Familyhistorian's Reads for 2023 - Part 4

Welcome to my thread. My name is Meg. I am a bookaholic. Not that that’s a shameful thing but it might be catching as my fellow 75ers and enablers can attest to. There will be talk about books, reading, Wordling and travel in 2023. Come along and see where my reading and travel take me. Should be an interesting ride.

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I write about genealogy and history on my blog. Follow my blog posts as I embark on another year of exploring and writing about my ROOTs (the family kind). You can see my latest blog posts at: A Genealogist’s Path to History

Challenges
Reading Through Time

Quarterly

January-March 2023 – WWI (1914-1918) - The Somme Legacy by M J Lee - DONE
April-June 2023 – 20th Century: Between the Wars (1919-1938)
July-September 2023 – 20th Century: World War 2 (1939-1945)
October-December 2023 – Modern History: 1946 – the Present Day

Monthly

January: Our Feathered Friends - The Evening Chorus by Helen Humphreys - DONE
February: Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My! - Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie - DONE
March: Notorious Women - Wild Romance: The True Story of a Victorian Scandal by Chloë Schama - DONE
April: April Fool - Son of a Trickster by Edin Robinson - DONE
May: The Big City – Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
June: The Fabulous Fifties
July: Revolutions
August: Migration and Immigration
September: School Days
October: Traditions
November: Indigenous Peoples
December: Reader’s Choice

2023 Nonfiction Challenge

January: Prizewinners and Nominees
February: Hobbies & Pastimes. Gardening, Genealogy, Travel etc. - Trespassers in Time: Genealogists and Microhistorians by Anne Patterson Rodda - DONE
March: Empires - Condemned: The Transported Men, Women and Children Who Built Britain's Empire by Graham Seal - DONE
April: The Sea/Ocean
May: Literary Biography
June: Indigenous/Aboriginal Peoples/First Nations
July: Explorations and Expeditions
August: The World of the Land, Trees and Plants
September: Family Ties
October: Crimes, Mysteries, Puzzles, Enigmas
November: Matters of Faith and Philosophy
December: As You Like It

List of books for challenges

Reading Through Time

Quarterly

January-March 2023 – WWI (1914-1918)
April-June 2023 – 20th Century: Between the Wars (1919-1938)
July-September 2023 – 20th Century: World War 2 (1939-1945) - An Unlikely Spy by Rebecca Starford
October-December 2023 – Modern History: 1946 – the Present Day - Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Monthly

January: Our Feathered Friends - The Evening Chorus by Helen Humphreys
February: Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
March: Notorious Women - Wild Romance by Chloe Schama
April: April Fool
May: The Big City – Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow - Sweet Thames by Matthew Kneale and/or The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros
June: The Fabulous Fifties
July: Revolutions
August: Migration and Immigration
September: School Days
October: Traditions
November: Indigenous Peoples
December: Reader’s Choice

2023 Nonfiction challenge

January - prizewinners and nominees - Having it so Good: Britain in the Fifties by Peter Hennessy - 2007 winner of the Orwell prize for political writing
February: Hobbies & Pastimes. Gardening, Genealogy, Travel etc.
March: Empires
April: The Sea/Ocean
May: Literary Biography
June: Indigenous/Aboriginal Peoples/First Nations
July: Explorations and Expeditions
August: The World of the Land, Trees and Plants
September: Family Ties
October: Crimes, Mysteries, Puzzles, Enigmas
November: Matters of Faith and Philosophy
December: As You Like It

Shared Reads

Peter Ackroyd's History of England series, a shared read of the series with Paul.

A History of England: Foundation
Tudors: The History of England from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I
Civil War: Volume III: The History of England this was also published as Rebellion: The History of England from James I to the Glorious Revolution - I own both titles
Revolution: The History of England from the Battle of the Boyne to the Battle of Waterloo
Dominion: The History of England from the Battle of Waterloo to Victoria's Diamond Jubilee
Innovation: The History of England Volume VI

Group Reads

11/22/63 by Stephen King in May with Kim?
East of Eden by John Steinbeck in July with Mark, MDoris, Linda P, Lynda, Paul, Anita

Little Free Library

Books culled in 2023

January - 16

February - 0

March - 6



LT Your Library number starting 2023 - 2944

Books read in March 2023

1. The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make her Disappear by Kate Moore
2. Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb
3. The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
4. The Fell by Sarah Moss
5. Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson
6. While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams
7. All Shall Be Well by Deborah Crombie
8. Wise Gals: The Spies who Built the CIA and Changed the Future of Espionage by Nathalia Holt
9. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
10. The King of Confidence: A Tale of Utopian Dreamers, Frontier Schemers, True Believers, False Prophets and the Murder of an American Monarch by Miles Harvey
11. The Customer is Always Wrong by Mimi Pond
12. Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson
13. Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb
14. The Somme Legacy by M J Lee
15. Strange Loyalties by William McIlvanney
16. Strip Jack by Ian Rankin
17. The Duke’s Disaster by Grace Burrowes
18. Tudors: The History of England from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I by Peter Ackroyd
19. Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson
20. Don’t Look Back by Amanda Quick
21. Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
22. Wild Romance: The True Story of a Victorian Scandal by Chloë Schama
23. Condemned: The Transported Men, Women and Children Who Built Britain’s Empire by Graham Seal

Books read in April 2023

1. Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
2. Color Capital of the World: Growing Up with the Legacy of a Crayon Company by John Whitworth Kropf
3. An Embarrassment of Witches by Sophie Goldstein & Jena Jordan
4. Sexton Blake on the Home Front stories by Anthony Parsons and John Drummond edited by Mark Hodder
5. A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes
6. Exiles by Jane Harper
7. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

Books read in 2023

Books acquired in 2023

Acquisitions in March 2023

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
Bookworm by Robin Yeatman
The Widow's Club by Amanda Brooke
Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
A City of Strangers by Robert Barnard
Doctored Evidence by Donna Leon
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
Feline Fatale by Linda O. Johnston
Little Book of Vintage Love by Tim Pilcher

Welcome!

Hello and happy new thread! From your last thread, I noted the Peter Ackroyd book of Tudors I own this and will try to read it soon. I have one whole book case devoted to the Tudors...lots that I've read, and still more to go. I am amazed at how many books there are about Henry VII, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Katherine Howard, and I am currently reading a book from the local library about my favorite queen, Katherine Parr.

Do you have a favorite queen?

>14 Whisper1: Hi Linda, I'm currently reading my way through Peter Ackroyd's History of England series. The one about the Tudors is the second volume. My interest lies more with social history - what was going on for regular people although in the Tudor time period the records were kind of sparse. I think that there is much written about the Tudors because of all the drama in their reign. They definitely changed things!

If I had to pick a favourite queen it would be Anne Boleyn. What attracts you to Katherine Howard?

Opps, I am still struggling with the flu that I've had for four days now. I meant to type Katherine Parr. I fixed this in my message. She had such a full life, married many times. Then, along came the infamous Seymour brother whom she deeply loved, and was deeply betrayed both by him and Elizabeth I. She died after childbirth. I had trouble finding information regarding the baby grown to childhood. I discovered the baby was a girl, but could not find anything regarding what happened to her. Would you have a way of finding out?

Hi Meg, happy new thread. the photo in >1 Familyhistorian: is stunning and WOW!!! that is a very impressive list of books read in March. Well done!

>16 Whisper1: They didn't have many names to chose from, did they. So Katherine Parr who outlasted Henry but not by much. It looks like traces of the child were lost as the mother died a few days after the birth and the father was executed for treason a short time later. I'm not sure she would have admitted her parentage given that pedigree so it's unlikely to find any record of her.

Thanks for your quick reply Meg. I appreciate your detail. Fondly, Linda

>17 mdoris: Thanks Mary. I like taking photos of dramatic skies. We get a few around here. My reading is helped by the fact that so many of those are library holds with people waiting. I really need to read some of my own tomes.

>19 Whisper1: No problem, Linda. You got me curious so I Googled to see what I could find and came up with an article about her burial https://thetudortravelguide.com/2018/11/24/sudeley-castle-and-the-remarkable-lif...

>1 Familyhistorian: That is quite the leaden sky, Meg!

Happy new thread. xx

Gorgeous topper photo , Meg! You are certainly reading quickly! Shrines of Gaiety is one I’d like to get too eventually. I’m considering reading a non fiction book on a Queen and I think I’d like to know about Queen Elizabeth 1. However, I’ll have to see what my library has . Happy New Thread!

Happy new thread Meg!

That is some sky!

>21 Familyhistorian: WOW, Thank You! This is an incredible article. And, now I am going to find Agnes Stickland's book. I appreciate your time and effort in finding this. I've also added Shrines of Gaiety to the tbr list.

Happy new thread, Meg!

Love your topper, the combination of dark clouds and sunshine always makes trees stand out on a picture.

HAppy new thread!

Happy Wednesday, Meg. Happy New Thread. Love the stormy topper. We had a terrific time in NOLA. A few details over on my thread. If you need any additional info let me know.

Happy new one, Meg. Love that topper. I am a sucker for skies - they change so dramatically and sometimes, so quickly! We're having a wet day here today with lots of thunder and lightening!

Happy new thread, Meg! Your topper is very striking!

>1 Familyhistorian: That's some kind of drama in that image, Meg. Beautifully caught.

Happy new thread!

>16 Whisper1: HI Meg and Linda. This reference to Katherine Parr is very intriguing. I know little of that history, so it is a surprise to read she married many times.
I forget my English history so much, that I wondered who is that "Seymour brother whom she deeply loved"? And was it Katherine who had this baby girl? I looked at >21 Familyhistorian: but the link didn't seem to load for me. Inquiring minds here this morning.

Happy new one, Meg!

Happy new thread, Meg!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Meg. What a dramatic photo at the top.

>22 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul. We see quite a few of those kinds of skies around here as we're close to the mountains.

Ooh, first time I hit the reply button. I didn't know that's ^ what it did!

>23 vancouverdeb: Shrines of Gaiety was a good one, Deb. Ackroyd's Tudors covered off Elizabeth I in depth. Of course, it covered off the rest of the Tudors as well but there weren't that many of them and Elizabeth ruled longest.

>24 quondame: Thanks Susan!

>25 Whisper1: Hi Linda, I'm glad you got something out of the article. I found it very interesting. I didn't know all of that about Katherine Parr before I read it, especially the part about what happened to her after Henry VIII.

I hope you enjoy Shrines of Gaiety.

>26 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita. I love the way the sun picks out the tree limbs. It shows up so well against the dark sky.

>27 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita!

>28 msf59: Welcome back from your trip, Mark. I'll be over to check out your NOLA posts soon.

>29 jessibud2: Hi Shelley, thanks re the new thread. We get a lot of dramatic skies around here close to mountains as we are. Don't get many thunder storms, though. I remember those from Montreal. Toronto must get similar weather.

>30 Carmenere: Thanks re the thread and topper, Lynda!

>31 richardderus: There's always room for a little drama, Richard, especially if it's in the distance! Thanks re the new thread.

>32 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy, the article was about Sudeley Castle where Katherine Parr was buried. If you Google "Sudeley castle katherine parr" you should be able to find out some info. The Seymour brother must be Thomas Seymour who she married.

>33 drneutron: Thanks Jim!

>34 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you Reba and welcome back from your travels!

>35 Storeetllr: Hi Mary and thank you!

>36 BLBera: Thanks re the thread and the photo, Beth!

Barely squeaked by
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abide, flash, trash, quash, gnash, smash

62. An Embarrassment of Witches by Sophie Goldstein & Jena Jordan



An Embarrassment of Witches was set in a world parallel to ours but filled with magic. The story centered around two young women sharing an apartment while figuring out their places in the world. There was the inevitable friction of two different personalities sharing and, sometimes, taking each other for granted. There were times that their familiars seemed more level headed that the two girls.

>48 Familyhistorian: so annoying those ones! I am on a 40 day streak so far and hope to make it to 100 :)

>50 LovingLit: Good luck making it to 100. I've made it as far as 79 on a streak but that's the maximum I've done before I messed up. My current streak is 43 but I don't know that I'll beat my maximum on this streak let alone make 100 but my fingers are crossed!

Continuing the streak
Wordle 656 4/6

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abide, great, leaky, leafy

I did see Peter Ackroyd's Tudors at the library yesterday, so thanks for the recommendation. It looked rather long, so for now I will keep it mind. Happy Easter in advance.

>53 vancouverdeb: The History of England books are all rather long and quite detailed. I haven't started the next one yet and can understand why you want to save the Ackroyd book for later. I hope you have a Happy Easter too bad the weather looks like it won't cooperate but at least it's not as bad as the weekend the people in Quebec have in store. They got hit by another ice storm.

HI Meg Happy Easter weekend to you! i lived for several years in Kingston doing the drive often up to Ottawa in freezing rain/ice storms and it was like driving on a skating rink. I too am thinking of those in Quebec facing an additional ice storm, beautiful but so dangerous.

63. Sexton Blake on the Home Front stories by Anthony Parsons and John Drummond edited by Mark Hodder



I’ve picked up a lot of books about WWII over the years, both fiction and nonfiction. Plenty of mystery stories are set during that time and appear to have been popular for a long time. Sexton Blake on the Home Front was a series of stories set during that uneasy time when criminals hoped to get away with things while official interest was focused elsewhere. There were a collection of stories in the book by different authors purporting to be from the files of Sexton Blake himself.

>55 mdoris: Hi Mary, I don't envy you those slippery drives. Must have been scary. I was brought up in a suburb of Montreal, Pointe Claire. I well remember one ice storm that hit while I was living at home. We were without power for a week and had no heat or fireplace. Fun times!

Have a Happy Easter weekend!

64. A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes



Another vintage mystery read recently was A Rage in Harlem. At first the credulity of some of the characters was hard to take but the tempo soon changed. It became more of a chase between colourful characters, all of whom seem bent in some way including the cops. It was funny but there were lots of bodies.

That answer came out of left field
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65. Exiles by Jane Harper



I was happy to see that Exiles, once again featured Aaron Falk. Asked to be godfather to Henry, the son of his friends Rita and Roca, he was once again back in their small town in Australian wine country. The setting reminded Falk of the small town he’d been brought up in. He enjoyed the easy company of the group of friends surrounding the couple he was visiting. But there was a dark side to the event. The baptism had been postponed for a year because of the disappearance of Kim, the wife of one of the members of the group. It was a disappearance that her older daughter, Zara, needed answers to. After a while, Falk wanted to know those answers too. It was an involving mystery which baffled me until nearly the end.

>60 Familyhistorian: Her storytelling voice is very much to my taste, so I'm glad she's in good form here.

Happy holiday weekend, Meg, from the dank, cold edge of the North Atlantic.

>61 richardderus: It was another good read. I hope she brings back Aaron Falk for another mystery soon.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend your ownself, Richard, from the cold rainy coast of the North Pacific.

66. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn



Four women who worked as an assassination team for a shadowy government agency were on a cruise put on for their retirement, or so they thought. In reality, the cruise was a ruse to get them together to eliminate them all at the same time. Just who was out to get them and why?

In Killers of a Certain Age, the four women in their 60s were determined to find out who was behind the orders to kill them and turn the tables. It was a treat to see women of a certain age in action and taking advantage of the way that women are consistently underestimated.

I did the write up on the Raybourn book in time to take it back to the library today. It was busier than usual for a Saturday because of all the closures for Easter making Saturday the only day it's open for the long weekend Friday to Monday. Headed down there directly after a morning Zoom meeting with my Questers group.

Hi Meg! Another rainy day. But Poppy and I got out at just about the right time for our walk - it stopped raining for close to an hour this afternoon. I also headed into the Richmond Library and picked up a hold, Old God's Time. The rainy north Pacific indeed. Happy Easter , Meg . Your pace of reading amazes me.

>49 Familyhistorian: That looks fun!

>63 Familyhistorian: It was a treat to see women of a certain age in action and taking advantage of the way that women are consistently underestimated.

As a man of a certain age I well know that women should be underestimated at one's peril!

Have a lovely weekend, Meg.

>65 vancouverdeb: It was a soggy one, Deborah. I went to the library too. It was raining even harder downtown than it was in Coquitlam. The library was extra busy because of all the closures for the weekend. Have a Happy Easter!

>66 PaulCranswick: You are one of the few that knows it's dangerous to underestimate them, Paul. Have a wonderful weekend.

A tricky one
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>68 Familyhistorian: True.

>69 Familyhistorian: Today's one is even tougher, I think!

>70 PaulCranswick: If you mean this one,

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abide, straw, slack, snaps, snafu

I know what you mean. The definition of words has become wider, I think.

>32 SandyAMcPherson: Here is a link that provides some information regarding Queen Katherine Parr. She was a very interesting, and unique, person.

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/young-elizabeth-seymour-scandal

>72 Whisper1: Thank you for that link, Linda. I knew about Elizabeth I getting in trouble with a Seymour. I didn't realize it was Katherine Parr's husband.

Spring is one of my favourite seasons and I really get to appreciate it here. As it starts early and goes on and on.



This tree down the street is blooming again (the shot was taken a few years ago when it wasn't raining). Maybe there will be a few blooms left once the rain stops.

What a powerful topper.
I've put >63 Familyhistorian: on my library list.
I wish you a good week ahead.

I am late to your newest thread, Meg. I'm all caught up with you now. I love your topper! And also the photo in >74 Familyhistorian:. Gorgeous.

>63 Familyhistorian: This is one I am am wanting to get to soon. I loved her Lady Julia Gray books.

>75 Ameise1: Between the mountains and the rain we get a lot of interesting skies around here, Barbara. I hope you enjoy Killers of a Certain Age. Have a great week.

>76 Crazymamie: Our spring was late and the trees are just starting to blossom now. I love seeing them. Killers of a Certain Age was quite different from her other books. It was set in two timelines and the historic part only went back to the '70s. It was fun with lots of action. Lots of bodies though.

It looked hard but became easy
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abide, dosed, udder, under

67. Wicked Redhead by Beatriz Williams



I was charmed by the first book in the “Wicked” series, the second, not so much. Wicked Redhead was another story told in two timelines. That of the present day protagonist, Ella, and the woman back in time who was also linked to the apartment building that Ella has moved into. The historical story was about Ginger, the redhead, and the man she lives, a prohibition agent. It was a tale with lots of action but I found myself leafing through to see how long it would take to get back to Ella’s story which had become very interesting.

Down to the wire
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I'm pretty sure that I got it Wordle in 3, as on my thread, Meg. Being the nightowl that I am , I usually do Wordle just after midnight. Yesterday, though cloudy here was quite gorgeous in Steveston. I headed around Garry Point Park with Poppy, and the Cherry Trees were in bloom ( much better that a week ago whey Richmond had the Cherry Festival at Garry Point Park and the trees were barely blooming) - too bad. Lot`s of fellow walker, float planes off in the distance, boats on the Fraser River and out in the Pacific. It as really beautiful.

Thanks for the Happy Easter Wishes! I did have a wonderful Easter and I hope you did too. I have a lot of fun with my siblings and their spouses - everyone has a great sense of humour and the gift of the gab.

It was maybe a especially fun because I surprised Dave with an espresso machine. I picked it up at London Drugs and Dave was so surprised. It`s so hard to actually surprise a spouse or older adult with a gift that they really appreciate. Dave has been making espresso in mocha pot, but this Breville Bambino seemed to really make him happy. So that was very fun. It will be our 40th anniversary in July, so it`s partly an anniversary gift in advance.

I hope you had a special Easter too, Meg.

>82 vancouverdeb: No gifts were involved for my 36th anniversary today. We had a lovely dinner and the hand wax thing is expected tomorrow - oh and there were flowers for me, so altogether a good day even if my chocolate dessert did have salt in it.

>80 Familyhistorian: Nice to be part of a family group for Easter, Deborah. I don't have family here except for my son who came over for an Easter meal. Congrats on your upcoming anniversary and for getting your husband an ideal present!

>83 quondame: Hi Susan, congratulations on your 36th anniversary. Why did your chocolate desert have salt in it?

>85 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. We were at a trendy restaurant and sea-salted sweets are still a thing. I saw chocolate and raspberry on the menu item and didn't read the rest of the description. Mike ate most of it and gave me the large remaining portion of his brown sugar pudding. Of which he got back a small remaining portion.

>86 quondame: Oh yes, the sea-salted caramels etc. I forgot about those, probably because I never wanted to try them. Brown sugar pudding sounds good not that I know what that is.

Not sure this was considered a word per se
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> 88 I thought it was more of brand, but it is a chemical compound. I looked it up after I did my wordle. I was surprised too.

>89 vancouverdeb: I thought it was a brand name too, Deborah. I was surprised when it was the answer!

68. The Pirate's Wife: The Remarkable True Story of Sarah Kidd by Daphne Palmer Geanacopoulos



The action in The Pirate’s Wife started in 1684 when Sarah Bradley arrived in Manhattan. She was 14 and, by the age of 15, she was to wed her first husband. She went through a lot of marriages before she was done but a woman in those days had little power and next to no rights when on her own.

The main part of the story dealt with her marriage to Captain William Kidd, who started out as a privateer and ended up being branded a pirate. It was an interesting tale, bringing to life the society of the time and the lot of women among whom Sarah was seemed exceptionally strong and resourceful.

That guess worked out well
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It's cherry blossom time

>87 Familyhistorian: Don't want to try sea salted Caramels? What? I'm glad that you were able to get together with your son for Easter. I'm happy that finally the cherry blossoms are out.

>91 Familyhistorian: Sound interesting.

69. Promises in Death by J.D. Robb



Continuing my reread of the in death series, I’ve now read #28 Promises in Death. This one hit close to home for all of the detectives. The victim was one of their own with close ties to a another significant member to the crew and also to someone related to Dallas and Roarke’s pasts reaching right back to their fathers and, anyone who has read the series knows, their father’s association was diabolical even though shaded by the mists of memory. The story was a page turning mystery which added another layer to the pasts of the main two characters.

>94 vancouverdeb: I think that caramels are just fine without salt, Deborah. It's nice to see the trees finally flowering but it would be nice if we got up to regular temperatures. Maybe then more flowers would show up.

The book about Sarah Kidd was interesting and showed a lot about New York at that time. It was a library book from VPL if you are interested in reading it.

I'm supposed to be getting ready for a trip to Salt Lake City where much research will be done. That means lots of preparation to come up with a list of all the things I want to look at. It also means that lots of things keep getting in the way of getting my list done. Today it was doing my income tax but at least that chore is off my plate for another year.

After my taxes were done, I took myself out for a walk in Port Moody on a trail beside the Burrard Inlet and discovered that it's nesting season. Well, of course it's spring so lots of birds are nesting. These are heron.



Here's another view of their nests



There are signs not to disturb the herons while they are nesting but I don't think they got the memo. While I watched there was a squabble. I think one of them tried to take over the wrong nest.

Great photos, Meg.

Hello, Meg! Happy Friday!

>93 Familyhistorian: Beautiful!

>95 Familyhistorian: I am ready for book four in that series, having finished my reread of the first three books since it had been awhile.

>98 Familyhistorian: Love the photos - thanks for sharing.

HI Meg, great pictures but llike you hoping for more warmth! I remember visiting a huge colony of heron nests in Stanley Park towards the English Bay end. Wow, it was noisy and smelly.

>99 BLBera: Thanks Beth. I only had my phone to get the heron photos, really need a lens that could zoom in more.

>100 Crazymamie: The in death books are going down really well for me and I don't remember the majority of them. As I read through I find it interesting how things change in the future world of the book based on what was happening at the time that the book was published. Promises in Death had the first references to the use of DNA for law enforcement. It was published in 2009, I checked.

Thanks re the photos, Mamie. Have a great weekend!

>101 mdoris: Hi Mary, maybe if we wish real hard the temperatures will go up? The heron area in Port Moody has been there for years but I didn't notice a smell. It was noisy though which I find amusing since the signage asks us to be quiet as well as not disturbing them. Thanks re the pictures.

Another quick one
Wordle 664 4/6

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abide, evict, tries, thief

I still think they are pretty good photos, Meg.

>95 Familyhistorian: Dang it! I really need to get back to the In Death series! : ) Love your photos and congrats on getting the taxes done. Enjoy your weekend.

Did this one while attending a webinar put on by Sisters in Crime Canada West about putting the thrill in Thrillers given by Amber Cowie. It was very informative but there were exercises so I snuck this in.

Wordle 665 4/6

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abide, apart, among, agony

>106 BLBera: Thanks Beth, I'm usually pleased with the photos my old I-phone takes. I have a trip coming up so there will be lots more on this thread after I get back.

>107 Berly: The in death series is good in rereads too, Kim. It's hard to believe they've been coming out since the '90s. Have a wonderful weekend.

So I'm supposed to be doing preliminary work to find out what I'll be research at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City but it's like waving a red flag. Things keep happening to distract me. Yesterday I had a meeting of the Exhibit Committee for PoCo Heritage in the afternoon (I hate afternoon meetings - right in the middle of the day so I have to get back to attend and can't get everything I want done all at once). I was the chairperson for the meeting and have to type up the minutes. So there's that to be done.

Today I went to a garden open for friends who are moving into a retirement community so this is the last year they'll be able to have people visit their garden. Not the best day for it but it was great to meet and greet people and see some of my genealogy buddies.

70. Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks by Christopher Brookmeyer



I really enjoy the Jack Parablane series. Parablane is an irreverent and persistent snoop who doesn’t let people attempting to get away with anything. In the case of Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks he takes on practitioners of the dark arts, performers who profess powers with links to the paranormal. In Glasgow some of those practitioners have got the ear of those in political power and they are looking for some political clout of their own. Just what will they do to get it? It was in Jack’s best interests to find out.

Happy Sunday, Meg. Hooray for the cherry blossoms and the heron nests. It still amazes me how such large water birds nest so high in these trees and in colonies too. Nature is an awesome thing...

>113 msf59: Hi Mark, it was pretty amazing to see those large birds cruising around up there. Hope you have a great Sunday.

A bit miffed at this one
Wordle 666 5/6

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abide, decoy, dress, dwell, dwelt

I love the Blue Heron's too! Pretty pictures! I do see nests in the trees around here , since many of the leaves are not yet out, but I'm not sure what birds occupy the nests.

>116 vancouverdeb: The only nests I really notice are those for the herons because they are in such naked trees. The other nests are usually masked by foliage.

There were many possibilities with that middle letter
Wordle 667 5/6

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abide, moist, crick, whiny, whiff

71. Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession, and the Birth of the Lie Detector by Amit Katwala



Part true crime story and part the story behind the invention of the lie detector, Tremors in the Blood was engrossing. The personalities and the instances of the lie detector’s use as well as its evolution showed that it was an invention whose very existence rested on chance and the instance of the person with the idea and the one capable of bringing it to fruition being in the right place at the right time. But just what did they invent and should it have the ability to render a person guilty or innocent?

Too many possibilities
Wordle 668 X/6

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abide, drool, sound, found, pound, wound - the answer was hound but I ran out of guesses

72. A Spoonful of Murder by J.M. Hall



From my own mystery stacks I pulled A Spoonful of Murder to read. The three reluctant sleuths who had all worked in the same village school became concerned when another former teacher turned up dead. It couldn’t possibly have been murder, could it? No, too far-fetched when the admittedly confused woman took the wrong pills when her daughter and main carer was away on a short trip. But things didn’t add up and the three woman started paying attention on what was going on around them. It helped that they had insights into some of the younger crowd who had been their students in days passed. It was a fun read.

>121 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg, It sure is good to pull and read a few books from your own stacks. Also good to have a fun read as well!

>122 mdoris: Hi Mary, I need to pull from those stacks more often. There are probably a lot of fun reads in there that I haven't discovered yet.

The start of a new streak?
Wordle 669 4/6

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abide, spool, putty, thump

Prepping for a research trip to SLC. That means blog posts and articles need to be written before I leave, 2 blog posts and one newsletter article to be exact. One blog post done so far. The hard part is finding inspiration about what to write about!

>121 Familyhistorian: This sounds like a really good read indeed, Meg!

>126 richardderus: Looks like you're getting into cozies lately, Richard. It's heartening that a lot of the heroes and heroines in current books are getting up there in age.

>127 Familyhistorian: I'm a butterfly reader, Meg. I'm glad for the distraction that they provide. And the old-folk protagonists are indeed a draw, I confess.

>128 richardderus: Yeah, they're good ones to read. Not too taxing on the brain and a good distraction from TV noise.

Hi Meg, I am trying to pull from the stacks a lot this year and so far it's working out well. I've found some great reads that I had almost forgotten that I had and even if the book isn't great, if feels good to pull it down from the shelf and pass it along.

>130 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy, my intention is always to do that but somehow I always end up with too many library holds and my own stacks get ignored. Keep up the good work. I should see if I can do that too.

Quick work
Wordle 670 4/6

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abide, shame, trace, plate

73. Picasso's War: How Modern Art Came to America by Hugh Eakin



In the 1920s America was a very conservative place and its art scene concentrated on traditional masterpieces that sold for ever increasing prices. Collectors of modern art were few and far between but they tried to get others involved. Attempts were made to interest the public in the new art scene but the art was derided and ridiculed. Picasso’s War told the story of the people who strove to showcase modern art in the US through the first efforts of the Museum of Modern Art in rented spaces. It was a struggle to gain acceptance on one side of the Atlantic while on the other side the face of Europe darkened as the tides of war overtook artists, dealers and galleries.

>133 Familyhistorian: I don't think I ever even thought about the role of WWII in the rise of modern art in the US before this very moment. Makes perfect sense though, don't it?

>134 richardderus: It really does because Nazi's dictated that modern art was degenerate whereas before they came along both Germany and Russia had embraced modern art so what were the artists and dealers to do. Not to mention that the majority of art dealers were Jewish. So the people and the art had to find a safe place to go. It was a very interesting book.

Tricky one
Wordle 671 5/6

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abide, thank, cloak, muzak, kayak

74. Worth Any Price by Lisa Kleypas



Worth Any Price was one of the Bow Street Runner series. Not the first in the series, but one further along. It was my first series read, however. Perhaps that’s why I didn’t find it much of a page turner. The narrative seemed to go on too long.

I took a quick guess and there it was
Wordle 672 2/6

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abide, broke

Hi Meg, returning the favour of your visit to my moribund thread!
Some really interesting book reviews here. I think I'll be looking to add Killers of a Certain Age and Picasso's War to my must-read WL.

Another shut out
Wordle 673 X/6

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>139 SandyAMcPherson: Good to have you visit, Sandy. Even better to know I got you with some BBs!

I’m in Salt Lake City on a research trip so won’t be checking in often. There may be pictures later.

To make up for yesterday
Wordle 674 3/6

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abide, ditty, ditto

Enjoy Salt Lake City, Meg. I also got Wordle in 3, but I'm embarrassed to tell you my initial guess for the third word as dildo . But I thought that is not too likely for the Wordle Word list , so luckily I came up with the correct word.

>144 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, I had to laugh at your third word. Things in Salt Lake City are going well so far.

Wordle 675 5/6

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abide, preen. rover, mower, joker

Another five
Wordle 676 5/6

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abide, spent, theme, meter, metro

We’re staying right next to the FamilySearch library and lots of reading is getting done but nothing to post about here yet.

>148 Familyhistorian: I'm checking in to see if there are pictures or news, so am not simply ignoring you!

>149 richardderus: Good to see you here, Richard. No pics until I get home but I have taken some. Took in an organ recital at the tabernacle today. Lots of construction taking place in the LDS buildings due to the earthquake in 2020. There’s something biblical about the timing of that quake to my mind.

Barely made it
Wordle 677 6/6

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abide, inset, firry, movie, toxic, logic

Looking forward to the photos.
Salt Lake City is the home of my great-grandfather and Grandfather.... They were Mormons, though my G-F abandoned that religion as soon as he left home and emigrated to Canada!

A struggle today
Wordle 678 6/6

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abide, trait, rainy, flair, hijra, circa

>152 SandyAMcPherson: It seems to be one of those religions that affect how believers live their lives so no surprise that your grandfather’s move changed his affiliation, Sandy. Interesting to view from the outside.

Not sure what this word means

Wordle 679 5/6

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abide, saved, dream, ready, cedar

Yesterday we were running low on wine and thought we could pick some up at the grocery store. No such luck. Harmony had plenty of beer, no wine. So we got some directions and plugged the info into my friend’s phone. It took us way past the wine store. Didn’t help that we didn’t know what it would look like. So we asked a guy passing and he eventually remembered where it was. We’d passed it on the opposite side of the street. Almost didn’t get to take the vino home though because I didn’t take my passport with me! The cashier took pity on us though and, really no one could think I was underage. There was a nice bistro style cafe across the street. Lunch was good and refueled us for the drive back.

>156 Familyhistorian: - really no one could think I was underage.

That made me laugh. When I was (much) younger, I was always thought to be even younger than I actually was. I feel I should be somewhat insulted that that never happens any more...;-). In fact, much as I love senior discounts in stores, no one even questions that any more either!! Hmphhh ;-)

>156 Familyhistorian: yay for being fully wined up! I hope you are enjoying the research you're doing.

>155 Familyhistorian: The cedar is a tree and and provides a very useful wood - often used for chests to repel moths and it doesn't rot in moist environments. And it has the loveliest long lasting scent.

>157 jessibud2: I got taken for younger back in the day too, Shelley. Some of that may have been the result of being vertically challenged though. I can remember being the only one at a table as for ID in a bar and I was the oldest in the group.

>158 richardderus: The research time was good and the group that put it on very helpful, Richard. We did need our wine though.

>159 quondame: I forgot that, Susan. Thanks for reminding me.

>155 Familyhistorian: Not sure what this word means !!?
And you from BC, living on a raincoast full of cedar forest? I bet you pass them by all the time on your walks along the creeks in Coquitlam. *grin*

>163 SandyAMcPherson: It’s usually called pine forest, Sandy. Truthfully I wasn’t thinking of trees.

> 163! What Sandy said , Meg! From your fellow BC ‘ er . 😃

Needed a bit of distance for this one. Started at 7:00 am in Salt Lake City, picked up and solved it quickly once home in BC many hours later. Not sure if that means I started it too early or if my brain works better on home turf
Wordle 680 5/6

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abide, poach, prank, plats, plaza

>165 vancouverdeb: What can I say, my brain was fried from doing intense research for almost a week!

>167 Familyhistorian: I believe you, Meg! :-) Just kidding! Glad you are back in our neck of the woods and it sounds like your week away in Salt Lake City was fruitful! I burned up a lot brain cells just now resizing 5 books covers on my thread , all in one post to create an April Reads post. Talk about brain fried!

>168 vancouverdeb: I haven't unpacked my research yet so don't know how fruitful it turned out to be. Did learn some stuff though so that was good. It is irksome that they changed the sizes that automatically come up for the page covers. Makes it take longer to figure out what you are doing.

Maybe they are easier to do at home
Wordle 681 3/6

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abide, frame, range

I'm behind in my reviews as I didn't post any while I was away. It's also a new month so I think it's time for a new thread. Give me a few and there will be new digs to visit.