Lori's (thornton37814) Cat-Filled 2020 Category Challenge - Thread 2

       

Pictures (L-R): Sherlock, Mr. B, and Barney

Welcome to my second thread for 2020. I reached 75 on the last one. My first category is no longer loading well, so I'll break it into a couple of parts below.

This year's theme is cats. I randomly selected the cat for each category name.

1. Maine Coon - Mysteries
2. Siamese - Historical Fiction
3. Norwegian Forest - Other Fiction & Literature
4. Persian - History & Genealogy
5. Scottish Fold - Travel
6. Ragamuffin - Food & Drink
7. American Shorthair / Tabby - Cats
8. Russian Blue - Poetry
9. Ragdoll - Juvenile/YA
10. Bengal - Other Non-Fiction

Shelter Cats = Abandoned Reads

Image credit: Circe Denyer, "Maine Coon Cat," Public Domain Pictures (https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=158855&picture=maine-coon-cat : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC0

Category 1: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

1. Facets of Death by Michael Stanley - completed 1 January 2020
2. Much Ado About Nutmeg by Sarah Fox - completed 1 January 2020
3. Garden of Lamentations by Deborah Crombie - completed 2 January 2020
4. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 5 January 2020
5. Off the Grid by John Hunt - completed 6 January 2020
6. Doctored Evidence by Donna Leon - completed 13 January 2020
7. Death Finds a Way by Lorine McGinnis Schulze - completed 17 January 2020
8. She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge - completed 20 January 2020
9. The Asylum by Nathan Dylan Goodwin - completed 21 January 2020
10. Clue by Paul Allor and Nelson Daniel; lettered by Neil Uyetake and Gilberto Lazcano - completed 24 January 2020
11. The Witch Elm by Tana French - completed 26 January 2020
12. The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree - completed 30 January 2020
13. Borrowed Crime by Laurie Cass - completed 3 February 2020
14. The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill - completed 3 February 2020
15. File M for Murder by Miranda James - completed 7 February 2020
16. Nighttime Is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark - completed 7 February 2020
17. Blood from a Stone by Donna Leon - completed 13 February 2020
18. Still Waters by Viveca Sten - completed 13 February 2020
19. Death by Chocolate Frosted Doughnut by Sarah Graves - completed 15 February 2020
20. Corned Beef and Casualties by Lynn Cahoon - completed 15 February 2020

Image credit: Circe Denyer, "Maine Coon Cat," Public Domain Pictures (https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=158855&picture=maine-coon-cat : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC0

Category 1: Maine Coon (Mysteries) - Continued from above

21. Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke - completed 18 February 2020
22. Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson - completed 22 February 2020
23. English Tea Murder by Leslie Meier - completed 24 February 2020
24. Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves - completed 24 February 2020
25. British Manor Murder by Leslie Meier - completed 25 February 2020
26. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 29 February 2020
27. Rounding the Mark by Andrea Camilleri - completed 1 March 2020
28. Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano - completed 1 March 2020
29. High Country by Nevada Barr - completed 7 March 2020
30. Final Account by Peter Robinson - completed 8 March 2020
31. Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliott - completed 14 March 2020
32. Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 26 March 2020
33. The Haunted Lady by Mary Roberts Rinehart - completed 28 March 2020
34. Gone with the Whisker by Laurie Cass - completed 31 March 2020
35. Sugar and Vice by Eve Calder - completed 6 April 2020
36. Lord Peter Views the Body by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 8 April 2020
37. Pumpkin Spice Peril by Jenn McKinlay - completed 11 April 2020
38. Vintage Murder by Ngaio Marsh - completed 21 April 2020
39. Suffer the Little Children by Donna Leon - completed 23 April 2020
40. Closed Circles by Viveca Sten - completed 24 April 2020
41. The Lifeline by Margaret Mayhew - completed 25 April 2020
42. The Red, Red Snow by Caro Ramsay - completed 29 April 2020
43. Mousse and Murder by Elizabeth Logan - completed 9 May 2020
44. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 11 May 2020
45. A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette - completed 16 May 2020
46. Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing - completed 19 May 2020
47. Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert - completed 25 May 2020
48. The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor - completed 1 Jun 2020
49. Little Bookshop of Murder by Maggie Blackburn - completed 5 Jun 2020
50. Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 16 Jun 2020
51. Death at High Tide by Hannah Dennison - completed 17 Jun 2020

Image credit: Andreas Lischa (aka webandi), "Siamese Cat," 2017, Pixabay ( https://pixabay.com/photos/cat-siamese-cat-fur-kitten-2068462/ : accessed 7 Dec 2019). Pixabay License. Free for commercial use. No attribution required.

Category 2: Siamese (Historical Fiction)

1. A Killer in King's Cove by Iona Whishaw - completed 12 January 2020
2. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - completed 24 January 2020
3. Beheld by TaraShea Nesbit - completed 25 January 2020
4. The Thief of Auschwitz by Jon Clinch - completed 30 January 2020
5. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks - completed 24 March 2020
6. Treacherous Is the Night by Anna Lee Huber - completed 6 May 2020
7. Deep River by Karl Marlantes - completed 21 May 2020
8. We Must Be Brave by Frances Liardet - completed 13 June 2020

Image credit: Bfe, "Norwegische Waldkatze," 2005, Wikimedia Commons ( https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Norwegian_forest_cat.jpg : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY-SA 3.0.

Category 3: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

1. Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler - completed 4 January 2020
2. Two Steps Forward by Suzanne Woods Fisher - completed 9 January 2020
3. Waterland by Graham Swift - completed 14 January 2020
4. Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeanette Winterson - completed 20 January 2020
5. Nightwoods by Charles Frazier - completed 22 January 2020
6. An Incomplete Obituary for Damien Stewart Wilson by Sean Rose - completed 23 January 2020
7. A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare - completed 5 February 2020
8. Chocolat by Joanne Harris - completed 17 February 2020
9. Outer Banks by Anne Rivers Siddons - completed 5 March 2020
10. Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman - completed 23 March 2020
11. Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station by Dorothy Gilman - completed 15 April 2020
12. The Sacrament by Olaf Olafsson - completed 3 May 2020
13. Macbeth by William Shakespeare - completed 14 May 2020

Image credit: Magnus Brath, "Grey Persian Cat - Chilerito," 2011, Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/magnusbrath/5339239144 : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY 2.0.

Category 4: Persian - History & Genealogy

1. Triangle: The Fire that Changed America by David Von Drehle - completed 12 January 2020
2. Generations and Change: Genealogical Perspectives in Social History edited by Robert M. Taylor, Jr. and Ralph J. Crandall- completed 21 January 2020
3. Stepping Into Rural Wisconsin: Grandpa Charly's Life Vignettes, from Prussia to the Midwest by Edward J. Kuehn and Linda T. Ruggeri - completed 28 January 2020
4. Putting Flesh on the Bones: Bringing Your Ancestors to Life by Mark W. Swarthout - completed 9 February 2020
5. Yorkshire: A Story of Invasion, Uprising and Conflict by Paul C. Levitt - completed 14 February 2020
6. Branching Out: How to Research Your Family's History by Simon Fowler - completed 22 February 2020
7. Seasoned by Salt: A Historical Album of the Outer Banks by Rodney Barfield - completed 25 February 2020
8. The History of England: From the Reign of Henry the 4th to the Death of Charles the 1st by Jane Austen - completed 1 March 2020
9. The Wright Brothers by David McCullough - completed 3 March 2020
10. Roanoke Island: The Beginnings of English America by David Stick - completed 5 March 2020
11. The Prairie Schoolhouse by John Martin Campbell - completed 9 March 2020
12. Geography and Genealogy: Locating Personal Pasts edited by Dallen J. Timothy and Jeanne Kay Guelke - completed 10 March 2020
13. The Great Revolt of 1381 by Charles Oman - completed 12 April 2020

Image credit: Dr. LP9339, "Sweetie, the Sweetest Scottish Fold," 2018, Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sweetie_Scottish_fold.jpg : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY-SA 4.0.

Category 5: Scottish Fold - Travel

1. The Hidden Ways: Scotland's Forgotten Roads by Alistair Moffat - completed 16 January 2020
2. Romney Marsh: Eighth Wonder of the World by Roderick Leyland - completed 9 February 2020
3. Speaking Chileno: A Guide to Spanish from Chile by Jared Romey - completed 9 February 2020
4. Journey to the Alcarria: Travels Through the Spanish Countryside by Camilo José Cela - completed 16 February 2020
5. NC 12: Gateway to the Outer Banks by Dawson Carr - completed 4 March 2020
6. In Morocco by Edith Wharton - completed 25 April 2020

Image credit: Togle1, "Ragamuffin Kitten from Ragamuffin Cat World," 2016, Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ragamuffin_kitten-GRACIE.png : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY-SA 4.0.

Category 6: Ragamuffin - Food & Drink

1. The Art of Uzbek Cooking by Lynn Visson - completed 2 January 2020
2. The Little Berlin Cookbook by Rose Marie Schulze - completed 5 January 2020
3. Laurel Mercantile Co.: Recipes & Stories (vol. 1) edited by Erin Napier - completed 7 January 2020
4. Perfect Pie and Pastry Recipes: Homemade Dessert Pies Made Easy Cookbook by Katherine Hupp - completed 3 February 2020
5. Traditional Recipes of Reunion Island by Yohann Maillot - completed 9 February 2020
6. Circle of Friends Cookbook: 25 Mac & Cheese Recipes by Gooseberry Patch - completed 22 February 2020
7. Nile Style: Egyptian Cuisine and Culture: Ancient Festivals, Significant Ceremonies, and Modern Celebrations by Amy Riolo - completed 26 March 2020
8. The Tinned Fish Cookbook by Bart Van Olphen; photographed by David Loftus; translated by Laura Vroomen - completed 8 April 2020
9. The Poetry of Good Eats by Gary Dickson - completed 6 May 2020

Image credit: "Orange Tabby Cat," Pxfuel (https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-ozxro : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC0 1.0.

Category 7: American Shorthair/Tabby - Cats

1. Good Mews: Inspirational Stories for Cat Lovers by Kitty Chappell - completed 23 January 2020
2. Flubby Is Not a Good Pet by J. E. Morris - completed 15 February 2020

Image credit: Vereskaya, "Russian Blue Male Cat," 2009, Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Russian_Blue_cat.jpg : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY-SA 3.0.

Category 8: Russian Blue - Poetry

1. Stag's Leap by Sharon Olds - completed 27 January 2020
2. Fidelity: Poems by Grace Paley - completed 15 February 2020
3. Rainbows Are Made: Poems by Carl Sandburg - completed 26 February 2020
4. The Lady of the Lake by Sir Walter Scott - completed 6 March 2020
5. Going Back by Shelia Gaines - completed 21 April 2020
6. Eureka Mill: Poems by Ron Rash - completed 12 May 2020

Image credit: Peter Jo, "Ragdoll Cat," 2018, Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/cat-animal-ragdolls-ragdoll-cat-4008189/ : accessed 7 Dec 2019). Pixabay License. Free for commercial use. No attribution required.

Category 9: Ragdoll - Juvenile & YA

1. Keep Calm and Carry On, Children by Sharon K. Mayhew - completed 6 January 2020
2. Julio Bunny Goes to the Library by Nicoletta Costa - completed 4 February 2020
3. Rosie: Stronger Than Steel by Lindsay Ward - completed 29 March 2020
4. The Wishing Tree by William Faulkner - completed 9 May 2020
5. Nana's Garden by Larissa Juliano; illustrated by Francesca de Luca - completed 21 May 2020

Image credit: V. Sauvaget, "Brown Spotted Tabby Bengal Cat," 2007, Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brown_spotted_tabby_bengal_cat.jpg : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY-SA 3.0.

Category 10. Bengal - Other Non-Fiction

1. Bible Personalities: A Treasury of Insights for Personal Growth and Ministry by Warren W. Wiersbe - completed 7 January 2020
2. An Unhurried Life: Following Jesus' Rhythms of Work and Rest by Alan Fadling - completed 17 January 2020
3. Be Free: Exchange Legalism for True Spirituality by Warren W. Wiersbe - completed 27 January 2020
4. Great Possessions: An Amish Farmer's Journal by David Kline - completed 28 January 2020
5. Evernote: Your Second Brain by James Keaton - completed 9 February 2020
6. Luke: The Gospel of Amazement by Michael Card - completed 17 February 2020
7. The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction by Meghan Cox Gurdon - completed 21 February 2020
8. The Possibility of Prayer: Finding Stillness with God in a Restless World by John Starke - completed 27 February 2020
9. Touching the Altar: The Old Testament for Christian Worship edited by Carol M. Bechtel - completed 5 March 2020
10. Lake of the Ozarks: My Surreal Summers in a Vanishing America by Bill Geist - completed 6 March 2020
11. Letters, 1796-1817 by Jane Austen; edited by R. W. Chapman - completed 14 March 2020
12. Conan Doyle, Detective: The True Crimes Investigated by the Creator of Sherlock Holmes by Peter Costello - completed 16 March 2020
13. Be Comforted by Warren W. Wiersbe - completed 19 March 2020
14. The Call to Holiness: Pursuing the Heart of God for the Love of the World by Timothy C. Tennent - completed 28 March 2020
15. The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth: And Other Curiosities from the History of Medicine by Thomas Morris - completed 29 March 2020
16. When Faith Becomes Sight by Beth Booram and David Booram - completed 7 April 2020
17. Becoming a Just Church: Cultivating Communities of God's Shalom by Adam L. Gustine - completed 17 April 2020
18. Curiosities of Crime in Edinburgh During the Last Thirty Years by James M'Levy - completed 29 April 2020
19. That Way and No Other: Following God Through Storm and Drought by Amy Carmichael; edited by Carolyn Kurtz - completed 1 May 2020
20. Songs of America: Patriotism, Protest, and the Music that Made a Nation by Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw - completed 16 May 2020

Image credit: Mendocino County Animal Care Service, "Shelter Cats Looking for a Home in Mendocino County," 2011, Flickr ( https://www.flickr.com/photos/animalcareservices/5371946659/in/photostream/ : accessed 7 Dec 2019). CC BY 2.0.

Shelter Cats - Abandoned Reads

1. Ribbon of Sand: The Amazing Conversion of the Ocean and the Outer Banks by John Alexander and James D. Lazell - abandoned 25 February 2020
2. A Body in the Bookshop by Helen Cox - abandoned 3 March 2020
3. Force of Nature by Jane Harper - abandoned 11 March 2020
4. Naked in Death by J. D. Robb - abandoned 23 May 2020

Magazine and Journal Articles Read

1.

Book Chapters and Essays Read

1.

I've never tried the BINGODOG before. I think I'll hit a lot of these during the year although one or two may be difficult for me. (I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi so the "not on earth" may be hard. However, I do think I've got a non-fiction read planned that will hit that square.) Books here will be duplicated from categories above.



1. File M for Murder by Miranda James
2. Rounding the Mark by Andrea Camilleri
3. An Incomplete Obituary for Damien Stewart Wilson by Sean Rose
4. Sugar and Vice by Eve Calder
5.
6. Letters, 1796-1817 by Jane Austen; edited by R. W. Chapman
7. The Thief of Auschwitz by Jon Clinch
8. Death Finds a Way by Lorine McGinnis Schulze
9.
10.
11. Corned Beef and Casualties by Lynn Cahoon
12. Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliott
13. The Art of Uzbek Cooking by Lynn Visson (GeoCAT)
14.
15. Julio Bunny Goes to the Library by Nicoletta Costa
16. The Little Berlin Cookbook by Rose Marie Schulze (Berlin native)
17. The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill
18. A Killer in King's Cove by Iona Whishaw
19. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
20.
21. The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth by Thomas Morris
22.
23. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers (Arthur Ransome's Legacy Library)
24. Much Ado About Nutmeg by Sarah Fox
25. Keep Calm and Carry On, Children by Sharon K. Mayhew (World War II evacuation of children from London)

Book 76. Touching the Altar: The Old Testament for Christian Worship edited by Carol M. Bechtel

Date Completed: 5 March 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: I found the essays too scholarly for a general readership but not scholarly enough for an academic audience. The book's topic should appeal to many, but the way the topic was handled left much to be desired. Each essay purported to address a singular topic and generally focused on a single Scripture passage; however, the contributing authors seemed to often lose focus of the overarching book theme, focusing instead on their own little niche of Old Testament scholarship. The individual essays did not hold together well on their own, and as a collection, they suffered even more. Not recommended.

Book 77. Outer Banks by Anne Rivers Siddons

Date Completed: 5 March 2020

Category: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: I wanted to read this book back when it first came out and purchased the book in paperback at some point, intending to read it. I got rid of the unread paperback in a move, but when a Kindle deal came up years ago, I purchased it. It sat unread on my Kindle for years until I made a trip to the Outer Banks this week. I expected most of the book to be set on the Outer Banks, but little of it was. The story focuses on four sorority sisters. One girl is quite creepy; another stole the narrator's boyfriend and married him. The narrator suspects cancer returned. She prefers to deny it as the "pacmen" eat her. That references dates the novel's relevance for today's readers. When the one owning an Outer Banks home invites her, she does not want to go. However, her husband talks her into going. By this point, it is well past the 50% mark of the novel. I did not like the turns the novel took from this point forward. Determination to finally finish the novel kept me reading although I wanted to abandon it before the narrator finally arrived in the Outer Banks from New York. This was not the "happy beach read" I expected.

From the interactive exhibits at the Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, NC:



What is your answer?

Book 78. Roanoke Island: The Beginnings of English America by David Stick

Date Completed: 5 March 2020

Category: Persian (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Readable, classic, and interesting account of the settlement of Roanoke Island and of the lost colony. The biggest problem is author David Stick does not cite sources for particular assertions. He includes a "note on the sources," but nothing tied to specific portions of the text. Readers should probably pair this with a more up-to-date volume reviewing the theories of the lost colonies. Research since this book's appearance sheds additional light on the various theories.

Happy new thread, Lori. Your boys look very nice!

>21 MissWatson: Thanks. I used the same photos I put atop my "75" thread, but it's because it was easier to do that than hunt through photos to find some that worked.

Book 79. The Lady of the Lake by Sir Walter Scott

Date Completed: 6 March 2020

Category: Russian Blue (Poetry)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: This long poem with six cantos with many long parts. Each canto depicts a single day. Three men vie for the love of Ellen Douglas. However, feuds are present and the Highland clans and lowland Scots war against one another. My favorite parts of the poem are not the portions dealing with feuds or wars but the passages describing the natural beauty of the region. Scott's love of nature manifests itself in the descriptions and creates wonderful pictures for readers to envision. For the most part, Scott uses the rhyme scheme AABBCCDDEEFF, etc. Each numbered part within the canto seems to vary a little from the section above it. Many of these stanzas, particularly the ones describing nature, would serve well as stand-alone poems. Together they weave a story.

Happy new thread! The portraits of your boys make a lovely opener. They are in fine company with your category headers.

Happy new thread! As for the "not on earth" BingoDOG square, I think that a book on spirituality might be stretched to fit.

And thank you for the pictures of your handsome boys! I love the smudge on Mr. B's nose.

>24 VivienneR: They are the best!

>25 RidgewayGirl: I'll see if I can find something that fits a little better even though I don't really enjoy most sci-fi/fantasy books. It might be a children's book, but I'll find something. Yes. Mr. B has a cute smudge!

Book 80. Lake of the Ozarks: My Surreal Summers in a Vanishing America by Bill Geist

Date Completed: 6 March 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Expectations vs. reality. I expected this book to remind me of my vacations in the Lake of the Ozarks region. The ones I spent there involved camping, but the author's summers involved working at Arrowhead Lodge owned by his extended family. I expected the book to tell more about other things in the area that might trigger memories of my time there. Unfortunately the book was more of a memoir of his own exploits rather than of visiting attractions in the area that no longer exist. Ultimately I just didn't care about his exploits. His humor attempts seemed geared toward a crude masculine audience. I do believe my family ate at Arrowhead Lodge once. I don't remember whether it was a good or bad experience. I'm not sure why I bothered to finish reading the book.

>1 thornton37814: Awwwwww! I love photos of your handsome fellows! Happy new thread :)

>28 rabbitprincess: They are handsome! Thanks!

I'm probably about a half hour away from completing my audio book so I've got another loaded up that should get me home. Not looking forward to the long drive tomorrow, but I think the boys and I will both be glad to get home. They'll be happy for my loss of an hour's sleep because that means they get fed an hour earlier.

Wishing you a safe and uneventful drive tomorrow, Lori.

I should follow this thread instead of your 75-ers thread. Because cats!

Happy New Thread, Lori. You've really gotten a lot read already.

>31 RidgewayGirl: I'll be driving most of the day. I'm praying a luggage cart is available! I'll probably have two trips because of the cats' gear but I'll live with it. It will probably be close to 6 p.m. (or 7 p.m. if I look at it from tomorrow's perspective) before we get home. I hope it is uneventful.

>32 EBT1002: I often follow both. I'm not sure why!

>33 dudes22: Yes. I think it will slow down this quarter as I have two big conference presentations in May. I'll be reading some to prepare the presentations, but it will mainly involve articles or book chapters.

Happy new thread, and safe travels!

>27 thornton37814: I've been at Lake of the Ozarks many times over the years although it's been several years now. Regardless of who I was with, friends or family, we enjoyed our times there. Too bad Geist's book isn't more interesting or useful.

We've had several days of beautiful spring weather, I hope you have the same for your drive home.

>35 Jackie_K: Thanks. We got home about an hour ago. The boys are making sure everything is in place, and Barney already claimed the high perch on their tree.

>36 clue: I was disappointed in the book (as you can see from my review). We went to Lake of the Ozarks a couple of times. Mom and Dad really preferred Bull Shoals Lake though. We also went to Table Rock Lake up around Branson some. I'm lucky we got to go so many places on my school breaks or in summer. Many young people didn't get the chance to travel as much. We went other places too, but I think they liked those places for shorter breaks because we could get away from home, but Bull Shoals, especially, wasn't really all that far away.

Book 81. High Country by Nevada Barr

Date Completed: 7 March 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Anna Pigeon goes undercover as a waitress in Yosemite National Park to find what happened to three hikers. She must spend time getting to know the various persons in the park, and "being chummy" is not one of her strengths. She does manage to forge some trust, but most people think she's a company spy of sorts. Adding to the confusion, the chief ranger is called away during Anna's investigation, and she does not know who was named acting chief. This causes her to do some "lone wolf" adventures when she should have reported her intentions. This installment of the Anna Pigeon series works well as an audio book. The mounting threats and tension keeps one listening. I figured out part of the final solution, but the author created one twist I did not expect. I'm glad I decided to pick this series back up where I left off.

Book 82. Final Account by Peter Robinson

Date Completed: 8 March 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: A couple returns home following their anniversary dinner. Intruders tied up their daughter who was home alone. They tie up the wife when she arrives and force the man to the barn/garage. Soon two shots are heard. The daughter finally manages to free herself from the bonds and frees her mother. Inspector Banks finds the man's face blown up beyond recognition. It looks like an assassination. They find evidence he'd been laundering money. It begins to get interesting when a woman comes forward saying the man looks like someone she knew by another name. With characteristics of a cozy and a thriller, this installment may not completely satisfy readers of either genre by not being "cozy" enough for those wanting a little less blood and gruesomeness but being a little slower paced than most thrillers. Audio visits with James Langton narrating the Inspector Banks series always provide a few enjoyable listening hours.

I bought three books during my Outer Banks trip:

       

1. Eureka Mill: Poems by Ron Rash
2. What's for Supper? by Sharon Peele Kennedy
3. The Lost Colony of Roanoke: New Perspectives by Brandon Fullam

About the books:

I tried to find a book by a local author that looked interesting, but I couldn't really find one at the Island Bookstore. I tried two of their three branches. I saw several books I'd already read. I found a volume of poetry by a local author, but I read a couple of the poems, and they weren't well-written. It was privately published. I decided I'd just settle for a North Carolina author, and I found the volume of poetry by Rash. I've read his prose but not his poetry. He's more of an Appalachian author, so it's the opposite end of the state.

The cookbook author hosts a local radio cooking show that is quite popular. I was told this is the "second edition." It lacks an ISBN and copyright date, so you can't really tell. However, a piece in the back of the book states it is her 3rd collection of recipes and celebrates the 10th anniversary of her program. It is full color and contains photos of each dish as well as some local photos. It contains advertisements for businesses

I looked at two recent books that would contain the most recent developments on the fate of the lost colony of Roanoke. I decided on this one. The other looked good too, but I only wanted one.

Glad you and the boys are home safe and sound, Lori. I am also reading the Nevada Barr series, although it's been awhile since I have picked one up. I switched from reading to listening to this series, and I need to get back to it!

>41 DeltaQueen50: That's what I did. I really enjoyed it. I can't say the narrator's voice is how I pictured Anna sounding, but it worked okay. I discovered I accidentally skipped one that I have in print somewhere in a stash. I apparently didn't read it, but I'm more inclined to give it a listen.

Book 83. The Prairie Schoolhouse by John Martin Campbell

Date Completed: 9 March 2020

Category: Persian (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Although a few introductory essays provide an overview of Western settlement and schools, the book's strength lies in the photographs and other illustrations depicting schoolhouses and things associated with them. The book contains a bibliography although it lacks end notes or footnotes. Considering the photographic nature of the book, few would expect that. However, a person looking for an authoritative text on the prairie schoolhouse would need to look elsewhere.

Book 84. Geography and Genealogy: Locating Personal Pasts edited by Dallen J. Timothy and Jeanne Kay Guelke

Date Completed: 10 March 2020

Category: Persian (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Consisting of academic essays relating to the interaction of geography and genealogy, some chapters remain relevant for today's researchers while advances date others. The chapters covering online resources and DNA suffer most. Others sometimes refer to relocated resources. (For example, Allen County Public Library's contract with HeritageQuest expired, and PERSI now resides at FindMyPast.) Penny Richards' chapter covering a woman's letters provided an interesting case study. The "genealogical tourism" chapter stirred memories of visiting ancestral places for me and longings to visit others. Perhaps this work's most enduring contribution is the chapter bibliographies. Although dated, this volume remains useful.

Abandoned Read #3:



Force of Nature by Jane Harper

Date Abandoned: 11 March 2020

Category: Shelter Cats (Abandoned Reads)

Comments: Five colleagues set off on a corporate wilderness retreat. One woman does not make it out. I tried to listen to this book in audio format, but the book jumped between the retreat and the present and alternated narrators too often to provide a good experience. I never warmed to the main characters, and Peter Falk's investigation took a back seat to the women. Even though I enjoyed listening to Steve Shanahan's Aussie accent, it wasn't enough to keep me engaged. I loved The Dry and wanted to like this one too, but it didn't "click." I might try to read it rather than listen to it in the future, but I will not prioritize it.

Our book club met yesterday. We were much more talkative about COVID-19 and its impact on campus functions than on the Agatha Christie and Susan Glaspell short stories we read. One member asked if any mysteries used disease as a weapon. I'm certain I've read one or two in the past, but I can't recall the titles off the top of my head. In the last book I read, a needle filled with AIDS-tainted blood was used to try to slow the undercover investigator, but it wasn't the murder weapon. (It could have eventually been one if the investigator hadn't found it before it jabbed her.) Can any of my LT friends come up with specific titles?

The only one that comes to my mind that I liked was The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. It's an old one so some may have read it.

>45 thornton37814: My opinion of Force of Nature was similar to yours. It could have been anywhere, I didn't find any flavour of Australia. The Dry was wonderful and I expected something more in that style.

>47 clue: I read The Andromeda Strain back in the seventies but still remember the details. I thought it was excellent.

>48 VivienneR: I'm glad to know I wasn't alone. I was quite disappointed.

>45 thornton37814: I also liked The Dry and was unimpressed with Force of Nature. BUT I just read her new book The Lost Man (a standalone) and really liked it.

>50 japaul22: Good to know she's not one of those authors who only had one book in her.

Book 85. Letters, 1796-1817 by Jane Austen; edited by R. W. Chapman

Date Completed: 14 March 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Jane Austen scholars and superfans will enjoy this collection of letters written by the noted author to family and friends. She discusses a multitude of things from the local gossip to gardening to her books. Two letters written during her final illness appear at the end along with a letter written by Jane's sister Cassandra to one of Jane's frequent correspondents. As with most collections of this nature, some letters appeal more than others. Scholars will find this more useful than casual readers as they seek to support points in their own Austen research.

Book 86. Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliott

Date Completed: 14 March 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Addie opens a used and antiquarian bookstore when she inherits an unknown great aunt's estate. A break-in occurs, and a cheap edition of Alice in Wonderland appears to be missing. When police chief Marc, brother of her new friend Serena who owns a tea shop next to the bookstore, takes his own sister into custody for a murder at the shop, Addie decides to help him investigate to free his sister. Although a promising series premiere, the novel contained a few too many coincidences to feel plausible to readers. I liked many of the recurring characters so I'm sure I'll continue with the next installment.

Just stopping by because I don't think I've had a chance to tell you I love all your cat pics, especially of your boys.

>54 LisaMorr: I love my boys' photos too. I just wish I could catch the three of them together more often.

Stopping by to say hello.

Sounds like you had a (mostly) good trip to the Outer Banks area. We had meant to do a short trip this month but that's been postponed because I'm in the demographic that is being told to stay home away from everyone else.

I always enjoy seeing your cat pictures and thanks for reminding me of the Nevada Barr books. I have a couple that I never read though I used to enjoy them.

>56 hailelib: Yes. I've been watching the COVID-19 in NC too since I was there, but so far none for Dare County. I'll keep an eye out for a couple more weeks. I didn't have that much close interaction though so I'm probably fine even if a case does crop up there. I suspect I was exposed more at church or on the job last week than in the Outer Banks. The cookies from one of the local school's sale arrived mid-week last week so I've got a batch of them baking.

Book 87. Conan Doyle, Detective: The True Crimes Investigated by the Creator of Sherlock Holmes by Peter Costello

Date Completed: 16 March 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Conan Doyle not only created the Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, beloved sleuths of generations of mystery fans, but also enjoyed lending his aid to real criminal investigations. The author begins by presenting information on Doyle's life. Apparently the real man possessed some attributes of both detective team members, but his own success as a sleuth was not as great as that of his creations. The author devotes uneven attention to each crime which interested Doyle. I don't know if that is because Doyle spent different amounts of effort on the cases or because Costello's interested varied. The wide disparity in chapter lengths made it less readable. Perhaps the author should combine similar shorter cases into a single chapter? A bibliography for each chapter appears in the back of the book, but the author's not tying specific pieces to precise sources make it less valuable for academics although it still remains useful.

Book 88. Be Comforted by Warren W. Wiersbe

Date Completed: 19 March 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: I enjoy Wiersbe's devotional commentaries. This one provided an overview of the book of Isaiah. Anytime a Bible book with 66 chapters is covered in only 13 chapters, something will be omitted. I missed the depth he provides in commentaries covering shorter Bible books and wish he'd chosen to break Isaiah into multiple volumes to provide more insights into one of my favorite Old Testament books. If you are seeking a broad overview of the book, this volume will serve well. If you want deeper coverage of specific passages, seek a longer readable commentary.

>58 thornton37814: This looks like an interesting book. Though I've always loved the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, I don't actually know all that much about the author himself.

>60 mathgirl40: I think you might find other biographies of Doyle more useful than this one for background about the author. The book mainly focused on his interest in cases of the times, although it did give a little info in the beginning.

Just dropping by to say hello. Sounds like your'e still working. Our last day open to the public was March 14. We got sent home for a four-day weekend Thursday evening as the county is testing it's public health emergency protocol, but as far as I know we're headed back to work Tuesday.

>62 markon: Medical professionals are trying to get our governor to issue a shelter in place in order to last 2 weeks. They project it needs to be issued by mid-week to help keep hospitals from being overfilled. So far he's not heeding their advice.

Book 89. Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman

Date Completed: 23 March 2020

Category: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Interesting psychological thriller in which a psychiatrist treats a patient with memory recall issues. The patient knows things about the doctor's past no one should know since she herself operates under a new identity. The situation creates many fearful moments as she continues to treat him. She returned to the area where the incident occurred which prompted her identity change to treat this patient. She now finds herself in danger there once again. I do not usually read books in this genre, but I needed something a little different, and this one provided a change. I found the ending a little disappointing, but the book maintained my interest at a time when the CoronaVirus distracts the entire world. I received a copy through LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.

Just completed a reference shift from home. Not a single question. Two of the boys helped--one on either side. Finally the third came up and just walked between me and the computer.

Yesterday my book for the KITastrophe, Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, arrived digitally. Today a non-fiction book I'd forgotten I requested, but for which I think I picked up the book bullet from a genealogist interested in the history of medicine, arrived--The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth and Other Curiosities from the History of Medicine by Thomas Morris.

>66 thornton37814: I hope you like Year of Wonders as much as I did. I liked it enough to give it to my sister as a gift - twice!

>67 clue: Pretty impressive! Hope she liked it enough she appreciated it the 2nd time around!

>66 thornton37814: - I've loved every book I've read by Geraldine Brooks. I wish she's write another one.

>69 dudes22: I'm really enjoying this one. I'm about 1/3 of the way through it.

>65 thornton37814: I started work from home today. My internal chat status says "Available - now with 50% more cat fur". :)

>71 casvelyn: That's great! I had lots of cat fur yesterday, but I'm in the office today. I think the executive council is meeting online right now so it will be interesting to see what happens. I hear snatches of the conversation since my boss' office is next door, and his speaker is on. It will be interesting to see if we end up working from home.

I'm so frustrated! Students will not listen to us when we tell them to keep 6 feet apart. When I went out while ago, there was a group of 12 all huddled in a group about 6 feet in diameter (around a 3 or 4 foot table), a group of 3 seated around a small table practically touching one another, and a pair of people on a sofa only a couple feet apart. Two of us tried to get them to listen, but we are powerless to enforce it. They won't let us close the library as long as the university hasn't mandated that we work from home.

>73 thornton37814: That's really frustrating. Is school still in session? My daughter's university closed two weeks ago. Dorms were closed and students ordered out. And SC libraries are all closed.

>74 RidgewayGirl: It's all online at the moment, but no evacuation order because many students (especially international ones) have no place to go.

>72 thornton37814: I have an entire list of humorous statuses I intend to deploy for the next two weeks or however long we end up at home.

>76 casvelyn: I received the first set of articles from Allen County Public Library. I made good choices for the first batch. Some great examples to use in my presentation.

>73 thornton37814: Ugh, that is frustrating!

Today I went out for a walk and crossed paths with someone walking his dog. I made sure to move at least 6 feet away from him and he said I was the first person he'd seen doing that :-/

>78 rabbitprincess: Interesting!

>77 thornton37814: Good! I expect they're all working from home now as well.

>80 casvelyn: There are a few more sets ordered. I guess I'll see if they come in.

Book 90. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

Date Completed: 24 March 2020

Category: Siamese (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: This story focuses on Anna Frith, a resident of a village where contaminated fabric wrought havoc during the Plague. Anna's boarder, George Viccars, a tailor, purchased the fabric from London. As he was dying, he asked them to burn all the garments, but villagers wanting their merchandise insisted on taking pieces made for them. The plague began spreading. The village self-isolated, much as we witness with today's COVID-19 crisis. Brooks created a well-written novel with well-drawn characters that emphasizes things important in today's crisis, such as hygiene and self-distancing. I thought this might be a five-star read until I reached the closing pages. This epilogue and events associated with it weakened the overall story.

>82 thornton37814: I agree with your review 100%. I thought a great story till the end!

>83 Tess_W: It really made no sense to include it.

Book 91. Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers

Date Completed: 26 March 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Lord Peter Wimsey investigates a murder in which the method perplexes everyone. On the surface it appears, the woman died of natural causes, but a few irregularities exist. Detective Parker needs enough evidence to convict the obvious suspect, but without the "means," the case cannot be prosecuted. I loved the introduction of Miss Climpson, a sidekick who reminds me of Miss Marple, although perhaps not quite as astute. I loved the name Hallelujah Dawson given to a distant dark-skinned relative of the deceased. My favorite section of the novel dealt with changes in the law which created a little ambiguity as to the heir--a little forensic genealogy! Ian Carmichael supplied excellent narration to the novel.

Book 92. Nile Style: Egyptian Cuisine and Culture: Ancient Festivals, Significant Ceremonies, and Modern Celebrations by Amy Riolo

Date Completed: 26 March 2020

Category: Ragamuffin (Food & Drink)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: The comments on cultural aspects make this an interesting cookbook. While I'm not a huge fan of chickpeas which figure prominently in Egyptian cuisine, I could find a few recipes that seemed interesting enough to consider making. I'm most likely to try some of the ones which really were simple dishes and similar to recipes of other cultures with a little twist. The author included recipes significant to several religions practiced in Egypt. She also included recipes for other celebrations in the country's life.

Book 93. The Call to Holiness: Pursuing the Heart of God for the Love of the World by Timothy C. Tennent

Date Completed: 28 March 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Asbury Theological Seminary president Timothy C. Tennent offers a volume on Wesleyan views of holiness. The book's vocabulary seemed a bit more advanced in places than a typical lay reader's comfort although I think he designed the book for use in churches. Calvinistic adherents view holiness under a slightly different lens. The book concludes with a beautiful hymn written by the author's wife.

Book 94. The Haunted Lady by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Date Completed: 28 March 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: When repeated attempts to rattle or kill wealthy widow Eliza Fairbanks occur, the police send nurse Hilda Adams to care for her. Greeted by a swarm of relatives with motives to kill the woman, Adams knows Eliza's imagination did not get carried away. When the woman turns up dead, the police and nurse Adams must sift through lies and clues to come up with the real murderer. Roberts drops too many obvious hints of future events. The mystery shows its age in some aspects, but it still presents an interesting puzzle for modern readers. I received an advance review copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

>88 thornton37814: A book by Mary Roberts Rinehart is just what I want, so I have borrowed this book from the Open Library. Read it today (staying in, as required). I hoped the murderer would turn out to be just who it was!

>89 pamelad: Glad it was the one you wanted!

Book 95. Rosie: Stronger Than Steel by Lindsay Ward

Date Completed: 29 March 2020

Category: Ragdoll (Juvenile & YA)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Rosie, the tractor, apparently was manufactured in a factory by Rosie the Riveter and went to live in a field worked by the Women's Land Army. I don't really like the juxtaposition of all these historical elements. While it's a cute children's book, it doesn't quite work if one wants a book with historical accuracy. This was offered in Kindle format as a benefit of Amazon Prime in March 2020. No review was required.

Book 96. The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth: And Other Curiosities from the History of Medicine by Thomas Morris

Date Completed: 29 March 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Author Thomas Morris compiled cases from various sources--newspapers, books, medical journals, etc.--with some unusual twists. In some instances, things are grotesque, in others just odd. The treatments sometimes bring a little humor to the story. I enjoyed the glimpses of actual headlines or snippets of the books, but this was just a mediocre read for me. Some stories were revulsive. The author uses a lot of quotes from his sources so the original voices do not become lost to the modern reader. I do think it provides good diversion for those interested in the history of medicine. In these times of COVID-19, a look at some of the past's mysterious illnesses may bring a little comic relief--or it may be a little too much like current headlines.

Today's my 13th Thingaversary. I altered my book plan somewhat because of COVID-19 and ordered mostly ebooks. I figured there is less chance of virus spread that way. I'm not going to try to make active links to the books, but I'll provide title and author for each.

Print books:

1) History of Grenada County, Mississippi by H. C. J. Hathorn (using for a client project)
2) Our Piece of Earth: The Story of Coffeeville and Adjacent Communities, 1813-1918 (2nd ed) by Eunice Harrison Weaver (using for client project)
3) The Old Country School: The Story of Rural Education in the Middle West by Wayne E. Fuller (using for presentation preparation)
4) Smoky Mountain Cemeteries by Mike Maples (just to add to my collection of Smoky Mountain area resources)

E-books:

5) Welsh Genealogy by Bruce Durie (I have one Welsh line and with a $2.99 special while I was selecting books, how could I pass it up?)
6) The Orange Lilies by Nathan Dylan Goodwin (genealogical fiction; second next in series)
7) Closed Circles by Viveca Sten (for April group read)
8) Under an English Heaven by Alice K. Boatwright (from wish list)
9) Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson (from wish list)
10) When Beggars Dye by Peter Hey (from wish list; may have genealogy theme)
11) Off Kilter by Hannah Reed (from wish list; may have genealogy theme)
12) Frost in May by Antonia White (from wish list)
13) Murder with Cinnamon Scones by Karen Rose Smith (from wish list; next in series)
14) Murderous Roots by Virginia Winter (from wish list; genealogical theme)

I have the e-books and the second book already. First book was ordered from publisher and has shipped. The other two print books will likely be here by the end of the week.

I planned to order some books from Book Depository, but I decided I didn't want to see what was happening with transatlantic shipments at the moment. I saved those books so I can order a few when we can celebrate a return to whatever the new normal becomes. I decided e-books were the way to go.

>93 thornton37814: Choosing ebooks is a wise choice, Lori. I ended up using my local bookstore's curbside service, since I like the shop and want it to survive this pandemic. I'm going to try and not order any more books for now, given that I have enough books on my tbr to last for some time.

>94 RidgewayGirl: The only local bookstore made the decision to close to the public a week or so ago. It is a Christian bookstore, and they hold a lot of Bible studies and such. The space is also fairly small, so they probably just couldn't keep the 6 feet distance. They were doing curbside delivery when it first began. With the governor's new "safer at home" order, I'm sure even the Books a Million will close, if it hasn't move to online only already. I decided the e-books was the way to go, and the other books I ordered will help me as I work from home.

Happy thingaversary Lori! Stay safe and enjoy your books.

I went online yesterday as I wanted to order a few books - a number of indie bookshops in the UK were closed to face to face buyers, but were still taking online orders which they were posting out to keep going. Unfortunately the main wholesaler for books in the UK, Gardners, closed to new orders yesterday, so pretty much all of the shops stopped taking new orders about an hour before I looked! Never mind - as Kay says, it's not like I've not got enough to keep me going meantime. I will buy ebooks as I mostly do anyway (the books I was going to order yesterday were gifts), so at least the authors will still benefit, but it's a shame that those lovely indie bookshops are closed and can't benefit from new sales - I hope that not too many of them go under.

Happy Thingaversary, Lori. Enjoy your books!

>97 Jackie_K: Argh! That would be so frustrating! Or buy gift vouchers for the stores so that you can spend the money later?

>96 MissWatson: Thanks! I'll be at home until next Tuesday when I am the one working in the library. Apparently educational institutions are considered essential so as long as we close the library to the general public and follow the health guidelines from earlier executive orders, our administration interprets it that we are supposed to be open. We've learned things change quickly so I guess I'll see how long the current scenario lasts.

>97 Jackie_K: Yes. I hope they are able to survive. The good thing is that people seem to realize the importance of supporting local businesses at the moment.

>98 DeltaQueen50: Thanks!

>99 rabbitprincess: It's really a shame they are forced to suspend sales, but I'm guessing they aren't allowed to go into the office because of an executive order. They probably did not even consider the ability to purchase gift certificates might help them.

Book 97. Gone with the Whisker by Laurie Cass

Date Completed: 31 March 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: I love Eddie the Bookmobile Cat! Minnie's niece Katie comes north to spend the summer, taking on three jobs. Rafe, Katie's boyfriend, works on the home he's preparing for them. In the meantime, Minnie lives on the houseboat. After Katie stumbles over the corpse of a bookmobile patron, Minnie promises to help catch the man's murderer. Eddie helps locate a second corpse later. He plays additional roles later. It's a fun read for mystery lovers who are cat lovers. I caught a couple of typos in the advance review copy that I hope an editor corrects in the final version. I received the advance review copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

Found one indie bookstore using creative means of getting books to customers: https://www.wcpo.com/entertainment/local-a-e/local-booksellers-find-creative-way...

>103 thornton37814: Oh, very nice! M. Judson now has pictures of each of its shelves and tables on its website, so you can go browse. I'm resisting the lure as I have a few books on my tbr!

>104 RidgewayGirl: I loved the story and their way of serving their customers.

Had a sinus headache this morning so I decided to mostly get off the Internet for awhile and cross stitch. I also took Tylenol (or the generic of it). I usually watch Food Network on Saturday mornings. There's a new "quarantine edition" episode of the Kitchen. They are all cooking from their homes. Kind of interesting to see what they are creating. I'm making progress on the cross stitch project, but this one is a little larger and doesn't stitch quite as quickly as some things. I'm working on 32 count linen. I can see to cross stitch better without glasses so they come off. Fortunately with a larger screen digital television I can mostly see what's going on there. I need to work on a genealogy client project some today. I'm fortunate to be in a stage where I can work from home on this one.

I'm finding it more difficult to concentrate to read at the moment. I'm reading, but it's in short snippets. I'm reading a chapter a day in a couple of books, and I'm not reading as much in mysteries where I'd normally read at least 100 pages a day. If I get through 25-50 pages/day in them (depending on chapter length), I'm doing good. It's definitely slowing my overall reading progress, but at least I'm getting a little in. Is anyone else finding concentration difficult? I had a book become available to me, and I delayed it for a month because I had plenty of other things on hand. (It did not fit any of this month's challenges.)

I made biscuits and sausage gravy this morning. That's something I don't do often, but I do sometimes eat it out. I plan to cook Indian later today. I have a jar of Tikka Marsala sauce from Aldi. I'm going to add some chicken and new potatoes to it and serve it with rice. It may be "lupper" since I'm not hungry at the moment.

Yes Lori, I'm having the same trouble. It took me four days to read a cozy mystery this week that I would normally read in a few hours. I've found that doing something that requires some physical activity suits me better right now. I work in the yard when it isn't raining and I've started cleaning out closets when I can't be out.

This morning I have been making some face masks. I was trying to think of something I could use that I already had and hit on the idea of cotton dinner napkins. The ones I have are 17 X 17, a little large but I just pinned them back on the sides and they work great. I used straight pins with beads on top to hold them together but I guess I'll break down and actually sew the black ones together on the sides for the men in the family. Of course I'll have to wrestle them to the floor to get them to use them. We are still in the beginning stages of the outbreak here, just 12 have tested yes so far out of almost 200 in our county and only 2 have had to be hospitalized. It will come though I'm sure.

>106 thornton37814: I am also finding it difficult to concentrate for any length of time on reading. I find this surprising as I have always been able to bury myself in my books. I sort of flit around from the TV to the computer to my books not really settling on anything. I may have to abandon my reading plans for the month and just stick with very light, comfort type reads.

>106 thornton37814: I've certainly found it harder to concentrate and my reading has shifted to lighter, less demanding fare. I've put off reading the new Hilary Mantel for now.

>108 DeltaQueen50: That's about how I'm feeling too, not really able to settle on things. Some days I have great concentration and can bury myself in a thick historical novel. But I'm a bit restless this week and hoping that shorter, snappier crime reads will do the trick.

>93 thornton37814: Happy Thingaversary, Lori! Your decision to choose ebooks was a wise one. My 13th Thingaversary is next month so I will probably do the same, although there is little or no choice. A new and used bookstore recently opened in my small town, only to have to close the doors in March. I hope they survive when things open up again.

I recently read Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie that I found very depressing as it deals with horrific domestic violence. I hope to avoid that type of reading in the foreseeable future.

>107 clue: We only have 3 positive cases in my county and 6 in the one where I work (when I'm not working from home as I am now). There have been 114 negative tests in my county and 110 in the county where I normally work.

>108 DeltaQueen50: I'm sure I'll eventually get the reading mojo back, but it's hard.

>109 RidgewayGirl: I have lots of cozy ARCs but I'm finding it difficult to get into them. I may need to try more non-fiction.

>110 rabbitprincess: I wonder if it gets worse as cabin fever increases?

>111 VivienneR: I'm saving a book I could purchase on Amazon until the new bookstore on Main Street is able to reopen so I can purchase it there. I'll just have to figure out what to read.

Book 98. Sugar and Vice by Eve Calder

Date Completed: 6 April 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Although I missed the first installment of this series, the author provided enough background on the characters that I quickly caught up. While planting, Maxi finds a corpse presumed to belong to a legendary pirate. The Coral Cay grapevine alerts residents to the discovery. When an archaeologist arrives on the scene, he delivers the verdict the man died in the last ten years. Soon Kate and the gang begin investigating. My biggest complaint involves the choppiness of the writing. 68 chapters provided far too many breaks in a novel this length. Between the choppy chapters and COVID-19 distractions to reading, I found it difficult to concentrate. I'd give it 2.75 stars, but since I realize these are unusual times and my ability to fully enjoy any book is marred, I'm rounding it up to 3. I received an advance review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book 99. When Faith Becomes Sight by Beth Booram and David Booram

Date Completed: 7 April 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: This book, focusing on spiritual direction, did not resonate with me. I disliked the retelling of Biblical stories throughout the book. Sometimes I felt I was reading a commercial for their spiritual direction counseling service, and I wondered whether they changed the names of their clients or sought permission to use their first names. While the book may work better for other people, I just wanted it to end. The final pages finally began to discuss some classic examples of spirituality such as St. John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila, but even then the treatment is superficial. I'd prefer to read the classic authors on the subject.

Book 100. Lord Peter Views the Body by Dorothy L. Sayers

Date Completed: 8 April 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: While short story collections always contain some a mix of enjoyable and less enjoyable stories, I found most of these Lord Peter stories entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the one with the crossword puzzle. I tended to like the ones where Bunter played a bigger role better. I read one or two stories daily when I began reading the collection, and they provided a nice diversion from the current epidemic raging throughout the world.

Book 101. The Tinned Fish Cookbook by Bart Van Olphen; photographed by David Loftus; translated by Laura Vroomen

Date Completed: 8 April 2020

Category: Ragamuffin (Food & Drink)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This cookbook's recipes feature an often overlooked ingredient--canned fish. While I loved the concept and the book's gorgeous illustrations, I found very few recipes I would consider incorporating even occasionally. Most of the usable ones feature ingredients like tuna, salmon, mackeral, or crab. Others features anchovies, sardines, and other canned fishes. Persons who really love canned fishes may want to give this one a try, but for those of us who probably don't want to venture much further afield than variations of tried and true recipes, this one is an optional purchase. I received an advance review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was able to get 20 bags of raised bed soil at Tractor Supply Company. I was able to order online and drive up to their designated area. When I arrived, they had clearly posted the number for the curbside (designated space) delivery. A girl drove up with 20 bags of the soil which we loaded into the back of my SUV. When I got home, I backed up to where my beds were and began the task of filling the beds. About halfway through the first bed, I took a bit of a rest and then unloaded the rest of the soil so I could move my car when I finished filling the bed. I finished the first bed and went inside to get some water and pet cats. I decided to wait until the sun was a little lower and almost waited too late as it was beginning to chill by 4:30 when I went back out. I filled the second bed and came back inside. Since it was supposed to freeze last night, I didn't try to plant anything. I'll probably save that for Monday. Those bags were heavy, but I was able to open and upend them to get the soil into the beds. Looking forward to enjoy fresh veggies later this year.

Wow, glad you got to work outside. It's still too cold for us in central Ohio, yet. Still getting below freezing at night. We usually can't plant in the ground until the week before Memorial Day. I can put a few plants in pots for the porch and the deck about May 15. Enjoy!

Like Tess, it's still too cold here in RI for us to plant yet. Memorial day is what they say for us too, but I usually try to push it a little. I usually go to my favorite greenhouse the Thur before Mother's Day and let them harden in my garage, but I'm wondering if I'll be able to go this year.

>119 Tess_W: Well, they don't recommend planting most warmer weather things until May here, but there are a few that can be planted mid-April.

>120 dudes22: I'd hoped to plant some of the cooler weather vegetables (asparagus, broccoli, etc.), but I didn't get the soil in time. I'll try the warmer weather things this year and then I may try some of the others next year.

I only grow tomatoes and I start them in the house or garage. Although I know people who have put theirs out I'm going to wait at least a week. We had a 93 degree day a few days ago but we've had a cold front come though. Our low, I'm in a valley, is supposed to be high 30s but just up the mountain a few miles it's going to be well under freezing. Mother Nature is playing her spring time tricks!

>122 clue: We have several "spring" winters around here--red bud winter, dogwood winter, blackberry winter, and whipporwill winter, I think. I've seen some things that reference a locust winter and "britches" winter around here, but I've never heard anyone actually talk about them--and four is about right.

Book 102. Pumpkin Spice Peril by Jenn McKinlay

Date Completed: 11 April 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Rene dies just before a catered event in which her artistic creation will debut. Mel becomes a suspect when the police chief questions how she keeps finding bodies and threatens her with an independent counsel investigation into her involvement in past homicides. Meanwhile Angie battles morning sickness but her brothers provide support for her and Mel. I found this to be a pleasant diversion. Even though I missed several installments, my familiarity with the characters was adequate to appreciate this. Even though I rarely read more than 50 pages at a time, I enjoyed this one. These COVID-19 days filled with other distractions account for the length of time it took to read it. I suspect under normal circumstances this would have been read in a few hours. I received an advance review copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

Book 103. The Great Revolt of 1381 by Charles Oman

Date Completed: 12 April 2020

Category: Persian (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Author Charles Oman takes a look at the peasant uprising of 1381 which came to become known as Tyler's Rebellion. Wat Tyler, a key figure in the revolt, led a group from Canterbury to the seat of government to protest an unpopular poll tax. The revolutionaries demanded economic and social reforms in the dwindling days of feudalism in England. The author shows what took place in various parts of England. While the government took care of Tyler quickly and the changes did not come rapidly, feudalism continued to decline. Perhaps the author's own words sum up it up best: "In short, the great rebellion which we have been investigating does not mark the end any more than it marks the beginning of the struggle between the landholder and the peasant." The Kindle version I downloaded lacked footnotes; however, other reviews of the work describe poor formatting of footnotes in other Kindle versions. I want to know the sources consulted so I'd prefer a version with footnotes, but I'd prefer for the publishers to get the footnotes properly formatted so they don't become a deterrent to reading. In the end I learned a little about a period in which my ancestors lived, and since the man employing at least one family was mentioned, I feel I got a sense for what they likely experienced during this time.

Easter was a bit different this year. Our church pre-recorded a sunrise service and the worship service. They were held out at Harrell Park, our church's lakefront property where we hold Sunday evening services in summer and one of the sunrise services on Easter, and where we also have a house where missionaries on furlough often stay. I missed our regular Easter worship services, but I'm thankful we could meet virtually in these strange days.

After our services, I made my cheesy asparagus with bread crumbs and macaroni and cheese to go with my ham and some Sister Schubert dinner rolls. I'm still trying to decide if dessert (a little later) will be strawberry shortcake or strawberry cobbler. This is a departure from tradition. Mom always made banana pudding, and I continued this tradition for myself, but since my grocery shopping was Tuesday, the bananas would have been too mushy by today to work well. I will make a banana pudding after my next shopping trip.

The rest of the day will be spent petting cats, cross-stitching, reading, and watching TV (if I can find anything I really want to watch).

Happy Easter, Lori! It is odd to see our traditions put on hold like this.

>126 thornton37814: Happy Easter! I neglected to buy Easter chocolate for myself, or rather have my other half buy it for me, on our last shopping trip, so I'm going to have to wait for the next grocery run to get some (if not Easter themed, at least chocolate).

Instead of visiting the in-laws for Easter dinner today, as we would usually do, we made our own festive dinner on Good Friday. It turned out really well, especially because it was just a turkey breast rather than a whole turkey. And the leftovers have lasted the whole weekend.

Happy Easter, Lori. Petting cats must be very soothing in these strange days.

>127 RidgewayGirl: Let's hope it's only this year and that things get back to some sort of normal soon.

>128 rabbitprincess: I tried to purchase Reese's eggs, but the stores were out. I had one bag that I'd purchased before the madness began, but I'd really wanted a bag for my "Easter basket."

>129 MissWatson: Some days petting cats is the only thing that gets me through the day. I'm a little on the extroverted side so this quarantine, as a single person, sometimes drives me nuts. Fortunately I've learned to be alone and can find things to keep me occupied so I don't notice as much.

Book 104. Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station by Dorothy Gilman

Date Completed: 15 April 2020

Category: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: The CIA needs the help of Mrs. Pollifax to get a man out of Chinese work camp. She's sent on a tour group to the country, knowing that one of her fellow tourists is the agent who needs her help but unsure which is. Her job sends her to a Chinese barber shop near a tourist attraction to gather information on the work camp's precise location. The book's setting in the years following Mao's death prompting a re-opening to Western tourism probably appealed to those curious about China when the book appeared in print during that time. While I think there are too many coincidences regarding the composition of the tour group, it still provides an intriguing plot which should appeal to most cozy readers. The espionage element is probably a bit tame for those who prefer thrillers.

>113 thornton37814: I'm waiting for three books I ordered from Amazon. They sent me a message informing me that they would be delayed because they are dealing with priority orders first. Now tell me why my books are not regarded as a priority?

>132 VivienneR: Several people are frustrated with Amazon about the book policy at the moment. We all know they are essential items.

Lori, I forgot to mention that I love opening your thread and seeing your boys at the top! They are so handsome! Do they know their names?

Sadly I no longer have a cat but our last one caught on to her name from the first day she came home with us, at five months old.

>134 VivienneR: Yes. They know their names!

Book 105. Becoming a Just Church: Cultivating Communities of God's Shalom by Adam L. Gustine

Date Completed: 17 April 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: The author discusses the failure of the Evangelical Church to address social justice concerns and suggests means of cultivating a ministry to all people in their church's area--not just the people of the same socioeconomic status as the church core. The author is more familiar with the urban church setting than the rural or smaller town church, and his ideas seem best-fitted to more densely-populated areas. A few concepts extend to either. Unfortunately the author did not always back up his ideas with Scripture nor answer the inevitable opposite arguments that could be made. Most readers will question the way they've done some things, but whether or not they will change the way things are done remains to be seen. The book offers questions for group study, so it might be a useful Sunday School or midweek study with the right teacher.

Had several Walmart-type items on my list so I decided it might be worthwhile to place a curbside order there. Although I wasn't able to order a few items, I eventually managed to order a couple of those between the time my order was placed and the deadline to make changes before pickup. I only had one item unavailable, and it was something I think I can make from ingredients at home. I was just going for ease. They provided a diagram of where the pickup spaces were so I pulled into one. The phone number was posted, but one of the girls who just finished delivering to a nearby car got my name so I didn't even have to call to announce my arrival. They seemed to want contactless delivery so all I had to do was open my hatch and let them put everything inside. I must say they were very organized. I think some of the ones working were new so they must be some of the ones specifically hired to be personal shoppers. They were quite efficient.

I still have a few things I'll need to try to get at the grocery store, but I think I'll save those for in the morning. As long as I'm online to man reference by 9 a.m., I'll be fine--and I think I have time to do the shopping before then.

Hi Lori,

I find myself doing a lot of rereading/comfort reads these days, but am doing less reading than usual. Kudos to you for getting your raised beds set up!

I have manged to pland some oregano & thyme and one tomato plant (I broke the stem of the 2nd one I purchased, so I'm planning to head back tomorrow to buy another one, some rebar (for the blueberry cage), twine (I've run out), and more yard waste bags.

I'm finding the things that keep my body moving (exercise videos, yoga classes on Zoom, walking the dog and yard work) are important so I don't sit and think and get anxious.

Zoom & Google Hangouts are my friends for keeping me in touch with others, and my church's online services and seminars/small groups have also been helpful.

>138 markon: I find myself not only watching my own Sunday service, but also others, such as a church in the town where I grew up, or one that a friend sometimes sends my way. I'm finding ways to exercise or stretch every day and am forcing myself to walk to the mailbox which gives me a good workout coming back uphill. I've also been picking up branches and limbs in the yard. We had a storm about a week ago where the wind was pretty active so I've got lots of those.

The Property Brothers launched a new magazine earlier this year. The spring issue features an article about my good friend Janet Dalton who works as a school administrator by day and works for Appalachian Bear Rescue on weekends. The article tells how she overcame her fear of bears and turned it into something productive. So if you read the Spring 2020 issue of Drew+Jonathan Reveal, be sure to read the article. I picked up a copy at Ingles this morning when I went to pick up a few items unavailable for ordering through Walmart Grocery (or that I'd since discovered I needed soon). Janet sings in choir with me at church.

Book 106. Going Back by Shelia Gaines

Date Completed: 21 April 2020

Category: Russian Blue (Poetry)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: My good friend and former colleague Shelia Gaines wrote a poetry volume. One poem was inspired by her trip to Mississippi for my father's funeral. It's easy for me to picture the places she wrote about seeing because I grew up seeing them. I enjoyed the themes of family, faith, and simpler times permeating the volume. I'll treasure this small volume and pull it out often to feel a little closer to my friend who moved across the state and to enjoy a trip down memory lane when times were simpler.

Book 107. Vintage Murder by Ngaio Marsh

Date Completed: 21 April 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Roderick Alleyn, on vacation in New Zealand, finds himself investigating a murder in a theatrical setting. He works alongside the local detectives, but his detecting skills lead to the solution. As in most cases, the suspects provide a mixture of lies and truths which must be sorted through continued interviews and investigation. Prior familiarity with Alleyn is needed to appreciate this installment.

Book 108. Suffer the Little Children by Donna Leon

Date Completed: 23 April 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Brunetti investigates the invasion of a pediatrician's home by another branch of law enforcement. The doctor, who acquired a baby illegally, faces multiple charges, most of which are suddenly dropped. Brunetti's investigation, however, connects with his colleague Inspector Vianello's investigation into pharmacy fraud. I missed the normal interaction between Brunetti and his family members in this installment. Their presence in a few scenes leaves the reader hungering for more. I also noted fewer descriptions of meals--both at home and in restaurants. Leon always includes social justice issues in her plots, but her outcomes tend to show how the system works rather than achieving the result true justice demands.

Book 109. Closed Circles by Viveca Sten

Date Completed: 24 April 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: The assassination of a prominent yacht club member at a prominent event finds Thomas and Margit leading the investigation. Thomas asks his friend and banking attorney Nora, of Sandhamn, to help interpret some financial matters. Nora, who recently inherited an estate, finds herself at odds with her husband regarding its disposal. Her husband's depiction reminds me of a former boyfriend who can't cut the umbilical cord attaching himself to his mother. I didn't have this one figured out, possibly because my reading continues to be distracted because of present COVID-19 concerns. I did not think this installment worked quite as well as the first for me; however, I plan to continue reading it.

Book 110. In Morocco by Edith Wharton

Date Completed: 25 April 2020

Category: Scottish Fold (Travel)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Edith Wharton travels to Morocco--a place without a published travel guide--in 1917. She describes her travels, providing background for sites visited and adding colorful bits of Moroccan life. She mentions remarks by guides at several sites. At the close of the book she provides a brief history of Morocco and notes on its architecture. She provides a list of works consulted in preparing her work. While it would not live up to a twenty-first century standard of a travel guide, it works well as a travel narrative. Wharton's well-written descriptions make this short volume a worthwhile read.

Book 111. The Lifeline by Margaret Mayhew

Date Completed: 25 April 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Ruth Harvey runs a successful gardening business in the English village of Frog End. When a man dies in a greenhouse, Inspector Squibb shows up. Few people regard the Inspector favorably so they turn to the Colonel to discover the murderer. Charms of English village life abound in this sixth "Village Mystery." I now want to go back and read earlier installments so I understand the village a little better.

Book 111. The Lifeline by Margaret Mayhew

Date Completed: 25 April 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Ruth Harvey runs a successful gardening business in the English village of Frog End. When a man dies in a greenhouse, Inspector Squibb shows up. Few people regard the Inspector favorably so they turn to the Colonel to discover the murderer. Charms of English village life abound in this sixth "Village Mystery." I now want to go back and read earlier installments so I understand the village a little better. This review is based on an advance electronic copy supplied through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

Book 112. The Red, Red Snow by Caro Ramsay

Date Completed: 29 April 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: A family man's stabbing leaves Anderson and Costello and their teams baffled. The perpetrator left no clues. No motive emerges. No witnesses identified themselves. Two more bodies show up a week later at a cottage where the family intended to spend Christmas. Investigation uncovers dislike for these victims. The novel spends a little too much time discussing problems within the detectives' families and explored some things which needed omission to tighten the novel. Those who read previous series installments may appreciate some of the detectives' family problems more than I did. I did not feel I knew the detectives because I missed earlier installments. I may try the first couple of books in the series to see if I warm to the series. If so and I continue reading the series, I may revisit this installment to see if it improves with the background from earlier cases and without the distractions of reading in a time of COVID-19. I received an electronic copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book 113. Curiosities of Crime in Edinburgh During the Last Thirty Years by James M'Levy

Date Completed: 29 April 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Back in January, our campus book club began reading a short story collection that included a story by M'Levy. M'Levy, who wrote this collection of stories at the end of his Scottish law enforcement career in the mid-nineteenth century, wrote about cases he solved over the years. His expertise in catching thieves manifested itself in the volume, but the stories do not engage twenty-first century readers who expect more from their crime stories. While not sorry I read the collection, I recommend it only for people who truly want to read true stories of nineteenth-century thieves caught by a clever detective. Gale Making of the Modern Law, Legal Treatises, 1800-1926 series reprinted this edition from a copy in the the Harvard Law Library collection. A few pages were missing or damaged, and pages were inserted to alert the reader to these issues.

Book 114. That Way and No Other: Following God Through Storm and Drought by Amy Carmichael; edited by Carolyn Kurtz

Date Completed: 1 May 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: I first read about Amy Carmichael's work among the children at Dohnavur in high school or undergraduate school. I looked forward to reading about that work in her own words. While this book does that, the snippet brevity sometimes feels like a quotation book. The few longer passages gave me the insight I wanted. I would prefer to read the quotes in their original context. Still this little book offers a glimpse for the curious into the life of an extraordinary woman and her love for God and the children of India. I received this through LibraryThing Early Reviewers program with the expectation of an honest review.

Book 115. The Sacrament by Olaf Olafsson

Date Completed: 3 May 2020

Category: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Sister Johanna learned to speak Icelandic when she and Halla roomed together in school many years ago. About twenty years in ago, she made a trip to Iceland to investigate alleged abuse in the school. Two events marked that time. The parish priest fell from the bell tower during her visit, and she found a boy in a broom closet. In the present she goes back to Iceland to talk with a young man who wishes to speak specifically with her although she'd rather remain at her convent tending the her rose garden and minding her dog George Harrison. The story weaves between the time periods. It can be difficult to distinguish if one doesn't pay attention to the text breaks. The beautifully written text paints a poignant picture of the understated abuse and of reflection on an unpleasant time. Sister Johanna's struggles with sexuality emerge as a secondary theme in the book.

Book 116. The Poetry of Good Eats by Gary Dickson

Date Completed: 6 May 2020

Category: Ragamuffin (Food & Drink)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: This book contains not only poetry about food but also recipes featuring each ingredient after the featured poem. The book is written in French and translated into English. Unfortunately the poems were little more than definitions of the food with perhaps a couple of reflections. The recipes were almost all adapted from Internet sources. A book of poems about food seemed like a pleasant way to spend time, but these poems did not contribute to a happy feeling. The derivative recipes lack any special quality as well. It appears no one proofread the volume. Misspellings and untranslated terms (such as oignon) appear frequently in the English sections. I received the book through a GoodReads giveaway. Although a review is not required, one is appreciated.

Book 117. Treacherous Is the Night by Anna Lee Huber

Date Completed: 6 May 2020

Category: Siamese (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: I must confess I nearly abandoned this book at the beginning because it began with Verity attending a seance. I'm not a fan of Occult elements and really don't want to read about them. However, I stayed with it, and I ended up enjoying the mystery. The medium's message for her revealed secret information from Verity's past life as a spy that was classified. When the medium's home burned, Verity knew she must act. She and her now-returned husband head to Belgium to try to get to the bottom of the message. Verity and her husband are finding it difficult to adjust to one another, and he feels threatened by her relationship with one of her former co-workers. I wish the author had chosen some other set-up to lead to the investigation.

>153 thornton37814: I'm with you...I try very hard not to pick up any books containing occult elements. I have abandoned several books because of this.

>154 Tess_W: If I had not seen favorable reviews of the ongoing books in the series, I don't think I would have tried this one because I didn't like the first one that much. The writing was stronger and less convoluted than that installment, but if the author introduces Occultic elements in future installments, I may just abandon it. There are lots of other books out there calling my name.

Book 118. Mousse and Murder by Elizabeth Logan

Date Completed: 9 May 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: In the premiere installment of a new cozy series, Charlie and her cat Benny reside in Alaska where she runs the diner her now-retired parents established. When her chef turns up dead, Trooper deputizes Charlie and a newspaper reporter. Motives for several persons begin to emerge. While some plot elements seem a little far-fetched, I found this a pleasant mystery in an enjoyable setting with local characters I enjoyed. While I did figure it out before the sleuth did, I initially suspected a different person. I loved Benny the cat and his role in the mystery! I received an advance electronic copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

Book 119. The Wishing Tree by William Faulkner

Date Completed: 9 May 2020

Category: Ragdoll (Children's/YA Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: William Faulkner wrote one children's book. Never intended for publication, it found its way into print following his death. It fits the fantasy genre. Dulcie awoke on her birthday to find a red-headed boy in her room. She soon goes on a journey with neighbors to find the wishing tree. This one encourages children to make unselfish wishes. Saint Francis of Assisi makes an appearance. While Faulkner's fans will probably enjoy this tale, its language dates it, losing its appeal to twenty-first century young readers.

I made a big mistake tonight on the way home from work. I saw that the grocery store didn't look all that busy so I decided to stop and get a few things. It wasn't really crowded, but the problem was people weren't obeying the rules and no one stopped them. They ignored the one way arrows on the aisles; they didn't stay 6 feet away from other customers even though the signs on the doors and frequent announcements encouraged them to do so; and lots of folks were not wearing masks. I've decided I will not be going back inside a grocery store in awhile. I really hate this one does not offer online ordering and curbside service because it's really the most convenient to my house (and I really like them under normal conditions), but I was uncomfortable the entire time I was in the store. I may try to do the farmer's market next week since it is outside, and they think chances of catching COVID-19 are less outside.

>158 thornton37814: I've found that stopping and asking the person walking the wrong way if I'm going the wrong way, with a look down at the arrows, is enough to get the other person to "notice" that they're going the wrong way and change directions. This has worked well so far, except for the few who are making a point of disobeying the rules. Sorry you had to deal with that.

>159 RidgewayGirl: I'll just order online and get it curbside. If I can't find it, I've been told about a smaller store that usually has things in stock that others don't. I'll try there.

Book 120. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers

Date Completed: 11 May 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review:General Fentiman learns he will inherit his estranged sister Lady Dormer's estate if he survives her. If not, her companion Ann Dorland will inherit. When both are found dead--Lady Dormer in her home and General Fentiman at the Bellona Club--and a determination of whom died first cannot be made, Lord Peter Wimsey's investigation services are requested. He makes many inquiries and sticks with it until resolved to his satisfaction. This one failed to maintain my interest as much as some others in the series.

>158 thornton37814: I made a mistake this afternoon too. I've been doing grocery shopping when the store opens on Tuesday. There are a few items that store doesn't carry so I go to a second one close by to pick up those things. Normally I'm back home by 8:30. Tomorrow we are going to have heavy rain all day so I decided to go to the second store this afternoon, I only had 3 things to get there. There were more people than I expected in the store, probably 30 or so, and only 2 others had masks on. I also noticed that most people were not respecting the social distancing tape on the floor when they were in line to check out. Until today I had never seen this but this is the first day of stepping back towards normal and I think a lot of people will discontinue with the masks and social distancing. We haven't had a lot of the virus here but we have been warned to keep wearing masks and practice social distancing or the numbers will begin to climb. A friend and I were talking a few days ago about the kind of changes people had to make during WWII and wondering if people are even willing to make sacrifices of that magnitude these days.

>162 clue: Judging by what I saw today, I think not. It is so scary. One of the persons I saw in the grocery store not wearing a mask is someone I know is a nurse practitioner. She should know better!

Book 121. Eureka Mill: Poems by Ron Rash

Date Completed: 12 May 2020

Category: Russian Blue (Poetry)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: This thematic poetry volume from Ron Rash, a well-regarded writer of Appalachian fiction, honors the Chester County, South Carolina mill where his family worked to provide steady income when farm income depended on varying factors. In the poems farm life and mill life and the contrasts between them are seen. We see many of the problems associated with mills, such as child labor, unpaid medical leave, and germ spread. (During this time of COVID-19 where food production plants seem to be hot-beds for spreading the virus, it appears managers learned little from the past.) I picked this up when I vacationed in the Outer Banks. I sought a volume of Outer Banks poetry, but after reading a few lines in the only volume available, I began looking for a North Carolina author instead. I picked up Rash's volume, not realizing at the time the South Carolina setting. I'm glad I picked it up. I truly enjoyed the poems which shared a common theme.

>164 thornton37814: Ron Rash is our local literary celebrity. Luckily, he's very kind and eager to help other authors.

>165 RidgewayGirl: Yes. I think most of the things I read by him were set in Western North Carolina so I just assumed he was from there. He did mention Asheville and one of the bordering NC counties once, but this was clearly a SC volume. Still it was the closest thing to a NC volume I could find even if I must go back to when the Lords Proprietors distributed the Carolina lands, prior to division into North and South. ;-)

>164 thornton37814: - That sounds like a lovely collection. I've never read anything by him but do have Serena sitting on my shelf.

>167 LittleTaiko: Rash is quite popular here in Appalachia.

Hi Lori, I went grocery shopping this morning and noticed many of the things that you mentioned that you experienced. I think as the restrictions are being lifted, people think they can just immediately go back to life as it was. I highly doubt we will have have that life totally back and I hope people realize that certain restrictions are still in place and that there is a very good reason for that.

>169 DeltaQueen50: I hope they realize it sooner rather than later. I don't want to wear a mask either, but it's to protect me, the other customers, and the employees. Until there's a vaccine, it will never be safe to be in public without one. It's a cross I bear. I'm home with my cats. We distributed several masks in the library today so people could use resources. I'm surprised people haven't figured out yet they need one when they go places. It is a campus-wide policy so they should all know by now.

>170 thornton37814: I took my son (a great, hulking 16 year old) to the pediatrician today because he had a booster shot due. They took our temperatures at the door and had a box of masks next to the hand sanitizer. We already have cloth masks, but I'm glad that they are supplying them to their patients.

>171 RidgewayGirl: Yes.

Book 122. A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette

Date Completed: 16 May 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Bronwyn "Win" Crewse begins managing her family's ice cream parlor after a cousin's changes to its mission nearly causes its demise. Win wants it to do one thing well--ice cream--and avoid all the other things which did not separate it from other Chagrin Falls businesses. While playing in the snow, she falls over a dead body. When she realizes the detective suspects her own father of the dastardly deed, she and a friend investigate. The novel's pluses include an African-American sleuth, the ice cream parlor that tries to stick to locally sourced ingredients, and the character of Pop-Pop. The novel's minuses include marginalization and depiction of the police as incompetent, a sleuth who spends too little time in her new business, and the sheer stupidity of the sleuth and her friends when it comes to investigation. While I might pick up the second installment to see if it improves, I'm not in a rush to pick it up. I hope she spends more time in the ice cream parlor and less time exhibiting her stupidity in the next installment. I received an advance electronic copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book 123. Songs of America: Patriotism, Protest, and the Music that Made a Nation by Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw

Date Completed: 16 May 2020

Category: Bengal (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Biographer Jon Meacham and country music artist Tim McGraw make an unlikely writing team, but the two paired up to write a book about American music. The book's focus is on patriotic songs and songs of protest. Beginning with songs of the Revolutionary War period and extending into recent times, the two examine the songs that struck a chord with our nation. Included in the volume are songs from slavery and from the civil rights era, songs supporting women's suffrage, and other similar occasions. Of course, war time also yielded a large repertoire of patriotic music. While the book seems well-researched, the hidden endnotes create an appeal with the average American rather than with academics.

>157 thornton37814: I've read a good number of Faulkner's works but I hadn't realized he'd written a children's book. I'll have to seek it out, as, to be honest, I have a hard time imagining what a Faulkner book for children might be like! :)

I'm sorry to hear about your bad grocery-shopping experience. I've been trying to keep grocery trips to a minimum and I just happily found out that a local farm market has reopened for the summer and is offering curbside pick-up.

>175 mathgirl40: Let's just say Faulkner for kids a little tamer than Faulkner for adults but the writing is still distinctly Faulknerian.

I discovered that I failed to insert an audio book when I completed it so I'm inserting it's number here and re-numbering the ones above.



Book 122. Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Date Completed: 14 May 2020

Category: Norwegian Forest (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This review is for the fully dramatized audio production of Macbeth produced by the Folger Theatre. I love dramatized versions of Shakespeare, but this one did not work for me quite as well as the one produced by L.A. Theatre Works that I listened to a couple years ago when offered in AudioSync. I think the "off" element for me was the role of Lady Macbeth. This is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I'd give the play itself 5 stars, but the production lowered it to 3 stars.

Book 125. Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing

Date Completed: 19 May 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Parker Valentine made her dreams come true when she opened her own Colorado winery. When a well known restaurant critic and blogger shows up at her opening and drops dead after drinking her wine, she decides to help the investigation along by snooping. Although I had figured out who must be the killer almost from the start, the author created plenty of red herrings to divert attention from the person which probably worked more effectively for some readers than for me. The mystery is more engaging than many of today's cozies, and I might enjoy reading future installments. I liked Parker and the police detective. Most of the characters work although I'm a bit lukewarm on a few. This review is based on an advance electronic copy received through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

Book 126. Deep River by Karl Marlantes

Date Completed: 21 May 2020

Category: Siamese (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: I loved parts of this novel which told the story of Finnish American immigrants in the logging industry of Washington state near the Oregon border. It describes working conditions and efforts to unionize. Readers also learn a great deal about salmon fishing. It describes immigrant acculturation. I expected to like the book more than I did, but it just seemed long and drawn out. The writing was good and the author's historical research exemplary. It just failed to draw me in.

Book 127. Nana's Garden by Larissa Juliano; illustrated by Francesca de Luca

Date Completed: 21 May 2020

Category: Ragdoll (Juvenile & YA)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Cute book for preschool children about visiting grandmother and helping in her garden. I really thought the child depicted was a little advanced for board book readers. Illustrations are nice but not noteworthy. It probably works best for girls. I received a copy through a GoodReads giveaway. Although reviews are appreciated, it is not required.

Abandoned Book 4. Naked in Death by J. D. Robb

Date Abandoned: 23 May 2020

Category: Shelter Cats (Abandoned)

Comments: In this futuristic mystery, Eve Dallas works on a case committed with a murder weapon which once was standard police issue. The fact that only collectors now own the weapon legitimately narrows the search to those and illegal weapons dealers. I enjoyed the mystery itself, but I abandoned it because of the graphic nature of the sexual scenes--one involving a child and one which seemed to border on rape. I just simply did not want to fill my mind with the sinful images.

>181 thornton37814: That's indefensible in a mystery novel. The sad thing is that it can't be un-read. I abandoned a mystery novel because of the graphic gang rape of a child. It was the only time I've ever considered asking the library to remove a book. Someone else may have done so because it disappeared from the catalogue. Since then I have avoided the author like the plague.

>182 VivienneR: I just couldn't handle it. I know many people love these books, but I need to know that other ones do not contain graphic sexual portrayals before I attempt another one.

>181 thornton37814: I sympathise. Detailed descriptions of mutilated bodies are another thing that puts me right off.

>184 pamelad: I know lots of people enjoy these, but I think they are not for me.

Book 128. Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert

Date Completed: 25 May 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Library director Amy Webber finds herself involved in another murder investigation when a student goes missing and the demanding professor, who researched the local "fae" and lights legend and its connection to a pair of girls who went missing in the 19th century, turns up dead. Her boyfriend, the last to see the missing student, becomes the prime suspect. We meet many colorful characters in the course of the book. There's a lot going on in the book, but I never got things confused as I do in some. I knew who did it early on. I found a couple of things that seemed inconsistent in a place or two but I didn't go back to find what made me think something had been stated differently earlier. This was a fun, escapism read with an interesting setting.

BBQ is a Southern tradition on Memorial Day, so I indulged.



I picked up the ribs in the drive-thru line at Buddy's BBQ. I got the corn on the cob at a produce stand. The potato salad came from the deli. (I prefer red-skin potato salad, but they only had loaded so I got it.) I did a rough chop on cabbage and added apple cider vinegar, mayo, salt & pepper, and a little bit of sugar (but not as much as most people add). I didn't have carrots, or they would have gone into the slaw. I had some cornbread I could have re-heated, but I decided I'd be lucky to make it through what was on the plate.

That looks absolutely yummy, Lori!

>187 thornton37814: You've done us proud Lori, looks delicious!

>188 DeltaQueen50: It was good.

>189 clue: Quite tasty!

Yum!

>191 Tess_W: Indeed.

>187 thornton37814: - That looks YUMMY! I love corn on the cob. Hard to find good corn on the cob here on the island, but only because I have been spoiled with corn grown in Taber, Alberta. So sweet.

>193 lkernagh: It was very good corn! I'll be sad when all of mine is gone!

Yum!

>195 RidgewayGirl: Thanks for dropping in!

I'm very saddened to hear that the Uncle Hugo's and Uncle Edgar's bookstores in Minneapolis burned during the riots. Carrie (cbl_tn) and I visited a few years ago when we had a conference in the area. Naturally we spent more time on the Uncle Edgar's side of the store, but I think we walked to the Uncle Hugo's side because some of our librarian friends were over there.

I've been craving Mexican (other than fast food). I decided to try DoorDash. I tried to use a local Mexican place, but my house was outside the delivery area. (That was apparently the one on the East side rather than the one on the West.) I found Bravo's Mexican Grill available. I ordered the chicken enchiladas suiza. It was not as good as some places. I discovered we also have GrubHub in the area so I can see if additional options are available there. I just don't want to go inside a restaurant, and it's about the only way I can avoid it at the restaurants not offering curbside. Of course, some of these were probably closed when it was curbside only, so I suppose I should be grateful for more options. I'll cook at home tomorrow evening.

Book 129. The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor

Date Completed: 1 June 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review:Years ago I stumbled upon Taylor's short series featuring a "funerary art" expert. I loved the series and looked forward to another book by the author when I saw this one. Unfortunately it didn't work for me quite as well. I loved the characters, but the novel itself just didn't flow that smoothly. Police detective Maggie D'Arcy returns to Ireland to unofficially help Garda detective Roly Byrne investigate a new lead into her cousin's 23-year-old disappearance case. Maggie earned a reputation from some high profile cases. Even though she cannot officially investigate, Roly welcomes her insights into the case he'd worked on years before. The book is well-plotted and keeps the reader guessing with an unexpected twist in the end. I cannot put my finger on exactly what made the novel not flow well for me, but I kept putting it down after reading a few pages for several days. I did read the last half of the novel fairly quickly so the flow problem improved. The book did not contain chapters, but dates and other breaks provided readers with opportunities to easily know where to resume reading. I received an electronic advance copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book 130. Little Bookshop of Murder by Maggie Blackburn

Date Completed: 5 Jun 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Summer returns to the beach town where she grew up and where her mother owned a "beach reads" bookstore. Her mother, a seemingly healthy woman died of an apparent heart attack. Summer begins to suspect one of her mom's friends played a role in her mother's death. Summer left the police detective's son at the altar so he does not take her suspicions seriously. When someone tries to burn the house, the fire chief takes her side. Summer, a literary snob and Shakespeare scholar, despises "beach read" material, so she's not sure what she will do with the bookstore. However, her job security in academia is tenuous so she weighs her options. Summer does give the book club selection a try and surprisingly finds herself enjoying it. Eventually Summer and the police get to the bottom of the investigation. I was disappointed the story line with the fire chief seemed to drop. While the novel is probably not the most plausible piece of literature, it was a fun read in COVID-19 times. I'll probably read the next installment to see if the fire chief makes an appearance or if the story line with him is abandoned completely. I received an electronic advance review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book 131. We Must Be Brave by Frances Liardet

Date Completed: 13 June 2020

Category: Siamese (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Ellen Parr finds a little girl without her mother aboard an evacuee bus. She takes the girl home while a search is made. The Southampton hotel where her mom stayed was bombed, and the mother killed. They begin to search for the girl's father. Ellen and little Pamela bond during that time. The story follows Ellen through time with another girl in the 1970s. The story was not well told. The narrative seemed disjointed, and sometimes the reader wondered whether the current portion was happening in the stated present day or was a reminisce of the past. Ultimately this was not much of a story, and the ending left the reader in the dark. I think the author tried to cover too much and failed miserably. The story of Pamela could have stood on its own and been more fully developed.

Book 132. Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers

Date Completed: 16 June 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Lord Peter goes to the trial of Harriet Vane. Convinced of her innocence in a trial that ending in a mistrial, he works to prove her innocence. He falls in love with her. I enjoyed a good bit of this one, but the one thing I did not like was the Occult element present in the seance. My tolerance for that is rather low, and it greatly marred my opinion of the work itself.I enjoyed the contributions of Miss Climpson and Bunter to this one also.I listened to the version read by Ian Carmichael who also read some of the previous installments.

Book 133. Death at High Tide by Hannah Dennison

Date Completed: 17 June 2020

Category: Maine Coon (Mysteries)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Two sisters head off to a small island in the Scilly Isles when it appears one of them may own the island through a loan default to her husband's estate. Evie, the possible heiress, seems to have a more even personality than her sister Margot who is always name-dropping and drove me nuts. When a couple of deaths occur on the island, it is pretty much a "locked room" mystery because of the tidal changes. Evie, of course, acts stupidly as do many amateur sleuths. The book started very slowly. The murder did not occur until the second half of the book. It began to engage me more after a body was found. In spite of the weaknesses of this first installment, it offers potential as a series. I really liked the blogging cat! I received an electronic advance copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.