Klobrien2 Karen O Books and Life in 2024 - Part 7

Welcome to my seventh 2024 “Books and Life” thread!

I've been with the 75-bookers for many years now, and I enjoy so much the camaraderie and book talk that happens here. I'm very glad to join with you all again!

The year 2023 was my annus horribilus; I lost my husband (the love of my life) at the end of March, and had scary health concerns in November. But through it all, reading has been an anchor and a beacon for my life. This Library Thing group has provided me a safe and loving place to be.

I’ve had great reading in 2024. I find myself reading pretty much as the spirit leads. I participate in the American Author Challenge, and plan to continue with them. A long-term project of mine is to accomplish reads from the "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die" book, so that may guide my reading a little. Current 1001 Books count: 215.

What directs my reading more are my friends here on LT, so keep those recommendations coming!

This is my fifteenth year participating in the 75 Books Challenge. In 2009, I read 94 books; in 2010, I made it to 148!; 153 in 2011; 160 in 2012; 114 in 2013; 92 in 2014; 109 in 2015; 145 in 2016, 210 in 2017, 200 in 2018, 180 in 2019, 225 (3 x 75!) in 2020, 242 in 2021, 286 in 2022, 230 in 2023.

In addition to reading books, I've also discovered the world of Great Courses DVD lifelong learning courses. I love them! Below is a list of the courses I've completed, and I will try to always have at least one course going all the time.

A list of the Great Courses I have done can be found here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/331920

I've also begun some serious magazine reading, using my public library as source once again. I keep track of and read some fifteen magazines, on a range of topics: science, quilting, nature, birding, cats, news, etc.

I read two daily newspapers (St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune), and I also read a lot of daily newsletters from the NYTimes.

Here's where I'll list the books I read (the number at the end of each line represents the post number where I listed the book).

MY FIRST THREAD:

The books I read in January:

1. Traveling Light: Poems by Linda Pastan
2. A Dog Runs Through It by Linda Pastan
3. An American Story by Kwame Alexander, art by Dare Coulter
4. There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, art by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey
5. A Walk in the Woods by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pickney
6. The Witches' Tree (Agatha Raisin #28) by M. C. Beaton
7. The Dead Ringer (Agatha Raisin #28) by M. C. Beaton
8. You Nest Here With Me by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y Stemple, ill. Melissa Sweet
9. The Iridescence of Birds: A Book About Henri Matisse by Patricia MacLachlan, ill. Hadley Hooper
10. Cat Kid Comic Club Influencers (Cat Kid Comic Club #5) by Dav Pilkey
11. The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike #2) by Robert Galbraith
12. My Everyday Lagos: Nigerian Cooking at Home and in the Diaspora by Yewande Kololafe
13. The Little Match Girl Strikes Back by Emma Carroll, illuminated by Lauren Childs
14. Dinner in One: Exceptional and Easy One-Pan Meals by Melissa Clark
15. Beating About the Bush by M. C. Beaton
16. Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey, ill. Julia Sarda
17. Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco
18. Coyote's Wild Home by Lily Kingsolver and Barbara Kingsolver, painted by Paul Mirocha
19. In the Dark by Kate Hoefler, art by Corinna Luyken
20. Just One Little Light by Kat Yeh, ill. Isabelle Arsenault
21. Welcome Comfort by Patricia Polacco
22. Zilot & Other Rhymes by Bob Odenkirk, ill. Erin Odenkirk
23. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, ill. Grahame Baker-Smith
24. She-Hulk Vol. 3: Girl Can't Help It by Rainbow Rowell
25. Collected Poems by Jane Kenyon
26. Without: Poems by Donald Hill
27. Watership Down: The Graphic Novel by Richard Adams, adapted and illustrated by James Sturn and Joe Sutphin
28. Eve's Diary (short story) by Mark Twain
29. Banned Books, Burned Books: Forbidden Literary Works (DVD Great Course) by Maureen Corrigan
30. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, ill. Robert Lawson
31. Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest, ill. Katy Schneider
32. When Grandfather Flew by Patricia MacLachlan, ill. Chris Sheban
33. Grief Is An Elephant by Tamara Ellis Smith, and Nancy Whiteside
34. Homeland of My Body: New & Selected Poems by Richard Blanco

The books I read in February:

35. Murder Most Royal (Her Majesty the Queen Investigates #3) by S. J. Bennett
36. My Indigo World by Rosa Sung Ji Chang
37. How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
38. How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham
39. A Good Cry: What We Learn from Tears and Laughter by Nikki Giovanni
40. Prince in Comics by Tony Laurenco, 16 illustrators
41. This Country: Searching for Home in (Very) Rural America by Navied Mahdavian

MY SECOND THREAD:

42. Hot to Trot (Agatha Raisin #31) by M. C. Beaton with R. W. Green
43. Three Men Out (Nero Wolfe #23) by Rex Stout
44. When I Was Your Age: Life Lessons, Funny Stories & Questionable Parenting Advice From a Professional Clown by Kenan Thompson
45. Sloth Slept On by Frann Preston-Gannon
46. Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andraea, ill. Guy Parker-Rees
47. Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
48. Ironheart Vol. !: Those With Courage
49. Cooking My Way: Recipes and Techniques for Economical Cooking by Jacques Pepin
50. So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men by Claire Keegan
51. Ancient Writing and the History of the Alphabet (Great Course) by John McWhorter
52. The Tucci Table: Cooking With Family and Friends by Stanley Tucci and Felicity Blunt
53. Down the Hatch (Agatha Raisin #32) by M. C. Beaton
54. Open Throat: A Novel by Henry Hoke
55. I Wonder If I'll See a Whale by Francis Ward Weller, ill. Ted Lewin
56. Little Red Riding Hood, adapted from The Brothers Grimm by Gennady Spirin
57. Ironheart, Vol. 2: Ten Rings by Eve L. Ewing
58. Ironheart: Riri Williams by Brian Michael Bendis
59. Artificial: A Love Story by Amy Kurzweil
60. Orbital: A Novel by Samantha Harvey
61. My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan, ill. Francesca Sanna
62. The Diaries of Adam and Eve and Other Stories by Mark Twain
63. Electric Arches by Eve L. Ewing
64. Dream Within a Dream by Patricia MacLachlan
65. The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole Stupid World by Matt Kracht
66. The Moon's Almost Here by Patricia MacLachlan, ill. Tomie de Paola
67. Before She Was Harriet by Leea Cline-Ransome, ill. James E. Ransome
68. Snowflakes Fall by Patricia MacLachlan, ill. Steven Kellogg
69. The Journey by Francesca Sanna
70. The Tale of Tsar Saltan by Alexander Pushkin, paintings by Gennady Spirin
71. Before You Came by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest, ill David Diaz

The books I read in March:

72. Through Grandpa's Eyes by Patricia MacLachlan, pictures by Deborah Ray
73. My Father's Words by Patricia MacLachlan
74. Devil's Delight by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
75. Classic Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen, adapted by Valeria Manferto, ill. Francesca Rossi
76. Zin! Zin! Zin!: A Violin by Lloyd Moss, ill. Marjorie Priceman
77. I Am Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Brad Meltzer, ill. Christopher Eliopoulos
78. Wildful by Kengo Kurimoto
79. All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan, paintings by Mike Wimmer
80. Snow White and Rose Red by Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, trans. May Sellars, ill. Gennady Spirin

MY THIRD THREAD:

81. The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel, Vol. 2 by Neil Gaiman, graphic adaptation by P. Craig Russell, various illustrators
82. The Middle Ages Around the World (Great Course) by Joyce E. Salisbury
83. Dead on Target (Agatha Raisin #34) by M. C. Beaton with R. W. Green
84. Three Names by Patricia MacLachlan, pictures by Alexander Portzoff
85. Pretty Ugly (Toon Books) by David Sedaris, ill. Ian Falconer
86. Breakfast at Tiffany's and Three Short Stories by Truman Capote
87. Guts by Raina Telgemeier
88. The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel, Vol. 2 by Neil Gaiman, adapted by P. Craig Russell various illustrators
89. Notes on Grief by Chimimanda Ngosi Adechie
90. Saga Volume 10 by Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples (artist)
91. At First Spite: A Harlot's Bay Novel by Olivia Dade
92. Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control by Dana K. White
93. Corn Dance: Inspired First American Cuisine by Loretta Barrett Oden with Beth Dooley
94. Geraldine by Elizabeth Lilly
95. Cat Talk by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest, ill. Barry Moser
96. The Sick Day by Patricia MacLachlan, ill. Jane Dyer
97. Your Moon, My Moon: A Grandmother's Words to a Faraway Child by Patricia MacLachlan, ill. Bryan Collier
98. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
99. Abandoned Malls of America: Crumbling Commerce Left Behind by Seph Lawless
100. Ferris by Kate DiCamillo
101. Saga, Volume 11 by Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples (artist)
102. Smile by Raina Telgemeier
103. A Commonplace Book of Pie by Kate Lebo
104. Prairie Days by Patricia MacLachlan, ill. Micha Archer
105. My Poet by Patricia MacLachlan, ill. Jen Hill
106. Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting, ill. Ronald Himler
107. The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward
108. My Elephant is Blue: A Book About Big, Heavy Feelings by Melinda Szymanik, ill. Vasanti Unka

The books I read in April:

109. The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate, ill. Patricia Castelao
110. Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martin
111. No Cure for Being Human: (And Other Truths I Need to Hear) by Kate Bowler
112. King Arthur's Very Great Grandson by Kenneth Kraegel
113. The Clown of God: An Old Story Told and Illustrated by Tomie DePaolo
114. I Didn't Do it by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest, ill. Katy Schneider -
115. Cher Ami: Based On The World War One Legend of the Fearless Pigeon by Meliande Potter, ill. Giselle Potter
116. Ragnarok: The End of the Gods by A. S. Byatt

MY FOURTH THREAD:

117. Answered Prayers: An Unfinished Novel by Truman Capote
118. How Can I Help You by Laura Sims
119. Post-Impressionism: The Beginnings of Modern Art (Great Course) by Ricky Allman
120. One Snowy Night by Nick Butterworth
121. Painting the Wind by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan, ill. Katy Schneider
122. Life in the Boreal Forest by Brenda Z. Guiberson, painting by Gennady Spirin
123. Oskar's Voyage by Laura Purdlle Salas, ill. Kayla Harren
124. Grief is the Thing With Feathers: A Novel by Max Porter
125. Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
126. Field Work by Seamus Heaney
127. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
128. Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
129. The School Trip by Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen
130. Field Day by Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen
131. One Blowy Night by Nick Butterworth
132. The Rescue Party by Nick Butterworth
133. Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
134. Something About the Sky by Rachel Carson and Nikki McClure
135. The Truth About Dragons by Julie Leung, ill. Hanna Cha
136. Gifts From Georgia's Garden: How Georgia O'Keefe Nourished Her Art by Lisa Robinson, ill. Hadley Hooper
137. The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen, adapted and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
138. Jewish Cooking in America by Joan Nathan
139. Olivetti by Allie Millington

The books I read in May:

140. Orris and Timble: The Beginning by Kate DiCamillo, ill. Carmen Mok
141. The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
142. The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate, ill. Patricia Castelao
143. Unnatural Habits (Phryne Fisher #19) by Kerry Greenwood
144. Hello, Friends: Stories of Dating, Destiny, and Day Jobs by Dulce Sloan
145. Crow: From the Life and Songs of the Crow by Ted Hughes
146. The Art of Rube Goldberg: (A) Inventive (B) Cartoon (C) Genius by Jennifer George
147. Michael Rosen's Sad Book by Michael Rosen, ill. Quentin Blake
148. Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder by Dav Pilkey
149. Big Babies by Patrick O'Brien
150. Norman Didn't Do It (Yes He Did) by Ryan T. Higgins
151. Mysterious, Marvelous Octopus by Paige Towler
152. The Truth of Me: About a Boy, His Grandmother, and a Very Good Dog by Patricia MacLachlan
153. Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
154. The One and Only Family by Katherine Applegate, ill. Patricia Castelao
155. A Wild Swan: And Other Tales by Michael Cunningham, ill. Yuko Shimizu
156. Here After: A Memoir by Amy Lin
157. Miracle Man: The Golden Age by Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham
158. A Map to the Next World: Poems and Tales by Joy Hargo
159. How the Birds Got Their Songs by Travis Zimmerman, ill. Sam Zimmerman
160. Mercy Watson is Missing! by Kate DiCamillo, ill. Chris Van Dusen
161. What the Bees See: A Honeybee's View of the World by Craig P. Burrows

MY FIFTH THREAD:

162. Three Roads Back: How Emerson, Thoreau, and William James Responded to the Greatest Losses of Their Lives by Robert D. Richardson
163. A Few Beautiful Minutes: Experiencing a Solar Eclipse by Kate Allen Fox, ill. Khoa Le
164. Small in the City by Sydney Smith
165. The Twelve Dancing Princesses, retold and ill. by Ruth Sanderson
166. Odder by Katherine Applegate, ill. Charles Chantoso

The books I read in June:

167. Timbuktu by Paul Aster (1001 Books #217)
168. The Unofficial Ted Lasso Cookbook: From Biscuits to BBQ, 50 Recipes Inspired by TV's Most Lovable Football Team by Aki Berry and Meg Chang
169. The Last Word by Elly Griffiths
170. Otto the Owl Who Loved Poetry by Vern Kousky
171. The Sea King's Daughter: A Russian Legend, retold by Aaron Shepherd, ill. Gennady Spirin
172. The Poem Forest: Poet W. S. Merwin and the Palm Tree Forest He Grew from Scratch by Carrie Fountain, ill. Chris Turnham
173. The Mysteries of Harris BUrdick by Christ Van Allsburg
174. W is for Webster: Noah Webster and His American Dictionary by Tracey Fern, pictures by Boris Kulikov
175. Facades by Bill Cunningham
176. Following My Spirit Home: A Collection of Paintings and Stories by Sam Zimmerman
177. Miracleman: The Original Epic by (a bunch of various artists)
178. The Serious Goose by Jimmy Kimmel
179. The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt, ill. Tony DiTerlizzi
180. Yellowface by Rebecca R. Kuang
181. The Lake Turned Upside Down: The Story of Unthinkable Tragedy and Incredible Survival in the 1969 Outing, Minnesota F4 Tornado by Sue Dugan Moline
182. After Annie: A Novel by Anna Quindlen
183. Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown, ill. John Parra
184. Madeline Finn and the Blessing of the Animals by Lisa Papp
185. Once Upon a Northern Night by Jean E. Pendziwol, pics by Isabelle Arsenault
186. Me and You and the Red Canoe by Jean E. Pendziwol, pictures by "Phil"
187. When I Listen in Silence by Jean E. Pendziwol, ill. Carmen Mok
188. Skating Wild on an Inland Sea by Jean Pendziwol, ill. Todd Stewart
189. So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell
190. England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest by Jennifer Paxton
191. Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp
192. Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog by Lisa Papp
193. Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson, ill. Hudson Talbott
194. Star Party by Polly Carlson-Voiles, ill. Consie Powell
195. My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story by George Takei, ill. Michelle Lee
196. GRAY by Laura Dockrill, ill. Lauren Child
197. The Guncle by Steven Rowley
198. Poachers Caught!: The Adventures of a Northwoods Game Warden by Tom Chapin

The books I read in July:

199. To Know a Starry Night by Paul Bogard, photos by Beau Rogers
200. Cooking Solo: The Joy of Cooking for Yourself by Klancy Miller
201. The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan
202. A Family Tree by Stacy Lol Drouillard, ill. Kate Gardiner
203. Animal Albums From A to Z by Cece Bell
204. Too Many Golems by Jane Yolen, ill. Maya Shleifer
205. Shy Willow by Cat Min
206. Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willem
207. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
208. Antarctica by Claire Keegan
209. She-Hulk, Vol. 4: Jen-Sational by Rainbow Rowell
210. The World Central Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope by Jose Andres
211. Gilgamesh: A Verse Narrative by Herbert Mason
212. Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed

MY SIXTH THREAD:

213. The Rain in the Trees: Poems by W. S. Merwin
214. What if Night? by Paul Bogard, ill. Sarah Holden
215. Roar-choo! by Charlotte Cheng, art by Dan Sankat
216. How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen, ill. Mark Teague
217. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
218. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
219. Saga Volume 1 by Brian I. Vaughan, ill. Fiona Davies
220. Saga Volume 2 by Brian I. Vaughan, ill. Fiona Davies
221. Saga Volume 3 by Brian I. Vaughan, ill. Fiona Davies
222. Saga Volume 4 by Brian I. Vaughan, ill. Fiona Davies
223. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, ill. John Schoenherr
224. How Do Dinosaurs Learn To Be Kind? by Jane Yolen, ill. Mark Teague
225. How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? by Jane Yolen, ill. Mark Teague
226. The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
227. Sam, The Most Scaredy-Cat Kid in the Whole World by Mo Willems
228. A Matter of Pride by Emily Crofford, ill. Jim LaMarche
229. Being Home by Traci Sorell, ill. Michaela Goode
230. A Apple Pie by Kennady Spirin
231. Mice Skating by Annie Silvestro, ill. Teagan White
232. Winter is Coming by Tony Johnston, ill. Jim LaMarche
233. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson
234. A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis
235. My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Book One by Emil Ferris
236. There Was a Shadow by Bruce Handy, ill. Lisk Feng
237. The Shadow and the Ghost by Cat Min
238. Too Much Stuff by Emily Gravett
239. Let There Be Light by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, ill. Nancy Tillman
240. Simeon's Gift by Julie Andrews Edwards and Emma Walton Hamilton
241. A Medieval Feast written and illustrated by Aliki
242. Yakov and the Seven Thieves by Madonna, art by Gennady Spirin
243. Animals Marco Polo Saw: An Adventure On the Silk Road by Sandra Markle, ill. Daniela Jaglenka Terragine
244. Saga Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughan, ill. Fiona Davies
245. Saga Volume 6 by Brian K. Vaughan, ill. Fiona Davies
246. Saga Volume 7 by Brian K. Vaughan, ill. Fiona Davies
247. Saga Volume 8 by Brian K. Vaughan, ill. Fiona Davies
248. Saga Volume 9 by Brian K. Vaughan, ill. Fiona Davies

The books I read in August:

249. Walk the Blue Fields: Stories by Claire Keegan
250. Rising by Sidura Ludwig, ill. Sophia Vincent Guy
251. Goodbye Old House by Margaret Wild, ill. Ann James
252. Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina, ill. Sonia Sanchez
253. This Is Not My Home by Eugenia Yoh and Vivienne Cheng
254. Lenny & Lucy by Philip C Stead, ill Erin E. Stead
255. Starting Over in Sunset Park by Jose Pelaez and Lynn McGee, pics by Bianca Diaz
256. Just Like Millie by Lauren Castillo
257. Southwest Sunrise by Nikki Grimes, ill. Wendell Minor
258. Wendy by Walter Scott
259. Wendy: Wendy's Revenge by Walter Scott
260. Wendy: Wendy, Master of Art by Walter Scott
261. Wendy: The Wendy Award by Walter Scott
262. The Surprising Lives of Christian Saints (Great Course) by Emily Graham
263. The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
264. Ninety-Nine Stories of God by Joy Williams
265. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, ill. Erin E. Stead
266. Kick Push: Be Your Epic Self by Frank Morrison
267. Lotsa de Casha by Madonna, art of Rui Paes
268. Completely Kafka: A Comic Biography by Nicola Mahler
269. The Shadow of Sirius by W. S Merwin
270. Woman Life Freedom by Marjane Satrapi
271. Failure to Launch: A Tour of Ill-Fated Futures, ed. Kel McDonald
272. Everyday Contemplative: The Way of Prayerful Living by L. Roger Owens
273. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
274. How the Stars Came to Be by Poonam Mistry
275. Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride by Marjorie Priceman
276. Color the Sky by David Elliott, ill. Evan Turk
277. Bear Has a Story To Tell by Philip Christian Stead, ill. Erin E. Stead
278. Two Many Birds by Cindy Derby
279. Loaf the Cat Goes to the Powwow
280. Mr. Peabody's Apples by Madonna, ill. Loren Long
281. My Book and Me by Linda Sue Park, ill. Chris Raschka
282. The Memory String by Eve Bunting, ill. Ted Rand
283. Miracleman: The Silver Age by Neil Gaiman, ill. Mark Buckingham
284. The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln
285. The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain: Lyrics for Stacey Kent by Kazuo Ishiguro

MY SEVENTH THREAD:

286. Field Guide to North American Wildlife (Great Course) by David Wizejewski, in conjunction with the National Wildlife Federation -- 25
287. If You Decide To Go To the Moon by Faith McNulty, ill. Steven Kellogg -- 40
288. How To Walk an Ant by Cindy Derby -- 40
289. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak -- 40
290. Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak -- 40
291. Crows: Encounters With the Wise Guys of the Avian World by Candace Savage -- 41
292. Leo the Lightning Bug by Eric Drachman, ill. James Muscarello -- 49
293. I Wish You Knew by Jackie Azua Kramer, ill. Magdalena Mora -- 49
294. A Penguin Pup for Pinkerton by Steven Kellogg -- 49
295. Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten by Tricia Speed Shaskan, ill. Gerald Guerlais -- 49
296. Mama in the Moon by Doreen Cronin and Brian Cronin -- 49
297. The Dictionary Story by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston -- 49
298. Clear by Carys Davies --59

The books I read in September:

299. Falling up: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein -- 67
300. The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee by Alexander McCall Smith -- 92
301. The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson, ill. Rafael Lopez -- 93
302. Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak -- 93
303. Mr. S.: A First Day of School Book by Monica Arnaldo -- 93
304. Truman by Jean Ridy, ill. Lucy Ruth Cummins -- 93
305. The Yellow Bus by Loren Long -- 96
306. Mine!: A Story of Not Sharing by Klara Persson, ill. Charlotte Ramel -- 96
307. The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, pictures by David Small -- 96
308. Until You Find the Sun: A Story About Discovering Home Wherever You Go by Maryam Hassan, ill. Anna Wilson -- 96
309. Strange Trees and the Stories Behind Them by Bernadette Pourquie, ill. Cecile Gambini -- 96
310. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, ill. E. B. Lewis -- 119
311. The Mysterious Tadpole by Steven Kellogg -- 119
312. Cat Wishes by Calista Brill, pictures by Kenard Pak -- 119
313. Keeping the City Going by Brian Floca -- 119
314. The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers -- 119
315. Sometimes We Fall by Randall de Seve, artwork by Kate Gardiner -- 128
316. Bright Star by Yuyi Morales -- 128
317. Ahoy! by Sophie Blackall -- 128
318. Adventures with Finn and Skip: Arctic -- 128
319. Never, Not Ever! by Beatrice Alemagna -- 128
320. Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen -- 142
321. Summer in the Spring: Anishinaabe Lyric Poems and Stories, ed. Gerald Vizenor -- 151
322. The Boys Omnibus, Volume 1 by Garth Ennis, ill. Darick Robertson and Peter Snejbjerg -- 152
323. Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook by Shel Silverstein -- 153
324. Secrets of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery -- 161
325. A Light in the Attic: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein -- 162
326. Dreamers by Yuyi Morales -- 174
327. Ruby the Copycat by Peggy Rathman -- 174
328. The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, ill. E. B. Lewis -- 174
329. Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee -- 174
330. I Wonder by K. A. Holt, pictures by Leonard Pak -- 174
331. Millie Fleur's Poison Garden by Christy Mandin -- 174
332. The Loved One: An Anglo-American Tragedy by Evelyn Waugh -- 186
333. Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales -- 204
334. Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales -- 204
335. Thunder Boy, Jr. by Sherman Alexie, ill. Yuyi Morales -- 204
336. The Book of Turtles by Sy Montgomery and Matt Patterson -- 204
337. Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers, ill. Marla Frazee -- 204
338. Mog the Forgetful Cat by Judith Kerr -- 204
339. Mog Time: Six Stories About Mog the Forgetful Cat by Judith Kerr -- 204
340. James by Percival Everett -- 206
341. The New York Time Cooking No-Recipe Recipes (cookbook) by Sam Sifton -- 219
342. The Boys Omnibus Volume 2 by Garth Ennis -- 220

The books I read in October:

343. The Scientific Wonder of Birds (Great Course) by Bruce E. Fleury --229
344. Does This Taste Funny?: Recipes Our Family Loves by Steven Colbert and Evie McGee Colbert -- 250
345. The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg -- 259
346. The Boy and the Gorilla by Jackie Azua Kramer, ill. Cindy Derby -- 259
347. The Paper Princess by Elisa Kleven -- 259
348. A Rainy Dragon Day by Julie Volk, tr. Melody Shaw -- 259
349. Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-Floor Ecosystem -- 259
350. Little Whale by Jo Weaver -- 259
351. Garbage Delight, poems by Dennis Lee, pics by Frank Newfeld -- 259
352. Sinclair, the Velociraptor Who Thought He Was a Chicken by Douglas Rees, ill. Galia Bernstein -- 259
353. The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr -- 259
354. The Hotel Balzaar (The Norendy Tales) by Kate DiCamillo, ill. Julia Sarda -- 264
355. Appetite for Change: Soulful Recipes from a North Minneapolis Kitchen by Appetite for Change -- 277
356. What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust (Flavia de Luce #11) by Alan Bradley -- 283
357. The Boys Omnibus Volume 3 by Garth Ennis -- 287


Here is where I'll list the authors selected for the 2024 American Authors Challenge, the books I will read, and if I complete them (here's hoping!)

JANUARY: Mark Twain -- Read Eve's Diary -- COMPLETED
FEBRUARY: Susan Sontag -- not going to read
MARCH: Truman Capote -- Breakfast at Tiffany's and Three Stories -- COMPLETED
APRIL: General Non-Fiction with host Caroline Caroline_McElwee -- No Cure for Being Human: (And Other Truths I Need to Hear) by Kate Bowler -- COMPLETED
MAY: William Maxwell -- So Long, See You Tomorrow -- COMPLETED
JUNE: Queer Authors with host Dr. Laura Koons lycomayflower -- The Guncle by Steven Rowley -- COMPLETED
JULY: Susan Power a/k/a Mona Susan Power -- not going to read
AUGUST: Jeffrey Lent -- not going to read
SEPTEMBER: Living American authors who were born outside the US but adopted this country as their home -- did not read this month
OCTOBER: Katharine Anne Porter -- (planning to read Pale Horse, Pale Rider: Three Short Novels)
NOVEMBER: Jewish American Authors with host Kristel kristelh
DECEMBER: The Heartland (regional authors from the middle of the country)
WILD CARD: 2015 Redux Pick an author from the 2015 Challenge
EXTRA POINTS CHALLENGE
(Complete the challenge by reading at least one work from the author or category featured each month AND one work from the Wildcard list each month.)

My 2003 "Books Read" list (casually kept, and probably incomplete): http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2003-reading-list.html
My 2004 "Books Read" list (see above caveats: things get better!):
http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2004-reading-list.html
My 2005 "Books Read" list (most pathetic list yet): http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2005-reading-list.html
My 2006 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2006-reading-list.htm
My 2007 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2007-reading-list.html
My 2008 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2008-reading-list.html
My 2009 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2009-reading-list.html
My 2010 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2010-reading-list.html

Here is a link to my last thread from 2011: http://www.librarything.com/topic/122919

Here is a link to my last thread from 2012: http://www.librarything.com/topic/138897

Here is a link to my last thread from 2013:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/156012

Here is a link to my thread from 2014: http://www.librarything.com/topic/163564

Here is a link to my thread from 2015: https://www.librarything.com/topic/186139

Here is a link to my thread from 2016: http://www.librarything.com/topic/211096

Here is a link to my last thread from 2017: http://www.librarything.com/topic/268142#

Here is a link to my last thread from 2018: https://www.librarything.com/topic/298557

Here is a link to my one-and-only thread from 2019: https://www.librarything.com/topic/301738

The books I've read in the first half of 2020 (115 of them) are here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/314888

The books I read in the second half of 2020 are here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/322010#

The books I read in the first half of 2021 are here:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328372#

The books I read in the second half of 2021 are here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/333390#

The books I read in the first quarter of 2022 are here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/338204#n7791489

The books I read in April and May of 2022 are here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/340601#n7851702

The books I read in June, July, part of August of 2022 are here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/342092#

The books I read in August through part of October of 2022 are here:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/343494#n7961305

The books I read from October to the end of year are here:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/345382#

Good reading to you!

Every week, I do an accounting of the books; where I am in my struggle to manage the stacks of books that surround me. Here is last Friday's:

Friday Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (08/23/24):

Actively reading (or soon will be!)

James by Percival Everett (happy Library Book Day, indeed!) -- p. 0 of 000
The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln -- p. 50 of 248
Bad Monkey by Carl Hiassen -- p. 11 of 317
Secrets of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery -- p. 58 of 191
Clear by Carys Davies (TIOLI #6) -- p. 13 of 196
The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee by Alexander McCall Smith -- p. 21 of 250
A Circle of Quiet by Madeline L'Engle -- p. 65 of 250 (Libby)
Six Myths of Our Time by Marina Warner
Before Midnight by Rex Stout -- p. 7 of 172 (Libby)
Murder and Mendelssohn (Phryne Fisher #20) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 8 of 280 (Libby)
Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3) by Robert Galbraith -- p. 96 of 439 (Libby)

I'm overbooked! I don't want to lose track of these books, but I can't truly say that I am actively reading them right now:

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride -- p. 18 of 385
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman -- p. 20 of 173
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger -- p. 82 of 421 (mine, on Nook)
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett -- p. 29 of 278 (mine, on Nook)
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal -- p. 81 of 253 (mine, on Nook)
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead -- p. 73 of 288 (Nook)
Agatha's First Case (Agatha Raisin #0.5) by M. C. Beaton (Nook)
The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 3 of 238
Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King

I try to participate in the American Authors Challenge. In August, the group is reading books by Jeffrey Lent.

I usually am reading/watching Great Courses. My current Great Course is Field Guide to North American Wildlife, made in conjunction with the National Wildlife Service. I've watched 4 of 12 lectures.

Happy new thread Karen.

Happy new thread, Karen! You asked on your old thread if there was a playlist of the songs played at the DNC and there definitely is! I found several on Spotify, I think the official one is called "DJ Cassidy's DNC Roll Call" since he was the official DJ.

>3 ArlieS: Thank you, ArlieS!

>4 norabelle414: Thank you! What a great idea! “DJ Cassidy” it is…

Thank you both for stopping by!

Happy new one, Karen!

Happy New Thread, Karen. I just started The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain. Interesting premise. I have not read Bad Monkey but I started the new Apple series and I am enjoying it quite a bit. I do like Carl Hiaasen but have not read him in a few years.

Happy new one!

Happy new thread, dear Karen.

Happy new thread, Karen.

>6 jessibud2: Thanks!

>7 msf59: Isn’t the Bad Monkey series fun?! That’s what prompted me to seek out the book. Thanks for the new thread wish!

>8 drneutron: Thank you, and thank you for all you do for this group!

>9 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul!

>10 SirThomas: Thank you!

So nice to see your messages here, making my new thread nice and homey!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises.

Books I read yesterday: The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain: Lyrics for Stacey Kent—finished. Clear, Secrets of the Octopus, Crows.

Magazines: National Geographic (August), Mother Jones (July/August)

Great Course. Field Guide to North American Wildlife by David Mizejewsky: Watched: 7. The Giant Hellbender Salamander, and 8. Neither Pig Nor Rodent: The Tusked Javelina.
Read: 9. Opossum: A Kangaroo Cousin in Your Backyard, and 10. Secrets of the Leatherback Sea Turtle.

Watching: Comfort viewing: Silicon Valley 2.3-2.7.

Listening: Stacey Kent, “The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain.” I really liked it! Kent’s singing is so musical, and the songs were really lovely. I’m not much of a jazz aficionado, but it was very cool to listen to the music in juxtaposition with reading the book. That’s a first for me!

Wordle 1,165 3/6* irate, brown, crown

⬜🟧⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟧🟧🟧🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Well, was I off on my first Connections guess?!

Connections
Puzzle #443
🟨🟩🟪🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Took me a while, but I finally figured it out:

Strands #177
“Pixar fare”
🔵🔵🔵🟡
🔵🔵

Happy new thread, Karen!

>13 klobrien2: I did the same thing on my first Connections guess today.

Re the last thread and your film watching and the Norman Jewison fest, I saw "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming" on TCM a few weeks ago. That's another film I had not seen in many, many years. It didn't hold up as well for me, but it was fun to watch it again. But don't pressure yourself to watch the movies, just do it when you're in the mood. These things should always be a fun project, not something you're pushing yourself to do.

Happy New thread, Karen. You have done impressive reading this year. And I guess I heard about The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain here! I knew it was somewhere on LT. I found it in my library, and have been reading a couple of lyrics in the morning with my coffee. The art is spectacular.

>15 BLBera: Thanks for the warm wish!

It believe that it was Carmanere who brought the book to my consciousness. And I agree with you—the art is great.

I listened to the album of the songs and I really liked it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy New Thread, Karen!

>14 atozgrl: Thanks for the welcoming post!

Yes, for sure, watch movies (read books/listen to music/etc) only as it feels right.

I’ve gotten on a roll of watching “Silicon Valley,” one of my favorite shows. I meant only to watch a few, but now I’ve finished the second season and want to keep going. So I probably will! 😏

Have a great week, and thanks for stopping by!

>17 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah! Have a wonderful week!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Foot Care Disciples today! Grocery list. Jerry list.

Books I read yesterday: Crows.

Magazines: The Week (8/23), New Yorker (9/2).

Great Course. Field Guide to North American Wildlife by David Mizejewsky: Watched: 9. Opossum: A Kangaroo Cousin in Your Backyard, and 10. Secrets of the Leatherback Sea Turtle.
read: 11. What To Do When You Meet a Black Bear, and 12. The Horseshoe Crab’s Many Gifts. I’ll finish this today. I’ve got the second season of “Mind-Blowing Science” coming from the library.

Watching: Comfort viewing: Silicon Valley 2.8-2.10.

Listening:

Wordle 1,166 3/6* Love today’s word! irate, thine, lithe

🟦⬜⬜🟦🟧
🟦🟦🟦⬜🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #444
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #178
“Commuter benefits”
🔵🔵🔵🟡
🔵🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 08/28:
46/46 words (+9 bonus words)—3-1/2 stars—
🎯 In the top 21% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 1

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 08/28:
21/21 words (+2 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 24% by accuracy

Checking in on the new thread, Karen!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

HAppy new thread!

>22 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia!

>23 figsfromthistle: Thanks!

Great to see you both here!

286. Field Guide to North American Wildlife (Great Course) by David Mizejewski, in conjunction with the National Wildlife Federation



Great series, featuring twelve wildlife creatures of North America. Format of each lecture was to start with a little story featuring a fictional member of the specific group. I would think that this storytelling would help to make the series accessible to kids (and adults with short attention spans, like me!)

Great information, very nice presentation. DVD, 12 lectures of 30 minutes each.

I don't think I wished you a happy new thread, so better late than never. Wishing you a happy new thread, Karen.

>26 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel! So good to see you here!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Order groceries. Library Book Day!

Books I read yesterday: Crows.

Magazines:

Great Course. Field Guide to North American Wildlife by David Mizejewsky: Watched: 11. What To Do When You Meet a Black Bear, and 12. The Horseshoe Crab’s Many Gifts.Finished!

Watching: Sunny ep. 9; Bad Monkey ep. 4; Only Murders in the Building 4.1.

Listening:

Happy new thread, Karen!

Bombed out on Wordle today—wah! Wasn’t concentrating, distracted. Oh, well, clean slate time.

Wordle 1,167 X/6* irate, cloud, plump, slush, bluff, flung, (flunk)

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟧⬜🟦⬜
⬜🟧🟧⬜⬜
⬜🟧🟧⬜⬜
⬜🟧🟧🟦⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧⬜

Connections
Puzzle #445
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #179
“Wake up and ...”
💡🔵🔵🔵
🔵🟡🔵🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 08/29:
43/43 words (+12 bonus words)—4 stars—
🎯 In the top 30% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 2

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 08/29:
24/24 words (+4 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 10% by accuracy

Happy new thread!

I agree that the music made the lyrics. Just reading them didn't do much for me. They were just OK. I would have expected more poetry from Ishiguro.

>30 klobrien2: Oh boo-hiss all over that skunk! New streak for tomorrow, though.

I love the Lewis chess set! Happy new thread, dear lady.

>31 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel!

>32 BLBera: Ishiguro made a point of saying that these lyrics weren’t meant to be poetry. I thought they were just fine song lyrics. My brain kept trying to put them to music as I was reading them!

>33 richardderus: Thanks, Mr Richard! Hope you’re feeling better!

Thank you all for visiting!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Library Book Day Part Two! (There are a lot of books.) Reading Roundup and Mags List updated.

Books I read yesterday: Crows—finished. Library Book Day Part One (four books).

Magazines: New York Times Magazine (8/18), New York Times Book Review (8/18).

Great Course. Mind-Blowing Science, Season Two (Great Courses and Scientific American).

Watching: Ted Lasso 3.4, with Jerry. Silicon Valley 3.1, 3.2, 3.3.

Listening: NYT Amplifier: 9 Surprising Songs Sampled in Classic Hip-Hop Tracks (really fun and good music; such a variety).

Almost, a “phew!”! Unusual word!

Wordle 1,168 5/6* irate, shame, place, quake, knave

⬜⬜🟧⬜🟧
⬜⬜🟧⬜🟧
⬜⬜🟧⬜🟧
⬜⬜🟧🟦🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #446
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟩🟪
🟪🟩🟪🟪
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦

Strands not in my wheelhouse today! Needed a hint to just get started.

Strands #180
“Let's play”
💡🔵🔵🟡
🔵🔵🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 08/30:
48/48 words (+9 bonus words)—4 stars—
🎯 In the top 34% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 3

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 08/30:
20/20 words (+2 bonus words)
🎯 Perfect accuracy

>36 klobrien2:, I got it in three, not sure how, lucky guess I think.

>37 Kristelh: Good for you! And, don’t diminish your success—it was a tricky word. I really don’t like those guessy-guessy situations.

Have a great weekend!

Friday Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (08/30/24):

Actively reading (or soon will be!)

James by Percival Everett (September TIOLI #5) -- p. 16 of 303
Bad Monkey by Carl Hiassen -- p. 11 of 317
Secrets of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery -- p. 77 of 191
Clear by Carys Davies (August TIOLI #6) -- p. 43 of 196
The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee by Alexander McCall Smith -- p. 51 of 250
A Circle of Quiet by Madeline L'Engle -- p. 65 of 250 (Libby)
Six Myths of Our Time by Marina Warner
Before Midnight by Rex Stout -- p. 7 of 172 (Libby)
Murder and Mendelssohn (Phryne Fisher #20) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 8 of 280 (Libby)
Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3) by Robert Galbraith -- p. 96 of 439 (Libby)

I'm overbooked! I don't want to lose track of these books, but I can't truly say that I am actively reading them right now:

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride -- p. 18 of 385
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman -- p. 20 of 173
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger -- p. 82 of 421 (mine, on Nook)
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett -- p. 29 of 278 (mine, on Nook)
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal -- p. 81 of 253 (mine, on Nook)
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead -- p. 73 of 288 (Nook)
Agatha's First Case (Agatha Raisin #0.5) by M. C. Beaton (Nook)
The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 3 of 238
Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King

I try to participate in the American Authors Challenge. In September, the group is reading books by authors who are American by choice. I plan to read The Art of Death: Writing the Final Story by Edwidge Danticat.

I usually am reading/watching Great Courses. My current Great Course is Season Two of "Mind-Blowing Science," by Great Courses and Scientific American. I have watched 0 of 15 episodes.

************************************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony, the illustrated children's book,
and the board game. (Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
************************************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!):



287. If You Decide To Go To the Moon by Faith McNulty, ill. St4even Kellogg



Terrific story, wonderful art (colorful Earth scenes and monochromatic Moon vistas). There is a wonderful fold-out section, with all the glories of Earth.

The book ends with these words: "Air and water are Earth's special blessings. We must guard them well."



288. How To Walk an Ant by Cindy Derby



Cloud-like watercolor backgrounds with lovely spots of color! Charming (though silly) story, but with lots of real information about ants along with the fictional.



289. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak



"In a simple evocative conversation with nature, a young girl witnesses how the season changes from summer to autumn." Beautiful book!



290. Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak



A sister and brother walk through the woods and into town. The colors shift from the russet/amber/dark green of autumn, to the white/gray/silver of winter, as the snow falls. Another lovely book about the changing seasons.

And there is a Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring, and a Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer scheduled to be published in 2025!

291. Crows: Encounters With the Wise Guys of the Avian World by Candace Savage



Fascinating look at the Corvid group (contains crows, ravens, etc.), with images, stories, folk sayings, what have you... Lots of historical information, scientific insights, all in a very palatable mixture. Crows are fascinating creatures, intensely social (like humans).

Includes notes, further reading, and index.

>41 klobrien2: Well that's moving up my TBR!

Happy long weekend, Karen O.

>41 klobrien2: Ow, you got me! Sounds fascinating. Onto Mt. TBR it goes.

>42 richardderus: >43 atozgrl: Oh, good! I was hoping I’d get somebody interested in Crows! It really was a delight to read. And it’s eminently read-a-bit-at-a-time.

Great to see you both here!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Run errands? A little KP (kitchen patrol) (lovely neighbors brought me veggies and a beautiful floral bouquet, straight from the garden. Cherry tomatoes, summer squash, cuke, green beans. I am blessed with those folks!)

Books I read yesterday: Library Book Day Part Two (six books). Clear, Secrets of the Octopus.

Magazines:

Great Course. Mind-Blowing Science, Season Two (Great Courses and Scientific American):

Watching: Silicon Valley 3.4, 3.5, 3.6.

Listening:

Thought of the solution at guess three, but second-guessed in favor of the Alphabetical Guideline. Proof that the Go With Your First Hunch rule takes priority.

Wordle 1,169 4/6* irate, stout, snout, spout

⬜⬜⬜🟦⬜
🟧⬜🟧🟧🟧
🟧⬜🟧🟧🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #447
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟪🟪
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #181
“Makeshift music”
🔵🔵🟡🔵
🔵🔵🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 08/31:
31/31 words (+6 bonus words)—2-1/2 stars—
🎯 In the top 19% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 4

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 08/31:
20/20 words (+7 bonus words)
📖 In the top 4% by bonus words

>41 klobrien2: - Candace Savage is a Canadian science writer. I read her Bird Brains several years ago and loved it.

>47 jessibud2: I saw Bird Brains listed. I’m going to go find a copy right now. Thanks for the plug! And thanks for stopping by!

************************************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony, the illustrated children's book,
and the board game. (Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
************************************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!):

Library Book Day Part Two:



292. Leo the Lightning Bug by Eric Drachman, ill. James Muscarello



Lots of good lessons here--the importance of believing in oneself, and how to take teasing and turn it around into something good. Fun story.



293. I Wish You Knew by Jackie Azua Kramer, ill. Magdalene Mora



The dedications say a lot about this book:

From the author: "To all our loved ones near and far," and from the illustrator: "To my immigrant parents and the families that miss them." The book is sad, but hopeful. The colors are just gorgeous.



294. A Penguin Pup for Pinkerton by Steven Kellogg



This is a sweet story, with great illustration. The Pinkerton books are very popular, and there are quite a few of them.



295. Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten: The Story of Little Red Riding Hood As Told By the Wolf by Tricia Speed Shaskan, ill. Gerald Guerlais



This book popped up in someone's thread when they were battling with the LT touchstones, and I jumped on it. It sounded really funny.

And it was. The Wolf says that he is a vegetarian: "I don't eat meat. Well, I try not to." The telling of the story is quite funny. The illustration is clever, though seems pretty "automated." At the end of the book, there is a section for analysis of the story. What a great way to introduce kids to thinking about their reading!

There are other books in this series, which I am going to search out. Stay tuned.



296. Mama in the Moon by Doreen Cronin and Brian Cronin



Lovely story about a mama sloth and her baby. Black backgrounds (well, it IS night, and we need to see the moon).

Something I didn't know about sloths: "On average, a sloth will fall out of a tree once a week for its entire life. But don't worry, it's a normal part of how they live."

This book is about the senses (sight, smell, hearing, touch). Baby sloth uses his senses to comfort himself while he waits for his mother to come get him after he falls out of the tree. Very sweet.



297. The Dictionary Story by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston



I rated this one a little higher than my norm, because it is so different, and the book is so well thought out. It "celebrates the endless fun found in playing with words and creating our own stories." Added benefits of introducing the concept of a dictionary, and alphabet work! Very clever and fun!

I just read about the Jeffers on NPR and reserved a copy from the library. We are big Jeffers fans here. One of Scout's favorites was The Incredible Book-Eating Boy.

Happy new month, Karen. I read 7 books in August. You, I'll bet, read thirty-leven. I can't claim to have been busy with other things. Just been loafy all summer. May September be all ready (as in all reading all the time).

>50 BLBera: Thanks for the tip on The Incredible Book-Eating Boy. I’m going to go find a copy!

Thanks for visiting, and hope you have a happy Sunday!

>51 weird_O: Gosh, you know my number is so high because of all the illustrated books I’ve read this year. I think next year I’ll put them on a separate list. Just have my “number” be the grown-up books I read.

I love your phrase, “be all ready”—sounds good to me!

Thanks for visiting, and hope you have a happy Sunday!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Online church. Run errands? A little KP (kitchen patrol).

Books I read yesterday:: Clear, Secrets of the Octopus.

Magazines:

Great Course. Mind-Blowing Science, Season Two (Great Courses and Scientific American):

Watching: Silicon Valley 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10.

Listening:

Wordle 1,170 6/6* Ugh. Wordle has seemed such a slog lately. irate, cloud, shush, husky, pushy, mushy

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟦⬜
🟦🟦🟦⬜⬜
🟦🟧🟧⬜🟧
⬜🟧🟧🟧🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #448
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #182
“Serve ginger-ly?”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🟡🔵🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 09/01:
72/72 words (+19 bonus words)—4 star—
🎯 In the top 22% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 5

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/01:
19/19 words (+14 bonus words)
📖 In the top 1% by bonus words

>52 klobrien2: You are welcome!

>53 klobrien2: I keep a single list, but do statistics by type. So I know how many were rereads (faster than the first time), graphic novels, fiction (usually faster to read than non-fiction), juvenile audience, etc. That's my compromise, after my decision to include rereads caused my total read to increase noticeably. And I find the statistics interesting in their own right.

>41 klobrien2: I'm resisting the book bullet, but it's tempting.

>57 ArlieS: Good idea about the keeping track by type of read. I will mull it over. Thanks!

298. Clear by Carys Davies



Shorter, but so sweet. Historical fiction about the Clearance of Scottish islands, one island in particular. But this is a love story, of love unexpected and different.

The prose is wonderful, the characters carefully and lovingly etched.

"You never knew in advance if a decision was the right one and all you could do was try to imagine the future and use that to help you make up your mind in a difficult situation, and if you couldn't imagine the future, well, you had to make up your mind anyway."

I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to those on LT who read it and brought it to my attention!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Lunch with sister Jannie! Run errands? A little KP (kitchen patrol).

Books I read yesterday:: Clear—finished. Falling Up by Shel Silverstein.

Magazines: Elle (August), Quilting Arts (Summer).

Great Course. Mind-Blowing Science, Season Two (Great Courses and Scientific American): 1. Do We Live in a Simulation? (Turns out, chances are 50-50!), and 2. A Model Octopus (Octopuses!)

Watching: Silicon Valley 4.1, 4.2, 4.3.

Listening:

Wordle 1,171 3/6* irate, cheap, camel

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Connections
Puzzle #449
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Strands #183
“Order in the court!”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🟡🔵🔵🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 09/02:
24/24 words (+3 bonus words)—1-1/2 stars—
🎯 In the top 11% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 6

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/02:
19/19 words
🎯 In the top 13% by accuracy

Second thought prompts me to add Crows: Encounters With the Wise Guys of the Avian World to The WANT! List™. I passed on it when I ambled through your thread, when?, yesterday. But on second thought, I'm reminded of stuff I've picked up about crows and my own observations...Well, I gotta read the book.

>62 weird_O: Yes, I find crows so interesting. I think you’ll really like this book. Yay!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Household accounting. A little cooking.

Books I read yesterday:: Falling Up by Shel Silverstein, James (I have now bought a Nook copy, because there are SO many people waiting for the library copies, and I don’t like that pressure!🥴)

Magazines: Fons & Porter’s For the Love of Quilting (July-Oct), Smithsonian (June).

Great Course. Mind-Blowing Science, Season Two (Great Courses and Scientific American):

Watching: Silicon Valley 4.4, 4.5, 4.6.

Listening:

Wordle 1,172 4/6* A little guessie-ness today—yuck! irate, paint, saint, faint

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Connections
Puzzle #450
🟩🟩🟩🟩
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🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #184
“Striking sounds”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🔵🔵🔵🟡
🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 09/03:
34/34 words (+1 bonus word)—2-1/2 stars—
🎯 Perfect accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 7

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/03:
20/20 words
🎯 In the top 31% by accuracy

I am also a fan of Clear. LT is a great place for book recommendations!

299. Falling Up: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein



Delightful collection of the wit and drawing magic of Shel Silverstein. Each little poem is accompanied by a drawing, but there is nothing simple or plain about the drawings. Silverstein was an artist who liked to play with words and with drawing.

The poems make so much more sense when presented with the drawings, but here are a few of my favorites from this book:

A Closet Full of Shoes

Party shoes with frills and bows,
Workin' shoes with steel toes,
Sneakers, flip-flops, and galoshes
Boots to wear with mackintoshes,
Brogans, oxfords, satin pumps,
Dancin' taps and wooden clumps,
Football cleats and baseball spikes,
Shoes of shiny patent leather,
Woolly shoes for winter weather,
Loafers, rough-cuts, sandals, spats,
High heels, low heels, platforms, flats,
Moccasins and fins and flippers,
Shower clogs and ballet slippers. . .
A zillion shoes and just one missin'--
That's the one that matches this'n.

Eggs Rated

These eggs
Are eggcellent.
I'm not eggsaggerating.
You can tell by my eggspression
They're eggceptional--
Eggstra fluffy,
Eggstremely tasty,
Cooked eggsactly right
By an eggspert
With lots of eggsperience.
Now I'll eggsamine the bill. . .
Oooh--much more eggspensive
Than I eggspected.
I gotta get out of here.
Where's the eggxit?

I read a "Special Edition" of the book (2015) which had an additional twelve poems. This next poem is the very last one in the book:

The Poet Tree

Underneath the poet tree
Come and rest awhile with me
And watch the way the word web weaves
Between the shady story leaves.

The branches of the poet tree
Reach from the mountains to the sea.
So come and sit . . . and dream . . . and climb
Just don't get hit by falling rhymes.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercise. Grocery list. Jerry list.

Books I read yesterday:: Falling Up by Shel Silverstein—finished. Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee, Bad Monkey.

Magazines: Mother Jones (Sep/Oct).

Great Course. Mind-Blowing Science, Season Two (Great Courses and Scientific American):

Watching: Silicon Valley 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10.

Listening: NYT Amplifier Playlist: Ease Into Fall with Seven Songs for September. Really liked this list, esp. Green Day.

Wordle 1,173 3/6* irate, deter, stern

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Connections (almost backwards in order of supposed difficulty)

Puzzle #451
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Strands #185
“American beauty”
🔵🔵🟡🔵
🔵🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 09/04:
40/40 words (+12 bonus words)—3 stars—
📖 In the top 26% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 8

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/04:
19/19 words (+4 bonus words)
📖 In the top 41% by bonus words

I hope you enjoyed the Mother Jones reading, Karen! I find it instructive.

Happy Wednesday!

>70 richardderus: No, I refuse to learn anything from my reading! 😉

Happy Wednesday to you too, Richard!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Order groceries.

Books I read yesterday:: Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee.

Magazines: The Week (Sept 6/13), Elle (Sept).

Great Course. Mind-Blowing Science, Season Two (Great Courses and Scientific American): Watched: 3. How to Control Your Feelings, 4. How Birds Branched Out, 5. Survival of the Friendliest.

Watching: Only Murders in the Building 4.2; Sunny ep. 10 (end of season. Really hope they renew!); Bad Monkey ep. 5 (loving this show!); Silicon Valley 5.1 and 5.2.

Listening:

Wordle 1,174 4/6* irate, denim, fiend, widen

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Connections Uggh. Almost didn’t get this.
Puzzle #452
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Strands #186
“Going underground”
💡🔵🔵🔵
🔵🔵🟡🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 09/05:
59/59 words (+12 bonus words)—4 star—
🎯 In the top 26% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 9

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/05:
22/22 words (+4 bonus words)
📖 In the top 18% by bonus words

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Library Book Day!

Books I read yesterday:: Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee.

Magazines: NYT Book Review (8/25).

Great Course. Mind-Blowing Science, Season Two (Great Courses and Scientific American):

Watching: Silicon Valley 5.3, 5.4, 5.5.

Listening:

Wordle 1,175 5/6* irate, mercy, nerds, heron, rerun

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Connections
Puzzle #453
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Strands #187
“Just right”
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🔵🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 09/06:
60/60 words (+16 bonus words)—4-1/2 stars—
🎯 In the top 24% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 10

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/06:
27/27 words (+3 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 22% by accuracy

Happy Friday, Karen O.!

>75 klobrien2: You, too, Richard! Have a great weekend!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Library Book Day! Household accounting! Yippee!

Books I read yesterday:: Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee—really enjoying the read; will finish today.

Magazines: Archaeology (July/August), Astronomy (Sept).

Great Course. Mind-Blowing Science, Season Two (Great Courses and Scientific American): Watched: 6. A New Map of the Universe, 7. How Stress Shuts Down Your Brain, 8. Protecting Earth from Asteroids (yikes!)

Watching: Silicon Valley 5.6, 5.7, 5.8. One season left of this show.

Listening:

Wordle 1,176 5/6* irate, merry, ruler, cover, owner

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Connections
Puzzle #454
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Strands #188
“Know your material”
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Friday Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (09/06):

Actively reading (or soon will be!)

James by Percival Everett (September TIOLI #5) -- p. 29 of 252 (mine, on Nook)
Bad Monkey by Carl Hiassen -- p. 30 of 317
Secrets of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery -- p. 90 of 191
The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee by Alexander McCall Smith -- p. 181 of 250
Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia Butler; adapted by Damien Duffy and John Jennings -- p. 00 of 265
Six Myths of Our Time by Marina Warner
Before Midnight by Rex Stout -- p. 7 of 172 (Libby)
Murder and Mendelssohn (Phryne Fisher #20) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 8 of 280 (Libby)
Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3) by Robert Galbraith -- p. 96 of 439 (Libby)

I'm overbooked! I don't want to lose track of these books, but I can't truly say that I am actively reading them right now:

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride -- p. 18 of 385
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman -- p. 20 of 173
A Circle of Quiet by Madeline L'Engle -- p. 65 of 250 (Libby)
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger -- p. 82 of 421 (mine, on Nook)
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett -- p. 29 of 278 (mine, on Nook)
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal -- p. 81 of 253 (mine, on Nook)
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead -- p. 73 of 288 (Nook)
Agatha's First Case (Agatha Raisin #0.5) by M. C. Beaton (Nook)
The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 3 of 238
Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King

I try to participate in the American Authors Challenge. In September, the group is reading books by authors who are American by choice. I plan to read The Art of Death: Writing the Final Story by Edwidge Danticat.

I usually am reading/watching Great Courses. My current Great Course is Season Two of "Mind-Blowing Science," by Great Courses and Scientific American. I have watched 8 of 15 episodes.

Good to see that you have a good grasp of what you're doing. What a lot you are doing. Good show!

>81 weird_O: I don’t know what I’d do without lists. Luckily, I really enjoy my reading, and puzzling, etc.

I’ll be by your thread on my rounds. Thanks for stopping by to chat!

Karen, It was a good day. The rain set the mood for a trip to the library where I sat in a comfortable chair and read illustrated books.

Some I read there:


Ahoy by Sophie Blackwell

The Makers by Young Vo
Keeping the City Going by Newbery Award winning author Brian Floca

and others to read at home are:

Cat Wishes by Calista Brill and illustrations by one of my favorite artists -- Kenard Pak
I Wonder by K.A. Holt with illustrations by Kenard Pak
Artic by Brendan Kearney --I really like the illustrations in this book

and two more:

Roller Coaster by Maarla Frazee
In Every Life by Marla Frazee-- this one has stunning illustrations.

----------------------------------

I hope to read many of these tonight.

I very much enjoy our joint love of illustrated books!

Karen, It was a good day. The rain set the mood for a trip to the library where I sat in a comfortable chair and read illustrated books.

Some I read there:


Ahoy by Sophie Blackwell


The Makers by Young Vo


Keeping the City Going by Newbery Award winning author Brian Floca

and others to read at home are:

Cat Wishes by Calista Brill and illustrations by one of my favorite artists -- Kenard Pak
I Wonder by K.A. Holt with illustrations by Kenard Pak
Artic by Brendan Kearney --I really like the illustrations in this book
Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee

----------------------------------

I hope to read many of these tonight.

I very much enjoy our joint love of illustrated books!

Thank you for all the joy you bring to members of this incredible group of people in the 75 challenge group.

As fall approaches, I hope you have time to relax, read and enjoy the changing colors.

>83 Whisper1: Your time at the library sounds quite lovely, almost magical. Kind of “balm for the soul”!

And thank you for the book suggestions—I will look them up and get them into my greedy book-reading hands!

So great to see you here! Have a good night and a wonderful Sunday.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Church. Library Book Day #2! Household accounting!

Books I read yesterday:: Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee—finished. Library Book Day #1 (4 books). Bad Monkey.

Magazines:

Great Course. Mind-Blowing Science, Season Two (Great Courses and Scientific American): Watched:

Watching: Silicon Valley 6.1, 6.2, 6.3.

Listening:

Wordle 1,177 6/6* Big “phew!” Just about ran out of letters! irate, brash, gravy, cramp, drank, drawn

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Connections
Puzzle #455
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🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #189
“A royal shade”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/08:
69/69 words (+6 bonus words)—4 stars—
🎯 In the top 16% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 1

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/08:
23/23 words (+4 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 19% by accuracy

Morning (there) Karen O.! I'm done with, and have reviewed, a pretty little book about grieving you might want to look at.

Have a beautiful week-ahead's reads, dear lady.

>89 richardderus: I’ve got I’m Still Here: A Dog’s Purpose Forever on my LT TBR, but it must be a brand new book? Can’t find it at my libs. Oh, well, it will keep just fine. 😁

Have a great week, Richard!

>90 klobrien2: It will indeed keep just fine...it doesn't even come out until Tuesday!

300. The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee (44 Scotland St #17) by Alexander McCall Smith



I do love reading these books of Alexander McCall Smith, and he is very prolific. This seventeenth episode in the story is one of my favorites so far. I love catching up on all the miscellaneous characters, and I'm glad to see as their lives progress.

In this series, one of the characters, Angus, ends each book with a poem, read aloud at a gathering of friends. This book's ending poem:

"Change in itself is not always a good thing,
Only the unthinking will take that view;
Familiarity, remember, is a consolation
That anchors and binds, makes for a sense
Of being somewhere and being someone.
Where are we, dear friends?
We are in a dark wood, I think,
The same dark wood in which an age ago
Dante found himself; young men die
In trenches, snatch what sleep they can
When the guns go briefly silent;
Our poor, damaged world reels
Under the intolerable burden we impose,
Under our rapacious appetite
For everything and always:
It reproaches us as we turn away
And deny the things we see."

Angus paused, "And yet up and down the country, there are people who are doing their utmost to halt and reverse these grave threats. They act in the face of indifference and scorn and fatal capacity. What drives them? It is not, I think, any abstract principle, it is love -- love of others, love of this dear planet on which we live. It is that simple."

"And you do not need to know why love exists,
Why it drives us as it does; do not ask
Where the wind comes from when it blows:
It just does; do not ask why you should feel
The way you feel when you see the hills
Of this lovely country, Scotland, that is our home,
And when you look upon an island shore
And the green sea beyond, do not enquire
Why your heart is full of love;
Love requires no justification, no excuse,
Nor does kindness, which is at love's right hand;
Love is there, it simple is -- that is all."

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There are only three forms of high art: the symphony, the illustrated children's book,
and the board game. (Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
************************************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jessibud2, Norabelle, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

Library Book Day Part One:



301. The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson, ill. Rafael Lopez



Beautiful (gorgeous!), spirited book about rising above circumstances and celebrating the freedom that comes from inside. Also, a psalm to Black American history.

"So, like the people who came before us, we lifted our arms even higher, closed our eyes even tighter, breathed in even deeper, and flew the way we'd always known how to--free as the aunties and uncles and cousins who'd come before us, free as our own beautiful and brilliant minds."

Note to self: Find a copy of The People Could Fly: American Black Folk Tales by Margaret Hamilton. Woodson credits this book for the development of this illustrated book.



302. Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak



Conversation between a small boy (and his dog) and nature. We go from dark, dark winter (and there is a storm, which HOWLS!),..to a new dawn and the arrival of spring. Another lovely entry in this tetralogy (the fourth book, Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer is due soon.



303. Mr. S: A First Day of School Book by Monica Arnaldo



New students turn up for their first day, ever, of school, but where is their teacher? All they see is a lovely sandwich, a steaming mug of coffee, and the words, "Mr. S," on the blackboard.

They carry on with their day, surprisingly well-behaved and smart about what activities they could do.

Fun, and funny! Very nice illustrations.



304. Truman by Jean Reidy, ill. Lucy Ruth Cummins



Truman, the turtle, is sad when his person takes the bus away from him. She's going to school. He acts bravely and cleverly, to try to follow her.

Charmingly illustrated, funny and sweet.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Household accounting. Errands?

Books I read yesterday:: Library Book Day #2 (5 books).

Magazines: New Yorker (09/09), Science Illustrated (Issue 108).

Great Course. Mind-Blowing Science, Season Two (2022) (Great Courses and Scientific American): Watched: 9. Extreme Birding, 10. Lifting the Venus Curse, and 11. Top Emerging Technologies.

Watching: Silicon Valley 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7–finished.

Listening:

Wordle 1,178 3/6* irate, tiled, debit

🟦⬜⬜🟦🟦
🟦🟦⬜🟦🟦
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #456
🟨🟨🟪🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟩🟪🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #190
“Go play outside!”
🔵🔵🔵🟡
🔵🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 09/09:
26/26 words (+2 bonus words)—2 stars—
🎯 In the top 30% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 2

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/09:
25/25 words (+4 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 37% by accuracy

************************************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony, the illustrated children's book, and the board game. (Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
************************************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jessibud2, Norabelle, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

Library Book Day Part Two:



305. The Yellow Bus by Loren Long



The NY Times featured this book, and showed how the author built a three-dimensional model of a town and the yellow bus, and then used the model in the creation of the painted scenes. The artwork is terrific, and the words are a good match. The author portrays sounds, like, "pitter-patter, pitter-patter, giggle, giggle-patter" (that's when kids are using the bus); "shuffle-clunk, shuffle-clunk, creak, creak-clunk" (that's when older people are using the bus). Very clever!

The book is beautiful, with "stirring black and white artwork and powerful pops of color."
It is a "poignant reflection on the many new beginnings life has to offer, and the wonder of the journey along the way."



306. Mine!: A Story of Not Sharing by Klara Persson, ill. Charlotte Ramel, trans. Michela Smalley



Hilarious story and pictures of a girl who doesn't want to share, until the end of the book. She realizes that she can share with others and still have as good a time.

The illustrations are so fun--almost childlike in their expression.

Translated from Swedish.



307. The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, pictures by David Small



This was a Caldecott Honor book.

"Colored by a Depression-era setting...introduces us to a winsome and determined young heroine, whose generosity will reward all who meet her."

Lovely story and illustrations. A very "feel-good" read.



308. Until You Find the Sun: A Story About Discovering Home Wherever You Go by Maryam Hassan, ill. Anna Wilson



Beautiful story and illustrations. This one warmed my heart right up (I'll have to read this again in the winter!)



309. Strange Trees and the Stories Behind Them by Bernadette Pourquie, ill. Cecile Gambini, trans. Yolanda Stein Broad



Translated from the French.

Beautiful artwork. Interesting descriptions of the trees! Before I read the book, I thought they might be imaginary trees, but they are real enough, just quite exotic and different.

Lots of words, though. I don't know how much the book would hold the attention of really young kids. The book states that it is for kids age 6 and up.

>96 klobrien2: Quite a good batch this time, Karen O.! I'm most impressed by the trees...the ones in Rome that look like umbrellas leave me shockingly amazed, they're just a species of pines really, but I look at them like they're Martian because they're so different from my surroundings. A great way to catch kids' interest.

*smooch*

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Household accounting. Errands?

Books I read yesterday:: Bad Monkey. Broke down and bought a Nook copy because the hardcover from the library was heavy and the spine was wobbly. I can visualize reading this again, and it’s the first in the Andrew Yansy series.

Magazines:

Great Course. Mind-Blowing Science, Season Two (2022) (Great Courses and Scientific American): Watched:

Watching: Time Bandits, ep. 5 (“Georgian”) and ep. 6 (“Mansa Musa”)

Listening:

Wordle 1,179 3/6* I used the “2309” list today on guess #3, and tried the first word that would work with my proposed first two letters. Very surprised! irate, query, rebel

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⬜⬜🟦🟦⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #457
🟨🟦🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟨🟨🟦🟨
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🟦🟦🟦🟦

Strands #191
“Give it a whirl!”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🔵🔵🟡

I played https://squaredle.com 09/10:
34/34 words (+4 bonus words)—2 stars—
🎯 In the top 23% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 3

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/10:
20/20 words (+3 bonus words)
📖 In the top 8% by bonus words

Morning, Karen O.! Have a wonderful one. I'm keeping busy with my DRC reviewing...but somehow they just keep proliferating. Do books reproduce sexually or am I just that greedy?

(rhetorically)

>100 richardderus: Oh, I think you are right, with both theories.

I have observed the phenomenon of the seeming self-reproduction of books. I have also felt in myself the need, the desire, to see ALL the books.

I am just completing a look through the library books I have out, and trying to be cold-hearted in pulling out those to go back, just briefly skimmed, and sent to the future.
I will hopefully read them “someday.”

Thanks for stopping by!

Mind-Blowing Science : Season 2 by Great Courses and Scientific American



Not counting this one in my book total because there wasn't a book. But it was a great second (and final, sob!) season to the "Mind-Blowing Science" series. Lots of interesting topics (I've listed them in my daily reports as I've watched them).

The episodes are shorter (20 minutes or so), and have lots of great graphics and excellent readers. Fifteen episodes, on 2 DVDs. About 5 hours in total. Except I had to rewind sometimes when my mind strayed or I struggled a little to get the concept.

You have to do that when your mind has been blown!

>1 klobrien2: Happy new thread!

>103 ocgreg34: Thanks! And thank you for stopping by!

>96 klobrien2: Karen, as you delve into illustrated books, I've found many new ones that your note and I haven't read. Thank you!!!

>105 Whisper1: I love how that works! I keep expecting that we’ll eventually run out of books that want to read, but they haven’t tapered off yet. Yay!

Have a lovely Wednesday, Linda!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Household accounting. Grocery list. Jerry list.

Books I read yesterday:: Bad Monkey. The Boys Omnibus Volume 1 by Garthe Ennis.

Magazines:

Great Course. Mind-Blowing Science Season 2. Watched: 12. Secrets of the Antikythera Machine, 13. Humans Are Still Evolving, 14. Psychedelic Treatments for Psychiatric Disorders, 15. Should Doctors Stop Prescribing Weight Loss? Finished the series.

New course is The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury.

Watching: The debate. Yes, I watched it. I thought Harris did great. I feel like I understand her plans and thinking a bit more. Trump, of course, totally disgusted me. He can’t answer “yes” or “no” questions. Can’t stay on topic. Chuldish way of speaking. Mean and amoral.

Listening: NYT Amplifier: People Pick Their Song of the Summer. Really enjoyed this—a great variety, with some oldies.

Wordle 1,180 3/6* irate, abide, aisle

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Connections
Puzzle #458
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Strands #192
“Play-with words”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/11:
36/36 words (+5 bonus words)—3-1/2 stars—
🎯 In the top 8% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 4

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/11:
19/19 words (+5 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 14% by accuracy

The NYT offered a James Earl Jones filmography (12 films):

Dr. Strangelove (1964)
The Great White Hope (1970)
“The Man” (1972)
Claudine (1974)
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings (1976)
Star Wars (1977)
Matewan (1987)
Field of Dreams (1989)
The Lion King (1994)
Cry, the Beloved Country (1995)
A Family Thing (1996)
The Second Civil War (1997)

>109 klobrien2: *tsk*

I watched none of the debate but when all the NYT can find to complain about in Harris's performance is that she failed to offer policy specifics...no duh, it's a timed debate, and what the actual did 45 even say?...you know it went her way.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Household accounting. Adulting calls to make. Order groceries.

Books I read yesterday:: Bad Monkey. The Boys Omnibus Volume 1 by Garth Ennis.

Magazines:

Great Course. New course is The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury.

Watching: Bad Monkey ep. 6 (I’m loving this show! Vince Vaughn is perfect, and the other actors are terrific as well. I’m really liking the book, too. I’m thrilled there are a lot of books in Hiassen’s Andrew Yancy series.
Also watched the latest “Only Murders in the Building.” (4.3) Terrific, too. A scene with Steve Martin, Eugene Levy, and Richard Kind had me guffawing. Seriously toying with the idea of rewatching the whole series…

Listening:

Wordle 1,181 5/6* pretty guessy-guessy today! irate, gravy, frank, crash, brass

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Connections
Puzzle #459
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Strands #193
“This should be right up your alley”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/12:
41/41 words (+9 bonus words)—4 stars—
🎯 In the top 19% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 5

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/12:
25/25 words (+2 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 9% by accuracy

Hi Karen. You asked in my thread if I was that person following Nicholas Meyers' series of Sherlock Holmes yarns. Yes, I am. I thought I had the final book, Return of the Pharaoh, on the shelf. Then Meyer, you are telling me, has written another one. And found some outfit to actually publish it. So there are miracles.

>111 klobrien2: I've got Hiaasen's Bad Monkey on the shelf beside 16 other books he's written. Happy Day! I haven't read it. But I shall soon. I'm not remembering Andrew Yancey appearing in any of the 8 I've read.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Household accounting. Reading roundup and mags list.

Books I read yesterday:: Bad Monkey. Library Book Day #1 (5 books).

Magazines:

Great Course. New course is The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury.

Watching: Ted Lasso 3.6 with Jerry.
Finished “Time Bandits.” (Ep.7 “Ice Age,” ep.8 “Home Again,” ep. 9 “Pell Mell,” ep. 10 “Fortress of Darkness”). The series is well set up for another season, but I’m not counting on it. Lots of nice CGI and humor. And history!

Listening:

Wordle 1,182 3/6* irate, harpy, harsh

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Connections
Puzzle #460
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Strands #194
“Boots and saddles”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/13:
64/64 words (+9 bonus words)—4 stars—
🎯 In the top 13% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 6

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/13:
21/21 words (+3 bonus words)
🎯 Perfect accuracy

Wonderful weather we're having here in Minnesota. Have a great weekend Karen.

I'll have to check out the 'Bad Monkey' series. It might be something my husband would enjoy. He's liked all the Hiassen books he's read...

>113 weird_O: Hi, there! Bad Monkey is the first Andrew Yancy book, I see. I hope you get a chance to read it--I'm really enjoying both the book and the TV show.

>116 Kristelh: Minnesota has been just gorgeous, hasn't it?! Have a great weekend, Kristel!

>117 katiekrug: I really like the Andrew Yancy character. He's funny, smart, has a heart for the wild critters, and works for justice. He treats women well. I hope you give Bad Monkey a try!

Thank you all for stopping by to chat! Have wonderful weekends!

************************************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony, the illustrated children's book, and the board game. (Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
************************************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jessibud2, Norabelle, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

Has a week passed already? Time for Library Book Day Part One:



310. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, ill. E. B. Lewis



Beautiful book, important message of showing kindness to all, especially the stranger. But the book pulls no punches about how it may be sometimes too late to do the right thing, so be sure to do it now.

"Each kindness makes the whole world a little better."



311. The Mysterious Tadpole by Steven Kellogg



Great drawing skills here! Very good sense of humor and imagination.

Hint: the "mysterious tadpole" isn't really a tadpole.

I read the 25th anniversary edition of the book, which was "revised and re-illustrated".



312. Cat Wishes by Calista Brill, pictures by Kenard Pak



"Wishes can come true and not always in the way we expect. After all, true magic lies in our connectedness to others."

Lovely book, with a great message of hope and friendship. The cat in this book is one cool cat, and she made me think of the phrase, "Fake it until you make it."



313. Keeping the City Going by Brian Floca



Caldecott Medal winner!

"This is the story of the people who kept the city going during the early days of the COVID19 pandemic." This is a very moving recounting of those days, when people stayed in, and only those who had to take care of the rest were out and about. The book is, in a way, a paean to those people.

Beautiful drawing, especially the buildings and vehicles.



314. The Incredible Book-Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers



This is a silly book, but very funny, also. It's got a twist ending which made me chuckle.

Time to gear up my “Norman Jewison Film Fest”:

Jewison, who passed away in January, was prolific, and directed a lot of my favorite movies. Here’s a mostly-complete list of his oeuvre (how do you like that cinema-speak?!) Jewison did a lot of TV, and I’ve omitted those shows. The films I’ve seen are in bold. I’ll be rewatching!



In the Heat of the Night was the last movie I watched. The Thomas Crown Affair is up next!

The Fabulous Fifties (1960) 7.5 on IMDB (unavailable?)
40 Pounds of Trouble (1962) (6.3)
The Thrill of It All (1963) (6.9)
Send Me No Flowers (1964) (6.9)
The Art of Love (1965) (6.1) (DVD)
The Cincinnati Kid (1965) (7.2) (Tubi)
The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966) (7.0) (Tubi)
In the Heat of the Night (1967) (7.9) (Tubi)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) (6.9) (MGM+)
Gaily, Gaily (1969) (5.3–might skip this one)
Fiddler on the Roof (1971) (8.0) (Tubi)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) (7.3) (Peacock)
Rollerball (1975) (6.5) (Tubi)
F.I.S.T. (1978) (6.1) DVD? Hard to locate! Can rent it for $4.
And Justice For All (1979) (7.4) DVD
Best Friends (1982) (5.5–skip?)
A Soldier’s Story (1984) (7.2) DVD
Agnes of God (1985) (6.6) DVD (ILL)
Moonstruck (1987) (7.2) (Tubi)
In Country (1989) (5.9) DVD (Kanopy, HCL)
Other People’s Money (1991) (6.2) DVD (ILL)
Only You (1994) (6.5) DVD
Bogus (1996) (5.3–skip?)
The Hurricane (1999) (7.6) DVD
The Statement (2003) (6.2–might skip, but it was his last movie) DVD (ILL)

>120 klobrien2: Oh goody! Thomas Crown is a good character...and Steve McQueen's son Chad just died at 63 this week. They got some kind of early-checkout notice, those men.

>119 klobrien2: Jacqueline Woodson is an incredible writer. I've read most, but not all, of her books. Because you liked Each Kindness, you might want to consider reading:

>122 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda! I’m going to track down a copy of The Other Side right now!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Household accounting. Reading roundup and mags list.

Books I read yesterday:: Bad Monkey. Library Book Day #2 (5 books).

Magazines: NYT Magazine (8/25)

Great Course. New course is The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury.

Watching: For my restarted “Norman Jewison Fest,” I watched The Thomas Crown Affair.

Listening: NYT Amplifier: “5 of My Most Anticipated Albums of the Fall.”

Wordle 1,183 3/6* irate, argon, broad

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Connections
Puzzle #461
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Strands #195
“Elements of style”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/14:
31/31 words (+10 bonus words)—3 stars—
📖 In the top 36% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 7

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/14:
21/21 words (+1 bonus word)
⏱️ In the top 28% by speed

Friday Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (09/13):

Actively reading (or soon will be!)

James by Percival Everett (September TIOLI #5) -- p. 29 of 252 (mine, on Nook)
Bad Monkey by Carl Hiassen -- p. 148 of 330 (mine on Nook)
Secrets of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery -- p. 90 of 191
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride -- p. 18 of 385
Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia Butler; adapted by Damien Duffy and John Jennings -- p. 00 of 26
Selected Poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay -- p. 0 of 167
Summer in the Spring: Anishinaabe Lyric Poems and Stories, ed. Gerald Wizener -- p. 26 of 165
As We Are Now by May Sarton -- p. 9 of 134
Six Myths of Our Time by Marina Warner -- p. 3 of 135
Before Midnight by Rex Stout -- p. 7 of 172 (Libby)
Murder and Mendelssohn (Phryne Fisher #20) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 8 of 280 (Libby)
Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3) by Robert Galbraith -- p. 96 of 439 (Libby)

I'm overbooked! I don't want to lose track of these books, but I can't truly say that I am actively reading them right now:

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman -- p. 20 of 173
A Circle of Quiet by Madeline L'Engle -- p. 65 of 250 (Libby)
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger -- p. 82 of 421 (mine, on Nook)
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett -- p. 29 of 278 (mine, on Nook)
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal -- p. 81 of 253 (mine, on Nook)
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead -- p. 73 of 288 (Nook)
Agatha's First Case (Agatha Raisin #0.5) by M. C. Beaton (Nook)
The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 3 of 238
Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King

I try to participate in the American Authors Challenge. In September, the group is reading books by authors who are American by choice. I plan to read The Art of Death: Writing the Final Story by Edwidge Danticat.

I usually am reading/watching Great Courses. My current Great Course is The Scientific Wonder of Birds. I have completed 0 of 12 lectures.

Time to gear up my “Norman Jewison Film Fest”:

Jewison, who passed away in January, was prolific, and directed a lot of my favorite movies. Here’s a mostly-complete list of his oeuvre (how do you like that cinema-speak?!) Jewison did a lot of TV, and I’ve omitted those shows. The films I’ve seen are in bold. I’ll be rewatching!



The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) starred Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. I also appreciated seeing Gordon Pinsent and Yahpet Kotto. McQueen plays a playboy millionaire, who doesn't need the money but plans and executes bank heists for the thrill of it. Dunaway plays the insurance "finder" who falls in lust with the bank thief. Will they end up together?

I have to say that I didn't care much for the plot or the acting. This movie won awards for its music (featuring the great "Windmills of Your Mind"), but nothing else. The film did have a sense of history about it, so it was fun for that reason.

There was some interesting camera work including lots of "mosaics" (conveyed a sense of high-speed action, I suppose), and some 360 degree panorama shots.

Fiddler on the Roof is up next!

The Fabulous Fifties (1960) 7.5 on IMDB (unavailable?)
40 Pounds of Trouble (1962) (6.3)
The Thrill of It All (1963) (6.9)
Send Me No Flowers (1964) (6.9)
The Art of Love (1965) (6.1) (DVD)
The Cincinnati Kid (1965) (7.2) (Tubi)
The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966) (7.0) (Tubi)
In the Heat of the Night (1967) (7.9) (Tubi)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) (6.9) (MGM+)
Gaily, Gaily (1969) (5.3–might skip this one)
Fiddler on the Roof (1971) (8.0) (Tubi)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) (7.3) (Peacock)
Rollerball (1975) (6.5) (Tubi)
F.I.S.T. (1978) (6.1) DVD? Hard to locate! Can rent it for $4.
And Justice For All (1979) (7.4) DVD
Best Friends (1982) (5.5–skip?)
A Soldier’s Story (1984) (7.2) DVD
Agnes of God (1985) (6.6) DVD (ILL)
Moonstruck (1987) (7.2) (Tubi)
In Country (1989) (5.9) DVD (Kanopy, HCL)
Other People’s Money (1991) (6.2) DVD (ILL)
Only You (1994) (6.5) DVD
Bogus (1996) (5.3–skip?)
The Hurricane (1999) (7.6) DVD
The Statement (2003) (6.2–might skip, but it was his last movie) DVD (ILL)

************************************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony, the illustrated children's book, and the board game. (Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
************************************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jessibud2, Norabelle, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

Library Book Day Part Two:



315. Sometimes We Fall by Randall de Seve, artwork by Kate Gardiner



Finding the courage to take a small risk--and the sweet reward that may follow.

Lovely illustrations and sweet story.



316. Bright Star by Yuyi Morales



"For children looking for their place, and their voice, in a world full of uncertainty."

This book came to be because of the author's concern about the border wall being built in the border lands. The wall's construction has destroyed and blocked wildlife ways and threatens the wildlife.

Beautiful illustrations! Spanish and English words are commingled on the pages.



317. Ahoy! by Sophie Blackall



Really fun adventure of a kid and his grandma. It's all about seafaring, on the living room rug. Glossary of seafaring terms used in the book. The pleasure of imagination and playfulness.



318. Adventures with Finn and Skip: Arctic by Brendan Kearney



Finn and his little dog Skip sign on to a science study taking place in Greenland. Lots of adventure. The author's message: take action to reduce emissions and pollution. Earth is in danger, and so are we all!

Beautiful illustrations, including northern lights. Fun to see little Skip leading his dog sled team, but he figures it out.



319. Never, Not Ever! by Beatrice Alemagna



Little bat named Pascaline is "tough on the outside, tender on the inside."

First day of school is approaching, and Pascaline is not happy about it.

"No. No way. She will not go to school. Never, not ever!"

Of course, she does end up going, and has a great time. Adorable little bats, and lush colors.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Online church. Household accounting.

Books I read yesterday:: Bad Monkey.

Magazines: NYT Magazine (9/1), NYT Book Review (9/1), Threads (Summer), Smithsonian (Jul/Aug).

Great Course. New course is The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury.

Watching: Fiddler on the Roof (first half).

Listening:

Wordle 1,184 4/6* irate, reedy, refer, recur

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Connections
Puzzle #462
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Strands #196
“On the rocks”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/15:
46/46 words (+8 bonus words)—4 stars—
🎯 In the top 6% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 8

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/15:
24/24 words
🎯 In the top 23% by accuracy

Time to gear up my “Norman Jewison Film Fest”:

Jewison, who passed away in January, was prolific, and directed a lot of my favorite movies. Here’s a mostly-complete list of his oeuvre (how do you like that cinema-speak?!) Jewison did a lot of TV, and I’ve omitted those shows. The films I’ve seen are in bold. I’ll be rewatching!



Fiddler on the Roof (1971) starred Topol and Norma Crane (and many other top-notch actors, singers, and dancers). This is one of my favorite movies (and musicals), ever. I've always loved the music and the dancing (the "Bottle Dance" still gives me chills), but I paid more attention to the filmography and the acting this time, I think, because of the focus on Norman Jewison.

Jewison was nominated for Best Picture (1972), and Topol was nominated for Best Lead Actor, and there were eight nominations all told. The cinematography, the sound recording, and the music score won the Oscars.

Rollerball is up next! What a change of pace!

The Fabulous Fifties (1960) 7.5 on IMDB (unavailable?)
40 Pounds of Trouble (1962) (6.3)
The Thrill of It All (1963) (6.9)
Send Me No Flowers (1964) (6.9)
The Art of Love (1965) (6.1) (DVD)
The Cincinnati Kid (1965) (7.2) (Tubi)
The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966) (7.0) (Tubi)
In the Heat of the Night (1967) (7.9) (Tubi)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) (6.9) (MGM+)
Gaily, Gaily (1969) (5.3–might skip this one)
Fiddler on the Roof (1971) (8.0) (Tubi)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) (7.3) (Peacock)
Rollerball (1975) (6.5) (Tubi)
F.I.S.T. (1978) (6.1) DVD? Hard to locate! Can rent it for $4.
And Justice For All (1979) (7.4) DVD
Best Friends (1982) (5.5–skip?)
A Soldier’s Story (1984) (7.2) DVD
Agnes of God (1985) (6.6) DVD (ILL)
Moonstruck (1987) (7.2) (Tubi)
In Country (1989) (5.9) DVD (Kanopy, HCL)
Other People’s Money (1991) (6.2) DVD (ILL)
Only You (1994) (6.5) DVD
Bogus (1996) (5.3–skip?)
The Hurricane (1999) (7.6) DVD
The Statement (2003) (6.2–might skip, but it was his last movie) DVD (ILL)

>131 klobrien2: Gosh! I saw that at the big-screen theater in Austin in 1972. I'd forgotten that day.

*smooch* for a happy Sunday's reading/watching.

>131 klobrien2: & >132 richardderus: I saw it at the theatre with the kids a number of years ago in London with Anthony Sher in the lead role. I absolutely adored it.

Have a great Sunday, Karen.

>133 PaulCranswick: It would be great to see it live! I find it hard to imagine anyone but Topol as Tevye, though…

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!

>134 klobrien2: I thought so too, but the late Anthony Sher was very good to be fair.

I hope you very much enjoy the new Flavia de Luce when you get it , Karen. It's great series!

Just delurking to say hello.

I quite enjoyed the new Flavia de Luce and thought it was one of the stronger ones in the series.

Happy week ahead:)

Hi Karen, I've aded Sometimes We Fall and Never, Not Ever to my growing list of illustrated books to read.

Interestingly, it looks like you and I were reading Arctic approximately the same time period.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Household accounting.

Books I read yesterday:: Bad Monkey, The Boys Omnibus Vol. 1, The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh, Pastoralia by George Saunders.

Magazines:

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury.

Watching: Fiddler on the Roof (second half). “Moonflower Murders” ep. 1.

Listening:

Oops—double post

Wordle 1,185 4/6* irate, expel, coney, honey

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Connections
Puzzle #463
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Strands #197
“What a stud!”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/16:
26/26 words (+2 bonus words)—2 stars—
🎯 In the top 29% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 9

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/16:
24/24 words (+1 bonus word)
🎯 In the top 18% by accuracy

320. Bad Monkey (Andrew Yancy #1) by Carl Hiaasen



Fun, whacky book, with lots of fun characters. Andrew Yancy is the best--As I said upthread, I really like the Andrew Yancy character. He's funny, smart, has a heart for the wild critters, and works for justice. He treats women well.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Doctor appt.

Books I read yesterday:: Bad Monkey—finished. Summer in the Spring—finished.

Magazines:

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury.

Watching: The Story of Film: An Odyssey ep. 1 (Birth of Cinema 1895-1918). I can’t remember who brought this series to my attention, but thank you! I’ve been meaning to start it for a while

Listening:

Wordle 1,186 6/6* Phew! Got it in six! irate, teach, meaty, leant, feast, beaut

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Connections
Puzzle #464
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Strands #198
“On the rebound”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/17:
27/27 words (+7 bonus words)—2-1/2 stars—
📖 In the top 27% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 10

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/17:
20/20 words (+1 bonus word)
🎯 In the top 14% by accuracy

I owe you an apology, Karen, so: I'm sorry I questioned your comment (up above here somewhere) about Hiaasen writing a series of books with Andrew Yancy as the main character. I wanted to update my catalog after concluding Bad Monkey and discovered Hiaasen did write a second novel featuring Yancy (Razor Girl). It happens that I have a copy, so I'll dig it out and read it.

Happy week-ahead's reads and watches, Karen O.!

>145 weird_O: I THOUGHT Hiaasen had written a bunch of other Andrew Yancy books but, yes, there’s only the two. I’m sorry for my being mistaken. I WISH there were a bunch of Yancys! I’ve got Razor Girl requested, and I plan to read that one soon.

Have a Terrific Tuesday! Or a Taco Tuesday! Or both!

>146 richardderus: Hi, there, Richard! Good reading to you, too!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Mobility exercises. Grocery list. Jerry list.

Books I read yesterday:: The Boys Omnibus Vol. 1—finished. Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein—finished.James.

Magazines:

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury.

Watching: Only Murders in the Building ep. 4.4, English Teacher ep. 1 (really liked this show! It’s very funny, fast-paced, and Enrico Colantoni (he played Veronica Mars’s dad) is the principal in this show.)

Listening: NYT Amplifier: “7 New Songs You Should Hear Now”—My favorites were Soccer Mommy, and a duet with Margo Price and Billy Strings.

Wordle-in-6 two days in a row…but at least I didn’t bomb.

Wordle 1,187 6/6* irate, cloud, lumpy, sully, bully, fully

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Connections
Puzzle #465
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Strands #199
“Handy helpers”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/18:
41/41 words (+10 bonus words)—3-1/2 stars—
📖 In the top 16% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 11

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/18:
21/21 words

321. Summer In the Spring: Anishinaabe Lyric Poems and Stories by Gerald Vizenor



A really interesting anthology of history, lyric poems and their associated "pictomyths" (little sketches), and stories. This little book is highly annotated, with an emphasis on the Anishinaabe words.

Here's one of the poems, the poem that gives the book its name:

As my eyes
look across the prairie
I feel the summer
in the spring.

There's a definite sense of place and time there!

322. The Boys Omnibus Volume 1 by Garth Ennis, ill. Darick Robertson and Peter Snejbjerg



Fun, although very violent. Don't read this before bedtime!

323. Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook by Shel Silberstein



I find myself on kind of a Shel Silverstein Appreciation Reading Journey.

I love this book, and have loved it since the first time I read it, years ago. It's just such a fun read, all about the joy of words, the joy of reading (or, should that be, "the roy of jeading"?)

That's the key to the book--the letters or sounds of neighboring words are switched, making for levity and silliness. This is a great book to read aloud. And there are Silverstein's wonderful drawings, to boot.

I love the front note to the book: "Here is Runny Babbit. Completed prior to Shel's death in 1999, this was a work in progress for over twenty years. Shel Silverstein's family wishes to acknowledge the invaluable help of everyone involved in bringing this remarkable little book to life."

Here's the first poem in the book:

Way down in the green woods
Where the animals all play,
They do things and they say things
In a different sort of way--
Instead of sayin' "purple hat,"
They all say "hurple pat."
Instead of sayin' "feed the cat,"
They just say "ceed the fat."
'So if you say, "Let's bead a rook
That's billy as can se,"
You're talkin' Runny Babbit talk,
Just like mim and he."

Auto-correct has a real problem with Runny Babbit talk!

I am hopelessly behind yet again, Karen, but wanted to check in on you. I hope all is well there.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

>154 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia! Yes, all is fine here. Thanks for stopping by!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Order groceries.

Books I read yesterday:: Secrets of the Octopus—finished. A Light in the Attic—finished.

Magazines:

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury.

Watching: Bad Monkey ep. 7.

Listening:

Wordle 1,188 5/6* irate, green, credo, fresh, press

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Connections
Puzzle #466
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Strands #200
“Work out the bugs”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/19:
31/31 words (+6 bonus words)—4 stars—
🎯 In the top 13% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 12

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/19:
23/23 words
🎯 In the top 8% by accuracy

>153 klobrien2: ...I can only imagine...! Fun with words is probably the best way ever to get kids into reading.

>153 klobrien2: - Oddly, I am not familiar with that particular book, Karen, though I do own a few others. I also have his bio as yet unread. Silverstein's work reminds me of another beloved and equally talented poet, Canadian, Dennis Lee. You might know of his most famous books, Alligator Pie and Garbage Delight. My favourite of his poems probably is The Muddy Puddle, from the latter mentioned book. The only way to read this is OUT LOUD:

I am sitting
In the middle
Of a rather Muddy
Puddle.
With My Bottom
Full of Bubbles
And my rubbers
Full of Mud.

While my jacket
And my sweater
Go on slowly
Getting wetter
As I very
Slowly settle
To the Bottom
Of the Mud.

And I find that
What a person
With a puddle
Round his middle
Thinks of mostly
In the muddle
Is the Muddiness
of Mud.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I never actually did this with the kids I taught but I bet this would be so much fun for a class to learn and recite as a choral piece, perhaps in rounds or something. :-)

>159 jessibud2: I love it! And those are great ideas for presenting the poem! Thank you for sharing!

p.s. I just requested both of the books that you mentioned, and I'm looking forward to reading them. Thanks again!

324. Secrets of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery



Glorious photography and compelling information about octopuses. Sy Montgomery, of course, was the author of The Soul of the Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness. This book has the same easy-to-read, a-little-awestruck tone of Montgomery's writing.

This book was produced in conjunction with the national Geographic mini-series that is on Hulu Disney+.

The book ends with a wonderful "Octoprofiles" section, which provides detailed information about many different octopuses.

325. A Light in the Attic: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein



Another lovely collection of poems and drawings from Shel Silverstein. These are just a balm for the soul.
Here's one of my favorites:

How Many, How Much?

How many slams in an old screen door?
....Depends on how loud you shut it.
How many slices in a bread?
....Depends how thin you cut it.
How much good inside a day?
....Depends how good you live 'em.
How much love inside a friend?
....Depends how much you give 'em.

Thanks for the info re Young Sheldon and the character George. I'll have to look into that series a little more. Right now I am watching something on NetFlix called The Maid. It's quite sad, about a young woman who is escaping an abusive relationship with her 2 year old daughter. I don't know if you'd like it, I don't care for the amount of swearing, but it's a touching show. here is a link - https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/81166770 It's actually from a book called Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, And A Mother's Will To Survive. I don't know how available the book is though.

>161 klobrien2: I am going to have to get to that one! I loved The Soul of the Octopus when I read it several years ago. Thank you for making me aware of this one.

Have a fantastic Friday, Karen!

>163 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deborah! I’ve made a. Ite to take a look at “The Maid”—I have seen ads for that one. Thanks for the reccie!

>164 alcottacre: Hello there, Stasia! Secrets of the Octopus was wonderful. I hope you can locate a copy, and that you love it like I did.

Thanks to you both for visiting! I love to see you here!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Clear out some paper!

Books I read yesterday:: The Paris Mysteries by Edgar Allan Poe.

Magazines: NYT Book Review (9/8), Lake Superior (April/May).

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury.

Watching: Ted Lasso 3.6.

Listening:

Wordle 1,189 4/6* irate, globe, shove, smoke
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Connections
Puzzle #467
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Strands #201
“A way with words”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/20:
54/54 words (+11 bonus words)—4 stars—
🎯 In the top 19% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 13

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/20:
22/22 words (+4 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 20% by accuracy

Friday Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (09/20):

Actively reading (or soon will be!)

James by Percival Everett (September TIOLI #5) -- p. 44 of 252 (mine, on Nook)
The Loved One: an Anglo-American Tragedy by Evelyn Waugh -- p. 19 of 146
Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia Butler; adapted by Damien Duffy and John Jennings -- p. 00 of 260
Selected Poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay -- p. 0 of 167
As We Are Now by May Sarton -- p. 9 of 134
Six Myths of Our Time by Marina Warner -- p. 3 of 135
Pastoralia by George Saunders -- p. 8 of 188
Before Midnight by Rex Stout -- p. 7 of 172 (Libby)
Murder and Mendelssohn (Phryne Fisher #20) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 8 of 280 (Libby)
Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3) by Robert Galbraith -- p. 96 of 439 (Libby)

I'm overbooked! I don't want to lose track of these books, but I can't truly say that I am actively reading them right now:

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride -- p. 18 of 385
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman -- p. 20 of 173
A Circle of Quiet by Madeline L'Engle -- p. 65 of 250 (Libby)
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger -- p. 82 of 421 (mine, on Nook)
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett -- p. 29 of 278 (mine, on Nook)
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal -- p. 81 of 253 (mine, on Nook)
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead -- p. 73 of 288 (Nook)
Agatha's First Case (Agatha Raisin #0.5) by M. C. Beaton (Nook)
The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 3 of 238
Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King

I try to participate in the American Authors Challenge. In September, the group is reading books by authors who are American by choice. I plan to read The Art of Death: Writing the Final Story by Edwidge Danticat.

I usually am reading/watching Great Courses. My current Great Course is The Scientific Wonder of Birds. I have completed 0 of 12 lectures.

>168 klobrien2: Good reading indeed, Karen O. Have a great weekend ahead making the dent you want in them. *smooch*

Karen, I've added
>315. Sometimes We Fall by Randall de Seve, and >319. Never, Not Ever! by Beatrice Alemagna

Thanks for mentioning these very tempting books!!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books I read yesterday:: Library Book Day! (6 books)

Magazines: Scientific American (Sept)

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury.

Watching: Rollerball Comments in my “Norman Jewison Fest” post, later today.

Listening:

Wordle 1,190 5/6* irate, elegy, bedew, sexes, seven

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Connections
Puzzle #468
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Strands #202
“I've got the music in me!”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/21:
58/58 words (+10 bonus words)—3 stars—
🎯 In the top 5% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 14

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/21:
20/20 words (+2 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 26% by accuracy

Time to gear up my “Norman Jewison Film Fest”:

Jewison, who passed away in January, was prolific, and directed a lot of my favorite movies. Here’s a mostly-complete list of his oeuvre (how do you like that cinema-speak?!) Jewison did a lot of TV, and I’ve omitted those shows. The films I’ve seen are in bold. I’ll be rewatching!



Rollerball (1975). James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams (she has a tiny part, and isn't very good, sorry)

I'm so glad that I kept on with my schedule and watched Rollerball. The movie was a lot more than I expected.

"In the year 2018 (movie was made in 1975), nations have gone bankrupt. Corporations rule a world of docile, vapid customer-citizens who are constantly surveilled. They're fed happy pills, bought off with small luxuries, and distracted with a perilous gladiator-like roller sport." There are three groups of people--the Executives, the working classes, and the Rollerballers. According to the movie mythology, Rollerball was invented to show the futility of, and to stop, individuality. The Executive class move about in suits (the men) and toga-like gowns (the women). It's very redolent of ancient Rome.

James Caan plays Jonathon E., a champion rollerballer. He's been playing for ten years, and he's been told to retire, but he refuses.

The rollerball scenes are amazing (as far as the filming), violent and fast-moving. This film was the first one that listed its stunt performers in the credits, and there were a lot of them.

The film didn't do very well with awards, except for awards from the science fiction community. They loved the movie, now considered a cult classic.

I love the way that Jewison moved around in the different genres with the movies he made. I think this movie influenced a lot of dystopia/games type movies to come.

F.I.S.T. is up next!

The Fabulous Fifties (1960) 7.5 on IMDB (unavailable?)
40 Pounds of Trouble (1962) (6.3)
The Thrill of It All (1963) (6.9)
Send Me No Flowers (1964) (6.9)
The Art of Love (1965) (6.1) (DVD)
The Cincinnati Kid (1965) (7.2) (Tubi)
The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966) (7.0) (Tubi)
In the Heat of the Night (1967) (7.9) (Tubi)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) (6.9) (MGM+)
Gaily, Gaily (1969) (5.3–might skip this one)
Fiddler on the Roof (1971) (8.0) (Tubi)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) (7.3) (Peacock)
Rollerball (1975) (6.5) (MGM+)
F.I.S.T. (1978) (6.1) DVD? Hard to locate! Can rent it for $4.
And Justice For All (1979) (7.4) DVD
Best Friends (1982) (5.5–skip?)
A Soldier’s Story (1984) (7.2) DVD
Agnes of God (1985) (6.6) DVD (ILL)
Moonstruck (1987) (7.2) (Tubi)
In Country (1989) (5.9) DVD (Kanopy, HCL)
Other People’s Money (1991) (6.2) DVD (ILL)
Only You (1994) (6.5) DVD
Bogus (1996) (5.3–skip?)
The Hurricane (1999) (7.6) DVD
The Statement (2003) (6.2–might skip, but it was his last movie) DVD (ILL)

*********************************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony, the illustrated children's book, and the board game. (Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
************************************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jessibud2, Norabelle, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

Library Book Day (only one day, but six books, this week):



326. Dreamers by Yuyi Morales



I picked this book up because of the author's Bright Star, which I really liked.

This book is beautifully illustrated, with large figures and bright colors. It's the author's immigration story, and it's a love letter to libraries.

"We are stories.
We are two languages.
We are lucha. ("strugglers")
We are resilience.
We are hope.
We are dreamers,
sonadores of the world." (need a tilde over the "n"; "dreamers")

Here's a quote from the author's end note, which really resonates with me. Remember that I said that this book was a love letter to libraries? Well, it is also a paean to picture books!

"And there were picture books, something I had not encountered before. I could not believe how beautiful and sturdy these were--and then, when I opened them, I was amazed at the power of their illustrations. Even though I could understand very few of the words, I realized that I could understand the story through these images."



327. Ruby the Copycat by Peggy Rathman



Ruby is the new kid in class, and really wants to belong. Ruby's teacher shows her a better way to fit in--by being herself.



328. The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, ill. E. B Lewis



Lovely book, beautiful watercolor illustrations. Child is confused about the fence someone else has built in her yard and the racial tension that divides her world. She is warned about "the other side," but then she and her new neighbor meet at the fence, and go beyond it.



329. Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee



Gloriously illustrated, with so much detail (really fun to make background stories for each of the groups!)

"For life's ups and downs,
twists and turns...
hang on tight!"



330. I Wonder by K. A. Holt, pictures by Kenard Pak



Charming "I wonders" and illustrations.

"I wonder why I wonder so much."

"Because you are wonderful..."



331. Millie Fleur's Poison Garden by Christy Mandin



Millie Fleur is new in town, and she is a gardener. But she likes plants that are not the "garden variety."

"Reminds us all to celebrate what makes us wonderfully weird!"

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Online church. Visit with my sisters this afternoon.

Books I read yesterday:: James, The Loved One

Magazines:

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury. Read and watched: 1. Birds and Dinosaurs: The Origin of Flight, and 2. Birds and Boeings: The Magic of Flight. Love this instructor (Bruce E. Fleury)!

I love this: “Everything you learned about dinosaurs when you were a child is wrong. They weren’t scaly, cold-blooded, lumbering reptilian brutes, and they didn’t go extinct at the end of the Cretaceous.

“Dinosaurs were warm-blooded and agile. Some were covered in feathers, and many of them could fly. And there are billions of dinosaurs alive today in the skies.”

Watching: High Potential, ep. 1. Really liked this new police show. Kaitlin Olsen is one of my favorite comedy actors; with this show she gets to be funny and a little serious.

Listening:

Wordle 1,191 3/6* irate, least, teach

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Connections
Puzzle #469
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Strands #203
“I've got you under my skin”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/22:
66/66 words (+12 bonus words)—4-1/2 stars—
🎯 In the top 15% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 15

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/22:
21/21 words
🎯 Perfect accuracy

Happy Sunday!!

Enjoy the week ahead, Karen O.

>177 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda! It’s a gorgeous day here in Minnesota!

>178 richardderus: Thank you, Richard!

Good wishes are bouncing back to the both of you!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). KP.

Books I read yesterday:: The Loved One

Magazines: I’ve subscribed to The Onion (sarcastic newspaper). Read the August issue. Reminded me a little of the old Mad Magazine.

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury. Read: 3. Burning Bright: Avian Adaptations for Flight, and 4. Orientation, Navigation, Migration: Bird Road Trips.

Watching: Moonflower Murders, ep. 2, English Teacher.

Listening:

Wordle 1,192 2/6* irate, steam

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Connections
Puzzle #470
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Strands #204
“Gnaw-it-alls”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/23:
33/33 words (+5 bonus words)—1-1/2 stars—
🎯 In the top 28% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 16

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/23:
25/25 words (+1 bonus word)
🎯 Perfect accuracy

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). KP.

Books I read yesterday:: The Loved One—finished. James.

Magazines: The Week (9/20), New Yorker (9/16).

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury. Watched: 3. Burning Bright: Avian Adaptations for Flight, and 4. Orientation, Navigation, Migration: Bird Road Trips.
Read: 5. Bird Brains: Tool Wielders and Snack Stealers, and 6. Birds of a Feather: Flocking and Foraging.

Watching: As part of my Jewison Fest, watched the first 1.5 hours of F.I.S.T. (it’s a long movie!) I’ll watch the rest today.

Listening:

Wordle 1,193 5/6* irate, cloak, abuzz, manga, handy

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Connections
Puzzle #471
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Strands #205
“Spacing out”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/24:
24/24 words (+1 bonus word)—2 stars—
🎯 In the top 8% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 17

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/24:
21/21 words (+2 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 36% by accuracy

I had no idea that Jewison directed so many films.

Millie Fleur's Poison Garden looks good.

>184 BLBera: I'm amazed too, that there were so many films. And there was a lot of TV shows.

I think you'd like Millie Fleur!

Thanks for stopping by!

332. The Loved One: An Anglo-American Tragedy by Evelyn Waugh



"A dark and savage satire on the Anglo-American cultural divide depicts a world where reputation, love, and death cost a very great deal." I found this little book funny, overall, and there is tragedy as well. The dialogue is clever, and the book is definitely worth a read.

Trigger warning: There are a few small but disturbing instances of racism, two suicides (one at the start of the book, the other at the end).

>186 klobrien2: Nice of you to put in trigger warnings.

Time to gear up my “Norman Jewison Film Fest”:

Jewison, who passed away in January, was prolific, and directed a lot of my favorite movies. Here’s a mostly-complete list of his oeuvre (how do you like that cinema-speak?!) Jewison did a lot of TV, and I’ve omitted those shows. The films I’ve seen are in bold. I’ll be rewatching!



F.I.S.T. (1978). Sylvester Stallone, Rod Steiger, Melinda Dillon, Peter Doyle

Again, I'm so glad that I kept on with my schedule and watched this movie. The movie was hard to locate; I ended up renting it for $3.99 on MGM.

The story of the film is based on the Teamsters and the Teamsters president, Jimmy Hoffa. "A rebellious Cleveland warehouse worker rises through the ranks of a trucking industry union to become union president but his organized crime links cause his eventual downfall."

The script was written by Joe Eszterhas, Stallone, and Jewison. I read that this was Eszterhas's first screenplay, and his attempt resulted in a 400-page "novel." Stallone took over and rewrote, and IMDB has Jewison listed as a writer, too.

The film is okay; a little long (2-1/2 hours) and a little shapeless, but there is a strong feeling there, and it is showing us a big part of American history.

The film was a success with the public, and the critics. IMDB was a little snarky and reported that Stallone won a "Stinkers Bad Movies Award" for Worst Actor (shared with another Stallone movie, Paradise Alley).

...And Justice For All is up next!

The Fabulous Fifties (1960) 7.5 on IMDB (unavailable?)
40 Pounds of Trouble (1962) (6.3)
The Thrill of It All (1963) (6.9)
Send Me No Flowers (1964) (6.9)
The Art of Love (1965) (6.1) (DVD)
The Cincinnati Kid (1965) (7.2) (Tubi)
The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966) (7.0) (Tubi)
In the Heat of the Night (1967) (7.9) (Tubi)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) (6.9) (MGM+)
Gaily, Gaily (1969) (5.3–might skip this one)
Fiddler on the Roof (1971) (8.0) (Tubi)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) (7.3) (Peacock)
Rollerball (1975) (6.5) (MGM+)
F.I.S.T. (1978) (6.4) Rent from MGM
And Justice For All (1979) (7.4) DVD
Best Friends (1982) (5.5–skip?)
A Soldier’s Story (1984) (7.2) DVD
Agnes of God (1985) (6.6) DVD (ILL)
Moonstruck (1987) (7.2) (Tubi)
In Country (1989) (5.9) DVD (Kanopy, HCL)
Other People’s Money (1991) (6.2) DVD (ILL)
Only You (1994) (6.5) DVD
Bogus (1996) (5.3–skip?)
The Hurricane (1999) (7.6) DVD
The Statement (2003) (6.2–might skip, but it was his last movie) DVD (ILL)

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). KP. Grocery list.

Books I read yesterday:: Razor Girl by Carl Hiaasen.

Magazines:

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury. Watched: 5. Bird Brains: Tool Wielders and Snack Stealers, and 6. Birds of a Feather: Flocking and Foraging.

Watching: As part of my Jewison Fest, finished F.I.S.T. (it’s a long movie!). Only Murders in the Building ep. 4.5, Man Down ep. 1.1.

Listening:

Wordle 1,194 3/6* irate, stork, torch

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⬜🟦🟦🟦⬜
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Connections
Puzzle #472
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Strands #206
“Claim your steak”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/25:
58/58 words (+13 bonus words)—3 stars—
📖 In the top 24% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 18

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/25:
24/24 words (+3 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 40% by accuracy

Hi, Karen! There's no way I can catch up, but I spent time at the top and bottom of your thread. You remind me, again, that I enjoy both Connections and Strands but rarely try them.

Happy Reading into fall! I can hardly wait!

>189 klobrien2: I'm amazed you found F.I.S.T. at all. Well done you!

*smooch*

>191 LizzieD: Hi, there! I really like the puzzles—kind of gets my day moving to do them.

Happy reading to you, too! And thanks for stopping by!

>192 richardderus: I grumbled at having to pay for it. Why don’t libraries carry it? Is it the union/organized crime connection? It’s not particularly gruesome, though there is violence.

Oh, well, I’m glad to have seen it.

Thanks for stopping by!

>194 klobrien2: It's not very well thought of, or reviewed. Plus it's about labor, a subject that gets very fraught very fast.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Errands (including libraries!)

Books I read yesterday:: Razor Girl by Carl Hiaasen, The Art of Death by Edwidge Danticat, James by Percival Everett.

Magazines:

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury. Read: 7. Avian Turf Wars: Defending a Territory, and 8. Bird Songs and Calls: Music in a Message.

Watching: Bad Monkey ep. 8, Man Down ep. 1.2, High Potential ep. 2.

Listening:

Wordle 1,195 3/6* irate, stash, thank

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Connections
Puzzle #473
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Strands #207
“Special delivery”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/26:
50/50 words (+9 bonus words)—4 stars—
🎯 In the top 20% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 19

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/26:
25/25 words (+1 bonus word)
🎯 Perfect accuracy

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books I read yesterday:: James by Percival Everett.

Magazines:

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury. Watch: 7. Avian Turf Wars: Defending a Territory, and 8. Bird Songs and Calls: Music in a Message.

Watching: English Teacher eps. 3, 4, 5 (really liking this show!). Man Down ep. 1.3.

Listening: NYT Amplifier: The Ultimate Outlaw Country Primer.

Wordle 1,196 2/6* irate, faith

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Connections
Puzzle #474
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Strands #208
“Medieval marvel”
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🟡🔵🔵🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 09/27:
64/64 words (+23 bonus words)—4-1/2 stars—
📖 In the top 19% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 20

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/27:
23/23 words (+4 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 34% by accuracy

Happy Saturday, Karen. I hope you loved James as much as most of us did. Sounds like you are having a good time with The Scientific Wonder of Birds. You may end up knowing more than me about our feathered friends. 😀

>200 msf59: I’ll finish James this morning and I’m loving it! And the birds course is wonderful. The instructor is an ornithologist, but you can tell he cares deeply about the birds, too. So much I didn’t know!

Always great to see you here! Have a wonderful weekend!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Reading Roundup and Mags list updated.

Books I read yesterday:: James by Percival Everett. Library Book Day (7)—finished.

Magazines: NYT Magazine (9/8), NYT Book Review (9/15), Booklist (9/1).

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury. Watch: 7. Avian Turf Wars: Defending a Territory, and 8. Bird Songs and Calls: Music in a Message.

Watching: GBBO/S ep 15.1 (it’s back! I’d forgotten how much pressure these folks are under. It should be a great season—lots of talent!). Freaks and Geeks ep. 1.1.

Listening: NYT Amplifier: Lady Gaga’s “Joker” and a Tour of Musical Clowning.

Wordle 1,197 2/6* Yahoo! irate, brain

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Connections
Puzzle #475
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Strands #209
“Feeling good”
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🔵🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 09/28:
42/42 words (+6 bonus words)—2-1/2 stars—
📖 In the top 33% by bonus words
🔥 Solve streak: 21

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/28:
22/22 words (+2 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 26% by accuracy

*********************************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony, the illustrated children's book, and the board game. (Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
************************************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jessibud2, Norabelle, Booklist, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

Library Book Day!:



333. Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales



Fun story about a clever grandma who makes Mr. Calavera ("skull"/"skeleton") wait while she prepares a party for her grandchildren, using traditions of Mexican culture. Numbers are presented in both English and Spanish. Beautiful, colorful illustrations, as the norm with Yuyi Morales.



334. Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales



Another by Yuyi Morales, this one, a Caldecott Honor book.

"Spare, polished text and luscious illustrations." The author uses some modelled figures for her illustrations (like, a doll, representing Kahlo). English and Spanish are both represented.



335. Thunder Boy, Jr. by Sherman Alexie, illustrated by Yuyi Morales



Now, a book written by Alexie, and illustrated by Morales. Great story about a father and a son, and the power of names. Gentle, gorgeous story and illustrations.



336. The Book of Turtles, by Sy Montgomery and Matt Patterson



I didn't know that Sy Montgomery, who wrote so well about octopuses in The Soul of an Octopus and Secrets of the Octopus also wrote children's books!

This is a non-fiction illustrated book (great concept!) Lots of great information about turtles: lots of basic turtle facts (like "the shell invented the turtle"), pictures and info about many different species, stories of famous turtles (yes, there are famous turtles!), and how to help endangered turtles (and, indeed, our endangered planet).



337. Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers, ill. Marla Frazee



Great drawings of very cute babies. Wonderful capturing of expressions and movement. Some of the drawings are just hilarious!



338. Mog the Forgetful Cat by Judith Kerr



This book dates back to 1970; though I read a "remastered" edition, the content seemed fresh and undated.

Mog is a forgetful cat, but she also has a lot of attitude. Fun story of the cat and her family.



339. Mog Time: Six Stories About Mog by Judith Kerr



It was nice to have all these "Mog" stories assembled in one. "Delightful stories about the family cat with attitude." The drawings are very nice and the stories are sweet but not cloying.

Here's a list of the stories contained here:

1. Mog the Forgetful Cat
2. Mog and Bunny
3. Mog's Bad Thing
4. Mog and the Baby
5. Mog on Fox Night
6. Mog's Christmas

Friday Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (09/27):

Actively reading (or soon will be!)

Razor Girl (Andrew Yancy #2) by Carl Hiassen -- p. 64 of 333
Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher -- p. 18 of 443
Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia Butler; adapted by Damien Duffy and John Jennings -- p. 00 of 260
Selected Poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay -- p. 0 of 167
As We Are Now by May Sarton -- p. 9 of 134
Pastoralia by George Saunders -- p. 8 of 188
Before Midnight by Rex Stout -- p. 7 of 172 (Libby)
Murder and Mendelssohn (Phryne Fisher #20) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 8 of 280 (Libby)
Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3) by Robert Galbraith -- p. 96 of 439 (Libby)

I'm overbooked! I don't want to lose track of these books, but I can't truly say that I am actively reading them right now:

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride -- p. 18 of 385
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman -- p. 20 of 173
A Circle of Quiet by Madeline L'Engle -- p. 65 of 250 (Libby)
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger -- p. 82 of 421 (mine, on Nook)
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett -- p. 29 of 278 (mine, on Nook)
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal -- p. 81 of 253 (mine, on Nook)
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead -- p. 73 of 288 (Nook)
Agatha's First Case (Agatha Raisin #0.5) by M. C. Beaton (Nook)
The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 3 of 238
Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King

I try to participate in the American Authors Challenge. In September, the group is reading books by authors who are American by choice. I plan to read The Art of Death: Writing the Final Story by Edwidge Danticat -- p. 23 of 173.

I usually am reading/watching Great Courses. My current Great Course is The Scientific Wonder of Birds. I have completed 6 of 12 lectures.

340. James by Percival Everett (another author with a fun-to-say name!)



I'm completely understanding all the warbling about this book! I have read a few Everett books (and I need to read more). I have enjoyed them all, and they have stayed with me.

This book is a heartbreaking, compelling look at the real character of James (we knew him as "Jim"). So much action in this book! The pace hardly slows. The writing is perfect, clean and vibrant.

Here are a few passages that really stuck out to me:

"My voice, even in my head, had found its root in my diaphragm, had become sonorous and round. My pencil had more firmly grasped the pages of my newly dried notebook. I saw more clearly, farther, further. My name became my own."

Very near the end of the book: "I am the angel of death, come to offer sweet justice in the night," I said. "I am a sign. I am your future. I am James."

I'm glad you enjoyed James so much, Karen. It's in my TBR pile and the Booker Longlist has been so disappointing for me this year, that it's encouraging that you liked it so much.

Karen, Once again, I've added many of the illustrated books you've read.

I'm not sure if you read https://www.librarything.com/work/96381/book/126763802

Karen, you are reading some great illustrated books. I've added those that I didn't have in my library. Many thanks for Mog the Forgetful Cat, Everywhere Babies, The Book of Turtles, Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book, by Yuyi Morales and Ruby the Copycat.

I agree that Yuyi Morales is an excellent artist.

I enjoy visiting your thread and knowing you developed a liking for illustrated books. It's good to have a like-minded reader. There is so very much packed into some of these books. And, as you know, some of the illustrators are incredible.

Because you liked Everywhere Babies, I recommend one of my favorites both in story and illustration. Rain Babies is a beautiful book. Jim LaMarche is an incredible illustrator. I've read most of his books, and I like every one of them! Here is the link to my review of this book.

https://www.librarything.com/work/96381/book/126763802

>209 Whisper1: I’m going off right now to try to locate a copy of The Rainbabies. Thanks for the recommendation!

Happy Sunday, Linda!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Online church. Errands?

Books I read yesterday:: James by Percival Everett—finished. The Boys Omnibus Volume 2 by Garth Ennis. New York Times Cooking No-Recipe Recipes by Sam Sifton.

Magazines:

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury. Watched: 7. Avian Turf Wars: Defending a Territory, and 8. Bird Songs and Calls: Music in a Message (the cats were VERY interested in this lecture!)

Watching: …And Justice for All, part of my Norman Jewison watching.

Listening:

Wordle 1,198 5/6* irate, riven, riper, riser, rider

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Connections
Puzzle #476
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Strands #210
“Weed 'em and reap”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/29:
36/36 words (+7 bonus words)—4 stars—
🎯 In the top 22% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 22

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/29:
23/23 words (+2 bonus words)
🎯 Perfect accuracy

Time to gear up my “Norman Jewison Film Fest”:

Jewison, who passed away in January, was prolific, and directed a lot of my favorite movies. Here’s a mostly-complete list of his oeuvre (how do you like that cinema-speak?!) Jewison did a lot of TV, and I’ve omitted those shows. The films I’ve seen are in bold. I’ll be rewatching!



...And Justice For All (1979) Starring: Al Pacino, Jack Warden, John Forsythe, Christine Lahti

"A lawyer is forced to defend a judge, while defending other clients, and trying to find punishment for the guilty and provide justice for the innocent."

The cast is amazing, especially Pacino. Jewison said that the film was a real switch for Pacino. Usually he played characters on the edge. This time, he was the most rational person in the picture. A very involving and enjoyable movie. Pacino is a great hero.

A Soldier's Story (1984) is up next.

The Fabulous Fifties (1960) 7.5 on IMDB (unavailable?)
40 Pounds of Trouble (1962) (6.3)
The Thrill of It All (1963) (6.9)
Send Me No Flowers (1964) (6.9)
The Art of Love (1965) (6.1) (DVD)
The Cincinnati Kid (1965) (7.2) (Tubi)
The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966) (7.0) (Tubi)
In the Heat of the Night (1967) (7.9) (Tubi)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) (6.9) (MGM+)
Gaily, Gaily (1969) (5.3–might skip this one)
Fiddler on the Roof (1971) (8.0) (Tubi)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) (7.3) (Peacock)
Rollerball (1975) (6.5) (MGM+)
F.I.S.T. (1978) (6.4) Rent from MGM
And Justice For All (1979) (7.4) DVD
Best Friends (1982) (5.5–skip?)
A Soldier’s Story (1984) (7.2) DVD
Agnes of God (1985) (6.6) DVD (ILL)
Moonstruck (1987) (7.2) (Tubi)
In Country (1989) (5.9) DVD (Kanopy, HCL)
Other People’s Money (1991) (6.2) DVD (ILL)
Only You (1994) (6.5) DVD
Bogus (1996) (5.3–skip?)
The Hurricane (1999) (7.6) DVD
The Statement (2003) (6.2–might skip, but it was his last movie) DVD (ILL)

>213 klobrien2: I think I've seen ...And Justice for All, but absolutely nothing in the synopsis on IMDb, or the photos of the production, nothin'...was it based on a book? Apparently not, but it certainly has that literary air...nothing is weirder than the feeling you know something has passed before you, but nothing chimes in the memory hole. Must go seek it out, it sounds too good a story to ignore.

Sunday *smooch*

>214 richardderus: IMDB says that this was a screenplay written by Valerie Curtin and Barry Levinson. They got an Oscar nomination for it.

Maybe those iconic lines,“You're out of order! You're out of order! The whole trial is out of order! They're out of order!" is what you’re remembering?

It is a great story. Justice reigns.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Errands?

Books I read yesterday: The Boys Omnibus Volume 2 by Garth Ennis—finished. New York Times Cooking No-Recipe Recipes by Sam Sifton—finished.

Magazines:

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury. Read: 9. Avian Mating: Lady’s Choice, and 10. Avian Mating: Singles Bars and Bachelor Pads.

Watching: SNL ep. 50.1 (I liked musical guest Jelly Roll more than I thought I would—need to listen to more of him.
Moonflower Murders ep. 3.

Listening:

Well, I’m gobsmacked! I didn’t get any hits on my normal first word, so I fired off my normal second word in that situation. Madness ensued. I’ll take it!

Wordle 1,199 2/6* irate, cloud

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Connections
Puzzle #477
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Strands #211
“Words with weight”
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I played https://squaredle.com 09/30:
24/24 words (+4 bonus words)—2 stars—
🎯 In the top 32% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 23

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 09/30:
19/19 words (+7 bonus words)
📖 In the top 2% by bonus words

>215 klobrien2: YES!! That's exactly it! Thank you, I can now refile this under "done that" and stop having it niggle at my processing power...good thing, too, it's overtaxed after my end-of-quarter Medicare claims audit. *shudder*

341. The New York Times Cooking No Recipe Recipes by Sam Sifton



Fun (and so useful!) approach to cooking and to cookbooks! The recipes use no detailed list of ingredient amounts (though the ingredients themselves are listed). The directions are more roughly stated than in a typical recipe. There are lots of pictures of the finished products (what you're aiming for).

We start off with a section detailing "You Do Need a Pantry," and there's a lovely list of things to have on hand (I did pretty well with most of the basics).

Then there's a section called "Always a Party Board"--as the fallback solution to what to throw together for a meal.

The rest of the book proceeds with the standard categories of foods/recipes:

Breakfast, Anytime
Soup, Sandwich, Dinner
The Vegetable Aisle
The Staples Sisters: Rice and Pasta
On the Waterfront
Chickens and a Duck
A Number of Meats
Dessert, Please

Lots of really nice-looking recipes. I might have to get this cookbook for my own collection.

342. The Boys Omnibus, Volume 2 by Garth Ennis



I'm enjoying my reread of these graphic novels. I'm a fan of the TV show, and the books help me to recall and revisit the back story, the plot lines (although the show is an adaptation), and the characters.

Trigger warning: this series is quite violent and gory at times. The political content is quite reminiscent of present-day as well. (Gulp!)

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Errands?

Books I read yesterday: Does This Taste Funny? Recipes Our Family Loves by Stephen Colbert, What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley.

Magazines: New Yorker (9/23), Vanity Fair (Sept).

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury. Watched: 9. Avian Mating: Lady’s Choice, and 10. Avian Mating: Singles Bars and Bachelor Pads. Fleury continues to charm!

Watching: 9.1.1 ep 8.1 (this show is so jump-the-shark, but it’s fun to watch. It was one of Art’s faves 💕); English Teacher ep. 6, Ted Lasso 3.7.

Listening: Want to listen to some Kris Kristofferson today, I think.

Almost a “Phew!”

Wordle 1,200 5/6* irate, ebony, hovel, sowed, modem

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Connections
Puzzle #478
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Strands #212
“Channel surfing”
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🟡🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 10/01:
27/27 words (+1 bonus word)
🎯 In the top 15% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 24

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 10/01:
20/20 words
🎯 In the top 16% by accuracy

>222 klobrien2: - It took me awhile today too!

Happy October. I enjoyed today. Nice to have a bit cooler temp. Getting pretty dry here but harvest is in progress so that's probably okay.

October orisons, Karen O.! I hope your Siftoning continues to inspire your creative juiciness. His focus on methods, not ingredients, is very liberating. "What can I do with *this*?" is such a turbocharger of a question.

Stay well, dear lady.

>223 jessibud2: yeah, it seemed a little tricky…well, that’s why it’s fun, I suppose.

>224 Kristelh: Oh, it was gorgeous out today. I so love the cooler temps.

>225 richardderus: Ack! October already?!

Thank you all for visiting and sharing your warm words!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Grocery list. Jerry list?

Books I read yesterday: Does This Taste Funny? Recipes Our Family Loves by Stephen Colbert, What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley.

Magazines:

Great Course. The Scientific Wonder of Birds by Bruce E. Fleury. Read and watched the final lectures: 11. Nests and Eggs: a Home in the Sticks, and 12. Parental Care: Bird Family and Friends. Excellent course!

Watching: The VP Duh-bate (Vance is so smooth, but quite oily; Walz is my guy; nice to have the civility between these two!), then Only Murders in the Building 4.6.

Listening: NYT Amplifier: Six of “The Greatest” Songs (good list; my favorite was Alabama Shakes).

Wordle 1,201 5/6* Ugh. irate, model, quell, spell, shell

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Connections
Puzzle #479
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Strands #213
“Fresh out of the oven”
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I played https://squaredle.com 10/02:
30/30 words (+7 bonus words)—3 stars—
🔥 Solve streak: 25

I played https://squaredle.com 10/02:
30/30 words (+7 bonus words)
🔥 Solve streak: 25

343. The Scientific Wonder of Birds (Great Course) by Bruce E. Fleury



Excellent course! Instructor is very knowledgeable and a great teacher. Book and two DVDs. 12 lectures of 30 minutes each.

>229 klobrien2: Six hours of bird talk...wow, that is a commitment indeed. It's a deeply interesting field, of course, but not one I've ever gone into at that depth.

Enjoy what I hope is a lovely October day there.

Checking in on you, Karen.

When I was collecting the stats for the TIOLI sweeps and sweeplettes over the past couple of days, I was pleasantly surprised to see your name there. I hope you join in again for October!

Wow! Another fan of James. I am now number 12 on my library list, so it shouldn't be too much longer.

>230 richardderus: I found Bruce Fleury exceptionally interesting to read and to listen to. And I love Great Courses anyway.

>231 alcottacre: I join in TIOLI when I can find a match. I keep checking in to see what people are reading.
P.s. I found a match in challenge 10–I’ll be reading Erasure. Yay!

>232 BLBera: James was so good! It is far from being a slog of a read, so I hope you don’t have to wait much longer.

Thank you all for stopping by to chat. I love to see you here!

James looks to be a shoo-in for the Booker.

Just wanted to give you my congratulations for already getting 2,000 posts on your threads this year, Karen.

>234 PaulCranswick: I join Paul in congratulating you for such an active thread!

>206 klobrien2: Hooray for James! I enjoyed your comments. It is still the book to beat for me in 2024.

>234 PaulCranswick: Well, most of those posts are my own—hehe…I do like seeing all of the activity—books I’m reading, things I’m doing, things I’m planning. Just trying to fill my days and keep mentally active, I guess.

And, thank you, Paul, for tending to our stats! It is very interesting to see how our LT use trends.

I’ve read only two of the Booker short list (I also read Orbital and loved it). But James is something more. It’s got such depth to it.

>235 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! Thank you for making my numbers grow! And, as I’ve said countless times, thank you for setting me on the “illustrated” road! Those pretty books have been such a balm to me in my months post-Art.

>236 msf59: Hooray for James, indeed!

So good to have you all stop in (and bump my numbers even more)—woohoo!

Karen, I am so very glad to have another person in our group who enjoys the beauty of these books. I am also trying to balance and read more non illustrated books. I hope to obtain James tomorrow from the library. Your review is stellar.

I am also very glad that illustrated books help in your months of loss of Art. Most recently, we lost a neighbor. Jim's journey and Will's were somewhat similar in that after they had open heart surgery, their lungs became very compromised. Jim and his wife Sandy came to our house often to play dominoes and/or trivial pursuit. I talked to Sandy today and she is having a tough journey right now. They did so much together that now she is lost.

>237 klobrien2: Don't make me do stats that show the ratio of your posts to your visitors post. There are plenty of us who enjoy visiting here. You are always welcoming and your book are life discussions are always intelligently put forward, Karen. x

You got 21 other visitors to this thread for example who have posted.

>233 klobrien2: Wonderful! I am glad to know that you will be joining us again this month.

BTW - Two new challenges were posted this morning!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Order groceries.

Books I read yesterday: Does This Taste Funny? Recipes Our Family Loves by Stephen Colbert.

Magazines:

Great Course.

Watching: Bad Monkey ep. 9 (only one episode left!) Hurricane is moving in, so very timely. Tom Petty songs played (he was a Florida man). I’ve really liked this show; I hope there will be a second season.

Listening:

Wordle 1,202 3/6* I puzzled over this one for a while! irate, gloam, wagon

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Connections
Puzzle #480
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Strands #214
“Hairy styles”
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I played https://squaredle.com 10/03:
59/59 words (+9 bonus words)—4 stars—
🎯 In the top 9% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 26

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 10/03:
24/24 words (+4 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 12% by accuracy

Thursday orisons, Karen O.

*smooch*

>243 richardderus: *smooch* right back to you!

Had to look up the etymology for “orison”:

orison (n.)
c. 1200, orisoun, "a prayer," especially "a set prayer that forms part of a religious service," from Anglo-French oreison, Old French oreisun (12c., Modern French oraison) "oration," from Latin orationem (nominative oratio) "speech, oration," in Church Latin "prayer, appeal to God," noun of action from past-participle stem of ōrare "to speak, pray, plead" (see orator). Etymologically, a doublet of oration.
also from c. 1200

Interesting!

Have a lovely weekend, Richard!

Have a fantastic Friday, Karen!

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸I voted yesterday!! I love voting, the meaning of voting, the act of voting, the taking of a stand! It is a solemn and joyful thing, thanks be to God and the spirit of Democracy!

I am so thankful to live in Minnesota, where we have mail-in voting, and where the voting starts early. Jerry was here, so he was my witness (bless him!)

Go, Harris/Walz! Go, Amy Klobuchar! Go, Betty McCollum! Okay, I’ll stop now!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Update Reading Roundup and magazine list. Library Book Day (!) Errands?

Books I read yesterday: Does This Taste Funny? Recipes Our Family Loves by Stephen Colbert—finished it up. It was very tasty (hehe).

Magazines:

Great Course.

Watching: Ted Lasso eps. 3.8 and 3.9. Lovely episodes.

Listening:

I really thought I was throwing away my second word, but felt it would get me closer. Well, it did! Real benefit to getting the final letter on the first guess.

Wordle 1,203 2/6* irate, title

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Connections
Puzzle #481
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Strands #215
“Driver's catch-all”
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I played https://squaredle.com 10/04:
49/49 words (+9 bonus words)
🎯 In the top 22% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 27

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 10/04:
23/23 words (+1 bonus word)
🎯 Perfect accuracy

>244 klobrien2: Isn't that an excellent word? Joe let me know that I was misusing "benison" thinking it was "orison" so I went off to look 'em both up. A benison is:
c. 1300, "blessing, beatitude," from Old French beneison, beneiçon "blessing, benediction," from Late Latin benedictionem, per etymonline.

Happy voted-already weekend! The county sends people here to the facility on the 25th, so I'll be there then.

>245 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia! You, too!

>248 richardderus: “Benison” is an excellent word! Many benisons to you!

344. Does This Taste Funny?: Recipes Our Family Loves by Steven Colbert and Evie McGee Colbert



Excellent cookbook, filled with delicious-looking recipes (or, "receipts," as Evie Colbert calls them, in the Charleston tradition). Tons of gorgeous photos of food, people, and places.

Both authors grew up in Charleston, SC, and the food they grew up on was Lowcountry (coastal South Carolina). The area and the food (and its origins) is highlighted in this cookbook.

Both of the Colberts are very funny, as are their friends and family, and their respect and love for each other is very apparent. Each recipe contains a back-and-forth between them, and those dialogues are a hoot. This book was a delight to read, for all kinds of reasons.

Basic divisions of the book (pretty standard):

Party Food (they chose not to call this section, "Appetizers," because the recipes could serve, and did serve for them, as entire meals)
Poultry
Meat
Seafood
Vegetables, Sides, and One Other Thing
Desserts
Breakfast
Drinks

Really fun and interesting cookbook. And travelogue. And humor book. Very much recommended.

>250 klobrien2: - I keep meaning to take a look at that. They live one town over from me, and she is President of the local film society that operates an art house theater and organizes an annual film festival. By all (local) accounts, they are really nice people.

>251 katiekrug: I'm so excited to know that you know them (or at least know OF them)! The two of them have a production company and are developing ideas all of the time, so I'm not surprised that Evie does all that film stuff.

I think you'd really like the cookbook.

Thanks for stopping by!

Friday Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (10/04/24):

Actively reading (or soon will be!)

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley -- p. 41 of 227
Razor Girl (Andrew Yancy #2) by Carl Hiassen -- p. 64 of 333
Erasure by Percival Everett (TIOLI #10) -- p. of
Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher -- p. 18 of 443
Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia Butler; adapted by Damien Duffy and John Jennings -- p. 00 of 260
Selected Poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay -- p. 0 of 167
As We Are Now by May Sarton -- p. 9 of 134
Pastoralia by George Saunders -- p. 8 of 188
Before Midnight by Rex Stout -- p. 7 of 172 (Libby)
Murder and Mendelssohn (Phryne Fisher #20) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 8 of 280 (Libby)
Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3) by Robert Galbraith -- p. 96 of 439 (Libby)

I'm overbooked! I don't want to lose track of these books, but I can't truly say that I am actively reading them right now:

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride -- p. 18 of 385
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman -- p. 20 of 173
A Circle of Quiet by Madeline L'Engle -- p. 65 of 250 (Libby)
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger -- p. 82 of 421 (mine, on Nook)
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett -- p. 29 of 278 (mine, on Nook)
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal -- p. 81 of 253 (mine, on Nook)
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead -- p. 73 of 288 (Nook)
Agatha's First Case (Agatha Raisin #0.5) by M. C. Beaton (Nook)
The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 3 of 238
Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King

I try to participate in the American Authors Challenge. In October, we are reading books by Katherine Anne Porter. I plan to read Pale Horse, Pale Rider: Three Short Novels.

I usually am reading/watching Great Courses. I have two new courses from the library: London in the Time of Dickens and Lost Art: The Stories of Missing Masterpieces. I haven't decided which one to view first!

>246 klobrien2: Congratulations on getting your voting done! Early voting opens here in a couple of weeks. We will be taking advantage of it.

We really like Amy Klobuchar. She makes a lot of sense. I got to hear her speak locally, when she was running for president. But she dropped out of the race in favor of Joe Biden just a few days later.

I hope you enjoy What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust, Karen. I really did.

>255 vancouverdeb: I’m a real fan of Bradley’s books. Really liking the new one so far; hope to get more time with it this weekend.

Happy weekend!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Errands?

Books I read yesterday: Library Book Day (9); Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo

Magazines:

Great Course.

Watching: Ted Lasso eps. 3.10 and 3.11. Will finish the show watching today. GBBS 15.2.

Listening: NYT Amplifier: 10 Unforgettable Kris Kristofferson Covers (pretty good; Best was Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee”).

Wordle 1,204 5/6* irate, ripen, nicer, finer, miner

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Connections
Puzzle #482
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Strands #216
“No way!”
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I played https://squaredle.com 10/05:
31/31 words (+2 bonus words)—2 stars—
🎯 In the top 26% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 28

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 10/05:
21/21 words (+1 bonus word)
📖 In the top 29% by bonus words

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There are only three forms of high art: the symphony, the illustrated children's book, and the board game. (Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
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So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jessibud2, Norabelle, Booklist, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

Library Book Day!:



345. The Polar Express by Chris Van Ailsburg



Caldecott Medal winner. Charming story, lovely illustrations.



346. The Boy and the Gorilla by Jackie Azua Kramer, ill. Cindy Derby



(Cindy Derby was the author and illustrator of How to Walk an Ant)

A young boy is mourning his mother, and an imaginary gorilla helps him talk to his dad about it and find a path to healing. Beautiful story about grief and healing. Lovely watercolor illustrations.



347. The Paper Princess by Elisa Kleven



Illustrations are mostly paper collage--beautifully detailed.

"Children must necessarily finish themselves, which they do by an age-old process of venturing forth from home to experience the world, and then returning over and again."



348. A Rainy Dragon Day by by Julie Volk, trans. Melody Shaw



Charming story and illustrations of Fred the Dragon. Actually, there are many dragons in the book and they are all wonderfully-drawn. The main question is, "Where do dragons go when they have to. . .GO?" Kind of gross, but I bet kids would love it!



349. Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean Floor Ecosystem by Melissa Stewart, ill. Ron Dunlavey



"A whale's body can provide shelter and sustenance for hundreds of species and millions of creatures over a fifty-year period." Amazing!

This book features sea life in all its beauty and mystery. There's an entire sea life section at the end, with detailed information about the creatures of the ocean, especially the deep ocean.



350. Little Whale by Jo Weaver



Magnificent black and white illustrations! Sweet, involving story about "the wonder of nature and the strength of parental love."

This book is about a gray whale and her calf, who are migrating. "Gray whales migrate up to 12,400 miles every year--a journey that is believed to be the longest annual migration of any mammal."



351. Garbage Delight, poems by Dennis Lee, pictures by Frank Newfeld



Kids' poetry and pictures, out of Canada, recommended by jessibud2. This is an old book (1977), and very "Canada" (place names and alternate terms for things). It was fun to read, and the "Mud" poem that jessibud2 quoted (see >159 jessibud2:) is a fun one, and would be great read aloud.



352. Sinclair, the Velociraptor Who Thought He Was a Chicken by Douglas Rees, ill. Galia Bernstein



Really nice story and illustrations! "Celebrates dinosaurs, chickens, the importance of family, and the joy of accepting who we are." Lots of dinosaurs, not just velociraptors!



353. The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr



Book dates back to 1968. A forerunner to the "Mog the cat" books. Sweet pictures and funny story.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things). Church. Errands?

Books I read yesterday: Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo, What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust.

Magazines: NYT Magazine (9/15) and (9/22), Atlantic Monthly (Sept), Lake Superior (Aug/Sept).

Great Course.

Watching: Ted Lasso ep. 3.12. 9-1-1 ep. 8.2, Freaks and Geeks 1.2.

Listening: