Laura (lauralkeet)'s 2025 Reading Nook - Part 2

Living Room Reading Nook
One of two reading spaces in our living room, located on the right as you enter the room from the kitchen. This side of the room is part of the original house built in 1791.

Welcome to my cozy reading nook! I'm Laura, retired and living with my husband Chris in an 18th century farmhouse in northern Virginia with our two dogs, Alys and Ellie. Our two adult daughters both live in Brooklyn. We spend a lot of our time gardening and working on various projects around the house. Knitting is my other hobby, which I post about here occasionally. If you’re so inclined you can see more on my thread in the Needlearts group.

2025 is my seventeenth year in the 75 Book Challenge Group! It’s been years since I achieved the 75 book “goal,” although I came really close in 2024. But my totals don’t really matter. LT is my favorite place on the internet–I love the bookish conversations, recommendations, and of course the many wonderful people I’ve met here over the years. I read mostly contemporary fiction, but also enjoy classics and narrative non-fiction.

Books Featured on This Thread
(Go here to see all books read this year)
8. The Devastating Boys
9. White Nights'
10. The Queen of Dirt Island
11. That Librarian
12. Grave Goods
13. Followed by the Lark

Series Progress

Active series as of January 1 (updated quarterly):


A snapshot of my active series sorted on the "progress" column.

Series completed/current in 2025:
* Jackson Brodie

Series started in 2025:
* Shetland

Series abandoned in 2025:
* tbd

Currently Reading & On Deck


Night Watch | Songs for the Missing | Red Bones

Ongoing


In My Garden | Complete Short Stories

Welcome to February! This can be such a dreary month, but it's also my birthday month and spring isn't really that far away!!

I'm excited to have so many friends joining the Shetland series shared read. No rules, no schedule, just read at your own pace and have fun with it.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/368081

I picked up the second Shetland book, White Nights, on Thursday. I'm really enjoying The Devastating Boys and I think I'll read it straight through before starting the Shetland book. I don't usually do that with short stories but these keep calling to me.

>1 lauralkeet: Happy new thread! I love that red couch!

>1 lauralkeet: Happy new thread, Laura. My word that looks cosy!

Happy new thread, Laura! Hoping February brings you lots of good reads.

Thanks for sharing a photo of your reading space, and happy new thread!

Happy new one, Laura! SO fun to see your personal reading nook. February is also Abby's birthday month - hers is tomorrow.

Happy new thread, Laura! I hope I can keep up with this one, as I fell too far behind on your first one.

I liked the reading nook in your first thread, but it's kind of you to share your real nook. It looks very cozy!

Happy new thread, Laura. I love your reading space. Those couches look like good napping couches as well. :)

Hi Anita, Paul, Micky, Katie, Mamie, Irene, and Beth!

After the reaction to last month's thread-topper photo from the internet I thought, why not share some spots in our house? We like reading in this spot during the winter, because we can up the cozy factor by lighting a fire. We currently have a jigsaw puzzle going on the table, too.

The sofas (or couches, choose your preferred term) each have a bit of a story behind them. The red leather sofa is one of the first pieces of "nice" furniture Chris and I purchased. We bought our first house in 1987 but the furniture from our previous apartment was old and ratty. So that sofa has been with us for 35+ years!

We bought the green sofa after moving into our current house ~4 years ago. It's upholstered in velvet, which is lovely. But then we got a puppy. Hence the cover. Ellie is pretty good with furniture now but we haven't felt like risking it yet.

Happy New Thread, Laura. Ooh, I love that reading nook. Warm & comfy looking.

Happy new thread! Love the topper!! You, Hubby, the dogs, a fire, a good book -- heaven, right? (Your 35+ year old sofa looks brand new -- good investment!!)

I notice you've read all of Louise Penny's books. I get her newsletter and see this morning that her next one, The Black Wolf will be published on October 28.

I'm so tempted by your Shetland read ... but I have so many books begging to be read...

Happy weekend!

Lovely reading nook Laura.

Hi Laura my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend. I must say that i love, love, love your reading nook, very jealous dear friend.

Happy New Thread,Laura! What a lovely looking reading nook.

>13 msf59: Thanks Mark.

>14 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba! Thanks for the heads up about the new Louise Penny. She just keeps cranking them out, doesn't she? I'm not as captivated by the series as I once was, but I'll probably end up reading it anyway.

>15 Caroline_McElwee:, >16 johnsimpson:, >17 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much Caro, John & Deborah.

Happy Groundhog Day, folks. The official groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow when he emerged this morning, leading him to predict 6 more weeks of winter. That's pretty close to the "official" first day of spring on March 20, and it would be unusual to have springlike weather before that regardless of Phil's prediction.

Shubenacadie Sam saw his shadow so we have six more weeks of winter, which is actually what I'd hope for. Six weeks would be an early spring for us, lol. Much like yourselves. Why do the famous groundhogs live in places that are so hard to spell?

>19 raidergirl3: Famous Jimmy the Groundhog lives in easier to spell Sun Prairie, Wisconsin - also early home of Georgia O'Keeffe.

>20 m.belljackson: I like that name - Famous Jimmy the Groundhog. Great name! I would imagine Wisconsin has the same issue we do in regarding 'early spring'.

Mixed messaging. Oh my.

>18 lauralkeet: The official groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, did not see his shadow when he emerged this morning, leading him to predict 6 more weeks of winter.

>19 raidergirl3: Shubenacadie Sam saw his shadow so we have six more weeks of winter.

I had to Google Sam as I never before heard of him. But how does "no shadow" in western PA, predict more winter, while in Nova Scotia that "more winter" judgment stems from the grundsow "seeing his shadow". Does this have anything to do with tariffs?

I thought if the groundhog saw his shadow, he goes back underground for another 6 weeks. If he doesn't see his shadow, he stays out and spring will be on its way soon. (I think Laura may have mistyped?)

>1 lauralkeet: Wow!! That is full of fabulous, as Mamie would say. I've got that basic form—two sofas facing each other framing the fireplace—but the detailing is missing from my setting. I've recognized how barren the brick monolith in my setting is, but Judi and I couldn't meld our visions for the damn monolith. So here I am.

Punxsutawney Phil did in fact see his shadow this morning. But as Laura correctly pointed out, whether he did or he didn't, six more weeks of winter in this part of the country is pretty much a given.

>22 weird_O:, >23 raidergirl3: Oops. Thanks for pointing that out Bill, and thanks to Elizabeth for the explanation. I read the headlines correctly but typed something different. I've corrected my original post!

>24 weird_O: Thanks for the "full of fabulous" compliment, Bill. What's the brick monolith? Is that the fireplace? I can relate to the difficulty of melding visions ...

>25 laytonwoman3rd: we cross-posted Linda. Mea culpa.

Happy new thread, Laura!

>27 drneutron: Thanks Jim!

Sorry to be AWOL yesterday. We had to drive to the DC metro area to run a couple of errands, which took up a large chunk of the day. Fortunately I still had time to finish reading The Devastating Boys and start the second Shetland book, White Nights.

8. The Devastating Boys ()

This collection of eleven short stories explores various themes including couples’ relationships, cultural and class differences, and traveling abroad. In the title story, a couple with grown children decide to host two London children for a 2-week holiday at their home in the country. The boys are from immigrant families; the husband takes pride in hosting these children but his wife is largely left on her own to work through their cultural differences. One of my favorite stories was Praises, about a department store’s final day of operations. Told from the point of view of a woman who has given most of her life to the shop, it’s quite poignant.

As with any short story collection, readers will enjoy some stories more than others. But there isn’t a single “bad” story in the bunch.

Hi Laura. Welcome home!! I'm not a short story fan so I can avoid adding this one to the stack :)

Hello, Laura! The groundhog discussion cracked me up - Abby is a Groundhog's Day baby.

I am hoping to finish up my reread of Raven Black today and then join you with White Nights.

>30 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, I read your message yesterday and honestly thought I'd responded. Thanks for the warm welcome ha ha.

>31 Crazymamie: Hiya Mamie! For the life of me I can't seem to remember how to interpret the groundhog's behavior. But then I remind myself, this isn't science, and I stop thinking about the groundhog! But it's kinda cool that Abby's birthday coincides with Groundhog Day.

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

Speaking of groundhogs weather, we're expecting a bit of nastiness overnight that might become ice so Chris wisely suggested doing the grocery shopping today instead of Thursday, my regular day. We took care of that this morning and stopped by the new Panera that just opened today. We picked up half a dozen bagels because the local independent bagel shop produces a poor excuse for a bagel and while Panera's aren't authentic New York bagels they're probably our best alternative.

I'm going to chat with a Guild colleague in a few minutes and then the afternoon is free. I'm enjoying White Nights and eager to return to it.

>32 lauralkeet: We often have lunch at Panera. I adore their Autumn Squash soup (finished up a bowl of that for lunch today) and a summer salad that features strawberries and poppyseed dressing. Can't say I've ever had anything there that I disliked but those are my seasonal favorites.

We were "promised" an inch of snow today but so far nada... Just as well because my cleaners are due today and I would hate for them to be unable to get here.

Enjoy your free afternoon.

>32 lauralkeet: - I always forget about Panera as a good option when I'm out and about. I like their Mediterranean veggie sandwich.

I like your hurried defense of buying their bagels :) Needs must and all!

You may recall my friend/former colleague who was in town a few weeks ago from Dubai. She asked where to get a "real" bagel as she didn't think she'd ever had an actual good one, so I gave her some of my favorite places but also said any bodega would have a better bagel than what she is used to :)

>33 RebaRelishesReading: Panera used to be a regular stop for us, too, but it's been a while since we lived close enough. I've been ridiculously excited about the one in our town since construction began. I'm glad you were spared snow today!

>34 katiekrug: Katie, I'm looking forward to having a nice "fast casual" lunch option nearby. Panera's menu is more interesting and I'd like to think a bit healthier than, say the McDonald's or Chik-fil-a (neither of which we frequent).

You gave your colleague good bagel advice! I can't imagine what sort of bagels one might find in Dubai.

>33 RebaRelishesReading: Yep, love Autumn Squash soup, and now our local grocery store sells pre-packaged Panera soups, including Autumn Squash when in season.

Hi Laura. Just swinging by. I starred the Shetland series thread even though I've read all of the novels and don't have space to reread them at present.

I hope you are hanging in there.

>36 kac522: Nice! Now that you mention it, I think our supermarket might carry them, too.

>37 EBT1002: Hi Ellen! As I mentioned over on that thread, lurkers are always welcome.

"Hanging in there" is an apt description for the current times. I can't do much more than that. I had a mani-pedi the other day, which took my mind off other things for a while.

Our overnight weather wasn't as bad as I feared. No snow, but some rain/sleet that has made pavements very slippery. The roads are probably fine but I had to be very careful on the terrace and driveway when I took Ellie out early this morning. Precipitation is supposed to continue until mid-morning but temperatures are above freezing and rising so this nonsense will probably go away fairly soon. However ... there's a major snowfall forecast for Tuesday. Damn groundhog.

>32 lauralkeet: We picked up half a dozen bagels because the local independent bagel shop produces a poor excuse for a bagel

This seems so wrong! You have one job ....

Yes, our supermarkets have Panera soups. One has started offering "bowls" by Panera. I got them once but won't repeat -- their soups are much better imo.

>1 lauralkeet: I would like to live in that room, please. I am sure you would not notice me at all. . .

Happy new thread, Laura!

I love your reading nook, Laura.

>4 lauralkeet: I am always late to shared reads; however, I've recently finished the 4th book in the Shetland Series, Blue Lightning. I do enjoy these books and love the character of Jimmy Perez.

Another Panera fan here. We are lucky to have one in our neighborhood. We could walk IF we didn't have to cross a busy street. Still pretty convenient.

>39 Sakerfalcon: Exactly, Claire! We were excited when the shop opened but not so excited once we tried their bagels.

>40 RebaRelishesReading: I'm not sure I've had their bowls, Reba. In any case, the new Panera is very close to our supermarket so I'll probably just pop into the restaurant instead of buying at the store.

>41 alcottacre: *looks behind the sofa* Nope, no Stasia. YET.

>42 Donna828: Thanks Donna! I didn't realize you were reading the Shetland novels. I hope to see you over on the shared read thread.
ETA: I see you've already posted over there, hurray!

Happy Friday everyone!

This morning we made another visit to Panera, this time for breakfast. We've been going out for Friday breakfast recently, usually to a local "pub" that has a nice friendly vibe. But their eggs are not great and last week were downright yucky (it's a good thing they were served alongside pancakes and bacon, which is what I really wanted anyway). Today we had bacon egg and cheese on ciabatta and it was quite tasty.

I have a few errands to run this morning, including picking up some library books. Then I hope to get some reading time. I am really really close to finishing White Nights and will be interested to see if my whodunit theory proves true. I don't usually figure these things out so there's probably a twist I'm missing.

Tonight we're meeting friends for dinner. We last saw them before Christmas so it will be fun to catch up.

Your Friday plans sound like fun, Laura. We used to go out to breakfast every weekend when the kids were little. There was a local family diner that had excellent food and even better prices, and it was always a treat. We never failed to have people stop by our table and make over our "twins". Daniel and Abby are just 14 months apart, so when they were sitting down, people often thought they were twins - so funny.

I am hoping to start my reread of White Nights soonish - I want to finish up my haunted house read first as they are both on my Kindle.

I'm going to pick up White Nights at the library later, so may tuck into it today.

Sounds like a very good Friday, Laura!

I'm planning to start Raven Black when I finish The Spoilt CIty, hopefully tomorrow.

>44 lauralkeet: We have a restaurant near us called Kitchen Table that is only open for breakfast and lunch and they do both extremely well so when we go out for breakfast we head straight there. Panera is often our choice for lunch though -- especially their soups and salads.

Sounds like a lovely Friday -- enjoy!!

>45 Crazymamie: We had a favorite family spot when our kids were little too, Mamie. Your post brought back fond memories.

>46 laytonwoman3rd: That's great news, Linda! I hope you'll stop by the shared read thread to share your thoughts, too.

>47 katiekrug: Woo hoo! My evil plan is working LOL.

>48 RebaRelishesReading: That sounds like a great spot, Reba. I'm a little jealous!

Hi, Laura!

Charlie is a big fan of Panera; they do have a fairly decent mac & cheese...

mmm ... Mac and Cheese ....

I love the going out for breakfast on Fridays idea. I might borrow that once we are in town and can walk to one of the local restaurants.

>52 EBT1002: Great idea Ellen! Our Friday ritual dates back to my working days. Chris and I used to hit the local Starbucks on Friday mornings before I went to work. We had a great Friday breakfast option when we lived in Philly, but covid intervened. It's taken us a while to find a new place and get into the groove again. I'm sure you and P will enjoy discovering your new town.

9. White Nights ()

During a party at an art gallery, a stranger turns up and makes a scene. The man is later found dead of an apparent suicide (but of course it wasn’t). The victim was unknown to locals and left no identification. Jimmy Perez is immediately on the case, eventually identifying the man and tracing his movements. But what brought this outsider to Shetland and the art exhibition? And why would someone want him dead? Perez’s investigation uncovers a history of relationships between the islanders and links to the past that ultimately solve the crime.

The Shetland landscape and climate figure prominently in this novel. In midsummer there are 19 hours of daylight and the light lingers even after sunset. The sea and surrounding cliffs are a constant source of danger. And the remote nature of the islands complicate police matters, like bringing in experts or sending samples off to the lab. Against this backdrop Ann Cleeves continues to develop Jimmy Perez’s character; in this installment he becomes more confident in his abilities and by the end of the novel the senior investigator from the mainland has to acknowledge he may no longer be needed. I’m looking forward to continuing this series.

>54 lauralkeet: My whodunit theory was correct, but there was still a twist in terms of how it played out. I figured it out not because of any clues, but because of how Cleeves structured the narrative. Find the person who appears to have no involvement whatsoever and you have the murderer. Come to think of it, the first book played out in a similar fashion. Hmmm.

Next Up


I stopped by the library yesterday to pick up two holds: The Queen of Dirt Island and That Librarian. I started TQoDI last night, but only read a few pages before bedtime. I'm really looking forward to getting into it today. That Librarian will be next, followed by Grave Goods. The latter is the third in the Mistress of the Art of Death series. For some reason my library has the entire 5-book series except for this one. I almost abandoned the series but realized I could snag a used copy for $5.

I've decided that In My Garden will be an ongoing, dip-in-and-out kind of read. It's a compilation of articles written for Country Life so it lends itself well to short bursts. It's also organized by month and it might be interesting to read more seasonally.

I loved the Mistress of the Art of Death series, Laura. I'm jealous that you still have some unread books in the series. That Librarian looks interesting and, unfortunately, timely.

Hope you love the Ryan as much as I did!

>56 BLBera: Thanks for commenting on the series, Beth. It's been a long time between books but I remember really liking the historical nature of the series (similar to St Cyr in that respect).

>57 katiekrug: I suspect I will, Katie.

I'll be interested to see your thoughts on That Librarian, Laura.

Wishing you a cozy weekend.

Thanks Micky! I’ve been waiting ages for That Librarian so I’m interested too LOL

>60 lauralkeet: I've got That Librarian sitting here in my bedroom. I hope to get to it this year. I look forward to seeing what you think of it.

That Librarian will raise your blood pressure, for sure.

I hope you enjoy The Queen of Dirt Island!

I read Mistress of the Art of Death in 2018 and gave it 4 stars. I don't think I realized it was a series. Hmmm, I might go back and reread that first one and work my way through the series. I like the idea of a series with just five books in it. :-)

Although we didn't read it, That Librarian came up for discussion when my book club had "banned books" as a theme last September because there was an article/interview in the September "Book Pages" pamphlet I got from the library. The article is still on the web site. I put it on my TBR list but haven't gotten to it yet, so I'll be watching your thoughts on it.

Hi there Irene, Linda, Ellen, and Betty!

>61 atozgrl:, >62 laytonwoman3rd:, >65 dudes22: That Librarian was published in August 2024, at a time when I was part of a "materials review committee" at my local library. I took that as a sign to read it LOL. Linda, I just re-read your review*, which I'm sure I saw on your thread back in December. I'm bracing myself!

>63 EBT1002: Ellen, The Queen of Dirt Island is excellent so far. I'm trying to pace myself because I could zip right through it but the writing deserves to be savored.

>64 EBT1002: I'm not sure how I learned about the Mistress of the Art of Death series, but like you I was glad to have a relatively short series on my list. And then I let a silly thing like the book not being in my library stop me.

* side note: one thing I love about LT's new Work Page is that your own review, and reviews from friends/connections, appear at the top of the list of reviews for that book. I think I need to review and add to my friends list to take full advantage of this feature.

>66 lauralkeet: I've been waiting for this - the reviews to show friends/connections first! I've also finally started adding people as friends after having followed their reading for a decade or more, because now it's useful to have people connected that way. In fact, I just added you!

>67 japaul22: Hi Jennifer, I know just what you mean about waiting. Up to now, Connections (like "friends" or "interesting libraries") hasn't had much impact on my LT experience. Thanks for being my friend!!

>67 japaul22: and >68 lauralkeet: - Oooh, I didn't realize one's "Friends" now actually meant something :) I'd love to see the reviews of people I "know" first. Looks like I need to start sending some Friend requests!

>69 katiekrug: it seems that if you have someone tagged as an “interesting library” that also makes reviews pop up as a connection. But, yes, glad the friend feature actually means something now.

>69 katiekrug:, >70 japaul22: I'm pleased to see LT doing something with the Member Connections feature. Besides Friends and Interesting Libraries, I think the reviews might also pop up for any custom/private Connection lists you've made. For example, I have a list for LTers I've met in person.

Also, it's worth noting that you might be unable to send a friend request if the person hasn't checked the "allow friend requests" box in their Privacy Settings.

Ah... Now I understand your judgment that my library is "interesting." Interestink, as Arte Johnson said more than once (on Laugh In).

Happy new thread Laura!

Hi Laura, I would love to curl up in your cozy space up top, and I'd love to while away a few hours on a puzzle there, too. Beautiful.

I'm listening to The Queen of Dirt Island right now, having been persuaded by Katie's recommendation. I'm loving it.

>72 weird_O: Oh jeez, I remember Arte Johnson Bill. That's a blast from the past. Sort of. Ha.

>73 quondame: Thanks Susan.

>74 AMQS: Hi Anne! You're welcome anytime. Katie persuaded me to read TQoDI too, and am also loving it. Donal Ryan's writing is impressive on multiple levels. Yesterday I read a scene describing a woman's physical sensation when breastfeeding, and I thought how did a male writer capture that so well?

10. The Queen of Dirt Island ()

This story of a multigenerational family begins with the birth of Saoirse to Eileen, and her childhood living with both her mother and paternal grandmother. Nana is feisty and difficult, but she and Eileen share a strong bond and while their relationship sometimes appears volatile, their love for each other and for Saoirse is evident. When one of the women suffers, the others close ranks to protect and care for her. Unrest and corruption are constant threats, but domestic drama is the primary focus of this novel. Men exist mostly in the background, usually emerging to exert control and seek to harm, and sometimes to show love and concern.

The story is told mostly from Saoirse’s point of view, in very short chapters that often read like a snapshot in time. As a child she understands her world by eavesdropping on adult conversations. Despite these vagaries the reader is able to develop a complete picture of Eileen and Nana, both present and past. As Saoirse matures into adulthood her actions, consequences, and emotions are described more directly and she becomes a strong character on par with Eileen and Nana. The book concludes with a fitting look into the future that continues the strong maternal line. This novel was beautiful from start to finish.

Wonderful review, Laura!

Thanks Katie.

Wow! That is 2 raves from you and Katie on The Queen of Dirt Island. Shoot, good enough for me. On the obese TBR it goes.

>76 lauralkeet: Great review, Laura. Now if I can just ignore it ...

>79 msf59: *fist bumps Katie*
I'm glad we got ya, Mark!

>80 RebaRelishesReading: Now why would you want to do that Reba?!

>76 lauralkeet: Great comments, Laura. This does sound lovely.

>66 lauralkeet: I really like this feature about the new works page, too

>76 lauralkeet: Loved your review, Laura. If Katie had not already hit me with that one, I would be adding it now.

>82 BLBera:, >83 Crazymamie: Beth and Mamie, thanks for your very nice comments about my review. I look forward to seeing your thoughts on The Queen of Dirt Island whenever you get to it.

>62 laytonwoman3rd: That Librarian will raise your blood pressure, for sure.
Um ... yes. It took probably less than 10 pages. People suck. Present company excluded, of course.

I forgot to mention we had snow overnight, about 3" and schools etc. are closed. The roads seem to be fine but I understand there was much more snow east of here, closer to DC. I'm patting myself on the back because we took care of the driveway and walkways sooner and in a more thorough fashion than the last snow event Our slapdash approach last time led to nasty ice and difficulty getting our cars from driveway to road.

The gym cancelled morning classes so we're having a lazy day at home. Good for reading, knitting, and working on a puzzle.

>81 lauralkeet: Because Mt. TBR is getting totally out of control!!

>85 lauralkeet: We're expecting a similar amount of snow tonight and...just like you...schools, etc. will be closed and I have been to the store to be sure we have enough milk, etc. to last for 4 or 5 days. That done, I'm really looking forward to it. Since we've lived here (this is actually our 5th winter) we've had one little span like that and I just love it!! Just enough snow to be cozy and not enough to make winter difficult.

>86 RebaRelishesReading: re: Mt TBR: well ... okay. I understand that problem. I hope you got the snow you were hoping for. Ours is already melting away and it's supposed to be in the 50s today.

>66 lauralkeet: "...one thing I love about LT's new Work Page is that your own review, and reviews from friends/connections, appear at the top of the list of reviews for that book."
I had not realized that. I think I'll like that feature.

>88 EBT1002: Yeah, me too Ellen. Many a time I've wanted to link to one of my reviews in a thread but if it was a book I read ages ago, it took forever to find the review so I usually didn't bother. It's nice to have it up top. And I LOVE seeing reviews from my LT Connections. Not that I don't appreciate reviews in general, but let's face it my friends' opinions have more influence on me than people I haven't met on LT yet.

That's a lot of snow, Laura. I am just going to keep my setting as is, since it seems all talk is turned off or else you do get the notifications. But I'm getting used to it. I also rely on reviews of friends on LT in a big way.

>90 vancouverdeb: Deborah, I assume you're referring to the new Mentions feature, and the ability to receive notifications when you are mentioned. I'm not sure what you mean by "all talk is turned off" because Talk has not changed.

"Mentions" happen when someone replies to you in a post (as I did here), or mentions you by name (@vancouverdeb).
* You can see all of your mentions by clicking on "Mentions" on the left side of the Talk page. After viewing your Mentions you can return to the familiar list of threads by clicking on your preferred view of Talk (like Groups and Posts, or Starred Topics)
* Notifications appear in the upper right of your screen where you see a little envelope. You might have seen a notification in the past when someone sent you a private message. Now you can choose whether or not to be notified of Mentions. You'll always be able to view your Mentions as described above, even if you have notifications turned off.

I hope this helps.

Thanks Laura. I just checked the page and I understand what you mean now. I'll just leave it as is. I'm getting used to the feature.

>92 vancouverdeb: LOL Deborah, I just posted on your thread so you can ignore that now!

And now the @ signs in the threads are gone!?!?

I kind of wish they'd test these things on a willing group of users... Personally, I found the > plus the @ to make for too much clutter on a thread.

>43 lauralkeet: You never can tell when I will show up. I will keep you guessing :)

>54 lauralkeet: I really appreciate how Cleeves' manages to make the landscape almost a character in her Shetland books.

>55 lauralkeet: I have a copy of The Queen of Dirt Island on its way to me from Blackwell's Oxford. It will be a couple of weeks before I get my hands on it, but I am hopeful of reading it soon.

That Librarian is already in the BlackHole. I just need to get my hands on a copy.

I have read (and own) all of the Franklin books. I was bummed when she died several years ago (how dare she?) because it meant no more of the books were forthcoming. Thank goodness for the few we have. I really need to re-read that series at some point.

>76 lauralkeet: Woot! I am happy to see that you enjoyed that one so much!

We got about 8" of snow this morning and it is coming down again. I'm glad we don't have to go anywhere (until Saturday!).

>88 EBT1002: >89 lauralkeet: As long as I've been doing reviews on LT - a few years now - when I selected review it always showed mine in a edit frame - which I don't understand. And the review always shows when I select Book Details on a work in my library - for those I've written reviews for. But it's great that connections reviews are more accessible.

>94 katiekrug: Yes, there were lots of complaints about the @ signs in the threads, so Tim finally turned them back off. You can see the discussion in the Mentions thread: https://www.librarything.com/topic/368384.

Apparently they actually did some testing with a test group, and the feedback from that group was positive.

I am glad they got rid of the @ signs. I picked up a copy of The Queen of Dirt Island today from the library. Now to finish Isola.

>98 atozgrl: - Thanks for pointing me that way!

Mea culpa regarding the testing :)

And hello, Laura! Happy Friday.

Happy Valentine's Day! I'm a bit late to my thread this morning because we went out for breakfast after the gym. Yesterday was warm and sunny and the snow is all gone, but today we're back to more typical cold, with a bit of wind. Brrr. It will be an indoor day for rme, and I'm okay with that.

>94 katiekrug:, >98 atozgrl:, >100 katiekrug:, >101 katiekrug:
Thanks Irene for answering Katie's question about testing the new feature. I have the sense there's a subset of LT users who actively follow groups like New Features and Bug Collectors, and as a result are fairly involved in site improvements. I'm not one of those people, unless I stumble across something as it's happening, like the new Mentions feature. LT is actually better than most sites in responding to user input. Yesterday's engagement led to a few changes, like removing the @ sign from replies and allowing you to decide whether to be notified of replies, @'s, both, or none (it was all or nothing before).

>95 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! I look forward to seeing what you think of The Queen of Dirt Island. Happy to see another Franklin fan, too.

>96 EBT1002: That's a ton of snow, Ellen! Hopefully you won't have any issues leaving on your trip this weekend.

>97 quondame: Hi Susan, just to clarify my comment in >89 lauralkeet:, I wanted to be able to easily link to my review rather than copy/pasting the text. To do that I had to find the review itself in the long list of reviews. It's easier to find now, although it's weird that the review link is associated with the date of your review.

>99 vancouverdeb: I'm waiting for Isola, Deborah. I know Mark loved it, I'll watch for your take.

Whew, I hope I didn't miss anyone!

>102 lauralkeet: I'm the same; I don't actively follow the New Features and Bugs, so I usually find out about site improvements or fixes when someone mentions it on their thread. I'm not sure where I saw the link to the Mentions thread, but I was on that one early for a change, and saw all the discussion while it was happening. As a result, it was one time where I could actually chime in with more information. I am glad that they listened to what the users were saying about the changes.

>103 atozgrl: That's exactly what happened to me, Irene. There was strong staff pushback to a couple of suggestions, but strong support from the community, and it was nice to see them respond to that.

>102 lauralkeet: Thanks for clearing that up. I like the idea of easily linking to a review. Easy linking to anything makes online communications so much more smooth.
I feel the date of a review is important, though I can't express why very well.

Aaaah, the @ feature becomes clear!

>105 quondame: you’re welcome Susan

>106 LovingLit: Hi Megan, happy to help!

We've had a quiet weekend with no plans. Ellie woke us up earlier than usual this morning and it's wet and gross outside, so we've decided to just hole up in our burrow today. I'm making good progress reading That Librarian which is alternately infuriating and insightful. I'm not sure whether I'll finish today, but I'm getting close. I also have a jigsaw puzzle and some knitting projects calling to me. And then there's cleaning the house, which is not calling to me but needs doing in the next day or two. The regular tasks aren't a big deal but there are a few spots that need more attention than usual, like the dog nose prints on windows & doors.

It's Sunday!! I hope you chose some of the cozy, pleasant things on your list rather than the cleaning!!

>108 lauralkeet: Ah, I also stayed in all day, because of the grossness and wet, and also because I was listening to a book. And then I discovered that I'd completely messed up the top of the hat I thought I was about to finish, and spent the afternoon taking out about 10 rows of annoying tight circles on my circular needles. Back to a safe place now, and might use a crochet hook on those last few rows.

Cleaning the house is not calling to me either, but my housekeeper has retired from my service and I need to find a new one. I've been lazy to do it, and so the kitchen floor is pretty bad. Maybe I'll get to it and the vacuuming this week. boo.

Laura, I can't catch up, so I haven't really tried. I hope that all is good with you.....except for the knitting. I LOATH having to take out rows. Taking a stitch or two down for a correction is bad enough.
Winter! We're about to have some again, at least as much as we get here in southeastern NC.

I love your room in the first picture. Is that the original mantelpiece? It is lovely!

I do hate housekeeping. I'm no good at it, and it makes my back hurt these days. I hate gardening worse. Such a sad, useless, little book slut!

I did a bit of everything yesterday. I forced myself to do some cleaning (kitchen counters and sink, dog nose prints on doors & windows), but left the vacuuming for another day. I finished reading That Librarian (review soon), and started Grave Goods. Chris and I worked on our jigsaw puzzle for a bit and I also did some knitting. We were under a high wind warning and lost power in the afternoon, but thankfully just for 1.5 hours. It's very windy again today, and I'm just hoping our trees all stay upright and there's no property damage. I don't have much on my agenda today other than making an appointment for my car to get routine service, and going to Home Depot to pick up a filter for our heating system.

>109 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, as you can see I did a bit of everything, including cozy and pleasant things.

>110 ffortsa: Oh no Judy, I hate when I have to unravel part of a project. I'm always afraid I'll do more harm than good. I switch to double-pointed needles when finishing a hat. My shortest circs are 16" and even those are too long for those last few rows.

>111 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I hate correcting my knitting, too. I used to just say "tra la la I'm sure this will all work out and no one will notice the mistake," but I've found the mistake is always obvious to ME and I end up wishing I'd dealt with it. Re: the fireplace, the mantel is a later addition (year unknown), but the fireplace itself is original. This is a quirky house in some ways but I love the history. Finally: NO WAY are you sad and useless!! Who says you have tto do things you don't like to do?!

Have a good day, y'all.

>112 lauralkeet: I've never used double-pointed needles, although I have a few of them courtesy of a friend who has given up knitting. My cables are long enough, and I can pull out one side of the cable to make it easier, but it's not comfy. How do you keep the stitches from sliding off the double-pointed ones? Do you need three to finish a hat?

We are under a high wind warning here today too. I'm not so worried about trees on my property, since we live on the 15th floor, but the last wind storm did a lot of damage in Central Park and other large parks. And of course, it will feel colder.

Sounds like a nice Sunday, Laura. Mine was similar except my housework was laundry and a few odds and ends. Also no vacuuming :)

The wind is crazy here today. Nuala really hates it, poor thing.

Hope you have a good start to the week!

>113 ffortsa: Judy, when knitting in the round with dpns you'll use at least 4 needles (3 holding stitches plus 1 to knit with). I started to write more "how to," but found a YouTube video which I think will help you see how it works:
Working with DPN (Double Pointed Needles) in the crown of a knitted hat

>114 katiekrug: Happy Monday Katie, the wind is really crazy here too. I get text message alerts about traffic issues in our county (road closures, accidents) and there have been more than usual this morning.

11. That Librarian ()

In July, 2022 Amanda Jones spoke at a public meeting concerning “book content” in the local library system. Jones, a school librarian, expressed concerns about censorship and book banning. Jones was immediately subjected to an online hate campaign that lasted several months, with serious consequences for her health and well-being. This memoir describes these events and her eventual recovery, and also serves as a warning flag for American society.

The campaign against Jones was started by a few white Christian nationalists in her Louisiana parish and spread across the nation via social media. But sadly, Louisiana is not the only locality facing these types of threats, especially in 2025. In her conclusion, Jones offers advice for becoming an informed citizen, and ways to protect yourself while advocating for school or public libraries. I found her story inspiring, but the book only increased my concerns about the future.

>116 lauralkeet: Not mentioned in my review, but noteworthy: Jones filed a defamation suit against the two men who instigated the hate campaign. The suit was dismissed twice in her local district court and at the end of the memoir she was in the process of appeal. In January 2024, the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals denied the appeal on a technicality (according to Publisher's Weekly, she missed a deadline to file). But then in December 2024 the Louisiana Supreme Court remanded the case back to the appeals court with an order to hear the case on its merits.

In the same article I also learned Jones has filed a second defamation suit against a New Jersey man. Like the first suit, these people are accusing her of "grooming" children by exposing them to pornography, which is not only untrue but seriously twists the anti-censorship message in Jones' 2022 speech. Unbelievable. And sad.

>112 lauralkeet: I have some 9" circular needles but, actually, I find double-pointed ones work better. I usually knit while watching TV and if the program gets too interesting I sometimes end up having to take out a bunch -- HATE THAT!!

>113 ffortsa: I have some rubber tips that I use to keep the stitches from sliding off the double-pointed needles and, you would need 4 to knit a circle. ... I see now that Laura has already told you that plus finding a How-to video for you -- she's really helpful that way, isn't she?

>117 lauralkeet: That is scary and sad. I will look for this book.

>118 RebaRelishesReading: thanks for sharing your tips Reba (see what I did there?)

>119 BLBera: I think you’d appreciate That Librarian, Beth. Just be prepared to be pissed off at parts of her story.

>120 lauralkeet: Lol -- nice!!

>116 lauralkeet: I'm glad to see you liked this one, but I'm sad the country has come to such a state that Jones had to write this book. I've got a copy sitting here in my bedroom, but I'm not sure how soon I'll get to it.

>116 lauralkeet: That sounds like an interesting book, Laura. I'll keep my eye out for it too. Books aren't banned in Canada, but still ,we have the occasional protest against libraries about books about human sexuality here. It's too bad.

Happy birthday, Laura.

>121 RebaRelishesReading: 😀

>122 atozgrl: I know what you mean, Irene. That Librarian was published in September 2024, and Jones expressed what I'd call guarded optimism about the future. I would have felt the same way at that time, but now ... not at all.

>123 vancouverdeb: Just another reason to flee the US for Canada, eh Deborah?!

>124 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul!

Happy Birthday, Laura. Have a wonderful day. The Librarian looks like an interesting memoir.

I saw a news blip that Trump has had Julianne Moore's book Freckleface Strawberry banned from all DOD schools. It's about a little girl with red hair and freckles who learns about accepting yourself for who you are. Sad, really.

>127 dudes22: That is staggering. Apparently under review whatever that means. I get that some books with extremely explicit sexual content may be deemed unsuitable for children of certain ages, but freckles?!!

Happy Birthday, Laura!

Happy Birthday, Laura.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAURA!!!! I hope that it's a wonderful one to lead into a wonderful personal new year!

I despair a bit of the world having a wonderful 2025. I can't read the librarian's book, but I'll come back with my only story about book banning after we walk - sometime!

(>112 lauralkeet: I say that I have to do things I hate - at least in the housekeeping area. I don't mind mess, but we don't need filth!)

Hi Mark, Betty, Paul, Katie, Beth, & Peggy ... and thanks for the birthday wishes! It's a pretty normal day here, to be honest, although I'm getting a manicure this afternoon and there will be presents later.

>127 dudes22:, >128 PaulCranswick: it's nuts.

>131 LizzieD: I still haven't vacuumed ... I ran out of day yesterday and might not do it today, just on principle. Ha.

>125 lauralkeet: I know one contiguous state where a majority of the population would probably love to become Canadian...not to mention the one just south of it.

and...indeed...HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA!! Hope you have a restful, fun, delightful day! Be nice to yourself.

Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday Laura my dear, hope you are having a lovely day, dear friend.

>134 RebaRelishesReading:, >135 drneutron:, >136 johnsimpson: Thanks Reba, Jim, & John!!

Happy Birthday!

I hope the day was filled with great food, people and lots of celebrating!

>138 figsfromthistle: Thanks!

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

As I said yesterday, it was a pretty low-key birthday but nice all the same. My presents from Chris will benefit both of us: four bluebird houses (to add to the four we already have), and a fancy mealworm feeder that has a cage around it so only the bluebirds (and other tiny birds) can feast on them. I know that's super bird-nerdy but that's how we roll. Ha.

It's very cold this morning (18F/-8C) and it's not going to get above freezing. Thankfully I can spend most of the day indoors. I have some tasks that absolutely need to get done, too. We're having people over for dinner this weekend so I need to get the house in order and also get my grocery list together. I hope to fit in some reading time -- I'm really enjoying Grave Goods and am so glad I returned to this series.

Belated Happy Birthday wishes to you, Laura! I love bluebirds, so your birthday gifts sound full of fabulous to me.

Sorry I missed your birthday, Laura. I love that your presents from Chris were bird-nerdy!!!!

>140 Crazymamie:, >141 EBT1002: Thanks Mamie and Ellen!

Well here's a handy new feature. There's now an "attach review" button at the bottom left when you're typing a message. You can read about it here: Reviews in Talk

Just reposting a recent review to try it out. Nice! This will save me some time. It would be even better if it showed my rating too.

>143 lauralkeet: Interesting! Now I need to finish a book to try it out . . .

>144 japaul22: The popup shows your most recent 10 reviews but you can also search and pull up older ones.

Ooh, that's cool. Less annoying than copying and pasting 🙂

>146 katiekrug: for sure, Katie! I write my reviews in a Google Doc, where I format it with the cover image and rating. I copy/paste the review text on the book page, and the review plus cover image etc. on my thread. Now I only need to paste on the book page. Fabulous.

>143 lauralkeet: Oh, interesting. When I finish A Choir of Lies I will give it a try. Even easier than the copy/paste for my review format.

>148 quondame: I agree it will be a time-saver, Susan.

>143 lauralkeet: Remember how I said, "It would be even better if it showed my rating too." Well, I asked LT staff about that on the Talk thread and they did it! The stars are at the end of the review, just like on the book page.

>149 lauralkeet: - You're such an influencer!

>150 katiekrug: LOL I'm sure, that's it, Katie.
Seriously though, I do appreciate that LT staff are generally open to and sometimes even seek input on changes/site improvements.

>149 lauralkeet:. >151 lauralkeet: Brava! See what a little squeaking can do?

Belated happy birthday, Laura!

>143 lauralkeet: Well, that's cool!

>149 lauralkeet: Good for you! And good for LT too, taking the feedback and acting on it right away.

>152 laytonwoman3rd:, >153 atozgrl: Yep, it was nice to see a result from my "squeaking".

Happy Friday, Laura!

>143 lauralkeet: Very cool!

"I know that's super bird-nerdy but that's how we roll." My kind of people. 😀

How many nesting bluebirds do you get? We see them in the forest preserves here but not in backyards.

>155 Crazymamie: happy Friday to you too, Mamie!

>156 msf59: Mark, I knew you'd be able to relate! Our bluebird boxes are on the edge of some pasture, bordering the veg garden and yard. They actually attract other small birds too, like swallows, and we haven't rigorously monitored the nesting habits. We just like seeing them around.

>143 lauralkeet: That is very cool!

>158 EBT1002: It sure is, Ellen. Now if I could just finish a book and start taking advantage of it.

I'm loving Grave Goods, I just haven't had as much reading time as I'd like. Last night the plot started to get more intense and fast-paced, but it was time to sleep so I had to put it down. Kate is visiting this weekend and we're having dinner guests tonight, so I won't be reading much the next couple of days. For good reasons, of course, but I'm also eager to see how the story ends.

>143 lauralkeet: That is very cool.

Sorry I'm late for the birthday greetings, Laura. I know the bluebirds will appreciate the new places to nest. They are the Missouri State Bird and I enjoy seeing more of them in the residential areas.

Thank you for bringing That Librarian to our attention. I see red when I hear about book bans and it's good to know that we have strong people out there like Amanda Jones. It is also a shame that she got attacked for expressing her viewpoint.

Belated happy birthday wishes. Glad to hear you and Chris had fun celebrating. Best of luck hostessing this weekend. Hopefully your gathering is fun for everyone.

>143 lauralkeet: that is cool- I miss the days when we would thumb each other's reviews.

>160 BLBera: It sure is, Beth. New LT features are often met with mixed reviews, but this one seems to have universal appeal.

>161 Donna828: Thanks Donna. That Librarian was really enlightening, and a bit scary too.

>162 MickyFine: Thank you Micky!

>163 LovingLit: I know Megan. Reviews are still thumb-able but it seems like we don't do it as much as we used to. I wonder why.

Our dinner party went very well. There were three other couples, plus Kate who has been visiting this weekend. Chris did most of the cooking, and he's a very good cook. Conversation was lively and fun. And the dogs were well behaved, which was a minor miracle. There's a fair amount of cleanup to be done today which is less fun, but it's not too bad.

Glad your evening went well! What was on the menu?

>166 katiekrug: Hi Katie! We started with a small salade niçoise, then coq au vin and potatoes dauphinoise (aka scalloped potatoes) for the main course. We had two desserts: tiramisu and apple cake. Oh, and there was plenty of wine!

>167 lauralkeet: - Sounds lovely! Go Chris!

*sneaks in, swipes the tiramisu leftovers, sneaks out*

>169 scaifea: so THAT’s where it went! *shakes fist at Amber* 😀

>167 lauralkeet: Sounds like a wonderful meal and very successful party. How lucky you are to have a husband who is not only handy with tools but also in the kitchen!!

(You're welcome to the tiramisu, Amber...but please distract Laura while I grab the apple cake -- OK)

>170 lauralkeet: *snork!*

>171 RebaRelishesReading: Teamwork!

>157 lauralkeet: "We just like seeing them around." I don't blame you. Not all of them migrate during the winter so occasionally we will see them, usually in a small group on our walks. Nice to see a splash of color this time of year.

>171 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, we moved to the UK in 2000 for my job, but Chris didn't have a work permit. The company provided a stipend for spouse education so he did something he'd always wanted to do: go to culinary school. It was pretty great.

>171 RebaRelishesReading:, >172 scaifea: Hey you two, STOP STEALING MY DESSERTS!

>173 msf59: Hi Mark!! We've seen bluebirds this winter here, too. There's a spot on our regular walk where they hang out and I agree, I love seeing that little flash of blue.

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

Life is back to normal here after a busy weekend. I have only about 10 pages or so left in Grave Goods, and I have 4 (!!) books waiting for me at the library which I'll pick up today. More later on what I'm reading/plan to read. Today I also have a few annoying phone calls to make: septic service, and a routing vet appointment for Alys. So exciting. Ha.

I'm back from the library -- here's my haul:

Currently Reading & On Deck


Followed by the Lark | Songs for the Missing | Red Bones | Night Watch

I'll probably read the books in the order shown. Songs for the Missing is for the American Author Challenge in March. Red Bones continues my Shetland reading, and I requested Night Watch because it won the Puliltzer.

Meanwhile, I have two ongoing reads:


In My Garden is an anthology of articles written for Country Life. They're organized by month, so I will read at least the March essays in the coming weeks. I'm working my way through Elizabeth Taylor's Complete Short Stories as part of the Virago Group's 2025 reading project. "Class" is the theme for March, so I'm going to flip through the book and identify a few stories that appear to fit the theme. If I'm wrong, no big deal -- I enjoy her writing and I will still be making progress.

You've reminded me I need to write up a post about O'Nan for the AAC, since I'm hosting!

I hope you like Songs for the Missing, Laura. I gave it the full 5 stars when I read it back in 2016.

Your dinner party sounds full of fabulous, Laura! And what a great story about Chris going to culinary school.

I cannot believe we are almost out of February.

Your dinner party sounds wonderful, and how great that Chris was able to go to cooking school! I wish I lived closer. :)

I loved Night Watch; I thought it was really good historical fiction, if a little hard to read in some spots.

>174 lauralkeet: a culinary school grad spouse -- that is totally cool!! Where did you live in the UK?

Some years ago I challenged myself to read all of the Pulitzer fiction winners and have kept up with them since. I gave Night Watch the full 5 stars -- hope you enjoy it too.

>176 katiekrug: I'm looking forward to it, Katie. I've enjoyed O'Nan's "Henry" books and I'm sure I'll like this one too.

>177 Crazymamie: thanks Mamie, it was fun. Being the "trailing spouse" can be difficult sometimes, and culinary school was a really good way for Chris to benefit from our time overseas.

>178 BLBera: Hi Beth, I'm glad to see you're a fan of Night Watch; that bodes well for me ...

>179 RebaRelishesReading: ... and you too, Reba. We lived in in a Cambridgeshire village, about an hour from Kings Cross by train. Here's a map link to our postal code if you want to have a look around: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NAY38TwNCKVkhL5R6

Happy belated birthday, Laura! Congrats to all the newly housed bluebirds in your neighborhood

>180 lauralkeet: Ah...north of the city. I lived in Staines, Middlesex for a year way, way back when. I loved it -- still very fond of the UK and of London in particular.

>176 katiekrug: I'm really looking forward to it too---the only O'Nan I've read so far are Last Night at the Lobster and The Night Country. I have Henry, Himself on hold at the library, and it ought to come through just in time.

>181 norabelle414: Thanks Nora! I confess the bluebird boxes are still in the box they were delivered in. We need to buy poles to set them on. Just another item on our "getting the garden ready for spring" task list.

>182 RebaRelishesReading: We really enjoyed our time there too, Reba. Living in another country/culture was life-changing for all of us (our daughters were in primary school at the time).

>183 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, I read Henry, Himself recently, after reading the other two related books: Wish you Were Here and Emily, Alone. *Henry* was published later but is set earlier; I guess O'Nan wanted readers to have more back story.

12. Grave Goods

>184 lauralkeet: I remember you reviewed Henry, Himself favorably, Laura. I didn't realize Wish You Were Here came first, so now I've asked for that one from the library too. Both titles were available so the holds should come through in a couple days. Unfortunately our system seems to have only an audio version of Emily, Alone.

>186 laytonwoman3rd: That's great, Linda. *Henry* can stand on its own but I think reading the other one first will enhance it.

>186 laytonwoman3rd: - That's annoying about your library only having the audio of Emily, Alone, Linda. If you decide you can't live without reading it, I'd be happy to loan you my copy!

>185 lauralkeet: I meant to post additional comments on the Mistress of the Art of Death series. Having read three books now, I'm wondering how much this series inspired Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway:
* Both women have similar expertise, although Ruth has the advantage of modern technology.
* Both are in "forbidden" relationships and have daughters as a result of their relationship.
* Both are unbelievably good at getting themselves into difficult and dangerous situations due mostly to their own inability to think straight in a crisis.

I wish I could introduce them to one another, maybe by inviting them and their SOs to my fantasy literary dinner party. Ha.

I tried the new "review" process, and I'm not sure I really like it. The book page revamp is stellar, but the review parameters don't suit me. (Me, me, me; I know.) I need the jacket/cover mugshot to be larger. I need to be able to include images for graphic books. Perhaps—assuming I ever actually write another "review"—I'll just do it the old way.

I can't accept that Saturday the month becomes March. Is that DOGE dork causing this? I may have to resign.

I have a short shelf of Stewart O'Nan books. I like what of his that I have read, so I'll bask contentedly in the March of O'Nan.

I am 90+ posts behind again and so missed your birthday, Laura. I do hope you had a wonderful day!

>189 lauralkeet: I want to have a fantasy literary dinner party too! That sounds like a wonderful idea. Of course, I would have to have all of the 75ers along to participate since I cannot imagine having a literary dinner party without inviting them :)

Have a terrific Tuesday!

>190 weird_O: I get it, Bill. Over time we have all developed our individual styles for writing reviews. The new one includes everything I was posting before except for it being, say, my 12th review of the year (and there's no way for LT to "know" that). The photo is on the right instead of the left, and I'd like it to be a bit larger, but I can live with that.

I hope you enjoy reading from your O'Nan collection.

>191 alcottacre: We'd have to rent a venue for that Stasia! But it sure would be fun.

Good morning all! I can't believe February is almost over. I'm within a few pages of finishing Followed by the Lark, but I don't want to start my March AAC book because it's not yet March! I know that's silly, but I can't help myself. I guess I'll read Night Watch first, since there are people waiting for it at the library.

I've been curious about Night Watch, so I'm interested to hear what you think!

>185 lauralkeet: This is the first time I have seen this. On the review page- does it give you the option to share it? Interesting.

Sweet Thursday, Laura. I just couldn't get into Night Watch and put it down. I loved Lark & Termite. I hope it works better for you.

>193 lauralkeet: - I could probably finish my current read today, but I will stretch it tomorrow so there isn't too much untidy end-of-month-ness :)

>194 japaul22: Watch this space, Jennifer. I hadn't paid much attention to Night Watch, but decided to read it based on its Pulitzer win. This morning I read the blurb and thought "hey, this sounds pretty good!" Ha.

>195 msf59: Mark, this is a fairly new feature. When composing a talk message you'll see a little icon on the lower right that says, "attach review". This brings up a box with the 10 most recent reviews you've added to book pages (you can also search for older reviews). Choose the one you want, and voila! Any other content in your post will display before the review. You can use Preview to see what your post will look like.

>196 katiekrug: I play that game sometimes, Katie, but it just wasn't gonna happen this month. I *could* read some essays or short stories today and tomorrow, but now I'm eager to start Night Watch.

I read Night Watch last spring and gave it *****. Hope you like it too.

>198 RebaRelishesReading: That's good to know, Reba. I was immediately drawn into the story and am eager to get back to it today, which is a really good sign.

13. Followed by the Lark

>200 lauralkeet: The Humphreys sounds really good, Laura. Great comments, as usual. I also loved Night Watch.

>201 BLBera: Thanks Beth! Night Watch continues to be a great read.

>197 lauralkeet: Cool. Thanks for this, Laura.