Alcott Acre's Home, Room 10

Well, let's get the introduction out of the way. My name is Stasia and I have been happily married to the recently retired Kerry for 36 years. We have 6 children, 4 of whom are my stepchildren and 2 of whom are ours together. We also have 8 grandchildren. 2023 was a tough year for our family as we lost my father and stepdaughter, Nichole, within days of each other back in February.

I love to read and it has been a huge solace to me over the past year - I call it "burying myself in books." Since Kerry retired December 29th, it is going to be interesting to see how his retirement affects my reading! I am playing it safe and just shooting for 100 books read this year. I also suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (known to me familiarly as 'stupid CFS') and it seems like my bouts are becoming longer each time it springs up, so it affects my reading for the worse. CFS drives me crazy because I hate sleeping!

That's about it, I think, so come on in and grab a cuppa!

Excellent Reads from 2024 (in the order in which I read them):

5 Stars
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Cold Crematorium by Jozsef Debreczeni
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig
An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina
The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard
Woman, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrapi
Sacred Legacy: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indian
The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
999: The Extraordinary Young Women of the First Official Jewish Transport to Auschwitz by Heather Dune Macadam
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
Maus by Art Spiegelman

4.5 Stars
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs
A Man's Place by Annie Ernaux
Heading North by Holly M. Wendt
Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi
Derring-Do for Beginners by Victoria Goddard
Thirteen Doorways Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger
The Postcard by Anne Berest
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
An Interrupted Life and Letters from Westerbork by Etty Hillesum
Foster by Claire Keegan
Life Laid Bare by Jean Hatzfeld
The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Drew D. Hansen
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by T. E. Carhart
The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard
Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles
Symphony for the City of the Dead by M. T. Anderson
My Friend Anne Frank by Hannah Pick-Goslar
The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman
The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony with Graham Spence
Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
Jewish Literacy by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan
The Game of Courts by Victoria Goddard
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Treachery in Death by J. D. Robb
Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew by Bart D. Ehrman
The Grand Alliance by Winston S. Churchill
When We Ruled by Robin Walker
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
Sinister Twilight: The Fall of Singapore by Noel Barber
Pacific Crucible by Ian W. Toll
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Watership Down by Richard Adams
April 1865 by Jay Winik
The Wishing Pool and Other Stories by Tananarive Due
Winterdance by Gary Paulsen

4.25 Stars
The Serial Garden by Joan Aiken
Freezing Order by Bill Browder
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison
All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
My Hair Is a Garden by Cozbi A. Cabrera
Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall and Hugo Martinez
Code Girls by Liza Mundy
Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age by Katherine May
Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb
The Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush
The Art of the Wasted Day by Patricia Hampl
English Creek by Ivan Doig
Gin, Turpentine, Pennyroyal, Rue by Christine Higdon
Eden Mine by S. M. Hulse
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher
Promises in Death by J. D. Robb
At the Feet of the Sun by Victoria Goddard
Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir by Natasha Trethewey
Absolution by Alice McDermott
The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard
I Shall Not Hate by Izzeldin Abuelaish
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich
Between the Woods and the Water by Patrick Leigh Fermor
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Go As a River by Shelley Read
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Confusion by Elizabeth Jane Howard
A Reader's Delight by Noel Perrin
Classic Crimes by William Roughead
Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig
Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner
The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason
The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
James by Percival Everett
Virginia Woolf in Manhattan by Maggie Gee
A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine
Casting Off by Elizabeth Jane Howard
An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
New York to Dallas by J. D. Robb
Trust by Hernan Diaz
The Book of Lamentations by Rosario Castellanos
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Holocaust Journey by Martin Gilbert
Bound for Canaan by Fergus M. Bordewich
My Beloved Monster by Caleb Carr

For the past 2 years, I have concentrated on reading the works of one author in particular. In 2022, I read through all of Jane Austen’s works. In 2023, I read all of the volumes of In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust. For 2024, I have decided to do something a bit different and, using Classics for Pleasure by Michael Dirda as a guide, am going to go through each of the chapters of the book and select one work from each.

So for October we have:

Realms of Adventure:

She and King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Lost World, The Captain of the 'Polestar' and Other Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
Kim and Short Stories by Rudyard Kipling
The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
The Father Brown Mysteries and The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton - The Man Who Was Thursday is my choice for the month - Completed October 3, 2024
The Hercule Poirot Mysteries and The Jane Marple Mysteries by Agatha Christie
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

What would you have chosen? Why?

So for September we have:

The Way We Live Now:

The Satyricon by Petronius
Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
Oblomov by Ivan Goncharov
The Crime of Father Amaro, Cousin Bazilio, and The Maias by Jose Maria Eca de Queiros
Short stories, letters, and plays by Anton Chekhov
Cane by Jean Toomer
Death Comes for the Archbishop and A Lost Lady by Willa Cather - My pick for the month is A Lost Lady - Completed September 7, 2024
Death on the Installment Plan and Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Celine
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Collected stories by Eudora Welty


So for August we have:

Traveler's Tales:
Utopia by Thomas More
A Tour through the Whole Island of Great Britain by Daniel Defoe
A Journal Around My Room or A Nocturnal Expedition Around My Room by Xavier de Maistre
A Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in 80 Days or The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne
A Rebours or La-Bas by J. K. Huysmans
Out of Africa or Seven Gothic Tales by Isak Dinesen - My pick for the month is Out of Africa Completed August 23, 2024
The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron

So for July we have:

The Dark Side:
The White Devil and The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg
Uncle Silas and ghost stories by Sheridan Le Fanu
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Collected Ghost Stories by M. R. James
Tales of the Criminous (AKA Classic Crimes) by William Roughead - Completed July 27, 2024
Selected short stories, The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, and At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft

So for June we have:

Lives of Consequence:
Parallel Lives of the Greeks and Romans by Plutarch
The Book of My Life by Girolamo Cardano
Brief Lives by John Aubrey
Selected Poems by Alexander Pope
Discourses, The Social Contract, Confessions by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by Frederick Douglass - Completed June 17, 2024
The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy by Jacob Burckhardt
Collected Letters, Collected Essays, The American Scene, Italian Hours, A Small Boy and Others by Henry James
Selected Poems, The Dyer’s Hand, The Enchafed Flood, Forewards and Afterwards by W.H. Auden

So for May we have:

Everyday Magic:
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
The Classic Fairy Tales
Short Stories by E. T. A. Hoffman
Short Stories by Prosper Merimee
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - Completed May 17, 2024
Five Children and It by E. Nesbit
The Box of Delights by John Masefield
Memoirs of a Midget by Walter de la Mare

So for April we have:

Words from the Wise:
Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tse
Philosophical fragments by Heraclitus
On Duties, Discussions at Tusculum, The Dream of Scipio, and letters to Atticus by Cicero
The Praise of Folly by Erasmus - Completed April 7, 2024
The English Religious Tradition including the King James version of the Bible, The Book of Common Prayer, The Pilgrim's Progress, hymns of writers like Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley
Ethics and Theological-Political Treatise by Benedict de Spinoza
"The Vanity of Human Wishes", Rasselas, Essays from the Rambler and the Idler, and Lives of the Poets by Samuel Johnson

So for March we have:

Love's Mysteries:
Poems and Fragments by Sappho
Arthurian Romances: The Knight with the Lion by Chretien de Troyes, Tristan by Gottfried von Strassburg, or Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach
The Princes of Cleves by Marie-Madeleine de la Fayette
Diary of a Seducer by Soren Kierkegaard
Modern Love by George Meredith
Collected Poems by C. P. Cavafy
The Grand Sophy, Venetia, Friday's Child, Cotillion, or A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer - My pick for the month is Cotillion - Completed March 29, 2024
Selected poetry by Anna Akhmatova
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

So for February we have:

Heroes of Their Time:
Beowulf
Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings by Abolqasem Ferdowsi
Njal Saga, Laxdaela Saga, Grettir Saga, Egil Saga (The Icelandic Sagas)
Plays and Poems by Christopher Marlowe
Germinal and other novels by Emile Zola
Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger - Completed February 28, 2024
Let Us Now Praise Famous Men by James Agee

So for January we have:

Playful Imaginations:
The True History; Lucius, or The Ass; Dialogues of the Dead by Lucian
Rameau’s Nephew by Denis Diderot
Crochet Castle by Thomas Love Peacock
Seven Men; A Christmas Garland; Zuleika Dobson by Max Beerbohm
The Good Soldier Svejk by Jaroslav Hasek
Brothers and Sisters; Manservant and Maidservant by Ivy Compton-Burnett
The Best of S.J. Perelman by S.J. Perelman - Completed January 9, 2024
Invisible Cities; The Castle of Crossed Destinies; If on a winter’s night a traveler by Italo Calvino
Amphigorey; Amphigorey Too; Amphigorey Also; Amphigorey Again by Edward Gorey

Shared reads:

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman - Completed February 14, 2024
Derring-Do for Beginners by Victoria Goddard - Completed February 12, 2024
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne - Completed February 18, 2024
An Interrupted Life by Etty Hillesum - Completed March 30, 2024
Martin Dressler by Steven Milhauser - Completed March 5, 2024
The Hand of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard - Completed March 25, 2024
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell - Completed March 16, 2024
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki - Completed April 16, 2024
At the Feet of the Sun by Victoria Goddard - Completed April 21, 2024
The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham - Completed May 8, 2024
The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard - Completed May 12, 2024
Those Who Hold the Fire by Victoria Goddard - Completed June 8, 2024
The Game of Courts by Victoria Goddard - Completed July 4, 2024
The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason - Completed August 3, 2024
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson - Completed September 18, 2024
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - Completed September 19, 2024
Traveller's Joy by Victoria Goddard - Completed September 21, 2024
Ride with Me, Mariah Montana by Ivan Doig - Completed October 16, 2024
How Music Works by David Byrne - Completed October 28, 2024
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray - November with Deborah
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham - November with Mark, et al
Bound to Please by Michael Dirda - December with Ellen and Benita

October TIOLI Challenges:

Challenge #1: Read a book of short stories by a female author
The Old Order by Katherine Anne Porter - Completed October 4, 2024
The Wishing Pool and Other Stories by Tananarive Due - Completed October 10, 2024
Your Duck Is My Duck: Stories by Deborah Eisenberg - Completed October 26, 2024

Challenge #2: Read a book with an automobile model name in its title (list the make)
Holocaust Journey by Martin Gilbert - Completed October 29, 2024
The House of the Spirits - Isabel Allende - Completed October 10, 2024
Orient Express by Graham Greene - Completed October 4, 2024
The Three-Cornered War by Megan Kate Nelson - Completed October 24, 2024

Challenge #3: Read a book about a measure of time
The Last 100 Days by John Toland - Completed October 22, 2024

Challenge #4: Read a book for the Zodiac challenge (Libra - object on the cover from the symbol list)
Sanctuary by Faye Kellerman - Completed October 26, 2024

Challenge #5: Anita Memorial Reads: 1980s & 1990s
Maus by Art Spiegelman - Completed October 12, 2024
Winterdance by Gary Paulsen - Completed October 27, 2024

Challenge #6: Inspired by Anita – Read a book that has an LT rating of 3.5 or more at the time of posting
All Change by Elizabeth Jane Howard - Completed October 10, 2024
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal - Completed October 31, 2024
The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton - Completed October 3, 2024
They Marched into Sunlight by David Maraniss - Completed October 14, 2024

Challenge #7: Read a book that includes a formal event where a character has to give a speech or propose a toast
The King’s Speech by Mark Logue - Completed October 2, 2024

Challenge #8: Read a book that is, is written by, or includes a favourite
Celebrity in Death by J. D. Robb - Completed October 6, 2024
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury - Completed October 4, 2024
Portrait of a Wide Seas Islander by Victoria Goddard - Completed October 16, 2024
Ride with Me, Mariah Montana by Ivan Doig - Completed October 16, 2024

Challenge #9: Read a book which has a forest or woods as an important setting, or a forest or woods featured on the book cover or in the title
Bound for Canaan by Fergus M. Bordewich - Completed October 30, 2024

Challenge #10: Read a book you think has a scary or disturbing title
Then They Came for Me by Matthew D. Hockenos - Completed October 29, 2024

Challenge #11: Read a book whose title includes the word "life" or "death" or both
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo - Completed October 3, 2024
Celebrity in Death by J. D. Robb - Completed October 6, 2024
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig - Completed October 24, 2024

Challenge #12: Read a book whose title forms a complete sentence when preceded by the words "I don't want to be..."
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - Completed October 15, 2024

Challenge #13 - Read a book that is Booker related
Orbital by Samantha Harvey - Completed October 14, 2024

Challenge #14 - Last Work by an Author
My Beloved Monster by Caleb Carr - Completed October 31, 2024
Villette by Charlotte Bronte - Completed October 28, 2024

Challenge #15: Read a book whose title breaks a law or a commandment
The Counterfeiters of Bosque Redondo by Matt Fitzsimons - Completed October 8, 2024
Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England by Alison Weir - Completed October 20, 2024

Challenge #16: Read a book whose title includes something "written"
How Music Works by David Byrne - Completed October 28, 2024
So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba - Completed October 25, 2024

Black Studies Reading
Must reads for this year: King: A Life by Jonathan Eig and When We Ruled by Robin Walker
1. Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho - Completed January 5, 2024
2. Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall and Hugo Martinez - Completed February 2, 2024
3. Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome - Completed March 1, 2024
4. King: A Life by Jonathan Eig - Completed March 6, 2024
5. The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Drew Hansen - Completed April 29, 2024
6. T.R.M. Howard: Doctor, Entrepreneur, Civil Rights Pioneer by David T. Beito and Linda Royster Beito - Completed May 30, 2024
7. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson - Completed June 12, 2024
8. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by Frederick Douglass - Completed June 17, 2024
9. Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward - Completed July 29, 2024
10. When We Ruled by Robin Walker - Completed August 13, 2024
11. The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson - Completed September 18, 2024
12. Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington - Completed September 20, 2024
13. Bound for Canaan by Fergus M. Bordewich - Completed October 30, 2024

Jewish Studies Reading
Must reads for this year: The Instructions by Adam Levin and Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People and Its History by Joseph Telushkin
1. 28 Days by David Safier - Completed January 25, 2024
2. The Archive Thief by Lisa Moses Leff - Completed January 28, 2024
3. Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi - Completed February 3, 2024
4. Cold Crematorium by József Debreczeni - Completed March 4, 2024
5. Etty Hillesum: An Interrupted Life the Diaries, 1941-1943 and Letters from Westerbork by Etty Hillesum - Completed March 30, 2024
6. Plunder: A Memoir of Family Property and Nazi Treasure by Menachem Kaiser - Completed April 6, 2024
7. Ordinary Men by Christopher R. Browning - Completed April 25, 2024
8. My Friend, Anne Frank by Hannah Pick-Goslar - Completed May 30, 2024
9. Jewish Literacy by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin - Completed June 14, 2024
10. 999 : The extraordinary young women of the first official transport to Auschwitz by Heather Dune Macadam - Completed June 16, 2024
11. They Were Good Germans Once by Evelyn Toynton - Completed July 18, 2024
12. Sacred Trash by Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole - Completed August 10, 2024
13. Life Is With People by Mark Zborowski and Elizabeth Herzog - Completed September 4, 2024
14. Holocaust Journey by Martin Gilbert - Completed October 29, 2024

Series Reading - I will post these as I read them:

The In Death series by J.D. Robb
Creation in Death - Completed January 3, 2024
Random in Death - Completed February 6, 2024
Strangers in Death - Completed February 22, 2024
Salvation in Death - Completed March 24, 2024
Promises in Death - Completed April 19, 2024
Kindred in Death - Completed May 13, 2024
Fantasy in Death - Completed June 9, 2024
Indulgence in Death - Completed July 12, 2024
Treachery in Death - Completed August 3, 2024
New York to Dallas - Completed September 1, 2024
Passions in Death - Completed September 8, 2024
Celebrity in Death - Completed October 6, 2024
Delusion in Death

The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
A Breath of Snow and Ashes - Completed January 18, 2024
An Echo in the Bone - Completed August 25, 2024
Written in My Own Heart's Blood -

The St. Mary’s books by Jodi Taylor
What Could Possibly Go Wrong? - Completed February 29, 2024
Lies, Damned Lies, and History -

The Decker/Lazarus series by Faye Kellerman
Grievous Sin - Completed January 31, 2024
Sanctuary - Completed October 26, 2024
Justice -

The Three Pines series by Louise Penny
The Brutal Telling - Completed March 22, 2024
Bury Your Dead -

The Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear
An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear - Completed June 29, 2024
Among the Mad -

The Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson
One Good Turn - Completed May 28, 2024
When Will There Be Good News?

The Shetland Series by Ann Cleeves
White Nights - Completed July 6, 2024
Red Bones - Completed September 24, 2024
Blue Lightning -

The War Literature Challenge - I will be attempting to read at least 2 books toward each monthly challenge.

JANUARY - The Ancients (Greeks, Romans etc)
A War Like No Other by Victor Davis Hanson - Completed January 9, 2024
The Battle of Salamis by Barry Strauss - Completed January 31, 2024
Persian Fire by Tom Holland - Completed January 29, 2024

FEBRUARY - The American War of Independence
Killing England by Bill O’Reilly - Completed February 3, 2024
Unlikely Allies by Joel Richard Paul - Completed February 22, 2024

MARCH - WILDCARD - Pick your own fight!:
An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina - Completed March 10, 2024
Life Laid Bare by Jean Hatzfeld - Completed April 28, 2024

APRIL - Wars of Religion
The Thirty Years War: Europe's Tragedy by Peter H. Wilson - Completed April 27, 2024

MAY - The Napoleonic Wars
The Illustrious Dead by Stephen Talty - Completed May 10, 2024
Mirage by Nina Burleigh - Completed May 21, 2024

JUNE - The English Civil War
The origins of the English Civil War: conspiracy, crusade, or class conflict? by Philip A. M. Taylor - Completed June 13, 2024
The White Witch by Elizabeth Goudge - Completed June 24, 2024

JULY - Colonial Wars - Not Participating

AUGUST - World War Two
Code Name Pauline by Pearl Witherington Cornioley - Completed August 5, 2024
The Grand Alliance by Winston S. Churchill - Completed August 12, 2024
Sinister Twilight: The Fall of Singapore by Noel Barber - Completed August 28, 2024
War Diaries 1939-1945 by Lord Alanbrooke - Completed August 15, 2024

SEPTEMBER - The American Civil War
April 1865 by Jay Winik - Completed September 28, 2024
A Diary from Dixie by Mary Chesnut - Completed September 24, 2024
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara - Completed September 26, 2024

OCTOBER - American Follies (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and the Gulf Wars)
Five Years to Freedom by James N. Rowe
They Marched into Sunlight by David Maraniss - Completed October 14, 2024

NOVEMBER - World War One

DECEMBER - The Spanish Civil War

The “Read More Sci-Fi” Challenge - using the Esquire list found here (https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g39358054/best-sci-fi-books/) - which has now been expanded - and the book Science Fiction, The 101 Best Novels, 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul di Filippo as guides. Also adding in Hugo Award winners and nominees.
1. The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers - Completed January 22, 2024 (Esquire List #29)
2. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut - Completed February 25, 2024 (Esquire List #18)
3. Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut - Completed March 3, 2024 (From the book - 1985)
4. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell - Completed March 16, 2024 (From the book - 1996)
5. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury - Completed May 25, 2024 (Esquire List #3)
6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - Completed June 14, 2024 (Esquire List #14)
7. A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine - Completed June 29, 2024 (Hugo Award Winner, 2020)
8. Soldiers of Paradise by Paul Park - Completed July 19, 2024 (From the book - 1987)
9. A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine - Completed August 22, 2024 (Hugo Award Winner, 2022)
10. Way Station by Clifford D. Simak - Completed September 29, 2024 (Updated Esquire List #65)
11. The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal - Completed October 31, 2024 (Updated Esquire List #74)

The Around the World in 80 Novels Challenge inspired by the book of the same name. I want to try and expand my reading horizons to places I have rarely or never been. In addition to reading from the book that inspired this challenge, I will also be using Around the World in 80 Books as a reference.
1. The Missing File by D.A. Mishani - (Israel) Completed January 31, 2024
2. Bleak House by Charles Dickens - (England) Completed February 16, 2024
3. Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier - (England) - Completed March 8, 2024
4. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck - (China) Completed April 4, 2024
5. The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney (Canada) - Completed June 8, 2024
6. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (London, England) - Completed July 5, 2024
7. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (Iran) - Completed August 9, 2024
8. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Spain) - Completed September 19, 2024
9. The Book of Lamentations by Rosario Castellanos (Mexico) - Completed September 29, 2024
10. The House of the Spirits - Isabel Allende (Chile) - Completed October 10, 2024

The Monthly Nonfiction Challenge - I try to read at least 100 nonfiction books a year and this challenge is instrumental in helping me achieve that goal. Last year, I was just short with only 96 nonfiction reads in the year, so I am hoping to improve that number in 2024!
January The Archive Thief by Lisa Moses Leff - Completed January 28, 2024
February Code Girls by Liza Mundy - Completed February 12, 2024
February The Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush - Completed February 24, 2024
March Written in Bones by Paul Bahn (editor) - Completed March 16, 2024
April Vermeer's Hat by Timothy Brook - Completed April 19, 2024
May Sacred Legacy by Edward S. Curtis - Completed May 19, 2024
June Between the Woods and the Water by Patrick Leigh Fermor - Completed June 19, 2024
July Never Home Alone by Rob Dunn - Completed July 30, 2024
August Sacred Trash by Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole - Completed August 10, 2024
September Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman - Completed September 22, 2024
September Wonderlands by Charles Baxter - Completed September 28, 2024

The American Authors Challenge - This is one that I dip into and out of as the case may be
January The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain - Completed January 11, 2024
February Reborn: Journals & Notebooks 1947-1963 by Susan Sontag - Completed February 8, 2024
March A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote - Completed March 2, 2024
April Plunder: A Memoir of Family Property and Nazi Treasure by Menachem Kaiser, Ordinary Men by Christopher Browning, The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Drew D. Hansen, The Town That Food Saved by Ben Hewitt, and The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by T. E. Carhart
May The Heavenly Tenants by William Maxwell - Completed May 12, 2024
June Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson - Completed June 12, 2024
July A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power - Completed July 21, 2024
August The Blue Jay's Dance by Louise Erdrich - Completed August 29, 2024
September Trust by Hernan Diaz - Completed September 14, 2024
October The Old Order by Katherine Anne Porter - Completed October 4, 2024

The British Authors Challenge - I have never participated in this one before and I suspect that, like the American Authors Challenge, it will be one into which I dip only on occasion
January The Serial Garden by Joan Aiken - Completed January 4, 2024
February Between Two Thorns by Emma Newman - Completed February 16, 2024
April An Eye for an Eye by Anthony Trollope - Completed April 9, 2024
May The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman - Completed May 31, 2024
June The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - Completed June 4, 2024
July Animal Farm by George Orwell - Completed July 8, 2024
August The Grand Alliance by Winston S. Churchill - Completed August 12, 2024
September Empire of the Sun by J. G. Ballard - Completed September 29, 2024
October The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - Completed October 15, 2024-

Touchstone loading time. . .

Do do do do do do do. . . To the tune of the Jeopardy theme. . .

Hope that I am not too early to wish you a happy Room 10, Juana.

>11 alcottacre: Nope, Paul. I am still loading Touchstones, lol. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy new thread Stasia!

Happy new one!

Happy October, Stasia. Happy New Thread! Enjoy those books.

Happy October and new thread Stasia.

Hi Stasia! I enjoyed the discussion of favorite childhood baseball teams on your previous thread. I don't really follow baseball anymore, but I grew up in 1970s Cincinnati so you can guess who my favorite team was. I actually went to high school with two of Johnny Bench's nephews, and I loved your description of Joe Morgan's arm twitch!

Happy new thread, Stasia!

Hope you'll accept good wishes for your new thread from a 3rd generation Yankees fan :)

Books! Books! Books! My head is swimming, Stasia! My only contribution from your >5 alcottacre:, Challenge 12, is that The Snow Queen was the first science fiction I read as an adult. It set me on my way. I know that she wrote a sequel, and I should move on. I loved Vernor too!

Happy New Thread! I look forward to it. Meanwhile, I have re-picked up Sacred Trash, and I'm in. Thanks!

>14 quondame: >15 figsfromthistle: >16 msf59: >17 Kristelh: >18 lauralkeet: >19 jessibud2: Thank you, Susan, Anita, Mark, Kristel, Laura, and Shelley!

>18 lauralkeet: I am still a huge baseball fan, Laura, as you probably already know. I think that is in large part to how much I loved those Reds!

>20 katiekrug: Snuck in while I was not looking, Katie. Of course you are welcome here. We just will not talk about the Yankees, OK? lol

>21 LizzieD: I hope you end up enjoying Sacred Trash, Peggy! I am very much looking forward to reading The Snow Queen, which I have not read before.

Well, rather than the 2 hours of sleep I have been walking around on here lately, I actually managed to get barely over 3 hours of sleep last night. *sigh*

Lunch here shortly - simple sandwiches today - and then my weekly meet up with the girls.

On the reading front, the only thing I have started on is my first audiobook of the month, The Man Who Was Thursday, an old favorite that I have not read in years. I am hoping to start on They Marched into Sunlight today but beyond that, I have no idea. . .

I also need to finish the Cazalet Chronicles this month!

I am also a big baseball fan, Stasia, though the now-defunct Montreal Expos were my first love, and now, of course, my loyalties lie with the Toronto Blue Jays (who have just ended a very dismal season). But though I still watch pretty much every game on tv, I have to say, I find the salaries of professional athletes to be truly obscene. With so much poverty out there, so much homelessness and strife, to think for one second that anyone - ANYONE - is *worth* the millions of dollars they demand and get, is disgusting. I have wanted to just stop watching but in truth, I love watching. I just refuse to spend a penny to go watch a live game, knowing where that money is going. And to play devil's advocate for a second, though, *earning* that much money surely puts some pressure on the players, to a degree. Sometimes I think they are just spoiled babies who know they will get paid anyhow, and so, at the first ache or pain or *booboo*, they take time off. Hard to have pity for that.

Still, after all that is said and done, it's my spectator sport of choice!
;-p

>25 jessibud2: I find the salaries of professional athletes to be truly obscene You and me both, Shelley. Kerry and I were just talking this past weekend about a player who had signed a contract for an outrageous amount of money and both agreed that 'no one is worth that kind of money.'

I am with you as far as baseball being my spectator sport of choice!

Happy new thread, Stasia!

>27 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>18 lauralkeet: Joe Morgan was another fun player from those Reds teams. I even remember when he was an Astro, before he went to the Reds.

Happy new thread, Stasia, and I hope your sleep improves ASAP!

Happy new thread, Stasia!

Happy New Thread, Stasia! Here is to many great reads ahead!

>29 atozgrl: I did not remember Joe playing for the Astros although I know that he did. I just do not remember seeing him play until he was with the Reds. I appreciate the well wishes regarding my sleep. I hope it improves too!

>30 curioussquared: Thank you, Natalie!

>31 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. It looks as though October is shaping up to be a good reading month for me.

Happy new thread, Stasia! Looking forward to seeing what you read in October.

>24 alcottacre:
You will enjoy They Marched Into Sunlight by David Maraniss. He has a very easy going style and that makes it easy to read a tough story. My book discussion group read it years ago and everybody liked it. I have several more books by Maraniss that I want to read in the near future.

>33 bell7: Thank you, Mary!

>34 benitastrnad: I have also read Maraniss previously. Good to know that They Marched Into Sunlight has his easy going style. Because it is a tough story - it is Vietnam after all - I had decided to only read a couple of chapters a day. That may change given your input. We will see.

October orisons, Stasia me lurve.

>36 richardderus: Ha! I was just on my way to visit you today. . .

Hi Stasia my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend.

I'm on the fence about whether to order Stone Yard Devotional from Blackwell's in the UK. I might just do it, given that the publication date in North America is not until next year , Stasia. But so many disappointing books on the 2024 Long List . But supposedly this is a good one.

>38 johnsimpson: Thank you, John!

>39 vancouverdeb: Yeah, I am on the fence about that one too, Deborah. I may just wait and see if my local library gets a copy of it next year. It is not as if I have nothing to read in the meantime!

Finished tonight:

282 - The King's Speech by Mark Logue and Peter Conradi - Nonfiction; Mark Logue's grandfather, Lionel, was the man responsible for helping English king George VI overcome the speech impediments from which he had suffered his entire life. After all, as King of England, he had to make a lot of important speeches although probably none was more important than his coronation speech as he took over the crown from his brother, who had abdicated. The story of the friendship that developed between the two men is a sweet one and although the writing is not stellar, neither is it unreadable. The book takes us all the way through to the end of both men's lives. Lionel Logue did a lot to make speech therapy move ahead and the story of his life is a good one; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

>41 alcottacre: - Did you see the film adaptation of this one, Stasia? I had not read the book but the film was, I thought, very well done and very moving.

Happy new thread!

>42 jessibud2: No, I have not seen the film version as of yet, Shelley, but I am keen to having now read the book.

>43 foggidawn: Thanks, foggi!

Kerry headed off about 15 minutes ago for the wilds of Arkansas :) His daughter, Angel, is having surgery tomorrow so he will be there until Saturday at the very least.

While Kerry is gone my plan is pretty much to do nothing but read - and watch baseball. My current audiobook is The Man Who Was Thursday and I should be wrapping it up in the next day or too. I am planning to finish Behind the Beautiful Forevers today and make progress on The Old Order, which I am reading 2 short stories at a time, and They Marched Into Sunlight, which I am reading 2 chapters at a time. I am also currently reading Dandelion Wine, The Last 100 Days, and All Change, but do not think I will be finishing any of those today.

I have you all have a great day!

Finished this afternoon:

283 - Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo - Nonfiction; I am not sure who originally recommended this book to me several years ago (back then I never kept track!) but I am glad I finally got this book read. The subtitle of the book, "Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity," really sums the book up nicely. Boo looks at Mumbia, India, from the standpoint of the invisible poor. These are people who are struggling just to survive and Boo gives them faces and voices. We see from the perspective of the young, the old, male and female, the slim hope that they hold onto. If you have not read this one, I urge you to do so; Recommended (4.25 stars) Library Book

"As every slumdweller knew, there were three main ways out of poverty: finding an entrepreneurial niche. . .politics and corruption. . .and education."

"Across India, poor people were the ones who took the vote seriously. It was the only real power they had."

>46 alcottacre: I was very clearly at least a candidate for your recommender...my review was eight years ago, though.

>47 richardderus: It might have been you, Richard. I am just not sure!

Finished this afternoon:

284 - The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton - Audiobook; This makes at least my third read of this particular book although the other two have been of the hard copy of the book. I love Chesterton's tongue-in-cheek sense of humor throughout this book of anarchists and detectives. I feel like he is trying to pull the wool over the reader's eyes throughout the entire thing. It is not going to be a book that is for everyone (is there even such a thing?) because it is rather 'old-fashioned' and there are Christian overtones throughout, but for me it sits just right; Recommended (4 stars) Mine (I own the hard copy; Hoopla (for the audiobook)

Happy New Thread!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/364720

>50 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver!

>51 SilverWolf28: I am in!

Angel's surgery is today so Kerry is still out of town. I am hoping to get a ton of reading done before he gets home especially since in 2 weeks I will be on the road to Joplin and then visiting briefly with my mother.

I did meal plans and grocery lists yesterday so groceries will be arriving at some point this morning. I think that is the extent of my chores for the day.

I am starting a new audiobook today, The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. I am reading it for the BAC - it seems the appropriate time of the year for it, doesn't it? I have not read the book in several years (probably at least 5) so it is high time for a re-read anyway.

I am continuing on with They Marched Into Sunlight and The House of Spirits, which I started yesterday. I am not sure that I have ever read anything by Isabel Allende before. Fifty pages in and I am not sure of what I make of it.

I am hoping to finish The Old Order, Dandelion Wine, and Orient Express today. We will see. . .

I hope everyone has a fantastic Friday!

>44 alcottacre: I loved the movie of The King's Speech! I highly recommend it! However, I have not yet read the book. I guess I need to get to that one too.

>54 atozgrl: I have definitely got to find a copy of the film then. I wanted to see the film when it came out but never got to it.

Finished this afternoon:

285 - The Old Order: Stories of the South by Katherine Anne Porter - I read this one for the American Authors Challenge for this month. It was long overdue for a re-read because it has probably been at least 30 years since I originally read it. The stories in this volume were culled from several of Porter's books of short stories over the years, but the publishers did not just pick out the stories higgeldy-piggeldy. They actually put some thought into the stories they chose evidently. All of the stories in this particular collection are set in the deep south at the turn of the 20th century. There are a number of characters in common in some of the stories, although not all of them, but they serve to give the stories some continuity; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

I am not getting nearly as much reading done today as I had hoped - I have been battling a headache all afternoon. It has started to recede but is not gone. I really want to get more reading done while Kerry is gone. Fingers crossed. . .

>55 alcottacre: You should definitely do so! It's one of those movies that I enjoy watching again. Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helena Bonham Carter are all excellent in it.

>57 alcottacre: I hope that headache leaves you alone pronto!

>53 alcottacre: I've got every crossable bit crossed for Angel.

Your Allende experience is, I think, typical. It takes time to see if her rhythm meshes with yours. It can be hard to gauge with a writer as deeply *intimate* with her storytelling if you're reacting to the story being told, or the writer doing the telling.

>58 atozgrl: I just have to find somewhere that I can stream the movie. I do not have a working VCR. I have already checked Hoopla and it does not carry the film.

The headache is still hanging around, but it is much better now than it was earlier today. Thanks, Irene!

>59 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. I have not yet heard from Kerry today so I am hoping that no news is good news.

Thanks for the comments regarding Allende. I am going to hang with it, at least for now.

Finished tonight:

286 - Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury - I seem to be doing quite a bit of re-reading lately (no idea why) and this book is no exception. Bradbury shows all of his skill as a storyteller in this one. I have no idea what it was like to be a 12-year-old boy in small town America in 1928, but Bradbury opens the window to that world and lets me in when I read this book. He makes it feel very real in a mystical sort of way as we see Doug and his ten-year-old brother, Tom, navigate the summer months. I love this book and although its rating has fallen slightly for me, I would read it again in a heartbeat; Recommended (4.25 stars) Library Book

>46 alcottacre: I'm another one who might have said good things about *Beautiful Forevers*, Stasia.

You do seem to be enjoying more re-reading than usual. I like to, as you know.

Add my good wishes for Angel's surgery being a success. We had a fine time at our class birthday party, but we're still waiting to hear about our lifelong friend Bev who also had surgery today.
Sleep well! Yes!! I said it!!!

>62 LizzieD: I am sure that there are several people in the group who said good things about *Beautiful Forevers,* Peggy, so thanks to you and the others!

I am not sure why I am doing so much re-reading right now. I am re-visiting books that I have not read in years, so I think that is a good thing, I am just not sure what has triggered this re-reading frenzy here lately.

Thank you about Angel's surgery. Kerry called a bit ago to say that it looks like the surgery was successful and she should be discharged in the morning. I hope your friend Bev's surgery goes as well!

I will try and sleep well. I was at 3 hours and 11 minutes of sleep last night. I am hoping for more tonight. . .

Finished tonight:

287 - Orient Express by Graham Greene - This book was originally brought to my attention by our old friend RebeccaNYC (may she rest in peace). I enjoy a lot of Greene's books, but this was one of his early ones and it definitely shows here as several of the characters seems to be of the 'stock' or 'stereotypical' variety. This book is definitely a period piece, not necessarily a bad thing. It is an 'ensemble' book where there are a variety of characters involved. In some cases I really wish Greene had gone deeper into a character. There is one clear bad guy but several of the other characters have degrees of 'badness' as well; Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Library Book

I hope your headache is better, Stasia. I have a copy of The Woman in White and I have had it for years. I pulled it out the other day , but it looks intimidating , size wise. Let me know what you think.

Happy Saturday, Stasia. I loved Behind the Beautiful Forevers. I have a copy on the "Keeper" shelf. I also loved Dandelion Wine. I have not read The Woman in White. Maybe you will give me the inspiration I need, plus I have a copy on shelf.

Saturday greeting. Praying you feel better (sleep and headaches) and that Angel's surgery went well and that she will heal as well. I've read several G Greene books, The Powere and the Glory being my favorite so far.

>65 vancouverdeb: Yes, the headache is better this morning, Deborah. Thanks. As far as The Woman in White goes, this is a re-read for me (I read it last 10+ years ago) and it has remained on my shelves all this time, which should tell you what I think of it. I am listening to it on audio this time around because the book is lengthy and difficult for me to hold.

>66 msf59: I think you would enjoy The Woman in White, Mark, if you like the old gothics like Jane Eyre. Glad to find another *Beautiful Forevers* fan!

>67 Kristelh: Well, the sleep hours actually went down, but the headache is gone so that is something anyway. When I spoke with Kerry last night, he told me that the doctors felt the surgery was successful, so hopefully Angel will be released from the hospital today as scheduled.

I have not yet read The Power and the Glory so I will have to track a copy of that one down. Thanks for the recommendation, Kristel!

I have been up and about since 5:30 and have gotten my regular Saturday chores done as well as punching 4 games. Kerry is due back from Arkansas late this afternoon so I am hopeful of getting some reading in before he is back.

I am continuing on with The House of Spirits and They Marched Into Sunlight as well as The Woman in White on audio. I am hoping to start on The Wishing Pool and Other Stories, Celebrity in Death, The Last 100 Days, and The Counterfeiters of Bosque Redondo today.

I hope everyone has a super Saturday!

>69 alcottacre: I hope all goes as planned, Stasia, and very glad the headache is gone! Super-Saturday *smooch*

>70 richardderus: I am making good progress on the books today, Richard, although I do not think I will be finishing any of them :) Thanks!

Kerry got home about 30 minutes ago. Angel is doing fine and was released from the hospital this morning.

Up early again today, so maybe my schedule is finally getting back to normal again. Kerry and I will be getting a couple of games played - Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle and Horrified - it is October, after all.

After that, it will be books and more books. With the Joplin meet up in a couple of weeks - and a quick visit to my mother as well - I need to get the books in while I can. I am hoping to finish The Counterfeiters of Bosque Redondo and make good progress in the other books that I am reading.

I hope everyone has a lovely Sunday! It is my traditional 'day off' technology so I will be back only if I have something to report. . .Oh, and my auction ends today too.

Hi Stasia, and belated happy new thread.

>41 alcottacre:, >42 jessibud2:, >44 alcottacre: I’ve not read the book, but the movie was excellent.

I’m glad to hear Angel’s surgery went well and that Kerry’s home.

>73 alcottacre: Enjoy the peace and quiet today, secure in the knowledge everyone's healthy and content in your own rested state. *smooch*

Have fun with your board games! I love board games, but we really don't play frequently.

Glad that Kerry is safely home and that you two are back to regular living! We enjoyed our class's 80th birthday party Friday and a great visit from bestie and her husband, whom we both love, yesterday. Today was a regular Sunday, but I napped a lot. You know what I hope for you!

>74 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen!

>75 richardderus: Today has been pretty good, Richard. Thanks you. ((Hugs)) and **smooches**

>76 The_Hibernator: Kerry and I got a couple of games in today and since we won both, a good time was had by all. I am sorry that you do not get to play more often, Rachel!

>77 LizzieD: Hey, Peggy! Thanks for dropping by. I am so glad to hear that you had a good time on Friday!

Finished tonight:

288 - Celebrity in Death by J. D. Robb - This entry into the series finds Dallas on the set of a movie being made about the Icove case. Dallas, not unexpectedly, is not comfortable at all with the big deal being made about doing her job, but she really likes the actress playing her in the film although she does not care for the actress playing Peabody, which become apparent at the dinner she has to attend that evening. Unfortunately, K. T. Harris, the actress playing Peabody, seems to have set someone else off because she is found dead and now the cast of the film are all suspects. Who hated Harris more than anyone else did?; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

I'm glad to hear that Angel's surgery went well, and you have Kerry back. Well, it looks like both Mark and I need a bit of inspiration to read The Woman in White. I am glad it is working for you in audio format. Good idea.

I have wanted to read Woman in White for years but just haven't found time for that chunkster. I have plenty on my plate as it is so I am not (I repeat) NOT going to be tempted to start it now.

>80 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. Yeah, The Woman in White is working in me on audio, but then I loved it in the hard copy as well.

>81 benitastrnad: OK, Benita. If you are sure I cannot tempt you. . .

I am very behind because of auction stuff going on today. I really hate doing these auctions but I have to cull some games. Period. It just takes so much time to run the auction and get everything done. *sigh* I keep reminding myself that this is my money for Joplin this year. . .

Kerry and I are off shortly to deliver a game that was won in the auction and then when we are back, we are going to sit down and learn a new game, Cafe Baras.

As far as reading today goes, I am hoping to finish The Counterfeiters of Bosque Redondo since I was distracted yesterday with the auction ending and opted to read Celebrity in Death instead. I am continuing to read The Wishing Pool by Tananarive Due a couple of short stories at a time, The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende about 50 pages at a time (the text is very dense on the page in the edition of the book that I have and my eyes can only tolerate so much!), The Last 100 Days by John Toland (which has the same problem as the Allende book), and They Marched Into Sunlight by David Maraniss, which I am reading a couple of chapters at a time. None of these is going to be finished any time soon! I also hope to start All Change by Elizabeth Jane Howard today to finish out the Cazalet Chronicles.

I hope everyone has a marvelous Monday!

Because of all of the auction stuff going on yesterday my day was really and truly out of synch. So this morning I did normal Monday stuff such as balancing the checkbook and paying the bills. That took the first 90 minutes of my day before I could get started on my Tuesday chores, lol.

Today is meet up day with Beth and Catey. Unlike last week, I hope we actually get some game playing done today. I have already played one game with Kerry this morning and we have another on tap for later today.

I did get some reading done yesterday but only about half of my "normal" daily reading. I did not listen to my audiobook at all. I had a long day yesterday and was in bed early last night - for which effort I actually managed to get 4.5 hours sleep. *sigh* Anyway I am continuing the books that I currently have ongoing and may finish The Counterfeiters of Bosque Redondo, which I have been trying to complete for several days.

I hope everyone has a terrific Tuesday!

Morning, Stasia. Maybe I will add The Woman in White to next year's shared list, since a couple of others have showed interest. I am nearing the end of The God of the Woods. I think you will really like this one. I will then start the Doig.

>85 msf59: I was just over on your thread checking in on you :)

Let me know when you start the Doig so I do not get too far behind you. . .

>84 alcottacre: Happy Tuesday's peregrinations, Stasia! *smooch*

>87 richardderus: Thank you, Richard!

Finished this morning:

289 - The Counterfeiters of Bosque Redondo by Matt Fitzsimons - Nonfiction; Two years ago, I had never, to my knowledge, even heard of Bosque Redondo. The past two years in a row on our family visits to New Mexico, we have visited the Bosque Redondo Memorial (https://www.museumfoundation.org/historic-sites/bosque-redondo-memorial-fort-sumner-historic-site/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsJO4BhDoARIsADDv4vC_FoLLRiGtvIpU4jKuPoMWpnXOtPPrZPlMhMxRDOhz1ZtZSGWio8saAtB_EALw_wcB), a place that really should not exist. Why does it exist? Because a general in the U.S. Army decided that, despite all evidence to the contrary, that the Navajo (Dine) people were hiding treasure in that area. He proposed that the Native Americans be forced basically into what became known as a concentration camp. Thousands of people died, either at the camp or on the way to the camp, because it was not designed to hold the number of people that were sent there. Disease and starvation were rampant. The counterfeiters were people who counterfeited passes and coupons that allowed for rations as they tried to save the people from starvation. The Dine were often procured as slaves - even though the Emancipation Proclamation was issued prior to the existence of Bosque Redondo. Although I could wish that the book was a little better written, I am glad that it was because this is a little known piece of American history with which everyone should be familiar; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

"The contradiction of allowing Dine families to be enslaved in New Mexico - while simultaneously fighting another war to free Black slaves in the South - was not lost on everyone."

>89 alcottacre: And I had never heard of Bosque Redondo until I read The three-cornered war : the Union, the Confederacy, and Native peoples in the fight for the West a few months ago. I agree, it's an important story that few know about.

Your Black Studies and Jewish Studies reading are inspiring. Right now I feel like I ought to start something similar, but I'm leaning toward Black Studies and Indigenous Studies to start with. I feel like I need to know more on both of these topics.

Happy Wednesday!

I managed to pass by this time without a BB. Perhaps on the next round ;)

>90 atozgrl: The Three-Cornered War is in the BlackHole. I really need to get it read! Thanks for the reminder, Irene.

I will be very curious to see what you read if you do an Indigenous Studies reading challenge. To be honest, I was thinking of changing out my Jewish Studies reading (because I have been doing it for so long) next year for an Indigenous Studies challenge, but I am not sure that I am ready to do that yet. Doing all 3 challenges is asking a bit much, but I may try.

>91 figsfromthistle: Happy Wednesday, Anita! Maybe next time?

It sounds to me like you and Kerry need to move to Munden. The community has a monthly game night. A group of people gets together on the third Friday of the month and plays games. The group usually divides between adults and young people. The adults play Chickenfoot dominoes every month because we mostly spend time talking instead of paying attention to the game but the young people play all kinds of board games. The two of you might be able to teach us old dogs in Munden a few new dominoes games - or card games. I have told the group I want to learn to play Pinochle and Euchre.

Happy Wednesday, Stasia. I started Ride With Me, Mariah Montana but did not get very far in. That said, I love the writing and Jick's engaging voice. I didn't realize that this one jumped up to 1989. The last one, I believe was set in the 1930s.

>94 msf59: I've started Ride With Me, Mariah Montana today, too, and I am a little put out to find myself in the late 20th century. So far I'm withholding judgment. I loved English Creek, and am having trouble recognizing Jick as a man in his 60s.

>94 msf59: I did not realize that Mariah Montana jumped to 1989 either. I have not started the book but will do so today. Since Ivan Doig is a favorite author of mine, I am betting I will end up loving the book despite the jump forward in time.

>95 laytonwoman3rd: I am withholding judgment too, Linda. I loved Jick in the first book so I am hoping I come around to love him in this one too.

Finished this morning:

290 - The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende - This book has been in the BlackHole for years so I am very glad to have finally read it, although once I started I was a bit tentative because of the mystical nature of the book's ladies. However, once I got over that it was full steam ahead for me and I ended up enjoying this family saga. I did not realize that the book was loosely based on Allende's own family history. The main male character, Esteban, is not a very likable man, especially when he is young and makes a habit of raping the young women on his estate, which ends up costing him in the end. I felt that the strong women in the book make it - Clara, Blanca, and Alba are all well-realized characters. My biggest quibble with the book is its length. I think it could have been shortened with no great loss, but even then I think it was definitely worth the wait; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

>97 alcottacre:
I just packed up House of the Spirits yesterday and thought to myself I should pull it out of the box and get it read. But then put it back into the box. It will be on my shelves when I get to Kansas.

>98 benitastrnad: One of the best things about books is that they are patient and will wait for us!

Finished this afternoon:

291 - The Wishing Pool and Other Stories by Tananarive Due - Short Stories; Ms. Due could give lessons in short story writing. The stories in this collection are all very good to excellent IMHO. They are all forms of 'horror' - some with the psychological type of horror others with the genuine monster kind of horror, but all of them good. I cannot say that I have a favorite in the book, but if pressed I would say the titular short story which has horror in the form of 'be careful what you wish for' variety. Horror is really not my genre but I can appreciate it in this book that is for sure; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

Mark kindly sent me a copy of this book and I would like to pay it forward. If anyone is interested in the book, please send me a PM and I will ship the book off to you. First come, first served!

ETA: The copy of the book has now been claimed.

>97 alcottacre: I'm so happy to learn that this ended up being a win...a hard-fought one, but a win. It's a dense and intimate read that takes some people entirely the wrong way. I'm glad you weren't one.

Thursday *smooch*

>101 richardderus: Thanks, RD! I am eager to read more Allende in future. Any recommendations in particular?

>102 alcottacre: Daughter of Fortune, where Isabel Allende starts her Trilogía Involuntaria #1...Portrait in Sepia, The House of the Spirits round it out. Wonderful stuff for those with their eye in on her style and her concerns.

>103 richardderus: Thank you, Richard. I believe Daughter of Fortune is already in the BlackHole, but do not think Portrait in Sepia is. I will have to see if my local library has them.

>100 alcottacre: There is a possibility that I will add something by Ms Due this lunchtime, Stasia.
Hope all is well on the Acre.

I've not read anything by Isabel Allende, as yet, Stasia. I own The Wind Knows my Name, and The Japanese Lover. Maybe one day I will get to one of them.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/364866

Happy Friday, Stasia. So far I am enjoying Jick's amusing narrative. I didn't get as much reading in yesterday, due to a visit from dear Jack. I will read a bigger chunk today. I am so glad you enjoying The Wishing Pool and found a new home for it too.

>105 PaulCranswick: I will have to check and see if you did, Paul!

>106 vancouverdeb: Yeah, a lot of my books have the 'one day' tag on them (even if it is not written.)

>107 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver. I am in again especially since I will be out of town next weekend and will not be participating.

>108 msf59: Yay for Jack! I am glad to hear that you are enjoying Mariah Montana, Mark.

So today Kerry and I have been playing games - it is our monthly gaming marathon today - so I have been absent here and absent from the books. We still have one more game to play yet, Atlantis Rising, but we will play that after dinner.

I am hoping to make some progress in The Last 100 Days by John Toland, They Marched Into Sunlight by David Maraniss, Ride with Me, Mariah Montana by Ivan Doig, and All Change by Elizabeth Jane Howard. Beyond that, I am not sure what I will be reading.

Have a lovely weekend, Stasia! *smooch*

>111 richardderus: Thank you, Richard! I hope you have a great weekend too! ((Hugs)) and **smooches**

Kerry and I were both up very early this morning (I got a whole hour and 11 minutes sleep last night - I do believe a nap is in order) so I was able to get all of my Saturday chores done and out of the way. We also played what proved to be the final game of our Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle in this campaign.

Baseball (Go Detroit!) and college football will be on periodically throughout the day so I should be able to get some real reading in today as I did not get much done yesterday, what with the gaming marathon.

I am hoping to finish All Change, the final book in the excellent Cazalet Chronicles, today. Still plugging away with They Marched Into Sunlight by David Maraniss and The Last 100 Days by John Toland. I have not read of the Anita Memorial Reads books yet this month, so I hope to get to either Maus or Winterdance today. I am also continuing my shared read of Ride with Me, Mariah Montana. We will see if I can get started on one of my library books after that. . .

I hope everyone has a super Saturday!

>92 alcottacre: I will have to do some research to see what books I should add to an Indigenous Studies list. Last year I read An indigenous peoples' history of the United States, which was useful, although there are some things in the book that may not be accurate. It was helpful to see a viewpoint from an indigenous person. This year I finally picked up a copy of Bury my heart at Wounded Knee which I have somehow never managed to read. So that's one book I definitely need to get to. But I need to do more research to find out what else I should be reading.

>114 atozgrl: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is deservedly a classic. It sounds like your Indigenous Studies reading is going to be much better organized than either of my challenges are!

Finished tonight:

292 - All Change by Elizabeth Jane Howard - The last book in the Cazalet Chronicles and while I did not enjoy this book as much as I did some of the others in the series, I still enjoyed it. I thought it was highly appropriate that the book finished with the family (pretty much) all together at Home Place for Christmas. It was interesting to see how Howard resolved each of the family members and their futures throughout the series, one I will definitely reread at some point in future; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

I have been absent from your thread (and many others) for far too long!

So, hello.

>155 Kristelh: I was *this close* to reading Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee straight after I finished Empire of the Summer Moon but felt I couldn't take the heartache! I still want to visit places of significance to Native Americans one day, when I visit the US.

Likewise, many of my books have a " someday tag" Stasia . Have a lovely weekend!

>117 LovingLit: Hello, Megan! Thanks for stopping by. I understand being absent from threads. It just seems like there is never enough time.

I still need to read Empire of the Summer Moon, which I started at one point but did not get very far.

>118 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah!

Finished tonight:

293 - Maus I and Maus II by Art Spiegelman - I am considering these two volumes to be one since 1) they are not that lengthy and 2) as far as I am concerned they are all of a piece. I have now read Maus at least 3 times. They are probably my favorite graphic novels and show how far the medium can be stretched. They are Spiegelman's attempts to understand his parents, especially his father, better. They relate Spiegelman's father's life in Poland prior to WWII and then in concentration camps and how this formed his experiences throughout his life. I read these now because they were for the Anita's Memorial Reads on the October TIOLI challenge. I do not regret the re-reads at all and for those who think that graphic novels are not for them, I beg you to give Maus a try and see if it will not change your mind!; Highly Recommended (5 stars) Mine

>120 alcottacre: I agree with you—the Maus books are great. I have on my shelves, MetaMaus: A Look Inside a Modern Classic, Maus. It’s by Spiegelman also.

I never got more than halfway through it (can’t imagine why, it was pretty interesting). I should get that one moving again.

Thanks for the nudge!

Karen O

>292 I'm so glad you enjoyed The Cazalets, Stasia. My quibble with this book was the change in narrative structure. Instead of each part being told from one character's perspective, each time period is made up of chapters about multiple characters. I thought that made for a more linear narrative and more “telling” than “showing.” But like you, I liked the way things wrapped up at Home Place.

>121 klobrien2: I need to get hold of the MetaMaus book, Karen. Thanks for the mention! I do hope that when you get back to it that you enjoy the book.

>122 lauralkeet: I understand your quibble completely, Laura. I liked the narrative structure of the previous books better too. I really liked her wrapping up the book at Home Place - it seemed highly appropriate.

Today is my traditional 'day off' technology so unless I finish up a book today, which I do not think I will do, I will see everyone on Monday.

I hope everyone has a lovely Sunday!

>124 alcottacre: I have a new thread when you come back:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/364912/
Sunday *smooch*

>125 richardderus: Thanks, RD! I have just posted over there. . .

I am not reading Ride With Me, Mariah Montana because I am reading the first book in the McCaskill trilogy - English Creek. It is my first Ivan Doig book. I am so impressed with this author. He has managed to capture the observations of a fourteen year old perfectly. He has nailed the characters as well. For every character he has introduced in this novel, I have known one just like them back in Kansas. I think he knows these people and describes them with knowledge of their individuality, idiosyncrasies, and faults, and does so with compassion and understanding. In this he reminds me of Kent Haruf. Haruf is easily one of my favorite authors, and so when I compare an author to him, it is no small praise. Haruf writes about modern western people and since English Creek is set in the 1930's there is naturally some difference in the culture around the people. On-the-other-hand, Doig is writing about two previous generations, but the similarities in the characters with those in the Haruf books is all there, as is the deep understanding of the people and the land.

English Creek is not a book that I can race through. It is the second of Doig's novels to be published and it was released in 1984. The copy of the book that I am reading is a 1984 edition, and that age shows because it is a library copy. The book has dog eared pages, water stains on the mustard colored boards, and splintered corners from being dropped on the corners multiple times. It does not have underlined passages, which is unusual for a library copy, and for which I am thankful. I find previous reader's underlining to be distracting.

Doig's prose is dense. The copy of the book that I have is also dense. The pages are thick and the text is printed in a thick black text. Solid. Massive. It has lots of words on the page with close spacing between the sentences. All of that is definitely affecting my reading experience. Today I read in this book for one uninterrupted hour and only got through 20 pages. I can't help but wonder if the design of the text and pages is done on purpose - in order to give a literary impression of the massiveness of the mountains and the denseness of the rock around English Creek. The French philosopher and author, Gerard Genette, called this addition to the reading experience - paratext. The paratext of a book is defined as all the material things that are the book. Paratext is the threshold through which we view the book. It sets the stage for our reading experience. How much does it weigh? What color is it? How does it smell? How does it feel in your hand? All of these things come into our senses and created a window through which we then experience the story. In the case of this particular book/novel I am having a real paratext moment.

If Doig continues to do develop this novel, and the subsequent novels in the series, in the same manner in which it starts out, it will make them outstanding examples of the Western genre and easily the best Westerns, and the best literary novels, I have read in a long time.

>127 benitastrnad: I have found that Doig is one of those authors whose prose is to be savored. Honestly, I think that English Creek is the best book in the trilogy unless Mariah Montana gets substantially better, Benita. Doig is another of my LT discoveries.

The pages are thick and the text is printed in a thick black text. Solid. Massive. It has lots of words on the page with close spacing between the sentences. My copy of Mariah Montana is like that so I understand.

On today's agenda: playing Yedo with Kerry, Monday chores (balancing the bank statement, paying bills, and taking care of trash), talking to Catey at lunch, normal stuff. . .

I am making a Vegan Sheet Pan Stir Fry for lunch today. I have not made a Sheet Pan meal before so this is new to me. I hope we like it!

I am hoping to finish They Marched Into Sunlight and Orbital today. I continue to listen to The Woman in White with a view to finishing it before I leave for my Longview/Joplin trip on Thursday. I am continuing on with Ride with Me, Mariah Montana and The Last 100 Days and hope to start The Forest Lover today as well.

I am looking forward to the annual Joplin trip but it looks like a very small group will be meeting. Ah, well. However, after I drive Catey back home on Saturday, I am going to spend that day and the next in Longview to visit with my mother so I will be without Internet for those days.

I hope everyone has a marvelous Monday!

Morning, Stasia. Hooray for rereading the Maus books. Possibly the top GNs ever published. I am sure they still pack a punch.

>127 benitastrnad: "Doig's prose is dense." I have to agree with Benita, on that one.

>129 alcottacre: It's nice to have a routine to fall into! I am not good at routine. It seems every day is totally different!

>127 benitastrnad: That's an excellent assessment of Doig, Benita. I have loved everything of his that I have read. But I have to say Ride with Me is not coming up to his usual standard. >128 alcottacre: I take it, Stasia, that you may agree?

I have had Doig on my shelf since our Native American council got a deal on Penguin remainders back in the 90s. I bought tons of them at 50¢ a book for the several years that they maintained their relationship with Penguin. That's really why my library is so large, and why I'm so behind in reading my own.

I know you're looking forward to Joplin. I'm looking forward to hearing about it!

I haven't signed a contract yet or put any money down on the moving, but I do have a date set. The moving truck will be here Monday, October 28th. They will pack my furniture and wrap it. They will hold it and then deliver it to Munden on November 8 or 9th. I have the living room all packed and will start on the closets today. That means I get to make a trip to Home depot to purchase 2 more Wardrobe boxes. The moving company representative said to pack them full. Put shoes on the bottom and make sure they are as full as they can get. I think I can do that.

I read a bit more in English Creek this morning and I think I am in love with this book. I love the way Doig writes and I love the characters he has created. Jick is amazing and so much like what things were like in my small farming town when I was his age. Doig has nailed the character of the place and it is amazing to read it.

There are also lots of ways that the setting reminds me of the writing of Kent Haruf. However, Haruf is much sparer in his writing style. Doig is very dense with so much packed into each sentence and paragraph. I can just picture the scenes in my head. I have finished the first 100 pages in English Creek and Jick is returning from his adventures with Stanley. Poor Jick. His head is spinning with all he has learned in three days.

>130 msf59: I heartily agree about Maus, Mark! They do still pack a punch even after several reads and are possibly the top graphic novels ever published (not that I have read all that many, unfortunately).

>131 The_Hibernator: It certainly helps to be retired, Rachel! Even then, things creep up and surprise you - such as Kerry asking to play Elder Sign this afternoon.

>132 laytonwoman3rd: Sadly, I do agree, Linda - at least at this point (which for me is about page 200 of the book). I really think the first book in this trilogy is the best. *sigh*

>133 LizzieD: I am looking forward to Joplin, Peggy, although it looks as though it is going to be a very small group this year.

>134 benitastrnad: Yay for having the moving day set, Benita!

>135 benitastrnad: I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying English Creek!

Finished tonight:

294 - They Marched Into Sunlight by David Maraniss - Nonfiction; I knew going in that this would be a difficult book for me to read. It is, after all, about the Vietnam War and even though I know very little about the conflict, I do know it was a very divisive war in the States. Even going in though, the one page in the book that lists soldier after soldier after soldier down the entire page of men who died in an ambush is hard to take. We spent the first half of the book getting to know these men and now they are no more. The second half of the book which dealt with protests at the University of Wisconsin was not as engaging for me as the first half had been although I understand the reason for it; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Finished tonight:

295 - Orbital by Samantha Harvey - This book is on the short list for this year's Booker award which is why I was reading it. I thought I knew what I was in for, but I still wanted more by the time I finished reading the book. This is the story of a group of astronauts and cosmonauts and 16 of their orbital hours, most of which seem to be spent in missing family and friends and philosophizing. Do not get me wrong - there is some absolutely gorgeous prose in this book, but gorgeous prose does not necessarily make a readable book. I think I expected more emphasis on the science fiction aspects of the book and less on the philosophical side. I really, really wanted to like this more than I ended up doing; Recommended (3.75 stars) Hoopla - Kindle

“Everything is dimming. The earth’s horizon, which cracked open with light at so recent a dawn, is being erased. Darkness eats at the sharpness of its line as if the earth is dissolving and the planet turns purple and appears to blur, a watercolour washing away.”

At least you have read Orbital, Stasia. I got it out from the library and returned it unread. I'm am trying for the most part to read " no bad books" - you, know stuff that is a slog or bores me. But you recommend it , and gave it 3.75, so I guess it was not to bad for you at least.

Got the date set, but then ... the moving travails continue.

At certain times of the year the sun shines directly into the window of my office. This is one of those times of the year. I forgot and left the hotspot sitting out in the open and I it literally fried itself. I was having trouble with the battery because it was getting old, but I had hoped that it would work until I got moved. Once I get to Kansas I have a brand new modem waiting and will have wifi throughout the house. (the local phone company got one of those Biden Infrastructure Grants so everybody who wanted one got an upgrade.) I have been a bit rattled lately and so I just forgot about the hotspot. This morning I took it to the Phone Doctor and he thinks he can put a new battery in it. It will cost me $40.00 to find out if he can, but I am hopeful. Other wise I can add the $40.00 to the cost of a new hotspot. I use an old iPhone as a hotspot, so I am hopeful that if it can't be fixed, I can purchase a used iPhone or an old one nobody wants cheaply and limp along for the next couple of weeks.

I did get the moving estimate signed and the date is set for October 28-29 to move out of Tuscaloosa and start the journey back to Kansas.

>139 vancouverdeb: Deborah, there are several people whose opinions that I respect who gave the book a mark higher than 3.75 stars, including Darryl (kidzdoc) who gave it a whopping 4.5 stars. You might turn out to like it much more than I did!

>140 benitastrnad: Good luck with the hotspot, Benita. I hope that works out for you.

Congratulations on getting the moving estimate signed! One more thing done.

Finished this morning:

296 - The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - Audiobook; this is my second read of this classic (I read it for the first time 14 years ago, so it has been a while!) and I listened to it on audio this time, narrated by the wonderful Sir Ian Holm. This is a gothic novel in the best tradition with young love, mistaken identity, a treacherous husband bent on stealing his wife's fortune, the whole lot. I thoroughly enjoyed the book this second time through too; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>142 alcottacre: A classic that holds up to a re-read? Great discovery, Stasia! *smooch*

Hi, Stasia. I also thought Orbital was excellent. 4.5 stars for me. Sorry it didn't click with you more. I finished Ride With Me and I think it was a good read, earning 4 stars. I especially liked how it all wrapped up at the end.
I am glad Benita is having such a good time with English Creek.

all-purpose *smooch*

>143 richardderus: Oh, yeah. I expect in a few years I will be ready to read it again, RD.

>144 msf59: Well, we do not have to grade everything just the same, do we? Lol

>145 richardderus: Thanks, RD!!

Finished this morning:

297 - Ride with Me, Mariah Montana by Ivan Doig - The last book in Doig's English Creek trilogy concentrates on the character of Jick McCaskill in his older years, along with his oldest daughter, Mariah, and her ex-husband as they set out on a 'field trip' of sorts. Riley, Mariah's ex-husband, is a journalist and together with Mariah, who is a talented photographer, they are going to write and photograph tributes to Montana's past as the state's centennial approaches. Needless to say, there is a lot of haranguing between the two exes going on and since the 3 of them are traveling in Jick's Winnebago, there is not a lot of breathing room. Jick spends a lot of their trip together reminiscing about his past, especially as they are traveling around the state and come upon places he is familiar with. Jick is also grieving for his wife Marcella, Mariah's mother, who died of cancer. He is still coming to terms with that. I have to say that the first part of the book let me down somewhat - I did not at all care for all the sniping between Riley and Mariah. This particular volume of the trilogy seemed more like a series of vignettes at some points. That being said, many of those vignettes I genuinely liked and I loved the last paragraph of the book: "I had to chuckle at that, the geographical pennant of the McCaskills, as Mariah swiftly moved low to one side of him and captured the picture to go with these words, of Jick with his bearded head thrown back as he laughed upward at the multiplying banners of the centennial. As she clicked, day's arrival was definite, the sun articulating its long light onto the land. This is how I want to remember Jick!; Recommended (3.75 stars) Mine

>147 alcottacre: That final sentence both awes and frightens me! I had to read it 3x to understand what it was so beautifully expressing.

>148 quondame: I never thought of it at all frightening, Susan, so I guess it just depends on how you read it? Not sure.

Good review of Mariah Montana, Stasia. I really liked the quote you posted. I am glad we were able to do a shared read of this one

Finished this evening:

298 - Portrait of a Wide Seas Islander by Victoria Goddard - This is one of the novellas in Goddard's Nine Worlds series. In this one, we see Kip's (Cliopher's) uncle Tovo, one of his favorite relatives, who is 90 years old. I think that the title of this particular novella is highly appropriate - we see Tovo as the world sees it and as he sees Kip, especially. Goddard does such a terrific job with all of her characters and Tovo is one of my favorites, so I was disposed to like this book because of that - but Goddard's writing alone makes it worth the time. When I am finished with her Nine Worlds books, I may just turn around and read them all again!; Recommended (4 stars) Mine - Kindle

>150 msf59: Thanks, Mark. Yeah, I always love doing the shared reads. I enjoy seeing other reader's perspectives.

Just a reminder that I leave tomorrow morning for Longview and from there to Joplin. I will not be back home until late Sunday evening. In Longview I have no Internet at all and how much I am online in Joplin is an unknown quantity what with the meet up and time spent with Catey.

Everyone behave themselves! Take care of each other!!

Enjoy your week, Stasia!

Enjoy, Stasia. We will miss you. Joplin is about 10 hours from my house.

>153 alcottacre: Have a great trip!

>153 alcottacre: Hahaha yes Mom!

Have a lovely and safe trip, Stasia xx

I'm glad The Woman in White held up well for a second read, Stasia. Enjoy your trip!

>153 alcottacre: Happy trip Stasia.

>153 alcottacre: have a great time in Joplin!

Sweet Thursday, Stasia. Safe travels.

>154 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley! I hope you do too.

>155 Kristelh: Joplin is about a 6.5 hour drive from Catey's so you have a bit more of a drive than we do - although if you combine the times for me to get to her house and then drive to Joplin like I am doing, we are pretty even on the time. I hope to see you in Joplin at some point, Kristel!! I will miss you all too.

>156 richardderus: I will try, RD!

>157 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. I cannot help the mother in me escaping sometimes.

>158 vancouverdeb: That it did, Deborah. I hope you get it read at some point. Thanks!

>159 Caroline_McElwee: >160 figsfromthistle: >161 msf59: Thanks, Caroline, Anita, and Mark!

I am finishing up my breakfast and then hitting the road to Longview, about a 3 hour drive. I will visit with my mother until Catey gets home from work about 6:30pm. Then, we leave for Joplin, about a 6.5 hour drive. I will touch base as I can from Joplin. I have no Internet in Longview at all.

See you when I get back!

Safe travels, and have a wonderful time!

Have a great trip, Stasia!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/365046

Hope you have a great time!!! I am starting How Music Works!! : )

>164 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda! We did!

>165 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene!

>166 SilverWolf28: Sorry, Silver, I am going to miss this one.

>167 Berly: Thanks, Kim! I will pick up the book from the library when I get home.

>151 alcottacre: I liked this one and seeing Buru Tovo's perspective on Cliopher. You were smarter than I about the "portrait" title as my mind when right to the literal portrait of Tovo that Cliopher keeps in his rooms.

When I am finished with her Nine Worlds books, I may just turn around and read them all again! I know exactly what you mean :D

Safe travels and have a great time in Joplin!

>136 alcottacre: Well, an unexpected board game is a fun surprise!

I'm sure you're enjoying your travels, Stasia, and I hope the trip continues to be fun. *smooch*

>169 bell7: This is why I love shared reads! You thought of "portrait" as one thing and I read into it something completely different. I love seeing other people's perspectives on books.

>170 The_Hibernator: Oh, definitely!

>171 richardderus: I hate to break it to you, Richard, but I am back :) ((Hugs)) and **smooches**

Finished this evening:

299 - Queen Isabella by Alison Weir - Nonfiction; I am just too dadgum tired to type up a full review. Suffice it to say that Queen Isabella was definitely an adulteress, but not a murderer; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

Oh, you are back! Good news , Stasia! Enjoy getting some well earned rest.

>173 alcottacre: Your "review" of Queen Isabella made me chuckle, Stasia. Short, sweet, and to the point!

>173 alcottacre: hmmm

Never sure I believe her to be an innocent in her husband's murder. Nonetheless, moderan feminists won't have it any other way, so off we go.

*smooch*

Dang, I hated to miss Joplin this year. The weather was beautiful for the walk between the bookstore and restaurant. I hope you got some good books, Stasia.

>174 vancouverdeb: Well, I got more than enough rest yesterday, Deborah!

>175 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! Maybe I should write all of my "reviews" when dead tired!

>176 richardderus: I do not know enough to argue one way or the other, RD, but to my mind, Weir proved her not guilty of her husband's murder. YMMV.

>177 Donna828: You were definitely missed, Donna! I am sorry that you could not make it. I got a whole one book, Four Souls by Louise Erdrich. I did purchase another book for a 75er and a game for Shaquille.

So here is a rundown (for those interested and those completely uninterested):

Thursday: Up at 7am, on the road to Longview by 8:30 or so, left for Joplin about 7:15pm, arrived at hotel in Joplin at 3:43am. No sleep to speak of.

Friday: Meet up at 10am, followed by lunch. Catey and I went back to the hotel room where I napped for about an hour. In bed early and proceeded to sleep for 11.5 hours.

Saturday: Catey and I headed back to Longview, leaving Joplin about 9:30am and arriving back in Longview about 7pm. Got no sleep again.

Sunday: After not being able to sleep, I got up at 3:30am, packed the car, and was on my way back home by 3:58am. Took a nap for about 15 minutes. Slept well Sunday night for 7.5 hours.

Monday: Woke up at 3:25am and was fine. Woke up again 3:45am and was fine. However, 30 minutes later, vertigo hit. The vertigo finally left me about 8pm. I have never had such a bad bout of it!

Today: I am playing catch up today because I was supposed to be playing catch up yesterday. I did not finish a book yesterday that I need to complete today. Not to mention things like balancing the bank statement and then all my normal Tuesday chores. I also met up with the girls and played Isle of Cats with them. I also spoke with the lady who is helping with the kitchen cabinetry and paid for the new stuff which will hopefully be installed in 2-3 weeks.

So, I am hoping to play some catch up on LT today. I am also hoping to finish up the book that I was supposed to finish yesterday, The Last 100 Days by John Toland. I am continuing with my audiobook of Villette by Charlotte Bronte (with all the driving I got quite a bit of this one listened to over the weekend). I have 2 more library books on the go, The Three-Cornered War by Megan Kate Nelson and The Life Impossible by Matt Haig. I am also reading Sanctuary by Faye Kellerman for my series reading.

Welcome back! Did you visit a bookstore as well?

>180 figsfromthistle: Yes, Anita, the Joplin meet up is held at the Changing Hands Book Shoppe. We go shop and then have lunch together.

Finished tonight:

300 - The Last 100 Days by John Toland - Nonfiction; According to the acknowledgments of this book, Toland and his wife traveled 100,000+ miles and spent 3+ years to conduct the research for it. I will say that it shows. There is not a doubt in my mind that Toland really dug into this subject - the last 100 days of WWII in the European theater of the war. The book is very readable although at almost 600 pages of reading, it is a bit of an undertaking for those interested. One of the things that I wish were included in the book is a list of the personages and which nation they represented. There are a lot of characters in here and although I was familiar with many of them, there were several I did not think I had ever heard of before. One of the things that I really appreciated about the book is that Toland does not neglect to mention not only what the various militaries were doing, but showing how the civilians were handling quite a lot of chaos going on around them; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

All that driving! And so much of it in the dark! (Do you like to drive in the dark? I had a friend whose family always planned their vacation drives for nighttime, because there was less traffic.) Anyway, glad you got there and back safely. Hope you enjoyed the meet-up.

Great to see you back, Stasia and congratulations for reaching 4x75

>182 alcottacre: 300!!!! Yay!!! Congratulations!

>179 alcottacre: Welcome back, Stasia, I hope you have gotten plenty of rest! I don't think I could function at all on so little sleep as you got on this trip.

>182 alcottacre: I read Toland's book about Hitler way back when I was in college. It sounds like I should get to this one too.

Welcome back Stasia, sounds like it was a hard driving trip. So many hours and in the dark too.

>183 laytonwoman3rd: Yes, I actually do like driving in the dark. I am with your friend there. Yes, I always enjoy the meet ups although this one was smaller than normal.

>184 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul!

>185 quondame: Thanks, Susan!

>186 atozgrl: Well, I slept 3 hours last night, does that count? Lol

I do hope you get to read the Toland book. I have read others of his but it has been years!

>187 Kristelh: I enjoy driving in the dark so that was not an issue for me. Thanks, Kristel.

Not much on the agenda today. Laundry is already going this morning and the cats have been tended. I have to call the NTTA today to see if I can get our toll tag updated. The toll tag was very helpful when traveling to Joplin so I definitely want to get that done.

Kerry and I will be playing Raising Robots today. I will be making Cheesy Pinto Beans and rice for lunch, a quick and easy recipe that we both like. A trip to the library should happen today as I have a book I need to pick up that is both a shared read and one for the Nonfiction challenge this month.

So, I calculated last night and figure I only have to read 500+ pages a day for the remainder of the month to read all the books I want to get read. Well, that is just not happening, lol. I will just have to do the best that I can.

As far as books go today, I continue to listen to Villette, Charlotte Bronte's last novel. I am also reading Sanctuary, Your Duck Is My Duck, The Three-Cornered War, The Life Impossible (which I am finding disappointing, but it is a shared read), and Holocaust Journey.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

Hi Stasia! I hope you have a good day and can get more sleep than you seem to have been getting lately. I can relate.

>83 alcottacre: I’m Three Degrees of Separation from Tananarive Due – I went to college with her husband Steven Barnes but don’t remember him; however, friend Karen was in J school with him there.

>120 alcottacre: I have and have read Maus I. It was an absolute stunner, and I figure I’ll get Maus II one of these years.

>182 alcottacre: Congrats on 75 x 4.

>189 alcottacre: Cheesy Pinto Beans and Rice sounds yummy. I could easily make it lower sodium. Now all I have to do is get the urge to cook and have the stamina to cook.

My kitties have been tended, too. Zoe Rose is hanging out here in the Sunroom with me, don’t know where Washburne Ryder is. Possibly outside – he’s really been anxious for me to open the kitty door in the morning lately.

>190 karenmarie: Yeah, the insomnia has been bad lately. However, I would rather deal with it than CFS, I think.

You really do need to get to Maus II at some point. Karen O recommended MetaMaus and I just got a copy of that one. I hope to get to it soon.

Yay for the kitties! My Mallory has been snuggling up to me more than normal - I think he missed me while I was gone :)

>182 alcottacre:
I read his book Rising Sun and learned so much about the war in the Pacific that I didn't know. It has been years since I did that, so perhaps a reread is in order. It was the first history on the Pacific war to use declassified Japanese documents. Toland's wife is Japanese and can read and write it so the use of those documents in the book made it a ground breaker.

>89 alcottacre: Whoa! On my display this post is out of the box!!!

>190 karenmarie: I've met Tananarive Due a couple of time. I dated Steve Barnes for a few months before his first marriage. I'm currently reading The Wishing Pool.

Congratulations on 75 x 4, Stasia! 500 hundred pages a day! LOL! I'm reading slower than I would like as I want to start on something creepy for Halloween. My goal is usually 50 pages a day, but sometimes a book might really grab me and I'll read 100 pages a day - and also I need the time. Glad you are back, Stasia!

>193 quondame: OK, not sure why?

>194 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah! No way am I reading 500+ pages a day, Deborah. My days are simply not long enough!

Thanks!

I have been up since 4:30am. It has been a busy day which is why my visit to LT today is behind. I made lunch, Slow-Cooker Vegan Cassoulet, because it had to be in the slow cooker early. When Kerry got up, we played Yedo and then I did the meal plans and grocery list for next week.

As far as books go today, I continue to listen to Villette, Charlotte Bronte's last novel. I am also reading Sanctuary, Your Duck Is My Duck, The Three-Cornered War, The Life Impossible, which I am hoping to finish today as I am beyond done with it already, and Holocaust Journey. I started How Music Works, a shared read with Kim, which is also for October's Nonfiction challenge.

I hope you all have a terrific day!

Finished this afternoon:

301 - The Life Impossible by Matt Haig - I had only read one of Haig's books prior to this one, The Midnight Library, which I liked well enough. This book started out well for me, but midway through it took a left turn into what I call 'woo woo land' and lost me. 72-year-old former math teacher Grace can now read minds. She is becoming at one with the universe, whatever that means. She is seeing strange auras. Thanks, but no thanks. I do not want a self-help novel in fiction form; Not Recommended (3 stars) Library Book

"We are made of elements.
We have the unbreakable and the eternal inside us.
We have the universe in our blood and bones."

Finished tonight:

302 - The Three-Cornered War by Megan Kate Nelson - Nonfiction; A huge 'thank you' to Irene for recommending this book to me. I found it to be a well-written, well-researched look at not only the Civil War in the western U.S., but the fight with the Native Americans for control of the west, which led to the forced march of the Navajo and other tribes to the Bosque Redondo, an ill-prepared camp/reservation. Nelson does a great job of using primary resources such as letters, diaries, etc to present a little known piece of United States history that included not only the point-of-view of the Union soldiers, the Confederate soldiers, and the Native Americans as well; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

"The idea that if Native Americans could not be exterminated physically, they should be annihilated culturally and converted into 'true Americans,' had informed federal Indian policy for years."

>198 alcottacre: Oh, I'm so glad you liked it! I didn't know anything about any of this history before I read the book. And I just ran across it in the library when I was looking at books about the old West, so it was serendipity that I found it. It's an important piece of history that very few of us know anything about, so I was glad I found it. Someday I'm going to have to visit Bosque Redondo.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/365276

>200 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver! I will be taking part!

So, last night I was getting in some of my daily steps when I tripped over Chalfont and Mallory who were fighting. Needless to say, they did not do as much damage to them as they did to me. I wrenched my right knee (and woke up to it swollen) and my back. I think today is going to be pretty much of a 'do nothing but read' day.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Friday!

>199 atozgrl: I think you would find Bosque Redondo a moving place to visit, Irene. I do hope you get a chance to visit.

Thanks again for the recommendation of the book.

>202 alcottacre: - Oh no! Yikes! I hope you can take it easy today, Stasia, with maybe some heating pads or, alternately, ice packs. Those darn cats. Don't they know better than to be where your feet are? My lazy boys seldom do that, as they prefer the bed, couch, or their caves, but when it happens, it's usually at night, when I am too lazy to turn on a light and then, look at that, there they are, right where they shouldn't be and rarely are, under my feet!

>202 alcottacre: Ouch! Hope you can rest comfortably today and heal!

Well, I hope you get lots of quality reading done while you heal. And heal fast!

>202 alcottacre: Resting and recuperation is all that's on my agenda, as well, Stasia. *smooch*

>202 alcottacre: I hope the pains go away quickly. It hurts just to hear of them.

I often call our dogs murderesses when they squabble at the head of the stairs or leave toys on the steps. Nutmeg is solid!

>202 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, I hate to hear about your accident. I hope you are getting plenty of rest today, and that your knee and back recover soon!

>203 alcottacre: You are more than welcome! And I definitely hope we can get out there at some point to visit.

>204 jessibud2: After having them for 4 years, Shelley, you would think that the cats would know better than to be where I am putting my feet!

>205 foggidawn: I did, thanks!

>206 Kristelh: I have pretty much spent today resting other than some laundry and game playing with Kerry. The knee is feeling better tonight than it did this morning, that is for sure. Thanks, Kristel!

>207 richardderus: Well then, we rested and recuperated together today, RD. ((Hugs)) and **smooches**

>208 quondame: Thanks, Susan. The knee is definitely improved. I understand about Nutmeg. My Mallory weighs 16 pounds, which is fairly large for a cat, so he is very solid too. Chalfont, on the other hand, is a lightweight!

>209 atozgrl: The knee, yes. The back, not so much. I have had back problems ever since my accident on the treadmill last year.

I hope so too!

Finished tonight:

303 - So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba - I am not sure how I heard about this short novel by Ba, which won the Noma Award - an award that I admit to complete unfamiliarity. The book is a long letter from Rematoulaye, a recent widow, who is writing to her lifelong friend, Aissatou. It is a series of reminiscences about how they were childhood friends and bringing them into the present. She talks about her marriage and how betrayed she felt after 30 years of marriage when her husband decided to take a second wife - one half his age - as allowed under Muslim law. I very much liked the character of Rematoulaye, a strong woman who is determined to live the remainder of her life her way - she does not want to remarry, despite being urged by friends to do so and having proposals come her way after the death of her husband. My biggest complaints about the book are two-fold: 1) This is a minor quibble, but I do wish that the items listed in the glossary (all 20 of them) would have been on the appropriate pages rather than gathered in the back of the book, requiring the reader to flip back-and-forth and 2) I know the point that Ba was trying to get across, but I do not think I needed to be beaten about the head with it repeatedly - that being said, I think that "the cases of many other women, despised, relegated, or exchanged" probably warrants the heavy handedness; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

"This is the moment dreaded by every Senegalese woman, the moment when she sacrifices her possessions as gifts to her family-in-law; and, worse still, beyond her possessions she gives up her personality, her dignity, becoming a thing in the service of the man who has married her, her grandfather, his grandmother, his father, his mother, his brother, his sister, his uncle, his aunt, his male and female cousins, his friends. Her behavior is conditioned. . ."

>202 alcottacre: Oh no! Sounds like you need rest, ice and elevation. Hope it heals quickly.

>212 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita. I have been trying to rest my back today but it is still giving me problems.

Finished tonight:

304 - Sanctuary by Faye Kellerman - Continuing my read of the Decker/Lazarus series, I thought this was an interesting entry because of the concept of 'sanctuary.' In the Old Testament, there were sanctuary cities in which a person could go, even if guilty of a crime, and not be bothered by the authorities. In the book, one of the characters remarks that the missing boys, who have likely witnessed their parents' murders, are using the entire country of Israel as a sanctuary. Decker and his wife, Rina, end up in Israel trying to track down the boys as well as figure out who murdered their parents. In addition, a house guest that they had has disappeared and they believe that she may have fled to Israel with her children because of the murder of her husband. A lot going on in this one!; Recommended for fans of the series (4 stars) Mine

Happy Sunday off, a little early! *smooch*

>215 richardderus: Thanks, RD! I appreciate it.

Finished tonight:

305 - Your Duck Is My Duck by Deborah Eisenberg - This book came onto my radar thanks to Berly's Indie list. I do not regret reading it, but I saw a review that pretty much sums up my reading of the book: "And the tone felt off the whole time -- her prose is lovely and precise, but there was too much remove for this story: it felt too poised and distant. I never got the sense that the artist cared about anything. And again, I just don't get it. Which is often a failure of the reader, but here I do feel that Eisenberg is being a little too oblique." There are 6 stories in this book and I felt that way about them all. While I can appreciate Eisenberg's prose - some of it is just wonderful - half the time I did not understand what she was trying to tell me; Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Mine

I'm glad to read that your knee is improving , Stasia, and sorry that you fell. My right knee has been bothering me a bit, but nothing big as I am still out walking 3.5 miles or 4 miles most days. I think it is the result of the way of I am sitting . I'm 5'3 and find a lot of chairs to high, so I tend to lean on my right leg for balance or something, and I'm quite sure that is the problem.

I'm glad you are getting lots of reading done.

>218 vancouverdeb: Yeah, the knee has not been nearly as bad as my back has been. I am still getting my daily walking done although at a slower pace. Now if I could just get my back to stop hurting!

I am trying to get as many of my TIOLI books in as I can but once again I will fail to get all of the books that I want to read this month done, lol.

My traditional Sunday 'day off' technology sees me in the middle of a board game with Kerry, whose turn was paused because he got his traditional Sunday phone call from our daughter, Beth.

I am hopeful of completing at least one book today as the month winds to a close :)

I hope everyone has a lovely Sunday!

Sorry to hear about your injuries, Stasia. Hope you find some good reads to help pass the healing time.

Aggrr re your back Stasia. Rest up and read.

I am not going to make all of my TIOLI list this month but I am going to get that shared read Your Duck is My Duck read.

I'm so far behind! I'm sorry about your knee and sorrier about your back. Our animals have no sense of anybody else's space as I was thinking today when Lulu was under me. I live in fear that I'm going to be caught in a stampede one of these days. Anyway, I'm glad you're still walking. I think that it should be good for you.

And I'm very glad that you're still reading!

>221 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Luckily I am surrounded by books!

>222 Caroline_McElwee: I am doing the best I can to do both, Caroline. Thanks!

>223 Kristelh: I will be curious to see what you make of the Eisenberg book, Kristel.

>224 LizzieD: I think the walking is good for me too, Peggy, although I did take my normal Sunday off from it.

Finished tonight:

306 - Winterdance by Gary Paulsen - Nonfiction; This is a book that Mark recommended to me several months ago and when I saw it on the Anita Memorial Reads list, there was not a chance that I would not be reading it this month. I am so glad that I did. I very much enjoyed this book, laughing out loud several times. Paulsen talks about his dogs and his experiences with them - many of them quite funny if you are not the person they happened to! - and his desire to compete in the legendary Iditarod race, which he did eventually do; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

"By this time I, too, was gone, caught up in the madness of it all, so immersed in the noise and insanity that if somebody had asked my name I would not have known it. I could only see the dogs, lunging on their picket chains, crazed with excitement; feel only that same pull tearing at me, the power of it all sweeping me."

>226 alcottacre: Loved Winterdance, which was given to me in one of the first LT gift exchanges I participated in, back in 2007!

Morning, Stasia. We are back. I did not get much reading in, on the trip but I am really enjoying The Sentence. Yes, I LOVED Winterdance.

>227 laytonwoman3rd: What a great book to get in one of your gift exchanges here on LT!

>228 msf59: Yay, I am glad to see you back safely, Mark! I very much enjoyed The Sentence too, so I am happy to hear that you are as well.

Thanks again for the recommendation of Winterdance!

Because my back is causing me issues these days, my sleeping is even worse than "normal," so I am getting up late and today was just one of those days when I was off at the gun. I made Alfredo Potato Bake for Kerry and I for lunch today - currently being consumed - but it is one of those recipes that takes a while to get the prep work done (3 pounds of potatoes to be peeled and sliced for one thing!) and then actually get it baked. Whew!

I still have normal Monday chores to do as well and I must get some reading done as the 31st rapidly approaches. I am hopeful of finishing Villette up today as well as Then They Came for Me. I am continuing on with How Music Works, Holocaust Journey, and Bound for Canaan and am hoping to start The Calculating Stars today.

I hope everyone has a marvelous Monday!

Finished this afternoon:

307 - Villette by Charlotte Bronte - Audiobook; This was yet another re-read for me, although my first read of the book was probably at least 10 years ago. This is the last of Charlotte Bronte's novels that was published during her lifetime. It is centered on the character of Lucy Snow, a woman with no family (although she does have a godmother who shows up in the novel) who, on a whim, leaves England for the continent and stumbles into the city of Villette. Knowing no one in the town and being completely unfamiliar with it, she begs assistance from a man (who like the godmother shows up in the novel again later) who speaks English (Lucy has no French at the time) and directs her to a hotel that meets her needs. Lucy gets lost but by happy fortune stumbles across a situation that works well for her and she settles into becoming a teacher at a girls' school. This is the basic gist of the novel, which is considered to be a semi-autobiographical book, but there is a lot more going on than what I have written. I am still debating with myself as to whether I like this book or Jane Eyre more at this point in my life; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>231 alcottacre: Your revisits of Brontë are inspiring; so many many books have come and gone between the time I found 'em and now. Might should pick some few up again...though I oppose re-reading on principle, there are some I should look at again.

Drat you bibliosiren! *shaken fist*

>232 richardderus: I do it just to tempt you, RD!

Finished tonight:

308 - How Music Works by David Byrne - Nonfiction; This book first came to my attention because it is on Berley's Indie book list. She and I decided to share the read (thanks, Kim!) and I must say that the book was not at all what I expected it to be - a book about music itself. Instead Byrne turns that premise on its head and discusses all manner of things pertaining to the music industry such as how technology has revolutionized it, how the business works and how financing within the business works, etc. He also draws on his years of experience in the industry and relates how things used to be when he started his own band years ago (Talking Heads) and how things are, chances he took when making records, and whether such chances panned out or not. I will say that despite my expectation of what this book was going to be about and then finding it not so, I enjoyed the read for the most part; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

"Technology has altered the way music sounds, how it's composed, and how we experience it. It has also flooded the world with music. The world is awash with (mostly) recorded sounds. We used to have to pay for music or make it ourselves; playing, hearing, and experiencing it was exceptional, a rare and special experience. Now hearing it is ubiquitous, and silence is the rarity that we pay for and savor."

Being vegan or vegetarian is a lot of work when it comes to chopping, Stasia. I admire you! Sorry to read that your back continues to cause you pain. I hope that will soon resolve.

>235 vancouverdeb: Yeah, I have to be careful about the chopping too due to the problems with my arm so I use a vegetable chopper if I can rather than a knife all the time.

The back is not easing up yet. Hopefully soon. Thanks for checking, Deborah!

>234 alcottacre: Nice review and I'm glad you enjoyed it!! It hasn't been what I was expecting either, but I an halfway through and enjoying it. I also picked up Every Brain Needs Music today at an author talk at my favorite Indie bookstore tonight. Along with American Salvation: How Immigrants Made America Great by Gregg Coodley. I need more reading time!! LOL : )

>237 Berly: Every Brain Needs Music sounds like one that I should track down - as well as the Coodley book. It makes me think of Hamilton - "Immigrants. We get the job done." Lol

I am glad to hear that you are enjoying the book too! I also need more reading time so I am looking into clones. . .

Today being Tuesday, it is meet up day with Beth and Catey. Normal chores going on - laundry, cooking, etc before the meet up.

I am making one of our favorites, Tri-Bean Barbecue, for lunch today. Kerry and I are attempting to learn Boonlake so that one will be hitting the gaming table today.

As far as reading goes today, I had not planned on finishing How Music Works yesterday so the book that I was hoping to finish yesterday, Then They Came for Me, will be finished up today. I am continuing on with Holocaust Journey and Bound for Canaan. I am also hoping to start The Calculating Stars and My Beloved Monster today since I need to have them finished by Thursday.

I hope everyone has a terrific Tuesday!

Hi Stasia! Happy Tuesday to you.

>193 quondame: It’s a very small Barnes-Due world, isn’t it, Susan?

>197 alcottacre: I’m glad it was a Library Book.

>202 alcottacre: I’m sorry the Chalfont/Mallory fight caused you a wrenched knee and back problems.

>210 alcottacre: I have had back problems ever since my accident on the treadmill last year. I’m sorry, and see that even through yesterday it was still bothering you.

And finally, Whew! I avoided BBs, which I consider a major accomplishment.

Have a great day Stasia with your daughters. And reading, of course. Hope your back eases up.

>240 karenmarie: Avoiding my BBs, Karen? That is just not right! Lol

>241 Kristelh: Thanks, Kristel. It was a short meetup today as both of the girls were having Internet issues.

Finished this afternoon:

309 - Holocaust Journey by Martin Gilbert - Nonfiction; In 1996, Martin Gilbert was teaching classes to graduate students who asked if he would take them on a tour of Europe to go to places that the Holocaust had an impact. The journey was to take 2 weeks and primarily centered on Germany and Poland. At various locations throughout the journey, Gilbert gave readings from people who were there at the time. He also had some guest speakers who spoke of their own personal experiences during WWII. Not only was the history of the locations during WWII discussed, but the history of the Jewish communities in those sites previous to the war. In many cases, the Jewish community that was wiped out during WWII had been there for hundreds of years. Some of the details of the trip get to be a bit mundane, but when they are actually stopped at a location and the readings are given, the emotion just comes out. I am not sure that, even though I think the premise of the journey is awesome, I could stand the emotional turmoil for even 2 weeks; Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine

"In every extended Jewish family there was, at least, one member whose talents were outstanding. That talent and genius is irreplaceable. Apart from the human tragedy the world will never know what it has lost."

Finished tonight:

310 - Then They Came for Me by Matthew D. Hockenos - Nonfiction; I am glad that I finally got to this book about Martin Niemoller, perhaps most famous for his quote: "First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Communist. . ." Niemoller was a Lutheran pastor in Germany before, during, and after WWII. Originally he was anti-Semitic and pro-Hitler, but he changed his tune before too long and got on Hitler's bad side. When he was acquitted from charges in court, Hitler declared that Niemoller was his "personal prisoner" and sent him to a concentration camp for about 7 years. However, this book is not just about Niemoller's defiance of the Nazi regime - no, it is about how Niemoller changed through the years, especially his stance as an anti-Semite. Niemoller struggled with his earlier views and, though he served in the German navy during WWI, eventually became a pacifist. Niemoller did not change overnight - his worldview changed over the course of his lifetime and I think that the author Hockenos did a good job of showing just how and how much he changed; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

I have been up for a while now so laundry is already on, the casserole for lunch is already made and just waiting for baking, the dishwasher unloaded. . .

Kerry and I are going to play Boon Lake again today. We have been slowly but surely learning the game over the past few days and are going to try and get a full game in today which is probably going to take several hours.

On the book front, there are 3 that I want to finish before the end of the month so I will be concentrating on them: Bound for Canaan, The Calculating Stars, and My Beloved Monster. We will see if I have time to get to all of them.

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

>244 alcottacre: I have a very long list of people I would love to give that book to...of course, another famous quote-- the "You can lead a horse to water..." one-- probably applies to most of them.

>245 alcottacre: Laundry *shudder* I am intensely grateful the facility sends my laundry to...wherever it is they send it. As long as all I have to do is take it out of my laundry bag and put the clean, folded clothes into drawers or onto hangers, I am the camper happy.

Luck on the book-finishing! I'm about ready to do Mat Osman's book review for tomorrow, the last one of a decently productive October...thirty-six reviews!

>234 alcottacre: Sounds interesting and a different way to think about music.

Sorry to hear that your back is still causing you pain and discomfort. I hope it heals/goes away soon!

>246 laytonwoman3rd: I love the thought that people can change if they are willing to do so - and you do not have to be on the young side, but can be say 62 years old (like I am.)

>247 richardderus: You are just spoiled, RD. If someone invented a machine that would fold my laundry and put it away, I would buy it immediately!

Thanks for the luck!

>248 figsfromthistle: It is, Anita. Maybe you should give it a try.

Yeah, the back is still a problem. I want a back-ectomy. Thanks!

NO BACK-ECTOMY, please!!!!! I will willingly hope for a back cure or even a back amelioration for you, Linda, Karen, and even for me.

I know Niemoller's name and that bit about him, but I'm not sure that I want to read the book. I'm glad that you did though. I'm afraid that if that person is re-elected we may come to something like that ourselves. Lord have mercy on us!

I'm off to finish Sacred Trash, which I've enjoyed more and more the more I read it. I'm also going to try to find the Friedberg website that was being developed in 2011 when the book was published. Did you look for it?

Happy Gaming! Happy Reading!!

>250 LizzieD: I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying Sacred Trash, Peggy! I honestly cannot remember whether I looked for the Friedberg website or not. Sorry.

Finished tonight:

311 - Bound for Canaan by Fergus M. Bordewich - Nonfiction; This is such a good read. If, like me, you know little of the Underground Railroad beyond Harriet Tubman's participation in it, you owe it to yourself to read this book. Bordewich shows the beginnings of the Underground Railroad before such a thing was even considered. He shows the true heroics of both blacks and whites in the mammoth struggle against slavery. The book is immensely readable and while Bordewich discusses a bunch of different people, - one of whom, Margaret Garner, absolutely broke my heart - I had no problem keeping track of who was who. I would give the book 4.5 stars instead of 4.25 stars but the author commits one fatal flaw (at least as far as I am concerned): he says "he may have done so-and-so" or "she may have met so-and-so" several times in the book and I absolute hate when nonfiction authors do this. Either you know or you do not know, but please do not introduce "may have dones" into nonfiction!; Recommended (4.25 stars)

"The Underground Railroad came into existence in an America in which democracy was the property of white men alone, and in which free as well as enslaved blacks lived under conditions that had more in common with what we today call totalitarianism that many Americans might care to admit."

I'd like a machine to put away laundry too, Stasia, and one to find missing socks. I'm sorry to read that your back is still causing you pain. I hope it heals soon.

>243 alcottacre: I read this years ago Stasia, and it moved me immensly.

Sweet Thursday, Stasia. I hope you are having a good week. I hope to spend a nice chunk of time with Playground today.

>253 vancouverdeb: I did not even think about the missing socks thing! Yep, I need one of those too. My back is getting better, but it is just not there yet. Thanks.

>254 Caroline_McElwee: Holocaust Journey is one that will not be leaving my collection any time soon, Caroline. It is a hard emotional read but I think I need to read it again. I do not ever want to forget man's inhumanity to man.

>255 msf59: I am hoping to get to Playground soon, Mark. I am very curious to see your thoughts on it. The book made the Booker list this year, after all.

I am up late today because I woke up at 5:22am with vertigo - again. Thankfully it did not last long but it took hours away from my day that I cannot afford. Both Kerry and I had a restless night last night - he finally got up about 1am and went into the living room because he was not sleeping - so I imagine naps are in both our futures today.

No game playing today because I need to concentrate on the books I want to finish up today, The Calculating Stars and My Beloved Monster, both of which I am enjoying.

I also need to fit meal planning and grocery shopping into my day today as well. . .*sigh* Clones, I need clones!

>257 alcottacre: I hope Mary Robinette Kowal works her usual magic, Stasia, and makes that nap impossible to take until you're done. *smooch*

I'm sorry that neither you nor Kerry slept well last night. If you need a nap, take a nap! Otherwise, happy reading! I'm going to enjoy a whole day of looking at this and that or maybe just keeping on with my desultory Halloween reading of A Haunting on the Hill. (I'll guarantee you that if I saw a big black hare that grinned at me with bloody teeth, I would be long gone, never to return.)

>258 richardderus: Unfortunately naps have been taken today and things have gone slightly off the rails. I have not read any of Kowal's books before so I am hoping the magic keeps me awake tonight!

>259 LizzieD: I have taken 2 naps today, Peggy. Granted they were only 15 minutes long each, but I did get a bit of additional rest. I am with you on the big black bloody teeth hare!

I have finished one of the books for today but I still need to finish the other, so I will be writing those reviews concurrently - provided I can finish the second book before midnight!

Cutting it close, but I finished tonight:

312 - My Beloved Monster by Caleb Carr - Nonfiction; I love my cats, Chalfont and Mallory, but I would never pretend to have the kind of relationship that Carr had with his throughout his lifetime, especially Masha, the beloved monster of the title. In her review of the book, Suzanne (who recommended the book on the TIOLI thread for October, thanks!) called the book "completely captivating" and I agree. While I think that some of Carr's interactions with his cat may be reading a little to much into them (weirder things have happened though, so who am I to say?) the book overall is a terrific read; Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine - Kindle

313 - The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal - This is the first of Kowal's books that I have read and I am hoping that it is not the last. This alternative history, sci-fi tale, rewrites the history of the space program. No longer is "the space race" a product of the Cold War, it is a necessity due to the impact of a meteorite and its aftermath on the planet, which must be abandoned so space colonization is a must. The book begins in the early 1950s - and I thought Kowal handled the bigotry against blacks and women well in the book. My biggest problem with the book was the sex scenes which I could have lived without - they took the story off kilter for me; Recommended (4 stars) Mine