Banjo reading on in 22--Thread # 2

Poem for this thread:

Allowables
By: Nikki Giovanni

I killed a spider
Not a murderous brown recluse
Nor even a black widow
And if the truth were told this
Was only a small
Sort of papery spider
Who should have run
When I picked up the book
But she didn’t
And she scared me
And I smashed her
I don’t think
I’m allowed
To kill something
Because I am
Frightened

And hello reading friends! As most of you know, I am Rhonda, a social worker living in Portland, Oregon; with my wife and young-adult daughter, and three bad cats I read mostly literary fiction, but with a smattering of other things. I like to write about books, and soccer (football)

Today I am pretty techno-challenged, I had another picture entirely chosen for my topper, but can't figure out how to make it work! This banner was from the Portland Thorns (our women's soccer team)'s Pride Match.

Read in 2022:

1. Hench by Natalie Zina walschots
2. All In by Billie Jean King
3. Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers.
4. Swann's Way by Marcel Proust
5. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zanier
6. Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

7. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

8. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
9 Being Seen by Elsa Sjunneson
10. Somebody's Daughter by Ashley Ford
11. Matrix by Lauren Groff
12. The Others. by Sarah Blau
13. The Unseen by Roy Jacobsen
14. A Burning by Megha Majumdar

15. Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar
16. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
17. A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet
18. Stirfry by Emma Donaghue
19. All's Well by Mona Awad
20. The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
21. The Confession of Copeland Cane by Keenan Norris

22. Outlawed by Anna North
23. Graceland at Last by Margaret Renkl
24. Belonging by bell hooks
25. The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
26. In a Budding Grove by Marcel Proust

27. Southland By Nina Reyvor
28. I Came All this Way to Meet You by Jami Attenburg
29. My Grandmother's Hands
30. Great Circle
31. Maybe It's Me by Eileen Pollack

32. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
33. Brisbane by Eugene V
34. Olga Dies Dreaming
35. The Trees by Percival Everett

36. Intimacies by Katie Kitamura
37. These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
38. Oh, William by Elizabeth Strout
39. Passing by Nella Larsen

40. Alice and Freda Forever by Alexis Coe
41. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
42. Love and Saffron by Kim Fay
43. Circe by Madeline Miller
44. Breaking the Age Code by Becca Levy
45. Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre
46. Number 9 Dream by David Mitchell}}

47. Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhou
48. An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Allameddine
49. Skye Falling by Mia McKenzie
50. Luster by Raven Leilani
51. Bright Dead Things by Ada Limon
52. The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel
53. Bitter Orange Tree by Jokha Alharthi

54. Fight Night by Miriam Toewes
55. The Invisible Life of Addie Large
56. Uphill by Jemele Hill

57. Eliza Waite by Ashley Sweeney
58. NightCrawling by Leila Mottley
59. The 1619 Project
60. Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reed
61. Dust Child
62. Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead
63. Echo on the Bay by Masatsugu Ono
64, On Lighthouses by Jazmina Barrera

65. Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid by Thor Hanson
66. White Shadow by Roy Jacobsen
67. Liberation Day by George Saunders
68. The Colony. by Audrey Magee
69, Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
70. Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie ford
71. Martin Marten by Brian Doyle

Currently Reading:

Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Marten by Brian Doyle

and here is the photo I was trying for. I took a walk the other day, and found that these neighbors had put pink flamingos in the trees in their parking strip. So Portland, it cracked me up.

I hope I am not too early to admire your opening post and wish you a happy new thread, Rhonda? x

>6 banjo123:. Never too early, for you, Paul!! Thank you. I am hoping to get back to doing some of the reading for your Asian Book Challenge. I was just today in Powell's, selling back some books, and saw an interesting looking Vietnamese book, Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith. Have you heard of it?

Happy new one!!! I need to make a Powell's trip. Soon I hope....

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Rhonda.

Happy Sunday, Rhonda. Happy New Thread. I like the poem.

Happy new thread, Rhonda. I like your photo at the top and the Giovanni poem, but I will miss your haunted carriage from your previous thread.

>9 Berly:. Hi Kim! There was a really long line at Powell's, for the book buy-back. But I did sell about half of the books I brought in, and got $51 in store credit. I didn't buy anything, as I am trying to curtail spending this month (and I still haven't read all of my New Years books)

>10 figsfromthistle: and 11. Thanks, Anita and Anita!

>12 msf59:. Thanks, Mark, I keep meaning to read more of Giovanni.

>13 BLBera:. Thanks, Beth and just for you here is the Emily Dickinson/Wiz Khalifa Carriage!

Happy new thread, Rhonda. I hope you're enjoying this beautiful weekend!

Thanks Rhonda!

>16 RebaRelishesReading:. Isn't it nice, Reba?
> 17. You are welcome, Beth!

and here is another photo I wanted to share, from the Peninsula Park Rose Gardens. They are the oldest public rose gardens in Portland, and so pretty.

And books read!!!

Alice and Freda Forever by Alexis Coe

Another one from the Lesbian Book Group. I just realized, thought, that I am going to miss the book group, because it happens on Banjo, jr's birthday. It's a non-fiction story about two young women, living in Memphis in the 1890's.

Alice Mitchell and Freda Ward were middle class young women, who fell in love when at the same girl's school. 1n 1892, Alice killed Freda, by cutting her throat with a knife; in jealousy since Freda was pulling away from the relationship. The interesting thing was that lesbianism was so foreign to people's understanding at that time, that the public had a really hard time understanding the event. Alice ended up being found not-guilty because of insanity. (the only evidence of insanity really being that had same-sex romantic feelings). She died in an insane asylum in 1898.

I am not a true crime reader, so was unsure about this book, but it was well done and a good read, with a couple of (major) issues.

Coe did not discuss this event within the framework of intimate partner violence. This was a huge miss. Alice framed the event as a love story, and Coe doesn't really question this. Of course, at that time and place, there was not an understanding of domestic violence, and there are lots of example of men killing women out of jealousy, and that being viewed romantically. (Look at The Ballad of Reading Gaol). However, I think if we are looking at this today. we can't miss that piece.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

This was a fun read. Major Pettigrew (retired) lives in a small English village. He is an endearing character, but sometimes annoying and rigid. He develops a friendship and romance with Mrs. Ali, a Pakistani shop keeper in the village. She is well-read, a good driver, and apparently quite pretty. Both are widowed, and enjoy each other's company. The cross-cultural relationship causes consternation in both of their social circles.

Simonson develops an elaborately plotted story that allows Major Pettigrew to show his strengths (leadership, caring for others, and knowledge of hunting rifles) and also to confront and modify some of his flaws (rigid ideas about social niceties and an over-attachment to his hunting rifles). I enjoyed the descriptions of family relations, social class issues, and gender issues.

Here is a passage I really liked. The Major is talking to his son, as both of them are dealing with relationship problems, and his son asks how he was supposed to know what his girlfriend was thinking when she didn't stay.

"You are not the first man to miss a woman's more subtle communication," said the Major. "They think they are waving when we see only the calm sea, and pretty soon everybody drowns."

Happy new thread, Rhonda.

>20 banjo123: - I once tried listening to this one on audio, read by the author. Her voice grated on my ears so badly that I returned it after around 10 minutes of listening. I always meant to go back to the hard copy but so far, haven't.

>21 jessibud2:. Thanks, Shelley! A bad voice really can do in a book, can't it?

I think you'd like the book, but clearly avoid the audio/

Rhonda, I liked Major Pettigrew as well. It was a nice change of pace for me. Love your pictures.

>23 Oregonreader:. Thanks, Jan!

>20 banjo123: Our book group look at look at Major Pettigrew's Last Stand a few years back. Everyone liked it. Good writing interesting human characters.

>24 banjo123:. -- Thanks, Jim! I will have to look for her other book as well.

Hope everyone is having a good start to the week, and staying cool. We have just started a heat wave here, so I am very thankful for AC.

Happy new thread!

>20 banjo123: Oh yes, I agree Major Pettigrew's Last Stand was a great book!!

Great photos Rhonda. Love the flamingos.

>27 drneutron:. thanks, Jim!
>28 RebaRelishesReading:. It really was a good read, Reba.
>29 Caroline_McElwee:. Thanks, I thought they were pretty cute.

Hope everyone is doing well---sending cooling thoughts to all of us in hot places. We are in a heat wave here in Portland---a week of weather in the 90's and 100's. (37-ish C).

Love and Saffron by Kim Fay

A fun, quick read. This is an epistolary novel with a correspondence between a 60 year old magazine columnist, living on an island off of Seattle, and a young Lose Angelos foodie. It's set in the early 60's, and gives a glimpse of the historical forces that shaped that decade. Also, lots of talk about food, and reminders of how much more varied US cuisine has become in the past 60 years---our Washington writer had never had saffron, or Mexican food.

Happy Sunday, Rhonda. I remember loving Major Pettigrew too! I hope you are enjoying a relaxing weekend.

Thanks, Mark!

It's been a little too relaxing of a weekend, too hot to do much of anything. I should have therefore got lots of reading done, but somehow I did not. Oh, well... tomorrow is supposed to be cooler, and I will be back to work.

Hope that things have cooled down Rhonda. I love the roses you've shown us upthread.

Thanks,Charlotte. It did cool down, and we had some lovely weather, but now the heat is back. I think I've gotten a bit acclimatized, though and it's not bothering me as much.

Tomorrow, in a women's sport's extravaganza, my sister, my daughter and I are driving up to Seattle, mainly to see the Storm (Women's Basketball). It's apparently the last chance to see Sue Bird live, so I am looking forward to it. Then, we are also going to catch a women's soccer game. Hopefully all the teams we are cheering for will win!

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

This is a sweet book, and humorous, though about quite a serious topic. During the cultural revolution two young men are sent to a village for "re-education." The work can be brutal, but they are resourceful and youthful. One of the youth is really good at telling stories, and so the village chief sends them to town to watch movies, so they can come back and do dramatic re-tellings. They meet a lively young woman, the daughter. of a nearby tailor, and friendship and romance bloom.

And then there is Balzac. The two find a secret stash of forbidden novels, and the power of literature has unexpected consequences.

Definitely a recommended little book.

We'll be home in a week -- please send the heat on it's way by then :)

Happy Sunday, Rhonda. I hope you are enjoying the weekend, with plenty of book time. I also loved Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. I am currently immersed in Young Mungo.

>36 banjo123: This one sounds excellent, Rhonda. Happy Sunday.

>36 banjo123: - Interesting. I read this one years ago (I know it from the journal I keep of titles read) but have no memory of it. Sieve-brain, that's why, lol!

>37 RebaRelishesReading:. I am ready for the heat to pack up, Reba, but not sure it's going to happen much before September.

>38 msf59:. Thanks, Mark! Great weekend, though not as much reading as I had hoped.

>39 BLBera:. I'd been meaning to read this for some time, as it was recommended by a friend, but just got to it now, of the Asian Lit Challenge.

>40 jessibud2:. That's funny Shelley. I have thought that I should rate books twice, once at the time, and then adjust 6 months later, because sometimes I will really like a book, but it makes no lasting impression, and other books I might at first think are so-so; but then I keep thinking about.

But I definitely don't have the time or organizational skill to do a two step book rating!

I took today off of work, so am planning on a quiet, putter-y sort of day. Yesterday my sister, daughter and I drove up to Seattle for a Women's Sports Weekend. We went first to the Storm/Aces game (WNBA) and then finished with a soccer (football) game.

It was super fun. I hadn't been to a WNBA game in close to 20 years, and it was a great atmosphere. A special game because it was Sue Bird's last regular season home game before retirement, so there was a ton of hoopla about that, and the fans very pumped and happy (even though the Storm lost.).

We always plan to go to New York Liberty games to support the women and the WNBA but so far we haven't actually gone. The women play a very different game than the men its fascinating to watch on TV

>8 banjo123: I have it on the shelves, Rhonda, and would do a shared read with you if you are up for it in the coming months?

Have a lovely weekend. x

>36 banjo123: Glad to see this is one you enjoyed, too, Rhonda.

Have a great weekend!

>43 magicians_nephew:. Oh, and Sabrina Ionesco is on the Liberty! It is a fun game to watch.

>44 PaulCranswick:. That would be fun, Paul... it looked like a good book.

>45 bell7:. Definitely a fun book, I loved the humor.

We did have a nice weekend, we went camping, so great to be outdoors. Hopefully later this week I will post some pictures, and updates on my reading.

Hello reading friends! I am not sure what I have been doing this past week, but apparently none of it involved updating Library Thing. I am going to do some quick book reviews, as I do have several books read. And maybe I will get time to visit some threads....

Breaking the Age Code by Becca Levy

I heard this author speak at a conference for work, and was super impressed. The book wasn't as good as listening to her, but it did reinforce her main point; she finds that ageism impacts the way older people view themselves, and finds that people with negative age beliefs have more health complications as they age, are more likely to become demented, etc.

Circe by Madeline Miller

This retelling of Greek legend from the viewpoint of Circe was a totally fun read. I took it with me camping, because I wanted something fun, and compelling. Loved the book. My main take away was that being a God has significant downsides.

Number 9 Dream by David Mitchell

This is a coming of age story about a young Japanese man who is looking for the father he never knew. Mitchell is a good writer, and the story interesting, but so much is told in dreams, fantasies, and video game sequences. I am sure that works for some folk, but I was pretty adrift through large portions of the book.

Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre

A friend wanted me to read this. Sartre is a good writer, and I enjoyed his writing, but I am afraid that existentialism is not for me. Our narrator seems so self involved, and boring.

But something in the book kept me reading. Here is a description I liked:

"You must not be in a hurry in the Rue Tournebride: the families walk slowly. Sometimes you move up a step because one family has turned into Foulon's or Pigeons'. But, at other times you must stop and mark time because two families, one going up the street, the other coming down, have met and have solidly clasped hands. I go forward slowly. I stand a whole head above both columns and I see hats, a sea of hats. Most of them are black and hard. From time to time you see one fly off at the end of an arm and you catch the soft glint of a skull; then, after a few instants of heavy flight, it returns."

Hi, Rhonda. Some good mini reviews there. I loved Circe and I agree that Number 9 Dream was a lesser Mitchell.

Great comments, Rhonda. Breaking the Age Code sounds interesting. I'll look for that one. I also loved Circe. I love your takeaway. I recently read A Thousand Ships, a retelling of the lives of the women of Troy. It was really good as well. I like Mitchell but am not sure about this one. I read Nausea in high school and am sure I missed a lot, maybe time for another look.

Have a great week. Today is the first day of class, so I am really, truly retired.

loved Circe. Being a demi-God has plusses and minuses, clearly

Hi Rhonda. Sounds like a busy, fun time for you. Enjoy.

Hi, Rhonda. We went to the Seattle- Chicago WNBA game, and got to see Sue Bird’s last game in our town. (She was excellent, and Seattle won. Should she just keep playing instead of retiring?)

You’recently read two books near and dear to my heart, Major Pettigrew and Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. Both gems.

>52 msf59:. Thanks, Mark, and Yay for Circe. I had started it once before, and didn't really get into it, so glad I tried again.

>53 BLBera:. Congrats on the retirement, Beth! I will look for A Thousand Ships

>54 magicians_nephew:. Yes Jim, I am personally happy not to be a Demi-god. I liked the way Miller managed to make the whole system and way people/gods reacted to it make sense.

>55 RebaRelishesReading:. Thanks Reba!

>56 jnwelch:. Oh, fun Joe! I am a fan of the Sky, because, Candace Parker. Sue Bird has figured out how to play smart, but probably 41 is a good time to retire. And I bet she will do other amazing things.

Here in Portland we are happy because yesterday the Portland Timbers beat the Seattle Sounders, and won the Cascadia Cup. Kind of amazing, because the Timbers have been crashing for most of the season, but the rivalry is important. Tonight the NWSL team, the Thorns, play San Diego; another important game, and I am nervous about it because the Thorns, even though top of the table, have been doing less well the past week.

It's beautiful day though, so should be fun to watch.

Tomorrow is a street fair, so planning to spend a chunk hanging with friends and listening to music, that will be nice.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

l enjoyed this read. It's a YA, feminist fantasy set in China with a kick-ass heroine based on the Empress Wu. Not perfect, but it's a new take on fantasy, with plenty of surprises.

I don't read a lot of YA, so I am not sure I will read the sequel, but this was fun.

An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine

I think this was well-liked on LT, but I am afraid not my favorite. It's about an aging, bookish, woman in Beirut, who is pretty disconnected from people and lives mostly in her head, an intersection of things she's read, music she has listened to, and her own story. I liked parts of this, but am afraid that I found her voice kind of annoying and dull. Not unrealistic, I think my own inner voice is quite boring at times, but not what I wanted to read. (It did have some good parts... I almost gave up on it several times, but then something intriguing would happen.)

You are reading some top quality fiction at the moment. I have to agree with you that Nausea is not such an easy book to get through just as it is strangely difficult to let go.

Popping in to say Hi! and isn't it nice to have clean air again?!

>61 PaulCranswick:. Thanks for stopping by, Paul!
>62 Berly:. Yes, Kim, so nice to have clean air, and cooler weather. I am wearing jeans today... so nice.

I have been off of LT for a while, busy and we also had a mini-vacation, going up to Anacortes to visit a friend, and then to Seattle for a Mariners game. Fun! I will hopefully get around to posting pictures later.

Unfortunately our trip coincided with a period of bad air quality in Oregon and Washington, as the wind blew smoke from the wildfires toward us. Luckily, that has cleared up now.

I did get some reading in--so some reviews are in order!.

Skye Falling by Mia McKenzie

Another book for the lesbian book club. Our narrator, Skye, is a 37 year old African American lesbian from West Philly, who owns a successful travel business and leads a nomadic life with few long-term relationships. The plot of the book revolves around her having been an egg donor, years ago, and meeting the 12 year old who was a result of that. To be honest, Skye is so immature and annoying (crawling out of windows to escape people she doesn't want to talk to). that initially I didn't like the book. She evolves, however, and the book has fun twists and turns, and is also a nice description of West Philly.

Also some good exploration of the process of integrating one's older and younger selves. Here's a part when she is talking to Faye, a former teen girl rapper, and asking if she misses rapping:

"What I really miss, more than rhyming, is just....being young in Philly. On a night like tonight, when I was seventeen or eighteen, I'd have been with my friends on South Street, probably high, talking to guys who were too old for me, never imagining that one day I'd be forty-two. You just never conceive that there will come a time when you're not young anymore, when your whole life won't be in front of you. You know?"

Luster by Raven Leilani

In this book, a troubled African American woman in her 20's, struggles with work and relationships after a troubled childhood. She is an artist and thinks that she is probably not good enough. She ends up in a relationship with an older, white, married man; and ends up moving in with him, his wife, and their adopted African American daughter.

The writing is fine, pretty literary. I could never understand what the protagonist saw in the older white man; and spent most of the book wanting to send her to therapy.

So definitely not my favorite book! I'd probably compare to Sally Rooney, whose books I also dislike.

Hi Rhonda - Great comments. I have had An Unnecessary Woman on my shelf for a long time, so I will read it at some point, probably. You've tempered my expectations.

Skye Falling sounds good. I'm not sure about Luster, but I do like Sally Rooney.

>64 banjo123: I know the feeling of somehow being older than I anticipated. Inside, I'm still 35 (my favorite age, for some reason), but outside I'm working hard to keep a circle of friends, keep myself healthy, and not worry about the numbers.

>66 BLBera:. Oh, perhaps you should try Luster then, Beth. It's gotten good reviews.

>67 ffortsa:. I don't miss being in my 20's, to be honest, Judy. But I definitely took my health more for granted than I should have.

Cancion by Eduardo Halfon

I received this from Early Reviewers. I like Halfon as a writer, but in my opinion, this isn't his best. He is a Guatemalan and Jewish writer, whose work often derives from family history, and revolves around issues of identity and nationality. This book centers around his grandfather's kidnapping by the Guatemalan police in 1967.

It's well written, contrasting that story with his speaking at a conference for Lebanese writers, in Japan, giving a non-linear exploration of identity that is at times frustrating, and at other times, lovely.

>69 banjo123: This sounds interesting. I'll add it to the list. Great comments.

Still not sure about Luster; the premise sounds a little creepy.

>70 BLBera:. yes, I thought a bit creepy!

Hope everyone had a good weekend. I did, but it went fast! We are in a good mood, because our women's soccer (football) team, the Portland Thorns, is doing well, and clinched playoffs. Our men's team, the Timbers, also looks to make it to playoffs, who knows how.

Reading-wise I finished two books, which I will try to review tonight.

Bright Dead Things by Ada Lemon

Thanks, Mark, for pushing me to read this lovely book of poems. Here is one of my faves, about her stepmother's death. It's called "Cower"

I'm cold in my heart, coal-hard
knot in the mountain buried
deep in the boarded-up mine. So,
I let death in, learn to prospect
the between dreams of the dying,
the one dream that tells you when
to throw up, the other, when
you're in pain. I tell you
I will love someone that you
will never meet, death's warm
breath at the mouth
of the body's holler.
You are crying in the shower.
I am crying near the shower.
Your body a welcomed-red
fire-starter in steam and I think,
how scared I would be
if I were death. How could I
come to this house, come
to this loved being, see
the mountain's power
and dare blast you down.
I dry you off and think,
if I were death come to take you,
your real-earth dynamite,
I would be terrified.

The Secret to Superhuman Strength. by Alison Bechdel.

THis graphic memoir explores Bethel's relationship with physical exercise, and was not my favorite. It seemed like she went too much on and on with small details---I got bored. Also there were side bits about Margaret Fuller and Jack Kerouac, and I thought the connection to her main thesis was too obscure.

I thought there was room for an interesting exploration of the change in attitudes about exercise for women and girls, and the impact of body image on women's sense of self, but in my opinion Bechdel's book bogged down in details.

Hi, Rhonda. I am so glad you loved the Limon collection. I love the poem you shared too. I will have to reread this collection soon. I am also a big fan Superhuman Strength. I was not a fan of her "Mother" GN but she really bounced back with that one.

I love Limón's poetry as well, Rhonda. And her new one is good as well although Bright Dead Things is my favorite.

I liked the Bechdel more than you did although I agree that the Fuller and Kerouac parts could have been deleted. The exercise fad bits were hilarious.

>74 msf59:. Thanks, Mark! Limon is special.

>74 msf59:. Thanks for dropping by, Beth. There were some pretty funny bits about exercise.

Happy Sunday, folks! We had a disappointing sports weekend; both our NWLS and MLS team had less than stellar results. I compensated for this by baking some maple brown sugar cookies. They still need frosting, but when they are done, I will let you all know how they are.

Bitter Orange Tree by Jokha ALharthi

A book by Omani writer Alharthi, that alternates between the story of Zuhour, a young Omani woman studying in a British university, and her "grandmother" Bit Aamir, who lived through challenging circumstances, never married, and ended up caring for the children in a relative's household. Zuhour, our young woman, becomes entangled in the relationships of friends, rather than establishing her own goals and relationships.

It's well-written, with lots to think about. I liked the comparison of the different generations. I did think that the book could have benefited from stronger plotting.

>76 banjo123: Cookies make up for most disappointments in life, don't they:)?

>78 RebaRelishesReading:. Thanks Reba! The cookies were delicious, and also watched the Great British Baking Show, so all's well.

>76 banjo123: The mere mention of cookies resonates across the ether!
Hope all is well, Rhonda.

>77 banjo123: Yes, there wasn't much of a plot, was there?

Maple brown sugar cookies sound yummy. Will you share the recipe?

>80 PaulCranswick:. Thanks, Paul! All is going well in my corner of the world, busy and not enough reading, but hopefully I will make the 75 book goal this year.

>81 BLBera:. Yes, Beth, though sometimes I wonder if plot and characterization, as we think of them in literature, are partly a Western construct, and maybe this book would hold together better with a Middle-Eastern orientation? And of course, it was in translation.

And the cookies were a winner. Here is the recipe: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/maple-brown-sugar-cookies/

(I did cut back a little on the sugar in these cookies, as her stuff tends to be very sweet. )

Thanks!

You are welcome, Beth and happy weekend, all! It is a beautiful day here in Portland, and we just got our house decorated for halloween, so all is well. And I did finish a book this week, Fight Nightwhich I really enjoyed.

Fight Night by Miriam Toews

I don't normally like books with child narrators, but took a chance on this one, because Toews is a favorite. I feel that she carried it off. Swiv is 9, lives with her mother and grandmother in Toronto, and is in the process of writing a letter to her absent father. Her grandmother is strong, loving, funny, and recovering from multiple trauma's. She is trying to teach Swiv to be a fighter, and we see how that fight is both a source of strength, and also makes her day to day life in the world difficult.

I think this is a good companion to Women Talking. The grandmother had left a restrictive religious group, and that was a big source of her trauma. This book is a reminder of how hard it can be to recover from that kind of trauma, and how it can carry over the generations, but at the same time, how the intensity of experience can create a really strong and loving bond.

Happy weekend, folks. We are happy here in the Pacific Northwest, because we are finally getting some cooler weather, and some rain. Last week the air was full of smoke from a nearby wildfire, so we really needed the rain.

Happy Sunday, Rhonda. I have not read Toews but I intend to read Women Talking next month. The film version comes out in early December and it looks really good.

Hi Mark, Women Talking is brilliant, but brutal. I think you will like it.

I am ambivalent about watching films when I liked the book, so will see about that.

I have been slow on my reading lately, but do have a couple of books to report on.

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by VE Schwab

A plot driven, easy read, which I needed, feeling a bit of a reading slump. Addie starts out as a 17th century French woman, who trades her soul to the devil (or maybe not the devil, I was never too sure of his identity, which I think was the point) in exchange for getting out of an unwanted marriage living forever, and "freedom." The catch is that now no-one she meets is able to remember her once she is out of sight, making it difficult to build a life.

The premise is interesting, and I liked it that the characters, including Addie, are mixed, neither all good nor all bad.

Uphill by Jemele Hill

I admire Hill for standing up to ESPN and against Trump, so requested this book from Early Reviewers. I ended up really enjoying this memoir, Hill seems to always be authentically herself, and I enjoyed the details of her story. She is a journalist, so it's well written in a direct no-nonsense style.

Hill grew up in Detroit, raised by a single mother who struggled with a crack cocaine addiction. (Her mother is in recovery now). One of the things that I liked about the book is that Hill is honest about having a difficult relationship with her mother at times, but also able to recognize her mother's strengths, and also to identify the struggles that led to her shortcomings.

Hill became interested in journalism at a young age, interned with The Detroit Free Press in High School, and went to Michigan State. I liked the descriptions of her college years. She wrote a column for the paper, and managed to antagonize both black and white students. Black students were unhappy when she wrote a column about OJ Simpson and said that Black people should not support OJ, as he did not have a history of supporting the Black community. Whites were upset when she wrote a column saying that there was no such thing as reverse racism.

Her description of her journalistic career, and her time at ESPN was also interesting. She really focusses on journalism, and a bit on her personal life. There is really not a lot of sports in the book, that was one thing I missed. But over-all, a great read.

You may have had a reading slump, Rhonda, but it looks like you've pulled yourself out with some very good books!

I'm definitely in the chorus of happy voices that the smoke is pretty much gone and Fall may finally be here. I love this crisp weather and I'm so happy for the plants that there has been some rain. Summer wasn't too terribly hot but it lasted way too long imo.

Hi Rhonda! Glad to hear you're getting rain! I think you're in a permanent state of drought and fires out there. 😱

>86 banjo123: Pleased to hear about the happy tears in the sky, Rhonda.

Take care, dear lady.

>91 RebaRelishesReading:. Yes, hooray for fall, although I imagine we will all be tired of rain before too long.
>92 The_Hibernator:. Thanks for stopping by, Rachel! Yes, climate change is hard. But hopefully this rain will douse any remaining fires.
>93 PaulCranswick:. Thanks so much Paul.

>94 banjo123: If you've always had rain you may be tired of it soon but it's still a new pleasure for me :)

>89 banjo123: I enjoyed this one too. Reminded me of reading a story when I was a kid - that kind of galloping plot that just sweeps you up in it.

Glad to hear about the rain. Not something we're wishing for, or short of, here!

>95 RebaRelishesReading:. Hi, Reba! We really need the rain, so it's great.
>96 charl08:. Yes, Charlotte, that's exactly it, a galloping plot.

Very happy here, as our NWSL team, the Portland Thorns, won the championship yesterday. They have had an amazing year.

Reading-wise, I finished a book for the lesbian book-club, Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. Nothing really to say about this one, apparently it was the first vampire novel, published before Dracula and has lesbian undertones. But it's written in such an old-fashioned way that I couldn't take it seriously.

Happy November, folks, not much reading here, but I do have book talk.

Yesterday, we went to the Portland Book Fair. I had convinced Mrs. B and Banjo, jr to come with, and we got the fancy tickets so had reserved seats for the two big events. Here is the run-down:

It started Friday night, actually, with the book fair, which was fun with lots of small publishers and interesting books. I was impressed with Two Lines Press, which is out of San Francisco, and publishes translated work. I bought a copy go On Lighthouses by a Mexican writer. Also a copy of Mostly Dead Things which I have been meaning to read, from TinHouse Books.

We had tickets to hear Selma Blair speak about her book Mean Baby, and Mrs. B and B jr went to that talk, and enjoyed it, Blair sounds like quite a character. I went instead to hear Jess Walter and George Saunders speak about short stories. That was super interesting, one line that stuck with me, Saunders talking about the oddness of his fiction, thought that perhaps readers would think "Maybe these stories are only as strange as the actual world."

I wanted to buy Walter's and Saunders books, but am trying to not buy so many books until I read off my shelves a bit, so was restrained.

We went then to here Taylor Jenkins Reid be interviewed by Cheryl Strayed about her newest book, Carrie Soto is Back. That was a fun talk, great to learn about her writing process. One interesting part, Reid talked about how she is afraid of being called a bitch, or difficulty and so often in her life avoids doing anything that might lead to the label. And she wonders how her life could have been different if not for that. The original title for the books was "The Bitch Is Back"; but that didn't get past her publishers.

There were so many folks at the Festival that we didn't make the next talk I wanted to go to, which was with Silvia Moreno Garcia and Samantha Chang. So instead we listen to MORGAN TALTY, who wrote The Night of the Living Rez and Chelsea Bieker. Talty was really funny, and I would like to read his book.

Finally, I heard Leila Mottley interviewed by Mitchell Jackson. That was fabulous; she is brilliant, only 20, and her book Nightcrawling was long listed for the Booker. It's set in Oakland, about sexual abuse by law-enforcement. I bought a copy, which she autographed, and so far, it's very good.

The Book Fair sounds great, Rhonda. Thanks for sharing. I want to attend next year. I loved Night of the Living Rez, and thought Nightcrawling was a powerful, disturbing book, a really good first novel.

Book Fair sounds great. I need to be more aware of what's happening in Portland.

Happy Birthday, Rhonda. I hope you are having a great day. The Book Festival sounds wonderful. Hooray for being able to hear and see Saunders and Walter. Two of my favorite authors. I want to get my greedy mitts on Night of the Living Rez. Sounds like my cuppa.

The book event does sound really good. I also saw George Saunders recently, during his visit to the UK. I like that I'm connected to you Portland attendees that way (even if only very loosely). I do want to visit the city one day, and it would be brilliant to time it to the festival and get an umbrella ticket. Maybe next year?

I've started Saunders' short stories and am finding them rather more hard hitting than I'd expected.

>98 banjo123: Who was it who said that fiction had to be believable but real life didn't?

Happy birthday, Rhonda!

Your birthday? Hope you have a great day.

>100 BLBera:. It would be great to have you hear next year, Beth!

>101 RebaRelishesReading:. Maybe next year we can have a meet up at the book fair? Though, to be honest, it can be crowded and overwhelming..

>102 msf59:. Thanks, Mark. I got a copy of George Saunders latest for my birthday, Mark, and I am hoping to get to it soon. The part he read was great.

>103 charl08:. Yes, that's what I thought from the bit he read aloud. Strange, but still hits close to home.
And yes, we should have a giant Portland meet up next November.

>104 magicians_nephew:. That is so true, Jim!

>105 jessibud2:. and >106 RebaRelishesReading:. Thanks for the birthday wishes!

Eliza Waite by Ashley Sweeney

I picked this up at a lovely little bookstore in LaConnor, Washington; a couple months back. I like to buy local authors when I am traveling.

This is historical fiction about a woman traveling from Washington's San Juan Islands to Skagway Alaska during the 1898 gold rush. She ends up opening a bakery, the book is sprinkled with with recipes as well as historical detail, especially about the roles and limitations on women in those times. The writing is fine, the plot, I thought, could use some work. There is tons of action but it doesn't all tie together well, maybe more like real life than a novel?

I think it's 3 or 3.5 stars, so a decent read.

Bookfest 1st Saturday in November 2023! Put it on the calendar. : )

And happy belated bday!! I read the first Saunders, Less, but now I want to read the second one. I loved his presentation.

>108 banjo123: This sounds interesting, Rhonda. I also like to pick up local authors.

>109 Berly:. thanks, Kim, and looking forward to the 2023 Bookfest!

>110 BLBera:. thanks, Beth... I do love going to bookstores in new places.

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

This is a fictionalized account of a young Oakland woman, who in a tough time, turns to sex work, and ends up being sex trafficked by a group of Oakland police officers. It is based on a real case, from 2015. Apparently sex abuse by police officers is fairly common, and seldom has real consequences.

The book is well written, and the plot is decent, thought there are a few bits that are seem way too unlikely. The biggest achievement, is that Mottley creates a young woman who is three dimensional, and who is trying to make the decisions in her own life, despite huge barriers.

The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones

I had read most of the essays, poetry and fiction in this book when they were first published in the New York Times, but with all the criticism the book has gotten, decided that I should read it in its entirety.

I went ahead and gave it 5 stars, Hannah-Jones deserves this for bringing so much history out in the open, and showing how slavery and its aftereffects have been integral to US history. This is important as the impact of slavery has been minimized; it certainly was in my US history classes.

That said, the book is a bit uneven, with some essays stronger than others. The opening essay, by Hannah-Jones, is definitely the strongest part of the book and I do recommend that everyone read it. Some of the other essays were overly academic for me.

I think the a more accessible read, that covers a lot of the same material, would be How The Word is Passed by Clint Smith

>113 banjo123: I am reading this one now, Rhonda. I read a bit each morning, so I expect it will take a while for me to get through it.

Great comments on Nightcrawling.

>113 banjo123:. I think it took me months to read, but I am glad that I did it.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I think of Jenkins Reid's books as beach-reads. I haven't been at the beach, but I did enjoy this.

I heard the author speak at the Portland book-fest, and she mentioned that she had originally wanted to call the book "The Bitch Is Back". She talked about how the fear of being called a bitch or bitchy has often shaped her behavior, and wondered what she would have done differently if she didn't worry about that.

Carrie Soto is an retired tennis player, known for her hard-edged personality, who decides to return to the sport when a younger player is threatening to overtake her record of number of grand slams won. She is coached by her father, so part of this book is a sweet father/daughter story.

The first chunk of the book is about Soto's childhood and early tennis career; I thought that could have been way condensed. But once the book got to her comeback attempt, it was just a good, rollicking read.

Thank you as always for books, thank you for this group and thanks for you. Have a lovely day, Rhonda.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Rhonda.

Happy Thanksgiving, Rhonda!

Thanks for the thanksgiving wishes, Paul, Shelley and Reba!

I took the week off of work, and so far it has been very pleasant. We spent some time at the coast, lots of reading, games and beach walks. Yesterday we got together with family for a simple meal. We decided to forgo the whole thanksgiving experience, as none of us are so fond of turkey, and the politics of the holiday are a bit problematic.

I do have some books to review, and hope to get to that soon.

>112 banjo123: I have that one on my library loan stack. It's due soon so I'd better get to it. Sounds like a good read

>121 figsfromthistle:. definitely a good read, and if they post the audio from her talk, I will post that also.

Dust Child by Que Mai Phan Nguyen. (an early reviewer book)

The writing in this book is clunky at times, but it was well-plotted and that carried me through. The book explores the trauma of war from several different perspectives, and I appreciated getting a different take on the Vietnam war. There are three narrators and two main time periods; a young Vietnamese woman, working in a Saigon bar that caters to American soldiers, an American soldier, and an Amerasian man, who struggles with prejudice agains Amerasians. The stories intertwine, and all of the characters are complex people.

Everyone in this Room Will Someday be Dead by Emily Austin

This was a lesbian Book Group book. It's about a young woman who is struggling with mental illness and making her way in the world. Somehow, even though she is a gay atheist, she gets a job in a Catholic Church. The writing of this book is OK, but the plot shaky and also, it's tedious to read so much about depression and anxiety. Lots of time not showering or washing dishes or answering text messages; I do feel sympathetic, but did not need this much detail.

Echo on the Bay by Masatsugu Ono

This is a slim, dark Japanese novel, narrated by a teen girl, whose father is a policeman, and who is stationed in a small, fishing village. The book starts with a statement about how not much happens in such a small place, but the book is full of odd characters and each one has a backstory, and also a relationship to Japanese history. There's a lot in here, not sure I got it all, but glad that I read it.

Some coast pictures:

Beautiful photos! Seaside?

>127 RebaRelishesReading:. Actually, Pacific City. So nice and quiet.

Gorgeous photos! You really captured the serenity, Rhonda.

I also got an ER copy of Dust Child, Rhonda. I skimmed over your comments and hope to get to it in the next week or so.

Happy Saturday, Rhonda. I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving with the family. Love the coast photos. I do miss seeing the Pacific coast. Echo on the Bay sounds interesting.

Those photos are amazing! I especially love the first one.

>129 jessibud2:. Thanks, Shelley, it was a lovely time

>130 BLBera:. That's cool, Beth...I will look forward to your review. I gave it to my daughter, but she's given up on it....the clunky writing was too much for her.

>131 msf59:. Thanks Mark! The Pacific is pretty awesome. Echo on the Bay is worth reading if you've liked other Japanese literature.

>132 ursula:. Thanks, Ursula! I loved the patterns of sky and sand at dusk.

On Lighthouses by Jazmina Barrera

This little book of essays reviews the history of lighthouses, and the authors interest in the subject. Lighthouses seem to be a metaphor for isolation and connection. The book was written in Spanish, and translated by Christina McSweeney. The subject is quirky, and the writing quite literary.

Here is an example of the writing:

"I wonder how far I'd have to go to hear silence. Or at least, some form of silence, because at sea there are always waves, in the countryside there are the sounds of the wind and animals. And wherever I am there will be my respiration, my heart. When it occurs to me that there isn't a single place or moment in which you can hear (or rather not hear) absolute silence, I experience a sense of anguish. Perhaps silence can be found in anechoic chambers, which absorb sound waves, or in outer space, or in death."

>134 banjo123: This sounds good to me.

>135 BLBera:. Thanks Beth!

And December, everyone. Looking at the stats, in order to meet my goal of 75 books this year, I will have to read 11 books this month. I have one so far, so that means 10 more. Unlikely to happen, but I am going to try.

In an attempt to claim more reading time, I am trying to cut down on social media, and I did delete my twitter account. However, also spending time on other things, like watching the World Cup today. We woke up early to watch the US men, who unfortunately lost to the Netherlands, who were the better team. Still, a good run from the US, who didn't even qualify for the World Cup last time. In a little while, it's Argentina vs. Australia.

Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid by Thor Hanson

This is a really nice little book about biology and climate change, aimed at the average reader. Reading it reminded me that I really do want to read more about science.

Hanson gives lots of examples of plant and animal species, and how they respond to changes in temperature; for example birds moving to higher elevations, and then crowding out the birds that had been in the higher elevations to start with. There are also stories of animals who adapt and take new opportunities. For example, the dovekie, or little Auk, was thought to be very vulnerable to climate change, but surprised scientists by thriving, because they ate plankton that they found off of melting Arctic glaciers. (Not a long term strategy, as eventually the glaciers will be all melted, but still.)

All in all, a great little book, thank you Mark!

>137 banjo123: Sounds interesting. I recently fell into the current issue of New Scientist online. It's a magazine I subscribe to through the web, and when I was working it used to be my most interesting break material, but as it is not under my nose on the coffee table I fell away from reading it. And it was SO INTERESTING! Really woke me up. So I'm trying to get my science mojo back. I'll keep this one in mind.

>136 banjo123: I'm in a similar boat. In order to reach my goal of 65 I have to read another 8 books this month. Unless I do some creative book-choosing (all graphic novels, maybe), that's not going to happen either!

Hi Rhonda - I just finished Dust Child and appreciated your comments. I did love the story but agree the writing was uneven.

Good luck with your ten books this month!

>138 ffortsa:. Thanks, Judy! Hopefully we can both get more science reading in for 2023. I will look for more of Thor Hansen's work. And I'll look up your magazine as well.

Beth and Ursula, thanks for the sympathy with my book goal woes! I know it's a bit illogical, really it doesn't matter whether I read 70 or 75 this year.

Beth, I gave my copy of Dust Child to someone from work, who had loved her first book and so was very excited.

I have read 3 books this week, so on my way!

Liberation Day by George Saunders

This is Saunder's newest collection of short stories. They are all quirky, well-written and with political undertones (or maybe overtones?). I liked his first batch Tenth of Dec better. I felt that most of these stories just hit too hard with the social justice message, and I would've liked more nuance. Maybe the Trump years were too much for Saunders?

Still, a good book.

The Colony by Audrey Magee

I think that I put this book on a library hold after a review by Beth. If so, thanks Beth! It's a really good book, though unsettling. It takes place on a small island off the west coast of Ireland in 1979. Events on the island are contrasted with the violence erupted across Ireland at the time.

Two men, one an English painter, the other a French linguist studying Gaelic, visit the island for the summer. The book, written in lyrical sentences, shows the impact these men have on the Island, and also the way the Islanders wither resist or try to use the visitor's motives for their own objectives.

The book is described as a political critique of the cost of imperialism, which it is, but it also shows how personal those costs can be.

White Shadow by Roy Jacobsen

This book is so good, but now I feel like I need to read a book of Norwegian history! It's the second in Jacobsen's Barroy trilogy, in which the main character, Ingrid Barroy, living on a small island off the coast of Norway (I seem to be on an Island theme). In this book, the characters are dealing with Nazi occupation of Norway. The book really focuses on the lives of ordinary people and how they are impacted by the war.

The writing is beautiful and spare. (props to the translators, Don Bartlett and Don Shaw).

I definitely recommend this series, you do need to start with the first, which is The Unseen.

Mrs. Banjo is now reading the third in the series, Eyes of the Rigel, which by happy chance we found in a Little Free Library, when walking in the neighborhood.

I am so glad you loved The Colony, Rhonda. It will be one of my favorite reads this year. Good luck with reading!

Happy Sunday, Rhonda. I am so glad you enjoyed Hurricane Lizards. I will have to track down White Shadow. Thanks for the reminder.

Hi Rhonda! How is everything going? Looks like your reading has been going well!

>144 banjo123: As someone who read the third book (not realizing it was a series), your suggestion re reading in order makes a lot of sense! Still a wonderful read though.

And I am another fan of The Colony. I have seen it on a few best of the year lists, so hopefully will find (even) more readers.

Happy weekend everyone! We are juggling a few stressors---car problems and a recent COVID exposure. Also Francis the cat had his yearly cardiology appointment, which is always a stress (his heart is stable for now.). This is leading to some rearrangement of our weekend, but as we are all healthy, really there is nothing to complain about. We have friends and family coming over tonight for dinner and to look at holiday lights.

>145 BLBera:. Thanks again for the recommendation, Beth!

>146 msf59:. Thor Hanson is such a good pop science writer. I will definitely look for more by him.

>147 The_Hibernator:. Life is good, Rachel! Thanks for stopping by.

>148 charl08:. That's great, Charlotte, that the third book held up on it's own. I am not sure the 2nd would. I have the third on my nightstand, so will read it soon. And hooray for The Colony.

Sorry about the stressors, Rhonda, but glad to hear you have a pleasant evening planned for today :)

>150 RebaRelishesReading:. Thanks, Reba! The stressors are pretty much better, and we had fun with our friends.

Also, some good reading in!

Small Things Like These. by Claire Keegan

This is a little book, more of a novella or short story, about the abuses of the Magdalen Laundries in Ireland. The theme is around the courage it can take to stand up to socially sanctioned evil. Well-written.

Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

I really enjoyed this book, which is set in Seattle, and covers two time periods, the 40's; and 1986. It's about Henry, a Chinese American, who as a teen-ager befriended a Japanese American girl in his school. The book covers the Japanese internment and puts a human face on that experiences. It also covers the jazz scene in Seattle.

>153 banjo123: - Hi Rhonda. I enjoyed this book when I read it a couple of years ago. I see he has a new book out though I have not bought it or put it on hold yet.

>153 banjo123: Another fan of Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet here! Glad life is lightening up for you. Enjoy the holidays.

>153 banjo123: Hi Rhonda! I think I've heard this book's title before, but do not remember anything I've heard about it. Thanks for the review.

I also enjoyed The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, but it was quite a while ago, so I remember the title better than the book. LOL

Hope you stay warm and dry during our upcoming weather and I wish you a very happy holiday!

>154 jessibud2:. Yes, the new book looks intriguing.

>155 RebaRelishesReading:. Thanks, Reba, enjoy the holidays also and stay warm

>156 The_Hibernator:. Thanks for stopping by, Rachel. I'd recommend this one.

>157 Berly:. Thanks, Kim, and hoping that you are staying warm and keeping your power!

Here in Portland, we are in the midst of a winter snow/ice/wind storm. It's supposed to lighten tomorrow, so hopefully all clears and we can do our holiday plans on Sunday. We had a Hanukkah party tonight, but that got moved to Sunday, so we'll be at home with our candles and maybe play some games. Sunday we are also planning a Christmas get-together with my family, at my sister's house.

Today is our calm day, so I have time to download some pics of holiday cheer in Portland.

Santa Clones:


Flamingo Manger Scene in a neighbor's yard


Pictures from the lights at Peacock Lane

Readingwise, the 75 is still looking a bit far away. I am reading Martin Marten by Brian Doyle and Killers of the Flower Moon; neither are page-turners for me, and there are lots of distractions this time of year!

Hope your holiday plans work out tomorrow. We were going to celebrate Christmas with our local family this evening but with the weather AND my Covid it may end up being a New Year's Eve celebration.

>160 banjo123: Love the photos, Rhonda. Happy Hanukkah. I hope nobody gets COVID.

Love the photos!! Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays, Rhonda. Love the seasonal pics. I also enjoyed The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. I see that his latest is catching some buzz too. I LOVED Killers of the Flower Moon but that was a very dark read.

Malaysia's branch of the 75er's wishes you and yours a happy holiday season, Rhonda.

>162 RebaRelishesReading:. Thanks Reba! Hope you are doing better.

>163 BLBera:. Thanks, Beth! And I also hope that none of us get COVID.

>164 Berly:. >167 Berly: Thanks, Kim.

>165 msf59:. Hi Mark! I bought a copy of Jamie Ford's latest yesterday, so will be reading it in the new year.

>166 PaulCranswick:. Thanks so much, Paul.

We did have a nice holiday, lots of good food and good people. The ice melted in time for everyone, except one of my sisters lives in the gorge and was snowed in.

Yesterday I went by Barnes and Noble, as they had half off of all hardbacks. I was able to pick up Geraldine Brooks's latest, the new Jamie Ford.

>168 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. I'm feeling pretty normal -- a bit of a cough but that's it. Looking forward to testing negative though :)

>169 banjo123: Om my goodness -- wish I had known about the Barnes and Noble sale (and been free to go there) -- congratulations on your buys.

>170 RebaRelishesReading:. I am glad that you are feeling OK, Reba! Hope you have a negative test.

The Barnes and Noble sale was fun! We went last year also. I have to be careful not to buy too many books.

Well, officially I am not going to make the 75 target this year. I finished one more book, and that makes 71. Today I am planning to review that book, close up this thread, and start my thread for 2023.

Marten Martin by Brian Doyle

My last book for 2022, and it was a good one. We are in the process of trying to start a new book group, and this is our first read. Doyle is an Oregon author, and the book is set here, on Mt. Hood, or as Doyle refers to the mountain, Wy'East. The book centers on two beings, a teenage boy, named Dave, and a young Marten named, (wait for it) Martin. A bit theme of the book is the similarity between humans and other animals, and the idea that animals could also have complex emotional lives.

If you are like me, and have wondered, from time to time, what it would be like to be an animal, or maybe a tree, this is a book for you. It's probably not a book for everyone, my daughter was dismayed to see that it doesn't have quotation marks, and is pretty gently plotted. A neighbor was unhappy at the violence in the book (nature, after all, being red in tooth and claw.). Another deficit in the book (IMO) is that everyone in the book is very good-hearted. People make mistakes, but there is not much in the way of mean-ness or selfishness here. Which is charming, but maybe not realistic?

However, the book has much to recommend it; lovely nature writing; wonderful quirky character, and a sweet philosophical narrative voice. Here is a piece of that voice, discussing a Marten who was tangential to this story:

"He will, for example, be hit by lightning and assumed to be dead but then rise up spitting and utterly alive as if by magic. He will briefly find himself atop a running horse, which is a remarkable story all by itself. He will be a rare and perhaps unique case of a Marten who learns to kill and eat porcupines after watching a fisher accomplish that potentially punturous and eminently painful task. He will father more kits than we could easily count if they were somehow piled wriggling in front of us in a seething mewling pile. He will die finally in an act of stunning courage in defense of his enduring love, a story which by itself you could write three books about, and by heavens what a terrific movie it would make. And he is only one of a million, no a billion stories you could tell about the living beings on just this side of the mountain. The fact is that there are more stories in the space of a single second, in a single square foot of dirt and air and water, than we could tell each other in a hundred years..... The fact is that the more stories we share about living beings, the more attentive we are to living beings, and perhaps the less willing we are to slaughter them and allow them to be slaughtered. That could be."

And here is the link to my 2023 thread: https://www.librarything.com/topic/347054#n8016479

>171I hadn't tested for a couple of days but this is day 10 so I decided to go for it this morning and...Yipee, a nice, definite negative!!

Wishing you a Happy New Year,Rhonda