Laura (lauralkeet)'s 75 in 2020 - Part 4

Mary Cassatt, 1844-1926 (self portrait, c.1880) | Summertime, c.1894

After a brief diversion for spring flowers, I’m back to highlighting Philadelphia artists and their work. This thread stars Mary Cassatt.

Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was born into a wealthy family near Pittsburgh, and they moved to Philadelphia when she was six. Her family believed in travel as an integral part of education, but objected when Mary’s travels led her to choose art as a profession. Mary began taking classes at the Pennsylvania Academy the Fine Arts at the age of fifteen. This also exposed her to feminism and other new ways of thinking. She first moved to Paris in 1866 with her mother as chaperone, and settled there permanently in 1871. Mary became a friend of Edgar Degas (1834-1917) and they enjoyed a long period of collaboration. Cassatt paid particular attention to portraying images of the “new” women, and supported the suffrage movement. A series of ailments forced Cassatt to give up painting in 1914.
Source: Mary Cassatt, Wikipedia




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) | Part 3 (books 20-35)

Books completed (click on “details" to jump to my comments)
June
36. The Bluest Eye - details
37. In the Shadow of Power - details
38. The Round House - details
39. How to be an Antiracist - details
40. The Furies - details
41. Love Among the Ruins - details
42. In the Name of Truth - details

July
43. Clementine - details
44. The Memory of Old Jack - details
45. The Stone Circle - details
46. Leave it to Psmith - details
47. Sula - details
48. The Priory - details
49. A Burning - details
50. Hamnet - details
51. The Heart's Invisible Furies - details

Series Progress

Active series as of June 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 - March
* Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne - May
* Sandhamn Murders - June

Series started in 2020:
* Lymond Chronicles, by Dorothy Dunnett
* Love Medicine, by Louise Erdrich
* Blandings Castle Novels, by P.G. Wodehouse

Series abandoned in 2020:
* tbd

The Heart’s Invisible Furies | The Five

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



The Source of Self-Regard

Newsy Bits

It’s weird how a stay at home order can start to feel normal. Some things that were really difficult at first -- like grocery pickup and delivery -- are now working more smoothly. And after spending two months with us in Philadelphia, my daughters are now returning to Brooklyn. Their stay has been good for all of us, and we will actually take away some special memories from this time together. My book groups and knitting group are still meeting over Zoom, and just last week I met up with some knitting friends (outdoors, with masks). It was so nice to see them -- it was the first in-person social thing I’ve done since mid-March. On June 5, our stay at home order will be lifted along with some of the other restrictions. We are watching this with caution.

In May, I finished the course I was taking at The Rosenbach, Blueprints for Healing: Toni Morrison and the Balm of Black Women Writing. It was excellent and has inspired me to read more of Toni Morrison’s work. I started her essay collection, The Source of Self-Regard, a few weeks ago. I read the first third of the book and set it aside for a bit. The essays in the next section are about "black matters," and are longer, denser, and more challenging. I’ve had difficulty concentrating enough to get through them. Nevertheless, I think they are important so I hope to find a way to get back to them soon. George Floyd’s murder and its aftermath have me thinking, not for the first time, about actions I can take in my own (very small) circle of influence. Reading to educate myself is one way. Supporting black-owned businesses and donating to organizations that are doing important work are also a start.

Back to reading, inspired by my course: I also intend to read all of Morrison’s novels in order of publication. I’ve read a few already, so I’m calling this my ...

Toni Morrison Catch Up Project
Below is a list of her novels, with those I plan to read in bold.

The Bluest Eye, 1970 (read June 2020)
Sula, 1973 (read July 2020)
Song of Solomon, 1977 (read in 2005, plan to re-read)
Tar Baby, 1981
Beloved, 1987 (read Jan 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

Happy new one, Laura. I hope it's not too soon?

I'd be interested in reading Tar Baby and Jazz with you. Those are two I haven't read. I liked the second half of The Source of Self-Regard best. I did read the essays over a couple of months.

I imagine you will miss your daughters.

>1 lauralkeet: I loved this novel about the Cassatt sisters, Laura:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lydia-Cassatt-Reading-Morning-Paper/dp/0452283507/ref=s...

>4 lauralkeet: I have at least two of Morrison's novels still to read. Sula and Tar Baby. I've read Beloved several times, and want to reread both The Bluest Eye and Song of Solomon.

Happy new thread, Laura.

>2 lauralkeet: I liked the snapshot of your series tracking.

>2 lauralkeet: I keep meaning to copy you on the series tracking. Yet another project in case I run out of things to do. LOL

>4 lauralkeet: Love the Morrison project--she is so good. : ) We have read pretty much the same ones.

Happy new thread!!!

Happy new one, Laura!

I hope The Bluest Eye will be as good a read for you as it was for me.

Hellloooo to Beth, Caro, and Paul!

Beth & Caro, I would love to have company as I make my way through Morrison's novels. I don't have any specific timeframe in mind; I was planning to read them as the mood strikes. But I'm reading The Bluest Eye right now and will probably get to Sula fairly soon, since I already have a copy of it. Anyway, I'll post updates here and also reach out to you about co-reading opportunities.

Caro, thank you for recommending the Lydia Cassatt book. It looks like my library has an audio version, and print and Kindle editions are available on Amazon US. I'll keep it in mind, thanks!

Paul, I'm glad you like my little series spreadsheet. It's cropped to show only my "active" series. Not pictured are series that I have abandoned, or that are complete and not likely to see any new releases (either because the author declared it "done" or the author is no longer living). M. Proust is an exception, since I just finished his work this year, but at some point I'll move that row down the list.

Speaking of series ... if you receive the "State of the Thing" newsletter you'll know that LT is overhauling the series feature. The current Talk thread about it states, The "phase one" release will have a number of important features, including conceiving of series as single entities with names in different languages, a distinction between a series's "core" and other categories user specify, like omnibus editions. But it won't have certain key features, like "following" series. These are coming later, but soon.

I'm looking forward to seeing how this develops.

Ooh, and hello to Kim & Katie! The Bluest Eye is off to a great start; I've been marking pages with my little Book Darts. To think this was a debut novel ... my goodness she is amazing.

>11 lauralkeet: Not sure I can fit another book in right now, but keep posting your Morrison reads and I'll join in one of these days! I love Book Darts. I just ordered two refill packs for my little tin.

Oh, that's interesting news about the overhaul of the Series feature. Fingers crossed it will develop into something really useful!

That is interesting to hear about changes to the series feature.

What are book darts? Like post-its?

>12 Berly: My husband and I compete for the book darts. We had to order a refill too LOL.

>13 katiekrug: I hope so too, Katie.

>14 BLBera: Beth, Book Darts are used to mark pages, and what I like most about them (besides the cute tin they come in) is that you can position the dart anywhere on the page so it points to a specific passage. Here's a pic:



You can choose a specific metal (like bronze) or a mixed tin. They're available on Amazon, but you can also buy from the maker: https://www.bookdarts.com/shop/pc/home.asp

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

>10 lauralkeet: I will be interested to see how that turns out. I miss using FictFact for tracking series.

>16 drneutron: thanks Jim!

>17 ChelleBearss: me too, Chelle.

>15 lauralkeet: Cool. Thanks, Laura. I was thinking more along the lines of Post-its. I guess I will keep using those.

We ALL miss FictFact!

Hi Laura! I am catching up here. I agree with you that this is starting to feel like the new normal. I am extremely concerned about the reopening and of course about the heartbreaking racial injustice and related turmoil, but here in the Denver suburbs we're pretty sheltered from everything. I could happily stay at home all the time, but I am increasingly feeling very anxious about the girls going to school or back to school. We'll take Callia back to Oregon next week, and of course, Marina is headed to PA in August. I would like a Rapunzel tower for all of us, but understandably they are looking forward to getting on with their lives.

My TBR list has taken a bit hit between this thread and your last. You got me with Fidelity, Long Bright River, and A Spy Among Friends. I read another double agent book by Ben Macintyre last year: Agent Zigzag. It was a terrific story! I listened to it, but ended up getting a print copy from the library to peruse while reading and check out the photos.

Happy new thread, Laura. I love Mary Cassatt's work and the book arrows are adorable!!

Just stopping in. I do enjoy your series tracking charts a lot!

>20 AMQS: Hi Anne! I like the idea of a Rapunzel Tower. We absolutely loved having Kate and Julia with us for two months. We enjoyed one another's company with very little conflict, cooked some nice meals together, and got to know older daughter Kate's boyfriend Tyler better, and he's a keeper. We were also able to celebrate both Mother's Day and my husband's birthday as a family. This is all some consolation for having to scrap a family vacation to France that was planned for this month.

So now we're back to just the two of us, and I'm happy about that, too. I won't miss picking up the messes left in everyone's wake (mostly in the kitchen), and it's nice to have full use of the house including using any bathroom I want. 😂

I understand Marina is going to Dickinson College. Kate almost went there, but decided on Kenyon instead. I hope she has a wonderful experience.

>21 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba!

>22 sibylline: Hey Lucy, I'm rather fond of my series tracking and am glad you like it, too.

Hi Laura! Happy new thread.

From your last thread: Mudbound’s cover looked familiar, so I checked my catalog. It’s upstairs in Bill’s Media Room – I co-opted one of his bookcases earlier this year and my overflow ‘tbr’ books are up there. Sounds like something I should read soonish.

I’m glad Kate, Tyler, and Julia are going back home after such a successful visit. Glad you can use any bathroom you want again, too. *smile*

>2 lauralkeet: As others have said, that series tracking is supper great. I think it is the visual appeal that works so well for me.

Hope your part of the city is calm. It has been a worrying time.

>24 karenmarie: I'll be interested in your thoughts on Mudbound, Karen. In my memory there was a lot of hype around it when it was first released (c.2008), which can be a setup for disappointment, but I suppose enough time has passed that the hype factor had worn off. it was a good read.

>25 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy! Our part of the city was calm until Monday night, when a group of vigilantes gathered outside the police station to "protect the neighborhood." They harassed and became violent with protestors, and the police allowed that to go on for far too long. Philadelphia's mayor has publicly condemned their behavior. Tuesday night there was a peaceful demonstration, with another planned for tonight but we just had the mother of all thunderstorms come through, so that might affect those plans.

It has been a very worrying time.

Okay, folks, LT's "New Series" is live!

Here's the official announcement: Series Gets a Revamp

And discussion: "Main Topic" Talk thread

I have not even begun to digest this but I can tell I will want to play around with it.

Hi Laura,
Somewhere along the year I missed your thread and have missed chatting and following you. I just saw you over at the new series stuff and realized.
Good to see you!
I’m not exactly sure what the new series information does, but I’ll check with you if I have questions. I didn’t find the excel spreadsheet what I needed for my series after Fictfact died, mostly because my excel skills lack. I ended up making a collection called Series which allowed me to have them all in one place, and, to be able to see the rest of the books in the series with one click without having to enter them myself.

Hi Elizabeth!! I'm so happy to see you.

I've been hanging out on the new series threads today, and will keep watching to see how it evolves. This initial change appears to be mostly about how series are represented in LT. LT members can get involved in editing series details so they are better organized. As an example, series that are published in multiple languages should still be just one series, not separate series for each language. I have a few series like that in my library and did some editing to combine these overlapping series into a single series

Tim and the LT team say they will soon introduce the ability to "follow" a series which, among other things, would notify you when new books are released. This would fill a FictFact void for many of us. I'll report back as things develop!

>29 lauralkeet: So for a series like the Neopolitan Novels, there are 7 other series that 'overlap' which looks just like the books in other languages. I assume they should all be combined into one series. (It's a nice easy one because there has only ever been 4 books) Would you just go in and combine all of them into ?something. What would you call the series?
Is there anything else that needs to be adjusted? I wonder about language where that one was originally written in Italian. But most of the books on LT would be in English.
I'm sure none of this is hard, but I get very nervous about changing things until I know what I am really doing, and how it will affect things.

I was very excited to see the 'follow' feature coming!

>23 lauralkeet: Marina is going to Dickinson. She is really excited, and we are as well, though starting college in the age of COVID is terrifying. Among other things to consider...how do we get her there? We're focusing on the positive as Marina (and most young people) have had more than their share of negative these past few months.

>30 raidergirl3: Funny you mention the Neapolitan Novels, Elizabeth. I took a look at those last night, after having done some combining on a couple of mystery series (like Sandhamn Murders).

I *think* what you suggest is correct -- combining all of the series into one -- and it is also possible to note (on the Basic Info screen) that the books were originally written in Italian. I didn't do anything with the Neapolitan Novels last night because it looked intimidating but as of this morning I see the combining has been done.

>31 AMQS: I can understand your worry, Anne. I hope things go smoothly for Marina as she settles into Dickinson.

36. The Bluest Eye ()
Source: On my shelves

I’m having trouble finding words to do this book justice in a review. The Bluest Eye is the story of Pecola, a young black girl shunned by nearly everyone in her community, including her own family. She is consistently referred to as ugly, and longs for blue eyes in order to measure up to white standards of beauty. The non-linear narrative fleshes out Pecola’s story through side roads that delve into the lives of her mother and father, as well as other notable characters in her community.

The Bluest Eye was Toni Morrison’s debut novel, and while perhaps not as strong as her later work, her prose is still amazingly well crafted. I’m looking forward to continuing my “Toni Morrison Catch Up Project” to experience her developing talent.

>33 lauralkeet: - I always find it hard to say what I want to say about Morrison's novels. I hate to gush and descend into cliches, but they always wow me.

>27 lauralkeet: Thanks for the heads up on the new Series layout/logic. I use Series a lot, and at first glance this seems pretty good.

Sweet Thursday, Laura. Happy New Thread! I loved The Round House. I hope you feel the same. I also loved Mudbound. Did you see the Netflix adaptation? Good stuff.

>34 katiekrug: My problem exactly, Katie.

>35 karenmarie: I live to serve, Karen LOL! I've been having fun poking around and cleaning up the series I care about. Series had become unwieldy in the Common Knowledge section of LT. There are a surprising number of overlapping series that are really just variations on the same collection of books. It's clear they've given a lot of thought to the underlying data model, and in typical LT fashion the discussion on the threads is already leading to fixes and improvements. I'm looking forward to more features that build on this data.

>36 msf59: Thanks Mark! I just downloaded The Round House from my library this morning, and will start it soon, probably after I finish the mystery I'm reading right now. I haven't seen the Mudbound adaptation on Netflix. Is this the same one Katie called "ponderous"?! LOL.

Over the past two months, older daughter Kate perfected her sourdough baking, and when she returned to NYC left me with a bit of starter, a recipe, and some advice. I made my first loaf this week and it turned out great!



The only problem is that Chris keeps asking when I'm going to make another loaf. We still have half of this one left!!

The Bluest Eye is an amazing first novel, Laura. Great comments.

Good news about the new series stuff.

>38 lauralkeet: Yum.

The bread looks fantastic! I would like a slice slathered in Irish butter, thanks.

Yes, Mark and I are talking about the same adaptation. Poor, misguided Mark.... :-)

Laura, I may join you, or at least follow your lead, on the Toni Morrison catch-up. I like the idea of reading her work in order.

>39 BLBera: An amazing first novel indeed, Beth. I've read so many debut novels that are obviously an author's first work. Toni Morrison started off strong and just kept going!

>40 BLBera:, >41 katiekrug: Beth & Katie, you are welcome to help yourself to a little virtual bread with the slathering-on of your choice. 😀

>42 ffortsa: Sure Judy, go for it! I've enjoyed reading other authors' works in order (Both Elizabeth Taylor & Barbara Pym were year-long Virago Group reads). And with only 11 novels, the task is not too daunting.

>27 lauralkeet: I've been looking forward to this "New Series Revamp" ever since the idea was mentioned. I haven't explored it yet, but plan on going so when I can sit for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Did everyone notice also that there's an uploadImage option in the reply message boxes now?
I just saw that a couple days ago. I'm probably late to that party! I haven't figured out what the CH Links phrase means...

>44 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy! I noticed that feature and don't know what the phrase means, either. However, I just tried it for the first time and rather than posting the image here in a message, it just added it to my member gallery. Odd.

>38 lauralkeet: OK, now I'm sitting here drooling. Warm sourdough bread -- yum!! -- and yours looks wonderful. I've never been able to successfully bake bread so I'm in awe of those of you who can.

>43 lauralkeet: And I found The Bluest Eye sitting ignored on my bookshelf, actually in paper! Destiny.

>46 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba, I haven't done much bread making either and it's kind of fun!

>47 ffortsa: It's meant to be, Judy. Enjoy.

>45 lauralkeet: Yeah, I did try out that upload image option as well; then had to reselect the file to move it to the junk drawer. I hoped we were going to be able to post an image directly on a talk thread and bypass uploading it first to the junk drawer.

I saw you were on the New Series 1.0 Main Topic thread. I'm rather confused about all the rearrangements what with the originals, "selections" and the sequels in the series. I get that there's a plan to separate all the original authors from the subsequent books by follower on writers. But the old arrangement of series seem either to be missing or truncated.

I know this thread isn't the place to discuss the revamped series, but I also was very reluctant to post a general "I don't understand this at all" comment *sad face*

Is there a good link that you could post here (eventually) (or on my thread if you don't want it here)? I looked at the Commissario Montalbano, for example and it shows only 17 books (in English). Whereas, last week when Susan (quondame) was mentioning that she liked Camilleri's writing, I went to the series page and copied (as in copy/paste) the list (25 books) and saved it as a simple text file in my "Series Lists" folder.

>15 lauralkeet: I highly recommend Book Darts! They rock! Go get some everyone. : 0

>27 lauralkeet: Nice link, Laura. I had no idea LT had this series tracking feature -- I can't wait to use it!

>33 lauralkeet: I think I need to reread this one.

>38 lauralkeet: Yum!! Just Yum!

Happy Friday. : )

Oh, well done, you, on that bread. It looks amazing!

>51 scaifea: Thanks Amber. I'm going to start another loaf today. The recipe is easy to follow and not complicated, but there's a lot of down time between steps and it helps to map out a timetable that works for you. If I do the first step around noon, I can do the next step around 7pm, a couple more steps before bedtime, and then a final rise and baking in the morning. This morning we're using up the last of the loaf from the other day by making French Toast, yum!

>49 SandyAMcPherson:, >50 Berly: I'm happy to share what I know about series here, glad it's useful.

Sandy, I can understand getting bogged down in the Talk threads about the New Series feature. The folks chatting over there are ones who want to tinker with series at a detailed level, and as such they are posting detailed questions, sometimes about rather arcane matters. The LT staff are very involved in these discussions -- this is how they "crowdsource" improvements to LT, and it generally works well. But it's not a general Q&A thread, that's for sure! Personally, I want to clean things up so my series look good, and I'm following the New Series Best Practices thread to be part of discussions about how this feature should be used.

So, back to your "I don't understand this at all" comment. Let's start with LT's official announcement/blog post that I linked to upthread: Series Gets a Revamp

What questions do you have after reading that? How can I help?

Happy Newish Thread, Laura. Good to see Mary Cassatt up top - I think the appreciation for her art just keeps growing.

Your comment about the effect on your reading of tips from LTers reminded me how much I appreciate the same thing. Before LT, I'd find some very good reading on my own, and I'd read book reviews and book magazines and so on. But I've found the consistent quality of my reading has risen sharply since joining LT - thanks to our fellow LTers letting us know about standouts they've read.

Hi Joe, I'm happy to see you poking your head into my little corner of LT. I cannot imagine life without my LT pals and all of the book recommendations here. I totally agree the quality of my reading has risen, and has taken me into directions that I would never have found on my own. Long live LT!

>49 SandyAMcPherson: I'll have a look again. I did read that. That's why I specified the the Commissario Montalbano discrepancy. I have checked other series lists and to me, they don't seem nearly as clear as previously... I don't think I'm being a Luddite or reluctant to change type of person. Brain could be very foggy, of course...

>53 jnwelch: and >54 lauralkeet: Indeed. I agree that with me as well, my reading choices have increased in the number of new authors and seeing more recently-published book titles. Definitely more non-fiction and quality literature has entered my reading sphere. As Laura says, "Long live LT!"

>55 SandyAMcPherson: Sandy, I admit that I didn't look at the Commissario Montalbano series when you first posted it. But I just clicked through and it looks like LTers have been beavering away at it since you first looked. The "Core" series now contains 25 novels in English and 2 in Italian.

It's been ugly here this week. The Philadelphia police force had improved its reputation considerably since the late 1960s and 1970s, but this week's events exposed a culture of racism and use of force that has persisted to the present day. Our neighborhood (which admittedly is predominately white) regularly invites local police to neighborhood association meetings to report on crime and security concerns. There was a degree of collaboration and trust which was destroyed this week. People are pissed.

But here's something to smile about. I love this article about the owner of the new black woman-owned indie bookstore in my neighborhood, and how she engaged in this week's protests:
Harriett’s Bookshop owner hands out free books about black leaders during Philly marches

>57 lauralkeet: Hooray for the owner of Harriett's Bookshop!! What a great way to be proactive.

Sadly, I have still not read any Toni Morrison. I tried reading Beloved and just could not get through it. I would like to believe that I have grown as a reader since then, so I really need to read her books. Thank you for the reminder.

>57 lauralkeet: - What a great story about the bookshop owner.

We are headed out in an hour or so to a local march. I found out recently that our police department was involved in a terrible incident a few years ago and following it, a lot of reform was put in place in terms of training and accountability. It gives me hope that change can happen and can make a difference.

>57 lauralkeet: I love Harriet's bookshop. I'm off to order the Tubman book now. How lucky to have such an enterprise nearby Laura.

>58 alcottacre: Beloved was a reread for me, Stasia, and I got much more out of it this time around. I definitely recommend a second try.

>59 katiekrug: I'll watch your thread for a report on the march, Katie. Good for you for taking part!

>60 Caroline_McElwee: I'm impressed with how Jeannine (the owner of Harriett's) seems completely undaunted by the pandemic, which descended on us about a month after she opened her shop. Another program she sponsored was "Essentials for Essentials," where customers bought books for essential workers. It was a great idea that I was happy to support.

I love that the Indie bookshop has so much love in Philly. I sure hope Harriett's Bookshop survives these times and trials of social distancing and unrest. (The juxtaposition of adjectives in that previous is crazy, huh?)

>56 lauralkeet: Yes! I jumped the gun, I think. LT helpers are the greatest.

A disappearing act: for awhile there was a link in these thread reply boxes that supposedly allowed one to upload images more conveniently. I noticed last evening that the link disappeared. I guess it maybe needed re-programming? (I think I mentioned it in your thread didn't I Laura? I admit to being thoroughly lazy about figuring out where that conversation occurred).

Sandy, thanks for pointing out the disappearing act, which I hadn't noticed yet. And yes, you did mention it here -- I found it in >44 SandyAMcPherson:. In-thread image uploading would be a fabulous feature, so maybe someday we will be rewarded.

>63 lauralkeet: Thanks for sleuthing. I seem to lose track very easily of which thread and what I posted ...

Sleep deprivation! Did you see that link RD posted on Ellen's thread? The link points to an article about the metabolic effects of not getting enough sleep.

Hi Laura. You got me on your prior thread with Long Bright River.

Apparently, I have books from 333 series.... but that includes some that I have hardly processed as "series."

The images of the march in Philly today were remarkable! So many people peacefully protesting, demanding change. I love it.

I see that you are reading The Round House? I loved that one of Erdrich's. Of course, I love most of her works....

>65 EBT1002: Hi Ellen! I predict you will love Long Bright River. And I'm actually going to be starting The Round House today, so I'm glad to hear how much you enjoyed it.


Peaceful protest in Philadelphia - June 6, 2020

Yes, the images from today's march brought tears to my eyes. The past week has been so emotional, starting last Saturday with a peaceful protest that turned violent with significant property damage including two buildings gutted by fire. That night led to daily protests, nightly curfews, and shops boarded up everywhere. But by this weekend it seems people are coming together around Black Lives Matter and Defunding the Police. The current proposed city budget calls for an increase in police funding and dramatic cuts to many other city services including those for the homeless, public health, public defenders, and parks & recreation. Oh, and eliminating the city's arts & culture budget entirely. People are calling for changes to the budget and more public hearings before City Council votes. Our Mayor has traditionally been responsive to public pressure of this sort, so I am feeling hopeful today.

Morning, Laura. Happy Sunday. I love the image of the Philly protest. This is sure not slowing down. Looking forward to your thoughts on The Round House. I am heading out on a bird ramble. Grins...

That is such a great story about the owner of Harriett's bookshop.

I loved The Round House. And I've read it several times, and it holds up. Students generally love it as well. I think it's the best "newer" Erdrich.

>66 lauralkeet: Great image.

>67 msf59: Hey Mark, I hope you enjoyed your birding ramble. If your weather was anything like ours, you had a great day for it.

>68 BLBera: I've been doing other things today but am looking forward to diving into The Round House this evening. I chose it because it won awards, 75ers recommended it, and my library had a digital edition (so many of Erdrich's books aren't available on Kindle at all). I'm looking forward to it.

And yes, that is a great image isn't it?

37. In the Shadow of Power ()
Source: On my Kindle

I enjoy the Sandhamn Murder series because of its setting in the Swedish Archipelago, and its strong cast of characters. Over the series arc, the mysteries have become more sophisticated and suspenseful. But despite that, this seventh book was my least favorite. To begin with, it opens 5 years after the end of the previous book, and cliffhangers from that book have been neatly resolved “off camera.” I had to pause and make sure I hadn’t skipped a book. The murder mystery initially appeared to focus on an unidentified arson victim, but attention quickly transferred to the building’s owner, a newly-arrived outsider mixed up in shady business dealings and generally up to no good. Identifying the victim and the arsonist seemed to take a back seat, which just felt wrong.

In the author’s note, Viveca Sten acknowledges that this book was difficult for her to write due to personal circumstances at the time. The 5-year time lapse also coincides with the time between published books, which makes me wonder whether the decision to bring her characters up to the present day was a function of the delay, or a convenient way to move beyond certain plot developments. Either way, I think I’ll just write this book off to Sten’s circumstances during the creative process and move on to the eighth book, which was recently released in English.

Hi Laura - the protest photos from Philly are amazing. What a crowd. I think the overwhelming majority of these events has been peaceful, although the media focuses on the violence because it makes better TV. My youngest son just moved to DC and he says the protests have a very uplifting feeling.

>71 vivians: Vivian, I agree most of the protests -- or, at least, the most recent ones -- have been peaceful. Philly had considerable vandalism and violence at first, and there was some real ugliness in our immediate neighborhood about a week ago. But fortunately that has abated. Let's hope all of this leads to meaningful change.

I've updated my Currently Reading post (>3 lauralkeet:) to include How to be an Antiracist, which I started today. I'm setting aside the Toni Morrison essays for a bit, because I wanted something that spoke more directly to recent events. And it turns out we already had it on our shelves -- my husband bought and read it some time ago.

I'm also deep into The Round House, which is excellent, so I'll probably read these books concurrently.

The other day I briefly started the audio version of Daisy Jones and the Six for one of my RL book clubs. I don't normally "do" audiobooks, but Bonnie recently reported that she greatly enjoyed the audio version of this and likely wouldn't have finished the print edition. I listened to about an hour of it and for some reason it hasn't grabbed me so unless someone here convinces me otherwise, I'm probably going to abandon it.

>70 lauralkeet: Wow, you're way ahead of me on the Sten books! Sorry to hear #7 wasn't the best. I am just about to start #3.

>73 lauralkeet: I am on Chapter 4 in How to be an Antiracist and just put two quotes from it on my thread.

>73 lauralkeet: I've just nudged How to be an Antiracist up the pile, and will start it this week.

Most of the protests in the UK have been peaceful, and I wasn't unhappy to see the statue of a slave trader dragged down and pushed into the harbour, although I do agree with those who felt it shouldn't still have been there in the first place.

Happy Wednesday, Laura. Our Arboretum finally opened up, so it was nice spending a few hours, hiking and birding those lovely trails. How to be an Antiracist is high on my TBR list. I also enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six on audio but it is definitely much lighter fare, than I generally read.

>73 lauralkeet: I liked the quotes on your thread, Kim, and I am also learning a lot from the book. I like the way Kendi begins each chapter with two very clear definitions, and also how he weaves his personal history into each chapter.

>74 Berly: Caro, until this week I had no idea slave traders had been remembered with statues. There's a lot of focus here on anything that glorifies the Confederacy, which I think has overshadowed similar issues elsewhere.

>76 msf59: I'm glad you can get back to your Arboretum, Mark. Chris and I are thinking about visiting one of the larger parks here, that has tons of trails. We will probably do so on a weekday since there should be fewer people. That's just another thing you can look forward to in 11 10 weeks!

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



Last night there was another peaceful gathering outside our neighborhood police station. There was ugliness in this spot last week, which drew attention to local police behavior. This was followed by a peaceful march led by a pastor. The pastor organized last night's event, to create this street mural. I understand they had permission to do so, but only temporarily, and it may already be gone by this morning. Still, I thought it looked cool.

I was thinking that your area of Philadelphia might have some tough moments during these protests. Glad that has subsided. And I hope the city budget is reversed so that the supportive functions are refunded. Our mayor has announced something like that, but we'll see how much of it happens.

I've only read the first of the Viveca Sten books. Right now I've started the Dublin Murder Squad premiere book, liking it very much.

>66 lauralkeet: Hi Laura, and thanks for posting the incredible photo of the march in Philadelphia. What an image!

I am so glad that the protests are peaceful!

>78 ffortsa: Hi Judy, there's been some progress on the city budget this week. Council sent the Mayor a letter requesting several police reforms. The Mayor responded positively and also agreed to freeze the police department's budget rather than increase it, with intent to reallocate that increase.

Also, I loved the Dublin Murder Squad series*. I wonder if she's planning any more?

>79 Whisper1: Hello Linda! Nice to see you here. It does seem that recent events will lead to change in various ways. Probably not fast enough, but still beneficial.

~~~~~

* Pro tip: with the new Series feature, you can now create a series touchstone by enclosing the name in three square brackets (just like a book title, but with two more brackets).

>80 lauralkeet: Thanks for the tip. I'm a little confused by the Series list of my books. I see some have duplicate entries - are they being consolidated? And some that I didn't even consider a series are marked as such. Maybe I should explore that. You seem to be deep in the mechanics of this site. Any advice aside from the brackets?

>81 ffortsa: The New Series were initially created from the Old Series, which were user-generated in the Common Knowledge section of each work. It was very free-form. And they were messy -- anyone could create a series, which is great, but that led to lots of duplication and inconsistency.

New Series used the Common Knowledge data as a starting point (and maybe some other sources? not sure), and added more structure to the underlying database. Now, as often happens with LT features, interested LTers are working to make it better by removing duplicates, combining, and even deleting things that weren't really series to begin with. There's also lively discussion about best practices for how to manage a number of different aspects of series. Historically this approach has resulted in improvements to the data and to the feature itself, and I would expect the same here with time.

I dove into this initially to address issues with series that are in my library, but I'm not in as deep as some and my series are not very complex. I have not been as active in the discussions in recent days. Anyone on LT can get involved, there are no special privileges required, but I know that's not for everyone and that's okay! You can also just keep an eye on your series, note anything that seems off, and see if the issue resolves itself over time.

Thanks for the explanation. I hadn't used the series feature prior to this, except that I would look at the specific list for the next book, or to see if I'd missed one. I will see if this new version sparks joy.

38. The Round House ()
Source: On my Kindle - Library Loan

The Round House opens with Joe and his father finishing a job in the garden, wondering why Joe’s mother Geraldine hasn’t yet returned from an appointment. Assuming car trouble has left her stranded, they head out to find her and bring her home. But the situation is much worse than they feared: Geraldine was sexually assaulted. Because Joe and his family are Ojibwe, their case barely attracts the attention of local authorities. But Joe’s father Bazil is a tribal judge with years of experience litigating cases within the Ojibwe community and between their community and the white establishment, and so begins his own investigation. Joe is only 13, so Bazil is reluctant to share details with him. This changes when Joe, working on his own, discovers valuable evidence.

But this book is much, much more than an investigation into a criminal act. It’s the story of a family trying desperately to hold themselves together while they heal. It’s the story of a young boy coming of age, hanging out with his friends, getting into trouble, and resisting his parents’ attempts to control him. And it’s the story of the larger Ojibwe community’s struggle to maintain independence in the face of discriminatory government policy. These threads all tie together into a powerful tale of love, loss, and hope.

>84 lauralkeet: Great comments, Laura. I'm glad you liked it. Erdrich is one of my favorites! And this is a good one. I've taught it, and generally the students like it.

>84 lauralkeet: Good summary. A lot of angst there, however (in the story). And so relevant to the social activism these days.

I really appreciated all the commentary about the series listings, both here and on my thread. I had gotten really used to how they were previously listed and for some reason find my brain isn't processing the rearrangements.

I'm glad there's more distinction between original books in the author's oeuvre and the ones that are spin offs (except that's not quite the right word). Anyway, it is valuable to see associated works placed so I don't go leaping into the abyss and miss the 'core' titles.

>84 lauralkeet: I really loved that Erdrich, and I don't think I've felt that way about all of the hers that I've read. I think I need to try some others.

>85 BLBera: There's so much for students to discuss, Beth, I can imagine that would be an excellent book to include in your curriculum.

>86 SandyAMcPherson: Sandy, I found it interesting to reflect on how relevant The Round House still is today. This book and others have made me realize I don't know enough about this country's native people and their histories, particularly from a 21st century point of view. Looking at my family's genealogy a while back, I noticed that one ancestor and his family were the first white settlers in a certain part of Illinois, and I've since wondered, "so, how did that work out?" It makes me flinch in a similar way to learning of slave-owning ancestors.

>87 vivians: I want to read more Erdrich too, Vivian. My library has several of her books, but this was one of the few available for Kindle. I hope to request others once the libraries have reopened.

> 66 eliminating the city's arts & culture budget entirely Really?? Sorry, but to me that is just unconscionable.

>84 lauralkeet: I know that I have The Round House in the BlackHole. I just need to get it read. Maybe after I finish Love Medicine . . .

Laura - She also reads her books, and I 've heard the audiobooks are quite good.

>89 alcottacre: Stasia, I know, isn't that nuts? Or as you politely put it, unconscionable? The budget isn't final yet and the Mayor has walked back the increase in the police budget, so there's a glimmer of hope for human services and the arts.

>90 BLBera: that's great, Beth. For some reason, I just can't get on with audio books. I used to listen to podcasts and the occasional book during my commute, but I no longer spend much time in the car and I can't stay focused just listening in my living room or wherever. I just prefer print, I guess.

Hi Laura, that is a terrific looking sourdough! Nice work! I loved the article about Harriett's Bookshop - the owner seems like a terrific community-minded leader.

I am a devoted audiobook listener, but it is hard to listen at home - I do much better in the car, so if school will be online next year I will definitely have fewer audios than I usually do. We just drove back from Oregon (20 hours) and my husband said it was OK if I played Pride and Prejudice, though I was probably about 1/3 of the way through. He was really enjoying it as well, so I consider that a win:)

Good review of The Round House, Laura. We shared similar feelings about that wonderful novel. I have her latest The Night Watchman on shelf. I hope to get to it this summer.

>92 AMQS: Thanks for the sourdough love, Anne! I've made a few more since then, maybe two loaves a week? The recipe yields consistently good results so I haven't even gone looking for alternatives. I've also tried some recipes that use up extra sourdough starter: sourdough crackers, and a sourdough pancake with fruit made in a cast-iron pan. There's a coffee cake recipe I might try this weekend.

I could definitely see listening to an audiobook on a long car ride. We're very picky about what we listen to on the radio, which can be a problem when you're driving through remote areas.

>93 msf59: Thanks Mark! I will probably turn to some of Erdrich's earlier novels next, but I look forward to your thoughts on her latest. She is a treasure.

I have to admit that I was initially put off from reading Erdrich because every time I was in a used bookshop, I would see numerous copies of her books. Since this happened multiple times in multiple shops, I jumped to the conclusion that the volume of books meant the books were crap, and everyone was getting rid of them. More likely, they were part of a school curriculum, duh. I'm so glad this group inspired me to read Tracks and discover a new-to-me author.

Hi Laura!

>38 lauralkeet: I love sourdough. That looks absolutely gorgeous. Knowing me, I wouldn't keep up a starter (think Amish Friendship Bread), so I admire your persistence, too.

>52 lauralkeet: Thanks for the links to the New Series Best Practices thread and Series Gets a Revamp blog. I’ve starred the thread and read the blog and will get to the thread one of these days when I’m in the mood. In the meantime, I’m liking what I see.

I also am not much of an audiobook person, Laura. The car and walks are when I mostly listen. I have to choose carefully; I tend to zone out.

>95 karenmarie: Karen, so far I haven't found maintaining the starter to be a problem. It needs to be "fed" once a week, which involves taking 4 oz of starter and adding 4oz of flour and 4oz of water. The leftover starter, or "discard," can be tossed, but I've been trying to find ways to use it. Crackers are super quick and easy, but it's also fun to make pancakes or coffee cake as a weekend breakfast treat. Anyhoo, I may not do this forever but I have time on my hands, so why not?

>96 BLBera: Zoning out is my problem, too, Beth. Oh well, there are plenty of print and Kindle books crying out for my attention. 😀

>84 lauralkeet: Really nice review of Roundhouse and thanks for the tip on triple-bracketing a series name.

>97 lauralkeet: "Zoning out" has become "going to sleep" in my case. I am using audio books to help me go to sleep. I set the timer for 15 min and that usually does the trick. And it has to be an easy narrator (no accents) and a simple plot, nothing too exciting, so I don't have to think too hard. The next night I sometimes have to back up a minute or two to find where I stopped paying attention. : )

>98 Berly: I am using audio books to help me go to sleep.
Cool idea, Kim!

>84 lauralkeet: What a wonderful review!. I will see if I have this book, and if not, obtain a copy. It sounds like a marvelous read!

>100 Whisper1: Thanks Linda! The Round House was a very good book and one I am sure you would like.

Morning, Laura. Happy Wednesday. I just started The Mirror & the Light. It is amazing, how fast you get sucked right back into the narrative. I think Cromwell will end up being one of the great literary voices.

Off on a bird ramble...

Ooh, you are in for a treat, Mark! That's such an excellent book. I agree with you about Cromwell.

Happy rambling!

Regarding audiobooks, I find that I either have to be moving (i.e. walking, treadmilling, stationary biking, etc.) or doing something visual, like a jigsaw puzzle or electronic game without words, or knitting. Otherwise everything will put me to sleep too.

39. How to be an Antiracist ()
Source: On my shelves

Ibram Kendi’s How to be an Antiracist has flown off bookstore shelves this month, in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder at the hands of police. Fortunately, we already had a copy on our shelves. Over 18 chapters, Kendi examines racism in both its most obvious manifestations (ethnicity, color) and its intersections (class, gender, sexuality). Alongside his somewhat academic treatment of these subjects, Kendi describes his personal journey to understand and overcome his own racist bias and beliefs.

Instead of writing a review, here are some of my take-aways from this important book:
* Kendi defines a racist as someone who supports racist policy through actions, inaction, or expressing a racist idea. An antiracist supports antiracist policy through actions or expression of ideas. The key word here is “policy.”
* Antiracists believe racial groups are equal. These groups do not need to be “developed,” an idea espoused by assimilationists. Nor should they be segregated. Rather, policies must be changed to reduce inequity.
* Where racists attribute physical and cultural characteristics to a racial group and create hierarchies, antiracists work to equalize those differences.
* The intersection of race with class, gender, and sexuality result in even greater inequities. Take, for example, poverty along race-sexuality lines: 32% of children raised by Black male same-sex couples live in poverty, compared to 14% for White male same-sex couples, 13% by Black heterosexuals, and 7% by White heterosexuals.
* Antiracism is about working for policy change, the only path to reducing inequity. Policy-makers enact policy out of self interest, often financially motivated, and defend those policies with racist ideas. The population at large accepts these arguments, fostering broader acceptance of racist ideas. Policy changes -- such as universal health care -- benefit multiple segments of the population, and as these benefits are felt, the policy change gains broader support.

These are just a few of the "aha moments" I had while reading this book. I encourage everyone to get their hands on a copy.

>105 lauralkeet: This is the book I'm listening to at the moment. He's not the best reader, but I understand he is speaking very slowly and precisely because he is giving a lot of precise definitions.

>105 lauralkeet: I'll probably start this at the weekend Laura.

>106 ffortsa:, >107 Caroline_McElwee: Judy, and Caro, I'd love to know your reactions to the book, especially any insights that stood out.

40. The Furies ()
Source: On my shelves

Janet Hobhouse was still writing The Furies when she died of ovarian cancer in 1991, at the age of 42. The book is simultaneously a memoir and a novel, with the protagonist Helen drawn very directly from Hobhouse’s life. She and her mother (Bett in the novel) were products of a strong matrilineal line, devoid of supportive men, and their relationship was unusual and intense. Bett and Helen lived in reduced financial circumstances, causing Helen no end of social difficulties during her school years. And yet she made her way from New York to Oxford, and then into a successful writing career.

But that success was tempered by dysfunctional relationships. Helen is continually restless, moving from one place to another in the blink of an eye. She has a tendency towards on again, off again relationships with men. She never quite achieves independence from Bett; they were very close, and Bett was also very needy. And yet the evolution of their relationship drew me in, especially in the latter part of the novel. I also found the last chapter -- in which Hobhouse/Helen announces her cancer diagnosis and contemplates her inevitable death -- very moving.

While The Furies is not an easy read, it’s one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

I have How to Be an Antiracist on my list - I really enjoyed your comments, and look forward to getting my hands on a copy.

>110 AMQS: it's a thought provoking book, Anne. I'm sure you will find additional insights beyond what I mentioned.

I just started How to Be an Antiracist as well, Laura. Very thought provoking. Your takeaways match what I've read so far.

The Furies sounds like a good one. Onto the list it goes!

>112 BLBera: Beth, I'm glad you're reading and appreciating How to Be An Antiracist. I'm finding that even those of us who professed to be antiracist still have a lot to learn. It's a journey.

41. Love Among the Ruins ()
Source: On my shelves

Angela Thirkell’s Barsetshire series pokes gentle fun at English life beginning in the period between the wars, and continuing through the 1950s. Each book was set in “real time,” so the publication dates are a useful guide to English and world events that may have affected the people of Barsetshire. Love Among the Ruins was published in 1948. The country was in a “rebuilding” period, with Winston Churchill (Conservative) succeeded by Clement Attlee (Labour) in 1945. A number of social and economic reforms took shape. Thirkell touches on these, mostly in a tongue-in-cheek way, with the people of Barsetshire holding on to the past, uncertain what “They” (government officials) were really up to.

But this is just a backdrop to the comedy of manners that is country life. Like all of the Barsetshire novels, the cast of characters draws from prominent families and some of the servant or working classes. Family parties, country festivals, and other rituals of village life provide most of the “action.” There is always at least one romance, with an inevitable engagement or marriage by the end of the novel. And with each passing year, there are also poignant moments as familiar characters age. Love Among the Ruins had all of these elements and several familiar and enjoyable set pieces. If there was a weakness to this novel, it was the huge supporting cast and frequent references to events in their past. Having read the previous books, I enjoyed these throwbacks but they were so numerous that eventually I had to consult a secondary source to refresh my memory on the plots and characters of the previous books. And yet, when the agricultural fair finally set up the opportunity for a couple’s engagement, I sighed with satisfaction. There are hints of both romance and sadness coming in the next books, which I am sure to read sooner rather than later.

>105 lauralkeet: The book isn't here yet, Laura, but I shall certainly be snaffling and reading a copy when I am able.

That's great, Paul. It's a worthwhile read.

42. In the Name of Truth ()
Source: On my Kindle

In the Name of Truth is the eighth book in the Sandhamn Murders series, and the last one available in English as of this review. After a disappointing seventh book, I was pleased to find Viveca Sten back on form again, with a complex and satisfying mystery that also manages to actively involve all of the principal characters. Nora Linde, now a prosecutor for an government economic crimes unit, is heading up a high-profile trial involving two former business partners. The outcome of the trial is in jeopardy due to unreliable witnesses and a lack of crucial evidence. Thomas Andreasson is investigating the disappearance of a young boy, who happens to be the son of one of the business partners. Evidence points to a known pedophile, but is this an isolated incident, or somehow connected to the dispute between the business partners? As Nora and Thomas advance their respective efforts, they both also face significant challenges in their personal lives which keep them from giving full attention to their work.

I was happy to see Nora get equal billing with Thomas in this book. In previous novels, her storyline tended to hum along in the background, focused on her role as a single working parent. While she occasionally brushed up against the crime investigation by providing some little-known fact that helped advance the case, she was rarely a central figure. I hope In the Name of Truth is the beginning of new things for Nora’s character. Too bad I have to wait for English translations to find out ...

>105 lauralkeet: I am looking forward to How to be an Antiracist. On my library list.

Hi, Laura. I am just about to finish up The Mirror & the Light. I think it could have been edited down but it is still a solid read.

Glad to hear you got out to bird a bit. I hope that continues.

I keep meaning to pick up Thirkell, Laura. They sound like the kinds of books I would love.

>118 msf59: Mark, we're trying to get out more, in general, these days whether it's for birding, cycling, or visiting one of the many gardens around here. Of course you can often see birds even when you aren't "officially" birding, so it's all good!

>119 BLBera: Thirkell's books are a comfort read for me, Beth. I happened to have the next few on my shelves, and comfort reads have been calling me more often than usual this year.

My comment to Beth about comfort reads (>120 lauralkeet:) sent me off on a brief analysis of my 2020 reading to date. A timely exercise, since we are now at the halfway point of this generally awful year.

I've read 42 books so far. This is 5 more than at the same time last year, but exactly half of my 2019 total. And my 84 books in 2019 was the highest since I started keeping track in 2007. But what makes 2020 unique is that 33 of those 42 books were already on my shelves. Only a handful came from the library, since loans are limited to digital editions and the hold queues are really long. I've made few purchases, but I think that could change soon as the books left on the shelves lose out to new releases that I am not willing to wait for. Ah well, authors need our support more than ever, right?

If anyone else taking stock of their 2020 reading? I'm interested to hear whether others are reading more books, buying more or less, etc.

>121 lauralkeet: - I'm definitely reading more. I hit 75 this morning which is way ahead of pace for any year since 2011 when I joined LT. I haven't read as many books off my shelf or Kindle as I thought I would when we went into "lockdown." I've had decent luck with my libraries' Overdrive selections, but I am also not often in a rush to read brand new stuff, so the queues, when there are ones for books I want to read, are generally shorter. I also use the "Available Now" feature on my Overdrive wish lists a lot...

>122 katiekrug: Good suggestions, Katie. I could probably dig a little deeper into my library's ebook catalog. And way to go on hitting 75! I'll pop over to your thread now to congratulate you properly.

I looked at my first six months' reading as well, Laura. I've read 67 books, about normal for me in the past few years. I was surprised that only about 25 of those were from my shelves. In the past few years, I've tried to read at least half from my shelves.

That's interesting, Beth. I'm impressed with those of you who achieve 75 well before year end. And I always *try* to read from my shelves, but I usually fail to make a noticeable dent in the metaphorical pile. But now that I think about it, that's also because I acquire books along the way, so the net result is still a bunch of books on the shelves, crying to be read. I've bought less this year, and I've read most of my purchases right away.

-------

PSA: speaking of buying new books, Katie alerted me to a Kindle deal: The Stone Circle, the 11th Ruth Galloway book, is on sale today for $2.99. Of course I snapped it right up.

>121 lauralkeet: I'm still buying far too many books, despite having cut down a lot from recent years Laura. Only 9 of this year's reads, 41 books, are ROOT! Bad girl. But as you say, writers need support, and a couple were bought end of last year, or were Xmas presents. I'm runnng at about equal fiction/non-fiction, give or take. More women than men, but that tends to even out by year end.

That's interesting Caroline. I won't punish you for only 9 ROOT books ha ha. My gender ratio is almost always 2/3 women. It's not a goal, it's just what happens based on my choices.

>109 lauralkeet:, >120 lauralkeet: As you said, comfort reads have been calling me more often than usual this year,
the same is true for me. The Furies would be too heart-wrenching for me, but I appreciate your succinct analysis on the writing.

I've been shying away from anything but light reads ~ what folks often call "beach reads". My attention span is like a little sparrow flitting through the underbrush and startling easily!

>128 SandyAMcPherson: I like that description of your attention span, Sandy. I've been there!

Hi Laura!

>121 lauralkeet: Congrats on so many books already on your shelves read. My totals are 64 read so far this year, with 22 of them off my shelves and not re-reads, which is more than usual for me. I’ve acquired 64 books so far this year, and culled 42. No spring book sale accounts for the less-than-usual number of acquisitions. *sad face* for no book sale. I really need to go through old romances read and cull most of them. It means getting on the floor in the retreat and pulling everything off shelves stacked 4 and 5 deep with mass market paperbacks. My knees won't appreciate it at all.

Hi Karen! I read your message earlier and then got distracted and forgot to reply. I'm impressed with your ability to keep the "books read" and "books acquired" in sync ha ha. Culling is admirable. We did a lot of that when we moved 2.5 years ago, but it's not a regular thing. Probably because it means getting on the floor and pulling things off shelves. That, and arguing with my other half as to whether a book should be culled. I think I'll just live vicariously through your efforts.

>120 lauralkeet: >121 lauralkeet: I have been reading less since lockdown for two reasons: my time for audiobooks has much reduced since I’m no longer commuting and I went into a real reading slump at the start of lockdown. I’m well and truly out of that now, but more of my reading is falling into the lighter category. I’m still buying books, but as a treat rather than actually needing anything to read.

>131 lauralkeet: I was inspired by the culling going on as the new threads appeared for summer (?) and started setting aside potential discards.

I took a surprising number to trade in for credit at our local used books shop (old 1970's fantasies, apparently they're "A Thing" these days, so I did well). It was difficult to choose books until I saw a suggestion on a decluttering topic ~ ask the question "why am I keeping this?" Wow, did that ever work for me.

Bonus!! I used some trade credit to buy Where the Dead Lie. I'm on a roll, galloping through the Sebastian St. Cyr series, on Book #4 now. *WtDL* is way down at #12. But I don't mind having it in reserve for when I get there. I have a feeling I might tire a wee bit of the series if it becomes repetitive, but the author writes well and so far it's been very engaging.

In this difficult year with an unprecedented pandemic and where the ills of the past intrude sadly upon the present there must still be room for positivity. Be rightly proud of your country. To all my American friends, enjoy your 4th of July weekend.

>132 SandDune: I'm still buying books, but as a treat ...
Hi Rhian, I like this idea. I can use it to justify all of my book purchases this year. Frequent treats are in order, with everything else going on!

>133 SandyAMcPherson: Sandy, I have a stack of books ready for donation as well, mostly paperbacks that I've read and know I don't want or need to keep. I like your fundamental question, "why am I keeping this?" The issue chez moi is that the hubs and I would answer this question differently almost every time. I can be a more ruthless culler, but sometimes to my detriment. We usually meet in the middle somewhere. 😀

>134 PaulCranswick: Thank you for your sentiments, Paul. I'm not proud of my country right now, but I am generally an optimist so I am hopeful there will be reasons to be proud in the future.

>133 SandyAMcPherson: Sorry to hijack your thread Laura, but I wanted to ask Sandy about the Sebastian St Cyr series. I hadn't heard of it but just looked it up. Sounds right up my alley so I just wanted to ask Sandy what she thinks of it.

>135 lauralkeet: *hilarious laughter, or maybe a case of hysterics!
Laura, that is precisely the situation around our house. I differ to The Man, as in north pole vs south pole, when it comes to decluttering.

If you want to see how dedicated I am to clearing out the never-used, never-looked-at in the last 5 years, look at my decluttering tag. So we compromise with the philosophy to focus on my reading preferences and consolidate what The Man would not choose to read anyway.

We do have his and hers bookshelves, exclusively, plus one shelf that has reference books and literary non-fiction that we both like and use: gardening, bird and plant identification, some western history. For me, I am a voracious consumer of fantasy, murder mysteries and literary fiction which The Man would never read or be interested in keeping, if he did like something.

Curious to know how our respective "libraries" turned out?
Not surprisingly, The Man has close to 10,000 non-fiction books and about 4 fiction books "because they're vintage authors". I have around 250 books. I plan to maintain that as my floating maximum.

For me, the really useful approach was to regard everything (in this case books) as having to fit into "the container". The limits of "the container" could be whatever was decided within the overall container, the house we live in. So a container could be 'three bookshelves' or 'the entire top floor' etc. After that, whatever doesn't fit has to go, or exchanged for a less desirable item, which is decluttered. (I had this concept from a friend, who loaned me the book, but unfortunately, the title was never recorded...)

My LT catalogue reflects what I've borrowed, own and read-then-decluttered. I like knowing my reading history. I have about 300 books listed offline that I tracked before LT membership. Most of those were given away or taken for credit at our secondhand market.

Everyone has to pretty much talk things through with whomever they share their living space. And then say what appeals to each in keeping 'collections', followed by trying to both (or all in the household) keep to the agreed criteria. Yeah. Good luck with that.

>136 vivians: Hi Vivian, I'll pop over to your thread so's I don't have my chatter littering up Laura's home-sweet-home!

Edited to add a direct link to my comments.

>137 SandyAMcPherson: Sandy, I love everything about this post! For the foreseeable future, I'm pretty much focused on culling my own books (the ones he will never read). His books, and the shared nonfiction, will probably not be addressed in any big way until the next time we move house.

>138 SandyAMcPherson: thanks for responding to Vivian's question! And now you've presented me with another tempting series to consider. *shakes fist at Sandy*

Good review of The Round House, Laura. I'm a fan of that book. I liked your comments on How to Be an Antiracist, too. We got our hands on a copy (the reason it's so popular is a sad one, but it's encouraging that so many people are responding by better educating themselves). Our plan is for each of us to read a chapter at a time and discuss it. We'll see how that works.

Adding my thanks for the tip on designating series on LT. I read a lot of them on an ongoing basis (an LTer gave me the nickname "The Series Pusher" a ways back), so I'm sure to be trying that soon.

>131 lauralkeet: Living vicariously is not a bad thing at all.

My husband is not a book reader. It’s never been a problem in our relationship; he takes great pleasure in MY enjoyment of books and we have bookshelves all over the house. I’ve pretty much filled them all up, so culling is self-serving in that I’ll have more space for new books. I can’t imagine arguing over which books to keep or cull. I like being in control. *smile*

What I ask myself when deciding whether to keep a book or not:

1. Will I ever read or re-read it?
   
2. Does this book contribute to a well-rounded library?
   
3. Will my daughter want or need this book when my library eventually goes to her?
   
4. Does this book have sentimental value?
   
5. Does this book have intrinsic value?

A 'no' is an easy cull. Sometimes even a 'yes' is a cull.

Those are some great questions to ask yourself, Karen. I like being in control, too. Because my answers to those questions are always the correct answers. 😀

43. Clementine ()
Source: Kindle library loan

This was an interesting biography of Clementine Churchill that revealed the significant role she played in British politics, albeit largely behind the scenes. Clementine didn’t aspire to politics, but after marrying Winston, a consummate career politician, she found herself supporting his endeavors in ways large and small. Clementine helped campaign for his parliament seat, critiqued his speeches, spoke freely at dinners and other engagements, and routinely offered advice on Winston’s conduct, especially around thorny issues.

While Clementine was a formidable partner in Winston’s career, the couple was less successful in raising a family. This was perhaps due to a lack of role models and dysfunctional upbringing, but I still found this aspect of their lives shocking and sad. Their three older Churchill children were largely neglected by their parents, and led very difficult and traumatic adult lives. After the tragic loss of their then-youngest child, the couple seems to have wised up. Their next (and last) child benefited from the care of a loving nanny/guardian almost up to adulthood.

Sonia Purnell portrays both Winston and Clementine as the flawed human beings they undoubtedly were, providing a more in-depth portrait than commonly found in the history books. This book lacked the spark and excitement of Purnell’s A Woman of No Importance, but I appreciate her commitment to bringing women’s role in history to the forefront.

I read that one several years ago and was struck by what an interesting, strong but very traditional woman she was. I enjoyed reading your summary and having my memory jogged!

>144 RebaRelishesReading: I agree, Reba. I guess my review doesn't really convey how impressive she was, as a thinker, leader, and woman of influence. The power behind the throne, as it were.

>145 lauralkeet: really? I thought you were spot on

>146 RebaRelishesReading: oh well, okay then! Thanks.

Happy Wednesday, Laura. Our Baltimore Orioles are back to our feeders after taking off most of June, to tend to their young. It is so nice to see such beauty, a few feet away. Glad to hear you are getting out on your walks, although I am sure this relentless heat, does not make it easy.

Nice photo, Mark. I envy you, having Orioles visit your feeders. They were a rare sighting for us at our old place. We're heading out to a public garden today, more for the plants and flowers than the birds, but I'm sure we'll spot a few.

>143 lauralkeet: This sounds interesting, Laura. I did love A Woman of No Importance, and will add this to the "someday" list.

>150 BLBera: I hope you enjoy it, Beth, whenever you get around to it.

44. The Memory of Old Jack ()
Source: On my Kindle

This is a short, melancholy, and moving book about a man very near the end of his life. Jack Beechum was born and raised in Wendell Berry’s fictional farming community of Port William, Kentucky. It’s 1952, and Jack, now in his 90s, is the last of his generation. It’s been years since he was able to farm his land, but he is still connected to the seasonal rhythms through friends and relatives.

These days, Jack spends most of his time sitting quietly in the town barbershop, a hub for conversation. Jack is lost in his memories, and through these memories the reader learns the story of Jack’s life: farming, relationships, successes, failures, love, loss. Every once in a while something pulls Jack back to the present, where he offers a cordial greeting or answers a polite question, and then he retreats once more into the past. Jack’s life was far from ideal, but most of his suffering was due to his own mistakes. And yet he was well loved and cared for by the community, who respectfully helped him to live independently for as long as possible.

Wendell Berry used this book as a platform to question whether “modern progress” has really lived up to its promise, which leaves the reader with much to think about. Berry’s portrayal of an infirm, elderly man locked up in his own thoughts was also quite moving, and left me a bit teary-eyed.

>152 lauralkeet: - My library has this one available for Kindle, so I may give it a go. Thanks, Laura.

>153 katiekrug: That's great, Katie! My library had it on Hoopla, and I was going to go that route (which I think means I'd be reading it on my iPad, not Kindle). Then I saw it on Amazon for just $1.99 for Kindle and thought, what the hell. Clicky-clicky.

At just 178 pages, I thought I'd zip through it in a day. But I found myself just wanting to sit a spell with Jack, so I'd stop reading and, for a while, literally feel like I was there with him. I'm not sure why this book affected me so strongly, but it did.

Hi Laura, oh, The Memory of Old Jack looks like a good one. I don't know that I was aware of Love Among the Ruins, though I love Thirkell's books. Maybe because I'm limited to what the library has on its shelves on audio - at this point I don't think there are any. I may have to track this one down in print.

Hope you're having a good weekend!

>155 AMQS: Hi Anne! Wendell Berry and Angela Thirkell are two very different authors, but I love them both. Berry, for his quiet fiction that always makes me think, and Thirkell for the comfort of reading an English comedy of manners. If you decide to dive into her Barsetshire novels, just bear in mind that Love Among the Ruins is #17 in the series and while it can be read as a standalone, it leans heavily on references to past events and character relationships. You might want to start with an earlier book.

45. The Stone Circle ()
Source: On my Kindle

The Stone Circle, the eleventh Ruth Galloway mystery, finds the team investigating remains found at an archaeological site, which are determined to be of relatively modern origin. The cold case files indicate the body might be that of a young girl who disappeared from a street party on the day of Prince Charles and Diana’s 1981 wedding. When this is confirmed through DNA analysis, a classic murder mystery investigation ensues. There are also a couple of intertwined plot threads that may or may not be related, as well as a second crime to be solved, all of which keep the reader on their toes.

The mystery was solid, but it’s the ensemble cast that elevates these books to a new level of enjoyment. Ruth and DCI Harry Nelson have had a relationship of sorts for several years, beginning in the first book in this series. Even as they try desperately to carry on with their lives as normal, the attraction is impossible to resist. By this time readers have also gotten to know Nelson’s family, the police officers he works with, Ruth’s boss and his wife, and other people Ruth has connected with through her work as a forensic archaeologist including Cathbad, an eccentric who always seems to turn up at the most opportune moments. Each book features at least a few of these characters, and by now I am just as invested in their lives as I am in Ruth and Nelson’s. I can imagine I'll keep reading Ruth Galloway books as long as Elly Griffiths keeps writing them!

And the newest Ruth comes out this week!

Hi Laura! I hope you're having a good weekend.

>154 lauralkeet: Clicky-clicky. One of my favorite pastimes.

>158 katiekrug: I am a tad confused with what Amazon's saying about The Lantern Men. I was able to borrow a friend's copy in February - she had just returned from England and brought back the edition she bought in London. I loved it. I was then going to pre-order it on Amazon but saw that I could buy it and so did, on February 18th. My hardcover edition's Quercus, the hardcover edition on Amazon is Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

>158 katiekrug: wait, Katie, do you mean for one brief shining moment I'm caught up?! I didn't realize that.

>159 karenmarie: ... and maybe this is why. I honestly thought the book was already available in the US, and I just hadn't bought it yet. But as Katie said, Amazon shows it will be released on Tuesday. Hmm. Karen, I'm guessing you bought a UK edition and the book gods were smiling on you -- you were in the right place at the right time.

Also, realizing this is a new release, I guess I shouldn't expect a Kindle bargain anytime soon. Oh well, I've bought all of the previous books at low low prices, so I guess that offsets paying full price now.

My husband and I usually read very different kinds of books. For years he has read P.G. Wodehouse at bedtime, often laughing out loud. And I've just nodded politely and kept reading whatever I'm reading.

But recently on my recommendation he started reading Anthony Trollope; specifically The Barsetshire Chronicles, and he's loving it. So when he pulled Leave it to PSmith off the shelves and foisted it upon me saying, "if you like Trollope you'll like this," I really couldn't refuse. And I'm enjoying it immensely!

I need to get back to my Toni Morrison project and her essay collection, but felt the need for a couple of light reads first. Ruth Galloway and PSmith to the rescue.

I'm also on the Ruth Galloway bandwagon, Laura. I would love to have a drink with Ruth.

>162 BLBera: wouldn't that be fun, Beth? I'd be happy to meet up at her house, so she wouldn't have to sort out childcare and I could also meet her cat, Flint.

Hear hear, on The Furies. Such a sad and moving book. Not at all sorry I read it. (Sorry to see how far down the (others) list you have to go to get her name beside the title.)

I haven't tired of the St Cyr books -- somehow each book takes on something fresh.

This new life has been going on long enough now so that I feel I've been through a couple of "phases" vis a vis reading (and many other things, of course). At first even though I tried, I could only read comforting stuff--a lot in the sf and fantasy realm, but some lighter fiction too, as long as it was well-written. But as time went on I am quickly impatient with books that are not nourishing in some way. The divide seems to be widening between enjoyment of the books I read for entertainment and fiction and non-fiction. I'm reading more challenging books now but not just anything. I have to feel, even with the genre books, mystery, fantasy and sf that along with plot and characters the writer also has a curiosity or openness about how people behave under stress and about how cultures are organized and function and how difference is approached either in RL in the mysteries or aliens, or elves, or whatever in the other two. For fiction I need to be in awe of what the writer is able to do as a writer and as a thinker, and for non-fiction I have to be interested in the topic, not just "Oh yeah, this might be interesting." If it's already on my shelves I'll give the latter a try, but if it's not happening forget it.

Because of the broken ankle I've concentrated on the books (in shelves and discreet little corners) on the first floor -- an odd mix of books I've been hoping to read and the new books. Every time I make a little room, though, the spaces fills right up again!

Okay this was way too long! You are doing some fine reading!

>Just thought I would stop lurking and *wave* hi this trip through :)

>164 sibylline: Lucy, it's interesting to read the impact of pandemic-related isolation on everyone's reading. I'm also intrigued by how your reading preferences have evolved over time. And I guess the ankle injury has had an impact as well. oy vey.

>165 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba! Thanks for the wave.

46. Leave it to Psmith ()
Source: On our shelves

This year more than ever, I have found it essential to intersperse my serious, heavy reads with lighter fare. This has given me a chance to catch up on mysteries and other series I’d already started, and while that well had not yet run dry I was starting to nose around the family bookshelves in search of more. Over the years, my husband has amassed a not insignificant collection of books by P.G. Wodehouse, and finally convinced me I should give him a try. Leave it to Psmith was a delightful caper involving assumed identities, romantic troubles, money troubles, a diamond necklace, and several unlikely characters finding themselves together at a country house. This was literary candy at its finest, and I’m very happy to know our “chocolate box” contains many other treats for me to discover as the mood strikes.

This one sounds like a lot of fun, Laura. I think I have some Wodehouse on my shelves.

>167 lauralkeet: I love the Jeeves books but haven't dived into the rest of Wodehouse's bibliography yet. Glad to hear there's plenty of joys to get to eventually. :)

>168 BLBera: Definitely fun and easy reading, Beth.

>169 MickyFine: Hi, thanks for visiting!! Wodehouse was nothing if not prolific. According to LT Series data, there are 14 Jeeves novels. There are 11 Blandings Castle Novels; Leave it to PSmith counts as one of those. But it's also one of 4 PSmith novels. And there are still more series! And short stories! One could actually feel overwhelmed ...

Hi Laura!

I've never read Wodehouse although I have 4 by him on my shelves. One of these fine days. I'm glad your husband finally convinced you to give him a try.

>143 lauralkeet: Nice review.
I read a different biography of Clementine Churchill I-dunno-howmany-years ago. I think some of the honest details were left out (such as the neglect of their elder children), but I still remember that she was an extraordinary woman for her times.

Some 40-years ago (omg, was it really that long ago?), I saw a movie called The Young Winston. It was an extraordinary view of Churchill and, iirc, during the Boer War era. The movie ends when he returns to Britain and is introduced to Clementine. That movie was my incentive to seek out whatever biographies I could of the time.

I have A Woman of No Importance on my TBR and you've inspired me to pull it to the top because I like the idea that Sonia Purnell writes evocatively of strong female characters.

>164 sibylline:, Hi Lucy. (I know, I should put this on your thread....)
That Pandemic-reading philosophy (if I may so call the sentiment) is brilliant. I especially sensed that I also needed books that were nourishing in some way. Thanks for writing this p.o.v. so clearly.

OK. Thread back to Laura! (Thank you).

>172 SandyAMcPherson:, >173 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy! No worries about posting here. Whether Lucy will see it is another matter (lol), but I'm always glad to see your comments. I really liked A Woman of No Importance and in fact we're discussing it in my book group meeting this evening. While I enjoyed it a tad more than Clementine, that's probably because the former was about spies in wartime, which can't help but bring a bit more excitement to the narrative.

Reading Clementine also gave me insight to Winston. Purnell was quite candid in her portrayal, including his character flaws and career missteps, which basic school history courses tend to gloss over (and there were some doozies).

lalalalala I will not pay any attention to that title lalalalala

ha ha ha which title caught your eye, Judy? No need to mention it, just give me a post number. 😀

>175 ffortsa: 174, first title

>177 ffortsa: ah, yes.

I was disappointed that my book group didn't much care for A Woman of No Importance. It was even difficult to generate discussion about it, because a couple people hadn't finished it. Sigh. Maybe it was the wrong book for the time. We all admitted a current preference for lighter fare. I read it back in February when I was in a different frame of mind.

47. Sula ()
Source: On my shelves

Recently I decided to read (or re-read) all of Toni Morrison’s novels in order of publication. Sula, her second novel, was written in the late 1960s, and published in 1973. It is set in a Black community in Ohio, beginning in the 1920s when Sula and her friend Nel are young girls. The book follows their friendship into adulthood, while also exploring a number of themes related to family, community, and culture.

Morrison’s work can make for challenging reading, with nonlinear narratives and considerable use of folk imagery (I’m not even sure of my terminology here). And if reading the novels is challenging, reviewing them is even more so. Who am I to evaluate the merits of a Nobel Prize-winning author? I will say that Sula felt more sophisticated than Morrison’s first novel, The Bluest Eye. Both novels explore disturbing themes, but in Sula the characters were better developed and the story arc was stronger.

Next up: Song of Solomon. I’ve read this before, but it’s been 15 years and while I hadn’t originally planned to re-read, I now feel like I need to experience how it fits in Morrison’s oeuvre. I've revised my list in >4 lauralkeet: accordingly.

I really liked Sula when I read it a few years ago. When are you planning to read SoS? I haven't read that one and might try to join you...

>180 katiekrug: ooh, yes let's read together, Katie! I hadn't set a time for myself yet so I'm flexible. What would work for you?

How about around mid-August?

Or if you want a longer break between Morrisons, I'm totally flexible....

Someone once told me he read Three Men in a Boat every year as a spring tonic. I think of Wodehouse the same way. I'll listen to an audio every now and then. My girls absolutely love the Jeeves & Wooster series with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. I even sent Callia a Wooster telegram-style letter her first year in college ("What ho Callia stop") that made her day:). I'll have to check out Leave it to PSmith.

>182 katiekrug: mid-August sounds great, Katie! I need to pick up a copy of Song of Solomon, but that gives me an excuse to wander over to Harriett's Bookshop one of these days. They've been holding weekend sidewalk sales and I've seen copies there before.

>183 AMQS: Hi Anne! My husband and I loved the Jeeves & Wooster series, we watched a ton of those episodes back when they first aired. He moved on from there to reading much more Wodehouse. I can now agree the books are an excellent tonic.

>178 lauralkeet: Disappointing that your book club discussions were a flop but I do understand.
The women who organised the loyal citizenry in the resistance are so unsung, their stories need to be told.
However, I totally get it (not reading/finishing).

I started that book back in early April and had to set it aside. The topic is certainly one of my "reading areas", as are other biographies, such as Madame Fourcade's Secret War (Lynne Olson).

But - MEH! both these histories are so full of heartbreaking defeats, danger and hardship, that I've not finished either book. In fact, I'll probably add them to my DNF stack for 2020. As you say, the wrong book for the time. I doubt I'll return to Olson's book, because the author drowned the narrative in too much detail and I quit reading at about the halfway point.

I too am seeking out lighter reading material and fiction that I can escape into and then forget. My subliminal anxiety level is full to overflowing.

Hi Laura!

>179 lauralkeet: Admirable goal, reading all of Morrison in publication order. I just recently acquired Beloved but haven't had the emotional wherewithal to read it yet. I'd say I'll keep an eye out for more Morrison, but since I'm not going into book stores or used book stores and there are no FoL book sales, there will be no luck on finding anything easily.

>183 AMQS: Years ago we were traveling with friends and staying in a lock keepers cottage with no TV or radio but with a small book collection. The husband of the other couple was not a reader...most definitely not a reader but while the other three of us were reading he had to do something so he browsed the bookshelf and found Three Men in a Boat. Very soon he was laughing under his breath and then out loud and then he couldn't help but start reading passages to us and then, finally, we were all laughing until our sides hurt. A favorite memory of a dear friend who died three years ago.

>185 SandyAMcPherson: I was a bit disappointed, Sandy, but I also understood where they were coming from. Ironically, in this same meeting we reviewed recommendations for future books (compiled in advance via email), and they were *all* heavier reads. And those heavier reads often provide more fuel for discussion. So ... it's a puzzlement.

>186 karenmarie: Karen, Beloved is what started me on this Toni Morrison jag. It helped that I read it as part of a course, too. I've seen Song of Solomon on the shelves at Harriet's, so I hope she still has copies in stock as I'd like to support the shop.

>187 RebaRelishesReading: That's a lovely story, Reba.

I LOVED Song of Solomon when I reread it a couple of years ago. I have copies of the ones I haven't read, so I will join in when you are ready to read those. Tar Baby, Jazz, and Love are the ones I haven't read. I would like to reread Paradise; that's one I've only read once.

>189 BLBera: excellent, Beth. it will be nice to have someone to read along with, and to share perspectives on the books.

48. The Priory ()
Source: On my shelves

The Marwood family has lived at Saunby for generations, but in recent years the estate has been in decline, due Major Francis Marwood’s astonishingly poor management. In debt up to his ears, he still puts on a two-week cricket tournament every summer, providing housing and meals for the teams. Over the years he has been forced to sell off parcels of land to settle debts. Early in the novel the Major, a widower, remarries, disrupting the lives of his young adult daughters who, inexplicably, have established some measure of independence by continuing to live in the nursery wing of the house. Christine and Penelope never quite accept their stepmother Anthea, and her eventual pregnancy is seen as a further threat. Marriage was their only means of escape, and while they made the best choices considering their options, life after Saunby wasn’t easy for either of them.

Dorothy Whipple is best known for highly character-driven novels, and The Priory is no exception. Besides Francis, Anthea, Christine and Penelope, the household also includes Francis’ unmarried sister Victoria, and a host of servants whose interactions among themselves and with the family enhance the novel. The book comes to a close as World War II threatens. The Major’s financial woes are solved in a way that is a bit too tidy, and the general optimism about avoiding war is jarring, leaving one wondering what happened to the family during the war years.

Okay people, I am MAD AT AMAZON and need your advice!

On June 30, I preordered Hamnet, which Amazon said would be released July 21 and delivered to me that same day. Meaning, TODAY. Come to find out it hasn't even shipped yet, and the book's page on Amazon now says:

FREE Delivery Aug 18 - Sep 17 for Prime members
Usually ships within 1 to 2 months.

What??!!

I assume the book has been released here -- it was just reviewed by the NYTimes and on NPR, among other places -- does anyone else have any other information about it?

Book Depository says they can ship from the UK within a couple of days and the book will arrive within 5-8 days of shipment. I'm thinking about placing an order with them and cancelling the Amazon order once things are in motion. Any advice?

I looked on the publisher's (Knopf) website and it says "Limited Availability" there. I wonder if they've had a printing and/or distribution problem? I'd go ahead and cancel Amazon and order from Book Depo.

I’d be mad too Laura. Grrr.i feel like this happened to me once, many years ago. Why bother to pre-order??
Maybe buy from a local store, so you could get it tonight/tomorrow.

I ordered the kindle version so it was automatically delivered. Interestingly, it’s called Hamnet and Judith in Canada.

BREAKING NEWS

Just received a shipping notice from Amazon, with delivery expected on Friday. Why the customer service agent couldn't tell me this, I don't know.

>193 katiekrug: I was *this close* to doing so, Katie!
>194 raidergirl3: I heard about the title difference somewhere on LT, Elizabeth. Weird, huh? And yes, I could have ordered the Kindle version today. I wanted a print edition because my husband also wants to read it.

The NPR review was lovely, Laura. I'm glad you're getting it. It is one of my favorite reads this year.

>196 BLBera: Beth, I'm pretty sure it was your thread that "made" me pre-order Hamnet. And I was so proud of myself, because I had just finished a book and was sitting there all ready for Hamnet to drop into the mailbox.

But the Amazon gods smiled on me last week, offering $5 credit for a book that was on my wish list:



So now I'm reading A Burning, and with any luck I'll finish it by Friday so I can dive into Hamnet right away. My husband is also chomping at the bit to read Hamnet, so I'm feeling a little pressure LOL.

My daughter snapped this pic when our kitty Midnight photobombed our FaceTime call the other night. I am mostly hidden by Midnight, and you can also just barely see Julia in the very upper right. Husband Chris on the left. Midnight loves FaceTime and Zoom, and it cracks us up.

Haha great photo! What a cutie! (Chris too :)!) I loved Hamnet and am glad you'll be getting delivery soon! I thought A Burning was also great, so the wait shouldn't be too painful.

Love the photo!

>198 lauralkeet: Love it! Enjoy both The Burning and Hamnet. I'm still waiting for The Burning, but I do have a few others to read while I wait.

Hi Vivian, Katie, and Beth, I'm glad you like the photo. It makes me giggle every time I look at it.

Yesterday, as I was unleashing my wrath over Hamnet, I nearly forgot that I'd recently downloaded A Burning, a book I had been looking forward to just as much. So that's definitely a silver lining. And as of today, UPS says they'll be delivering Hamnet tomorrow, not Friday, so it's all good.

Hi Laura!

>192 lauralkeet: , >195 lauralkeet:, >202 lauralkeet: Strange kerfuffle about Hamnet. I’m glad you’re supposed to get it today.

>198 lauralkeet: Very nice. Good for Midnight! I was leading a Friends of the Library meeting via GoToMeeting on Monday and our kitty Wash paraded between me and the laptop three times.

>203 karenmarie: I'm excited to dive into Hamnet, Karen. Soon, soon.

And what is it about cats and computers? At the moment my husband is on his indoor bike trainer, which connects to the TV screen. Midnight is sitting there happily watching all the graphics.

The LibraryThing blog posted this Interview with Harriet's Bookshop today. Thanks to Katie for posting on Facebook and tagging me. Enjoy!

----

Also, I just finished A Burning (4 stars, review soon), and will start Hamnet tonight. Great reading ahead!

Whazzup with touchstones today anyway?

>205 lauralkeet: Thanks for the link Laura. You are so lucky to have such a fine bookstore so near.

This is a big deal:
Philadelphia Free Library director Siobhan Reardon has resigned following complaints about workplace racial discrimination

Reardon came under fire a few weeks ago when Black employees issued an open letter describing racism and discrimination in many different aspects of library operations. The Mayor's statement:

"The Free Library of Philadelphia strives to be a welcoming and inclusive public space, and that mission must endure ... After hearing calls for reform from Library employees and the public, it is clear that a change in leadership is necessary during these unprecedented times. Our administration stands in solidarity with the Free Library’s Black employees, and the countless others who have made their voices heard."

The library system has not yet reopened, and it is unclear when it will.

>207 lauralkeet: I hope they can get their issues resolved and create a more tolerant and inclusive environment. I know many corporations are struggling with this but in my mind I'd love to think that libraries do a better job than corporate America. I know in reality they (speaking generally here) likely have the same issues as anyplace else. Keep us posted. Libraries everywhere are so essential for communities, and need to be held accountable.

>198 lauralkeet: Love this photobomb:). Since Callia went to school I regularly snapchat her pictures of the pets. The kitty is over it, though she did occasionally make appearances for school Google Meets and videos.

>187 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, that is a lovely story, and I'm sure it is a bittersweet memory for you. The first time I listened to Three Men in a Boat I nearly drove off the road from laughing. It remains the only audiobook I have ever actually purchased, rather than borrowed from the library.

>194 raidergirl3: >195 lauralkeet: Those title changes are so annoying.
Lucy (I think) as well as Laura have mentioned how the Wych Elm was renamed in the USA. We had a discussion about publishers changing titles. Karen contributed some insights. This was all very useful (to me) so I thought I would summarise the places where the topic appeared.

Of course, that doesn't account for Amazon's idiocy in not immediately making your book available, Laura. Even tho' Book Depository was acquired by Amazon, I still find their delivery and customer service so much more user-friendly. Also, usually less costly than buying from Amazon...

>208 AMQS: thanks for your comments on the library, Anne. I am very interested in following the topic to see who is hired as the next director, and how the library evolves under their leadership.

And I am not surprised Callia enjoys seeing photos of your kitties. My daughters, who are in their mid/late 20s, regularly text me requesting pics of our pets!

>209 SandyAMcPherson: Nice summing up, Sandy. And I had completely forgotten that Amazon acquired BD. Thankfully they seem to have allowed it to run fairly independently; at least, the user experience is quite different. With this recent issue, my greatest disappointment was that the customer service agent couldn't "see" the status of my order, she could only tell me delivery times if I were to place a new order. Seems like the system should have been able to tell her that it was about to ship.

But anyway, I have the book now and I started reading Hamnet at bedtime last night. I am already drawn in so, as the bard would have said, all's well that ends well.

>198 lauralkeet: Love this photo! Go Midnight!

Morning, Laura. Happy Friday. I hope you liked A Burning as much as I did. I NEED to put in a request for Hamnet. I have been hearing nothing but raves!

>211 msf59: Hi Mark, I liked A Burning, mostly because it went in a direction I did not expect when I started reading it. Very well done. And as for Hamnet, YES ... get on it stat!

Midnight would like to thank everyone for the fan mail.

Hi, Laura.

Good review of Stone Circle. I'm on the Ruth Galloway bandwagon, too.

I'm with your husband Chris on P.G. Wodehouse. Somebody probably mentioned it, but you'll want to get to the Jeeves and Bertie stories at some point. They were played by Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry in the BBC series. Great pandemic fare.

>213 jnwelch: Somebody probably mentioned it ...
Joe, do you mean like the aforementioned husband?! He's eagerly awaiting my next Wodehouse read. Nagging will commence soon, I suspect. He's being nice to me at the moment because he wants to read Hamnet and is waiting for me to finish it. I loved the Fry & Laurie Jeeves series but for some reason I am drawn to the Blandings stories first. We have *a ton* of Wodehouse novels and short story collections on the shelves though, and I'm looking forward to reading more of them.

49. A Burning ()
Source: On my Kindle, a recent purchase thanks to Mark (@msf59)'s warbling

Jivan grew up in an Indian slum and, as a Muslim, routinely experienced hatred and discrimination. After finishing school she was able to help support her family by working in a department store. One evening, she witnesses the aftermath of a deadly terrorist attack and, outraged, posts controversial comments on Facebook. Jivan immediately becomes the target of an investigation and is ultimately jailed as the prime suspect in the attack. Her lawyer identifies two important character witnesses: Lovely, a transgender woman and aspiring actress whom Jivan tutored in English; and PT Sir, Jivan’s physical education teacher who took a personal interest in her academic success.

The story is narrated by all three of these characters in rotation. It quickly becomes apparent that for Lovely and PT Sir, serving as a character witness is secondary to their personal ambition. Lovely is driven to overcome stereotypes and land a leading role in a film. PT Sir becomes involved with a political party, currying favor with its leader and betraying his personal code of ethics by taking on any task asked of him. Little by little, Lovely and PT Sir become further removed from Jivan’s reality.

Suspense builds as these three points of view converge into an ending that took me by surprise. Full marks to Megha Majumdar for a debut novel that is far from predictable.

>215 lauralkeet: - I'm looking forward to this one. I bought a hardcover of it as part of my monthly "Support my Local Indie" order :)

>215 lauralkeet: doesn't land here til January, but I heard Mark warbling too, so put it on my list Laura.

>216 katiekrug:, >217 Caroline_McElwee: Katie & Caro, I look forward to your thoughts when you get to A Burning.

---

Speaking of supporting my local indie, Harriett's has a sidewalk sale every Thurs-Sun so I wandered over there today. I need Song of Solomon for my Toni Morrison project. I also want The Vanishing Half, which they had on hand, but Jeannine said Song of Solomon has been out of stock and she's not sure when she will get it. I registered my interest in both books and she has my contact info so she can notify me when they are available. Woo hoo!

>215 lauralkeet: I'm waiting for my turn at the library. I think I'm # 10 right now. At least I do have other things to read.

>219 BLBera: Hopefully the wait won't be too long, Beth. But I've never known an LTer to be short on reading material. Glad you're all set.

50. Hamnet ()
Source: Recent purchase

The details of William Shakespeare’s life are largely unknown. But we do know that he married, had three children, and lost one -- a boy, Hamnet -- at a young age. In this novel, Maggie O’Farrell develops this spare outline into a beautifully moving story of a family, and their love, loss, and grief. From the beginning, Shakespeare is a relatively minor figure; it’s his wife, Agnes, who occupies center stage. She refuses to conform to societal norms, going so far as to give birth to her first child alone, in the forest. The townspeople rely on her expertise in cultivating and mixing herbs to treat all manner of illnesses. Between this and her husband’s business interests in London (he started out representing his father’s glove making business), they are able to support themselves.

But Agnes and her remedies are no match for the plague. O’Farrell’s narrative shifts between two time periods: the early days of Agnes & William’s marriage, and several years later when the disease strikes. We go back and forth between watching a young couple fall in love and raise a family, and being thrust into the frantic effort to spare that family. This makes the ultimate outcome -- Hamnet’s death -- that much harder to bear. O’Farrell brings us right into the family home: peering over Agnes’ shoulder as she treats her children, watching the women lay out the body, and being present at the burial itself. The last third of the book shows the family coming to terms with their loss and the ways in which Hamnet’s spirit remains present and sustains them.

O’Farrell’s exquisite writing struck me to the core, especially her portrayals of tremendous sadness and grief. And yet there were also moments of lightheartedness and humor. I hope this novel is recognized in all the usual prize-giving circles; it is worthy of all the accolades it has received.

Hi Laura!

>204 lauralkeet: I think kitties like the movement. Wash sits on a chair in the living room, about 5 feet away from the TV, and we can see his head moving back and forth as the action shifts. It’s quite endearing.

>221 lauralkeet: Excellent review! It’s already on my wish list.

>221 lauralkeet: - Welp, guess I need to add that one to the list! Great review.

>221 lauralkeet: So glad that you loved Hamnet, Laura! And a great review as well. It's definitely one of my top reads this year, but I'm torn between it and The Mirror and the Light to win the Women's Prize. Can't wait to hear the Booker nominations!

>222 karenmarie: I think you're right about kitties, Karen. Midnight doesn't join us in our usual TV-viewing spot, but anytime we watch a show in our bedroom she perches on the edge of the bed and watches intently. The first time it happened, it was a nature show about birds but turns out she's interested in pretty much anything on-screen. And yes, it is quite endearing.

>223 katiekrug: Yeah Katie, be like Karen: put it on your list!! Glad the review was enticing. It is a tremendously sad book so you have to be in the right frame of mind but oh ... the writing. It's just so good.

Kudos to Beth (@BLBera), and I think maybe also Vivian (@vivians), for bringing Hamnet to my attention in the first place.

>224 vivians: Vivian, we were posting at the same time. And now I can confirm my comment in >225 lauralkeet: that you were indeed an influence on my decision to read Hamnet.

And I agree, it's a tough call between Hamnet and The Mirror and the Light. The Women's Prize judges have their work cut out for them.

>221 lauralkeet: Glad you enjoyed Hamnet Laura. It was a highlight for me too this year.

>225 lauralkeet: I'll accept the kudos and I'm so glad you loved it as much as I did. It is one of my favorite reads this year.

I still have to read The Mirror and the Light - kind of hate to read about Cromwell's death, but I loved the first two.

>227 Caroline_McElwee: More Hamnet love! Hopefully others will get on the bandwagon with us, Caro.

>228 BLBera: Beth, I'm impressed that you zipped through the first two Cromwell books. The third one has much to recommend it, and even the inevitable ending is handled with all of Mantel's sensitivity and skill.

Good review of A Burning, Laura! Big Thumb! More warbling never hurts, right? Ooh, I want to get to Hamnet. I didn't get much birthday cash, but I am thinking of spending it on this title. The library wait is ridiculous.

That's not a bad way to spend birthday cash, Mark! Enjoy.

Hi Laura. I'm glad you liked The Round House so much. And I got a copy of Long Bright River.

Your summary of and comments about A Burning are excellent. I like that we read it at about the same time.

And Hamnet. Happy sigh. I want to read more Maggie O'Farrell.

>207 lauralkeet: Wow. That is really too bad. My stereotype is that readers and librarians are, I don't know, likely to think like me? I guess that's the truth of it.

I love Midnight's Zoom bomb pic!

Hi Ellen! I should read more Maggie O'Farrell too. Her name was familiar to me and I thought I'd read something by her before, but LT says I haven't. I need to remedy that.

I agree the library controversy is sad and most unfortunate. I hope the new director (when hired) is able to effect change. It will be interesting to see how they go about it.

51. The Heart’s Invisible Furies ()
Source: Kindle library loan

Cyril Avery was born in Dublin in 1945, to a young unwed mother whose family kicked her out when they learned of her pregnancy. Cyril was adopted by Charles and Maude Avery, an eccentric couple caught up in their own lives more than their son’s. In his teenage years, Cyril realized his feelings for his best friend Julian were something more than platonic, but it took many years to accept his sexuality and risk the consequences of coming out to others, especially at a time when homosexuality was against the law.

The Heart’s Invisible Furies follows Cyril’s lifelong quest for acceptance and love, with the evolution of LGBTQ rights always in the background. The major sections of the narrative take place at 7-year intervals, with each “fast-forward” quickly resolving open issues and setting up the next phase of Cyril’s life. John Boyne skillfully manages these jumps without sacrificing character development. And while the novel deals with serious themes and is often quite poignant, the storytelling is filled with irony and humor. It’s an unusual approach, but one that is largely effective.

I admit it took a while for me to become fully immersed in Cyril’s story. His childhood character didn’t ring true -- he was perhaps too precocious -- and his early sexual exploits, while essential to his character development, felt a bit repetitive. But when Cyril reached his late twenties I found him more relatable, and a significant plot development sent his life in an entirely new direction. I loved the way his story carried on from that point, and Boyne’s ending is absolutely perfect.

>234 lauralkeet: The Heart's Invisible Furies sounds like a good one, Laura. I have loved the books by Boyne that I've read. I need to read more by him.

>235 BLBera: This was an LT-inspired read, Beth. Bonnie (@brenzi) read it some time ago, and I put it on my "potential library loan" list. And since it was available digitally, it seemed like a good time to read it.

Ooof. I absolutely love Boyne, and this one was no exception for me. I'm glad you enjoyed it, too.

>237 scaifea: I'm happy to have discovered Boyne with this book, Amber. Glad to see you're a fan.