Mary (Storeetllr) Reads: Spring 2022

I really enjoy my daughter's sense of humor


Ladybug on Seedheads - watercolor (by me)

Books Read

April

23. A Comedy of Terrors by Lindsey Davis. 4 stars. Audio.

24. The Silver Pigs, a BBC Drama by Lindsey Davis. 4 stars. Audio.

25. Doc by Mary Doria Russell. 5 stars. Audio. Reread/listen.

26. Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi. 4.5 stars. Kindle.

27. Shadows in Bronze by Lindsey Davis. 4.5 stars. Audio. Re-listen.

28. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. 3 stars. Audio.

29. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel. 4.5 stars. Audio.

30. Clean Sweep (Dramatized Adaptation) by Ilona Andrews.

31. Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker. 3.5 stars. Audio.

32. FALCO: The Complete BBC Radio Collection
by Lindsey Davis. 4.5 stars.

33. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. 3 stars. Audio and Kindle.

May

34. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V. E. Schwab (Audio), 4 stars.

35. Sweep in Peace (Dramatized Adaptation) by Ilona Andrews. Audio. 4.5 stars. Book 2 in the Innkeeper Chronicles.

36. When She Dreams by Amanda Quick. 3 stars. Audio.

37. The Great Influenza by John M. Barry (reccied by, I think, Richard). 3.5 stars. Audio.

38. The Lost Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland. 4.5 stars. Audio.

39. Working for Bigfoot by Jim Butcher. 3.5 stars. Three short stories from the Dresden files.

40. The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker. 4 stars. Audio. Second in the Bruno, Chief of Police series reccied by Joanne.

41. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Armin. 4.5 stars. Audio.

42. When Blood Lies by C.S. Harris. 3 stars. Audio. I hated the reader - not Davina Porter, who's been doing these historical mysteries and very well but someone named Jenny Sterlin - and did not find the story or the mystery compelling, except for a few pages relatively far into the story that literally left me breathless. But the mystery made no sense, or not much sense, and, as I said, listening to the reader wasn't conducive to a pleasant experience.

I just spent a half hour mini-reviewing two books, and something happened with this damn laptop that disappeared all that I had written. I've run out of time and patience, so I'll just get down the titles and ratings and hope I have time and inclination to recreate my reviews later. (SO angry.)

43. Curious Toys by Elizabeth Hand. 4 stars. Audio. Recommended by Judy (DeltaQueen).

44. An Easy Death, Dramatized Adaptation by Charlaine Harris. 4.5 stars. Graphic Audio.

45. A Longer Fall, Dramatized Adaptation by Charlaine Harris. 4.5 stars. Graphic Audio.

June

46. One Fell Sweep, Dramatized Adaptation by Ilona Andrews. 4.5 stars. The Graphic Audio of Book 3 in the Innkeepers Chronicles continues to be wonderful. I read these books a few years ago and really enjoyed them, but these dramatized adaptations bring them to life brilliantly.

47. Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst. 4.5 stars. Audio. MONSTER RACING! (Need I say more? Oh, okay, then I will.) So, there's this world where, when people die, they are reincarnated. If they are good, decent people, they come back as fluffy bunnies and beautiful songbirds and the like. If they aren't so nice, they come back as dung beetles or slugs. If they are particularly enlightened, they return as a human being. Conversely, if they are evil, they return as deadly monsters. Kehoks might have the head of a crocodile and the body of a panther or be lion-like and covered with black metal scales, and their primary burning desire in life is to destroy and kill. They're cursed to reincarnate forever as kehoks - unless they win the final race and become champions. Three unlikely women - a frivolous aristrocrat, an ex-champion rider who is a failed trainer, and a desperate young runaway - together with a gifted young girl team up to win the big race with one unusual monster and save themselves and their country. Yes, it's fantasy, a glorious, multi-layered fantasy with great characters, good dialogue, wonderful world building, a rich social order, and - have I mentioned? - monsters! I would have liked a bit more in the way of explanation for some of the way of that world, but it wasn't necessary to enjoy the story, just for the contemplation of it after finishing. As one of the book blurbs summarizes it: it's National Velvet with monsters and a big helping of palace intrigue. NB: slightly reminiscent of The Scorpio Races, which I loved, in that there was monster racing in that book too. (reccied by @drop.everything.and.read - on IG)

48. Even Greater Mistakes: Stories by Charlie Jane Anders. 3.5 stars. Audio. It's a short story collection, so, as usual, some of the stories were more enjoyable/memorable than others. Turns out, some of them were things I'd already read before. I'd probably have enjoyed this collection more if the readers sounded less like they were reading YA romcoms. In other words, I think it would have been better read as text on my Kindle. Also, many of the stories felt unfinished somehow. Still, though Anders isn't an author whose work I search for, it was worth a read. (reccied by Richard)

49. The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison. 4.5 stars. Audio. Escaped being a 5 star read only because either it ended on a cliffhanger or the ending was too sad for me to bear. (Actually, I was crying toward the end, in part from the sweetness of one of the scenes (Richard, you might actually like this, though I don't know if you like fantasies), and then it ended and I was still crying, but not because it was a sweet, happy ending. I don't know how I'm going to stand waiting for the next installment. There BETTER be a next installment. Oh, yes, and also because Maia didn't make even a cameo, though he was mentioned in passing. Anyway, this is the 2nd in the Thera Celehar series, set in the world of The Goblin Emperor, one of my top books of this year. In this one, Celehar has an apprentice Witness for the Dead, a mature widow who came to her gift suddenly when she touched the cheek of her dead husband. One of their cases involved nasty goings on at a home for foundlings, and involves a the headmistress, a disreputable photographer, and his vicious brother. Lots going on, and one somewhat unbelievable coincidence involving the Hill of Werewolves. I loved it.

50. First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough. 4.5 stars. Unabridged audio. I read this centuries ago (well, back in the '90s) when it first came out and loved it then. I love it as much, if not more, now as an audiobook. What a lot of nomen cognomen to remember, not to mention the strange names of the barbarians and their tribes, but so worth it. The first in the series about the last days of the Roman Republic (shades of the U.S.!), it features Marius and Sulla, Julia (Marius' wife) and Aurelia (Julius Caesar's mother), and a cast of literally hundreds of secondary and tertiary characters, and tells the story of the beginning of the end of the republic. Can't wait until the unabridged audio of The Grass Crown (second in the series) comes out.

51. Street Smart: An Autumn Rain Mystery: Imprints by Teyla Branton. 4 stars. Kindle. Light and, yes, fun, this slightly paranormal mystery thriller has a touch of romance but no sex scenes. In this one, Autumn Rain is asked by a distraught biker to find his wife who disappeared from their home the night before while he was at work, leaving her cellphone, purse, and keys at home. Concurrently, Autumn's fiancé - homicide detective Shannon Martin - has what looks like a serial murder case on his hands, one going back at least 10 years and involving three women with local ties, one of which is to the biker whose wife has disappeared.

Currently Reading

Astroquizzical by Jillian Scudder. Kindle.
Nightwork by Nora Roberts. Audio.
How Fascism Works by Jason Stanley. Audio. (reccied by Richard)

Next Up

On the Pile

Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell

On Hold/Wishlist

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Audio.
Blinded: an Autumn Rain Mystery by Teyla Branton. Kindle.
Afro Puffs Are the Antennae of the Universe by Zig Zag Claybourne. Kindle.

Want to Read

The Forest People by Colin Turnbull. Kindle.
The Lark and the Wren by Mercedes Lackey. Kindle.
Trust by Herman Diaz. Audio.
Rambunctious Garden by Emma Marris. Kindle.
The Word Hord by Hans Videen. (I may not be able to read this as there isn't a MOBI version so I'd have to read it on the computer, which I hate. Really annoying.)
Racism, Not Race by Joseph L. Graves. Reccied by Richard

DNF

In the Shadow of Gotham by Stephanie Pintoff. Kindle. Ran out of time.
Book of Night by Holly Black. Audio. Didn't enjoy so pearl-ruled it at Chapter 6.
Old in Art School by Nell Painter - It's read by the author. She really should have paid someone to read it. I don't know why authors think they are the best people to read their books. So far, I've only read two authors who do a good job reading their own books: Neil Gaiman and Stephen King (On Writing only)
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich - Too depressing and I just couldn't get into it.
Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon - Just too depressing and I didn't care.
Chouette by Claire Oshetsky. Audio. It started so slowly and weirdly, with characters I couldn't warm to, that I didn't feel compelled to pick it back up after I stopped listening to sleep, and then I ran out of time. I may try again another time.
Blue Skinned Gods by SJ Sindu. Audio. I read up to Book 2, Chapter 1, but as far as I could tell, though the writing was lovely, it was about a boy abused by religious grifter parents, and it just didn't grab me. Maybe I'll try again another time when I'm feeling more upbeat and less stressed.
Widdershins by Jordan L. Hawk. Kindle. Ran out of time. Also, I had just finished a Kindle book, and my eyes can only do so much reading these days. (This is not available as an audiobook, at least not that I can access anyway.)
Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar. Just couldn't work up the enthusiasm to go back to it after getting to Chapter 17. I had the same kind of issue with Mr. Mercedes which, after trying to read it 2x and just not being able to, tried one last time and boom! It was a favorite. So, perhaps I'll set this aside and try again another time.

Kids' Books Read With Kids

Welcome!

Happy new one, Mary. Love that topper. He looks so rapt, and I love her hair! :-)

*smooch*

Happy new thread!

I don't really miss the days of picking my daughter up at 9 or 10PM from play practice.

Lovely pictures to start thread.

Happy April, Mary! Happy New Thread! I LOVE the topper! ❤️ What precious grandkids. I also see you are rereading Doc. I am sure you are having a wonderful time with it. Sorry, The Sentence didn't work for you. I am planning to get to that one at some point.

>1 Storeetllr: love love love!

>7 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley! He loves watching her, it's true. I know he's going to be her little shadow. And, yeah, her hair is really something. Curls!

>8 richardderus: Smooches back, Richard!

>9 Karlstar: Right?!? Those days were rough sometimes, especially when I had to be up at 5:30 am to get ready for work.

>10 -pilgrim-: Thanks!

>11 msf59: Happy April to you too, Mark! So glad spring is just around the corner.

Doc is wonderful as an audiobook too. (First time I read the hardbound version. Here's the relevant part my review of it from December 2011 (my, how time flies!): Russell's well-researched, character-driven novel comes close to rivaling Lonesome Dove, my benchmark for historical fiction set in the American West. Recommended.)

I hope you enjoy The Sentence when you get to it.

>12 fuzzi: Aw, thanks, fuzzi!

So, my grandson is only a little over 6 months old. My daughter's getting nervous.

>15 Storeetllr: ...as well she might...he'll be cyber-wiring the Uber at age four the rate he's going....

>15 Storeetllr: Wow! Mine is nine months today and just achieved that stage of bear walking. I love your watercolor.

Beautiful art, Mary! And darling grands!

Happy new one!

>14 Storeetllr: loved Doc also!

>16 richardderus: *snort!* You might well be right!

>17 MrsLee: Thanks! So glad you like it. I find painting such a calming thing.

As far as Rowan goes, he seems to want to skip crawling altogether and get straight to walking. He's already pulling himself up on things. I think we're in a lot of trouble.

>18 Copperskye: Aw, thanks, Joanne!

>19 fuzzi: It's so good! Did you read Epitaph? I haven't been able to finish it. I just don't like the characters as much, and there's not enough of Doc in it. I haven't given up yet, though, and will try to finish it after I finish Doc.

Managed to find your thread, Mary and wanted to drop by and wish you well.

Your grandkids are gorgeous!

Love the new thread and pictures of the grands, Mary. It sure looks like Rowan is planning to take off early. My oldest (Sadie who is 20 now) started walking at 9 months and we thought that was early. She also fell a lot! I also enjoy seeing your art work. I can barely stay in the lines if I join the little ones in coloring so I appreciate your talent. My brother is the artist in my family.

I ended up liking The Sentence but I sure wasn't ready to read about Covid a few months ago when I read it. I'd better get over that, though, because I think it's going to be a popular topic in books for quite awhile.

P.S. Touchstone edit.

Lovely pics of your grandkids! And your art is so beautiful.

>15 Storeetllr: Aw, sweet. I am sure Jackson will get there soon. He still isn't crawling but as we know, things begin to move fast.

And hooray for Doc! Such an incredible gem.

>21 Storeetllr: I enjoyed Epitaph, but someone said to not bother with the last chapter. I read it anyway, big let down.

I'd still recommend it, with reservations.

Happy New Thread! Love the photos are the painting. Good luck with the young sprinter!

>22 PaulCranswick: Paul! Hi! So glad you found me! I'm being low-key on LT these days, but I do try to get around some. Not as much as I'd like, but it's still early days (in 2022). Thank you! They are that!

>23 Donna828: Thanks, Donna! Rowan had a rocky start (hospitalized at 2 weeks for a bacterial infection), but he's more than caught up. Nine months IS early. I just hope Rowan waits that long.

I didn't get to the covid part of The Sentence. I don't really want to read fiction about it yet either. Too much real life stuff already.

I love painting. And I seldom stay inside the lines - it's almost impossible to do with watercolor. I mean, you can, but it takes a LOT of effort and a steady hand. Which is really why I like watercolor. This is how I prefer to paint (no lines to worry about).



Edited to correct touchstone.

>24 Sakerfalcon: Thanks! Both grands and painting are such comforts to me!

>25 msf59: Rowan isn't crawling either, Mark. He seems to want to go straight to walking. We aren't encouraging it, but he's determined.

Yeah, Doc is a gem.

>26 fuzzi: Huh, I didn't know that about the final chapter of Epitaph. I have the audiobook and the hardbound book, but I have only tried the audio. Perhaps it's the reader, so when I try again, I'm going to read it in hardback.

>27 clamairy: Thanks, clam! We're going to need luck. And a lot of energy. Well, that's my daughter's department. I'm just there as backup, and to give grammy hugs.

Well, we had a bit of rain last night and my kitchen flooded (again). This time, part of my carpet got soaked. Ugh. I've been waiting for the kids to get on it and find someone to fix the leaks, but after last night's little adventure I took it on myself and called a masonry repair guy to fix the leaks in the foundation and a guy to clean the gutters (I went out last night and saw water pouring down right in front of my kitchen door, which is where the water was coming in from). Next I need to find a carpet guy who can come soon to suck up the water so I don't end up with mold. At least the flooding didn't reach my bookcases, and I managed to rescue a package of large sheets of very expensive watercolor paper just in time before the water got to it. THAT would have been tragic.


Splish-Splash

I got my gutters cleaned last year because of overflows from my neighbour's gutters. The communal down pipe had been blocking and we were getting a waterfall when there was heavy rain... Cleaning out my side helped as well as cleaning out and covering the gulley, but there's still a tendency to overflow.

Luckily, given our area, our house is around 3" above ground level so we have a low flood risk. We're in a floodable area, but the last flood was 1947 before the area was developed. The local flood defence scheme was upgraded at about the same time. It's one of the other roads we were considering that's been hit by recent flooding; all we've had since we've been here is giant puddles from blocked storm drains.

>32 Storeetllr: How awful. Hope you get it all cleaned up and taken care of soon. I also had water in my basement at one point, and didn't want that happening again. I got all of my gutters replaced last Fall and the new ones have leaf guards. I was having a lot of trouble with debris building up and clogging them. The new ones are much wider than the others, too.

>32 Storeetllr: Oh no! I'm so, so sorry. I hope it all gets done and soon.

>32 Storeetllr: That is dreadful. I hope it is sorted quickly and permanently.

Damnation! WHY does this kind of thing always happen on a weekend??!?

Thanks for your well-wishes, Maddz, clam, Richard, PGMCC. It will be okay, I know. Just a temporary setback that can be fixed. But it's days like this that I long even more for the arid climate of Southern Colorado.

BTW, I bought a couple of sandbag thingies and hope they will keep the water out of my kitchen and the laundry room which is flooding and sending water through the wall into my part of the basement. Yes, we are expecting more rain tonight. Oh, joy.

>33 Maddz: Yikes! You must live near a river or lake. I'm glad you didn't choose the location that actually floods!

>34 clamairy: I wish we could get our gutters replaced with those covered ones. As it is, from now on, I'm having the gutters cleaned 2x a year.

>35 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. Me too.

>36 pgmcc: It is pretty awful, but, as I keep telling myself, it's a 3 or 4 on the scale of awfulness others in the world today are having to deal with.

>38 Storeetllr: Yes, that road some of the houses had 2' of muddy, stinking water on Christmas Eve 2 years ago... The following winter they also got flooded. Last summer, the water company/county council cleared ditches in the area.

We live near the River Great Ouse on the edge of the fens so flooding is a fairly common occurrence here. The river flows through the town centre, and the town was at one time a riverport for smaller coastal vessels (sailing barges and the like).

>40 Maddz: It sounds a lovely spot - when it's not flooding. Glad the ditches got cleared. Sort of like my having the gutters cleared, only on a larger scale.

I bought sandbags (not real ones; these have some sort of polymer in them that suck up water) and placed them where we think the water's getting in. Of course, it hardly rained at all last night, but better to be prepared than more flooding. And it's sure to rain hard again soon. I mean, it's April after all.

>37 Storeetllr: I hope you can keep it contained and that it stops raining! Do you have a submersible or utility pump to remove the water if necessary?

>32 Storeetllr: I feel your pain about the leak, Mary. Ours came from a leaky connection in the 3rd story bathroom and ran down the wall all the way to the basement. We got the water turned off in a hurry and turned on lots of fans. I don't worry about mold, but I am still grieving the loss of books from a built-in bookcase in the family room that got drenched.
But, as you said, it is low on the 'awfulness' scale. Things can be replaced and damage can be fixed.

I too miss the arid Colorado climate, especially with humidity season coming up here in Southwest Missouri.

>42 Karlstar: No. Something to think about getting, but the flooding didn't get that bad, and we do have a sump pump. What I'm going to get, if we don't get the foundation leaks repaired (it's almost $6,000 for that) are a shop vac and an industrial fan. And I'm also looking at affordable senior apartments in the area. because I'm just too old for this.)

>43 Donna828: I was thinking of you, Donna, while dealing with the mess, and practiced gratitude that it did not ruin any books. It may have messed up my grandmother's vanity, though, which I just realized today. Apparently the damp carpet extended further than I'd thought - under the antique vanity. I hope it wasn't wet enough to damage the legs. I'm going to try and locate a handyman who can help me move stuff around so I can assess the full extent of the damage.

Oh, yes, Missouri is one of the most humid places I've ever been. (I used to spend summers in St. Louis with my grandma and uncle.) (It didn't bother me so much as a kid, but today I'd probably hate it.) I was surprised to find New York this humid and wet. I mean, it's not one of the things you picture when you think of NY.

The past few days have been stressful, so on Saturday I went and rewatched the entire Season 1 of Good Omens - which was absolutely delightful - and then watched a bit of Hitchhiker's Guide. Yes, it helped. So did the book I chose to read: Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi. Here's my mini-review:


What a fun scifi novel(la)! (It's short - only took me about 5 hours to finish it.) Just what I needed to uplift my spirits in the midst of the cleanup from The Great Flooded Carpet Incident of 2022. I know Scalzi isn't for everyone, and not every Scalzi is for every Scalzi fan, but this one is a standalone that I think everyone would enjoy. Really. No, it's not great literature with deep meaning and lots of literary references that makes you think deep thoughts, but that's what Russian literature is for. This is a well-written palate cleanser to read between heavier tomes. (I'd have given it 5 stars, except it's not, you know, great literature. I might change my mind.)

>46 Storeetllr: I have read and enjoyed The Dispatcher and Redshirts, but am not a huge Scalzian. I think I do best reading his shorter works, so I'll put this on the library list.

Wishing you a moldless, dry, and well-stocked readerly weekend. *smooch*

>46 Storeetllr: I do enjoy his work, so I will look for this to go on sale. (Or possibly borrow it from OverDrive.) I have qualms about paying $13.99 for the Kindle version of a novella.

>47 richardderus: Yes, I get that Scalzi isn't for everyone. Sometimes he's not even for me, and I like most of his work (Redshirts was my first Scalzi, and I liked it so much I went out searching for more. I know it's not everyone's favorite, but it worked for me. I guess I like that style of writing).

Thanks, I know I'm crossing my fingers and wishing real hard for a week of warm (sorry) and dry, at least until the carpet's completely dried out and the chance of mold is lessened. *smooch* to you too!

>48 clamairy: Yes, borrow it from Overdrive (unless you can get it on sale for $1.99 and then please let me know so I can get it too because I liked it enough I might want to reread it sometime).

Hi Mary. I feel your pain and in fact, know it well, unfortunately. I had 3 major basement floods within 18 months a few years back. Total basement rebuild after 2 of those times. Fingers crossed for you and wishing you dry weather for the foreseeable future (at least until things dry out!)

>50 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. It's not likely to stay dry, but I hope the gutter cleanout for which I just paid a (small) fortune works to keep water out of the area where the leaking is worst. ETA that and the sandbags we have piled up inside and outside the worst leaking area. We're also going to get another estimate for foundation repair, perhaps just in the worst area. Some of the smaller leaks along the other side of the house should be resolved by the work on the gutters and downspouts we just had done. I hope.

Sounds like you live near a flood plain or something. Three major flooding incidents within a year and a half! Yikes! What happened?

Oh nuts, I’m sorry about the flooding - what a mess!

I loved Doc and Epitaph both.

>51 Storeetllr: - The first one was because of the massive maple tree in my backyard. I loved it, it was partly that tree that sold me on this house, but they simply built these townhouses way too close to mature trees. It was 40 years ago they were built and I bet this tree was mature even that long ago. The roots simply cracked my foundation. They had to excavate my entire backyard after removing the tree, repair the crack, waterproof the foundation, then redo the yard, raising the grading of the yard. I had been complaining about the tree for years, asking to have it assessed or taken down and had been ignored. Lucky for me, I did not have to pay for any of it as our complex is a condo complex and the damage was from outside (we are responsible for anything within the 4 walls).

Then, we had a sewer backup. That had happened once before, around 11 years before. They supposedly fixed that, and exactly one week later, it happened again. To say I was livid would be an understatement. Don't get me started. But it's been 2 years now since that last one and so far so good. Knock wood. Or something.

>44 Storeetllr: The shop vac and fan are must-have tools. I've been through 3 basement water incidents (finished basement) and 1 in our current partially finished basement. Water just does what it wants to. In my previous house I not only had to put in a 2nd sump pump in the sump, but I had TWO backup submersible pumps - and I had to use one of them more than once.

>52 Copperskye: Yes, "mess" describes it well. It's been a week, and the carpet is ALMOST dry now. Ugh.

I love Doc, but Epitaph just didn't work for me. I'm sure it was just my mood. I'm going to try again, now that I finished my re-listen of Doc.

>53 jessibud2: Oh, man, what a nightmare! Even if you didn't have to pay for the work, you had to live with the aggravation and the mess of the damages and repairs. I'm glad it seems to all be fixed now. *crossing my fingers*

>54 Karlstar: Haha, water does do what it wants. I like that quality - when it comes to watercolor painting. NOT when it comes to flooding.

I'm looking at different kinds of vacs and fans for emergencies, but we're going forward with repairs to make it less likely we'll need them. It's raining today again, so we'll see how the initial repairs (and sandbags) do. *crossing my fingers and wishing hard* Next is the leaky foundation repair. I'm getting estimates. It's breath-stealingly expensive, but I can't live with flooding every time it rains. (We knew it was an old house - built in 1920 - when we bought it and that we'd have to make repairs and update some stuff. I just hadn't realized it would all be so damn expensive. When I owned my home in So. California from 1988-2008, I had a lot of repairs/maintenance/upkeep done, and it was never THIS expensive.)

>56 Storeetllr: - Ain't that the truth. Thanks, Mary. I never uncross my fingers around here...

>58 jessibud2: Heh. Ditto here.

So, Amazon's giving away 10 Kindle books today for World Book Day. Here's the link to the page: https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=17728818011. I know today's almost over, but I only saw it a little while ago. It's still going on, because I just picked up one last book that I was wavering on.

I picked up:

A Puma Year
An Eye for an Eye
To the Sky Kingdom
The Other Man
The Caiman (for my granddaughter)
The Ardent Swarm
Mother Dear by by Nova Lee Maier and Jozef van der Voort (no touchstone?)
Where the Desert Meets the Sea by Werner Sonne and Steve Anderson (and now I've got that song from Frozen 1 stuck in my brain) (wonky touchstone)

>59 Storeetllr: Thanks for that. I grabbed a couple. Not sure when I will get around to reading them though.

Happy Friday, Mary. Sorry about the flooding/water issues. It sounds like you are getting a handle on it. Any more problems?

>59 Storeetllr: Nice haul!

>59 Storeetllr: Crap. I missed it. But then I've never read any of the others I've picked up when they've done it in the past, so I don't feel too badly.

That sale is ongoing, so I grabbed a few. Going to post this in the bargains thread.

>59 Storeetllr: Thanks for the heads up, Mary. I snagged three of those books. I have so many unread books on my kindle. I may have to challenge myself to read some of them! I sure feel your pain with that persistent basement leak. We have an older house, too, and there is always something going wrong.

>60 MrsLee: Glad you were able to grab a couple! Have you read any of the authors before?

>61 msf59: Happy Friday to you too, Mark! No problems (except I'm going to have to get someone in to test for mold) so far, but we haven't had much rain since last week. We're going to get some repair/maintenance done to make it less likely I'll flood again, which is a problem in and of itself, what with the cost and the mess the repairs will make while being done. But, things could be so much worse, so I'm counting my blessings.

>62 clamairy: Oh, good! I wasn't sure if it was a one-day-only sale or ongoing. I've never read any of the authors, but I figured "free so why not?" Thanks for posting it on the bargains thread!

>63 Donna828: Oh, isn't that the truth, Donna! I keep meaning to put all the unread books in a "collection" on my kindle so I have them handy for when I run out of other things to read (hahahahaha) but just never seem to get around to it.

Yes, older houses are the worst. Newer ones aren't free from maintenance/repair woes either though.

>66 Storeetllr: Glad to hear it is under control and good luck with the repairs! My sister recently had her house 'waterproofed', it was expensive but she's very happy with the results.

>67 Karlstar: Thanks! Good to know your sister's waterproofing worked!

Last Day of April! I had hoped to finish The Great Influenza, but it's not going to happen. It just keeps going on, and on, and on, and on. Sort of like the Covid pandemic.

Books read in April:

23. A Comedy of Terrors by Lindsey Davis. 4 stars. Audio. Latest Flavia Albia mystery and really enjoyable, not only for a glimpse into Saturnalia festivities held in Rome but for the appearances of Helena Justina and Falco. This was less a murder mystery than a look at organized crime in Rome during the rein of Domitian.

24. The Silver Pigs, a BBC Drama by Lindsey Davis. 4 stars. Audio. I enjoyed this and I only wish the audio editing had been more even. I may still reread the novel, but this audio dramatization was a lot of fun.

25. Doc by Mary Doria Russell. 5 stars. Audio. Reread/listen. Yes, it is just as wonderful the second (third? fourth?) time around as the first. But in a slightly different way, this time. I had thought there was more Doc Holliday and less history. Not so. There is plenty of Doc but much more history than I remembered. Not a bad thing, just different. If you enjoyed Lonesome Dove, I can pretty much guarantee you'll love Doc.

26. Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi. 4.5 stars. Kindle. What a fun scifi novel(la)! (It's short - only took me about 5 hours to finish it.) Just what I needed to uplift my spirits in the midst of the cleanup from The Great Flooded Carpet Incident of 2022. I know Scalzi isn't for everyone, and not every Scalzi is for every Scalzi fan, but this one is a standalone that I think everyone would enjoy. Really. No, it's not great literature with deep meaning and lots of literary references, but that's what Russian literature is for. This is a well-written palate cleanser to read between heavier tomes. (I'd have given it 5 stars, except it's not, you know, great literature. I might change my mind.)

27. Shadows in Bronze by Lindsey Davis. 4.5 stars. Audio. Re-listen. I haven't read/listened to a Falco mystery for at least 10 years, and it was so lovely to return to his world and the characters that inhabit it. In this one, Falco's working for Vespasian at the palace, together with the spy Anacrites. He makes a discovery that could rock the Flavian empire but is forbidden by Titus (Vespasian's eldest son) from letting it be known. Only a fool would cross the imperial family, and Falco's no fool, except maybe for one very special senator's daughter, who's caught up in the whole mess by way of her nasty murderous ex-husband, who himself has been killed. Or has he? The action moves from Rome to the Amalfi Coast a few years before the big blow out of Vesuvius and back again. I wish the BBC had made a serial of this, as they did with I, Claudius. It would have been wonderful.

28. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. 3 stars. Audio. I read the paperback a million years ago (when my eyesight was decent) but forgot most of it (except whodunnit) so it was relatively fresh. I think in part because of the reader (David Suchet) drove me crazy with his female characters' voices (most of them shrill, unpleasant, overly melodramatic) and in part because of the racist / misogynist attitudes portrayed, I didn't enjoy it as much this time around. One other thing I noticed was that Egypt and the Nile weren't really an integral part of the story. I mean, it could have been titled Death on the Thames or Death on the Mississippi for all the setting figured. And the way the investigation was conducted! Yikes! I know it was set in the mid-1930s, but it's hard to fathom any crime being solved if the detectives were that slipshod, because, really, how many detectives were as smart as Poirot? Anyway, I enjoyed it to a degree but probably won't be rereading any more Christie (or Allingham or Marsh or Crispin or Sayers or any of the Golden Age of Mysteries authors).

29. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel. 4.5 stars. Audio. (I almost gave this 5 stars, but I took a half point off because the audio was uneven.) I don't usually enjoy time travel novels as a rule, but this one is a definite exception. Aside from the writing, which is beautiful and includes many bits that made me stop the audio and go back to listen to it again, the story is complex, with multiple layers and seemingly unrelated events, but it all came together seamlessly. I confess, it was complex enough that I want to listen to it again (or read it as text) because I am sure I missed a lot. I enjoyed Station Eleven when I read it awhile ago, though not as much as this, and did not read The Glass Hotel - which I'm now going to read because apparently some of the characters in Sea are in Hotel.

30. Clean Sweep (Dramatized Adaptation) by Ilona Andrews. I read this scifi/fantasy novel and its sequels a few years ago and really enjoyed them, so I thought it would be fun to listen to this new audio production. It was. It really gave an extra dimension (no pun intended) to the characters and story. Dina is an Innkeeper, caretaker, protector, and defender of the Inn named Gertrude Hunt, which is located in a small Texas town. When something nasty starts killing her neighbors' pets, she feels she must get involved and stop the predation with help from her trusty broom and her Shih Tzu named Beast, plus Sean, her sexy new neighbor who is an ex-military werewolf, Arland, a dangerous but compelling vampire warlord from a far-distant world, and Lady Caledenia, a bloodthirsty psychopathic Galactic aristocrat who is Gertrude Hunt's only permanent resident. It's an interesting, humorous, and easy read.

31. Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker. 3.5 stars. Audio. I enjoyed this story, set in a lovely small village in the middle of France, especially the parts where Bruno was talking about food and wine, and the characters were wonderful; well, some of them anyway. I wasn't as fond of the mystery (somehow WW2 stuff and racism of any kind turns me off) nor of the romance. I know - France. What else? But it wasn't too obnoxious so I was able to move past it. And I liked it enough to look for the next book in the series. Reccied by Joanne.

32. FALCO: The Complete BBC Radio Collection
by Lindsey Davis. 4.5 stars. This full-cast audio production was a lot of fun. It was adapted from the first five books in the series: The Silver Pigs, Shadows in Bronze, Venus in Copper, The Iron Hand of Mars, and Poseidon's Gold. The first part of the first book was a bit uneven as far as sound editing went, but they must have gotten it straightened out, because I didn't notice a problem after that.

33. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. 3 stars. Audio and Kindle. I have been wanting to read this novella for awhile, mostly because I couldn't believe it was either as great or as horrible as reviewers have named it. Also, it's a novella, so I figured it wouldn't take too long to read, even if I were among those who hated it. Well, turns out I didn't hate it; I merely found it distasteful. Even so, I was unable to stop reading/listening to it, like being unable to stop watching a slow-motion accident happening. I mean, yes, I get why some consider this an important piece of literature and why they consider it a classic. Even discounting the racism and misogyny as evidenced by the startlingly derogatory language, horrifying images of native Africans being abused, and treatment of the (unnamed) female characters (all of which, sadly enough, was par for the course back when it was written), I found it wanting - disjointed, inarticulate, and written too much like an H. Rider Haggard sensational novel for manly men. I also hated all the references to ivory hunting. It made me think of all the elephant poaching, and the poaching of other endangered species, just for the money that small bits of those animals bring. What I found redeeming about it was its obvious condemnation of imperialism and of the unfettered use of guns. Anyway, I'm glad I read it, because now I don't have to wonder about it anymore. Because it's so short, I may even reread it someday, just to see if what I got from it (and didn't get from it) holds, but probably not.

April stats:

No. of books read: 11

Fiction: 11
Nonfiction: 0

Genres:

Mystery: 2
Historical Mystery: 4
Historical Fiction: 1
Scifi: 2
Fantasy: 1
Classic: 1

Author Gender:

Female: 8
Male: 3
Nonbinary: 0

Format:

Kindle: 1
Paper: 0
Audio: 10

Ratings:

5 star: 1
4.5 star: 3
4 star: 3
3.5 star: 1
3 star: 2
2 star: 0
1 star: 0

>69 Storeetllr: I used to buy every Bruno novel as they came out because my mom and I were such fans. Haven't kept up with them lately though. I enjoyed being a part of his village in an area I will not likely be able to visit in life. Also, the food porn is lovely.

>69 Storeetllr: #27 I feel your pain. I would glue myself to the screen to get that in my eyeballs.

#32 ...although that isn't quite the same thing, it does seem to me to be the next best.

This YouTube video on how our companions experience the world was fascinating: https://digg.com/video/what-does-the-world-sound-like-to-your-dog-heres-what-the...
Especially the bit on birdsong as birds hear it!

>71 MrsLee: Hi, Mrs. Lee! I enjoyed it - not enough to buy each novel as it comes out, but enough to look for the next one. Not only for the food porn, but it is lovely!

>72 richardderus: Wonderful video, Richard! Thanks for sharing. Based on that, Nickel lives in a completely different reality than me. It would explain a lot. (I am currently sporting on my forearm The Mark of the Beak, which I earned for no discernable reason. It is in the shape of the sign for Infinity, which says a lot.)

Just learned the sad news about Pilgrim. Even though she was in such terrible pain and at her wit's end due to her medical providers' incompetence, I know she wanted to live. RIP Pilgrim. I'll miss you.

>70 Storeetllr: I recently read Death on the Nile for the first time so I could watch the new film version. The book is so much better than the film. (Maybe I would have liked it more if I hadn't just read the book, but I doubt it.)

>75 clamairy: Any more, I almost always watch a film before reading the book. Taking that approach has helped me to better appreciate both types of media.

>75 clamairy: This is why I avoided reading the book before watching the movie. I mostly enjoyed the cinematography.

>75 clamairy: Oh! I didn't know there was a new film version. I'm not much one for films and TV, but I'll have to check it out.

>76 ScoLgo: Hmm, that may be why I love both the film and book versions of Enchanted April. I saw the film and, when I learned it was adapted from a book, read the book. Both are wonderful!

>76 ScoLgo: & >77 Karlstar: That might be my plan going forward.

>78 Storeetllr: I did the same with The Enchanted April and so I appreciated both. The new version is the Kenneth Branaugh film, and is streaming on HBO Max, I believe. It was just okay. Unlike his version of Murder on the Orient Express which was really well done.

>79 clamairy: Thanks for the tip, clam. I don't get HBO Max, so I probably won't be watching it anytime soon.

So, it's May, and I'm already jonesing for summer beach days. Not that I'll be going to the beach very often, even when the days get hot. But I love to pretend. So, I painted a couple of beach scenes.

>78 Storeetllr: >79 clamairy: People generally don't like the idea of having plot points from a story 'spoiled' by watching a movie before reading. For me, if I didn't much care for the movie, I know to skip the book. Time saved = win!

OTOH, if I really like the movie, I find the added details provided by a book, (which has pages & pages & pages to develop characters, plot, scenery, etc, that a film has to convey in a wholly different medium), gives me a much richer view of both. Going back and re-watching a film is also a lot quicker than re-reading a book.

I Am Not Speaking To You.

So this is *not* me wishing you a happy week-ahead's reads.

>76 ScoLgo: I always end up not being able to unsee the actors as the characters when I do it that way.

>81 Storeetllr: Nice artwork, Mary!

I am so glad to hear that you loved Sea of Tranquility. I have my eye on that one. I liked The Glass Hotel but did not love it.

>83 richardderus: That still counts as speaking.

You have a great reading week too, Richard. *smooch*

>85 msf59: Thanks, Mark! I wish I could be sipping that daiquiri at the beach.

I hope you enjoy Sea as much as I did. It's a mind-twisty novel that plays with the nature of time, plus it has great world building and the writing is lovely.

Happy Mothers' Day to all who celebrate.

>87 Storeetllr: Awomen.

*smooch*

>87 Storeetllr: Happy Mother's Day!

>88 richardderus: :)

>89 clamairy: Thanks, clam!

We had a very nice, low-key Mothers' Day here. My daughter and I went for our 2nd annual Moms' Day Mani-Pedis at our local nail spa (my treat this year) while my son-in-law stayed home and took care of the kids. It was lovely to be pampered, even if only for an hour or so. Then my son-in-law grilled steak and potatoes and asparagus outdoors, and we had it with wine and then cheesecake for dessert. My granddaughter painted a flower pot for me and gave it to me with a little red geranium in it. I gave my daughter a card I painted myself (as usual). A perfect day! Hope everyone who celebrates Mothers' Day had a similarly perfect day!

Hey, Mary, I don't think I ever got back to thank you for the support on the straw bale gardening. I did buy the book, got a late start on conditioning due to a problem with water supply, but am hoping to start planting next week, which is not so late here in Kansas.

You are very welcome, Roni! Glad the book helped, and no, it shouldn't be too late, depending on what you plant. Can't wait to see how it turns out! I'm only just starting here in the Lower Hudson Valley. I'm not planting a lot this year because I just don't have the energy or strength, plus the damn deer (and, I think, raccoons and rabbits) got a lot of the garden last year, so, until we put in a HIGH fence, I'm not wasting all that work this year.

Happy week-ahead's reads, Mary! *smooch*

>93 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! Back atcha! *smooch*

>93 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! Back atcha! *smooch*

Halfway through May, and I've had some stellar reads!

34. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V. E. Schwab (Audio), 4 stars. Cool concept. Good character growth. It's 17th century France, and spinster Addie (age 24) does not want to be married to a recent widower with a bunch of kids, so, on her wedding day, she makes a Faustian deal with - is it the Devil? A pagan god? Whatever. The Dark Lord - we'll call him Luke, since that's what she names him eventually - gives her what she asks for. Literally. Of course. In exchange for her soul. Novel skips around a bit from the 17th century and the centuries between to the present day, but it's not as annoying as some of that kind of thing is. Though there is some romance, it's not a romance novel so much as a novel about love, hate, and unintended consequences.

35. Sweep in Peace (Dramatized Adaptation) by Ilona Andrews. Audio. 4.5 stars. Book 2 in the Innkeeper Chronicles. So much fun! In this one, Dina's forced by circumstances to host a "peace" conference amongst three warring groups: the vamps, the horde, and the merchants. Can she and Gertrude Hunt keep the parties from slaughtering each other? Can she find a way to get them all to give peace a chance?

36. When She Dreams by Amanda Quick. 3 stars. Audio. Possibly it was the narrator, whose voice was annoying, but I wasn't blown away by this story. For one thing, it was all over the place; for another, the main characters left me - not cold, exactly, but certainly not fully invested. Sam Sage is a former cop turned P.I. Maggie is his first case. Seems her employer, a reclusive advice columnist who has gone on an extended cruise to the South Pacific, is being blackmailed. The case takes them to Burning Cove where a convention of Lucid Dreamers is being held.

37. The Great Influenza by John M. Barry (reccied by, I think, Richard). 3.5 stars. Audio. Again, perhaps, it's the narrator (Scott Brick, who is definitely not one of my favorites), but this story was also all over the place. I understand there were a lot of threads to the story, but they could have been presented in a more cohesive fashion. Also, it was too long: repetitive, with unimportant details drawn out and information that wasn't important to the subject matter brought in. For example, there were a lot of pages dedicated to one of the scientists who, in the end, didn't actually contribute much to discovering what, exactly, caused the disease and how to eradicate it. I was also pretty bummed that there was no clear end to the influenza outbreak. Perhaps that's the way it happened, but the writing could have been clearer about it. I did find the information about how the U.S. federal and local governments tried to downplay the pandemic almost until the worst of it was over, much like TFG did at the beginning of the Covid pandemic. I was also intrigued to learn that it could have been started in Nebraska, of all places, and should have petered out there, except for the perfect storm of WWI that caused it to spread all over the world. In conclusion, perhaps I should have read this in print, but I don't think my eyes would have made it.

38. The Lost Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland. 4.5 stars. Audio. Against all odds, I really liked Loveday, the protagonist. I understood where she was coming from, why she was so introverted and seemingly anti-social. I liked that she saw herself pretty clearly, knew why she was doing the things she did, and under it all wishing she could change, even while she thought herself incapable of changing. I liked how she changed, slowly over the course of the book. I liked the supporting characters, especially the book shop owner Archie. I liked how the "mystery" of her past was slowly revealed over the course of the book, although I pretty much had it figured out early on. And, though I don't usually enjoy stories that include domestic violence, this was a wonderful if unexpected exception. I really liked the narrator. Her style - often choppy and uncertain - usually doesn't work for me, but this time it was perfect. And I cried at the end, which is increasingly unusual for me as I grow older.

39. Working for Bigfoot by Jim Butcher. 3.5 stars. Three short stories from the Dresden files about three times he worked for Bigfoot. Cute and fun.

40. The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker. 4 stars. Audio. Second in the Bruno, Chief of Police series reccied by Joanne. I enjoyed this one more than the first, perhaps because I already knew the main characters and their world. I did suss out the main villain, though not how it all happened. How could I, not knowing much about wine making? Anyway, I think I'm hooked. Third one will be the final test as to whether I follow this series. I suspect I will, because Bruno is such a lovely man, the village is somewhere I would like to live, the food and wine is amazing, and the mystories (sic) are pretty interesting.

41. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Armin. 4.5 stars. Audio. Reread, though I think I read it on the Kindle the first time. An almost perfect listen, but way too short. In fact, the ending seemed so abrupt I had to check to see if the audio version had been abridged. Somehow, I didn't remember the book, or the film adaptation, ending so suddenly. But what there was of it the story was wonderful!

Hi Mary, Three of your May books are on my tbr list - The Invisible Life Of Addie Larue, The Lost Words Bookshop, and The Enchanted April. I’m glad to see they were all winners for you. Happy, also, to see you’re enjoying Bruno. :)

>97 Copperskye: Oh! I thought I got the recommendation for Lost Words Bookshop from you. Hmm, if not, I wonder who it was. Well, anyway, I think you will like it. Also the other two. And, yes, I am enjoying Bruno, so thanks for the tip!

Mary, you are doing some excellent reading. Our book group read The Great Influenza before Covid. I can see it dragging in audio form...I may have skipped/skimmed a few pages about the Spanish Flu. I probably would be more into it now because I am quickly becoming a Covid expert!

Your Mother's Day was lovely. It won't be too long before you will include Ruby in the mani/pedi outing. The son-in-law sounds pretty perfect. Not only babysitting while the ladies did their thing but also cooking a lovely Mother's Day Feast.

I've been planting in my bales the last two days, Mary!

>99 Donna828: You must be feeling better, Donna! At least, I hope so. And yes, I bet you're becoming an expert on Covid. I'm getting my second booster on Wednesday; I hope that helps me avoid another bout of it. I'm still not back to where I was pre-Covid, and I wasn't in great shape then. Now, I still have a bit of dizziness and extreme fatigue after just a little exertion. Also a bit of irregular heartbeat and breathlessness, which is worrying, though my cardiologist tested me and said my heart is okay.

My daughter asked Ruby if she wanted to go with us, but she was a bit reluctant, so we'll wait until she's a little older. Maybe next year, or even for my birthday in July. She might want to accompany us, if, in fact, that's what we do for the day, and I would love that!

>100 ronincats: Yay! I was just over on your thread and saw. Can't wait to see them in a month!

I see it's been awhile since I posted any pics of either of the grands.

Here's my grandson Rowan figuring it all out:



And here he is standing. Without holding on to anything. For longer than 30 seconds. At less than eight months. (Yes, my daughter's in a lot of trouble!) (There are 2 pics taken on different days to prove it wasn't just a fluke.)





And this is a meme just waiting to be created:


(That's a peanut butter corn puff, not a cigar, but still.)

And here's Ruby, who was so excited to show me the white irises that just bloomed that day.

>103 Storeetllr: Such a sweet set of smoochumses! *baaawww*

Stay cool....

>103 Storeetllr: Great pictures, thank you.

>103 Storeetllr: Brilliant pictures. Now that you mentioned the cigar I can only see Rowan as Baby Boss in that fourth picture.

Ruby has a great sense of the dramatic.

>104 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. They are a couple of sweetums. One more reasonable spring day before we leap directly into the fires of Hell, er, I mean, August.

>105 Karlstar: Thanks! I like sharing pics of my grands. For a long time, I thought I'd never have grandkids, so it's especially wonderful to be able to post pics of them.

>106 pgmcc: Haha, yes, Boss Baby. And you're right about Ruby. She is a true drama queen, taking after her mama. Here's a pic of her that illustrates just how dramatic she is and which makes me laugh every time I see it. (Yes, she usually chooses her own outfits.)

>107 Storeetllr: REPRIEVE!! We are *not* getting the heatwave after all!!

>108 richardderus: I don't know, Richard. 94F sounds pretty heatwavey to me. But wait. I see that Long Island's temps aren't going to be higher than 83F today. As they say: Location. Location. Location!

>109 Storeetllr: ONOZ!! Yep, that ain't no joke heat-wise. Yep. I'm super lucky here on the boardwalk. ::sadface::

Happy Saturday, Mary. I love the Rowan pics. He is getting to be a big boy and standing up too. Jack has not started to crawl yet but he is on the brink. Oh yeah- Drama Queen Ruby is adorable as well. Ain't they great?

Happy weekend, Mary! Love your photos of the grands, and Ruby's style.

>111 msf59: Hi, Mark! Happy Sunday! Rowan loves to be free to move around at will, which drives us all a little crazy, especially since his sister has a lot of toys and stuff that are inappropriate for "under 3." And you know how they love to put little rocks and leaves and bits of tree trunk in their mouths when they're outside on the ground. I think he has started a tiny bit early with the crawling and standing (and, yes, taking steps, both when holding hands with someone and on his own) because he sees what his sister is doing and wants to do it too! He really loves her so much.

>112 bell7: Mary! You found me! I'm so glad! Hope you're having a great weekend. Glad you are enjoying the pics. And, yes, Ruby's style is - unique.

Love those grandkid pictures, Mary. Aren't little girls all princesses at heart? Even my 11-year-old Haley (who is going on 18) likes to put on a frilly dress...along with her combat boots!

You may be having hot weather while we are experiencing a return of winter. Neither of us should complain, however, as the Denver area got two feet of snow yesterday!

Love the pics.

The Enchanted April is one of my favorites books and films! Guac you enjoyed it again. I enjoyed that Barry book when I read it over a decade ago, but I'm not sure if I would want to listen to it...

>114 Donna828: I heard! Poor Joanne and Anne! They were talking about shaking off their bushes and sweeping snow off the flowers, but two feet! I don't remember so late a snowstorm when I lived in Colorado. Latest I recall was April 30, when I lived in Pueblo, but I was in Colorado only five years.

Ruby and Haley are twins! Ruby wears her red rain boots with her princess gowns. I love it!

>115 clamairy: Thanks, clam! Glad you enjoyed the pics. I love posting them! And you're right about the Barry book: definitely not one to listen to on audio. As for Enchanted April, I'm planning to watch the film adaptation soon. I loved it when I saw it; then I read the book and loved it too and continued to love the film. That doesn't happen often.

Rowan's first tooth!

>117 Storeetllr: Wow. Tempus is fugit-ing, isn't it. A tooth already!

Three weeks from now he'll need a phone.

>118 richardderus: He's already trying to get my phone away from me. I don't remember Ruby getting a tooth and standing and trying to walk so early, but my short-term memory isn't perfect, so I could be forgetting some things.

And, yeah, tempus is definitely doing more fugit-ing than I'd like.

>119 Storeetllr: Boys tend to be faster to those milestones, it's true; but I think the genders are equal in their desire to have a phone!

>120 richardderus: Haha, yes. Tonight there was a bit of a tug-of-war between Ruby (3 years) and Rowan (8 months) for possession of my phone. There was crying involved, but the fracas ended quickly when Rowan was taken away to his bath.

>117 Storeetllr: Aw!

>121 Storeetllr: Kids and phones, they sure do learn early, don’t they. Sorry they made you cry. ;)

>117 Storeetllr:
Wow! Big milestone.

Hi Mary, I've placed a star so I can find my way back here. I am living in dread of the hot weather that is probably coming this summer. We are having a rather cool spring which I am actually enjoying. I will be celebrating my 14th Thingaversary in June and have been buying some books to help mark the event. I picked up a copy of The Kaiju Preservation Society so was very glad to see your positive remarks. I haven't read a lot of Scalzi but the few I have read, I have really liked. I can't believe how much Ruby has grown since I last saw a picture of her, and now you have two - Rowan (I love that name) is adorable and from what I read, is bound to keep Grandma on her toes!

>122 Copperskye: Hahaha, Joanne! You're so funny. I didn't cry this time when they were disagreeing over who got my phone, although other times I've been close to it.

>123 pgmcc: It is! My daughter said the tooth had broken through a couple of days earlier but she forgot to tell me. I found out when he chomped down on my finger which I have (in the past) let him use as a teether.

>124 DeltaQueen50: Yay, so glad you came by to visit and drop a star! Although I prefer warm weather more than cool, the heat here in the Lower Hudson Valley is unbearable due to the high humidity.

Early Thingaversary wishes to you!

I really enjoy Scalzi, and I think you'll like Kaiju. It was interesting and left me with a good feeling, though of course there were villains engaging in skullduggery.

Yes, Ruby is growing like a weed, and so is Rowan. No one in our family has been named Rowan (or Ruby, for that matter), and I wasn't quite sure about it when they first told me, but now I can't imagine them being named anything else.

May Stats

Total Books Read

12

4.5 stars - 5
4 stars - 3
3.5 stars - 2
3 stars - 2

Fantasy - 6
Mystery - 3
-Historical Mystery - 2
-Contemporary Mystery - 1
Romance - 1
Fiction - 1 (I don't know what genre to put it in)
Nonfiction - 1

Audiobook - 8
Graphic Audio - 4 (I have fallen in love with these Graphic Audio adaptations! They're like old-time radio serials except with better production standards. Yes, they are abridged, but only because some of the narrative - the descriptions, mainly - are done with sound effects (water trickling, feet running, wind howling, like that). Like their PR says, it's like "a movie in your mind.")

Rereads - 4
-In original format - 1
-In new format - 3

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V. E. Schwab (Audio), 4 stars.

Sweep in Peace (Dramatized Adaptation) by Ilona Andrews. Audio. 4.5 stars. Book 2 in the Innkeeper Chronicles.

When She Dreams by Amanda Quick. 3 stars. Audio.

The Great Influenza by John M. Barry (reccied by, I think, Richard). 3.5 stars. Audio.

The Lost Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland. 4.5 stars. Audio.

Working for Bigfoot by Jim Butcher. 3.5 stars. Three short stories from the Dresden files.

The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker. 4 stars. Audio. Second in the Bruno, Chief of Police series reccied by Joanne.

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Armin. 4.5 stars. Audio.

When Blood Lies by C.S. Harris. 3 stars. Audio.
Curious Toys by Elizabeth Hand. 4 stars. Audio. Recommended by Judy (DeltaQueen).

An Easy Death, Dramatized Adaptation by Charlaine Harris. 4.5 stars. Graphic Audio.

A Longer Fall, Dramatized Adaptation by Charlaine Harris. 4.5 stars. Graphic Audio.

>103 Storeetllr: oh my...I love his concentration in the first photo!

What a cutie in her red boots! My parents bought me yellow boots when I was five, and they matched my yellow raincoat and hat. I was supposed to look like Christopher Robin.

What a button those red boots pushed in my memories!

A darn good May, Mary! I'm glad the Barry went over well.

Today's book review isn't one I think you'd enjoy at all, but Friday's is one I really want you to read!! Like A LOT!! *smooch*

>129 fuzzi: He is very focused for an 8-month old baby! Sometimes he'll just hold my face with his little hands on my cheeks and look into my eyes for 30 seconds or even a minute (which, if you try it, you'll know is a really long time to look into someone's eyes), as if he's searching for some answer or sign or something. It's a bit unsettling, tbh. (Other times, he's all over the place.)

I'm glad the pics of the red boots stirred a happy memory in you. Here's a pic of Ruby from Christmas 2020 in her yellow boots. She was not quite 2 years old at the time.

>130 richardderus: I think I'd have preferred reading the Barry in print, but I did get a lot out of it anyway, so thanks, RD!

I went over to your thread and was surprised to find I was interested in today's book! Not sure if I'm in quite the mood for it right now; I'm still feeling fragile and in need of light, easy reading, but I'm putting it on my TBR list. Looking forward to Friday's review.

>117 Storeetllr: Go Rowan! Yah! Funny, I think Jack's first tooth is coming in too, in the exact same place.

Happy June, Mary. Looking forward to vacationing with our little Jackson. I can't wait for my sister and brother to finally see him.

>131 Storeetllr: awww...

I always enjoy catching up on your thread, Mary. You have a busy life keeping up with two little ones and doing some excellent reading as well. The Lost Words Bookshop found its way to my TBR list. Happy June! Hug the beautiful and entertaining grands for me.

>133 msf59: Hope you're having a great time in the Smokies with Jackson! It's great he's going to be meeting more family! They are going to be absolutely enchanted!

>134 fuzzi: :)

>135 Donna828: Thanks, Donna! Hope you enjoy Lost Words Bookshop as much as I did. It's different from my usual fare, but I really did enjoy it.

I remember when getting a tooth was a big deal. Today is the 21st birthday of The Grand Twins, Helen and Claire. At least as big a deal as getting that first tooth. Just takes longer to get there. :-)

>137 weird_O: Oh, wow! 21 is such a huge milestone! Belated birthday wishes to Helen and Claire!

Thursday orisons, smoochling!

Sunday cheer, Richard! *smooches*

Hi, Mary. Just checking in. How are those grandkids? How are those books treating you?

Hi, Mary. I'm just passing through and also wondering how everything is going with you - hope your grandkids and your books are keeping you entertained and happy.

Weekend's-reads joy *smooch*

Hi, Mark, Judy and Richard! Thanks for visiting.

Rowan turned 9 months old the other day. He's been crawling for almost a month and standing up too. I know he watches us all walk and run (well, Ruby runs) and is getting ready to take his first step. He's eating most food (except bananas) and actually prefers solids to milk or formula. He also says "Mama," although she's not sure he knows what he's saying. I think he does. He certainly recognizes the word when he hears it!



Today was Ruby's last day of preschool in the 2-year old group. In the fall, she'll start in the 3-year old group. She's starting to move outwards - interacting more with the wider world and open to doing new things. Lately, she's been asking to take showers down in my little bathroom rather than baths in her own bathroom upstairs. I only have a shower, and a small one at that, but for some reason, she prefers it to the lovely big new tub upstairs. I think it's the novelty. Then when she's dried off and in her jammies (she calls them cozies), we have bedtime snacks and watch a movie together for awhile, till her dad or mom come down to fetch her off to bed.



Best of all, they love each other so much and really enjoy each other's company!

>144 Storeetllr: They're so adorable I could plotz, Mary, what sweet smiles!

Isn't it shocking how Ruby's grown, and now how they're both shooting up faster and faster?

*smooch*

>144 Storeetllr: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Oh what sweet pictures! I bet you're right and Rowan knows what he's saying. I remember my nephew being about that age and telling my sister he said "mamamamamama" over and over in the direction she'd went when she left the room one day. I was sure he'd meant it then too.

And Ruby is getting so big! I love that you get to spend some after-shower time with her in her cozies.

>144 Storeetllr: Wonderful pics. I hope they enjoy their first Summer together.

Thanks, Richard, fuzzi, Mary, and clam. Glad you enjoyed seeing my grands; I love posting pics of them!

Went to a pro-choice/anti-forced birth rally today. I always forget to take a selfie, but I got one of my daughter and Ruby in the middle of the crowd.



And here's one of Nickel taking a pre-dinner stroll around the back yard. (I had her wings clipped when we were at the vet's last week, so I don't have to worry (too much) about her flying away.)

>149 Storeetllr: Good for you! I also only remember to take pics of the crowd and not myself at rallies like this!

Nickel is gorgeous!

>144 Storeetllr: Aww!

Nickel looks as if she is thriving. Good on you for attending the rally. So sad and angry that it’s necessary.

>150 clamairy: Yep. My daughter takes a lot of selfies, but somehow I just don't think of it until the event (or whatever) is over. Thanks! Nickel has been leaving her feathers alone lately, except just a bit on the underside of her neck.

>151 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne! Yes, I'm sorry too. It's beyond criminal what this radicalized, reactionary, activist court, filled with perjurers, has done. And what it intends to do. (Don't look at spoiler if you don't want to see something that you might consider "political.")

Mary, I always love the pictures of the grands. Ruby is a beauty with her curly hair and Rowan is growing so fast. I'm sure he will be running by the time he is a year old! They have the same age difference as my two youngest children. Lori and Ben (we called him Benji back then) had a special relationship until they both went to school and made friends their own ages.

And Nickel. What a treat to see her in the backyard enjoying nature. She seems to be thriving in New York.

Hi Mary. It is a total misuse and miscarriage of justice to see what some members of the Supreme Court have done. My heart bleeds for the women in America who are seeing their rights being nibbled away.

On a more positive note, I love the pictures of your grandchildren. And thanks for including a picture of Nickel, such a pretty girl!

>149 Storeetllr: Nickel looks very happy...that posture suggests a good mood to me.

I hate that we need to take to the streets again.

I hate it that the threads are full of politics, again.

>156 fuzzi: I've sent Mary a message asking her to get a handle on this. But I need to point out that you are the one who said people should be able to say what they want in their personal journal threads.

>157 clamairy: Mary can say whatever she wants in her thread. I am not criticizing her, just hate seeing the trend all over LT.

But you certainly don't need to point out anything. You chose to step outside your moderator role to make that personal comment.

>158 fuzzi: Well, I don't read all over LT, so I can't comment on that. My reply to you was AS a moderator of this group, as it was not clear to me that it wasn't Mary's post (among others) that you were complaining about.

Hi folks - I've been following the last few posts (since >149 Storeetllr:) and I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of our 'no politics and no religion' discussion rules. Please see the pinned posts for a full explanation.

So sorry to have caused anyone distress. Many of my friends who post on my thread are not members of this group so do not know the rules. I will take steps to see that this does not happen again.

>161 Storeetllr: Thank you, that's much appreciated!

Happy Wednesday, Mary. Love the photos of Ruby & Rowan up there. I bet you can't stop smiling. Jackson recently turned 10 months. He is now crawling and being inquisitive as ever.

If you want to do a shared read of Trust. I would be up for it.

Hi, Mark! I do love to hang with my two amazing grands! And I love seeing Jackson. He sure is getting big! And adorable as ever!

I'll think about Trust. Not sure I'm up for it right now, but maybe. I did start it but didn't get far before I decided I wasn't into it. I'll let you know.

>152 Storeetllr: >161 Storeetllr: Ah, that explains why you hid your response to me under a spoiler blanket! I was slightly perplexed at the time, but now I know.

Well, have a great weekend, Mary!