Kate’s Reading Journal 2025

I’m still reading Vanishing World but slowly. I keep falling asleep, which is odd given the subject matter.

It is about a world where sexual intercourse is considered gross, and babies are produced solely by IVF. People still fall in love, but physical contact is not needed so they can use actual humans or anima. If they do fall in love, the love is consummated cerebrally.

Now if I could only stay awake …

It sounds like an odd book, but strangely compelling too. I hope you can prop your eyelids open long enough to finish!

intriguing about Vanishing World. Wish you some good listening

>3 dchaikin: >2 labfs39: I became interested in Japanese writer Sayaka Murata after reading Convenience Store Woman which won several awards and was long listed for the prestigious International Dublin Literary Award in 2020. I often choose books from the Irish times and Irish prizes.

Murata has such interesting ideas that are based on a reality that is weird, but when you think about it, it becomes less so.

Japan has a dwindling population which if continued will cause major economic problems. Is it so bizarre that ivf could become economically more efficient, releasing women to the workforce? Could it be worth developing artificial wombs so that men could have babies, thus doubling the birth rate?

Murata is imaginative, dark, and at times incredibly funny.

>4 kjuliff:

I read the book in the original Japanese but never reviewed it on LT. Vanishing World is a fantastic read told in about three major parts. I hope you get out of your sleepy funk because the book has a lot to offer.

>5 lilisin: “Fantastic” is such an apt word to describe Vanishing World . Yes I’m back on track with it, and I highly recommend it. It does have a lot to offer on many levels. This will be my third Murata read and my favorite.

I have a question about the humor. There are times while reading the book that I thought Murata was being humorous in a dead-pan sort of way. But I wasn’t sure as I know little of Japanese culture. Is she known for her humor?

I’ve just finished Vanishing World - a hard act to follow. What to read next? I noticed Blindness had just come offf hold, and I can’t remember why I put it there. But I do like the cover.

Many think of there being only two states, seeing and blindness, but there are variations in degree, even for the legally blind. I mention this as most members on LT don’t know I’m blind. I am and it is because of this that I read audio books. I wonder how many other members read audio because of vision problems.

I’m legally blind and can’t read as I type. To give you an idea, I can’t see how many figures are on the book cover. I think it’s 6 but it could be 5. The last I can see going R to L is number 4 and the last I can see relatively clearly is number 3. It gets worse every year. I used to have a huge print library. Reading audio still requires concentration, but I’m getting better at it.

Glad you enjoyed Vanishing World. I’m interested. i haven’t read Blindness, but it comes up occasionally everywhere.

>6 kjuliff:

I wouldn't say that Murata is humorous. I would rather say that she sees very well the absurdity within things, of which there is a lot of absurdity in Japanese culture. (Absurdity is of course not limited to Japanese culture but since Murata is a Japanese author I limit my comment to Japan.) So for example, when she talks about how humans now fall in love with animated characters rather than with their fellow humans, I would say she is definitely pointing out, and dare I say, mocking, the absurdities of Japanese anime culture.

>10 lilisin: Thanks for the explanation. I understood the “humor” of the absurdity, but I was thinking about the hints of subtlety in Amane’s replies to her husband Saku. I can’t find an example unfortunately.

On men having wombs, sex with anime and holes. Vanishing World is a fun and thoughtful read.

>12 kjuliff: Great review, and it certainly sounds very thought-provoking. I enjoy how inventive Murata is. I never know quite what to expect from her books. Adding this one to the TBR list.

>7 kjuliff: Some people on here hated Blindness (won't spoil it by saying why), but I thought it was excellent. Disturbing but very well done.

>14 AlisonY: I didn’t hate it. I’ve finished it and yet to write a review . I thought it was excellent too. So can you now tell me why some hated it?

>15 kjuliff: I think some people found the rape scene gratuitous and far too extreme

>16 AlisonY: I see. I saw it as realistic given the situation. Now the details of those scenes have left my memory. I usually pick up on that sort of thing if overdone, but the details of those scenes made no lasting expression on me.

>17 kjuliff: I had much the same thoughts.

Life stages and book associations:
While I’m not the oldest person in this group, I’m old enough to have several distinct life stages. I associate books with the different life stages . So much so that I sometimes have difficulty rereading books and authors that I read in the years before I considered myself old.

Here are some examples:
All of Thomas Hardy - the traveling overland and back years (books in English were hard to find)
Lord of the Rings and Zen and the Art of Motor Cycle Maintenance , Foundation pre first years of marriage.
John le Carré’s Smiley books in the marriage years before the children were born. The Alexandria Quartet and the The Balkan Trilogy when the children were little .
Doris Lessing and The Divided Self - the divorce years.
Janet Turner Hospital, Tim Winton pre going to The States.

I’ll stop there but I wonder if other members associate books and/or authors with major periods in their lives.

>19 kjuliff: Generally speaking I have the strongest reaction to books covering my teenage years and my professional life years. Another period is really looking at my ancestors and their lives. Currently I am drawn to the genre labelled as 'aging'. Not morbidly so, just wanted to see how other individuals dealt with their aging issues.

Another subject that I have always been very interested in is where we all came from and speculation about eternity.

>20 JoeB1934: Interesting. But what I was really referring to was specific books read during different stages of one’s life cycle, rather than current interests. Hope this clarifies. So looking back at stages in one’s life, marriage years before, child-reading years, working years, traveling years and other stages in life, do you have memories of the types of books you read then? Different people will have of course different periods - so not everyone has divorce years or traveling years.

>21 kjuliff: By those definitions the only one I have is aging, which is the stage I am in now.

>22 JoeB1934: Joe I am sure you had other periods in your life apart from “aging”. Look back at my op which gives my own examples >19 kjuliff: . Nowhere am I talking about the person’s current stage or current books.

>19 kjuliff: You're absolutely right. I do associate certain books with specific periods of my life. For e.g., an author we both love: R. K. Narayan - immediately takes me back to my childhood, and summers spent reading. I don't think I've revisited Malgudi Days as an adult and part of me doesn't want to, in case it changes how I feel about the book I remember so fondly.

>24 rasdhar: I actually went back to The Painter of Signs and Waiting for the Mahatma last year, needing something gentle with quiet and wise humor. I was not disappointed - the years had not diminished his charm. I think he belonged to my child-rearing period. I think you would still love Malgudi Days

Interesting question. My high school years were spent reading everything I thought of as a classic, which led to some odd choices and many books read without the life experience to truly understand them. My college years were spent reading almost exclusively Russian and East European literature and history. When my daughter was young, I read enough pregnancy and parenting books to practically qualify for a masters, lol! My discovery of LibraryThing and the influence of rebeccanyc led to a rebirth of my interest in translated literature, and to a certain extent, there I remain.

>19 kjuliff: There are books I loved in my late teens and early twenties that I'm not sure I'd even like today. Books like On the Road and Keep the Aspidistra Flying probably need to be read while young and while I'd like to revisit the Orwell, I'm wary of doing so.

There are books I read while living in Europe that are very much tied to the places I read them, and others that have no attachment to place. It's funny how that happens.

>27 RidgewayGirl: There are books I read while living in Europe that are very much tied to the places I read them, and others that have no attachment to place. It's funny how that happens.
Yes it is strange - why some places and not others.

I also have books I associate with significant men in my life. These books are mostly books they liked. In the case of my first lover that was a good thing as he had a wonderful diverse library. My first husband introduced me to science fiction which I never would have read otherwise.

Not enough space to go into the others …
🙃😉

>26 labfs39: When my daughter was young, I read enough pregnancy and parenting books to practically qualify for a masters, lol!

Interestingly i did not read any books on pregnancy or child-reading during those respective years. I was pregnant in a settlement in the Australian bush and there were no libraries apart from a very sparse “traveling library”. As far as early child-reading is concerned I had no time at all to read. No TV either.

>29 kjuliff: I tend to get a bit obsessive with researching things in my life: dog training, parenting, medical illnesses, educational topics. Personal foible

I love the use Dan has made of the new review method. At the end of his review that he first posted in his edit book section, he has a link back to his thread . See here.

This has the advantage of allowing members to comment on a review on the author’s thread if they first came the review in Reviews. They can also see others’ comments and any preamble.

I’m currently reading The Lazarus Project and came across Jerry’s review here it’s an excellent book and I loved Jerry’s review. I’d like to see it in his thread to see comments and add my own. I think though it was written before the new review function.

ETA still hate the LT more function in reviews which breaks the flow and is full of html bugs. But the rest is great.

Here’s a book I strongly recommend. I loved the writing, the use of repetition, and that there is something about it that reminds me of Javiar Marias, one of my favorites who I sorely miss. Here is my review

>19 kjuliff: >26 labfs39: I remember just about memorizing Bob Bradley's book on husband-coached childbirth. There are a few books that I associate with when I studied them (e.g., reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance in gradual school), or, in a few cases, with the book club for which I read them.

Nice review, Kate. Blindness was the first book I read by Saramago, and it remains a favorite. I have tried two or three times to read the sequel, Seeing, but can not get through it.

>33 kjuliff: I enjoyed your review.

Vanishing World definitely sounds like one for the library borrowing list.

Australian Federal elections are being held Sat 3rd May 8am to 6pm local time. So I guess I’ll have to wake up early tomorrow when the results will start coming in.

I am hoping and expecting the ALP to win. I cannot see anything else happening.

For those interest in how Australian elections work, there’s a brief explanation here.
https://www.aec.gov.au/media/2025/05-02.htm

Great review of Blindness, Kate; I also thought that it was a fantastic novel.

ETA: Thanks for that explanation of the Australian voting process. I read a brief article about it on the BBC website last night. I had no idea that votes cast there were compulsory, and the tradition of buying democracy sausages for charity while standing in the polling centers was quite unique.

>39 kidzdoc: thanks Daryl. Great news, the ALP (equivalent of the left US Democrats) won handsomely.
Yes voting is compulsory, but that really means turning up getting voting form going into the ballot casting booth. You don’t have to actually vote, just turn up. The advantage is that people can’t be stopped from voting by employers or extreme political group.

>40 kjuliff: That is great news, Kate. I know that there are plenty of newsworthy stories to cover in this country,but I'm disappointed that there was no discussion of today's election in Australia on my usual television news sources, MSNBC and the PBS NewsHour. I can't remember if I learned about the election from a BBC story on my mobile phone or from you.

>41 kidzdoc: Yes it is a pity and I’m disappointed. Front page on BBC aThe Guardian and of course the Australian ABC.

It was a great win!

ETA - I sent you a DM on LT

I finished The Lazarus Project which is certainly an entertaining read. It’s a mixture of horror, suffering, humor, and homelands. It’s hard to mix humor with violence but Hemen manages. Without the humor I don’t think I could’ve continued with the book. It’s one to be experienced rather than remembered. But it’s still it’s worth a read in these difficult times. As a lot of say, humor is the best medicine.

It was hard to find a new book after the last three good reads, but chanced upon Service by Sarah Gilmartin. It looks interesting - set in the MeToo days in Dublin.

I finished Signal Fires - Turned out to be a disappointment . I’ll be reviewing it later.

I’ve recently switched to speech to text in my posts and it’s very strange because they’ve changed style - chatty and I don’t really like how they turn out. Speech to text is a lot easier for me, so sorry if my new posts are a little bit too voluminous.

>45 kjuliff: they sound find to me!

>45 kjuliff: Your posts seem fine to me too.

>47 kjuliff: Sounds like the book had potential. A good editor might have been able to fix the repetition issue.

>48 rasdhar: I see that Kay @Ridgewaygirl enjoyed Signal Fires in her review here which I read after finishing the book and reviewing it. This got me thinking because I usually like books that Kay hase liked, and so I’mstarted thinking what it was that I really didn’t like about the book and why

On reflection, I noticed that the version I read was audio and the narrator was the novelist herself. I her voice may have emphasized the repetition in the scenes I found to be melodramatic, and had I read in text without the voice coming across between me and the reading, that I might’ve felt differently about what was essentially a very sound novel

>49 kjuliff: The repetition in the written version of the book worked well as emphasis and gave the writing a rhythm, or maybe I was pulled through the book by the pacing and didn't notice its excess. I do think some books don't work well in audio and I do think it's rare that an author reads as well as a professional reader or voice actor. I do agree that it is melodramatic, which normally annoys me, but in this case, I thought the writing kept me from being annoyed. Usually, my heart has no strings to conveniently be tugged on, but every so often, there they are.

And congratulations on the results of the Australian election. With Australia, Canada and even the Catholic Conclave reacting against Trump, it gives me hope that at least other places will make it through all this. The UK Labour government is a consistent disappointment.

>50 RidgewayGirl: Thanks for your comments, Kay. Yes I can see now that the book must have read better in print. I could see that Sarah Gilmartin is a good writer, and the way she strung the lives of the two families together worked well. It was just a pity about what came across as melodrama, but I think that emphasizing with her voice, what was already done with her words, was the problem.
I have to admit my strings were tugged by little Waldo, but I’m a sucker for sensitive little boys.

Thanks for the congrats on the Australian elections. Albo did even better than we had hoped for, and Australian Labor can rule in his own right and doesn’t need the help of minor party. Pity about the Brits.

We Do Not Part was a difficult book to review, but like Kyunghain in the snowstorm, I plowed on.

>52 kjuliff: I like the part where you say you experienced the book as a series of black and white photographs. It was that kind of book.

>52 kjuliff: A lovely review. Thanks, I enjoyed reading it.

>52 kjuliff: Your review is so poetic and superb Kate. Thank you for sharing with us.

>52 kjuliff: Fabulous review of We Do Not Part, Kate. I'll have to get around to reading it soon.

>53 RidgewayGirl:, >54 rasdhar:, >55 JoeB1934:, >56 kidzdoc: thank you so much for your feedback. It means a lot to me that people actually read my reviews, so your compliments means a lot.

I found We Do Not Part to be difficult book to review - partly because of the structure and partly because it is so visual. I will remember this book as a set of scenes, scenes I will remember for a long time.

Really good review, Kate. We Do Not Part sounds like something I want to read. It’s on the list now. The only thing I have to decide is purchase or borrow. I really liked The Vegetarian when I read it some years ago so I’m leaning toward purchase.

>58 Fourpawz2: I purchased it and think it’s worth a purchase. There’s so much in it that I want t to read certain parts again. From reading your reviews I think you’d like it a lot.

I’m currently reading at metoo book. It’s told from the points of view of the victim, the accused, and accused’s wife. I wonder why there have not been more books written on this phenomenon/movement. It’s called Service and is set in Ireland, mostly in a restaurant where the accused was a celebrity chef and a victim a server.

It’s not a great book, but it’s a short read and I picked it up as I needed something more punchy than Stone Yard Devotional which I put aside for now.

>59 kjuliff: I think I will take your advice, Kate, and buy it. I’ve still got a gift card from last Christmas (and a partial gift card from the previous year) that I will use the next time I am in the neighborhood of Barnes & Noble.

Another congrats. This time to Romania.
Nicuşor Dan, 55, a quietly-spoken mathematician who has been the capital’s independent mayor since 2020, came from behind to win after losing heavily to Simion, a brash, EU-critical Trump admirer who had wanted to halt aid to Ukraine, in the first round.
-Guardian 5/19
Romania election: EU breathes sigh of relief after Dan defeats far-right rival

I’ve just finished Service by Sarah Gilmartin I checked LT’s Community for other members who may have read Service, but none of the members I interact with are listed in the book’s Interesting Libraries or Friends. It seems that this book has been overlooked probably because the Me Too movement has lost its buzz.

But it’s still happening sisters.

Nice review, Kate.

>64 labfs39: Thanks, Lisa. I was surprised that it hadn’t got more press it’s well told and I like the idea of the three people involved in the story, telling it from their point of view.I know it’s been done a lot, but I found Service to be special.

I’ve just finished reading Stone Yard Devotional and although I’m not particularly interested in books about faith, I found Stone Yard to be soothing and something about it held me. This could’ve been because of my mood, which has been one of depression and I’ve been physically ill, but as it turned out, it was just the book for me at this time.

I intend to review it later. Meantime I will start Donal Ryan’s Heart be at Peace. I am in need some Irish sentimentality.

>63 kjuliff: Well written review, Kate. An author to keep an eye on.

I read Stone Yard Devotional when I was feeling poorly, and although I wasn’t excited when it came off hold, I ended up enjoying it. I felt it to be soothing. The right book for the right time.

Another nice review, Kate

>69 labfs39: Thanks Lisa. Here’s I review about a book I won’t be recommending.

I was disappointed with Heart be at Peace as as I’ve enjoyed previous books by Donal Ryan. It’s not misery porn, but …

>68 kjuliff: Great review, Kate. I have Stone Yard Devotional on my shelves, looking forward to it.

I jut finished The Art Thief by Michael Finkel , a short book which I enjoyed and I will review later. It’s a book that tells you more than the story of the thief Stéphane Breitwieser. This non-fiction book includes a lot of interesting information about art and theft. One fact I found interesting is that the only other type of thief who enjoys stealing for the sake of it, and who is selective about the type of object they steal, is the biblioklept.

I had to take a break from McCann’s Everything in This Country Must as it’s just so bloody sad. Overwhelmed I took a break read the short The Art Thief which I’ve yet to review. Meanwhile I’m re-reading Justine which I last read many years ago. I’d forgotten how good a writer Durrell is and how important his Alexandrian Quartet was in the development of modern fiction. It’s a little heavy, but I’m going to plunge through it and I hope I don’t get too maudlin, thinking back to those days of my youth and first loves when I first read it.

I’m currently reading a light novel along with two deeper ones.. I still haven’t gotten over Everything in this Country Must by Colum McCann. It is so unbearably sad. So along with other books, I’m reading Hostage by Clare Macintosh which is turning out to be a very enjoyable and suspenseful light read.

Here’s my review of The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession, a perfect book for those in need of a short well-written book that will take their minds off the news.

I’m just finished reading I really badly written book. I was looking for a light beach, Reade and so had low expectations. However, as it went on, it became worse and the ending, inexplicable and annoying. It wasn’t the sort of ending that left the reader wondering. It was just a confusing set of sentences.

I had to read the last few sentences several times trying to work out what was actually meant and I started to worry about my cognitive ability, so I googled and found that I was not the only one that found the last few lines, ridiculous meaningless, contradictory, and annoying. The name of the book is Hostage
by Clare Mackintosh. I haven’t decided whether to spend time reviewing it.

>78 kjuliff: Nice review of a bad book, Kate.

>79 kidzdoc: Thanks Darryl.

>78 kjuliff: Book sounds terrible but your review was fun to read. I think I do the same as you - airport reads when I'm out of sorts. And it often ends badly! I like your idea of short stories by loved authors instead.

>81 kjuliff: Loved your review of Everything in this Country Must. You know, it's such a moving book. Even the line in the first story which gives this collection the title is such a punch.

>82 rasdhar: Thank you Rasdhar. I went back to find that last line, the book’s title, Everything in this Country Must. It affected me at the time too. It needs the story’s build up of sorrow, but still,

I was wearing Stevie’s jacket, but I was shivering and wet and cold and scared because Stevie and the draft horse were going to die since everything in this country must.

>82 rasdhar: Well I started with Henry Lawson for my short stories today. Some are set around the turn of the 20th century, and they are more like yarns than your conventional short story. Some are quite amusing but I will wait until I’ve read a few before I recommend which collection to recommend. Reading them feels really odd, like I’ve gone back to my early childhood in Australia because some of the colloquialisms are no longer in use.

The Silence of the Choir by Mohamed Sarr

Copyright Shutterstock - The novel’s setting

>85 kjuliff: Fabulous review, Kate! I'll add this to my library wish list.

>85 kjuliff: Oh adding that to my wish list - sounds interesting.

>86 kidzdoc: >87 AlisonY: thanks for the feed back. North America, Europe and Australia/NZ have to face up to the inevitability of current mass migration. On reading the book it occurred to me that future generations will look back on this phenomenon of mass-migration as a chapter in world history. A chapter that was handled badly by the white nations.

I’ve being rather quiet lately, largely due to a number of medical appointments and thinking ability to find a good book to read.

I find it interesting that so many doctors avoid giving hard facts to their patients. Last week I texted my ophthalmologist asking what my visual acuity was . She replied Left 20:50 Right count fingers. I’ve been seeing her for eight years and not once as she told me. She has of course, told me I’m legally blind, but I’d like to know details. And progress, or lack of.

It wasn’t so much that I was surprised at the results, but she had not told me years ago.

Fortunately, AI has given me the opportunity to keep reading, and currently I’m interested in looking at the app “Speachify” where you can read printed books by having AI speak them to you. The quality of AI speech has improved so much that it is possible thanI’ll be able to read books that are not available on audio. This would make a huge difference to the range of books I could read.

I can’t imagine what it would be like to have been legally blind, even as late as 15 years ago. The range and quality of audiobooks has increased rapidly and will continue to do so.

Meanwhile ChatGPT is helping me adjust coor filters on my iPad as I can no longer see black text on blue background, or the difference between green and black.

>90 kjuliff: I'm glad you are leveraging new technologies to help you access books. I hope AI opens up more of the print world to you.

Is the inability to identify certain colors an expected decline in your vision? Or is it something new and unexpected?

>91 labfs39: The. color blindness is a symptom of the latter stages of the disease (Vitelliform macular dystrophy . I first noticed it a year or so back when I was suddenly unable to distinguish between black and green squares on Wordle. It wasn’t bad enough so that I couldn’t do the puzzle, but it made me have to think - this green or is this black - in order proceed. This new black-blue thing it’s really annoying . I can’t read the text on buttons that are blue with black writing at all.

ETA - ChatGPT stepping me through different settings in iOS to try to get a combination that will help me distinguish black fr dark blue without messing up other colours. It’s a long process so far not perfected

>93 kjuliff: I liked this even more than you, Kate. It's one of those books I think of as cozy. Not great literature, but they make me feel good when I read them. Others include Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, A Guide to the Birds of East Africa, Mrs. Tim and others of that ilk.

>94 labfs39: Major Pettigres is not only a favv book, but one of my favorite book covers

>94 labfs39: >95 cindydavid4: A big YES. I started Major Pettigrew's Last Stand ,last night and I am hooked. Helen Simonson reminds me of Jane Gardam without the edge.

>96 kjuliff: Sometimes cozy is just what I need in this crazy world.

>97 labfs39: Yes, cozy is what I need now. I’m having a bad spell. A few of my Australian friends have canceled planned trips to New York because of immigration problems they’ve heard/read about. i’m sure many of the negative experiences are exaggerated, by the press some do happen for sure.

>98 kjuliff: I'm sorry to hear that for your sake, Kate, although I understand their fears. There is just so much uncertainty about life in the US right now, especially for foreigners. In Maine, we rely on Canadian visitors in the summer for tourism, a major factor in our economy. So many Canadians are boycotting the US that Maine's economy is being hard hit by this and the tariffs on Canadian goods that come to and through Maine.

>98 kjuliff: I certainly understand the need for cozy myself.
Only Killers and Thieves is proving to be anything but cozy. I have to stop after every chapter to take a breather. I am sure that you will want to read it, but don't rush.

I’m thinking of reading The Correspondent by Virginia Evans It looks interesting and others have given it good reviews. I keep putting it off because epistolatory novels don’t always come across well in audio. Has anyone here listened to it on commercial audio.

>102 kjuliff: I'm glad you enjoyed Major Pettigrew, Kate. Like you, I found its gentleness a balm.

I've read Major Pettigrew and The Summer Before the War and I really liked them both. They both have a quiet vibe and were predictable without being boring.

>103 labfs39: >104 japaul22: Thanks for the comments re my review of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand . Sometimes I wonder if my reviews are read, my thread being so inactive this year.

I’ve gone from a quiet read to an early Mantel novel. I’m only halfway through A change of climate and I’m amazed rhat she wrote so well early in her career. In the beginning of the novel I noticed some structural problems - problems that she herself later commented on. But one these straighten out Mentel’s genius shines through . I’m going to need to read something lighter once I finish this morelly confronting A change of climate.

It's a slow time of year, I think. It's hot in the Northern Hemisphere, people are going on vacations or gardening, CR activity usually fades in summer.

Hi Kate. It seems quiet right now. You’ve been reading some great books, and have one good bashing. I’m interested in everything Mantel. So I’m curious about A Change of Climate.

>84 kjuliff: Enjoyed catching up on your thread after a month away, Kate. I hope the medical appointments are going well.

>85 kjuliff: I appreciated your detailed review of The Silence of the Choir. It's on my list as well.

>93 kjuliff: The Housekeeper and the Professor and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand both sound like pleasant, easy reads.

I just gulped down the correspondentwhich I enjoyed quite a bit. Thankfully this is not a syrupy sweet twee. the narrator is similar to Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge but I think she is much more reader friendly. I found reading the letters natural and they were well organized Id certainlu read a future on by her

>107 dchaikin: A change of climate is a Mantel that i do not have, so eager to read it

I understand the feeling of wondering if anyone is reading your thread - sometimes I'll have a few reviews in a row with no comments and wonder. But then, I know that though I read every Club Read thread religiously, I rarely comment, so I'm sure others are doing the same. This is mainly because I'm often out and about at work or my kids' sports events when I check in on my phone web browser, and it's really not enjoyable to try to type responses on my phone. But I will try to be better about engaging with everyone here!

>111 japaul22: Thank you Jennifer,
I’m glad I’m not the only one who sometimes feels that no one is reading my reviews. With me it’s because of an insecurity I’ve battled with all my life. When I saw there was an “ignore posts” section. I just assumed my posts were in there. Seriously. Pathetic, I know.

>107 dchaikin: >110 cindydavid4: I’ve just finished A change of climate and I highly recommend it. Dan, one of the two central characters has his life changed when his authoritarian father prevents him from studying geology. If you do read A change in climate you will surely appreciate your own father ;-) when you read about young Ralph discovering his first fossil on a remote English beach. A discovery which sparks in him a fascination about this discipline and what it tells us of early life on earth.

ETA the narration by Sandra Duncan in the audio version is excellent. I must watch out for her when choosing other English novels.

>109 cindydavid4: Thanks Cindy. I’ve borrowed The Correspondent and am trying to decide whether to read it now or you read another Mantel book that’s become available.

>106 labfs39: Thanks Lisa. Yes I realise people are busy but I was thinking more of my own page being quiet. I’m a bit neurotic to say the least, and was imagining CR members putting me in into “ignore” section.

>108 rasdhar: Thanks Rasdhar. I am sure you will enjoy The Silence of the Choir. It’s a thoughtful read on an issue that’s not going away despite the reactions of Wesrern governments.

>112 kjuliff: son of a geology hater! Noting. My own father is crazy but never prevented me from anything.

Adding myself to the list of people who read others' threads and enjoy them, but typically don't comment. Also, I empathise with you about doctors who don't keep their patients informed.

Sometimes I catch up on threads in odd places, on my phone and, like Lisa, don't like to comment from my phone, but I'll make an effort. I do enjoy your reviews, Kate, and you've introduced me to several books and authors I've really enjoyed and you often give me a different angle to look at a book I've read.

>119 kjuliff: Excellent review. I really do need to dive into Mantel's earlier works.

>119 kjuliff: I sure need to add this book to my reading list. It fits so well in the saga style I love.

>119 kjuliff: I hadn't even heard of this Mantel book, until you mentioned you were reading it. I enjoyed the Wolf Hall trilogy so much, I really need to get to her other works. I already own her memoir, a collection of short stories, and Place of Greater Safety.

her memoir excellent, Pogs is her first novel and it shows, but if you have some background of the time and characters you should be fine, Im glad I read it

>123 cindydavid4: i’ve never heard of Pog, but my son was called Pog till he was 2 1/2, when he told us his name was now “Mister Pog”. I can’t remember why/where he got that baby name but he’ll still automatically answer to it. Pog I mean, without the Mister.

Back to Mantel I really enjoyed Eight Months on Ghazzah Street.

I’m now reading Crooked Cross by Sally Carson Sally Carson was an English author who wrote the book in 1934. It foretold the rise of the Nazis Germany. It was lost for many years and was republished in April 2025 by Persephone Books. Carson spent a vacation in Bavaria in 1933 and started the book while there. . She died in England in 1940.

It’s really interesting reading a story written by a contemporary of Hitler’s rise to power.

>125 kjuliff: That sounds interesting, Kate. I'll look forward to your review. I need to keep Persephone Books on my radar.

>126 labfs39: It’s extremely interesting, particularly as it was written in 1933. It shows the reactions of a young woman who was in Bavaria at the time of Hitler’s rise to power. As Ms Carson was ill for some time and died in 1941 her story is not influenced by post WWII accounts.

This Monday I may be having a biopsy on the skin just below my “good” eye which has acuity of 20:60; my other eye acuity being “count fingers”. Hopefully I’ll still be able to read enough to use my iPad while the lesion heals. And of course hopefully the results will show that it’s benign.

>127 kjuliff: Goodness, Kate, you can't catch a break. I hope everything goes smoothly and benignly. Keep us posted.

>125 kjuliff: I very much enjoy reading books actually written just before or even during WW2, both fiction and histories/current events. This one looks very good.

All best wishes for that biopsy.

>129 rocketjk: Thanks Jerry . I’m a bit freaked out about the biopsy because of its position .

Crooked Cross is turning out to be a very good. read. But it is very depressing, and in a way more so than books about the camps themselves, and that’s because of how Sally Carson depicts the mindsets of the German youth in 1933. The men in particular are portrayed as being happy and excited to join Hitler’s Brown Shirts. I had assumed that many were forced by community pressure and fear. It’s a pity that this novel was lost for so many years.

>127 kjuliff: Kate, best wishes for the biopsy, hope all goes well.

>132 kjuliff: An interesting review: especially as the book seems to be both, unflinching yet with that 'syrupy' vibe. I'm adding it to the TBR.

>127 kjuliff: oh no, hope the procedure is easy and hope all is benignj. keep us posted

>132 kjuliff: Very good review of Crooked Cross, Kate.

I hope that today's biopsy goes well.

>132 kjuliff: Good review, Kate.

>132 kjuliff: Great review. Thanks!

Wishing you well, Kate. Terrific and fascinating reviews both of A Change of Climate and Crooked Cross.

>136 labfs39:, >137 rocketjk:, >138 dchaikin:, >135 kidzdoc:, >133 rasdhar: Thanks for the encouraging responses. I had trouble reviewing both Crooked Cross and A Change of Climate. The endings were important in both of the books, yet there was no way of discussing them without spoiling the books for new readers.

Although the literary value of Crooked Cross was not up to that of Mantel, I found it was saying something in a new and up-front way. Many people do not want to acknowledge the almost inherent antisemitism of preWWII Europe, but it most certainly existed, and on a greater scale than many refuse to believe.

English writer Sally Carlson was most definitely silenced. I do hope the next two books of her trilogy get published.

Well, I’ve had the biopsy but the news is not as bad as I feared. Although there’s a 30 to 40% of it being cancer, it will be type of cancer that is not likely to spread to other organs. It’s not melanoma. But it’s on my lower eyelid of my “good” (20:60) eye so it’s vital for it to be dealt with for my vision.

Doctors here are on full alert when they find out I’m Australian. Australia has the largest number of melanoma cases per capita. When I was growing up we spent every minute we could in the sun. Nowadays, all Australians school children are required to wear hats when outside. I have photos of my own kids sitting in the sand in the full sun at Jan Juc beach where we would spend hours.

That’s really encouraging! And interesting about Australians.

>140 kjuliff: That is hopeful news. I hope it's removal goes smoothly.

>140 kjuliff: Terrific news, hang in there.

>140 kjuliff: That is encouraging news, Kate.

>139 kjuliff: "Many people do not want to acknowledge the almost inherent antisemitism of preWWII Europe, but it most certainly existed, and on a greater scale than many refuse to believe."

Antisemitism in Europe, of course, goes back much further than the preWWII era, of course. The full context is more like 1,500 years' worth. But for a book focusing in the relatively immediately pre-war decades, possibly this book would be enlightening: Europe Against the Jews, 1880-1945 by Götz Aly. (I say "possibly" because I haven't read the book, I've only noted it in bookstores, but the author is clearly an authority on the subject and the reviews I've found have praised the book's scholarship and overall quality.)

For example: https://www.hnn.us/article/gtz-aly-digging-into-historical-archives-he-pieces

Super glad to read your encouraging news about your biopsy.

>145 rocketjk: I’m fully aware that antisemitism existed for centuries prior to World War II, but the book in question was set in 1933 Germany and my remark referred to the time of Hitler’s rise to power.

Of course the term “pre-World War II” covers the years before World War II, so that 1600 is as much pre-WWII as is 1231 for example. I will try to be more clear in the future.

I want to make it clear that I’m fully aware that antisemitism existed for centuries before WWII and continues to exist including SE Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Australia, and the USA. However it takes different forms in different times and places, and I was commenting on a book written by an English Gentile visiting Bavaria in 1933.

>146 kjuliff: Oh, of course. I was sure you knew all that history. The person writing in an "unclear" fashion was I, not you.

The real source of my reaction was the fact that the Holocaust is considered by many to be an aberration rather than an extreme case of a centuries-long situation is an irritant to me (for example, Isabel Wilkerson's treatment of it in Caste).

I personally would think of "pre-WW2 Europe" as being the era immediately preceding WW2, relatively speaking. But regardless, my comment was really addressed to those same people you were referring to who "do not want to acknowledge" the depth and breadth of antisemitism over the course of European history. So, again, it was I who was unclear. Otherwise, we are entirely on the same page, as it were.

>147 rocketjk: Thanks Jerry, yes we areusually on the same page, but this time managed to confuse each other. :)

>140 kjuliff: That's good news, for sure. I'm glad the doctors are eager to deal with it quickly and I hope all future procedures are relatively pain-free.

>132 kjuliff: Excellent review. I think we're seeing people with the same attitude as Alexa's everyday in news articles about people who voted for Trump and yet have undocumented loved ones. And often after their spouse is taken away, they express confusion but no lessening in their belief that Trump is right. It's as inexplicable now as it was then.

>149 RidgewayGirl: Yes, it’s hard to understand the mindset of such people. They insist on making excuses. It’s very similar to people in cults. I had a close relative who joined a racist cult and I refused to have contact with him until he saw reason, which he eventually did. We have to stand up to such people otherwise we are condoning them. Then if so much of society gets contaminated, the few left who oppose the bigots are too scared to speak out.

Well it’s squamous cell carcinoma. I saw the result on my hospital’s portal. The doctor hasn’t called yet and it looks like he hasn’t open to report. I suppose he will not call till he’s read the whole technical details and they have the course of action.

>151 kjuliff: Cynthia had quite a large number of cancerous cells removed from her face, including near the eye. Some of these were performed using Mohs surgery. It removes the minimal amount of skin. When you hear from the doctor see if they suggest that.

I should mention that not every skin specialist can do a Mohs. The one Cynthia used had spent several years learning how to do it and only does these. Usually as a referral from a physician who isn't qualified.

>152 JoeB1934: thanks for that information Joe. The doctor discussed what I’d have to have done if the results were positive, when I was in there, and he talked about having some sort of plastic surgery so it didn’t look too bad after they removed it . It’s very close to my eyelashes so I’m a bit worried but I I know I’ll be OK. I’ll ask about Mohs when I next see the doctor.

I still have not heard back from the dermatologist. It notes on the lab results that the care team hasn’t read them yet. But seeing it is cancer I’m thinking of calling to ask when I’m likely to hear from him. Maybe I should ask my pcp? I do hope he reads the report by the weekend. I do know that it will. need 3 hours for removal.

Definitely you should call. Wish you well on this.

>154 kjuliff: Wish you all the best Kate. I am thinking of you.

Good luck, Kate. I hope you hear back today. It must be nerve-wracking to wait for information.

>157 labfs39: the test section on the patient board says that the doctor hasn’t looked at the results yet. It’s making me lack confidence in him.

Medical care is maddeningly slow. I would call.

>159 japaul22: >155 dchaikin: >157 labfs39: I called today about an hour ago. The wait time was 144 minutes, so I messaged the doctor and my primary care doctor. The PCP answered by phone almost immediately, and was horrified that I had not heard at all. She personally messaged the dermatologist and his supervisor. She apologied on behalf of the hospital and said it was not normal practice to advise a patient of cancer by portal. So I’ll wait and see.

My PMC doctor contacted the dermatologist and he has called me now and I’ll hear next week when they can schedule me for the surgery. Thanks everybody for your kind thoughts

>161 kjuliff: glad you have it scheduled!

>160 kjuliff: I'm glad it was a human mistake and not planned callousness!

Oh dear, fingers crossed for a swift and successful surgery. I know they're snowed under and they do their best, but having to chase people up like this, especially when you're unwell, is terrible.

>155 dchaikin: id call; they shouldnt leave you hanging like this, so unprofessional and unkind. am glad tho that they have found the problem. hope they can answer your questions quickly; you deserve it

(ive been off line with computer issues so my responses are late, my apologies)

>160 kjuliff: yeah for a dr who cares about their patients!

Yes but for my PCP I’d still be waiting. Today. the surgeon called me for an appointment to. check me out and schedule the surgery.

Lucky I was proactive or nothing would be happening. Thanks to NY governor Kathy Hochul, who was instrumental in securing granting patients the right to be informed of their test results in a timely fashion.

I saw the surgeon today for the squamous under my eye. I’m sure he’s technically wonderful but he’s one of those men who talk over the top of women. He asked me a question and I barely got two words out of my mouth and he started talking about the procedure before I explained an important part of the answer to HIS question.

Then he described how they get the skin to cover up where the lesion was and he just wrote it on his blue surgical glove. I explained that I can’t see anything written on blue in black so he said you need to put on your reading glasses. I tried to explain it doesn’t matter I can’t see on blue backgrounds why not write white paper and,he gave a sigh as if stupid old woman.

The whole thing sounds horrific. He told me I have to bring my own oxygen.

I’m thinking I won’t have it done because it goes very slowly that sort of cancer.

>168 kjuliff: Sounds like a real jerk for a doctor. Cynthia had several of these cells and the key decision point was always the speed that it is growing. One of hers was so fast that that they sent her to a doctor who could get her in within days. Others she just watched and in coordination with her dermatologist they decided to proceed.

Assuming that your regular dermatologist is reasonable I would contact her and express those fears and get her advice on waiting to do the operation.

Here, I am assuming the dermatologist is female!

>169 JoeB1934: the dermatologist and the surgeon are both male. The surgeon is probably a good surgeon technically so it doesn’t really matter how he interacted me. I’m used to men interrupting me being a woman, but I think I really won’t get it done I’ve had so many problems with surgery and doctors and I always say never again.

I hate being treated like that. I hope you can at least get all the information you need to make an informed decision.

>170 kjuliff: It is widely recognized that surgeons in all forms are very difficult to deal with. Like you say he is probably very competent with the scalpel, but bad with human interactions. I would still encourage you to have a conversation with the dermatologist about your concerns.

>171 labfs39: yes I have all the information. I’d already read up about the procedure and he’s using the latest method. I really don’t think it’s worth it. I would have my good eye covered for weeks, and the other eye can’t see much at all. The acuity is measured by how many fingers I can see. I wouldn’t be able to choose books to read, and I’d have trouble opening the apps.

The skin graft is quite extensive. It’s that that turns me off. That and living with no sight. I’d just have to lie in silence except foot hearing the NYC traffic for 6 weeks. That’s the problem with non-holistic medicine. It doesn’t look at the problem in context with the other things that one has wrong. All the doctors involved just assumed that I would have the surgery.

>173 kjuliff: I agree with the failure of so many Western medicine practitioners to consider the person in situ. I think that tendency is exacerbated by the American insurance system. My dad just had two cataract surgeries in the last two weeks, and I took him to the second one. It was like an assembly line. He got good results, so the surgeon must have been competent, but it was a dehumanizing experience. And when my mother went for her physical last week, the dr told her it was her last mammogram. She pushed back, and the dr sighed and said the insurance companies require them to say that, but actually the insurance company will continue to pay for five more years.

>174 labfs39: lucky your dad‘s cataract surgery went well. Two of my friends recently had it and I don’t understand why but they still can’t see properly and they’ve got a host of associated problems. In America cataract surgery is done by a computer. The two people I know who had big problems with cataract surgery were in Australia and..

But overall, I haven’t had good surgeries or good experiences with procedures here and so I’m thinking of not having any more at all. The idea of me not being able to listen to a book for six weeks is ridiculou. And for what? Since Joan Rivers died a few houses down from my condo, when she was only having an endoscopy, I’ve been wary of these little clinics..My surgery is in a clinic associated with Mount Sinai, but they still told me “bring your own oxygen” which rattled me somewhat.

>172 JoeB1934: I wasn’t too happy with the dermatologist I’ve more or less decided to leave it. I’ve had such bad experiences with doctors here and in Australia that I don’t want them messing around with anything else on my body.. I’ll just cancel the procedure on Monday when I’ve given it some more thought. I live alone and I would be completely blind with bandage on my good eye and I just couldn’t cope with that - plus what could I do in that time? I couldn’t watch anything I couldn’t look up and download books. So I think it would be inappropriate for me to do it at this stage of my life.

Kate, I don't think it's at all unreasonable to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of getting the surgery and deciding against it. You are the only person who can decide what's best for you. I'm sorry you don't have access to a gerontologist to talk you through this choice. My father has been lucky enough to have found one and having a doctor who can explain things and make decisions with him has enhanced his life. Not the least, just having a doctor who doesn't address his comments to me or speak to my Dad as though he were both not bright and hard of hearing (he is neither of those things).

>177 RidgewayGirl: Thanks Kay. I actually do have a gerontologist, but only two weeks ago had my first visit with her_ After reading your post I messaged her about prioritizing things. She had referred me to the dermatologist and seemed just to think I would have surgery, but that was before she had any details about it.

When I came to New York, I really thought I’d have the best doctors. But not so. Some practices seem a little primitive to me, but maybe it’s just the rough and ready culture. For example, a surgeon in Australia would never ask you to bring your own oxygen for a procedure. Or write diagrams of a skin graft on the surgical glove he was wearing.

The comment to bring your own oxygen is so bizarre to me. It would have made me uncomfortable too.

Unfortunately my mom's trip to the eye doctor yesterday didn't go so well. She has had monocular vision her whole life, so the optometrist said surgeons will be reluctant to operate on her cataract at this point because it's on her good eye. She will go for further testing to see if she has macular degeneration, which her brother had.

>173 kjuliff: I should have known you well enough to realize that you have done all you need to do to make this personal decision. Your skills in analyzing a book shows what you would do in a personal decision like this one.

Thank you for sharing with us like you do in your reviews.

>179 labfs39: I understand te surgeon would be reluctant in your mother’s case. It’s the reason I have not had a cataract removed from my good eye. Macular degeneration appears to run in families. I have a retinal disease similar to age related macular degeneration and mine is definitely genetic, I do hope your mother doesn’t have AMD. Do you have the Amsler grid for her to detect vision changes?

Kate - nothing to add, just wishing you well. It sounds like a difficult decision to me.

No, but I will get one for her. Good idea

>183 labfs39: I have mine taped on the inside of one of the bathroom cabinets.

I’ve decided to get a referral to a bigger place at place because I don’t like the idea of a clinic not having any oxygen. Not just for people like me but for anyone as it’s quite possible someone could need oxygen for a heart attack or another anticipated complication.

>182 dchaikin: I’ll try to find a better surgery. Ever since Joan Rivers died in a small clinic after a routine endoscopy, in my street I’ve been wary of those specialist clinics. Rivers had to be rushed to Mount Sinai hospital but it was too late. She was such a great comedian. She died from lack of oxygen. Probably it didn’t occur to her that she needed to bring her own!

For the life of me I can't imagine why the surgeon would insist that you bring your own oxygen. Isn't there an anesthesiologist or an anesthesiology advanced practice provider that would be present during the procedure?!

A referral to a larger center sounds like a wise idea.

>182 dchaikin: I’ll try to find a better surgery. Ever since Joan Rivers died in a small clinic in my street I’ve been weary of those specialist clinics. Rivers had to be rushed to Mount Sinai hospital but it was too late. She was such a great comedian.

It makes you wonder what other equipment they don’t have if they expect patients in for surgery to bring their own oxygen

>186 kidzdoc: Thanks Daryl, I will do just that.