SqueakyChu Continues Puzzling in 2025 - 2nd Quarter
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2025
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1SqueakyChu
(continued from here)
Hi Folks!
It's me again...still reading and puzzling.
My name is Madeline. I'm in my late 70s (...and still very young as a friend of mine just turned 101 last month!), married, with three grown children, and two grandchildren, ages eleven and seven. I'm a retired nurse, but now I sort of live the life of a librarian as I have a very active Little Free Library on our front lawn (built by my husband), am an avid Bookcrosser, am a devoted fan of LibraryThing, and am the creator of the TIOLI challenge which has been on LT's 75 Books Challenges for many years now.
My favorite reads are literary fiction, particularly contemporary Japanese novels and memoirs. I never know what I will read in the future as...if a book I want to read is on a list...for sure, I'll never read it. Stick around and see what I will read...at random, of course. :D
Pages Read YTD: 2,701
Pages Read per Day: decreased to 16
Books in my To Read Pile: increased to 334
BookCrossing Books to be Released: decreased to 1,661
Hi Folks!
It's me again...still reading and puzzling.
My name is Madeline. I'm in my late 70s (...and still very young as a friend of mine just turned 101 last month!), married, with three grown children, and two grandchildren, ages eleven and seven. I'm a retired nurse, but now I sort of live the life of a librarian as I have a very active Little Free Library on our front lawn (built by my husband), am an avid Bookcrosser, am a devoted fan of LibraryThing, and am the creator of the TIOLI challenge which has been on LT's 75 Books Challenges for many years now.
My favorite reads are literary fiction, particularly contemporary Japanese novels and memoirs. I never know what I will read in the future as...if a book I want to read is on a list...for sure, I'll never read it. Stick around and see what I will read...at random, of course. :D
Pages Read YTD: 2,701
Pages Read per Day: decreased to 16
Books in my To Read Pile: increased to 334
BookCrossing Books to be Released: decreased to 1,661
2SqueakyChu
APRIL
Spring Cabin by Bits and Pieces - 1,000 pieces
BOOKISH EVENTS:
1. Kensington International Day of the Book street festival, Kensington, Maryland, USA - April 27, 2025, 11am to 5pm - See you there?
COMPLETED:
8. The Death and Life of August Sweeney - Samuel Ashworth - TIOLI #1: Read a book whose title/subtitle includes any of these three-letter combinations: JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC (AUG) - 303 pages
9. Have a Little Faith - Mitch Albom - TIOLI #2: Read a book with the word/name 'Faith' in either the book's title or the author's name - 249 pages
Spring Cabin by Bits and Pieces - 1,000 pieces
BOOKISH EVENTS:
1. Kensington International Day of the Book street festival, Kensington, Maryland, USA - April 27, 2025, 11am to 5pm - See you there?
COMPLETED:
8. The Death and Life of August Sweeney - Samuel Ashworth - TIOLI #1: Read a book whose title/subtitle includes any of these three-letter combinations: JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC (AUG) - 303 pages
9. Have a Little Faith - Mitch Albom - TIOLI #2: Read a book with the word/name 'Faith' in either the book's title or the author's name - 249 pages
3SqueakyChu
MAY:
Mother and Tiger Cub by National Geographic/The New York City Puzzle Company - 1,000 pieces
BOOKISH EVENTS:
1. Gaithersburg Book Festival, Bohrer Park, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA - Saturday, May 17 - 10am to 6pm
COMPLETED:
10. White Apples - Jonathan Carroll - TIOLI #1: Read a book you *really should* read now (I was expected to read and release this book in 2004!) - 304 pages
Mother and Tiger Cub by National Geographic/The New York City Puzzle Company - 1,000 pieces
BOOKISH EVENTS:
1. Gaithersburg Book Festival, Bohrer Park, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA - Saturday, May 17 - 10am to 6pm
COMPLETED:
10. White Apples - Jonathan Carroll - TIOLI #1: Read a book you *really should* read now (I was expected to read and release this book in 2004!) - 304 pages
4SqueakyChu
JUNE:
Mermaid by Peter Pauper Press - 1,000 pieces - Artist: Stephanie Law
BOOKISH EVENTS:
1. BookCrossing meetup in Virginia - home of ResQGeek in Alexandria, Virginia on Father's Day
COMPLETED:
11. A Departure from the Script - Rochelle Hollander Schwab - TIOLI #5: Read a book whose title has five words or less and contains at least five vowels (8 vowels) - 328 pages
Mermaid by Peter Pauper Press - 1,000 pieces - Artist: Stephanie Law
BOOKISH EVENTS:
1. BookCrossing meetup in Virginia - home of ResQGeek in Alexandria, Virginia on Father's Day
COMPLETED:
11. A Departure from the Script - Rochelle Hollander Schwab - TIOLI #5: Read a book whose title has five words or less and contains at least five vowels (8 vowels) - 328 pages
5PaulCranswick
I'm guessing, since I waited more than an hour and a half, that it is safe to post and wish you a Happy New Thread, dear Madeline.
6SqueakyChu
>5 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. It's safe. Too much to do to finish my thread toppers now. Maybe tomorrow?
7PaulCranswick
>6 SqueakyChu: That is a relief, Madeline. xx
9figsfromthistle
Happy new thread!
10SqueakyChu
>8 drneutron: >9 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita and Jim! Still too busy to work up top! Ha!
12SqueakyChu
>11 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene!
14SqueakyChu
>13 Kristelh: Thanks, Kristel.
Phew! Finally got them up. It was really hard to get them from my camera to my computer to my junk drawer on LT to this thread! Anyway, that' snow done! I ran out of time to read. Haha!!
The cabin puzzle had triangular pieces - which were fun! The tiger puzzle was perhaps the hardest puzzle we've ever done. The mermaid puzzle was gorgeous. That artwork!! Look up other artwork by Stephanie Law. Her watercolors are amazing!
Phew! Finally got them up. It was really hard to get them from my camera to my computer to my junk drawer on LT to this thread! Anyway, that' snow done! I ran out of time to read. Haha!!
The cabin puzzle had triangular pieces - which were fun! The tiger puzzle was perhaps the hardest puzzle we've ever done. The mermaid puzzle was gorgeous. That artwork!! Look up other artwork by Stephanie Law. Her watercolors are amazing!
15SqueakyChu
Big happening this month in Kensington, Maryland. My Bookcrossing group is hosting a tent at the Kensington International Day of the Book street festival in which we hope to give away hundreds (and hopefully more than 1,000) free books for all ages. Free street parking and free admission. If you will be nearby, please stop by our Bookcrossing tent to say hi to me. I'll be wearing my SqueakyChu nametag! :D
https://www.dayofthebook.com/
https://www.dayofthebook.com/
16Kristelh
Enjoyed seeing the puzzles (again). I’m looking forward to getting home so I can start a new puzzle.
17SqueakyChu
>16 Kristelh: I love seeing your puzzles as well, Kristel. This Sunday I'm going to a free puzzle swap at my local library which is being hosted by my newly-found puzzle swap group. I am now hopelessly addicted to puzzling!
18Kristelh
>17 SqueakyChu: A puzzle swap group, that’s a good idea!
19SqueakyChu
>18 Kristelh: I found the puzzle swap group by accident on Facebook. It's amazing! It has over 600 members and unlimited supplies of puzzles. Most of the puzzles are complete. The few that have missing pieces must be labeled as such. Puzzles must be secured with the pieces being in a ziplock bag, and the box must be secured with a rubber band or painter's tape (which turned out to be a fabulous idea!).
The swap group maintains two swap closets, one at the home of each of two members. I visited the one closest to me and was so surprised at how nice it was. One admin, her name is Nika, has her puzzle closet outside her home in a semi-covered alcove. She has a HUGE bag of puzzles with missing pieces. She has a padded bench with puzzle overflow inside. In addition, she has a welcome sign, a huge cooler with ice-packed cold drinks, and a large picnic basket with snack food and a sign to take refreshments. I thought I discovered heaven! LOL!
In addition, the two admins of this group are working with my local public library (walking distance to my house) to maintain a free puzzle swap shelf there (the only one of such a thing in my county, I believe).
This is all such a great idea (as you said!).
The swap group maintains two swap closets, one at the home of each of two members. I visited the one closest to me and was so surprised at how nice it was. One admin, her name is Nika, has her puzzle closet outside her home in a semi-covered alcove. She has a HUGE bag of puzzles with missing pieces. She has a padded bench with puzzle overflow inside. In addition, she has a welcome sign, a huge cooler with ice-packed cold drinks, and a large picnic basket with snack food and a sign to take refreshments. I thought I discovered heaven! LOL!
In addition, the two admins of this group are working with my local public library (walking distance to my house) to maintain a free puzzle swap shelf there (the only one of such a thing in my county, I believe).
This is all such a great idea (as you said!).
20SqueakyChu
8. The Death and Life of August Sweeney - Samuel Ashworth -
------------------------------------
TIOLI #1: Read a book whose title/subtitle includes any of these three-letter combinations: JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC (AUG)
-----------------------------------
This is the story of August Sweeney, a man who is both alive and dead in different chapters of this book. As a living man, he is a famous chef of huge physical proportion; as a dead man, he is a corpse of mammoth proportion undergoing an autopsy. Narrating this story is the autopsist of August Sweeney, Dr. Zhu, who has to deal with her own father, suffering from mental deterioration due to a recent stroke, and with medical students observing and learning from the autopsy she is performing.
Delightful and creative writing make this story a joy to read. And the vocabulary! Periodically, I learned some interesting new words. And there’s Chinese in this book. Both the characters and the transliteration plus the meaning!! It was a poem. And the characters! Such unique individuals who would be interesting to meet in real life simply because of their depth. And the descriptions (as in the section about a sumptuous meal in a French restaurant)! This book was so rich in narrative and characters that I found it best to read one chapter at a time and then take a bit of time to savor what I just finished reading. And the things that happen in this story—so many were quite unexpected!! I highly recommend this unique and totally fun read.
Rating - 5 stars
The toilet paper was so soft it practically sang a lullaby into your anus.
------------------------------------
TIOLI #1: Read a book whose title/subtitle includes any of these three-letter combinations: JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC (AUG)
-----------------------------------
This is the story of August Sweeney, a man who is both alive and dead in different chapters of this book. As a living man, he is a famous chef of huge physical proportion; as a dead man, he is a corpse of mammoth proportion undergoing an autopsy. Narrating this story is the autopsist of August Sweeney, Dr. Zhu, who has to deal with her own father, suffering from mental deterioration due to a recent stroke, and with medical students observing and learning from the autopsy she is performing.
Delightful and creative writing make this story a joy to read. And the vocabulary! Periodically, I learned some interesting new words. And there’s Chinese in this book. Both the characters and the transliteration plus the meaning!! It was a poem. And the characters! Such unique individuals who would be interesting to meet in real life simply because of their depth. And the descriptions (as in the section about a sumptuous meal in a French restaurant)! This book was so rich in narrative and characters that I found it best to read one chapter at a time and then take a bit of time to savor what I just finished reading. And the things that happen in this story—so many were quite unexpected!! I highly recommend this unique and totally fun read.
Rating - 5 stars
The toilet paper was so soft it practically sang a lullaby into your anus.
21PaulCranswick
>20 SqueakyChu: Well it is certainly quotable, Madeline!
22SqueakyChu
>21 PaulCranswick: This book had such great lines!!! It is the debut novel for Samuel Ashworth who spent 12 years writing it. I got the novel from an indie publisher (sfwp.com) whose founder I know in person. The books he sends me to review from time to time are fabulous. I just sent him (Andrew Gifford) a thank you note for sharing this book with me.
23PaulCranswick
>22 SqueakyChu: And oddly poetic despite the subject matter!
24SqueakyChu
Thank you for this book, Alcottacre. So glad I read it. My plan is to pass it along so others may now read it. It is definitely a book to be shared.
------------------
9. Have a Little Faith - Mitch Albom -
------------------------------------------------
TIOLI #2: Read a book with the word/name 'Faith' in either the book's title or the author's name
------------------------------------------------
This is a truly beautiful book about clergymen of two faiths. One is the author’s own former rabbi from New Jersey, Reb Albert Lewis; the other is Henry Covington, a hardened criminal from Detroit turned pastor. Asked to write a eulogy for his rabbi, author Mitch Albom takes time to renew his relationship with Albert Lewis while also forming a relationship with African-American Henry Covington in order to help him with charitable work with less fortunate individuals in Detroit.
This is a book of faith and friendship. Comforting and yet sad because we know that eulogy is coming before this book ends.
Rating - 4.5 stars
Be satisfied…Be grateful…For what you have…For the love you receive…And for what God has given you. (Reb Albert Lewis)
------------------
9. Have a Little Faith - Mitch Albom -
------------------------------------------------
TIOLI #2: Read a book with the word/name 'Faith' in either the book's title or the author's name
------------------------------------------------
This is a truly beautiful book about clergymen of two faiths. One is the author’s own former rabbi from New Jersey, Reb Albert Lewis; the other is Henry Covington, a hardened criminal from Detroit turned pastor. Asked to write a eulogy for his rabbi, author Mitch Albom takes time to renew his relationship with Albert Lewis while also forming a relationship with African-American Henry Covington in order to help him with charitable work with less fortunate individuals in Detroit.
This is a book of faith and friendship. Comforting and yet sad because we know that eulogy is coming before this book ends.
Rating - 4.5 stars
Be satisfied…Be grateful…For what you have…For the love you receive…And for what God has given you. (Reb Albert Lewis)
25alcottacre
>24 SqueakyChu: I am so happy to know that you enjoyed it, Madeline!
26jessibud2
How did your thread get unstarred? Well, I rectified that now! Happy new one! I love your puzzles, pictures above! I have just graduated to 1000 piece puzzles but still find them challenging. We'll see how long that lasts, lol...
27SqueakyChu
>26 jessibud2: Once you master a larger puzzle, Shelley, you might start to find the ones with fewer pieces less challenging. I guess the real key to the difficulty of each puzzle, though, is mainly the picture itself. I find that we finish 500 piece puzzles too quickly, but then there are two of us working those puzzles together. What do you do with your puzzles after you complete them? I found that I ran out of space to store ours so now I'm giving them to a local puzzle swap (but also picking up new ones at the same time! Oops!). :D
28SqueakyChu
10. White Apples - Jonathan Carroll
-------------------------------------------------
TIOLI #1: Read a book you *really should* read now (I was expected to read and release this book in 2004!)
-----------------------------------------------------
It’s been so many years since I read a book by Jonathan Carrol. This book brings back all of the fun of this author’s novels. The creativity, the surreal happenings, the humor — all of these combine to make a most enjoyable read. This novel, like his others, are tangential rather than lineal. One never knows in which direction it will go.
It begins with Victor Ettrich, a divorced man, father of two children, who remains in love with a former mistress, Isabelle Neukor of Vienna, Austria. She returns to tell him that she is pregnant with his child, but this child communicates with her in an unusual way. Viktor goes on to learn that he is really dead. How and why this happened is at first a mystery both to Vincent and us, the readers. As the story gets increasingly weird, it is entertaining to figure out what it all means (if we can!).
I’m not sure that I really understood all of the intricacies of this novel, but I enjoyed trying. My favorite part of this book was when Isabelle visits her grandmother (who admits to being dead) in Vienna. It reflected a dream of my own in which I sometimes wish for time to visit and speak with loved ones who had been part of my life but who are no longer alive.
When I found myself having a hard time following the story line, I knew to just keep reading. I was rewarded by the surprising finale in the last paragraph. I hope others enjoy this imaginative novel as much as I did.
Rating - 4 stars
Ettrich was about to eat a thimble-sized wedge of bread topped with what looked like a sardine head resting on top of a dandelion.
-------------------------------------------------
TIOLI #1: Read a book you *really should* read now (I was expected to read and release this book in 2004!)
-----------------------------------------------------
It’s been so many years since I read a book by Jonathan Carrol. This book brings back all of the fun of this author’s novels. The creativity, the surreal happenings, the humor — all of these combine to make a most enjoyable read. This novel, like his others, are tangential rather than lineal. One never knows in which direction it will go.
It begins with Victor Ettrich, a divorced man, father of two children, who remains in love with a former mistress, Isabelle Neukor of Vienna, Austria. She returns to tell him that she is pregnant with his child, but this child communicates with her in an unusual way. Viktor goes on to learn that he is really dead. How and why this happened is at first a mystery both to Vincent and us, the readers. As the story gets increasingly weird, it is entertaining to figure out what it all means (if we can!).
I’m not sure that I really understood all of the intricacies of this novel, but I enjoyed trying. My favorite part of this book was when Isabelle visits her grandmother (who admits to being dead) in Vienna. It reflected a dream of my own in which I sometimes wish for time to visit and speak with loved ones who had been part of my life but who are no longer alive.
When I found myself having a hard time following the story line, I knew to just keep reading. I was rewarded by the surprising finale in the last paragraph. I hope others enjoy this imaginative novel as much as I did.
Rating - 4 stars
Ettrich was about to eat a thimble-sized wedge of bread topped with what looked like a sardine head resting on top of a dandelion.
29SqueakyChu
11. A Departure from the Script - Rochelle Hollander Schwab
-----------------------------------
TIOLI #5: Read a book whose title has five words or less and contains at least five vowels (8 vowels)
----------------------------------
This was a terrific book! I had some qualms about reading it as it’s about a lesbian wedding, but I could not help enjoying all of the diverse characters in this novel.
The premise of this book is a really good one: What would it feel like to have one of your own daughters come out as lesbian? This novel gives a good idea as both sides are presented: We see the anger of Dan while we read Sheila’s narrative of learning to accept this new situation. It all seems very realistic to me.
This is a great introduction to thinking about gender preference no matter one’s personal opinion because all opinions are discussed throughout this novel. The book itself is like one long conversation between Sheila Katz, her family, her future in-laws and her friends…and can they talk! I loved the Jewish rituals described in this book, the Yiddish terms, and what’s not to like about a book that includes a cat named Nudnik?! The author is a fabulous writer, is quite funny and had me in tears as the book ended. It’s a surprisingly thoughtful and complex story.
Rating - 5 stars
…I, too, was still partly in mourning for the life I'd dreamed of for Jenny, the script that has been in my mind from the day of her birth, and that she would never follow.
-----------------------------------
TIOLI #5: Read a book whose title has five words or less and contains at least five vowels (8 vowels)
----------------------------------
This was a terrific book! I had some qualms about reading it as it’s about a lesbian wedding, but I could not help enjoying all of the diverse characters in this novel.
The premise of this book is a really good one: What would it feel like to have one of your own daughters come out as lesbian? This novel gives a good idea as both sides are presented: We see the anger of Dan while we read Sheila’s narrative of learning to accept this new situation. It all seems very realistic to me.
This is a great introduction to thinking about gender preference no matter one’s personal opinion because all opinions are discussed throughout this novel. The book itself is like one long conversation between Sheila Katz, her family, her future in-laws and her friends…and can they talk! I loved the Jewish rituals described in this book, the Yiddish terms, and what’s not to like about a book that includes a cat named Nudnik?! The author is a fabulous writer, is quite funny and had me in tears as the book ended. It’s a surprisingly thoughtful and complex story.
Rating - 5 stars
…I, too, was still partly in mourning for the life I'd dreamed of for Jenny, the script that has been in my mind from the day of her birth, and that she would never follow.
30SqueakyChu
This came up on my Facebook feed today. Fifteen years ago when I met Tim and Abby at the ALA Convention in DC. Imagine! Fifteen years ago!! :O
32SqueakyChu
>31 jessibud2: I wore that shirt until it was in shreds! LOL! It had been a gift from my friend Barbara.
It was so much fun to meet Tim and Abby. I'm really glad I had the chance to do that. This week they both are at the ALA convention in Philadelphia.
It was so much fun to meet Tim and Abby. I'm really glad I had the chance to do that. This week they both are at the ALA convention in Philadelphia.
33atozgrl
>30 SqueakyChu: What a great picture! How nice that you had the chance to meet them.
By that time I was mostly attending our system's conferences, and not going to ALA. Thinking about it, I can't remember what one was the last ALA I attended. It really must be a while ago.
By that time I was mostly attending our system's conferences, and not going to ALA. Thinking about it, I can't remember what one was the last ALA I attended. It really must be a while ago.
34SqueakyChu
>33 atozgrl: I actually did nothing at the ALA conference since I'm not a librarian. I only went there to meet Tim and Abby. :)
35atozgrl
>34 SqueakyChu: Well, I'm glad you had the opportunity! I love that the vendor hall is open to the public at ALA.
36SqueakyChu
>35 atozgrl: It's not. Tim got free tickets for LibraryThing members at that time. He no longer supplies those...and that conference is expensive!
37atozgrl
>36 SqueakyChu: Yes, it is expensive! Our library could only afford to send a few people to it. But that's great that LT used to give tickets to members. They may not be able to get free tickets any more, or there might be too many requests. IIRC, librarians could get cheaper tickets to just the vendor hall, which may be why I thought the same thing was possible for the public. I don't have any idea what the current policies are.
