Tess Has No Rhyme or Reason Part II

Hello, my name is Tess. I’m once retired, but now a working part-time history professor. In my spare time I read, grow food, and can food. I also love on my children (2 boys ages 45 & 46) and 7 grandchildren (ages 7-25). Besides homesteading I like to READ and travel! I read historical fiction, history, and the classics 80% of the time. I am not that creative, hence no categories. I also can not function within any reading parameters, so I don’t’ create my own CATS. For the 2025 challenge, I will just keep a record of my reads by month and one of my favorite recipes for that month. I will participate in Cats/Kits when what I’m reading for the month fits!

My reading year is December 25 through December 24th--so I can start reading new Christmas books right away!

Number of books on TBR on Dec. 25, 2024:399

P.S. Some of the pics are mine, some are not--I usually don't take pics of my food! However, ALL of the recipes are mine, tried and true for many years.

Hosting Duties:
January Nature Kit Sheep and Shepherding
January RTT Look to the Heavens
March Cover Cat farm animals
March SciFi/Fantasy Kit Magical realism
April Scaredy Kit Arachnids, Insects, & Reptilia
September Random Kit
October Scaredy Kit Gothic
November Mystery Kit Psychological mysteries/thrillers
December Color Cat purple

Paul's 75 Group Reads
January : Prelude - Europe in the 19th Century (European Literature of the 19th Century) The Kill by Emile Zola

February : The Journey Begins - A Wider Scandinavia (Books by authors from Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland) Something by Hans C. Andersen or Smilla's Sense of Snow

March : Into the Red Zone - Books from authors from Countries which were part of the Warsaw Pact) Hadji Murad Tolstoy

April : Scimitar and Cross - Books from authors from European Countries within the Ottoman Empire Chronicle in Stone Ismail Kadare

May : Interlude - Non National Languages - Books originally written in European languages that are not tied to a particular nation i.e. Yiddish, Regional languages such as Catalan, French, Spanish and Portuguese outside their borders including Latin America, Africa etc) The Stories of Tevye the Dairyman by Sholom Aleichem

June : Caesar to Meloni - Books written originally in Latin or Italian. The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri

July : The Germanic World - Books written by authors writing in German from Germany, Austria, Switzerland The Second Rider (Europa International Mysteries and Crime) by Alex Beer

August : Anita Fameulstee Memorial Month - Books by authors from the Benelux countries (Netherlands, Belgium. Luxembourg) The Discomfort of Evening by Lucas Rijneveld

September : Interlude #2 - Books About Places in Europe (Travel, Non-fiction) Bill Bryson.........

October : La Belle France - Books by Authors from France Emile Zola

November : The Iberian Peninsula - Books by Spanish authors The Time In Between

December : Welcome Back to the Future - Translated Literature in the 21st Century A General Theory of Oblivion Trans from Portuguese

75 Non-Fiction Reads
January-Lesser known prize winners V13 Niche Market Newspaper of the Year Award (2024)
February-Cartography Maphead by Ken Jennings
March Espionage and Counterespionage The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix
April Revolutions Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death by Patrick Henry
May Modern China (since 1911) The Last Manchu Paul Kramer
June Natural Disasters A Furious Sky by Eric Dolan
July Fish and Fishing What a Fish Knows by : Jonathan Balcombe
August Movies, Movies, Movies - books about the making of movies, the movies themselves, women in the movies, and even biographies of movie stars, so yes, Mommie Dearest would work here as would Barbara Streisand's tome. Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder by William Shatner
September Transportation Ghost Road by Anthony Townsend
October bibliophilia limit it to those who love to read or collect books. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
November Holidays and Cultural Events The Magi: Who They Were, How They’ve Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate
December-As You Like It TBD

AOTM Reads

RTT Quarterly Reads
Jan-March Renaissance A Chaste Maid in Cheapside
April-June 17th Century The Suitors of Yvonne Crow Hollow
July-September 18th Century Maria or the Wrongs of Woman
October-December Napoleonic Era A Place of Greater Safety

Zola Reads
January 2025 The Kill
March 2025 Money
May 2025 The Dream
July 2025 The Conquest of Plassans
September 2025 The Ladies of Paradise/The Ladies Delight
November 2025 Pot Luck

Well, I have definitely fizzled out already on the Kits, Cats, and Dog! I've even fizzled on my own cats! I try to read 1 non-fiction monthly, my Zola every other month, and keep up with the century of the quarter over in the Reading Thru Time group, but other than that, I just read what I wanna when I wanna! So........I will just keep posting what I read. A kit or cat may spark something that I would like to read.........

63. The Dream by Emile Zola This is the May read, but I just finished another book and thought I would begin. It seemed to read quicker than some of the others, but it is absolutely nothing like any other Zola I have read. This book is deeply esoteric and dreamlike—quite a departure from what I’m used to with Zola. Normally, he delves into the gritty, ruthless machinations of the morally bankrupt. But Angélique feels almost ethereal, with the title character portrayed as a near-saint, having visions of vestal virgins and martyrs. And the embroidery! My goodness—the intricate descriptions of threads, beads, and tapestry borders on obsessive. At times, I honestly couldn’t tell if I was reading about a piece of needlework or being given a history lesson. Zola even gives Dickens a run for his money in the detail department! Still stunned by Zola's departure from his "norm." 250 pages 3-stars

>3 Tess_W: - I'm sort-of where you are now. I was going to try and cut back on Cats & Kits this year and found I was still posting an "anticipated" read when the threads came out each month although I wasn't reading them. I decided at the end of March to just keep up with the AlphaKit and my book club read and then read what I want.

64. Hitler's Last Days by Bill O'Reilly Another winner from O'Reilly. As not much is actually verifiable about Hitler's last days, more of the book is about others and their proximity to Hitler: Generals Bradley, Montgomery, Patton, Keitel, etc. Good information on Eva Braun. Well rounded research. 320 pages 4.5 stars

>3 Tess_W: I've also fizzled out on the CATs and KITs, and some of my own categories are a bit sparse. The BingoDOG has stalled for now, probably because there are a few squares I know I won't fill so I've lost momentum.

Happy New Thread
>6 Tess_W: I have several Bill O'Reilly books in my collection, but have yet to read one.

Happy New Thread, Tess! I will be falling short of my goals for various CATs and KITs, too, this year. Staying away from home cuts into my reading.

>8 lowelibrary: I've either read or have every single one on my TBR pile. I really like his writing style and subject matter.

>9 MissWatson: But away from home can also be a good thing!

I do hope you will continue to post Tess, I think that like with a lot of other things these days we just went too far. It seems to be the way we all live...overextended and consequently dissatisfied. I've dropped back with the obligations and am enjoying what I read more. I do enjoy the Color CAT and Cover CAT because it's been easy to find something I want to read, but I don't feel obligated.

Sorry, got two, tried to delete one but so far it's still with us!

>10 Tess_W: Which one do you recommend starting with?

>14 lowelibrary: depends on what you are interested in. I read Killing Kennedy first and that's what got me hooked. Among my favs, Killing Patton, Killing Lincoln, and Killing Reagan. But I'm a history prof, so my taste might vary greatly from yours!

I will keep posting....thank you!

>16 Tess_W: I am sure I will be around to celebrate with you.

>16 Tess_W: This is too true for me as well.

April Summary:
Books read-8 (yikes! I was on a cruise and did no reading there!)

Cheers: (4 stars or more)
Crow Hollow by Michael Wallace

Jeers (less than 3 stars)
No Home for Killers by E A Aymar
Chronicle in Stone by Ismail Kadare

Here's to more abundant and better reading in May!

May must reads:
The Dream by Emile Zola

65. Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser This was a NF read that examined the darker side of fast food. Although written in 2004, it was very prescient. The most interesting were the procedures and methods within the slaughter house (not for the squeamish) and how the companies failed to take care of their employees-not a surprise there! Some of the data could be tedious, but was probably necessary. This was a re-read (2005-2010) to get off the shelf and out of the house! 384 pages 3.5 stars

66. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli Machiavelli was a 16th century philosopher, nobleman, historian, author; a real Renaissance Man! He is best remembered for this work, which was published posthumously. His thesis: the ends justify the means. The end: leaders should appear righteous, honest, etc. However, the getting to "the end", is problematic. I think before the term was coined, "collateral damage" could be applied to Machiavelli's methods. Read this again because am going to use in the fall when I teach Western Civ I. 114 pages 3.5 stars

67. Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot by Margo Theis Raven This is a longer picture book (ages 9-12) about Lt. Gail Halverson, an American pilot who participated in the Berlin Airlift in 1948-1949. While making his usual deliveries, he also dropped gum and chocolate bars near Templehof Airfield for the children. Nicely done!



P.S. I found a copy of this book at a Friends of the Library sale. It was signed by Lt. Halverson.

Happy new thread, Tess!

Your lack of fizzle is understandable. :) I thought I'd just do a few CATs and KITs and read what I feel like the rest of the time. Then I find myself spending time searching for a book to fit. This may be the first year that I will not be able to complete the Bingo card. I'm ok with that, I just enjoy hanging out here with the group.

>23 VivienneR: TY!

68. The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff One of the authors, a former college professor, argues that American intellectual life has been undermined by misguided cultural ideas—such as excessive overprotection and the harmful belief that one should always trust their feelings. The book also tackles issues like the decline of free speech (suggesting it's now often limited to liberal voices), increasing political polarization, and a growing mental health crisis, where even very young students are being labeled with anxiety, panic disorders, and stress. I agree with much of the book's analysis. However, a friend of mine critiques it as overly broad, suggesting it oversimplifies complex mental health conditions by attributing them too heavily to societal coddling. Ultimately, the authors call for a return to resilience, open inquiry, and intellectual diversity in American culture. 352 pages 4 stars

69. The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton is a work of historical fiction which combines meticulous research with an interesting narrative. It follows the life of Elizabeth (Bess) Fones Winthrop Feake Hallett, a real historical figure who was born into a prominent Puritan family in early 17th-century England and later became one of the early settlers of the American colonies. The novel traces Elizabeth’s journey from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, focusing on her relationships and moral struggles in a rigidly religious and patriarchal society. Those Puritans! 586 pages 5 stars

70. Tevye the Dairyman by Sholom Aleichem This is the book that Fiddler on the Roof is loosely based on. While the film and musical adaptation are romanticized and often sentimental, the original book is much darker in tone. I personally didn’t enjoy it—largely because of the relentless self-deprecating tone that permeates nearly every page.

Though I understand it reflects the harsh realities of Jewish life under Czarist rule in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the repetitive use of phrases like “for a Russian Jew,” “We are God’s chosen people, are we not,” “a Jew must be clever,” “as it says in the Good Book,” and “Jew dogs” became grating. Each of these expressions appears dozens of times, to the point of distraction.

The standout story for me was “Chava,” about Tevye’s eldest daughter who falls in love with a Russian Christian and marries him. Tevye disowns her, and the story ends without reconciliation—just a painful separation.

While I usually enjoy historical fiction and period pieces, this collection didn’t appeal to me overall. 352 pages 2.5 stars

71. The Man Who Loved China by Simon Winchester This biography chronicles the life of Joseph Needham, a British scientist, historian, and sinologist. Needham had his eccentricities including involvement in nudist colonies and an open marriage, which was scandalous in the 1930’s. The author glosses over these points. Needham was a relatively obscure biochemist until he met Lu Gwei-djen, a Chinese scientist who introduced him to the Chinese language and culture. From there, he became an “expert” on all things China. During World War II, he was appointed to lead the Sino-British Science Cooperation Office (SBSCO) in Chongqing, where he spent four years traveling the country and gathering material that would become the foundation for Science and Civilisation in China, a multi-volume work. The central thesis—that China developed major innovations like printing, gunpowder, and paper well before the West—may have been new in the 1950s, but by the 1960s these ideas had entered mainstream education. I found myself waiting for a “big bang” moment, but it never arrived. Surprised that he supported Mao after seeing some of the purges. This book was 60% about Needham and 40% about China. Meh 336 pages 3- stars NF: China after 1911.

72. Killing the Rising Sun by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard is part of the popular "Killing" series. The book chronicles the final months of World War II in the Pacific Theater, focusing on the United States' efforts to defeat Imperial Japan, culminating in the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The book focuses on three main points: 1) the atrocities committed by the Japanese and who was responsible 2) raises questions about the morality of using the atomic bomb 3) how the philosophies of Truman, MacArthur, and Hirohito shaped the direction of the war. Although none of these points were in scholarly depth, there were adequate footnotes and it was a good read. I learned much more than most books about the subject. All of the "Killing" books are better than average. 336 pages 4.5 stars

73. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne I've read this 5-6 times in my lifetime and have enjoyed it each time. I find its timeless themes of shame, punishment, and resilience powerful. Hawthorne, through the narrative, critiques the harsh moralism (and often hypocritical) of the Puritans. 4 stars (each time) RTT: 17th century

Hello Tess! Glad to see you are changing how you are reading books and participating on challenges to what makes sense for you. I hope that you are going to be able to continue your reading with much more joy.

>4 Tess_W: I remember my French professor saying that The Dream by Zola is his gentlest work. I re-read it a few years back and I totally agree with you about the details of the embroidery he describes. How one could spin gold thread in such quantity that was used for church embroidery, and then to have the skill to stitch with it onto the very fine cloth for the vestments, altar cloth, etc. is just mind-boggling. The reverence Agnès has for the work she does was also so very well-described.

74. The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas This is a 17th century historical romance which focuses on the propagation of a black tulip. It's very standard fair--wrongly imprisoned hero and long suffering girlfriend. I find that this book is overly dramatic and lacks character development, as well. Maybe I expected too much from Dumas! 288 pages 3- stars RTT: 17th century

>30 threadnsong: You said it so well, Angelique has such a reverence for her work!

75. Killing the SS by Bill O'Reilly The book is primarily about the post-WWII manhunt for high-ranking SS officers and war criminals such as Adolf Eichmann, Josef Mengele, Klaus Barbie, Franz Stangl, and others. It also briefly touches on Herman Goring and Heinrich Himmler, which were captured rather quickly and who both chose cyanide capsules instead of trials or executions. The authors do not shy away from expressing outrage at the atrocities committed, nor do they try to sanitize the actions of the perpetrators. This isn't an "innocent until proven guilty" historical narrative. Good information on the Mousad as well as Simon Wiesenthal. I listened to this on audio and it again confirmed my thesis: authors should NOT read their own books! While I love O'Reilly's books, not so much his narration--he loses a star! 7 hours 24 minutes (292 pages) 4 stars

76. What is Religion? by Wilhelm Bousset is a 20th century attempt to answer that question. I think Bousset’s intention was to analyze religion from a scholarly viewpoint rather than as a believer. He doesn’t do that well. I’m not saying that Bousset is necessarily wrong in some of his assumptions, I’m saying that by today’s standards his work would be considered ethnocentric and Protestant partial. That being said, I believe his insights into religious experiences and ethics remain valuable. 324 pages 3 stars

77. The Magic Kingdom by Russell Banks is about utopia and obsession. The story is told through the voice of Harley Mann, a man recounting his childhood among a Shaker community in early 20th-century Florida. Nothing really extraordinary happened to Mann, although I think that was not the perspective that the book would like the reader to adopt. The story is "told" through an elderly Mann via a series of tapes. The author might have thought this was unique, however, it just distanced the reader from the book, IMHO. There just wasn't anything to like in this book! Boring! 352 pages 2.5 stars

78. Mary Ingalls on Her Own by Elizabeth Kimmel Willard This is a Little House Sequel which tells of Mary's trip from De Smet, South Dakota territory, to the Iowa School for the Blind and her time at the school. A nice, easy, one-sitting read. 180 pages 4 stars

79. Anna of Kleve by Alison Weir. Anna of Kleve is largely remembered for her brief, six-month marriage to Henry VIII, and understandably, the historical record offers limited material for a full-length novel. This limitation is evident in this book, where Weir fills the gaps with what can only be described as implausible situations—most notably, the suggestion that Anna bore children both before and after her marriage to Henry. These fictional liberties undermine the credibility of the narrative. Compared to Weir’s other works of Tudor historical fiction, this installment proves to be a disappointing departure from her typically well-balanced blend of fact and imagination. 544 pages 3 stars

80. At The Sign of the Sugared Plum by Mary Hooper is a 17th century historical fiction set in London during the Great Plague. Interesting history of the plague carts and all the herbal remedies that were being used. Interesting to note that they were rounding up cats, as they perceived that wherever there were cats, there was the plague! They were not far off in the cause and effect category. Very atmospheric. Written for teens. Ends very abruptly, but there is a second book in the series. 159 pages 4 stars RTT: 17th century

81. The Goddess Abides by Pearl S. Buck. Buck has always been a favorite, especially her Good Earth trilogy. I know that her more "modern" books haven't really been well received. However, I've got to say this book was profound. Buck writes of Edith, a 42 year old widow. Her husband was 40 years her senior. She becomes involved with a man 30 years her senior and also 20 years her junior. Not involved sexually, but emotionally. Edith discovers that her inner-self is not good for either one, nor herself. My favorite quote from the book, "The need for physical love was only a materialization of the spirit's craving for communication. There was no essential difference between flesh and spirit, simply a difference in mode of expression." 188 pages 5 stars

Thank you to those who gave all! Memorial Day 2025

>36 Tess_W: Ooooh! I've often wondered about what Mary's experiences were, and while Laura did describe them I'm glad Willard sat down and created this book. And Mary's story ends with her return to De Smet, which also makes me wonder what kind of life she might have had in a later time or in a larger city.

>41 threadnsong: Yes, one wonders. The only thing we know is that she made fly nets for horses and supplemented the family income. Her parents also bought her an organ (which she learned to play at the school for the blind) which she often played for family gatherings. Her mother gave her the family home in De Smet and a few years later Carrie moved in. We can maybe infer that Carrie's family and Mary lived together, but there is no information on either one.

82. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert is historical fiction about the the Kalaupapa leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka‘i in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The main protagonist is Rachel Kalama, a seven year old who is diagnosed with leprosy and sent to live in isolation on the island of Moloka'i. I think the author portrays the disease and the beauty of Hawaii in general, well. While life on Moloka'i was certainly no picnic, it is nothing like the Biblical portrayal of the leper colonies. I was hoping to get more Father Damien than I did. I liked this book, but not sure that I will read the author's follow up, Daughter of Moloka'i. 400 pages 3.5 stars

83. The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sydney This was a childhood re-read. It did not withstand the test of time well, so very twee. Off the shelf and out the door! 224 pages 3 stars (for nostalgia)

Done for the month of May! My next read is over 950 pages, so I know I won't finish before June 1.

Cheers (books rates 4-5 stars)
The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff
The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton
Killing the Rising Sun by Bill O'Reilly
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Killing the SS by Bill O'Reilly
Mary Ingalls on Her Own by Elizabeth Kimmel Willard
At The Sign of the Sugared Plum by Mary Hooper
The Goddess Abides by Pearl S. Buck

Jeers (books rates 2.5 stars or less)
Tevye the Dairyman by Sholom Aleichem
The Magic Kingdom by Russell Banks

Total books read: 19

What's up for June?
17th century read: Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor It is said this is the British version of Gone with the Wind 976 pages

Boldy Go by William Shatner (NF)

The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri (Italian writer)

Well...I did finish another one in May!

84. The Letter by Kathyrn Hughes Set in both the 1970s and 1930s England, this novel follows the lives of two women—Tina Craig, who is stuck in an abusive marriage in the 1970s, and Chrissie, a young woman in the 1930s facing life-altering consequences after becoming pregnant out of wedlock. The connection between these two women unfolds when Tina discovers an old, unsent love letter in the pocket of a donated suit while volunteering at a charity shop. The story-line and depth of characters makes up for some very basic writing. 394 pages 4.5 stars

And.....another one! It's rained for 5 straight days!

85. Boldly Go by William Shatner This is a book by my favorite Enterprise captain. This is a book of essays written by Shatner which explores his fame, his losses, and mostly, his philosophical musings. I was hoping to get some Star Trek insider information. There was some, but this was not the focus of the book. Shatner's mind is certainly wandering and wondering at age 91! Meh

Looks like you had a great reading month! Rainy weather certainly makes for good reading time. I'm looking forward to your review of Forever Amber.

>48 MissBrangwen: It is great so far--about 100 pages in.

86. The Bridge on the Drina by Ivo Andric is a historical novel that chronicles four centuries of life in the Bosnian town of Višegrad. At the center of town is a real Ottoman era bridge, which spans the river Drina. The bridge sees all: life, death, strife, violence, change, and love. The bridge withstands all. It was challenging for me to read as there is no central character, other than the bridge. The book seemed to be as a series of vignettes. The tone is somber and it can be slow paced. I'm sure much has changed as this was first published in 1977. The bridge would have witnessed much more by now. 314 pages 3 stars

>50 Tess_W: I'm adding this one to my list for when I want to read something about Bosnia for the Global Challenge. Even though it is challenging, I am interested in the idea of a bridge at the centre of the novel.

Oh lookey lookey! They were having a sale at Audible......and Audible books for less than $3, yes please! Since I don't do Thingaversary buys anymore.....I guess this is the substitute!

Foxfire by Anya Seton (Since I loved her The Winthrop Women) (Southwest, Great Depression)
Siege of Bitterns by Steve Burrows Birder Murder Mystery series, book 1 (like I need ANOTHER series!)
Celia Garth by Gwen Bristow Charleston & the Revolutionary War/spies
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel NF, art thief Stephanie Breitwieser
Locked in Time Animal behavior in 50 fossils NF by Dean Lomax
Murder by Lamplight by Patrice McDonough book 1 in a Victorian murder series

6 Audible books for $21!

>52 Tess_W: Locked in Time is going on my TBR! Congrats on finding such a good deal.

>52 Tess_W: I have Celia Garth on my TBR, looks like a good choice for the 18th century RTT!

87. Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor is a historical romance set during the Restoration period, centered around the ambitious Amber St. Clare. Determined to climb the social ladder, Amber will do whatever it takes to gain status, wealth, and power. Set amidst post-Civil War England, the novel features major historical events such as the plague, the Great Fire of London, and invasions by the Dutch. However, the focus remains on the drama of court life, filled with both political and sexual intrigue. The one-man Amber can’t seem to win over is Bruce Carlton, an honorable nobleman who never returns her obsessive love. Her relentless pursuit of him is ultimately tragic, as she sacrifices nearly everything for a man incapable of loving her as she desires. While many of the characters are drawn from history, Amber is fictional. Personally, I would have preferred more emphasis on the historical and political aspects rather than so much attention on romantic and sexual exploits, though, there’s nothing graphic. One surprising takeaway was the frequency of abortion during this era, a topic from which the book doesn’t shy away. 976 pages 4 stars

>55 Tess_W: Great review! I am adding this to my WL, although I don't know when I will get to it, given that it is such a tome! It is great to see a romance set in that specific era, though.

88. The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri is the first book in the Inspector Montalbano detective series. The setting is Sicily and the story begins when the body of a local political figure, Silvio Luparello, is found in a compromising position in a car parked in an area used for illicit activities. The crime appears to be open and shut, but Montalbano is skeptical. The plot meanders and I didn't get a lot of local culture. Meh. I probably will not read any more installments in this series. 234 pages 3 stars



ETA: Did not appreciate the constant taking of the Lord's name in vain.

89. A Furious Sky by Eric Dolan. This is the history of hurricanes for the last 500 years specific to the US and the Caribbean. This was really a comprehensive study of the hurricanes including detailed history. One of the most interesting chapters for me was the Sea Venture shipwreck off the coast of Bermuda in 1609 due to a “tropical storm.” Hurricanes were not named until 1950, so there were no name references. The people who crash landed in the Bahamas built two more ships and sailed on to Jamestown, Virginia. Upon arrival, they found only 60 people of nearly 500 remaining in starving conditions with the buildings dilapidated. The people there were on death’s door due to starvation, sickness, and exposure to the elements. Dolan also highlights the 1900 Galveston hurricane, Hurricane Katrina (2005), and Hurricane Maria (2017), and even the effect that hurricanes had on 17th century piracy. In the final chapter, Dolan explores and explains how climate change is likely to increase the frequency and strength of future hurricanes. Very good read! I listened to this on audio, but would advise a hard copy. I was jotting down notes for most of the read so that I could look things up at a later date. 10 hours 49 minutes (~450 pages) 4 stars

90. The Princess of Cleves by Madame de La Fayette is a 17th century novel set at the court of Henri II. The main character is Mademoiselle de Chartres, who becomes the Princess of Cleves after marrying the Prince de Cleves. The Princess was brought up virtuously, but nonetheless falls in love with the rakish Duke de Nemours. The majority of the book is the Princess' struggle between passion and propriety. The is a very slow paced book with long formal sentences. There is almost no action or drama, but conversations and musings, thoughts, and introspection. 288 pages 3 stars rec by Birgit

91. Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell is the story of Ruth Hilton, an orphaned seamstress. Ruth is seduced and abandoned by Mr. Bellingham. Alone, shunned, and pregnant, Ruth is taken in by a rebel pastor and his sister, who give her a new identity. Ruth raises her son quietly and lives a life of piety and service until accidently discovered by Mr. Bellingham.........The middle of the book seemed to drag and in parts it seemed melodramatic. 347 pages 3 stars

92. The Beatitudes Through the Ages by Rebekah Eklund This book describes how the interpretation of the Beatitudes has changed in the last 500 years. Although the Beatitudes themselves have not changed, they have meant different things to different people: Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, and Billy Graham, just to name a few. This book looks how at how different people have tried to apply them to their own lives. I liked this book because it did not tell the reader how to interpret the Beatitudes, but how the Beatitudes became a topic of conversation and even debate over the ages. A bit too lengthy for me, but for the person who really hasn't studied the Beatitudes, some of the really base-line information would be good. 352 pages 4 stars

>60 Tess_W: I read this one ages ago when I was at uni. I liked it a bit more than you did, but I agree that it is quite melodramatic!

93. Letters to the Church by Francis Chan is a critique of the modern American church, based primarily on the book of Acts. The author challenges readers and church members to return to a simpler, more Biblical model of community worship and discipleship. Although Chan's call to reform is clear, the actual steps needed to affect this reform are not specific. 224 pages 4 stars

94. The Face of a Stranger by Anne Perry This was a Victorian Era whodunnit. The book began well as Detective Monk wakes up in the hospital with amnesia. He can’t remember who he is or how he got there. He learns that he is a police detective and soon returns to work. His colleagues have no idea that he still suffers from amnesia. He is investigating the death of a Crimean war hero who was beat to death in his home. Then the mystery really bogs down for me. The end is just a let-down! I won’t be continuing with this series. 354 pages 3- stars



P.S. Interesting bit of trivia: Since this was the first time reading this author, I did read some bio on her and wow! Anne Perry is really Juliette Hulme, who was convicted of murder as a teenager in New Zealand in 1954. She was released 5 years later and moved to England, legally changing her name.

95. Emile Zola: A Very Short Introduction by Brian Nelson This is one in a series of author biographies published by Oxford Press. The author is also a translator of Zola. I felt this biography was very insightful as it gave context to what else was happening at the time Zola was writing and what influenced his writings. A lot of time is spent on Zola's naturalistic approach, which he also felt was scientific in nature. Nelson analyzes three of Zola's novels (none of which I have yet read) as well as a lot of coverage on the Dreyfuss Affair and Zola's penchant for political activism. Interesting to note that at the same time Zola was writing more graphically about real subjects, artists were also leaving rural landscapes for more gritty urban paintings. Zola's writings also take place in urban settings, for the most part. A great, shorter biography! 4.5 stars 162 pages

96. The Spiral Staircase by Ethel Lina White (entitled Some Must Watch before the film adaption came out-1946). I did read the book, and the name on the book is The Spiral Staircase. A great gothic setup, but that's about the only great thing contained in this mystery. The story of a young servant, Helen Capel, who works in a house where a serial killer is on the loose. With the roads impassable and communication cut off, she and the other inhabitants must survive the night as the killer closes in. This should be tense and edgy, but comes off rather clumsy and sometimes mildly humorous. Very elementary! 256 pages 3- stars

97. The Conquest of Plassans by Emile Zola. This was the July selection for the Zola reading group. Since I’ll be away for six days in July (three separate two-day trips), I decided to dive in early as I’d reached a natural pause in my current reading.

The novel is set in Plassans—the town where it all began—and centers on François Mouret and Marthe Rougon, a seemingly typical middle-class couple. (Though not exactly ordinary: he’s forty years older than she is, and they’re first cousins—a combination the gene pool hasn’t treated kindly.)

Their quiet life is upended when a mysterious priest, Abbé Faujas, arrives and takes up residence in their home. The novel explores themes of political and religious intolerance, manipulation, and psychological domination.

I read the 1900 Vizetelly translation, which was heavily bowdlerized to suit the era’s publishing standards. This version is known as the “suppressed English edition.” At some point, I may pick up the Oxford Press edition to enjoy the “good bits” in full. The touchstone for the edition that I have is not available on LT? (https://www.librarything.com/work/34343127/book/289055123)

222 pages — 4 stars

>64 Tess_W: I've read a few books by Anne Perry and while the premise may be tempting, the story often disappoints. Her personal history was often on my mind more than the story, which didn't improve the appeal, although I suspect it adds to her general popularity.

98. Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey is the author's personal narrative concerning her mother's murder and it's resultant grief and trauma. It's obvious throughout that the author is primarily a poet; beautifully written. That being said, the story line is vague. I listened to this on audio. 3 stars

99. Uncanceled: Finding Meaning and Peace in a Culture of Accusations, Shame, and Condemnation by Phil Robertson I decided to read this in honor of Phil's death just a few weeks ago. While I wasn't necessarily a fan of their "Duck Commander" TV show, which was really just a bunch of hijinks, I did admire their courageous anti-cultural stance on many issues, even if it cost them millions of dollars in advertiser dollars. What Phil calls for in this book is to take a bold and unapologetic stand for Christian values in the face of cancel culture. The book is written in a very earthy style, sounds like a sermon in spots, both gritty and soft at the same time. Along with standing firm, Phil advises love and forgiveness instead of retaliation. I can find nothing to fault in the book, except maybe the writing is a bit elementary. 222 pages 4 stars

I'm bored and indulged in some book shopping!:
The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks
Never Far Away by Michael Koryta
Anne of Green Gables books 1-6. Will be visiting her home in 2026, so might as well.........
All Rivers Run to the Sea by Elie Wiesel
The Buckled Bag by Mary Roberts Rinehart
The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar

I hope the books provide some excitement!

>71 Tess_W: how exciting, I'd love to visit Prince Edward Island. I've only read the first of the Anne books, cynical me was cynically reading and thinking this girl was too good to be true, but despite myself it worked its magic and I found myself laughing and even shedding tears.

100. Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay Written in epistolary form, this book follows the life of Samantha "Sam" Moore, an orphaned journalism student at Northwestern whose tuition is paid by an anonymous sponsor. There is only one catch: She must write the sponsor letters telling him of her day to day life. Now, looking back, it's kind of creepy! The storyline and plot were just so elementary that it thoroughly bored me. Also, there were DOZENS of references (most of which I did not get) to characters in works by Jane Austen. However, I did get the Bronte references! Can not recommend this one! 336 pages 2.5 stars

June Wrap up:

16 books read

Cheers (4-5 stars)
Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor
A Furious Sky by Eric Dolan
The Letter by Kathryn Hughes
Emile Zola: A Very Short Introduction by Brian Nelson
Uncanceled: Finding Meaning and Peace in a Culture of Accusations, Shame, and Condemnation by Phil Robertson
The Conquest of Plassans by Emile Zola
Letters to the Church by Francis Chan
The Beatitudes Through the Ages by Rebekah Eklund
50%--that's amazing! Good reading month!

Jeers (less than 3 stars)
None!

That looks like an excellent reading month!

>75 Tess_W: Wow! That is remarkable!

>75 Tess_W: - If I'm going to give a book less than 3 stars, I usually quit reading it. Looks like you had a good month reading.

>78 dudes22: I usually do, but sometimes I keep thinking it's going to get better!

101. I read What a Fish Knows by Jonathan Balcombe, a book centered around the author’s thesis that fish are sentient beings. Much of the book is devoted to supporting this claim, as Balcombe challenges the common perception of fish as unfeeling and unintelligent. He references numerous scientific studies to back his argument, for instance, experiments demonstrating that fish can recognize individual human faces and use tools, abilities once thought exclusive to mammals and birds. A significant portion of the book urges readers to reconsider practices such as keeping fish in aquariums or consuming them as sushi, arguing that these are unethical. At times the author personifies fish. Some of the studies the author cites are “way” out there—such as fish who return to the same spot each day to be petted and fish who groom themselves when mirrors are installed. The book reads more like a collection of loosely connected vignettes than a cohesive narrative. Not sure I’m buying into all that is offered without further research, and I’m not interested. Interesting aside: “This book has been endorsed by his Holiness, the Dalai Lama”, on the back cover. 304 pages 3- stars July NF 75's

I'm currently reading A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel—though to be honest, I'm struggling through it a bit. A few days ago, I came across a reference in the book and I’ve since spent my reading time down a historical rabbit hole.

A letter reportedly written by Georges-Jacques Danton to Marie Antoinette after her arrest. There’s some debate over its authenticity—whether it’s genuine or a forgery. From what I’ve found, most historians agree that the handwriting appears to be Danton’s and that the content aligns with his revolutionary views at the time. In the letter, he supposedly advised the Queen to display the revolutionary slogan—"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, or Death!"—on her prison door.

Some believe that following this advice might have saved her head from rolling, though others disagree. There's also speculation that if the letter were forged, it would have been done to discredit Danton, who would be guillotined within a year. Interestingly, there’s no evidence that Marie Antoinette ever received the letter, and it wasn’t used against Danton at his trial. Only fragments of the letter survive today, but what remains is still legible.
I did buy the book that contains the English translation. $20 is expensive for a 32 page book, but worth it.

102. A Letter from Danton to Marie Antoinette (Classic Reprint) by Georges Danton and Carl Becker

103. Worthy Opponents by Danielle Steel is typical Steel. A romance based novel based on Spencer Brooke, a driven and independent woman who runs her family's iconic department store, Brooke’s. A very formulaic (for Steel) plot--damsel needs help but at first repels help offered in the form of business investment, but then softens. A much needed reading break for me! Seemed like old home week as I read Steel almost exclusively in my early 20's. 320 pages 3.5 stars

104. The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow I read this in high school (early 70's) and again maybe 30 years ago. I've read it for the last time and it's on the way out the door. I was a bit disappointed with my read this time and not sure why. I think that perhaps my two previous reads were abridged because I don't remember all the mythology at the beginning of this epic poem. (not a myth fan) "By the shores of gitchee gumee" ....gitche gumee is the Ojibwe name for Lake Superior, meaning "Great Sea". This line introduces the setting for the poem, where the character Nokomis lives in a wigwam by the lake. Hiawatha is conceived by the mortal Nokomis and the west wind, Mudjekeewis. This epic poem focuses on the life of Hiawatha, his adventures, and his love for the maiden Minnehaha. It ends with the arrival of colonial settlers. I found the meter more difficult to read this time. 144 pages 3.5 stars plus .5 star for nostalgia=4 stars

105. Plainsong by Kent Haruf is the fictional story of various characters in the town of Holt, Colorado. Through the mundane of the every day, the author speaks to decency and endurance. I listened to this on Audio and did not think the reader was that great, but perhaps it's all part of the mundane vibe. 9 hours 3 minutes (~300 pages) 3.5 stars

Great evening at the Columbus Symphony last night. This performance was part of the "Summer Shorts" series and was just perfect for a 65 minute performance. The theme was "Buzzing Insects" and there were variations on that theme in the three selections they played by Sam Wu, Tchaikovsky, and Haydn. My sister and I attended and then went out for dinner.

106. A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel is a novel that follows three central figures of the Revolution—Georges-Jacque Danton, Maximilien Robespierre, and Camille Desmoulins from their youth to the guillotine. This book is more character driven than plot drive which accounts for the dense conversations that are pages in length. There are also a plethora of characters which Ms. Mantel has provided a character map for in the preface. My biggest complaint is the number of characters which she calls by various names throughout the book: Sometimes Danton is Danton, sometimes Georges, sometimes Georges-Jacque. My biggest frustration with the book could have been resolved with author consistency. One must enjoy revolutionary politics to enjoy this novel, and I do! That being said, 900+ pages is just too long for a conversation dense novel! 3.5 stars 912 pages RTT: 18th Century

>84 Tess_W: Congrats on finishing this doorstopper, Tess. I gave up on it because I do not enjoy revolutionary rhetorics. And there was so much talk!

107. All Rivers Run To The Sea is Part I of Elie Wiesel's biography. The title is taken from Ecclesiastes 1:7 which reads: "All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place from which the rivers come, there they return again." The verse is speaking to the cycle of life, which Wiesel addresses in this memoir. I was surprised (but should not have been) of Wiesel's condemnation of Great Britain and the U.S's lack of effort to halt the holocaust. I have always been taught that they did not bomb the camps because they felt it would cause even more hardship on the prisoners. Wiesel contends that they could have easily bombed the train tracks and halted the transports, but that they just didn't care. Sounds like a good idea, not sure why that wasn't done. Much of the information contained in this book is also contained in his Night. I liked Wiesel's introspection and humility. 432 pages 4.5 stars


108. The Buckled Bag by Mary Roberts Rinehart Rinehart is known as the American Agatha Christie. Not a Christie fan, but sure liked the Rineheart mystery. This is book #1 is the Hilda Adams/Nurse Detective series. I was totally off on my assumptions of the case at hand and pleasantly surprised at the ending. I will probably continue this series when I find the books. I listened to this on audio. 2 hours 23 minutes (~ 120 pages) 4 stars

>85 MissWatson: TY!

>83 Tess_W: I thought I had read that, but I had not. I'll make a note to be sure to read it instead of listen to it.

>86 Tess_W: I've added the Elie Wiesel to my wish list and had a look for The Buckled Bag, which I can't find in Australia. But there are two others in the Hilda Adams series that I haven't read, so they will have to do. Mary Roberts Rinehart's books aren't much like Agatha Christie's. They remind me more of Mignon G. Eberhart's - had-I-but-known with a touch of Gothic.

The Case of Jennie Brice is worth a read because of the descriptions of the floods near Pittsburgh, which occurred regularly in the early years of the twentieth century.

>89 pamelad: I think it had several names, I remember seeing The Pinkerton Nurse when I was searching. As I said, the books don't seem that easy to find. Don't really know how I can across this first one! I will def look up Jenny Brice!

109. The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a short novel where the reader endures the illogical and drawn out sufferings of Werther as he pines for a woman he can not have. All does not end well. Told in letters from Werther to his "friend", Wilhelm. Very dramatic. In a word: angst. 92 pages 3- stars

110. A Mystery in White by J. Jefferson Farjeon is a Christmas crime story, of sorts. It is near Christmas and there is a terrible snowstorm. The train is stuck on the track and for some reason some of the passengers decide to attempt to find shelter elsewhere. They do........a nice warm house with tea laid out, but no residents. The story seems to be ok and I have no problems with the writing, but I just could not get engaged with this book. 256 pages 3- stars

>91 Tess_W: That was a weird read for me...I think Farjeon is a good writer, but I remember being confused that the characters we follow for the first half of the book have nothing to do with the mystery. I couldn't figure out whom I was supposed to care about.

>92 christina_reads: exactly! And I didn't care about any of them!

111. The Descent by Matt Brolly has Detective Louise Blackwell drawn into the investigation of what appear to be the suicides of three young women in the coastal town of Weston-Super-Mare. The bodies are discovered near the shoreline, seemingly having fallen from the cliffs above. As she delves deeper into the case, Blackwell is also forced to deal with a personal crisis when her widowed, alcoholic brother vanishes—taking her young niece with him.

Though this is the second book in the series, it reads well as a standalone. If I come across the other books at a good price, I’d be interested in continuing the series. 367 pages 3.5 stars

112. Federalist Papers No 10 and No 51 I needed to do a re-read/re-study of several of the papers as I will be teaching a college level government (political science) class this year. I want to have the students read one and I think I will go with number 10 as it deals with factions and how the proposed constitution could lessen the effects of the factions coming to blows. I chose this one because I think it's very apropos to read and discuss considering our present political climate. Number 10 was written by James Madison to the people of New York trying to convince them that the newly written Constitution, which would make the U.S. a republic, should replace the Articles of Confederation, which could not deal with factionalism. Number 51 explains the checks and balances and I believe they get this in high school, so I'm going with number 10. I'm not sure, but I may try it in a Socratic Seminar type setting.

113. Wool by Hugh Howey This post-apocalyptic dystopian novel is set in a future where humanity clings to survival inside a massive underground silo. Outside the silo, the air is toxic, or is it? Inside the silo rules are strictly enforced and thinking for oneself is frowned upon. Inhabitants "see" the outside via a camera, that must be cleaned regularly. Those sentenced to "death" for an infraction are the cleaners, using wool pads, hence the name. This book was originally written as a series of short stories and later connected to make it novel length. I think this construction, much like Fahrenheit 451's, makes for some choppy reading. Although I found the premise for the novel and the book for the most part engaging, I doubt I would read anymore in the series. 594 pages 3.5 stars This was a BB from both Cindy and Judy

>90 Tess_W: One of my favourite German classics, but then I first read it at a young age and fell in love with it, and that might cloud my vision. I also wonder how it reads in translation.

>84 Tess_W: >85 MissWatson: I'm another reader who never got through this one! Kudos on the completion.

114. The Wandering Harlot by Iny Lorentz is set in 15th century Germany and is the tale of Marie, a respectable young lady from a wealthy family who is accused of promiscuity by a nobleman trying to get her father's land, aka her inheritance. She is tried, convicted, whipped, and exiled. The book follows her travels around the country as a prostitute, while at the same time she plots her revenge. There are many cliches in this novel, but also some good history of medieval Germany and the church workings. The prostitutes are an interesting group, but the villains seem to be very one-dimensional. Lots of implied sexual violence and of course, women are much abused. I listened to this on Audio. 13 hrs 46 min 3.5 stars

July wrap up:

14 books read

Cheers (4-5 star reads)
A Letter from Danton to Marie Antoinette (Classic Reprint) by Georges Danton and Carl Becker 4.5 stars
All the Rivers Run to the Sea by Elie Wiesel
The Buckled Bag by Mary Roberts Rinehart
The Conquest of Plassans by Emile Zola

Jeers (Less than 3 stars)
None!

Seemed like a lot of average or mediocre books this month!

Plans for August:
School starts for me on August 11..........so......
Bogie & Bacall: The Surprising True Story of Hollywood's Greatest Love Affair by William J. Mann
Something from a BENELUX writer
18th century
All I can commit to!

115. Bogie & Bacall: The Surprising True Story of Hollywood’s Greatest Love Affair by William Mann is a highly detailed biography that delves into the lives of two of Hollywood’s most iconic stars. To me, it was a deeply sad and often depressing read. Humphrey Bogart was already struggling with alcoholism by age 21, and by 23, he was drinking as early as 9 a.m. and passing out several times a week. Lauren Bacall, just 20 when she became Bogart’s fourth wife, was not an alcoholic herself but admitted to drinking “copious” amounts of alcohol.

Bacall comes across as fiercely ambitious, driven by status at almost any cost. Contemporary accounts often described her as rude, demanding, self-serving, narcissistic, and entitled. She reportedly viewed many of her female co-stars—such as Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, and Raquel Welch—as threats, convinced they were trying to upstage her. Despite a longing for friendship, Bacall seemed to have few close companions. One incident in the book involves her long correspondence with Katharine Hepburn, which lasted decades. Bacall believed they were close friends—Hepburn was even the godmother of her youngest child. But when Bacall visited Hepburn during an illness late in life, Hepburn greeted her with, “What are you doing here?”—a remark that left Bacall hurt and stunned.

After Bogart’s death, none of their mutual friends maintained ties with Bacall. She later married actor Jason Robards, another alcoholic, though that marriage only lasted eight years.

The book is extensive and heavy with detail, but over time the chapters start to feel repetitive: audition for a role, complain about the role or co-stars, drink out of frustration, and repeat.

Some of the information for this book was taken from Bacall's two memoirs.
656 pages 4 stars



Note: I became interested in this book after I visited (for the 2nd time) Malabar Farm, in Mansfield, Ohio, home to writer Louis Bromfield. He was a contemporary of William Faulkner (mentioned and pictures) and Hemingway (no pics) Bogie and Bacall were married at Malabar Farm and spent their honeymoon there. During the tour somebody asked if the tour guide could recommend a good biography of Bogart and this book was suggested as being fairly authentic.

https://www.life.com/people/bacall-bogart-wedding/

116. The Royal Game by Stefan Zweig. This is a short story/novella (66 pages). It's a rather odd little book! It's the story of 2 men: a world class chess champion who must stare at the board constantly and takes his full allotted 15 minutes for each play vs a Dr who had been held as a POW by the Nazis. I think this is the early version of a psychological thriller. 4 stars

117. The History of England: From the reign of Henry the 4th to the death of Charles the 1st by a partial, prejudiced & ignorant Historian, a 14 page satire by Jane Austen. I found it amusing as she took the opposite stance on almost every person and event that is generally accepted today--like loving Bloody Mary and hating Good Queen Bess.

118. A Peculiar Combination: An Electra McDonnell Novel (Electra McDonnell Series Book 1) by Ashley Weaver Book one in a series which features Electra, from a family of safecrackers and forgers to working with the War Dept in WWII--fiction. Predictable but not uninteresting. 300 pages 3.5 stars

119. On the Bright Side: The New Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 85 Years Old by Hendrik Groen. This is a fictional diary of Hendrik and his cronies in the "old but not dead" club in an Amsterdam Care Home. This group seems to be more active and mobile than most of the over 85 crowd I've observed. Henry is a curmudgeon that did not grow on me. Meh 464 pages 3 stars

120. The Queen of Spades by Alexander Pushkin is a short story that centers around Hermann, a young officer in the Russian army who becomes obsessed with learning a secret gambling formula—a trio of winning cards—supposedly known only to an elderly countess. Some gothic elements. As I always find in short stories, short on plot! 42 pages 3 stars RTT: Don't get checkmated

>104 Tess_W: "Predictable but not uninteresting" is a good description of the whole Electra McDonnell series, I think! If you liked book one, you'll like the rest too.

>107 christina_reads: It was just very average. Hoping to read 4 & 5 star reads!

Hello Tess! Good to finally check in with you, and glad you had such a great reading summer.

>55 Tess_W: Forever Amber was a book my mother got caught reading in her teens; her mother did not approve. She gave it to me to read as a teenager and I was "meh" about it. I had no idea it was such a doorstopper.

>64 Tess_W: Several friends on here on LT enjoy Anne Perry, and yeah, her past was a time of great tragedy.

>80 Tess_W: I had no idea Danton had written to Marie Antoinette! He always seemed like the decent Revolutionary, and if this letter (fragment) is authentic, then that would prove my ideal of him.

>95 Tess_W: Did you decide to do both No. 10 and No. 51 of the Federalist Papers? And did you decide on the Socratic setting, or more of a traditional lecture? Thank you for choosing to teach these Papers during our troubled times.

I hope your semester goes well with many bright and engaged students!

>109 threadnsong: I'm waiting to decide if I will do a Socratic seminar or traditional lecture w/class discussion. I need to know my students a little better, first!

121. Poland by James Michener It is my goal to read a Michener every year and this is it! I really didn't enjoy this Michener as much as previous books because 80% of this was war-based. This historical fiction covers over 1000 years and showcases 3 families, one from each social grouping. Most of the book dealt with Poland's national identity and foreign domination by Russia, Prussia, Austria, Nazi Germany, and the Soviet Union. The book began and ended with a representative of the agricultural workers meeting with the Agricultural Chair of the Russian Politoboro in 1971. Nothing was resolved and history tells us there were massive strikes which were brutally crushed later on during the year. Also briefly highlights the rise of Solidarity and Lech Walesa. 688 pages 3.5 stars

122. The Shawshank Experience: Tracking the History of the World’s Favorite Movie by Maura Grady I read this in connection to my visit to The Mansfield Reformatory where said movie was filmed. This was a very scholarly non-fiction about the namesake movie. I was surprised to find out that the movie was made from a Stephen King novel, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. This book got into a bit more than I wanted concerning the analysis of Andy's race and cross-gender symbolism through his art. (I skimmed those parts) I was most interested in the historical and geographical content as well as the fandom subculture that exists. I'm going to read the King novel next. 245 pages 3 stars

>55 Tess_W: I remember reading Forever Amber as a teenager. I remember loving it, but until you reviewed it above, I could not remember at all what I loved about it. I expect it was a combination of the history and the intrigue, along with a good dose of interest in the romance.

Hi Tess, how has your garden been this year? It's been so hot here no one even wants to go outdoors after noon and gardens have suffered. Heat factors of 100 to 108 over the last few weeks. Still, watermelons have been good and I do love them!

>113 clue: Hi, Luanne! I didn't really have a garden this year. I didn't need any salsa or marinara sauce, so I only planted 1 cherry tomato plant and the wildlife have really enjoyed that! I have plenty of beans and corn on my shelf, so no garden. I am going to buy some red potatoes from a local farmer when they are ready and hope to can up about 20-30 quarts. I found organic mushrooms on sale at the grocery last week for $1 per quart and bought all they had-10 quarts. This made made 14 pints of mushrooms, so I'm all good for this year. I do have extensive flower gardens and they all bloomed really early and were all spent by mid August, even the mums. Quite disappointed! We also had temps near the 100's and then raining for weeks at a time, often flooding. This is a pic of the road my son lives on, about 10 miles from me. This happened in July and it is still not fixed.

123. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King I had no idea that the movie was derived from a book written by King. This is very "unKingish" of him! There are a few differences, but the essence of the book and the movie are basically the same. In the book, both Red (who is a red-headed Irishman) and Andy were much older when they escaped and were released than in the movie. 124 pages 5 stars

August Roundup! I won't be completing anymore this month as I have 2 concerts this week.

Books read: 7
Cheers (4-5 stars)
Bogie & Bacall: The Surprising True Story of Hollywood’s Greatest Love Affair by William Mann
Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
The Royal Game by Stefan Zweig

Jeers (below 3 stars)
None--yeah!

September plans:
finish the chunkster currently reading Testimony of Two Men by Taylor Caldwell
Pot Luck by Emile Zola for the group read
Ghost Road by Anthony Thompson
Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson

any cats/kits that I get around to!

124. I read (but did not fully understand) Simplify the King's Gambit: A practical approach for beginning players by Carlos de Paula. I know the chess pieces names and the directions in which they can move. That is about it. I have played a few games of chess and done very poorly. It doesn't really interest me. But I found this little short book at the library! This is what I can surmise: The King's Gambit is a first move in the game of chess where the first player moves his pawn to e4. Depending upon what the opponent does, I get lost from there! I realize that the first move is a sacrifice of the white pawn to divert the black pawn. The 2nd player can either accept the gambit or make another play. It's not used much anymore. Supposedly Bobby Fischer in 1961 refuted the King's Gambit in a magazine article, which influenced many people to abandon it as a first move. RTT: Don't Get Checkmated

125. Luther's Table Talk by Martin Luther This is a collection of sayings from Martin Luther. This book was not written by Luther. This is a very cheap e-book version and it makes no reference of whom abridged this edition. That being said, I purchased the book to try to find something attributed to Luther about angels and demons and I did find a reference to that topic. This book was initially compiled from dinner companions and friends of Luther. Luther and his wife were "famous" for having about 20 each night for dinner and the discussions lasted well into the wee hours of the morning. Some wrote down of what they discussed--this larger work originated from that. This is not a comprehensive book, but does include several interesting bits and pieces of Luther's mind. 124 pages 4 stars

126. Testimony of Two Men by Taylor Caldwell To begin with, I didn’t enjoy this book. I'm a bit of a completist, which is the main reason I saw it through to the end. I'm still unclear about the meaning behind the title — The Testimony of Two Men. Several characters offer some form of "testimony," including two central figures and even a man on his deathbed, so it’s not clear which two men the title is actually referring to.

The novel centers on Dr. Jonathan Ferrier, a brilliant physician with neither bedside manner nor much in the way of social grace. Accused of causing his wife's death during a botched abortion, he’s acquitted in court but judged harshly by the townspeople of his small Pennsylvania community. The story largely follows his path toward redemption.

However, not much truly happens for most of the novel. Much of the critical backstory is held back until the final 100 pages, which made the pacing feel uneven. Ultimately, while the book had potential, it didn’t live up to it — at least not for this reader. 624 pages 3- stars

>121 Tess_W: Sorry you didn't like this one. I remember loving it when I read it years ago, though of course my opinion might be different now. I think the title is a Bible reference (John 8:17) but don't know/remember how that relates to the book.

127. I finished Across America on an Emigrant Train by Jim Murphy. While it's marketed as a juvenile or young adult book, I’m not convinced that readers in that age group would fully grasp the depth of the subject matter without some prior knowledge of American history. The book weaves together Robert Louis Stevenson’s journey across the United States with the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad and the U.S. government’s handling of the so-called “Indian problem.” While much of the content felt fairly general, the inclusion of primary sources—particularly quotes from General William T. Sherman—stood out. I was genuinely shocked by Sherman’s language and his apparent support for the extermination of Native Americans. I guess I shouldn't be shocked, it was just jolting! 168 pages 3 stars

>123 Tess_W: It's too bad that one wasn't better told for the age group.

>123 Tess_W: I had a similar experience when I read Rabbit-Proof Fence some time ago. I was shocked by the language used and thoughts expressed in some of the primary sources that were included in the memoir, although I knew what happened and how the white authorities thought at the time. It still hits you in the gut when you read the actual words on paper.

>125 MissBrangwen: Exactly! General Sherman's boyhood home is about 10 miles from my home and it's now a museum. Each year all the local school kids go there on a field trip! I do realize he was a Civil War "hero", but..........

>123 Tess_W: I can appreciate how you felt jolted by General Sherman's language. He was often accused of being brusque, but this books shows just how bad it was.

128. The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis. Not sure if the title refers to girls changing into dogs or the townspeople "hounding" the Mansfield sisters in Oxfordshire. Reminiscent of the witch hysteria in Salem. An open ending. Good read--gets better as you go along. 272 pages 4 stars CoverCat

129. Her Accidental Highlander Husband by Allison B. Hanson This was a historical romance and quite good for that genre. It follows the "usual": woman reluctantly married as well as man, vow not to love, end up in love after several "trials." Great reading! 340 pages 4.5 stars

130. Exploring Europe: Free as Birds in Our 1975 VW Camper by James Sloter In 1983 Jim and Marcia Sloter, after selling their business, took off to Belgium, the home of their foreign exchange student they had hosted for a year. His parents had welcomed them to use their home as a "base" in which to prepare to travel the European continent. This book is about those preparations as well as the actual travels and slight mechanical troubles and lack of any foreign languages. This was a delightful romp through Europe without being caught in the tourist traps. 221 pages 4 stars

131 Failure Has No Alibi: Learning From the Lessons Failure Teaches by Dr. Cheryl Lentz This was a free book sometime in 2024 from Kindle. I don't think most people would appreciate this book, but I'm very much a realist and concur with Dr. Lentz's thesis: We build “alibis” (rationalizations) rather than accepting responsibility for our failures. She also uses the ages old phrase "failure does not define you", unless you allow it to. What defines us is what we do after failure—whether we learn, adapt, or persist. 78 pages 4.5 stars

132. The Sans-Culottes by Albert Soboul This non-fiction study of the French Revolution focuses on the Sans-Culottes, a more fringe radical element, mainly in Paris, but also found sporadically throughout the rest of France. Most of the information contained is from 1793-1794 from government dossiers, which of course, is only one-sided. Soboul addresses their role under the Jacobin government as well as the Committee of Public Safety. Soboul examines who the sans‑culottes were (socially, economically), their political attitudes, how they organized, how they acted (especially in the sections of Paris), as well as their goals. Not a lot of new information here if one has read about this group or the Jacobins. However, if one is new to the topic of the Sans-Culottes (without short pants) this book would be very insightful. 279 pages 4 stars non-fiction RTT 18th century

This book is $58 on Amazon but I found it at a thrift store for $2!

133. Faith in the Byzantine World by Mary B. Cunningham This would be a supplementary book for a college level Western Civ course. This is historical outline of how Byzantine Christianity developed from the reign of Constantine through to the fall of Constantinople. Topics include: the structure of the Byzantine Church, liturgy and daily worship, doctrine, monasticism, icons, architecture, art, and missionary work. A lot packed into a short 192 pages! There is little about theology included, and that's what I was really looking for! It's more about the make up of the church than in their beliefs. It is more descriptive than analytic. This book is one in a series of Lions History Series aimed at college students by this author. Good read with lots of pictures, maps, and primary sources. 3.5 stars

My suggestion for a topic is parks from around the world.

>134 clue: ok Luanne, give me a "clue!" I'm sorta lost.........

133. And Never Let Her Go: Thomas Capano The Deadly Seducer by Ann Rule Love my true crime and this is my fav author of that genre. This book was about a murder in 1996 committed by Thomas Capano, an attorney who belonged to a powerful and wealthy family in Delaware. What a manipulator! 672 pages 4 stars

>135 Tess_W: No, obviously I'm the one confused...posted this on the wrong page!

134. Pot Bouille by Emile Zola Often called Pot Luck or Stew Pot. Zola writes of the microcosm of the Hotel de Louvre in Paris where the "respectable" bourgeoisie live. Respectable on the surface only, though. The hotel is a hotbed of adultery, sexual assault, and the oppression of woman, amongst other things. The repetitive stories of adultery wore thin after 300+ pages. If I wasn't involved in a group read, I would have DNF this book. I hope the next one has a broader focus. 381 pages 3- stars

135. Beautiful Exiles by Meg Waite Clayton A fictionalized account of journalist Martha Gellhorn and author Ernest Hemingway. A story of passion and violence. Hemingway was an alcoholic and Gellhorn by her own admittance drank too much. Hemingway was very often verbally abusive. He often had no money and Ms. Gellhorn was the real provider for the pair (Hemingway's money went to two ex wives and 3 children). Interesting the travels they took for writing purposes, especially during wartime. Gellhorn endured 5 years of verbal abuse and treachery. 366 pages 4 stars Been sitting on my shelf since 2018.

136. Sylvia's Lovers by Elizabeth Gaskell I really loved this book! The book blurb says its takes place during the late 18th century. I think the book was slow going in the first half, but from midpoint on it was spellbinding. It's the story of three people: Sylvia, a woman torn between two men, the romantic sailor Charlie Kincaid, and her quiet, mannerly cousin Philip. The story centers around the impressment of Charlie and moral dilemmas that arise from that. Gaskell gives the characters such passion. Good stuff! 528 pages 4.5 stars

>140 Tess_W: I've read several of Gaskell's, but haven't heard of this one. Sounds good!

>131 Tess_W: What an interesting concept for a book. I work on the recruiting side of things, and I am always amazed by how far folks will go to try to pin past failures on someone other than themselves. Those who take some responsibility for when things go wrong in their lives are the ones who earn my respect.

>132 Tess_W: I like how this book centers on just the Sans-Culottes, pulling their role out of the larger Revolution.

>139 Tess_W: Hemingway has never been an author I willingly read. Now I see why.

Hope your October reading goes well!

>142 threadnsong: TY!

September reading stats:
Books read: 12

Cheers (4-5 stars)
The Royal Gambit (also published as Chess Story by Stefan Zweig
Luther's Table Talk by Martin Luther
Sylvia's Lovers by Elizabeth Gaskell
Beautiful Exiles by Meg Waite Clayton
The Sans-Culottes by Albert Soboul
Never Let Her Go by Ann Rule
Failure Has No Alibi by Dr. Cheryl Lentz
Exploring Europe: Free as Birds in Our 1975 VW Camper by James Sloter
Her Accidental Highlander Husband by Alison Hanson
The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis

WOW 10/12 books rated 4 or 5!

Jeers (less than 3 stars)
NONE!

What's up for October
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader (75's NF)
A Passion in the Dessert by Honore Balzac Paul's French Authors
The Autumn Garden by Lillian Hellman RTT

Assorted kits and kats, or not!

137. The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz is a historical romance that takes place during the Jacobin uprising in the Scottish lowlands in 1715. Lady Blythe Hedley is English and Catholic and Lord Wedderburn is Scottish and Protestant. Blythe is sent to Scotland for her own safety. After some tense moments between the two, romantic sparks fly. 416 pages 4.5 stars

138. Autumn Garden by Lillian Hellman was a 1951 play which is set in the 1940's following the end of WWII. The setting is a summer boarding house in Louisiana on the Gulf. The story is told through the dialogue of residents and guests. The story begins when ex friends and lovers decide to reunite at the house. They are all expecting this to be a good time. However, the visits were painful as most didn't achieve what they thought they would when they were young. Most are cynical, emotionally detached, and self-absorbed. This reader didn't care for any of them! This reminded me a lot of the plays of Tennessee Williams. 72 pages 2.5 stars RTT: Autumn

>144 Tess_W: That book is on my TBR already, but your review is nudging it closer to the top!

139. A Passion in the Desert by Honore de Balzac This was a short story that took place during the Egyptian campaign of Napoleon. A man is captured by Arab forces and escapes to end up in a cave with a panther, which poses both a threat and a surreal relationship. This was from the Comedy Humaine and I will be reading more in that series. 42 pages 4 stars 75 Paul's French Writers/RTT Napoleonic Era

140. Difficult to know where to begin with a book review of Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman. This book is a collection of essays, all dealing with printed matter. Fadiman’s love for books certainly shines through each essay. Among my favorites were “Marrying Libraries” which I found hilarious, her confession of being a proud sesquipedalian, and her time working in a bookstore. (which spawned another read for me) Her essays aren’t about books, but about what books mean to those who own them. I felt the only downside to the book was the long lists of books in several of her essays. 162 pages 4 stars

141. ( This read was spawned by a list contained in #140) Bookshop Memories by George Orwell is an essay concerning his time in 1936 working in a used bookstore. It mostly addresses the types of customers that frequented the bookstore. I quite enjoyed this essay. 96 pages 4.5 stars

142. You Know How the Story Goes by Thomas Olde Heuvelt is a short horror story, more eerie than gory. Is it a familiar trope: hitchhiker is picked up by driver—is she human? Good for a short, one-sitting read . 27 pages 3.5 stars

143. Maria: or, The Wrongs of Woman is an unfinished novel by Mary Wollstonecraft, published posthumously in 1798. It was a work of early feminism. The main character, Maria Venables, is confined in a private madhouse by her cruel and manipulative husband, George Venables, who wants to control her and her inheritance. She forms several relationships while in the madhouse and those are the basis for the book. The book shows the oppression of women by society, law, and mental health facilities. The book ends abruptly, as the author died before it was finished. We never find out Maria's fate.

This book is tagged gothic, but I really didn't see the traditional gothic elements. I went to AI to ask it to identify and this is AI's response: ....".the book is considered gothic, although not in a traditional way. The scary house is replaced by the scary mental institution. Like many gothic characters, Maria is declared mad by a male figure, to strip her of her power, the "villain." The novel includes intense emotional suffering, dreams, memories, and reflections—hallmarks of the Gothic novels...."

So, I'm going to count it as a non-traditional gothic read! 102 pages 3.5 stars Oct Scaredy Kit-gothic reads

144. Portrait of a Marriage by Pearl S. Buck This is one of Buck's lesser known novels which is the analysis of a marriage. The plot centers around a couple where the man is very traditional and the woman is more progressive. Buck writes about gender roles, emotional estrangement, and resentment. The story is told through monologues, mostly internal. This is not a plot driven novel and moves fairly slow--for that reason a 3 is all I can give! 214 pages

145. The Great Divorce: A Nineteenth-Century Mother's Extraordinary Fight Against Her Husband, the Shakers, and Her Times by Ilyon Woo This non-fiction was the story of Eunice Chapman who was in a bitter conflict with her husband after he abducted their three children and joined the Shakers in the early 1800's in Watervliet, New York. Eunice worked through the courts and the legislature for three years to get back her children. During the early 19th century, if a state permitted divorce, the man always got the children. First, Eunice had to get a divorce, that took two years and a proclamation by the House of New York, because women weren't permitted to sue. She was also awarded full custody. However, the Shakers hid the children in Massachusetts, where New York law did not apply. The children were finally reunited with their mother almost 5 years after being taken by their father. At first, they were reluctant to go with their mother. They had been brainwashed by the Shakers that their soul would go to hell if they left the community. Eunice had to physically take them with the help of friends and law enforcement officials. Quite a good read if one is interested in the Shakers. 416 pages 4.5 stars



P.S. I became interested in the Shakers when I attended a week long seminar on the Shakers sponsored by NEH in 2014 at Siena College in New York. We spent a day at Watervliet as well as a day trip to Enfield. It was quite interesting and one of the speakers recommended this book.

Oh oh, fell off the no buying books wagon this weekend. But hey, in 2 months is my Thingaversary.......yeah, this is an early Thingaversary haul!

Crow Planet by Lyanda Haupt non fiction, urban ecology
Her Deadly Web by Diane Fanning True crime, nurse
Nuremberg Trials by Paul Roland NF
Locked Doors by Mary Rineharts Roberts mystery novella
The Lindbergh Kidnapping Suspect No. 1 by Lise Pearlman also been intrigued by the Lindbergh kidnapping
The School That Escaped the Nazis Deborah Cadbury history/bio
Ithaca the retelling of Penelope, what she did the 20 years Odysseus was away
Africa is not a Country NF highlighting 7 countries
Queens of the Age of Chivalry medieval by Alison Weir bought because I like author
Birding Without Borders NF
Oranges NF
The Things Our Fathers Saw WWII participants interviewed 40 years later
When the Stones Speak archeology of Jerusalem

Great haul. You've got some really interesting ones there!

>152 Tess_W: "No book buying wagon?" What is this thing of which you speak?

>154 LadyoftheLodge: I thought it was a real thing, but it seems I might be delusional.

>153 DeltaQueen50: TY!

146. Through Russian Snows: A Story Of Napoleon's Retreat From Moscow by G.A. Henty. This was billed as juvenile fiction, I would classify it as YA. The novel is set in 1812 during Napoleon's invasion of Russia and its subsequent disastrous retreat. The protagonists are two English brothers, Julian and Frank Wyatt, being raised by their aunt. Through a series of very long and tedious events, Julian is imprisoned in France for smuggling and Frank joins the British Army. Julian is released on the condition he serve in the Grand Armee. Long story short: they both meet up in Moscow, on different sides. Lots of boring detail about the battles of Smolensk and Borodino (especially for juvenile readers). The plot threads are predictable and are usually the nature of a moral dilemma. Meh 242 pages 3 stars (hard to rate a book aimed at 10-14 year old boys!)

>152 Tess_W: interesting haul - I am looking forward to the reviews

>152 Tess_W: I salute you with falling off the no-book-buying bandwagon! These look like great books and look forward to your reviews.

>152 Tess_W: That’s an interesting haul. Enjoy!

Nice haul. My Thingaversary is in early January, so I've started my purchases also.

147. Pietre the Latvian by Georges Simenon is the first book in the series featuring Inspector Maigret. Maigret can be described as stoic, thoughtful, and more interested in understanding criminals than in just arresting them. This book seemed to move quite slowly and really didn't keep my attention. I always give authors a second chance, so I'm sure I'll meet Maigret somewhere else! 176 pages 3 stars

>161 Tess_W: I wasn't particularly taken with Pietr the Latvian either but I have enjoyed some of the other books in the series.

148. Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen read by Amy Molloy. This is a big DNF for me! I'm very much a completist, but I just couldn't continue reading for the following: 1) This is an audio book, and the Irish brogue is so strong that I couldn't even make out most of the time if this was English. I set the speed on 90% and still had to rewind several times to understand. 2) The story is about 18 year olds that just graduated from high school and the goal of most are to drink too much at a pub--boring! 3) The language is atrocious--17 "F" words in the first 2 minutes. I wish to read something with a broader language base. 4) There were so many acronymns, IRA, UVF, Prods (Prots?), BSF, UDA, etc.......if one is not familiar with the times/groups you are lost! I couldn't keep them straight. DNF I listened to 3 hours 34 minutes/10 hours and 27 mins, or just about 33%.

>163 Tess_W: Wow, you hung in there longer than I would have.

>163 Tess_W: We’re in Ulster, then? Irish Republican Army, Ulster Volunteer Force, British Security Forces, Ulster Defence Association? There was a time when they were in the news daily, and it was hard keeping up with them even then. I suppose this is a book best read on paper if you’re not familiar with the dialect. But it doesn’t seen a very pleasant subject matter.

>165 MissWatson: Yes, I believe it took place in Ulster, although it was never mentioned by name. I believe it is supposed to be a coming of age story.

149. Why the Nativity? by David Jeremiah This little book uses a question to begin each topic and then proceeds to answer each question throughout that chapter. The chapter ends with 2-3 content and self-reflection questions. I'm reading advent "type" books because I'm teaching about Advent at church this year. 111 pages 4.5 stars .5 star taken off for font size so small I need more than just my reading glasses!

150. I read two sermons by Jonathan Edwards, a fire and brimstone evangelist who took part in the Great Awakening in the 1730's-1740's in America. Since they were shorter (35 pages each), I will just count this as one read.

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God is no doubt Edwards' most famous sermon. It is based on Deuteronomy 32:32, "Their foot shall slide in due time." Edwards is very graphic in his sermon: flood waters from which one cannot escape, dangling like a spider over the pit of hell with flames waiting to engulf the web. After Edward sufficiently “scares” the congregation, he does offer a light at the end of the tunnel; a redemption—God’s mercy and forgiveness.

A Divine and Supernatural Light based on Matthew 16:17 ""Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven". (Simon Bar-Jonah=Simon Peter) Edwards goes on to say that this divine light is not natural and it is not religious fervor (imagination). Edwards tried to distinguish between the rational and the spiritual with an example of honey: Men know rationally that honey is sweet. But if somebody has never tasted honey, they might have a sense that it is sweet, but have no empirical data to support this feeling. So according to Edwards, divine knowledge passes theoretical knowledge. Since this spiritual knowledge comes from God, it may be granted to persons of any station or any level of intellect.

Good stuff to ponder! 4 stars

Both were d/l from JSTOR database.

Read in preparation for an American Colonial history course that I will be teaching next semester.

151. The Secrets They Kept: The True Story of a Mercy Killing that Shocked a Town and Shamed a Family by Suzanne Handler A sad story of a father who committed what was termed in 1937 a "mercy" killing of his daughter who suffered from what is now called schizophrenia. The books tells about the life and times of both the victim and her family, specifically her father. The stigma of both mental illness and family shame leaves a lot of information missing. A good read. 160 pages non-fiction 4 stars

152. The Suitors of Yvonne by Rafael Sabatini is set in mid 17th century France, in the court of Louis XIV with the powerful Cardinal Mazarin doing his "dirty" work. The book portrays the political turbulence and decadence of the courtier life. It is narrated as part of the memoirs of the Sieur de Luynes. Sabatini does a good job of making his characters known in such as way as the readers cares about what happens to them (most of them!). Sabatini's first novel. 3.5 stars 166 pages Free on Kindle (US)

153. The Forgotten Presidents: Their Untold Constitutional Legacy by Michael Gerhardt. Gerhardt is quite “famous” in political science and history circles. I thought this book would be marvelous, but it fell very flat. Either I’ve been woefully misinformed or badly educated, but there seems to be information which I have learned to the contrary. For example, in the chapter on Martin Van Buren, Gerhardt makes the point that he founded the Democratic party. However, most historians (and textbooks) claim that Andrew Jackson founded the Democratic Party after losing the contested election of 1824. Just minor things like that throughout the book. I would not recommend it. 2.5 stars 336 pages

154. The King's Witch by Tracy Borman This is the story of Lady Frances Gorges, who was a maid servant to Queen Elizabeth I. After her death, with the ascension of James I to the throne, life becomes perilous at court, for Frances was a herbal healer. She is accused of witchcraft and the remainder of the story centers on her tribulations as well as the Gunpowder Plot. Good stuff! Borman's debut novel. 521 pages 4 stars

October Stats

Total books read: 17

Cheers (rated 4+) 52%
The Rose & The Thistle by Laura Frantz
A Passion in the Desert by Honore Balzac
The Great Divorce by Ilyon Woo
Why the Nativity by David Jeremiah
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards
The Secrets They Kept: The True Story of a Mercy Killing that Shocked a Town and Shamed a Family by Suzanne Handler
The King's Witch by Tracy Borman
Bookshop Memories by George Orwell
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman

Jeers (rated less than 3) 18%
Autumn Garden by Lillian Hellman
Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen
The Forgotten Presidents: Their Untold Constitutional Legacy by Michael Gerhardt

November plans:
Finish The Maid's Diary
Finish When Politics are Sacralized: Comparative Perspectives on Religious Claims and Nationalism by Nadim Rouhana.
reread of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
reads:
Ship of Silence
Lullaby in Auschwitz by Mario Escobar This is Hist Fict and I really don't like reading about fiction concerning the Holocaust. However, a student purchased this for me and keeps asking me.......so I'm going to attempt to read it!
The Magi: Who They Were, How They’ve Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate
The Ladies Paradise Zola group read

try to work in any Napoleonic era reads that I can

155. When Politics are Sacralized: Comparative Perspectives on Religious Claims and Nationalism by Nadim Rouhana. This book is about how religious claims and nationalism often twine together and form "sacralized politics." This sacralization, which puts religious ideals into politics, often causes violence against various racial groups. The book uses 11 different case studies to make its point; including Sri Lanka, India, Northern Ireland, Saudi Arabia, and Israel/Palestine, just to name a few. However, the majority of the book is taken up with studies concerning Israel/Palestine, maybe because that is who is currently dominating the world stage. This book is much more dense than just religion and politics and I'm not sure I "got" all of it. 300 pages 3 stars

156. The Maid's Diary by Loreth Anne White was a psychological thriller. This story centers on Kit, raped as a young teen by a group of would-be Olympic skiers. Years later she decides to exact her revenge, quite
ingeniously. I found the book riveting until the denouement, where it took a nosedive. (about 3/4 through the book) Better than some, but not great. 3.5 stars

157. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It's been about 10 years since I last read this epic poem. The poem begins dramatically, with an old sailor—the Ancient Mariner—detaining a wedding guest to tell his story. What follows is a tale of a sea voyage gone disastrously wrong. Good regardless of the amount of times read. Coleridge has a way with words! Only 25 pages in length. Free on Kindle (US) and only $.99 though Audible, it's worth every penny! The reader, Nate Maughan, is superb. RTT: High Seas 5 stars

158. The Ship of Silence by Albert Wetjen This is supposed to be maritime "horror". I suppose the author creates a unknowing, moody atmosphere. However, this "ghostship" mystery is lacking. This episode takes place on the "Robert Sutter", an abandoned ship from Sydney to Callao. Deal of the day sometime in 2023 from Audible 52 minutes. 2.5 stars

159. The Magi: Who They Were, How They’ve Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate by Eric Vanden Eykel. This book looks at the account of the Magi in the book of Matthew and then demonstrates how that story has been used and modified over the centuries. The author does an excellent job of explaining the Magi in first century context as well as explaining why their story continues to be an integral part of the Christmas story. If you are looking for the definitive answer as to who they were, this book raises more questions than provides answers. Eykel treats the Magi as literary characters more than historical personas. Very readable and interesting while still academic in nature. 218 pages 5 stars

160. The Ladies Paradise by Emile Zola introduces the reader to 19th century capitalism following the Industrial Revolution in Paris. Denise, a humble shop girl with peasant beginnings, ascends the corporate ladder without sleeping with anybody! Mouret, the owner of said department store, undergoes a moral transformation and falls truly in love with Denise. This book was very soap-opera-ish and I loved it! 481 pages 4.5 stars a tad too long!

>180 Tess_W: This sounds like it should be my first Zola!

>181 christina_reads: You and me both, not that I need more 400+ page books waiting for me to pick them up!

161. Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling tells the story of Harvey Cheyne, a spoiled and teenager who falls overboard from a luxury liner and is rescued by a fishing schooner from Gloucester. The fishermen refuse to take him home until their season ends, forcing Harvey to live and work among them. Through hard labor Harvey becomes a man. Everything is pretty much predictable. 181 pages 3 stars RTT: High Seas

162. Blindness by Jose Saramago is a modern allegory in which an unexplained epidemic of “white blindness” sweeps through an unnamed city, plunging society into chaos. At first, those afflicted are quarantined in an insane asylum where conditions are brutal. After a fire, the main characters escape and make their way back to an apartment in a central location. Of course, there are no utilities, food, or law and order. The overlying question of the book is: who can really see? 354 pages 4.5 stars Translated from the Portuguese

163. Twelve Ordinary Men by John Macarthur is the story of the lives of the twelve apostles. Each disciple is profiled in length including background, personalities, strength, and weaknesses. Rather than choosing scholars or religious elites, Jesus called flawed men who were transformed through His teaching and presence. Availability was more important than natural ability. This was a re-read for me. 201 pages 4 stars

>184 Tess_W: - I've had this on my TBR for over 10 years - I really need to try and get to it.

>185 Tess_W: - This sounds very interesting. I'll take a BB for this.

>184 Tess_W: I also found Blindness to be a thought-provoking read, and have put his Death with Interruptions on my wish list.

>187 pamelad: Gonna also add that one to my WL! A friend has recommended his The History of the Siege of Lisbon.

I spent an hour this morning canning what might be my best bargain in ages! Two weeks ago at Kroger, I stumbled across a great deal on petite potatoes—both red and yellow. At first they were $6 a bag ($2 per pound). No thanks. Then they were marked down to $2.99 a bag ($1 per pound), which had me thinking.

But two days later, they went buy one, get one, bringing the price down to just 50¢ per pound. I was in! They had six bags—18 pounds total—for only $9.

This morning I canned them in quart jars (I’m out of pints), which gave me 11 quarts—probably enough for about 22 meals. And yes, because I know people will ask: I never run the canner with empty space. I fill the extra room with jars of water. They’re essentially sterile, handy in an emergency, and not stored in plastic. I only have fewer than 10 jars of canned water, so I don’t do it often, but it works perfectly when needed.

For those that celebrate

164. A Tapestry of Treason by Anne O'Brien is a historical fiction novel featuring the houses of York and Lancaster. The story centers on the end of the reign of Richard II and Henry IV's ascension. The protagonist of this novel is Constance of York, a staunch supporter of Richard II. She becomes involved in several plots to restore him to the throne, much to her detriment. Most of the characters in the book were unsympathetic, although the story line was superb. O'Brien is one of my favs when it comes to historical fiction. 384 pages 4.5 stars

November roundup:

books read: 9

Cheers (4+ rating)
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
The Magi: Who They Were, How They’ve Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate by Eric Eykel
The Ladies Paradise by Emile Zola
Blindness by Jose Saramago
Twelve Ordinary Men by John Macarthur
Tapestry of Treason by Anne O'Brien

Jeers (less than 3 rating
The Ship of Silence by Albert Wetjen

A super reading month with 67% of books read rated 4 or higher!

December plans
All the Names by Jose Saramago
The Third Reich by Bolsonaro
The Sin of Father Mouret by Emile Zola
Elijah and Elisha by Titus Chu
The God of Small Things by ______ Joy

Kats & Kits as time for!

165. The Sins of Father Mouret by Emile Zola This book, while generous in lush detail (especially the "Garden of Eden"), was stark in allowing human beings any choices at all. Devotion to the church was all or nothing, there wasn't room for devotion to any relationship except with God; love was sin. Zola continues his nature vs. nurture argument in this novel. I found that book two went a bit overboard with its description of Paradou (the Garden of Eden), but all in all this was a good read. 352 pages 3.5 stars

166. In All the Names by José Saramago, the setting is a dull civil registry where records replace human connection. Senhor José, a timid clerk, becomes obsessed with a single unknown woman’s file, which slowly develops into a quiet mystery. I found the sentences extremely long and the punctuation sparse. I assumed this was intentional and meant to serve the story, especially since it differed from the writing style I noticed in Blindness. Over time, José turns into a fragile, ordinary sort of hero. I didn’t feel the plot itself was particularly strong, and at times I sensed I was missing deeper meaning. The slow pacing may have been deliberate, but it didn’t work for me. Overall, this book was not the enjoyable reading experience for which I had hoped. 262 pages 2.5 stars

Again, I've gone mad! I have 400+ books on my TBR, but I could not pass up a book sale where all books in this huge bin were $2-3 each! I brought home:

Home is the Sailor
Woman in the Sable Coat
The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharpe
The Yellow-Orange Diamond
Death at La Fenice: Commissario Brunetti Mysteries, Book 1
Packing My Library: An Elegy and Ten Digressions
Tomorrow is Forever
Four Arthurian Romances
We Gotta Get Out of This Place: The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War (Culture and Politics in the Cold War and Beyond)
The Invisible Woman: The Story of Nelly Ternan and Charles Dickens
The Lady of the Camellias
Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil

>194 Tess_W: A book sale? Who could resist?

>194 Tess_W: - Surely you needed a Christmas present for yourself. I have more than 600 in my TBR but almost half are ebooks so it doesn't look as bad as it really is.

>196 dudes22: Ebooks are very good for that, I find. If all my TBRs were physical books the house would probably be sinking into its foundations by now!

>196 dudes22: I'm with Betty and Jackie, but being so greedy, I have over 2,000 books on my Kindles to read. Thank heavens they are not real books that I have to store!

>198 DeltaQueen50: - ok Judy - I feel better.

Most of the books I buy anymore are either ebooks or audiobooks. Don't know what got into me!

167. The Peloponnesian Wars by Thucydides This was a book I had to read, but did not want to read! It is required reading for the college Western Civ I course. I read it about 30 years ago. I usually don't teach Western Civ I, I usually teach Western Civ II, so time to review! It's taken me a month to read...the love just wasn't there! Thucydides is known for his rigorous methodology and the collection of eye witness accounts. This is probably "THE" account of the 10 years war between Athens and Sparta. Thucydides bypasses the myths and the morals and goes straight to cause and effect and human motivation. While there are chronicles of a multitude of battles, he often considers the way societies respond under pressure. To me, the highlight was Pericles' Funeral Speech. 784 pages 4 stars

168. The Epic of Gilgamesh Author unknown Read because I will be teaching Western Civ I next semester. What a great piece of Sumerian literature. I liked this version because it included the "lost" lines, as well as could have been constructed and with copious notes and attention drawn to those unoriginal lines. The story follows King Gilgamesh's journey from arrogance to humility. He experiences friendship, grief, and searches for life's meaning, including the desire for lasting significance. Great literature! 80 pages 5 stars

169. How the Fall of Constantinople Reshaped the Renaissance by Nathan Kay. This was either Kay's thesis or dissertation. I had to read it in the library as it had not been digitized. 60 pages Research indicates that engineers, mathematicians, and scholars fled Constantinople at its fall in 1453 and headed towards Athens or Rome. They often carried their research and libraries with them. For quite sometime Rome had really been in the Dark Ages since the Barbarians had destroyed many libraries and repositories. Hence, receiving access to these materials is what sparked the Renaissance. I would guess that this was a thesis and not a dissertation. It covered the knowledge that I needed to know, but I felt it wasn't in scholarly depth and the sources were sparse; however, some good reading!

170. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante This book covered the friendship or lack thereof of two young girls through adulthood. The girls struggled against family pressures and society's limitations. However, I found little plot and the stories surrounding the friends were just mediocre, creating a boring read. This is book one in the Neapolitan Novel series. I will not continue with the series. 336 pages 2.5 stars

>204 Tess_W: Well, I liked this one but couldn't get through the next one so obviously I didn't complete the series.

>284 - This was a choice for our book club this year and I was one of the few (maybe the only one) who didn't like it. I won't continue either.

Great reading Tess, and congrats on another great book haul! I'll join in with your followers here to say that yes, of course you were treating yourself to an early Christmas.

Best of luck on your Western Civ I class. I look forward to reading your reviews of the books that you are reading in preparation for this class, both this year and next.

Hope your canning season continues to go well!

They are called ice stars! These pictures were taken recently in Ohio. Normally, they form when heavy snow weighs down thin ice just enough for water to seep in through a small hole. The water then spreads across the snow on top, melting channels outward, then refreezes...creating the branch star patterns you see! Pic from a park in Ohio

Wow, I've never seen anything like that before! It's beautiful!

I've never heard of that, thanks for the pic!

Nature is so amazing.

171. The Guest List by Lucy Foley I found this book extremely slow at the very beginning. Each chapter is from a different POV and they all seem to blur together; there seems to not be enough distinction between the characters. Also, I was 2 hours/10 hours into the book and the "mystery" event had not yet occurred. The characters thus far were annoying and superficial. This is a DNF for me (audio book). 2 stars

172. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson A classic I have read 3-4 times. I like it because it cuts to the chase of the real Christmas. 128 pages 5 stars

I decided at the beginning of 2025 that I would make a diary/list of new words that I came across while reading. These are words I have absolutely never read or heard before, to my knowledge. I was sporadic with my list making and think I will now end the 2025 vocabulary round up:

ibilant – making or characterized by a hissing sound, like a whistle

susurrant – soft whistling or ruffling sound

intropunitiveness-a psychological term describing the tendency to turn blame, frustration, or hostility inward, punishing oneself instead of others

peculation-the wrongful taking or misappropriation of public funds or property that someone has been entrusted to guard, stealing from the government

prolicide-the act of killing one's offspring

rodomontade-boastful

vellichor- word for the strange, wistful nostalgia or deep longing felt in old bookstores (have felt this before!)

crepuscular-things related to twilight

bibliosmia- The distinct, often comforting aroma of a book

odalisque- a woman slave in a harem

punctilio a fine or petty point of conduct or procedure

I probably won't remember them, nor will I probably ever see them again!

defenestration: I know for an almost certainty, that when I was young my mother read from the Bible about a person who threw themselves out of a window after they had been found stealing from the temple and she used the word defenestration and explained it to me. It could have been that she wasn't reading the Bible, but another book, because I've been unable to find it. When I looked it up, here is a bit of trivia about the term:

In 1618, two Imperial governors and their secretary were tossed from the Prague Castle, sparking the Thirty Years' War. These incidents, particularly that in 1618, were referred to as the Defenestrations of Prague and gave rise to the term and the concept.

So....it would not have been in the Bible, unless it was a off-beat translation and my mom was all about the King James, so that I would doubt!

Lovely words, particularly susurrant. I am thankful for the dictionary function in ebook readers.

Edited for sp.

I've gotten hopelessly behind on threads this fall. Life has just been too busy. I'm hoping to catch up on book posting this week--just in time for the new year! It looks like you've read several Christian books that I've either read or are on my radar.

>216 thornton37814: You are not alone on being behind on threads! May your Christmas and New Year be blessed.

173. A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao is set in 1914 in the British colony of Fiji. It features Sergeant Akal Singh, a Sikh Indian, as he tries to find out why an indentured Indian woman has disappeared. Nobody much cares about this "coolie" woman. Singh is trying to work off a disgrace in which he was involved in Hong Kong before being hurriedly transferred. The story and mystery were good enough, but not really exciting. I probably will not seek the rest of the series. 288 pages 3 stars

>218 Tess_W: I did enjoy the Fiji setting though.

Today is candy making day: 5 lb. peanut butter fudge, 5 lb chocolate fudge, 2-3 lbs. peanut brittle

Tues-6 doz molasses sugar cookies, 6 doz Almond Joy cookies
Wed-3 doz Mexican Wedding Balls, 6 doz lemon crinkles
Thur-3 doz mini m&m cookies, Amish toffee cookies/bars
Fri-chocolate cake with cream cheese icing, 3 kinds of chips cookies (semi-sweet, white choc, peanut butter)

What's for Christmas dinner (1pm) at my house:
Ham
scalloped potatoes
cornbread casserole
green beans flavored with ham or bacon
layered salad
clam dip & veggies
deviled eggs
cheese and crackers
dessert: see above!

174. Joinville and Villehardouin: Chronicles of the Crusades edited by M.R. B. Shaw
This NF read is considered two of the most important and accurate first hand accounts of the crusades. Villehardouin's The Conquest of Constantinople is a soldier's account of the 4th crusade and includes the sack of Constantinople in 1204, and not for the religious reasons usually touted. Jean de Joinville writes about the 7th crusade and Louis IX's moral character, piety, and military failure(s). I like these 2 particular takes as they present a balanced view of both the military and religious aspects of the crusades. 384 pages 4.5 stars

Have a very happy Christmas, Tess!

Hi Tess, I finally caught up with your thread!

>140 Tess_W: Sylvia's Lovers is another Gaskell I haven't read. I must get to it!

>144 Tess_W: The Rose and the Thistle sounds really nice.

>185 Tess_W: I'm also taking a BB for Twelve Ordinary Men.

>191 Tess_W: I haven't heard of Anne O'Brien yet - this goes onto my wish list!

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Attended three great music performances this past week. I took my granddaughters (aged 8 & 10) to see The Nutcracker Ballet. The 8 year old didn't want to go because evidently her music teacher has had them watching parts of it and singing some musical selections from it and she "hated" it. However, after the performance (we went to tea) she "hated it less." Both girls were more interested in the food afterwards than in the ballet! Sigh

I also attended with a friend The Trans-Siberian Orchestra "Ghosts of Christmas Eve." It was great, if a bit too loud and smoky for me. Carol of the Bells was the highlight.

Another friend and I went to listen to Handel's 'The Messiah' at The Pontifical College Josephinum. Also great!

And I go a caroling tomorrow night. I can't sing a lick, but it's fun!

Chocolate (with walnuts) and peanut butter fudge!

>224 Tess_W: Oh, it all sounds wonderful! I'd love to see The Nutcracker one day.
Maybe your granddaughters will appreciate what you offered them when they are older. I know it's how I feel about many experiences of my childhood that I didn't appreciate when I was young, but value now.

>226 MissBrangwen: When I was a classroom teacher, several of my students were dancers and I saw them performing in the Nutcracker ballet. It was interesting to try to pick them out amongst the other performers.

175. Beyond the Door of No Return by David Diop This is a difficult review because the book was a difficult read and my understanding of it is nebulous. In a nutshell, a daughter of a famous botanist attempts to either understand or locate the love of her passed father's life, who had been sold into slavery. Not sure, because I was unable to tell what was real and what was imagined. I think that this book was a condemnation of colonialism, but it meandered so much that it became almost absurd to this reader. I should have DNF....2.5 stars 256 pages

December in review
Books read: 10

Cheers (4-5 star reads)
The Peloponnesian Wars by Thucydides
Epic of Gilgamesh author unknown
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
Joinville and Villehardouin: Chronicles of the Crusades edited by M.B. Shaw

Jeers (less than 3 star reads)
The Door of No Return by David Diop (should have DNF)
All the Names by Jose Saramago
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao

December was pretty much a sucky month for me, fiction-wise!

I always begin my new reading year on Dec. 25 so that I can begin books that might have been gifted. A year in review will be in next post!

2025 year in review

Number of books read: 173
Fiction-116
Non-fiction-57

Best of Fiction:
Blindness by Jose Saramago
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Rodin's Lover by Heather Webb
The Letter by Kathryn Hughes
Mary Ingalls on Her Own (Little House Sequel) by Elizabeth Cody Kimball
A Tapestry of Treason by Anne O'Brien
Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce
Rose and Thistle by Laura Frantz
Her Accidental Highlander Husband: Clan MacKinlay Series, Book 1 by Allison Hanson
The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton
The Ladies' Paradise by Emile Zola
The Asylum (The Forensic Genealogist Series) by Nathan Goodwin

Best of Non-Fiction
Twelve Ordinary Men by John Macarthur
The Epic of Gilgamesh: An English Version with an Introduction author unknown
Hitler's Last Days: The Death of the Nazi Regime and the World's Most Notorious Dictator by Bill O'Reilly
The Magi: Who They Were, How They’ve Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate by Eric Eyekel
Caroline Matilda, Queen of Denmark, 1751-75 by Hester Chapman
Betrayal at the Vel D'Hiv by Claude Levy
Do Not Lick This Book by Idan Ben-Barak
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death by Patrick Henry
Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series) by Bill O'Reilly
A Letter From Danton to Marie Antoinette (Classic Reprint) by Georges Jacques Danton
All Rivers Run to the Sea: Memoirs (Memoirs of Elie Wiesel) by Elie Wiesel
The Great Divorce: A Nineteenth-Century Mother's Extraordinary Fight Against Her Husband, the Shakers, and Her Times by Ilyon Woo

Best non-fiction of 2025- Caroline Matilda, Queen of Denmark by Hester Chapman
Best fiction of 2025-Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce

See you in 2026!

>230 Tess_W: Congratulations -- 173 books is impressive! I have yet to do much in the 2026 group, as I'm still working on closing out 2025, but I look forward to seeing you over there! :)

Congratulations on completing your challenge, Tess!

I agree with your opinion of The Guest List at >212 Tess_W:. I gave it 2.5 stars.

See you in 2026! Happy New Year!