foggidawn’s books and stuff 2023, part II

Time to spring into a new thread!

Hi, all! Welcome to old friends and new. For the latter, I'm a children's librarian in a small Ohio town. My reading tastes range from children's and young adult literature, to fantasy and some sci-fi, to mysteries, to historical fiction and literary works, to romances, to biography and memoir, with a smattering of other nonfiction (it's been a pretty light smattering, of late) and anything else that catches my fancy.

I live on a farm with my husband John, who is also an avid reader, though his tastes run towards graphic novels, golden age sci-fi and nonfiction, mostly about history or chicken husbandry. We have a Springer Spaniel, Lottie, above, who is immensely spoiled and loves being a farm dog. We also have about 65 chickens and somewhere around 50 rabbits (too many; what they say about them multiplying is true) and about 43 acres of hayfields.

For 2023, I haven't really set myself any firm goals as far as reading goes. I'd like to continue reading broadly and diversely, to read some of the books that have been languishing on my TBR shelf, and to enjoy myself -- including finding my way back into genres that I have been feeling burnt out on (fantasy, YA).

As for the "and stuff" part of my thread topper, you may also see me posting here about board gaming, gardening, cooking, and theatre. Though I'm not active in a theatre group at present, I do hope to see some live shows this year. Last year my gardening efforts were pretty minimal, as I was planning our wedding at the time, so I'm hoping to focus on establishing my garden a little more this year. Having moved away from my game night friends, I'll have to work on finding gaming opportunities (though John is a willing participant when he has the time). As for cooking, my sole New Year's resolution this year is to be more intentional about menu planning, so I will probably post about that here. My strategy is to make a list before shopping of what meals I'd like to make over the following week, and then keep that list on the fridge so I know what ingredients I have on hand when it comes time to cook. I probably won't assign specific meals to specific days, but we'll see how it all plays out. Oh, in the summer I also hope to do some hiking and kayaking, so that may also get a mention.

I hope you'll all join me here this year!

Books read in 2023:

1. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
2. Marmee by Sarah Miller
3. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
4. Moira's Pen: A Queen's Thief Collection by Megan Whalen Turner
5. Toad Words and Other Stories by T. Kingfisher
6. 97 Orchard by Jane Ziegelman
7. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
8. The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard
9. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
10. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
11. Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? : A Memoir by Roz Chast
12. I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
13. Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
14. Ellen Outside the Lines by A.J. Sass
15. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
16. The Best Man by Richard Peck
17. The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree by Paola Peretti
18. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
19. The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat
20. Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee
21. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano
22. Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
23. Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango
24. Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay
25. When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb
26. Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good by Nancy Werlin
27. Princess of the Wild Sea by Megan Frazer Blakemore
28. The Windeby Puzzle by Lois Lowry
29. Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad
30. Petty Treasons by Victoria Goddard
31. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Books Acquired in 2023

I don't usually keep a list, but thought it might be fun.

1. Moira's Pen: A Queen's Thief Collection by Megan Whalen Turner. Purchased, Azn.
2. Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman. Purchased, Azn.
3. In the Serpent’s Wake by Rachel Hartman. Purchased, Azn.
4. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. Purchased, Azn.
5. Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer. Purchased, Azn.
6. In Every Life by Marla Frazee. Purchased, Azn.
7. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. Purchased, Azn.
8. One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde. Purchased/store credit, Bkmns.
9. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. Purchased, Azn.
10. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab. Purchased, Azn.
11. A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab. Purchased, Azn.
12. A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab. Purchased, Azn.
13. Reynard's Tale by Ben Hatke. Purchaed, Azn.
14. A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan. Purchased, BkDpo.
15. The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan. Purchased, BkDpo.
16. The Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan. Purchased, BkDpo.
17. In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan. Purchased, BkDpo.
18. Within the Sanctuary of Wings by Marie Brennan. Purchased, BkDpo.
19. The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch. Purchased, BkDpo.
20. Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend. Purchased, BkDpo.
21. The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson. Purchased, BkDpo.
22. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. Purchased, BkDpo.
23. Claudius the God by Robert Graves. Purchased, Blph.
24. The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith. Purchased, Blph.

Feel free to post below!

Happy new one!

Happy new thread! From your last thread, I also really enjoyed Major Pettigrew. It felt like it had the energy I expect from a BBC miniseries :)

Happy new one!

Hi Foggi, I like your idea of listing books acquired (at >3 foggidawn:) for the year. I need to try that out so I am realistic about how well I'm doing with my library culling versus accumulating!

Happy new thread Foggi!

I hope you do find a good number of theater productions to enjoy this year!

Happy new thread, dear Foggi.

Happy March!

Happy new thread, Foggi!

>1 foggidawn: Lovely Lotte picture, looking very sweet and attentive.

Thanks for visiting, Anita, Natalie, Jim, Sandy, Susan, Paul, Dana, and Anita!

>6 curioussquared: Yes! Another review I read compared it to a modern Trollope, and I thought that was apt.

>8 SandyAMcPherson: I probably should keep a list of books culled to go with that (or maybe just a tally, rather than sharing titles), but I didn't. Maybe in future!

>9 quondame: I have plans with some friends to see a couple of Broadway touring shows when they come through Cleveland in the summer and fall. In the meantime, I will have to start looking into local community theatre and figure out what's around here.

>12 FAMeulstee: Thanks! I took that photo in between bouts of rowdy play, so don't let the contemplative look fool you!

(32 books read)



Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen -- It's 1952, and Andy Mills thinks his life is over. Two days ago, he was a cop, an investigator for SFPD. That was before he got caught in a raid on a gay bar. Now he's jobless and homeless (his landlord threw him out), and intent on drinking himself into a stupor and throwing himself off the pier. Then Pearl Velez walks into the bar and hires him to investigate the murder of her wife. Irene Lamontaine was the matriarch of a soap company, and she was found dead after a fall from a balcony in her house. Pearl is convinced that it was murder, and she's willing to hire Andy to look into it -- even through it may mean that one of her family is the murderer. When Andy arrives at Lavender House, he learns that it's an unconventional setup in all the ways that feel right to him: a place where people are free to live and love in ways that are deemed unacceptable. But even in a place where personal freedom and living your truth are key values, there are still secrets . . . and at least one of them may prove to be deadly.

I found the setting and characters strong here, but the plot, specifically the whodunit aspect, is a little too obvious. The historical detail is great, and the writing is solid. The author is clearly setting up a series, and I might read more. Readers looking for a queer historical mystery are the ideal audience for this book -- just know that the mystery angle is the weakest in a generally strong book.

Happy new thread.

>14 foggidawn: Not a hit but that is a gorgeous cover.

Happy New Thread!! Love the Lottie photo.

>15 MickyFine: Yeah, I'll admit that the cover was the first thing that caught my eye.

>16 ronincats: Thanks!

>14 foggidawn: I kinda like the sound of this one. I requested the e-book to have a look and see about a different sort of mystery for my usual pick.

>18 SandyAMcPherson: Hope you enjoy it!

The Lois Lowry book on the last thread looks interesting to me. I might have to see if I can find it.

Hi foggydawn - just discovered your thread & glad to find yet another 75'er who listed Sea of Tranquility - my fave read so far this year.

Happy new thread! I just finished Toad Words the other day and quite enjoyed it, glad I picked up your rec.

>20 thornton37814: It was an interesting concept, well executed. Hope you enjoy it if you can track down a copy!

>21 ChrisG1: Welcome! Yes, that was a good one.

>22 WhiteRaven.17: Oh, glad you liked it!

(33 books read)



Untwine by Edwidge Danticat -- Giselle and her twin sister Isabelle were born holding hands. Though they've always been encouraged to develop their own interests and friend groups, they're still as close as twins can be. On the way to a school concert, the family's car is struck by a van. One twin is killed in the accident, and everyone in the family is injured. The remaining sister swims in and out of consciousness. When she wakes up, she must deal with the grief of living without her twin.

This is a poignant story of a family suffering together through a terrible tragedy, and how grief can affect all kinds of relationships. There's a side plot about the teen driver who caused the crash that I found unnecessary, and I thought it actually detracted from the main story. Recommended to readers of realistic (sometimes tragic) YA.

My reading has slowed down this weekend because the weather was nice at least some of the time, so I did some little tasks outside in order to enjoy the sunlight (bring on the Vitamin D!). I've also been binge-listening to the Maintenance Phase podcast (I think I first saw mention of it on @norabelle414 's thread), which has cut into my reading time.

My meal plans for the week include mujadara, a cold noodle salad with a peanut dressing (I can't remember the name of it night now; it has cabbage and cucumber and I love it, but I'm not sure what John will think of it), stuffed shells (except I'm going to have to improvise with rolled up lasagna noodles because I can't find jumbo shells at my usual grocery stores right now), and carrot fritters.

>25 foggidawn: I remember when the cold noodle salad with peanut dressing was available almost everywhere so that I, and I guess many others, got tired of it and then when I looked for it on menus a few years ago, it wasn't there - nor was a version available at TJ's. The kind I liked had a bit of chili heat in the peanut dressing. If you find a good recipe I'd like a copy!

>26 quondame: I looked it up, and I use the recipe for Cold Sesame Peanut Noodles found here:
https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/cold-sesame-peanut-noodles/
There is a bit of a spicy kick to the dressing. Yum!

>27 foggidawn: Thank you. The dressing does contain a thing or two I've not thought to add.

>25 foggidawn: I'm glad you're enjoying Maintenance Phase! I love how the hosts make it sound breezy and funny while also doing a massive amount of research and citing their sources.

>28 quondame: Enjoy!

>29 norabelle414: Yes, spot on! I started out listening from the beginning, but I've realized at this point that I can do some cherry-picking if the episode is on a topic that doesn't particularly interest me (a diet book that I've never read, for instance).

(34 books read)



The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett -- Steve Smith, an old gangster just out of prison, seeks to make things right in his life. This includes getting in touch with estranged family members, figuring out what happened to his favorite teacher from his school days, and solving an old mystery that involves World War II spies, missing gold bullion, and a secret code hidden in long-disparaged children's books (think Enid Blyton). His past may not be done with him, though, as shadowy figures seem to stalk him at every turn. Since he doesn't read so well, he records his adventures on an old iPhone. When he disappears, these recordings may be the key to solving more than one mystery.

This is a great puzzle mystery for readers who enjoy stories that feature codes, acrostics, and treasure hunts. It also has a lot of great literary references. The format is a bit of a drawback, as the reader is presented with automated transcriptions of audio files that include some mangled words, partly due to Steve's dialect and occasional use of cockney rhyming slang, sometimes explained and sometimes not. The ending comes up quickly and left my head spinning; I'm not sure I've dealt with all of the implications even now. If you can get past those quirks, this is a really fun puzzle mystery. I'll be interested in reading more by this author.

>31 foggidawn: Moly Hokes, Foggi! I gotta quit visiting your thread for awhile.Yet another BB. The Twyford Code sounds great despite the caveats in your post. Willing to take on a few quirks.

Stayed up late last night to finish Murder in the Mystery Suite. That was a BB from Lori (thornton37814). I'm still deciding what to write for a review because while it was a great romp of a story, the author's writing was rather unsophisticated. I've been reading Cora Harrison novels in the Burren series and Harrison is a hard act to follow. Maybe that's what I should say on Talk for a review. The main book page for reviews, not likely.

I'm still waiting for Lavender House to be ready. Queued in my hold request, but moved up to #4.

>24 foggidawn: Hi Foggi! I love Danticat so I might have to give Untwine a try. Onto the WL it goes!

>31 foggidawn: Dang. And another BB. AddingThe Twyford Code to the WL.

You are dangerous. Tagged as Foggidawn's Fault. : )

Happy weekend.

>31 foggidawn: Just got this one using a B&N gift card from my sister-in-law for Christmas. It sounded too intriguing to miss, and from your comments, just what I was hoping!

>32 SandyAMcPherson: Looks like that BB got several people!

>33 Berly: Glad to take the blame. ;-)

>34 drneutron: Ooh, enjoy!

Menu planning update:

Neither the mujadara nor the stuffed shells got made last week, so I am rolling them over to this week and adding quiche to the list. The girls are still laying well; we're getting about a dozen eggs a day, so I need to use some up. John doesn't like deviled eggs, the weirdo, so that's not really an option. (I mean, I could make some for myself, but there's a limit to the number of deviled eggs that even I can eat.)

>31 foggidawn: Glad to see that was one you enjoyed overall, foggi. I read the ARC late last year and thought it was fabulous. I thought the format thing was clever, and I imagine an audio version of it would be a lot of fun to listen to. It made me want to go back and read her earlier title.

>36 foggidawn: Mmmm, I do love a good quiche. That's pretty great that you're getting so many eggs.The cost here is getting astronomical.

>36 foggidawn: I would volunteer to take John's share of the deviled eggs but I don't think they would hold up too well with shipping :)

>37 bell7: I have her earlier title queued in my library holds right now!

>38 curioussquared: LOL, it's hard enough to transport them across town for a church potluck!

>36 foggidawn: Is it deviled eggs or hard boiled eggs that are the issue? My own peculiar recipe for DEs is one of the only ways I really enjoy HBEs so I can sympathize - I can't eat the mayo with a dot of paprika sort and don't do egg salad at all.

>40 quondame: It’s both — he doesn’t like mayonnaise in anything, but he also doesn’t like the texture of hard boiled eggs. It’s a lost cause, I’m afraid!

>41 foggidawn: fritatas?

>42 ffortsa: Yeah, that would be a good change-up from quiche every now and then.

(35 books read)



The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde -- Thursday Next, a SpecOps agent specializing in literary crimes (of which there are many in her alternate-reality Britain), is drawn into confrontation with Acheron Hades, the third most evil man in the world (we're told you don't want to know who #1 and #2 are). She's wounded in the ensuing fight, but everyone tells her that Acheron is now dead. She won't believe it, though, until she has proof. On the advice of her future self, she accepts a transfer to Swindon, her old hometown, just in time to be involved in the theft of the original manuscript of Jane Eyre. Her uncle, an eccentric inventor, has created a Prose Portal that allows people to travel into and out of books, and he is kidnapped along with his invention. It's clear to Thursday that Acheron is up to his old tricks. Can Thursday rescue her uncle -- and Jane Eyre -- before irreparable damage is done?

I love Fforde's wacky world-building in this series starter. It's been more than 15 years since I first read it, and I had forgotten a lot of the plot, but remembered how delightful the small details are. I look forward to revisiting the rest of the series.

(36 books read)



The Appeal by Janice Hallett -- A lawyer gives two of his staff members a challenge: solve a crime by examining a collection of related emails, messages, documents, and ephemera. Here's the scenario: a tight-knit community theatre group is shaken when a child of their most prominent family is diagnosed with brain cancer. They pull together a fundraising appeal to buy the experimental drugs that are her best hope for treatment, but things start falling apart. Scammers are drawn to the fundraising effort, and there's suspicion that somebody might be mishandling funds. People are not who they seem, and some of them may not exist at all. There are petty disagreements, social snubs, friendships made and destroyed, and, eventually, murder. The wrong person may be in jail -- but can the case be solved with only the evidence provided?

I think I actually like this book ever so slightly better than The Twyford Code by the same author, though both are so good it's hard to make a judgement. While that book hearkened to my love of children's literature, this one appeals to my fondness for community theatre. (Clearly I am being targeted by this author, and I'm okay with that.) She certainly hits all the right notes regarding the high emotions of a small community theatre group; I think I have met all of these individuals, and been a few of them! I was pleased to guess certain parts of the mystery before they were revealed, but it was by no means an easy one to puzzle out, as there are a lot of moving pieces. Definitely recommended to mystery fans.

>44 foggidawn: I've been considering a Thursday Next re-read. Although I feel like I'd also benefit from a Jane Eyre re-read before diving into The Eyre Affair so that all the variants stand out a bit more. :)

>46 MickyFine: I kept seeing mentions of it here and there, and finally jumped in. I can see how a Jane Eyre reread might improve your experience.

>44 foggidawn: >46 MickyFine: I've also been toying with a Thursday Next reread recently! I've also forgotten most of the plot points but have lots of fond memories of details.

>48 curioussquared: I was surprised at how much I had forgotten, and then shocked to realize how long it had been since I last read them!

>49 foggidawn: Yep. My tracking log says I reread book 1 in 2009, but the other books only appear in 2008 (except for the last one which came out after that). So just about 15 years for me, too! I'm definitely overdue for a reread.

>50 curioussquared: It's the first book I've reread this year, and I'm a big fan of rereading usually.

(37 books read)



The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna -- Mika Moon is a witch, and witches survive best on their own. That fact has been hammered into Mika by Primrose, her austere guardian (also a witch). So that's how Mika survives: moving from job to job and place to place, not forming any attachments or putting down any roots. Then, one day, she gets a very strange invitation, or rather, job offer: tutoring three young girls in witchcraft. Though she's sure it's some kind of hoax, she goes to the address provided to see what's going on -- and discovers that there are indeed three young witches there, surrounded by a loving found family that knows exactly what they are. Their absentee witch guardian hasn't bothered to train them to control their magic, and that's where Mika comes in. Against her better judgment, Mika takes on the job, fascinated by these people and the home that they have created. But having four witches in one place goes against everything Mika has been taught about flying under the radar and staying safe...

My summary manages to completely leave out the romance, which is a major part of the book's structure, so sorry about that! I liked this book a lot; it has some of the same cozy fantasy vibes as The House in the Cerulean Sea. It's a quick and comforting read, recommended to readers who like romance with a twist of fantasy, or vice-versa.

(38 books read)



A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin -- Kitty Talbot is in a fix. Her parents are dead, her four younger sisters are her sole responsibility, creditors are beating down the door of their cottage, and she's just been jilted by the only gentleman of fortune in the area. With no other options open to a woman in the Regency era, she sets off to London to find a rich husband. An old friend of her mother's has offered to launch her into society, but Kitty soon finds that her benefactor's social circle doesn't extend to men of the kind of fortune Kitty needs in order to secure her sisters' futures. Can she engineer a chance meeting that will launch her into the upper echelons of London society? Kitty is a very resourceful young woman, after all...

It's not Heyer, but it's still a cut above most other Regency romances I've read. There's a lot going on in this story, but I found it all most amusing. It kept me reading and ignoring the other things I was meant to be doing, so clearly I was engaged in the story, especially towards the end. Kitty's scheming nature and the sheer number of things going on meant that I didn't entirely buy into the romance, as I don't think it had space to really develop. However, I have high hopes that this author's future works will be even more delightful. Recommended to those who love a good Regency romance.

Lots of good reading this weekend! I also did some prep work on my garden beds -- John has been filling the new ones with topsoil and compost (and adding some compost to the existing one), and I'm about ready to plant some peas. It was nice to be outside, working the soil for the first time this year.

For menu planning, I have chili, vegetable stir-fry, and quiche or frittata on this week's plans. I'm also planning on making banana bread this evening. Yum!

Oh, and I got rid of five books (old ARCs, actually) by placing them on a free shelf at a local restaurant. I'll probably do this with any advance copies that I don't want to keep in future -- I'm always looking for ways to pass them along, since they can't be sold. I don't get as many nowadays as I used to, but I have a lot on my TBR shelf, many of them years past their publication dates! Maybe next year I will challenge myself to read a certain number of those...

>53 foggidawn: Nice review. I enjoyed that Irwin story, too. Agree that it was a "multi-plot-dump" but am willing to give the author's next book a go when it appears (if it does...) in our PL.

>44 foggidawn: I've got this one queued for April.

Regarding deviled eggs: I love but cannot eat mayonnaise anymore, so this is what I do:

Cut hard boiled eggs in half, put pretty halves in the serving tray.

In food processor mix the yolks and the broken/ugly white bits together.

Add in small increments:

Brown mustard
Horseradish (very small amount)
Pickle relish bits
Green olive bits and a little bit of the juice
Soy sauce

I mix it to just past moistened and not to the soupy stage.

>56 fuzzi: Sounds delicious. I've always liked a little horseradish in my deviled eggs. This is a nice variation even for people who are OK with mayo.

>57 laytonwoman3rd: thanks. Necessity is the Mother of Invention!

>56 fuzzi: That sounds nice, though I'm not a fan of olives, myself. Still I might try it some day.

>57 laytonwoman3rd: Indeed.

>59 foggidawn: skip the olives, then!

I was trying to come up with something delicious that I liked that didn't contain mayo.

>60 fuzzi: Will do!

I'm planning on making chili tonight. We're having a rainy spring day and I think chili will just suit the mood.

I use pesto (my homemade) - greens (spinach, basil, and any other herbs I feel like), olive oil, garlic, walnuts, and parmesan (or other hard cheese). I use it for bread spread, pasta/rice topping - and as a binder for stuff that usually uses mayo (tuna burgers, for one). Binder and flavor all at once. I don't make deviled eggs much, but it should work for that too.

>56 fuzzi: I also use mustard, Dijon, and horseradish in my deviled eggs, with capers, anchovy paste, and green peppercorns in small amounts for interest. Sometimes I use Worcestershire sauce and sometimes I leave it out for a friend who can't eat anything with chilies.

>62 jjmcgaffey: Interesting! I’ve only used pesto as a topping for pasta so far.

>63 quondame: Sounds fancy!

(39 books read)



The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams -- The Dictionary has been at the center of Esme Nicholl's life for as long as she can remember. Her widowed father is a lexicographer, working diligently with a team of others on what will become the Oxford English Dictionary. As a young child, Esme hides under the tables in the Scriptorium, a shed in the editor's backyard where the lexicographers work. One day, a slip of paper with the word 'bondmaid' on it slips down to where Esme is sitting, and none of the workers nearby reclaim it. She slips it in her pocket. This is the first of many words that she collects over the course of her childhood and young adult years. As she grows and learns about the dictionary, she discovers that some words are excluded: words considered obscene, words without proper references, words used by people who are considered less important, like the poor. And women. Esme begins to make her own collection of words that clarify her own experiences growing up during the Women's Suffrage movement, on the cusp of the Great War.

I found this to be a thoughtful and rewarding read, packed with historical detail. It wasn't a quick read, but it was an enjoyable one. It had me in tears at a couple points, and the ending is bittersweet. Recommended to readers of historical fiction.

>65 foggidawn: Nice review, Foggi. I have had this title in my BB list for quite awhile and your comments prompt me to submit a hold.
Our PL has copies in 3 formats (book, e-book and audio) and the queue is long for my preferred format (book). I've learned the hard way about those long hold lines ~ the book generally turns up at the most inconvenient moment for where I am in my reading cascade!

>66 SandyAMcPherson: That's the way it goes with holds queues, isn't it?

>67 foggidawn: Yep. And I tend to choose to read the PL books because I can't hang onto them. So like homework, a deadline.
Mr. SM picked up my latest holds today, as a matter of fact:
The Twyford Code, The Years, and an art-related book, Sketch by Sketch. This latter book is a bit of a winger. A friend who's into the yoga lifestyle (very heavily) recommended it so I thought, hey, why not. I'm trying valiantly to finish an ambitious non-fiction that's not as engaging as I'd hoped. I may ditch it in favour of starting Hallett's book.

Fiddlesticks! Having trouble getting the touchstones to 'stick'; The Years was written by Annie Ernaux. The touchstone keeps reverting to a V. Woolf book.

>63 quondame: oh yes, I've used Worcestershire sauce in the past, I'd forgotten. Capers, hmm? Sounds interesting...

>68 SandyAMcPherson: I tend to prioritize library books, too -- like you say, there's a deadline. Ours auto-renew if there's nobody waiting, but still.

>69 fuzzi: You know, I can't say that I've ever had capers, now that I think on it.

(40 books read)



Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club -- After training as a matchmaker in Shanghai, Sophie returns to her home city of Toronto to take up the vacated matchmaker position there. Slight problem: she technically didn't graduate from matchmaking school, so unless she secures accreditation within six months, she'll lose her ability to see the red threads that indicate connections between people. Another problem is her parents, who don't support her in her career and assume that she will fail and shame them. Sophie is determined to make a success of things, but when her mother reveals her tenuous status to a roomful of prospective clients, Sophie has to get creative. Enter the Old Ducks: seven older bachelors who have all but given up on romance. If Sophie can convince them to use her services, she might get the testimonials she needs to gain accreditation -- but not all of them are on board with her plans...

I thought this was a cute premise, with the matchmaking angle and the Old Ducks. The author does a good job of delineating characters; I found it easy to keep track of this group of loveable curmudgeons. Going in, I didn't expect that touch of magical realism with Sophie actually being able to see the red threads and the connections between people, so that felt a bit like cheating to me. If I'd gone in expecting it, my reaction might have been different, so that's on me for not paying attention to the summary. My main issue with this book, though, is the writing. It feels extremely clunky in places, with lots of explain-y chunks and repetitive descriptions of how awful Sophie's parents are. I also thought from something Sophie said at the beginning that matchmakers were not allowed to experience love/romance themselves, but by the end of the book that's clearly not the case (hope that's not too much of a spoiler for anyone), so that caused me some confusion. Lots of readers seem to have really enjoyed this book, but it wasn't really one for me.

>71 foggidawn: Dang. I was sort of interested in the premise but clunky writing is one of my biggest bugbears so I won't be adding this to The List.

I hope your next read is much better!

>70 foggidawn: I first tasted capers just a few years ago, and liked them very much.

(41 books read)



Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto -- Vera Wong, a grandmotherly tea shop owner, has a very specific and unwavering morning routine: She wakes up at 4:30, texts her adult son telling him that he should already be awake and is sleeping his life away, puts on her sweatpants, polo shirt, and visor, and sets off for a brisk walk around her neighborhood before opening her tea shop. One fateful morning, that routine is disrupted by the discovery of a dead man in her shop. When the police response is not up to Vera's standards, she decides to take the investigation into her own hands. Going on the assumption that murderers always return to the scene of the crime, Vera takes an interest in four younger people who come to the tea shop the day after the murder. All four have connections to the dead man, though not all of them will admit it, and all four have something to hide. Is one of them hiding the fact that they are a murderer? As Vera gets to know them, she begins to hope not, because they are all such nice young people, whereas the victim, as it turns out, was not a nice person at all. Can Vera solve the crime -- and if she does, will it ruin one or more of the new friendships that have developed between herself and her suspects?

This book is a delight. The characters are terrific and the pacing is great. I could nitpick at the mystery a little bit (I'm still not sure why Marshall broke into the teashop to die, and why he had his thumb drive in his hand when he did), but as I completely enjoyed the book in spite of those quibbles, I'll just say that cozy mystery readers who are in it more for the characters than the mystery will eat this book up. Speaking of eating, the food descriptions here are guaranteed to make you hungry. Vera can come cook for me any day!

>72 MickyFine: I skimmed through some other reviews after posting mine, and I don't see a lot of people complaining about the writing. It makes me wonder if it's just stylistic quirks that irritate me in particular, but not others? I don't know. It took me out of the story several times. But, as you can see above, my next book was indeed better!

>73 fuzzi: I will have to try them soon. It may be that I have had dishes that contained them without knowing it.

(42 books read)



A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis -- Grace is unmarried and pregnant, and has been confined to a Boston mental asylum by her upper-class parents. Her treatment there is horrific, but a sympathetic doctor sees in her a potential collaborator in his crime-solving work and manages, with the collusion of a few others, to slip her out of the institution and take her with him to Ohio. She lives in another asylum there, one with more humane practices, and accompanies the doctor to crime scenes. They attempt to solve murders by looking at them in a more comprehensive and psychological light. When they are faced with a string of killings that seem to point to a serial killer, will they be able to identify the perpetrator? These questions are eclipsed when Grace's past abruptly comes back to haunt her. Though she has escaped her old life, she left behind a little sister who is likely to find herself caught in the same trap as Grace once was. Is there anything she can do from where she is now to change her sister's circumstances?

If it seems from that description that this book jumps from track to track, that would be correct. The first part of the book dwells on the horrific treatment of patients (particularly women) in mental asylums. Though a specific date is never given, from context clues I would guess this takes place in the late 1800s. McGinnis does not shy away from the darkness, so readers may want to be advised that this book might be triggering in several ways (rape, incest, miscarriage, torture). Then, after leaving the institution in Boston, the book focuses much more on the crime-solving aspect. This portion of the book is generally pleasanter for both the reader and our main character, but it does move a bit slower. The ending brings the two portions of the book together in unsettling ways; I'm still grappling with some of the details. I didn't love this book, but I'm also not necessarily the intended audience. Readers who like a dark historical YA book with elements of mystery will enjoy it more than I did.

(43 books read)



Our Castle by the Sea by Lucy Strange -- Petra, youngest daughter of a British lighthouse keeper, is about to have her world turned upside down by World War II. She and her sister Magda have always loved their cozy home in the cottage attached to the lighthouse, near a small seaside town. However, their German-born mother is sent away to an internment camp at the start of the war, under suspicion of having passed maps and charts to the enemy. Somebody in their village is a traitor, and all Petra knows is that her mother would never do such a thing. But who would? If she can figure out the mystery, will she get her mother back?

I found this a compelling read. The lighthouse setting is intriguing and the mystery element is strong. There's some adventure and some tragedy, though many of the horrors of war are kept at a distance. It doesn't quite have the warmth of The War that Saved My Life, but readers who enjoy British home-front stories would do well to consider this one.

(44 books read)



Violet and Jobie in the Wild by Lynne Rae Perkins -- Violet and Jobie, mouse siblings, find themselves in a frightening predicament. While playing the Cheese Game (make the game go snap with the stick, then eat the cheese and peanut butter inside it), they are captured in a box and taken to something called a "State Park," where they are released. These two house mice have no idea how to survive in the wild, but they soon make friends who can tell them about the dangers and pleasures of outdoor life.

This is a charming little book for fans of anthropomorphic tales. It's generally realistic in its treatment of mouse life, where mice are considered a tasty snack for most of the larger creatures they encounter, though there are some fanciful parts. There's a good balance of excitement and thoughtful bits. The ending is a little more open than many tales for this age group, and would provoke discussion if read in a group setting. I can see this being a nice classroom read for second or third grade.

Phew! I had quite the backlog of reviews to write. Now that I'm caught up...

This week's going to be a bear as far as work goes -- we're down two people (out of five) so we'll have to rely on subs, and will just generally be busier than usual. We did end up being off yesterday, because a big wind storm knocked out power to the main library and our servers were down, so that was a welcome relief (and part of the reason I got so much reading done!). Now, to get through the rest of the week. Our church is hosting the Wednesday night service (there are several Orthodox churches in this area, so we rotate hosting the Wednesday services during Lent), which means that my choir will be singing, with the help of a few friendly folks from other churches. I've done most of the work of getting the music ready and we've already had our practices, so the service itself is the only thing left, but that will take up all of my non-work time on Wednesday evening. Then, this weekend I am going over to visit my parents because Mom is hosting a baby shower for one of my cousins, and I promised to help out with that. My meal plan is to rely on my basic, simple things (we'll probably have spaghetti one night, and maybe grilled cheese and tomato soup another).

In gardening news, I did get my snow peas planted, and I put up a trellis for them. As long as I can keep the local wildlife from munching those tender little shoots that should be coming up soon, I will have some nice spring peas before terribly long.

>79 foggidawn: I have a backlog to write too (although only 2 or 3--it's more of they date back far enough I should have written them by now). I've been too glued to Mississippi news the past week.

>79 foggidawn: I hope you've survived the week at work and that the service on Wednesday went smoothly!

April the Oneth, Foggi.
Hope your weekend is relaxing with no foolish tricks!
The cover of Our Castle by the Sea is lovely, very vintage '40s. Not a BB for me ATM... I seem to shy away from the WWII theme these days.

>80 thornton37814: The tornadoes lately have been particularly bad -- my thoughts go out to all those affected.

>81 MickyFine: I made it through! Apart from one spot where I read the entirely wrong reading, the service went well (and everyone just rolled with my oops, so that was okay).

>82 SandyAMcPherson: I drove over to my parents' house (about 4 hours) Friday evening, helped with a baby shower on Saturday, then drove home Saturday night -- it was not relaxing, but I was spared the foolish tricks at least!

(45 books read)



The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill -- Stone-in-the-Glen was once a lovely place, where neighbors helped each other and there was always enough to go around. Then, one horrible night, the library burned down. That started a chain of events that led to the village becoming a sad, hardscrabble place, where people stay behind locked doors and care only for their own welfare. Some years later, an ogress with her own history of tragedy moves to a farm near the village and begins to share the bounty of her garden and forest foraging in the dark of night. But will her acts of kindness be enough to change the town?

I wanted to like this book so much. I love juvenile fantasy, and I enjoyed Barnhill's Newbery winner, The Girl Who Drank the Moon. However, I found this book a little too preachy. Even though I agree with the message that the book is pushing (Sharing good! Greed bad!), I felt like it was being shoved down my throat constantly. So, despite the charming orphans and the magical library and the crows and the lovely ogress herself, I just couldn't completely fall into the story and enjoy it for what it was. Hopefully, kids who read this book will feel differently.

>84 foggidawn: I rarely give up on books, but I stopped reading this one. Too much bad things happening to good people, beings, etc.

>85 compskibook: I can see that. Things end up happily, of course, but I can understand not wanting to push through all of the gloom.

>65 foggidawn: Oooh! I think I've taken a BB on this one. Thanks!

Edited to add: It's already on my Libby wish list, so someone else must have shot me first. LOL

>87 clamairy: Enjoy!

I agreed with you, I think - very good story obscured by awkward writing (tell and tell and tell) and preachiness. I did finish it, eventually, but it took some slogging.

>89 jjmcgaffey: Yep. It had potential.

For the next two weeks, my meal plan is basically do whatever is necessary to survive. :-) That sounds bleak, but actually it's just a busy time and I won't have much time or energy to focus on cooking. So, I'll fall back on some old standbys for now, and go back to making more concrete plans after Pascha. (Orthodox Easter is once again a week behind the West.)

>91 foggidawn: Good luck making it through the hectic!

Is it seeding time for John or has that happened already?

>92 MickyFine: Seeding time is coming right up! We’re moving into the busy months.

So, after mentioning how crazy the next couple of weeks will be, of course what I need is an injury. As I was walking downstairs this morning, getting ready to leave for work, I felt a pop and a sharp pain in my knee. I sat down on the stairs and yelped a bit, then scootched the rest of the way down, whereupon I discovered that I can’t put any weight on said knee. I hopped and staggered the few steps to my recliner, called work and let them know, optimistically, that I was going to be a little late, and texted John. He called his parents, who came by later with crutches and a walker, so I can at least move around the house in a very limited way. I eventually called all the way off work and got an appointment with my doctor. She put in an order for an X-ray, so that’s tomorrow’s fun and excitement. John has been taking good care of me, and Lottie has been worried and not entirely helpful (she’s only tried to sit or step on my knee three or four times). I’ve finished two books so far, and anticipate this being a weekend of high reading numbers. Every cloud has a silver lining, right?

>94 foggidawn: Oh no! I hope the x-ray gives you some insight and that the injury is resolved sooner rather than later. Enjoy your forced reading time, at least!

>94 foggidawn: Oh my goodness! I hope the x-ray helps identify the issue and you're not in too much pain in the meantime.

Oh dear! I hope you heal as quickly as possible, and that some books can take your mind off the pain for a bit!

>94 foggidawn: February last year, I had a "felt (and heard) a pop in my knee" moment - attempting to put weight on it was one of the sharpest pains I've experienced in my life. Nothing on x-ray, believed to be a pinched ligament or some such. Good news, it gradually got better without treatment. Took a few days to be tolerable. Hope yours is nothing worse.

>95 curioussquared: Thanks! I’m definitely enjoying the reading time, though being unable to walk is a major drag.

>96 MickyFine: The doctor warns me that the X-ray may not show much if it’s ligament or tendon related. But the pain isn’t bad when I find a good sitting/lying position. Thanks.

>97 aktakukac: Thank you! I have been reading some good ones, at least.

>98 ChrisG1: That sounds just like what happened to me, so I am hoping for similar results! It is incrementally better today, though the trip to get the X-ray done was a bit of a hassle.

>99 foggidawn: any word on the x-rays?

OuchOuchOuch, sorry to hear about the knee and hope you're able to get some relief soon.

>100 fuzzi: Probably not until Monday.

>101 bell7: Thanks. My doctor did give me some pain/anti-inflammatory meds, which help but also make me sleepy. And the knee does seem to be a tiny bit better each day.

(46 books read)



Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto -- Meddy Chan comes from a close-knit family, so when a blind date goes way wrong (she accidentally kills the guy when he starts to get threatening), she does the only thing she can think of: puts the body in the trunk of her car and takes it home to her mom and aunties. She knows they'll have her back, and they do -- but as it turns out, disposing of a dead body isn't exactly the easiest thing to do, especially when you're in the middle of coordinating a 2,000-guest high-society wedding. . .

This was a light and funny read, kind of Finlay Donovan meets Crazy Rich Asians. Prepare to have your credulity stretched, but if you're up for some wacky fun, this book brings the humor.

(47 books read)



The Swallows' Flight by Hilary McKay -- Growing up in Germany just before the second World War, Erik dreams of working at the Berlin Zoo, while his best friend Hans runs a pastry stand at the gate. In England, Ruby and Kate are also growing up, mostly oblivious to the looming thunderclouds of war. They get to know one another because they share a godmother, Clarry. When war breaks out, Erik and Hans are drafted into the flying corps, and that's how the characters' stories eventually intertwine.

McKay's writing continues to be splendid. I'd put this about on the level with The Skylarks' War, to which this book serves as sequel -- not as strong as some of her books, but still a solid read. The characters really shine, and the emotions carry the reader along through the book. The horrors of WWII are kept at arms' length, especially since, in her author's note, McKay explains that she didn't feel that it was her place to directly address the suffering of the Jewish people in this war. Another good home-front WWII read for those who can't get enough of this kind of story.

(48 books read)



The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell -- Six contestants and two co-hosts gather for a baking competition at a stately home in rural Vermont. All is going smoothly (well, not really, as there have been several incidents that look like sabotage) until one dark and stormy night, when a dead body is found in the baking tent.

The premise is a clear homage to the Great British Bake-Off, which was what initially appealed to me about the book. It's a great setting for a murder, especially when you throw in the mysterious old house in the middle of nowhere. The author does a good job of distinguishing the characters from one another with their descriptions and backstories, though not always with voice when they are the character narrating the chapter. I had some issues with the plot, and some logistical questions about the murder itself. There's some unreliable narrator stuff going on at one point that feels like cheating when the solution to the mystery is revealed. None of these were real deal-breakers for me, and as this is Maxwell's first book, I would certainly be willing to give future books a try. All in all, a mystery with the cozy factor of a baking show.

If you're curious about my quibbles and questions: The main one is, the body is described as being at the front of the tent, kind of in the middle. Was the tent pitched that close to the house, that the murderers could have tossed him out the window and onto the tent? Or am I missing something else about their method? It seems unlikely that the tent would be that close to the house, or that they could have thrown him that far. Unrelated to that, I thought it was reasonable that Lottie would want closure, but unrealistic that any evidence, specifically the photo of her mother, would still be present. You'd think the family would have gone over that bedroom pretty thoroughly to get rid of any evidence that Agnes had ever been there.

(49 books read)



Broken (In the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson -- With her typical twisted wit, Lawson describes her experiences with a new type of treatment for depression. You'll also hear about how her vacuum cleaner almost set her house on fire, and why she probably shouldn't pitch any products on Shark Tank.

Lawson's books will sometimes make you cry, and sometimes make you laugh until you cry, sometimes on the same page. If you've enjoyed others by her, you will like this one just as much. If you haven't read her other books, this would be a fine entry point, as they don't necessarily have to be read sequentially.

(50 books read)



Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca -- When Lulu realizes that she's never going to make partner at her law firm, she has a minor breakdown. She tosses her phone in a nearby tub of water and runs away to join the Renaissance Faire. Traveling the Ren Faire circuit with the band The Dueling Kilts, Lulu has plenty of time to think about the direction her life has been heading and what she wants to do with her future. She knows one thing: she doesn't want a quick hookup with Dex, the band's hottie who has a girl (or two or three) at every faire. However, as she gets to know the band members better, she begins to see more to Dex than his bad boy reputation. Could she have been wrong about Dex all along? And even if she embraces a relationship with him, what will happen when she returns to the real world at the end of the summer?

This is the fourth entry in this series, and readers who liked the first three will probably enjoy this one as well. Most of the familiar characters make an appearance at some point, and there's plenty of Ren Faire description that will have readers craving turkey legs and funnel cake. It took a lot of convincing for me to accept Dex's personal growth, as he'd been so solidly one-dimensional in previous books, and I couldn't see a happy way out for the couple, though DeLuca makes it work in the end. Not my favorite in the series, but still a fun read!

I'm finally caught up on my knee injury book reviews! As for the knee itself, it's a tiny bit better every day, and I'm being careful not to re-injure it, walking with a cane and being careful about where and how I step. I'm hoping to be able to go without the cane in a few more days, but I will have to constantly remind myself to go slowly and carefully. I have not heard back on the X-rays yet; I'll call the doctor tomorrow if I don't hear anything.

Good luck Foggi! I am thinking of you!

>109 compskibook: Thanks!

The doctor sent me the results of the x-ray: no fluid, fracture, or misalignment due to the injury. As I am still improving day by day, I imagine that it will just be a case of taking things as easily as possible for the next few weeks until it is back to normal.

Books in/Books out:

I ordered a few books last week, and they're in the process of arriving. They're all ones I have read in the past and wanted to own: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, the Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab, and the first five of Lady Trent's Memoirs by Marie Brennan.

I dropped off three ARCs that I no longer have a need for at a nearby diner's community table.

Glad the x-ray didn't show anything too serious and hope you continue to improve steadily!

>111 foggidawn: Nice acquisitions!

>112 curioussquared: Thanks on both counts! I am often hesitant to buy books, but I'm not sure why. I can afford a book splurge occasionally, and I believe in supporting authors, especially ones whose work I really love. I even have a tiny bit of unclaimed shelf space! (I'll have to do some rearranging of my fantasy shelves to fit these on, though.)

>113 foggidawn: I can imagine it might feel a little weird to buy a lot of books when you work in a library! I used to try not to spend too much on books, but shifted to that mindset of "this supports authors I like!" during the pandemic. Plus, it brings me joy! I should probably stop using book buying as therapy, though. Lol.

>114 curioussquared: Oh, yeah. All of those books are ones I checked out from the library first. And when my primary job at the library was buying books (Collection Development), it really took away the charm of browsing bookstores, either online or in person! Maybe now that I've been out of that role for a while, I'm getting back some of the pleasure in buying books. Luckily, John supports me in my book acquisition desires!

>110 foggidawn: I'm glad it's not something requiring surgery and hope your knee starts healing rapidly henceforth.

>111 foggidawn: Great choices.

>108 foggidawn: recommendation based upon experience: don't stop using the cane once it "feels" better. The knee is still weak and will continue to heal even if you don't have pain, and taking the stress off it might not only help it heal faster but prevent early re-injury.

>116 quondame: Thanks!

>117 fuzzi: Good advice, thank you.

I'm home again after a busy Pascha weekend and my annual visit to my home parish in Kentucky. The knee is doing pretty well, though I still feel some pain, especially after walking up or down flights of stairs. Some of the long church services (involving long periods of standing) were a bit of a challenge. It was a delight to see many good friends, though, including one of my college roommates. We went out for lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant and caught up on each other's lives.

I didn't get much reading done over the weekend (and didn't expect to), but some exciting library holds came in while I was away. I may pause my current book, which is meandering along, for something more exciting/urgent. I did listen to an audiobook, so I'll post a review of that shortly.

(51 books read)



A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie -- Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid is not convinced he needs a holiday, and he'd never choose a posh timeshare in Yorkshire if he was. However, when his cousin gifts him just such a vacation, there's no point in wasting it. Unfortunately, work follows him there when a dead body is found floating in the jacuzzi. Despite it being a case for the local police, Duncan can't ignore the case, especially when the body count begins to rise.

I enjoyed this mystery well enough. I was a little confused by the timeline of who booked their week at the timeshare when, a detail that proves to be of some importance. However, this was no doubt compounded by the fact that I was listening to the audiobook and couldn't flip back to check the facts. I'll read more in the series, as I hear they grow stronger a few books in.

(52 books read)



Foster by Claire Keegan -- A girl is taken to stay with strangers while her mother has a baby. The Kinsellas are an entirely different type of family from her own, and at first the differences are distressing. Soon, however, she learns to accept the care that they pour into her, the orderly existence that she falls into. Unfortunately, good things don't last forever...

This novella is superbly well-written, with a strong sense of place, and a rare depth of emotion for a work so short. I only wish it had been longer! I'll definitely read more by this author.

(53 books read)



All Shall Be Well by Debora Crombie -- When Duncan Kincaid's downstairs neighbor dies, it might be natural (she has terminal cancer). It might be suicide. Or, as Duncan suspects, it might be murder. But who would murder a dying woman -- and why?

In this second volume of the series, we get to see a little more of Gemma, which is nice. I thought the investigation moved rather slowly, but it might just be the format (I listened to the audiobook). I guessed "whodunit?" before the solution was revealed, but not the motive behind it. Everything came together in a satisfactory manner. This is shaping up to be a solid series; I'll keep reading. I probably won't write more reviews unless there's a drastic difference in quality.

(54 books read)



Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus -- It's not easy being a woman in science in 1959. After a series of infuriating experiences in academia and a research lab, Elizabeth Zott, chemist and single mother, takes a job at a television studio, hosting a cooking show called Supper at Six. Cooking is science, Elizabeth insists, and she refuses to talk down to her audience. But despite the show's success, Elizabeth longs to return to the world of research. Will she ever be able to realize her dream of being taken seriously as a scientist in her own right?

This book is so popular right now that I almost didn't want to read it -- but I'm glad I did. It deserves its current popularity. There are some touches of whimsy that might irritate those sensitive to such things. The dog narrates some chapters, for instance, and I wasn't sold on the child prodigy being able to read Dickens at age four. However, I found it charming overall, with great characters and skillful writing. Recommended.

"Children, go set the table. Your mother needs a moment to herself."

>123 foggidawn: That actually sounds like a lot of fun. (And I see it's already on my Libby wishlist.)

Hi Foggi, dropping by to see what you're reading and how life is treating you.
I tried reading Lessons in Chemistry but it didn't appeal to me the way so many others found. Looks like lots of good reading for you, however, which is great. Hope the knee heals completely and that you can look forward to abandoning that cane.

>124 clamairy: It was a lot of fun, despite some serious bits.

>125 SandyAMcPherson: I can see how it wouldn't work for everyone. The knee is doing much better, and I've pretty much let go of the cane. I wear a brace if I know I'm going to be doing a lot of walking (going grocery shopping, for instance).

>123 foggidawn: Glad you liked this one! I was also surprised how much I enjoyed it since the mega-popular titles can sometimes be hit or miss for me.

>127 curioussquared: Yeah, major popularity can be a turn-off for me (I still haven't read the one about the crawdads, for example). But the description drew me in, and I'm glad I read it.

I haven't posted a menu update lately, though I'm back to planning and shopping with a specific menu in mind. This past Friday I made a recipe of my mom's called Old Virginia Chicken Casserole, which has chicken and a lot of veggies and bread cubes soaked with an egg and milk mixture, topped with cheese. It's yummy, and John liked it a lot. On Sunday I made chicken pot pie to use up the rest of that packet of chicken (purchased, not from our flock), and John was a big fan of that as well. I used store-bought pie crusts, so it was pretty simple to put together. I'll have to add both of those dishes to the normal rotation. (Not that I have anything so organized as a normal rotation/list of dishes that I make regularly!) I made us a lovely omelet on Monday, as the girls are still providing us with an abundance of eggs. For the rest of the week, I have some cube steaks in the freezer that I'll thaw and use, and I might also do a shepherd's pie. I also will make spaghetti and meatballs at some point.

My reading has been slow for the past few days. I'm rereading Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson, enjoying it in small chunks, laughing like a hyena at certain points. I had been reading Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield, but the pace was dragging and I set it aside. I'm trying to decide if I feel any desire to pick it back up, or if I want to officially call it a DNF. I also checked out a volume of Billy Collins poetry for National Poetry Month, so I will probably wrap that up in the next few days. I have some other good-looking books on deck; I'm just not feeling an urge to pick them up just yet.

>128 foggidawn: For what it's worth, I liked this one a lot more than the crawdad one :)

>128 foggidawn: Good to know! :-)

>129 foggidawn: I didn't realize you had a flock. What breeds?

>132 fuzzi: They're mostly Old English Game Chickens, and maybe some Aseel. We have about 65 at present. John raises them primarily for meat, so the eggs are kind of a nice bonus. They are smaller eggs than you'd typically get in the grocery store, so if I'm baking I sometimes put in three eggs if two are called for. My mom also has chickens, but hers are primarily for eggs -- she has Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, a few Welsummers, and she's just bought some Easter Egger chicks. Her chickens always look huge to me when I visit, as I'm used to our scrappy little game chickens!

>128 foggidawn: The crawdads one was quite readable, but also so unreal as to be silly if one thought about it at all. Though it has memorable bits.

>133 foggidawn: I love bantams, have started raising them again this year.

I wanted the ability to breed replacements, so I didn't go with Easter Eggers. I found a local breeder of Speckled Sussex bantams and bought a hatching of ten. Seven turned out to be male, so I went online and found Dominique bantams, sexed. I ordered five, six arrived. They're two weeks old.



Stop by my gardening thread for more: https://www.librarything.com/topic/347242#8127738

ETA: I loved the description of Welsummers, but they're supposedly a noisy breed and I didn't want to upset the neighbors. I almost got Barred Rocks, too, but the Dominiques became available first.

>134 quondame: Yeah, I'm still not feeling the urge to pick it up. :-)

>135 fuzzi: We had a few bantams when I was growing up, and I liked them then. The game chickens are somewhere in size between a bantam and a standard-size chicken. I haven't noticed the Welsummers in Mom's flock being any noisier than the others, but she doesn't have very many. She doesn't like their temperament as much as the others, so she's unlikely to get more. She's excited about the prospect of colored eggs from the Easter Eggers. I already get green (and even occasionally slightly bluish) eggs from our chickens, as well as shades of brown. Not sure where that gene came from, but I'll take them, as it is kind of cool to get green eggs. Our chickens are probably pretty noisy, but we're out in the country and the neighbors don't complain.

>136 foggidawn: I only have a third of an acre so, while having chickens and a rooster are not prohibited, I don't want to push too much noise on my neighbors. I got the bantams because I had them 30 years ago and liked their personalities, and I can have more of them in the space.

>137 fuzzi: I find that chicken noise fades into the background in my mind, but your neighbors' mileage may vary!

(55 books read)



Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson -- a reread for me; I was in the mood for a little more of her writing after finishing Broken. I laughed very hard in all the right places.

(56 books read)



Loathe to Love You by Ali Hazelwood -- A collection of three novellas (The STEMinist Novellas) with loosely interconnected plots. Each features a woman in a STEM career and a man she hates for one reason or another. For those of you who have read Hazelwood's novels, this formula will sound familiar -- even more so when I mention that the heroines are all petite women, pretty but self-conscious about some aspect of their body, and the men are all massive, muscular, and *ahem* well-endowed. This makes for a pretty repetitive reading experience. Hazelwood only writes one plot, but she writes it well. I would have enjoyed these more if I had spaced them out, I think. As it was, they all started to sound the same, and by the third one I had lost patience with the book. If you really enjoy Hazelwood's writing, I'd recommend this collection, especially if you can read the novellas interspersed with other books in order to avoid burnout.

>140 foggidawn: I listened to these separately before they came out in print with a few months between each and agree, I think they worked better that way. I still liked the third one I read the least because I think even that way they started to feel repetitive.

>141 curioussquared: I also liked the third one the least, and couldn't decide if it was just the repetitive nature of the stories, or if it was because I didn't relate to the character very much at all.

>142 foggidawn: I'm not sure I read them in the correct order, lol -- the one I liked the least was the one where she inherited half of the house that the guy was living in.

>143 curioussquared: Ah, that's the first one in the book; followed by the elevator, followed by the trapped in the ice one. And I pretty much liked them in that order, so it probably was about me getting tired of the repetition. Though I did get irritated with the shared house one for her not realizing for so long that she was being kind of a jerk.

(57 books read)



In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune -- Raised by an android and with only two quirky robots for company, Victor Lawson doesn't realize how unique he is: he may be the only human left on Earth. When he and his friends discover another android in a scrapyard, a chain of events unfolds that leads to Victor's father being taken away. Vic and his companions set of on a quest to rescue his father, but even if they can reach him, he may not know them when they find him. Oh, also, all of the other machines are going to want to kill Victor if they recognize him as a human...

So, I found this a really interesting and engaging read, but I'm still not sure if I would say that I liked it. There are a lot of parallels and homages to Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio, though I wouldn't call it a straight retelling. I think some parts of that work really well, but the connections to puppets seem pretty forced to me, including the title. I didn't need the romance that Klune throws in in order for the story to work, and I never really bought into it. I liked the worldbuilding, especially the treehouse home at the beginning of the story. And I thought the ending was strong. All in all, I'd recommend it to those intrigued by the description, or to fans of this author.

In comparing it to Klune's other recent works, I'd rate it somewhere in between House in the Cerulean Sea (which I loved) and Under the Whispering Door (which didn't work super well for me).

Menu update: John's schedule this month is such that I don't have to cook dinners for the two of us a few nights a week, so my current plans are shepherd's pie, quiche, and kidney beans with meatballs. If I need more meals than that, I'll rely on frozen pizza or breakfast for dinner. (On evenings when it's just me, I tend to make a sandwich or something else easy and uninspiring.)

Garden update: I re-planted my peas, as the original planting was from an older seed packet that I think had lost all of its oomph. Bought a fresh packet; we'll see how it does. I also planted some carrots and lettuce. I had some wildflower seeds and some bee balm seeds from my mother-in-law which I planted on the bank along the roadside, so I'm hoping those will grow up and be pretty this summer -- we shall see. I'm itching to buy some plants to fill my hanging basket and porch planters, but I'm waiting a little longer until we are definitely frost free.

Other projects: I've been scraping early '90s wallpaper border off my kitchen walls in preparation for painting and new cabinets, and I'm amazed that I waited so long to do so. Even with the paint being much lighter where the border was, I feel that the kitchen looks so much better without it, and once I get it painted, I'm going to love it. The wallpaper border in the bathroom will be coming down soon, let me tell you!

Good luck with the kitchen renos! Sounds like they'll be a big improvement.

>147 MickyFine: Thanks! The reno is due to a burst pipe back at Christmas time, so we’re moving at a glacial pace with it. I’m more than ready to have a fully functional kitchen again. Right now a lot of the stuff that would be in cabinets is on shelves in the dining room.

I know scraping that wallpaper must feel sooo good! Good luck as the remodel progresses :)

>149 curioussquared: There's something very satisfying about scraping wallpaper.

DNF



Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield -- I picked up this book because I liked The Thirteenth Tale when I read it many years ago. However, the plot meandered so much that I set it aside for other things, and now I don't feel any inclination to pick it up, even to see how things turn out.

(58 books read)



Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe -- Throughout Maia's childhood and teen years, e struggles with the issue of gender, of not feeling right in eir body. As e gets older, questions of sexuality also arise, as e explores what kinds of relationships work for em. This coming-of-age story is well-drawn and engaging. I read it because it tops this year's ALA banned books list, and I don't think removing it from libraries is a reasonable response. While there are some mildly explicit scenes, it's not written or drawn to shock or titillate, but as a genuine expression of what that aspect of Maia's life was like at the time. As a graphic novel for adults and older teens, it's a fine example of a book that could be a mirror for some, a window for others.

>152 foggidawn: "A mirror for some, a window for others" -- I love that!

>153 curioussquared: Thanks! Credit goes to children's literature scholar Rudine Sims Bishop, who wrote about books being mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors for children. I love that concept.

>146 foggidawn: take pictures so you can look back and see what you had, and what you did.

>155 fuzzi: I was thinking that I should probably do that, at least to get a picture of the last little bit of wallpaper border before it comes down. I can't quite reach the bit above the refrigerator, so John is going to scrape that part.

(59 books read)



Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo -- There are eight secret societies at Yale University that specialize in different kinds of magic -- and then there's Lethe, the ninth house that polices the others and makes sure that magic is not being misused. Alex Stern has no Ivy League ambitions, but she's selected for Lethe (and therefore Yale) because of a rare ability: she can see ghosts. Since keeping ghosts out of the rituals of the houses is a major part of Lethe's work, Alex is invaluable, even though she doesn't fit into their privileged world. When her mentor disappears and a town girl is murdered, Alex starts to suspect that there's more to Lethe and the societies than she's been told -- and now she's basically on her own to figure it out.

I enjoyed this gritty fantasy, with its many plot twists (some of which I saw coming, and some of which I didn't). I've been meaning to read it ever since it came out, and finally go to it now that the sequel is available. I'll be reading that soon!

>157 foggidawn: Another one that's on my list to read soon!

>158 curioussquared: It's weird -- I loved Six of Crows so much when I read it, that you'd think I would jump on all of her other writing immediately, but I didn't.

>159 foggidawn: I'm the worst at this because I often feel like I have so much I want to read, I can't spend all my time on one author, I have to jump around. But I'm determined to get to Ninth House this year!

>160 curioussquared: By jumping around, you probably avoid getting burned out on any one author. I do a lot of that too, so that’s what I tell myself. ;-)

Yesterday was my day off, and a very nice one it was, too. In the morning I did the laundry and grocery shopping. Menu plans for the coming week are Taco Soup, Chicken & Broccoli Casserole, and Lime Garlic Pork Chops. In the afternoon, John and I went out for lunch at a good Mexican place, and then we took a stroll through an antique mall in the same shopping center. We didn't buy much, but it's always fun to look. Then we went to a place that specializes in cabinets and got a quote for our kitchen. I want to go to at least one other place and get another quote before we commit. We ran a couple of errands, then finished up at a little hole-in-the-wall bookstore. They were just about to close, but the proprietor was kind enough to let us browse for a few minutes while he was closing up, so I left with a copy of Claudius the God that matches my paperback copy of I, Claudius, which I read in college. I've been meaning to reread it for some time, so maybe I will now that I have the sequel to tempt me. I also got a very pretty vintage copy of The Vicar of Wakefield -- I'll try to remember to post a picture of the cover later, but it's a nice addition to my little shelf of antique and vintage books. Then we drove home along the back roads, enjoying the lovely scenery. After so much rain, it was a lovely spring day.

I haven't updated my topper post about books acquired for some time -- I have a stack of things to add that I keep meaning to get to, and those two new additions will go on the list eventually.

(60 books read)



The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths -- In the final Ruth Galloway mystery, a skeleton is found behind a wall. It's definitely not ancient, but it brings up a cold case for Nelson and his team to solve. Troublingly, Cathbad goes missing during the investigation -- and while it's normal for him to go on long walks, it's less common to do so without letting his family know. Ruth's department at the university is under threat of closure, and Nelson has an intriguing job offer in Blackpool. What does the future hold for these well-loved characters?

As this is the last book in the series, I don't think it would have nearly the same impact if read as a stand-alone. So, if you're new to the series, maybe start at the beginning. But if you've been here for the whole run, this is a satisfying conclusion.

(61 books read)



Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo -- Alex Stern is ready to go to hell and back for Darlington, her missing friend and mentor -- but it's not an easy trip. Not only could it cost her her position at Lethe (and therefore Yale), but she can't do it alone. Is she willing to involve her friends in the effort, when there's no assurance that any of them will make it out alive? Also, there are some murders to solve.

I thought this was a strong second entry in the series -- it avoided that middle-book lag by having a high-stakes quest that is undertaken in the book, rather than saved for the sequel. There's definitely setup for another book, and I look forward to seeing where it goes, but readers can be reassured to know that this one is not a cliffhanger. I thought the writing was strong, and enjoyed getting to know more about Dawes, Turner, and Mercy. I still don't know what all the rabbit symbolism and stuff was about, but all in all, I enjoyed this very much, and would recommend the series to readers who enjoy dark magic with manageable amounts of gore.

(62 books read)



A Witch's Kitchen by Dianna Sanchez -- Millie is hopeless at being a witch. She doesn't have any warts, she can't even enchant her own hat, and every potion she tries to brew somehow turns into food. Because, of course, cooking is what Millie is really gifted at. She wishes that everyone would just ignore her and let her cook, but at coven meetings, she's the laughingstock of the whole group. Then, at one fateful gathering, her grandmother, the leader of the coven, decrees that Millie is to attend school. The Enchanted Forest School has been urging all of the different magical beings to send their progeny, but witches have always kept to themselves, each witch training her own daughters. Will school help Millie discover if she has any magical talents beyond cooking? Or will she be a laughingstock there, too?

I think I would have really liked this book if it had been around when I was a kid. The interactions between the children in the book feel authentic, and I would have eaten up the details about the Enchanted Forest and the school. Plus, Millie's cooking sounds amazing (when it doesn't involve frogs or lizards). As an adult, the pacing lagged, and there were some awkward bits of writing. I can still see recommending this to kids who enjoy lighthearted fantasy, but I probably won't continue with the series.

>164 foggidawn: I have enjoyed Bardugo's books in the past. Looks like a new series that I need to give a try. Thanks for the recommendation, foggi!

I hope you have a fantastic Friday!

>166 alcottacre: You're welcome, and same to you!

(63 books read)



The Rain in Portugal by Billy Collins

Some of these poems made me laugh
Or at least smile a bit,
But none of them went more than surface deep.

I didn't think, "Well, that's profound,"
Nor did I find myself
Pondering the meaning of a line
Or lingering over a poignant turn of phrase.

That's not to say you won't enjoy this book,
Nor will I skip the next Collins that I happen across.
That's poetry for you:
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

>168 foggidawn: Very impressed by your poetic review, Foggi!

>169 MickyFine: Thanks! I have made it a point to review poetry in verse for the last several years; it's just pretty rare that I read a volume of poetry. I think the first one I did that way was Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It by Gail Carson Levine.

(64 books read)



Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane -- Georgina's having a rough go of it: she got fired from her waitressing job at the worst restaurant in Sheffield, then found her boyfriend in bed with another woman. Her family is on her case because she's 30 and still working dead-end jobs. And then, to top it off, she meets Lucas, her high school almost-boyfriend, and he doesn't even recognize her. When his brother offers her a bartending job, she doesn't want to turn it down, even though things might be complicated. Is it possible that the sparks are still there, or is it too late for a second chance with Lucas?

I liked the writing, characters, and setting of this story. It's a lot more about Georgina coming to terms with some of the things that have happened to her in the past than it is about romance, so don't expect the romance to be always at the forefront of the narrative. Georgina's friends are terrific and her family is believably complicated, and I found the ending satisfying. All in all, enjoyable for fans of this genre.

(65 books read)



The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson -- Ryanna's summer is all planned out when a letter arrives from her estranged maternal grandparents: they want her to spend the summer with them in Pennsylvania. Seeing an opportunity to get to know more about her mother, who died when Ryanna was three, she agrees to the change in plans. What she doesn't expect to find is that her grandparents' home is a former summer camp, and she has a whole crew of aunts, uncles, and cousins that she doesn't remember, all eager to get to know her. After a rocky start involving a spilled slushy, Ryanna settles in for a summer of fun. What she and her cousins don't know is that it may be the last such summer: the ownership of the camp property is disputed, the handwritten deed is lost, and if it can't be found before the fall, the camp will be torn down to make way for lakeside condos. Is there anything Ryanna and her cousins can do to save the camp?

This is a fun, summery read with a wholesome vibe. I think kids, especially those longing for a big group of friends or cousins to adventure with, will really enjoy this book. Adult readers may find themselves having to suspend disbelief on certain key points, and few of the adults have really fleshed-out characterization, but it does a great job of conveying a summertime mood.

I haven't done a menu update lately -- last week I mostly played the hits (spaghetti and meatballs, grilled cheese sandwiches, etc.) but this week I have the supplies for baked potatoes, cheesy chicken casserole, and lime garlic pork chops (originally on the menu a few weeks ago, but I forgot to take the chops out of the freezer).

My garden is making good progress - peas, carrots, and lettuce are all making a strong showing, and I got my hanging basket and porch planters filled. John and I also put up fencing around the bed with the aforementioned vegetables to keep the local wildlife out. I planted some zinnia seedlings and sunflower seeds down by the barn, but I think the rabbits may have eaten the zinnias. We'll see if the sunflowers amount to anything. I have a mental image of big sunflowers against the red barn wall, which I will accomplish one of these years -- but possibly not this year.

I hope your sunflowers make a gorgeous showing for you this summer.

>174 MickyFine: Thanks!

>14 foggidawn: This is a very pretty book cover!

>176 Whisper1: It sure caught my eye!

(66 books read)



The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino -- When Yasuko Hanakoa's abusive ex-husband shows up at her workplace, to say that she is not pleased is a major understatement. When he follows her home and makes threatening statements towards Yasuko and her teenage daughter, one thing leads to another, and the two women have a dead body to dispose of. Enter Ishigami, the shy mathematician from next door, who hears the commotion and quickly devises a plan to conceal the crime. However, not only the police, but an interested physicist named Dr. Manabu Yukawa (also known as Detective Galileo), are on the case. Who will prevail?

This is an interesting book because the reader goes in knowing who committed the murder and how, though they don't have all of the details of the cover-up. There are several twists and turns, especially at the ending. The reader comes to sympathize with Yasuko and Ishigami, hoping that their plan will carry them through. I felt that Yasuko didn't have much agency, and all of the characters felt somewhat distant -- possibly because of the translation? Anyhow, I enjoyed this and might read others by this author, but I'm not rushing out for the next one right away.

>1 foggidawn: every time I check out your thread I want to say "aww" at the photo of Lottie.

Aww.

>179 fuzzi: Aww! Me, too. ;-)

>178 foggidawn: Interesting, yes, but it rather enraged me, especially the Galileo character and his righteousness. The co-incidence that he was connected to the murder was also discordant.

>157 foggidawn: I enjoyed this one, too. I read it when it was first published not realizing it was going to be part of a series. She's prolific so I hoped I wouldn't be left hanging too long, and I wasn't. The second one is just as good. And, as you say, I'm glad she didn't leave us hanging. I thought the rabbit symbolism had to do with her inability to protect the things she cared about. But that might not be it. I noticed that the afterlife in Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio had a lot of rabbits, too. Googling led me down multiple divergent paths.

>181 quondame: Yes, if he hadn't had the personal connection to Ishigami, would he have been able to figure out everything so neatly? Probably not.

>182 clamairy: Your spoiler makes some sense, but it certainly wasn't clear to me at the time, especially when we got the other characters' memories and the rabbits were there, too.

(67 books read)



Mosquitoland by David Arnold -- 16-year-old Mim Malone is not okay. Her parents are divorced, and she's stuck in Mississippi with her father and stepmother, while her mother is in Cleveland, becoming less and less communicative. Mim's mom needs her, Mim is convinced -- and when she overhears adults talking about her mom being ill, she's sure of it. She boards a Greyhound bus heading for Cleveland. Along the way, she will encounter a series of larger-than-life characters and have a string of adventures that will sometimes take her out of her way, but she hopes that, in the end, they will lead her home.

Pretentious and appallingly fatphobic, this book is cleverly written in a style that is reminiscent of John Green. I give it points for keeping me engaged and interested in where Mim's journey would take her. Mim's narration did not strike me as realistic for even the sharpest and most edgy teen, but her character was interesting and fully fledged, with both likable and unlikable aspects. All in all, though, I can't really recommend it.

Hi Foggi. Simply dropped by to see that you are thriving and whether there were some BBs to fatten my TBR list.
>184 foggidawn: This was a good review ~ showed me that *my* boxes weren't going to be ticked or inveigle me into adding this one to the WL.

I'm reading a library copy of The Missing Heiress, the original title of The Heiress of Linn Hagh, set in Northumberland, 1809. I'm feeling anxious it will be very unpleasant, with some witch-hunting nastiness, though I had the title recommended by a reliably sensible (to my dislike of thrillers) LT member.

Edited to acknowledge that I was mistaken, no witch-hunting.
It wasn't my 'cup of tea' as the saying goes, however. I skim-read through several sequences because it was so obvious I wasn't ever going to be engaged in the author's writing ability.

BTW, I finished Lavender House ~ I think I had this as a BB from you, yes? It was excellent. I'm hoping the PL in my region will order the next one (assuming Rosen writes a sequel).

>184 foggidawn: I read this a few years ago and thought it was unremarkable as a whole. I don't remember the fatphobia but that makes me want to go lower my rating in retrospect!

>185 SandyAMcPherson: Glad you enjoyed Lavender House! I think/hope there's a sequel to come.

>186 curioussquared: "Unremarkable" is a good descriptor. I expect it's one of those books that I won't remember details of in a year or so.

(68 books read)



Duels & Deception by Cindy Anstey -- Lydia Whitfield's future is settled: she will marry the owner of the neighboring estate, whom her father chose for her before his untimely death. But when Robert Newton, apprentice to the family solicitor, comes to help settle a few details, neither Lydia nor Robert can deny that there's an immediate pull between them. When Lydia is kidnapped a few days later and Robert is able to assist in her escape, their friendship is cemented -- but will they ever be able to share more than friendship? And who is attempting to kidnap Lydia, ruin her reputation, and steal her fortune?

This is a fun Regency read, ostensibly for teens, but will probably appeal to Regency readers of any age. To purists, Lydia may read as a little too modern in her actions and opinions, but in general, I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to fans of the genre.

(69 books read)



Happy Place by Emily Henry -- If Harriet closes her eyes and pictures her happy place, it's a certain cabin in Maine with her best friends, where they reunite every summer for a halcyon week of vacation. After a rough year, she's so happy to be on the way to this happy place -- until she arrives and finds her ex-fiancé already installed at the cabin. He was part of the friend group before they were engaged, but they had arranged to avoid each other on future trips. The kicker? All of their friends still think that they're engaged -- and, for various reasons, they can't reveal their breakup without spoiling the week for everyone. To Harriet, the cabin isn't feeling like such a happy place all of a sudden...

I've enjoyed every Emily Henry book that I've read, and this is no exception. It definitely put me in a vacation mood. The characters are well-drawn and dynamic, and there was a big focus on changing friend relationships, as well as the romantic plotline. There was quite a bit of conflict that could have been resolved if people would just talk to each other, but it felt organic and realistic, not a forced means of building tension. If you've enjoyed other Emily Henry books, or if this one sounds like your kind of thing, give it a try!

>189 foggidawn: Well, I did like Book Lovers so ...

>190 quondame: There you go!

Everyone, please join me over on my new thread!