Mary (bell7) Reads in 2023 - Thread 10

Welcome to my tenth thread of the year!

I'm a librarian living and working in western Massachusetts, who also dog sits on the side. I have a large family of origin, but live on my own. I am officially middle aged and I'm enjoying living in a home that happens to be in the neighborhood my ancestors were living in 100 years ago. I knit, research genealogy, enjoy watching sports and read - a lot. You'll get a little bit of my life here, so I hope you'll join in the conversation.

2023 Book Club Reads (library)
January - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann - COMPLETED
February - The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris - COMPLETED
March - Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown - COMPLETED
April - Wingshooters by Nina Revoyr - COMPLETED
May - All We Can Save edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katherine K. Wilkinson - COMPLETED
June/July/August - a low key "what are you reading now?" meeting where participants can tell us about their current book(s)
September - The Overstory by Richard Powers - COMPLETED
October - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver - COMPLETED
November - Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford - COMPLETED
December - The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

2023 Book Club Reads (SIL and friends)
January - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - didn't reread, but did go
February - The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan - COMPLETED
March - The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer - Nobody read it, we just met for dinner, and have been so busy we haven't met again since

Best of 2023 (so far, and not counting rereads):

4.5 stars
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
Normal Family by Chrysta Bilton
The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
Revenge of the Librarians by Tom Gauld
A Man's Place by Annie Ernaux
Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World by Barry Lopez
Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare
The Redoubtable Pali Avramapul by Victoria Goddard
Say I'm Dead by E. Dolores Johnson
The Real Dada Mother Goose by Jon Scieszka
Index, a history of the by Dennis Duncan
Manifesto: On Never Giving Up by Bernardine Evaristo
This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You by Susan Rogers and Ogi Ogas
Once Upon a Tome by Oliver Darkshire
Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland
Bee Sting Cake by Victoria Goddard
Stone Speaks to Stone by Victoria Goddard
Three Apples Fell from the Sky by Narine Abgaryan
Witch King by Martha Wells
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Whiskeyjack by Victoria Goddard
You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
A Woman's Story by Annie Ernaux
The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz
Love in a Mist by Victoria Goddard
Solito by Javier Zamora
Out of the Sun: On Race and Storytelling by Esi Edugyan
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

5 stars
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds

Bookish articles:
1. Alternatives to Book Depository
2. CBC Massey Lectures - Esi Edugyan, "On Race and Storytelling"

How to make pretty block quotes (directions from Richard):
{blockquote}TYPE OR PASTE QUOTED TEXT HERE{/blockquote} and replace the curly braces with pointy brackets.

Number of books read since keeping count on LT:
July - Dec 2008 - 65
2009 - 156 (plus over 70 graphic novels and manga volumes)
2010 - 135 (Note: in June, I started working a second part-time job for full-time hours)
2011 - 150
2012 - 108 (Note: accepted a full-time job in February)
2013 - 107
2014 - 126 (plus 8 Graphic Novels)
2015 - 120 (plus 6 Graphic Novels)
2016 - 141
2017 - 114
2018 - 105 (Note: my first full year as Assistant Director)
2019 - 116
2020 - 153
2021 - 138
2022 - 131

Currently reading
System Collapse by Martha Wells
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

November
162. The Warrior of the Third Veil by Victoria Goddard
161. When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb
160. An Hour Before Daylight by Jimmy Carter
159. Hild by Nicola Griffith
158. Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
157. Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford
156. The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford
155. Masters of Death by Olivie Blake
154. The Bride of the Blue Wind by Victoria Goddard
153. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

October
152. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
151. Africa Risen edited by Sheree Renee Thomas et al
150. Devil's Gun by Cat Rambo
149. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
148. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
147. Out of the Sun: On Race and Storytelling by Esi Edugyan
146. My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi
145. Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
144. City of Bones by Martha Wells
143. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
142. Plum Duff by Victoria Goddard
141. Unstoppable Octobia May by Sharon Flake

September
140. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
139. Blue Horses by Mary Oliver
138. Happy Place by Emily Henry
137. Solito by Javier Zamora
136. The Overstory by Richard Powers
135. The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa
134. Love-in-a-mist by Victoria Goddard
133. Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi
132. How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz
131. Something's wrong with us, volume 5 by Natsumi Ando
130. The Fragile Threads of Power by V. E. Schwab
129. Something's wrong with us, volume 4 by Natsumi Ando
128. The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher by E. M. Anderson
127. Network Effect by Martha Wells

August
126. The Easy Life in Kamusari by Shion Miura
125. A Woman's Story by Annie Ernaux
124. Something's wrong with us, volume 3 by Natsumi Ando
123. Something's wrong with us, volume 2 by Natsumi Ando
122. Something's wrong with us, volume 1 by Natsumi Ando
121. Emergent Properties by Aimee Ogden
120. Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse
119. Eden's Outcasts by John Matteson
118. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
117. The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis
116. Blackcurrant Fool by Victoria Goddard
115. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
114. Book Lovers by Emily Henry

July
113. Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
112. A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks
111. We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen
110. The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older
109. The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
108. Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country by Louise Erdrich
107. Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan
106. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
105. The Good Life by Robert Waldinger and Marc Shulz
104. You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo
103. The Woman They Wanted by Shannon Harris
102. Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor
101. The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor
100. Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
99. The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel
98. Whiskeyjack by Victoria Goddard
97. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

June
96. Dear Senthuran by Akwaeke Emezi
95. Witch King by Martha Wells
94. Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen
93. Three Apples Fell from the Sky by Narine Abgaryan
92. The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
91. A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin
90. Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango
89. Stone Speaks to Stone by Victoria Goddard
88. Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
87. Bee Sting Cake by Victoria Goddard
86. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
85. Well Matched by Jen DeLuca
84. Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
83. The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell

May
82. The Bookbinder by Pip Williams (looks like the non-US title is The Bookbinder of Jericho)
81. The Humans by Matt Haig
80. Rust in the Root by Justine Ireland
79. The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix
78. Well Played by Jen DeLuca
77. How Can I Help You by Laura Sims
76. All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson
75. The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
74. Once Upon a Tome by Oliver Darkshire
73. Stargazy Pie by Victoria Goddard
72. Well Met by Jen DeLuca

April
71. This Is What It Sounds Like by Susan Rogers and Ogi Ogas
70. Fruits Basket Another, Vol. 4 by Natsuki Takaya
69. Fruits Basket Another, Vol. 3 by Natsuki Takaya
68. Fruits Basket Another, Vol. 2 by Natsuki Takaya
67. Fruits Basket Another, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Takaya
66. Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price
65. Moira's Pen by Megan Whalen Turner
64. Manifesto: On Never Giving Up by Bernardine Evaristo
63. Fruits Basket Volume 23 by Natsuki Takaya
62. Fruits Basket Volume 22 by Natsuki Takaya
61. Fruits Basket Volume 21 by Natsuki Takaya
60. Fruits Basket Volume 20 by Natsuki Takaya
59. Fruits Basket Volume 19 by Natsuki Takaya
58. Index, A History of The by Dennis Duncan
57. Fruits Basket Volume 18 by Natsuki Takaya
56. Fruits Basket Volume 17 by Natsuki Takaya
55. Fruits Basket Volume 16 by Natsuki Takaya
54. Fruits Basket Volume 15 by Natsuki Takaya
53. Fruits Basket Volume 14 by Natsuki Takaya
52. Fruits Basket Volume 13 by Natsuki Takaya
51. Fruits Basket Volume 12 by Natsuki Takaya
50. Fruits Basket Volume 11 by Natsuki Takaya
49. Fruits Basket Volume 10 by Natsuki Takaya
48. Fruits Basket Volume 9 by Natsuki Takaya
47. Fruits Basket Volume 8 by Natsuki Takaya
46. Fruits Basket Volume 7 by Natsuki Takaya
45. Wingshooters by Nina Revoyr
44. Fruits Basket Volume 6 by Natsuki Takaya
43. Fruits Basket Volume 5 by Natsuki Takaya
42. Fruits Basket Volume 4 by Natsuki Takaya
41. Fruits Basket Volume 3 by Natsuki Takaya
40. Fruits Basket Volume 2 by Natsuki Takaya
39. The Real Dada Mother Goose by Jon Scieszka illustrated by Julia Rothman
38. Fruits Basket Volume 1 by Natsuki Takaya
37. Make Me Rain by Nikki Giovanni
36. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
35. My Years at The Gotham Book Mart with Frances Steloff, Proprietor by Matthew Tannenbaum

March
34. Say I'm Dead by E. Dolores Johnson
33. Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
32. The Redoubtable Pali Avramapul by Victoria Goddard
31. The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare
30. Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
29. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
28. All Systems Red by Martha Wells
27. Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries by Rick Emerson
26. Musical Tables by Billy Collins
25. Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown
24. Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
23. Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World by Barry Lopez

February
22. A Man's Place by Annie Ernaux
21. The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten (out Mar. 7)
20. Revenge of the Librarians by Tom Gauld
19. We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds
18. A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung (out Apr. 4)
17. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
16. The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
15. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
14. The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard
13. Normal Family by Chrysta Bilton
12. Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper

January
11. So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow
10. Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
9. The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland
8. No One Goes Alone by Erik Larson
7. Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
6. Petty Treasons by Victoria Goddard
5. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
4. The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner
3. The Emma Project by Sonali Dev
2. The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde
1. Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown

DNF
1. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (it was a reread and I wasn't in the mood)
2. Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien
3. Independence Day by Steve Lopez
4. Voyages from Chatham by Bob Ryder
5. The Long Game by Elena Armas
6. Auburn, New York: The Entrepreneurs' Frontier

Global reads in 2023 (author's country of origin):
Unites States - most of my reading
Canada - Petty Treasons and other books by Victoria Goddard
Japan - Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura and the Fruits Basket series
UK - Revenge of the Librarians by Tom Gauld
France - A Man's Place by Annie Ernaux
Indonesia - Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Australia - The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix
Armenia - Three Apples Fell from the Sky by Narine Abgaryan
Nigeria - Dear Senthuran by Akwaeke Emezi
India - The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese (born in Ethiopia to Indian parents, got his college degree at Madras University)

All time (since 2022):


Create Your Own Visited Countries Map

Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Rough guide to my rating system:
I'm fairly generous with my star ratings - generally a four is a "like" or "would recommend" for me, while a 4.5 stars is a book I would reread. I break it down roughly like this:

1 star - Forced myself to finish it
2 stars - Dislike
2.5 stars - I really don't know if I liked it or not
3 stars - Sort of liked it; or didn't, but admired something about it despite not liking it
3.5 stars - The splitting hairs rating of less than my last 4 star book or better than my last 3
4 stars - I liked it and recommend it, but probably won't reread it except under special circumstances (ie., a book club or series reread)
4.5 stars - Excellent, ultimately a satisfying read, a title I would consider rereading
5 stars - A book that I absolutely loved, would absolutely reread, and just all-around floored me

I see it more in terms of my like or dislike of a book, rather than how good a book is. My hope is that as a reader I convey what I like or what I don't in such a way that you can still tell if you'll like a book, even if I don't. And I hope for my patrons that I can give them good recommendations for books they will like, even if it's not one I would personally choose.

DNF #5: The Long Game by Elena Armas

This was a LibraryReads pick in September, and the short description sounded like it had all the things I like: slow-burn romance, "love interests who actually talk to each other and female leads who can handle their stuff." They... do not actually talk to each other for the first 120 pages. Or when they do, they talk past each other and don't realize how what they're saying lands with the other person, yet despite disliking each other they can't help but notice how hot the other person is and how wonderful they smell. That is not what I look for in a slow-burn romance; I want to see the ways in which the two leads start to appreciate the other (whether they start as enemies or friends) and develop a relationship that becomes attraction.

Actually, I was annoyed from the get-go because what Adalyn does to get banished from Miami to the small town in North Carolina seemed like something fairly mild and her father overreacting. She alludes to something happening before she lost her temper that's kinda easy to figure out but she still hasn't talked about it. To anyone, even in her own head for the parts that are narrated by her (it goes back and forth between her and Cameron).

Ah well... on to the next book.

Happy new thread, Mary!

>13 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

Happy Thursday, folks! Today's a long day, but a pleasant one. I'll be working 9-5, head over to my parents for dinner, and go to Bible study from there.

Reading: Africa Risen and a soon-to-be-chosen second book

Listening: radio; I should pick out a CD or audiobook at work soon though

Watching/crafting: nothing last night

New 🧵 orisons, Mary!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread Mary!

Happy new thread, Mary!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Mary!

Happy new one!

Happy new one, Mary.

What a great reading year you are having! You won't miss 200 books by too many at this rate.

New thread, new thread! Nobody don't like a new thread. Time to PARTAY!

Happy New Thread. I'm amazed at how many books you've read thus far this year. And, there are some very good ones in your lists.

All good wishes to you!

Thank you Richard, foggi, Susan, Natalie, Jim, Anita, Anita, Paul, Bill and Linda for the new thread wishes!

>23 PaulCranswick: I hadn't realized I was so close, but you're right, Paul. I'll have to count out the comics to compare to my 2009 numbers (I counted them separately then), but it's going to be very close to a personal high.

>25 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda, I have very much enjoyed my reading this year and really have had some stellar reads in 2023.

>26 bell7: I am also hoping to beat my LT high this year, Mary. Let's see whether we have good run-ins!

Happy new thread, Mary. Wishing you a lovely weekend!

>27 PaulCranswick: Best of luck to you, Paul! I tend to find that when I focus too much on the numbers, I lose sight of the enjoyment, but I'm looking forward to seeing what the next two months plus brings as we wind down the year.

>28 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! Happy weekend to you too.

Happy Saturday!

After watching the weather forecast all week, we switched our Ren Faire tickets to tomorrow since today is supposed to be a miserable rainy day. So, I went to a membership class for the church I've been attending for the last month or so. I'm still going to read through the constitution/statement of faith before taking that final step (it's been... faster than I expected), but I do think this is where I'm going to end up. The rest of the afternoon, I have to get a schedule to the people I'll be dogsitting for next week, but the rest of the to-do list is just tidying up the house and maybe cooking some. Nothing too strenuous. It's actually quite nice to have some rest built in to the weekend for once.

Tomorrow will be a very full day at the Ren Faire, followed by Monday being my short day at work and a massage after that.

Reading: Auburn, New York by Scott W. Anderson, Africa Risen edited by Sheree Renee Thomas et al., and Devil's Gun by Cat Rambo

Listening: went with an old favorite "Arriving" by Chris Tomlin for the last couple of days, but I'll switch to an audiobook for the drive tomorrow

Watching: started a re-watch of Loki season 1 before I watch season 2. I'm not caught up on Marvel since the last Doctor Strange film, I think? But there are some here and there I'd still like to see

Crafting: wrap for myself

>30 bell7: I hope tomorrow's RenFaire goes smoothly and drily, Mary. *smooch*

>31 richardderus: Should be dry... Partly sunny with a high of 58, so I'll be cold in my dress but at least we won't get drenched!

Have a grand time at the Ren Faire, Mary!

>32 bell7: We're sunshiney and REALLY windy today, Mary. It's pretty cold because of windchill. Hoping it's less so where you're RenFaire-ing.

*smooch*

>33 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky!

>34 richardderus: It was sunny enough that at times I was extremely comfortable in my sleeveless dress, though I was a little cold at the end. Yay perimenopause?

I'll post pics later today.

Happy almost-Tuesday, everyone.

Sunday was a lovely day, sunny and brisk. I got up early and got myself ready to drive out to the Ren Faire. The drive in was surprisingly easy, and I got right in and parked. It wasn't until after we'd entered that I was able to meet up with my friends, but I did so, and then we went to some shows and vendors at the faire.


King, Queen, and other courtiers at the intro to the faire before opening.


The group of us take a selfie with two of the performers - the one taking the picture is "Jacques ze Whipper" and the one in the back with a goofy expression is Ses Carny who does the "Torture Show" in which he breathes fire and throws knives.

And a picture of me where you can see my costume. I bought the bracers there, and was very happy to do so as I'd been waiting to do it since last year. Next year may include a knit hooded wrap, but I haven't finished it yet.

Happy New Thread, Mary. Hooray for Demon & Ms. Kingsolver!

>36 bell7: Love the photos!!

Today I woke up coughing up a storm. I've been fighting a cold all week, and while I've felt fine otherwise, I have a sore throat and quite a cough trying to loosen up phlegm. Blech. I went in to work 9-2, sucking down tea and cough drops. I rescheduled my massage, figuring the therapist would not want me coughing in her face. And I've been spending the afternoon catching up on little things I've been wanting to do at home. Wrote up what I figured out about a great-uncle in my genealogy research, bought cold medicine to take tonight, bought a permit for the waste station at the next town over (mine doesn't have one...). Small but needed things like that.

Tomorrow I have an appointment in the early afternoon, and then from there I'll be working 'til 8.

Reading: Auburn, New York by Scott W. Anderson, Africa Risen edited by Sheree Renee Thomas et al., and Devil's Gun by Cat Rambo

Listening: Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and you by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi - started it on the drive yesterday and finished this afternoon at home

Watching: I vegged quite a bit on Saturday and finished watching Season 1 of Loki as well as getting caught up with what's been released of Season 2

Crafting: wrap for myself

>37 msf59: Thanks, Mark! Demon was a good one, we had a great discussion. You can tell we had a good time at the faire too :D

>36 bell7: Great costume! Love it! And I think I've seen some of Jacques ze Whipper's stuff on YouTube. Funny guy!

>40 foggidawn: Yeah, I think he's on TikTok too (I'm not) and he is really funny. Thanks re: the costume! Some pieces were from Amazon, the black skirt is something I bought last year. Apparently as we continue to go to the fairs, I keep adding pieces to it hahaha.

Happy Tuesday, folks!

I have a late day at work today, so I slept in a little and spent the morning cooking. Red lentil soup, quiche, and chicken are now in my fridge and ready for meals the next few days. I'm still fighting a cold, mostly chest congestion, so at night lying down I'm miserable but when I'm upright it's not too bad until my cough gets going. I've been really intentional about drinking fluids, tea, etc. today and it seems to be helping.

I've got an EKG today (nothing to worry about, just keeping on top of my family history), and then I'm going in to work 'til 8. And that'll be my day.

Reading: same as yesterday

Listening: TBD, probably switching to a music CD today

Watching: nada

Crafting: knitted wrap

Love the costume! Hope your cold is gone soon.

>36 bell7: I did a lot of RenFaire attending in my 20s. FairEver for at least 3 years.

Love the renaissance fair photos Mary. I didn't know this was a thing until reading the Jen DeLuca books, sounds (and looks) like fun.

The Ren Faire is always a lot of fun (the good ones anyway!), and I love your outfit. Looks like a great time was had by all. :)

>43 curioussquared: Thanks on both counts, Natalie!

>44 quondame: Sounds like fun, Susan!

>45 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! Yep, it is a thing :) It's always fun to go and see how (or if) people dress up, and be perfectly comfortable whether dressed as a fantasy character, in "period" costume, or wearing everyday clothes and not dressing a part as all. I have fun dressing up for the day, but I refuse to wear an actual corset.

>46 ursula: Thanks, Ursula! We did have a good time :)

Happy Wednesday!

After today I'll be over halfway through being the adultiest adult in the library. Nothing major has broken, no medical emergencies, and here's hoping it all stays that way. I'm working 12-8 to take my boss's regular evening shift.

I slept in this morning, and I mean really slept in, letting my alarm go through and going back to sleep 'til close to 9. I read a bit in bed, got up and am just getting started for the day. I've had breakfast (brunch?) and will probably read, knit and possibly tidy small things up at home before heading out to work.

I've been poking around in my German ancestry branch lately. I have the death certificate for George Raisch, who died in 1899 in the U.S. Unfortunately those giving the info did not know his parents' names. But I've accumulated enough information about him, his wife, and his kids that I can make a very good argument for him being the Johann Georg Raisch who married Maria Frederike Grauer in Stuttgart, Wurttemberg in 1861. They had two kids prior to their marriage who I believe died as toddlers, then two more who were baptized in Stuttgart. The family immigrated to the U.S. around 1867 (I can only find indexes for this, unfortunately). They had three more kids in Vernon, Connecticut, including my 2nd great grandmother, who was born in 1872, also Mary Fredericka. Around 1884, her mother died, and the town clerk wasn't able to find a death record for her at all. I called the cemetery office today to see if I could turn anything up - even as general as where they're buried in Grove Hill Cemetery, which is a rather large place for me to go hunting for the stone. I'm waiting for a call back, so we'll see.

Reading: Africa Risen and Devil's Gun

Listening: a live Carole King album

Watching: nothing

Crafting: wrap

DNF #6: Auburn, New York by Scott W. Anderson

Nothing particularly wrong with this one, but it's about the rise of entrepreneurs in Auburn, and my family were farmers, shoemakers, carpenters and other trades that aren't really addressed here, so I think I want a different take on the history of Auburn before tackling this one. However, the introduction mentions a bunch of places that he used in his research, so I want to take some photocopies at work before I return it for good.

149. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
Why now? I really like Jason Reynolds' works, I read How to Be an Antiracist by Dr. Kendi and his original Stamped is on my TBR list, plus this remixed version has been banned/challenged frequently making the "top 10" list in 2020. I bought the book at the library book sale last year, but what really made me pick it up this time was finding the audiobook when I was browsing for something to listen to on the drive to the Ren Faire.

"This is not a history book" begins this remix of Dr. Kendi's Stamped from the Beginning, intended for a teenage audience but equally useful as an introduction to the subject for adults. Despite the disclaimer, there is quite a bit of history in the book, beginning in the 1600s and coming right up to the present day. Reynolds breaks down Kendi's segregationalists, assimilationists, and antiracists as the haters, the likers, and the lovers, and shows how anti-Black policies have been used to perpetuate racism even through Black thinkers such as W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington.

There is a lot to digest in this broad overview of 400 years of European and U.S. history - yeah, history, though it's certainly different from the history books I read as a kid and assumes a knowledge of the basics of U.S. history. Reynolds does a nice job of breaking things down without talking down to his audience, and listening to him read the audio version was an excellent way of reading this book for the first time. Once the text reached the time period where I was alive and aware of politics and policy, I thought the authors sometimes oversimplified some things, but I'm interested in reading the original and seeing if Dr. Kendi when into more detail. It's an engaging and provocative book sure to spark needed discussion. 4 stars.

CD update - "Home Again" - Carole King - live at Central Park May 26, 1973

Live albums work best for me when I've heard the performer live, I think. This was fine, but nothing better than the studio version. I only recognized the final song, "You've Got a Friend" (which makes sense, the album I'm most familiar with is Tapestry).

Hey all,

Taking a quick break from work to check in. Happy Thursday! I have my busy-long day of work, dinner at my parents' and Bible study. I feel home-accomplished because I descaled the Keurig machine this morning (I don't use the "real" descaling stuff, I just add vinegar and put it through to clean everything out) and washed the dishes.

Reading: Africa Risen and Devil's Gun

Listening: "Stronger" by Kelly Clarkson which is...fine?

Watching: nothing

Crafting: nothing, I was too tired to pick up the wrap last night

Great Ren Faire costume up thread, Mary. The bracers really complete the look. It's amazing what you can find on Amazon to complete an outfit. I found the hat and dress for the '20s outfit I wore in a local parade at Amazon.

>53 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! It is pretty neat what you can find, and got the dress from Amazon though I'm always a little leery of buying clothes sight-unseen. I bought the bracers from a leather worker at the Faire, and I think they have an Etsy shop too.

TGIF! I'll having my coffee and will be getting dresswed and heading out shortly. Nothing major planned today, but I do need to stop to pick up a prescription and a handful of things at the grocery store on my way home from work. Leftovers for dinner tonight.

Reading/Listening/Watching/Crafting: all the same as yesterday

Happy Friday, Mary!

>56 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

150. Devil's Gun by Cat Rambo
Why now? I had a library hold on the sequel to You Sexy Thing as soon as I knew it was coming out, and I started reading it pretty much as soon as I could bookhorn it in

Niko and her crew, formerly restaurateurs at the station of TwiceFar, are ready to go on adventures on You Sexy Thing, the sentient ship that's excited to learn more about the people aboard. Atlanta is still reeling from learning she's not who she thought she was and is trying to find a way to fit in. Niko discovers that Tubal Last is still alive; she need to find Petalia to warm them. And Thorn is grieving his brother's death and not doing well.

This book suffers a little from being somewhere in the middle of a series, starting with a recap of the previous book (thank goodness, I needed it) and ending on a cliffhanger. The plot doesn't advance much, but the characters develop in interesting ways, and I liked seeing both the ways they cared for each other and messed up sometimes. Looking forward to seeing what happens next. 4 stars.

>58 bell7: Congratulations on reaching 2 x 75, Mary!

>59 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita! It's only the fourth time I've done that since tracking on LT, so it's extra fun to reach that number.

151. Africa Risen edited by Sheree Renee Thomas, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki and Zelda Knight
Why now? I was looking at an earlier anthology I've read, New Suns edited by Nisi Shawl, and realized that in my review I'd noted Chinelo Onwualu's as a favorite, but I had never pursued reading any of her other writing. So I looked in my library system to see what else I could get, and found this relatively new anthology.

A collection of 32 short stories of speculative fiction - mostly science fiction, but also veering off into fantasy and a few horror - by authors from Africa or the African diaspora. Many are from Nigeria, the US or UK, but Uganda, Kenya, Senegal, Botswana and more are also represented here.

The stories are equally far-ranging in theme and style, and are a great introduction to authors you may not have read before even as an SFF fan. As with any anthology of this type, I found some stories I liked and others that didn't provoke much of a reaction one way or the other with me. Probably my favorite of the bunch was the very creepy "The Lady of the Yellow-Painted Library" by Tobi Ogundiran that told what happened when some poor fellow had an overdue book he couldn't find. 3.5 stars.

Your Ren Faire outfit looks amazing! I'm glad it was a grand time.

I have You Sexy Thing on The List but it sounds like I should wait for book three before starting the series.

>62 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! I think you could read You Sexy Thing and be fine (from what I remember, it had a fairly satisfying ending), but this one definitely leaves you hanging and didn't really have a standalone story to it.

Happy weekend! I hung out with my Little for the morning and into the early afternoon. After I dropped her back off at home, I stopped on a couple of errands - mainly because I'd forgotten something grocery shopping - and came home. I finally took my blueberry netting off, which was a pain, but I'm glad it's done before I go dogsitting for a week and a half. I'm now recovering from the outdoor work and will tackle my indoor to-do list of things I wanted to get done before dogsitting. We'll see how much energy I have for it all lol, but at the very least, I will pack.

Tomorrow is church, potluck, and going to the dogs. I'll be watching 5 labs and 2 cats for about a week and a half, and then coming home to watch a different dog at my own house for five nights.

152. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
Why now? I got it for book club when we read The Overstory as an example of another profession that had a bad side but was a way people could make money when there were limited options (contrast with lumber and one of the characters planting trees in a way that helped the companies continue to cut). I ended up checking it out myself, and finally picked it up today because as I pack for dogsitting, I was reasonably sure I could finish it before I go and return it to the library.

Back in 2005, fresh out of college and with limited options with a B.A. and school debt, Kate Beaton went out to the Alberta oil sands to work.

This graphic novel has realistic black-and-white illustrations and a nuanced portrait of a pretty difficult way of life. Beaton dealt with isolation, sexual harassment (and worse) in a male-dominant field, but also made friends and worked hard to pay off her loans and return home three years later. The author's note at the end addresses some of the other aspects of the oil fields that were only touched on or that weren't part of her personal experience. Superb storytelling all around. 4.5 stars.

Belated happy new thread, Mary! We're back in town and I am only very slowly getting back to the threads on LT. It looks like you had a wonderful time at the Ren Faire! I've never been to one, but maybe someday...

>66 atozgrl: thanks, Irene! I can relate to slowly getting back to the threads after a time away - I'll often just go through threads quickly to bark them "read" and give myself a clean slate! A Ren Faire is definitely worth a visit, whether or not you choose to dress up (though as you can see, my friends and I had fun with that part as well!).

*waving* a quick hello. I'm all settled at the dogsitting house, everyone is fed and walked and we're hanging out resting and reading (in my case) until it's time for before-bed walks.

I won't type out anything long today, as I didn't bring my laptop, though I'll probably pick it up on my way back from work tomorrow.

Reading: Masters of Death and The Bullet that Missed

Edited to get touchstones to work

>67 bell7: I will probably be doing as you suggest for many of the threads. It's impossible to catch up on threads like Paul's; I can't keep up with his thread even when I'm at home.

I don't know that I have anything I could wear to a Ren Faire, but it would certainly be interesting to see how everyone else dresses up!

>69 atozgrl: Eh, I bought most of my costume on Amazon, but there's no pressure to do that, either. I'd say it was about half and half, and no one looked particularly out of place whether they were dressed up or not.

Music update:

Most recently listened to "Stronger" by Kelly Clarkson which is very much a pop album of its time. "Mr. Know It All" and "Stronger" were the singles and the best of the album. Next was "Symphony" by Sarah Brightman and I think I only listened to it once through. The duets and a couple of pieces were lovely, but when she was singing the more poppy songs I actually didn't like her voice at all, it was kinda thin and nasally when she was trying to be quiet. And then for something completely different, I went with "True" by Avicii, which I probably liked the sound of as a whole best, though a couple of songs had the more techno sound of a beating drum that I don't love. My favorites were the singles on that one, too, "Wake Me Up" and "Hey Brother".

>36 bell7: The costume's adorable; the smile makes everything around beautiful.

My sister Valerie's gone back to Texas so I'm back among the readers. My new thread has our photo as a topper, with me in my silly penguin jammies that make me so happy when I wear 'em.

*smooch*

>58 bell7: Brava for reaching the double!

Happy Monday! I got up with my alarm... well, more like after my alarm, at about 7:15 and got all the dogs fed and walked before heading out for work. And I was on time! I'm working 'til 2, have some quick errands to run, and then will spend the rest of the afternoon and evening with the dogs.

Reading: Masters of Death by Olivie Blake and The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman - the latter is intriguing me more at the moment and I find myself slowing down on purpose because in theory I want to finish Masters of Death tomorrow and The Bullet That Missed on Wednesday or later to fit the TIOLI challenges I put them in

Listening: my commute from where I'm dogsitting is just long enough to make an audiobook worth it, so I'm listening to The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

Watching: I missed all of the Giants game except for overtime, which was a debacle, and had a couple other football games on but it was mostly background noise

Crafting: brought some knitting with me, but didn't pick it up yesterday (hard to do between the dogs and cats)

>72 richardderus: Aw, thanks, Richard! I'm glad you had a good time with Valerie and shall certainly check out your new thread and jammies sometime today. *smooch*

>73 richardderus: And thanks again!

I have spent the morning being busy with animals, and for those of you who think my life is busy at home (which is it), you should see me at this dogsitting job. For example:

Today I got up, walked and fed the dogs (5), gave the upstairs cat her pill and breakfast, and spent some time with the downstairs cats (2 more) and made sure they were fed. Then I cooked for myself, gave all the animals fresh water, and now have about an hour that I can have the dogs out of their kennels hanging out with me before I let them out in their pen (I truly do not have time to walk them all again) to pee before going to work 12-8. I want to stop at home on my way to pick up a book, my mail, and my oil bill since I was emailed there was a delivery. I don't think they have a dog walker today, so when I get back tonight, I'll let them out for a pee break, give them late dinner (and the upstairs cat her night pill), walk them all, and go to bed. I did a grocery shopping yesterday with a lot of food that doesn't require cooking beyond sticking it in the oven for 15 minutes, and that should last me through the weekend.

If you're wondering how on earth I'm reading at all, it's that in the evenings after dinner walks, all the dogs usually settle down and doze so I read and/or watch TV then, and have dedicated time to do it 'cause I can't leave the dogs alone in their room or they get into trouble. And after settling them all down for the night, I have a little bit of time with my Kindle and the upstairs cat before I fall asleep myself. I am getting my steps in this week.

Reading: Masters of Death and The Bullet that Missed

Listening: The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

Watching: Bruins game last night

Crafting: nada, too many animals

That is a lot of animals. I wonder how the owners manage that. I know that it was difficult with just Penny when she was young (ie, the first 10 years of her life) - she needed 4 walks a day of a good length.

>76 bell7: ...I...I...can't even

>77 ursula: it is a lot. I'm not sure all of how they manage it, but they do have a dog walker and the dogs are part owned with breeders and either are or have been show dogs. They generally do get four walks a day and I send them my full schedule ahead of time so they're cared for when I'm working and have other commitments. The upstairs cat is theirs and the downstairs cats are their son's.

>78 richardderus: the gif is accurate (and extra points for it being Supernatural, they truly have a gif for everything). Today was especially busy, the next few days get easier, comparatively speaking.

>76 bell7: No thank you!

>76 bell7: I cannot imagine! I'm retired and I don't think I could keep up with all of that. I don't know how you do it!

>76 bell7: That's a lot! Glad you get a couple of chances to read during all of that.

>80 norabelle414: Most days it's walking/feeding the dogs before and after work and before bed (which is still a lot), but fair.

>81 atozgrl: I don't know how you do it! By getting paid for a temporary situation haha.

>82 foggidawn: Thanks, foggi! I do, I should finish a book tomorrow without any trouble.

The votes are tallied for my work book club, and we're reading the following books next year:

January - The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende
February - The Lioness of Boston by Emily Franklin
March - Brave the Wild River by Melissa L. Sevigny
April - The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
May - The Wager by David Grann
September - The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
October - The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel
November - The Soloist by Steve Lopez
December - The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

>83 bell7: Do you walk them all at once??? I can barely manage just my dognephew (a labradoodle)

>85 norabelle414: good gracious, no, one at a time. There are two old lady dogs and the owners walk them on very short walks together, but they were pains about going in separate directions and I started walking even them separately. The morning walks are longer and add up to an hour, the night walk is generally abbreviated. I think the owners often pair them up (they actually have six), but I don't trust the dogs not to eat stupid things if I do that.

Well, I spoke too soon, I had a last minute ballot in my mailbox when I came in this morning (and I'd miscounted the number of votes for The Wager), so here's our updated 2024 book club list:

January - Women Rowing North by Mary Pipher
February - The Lioness of Boston by Emily Franklin
March - Brave the Wild River by Melissa L. Sevigny
April - The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende
May - Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder
September - The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
October - The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel
November - The Soloist by Steve Lopez
December - The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

I'll be revealing the list to the ladies in my book club at our meeting in two weeks.

Good Wednesday morning, we're back to a normal-ish level of busy-ness with the dogs. I had trouble getting up this morning, but I got them all walked and fed and watered, and went to work only about 7 minutes late. I'll be working 'til 5, feed and walk the dogs again, and have a quiet evening in. I should finish The Bullet That Missed and start The Bride of the Blue Wind tonight. It'll probably take me another couple of days to finish Masters of Death.

October in review
152. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
151. Africa Risen edited by Sheree Renee Thomas et al
150. Devil's Gun by Cat Rambo
149. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
148. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
147. Out of the Sun: On Race and Storytelling by Esi Edugyan
146. My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi
145. Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
144. City of Bones by Martha Wells
143. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
142. Plum Duff by Victoria Goddard
141. Unstoppable Octobia May by Sharon Flake

Books read: 12
Did not finish: The Long Game by Elena Armas and Auburn, New York: The Entrepreneurs' Frontier by Scott W. Anderson
Rereads: 1
Children's/Teen/Adult: 2/1/9
Fiction/Nonfiction/Plays/Poetry: 9/3/0/0
Massachusetts Center of the Book Challenge: I didn't get to it this month, so I'm planning on reading An Hour Before Daylight next month instead

Because I want to awards:
You all said it was good and weren't kidding: Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
My book club made me read it, thank goodness: Demon Copperhead

YTD stats - (as of November 1)
Pages read: 34,277
Avg pages a day: 113
Books by POC authors: 77 (50.6%)
In translation: 37 (24% - though most of that is manga translated from Japanese)
DNF: 6

Thoughts:
This was a fantastic reading month - I DNF'ed two books, but very little of what I finished was under 4 stars. It was a good mix of genres, I stayed at right about 50% authors of color, and despite including a couple of long titles, I still read more than my lowest month. (For those of you following along, this has been a rather outstandingly consistent reading year and I have not read fewer than 11 books in a month). I didn't get to the Book Challenge book I'd selected, but we can't have everything. And so far November looks like it'll pick up right where I left off.

Sounds like life is particularly hectic at the moment but I'm glad to hear there's a teensy bit of down time in there somewhere.

>90 MickyFine: Mmmm, yeah, the next couple of weeks are busy, but the good news is I took the week after Thanksgiving off as vacation time, switched things around a little today, and I'll have a week and a half off at the end of November to do fun stuff with family, recover and last but not least prepare for the holidays.

Happy Thursday!

Today is busy, but not as busy with the dogs because I have so much else going on. I walked them all this morning and prepped their food for the person who's checking in on them later today.

I'm only working 'til 3 and then taking a couple of hours sick time for my eye exam. I prefer it to be late in the afternoon so I can sleep off some of the dilation, so we'll see how things go... From there, I'm going to my parents for dinner and Bible study, then going back to the dogs, walking them all and going to bed.

The big news for the day is I changed around some work things so I'll have the day after Thanksgiving off as my holiday, and I took the day before off in addition to the week after that I already had off, which will give me a grand total of a week and a half off from work, and give me a chance to go down and see my sisters at Thanksgiving. I have some travel to work out for that all to happen, but it's nice to have the options. This was prompted by starting to prep the desk schedule for that week and realizing how many people (including myself) that had the day after Christmas as our floating holiday.

Tomorrow is a normal 9-5, with dog walking before and after.

Reading: Masters of Death (I should finish it this weekend) and Covenant of Water (not finishing it for awhile)

Listening: The Many Daughters of Afong Moy though I'll probably start the book along with it soon because I'm not really getting everything from audio only

Watching: I put on Jeopardy and Celebrity Jeopardy last night, but mostly focused on the dogs and reading LT threads while it was background noise

Crafting: nada

>89 bell7: This October was pretty darn good for me as well, though the expected visit did a number on my planned writing productivity...predictable, in hindisght. Still it felt like a good, solid month across the group. Yay for that.

Good on you for getting your Turkey Holocaust time off all set, in opposition to needing to scramble after Yule's day-off debacle became obvious. Enjoy the family time, and don't mix up the dogs' meds or accidentally give one of the cats away, or something.

*smooch*

>91 bell7: Oh nice. Mr. Fine and I have done something similar for our current staycation, tying it in with the Remembrance Day weekend here.

>71 bell7: Chiming in late on your post, I know, Mary. I do not care for Sarah Brightman's voice at all. I cannot explain it, but it just strikes me the wrong way. On the other hand, I loved Sierra Boggess in the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera.

>84 bell7: I just picked up a copy of The Warmth of Other Suns while I was in Longview. I am hoping to get to it in 2024 too.

>93 richardderus: Indeed, it's nice as the year winds down to have some good reading months in the midst of the busy-ness. Even if I don't end up going to my sister's (though let's be honest, I probably will - just have to look at flights and hope it's not astronomical), it'll be nice to have the time as I've swapped it to be. And yeah, I do the desk schedules now (as of July 1) so I tend to notice those details and flag them for my boss. Thanks for the animal-sitting good wishes! *smooch*

>94 MickyFine: It wasn't what I'd originally intended, but the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea.

>95 alcottacre: Not too late, Stasia. Glad to know I'm not the only one. I picked up the CD on a lark thinking, "hmmm, I've heard that name, I'll try her." Oh well! Can't love everything. I will look forward to your thoughts on The Warmth of Other Suns. We read Caste a couple of years ago and had an excellent discussion about it, so I'm looking forward to this one. I chose September (after we get off the summer break) to give us extra time to read a 600+ page book. Thankfully the rest are under 400.

>96 bell7: Kids will be back in school too by September, so I am sure that the mothers in the group are grateful that you waited until then for that chunkster!

Have a fantastic Friday, Mary!

>97 alcottacre: I don't have anyone of that age in our group (well, I am, but I'm not a mother!) but even the retirees appreciate the extra time. Hope you had an excellent Friday as well!

Well, it's Friday night and I'm halfway through this dogsitting gig. Today I walked & fed dogs, worked 9-5, fed dogs, checked in on cats, walked dogs and now I have a little time to sit before bedtime walks and going to bed. I was going to finish Masters of Death tonight, but annoyingly I left it at work. Ah well, I have a stack of other books here with me so I'll pick another to start reading...

Tomorrow between dog walks, I'm running home to get the mail and drop of my recycling, it being the first Saturday of the month and the only time I can, and in the afternoon I'm hanging out with my first Little who's now college-age. I'll probably swing by the library on my way to get her and pick up my book so I can finish Masters of Death tomorrow instead.

153. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
Why now? I've been having fun trying to keep up with the Kindle challenges every quarter, and this one fit "Spooky Season" (included mysteries and thrillers), so I borrowed the next book in a series I've been reading from the library e-book collection

The Thursday Murder Club is back, this time investigating the cold case of Bethany Waites, a talented news anchor who was hot on a money laundering case when she was murdered (Elizabeth wanted to focus on another case, but Joyce thought this would be a good way to meet Bethany's co-anchor, Mike Waghorn). One woman, Heather Garbutt, was arrested in regards to the money, but no one believes she was really the head of the operation, and she maintains her innocence in the murder. Can Ibrahim, Ron, Elizabeth, Joyce and their increasing group of friends solve the case?

An incredibly fun romp with quirky, lovable characters that I greatly enjoyed. It's great to see the relationships developing between friends and lovers and see what the gang gets up to next. Start with The Thursday Murder Club or you'll get hopelessly confused with who everyone is and what their stories are. 4.5 stars.

154. The Bride of the Blue Wind by Victoria Goddard
Why now? Joint read with Stasia continuing through the Nine Worlds books - this was the start of a new series, the Sisters Avramapul

Once there were three sisters: the first went off to earn her fortunate making carpets, the second became a fighter, and the youngest was stolen away by the wind to be his wife. She is allowed to ask him anything, but must spend a day in silence for each question. When she becomes unhappy, her two older sisters come to rescue her.

Another delightful story from Victoria Goddard, who really impresses me with her ability to write different story lengths and tones that fit what she's trying to do. This one reads like a fairy tale, and what an inventive tale it is. I was carried along by how it all unfolded and enjoyed the writing. It's not my favorite of hers - I prefer to get to know the characters a little more, and as in most fairy tales they're sort of kept at arm's length - but she does what she sets out to do well. 3.5 stars.

>101 bell7: she does what she sets out to do well Yes, she does and I am beginning to think that there is nothing that the lady cannot write.

>87 bell7: Not familiar with most of your Book Club picks (I guess I need to get out more. 😁). That said, I did think The Warmth of Other Suns was an excellent read. I am enjoying my first The Thursday Murder Club read, so I hope I am not kicked out of the club completely.

Happy Saturday, Mary!

>101 bell7: I once heard that her Greenwing and Dart series was the snake's garters and somehow never got busy and read one of them. Your enthusiasm for her writing makes me think I might should...advice for me, o experienced one? Is this something I'm at all likely to enjoy? (I do know that majgickq features heavily but leaving that aside...)

>102 alcottacre: Yup! The only author that comes to mind that has such different tones for different series is Martha Wells.

>103 msf59: Hahaha, well no worries, Mark, a bunch of them just came out this year so you have an excuse. The Lioness of Boston is historical fiction about Isabella Steward Gardner, who left a museum to the city of Boston in her will with the stipulation that the rooms/art had to be left exactly as she set them up. I'm probably most looking forward to that one, and I am glad we'll be reading The Warmth of Other Suns, as it's been on my list for awhile.

>104 richardderus: I would recommend you start with The Hands of the Emperor, Richard, and see what you make of that one first. And I do think you may be able to appreciate it, majgickq and all aside. It's a little more high fantasy in tone where the Greenwing & Dart series is lighter, and details about the governance of the place as well as family dynamics keep it well grounded. A strength of all her books I've read so far is the characters and the strong friendships between them. Each series I've read so far has a very different tone and, like I said to Stasia above, reminds me of Martha Wells in her ability to do what she sets out to do with each one of them. Also many of the books/novellas are inexpensive enough for Kindle.

>105 bell7: I shall duly procure the recommended title. Thanks!

I'm fairly sure you'd like The Great Abolitionist: Charles Sumner and the Fight for a More Perfect Union by Stephen Puleo, which St. Martin's has on Netgalley as Read Now for today.

In the tempestuous mid-19th century, as slavery consumed Congressional debate and America careened toward civil war and split apart–when the very future of the nation hung in the balance–Charles Sumner’s voice rang strongest, bravest, and most unwavering. Where others preached compromise and moderation, he denounced slavery’s evils to all who would listen and demanded that it be wiped out of existence. More than any other person of his era, he blazed the trail on the country’s long, uneven, and ongoing journey toward realizing its full promise to become a more perfect union.

Before and during the Civil War, at great personal sacrifice, Sumner was the conscience of the North and the most influential politician fighting for abolition. Throughout Reconstruction, no one championed the rights of emancipated people more than he did. Through the force of his words and his will, he moved America toward the twin goals of abolitionism and equal rights, which he fought for literally until the day he died. He laid the cornerstone arguments that civil rights advocates would build upon over the next century as the country strove to achieve equality among the races.

The Great Abolitionist is the first major biography of Charles Sumner to be published in over 50 years. Acclaimed historian Stephen Puleo relates the story of one of the most influential non-presidents in American history with evocative and accessible prose, transporting readers back to an era when our leaders exhibited true courage and authenticity in the face of unprecedented challenges.
You might remember Puleo for his involving microhistories Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919, or The Caning: The Assault that Drove America to Civil War. He has a very deft storytelling touch that leavens his academic's LUUUV of detail.

*smooch*

>106 richardderus: Fair's fair, I suppose, and you do make it sound enticing. I put the NetGalley copty on my Kindle.

>105 bell7: Well, here I was enjoying being part of all the Nine Worlds discussions. Alas, I shall get used to sharing, but 😢.

Biya, Mary. I’m another fan of your Ren Faire costume- lots of bonus points for having made it! Debbi and I have never been to a Ren Faire, but our son and DIL have been going to one near Pittsburgh for years. We hope to join them some day.

I’m glad that Ducks Two Years worked for you. “Superb storytelling”. Yes! I hope more LTers give it a try.

>109 jnwelch: Oh goodness, no I didn't make mine, I bought it on Amazon (and the bracers at the Faire). My friend wearing black made hers and her sons' - the only piece I can take credit for is the green sweater worn by the boy with the leaf cape. I literally had "LT love" as the reason I'd added Ducks to my TBR list.

155. Masters of Death by Olivie Blake
Why now? I was intrigued by the description when it came in new at the library, and took it home, finally starting it when I did because it was due back and it seemed good seasonal Halloween reading

Viola is a real estate agent - and a vampire - trying to sell a house haunted by its last inhabitant, Thomas Parker the fourth, who is trying his best not to let it be sold and also increasingly frustrated that he can't leave it. Out of desperation, she contacts the medium, Fox D'Mora, who is really a fake and can't see a ghost at all, but he's the godson of Death and gives widows peace and... well, often a little more.

That's... not actually what the story is about, but that is how it starts. And yes, I'm going to leave it at that. If you don't mind that zany description, then check it out and see if you like the more complicated story of bored immortals including demons, reapers, guardian angels, archangels, and more. There's love and betrayal to be had, humans and creatures trying to make a good life. 4 stars.

Busy but fun day. I got up with the dogs, then headed home to bring my recycling in (today is the only day of the month it can be dropped off). I was able to spend a little time in the morning reading, then stopped at work to get Masters of Death from my desk where I left it, then get my Little and bring her to my house to hang out. It was fun to catch up with her (this is the first one I had, we don't get together as often now), we had some tea and played cards, watched goofy videos and chatted.

I brought her home, got dinner for myself and the dogs, walked them all, and now we're all hanging out watching the Bruins. The upstairs cat is perched at my side and the dogs are all sleeping on coach, chair, and doggy bed.

Reading: The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Listening: The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford (I was starting to lose track of all the storylines, so I'm supplementing by reading the book too)

Watching: Bruins hockey

Crafting: nope - I actually meant to bring my knitting bag home today, but I forgot

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Daylight savings time ended overnight, and I know that's usually a nice little extra hour of sleep, but the dogs didn't. I got up early to them barking, let them out, went back to bed for a bit... ultimately lost that battle and got up around 6:30 to feed and walk them all. It did mean that I got to take my time over my coffee and prep their food for tonight. I just had church in the morning, enjoyed service, and came back to walk the dogs.

The dogs are now out and relaxing, and I'm sitting ready to watch some football and read my book. The Giants aren't on locally, so I'll figure out a way to stream it. I expect I'll feed the dogs during halftime and walk them either after the game or when I get fed up with my team. I'm looking forward to the relaxation, in any case.

Reading: The Covenant of Water

Listening: The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

Watching: football

Crafting: nothing

>113 bell7: Yeah, dogs and DST don't mix well.

Sorry the dogs didn't get the extra hour of sleep memo but glad to hear you had a largely relaxing day.

>114 foggidawn: Indeed, they woke me up at 5:30 this morning and I couldn't get back to sleep.

>115 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! I'll make it up on Wednesday... I'm going in an hour later and hoping to make up some of the short nights.

Happy almost Tuesday! Less said about football the better - it is hockey season, folks (I say this, but my family is still planning on going to a game in a couple of weeks).

Today the dogs got me up at 5:30 a.m. This may have been partly my fault for just letting them out in the pen instead of full walks, but I let them out to pee, put them back in kennels and attempted to go back to sleep. It did not work, and after reading and dozing and hearing the dogs bark again, I got up at 6:30 and got started for the day. They were all walked and fed in a timely manner, and I worked 9-1, then stopped at the grocery store to just have enough food for the next couple of days.

After the grocery store, I had lunch and walked the dogs. I was going to read, but ended up taking a nap on the recliner and woke up in time to feed and walk the dogs again.

Turns out I'm going home tomorrow instead of Wednesday, and the job I was going to start with picking up a dog to come to my house was canceled, so I have a bit of a break coming up and I'm very much looking forward to it. I had a couple of hours extra that I'd worked a couple of weeks ago and am making it up by going in an hour later on Wednesday. My hope is to sleep in a little bit after being short on sleep with this bunch.

Tomorrow, I'll have some packing up to do, and I'm hoping to stop at home on the way to work to drop most of it off. I'm working 12-8, coming back to walk the dogs and planning on leaving here around 10 to go home and go to bed. Oh, and I have the first of three programs on genealogy resources that I'm giving tomorrow - there's currently a decent turnout of 13 folks signed up, and I'll be talking about Fold 3, Newspapers.com and HeritageQuest.

If you don't see me tomorrow, you know why...

Reading: The Covenant of Water and finished up The Many Daughters of Afong Moy (I couldn't follow it on audio)

Listening: nothing today, but I'm thinking of breaking out the Christmas music tomorrow

Watching: football yesterday, Bruins today (though I may swap to ESPN at some point and see if the Manning cast of Monday Night Football is on)

Crafting: I was brave and pulled out the knitting yesterday, getting a fair amount of work done on a baby sweater I'm hoping to give someone at church who is due soon

156. The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford
Why now? Got the audio from the library a couple of weeks ago and kept it to listen to on my commute from where I'm dogsitting - ended up reading my own copy of the book instead, because I was having trouble following the multiple storylines on audio

Dorothy Moy lives in Seattle in 2045 with her partner Louis and daughter Annabel. She's a poet and has dealt with depression and trauma, not all of which is her own. Interspersed with her story is that of Afong Moy, Lai King, Faye, and Zoe, four women ancestors that went back to the first Chinese woman to come to the United States. Utilizing a technique to tap into memories, Dorothy starts seeing these women and understanding how their experience made her into who she is.

I started out enjoying the complex storyline and multiple characters, but in the end the book fell a little flat for me. Taking the idea of epigenetics, as well as the history of Afong Moy (a real person) and philosophies of Buddhism, Jamie Ford writes a story he likens to using a crayon box. And I think that is a little how I felt in the end, that he played with a lot of ideas and I didn't always follow everything he was doing. Were the stories of the women in the past their real histories, or some sort of reliving that Dorothy does? Implanted memories? Something else? I did not understand why Dorothy stayed with Louis, who treats her with contempt and questions her every move. And finally, I think I wanted a little more about each of the women. It wasn't 'til close to the end that the exact relationships between each of them is clear, and their stories don't exactly wrap up*, which is why I was confused in the end about exactly what those storylines were after all. 3.5 stars.

*The chapter "Echoes" basically has Dorothy become each of those women in the past and make changes to their stories.

Also, in the end, if I were an English major writing an essay I could potentially make the argument that the way each of the women were eventually satisfied in life was in finding the right partner, and I just found that aggravating. Though I don't necessarily think it was intentional.

"Less said about football the better"

Amen, sister.

>119 katiekrug: *nods*

Hello, hello, and happy Tuesday! I am enjoying the peace and quiet of my own house for a few minutes before I head back to the dogs. I've brought most of my stuff back home so I have very little packing left.

I'm working 12-8 today and that includes projects for volunteers and running a program tonight where I show people how to use some of our genealogy resources. Tonight's program is Fold 3, Newspapers.com and HeritageQuest. Next week is FamilySearch, and the week after that is AmericanAncestors.

After work, I'm going back to the dogs, making sure they were fed, walking them all, and hanging out 'til about 10, after which I am going home and going to bed. I get to sleep in a little tomorrow, as I don't have to go in to work 'til 10.

Reading: Covenant of Water, Crooked Hallelujah and The Hour Before Daylight

Listening: Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Christmas music)

Watching: probably nothing much today

Crafting: baby sweater and a few rows on my wrap

>121 bell7: I love the Trans-Siberian Orchestra! Which one is the current choice (not that they're all that different from one another)?

I'm disgusted afresh with Google. Now it won't let me access my photos unless I enable all third-party cookies. Appalling.

Hoping your little breathing room will be pleasantly used. *smooch*

>121 bell7: Yay for getting to sleep in your own bed tonight!

>122 richardderus: They're pretty close, but I went with The Lost Christmas Eve to start. The other one I have is Christmas Eve and other stories, but I'm waiting on that for a bit.

That is super frustrating about Google, I am frustrated on your behalf. The breathing room was simply sitting for a few minutes and posting on LT haha. But it was soooo nice to have no pets or barking or anything and just sit quietly.

>122 richardderus: Yes! I am ridiculously excited.

>118 bell7: I did not care overmuch for Ford's Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet either. I am thinking that I will give that one a pass. Thanks for the review, Mary!

Are you excited for Hild tomorrow? I am!

I liked Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet but also read it so long ago I have no idea what I'd think of it now.

I am excited to start Hild! I have been careful about what paper books I start because I'm going to be reading two looooong ebooks (the other one is The Covenant of Water), but thankfully my book club book is linked short stories so I can pace myself, and for something completely different I'm also reading a memoir. Should be enough to keep me out of trouble for the next week 😁

Edited to get touchstones to cooperate

>117 bell7: I'm glad to hear you're going to have a bit of a break! I think you've earned it. And I hope you get some good sleep!

Nice group of genealogy resources there.

Less said about football the better... That applies as well to NC's team this year. For hockey, we're hoping the Hurricanes pick it up and play better than their start.

Yikes, Christmas music already? I can't take it this early. The same songs over and over and over for two months is too much for me. I do like Trans-Siberian Orchestra, but it's just too soon for me.

>127 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene! And yeah, it's earlier than I normally put it on, but I was already getting songs in my head and I decided I wanted to. Sometimes by forcing myself to wait 'til the "appropriate" time (for music, decorating, starting to think about presents, whatever), I end up feeling like everything I wanted to do is shoved into a short amount of time and I rush through instead of enjoying it. So I decided this year, if I feel like it, why not? I'm not planning on listening to it exclusively (which I... usually do in December haha), so I won't get tired of the songs. I have several CDs in a variety of styles, and I can supplement with library materials if I need something different.

Happy Wednesday!

I gave myself the morning to sleep in, and got up on my own at 7:30 as usual *rolls eyes*. But, I did it on my own time and without having to rush downstairs to feed and walk dogs. So happy to enjoy the peace and quiet of my own home for... about a week, until I have three dogs for my brother's girlfriend. Though I'll still get to sleep in my own bed.

Yesterday's program went really well. I had about 13 or so of the 15 who had signed up show, had a lot of questions/interactions, and a few stayed after to do searches on the computers. Next week is FamilySearch, so I'll be brushing up on my searches and my talk over the next week.

Today I'm working 10-5. I'll do a little meal planning either this morning or on my lunch break, and then I'll go shopping tonight after work.

Reading: Covenant of Water, Crooked Hallelujah and The Hour Before Daylight. I'll start Hild as a joint read with Stasia today

Listening: The Lost Christmas Eve / Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Watching/Crafting: Eh, depends on what I feel like doing tonight when I get home. I might put on a show or movie and finish knitting up the baby sweater, or I might just read

Ooh, I'll be interested in your and Stasia's thoughts on Hild. I don't own that one but I have Spear by the same author on my shelf. She's local to me and recently did an event at my favorite indie.

>128 bell7: If I feel like it, why not? I definitely agree with that, so go ahead and enjoy what you like! It's not for me any more, but I certainly wouldn't tell someone else not to do that if that's what you want. And I can understand not wanting to rush through the season instead of enjoying it. Unfortunately, that tends to happen this time of year.

>130 curioussquared: We got about 3 chapters in last night and so far, I'm liking it. I liked Spear, though it's interesting looking over the recent reviews, it seems to have really divided opinions.

>131 atozgrl: Oh yeah, I didn't take it as you telling me what to do at all. If I feel like it, why not? is the reasoning I gave myself.

Happy Thursday, everyone! This is the last work day of the week (tomorrow is the Veterans' Day holiday observed where I work), and I'm looking forward to a long weekend.

I'm working 9-5, followed by dinner at my parents, and getting together for a more social event now that our Bible study is completed. We may get together next week, but will most likely be taking a break through the holidays and starting up again sometime next year.

Tomorrow I have a hair appointment for cut and color (I'm planning on going with chunky pink highlights this time), and then I'm coming home and hanging out for the afternoon since I have an appointment for my boiler's fall tune up. I'll putter around tidying things up, reading, knitting, and cooking.

Thursday-that's-really-Friday orisons, Mary. That fall tune-up is so worth the time and money. Boiler issues are The Worst.

Enjoy the hair futzing appointment. *smooch*

Enjoy your Friday off, Mary! Sounds like it should be a good one.

>134 richardderus: Yes, I would much rather have the regular maintenance than issues down the line.

>135 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! It's been good so far.

Hair appointment and boiler appointment are both complete. Since I had to turn the heat off for the boiler appointment, I cooked all afternoon and kept myself warm. I'm relaxing for a bit now, though I may put a load of laundry in eventually.

Reading: Covenant of Water, An Hour Before Daylight, Crooked Hallelujah, and Hild

Listening: Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas and my random Spotify playlist of a bunch of (non-Christmas) songs I've liked over the years

Watching: I may catch up on Loki tonight but haven't watched anything in a couple of years

Crafting: knitting the wrap

>137 bell7: Love the pink! Very flattering.

*smooch*

The pink is so good!!!

>137 bell7: I like that Vince Guaraldi soundtrack too! I still feel like it's too early for Christmas music--for me--but I like what you're choosing to listen to.

>138 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! *smooch*

>139 curioussquared: Thanks, Natalie!

>140 atozgrl: Yup, it's a good one.

>117 bell7: It definitely is hockey season! I'm not so sure about the Christmas music though. I have a friend who plays it in the middle of June...to each their own I guess.

>137 bell7: I love the pink highlights!

Happy remainder of the weekend.

>137 bell7: The pink is very glam!

>137 bell7: the pink is fab!

>142 figsfromthistle: My parents listen to it at various points throughout the year. I usually start around the week of Thanksgiving, but I just know how busy things are going to get and, like I said, wanted to enjoy myself through the holiday season. Similarly, I took the week after Thanksgiving off thinking that I'll do most of my holiday planning & shopping over that week (as well as some other pre-winter things around the house & yard) and have a more relaxed December as a result. And thanks re: the hair!

>143 MickyFine: and >144 drneutron: Thanks, Micky and Jim!

Happy Monday, everyone!

I had a nice weekend, a mix of busy-ness and rest for once, and very enjoyable. Saturday I got my Little, we baked brownies and started working on a diamond painting. After I dropped her off, I ended up working on the diamond painting for a couple of hours before I stopped, had dinner, watched the end of season 2 of Loki, and did some knitting and reading.

Sunday I woke up with a sore neck from looking down at the diamond painting, oops. I had church, potluck/Bible study at my friends, and then went over my brother and SIL's for his birthday celebration and Giants. Some of that was fun. The football met our expectations. In the morning, I'd finished a baby sweater and was able to gift it to a young woman I'd met at the new church, who was really touched by it. And my friend's kids were especially funny that afternoon. The oldest asked me if I would like some sunflower seeds - not to eat, but to plant, he specified. Sure. "How many do you want?" "I'll take whatever you'd like to give me." Well, I probably have a good couple dozen in a baggie now and he informed me I could plant them in a pot instead of waiting for the spring. I'll probably do both, so wish me luck with sunflowers next year? I told him about my house plants, and he wanted to know what a spider plant looked like. Afterwards, I said to my friend if she ever wanted to do a unit on plant propagation I had plenty of houseplants for them to try thier hand at hahaha. I have so many now that they're in every window on my first floor. Her youngest is about seven or eight months now, stared at my pink hair quite a bit and grabbed my fingers to inspect my blue nails. She loves pattycake, and it was really funny to see her communicate - mostly telling me to do it again my pressing my hands 'til I did, and lighting up with a smile at certain lines. So funny. I love that I've seen her often enough that I'm one of the people she knows.

Today I'm working 9-2 (really should get outta here soon, but I'm trying to let my hair dry as much as possible so I don't get pink dye on my work clothes), and afterwards I have a massage. It's a month overdue and I'm feeling it, more some stiffness than actual pain.

The rest of the afternoon and evening should be fairly quiet. I'll have leftovers for dinner and plenty of time to read.

Brownies. Sunflowers. Losing football teams.

Oh my, you are always diversely busy. *smooch*

Sounds like a lovely weekend, Mary. Enjoy the short shift today!

>137 bell7: Love the hair! So fun!

>147 richardderus: Indeed. It really was a a lovely weekend. I haven't yet planted the sunflower seeds however haha. *smooch*

>148 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! It went by fast (like a day after a holiday!), and I'm enjoying a quiet evening now.

>149 foggidawn: Thanks, foggi!

Reading: Hild, The Covenant of Water, An Hour Before Daylight, Crooked Hallelujah (which I'll finish tonight) and When Angels Left the Old Country (just this morning, because apparently the cure for reading too many books isn't finishing one but starting another...no, actually, I'd been listening to parts of the first 3 chapters for awhile and got tired of hearing bits of it and not really following the story).

Listening: "Noel" - Josh Groban

Watching: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by the Royal Shakespeare Company (my DVD)

Crafting: finished a baby sweater, still working on a wrap for myself, going to start a hat soon

>126 bell7: I loved The Covenant of Water, so I really hope you like it too, Mary.

>137 bell7: Lovely!

I have added three Christmas stations to my satellite radio pre-sets in the car 😁

>152 alcottacre: I'm really enjoying it, but feeling the pressure as I'm only halfway through and it's going to disappear from my Kindle in a few days! And thank you :D

>153 katiekrug: Yay! I hope it's bringing you joy

Good morning and happy Tuesday!

I slept in a little this morning and got up in a leisurely way, reading The Covenant of Water over my coffee. I'm working a split today, participating in a Zoom meeting from home that starts at 10 so that my boss can work with a new staff member that starts today (and we are officially fully staffed, folks!). That meeting should last a couple of hours, I'll have time to eat lunch and do a little bit of reading or tidying up the house, and then I'm planning on going in to the library from 2-8. I won't have any volunteers in, but I will be giving the second of three genealogy lectures.

Reading: Hild, The Covenant of Water, An Hour Before Daylight, When the Angels Left the Old Country

Listening: Noel by Josh Groban

Watching: probably nothing tonight, to be honest

Crafting: I'm going to start a hat for a friend with cancer who will be charting chemo next month

157. Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford
Why now? Book club book for this month

In linked short stories, Kelli Jo Ford tells the story of four generations of Cherokee women: Granny, Lula, Justine, and Reney.

Justine and Reney are at the center of the stories, starting with Justine getting pregnant, and then covering several years to Reney as an adult. Some are in third person, some in first person, including one from Justine's father-in-law. The result is an effective character portrayal of multiple people from multiple points of view, telling the story of ordinary lives. It was well done, but I read it for book club and I struggle to think of what we will talk about tomorrow. I suspect I won't remember much about it some months from now. 3.5 stars.

Happy Wednesday!

I was able to make some good progress on The Covenant of Water last night and this morning, so fingers crossed I finish it before the library e-book disappears off my Kindle. I had an appointment to get my new lenses, so went out and got those and now must adjust. Then I went shopping at a couple of places on the way to work and got some things I wanted for gifts (baby diapers for upcoming showers, stiff interface for the brim of a hat I'm knitting). I'm now working 12-8, have some volunteers coming in, and book discussion of Crooked Hallelujah tonight.

Reading: The Covenant of Water, Hild, An Hour Before Daylight and When the Angels Left the Old Country

Listening: Finished the Josh Groban CD and swapped it out for "Mannheim Steamroller Christmas" (the first one that ends with "Silent Night")

Watching: nothing

Crafting: hat for a friend

Wednesday *smooch*

>158 richardderus: Thursday *smooch* back

It's Thursday! How is the week/month/year flying by so fast? One of my co-workers the other day asked me how busy my week was, and my answer was, "Aren't I... always busy?" And her response is, "Well, yeah, but sometimes you're extra busy." Which... fair. This is an average-busy week. I have been meaning to make French onion soup in the InstantPot for a while now, and finally had the time to prep the onions this morning, so they are currently caramelizing with the slow cook feature. I went to an appointment to follow up with the cardiologist, and they're happy with how the EKG turned out and told me to stay on the statins for my cholesterol and see them again as-needed. So, that's good. And of course, I should exercise, exercise, exercise, which I'm very inconsistent about when I'm not walking dogs.

From there, I went straight to work and I'm here 'til 5, picking up a baguette to go with the soup and a handful of other groceries/household necessities, then home for the night. The soup will be ready to add broth and take about 5 minutes to heat up. It should be a fairly quiet evening otherwise. I need to finish a little bit of tidying up, basically bringing some genealogy and miscellaneous papers from my grandfather's upstairs and closing all the bedroom doors. Because tomorrow after work, my brother's girlfriend is bringing over her three dogs, and one of them is a puppy. So I'm thinking of it as last-minute puppy proofing the house before a dogsitting weekend, and it shouldn't take long at all.

Reading: The Covenant of Water (I have less than a half hour left to go!), Hild, An Hour Before Daylight and When the Angels Left the Old Country

Listening: Mannheim Steamroller (I know, I know, it breaks my own preference for non-synthesized music, but this was the Christmas music of my childhood/teen years, so it's at least 50% nostalgia now)

Watching: nothing last night, though I do have the Barbie movie home from the library. I may watch it over the weekend

Crafting: hoping to work on the hat tonight

>160 bell7: Yay for progress on The Covenant of Water! It is such a good book and I have no idea how it was not on the Booker longlist, at the very least.

>160 bell7: I do so love the IP. I got one after they got cheap and loved the ease of braise/stew/pressure cook all in one device. Sadly it tripped the breakers once too often and I was told to get rid of it...I might get one now that the a/c unit's on a separate circuit. We'll see....

Have some luscious oniony goodness and think of me pining away with egg salad (in place of their dinner of fish...can't eat fish anymore).

All caught up again, Mary. Your book club list for next year looks interesting. I’ve only read The Warmth of Other Suns and The Soloist. They were both tough reads as far as subject matter goes, but both were well done and thought provoking. My favorite kind of books.

As always, I enjoy your dog sitting tales. We will have two granddaughters and two extra dogs for 3 days coming up. Our dog walks are a hassle, but it’s worth it to wear them out.

Ooh La La, I like the highlights in your hair.

The Covenant of Water will be in my Top Ten this year. It is such a long book, although I thoroughly enjoyed all of it. Too bad you are being rushed in your reading.

>161 alcottacre: It's coming together really beautifully, and I'm looking forward to sitting down with it tonight.

>162 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! Sorry about the egg salad. It is...not my favorite. But better than eating something that doesn't agree with you.

>163 Donna828: Nice to see you, Donna! I'm really looking forward to our reads, and haven't read any of them before. Grandkids sound like a blast, but that plus the extra dogs must be tiring - I completely agree on the necessity of walks to keep the dogs happy. Thank you re: my hair. Fortunately I didn't quite have to rush through The Covenant of Water - I'd just gotten to the point where I needed to focus on it and put aside a couple of books I was otherwise enjoying for a few days in order to do so. I also picked it up to read with less guilt (when I might have felt like I *should* be doing something else). But now I am almost finished, and really enjoying seeing how it's all coming together.

158. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Why now? LOVED his Cutting for Stone, so knew I wanted to read this eventually...and then my library e-book hold came in much faster than expected

Covering over 70 years and three generations, this family saga tells the story of Big Ammachi, her children, and her grandchildren, a family living in Kerala, India and affected by what they call the Condition, a sensitivity to water and a propensity for drowning.

There are a slew of characters to meet, and seeing how they all connect over the years was satisfying. This is such an immersive story of historical fiction, beginning in 1900, and includes details of not only the medical procedures, but also the British rule of India and the caste system. A rich, rewarding read that I highly recommend. 5 stars.

TGIF!

The French onion soup came out great, if a little later than I'd hoped (I sat down to eat around 7). We had mild excitement at the end of the day when one of the doors would lock but not latch properly, and I waited at the building 'til the facilities manager came out to check it. It's all fixed now, as someone came out this morning and said the weather stripping had slid up and was blocking where it latches. I'd also forgotten about a genealogy Zoom meeting I'd signed up for before it showed up on my phone as a calendar event, so after the quick grocery stop for the baguette and a few other things, I got home and rushed around making sure I had the link ready on my laptop. That was also at 7, so I calmed down, got stuff organized, and had dinner in front of the presentation. Thankfully, it was short and I messed around on the computer for a little bit before calling it a night with my books.

Today, I'm working 9-5 and my brother's girlfriend is dropping the dogs off. I'll have them through Tuesday morning. I plan on reading/knitting or watching the Barbie movie.

Reading: Hild, An Hour Before Daylight, and When the Angels Left the Old Country

Listening: moved on to the second Mannheim Steamroller CD (ends with Cantique de Noel/O Holy Night)

I also loved Cutting for Stone when I read it years ago -- glad to know The Covenant of Water is just as good! I hope you enjoy the Barbie movie :)

>167 curioussquared: Thanks, Natalie! I didn't get to it last night, but I'm hoping the dogs cooperate tonight or tomorrow. And I hope you enjoy The Covenant of Water when you get to it.

Happy weekend! The dogs came yesterday and all has been chaos ever since haha. That's only a light exaggeration. The puppy has peed in the house several times (my floors are going to be extra clean by the time he leaves, because it's never been on a pee pad), and he's pooped thrice. I think I have to take him outside a little longer than I have been - the other two spoiled me doing their business quick. Last night, I took them each out, put him in the kennel, and he promptly cried/barked off and on for an hour while I tried to figure out what to do with him. I ended up texting the owner, and she said he usually doesn't bark long at night, that she crates him in the living room and gets everything quiet and dark and goes to bed. So we'll see how tonight goes, but at least I won't be prolonging it getting up and checking on him every so often.

This morning, I took them each for a walk. Puppy got the longest, a two-mile loop to the cemetery and back. You'd never know, he was just as energetic when we got back, and still cries every time I put him in the kennel (to walk the other dogs, to shower, and to run and do errands because I'd had enough). I very nearly have my 10,000 steps finished.

They are currently sleeping around me, one on my left, puppy on my right, Yorkie mix above my shoulder on the back of the couch. Phew! I could barely have my coffee this morning, I didn't eat breakfast at all, and the puppy got me up barking at 5:30 a.m. and wouldn't go back to sleep after I brought him outside. Hopefully the walk(s) help, as I am pooped.

This afternoon, I'm taking my Little out to a library and early dinner. If it's still light enough out when I get back, I'll probably take the puppy for another walk so that the evening will be slightly more relaxed.

Reading: Hild, An Hour Before Daylight, When the Angels Left the Old Country

Listening: second Mannheim Steamroller Christmas CD (ends with O Holy Night)

Watching/crafting: with the dogs? No. Maybe the Barbie movie tonight, if they cooperate.

>169 bell7: Oof. I don't miss the puppy days.

Omg. Thanks for reminding me why I don't want a puppy despite their cute little faces!!!

>169 bell7: Wow that sounds like a lot. Hope the puppy has a better night tonight.

>170 foggidawn: No, I'm thinking I might start refusing to take puppies haha

>171 curioussquared: You're most welcome, Natalie ;)

>172 charl08: Worse. he didn't stop barking for so long that I didn't get to sleep 'til after 11 and woke up at 1, 3, and 5:30 and I took him outside the last two times. I walked him twice for a grand total of five miles today, so let's hope that's enough to settle him down tonight.

Sunday... and halfway through the dogsitting. Puppy got two long walks today for a grand total of five miles. Let's hope it's enough for us all to get some sleep because he was in fine form last night and I am exhausted. I guess my doctors will be glad I'm getting exercise? Though it's not exactly how I'd intended to start. I think I got my recommended 150 minutes between yesterday and today combined.

I had church this morning, followed by a baby shower for one of my cousins. I just got back from walk number two and the dogs are currently curled up around me. If only this were their default haha. In a bit, I'll get up and feed them all, then head back to a once-a-month evening service my church does that I've never attended. Since this week is Thanksgiving, they're having people bring pies, though I did not have time to make or buy one. Oh well - I won't each much anyways, as I'm stuffed from the luncheon at the party.

Reading/Listening/Crafting: same as yesterday, though I'll probably switch out the CD tonight.

Watching: I did watch the Barbie movie last night, which was fun. I did not watch the Giants (as I didn't when they played the Commanders earlier this year), so of course they won.

Is it Tuesday yet? No? Ah well...

This is my last night with the dogs! (Cue loud cheering) Last night was another tough one, though not quite as bad as the night before. I still woke up a couple of times in the night hearing the puppy barking in his crate, but I got more sleep than the night before. I even slept a bit after giving him his 5:30 a.m. trip out.

Work was 9-2, then I came back and walked the puppy on a nice 2-and-a-half mile loop. You'd never know based on his energy level and general brattiness humping the other dogs all afternoon/evening, which makes me wonder what he's like if he *doesn't* get a walk. Hopefully he'll be tired enough to sleep tonight after all this... My brother and his girlfriend get back sometime tonight, but she's picking the dogs up tomorrow morning sometime before I go to work.

Tomorrow I'm working 12-8, will probably take the puppy for a walk (if not the rest of the dogs) in the morning, and in the evening I'm giving my final genealogy presentation, an introduction to American Ancestors. Then I'm off for a week and a half. I still have all the packing to do, and I'd kicked around the idea of starting some early Christmas decorating, but with the dogs I completely nixed that idea. I want to get some laundry done, too. Wish me luck!

Reading/Crafting: same as last report

Listening: Started "WOW Christmas", which is a 2-CD compilation of a bunch of Christian artists. I like some better than others, so I'll probably just listen once through and be done with this one, while I'll go back and replay some of the others I have.

Watching: will watch the Bruins tonight

Don't look now, but the dogs are all quiet and sleeping.

Well. Dogs are back home and my house put back to rights. I have finished most of my packing for visiting family at Thanksgiving and checked in to my flight. And now I'm at work, finishing up things that should be done before I go on vacation. From walking the dogs - primarily the puppy - I have got my 150 minutes in for the week and I'm feeling good and energetic, which is unlike me this time of year. Here's hoping the energy level stays up after my presentation, because I have some laundry to finish and dishes to do. My flight leaves an hour earlier than I had been thinking, so I'll be leaving my house by 9 to get to the airport on time. The big question is what books to bring, and I'm hoping to finish An Hour Before Daylight before I go, but it's gong to be a close thing. I expect I'll read a chunk of Hild while I'm waiting to board tomorrow, and am saving System Collapse for the actual flight. I may want to bring one more book (for the flight home), but haven't decided on my choice yet.

Reading/Crafting/Listening: same as last report

Watching: probably nothing tonight while I focus on packing and reading

Yay! You survived the puppy! :-D

Also, I love a website where there are other people who consider "which books shall I bring?" to be the most important part of packing for a trip. I have found my tribe.

>165 bell7: Yay! I am so glad you loved it too!!

Have a terrific Tuesday, Mary!

>177 bell7: Travel safely and have a lovely visit! *smooch*

Safe travels, Mary!

>178 foggidawn: I did! And yeah, I love that the folks on this site completely understand the book packing challenge AND I'm pretty average about the number of books I read in a year :D

>179 alcottacre: Yup, it was very good, vying for favorite of the year (only We Deserve Monuments and Killers of the Flower Moon also got five stars).

>180 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! *smooch*

>181 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

Welp, the website I was going to be presenting on today had technical difficulties and I ended up canceling the program (to be rescheduled after my vacation). So, I ended up working on various projects, moving a couple hundred emails to folders in preparation for coming back to hundreds of emails to go through when I get back, and created my to-do list for after vacation.

Just about done packing, and looking forward to spending the rest of the evening reading and relaxing.

Morning, all! I'm headed out shortly for day-before-Thanksgiving travel adventures. I'll be busy with family and don't anticipate checking in 'til i return on Saturday.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and weekend!

Hi Mary!

I send all good wishes for a safe before Thanksgiving travel experience. In the meantime, I hope your Thanksgiving is very special.

Dear Mary,



Happy Thanksgiving from an appreciative non-celebrator.

Have a wonderful weekend with family, Mary, and get some sleep. Sounds like you need it after puppy sitting! Love the pink hair!

Happy Thanksgiving, Mary!

>182 bell7: Yay!

Happy Thanksgiving, Mary! I hope you have a wonderful time with your family.

Enjoying your family time, I'm sure, and hoping you'll have an easy trip home.

>185 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda! I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving.

>186 PaulCranswick: Ha! A book club is my kinda gang for sure. Happy weekend, Paul!

>187 Familyhistorian: Thanks on all counts, Meg.

>188 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene!

>189 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving. I'll be reviewing Hild soon and taking a look at your comments on your thread, too.

>190 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! I was amazed how smooth the travel was for such a busy weekend. Parking was the toughest part, and there was some turbulence on the ride down, but I've experienced worse. Both airports had plenty of people working security and I got through in great time.

Whew! It was a whirlwind Thanksgiving, but so much fun to spend time with family. My niece and nephew are getting so big, and it's so fun to see them grow up and into their own interests. Matthew is so much like my brother in the way he follows football on TV, likes to play catch outside and stay active, and give me grief if I mess something up. Yeah, we had the Dolphins/Jets game on, and when it was 14-6, I observed that 14 points had been on pick-sixes. "No, 13," he corrected me. "The Jets missed the extra point." Oh right, I responded, "I don't have the memory for details of the game like you and Uncle Ryan and Grandpa." He looked at me incredulously and observed, "But it's right in the score!" Right... that's why the Jets have 6.

Mia had me in stitches taking her stuffed animal Lucky the dog and having her say, "Welcome back to my YouTube channel," after which she's make up some sort of monologue whether it was going to the "National Mole Museum" or deconstructing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade ("It's 500 hours long").

It was also nice to visit with my sisters, brother-in-law and parents. I'm going over my parents soon to stay over and then leave again - we're going to the Giants-Patriots game tomorrow. I'm officially coming home on Monday and have the rest of the week off to recover from all the travel.

159. Hild by Nicola Griffith
Why now? Richard's recommendation of the sequel, Menewood, prompted Stasia and me to pick up the first book and read it jointly

As a young child growing up in what is now England in the 7th century, Hild has been told by her mother that she has purpose as the light of the world, the seer that gives advice to her uncle, King Edwin, after her father, Hereric, is poisoned in exile. Navigating the court is no small feat, but Hild has powers of observation that she uses to influence her uncle and survive all the changes brought by the Christian religion being introduced to the country.

This detailed, immersive historical fiction begins when Hild is seven, and as she grew into her own, made friends, and worked to observe and influence even as a young age, I started with a lot of interest even though I have very little knowledge of the place and time period. However, as Hild grew older, I had a harder and harder time following the thread of what was happening - this character here, this other one there, this current threat to Edwin, or that one. I was less interested in her growing romantic attachments, and it became less of a clear plot and more of a list of political machinations of various small kings trying to consolidate power. 3.5 stars.

I still do plan on reading Menewood at some point, but having read two very long books back-to-back, I'm ready for a break.

160. An Hour Before Daylight by Jimmy Carter
Why now? I'm late, it fit last month's Massachusetts Book Challenge to read a bestseller from the year I turned 18.

Jimmy Carter recounts his boyhood growing up on a Georgia farm.

The only reason I picked it up was because it fit a book challenge I'm working through this year, and I'm really glad it prompted me to read this. Carter grew up in Archery and Plains, Georgia, working on the farm with his dad and alongside black sharecropping families. The style is somewhat meandering and conversational, but I went along for the ride and especially appreciated his reflection on segregation and his experiences and influences as a child. An enjoyable memoir from the 39th president of the United States. 4.5 stars.

Glad you had a nice Thanksgiving!

Have fun at the game tomorrow. We were at the Dolphins-Jets game and it was nice while the sun was out. Then the wind kicked in :-P But that was a later start than tomorrow, so hopefully you'll have a better experience. I also expect you are better at layering and being prepared than I am!

>193 bell7: I felt the same about Hild...I'm glad it took ten years for Menewood to come out! No way could I have read 'em back-to-back.

Glad you're home safe, and hope you'll like the parent/football visit. *smooch*

>195 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! It was chilly, but well-prepared and it was an ugly game, but a win. By the way, we watched the Dolphins-Jets game at my sister's and my nephew was super impressed by the Hail Mary that turned into a pick-six.

>196 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. It was a good weekend, but I am very glad to be home now, and I have the week off from work to recover now haha. I agree re: Hild and Menewood. I'll need some time to recover from a couple of long books before delving into Hild's world again.

Hello, all! We're back from all our traveling, and I'm looking forward to a week off from work at home to relax and recover from everything.

I got home on Saturday in time to make stuff to bring tailgating, then stayed at my parents so I could sleep a little longer before leaving to go to the Giants-Patriots game. We left their place about 6:30 to pick up my brother and his girlfriend, and the three of us were stuffed in the back seat. Fortunately we slept most of the way while my dad drove. We partied with most of my family (my married sister and her family didn't come, but the rest of us were there), plus friends and had a fun tailgate before heading into the game. The game was as ugly as you might expect a contest between two bad teams to be. The final score was only 10-7 Giants, on a last-second missed field goal by the Patriots. The five of us that drove down together had a hotel, too, so we headed there from the game and watched the Eagles play on TV. My youngest sister and her boyfriend came to visit for awhile and have leftovers for dinner before they headed out back to his parents' place in New York.

We drove back home this morning, and I got home around 2. I had originally thought I might start my Christmas decorating, but I don't quite have the energy, so I'm probably going to do it tomorrow instead.

Reading: Yellowface by R. F. Kuang and System Collapse by Martha Wells. I'll also start The Warrior of the Third Veil tonight

Listening: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - I accidentally put in the CD I'd already listened to, but once I finish one listen through, I'll swap out to another one

Watching: the first of the Doctor Who specials

Crafting: knitted hat for a friend

161. When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb
Why now? A librarian at a conference I went to recently recommended it, and when I saw it available through my library, I nabbed the e-book/audio combo

An angel whose name changes as it finds appropriate and a demon, Ashmodei (Little Ash for short), have studied together in a small shtetl for centuries. When they learn that Essie, the baker's daughter, has gone to America and they haven't heard from her, Ash convinces his friend the angel to go and find her as a mitzvah. Along the way, they meet up with Rose, and make the treacherous crossing along with other immigrants to Ellis Island.

This is charming story steeped in Jewish culture, and just a fantastic overall read. This is Lamb's debut and they write with an assurance of a much more established writer. I loved the world and the characters, and found the ending satisfying. It's marketed as young adult fiction, but other than the fact that one of the characters is about sixteen, there's no particular reason adults shouldn't get just as much out of it. 4.5 stars.

162. The Warrior of the Third Veil by Victoria Goddard
Why now? Continuing my read through Goddard's works, a joint read with Stasia (alcottacre)

In the second novella about the Sisters Avramapul, Sardeet recovers from her ordeal by living with her father's family in the city. Her sister Pali arrives, still a Warrior of the First Veil, and must make her return after righting the injustice of her sister's husband's treachery.

An enjoyable continuation of the story, with more details of the culture the sisters' family is a part of. We get some hints of where Pali's story may go, and I'll look forward to seeing how it may connect to the larger Nine Worlds/Red Company story. 4 stars.

>199 bell7: Adding that one to the BlackHole. My local library has a copy of it so I hope to get to it soon!

>200 bell7: Not paying attention to those comments as I still have yet to finish it! I was busy finishing up Old God's Time, but that one is next up for tonight's reading.

>199 bell7: I've got a DRC of this from Levine Querido to review this Booksgiving as a very suitable YA gift to give this festive season. What delighted me the most was that NPR and the New York Public Library both gave it Best of 2023 accolades. Glad you liked it as much as I did.

Glad y'all's Giants gave you the win.

>201 alcottacre: Oh good, I'll look forward to your thoughts on it, Stasia.

>202 richardderus: Looking forward to seeing your review on it, then, Richard! I thought it was a great read. And yeah, glad for the win, too. My nephew was paying attention - he says he's an Eagles fan, but my dad offered him and his sister $20 each if the Giants win the Super Bowl, and now he's conflicted.

Morning, all! I gave myself a lazy morning to linger over my coffee and read after all the travel and goings on. Now, I'm off to run a few errands, the most important one being a dump run since they're only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

No firm plans for the rest of the day, though I do want to put away the fall decorations and put up the Christmas ones, including the tree.

Reading: System Collapse and Yellowface

Listening: Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Watching: put the Bruins on last night, possibly a Christmas movie tonight

Crafting: knitted hat

>199 bell7: I enjoyed that one when I read it, as well.

>203 bell7: Yep, it looks like we are in train regarding the Sisters A books.

>204 bell7: I will curious to see your thoughts on System Collapse.

Have a terrific Tuesday, Mary!

>205 foggidawn: It was a good one, wasn't it? I'm eager for them to write more books.

>206 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia, hope you have a fantastic Tuesday as well! I should be able to finish System Collapse sometime in the next couple of days, so you shouldn't have long to wait :) And we seemed in tandem with our responses quite a bit during our read through Victoria Goddard's works, though we've occasionally had some differences too. It's been a fun 2023 project.

Join me on my new thread!