Laura (lauralkeet)'s 75 in 2020 - Part 3

I began the year highlighting Philadelphia artists, and I might return to that later, but for now I need some spring blooms.




Welcome to my thread! I'm Laura, late 50s, retired, and living in Philadelphia with my husband Chris, our two dogs, and a cat. We have two adult daughters, Julia and Kate. In 2019 I made the 75-book goal for the first time in years, but I’m here more for the people and book recommendations than for the numbers.

I don’t have any specific reading goals for 2020. I’m in two RL book groups, which obviously has a bearing on what I read each month but other than that, I read what I feel like reading. One of the best things about my 2019 reading was jumping on books recommended by my LT pals, reading them right away rather than putting them off for “someday.” So there will be more of that this year, I’m sure. At the same time, I try to read enough books from my shelves to offset the new ones that come in, but that’s pretty much a lost cause. I also like making steady progress on my series, and staying current with new series releases. I might dip into the odd challenge or group read now and then.

Besides reading, I spend a lot of time knitting and have a knitting thread in the Needlearts group; stop in and say hi sometime!

My 2020 threads can be found here:
Part 1 (books 1-8) | Part 2 (books 9-19)

Books completed (click on “details" to jump to my comments)
April
20. Private Enterprise - details
21. So You Want to Talk About Race - details
22. The Chalk Pit - details
23. Corregidora - details
24. The Library Book - details
25. Fidelity - details
26. Apeirogon - details
27. In the Heat of the Moment - details

May
28. Long Bright River - details
29. The Overstory - details
30. The Salt Eaters - details
31. The Dark Angel - details
32. A Spy Among Friends - details
33. In Harm's Way - details
34. Hid From Our Eyes - details
35. Mudbound - details

Series Progress

Active series as of April 1:

The above snapshot is a view of my active series sorted on the "progress" column.

Series completed/current in 2020:
* In Search of Lost Time - March
* Wolf Hall Trilogy - March

Series started in 2020:
* The Lymond Chronicles, by Dorothy Dunnett
* Love Medicine, by Louise Erdrich

Series abandoned in 2020:
* tbd

Mudbound

And as a long-term read, this Toni Morrison essay collection:



The Source of Self-Regard

Personal Update

Philadelphia has been under a "stay home" order for a couple of weeks, and this order was just extended through April 30. Non-essential businesses are closed. For the most part, we are managing okay. Grocery shopping is problematic, if you don't want to actually go to the store. I'm trying to use pickup or delivery services wherever possible, but the lead times are getting longer. We are in no danger of starving, but it's just so stressful trying to manage supplies.

Our daughters Kate & Julia live in Brooklyn but are now here with us, along with Kate's boyfriend Tyler. All of us self-isolated for 2 weeks before getting together, and now we are isolating again. Isolation/quarantine is the guidance for anyone who has been in NYC, but also is pretty much a consequence of the stay home order. All three are working remotely and we are adjusting to new schedules and rhythms, and trying to stay out of one another's way.

On my last thread I mentioned a couple of long-term reading projects. One of these, a serialized group read of Charles Dickens' Little Dorrit, seems to have fizzled. If it starts up again I'll have some catching up to do, but I'll take that risk. I am also taking a course at the Rosenbach entitled, Blueprints for Healing: Toni Morrison and the Balm of Black Women Writing. We discussed Beloved at our first session in February. The second session was cancelled, and time was added to the third session, scheduled for April 18. I think this one will still take place using Zoom, and we will discuss Alice Walker's Meridian and Gayl Jones' Corregidora.

Fortunately some of my other regular activities have switched to Zoom as well. I'm able to do workouts led by trainers from my gym as often as I want (3x/week is my usual), and both of my monthly book groups and my weekly knitting group are meeting as scheduled.

I'm so glad to have my LT connections during this time, it's always been a lifeline, and now even more so. ❤️

Love the flowers, Laura! All the flower shops in NYC have closed, of course, but at least everything around is in bloom.

Hmmm. I'm your first business, then. I'm here so infrequently that I don't get to check on people I care about. At least I can congratulate you on a new thread, Laura, and wish you good health and happy reading!
I love that you're reading Thirkell. You tempt me, but almost everything I have going is a comfort read, so AMT will have to wait her turn.

Happy new thread, Laura. I like your chart for tracking progress with series. Great idea!

Happy new one, Laura! Hope you all are doing well.

Hi Laura,

We have flowers in our markets -- and people seem to be buying them like crazy since all we have so far are snowdrops and crocii, shivering but brave.

1> Happy new thread!! Thank you for the flowers--I needed that. : )

2> I may try to set up something to track my series, at least the ones I care about -- Nicely done.

>5 vivians: Hi Vivian! We are starting to see blooms around here, too. We've also started watching gardening shows on TV which is soothing.

>6 LizzieD: Peggy, it's always a delight to see you here. I have been lurking over on your thread (actually, lurking on lots of threads), and really need to pipe up now and then.

>7 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, my series tracking chart is a Google spreadsheet with some fancy formatting. I created it when FictFact shut down, and am happy to share it with anyone who would like to adapt for their own use.

>8 katiekrug: Hey Katie! Yeah, we're doing fine, as well as can be expected I s'pose. I'm eagerly checking your thread in hopes a new doggo will appear one of these days.

>9 sibylline: Lucy! I thought of you yesterday, were your ears burning? In Private Enterprise, Angela Thirkell used the word "sybilline."

>10 Berly: Hey Kim, I'm glad you like the flowers. They make me happy, too. And as I mentioned to Reba, I'm happy to share a copy of the spreadsheet. I also know there are others here who enjoy creating spreadsheets and if you are one of them, I wouldn't want to deny you that pleasure. 😀

>11 lauralkeet: Well, any other day I might take you up on the offer of your spreadsheet, but since I have NOTHING going on, I think I may give it a try myself. ; )

>12 Berly: LOL! I thought you might. 😀

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



Vivian and Beth both recently posted photos of their dogs, and I realized how happy pet photos make me, so I thought I'd share one of our two. Woody is a 12-yo Lab/good boy and Alys is a 5-yo terrier mix/she-devil. We also have a Midnight, a 17-yo lady who is very tiny due to thyroid and kidney disease, but still frisky and happy.

>4 lauralkeet: - Just read your update. It must be nice, if a little hectic, to have your girls with you! Yeah, the shopping thing is annoying. The Wayne doesn't mind going to the store, but I'd rather we didn't have to but the delivery options are nearly impossible to get. I mentioned over on my thread that I recently saw that a wholesale distributor in NYC is now taking non-commercial orders and delivering to homes. I assumed it was just a lot of bulk stuff, but The Wayne went online to look and it's not necessarily ridiculous amounts. There is a minimum order of $250, but to have easy access to fresh meat and produce is probably worth it. I think he'll be placing an order this afternoon.

Re: the dog - I need to contact the rescue where Vivian went (she shared their information with me). There seems to be a few good potential doggos there, including one that is explicitly noted to be good with cats and is a lab mix (my favorite). We'll see...

ETa: I just checked and the food distributor also serves Philly. It's www.baldorfood.com if you want to look into it. With 5 people in the house, might be worth it!

>13 lauralkeet: Awwww! So cute!

I have my first series entered. Now I just have to track down the ones I want to keep track of. That could take a while!

>14 katiekrug: that's really interesting, Katie. I've seen Baldor trucks delivering to restaurants around here. I think I've also seen something about a Philly-based wholesaler doing something similar so I may check that out too.

I was really pleased with my first order from Reading Terminal Market; I stocked up on lots of meats and delivery occurred the next day. But today I submitted an order and can't take delivery until Tuesday. I'm ordering from 4 different shops in the market and it could be that one of them is holding things up for some reason, but there was no indication of that so I just sighed and accepted my fate.

More disconcerting is that I filled an Instacart shopping cart intending to pick up at the supermarket, and there are currently NO pickup or delivery times available. This could be due to a labor strike, but Instacart unhelpfully offers no guidance. I'll check again tomorrow. I was expecting some lead time and don't need these items right away but if necessary I can also actually go into the store.

>15 Berly: Go Kim! Spreadsheet queen!

>13 lauralkeet: Your pups are so cute, Laura. Seriously, I am going to end up with a dog if I keep seeing these pictures!

>4 lauralkeet: I imagine you are happy to have your kids close but that it is also a challenge.

I get to pick up groceries tomorrow; I am trying it for the first time. I am anxious to see how the produce is. If I am happy, I may never step into a grocery store again. There was a week lead time. Luckily, I had stuff for a week although I did have to run and get some milk.

Take care.

Hooray for Zoom. I've been meeting my classes on Zoom, and so far they seem to be going OK.

Hi Laura!

Happy new thread. It must be a great relief to have your girls (and one boyfriend) with you and safe out of New York. Good luck with all the delivery programs and food acquisition.

Woody and Alys are adorable - you're right - pet photos make me happy, too.

Happy new thread!

Happy new one!

Must be nice to have your daughters safe at home with you. Just think of all the fun you will have :)

>13 lauralkeet: So cute Laura. Now where's the cat one? Cats are not getting their fair share of photos.

Woo hoo, look at all the visitors! This is so fun. And at Caro's request I've updated >13 lauralkeet: to give equal time to the feline species.

>13 lauralkeet: >22 lauralkeet: Thank you. A little beauty.

Happy new thread! Glad that you are all together and isolating. Sounds like you are making the most of your downtime.

Happy New Thread, Laura.

Wow new threads popping up everywhere. Love the flowers - wish we were further on in the blooming department.

Hi Chelle, Paul, & Sandy. We don't have flowers blooming here yet either, except for daffodils. But it's April, so it won't be much longer.

>13 lauralkeet: Glad to see you give equal time to Midnight. *smile*

Happy New Thread, Laura. Love the spring topper! We are starting to see a little color here and there. Maybe, a couple of sunny days will help. I hope you and the family are safe and sound.

>28 karenmarie: Midnight is a little sweetie, Karen. She keeps to herself to avoid the dogs, but is very affectionate with us.

>29 msf59: We're doing fine, Mark, and adjusting to having a larger household (see >4 lauralkeet: if you want to know more about that).

Lots more food needed, right? We're suddenly a family of 4 again, and I can't believe how much food we go through every day! I'm very grateful that stores are well stocked.

>31 vivians: Oh yes, absolutely, Vivian. Obviously I shopped and cooked for our family for many years, but I'm out of practice. My daughters kindly brought a bunch of stuff with them: perishables like milk and eggs, and other things they thought might be useful like flour, sugar, snacks, and the all-important wine.

Weirdly, where yesterday Instacart had no pickup or delivery slots available whatsoever, today they were offering delivery within 5 hours so I took it. Everything is in such a state of flux.

>11 lauralkeet: Thank you, that's very nice, but I really only follow three series and stay up to date with them. I read Louise Penny as she publishes and Hubby and I listen to Ladies' No 1 Detective Agency and Bruno, Chief of Police in the car as we travel (we may get behind on those this year since who knows if we'll be able to travel!)

Love the pet photos -- I really miss having a dog ... especially lately

Happy new thread, Laura. Love the pet pictures. I would like to have a furry friend to snuggle with these days. I’m sure your peace of mind improved with the return of your daughters. It was nice of them to bring wine and other necessities, including a boyfriend. ;-)

>33 RebaRelishesReading: sounds good, Reba. You're smart to keep your series list short. I started out that way but ended up adding a bunch over time. All thanks to my LT pals.

>34 Donna828: Hi Donna! Fortunately Tyler (the boyfriend) is a gem. And he seems to bring out the best in Kate. So I'm ready to call him a necessity now LOL.

I just had to share this photo my daughter snapped today, of Midnight enjoying a head scritch while in a rainbow. 🌈❤️

Just getting caught up here Laura. None of the rescue places around here have any dogs to adopt at this time. They have been overwhelmed by the unprecedented requests. Hmmmm wonder how I know that lol.

I am supposed to go pick up my Wegmans order between 8:00 and 9:00 tonight. That's after two weeks of trying to get groceries from Wegmans, Whole Foods and another local store. It's just insane. I don't usually buy all that much for myself but some things are vital. And I usually order my coffee (which is absolutely essential) from Amazon so I'll have to see if it's an item that's backlogged or not. So many things I used to take for granted are now impossible. Like taking my grandchildren to the playground down the block from me. Just crazy.

>4 lauralkeet: I'm so glad to have my LT connections during this time, it's always been a lifeline, and now even more so.

Isn't that the truth??

>13 lauralkeet: I love the pictures of your pets!

I hope you and yours stay healthy and safe! Happy new thread!

>37 brenzi: Bonnie, I can relate. I really don't want to go into a grocery store if I can avoid doing so. And yes, some things are absolutely vital. Like coffee! I bought a 5lb bag of LaColombe coffee online before everyone arrived here. I'm glad I did because 5 people go through a lot of coffee!

>38 alcottacre: I'm glad you like the pet photos, Stasia. And I'm not surprised to hear you appreciate LTers as much as I do.

I got a grocery pick up today. My daughter reminded me that I should probably order again because the pick up orders are about a week out. The thing is, with just me, I think I have enough food for two weeks on hand right now, except for milk and yogurt. I will also probably run out of apples.

Stay healthy. Enjoy the together time!

Thanks Beth! I'm glad I'm not the only one trying to figure out how to manage the grocery situation.

>36 lauralkeet: Great shot. Thanks for sharing.

>41 lauralkeet: I'm trying to only go grocery shopping once a week, so will probably go Monday morning. I've told my husband it's crazy for us to both go. We don't have delivery out here at all, and I'm not organized enough for a list to have them pick the stuff for me and bring it out. And I think I'd get depressed at what wouldn't be available. Right now the simple joys are scoring chicken, coffee, and yeast.

No yeast available anywhere around here! My daughter was eager to try bread baking and is sorely disappointed. I'm just relieved that our stores seem to be well stocked with fresh produce (but still no paper goods, beans or pasta).

Oh I am so envious you have your girls home with you!

My own is in Oregon for the duration. She's with a great group of people and has a super safety net too but it's hard hard hard.

They have a geezer hour at our medium-sized local grocery and I go once a week -- so far it's been very very quiet and almost all the women shoppers wear face masks, none of the men and none of the checkout or stockers . . . that will change.

I was checking my pasta situation and realized that I buy pasta thinking I'm out, so my cupboard is well stocked, especially with orzo, quinoa, spaghetti. So, this is a good opportunity to empty my cabinets!

>42 karenmarie: simple joys indeed, Karen, but we'll take 'em won't we?

>43 vivians: no yeast here either, Vivian. My daughter brought a sourdough starter with her, so we are hoping to put that to use. I wanted to make homemade pizza next week and ended up buying frozen pizza dough. And then I forgot to get cheese and sauce. *smacks forehead*

>44 sibylline: I'm sure it's hard to have your daughter so far away, Lucy, but at least you know she's in good hands. Are you able to talk/FaceTime with her regularly? Sadly we about a year under the minimum age for "geezer hour" at our grocery stores; I wonder if they card people or if I could pass? LOL.

>45 BLBera: Oh Beth I'll be interested to see what you cook! I think there's a "Kitchen" thread in this group, right? We should fill that with "what I'm cooking during quarantine" posts.

Wayne just bought a 1 lb block of yeast from that restaurant distributor I mentioned. Looking forward to some fresh bread in my future!

Sounds like you're doing well, Lucy, except of course worrying about LD way out there on the other coast. Stay well.

My new Bon Apètit had a bunch of pasta recipes, so I tried the tagliatelle with peas and prosciutto. Even though I cut it in half, it will be enough for me for the next couple of days.

>47 katiekrug: I'd like to place an order ... 😀

>48 RebaRelishesReading: Yes! What Reba said, Lucy.

>49 BLBera: I dog-eared that page, Beth! I also want to try the Piri Piri meatballs (p. 16).

>46 lauralkeet: and >47 katiekrug: Yeast – a friend found this and she ordered a pound for me, which showed up 2 days earlier than promised: Waffle Pantry Dry Yeast. When I went to the link just now it said it was in stock.

>50 lauralkeet: I am so tempted by that Piri Piri recipe. But finding the right type of peppers is going to be hard.
Our specialty ingredients store is closed.

Does anyone know if regular dried chile peppers would work? Or less gourmet canned ones, if our regular supermarket has that? I have a Piri sauce recipe for shrimp that also uses cilantro, and I've used green canned chile papers in it.

Sandy, if you're referring to the Fresno chili pepper you could substitute a good old fashioned jalapeño or serrano (I've done this before after googling "Fresno chili substitute"). The roasted red peppers are your standard supermarket variety red bell pepper, which our supermarkets carry roasted in jars, BUT you could buy fresh peppers and roast them. It takes more time, but time is one thing we have, amirite?

>53 lauralkeet: I often buy sweet red (Bell) peppers when they're on sale and do a big roast up. It's a bit time consuming, especially skinning, but then I freeze them in small batches. Awesome to use, but nothing like my favourite Antohi Romanium Heirloom peppers. These are mild and sweet and oh so hard to find in the shops here.

I have red Thai dragon peppers (dried) from the Chinese grocery which I crumble for adding 'heat'. But I didn't know for sure how hot the Fresnos were. Thanks for the suggestion. We have those green Serranos in our supermarket (usually) so I'll ask The Man to buy a few if he sees them. He's the household's designated shopper for the duration.

Hi, Laura. Happy Newish Thread.

Lovely spring flowers up top, and it's nice to see your fur pals. Midnight is 17! Impressive. I'm glad she's still happy and frisky. Beautiful photo your daughter took of her rainbowed in >36 lauralkeet:,

>55 SandyAMcPherson: sounds like a plan, Sandy.

>56 jnwelch: Thanks Joe. Midnight is a little sweetie. I do feel like her kidney and thyroid diseases are starting to get the better of her so I'm just trying to keep her happy and comfortable for as long as possible.

>50 lauralkeet: Great minds, Laura.

Have a lovely, peaceful, safe and healthy weekend, Laura

We're finding out, aren't we? My DH did a grocery run this morning - there at 7:00, and that should take care of us for a couple of weeks. Wal-Mart is offering pick-up service, but so far we haven't been able to get a time. I fret that he has to go out at all, but he's more careful and smarter than I am about the physical world, and we do have to eat. So far, so good.
Stay safe and sane, Laura and family!

Thank you, Paul & Peggy!
~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday I finished Angela Thirkell's Private Enterprise; I'll get my thoughts together for a review soon.

So here's what I'm reading now:



So You Want to Talk About Race was an impulse Kindle loan, after our book club discussion about Such a Fun Age. I'm about halfway though and finding it really interesting. I was trying to remember where I'd heard about it here, and I think it was Ellen (@EBT1002). She posted an excellent review on the book page.

Corregidora is for my Toni Morrson/black women writers course, which will meet April 18 over Zoom. I will probably start this today.

Hi Laura, my talk thread was really wonky this morning.
I posted two book reviews and neither "took".

I'm really just saying here, because one was for Lessons in Enchantment (an ER) and I didn't save either of them.
I don't even know for sure whether this remark will actually appear on LT. The touchstones don't seem to be recording either...

I wonder if LT is getting a D of S attack??

I recently read So You Want to Talk About Race as well, Laura. I found the microaggressions chapter particularly powerful. I liked Corregidora as well.

I'll be interested in what you think of your class on Zoom.

>36 lauralkeet: Love the rainbow/kitty photo! Sounds like you are keeping your spirits up during all this.

>61 lauralkeet: Those sounds like awesome books! I just signed up for a Zoom course, too. 6 weeks with a teacher I've had before and i like. Hurray!!

>63 BLBera: I just read that chapter this morning, Beth. I really like her writing style and the way she can make a complex subject easier to understand.

>64 Berly: Yay Kim! What's your course about? I'll wander over to your thread and see if you've posted about it.

20. Private Enterprise ()
Source: On my shelves

Following on the heels of Peace Breaks Out, in this novel the people of Barsetshire are adapting to daily life after World War II. Some semblance of country society is beginning to re-emerge. The arrival of a young widow and her unmarried sister-in-law has everyone abuzz. Single men have their eyes on Mrs Arbuthnot while her sister-in-law is content with settling into their cottage and going birding in the surrounding countryside. As with most of Angela Thirkell’s novels, the reader will immediately begin speculating about who will marry whom and be rewarded with some pleasant surprises by the end. This storyline unfolds amid other developments in the lives of recurring characters. Lydia and Noel Merton, who made their respective debuts in much earlier novels, have now matured into two of my favorites and have prominent roles in this book. Kate Carter, Lavinia Brandon, and the Dean family are all here too. It’s worth noting that Thirkell’s form of satire is sometimes dated and makes me wince, but at other times her send up of English country life is highly amusing. Not much happens, and yet quite a lot happens, and it all turns out well in the end.

>66 lauralkeet: I need to start on these. They sound like good reads during our present crisis.

>67 BLBera: They're fun books, Beth. Just light comedy of manners kind of stuff, with lots of English-ness.

21. So You Want to Talk About Race ()
Source: Library Kindle loan

This is a really important book, which should be required reading for any white person. Ijeoma Olua helped me see my own racism, even as someone who would profess not to be racist at all. Olua defines racism as, "any prejudice against someone because of their race, when those views are reinforced by systems of power." I am racist because I participate in those systems of power and have not taken any action to address the inequities in any aspect of those systems. The operative phrase there is "have not taken any action." Reading this book has inspired me to more closely examine how I could begin to act on what I profess to be my beliefs.

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

That was more of a personal reflection than a review, so I will not be posting it on the book page. The best review I've read comes from our own Ellen (@EBT1002), and can be found here.

I always worry that one day I'll pick up a Thirkell and it will be too dated.

There's an organization in Philadelphia called Youth Service that might interest you. Happy to tell you all I can about my involvement. Wonderful amazing people.

I'll be back in a moment with a link:
HERE

Hi, Laura! I didn't realize that Private Enterprise is the very next one after Peace Breaks Out. I'll be on the lookout for it.
>69 lauralkeet: Your book seems to cover a lot of the same territory as America's Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America, which I read several years ago and discussed with a group of fine people of several races.
Looking forward to your next reading!

Lovely flowers in >1 lauralkeet: Laura. Happy New-ish Thread.

>69 lauralkeet: I am so touched that you liked my review. Thank you for the nod!

>36 lauralkeet: Midnight! ♥️ Oh, and >13 lauralkeet: Woody and Alys and Midnight -- I also love photos of pets.

Like Beth, I'm thinking Thirkell's books sound just right for these times in which we are living.

>70 sibylline: I know what you mean about Thirkell, Lucy. It is dated. For example, sometimes when she writes about women and describes them as silly or frivolous, it's hard to tell if that's what she really thought or if it was satire. I've given her the benefit of the doubt and read it as satire. I have similar feelings about her portrayal of a made-up ethnic group that became more prominent in Barchester during the war years.

And thank you for the link to Youth Services. I will check them out and PM you for more info!

>71 LizzieD: Peggy, I was in a used bookshop recently and was pleasantly surprised to see 4 or 5 Thirkells that I didn't have yet. I limited myself to two: Private Enterprise, which was "next up" for me in the series, and The Old Bank House, which was "next plus 2". I just bought "next plus 1," Love Among the Ruins, on eBay so I now have a couple more Thirkells I can read in order.

>72 EBT1002: Hi Ellen! I'm so glad you enjoyed the photos of our furry friends. I hope you're finding some comfort reads, too.

Morning, Laura. Happy Friday! I hope you and the family are staying safe & healthy. Are you getting out for any walks? Spring migration is beginning to pick up steam, so there should be some interesting birds passing through, or arriving for the summer. I saw my first warblers of the season yesterday.

Hi Mark, happy Friday back at ya. We are all doing fine, thank goodness. Our walks have been limited to dog walks, although we try to take a longer walk with them at least once a day. Our favorite park is reportedly very congested so we've decided not to visit for a while. Sad face.

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

Well, I finished reading Corregidora which is not for the faint of heart, let me tell you. I admit I was forewarned by Katie's review not too long ago. Since I read this for a class session on 4/18, I'm going to wait until after that to write a review.

And now for something completely different: The Chalk Pit, my next Ruth Galloway mystery.

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

Thank you Paul! Happy whatever-you-celebrate to you as well. Thank you for brightening up my thread.

Happy Easter!

Thanks Chelle!

Hello, Laura! I hope you're having a nice Easter weekend. I am glad you have your girls home and that the boyfriend is as wonderful as he is. Marina jokes about being under house arrest, and though we love being together, we do try to carve out our own space. Callia is remaining in Oregon, so >44 sibylline: I feel your pain! That's been the hardest part for me.

Love the photos of the pets!

Hi Anne, our Easter was fine, thanks. We don't celebrate it in a big way so it was pretty much a day like any other for us. I'm glad to see you're managing okay too!

22. The Chalk Pit ()
Source: On my Kindle

In The Chalk Pit, Ruth Galloway is called in to analyze bones found in a development site in Kings Lynn. At the same time, DCI Nelson and his team are investigating a missing person within the homeless community. Then a local woman goes missing, and things get even more serious when a homeless man is found murdered. The investigation goes deep into the challenges faced by the homeless and their support systems.

Alongside the mystery, there are interesting developments in the lives of Ruth and Nelson. They seem to have fallen into a comfortable routine, with Nelson regularly spending time with their daughter Kate as well as his wife and adult daughters. When Ruth’s mother is suddenly hospitalized, Nelson doesn’t hesitate to take Kate for an afternoon. And when Nelson is injured during the climactic chase scene … well, let’s just say Ruth and Nelson have “a moment.” But that’s not all -- the book ends on a cliffhanger with significant implications for Nelson. Bring on the next book!

>82 lauralkeet: - I remember that as being a good one in the series. I really liked the next one. You are almost caught up!

The newest one was supposed to be out this spring, and then it looked like it was released in print but not Kindle but now Amazon shows July as a release date for both versions. Sigh.

>83 katiekrug: Katie, I was really tempted to read the next one (#10, The Dark Angel) right away. But once I'm caught up, that's it, ya know? But I wasn't aware of the change in release date for #12 The Lantern Men. July isn't really *that* far away, but far enough that I could be caught up by then. And now I suddenly want to be! Ack.

>84 lauralkeet: I share your Ack, Laura. I couldn't help myself; I did dive right into The Dark Angel, and no surprise. It's good!

>83 katiekrug:, >84 lauralkeet:, >85 LizzieD: .. I *much* preferred The Stone Circle to Dark Angel.

My new favourite series (Canadian!), are the Lane Winslow mysteries by Iona Whishaw. I have just started Book #2. Very much a strong female protagonist and set in British Columbia in an area where I used to live. Just maybe a wee bit of a bias for my liking the stories, yeah?

>85 LizzieD: I can't say I blame you, Peggy. I'm sure I'll get back to Ruth sooner rather than later.

>86 SandyAMcPherson: sounds like a good one, Sandy. And a perfect reason for you to be drawn to the series as well.

23. Corregidora ()
Source: On my shelves

Corregidora opens with Ursa, a jazz singer, reeling from her partner Mutt’s jealousy-fueled physical abuse. Tadpole, the jazz club owner, bans Mutt from the club and takes Ursa in after she is discharged from the hospital. Through the novel’s non-linear narrative, the reader comes to understand that Ursa is now no longer able to bear children. This weighs on her heavily, and not just for all the obvious reasons. Ursa, her mother, and her grandmother were all born from the sexual predations of an abusive white man named Corregidora. From early childhood Ursa was told she must “produce generations” who would testify about the wrongs done in the past, so their story is never forgotten. Ursa is devastated at not being able to carry out this promise. She is also severely traumatized by Mutt’s abuse, and seeks to put distance between them even as she continues to dwell on their relationship.

This book explores difficult themes of intergenerational trauma, related to relationships and sexuality. Its nonlinear style includes traditional narrative and internal monologue from Ursa as well as her female ancestors. While it often took me a while to figure out who was “speaking,” each of these monologues further developed Ursa’s history and character.

I read Corregidora for a class, and would not have discovered it otherwise. It was an intense and difficult read but ultimately worthwhile.

24. The Library Book ()
Source: On my Kindle

In 1986, the Los Angeles Public Library was destroyed in a fire which was determined to have been caused by arson. The Library Book has been described as an account of the investigation into the fire and a “love letter” to books and libraries. It was indeed both of these things, but it seemed as if Susan Orlean didn’t have enough material to cover either topic in depth. I most enjoyed reading about the history of the Los Angeles Public Library, its leaders over the years, and the many ways it has served the community. I was interested in learning about Harry Peak, the man accused of starting the fire, but ultimately found these sections repetitive. I became downright annoyed whenever Orlean strayed beyond Los Angeles to discuss libraries around the world, or digressed into musings about how much she personally loves libraries. And jumping from one theme to the next felt disjointed. Don’t get me wrong; this was a pleasant read. It just wasn’t especially compelling.

>88 lauralkeet: I definitely enjoyed The Library more than you did Laura. I agree with your favourite bits, as that was what I enjoyed most too, but I quite liked some of the other stuff as well.

I"m glad you found Corregidora worthwhile, Laura. definitely a tough, but important, read.

>89 Caroline_McElwee: Caro, where The Library Book is concerned, I think I'm in the minority if LT reviews are any indication. I read it for my book group which meets in early May. The person who recommended it actually worked in the California library system (but I don't think in LA), and knows some of the people mentioned in the book. So that should make for interesting discussion.

>90 katiekrug: I agree, Katie.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I should have mentioned that my class, Toni Morrison and the Balm of Black Women Writing, met yesterday over Zoom. We met once before in person, and the second session was cancelled due to the pandemic so this was kind of a combined second/third session. We have read Beloved, Meridian, and Corregidora so far. We dwelled a bit more on Corregidora than the other books, but mostly we explored common themes around generational trauma, motherhood, love, sexuality, and healing. It was a deep and sometimes quite personal conversation, surprising given the Zoom aspect and that participants don't know one another well.

I was hoping to learn more about Gayl Jones, who wrote Corregidora. I hadn't been able to find much about her on the internet. From what I've read it seems her marriage may have been abusive -- or at least unhealthy -- and her husband committed suicide during a standoff with police. She is somewhat of a recluse now. I thought perhaps I was clueless about Jones because, as a white woman, I just hadn't encountered her before. But the two instructors were only slightly more informed and said they had discussed a sort of "dream project" where they would be able to uncover some of the mystery and develop a more complete profile. I'm not holding my breath, but if they ever did that, I sure would be interested in the results.

Our last session is in mid-May, where we will discuss The Salt Eaters.

>88 lauralkeet: Great comments on both Corregidora and The Library Book, Laura. I thought Jones' novel was incredibly powerful, but not an easy read, as you point out. I wasn't aware that there is mystery attached to her life. Interesting.

I did enjoy The Library Book more than you did although I agree there were repetitious parts. I would have been happy to see her finish with the Harry Peak story and move on, instead of returning to it. I did love her reminisces about going to the library as a child; I so identified with that.

>92 BLBera: it's funny, Beth. I liked some of her reminiscing too; it brought back memories of similar experiences in my childhood. I've been thinking more about my reactions to the book, and perhaps it was more an issue of structure or editing, the jumping around between themes more than the themes themselves.

I loved this. Very moving.

Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman​ offers words of hope amid coronavirus pandemic

She's 22 years old. Wow. And as an added bonus, this was filmed in the Los Angeles Public Library. Having just read The Library Book, it was nice to get a peek inside the Central Branch building.

Hi Laura, I've had The Library Book on my list forever it seems but it's looking less and less likely that I'll ever get to it. On the other hand, I'll keep Corregidora on the list for a time in the future when a serious book that I SHOULD read will work for me. That time is not right now unfortunately.

>95 brenzi: Hi Bonnie. Corregidora was a tough read, so I understand completely. It's not the right book for this point in time; if it hadn't been required for my class it would have sat on the shelves for quite a while. And as for The Library Book well, you never know -- you might feel differently. Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind.

25. Fidelity ()
Source: On my shelves

When Ruth Holland does the unthinkable and runs away with a married man, her hometown of Freeport buzzes with angry gossip. The fact that she was helped by her dear friend Deane only makes matters worse. Twelve years later Deane, now a physician, returns to Freeport with his new wife Amy. As Amy begins assimilating into Freeport “society,” she pieces together the details of Ruth’s story. She meets Ruth’s best high school friend and the wife of the married man, and aligns herself with “Team Freeport.” When family matters compel Ruth to return home for a visit, Deane suggests Amy visit her, sure that she will see the good in Ruth. Amy wants none of it. And frankly, no one else in town wants to see Ruth, either.

Ruth’s visit to Freeport is filled with sadness, but also a degree of healing that strengthens her and changes her world view. Her reappearance also has a ripple effect on Ruth’s siblings, on Deane, and even on some townspeople. Susan Glaspell’s depiction of petty small-town society caught up in the moral constraints of the early 20th century is spot on, and her resolution of Ruth’s central conflict is unconventional and brilliant. Highly recommended.

Ooh, a Persephone to add to the list! I recently started collecting these. I've only read a few but have liked them all. I'm reading The Priory by Dorothy Whipple currently.

>98 japaul22: Ooh back at ya Jennifer! I will watch for your thoughts on The Priory. It's now the only unread Persephone left on my shelves. I've read Someone at a Distance and Greenbanks and enjoyed both.

Hi Laura, I enjoyed your thoughts on the recent books read.
I think Corregidora is not for me, but your comments made for some thoughtful insights.

As for The Library Book, I would agree with your rating (which is cheeky 'cause I haven't read it). In my reading life, I am seriously dismayed when an author jumps around, derailing their theme and speculating outside the boundaries of what's known. I mean, she wasn't writing fantasy for goodness sakes!

The saga with Ruth Holland sounds interesting. As you point out, petty small-town society had moral constraints that I often still see in small towns (or hear about from escapées to larger centres). I'm tempted by the story because you wrote that intriguing final description: "resolution of Ruth’s central conflict is unconventional and brilliant".

>100 SandyAMcPherson: heh heh heh I'm glad you were enticed by my little teaser, Sandy. During the last half of the book I started to wonder how Glaspell would resolve the various plot threads and was pleased that she didn't use any of the predictable tropes from early 20th century writing and instead wrote an ending worthy of a feminist-y high five.

Fidelity sounds great, Laura. I've only read Glaspell's play. In fact, I'm reading student essays on "Trifles" right now. I'm sure I would like this one. Onto the WL it goes!

>102 BLBera: Beth, Fidelity was my introduction to Glaspell. I just looked up Trifles, and hoo boy, what an interesting plot:

Written by Susan Glaspell in 1916, Trifles is a one-act play about a woman accused of strangling her husband. Based on an actual murder case reported by Glaspell for the Des Moines News, the play represented an early exploration of gender relationships in a time when women often were considered to be mere trifles. A groundbreaking feminist play, Trifles is often included in anthologies of drama and literature.

I can imagine some interesting essay prompts stemming from that!

Thanks Laura - Susan Glaspell is a new author for me...so I'm adding her to the list. I just read of her connection to Provincetown, MA - a place I love!

Well if we weren't in the middle of a pandemic I'd be ordering Fidelity from Abe books as we speak but in the present circumstances I'm not looking for used, well, anything. I'll keep it in mind for the future though Laura because it sounds good.

>97 lauralkeet: I have that one on my shelves! Now I want to read it sooner rather than later.

Your zoom class on Toni Morrison sounds wonderful and fascinating.

Keep taking good care, Laura.

Hi there Vivian, Bonnie & Ellen! Looks like my review of Fidelity served its purpose LOL. And for anyone concerned about buying used, I'm sure that Persephone Books or The Book Depository would welcome your support. 😀

Further to the used book concerns, reliable data indicated that the SARS-CoV-2 (aka "covid-19") virus is not viable on cardboard and paper after 24-h.

>108 SandyAMcPherson: Thanks Sandy!

Ok I know that. I still am not presently handling used books or anything used. I'll get it at some point Laura.

I'm sure you will, Bonnie!

26. Apeirogon ()
Source: Kindle library loan

An apeirogon is an “infinite polygon,” a geometric shape with a countably infinite number of sides. It’s an apt metaphor for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict behind the deaths of two young girls, Smadar Elhanan and Abir Aramin. Smadar was killed in a suicide bombing; Abir was shot by an Israeli soldier a decade later. Although Apeirogon is a novel, Smadar and Abir were once living, breathing girls with bright futures ahead of them. Their fathers, Rami (an Israeli Jew) and Bassam (a Palestinian Muslim), met through the activist group Combatants for Peace. Their experience as grieving fathers led to a close friendship, and later the two men were frequently invited to share their stories with civic groups and political leaders.

Apeirogon’s unique structure effectively imitates the “countably infinite” sides of a complex political issue. The novel is made up of 1001 very short chapters, numbered from 1 to 500, and then from 500 to 1. Each Chapter 500 is one man’s account of their loss and subsequent activism, taken directly from published texts. Chapter 1001, actually an ending of sorts, is placed in between these two accounts. Other chapters introduce topics which seem random at first, but soon coalesce and become meaningful. While some of these tangents worked better than others, overall the book helped me examine the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in new ways that were both thought provoking and moving.

Hi Laura!

>97 lauralkeet: Sounds fascinating, so imagine my delight when I checked it on Amazon just now and found that the Kindle version was free! Downloaded and added to my catalog. Thanks for the BB.

>113 karenmarie: oh wow, what a deal! Way to go, Karen.

>113 karenmarie: - Thanks for that tip, Karen! I've "bought" myself a copy :)

Hi Laura!

>113 karenmarie: Free you say....

>116 brenzi: heh heh heh I almost left you a PM about this deal, Bonnie!

27. In the Heat of the Moment ()
Source: On my Kindle.

It’s a crowded midsummer weekend on Sandhamn as partygoers flock from the city to Stockholm’s archipelago. A teenage boy is found dead, and the investigation focuses on the friends who were with him that weekend, many of whom were too drunk to have even been aware of what was happening around them. It’s a challenge for the investigative team, and made more difficult when it looks like a member of law enforcement may have been involved in some way.

This was a solid entry in the Sandhamn murder series featuring investigators Thomas Andreasson and Margit Grankvist, and Thomas’ friend, Nora Linde. Nora’s involvement in the investigation is minimal and even her personal storyline takes a back seat in this novel, but there were still some interesting developments in her life as well as Thomas’, which I’m sure will continue to evolve in the next book.

The Rosenbach, a Philadelphia library and rare book collection, has gone virtual with some of its programming. The event below is the first to showcase some of the objects in their collection. It's free, but registration is required. It looks like more "behind the bookcase" tours will be offered the third Thursday of each month. Here are the details in case anyone is interested!

The Modern Emily Dickinson: the Anti-Belle of Amherst
Thursday, April 30
12:30-1:30pm US EDT
In honor of National Poetry Month, our April program will feature two letters written by Emily Dickinson. The Belle of Amherst. The vulnerable recluse who lived a life of quiet passion. The Emily Dickinson of public imagination for a century was confined to the decorous hall of The Nineteenth Century Poetess. She could be a little eccentric, but never improper. However, Emily was far more audacious and lively, a woman whose adventurous art and challenging ideas continue to resonate today. We‘ll look at letters in her own hand learn how her first editors reshaped her poetry to fit their own conceptions. We’ll explore the myth of the Belle and give voice to the Modern Emily.

>119 lauralkeet: Thanks for sharing this, Laura. It looks good.

>122 lauralkeet: Sounds interesting Laura, adding to the infinite list.

>120 BLBera: If you are able to join Beth, I'd love to hear more about it afterwards.

>121 Caroline_McElwee: I think you meant >112 lauralkeet: right, Caro? In any case, I'm always happy to contribute to your TBR pile.

>118 lauralkeet: Oh God, when am I going to start this series I wonder. I'm currently reading a book I purchased for my Kindle in 2015 so it might take awhile to get to this series Laura.

>123 brenzi: ha ha Bonnie, I know the feeling, although I've definitely been reading more books that I already own than I usually do (paper and digital). I'm thinking one of these days I'll buy a few more books as a reward for all of my hard work. 😀

>112 lauralkeet: Excellent synopsis for Apeirogon.
I think it is worth an up-thumb. Thanks for sharing. Yes, added it to my offline WL.

>125 SandyAMcPherson: Thanks Sandy!

>124 lauralkeet: Just two days ago I thought I might buy a few more books and ... well ... I managed to do so today. Harriett's Bookshop, the new indie bookstore a couple of blocks away, had a sidewalk sale today. All books half price! The books were on a table outside the shop with a sign posted about how to pay for them (Venmo, Paypal, etc.). Just inside the shop were a couple of staffers you could text with questions. My daughters and I went over and I bought a couple of books for them and a couple for me: Long Bright River and Sula. Did I mention they were half price?! I added a little extra to my Venmo payment as a thank-you.

>127 lauralkeet: - I love the idea of the sidewalk sale! Our local indie is doing great with phone and internet orders and setting them outside for people to pick up, but a short browse would be nice :)

I loved Sula. It might be my favorite Morrison so far... And I really want to read Long Bright River. Enjoy!

Thanks Katie! She had a kind of limited selection on the table, but that proved not to be a problem LOL. I had seen Long Bright River in a window display recently so I was happy to see a copy (just one!) and snapped it right up. She also had Morrison's book of essays, which I'm currently reading, as well as Song of Solomon. I read that ages ago so I thought I'd get Sula, which I haven't read. I'm glad to see it's one of your faves.

I suspect I won't be able to resist Long Bright River. Like, maybe I'll read it next.

I read Long Bright River and really liked it but I never reviewed it because.....fill in the blank. Oh well, I hope you enjoy it Laura.

>130 brenzi: Bonnie, sometimes that happens to me, too. There are lots of valid reasons not to write a review.

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



The Salt Eaters | Long Bright River

Okay, so. I've been reading (or trying to read) The Salt Eaters for several days. It's not a long novel, less than 300 pages, but I'm finding it a struggle. I'm reading it for my Rosenbach course, and if it weren't for that I would have just DNF'd it and moved on. I cannot figure out what's actually happening and how the characters connect, let alone any deeper messages that lie buried within. There are only three reviews posted, one of which is by Richard (@richardderus) and was helpful in validating my feelings about this book. I'll try to finish it, just reading more slowly, and hopefully I'll get more insights when my class meets on May 16.

So as an antidote and in hopes of a better reading experience, I started Long Bright River at bedtime last night. So far, so good.

My book club is discussing Sula this week. I hope to start it this afternoon.

>132 BLBera: nice! I'm not sure when I'll get to it, but after reading Beloved recently I decided I needed more Morrison in my life. I started The Source of Self-Regard the other day, as a long-term read (an essay or two a day). I bought it after reading a New York Times review shortly after it was published, but then it sat on the shelves for a while.

Beth, if I remember correctly you read this Morrison collection not too long ago ...

>112 lauralkeet: Excellent review of Apeirogon, Laura. I'm adding it to my wish list. I've really liked the McCann works I've read, especially Let the Great World Spin.

>127 lauralkeet: Yay for sidewalk book sales! So interesting how they set that up so folks could participate safely. I think you live in an awesome neighborhood.

Long Bright River looks interesting -- and set in your fine city. I wish a good author would start a new series set in Seattle. It won't be me! LOL

>133 lauralkeet: I'm anxious to hear what you think of The Source of Self-Regard. I've been working on it for several weeks now. I told myself "an essay a day" but then I ended up taking a week or more off to rest! I'm nearing the end but I've found it a real challenge.

>134 EBT1002: I think you'd like Apeirogon, Ellen. Like you I enjoyed Let the Great World Spin.

Long Bright River is quite interesting so far. It is set in one of the "less fine" areas of the city, where the effects of the opioid epidemic are especially evident. It's not that far from where we live, either, just not on routes we routinely travel.

>135 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, I had the same "essay (maybe 2) a day" intention. I had a 2-day streak going and took today off LOL. They're quite good, but also heavy stuff.

I did read The Source of Self-Regard; as in all essay collection, I liked some more than others. I have read most of Morrison's work, but Sula is one I missed. I am loving it so far. It's a lot easier than Beloved.

>137 BLBera: I think you said you found the second half of The Source of Self-Regard easier than the first half, is that right? I certainly agree. I'm now 5 or 6 short essays from the end. I'm glad I've read it but it wasn't easy.

>137 BLBera: I'm glad to hear good things about Sula, Beth. I went on a Morrison reading jag several years back, which has been rekindled by re-reading Beloved.

>138 RebaRelishesReading: Good to know, Reba. I will keep that in mind when my energy/attention flags.

>69 lauralkeet: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Laura!

>82 lauralkeet: I need to read that series. I think I own the first book. I just need to locate it.

>88 lauralkeet: I agree with you about The Library Book. I ended up disappointed in that read.

>97 lauralkeet: Adding that one to the BlackHole.

>112 lauralkeet: That one is on my 'I need to get to it soon' list. Glad to see you enjoyed it.

>140 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! Thanks for all the comments, and I'm glad I managed to add to your TBR.

My book group met today to discuss The Library Book. I was definitely in the minority, as many absolutely loved it. I held back on my comments but towards the end two of us spoke up about some aspects that didn't work so well for us. However, by that time I had also come to the conclusion that it's one of those books that has "something for everyone," and just because I didn't like the author's diversions into some areas doesn't make it a bad book.

One of our book club members worked in the California library system in the 1980s. She was in northern CA, not Los Angeles, but the systems worked together in a number of ways. She contributed tons of insight and anecdotes. We also talked a lot about the various roles libraries play, whether that's serving the community's children or being a place for people who have no place to go. It was one of our "chattier" book club meetings, and a nice way to spend part of the afternoon.

>141 lauralkeet: I often find my book group helps me reframe some of my thoughts about a book Laura. Often I will discover things I missed, as I was perhaps more interested in a different character or aspect of the book. Having multiple minds generally expands my feeling about a book. I've been attending my group for about 11 years now, and in that time only two books got an almost total thumbs down. One was by Victoria Hislop (not our usual kind of read), and can't remember the other now.

>142 Caroline_McElwee: Having multiple minds generally expands my feeling about a book.
I couldn't agree more, Caro. That often happens to me too. I love hearing each person's take-always on a book, especially when it's something that completely escaped my notice.

Hi Laura!

Our book club decided to delay our schedule until at least the fall. Some of us don't have good internet at the house, some of us rely on paper library books, and it just seemed like Too Much. I'm glad your group got together (zoom? gotomeeting? other?) and had a fun and productive meeting.

>144 karenmarie: Karen, I'm sorry your book group is on hold, but those are some very valid reasons. Both of my book groups are using Zoom as is my knitting group. So far lack of library access hasn't stopped us, but I wonder. People may be willing to buy a book or two but the longer the libraries remain closed, the more likely it will become a factor for us. I could see it affecting book selection first -- like, we would start choosing titles that the library has in digital editions, but most likely less recent works without long hold queues. We'll see.

>141 lauralkeet: This sounds like a great conversation, Laura. I might recommend this book for my book club.

>146 BLBera: It's a great book club book, Beth. What reader doesn't like books about books, right?

28. Long Bright River ()
Source: On my shelves, a recent purchase

Mickey Fitzpatrick grew up in Philadelphia and became a police officer in Kensington, one of the city neighborhoods most affected by the opioid epidemic. Mickey and her sister Kacey were raised by their grandmother after both of their parents became caught in the web of addiction. Now Kacey is also battling addiction, and she and Mickey are no longer on speaking terms. But when a series of young women are found murdered and Kacey disappears, Mickey puts her life and career at risk to find both the killer and her sister.

What follows is an excellent police procedural coupled with a deep dive into Mickey’s life story. The characters, from police officers to dealers and prostitutes, are realistic, complex human beings just trying to get through the day. I found myself pulling for Mickey, as she came to terms with her past, present, and future. While the crime appeared straightforward at first, the resolution was far from predictable. And then there’s Philadelphia, which is like a character unto itself and, as with the human characters, is accurate and realistically drawn.

I zipped through this book’s 470 pages in just a couple of days. It’s a cracking good read.

>148 lauralkeet: I can't wait to get my hands on this one, Laura!

>148 lauralkeet: - You've halfway convinced me to just buy a copy instead of waiting for it from the library.... :)

>149 BLBera: it's a good one, Beth.

>150 katiekrug: Katie, our library hold list was soooo long that I knew it would be forever. I was pondering my options when lo and behold, last weekend the new indie bookstore up the street had that sidewalk sale I mentioned up in >127 lauralkeet:. It's hard to argue with half price, especially on a hardcover edition. SOLD!

Long Bright River was just added to my library cue, thanks! I only lived in Philly for 2 years, but it's near and dear to my heart so I'm glad to know she gets it right.

>152 japaul22: Jennifer, we used to live out in the Chester County suburbs but have lived in Fishtown for about 2.5 years. Which, as you know, is adjacent to Kensington so while our neighborhood is gentrifying and I don't "experience" Kensington first hand, there are certain parts of our neighborhood -- like the subway stop -- where the effects of the epidemic are evident. It's very sad. And Moore gets that part right, as well as her depiction of certain aspects of gentrified neighborhoods.

>153 lauralkeet: My husband, then boyfriend, lived in an apartment building on Sansom and 13th in 2002. Philadelphia has changed a lot since then. When he lived there, that side of Broad was still just affordable for a grad student. When I moved there too to go to school at Temple we lived way up in Mayfair, a VERY blue collar neighborhood, where we could rent a whole house for $720 a month (and we had a roommate to split 3 ways!). When we were there in the early 2000s, Fishtown was still pretty rough but it was already talked about as an up and coming neighborhood.

>154 japaul22: That's interesting, Jennifer! We've lived in this region since the mid-80s and yes, the city has changed a lot. Development has not always been well received, especially as rent increases have driven people out of neighborhoods that were once affordable ($720 -- wow!), and changed the demographics as young professionals moved in amongst long-time working class residents. It's complicated.

>155 lauralkeet: it is complicated. We lived in Southeast DC for 9 years and saw a lot of the same issues you’re talking about. Gentrification changes a neighborhood “for the better” on the surface but often pushes out long time residents and can change the character and community, not always for the better in the opinion of those who lived there first! We lived in a successful co-op that replaced projects where residents paid monthly rent based on their income. The two blocks of houses isn’t enough, though, to provide affordable housing for the many who need it.

Good review of Long Bright River, Laura. I am so glad you loved it. Maybe, you can spark a couple more visitors to read this terrific crime novel.

>156 japaul22: exactly, Jennifer.

>157 msf59: I hope so too, Mark. Thanks again for warbling so vociferously about Long Bright River.

>148 lauralkeet: well there's the rare book that you liked even more than me Laura. I would guess that's because you could relate to the neighborhood more than I could. That said, I did enjoy the book too.

Hi Bonnie! You're probably right that the setting had a big impact on my impression of the book. In some small way, she helped me better understand the lives of those who live on Kensington's streets. We see the fringes of that community in our neighborhood as well.

Mother's Day flowers from my daughters. The card says, “One day you will have your house back.” Ha! But seriously, it's been so nice to have them here. It's made all of this pandemic isolation tolerable.

I hope you have a great day, Laura. I would love to have my kiddies here, knowing of course, that it would be temporary.

Hi Beth & Paul, thanks for stopping by today. It's been a quiet Mother's Day but the first in a long time that we've all been together so that was very nice.

29. The Overstory ()
Source: On my Kindle

Not really a review: The Overstory started out strong, introducing nine characters through a series of short life stories. I was engaged and interested to see how their lives would interconnect. All became involved, in various ways, in the appreciation and preservation of trees. But I found the narrative difficult to follow in some places. Individual storylines would pause on a cliffhanger, resuming the tale many pages later. I found it difficult to retain the details and with no marker, such as a chapter break, I couldn’t easily flip back to refresh my memory. And while this book’s messages of environmentalism and the effects of climate change are extremely important, I found its heavy-handedness a little hard to take.

>165 lauralkeet: I enjoyed this one a lot more than you Laura, but I think it was the writing, and some of the characters, and the photographing of the tree, loved that idea.

I do agree in the last quarter maybe it got less subtle, and that part became a bit laboured and long. But on the whole I suspect I'll reread it in time.

>166 Caroline_McElwee: Well Caro, I certainly connected with some characters more than others. I too liked the photographing of the tree, and the way Nick returned to the farm years later to get the book back. I was also touched by the story of Ray and Dorothy. Not so much at first, but the way their relationship evolved after Ray's stroke.

Hi Laura!

Lovely Mother's Day flowers.

>165 lauralkeet: Confirms my opinion that I wouldn't like this book.

>168 karenmarie: *takes a bow*
My work is done.

Hi Karen!

I skimmed over your comments on The Overstory, Laura, as my book club is reading it in June. Then, I'll revisit your comments.

>170 BLBera: I look forward to your thoughts, Beth.

30. The Salt Eaters (DNF)
Source: On my shelves

The Salt Eaters was the fourth and final book for the “Toni Morrison & the Balm of Black Women Writing” course. The central theme concerns a young woman, Velma, who is participating in a healing ritual after a suicide attempt. Her healer, Minnie Ransom, is a memorable character. But the writing is experimental in style and moves among various characters and scenes in a very free-flowing way. Put another way, most of the time I couldn’t figure out what was going on or how the characters related to one another. I really struggled with it and gave up about halfway through. It turns out I was not alone: even the instructor admitted it took her four tries, over many years, to finally finish the book. Despite that, we had interesting discussion about the book, the writing, the themes of healing that ran through all four books that we read (the other three were Beloved, Meridian, and Corregidora), and how Toni Morrison influenced each author’s work.

I really enjoyed the course, and it has inspired me to start a “Toni Morrison Catch Up” project, to read all of her novels that I haven’t read yet, in order of publication. The books I plan to read are in bold. I have the first two on my shelves so I’m ready to go.

The Bluest Eye, 1970
Sula, 1973
Song of Solomon 1977 (read in 2005)
Tar Baby, 1981
Beloved, 1987 (read in 2020, this was a re-read)
Jazz, 1992
Paradise, 1997 (read in the 1990s, plan to re-read)
Love, 2003 (read in 2005)
A Mercy 2008 (read in 2009)
Home, 2012
God Help the Child, 2015

31. The Dark Angel ()
Source: On my Kindle

The tenth Ruth Galloway mystery finds Ruth and friends in Italy at the request of a local archaeologist. A priest is found dead, and because Ruth is one of two people who found the body, she becomes involved in the investigation. But the crime is secondary to events playing out in the lives of Ruth and DCI Harry Nelson. I can’t say much at all about this without spoilers. While the book’s ending was probably “necessary” from the author’s point of view, it was a very emotional plot development for the reader.

Hi Laura: I haven't read either Tar Baby or Jazz, so let me know when you are thinking you'll read them. Maybe a joint read?

>174 BLBera: what a nice idea, Beth! I'll keep you posted.

>165 lauralkeet: oophhh! Well ok then. Moving on....

>172 lauralkeet: oh boy! Ok well .....

>173 lauralkeet: Comfort read, thank God lol

I read Jazz at some point in time before LT Laura and it wasn't my favorite Morrison. I loved Beloved and Song of Solomon.

>176 brenzi: ha ha ha I love your reactions there Bonnie. Ruth Galloway was just what I needed after two so-so / difficult books. And today I started reading A Spy Among Friends which is lively and interesting, so all is right in my reading world now.

>173 lauralkeet: I hadn't realised that aspect of The Dark Angel, the book’s ending was probably “necessary” from the author’s point of view. Thanks for the observation.
I was overly miffed with "that" plot development, but I hadn't considered ~ Griffiths had written herself into a difficult plot situation that she likely didn't want to carry forward in the future of the two main families, a theme that couldn't be maintained otherwise. Or so I'm surmising. I enjoyed the next story (The Stone Circle) though.

>177 lauralkeet: I had A Spy Among Friends requested when the libraries shut. I'll look forward to your review. I've no idea where I'll be in the hold wait time once we can borrow physical books again.

>178 SandyAMcPherson: Your spoilery comment is exactly what I was thinking, Sandy. I have two books left in the series, but reached the end of the ones I currently own. That is a problem easily solved ha ha, but I'm going to try to hold off for a little bit.

32. A Spy Among Friends ()
Source: On my shelves

Kim Philby began his career as a British spy during World War II and rose to the highest levels of the service during the Cold War, all the time working as a double agent for the Soviet Union. He was a master at doing his “official” job well enough to avoid suspicion, while all the time passing secrets to the USSR. A fun-loving man who made friends easily, Philby was quick to use those friendships for personal gain, most notably his relationship with Nick Elliott, who defended his best friend Philby until the bitter end. A Spy Among Friends describes Philby’s rise within MI6, his turbulent personal life, and his inevitable fall. The book reads like a spy thriller, and I zipped through it in just a few days. I had to keep reminding myself that the people and events are real, especially since Philby’s actions carried a significant human cost. This was also an interesting look inside the British intelligence system, and the way in which class and culture formed and sustained it through the years. It’s a great read.

Have enjoyed rambling through your thread!

Hard to know where to start responses. Too bad the Orleans was a bit disappointing. I imagine it might be a nice listen? While knitting?

I am envious that your knitters and your book group have gone on line. My knitters did set up an email group and we post pix of what we're doing now and then, but my book group has fallen apart. Our host runs a small bookstore and I think she was overwhelmed and none of us felt quite like we should pick up the ball or something? About half in the group are not just elderly, but have serious issues, the rest of us vary and we have some wonderful young members too.

Here I am trapped in bed, might be a good time to take charge, eh? Stay tuned.

Love the bouquet. I am so envious! I have my shawl from E. around my shoulders right now and that helps.

Hope you're doing OK, healing well and not in pain!

I've been thinking about seeing if my knitting group wants to do a Zoom get-together. I really miss our chats. I'm sort-of in charge so if anything is going to happen I'm pretty sure it's up to me.

>181 sibylline: Hi Lucy! I'm so glad you paid me a visit during your convalescence. 😀 When my book group discussed The Library Book, most people absolutely loved it. So I really think I might be in the minority. I say give it a listen and see what you think, and yes absolutely listen while knitting. And while wearing that beautiful shawl.

>182 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, we're all doing well here. So far we've managed to stay healthy. My daughters have been with us for about two months but will be back in NYC within the coming week. It's been wonderful to have them here, but I think all of us are ready to be on our own again too.

Definitely give Zoom a try for your knitting group! I've found we actually need to have an intentional "show and tell" during our gatherings because whatever people are working on usually isn't visible on camera. But it's great to stay connected with knitting friends during this isolation period, and I really enjoy chatting while knitting as long as I'm not working on anything too complicated.

Some interesting news for Louise Penny / Inspector Gamache fans:
'The Crown’ Producer Left Bank Adapting Bestselling Inspector Gamache Books In First Series For Amazon

No mention of any cast members yet though ...

At this time of the end of Ramadan I want to give thanks for your friendship in this wonderful group, Laura

Enjoy the long weekend.

Thank you very much Paul!

>184 lauralkeet: Yes! That is if they do a decent job...

I know what you mean Beth. I always worry whether an adaptation will reflect how I've imagined the characters.

33. In Harm’s Way ()
Source: On my Kindle

In the sixth Sandhamn book, journalist Jeannette Thiels books a last-minute room in a hotel on Christmas Eve, and is found dead the next day. Investigators Thomas Andreasson and Margit Grankvist are puzzled by the case. Why was she at the hotel, instead of spending the holiday with family or friends? How did she die? Her estranged husband is a likely suspect, but Jeannette’s work, reporting on far right anti-immigration groups, might have made her a target. The investigation leaves no stone unturned and had enough twists to keep me guessing up to the end. Meanwhile, Thomas’ friend Nora finds herself in a career crisis after uncovering corruption in a merger deal. In these books, Nora usually has little to do with solving the crime, but her storyline adds nice depth to the series. And of course there’s always a little cliffhanger that piques my interest in the next book ...

Hi, Laura! I hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend and getting out for a stroll or two. Our weather is finally warming up. It will be high 80s here today. I also loved A Spy Among Friends. Possibly my favorite Macintyre.

>190 msf59: Hey there Mark! We're having a nice relaxing weekend here. Hoping to fire up the grill later today. A Spy Among Friends was my first Macintyre and now I just might need to read more. Enjoy your holiday!

I'm in comfort reading territory with my current book:



Hid From Our Eyes is book 9 in Julia Spencer-Fleming's Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series, set in a small town in New York State's Adirondacks region. Fans have been waiting a while for this installment; the previous book was published 7 years ago. Spencer-Fleming has been through some difficult times, including the loss of her husband. I'm so glad she's back.

Linda (@laytonwoman3rd) inspired me to start this series waaaay back in 2009. We were swapping books at an LT meetup, and I firmly stated that I didn't read series because I found them formulaic and predictable. Linda deftly retrieved the first book, In the Bleak Midwinter, from the book box and foisted it upon me. Her description of the series, with its crime-solving duo of an Episcopal priest and a small town police chief, sounded appealing and somehow more intelligent than other series I had tried. So I now credit Linda, and this series, for turning me into a series reader.

As I settled into this book last night I found myself quickly reconnecting with the characters, and I was instantly drawn into the mystery. I can't wait to get deeper into this one today.

Hi Laura - I'm glad to see a new entry in this series. I've read the first five, but without Fictfact (what a loss) I never would have known about it. Right now I'm keeping track of series manually, although I suppose a spreadsheet would be more efficient. I think you posted your version on one of your threads and it looked great.

>192 lauralkeet: I like the sound of this series, too, Laura

A series BB, for sure. ~ Thanks for the nice write-up.

>193 vivians: Hi Vivian! Hope you are having a nice holiday weekend. Yes, I've been using a spreadsheet to track my series (there's a screenshot in >2 lauralkeet:), which is helpful to know how many books I've read. But I miss the way FictFact would alert me to new releases. Someone around here mentioned "following" authors on Amazon, which means you'll receive emails about new books by that author. Search for the author and click on their page, and you'll see a "Follow" button right below their profile pic.

>194 SandyAMcPherson: Looks like we cross-posted, Sandy! I love your "BB" cartoon. Ha!

>193 vivians: Hi Vivian. I saw you were lamenting about the loss of Fictfact.

I'm using Book Series in Order.
The website is pretty efficient with keeping up new additions. Maybe you will find it helpful.

>188 lauralkeet: And, of course, we know that the book is always better...:)

You are so right, Beth. I can't think of many (any?) times I've felt the screen adaptation was better than the book.

>198 lauralkeet: I'm one of the perhaps few (?) that much preferred the film of Neil Gaiman's Stardust.
Not that I dispute the sentiment (the book was better). I think Stardust and The Graduate are the only exceptions for me.

Well now that you mention it, Sandy, I've enjoyed plenty of movies where I didn't read the book first and couldn't really tell you whether the book was better. I loved The Graduate (movie), but never read the book.

Laura! Somehow I never starred your thread this year. Yikes! I knew I was missing someone. I'm glad to hear you and Chris and the girls are ok in this weird time.

Thanks for all your great book comments. You've been reading some really significant writing. I'll probably sneak back to look at your first two threads and pick up some crumbs.

I'm a couple of books behind in the Julia Spencer-Fleming series, and can't even blame the loss of FictFact since I never used it. Some time earlier this year I acquired the first Viveca Sten title, but it too languishes. More series are also in abeyance at the moment - restlessness has cut into my reading. But there's time to catch up, isn't there?

Happy to drop that star, even though it's almost midway through the year.

>180 lauralkeet: I loved A Spy Among Friends, Laura. Maybe try Agent Zigzag next. It is so outlandish it is hard to believe it is true.

>201 ffortsa: hi there Judy! I'm glad you stopped by, and don't worry, it's not like I've been sitting over here holding a grudge LOL. It's funny that you've not been drawn to your series lately. For me they have been comfort reads that I can get lost in, and don't have to think too hard. But of course whatever works for you is great!

>202 NanaCC: Thanks for the recommendation, Colleen. I put it on my library reading list (that's where I keep track of books that catch my eye, that I want to get to someday).

The two movies that were great adaptations for me are To Kill a Mockingbird and Gone with the Wind.

Hi, Laura. Good review of A Spy Among Friends - that's the best of the Macintyre books I've read, and they're all good.

Like Caroline, I liked The Overstory a lot more than you did, but I can understand what you're saying. It's got me wanting to learn more about trees and how they communicate.

Go Ruth Galloway! I can't wait for a new one to come out.

>204 BLBera: I like TKAM, Beth, but I'm right there with you on GWTW.

>205 jnwelch: Hi Joe! I'm psyched to have found a new author to explore. And I've been thinking a lot about The Overstory. It's one of those books I really, really expected to enjoy. I wonder if it just wasn't the right book for me at a time when I'm better off reading faster-paced escapist stuff or slow, quiet comfort reads.

Hi Laura!

Funny, I love the book of TKaM, but had to stop watching the movie. I thought it was just too ... something. Cute? Stripped of grit? Whatever. I think I could watch GWTW again, though.

34. Hid From Our Eyes ()
Source: On my Kindle

Fans of Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne have waited a long time for this book, and I was worried it might be difficult to reconnect, or the book wouldn’t live up to previous books in the series. Well, I had no need to worry. I dropped into the town of Millers Kill, NY like I’d never left, and there were Clare and Russ acting for all the world as if time hadn’t passed them by, either. Julia Spencer-Fleming gave just enough detail to remind me how things stood for the pair, which would also be sufficient for anyone new to the series (but if that’s you, it’s still best to start at the beginning). And then she laid out a straightforward crime scene, made immediately more complicated by its uncanny similarity to unsolved crimes from 1972 and 1952.

And as with any good mystery series, the crime is only part of the story. The local police force is threatened by a referendum In the next election, just a few months away. Russ has to schmooze with voters and community leaders to convince them to vote “no,” while also taking care of his team, which has its own share of internal drama. Clare is recovering from a nearly catastrophic personal situation, and is also struggling to balance work and family demands. While the mystery is solved in a satisfying way, there’s more than one cliffhanger that has me hoping the next book isn’t too far off.

Sweet Thursday, Laura. I finally started Such a Fun Age. I know you are a fan and I am enjoying it, in the early going. It is working well on audio too.

>209 msf59: that's great Mark, I'm glad to hear it! Have you been to Katie's thread? It looks like your warbling about Long Bright River paid off over there, just as it did for me. Go Mark!

I can't believe how far behind I got on the threads in just a few short weeks. Just like I can't believe that June is right around the corner. How can days of doing not much of anything new pass by so quickly? You don't have to answer that rhetorical question, Laura. I'm just in a pensive mood.

I'm glad that you continue to enjoy the Elly Griffiths books. I am patiently waiting for the second Ruth Galloway book to become available at my library. It must be a popular series here. Our library opened its doors this week, but I will probably continue to pick up my holds at the drive-through window.

Hooray for a new Julia Spencer-Fleming book. It's about time, right? I'm glad you got right back in the Clare/Russ groove. I'm on the wait list for it. I hope the line moves quickly.

Keep on staying safe and enjoying your adult children at home. Our bubble has recently enlarged to include my son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters that live about 20 minutes away. It was so sad for me knowing that they were close but I couldn't see them. Life is much brighter these days.

Hi there Donna! I'm glad to hear all is well with you and yours and that you've even able to "enlarge your bubble." We've been fortunate to have these two months with Kate and Julia, but it concludes this weekend. That's okay; we all feel it's been a good thing to be together but we are all ready to have our own space, too. 😀 I just wish we were close enough to visit as frequently as you can with yours.

I admit that I was originally on the library list for Hid From Our Eyes, but the library closed before the print edition was released and then I didn't add my name to the digital edition quickly enough. And then Linda (@laytonwoman3rd) tempted me with her review, so I caved in and bought it for my Kindle. Buy hey, I have no regrets!!

35. Mudbound ()
Source: Thanks to Linda (@laytonwoman3rd) for passing her copy along!

Laura came of age in Memphis during the first half of the 20th century. In her 30s and single, she had come to terms with the likelihood of never marrying. But then she met Henry McAllan, the eldest son in a farming family. When Laura and Henry married, she gave up all that was familiar to her and followed him to a plot of land in Mississippi. Their primitive living conditions were vastly different from her genteel surroundings in Memphis, and on top of that she had to endure Henry’s cantankerous and bigoted father. Their story is narrated in turns by Laura, Henry, Henry’s brother Jamie, and members of their black sharecropping family: Florence, Hap, and their son Ronsel. Every character is well developed, and it is interesting to read the story from multiple points of view.

And Hillary Jordan doesn’t hold back in her depiction of realistic and disturbing scenes. Race matters form the central conflict in this novel, and escalate in ways that are sadly all too predictable. I wish I could say we’ve left all of this behind, but as I write this review, our country is once again reckoning with the senseless death of a black man. Will it ever end?

>213 lauralkeet: - I read that a few years ago, Laura, and found it compelling and brutal. There is a film of it - maybe a Netflix or Amazon original - that was decent but kind of ponderous.

>214 katiekrug: Katie, I agree with your description of Mudbound as "compelling and brutal". This is one of those books I intended to read back when it was published but somehow it slipped off my radar.

I thought Jordan's portrayal of whites was excellent, because she showed not only the extremists but also racism in the everyday thoughts and actions of the "good guys" in the story.

I think I'll take a pass on the movie. "Ponderous" is not my thing LOL.

I've been trying to decide on which books written by POC to include in my next few reads. This sounds just right.

>216 ffortsa: Judy, that's a great idea. However, Hillary Jordan, the author of Mudbound, is white. But she writes "white racists" really well. If it's fiction by people of color that you're after, I recommend Jacqueline Woodson, Jesmyn Ward, and of course the legendary Toni Morrison.