get 1/2 lb whole bean and it lasts exactly 13 days. I found if I got more than 1/3 lb ground I noticed the taste difference the last few days. Though I've been doing the own cup/own bag thing as long as I've been a Peet's customer, I refuse to give up my bi-weekly straw.

>13 lauralkeet: Laura, I am SO going to fit in a visit to Philadelphia.
Corner stores like you mentioned AND LaColombe's flagship store ! Yes.

>14 Berly: Hi Kim. It's great to add you to the crowd that loves book cover art!
A well-designed cover looks so awesome on a book, even if I am 'meh' about the story. I've been known to hog bookshelf space because I can't bear to part with the attractiveness... I even bought a book stand to display a rotating selection.

>15 quondame: Hey Susan! You are so right, coffee needs to be brewed *right after* the beans have been ground.
We sprung for the Rancilio set ('Silvia' and 'Rocky'). Expensive for a home set up, by some folks standards, but we hardly go out for coffee like we used to, a surprise how expensive *that* was running us, and at home, it is just about always fabulous.

I loved 'Peet's on Solano' back in the day when I visited San Francisco occasionally. They're the ones who converted me to the 1:1:1 cappuccino (thirds of coffee:milk:foam). Yum.

Happy new thread, Sandy. Gorgeous topper!

Thanks, Shelley. I would love to see that IRL. I browsed the inner pages as much as the online access would allow but that's never as satisfying as the real deal.

>16 SandyAMcPherson: As the sole coffee drinker in the household, really the only breakfast eater as well, I haven't invested much in equipment since I got the two Boden Stainless Steel French presses. Two, because I used to make a pot of regular and a pot of decaf at the event I put on. I do indulge in a large latte whenever I visit Peet's.

Happy new thread! Another Peet’s lover - get it every chance I can when on the West Voast.

A few years ago, I tried my hand at small batch coffee roasting, and enjoy it so much that I sprang for a 1/2 lb roaster in 2018. When I get a chance to roast, a good fresh ground coffee in a French press is definitely the way to go!

>20 drneutron: Bingo, and Jim hit the 20th spot. I guess I better decide what to post for the next illustrated book cover.

Jim, I'm not surprised you'd find roasting beans a great way to go. A friend buys green beans and roast them in his portable purpose-built oven. He has a thermocouple (yes?) that hooks up to his computer coffee-roasting software control and thoroughly geeks out on watching how his custom blends differentially roast (really!). I've watched the curves as they reach first crack and it all is very arcane.

We drink way too much coffee around here to roast beans, but I sure could taste the difference. Friends tend to choose coming over here to have coffee instead of our meeting elsewhere, but I find it's affordable and friendly. No one thinks twice about offering beer and wine at their house, but we're tea and coffee.

OK. That was long-winded...

Happy New thread, Sandy! Yes, got it right with the author Iona Wishaw on your previous thread. A great cozy historical mystery series, at least I think so.

Here's the cover to acknowledge Post #20!

The Story of the Sun, by Robert Ball, 1910 ~

I couldn't resist this cover in context with drneutron and all... next time, I'll have to pick one of our own delicious covers in the extensive vintage collection of books on exploration and travel adventure.

I forgot ~~ from an earlier remark about Early Reviewer's books (on Richard's thread), I shouldn't have been whining about my fall from grace,

I've been awarded this title to review: ~ It's YA, at the younger end, but looks like a great romp.
Anyone one want to lay bets on how long it will take to actually show up in my mail box?

Hi Deb, you snuck in when I hadn't refreshed the page, so I missed seeing your comment for awhile.
I already have The Dante Connection showing as 'shipped' on my hold request. I hope most of the same characters show up. I was very fond of Vinnie and Genevieve. Manny was pretty well created as an antidote. I'm still not too sure about the potential love interest thing... however, I like the women's roles a lot.

I'm really chuffed to little mint balls having a couple new Cozy-mystery series on the go: Estelle Ryan's, Kate Ellis' and now Iona Whishaw! I'm all set for that March theme thread, Murder and Mayhem month.

I felt bereft, I mean really in a funk, when I had no more RG (Elly Griffiths) to read and Connie Berry has only published two in her series. I'm totally wanting brain comfort right now.

Happy new thread, Sandy! Congrats on the ER win fingers crossed that it actually shows up at all. I've had about 3 wins that never appeared. The rest take about a month and a half to two months to make it all the way here.

I only requested a couple ERs this past month, and I won the Amy Carmichael biography. Looking forward to reading about her missionary work.

I'm off to a good start for Murder and Mayhem as I finished a Montalbano book in audio today. I may even finish the first Auntie Poldi book this evening.

Happy new thread, Sandy!

>23 SandyAMcPherson: oh, that’s just cool!

Like a lamb, this March...a fluffy liddle lamb.

>30 richardderus: for your weather, huh?
Very sweet.

Happy new thread! We had a couple inches of snow to round out February, but March is starting as it means to go on, cool and rainy. I imagine we'll see a few more light snows, but I'm starting to hope that spring will make an appearance soon.

Hi Foggi,
I agree, spring WILL appear and the flowers will bloom, the sky will be blue.
~~~

Meanwhile ~ I'm cross that my spring travel plans may come to naught. So much ill-advised panics.
I believe the COVID-19 will be less of a 'thing' in the news. It is ridiculous the amount of uninformed opinion that is circulating. Viruses do 'die' out, mutate or become less virulent. SARS created havoc but nobody seems to remember, except the health professionals who quite rightly say the planning forward was lax. And here we are again. Modern day plague.

>33 SandyAMcPherson: I'm also thinking/hoping that the COVID-19 epidemic will be less of an issue on this continent. I took the most sensible advice that I could find -- to stock up on non-perishables and such (canned goods, paper products, cleaning supplies) in order to decrease the number and duration of grocery shopping trips if there's a local outbreak. I always wash my hands pretty frequently and thoroughly, so other than that, I am not doing anything differently, nor am I very concerned at present. Sorry it's messing with your travel plans! I don't have any plans to travel until late April and early May (and only weekend trips, driving, not flying), and I'm hoping this will have passed over us by then.

*sigh* It simply won't matter about the deaths, sure to be in the tens if not hundreds of thousands. What will wallop the world *hard* is the idled factories in China. The medical supplies I use daily, the meds I take daily, the shortages of foods packed in factories closed because key items to run them have run out of supplies from China. The illness is controllable. The damage is going to be lots harder to fix than most seem to have twigged to, much much worse than SARS or MERS because cheap labor and greedy oligarchs have intertwined the entire consumer economy with the epicenter of the disease.

>35 richardderus: My FA* has said that's why the stock markets are plunging...
Buying opportunity, I guess.

*financial advisor

>36 SandyAMcPherson: Yeup. Careful buyers can make a...what's taking the place of "killing" while the crisis is on?

I'm not sure what to do about the Covid 19 virus. So far, nothing. I know they tell us, stock up on 2 weeks of essentials just in case. I'm not sure that is needed. I see quite a few people in masks around here, even while I am out walking the dog in parks and beside the water. Not needed, I don't think. I'm sorry it's affecting your spring travel plans, but I can understand that. No refunds if something goes wrong, or so I read in the news. I'd stock up essentials like Foggi has, but I fear my husband would think I was crazy. Dave works at the airport here, and they do have flights come in that Health Canada meets , due to the concern of a unwell person on various flights. My brother is a pilot and he flew the last Air Canada flight out of Beijing. He said they isolated the crew, and boarded them first and no worries. He lives in Edmonton , but flies out of Vancouver some of the time, but mainly Toronto. Fortunately he can stay at my mom's while in Vancouver and has a so called " crash pad " that he shares with several other pilots in Toronto. His wife has a very good job that she loves in Edmonton, and they have 4 kids, so they remain happily in Edmonton. Who knew? :-)

Book #28 Steal Like An Artist (Austin Kleon, 2012)

Unimpressive ~

Austin Kleon relies on recycled sayings to espouse his point of view. In keeping with his philosophy of 'stealing', most of the phrasing has indeed come from other sources, reflective of the tired old idea that "no artwork is original".

The author's writing is annoyingly trite, and dances around the "what constitutes original art" question, never going below the surface. Therein lies a completely ignored aspect of his purloined adages: is each artist unique, with their own distinctive voice or are they all just a repetitive product of their environments, regurgitating whatever is around them?

My low rating was given as much for the negativity as for the hackneyed quotes. For example, "Original art is just undetected plagiarism". Where was the positivity in being inspired by other's work? Why use such pessimistic vocabulary when there could be joy from drawing creativity from whatever inspires an artwork?

In all fairness, there was homespun wisdom: eat well, get enough sleep, stay out of debt, keep your day job. But these philosophies have more to do with lifestyle generally than artistic endeavours.

>39 SandyAMcPherson: Great review, Sandy. I'll steer clear of that book. As for Jaqueline Winspear, yes, she has an excellent series. She has about ??? 12 or 13 book in the series so far. It starts with Maisie Dobbs. There is another in the series coming out later this year and I'll be first in line. It's one of my favourite series. I hope your library has copies. Once again, I recommend reading the books in order. Maisie is a young woman, who works as a nurse during WW1 and then become a private investigator from there.

If you click on Maisie Dobbs it will take you to the book page here on LT, and you'll see the" series" underneath. If you click on the series, it will take you to all the books in order. I have read all of them.

>40 vancouverdeb: Thanks for the details about Jaqueline Winspear. My PL looks to have the series. I added Maisie Dobbs to my WL at the SPL. A fun series to get into, I hope.

I just finished the first Marty Wingate last night and came away very 'meh' about it. Review coming up later. I'm following the theme read for March.

Next cover, now that we're past post #40!

Very dated style of writing for young people, 1923 ~ ~

Title page ~ and frontispiece ~

The gold embossing on these vintage covers is rather challenging to capture. I'm using a mobile phone camera and if I was more adroit, I'd know how to fiddle with the settings. However, ENJOY!

Book #29 ~ The Bodies in the Library (Marty Wingate)

~

I first saw this title on MickeyFine's thread and then later, Deb (of vancouverdeb's fame) mentioned it.

The story fell flat for me, though. I found the characterizations were not well-rounded and lively. Part of my angst was that the Haley-persona is one of those wishy-washy types with hardly an assertive bone in her body. The other niggle was the implausible interference à la Agatha Christie of Haley in the police investigation. I'm going to explore other series instead, like Jenn McKinlay and Jacqueline Winspear.

Ack! Library Cascade notices appeared in my inbox overnight ~

Long awaited request ~ The Lost Future of Pepperharrow (the newest Natasha Pulley)

Fast arrival of very recent requests:
The cow in the parking lot : a Zen approach to overcoming anger
Hotel du Lac, a BB from Ellen's (EBT1002) thread

So that's me sorted for March books. I've also received an ARC of Safecracker to review and the February ER awarded me Me and Banksy.

>42 SandyAMcPherson: pretty!!!!

>42 SandyAMcPherson: Anything written by "the Rev. **** xxxxxx" is going to be tedious. Ancient or modern, topic irrelevant, at SOME point that Rev's religion will ooze onto the page and the reek of it will defile whatever point or story was used to lure you into the Rev's clutches.

Gorgeous binding!

>45 fuzzi: Hi Fuzzi. Yes, it is "pretty". I've not read the book and don't intend to!
In fact, I do indeed agree with >46 richardderus:.

The book sits on our shelf of vintage North American adventures and I guess is a source of The Man's satisfaction. All fun and maybe we'll have a big sale one day, who knows? Not me :D

>44 SandyAMcPherson: If I don't pick The Lost Future of Pepperharrow up today the next person on the wait list will carry it off! Time to get dressed and out!

>44 SandyAMcPherson: I have Hotel du Lac on hold at my local library. I am hoping to have my hands on it soon.

>48 quondame: I hope you made it in time to pick up the hold on The Lost Future of Pepperharrow. I started it last night ~ I'm IN already.

>49 alcottacre: I thought I might start Hotel du Lac before Natasha Pulley's latest book: as an antidote to the furious-paced Safecracker (an ARC; review required).

Ryan Wick's debut novel is not a gentle read, so H du L seemed a good choice. Except... after the first chapter (which I did enjoy very much), I realized Lost Future was not going to allow a renewal due to a long queue, so I'm holding off Brookner's novel for now. I think it will be a lovely story (it was a BB from EBT1002's thread, iirc).

I really love the vintage covers, Sandy. They're such beautiful examples of books as held objects, objects to appreciate as well as to enjoy by, you know, reading them!

Sorry you have to delay your read of Hotel du Lac but it will keep. It's indeed a perfect antidote to a furious-paced work!

I've been "hiding out" all weekend, reading The Lost Future of Pepperharrow. I'm a slow reader!
Only 230-some pages into a 486-page novel. I think it could have done with some tightening up. The previous books were better-paced at more than a 100 pages shorter. I was glad to see Katsu again! ~ Review later... Much later.

Hi Ellen, I'm loving that all my visitors appreciate the vintage book covers. It's going to be fun picking the next one(s).
Yes, I am also sorry to delay reading Hotel du Lac, but as you say, it will keep. After the other currently reading book, Safecracker, I am definitely going to need Brookner's more cerebral approach to a novel.

I am quite late to this shindig, Sandy! Very Belated Happy New Thread! I hope you had a good weekend and got plenty of book time in.

Great to see you here, Mark.
I'm late to a lot of the parties on the threads, too.
Is it always this wild? This being only my second year, I think I missed a lot of the initial flurry last time.

>52 SandyAMcPherson: I've just arrived in Tokyo harbor, so right behind you!

>54 SandyAMcPherson: It seems much busier this year. I don't recall nearly so much activity the last two year, but then in 2018 I had far fewer threads starred.

>52 SandyAMcPherson: I'm enjoying Tokyo but I have always had trouble with the 'ether concept' ~ I'm okay with made-up science but I still have the impression that (from the Watchmaker novel) that the author didn't clarify in her own mind what the concepts were. Mind you, I'm just barely into that part, so shouldn't be blabbing away just yet.

>54 SandyAMcPherson: I tried to star more threads this year, which I'm enjoying because I share some really great authors with these members. Still, some from last year (as well as a few new-to-me members) expanded mighty fast. I'm learning to skim, though. As well, I've curbed my tendency to want to join in on so many topics. So I'm faster at lurking... and not feeling like I'm missing potential new reading opportunities.

>42 SandyAMcPherson: Very nice, Sandy. They used to put more into covers in those days - more into the words (as in too many) as well.

As a token comment on panic-buying, I offer this little gem ~~

(so that I'm not scattering comments all over everyone's threads).

>58 SandyAMcPherson: bwahahaha!

>58 SandyAMcPherson: Hahaha, good one. I just got back from Target where I picked up one of the last packages of TP left on the shelves. (No markup and no free diamond ring along with it.) It has 18 big rolls, so I should be okay for 3 or 4 months at least. If we're having problems past that, I figure we're all done for so why worry?

>35 richardderus: I hate that I think Richard is right.

Loving the covers! I like your idea of sharing the ones you love. I've got a few old books with cool covers from my grandmother's library on my shelves which I may post on my thread, stealing your idea.

Hotel du Lac was one of my top 5 favorites when I read it a few years ago.

ETA Woo Hoo! I'm #60. Can't wait to see what cover you'll choose to share next.

>52 SandyAMcPherson: My read of Hotel du Lac is being postponed too. My local library contacted me to let me know that their copy of the book is lost. I always wonder why, if the book is lost, it is still in their catalogue??

>58 SandyAMcPherson: Classic! I think that marketing person deserves some fame.

The next book cover is coming soon, but first I have to finish acknowledging all the terrific folks who visited in the meanwhile.

>59 fuzzi:, Hi Fuzzi, isn't that just crazy (panic TP hoarding)?

>60 Storeetllr:, Yes, the idled factories which RD mentions will indeed be what causes greater grief. The COVID plague is bound to burn out (Like SARS and MERS did). The lack of common sense about self-isolating in the USA is also of great concern. In St. Louis MO apparently the family of a girl returning from Italy with Covid did not quarantine themselves. How can people POSSIBLY behave like this?

>61 alcottacre: We, too, have books lost, but the titles are still in the PL catalogue. Makes you wonder why do we not have enough staff to curate the catalogue immediately the loss is discovered... can you request an ILL?

>62 richardderus: I snagged this gem from a financial blog which is fabulous for headlining the day's topic with great pix. A very smart man writes it... but doesn't (gasp) post photo credits. Scroll to the bottom to see the image in situ. And don't bother reading the lame ass comments that follow the blog. They're mainly a toxic bath.

>57 Familyhistorian:, Indeed, Too Many Words! That's what's happening (imho) with The Lost Future of Pepperharrow. And it is a 2020 release... so things haven't changed much.

Next cover was really slow uploading to my junk drawer (for easy snagging), and then the Talk just wouldn't reload so I could start the next cover display! But here we all are:

In Perils Oft, by WH Davenport Adams, 1886 ~
Gilded and deeply embossed front image. The spine has gorgeous figures etched in gilt, a lion being stalked by a hunter.

I haven't tried to read this adventure.

The pages are quite fragile, having been printed on quite an acidic paper stock. It is holding up well for a 134-year old book, wouldn't you say? And no foxing!

>64 SandyAMcPherson: That looks a charming book, Sandy.

Happy Newish Thread, Sandy. I love the look of older books like In Perils Oft.

>65 PaulCranswick:, >66 jnwelch: It's really a fun theme, posting the images of vintage book cover designs. Nice to see you drop by. I have a quieter thread than most (of the ones I've starred). So, the theme does add some bookish interest.

I'm slow at progressing through my currently reading books this month ~ too much else going on that requires attention. And it's tax return season. Ho hum...

I am wandering over for a visit. Very good to follow your reading and themes.

Hi! How are you doing with The Lost Future of Pepperharrow? I finished it just before midnight last night.

I'm not strictly following the Murder and Mayhem theme, but as it happens I enjoyed The Tenant, a bit of " scandicrime" as we call here on LT. It tempted me at the bookstore and it was a good read. I took a book bullet from Mark, and now I am reading another bit of murder etc , Long, Bright River.

>68 mdoris: Hi Mary. So happy you wandered over.
I'm slacking off reading quite so voraciously this month. A number of situations have seriously derailed my reading agenda. I must get back on track, because it is so enjoyable to complete a good read and then have the fun of coming here to gab about it!

>69 quondame: Susan, I'm all admiration that you plowed through The Lost Future of Pepperharrow.
I really bogged down about halfway through and went on to read something else for awhile. I find 500-ish page novels not so much to my tastes. That's probably why the Diana Gabaldon novels have never appealed to me.

I just popped over to your thread and I totally agree with you about both the pseudo-paperback tome design (which is way too unwieldily to have as my bedtime reading), as well as the boring, too-much-of-nothing-happening in the middle section. I think I'll finish it before long because I do want to "see what happens". But Pulley needs to tighten up her story. So far her first one was my favourite, which probably set me up with great expectations for this Pepperharrow.

>70 vancouverdeb: Hey Deb, hope you're managing down there in "NOT" LotusLand. I've slackened off the murder mystery genre for the moment. (see above).

Some updating...
We have 2 cases of "that plague" confirmed in my province ~ the whole of Saskatchewan has around-about 1 million folks, so "big, hairy deal" says The Man. In all of Canada, as of Friday (the 13th!), we've been fortunate - so far 'only' one death (in BC, an elderly person in long term care).

I'm enjoying a lot of time at home, reading, baking and so forth. Cancelled all my travels planned for this spring/summer and been refunded most of the airfare and all the hotels. This is devastating the travel and hospitality industries, but unavoidable in view of preventing the transmssion of infection.

Planning on writing up a review of my latest reading, probably later today. I just want to finish Hotel du Lac first.
Don't hold your breath about this, however. There's something curiously laid-back about being in a protective, self-isolating mode. Life has deliciously slowed down and seems rather remote. I think I've allowed myself to be too caught up in whirlwinds.

Happy weekend! Glad you are taking time to relax. Cancelling travel plans is a good idea, given the circumstances. I was going to go to Europe at the end of May and cancelled that trip as well.

>72 SandyAMcPherson: Things that seem important mid-whirl assume a different gravity when the settle, don't they.

One whole death and two local cases, oh dear, the sky is falling. But yay for being able to disconnect, that actually is a great result.

>73 figsfromthistle:, Hi Anita ~ I'm mostly over the disappointment because it would have been impossible to enjoy. And besides, what a privileged situation.

>74 richardderus:, Yeah I think that in retrospect, as I just replied to Anita, privileged situation. As for poking me about our 2-confirmed cases, I feel no smugness here. We're simply lagging behind the events in YVR and Toronto-area.

My colleagues in the healthcare part of the research labs say that Saskatchewan has made such an inadequate response (too late, too little) to curtailing public events and common-use areas that there'll be much more illness in a couple weeks.

It could be, however, that a greater percent of the population has milder symptoms. While that won't overload the healthcare to the same degree, it will circulate the infection very widely. People won't realize they're carriers so that's where choosing self-isolation falls on its face. I hope Canada, having a much lower population with greater rural distances, might perhaps buffer a rampant growth of critically-ill people.

Wonderful addendum!
I understand the aim is to have a slow growth with the population gradually acquiring some immunity ('flattening the curve"). A graph has been circulating and I think it is visually-effective in getting the point across (from the USA's CDC centre) ~ especially eye-catching are the modifications I found on Susan's Talk thread ~

.

Previously edited to post a snagged quote ~
Everything we do before a pandemic will seem alarmist. Everything we do after, will seem inadequate --- M. Leavitt

"Big hairy deal" - I love that , Sandy! Words from my youth that my mom forbade. Well, let's hope we can flatten the curve. I still feel quite calm here in YVR. My brother says " its out there " and only so much we can do. My two brothers work for Air Canada, as does my husband. There is a certain amount of stuff you can't avoid. It will be interesting to see how the airline industry,and indeed , the entire travel industry weathers the storm.

Hi Sandy.

>72 SandyAMcPherson: I’m sorry your province has 2 cases of COVID-19 and that you’ve cancelled all of your spring/summer travel plans. Better safe than sorry though, and slowing down and self-isolating are not a bad thing at all.

>77 karenmarie: Hi Sandy! It was a wise move to cancel your travel plans - if it all calms down then you can always book again and they will be glad to see you.

My firm has told us all to work from home from tomorrow, so things will slow down for me as well, I think. I still have a fair bit of leave to take before the end of the holiday year (the end of April) so I will try and do that, for some variety, even if I just go to the supermarket.

Just stopping by to say hello! Looks like you are taking good care of yourself.

>76 vancouverdeb: Hi Deb, such a hoary old saying which you recognized. My kids used to laugh at my remarking "big, hairy deal" when they were having minor hissy fits over small frustrations. I hardly hear that phrase used nowadays.

>77 karenmarie: and >78 susanj67: Thanks for stopping by. What's this, Susan? You are required to use up annual leave in this time of the virus?! That seems unreasonable bean counting.

>79 sibylline: Good to see you here, Lucy. My not going to Vancouver was the sensible choice but terribly disappointing all 'round. I'm hoping a September trip will be feasible.

Book #30 --- The Lost Future of Pepperharrow (by Natasha Pulley)

I was seriously disappointed,

There were interesting developments in the life of characters we met in The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. However, Pulley carried on with a dark underside to Mori's character and his clairvoyant manipulation of futures. For much of the novel set in Japan, the different threads of the story were clunky and hard to follow. Was that my inability to follow the plot or Pulley being coy? The middle section was boring and the ending seemed murky. I'm perhaps annoyed at the mindlessness of manipulated deaths.. Chiefly, this novel was seriously disappointing after the compelling debut of Watchmaker.

Book #31 --- Safecracker (by Ryan Wick)
An ARC from Net Gallery

~

Ryan Wick's debut novel was well-written and full of that cliff-hanging, scary suspense so beloved by fans of the Lawrence Block style of writing (consult the Matt Scudder novels, if you will). The opening sentence in Safecracker certainly grabs your attention. The chief protagonist, Michael Maven, coolly describes an attack where his throat is slit. And thus the reader falls into a staccato-paced tale that is all action and relatively surface-only characterizations.

Obviously, grisly chronicles with hardly-credible escapades are not my thing but there will be many readers who enjoy such vengeful tales involving organized crime and the oxymoron of an honourable thief.

>78 susanj67: Sandy, so far the firm hasn't said anything about outstanding leave, but you make a good point :-) We can carry some over, but we have to use it by the end of July. But in 2012, with the Olympics, they extended the period till the end of September as a lot of people wanted time off to go to events. I suppose they might do that again. However, I'll be glad of a day or two off at the end of this week, I'm sure.

Oh I remember "big hairy deal' and have used the expression many times myself but it's fun to hear it again!

We used "BFD" a lot in my high school years back in 19*hack*cough* and I, like others, hadn't heard it in ages.

Garfield the cartoon cat would say "Big fat hairy deal".

>83 susanj67: Susan, hope you do get some leave. Then you can *read*!

>84 mdoris:, >85 richardderus: and >86 fuzzi: ~~ These are a hilarious comments. Thanks for giving me some laffs. Especially on a day when I was glad to have smiles.

More smiles ~ time for another pretty book cover, no?

Familiar Wildflowers by Frederick Edward Hulme, 1877.

The Cover ~ and the Title page,

I just noticed when I scanned the inside page, some damp along the top edge is showing up. Not surprisingly, the coloured plates are showing their age now, but the cover is still very attractive.

My grandmother had a set of three of these books, and after she passed away her 2 daughters shared them, with my mom giving me the third. I was the only one of the grandkids who liked going out to identify flowers. I have no idea now where the other copies ended up.

>88 SandyAMcPherson: - Oh, it's so pretty!

Hi Sandy!

>85 richardderus: We used 'BFD' too, but you’re a youngster so I was using it in college instead of high school. *smile*

>88 SandyAMcPherson: Beautiful book, wonderful story about inheriting it from your grandmother via your mother.

That is a nice story!

>88 SandyAMcPherson: lovely.

>88 SandyAMcPherson: That flower almost looks embroidered.

Public buildings including libraries are closed here and schools out even past March Break. Many stores are closed too but I made it into good old BCAA to renew my car insurance because you know we have to do that in person and they were still open, for now.

I hope that you are finding plenty to entertain you in your self isolation, Sandy.

So lovely to see you all drop by, Shelley, Karen Lucy, Fuzzi and Meg.

I agree the, the book's cover flower almost looks embroidered, Meg. I think it's an artifact of my photography. The design is lightly embossed onto the boards. I think my adjustments to make up for the gilded lettering made the other parts of the image a bit fuzzy.

Book #32 Hotel du Lac (by Anita Brookner)

~

Meditative, insightful and bittersweet. The most lyrical prose that I've read in a long time. The plot twists were really very fine and the slow unravelling of Edith's misdemeanours fit in perfectly to the manner Brookner wrote this story. Half-star off a 5-star read, because the ending was slightly an off-note in capturing the protagonist's state of mind. I so wanted Edith to see that being meek had not served her well. I wanted the author to cast the final chapter in a way that promised change. I may have to re-read this book to satisfy my niggles.

One of the few Booker Prize (1984) winners that I've thoroughly enjoyed reading.

As an unconnected thought ~ when ever I think of the Booker ~ a woman who should have won that prize years and years ago is Miriam Toews for A Complicated Kindness at least, not to mention other titles she's written. I have one of her other titles (Summer of My Amazing Luck, 1996) hanging out unread and will get to it soon. My unread library cascade is dwindling fast!

A timely thought, courtesy of Mary Englebreit's Instagram post ~

*****

>95 SandyAMcPherson: great review, Sandy. I'm glad you enjoyed this one. Was it your first Brookner? She was quite prolific.

>96 SandyAMcPherson: tee hee.

>88 SandyAMcPherson: Lovely!

>90 karenmarie: ...she called me young...::hearteyes::

>95 SandyAMcPherson: Oh, that is so satisfying! A book that fits like a key in a lock is a wonderful thing.

>96 SandyAMcPherson: HA!!

>81 SandyAMcPherson: Too bad about that one!

>95 SandyAMcPherson: Hotel du Lac is one of the books that my local library told me was missing. I am hoping to get hold of it one of these days.

Hotel du Lac is now on my iPad. I'm not quite up to another book on that heavier, sharper edged hardware, so I'll probably wait a week or two before starting.

Hi Sandy,
I am dropping this around everywhere because I loved it so much. Here is a little music to uplift:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5AyGvJcyoU

It's terrific. Enjoy.

>97 lauralkeet: Yes Laura. My first time reading anything by Anita Brookner.

I will have to look at what else she may have written in a similar style by. A plan for when I borrow something from the library again. I could see if there are e-book titles, too. I keep forgetting that option.

>98 richardderus: Hi RD, you and your ::hearteyes:: ‼️

I didn't' know how well this book was going to suit me, until I was actually about 2/3's into the story. I wonder if part of the enchantment was a fortunate coincidence in time and immediate past reading? After books 30 & 31, it was touch and go whether I'd tackle another novel or choose one of my TBR non-fiction titles.

So, do tell! Have you read/reviewed any Brookner's? And were they ones that were as writerly? (I'm being rather lazy and not exploring the "Your Library" option to answer my own question.)

>99 alcottacre: Too bad about that one . Well, it really was, you know.
Such an unrealistic expectation perhaps and TBF, if I read it with more of an open mind the next time (should I ever run out of TBR titles, ahem), maybe the plot would develop in a way I could enjoy.

The problem is, though, I felt 'set up' a lot of the time. And somehow, I stopped caring about the characters, although Thaniel was a prime favourite. So when one loses that buy-in, the reader-reaction is to disengage. At least that's how I see it.

>100 quondame: I do hope you get to it soon, Susan. But - ebooks!
If you mean the iPad as heavier, sharper edged hardware affecting the quality of your reading enjoyment, I agree.

Thanks for putting the concept into words. I have trouble entering into the story when the words are on a screen, but I had never been able to articulate precisely what it was that interfered.

>105 SandyAMcPherson: I'm back to Wolf Hall in a big hardback - and have to remind myself that there is no need to plug it in at night and that it won't automatically keep my place.

>103 SandyAMcPherson: The last Brookner I read was Undue Influence in 2000. I might've reviewed it on my old Geocities blog (sob) but that data is long gone. I learned the very, very hard way that backing up your data is *crucial*

Hi Shelley, that was very joyful. Thanks.

Do you know of the Tafelmusic concerts? Due to Mr. Virus, the organization has gone online. I think one needs to 'subscribe', though. There was a new release today which a friend sent as a link, but I missed it live (too busy with non-computer activities). I love their concerts but hard to see when one lives in Western Canada so I've only seen one.

>108 SandyAMcPherson: - I have never been to a Tafelmusic concert but they perform here in Toronto regularly and I have 2 friends who always have seasons tickets. I will see if I can find the link, thanks.

Stay well.

>109 jessibud2:, Shelley, there's a link ~ I edited my post (#108) to show the url link underlined.

Once on the page, you can scroll down to see what I think I missed (it was Live at 2:30 EDT). I can't make the playlist run... although I have other online music that plays just fine.

Hi Sandy!

>105 SandyAMcPherson: I read perhaps 5% using an e-reader. Some books it just clicks and I power through them, other books I can't envision reading that way. Fortunately I have more than enough tbr paper books for quite a few years.

I've always enjoyed having the e-reader for airplane trips and visits away from home, both of which are now, alas, out of the question for a while.

Sandy, I've read a few Brookners besides Hotel du Lac, and really liked both Visitors and The Misalliance. Brookner didn't start writing until she was in her 50s, and it seems all of her novels (or at least, these three) are about women of a certain age, facing difficult circumstances, and the writing is quiet and understated.

>106 quondame:, Pleased to see I'm not the only one who sometimes miscues the needs of the current reading device!

>107 richardderus:, Thanks for the reference (Undue Influence).
A comment about your old Geocities blog, many pages of that old website were archived. I had some really old urls and they lead to archived pages. You need your exact username to successfully locate the data...

>111 karenmarie: Hi Karen. Yes, e-readers are a blessing for travel.
I'm also hoping to use it to access more e-books while the bricks & mortar libraries are closed. A hidden advantage I never planned on when I bought my device.

>112 lauralkeet: Thanks for those titles, Laura, I added them to my Brookner list. RD gave me a title as well.

Today's laugh while I decide which fancy book cover image to next photograph...

I don't really recommend this approach especially the other places note!

I'm posting the following after a lengthy discussion with a friend in the epidemiology field (now retired, but a reliable source of factual information):

Many older folks will remember their grandparents talking about the 1918-1919 Spanish 'flu. Not to blame any one country, a very false attribution. That 'flu decimated populations globally as well (estimates up to 50 million).

What we know now is that it killed so many people because of the poor hygiene and malnourishment. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that hand washing is critical to preventing the spread of so-called Covid-19 (technically: SARS-CoV-2) because the virus is shed through faeces as well as air droplets from sneezing/coughing. This article partially explains why hard surfaces such as plastics are a definite source of infection.

I understand that many folks will not want to read up on the science behind this plague, but there are those (like me) that feel a sense of reassurance if we understand a bit more about what the epidemiologists have discovered.

Not a bookish subject really, but many of the threads are writing some general commentary of our life and times. I'm reassured to see such positivity on LT about hygiene and isolation. I'm told that there are the deniers 'out there' along with the climate-change and anti-vaxxer community. It is a comforting community in here and I'm preferring your company, I must say!

Book #33 ~ The Dante Connection by Estelle Ryan

This is book 2 in the Genevieve Lenard series.

~

I teetered on the edge of awarding 3½- instead of 4-★s, because I was a little disappointed that it was the same bad guy behind all the mystery. I relented because the story was definitely engaging, with the same interesting cast of characters as appeared in The Gauguin Connection. There was a little too much repetition in the initial chapters, perhaps designed to bring readers up to speed on the idiosyncratic personalities. These pieces of backstory were boring and for me, disruptive, until the author gets on with telling the new tale.

The main characters develop more telling personalities as their background and off-page adventures are revealed during the new exploits. The art thefts are different and have some interesting twists. The final suspense was not unexpected, but still an adventure. My greatest annoyance was that yet again, the original bad king-pin in the crime hierarchy escaped.

I'm somewhat lukewarm about entering into the 3rd novel in the series because I think it will be all about more of the same chase. Such prolonged resolution makes it a strung out chronicle. Does it smack of being a pot boiler? Estelle Ryan writes well, so I don't really believe she needs to fall down that particular rabbit hole. I'm hoping for closure on this particular sequence and that by the end of Book 3 (The Braque Connection), readers will see a new adventure unfolding.

>116 SandyAMcPherson: Always great to be informed :)

Happy Tuesday!

Hi Anita, nice to have a visitor. I am having a great Tuesday, despite waking to a spring blizzard!

I've tidied up some bathroom cupboards that were way overdue for a clean out. Had a longish video-chat with some family and started on an unfinished book which has been a bit 'meh'. Will post a review later today, since I'm determined to at least skim through for possible golden nuggets of advice.

Hey, there, Sandy - glad to see you're staying safe and healthy and getting some good reading done!

>95 SandyAMcPherson: So happy you enjoyed Hotel du Lac! It was one of my top five the year I read it.

I posted one of my grandma's book covers over on my thread, if you want to check it out. As I wrote, the ones I got from my dad after my grandmother died aren't as well-preserved as the ones you've been posting but I enjoy them just the same.

From Karen's thread (#51), with my replies ~ although some of my answers were almost identical!
(originally via Vincent W. Wright: Take a break from the Coronavirus and learn about each other...)

1. Who(m) are you named after? A popular name from the year I was born.
2. Last time you cried? 10 days ago, relief when my elder kiddo made it back to Canada from Florida.
3. Do you like your handwriting? No, it's too scrawly to read now.
4. What is your favourite lunch meat? Egg salad or tuna sandwiches (I don't like luncheon meat).
5. Longest relationship? 46 years (with The Man).
6. Do you still have your tonsils? Nope.
7. Would you bungee jump? What Karen Said ;).
8. What is your favourite kind of cereal? Old-fashioned rolled oats with banana and yogurt
9. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Yup. My week's allowance was docked otherwise ...Old habits die hard.
10. Do you think you're strong-willed? Yes. What's your point?
11. Favourite ice cream? Vanilla. Real-actual-ice-cream, not rubbish.
12. What is the first thing you notice about a person? Whether their eyes are smiling.
13. Football or baseball? Neither.
14. What colour pants are you wearing? Black denim.
15. Last thing you ate? Home-made bread.
16. What are you listening to? Nothing. But I can hear the chickadees and nuthatches squabbling.
17. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be? Huh???
18. What is your favourite smell? Laundry dried outside, especially the bedding!
19. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? FaceTime group call, with both daughters.
20. Married? See #5.
21. Hair colour? Silver (grew in like that in my 30's).
22. Eye colour? Hazel-green.
23. Favourite food? Bacon (rarely eaten nowadays).
24. Scary movies or happy endings? I'd rather read.
25. Last movie you watched in a theatre? Don't remember; it was when the earth was cooling.
26. What colour shirt are you wearing? Grey.
27. Favourite holiday? Summertime ones.
28. Beer or Wine? I'm allergic to grapes and too many additives, so filtered water or coffee.
29. Night owl or morning person? Neither.
30. Favorite day of the week? Yeah, I can go with Monday, like Karen said.
31. Favorite animal? Ones that stay outside.
32. Do you have a pet? Not anymore.
33. Where would you like travel to? As in a holiday? The Maritimes, Canada.
... not related to SARS-CoV-2, just like my country's healthcare.

Who dreams these up anyway?
I've always wondered what the heck does it tell someone if you want to be a particular crayon colour?
Back in the day, I was always perplexed by those psychology class questionnaires some of my University student friends would want filled out.

>120 Storeetllr:, Hi Mary. I nipped over and admired your Grandma's childhood book covers. I should get busy and post some of mine for the next upload.

I enjoyed Mary's nursery story illustrations recently and wanted to contribute here to her meme ~
Vintage nursery book illustrations (from my childhood story collection). The cover was plain red with gold lettering; nothing special.

Frank Adams, 1938 ~ and Title page

More illustrations (2) (3)

Table of Contents (very dated stories, now) ~

The first 2 illustrations are from Old Dame Trot. Number 3 is of the wolf in The Three Little Pigs. I love that wolf getting his comeuppance!

Apologizing for the less than stellar mobile-phone camera photographs. I obtained this quickly from my daughter who is trying to work from home (but Mother was interrupting with a request for images).

I'll upload some of my cover images and include a proper book cover like I suggested when I started this theme.

Your old covers are reminding me that I own a few books from my mother's childhood. One is a lovely edition of Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses that I remember her reading to me and I loved the illustrations. Another is a rather beat-up copy of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan and Wendy.

>123 SandyAMcPherson: So much fun! Love it. Reminds me of a couple of old children's storybooks I have around here somewhere. They are falling apart, I'm afraid, but the illustrations inside!

>124 jessibud2: Hi Shelley. Yes! See if you can upload those for us BiblioPhiles. You never know how nostalgic these old illustrations are until bam, it just so brings back bedtime when we were little. OK. When *I* was little, perhaps I should say.

I'd love to see both the RLS (We have that very title, given now to my grandchildren) and also a very old-fashioned version of Peter Pan. I don't think our old edition of PP had any but line drawings.

>125 Storeetllr:, Mary, I posted without seeing your message... also would be fun to see.
I'm a big fan of those vintage illustrations. Sometimes the book isn't worth saving but the colour plates make wonderful framed pictures for gifts to new baby décor.

>104 SandyAMcPherson: I find that, for me, if I stop caring about the characters, I may as well not even finish the book.

>115 SandyAMcPherson: LOL

>117 SandyAMcPherson: Sadly, my local library does not carry any books by Estelle Ryan.

>121 SandyAMcPherson: I just filled that out on my thread too.

If my internet connectivity co-operates... here's another book edition from over a 100 years ago
Land of the Midnight Sun: Summer and Winter Journeys through Sweden, Norway, Lapland and Northern Finland.

1882, by Paul B. du Chaillu ~ Vol. II ~

Title page ~ Frontspiece,

The steel engraved illustrations are gorgeous, in exquisite detail. The pages unfortunately are in fragile condition, having been made from unbuffered paper processes. Of course the Kraft paper-making process was only a decade away but not soon enough for the time of this book.

I've always loved this title, so evocative of the romance of the North and the hardiness of explorers in difficult terrain and a challenging climate. Summer would have been as miserable as winter conditions, with hordes of biting insects and long detours around muskeg. The binding and fragile pages defeat me. And other romance history is available. My library has a few of these other books reviewed on LT for those inquiring minds.

>129 SandyAMcPherson: Wonderful!

>126 SandyAMcPherson: - I will try to do it tomorrow when daylight comes through my windows. I have terrible light in this house at night.

Beautiful books!

I have a copy of my dad's King Arthur book The Boy Knight, or, in the Court of King Arthur but the front cover is gone and the pages are brown and crumbly, unreadable. It's about 85 years old.

>128 alcottacre: Oh too bad about Estelle Ryan's books.
I believe the provincial system has most of the series, but may have stopped buying the most recent due to cut backs. Public libraries here don't have them as e-books at all, which I always find strange. I'm told the pub costs more than the hardcover, which is bizarre.

I commented on your thread re the much-snagged questionnaire. I saw it on Karen's first then later Peggy's.

>131 jessibud2: Fun. I hope the sun is muted so the light is even. I had trouble today with the sun's face and rays. They're gilt and washed out the detail.

>132 fuzzi: Hi Fuzzi. Too bad the book covers are missing. I get it about unreadable, crumbly pages. When we renovated the rooms where all our oldest books are shelved, I agitated that we go through all our poorly bound books with fragile paper and have a sale. The Man was very grumpy about that idea. In these difficult times, I decline to even think of it. Well, okay, I keep it to myself and you folks...

Boy, am I dead meat if he sees my Talk thread!

>129 SandyAMcPherson: Franklin Square! Harper & Brother's building was such a big deal. I used to live on Maiden Lane down there, and loved walking around the ancient publishing/bookselling sites like Ann Street and Varick Street.

Hi Richard. You've brought forward an important aspect of my posting images of these older books.

If I'm going to show the title page, I should maybe make the image larger! I had to peer at my original photo to see the writing at the bottom of the title page. Thanks for your little anecdote.

I've visited Manhattan only once and really didn't get to see much in the way of those historic areas. It was fascinating walking around lower Manhattan. I was more in awe of all the architecture that was representative of Dutch canal buildings. Not a surprise considering the area was 'New Amsterdam' at some point.

I lived there for ~15 years and was always out walking, seeing what places still existed and often goggling at what has replaced the landmarks of yore.

In the case of Franklin Square, a stonking feeder bridge!

Hi Sandy. I am having some problems uploading some pictures so I will attempt just these 2 pics, from my mother's school copy of Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses. Fingers crossed:





The cover is a bit beat up. There is one colour plate on the opposite page of that inside image but it isn't uploading. The Peter Pan book is much more beat up, pages falling out. It's funny, in my mother's childish printing, she had her name printed inside and her phone number (only 6 digits, lol!) I might try that one another day.

I love seeing all of the old books and book covers. I had a bunch of older books - the earliest was from 1896 - that were destroyed by mice.

>138 jessibud2: Thanks for sharing Shelley. That is a lovely vintage font on the title page. I love that.

I had a laugh at the 6-digit phone number. I grew up with a 5-digt number, and a "party line", remember those?!

>139 alcottacre: Thanks for your message.
There is so much love for books here that it's really satisfying to post the 'pretty' ones.

Book #34 ~ Kissing the Demons by Kate Ellis

~

Kate Ellis has written a somewhat Gothic police procedural which has several twists and turns to enhance the suspense and create mystery around the murderer's identity. In fact, the characterizations are just as interesting as the plot details. Historical cold cases become entwined with the current crimes. There was a realism about dysfunctional families through generations that rang true.

A few lame developments rather ruined a 4-★ read:
In a seance, the name Obediah Shrowton is spelt out and a great thing is made of that being reason for the discord in the students' rented house. However much the past history was gruesome, as part of the house's unsavoury reputation, the seance remains a paranormal aspect that wasn't further clarified.
Equally diverting attention, Kirsten, Joe's sister-in-law, arrives on the scene, invoking distracting backstory. She ends up dragging too much bitterness into the plot for no discernible purpose as far as the mysteries are concerned. In an unrealistic plot development, this Kirsten-character becomes the focus of the murderer, which was rather illogical.

This novel (#3 in the series) was my first introduction to Ellis' Joe Plantagenet mysteries and as a stand-alone story, very enjoyable. I liked the character enough to pursue the next book (Watching the Ghosts). I suspect I haven't lost the thread of this series by not reading the two prior novels and I fully expect to enjoy those books when I am able to obtain copies from the library.

(Edited to correct the number of books read)

>121 SandyAMcPherson: Enjoyed your spiky answers, Sandy. Colour of crayon is a bit of an amateur psychologist's question isn't it?

ETA amended to insert the correct name! Sandy I have no idea why I called you Susan!

>143 PaulCranswick: *Laughing*. Score, Paul.
"Sandy" is my family nickname. I actually have 3 'Christian' names and 'Susan' is the third one. There were thousands of girls named "Susan" around the years I was born and always at least 3 others in my class with that name, so 'Sandy' it is (from 'Alexandria' via a grandfather's name).

P.S. My family spelt the nick as 'Xandi' but that always led to spelling inaccuracies by others...

>143 PaulCranswick: I hate getting names wrong, Sandy and I am pleased it was brought to my attention so I could correct it. Of course had I known I might have tried to bluff my way out by stating I knew all along that you had a Susan in there. Still fell down as for some inexplicable reason I also called Susan, Sandy - how to explain that one other than some early onset of dementia!

>145 PaulCranswick: Sleep is the best medicine.
I believe many many folks are battling subliminal anxiety as much as overtly. I doubt it is any kind of an onset of dementia, Paul. Be well, sleep deeply.

>139 alcottacre: ::crying::

>144 SandyAMcPherson: I was luck that no other girl in my class went by Susan, but there was Suzy, Suzie, and Suzanne, all of whom objected to being Susan'd, as their parents had not in fact named them that.

OK. I am good to visit. : )

>121 SandyAMcPherson: I like several of your answers!

10. Do you think you're strong-willed? Yes. What's your point?
24. Scary movies or happy endings? I'd rather read.
25. Last movie you watched in a theatre? Don't remember; it was when the earth was cooling.

And all the wonderful book covers.

I had 5 Kims in my fourth grade class. I was Kimmers.

>147 fuzzi: {{{Fuzzi}}} Yeah, I feel for Stasia, too.

Not mice... water. We lost books to major damp when we discovered a slow leak in a basement area of our very old house in Victoria (BC). The boxes on the floor has been soaking up the wet for a long time. Nothing was salvageable. Lesson learned: store books out on shelves where the air can circulate and away from the floor.

>149 Berly: And you are still Kimmers. x

Five Kims in your class - where the heck did you study, Seoul?!

>149 Berly:, Berly! Hi - I looove that little 'ready to visit' piccy and indeed, welcome.

I was lurking on your thread yesterday and decided to explore a title you had listed as a potential 2020-read (#13, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore). It was even available onOverdrive so I snagged it although I've created an e-Book cascade now.

Back on your thread, I liked some answers, too. So, I'll delurk and visit (hand washing first and I'll stay on the back porch, shall I?)

>151 PaulCranswick: No, that was in Massachusetts. But now it is happening again in TKD because every other person is Master Kim! LOL

>152 SandyAMcPherson: Thanks for visiting my thread. I have Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore waiting for me and I am happy to have added to your e-Book cascade! Anytime.

Hi Sandy: I am loving your book covers! There are some beautiful ones.

Hotel du Lac is on my WL. I have the Ryan mysteries on my e-reader, I'll get to them one of these days. I've read the Wesley Peterson books by Kate Ellis and quite enjoyed them. I haven't tried her other series yet.

Happy Friday!

Hi Paul, Berly and BLBera... dozy morning for me and I'm not remembering people's "real" names.
I see we are all reading similarly or WL-ing the same titles.

Not that this is a title I've seen around: I'm currently reading a Dorothy Gilman (The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax). I recently enjoyed her Madame Karitska Books , so very captivating. But the Pollifax ones? Not so much. I read all the earlier ones when they were first published (up to about the end of the 1980's).

I think I've outgrown the naiveté of the Pollifax character. I'll finish this one though, but say goodbye to all the re-reads. I've better series to dip into when they become available.

>150 SandyAMcPherson: thanks.

I lost a lot of my childhood books and schoolwork and photos to a damp basement. Everything was covered in white and green fuzz, not salvageable either. I've managed to replace some of the books, but the photos are gone forever.

Stopping by to say hi, Sandy. The name Kim was popular in my day too, but Deborah was much worse. I've always been " Deborah" and never Debbie, so that helped. I was in a wedding party where the bride was Debbie, and me and the other bridesmaid were both Deborah. That was fun! We all turned our heads when anyone said Deb, Debbie or Deborah. We all went to school together.

Hi Sandy!

I was one of 4 Karens throughout elementary and junior high. We moved when I was in 9th grade and there may have been one other Karen in my new school, but I'd have to pull out the old annual to check.

There are more Karens here on LT than any other time in my life except K-9.

I was one of 2 Shelleys in one year of elementary school. And, like me, she was Shelley H! But other than that, I never had that problem. When I was teaching, though, there was another Shelly (she spelled it without the second e). We are friends to this day.:-)

Book #35 ~ The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax (1970, by Dorothy Gilman)

An e-Book version ~

I'm going to be unconventional here and give two ratings:
For plot credibility.
For the writing style and story structure.

I think I've outgrown the naiveté of the Pollifax character. Mrs. Pollifax behaved so unbelievably, that the action was rendered senseless. However, the novel's concept was rescued by the characters 'Sandor' and Colin. I enjoyed the saga of traipsing through the Turkish backwaters with the gypsies. The final twist was satisfying.

As a Reading in the Time of SARS-CoV-2, it was dandy escapism. However, if you want something by Gilman that is more intriguing and sensible, I do recommend the Countess Karitska books, The Clairvoyant Countess and Kaleidoscope.

>155 SandyAMcPherson:, >160 SandyAMcPherson: It's wise to let go of a series before even the memory of it becomes irritating. I went on too long with Donna Andrews and ended up disliking Meg Langslow and her immense herd of dimwits. I mean, family.

Stay well.

>160 SandyAMcPherson: I just finished Kaleidoscope and enjoyed it, though I thought it felt a bit dated, even for the year it was written, but I could be misremembering how things were in 2002.

An end of March commentary:

I've not posted all that much this past week here, or on other threads.
I definitely needed a break from the barrage of info shooting into my eyeballs directly into my "anxiety centre" from both the LT website as well as the news feeds.
My equanimity has started on some recovery, but I need to be more mindful how susceptible I am in reacting to emerging viral news.

April - tomorrow - I've decided not to start a new thread yet. I'm really enjoying scrolling through to admire all the pretty book covers. There's so many more to add and my tidy little mind wants to have them all on one thread-chapter.

>163 SandyAMcPherson: Seems reasonable to me. Happy newmonth.

Hi Sandy! I hope you are doing okay . I just want to say that I am not a fan of Margaret Atwood either! Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone. I feel like a heretic at times. I've only read The Handmaid's Tale, but that was sufficient for me. Touchstones are not working, sorry.

>163 SandyAMcPherson: try to take breaks from news of the current global situation. Read an old favorite, watch cat videos on Facebook or DVDs of old movies, sit outside and listen to nature, do something that removes you from the constant stream of Doomsday Chicken Little types who do nothing but make us all more fearful than necessary.

This might make you smile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IuRzJRrRpQ&list=RDAWvefaN8USk&index=8

'Morning, Sandy! I hope you're feeling a tad better today. I have posted Richard's Beer Bread recipe on my thread - it was on Chelle's. Richard's Beer Bread Recipe

>166 fuzzi: - So funny! Thanks for that

>164 richardderus: Thanks Richard. I do hope it is a happier new month... for all of us.

>165 vancouverdeb: Thanks for sharing sentiments! Ive read 3 Atwood's and gave up. Just not my preferred themes and style, I guess.

>166 fuzzi: Absolutely good advice. Thanks. And I loved the pygmy goat video. It did indeed make me smile.

>167 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. I have copied it into my cyber recipe book. We don't have beer around here except when visitor's come (ha). But I'm going to try this out when a liquor store trip is in the works.

HI Sandy, >163 SandyAMcPherson: I understand completely.

i have been doing the Dan Harris daily meditations (link on my thread) and finding them to be very useful. There is also a Q&A after the short meditations that talks about lots of concerns that we all have these days. I am finding those helpful too as the theme is a shared one and helps to gain a perspective.
.
I guess you could say that I am a M. Atwood fan, not so much of her dystopian ones but for sure, her earlier ones.

I think it was Deborah's advice to eat cookies or chocolate or both so I have made choc. chip oatmeal cookies. Yum!

>121 SandyAMcPherson: Hi, Sandy! #18! Here's how I'd know that I was ridiculously rich. I'd have fresh sheets on my bed every night, washed that day in old-timey Tide and Clorox and sun-dried. If it were overcast where I happened to be (because, of course, we'd have many houses), the sheets would be flown in for my bed that night.
Love your old book covers!
Sad for people who have lost their books for any reason at all.

I love the snoopy cartoon! I have to keep reminding myself that whether I know what is going on or not won't change anything . . .

that said, the practical info about masks, food etc. is all welcome and helpful and gives me guidelines and a sense of control.

Hi Lucy, Glad to share the Snoopy-philosophy.
I was really thinking it applied as much to my last book (which I read in the penultimate hours of March for the Murder and Mayhem in March group) as much as to my needing a break from virus news.

I will review this March title soon, and then feel that author was done and dusted. Time to start a different series, methinks.

>171 LizzieD: Hey Peggy, nice to see you. I actually answered your comment on your thread. My line-dried sheets are a my choice of spoiling the winter blahs. It turned too cold again, but unfortunately that saying is true about March going out like a lion. That's how it goes, yes? In like a lamb?

Book #36 ~ And Dangerous to Know (Darcie Wilde).
Let it be known, all ye who might be in thrall with the Rosalind Thorne mystery series:
I may have some reveals written into this review, but not so specific that I used spoiler tags. Just saying...

~

This was actually Book 3 in the Rosalind Thorne series . However, the backstory was subtle and did not overwhelm the current plot. It could be a stand-alone mystery quite successfully, since Darcie Wilde provides an insight into how the protagonist arrived at her tenuous social situation.

Two flaws detracted from my enjoyment of the novel.
The vintage-artwork of the front covers of these novels is what first attracted my attention. But I don't think the story inside has a vintage feel at all.

The writing style and story structure was just fine, albeit a bit of a trope, but I couldn't buy into the set up of a haut ton Regency maiden traipsing around in just this fashion. Yes, she had 'connections' but had fallen on hard times. That alone, without anything stellar to recommend her, should have relegated her to either a less exalted position in London society, or else sent her off to live in the country. The story might better have suited the 1930's era.

The other aspect that diminished the story is an unresolved relationship dilemma which Rosalind faces. Even though the reader recognises from both backstory and the earlier books that Rosalind is torn in her affections for two very different men, the prolonged lack of resolution derailed the plot and felt unsatisfying by the end.

I confess that some of my angst in this tale was the trope of the ethically questionable senior police hierarchy and its effect on the detectives. I'm also tired of that crazy-gentlewoman with the rather evil inlaws and the convoluted apparent good guy, oh oops, bad guy. While that switcheroo is often a fun aspect of murder mysteries, it was so white then black when this change happens. I like subtle rascals or up-front-always-was-a-bad apple. Despite these niggles, if you like assertive, non-professional female protagonists, give the series a try.

Edited to say this was a BB from MickyFine. In re-reading Micky's review, I agreed with some of her insights. Just to be fair, I wonder if I would have liked the plot development more had I not been living in this time of great anxiety?

Update on my Currently Reading list ~ an e-Book cascade ~

• Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore (Matthew Sullivan) (BB quondame)

• The Cow in the Parking Lot (Leonard Scheff) (this was a BB from someone in he 75-challenge group, but I didn't note the post when I pasted it into my TBR list)

• A Killer in King's Cove (a Lane Winslow Mystery) (Iona Whishaw) (BB vancouverdeb)

• Pictures from an Institution (Richard Jarrell) (from Rosalita on Beth's thread, a freebie)

• Lessons in Enchantment (Patricia Rice) (an ER award for March)

Plus some Mary Engelbreit Joy ~



(Edited... forgot the touchstones!)

Happy Friday, Sandy.

>177 BLBera: Thank you, Beth.
I hope your day is productive and sunshiny!

Book #37 ~ Watching the Ghosts (Kate Ellis)

~

Another exciting Joe Plantagenet mystery with paranormal occurrences, again in a building with an apparently criminally-disturbed history. As in the previous book, there is a lively characterisation of the main protagonists. Although the reader can easily determine some of the mystery, there are a few clever twists that reveal a complex plot and unexpected developments.

A few developments were rather clunky, such as the kidnapping plot and those who were the participants. The final episodes of danger seemed to lack finesse, but as a whole, the story had a fairly good pacing with moderate suspense coming and going in waves.

My biggest niggle is this romance and sadness aspect to Joe's private life. It comes across as a contrived plot trope and the main effect is bleak. This is a very weak plot point to try and perpetuate through the whole series (if Joe's love life is going to continue being blighted). Despite his unresolved relationships, the mystery is intriguing and the next book begs to be read.

Philosophical musings:
My elder daughter's partner is on the editorial staff at the Globe & Mail (published in Toronto, Canada). The opinion piece which he recently helped to co-ordinate was published today ~ a contribution by Ai Weiwei:

The virus in the body politic: We have lost our ability to cherish each other.
I especially admired this comment in WeiWei's article:

The only conclusion a reasonable person can derive from the semi-coherent ramblings of U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, when they answer questions about the coronavirus, is that neither man is focused on cherishing life, but only on how well bureaucratic capitalism is operating.

One’s only source of cheer in observing the tiny coronavirus is to note its spirit of egalitarianism: You are a religious leader? A famous actor or high official? A politician who either does or does not think I am causing a crisis? Fine – I treat you all the same.

>180 SandyAMcPherson: - Thank you for this, Sandy. I am going to ask my friend who gets the Globe to cut the entire article out and send it to me. Sounds excellent. Is it in today's paper?

Holy hells. A positive spin on the plague!

>181 jessibud2: Shelley, yes, it is in today's paper, in the opinion section.

You can read it online at the link (when you click the title of the article, 'The virus in the body politic').
The Globe has made open access to all articles about the pandemic. I cheer that move and it is online with no restrictions.

>182 richardderus: Art thou expressing cynicism, oh wordsmith?

>184 SandyAMcPherson: I was cynical in utero, so no utterance from my vocal tract is absent that quality, but no special weight of same was added in that case. I express my gratitude that the "mighty" kakistocrat could fall victim to the plague. Too late for this go-round, but the late-autumn revival meeting would be both timely and condign.

>185 richardderus: Just to be helpful here, so that visitors can nod sagely and say, "I knew that"...

A kakistocracy is a system of government that is run by the worst, least qualified, and/or most unscrupulous citizens.

Yeah, I had to look that up. RD does that to me. So I'll say it should be, technically, in utero.
'Cause it's Latin.

>186 SandyAMcPherson:...but one only italicizes foreign-language words or phrases that are not widely known...so in utero is like schadenfreude or sangfroid or cheerio. A modestly educated English speaker like moi can reasonably be expected to know what it means.

*batbat*

>185 richardderus:, >186 SandyAMcPherson: - I knew kakistocrat (when you open the dictionary, you will find t-Rump's picture there instead of a text definition), but it was *condign* that I had to look up (even though I could figure it out by context). ;-)

Fabulous vocabulary lesson going on here! Thank you for sharing the article. I, too, liked the bit you quoted in >180 SandyAMcPherson:.

>188 jessibud2: So where's this dictionary that shows that image, Shelley? I love the idea of an illustrated, in-context dictionary.

>189 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. I looked up *condign* as well but it was 'kakistocrat' that I really hadn't a clue about.

>185 richardderus: >186 SandyAMcPherson:->190 SandyAMcPherson: Shush, perhaps he's using such vocabulary to keep his sentiments from reaching the ears of those for whom he has such wishes. Well, they're not great readers, so I suspect he's in no real danger.

Hope you have had a lovely, peaceful, safe and healthy weekend, Sandy.

My thread isn't updating!
Just posted a review this morning and it "looked" like it was there but now, ???

Your remark showed up on my thread, Sandy. Yuck about the book reviews, especially as I have been awaiting your one for Lessons in Enchantment.

Now THERE is a word to treasure!

It's April 10, and feels like forever since I visited. I see the threads are intimidatingly stacked up with unread messages for me to skim.

I went into a funk and just couldn't handle reading *anything* for awhile, not LT, not eBooks, not physical books. But I've done loads of bread-making and tidying up of long-neglected messes. The Man and I have taken extensive walks while the sun shines ☀️ and the sidewalks are sort of clear of ice.

Cheese-filled buns ~

I think I should start a new thread. It's Easter. I long for some flowers 🌺 🌸 🌹 🌻 to show up here. I want to garden. Like just about everyone, I've got cabin fever!

Book reviews will appear too. Just not today, though. It's Easter! 🎉

Hi Sandy!

I'm sorry you've got cabin fever.

Those cheese-filled buns loo lovely. What kind of cheese filling?

>196 SandyAMcPherson: Gorgeous! I'm mildly curious about what cheese I'm getting, so I second Horrible's question. If I'm honest, I would only say no to Limburger or Épousses so it's more in the spirit of being informed.

In response to requests at >197 karenmarie: & >198 richardderus: ~ I 💚 🧡 💙 that I had visitors right away. It is lovely to see that Lucy was here too. I feel much better!

Although this cheese may be available in the USA, the ingredients might be different (distributed in Canada by KraftCanadaLtd). Many products with identical names and packaging differ between our two countries.

Side, , ingredients, and top,

As for the recipe, any bread dough you like. I put about 2 tsp in the centre of a flattened round and then pulled the dough up around the edges and sealed it inside.

The buns, sliced in half and toasted under the broiler ~ ~ they do taste very cheesy!

>194 ronincats: Hi Roni. I have some interesting comments about Lessons in Enchantment.

It was probably a silver-lining that I didn't succeed in posting my original review. Now that I've had a rethink plus an e-mail conversation with a librarian friend, I have a modified impression of Patricia Rice's book.

Waving "Hello," Sandy, and wishing you and yours a Happy Easter!

Hiya back, Stasia. It is hard to feel like this is Easter weekend.
We usually travel somewhere...

I started a new thread but haven't filled it with my up-at-the top stuff, yet
:D

>199 SandyAMcPherson: OMG
*drool*

Especially true of cheeses and milk products between countries. The USA had an *immense* problem with TB and enacted Draconian pasteurization laws that have never been revisited in today's cleaner, safer world (snort), so as a result our cheese world is, um, blandly industrial compared to y'all's.

>196 SandyAMcPherson: >199 SandyAMcPherson: Oh those look good. Now I'm hungry again. Good thing I have a good supply of Cheetos downstairs!