Ellen (EBT1002)'s 2022 Reading Adventures - 1

Photos from Borealis Basecamp to be posted

Hi! I'm Ellen, a 75-er since January 2011. I live and work in eastern Washington although I still identify as a Seattleite. I am firmly eschewing monthly reading challenges for this year (a first!) to give myself the flexibility I need to manage my stress levels as I finish out my working years. I love my work and I'm looking forward to retirement in 2023! So I'll be participating in some shared/group reads and I'll follow along with the Asian Author Challenge but no large-scale commitments.

I'm starting the new year about 30 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska, in an "igloo" built to enable viewing of the Aurora Borealis. We saw the aurora to a mild degree on our first night; I'm hoping for more of a show before we return to real life!

Real life is a pretty good life with my partner of 26+ years, aka P, and our beloved and demanding pandemic ginger cat, Carson. You'll see photos of Carson as the year progresses. Other things that may be of interest: I love jigsaw puzzles (a gift of the pandemic), hiking, snowshoeing, and I'm a huge fan of Jeopardy!.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

COMPLETED IN JANUARY

1. An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Tursten 3.5 stars
2. Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead 4 stars
3. Red Clocks by Leni Zumas 3.5 stars
4. Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves 3.5 stars
5. Runaway by Peter May 3 stars
6. Matrix by Lauren Groff 4.5 stars
7. The Maid by Nita Prose 3.5 stars

COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY

8. The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris 4 stars
9. Dare to Disappoint: Growing Up in Turkey by Özge Samancı 5 stars
10. The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar 4 stars
11. All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris 4 stars
12. The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna 4 stars

COMPLETED IN MARCH

13. the Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson 4 stars
14. The Manningtree Witches by A.K. Blakemore 3.5 stars

Personal Reading Challenge: Every winner of the Booker Prize since its inception in 1969

1969: P. H. Newby, Something to Answer For
1970: Bernice Rubens, The Elected Member
1970: J. G. Farrell, Troubles (awarded in 2010 as the Lost Man Booker Prize)
1971: V. S. Naipaul, In a Free State
1972: John Berger, G. -- DNF
1973: J. G. Farrell, The Siege of Krishnapur
1974: Nadine Gordimer, The Conservationist ... and Stanley Middleton, Holiday
1975: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Heat and Dust
1976: David Storey, Saville
1977: Paul Scott, Staying On
1978: Iris Murdoch, The Sea, The Sea
1979: Penelope Fitzgerald, Offshore
1980: William Golding, Rites of Passage
1981: Salman Rushdie, Midnight's Children
1982: Thomas Keneally, Schindler's Ark
1983: J. M. Coetzee, Life & Times of Michael K
1984: Anita Brookner, Hotel du Lac
1985: Keri Hulme, The Bone People
1986: Kingsley Amis, The Old Devils
1987: Penelope Lively, Moon Tiger
1988: Peter Carey, Oscar and Lucinda
1989: Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day
1990: A. S. Byatt, Possession: A Romance
1991: Ben Okri, The Famished Road
1992: Michael Ondaatje, The English Patient ... and Barry Unsworth, Sacred Hunger
1993: Roddy Doyle, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
1994: James Kelman, How late it was, how late***
1995: Pat Barker, The Ghost Road
1996: Graham Swift, Last Orders
1997: Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things
1998: Ian McEwan, Amsterdam
1999: J. M. Coetzee, Disgrace***
2000: Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin
2001: Peter Carey, True History of the Kelly Gang
2002: Yann Martel, Life of Pi
2003: DBC Pierre, Vernon God Little
2004: Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty
2005: John Banville, The Sea
2006: Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss
2007: Anne Enright, The Gathering
2008: Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger
2009: Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall
2010: Howard Jacobson, The Finkler Question
2011: Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending
2012: Hilary Mantel, Bring Up the Bodies
2013: Eleanor Catton, The Luminaries
2014: Richard Flanagan, The Narrow Road to the Deep North
2015: Marlon James, A Brief History of Seven Killings
2016: Paul Beatty, The Sellout
2017: George Saunders, Lincoln in the Bardo
2018: Anna Burns, Milkman
2019: Margaret Atwood, The Testaments, and Bernardine Evaristo, Girl, Woman, Other
2020: Douglas Stuart, Shuggie Bain
2021: Damon Galgut, The Promise

***On my shelves

I don't know that I am committed to reading every single Booker Prize winner but I do like to keep track. I have read those posted in bold with strikethrough.

My reading plans for 2022:

No monthly challenges.
As many shared/group reads as appeal.
MORE time keeping up with LT friends!

Here's the list of shared reads (so far):

January: Red Clocks by Leni Zumas -- with Kim and Beth

February: Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar -- with Kim

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Currently reading:

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

maybe a photo of Carson

WELCOME!!!

Happy New Year, Ellen! You are starred. And you've already finished a book! Can't wait to see aurora photos.

So, it's 25 below zero today. The sun came up at 10:55am and will set at 2:55pm with about 90 minutes of dusky daylight on either side of those times. It is sunny and clear and beautiful! Today a dog musher took us on a short tour with his team of eight Alaskan Huskies. It was very fun. Photos to come (I have to convert them before LT will let me save and post them). Now we are settled in our little igloo for the afternoon. P is napping and I'm starting my year on LT! Tomorrow we go on a back-country snow machine trek.

My first book in 2022 was a cute little work, An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed. It's an easy read, not exactly high literature but fun and quick.

I am just getting into Great Circle, which is starting out in a promising manner, and I did bring Red Clocks with me. I'm going to read it this month with Beth and Kim although I may fall behind them because Great Circle is a library book that requires my attention before its due date.

I think it's weird that the default touchstone for Great Circle is actually Great Ground Beef Recipes by Family Circle Books.

>7 BLBera: Hi Beth. My first book was a really quick, easy read. Fun but not of tremendous substance.

We saw the lights a bit last night but no photos. Still, it was cool to see them. My fingers are crossed for a more lively show tonight.

Fingers crossed with you.

Making note of Beth's favorite fiction works of 2021 that I haven't yet read. I have a couple of these on hold at the library and the Moss is already on my shelves at home.

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
The Performance by Claire Thomas
Night Waking by Sarah Moss (*on my shelves)
The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson
Secrets of Happiness by Joan Silber
Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller

Crossing fingers too Ellen. Enjoy the rest of your first 2022 adventure.

Have an outstanding time there in the wilds of the Arctic! *smooch*

I Pearl-Ruled Red Clocks. Saddened me.

>10 BLBera: and >12 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Beth and Caroline.

>13 richardderus: Hmmm, interesting that you Pearl-Ruled Red Clocks. I was just over at your thread, now I will go back and learn The Rest of the Story.

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As folks stop by to visit, I have a question for anyone who wants to chime in. If you are a reader of multiple books at one time, how do you do it? Is it "organized" or do you just pick up what you're interested in at that moment? Does it work better for some kinds of works than others? And so on in that line of inquiry.... :-)

Hope you have a great year of reading, Ellen!

Happy reading in 2022, Ellen!

>14 EBT1002: I use a reading plan with the Bible and a daily devotional also. Then with non-fiction, I tend to read a chapter a day or sometimes a bit more depending on the length of the book. With fiction, I read as much as I have time for. For audiobooks, I generally listen as I commute to and from work so it averages about an hour per day. I read poetry books about 25-30 pages per sitting. Sometimes something calls my name louder than something else so I might deviate a little from the plan. So I normally have 6-7 books going at once: 1) Bible 2) devotional 3) Fiction 4) Audiobook 5-6) Nonfiction and sometimes 7) Poetry

Hi Ellen and happy new thread and happy new year! I can't wait for your photos and I sure hope you get the *show* you want before you have to head home! Seeing those northern lights is something I have always wanted to see.

As for your question in >14 EBT1002:, I usually have a heavier (weight wise, as in hard cover) for my bedside table night reading, a lighter paperback in my bag that comes with me whenever I leave the house, and then, if there is anything that just grabs me, I fit those in between somewhere. Library books will take precedence, of course, because of due dates (though, if I am honest, now that overdue fines have been abolished, I have, once or twice, kept a book past its due date if I was close to finishing). However, this year I am hoping to go easy on the library and attack my own shelves with more *intent*. She says with crossed fingers...

Dropping my star here and wishing you a great rest of your vacation!

>14 EBT1002: Chapters. Finish a chapter, move to a different book; if I am too caught up in that one to move to another, read another chapter then move to the different book. Some books just Will Not Let Me Go (*stares at Godborn: Gods of Bronze) but most of the time it keeps me from feeling trapped and miserable. Sometimes it's the only way I'll finish a book..."ooohhh, I hate this book, I have to read it, please dear goddesses let me just make it to the end of the chapter!"

And it's also the clearest possible signal that I need to Pearl-Rule a book, when even the thought of another chapter makes me want to sob and/or scream and/or unswallow.

Happy New Year, Ellen! I love that you started your 2022 thread in an igloo. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your trip.

As for your reading question, I usually read one book at a time, but sometimes I'll read a nonfiction and a fiction book at the same time. I'm doing that now with an Edith Wharton biography, which is such a huge chunkster that reading it in small bites was the only way I'd ever get through it. When I have two books on the go at once, I make one of them primary my bedtime book, but I reserve the right to change that up based on mood or interests.

I didn't read more than one book at a time for most of my reading life, but in the past few years I have found myself reading multiple books at a time. First, my attention span seems shorter, so if I get tired of one book, but still have time to read I can switch to something newly engaging. Also I like a lighter read when I'm falling asleep at night so I don't have to concentrate so much. Then, with all the challenges and group reads I can be participating, reading in bits and pieces and not dropping what I really want to read to participate.
I'd like to get into audiobooks more so that I can be doing something else (stitching) while I read.

I'm frustrated that this photo is sideways. I rotated it in my iMac Photo gallery but it's still saving sideways. You'll just have to turn your computer on its side.

This is me with a sled dog puppy today. It was 25 degrees below zero, Fahrenheit.

>8 EBT1002: I enjoyed Great Circle when I read it last year, Ellen, so I hope you do too.

Happy New Year!

>14 EBT1002: I am one of those people who always has multiple books on the go at any given time. I have been doing it for so long that I no longer think about it. It is not really organized for me although I do track my daily reading. Library books that have a due date take priority even though I am actively trying to read more off my own shelves these days.

Ellen, Thanks for sharing your travel adventures. I wish I had your courage!!!!

>22 EBT1002: *baaawww* poopy-poochie is pweshus!

Welcome back! I sooo want to see the aurora someday. Can’t wait to see your pics!

Happy New Year, Ellen! Enjoy your Alaskan get away!

>15 thornton37814: and >16 FAMeulstee: Thanks Lori and Anita!

>17 thornton37814: Wow, that is very organized, Lori. I like the way you build in flexibility, too, to suit your mood. It makes sense to me that some things can be read in smaller chunks (a chapter a time for nonfiction, for example). Thanks for sharing!

>18 jessibud2: Hi Shelley. Yes, this trip is a absolutely a bucket-list trip. If we don't see them full on, we won't do this again (just too expensive and kind of challenging in the details).

Thanks for sharing your approach to multiple reads at once. I am realizing that my reliance on e-books in terms of the library has been affecting my reading. I'm so pleased that I can put books on hold with spl.org, and I love that I can pause them to space them out, but it is controlling my overall reading more than I would perhaps like. Of course, the alternative is to buy more books. bwahahaha :-)

>19 richardderus: Hmm, interesting and helpful, Richard. I tend to get going on a book and regardless of whether I can't put it down or I'm compulsively checking to see how many pages I have left, I'm like a sled dog on a track headed for the barn (see what I did there?). It makes total sense to use chapters (or sections, I suppose, for books that eschew the chapter concept) in the way you describe. Thank you!

>20 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. It's kind of cool that I'm starting my new year - and my new thread! - in an igloo, isn't it? It really is an amazing structure (and, of course, not technically an igloo, either, but that is what they call it).

When I have more than one book going at a time, it has tended to be a fiction and nonfiction duo. Thanks for sharing your experience.

>21 arubabookwoman: Hi Deborah! Nice to see you. Your post has me thinking about my current reading dynamic. I get up early so I can read for about an hour before getting ready for work in the morning. I also read every night before sleep. I wonder about using that dichotomy for heavier vs. lighter reading fare. I may give that a try.

Happy New Year, Ellen! I bet you are having such a great time, and what a wonderful way to start off a new year.

>14 EBT1002: I always read multiple books at a time, and I just read what calls to me, so totally by mood.

>22 EBT1002: Okay, I know we both have MacBook Air, and what I do is upload the photo into my junk drawer. If it ends up sideways, I then drag the photo into my desktop. Then you can double click on the photo from the desktop, and it will open it up in Preview, which will allow you to rotate it. The reload the photo from your desktop into your junk drawer and it will be properly oriented. A pain, I know, but it does work every time.

>23 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! Thanks for stopping by. Library books definitely take precedence for me. That usually means e-books and, unless I put my kindle on airplane mode, the due date is a hard stop. The book disappears!

I've been putting library books on hold and then pausing them to be active about one week apart. This doesn't always pan out, but it's a way to try to manage the flow!

>24 Whisper1: Hi Linda. I'm glad you're enjoying my adventure tales. This place is pretty awesome and I don't feel at risk at all. The walk back and forth between our igloo and the dining room is the only time we *have to* be out in the frigid cold. And the landscape is so amazingly beautiful!! The snow is so purely white with no city or even suburban impact.

>25 richardderus: The mama dog had a litter of eight puppies, Richard. Exactly a team for mushers. They were pretty darn adorable.

>26 drneutron: Hi Jim! Happy New Year to you! I hope we get some good pics of the aurora to share.

>27 Carmenere: Hi Lynda! So far, this adventure has been pretty special. We weren't sure we'd get there with so much snow in Pullman and Seattle being a mess with snow they are not used to managing. But here we are!

>Hi Mamie and Happy New Year to you!

Okay, thank you for that set of instructions. I'm going to try it now.

>14 EBT1002: I too am a reader of multiple books Ellen. I almost never read two novels at the same time, but commonly a novel, a biography, another non-fiction (history/philosophy/politics etc), and sometimes a volume of poetry. If I really get into one, then that takes over til I finish it, but if I'm engaged in them all, i read a few chapters and switch. I've probably read like this since my late teens.

>22 EBT1002: Love it.

Woo Hoo!! Mamie is a genius! Here I am with the sled dog puppy (just today), only right-side-up this time. It was still -25F.

>33 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline. It's interesting to me how many different patterns of reading multiple works we readers have developed. It seems quite manageable to read a fiction/novel work along with a nonfiction work. I've done that and it has worked. Reading two novels at the same time has been a bit more difficult. That said, I just realized that I wanted to read in the night last night but didn't want to disturb P, so I started reading Great Circle on my kindle even though I had not yet finished An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed as a book-book. It worked fine to then return to the latter this morning. Of course, AELMNBC is a very light read!

This group always helps me to read; welcome back to the group, Ellen. x

>34 EBT1002: Gosh you look cold whichever way you look at it!

>34 EBT1002: Hooray! And what a great photo. I hope you are having the time of your life, my friend!

Happy new thread!

>34 EBT1002: You look too cold! Puppy seems to like the cold weather!

Hi Ellen! Happy frosty 2022 to you! I’d love to see the northern lights - enjoy!

I was gifted An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed. It looks cute and I enjoyed An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good.

You’re reading Great Circle in Alaska? That’s perfect! It was one of my 2021 favorites (great ground beef recipes, be damned!).

Hi Ellen and Happy New Year of Reading to you and P.

I love Alaska - in the summertime! DH and I went there for our 40th anniversary...let's see...13.5 years ago. Sheesh, it seems like yesterday. I just mentioned on my new thread that seeing The Northern Lights is one of my wishes in life. It is plenty cold enough in MO today. I passed on the morning dog walk because the (wind chill) temperature was -12. My Norwegian ancestors would be ashamed of me.

Puppies! So cute!

Happy new year, Ellen! I do read multiples, it depends a lot on my mood. Usually I will have just one fiction book at a time, but sometimes I will add an extra in, especially if I need something light.

I tend to read at the end of the day, and if it's something I am pushing myself to read. (not that I don't like it, just that it's slower, and not as immediately rewarding); I will tend to try for at least 10 pages a night.

I really ought to try to read my serious books earlier in the day; but I think that may wait for retirement.

Ellen--How fun that you are kicking off your 2022 thread in an IGLOO!!! Love it. My Hubby wants to go. : )

I usually read several books at a time. One print, one Kindle, one audio and then usually a fourth. I just switch back and forth depending on my mood unless one just grips me. Also I like to mix up F and NF. Can't wait to see more photos! Happy New Year!!

Hi, Ellen!! That sled puppy is most adorable!

I picked up the habit of reading many books at once in grad school and never looked back. I tend to rotate through them a day at a time, for the most part (my system is slightly more complicated than that, but we'll go with the simplified version for the mental health of everyone involved), but occasionally I'll stick with one book for a few days in a row, either because I just can't put it down or it's due back at the library super-soon. I think I have something like ten books going right now.

Happy New Year, Ellen. I can't wait to see more photos from Borealis Basecamp. What an awesome idea this was. I hope to see the Northern Lights one of these days.

Looking forward to following your reading life for another year. If you want to pick a time in the next couple of months, I will gladly read The Line of Beauty with you, since I have had it on shelf forever.

I hope you enjoy Great Circle as much as I did.

Happy new year, Ellen! Like everyone else, I look forward to hearing more about your adventure in Alaska :)

I usually always have two books going - one on audio and one in print/on Kindle. Occasionally, I'll have three going but usually only if I'm making my way through a big nonfiction book, which is rare. I always make sure my audio is a different genre than the other book. Right now, I'm listening to a crime novel, so the print/e-book can't be crime :)

Happy new year! Alaska is on our road trip list. Looks like you had fun. I'm retiring from my most pressing job this year...will let you know how it goes.

I usually have four books going: something spiritual that I read a bit of every day, an audio book, an analog book and a Kindle book. My audio books are usually cozy or historical mysteries...right now I'm working through the Russell/Holmes series.

>11 EBT1002: I have moved Secrets of Happiness up the TBR list as it has shown up on lots of year-end review lists.

But I read that it was 67 degrees in southern Alaska last week! Oh, now I see that was in Kodiak, which is quite a way from where you are north of Fairbanks. Hope the igloo is toasty. I'm looking forward to photos of northern lights! Happy new year to you both.

Happy New Year! Wishing you and your family the very best in joy, friendship, health, happiness and lots of good books for 2022.

Hi Ellen! This may be the only time I'll be able to catch you this year; your thread always moves too fast for me. How lovely that you're in the north to see the Aurora Borealis. I'm looking forward to your photos because that's far too cold for me to contemplate visiting.

>14 EBT1002: I prefer to read one book at a time; if I read more and - as often happens - they are similar, I start getting them confused. However, I've found times when I had 3 books on the go at the same time. It might be that I'm reading a book off my shelves at bedtime (those don't go anywhere other than my library and bedroom) but if I'm waiting for the kids to finish a class I might start an Overdrive book and (though it's petering out now) I could be reading the kids a bedtime story. So, really, in that case my reading would be dictated by the situation.

>14 EBT1002: My profile usually says I'm reading several books 'currently', but that's usually because I put them down for one reason or another, and hope to get back to them. My current crop may be dnf'd more than finished eventually.

I usually can handle one fiction and one non-fiction, with the non-fiction often on audio. Fiction tends to swallow me whole when it's good, and then nothing interferes.

Your trip sounds thrilling. I hope the lights are equally so.

Love the picture of you with the puppy, Ellen.

I usually have 2 to 5 books next to me on the couch that I am reading. One e-book, a non-fiction, and something in an other genre than the e-book I am reading. And one or two that are long term projects, at the moment my long term book is the third and last part of the complete Arabian Nights. I read the previous two in 2020 and 2021.

Happy New Year, Ellen!

We were just talking about An Elderly Woman Up to No Good on another thread. Good to know you give it a thumbs-up.

-25 F?! You’re a hearty soul. Sounds like a great trip, and how cool (groan) to stay in an igloo.

I always have at least 4 books going: hard copy, Kindle, poetry, graphic novels. Long term projects (I’ve had a Stephen Fry poetry handbook going forever, and need to get back to it) or other factors can add to that.

Happy New Year Ellen! I've got you starred now and I'm really going to try to keep up. I liked hearing about your time in Alaska. I thought it was cold here this morning but I guess I was wrong lol.

>14 EBT1002: I don't usually read more than one at a time. Sometimes I put one book aside and read another in its entirety, and then sometimes I get back to the original book. In fact there are two stopped books just now, actually three now that I think of it, two of those were for TIOLI challenges one of which only required a partial read and the other of which I filled with some other book. But I intend to get back to them, I do. Oh, there's a fourth that I started in 2020 waiting in line for my Christmas veal that I fully intend to finish or why would I have checked it out and renewed it all through out last year?

>31 EBT1002: I'm starting to pause library holds more often - varying the delays depending on if I'm really hungry to get to it.

>34 EBT1002: Oh! There's a puppy! So much easier to see when the photo is aligned correctly. Cute puppy, warm puppy, hard to put down puppy!

>31 EBT1002: I may have to start using the "pause" feature at my local library too as I have had 5 books come in from being on hold in the past 3 days.

Quick post before I do some responses. I am looking through some "best of 2021" lists.
I am a fan of The Atlantic and here is their best books of 2021 list.

I'm adding to my wish list and/or putting on hold at the library:

Assembly by Natasha Brown
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura
Harrow by Joy Williams
Nervous System by Lina Meruane
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
The Life of the Mind by Christine Smallwood
Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City by Andrea Elliott

I already have All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles on hold.

I've already read and thoroughly enjoyed Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro and Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters and No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood.

I have Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner on my TBR shelves.

I will post photos as soon as I convert them to a format LT will accept. The Aurora Borealis was AMAZING!!! We got so lucky with our travel -- every flight was at risk due to weather but we made it to Fairbanks and back safely.

The temps hovered around 25 degrees below zero Fahrenheit but we did a short dog sled ride (photo of me holding a 9-week-old pup above). I did a 1-hour snow machine ride into the back country of the Alaskan interior (5-hour tour canceled due to extreme cold and P decided she had no interest in being suited up for the shorter excursion). It was beautiful and I was kind of excited to get up to 30mph on that deadly machine.
And.... we saw the Aurora Borealis!! I mean, we saw such a show! Sunday night they came out and they danced and danced. Even locals said it was the best show they had seen in months. One of the employees, a local who of course sees the Aurora regularly, said she stood in the parking lot for 20 minutes watching the show before heading home around midnight. Did I mention that it was cold???? The Aurora was out each night but that middle night was by far the most memorable and awe-inspiring.

Photos to come, I promise. But for now, picture P and me hooting and hollering inside our cozy igloo with the fabulous plexiglass window/ceiling, pointing and exclaiming "oh my! Look at that! Oh my god, it's incredible!" Imagine me laughing with glee at the experience we were having. I felt like the luckiest human on Earth.

In reading:
I have two novels going at once now and they are not ideally suited to co-reading.

Red Clocks by Leni Zumas -- I understand why many readers bailed on this one but I'm glad I stuck with it. It is a lot to take in, especially at the outset, but the characters and the story are (for me) worth hanging in there. Still, I set it aside to focus on my other read before it is due at the library.

That other read is Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead. Oh boy, I am loving this one. It's a long read and I'm only about 25% through it (thank you, kindle) but it's engaging and interesting and fun.

>36 PaulCranswick: I love that list, Paul. And honestly, I wasn't cold because of all the layers I was wearing! But I am clear about this: I do not want to move to Fairbanks. brrr

>37 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie. "The time of my life" describes it perfectly. It was an incredible adventure. It was good to get home last night (28F suddenly feels downright balmy) but I am so very glad we went.

>38 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita. The litter of eight puppies seemed to handle the cold very well. Mind you, their little tails were between their legs as they roared around with typical puppy energy. :-)

>39 Copperskye: Hi Joanne. I feel so lucky to have seen the northern lights. It was a great trip.
"...great ground beef recipes, be damned!" LOL - I am enjoying Great Circle and I'll be finishing it here in the lower 48. :-)

>40 Donna828: Hello Donna my friend! This was our second trip to Alaska. The first was about 5 years ago and was in August. They offered such different delights. I loved all the snow but the cold was admittedly challenging. I will not be moving to Fairbanks. LOL. I am so glad we saw the northern lights because I would not be wanting to repeat a winter trip to that climate!

I can't wait to talk with you about Red Clocks, Ellen. I'm so glad you got to see amazing Northern Lights. Are you back at work?

>56 EBT1002: Huge thumb!!

Thank you for your description. I'm living vicariously through you because, while the Aurora Borealis is one of those mythical sights I'd love to see, I'm decidedly not a cold weather creature.

Ellen--What an amazing trip! So happy for the two of you. Can't wait to hear more and SEE more!

>41 banjo123: The puppies were so stinking cute, Rhonda. I managed not to come home with one, though. LOL

Your reading approach makes sense to me. I think what I'm going to try is to have one fiction and one nonfiction work going at a time, see how that works for me.

>42 Berly: Yeah, I'd say starting the new year in an igloo was kind of special, Kim. It was such an amazing experience.

Balancing print and kindle is one of the challenges I'm fussing with. That and F/NF.

>43 scaifea: Hi Amber. So good to see you. Ten books going at once! Yikes! Yet, I'm interested in your daily rotation. Not sure that would work for me. Maybe after retirement?

>44 msf59: Hi Mark. The interior of Alaska in deep winter and the Aurora Borealis were memories I will cherish forever. Photos of the lights coming this weekend.

I'm loving Great Circle.

And I'll have to think about the offer to read The Line of Beauty Together. It's one of the Booker winners about which I have heard so much criticism that I've wondered about skipping it. Have you heard much one way or the other? Maybe we aim for April (she randomly selects a month).

>45 katiekrug: Hi Katie. More photos from AK coming this weekend!

It's interesting that almost everyone who reads multiple books at a time chooses books of different genres. It makes sense. It's what got me asking: Great Circle and Red Clocks were clearly not going to work together! Not only are they both "literary" fiction, but they have (at least in the early pages) overlapping plot elements that were going to quickly get me confused.

>46 witchyrichy: Hi Karen. Our Alaskan adventure was pretty awesome.

When do you think you might be reading Secrets of Happiness? I can get it from the library without too much of a wait and I'd love to read it together if that worked out for both of us.

>47 vivians: Hi Vivian. Yes, we were pretty far up there. One of the optional excursions was a trip to the Arctic Circle. We were at about 65 degrees latitude. And minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit LOL

>48 humouress: Hi Nina. Happy New Year! It was almost too cold for us up in AK, but it was worth it to see those northern lights.

I've always been a one-book-at-a-time sort of reader so I'm exploring the idea of doing two (no more than that) at a time. I think having a nonfiction book going at the same time as I'm reading my usual literature works is doable.

>49 ffortsa: Hi Judy. The trip was amazing.

One fiction and one nonfiction is probably where I'll find myself landing. Just have to balance the print/kindle dynamic at the same time.

>50 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita. I think it's the "long term project" reading that is appealing to me and that I want to integrate more effectively with my usual literature reading. Long nonfiction works. The Odyssey. Things like that.

>51 jnwelch: Hiya Joe! I enjoyed An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed. It was a fun vacation read.

>52 brenzi: Hi Bonnie. Yeah, being here in eastern WA with temps in the high 20s just feels easy after that bitter cold in AK. Even the locals said we got some particularly cold temps. Of course, that cold also meant clear skies and that meant for better Aurora viewing!

>53 quondame: Hi Susan. Your reading style matches what has usually been mine: if there are two books going at once, one of them is usually actually not going. It's set aside while I finish the other one. That is the case now. I have set aside Red Clocks to finish Great Circle. Both were of interest but the latter is long and it's a library book.

Not quite caught up but time to feed the cat and head to bed. One more day and then I'm on weekend. Next Friday I'm to fly to NC to visit my sister and her wife so I only have a 4-day work week after this weekend. Yay!

In reading:

I am loving Great Circle. I'm about 35% into it.

Hi Ellen, looks like you had a great if cold time on vacation although I thought it would have been colder. We used to have -25 F weather in Montreal when I lived there many many moons ago.

I read multiple books at a time. Usually about 5 or 6 but it can stretch to 7 in a pinch. Mostly the higher number is the fault of multiple popular library holds. I can read more than one book in a genre at a time. I got into the habit when I went back to school in 2009 as a very mature student. I find it usually takes me a while to get into a book but once it gets towards the end if it gets exciting then I usually read it through to the finish.

>14 EBT1002: I like to section them if I can. For example, a non-fiction on audio (my preferred method), and then maybe one paper book and one digital book, both fiction. Usually one "difficult" or classic, and one more casual read. But barring all of that, my fiction books should be clearly different from each other in some way - writing style, time it was written, time/place it is set, etc.

>56 EBT1002: How awesome! When I worked at the seminary, one of my good friends was a grad student from Fairbanks. She met and married a Hoosier, and they both moved to Fairbanks. I would love to see them and Alaska!

Happy Friday, Ellen. You were saying somewhere up there that you were figuring out managing Kindle vs. print - I (for the most part) read the print books during the daylight hours and the Kindle in the evening and for my insomnia reads.

>54 alcottacre: The "pause" function is a game-changer, Stasia. It doesn't alleviate the problem of book-overwhelm but it does mitigate it. My new approach is to space them about a week apart. In theory this means I will get a library book once a week and I can intersperse them with books off my shelves. This complicates my goal of reading more than one book at a time since my library books are almost always e-books (thank you, Seattle Public Library) and of course my off the shelves books are, well, print books. Still, it means I almost never get three books available at once any more!

>58 BLBera: I'm looking forward to talking about Red Clocks, too, Beth. I won't have finished it since I shifted my focus to Great Circle but I will have read enough to participate. I'm also particularly interested in talking about the polarized reactions to its early pages.

I returned to work yesterday but am working from home until I can get results from my covid test. It's nice to have such a short commute but I still prefer working at work and not working (much) at home.

>59 humouress: I'm glad you're enjoying the vicarious experience, Nina. The photos I post won't do it justice but they will give a good idea of what we witnessed. Note: inside the igloo was nice and warm!

>60 Berly: It was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, Kim. I feel so lucky to have been able to go and to have had the lights put on such a rare show. Photos coming, I promise.

>67 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg! I'm impressed with your ability to read so many books at once, especially those in the same genre.

>68 ursula: Ursula, your description exactly matches what I think will work best for me. I have preferred to listen to nonfiction books, as well, although without any kind of commute I have let those fall to the wayside. If I'm reading more than one fiction book, they must be different from one another (hence my difficulty trying to "co-read" Red Clocks and Great Circle. Perhaps the shift away from audiobooks is what is complicating this for me. If I want to read nonfiction, I need to read them because I'm not doing audio much any more.

>69 thornton37814: You should go to Fairbanks, Lori. It would be good to see your friends and it's an interesting town. Alaska is a huge state. Several years ago we spent about three weeks and focused mostly on the southeast part, Glacier Bay National Park, and with a quick trip to Fairbanks to catch the train down to Denali. That time it was summer and we visited the museum in Fairbanks which I definitely recommend. We got lucky that time, too, because Denali came out while we were there. We saw it again on this trip, from the airplane on our way home. Magnificent.

>70 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Yep, that makes sense to me. I sometimes have a print book going but need a kindle to read while I'm not sleeping. P always says the light won't bother her but once I've turned the light off, I hate to turn it back on. I'd rather reach for the kindle and read a chapter or two, then see if I can go to sleep after that. Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

Aurora Borealis
January 2, 2022

I figured out how to convert photos on my Mac to jpeg. I don't have time to do the bunch right now but I thought I would share this preview. This is one of my favorite shots.

>73 EBT1002: Whoa. That is amazing!

>73 EBT1002: AWESOME. As in awe-inspiring, not the overused Californian awesome (she said, a Californian guilty of same).

Also, re: audiobooks etc. I, too, haven't had the spaces where I'd normally listen to audio. And for me, that meant that I read very few non-fiction books last year. I need to figure out how to fit them in this year.

I hope you have enough to create a calendar for next year (or even, THIS year! Staples or Vistaprint does calendars, easy peasy).

Just wow!!!

>73 EBT1002: That is amazing. I didn't weigh in on the reading more than one book because it has never really worked for me. I do usually have a selection of poetry going that I read in the morning with coffee. Right now, I also have a collection of essays that I read in the morning. Then I have a novel. I've been doing some audiobooks lately to motivate myself to go to the gym, and I've found that light, entertaining reads work for that.

Loved vicariously sharing your arctic vacation, Ellen. Having just spent less than 5 minutes sweeping about an inch and a half of snow off my front steps in 25 degrees F, (that's 24 degrees ABOVE zero), I am truly in awe of spending days under those conditions, but I can appreciate that it must be a magnificent experience if you're up to it. And puppies...well...ummm...icing (sorry) on the cake.

I am often reading one book I consider challenging in some regard and one breezier/easier book at the same time. And I usually have a book of poetry and a collection of short fiction lying around to dip into. But truly my preference is to get totally immersed in one book from beginning to end.

>73 EBT1002: So very very beautiful. *happy sigh*

Wow, that's beautiful!

>73 EBT1002: Oh wow, that is stunning Ellen.

>73 EBT1002: Ellen, that is absolutely amazing. What a memorable trip.

>73 EBT1002: Oh just wow! and it can't be a patch on the real experience. What great memories to have.

Well, crap. P has been feeling lousy for the past couple of days. We had scheduled covid tests for today, just to be sure after our travel and since I am scheduled to fly to NC next Friday. I tested negative today but P tested positive. So she is isolating in our guest area in the basement -- she has a nice bedroom, full bath, the tv room with the gas fireplace... she has everything she needs. I'm staying upstairs. I'll test again next Thursday. They think it's omicron since she has not lost her senses of smell or taste. She's pretty miserable, like a super bad cold or mild flu. Thank goodness it is not worse than that.

Anyway, I'll do some work and post some more photos.

>74 Crazymamie: It was so amazing in person, Mamie. It was like the sky was liquid.

>75 ursula: Pretty awesome indeed, Ursula.

I listened to audiobooks much more when I lived in Seattle. I would listen when I drove to and from work (I read when I took the light rail) and some when I was walking. I have listened some while riding the stationary bike here in eastern WA but since swimming has become my go-to exercise of choice, that is not making the room for it. So I am in a similar boat, trying to figure out how to read or listen to more nonfiction without giving up my beloved novels!

>76 jessibud2: Hi Shelley. I don't think I have enough for a calendar but it's a great idea. I will consider....

>77 BLBera: Thanks for the summary, Beth. As you know, I've been swimming more this past few months. We have a pretty terrific student rec center that I can use; I've been thinking about using the stairmaster or elliptical machine and listening to audiobooks. I like that it helps motivate you to get yourself there!

>78 laytonwoman3rd: Hi Linda. We have had a very snowy several weeks here in Pullman. We got 25.5" of snow in December and the average for Dec is about 10". I loved it until the past 48 hours or so when it has warmed up and it's now melting a little too quickly. I hope the ground can absorb it.

"...my preference is to get totally immersed in one book from beginning to end."
Validating, that.

>79 richardderus: It was pretty amazing, Richard. It was so liquid!!!

>80 drneutron: Glad you like the photo, Jim. I find myself closing my eyes occasionally and actively remembering what it looked like moving across and around the sky. I know the vivid visual memory will fade (it already has, some) but I want to hold onto it as much as possible.

>81 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline.

>82 lauralkeet: Truly one of the top five travel experiences of my life so far, Laura!

>83 quondame: You're right, Susan. It doesn't come anywhere close to the actual experience but I'm pleased to have captured some of it on my little iPhone.

Aurora Borealis
January 2, 2022

That is the railing of the deck of our igloo. There were a couple of chairs but we never sat in them. LOL

Aurora Borealis
January 2, 2022

You can see one of the neighbor igloos in the bottom right of the picture.

Aurora Borealis
January 2, 2022

More Aurora

Lovely pictures of the Northern Lights, Ellen. It must be wonderful to see them in person. Sorry that P has the dreaded sickness. I hope that it is a very light dose.

Beautiful photos, thanks Ellen. Do the 'clouds' move a lot?

And igloos have decks?! I suppose the main part melts away in warmer weather?

Wishing P a speedy recovery. At least she seems to have got the 'best' version, if she had to get covid :0)

An out-of-the-ordinary way to start the new year, Ellen. Good for you and P.

I'm intrigued by the folks and can't alternate reading two (or more!) novels. I've sometimes alternated books, but I don't consciously segregate books to avoid reading two novels or two non-fiction books at the same time. But... Right now I'm alternating amongst Orhan Pamuk's Snow, Helen and Scott Nearing's Living the Good Life, and Krazy Kat: The Comic Art of George Herriman. Novel, nonfiction, a graphic collection.So maybe I DO segregate unconsciously.

Just wanted to note that An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good was my first read of 2022. At a Dec. 30 birthday party for an old friend (ha, in more ways than one), I was led to a box of books and told to take what I wanted. Elderly Lady was the first book that drew my eye: just a dandy little book package. Not the only book I took, but the first I read.

>84 EBT1002: That isn't good news! Giving P a virtual hug and wishes for a speedy recovery.

At least there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel as the virus mutation does seem a mild one. I think a few months, less scaremongering and we will have to move to treating it the same way we do with flu.

>87 EBT1002: to >90 EBT1002: Wow!

Have as enjoyable weekend as possible considering your loved one is stuck in the basement.

>84 EBT1002: I'm so sorry about P. I do hope she recovers quickly and you remain Covid free.

>84 EBT1002: Best wishes to P. Hope she’s feeling better soon.

>84 EBT1002: Sorry P. tested positive, Ellen, wishing her a speedy recovery.
Good you are home, where it is possible to split up so easily.

Thanks for sharing pictures of the Northern Lights, it looks beautiful, almost unearthly.

>84 EBT1002: Poor P, so frustrating. Glad it is at least a milder version.

>87 EBT1002: to >91 Familyhistorian: What a fabulous start to the year Ellen. I'm so glad you got such an awesome display. Mother nature is inbeatable.

Sorry to hear P tested positive, Ellen. I hope she recovers quickly, and that you are able to remain virus-free.

The Aurora Borealis photos are absolutely stunning! What a wonder you were able to gaze upon. We have been to Fairbanks but it was August, so wrong time of year. I love Alaska and can't wait to go back.

Happy Saturday, Ellen. Thanks for keeping us updated on your reading and I am so glad to hear you are loving Great Circle, although I am really not surprised. I am just starting The Unseen, which I believe you sent me. It looks really good. Any plans on reading the other 2?

I am so sorry to hear about P., Ellen. I hope she recovers quickly and that you don't get it.

Amazing photos. What a way to start the year.

I think there is something to be said about immersing oneself in a book, which I can't do if I am reading several at a time. I wish I could. I was thinking about that as I picked up a graphic memoir from the library. I'm reading The Boat People right now, which is another intense book, and I was thinking maybe I should read a little of Dare to Disappoint, but then I realized that it would dilute the experience of The Boat People.

Gorgeous photos, Ellen! Thanks for sharing.

I'm so sorry to hear P. is sick. I hope she recovers quickly and you manage to avoid it.

The *good* news is it's omicron, the bad news is she's miserable, but the *best* news is it's a breakthrough case so no ER trips likely to occur.

Stay safe and get well soon, for you and P respectively.

Sorry to hear about P, Ellen. At least it happened AFTER your trip. Hopefully, it's short-lived and you continue to test negative.

The photos are spectacular!

Hi, Ellen.

>73 EBT1002:. 😳😃. Wow! Love this photo and the others, and the tales of your adventures. What a trip!

Man, that Atlantic Monthly “Best” list and mine have only ishiguro in common. I am thinking about reading crying in H Mart.

>105 jnwelch: I also read and liked Intimacies Joe.

Your pictures are amazing, Ellen. I’m shocked that you didn’t take advantage of the outside seating accommodations. Haha.

P has my sympathy as I too have the Covid Crud. It can be pretty miserable even though it may not be considered serious. Stay well my friend!

Brief update:

I canceled the trip to NC. It took me a few hours but I finally came to the obvious conclusion that taking the trip when I'm a close contact would be just foolish. I'm bummed not to be able to see my sister but I know it's the right thing to do.

One theory about why P is positive and I am not comes from the executive director of our health services. In addition to having done mix-and-match Pfizer and Moderna for my vaccination and booster, I have probably been exposed at some point over the past year, may have been asymptomatic but developed stronger antibodies as a result. Who knows.

>107 Donna828: Donna, your description "...pretty miserable even though it may not be considered serious" exactly captures P's experience. She feels really lousy. But we're pretty sure her life is not in danger. Monitoring that, of course. I'm sorry to hear you have it, too!

Sorry you canceled your trip, Ellen, but you are probably right. Take care.

>108 EBT1002: Sad that the reality was you simply couldn't take the risk, Ellen, but wise to face up and do the deed.

*smooch* and my heartiest whammys to P for return to health soonest.

>108 EBT1002: Frustrating, but probably the wisest thing to do Ellen. Hope P stops feeling lousy soon.

>73 EBT1002: Wow! All those photos are amazing! You are quite lucky to have been able to witness such beauty. It must have been neat in the igloo as well.

Speedy recovery to P

>91 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. So far P is feeling really super lousy but not in any real danger. We'll take that.

I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. I wish you could "see" how quickly the light moved around and across the sky at certain moment.

>92 humouress: Hi Nina. The light is sometimes relatively stationary, sometimes kind of languid (think lava lamp but way better), but there were moments when they were flying across the sky. That is really hard to describe but it was breathtaking.

>93 weird_O: Hey Bill. Yes, I kind of like that we started the year in such a special and unusual way.

I also like your realization that you may segregate your simultaneous reads unconsciously. I figure whatever works for any given reader is what that reader should do.

I'm easily distractible. For example, I can't read if there is conversation or music (especially with words) or a movie or show on in the background. Maybe that inability to block out external stimuli affects my preference for reading one work at a time.

Glad you enjoyed An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good. I haven't read that one yet. P assured me I could read An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed without having read the first.

>94 PaulCranswick: I agree, Paul. I may be an incorrigible optimist but it feels like maybe the virus is going to run out of good pathways for mutation and expansion. We will have a population that has more and more resistance due to vaccinations and, now, cases with a higher survival rate.

And thank you for the kind wishes for P -- and for me, her caretaker. It's a weird situation but we're making the most of it. I'm enjoying listening to Hamilton and catching up some here while dinner simmers on the stove.

>95 quondame: and >96 SandDune: Thanks Susan and Rhian.

>97 FAMeulstee: I feel pretty lucky that we have a large house with two levels each of which is relatively self-contained. I'm going up and down the stairs a lot but sometimes she comes upstairs to get something and I go into my study for a few minutes.

>98 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline. Yes, those "unearthly" lights, as Anita called them, were a super treat for a start of a new year!

>99 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura.

>100 msf59: Hi Mark. Yes, the lights were really stunning. They took my breath away.

I'm glad you're enjoying The Unseen. If you're interested in reading the other two, I would definitely consider a shared read sometime this year.

>101 BLBera: Thanks Beth. The Boat People looks really interesting. I look forward to hearing about it when you're done reading it. Dare to Disappoint looks good, too. I have been wanting to find some more graphic works of quality to read. That one looks right up my alley.

>102 katiekrug: Thanks Katie. I'm glad you liked the pictures and I also hope our household is all healthy within a couple of days. I'm being as careful as I can.

>103 richardderus: Agreed all around, Richard. The guy who did the test really looked at P to see if she was in significant distress. She's truly miserable but we are so happy not to even be thinking about the hospital.

Sending all the positive vibes to P and to you, Ellen. This makes 5 positive tests or actual illnesses among LT contacts and their families that I have learned of in just this session of thread-reading (about 20 minutes worth). May that be evidence that the virus is really going to burn itself out soon.

>113 EBT1002: I'm easily distractible. For example, I can't read if there is conversation or music (especially with words) or a movie or show on in the background. Maybe that inability to block out external stimuli affects my preference for reading one work at a time. Exactly my experience.

Sorry to hear that P. has the dreaded bug. I hope her symptoms ease up soon, as has been true of many other breakthrough cases. Several of my friends who were heretofore clear have tested positive, most already recovered, but one of them is diabetic and we are somewhat worried about her. Jim and I have been pulling in our horns, avoiding meeting with friends, etc. I've just about decided to postpone my haircut on Wednesday - two weeks more may make me look a fright, but who besides Jim would know? My housekeeper is due on Thursday, and I'm thinking about that. You were of course wise to cancel your trip to your sister, as disappointing as that is.

>104 jessibud2: Yes, I'm glad our amazing trip was not adversely affected by P getting covid, Shelley. Of course, we're assuming she was exposed while on the trip, probably in the Fairbanks airport. That is our best guess, anyway.

>105 jnwelch: Yeah, I'm also "missing" most of the books on the Atlantic best-of list, Joe. I have and want to read Crying in H Mart. I have read terrific reviews of it.

>106 Caroline_McElwee: I now have Intimacies on hold at the library, Caroline.

>107 Donna828: I already responded to you, Donna, but I'll just say again how sorry I am that you also have covid. It is definitely Not. Fun.

>109 BLBera: I'm bummed not to be going to see my sister, Beth, but I know it's the right thing to do. I had purchased first class tickets, too, and was looking forward to reading in luxury on the long leg between Spokane and Atlanta! Oh well.

>110 richardderus: Thanks so much, Richard.

>111 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline. I hope she feels better soon, too. Poor thing is really miserable.

>112 figsfromthistle: The igloo was pretty cool, Anita. Which reminds me, P took a photo from outside the igloo, looking in through the window, of me sitting on the bed with a book (of course). I'll get that from her and post it. She is better at photography than I am.

>116 laytonwoman3rd: Boy do I hope you're right, Linda. That the virus might finally burn itself out, between vaccinations and now high numbers of cases of this milder but highly contagious version... My fingers are crossed!

>117 ffortsa: Oh good. I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't block out external stimuli, Judy. I often wish I could!

In addition to canceling the NC trip, I called today and canceled my Monday morning haircut. I would hate to share the virus with them. I hope P feels better quickly. I think today, day three of active symptoms, is the worst so far.

I'm not aware of any veterinarians among our ranks, but does anyone know the difference between calories and kcalories in cat food? Our vet keeps converting the kcals listed on our dry and wet cat food but I can't find anything on the internet that says they are different from each other. Poor Carson is so food motivated, and I know he needs to lose weight but I feel like we're starving him. What I can find on line says that an indoor cat needs about 20 calories per pound of body weight. Our vet wants Carson to come in at 10 pounds. He has been as hight as 15 pounds and is now about 13.5. Honestly, vet be damned, I'd be happy to get him settled around 12 pounds. But in any case, I'm confused about the whole calorie/kcal thing.

>121 EBT1002: - I have no clue about kitty calories but I know that I feed both my cats 1 small (3oz) can per meal or half a larger (6oz) each per meal. With a side of crunchy (I use a 1/8 C measuring cup for the kibble and give about half of that measure twice during each meal. And although they do sleep a lot, because they are cats!, they also run around and chase each other a lot. And I have a lot of stairs in my little townhouse so they do get their exercise. At his last checkup, last month, he weighed in at 13 pounds. He will be 2 years old later this month. I am going to assume that's ok s my vet hasn't told me otherwise. Owen is smaller and I have no idea how much he weighs because, well, I still can't pick him up....

I am another who can't read if there is any background music or radio or tv. That said, I seem to be fine reading while standing in line anywhere even if there is noise or talking around me. Weird?

>71 EBT1002: I get 3 books at a time quite frequently, so I am definitely going to have to investigate pausing some of my holds, especially as I am really trying to concentrate on reading off my own shelves these days.

>73 EBT1002: Just lovely!

Sorry P has COVID, Ellen, and hope she recovers very quickly!

>122 jessibud2: How many meals per day, Shelley?

Oh, I'm the same way! I can read on planes, in lines, on the bus.... but not at home if there is television in the background. Sometimes on planes I do have to put in earbuds and play white noise for myself if a nearby conversation is intruding on my consciousness. I hate people who talk on planes. (I recognize their right to do so, I just hate it when they exercise that right.)

>123 alcottacre: The pausing of holds is a wonderful thing, Stasia. Not perfect, but it does help.

Thanks for the well wishes for P.

>124 EBT1002: - Twice, breakfast and supper. They seem fine with that and don't pester me for more. Which is good. I am stricter with them than I am with myself, when it comes to snacking, which is why they look better than I do, lol! And I never give them people food.

Ellen--LOVE the photos so much! Please send my best wishes to P and I am sorry you had to cancel your NY trip. This COVID stuff never stops.

Thinking of you and P, Ellen. I'm sorry you had to cancel your trip but yep, it was the right thing to do. Still, it sucks. Hope P starts feeling better soon, like today even.

Sorry, I missed the news about P up there! I am sending both of you, our best. Sue also recently tested positive (her second time) but tested negative on Friday and is feeling much better. Somehow, I have avoided it. It just never ends, right?

Sorry that P is struggling with Covid - it's great to be glad it's milder but it certainly still sounds like a rough time. And that's not even including quarantining and all of that.

I hope P is feeling better, Ellen. You definitely made the right call about visiting your sister.

Hi Ellen! A very belated Happy New Year and happy first thread of 2022!

I’m glad to hear that your trip was so wonderful, glad you didn’t come home with a pup – just think how put out Carson would have been!

>56 EBT1002: I’ve added Great Circle to my wish list. It sounds fantastic.

>64 EBT1002: I always kept one fiction and one nonfiction book going, but the 75ers read so many interesting books and I get BB’d so often that I’m currently reading 2 nonfiction and 2 fiction, plus The Daily Jane Austen and an audiobook in the car. I’m listening to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows … again…

>73 EBT1002: , >87 EBT1002: - >90 EBT1002:. Wow. Just wow.

>84 EBT1002: Oh no. Poor P. I do hope she recovers quickly. I'm glad you can isolate easily. Take care of yourself, too, ms. caregiver!

>108 EBT1002: Smart but sad. >120 EBT1002: Just plain smart. I still haven’t had a haircut since March 17, 2020… I like saving the money and am mostly enjoying having long hair right now. Hair combs and scrunches are my friends.

>121 EBT1002: Poor Carson, looks like he’s going on a diet. Our Wash is a chunkster. Last year I was afraid the vet was going to tell me he was fat at 11.4 lbs., but she said he was just perfect. I think he’s gained weight though…

>125 jessibud2: That is pretty much what we did with all our previous cats, Shelley. Carson is super food motivated and nags me, especially, for food in between meals. It's interesting that he has been a bit easier yesterday and the past couple nights with P in the basement and me up here. Also, we got an automatic feeder that I've set to give him one tablespoon of kibble three times in the night. He gets one more tablespoon during the day, and then 1 - 1.3 small cans of wet food over the course of the day. He would do better on a lower-calorie food but his food allergies are problematic. His dry kibble is alligator and his wet food is rabbit. No chicken.

>126 Berly: Thanks Kim. I was thinking about you and DH very early in the pandemic when he was in isolation. We're not being quite as strict as you had to be (P is allowed upstairs but I keep my distance and she wears a KN95) but it's still no fun. I'm in the camp that thinks maybe, just maybe this omicron variant will be what burns the virus out a bit. We'll be living with it forever, but perhaps in less deadly form. And P is developing additional antibodies through this!

>127 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura. The good news is that Delta gave me pretty good e-credit for the ticket. Thank goodness. It's better than what the trip insurance would have covered and way less hassle.

I have a tiny kitty who weighs in somewhere around 6 1/2 pounds at every visit...no help on the kcal question from me. I've always left dry kibble available to her 24 hours a day. She gets a single portion of Sheba pate at "dinner time" and is loquacious about it if I'm poky putting it down. But apparently she just isn't inclined to overeat the dry stuff.

My husband and I are both skipping haircuts this month...at least. I had one just before Christmas, but hadn't had one since early September before that. I've been regretting THAT cut, because it left me with an "in between" length that's been harder to manage than the longer or shorter versions of the same cut. I've gone back to curbside pickup at the grocery store and the library. It seems that the highly reasonable precautions we were taking six months ago are not sufficient to ward off this particular infection, so we're lying low hoping for the subsidence.

>128 msf59: Thanks Mark. It does feel never-ending but I remain hopeful. Weird that you never got it even though Sue has tested positive twice. One theory my medical colleague has is that I have been exposed to way more people over the past 6-8 months since going back to work in person, have probably encountered the virus but ben asymptomatic. But who knows.

>129 ursula: Thanks Ursula. The virus -- and yes, the complicatedness of isolating -- are definitely no fun!

>130 katiekrug: Thanks Katie. I'm feeling even better about it now that I know Delta gave me a decent ecredit for the ticket. lol

>133 laytonwoman3rd: I miss having a cat who self-regulates their eating, Linda. I think Mr. Carson would eat two cups of kibble if we gave him the opportunity! But we're figuring it out.

You're taking good steps, it seems. This variant seems to be amazingly contagious. P has mild asthma so we're watching that but so far it seems "only" miserable. Still, I really don't want to contract it.

Hang in there!

Hope P is doing better! I had already cancelled a trip to Pennsylvania for this week when my friend's adult son who lives with her tested positive. Husband and I are laying low and getting boosted on Friday. Glad you can look at the bright side.

The pictures are amazing! I have never seen the northern lights and they are definitely on my bucket list.

As for reading, I may reconsider Red Clocks but I don't have to read it right away. Great Circle sounds more like my speed right now.

>131 karenmarie: I missed you up there, Karen! Sorry about that....

I think you will enjoy Great Circle. It's a long one and I'm curious about how it's going to come around to wrap up.

Carson is supposed to be on a diet but we have really struggled with it. He gets so anxious and demanding and I'm a softy. Because of his food allergies, managing his calorie intake has been more complicated. He is just our little high-maintenance rescue cat and I'm glad he landed with us.

I feel good about the decisions I'm making with managing that I am a close contact. I'm especially relieved that Delta has given me some ecredit for the plane ticket. My hair cutting place has been meticulous about their virus mitigation efforts so I know it's the right thing to protect them from exposure.

>136 witchyrichy: Thanks Karen. She says she didn't sleep well but she is tucked up in bed with a book and her first mug of coffee. Luckily, she has no obligations and can just ride this out.

I think you would enjoy Great Circle.

Catching up with you, Ellen, and I am so sorry that P has Covid. I'm hoping she feels better very soon. You absolutely did the right thing cancelling your trip, but I know that is little compensation for the disappointment of a missed visit with your sister. Covid sucks.

Love the photos you posted - they are stunning.

Good luck with Carson - I am also a softy when it comes to cats, and I would have a hard time cutting their food. Our Mayhem loves to eat, too, but he must have an excellent metabolism because he is long and lean even at 13 pounds. None of our cats will eat moist food, so luckily they are very good about drinking loads of water.

I am so happy that the Northern Lights danced for you, Ellen! I would so love to see them. Sorry that P is under the weather and hope her recovery is quick!

My boys won't eat moist food either, so kibble is out for them to eat, and bowls are empty in the morning. They are hefty at 17 and 18 pounds, but big-boned and the vet doesn't seem at all concerned.

I so enjoyed your photos of the Northern Lights, Ellen. What a fantastic trip. I'm sorry to hear that P has Covid. I've been lucky enough to not get it....yet. My grandson is home from Pre-K until at least next Tuesday because someone in his class tested positive. He'll get tested tomorrow but he's not vaccinated (too young) so he'll have to stay home regardless (school rules). He has no symptoms at this point.

Wow what amazing photos! I'm so glad you got a chance to see the Lights - I know it's a crapshoot and many people return from those kinds of trips feeling disappointed. It sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sending get well wishes to P - I hope her recovery is swift.

>138 Crazymamie: Thanks for stopping by, Mamie. Carson and I are negotiating his feeding schedule. I go back to work on site tomorrow and it will be easier on both of us when I'm no longer here for him to yell at.

And just YES to "Covid sucks."

>139 ronincats: Hi Roni. Yes, I feel lucky to have seen the northern lights do their thing with such gusto.

Carson will happily eat wet food or kibble so we're working to find the right balance. He loves the new automatic feeder. When it spits out a tablespoon of kibble, he launches himself toward it like a ball out of a cannon.

>140 brenzi: Hey Bonnie. I'm glad you're still covid-free and hope it stays that way. This round feels like it's going to be the "everyone gets it and every system on which we rely is disrupted" round. I worry about anyone who needs medical care for any reason in the next couple of months. Fingers crossed.

>141 vivians: Hi Vivian. I feel so lucky. If we had not seen the lights, I know I would be hugely disappointed. I don't know whether I would take another shot at it. I so enjoyed seeing them. If I have the chance to see them again in my lifetime, that would be great, too. I don't really mean it but there is this tiny part of me that thinks I could have lived in the very far north if I had moved there when I was younger. I lived in Wisconsin in my early 30s and I loved the snow and cold. I would love for the aurora to be a frequent presence in my life.

I finished my second book of 2022: Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead. Four enthusiastic stars. I loved the story of Marian Graves, a self-sufficient woman who falls in love with flying in the early days of aviation. Her adventures in Montana, then Alaska, then Europe during WWII -- I feel like they will stay with me for a long time. I was less enamored with the modern-day plot thread of the novel and, though they came together at the end, it's that element of the novel that keeps this from being a 5-star read.

I'm going to finish reading Red Clocks and then I'm not sure what is next. I'm giving myself permission not to read All's Well which I have from the library. I don't remember who hit me with that BB and I have so many other things to read.... I can always come back to this one if the mood strikes me again in the future.

Good night, all.

Oh, I should probably report that P started feeling better today. She still feels pretty lousy but is on the upswing. Hooray for upswings! Thanks to all for your care and concern. This virus is brutal and sneaky.

I remembered that I wanted to share this passage from Great Circle, having myself just witnessed the amazing aurora borealis:

The aurora occupies huge swathes of sky in a blink. One moment an arc of light hangs from horizon to horizon, bleeding up into the stars; the next it is gone. You feel you are receiving messages from an unknown sender, of indecipherable meaning but unquestionable authority.

This captures it perfectly.

This is a kind of amazing YouTube channel.

Aurora Borealis from Lapland

>144 EBT1002: You had the same reservation about Great Circle that I did, Ellen. I think that the modern day plot thread could have been eliminated entirely, to be honest. I also gave the book 4 stars.

>146 EBT1002: Yay for P feeling better! Glad to hear that she is on the upswing.

I'll be interested in your final comments on Red Clocks, Ellen. Good night to you. Good news about P.

>146 EBT1002: Yay P! I'm so glad she's better. Getting better. It's a process, fer sher.

Our vet wanted me to switch my cats to all canned to try to help with weight loss. Unfortunately the supply chain has made that impossible. I guess I'll know next month whether or not they've lost any weight. I do not think they've gained. I can go to the next smaller measure, if needed.

Good news that P. is recovering.

This Covid situation has me very inconsistent. I canceled visits from friends, and pushed my haircut out two weeks, when I hope the NYC numbers have gone down, and I've been to the gym across the street, which was sparsely populated and very careful, but I'm debating if I should tell my housekeeper to stay home tomorrow. She comes from another borough and takes the subway, so I'm concerned for both of us. My friend Ruta lives in Pocatello, and is of the opinion that if she gets Omicron, it will just add to her immunity, but I worry about the effects and aftereffects. What to do...

I'm glad the lights showed off for you. The trip sounds great. I too like the cold, at least if it's above 0F. Don't know how I'd deal with what you experienced, but I'd certainly get the right wardrobe! The igloos look lovely.

Hi, Ellen. I enjoyed your comments about the aurora borealis and that link in >148 EBT1002:.

Good review of Great Circle. With your one caveat in mind, I think I’ll give it a go at some point. Sounds like my kind of story.

>153 ffortsa: One of the little-studied problems COVID's just being found to cause and/or exacerbate is problems moving after recovery. Sobering, for someone like me; but should give pause to all and sundry.

Hey there Ellen, hoping you and P. are well as you can be.

That's great that P is feeling better. It seems like lots of folks are getting hit right now with the COVID.

It sounds like I am going to have to read The Great Circle

Hi Ellen!

>146 EBT1002: I’m glad to hear that P started feeling better, even if she still feels lousy. I'm also glad that you have both done all the right things to keep her isolated and you uninfected.

Too quiet in here. *is concerned*

Hope that you'll update us all soon, Ellen. Miss you. x

Just checking in Ellen. Hope P continues to feel better and I hope you have avoided it. I am making a slow comeback but at least the headaches are gone! I am up to about 5 or 6 hours of feeling normal a day. Then I poop out again. Oh well, moving in the right direction. Happy Weekend!

*smooch* just cuz

Talked with Ellen and she and P are doing well. : )

>162 Berly: Thanks, Kim. That's a relief to hear.

Happy Saturday, Ellen. Waiting for an update. Hopefully all is well, my friend.

Before I start responding to individual posts, I thought I'd do a general check in. Prudence continues on the road to recovery. Because she has mild asthma, it seems like that coughing and shortness of breath have lingered more than we would like. Still, nothing life threatening. Thank you, vaccination and booster! She is now having fun planning a trip to Vienna, Budapest, and Prague for next fall. I'll be asking for recommendations from anyone who has visited those cities in the past couple years.

I'm doing well. Just busy. Taking care of P kept me extra occupied and work is just, well, it's work. I keep thinking when I get a little break in my schedule (they do happen), I'll check in on LT at work, during that break. And I get nervous about using my work computer for personal activity. I think it would count as de minimus use of public resources, but I still worry. Haven't yet gotten to taking my laptop to the office with me.

Yesterday I seem to have thrown my back out. I was in agony all afternoon and last night did not sleep well. It was a bit better this morning. P and I took a slow walk on level ground before lunch, and when we got home I sat in the hot tub for a bit. Now it's about 50% better. Yay!

3. Red Clocks by Leni Zumas. 3.5 stars. I know there were several readers who abandoned ship fairly early and I understand why. There were moments of crassness, especially references to women's bodies in a less than wholly appealing light. I think that was part of the point of the novel, that women's bodies serve one purpose (procreation) and that supersedes all else about women's lives. Even the women characters held a clear objectification of their bodies, albeit with a bit of fondness and humor that I found appealing. The book is no Handmaid's Tale but one thing I really liked about it was the setting, both time and place. It is set in Oregon and in the near-future. Everything about the society in which the story takes place is absolutely recognizable; every detail is consistent with 2022 in the western U.S. Except (and this is a big exception) that women's reproductive rights have been massively stripped. It made for a rather terrifying and eerie reading experience. I found the characters to be interesting and complex.

One more point: it's interesting to me where we each draw our lines in reading. For me, I simply cannot read about cruelty to animals (there have been one or two exceptions to this rule). I know readers who cannot read rape scenes. I know other readers, including many here on LT, who tolerate scenes of violence, violence against women, consensual sex between various pairings, and certainly frequent descriptions of male genitalia (often in readiness for some of those scenes referenced above). I found it interesting that reading about women's bodies, in less than idealized language, was such a turnoff for folks. I'm not criticizing. You all know I'm firmly in the camp of "if you like a book and I don't like it, or if I like a book and you don't like it, neither of us is right or wrong. Different readers like different things and even a single reader can respond to the same text differently at different moments in time." But I do feel the need to at least interrogate the strong reaction so many readers had to, say, a description of genital warts on a woman's body. I mean, I agree that it's not pretty, but we read about un-pretty aspects of life all the time, do we not?

>165 EBT1002: Hi Ellen! Chris and I visited those very cities in the fall of 2019. I'd be happy to chat about it -- I'll PM you.

I hope your back feels better soon, Ellen. And I'm glad to hear that P. is recovering although slower than you would like.

Prague, Budapest and Vienna! My sister and I visited those cities two years ago. I'm glad we went when we did. I'll look at my journal and we can talk.

I thought you raised really good points about Red Clocks; I'm with you, if others don't like a book I do, well we all have different views. Still, it is interesting where each of us draws the line.

Have you been watching any tennis? Any favorites? The AO is the hardest one to watch for me because of the time. They are often starting matches at my bedtime.

>165 EBT1002: Ooow re the back Ellen, however glad to hear P is on the mend, if slowly.

Yay, Prague. It was my last holiday abroad, with so much to see. I loved the area around the Franz Kafka museum. Then the Jewish quarter so steeped in history. For quiet contemplation the St Agnes Convent is perfect.

I stayed in Frank Gehry's wonderful Dancing House, which is part hotel, and has a fine restaurant at the top with lovely views. Everything is very compact with efficient trams and easy walking.

4. Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves 3.5 stars
I enjoyed this last installment in the Shetland series. Jimmy Perez and Willow reconnect to solve a murder mystery. Their personal lives are even more complicated but Cleeves brings it to satisfying closure without being too sweet or Pollyanna.

5. Runaway by Peter May 3 stars
Thank you for this ARC, Richard. I really loved May's Lewis Trilogy and nothing else by him has quite lived up to that first reading experience. Still, this was a fun read. I never stopped wanting to know what had happened back in 1965 as a group of friends reunites in 2015 and heads from Glasgow to London, following the same path they travelled half a century ago as teen runaways. We get adventure and misadventure in both time frames, as well a fun characters, good suspense, and terrific music references.

>149 alcottacre: I love that we had such a similar reading experience with Great Circle, Stasia. I'm also loving that I made no challenge commitments for 2022 and I'm getting to read what strikes me at the moment. I think I'll probably tackle more door stoppers with this approach. I do miss some of the challenges so I may return to one or two of them in 2023.

>150 BLBera: See above, Beth. I'm glad you recommended Red Clocks.

>151 richardderus: Thanks Richard. Recovering from COVID is definitely a process. Last evening P had one of the worst asthma attacks I've ever seen her have; I attribute it to the residual impact of the damn virus.

>152 thornton37814: Supply chain issues have definitely been a thing in acquiring some of the specialty wet cat food, Lori. Carson eats only alligator (dry) and rabbit (wet) and the rabbit was unavailable for a long while before Christmas. We get both on a subscription basis now, so hopefully that helps.

>153 ffortsa: I hear ya about the inconsistency, Judy. I think we're each just choosing our particular risks that we're willing to take. It's not always rational. The experts in Environmental Health & Safety on our campus joke around that it will be best if everyone just gets Omicron and gets it over with, enhances their immunity with the natural antibodies. But it's easy to hear that this version is "mild" and get complacent. What P had was perhaps not life threatening but I would NOT call it mild. Nor would I call it fun.

>154 jnwelch: I definitely think you would enjoy Great Circle, Joe. It is indeed your kind of story!

>155 richardderus: Spot on, Richard. P is definitely feeling stiff and sore and more short of breath than pre-Omicron.

>156 banjo123: Yes, Rhonda, Omicron is ripping its way through the population. It may be less lethal than the original strain or Delta, but it's so contagious. And it's still nothing to shrug about.

I definitely recommend Great Circle. It was a terrific story.

>157 karenmarie: Thanks Karen. I'm still amazed that I didn't contract Omicron from P but certainly glad I about it!

>158 laytonwoman3rd: Aww, thanks Linda. Sorry I went so quiet, especially with COVID in the house. All is well, or as well as it can be. P is still recovering, I'm working too hard, and now I have hurt my back. But we're keeping it together.

>159 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul. Between being busy and having a cat who demands to sit on my lap when I'm settling in to "do LT," I'm struggling to be as present as I want to be! P said she'll start pulling Carson away, encouraging him to sit on her lap instead.

>160 Berly: So sorry you got the damn virus, too, Kim. The recovering is definitely slow. I hope your hours of feeling normal continues to increase every day!

>161 richardderus: *smooch* back, RD. No reason needed. ;-)

>162 Berly: Thanks for calling, Kim, and for passing along that we're hanging in there at the E-P-C house. It has been a bit of a tough road.

>163 laytonwoman3rd: xoxo Linda.

>164 msf59: Hi Mark. All updates above. Thanks for stopping by!

>167 lauralkeet: Oh good. Thanks Laura!

>168 BLBera: Oh good, another resource for suggestions for our eastern Europe trip. Thanks Beth! P says she has identified a hotel in Vienna and Prague, not yet Budapest. We're thinking 5 nights in Vienna, and 3-4 nights each in the other two cities. Perhaps a one-night side trip to Salzburg. Planes, trains, trams, and LOTS of walking! Of course, who knows what travel will be like next September but we feel compelled to start planning.

>169 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline. I have never had back trouble so this is very weird. And not fun. I'm worried it's from leaning over our dining table (which has not been a dining table for going on two years now) doing jigsaw puzzles. I might need to figure out a different platform.

Thanks for the tips on Prague! We are starting a notebook for the trip and we'll make note of those ideas. Oh boy, I'm getting excited.

When I was in Poland in 1981, a friend and I were supposed to travel to Prague and Budapest for Christmas and New Year's. The declaration of martial law in Poland prevented us from going (and forced me to return to the U.S. six months prematurely) and I've always wanted to see those two cities. And Vienna. Well, for me that is a no-brainer.

I forgot to mention what I'm reading now. I started Matrix by Lauren Groff last night. I can already see why it landed on so many Best Reads in 2021 lists!

>165 EBT1002: Ouch! Back problems really mess with everything. I hope it's 100% better by tomorrow.

>166 EBT1002: Yes, the acceptance that it's fine to be turned off the ickification of women's anatomy is a problem. We have to deal with the messiness in real time, and having others say, "yep that's disgusting" really isn't supportive.

Charles University's library:

I guess the outside's nice enough:

...but honestly...that library!

>177 quondame: Thanks Susan. I hope my back keeps getting better, too.

>178 richardderus: Oooh, that is lovely!!! Adding it to the notebook for Prague.

I would love to see Prague and Budapest. I had a Czech aunt who used to tell me she would take me someday, with a side trip to Slovakia where my paternal great grandparents came from (the aunt was married to my Dad's brother, not a blood relative). Unfortunately, she suffered from early onset Alzheimer's, and we lost her before the dream could become a reality.

I hope your back continues to mend uneventfully. We both nurse those spasms and flares in this house; heat and gentle exercise usually does the trick.

>178 richardderus: I love the outside!

>165 EBT1002: Glad to hear that Prudence is on the mend. As for the travel suggestions, I would have quite a few for Budapest and even more so for Vienna and Salzburg. Before the covid lockdowns, I used to spend 3 weeks a year there ( since I was 4 years old). Suggestions for what to do depends all on what you are interested in ( art, music, history, castles....).

>181 thornton37814: I guess it keeps the rain off the books.

I'm glad to hear P is finally feeling better.

I'm another one who has been to Prague and Budapest. (And Vienna, but only for a day trip so I don't have much to say about it.) We were in Budapest in Feb 2019 and Prague ... 2015, I guess.

Hi Ellen!

I’m glad to hear that it’s just taking care of P and work and that you didn’t contract the dread covid too. I’m sorry to hear about your back and hope it’s even better this morning. I’m also glad P’s on the mend, sorry about the asthma complication.

>173 EBT1002: But we're keeping it together. Sometimes that’s all we can do. Keep keeping it together!

>166 EBT1002: I am with you on animal cruelty...I cannot read about animals being mistreated in any way. I haven't ruled out Red Clocks and it has been fascinating to see various LT people who normally agree on books take very different views of this one.

Great Circle just arrived from Better World Books and I may just dive in. Only a few pages into my current analog read.

>181 thornton37814: Interesting: I've seen that style of building so often and in so many places that I think of it as unremarkable and uninteresting in and of itself. I think that really informs my absence of appreciation for its exterior.

>166 EBT1002: Yeah, I am one of those who abandoned it early. I am not sorry either, lol.

>171 EBT1002: I am reading some door stoppers this year despite taking part in challenges - although I expect it is going to take me all year to finish with Herodotus.

Glad to here that P is on the upswing!

>187 richardderus: I think it reminds me of a monastery or something like that.

Sorry to hear about your back. Asthma is one of the reasons I am/was so scared about getting Covid. Hope P continues to improve. Sounds like a fun vacation!! Great thoughts on REd Clocks. : )

Sorry to hear about your back. I've actually given up on jigsaw puzzles for quite a while now, because I couldn't find a good angle even though I have the equipment (a puzzle board, a tilted surface, etc.). I do some on my phone and tablet, but then I end up with a crick in my neck. Maybe after I get back in shape I'll have enough core strength to get back to the art puzzles I have stockpiled in the closet.

And I'm glad to hear P. is improving, however slowly. Covid and asthma are bad in combination. I hope last night is the last bad episode.

Hi Ellen, I also just started Matrix. It is good.

I hope your back is better. If not, I'd suggest a doctor visit. I dragged my feet on back pain back in August, and when I finally got it checked out, it turned out I had a compression fracture.

Just catching up, Ellen.

Echoing the general well being that P is on the mend.

P is doing better and you started Matrix? Good news all around! I hope the work week goes smoothly.

>189 thornton37814: It *was* a monastery!

Happy Tuesday's reads, Ellen, and swift recovery for P.

Hi Ellen, have a happy weekend's reads!

Wrapping up January's reading:

6. Matrix by Lauren Groff


What a terrific novel. From laurengroff.com:

Cast out of the royal court by Eleanor of Aquitaine, deemed too coarse and rough-hewn for marriage or courtly life, seventeen-year-old Marie de France is sent to England to be the new prioress of an impoverished abbey, its nuns on the brink of starvation and beset by disease.

Marie has difficulty adjusting to her new life and hopes Eleanor will eventually call for her to return. However, once she finds some level of acceptance and once she develops a vision for the Abbey -- a vision grounded in her desire to create a truly safe space for women to work, learn, live, love, and create -- she finds that the very qualities that rendered her unfit for courtly society provide her with tremendous power and influence. She has the ability to see each sister's particularity and to nurture the singularity of each, all while building a collective community. Her passion alters and her faith grows. She comes to love the sisters and she lives for the Abbey.

Of course, the external world can neither fathom nor tolerate such a strong-willed woman. The sisters successfully thwart at least one invasion but the changing world will inevitably insinuate itself into the commune. Marie recognizes this. She also comes to understand how her own ambition is both of the world and beyond the world.

The writing is exquisite, the story both simple and powerful. Groff keeps her place among my very favorite authors.

7. The Maid by Nita Prose


One review I read described this as a "cozy mystery." I would call it a cozy-plus. Plus some sophisticated character development and some fine plot turns and twists. It's not high literature but it's tremendous fun.

Molly is a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel in a large city (Montreal, perhaps?). She is neuro-divergent, probably on the autism spectrum, and Prose does a terrific job of creating this complex main character without resorting too strongly to stereotype. Molly lives alone since her Gran died and she relies on her job to provide the structure she needs (not to mention the paycheck, although it's not enough). One day, she finds a very wealthy hotel guest dead in his bed in his room. Molly's naiveté makes her vulnerable to being used by others; her attention to detail makes her an excellent amateur sleuth and witness for the prosecution. Want a quick read with a happy ending? I suggest giving this one a try.

While folks are drooling over the Charles Library (duly noting that it was formerly a monastery), I'll update you on travel plans, as well. We talked with a travel agent today and moving around between three countries is just too complicated at present. It can be done, but the pandemic presents us with uncertainty and complexity. BUT, fear not!! We are returning our focus to Ireland. We've visited Scotland twice but never Ireland. So that will be our next adventure.

>180 laytonwoman3rd: The trip to Budapest, Prague, and Vienna remains on our bucket list, Linda, but it will have to wait a couple more years. Stupid pandemic. Oh well. Ireland will be fun!

Thanks for the kind wishes regarding my back. It's definitely better. Yes, heat and gentle exercises/stretches seem to do the trick. Whew.

>181 thornton37814: It looks like a site worth seeing, doesn't it, Lori?

>182 figsfromthistle: Oh Anita, I will remember this! And if I don't, when we are feeling we can manage the trip to the three countries, I'll post again. We were just chuckling because P has been reading about the Hapsburgs, I've been acquiring books set in Vienna and Prague, especially....

>183 richardderus: LOL

>184 ursula: It's amazing how many LTers have been to Budapest, Prague, and Vienna in the past few years (mostly pre-pandemic). We'll still go, just not this year.

>185 karenmarie: Hi Karen. Thanks for the kind words. P continues to yo-yo a bit in terms of her symptoms and her energy. We are flying to Kauai on February 12 and I am SO looking forward to the restfulness of a week on that beloved island.

>186 witchyrichy: Ooh, I hope you're reading and enjoying Great Circle, Karen!

>187 richardderus: Yeah, but the library!!!

>188 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. I don't know how many door-stoppers I'll read. I love a good one and I know I read fewer of them now than I did "in my youth." Some of it is a weird and, frankly, rather absurd feeling that one book is taking up too much of my precious reading time (as in, too much of the total time I have left in my life to read). I also get more restless than I think I used to. Even when I'm loving a book, I always feel a sense of looking forward to moving on to something else.

I think reading Herodotus, even if it takes you all year, is admirable.

>189 thornton37814: Yup.

>190 Berly: Thanks Kim. I know you know about pain, unfortunately. On the up side, my back is definitely improving. It's not pain free but it's not keeping me from doing things, either.

I'm glad we read Red Clocks together. We have a shared read planned for February, too, yes? Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar

How's P? Inquiring minds....

>191 ffortsa: I would be heartbroken to have to give up jigsaw puzzles, Judy. I have really gotten into them since early in the pandemic. And, like books, I enjoy purchasing them, too. LOL

>192 banjo123: Hi Rhonda. "...it turned out I had a compression fracture." Yikes! My back has gotten much better but if the nagging 20% level of pain continues, I will definitely seek medical attention!

I'll have to visit your thread, see how you liked Matrix. Have you read other works by Groff? I absolutely LOVED Florida, but I grew up there in the 60s/70s so that may have influenced my experience.

>193 PaulCranswick: Thanks so much, Paul!

>194 msf59: Thanks Mark. I really enjoyed Matrix!

I know you're off to Costa Rica today (already there, I assume). I will look forward to hearing about your adventures!

This work week shouldn't be too bad. I had today off for a medical appointment in Spokane. We stopped by Trader Joe's had some lunch, and drove through the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge on our way home. I work the rest of the week but Friday morning a colleague and I are flying to Seattle, renting a car, and driving up to Everett (north suburb) to attend some meetings with student leaders from across the WSU system. You know I enjoy travel, even for work, so I'm looking forward to this short little trip.

>195 richardderus: I loved this little mini-thread within my thread, Richard. *smooch*

>196 richardderus: Yikes, three days with no activity on my thread. I have got to figure out how to spend even just a wee bit of time on LT each day!

>202 richardderus: She is mostly better, Richard. Her energy still waxes and wanes and she has a coughing fit about once or twice a day. We are both SO ready for a week on Kauai. Because we know the island so well, it is low stress. It will be warm. We'll see whales. AND I'll get to read as much as I want! Yay!

Have I mentioned that on February 12 we're flying to Kaua'i for a week? See what I'm excited about in >206 EBT1002:.
And add Shave Ice to the list. :-)

>207 EBT1002: Once. Twice, maybe. Not more than three times. Or possibly four.

>206 EBT1002: That is very, very good to hear. My own COVIDs have left me with trouble moving around...I get more tired than I would've before...but given how very mild it was, and how easy it is for me to plan around the results, I'm still a big winner.

>208 richardderus: I'll try not to rub it in too much. ;-)

Your experience with moving around is interesting. P definitely still gets tired especially easily. She has mild asthma and a history of serious anemia. I don't know if the latter counts as an underlying condition, but her energy is always a bit unpredictable. Of course, I'm six years younger than she which is just enough for differences in energy level to be felt now and then. I am also SO glad that you feel like a winner in terms of managing the after-effects of COVID. I have a colleague (a medical professional) who describes this virus as "unpredictable above all things." Seems true.

>6 EBT1002: and ?? Two BBs in a row. So much to read.

>210 ffortsa: I love providing BBs.

Next up in reading:

Dare to Disappoint by Özge Samanci (graphic memoir)

and

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris

>199 EBT1002: Ireland is my spiritual and ancestral home, Ellen and you will love it.

>200 EBT1002: It is kind of surprising how many have been there recently! For us, it was random because we almost always travel around conferences Morgan has. In this case it was in Szeged, in southern Hungary, but we extended it into vacation time in Budapest. My son was able to fly out and join us. Prague was a trip we took when my son came to visit us in Italy.

Sorry to hear that pandemic travel is still a mess, but it definitely makes life easier to just stay in one country.

>200 EBT1002: Budapest and Vienna are still on our list, and I wonder if we ever will get there.
We visited Prague once way back, in 1988 a year before the Iron Curtain fell.

Ellen, I missed timing details for your European trip and thought it was happening sooner. I do hope you get there, we really enjoyed visiting those cities.

I had to skim past your review of Matrix, because it's waiting for me at the library and I'll be reading it soon. I did see that you liked it quite a lot. I'll come back to your review later.

I'm glad you also loved Matrix, Ellen!

Your change in travel plans sound wise, but I'm the type who likes to really sink into a place, so I rarely do multiple-country trips anyway.

ETA: I'm reading The Fell now and will send it when I'm finished, but I see you are going to Hawaii soonish. Do you think I should wait to send it until you're back, just in case the mail is screwy?

Ireland! I was just thinking about my trip. I would love to go back. I just sent you a book I bought at a bookstore there. :) There is a GREAT indie bookstore in Galway - Charlie Bryne Bookshop. Worth a trip to the city.

Wasn't Matrix great? I loved Marie. She was a great character. Groff's description is outstanding.

I just got the notice from the library that Thirty Names of Night is ready for me. I should be able to at least start it before our discussion.

Hi, Ellen. Our reading is overlapping, and I’m liking it!

Nice review of Matrix. I thoroughly enjoyed that one, and it was one of my year’s favorites.

I just finished The Maid, too, and share your enthusiasm. I loved this comment in your review: . “She is neuro-divergent, probably on the autism spectrum, and Prose does a terrific job of creating this complex main character without resorting too strongly to stereotype.” Nicely put. Happy endings seem so rare these days, and i’m happy Molly got one. Yay for Juan Manuel! A very decent guy who really appreciates Molly.

And I just started Dare to Disappoint. So far, so good.

Happy weekend-ahead's reads, Ellen! I hope P's completely well and you're ALL READY FOR NEXT SATURDAY.

So jealous (and happy for you) that Hawaii is in your near future. : )

I just got my copy of Thirty Names of Night, but won't be able to start it for a week or two.

Glad your back is feeling better and tell P I understand the irregular energy level. I slept 15 hours the other day!! : P

How did my star fall off your thread, Ellen!? Maybe I was getting my Ellen fix from fb so forgot to come looking on LT!

>199 EBT1002: Ireland! Fantastic. I visited Dublin once, for 2 nights. I didn't even have a passport to get in, not really realising it was *different from the UK*! (Apparently back in the day a NZ passport and a sheepish smile were enough to get through!!)

Four days! Four crummy little days!! *envious sigh*

I owe you all an update but for now I'll just leave this little note about my February reading so far:

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris -- 4 stars
Dare to Disappoint: Growing Up in Turkey by Özge Samancı -- 5 stars

And THREE DAYS until we leave for Kaua'i!!!!! Yay!!!

Not that anyone is counting the days or anything. ; )

>224 EBT1002: Oh I loved The Sweetness of Water.

Enjoy your vacation. Have you decided which books to take with you?

>224 EBT1002: Wow, have a great holiday Ellen.

Tomorrow, right? Y'all're leavin' on a jetplane for Hawai'i tomorrow?

Safe travels, good times, and a happy homecoming!

Hello the house? I've dropped by a couple of times but this time I thought I'd delurk - but no one's home ;0)

I am glad I caught up before you head to Kaua'i! Have a wonderful time for all of us.

How are the cocktails and warm breeze treating you two? : )

*waves grouchily at sun-struck sand-bedecked Ellen from under the new-fallen snow*

>213 PaulCranswick: I'm excited to explore Ireland, Paul. My own heritage is English (3/4) and Scottish (1/4) so that part of the world is certainly home, even if our clans have not always seen eye to eye.

>214 ursula: It is interesting how many LTers have visited eastern Europe fairly recently, Ursula. It turns out that hopping country-to-country is still not only complicated (I'm willing to navigate that) but also quite unpredictable. A trip to Ireland in 2022 is our, um, compromise. Budapest, Vienna, and Prague are still very much on the bucket list!

I love that you all organize your travel around Morgan's work trips. My conferences are all domestic but they still provide wonderful opportunities to explore new communities.

>215 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita. I was "supposed to" visit Prague and Vienna in 1981, when I was in Poland with my father. He was teaching in Krakow on a Fullbright scholarship. Martial Law intervened. I have always regretted leaving Poland even though it was at the very strong advise of the U.S. Consul.

>216 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. I know you offered to provide us with info from your recent visit to those Eastern European cities. We were targeting September of this year but now we're looking at Ireland for that fall trip. Prague, Vienna, and Budapest will have to wait until after I retire.

>217 katiekrug: Hi Katie. Yes, Matrix was one of my top reads of the year so far (LOL - it's still February).

We also like to really sink into a place rather than bounce from locale to locale. We have been thinking we'd spend 4-5 days in each of the three cities we wanted to visit, making it about a two-week trip. Maybe a one-day side trip to Salzburg. We'll still do that, but after I'm retired so if endemic (post-pandemic) issues sideline us, I won't be awol from work for a couple of weeks!

Hmm, my absence from LT may have messed up the sending of The Wall. We had the PO hold our mail, so if you sent it, I'm not concerned. We'll be home this weekend so, if you have not yet sent it, you may do so at your convenience. I'm looking forward to reading it, then I'll be sending it along to Sasia in Texas. It'll be a well-travelled volume!

>235 EBT1002: Wow is it really still only February?!

How is the holiday?

>218 BLBera: Hi Beth. Yes, I'm excited about Ireland. Here are our travel plans as we think about the next couple years:

September 2022: Ireland, two weeks.
March 2023: Kauai, one week.
August 2023: Ellen retires.
February/March 2024: Kauai, four weeks.

Then we'll start thinking about Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, and of course, deciding where we want to retire. Prudence is talking seriously about Kauai, but I'm still focused on Portland, OR.

I read The Thirty Names of Night on this trip. I gave it four stars but it's probably more like 3.75 stars. I really liked it. It took a while for me to really feel my way with the two narratives and even at the end I didn't feel like I really had a couple of the relational threads straight in my head. Still, it was a beautiful narrative and the bird theme was pretty special.

>219 jnwelch: Hi Joe. I love that our reading is overlapping! I will check your thread so see how Dare to Disappoint landed for you. I have been enjoying doing geographical research while I'm reading various books. I looked at maps of Turkey for that one and I now feel confident I know where the Aegean and Adriatic Seas are. This is new for me. Geography was never a strong suit for me and I think it's because it was never tied to stories that mattered to me. I also enjoyed looking at maps of Syria -- and Little Syria in NYC -- while reading The Thirty Names of Night.

>220 richardderus: Thanks Richard. It turns out that Prudence is anemic. Again. We need to figure out why she keeps being anemic. Still, knowing that helps us manage our energy output and we have found a nice balance this week on Kauai. Today we hiked to Maha'ulepu Beach, about 6 miles round trip, and we were both worn out by the time we got back to the room. For P, it was the effect of the anemia. For me, it was too many hours in full sun. BUT ... so worth it! We got to see some great whale breaches from our shady site on the beach. Peanut butter sandwiches and Humpback Whale activity. It was good.

>221 Berly: Hi Kim. I finished The Thirty Names of Night a couple days ago and quite enjoyed it.

As I mentioned to Richard up there ^ P got diagnosed with anemia. Again. Between covid recovery, mild asthma (which is MUCH better on Kauai!), and the anemia, she is pretty slow moving. It's okay with me. Our week on Kauai has involved getting in the ocean every day, lots of reading, and several servings of Shave Ice. Tomorrow it's back to Salt Pond Beach (our favorite) and another trip to JoJo's Shave Ice in Waimea. I LOVE Shave Ice!!!!!

>222 LovingLit: Hi Megan. I'm glad you got the star issue resolved. I have continued to struggle with time on the computer when I'm not at work, so it's okay with me if you only visit periodically. I spend so much time on computers at work, it has been harder for me to keep up with my LT buddies. But I am committed to periodic visits!

I would think a sheepish smile would get you in anywhere! *wink*

>223 richardderus: You were so good about supporting my countdown, Richard, and I ran off to Kauai and practically disappeared! *smooch*

>225 Berly: Heh. Of course, now I have only one more full day on Kauai and then it's back to real life. *sob*

>226 figsfromthistle: I love The Sweetness of Water, too, Anita.

>227 BLBera: Sorry I neglected to answer, Beth.

I brought (and finished) The Thirty Names of Night. I had All Her Little Secrets on my kindle, finished that today. I also brought The Memory of Love with me and will start it tonight. I have The Manningtree Witches on my kindle so I'll read that some on the plane, especially if my reading light is iffy.

>228 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline. It has been a wonderful week. LOTS of Humpback Whale activity!

>229 richardderus: Thanks so much, Richard. It has been a good week. P is talking (seriously, I think) about retiring here.

>230 humouress: Hi Nina. Thanks for swinging by. I thought I'd spend more time on LT while here on Kauai, but swimming in the ocean, reading, and various adventures have kept me away.

>231 witchyrichy: Thanks Karen!

>232 Berly: Mai Tai's, coconut shrimp, Shave Ice, swimming in the ocean every day, and some good reading time.... it has been a good week, Kim. Oh, and between P's anemia and my work exhaustion, we've been sleeping 9-10 hours every night!

>233 richardderus: Oh dear, sorry you got snow, Richard. We've been watching home and it was a balmy 44F today. LOL. Kauai has been sunny, highs around 80F, and lows in the upper 60s. It has rained a couple times, but just enough to cool things down a bit. We've had LOTS of whale activity and one school of Bottlenose Dolphins. The latter are so cute. When a Humpback Whale breaches, he's like "wham" when he lands (the Pacific Life ads are spot on). The dolphins are more like "look at me flop happily around in the air before I land gracefully back in the ocean."

>236 PaulCranswick: Still only February, my friend. The holiday is WONDERFUL.

Okay, books.

The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar


Written by a trans Syrian-American author, this beautifully-written novel explores both of those identities along with grief in its so many forms. We get two narrators and it took me a while to sort out the various relational connections between the two. One is drawn from a journal, a diary, of a talented Syrian artist unable to overcome the limits imposed by her gender and national origin on her professional achievements. The other is our current protagonist, a 28-year-old trans person coping with isolation, loss, and the insatiable desire to connect the dots of their family and community history, and to save the work and the legacy of an artist.... Birds figure heavily in this novel. They are subjects of art, but also harbingers of tragedy, symbols of freedom, and creatures of exquisite beauty and wonder.

The book didn't flow as easily as it might, but the language is beautiful, the themes powerful, and the imagery lasting. Thank you, Kim and Beth, for the shared read.

All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris


This was a fun and compelling "mystery" novel. Our protagonist is a 40-something lawyer in a high-powered transportation company in Atlanta. After the man with whom she has been having an affair (he's married, she is not) apparently dies by suicide in his office on Floor Twenty of the company, Ellice is quickly promoted to take his spot as lead general counsel. It takes less than 24 hours for her to realize that something is off in this company and her promotion was fast-tracked for less-than-fully-ethical reasons. Point one: she is the only Black executive in the company. Point two: the former boyfriend was actually murdered. Point three: something is wrong with the CEO. Dementia? Perhaps.

Point four: Ellice has secrets of her own and not of the "I shoplifted a bangle when I was nine years old" variety. These secrets are catching up with her as she finds herself and her beloved younger brother caught up in a wild ride of corporate corruption and white supremacist ideology. Fast-paced and enjoyable, this was a great vacation read!

Friday is our last full day on Kauai. We plan to swim at Salt Pond Beach, go to JoJo's for a last installment of Shave Ice, and do some reading. And pack (sad face).

I'll start The Memory of Love tonight. I also have The Manningtree Witches up next on my kindle, which I'll probably read on the plane.

>241 EBT1002: I can't imagine why you'd want to do all that instead of talk to us on LT ;0)

Well, the whale's doing better than I could.

>245 EBT1002: Aww. We love Hawai'i too. That was our last holiday outside the country (we came back in January 2020 and a couple of weeks later ...) I like Hawai'i (Big Island) best and my kids did, too, until we went to Oahu, where they were entranced by the more cosmopolitan lifestyle and, to be honest, that's where most of the filming is done for some of their favourite TV shows and films.

>241 EBT1002: I would love to whale watch Ellen. Sounds like you've had a great and restful trip. Safe journey home.

Get home safe, y'all!

I haven't sent The Fell yet, Ellen. I'll pop it in the mail early next week at the latest.

Safe travels home.

Enjoy your last day. I'm enjoying our deep freeze here. It seems like temps will NEVER warm up. I am reading How High We Go in the Dark, which reminds me a bit of Cloud Atlas. I hope to get to The Thirty Names of Night after that.

>246 humouress: Hi Nina. You know, I honestly thought I'd be sitting around our little condo more than we have done, especially with P's anemia. There is a limit to the amount of time I can spend in the sun but not a limit to the amount of time I can sit in the shade watching the ocean! Great whale activity every single day of this trip!

We've only visited Oahu (in 2002) and Kauai. I think this is our sixth visit to this island. We keep saying we want to visit the Big Island but this one always calls. It feels so easy and so much like home because of the familiarity.

>247 Caroline_McElwee: Watching the whales is truly one of my favorite experiences on earth, Caroline. I get annoyed when I see boats roaring across the water toward a whale who has come up for air but most of the boats are respectful. We just watch from the shore and we've seen great whale activity every day this trip.

>249 richardderus: Thanks Richard.

>250 katiekrug: Thanks Katie. No hurry on The Fall. I have a few other things to read in the meantime. LOL.

>251 BLBera: It was a great last day, Beth. We lazed around this morning, then headed to Salt Pond Beach, one of our favorites. Bobbed around and swam for a while, then went into Hanapepe for plate lunch. Then to Kakaha beach where we just stood in the water for a while. It was a bit too rough to get all the way in. Drove around that little community a bit. Last stop at JoJo's for Shave Ice. #15, "South Shore," for me: pineapple and coconut syrup on the ice, with macadamia ice cream underneath and Haupia (coconut) cream over the top. YUM.

Happy Weekend!

It looks like you are having a wonderful time. Whale watching sounds like fun.

Hi Ellen!

>237 EBT1002: I see you’re retiring in August of next year. I’m glad that your job is satisfying enough now that you can keep at it for a bit longer.

>238 EBT1002: I’m sorry that P is anemic again.

>244 EBT1002: Ah, book candy. Onto the wish list it goes.

Safe trip home!

Hi, Ellen! Sorry about P's anemia. My husband's most recent routine bloodwork found him to be anemic as well. I won't clutter up your thread with it, but if you want to know what diagnostics he's going through, and what they're revealing, you can PM me.

>252 EBT1002: What a lovely day! I hope P is enjoying it enough to make the effort worthwhile. As another non-Wordler it seems there are ever so many few occasions to comment. Mike does them, but hasn't flaunted it where I can notice. I enjoyed my time on the big island, but that might have been partly because my MIL lived in Waikiki and those were trying visits.

Happy Sunday, Ellen. Are you on your way back? Your trip sounds wonderful. We have been to the Big Island and Oahu. We would definitely return to the Big Island. It offers so much diversity. We would also like to visit Maui and Kauai. We like remote. Do you observe any birds while you are there? Always curious about that. Great that you see so many whales.

I am also glad to hear you are enjoying The Memory of Love.

Hoping y'all're having a lovely decompression Sunday. *smooch*

>252 EBT1002: *sigh notjealousnotjealousnotjealous*

Just wondering; has P had her thyroid levels checked? That could be a cause.

How goes the recompression progress?

*smooch*

-Harry Bliss

^This one sure reminded me of you, for some reason. 🙂

>253 figsfromthistle: It was a great vacation, Anita. And I just booked the same place for us for Feb 11-18 next year!

>254 karenmarie: Hi Karen. I'm really pleased that work has become more satisfying so I can hang in there for another year. That said, I'm still looking forward to retirement. The stress and drama just wear me out more than it did when I was younger!

I think you'll enjoy All Her Little Secrets.

>255 laytonwoman3rd: Hi Linda. P has been anemic so many times, it feels like old hat now. I would be interested to hear what they're investigating for your husband. Is this his first time with it?

>256 quondame: We keep saying we should visit the big island, Susan, but Kaua'i feels like home.

>257 msf59: Hi Mark. We definitely watch for birds on the island. The lighthouse at Kilauea is a wildlife refuge and is home to many seabirds. It was closed when we visited this time but we could stand on an overlook and watch the birds which include Laysan albatross, red-footed boobies, brown boobies, red-tailed and white-tailed tropicbirds, great frigatebirds, and wedge-tailed shearwaters. We did not see all of those but we saw red-footed boobies, both kinds of tropicbirds, and the albatross (my favorite).

>258 richardderus: Hi Richard. Sunday was a good day. Laundry, a women's basketball game (Cougs won!), grocery shopping.... This week has been a bit wild and woolly but the weekend is coming!

>259 humouress: Hi Nina. I just asked and P doesn't think they have checked her thyroid. Interesting....

>260 richardderus: Getting settled back in. Reading The Memory of Love, working 10 hours a day, looking forward to the weekend!

>262 msf59: Gee, I wonder why that made you think of me, Mark? *smile* I absolutely love it.

It has been a weird week. Work has been stressful but not terrible.

Yesterday morning Carson was acting a bit listless. Then P texted me that he had vomited. Three times. And that he was not acting himself. She took him to the vet, they x-rayed his tummy. No sign of any foreign objects. They couldn't see anything else. For some reason, they didn't take blood but they hydrated him and sent him home. Last night he clearly did not feel good. When I got home from work he was on our bed under the covers and he didn't move. We were getting really worried. Today he didn't eat, didn't drink, and was just lying on our bed. He would look up when one of us walked in the room, but then just put his head back down. Poor little guy. P took him back to the vet today. This time they did blood tests and checked his urine. Nothing. Hydrated him again, sent him home and told us to give him food he really likes to stimulate his appetite. This is the cat who usually gets only rabbit (wet) and alligator (dry). But we bought some Fancy Feast on our way home from dinner and I picked him up (he purred!) and set him in front of his bowl with a teaspoon of FF in it. I petted him while he ate and he purred and lapped it up. Then he went to his water bowl and drank. So he may be feeling a tiny bit better. I wish I could stay home with him tomorrow. It has been stressful for P to be the main one monitoring him and taking him to vet appointments.

The other thing going on is that P's brother who lives in Palau has been told that his cancer, which he has fought with amazing success for over a decade, has become aggressive and is not treatable. He could still live for years, but it's a discouraging prognosis. So P is flying out there to visit him, leaving March 4. She'll be gone for almost three weeks (getting there takes a couple of days, as does getting back -- she'll overnight in Honolulu one night each direction). I'm really glad she can go visit him.

I'm about 2/3 through The Memory of Love. I'm very much enjoying it but it is also slow going. I'm so worn out when I get home from work, I don't even have much energy for reading. Also, the cataract in my right eye is starting to get more and more noticeable when I'm reading. I see the eye doc tomorrow so we'll see what he says. I've said how glad I am to be enjoying my work again, how glad I am to be able to end my career feeling good about my role and the impact I'm having. That said, I'm still pretty focused on retirement. I want to do things with my time other than work.

Hi Ellen! I'm so glad Carson is feeling better.

>268 EBT1002: I've been reading slowly as well. I have so much reading to do for school right now that even though I am enjoying Thirty Names of Night, it is slow going.

>267 EBT1002: Poor kitty! We have been through some food-related travails with Cleo, too. Lots of throwing up and not eating and in her case, losing a ton of weight. They've done tests and not found anything, but she seems to have started eating again, at least enough to restore some energy, if not any weight. I hope Carson continues to feel better.

So sorry to hear about P's brother, too. That's rough, hard to hear that after such a long battle. Good that she can get out there.

Oh dear, poor Carson. I hope he continues on the mend Ellen.

Keeping everything crossed for P's brother. Glad she can visit him soon.

>267 EBT1002: I'm so sad that P has to visit under these conditions and am very glad that she can. Leaving behind a healthy family to return to is a great gift to her peace of mind, too.

Such a mixed bag of a week! Stay sane, Ellen.

Poor Carson. I hope he perks up today, and that if he doesn't, you can get to the bottom of it.

And very very sorry to hear about P's brother. I'm glad she can visit him.

>262 msf59: That's the way it is with me when I'm trying to read, cross-stitch, or do anything else.

>265 EBT1002: Ooh, I love the Hawaii bird report. I would love to see an albatross. I have seen both brown & blue-footed boobies but not red.

Sorry to hear about Carson and your cataract issues. Always something, right?

Hi Ellen!

>267 EBT1002:, Wow, I’m sorry about Carson not feeling well and the attendant stress for you and P. Eating a bit of FF and drinking water is a good sign, though. Glad P is getting to visit her brother although it’s for a very sad reason.

>268 EBT1002: Ugh to the cataract, glad you’re seeing the eye doctor tomorrow. I hope you can get the surgery scheduled soon. For me the only downsides to cataract surgery were all the eye drops and using cheaters until I could get a new prescription, which I thought were well worth it.

An awful lot going on with you and P just now. Life seems to go that way, doesn't it? I hope Carson is OK. I never knew there was alligator kibble! I quite like a little taste o' gator myself.

>264 EBT1002: My husband's anemia has been determined to be the result of some gastric bleeding, which astonishingly has produced no other symptoms whatsoever. He has never had it before. (Endoscopy and colonoscopy were the first diagnostic tests ordered. If P has had the problem in the past, I suppose she's already been investigated that way.) He's been on meds, an iron supplement, and a non-irritating diet (mostly) for a month, has decided to permanently give up alcohol and caffeine, and will have some polyps removed in the near future. With these changes it is apparent that he was a bit run-down before, which we were just attributing to pandemic fatigue, age and the winter blahs. He has more energy now, goes to bed later, and sleeps better. Hopefully there's a permanent fix, for him and for P.

Sorry to hear about P's brother, but glad she can go be with him. And I am glad Carson is feeling better. Now what about you...What did the eye doctor say?

Sorry to hear about P's brother. Even with a long-term forecast, it can't sit well with him to know he is under attack. I'm glad P can spend some time with him to cushion the impact of the news.

And of course I'm glad Carson is doing better. He's become so much a part of your lives, I hope he stays around a long time.

And sheesh - more complications - anemia, cataract problems. What a rough time you are having.

Looks like lots has been happening since I checked in last and not all of it good. At least P had time to recover and vacation before she got the distressing news about her brother. I hope Carson gets over whatever is ailing him before she goes away.

I got my copy of The Fell by Sarah Moss. Thank you, Katie (and Vivian and Laura)!! I'll read it next and then ship it off to Stacia. #TheFellNationalTour

Current read: The Manningtree Witches by A. K. Blakemore. Very good and dark.

Glad it made it!

>281 EBT1002: woo hoo! Love the hashtag too.

*smooch*

I'm going to be in Baltimore later this month. Any LTers in that area? Bookshop recommendations?

>285 EBT1002: - The Book Thing of Baltimore used to be amazing - everything was totally free. For real. Free. But they had a big fire and they've reopened at a new location (I think) and are only open once a month or something. Sad face.

I guess that's not much of a recommendation :-P

If you'll take food recommendations, Fell's Point has great pubs. And right nearby is "Little Italy" if you want some good Eye-talian.

Papermoon Diner is trippy!

(Hmmm. Such a short train ride away....... )

Just a big fat Hi!!!

>285 EBT1002: We're about 30 miles away from the Inner Harbor - haven't visited any bookstores there in a couple of years, but here's what I suggest.

The Book Escape and Charm City Books aren't too far from downtown
If you're north of downtown, Mt Vernon or up near Hopkins' campus, there are several others.

Fells Point is a great place for food, as is Little Italy. The Mt Vernon area also has some great restaurants, along with the Walters Art Gallery and Peabody Conservatory - depending on when you're here, you might be able to catch a BSO concert at the Meyerhoff. The Inner Harbor area is good, though more touristy - there's the Maryland Science Museum and National Aquarium, plus some historic ships to tour in the harbor. Federal Hill is another area just off the Inner Harbor with some great restaurants.

PM me if you have questions about the city or things to do, happy to help! A meetup would be fun too, if you have time.

Dropping by to wish you a lovely weekend, my friend.

Happy Saturday, Ellen. We sure miss you. You'll have to give us an update. I hope you can find some R & R this weekend.

Katie and Jim, thanks for the recommendations. Food is right up there with bookshops in terms of my needs, especially since I no longer live in Seattle.

P made it safely to Palau. That was a long trip with four flights: 1 hour to Seattle, 5+ hours to Honolulu, 7.5 hours to Guam, then 2 hours to Koror.

Time for me to start a new thread. I was just logging on to do so earlier today and LT was down. I admit I had a moment of "really?? I finally get a bit of time and settle down with my laptop and LT is down???" Oh well.

Quick book update, then new thread.

I finished the audiobook The Splendid and the Vile. 4 stars. It took me a long time to finish that one, but it was still really good.

Yesterday I also finished The Manningtree Witches by A.K. Blakemore. 3.5 stars. Very dark and disturbing but also really good.

I'm now listening to A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II while I work on my very difficult jigsaw puzzle and reading The Fell by Sarah Moss, which I am loving. I am the next-to-last stop on this little volume's national tour.

Sorry to hear about all your woes. I'm glad P made it safely and that Carson is feeling better.