Storeetllr (Mary) Keeps Score, Part 2: Reading Rocks!

Ruby With Her Other Grandma
Kathy, 1945-2020

Hi, I'm Mary. I didn't have a thread for 2019. I just didn't think I'd have time to keep up with mine, much less everyone else's threads. In December 2018, I moved from Pueblo CO to Nyack NY to live with my daughter & son-in-law & help my daughter in her last month of pregnancy & first few months as a new mom and then to be the live-in Granny-Nanny for Ruby when Meg went back to school in the spring. Well, I was right, between that and getting artistic with watercolor painting and rock painting, plus buying a house and moving into it the weekend before Thanksgiving 2019, it was crazy busy, but I've missed the 75ers and LT. So, even though I expect 2020 is going to be about as busy, I decided to jump back in the water and hope for the best. Anyway, I live in the basement (it's really a nicely finished walkout) of our new house with Nickel, an African Grey parrot, and a few dozen moving boxes (which I'm sorting through slowly). Besides painting, reading, writing, and hanging with Ruby, I'm also a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

***
Ruby & Her Rolling Stones Tongue versus Aspen Tree & Its Rolling Stone Tongue: Who Does It Better?


Closeup of "Owl" Painting on Rock

My rating system, stolen from Katie, but I also use half stars to raise a book's rating if it's slightly better than the full star rating:

2 stars = below average
3 stars = average
4 stars = above average
5 stars = perfect *for me*

(Anything below 2 stars is unlikely to be finished)

Currently Reading

Network Effect by Martha Wells. Audio.
Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer. Audio.
Delusion in Death by J.D. Robb.

Books Read

March

19. Naked in Death by J.D. Robb. 4 stars. Reread. (Audio) Yeah, just what the doctor ordered for a reading slump. Comfort reading at its best. How Eve and Roarke met; first glimpses of Mavis and Charles, Feeney, Dr. Mira and Commander Whitney. Now that I've read all 50 of the In Death books, this first book feels a bit rough and a little shaky - as if Robb wasn't sure what elements and characters would end up being important. I could be mistaken, but one thing I'm sure of: she didn't have the slightest idea the series would last so long! Interesting how this story, written 25 years ago, so closely mirrors today's political climate. From the writing, it's pretty obvious that Roberts doesn't care much for rightwingers.
20. Glory in Death by J.D. Robb. 4 stars. Reread. (Audio)

21. A Longer Fall by Charlaine Harris. 4 stars.

22. Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb. 4 stars. Someone has murdered supermodel Pandora in a violent & gory way, just before she is set to headline in Leonardo's big show, and Mavis is the chief suspect.

23. Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas. 4 stars. (Audio) Light and fun romp with the Ravenals through Victorian England with Cassandra, whose twin Pandora has just gotten married and left her to navigate her second Season alone. At the wedding, she meets railroad magnate Tom Severin, who allows himself to feel only five emotions, and none of those have any connection to love. But though he's not going to allow himself to court her, Tom finds he cannot forget Cassandra.

24. Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb. 3.5 stars. People - who by all accounts are happy & healthy - are dying by suicide, and Eve senses something off about it. But it couldn't be murder, and that is confirmed when Eve is right there when one of them takes a dive off the 75th-floor of a building. What ties them together? Mavis gets her big break.
25. Ceremony in Death. 3.5 stars. Reread. Wiccans and Satanists - both whackadoodle groups, but which one is killing people, including a retired cop?
26. Vengeance in Death. 3.5 stars. Reread. Religious fanatic killing people from Roarke's past.
27. Holiday in Death. 4 stars. Reread. Santa killing clients of a dating service.
28. Conspiracy in Death. 4.5 stars. Reread. Doctors run amok, killing street people for their diseased organs. Dallas loses her badge and stunner. We meet Louise Dimatto.
29. Loyalty in Death. 4 stars. Reread. Cassandra tries to finish what Apollo started by blowing up stuff. Peabody's New Ager baby bro gets into serious trouble when he visits.
30. Witness in Death. 4 stars. Reread. Eve and Roarke go to the theater for opening night of a play Roarke is producing. The wildly popular leading male actor who has been abusive to everyone in the cast and crew is murdered right on stage in the final scene with Eve looking on.

31. Kaleidoscope by Dorothy Gilman. 3.5 stars. Sequel to The Clairvoyant Countess. Fun, easy read, but felt a bit dated, even for 2002.

32. Judgment In Death In an uptown strip joint (owned by Roarke, of course), a cop is found bludgeoned to death. The weapon's a baseball bat.
33. Betrayal In Death At the luxurious Roarke Palace Hotel, a maid walks into suite 4602 for the nightly turndown - and steps into her worst nightmare. A killer leaves her dead, strangled by a thin silver wire. A hit, but who paid for it, and who's the ultimate target?
34. Seduction In Death Date rape drugs and murder - good reasons to take a pass on online dating.
35. Reunion In Death A killer from Eve's past gets out of prison and ups the game - a deadly game pitting her and Eve.
36. Purity In Death Somebody is ridding the streets of riffraff using a particularly nasty virus. Mavis and Leonardo share BIG news, and one of Eve's team is badly wounded.

April

37. Portrait in Death by J.D. Robb. Mad photographer is murdering talented young people, then posing the bodies to make portraits. Roarke discovers a secret from his past which shakes him to the core so that he shuts Eve out, or tries to.
38. Imitation in Death by J.D. Robb. Somebody's murdering women in the same way famous serial killers of the past murdered them. Different kinds of moms are prevalent in this installment. Peabody preps for the detective exam.
39. Divided in Death by J.D. Robb. Cyberterrorist Doomsday Group is up to no good, and neither is Homeland Security which wants to take over a murder investigation - involving one of Roarke's top security experts - from Eve. Roarke discovers something new about Eve's childhood nightmare that makes him want to destroy the Homeland Security agents involved, while by-the-book Eve counsels against it which causes a rift in their relationship.
40. Visions in Death by J.D. Robb. Someone is beating, raping & murdering young women in city parks, then cutting out their eyes. When a psychic comes to Eve, offering one vision after another - each with shockingly accurate details of the murders - she reluctantly accepts the help. When Eve gives a scathing interview to Nadine and pulls Peabody in to give answers, Peabody is targeted by the killer.
41. Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb. An entire family is murdered in their beds by home invaders, except for Nixie, the young daughter of the house, who snuck out of her bed for a midnight snack and was overlooked by the killers and ends up bunking at Roarke's and Eve's place for the duration of the investigation. Eve can't find a reason for the murders, the parents & the housekeeper (and two innocent young children) having been upstanding citizens, their lives above reproach.
42. Origin in Death by J.D. Robb This is the one - The Icove Agenda. I swear, other than the name of Nadine's book and what came after, I had forgotten pretty much all of the story. Isn't that nice! It's like reading the series for the first time!
43. Memory in Death by J.D. Robb
44. Born in Death by J.D. Robb
45. Innocent in Death by J.D. Robb
46. Creation in Death by J.D. Robb

47. Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost. 3.5 stars. Audio. Ah, that naughty, naughty Ian. Hoist on his own petard, at last! Verity is refusing to acknowledge him, so what's a sex-crazed vampire to do but join her in her quest to destroy the demon who's been making life unbearable for Ian and so many others over the millennia. Bones and Cat make a couple of cameo appearances, along with Menkares (sp?).

48. Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb. 4 stars. Riffs off Murder on the Orient Express, an Agatha Christie novel. Anders is murdered in a way to make us think he's a sexual deviant, tho his rep is anything but.
49. Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb. 4 stars. A priest dies in front of a full congregation at a funeral Mass after drinking the Communion wine. Gangs and a long con are involved.
50. Promises in Death by J.D. Robb. 4 stars. Morris's new ladylove, a cop who recently moved to NY from Atlanta, is murdered. Was it a revenge killing for something the captain did in the past? If so, what? Because his record is clean, he's a good cop, and he hasn't really been involved in anything that warranted the kind of violence perpetrated against his innocent daughter.

51. Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves. 3.5 stars. Okay, this one was really weird and dark, which I liked, but it was also teenage-angsty, which I didn't. The end, tho kind of sad and really creepy, was good. I hope there's a sequel.

52. Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb. 4 stars. This is a sad one. A young girl on the brink of womanhood is tortured, raped & strangled in her own bed when her parents - a captain in the NYPSD and his wife - are on a weekend getaway to celebrate his promotion. Louise's wedding.

53. How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse: Book One by K. Eason. 3.5 Stars. Audio. Feminist YA alt-universe fairytale fantasy scifi. It was clever in many ways, but I wasn't blown away.

54. Smoke Bitten by Patricia Briggs. 4 stars. Audio. Something got through the door from faerie - something with a really bad attitude and teeth that has even the Lords of Faerie running scared. Elizabeta's death curse has Adam acting weird.

55. Hidden Salem by Kay Hooper. 3.5 stars. Audio. Bishop/Special Crimes thriller. Another patriarch with a god complex rules over a small town through fear and intimidation, using a militia group, bribery, murder, and paranormal power.

56. Crooked River by Preston & Childs. 4 stars. Audio. Almost gave it 4.5 stars because the final half was unputdownable, but the first 1/4 was a bit blah, so nope. Pendergast and Coldmoon join forces to figure out why hundreds of severed feet, still in their green shoes, have washed up on a beach on Sanibel Island, FL. In the meantime, Pendergast's ward Constance Green investigates a haunted mansion that was the scene of a bloody murder a decade ago.

57. Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb. 4 stars. This is the one where the head geek of a gaming company gets beheaded in a locked room while playing a soon-to-be-released game that takes VR one step beyond. Nadine's book, The Icove Agenda, is released.
58. Interlude in Death by J.D. Robb. 4 stars. Audio/Kindle. Eve & Roarke visit family in Ireland while on vacation & a murdered body is discovered by one of his young second cousins. On their return to NY, Eve catches the murder of a limo driver by crossbow. Things devolve from there. Let the games begin.
59. Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb. 4 stars. Bad cops versus Eve & Crew.I
60. All Systems Red by Martha Wells. 5 stars. As good the second time around as it was the first. Maybe more so, because, after four novellas, I am more familiar with the world of Murderbot so understand more of what's going on.

23 books read in April; would be a record if they were all new material. As it is, only 6 were not rereads.
17 books read in March, 3 of which were original material.

May

61. New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb. 3.5 stars. The Collector escapes from Rikers and abducts a former victim, forcing Eve to go to Dallas to catch him or he'll torture, rape & kill her. Mommy issues galore in this one, and I admit I didn't remember it happening the way it did. I missed being in NYC.
62. Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb. 4 stars. The Icove Agenda is being adapted to vid, but all isn't well with the pretend NYPSD crew.

63. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells. 4.5 stars. Murderbot just can't help wanting to help the puny and stupid but nice humans. In this episode, he hitches a ride with ART to the mining installation where he murdered all his humans.
64. Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells. 4.5 stars. Murderbot goes to an terraforming facility abandoned by GrayCris corporation that turns out to have been a front for an illegal alien remnant mining operation. Of course, a bunch of humans employed by another corporation is sent in to investigate the terraforming facility for possible reclamation, and for some strange reason that it just can't figure out, Murderbot is compelled to help them and their "pet bot" Miki survive the combat bots and other assorted dangers lurking in the creepy place.
65. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells. 4.5 stars. GrayCris has abducted Dr. Mensah, and Murderbot is compelled to go to her rescue. He still doesn't like humans, still wants to be left alone to watch the vid series he loves, but he is getting better at dealing. Mostly.

Recommendations

The Good Man Jesus and Daemon Voices (Karen)
Binti (Judy)
The History of the Ancient World and History of the Medieval World (Jim)
Accepting the Lance (Joe)
(And it's only January 2. *sigh*)
Late Migrations (Mark)
Women Who Read Are Dangerous (torontoc)
The New Jim Crow (Rachel)
The Child Finder (Donna)The Good Man Jesus and Daemon Voices (Karen)
Brown Girl Dreaming (Karen)
Red at the Bone (Mark)
Gods of Jade and Shadow (Jim (drneutron))
Underland: A Deep Time Journey (Donna)
How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse (humouress)
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street (Richard)
Old Filth (Joanne, Karen, others too numerous to list)
The Friend (Mark)
Year of Wonders (Mark)
Pumpkinheads (Stasia)
Echoes in Onyx series (Sandy)

R - reading now

DNF

The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djeli Clark - Just couldn't seem to stay interested.
The Good Man Jesus (Audio) - Just couldn't stay interested. Might have been the narrator.

Welcome to my second thread! Next post is yours.

Happy new thread, Mary. Pleased to be first up.

>6 PaulCranswick: Woo hoo! Paul wins first place! Welcome, and thank you!

Surprised to be starting a second thread so soon. Usually my second thread isn't until April or later. Guess I've been a bit chatty this year. Perhaps because I missed being on LT in 2019 and am trying to make up for it?

Happy new thread, Mary. Love your photos. Nice owl!

>8 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne! Now that I'm feeling better, I'm going to start back with the artistic endeavors, including rock painting. Planning what new images to paint on a couple of rocks now.

Happy new thread!

>1 Storeetllr: Brilliant!

>2 Storeetllr: Ruby wins! Was there ever any doubt?

Happy new one!

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread, Mary! Love the topper! A nice tribute.

Happy New Thread, Mary! It's so lovely to have you back this year.

Hi Mary - happy new one!

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread, Mary!

I continue to be glad you decided to come back on LT this year. I hope things are going well with Ruby.

Happy new thread, Mary!

Lovely picture of Ruby's with her other Grandma at the top. My condolences to all involved.

>1 Storeetllr:

So Much Pride and JOY!

Checking in on the new thread, Mary!

Thanks for visiting my new thread, Susan, Anita, Lori, Mark, Roni, Katie, Jim, Joe, Anita, Marianne and Stasia! I'm surprised to have begun a second thread so early. I usually go through March at least before a new thread is called for. Guess I'm making up for last year's absence.

>10 quondame: Yeah, you're so right, Susan. Ruby does win.

>14 ronincats:, >17 jnwelch: Thanks, Roni and Joe. I'm really glad to be back!

>19 m.belljackson: Yes, that's it exactly, Marianne! Pride and joy. She sure did love that baby.

Hi Mary! What's new?

Hi, Richard! I'm driving again! That's new. (And wonderful.) I'm also able to pick up Ruby again! Goodness all around. Now, if only I could get out of this stupid reading slump...although your suggestion to read (for me, reread) the Murderbot Diaries does sound appealing. That, the In Death series, Neverwhere, and The Others series - if those don't get me through, I don't know what will.

Great news about being able to pick up Ruby - be sure to get in lots of Gramma hugs! And driving again - freedom!!

That's it exactly, Judy! Ruby gives the best hugs, and to be able to go places without depending on others! I'm loving it!

Hi Mary, I see your comments on many threads that I visit and thought it was about time I dropped in for a visit.
My LT library is pretty small (I'm slow about adding books from my real-life library), but we share 39 titles, so perhaps we have lots of similar tastes in reading.

I wanted to comment (from reading on Richard D's thread) about reading funks, because I had some encouraging ideas last year when I fell into a blah time with my choices.

Have you tried Dorothy Gilman's The Clairvoyant Countess and its sequel, Kaleidoscope? These two stories are gently-paced, yet intriguing and in a cozy-mystery sense, highly satisfying.

The other books that were very effective in comfort stories and boosted my reading joy was Sharon Shinn's new "Echoes" series. I reviewed these 4 books starting here. I think you might like trying these ideas, if you haven't found your groove yet.

Hi, Sandy! Thanks for visiting my thread. I'll be round to visit yours soon.

It does sound as if we may have similar tastes in reading. I appreciate your suggestions to lift me out of my reading slump. I read The Clairvoyant Countess (as well as all of the Mrs. Pollifax series) decades ago and enjoyed it, but I hadn't read the sequel. I'll check it out. I've liked Shinn since she wrote the Archangel series, also decades ago, but some of her more recent stuff is a bit hit and miss for me. I don't think I've read anything in the Echoes series, tho. I'll check that out too.

Naked in Death (audiobook) is just what the doctor ordered for a reading slump. Comfort reading at its best. How Eve and Roarke met; first glimpses of Mavis and Charles, Feeney, Dr. Mira and Commander Whitney. Now that I've read all 50 of the In Death books, this first book feels a bit rough and a little shaky - as if Robb wasn't sure what elements and characters would end up being important. I could be mistaken, but one thing I'm sure of: she didn't have the slightest idea the series would last so long! Even so, it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it a lot. Interesting how this story, written 25 years ago, so closely mirrors today's political climate. From the writing, it's pretty obvious that Roberts doesn't care much for rightwingers.

>28 Storeetllr: Never heard of this author. On my WL it goes.

>28 Storeetllr: The In Death series was only supposed to be a trilogy. However, the response was so great that it was decided to continue on with it. It just keeps going and going and going - which is just fine with me.

Hey Mary! I came to admire your reputed fabby book covers!
As in "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" ~ not stealing my idea at all, either. I'd love to see some vintage love spread around for the bookbinding arts.

A few months ago, there was a flurry of paperback images that were very art-deco or pre-war (WWII) anyway. I loved them. Marty Wingate's The Bodies in the Library and Jacqueline Winspear's books come to mind, not that they are specifically historical mysteries.

I haven't had time yet to photograph them and post, but I will, Sandy. I'll drop by your thread when I do and let you know.

Happy new thread, Mary.

Thanks, Beth! I haven't been around the threads much in the past few days. Sorry, but I've been doing a bit more granny-nannying since her grandpa went back to L.A. after being here over a month to help with the baby while I was recoverig. I'll try to get to yours soon.

Happy Friday, Mary. I am sure you enjoy that granny-nannying, right? Have a nice weekend.

Hi, Mark! Thanks for stopping by. Yes, love being the baby's granny-nanny. Keeps me on my toes!

Glory in Death by J.D. Robb. 4 stars. (Audio) In this installment, we meet Peabody, a beat cop, and Chief Tibble, and we get to know Nadine Furst a little better. Eve takes down the villainous serial killer in a slinky party dress and spike heels.

A Longer Fall by Charlaine Harris. 4 stars. Not as compelling (to me) as An Easy Death, the first Gunnie Rose book, until about 3/4 of the way through; then unputdownable.

Well, like pretty much everyone else, I'm staying home these days. I had pneumonia once, and I never want to have anything like it ever again. It really knocked me on my butt, and I was younger and stronger then too. This disease is so much worse. Anyway, all this "social distancing" isn't all that much different for me, since I like staying home. In fact, it's my favorite thing to do. Of course, being forced to do it makes going out seem more attractive. That's the contrary part of my nature acting up. In this instance, though, I think I'll be able to keep it under control.

Libraries are closed, but I have so many books on my rl bookshelves and Kindle and Audible and Overdrive and Hoopla that I should be good for at least, oh, 3 weeks or maybe a month. If I could just get off social media and stop obsessing over this horrible pandemic and the inept way it's been handled by our feckless leader and his just-as-feckless minions.

Anyway, I hope everyone stays safe and healthy. And I hope I don't offend anyone with my graveyard humor, but I loved this tweet by Randy Rainbow because it is so me. Except the takeout food. I can't afford too much takeout, though, if I could...

>38 Storeetllr: Mary, I loved that quote.
It's not exactly me (because we tend not to 'do' take out). But in many respects, yes, my life is fairly evenly distributed with solitary walks and home-based activities.

Stay well, Mary. I managed to get my reserve of The Night Watchman just before the library closed. With extended due dates, and the library's being closed, I might even read all the books I have checked out.

I totally understand what you mean about not wanting to do what you're told. I tend to be contrary that way as well.

>39 SandyAMcPherson: Same with me, Sandy. Stay-at-home but seldom take-out. I'm going to post one of my grandmother's book covers below. Mine are not as pristine as the ones you've been posting, but it's the way I got them from my dad after my grandmother's death.

>40 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. You too! Glad you picked up your reserve book before the library closed. I didn't, but I've got enough books in my own library (dead-tree books, ebooks, and audiobooks) to last me for a good few months. Maybe a year, if I count rereads.

>41 Copperskye: Hah! Love it! Back atcha, Joanne.

Sandy has been posting images of some gorgeous book covers she has in her library. I have a few, though they are not in as good shape as hers. First up, one of my favorites:

I've been hunkered down here in the basement, listening to my granddaughter laugh and squeal and sometimes cry through the ceiling. It's killing me that I can't be up there with her, but - at my age and since I'm taking a blood thinner, both conditions condusive to dying from COVID-19 - I need to do whatever I can to try and avoid getting it and, therefore, potentially never being able to be with her again. My son-in-law's last day at work was last Thursday, so I have to wait at least another week and a half before I can be around them. I hate this, but so far I'm symptom free. *touch wood*

Instead, I am looking at pictures of her that my daughter posts on Instagram and FB, like this one.


That tooth, though.

Not the same as being there, but better than nothing.

>43 Storeetllr:, These are GREAT!!
Thank you for sharing. I had a few childhood ones that I passed on to my kids already and I'm sorry I didn't capture the covers and beautiful colour plates. Maybe I can encourage a few image exchanges....

I'll see if I can post a few, should I get any usable ones.
Sorry you have to be so isolated from the rest of the family. Can you not talk through the doorway, at distance? No dumb idea. That's not like an open air thing.

>44 Storeetllr: Oh that's heartbreaking, when you can hear what you love most though a ceiling or floor and yet have to remain apart!

>45 SandyAMcPherson: Just went to your thread and saw the wonderful illustrations you posted. Children's picture books sure had fantastical illustrations back then, didn't they.

>46 richardderus: Thanks for the hug, RD. Yes, I did need it. I guess we all do these days.

>47 quondame: Yes, it's hard. I cry sometimes.

>44 Storeetllr: Yikes! I didn't know that blood thinners do not mix well with Covid-19! I am also on them as is my husband. We are keeping pretty much to ourselves and are doing fine so far. You sound like you are taking all the right precautions as well, Mary. Hpefully you will soon be reunited with the rest of your family.

>37 Storeetllr: Yay! Another In Death book spotted :) I started book 38 in the series today, still working toward number 50.

>44 Storeetllr: Knocking on wood for you, Mary!

On a lighter note, I "stole" this from Richard's thread. Note that we have similar answers to some of these. That's kind of scary.

1. Who are you named after? My dad's grandmother, whose birth name was Mary Lizette and who chose to change that to Maude Eleanor. Why? Who the hell knows. I wouldn't have minded Mary Lizette.
2. Last time you cried? Yesterday, listening thru the ceiling to my granddaughter squealing with glee and not being able to go upstairs to be with her.
3. Do you like your handwriting? Sometimes. I used to have lovely handwriting. These days, tho, it often degenerates into an almost illegible scrawl.
4. What is your favorite lunch meat? Hard salami, though I seldom eat it anymore. These days, salmon salad or turkeyburger is what I usually put between two slices of bread.
5. Longest relationship? Romantic? Nine years. Familial? 60-some (my next oldest sister). Close? 36 years (my daughter). Platonic? 62 years (my best childhood girlfriend, those these days it's through FB).
6. Do you still have your tonsils? Yep
7. Would you bungee jump? Oh HELL no!!!!!
8. What is your favorite kind of cereal? Cream of Rice with butter or milk & maple syrup
9. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Seldom wear lace-up shoes; when I do, seldom untie
10. Do you think you're strong willed? I don't have to answer that if I don't want to. :)
11. Favorite ice cream? Homemade lotus cream (lemon/almond deliciousness)
12. What is the first thing you notice about a person? Expression
13. Football or baseball? Baseball
14. What color pants are you wearing? Blue jeans
15. Last thing you ate? Pesto pasta with ground turkey and kale (yeah, yeah, sounds awful but it's actually yum)
16. What are you listening to? My African Grey parrot Nickel chit-chatting with herself
17. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Carmine red
18. What is your favorite smell? Coffee brewing in the morning. Bacon sizzling on the griddle. Clean sheets fresh off the outdoor clothesline. Like favorite books, who can have just one?
19. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? My daughter
20. Married? No.
21. Hair color? Grey/brown
22. Eye color? Hazel green
23. Favorite food? Dark chocolate.
24. Scary movies or happy endings? No thanks.
25. Last movie you watched In a theater? Can't remember. Maybe Mary Poppins 2
26. What color shirt are you wearing? Red
27. Favorite holiday? Summer
28. Beer or Wine? Cafe latte, thanks.
29. Night owl or morning person? Night owl
30. Favorite day of the week? No favorite. I'm grateful for every day I wake up still alive.
31. Favorite animal? Dolphin
32. Do you have a pet? Nickel, the African Grey parrot, descendant of dinosaurs
33. Where would you like travel to? The timeline where 45 lost (direct quote of Richard's and one to which I heartily subscribe)

Your turn!

Oh, hey! Visitors! Must have dropped by when I was filling out that fun questionnaire. While I was doing it, I thought of what we used to call slam books when I was in middle school. Same sort of thing, though those questions were definitely more teeny-bopper.

True story. I was in sixth grade, and someone passed around a slam book. The nun (I went to a Catholic elementary school) found out about it and raised holy hell. She stood at the front of the classroom, yelling and pounding on a heavy oak lectern. Broke that thing into pieces. As far as I remember, no one was killed or even injured, but what an experience. Before that, I'd been toying with the idea of becoming a nun. After? Not on your life!

>49 msf59: Aw, thanks, Mark. Big hug back atcha!

>50 DeltaQueen50: Yeah, I wasn't happy to hear that, but I only have to take mine for another week or two. Still, scary stuff. I am doing all I can to avoid being infected, but it's been hard. They are right upstairs, and I can't get to them. :(

>51 alcottacre: Hah. You're so far ahead of me, but I'll soon catch up, I think. It's like potato chips for me. Can't read just one. Thanks, Stasia. We all need to be knocking on wood for each other, you know?

>52 Storeetllr: #15 *shudder* nothing on this wide green Earth could make me try *gag* turkey with *retch* kale for any reason at any time under any kind or form of duress.

#33 Soul sibling!

Ahahahaha, Richard. I had a feeling that would be your reaction to #15.

#33 You and me, bro! I don't imagine we're alone in that either.

>52 Storeetllr: I did the quiz on my thread too. It was good fun!

>53 Storeetllr: I have no idea what a 'slam' book is. Could you elaborate?

>54 richardderus: I am with you on the kale, RD. I cannot stand the stuff!

>44 Storeetllr: Isolating is hard, and it must even harder to hear your cute granddaughter laughing right above you and not be able to go to her. Sorry. I am trying to be careful, too, as I am on blood thinners (didn't know that was an additional problem with Covid-19) and have asthma. Sigh.

But I am getting all sorts of projects done around the house and getting a chance to get caught up here. I was so far behind!!

>52 Storeetllr: Your answer " What is the first thing you notice about a person? Expression" is the closest I've seen to mine. I notice emotions.

>44 Storeetllr: What a cutie! Grandkids are the best. I got to spend some time with my girl today.

>56 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia. I saw your quiz answers - fun! A slam book was a bound composition book that had a question at the top of each page. One kid would start it, then pass it to another kid in class. They'd write their answers and pass it on to another kid. It was all anonymous. The questions were typical teeny-bopper fluff: what's your favorite color? who's your best friend? who's your favorite movie star? record? teacher? coolest kid in class? That kind of thing. Not sure now what the purpose was, but this was almost 60 years ago, back in the early 60s, so who can tell?

>57 Berly: Glad you're staying safe & healthy, Kim, by staying home. It's hard, but at least you're getting some projects done. I am too, but it's slow going. Expression/emotion are very similar. Not sure what that means about us. That we're empathetic or on guard?

>58 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. I think she's the cutest baby ever! Glad you got to spend time with your grandkid! I know mine is my reason for living these days.

More Ruby pics to brighten my day!

***

>60 Storeetllr: Very brightening!

Last week, I twisted my ankle and hurt my foot, so I've been hobbling around the house and not getting much done of a physical nature. (I'm cleaning out my email boxes and organizing my digital photos, as well as doing a bit of document shredding, in addition to reading and engaging in social media - whatever I can do with my foot elevated.) I don't think I broke anything, and I'm NOT going to the doctor to find out. Not now, anyway, with the pandemic in full swing.

On the reading front, I'm barreling through the In Death novels. So far, in March, I've finished rereading 11 of them. (I swear, they're like potato chips for the brain.) This morning, I read on Book Riot about a book that intrigued me, so I got it from the library. It's YA, so not sure if I'll like it, but I'm in the mood for monsters and mayhem just about now.

Anyway, the book is Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves, an author with whom I'm unfamiliar. Here's part of a blurb from the book's library page:

"Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that's just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around."

I thought about getting the audiobook version, but I didn't like the narrator's voice when I listened to it, so I chose the Kindle version.

>62 Storeetllr: It holds a lot of promise as a mood-lightener, so I hope it works.

Ruby-pooby is a cuteymoppet!!

And here are more images of what is keeping me alive and sane.

*
Playing in the back yard yesterday


Now that she's got her balance, she LOVES to walk.


Showing off her new teeth (4 new ones since I saw her a week and a half ago).

>62 Storeetllr: >63 richardderus: Monsters and mayhem: mood-lightener lolol (but true)

>63 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. I think so. Can't wait till I can be around her again. I'm missing out on SO MUCH.

>64 Storeetllr: Looks like a beautiful day. For sure a beautiful child. It looks like she's already into the layered look!

She's already picking out her own clothes, Susan. Talk about strong-willed! But it's a happy strong will. She seldom throws tantrums, tho she has had a melt down now and again.

Edit typo

>67 Storeetllr: I like your differentiating tantrums from melt downs. Just because they are both loud and unhappy doesn't make them the same.

>64 Storeetllr: Love the photos Mary.

I think that you are wise to put your feet up and avoid the doctor's surgery.

>68 quondame: Exactly! I'm not sure I did when my daughter was little, though I hope I had the sense to see the difference. Being a grandma gives me space to think about such things.

>69 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul! Thank you. She's a cutie, isn't she. As for my foot, I think so too, although the poor thing is so black & blue from bruising you'd think I'd been playing in a mud puddle. Even so, better a possible undoctored fracture than taking a chance on picking up the virus.

WHAT?

Mary, I am so out of touch I hadn't realized that YOU MOVED! Wow.

Also, Ruby is the cutest! Congratulations, Granny!

Happy Sunday and happy new thread!

Hope you are staying safe.

>64 Storeetllr: Thanks for sharing the lovely pictures! Just such a cutie pie.

Hi, Mary.

Ruby is a sweetie! I love the showing off of her new teeth.

Great to see the 'in Death" books. I've read the whole megillah, too. 50 of them in 25 years! She's writing two of them a year, plus short stories with Eve and the crew, while also writing all her bestsellers in other genres. I don't know about the others, but the "in Death" books are really good, too. It must just pour out of her. That's a special kind of genius.

At some point I want to go back and read Naked in Death, too, especially after knowing all I know now. It's tempting to go through the whole darn series again; if we remain self-quarantined for a long time, maybe I will!

>71 AMQS: Well, it's not like you haven't been busy, Anne. I've been following your "adventures" in teaching during the plague on Instagram. I'll have to find your thread and check it out. Anyway, thanks - I think Ruby's THE cutest, and I'm loving being her granny.

>72 witchyrichy: Thanks, Karen. I'm isolating myself completely and hope that is enough to stay safe. You too. (I love sharing those pics. In fact, I look at them every time I come on LT. ;)

>73 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. She is adorable, isn't she. I'm enjoying my reread of the In Death books. Roberts really is a writing machine. I wish I had a tenth of her imagination and stamina. And perseverence. I'm a writer, sort of. At least I've written a few NaNoWriMo novels over the years. It take a LOT of perseverence, not to mention effort and ideas, to write a novel. She writes probably four a year. Not sure how she does it.

Hi Mary. So sorry about the bruised ankle. Hopefully it isn't broken. I think you are wise to let it heal on its own. So when do you get to interact in person with Sweet Ruby again? That must be torture listening the patter of little feet upstairs. (((Hugs)))

Just peeking in as I roam the threads to say we're okay, The Man and I.
I definitely needed a break from the barrage of info shooting into my eyeballs off this 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.

>75 Donna828: Thanks, Donna. The ankle is fine, but my foot where I fell on it is still painful. There may be a fracture. I'm still not chancing the doctor's office. Was able to be with Ruby starting yesterday. It was so great to be able to hold her again. Also to visit with my daughter. I'll post pics of our reunion shortly.

>76 SandyAMcPherson: Yes, I'm taking a break from the internet too. Spent the past 3 days mostly reading.

These are a few of my favorite things.


From yesterday


Seedlings: lemon cukes, cherry tomatoes, milkweed (hidden), one lonely marigold

*
How much wood can a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck is actually Nickel, the African Grey parrot?

I love your Favorite Things, Mary. You, Ruby, and Nickel can all be much happier now. It’s good to see plants ready to go in the garden. Very uplifting pictures. Thank you.

>78 Storeetllr: Heh. Nickel looks happy!

>78 Storeetllr: Great photos Mary! Ruby is a cutie! Her expression is priceless.

That's great, Mary! And Nickel looks as happy as the rest of you.

>60 Storeetllr: Those pictures should brighten anyone's day!

>64 Storeetllr: I love the picture of Ruby kissing the horse. So cute!

>78 Storeetllr: Great list of favorite things, Mary!

I am very happy for you being able to be with the rest of your family and not just hear them above you. I've seen my granddaughter from a distace the other day and today my grandson dropped off some groceries and again I got to see him but at a distance. I am looking forward to the day I can get a hug from each of them.

>79 Donna828: Yeah, Donna, it was great hanging with Ruby and Nickel outside in the sunshine. Unfortunately, I think I started those plants a bit too early, as our last frost date is May 1-15. I'll have to transplant the seedlings into bigger pots when they outgrow the little starter pots and hope for the best.

>80 richardderus: Haha, Richard - She is! She's never happier than when she's destroying something. I try to provide pieces of wood so she doesn't feel the need to go after my antiques and the baseboards and doors, though she does it anyway. lol

>81 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. Love her face!

>82 ronincats: She does, Roni, doesn't she!

>83 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia! Glad you enjoyed the pics.

>84 DeltaQueen50: It's so hard to only be able to see them from a distance and not give them big hugs. Is it because your grandson and granddaughter work or go to school that you have to stay away indefinitely? My son-in-law is a teacher, but his last day working outside the house was March 19, and nobody up there is exhibiting any signs of COVID-19, so I'm finally able to be around them again. The time between was tough. I can admit that I spent some of it crying.

Snagged from Mary Doria Russell's Instagram account

>86 Storeetllr: Hah.

Cute and heart warming "favourite things" photos. Thanks :)

>87 BLBera: :)

>88 SandyAMcPherson: Glad you enjoyed them!

So, today I went to Rockland Lake for a short "hike." It was really just a stroll - my foot is still sore from my little tumble a week or so ago - but it was so good to get out in the fresh air and sunshine. It was, actually, my first outing since my surgery back the beginning of January. Of course, I took a few pics.


Reflections


Rockland Lake


I'm Walking as Fast as I Can, Mom

>89 Storeetllr: Happy Saturday, Mary. I am glad you got out for a walk. The weather there look lovely. Love seeing the little one and you know I am crazy about the Mama Bird tank-top.

Oh, Mark! I thought of you when I saw a couple of ducks gliding over the lake and landing on the water. Didn't get a shot of that one, though, but I did get one of them swimming around and also a swan. Wished I'd brought my long range telephoto lens along, but all I had was the midrange one, so it's not very good.

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

Nice photos.

Thanks, Paul. Hope your week goes well.

I've heard the next two weeks are going to be a "watershed" and that complete isolation is called for, not even going to the grocery or pharmacy unless it's an emergency, and then one should think twice.

I sometimes feel we're living in a disaster novel.

Happy pandemic, my dear!

>85 Storeetllr: I think we are all being very, very careful these days, Mary. I know my grandkids Mom is very concerned for us oldsters. She gives us lectures about going out and tries to run our errands for us, my grandson was officially laid off from both his jobs but has been called out on a few calls under the table so to speak, so we need to avoid getting too close. We did get to see both grandkids this evening, we were out on the balcony and they came by walking on the street and gave us a shout out and a wave.

Hi Mary, I am slowly working my way through the threads. Thank you for sharing the picture of Ruby. She is a beautiful girl.

>78 Storeetllr: - Love that picture of you, Ruby and Nickel outside!

Take care of that ankle and continue to stay safe and healthy.

>94 richardderus: Back atcha, Richard! Isn't it the bees' knees! *Not*

>95 DeltaQueen50: A shout and a wave. 😢 That's so hard, Judy, seeing or hearing them without being able to be with them and giving them hugs. I'm so glad our 2-week quarantine is over and I get to spend time with my daughter and Ruby!

>96 lkernagh: Hi, Lori! Glad you made it over. I've been lax lately about checking in with everyone. Just too depressed, no matter how hard I try to not be. Glad you like the Ruby pics. I also think she is beautiful. Go figure. 🤷 Thanks for your kind words - my ankle and foot are almost healed up, thank goodness!

Ruby came to visit me yesterday. She came in through the kitchen window (to the tune of the old Beatles song as sung by Joe Cocker). It was so cute. My daughter took a couple of pics & posted them on Instagram (of course she did).




Grammy loving on that baby sitting on her kitchen window ledge


Ruby J, superstar (ca. 2039)

I also started putting up the bird feeder but had to stop because I couldn't get it far enough in the ground to keep it upright. Waiting for my son-in-law to find a minute to help with that. Can hardly wait! Maybe this afternoon...

Enjoyed all your photos, Mary! It’s such a joy to have your family so near! Ruby at the window is adorable.

Stay well!!

>98 Storeetllr: How darling!

Love the photos!

I love that Ruby has her own guitar!

>98 Storeetllr: *baaawww* such a smoochieface lambiepie!

>99 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne! Glad you enjoyed the pics. It is just the best being able to be with family, especially Ruby, during this hot mess of a pandemic. Glad you're staying well! My best to John. Hope your son is doing well in Illinois.

>100 quondame: :) Thanks, Susan!

>101 katiekrug: Glad you enjoy them, Katie. I know I enjoy posting them and looking at them.

>102 lkernagh: Haha, it's my daughter's ukulele! Ruby loves it when Meg plays, but only for a few bars and then she wants to play it. She does look like she knows what she's doing though, doesn't she!

Ruby's got a lot of musical talent in her genes: her mom and dad are both former professional musical theater actors with beautiful voices; her grandpa on her mom's side is a professional woodwind player who's played in the orchestras for productions like Miss Saigon, La Bohème, and Cats, as well as done studio work for some big names; her dad's side includes singers and musicians. So I guess she's got a shot at being musical too.

>103 richardderus: She is that, Richard. Every day she does something that makes me all *meltmeltmelt* Today she kept wanting to come to me so she could give me hugs & smooches. Yes, she does have me wrapped around her little finger. 🥰

What is it with kids & cats and boxes?

I told my sister one Christmas that I was not going to give my nieces or nephew any more toys. I was going to give them crayons, a pair of scissors, and a cardboard box. Her reply? She threatened me with bodily harm.

>105 Storeetllr: Who knows with cats? But for kids a box is a controllable space and a knowable structure to which imagination cab be applied freely.

How much wood can a woodchuck chuck if a wood chuck is actually Nickel, the African Grey Parrot?


All the wood. ALL.

Original post from like a week ago, when the wood toy was only a little chucked: https://www.librarything.com/topic/317409#7114188

>106 benitastrnad: Haha, Benita, my daughter actually asked for empty boxes rather than toys for Ru.

>107 quondame: Good point, Susan.

Another book from my grandma's library with a fun cover. I only wish the covers were in better condition, but this is the way they were when I got them.

Good to see that you are able to get together with Ruby and the rest of your family, Mary. It's much easier when social distancing includes more than one.

Happy Saturday, Mary! Yes, we have a Mallard couple visiting our feeders. They usually stop by a couple times, a day, for an easy snack. I hope you are safe and healthy, and enjoying those books.

I am getting close to putting up my hummingbird feeder. Just waiting on reports.

Go Nickel! Go Nickel!

I wanted my message this year to be fairly universal in a time we all should be pulling together, whatever our beliefs. Happy Celebration, Happy Sunday, Mary.

Happy Easter!

>110 Storeetllr: Love these covers you have posted. Kids' books were read and past down so much that pristine ones are just about impossible to find. I'm glad that didn't stop you from posting well-loved examples.

Thanks for the Easter greetings, Paul, Karen and Susan!

It sure was a strange holiday this year. Glad the baby isn't old enough to be disappointed. She was, in fact, thrilled to get an Easter basket with last year's Easter toys and books in it, and to have an Easter egg hunt in the backyard with egg toys she's been also been playing with since last year. When I get on my laptop, I'll post some pics. Oh, yeah, and for Easter dinner we had spaghetti. And red wine

>116 SandyAMcPherson: Glad you enjoyed the old book cover. I'll post more soon.

I loved the photos of your Easter on FB, Mary! It looked like you all had a great time, especially Ruby.

I love that your Easter dinner was spaghetti and red wine. Sounds like our Christmas. TW used to make a fancy roast with all the trimmings for Christmas dinner, but we all (my in-laws and I) decided we'd rather have his most excellent vodka chicken parm so that's what we had this past year. With heaps of garlic bread. It was amazing :)

Traditions were made to be changed, as far as I'm concerned!

Thanks, Katie! Your non-traditional Christmas dinner sounds like it was yum! I like breaking with tradition too sometimes. This Easter, tho, we had no real choice because we didn't have a roast or ham or even a chicken to make for dinner because nobody wants to go to the grocery so we were just using whatever we had in the pantry/freezer, which ended up being pasta, sauce, and ground turkey. I'm thinking of using one of those grocery delivery services, but I haven't done it yet. Last grocery run my sil made, I got doubles and even triples of things I use a lot so am just now running out of stuff. Wish I lived closer to you so I could use the bakery you talk about on your thread.

Easter Basket/Ruby in her Easter outfit with bunnies on it


Haven't we met? I could swear I've seen you before.

Easter in the Backyard


Oh! Is that an Easter egg hiding in the crook of the tree root?


Why yes, yes, it is!


There's that tongue again!


Aftermath of the aforementioned Easter dinner

ETA one additional picture

The Spy by James Fenimore Cooper, one of the books I got from my grandma.

Love the Ruby photos, Mary. She is a doll.

>121 Storeetllr: Wow, this JFC is a great looking book. Was it published in the early 20th century?
I love that 'back in the day', a frontispiece was nearly always included. And good photo of the cover. You made the gilded artwork show up nicely.

What's the story like? I am not sure I ever read any Cooper books.

I love all the pics, Mary! Ruby is a doll. I am also getting to spend time with my granddaughter on Fridays. We have all been isolating, so my daughter thought it was OK.

I also love your pictures, Mary. Makes my heart glad to see such a sweet little girl and I love keeping up with Nickel. Apparently my granddaughter had a bit of a melt-down over the weekend, she misses her horse and her friends - in that order. I know if this had happened when I was a teen, I would have gone crazy!

>122 msf59: Thanks, Mark!

>123 SandyAMcPherson: Thanks, Sandy. It is a beautiful cover, isn't it! I don't know when this volume was printed, because there is no official date on the "Printed in U.S.A." page, but there is handwriting on the first blank page by a friend of my grandmother's indicating she gave it to my uncle on June 23, 1925 as a graduation present. Since Uncle John was born in around 1911 or 12, this was probably his elementary school graduation. The Introduction is dated March 29, 1849, but I think the book was probably printed in or around 1925. I haven't read it either, and probably won't. The writing is convoluted and unwieldy, as witnessed by the first paragraph of Chapter 1:

"It was near the close of the year 1780, that a solitary traveller was seen pursuing his way through one of the numerous little valleys of Westchester. The easterly wind, with its chilling dampness and increasing violence, gave unerring notice of the approach of a storm, which, as usual, might be expected to continue for several days; and the experienced eye of the traveller was turned in vain, through the darkness of the evening, in quest of some convenient shelter, in which, for the term of his confinement by the rain that already began to mix with the atmosphere in a thick mist, he might obtain such accommodations as his purposes required. Nothing however offered but the small and inconvenient tenements of the lower order of the inhabitants, with whom, in that immediate neighborhood, he did not think it either safe or politic to trust himself."

Whew!

>124 BLBera: Aw, thanks, Beth. She is indeed a doll, and so sweet tempered and easygoing except for a roguish sense of humor that sometimes includes trying to snatch grammy's eyeglasses from her face and a determination to get what she wants. :) I'm so glad you're able to spend time with your granddaughter!

>125 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy! Glad you are enjoying the Ruby and Nickel pix. It's so much easier with a 14-month old than it would be with a teen during this period of fear and isolation. I'm sorry your granddaughter is having trouble but not surprised.

This reminds me of a meme I saw the other day. Made me lol.

>126 Storeetllr: That meme is *very* amusing. Thanks for the smile.

Re the quote, a case of run-on sentences that I ascribe to poor writing and no editing. Was that really an accepted style in those days?

>126 Storeetllr: That's the scariest but most accurate meme ever.

>126 Storeetllr: I laughed out loud with this one!

Loving the photos, Mary, and so glad that you all are able to be together during this time.

>126 Storeetllr: Yup (although I don’t think I ever got grounded ‘cause I never got caught)! :)

Ruby is such a little doll and it looks as if she had a wonderful Easter! This was the first year that I didn’t make up at least some little Easter basket type thing for Chris and it made me sad. I had planned some chocolate and some jelly beans along with some additional care package type goodies, but I know he didn’t want me going out or to the post office. Yes, I know he’s 26 but a tradition is a tradition.

I also love your book covers - wow!

>127 SandyAMcPherson: I can't say for sure, Sandy. I haven't read a lot of popular fiction from that time period. What I've seen, though, is that it is harder to get through for modern readers who are used to more concise writing.

>128 richardderus: Heh. Isn't that the truth.

>129 BLBera: Me too, Beth. Quite realistic in my case.

>130 ronincats: Glad you enjoyed them, Roni. I don't know how I'd survive if I still lived alone in Pueblo, CO. far from family.

>131 Copperskye: Hah! I wish I could say the same, but I was a bit confrontational with my parents so I was always getting grounded. Glad you enjoy the covers. I've got a few more. I got the idea of posting them from Sandy (>127 SandyAMcPherson:) who has been posting covers from her library. So sad that not only can you not have Chris nearby but you can't even send him little care packages and treats. And, 26 or 36 (which is Meg's age), they're still our babies.

For all those who are Murderbot fans, Tor is providing the first four novellas free, one per day starting today, in advance of the release of Network Effect, the Murderbot novel. Check it out here.

>120 Storeetllr: Lovely and funny pictures! Spaghetti is always a great choice!

My word, Mary, you are on something of an "In Death" binge!

>134 witchyrichy: Thanks, Karen! Glad you enjoyed the pix. And we all love spaghetti, esp. Ruby, as evidenced by her big spaghetti smile in >120 Storeetllr:.

>135 PaulCranswick: Yeah, what can I say, Paul? I've been too disturbed by the pandemic and the tRump Administration's inept response to it to focus on much of anything else, except the In Death books, which I'm reading the way some folks eat potato chips while watching mindless shows on TV. I'm currently reading a few other books, but none of them are able to hold my attention like the In Death books. ETA that, tho these are rereads, I don't remember any of them very well, having read them a decade or two ago, so it's like reading fresh material except I know the main trajectory of the storyline through Golden in Death, the last book released earlier this year.

Time for a few pics:

...
Where's my headskritch, Mom? I got pinfeathers and they ITCH! Ahhhhh...

>137 Storeetllr: - Lovely pics of Nickel and family!

Thanks, Lori! It makes me happy - and relieves some of the stress - just to look at them.

It almost got by me, but today is Earth Day. Happy Earth Day!

>139 Storeetllr: Happy Earth Day! A small local quake at 12:04 AM was a wee hello!

Whoa! I hadn't heard about any quakes, Susan - they are always so startling, even the small ones, aren't they.

>141 Storeetllr: Yep, it caught our attention - it was 3.7 within 3 miles, so while we felt it and most of our acquaintances who were awake and within 5 miles did as well, it wasn't newsworthy, just worrisome until we knew how small it was.

Oh my gosh, "A wee hello" from mother earth in the form of a quake could have been scary. Yoicks.

Calling all Dr. Who fans! This looks like fun.

"This Thursday, April 23, ten Doctor Who Doctors will be uniting for a special cause. The BBC reports that Jodie Whittaker (Doctor number 13), Peter Capaldi (12), Matt Smith (11), David Tennant (10, but actually really 11 and 12 it’s a whole thing), Paul McGann (8), Sylvester McCoy (7), Colin Baker (6), Peter Davison (5), Tom Baker (4), and Jo Martin (we don’t yet know!) will all be appearing on BBC One’s fundraising telethon The Big Night In."

https://www.tor.com/2020/04/23/tonight-doctor-who-stars-to-unite-on-bbcs-big-nig...

Two of my favorite Doctors will be on. Baker and Tennant.

>142 quondame: Yikes! Shakers are scary no matter how small they are, because, like you said, who knows how big they can get, or if they are precursors to bigger quakes. Glad it turned out to be small and you are okay!

Scout is going to visit me tomorrow, and it's supposed to be rainy, so maybe some baking is in order.

I am a huge Tennant fan, as well, Mary. I did also like Eccleston

I'm just here for the pics, my friend! I love all the letters on the fridge right at baby level!

Hope you are well.

>146 BLBera: >147 BLBera: Baking sounds like fun. I have all my stuff out to make 3-ingredient oatmeal cookies that Joanne (copperskye) posted about on her thread but didn't get a chance to do it today. Tomorrow. I'm not a huge Dr. Who fan, though I've enjoyed it whenever I watched it, but, since Good Omens, I am a huge Tennant fan. Have always loved Tom Baker's Doctor, with his long scarf and goofy expressions.

>148 witchyrichy: Haha, Karen, I am so with you on that, my friend. It's almost as if I'm here for the pictures more than the books. Which maybe I am, considering where we are at this moment in time. I'm doing okay. Very wary of every sniffle and sneeze, and completely scattered as far as focus goes, but otherwise okay. How are you doing?

At the risk of posting too many pics, here's a few of my adorable grandbaby and a couple other fun things:

...
Love my daughter's sense of humor



Seedlings enjoying the natural light in the living room window, including lettuces, kale (sorry Richard), basil, milkweed (for the monarchs), jalapeno & sweet peppers, lemon cukes, cherry tomatoes, and one lonely marigold:



I finally - FINALLY - made some art! I call it my fantasy isolation vacation.

>150 Storeetllr: Good going! So happy you posted *cute* pix and fantastic art. At least somebody is pursuing creative things.

Oh, well, at least I pursued one creative thing one day since this whole isolation thing started. :) The only thing I've been at all creative about is planting seeds for the garden, and that's more of a survival thing because I'm a bit concerned about our food supply. As for the art, I don't like the way the photo came out - the actual painting is much brighter, and the sky is more blue than purple. Anyway, thanks, Sandy. It was fun. I'll be doing more going forward, I hope.

>150 Storeetllr: Hey, no need to apologize to *me* for growing *urp* kale...*I* don't have to eat it! Apologize to your poor nose and those soon-to-be-overworked serotonin-uptake synapses as your body attempts to fight off the desperate depression induced by *urp* kale's...odour.

>153 richardderus: *snicker* I don't dislike the odour. Maybe it's the way it's cooked? TBH, I probably wouldn't be eating it so often if my eye doctor hadn't prescribed it for macular degeneration. Because, even if I hated kale, I'd prefer it to being blind and unable to read! Also, hiding it in other dishes (pasta, soup) helps. So does a glass of wine with dinner.

A number of LTers have posted this list & variations on their threads. It's interesting to see what others consider important chunksters that should be read. Many of the ones I included are from the 70s and 80s when I was doing a lot of chunkster reading. I added one non-fiction chunkster that I think EVERYBODY should read, especially today.

Literary Hub Must Read Chunksters:

1. The Overstory by Richard Powers
2. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin - READ and enjoyed.
3. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco - READ when I was in my early 30s. Remember being both confused & satisfied by it.
4. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
5. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
6. The Witch Elm by Tana French
7. The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
8. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
9. Little, Big by John Crowley
10. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
11. The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt
12. Possession by A.S. Byatt
13. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel READ and enjoyed once I got into the rhythm of the thing
14. The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee
15. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
16. The Parisian : A Novel
17. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
18. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters READ and enjoyed
19. The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
20. Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson
21. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
22. American Gods by Neil Gaiman READ; not my favorite Gaiman
23. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay by Michael Chabon DNF
24. The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu DNF
25. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen DNF but HATED what I managed to read.
26. Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
27. A Naked Singularity by Sergio de la Pava
28. An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears
29. A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James DNF; just couldn't get into it
30. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
31. The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
32. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
33. Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin
34. JR by William Gaddis
35. Almanac of the Dead by Leslie Marmon Silko
36. Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon
37. Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany
38. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett DNF but HATED what I managed to read
39. The Stand by Stephen King READ & REREAD & LOVED
40. Underworld by Don DeLillo
41. The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
42. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke READ & REREAD & LOVED
43. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry READ & REREAD & LOVED
44. 2666 by Roberto Bolano
45. Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra
46. Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann
47. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
48. Parallel Stories by Peter Nadas
49. Women and Men by Joseph McElroy
50. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

My Baker's Dozen Alternatives:

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay - 688 pp. LOVED
Lions of al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay - 528 pp. LOVED EVEN MORE
Lord of the Rings (all 5 books in 3 volumes) by J.R.R. Tolkien - 1,178 pp. - Read & reread numerous times
And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer - 1,433 pp.
The World According to Garp by John Irving - 528 pp.
The Magus by John Fowles - 672 pp.
Under the Dome by Stephen King - 1,074 pp.
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson - 880 pp.
Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd - 1,147 pp.
London by Edward Rutherfurd - 1,152 pp.
Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman - 704 pp. 1st of a trilogy; all are chunksters.
The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman (1982) 896 pp LOVED
The Alienist by Caleb Carr - 500-ish pages

Non-Fiction Chunkster That Is SO worth reading!

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin - 944 pp. SO SO good!

ETA one title I forgot about

Loved seeing all the pictures of Ruby! How lucky you are to be so near. Our youngest grandchild Milo is just a month or two older than Ruby, and since he’s in Brooklyn and we’re in WA we have to make do with face time. And I enjoy the pics of Nickle too. We had a cockatiel for many years who was a hoot. And, great watercolor. We’re fans of orcas around here.

>149 Storeetllr: We are doing well. Honestly, with living and working from the farm, our lives haven't changed all that much. We had most of our supplies delivered anyway from various suppliers. Now that my husband's garden is coming in, we'll have vegies and we have access to local meet.

I did have to go out for the first time in at least a month to take the dog to the vets. He ate a bunny and that messed with his diabetes. He seems to be doing better after getting some treatment but we are planning a quiet weekend.

Happy Saturday!

Hello, Mary. I like your baker's dozen of chunksters. I've read only two of them (Garp and The Alienist), and have only two on the TBR (Lord of the Rings and Seveneves). Most of the rest are unknown to me. I should follow your lead and make my own list of some number of books between 13 and 20.

Neat.

>154 Storeetllr: I can see (!) the appeal of kale under those circumstances, I suppose, though I'd prefer a supplement in pill form to *retch* kale.

>155 Storeetllr: Good gracious, ...And the Ladies of the Club! I don't see it mentioned much anymore. Mama and Winter liked it a lot back in the early 80s. I even have a hardcover (a major kitten-squisher it is, too) on my shelves.

It's funny that I don't think of Garp or The Alienist as elephantine tomes, but they certainly are.

>150 Storeetllr: I love the painting, Mary.

Hi Mary! Love your photos and your art!

>155 Storeetllr: I’ve only read 11 of the books on Lit Hub’s list. A few are on my tbr pile. Some of them I don’t think of as necessarily very chunky - Americanah and Life After Life, for instance, but I guess they are. And on your list, I loved Sarum, Garp and And The Ladies Of the Club. I think I read Ladies of the Club as a mass market paperback - my eyes were much younger way back when!

I loved ...And Ladies of the Club back in the day. I think it was sometime around 1986 because I remember I was living in Morland, KS at the time. I was in a basement apartment and TV reception was horrible so I spent lots of time reading. Loved that book.

>156 arubabookwoman: Hi, Deborah! Glad you enjoyed the pics of Ruby. I am so grateful we are living together (more-or-less - we live in the same house, but I'm in the basement apartment). This pandemic mess would be so much worse if I were, say, living alone back in Pueblo and they were here. Or, like you, living on separate coasts. Cockatiels are so much fun, but I can't deal with more than Nickel. For one thing, she's jealous as heck! For another, I don't have the energy it would take to take care of more than one. Thanks for the compliment on the watercolor. It was fun to make.

>157 witchyrichy: Haha, Karen, I think it's true of a lot of us - at least it is of introvert me - that my life hasn't changed dramatically from what it was before, except I do miss picking out my own food from the grocery store. Poor dog. Wait, what am I saying? Poor bunny. Oh, well, what's that they say about circles and life?

>158 weird_O: Thanks, Bill! It was a nice trip down memory lane to pick out some of the chunksters I read a long time ago. I'll be over to your thread to see what you've listed for yours.

>159 richardderus: Yeah, a pill for a lot of "good-for-you" food would be great, wouldn't it!? Many of the books that are considered chunksters by others are, to me, just regular sized books, especially if I especially enjoyed them. I admit, though, that I definitely consider the books that run over 1,000 pages to be chunksters.

>160 BLBera: Thanks, Beth!

>161 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne - glad you enjoyed the pics & art. Isn't that the truth about mass-market paperbacks and one's eyes! During my culling frenzies of the past few years, I saved a lot of paperbacks that I love but know I will never read again because of my eyes.

>162 benitastrnad: I loved that book too, Benita, which I think I also read back in the 80s or 90s as a paperback. Can't remember when exactly, tho the book was released in 1982. Dang, that was a lifetime ago and, yet, seems like just a couple of years past.

>158 weird_O: >163 Storeetllr: Don't know if you stopped at my thread, Mary, and I apologize for misleading you if you did. I haven't posted for a week or so. I did pick out a batch of chunksters from my catalog, I just didn't post them. I'll do that today.

>86 Storeetllr: LOL! Both my husband and me :)

>98 Storeetllr: >105 Storeetllr: >120 Storeetllr: >137 Storeetllr: >150 Storeetllr: Great pictures!

Since everyone else is commenting, I also read And Ladies of the Club back in the day. I think 1986-1987-ish is probably about when I read it. I remember I was living in Ohio, about an hour from Xenia, and I could relate to many of the places mentioned because I lived there and had seen them.

Delurking to let you know I posted another vintage book cover today.

I saw on Roni's thread that she posted a theme list ~ books with happy endings. Have you favourites there to comment about?
I have read very few and am looking for new ideas.

>155 Storeetllr: Cool list, Mary. I have read 28 of the Lit Hub Chunksters. Matterhorn should have been on here. Very large books, over 700 pages, still intimidate me, for some odd reason.

I hope all is well, in your world, my friend.

I like the art, Mary, and the family pics.

>164 weird_O: Hey, Bill! No worries! There's no deadline for posting things here. Thank goodness! I've been to your thread since you posted your list of chunksters. Very cool! I don't think I've read any of them. lol

>165 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia!

>166 thornton37814: That's so cool, Lori! I too love reading books set in places I live/have lived. I guess a lot of us read And Ladies of the Club back in the 80s/90s, even though it is definitely a chunkster. I don't remember the story clearly; I only remember really enjoying it.

>167 SandyAMcPherson: Great, Sandy! I'll be right over to your thread. I saw that list on Roni's thread. I have read and loved a few of the books she mentioned, including A Civil Campaign, which is one of my favorite of the Vorkosigan novels, and Curse of Chalion; Dragonsong and Dragonsinger (I love all the early Pern books, though on recent reread Dragonflight seemed a bit dated to me); Pride of Chanur; and Bridge of Birds.

>168 msf59: Well, Mark, I'm not surprised. You are a reading machine. I haven't read Matterhorn. *sigh* I'll have to check it out. I know the thought of >700 page books is intimidating. If it's good, though, the actual reading of those huge tomes can make them seem too short.

>169 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg!

Okay, after seeing a discussion over on Sandy's thread about it, I checked, and my thread is "Not Secure," so I'm ending it here and starting a new one text only - without any images :( - because I think that may be the problem. At least no images until I figure it out. :(