foggidawn’s books and stuff 2023, part III

Lottie, barking up the right tree, but it's still not doing her any good.

A new thread for a new month and the unofficial start of summer!

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 55 chickens and somewhere around 40 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
32. Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen
33. Untwine by Edwidge Danticat
34. The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett
35. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
36. The Appeal by Janice Hallett
37. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
38. A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin
39. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
40. Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim
41. Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
42. A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
43. Our Castle by the Sea by Lucy Strange
44. Violet and Jobie in the Wild by Lynne Rae Perkins
45. The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
46. Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
47. The Swallows' Flight by Hilary McKay
48. The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
49. Broken (In the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson
50. Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca
51. A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie
52. Foster by Claire Keegan
53. All Shall Be Well by Debora Crombie
54. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
55. Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
56. Loathe to Love You by Ali Hazelwood
57. In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
58. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
59. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
60. The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths
61. Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
62. A Witch's Kitchen by Dianna Sanchez
63. The Rain in Portugal by Billy Collins
64. Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane
65. The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson
66. The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino
67. Mosquitoland by David Arnold
68. Duels & Deception by Cindy Anstey
69. Happy Place by Emily Henry

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.
25. The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey. Prize, SCDL.

(Feel free to post below!)

(70 books read)



If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane -- Laurie and Dan have one of those storybook romances: they met in college, and there's never been anyone else for either of them. They've been together for eighteen years, and are both successful lawyers in the same large firm. They've recently been talking about the possibility of having kids. Then, one day, Dan drops the bombshell: he's not happy with the life they've created together, and he wants out. Laurie is emotionally destroyed by the end of the relationship that she thought was solid. She wants answers, and she wants revenge. So, when another lawyer at the firm, handsome Jamie Carter (who has a reputation as a womanizer) suggests a fake dating scheme that will make Dan jealous and put Jamie in a better position within the company, Laurie agrees to the charade. She's sure that she's in no danger of falling for Jamie: she knows just what kind of man he is, and she's in no mood to get romantically involved with anyone, ever again. All she wants is to get a little bit of herself back after the breakup -- but will the lies inevitably backfire on both of them?

The emotions in this book are a rollercoaster ride. The first part of the book, dealing with the breakup and its aftermath, could best be described with words like "raw" and "visceral." I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who's recently gone through a painful breakup, as McFarlane evokes all of the feelings. It's strong writing, but a little heavy for a light romance. Things get a bit more fun when Laurie and Jamie get into the fake dating scheme, though there's plenty of strong emotion throughout. A few plot points felt extraneous, though they contributed to character development. To me, the ending wraps up a little too neatly, but perhaps anything more drawn out would feel belabored. Readers who enjoy the fake dating trope should take a look at this book.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

Happy new one!

Happy new thread, Foggi.

I love your topper intro and it must be incredibly rewarding keeping up with your farmstead. When I was in my teens the family had a Springer Spaniel who we named Toby - so full of life although I remember him being even more difficult than me at getting himself house-trained!

Happy new thread Foggi!

Sorry Lottie, but I’m glad you didn’t catch your squirrel.

Reading up a storm Foggi! Good for you.

Happy new one!

Happy new thread, Foggi!

>1 foggidawn: Love the picture of Lottie. It is unfair some creeatures can climb trees ;-)

Thank you all for visiting, Dana, Susan, Jim, Paul, Nina, Sandy, Anita, and Anita!

>8 PaulCranswick: Fortunately for Lottie, she was relatively easy to house train. But "full of life" is an apt description of the breed -- she is incredibly energetic and keeps us moving, for sure!

>9 humouress: I think it was a chipmunk. She didn't catch it that time, but I'll spare you the recitation of all of the little creatures she has caught...

>10 SandyAMcPherson: Thanks! I do feel that I'm having a pretty good reading year, and will hit 75 before long.

>12 FAMeulstee: Lottie agrees with you -- or at least wishes that she had that gift, as well!

(71 books read)



Leave the Grave Green by Deborah Crombie -- Duncan Kincaid and his sergeant Gemma James are called in when the son-in-law of a prominent musical family is found drowned in the Thames. There's an antagonistic wife, a heartbroken mistress, a weaselly bookie, and various other suspects. Can Kincaid work out whodunit without getting too personally involved?

I was a little irritated at Kincaid in this one, for spoilery reasons, but will continue reading the series to see where things go.

(72 books read)



The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi -- When he loses his job right before the initial COVID-19 shutdowns, Jamie Grey resorts to food delivery to make enough money to get by. When an old friend offers him a job with an organization that works with rare animals, Jamie jumps at it -- especially as he'll make enough money to cover the rent for himself and his suddenly unemployed roommates. The catch: he'll spend six months out of communication with civilization, and the job is basically grunt work. Also, it's not until he arrives that he learns just how rare the creatures he'll be working with are...

In his author's note, Scalzi describes this as a "pop song" of a book, and he's hit the nail right on the head. This is a fun, upbeat, fast read that will leave you feeling good when it's over (and kind of wanting to listen to read it again). If you enjoy light speculative fiction like the Murderbot Diaries and Andy Weir, this is a sure winner.

Garden update: As you can see above, I've had my first harvest from my garden. The lettuce is going gangbusters and it's really delicious. In other news, I got all of the plants Mom started for me into the ground, so both of my raised beds are full now -- to the one that already had lettuce, carrots, and peas, I added a couple of kale plants and some cabbage plants. Last year these didn't work well for me, but Mom had extras so I'm giving them another shot. The other raised bed has bell peppers and tomato plants (Roma, Beefsteak, and Amish Paste), with some marigolds tucked in as companions. I have basil in a smaller bed; oregano, rosemary, and chives in pots; and various flowers in pots and baskets on the porch. I had parsley in a pot, but the rabbits got to it, despicable beasties. We're working on catching the rabbits that have gone rogue and getting them back into hutches, so hopefully I can eventually have plants in pots without having to defend them like Fort Knox. We're having a dry spell, so my most common garden task right now is watering.

Menu update: On the plan this week I have tacos, stuffed shells, breakfast for dinner, and instant pot chicken.

Happy new thread, Foggi!

I'm glad you also enjoyed the Scalzi. It was one of my favourite reads last year.

Your lettuce looks gorgeous and I hope the rabbits mostly stay out of your garden.

One of my faves too!

>17 MickyFine: Thanks! We've fenced the raised beds to keep the bunnies out because last year one of them thought the tomato bed was a great place to raise her babies! They don't bother the tomato plants much (the leaves and stems are poisonous to a lot of creatures, and I assume they taste nasty) but they'd have no qualms about munching the lettuce, peas, carrots, cabbage, etc.!

>18 drneutron: I can see the Scalzi being one of my favorites of the year.

>14 foggidawn: Uh oh...I just have that one home from the library...

>20 laytonwoman3rd: I'll be interested to see what you think!

>19 foggidawn: Being a youth librarian, it must feel a bit odd to be rocking a bit of the Mr. McGregor vibe, lol.

>22 MickyFine: Hahahahaha! Yep, Mr. McGregor, and the grumpy old guy in Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming!

Happy new thread!! Keep barking Lottie!

>15 foggidawn: Uh-oh. Book bullet. I love Scalzi. : ) Update--Got it on Kindle from the library!!!

>16 foggidawn: Nice lettuce haul. Good luck making the rabbits behave.

>24 Berly: Enjoy the Scalzi! I've harvested lettuce three times now, and it's still growing like crazy. I should have staggered planting so it will go longer, but I'll just enjoy it while I have it. And I've accepted that there's no making the rabbits behave, there's just making areas inaccessible to them.

(73 books read)



Witch King by Martha Wells -- Kai wakes up in a tomb in the middle of the sea, not knowing who put him there or why he's waking up now. He's looking down at what was his body, encased in a glass casket. If he's going to get out of here, find his friends, and figure out who imprisoned him, he's going to need a new body to inhabit -- and since he's a demon, that's not as big an issue as one might initially suppose...

This book tells two stories: Kai's present, which starts with the scene set in the above paragraph, and his past, which involves a momentous government overthrow and the foundation of his current friendships. I'll admit that I found the governmental structure, the geography, and the history all a bit much at times, so readers should be ready to jump into the middle of a complex fantasy world with a lot going on. I liked the characters fairly well, but I didn't immediately click with any of them, and always felt at a bit of a remove. However, I did enjoy the book, and will continue reading if she writes more in this world.

>3 foggidawn: Happy New Thread. I read The Vicar of Wakefield over 30 years ago. I can't remember much about it, but I see I gave it 2 out of 4 stars at the time. (Yes, I was already keeping score!) I'm curious to see what you make of it.

I loved that Scalzi! :o) And you are the second person I know who enjoyed the new Martha Wells but had some issues with it. Interesting.

>26 foggidawn: Hmm, as much as I like Martha Wells, I might have to take this one off The List as complex worldbuilding is one of my least favourite things and one of the reasons I avoid a lot of high fantasy.

>27 clamairy: The problem with buying a book is that it may be some time before I read the book!

>28 MickyFine: Hmm, yeah, it might be an issue. I would definitely call this high fantasy.

(74 books read)



Nomadland by Jessica Bruder -- An ever-increasing number of Americans, especially after the Great Recession, have opted out of the dream of home ownership, choosing instead a life on the road. In RVs, vans, trucks, and even sedans, these modern nomads travel from one end of the country to another in search of jobs, fellowship, and the ever-elusive free parking space. Their reasons range from financial necessity to a quest for personal freedom. In this book, Bruder follows one subject, a woman named Linda May, through several years on the road.

Overall, I found this an engaging read. There were a couple instances where the author defined a term that she had already defined in an earlier chapter, or reintroduced a person whom she had introduced already in he book. I was also expecting a broader sampling of people, rather than the fairly close focus on Linda, but I can't fault the book for not doing what I expected when that was clearly not the author's intention. I'd recommend this to readers of Evicted by Matthew Desmond and other books about poverty and the American experience.

>26 foggidawn: Skimming a little because I currently have that one out from the library and am planning on reading it soon. I am the opposite of Micky and love a good complex fantasy world, so I'm looking forward to that aspect of it :)

>30 foggidawn: Read this one with my book club (and we read Evicted, too), which made for an excellent discussion. Glad it was one you overall found engaging, even if it didn't quite meet your expectations.

Happy Monday and happy new thread!

>31 bell7: Thanks for visiting, and I hope Witch King is a pleasurable read for you!

(75 books read)



Unmask Alice by Rick Emerson -- In the early 1970s, fueled by a moral panic about new hallucinogenic drugs hitting the streets, a purported "real diary" of a real girl hit the bestseller lists -- and it's stayed in print ever since. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous was a smash hit, and for several years, few questioned its raw authenticity. In the years since, it's become common knowledge that the book was actually written by Beatrice Sparks, a middle-aged woman who claimed to be a therapist working with troubled teens. In Unmask Alice, Emerson looks at Sparks and what can be known about her life. A compulsive liar, Sparks claimed to have attended universities that have no record of her and earned degrees that have never materialized. She tells a story of meeting "Alice" at a Christian youth conference and being given her diaries, but the timeline never matches up with the events of "Alice's" short, tragic life. When a grieving mother passes along her dead son's journal years later, hoping that her son's story can help other suffering teens, Sparks spins it into Jay's Journal, a sensationalized tale of witchcraft and Satanism that bears little resemblance to the life of the sensitive, struggling teen who wrote the original journal. This book comes out as Americans are ripe for the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, and lends plenty of fuel to that particular fire. Why did Sparks create these "diaries" (and several others that she published over the course of her lifetime)? Was she motivated by a desire to help troubled teens, or was she in it for the money -- and the fame that continued to elude her as her publisher insisted that her name be left off Go Ask Alice? In either case, she told a lot of lies, and Emerson does not spare the blame for the damage her books (especially Jay's Journal) may have done. I found this a gripping and fascinating read -- I finished it in a day, after coming across an interview with the author. I never read any of the Anonymous Diaries, either as a teen or as an adult, but I'm always fascinated by nonfiction related to children's literature, and this one is a particularly readable example of its type.

(76 books read)



Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter -- In this Baba Yaga retelling, Vassa is caught in a Brooklyn where the nights seem to be stretching longer and longer, and when she has to run an errand to BY's, the only store open 24 hours, she is caught in a bargain with the owner whereby she must work for three nights without going home in between shifts. During her three nights, she must complete impossible tasks -- but she has a few magical helpers. By the third night, it's clear that her quest is not just to survive the three nights, but to bring an end to the lengthening nights and the cruel machinations of Babs, the shop's owner.

I am the audience for retold fairy tales, especially Russian ones, but this book didn't work for me. The dialogue was clunky, and the attempt at merging the magical aspects of the book with present-day life just stretched my credulity a little too far. I also wanted Vassa to be able to solve some of her problems herself, but she always had magical help and could not have succeeded without it. There's a whole lot of weirdness in this book, so I can see readers who enjoy a book that continually throws them off-balance liking this, but it wasn't for me.

(77 books read)



Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews -- Dina is an Innkeeper at a very special kind of inn -- one that caters to interplanetary travelers. (As it turns out, vampires, werewolves, and other creatures of myth are actually from other planets, and what we think of as magic is just technology that we can't yet comprehend.) When an unknown creature starts killing dogs in her subdivision, Dina knows that she can't stay neutral for long -- especially since it's probably only a matter of time until the creature escalates to killing humans. Throw in an interfering werewolf, a suspicious local cop, and a group of vampires on the hunt for the same creature, and you have a full-blown situation on your hands. But Dina can handle it -- after all, she's an Innkeeper.

This was just the palate-cleanser that I needed: light and fun, with plenty of action and the lightest touch of romance. The inn makes for a delicious setting, and I would like to just stay there for a while, please. I loved the characters, and the writing was delightful. This is a short-ish book and I tore through it pretty quickly, but I'm pleased to note that there are four more books in the series, and I will be reading them very soon.

>33 foggidawn: Congratulations on reaching 75, Foggi!

>35 foggidawn: The Innkeeper series is _wonderful_ - that's an insta-buy anytime I become aware of a new one. Most of them are Dina as protagonist, but it widens the field later on.

Huzzah for reaching (and surpassing) the magic number!

>35 foggidawn: You're exactly right about the Innkeeper Chronicles - great light reads, even more so than most of the Ilona Andrews series, though they are all what I call potato chip reads.

>36 FAMeulstee: Thanks!

>37 jjmcgaffey: Yes, I'm loving the series!

>38 MickyFine: Thanks! At this rate, a double 75 seems like a good target for the year.

>39 quondame: Potato chip reads, indeed -- I'm halfway through the third one now. This is the first I've read by Andrews, so I have lots to look forward to (though I'll probably take a break after this series to avoid burnout).

(78 books read)



Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews -- When Dina is approached by an Arbitrator looking to host a peace summit between three warring nations at her inn, Dina's first response is to say no. However, she could really use the money, not to mention the prestige for the inn if everything goes smoothly. Of course, everything going smoothly is highly unlikely when all of the guests actively want to kill each other...

I liked this book just as much as the first one, and loved the new characters introduced, especially the chef! This series is quickly becoming a favorite, and I can see myself adding it to my comfort reads shelf in the future.

>40 foggidawn: I think Innkeeper Chronicles is the lightest most agreeable of their series.

>42 quondame: Thanks, that's good to know. I went ahead and ordered the whole series in paperback, because reading the ebooks on my phone is giving me a headache.

I believe that Happy Birthday wishes are in order here!! Here's hoping you had a great one.

>44 ronincats: Thank you! I did have a nice day -- I worked, but John brought me flowers and ice cream cake in the evening, and we're going out for dinner later in the week as well as planning some kind of fun for Friday, when we're both off. (We were thinking kayaking, but it's a bit chilly this week, so I may come up with some other plan.)

Congratulations on 75 books read, foggi! I'll have read a third of that after my next book.

Happy birthday! That sounds like a nice celebration.

I, too, love the Innkeeper Chronicles (I have The Innkeeper Chronicles, Volume One on Kindle) and I really hope they keep writing them.

>46 humouress: Thanks! Yes, I decided to buy the Innkeeper Chronicles in paperback as a birthday treat for myself -- I also hope they continue writing them.

(79 books read)



One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews -- I'm still loving this series, but this seems like a good place to take a break and read some of my library checkouts.

Happy belated birthday, Foggi. Nice to hear John spoiled you a bit and I look forward to hearing about your dinner out.

>49 MickyFine: Thank you! We went to a local place called Tozzi's -- we ordered the Mama Mia appetizer (meatballs, pepperoni, grilled peppers), and we each had a steak. I had been thinking about dessert, but of course by the time I finished my meal I was too full for anything else. The food was good, but neither of us were completely blown away by it -- but it's nice to support a local business, and the ambience was very pleasant. And it was fun to dress up a little and go out on a nice date. If we go again sometime, we might just get a couple of appetizers and a dessert.

>50 foggidawn: Sounds like a lovely evening.

>50 foggidawn: Thanks!

Yesterday we went to the First Ladies National Historic Site and toured the childhood home of Ida McKinley, which has been extensively restored. It was an interesting outing, and neither of us had been before. I might take my parents there when they visit in future. I had a lovely nap and finished my book, and then we went to visit one of John's cousins and have ice cream. The weather was not conducive to kayaking, but hopefully we'll do some later this summer.

Last night I had that recurring dream that I was back in college and it was finals week, and I had a bunch of nonsensical assignments due that I hadn't started working on, and I had to take an exam for a math course that I forgot to attend all semester! Not sure why my brain likes to dredge that one out every so often.

(80 books read)



Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn -- When Georgie loses her job as a Hollywood personal assistant because her boss wants to embrace a more simple life, Georgie returns to her Virginia hometown. Ostensibly, she's there because her best friend Bel is about to have a baby, but she also hopes to figure out what she, Georgie, really wants. When she finds a notebook that she and Bel wrote with their dreams for high school, she decides to try and make some of those teenage dreams come true. With the help of Levi, former town bad boy, can she figure out what she wants in the future by living out some of the things she wanted in the past?

This was a very sweet romance told in alternating points of view (Georgie/Levi). I loved the characters and how much of the story involved Georgie's friendship with Bel and Levi's strained family relationships. The author openly plays with the Hallmark movie trope of the big-city heroine returning to her hometown, which is a fun touch. Fans of this kind of story should definitely take a look!

>53 foggidawn: Yay! I'm glad you liked it too.

I feel you about the anxiety dreams. I never had test anxiety dreams when I was in school but since I finished (over a decade ago) they crop up every once in a while.

>54 MickyFine: Same here! Plus, it's not like I'm particularly anxious about anything right now, so what's that about? Maybe my brain feels the need to induce some anxiety just to make things feel normal! :-D

>55 foggidawn: My husband has said the same thing about anxiety dreams that occur seemingly out of nowhere. Maybe just to keep your brain "ready" for the real stuff?

>52 foggidawn: ...I had to take an exam for a math course that I forgot to attend all semester...

That's exactly the anxiety dream I have!! It's not always math (although sometimes it is), but it's always about how I didn't attend all semester. What is it with those???

I have that exact dream too 😂 it's always time for a Calculus final and I missed every class.

>16 foggidawn: Great spring mix! Before I left, I was able to harvest a spring mix from my garden as well. Your garden sounds wonderful!

Congrats on reading past 75 books :)

Okay, you people are all weird with your shared recurring dream ;0)

I (used to) get what I call 'travelling dreams' if I have to go somewhere and leave on time in the morning (I'm not a morning person) where I'd be travelling by what would seem familiar routes in the dream but are completely unrelated to anything in real life. Mind you, the details would be different every time, so not quite recurring. I used to get them a lot when I was working.

>60 humouress: I get those kinds of recurring dreams as well, Nina. Usually when I'm getting close to a trip myself, I'll have stress dreams about forgetting my passport and trying to sneak past security without it.

>56 laytonwoman3rd: Maybe so!

>57 PlatinumWarlock: Isn't it weird that so many people have this same recurring dream?

>58 curioussquared: Calculus? *shudder*

>59 figsfromthistle: Thanks! We're still enjoying fresh spring mix -- more of it than we can eat, really!

>60 humouress: I've had some sort of like that, too. In my dreams, places and people often don't look at all like what they look like in real life.

>61 MickyFine: Hah! I had some kind of unpleasant dream last night, probably because I had a big library program this morning with lots of different pieces that had to come together. Everything went smoothly, though, so that's a relief!

(81 books read)



Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood -- All her life, Elsie has been a people-pleaser. So far, it's gotten her to where she thought she wanted to be: she has her doctorate in theoretical physics. Unfortunately, she's stuck working as an adjunct professor and supplementing her income by working for a fake-dating app. When she gets an interview for her dream job at MIT, she's appalled to discover that one member of the interview panel is the brother of the guy she's been fake-dating. That same man turns out to be her scientific arch-nemesis, an experimental physicist who wrote an article years ago that had the effect of discrediting her entire branch of study. And he's determined that Elsie won't get the job. As they are thrown together over the course of the interview process, Elsie realizes that she can't tell what version of her he wants to see -- but the sparks between them are hard to deny...

If you've read any of Ali Hazelwood's earlier works, certain elements will be familiar: the STEM focus, the enemies-to-lovers trope, the tiny female main character and the big hulking male counterpart. The thing is, Hazelwood may only tell one story, but she does it really well. The dialogue is witty, the characters well developed, the plot engaging. I thought I was burned out on this author, but what can I say? I really enjoyed this book. If you're a fan of hers, you probably will, too.

>63 foggidawn: Not reading your review too closely because I'm planning to get to this one soon, but totally agree on Hazelwood's writing. Am I expecting another remix of the same book? Yes. Am I still excited to read it? Absolutely.

>64 curioussquared: Yeah, I got irritated at the novellas (Loathe to Love You), but I think that was because there wasn't enough padding, so to speak. When she has a full novel to build characters, settings, etc., it doesn't bother me that it's a familiar storyline. I mean, it probably would if that was all I was reading, but fortunately for all of us, there are plenty of other books in the world!

>63 foggidawn: and >64 curioussquared: I like Hazelwood too - the world (and other books) are "heavy" enough that some light, enjoyable, feel-good reading keeps me balanced! I'll add this to my list too. 😊

>66 PlatinumWarlock: Enjoy! I agree, light reading is necessary at times!

(82 books read)



Come Hell or Highball by Maia Chance -- Lola Woodby finds herself in straitened circumstances when her husband dies. He leaves behind more debts than assets, and there's nothing left to support Lola's life of highballs, chocolates, and detective novels. Lola and her cook Bertha flee to the one place Lola can think of: her husband's secret love nest, which she accidentally learned about several years into her unhappy marriage. When Lola is approached by a chorus girl who wants her to retrieve a certain sensitive item from the home of one of Lola's high-society acquaintances, Lola's first impulse is to say no, but Bertha spots an opportunity for their future, establishing themselves as discreet lady detectives. When a murder takes place during the house party they're attending, though, will Lola and Bertha find themselves in too deep?

I loved the concept of a 1920's mystery featuring a down on her luck society lady, but this book just didn't hold my attention the way I had hoped. I also didn't care for how the mystery was resolved. I won't be continuing on with the series.

>68 foggidawn: Have you read The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies? That seems to have a similar theme and was on my LT Recommendations. It seems pretty popular at the library, too, since I've had to put it on hold (I'm number 10 on the list in two different libraries).

>69 humouress: I have been hearing good things about that one -- I'll have to put a hold on it at my library.

>68 foggidawn: I'm sorry that didn't work better for you, Foggi. I enjoyed that series. But there's plenty of cozy mysteries in the sea. 😊

>71 MickyFine: That's true, we will never run out of cozies!

(83 books read)



Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews -- Dina's sister Maud swore she'd never get romantically involved with another vampire after her husband's betrayal, but the attraction between her and Arland can't be denied. Plus, there's her half-vampire daughter Helen to think of. Maud reluctantly follows Arland to his home planet, but she knows that there will be an uphill struggle waiting for her. And that's not even taking into consideration the wedding between members of two warring Houses that Arland's House is hosting...

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the change in setting and perspective, since I love the inn so much, but I did completely enjoy this book. It helps that I was already fond of the characters, especially Helen. Plus, all of the politicking and social maneuvering is catnip to me. This book could be read as a stand-alone, but then you'd miss the worldbuilding and the charming books about Dina's inn, so why not start at the beginning?

(84 books read)



Sweep with Me by Ilona Andrews -- Dina and Sean are learning to work together as Innkeepers. They're a little anxious about their upcoming appearance before the Assembly, but that's been postponed until after Treaty Stay, an Innkeeper holiday that involves welcoming any guest not banned from the Inns who wants to come for a stay. This year, there's a particularly tricky group of guests, and handling them will take all of Dina and Sean's combined abilities.

This pleasant novella brings the reader back to the world of the Inn. I enjoyed seeing more creative solutions to the issues presented by various alien species and their housing requirements, and loved Orro's discovery of TV chefs. Lighthearted and fun, but best read in series order.

It seems like I haven't done a menu update in a while. Last week I made chicken in the Instant Pot, stuffed shells, taco soup, and chicken salad. This week I'm looking at making pork chops, quiche, cottage pie (shepherd's pie, but with beef), and breakfast for dinner.

My garden is still producing lettuce at a rate faster than we can eat it, and I also got my first snow peas out of it. I thinned the carrots and got a few that were big enough for a bite or two. My kale and cabbage plants have survived longer than last year's attempts. My pepper plants have started setting fruit, and the basil is growing nicely. The tomatoes are doing okay, but they haven't really taken off yet.

Saturday was John's birthday. He spent most of it working on some projects with his dad, and then his parents came over to our place in the evening for taco soup (one of John's favorites) and cake and ice cream. I made a chocolate cake using the recipe on the back of the Hershey's tin, and John was highly complimentary of it. His parents also really liked both the soup and the cake. Other than that, I spent a lot of the weekend reading and relaxing, because the past week was really busy and took a lot out of me. This week should be a little calmer.

Hi Foggi - we haven't had much luck with carrots this year; it was our first time planting and not many germinated (or maybe the critters got them). Probably almost time to thin the few we did, so we'll see how many bites we get. Glad you had better luck!

Happy to see you've found a satisfying series to enjoy, Foggi.

Sounds like a lovely celebration of John's birthday. I'm assuming summer reading madness is the cause for the tiring week?

I might have to try the Ilona Andrews books. They sound like tons of fun!

>76 PlatinumWarlock: All of my raised beds are wrapped in wire fence, or the rabbits would make short work of any tasty greens! Good luck with the thinning; I am always so reluctant to do so that I end up just pulling a couple at a time when I think they look crowded.

>77 MickyFine: Thanks! I have one more book in the series before I am caught up and have to wait for more. Yes, I had three rather involved programs (a school summer camp visit, a program for elementary kids, and a messy play storytime) as well as my usual stuff. It was the big wrap-up for the summer camp program, so that will make the rest of the summer a little less hectic. Also, the house was very warm on Sunday afternoon and I just felt wrung out. John handles the heat better than I do.

>78 curioussquared: They are very much potato chip reads! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do if you try them.

>79 foggidawn: Oof, yeah that sounds like an exhausting week. Good luck making it through the rest of the summer.

Tomorrow is the last day of school here and the summer reading program at my work library kicked off on the weekend. My home library system doesn't start their summer programming until Thursday, which is when I can start participating in their adult program. :)

>80 MickyFine: It's weird that I already feel like I'm on the downhill slope in terms of the summer, since technically we're only a few days into it. But that summer camp program started right after school let out and only ran for four weeks, and our library's SRP ends the first week of August, so we're nearly halfway in. We have a meeting soon of all the children's staff in the system to talk about winter programming, and I am not in that headspace yet! I expect that July will drag on a bit -- John's picking up some extra shifts at work because people are going on vacation.

(85 books read)



Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson -- It's true. Whether they're murderous, accident-prone, or just unlucky, everyone in Ernest's family has killed someone. Some of them have killed more than once. And now they're getting together for a family reunion at a remote ski lodge. What could go wrong? Oh, also there's a duffel bag full of $267,000 in cash floating around, and a serial killer on the loose.

Ernest attempts to be the most reliable narrator ever (he gives a list of the page numbers where deaths occur, for instance) and still manages to surprise the reader in the end. This is a delightfully funny mystery with plenty of twists and turns, rooted in the traditions of Golden Age British murder mysteries. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good whodunit.

Oof, yeah, thinking about winter in July is hard. I think the hardest for me is always ordering spring gardening books in December and January.

>83 MickyFine: I don't know, January is about when they hit you with the seed catalogues, and looking at all of those lush photos is pure fantasy. But yeah, I'm not sure what I'll come up with for winter.

Hi foggi, I am trying to catch up. Your lettuces look just amazing. We are having good luck this year with arugula, which my husband loves. We have a longer growing season than we did when we lived "up the hill (mountains) but it's still tricky to grow stuff here in CO, and our payoff won't be for several more weeks.

You really got me with The Kaiju Preservation Society - looks fun!

>84 foggidawn: Ah yes, I suppose that would feel more normal in a farming life. My suburban life just means thinking about anything gardening is just depressing. Especially in the post-holiday slump, lol.

>85 AMQS: In my experience, arugula is a self-seeder - which means, if you let it flower, you'll have more next year. Possibly a _lot_ more, and not necessarily where you intended it to grow, though. Which is to say, keep an eye on it and keep the flowers under control (trim to just a couple, unless you want lots).

Of course, I'm growing in California in pots - what it'll do in the ground in Colorado may be completely different.

I haven't visited threads as often as I would lke. I like your description of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone . I'm heading to the library tomorrow and hope I can find this one.

>85 AMQS: Good to see you posting, Anne! And good luck with your garden. I hope you enjoy The Kaiju Preservation society as much as I did.

>86 MickyFine: Ah, I get that.

>87 jjmcgaffey: I've never let it go to seed, myself -- doesn't it get bitter once it bolts and starts forming seeds?

>88 Whisper1: Glad to see you whenever you come around, Linda! I hope you enjoy the mystery.

(86 books read)



Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane -- Ever since high school, they've been best friends: Ed, Justin, Sue, and Eve. And for all that time, Eve has been in love with Ed, but due to a series of mishaps, she missed her chance with him. When tragedy strikes the group, Eve's world is turned upside down as secrets are revealed, and someone new walks into her life.

Just as she did in If I Never Met You, McFarlane starts this book out with a gut-wrenching, tear-jerking tragedy. The writing is great, just don't go in expecting a lighthearted rom-com, is all I'm saying. I enjoyed this book (except the parts where I was crying ugly tears), but I'm not entirely sure I bought into the enemies-to-lovers subplot. It seemed a little rushed. All in all, a pretty good read.

>75 foggidawn: Hi Foggi! Doesn't it feel nice when you find a recipe that works? We have a wonderful chocolate cake from scratch recipe, too, and D13 just baked one last night with IL4. Glad you had a nice little birthday party.

>89 foggidawn: If you (or your husband) really love it and eat it before it goes to seed, no problem. It's a bit too bitter for our tastes, so it got skipped now and then - and it very quickly goes to flower and seed (and yes, probably gets more bitter when it does...which reduces the chances we'd eat it!). After that, it would grow from seed, but we wouldn't recognize it until it had flowered (and it usually set seed and scattered it before we got around to cutting it). The eternal plant, at least for us.

>91 The_Hibernator: Yes! I have a really great brownie recipe that I absolutely love, for instance. Just thinking about it makes me hungry for brownies...

>92 jjmcgaffey: I feel like I am in a race against time as far as the lettuce is concerned. I planted more than we can possibly eat! Next year I will be a little more conservative in my planting. For now, our rabbits are enjoying the overflow.

(87 books read)



The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill -- Their mother had always been a little distant, a little scatterbrained. She is an artist, a talented weaver who creates stories and emotions out of thread. But they got on all right until the day she brought home the crane and told them to call him "Father." Their own father had died some years ago of a wasting disease, and though their mother had brought home boyfriends since then, they'd never lasted long. The crane is different, though. He takes up all of her attention, and leaves cuts and bruises on their mother's skin. He's cruel, and the family's sheep fear him. Michael is only 6, and he's also afraid of the crane. But it's his 15-year-old sister who is going to have to do something to protect herself and her brother at any cost...

Though the setting is the near future, this story has a timeless, fairy-tale feel. Told from the perspective of the unnamed 15-year-old daughter, this story is dark and complex, but also deeply magical. Recommended to fans of dark fairy tale retellings.

(88 books read)



Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn -- Billie, Mary Alice, Natalie, and Helen are trained killers. Ever since the late 70's, they've been working for an organization that started out by taking out Nazis after the war, and expanded to cover other unsavory types. Now, the organization is sending them on a fancy cruise to celebrate their retirement. Unfortunately, shortly into the trip, it becomes obvious that someone on the ship is trying to kill them -- someone from their own organization. What could they have done to deserve to be taken out -- and who signed the order? These are mysteries that can only be solved if they make it off the cruise ship alive...

This is a terrifically fun read. More thriller than mystery, it details the present-day adventures of the four women, with alternating chapters taking the reader back to the beginning of their career. These chapters set in the past establish relationships that become significant in the present, as well as giving insights into the characters of the protagonists. There's plenty of humor and plenty of action, and if it sounds like something you'd enjoy, you should try it!

Special thanks to @MickyFine for the recommendation!

>94 foggidawn: Your timing of this post is uncanny, I just saw this book two days ago and thought it sounded interesting. Your review definitely doubles down on that, so I'll officially place it on my TBR.

Dropping by to say "hi" as I make my "catch-up" rounds. I'm hoping I can keep up now that things are slowing down a bit.

>95 foggidawn: Oh yay! I'm glad it was a fun read for you too.

>95 foggidawn: That does sound irresistible, foggi (and Micky), thank you!

>87 jjmcgaffey: good to know! We had great luck last year with lettuces, but I've never done arugula before. Pretty much everything we planted was grown by 4th graders at my school. They did the seed starting, the labeling, they watered, took the seeds out and back in every day, and finally during the last week of school they had a plant sale with proceeds benefitting out PTA. I was on board right away with the arugula, but I also bought tomatoes, cucumbers, acorn squash, kohlrabi (these last have positively exploded with our recent heat), and Swiss chard. We also bought Italian parsley - I use this all the time - and basil. In separate pots are rosemary, lemon balm (new to use this year) and mint. Only the mint and the thyme come back from year to year, but maybe I'll see if the arugula will. Most stuff can't survive the cold and snow.

>90 foggidawn: I'm adding Just Last Night to the TBR pile and hope to obtain a copy when I go to the library tomorrow. Thanks for sharing your excellent books!

>96 WhiteRaven.17: Hope it lives up to your expectations when you get to it!

>97 thornton37814: Hi! Good to see you making the rounds.

>98 MickyFine: It was, thanks!

>99 AMQS: What a great project for the kids!

>100 Whisper1: You're welcome -- enjoy!

I read less than usual over the past week for a few reasons: first of all, I started painting my kitchen! I'm doing it in sections, because there are some areas I can paint before they remove the old cabinets, and some that I'll paint when the old cabinets are out. The cabinet project is coming on slowly; I have a meeting on Friday where we'll pay for them, and then we'll see how long it takes to get them ordered and installed. I imagine this will be at least a couple more months. Still! Progress.

The second reason for the slow reading week is that I finally got around to watching The Gilded Age. I really enjoyed it, and am eagerly anticipating the next season. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Downton (the obvious comparison, since both are Julian Fellowes projects), but I might, given more seasons. The costumes are amazing.

The third reason is that a college friend stopped by over the weekend. She's driving around the country in her RV, visiting as many of the national parks as she can. A campground reservation fell through, so we invited her to park at our place. We got to do some board gaming -- a few rounds of Bananagrams, and a play through of Trekking the National Parks, which seemed appropriate.

My menu planning has been haphazard this week -- between all of this and John's work schedule, any plans I had are in disarray, and this weekend is not going to provide much time for shopping or cooking. There's a family reunion on the schedule, and in the midst of it all my car's muffler gave out yesterday, so we'll have to figure out a time to get it to the mechanic. Busy times!

>94 foggidawn: Oooh. That one looks very intriguing!

>102 foggidawn: Exciting progress on the kitchen front! Boo to the muffler giving out.

>102 foggidawn: Life sounds full for you, Foggi, but in lots of good ways. Is the family reunion for your side or John's?

Good luck on the cabinet painting, Foggi! That always makes things feel new. 😁

>103 clamairy: I think you would like it.

>104 curioussquared: Thanks!

>105 MickyFine: My side. Specifically, my mom's side of the family.

>106 PlatinumWarlock: Thanks, though I'm just painting the walls. We're getting the cabinets installed, so they will already be the color I want.

(89 books read)



The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman -- Twin spinsters Augusta and Julia Colebrook are caught up in three adventures when Augusta (Gus, as she's known to her friends) decides that her life has grown too tame and she wants to occupy her time with helping other woman -- including her sister, who still mourns a dead fiancée, and who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Their adventures involve blackmail, brothels, and a madhouse. Along the way, Gus meets Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their younger days, who is now on the run from the law, but who proves himself loyal and honorable throughout their adventures.

This book is a fun romp, though it does deal with serious issues in several places. It's not specifically a romance, focusing more on the women's escapades, but there are hints of romance throughout. If you enjoy Regency stories but would like to see more mature heroines and fewer balls, this is worth looking for. I'll be awaiting the second book in the series.

>94 foggidawn: That one looks good!

(90 books read)



Leeva at Last by Sara Pennypacker -- Leeva's neglectful parents are obsessed with fame and money, and since Leeva doesn't bring them either, she is relegated to being basically a slave in their house. When she sneaks through the hedge and discovers the library next door, her life opens up as she begins to ask the question, "What are people for?"

Written in a style that calls to mind books like Matilda or the Series of Unfortunate Events, this book leans heavily on the absolute misery of Leeva's parents' treatment of her, contrasted with the abundant goodness of everyone else she meets. It felt flat to me, but then again, I'm often not a fan of the "absurdism for children" genre. I can't see myself recommending this, but I'm sure that there are children (and adults) out there who will love it.

>109 The_Hibernator: I seem to have gotten a lot of people's attention with that one.

(91 books read)



Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters -- Evie's stuck as an assistant to an agent dealing in screenplay acquisitions. She dreams of being an agent herself -- well, actually, she dreamed of being a writer, before she was told that she just didn't have the talent for it. Now she files paperwork and runs errands for one of the most exclusive agencies in London. Unfortunately, the agency is so exclusive that they're about to run out of business if they can't get their star writer to turn in the romantic comedy that he agreed to write. Evie is sent over to get him to sign some paperwork, and ends up entering into a personal agreement with him: if she can prove that romantic comedy meet-cutes really exist, he'll write the screenplay. Now she has three months to find someone through a rom-com scenario -- but things are not working out the way she had hoped...

I enjoyed this book very much. It had the potential to be cringe-inducing, with Evie basically embarrassing herself all over London, but I found myself smiling at her meet-cute attempts instead. Plus, the secondary characters were great -- Evie's friend group is strong, and there's a kid in the story who is neither obnoxious nor precocious. Fans of contemporary romance, especially lovers of the romantic comedy, check this one out!

(92 books read)



The Girls at the Kingfisher Club by Genevieve Valentine -- Twelve sisters in 1920s New York go dancing at night without their father's knowledge. It's their only escape from their stifling home life, and it's only possible because of Jo, the oldest sister, known as The General to her younger siblings. Jo's the one who decides when and where they will go, and who keeps a watchful eye on the group when they're out and makes sure they all get home safely. But Jo, even more than the rest of them, knows that their current situation can't last forever. When their father starts trying to arrange marriages for them, it's obvious that the sisters will have to make other plans, or face lives of captivity with husbands who will treat them no better than their father has done.

This is an extremely engaging read. I listened to the audiobook, and found it hard to tear myself away from the story when I had to be doing other things. I'm a big fan of fairy tale retellings, and The Dancing Princesses has always been one of my favorites. And, while I don't always love stories set in the Roaring '20s, it worked so perfectly for this particular retelling. If this sounds like something you might enjoy, I highly recommend it.

>108 foggidawn: Thanks for the review on The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies . I purchased it about a week ago, after reading a good review about in my local newspaper . It sounds like a nice break from of the more serious books that I have read lately. I'm happy that your thread has popularized it more so. I hope to get to it fairly soon.

>114 vancouverdeb: I hope you enjoy it when you do! It did feel like a nice, light break to me.

>108 foggidawn: I already have that one out from the library. It looks good.

(93 books read)



Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner -- This memoir is a touching exploration of grief and culture. It touches on the author's childhood experiences with a Korean mother and an American father, then takes an in-depth look at the period when her mother is diagnosed with cancer and Michelle returns home to Oregon to care for her during her final months. Michelle hopes to learn how to cook some traditional Korean dishes for her mother, but the chemotherapy causes her mother to reject all but the mildest foods. After her mother is gone, learning to cook these dishes helps Michelle feel reconnected to her Korean heritage.

This book is guaranteed to make you hungry. It will also make you cry. Best read with a box of tissues and a supply of Korean snack foods close at hand.

>116 humouress: I look forward to hearing what you think of it!

>117 foggidawn: I loved this one. I went shopping and bought the giant jar of kimchi at Costco before I was even finished reading it. Have you listened to her music at all? I have not, and I keep meaning to.

>119 clamairy: I don’t really like kimchi, but I could sure go for some Korean barbecue right now. This book made me curious about her music, too. I had never heard of her before reading it.

>120 foggidawn: It's a lot of flavor to handle by itself. I put a little on my scrambled eggs, or on top of my Costco steamed dumpling. I can't just eat a bowl of it. I had never heard of her either.

>121 clamairy: I don't care for sauerkraut, either, which I think of as the German version of kimchi. I can see using it as a garnish, but I'm probably a lost cause in terms of coming to like it.

>122 foggidawn: Agreed. There are some foods, just like books, that we aren't meant to force ourselves to consume. I was overfed pickled red cabbage in my youth, and I cannot make myself eat it as an adult. LOL

>123 clamairy: Pickled red cabbage? *shudder*

>124 foggidawn: My sentiments exactly.

>121 clamairy: When my visiting nieces expressed a liking for Kimche I stocked the fridge with a bottle. The elder one, maybe 9 at the time, overindulged. She recovered and still has enjoys it. I like it too, but usually buy other, milder picked vegetables at the Japanese market when I grill up TJ's Korean meats.

>124 foggidawn: The pickled cabbages at the short lived Israeli place were delightful, red and green served with every meal in small separate bowls and not at all like sauerkraut - which I also rather like.

>126 quondame: I think everyone, at around that age, overdoes it on some favorite food. Glad she was able to get back to liking it eventually!

(94 books read)



The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey -- Melanie's world is very small: her cell, the corridor, the shower room, the classroom. When this organized existence is turned upside down, Melanie must face questions of who (and what) she is, while she and a group of companions struggle toward survival and safety.

This book was recommended to me a few times when it first came out, but knowing that it was horror, I hesitated to pick it up. However, once I did, I finished it off in a single day. It's a compelling, propulsive story with lots of deeper questions about the nature of humanity, scientific progress, and compassion. The writing is strong and the characters nuanced. I also didn't find it too gory, though it has its moments. Even if your tolerance for horror is low, I'd recommend this to anyone who finds the description intriguing.

>128 foggidawn: Great review! We read this for my book club several years ago and I went into it knowing NOTHING about the plot, which I think is a good way to read it.

>129 curioussquared: I agree, which is why I tried to make my review as non-spoilery as possible. I did know, going in that it was a book about zombies, but I didn't have any idea where things were going other than that.

>128 foggidawn: Interesting review, Foggi - thanks! My tolerance for horror is indeed very low (I never recovered from reading Pet Semetary in about 1986), but this sounds like I could handle it.

>94 foggidawn: What a beautiful cover!

>128 foggidawn: that does sound interesting. On my list it goes.

Hope you have a great weekend!

>131 PlatinumWarlock: I've never even tried Stephen King's horror, because I'm pretty sure I'd never be able to get to sleep again!

>132 figsfromthistle: Thanks!

(95 books read)



Windswept by Margi Preus -- In Tag's world, children must not step outside for fear of being swept away by the wind, never to be seen again. Tag's sisters were taken when she was very young, and now she lives in a house without laughter, where even the windows are boarded up and a knothole is her only connection to the outside world. When a strange boy slips her a note though the knothole inviting her to a secret meeting, she wants to attend -- but how will she manage to leave the house? With a tiny bit of magical help, she finds a way, and joins a group of other children intent on finding and rescuing their windswept siblings and friends. But the quest won't be easy, and as people keep telling them, they'll get there too late or not at all. Still, sometimes you have to keep going in the face of the impossible...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: fairy tale retellings are my jam. This one is delightful, drawing on several Nordic tales as well as a few from other traditions. It's also set in a post-apocalyptic future of a world very like ours, so there are artifacts of the previous civilization (mostly plastics) and a strong, occasionally preachy environmental message. The ending wraps up pretty neatly, as you might expect from a fairy tale retelling for kids. I enjoyed the whole quest and the people and creatures they met along the way. I'd recommend this to kids who love it when authors play with fairy tales, and adults who enjoy reading this sort of juvenile fantasy.

Two book bullets and one graze - I'm not getting Windswept just yet, but I may pick it up later. I love The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and while (like you) I don't usually like Roaring Twenties stories, this one may work for me. Also put The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies on hold, it'll show up sometime in the next couple weeks.

Every time I visit your thread I come away with at least one BB. Dangerous place, this.

Hi Foggi, I thought it was time to delurk and say I've been skimming threads these days rather than posting.
My reading is slow this year, and I'm only on my 66th book so far.

I've Dnf'd at least 10 because I was so tired of trying to finish ones I really wasn't enjoying. Glad to see you've been on a good reading groove. I dodged the BB's!

>135 jjmcgaffey: I hope you enjoy them!

>136 MickyFine: Glad to be of service. ;-)

>137 SandyAMcPherson: Thanks for dropping by! I have a few books that I've kind of DNF'd by default, just picking up other things instead of continuing to read them. I keep thinking maybe I'll go back to them... eventually...

(96 books read)



Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach -- Roach takes a top-down approach to the digestive system, exploring the complex, fascinating, and sometimes disgusting process of digestion from one end to the other. She touches on interesting historical figures, interviews scientists currently working in the field, and even does some hands-on research. I definitely feel like I learned a lot, though I probably won't bring it up as dinnertime conversation! Roach's writing is conversational and humorous, with amusing footnotes generously scattered throughout. Despite my edition's teeny-tiny font size, this book goes down easy.

>139 foggidawn: Ooh I haven't seen that cover before, I think I like it better than the one that is just a big mouth

(97 books read)



Goblin Market by Diane Zahler -- Lizzie and Minka, Minka and Lizzie -- that's the way it's always been. They're more than sisters, they're best friends. Their differences in personality balance each other out: Minka is extraverted and charming, while Lizzie is empathic and easily overwhelmed by sensory input. That's why Minka takes on chores like going to the market each week to sell the family's crops, while Lizzie prefers to help her parents around the farm. One week, Minka returns with a strange tale: a beautiful boy with a table full of fruit of all kinds, in season and out, who singled her out and gave her a taste of his wares. Minka can't wait to see him again, but Lizzie is concerned about this sudden infatuation. Emil, the handsome stranger, is all Minka seems to be able to think about. After Minka's next visit to the market, she has more tales of Emil's sweet words and strange fruit, but she soon falls into an illness that Lizzie is convinced has something to do with Minka's obsession. Can Lizzie find the courage to rescue her sister?

Zahler, one of the most prolific authors of fairy tale retellings for children, turns her hand to Christina Rosetti's poem of the same name. I found this an enjoyable, fast read. Kids who enjoy fairy tales with a creepy edge would do well to seek this one out.

>140 norabelle414: Yes, I agree about the cover of Gulp! I think it was a UK edition, as it was a SantaThing gift via Book Depository.

>139 foggidawn: >141 foggidawn: Two food related books, that's the sort of random - it is random, yes? - connection I like.

>143 quondame: Yep, that was completely random! I checked out Windswept and Goblin Market at the same time, so two children's fairy tale books at the same time is a little less coincidental, maybe -- though I do try not to overload myself with too many of the same kind of book, which is why I shoehorned Gulp in between the two.

(98 books read)



Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay -- There's a certain image of a feminist that Gay has in her head -- maybe you do, too? -- and she can never live up to it. She likes pink things and pretty dresses and really bad music. Plus, she has some concerns about intersectionality. All of that is explored in this essay collection, which looks at everything from pop culture to rape culture, sometimes in the same essay. Her conclusion, "I would rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all," resonates with me -- I'm probably also what you might call a bad feminist, but for different reasons and with less angst about it than Gay seems to have.

I really enjoyed Gay's memoir Hunger, but this one didn't strike as many chords with me. Part of the issue is that this book has been around for a while. Some of the pop culture references and all of the political ones feel dated, and even when the pop culture stuff was new, a lot of it was stuff I didn't consume. I admit to skimming some of the essays about shows I never watched and books I never read. It's certainly not the author's fault that I didn't get around to reading this book until now, but even if I had read it hot off the presses, I'm not sure how much of those segments I would have related to. Still, the writing is very good, and I loved the bits about Scrabble! Recommended with caveats: remember when you're reading that when this book came out, Trump hadn't been elected and Cosby hadn't been convicted.

Garden update: I harvested kale last night -- a whole lot of kale. I told my mom that I couldn't imagine eating that much kale. (I only have two kale plants, but they are producing well.) I gave the insect-chewed leaves to the rabbits, and chopped and froze the nicer ones. I mostly use kale in soup and quiche, so chopped, frozen kale will be welcome this winter. The rabbits had a kale party and will be really interested in me whenever I'm in their vicinity for the next few days! My pepper plants and tomato plants both have blooms and unripe fruit, and I've already harvested some banana peppers from the one plant that John's mother gave me. I made delicious pesto from my basil plants for the first time this summer, but certainly not for the last time!

Menu update: John has been working a long string of nights, doing his own shifts as well as covering vacations for some of the other guys. This past weekend I made lasagna so we could enjoy it and he could take the leftovers for his lunches, but other than that I haven't been cooking many dinners. I'm planning on making stuffed pepper soup tomorrow night, as he finally gets a few nights off. In August, I'll work on getting back on the menu planning wagon.

Your tomato plants aren't producing yet? Isn't this height of season?

>147 The_Hibernator: I would expect to start seeing ripe tomatoes in mid-August. My experience is usually that I want them to be ripe in July, but it always seems to take longer than I expect! But once they start ripening, I'll have tomatoes until the first frost. Last year, I was eating homegrown tomatoes into November because I harvested a lot of unripe ones the day before the first frost and let them ripen on the windowsill. I'm not sure if other varieties ripen sooner, but the ones I have are growing on the schedule I would expect from previous experience.

(99 books read)



Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld -- Sally is a writer for a certain popular weekly sketch comedy show, you know, the one that airs live on Saturday in the late evening. (It's called The Night Owls, or TNO, in this book, *wink* *nod*.) She's noticed that several of the average-looking guys who work on the show as writers, actors, or both, often find a love connection with one of the beautiful and famous female guest hosts -- but it never goes the other way, with a male host falling for a plain woman. Not that's she's looking for romance! It's just something she's noticed. But then, pop musician Noah Brewster comes on the show as the guest host, and it almost seems like he's flirting with her? Nah. And then she's rude to him at the after-party and figures that she'll never see him again. And then, two years later, she gets an email from him out of the blue...

I very much enjoyed this book. There are three clear segments, and I'll admit that the first one, where she's a writer at TNO, could have gone on forever and I would have been okay with that -- but then I got to the second part, which is epistolary, and it was also delightful. So, by the third part, I was pretty much invested in what was going on, even though I found it the least compelling part to read. Recommended for romance readers.

>149 foggidawn: This one's already on The List so no BB for me. 😊

>150 MickyFine: I'll try harder next time. ;-)

(100 books read)



You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo -- Captain Nikko Larsen and the remaining members of her unit are retired from the military of the Holy Hive Mind, which is a feat in and of itself. They're running a restaurant on a space station at the edge of the known universe, trying to save up some money and keep a low profile. Unfortunately, some of Nikko's old enemies aren't willing to let bygones be bygones, which is how the crew find themselves aboard a hijacked sentient spaceship, headed toward pirate territory -- and mortal danger.

I love the whole spaceship-crew-as-found-family motif (especially if the ship gets to be part of the group), and that's a big part of this story. There's a cozy vibe when they're not in deadly peril, with a fun cooking angle as Nikko's head chef teaches the ship to cook, rather than just whip things up in its replicator units. I did feel that some of the big emotional moments didn't land as well as I would expect, but that's pretty much the only weakness I noted as I was reading this book. The ending wraps things up satisfactorily, but there's definitely plenty to be explored in a sequel. Recommended to fans of Hitchhiker's Guide and The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet.

Thanks to @bell7 (Mary) for the recommendation!

(101 books read)



Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey -- When Lucy Pym, popular psychologist, accepts an invitation to give a lecture at a women's college run by an old school friend, she expects to be there for a few days at most. As she finds herself drawn to the students and the life of the school, she is convinced to stay the last couple weeks of the term (despite the early morning bells and disgusting cafeteria food). She gets to know the senior girls very well, and finds herself interested in their plans for the immediate future. But when a disaster occurs, Miss Pym is the only one who can prove that what seems like a tragic accident might, in fact, be murder.

Tey writes setting and character beautifully. I can see how the first part of the book might feel a little slow, though I was just enjoying getting to know the school, staff, and students. This book was published in the 1940s, and shows its age in certain attitudes and dialogue. In addition, a major part of the plot involves a certain piece of gymnastics equipment called the "boom," which I cannot clearly picture, nor can I find an online image that helps me understand its function. I'm also still a little hazy on the purview of a women's physical training college, which seems to train students who want to become gym teachers, or something like physical therapists, or...? Wikipedia tells me that Tey taught at such a college, so I'm sure all of the details are accurate to the time, but to a modern reader, it's a bit obscure.

All that aside, this is an interesting handling of the mystery element of the book. As you might expect from a main character with an interest in psychology, the ramifications of the crime and of exposing the crime are explored in detail. I figured out "whodunit" almost immediately, and was not distracted by red herrings, but I didn't find the ending entirely satisfying. I did enjoy reading a golden age mystery with an almost entirely female cast (there are a few men, but they play minor roles), and I can see that aspect of the book having some appeal for modern readers. I might read more of Tey if I come across other books by her; I was a little surprised that Miss Pym Disposes is a stand-alone work.

(102 books read)



Why Am I Like This? : The Science Behind Your Weirdest Thoughts and Habits by Jen Martin -- A collection of brief essays about some common activities/brain phenomena (earworms, multitasking, FOMO to name just a few). The writing is simple and readable, about on level with popular science articles you might find online, and each essay is no more than a few pages long. I didn't find any of the information particularly groundbreaking or informative -- your mileage may vary.

>153 foggidawn: Oh, I have that one...better move it closer to "next".

>155 laytonwoman3rd: Hope you enjoy it when you get to it!

(103 books read)



The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden -- Left penniless after the death of her husband, Margaret Lennox takes a position as governess at a secluded manor house. Her charge Louis is a charming boy, but the house holds many secrets: strange noises, rumors of ghosts, figures that seem to flit around at the corner of Margaret's vision... Still, she needs this position, and she doesn't believe in ghosts. Right?

I do enjoy a good Gothic every now and then. This reminded me a bit of the Victoria Holt books I consumed in my teens, albeit with a few modern updates. Despite some pacing issues, I enjoyed this book up until the ending, which I found unsatisfying. (If anyone else reads this, I'd be glad to discuss, but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone!) Recommended to fans of the genre.

Hi foggi. I dodged the BB's but you sure write interesting viewpoints about the books.
>157 foggidawn: Very helpful in not wasting my reading time, 'cause I am so not a Victoria Holt fan or unsatisfying endings. The "secluded Manor House" evokes the gothic setting right there, doesn't it? I know this is an attractive draw for some folks.

>158 SandyAMcPherson: Glad to help you dodge a book bullet! I have fond memories of reading Mom's Victoria Holt books when I was a teen, but I haven't tried them since to see if they would hold up.

>126 quondame: I'm glad she wasn't scarred for life by that incident.

>128 foggidawn: I enjoyed this one, for the most part. The movie version was not so great, though.

>139 foggidawn: This one was quite good. I am a big fan of Mary Roach's.

>153 foggidawn: This one is definitely going on the TBR.

>160 clamairy: Thanks for stopping by! I will definitely avoid that movie, then. I probably would have avoided it anyway, because while I can tolerate a little light horror in books, horror movies are a big nope-nope-nope from me. But still.

>148 foggidawn: My tomatoes have been ripe since early July. But they're cherry tomatoes.

>162 The_Hibernator: Ah, cherry tomatoes do ripen faster! But I don't much care for them, so I don't grow them. I was looking at my plants the other day, and I do have some big tomatoes on a couple of the plants that are starting to think about ripening. Soon...

>160 clamairy: She's tough. Shes a geriatric MD in SF and a voracious foodie.

It got quiet! I hope that means everyone is reading and having fun!

>157 foggidawn: I might give that one a try.

Interesting. I like cherry tomatoes better than big ones. I love how easy they are to pop in my mouth.

>164 quondame: All's well that ends well, then!

>165 compskibook: I have been doing some reading, but not as much as usual. I hit a minor slump that I hope will not last too long. Thanks for checking in!

>166 thornton37814: I'll be interested to hear what you think of it!

>167 The_Hibernator: Every now and then I have gotten a cherry tomato that doesn't taste good, so I am suspicious of them.

(104 books read)



The No-Show by Beth O'Leary -- What's worse than being stood up by your date? Being stood up on Valentine's Day. And that's what happens to Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane at the beginning of this book. Little do they know, they have all been stood up by the same guy. Who is Joseph Carter, this charming, disorganized serial dater -- and what's the deal about Valentine's Day? Why is he dating all of these women at once, and will they all find out about each other? Is heartbreak in the future, or will anyone get a happy ever after?

There's a twist at the end of this book that you'll find either clever or infuriating, and I have no way of predicting how you'll take it! I fall more on the "clever" side, though it did feel a little bit like cheating. Still, I enjoyed this book very much, and wanted all of the characters to get their happy ending, even when that seemed impossible. While The Flatshare remains my favorite of O'Leary's books, this one is a solidly good read for fans of contemporary romance.

Menu update: I made goulash (the American kind, with pasta, not the real thing) on Saturday. Sunday we had a get-together with some of John's extended family; I brought deviled eggs. The hens are laying well this summer, so I will do frittata or omelets some time this week. I'm also planning baked fish and scalloped potatoes, and curried lentils with rice.

>169 foggidawn: I'm glad you liked this one! The Flatshare is still my favorite too, followed by The Switch, but I had a lot of fun with this one. (We shall not speak about The Road Trip.)

>171 curioussquared: I didn't love The Switch, so this one is probably my second-favorite of hers so far. (My least favorite is the same as yours, apparently!) Looking forward to her new book coming out this fall.

>146 foggidawn: I am envious of your kale plants! I usually plant kale but this year did not because of space issues and the fact that I did not eat as much kale last year.

I just harvested two big tomatoes and they were delicious.

>173 figsfromthistle: I usually don't bother with any brassicas because I don't often have luck growing them. Mom gave me two kale plants (and several cabbages) and the kale is going gangbusters. (The jury's still out on the cabbages, but even if I never get heads from them, the rabbits will enjoy the leaves.) I'm envious of your tomatoes and looking forward to my own. A nice tomato sandwich would hit the spot right about now...

(105 books read)



Never Caught: The Story of Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar and Kathleen Van Cleeve -- Ona Judge, sometimes called Oney, grew up as a slave on George Washington's plantation, Mount Vernon. She was Martha Washington's personal handmaid, and traveled with the family to New York and Philadelphia. When she learned that she was to be given as a gift to Eliza Custis, Martha Washington's spoiled granddaughter, she took her freedom. One night, while the Washingtons were at dinner, she walked out of the house and boarded a ship that took her to New Hampshire, where she started a new life. Of course, the Washingtons were outraged, and determined to get Ona back, but despite several efforts, she remained free for the rest of her life.

This is the Young Readers' Edition of Dunbar's similarly-titled adult book. I think it would be very accessible for a middle-school reader with some knowledge of US history. The writing is straightforward, and includes definitions of terms (e.g. abolition, manumission) in the text when the authors deem necessary. The authors do make a choice to speculate on motives and emotions for the historical figures when such things cannot be known, but it's always clear that they are speculating and not stating facts ("Ona might have felt..."). All in all, a good historical book for young readers, though adults may find it over-simplified in spots.

(106 books read)



Sweep of the Heart by Ilona Andrews -- Sean's friend and mentor Wilmos is in trouble, and the only way Sean and Dina can rescue him is with the help of the Seven Star Dominion, a galactic superpower. In exchange for their help, the Dominion asks Dina and Sean to host a major event at their inn. It's a spousal selection, so basically The Bachelor on an inter-galactic level, with twelve candidates of differing alien species competing to become the consort of the Sovereign. Oh, and also, there might be an assassination plot or two. If the Sovereign is killed, all bets are off, and Dina and Sean lose the inn. So, no pressure...

This series continues to delight, and I am glad to find that, though this is the most recently published book, it leaves plenty of room for additional sequels. Naturally, I wouldn't advise that you start here, but I do highly recommend the entire series.

>169 foggidawn: BB for The No-Show, probably because it sounds like a lark. I do occasionally love to vege out and read light and fluffy to give my brain a rest from frazzle.

Last year I read a couple books with a similar theme, though I'm guessing the man probably differed from the Joseph Carter persona.
Central Park Pact is a trilogy written by Lauren Layne. I think I didn't finish book 2, because I don't see it in my catalogue. I was on a spring break holiday and read #1 and #3 books out of sync from a friend's cache of chick-lit.

>152 foggidawn: Congratulations on reading (and surpassing) 100 books!!

Yeah!!! Good for you that you read so very many books thus far this year!!!!

>177 SandyAMcPherson: It should do well for you, then.

>178 ocgreg34: Thanks, Greg!

>179 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda!

(107 books read)



Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse -- 14-year-old Billie Jo lives with her parents on a struggling farm on the Oklahoma panhandle in 1934. She's a bit of a tomboy, plain and angular, with a love for playing the piano, but not the gentle and sweet music that her mother plays -- "fierce piano," Billie Jo calls it. Dust is a constant in their lives, getting into every crevice, smothering the wheat crop, choking the livestock. When she sees neighbors leaving for California, she wishes she could go along, get out of the dust. When tragedy strikes her family, will she get her chance to do just that?

This Newbery winner is a verse novel, with writing that sometimes feels like poetry, but often could have been rendered in prose. The emotional impact is definitely the most striking part of the book, with a tragic twist in the first third of the novel that Billie must reckon with for the rest of the story. I was unaware, going in, of any details of the plot beyond the general setting, so the story really grabbed me at that point. I generally don't seek out books about the Great Depression or the Dust Bowl, and probably wouldn't have gravitated to this one except for its status as an award winner. I'm glad that I read it, and can see its quality. I'd recommend it to adults with an interest in historical fiction, as well as to middle- and high-school students.

>175 foggidawn: I read the adult version of Never Caught when it came out and liked it so much I gave it as a gift, also.

>182 reconditereader: I'm kind of tempted to read it and see how different it is from the young readers' version, but on the other hand, I want to read so many other things right now... maybe I'll pick up the adult version at some point in the future.

(108 books read)



A Lady's Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin -- Eliza Balfour married the Earl of Somerset at 17 -- a brilliant match, but he was not the man she loved. Now, ten years later, Eliza is a wealthy widow, as long as she does nothing to besmirch the family name (her late husband put a morality clause in his will). Despite her family's objections, Eliza and her companion relocate to Bath. Eliza has a few months of mourning left, but intends to visit the pump room and assemblies, observing every propriety, of course. This becomes complicated with the arrival of two gentlemen: the flirtatious Lord Melville, and the new Lord Somerset -- her late husband's nephew and heir, and the man Eliza was madly in love with ten years before.

This Regency owes an acknowledged debt to Jane Austen's Persuasion, but it is not a retelling of that story. Readers may find it a little slow to start as Eliza struggles with her shyness and her inability to stand up to her domineering mother, but I found that the pace picked up a little way into the book. Irwin's previous Regency suffered from what I'd call "kitchen sink syndrome," but this book is more focused. Eliza's character development shines as she allows herself to think about her own wishes and dreams. There are some modern attitudes and phrases that creep in around the edges, but it's a fun read, so I didn't mind too much. I really enjoyed how the story was resolved, and the journey to get to that resolution. Fans of Regency romances should take a look!

(109 books read)



The Phantom Twin by Lisa Brown -- Jane and Isabel are conjoined twins, joined at the torso and sharing an arm and a leg. They were sold at a young age to a circus sideshow, where the other performers have become a found family to them. But Jane, the more forceful personality of the two, dreams of a "normal" life. When an ambitious doctor proposes an operation that will separate the girls, Jane pressures Isabel into accepting. When Isabel awakes, she learns that Jane did not survive the surgery. Now she must find her own place in the world -- and, to top it off, she must wear prosthetics because Jane was the one with control of their shared limbs. Jane's still with her, though -- when you've been together all your life, can a little thing like death really separate you?

This historical graphic novel is based on the lives of similar conjoined twins, though Jane and Isabel are fictional characters. The illustrations are skillfully drawn and easy to "read" (said as someone who is much more text oriented and sometimes struggles to follow the story in graphic novels). It's a coming-of-age amidst tragedy story for Isabel, and manages to pack a novel's worth of story into the shorter graphic format. Graphic novel fans and those interested in sideshow history or conjoined twins should pick this one up.

>184 foggidawn: A palpable hit. Again.

>186 MickyFine: Did you read her first one, A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting? I liked it a lot, too, but it was even more of a romp.

Garden update: I spent a lot of time in the garden yesterday. I harvested some basil (mostly in an attempt to keep it from going to seed), lettuce (nearly done, but I'm still getting some), kale, bell peppers, and... tomatoes!

I finally had my long-awaited tomato sandwich, and it was delicious. I may have moaned a little.
I'm pleased to report that my cabbage plants are starting to form heads! I wasn't sure if they would. Now I have to think about what to do with all that cabbage when it's ready, sauerkraut not being an option for me.
I gave the rabbits some of the kale and a good bit of lettuce, and the chickens got some tomatoes that were in bad condition because of pests or blossom-end rot, so all of the livestock had a red-letter day of eating. Speaking of eating:

Menu update: I'll do pasta and pesto with the basil I picked, and I want to try a kale salad, but I haven't decided on a recipe yet. (If you have a favorite, please do share!) I'll make quiche at some point, and a zucchini galette.

(110 books read)



The Bookbinder by Pip Williams -- "Your job is to bind the books, not to read them." Peggy has heard these instructions ever since she started working in the Oxford University Press bindery, but she can't help grabbing a sentence or two here and there as she gathers and folds the pages. And, if there are sections or books with imperfections, she takes them home to the narrowboat on the canal that she shares with Maude, her twin sister. It was her mother's dream for Peggy to get an education, but that fell by the wayside when her mother died and Peggy took over caring for her neurodivergent sister, who also works at the bindery. Peggy still looks longingly at Sommerville, the women's college next door to the bindery, but she knows it's not for common folk like her -- she's "town," not "gown," and she had better accept her place. The Great War changes many things for Peggy and Maude: new friendships, new love, and new opportunities. When Peggy's chance for an education comes, will she have to sacrifice the tender romance that is just beginning to bloom in her life?

I found this to be an immersive read -- I could practically hear the swish of papers being gathered and folded, and smell the canal as Peggy and Maude walked home along the towpath. Williams writes complicated, interesting characters that bring their historical setting to life. This story touches briefly on parts of The Dictionary of Lost Words, but I don't think it's necessary to have read that work in order to enjoy this one. I highly recommend both.

>189 foggidawn: Both this and The Phantom Twin appeal to me.

>188 foggidawn: Those tomatoes look delicious! Much better than mine!

>190 quondame: Hope you enjoy them!

>191 The_Hibernator: Thanks! They are very tasty.

>187 foggidawn: I haven't read it either. Very dangerous around here. Especially because >189 foggidawn: was also a BB.

>193 MickyFine: I toned down the danger levels this week -- I only read a few books (reviews to come). No promises that the reprieve will last -- but I don't think you all really want it to! ;-)

(111 books read)



The Body in the Garden by Katharine Schellman -- Lily Adler, a young widow, has recently returned to London. Though she's still in half-mourning for her husband, she plans to attend some quiet events. Her best friend, Lady Walter, has other plans for her, though, and convinces Lily to attend the ball Lady Walter is hosting. That event is not a quiet one, and is even less so when Lily overhears an argument, and then discovers a body in the garden. The dead man is a stranger, but the murderer was almost certainly one of the party guests. The ton, including Lily's friends, would rather hush up the matter, but Lily is determined to see justice done for the unknown young man. Simon Page of Bow Street, the newly established police force, is also on the case, and he has no patience for bored society ladies sticking their noses in his business. Can Lily prove to the obstinate constable that she can be useful in solving the case?

I enjoy mysteries as well as the occasional Regency, and this combines elements of both. In this first book in the series, the mystery element is not very strong, but I have hopes that the mysteries will increase in complexity as the series goes on. I will be continuing with it.

(112 books read)



Verdigris Deep by Frances Hardinge -- It seems like a little thing: Ryan, Josh, and Chelle are where they're not supposed to be, and they don't have enough money for bus fare home. Josh, the daredevil of the group, steals a handful of coins from a wishing well, and they think no more of it until strange things start happening. Lights and electronics start to go wrong around Josh. Chelle starts spouting the thoughts of random strangers. Ryan gets weird warts on his hands that start to look more and more like eyes. Then, the creature that lives in the well makes herself known: Ryan, Chelle, and Josh must make the wishes come true for the coins they stole . . . or else.

I appear to have read this book before, over ten years ago, under a different title. At no point while I was reading did I get even the slightest hint of déjà vu, not even a twinge of a thought that the book seemed familiar to me. I had forgotten it entirely. That said, it wasn't a bad read this time around. (I gave it three stars last time; I'm bumping it up to 3.5.) It's a neat premise, with just enough suspense and tension for young readers to find it compelling, I would think. I didn't love any of the characters particularly, which may be part of the reason why I didn't remember it at all. I will probably not read it again, unless I manage to completely forget it and then come across it all over again in another ten years!

General update: I've been absent around here for the last week because I went to help prepare for my parents' 50th anniversary celebration. They did a vow renewal service on Friday night, then a big party on Saturday. There were 70+ people at the party, and they had a guy come roast a pig, with plenty of side dishes and desserts. There were games and crafts for the kids, including a live action Angry Birds game and a bouncy house, a hay ride, and skeet shooting for the adults. It was a big success, as everybody had fun, stayed safe, and got plenty to eat. All of my aunts and uncles were there, as well as many of my cousins and extended family.

In addition to helping with party prep, I helped Mom with her garden. We picked 4.5 buckets of tomatoes the first day I was there and made sauce, then I picked 6 buckets of grapes the next day, which we cleaned and froze to deal with later. (The buckets we were using were 2.5-gallon). After that, Mom said she wasn't going to let me pick any more things, but I still picked about a gallon of strawberries and a quart of blackberries, plus some zucchini, a cucumber, some carrots, and a few more tomatoes and grapes just to eat. Mom's chickens were riding high on all of the scraps from dealing with those veggies, let me tell you!

Now I'm home, and if the cabinet guy and I can ever manage to catch each other on the phone (we're playing an epic game of phone tag right now), cabinet installation may start toward the end of this week! I can't wait. I want my kitchen to be fully functional again!

I expect to need a lot of sleep this week to recover from all of that activity, but I slept really well last night and am feeling more alert than usual, so maybe being so busy did me good. As far as reading, I've been slowly working my way though one book and listening to another on my drive -- I'm about 80% through with both, so I'll have them finished soon-ish, depending on how busy I am prepping for the cabinet installation.

Menu update: with the kitchen already partially demolished and the cabinet install happening . . . sometime . . . (hopefully soon), we're dining courtesy of Stouffer's and Marie Callender this week, with some help from the Red Baron.

Exciting kitchen updates! Hope you manage to connect with the cabinet guy eventually.

>197 foggidawn: Lucky chickens!

>199 curioussquared: I've gone to the extreme of turning on the ringer on my cell phone, so hopefully he will call soon so I can turn it back off!

>200 norabelle414: They are certainly the most spoiled chickens I've ever met! I tried to tell them that not all chickens live in a spacious coop with a large run, right next to a beautiful garden full of fruits and vegetables, but I don't think it really registered, as they were focused on the berries I was picking at the time (I threw them the ones that were past their prime).

(113 books read)



Silence in the Library by Katharine Schellman -- When Lily Adler goes to pay a call on some old family friends, she finds herself in the midst of an uncomfortable family scene -- but that is eclipsed the following day when the patriarch of that same family is found dead in his own library. When it becomes clear that the death was a murder, Bow Street is once again involved, to the chagrin of the upper classes, and Lily finds herself in a position to once again assist with the investigation. Someone within the household is almost certainly the killer -- does Lily really want to know which of her acquaintances is capable of such an act?

I enjoyed this second entry in the series even more than the first. I thought the mystery element was stronger and the newly introduced characters more interesting. I'd recommend this series to readers who enjoy both mysteries and Regencies.

(114 books read)



The Left-Handed Fate by Kate Milford -- Lucy Bluecrowne lives aboard her father's schooner, the Left-Handed Fate. As a British privateer, the Fate has been hired by Maxwell Ault, a teenager who has taken on the project his father was working on before his death. He's trying to assemble an ancient device which he believes is a weapon strong enough to end all wars. As Britain battles Napoleon's forces on one hand and the Americans on the other, this device could be all too timely. But finding the pieces and assembling them is no easy task, especially since they are pursued by a French vessel in search of the same device, as well as some mysterious men in black who pursue them for reasons known only to themselves. The search will take them to the independent city of Nagspeake, where strange happenings are a matter of course...

So, I love Nagspeake and could read about it all day. Kate Milford's world-building is top-notch. I didn't love the sailing-ship bits as much, despite the fact that I normally enjoy books set at sea as well. I found the plot a little too run-around after one macguffin or another; I enjoyed the different scenes and characters that they met, but I had a hard time believing in the importance of the device itself. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this type of book. It probably also didn't help that I was confused about series order, and read this book before reading Bluecrowne. I'll come back to that book soon, as I'm still a big fan of Milford's work, even if this one wasn't a favorite for me.

>201 foggidawn: I have happy chickens, too. They get spoiled with Summer squash, cantaloupe rinds, soft tomatoes, and overripe watermelon.

>204 fuzzi: Yes, John's and my chickens get that sort of spoiling, too, though I think Mom's have nicer accommodations and more berries in their diet -- at least until I get my berry patch established!

Here's my chick update: https://www.librarything.com/topic/347242#8220468

>206 fuzzi: Very nice!

I hope harvest continues to go well for you, Foggi.

Your Regency mysteries sound a bit similar to the series by Darcie Wilde. I think I'll hold off trying these until I'm caught up with Rosalind Thorne.

>208 MickyFine: If you enjoy one, I think you'd probably enjoy the other -- but maybe not at the same time!

I've started a new thread, so join me there!