Mamie's 2022 Madness, page 3

Another favorite photo - this one is my Dad on Christmas Day sometime in the early 70s. I bought him that book for Christmas, and he loved it. He had Big love for Winnie the Pooh and company - his favorite character was Eeyore.

I'm Mamie. I have BIG love for books and movies, cooking, making lists, wine, snark, and shenanigans. I try to get into trouble as often as possible, and I am very good at it, so I often succeed.

I live in the Deep South of the US - Georgia. I'm an Indiana transplant, so after nine years I am still adjusting to the hell-like temps heat and humidity. I have been married to my best friend for thirty years, and we have four grown children - all in their twenties, at least until March. We share our space with a trio of remarkable cats - Mercy, Mischief and Mayhem. That last one is excellent at living up to his name. I have been on LT for ten years, and it has been full of fabulous. I am looking forward to further shared adventures (and misadventures!) in my reading journey.

.....

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January Reads:
1. Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots - recommended by Richard
2. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (GN)
3. Kim by Rudyard Kipling, narrated by Madhav Sharma
4. The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett, narrated by Indiram Varma - reread
5. The Kiss Murder by Mehmet Murat Somer
6. Good Talk by Mira Jacob (GN)
7. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
8. The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606 by James S. Shapiro
9. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
10. Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl
11. When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs (GN)
12. One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson - reread
13. Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones - recommended by Richard
14. Pulp by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips (Artist), Jacob Phillips (Artist) (GN) - recommended by Charlotte

Katie’s Dirty Dozen - That’s right, folks, KAK’s reserved spot is back for an eighth year, let’s see what she hits me with this time.

1. Mindful Drinking by Rosamund Dean - reading
2. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness by Peter Kuper (GN) - requested from library
3. Mr. Flood's Last Resort by Jess Kidd - do the audio

The List: (this is a list of LT book bullets from this year)
1. Ballad for Sophie by Felipe Melo (GN) - Mary
2. Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix - Jennifer - requested from library
3. Evil Things by Katja Ivar - Judy
4. Wordslut by Amanda Montell - Micky
5. Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin - Anne over on Mary's thread
6. When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs (GN) - VivienneR Read 1/2022
7. These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett - Stasia - reading
8. Last Man Off by Matt Lewis - Stasia (she hasn't read this but it sounds good! Plus, it's a Cold Read)
9. The Flame Trees of Thika by Elspeth Huxley - NinieB
10. An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten. -The Weird One
11. Dare to Disappoint: Growing Up in Turkey by Özge Samanci (GN) - Beth - requested from library
12. A Traveller in Time by Alison Uttley - Carrie
13. Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger - VictoriaPL
14. Fangs by Sarah Anderson (GN) - lowelibrary - requested from library
15. A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond - Rhian
16. 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak - Anita (FAMeulstee)
17. Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia "...detective noir set in 1971 Mexico City" - Jim
18. Fadeout by Joseph Hansen - Richard
19. 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare by James S. Shapiro - Eric
20. Pulp by Ed Brubaker (GN) - Charlotte - Read 1/2022
21. The Pasha of Cuisine by Saygın Ersin - Richard
22. This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno - sturlington
23. King Richard: Nixon and Watergate--An American Tragedy by Michael Dobbs - Jim
24. Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones - Richard - requested from library
25. My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies by Ed Brubaker (GN) - Joe

The List, continued:
26. My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson - Beth

This should do it - next one's yours!

Happy new thread, Mamie! I love the photo of your dad. He had good taste in reading! And I love that he loved Eeyore.

Morning, Mamie, and happy new thread!

Happy #3 dear Mamie.

>1 Crazymamie: That is a familiar and favourite photo to many of us that have followed along with you for the last ten years. x

>6 cbl_tn: Thank you, Carrie! That photo makes me smile every time. I can remember wrapping that for him with my sister Julie's help. And I was thrilled when he opened it up and read it right away - we had to wait to finish opening up present until he was done. My mom and sisters were slightly put out, but I was over the moon happy. He could do an excellent Eeyore impression.

>7 scaifea: Morning, Amber! And thank you.

>8 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul! I knew more than a few of you would recognize that photo - I have used it as a topper several times over the years as it is a personal favorite and captures his personality. x

Happy Sunday and happy new thread, Mamie!

>1 Crazymamie: - As another Eeyore fan, cheers to y ur Dad!

Happy new one, Mamie.

>11 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Thank you - Happy Sunday to you!

>12 katiekrug: Now why am I not surprised you love Eeyore?! And thank you.

Morning, Mamie! Happy Sunday! Happy New thread! I hope you loved Small Things Like These as much as I did.

>13 Crazymamie: - Heh. No idea.

>14 msf59: Morning, Mark! Thank you and Happy Sunday to you! I did love Small Things Like These - read it in one sitting and gave it 4.5 stars. I need to put some thoughts together about the books I have read but not yet reviewed. Maybe later today.

>15 katiekrug: *grin*

Always love seeing that photo of your Dad.

>17 sibylline: Thank you, Lucy! Lovely to see you here!

Aha! Sneaking off in the middle of a Sunday...what seditious silliness are you up to over here, wicked woman?!

>19 richardderus: I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. *blinks*

Happy new one!

>21 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita!

Happy new one, Mamie. You've read some great books so far. I loved Good Talk.

Happy new thread, Mamie!

>4 Crazymamie: Honored to have made the list :-)

Happy page 3, Mamie! Hope your Sunday is marvelous!

Happy new one! Looks like I’m gonna have to scramble around and find something for the recommendations list…

Happy new thread, Mamie. I love that picture of your dad and the memory you shared.

Going back to your last thread... the US healthcare "system" makes me crazy and the only word I think fits is barbaric. I will think good thoughts for you and your Abby. Hope you're having a good Sunday.

>23 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! Good Talk gets the full five stars from me - it was just so well done. Birdy has already read it, too, as I was telling her how fabulous it was. I might need my own copy of it.

>24 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita! Yep - you have made The List! I love keeping track of what BBs come from who each year.

>25 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! Sunday has been full of marvelous so far.

>26 drneutron: Thank you, Jim! I think you have always managed to make The List as some point every year. I read a previous BB I loved from you towards the end of last year - Velocity Weapon. Craig read it, too, and loved it, and he has already read the rest of the trilogy.

>27 AMQS: Thanks, Anne! I am always happy to share my Dad.

I very much appreciate those good thoughts as we navigate the current healthcare system. Barbaric is a good word for the craziness that exists in US healthcare.

Sunday has indeed been good to me so far.

Happy new thread!

>1 Crazymamie: Eeyore is the best!

>30 quondame: Thanks, Susan! Another Eeyore fan!! Hooray!

Happy new thread, Mamie. I wish I had known your dad. From your beautiful tributes and his charming photos I know I would have liked him a lot.

(17 BB's in 23 days?!? Yikes!)

Love the picture of your smiling dad Mamie. Eeyore is surely everyone's favourite (sorry Pooh).

Wow, three thread and seven books read. Go, Mamie!

I love that picture of your dad as well as your tribute of watching his favorite TV shows. I still miss my father, too.

Happy new thread Mamie.

>32 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba! Yes, you would have liked him.

I know, right?! I am in deep trouble. Last year I ended up with 86 BBs by LTers, and that was with falling off the threads for a large chunk of time.

>33 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline! Well, Pooh is my favorite, but I do have a soft spot for Eeyore.

>34 Donna828: Let's see if I can hang on this year, Donna - I fell off the threads last year. I would love if I can keep up my reading mojo.

Your kind words about my Dad are much appreciated. It's been ten years without my Dad, and I still miss him every day - I constantly think of things I would like to ask him, but mostly I just miss hanging out with him.

>35 fairywings: Thanks, Adrienne!

Happy new thread, Mamie!

‘Morning, Mamie! Did y'all watch football over the weekend? I didn't watch much, but what I watched was cherce. Glad the 49ers won for my aunt, glad the Rams beat the Bucs, and especially glad the Chiefs won because they are my backup team to the Panthers. Oh yea, the other game - whatever. *smile*

>36 Crazymamie: I ended up with 106 BBs from LTers last year. Sigh.

We learned how to play a new game this weekend - Wingspan. I had heard a lot about this one and had been wanting to get it for ages, so we finally purchased it. First of all it is full of gorgeous, and secondly it's really fun. Birdy won, of course, but I came in second which I was very pleased with.

On the reading front, I finished The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606, and it was very good - what a lot happened in that particular year! I gave it 4.5 stars, and I am really hoping to put together a few words for all my missing book reviews later today. I am almost finished with Moon of the Crusted Snow - less than 40 pages to go, so I will finish it sometime today. Still working on everything else and I started These Precious Days, which I have out from the library because of course I did.

We're doing baked potato bar for dinner, so I am looking forward to that. Not sure what else I'll get up to today, but I do need to descale the coffee maker. But first I need to drink the rest of the coffee. *grin*

>37 bell7: Thank you, Mary!

>38 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! We actually did not watch football, which is shocking, I know. We played a new board game and binged watched season two of Leverage. I also got some reading done, several loads of laundry, and did the maintenance on the washing machine.

I'm pretty sure I would have had over 100 BBs from last year if I had stayed on the threads the whole time.

>40 Crazymamie: Old Stuff watched both of last night's games and neither of his teams won. I even heard his piteous moans from under my noise-canceling headphones.

Schadenfreude ʁ me!

*smooch*

>41 richardderus: Noise-cancelling headphones are full of fabulous! I have a slight addiction to them and own multiple pairs - all well loved and used. Sounds like you put yours to good use. (See what I did there, and on a Monday, too.) *smooch back*

>39 Crazymamie: Have you read 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare? I found it very similar to The Year of Lear and enjoyed both books a lot.

>43 Oberon: Hello, Eric! I have not read that one, but I am adding it to The List - thanks so much for that. I was wondering if there were anything similar, and now I do not have to even go looking.

*back to add that it is currently only $1.99 on Kindle, so I snagged it!

Happy new thread, Mamie. Good to see you back posting. Nice tribute to your Dad up top. That's a familiar photo. What a nice memory!

I am way behind, Mamie, so I will just say "Have a great week!" and leave it at that.

>39 Crazymamie: Ooh this looks lovely, the kind of thing my mum might like for a birthday gift. Thanks for sharing it!

>39 Crazymamie: Ooh, we have Wingspan but haven't played for some time. I think both Stasia and Mark are fans. I agree the artwork is beautiful.

Sadly, I have yet to pick up Wingspan. First time I was looking, it was out of stock and now it seems to be very expensive. Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I heard it is fun for non-bird lovers too.

>45 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg! Yep, I have posted that photo before - it's a favorite of mine.

>46 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia! Hoping your week is also full of greatness.

>47 charl08: You're welcome, Charlotte. It's a gorgeous game. We are all ready to play it again, but it will have to wait for the weekend.

>48 lauralkeet: I know that Rhian also plays it, Laura. I'm so glad we finally purchased it.

>49 msf59: I was thinking you had not played it, Mark. You would love it - the cards alone are so beautiful with loads of interesting info on them. Someone needs to make cards like these for trees - it would have been much easier and funner learning to identify trees this way. Do they still do that I wonder - I remember doing it in high school, and Rae did it in third grade. You had to collect the leave and make a book.

Morning, Mamie!

Last night we watched more of Leverage - we are rewatching our way through it before watching the new Leverage Redemption. I have only watched the first several seasons before but never the ending. The show is a favorite of Birdy's, so she has seen the whole thing multiple times.

On the reading front, I finished The Moon of Crusted Snow last night. This is dystopian, and I thought it was well done even though the characters felt flat. More on that later. I also read some more in Tender at the Bone, which is good but not as good as Save Me the Plums, which makes sense as there're a lot of years and a lot of writing in between the two. Anyway, I love how Ruth Reichl writes - she is good with telling a story and there is a lot of humor and warmth in her writing. Today I am hoping to finish up Kidnapped - you will be relieved to know that I DO remember reading the book, I just didn't remember the beginning for some reason, but now that I am further in it's all coming back to me.

Plans for today include a trip to the market and the post office and going through some paperwork. We are still trying to get Abby's medical records released to her primary care physician so that she can finish filling out the form we need for insurance. What a mess - it's impossible to actually get a real person on the phone. Abby finally got ahold of someone in medical records who is willing to fax the paperwork from the Pain Clinic over to the primary care physician's office within the hour, so that is progress. Now we just need the neurosurgeon's and the orthopedic surgeon's records. *sigh*

>52 katiekrug: Morning, Katie!

Oooof. Good luck with all the medical record red tape. That stuff can be *so* frustrating.

Thinking of you and Abby as you deal with the medical insurance stuff. I'll be dealing with flood insurance stuff. Solidarity, sisters!

>55 scaifea: Right?! It's exhausting just thinking about it. Thank you, Amber, for the good luck wishes.

>56 katiekrug: *fist bump* Thanks, Katie! You win with the flood insurance stuff - I remember all the paperwork and hassle from when the tree fell through our house in Indiana, and you are dealing with WAY more damage then we experienced.

>53 Crazymamie: Like Birdy, I adore Leverage. Such a fun show! I'm glad you're enjoying your rewatch.

>58 rosalita: It's a show that all of us like, Julia, which is tough sometimes because humor is hard for Rae, and Birdy and Abby don't like a a lot of the crime shows that she and I love. But Leverage we can all agree on. Birdy has owned the entire series on DVD since it became available. It's one of her very favorite shows ever.

Hi Mamie!

>39 Crazymamie: Yay for a new game, more yay for your being back on coffee. Descaling the coffeemaker is a good sign…

>44 Crazymamie: I actually have a hardcover edition of 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare on my shelves and my tag says I started it at one point and then abandoned it. Will I get back to it? Only time will tell…

Sorry about the hurdles on Abby’s medical paperwork and do hope that the person who said they’d fax the paperwork actually does fax the paperwork.

Morning, Karen - I was just over at your place!

I did not do the coffee maker yesterday, so thanks for reminding me. I'm gonna get on that next.

I abandon a lot of books because I am a mood reader. It's there if it calls to you again, and until then no worries because life is short so we should read what we want when we want.

Abby said the lady in medical records was very kind and very helpful, so I am hopeful that it will get done. I so appreciate that her primary care physician is on it and aware of the time factor. She has done an excellent job of keeping us in the loop. Going forward we will document everything and get our own copies of any testing that is done.

Glad to remind you - smile.

I'm a mood reader, too. Right now I'm looking at 4 books I've started and am not in the mood to read right now.

I've come to appreciate the medical system I'm in - UNC - because I have come to rely on their online 'mychart' program. I can see visits, appointments, messages, test results, invoices, and have gotten links to rehab videos from my cardio rehab folks. I can print things out if I need them, of course, but so far haven't had to.

Tuesday orisons, sweetness. Like you, I had issues with Moon of the Crusted Snow but ended up thinking it was worth the time to read.

*smooch*

Let's get caught up on the books I have completed for January. Not doing full reviews - just sharing some thoughts on each one.


3. Kim by Rudyard Kipling, narrated by Madhav Sharma - 3.5 stars

This worked really well on audio for me. I'm not sure I would have liked it as much in print because the narrator brought a lot to the table. I was expecting more adventure, so that part was disappointing. Also, I think the first half of the book is stronger than the last half. It's filled with interesting characters, and I loved the setting.


4. The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett, narrated by Indiram Varma - reread (5 stars)

This will always get five stars from me, as it is a childhood favorite. I can remember checking this out from the school library for the very first time - probably in 4th or 5th grade. I stayed up late reading under the covers when I was supposed to be sleeping because I wanted to know what happened next. Revisiting it in audio format was full of fabulous - I am very picky about my narrators, and Indira Varma was a perfect fit for it, IMO. One I know I will listen to again.

5. The Kiss Murder by Mehmet Murat Somer - 3 stars
Here's the Amazon blurb:

"A male computer technician by day and a transvestite hostess of Istanbul's most notorious nightclub by night, the unnamed heroine of The Kiss Murder is the most charming and hilarious sleuth to debut in recent memory. When Buse, one of the "girls"at her club, fears someone is after private letters from a former lover, she comes to her boss for help. The next day Buse is dead and our girl must find the murderers before they find her. Fortunately, she is well armed with beauty, wit, the wardrobe of Audrey Hepburn, and expert Thai kickboxing skills. With a page-turning plot and an irresistibly charming protagonist, The Kiss Murder is sure to attract mystery lovers and nightlife mavens alike."

So, I'm going to have to disagree with that "page-turning plot" bit. The murder is not the main event here, but watching it all play out is fun. Full of quirky characters and humor, and I liked it enough to request the next one from the library. Someone over on the Asian Reading Challenge thread mentioned this murder mystery series by a Turkish author, and I cannot remember who it was. I never would have found this on my own, so thank you whoever you are.


6. Good Talk by Mira Jacob (GN) - 5 stars, recommended by Charlotte

This is so full of fabulous! I am really amazed at what Mira Jacob has managed to do here. It's based on her thoughts and experiences that she had while trying to navigate answering her son's questions about race and race relations while living through 9/11 and trump. It's poignant and honest and full of wisdom and charm and insight. It made me laugh and cry - sometimes at the same moment. Highly recommended.

There's another murder-mystery series by a Turk, starting with Happy Birthday, Turk!, that's set in Germany and uses the sizable Turkish minority there as its take-off point. I liked it in the 80s, no idea if I would now, but it's something to put on your radar.

7. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan - 4.5 stars

This has been getting a lot of LT buzz, and for good reason. I love when something so small can pack a punch. Read this.


8. The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606 by James S. Shapiro - 4.5 stars

I read this for the ShakespeareCAT over in the Category Challenge group. It's full of fascinating history and insights into Shakespeare's writing and how what was happening at the time influenced him. I learned a lot - I did not know the story behind the Gunpowder Plot or even very much about King James. During 1606, Shakespeare wrote King Lear, Macbeth, and Anthony and Cleopatra. Shapiro does a very good job of tying everything together and illuminating how current events shaped theatrical ones. Excellent narrative non-fiction and highly recommended for anyone interested in Shakespeare's tragedies.


9. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice - 3.5 stars - recommended by Chelle

The Amazon blurb:

"With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Cut off, people become passive and confused. Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. While the band council and a pocket of community members struggle to maintain order, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the south. Soon after, others follow.

The community leadership loses its grip on power as the visitors manipulate the tired and hungry to take control of the reserve. Tensions rise and, as the months pass, so does the death toll due to sickness and despair. Frustrated by the building chaos, a group of young friends and their families turn to the land and Anishinaabe tradition in hopes of helping their community thrive again. Guided through the chaos by an unlikely leader named Evan Whitesky, they endeavor to restore order while grappling with a grave decision."

I read this for the AuthorCAT over in the Category Challenge group - January's theme is indigenous authors. Waubgeshig is a Wasauksing First Nation author. This is dystopian set on an Anishinaabe reservation, and it is an interesting look into how those who have held onto their heritage are more prepared for disaster than those who have let it go. The writing is very good and the slowly escalating tension is a tangible thing. What didn't work as well for me were the characters - I loved the characters, I just wanted more depth. They felt slightly flat to me. I would love to see a follow-up novel to this one with more character building.

>62 karenmarie: I am in the process of doing it right now, Karen.

I say set all four of them aside and pick up something that calls to you.

That's so great that all of your medical stuff is in the same system. Part of what we are dealing with is that not all of Abby's doctors are in the same system.

>63 richardderus: Happy Tuesdaying to you, BigDaddy! I thought the writing was solid, but the plot and the characters needed work. I was so impressed with the slow build of tension, though - it really got to me. I am not a nice person because I would have just shot Justin Scott when he first showed up. And I wanted more of Aileen - she could have been a pivotal character. A missed opportunity.

>66 richardderus: Oh! Thanks for that, Richard!

>39 Crazymamie: Glad you enjoyed Wingspan, Mamie. There's something about those little eggs that I find very appealing in a tactile sort of way.

Early Wednesday-bound *smooch*

>65 Crazymamie: Good Talk by Mira Jacob is good, huh? I know Jacobs is coming to Portland with Everybody Reads, a joint Literary Arts and Multnomah County Library presentation. I just wasn't hooked until your review. And I want to read some GN's, so now I will have to look into this one!!

>67 Crazymamie: I've seen a lot of good comments on this one. (Moon of the Crusted Snow) I read it last year and felt it was only okay. I agree that the characters were flat, and that probably was the biggest problem with it.

>69 SandDune: Hello, Rhian! Totally agree with you about the eggs. It's like playing with a work of art - the detail is so beautiful.

>70 richardderus: Your early bound smooch was perfectly times - I have been up since 3am, and I remain wide awake. Hoping I can maybe snag a nap this afternoon - guess we'll find out. *smooch back*

>71 Berly: Kim, Charlotte was mentioning over on my other thread how good Mira Jacob is at talking about her writing. I was very impressed with her GN - I think you would like it.

>72 ursula: I have seen five star reviews of it, Ursula. I thought the writing was solid, but I wanted more. I loved the tension that he created and kept building or I might have set this one aside - I wanted to see how it played out.

‘Morning, Mamie!

>68 Crazymamie: I picked up #52 in the Eve Dallas series, and got 45 pages read yesterday before Other Things got in the way – straightening a closet, hanging out with Bill.

Morning, Mamie! Happy Wednesday. Hooray for Good Talk & Small Things Like These! I am also a big fan of both!

Hey Mamie, happy that my early smooch got received at a time when it was needed. Ugh on not being able to go back to sleep.

I'm looking at sunshine, which I love, and 24° which I don't love quite so much. But no snow, freezing rain, or other precip, so it's all good.

Another Humpday *smooch*

>74 karenmarie: Hello, Karen! Good for you for picking up something that was sure to please. I need to get back to Eve Dallas.

>75 msf59: Hey there, Mark! Happy Wednedayness to you. They were both excellent - may the full of fabulous reads continue.

>76 richardderus: I am still going strong, so looks like no nap for me, but at least that means I should be able to get some sleep tonight. the 5am coffee was excellent, so there is that.

We also have sunshine - you would probably love our temps which have been in the low 60s. I love precipitation, but I know I am the odd one out with that.

Now how could anything go wrong with an extra smooch to get ne through the day?! Thanks for that! *Smooch back and a Bear hug*

Happy Wednesday!

>39 Crazymamie: Sounds like a great game!

>78 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita! Happy Wednesday to you!

It really is a fun game.

10. Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl - 3.5 stars

This is a food memoir. Ruth Reichl has lived a very interesting life working in various food related jobs - waitressing, catering, giving cooking lessons, chef, food critic, food magazine editor...In 2019 I read her Save Me the Plums, which is also a food memoir. That one is focused mostly on her years as editor-in-chief of Gourmet Magazine, and it remains my favorite. This one is her earlier years and ends with her working as a food critic. She is good with telling a story and has a lot to share as she has had some crazy adventures. I am looking forward to reading her other food memoirs and connecting the two stories.

Morning, Mamie!

I've had >80 Crazymamie: on my shelf for years. Given how much I love food, I'm surprised I haven't gobbled (heh) it right up.

Today I am going to indulge in the lazy - I ran all my errands yesterday, so today I just need to do some household stuff. I am hoping to take the new vacuum (thank you Laura and Katie) for a spin. We have a Miele canister vacuum, which we love, but it only does hardwood/tile surface - no carpeting, and it is very heavy, so not great for me to move around or to do small spaces with. We don't have any carpeting downstairs, but we do have stair treads and carpeting in the upstairs bedrooms. Anyway, it is kind of a pain to use it for small areas like the screened-in porch or closets where you are needing to get into a lot of crevices and corners.

On the reading front, I finished up Tender at the Bone yesterday, obviously since my review is above. I also read from Why Orwell Matters (essays) - loving this, and Snow. I know several people have mentioned how much they loved Snow, but it is not working for me, so I might set this one aside. Last night I started Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones (horror novella) and The Red Garden (linked short stories, and Katie's Dirty Dozen pick) - loving both of these so far.

It feels like Spring here as it is going to be sunny and heading to 62F today. I miss Winter, but at least I have my beautiful bare pecan trees to look at.

>81 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! Oh, you need to get to Tender at the Bone! I love how she writes, and what a crazy life she has led. I like her ability to keep reinventing herself. And her honesty.

>83 Crazymamie: - I'll put it on my Read Soon cart :)

And yay for The Red Garden! I feel like Hoffman must have influenced Sarah Addison Allen, at least a bit...

>82 Crazymamie: - Mamie, you want winter? Really? Go check my recent photos on my thread... just saying... ;-) As I said to Stasia and Ella, be careful what you wish for....!

And speaking of pecans, have you read Braiding Sweetgrass? They feature prominently at the beginning of that book. I only still at the beginning, savouring it and reading a chapter each evening in bed because the language is lovely and demands full attention.

>84 katiekrug: - Speaking of, SAA has a new book coming out later this year. It's called Other Birds.

Morning, Mamie! Sweet Thursday. 20 degrees warmer right now than yesterday at this time and will inch up to about 30. We are getting plenty of winter here. We would love to share.

>82 Crazymamie: Looking a bit gloomy there.

>84 katiekrug: Oh, the cart!!! I still get the giggles from when you first got that cart.

I agree with you about Hoffman. I have loved everything I have read by her, and how Sarah Addison Allen uses magical realism is evocative of Hoffman's writing.

>85 jessibud2: Shelley, yes I do. I grew up and spent most my life in Indiana, where Winter is an actual thing. I have done the frozen pipes and ice storms and blizzards, and while I do not long for those particular bits of Winter, I would like it to get cold and stay cold for months on end and for there to be snow. I love snow. I love the cold. I love overcast dark days that beg you to stay inside and actually needing to use the fireplace. I miss theses things.

I have not read Braiding Sweetgrass - making a note of that. Thanks!

>86 katiekrug: OH! I did not know she had a new one coming out - that is most exciting!

>87 msf59: Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you! I would love it if you could share your Winter - I would be happy to send you our unremitting sunshine and warmth.

Nope. Not gloomy - that is my favorite kind of day, but it's not what today looks like. That is a favorite photo that Abby took a few years ago, but the trees look like that - all bare and reminding me of that Hemingway passage in A Moveable Feast where he says the bare winter trees are like sculpture. Anyway, it's bright and sunny here, like usual.

>82 Crazymamie: It's gorgeous! Looks like an Impressionist painting. Wow, what luck that no one's ripped that out to make my worst nightmare: a subdivision *ptooptoo*

>80 Crazymamie: Her writing is the pleasure of the reads, but her story fascinates, doesn't it...so ordinary yet so very weird.

*smooch*

>90 richardderus: It has been sold, and we were worried about exactly that as the buyer also bought the land next door to use in order to have road access to the property. Must have run out of money or changed his mind because he has sold the property to someone who lives down the road from us who is content to let the groove be a grove for now. I'm crossing my fingers it can stay that way until Craig retires at least - we will be moving then. It would break my heart to see those trees come down and houses go up.

So true about her story - I had my own nightmare of a mother, but at least I had my fabulous Dad to balance things out.

*smooch back*

>88 Crazymamie: "I would like it to get cold and stay cold for months on end and for there to be snow. I love snow. I love the cold. I love overcast dark days that beg you to stay inside and actually needing to use the fireplace." -- reasons I am loving living in the NorthWest!!

Crazy--You're getting all excited about a vacuum and I'm thrilled about new toilet paper!! What is the world coming to?! : )

>82 Crazymamie: I love this, the almond trees on Morgan's mom's ranches get like this too - foggy and mysterious.

We've had some winter here for the last week, snow and rarely above freezing. Now it's getting a little warmer (8C/46F forecast today), which is nice because it should mean hopefully things will have time to melt and not refreeze overnight this time. On the other hand, it means next week is forecast to be similar temperatures and rain, my absolute least favorite weather.

>82 Crazymamie: love that picture. I prefer the crisp, clear days, but there's something enticing and mysterious about a fog shrouded landscape. Even if it usually just turns out to be a bit damp in reality.

Love the picture of your dad. What a lovely memory to have.

>92 RebaRelishesReading: A kindred soul!

>93 Berly: Kim, either we have lowered our expectations, or we are very good with celebrating the small moments.

>94 ursula: Me, too, Ursula, it always feels like magic to me. We get foggy mornings a lot here, which helps to make up for the constant heat.

I am weird because I love rain. The only thing I don't love about rain is going to the grocery store in it. And I don't like that thing that is between mist and rain where it feels like someone is spitting on you. That's just gross. Our weather is having whiplash - yesterday it was in the 60s, today the high is supposed to be 56F, tomorrow's high is 46F and Sunday it's back to the 60s. It's slightly crazy making.

>95 Helenliz: Abby is very good with the photos, Helen. I love fog and prefer it to crisp and clear as long as I don't have to drive in it. We get a lot of foggy mornings down here, and then it burns off as the sun reclaims its territory.

Thank you for the kind words about my Dad and the photo of him.

Morning, Mamie!

>97 katiekrug: Morning, Katie!

‘Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday to you.

>82 Crazymamie: I hope your day was full of fun things, even vacuuming with the new vacuum. I'm forcing myself to not pre-vacuum just to get the worst of stuff up because I've got a new house cleaner coming in today. Keep your fingers crossed that he works out!

>88 Crazymamie: We don’t have a fireplace, but we have a propane stove in the living room and, because when it’s on it confuses the thermostat and my Sunroom is cold first thing (63F this morning), a little propane heater in my Sunroom. I honestly think winter’s my second favorite season after autumn. Spring is third because it means summer’s coming, the Evil Season, even if June’s my birthday month. *smile*

>93 Berly: I hope you aren’t just teasing us, Kim… heads off to your thread… Ah, I see you DID buy Who Gives a Crap. I think it was Ellen who mentioned it in 2020, and I’m on my 3rd box of 48 since May of 2020… we’ve given Jenna some, too. Brava!

>96 Crazymamie: I love rain too, ditto on the spitting stuff and running errands in it. Although, since I only need glasses for close up since cataract surgery made me farsighted, it’s much less stressful when having to be out in it.

>99 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Happy Friday!

Yesterday was good. We got the vacuum all unpacked, but I have not used it yet. I did a load of towels washed some dishes and otherwise managed to have a pretty lazy day. Crossing my fingers for the new house cleaner.

We totally agree about the order of the seasons - Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer is also my preference. I am really not big on summer, and honestly two weeks would do me. (And June is also my birthday month!) I know that I am currently living in the wrong state for these preferences, but as soon as Craig retires...

I don't mind running errands in the rain, just not the grocery store if I can avoid it.

Agreed the grocery store in the rain isn't much fun, but I have a Very Large Umbrella to get the groceries to my Es-ca-pay; it has a lift trunk in the back and once I can get to it and open it, the groceries are protected from the rain when I'm stowing them.

Your birthday is 25 days before mine but we're both in June... agreed about summer.

Yay for getting the vacuum unpacked! When we unpacked ours last summer, the long tube was cracked and it took an act of God and Congress to first try to just get a new long tube (didn't work, backordered) and then a new vacuum. And then I had to repack the defective one and schlep it to the UPS drop off.

Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday. We have a Jackson day today so you know we will be all smiles through the day. Bree drops him off around noon. Enjoy your day, as well.

>101 karenmarie: Yeah, I just don't like trying to navigate an umbrella and a cart at the same time. Pushing a cart one handed is very difficult and also painful with CT.

I have a nephew whose birthday is on June 30th, so we usher June in and out. *smile*

Oh, complete bummer about the first vacuum. What a pain. Luckily, ours has no damage.

>102 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Friday! Have fun with Jack - I know you will. We are planning on our usual Friday Mexican takeaway, so I am looking forward to that. And we have Griffin today - he is currently napping. Probably resting up for when Craig gets home - he is nuts about Craig, and it is is cute how excited both of them get to see each other.

Today is my favorite day - Friday. Planning to do some organizing in my closet, which needs help and in our huge bathroom built-in cabinet thingy. I need to find a system that works for me so that I will actually keep it up. Mexican Takeaway for lunch, and I cannot wait. Abby wants us to play her new game she got for Christmas - the Jaws board game by Ravensburger. I bought it as soon as I found it because last year Abby watched all of the Jaws movies several times and also talked Craig and I into watching Megaladon with her. I love finding gifts that kind of encapsulate the year like that. Anyway, I hope it's fun; if not, it was still a funny gift.

On the reading front, yesterday I listened to some more of One Good Turn and read in Snow which is getting more interesting, so I'm going to continue for now. If I haven't finished it and it's not grabbing me by the end of the month, then I am going to set it aside.

Also, I have a new favorite candy bar:

>100 Crazymamie: Signing on to the order of seasons group (even though my b'day is in December).

>104 Crazymamie: Mmmm. I love dark chocolate. And ganache. And hearts. That looks delightful.

I just ordered a passel of Girl Scout cookies, though, so I will resist for now.

>104 Crazymamie: - I bought myself a Godiva advent calendar last year, and several of the candies were dark chocolates with chocolate ganache. Mmmmmm.

>105 RebaRelishesReading: Hooray, Reba!

>106 rosalita: I understand, Julia. Just something to keep in mind for when the Girl Scout cookies are all gone.

>107 katiekrug: These are totally delightful, Katie. The Publix has them on the end cap at the checkout, so I reward myself with one when I do the marketing.

As a Spring baby, I always order the seasons Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. I;d be hard pressed to pick a favourite though. Probably Summer if forced to it.

Hi, Mamie. I got detritus. That's it. Just failed, broken shards. Bah! Also too, yesterday marked one year since my soul mate died.

Hooray for lazy days and food memoirs. :) Happy Friday.

I'm back from a luckily-short internet outage. I wrote two book reviews on my phone, and posted them to my blog...I want dark-chocolate-with-gianduia treats as my reward, please and thank you.

Other than that...well...that's kinda enough for old-man me. *smooch*

Oooh, Godiva is SO GOOD. They used to have a store close to us but apparently they've recently closed down *all* their in-person shops. Heartbreaking. They had blended frozen drinks that were amazing.

Hey Mamie, I just got an email about Penguin's (new?) "On The Road" podcast, and it's about Orwell and 1984. So I thought I'd post the link in case it was interesting.
https://smarturl.it/ontheroadpc

>82 Crazymamie: Love the photo Mamie.

I too didn't get on with Snow and pearl ruled it. I've liked other of his books, it could have been a mood thing.

I shall Nobly Refrain from mentioning the voluminous thermally unexcited precipitation that drifts outside my windows as I type.

Snowyday orisons!

...oh...oops

>109 Helenliz: Something for everyone, Helen. When the kids were little, I loved summer more because it meant I got to see more of them. And that's usually took family vacations.

>110 weird_O: I'm sorry about he detritus, Bill. And the anniversary of one year without your soul mate - I think the first year is the toughest when you lose someone you love so much, but it will never not hurt. And it shouldn't because that's the price you pay for love. I am sending you my very best mojo and holding you close in my heart. *Bear hug* Keeping you in my thoughts, Oh Weird One.

>111 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. Friday delivered its usual dose of magic.

>112 richardderus: Oof to no internet - glad it was short lived. I don't know how you wrote those reviews on your phone - I just cannot use my phone for that type of thing. Good choice of the dark chocolate and hazelnuts - I have big love for hazelnuts. You're not that old. *smooch back*



>113 scaifea: I did not know that they had closed all their in-person shops. Sadness. I never had any of their frozen drinks, but I used to buy their coffee beans which were decadent.

>114 charl08: Charlotte, thanks so much for that! I'm off to check it out next!

>115 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline! Abby has taken some photos full of gorgeous of that pecan grove - that's the view from our back deck.

It makes me feel better to realize that I am not alone in not loving Snow. I'm thinking it is going to end up being set aside by me - several things about it bother me, and the story is just not grabbing me. The main character is so self-centered and his love/need to possess a woman that he finds beautiful but seems to have no interest in actually knowing is angry making. How is that love?

>116 richardderus: Snow! *sigh* I'm glad someone is in the midst of it. Stay warm, dear one!

'Morning, Mamie, and happy Saturday to you. I hope everybody at the Pecan Paradisio is doing well.

Morning, Mamie! It's still snowing here. Wish I could share some with you :)

>120 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Happy Saturday! Everyone is doing as well as they can. Craig's mom has had another TIA episode and is not doing well, so he is headed to Florida.

>121 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! Me, too, with the snow sharing - that would be so full of fabulous.

>118 Crazymamie: *drool* sheer perfection. Thanks!

>123 richardderus: You are most welcome.

I'm sorry to hear that, Mamie. Safe travels to Craig and I hope his mom is improving even as I write this.

Hi Mamie! Happy New Year! I'm late the party, and not so fashionably. I hope all is well with you and yours. Have a great reading year with lots of happy surprises.

>118 Crazymamie: Santa always puts me two or three bags of Godiva coffee in my stocking every year - so good!

>125 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen. I honestly don't have much sympathy for her - she refuses to go to a hospital or to get any medical help, and she won't use a wheelchair. She is making everyone around her miserable so that she can have what she wants.

>126 brodiew2: Hello, Brodie! Happy New Year! Thank you for those kind words and good wishes.

>127 scaifea: Clever Santa. I need to mention that to the universe. Out Loud.

11. When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs (GN) - 3.75 stars - recommended by Vivienne

This is a GN written about the Cold War during the Cold War. An older couple are preparing for an atomic bomb attack, and they are following the advice given on government pamphlets. The wife is more concerned about her daily household chores and her husband is taking the advise very literally. They have already survived the Blitz in their younger years, so it does not occur to them that they won't survive this. After the bomb hits, they do not recognize the signs of radiation poisoning. It's bleak and dark with charming artwork and protagonists who do not realize the severity of what has happened. The juxtaposition of the artwork versus the message is effective.



12. One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson - reread - 4 stars

This was a reread for me, but it was my first time listening to it. Audio is a great way to revisit these books. What's interesting about this series of audiobooks is that each one is narrated by a different person. This one, which is the second book in the Jackson Brodie series, was excellently narrated by Steven Crossley. Not your typical mysteries - Atkinson is brilliant at putting multiple stories in motion and then deftly weaving their story lines together throughout the book. In the end, you get the final click of everything falling into place. I just love how she writes and the characters she creates. Next up is When Will There Be Good News.



13. Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones - recommended by Richard

This is a horror story that starts out as a prank gone bad. It's a novella, so I don't want to give anything away, but I'll just say that you think you know where it is going and then it surprises you. I read Jones' My Heart is a Chainsaw last year, and gave it the full five stars. I want to read All The Things he has written.

Morning, Mamie! Happy Sunday. This will be our packing day but I hope to get in some reading and plenty of football. I will be out of touch for a while but you know I will be back and hopefully with lots of photos.

Morning, Mamie. That is annoying about your MIL but why am I not surprised? *eye roll*

Yay for Jackson Brodie! I still have the most recent one to read - I had a vague idea of re-reading the first four but I'm not sure that will ever happen. Maybe I could just re-read #4...

>129 Crazymamie: Ooh, this makes me happy. Since I read the one by him this month, I definitely have Jones on my radar.

>130 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday. Good luck with the packing. I cannot wait to hear all about your trip - I'm hoping it is full of fabulous. And birds. You will be missed, my friend.

>131 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! Yes, it is - she is a pain in the *ss.

I still have the newest one to read, too - I have been hoarding it. I reread the first one last year, and now I am going to read right through the series and finally let myself indulge in the last book. I have it on audio narrated by Jason Isaacs - how fabulous is that?!

>132 ursula: Ursula, I have The Only Good Indians in the stacks along with Mapping the Interior. I spent my teenage years watching slasher movies, so he speaks to me. Heh.

‘Morning, Mamie!

>128 Crazymamie: Ah. False pride and just miserable old age. Bill’s Mama had bouts of that – bouts only, fortunately – but the ones she had were doozies. Poor Craig.

Wishing you all a fabulous Sunday, Mamie.

I am so blessed with my MIL. Wonderful woman. Has always taken my part every time I am in dispute with SWMBO, even when I'm really in the wrong (which is most oftentimes the case), is a wonderful cook and has always been there to help us if we have needed her. Has a great sense of humour too.

>129 Crazymamie: When the Wind Blows is sad isn't it? I have several of Raymond Briggs graphic novels. Ethel and Ernest, covering his own parents' lives, is well worth a read as well. And I love his Father Christmas.

>134 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Yep. This is not a bout, it's a lifestyle choice.

>135 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. The taking your part every time over that of her daughter's even when you are in the wrong would be a deal breaker for me, but I am happy that you have a good relationship with your MIL. I did learn a very valuable lesson from mine - how NOT to be a MIL.

>136 SandDune: It is, Rhian. I had only read his The Snowman before, and then Vivienne reviewed his Father Christmas and mentioned When the Wind Blows, so I ordered both. I loved Father Christmas, which I read first but did not count as it is so short. I will look for Ethel and Ernest - thanks!

>137 Crazymamie: Of course we never got into a big enough fight that my MIL's support really mattered. I am sure that certain high crimes and misdemeanours would not keep her on my side.

My sister seems to have a similar relationship with her MIL as you unfortunately have with yours. I suspect though that in her case, unlike your own, the MIL has more cause for complaint against my pitbull of a sister.

>135 PaulCranswick: I smiled at this Paul, is it perhaps the expectation in her culture for her generation that the male is always right (even when he is wrong), if so no doubt SWMBO must spit bricks ha.

>139 PaulCranswick: Fair enough. I work very hard to keep my opinions to myself unless asked for them. I always felt judged by Craig's mom, which I did not understand - we are two very different people so why would we make the same decisions? But, and this is key, if I had known that we were going to be enemies, then I would not have wasted so many years trying to make her happy.

>140 Caroline_McElwee: Yep.

>140 Caroline_McElwee: No Caroline, I think she does it just to wind up her usually bad tempered daughter. Hani completely rules the roost at home and I am only in charge when I have her permission to say so. Her mum who was probably even more bad tempered with her own kids overlooks that entirely in the case of her Son in Law and grandchildren and that irritates the daughter as much as it jollifies the Son in law.

>141 Crazymamie: Judgemental people are the worst, Mamie, especially when that judgement is coming from a place of pre-conceived prejudice.
All joking to one side about my MIL as she has given Hani and I a very good example in terms of making the two of us get along together. She is one of five sisters (my MIL) and the only one who never divorced and she certainly inculcated that sense of loyalty and importance of a stable family on Hani.

>143 PaulCranswick: Your MIL sounds like a character - I mean this in the best possible way.

>144 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie. She is. xx

>129 Crazymamie: *preens*

Attack of the 50-Foot Indian is probably my least favorite of his work I've read. Even that amused me, though.

Please, please get Mongrels on your readar!!

*smooch*

Hoping Craig doesn't get too much grief. The less said about my MIL, the better. She brings out the worst in my husband.

>145 PaulCranswick: *smile* xx

>146 richardderus: Making a note of that, Richard. I will get to Mongrels next just because you asked so nicely. *smooch back*

>147 Helenliz: I hear you, Helen. He will be headed home later today as he has a full office schedule this week.

Happy Sunday, Mamie! Sorry to hear about Craig's mom and hope he has safe travels.

>149 bell7: Happy Sunday, Mary. And thank you.

Morning, Mamie! Anything on the agenda for The Week's Worst Day?

Morning, Katie! I need to pick up a hold from the library (To the End of the Land) and make up a grocery list. Abby's birthday is Wednesday, and so I plan to go to the grocery tomorrow to pick up a chocolate ganache cake so I can put it in the fridge so we can eat it cold for breakfast on Wednesday morning. Other than the list making, I plan on doing some laundry and some cleaning. Pretty exciting stuff, I know. Other than that I hope to read and also think about my February reading goals. Dinner is Get Your Own.

>152 Crazymamie: - Nothing too taxing, I am glad to see :)

>153 katiekrug: Exactly.

Hi, Mamie.

Nice review of One Good Turn. I do love the “click into place” with her, and Jackson. Do you suppose Mark’s grandson was named after him?

I hope all is well at the Pecan Paradisio.

>155 jnwelch: Hello, Joe! Thank you. I am guessing not with Mark's grandson since Jack is a family name, but it is a lovely thought. I myownself have an Uncle Jack - my Dad's only living brother. He was the baby of the family of nine siblings.

All is well here today - we have the windows and the French doors open as it's currently 63F and gorgeous.

>156 Crazymamie: I am delighted that it's such a gorgeous Mmmday there, Mamie! I'm possessed of slush outside. Inside, not so much. I'm callin' it a win.

*smooch*

>157 richardderus: Definitely a win with the slush inside not so much. You made me laugh! *smooch back*

Smoochling! I just found out this podcast, The Deckle Edge Podcast! You need to know about it. Very cool: https://thedeckleedge.com/2022/01/31/brendan-slocumb/

That's the author of The Violin Conspiracy's episode.

>159 richardderus: Thanks so much for that link - I will check it out. LOVE the name!

Morning, Mamie! Nothing of import to say (but when do I ever?) :)

>161 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! I'll take interesting over important every time, and you're always interesting.

My new thread starts with a redbud tree, he tempted Mamie....

'Morning, Mamie!

Like Katie, nothing of import to say.

Since it isn't noon yet, I can say Good Morning, Mamie. :-)

Made it into February. Today's the Lunar New Year, and I am told by DiL the Younger that I should eat dumplings. So I'll get some take-out to feast upon.

>165 weird_O: I'd like to sell the family on a dumpling dinner, but I picked up Filipino food including dumplings on Saturday and we had Indonesian food last night. Well I can make TJs chicken cilantro won ton all spiced up for lunch.

>163 richardderus: I'll be right over!

>164 karenmarie: Afternoon, Karen! Like Katie, you are always interesting which beats important in my book.

>165 weird_O: Afternoon, Bill! The grocery store ate up my morning, so I am late getting back to the threads. Take-out is always an excellent option. Hoping your dumplings are full of delicious.

>166 quondame: I wish I had access to all the takeaway options that you have, Susan. Sounds most yum.

>167 Crazymamie: I have sacrificed much (major exaggeration) to stay within pork chop defrosting distance of all the food.

>168 quondame: Good thinking on your part. I must put this plan into place when Craig retires and we move.

Morning, Mamie!

14. Pulp by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips (Artist), Jacob Phillips (Artist) (GN) - 4 stars, recommended by Charlotte

The Amazon Blurb:

"Max Winters, a pulp writer in 1930s New York, finds himself drawn into a story not unlike the tales he churns out at five cents a word―tales of a Wild West outlaw dispensing justice with a six-gun. But will Max be able to do the same when pursued by bank robbers, Nazi spies, and enemies from his past? "

I have loved everything I have read by Ed Brubaker, and this one is no exception. The artwork perfectly compliments the story line, and Max Winters is an interesting character. I wish there had been more of it. A huge thanks to Charlotte for bringing it to my attention.





*this was my final book for January

>170 katiekrug: Morning, Katie!

I am very happy with my January reading:

January Reads:
1. Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots - recommended by Richard
2. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (GN)
3. Kim by Rudyard Kipling, narrated by Madhav Sharma
4. The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett, narrated by Indiram Varma - reread
5. The Kiss Murder by Mehmet Murat Somer
6. Good Talk by Mira Jacob (GN)
7. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
8. The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606 by James S. Shapiro
9. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
10. Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl
11. When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs (GN)
12. One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson - reread
13. Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones - recommended by Richard
14. Pulp by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips (Artist), Jacob Phillips (Artist) (GN) - recommended by Charlotte

Library books: 4
Off my shelves: 10

Audiobooks: 3
Hardback: 3
Paperback: 2
Digital: 6

Asian Reading Challenge: 1
American Author Challenge: 3
British Author Challenge: 2

Authors new to me: 7
Female authors: 7
Male authors: 7

Translations: 0
Non-fiction: 4
Fiction: 10

I had two 5 star reads this month - Good Talk and The Secret Garden (a childhood favorite).

I had two rereads - The Secret Garden and One Good Turn.

I had two books I chose not to finish - Snow (this wasn't working for me) and Kidnapped (this was a reread, and while I didn't remember it at all when I started, it came back to me part way through and I decided to use my time to read something else).

>173 Crazymamie: - Nice!

>174 katiekrug: Thank you, Thank you.

>171 Crazymamie:. Oh, great to see, Mamie. I thought Pulp (can’t find the touchstone!) was excellent. Ed Brubaker and sean Phillips are my favorite GN team. They did Fade Out and a bunch of other good ones. I just finished their My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies, which was sad, dark and awfully good.

Hey Mamie! Pulp sounds really good. I'll put in a request at my library.

>176 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! I loved The Fade Out and Velvet. In fact, I might reread both of those this year. I have not read My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies, so I'll add that one to The List. Thanks, my friend!

>177 Carmenere: Hooray, Lynda! Congrats to your Bengals, by the way.

I forgot to mention, Mamie, if you're interested in a group read of Winesburg, I've posted this https://www.librarything.com/topic/339258#n7745832

>180 Carmenere: Oh, thanks for that - I am definitely in.

I'm really excited for the Bengals, they are mine because they represent Ohio but I'm still waiting and hoping the Browns will one day appear in their first Super Bowl.

>181 Crazymamie: Yay!!

>182 Carmenere: I would love to see that, too, Lynda. I love to root for the underdog - gets me every time.

Some Browns fans and so unworthy of success. Baker Mayfield plays injured for half the season but still puts out a decent record yet they mumble it's time to trade him. What?! and start all over.
This happened to two particular coaches we had that when on to win Super Bowls for other teams. Memories are indeed short.

I hear you! I'm still made about the Colt's owner getting rid of Peyton Manning when he was not recovering fast enough. Ended up getting rid of a bunch of veteran players that had been with the team for ages and had served it well. Such a load of crap.

Absolutely, a HUGE load.

>173 Crazymamie: A great month, Mamie, and very good reading in it!

*smooch*

>173 Crazymamie: I should think you would, indeed, be happy with that reading. Congratulations!

Mamie me lurve, your taste for letters of the literary needs a little feeding. The Kindle edition of The Letters of Sylvia Plath Volume 2 is on sale for $1.99 until 1 March! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075WRB1CR/

>187 Carmenere: Yeppers.

>188 richardderus: Thanks, BigDaddy! *smooch back*

>189 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba!

>190 richardderus: Snagged it! Thanks so much!

Happy hump day, Mamie! Love your January stats, and here's hoping that February is just as good or even better.

>192 bell7: Thank you, Mary! And what an excellent wish - much appreciated.

Hi Mamie, and happy Thursday to you.

>173 Crazymamie: Congrats on an excellent reading month. You really mixed it up.

>194 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Sweet Thursday, as Mark would say. Thank you on the reading front. I need to be sure to hit some of my categories that I missed last month like translations and some of the lists I am trying to read from, but I was very pleased with January.

Oof! I had this whole big post typed out and then managed to lose it before posting it.

You had a great month of reading in January, Mamie, and good job reading from your shelves!

Yesterday was Abby's 26th birthday. We are all getting together for lunch on Saturday, but we had some celebrating going on yesterday as well. Started with chocolate ganache cake cold from the fridge and hazelnut coffee to go with for breakfast - delicious! Birdy and Rae gave her their gifts - Birdy got her all of the Jaws movies on DVD. Abby has watched all of these multiple times when she binged watched them last year, and then was sad when they took them off of the streaming service, so now she can watch them whenever she wants. Rae gave her the newest Pokemon game that just came out. Last night all of the girls were playing it together (Birdy and Rae bought their own copies so they could all play at once). So fun to see them still enjoying something that was such a huge part of their childhood. Pokemon still holds zero appeal for me, but I love that they all love it. Too bad noise cancelling headphones were not around back in the day when they were watching all of the movies. Heh. I could really have used them then.

On the reading front, I started The Last Summer by Richarda Huch - it's an epistolary novel, and it was a book bullet from either Helen or Charlotte. I did not make a note, which is unusual for me. I was lacking in translations in January, so I want to make up for that this month. It fits the CATWoman theme of Women in Translation and will work for the TIOLI challenge involving touchstones. Go me! I really have too many books going on Kindle right now, but oh well. Yesterday I also listened to more of When Will There Be Good News? - a reread as I am making my way back through the Jackson Brodie books before finally reading the latest book. Also, and this has me shaking my head at myself, I am contemplating reading Bleak House. I know. I KNOW. But they were reading it is serial form in the episode of Dickinson that Abby and I were watching, and I missed all the references because it's one I haven't read. SO, yeah.

We did Country Captain for dinner last night, so tonight is Get Your Own. We watched an episode of Cold Case and an episode of Columbo, and then everyone went to bed and I stayed up watching several episodes of Schitt's Creek - I am almost out of episodes, which is a sadness. LOVE this show.

>197 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! I am really trying to read more from my own shelves this year. Two of those were also acquired just this year, but that still leaves me with eight from my shelves that were acquired prior to this year.

>198 Crazymamie: Happy birthday, Abby! It sounds like the birthday pregame was a rousing success. "Chocolate ganache cake cold from the fridge" sounds utterly delightful!

>200 rosalita: Julia, it was a day full of fabulous! We had cold cake and coffee again this morning, and it was just as yum. Abby says thank you for those birthday wishes - most appreciated.

Sounds like a very good birthday for Abby - well deserved!

I was also sad when I got near the end of 'Schitt's Creek.' My BFF immediately began a re-watch when she finished it...

>202 katiekrug: It was, Katie.

Right?! I could see me just starting it over again, too. I really love the season two finale, and we have watched that one multiple times because it is just SO good. Even the music is perfect.

So we just found out that Abby has been approved to stay on our insurance for another year!!! Thank you all so much for the LT bump - I know that all the positive energy worked its magic.

>203 Crazymamie: - I love David's eye roll and reluctant "Love you, too" at the end :)

>204 Crazymamie: - That's great news! Is that the max extension or do you have to re-apply every year?

>205 katiekrug: Yes! SO much emotion in that short statement.

I am guessing we will have to re-apply every year. Her primary care physician indicated that she might be able to be employed eventually depending on her response to treatment, so maybe in a few years. I feel like that is fair - she is going to help us look into places that specialize in CRPS because, shocker I know, Albany doesn't have any. I would love if we could get her more good days.

Happiest of birthdays to Abby, and that's such great news about the insurance!!

>198 Crazymamie: Happy birthday to Abby, and yay re the insurance >204 Crazymamie:.

Never got into Pokemon either. Not a games kinda gal.

>204 Crazymamie: That is excellent news! Yay Abby! Yay Mamiemommy!

*smooch*

>207 scaifea: Thank you, Amber! We are over the moon with happiness and relief. Abby thanks you for those birthday wishes.

>208 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline! I love games, but that is not one that calls to me. I am more of a boardgames type, but I do love Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon and Zelda.

>209 richardderus: Thank you, Richard! *smooch back* One less thing we have to worry about, and I am very thankful for that.

>204 Crazymamie: Hooray! That's really good news. Also glad to hear her doctor thinks I may be able to get some improvement in her condition. Fingers crossed that you find a specialist and it helps.

>198 Crazymamie: What a wonderful celebration. Siblings getting along is a real blessing and a tribute to their parents. All my best wishes to Abby and the rest of your family.

>204 Crazymamie: Another thing to celebrate. What a load off your mind that must be.

Woo hoo for the insurance win! That's wonderful news.
And happy birthday Abby!

Only 160+ posts behind and no chance of catching up, Mamie, so I will just say "Have a great rest of your week!"

Happy birthday to Abby! Celebrating with you about the insurance news as well. Hooray!

>204 Crazymamie: Fabulous! It shouldn't be so hard to get such a common sense decision, but at least the good guys won this time.

Also sending good vibes that Abby can find a specialist to help with long-term treatment.

I'll happily take a part shares book bullet, I read it in 2019. Although I think autocorrect has a hand in your author name: Ricarda Huch, not Richard! >:-)

Excellent news on the insurance.

Happy birthday to Abby.

>204 Crazymamie: That is great news, Mamie, so glad Abby can stay on your insurance for a next year.

And belated happy birthday to Abby!

>213 lauralkeet: Thank you, Laura! It's a load off, that's for sure.

>214 alcottacre: I'll take it, Stasia! Thanks for stopping in. I hope you and Kerry are feeling much better.

>215 bell7: Thank you, Mary! It's very happy making.

Hi Mamie and happy Friday to you.

>198 Crazymamie: Belated happy birthday to Abby. Yay for chocolate gnache cake and hazelnut coffee, Jaws on DVD, and the newest Pokemon game. Jenna loved Pokemon when she was young and we still have some of the cards and toys around the house somewhere.

>199 Crazymamie: Heh. Country Captain. I have a friend who calls it Captain Chicken…

>204 Crazymamie: I’m so happy that Abby can stay on your insurance for another year! Congrats. All that hard work paid off.

>210 Crazymamie: One less thing we have to worry about, and I am very thankful for that. I know – sometimes life is just a series of getting through the worrisome things and finding/creating a few happy things.

>216 rosalita: So true, Julia, and well said. And thanks so much for those good vibes. It feels really nice to finally be getting some good news.

>217 Helenliz: Stupid autocorrect - you are right, and I distinctly remember correcting that once but it also did not like the last name. I have fixed it now, and thank you for pointing it out to me.

Your kind words and good wishes are most appreciated!

>218 FAMeulstee: Thank you so much, Anita!

Belated happy birthday to Abby!

>220 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Happy Friday!

Good wishes and kind words are always a balm, so thank you for that.

Captain Chicken made me laugh!

I feel very relieved and very lucky that we were able to get all of our ducks in a row so that Abby can stay on our insurance. Magic.

"...sometimes life is just a series of getting through the worrisome things and finding/creating a few happy things." Yes. This.

>222 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

Happy weekend-ahead's reads! *smooch*

>225 richardderus: Thank you, kindly! *smooch back**

Adding my Happy Birthday wishes for Abby, and my congratulations on the great insurance news. I remember how happy we were when we found out we could keep our kids (particularly our health-challenged daughter) on our insurance longer.

>227 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe! Much appreciated. The insurance thing is HUGE to us - it feels like a gift.

Good afternoon, Mamie! I hope things are going well at the Pecan Paradisio.

How do, smoochling. I'm sure I've got SOMEthing interesting to say but for the life of me I can't dredge it out.

>229 karenmarie: Afternoon, Karen! We are enjoying a lovely Saturday at the Pecan Paradisio. Daniel came over for lunch (takeaway pizza), and we did Abby's birthday again - this time she got gifts from Daniel and Kaitlyn and from Craig and me. Birdy made 7 layer bars, and we served them warm from the oven with vanilla ice cream. Kaitlyn had to work, so she is coming over on Monday to spend time with Abby.

>230 richardderus: You are always full of interesting even when you just say How do. *smooch*

>231 Crazymamie: Sounds like a lovely Saturday, Mamie. Hope that the rest of the weekend is just as good.

>232 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul - the whole day was lovely. Just planning on taking today as it comes, but hoping to snag a chunk of reading time this afternoon.