Berly's Bookstacks #1

For those of you who don't know me, I have been on LT and a 75er since December 2008. I have a great Hubby (who found LT for me) and 3 grown children (the oldest got married last year!). I like almost any book there is, but I tend more toward fiction. I currently work with my Hubby in our business which cleans industrial and storm water and brings it up to EPA standards. Particle removal, pH balancing, heavy metal decontamination, etc. He's a ChemE and I was a Neuroscience major, so I understand the science of our projects and can translate them into English for our customers (LOL); I also do the accounting and marketing -- you just don't want me to design the equipment! I have been a neuroscience lab researcher, an editor and writer, an advertising exec, and the Community Relations Mgr of the NBA MN Timberwolves as well as their 501C3 Director. Career path? NO! Eclectic and fun? YES! I am currently on two advisory councils for Literary Arts here in Portland, Oregon, and I also practice TKD (3rd degree BB).

My heart goes out to Ukraine

So many choices!! What should I read?
Reading Now
@ 1/26 Candy House (K 348 pages) by Jennifer Egan with Ellen and Beth
✔ An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us (K 481 pages) by Ed Yong

After that...
✔ January - Your Duck is My Duck IR by Deborah Eisenberg with Beth
✔ February - Horse by Geraldine Brooks with Ellen and Beth and Rhonda
February - The Winners by Fredrik Backman with Mark and Stasia
✔ February - The Heart's Invisible Furies IR by John Boyne with Beth
February - Mort by Terry Pratchett Group Read / Hibernator
March - Florida or Matrix by Lauren Groff
✔ March - Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe with Mark

✔ Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law (B 314 pages) by Mary Roach
✔ The Bold World by Jodie Lee Patterson (ER!!)
✔ Ancient Bones Unearthing the Astonishing New Story of How We Became Human by Madelaine Bohme (ER!!)

Source
IR = Indiespensable Readers
ER = LibraryThing Early Reviewer
✔ = Off the shelf (not acquired this year)
L = Library
↩ = Reread
@ = Acquired this year
✗ = DNF
? = Need to get

Media
B = Printed Book
🎧 = Audio
K = Kindle
GN = Graphic Novel

Read in January ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
2023 Total ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours

❤️ ✔ All the Light We Cannot See IR (B 520 pages) by Anthony Doerr 5.0
❤️ ✔ Project Hail Mary (🎧 16.25 hours ) by Andy Weir, narrated by Ray Porter 5.0
2. @ A Vampire's Kiss (K 136 pages) by Rebecca Zanetti 3.0
1. ✔ State of Wonder (B 353 pages) IR by Ann Patchett 4.0

Ratings
❤️ Favorite(s) of the month
Loved it! 5.0
Really Good 4.0
Good 3.0
Hmmmm 2.0
Don't Bother 1.0

Source
IR = Indiespensable Readers
LT = LibraryThing Early Reviewer
✔ = Off the shelf (not acquired this year)
L = Library
↩ = Reread
@ = Acquired this year
✗ = DNF
? = Need to get

Media
B = Printed Book
🎧 = Audio
K = Kindle
GN = Graphic Novel

I can't resist buying books!!

I seem to manage to read around 50% of my newbies, except in 2019 where I (ahem) added a few more books to my collection than normal. But I killed it in 2020 when I read almost 75% of my newbies and in 2022 I read 70%!!

2017 47/85
2018 45/88
2019 45/128
2020 78/103
2021 50/105
2022 54/77

Let's see how I do this year...

2023 0/1 Read
1. The Candy House by Jennifer Egan -- reading
2. The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy *
3. The Chemistry of Love by Sariah Wilson *

✅ Read
* Free or gift

Random LT group reads
✅ December -- A Visit from the Goon Squad with Ellen and Beth
January - 1/26 Candy House by Jennifer Egan with Ellen and Beth
February - Horse by Geraldine Brooks with Ellen and Beth
February - The Winners by Fredrik Backman with Mark and Stasia
March - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver with Ellen and Beth

Literary Arts
January 18, 2023 -- Lauren Groff Florida, Matrix
February 22, 2023 -- Patrick Radden Keefe Say Nothing, Empire of Pain
April 20, 2023 -- Ada Limón poet -- Just won US Poet Laureate!!

RL Book Club #1 2023
✅ January - Bewilderment by Richard Powers

RL Book Club #2 2023
February - Matrix by Lauren Groff
April - The Cloisters by Katy Hayes
✅ June - The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
August - West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
October - Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

And Honorable Mentions
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan and Jodi Picoult
Running with Sherman by Christopher McDougall
The Keeper, Soccer, Me & the Law That Changed Women's Lives by Kelsey Ervick

I am going to try and keep track of series I am currently enjoying here:

Series/Author/Next Book
Bobiverse / Dennis E. Taylor / #5 not yet published
Bridgerton / Julia Quinn / #3 An Offer From A Gentleman
Commisario Brunetti by Donna Leon / read 1,2,4,8 next #3 The Anonymous Venetian
Cormoran Strike Series / Robert Galbraith / #6 N
In Death Series / JD Robb / Naked in Death #1 (I have been reading out of order)
Kinsey Millhone Mystery Series / Sue Grafton / Read ABCDEFQX / Next G
Kopp Series / Amy Stewart / #2 Lady Cop Makes Trouble
Mickey Bolitar / Harlen Coben / #4 not yet published
Murderbot Diaries / Martha Wells #2 Artificial Condition
Quantum Earth / Dennis E. Taylor / #2 not yet published
Sandham Murders / Viveca Sten / #11 not yet published
Sunshine Vicram / Darynda Jones / #4 ??
Sweep Series / Ilona Andrews / #6 not yet published
The Chronicles of St Mary's / Jodi Taylor / #7
The Time Police / Jodi Taylor #5 ???, Santa Grit 4.5
Elizabeth Cage / Jodi Taylor #4 ???

You know, in case I need more ideas for books to read!

Total Read - 37
2022 - The Netanyahus
* 2021 - The Night Watchman
✅ 2020 - The Nickel Boys
✅ 2019 - The Overstory
✅ 2018 - Less
✅ 2017 - Underground Railroad
* 2016 - The Sympathizer
✅ 2015 - All the Light We Cannot See
✅ 2014 - The Goldfinch
✅ 2013 - The Orphan Master's Son
✅ 2012 - NO AWARD - Swamplandia - Nominee
✅ 2011 - A Visit from the Goon Squad
✅ 2010 - Tinkers
✅ 2009 - Olive Kitterridge
✅ 2008 - The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
✅ 2007 - The Road
2006 - March
✅ 2005 - Gilead
2004 - The Known World
✅ 2003 - Middlesex
✅ 2002 - Empire Falls
✅ 2001 - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
✅ 2000 - The Interpreter of Maladies
✅ 1999 - The Hours
1998 - American Pastoral
1997 - Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer
1996 - Independence Day
✅ 1995 - The Stone Diaries
✅ 1994 - The Shipping News
1993 - A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
✅ 1992 - A Thousand Acres
1991 - Rabbit at Rest
1990 - The Mambo Kings
✅ 1989 - Breathing Lessons
✅ 1988 - Beloved
✅ 1987 - A Summons to Memphis
✅ 1986 - Lonesome Dove
1985 - Foreign Affairs
1984 - Ironweed
✅ 1983 - The Color Purple
1982 - Rabbit is Rich
✅ 1981 - A Confederacy of Dunces
✅ 1980 - The Executioner's Song
1979 - The Stories of John Cheever
1978 - Elbow Room
✅ 1977 - NO AWARD
✅ 1976 - Humboldt's Gift
1975 - The Killer Angels
✅ 1974 - NO AWARD
1973 - The Optimist's Daughter
✅ 1972 - Angle of Repose
✅ 1971 - NO AWARD
1970 - The Collected Stories of Jean Stafford
1969 - House Made of Dawn
* 1968 - The Confessions of Nat Turner
1967 - The Fixer
1966 - The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter
1965 - The Keepers of the House
✅ 1964 - NO AWARD
1963 - The Reivers
1962 - The Edge of Sadness
✅ 1961 - To Kill a Mockingbird
1960 - Advise and Consent
1959 - The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
1958 - A Death in the Family
✅ 1957 - NO AWARD
1956 - Andersonville
1955 - A Fable
✅ 1954 - NO AWARD
✅ 1953 - The Old Man and the Sea
✅ 1952 - The Caine Mutiny
1951 - The Town
1950 - The Way West
1949 - Guard of Honor
✅ 1948 - Tales of the South Pacific
✅ 1947 - All the King's Men
✅ 1946 - NO AWARD
1945 - A Bell
1944 - Journey in the Dark
1943 - Dragon's Teeth
1942 - In This Our Life
✅ 1941 - NO AWARD
✅ 1940 - The Grapes of Wrath
1928 - The Bridge of San Luis Rey

* Have on hand
✅ Read

Please join us if you are interested in Reusing and Recycling. People are sharing brand and book suggestions and also keeping track of their efforts. Check it out!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339326

Below is my personal list of what I am doing and want to be doing. I plan to keep updating this as I make improvements in my lifestyle this year. Brands listed are my choices and more suggestions are listed in the above thread.

Things I was already doing
*Carry reusable shopping bags
*Reuse packaging and don't overwrap (I have a whole closet of boxes and packing material I recycle)
*Use recyclable paper and cardboard instead of styrofoam packing material
*Buy my veggies in cardboard crates instead of plastic containers whenever possible
*Use a home soda maker with reusable bottle
*Dishwasher detergent -- Planet
*Silicone and beeswax dish toppers/wraps
*Garbage Bags -- Seventh Generation
*Compost Collector under sink that goes into city Compost Bin
*Cloth Napkins
*Wider comfort range for heating and cooling house
*Motion detectors on lights to keep them off when not in use

Recently started
*Keeping a reusable water bottle and cup in the car
*And a reusable utensil kit in my glove compartment
*And a reusable metal straw
*Phone Case -- Switched to compostable case by Pela
*Toilet Paper -- Who Gives A Crap
*Laundry Detergent sheets -- TruEarth
*Cloth "Paper" Towels -- Marley's Monsters
*Recycled Paper Towels -- Who Gives A Crap
*Sponges compostable -- If You Care
*Scrub Cloths cotton and cellulose -- Down to Earth Basics

Next steps
*Transitioning from liquid soap, shower gels and shampoo to solid versions not packaged in plastic. This one may be a bit harder for me with my skin allergies, but I am going to try. I am using up what I have left and then I will try to make the switch.
*Toothpaste
*Composter -- outside
*Ridwell for recycling things

450 years for a plastic bottle to break down in the ocean
114* years since first plastic was invented
90 percent of seabirds have plastic in their stomachs
80 percent of plastic in the ocean originates on land
59* years since the first plastic bag was created
1 rubbish truck of plastics enters the ocean every minute
We typically use a plastic bag for less than 15 minutes
Most tampons have plastic in them
*(+3 years since publication)

How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum. Awesome book!! Read it!

Latest effort

Blueland Toilet Bowl Cleaner--works great!! https://www.blueland.com/products/toilet-cleaner-starter-set

❤️ 2022 Fiction
The Music of Bees (B 336 pages) by Eileen Garvin 5.0
The Vanishing Half (B 343 pages) by Brit Bennet for Literary Arts, 2/7 Bookclub 5.0
The Girl With the Louding Voice (B 382 pages) by Abi Daré 4.5
Long Shadows (🎧 11 hours) by Jodi Taylor 4.5
A Hard Day for a Hangover (🎧 10.5 hours) Darynda Jones read by Lorelai King 4.5
Lock In (B 336 pages) by John Scalzi 4.5
Beyond the Wand (🎧 6.5 hours) by Tom Felton, Draco from Harry Potter! 4.0
Cloud Cuckoo Land (K 640 pages) by Anthony Doerr 4.0
The Man Who Died Twice (B 384 pages) by Richard Osman 4.0
Before We Were Yours (Book 342 pages) by Lisa Wingate 4.0

❤️ 2022 Non-Fiction
The Black Friend (🎧 5 hours) by Fredrick Joseph 5.0
The Woman They Could Not Silence (K 562 pages) by Kate Moore 5.0
How to Give Up Plastic (B 212 pages) by Will McCallum 4.5
These Precious Days (🎧 11.25 hours) by Ann Patchett 5.0

Goodbye 2022! Hello 2023!!

I scored some books for Christmas!!

Thank you benitastrnad!!
Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence
The Christmas Card Crime by Martin Edwards
The Orenda by Joseph Boyden
White Rhino Hotel by Bartle Bull
Café on the Nile by Bartle Bull
Devil's Oasis by Bartle Bull

And my Hubby!
Rhythm of the Wild by Kim Heacox

And a candle from my Daughter!

Happy new year, Kim! Looking forward to following your 2023 reads.

Nice to see you here, Mary! Happy new year to you, too, and I look forward to learning about new things from you, like Nehi sodas!! LOL

Wishing you a comfortable reading year, Kimmers.

The image may be generic but the delight at seeing you return is specific. xx

>14 Berly: Great goddesses below us!! They still make that bilge!! I despair...a world where 45 isn't buried in the latrine pit under the jail, and people still drink Nehi...the End of Days, my dear, they are upon us.

*smooch*

>15 PaulCranswick: Do those guys have something to sit on or are the propping each other up? I need something to sit on!! LOL. I hope to be more present this year, if RL will just cooperate a little. : ) Thank you for being such a regular visitor to my thread. It is always a joy to see you.

>16 richardderus: Yes, Nehi is sold by Amazon, Walmart, Priclist, etc. I had never heard of it. We can just pretend it's not around if that helps. ; ) And 45 will get his someday. Soon would be nice. Don't be such a downer. Repeat after me...FU22! Hello 23!

Happy new thread for the new year Kim!

Why thank you very much, Kro! Welcome and I hope I continue to see you around.

Dropping a star, Kim, and hoping for 2023 to behave itself.

Amen Sister!! It's sooooo nice to see you back here again. : )

Hi Kim my dear, just dropping my star off and will be a visitor in 2023 dear friend.

Hello, John! Welcome back my friend. : )

Happy new thread, Kim. Looking forward to keeping up with your 2023 adventures.

Happy New Thread, Kim. Dropping a ⭐️

>24 MickyFine: >25 EllaTim: Yay! More friends!

Happy New Year, Kim. Hoping that 2023 brings you a boatload of great reading.

Dropping a star here, too, Kim, with wishes for a great 2023.

Re >9 Berly:, I just saw something on the news this evening that I thought was a great initiative. It's a toy exchange club for environmentally minded parents of young kids, based on age-appropriate toys (as per the Montessori school of thought). They aim to keep outgrown toys out of landfill and I believe they take only toys that are not plastic. I know you don't have little ones (but you could have grands one of these days!;-). Anyhow, so far, it's a local initiative but I think it's an idea whose time is now!

https://toyexchange.ca/

Happy new year, TwinK!

>6 Berly: Look at you, already updated our group reads. :)

I'd be up for some IR reading with you next year... Do you still keep that thread updated?

>27 lindapanzo: Linda! It's great to see you here. Here's to a happy, book-filled 23. For both of us!

>28 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! Thanks for dropping off a star -- I will make sure to find your thread and do the same.

And awesome tip for the toys! I will have to look and see if there is something similar here. You know, for later on. ; )

>29 BLBera: Hi TwinB!! Dang it! I knew I forgot to post something....



Hubby signed me up for this (Thank you!!). Over the years I have received over 90 installments (some with two or three books), and I haven't read all the books yet. Not even close!

2023 Indispensable Reader Challenge
January --
1. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 5.0
2. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 4.0
3. Your Duck is My Duck by Deborah Eisenberg -- reading next
February --
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

Next up??
Silas Marner by George Eliot (a classic with a new afterward)
Running the Rift by Naomi Benson (Stasia really liked it)
The Listeners by Leni Zumas
How Music Works by David Byrne
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
The New & Improved Romie Futch by Julia Elliott
Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer with Stasia but super long...
A Girl is a Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

The complete list can be found here --

https://www.librarything.com/topic/336987#n7662792

Your Duck Is My Duck, The Heart's Invisible Furies or Here I Am are ones I've been wanting to read...

Good morning, Kim! It will be a pleasure to watch you tackle your reading lists in '23.
Happy New thread and happiest of New Years to you!

Hiyah, Kim! Good to see you back with us again.

Hi Kim!! I'll get around to my own thread eventually. Meantime, Happy New Year!

>32 BLBera: How about Your Duck is My Duck? And The Heart's Invisible Furies next? I am not currently up for the depth of Here I Am, nor the length. : )

>33 Carmenere: Tackle may be the right word! LOL. Thanks for the good wishes and may the same come true for you.

>34 drneutron: Hey Doc! Thank you again for getting 2023 all set up. I hope you are having some nice time off and wish you a Wonderful New Year!!

>34 drneutron: Judy--Are you buried in snow? Yikes what a storm. I'll find your thread whenever you get to it. Happy Almost New Year!!

I'm dropping my star, Kim, and looking forward to a better year for us all in 2023.

I planned to wait until the new year to start reading 2023 threads but I see that many of them will completely get away from me if I do. So here I am hoping 2022 ends well for you and enjoying the reminders in your reusing and recycling list above. You, and How to Give Up Plastic which I learned about from you, have led to quite a few changes in my life and caused me to spread the word too!!

I hope those of us in the greater Portland area can get together again sometime this year.

Meanwhile -- Happy New Year!!

>37 Familyhistorian: Yay! I look forward to sharing our book reads in 2023 and, yes, here's to a better year in 2023.

>38 RebaRelishesReading: LOL. I am just done with 2022 so on to 2023!! So nice to see you here. I am very glad that you found the recycling info helpful and that you are sharing these ideas -- thank you! I can not wait to have a Portland area get together -- it has been way too long. This summer??? Or should we try for sooner?? In the meantime, Happy New Year wishes right back at you!!

100. A Visit From the Goon Squad buy Jennifer Egan 3.0

Bennie Salazar, an aging former punk rocker and record executive, and Sasha, the passionate, troubled young woman he employs confront their pasts in this powerful story about how rebellion ages, influence corrupts, habits turn to addictions, lifelong friendships fluctuate and turn, and how art and music have the power to redeem.

I don't usually like books with many characters and this one had lots and the characters overlap throughout the stories and I found it hard to keep everyone straight. It also had multiple time frames, which I have less problems with. I enjoyed the book more when I started to read each chapter as a short story, but then I ran the risk of missing the theme of the book which is the goon squad or the passage of time and aging. Lots of references to the music world and I enjoyed the book more after discussing it with Ellen and Beth. But the most important things are I read it and it's a Pulitzer Prize Winner so I can cross it off my list!! And I made 100!!

>40 Berly: I read this one the year it won the Pulitzer and really enjoyed it. I still remember liking the PowerPoint chapter a lot, which is impressive because details from books can often fade very quickly after I read one.

Congrats on making it to a nice round 100!

>41 MickyFine: I really like The Goon Squad's PowerPoint chapter, too. That's cool that you still remember it! I plan to read The Candy House in January -- some of the characters show up in that book as well.

The Candy House is also extraordinarily moving, a testament to the tenacity and transcendence of human longing for real connection, love, family, privacy and redemption. In the world of Egan's spectacular imagination, there are "counters" who track and exploit desires and there are "eluders," those who understand the price of taking a bite of the Candy House. Egan introduces these characters in an astonishing array of narrative styles-from omniscient to first person plural to a duet of voices, an epistolary chapter and a chapter of tweets. If Goon Squad was organized like a concept album, The Candy House incorporates Electronic Dance Music's more disjunctive approach. The parts are titled: Build, Break, Drop. With an emphasis on gaming, portals, and alternate worlds, its structure also suggests the experience of moving among dimensions in a role-playing game. The Candy House is a bold, brilliant imagining of a world that is moments away. Egan takes to stunning new heights her "deeply intuitive forays into the darker aspects of our technology-driven, image-saturated culture" (Vogue). The Candy House delivers an absolutely extraordinary combination of fierce, exhilarating intelligence and heart"--

Should be interesting!!

So, I joined LT in December 2008 and, although we are technically allowed to treat ourselves to one book for each year on our Thingaversary (I am 14), I kept it simple at 3.
: )

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir (🎧 9 hours) by Matthew Perry

Brutally honest with just enough humor to keep me going in this tragic story of addiction by famous actor Matthew Perry aka Chandler in the TV sitcom Friends.

101. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir (🎧 9 hours) by Matthew Perry 4.0

Brutally honest with just enough humor to keep me going in this tragic story of addiction by the famous actor Matthew Perry aka Chandler in the TV sitcom Friends.

>43 Berly: I would end up considering Demon Copperhead one of my top five reads for 2022. I blogged a long review here. Horse is also on that list for 2022.

Happy new year!

Hi Kim! Wishing you a Happy New Year, with some goodies from Holland:

>40 Berly: I didn't much like it when I read it a couple of years ago but your comments helped and almost make me want to re-read it with that in mind -- but, actually, life's too short so I'll just keep on moving' on :)

>43 Berly: Oh, nice choices. I see you went with that old standby, "every book-year equals 4.3333 people-years." I thought that was a lost algorithm!

>3 Berly: You are making me add books to the BlackHole already for 2023, Kim. Stop! Lol

Happy new thread and happy 2023, Kim!

And I also bought a copy of Horse by Geraldine Brooks. Do you want to do a group read with me and Mark? Mark said he'd do it.

Happy New Year

Hi Kimmers! I'm dropping off my star here. You know that I'll be visiting less often than I'd like, and I'll never keep up, but I do want to follow along with your reading.

Looking forward to our shared reads, too!

Happy New Year to you, Hubby, and the whole family. I hope 2023 is a healthier one for you and that you're able to really get back into TKD, endorphins and all.

xoxo

Happy new year Kim!

>40 Berly: .... Congratulations on busting out of 100 for 2022!

Happy Thingaversary Kim.

Nice book haul. I might be buying Horse, if the library copy isn't available in time. Congrats on reaching 100. I'm trying to decide what to call my thread in 2023, so we can be thread-adjacent. :)

>46 witchyrichy: Excellent! That means I am in for some good reads. : ) Happy New Year!

>47 EllaTim: Thank you for the good wishes and the goodies! Wishing you a wonderful new year!

>48 RebaRelishesReading: LOL. I'll take that as a win and I don't blame you at all. Here's to 5 star reads in 2023!!

>49 richardderus: Ha! I found that algorithm again!! Thought I'd put it to good use. Glad you approve of my choices. Smooches for the New Year!

>50 alcottacre: Yay! I made Stasia put more books in her black hole! I don't feel bad about that at all since you threw about 455 out of it this year. You NEED suggestions. ; ) Happy New Year!!

>51 banjo123: Hi there! Love to add you and Mark to the Horse read. Beth and Ellen are already in and we are planning for February. Hope that works for you two! Happy New Year!

>52 johnsimpson: John, my friend, Happy New Year to you and Karen and the kids!!

>53 EBT1002: Ellen--I know you'll drop in whenever you can and I am so glad we already have some shared reads picked out. That will keep us in touch. : ) Happy New Year!!

>54 quondame: Happy New Year, Susan!! And thanks for noticing I hit the big 100. Last minute, but I did it!!

>55 Caroline_McElwee: Caroline--Yes, December is my Thingaversary, on the second. And I see that you joined the year before me and on my birthday as a matter of fact. 2/21. LOL. I used to buy a book for every year I was a member here. I think I did that until my 10th Thingaversary, now I just treat myself to some random number of books. Plus one for good luck. ; ) Happy New Year!

>56 BLBera: TwinB--Hubby and I were getting takeout for dinner and it wasn't going to be ready for an other 20 minutes so of course I had to spend my time wisely and walk down to Annie Bloom's bookstore and there Horse was, just neighing at me, so I had to get it. Thanks on the 100 congrats. I didn't write many reviews or post much here last year, but I did read! I will look for your new 2023 thread tomorrow and see what name you came up with.
Happy New Year!!

Here's to a better year in 2023! Best wishes to all my wonderful friends here --
life wouldn't be that same without you all. Love you tons.

Off to celebrate by seeing Pink Martini Band rock in the new year!



with PSU Chamber Choir and Portland Youth Philharmonic.

>62 Berly: ooh! Enjoy! What a great start to the new year!

>62 Berly: I hope it's as amazing as we expect! Looking forward to the report....

Happy New Year, Kimmers! We are closing out another wonderful year of books and banter and I am looking forward to sharing another with you. I am also heading into my 15th year on LT. Wow! Good luck with your various challenges. The Groff books are great. Enjoy! If you would like to do a shared read of Empire of Pain I would be up for it.

Have a great year of reading, Kim!

Happy New Year, Kim! I look forward to following your reading this year.

Happy new year, Kim!

Must've been a stellar event, they're such talented musicians.

See you when the ice-pack comes off.

Happy new year, Kim, and happy reading!

>62 Berly: I hope the concert was good Kim.

>57 Berly: Definitely a win! Indeed, here's to 5 star reads and an all-around good year in 2023!!

Happy New Year and happy new thread Kim!

Hi Kim. Just stopping by to say Happy New Year and to star your thread.

Happy 2023 Kim!!

I hope you had a great time with Pink Martini. Not a creative name for my thread. I'm not good with titles, etc.

>63 figsfromthistle: It was frickin' awesome!! I love Pink Martini in the first place and then they brought in so many guest singers -- 4 of the Von Trapp grandkids (the originals famous from The Sound of Music), their lead singer China Forbes (who won the the Ella Fitzgerald Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival), a former Miss USA winner, some singer from the TV show The Voice or America's Got Talent (I recognized him but can't remember his name and there was no program...), and at least 4 more singers. I am horrible with names. Sorry. : ) Anyhow, tons of fun and everyone was in a good mood.

>64 EBT1002: Oh and another highlight of the New Year’s eve concert was a short animated film called ‘Destino,’ which was made by Salvador Dali and Walt Disney in the 1940s! This is only the second time it was performed live because it was suppressed by the Disney family (not on brand for them) and only found in family archives in the early 2000s. WAAAAAY different than the usual Disney thing.

The seven-minute short follows the story of Chronos and his ill-fated love for a mortal woman named Dahlia. The story continues as Dahlia dances through surreal scenery inspired by Dalí's paintings. There is no dialogue, but the soundtrack includes music by the Mexican composer Armando Dominguez and then Thomas Lauderdale of Pink Martini reconstructed the music and choir parts.

>65 msf59: Happy New Year my friend Mark!! As I have said before, I am sooooo happy to be done with 2022. Onwards!! Patrick Radden Keefe, writer of Empire of Pain, is coming to Portland for Literary Arts in February. I think I'd like to read this one after I hear the talk, so maybe March or April? but happy to read it with you whenever we get to it. : )

>66 thornton37814: >67 lauralkeet: Lori and Laura -- Happy New Year wishes and cheers to new books and may they all be great reads!

>68 DianaNL: Happy New Year Diana!!

>69 richardderus: Ricardo--It was simply amazing and so much fun! Yeah, then we went over to my FILs afterwards so we didn't get home until 2 and I didn't hit the pillow until 3. Weeeee bit tired today. LOL. Happy New Year! Smooch.

>70 mstrust: Jennifer--Happy reading and Happy New Year to you, too!

>71 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you. The concert was fantastic! See up above. ; ) Happy New Year!

>72 RebaRelishesReading: Reba--Here's to lots of 5-star reads, new books, and great LT friends! Happy New Year.

>73 humouress: Nina--I would so love to be able to write 2023 in the sand at some nice, warm beach. LOL. Ah well, at least it isn't raining today. : ) Happy New Year!

>74 PawsforThought: Paws! How to nice to see you here. : ) Happy New Year!!

>75 RebaRelishesReading: Happy 2023 Reba!!

>76 BLBera: As long as your thread name is clear enough that I can find you, it's all good! In fact, I am off to find you now...!

Happy New Year, Kim!

>78 Berly: Destino sounds amazing! Maybe union-bustin' chain-smokin' Walt had some soul after all.

*smooch*

>83 ronincats: Happy New Year, Roni!!

>84 richardderus: Yes, I think he definitely had a soul. LOL. Smooch.

>58 Berly: I NEED suggestions? I am looking forward to see what more you throw my way in 2023, Kim!

Happy New Year Kim! And thanks for checking in on my thread even when I've been absent.
I couldn't tell from >3 Berly: whether you are planning to read Florida by Lauren Groff. I've been dipping in and out of its short stories hoping to learn something about this new state I now live in, and I'm finding it quite good.

Congratulations on reaching the big 100!
Both of Egan's books are on my tbpurcased list. Your 3.0 rating has me a bit concerned.
Hope the new year is off to a great start.

>87 arubabookwoman: Deborah--Literary Arts is presenting Lauren Groff this January and I would like to read one of her books after I hear her talk. Leaning towards reading Matrix, but I am glad to hear that Florida is working for you. And how nice to see you here! : )

>88 Carmenere: Lynda--Thank you for the 100 congrats. I always make 75, but 100 is a stretch for me -- it is one of the better things that happened in '22.

And if it makes you feel any any better, BLBera rated Goon Squad as one of her best reads in 2022 and I am going to read the sequel, Candy house, this month. Also it was a national bestseller, a National Book Critics Circle Award Winner, a PEN/Faulkner Award Finalist, A New York Times Book Review Best Book, and One of the Best Books of the Year.

Happy New Year!

So, again, my oldest daughter's wedding was wonderful, but the rest of 2022 was pretty hard.
Let's talk about car troubles and how the year ended...

12/28 My middle daughter called because she noticed her friend was weaving as she was driving home from a night out, managed to call her and get her to pull over, and called us for backup. Good move! We drove out and got the friend and her car safely home.

12/29 The next night, same daughter was headed out to meet some friends and her car started to sound weird. Again she pulled over and called us. We heard it and definitely something was wrong. She called AAA to come tow her, but they had a three hour wait time. Luckily she was not far from the house. So again, we headed out and picked her up. Two and a half hours later we met the tow truck and followed him to the repair shop. Consolatory coffee was consumed and we got one for the tower, too. Turned out to be a clutch problem and it is already fixed.

My car was also in the shop, but just for for regular maintenance. It's fine.

12/30 The following night, same daughter was out on a date. His car battery died. Thankfully she called a friend , instead of us, and got a ride home. The date had a friend come jump his car and he got home safely. They are still talking.

Also, my oldest daughter was in San Diego celebrating her birthday with a group of friends and they hired a limo driver for their evening. He was an hour late to pick them up because the limo's battery died. Then he was so reckless as a driver that they let him go and had to Uber the rest of the night.

12/31 Fourth night now, back to my middle daughter. She was babysitting for a bunch of kids during a New Year's Eve wedding and when she got back to her car someone had busted in the back window. They only stole her emergency pack, but now we have to get the car fixed. Again.

1/1 No car drama yesterday. So off to a good start!

>8 Berly: Nothing like padding the stats, is there, Kim. Maybe I should try that. You've read every one of those No Awards. Curiously, they all go to the same Touchstone, and the Wiki casts it as "fantasy" and "science Fiction." :-)

>92 weird_O: I've read the green-checked ones (37 so far) from the Pulitzer list and I just didn't feel like constantly having to proof if the right book was selected every time I start a thread, so they are listed without touchstones. Deal with it. ; ) No Awards. LOL.

Wow, let’s hope the end of 2022 ends the car saga!

>94 drneutron: My fingers and toes are crossed!!

>78 Berly: They showed the Disney / Dali collaboration at the Museum of Monder Art in New York a few years ago - mind boggling

and Hi Kim!

>96 magicians_nephew: Hello there! Wasn't Destino different from the usual Disney thing? Pretty cool.

>91 Berly: Oh my! That's quite a series of events. Hopefully not *too* insanely expensive.

>91 Berly: Ye gawds. Such a joy, living in car country, he said smugly.

What a crummy end to a mostly crummy year. 2023 doesn't have to do much to make it to the top of the league tables.

>91 Berly: That is quite the vehicular drama, Kimmers.

The absence of any problems on New Years Day bodes well hopefully.

Fingers crossed that 2023 is a good year for cars. :)

Crossing fingers all your car trouble is behind you Kim.

>91 Berly: That is so many kinds of aaargghh! I hope the rest of the year leaves all your family's cars (all of our cars) untroubled!

Well, lets hope that the rest of 2023 has better car luck! I will plan on reading Horse in February.

>98 ArlieS: >99 richardderus: >100 PaulCranswick: >101 BLBera: >102 Caroline_McElwee: >103 quondame: >104 banjo123: Thanks everyone! Still have to get the window fixed. We'll call about insurance tomorrow and then take it in. The people my daughter was babysitting for have offered to pay for repairs, which is super nice. And January 1st went well so crossing my fingers and toes that this trend has been broken, but not broken into! LOL

>91 Berly: Wow, that's quite a streak! May 2023 indeed be better.

>106 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba!!

It may be cheaper (and less stressful!) to just uber and forget the car...Glad no one got hurt in any of this!

>108 jessibud2: I know. But then the friend would have to go back the next day to get it and I am guessing she didn't want her parents to know why she left the car, even though leaving it and not driving would be the mature, smart thing to do. Who knows? But, yes, thankfully everyone was safe.

So, these are the two books I am reading right now that I never finished last year and I felt they should not go in the DNF pile. I was just not in the right place to do them justice. Very glad I opened them up again -- enjoying them soooo much more. State of Wonder Amazon jungle, a mysterious death, and researching a new drug and All the Light We Cannot See a blind child, a genius with radios, Nazi's, Paris and Germany, with beautiful poetic writing and interesting facts of history and nature.



And I already loved An Immense World, but it is on my Kindle and not getting the attention it deserves because, as I bragged about on my last thread, it is simply amazing. Animals, nature and how we "see" the world so very differently.



I am also reading/listening to Project Hail Mary and loving it! Ray Porter is such a great narrator and Andy Weir is just awesome. Weird, funny, space, science, save-the-world stuff.



Off to a great start with my books!

Four at once! I don't think I would keep them straight. I read All The Light We Cannot See when it first came out and really liked it. Haven't read the Patchett but I usually like her books so I'll wait and see what you have to say when you're finished. An Immense World sounds really good. I may look for that one at Book Passage tomorrow. So the bullets are flying already :)

Happy new year, Kim!! HOW can you be at 110 messages already? (I read them all LOL)

I loved Empire of Pain. It was one of my top 5 books (from a tragically low total of 23) last year. I hope you do too! I'd heard the hype and had a couple of friends tell me "you have to read it" which sometimes makes me NOT read it, then one brought her copy round and I felt obliged to start it - couldn't put it down till it was done.

Also loved All the Light We Cannot See and am glad you're enjoying it more on a second go.

Kimmmmmm! Starred your thread OF COURSE because you're awesome! Looking forward to popping in every now and then

>91 Berly: That was a lot of car drama, Kim, but thankfully all fixable and not as bad as it could have been. Let's hope 2023 will be free of transportation glitches.

>110 Berly: I just finished An Immense World on audiobook and really enjoyed it and I have Project Hail Mary on my shelf, keep seeing such good reactions to it I should try to get to it this year.

That's a lot of car trouble, Kim. I'm glad everyone is safe and the cars are repairable, but what a lot of stress for all involved! Let's hope that's the last of it for a while.

Hi, Kim. Sorry to hear about all the car troubles. Ugh! But I do love all your current reads. I really liked State of Wonder and the Doerr is a modern classic. I will pencil us in for Empire of Pain for March.

I'm glad you returned to State of Wonder and All the Light You Cannot See, TwinK. I loved both of them. An Immense World sounds good as well. I've heard good things about the Weir book. I might have to check to see if my library has the audiobook.

Oh, you got me with the Ed Yong - sounds fascinating.

All that car trouble at once - maybe that will be it for the year.

>110 Berly: I really liked All the Light We Cannot See in 2021 Kim. I have An Immense World near the top of the tbr mountain to be read soon.

>91 Berly: Whoa! That is some kinda bad car mojo.

>110 Berly: Daniel, Abby and I all loved the audio of Project Hail Mary - we told Craig he missed out because he read it in print.

Hoping that today is kind to you, my friend.

Happy New Year, Kim!

Guess I should add Goon Squad to the never-ending TBR list. Hmm, it looks like I have not read any by Jennifer Egan. Something to be remedied this year!

>91 Berly: Whoa on the streak of bad luck with the cars! I'm so glad everyone got home safely. Hopefully you've used up the bad car luck for the entire year.

Great to have a visit over here! Me too somehow I missed Goon Squad on the first go-around. Must put it on my list! Happy reading in 2023 Kim!

>110 Berly: Hope you are enjoying State of Wonder and All the Light We Cannot See. They are both favorites of mine.

Adding Ed Yong to my TBR list. Sounds wonderful!

And sending good car energy to you!

>111 RebaRelishesReading: I usually have at least 3 going at once: one audio, one book and one on the phone, but yup I'm on 4 right now! It helps that they stories are wildly different.

>112 cushlareads: You get major points for reading all the posts!! LOL. So nice to see you here. And I am very encouraged that you liked the books I have on my list. And you didn't hype them too much, so you didn't put me off them and my expectations aren't sky high. ; )

Also do you have a thread somewhere? Not finding you...

>113 vikzen: Oh you are so sweet! Now I really do feel awesome! LOL. Hope to see you frequently around these parts and vice versa.

>114 Familyhistorian: Right? I've never seen so much car drama! Thankfully just the window needs fixing now and they are coming over in the next day or two to install a new one. Phew.

>115 WhiteRaven.17: I am just loving An Immense World and I bet it was really good on audio, too. Hope you get the chance to pull Project Hail Mary out this year -- very fun.

>116 lauralkeet: Hoping that all the car drama is over indeed. I just can't believe it was four days in a row! Yeesh. Glad to see you here. : )

Happy new year, and happy thread! I am going to try to do a better job of keeping up with my LT friends this year . . . we'll see how that goes!

I read one of Ed Yong's earlier books, I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life and was taken by his manner of expressing himself.

Holy maloley. It's January 3rd! Wow, I can't believe what time is doing.

>117 msf59: Excellent, Mark. Empire of Pain it is -- March! I have heard good things about this one and I am happy to be doing a shared read again with you.

>118 BLBera: Sounds like we have very similar reading tastes, right? LOL

>119 ffortsa: Definitely look up An Immense World - it was recommended by Anthony Doerr and I think by Obama and many people here on LT.

>125 Berly: I usually have an audio and a physical book going -- and I prefer them to be very different.

I made my visit to Book Passage this afternoon and had a lovely time. Among other things I bought An Immense World.

>120 Caroline_McElwee: Good to know! And you should move it up to the top. ; )

>121 Crazymamie: Yeah. Hoping it was a 2022 thing. I had an excellent day today and I hope you did too! BTW--Craig totally missed out on the audio for Project Hail Mary. LOL

>122 streamsong: I think Egan would be a good add!! And I hope you are right about the bad luck streak being DONE!

>123 mdoris: Happy reading! And get your hands on the Goon Squad. : )

Drat that you started the new year with car problems. I hope 2022 is a better year for you my friend.

I look forward to learning what you are reading.

>124 witchyrichy: Thanks for the good car wishes! I'll take them gladly. And glad to know you are another fan of my current book reads. You really should find a copy of Ed Yong's books -- I think he has more than one that are good.

>128 foggidawn: You and me both -- I really want to do a better job of keeping up here. I missed my friends here last year and "seeing" everyone always lifts my mood no matter what. Lots of laughs and good book recs. Perf!

>129 richardderus: Ooh! Good news. I will look for Ed Yong's I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life for later in the year.

>131 RebaRelishesReading: Yeah, it really helps if my multiple reads are different so I can keep them straight in my head. And yay for a copy of An Immense World! I hope you enjoy it. : )

>134 Whisper1: The car should be fixed in the next two days and then I am hoping for an easier time with the automotives. Done with 22 as in F U 22!! LOL. Happy for a fresh start in 23.

And my latest book reads are way up on >110 Berly:. Just posted them yesterday - the threads are flying this week!

Do you have your thread up yet? I will go look for you again. Hope you are feeling well. Happy New Year! May it be kinder, healthier and happier for all. : )

Lot of love here for An Immense World. I had it on my Christmas WANT! List, but it wasn't a winner of the Books for Gramps Bonanza. Instead he got Demon Copperhead, a collection of Nikolai Gogol stories, and a recent translation of Turgenev's Fathers and Children.* But I gave the Yong book to DiL Tara, and she was reading in at my house on the 26th. GOAL!! I can borrow it from her at some point.

I put that asterisk after Fathers and Children so I could whine about my inability to get the correct Touchstone to present itself. The particular edition I was given does have a book page with the correct ISBN and pub date and cover image, and I followed the step-by-step to forcing the Touchstone using the number of that page. And it STILL pulls up Fathers and Sons.

So why IS that, Kim? Why don't you DO something about it? Hahahaha. Just an old man being railroaded into dementia. Pay me no mind.

Hi Kim

Here is my first thread.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/347332

I hope to be more active in visiting the threads this year. And, I hope my body will cooperate with this goal. December of 2022 was difficult and pain ridden. I know I handle this well, but there are some days I simply let God know that I've had enough of this! I shouldn't complain as most of February of 2022 was spent in the hospital with three surgeries regarding an infusion pump. And, I've managed to stay out of the hospital the remaining months of 2022.

I continue to work on the house and last week a new kitchen floor was installed. Today, the remaining box of flooring was installed in one of the downstairs bathrooms. Both projects turned out really well and the two younger men who worked on both the kitchen and bathroom, were personable and hard working. In addition to installing the floor materials, they also removed the wood work and placed brand new white lovely trim.

Yes, the threads are flying. And it is difficult to keep up. But, I set the goal of visiting threads more often, and I hop to stick to it.

I need three new bathroom cabinets/sinks, but that will need to work. A friend who is very creative recommended that I sand the cabinets, use primer before painting them, and then remove the doors and sew lovely curtains to be placed on a flexible curtain rod. I have the paint, the sand paper, the rods and some beautiful heavy material. Now, I need the motivation to finish what I started.

Reading was slow in December, and energy is low thus far this year. Tomorrow I will sit in my comfortable chair and read!

I am thinking of you and hope that you can be healthy in 2023. These health issues suck out all the energy for us. I continue to hope that we can have energy and time to read!

I send much love.

>138 weird_O: Okay. "Why don't you DO something about it? Hahahaha." I am going to give it a go. Ready? Father's and Children? By Turgenev? I had to scroll WAAAAAAAAY down to find it. Is this the touchstone you wanted? Do I get any points. If not at least I tried. : )

And I am glad you got Demon Copperhead I know Mark and Stasia are reading this in January and I am planning on reading it in March with Beth and Ellen. I am sure others are joining in as well. So join a group!

>139 Whisper1: Linda, found you!! Yes, 2022 was hard. You had three surgeries and I had one along with two bouts of Covid and some unknown bug that gave me a fever for a week. Ugh! I am still dealing with Long Covid and you still have pain, but I hope we both have a healthier year ahead of us.

And like you I really hope to be more present here. It is so good for my happiness. I have decided to try and do this while I "watch" the news with Hubby. I don't really like the news -- it's so depressing. But I can listen and do posts at the same time, so, we'll see how my plan goes.

Yay for new floors and trim! That's always so nice to have everything looking new and cool. Good luck on the bathroom cabinets. I bet they'll turn out great. When you find the time and motivation. ; )

Have an easy day and some fun reading. With love and hugs from me. : )

Happy New Year and Happy New Thread, Kim!
May it be a good year.
I let a star shine on you, to the many that beautify your thread sky.
>45 Berly: And the first BB of the year - maybe not the last.
We are FRIENDS afficionados.

>140 Berly: I really want to shout, "Dat's IT!" but sadly, I cannot. I'm not surprised that you actually tried, and scroll down should that ungodly looooooong list. Because I have noted how conscientious you are. It's simply one of life's vexations.

FWIW, here's the link to the specific book: https://www.librarything.com/work/3493/book/231645098
Though this translation was published just last year (i.e. 2022) it's owned by 8,108 LT members, 119 of whom have posted reviews. And so—Yes, I've already dragged this out beyond toleration—the book page is a mash-up of info about Turgenev's 1862 novel published under the title Fathers and Children but more commonly as Fathers and Sons. I just learned this, like, ten minutes ago. My bad.

It's the onset of dementia, I tell ya. As I said, Pay me no mind.

Hi Kim, I think I just about made it before you start your second thread of the new year...!

I hope the cars are now behaving. I still haven't read Empire of Pain but hope to get there one day. I think my reads are leaning towards escapism just now.

I might have missed this (sorry!) but is the fancy slipcover edition of State of Wonder in your image, your copy? It looks gorgeous!

All The light we cannot see has been on my TBR for too long - time to dive in.

>140 Berly: As companion non-fiction reads to Demon Copperhead, you might want to add Beth Macy's two books about the opioid crisis: Dopesick is directly set in Lee County, like Kingsolver's book, while the newer one, Raising Lazarus takes a wider view of Appalachia and the crisis.

>142 SirThomas: Sir Thomas!! Happy New Year and I am so glad to finally (LOL) officially be your friend! And you're welcome for the book bullet. Good way to start the year.

>143 weird_O: Dang it! Well, I did try. You're worth it. : ) I did notice that you were looking for Father's and Children and NOT Father's and Sons, but I figured it was just the copy you had. Ah well. Moving on. You read it and that's good. Turgenev is a great author.

>144 charl08: You made it!! LOL. Well, news of the day is that the car window got fixed so everybody is happy again.

Yes, my copy came as part of collection and they frequently send books in sleeves like this. Pretty cool right? And it's signed!!

I'll let you know how Empire of Pain goes. I totally get the escapism need right now. I read a lot of murder mysteries last year.

>145 magicians_nephew: Yes!! Open that book! All the Light We Cannot See is stunning. I want to finish State of Wonder and then I will be back to All the Light. I am about 2/3 in.

>146 witchyrichy: Oh! Thanks for the suggestions. I plan on reading Copperhead in March and then I'll see how much more I can take on the topic. I've noted your post so I can find it again later. ; )

You are going great guns so far Kimmers - currently running a spectacular second in number of posts to your thread.

>148 Berly: I plan to join you for Demon Copperhead, Kimmers.

(Stolen from Stasia)

2022 Year-End Meme:

Describe yourself: The Woman They Could Not Silence
Describe how you feel: The Zig Zag Girl
Describe where you currently live: The Last House on Needless Street
If you could go anywhere, where would you go? Winesburg, Ohio (It's 4:00 somewhere!)
Your favorite form of transportation is: Flying on the Inside
Your favorite food (can be found at): The Graveside Bar and Grill
Your favorite time of day is: Moonglow
Your best friend is: Impossible to Forget
You and your friends are: Book Lovers
What's the weather like? Gathering Blue
You fear: Hell and Back
What is the best advice you have to give? (How to) Give Up Plastic
Thought for the day: What Could Possible Go Wrong?
What is life for you? These Precious Days
How you would like NOT to die: Brain on Fire and then Buried in Secret
Your soul's present condition: The Music of Bees
What was (2021 and) 2022 like for you? The Conception of Terror
What do you want from 2023? The Book of Hope

>149 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! Am I really second right now? Wow. Well, that probably won't last for long so I'm gonna bask in it right now. : )

Yay for doing Demon Copperhead in March!! We'll be the second group reading.

>150 Berly: I love it! I chuckled at several of those.

>91 Berly: Oh, my goodness!

>110 Berly: State of Wonder and All the Light We Cannot See are both very good books. I am hoping that picking them up again works out for you! An Immense World looks very good and Project Hail Mary is already in the BlackHole.

>150 Berly: Love the answers!

Hi Kim -- found you and got you starred!

Oof to that series of car troubles -- that's a lot!

>152 foggidawn: Thanks! I actually had the hardest time finding titles to answer the prompts this year. I mean I had nothing for food, so I tweaked the prompt. ; )

>153 alcottacre: I was supposed to be reading State of Wonder with you and Mark, but it just wasn't working for me and now I am enjoying it a lot. I like the second half better. An Immense World just keeps blowing my mind! And I am glad you already have PHM waiting for you.

>154 curioussquared: Well hello there! Glad you found me. : ) And oof is an understatement. LOL. Luckily we go the window fixed yesterday and I hope that string of car troubles means we are scot free for quite a bit of time now! Fingers crossed.

Tonight we are celebrating my oldest's bday and her new husband's too! She booked reservations at an outdoor restaurant, which was a new thing with Covid and now they are everywhere! This one looks cute. No idea what the menu is like...

In the meantime, I am off to work for a bit and then I want to continue using a rug cleaner downstairs. Middle daughter helped me do two rooms yesterday. I have yet to go down and peek at my progress; hope they are drying out well.

I hope dinner out is tasty, Kim.

We're answer twins for who our friends are. Not really surprising around here, lol.

>158 MickyFine: Thanks Micky! Heading out in a bit. I'll keep you posted. ; )

I like that meme answer for who your friend are -- Answer Twins! And, yes, perfect especially around LT friends.

What's your favorite thing? Books
What do you like to do? Read
Where do you go with your best friends? Bookclub.
Where do you like to visit? Bookstores

And on and on...! : )

>155 Berly: I am glad to see that State of Wonder is working better for you this time!

>157 Berly: Happy birthday to your daughter and son-in-law.

Have a fantastic Friday, Kim!

*smoochiesmoochsmooch*

>157 Berly: aaah COVID, it brought so much with it, and now outdoor restaurants in winter as well!!! ;)

I hope din dins was great! And happy birthday to your eldest.

Hello! Finally getting a chance to read through and post (in time for the next thread to come up quickly I'm sure).

Sounds like you are definitely glad for the change of year; I can relate to that!

>160 alcottacre: Finished State of Wonder 5 minutes ago. Wow, what an ending. So much more to say, but I have to sit with it for a while. : )

>161 richardderus: Smooches back atcha kind sir.

>162 LovingLit: LOL. Some of the outdoor restaurants are kinda fun, with little cubbies to keep the heat in and an outdoor heater right nearby. This one had an excellent menu as well. We had oysters for appetizers and then,I know it sounds kinda strange, but I got the crab and macaroni and cheese -- it was amazing!

>163 ursula: Hi there! So nice to see you. The new year is off to a pretty decent start and I hope the same is true for you. Now I just have to get my books going -- slow start, lol.

Happy Day to you Kim!

>166 Whisper1: That's so sweet. Thank you. Happy Saturday!

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 4.0

There's a new fertility drug discovered in the Amazon, but one of the researchers has died and communication has stalled out on the drug's research progress. There are many questions. Marina is sent to the wilderness to find out exactly what is going on.

For me, the book is good but a little slow in the beginning. But the background is absolutely necessary to know who the characters are and what's at stake. Then once we enter the rivers and jungles of the Amazon things get a lot more exciting. This book explores love, science and ethics on so many levels. The characters are very distinct and her portrayal of the jungle is beautiful.

Hope you enjoyed the little snippets below! It's a great book -- you should read it!

Fun Facts About Ann Patchett and This Book
From an Interview with Portland Literary Arts

Ann actually went to the Amazon for ten days, but says that 36 hours would have been plenty. "There would be 8 or 10 people on the open boats. We would go out for hours and hours, down these tiny, twisting tributaries that fork right, fork left, fork left, fork right. We were all thinking, If the guide has a heart attack, we are screwed because we're never getting out of here. Hours and hours go by and you don't see anybody. It's very remote."

Ann couldn't decide at first whether the main characters, Marina and Dr. Swenson, should be women or men, but knew that they should be the same sex.

The highest bidders at a library foundation fundraiser (Ann is on the board) won the chance to have characters in Ann's book named after them! Jack and Barbara Bovendor.

And the scene with anaconda actually happened on her boat! They pulled into a lettuce pond and this guy asked to stop the boat and he reached in and pulled out an anaconda! He grabbed it too far from the head, (same as the character in the book) but rather than fight with it he threw it back in the water. When Ann was writing the book, she put that scene in there and added some embellishments and had someone try to kill the snake with a scalpel. In real life, Ann had become friends with the snake guy, who was a professional tour guide and naturalist and had actually already caught several anacondas (they can be 18 feet long), and he said a scalpel would be useless. But that every boat In the Amazon would have a machete, so Ann put that in her character's hands instead.

In many of her past books, Ann says that she likes to put her characters in an enclosed area and see what happens. "The canopy of tress {is} the roof. {In the Amazon} you have to be with the group all the time, because otherwise something is going to eat you. I've never felt so claustrophobic and hemmed in, as I did in the Amazon. So, it's the Patchett motif going strong."

Thanks for the synopsis. I know now that I won't read it - because of the snake. Nope, never. *shudder*. I would never sleep again...

>169 jessibud2: Sorry, Shelley!! I wouldn't want you to have nightmares, but it's a really good book!

>168 Berly: That is my favourite book by Patchett. Anyhow....happy weekend :)

>171 figsfromthistle: I gave it a four star rating, so that's pretty darn good in my book. : )

The ending was pretty awesome and at the same time left me with so many questions. Does Marina go back to the pharmaceutical company? Is she done with her boss? Since she was eating the fertility bark, did she get pregnant on her one-night affair with her coworker Anders? Is she going to tell her boss about the malaria side effect or keep that hidden? And I want to know if Easter ever escapes and goes back to his adopted tribe.

These Precious Days is probably my favorite by Patchett, followed by this one and The Patron Saint of Liars.

Just catching up (already!), Kim. Joining the wishes for good car karma for 2023!

I also loved State of Wonder. I loved reading the Patchett comments. She has a new one coming out this year, I think.

Kim, I very much like the writings of Ann Patchett. I read State of Wonder last year and very much enjoyed it. Many thanks for the additional information!!!

Thinking of you and hoping the new year is good to you thus far.

>168 Berly: I cannot believe that I still haven't read anything by Ann Patchett, Kimmers and I must right that wrong soon.

You are still going strong in the posting stakes solidly in the top six.

Have a glorious Sunday.

Kim...I thought of you (because you are so very kind) when I was adding more Zagarenski illustrations to my library.

Great review on State of Wonder, Kim. Love the Patchett addition too. I had a feeling she had gone to the Amazon. I really liked the book too. I still want to read a couple of her earliest books, including The Patron Saint of Liars. My favorites of hers are- Commonwealth and This is the Story of a Happy Marriage but I really like all of them.

Thanks for the insight into Patchett's writing. She is a favorite of mine and have a few still to read including These Precious Days. I made the pilgrimage to her bookstore in Nashville last year.

>168 Berly: My daughter read that one when she was going to Ecuador and the Galapagos, I think someone recommended it to her because her group had to choose which anti-malarial to take. One of them could cause intestinal disturbances, the other one weird dreams. She opted for the weird dreams.

>90 Berly: ok I can't put it off any longer. I'll order Goon Squad and Candy House today!
Huh! I've had State of Wonder on my y shelf for ages. Your info about it tells me I must dig it out this year.
Have a great day!

Hiya Kim. So sorry your year ended in car drama. And long Covid totally sucks. Two rounds of short(ish) Covid spoiled parts of 2022 for me. Here’s hoping for a healthy 2023 for ALL of us!

>173 ronincats: Glad you are here and all caught up!! Bless you for the good car karma wish. : ) Happy New Year and best wishes for 5 star books.

>174 BLBera: What's the new one called? And when? I did a quick look but didn't find anything.

>175 Whisper1: Linda--I am glad you enjoyed the additional Ann Patchett comments. I love hearing authors thoughts on their books. 2023 is off to a decent start. I am still exhausted with my long Covid and my knee is taking FOREVER to heal (although my doctor says I am actually on track and its just that most people my age don't do TKD and so I have a higher expectation -- I just think it still hurts too much!). But I am making small progress and celebrating small victories. Right now my latest exercise is to jump up and down on the bottom stair and land GENTLY. Also jumping forward, right, back, left in a square. Quickly and without noise (so gently again). Man am I out of shape! LOL

Hope the new year is treating you well and the that the pain is behaving somewhat. When is your next infusion? Soon, right?

>176 PaulCranswick: Told you #2 wouldn't last! LOL. But I am not going to stress about my LT numbers. (I will still enjoy hearing where I fall though! I love your stats.) I just want to be here and have fun with everyone.

Paul, read a Patchett for goodness sakes!! How is it even possible you haven't yet? Tell me you have one in your many TBR shelves.

>177 Whisper1: Aww Linda. You are so sweet. That actually made my cry! Tears of happiness, of course. : ) Thank you so much. Bless you, you are the one who is so very kind. Very big hugs.

>178 msf59: Interesting. One of your favorite Patchett books, This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, is one I haven't even read yet! That bodes well for me. Glad you enjoyed the added comments. Glad your year has started off well with Jackson visits and great books. May that continue!

>179 witchyrichy: I am jealous you got to see Patchette's bookstore!! I have been lucky enough to visit Birchbark Books in Minneapolis twice (Louise Erdrich) and loved it. (I have relatives out that way, so trips out there are not uncommon.) : )

>180 ursula: Ugh. Anti-malarial drugs sound awful. Since I already have intestinal issues (ulcerative colitis), I would definitely opt for the bad dream version. What horrible choices! How was her trip?!

>181 Carmenere: Well, I feel like an influencer today!! LOL. I hope you enjoy them. I am certainly not alone in recommending these books, although I can't say anything about Candy House because that one is my near-future read. Have fun today!

>182 Donna828: The bad car karma was an appropriate end to last year. Last year we also had a company car get rear ended and one of our employees got T-boned on the way home, not to mention our son's car sliding down the hill into our garage. All people are unscathed, but yeesh! Done and done.

I can only imagine how bad this would have been for me last year if I had not been fully vaccinated. At least I didn't wind up in the hospital and I am only tired. Others have it much worse. Here's to no more Covid episodes for either of us (or our friends and relatives) in 2023!

So, today I am tackling my Christmas gift -- a puzzle! It has no picture, and you have to follow clues. I have been working on it a week or so, with my daughter, and we have the border done and several patches of inner pieces -- we have guessed where they fit inside the puzzle! LOL. Wish us luck!

Tom Lake scheduled for August release.

>190 BLBera: Thank you!! : )

Hi Kim! Did you hear Patchett when she came to the Literary Arts? I heard her a few years ago and she was SO charming. I am a big fan, but Commonwealth is probably my favorite. And Truth and Beauty

>185 Berly: I actually have five of her books on my shelves which makes not having read any even more inexcusable!

>189 Berly: With no picture?! That sounds tough.

>192 banjo123: I did hear Patchett when she came to Portland and I loved her!

So, on a separate note, when do you think we could try to do a Porltand meetup again? Are you comfortable with a house or a restaurant?

>193 PaulCranswick: You are correct -- there's no excuse now young man!! LOL. Choose one! ; )

There is a hint inside an envelope inside the box. I am hoping that it is a picture... if for when I get really stuck.

>189 Berly: I like to do jigsaw puzzles but I think I'd pass on that one!

Patchett was at Chautauqua a few years ago and we stopped at her bookstore on the way home. It was surprisingly small and had a book club meeting going on in a large circle right in the middle of it (it was so public I wouldn't dare to say a word if I were a member) but her dog, a young cinnamon cockapoo was in the workroom in the back -- I fell in love immediately and thought about trying to smuggle her through the store and out the door but decided it wouldn't work lol.

I would love a meet-up! I think I'd be up for meeting inside, though I have been picky about doing things inside without masks.

>196 banjo123: We have a huge site office in the basement of the second tallest building of the world and we get to see the sunlight only at lunchtime or when it is time to go home. There are 320 people working in our office which is open plan and has only two "individual" rooms for the Project Director and his Assistant. Team Leaders for Contract (Myself), Commercial, Accounts, Administration, QA/QC, Mechanical, Electrical, Safety and Design sit in a sort of open cubicle with his/her team (Design manager is female) arrayed before them. I have 14 staff working directly under me. Of the 320 staff approximately half of the staff 181 wear their masks in the office whilst 139 do not.

It is interesting to note that amongst the 181 who wear their masks without fail - 103 had contracted COVID since the new flexible SOP was adopted whilst of the ones who don't wear their masks as often only 32 had contracted COVID. In our very unscientific observation 57% of those wearing masks caught COVID in our office whilst 23% of those who don't wear them caught it. No idea how to explain that.

In the office since the pandemic started only 17 of the 320 have never had COVID and we have had no COVID deaths. One staff has been separately diagnosed with COVID (tested positive on different occasions) and quarantined seven times!!! Quite a number have been infected twice but the majority, like me, have had it once.

>195 RebaRelishesReading: Okay, I gave in and opened the secret letter for the puzzle and it is indeed a picture!! There is one more flap to open on this piece of paper and that should reveal the killer -- the puzzle is a murder mystery. We'll finish putting the puzzle together and see if we can figure it out before turning over the last flap. : )

Good thing you didn't try to sneak out the dog! LOL I'd have loved to eavesdrop on the bookclub....

>196 banjo123: >197 PaulCranswick: Rhonda and Paul--Well, that is certainly confusing. To wear a mask or not to wear a mask? That is the question! Seriously though, someone has had Covid 7 times in your office???? I had it twice last year and that was more than enough. And it is hard to isolate in big open offices like that.

Rhonda--There are several places that have really cool outdoor settings that could be kinda fun, too. Should I start a thread and see who's up for it?

>197 PaulCranswick: I know; it is astonishing or misdiagnosed - I am not sure which one, Kimmers.

Actually the data was established to show the necessity of wearing masks as often as possible in the working place - I will admit to being party to the fact that, as the data is not helpful to that message, we have not transmitted the information to the staff at large.

Initially it was part of our SOP to wear the mask at all times in the office but that is no longer the case and I do not wear mine at work any more.

When we go out to dinner the family divide is also quite noticeable. Erni and Belle (especially Erni) are very much pro mask wearing and keep on their masks until the food arrives - Yasmyne and myself do not any longer. "Proving" the opposite of my earlier post Erni and Belle have never contracted COVID whilst both Yasmyne and I have (and probably have some measure of 'natural" immunity now).

Happy 2023, Kim! Hope you left your car troubles back in 2022!

>168 Berly: I am glad to see that you enjoyed it! I love the Fun Facts.

>189 Berly: That sounds fun. I hope you and your daughter can figure out all the clues.

Have a marvelous Monday!

>197 PaulCranswick: Interesting Paul. I am one of the lucky ones who have so far not caught it, but I work from home, and although use buses a couple of times a week now, avoid crowded places.

>200 PaulCranswick: >203 Caroline_McElwee: Paul--I understand why you didn't share your company stats--they certainly don't help the "wear your mask" message. And it is truly a mystery why certain people seem to get Covid, despite masking and vaccinating and others just don't. Also, there seems to be a new strain out that is even more contagious, XBB.1.5. It has gone from 1% of the variants in the US as of 12/1 to 27% as of 1/7. Ugh.

Caroline--I hope you continue to evade this virus. Jealous. ; )

>201 ChelleBearss: Happy New Year! So glad you found me. Hoping we cross paths often this year. : ) Yes, hoping the cars behave themselves moving forward (and in reverse gear too!).

>202 alcottacre: So glad I stayed with it and finished State of Wonder and glad you enjoyed my extra Patchett facts.

Enjoying working on a puzzle; it's been a while. I liked the challenge of doing the puzzle with no picture, but that was when I had the easy pieces to work with. Now that it's the harder ones, I am very glad for the visual aid.

Happy Monday!

So, on the down side, literally, we live below the public sewer line and have to have our stuff pumped up the hill to join the line and our pump went out yesterday. The alarm went off, letting us know something wasn't right. It's not overflowing, yet, but we can't get anyone out to put in a new pump until Thursday. Switching to paper plates and cups and I may have to go shower at the gym or my daughter's house. Sigh.

>206 Berly:, Well, that stinks! ;-)

Oh no!! That's a pain.

>207 foggidawn: I see what you did there. It could...literally! ; )

>208 curioussquared: Very much so.

>197 PaulCranswick: I have to wonder if some of the people who were not in the habit of wearing masks had built up immunity from previous encounters with the virus, while the ones who did wear masks had not had that chance. Not everyone who gets introduced to the bug gets obviously sick. On the other hand, it does sound like someone in the unmasked group contributed a particularly contagious dose to the community.

Without constant testing and double-blind experiments it's hard to know how much masks helped in the beginning, and how much they may be overzealous behavior now. Jim and I struggle with our decisions, but generally we use masks on the subway, where at least half the population does not use them, and in tight crowds like Christmas shopping, etc., and otherwise don't bother anymore.

>206 Berly: Okay, while that isn't car related it sounds much worse. Good luck working around that, Kim.

Good luck with your jigsaw puzzle too. I always look at the picture when I'm doing one.

I hope you get your pump replaced before the situation gets stinky. :)

>206 Berly: I hope they get that problem taken care of today!

I will be finishing up Running the Rift today. I am very glad it was on the Indie books list. I am about 2/3 through and loving it.

Oh, dear to the sewage problem, Kim. Hoping you can get it fixed soon. What a pain.

EEK! to the sewer problem. Hang in there, Kim.

>206 Berly: OMG! What a pain. You're really on a streak, aren't you? Cars now sewer...hope it all gets sorted soon.

Sending healing thoughts for the sewage and the long covid and the knee.

I added Louise Erdrich's bookstore to my bucket list of places to visit and think it could fit in with the Louise Penny tour for Three Pines in the eastern townships of Ontario that I also have planned.

>210 ffortsa: Hi Judy!!

>211 Familyhistorian: Thanks. It is really hard to not use running water. Two more days to go...

The puzzle is much easier now that I am using the picture! LOL. But I think I did pretty well without it.

>212 BLBera: You and me both! Ugh!

>213 alcottacre: Yay! Okay, I am moving Running the Rift up the TBR pile. Very glad you like it and my list. : )

>214 Crazymamie: Lately, it's just been one thing after another! They are supposed to come fix it Thursday. I hope.

>215 katiekrug: Eeek is right!!! Thanks. : )

>216 RebaRelishesReading: It is not the kind of streak I want, let me tell you!

>217 witchyrichy: OOh! That sounds like a fun tour. Definitely see if you can fit it in. Erdrich's bookstore is also just around the corner from a few good restaurants and one of Minneapolis' many beautiful lakes with a path to walk around it.

Ditto what Kim said about Birchbark Books. It's worth a visit. And you can go for a nice walk around a lake afterwards. Not this time of year, of course.

Yikes on the sewage issue, and very cool about the puzzle. Morgan and I have worked puzzles together and discovered we have very different strategies and strengths. I often don't look at the picture.

>187 Berly: She chose the dreams because having potential intestinal issues while traveling around a jungle didn't sound like any fun at all! (Part of the trip was down a river to a remote outpost in Ecuador.) She had a great time; she's still the only member of the family to have gone to South America.

>184 Berly: Kim, I always admire your commitment to TKD! My next infusion is on the 18th. In the meantime, I received trigger point injections of lidocane. It helps!

Thanks for your caring nature. You are one of the most liked, and most followed in our group -- for good reason. You are very special to so many of us!

>189 Berly: I also am putting a 1,000 piece puzzle together. Grand daughter is so very kind. She has a friend, Eliott, who has suffered through quite a bit in his young (17 years.) He knew I liked puzzles and gifted me with one that I really like. It is challenging, but not frustratingly so.

I am saddened by the fact you suffer with "long Covid."

>206 Berly: and, this issue also brings the need to look for a Tshirt for you that notes "I am in deep need of a break!"

oh no, sorry you have sewage troubles! Hope they fix it tomorrow without issue!

Sorry yo hear about the water issue Kim. At least tomorrow is Thursday.

*smoochiesmoochsmooch*

Ow.

Yuck on the sewer problems!

>199 Berly:. Sounds great! Thanks for trying to organize.

Belated happy reading in 2023, Kim!

>222 BLBera: : )

>223 ursula: I kinda go back and forth on wether or not I look at the picture of the puzzle, but it's kinda nice to have the option!! It's okay. Now I know for the next puzzle of this series, there is a picture when I get to the point that I just can't deal!! LOL

>224 Whisper1: Hoping to get back to TKD one of these days. Probably not in January. Glad the infusion is less than a week away!!

Awww. Thank you. xoxo. How nice to be gifted a puzzle by the friend of your granddaughter! See, now people reaching out like that shows just how special YOU are.

Long Covid. Yeah. My health insurance apparently has a virtual class for people diagnosed with this, but I can't get in until March. Sigh.

>225 ChelleBearss: >226 Caroline_McElwee: >228 banjo123: Sewage Update Well, they came out to inspect the sewer and the pump is indeed broken. Sadly, they don't have a replacement one and won't until NEXT WEDNESDAY!!! There are none available in the 3 states they checked. So, today I went over to my very nice neighbor and used his dishwasher. Now I am all caught up on that and we are using only paper plates and cups for the next week.

>227 richardderus: Hi! Hope the owie is healing and you are starting to feel better. Smooch.

>229 FAMeulstee: Never too late to wish happy reading! Glad you found me.

Hold on....I'm staring a new thread.

Ready!!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/347668

>189 Berly: That sounds like quite the puzzle. Good luck with it.

>234 ArlieS: Making progress! I haven't had much time to puzzle with out of town guests here. Hopefully this week. ; )