Berly's Bookstacks #6

So many choices!! What should I read?
Reading Now
@ Twelve Slays of Christmas (🎧 8.25 hours) by Jacqueline Frost
@ The Body (B 452 pages) by Bill Bryson
@ Fight Night (B 251 pages) by Miriam Toews

Ideas...
@ String Theory (b 144 pages) by David Foster Wallace
✔ The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
@ The XX Brain (B 311 pages) by Lisa Mosconi
@ The Hero of this Book (B 177 pages) by Elizabeth McCracken
The Heart's Invisible Furies IR by John Boyne with Beth
Pandora's Jar by Nathalie Haynes
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson with Stasia
✔ Mort (B 295 pages) by Terry Pratchett

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

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

Read in December 1,274 pages / 43.5 🎧 hours
2023 Total 15,641 pages / 167 🎧 hours
102. ✔ The Stupidest Angel (B 276 pages) by Christopher Moore 4.0
❤️ @ More Than A Woman (🎧 9.5 hours) by Caitlin Moran 4.0
100. ✔ Rebecca (🎧 15 hours) by Daphne Du Maurier 3.5
99. ✔ The Christmas Card Crime (B 224 pages) British Library Crime Classics 3.5
98. @ The Vaster Wilds (🎧 7 hours) by Lauren Groff 3.75
97. @ There's No Coming Back From This (K 300 pages) by Ann Garvin 3.0
96. @ The Guardians (🎧 12 hours) by John Grisham 3.75
❤️ @ The House of Doors (K 320 pages) by Tan Twan Eng 4.0
94. @ Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community (B 154 pages) by Liz Kleinrock 4.0

Read in November 690 pages / 32 🎧 hours
2023 Total 14,367 pages / 123.5 🎧 hours
❤️ @ Act Like you Got Some Sense (🎧 5.75 hours) by Jamie Foxx 4.0
❤️ @ The Longmire Defense (🎧 9.25 hours) by Craig Johnson 4.0
91. @ When We Were Enemies (K 345 pages) by Emily Bleeker 3.0
90. L Cat's Eye (🎧 17 hrs) by Margaret Atwood 3.75
89. ✔ Fortune: A Novel (K 345 pages) by Ellen Won Steil 2.5

Read in October 2,441 pages / 0 🎧 hours
2023 Total 13,677 pages / 91.5 🎧 hours
88. L 11/22/63 (K 877 pages) by Stephen King 3.0
87. @ The Girl in Cabin 13 (K 226 pages) by AJ River 3.5
86. @ Salthouse Place (K 321 pages) by Jamie Lee Sogn 2.0
85. @ Other Birds (K 288 pages) by Sarah Addison Allen 3.5
84. L Don't Let Go (K 361 pages) by Harlan Coben 3.5
83. L Back Spin (K 368 pages) by Harlan Coben 3.0

Read in September 0 pages / 40 🎧 hours
2023 Total 11,236 pages / 91.5 🎧 hours
82. @ The Banty House (🎧 9 hrs) by Carolyn Brown 4.0
81. @ The Book of Two Ways (🎧 16 hrs) by Jodi Picoult 3.0
80. @ Run Away (🎧 10.5 hrs) by Harlan Coben 3.75

Read in August 1,149 pages / 8 🎧 hours
2023 Total 11,236 pages / 51.5 🎧 hours
❤️ @ Lessons in Chemistry (B 391 pages) by Bonnie Grams 4.0
78. L Rogue Protocol (K 150 pages) by Martha Wells 3.5
77. @ The Way Life Should Be (K 308 pages) by William Dameron DNF
76. @ The Road Trip (🎧 8 hrs) by Beth O'Leary 2.5
75. L Heir of Uncertain Magic (K 300 pages) by Charlie Holmberg 3.5

Read in July 1,034 pages / 5.5 🎧 hours
2023 Total 10,087 pages / 43.5 🎧 hours
74. ✔ Then She Was Gone (B 359 pages) by Lisa Jewell 3.0
73. L West with Giraffes (K 381 pages) by Lynda Rutledge 3.5
72. ✔ A Childrens' Bible (B 225 pages) by Lydia Millet 3.0
71. ✔ The Woman Who Fell From the Sky: Poems (B 69 pages) by Joy Harjo 3.75
❤️ @ Moonlight and Magic (🎧 5.5 hours) by Darynda Jones 4.0

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

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

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

Read in June 1,112 pages / 38 🎧 hours
2023 Total 9,053 pages / 222.75 🎧 hours
69. L Artificial Conditions (K 149 pages) by Martha Wells 4.0
68. L Beguiled (🎧 10 hours) by Darynda Jones 3.75
67. L Bewitched (🎧 8 hours) by Darynda Jones 4.0
66. L The Kaiju Preservation Society (K 268 pages) by John Scalzi 4.0
65. L Long Bright River (🎧 13 hours) by Liz Moore 2.75
❤️ @ Betwixt (🎧 7 hours) by Darynda Jones 4.0
63. @ The Light on Farallon Island (K 358 pages) by Jen Wheeler 3.0
62. L Summit Lake (K 337 pages) by Charlie Dunlea 3.5

Read in May 1,724 pages / 9 🎧 hours
2023 Total 7,941 pages / 184.75 🎧 hours
61. L G is for Gumshoe (K 336 pages) by Sue Grafton 3.5
60. @ The Bookstore Sisters (K 36 pages) by Alice Hoffman 3.5
59. @ These Toxic Things (K 417 pages) by Rachel Howell Hall 3.75
❤️ L Twenty Years Later (K 370 pages) by Charlie Donlea 4.0
57. @ Trespasses (🎧 9 hours) by Louise Kennedy 2.5
56. @ Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (K 347 pages) by Charlie N. Holmberg 3.75
55. ✔ Hidden in Snow (K 434 pages) by Viveca Sten 4.0

Read in April 2,967 pages / 45.5 🎧 hours
2023 Total 6,217 pages / 175.75 🎧 hours
54. ✔ All He Has Left (K 206 pages) by Chad Zunker 3.0
53. ✔ The Nature of Secrets (K 347 pages) by Debra Webb 4.0
52. @ The Light We Carry (🎧 10 hours) by Michelle Obama 4.0
51. @ When the Rain Ends (K 334 pages) by Mary Ellen Taylor 4.0
❤️ ✔ An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us (K 481 pages) by Ed Yong 4.5
49. @ Sweet Tea Tuesdays (K 308 pages) by Ashley Farley 2.5
48. L The Nature of Witches (K 386 pages) by Rachel Griffin 3.75
47. ✔ Pattern Master (B 196 pages) by Octavia Butler 3.75
❤️ @ Stone Blind (B 371 pages) by Natalie Haynes with Beth and Ellen 4.5
45. @ The Winners (K 678 pages) by Fredrik Backman with Mark and Stasia 3.0
44. @ Earthside Quantum Earth Book #2 (🎧 9 hours) by Dennis E. Taylor 3.75
43. @ Travel by Bullet (🎧 3.75 hours) by John Scalzi 4.0
❤️ @ Roadkill (🎧 9 hours) by Dennis E. Taylor 4.25
41. @ Dolly Parton, Songteller (🎧 3.5 hours) by Dolly Parton 3.75
40. @ The Cloisters (🎧 10.25 hours) by Katy Hayes 3.0

Read in March 901 pages / 53.75 🎧 hours
2023 Total 3,250 pages / 130.25 🎧 hours
39. ✔ The Hound of the Baskervilles (🎧 7.5 hours) by Conan Doyle 3.0
38. @ I'm Glad My Mom Died (🎧 6.5 hours) by Jeannette McCurdy 4.0
37. @ I Will Find You (🎧 10.25 hours) by Harlan Coben 4.0
36. @ Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession, and the Birth of the Lie Detector (K 352 pages) Amit Katwala ER* 3.75
35. @ Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (🎧 14 hours) by Gabrielle Zen 3.75
34. @ Demon Copperhead (B 549 pages) Barbara Kingsolver w/ Ellen & Beth 4.0
❤️ @ Mad Honey (🎧 15.5 hours) by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan 5.0

Read in February 2,349 pages / 56.25 🎧 hours
2023 Total 6,078 pages / 76.50🎧 hours
32. @ No You Can't Be an Astronaut (K 94 pages)by Patience Fairweather (2/23 ER!!) 4.5
31. ✔ Bewilderment (B 278 pages) by Richard Powers 3.75
30. ✔ The Adventure of the Crooked Man (🎧 .75 hrs) Arthur Conan Doyle 3.0
29. ✔ A Song For You: My Life with Whitney Houston (🎧 10.5 hours) by Robyn Crawford 4.0
28. @ The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes (K 350 pages) by Cat Sebastian
27. @ The Maid's Diary (K 376 pages) by Loreth Anne White 3.5
26. @ It Ends with Us (🎧 11 hours) by Colleen Hoover 4.0
❤️ ✔ Horse (B 401 pages) by Geraldine Brooks 5.0
24. ✔ A Carnival of Snackery (🎧 17 hours) by David Sedaris 4.0
23. @ Matrix (B 272 pages) by Lauren Groff for RL Bookclub 3.75
❤️ @ Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges *Gift from Linda 5.0
21. @ Aunt Fanny's Stars by Brigitte Weninger *Gift from Linda 4.0
20. L The Queer Principles of Kit Webb (K 348 pages) by Cat Sebastian 3.5
19. L The Twilight Man (GN 180 pages) by Koren Shadmi 4.0
18. @ Billy Summers (🎧 17 hours) by Stephen King 4.5

Read in January 3,729 pages / 20.25 🎧 hours
17. @ Fashionably Dead in Diapers #4 (K 253 pages) by Robyn Peterman 3.0
16. @ Hell on Heels #3 (K 380 pages) by Robyn Peterman 3.5
15. @ Fashionably Dead Down Under #2 (K 308 pages) by Robyn Peterman 3.5
14. ✔ Silver Blaze Sherlock Holmes (🎧 1 hour) by Arthur Conan Doyle 3.0
13. @ Fashionably Dead #1 (K 322 pages) by Robyn Peterman 3.5
12. ✔ Your Duck is My Duck (B 100 pages) IR by Deborah Eisenberg DNF
❤️ @ The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (K 334 pages) by Sangu Mandanna 4.5
10. ✔ The Adventure of the Copper Beaches Sherlock Holmes (🎧 1 hour) by Arthur Conan Doyle 3.0
9. ✔ The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet Sherlock Holmes (🎧 1 hour) by Arthur Conan Doyle 3.0
❤️ @ The Witch of Tin Mountain (K 328 pages) by Paulette Kennedy 4.5
7. @ The Chemistry of Love (K 347 pages) by Sariah Wilson 3.5
6. @ Candy House (K 348 pages) by Jennifer Egan with Ellen and Beth 3.75
5. ✔ The Adventures of the Engineer's Thumb (🎧 1 hours )Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 2.75
❤️ ✔ All the Light We Cannot See IR (B 520 pages) by Anthony Doerr 5.0
❤️ ✔ Project Hail Mary (🎧 16.25 hours ) by Andy Weir, narrated by Ray Porter 5.0
2. @ A Vampire's Kiss (K 136 pages) by Rebecca Zanetti 3.0
1. ✔ State of Wonder (B 353 pages) IR by Ann Patchett 4.0

I can't resist buying books!!

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

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

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

2023 56/88 Read
✅ The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
✅ The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy *
✅ The Chemistry of Love by Sariah Wilson *
4. The XX Brain by Lisa Mosconi * Gift from Abby -- reading
✅ Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan
6. Mort by Terry Pratchett
✅ Matrix by Lauren Groff *
8. Florida by Lauren Groff
9. The Nutmeg Tree by Margery Sharp *
✅ The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
✅ No, You Can't be an Astronaut: Why You Shouldn't Follow Your Dreams and What to do Instead by Patience Fairweather LTER*
✅ Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession, and the Birth of the Lie Detector Amit Katwala LTER*
✅ Fashionably Dead by Robyn Peterman *
✅ Fashionably Dead Down Under by Robyn Peterman *
✅ Fashionably Dead in Diapers by Robyn Peterman *
✅ Hell on Heels by Robyn Peterman *
✅ Billy Summers by Stephen King
18. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
✅ Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges *Gift from Linda
✅ Aunt Fanny's Stars by Brigitte Weninger *Gift from Linda
✅ It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
✅ The Maid's Diary by Loreth Anne White
23. The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore *
✅ Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver *
✅ Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
✅ I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jeannette McCurdy
✅ Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
✅ I Will Find You by Harlan Coben *
✅ The Winners by Fredrik Backman
✅ The Cloisters by Katy Hays
✅ Travel by Bullet by John Scalzi
✅ Roadkill by Dennis E. Taylor
✅ Dolly Parton, Songteller by Dolly Parton *
✅ Earthside by Dennis E. Taylor
34. The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde *
✅ Sweet Tea Tuesdays by Ashley Farley *
✅ When the Rain Ends by Mary Ellen Taylor *
✅ Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
✅ The Light on Farallon Island by Jen Wheeler *
✅ Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg *
40. The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri *
✅ The Girl in Cabin 13 by AJ River
✅ The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman
43. These Toxic Things by Rachel Howell Hall
✅ The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
45. The Hero of this Book by Elizabeth McCracken *
✅ Betwixt by Darynda Jones *
47. A Place for Us: A memoir by Brandon Wolf *
✅ Moonlight and Magic by Darynda Jones *
49. There's No Coming Back From This by Ann Garvin
✅ The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary *
✅ The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Piccoult *
52. Fairy Tale by Stephen King
53. The Book Eaters by Sunny Dean
54. String Theory by David Foster Wallace
✅ Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Grams
✅ The Way Life Should Be by William Dameron *
✅ The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
58. Salthouse Place by Jamie Lee Sogn *
✅ Run Away by Harlan Coben *
✅ The Banty House by Carolyn Brown *
✅ The Longmire Defense by Craig Johnson *
✅ When We Were Enemies by Emily Bleeker *
63. Emperor of Rome by Mary Beard *
✅ Start Here, Start Now: A guide to anti bias and antiracist work in your school community by Liz Kleinrock *
✅ Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen
66. The Librarianist by Patrick DeWitt
67. The Trans-gender Issue: Trans Justice is Justice for All by Shon Faye
68. The Lost Journals of Sacajewea by Debra Magpie Earling
69. Invisible Son by Kim Johnson
70. Blackouts: A Novel by Justin Torres
71. A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A Memorial by Viet Thanh Nguyen
72. Crying in H Mart: A memoir by Michelle Zauner
73. Fight Night by Miriam Toews
74. Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
75. Happy-Go-Lucky by David Seders
76. White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
77. Opinions by Roxanne Gay
✅ Beach Read by Emily Henry
✅ The Guardians (🎧 12 hours) by John Grisham
✅ The House of Doors (K 320 pages) by Tan Twan Eng
✅ Act Like you Got Some Sense by Jamie Foxx
✅ The Longmire Defense by Craig Johnson
✅ More than a Woman by Caitlin Moran
84. Twelve Christmas Slays by Jacqueline Frost
85. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

✅ Read
* Free or gift

Reads with Ellen and Beth
✅ December -- A Visit from the Goon Squad with Ellen and Beth
✅ January - 1/26 Candy House by Jennifer Egan with Ellen and Beth
✅ February - 2/23 Horse by Geraldine Brooks with Ellen and Beth
✅ March - 3/23 Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver with Ellen and Beth
✅ April - The Winners by Fredrik Backman with Mark and Stasia
✅ April - Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes with Ellen and Beth
✅ May - Trespasses by Louise Kennedy with Ellen and Beth
✅ July - A Childrens' Bible by Lydia Millet with Ellen and Beth
✅ Sept - 11/22/63 by Stephen King with Ellen and Beth
✅ Oct - Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood with Ellen and Beth
✅ Dec - House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
✅ Jan - The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
Feb - Chenneville by Paulette Jiles

Literary Arts
September 21, 2023 -- Zadie Smith ✅Swing Time, The Fraud
October 26, 2023 -- Mary Beard A History of Ancient Rome, Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World
January 25, 2024 -- David Grann Killers of the Flower Moon, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder
February 29, 2024 -- Charles Yu Interior Chinatown, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
April 18, 2024 -- Aimee Nezhukamatathil World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments and book of poetry Oceanic

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

RL Book Club 2024
February Rules for Commuting by Iona Iverson
April The Wolves at the Door by Judith Pearson
June The Heaven and Earth by James McBride
August Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
October The Librarianist by Patrick DeWitt

And Honorable Mentions
The Physics of Everyday Things James Kakalios
No Two Persons Erica Bauermeister
Crying in H-Mart Michelle Zauner
Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Evil Eye Etaf Rum
James Percival Everett
Hello Beautiful Ann Napolitano
Spare Prince Harry
Go As A River Shelley Read
Everything Inside Edwidge Danticat
Tom Lake Ann Patchett

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

Series/Author/Next Book
Bobiverse / Dennis E. Taylor / #5 not yet published
Bridgerton / Julia Quinn / #3 An Offer From A Gentleman
Commisario Brunetti by Donna Leon / read 1,2,4,8 next #3 The Anonymous Venetian
Cormoran Strike Series / Robert Galbraith / #6 N
Finley O'Sullivan / Debra Webb #3 All the Little Truths
In Death Series / JD Robb / Naked in Death #1 (I have been reading out of order)
Kinsey Millhone Mystery Series / Sue Grafton / Read ABCDEFGQX / Next H
Kopp Series / Amy Stewart / #2 Lady Cop Makes Trouble
Mickey Bolitar / Harlen Coben / #4 not yet published
Murderbot Diaries / Martha Wells #2 Artificial Condition
Quantum Earth / Dennis E. Taylor / #3 ??
Sandham Murders / Viveca Sten / #11 not yet published
Sunshine Vicram / Darynda Jones / #4 ??
Sweep Series / Ilona Andrews / #6 not yet published
The Åre Murders / Viveca Sten / #2 Hidden in Shadows Dec '23
The Chronicles of St Mary's / Jodi Taylor / #7
The Time Police / Jodi Taylor #5 ???, Santa Grit 4.5
Elizabeth Cage / Jodi Taylor #4 ???

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

2023 Indispensable Reader Challenge
1. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 5.0
2. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 4.0
3. Your Duck is My Duck by Deborah Eisenberg -- DNF

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

The complete list can be found here --

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

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

Total Read - 45
2022 - The Netanyahus
* 2021 - The Night Watchman
✅ 2020 - The Nickel Boys
✅ 2019 - The Overstory
✅ 2018 - Less
✅ 2017 - Underground Railroad
* 2016 - The Sympathizer
✅ 2015 - All the Light We Cannot See
✅ 2014 - The Goldfinch
✅ 2013 - The Orphan Master's Son
✅ 2012 - NO AWARD - Swamplandia - Nominee
✅ 2011 - A Visit from the Goon Squad
✅ 2010 - Tinkers
✅ 2009 - Olive Kitterridge
✅ 2008 - The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
✅ 2007 - The Road
2006 - March
✅ 2005 - Gilead
2004 - The Known World
✅ 2003 - Middlesex
✅ 2002 - Empire Falls
✅ 2001 - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
✅ 2000 - The Interpreter of Maladies
✅ 1999 - The Hours
1998 - American Pastoral
1997 - Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer
1996 - Independence Day
✅ 1995 - The Stone Diaries
✅ 1994 - The Shipping News
1993 - A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
✅ 1992 - A Thousand Acres
1991 - Rabbit at Rest
1990 - The Mambo Kings
✅ 1989 - Breathing Lessons
✅ 1988 - Beloved
✅ 1987 - A Summons to Memphis
✅ 1986 - Lonesome Dove
1985 - Foreign Affairs
1984 - Ironweed
✅ 1983 - The Color Purple
1982 - Rabbit is Rich
✅ 1981 - A Confederacy of Dunces
✅ 1980 - The Executioner's Song
1979 - The Stories of John Cheever
1978 - Elbow Room
✅ 1977 - NO AWARD
✅ 1976 - Humboldt's Gift
1975 - The Killer Angels
✅ 1974 - NO AWARD
1973 - The Optimist's Daughter
✅ 1972 - Angle of Repose
✅ 1971 - NO AWARD
1970 - The Collected Stories of Jean Stafford
1969 - House Made of Dawn
* 1968 - The Confessions of Nat Turner
1967 - The Fixer
1966 - The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter
1965 - The Keepers of the House
✅ 1964 - NO AWARD
1963 - The Reivers
1962 - The Edge of Sadness
✅ 1961 - To Kill a Mockingbird
1960 - Advise and Consent
1959 - The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
1958 - A Death in the Family
✅ 1957 - NO AWARD
1956 - Andersonville
1955 - A Fable
✅ 1954 - NO AWARD
✅ 1953 - The Old Man and the Sea
✅ 1952 - The Caine Mutiny
1951 - The Town
1950 - The Way West
1949 - Guard of Honor
✅ 1948 - Tales of the South Pacific
✅ 1947 - All the King's Men
✅ 1946 - NO AWARD
1945 - A Bell
1944 - Journey in the Dark
1943 - Dragon's Teeth
1942 - In This Our Life
✅ 1941 - NO AWARD
✅ 1940 - The Grapes of Wrath
1928 - The Bridge of San Luis Rey

* Have on hand
✅ Read

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Latest effort

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

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

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

Happy New Thread, Kim! I think I am first !!! :-)

Happy new thread Kim!

(Did I greet your old thread?)

Happy New Thread, Kim!

Nice to see you back with a new thread, Kimmers. Since you were away I became a Grandpa.

Happy new thread, Kim! Any slow-down time in your future? ;-)

Love your topper. Personally, I can't wait (for autumn).

Happy new one!

New 🧵 orisons, Berly-boo!

Love your list of plastic substitutes. I'm working on that too. Good luck reading more of your acquired books each year, especially now that you work in a bookstore!!

Beyond all of that -- be well, be happy.

Happy new thread, Kim!

>3 Berly: I see you got to the magic number earlier this month, congratulations!

Happy new thread, and congrats on 75!

>14 vancouverdeb: You are indeed first!! Thank you -- I am feeling the love. : )



>15 quondame: And, yes, you were friendly on both my threads. ; )

>16 SirThomas: Thank you! Hoping to be a more regular visitor this fall.

>17 PaulCranswick: Congratulations, Grandpa!!! I will hop over to see if you've posted some pics.

>18 jessibud2: I am so tired of 90 degree weather -- ready for fall!! I am trying to wish it into being.

>19 figsfromthistle: Thank you!

>20 richardderus: Hello Ricardo! Yes, it was time. I need a new start here. : )

>21 RebaRelishesReading: I am doing a pretty darn good job of reading my newly acquired books. The problem is all the TBE books staring at me from my shelves...! I mean, I need some of them as my substitute security blanket, but I really need to get back to them.

>22 FAMeulstee: >23 banjo123: Yes! I hit the magic 75 already!! Thanks for noticing. I think that is probably the earliest I have done that since on LT. Good thing I had such a strong start because working all my jobs has definitely eaten into reading time.

So, speaking of jobs...I just quit Barnes and Noble yesterday. It was just too much. I work about 50 hours at my Montessori job and then adding 10+ hours at B&N put me over 60 hours/week and with school starting up and parent nights etc, it was just going to get worse. Plus it meant I only had 1 day a week off. So, I left on good terms and they are probably going to call me again for some holiday backup and hopefully I will have time by then. I loved working there and if the pay had been better, I would have opted to stay there. Oh well. It was fun while it lasted. : )

Happy new thread, Kim!

>28 Berly: That sounds like a wise if disappointing decision. 60 hours a week is too much!

>28 Berly: Got to protect your sanity and your energy. The good thing is you left on good terms, not that you'd do it any other way because Kimmers, so no energy suck of a bad memory.

...but the discount...!

Happy new thread, Kim! And congratulations on hitting 75!

>28 Berly: I'm sorry you had to quit the job at B&N, but 60 hours a week is really too much. I don't think I could have done that. I hope you will be able to take on some holiday work for them, and hope you will still get a discount with that.

Too bad about B&N, but probably wise. You do need and deserve downtime, and time to host out=of=town visitors. ;)

Happy new thread. You do an excellent job of reading new purchases.

Oh, I missed something - congratulations on hitting 75, Kim!

Happy new thread Kim. Sad thing about those retail jobs, the pay is never enough but the discount is too good.

Happy new thread, Kim. Yeah, those hours are too much. We all have to remember how t stop every once in a while.

Happy new thread, Kim, and congrats on freeing up 10 hours of "you time"!

Happy new thread!

>28 Berly: Sounds like a good decision and perhaps some holiday hours will be just the right thing. Meanwhile, take a little time to breathe and read. You've had quite a time of it in recent years with family issues and celebrations, bouts of Covid, etc. Take some time for yourself.

Happy new one!

Happy new thread, Kim! I think you are wise in your decision about Barnes & Noble. And you didn't burn any bridges.

Congrats on passing the 75 book level!

Thank you for your post and associated thread about using less plastic! I just starred that thread.

I keep trying tp avoid plastic, and then caving in because of something I want. I did finally get my son to switch from the juice in the plastic bottle he liked to a refrigerated juice in a mostly paper carton. That has made a difference in the amount of plastic in my recycling bin.

Belated Happy New Thread Kim.

I think you are wise to have left Barnes and Noble, in spite of the great discounts. You need some down time . And you can always work over the holidays , if you want.

Like others have said, I think letting go of the B&N job was wise. Discounts on books is an awesome perk but not if you have neither time nor energy to enjoy them!

Oh, and happy new thread!

Happy new thread! Sorry to hear about B&N but sounds like it was the right decision.

Happy new thread, Kim, and kudos for passing the 75 mark especially when working all those hours! Too bad about loosing the book discount but sanity is worth something. I hope you find more time for reading now that you're not working 60 hours a week.

Hi Kim! I have been AWOL recently, but I did buy 3 books! And have either read or am reading 2 of them! (success!!).

Nice to see you got to 75 already. I will be aiming for 52 again this year, a good ole one-a-week average. Meanwhile I have picked up a wee work contract to do before the end of the year and am spending more time than I should be wondering..."how am I going to fit this in again?". (then I remind myself there's a cost of living crisis and a little bit extra will help!).

I hope you are well!

Wow, 60 hours a week Kim, twice what I do. I think 42 is the most I've done in my working life.

Happy new thread, Kim!! Wahoo on reaching 75 !!!!!! from a perennial underachiever

Congrats on reading 75 books !

Adding to the congratulations on 75 reads Kim.

Hello Kim my dear, lovely to see you here, Happy New Thread. I am sorry that you had to leave B&N but 60 hours plus a week does not help you relax my dear. Congrats on reaching 75 books read for the year so far.

Hope all is well with the family and we both wish you a really good weekend and send love and hugs to you all dear friend.

Hope all is well dear lady.

Congrats on hitting 75! I'm just now catching up on threads!

Hi Kim. I'm looking forward to discussing 11/22/63 in a couple weeks. I hope you are well. ❤️

Don't work too hard, TwinK! I want you to be well rested by November. 😁

This was my first weekend not working at one of my jobs. I had two days off!!! I largely spend it cleaning house, paying bills, and running errands. And now I feel all caught up. Yay! I haven't been reading much in print -- Stephen King's 11/22/63, which is okay but not gripping me like most of his other books have. I'm about 1/4 of the way in. On audio, I just finished Run Away by Harlan Coben, which was pretty good. Now I am listening to Moonlight and Magicby Darynda Jones. I love her. : )

Thank you to everyone keeping my thread warm. I am slowly getting caught up in my new job and someday will have more time to be back her. Miss you all!! Big hugs.

Oh, you reminded me of the Charley Davidson series, which I haven't continued in a while. And my library is no help right now - other people are reading the books I want! Can you believe that?

Yay for time off! I'm impressed that you feel caught up after just one weekend 😂

I'm happy to see you here, Kimmers, and very pleased you're feeling caught up. I sometimes have dreams where I'm caught up. Waking from one is a mood-ruiner for sure since it's never, ever happened.

>56 Berly: I will be curious to see what you think of Moonlight and Magic, Kim. I also enjoy Darynda Jones' work.

I am happy to hear that you had a weekend off and hope you enjoyed it to the max!

How nice to be all caught up. And to have two days off in a row! Glorious!

Hey, Kim! That's amazing to feel all caught up after a weekend. I never seem to get there (at home, work, or in my volunteer stuff), but then I'm not the most efficient person on the planet. I tend to get sidetracked . . .

Busy reading 11/22/63 TwinK?

>57 ffortsa: What?!? Other people are reading the same books as you and you can't get a copy at the library? What is the world coming to? : )

>58 curioussquared: Caught up on the things I tried to get caught up on!! There's a whole other list I didn't attempt. LOL

>59 richardderus: LOL. You have to concentrate on certain areas, not the whole darn list!! See above. xoxo

>60 alcottacre: I enjoyed Moonlight and Magic. It's a short one (sadness--Ialways want more), but it's Darynda Jones and I always love her characters, imagination and sense of humor. Fun!

>61 The_Hibernator: Two days off was great. This weekend I am working both days and next weekend is the Fall Fun Run, so I will be working Saturday. One of these days I'll get this job under control. I can't keep working 60 hours a week!

>62 tymfos: I hear you. And "caught up" is always temporary. For instance, I'm behind again!! LOL

>63 BLBera: Nope. I gave up. Very first Stephen King I have not finished and loved. I am interested to see what you and Ellen think of it. Maybe I'll give it another go.

I look forward to our discussion. I did not love it, but I did manage to finish it.

We're going to have a good discussion. I actually enjoyed 11/22/63!

*smooch*

So, Ellen and Beth did not persuade me to finish 11/22/63. I think it is not King's usual book type and I am a hard pass. Oh well. It was still fun to talk about it!!

>69 richardderus: Smooches back atcha!!

I saw Zadie Smith at the latest Literary Arts show and loved her!! Also got a free coy of The Fraud which I plan to read later this year. Happiness.

>72 Berly: Sounds like an amazing event. This one is on my list to read.

Hey TwinK, just keeping your thread warm. I might have to pick up a copy of The Fraud when I visit.

>65 Berly: it's Darynda Jones and I always love her characters, imagination and sense of humor. Oh, yeah.

>72 Berly: That is so cool!

>72 Berly: Jealous! I should have made the trip down to PDX :) I'd like to read Swing Time this year.

Just hello!

Berly, just so you know, Jim and I have actually played a little bridge this past month, and plan to do it again. So far we haven't killed each other, so it's promising. When you have more time than you have now, online awaits.

I hope you had a lively discussion about 11/26/63. It was the one King book I was able to finish.

>79 Familyhistorian: I have only read two King books - that one and Carrie. I thought it much better than his debut book but I don't think I will ever be much of King devotee.

Hi Kim. Happy new thread. I skippety-skip-skipped through the last 60 messages of your last one and here I am.

>2 Berly: I love David Foster Wallace’s essays and absolutely loved String Theory. I had read his essay on Federer many times before it was collected in this book, and read this book in 2016, giving it a rating of 4.5.

>28 Berly: Glad/sad you quit Barnes and Noble. It’s just too bad that you won’t have any source for books and don’t have any unread books at home. 🙄

*hugs*

So. You quit your job. You. Quit. Your. Job. What are you thinking?   ^Slacker.

O! Did I say that out loud. Sorry, sorry. (Smile).

>28 Berly: Dear One

I am glad you quit the Barnes and Noble job. When you mentioned working two jobs, and the amount of hours entailed, I confess that I was concerned. Congratulations for taking care of yourself.

Hi Kim! So great to see you. Hope the TKD test went well.

*smoochiesmoochsmooch*

>84 banjo123: She passed (of course). I had a great time, TwinK!

>73 charl08: No idea when I'll get to The Fraud -- buy TBR stack is growing again! LOL

>74 BLBera: Hi TwinB!

>75 alcottacre: Definitely needing some fun, light books this year and she doesn't disappoint!

>76 curioussquared: Never too late to visit PDX!! : )

>77 EBT1002: Hi!!

>78 ffortsa: Bridge!! Glad you are enjoying the game and haven't killed each other. LOL. Someday I'll have time.

>79 Familyhistorian: >80 PaulCranswick: Interesting. I enjoyed 11/22/63 far less than most Stephen King books I've read. More historical and less horror/sci fi. We can still be friends, right? ; )

>81 karenmarie: String Theory is still sitting in my TBR soon pile by my nightstand -- hoping to get to it! Glad you gave it a 4.5. I miss working at Barnes & Noble, but just not enough time. Maybe when I retire...

>82 weird_O: Did you just call me a Slacker?!?! The noyve!! LOL

>83 Whisper1: Yeah, I am regularly working 50+ hours a week at this new job. But I am actually NOT going in this weekend!! Whoohoo! I miss my B&N discount though...

>84 banjo123: I passed my TKD test! The least prepared I have ever been, so I was nervous, but it went okay. They paired me up with a 6' 6" Master who weighs about 240 lbs for sparring -- what were they thinking? I have to do non-contact sparring due to the blood thinners I am on, so it went just fine. I fake-kicked him in the face and he was impressed, but if I had to spar him with real contact, I fear he would kick me and send me across the room! LOL



My TKD girl friends

>85 richardderus: Smooches!!

>86 BLBera: Loved having you out here TwinB!!



Beth and Kim at Literary Arts Book Festival. So many awesome authors!!



Rhonda, Wendy, Beth and Kim post Book Festival having dinner.

>82 weird_O:,>89 Berly: If the shoe is loose, wear it carefully.   ^Slacker.

O! Did I say that out loud again? Sorry, sorry. (Smile).

>92 weird_O: As in sorry, not sorry?! : P

: )

Thanks for posting the photos and thanks for hosting me. I had a great time. Smooch!

Congratulations on another TKD accomplishment, Kim. You really are amazing!

Looks like you had a great time at the book fest!

It's great to see you around again, Kim. Thanks for posting the photos too!

Great photos! As you well know, I am jealous of any LT meet up that does not include me, lol.

What a great group! I'm so glad you were able to get together!!!

>94 BLBera: My pleasure!! Happy to do it again. : )

>95 RebaRelishesReading: Not sure I am amazing, but thanks! Happy to make it through again. One more pre-test in April, and then the BIG test for 4th degree Black Belt and the title of Master next November. One year!!

>96 drneutron: Of course!! It was a BOOK fest. LOL. I just wish my TKD test hadn't been the same day -- I saw two authors with Beth and then left her downtown to see more authors while I took my 3-hour test and then I went back downtown to pick her up for the author after-party. Phew! What a day!

>97 lauralkeet: Hi there! As soon as life cooperates, I will be here more often. I miss LT and all my friends and their great book suggestions. : )

>98 alcottacre: Thanks!! I know the feeling. I am always jealous of meetups I didn't get to attend. LOL. One of these days we'll get together!!

>99 Whisper1: Thank you! It was so much fun. And I will have to post a picture of my book haul(s)!!

Great to see you back posting Kimmers!

I am a tad jealous over the book festival and the meet-ups but thanks for sharing the photos. xx

>90 Berly: Congratulations!
>90 Berly:, >91 Berly: I'm happy for you - and thank you for the great pictures!

btw Kim -- we just signed up for Ridwell. Do you have that in Portland? I have a counter top covered with various bags at the moment trying hard to figure out what kind of plastic goes in which bag but I'm excited that it we can now recycle things that used to go in the trash and to have them verify that it really goes to a company that uses it.

Have you read any of your acquisitions yet? I read the Gaiman and passed it to my daughter. The Future will be my next read after Tom Lake.

Goodness, what an interesting thread, Kim! And I didn't realize your most recent TKD test was SO recent - congratulations!

(Also - I second Reba's question about Ridwell... we've been using it for a year or two and love it... I feel so much better being able to recycle all that plastic. Although, yes, trying to figure out which plastic goes in which bag is a bit of a nuisance, but I blame the plastic manufacturers for that, not Ridwell.)

>101 Berly: You need to come to Joplin! We have that one every year! Lol

>102 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! Glad you enjoyed the photos. Not gonna apologize for making you jealous. : )

>103 SirThomas: Thank you, Sir Thomas!! Headed to your thread shortly...

>104 RebaRelishesReading: I am familiar with Ridwell and we actually use it at our school!!

>105 BLBera: Haven't read any of my new acquisitions...trying to finish up all the ones I am in the middle of!! Are we gonna talk about Cat's Eye now that you have had time to ponder?

>106 PlatinumWarlock: Hello and welcome!! My thread this year is very on/off. I started a new job this past summer which is quite intense, and then with TKD practice in the evening, there's often not much time left for LT, especially if I want to keep reading my books! LOL

>107 alcottacre: What time of year is the Joplin extravaganza? I know I read about it every year. : )

So, I had my niece and her boyfriend come stay for a week, and we HAD to go to Powell's Bookstore. I only picked up four with her. She left in the morning and then Beth (BLBera) came in the afternoon -- barely enough time to change the sheets on the bed! But it was so fun to have visitors. So then, of course, we had to go to Powell's again!! (Three books.) And finally, it was the Literary Arts Book Festival Fair (I bought some more). I think all things considered, I showed remarkable restraint. : ) Oh, and the first two below were free (*) with my tickets to see Mary Beard and Viet Thanh Nguyen as speakers earlier in the fall. The third one below is a read for my job and we are having an in-hour training this Friday on anti-racism and anti-bias.

Emperor of Rome by Mary Beard *
A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A Memorial by Viet Thanh Nguyen *
Start Here, Start Now: A guide to antibias and antiracist work in your school community by Liz Kleinrock *
The Librarianist by Patrick DeWitt
The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice by Shon Faye
The Lost Journals of Sacajewea by Debra Magpie Earling
Invisible Son by Kim Johnson
Blackouts: A Novel by Justin Torres
Crying in H Mart: A memoir by Michelle Zauner
Fight Night by Miriam Toews
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
Happy-Go-Lucky by David Seders
White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
Opinions by Roxanne Gay

>110 Berly: You really did show remarkable restraint, TwinK! Did you get your haircut? New style?

A TKD test the same day as the book fest. That sounds familiar! Ours is at the same time as a writers conference. Your meet up sounds fabulous.

>110 Berly: Nice haul there Kim!!

>111 BLBera: Shorter and switched the part to the other side. I keep brushing the bangs out of my face the wrong way! LOL

>112 Familyhistorian: It was a packed day for sure! Filled with good things. Yours sounds fun, too!

>113 RebaRelishesReading: Why, thank you! : )

Dropping into say hello and catch up.

>90 Berly: Congrats on passing you test!

>91 Berly: Looks like you had a great meet up.

>110 Berly: Great book haul. I don't think I have read any on that list.

>110 Berly: Lucullan little haul, Berly-boo! I know it was most convenient to have the guests as cover for the first part. I say this for all us biblioholics: It is not our fault. THEY keep writing and publishing all the cool stuff! What're we supposed to do, ignore it?

I think not. Ergo, exoneration.

*smooch*

Hi Kim, I'm returning your visit and catching up. Looks like a great book festival, and congrats on passing your test!

>110 Berly: Nice haul! With that many visits to the bookstore, you did show restraint. I wish we had something like Powell's out here. B&N will have to do.

Congrats on the TKD test!

Happy Sunday, Kimmers! I sure miss seeing you around but it seems like things are going well for you at the moment. Nice book haul up there. Blackouts is on my TBR list.

I am reading a couple of Maughm short stories before starting The House of Doors -- perfect timing for my library copy.

Dear Kimmers,



Happy Thanksgiving from an appreciative non-celebrator.

>121 PaulCranswick: I seem to be making the rounds right after Paul this morning. So grateful for my LT community.

Congratulations on your TKD test, your meetup and your Powell's haul!

Happy Thanksgiving, TwinK! Enjoy your day.

Hi Kim my dear, Happy Thanksgiving dear friend.

Hi Kim. Your pictures of you and Beth aren't working but I know you two had a blast. Next year I'll be joining you (and it will be such a short drive up I-5)!!!!

>90 Berly: >91 Berly: Sad face, just white squares!

>110 Berly: Nice haul Kim.

I hope a great Thanksgiving was had! I guess you're on a turkey nap still?

I'm so far behind on so many threads that I should perhaps declare defeat, but I just caught up on yours.

>110 Berly: Powells is a wonderful place. I wish they were local to me, but fortunately they do mail order.

Just waving 'hello!' Kim.

Hello TwinK. We miss you around here! Take care.

Hey Kim!

Hi Kim, I hope it's only good stuff that's keep you away from LT.

>90 Berly: Congratulations Kim! You work hard at everything you attempt.

Kimmers!

Happiest of holidays, Kim! I hope the coming year is filled with good health and good reading. :)

All the best to you and yours for the Holiday Season, Kim!

Merry Christmas, Kim!!

To all my wonderful LibraryThing friends!!!

Merry Christmas, Kim!

Thinking about you during the festive season, Kimmers

All the best wishes and a peaceful time to you, Kim!

*smooch* for my dear old friend Berly-Boo.

Merry Christmas Kim. I hope you and your family have a peaceful, restful, wonderful holiday.

Hi Kim! Hope you're doing well - this is a drive-by greeting...

Happy Holidays, Kimmers! Thank you for the Christmas card. Glad everything is going well there. ❤️

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and your family all the best for the festive season, Kim. Hoping to see a bit more of you next year.

Thank you for all the wonderful holiday wishes!!! I finally have a day to myself, so I'll be making the rounds to get caught up.

Me update--I left the Montessori job a week and a half ago on good terms. It wasn't the right job for me: not enough people interaction, no time to do anything but numbers, and far too many hours a week! I hope they find someone who is a better fit. So, I've been trying to catch up on things around the house and, of course, the holiday hoopla.

My daughter was supposed to go to CA to be with Brother and Sister-In-Law, but SIL came down with COVID, so we were lucky enough to have my daughter, her husband and his parents crash our holiday celebration last minute. Worked out great and it was so wonderful to have them join us!!

Then last night we had daughter and SIL back over to celebrate their birthdays and my sister and her son joined us as well as my FIL and his wife and we played the silliest game ever: Taco Goat Cheese Pizza!! Loud and Raucous and lots of laughter. : )

I am pleased to say I actually broke 100 books this year, despite the busy job, so yay!! I'll try to do a favorites-of-the-year list at some point.

Right now I am finishing up The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror by Christopher Moore (I am a fan of his!). As usual, it is wildly strange and amusing. And I am listening to More Than A Woman by Caitlan Moran. (This one is also very funny, but some serious thoughts as well -- particularly interesting chapter "What About the Men?" and how life is treating the male segment. Moran is a staunch feminist, so her consideration of the difficulties of being a guy mean a lot.)

So, enough about me, off to catch up on as many threads as I can!!! Love you all!

BLBera sent me a Christmas card and a little sticker inside: "The Book Was Better"!! Which is now happily placed on the outside of my computer. : )

Your holiday sounds like a lot of fun! And good for you that you knew the job wasn't right for you. You'll find something else that is.

Nice to have an update on your doing! The holidays sound fun -- hope New Year's Eve and Day will be too :)

>153 mstrust: The holidays have indeed been lots of fun!! I am taking a break until next week, then I will launch back into finding a new job. : )

>154 RebaRelishesReading: Hi there! Hubby and I usually have a quiet New Years, watching the ball drop like 3 times in various time zones. We have a little champagne and talk about the year in review and our hopes for the next year. It's our time and I love it!

Okay, starting one more Holiday read and I got the idea from Witchyrichy: Twelve Christmas Slays! Silly, light romance, mystery. Perfect for today, because I got my latest Covid shot yesterday and had a miserable night of shivers and sweats. Feeling better but wiped this morning.

And AMQS just hit me with Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and read by Meryl Streep. : )

Good luck with your job search. I am just catching up here, and I know how important it is to have a good fit in your work. I'll be thinking about you. Hoping your post-vaccine yuck clears soon. I am due for my second shingles vaccine which I hear is a bear. I'll probably schedule after Marina goes back to school in January.

>157 Berly: Glad I could hit you! Enjoy.

Happy New Year to you!

>158 AMQS: Yeah, the second shingles vaccine is nasty. : / Wait until after Marina goes. I won't start Tom Lake until the new year, but I am excited! Happy early New Year!!

Berly's Best of 2023

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges (Children's Book)
Demon Copperhead Barbara Kingsolver
Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
Roadkill by Dennis E. Taylor
The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
A Carnival of Snackery by David Sedaris

Happy Saturday, Kimmers. Hooray for your best of list! I have read 6 of them. The Brooks, Kingsolver and Eng were also favorites of mine from this year and the Doerr and Weir were top reads in year's past. No wonder we are longtime book buddies! 😁❤️

So nice to see you posting. We love having you around.

Hope you had happy holidays Kim. And that you're feeling better after the shot!

>157 Berly: I read a print copy of Tom Lake and liked it a lot. If I had known about Meryl Streep doing the audio version I would probably have chosen that -- I'm Pretty darned sure you're going to like it :)

Good luck with your job search and Happy New Year!!

>161 msf59: I knew we were on the same page!! ; )

>162 The_Hibernator: Much better today -- thank you!

>163 RebaRelishesReading: Yay! That's a solid endorsement. And thank you. Still just taking it easy this weekend.

I had time today, so my 24 Thread is set up!!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/356404

And I finished The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror -- My 102nd book this year! : )

It was a fun, twisted read (of course--it's by Christopher Moore!), although the end was a little under par. Still, it's worth reading if you like his style. 4.0

>156 Berly: Happy to help! I'm finishing up listening to Stalking Around the Christmas Tree, her fourth one.

Wishing you a happy 2024 Kim!

>167 witchyrichy: I am enjoying Twelve Slays of Christmas and will look forward to #2 next year! Glad to hear you are still enjoying and reading the series. : )

>168 EllaTim: Happy New Year!! Thanks for popping in!

>152 Berly::) Happy New Year!