Sandy's Books: the Fifth🌦 in 2020

Welcome to thread #5 ~ a few of the springtime events in my natural world ~

from a local market gardener ~

Snow geese, taking off from a nearby field ~ Note the two "blues" and 1 "mixed" amongst the usual white-fronts.

from a friend's archive ~ , late last May (a Rufous hummingbird)

My 2020 reading by the month ~

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

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

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

APRIL
36. And Dangerous to Know (Darcie Wilde)
37. Watching the Ghosts (Kate Ellis)
38. Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore (Matthew Sullivan)
39. The Cow in the Parking Lot (Leonard Scheff)
40. Lessons in Enchantment (Patricia Rice)
41. A Killer in King's Cove (Iona Whishaw)
42. Me and Banksy (Tanya L. Kyi)
43. Death in a Darkening Mist (Iona Whishaw)
44. Maisie Dobbs (Jacqueline Winspear)
45. Indian in the Cupboard (Lynne Reid Banks)
46. The Secret of the Indian (Lynne Reid Banks)
47. The Mystery of the Cupboard (Lynne Reid Banks)
48. The Key to the Indian (Lynne Reid Banks)
49. The Paper Garden (Molly Peacock)
50. Case Histories (Kate Atkinson)

MAY
51. A Darker Shade of Magic (VE Schwab)
52. Books Can Be Deceiving (Jenn McKinlay)
53. The Dangerous River (RM Patterson)
54. Life in the Open (CF Holder)
55. A Royal Pain (Rhys Bowen)
56. Redhead by the Side of the Road (Anne Tyler)
57. A Spool of Blue Thread (Anne Tyler)
58. One Good Turn (Kate Atkinson)
59. Harpist in the Wind (Patricia McKillip)
60. Death in a Strange Country (Donna Leon)
61. The Waters of Eternal Youth (Donna Leon)

JUNE
62. The Stranger Diaries (Elly Griffiths)
63. Birds of a Feather (Jacqueline Winspear)
64. Motorcycles and Sweetgrass (Drew Hayden Taylor)
65. Miles, Mystery & Mayhem (Lois McMaster Bujold)

Catching up on reviews:

Book # 55 ~ A Royal Pain (Rhys Bowen)

~

Overall, the story was a little trying. A visiting horror of a princess and a plot with communist agitators was a little too incredible for me. When I reached the event where Gussie is 'forcing himself' on Georgiana', and she passes that off as "he was basically harmless", I nearly quit reading.

That's not to say the book was poor, just that it hit too many situations of the implausible to no credibility type. It's unfortunate that I've not fallen into a 4-★ or better read in some of my more recent choices. Perhaps, in looking for escapist reading, I'm not choosing well for myself.

Book # 56 ~ Redhead by the Side of the Road (Anne Tyler)

~

Great characterisation of Micah, his family and the relationships he has over college years and beyond. I was immediately drawn into the story and cared about the main protagonist. The ending seemed a little abrupt and left me puzzled as to what would really develop, going forward in Micah's life, but overall, didn't interfere with my satisfaction.

I've not read anything else by Anne Tyler! How can that be? She's so accomplished in taking a very ordinary existence and adroitly creating interest and engagement. Reminds me of Anita Brookner in that way.

Hope I'm not too early to wish you a happy new thread, Sandy.

Happy new one!

Happy new thread!

I hope you have a happy Mother's Day!

>5 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, always nice to see you here. Referring to the post on the earlier thread, I never heard of 'Roy of the Rovers'. Sounds suitably English. Over here, the famous Roy was "Roy Rogers".

>6 figsfromthistle: Hey Anita! Thank you.

>7 quondame: Hi Susan. I have had video chats and gardening conversations with the sprogs. Sprog the Younger was awoken at 6 am because of the excitement by the grand-kid-sprogs so to they could have "the day begin".
I distantly remember those times ... no having even a 20-minute-extra lie in.

Are you being treated to your favourite suppertime take out? We're having stay-in grilled steaks. I'm going to find a TBR and achieve some progress on my reading objectives.

>8 SandyAMcPherson: I'm hoping for some Honey Kettle Chicken. It's the best restaurant fried chicken I've ever had and pretty near our house, so it comes still hot. We'll see whether that works out.

Happy new thread Sandy and i love you spring pictures.

Happy Sunday, Sandy! Happy New Thread! You know I love the toppers. I have still not seen a snow goose or a rufous hummingbird. Sad face.

Glad to hear you loved the new Tyler. I want to get to that one.

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread , Sandy! I’m glad you enjoyed Redhead By the Side of the Road . I really enjoyed it too . I’ve read about 8 of her books over the years . I think my favourite was A Blue Spool of Thread . As for the Rhys Bowen Novels, I’m in the midst of one right now . It’s okay for escapist reading , a steady diet of that would get to me too . Enjoy your day .

Hi Sandy. I am slowly making the rounds of some of the theads and stopping by to get caught up here. Happy new thread! Going back to your previous thread, I am with you and the others that are prepared for a slow/cautious re-entry into things. I do have a dentist appointment in two weeks time that was scheduled way back in pre-pandemic times. I am curious, as BC has dentists as part of our Phase 2 re-opening plan, if that appointment goes ahead. I would be happy to reschedule for sometime in late June-early July as it is just for a routine checkup/clean.

I see you have been busy with an interesting mix of reading material!

Re: editorial/opinion cartoonists, did you ever follow Adrian Raeside's cartoons in the Times Colonist? Apparently, after a hiatus of I cannot remember how long, his cartoons are back in the TC (and can be viewed online).

>9 quondame: What exactly is Honey Kettle Chicken? This has a fabulously delicious ring to the name. :p

>10 mdoris: Hi Mary. Glad you like the pix. You must be awash in spring flowers and nesting song birds now. I hear the weather is really hot in Victoria. How is it up-island?

>11 msf59: Mark, you're the bird expert! I never see hummers unless we go to 'the parklands' about 2 hours north. We used to get them in our back garden when the city hadn't destroyed all the meadow and prevalence of natural tree copses to the south with malls, roads and soulless subdivisions (same mistake as Champagne-Urbana, 30 years ago or more).

We even had a rare appearance of the calliope hummingbird one year. It was (for us...) very exciting. The snows have arrived in flocks of 10- to 20,000 and it is unbelievable. We used to see Canadas like this, but destruction of habitat has lessened the size of the ones along this migration corridor.
I better stop propounding on this topic... I could get really cranky and where's the fun in reading a thread with a rant?!!

>15 SandyAMcPherson: It's a local restaurant. I thought it was a chain, but apparently not, just a super crunch wrinkly coat of batter, very tasty and not a dab greasier than it needs to be, over moist flavorful chicken. And biscuits, fries, bread and butter pickles. But alas, they stopped taking orders before I could get mine in - I think they were booked for MD. Oh, well, I had Kogi's, which is even closer, and very tasty, but you gotta like kimchi. They had a new grilled sandwich, and, no banana and kimchi isn't my thing.

>12 drneutron: Hi Jim. How you keep up with all the threads is amazing. Hope you'll have time to stop by occasionally.

>13 vancouverdeb:, Deb. It's great to see you. I've collected a lot of BBs from you and just went to put a hold on A Blue Spool of Thread. I was wondering which Anne Tyler to request. I was looking for something that didn't have a hold on it! But if I click 'show books available now', no Anne Tyler's show up! Gee. I guess I better look at my TBR pile beside the bed...

>14 lkernagh: Hi Lori. Re dental visits: back in March, I rescheduled my appointment from early April to late August. I figure on going only if I don't see community transmission creeping up again with loosening.

Re Adrian Raeside. I know AR actually (I knew his grandfather fairly well, as he lived not far from us when I was a kid). A very humorous cynic, I'd say. The Other Coast, right? I love his dog scenarios :D

>16 quondame: Kimchi is *definitely* not my thing, either. I would be in an anaphylactic crisis if I had even a taster that I hadn't swallowed.

Maybe you can claim that you are "owed" Honey Kettle Chicken before the next weekend?
Do they deliver by prearrangement the day before to guarantee you'll get some? Yeah, faint hope, huh?

>18 SandyAMcPherson: Oh, I do like kimchi, just not with bananas. I don't think the chicken will be a problem, it's a great favorite with all of us and we are due to get it any time now. I think it was just Mother's Day orders that had them extra busy.

Happy new thread, Sandy. I love your photos at the top.

I am looking forward to Anne Tyler's new book. She is one of my favorites, always dependable.

Happy new thread! Love the toppers - so joyously spring-y.

>20 BLBera: Hi Beth. I have read so much more widely since joining LT (2017). It is exciting to expand my reading base and discover new authors.
I'm not at all familiar with Anne's titles but I did put a hold on A Spool of Blue Thread the other day. Of course I have to wait probably a month but at least I'm in a queue for a copy that's in my local system.

>21 Storeetllr: Mary, always great to see you here. I wanted cheerful-spring pix. It will be "proper" spring here soon and in a blink of an eye, summer! I'm going to keep on posting fanciful book covers, too. Maybe one every month.

>22 SandyAMcPherson: Sounds good!

Happy new thread, Sandy. After I joined LT and many years later discovered the social side, I found the books that I was reading changed a lot too.

Happy new thread!

Hi Sandy, and happy new thread!

>24 Familyhistorian:, >25 foggidawn:, >26 karenmarie: Hi 75-er friends! So nice to see you drop by with good wishes. Thanks.

Took a few days off to get on with garden start up. The overnight frosts have slowed planting outside, but I'm busy potting up purchased seedlings and taking them out into the sunshine when it is warmed up ~ usually 10 am.



We had the entire vegetable plot rototilled this year. I dug out about 80 or 90 strawberry plants from an extremely overgrown patch and saved only about 20 young crowns. The rest were left "free ~ help yourself" at the bottom of our driveway.



I've also had a little cascade from my e-Book hold requests! Oh frabjulous joy!

Two mysteries and one contemporary fiction have arrived:
A Spool of Blue Thread (Anne Tyler), One Good Turn (Jackson Brodie, Book 2; Kate Atkinson) and Birds of a Feather (Maisie Dobbs, Book 2; Jacqueline Winspear).

Lots to be going on with for now. I hope everyone is well and your families too. I'll get around to visiting threads when the time-sensitive garden work allows.

Happy New Thread, Sandy!

Nice to see Spring getting started for you. Our garden is starting to pop a bit, too; we've planted cherry tomatoes and peppers so far. We hope to find some cucumbers, which are surprisingly scarce here.

I love those Jackson Brodie books; I think you'll have a good time with Book 2.

>27 SandyAMcPherson: Looks like you have plenty to keep you busy there!

>4 SandyAMcPherson: A wonderful book indeed.

>27 SandyAMcPherson: As is A Spool of Blue Thread, though in a different way. I'd venture to recommend Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant as well.

Happy newish thread.

I just dream of my library opening up enough to allow curbside pick up and drop off. Not so far! I'm getting desperate!

>29 quondame: Indeed. So much to do once the growing season ramps up!

>30 richardderus: Thanks for the reccy. I'm keen to read Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant when our libraries open again. Lots of my BBs have been available only as physical books.

>31 vancouverdeb: Hi Deb. I'm also as eager as anyone for the libraries to open. I plan on filing at least 15 requests! That's not all my WL mind you. Just a DGS.

(dgs = damn good start)

Hi Joe. Just spotted you up there at #28.

Your planting is ahead of us. We're still prone to frosts overnight, so the tender tomatoes and squash family have to be schlepped in and out for a couple more weeks.

I hope we're not in for a chilly month of June. Had that last year and all that was good about that was enough rainfall to keep the forest fire hazard damped down.

>27 SandyAMcPherson: What a great looking garden. Lots of room to plant your seedlings. Have fun with the rest of your gardening :)

>34 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita. The tilling makes the vegetable plot look so spruced up and promising.

We always head into the spring knowing that each season is what The Man calls, a crapshoot! You've no doubt heard that hoary old snerk: Saskatchewan has two seasons... Winter and July

>27 SandyAMcPherson: Your gardening looks ambitious, Sandy, but it looks like the grass is still dormant. So it will be a while yet, I suppose. I anxiously awaiting the reopening of the libraries too, not least because all of my library books are due on the same day. I hope they open a bit before that date which is June 1. I don't fancy schlepping all 16 of them downtown on the Skytrain at the same time.

>36 Familyhistorian: Kind of bizarre the you can't return them to your branch library. Is Vancouver STILL on that divided library system? So archaic!

Maybe you can get a friend to help by dropping you off at the door, or maybe, coming with you and using suitcase wheelies?

Re the lawn: the front lawn has greened up enough to need mowing. Our back lawn always takes a beating in winter and is drifted in snow a few weeks longer, so wakes up later. OK with us to have the mowing needs staged!

>27 SandyAMcPherson: - I love your garden start up, Sandy! Go figure, this is the year that we are not going to have a container garden on our balcony. Reason being is other half needs the space for some stuff he is working on so I agreed (pre-pandemic) to forgo a garden this year. I have fond memories of growing up with a large vegetable garden. If we were looking for a snack, we were told to eat something out of the garden. I really miss those fresh carrots and snap peas!

That's a huge space for gardening, Sandy! And rich-looking soil too.

>38 lkernagh: >39 ronincats: Hi Lori and Roni. Our garden plot is rich, loamy-almost-too-heavy soil. Lots of work to add peat moss and sand every year!

The photo is a bit deceptive. I was trying to photograph the west-facing perspective. It's actually about 40 feet long by ~20 feet wide. There must have been some mobile-phone camera distortion. We plant a lot of tomatoes so they need space for good air circulation. I always worry every year (this is our 32nd-summer of gardening here) that we'll have such a big build-up of disease that the entire garden will fail (since we always plant potatoes as well). Then we'll need a completely fallow year.

I took a year off gardening once and left it all to The Man. We had the worst crop of chickweed, sow thistle and portulaca! He clearly didn't understand the old adage: 1-year's seeding, 7-year's weeding. I think we've pretty much got those 3 species under control but always there are weeds, so we mulch with grass clippings.

We've just come through our first warm overnights and it is glorious. There is cold predicted (6 oC overnight for a few days hence). But largely, we can think about planting out those started vegetables in pots. A thunderstorm predicted today. A huge jet stream upwelling through Idaho and across our province. I think tropical storm Arthur has pushed the stormy weather all the way north!

OK. 'nuff of that. I have a book review to post and then time for more coffee out on our back deck! Great to see visitors here, though.

Book #57 ~ A Spool of Blue Thread (Anne Tyler)

~

Maybe this was more of a 3½-star read for me. It was hard to decide because, mostly, I enjoyed the family saga.
At 165 reviews by other members (to date), I haven't a lot of other insights to add except my personal tastes in novels: as ever, Tyler's writing was splendid. Her characterisations strong and the portrayal of life in Baltimore of country-born families, poignant.

I didn't think the back-and-forth timeline worked very well, though. Perhaps the revelations from the relationship development of Linnie Mae and Junior fit best the way Tyler placed this piece of family history and didn't fit anywhere else for her purposes? However, this saga seemed disjointed (following Abby's passing away), so why include it at all? The story somewhat soured for me at that point. The dénouement with Red moving to an apartment was left hanging, and begged for a bit of closure. Instead we have a closing scenario of Denny, leaving on a train for parts unknown, and an unidentified passenger seated beside him who is weeping. There must have been some kind of significance in this situation, but it totally escaped my understanding.

>41 SandyAMcPherson: I'm glad you sort of enjoyed it, ,Sandy , A Spool of Blue Thread. I really loved it, but we're all different. Maybe another Ann Tyler will suit you better?

Yes, the Vancouver area still is all separated library wise. But the area is so big geographically and each city is a separate. As much as I would like the system to be all one, I'm not sure I can see how it could be done. Each city pays it's own taxes and delegates a certain amount to go to it's city library. I see Richmond Public Library driving books in between our 4 libraries and if you added that into Coquitlam, New West , Burnaby, Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver , Delta, Surrey etc etc, I can't imagine how much time and money would be spent transporting books to and fro, never mind the tax issue.

So yes, we have to use own library, or else go get a card at a library outside of home city and do our own transportation. We do have a province wide library , and you can put in a special request for a book, if you want. But other than that, you go just to your own city library.

Meanwhile, I understand the Vancouver Library is getting ready to reopen in some fashion , yet here in Richmond, no such message as yet.

Hi Sandy!

>27 SandyAMcPherson: Lovely garden area. Show us some more pictures during the growing season!

>41 SandyAMcPherson: We were supposed to read A Spool of Blue Thread for book club in 2016 but I'm not even sure I actually started it. The description didn't even appeal to me. I loved The Accidental Tourist but haven't read anything else by her. Ladder of Years has tbeen languishing on my shelves for five years.

Oh I adore Anne Tyler. Her very first book was The Clock Winder and it is still my very favorite. I was hooked and enthralled from that moment forward. The Accidental Tourist is another favorite, but really only a few have seemed below par and none are ever truly bad. You have some serious reading pleasure ahead of you!

Your garden is impressive. We have great strawberries now, but we find they do need bolstering pretty often. Whereas, say, the blueberries, now that the bushes are established, just do their thing!

Right now I'm in a rhubarb festival. I've become kind of an addict! With the ankle I'll have to get the spousal unit it pick the stuff, but then I can sit by the stove and watch it boil!

>43 karenmarie: Hi Karen. I certainly will post some garden updates as the season progresses.

>44 sibylline: Hi Lucy. Our strawberry plants are just taking root now after their rude uprooting for transplanting.
I suspect the crop in late June will be restrained as the crowns settle in to the new patch.
What do you make with the boiled rhubarb?

Re Anne Tyler books ~ like just about everyone else, I can only borrow e-Books right now.
I wanted to borrow The Accidental Tourist, but as you can see,
no such luck (until the physical books are accessible again) ~

Regrettably, The Clock Winder will have to be an ILL request, since the title doesn't show up at all in the PL system.

I ran out of time so couldn't finish an e-Book loan. Boo.
Too many loaned at the same time, I guess.
And besides, I'm one of those slower readers. Remember a story for years however!

Meanwhile I feel very bereft or maybe I should concentrate on the garden ~

according to The Man, however ~

He's probably correct.

>40 SandyAMcPherson: >46 SandyAMcPherson: Your Man sounds like a kindred spirit. I took after my father, who said every spring to my Burpee Catalogue- bedazzled mother, "Don't plant one more thing than you and Peggy Jr. can work." Oh please, leave me out! She never did; my DH had to be trained not to expect me to garden too. Sorry. I'll try to make up my ineptness and dislike in other ways, but don't ask me to get sweaty in my hair and dirty under my fingernails or sore in my back.
(I never thought I was a slow reader until I joined LT. Oh well.)

>46 SandyAMcPherson: What, you can't go to airplane mode and keep books past the due date? Alas!

>47 LizzieD: Peggy, I loved your comment!

It is so truly ME to be bedazzled in the greenhouses, filling my cart with too much plant material and seedlings that need setting out.
No worries about making other ways to compensate your personal preferences. Everyone has their thing they dislike and others love. I am for example, completely indifferent to learning how to crochet or bake croissant!

>48 quondame: Airplane mode? Hmmm. Sneaky lady!

Actually, I download to a Kobo (e-reader) that is wifi enabled so I suppose there's a way to turn off the log in.
But since the e-book is timed, I wonder if the reader has an internal mechanism?

Worth a try for next time, huh?

>50 SandyAMcPherson: Neither my Kindle nor my iPad has ever given me any trouble about reading 'overdue' books. I've only done it a few time and never wanted to for very long - a day or two at most.

>46 SandyAMcPherson: - I LOVE this pic! LOL

>49 SandyAMcPherson: - I am notorious for have eyes that are bigger than my stomach when at the garden centre. I live in a townhouse and have truly very tiny space for gardening, very little room. I know this, yet still, I manage to bring home more than I have room for. Yesterday was a case in point. I even went with a list and still came home with items not on the list, and without things that were ON the list. I will spend the next few days trying to see what fits where and if there is room at the end, I may go back to look for the plants on the list. Our temps are rising daily and we have sun! Perfect (for a few days at least)

>51 quondame: Hi Susan, I asked a friend (ex-library employee) about that eBook due date, and it turns out that the library can render the download file (a DRM thingy like ascm? I think) inaccessible but I guess the converted file (pdf or e-pub in my case) is still readable as long as I am not on the internet.
Yeah, I don't really know what I'm talking about, do I? ;)

>52 jessibud2: Glad you liked the comic; I'm feeling cranky about the garden because my back muscles have decided to have a spasm if I even look at the digging fork.

>53 SandyAMcPherson: - My lower back is so sore right now, Sandy, I could just scream. I spent a major portion of today planting, cleaning out the garage and if I am on my knees, I am fine. If I am sitting on my little garden stool, I am fine. But if I need to stand up, forget it. I look and feel like a little old lady. I may have to rethink my future with gardening. I spent a ton on annuals yesterday. I am thinking I need to do some homework regarding perennials with colour that will work in the light and soil situations I have. I don't think I can continue to do this every spring the way I used to. I have already taken one muscle relaxant today and I know another is in the future before I go to bed tonight.

Thus, your comic was perfectly timed!

>54 jessibud2: You definitely have my fellow-feeling sympathy.

I was fortunate to be able to book my physiotherapist for next Monday. She has just started taking appointments again. And yeah, me and Robaxacet are going steady for a few days...

>54 jessibud2: I am sorry. Based upon my own experiences I'd suggest you use some heat, and stretch GENTLY.

>55 SandyAMcPherson:, >56 fuzzi: - Yep, Robaxicet is my friend, too. And as for heat, Robax has something called heat wraps. They are fabric with what I take to be little flat stones in them that activate heat when you wear it around (in my case) the lower back. They feel remarkably good. I much prefer heat to cold and yes, I have been using these, too. As for stretches, I do my stretches religiously, every morning before my feet even hit the floor. Have been for years. I have recently started doing them at night, too. I think my problems are related to age and a weakness in the lower back, combined. Sigh...

Thanks for the reminder re physio. I don't think my physiotherapist has opened yet but I may give her a call on Monday, just to see where they are at. I don't think that service was on the list for this phase one of reopening in Ontario.

Checking in on your new-ish thread, Sandy. I really must read some of Anne Tyler's books too.

Hi Stasia, Nice to see you dropping by. I've been kind of a hermit about keeping up.
Anne Tyler has a very distinctive writing style. I personally felt very drawn into her stories. My library system doesn't have very many of her books on the e-Book platform, so some I'll read when they eventually open the PLs.

There's lots of love on the 75-er threads for jigsaw puzzles.
I was inspired to pull out a small one the other day while nursing/resting a back muscle issue.
There 's no official title for this handcut puzzle, so I just call it

My fractal jigsaw ~

Semi-disassembled to show the intricate pieces ~ , likely cut with a fancy laser set up.

I bought this years and years ago, from a crafts market in Idaho. The artist lived in Sandpoint (ID).

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

Happy Sunday and kudos on the jigsaws!

>60 SandyAMcPherson: That fractal jigsaw is gorgeous! The pieces are diabolical looking indeed.

Have a great week ahead.

>61 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. I was over lurking on your thread today and remembered to say so!

>62 richardderus: Hey RD, hope the shingles treatment is helping and that you have good news on your consult-visit tomorrow.

That fractal puzzle was *especially* diabolical because I bought it in a plain little box and no photo! The example was displayed and the artist had probably a dozen in different sizes and designs. I finally remembered this time to take a picture so if one of the younger members of my family wants to put it together, they can see what it should look like.

Fortunately there are only about 150 pieces, or I would have bailed. I don't seem to be in puzzle-territory these days. Well. Except for some books I'm currently reading (and not following the plot very well).

>63 SandyAMcPherson: Ah, but *those* sorts of puzzles don't sit glowering at you, mutely accusing you of being a quitter and a weenie, the way unfinished jigsaws do.

I'm hoping my outside-doc visit will result in some relief, though I must say that the rashy stuff is a lot less sensitive now that I'm almost done with the Rx.

Book #58 One Good Turn (Kate Atkinson)

~

As I settled into Book 2 of the Jackson Brodie saga, I was prepared for the switches in perspective and chapters that weren't continuous (or is that 'contiguous'?) in terms of action. This format doesn't work well, or ~ not for me. As suspense and excitement builds in the chapter, the momentum is lost when the next chapter picks up some other thread in the story. The deflated tension is never recreated to an effective degree, so I feel like the entire novel is like climbing a hill, seeing over the top and that there's yet another hill and it is a boooorrring, long hike.

OK. So why are there even 3-stars? Because the overall theme was very clever, the characters were individually brought to life and I was really rooting for Gloria. I thoroughly enjoyed Tatania. I despised the weak-waffling in which Jackson indulged, although that behaviour suited Martin to a tee. And the ending? Yeah, totally sewed it all together and I laughed my head off when Paul reappeared.
The final chapter made the slog almost worth it.

>46 SandyAMcPherson: Loved the older and crankier. >27 SandyAMcPherson: That is a LOT of garden to deal with. Keep healthy!

>46 SandyAMcPherson: Hahahaha me too!

Sorry you aren't having a lot of luck with getting ebooks from the library. I'm with Susan - I keep my Kindle set on airplane mode, mostly because it saves battery life but also because, until I turn the internet back on, none of my library books are deleted, though they show as being returned on my library account. I don't usually read past the due date either, unless I'm on, like, the last few pages of the book and it's not renewable right away.

I remember enjoying Accidental Tourist when I read it a decade or two ago. I hope your library gets it or that you can get it through Inter-Library loan.

Book #59 Harpist in the Wind (Patricia McKillip)

~

Loved this trilogy when I first read it in the early 1980's. But it drags on and often seems to go over so many crises of the same type, that I now wonder why I found it so gripping. Moral of the story (for me), don't try to re-read an old favourite. For the reader looking for a great McKillip read, try one of her other titles first.

>64 richardderus: You nailed it exactly: puzzles do sit glowering at you from across the room or snag your eye, unfinished on the table where you're supposed to be eating dinner.

>65 SandyAMcPherson: Mary, it is a good sized plot but The Man shares the care. For the heavy stuff, we have an unwritten law: you want potatoes? You plant them and harvest, too. I mess about with the fiddly things like thinning carrots and picking strawberries. The only downside is *the water bill*. The cost of that utility makes me realise how important it is to mulch!

>65 SandyAMcPherson: and >67 Storeetllr: Glad you saw how amusing and appropriate that comic was.

>67 Storeetllr: I plan to read some more Anne Tyler this year. I have all but her last couple of books in my collection.

>70 PaulCranswick: Wow! Your collection must be a huge library! And all those Anne Tyler's. Did you discover her work a long time ago?

A friend recently sent me this piece when she heard I was reading Tyler's books. It's from 2012, so not a particularly up-to-date article. I enjoyed discovering more of the author's backstory, though.

I'm intrigued with Baltimore now. It sounds a bit like other well-established American cities in that there are deeply idiosyncratic neighbourhoods, each with their own character. I think Philadelphia is a bit like that. Not that I've been to either place.

Hi there Sandy. I'm a little sad to see the Jackson Brodie books aren't as satisfying as you had hoped. I enjoyed the series. For some reason I read One Good Turn first (I don't think I realized it was part of a series), and like you I rated it just 3 stars. I'm not sure what led me to Case Histories, but I liked it more. And if my ratings are any indication, my favorites were the third and fifth books, When Will There Be Good News?, and Big Sky. Kate Atkinson has written other novels that are quite unique in their structure and approach. Life After Life was a 5-star read for me back in 2013.

>71 SandyAMcPherson: I'd say that's a fair assessment of both Baltimore and Philadelphia and yes, rather typical of cities that have been around since the country's early days.

>72 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. The funny thing about the Jackson Brodie books, I do like Atkinson's writing. It's the way she structures her novels that I find unsatisfying. I just don't stay engaged, I guess.

A friend gave me When Will There Be Good News? last year and I wanted to read the books in order, so I am working up to it at the moment. It's encouraging that the third book was a favourite.

>68 SandyAMcPherson: I felt the same way about Katherine Kurtz' Deryni books when I went back to them 20 years later. Fond memories...

>74 fuzzi: The Deryni books were novel when they came out in a couple of different ways that have influenced subsequent fantasy. A hero with gripes, magic presented mechanically, the politics of fantasy kingdoms. The writing was clunky and the feelings, after a couple of decades of defter hands, more like whining. But they weren't the same-old-same-old when they came out and that's important.

At least for now, a DNF ~ Pictures from an Institution (Randall Jarrell) ~ it was a freebie e-Book from U Chicago Press. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this or maybe it was a trope that was so dated in its style, that I didn't want to go there.

Has anyone "here" read this? Did it entertain? Am I just too tarnished with the dysfunctional aspect of University that I can't stand to read about it? Maybe that's a rhetorical question...

Just a quick pop by. We've spent the day searching used cars. What a dreadful hunt and time suck. Off to White Rock in the AM, then to the North part of East Vancouver. And both duds. Sigh.

I've read When Will There Be Good News and I enjoyed it, but that title keeps going around in my mind as we search for a used car for our son.

A fractal puzzle! Heck, that would be hard! Even at 150 pieces. I understand fractal puzzles are made at even 47 pieces or thereabouts. That would be more my style.

>77 vancouverdeb: Hi Deb. Used car searches are so difficult. It's a shame that owning a car has become rather necessary in the Vancouver area unless you're located in the Trans-Link areas that are well-served.

I'm reading a Donna Leon right now. It's an eBook from the PL that came available, Book #2 in the Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries, Death in a Strange Country. Book 1 had a longish hold-queue so I decided it didn't matter all that much if I skipped ahead.

So far I'm enjoying the novel, although the author writes a little too descriptively. "Show don't tell" was something drilled into us when I took a creative writing class (it was just for fun, through the library).

>76 SandyAMcPherson: I found it twitzy-twee and far too convinced of its own cleverness. Yech.

Spend a happy week!

>75 quondame: I appreciate your insight into the books. I read them in my late teens and early 20s, most of them before children limited my reading time. Years later I tried to read the book about Alaric Morgan's beginnings and just couldn't get into it, the magic of the series was gone for me.

>74 fuzzi: and >80 fuzzi: I don't know the Deryni books so can't comment.
But I think I've now learned after some abortive attempts at really old re-reads that I probably just move forward into new territory.

As you say, "the magic of the series was gone for me". I wonder why I try to resurrect my childhood reading? It's not like I'm short of TBR's (this is not meant to criticise other folks re-reading old favourites, btw).

>81 SandyAMcPherson: some of my favorites from years ago are still good, like the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. Five Little Peppers and How They Grew made me cringe, not good. I'm probably not going to dive back into the Piers Anthony or most of the Mercedes Lackey worlds, either. But since I've been visiting here on LT I've had so many good authors recommended such as Lois McMaster Bujold, James SA Corey, DE Stevenson, Mary Doria Russell, Sharon Wagner, Jo Baker, Georgette Heyer, Ernest J Gaines, and Ursula K LeGuin, just to name a few.

>82 fuzzi: I agree, discovering new authors on LT has been a goldmine.
In 2019, my favourite discoveries from the goldmine on this group were Lois McMaster Bujold and Naomi Novik.

I also like quite a few of the mystery series people have mentioned. Not as exquisitely written perhaps as some might want, but just really great escapist reading. The Ruth Galloway saga (Elly Griffiths) comes to mind, much as I bash the execution quite a bit in my reviews.

Continuing the saga of vintage book covers from our library,
From the Cape to Cairo, an intrepid adventure in Africa: an ambitious journey from Cape Town (south) to the north, ending in Egypt.

by Grogan & Sharp, 1900 ~ ,

The authors, Ewart Grogan and Arthur Sharp, travelled with their porters and guides on this gruelling trip of 2½ years. Apparently they each made copious notes, but it was Grogan who wrote the final manuscript.

According to the foreword, written by Cecil Rhodes, Sharp considered his travelling partner more adept at turning the adventure into an acceptable memoir of this amazing journey. Of course it was somewhat presumptuous to claim their journey was "the first to traverse the African continent from south (Cape Town) to north (Cairo)". However, these two were intrepid English explorers and it is claimed that their trip was the first in recorded history of walking this entire distance. Arthur H. Sharp merits less attention, perhaps due to taking a back seat in the writing.

I'm now rather curious about Sharp. Why is Grogan singled out for these honours? In searching online (admittedly a little inexpertly), references to AH Sharp appear only in relation to this book. I should read more of the travel biography and re-read what Rhodes had to say about the pair.

Hi Sandy!

Sorry about the back issues, hope they're at least temporarily in the past.

>65 SandyAMcPherson: I've read Jackson Brodie #1 and 3 but have no huge urge to continue the series for some reason. I loved Behind the Scene at the Museum, and actively disliked Human Croquet and Life After Life.

>84 SandyAMcPherson: Beautiful cover and interesting information.

>85 karenmarie: Hi Karen. I'm reading Donna Leon right now to take a break from Kate Atkinson (finished Death in a Strange Country and am on Book 25, The Waters of Eternal Youth). I jumped way ahead in the titles, based on Mary's suggestion that later ones might be more appealing.

>79 richardderus: Re Jarrell's Pictures from an Institution, I found it twitzy-twee and far too convinced of its own cleverness.
That's a great distinction, especially the over-the-top snide remarks. Well-described, thank you! I suspect the book will remain in my DNF graveyard.

Book #60. Death in a Strange Country (Donna Leon)

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A story of corruption, murder and stalled police investigations. I read Book 1 a very long time ago, and liked the premise of a very human detective with an interesting family. But Book 2 didn't resonate with me very much.
Only in passing comments about the canal system would the reader know it was set in Venice. The architectural remarks seemed like add-ons and somewhat irrelevant, as well as the overly descriptive writing.

Ultimately the narrative was not very intriguing although I did enjoy the interactions between Paola and Guido. I'm tired of the incompetent police superior, as a foil for the intelligent detective, though. The sense of unfinished business at the end of the story was deflating. It may be very realistic, but not very satisfying.

Sandy I am thinking that my favourite character in the Donna Leon mysteries is the wonderful O.A. signorina Elettra, secretary to the head boss of the Questura. She is so clever, perceptive, a computer whizz and of course gorgeous with perfect outfits. She loves flowers too! She is introduced in the 3rd book in the series so if you continue you are in for a treat.

>88 mdoris: Yes, Elettra is a treat!

Hi Sandy. Love the fractal puzzle. I have a work colleague who is a big puzzle fan. She thinks it is cheating to have a picture of the completed puzzle to refer to, so she would probably love the fractal puzzle. Me, I like to look at the picture as I work on a puzzle.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Been a busy time here, taking advantage of good weather to plant up the vegetable garden.
Not very busy in here on my LT home, but I see the 75-er threads are Piled Higher and Deeper!

>88 mdoris: Hi Mary, I agree with you and >89 quondame: Susan, Signorina Elettra is a great character. Will review the book I just finished and mention her.

>90 lkernagh: Hi Lori, Pleased you like the fractal jigsaw. It's one of the few I've saved here at my house. Most of our puzzles have been mailed off to various family members coping with sheltering at home and have young 'ons that are bored silly!

Book #61 The Waters of Eternal Youth (Donna Leon)

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This was a much more intriguing plot than an earlier Brunetti novel, which I just recently finished (Book 2). I followed Mary's suggestion to try jumping into a later book which would probably improve my enjoyment, and that was so right.

The family dynamics were interesting and the events leading up to discovering the story of the original crime was an engaging, well written development. I particularly enjoyed more details about the supporting characters, Signorina Elettra especially. Talk about the power behind the throne! I was very amused.

It was also not a let down for me to recognise who committed both the 10-year old crime and the subsequent murder, during the investigation. It was an adroit path to unravelling the complexities.

>92 SandyAMcPherson: I got distracted from Leon by Camilleri then got distracted from Camilleri by well other books. Maybe I should have a plan. Never had a plan, so probably won't now, but it's a thought.

>93 quondame: Hi Susan. It's easy to wander amongst the series and become distracted, isn't it?
Did you like Camilleri enough to read several books?

I have The Voice of the Violin available for me to borrow now. I've actually never read this author, but it popped up on my recommended list recently so I looked on Overdrive.

I'm reading an Elly Griffiths, The Stranger Diaries right now. It's interesting but not compelling. Actually, that's not fair. Right now, any reading just doesn't feel compelling. I am feeling overtired of everything online at the moment... I think probably due to the increasingly tedious need to stay out of circulation. And poor sleeping.

I know many folks have similar difficulties. At least it is summer-ish here with warmer days. And some flowers blooming. One of my early-blooming favourites, Siberian primroses (Primula cortusoides)

Hi Sandy, I completely understand your feelings of being "overtired by everything online." LT is my refuge, but I have to consciously limit my time on other sites. It's just too much. I hope you're able to get stuck into a good read soon.

Sandy, so glad that you enjoyed another Brunetti book.

I love primulas, the perennial ones. They are tough and live through our very dry summers and love how they bloom for a long time in the spring. There are so many colours and varieties. Your long stem ones are gorgeous.

Pardon me if I am repeating myself but there are wonderful DVDs of both the Brunetti series and Montalbano (Camilleri books). Your library might have them and also available on MHz Choice a streaming service that converts international series for the North American market. i have read the books and watched the Montalbano series and there are some great characters there too!

Pretty little Siberians! I love how long-stemmed they are, and that shade of buttery amethyst is appealing.

Spend a lovely Humpday.

>94 SandyAMcPherson: I really like Camilleri's detective, Inspector Montalbano. He's a right bastard, but a food loving sensualist with real character flaws and strengths. I've read 12 of them, rating them between 3&4 stars, so yes, I must like them.

Hi Sandy - My sleep hasn't been great lately either.

I do love the Brunetti series - I just finished Waters of Eternal Youth as well and enjoyed it.

>95 lauralkeet:, Hi Laura, I am also having to consciously limit my time online.
Partly because flooding my brain with overload news is difficult. The other reason is that too many hours ensconced in my chair tightens up my back muscles. Then I am kinked and knotted painfully and can't move around. SO I have a timer to remind me when 1 hour is done.

>96 mdoris: Hi Mary. I've never heard of MHz Choice. Thanks for the tip. I guess I'll have to use my lap top to take advantage of that. Our television is a really old early 1980's style. Barely past the old tube design! No smart-TV on our horizon.

>97 richardderus: Hi Richard. Happy to see you drop by. I hope you are getting out-of-doors these days.
I've been wanting to stay cocooned inside but the outdoors seems so mood-improving that I make myself at least go out even for short moments. I like to photograph the spring garden, otherwise it is so ephemeral that I'll miss everything!

>98 quondame: I like characters with flaws and writers that develop realistic detectives. I'm looking forward to borrowing The Voice of the Violin but I've got two holds available already and I need to read those before they expire.

>99 BLBera: I was just saying to Susan that I am behind on my e-reading.

I seem to fall asleep over the e-reader too easily these evenings. Maybe I should quit reading in bed, but I'm an inveterate evening-reader... and then I wake at 2 am or something and have trouble going back to sleep. This is not a normal problem for me. But then these are not normal times.

>94 SandyAMcPherson: Our son is going to purchase a car later today , after work, I'm relieved to say. What a far reaching search. Daniel looked at it on Sunday and on Tuesday, he and my husband both went out to look at it. Way out in Langley Township from Richmond. Anyway, as my husband is an aircraft mechanic and quite knowledgeable about cars, he had a look at it too. So on Wednesday, Dan decided yes to the car. What a relief! Dave's been all over the Lower Mainland looking at cars along with Daniel . So it looks life can get back to semi - normal. My husband works f/t , 5 on / 5 off so he days for car shopping are very different from our son's , a M- F guy.

Sorry you are not enjoying Stranger Diaries. I really loved it, and I'm looking forward to the second in the series. I'm not that big of a fan of Elly Griffiths other series. but they are okay. But we are all so different . Plus I think it's really true that lately a lot of us have had our reading interrupted by the news lately, as well as the pandemic. It takes a toll on concentration and enjoyment.

Love the puzzle!

I've never been able to get into the Donna Leon books, but then again, I don't think I've tried one yet.

Just dropping in to say hi! Hope your week has been good so far

Hi Sandy, I thought I would return your visit and drop by. I have only read one Donna Leon mystery but I have read a few of the Camilleri series and I really enjoy them.

>105 vancouverdeb: Deb, I am (!) actually enjoying The Stranger Diaries. I was saying that generally reading just was not compelling. And TBF, I was only about 3 chapters into the novel at that point.

As of last night, I'm about half the way through and the "the plot thickens" (*groan* that was really baaad of me)!
So I read too late and was so groggy this morning.

A few goofy disconnects and a couple really silly characterisations. But hey, if it's an Elly Griffiths, I'm probably going to do a few eye rolls! I still like reading her books, regardless. Escapist reading to distract me from *The News*.

Re Donna Leon, try her later novels. I think her theme matured over time and she pulled out some good supporting characters.

Glad to hear the hunt for a car scenario has been resolved. Now if only your libraries would open, huh?

>107 DeltaQueen50: Hi Anita. It's been fairly insane here this week vis á vis the winds. So very dry and gale force to 80 - 90 kmh = dust storms and grass fires. On the personal level, it kept me inside mostly. Gee whiz, I had to read instead of the out of doors chores... Hope all's well with you and yours?

>107 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy, I chatted about the Brunetti novels at >108 SandyAMcPherson: with Deb. It was a suggestion originally from Mary (mdoris). Thanks for the visit!

>99 BLBera: I think I wandered over to your thread to say hi and that I was happy we were "unknowingly" doing a paired read! It was a better book than I was expecting, so yay for that.

Escapist reading is the thing right now. Sorry I misunderstood you! :-) All good!

Hi Sandy! Glad to see you are enjoying The Stranger Diaries. Like you, there were parts that felt a bit off, but a decent mystery (and good piece of escapism reading!)

You asked a question on my thread that I "sort of" answered. I know... nice and cryptic that response, eh? Hoping you have a good weekend.

Book #62 The Stranger Diaries (Elly Griffiths)
This is the first book of the Harbinder Kaur murder mysteries (not an RG story...)

~

Single mom and daughter encounter murder, romance and ghostly, almost paranormal situations. It was Griffiths' good characterisations that carried the day, but I can't say I cared for the way the policewoman (Harbinder Kaur) was portrayed. The plot was occasionally implausible to an annoying degree (all Clare's personal diaries suddenly being demanded by the police?), too convoluted for its own good, and the dénouement was rather a rushed, illogical affair.

My favourite character was actually Bryony Hughes. There was something reminiscent of Cathbad (in the Ruth Galloway novels) about Bryony. I believe the Hughes' character was more suited as a greater participant in the Stranger Dairies narrative. As it was, her role felt flat-lined although it seemed pivotal in the plot.

>112 lkernagh: Yes, it was a decent escapist story, even though there were definite points where The Stranger Diaries was a bit off. I wondered what you thought ultimately of the Harbinder Kaur character?

I felt she came across poorly, a bit 2-dimensional and not one a reader would feel sympathetic about. I actually liked her side kick, Neil Winston, better. However, the twist at the end of who the murderer turned out to be was a surprise. I kind of like when I don't guess!

>114 SandyAMcPherson: - For the most part, I liked D.S. Kaur, more so than Clare (who I found to be a bit of a cold fish) but I agree, there is room for character development.

I loaned some novels to a friend, since she prefers a physical book to e-reading.
Two of the paperbacks are fantasies by Guy G. Kay and did not appeal.

I took a break from reading Birds of a Feather (J. Winspear) to peruse these fantasies myself, when they were returned. I hadn't read any GGK in ages. I was rather promptly bored with The Summer Tree. I think I've outgrown themes of "vast battles against the forces of evil" and struggles by the subdued population against said dark hordes.

Cynically, I wonder if it's the reflection of current unrest in my part of the world that influences my perception? I also find GGK's writing style rather too obtuse these days. I remember loving Tigana, although I don't own a copy anymore. I didn't look at my copy of The Wandering Fire and I seem to be missing the The Darkest Road. I used to be rather neglectful about writing down the titles of loaned books.

I think I'll add my current Kay titles to the growing pile of books destined for the second-hand book shop. I've acquired several paperbacks in the fantasy genre in the past year that are more deserving of space on the bookshelves designated for fantasy titles.

>115 lkernagh: I liked Clare quite a lot actually! She seemed so wounded and lonely. Her persona didn't strike me the same way as you, but perhaps we mean different things in using the 'cold fish' descriptor.

The other personality in the book that was at odds, for her age and behaviour, was Georgia. I had an impression there was an implied maturity (and attributes to her writing) that didn't fit.
Still, I would give the sequel a chance, should it come my way. I'm not seeing the title on my PL catalogue as either an e-Book or a physical book.

Book #63~ Birds of a Feather (Jacqueline Winspear)

~

Book 2 in the Maisie Dobbs series was more enjoyable than book 1, having less backstory of her saga as a nurse in the battlefields of WWI and the sadness that harkens back to wartime. Her detective investigations took precedence and were fully engaging as she sought to unravel a runaway-girl case and deal with her assistant's difficulties related to war wounds and narcotics addiction.

However, there are some scenes that feel a bit paranormal, a situation that was faintly touched upon in the first book but not as explicitly described. Somehow, such developments are out of place in what is otherwise a logical detective mystery. The motive behind the murders (and thus the likely murderer) was fairly easy to recognise when feathers were discovered at the murder scenes by anyone with some knowledge of WWI. I didn't mind this big hint but after such a reveal, the final drama was a bit overdone.

I recommend this book for it's strong female characters, the detecting aspects, aside from the aura of paranormal intuitions, and the historical setting.

I've only read the first two Maisie Dobbs books. I can't decide if I've abandoned the series, but the fact it's been about 2.5 years since I read book 2 might be telling. I really liked the strong female protagonist part, but like you the "paranormal intuitions" put me off. I like my detectives to get there through pure intellect and sleuthing.

Hi Sandy!

I've got The Stranger Diaries on my Kindle, and hope to read it soon.

Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday. How's the vegetable garden coming along?

>119 lauralkeet: I agree. Paranormal has to be in its place and upfront in the realm of 'magical adventure' for me to enjoy.

Thus, Kaleidoscope (Madame Karitska Book 2, Dororthy Gilman) for example suited me really well as do stories by Robin McKinely and Patricia Wrede (one of my faves being a retelling, Snow White and Rose Red).

Winspear could have had a great little saga going with Maisie Dobbs, if the woo-woo stuff doesn't intrude much. I especially hope she continues developing a warmer-hearted female protagonist without the awkward implied romance sequences. I was not much of a fan of the relationship with Stratton. That seemed like a dead-ender as far as Maisie being a private investigator. With Andrew Dene coming on the scene, I hope the author develops a tidy relationship that doesn't overpower the mystery aspect.

I'm not sure I'll read another in the series unless I see some promise in the PI aspect. At the moment I have several other BBs coming along in my hold requests and those will preoccupy my reading this next couple months.

I saw on your thread that you are reading The Round House. I think that's a BB for me. A new author to me as well.
And the protests in Philly are horrifying, so it was great to see that more peaceful photo from yesterday.

I do hope your next mystery series will break the "only satisfactory" trend with an "out-of-the-park smash" read.

Huggings northwards.

>120 karenmarie: Hi Karen. I'll look forward to your review of The Stranger Diaries. :D

Ah yes, that old saying, It never rains, but it pours.
After an incredibly dry, strong-winds past 2 months, the deluge started yesterday. I think everything will emerge okay although the small transplants were so beaten into the ground, that we put tomato cages over them and then clear plastic bin liners tied on.

Thanks for asking! I think the tomato plants will be okay. They were pretty robust, but I expect that the first flush of blossoms will not be pollinated. I'll post photos but nothing to rival those from the folks 'down south', especially like Roni has been posting!

I'm thoroughly enjoying the fresh-cleaned fragrance outside, too. It's great to slip out today between squalls and admire how well the transplanted ground cover in my perennial beds are thriving. June is the main flowering period for these.

Hope *your* Sunday is serene.

I enjoyed The Stranger Diaries as well, Sandy, but not as much as the Ruth Galloway series. I guess this will be a series as well?

I really like the Maisie Dobbs series; I think the intuition part gets less as the series goes on...or maybe it just seems to make more sense? That part never bothered me.

I hope all your plants survive.

>122 richardderus: Thanks RD. 3½ ★s is not really a mediocre book, it usually means a range from It was OK until the plot bogged down with too much of ... something (like backstory; or telling-not-showing) ~ to ~ It was fine but I wouldn't read it again.
As you probably know, I also am not much into the woo-woo end of psychology, although (perhaps inconsistent?) I enjoy well-written 'magical' adventures.

>124 BLBera: Hi Beth. I am a great RG fan, despite the criticisms I lob at the stories. There's something especially appealing about Ruth and the involvement of forensic science.

I have often thought of collecting the series because it pops up in our lovely Westgate Books shop (a secondhand store in town). This is a high accolade on my part because I am mostly culling my fiction collection. So far, I've resisted due to knowing the library copies are always there for me to request.

Re Maisie D ~ I'm a bit 'meh' about the story at the moment, but will likely soldier on with the series when the physical part of the library opens again. I'm not that big a fan of e-Books.

Thank re the plant survival. They sure look bedraggled this afternoon. I went and had a look between deluges. More rain predicted tomorrow. Of course, typically clearing overnight... the temps will plunge.

>121 SandyAMcPherson: HI Sandy. You are in for a treat with The Round House. i hope you like it when you get to it. It was a really great book for me.

>126 mdoris: I'm sorry that I can't borrow an e-Book copy on Overdrive.

I like reading on my Kobo reader. I've discovered that "Cloud Library" has a different set of e-Books but of course you can't download the e-pub. So it's a case of waiting for the physical book access.

Some children's stories being discussed on Judy's thread, which reminded me of how timeless some stories have become.

I recently sent a stack of our archived kids' books that have reappeared as appealing to my granddaughter. Reading in the time of the 2020 plague has become a top activity.



Trixie Belden was a flop for me as a kid but I saw it in the stored kids' book box. It must have persevered through culling because one of my kids read some and ultimately, I left it to them to decide where the books were going to live.

The Bobbsey Twins (as well as Enid Blyton adventures) were popular when I was around 9 or 10 years old. I devoured Nancy Drew mysteries around the same time, too. Those Carolyn Keene books have long since gone to the book shops for trade credit.

I see some of the B-Twins are the newer lavender covers but mine are those older ones, especially The Bobbsey Twins at the Seashore and the one about Blueberry Island. Those were favourites, I guess. I took a stacked photo to refresh everyone's mind about what was still in storage at our house. Trixie ended up in my culled books bag for the second hand shop!

I really hope you enjoy Sweetgrass & Motorcycles when you get to it. It's such a fun read. Oh yes, The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, even the Hardy Boys when I was desperate. I read a few Trixie Belden books, but like you, I was not that keen on them. Even worse was an old series that mom had enjoyed, featuring Honey Bunch . I did enjoy Enid Blyton and many other authors. but some were not to my taste. I even recall reading Cherry Ames , some sort of nurse series that my mom had as a child. Some would not pass the political correctness test these days, but who knew as a youngster?

Oh, I should add, as avid Maisie Dobbs fan, that the woo - woo more or less disappears as the series goes on. The romance aspect lessens as well. But your mileage may vary.

I too devoured the Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew, also at about the same age. It's great that your granddaughter is enjoying them. When my daughters were young I tried to get them interested in some of my childhood favorites, but they didn't always stand the test of time. I remember being really surprised they didn't love the Little House books like I did. But hey, at least they grew up to be readers and I'm happy with that.

Hi Sandy!

>123 SandyAMcPherson: Thank you for the garden update. Sorry that the weather hasn't cooperated at the beginning of the growing season. My Sunday was mostly serene - watched too much TV with Bill (Breaking Bad, final season) and leftovers for supper.

>125 SandyAMcPherson: I read the first Maisie Dobbs and then bailed. There were a couple of anachronisms that irritated me and it just didn’t work. Too many books, too little time!

>128 SandyAMcPherson: I hope the books work for your granddaughter. I, too, devoured all the Nancy Drew books I could get my hands on and still have a few of the yellow-spine versions from the mid-1960s that I bought with my allowance money. I’ve also got some of the 1930s editions, all sans dust jackets. I’m almost afraid to read them again. I’ve got a few of my MiL’s Bobbsey Twins books from the 1930s.

>129 vancouverdeb: Hi Deb. Thanks for the feedback on the Maisie Dobbs series.
Sometimes authors try out an idea; perhaps Winspear dropped it because it wasn't working for her either. Yes, I am looking forward to my hold request for Motorcycles & Sweetgrass. It won't be long, I'm at place #1 now. Most of my other holds are weeks away!

>130 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. I agree, it's fun to see our young family members enjoying the childhood favourites.

The oldest books that were from my mother's day (like Heidi) were really boring and the tone was surprisingly preachy-religious when I tried reading it to my grandchildren.
Some of my childhood favourites certainly didn't stand the test of time either. I gave them to my elder daughter because the illustrations were such good representatives of 1940's and '50's style. Some were even older because of the family book hand-me-downs. She uses them in her art history classes.

>131 karenmarie: Hi Karen. "Everyone" is spending a lot of time on social media I guess.
I'm happy to benefit from lots of visitors this morning (well, lots for me).

Lots of different impressions and enthusiasm for Jaqueline Winspear's Dobbs series. I'm glad I tried out a couple.
I'm very fond of the "vintage" setting for female detective mysteries. I stalled out on the Iona Whishaw books when the library closed.
Deb (vancouverdeb) says to be sure about reading them in order, but only the later ones are available as e-Books.

I've no reason to ignore my unread books off my shelf now ~ my wait times for Overdrive loans are quite long (except for what I told @#132 Deb).
Back before Christmas last year, I was able to buy several Penelope Lively novels with my trade credit at the used books shop. Christmas gift books arrived so I have read only one of them (Perfect Happiness, which I just realised - I never reviewed it)!

I think I will put Oleander, Jacaranda: A Childhood Perceived on the bedside table top to prompt me. I may have to re-read P-H because I'm staring at the cover and not remembering one single thing about it! This is why I have taken to reviewing my books right after every one is finished.

Hi Sandy! I love your opening images. I've starred your thread and hope to be a regular visitor.

Hi Sandy! I'm just dropping by to say hello. Catching up in a sort of wimpy way, without stopping long enough to make comments, but I should be back up to snark in a day or two.

Sandy, I always enjoy your thread.

Way back at >71 SandyAMcPherson: I forgot to add that my overall collection is close to 11,000 books spread here there and everywhere and I have still to read a little over 4,000 of them.

I think it was group member, Prue, who put me onto Anne Tyler.

Yet another author that we both enjoy. Penelope Lively. But I've just read How it All Began , Family Album and Moon Tiger.

Hey, Linda -- I'm pleased to welcome you here. Drop by anytime.
Lately, I'm hit and miss about being regularly on the LT threads. I've been quite focused on catching up in the garden work. We've had a disappointingly cold spring and now everything is taking off, so it's a case of beating the impending summer heat to transplant started vegetables and divide the overgrown perennials that *should* have been looked after last year!

>136 quondame: Hi Susan. I saw on your thread that you've been through some electrical failures and internet connectivity has been affected. Looking forward to some wonderful snarks when you're in a more relaxed frame of mind! Thanks for touching base here.

>137 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. That's a mighty amazing library you've got. Hope you will get to Anne Tyler again. I haven't worked my way very far up the e-Book queue to anticipate my next Tyler book-read. Our PL system is having the same problem so many others have mentioned ~ an expanded patron base requesting digital versions.

>139 vancouverdeb: Hi Deb. yes, we do share a liking for many of the same authors. How it All Began is one of my favourite P. Lively novels. I've not read Moon Tiger.

Book #64 Motorcycles & Sweetgrass (Drew Hayden Taylor)

~

This was an amusing, almost tongue-in-cheek adventure on the Otter Lake reserve of the Anishnawbe in Ontario. While the beginning was a bit rocky, related to kids being scooped for residential school, the story flashed forward to the present, becoming intriguing, mysterious and realistic at the same time.

The characters were so adroitly shown in the narrative that it was simply delightful to get to know them and go with the flow, a touch of myth and magic, a slightly cynical flavour of white politics messing around with Indians and their traditions. It was great!

Edited: touchstones report "Problem. There is no work with that reference number."

So I went with a copy/paste of the title from Deb's thread (where I had the BB). The touchstone now gives me a different edition, but I guess that doesn't matter. Except that it kind of bugs me!

So glad you enjoyed Motorcycles & Sweetgrass, Sandy! Such a fun book, but with a message too.

>144 vancouverdeb: Actually Deb, I found (for me anyway) that Taylor didn't deliver a very clear message. It was diluted somewhat by the 'John' persona dithering around, especially with his antics at the end.

While it was patently obvious what he was planning (re the night-time visit to the museum), and I *had* figured out he was coyote, the Trickster, the underlying theme was a bit murky. My takeaway: there was a point to the novel about the effect(s) of modern society on traditional values, made evident more by Maggie's difficulties in the Band council than anything else. At least that's what I took away. I guess it all depends on our experiences with Native versus Eurocentric traditions.

Book #65 Miles, Mystery & Mayhem (Lois McMaster Bujold)

~

Bujold's writing is superb but this trilogy of stories within the novel was difficult to enjoy. Clearly one has to read from the beginning of the Vorkosigan saga, starting (if I understood correctly) with Falling Free or maybe Shards of Honor? I do find alien worlds in science fiction a challenge to mentally embrace and just "go with the flow". I was especially hung up on getting through Ethan of Athos. The novel lay untouched for several weeks while I coped with that section and mostly skimmed to try for a sense of where the plot was going.

Aside from that, I liked many of the scenarios developed in the book: there were clever characterisations of the strange beings on different worlds and unique interpretations of biotechnological advances. I enjoyed the Miles character and even Ivan was engaging in his way. But I'm not so keen on being wrapped up in meanness, unremitting insidious plots which in the end, didn't make much sense to me, didn't have a feeling of resolution and lead to only more stories.

I know there are Bujold stories I have enjoyed (Curse of Chalion for instance) and her world-building is excellent, but I suspect further Vorkosigan series are not book titles in my future.

>146 SandyAMcPherson:: Possibly this book qualifies for Readgret, à la this definition.

Oh my, did you start with this omnibus, Sandy???? Definitely not the place. You can start with either Shards of Honor OR Warrior's Apprentice. All of these are side stories, outside of the major story line for the most part, and it's no wonder you got no sense of the ongoing development of the series from this sampling. Please try one of the two entry books before giving up. Probably the first.

>147 SandyAMcPherson: Starting with Memory or even perhaps Mirror Dance the entire tone changes and the series of Memory, Komarr and A Civil Campaign is something unparalleled in science fiction. Heartbreak, humor, love, adventure, mystery all take the stage without any upstaging going on. Well and some insidious plots, but some of our guys do a share of the plotting.

>148 ronincats: Yes, what Roni says!

>148 ronincats:, >149 quondame: Thanks for straightening me out.
I have a feeling someone already mentioned that I was going to have trouble getting into the book because it was a leap into the void (needing the previous stories). I didn't even realise I had an omnibus until I ran aground on the "Ethan of Athos."

I've copied the links from both posts to my notes in the private comments section of my book's catalogue entry. So great to have you share the knowledge for reading Bujold. She has impressed me before, so good to know how to proceed.

>146 SandyAMcPherson:, >148 ronincats:, >149 quondame: I know nothing about these books, but Sandy, since we've chatted about LT's new Series feature, this is a good example of how it works.

I clicked on Shards of Honor, which led me to two series:
Vorkosigan: Publication Order
Vorkosigan: Chronological Order (a reordering of the above)

In both of these you can see the books considered part of the "Core" series. The book you read is listed under "Collections and Selections", i.e.; omnibus editions and various other "offshoots" not part of the Core*. I'm sure fans of the series can elaborate on reasons for reading in either publication or choronological order, but both of these series listings might help you chart your path.

-------
* much of the current editing that LTers are doing with the new series is focused on improving the accuracy of the Core and the Collections and Selections parts of series. Roni and Susan would be able to say whether these sections look accurate for this particular series.

I loved Moon Tiger - Lively is one of my favorites.

Hi Sandy! Hope you're recovering from your nasty case of readgret. It does make one's storytummy hurt, no?

Spend a splendid Saturday.

>148 ronincats: when Bujold was recommended I first read Falling Free, which I enjoyed, then Shards of Honor, which I loved. I also loved Barrayar, more so than the next one, The Warrior's Apprentice.

>146 SandyAMcPherson: I also loved Curse of Chalion, don't give up on Bujold yet. I recommend Shards of Honor next.

>143 SandyAMcPherson: I must have been hit by the same BB as I already have the book in the BlackHole.

Happy weekend, Sandy!

>145 SandyAMcPherson: Sandy, I'll be honest, I read Sweetgrass & Motorcycles , so long ago, that beyond remembering that I had so much fun reading it , I can't remember if it had a message or not, or any of the details. Just that I really loved it.

>151 lauralkeet: Yes, indeed. I even looked at the series choices.
And I've noted Susan's and Roni's comments (@148, 149) on the catalogue page in my LT library.
I think it was Susan that originally suggested that the 'Private Comments' box was useful for such notations.

I just can't believe how slow I was to join LT. I knew about it from family member back in 2008 and just could see the point (at the time...).

>152 BLBera: There's lots of love on LT (or, perhaps I should say on the 75-er threads) for Penelope Lively.

>153 richardderus: and >154 fuzzi: Thanks for the comforting and the encouragement to soldier on.
Now that I've got the recommends from Laura and Susan, I'm okay with why the book at >146 SandyAMcPherson: was difficult for me. I snagged the novel at a thrift shop strictly on the basis of the author, so I wasn't prepared for where/what the story was going to drop me into.

>155 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. Hope you can find the book in your blackhole! It's a fairly quick read and easy on the nervous system!

>156 vancouverdeb: Hey Deb, maybe re-read Sweetgrass & Motocycles again. It is timely and as I just said to Stasia ^^^ gentle on the angst.

Book #66 Park Avenue Summer (Renée Rosen)

~

There was something in the description (by the publisher) that must have snagged my interest in reading this story ~ the NYC publishing scene in the mid-1960's. Perhaps the resurrection of a woman's magazine by the controversial author, Helen Gurley Brown was the hook. I'd never read her book (Sex and the Single Girl) but her fight with the Hearst board to revitalise the failing Cosmopolitan publication piqued my curiosity. And set me up for an unrealistic expectation of the novel.

The story was less about HGB editing a woman's magazine (originally, heavily overseen by men), and more about one of her secretarial staff's life and relationships. It was an okay-plot, if you wanted to read about Alice Weiss' coming-of-age journey in her dream of professional photography. It was a bit tedious reading about HGB's meltdowns, the 2-dimensional-characters of the other staff, not to mention ploughing through Alice's faltering relationship with the infamous Erick. Although Christopher Mack was a diverting fellow (and had an interesting backstory), the book was more about Alice, and her difficult family backstory playing forward into these various personalities rather than all the betrayals and 'back-room' machinations by Cosmo's publisher.

I felt there could have been so much more depth to the book and was disappointed at how flat the ending was (in terms of the following magazine issues being left in limbo, for one thing). There was a lot of meat left behind, in that only briefly was the actual history mentioned of what made HGB's editorial start at Cosmo so fraught. References to the sabotage to keep the new editor from succeeding were made, but that theme was never developed.

To be fair, Rosen writes well enough and if the story were judged on its actual content (rather than my expectations), then it is probably a very enjoyable read. I just cannot embrace a book that was so fluffy while seeming to be provocative in promising insights of the historical watershed tat radically altered Cosmopolitan in the 1960's and '70's.

>159 SandyAMcPherson: oh that's too bad. The story you hoped for (about HGB editing a women's magazine) would have been really interesting. Hope your next read is more satisfying.

>160 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. Thanks, I'm aiming to do something about my reading choices these days. Too many of my reads this year have been 3-star rated. Might be related to subliminal a stress/anxiety mental space and not the actual books!

I was mooching around last night looking for a mystery "available now" in the PL's Overdrive listings. I have some promising holds, but these requests are well down the queue. In the meantime, I've just borrowed a Martha Grimes oldie, Book 16, The Lamorna Wink.

I haven't read a Richard Jury novel in at least 20 years! This far into the series hopefully won't be a problem because I have no memory of the earlier mysteries in the series. Besides, it seems there are no e-Books going back to the "year dot" anyway (Martha Grimes' year dot, that is).

I hope you are off to the start of a good week. Have the folks in Philadelphia settled down now? I know the social problems won't have been resolved; but I sure hope in your 'bubble' some normalcy has returned.

Sandy, our immediate "bubble" has returned to normalcy, which is nice. Peaceful protests/marches have continued in a more central part of the city, especially since City Council and the Mayor are currently discussing budget priorities. But normal pandemic life has resumed, thanks for asking!

>158 SandyAMcPherson: Unfortunately my local library does not have a copy!

Hi Sandy! I hope you have a good day and a good weekend. Any update or photos of the vegetable garden?

Happy Friday, Sandy! I hope you had a good week and I hope those books are treating you fine.

Hope you have some good reading this weekend, Sandy.

Hi Sandy, I loved seeing your picture of your children's books at >128 SandyAMcPherson:. Great reading memories.

I have been slowly working my way through the Vorkosigan series and I am a huge fan. I was lucky enought to have Roni's guidance and so I started with Shards of Honor and was hooked immediately. It's a great series.

>164 karenmarie: No vegetable garden photos worth posting. We've had the most unseasonably cold June in my memory (having lived here since 1986)! Tons of rain this past few days, which is normal for June; *but* not the really chill overnight temperatures. So everything is very slow to establish.

However, I did promise Amaryllis photos, so I should see to that right away. We kept the bulbs inside to stop the ferocious winds from shredding the leaves.

>166 ronincats: Hi Roni. I have some book reviews to post. Nothing that I felt was a 4 or 5 star read, though. I seem to be picking stories that have too much negative aspects. And like many folks, maybe I'm over-wrought so more sensitive right now. I should read some non-fiction maybe-perhaps.

>167 DeltaQueen50: Glad you enjoyed seeing the kids' book covers. Thanks for encouraging me on the Vorkosigan series. I am an admirer of Bujold, that's for sure.

I promised awhile back, to post the Amaryllis in bloom. There are 5 bulbs in one pot: 3 are a variety named Candy Stripe and 2 called Ruby.

What was amazing about "Ruby" this time, were the 5 blooms on one flower stalk. Normally, there are 4 and they open in pairs, so that at any one time each flower stalk has only 2 blooms (in my experience, anyway). And never have I had all the bulbs blooming at once, but this time 3 produced flowers. No, I have no idea how that happened!

and

>170 SandyAMcPherson: gorgeous!

A neighbor down the street had a bunch of red amaryllis around his mailbox. When the house was sold the new owner dug them up and discarded them all...except for a half a tuber I found by the road while walking my dog.

I planted the half a tuber and hoped. Several years later I have a nice little bunch that bloom every Spring.

>170 SandyAMcPherson: Amaryllis like it cold? They grew best inside my Texas house when I oversummered them in my a/c closet. But then again, so did I.

Such beautiful amaryllis, Sandy. Red is one of my favorite colors (purple is the other). Yours are really nice.

>172 richardderus: AC can be such a blessing.

>170 SandyAMcPherson: Wow! Gorgeous!

>170 SandyAMcPherson: - Beautiful!

Hi Sandy. Just trying to catch up as best I can. >128 SandyAMcPherson: sure rings those old nostalgia bells for me! I read them all, plus, of course, the Nancy Drews. I no longer have them of course (my originals) but for nostalgia's sake I did buy a few Nancy Drews at the used bookstore a few years ago, just to have on my shelf. Weird, I know.

>170 SandyAMcPherson: - I adore amaryllis. I usually only put one bulb in a pot. The bulbs usually (in my experience) produce 2 stems, and 4 flowers per stem. I bought one 2 years ago that produced 3 stems and 5 flowers per stem! It was a stunner. I tried to overwinter the bulb and grow it again the next year but nothing happened. I have never had luck growing them a second year. I know many people do, and I followed the instructions from the people at the garden centre, but I just never succeed, so I end up buying new bulbs every year.

I am partial to the pink and white but have had the red ones too.

Despite working as a gardener's assistant during my student days, I don't have very green fingers but tending a garden is good exercise actually, with sometimes splendid results.

>46 SandyAMcPherson: !!!!

>74 fuzzi: yeah I read the Kurtz "historically" but found the writing so impossibly klunky, painful. Such a shame with so many great ideas.

>76 SandyAMcPherson: It's about his time teaching at Sarah Lawrence, my alma mater. Mary McCarthy was . . . a difficult person (understatement). So, yeah, I read it. I love Jarrell's poems and I'm always fascinated by novels by poets, they hardly ever have a plot of any kind but have amazing writing a strange but interesting characters.

Ohh, gorgeous amaryllis, Sandy. I just have a hanging basket of deep purple petunias, and a container of pansies.

I got lost in the wildness of glorious June weather, especially with so much happening in our gardening-horticultural world. It was really time to stay off the internet for a while, and enjoy puttering with not a lot of brain power. I was feeling like Winnie-the-Pooh, the bear with very little brain, according to A.A. Milne.

I'm increasingly discovering how much I am not a social-media person because my ability to stay abreast of all the reading and discussion here seems so difficult. My kids love posting several times times a day on various platforms, none of which I follow. I told my family ages ago that if I get to my personal e-mail with news, count it as a plus.

This by way of saying ~ I love everyone's visits and comments. It's not a personal thing that I'm slow to reappear! So --- to catch up --- here we go:

>171 fuzzi: Hi Fuzzi. Nice story about the resilience of an Amaryllis half-bulb. You must have a wonderful climate for these.

>172 richardderus: Hi RD. Re the temps: Nope. ~ Amaryllis like a warm climate that has a mid-summer dry spell. I've always summered my plants on the back veranda and let them dry down naturally by the autumn. We have to shelter them in the garage if the wind sets up a ruckus or the nights threaten to go below 7 or 8 oC. And of course we put the dormant bulbs in our basement for the winter. Not that you asked for all this detail, I'm being overly chatty.

>173 lauralkeet: Laura, you and my spousal unit ! He loves the red-ruby the best. I've never seen a purple Amaryllis. Sounds gorgeous.

>174 quondame: Hi Susan. We've had some 30+ (Celsius) and for us, quite humid weather, so yes indeed. AC is totally a gift here. We may need to run it only sporadically, but I'm so grateful because we get these hot, still nights with no breeze, so even when it finally cools, the air just sits there outside the open window. I often put a fan in the spare room facing outwards to suck the air in through the window in the bedroom. Nicer than waitiing for the AC to cool the house.

>175 mdoris:, >176 lkernagh:, >177 jessibud2:, >178 PaulCranswick:, >179 sibylline:, >180 vancouverdeb: ~ thanks for dropping by. Glad you enjoyed the Amaryllis.

They're kind of "in your face" flowers, aren't they? In a showy sense, they would make an astounding effect if the bulbs were massed like the Keukenhof Garden's display. But I'm not sure such large flowers would survive our strong winds. June is the start of tornado season.

I'm off to post what I hope is a treat for you all ~ a summer thread and some book reviews.

>181 SandyAMcPherson: in eastern NC we have hot and humid summers, but often get dry spells in August, just before hurricane September. 😉

Heading over to your new thread...