Karen (aka witchyrichy) Just Reads in 2021 - Part I

I am Karen Richardson, 58 years old (at least until May), living in rural south central Virginia with my husband Bob, Spot and Major (the two very good dogs), and Circe (the cat who adopted us in 2020). (How's that for parenthetical comments?) We live on an 18-acre farm and while we do not farm actively anymore, we support several local farmers including a tenant in our cottage who arrived last spring and brought the farm back to life. We benefit via fresh eggs and vegetables.

This is my seventh year in the 75ers group. I am looking forward to reading and sharing with all of you again this year. I have a couple goals related to books and reading:

Books: cataloging, culling, collecting in my home library
Reading: mostly stuff I own or from the library and mostly whatever I feel like, only doing the Bingo card challenge
Tracking: using @karenmarie's spreadsheet to more intentionally track my reading

What I Am Reading Now

Justice Hall by Laurie R. King (audio)
Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter

Long Term Reads:
The Art and Craft of Poetry
Draft 4
The Life of Poetry
If You Want to Write
Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty
The Book of Joy

January 8

Field of Thirteen by Dick Francis
The Pledge by Howard Fast
The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander
The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny
Banker by Dick Francis
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie (audio)

February 5

The Thornbirds by Colleen McCullough
Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce
The Summer of My Greek Taverna by Tom Stone
Real Change by Sharon Salzberg
Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Khendi

March 15

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
The Incredible Civil War by Burke Davis
The Kaiser's Web by Steve Berry
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (audio)
Odds Against by Dick Francis
A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas (audio)
The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
True Refuge by Tara Branch
Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliott
Testimony by Robbie Robertson
The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

Total: 28

April - June

April 11

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
On to the Next Dream by Paul Madonna
Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968 by Ryan H. Walsh
The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
The Invention of Air by Steven Johnson
The Magician King by Lev Grossman
The Magician's Land by Lev Grossman
Deborah Goes to Dover by Marion Chesney
Ready Player 2 by Ernest Cline
Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

May 8

The Best Kind of People by Zoe Whittall
Glass Houses by Louise Penny
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
Bonecrack by Dick Francis
The Legend of Greg by Chris Rylander
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer
The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted by Robert Hillman

June 7
Eleanor in the Village by Jan Jarboe Russell
The Widow of the South
Shadows of the Stone Benders
The Kingdom of the Blind
The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

Total: 26

July - September

July 5

Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
susan, linda, nina & cokie
Closing the Gap: Digital Equity Strategies for the K-12 Classroom
The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan

August 8

A Better Man by Louise Penny
A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King (audio)
The Reef by Nora Roberts
The Moor by Laurie R. King (audio)
Code Girls by Liza Mundy
China by Edward Rutherford
Spider Woman's Daughter by Anne Hillerman
The President is Missing by James Patterson & Bill Clinton

September
The President's Daughter
All The Devils Are Here by Louise Penny
The President's Daughter by James Patterson & Bill Clinton
Redshirts by John Scalzi
Mad Mouse by Chris Grabenstein
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
Classified as Murder by Miranda James
Decider by Dick Francis
Sunrise By the Seas by Jenny Colgan
O Jerusalem by Laurie R. King (audio)
The Women's March: A Novel of the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession by Jennifer Chiaverini
The Bookman's Wake by John Dunning

October - December

1. Nature or Environment: Planning The Hour of Land by Terry Tempest Williams

√ 2. Title Describes You: Sense and Sensibility with me being Sense

√ 3. Contains a Love Story: Deborah Goes to Dover

√ 4. Your Heartily Recommend: The Essex Serpent

√ 5. Impulse Read! A Redbird Christmas

√ 6. Suggested by Another Generation: The Legend of Greg

√ 7. About Time or Time Word in Title: The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England

8. By or About Marginalized Groups: Planned How To Be An Antiracist

√ 9. 20 or Fewer LT Members: On to the Next Dream by Paul Madonna (8 members on 4/3/2021)

√ 10. Classical Element in Title: The Invention of Air

√ 11. Set Somewhere You Would Like to Visit (Three Pines!): Glass Houses by Louise Penny

√ 12. Dark or Light Word in Title: The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel

√ 13. Read a CAT or a KIT: June AlphaKIT is C, D: The Secret Chord

√ 14. New To You Author: Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection

15. Arts & Recreation

16. Senior Citizen Protagonist

√ 17. Type of Building in Title: Glass Houses

√ 18. Less than 200 Pages: The Ladies of Missalonghi

√ 19. 2 or More Authors: The President is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton

√ 20. Character You'd be Friends With: My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor

√ 21. One-Word Title: Testimony

√ 22. About History or Alternative History: Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968

√ 23. Made You Laugh: Redshirts by John Scalzi

√ 24. Southern Hemisphere The Thornbirds

√ 25. About or Contains Magic: Equal Rites

Five Favorites from 2020

As I look back, my reading year is a bit dull, I think, in its lack of variety. But I set out to read Agatha Christie and did so. 2020 is also the year I finally discovered Louise Penny and David Baldacci's Memory Man series. Those three are a big chunk of the fall reading. There are some gems from earlier in the year that I do want to highlight:

Nightwoods by Charles Frazier: This was my first book of the year and one of the best. It has been a very long time since I read Cold Mountain but remember Frazier's prose, the way that natural world played its role in his story. And, I remember having a pretty knock down drag out argument over the ending. I think the ending of Nightwoods is a little more definitive but Frazier isn't one for making it completely clear. What he does do well is spin a tale full of suspense and fear and past violence coming full force into the presence. He reveals details on his own timeline, just at the moment when they will, he knows, hit you the hardest, wrapped up as you are in the story. Luce lives as a hermit in the old Lodge on the lake, seemingly contented with the "reimbursements" she receives for her life of solitude. These are mostly a deep connection with and gratitude towards the natural world. But she opens that solitary life to her niece and nephew after her sister dies. The children have been deeply wounded but Luce, with her patience and lack of expectations, works with them gently. Eventually, the world finds them and Frazier's tale spins fast and sometimes shockingly towards its end. A five star read if there ever was one.

Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier: I chose Nightwoods for the American author challenge but didn't put this one back on the shelf. And, I'm glad I didn't What a book...sprawling is the perfect word even as it describes the horror of the removal of the native Americans from western North Carolina and Tennessee. We follow the life of Will Patton, who at 12 years old heads into the wilderness to work at a store, and from there his adventures begin. He falls in love with the wrong girl, meets larger than life figures who both help and thwart him, all presented against the backdrop of the western mountains along the eastern seaboard with their stretches of forests. The prose is beautiful.

The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck: I have done some good reading this year but The Women In the Castle was the best so far. Jessica Shattuck told a deeply engaging story that got at the complexities of war and peace, specifically the actions and reactions of ordinary Germans to the horrors of World War II. She tells the story of three women and their children as they live through the chaos that was the end of the war. The women, wives of conspirators whose attempted assassination of Hitler failed in summer 1944, each bring secrets with them to the old castle, the ancestral home of one of the conspirators, where they struggle to make a life for themselves and their children. At times a painful read, the book explores survival and shame while depicting the strength of the women when faced with unimaginable horror and adversity.

The Outer Banks House: The Outer Banks House by Diann Ducharme was supposed to be the AlphaKIT for February but didn't get done. I finally put it at the top of the list, looking for a good story in a setting that I know and love, the area around Nags Head on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The story takes place just after the Civil War as Reconstruction is bearing down on the south and the KKK is being born as the not-so-underground resistance. Fashionable white families from inland Edenton, NC, have begun to vacation on the Banks, staying in newly built houses and dining at the local hotel, interacting with the "Bankers," mostly for domestic and touring support. The story also explores the history of the Freedmen's Colony on Roanoke Island, organized by escaped slaves who took refuge on Roanoke after it was occupied by Northern troops. The main character is a planter's daughter, Abigail Sinclair, who is just beginning to question the future set for her (marriage, babies, and so forth) when she discovers the beauty and danger of the islands. There is love and loss and all the elements of a good story and I loved escaping to the beach for a few hours.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett: It take me nearly half a year to finally get The Dutch House from the library. And it took me less than a day to read it. A story of human beings learning to navigate a world that can be shocking but sometimes also very ordinary. Patchett tells the story of brother and sister Danny and Maeve Conroy, raised in the Dutch House, a monstrosity of a mansion built by a wealthy Philadelphia Dutch family. They suffer grief and loss yet are buoyed by their commitment to each other with Maeve, the older child, sacrificing potential to ensure Danny's success. The novel covers a generation, and we see the long term consequences and sometimes surprising resolutions of decisions and mistakes.

January 2021 Plan

My main plan for the year is to read the books that have piled up both materially and digitally. No challenges, no particular focus, just reading what I want, when I want. I pulled together a starting pile and put them in my Book Basket. I'll pull the analog books from this collection and then add to it, and I will also try to get through at least one or two Kindle books.

For now, here is my plan for the next month including the two books I've already logged:

√ Field of Thirteen
√ The Pledge
√ The Glass Key
√ The Mirror and the Light (Kindle)
Miss Benson's Beetle (Christmas gift from a friend)
√ The Nature of the Beast (Kindle)
The Summer of My Greek Taverna
√ The Banker (for the group read)

Unplanned
√ A Fatal Waltz
√ The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding

Best wishes for a better 2021!

Hi Karen, and Happy New Year to you!

>3 witchyrichy: Field of Thirteen. Aha! If you’re interested in more Dick Francis, this will be the third year of a Dick Francis SHARED Read – my first year as administrator, taking over with Julia’s blessing. Here’s the Introductory thread: Third Race at the LT Racetrack: A Dick Francis SHARED Read Come join us! One book every 2 months reading mysteries by a master.

Happy New Year, Karen! What good dogs!! I have wanted to name a cat Circe since I was in high school, but haven't had the chance yet, though we've had a few cats. One of these days I'll have a Circe too.

I like the Bingo card! Did you make it?

Happy reading in 2021, Karen!

>12 karenmarie: I would be interested...thanks for the link. I focused on classic mysteries last year but mostly Agatha Christie. Would love to expand my horizons.

>13 AMQS: I did not make the card, not that tech savvy. It came from the Bingo Card group here. Scroll down past the planning to find three versions of the card as well as directions for using it. It is my only challenge this year.

>14 FAMeulstee: Same to you!

Happy New Year to you and hubby and to two very good doggies.

Here's to a brighter, better, bookier 2021!!

>16 majkia: >17 Berly: Thanks! Best to both of you!

Hope 2021 is filled with lots of good books for you!

And keep up with my friends here, Karen. Have a great 2021.

Hi Karen!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Karen. Your dogs are so cute! I look forward to following your reading again this year.

>19 thornton37814: >20 PaulCranswick: >21 figsfromthistle: >22 BLBera: Thanks for stopping by and happy new year! Just filled in my five favorites from last year. Now, back to Dick Francis.

Hi Karen my dear, i have dropped my star here and will be a regular visitor in 2021 dear friend.

>24 johnsimpson: Welcome! I have made daily LT a priority for 2021. A loving, comfortable community. Also thinking about drinking more tea so may need some advice. I seem to have ordered several large boxes of PG tips.

Hi Karen! Happy New Year!

The Dutch House was also one of my favorite reads last year. How was Field of Thirteen? I picked up a used copy from the library shop a while ago but haven’t read any of them yet.

>1 witchyrichy: Aren’t they sweet!

First book of the year! What a pleasure to spend most of the day reading.



Field of Thirteen
Dick Francis

Thirteen stories from the master. Each one a perfect gem with quirky characters who come together at the track. Greed, love, jealousy, the range of human emotions and foibles. Good guys tend to win and bad guys learn their lessons in sometimes very hard ways. And always a twist that caps the tale.

I have only read one or two others by Francis and am looking forward to the group read!

>26 Copperskye: They are knuckleheads really--uncouth farm dogs--but we love them anyway!

And see my review above: I liked it. I don't read a lot of short stories but found these well-crafted. He does an excellent job crafting characters quickly and completely.

>27 witchyrichy: I joined the Francis group read, too. Haven't read this one, but it sounds good!

Happy 2021, Karen!

Field of Thirteen sounds good. I didn't know he had a book of short stories. I've been enjoying the group read, although I've missed a few of them.

I also jetissoned my challenges last year. I read the PBS Now Read This book club selection and also my RL Book Club's book. That's enough structure for me.

I love that you have a cat named Circe.

Happy New Year, Karen!!

>Berly It was good. I also read a set of Poirot stories and I liked them, too. May try some more short stories in 2021.

>30 streamsong: At some point, I felt a little paralyzed as I didn't really want to read any of the books on the challenge list. Just giving myself generally more space and grace. I may try the PBS club and some other group reads here on LT.

I have actually started adding things like LT to my calendar as a regular part of my work day. Otherwise, I do lose track of them.

And Happy 2021 to you, too!

>31 EBT1002: Then you will really love that my first cat was named Calypso. She was a black cat who arrived on Halloween and I was reading The Odyssey with 9th graders at the time.

The Pledge by Howard Fast tells the fast-paced story of Bruce Bacon, a World War II war correspondent. His discovery of the British responsibility for the Bengal famine in 1943 and association with Indian communists land him in front of the Senate Un-American Activities Committee. He also falls in love with Molly Maguire, herself an avowed community and journalist for The Daily Worker. This is her story as well. Fast himself was part of the McCarthy hearings and I may add his memoir to my reading list. The book also takes a look at the layers of New York society and family bonds as Bacon some from a wealthy Protestant family who do not necessarily welcome a feisty Irish Catholic into their midst.

It turned out to be a timely read as Fast explored the machinations of the government in their zeal to hunt down communists. I had forgotten that Nixon was part of the committee and the irony of his future was not lost on the contemporary reader. And Fast's examination of how such a thing can happen shed light on how and why people become convinced of conspiracies and how those in charge keep them in line. It was scary in some ways.

In the end, it just wasn't a great story as Fast seemed more interest in making his points. There was some complexity in the characters, especially Bacon's parents, but most of them were there to either support or thwart Bacon and his efforts to both get his book published and maintain his integrity, standing for various points of view.

I'm giving it three stars. Not sorry I read it but not giving it a hearty recommendation. I had never heard of the Bengali famine of 1943 so learned a bit of history.

Nice list of favorites, Karen.

I think I'll pass on the Fast.

The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett

I think this may be my first Dashiell Hammett and I was not disappointed. It took a bit of time to wade into the prose and figure out a bit what was going on but once I got the swing of it, it was a good read. The main character, Ned Beaumont, is a political hack with a sense of honor who helps his corrupt politician friend beat a murder rap. My favorite line was the description of Beaumont grooming his mustache, running his finger down one side or the other. Just seemed classic.

>27 witchyrichy: Sounds like I need to get Field of Thirteen off the shelf. Well, after Banker.

>28 witchyrichy: Knuckleheads are cute, too! :)

It took me a long time to read The Mirror and the Light. I didn't remember that struggle with the earlier books. Perhaps it was because I knew what was coming? It was also 100 pages longer than either of the other books, more introspective and thick with detail and carefully spun prose. That being said, once I let myself settle in, the last 300 pages moved along and then the finale pulled me in today so I had to finish.

I don't know if it was Mantel's intention, but there is much in her Henry that reminded me of our outgoing President. Henry is petulant when he doesn't get his way, quick to blame others for his own defects, erratic in his outlook from moment to moment, rewriting stories about himself and his actions.

Ultimately, the book was good but it is thick so plan accordingly.

A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander is third in the Lady Emily mysteries. Set in 1890s England, the books are a mix of history, society and murders. It took a couple chapters to get into this one but eventually I settled in. The history, in particular, is excellent: even in 1891, we are seeing the seeds of WW I. This one also included Prince Eddy and the Cleveland Street scandal. I've had fun doing more reading about these corners of the Victorian era. Part of it is set in Vienna at Christmas time and the descriptions were wonderful. The two main characters--Ashton and her fiancee Colin Hargreaves--are complex enough to keep the mystery solving interesting but there was one spot where I found myself yelling at the obvious plot twist.

Great comments on The Mirror and the Light, Karen. I'm trying to decide when I want to read it; it IS a long one. I will probably wait for my summer break.

It sounds like I might have to give the Alexander another try. I read the first one and wasn't impressed, so I dropped the series. Maybe it gets better?

>41 BLBera: I subscribe to Dan Snow's new History Hit channel and he had a great interview with Tracy Borman about the series and her new biography of Cromwell. Mantel gets most everything right, she thought, describing the research as meticulous. She also pointed out something I hadn't thought about. Unlike a lot of historical fiction that sort of educates you as the story unfolds, Mantel weaves it in the way it would have been at the time. She doesn't stop and provide a history lesson on the Pilgrimage of Grace, assuming some knowledge in her readers. You learn about and navigate it all along with the characters. It looks like the interview can be listened to as a podcast for free.

As for the Alexander, it isn't the best mystery series featuring a Victorian woman that is out there, but I was willing to stick with it for the history, I guess. I am on the fourth one and will let you know my final verdict but suspect it may be my last. Your question prompted me to look at my list and I had forgotten about Veronica Speedwell, created by Deanna Raybourn. I do remember really enjoying that series.

Finally, since I did some searching, here's a fun overview from Penguin of 9 tough women in historical mysteries. Because we all need more book lists in our lives.

>41 BLBera: And, I finally gave up. Tears of Pearl focused way too much on the relationship of the main characters to the detriment of the mystery. Plus, Banker from Dick Francis arrived and I am eager to dive into the group read. This is actually something of a milestone for me: it is very hard for me not to finish a book but I have so many good books waiting, I don't want to waste time if I really wasn't interested.

Hi Karen my dear, hope that you and Bob are having a good start to the weekend and that all is well with both of you. Sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

>44 johnsimpson: Just popping in to visit threads and send best wishes myself! I worked a bit on Saturday but Sunday was a lovely weekend day.

Catching up Karen.

>40 witchyrichy: That is one historical fiction I have not come across before.

>46 PaulCranswick: The series was recommended to me by The New York Public Library at some point, probably in response to a request after reading Veronica Speedwell. They do a twitter feature every Friday for an hour. You tweet a book you liked and they respond with a suggestion.

I finished my dad's birthday sweater today, just in time to get it in the mail. I made a sweater vest last year. This year, I took on a more challenging piece with a rolled collar and sleeves. I am pleased with the results. A few more projects are in the queue but none are gifts, so I can take a break. More reading awaits. And, I want to explore the iPad app Procreate, a pretty amazing drawing/painting app. I have played with it a bit but want to do a tutorial to get the basics.

>48 witchyrichy: lucky dad!

>48 witchyrichy: Oh, that's lovely! Well done!

>49 fuzzi: >50 scaifea: Thanks! I believe it should fit, too. Just back from mailing it and it should get there by Thursday in plenty of time for his 87th birthday! The next challenge may be to try some color blocking or patterns.

February Reading Plan:

Finish the four books I am currently reading:

√ Real Change by Sharon Salzberg
√ Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
√ The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
√ The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Then, two books loaned me pre-COVID from a friend:
√ The Incredible Civil War
The Invention of Air

And two left from January:
√ Miss Benson's Beetle (Christmas gift from a friend)
√ The Summer of My Greek Taverna

>52 witchyrichy: I loved The Thorn Birds, read it several times back in the 1980s and 1990s. I'm afraid to go back and reread it, as I don't want to spoil my memories.

>48 witchyrichy: I love the sweater.

Thanks for the lists!

>48 witchyrichy: That’s beautiful! I love the color, too.

Ah, The Thorn Birds! Loved it way back when.

>53 fuzzi: >54 BLBera: >55 Copperskye: I am loving The Thornbirds. I don't think I watched the mini-series. I've been parcing it out slowly but may end up binging this coming weekend.

After a somewhat quiet January, my schedule is starting to get busy. I am working with two groups on their virtual spring conferences and trying out different delivery methods. In addition, my organization is doing a lot of online course development that educators can access on their own time or could be adopted by a school division and delivered as a facilitated experience. I am getting to do some of the instructional design and having a great time.

Meanwhile, I am in the middle of two big books: Stamped from the Beginning and The Thornbirds. Both good reads and a get a bit of each done each day. This coming weekend will have time open for reading and I hope to finish both of them.

>56 witchyrichy: I'm glad you are enjoying The Thorn Birds. While the mini series was pretty good, it didn't do the book justice, and I recall being very disappointed after watching it.

Not sure how the time goes by so quickly. Still having fun with the course and event design.

And...also counting down until my retirement as the executive director of my nonprofit in June 2022. The search committee is coming together, and we just started planning what will be my last annual conference in December. Hoping to be able to be face to face at the Hotel Roanoke. The hotel is where the organization started nearly 40 years ago. I have loved the past 12 years, but I am ready for new adventures that are not quite so time intensive. Should be quite a party and this is the year that I am claiming the Governor's Suite.

Meanwhile, the sun has finally come out. I am getting caught up on the Australian Open. Staying away from other threads right now as I know there are lots of tennis fans here on LT. I did see a headline about who won the women's finals but am clueless about who is in the men's finals. Watching Tsitsipas and Nadal quarterfinal right now.

Hi Karen!

>48 witchyrichy: Very nice. I love that color. I admire people who knit and sew and crochet although I’m not one of them.

>57 witchyrichy: Your work sounds interesting and fun.

...
The Dick Francis SHARED Read March - April thread is up: March - April, Odds Against

>60 karenmarie: Thanks for checking in! I just realized the month has turned. Things are getting a little quieter as several projects are either in progress or in hiatus on someone else's desk. I bought all of them at the beginning of the year and am looking forward to more Dick Francis.

I am choosing books as I go this year, and it's interesting to see how that is working.



I started the three book series with The Thornbirds and it did not disappoint. I wanted a sprawling family saga and this was that but had the added element of battling the harsh and unforgiving New Zealand and Australian landscape. I don't think I read it originally or saw the mini-series but had a vague idea of the story since it was very much in the pop culture when it came out. The war also played a looming role in the novel which connects it to the next book.



I picked up Miss Benson's Beetle and could not put down it down. Watching Miss Benson come into her true best life even as she fought it, was funny, heart breaking, and so true. All the characters carried baggage not of their own choices, much of it tied to the war. This was a gift from the same friend who gave me Where'd You Go, Bernadette so she knows what I like.



The third book, a memoir, is also set in exotic lands but much more down to earth and contemporary. The Summer of My Greek Taverna was told with just the right mix of pride and self deprecation. And a warning tale for all who think running a restaurant anywhere, much less a tiny Greek island, is a good idea. The cover advertised Stone as like Anthony Bourdain but I'm not sure I agree. He doesn't have quite the cynical sting of Bourdain. But I enjoyed it, especially dreaming of sun drenched Mediterranean beaches in the midst of a pretty miserable February.

I can recommend all three.

March Reading Plan:

√ The Gift of Imperfection by Brene Brown
√Odds Against by Dick Francis
√ The Incredible Civil War by Burke Davis
√ An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
√ The Kaiser's Web by Steven Berry

>62 witchyrichy: now that you've read The Thorn Birds, read The Ladies of Missalonghi. It's a lot shorter, and funny.

>62 witchyrichy: The Stone book sounds interesting! I think I'll add it to my list. Thanks for the review!

>64 fuzzi: Thanks for the suggestion! Adding it to the TBR list.

>65 scaifea: Lots of wonderful Greek landscapes and characters.

Reading and Watching:



I finally finished Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. The book is organized around five figures in American history and weaves their biographies and philosophies with the context of their times. Each one from Thomas Jefferson to Angela Davis are shown in their complexity, how they contributed to or fought back against racist ideas but also created an environment of racist thought in the United States. Kendi does a good job teasing out the various threads of how racist ideas show up in the world and requires a level of personal examination that can be challenging.

While I was reading the book, I watched two PBS series that underscored Kendi's ideas as well as the history itself. The Long Song, a Masterpiece theater series, was set in Jamaica in the 19th century during the end of slavery. Powerful in its message and illustrating the complex relationships of slaves and former slaves to their masters. The story telling was compelling as well along with the cinematography. Highly recommended!

And, be sure to watch The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is joined by an amazing group of leaders to talk about the history and influence of the black church. It repeats many of the same themes as Kendi's book but in the context of religion and spirituality and it moves right into the present day with contemporary faith leaders discussing the challenges of meeting the needs of the current generation.

>62 witchyrichy: These all sound good, Karen.

>67 witchyrichy: Great comments on Stamped from the Beginning; this has been on my list for a while. Thanks for the PBS recommendations as well.

Your retirement is coming soon! I hope you do get a real party.

>68 BLBera: Thanks for stopping by. I also had Kendi's book on the Kindle for awhile. I didn't purposely choose it for Black History Month but it was a good time to dive in.

The conference is always a party anyway, and with not seeing each other for two years, 2021 will be quite an adventure. We have a small, tight knit community of ed tech folks here in Virginia and our conference is a homecoming each year.

>67 witchyrichy: I would guess that The Long Song is based upon the book by Andrea Levy which is also well worth reading, Karen.

Have a lovely weekend.

Hi Karen! So many great books here, but I admit that the Greek Taverna one caught my eye the most. Stelios and I have been thinking about moving to Europe in a few years and spent gobs and gobs of time looking at properties in Greece. We sort of narrowed down an area of the Peloponnese before we decided that Cyprus makes the most sense since we have a ready-network of friends and family there (and we can easily vacation in the Peloponnese from there). He actually owns some property near a cool Santa Fe-like village so when we have a chance to get back we'll perhaps go check it out and see if we can picture building there. No Tavernas for me, though (to run, that is. To eat: yes).

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement! Does it feel like a long way away? Are you able to think about retirement plans?

>48 witchyrichy: beautiful sweater!

>70 PaulCranswick: It is indeed based on that book and it is on my list. I rarely watch the movie first but happened upon this on PBS.

>71 AMQS: Your plans sound wonderful and you have hit upon the fundamental theme of Stone's book. Living and playing in Greece (even if you are writing a book) is very different from living and working in Greece.

Retirement seems far away but it is already March! And, because my organization has to organize a search, my departure is very real. Last night, I left the board meeting early so they could discuss the search amongst themselves. I am pleased that they are taking the lead. As for plans: I suspect I could move right into consulting so my only plan is to take at least the summer off for travel and lounging by the pool. After that...who knows?

There definitely will be more crocheting and reading.

Watched this wonderful video with Louise Penny, made as part of the "We're All in This Together" campaign from Canada. The audience is meant to be seniors, I guess, and this one is recent so she speaks honestly about the pandemic. It takes place in Brome Books in her village.

I didn't know much about her or her past. She is so "real" as they say: honest, self-deprecating but also proud of her work (as she should be), and funny. Take an hour or watch it in the segments.

Louise Penny Video

One of my retirement plans is to take the Three Pines tours.

>74 witchyrichy: Karen I have Louise Penny on in the background as I am typing. Her video will make me reconnect with her novels! I loved the comment about "yearning for community" and the shared experience of being immensely moved by the Italian balcony singers in the early stages of the pandemic.

Have a great weekend.

>75 PaulCranswick: Thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the video.

My 86-year-old parents and I all managed to get vaccinated in February. We waited two weeks and then I headed to Pennsylvania! I was so fortunate to be able to stay the whole week last week, and we had a wonderful visit! My sister came up for a day as well. Work has settled down so I could stay away from the computer as well.

I have come to lots of binge watching possibilities. My parents turned me on to Heartland, a series on Netflix set in western Canada and focusing on a horse whisperer and her family. Wholesome but compelling. I think they were three seasons in and the newest 16th season is just coming out.

And my sister recommended Escape to the Chateau, a reality series on Peacock that follows an English couple who buy a French fixer upper chateau. The first season was three episodes, and I watched them basically back to back as the couple worked to get the chateau ready for their wedding with the ultimate goal of hosting weddings and events. There are seven more seasons as well as home videos they made during the pandemic.

I also listened and read but I'll save that for the next post.

After a slow February, I got into the swing of reading in March. I had a very modest plan and after I met that, I added four more books:

The Kaiser's Web by Steve Berry
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (audio)
Odds Against by Dick Francis
A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny

Both the Berry and the Penny were pretty much binge reads. I had stalled out on the audio of the Christie book but finished it on the way to Pennsylvania. It was a performance piece and very good. I don't think I ever read this or even watched a movie as I was surprised by the outcome.

Dick Francis was my vacation read and he did not disappoint. I'll review it in full but suffice to say that I ended up staying up til midnight one night to finish.

>74 witchyrichy: Oooh! I will have to watch that video. Thanks for posting.

>77 witchyrichy: Congrats on being vaccinated. I am scheduled for this Sunday -- can't wait!!

Oh! And my Dad turned my on to Heartland -- I have been binge watching and just started Season 4. Enjoy.

>78 witchyrichy: Enjoyed both that Christie and Francis. : )

>77 witchyrichy:, Hi Karen my dear, you will enjoy watching the rest of the Escape to the Chateau series, we have loved it.

Congrats on getting vaccinated and your parents as well, we had our first shot on Sunday afternoon, i was not too well for two thirds of yesterday and Karen has been bad since late afternoon yesterday and today.

I am doing a bit of hard landscaping work in the garden, it is a fancy term for smashing up the bodge area from the previous owner, it is a mix of paving, bricks and concrete and it is only for the compost bin and water butt and will be screened off from the proposed new paved patio seating area.

I hope that you and Bob have a good week ahead and send love and hugs to both of you from both of us dear friend.

Hi Karen!

>59 witchyrichy: Wow! Congrats on your planned June 2022 retirement! Very exciting for you.

>62 witchyrichy: I read The Thorn Birds so many years ago I can’t even remember which decade, but remember liking it a lot. The only other book by McCullough I’ve read, and I still have it on my shelves, is a strange little book called Tim. I recommend it, although it’s not a sprawling saga.

>67 witchyrichy: I read Kendi’s How to be an Anti-Racist and was deeply moved. I’ve got this one on my shelves, just waiting for the right time. Good to know that you recommend it.

>77 witchyrichy: So glad you were able to get vaccinated and visit your parents.

>78 witchyrichy: I haven’t started Odds Against yet, but have it on my staging/currently reading shelf. At least it’s in plain sight.

>79 Berly: Someone else told me his dad turned him on to it. My parents also had some favorite Hallmark series that were surprisingly good. I decided to go back to the beginning and am glad I did. The stories are good and the scenery is gorgeous!

>80 johnsimpson: Sorry for the bad reactions. I guess it means it is working. I didn't have a reaction until the second shot. Spent the next day mostly sleeping. Sounds like very hard landscaping. I generally leave that to Bob ;-) Sending good wishes for your second shot.

>81 karenmarie: fuzzi recommended as well. I've been trying not to buy books but may put in an order. And I have How to Be An Anti-Racist queued up on the kindle so glad you recommend it. Kendi has a no-nonsense style that seems to make his writing even more powerful.

Sharon Salzberg is one of my favorite meditation teachers. Her books are easy to read as she is a natural storyteller with a nurturing spirit. But the truths are no less profound. Real Change is a guide to making change, written with advocates and activists in mind. Social justice work is difficult, demanding, and can be all consuming. How can you take a break when you see so much need, when you feel angry and frustrated? Salzberg argues, and I can speak from personal experience, even a few minutes of meditation each day has helped me find a space within the work where I can rest and then return refreshed. It sharpens my focus and allows me to gauge my reactions in a more thoughtful way. When I open my eyes after practicing and look out on the world, I know it is the same broken place, I feel the familiar anger, but I also feel as though I have more courage to keep moving forward even as I accept the current circumstances.



Brene Brown was a new discovery. While I was reading The Gifts of Imperfection, I also listened to an episode of her podcast with Tim Ferriss and Dax Shepard. Her energy is amazing, and her message is personal but rooted in research. Like Salzberg, she is a gifted storyteller with a strong, certain voice.

Both women are willing to share their own stories, the successes and failures, helping us understand our shared struggles. I'm looking forward to reading more from both of them.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green is a rambling first-person narrative with a math subtext. Well, not really subtext: Colin, the main character, is a child prodigy worried about meeting his potential and his inability to stop dating and losing Katherines. Colin and his best friend Hassan head out on a road trip following yet another Katherine breakup. He is trying to figure out the mathematical formula that can be used to predict the future of a relationship. While Green made it clear you could ignore the math, it was distracting.

Not my favorite John Green: I don't think I connected with Colin or Hassan the way I have with other Green characters.

I have done some great reading this year, but The Essex Serpent is my favorite by far. Quirky characters living on the edge of the sea, their village overshadowed by a Loch Ness style serpent. Characters and their stories intertwined in serpent-like ways. There was just the right amount of magic and mystery. And, Perry captured Victorian sensibilities perfectly. She used letters effectively to give the reader the behind-the-scenes feelings of the characters. I was just captivated.

>87 witchyrichy: Welp, that one is going on the list - it sounds perfect! Thanks for the review!

>87 witchyrichy:, >88 scaifea: Ditto. That looks really good!

I haven't run any statistics but in terms of sheer numbers, March was a banner month for me. It's like I just decided to read whatever I wanted and make reading a priority. I've been getting away from social media and have deleted the apps from devices. I also have been trying to put them away in the evening so have been reading analog books.

I did several late night binge reads in March, but I slept better so I'm happy with that trade off. Also snuck in two audio books and skimmed the second half of True Refuge.

Mostly, I seem to have more enthusiasm for reading. Is is the freedom to read whatever? Or the hopefulness of spring? I don't know but I am having fun. As an April Fool's kind of example: I've read a few Terry Pratchett books but not many. Went to Libby to browse and they featured all of the Discworld series. Checked out the third one, Equal Rites, started reading and finished this morning. Turned it back in and discovered that Lev Grossman's Magicians series is available so checked out all three and plan a long weekend readathon in between gardening.

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas is a powerful portrayal of a black community in the grip of drugs and violence. Thomas doesn't whitewash the stories: characters make clear choices but often because they see no other options. While the focus was on Maverick, the main character, and his struggles, Thomas has created other strong, complex characters, especially in Maverick's mother Fay. I listened to the Audible version and the narrator was outstanding.

>91 witchyrichy: Karen, that one sounds really good - I read The Hate U Give this past summer and would like to read more by her. Your last two books are hits for me!

Hi Karen!

>87 witchyrichy: I read The Essex Serpent for book club in February 2019 and loved it just as much as you did.

>90 witchyrichy: Good to hear about your new level of reading enthusiasm.

I also loved The Essex Serpent, Karen. Concrete Rose also sounds good.

I also sleep better when I stop screen time in the evenings.

>92 AMQS: The Hate U Give was a favorite of mine two years ago and the On the Come Up was good, too. I appreciate the male perspective in this one. She just captured the complexity so well, I think.

>93 karenmarie: Thanks for stopping by! Perhaps it is all the good books that seem to be coming my way or just escaping the noise of it all for a good story. I need to look back at Twitter, though, as I asked the New York Public Library for recommendations during one of their recommendation times and they had several author names and book titles.

>94 BLBera: It makes me happy when others enjoy a book I did as I can have quirky tastes some times and this fit that perfectly. Edgy and somewhat self-aware, I think, like the author was just in the wings watching you make the connections.

I think I took sleep for granted in my younger days.

April Reading Plan

√ The Magicians by Lev Grossman
√ The Magician King
√ The Magician's Land
√ Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968

Read two fun books about the rock and roll life in the 60s and 70s.



Robbie Robertson of The Band is a great storyteller and what a story he has to tell in his memoir Testimony. He started playing with Ronnie Hawkins when he was a young teenager, worked with Bob Dylan and some of the best musicians of his era, and ended his rock and roll road career with one of the greatest concerts of all time captured in Martin Scorcese's The Last Waltz. The story is also very sad as one singer after another succumbs to drugs and alcohol. While Robertson managed to keep himself together, probably because of his intense commitment to his music, other members of the band were pulled in and eventually led to the end of the group after some 16 years on the road. Robertson ends the memoir with the concert at Winterland. He has gone on to work with Scorcese on other films. Garth Hudson is the only other member of the group still alive. In the end, the story is bittersweet.




I followed up with Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968. The title, of course, refers to the Van Morrison album that some consider to be his best work. Walsh uses the creation of that album to spin a fascinating history of Boston in 1968. He focuses the story around Mel Lyman, an early folk singer who rebuked Bob Dylan for his electric music at the Newport Folk Festival. Lyman began a cult called the Fort Hill Community in Roxbury. He had connections to almost everyone who was anyone in the 60s it seems and was part of the wide use of LSD and other hallucinogens. The books was fascinating: this little slice of history that was a macrocosm of the world in general in 1968. It was good follow up to Robertson as he talks about some of the same people and events.

Delurking to say hello.

>87 witchyrichy: That was a good read for me as well.

>100 figsfromthistle: Thanks for saying hello! I'm afraid I have been lurking myself. Glad you enjoyed The Essex Serpent.

Hi Karen!

Here’s the thread for the next Dick Francis SHARED Read, just created: Third Race at the LT Racetrack: Book 3, Bonecrack

>102 karenmarie: Thanks! I have it on the shelf and am ready to go! I also have all the rest of the Sid Halley series but am waiting for summer pool time, I think, to indulge.

I am dropping the AlphaKIT list in here as I am reading one for the BINGO card.

Yearlong: X and Z thread: https://www.librarything.com/topic/327092
January..............P M - thread: https://www.librarything.com/topic/327171
February............T K - https://www.librarything.com/topic/328724
March.................U R - https://www.librarything.com/topic/329750
April....................A W - https://www.librarything.com/topic/330563
May.....................I N - https://www.librarything.com/topic/331419
June....................C D
July......................S O
August................V J
September.........F L
October..............H E
November.........B Y
December..........G Q

wiki: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/2021_AlphaKIT#2021_AlphaKIT

I used to sleep so well, Karen. You are right; I certainly took it for granted. I love "The Last Waltz."

Hi Karen my dear, i am slowly catching up with the threads and want to make sure i keep up to date. I have been doing well with the reading and have got some gardening done.

We are still waiting for Amy to give birth, her due date was yesterday but that came and went, oh well it will come when it is good and ready.

I hope that you and Bob have a really lovely weekend and we both send love and hugs dear friend.

>105 BLBera: Thanks for stopping by. I watch "The Last Waltz" and "Alice's Restaurant" every Thanksgiving! I got to hear Arlo sing the epic song.

>106 johnsimpson: I am hoping to do some thread visiting myself this weekend. I am part of a virtual conference Saturday and then have lots of gardening plans for Sunday. I will definitely keep track of your thread so I know when that baby does decide to come!

A good complimentary read to Concrete Rose is Dear Justyce by Nic Stone. The book is a sequel to Dear Martin. Quan, the main character, shares similar struggles with Maverick and has a similar sense of being trapped by the circumstances of his life. He makes bad decisions, in some cases, for tragic reasons. But Stone's story focuses more on the criminal justice system than Thomas did with its inequities and lack of support. In addition, she explores ideas related to the psychology of gangs. I picked this up this morning and just finished. Another excellent story from Nic Stone.

Hot and windy and no fun gardening so I have been reading!

My real life book group is getting together in May. We haven't done any online meetings as the group isn't particularly technological. It will be fun to see them. We are reading The Best Kind of People. It was a fascinating exploration of what happens when a well-respected teacher and community member is accused of inappropriate behavior with his students. Part of what added to the fascination was the author's approach. We were able to follow the various characters: the wife, the son and daughter, and a family friend who sees a chance to revive his writing career. But we never hear from the father himself. I really couldn't put it down and finished it on Sunday.

I worked most of the weekend so took a day off today. I started Glass Houses by Louise Penny last night and finished it today. Pure Penny although in this case she let the reader in on Gamache's plan, at least most of it, but still managed to surprised us! The next one is in my reading basket but as I get closer to the end of the series, I am trying not to read them too quickly.

I am about halfway through The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England. I like his approach and enjoying the details he provides. I am supplementing with Mystic Britain from the Smithsonian Channel.

I have been working as quickly and efficiently as possible so I can spend time in my garden. Meanwhile, our 12-year-old hound dog Spot has a bad kidney that is concerning to the vet. We are, for now, treating with antibiotics. Just getting started on considering surgery but he seems fine. always ready for dinner and a walk so we're going to take it slow. But, it has meant several trips to the vet with him or his samples, and it's a long trip to get across the river to the vet in our old town. We *love* him though, and he has gotten us through diabetes with the little dog so we know he will be support now, too. Plus, we often see pelicans and bald eagles as we cross on the ferry.

Here are the dogs on a walk this week:

Spot Rolls: https://youtu.be/UzpP3ab2F7I

Major Digs: https://youtu.be/GM3QKWgquBQ

My reading rate is way off. Besides the roadtrips, I have been gardening. For the first time in many years, my flower gardens are flourishing. My bionic hip has given me my life and my gardens back! They are mostly weeded, organized and mulched.

Here's an album from Flickr:



I also did a before and current video of the roadside garden that has grown over the years.

March 21: https://youtu.be/zFNSVvNCS8g

May 14: https://youtu.be/NAPaozLROMI

I'm sorry that Spot's not feeling well - here's hoping he responds well to the antibiotics!

I know how great it is to have a wonderful vet. We moved three years ago and I miss our old vet so much.

Hi Karen! Acck! Can't believe I lost your thread.

Thanks for mentioning Heartland. I'm enjoying it, too. I just finished up season three from the library; but even though it calls it 'the complete season' the last two episodes are not on the discs. The season three finale especially seems to have lots of important plot point. Luckily, I can watch those two with Amazon prime.

I really enjoyed the Louise Penny video you posted in >74 witchyrichy: (in March!). I've only read the first in that series. I'll have to explore them further.

I'll be reading The Mirror and the Light sometime this year. I've also added The Essex Serpent and Concrete Rose to the library hold list.

Your gardening album and videos are so beautiful! Very inspirational!

>113 scaifea: Thanks for the best wishes. It's funny: he feels fine as he has no idea there is an issue. He did get an ultrasound, which meant shaving his belly. I am sure he was not happy about it at the time but he seems to hold no grudges. My philosophical vet says the animals do better with these chronic conditions because they don't stress over the knowledge.

>114 streamsong: No apologies...I haven't visited threads for awhile myself. Glad you are enjoying Heartland. I pay for Netflix so for now I have all the seasons and episodes. I can vouch for Season 3 finale as I am into Season 4. I try hard only to watch it as my treadmill treat!

Glad I added a few books to your TBR list. Hope spring has settled into your neck of the woods. We're headed to summer but the pool is up and ready to go.

I am having so much fun reading this year: just what feels right at the time with no judgments.

That's how The Legend of Greg ended up on the list! A friend posted a pic of her teenager on a vacation, book in hand, the whole time. Reminded me of myself at that age so I had to read the book. It was definitely written for early teen boys but it was still fun. Not sure I'll read the rest of the series but not sorry I added this one.

I am behind on book reviews but going to work backwards with the last one I finished: The Dictionary of Lost Words. It showed up in Libby and the hold came through pretty quickly. It may just have nudged The Essex Serpent out of first place for my favorite reads.

Esme, the main character, narrates the story with occasional letters helping to move the plot along. We follow her life as it unfolds from day to day and then decade to decade. She is the daughter of one of the men working on the Oxford English Dictionary and we first find her tucked under the sorting table where the team is compiling the first few letters. From there, she lives through transformational times: from the end of the Victorian er through WW I. She is swept up in women's suffrage but discovers her own way to help women's voice be heard.

The understated prose and Esme's own quiet reactions to events makes for a peaceful but surprisingly powerful read.

Hi Karen!

>111 witchyrichy: I’m sorry to hear about Spot’s kidney problems and hope they can be resolved with antibiotics.

Those videos are a riot. I especially like the one with Major digging. All those lovely scents in the dirt...

>119 karenmarie: Thank for stopping by. We now have all the details about Spot and the surgeon wasn't necessarily pushing us to remove a kidney. We'll consult with our vet but as long as he seems to be happy, we're going to take a wait and see approach. Surgery at his age seems iffy: it might solve the kidney but cause other problems.

I do enjoy spending time with my pets and it is a blessing to be able to walk both dogs together around the farm, something I wasn't able to do in the run up to my hip replacement.

@AMQS shared a list of the 50 best books about the west. I've read 10 of them and have read other books by some of the authors on the list like John McPhee, Willa Cather, and Mari Sandoz.

Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse.
Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West
Black Elk Speaks
Grapes of Wrath
The Monkey Wrench Gang
Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History
Centennial

I am determined to read Lonesome Dove and The Worst Hard Times this summer. Saving the list as there are some other intriguing books including Atlas of the New West.

>121 witchyrichy: Lonesome Dove is good, but graphic, and a bit of a downer at times. I am glad I read it, but don't plan to reread.

Where is this list?

Westerns I recommend:

Doc by Mary Doria Russell
Shane by Jack Schaefer
Gone to Texas by Forrest Carter
Conagher by Louis L'Amour
The Good Old Boys by Elmer Kelton
Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
True Grit by Charles Portis
Follow the River by James Alexander Thom
The Trees, The Rawhide Knot, and The Sea of Grass by Conrad Richter

>122 fuzzi: Here is the link to the list: https://coloradosun.com/books-about-the-west/

And thanks for your list! I don't think I have read any of them.

>123 witchyrichy: thanks for the link. I was very surprised to not see on that list any works by Louis L'Amour, Zane Gray, Elmer Kelton...and where was The Virginian?

I've read The Grapes of Wrath, the movie was better.

Feel free to check out reviews I wrote for the titles I recommended, as I don't include spoilers.

>124 fuzzi: Thanks! Those lists are always a challenge, aren't they? I will take a look at your reviews as I don't think I've read anything by those three writers. I've mostly done history or historical fiction for my western reading.

Hi Karen my dear, just stopping by to say hello. With the glorious weather we have been having since Saturday i have been spending a lot of time in the garden catching up for the bad weather in May.

I am glad you liked the photo of Elliott, he is a gorgeous little boy even though i am biased, lol.

Hi Karen - Another rave about The Dictionary of Lost Words! I am waiting for my turn at the library. I am moving up the list, so it shouldn't be too long.

>126 johnsimpson: Always pleased to get a visit from you, my friend! I left the farm and gardens behind for a week. I love to return to see what is blooming. You should be able to click to see a few pictures. The white hydrangea is especially lovely right now.

>127 BLBera: I actually purchased a paper dictionary and thesaurus as I realized I had given all mine away. Many of the lost words are there. Enjoy!

I had a board meeting in Fredericksburg the first weekend in June so used it as an excuse to head north to visit my parents and some of my oldest friends. Just wonderful: I went offline and just enjoyed being with people who know me and love me anyway. We picked right up where we left off although I have been playing WWF with my friend Susan and exchanging text messages and email. It was just wonderful to be together and lying lazily by her pool again.

My parents and I did the Lancaster County driving tour visiting our old stomping grounds, and here are a few pics:

>128 witchyrichy: lovely. Mine are bright blue due to naturally acid soil.

>130 witchyrichy: I've driven through the Lancaster area several times, looking forward to seeing more photos if you post them.

>131 fuzzi: I have a bush that is light blue but I am really coveting my neighbor's deep purple bush.

I love my Virginia farm but there is nothing like Lancaster County for getting into your heart and soul. While it continues to grow and sprawl, it has maintained a core rural nature, mainly because of the Amish and Mennonite communities.

As for pictures, here you go...from an earlier trip when we did downtown including the famous Central Market:

Whew...I took vacation and came home to what I am affectionately calling "conference season." Everyone is hosting virtual events. On the first Monday back, I had three to attend. I made it to two of them, with some responsibility for one of them. Then, I prepped for five sessions yesterday. I showed off Scrappy Circuits (https://www.scrappycircuits.com/) and talked about open education resources. Just for fun, here are a couple of the projects I created with the circuits. Ideas came from a new book:

Bookstore Tourism Update:

I did manage to get some bookstore time during my trip. I took five or six boxes of mostly fiction Riverby Books in Fredericksburg, Virginia. A lovely spot on the downtown shopping street and owned by children of old friends. Paul was able to check them out in time to offer my cash or store credit. I was already holding an armful of books so took the credit.

We drove past Moyer's Book Barn near Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on our Lancaster County ramble but it wasn't open at that moment. I'm sure my parents breathed a sigh of relief. My old friend was more indulgent, and we headed to Baldwin's Book Barn outside West Chester, Pennsylvania. It was as I remember: boxes and bags of books in the entry room with wonderful first editions and lots of Chester County and Wyeth history and the surprisingly rickety wooden steps leading to the next three floors. It is only my new hip that made it possible and I was still very, very careful. It is charming but sadly not very user friendly.

It sounds like you had a wonderful break, Karen. Thanks for the photos.

>135 BLBera: Thanks for stopping by. It was quite nice and after a long week of meetings, July is looking like a quiet month as the K-12 folks take a break.

Spent lots of time beside the pool last week enjoying something of a staycation (that means I only had two meetings). Lovely weather for July in Virginia: there is often a nice afternoon breeze that keeps the humidity and bugs away. I used a few gift cards on the last prime day and invested in a portable spa. Took some doing but it is ready for this evening!

Meanwhile, the women's finals are on: quite an interesting year at Wimbledon with lots of new faces. I have been watching lots of matches as I get prepared for the next generation. Seems like Roger Federer may be on his way to retirement.

Just finished reading Sense & Sensibility and am ready to read more Austen this summer. I never got on the bandwagon but am enjoying her sly wit. She does require longer chunks of reading time, I think, as you connect with the language and let it flow.

Just looked up and there is a hummingbird on the feeder on my upstairs porch. It has been a great hummingbird summer so far! They seem to be buzzing everywhere.

I have been watching tennis as well, Karen. It is fun to see the young players and wonder who will be the next standouts.

>137 witchyrichy: my favorite Austen remains Pride and Prejudice, though I enjoyed all of her works.

I have only glimpsed a hummingbird once this summer, so far, but I'm away at work most of the day, and might be missing them.

Hi Karen! Thanks for the link to Scrappy Circuits - that looks great! I just got dinged over on Beth's thread with The Dictionary of Lost Words so this is just more reason to find a copy! My book club picks our books for the year this week and I will suggest it. We're also going to look at the 50 Books of the West list. I hope you LOVE Lonesome Dove. It is a favorite of mine. The Worst Hard Time is really good also - I realized I was holding my breath for long sections of that one - it is gripping. The History Colorado Center has an immersive Dust Bowl experience that is very powerful.

Do you ever go near Carlisle in your PA travels? That's where Marina is in school. I'm looking forward to going back when I help Marina move in next month.

>138 BLBera: And I woke up this morning to Olympic tennis!

>139 fuzzi: I just started Pride and Prejudice. I am fortunate to work from home so bird watching is part of my day.

>140 AMQS: The Scrappy Circuits have been so much fun! I just got his new book that includes ideas for other dollar store stuff. I really want to make something turn but the motors don't last very long on 3V batteries. I could cheat with a 9V ;-)

I get on the turnpike just east of Carlisle. What school is she attending? Central Pennsylvania is a beautiful, historic part of Pennsylvania with lots and lots of natural spaces, too. You'll love exploring. About an hour away is Lititz, Pennsylvania, famous for Wilbur Chocolate Company and location of Aaron's Books, a great little independent bookstore.

I am in the middle of The Worst Hard Time right now and feel the way you do. These people were amazing if a little unhinged to stay in such a place. I keep thinking how soft we have all gotten: wearing masks and getting vaccines and staying home were too hard for us. But I also am angry over the environmental degradation that led to the disaster.

Thanks for those who warmed my thread for the past two weeks. I am having a great summer: getting a couple fall projects going so we can hit the ground running in August. Being involved in grants and state projects continue to help my organization connect to the state and support blended and virtual learning and professional development for educators. It is going to be a busy but productive last year on the job.

But, this time of year, I also spend as much time as possible beside, in or on the pool swimming and reading. No laptops allowed. It is wonderful, I'm not going to lie. Also learning Italian with the DuoLingo app. May work on Spanish with my husband.

I finished Sense and Sensibility, The Midnight Library and Radio Girls. The latter is a great companion to Susan, Linda, Nina & Cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR, which I am in the midst of right now on the Kindle. I started listening to NPR in college and these women, along with Terry Gross, were friendly, familiar voices. I'll review both books when I finish this one. Preview: Nina Tontenberg is a bad a**.

>144 witchyrichy: It sounds like you are having a great summer, Karen. Why does it fly by?

>145 BLBera: Why, indeed? I took one last week to visit my parents in Pennsylvania and am now facing two busy weeks of meetings as we prepare for the fall and a trip to Northern Virginia to do actual face to face PD. But, I used that as a chance to get in touch with a former Board chair, now good friend, and he arranged for several of us to have dinner the night before near my hotel. It forces me to drive up the night before rather than navigating NOVA/DC traffic the next morning.

And...on my to do list this week is to post my own job description. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Hi Karen my dear, i am getting back around the threads again after my recent hit and miss on here. Hope all is well with you and Bob and the Dogs and Cat, we are both fine although Karen is off work at the moment with stress due to recent events. Sending love and hugs to all of you from both of us dear friend.

>147 johnsimpson: Hello, my friend! I have also been away with lot of work going on as everyone heads back to school. The family is lovely: we often head to the pool together in the afternoons and just nap and relax. Only one of us goes swimming ;-)

I am sorry to hear about your Karen. The world is very stressful right now. I am sending you lots of love and hugs as well.

Sitting in a Hampton Inn in Northern Virginia with a day of meetings ahead and then a professional development workshop for a small school tomorrow morning. I came up a day early so I could take a more leisurely drive on 95 and have dinner with some friends tonight. Why do I have this nagging sense that this might be my last chance for awhile? We are planning our face to face December conference right now and hoping it can happen despite the variants. it will be my last one as executive director and I was looking forward to a three-day party!

Hotels are very odd now: almost like a private condo. I nodded at the front desk clerk, let myself in with my phone, and they only do housekeeping if you ask. I am going out in a few minutes for a coffee and some book browsing before I settle into Zoom for the day. I finished The Reef by Nora Roberts last night. It was a good read, as they say. Not my usual fare but she pulled me right in with the story and the characters.

Stay safe out there!

I teach a course for University of Richmond every fall. My plan was for face to face this fall after two years of online. But...only three students are taking the class so they are registered for independent study. And, as COVID spikes, requirements for indoor masking, social distancing and disinfecting have been put in place. So, I met with the three students on Tuesday and we are moving to remote meetings. My course is already very student centric (they get to pursue their own interests in ed tech in a couple different projects) so giving them some more space will be easy. I am looking forward to learning with them in a more informal way.

I did give them gift bags with stuff for our maker nights: we'll do scrappy circuits and create LED holiday cards.

Having done a workshop and then this course in a mask, I must say that my respect for teachers has just deepened. Ninety minutes of a mask was brutal. I had to learn how to breathe differently. And my darn glasses just fog up. Can't imagine doing this with 1st graders!

I still have a trip planned to Roanoke in late September, but we are otherwise hunkered down. Hoping to be able to visit my parents in early October. But there are two cases of COVID amongst the staff of the health center at their retirement community. For now, they are out of the way but they are thinking a lockdown is coming.

Oh dear.

Hey! Working on catching up on threads, and you got chosen first because my son gave me a copy of The Dictionary of Lost Words as a birthday present, and I had to look up who recommended it to me...it was you, in May!

I'll let you know what I think of it once it's completed. Due to RL issues I've been slogging through the last couple months, and only have ONE book read in August so far! Horrors!!

Hi Karen my dear, i hope all is well with you, Bob, the Dogs and Cat despite all that is going on with Covid, we are both fine, especially after a few days away just outside Salisbury.

We are still wearing masks when we go into shops although in the majority of places it is your choice BUT we want to make sure everything is safe for the moment. Things are still a bit up in the air at the moment but we are all managing for the time being.

I hope that you are all having as good a weekend as you can and send love and hugs from both of us and Felix, dear friend.

>151 fuzzi: I have not visited threads for awhile so am honored your chose mine! Hope you enjoy it.

>152 johnsimpson: I remember visiting Salisbury Cathedral on my one cherished trip to England and Wales. We are doing well and hoping for the best. Sending love to you and your family!

Life is settling down. My first week in a few where I don't have to drive anywhere and the meeting load is light. I do get to teach my course tonight via Zoom and am looking forward to it. Just finished the slide deck and activities.

Meanwhile, I have been waking up early and reading the way I used to when I was a kid. Glorious: and I am reading whatever takes my fancy, including the Patterson/Clinton thriller, The President is Missing. It was over the top with twists and turns and dramatic flourishes but that didn't stop me from checking out the next one in the series! Also checked out Louise Penny's All The Devils Are Here.

And, of course, as much tennis as possible! But if the evenings are going to be so late, I'm going to need a nap ;-)

Hi Karen!

Long time no visit. Sounds like you're chugging along, although I'm sorry that your parents' retirement community has some cases of Covid.

Bill and I are hunkered down again. Sigh. Looks like Thanksgiving and Christmas are questionable again.

Stay safe and enjoy that early morning reading.

I have The President is Missing on my shelves. I'm having a hard time settling on a fiction book, and may go find that one and see if it will click.

Hi Karen - It's great to catch up with you. Your technology class sounds very interesting. I want to see the LED Christmas cards when you do them.

I read The President is Missing several years ago. I remember it as a fun romp, but didn't write a review so my memory is a bit sketchy. Definitely a reason for slogging through writing reviews.

Hooray for reading what strikes you! It's very freeing, isn't it?

>156 karenmarie: Thanks for stopping by! I think this fall is harder because we thought it would be better. Dig out the Patterson/Clinton and enjoy. Hilary Clinton and Louise Penny wrote a political thriller that is out in October.

>157 streamsong: I will post pictures of the cards! And I understand about sketchy plot memories. It doesn't mean I didn't like it while I was reading it.

Just added book 75 to the list: The Jane Austen Society, an impulse grab from the library's new books shelf. It was a lovely story of Chawton, completely fictional, focusing on a group of war scarred villagers who share a love of Austen. I read Sense and Sensibility earlier this year and Pride and Prejudice is on the back of the bed waiting its turn.

Congratulations on 75 books read!

Hi Karen - It sounds like you are busy getting back into the school routine. I teach with a mask, and while my glasses DO fog up, I am so happy to have students in the classroom vs. on Zoom, that I am not complaining.

What did you think of the US Open? I was so happy to see some youngsters come through.

I hope you and yours are well.

Hi Karen my dear, congrats on reaching 75 books read for the year so far. I was so happy for Emma Raducano on her winning the US Open with commiserations to Leylah Fernandez, nice to see the future of Women's tennis is in good hands.

Sending love and hugs to you and Bob and the Dogs and Cat, from both of us dear friend.

>159 witchyrichy: Congratulations on reaching 75, Karen!

>160 fuzzi: And just finished two more. I have been reading with abandon as they say!

>161 BLBera: I think I would get used to it and I do like being in the classroom as well especially for the hands-on STEM stuff we do. But I'm pretty comfortable online teaching online, and my students are all full-time teachers who are spending their days masked with kids so this seems a gentle compromise for now. If I had a full class, we would be meeting face to face though as Zoom can quickly get too crowded for good teaching.

I LOVED the US Open. All these young, diverse women coming along who show the different ways they connect with the game and are willing to speak their minds. And the honoring of the nine women who started the WTA reminded me that I have witnessed and benefitted from their work throughout my life. I felt mildly sorry for Djokovic but perhaps it was not a surprise.

>162 johnsimpson: Emma is just lovely, isn't she! I was rooting for her but Leylah F is a wonderful as well. I caught her interview on the Today Show and she is so sweet and grateful to everyone. I wish for both of them a continued love of the game that sustains them through all the stuff they have to put up with. After she lost, Shelby Rogers, who got further than anyone expected, said she was happy but she was not looking forward to all the truly evil social media messages that she was sure were coming: death threats and so forth. I love seeing you on Twitter and connect with lots of old friends on the other sites but am wondering if the good has been long outweighed by the bad.

Best to you and the family! Pat the kitty for me. Circe is laying beside me getting ready for the day along with the dogs.

>163 FAMeulstee: Thanks! I haven't checked but I feel like I made it early this year. Once I gave myself permission to read whatever I wanted AND to go back to the days when I spent every free minute reading, life opened up again.

Up early this morning and finished the Dick Francis group read: Decider. Another great read from Francis: he creates such interesting male characters and Lee Morris, the narrator, was no exception. I was also completely surprised by the ending. I would love a sequel if only to learn more about his six children as well.

>167 witchyrichy: Yes you did, Karen, last year it was in December, and the year before in October. Only in 2018 it was earlier.
It is always good to read whatever you want to read!

Congrats on reading 75 books!

>166 witchyrichy:, Both Girls played well and spoke well and we will be seeing much more of them over the coming years. I felt sad about Shelby Rogers comments about getting grief on Social media, whilst it is a good thing letting us connect with each other, it is also a source of evil. People make comments and don't realise what harm it may cause, if you are not prepared to say it to their face then don't say anything.

I put a comment on Twitter about the Little Ripon Bookshop which we visited on Thursday and obviously made some purchases, it is the most liked, retweeted tweet i have posted, i think it was mainly for my comment at the end of the tweet, it just came to me and is true.

Sending love and hugs to you, Bob, Spot, Major and Circe from both of us dear friend.

>170 figsfromthistle: Thanks! I am hurtling ahead as well.

>171 johnsimpson: Thanks for stopping by. Your approach to social media is correct and I would add, if you wouldn't say it in front of your grandmother, it's best left unsaid. I saw your tweet and it is true. I don't get out so much but try to support Indie bookshops online (Riverby Books in Fredericksburg, VA, is a favorite) as well as Better World Books that do donations. It is always lovely to see you on Twitter.

Monday morning and I started the day the way I have been starting most days recently and the way I started them when I was younger and carefree: a cup of coffee and a book. Tucked back in bed with the pets napping after a few early morning snacks and scritches. Another part of the reading with abandon approach.

This morning was The Women's March by Jennifer Chiaverini. I like the way she uses three different women: Alice Paul, Ida Bae Wells, and Maud Malone, a less well known New York suffragette. And she does a good job of integrating historical fact into the fictional narrative.

When reading intersects life: I am at the Hotel Roanoke with my planning team for our annual December conference. Having just finished the book about the women's march that took place the day before Wilson's inauguration, I am struggling with the idea that one of rooms is named after Wilson and has his portrait in the room. The rest of the rooms on the floor are named after the other dead presidents from Virginia.