Katie's Reading Retreat - Chapter 2

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For anyone new to my thread, I’m Katie: reader, wine drinker, food appreciator, shenanigan-ator, and non-sufferer of fools. I live outside New York City with my husband, "The" Wayne, our cat, Leonard, and our dog, Nuala/Noodles.

My reading varies widely - I love genre fiction (romance and crime), contemporary and historical fiction, and narrative nonfiction. I try to balance my reading in all these areas. I also use my thread as a bit of a life journal, which mostly means I talk about what I’m cooking, eating, drinking, watching, doing, and avoiding doing.

Thanks for being here!

Currently Reading
(Print) (Kindle) (Audio)

BOOKS COMPLETED

Books Off My Shelf: 3
Books Off My Kindle:
Books from Audible/Chirp: 1
Library Loans (print/e-books/audios): 6
Friend Loan:

JANUARY
10. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (4.25 stars)
09. Day by Michael Cunningham (audio) (4.5 stars)
08. The Birdcage by Marcia Willett (2.5 stars)
07. London't Number One Dog Walking Agency by Kate MacDougall (audio) (4 stars)
06. The Summer of Katya by Trevanian (2.5 stars)
05. Let's Be Just Friends by Camilla Isley (audio) (2 stars)
04. Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly by Adrian McKinty (audio) (4.5 stars)
03. The Betrayers by David Bezmozgis (audio) (4.25 stars)
02. The Adults by Caroline Hulse (4 stars)
01. Shady Hollow by Juneau Black (audio) (3 stars)

Did Not Finish (YTD)
01. Death of Riley by Rhys Bowen

My Ratings (revised, once again, as I continue the fruitless search for the perfect scale...)

5 stars = Perfect, for me
4.5 stars = Excellent read
4 stars = Good read
3.5 stars = Not a waste of time
3 stars = Some redeeming qualities, but I wish I’d read something else
2.5 stars = Didn’t work for me
2 stars = Why didn’t I DNF it?

(Anything below 2 stars is unlikely to be finished)

I don't really have any goals for my reading in 2024 other than the perpetual "read off my shelves/Kindle" one. I would like to read a little less this year, as I was hyper-focused on it in 2023 and other things and ways I want to spend my time sort of fell by the wayside (writing, volunteering, etc.). So here's too fresh starts!

Congrats on being the first to create a second thread this year!

Happy new one.

Happy new thread, Katie! >1 katiekrug: Seriously, how am I supposed to keep my house tidy when there are so many books to read?

New thread so soon...you are a dynamo, Katie. So glad the flooding was negligible. May that continue!

>4 figsfromthistle: - Nice to see you, Anita!

>5 curioussquared: - The struggle is real :)

>6 richardderus: - I just checked and I started my second thread of 2023 on January 10, too. I like to be consistent.

Thanks re: the flooding!

Happy new one!! Glad the flooding was minimal and sorry to hear about your elbow and tush. You'll have to lie on your side and ice when you read!! Take care.

>3 katiekrug: Good luck with your fresh start, Katie. Isn't is nice to have so many interesting things to do that you can't fit them all in? It would seem sad to be bored.

There must be water report on your last thread (I came to this one first) and sounds like it wasn't too bad -- glad to hear that.

>8 Berly: - Thanks, Kim! I like the way you think regarding turning my fall into more reading time.

>9 RebaRelishesReading: - Thank you, Reba. My mother always said, "Only boring people get bored." Wise words...

Yes, the flooding was minimal, thank goodness.

Happy Wednesday, Katie. Happy New Thread. I loved the first 2 books in this Theodore Roosevelt trilogy. The first The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt may be the best presidential bio that I have read.

>11 msf59: - Hiya, Mark! I haven't read a lot of (any?) presidential bios so can't compare, but TRofTR was excellent. Have you read the 3rd of the trilogy?

Latest puzzle completions:

This was 1000 pieces. I love collage puzzles like this with lots of different images.



This was a somewhat challenging 500 pieces.

>1 katiekrug: Hope you enjoy Theodore Rex. I think Edmund Morris's trilogy is the best TR biography out there.

>13 katiekrug: I love collage puzzles like that too. Less challenging, but a little more meditative and fun IMO.

Happy New Thread, Katie, and also glad to hear the flooding was minimal. Much as I would love to have a stream running through the back of my property, it does come with some disadvantages!

>14 Oberon: - I'm really enjoying it, Erik! Learning a lot, but it's always very readable.

Nice to see you!

>15 curioussquared: - Yeah, I refuse to do puzzles that are lots of sky or ocean or grass or whatever. My current one has a lot of white space, and it's annoying me :)

>16 ronincats: - Thanks, Roni! Definitely some disadvantages. The "river" (normally it's not much more than a stream but it's technically a river) is pretty far from the house (it's a very deep back yard), but once it's out of its banks, and it can cover a lot of ground quickly!

Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly by Adrian McKinty

The sixth of the Sean Duffy novels and my favorite so far. The philosophical Duffy is even more ruminative now that he's a father, and he is questioning his future with the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The seemingly random killing of a drug dealer leads him into a maze of sectarianism, betrayal, and corruption. This was a perfectly paced, thoughtful crime novel that opens strongly and never lets up.

4.5 stars

Happy new thread Katie!

>19 Helenliz: - Thank you, Helen!

>13 katiekrug: The 500-piecer is stunning, even more than that cool collagey one.

Well. Happy new one! Glad the flood wasn't to bad for you folks. Getting home from work yesterday was *interesting* for me... :)

Second thread already?!

I'm glad the flooding wasn't bad. Take care of yourself.

Sorry to hear about your fall on the stairs. For weeks after I slipped on the stairs while we were staying with Mr. Fine's family last spring, he was forever ribbing me with "be careful, there's a step there."

>21 richardderus: - The butterflies were very pretty and the puzzle was excellent quality. I usually do a 500-piecer now and then to give myself a break, but this one was more challenging than puzzles of that size usually are...

>22 drneutron: - "Interesting" eh? I'm glad you made it home safely. Wild weather!

>23 BLBera: - Thank you, Beth!

>24 MickyFine: - Mr. Fine's a comedian! Heh. After I stood up, I went back inside and yelled for TW. He was all, "What? What happened?" and I said, "I fell down." And he just looked at me. And then I pointed out my scraped hand and he was suitably concerned ;-)

For some unexplained reason, I never did get to Colonel Roosevelt. I don't think it was reviewed as highly as the previous two but I am surprised I didn't get to it.

Happy new thread, Katie. Sorry to hear about your fall but the news about no flooding was good. I don't think I've ever done a collage puzzle but I picked up one that is book spines in different coloured rows which is kind of similar.

Happy new thread, and happy no flooding.
I also quite enjoy collage puzzles.

Happy new thread, Katie!

Glad to hear the basement flooding was minimal, and sorry to hear about your fall and bruising (stairs are brutal on the butt, no? I had a fall a couple of years ago and it was painful to sit for awhile).

>26 msf59: - It's not too late, Mark. You could still read it :)

>27 Familyhistorian: - Thanks Meg. My elbow and bum already feel better.

The book spine puzzle sounds like fun!

>28 EBT1002: - Thanks, Ellen! I just finished another collage one and have another to start...

>29 bell7: - Hi Mary! My butt was definitely sore this morning, but it has abated.

Whoa! Your threads are flying. I won't comment on haircut costs; I live in NYC. Glad the flood didn't much and I hope that stays true past the weekend addition..

I've loved doing puzzles in the past, and have a collection of fine art ones, but I can't comfortably manage them these days. If I had more room, I'd put up a permanent angled surface that would make doing them easier on my back.

Ouch for that fall. Is your elbow getting better?

>31 ffortsa: - Hi Judy! Yeah, best not to talk about NYC prices :)

Not looking forward to this weekend, but we are as prepared as we can be, I guess.

I would love one of those angled tables, too, but despite having more space than you, I have nowhere to put one...

The elbow is much better, thanks!

Good morning, all! I had The Best night's sleep last night and am full of energy this morning. That's a good thing, since I have a few errands to run and some things to take care of around the house today. Nuala will be going to day care shortly. It would normally be a Maribel day, but I canceled this week's cleaning because of all the stuff we moved up from the lower floors in antiicpation of flooding.

Books:
I started a not very good contemporary romance on audio yesterday. It's full of unlikeable people, but it's short, so I'll just finish it and move on. That might actually happen today. I will definitely finish The Summer of Katya today. I feel like I've been reading it forever. And I'll get to another chapter in Theodore Rex. My chapter a day strategy is working well.

Viewing:
An episode each of Univeristy Challenge, 'Miss Scarlet and the Duke,' and 'Break Point' (new season!).

Happy new thread!

Morning, Katie!

I've got errand-running on the list today, too. I'd rather just stay home, but there's a salon appointment in there, too, so it's not all bad.

Happy new thread!

Glad you survived the floor, but sorry about your bumps and bruises!

>34 foggidawn: - Thanks, foggi!

>35 scaifea: - Morning, Amber! I'm including a Trader Joe's stop, so my errands aren't all bad, either :)

>36 ChelleBearss: - Hi Chelle! It could have been worse and I barely feel any discomfort now.

Hi Katie! My, my. A new thread already. Happy new one.

From your last thread, glad you had no more than some seepage. The stress is always there regardless. I’m sorry to read that you slipped and landed hard.

>1 katiekrug: That’s a true Laugh Out Loud meme. Thank you for that.

>3 katiekrug: Yay for your fresh start.

>10 katiekrug: ”Only boring people get bored.” Yup. I haven’t been bored at all since I retired in 2016, and before that was only bored sometimes at work.

>12 katiekrug: His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis was wonderful.

>33 katiekrug: Yay for the best night’s sleep and being full of energy. Hope the errands go well.

I’m the opposite of you today – no errands to run, no treadmill to pound, will stay home. We’re getting weather tomorrow, but it will start in the afternoon, so errands in the late morning. Glad you are feeling better from the fall.

Hi Karen! I could do with a little less stress right now, as we are supposed to get more rain Friday/Saturday and then maybe more next week (though that might be snow - hope so!).

I've made a note of the Ellis book, thanks.

I love lazy days like the one you have planned. The feeling of not having to leave the house unless one wants to is The Best.

Let's Be Just Friends by Camilla Isley

Oh, friends. I don't know where to start. This was *awful.* It's the first "new adult" novel I've read, and if this is what early 20 somethings are like, I kind of want a black hole to open up and swallow all of them...

It's billed as a romance, but there is no chemistry. It's full of shallow, dumb people doing shallow, dumb things, and I only finished it because it was like a train wreck I couldn't look away from. And it was short (under 5 hours on audio).

Love triangles, best friends having hot sex while one of them is in a relationship with a one-dimensional mean girl. Mentions of Harvard Law, when "school" or "Harvard" would suffice. A scene where a rich girl from Dallas has never had sushi (puh-leeze)... I could go on. This was terrible, and none of you should read it.

2 stars
(My rating scale translation: why didn't I DNF it?)

My current audio is much better than the ^^above^^ mentioned garbage. It's a memoir of a woman who quits her job at Sotheby's in London and starts a dog-walking business. London! Dogs! Enough said.

>1 katiekrug: You may have the best toppers on LT. 🤣🤣🤣

Belated Happy New Year, Katie! May 2024 be full of good books, wine, and food, and no fools whatsoever. (Good luck with that last one...)

>42 PlatinumWarlock: - Happy new year, Lavinia! Glad you like my toppers and thanks for the good wishes.

Happy Friday! It should be a pretty quiet one around here. I have to make a library run, but other than that, I plan to stay home and get some things done. We are supposed to get wind and rain tonight, but it shouldn't be too bad. Hopefully I don't have to stay up until 2am again :)

TJ's chicken piccata for dinner.

Books:
I finished up two books yesterday, so now, in addition to Theodore Rex, I have The Birdcage and London's Number One Dog Walking Agency going. I am already enjoying both more than the books they replaced.

Viewing:
An episode of 'Break Point' on Netflix.

Terrible news.

I just received a message that Julia (rosalita) has passed away. Apparently she hadn't been feeling well for a few days and passed away in her sleep a couple of days ago.

This makes me so, so sad. I've met Julia twice - once in Dallas when she and I and another LTer had a reading retreat before she went to see her beloved Bruce Springsteen play a concert, and once in Colorado when we both attended a Booktopia event. She was funny and sharp and I am so sorry she is gone.

I will post a note on her thread, too.

>45 katiekrug: Oh nononono. Julia and I became good friends when I lived in WI and we traded visits between Iowa City and Dubuque. I loved her and I'm going to miss her so much.

Thank you for letting us know, Katie.

>46 scaifea: - Same, Amber. I was so shocked to get the message.

>45 katiekrug: Oh, I’m so sorry about rosalita. I loved reading her posts.

Karen O

>40 katiekrug: great bad review!

just shocked to hear funny sharp lady

>46 scaifea: Oh no no no.

>45 katiekrug: Awful news. Rest well, Julia. We will all feel poorer for your absence.

Oh no. That's awful news.

>48 klobrien2: - I know, Karen. She will be missed.

>49 ffortsa: - Thanks!

>50 magicians_nephew: - Indeed, Jim. I loved her acerbic wit.

>51 ffortsa: - I was so shocked, Judy.

>52 richardderus: - Truth.

>53 lauralkeet: - A shitty start to the weekend for sure, Laura.

Dreadful to hear of Julia's passing.

>56 weird_O: - Indeed.

The Summer of Katya by Trevanian

This is a ponderous, Gothic-y novel that takes too long to get going and by the time it does, the reader has been so dulled by the journey that the payoff seems weak. There's a crumbling estate, a weird family, love, insanity, murder - all the makings of a good, creepy read, but it just wasn't. Some of the writing is very good, and I enjoyed learning a bit about Basque culture, but ultimately I didn't care what happened by the end.

2.5 stars
(My rating scale translation: Didn't work for me)

>40 katiekrug: what does a book have to do to earn 1 star? Yeah, that's a no from me then.

>45 katiekrug: I'm sorry to read that.

>58 katiekrug: You're not having a stellar run of it, are you?

>58 katiekrug: I sort of liked his spy books The Eiger Sanction, The Loo Sanction but haven't been able to read anything else he has done

>59 Helenliz: - Such a book would probably have been DNFed, and I don't rate those :)

Yeah, my first half dozen books of the year were disappointing - 3 good and 3 pretty bad...

>60 magicians_nephew: - Ah, I was wondering why this one was tagged "espionage"! Sounds like people tagged it without actually reading it!

So sad about rosalita. I'm grateful you shared this.

>46 scaifea: So sad! We never met but I have followed her thread over the years. I think this is the first time an LT friend has passed. Thank you for letting us know.

>62 japaul22: and >63 RebaRelishesReading: - It says so much about Julia that so many people are saddened by her loss.

>45 katiekrug: Oh no! that is shocking and very sad news. Thank you for letting us know.

>65 figsfromthistle: - I'm glad I was informed, so her "family" here on LT wouldn't be left wondering what had happened to her.

Julia and I shared over 890 books, according to LT. I sorted them by her ratings and have picked twelve that I own but haven't read and which she rated 4.5 or 5 stars. I plan to read one per month.

This Must Be the Place by Maggie O'Farrell
The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin
A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell
Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Broken Harbor by Tana French
The Lost Man by Jane Harper
Word by Word by Kory Stamper
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson
The Cactus League by Emily Nemens
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie

>67 katiekrug: That's a fine way to pay tribute to Julia.

>67 katiekrug: She would be very pleased for sure.

>67 katiekrug: A very cool idea, and she would have loved it.

I don't know much about Springsteen, but I've decided to work through his corpus as a way of thinking of her. She seemed so tickled about that dumb Willie Nelson doll I made that I was in the planning stages of making her a Springsteen doll. I'm really not good at listening to new-to-me music anymore, so this will be a good tribute, I think.

>68 laytonwoman3rd: and >69 richardderus: - It seems like such a small thing, but a nice way to remember her throughout the year.

>70 scaifea: - Oh, I think she'd love that! Her love for Bruce (New Jersey's favorite son, thankyouverymuch) knew no bounds.

You could always start with her namesake song: https://youtu.be/JuVKhS13eKY

:)

>67 katiekrug: that's a lovely tribute project ❤️

>45 katiekrug: Oh no! Terrible and shocking news for sure, I always enjoyed Julia's messages and will miss seeing her on the threads. Thank you for letting us know.

>67 katiekrug: That's a great idea to remember her.

Very terrible news. But I think your tribute idea is a beautiful one.

>67 katiekrug: I am so sad to hear about Rosalita's passing. Dang. Glad that you found out and could tell us and I love your reading tribute to her. I might join you for a few of those -- there are good ones!

>45 katiekrug: Katie, that's so awful. Thank you for sharing. I did meet her - and you, right? when you came to Colorado? Julia was lovely and I am so very sorry.

>72 curioussquared: - Thanks, Natalie. It will feel good to do something to remember her!

>73 bell7: - I think she'd be touched by how many people will miss her here.

>74 drneutron: - Thank you, Jim.

>75 Berly: - You are more than welcome to join me, Kim! I think The Remains of the Day will be my first one.

>76 AMQS: - Anne, yes, you, Joanne, Donna, Mary, Julia and I all met in Boulder and had that wonderful dinner together :)

I am so sorry to hear about Julia! How sad! She was actually at my house for a Meet Up about 10 years ago. Thanks for letting us know.

On a much lighter note, Sue and I watched the first 3eps of Happy Valley S3. We love this show.

Last night's storm wasn't too bad. I don't think we even got seepage in the basement - at least none that I can see from the top of the basement steps. I went to bed around 11:30, but I'm not sure how late The Wayne stayed up. He's still sleeping... This morning looks to be beautiful - sunny and clear and rather warm (in the mid-50s right now), though the temperature is supposed to drop throughout the day.

I'm not sure what I'll get up to today - I'd like to try to de-crazy the main floor by moving stuff back to the ground floor and basement, but that's more of a TW job since he likes to know where everything is. Maybe I can light a fire under him.

Books:
A chapter of Theodore Rex, a small chunk of The Birdcage, and about an hour or so of London's Number One Dog Walking Agency.

Viewing:
Four episodes of 'Break Point,' which finished off the season.

>78 msf59: - I remember hearing about that meet-up, Mark. Doesn't seem like 10 years ago - yikes.

>79 msf59: - It's a great one!

>80 katiekrug: Interesting! It is dank and cloudy here...same temps but no sunshine. The North Atlantic strikes again.

Spend it splendidly, this Saturday of ours.

>81 katiekrug: I found a Meet Up photo in my gallery. It was April 2014. I posted it over on my thread.

Thank you for the update about Julia. I'm so sad. Can't get my head around it.

>82 richardderus: - Well, it's not become rather changeable, with clouds moving in and out. But the patches of sky are very blue :)

>83 msf59: - Glad you found it, Mark.

>84 karenmarie: - I understand, Karen.

As a not a dog person, even I enjoyed London's Number One Dog Walking Agency. I hope you have a good time.

Meanwhile, the temperature difference between you and me is 90 degrees Fahrenheit (we're at the magic temperature where Celsius and Fahrenheit meet up).

Glad the storm seems to have passed off less badly than it might have done.

>67 katiekrug: That is a great list, Katie. I might join in with some of those. I also have some Maeve Binchy books that she gave me. I will pick up one of those soonish.

She gave me Word by Word, so that might be the first one I read.

>86 MickyFine: - I'm enjoying it, Micky. I wonder if you're the one who put it on my library list...

Stay warm!!

>87 Helenliz: - Me too, Helen!

>88 BLBera: - I hope you do join in with some, in whatever order. Binchy is such good comfort reading...

>89 katiekrug: I'll take the credit even if I didn't, lol.

A very belated Happy New Thread, Katie! I do love your puzzles! Like you , I also enjoy doing a 500 piece puzzle . Like a snack puzzle, I think . Nice and quick after a 1000 piece - or larger puzzle. I’ll be back to visit properly later in the day. I’m meeting up with my brother and his wife a little later , and then have to walk the dog etc .

>45 katiekrug: That is shocking and saddening news, Katie. I also had two enjoyable meetups with Julia. The one we both attended in Boulder and one in Joplin, MO. She was such good company. Very witty and knowledgeable about books.

I love that you are going to be reading some of her favorite books this year. That’s a lovely tribute to a lovely lady.

Thanks for posting the news about Julia, Katie. She will be missed.

I am very saddened by the news of Julia's passing. She will be missed.

I just read further up your thread and I am so sorry to read that Julia passed so suddenly. She was such a kind person . She used sort the books I’d read into a grid for me to use on Facebook. So sorry to hear this .

>90 MickyFine: - Fair enough :)

>91 vancouverdeb: - I like that term "snack puzzle," Deb. I might steal it...

>92 Donna828: - I remember we were having such a nice time at dinner in Boulder, Donna, that we all skipped the final event of Booktopia!

>93 Familyhistorian: - She will for sure.

>94 DeltaQueen50: - Absolutely, Judy.

>95 vancouverdeb: - I'm sorry to have had to share such sad news, Deb. What a nice thing that was for her to do for you!

Morning, all. Sunny and cold here, no complaints. I didn't do much yesterday, other than some meal planning and grocery list making. Maybe today I will be more productive? The Wayne has a meet-up with his whisky club this afternoon, so I'll have the house to myself for several hours. I'll get the grocery shopping done, and I want to try making a cake that Amber posted the recipe for a week or so ago. Not sure what the plan is for dinner, since I don't know when TW will be back. So a very unstructured day!

Books:
Still reading the same 3!

Viewing:
Football. TW's Dolphins lost, so now I don't care much except to root against the Cowboys :)

>97 katiekrug: Not sure what the plan is for dinner
Um ... cake?!

I hope you make the most of your solo time, Katie.

>98 lauralkeet: -Ha! OF COURSE! What was I thinking?

So sorry to read of Julia's passing. That's a wonderful tribute that you have planned!

>98 lauralkeet: *snork!* Well, I mean, it *is* a PB&J cake, so it's also a sandwich...?

Happy Sunday, Katie!

>100 ChelleBearss: - Thank you, Chelle.

>101 scaifea: - Excellent point, Amber!

>98 lauralkeet: what ^^^she said...Laura is a wise, wise woman. Trust her dinner instincts.

Greetings from a VERY windy seashore. Gales. Sand *everywhere* and cold as a brass bra.

>101 scaifea: Indeed!
>103 richardderus: LOL Thanks RD!

>103 richardderus: - I have taken Laura's advice under advisement.

Windy here too!

>104 lauralkeet: - Hi Laura!

>97 katiekrug: Cowboys are getting killed and I'm here for it.

I was very much not productive today (unless almost finishing my boo club book counts), but I was yesterday, so it makes up for it.

Interested in knowing how the cake goes! It sounds delicious, and I wonder if it would work with my homemade rhubarb jam or if I should get some jelly from the store with my next grocery shopping.

>106 bell7: - That game was *chef's kiss*

Good for you for enjoying a lazy Sunday - we all need the down time sometimes.

The cake was super easy and tastes good. I wish it was a tad more peanut butter-y, but I think that's an easy problem to solve. I love the jammy bits. I used seedless strawberry jam rather than jelly, and it worked fine.

New week, same old me...

Not much to report - I had some good Katie Time yesterday, during which I puzzled, audio booked, laundered, read, and laughed at the Cowboys.

Today is just regular household stuff. I'm making IP braised spiced beef for dinner - serving it with rice and roasted brussels sprouts.

Books:
Yes, still the same three (see >1 katiekrug:).

Viewing:
Football and some Australian Open (Gauff's match).

Hi Katie!

>97 katiekrug: The Wayne has a meet-up with his whisky club this afternoon, so I'll have the house to myself for several hours. I hope you enjoyed the alone time.

>109 karenmarie: - Thanks, Karen. I did :)

Ooooh...

Wordle 940 2/6

🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Morning, Katie!

Your braised spiced beef sound good!
I used my IP yesterday and am using it again tonight. I love that thing.

*IP fist bump*

ETA: Woot for the cake! I'm glad you liked it.

>112 scaifea: - I'll report back on the dish, Amber, and share it if it's any good. I love my IP, too, but I think I love my air fryer more...

As I said to Mary, I just want the cake to be more PB-forward. I think next time I'll add more and maybe cut back on the oil a bit.

Morning, Katie. We finished S3 of Happy Valley. What a tough, brutal show and we loved it. It appears that will be the last season. It went out perfectly. Now, we have to find out where we left off with Last Tango in Halifax.

>114 msf59: - I'm so glad you got to see the last season, Mark. I thought they wrapped it up pretty well.

>113 katiekrug: You could also just spread some PB on your slice of cake...

The Times reported today that they had added a bunch of new words to the WORDLE list and that according to them the best new starting word is TRACE.

I had JUST switched over to SLATE which had been working well for me. Maybe I'll try TRACE for a while.

>116 scaifea: - LOL, I could. Though the cake is very moist and crumbly, so I'm not sure I could even get the peanut butter on it!

>117 magicians_nephew: - I change up my starter word almost daily. I just use what moves me. I know some people use the list of allowed words, but for me, that would just make it a word search and there's no fun in that.

Nice Wordle in 2, Katie!
>117 magicians_nephew: It's good to know when they change the list. Like Katie, I don't have a single starter word. But given Wordle's popularity and longevity, expanding the list will keep it challenging and avoid repeats.

>120 lauralkeet: - Thanks, Laura!

Katie, I just now saw your note regarding Julia’s passing. I am utterly heartbroken.

>122 Copperskye: - ((Hugs)). It's hard to believe.

Have a lovely, calm federal holiday, Katie. I got a great treat of a read out of MLK Day, so I am calling it good.

>124 richardderus: - Every day's a holiday for me, of course :) And TW is working. BUT, I won't have to time my run to CVS to avoid schools letting out, so yay!

>111 katiekrug: Nicely done!

>45 katiekrug: This is what I get for occasionally skimming threads. I'm just seeing your note about Julia's passing and I am so, so sad. I never met Julia but she was an awesome presence on LT -- witty, warm, and super smart. Thanks for letting us know.

>126 EBT1002: - Thanks re: my Wordle, Ellen.

Yes, Julia's passing was quite a shock for all of us. She will be missed.

Hi Katie! Wow, already on thread two. There is NO WAY I will even attempt to try and keep up. Wishing you a wonderful 2024 to be flood and fall free going forward!

>45 katiekrug: - That is such sad news.

>128 lkernagh: - Thank you, Lori!

Snowing here and then turning to a sleet-y mix later this morning. I rescheduled Nuala's vet appointment to tomorrow. I hope things are cleared up in time for trivia tonight, especially since we missed last week!

Dinner last night was pretty good. This is the recipe I used: https://www.skinnytaste.com/instant-pot-braised-beef/. I would note that my roast was a bit smaller than 3lbs and it could have used a bit more time in the IP. It pulled apart mostly fine but there were a couple of areas where the connective tissue hadn't broken down completely. The sauce was really tasty, and spicy. If you don't want it too spicy, I'd leave out the chipotles or put less in.



Today will be a quiet day inside. I have plenty I could do, I'll just see what I feel like actually doing.

Books:
OMG, the same three books. I might finish the audio today? I'd love to start something new, not because anything is bad, but I'd like to have something new to say :)

Viewing:
S2E1 of 'Welcome to Wrexham' and S2E1 of 'Reacher' (I didn't watch the first season, but TW said he didn't think it would matter).

>130 katiekrug: When it comes to Reacher, like most mystery/adventure shows, the formula will carry you through any minor confusion. Ritchson as Reacher is an *excellent* casting choice. The show does its assigned job very well indeed.

The snow that snew here overnight looks beautiful, but it keeps Old Stuff cooped up and irritable. I a finishing the read of Claire Oshetsky's new book Poor Deer, and really enjoying it.

>131 richardderus: - Sorry about Old Stuff but I'm glad you have something good to read!

__________________

The snow is coming down harder now. So pretty!

Jealous of the snow, but as I'm at work, maybe I'm not - not a fan of driving in lots of it.

>133 Helenliz: - Luckily, it's not a lot of it - a couple of inches and it's very light and powdery (easy to shovel, which I just came from doing a bit of) and easy to drive on.

We have a similar snow situation here, Katie. I shoveled this morning to clear a path from the door we most often use when leaving the house. It was indeed easy to shovel. I was glad I took care of it before it became all compacted and slippery.

>135 lauralkeet: - Now we are having freezing rain, which is much less fun! I need to clear the deck stairs so Nuala can get to the yard... Ugh.

>136 katiekrug: Blech. Sorry to hear that, Katie.

I keep looking outside for the freezing rain we're supposed to get this afternoon --so far no precipitation but 27/-3. I would like the freezing rain to just get here because it's supposed to be followed by warming to the 40's. We've been doing a great job of cleaning out the freezer but I really will need to go to the grocery store before too many more days.

>137 lauralkeet: - No worries. It's stopped and clearing the steps was easy enough. Our little side street looks a bit slick, but we'll attempt to go to trivia in a bit. Hopefully, the main road is in better shape...

>138 RebaRelishesReading: - We have about the same temp here, Reba. Nuala has zero interest in going outside :-P

>108 katiekrug: Sounds like a great day. Yay for Katie time.

>97 katiekrug: Hmmm a whisky club.....sounds like a good club to be in. Is it a boys only club? theres is a whisky club in my area but not open to women.

>111 katiekrug: Two! Very nice

Hope the rest of your week goes well.

Out weather has warmed up to about 0 C , maybe 1 C, but quite a bit of snow is expected later tonight and tomorrow. Luckily I don't have to go anywhere. We usually get really wet, heavy snow because of the temp hovering around freezing, so a big traffic mess is expected tomorrow.

>140 figsfromthistle: - Good morning, Anita!

No, the whisky club is open to anyone, though it is mostly men. I'd be spitting mad about one that barred women!

Thanks for the good wishes.

>141 vancouverdeb: - Sorry about the anticipated snow, Deb. We are supposed to get more on Friday, I think. Our temps are going to stay below freezing, so it'll just fall on top of what we've already gotten this week.

Morning all! We had another trivia victory! We played with a couple of friends and came from well back to win it. NOICE! We almost didn't go because apparently we got more freezing rain than I realized, and the car was completely encased. We couldn't even open the doors at first, and I couldn't get the charger out of the socket. Yikes. But we eventually made it and were rewarded :)

It's still cold here (18F) and not supposed to get above freezing, so things are still a bit dicy. I do have to go out to take Nuala for her flu booster shot, and I need to make a grocery run. Other than that, I'll stay warm and cozy inside. Beef sandwiches for dinner with the leftovers from Monday - I'm going to make them with sauteed onions and melted cheese, maybe on garlic bread... Mmmmm.

Books:
I finished a book! It was the audio of London's Number One Dog Walking Agency which was a fun listen. I'll start the audio of Day by Michael Cunningham today. It's read by Julianne Moore, so I'm hoping for great things.

Still plugging away at the other two...

Viewing:
Nada.

Super cold here, too (7F). The local Facebook moms page is full of ladies griping about how there wasn't a 2-hour delay today. I've just been sitting back and laughing in Wisconsinese. But also, yeah, it's flipping cold out there.

Love the idea of garlic bread for the sandwiches!

>143 katiekrug: The wind and the cold, cold air mean our sidewalks are icy. Lots of smokers are moving very gingerly, and the salting is starting to show results, but I was expecting some broken hips today.

I hope the audiobook of Day is as much fun to ear-read as the tree book was to read-read. I think Poor Deer might be the 2024 six-stars-of-five read...first time in *ages*, if ever, I have had that happen so early in the year.

Stay warm!

That's crazy about your car. We were supposed to get 6 inches of snow this morning, followed by rain. Instead we just got misty rain that froze when it hit the ground, followed by more actual rain. The temperature just continues to rise all day - we're supposed to hit the high around 9 pm? I don't know, it's a weird day but it's super icy out and we got an emergency alert saying not to drive and the buses aren't running. Lovely!

Congrats on your trivia win!

>144 scaifea: - Garlic bread makes everything better, IMO :)

>145 richardderus: - If the audio doesn't work for me, I'll try the Kindle version. Both are available, with no wait list, from NYPL for the month of January.

Stay warm yourself!

>146 ursula: - It was Not Fun. I'm about to go out and make sure all is well before I have to levae for the vet...

I hope you can just stay inside and "admire" the weather from the warmth :)

Congrats on the trivia win!

I have Day (print edition) on hold at the library so I eagerly await your take on it.

>148 lauralkeet: - Thanks, Laura!

I'm looking forward to starting Day this afternoon. I'm working on a bear of a puzzle, so I'll have lots of audio time :)

Hooray for a trivia win! We had some freezing rain last night too. Otter went out in the middle of the night and then I spent like five minutes coaxing him back up the deck stairs, which had a layer of ice that was deterring him from coming back inside.

Nuala was a champ at the vet. She really hates the slippery metal scale, but when we finally coaxed her on, she was fine. And she's lost two pounds, which surprised me. The vet is pleased, as she had wanted Nuala to lose about three or so...

>150 curioussquared: - Thanks, Natalie! Our deck stairs get slippery too. And that reminds me, I need to get more pet-friendly salt, as we are almost out...

Wow! You're both braver and more experienced with ice than I am. We haven't been out since Thursday and I'm waiting this morning for the promised thaw so that I can get to the store. Glad you got out and that all went well -- especially the Trivia win. That's becoming a habit :)

>153 RebaRelishesReading: - Maybe more experienced, Reba, but the roads were fine. The weather isn't that unusual here, so the towns/counties/states know what to do. We had weather like this in Texas, and that's a whole other story. Heh.

>154 katiekrug: Road crews did a lot of salting and pre-treating roads, plus plowing and I don't know what all. I think the biggest problem was the number of trees brought down in top of utility wires by the strong winds coming from "The Gorge" but you're right -- I'm inexperienced and we don't have snow tires. Also I didn't HAVE to go any place so thought I was better off staying at home.

>155 RebaRelishesReading: - I don't think most people here have snow tires. We certainly don't! We've lucked out so far in not having any trees or power lines down *crossed fingers for rest of winter*

Hi Katie!

>117 magicians_nephew: I had just switched to SLATE, too, Jim, and since I play in hard mode, I’ll switch to TROPE. 4500 instead of 2,309. Hmmm.

>130 katiekrug: and >131 richardderus: Reacher is excellent. S1 was based on Killing Floor, S2 is based on Bad Luck and Trouble. My only complaint with Ritchson is that he’s more buff than I envisioned Reacher – serious guns.

>123 katiekrug: @cyderry, Chèli, has created a thread in the ROOTs group for those who wish to honor Julia by reading a book from her tbr list. She posted it on Mark’s thread, which is where I got it, and here’s the link:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/357293

>143 katiekrug: Yikes to freezing rain/ice.

Well done on the trivia win. Well worth venturing out in the cold, in that case.
Hovering around freezing here. brrrr.

Hi, Katie. Keeping up with the Irish novel suggestions, I wanted to mention The Guards by Ken Bruen. I warbled about this crime series many years ago and it still remains one of favorites, featuring alcoholic private eye Jack Taylor. At least give the first one a go. I know how much you love the Sean Duffy series. I plan on doing a reread of some of these, myself.

>157 karenmarie: - Hi Karen! I saw the link to the TBR memorial for Julia. I might try to sneak one in, but I'll be more focused on my already-planned reads for her, I think.

At least they got Reacher's height more accurate in this adaptation...

It's sunny out now - still cold but the sun is helping to melt things. Of course, it'll just re-freeze overnight...

>158 Helenliz: - The win definitely made up for the annoying start to the evening!

Stay warm, my friend!

>159 msf59: - Hiya, Mark! I have The Guards in my stacks, so it's definitely on my radar. I made a list of some Irish reads (mostly historical) that I'd like to read/re-read in the coming months. We'll see how far I get :-P

Is anyone here familiar with LearnedLeague? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LearnedLeague)

This was another online activity Julia loved. She invited me to join several years ago, and I love it, even though I'm not super good at it. Members can make referrals for new players. There is currently a wait list to join, but if anyone is interested, I'd be happy to submit you. A season is about 25 match days (M-F, some holidays skipped), and each match is 6 questions. I can't really explain the appeal, but it's a lot of fun. Feel free to send me a PM if you'd like more info or to be referred.

Congrats on the trivia win and the pooch weight loss. I could use to loose a few pounds too!

>162 ChelleBearss: - Thanks, Chelle!

I also could stand to lose a few (or several....) :D

>161 katiekrug: I used to play LearnedLeague! My ex introduced me to it. If you ever play against a PetersonG, that might be him 😂 I stopped because it stressed me out for some reason, but I haven't played for almost 10 years and would maybe be interested in trying again at some point.

Wintery weather on this side of the continent too, Katie. We got about a foot of snow today. I have all weather tires which are good for snow and all the rest of the year too but I didn't venture out. Our cities don't have lots of snow plows.

>164 curioussquared: - I'll let you know the next time I get a referral, Natalie. My one for this season has been claimed. The Wayne gets slightly stressed out by it, but I just have fun with it :)

>165 Familyhistorian: - Wow, that is a lot of snow, Meg! We are supposed to get a few more inches tomorrow.

Yesterday was good - I did the Must Dos and made a tasty dinner with the leftover braised beef. Then we watched some TV. Today, Nuala will go to day care and I'll run some errands after taking her. Then I would like to clean up my desk, which is driving me crazy - lots of random pieces of paper with things to remember/do, a pile of filing to take care of, etc. We're either going out for dinner or having soup and toasted rolls. TW will get to decide.

Books:
I am determined to finish The Birdcage today - it feels like I've been reading it forever. I did start the audio of Day yesterday, and it's good so far. Plus, I'll knock out another chapter of Theodore Rex.

Viewing:
An episode each of 'Welcome to Wrexham' and 'Reacher.'

Belated congrats on your trivia win, Katie. Ice is the worst. Luckily, it's too cold to rain here. ;)

Hi, Chef Katie!

>130 katiekrug: That sounds pretty yummy. As I have promised to do more of the cooking, I am on the lookout for good-looking recipes. Adding that one to the list. We don't have an Instant Pot but I'm assuming I can use an old-fashioned crockpot.

It sounds like you are enjoying Theodore Rex, reading it a chapter at a time. I definitely want to read more biographies and that approach is one that I think would work for me. I remember listening to Alexander Hamilton (before there was a musical) on my commute to and from work. The audio was about 42 hours long so it took me a while even with that Seattle commute!

>168 BLBera: - Thanks, Beth!

Silver lining about the cold, eh?

>169 kidzdoc: - Hi Darryl!

>170 EBT1002: - You could definitely do it in a crock pot, Ellen.

I've always found T.R. fascinating. I don't read a lot of biographies, but I will definitely use this chapter-a-day approach in the future for others, as well as other "big" nonfiction tomes.

>167 katiekrug: I’d like to ask you about “Reacher”—I’ve seen the first season and the first episode of the second. How are you liking the show? Should I keep at it?

Karen O

>172 klobrien2: - I wish I could help, but I didn't watch season 1, so it's all new to me. I've just seen the first two episodes of S2, and I'm enjoying it well enough. I guess if it hasn't really grabbed you, maybe give it a pass? There is SO MUCH to watch these days, one needs to be ruthless :) I'm really only watching it because TW likes it, and all his other shows are fantasy/sci-fi/anime, none of which interest me at all. I wouldn't be watching 'Reacher' on my own.

>173 katiekrug: Thanks for the insights. Maybe I’ll watch one more episode. But you’re right about there being so much out there to watch!

Karen O

Hi Katie!! Congrats on the trivia win and keep me in mind for the Tribute Reads, but I have already read your next one. Happy Thursday!

Hi Katie. I'm working on a puzzle, Random Cut and it's a difficult image - a lot of snow, sky, leaves and it's more challenging than I had hoped, though I chose it. I feel like I've been working on it forever. It's supposed to rain tomorrow, so good bye snow, I hope. The puzzle is Cobble Hill, Winter Scene. Anyway, a little too hard, but I'll keep at for a bit yet.

>174 klobrien2: - We are spoiled for choice!

>175 Berly: - Thanks, Kim, and will do.

>176 vancouverdeb: - Oof, that puzzle sounds rough, Deb. I hate snow and sky. Also tree branches :D Good luck!

Happy Friday, friends. We are supposed to get some snow starting later this morning. I've got nowhere to be, so I'm looking forward to a cozy day inside (except for the inevitable clearing of steps and sidewalk...). I plan to finish up cleaning my desk, and maybe start on the rest of my office.

Last night, we swung by the hardware store for more ice melt and then went to dinner, where we split one of our favorite pizzas - the alla russa, which is grilled chicken, mozzarella, pecorino, vodka sauce, and fresh basil. It was very yum.

Books:
I FINALLY finished The Birdcage and am ready to start something new. Not sure what yet. Still enjoying the T.R. bio and Day.

Viewing:
Nope

So close to a coveted 2!

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That pizza sounds amazing, Katie. Our best pizza option in town is a more basic shop where you're better off ordering more traditional combos, but I love restaurants that get more creative with toppings, sauce, etc.

>180 lauralkeet: - The funny thing is, it's not even a "pizza" place. It bills itself as a tavern, but they also serve sushi. Go figure. It's a local "chain" with half a dozen or so locations in Jersey. It's really just a giant sports bar, but it's reliable and convenient, so we tend to end up there a lot...

My preferred basic pizza from a regular pizzaria is meatball and onion. TW is a straight up pepperoni man :)

We usually get pepperoni or sausage. I'd like to branch out and add other things like peppers, onions, or mushrooms, but Chris is also a straight up pizza kind of guy. We are recent converts to Hawaiian so we occasionally we go with that.

>182 lauralkeet: - In the past, I have been anti-Hawaiian but I'm not sure why. I usually like sweet and salty together, so it would probably work for me. But TW is anti-pineapple in any form, so we stay with the tried and true.

London's Number One Dog Walking Agency by Kate MacDougall

I really enjoyed this memoir by a woman who chucked in her job at Sotheby's in London and started a dog-walking business. The dogs were, of course, delightful (sweet Stanley!), as were the anecdotes about crazy owners and dedicated walkers. What stood out, though, were the ways in which MacDougall charts her own growth along with that of her business. We see her develop from an anchorless 20-something into a responsible woman, with marriage, children, and home ownership as touchstones of her journey. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

4 stars
(My rating scale translation: A good read)

The Birdcage by Marcia Willett

This book has been on my shelf since 2007, which means it has moved three times with me (apartment in Dallas to house in Dallas to rental in New Jersey to current home). What a waste of space.

It took me a week to get through 382 pages. On paper, it should be a book that I'd really enjoy - Ms. Willett is obviously channeling Maeve Binchy and Rosamund Pilcher, but her style and plotting lack the grace and and natural flow of those two. There are abrupt changes in perspective and timeline that jarred me out of the story too often, and the characters and plot were just kind of boring after a while. I probably would have been better served to just DNF it, but here we are.

2.25 stars
(My rating scale translation: between Why DIdn't I DNF it? and Didn't Work For Me)

Stay warm, Katie. I'm enjoying the same weather as you. Maybe a second cuppa is what I need.

>185 katiekrug: That book has a billionaire private-jet user's carbon footprint, to add to its aestheitc sins. Sad for your wasted time and effort.

Better reads ahead on this yucky day.

>186 weird_O: - Warm and toasty inside, Bill! I just retrieved our recycling bin from the street, and it is COLD out there. The wet snow didn't help...

>187 richardderus: - Ha! Yeah, shame on me :) I'm feeling a lot of pressure on the next book I pick because I don't want a dud. So far, I've not had a lot of greatness in my January reading...

"Waste of space," what a good description of a book you didn't like! I might steal that. At least you don't have to move it again!

>184 katiekrug: The dog walking memoir sounds good; I might look for that one.

>189 BLBera: - It went straight into the Donate box!

The memoir was good on audio, if you're looking for something non-taxing in that format...

>182 lauralkeet: "We are recent converts to Hawaiian so we occasionally we go with that." ((((LAURA and CHRIS)))) I do love some Hawaiian pizza, and it can be dangerous to admit it.

>191 laytonwoman3rd: - *Waves at Linda*

Two pieces of book news I thought might be of interest:

For all you Louise Penny/Gamache fans, a new one will be out at the end of October.

And for all the Elly Griffiths fans, she just sold the first in a new series to a publisher - it's about a detective who time travels to 1850s London on the hunt for a serial killer. Could be good?

>193 katiekrug: I knew about the upcoming Gamache book, but not the Elly Griffiths. I would bet on it being good. Sign me up!

Karen O

>191 laytonwoman3rd: I know it’s a controversial choice Linda. I was surprised we liked it.

>193 katiekrug: ooh excellent book news. Thanks Katie!

>156 katiekrug: No snow tires?! That would definitely make driving tricky. Without snow tires, I would constantly get stuck somewhere I don't want to be ;)

Anyhow, hope you have a great reading weekend!

Glad to see you enjoyed the dog walking memoir. Sounds like we appreciated similar things about it.

Have a great weekend!

Hi Katie.

>185 katiekrug: Sorry it was such a waste of space, AND you moved it 3 times.

>194 klobrien2: - I'm very curious about that new Griffiths book myself, Karen.

>195 lauralkeet: - You're welcome!

>196 figsfromthistle: - We don't really get enough snow to justify them, I guess, Anita.

>197 MickyFine: - You too, Micky!

>198 karenmarie: - Well, it can go out of the house now, Karen :)

Yesterday was a lovely, relaxed day. The snow didn't amount too much, but it was a nice excuse to stay inside. I puttered a bit and also finished my puzzle.



We had turkey taco bowls for dinner, which turned out great, and then we watched some TV.

Today will be mostly devoted to cleaning up the main floor of the house - moving all the stuff we moved from the basement and ground floor back down, so it's not cluttering up the living space. I also still have a few Christmas decorations to put away. Meal planning for the week ahead is also on tap. Not sure what we'll do for dinner, but I do have a GrubHub credit to our preferred Indian place, so that's a possibility...

Books:
I am almost finished with Day on audio, and I'm loving it. I started The Remains of the Day in print (my choice this month for Julia's Read), and am still plugging away at Theodore Rex.

Viewing:
Finally remembered to watch this week's 'University Challenge' and followed that up with an episode each of 'Reacher' and 'Welcome to Wrexham.'

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Mmm, Indian food when it's cold out is great.

Hopefully the moving of stuff goes quickly so you can settle down with one of your books today. ❤️

>202 MickyFine: - Well, we ended up not getting Indian, but I expect we'll order it soon!

The Wayne did most of the moving of stuff which was nice :)

Sunny Sunday! But still cold. I think we are supposed to warm up this week, which will be a nice respite. Yesterday was pretty productive with The Moving of Things and we rewarded ourselves with dinner out. Our first choice for restaurant was a bust, as there was no parking to be had anywhere near it, so we went somewhere else and had a nice meal. I got the "Swedish" meatball starter as my main. It wasn't quite Swedish-y enough, but it was tasty. Tender meatballs with a thin sliced pickle on top with lingonberry jam, all served over a potato puree. TW got a bar pie. Then I insisted on a stop at the bakery/cocktail bar, and I got a piece of carrot cake to bring home. It was perfection.

Today should be pretty relaxed - mostly just Sunday stuff (groceries, laundry, etc.). TW is making dinner - a very complicated black bean soup from his creole cookbook. We'll see how it turns out!

Books:
I wasn't able to finish Day as I expected yesterday, so that will be priority #1 today. I'm still enjoying The Remains of the Day and Theodore Rex.

Viewing:
An episode each of 'Reacher' and 'Welcome to Wrexham.' Really enjoying both!

...now I crave Indian...

I applaud the wisdom of ordering a starter as your main to "justify" having dessert. And carrot cake ... yum, it's been ages since I've had it. Yes I could make it but since I only have a traditional box grater I shy away from all the carrot preparation.

>205 richardderus: - It's a near-constant state for me :)

>206 lauralkeet: - I feel like there are just some things that are not worth the effort, and making a carrot cake myself is one of them :-P

Morning, Katie!

We're in the teens this morning, temp-wise, but by Wednesday it's supposed to be in the mid-50s. What. The. Heck. Tomm and I were grousing this morning about how it'll be Headache City for both of us this week with all the temp changes. Faaaantastic. *grumblegrumble*

>208 scaifea: - It's not bad here in the sun. High of 30 but I just checked and Friday we are supposed to hit 58F. I second your "What. The. Heck."

Sympathies on the headaches. Tell Charlie to keep his head down and stay in his room - sounds like you and Tomm won't be much fun ;-)

>209 katiekrug: Ha! I'll pass along the tip, although he's probably way ahead of you. Smart kid.

>210 scaifea: - No doubt you are right!

I just finished the audio of Day by Michael Cunningham.

Beautiful, beautiful book.

>212 katiekrug: I'm so glad to see this, Katie. I have it on hold and it will be a while yet, but I am really looking forward to it.

>213 lauralkeet: - I haven't seen much about it on here or elsewhere, though I know Richard liked it. The audio was read by Julianne Moore and her voice is so lovely.

I look forwardt o your thoughts when you finally get it!

>200 katiekrug: Nice puzzle.

I will watch for your comments on the Cunningham.

>193 katiekrug: Time Traveling to 1850's London to track a murderer - I'm so there.

>200 katiekrug: wish my eyesight was still good enough to do big jigsaw puzzles = i always enjoyed them!

Hi Katie, I have London's Number One Dog-Walking Agency and hope to get to it later this year. Good to know that you enjoyed it.

>215 BLBera: - I hope I'll have something intelligent to say about the Cunningham tomorrow, Beth. I'm mulling...

>216 magicians_nephew: - I hope it will be as good as the premise sounds!

Sorry you can't manage big puzzles anymore. That would be a loss for me, too.

>217 DeltaQueen50: - I think you'll like it, Judy!

Let the melting begin! We are supposed to finally get over 30F today, which will be most welcome. Yesterday was a typical Sunday - I got groceries, did most of the laundry, and relaxed a bit. The Wayne's black bean soup was just okay - pretty bland for what was a creole recipe (or was it cajun? Either way...). It made about a million servings, so he's going to try to tweak some of the leftovers.

Today I have odds and ends to do, mostly at home. I might run to the library, as I have a hold to pick up. But I also have 2 "in transit," so I might wait to see if those come in today or tomorrow. I didn't get the cookies baked that I intended to yesterday, so I'll do that this afternoon. Chickpea curry for dinner tonight.

Books:
On audio, I started Go Back to Where You Came From by Wajahat Ali and made decent progress in The Remains of the Day. I also read a chapter in Theodore Rex.

Viewing:
Sports - football (happy to see Detroit and KC win) and tennis (Azarenka/Yastremska).

Morning, Katie!

Oh, I loved The Remains of the Day - I hope you do, too.

>220 scaifea: - Morning, Amber! TRotD started slowly for me, but I'm enjoying it now (a little under halfway through).

The Remains of the Day is a big favorite of mine. We saw the movie in the theater, waaaay back when it was first released, and loved the Anthony Hopkins/Emma Thompson pairing. I read the book much later after discovering it had won the Booker Prize. I'd forgotten a lot of the details by that time, and reading it made me feel quite emotional.

Happy new weeks reads, Katie. You have a fine, eclectic group going, for sure, something for any and every mood.

It was politics weekend for me. Kind of an eat-your-spinach group, too. I hasten to say they were not poorly written, just dealing with subjects that riled me up.

Still, election year and all that....

Love RotD. Just so very understated.

>222 lauralkeet: - I saw the film, too, but don't remember much about it and was probably a bit too young to appreciate it. I plan to re-watch it once I've finished the book.

>223 richardderus: - Yes, very eclectic. Though I don't read them according to my mood - TR's chapter gets read in the morning, and then TRotD the rest of the day. The audio while driving and puzzling.

I appreciate your taking on those books. The people who need to read them won't, and I personally have enough to get me riled up politically that I don't wish to use my reading time to add to the mental load.

>224 Helenliz: - Understated is a great description of it.

Day by Michael Cunningham

Day is divided into three parts, each taking place on April 5 in successive years - 2019, 2020, and 2021. It's a novel of family - siblinghood, parenthood, childhood - but this is a unique kind of modern family, formed both by nature and by choice. This is also sort of a COVID novel, but it's not about that; rather, the virus is an agent for change and transformation - a disruptor for a situation that was already headed towards instability.

The beauty of this novel is its interiority - we experience these lives, this family, from several points of view through interior monologues and only limited direct dialogue. Cunningham's prose is poetic in parts - I want to say luminescent, too - it illuminates truths but from a kind of distance. I felt like I was watching a play, at times. A very powerful and compelling one, but one in which I never lost my sense of being separate, sitting in an audience. This could be somewhat intentional - the truth that one can never fully know or experience another's reality but can still recognize and internalize universal truths. It's a beautiful book.

4.5 stars

NB: I listened to this on audio, narrated by the actress Julianne Moore. Her strong, quiet voice is a perfect fit for the story.

>226 katiekrug: What a lovely review, Katie. I'll have to pick this one up.

>225 katiekrug: definitely rewatch the movie. The book and movie complement each other so well.

>226 katiekrug: ooh ... I was already feeling impatient about waiting for this and your review does nothing to alleviate that.

>226 katiekrug: You sold me on Day! Just put a request for it in at my library. Sounds great!

Karen O

>226 katiekrug: You said it better than I did in fewer words.

I hate you inexpressibly with a blinding jealous loathing.

>227 curioussquared: - Thanks, Natalie. It's a difficult book to desribe/comment on.

>228 lauralkeet: - I hope it's worth the wait for you, Laura!

>229 klobrien2: - Hope you like it, Karen :)

>230 richardderus: - Pish posh. I wanted to say more but words eluded me.

Great review of Day, Katie. I just added it to my library wish list.

>232 kidzdoc: - Great! I'll look forward to your thoughts on it.

I'm also happy to see your review of Day. I remember seeing it on some new release lists, but I had lost track of it. Now it's on my library wish list.

>226 katiekrug: Got me!! and I think I'll go for the audio. Thanks for the excellent description Katie.

I also LOVED The Remains of the Day and I was going to suggest watching the film afterwards but I see that that is your plan. A fantastic adaptation.

Day sounds really good. On the TBR it goes. Will your next book also have "Day" in the title? 😁

>231 katiekrug: "Pish posh." Marvelous! You and that Richard Derus get entertainingly snippy (and snappy). Keep up that good work.

>234 japaul22: - I'm so pleased my comments brought it back on your radar, Jennifer!

>235 RebaRelishesReading: - I think it would be a good audio to accompany your knitting, Reba. It was great while puzzling :)

>236 msf59: - Ha! LT tell me I have 67 books in my "To Read" collection with "day" or "days" in the title (or author's name), so who knows....

>238 katiekrug: Meanwhile I have purchased the audio :)

>224 Helenliz: Lovely review of Day A Novel. I have it out of the library now. Since I almost always have 25 books out of the library (the limit), I almost always have to return some of the books unfinished or unread. I'll make sure to get to Day well before its due date.

Loved your review of Day: A Novel I'll WL the audio.

Great comments on the Cunningham, Katie. Onto the WL it goes.

>226 katiekrug: Nice review, Katie. I've got that one on my library hold list.

>226 katiekrug: Beautiful review, Katie, and I can imagine that Julianne Moore would bring a great deal to narration. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

>239 RebaRelishesReading: - Excellent!

>240 arubabookwoman: - I'm glad my review appealed to you, Deborah, and I hope you like the book.

>241 AMQS: - Another one ensnarled!

>242 BLBera: - Yay!

>243 Copperskye: - Hope you like it, Joanne!

>244 PlatinumWarlock: - Thanks, Lavinia.

It's so nice to see my review attracting more eyeballs to a book I loved. Thanks, all!

Bit of an early start for me this morning. I have a dentist and an eye appointment this morning (both routine) - at 9:00 and 11:30 respectively, so I'll be treating myself to breakfast and reading in between, since there is no point in coming home between the two. I'm dedicating the afternoon to puzzling/audiobooking and reading, plus I'll *finally* make those cookies I've been meaning to. Trivia tonight, and we are once again playing with friends, so hopefully we'll do well for the 2nd straight week :)

Almost forgot - the chickpea curry turned out really well! I tweaked the seasoning a bit to our tastes, but the whole thing was very easy and delicious. Recipe: https://hostthetoast.com/easy-chickpea-curry/

Books:
I'm completely caught up in The Remains of the Day and loving it. Still doing my chapter-a-day in the TR bio. And my current audio is good company while I puzzle.

Viewing:
University Challenge (good match!), an episode of Reacher, part of Gauff's match at the Australian Open.

>246 katiekrug: I think Morgan makes that same chickpea curry, or one remarkably similar to it. It's good!

I watched some of the Australian Open this morning (Djokovic-Fritz). Got up too late for the Gauff match but it looks like it was a good one! I might check out Sinner-Rublev, those poor guys started so late that they're only in the 2nd set at the moment.

I'm definitely going to try that Chickpea Curry recipe, Katie. Thanks for sharing it!

Also thrilled to see The Remains of the Day has you hooked.

Morning, Katie! Good luck with your appointments today. Like Laura, I plan on trying that Chickpea Curry recipe, so thanks for sharing.

I loved Remains of the Day when I read it, but I have yet to watch the movie, so I need to correct that.

>226 katiekrug: The first book for your Dirty Dozen of 2024! Your review is full of fabulous, and I have added my thumb to it. I will be sure to listen to the audio.

>247 ursula: - Coco's win was ugly, but it's a win! Though I do have a soft spot for the Ukrainian players...

>248 lauralkeet: - Sure thing, Laura! I used garam masala instead of curry powder, and added some extra cumin and red pepper flakes, plus a bit of ginger, white pepper, and turmeric.

My chapter in the TR bio for today is long, and it's cutting into my TRotD time!

>249 Crazymamie: - Please report back on the curry, Mamie. I hope y'all like it.

I remember the movie being kind of boring, but I was a teenager, so quiet films often went unappreciated. I am looking forward to a re-watch. Plus, Emma Thompson!

I am glad The Dirty Dozen lives on :D

Adulting completed. No cavities, and my eye pressure and field of vision test were good. Go me. I enjoyed a nice breakfast of a gyro omelet (gyro meat, feta, tomatoes, and onions) with pita and tzatziki on the side. It also came with homefries, which seemed a bit much. Luckily, they were pretty meh so I wasn't tempted to gobble them up, too.

Looking forward to a lazy afternoon... and cookies!

Yay for crossing adulting off the list and laziness and cookies!

>251 katiekrug: congratulation on the adulting. Cookies sounds like the perfect antidote.

>45 katiekrug: I'm very late to this news, but just saw your note that Julia had passed. Very sorry to hear this. Thank you for sharing.

>252 curioussquared: - I'm quite proud of myself - ha! And the cookies are yummy :)

>253 Helenliz: - The cookies didn't turn out who I envisioned them, but they're yummy so who cares?

>254 swynn: - I was so sorry to have to share the news :(

Very good luck at trivia tonight, y'all!

The Coco match was excruciating to watch -- so many errors. Still, a win. She's going to have to play better if she meets Sabalenko.

Just keeping current here on, you know, adulting, cooking, dr appts, and the Day review!! Happy Wednesday.

Yay for good reports from the doc visits! The annual eye exam is the one that freaks me out; I hate the idea of finding out I need eye surgery, one of my worst fears.

How did the cookies turn out?

>256 richardderus: - Thanks, RD. We needed more luck than we had...

>257 BLBera: - Sometimes a tough match like that shakes things up. I bet she'll do better.

>258 Berly: - Hi Kim!

>259 scaifea: - I'm the same away about eye exams, Amber.

The cookies are good! I was imagining them a little denser, but they were stupid easy to make, so I'm not complaining :)

Ooof, I'm dragging this morning... Trivia was great fun, though we "only" came in 5th (of 22! teams). It was the emcee's birthday, so there was cake afterwards (and more drinks). We got home later than usual, and I couldn't settle down, so it was a late night for me. Luckily, I don't have too much to do today - just a library run and tidying up for Maribel. Dinner will be something easy but I haven't decided what yet.

Books:
I should finish up The Remains of the Day today. I was able to listen to a chunk of Go Back to Where You Came From yesterday, and of course, I read one chapter in the T.R. bio.

Viewing:
Nope

I finished Yellowface. It was fantastic. I am sure you are not surprised at all, right?

Happy Wednesday, Katie!

>262 msf59: - I am not surprised that a discerning reader like yourself enjoyed it, Mark!

>261 katiekrug: 5/22 is a really good result...to p quarter!

Have a lovely, Katie. *smooch*

>264 richardderus: - Not a bad result, but no prize :(

I guess I haven't left my calling card here yet today. I'm eagerly awaiting your thoughts on The Remains of the Day. Have you watched this week's University Challenge yet? It was a good match between two excellent teams; I hope both progress to the next round.

>261 katiekrug: I think 5th of 22 is quite good -- so congratulations to you and your friends!

I've watched very little of the Australian Open (life just keeps getting in the way) but hope to see the finals. Maybe Coco was saving herself for that 😁.

>266 lauralkeet: - I should finish up TRotD this evening, Laura.

I did watch UC on Monday evening. It was an excellent match. The questions were so hard!

>267 RebaRelishesReading: - Thanks, Reba! I've only watch a little bit of the AO. The time difference is challenging...

I'm rooting for Gauff and Yastremska. On the men's side, I don't really like any of them, but I find Sinner the least objectionable.

I'm rooting for Gauff, as well. I'm not paying much attention to the men this year. Although, we're not watching much of the Open at all. There is a television in our condo but we have not yet turned it on. We will, eventually.

I've thought about rereading The Remains of the Day, and maybe re-watching the film with Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins.

>269 EBT1002: - Gauff is so much fun to watch, isn't she? I just checked and see that she lost to Sabalenka. Boo. And my other pick (Yastremska) looks like she will go down to defeat, too.

I'll definitely be re-watching the film. Maybe this weekend?

Happy Thursday and Happy Maribel Day to me! For various reasons, Maribel hasn't been here since before Christmas, so it will be nice to see her and to benefit from her work. I still have a few things to tidy up in anticipation of her arrival, and The Wayne needs to take Nuala to day care... While I'm holed up in my office, I'll take care of a few admin-y tasks and probably start a new thread. This afternoon, I have a couple of errands to run. In the evening, TW needs to pick up something he ordered from Micro Center, so we'll do that and then find somewhere for dinner.

Books:
I finished The Remains of the Day (review to come) and started Ruined, a regency romance graphic novel. Still plugging away at the other two...

Viewing:
An episode of 'Reacher.'

Wordle 950 3/6

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RABID, BELCH, BLOCK

>268 katiekrug: I saw Yastremska v. (a Czech woman) a few days ago and was quite impressed by her -- including by her rather endearing reaction to her win. You're right, the time difference makes it pretty awkward to watch.