Alcott Acre's Home, Room 6

Let's get the introduction out of the way. My name is Stasia and I have been happily married to the recently retired Kerry for 37 years come June. We have 6 children, 4 of whom are my stepchildren and 2 of whom are ours together. We also have 8 grandchildren. We lost our daughter Nichole in 2023.

I love to read, it goes without saying and Kerry is very good about all of the books strewn throughout our house. Since Kerry retired in late 2023, we have spent a lot of time over the course of 2024 playing board games (my other hobby) and despite that, my reading has continued apace.

I suffer from both insomnia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (known to me familiarly as 'stupid CFS') so to say my sleeping is haphazard may be an understatement, lol. Generally speaking, if I get 4 hours of sleep a night I am happy. Unfortunately when my CFS hits, I get about 14. Ugh.

I love to travel and Kerry and I have trips planned for 2025. The first one was in March and we had a great time. In June, I am heading (by myself) to Pennsylvania to meet Linda (Whisper) and whoever else might be about!

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

Excellent Reads from 2025 (in the order in which I read them):

5 Stars
Archaeology of the Bible: The Greatest Discoveries from Genesis to the Roman Era by Jean-Pierre Isbouts
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel
The Novels of the Harlem Renaissance: Twelve Black Writers, 1923-1933 by Amritjit Singh
Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story by Martin Luther King, Jr.
The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami
There Once Was a World by Yaffa Eliach
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert's Story by Debbie Tung
The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny
Memorial Days: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

4.5 Stars
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon
Farewell Espana by Howard M. Sachar
Time's Echo: The Second World War, The Holocaust, and The Music of Remembrance by Jeremy Eichler
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Our Riches by Kaouther Adimi
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts by Louis Bayard
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset
Our Daily War by Andrei Kourkov
Sylvia Beach and the Lost Generation by Noel Riley Fitch
The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million by Daniel Mendelsohn
A Fire in the Mind: The Life of Joseph Campbell by Stephen Larsen and Robin Larsen
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Jane Austen's Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
Bookish: How Reading Shapes Our Lives by Lucy Mangan
The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
Freedom's Daughters by Lynne Olson
The Free by Willy Vlautin
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

4.25 Stars
Making It So by Patrick Stewart
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss
Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier
The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eva Eger
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
The Harlem Renaissance Remembered: Essays Edited with a Memoir by Arna Bontemps
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa
And the Rest is History by Jodi Taylor
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
Till Human Voices Wake Us by Victoria Goddard
In the Enemy's House by Howard Blum
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
The Age of Revolution, 1789-1848 by E. J. Hobsbawm
The Wildcat Behind Glass by Alki Zei
Mountain Path by Harriette Simpson Arnow
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold
Papillon by Henri Charriere
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
Among the Righteous by Robert Satloff
Chenneville by Paulette Jiles
The Riddle of the Labyrinth by Margalit Fox

June TIOLI Challenges:

Challenge #1: Read a book with the word "old" or "new" in the title or a book with a word in the title that rhymes with either "old" or "new".
The New Negro edited by Alain Locke - Completed June 19, 2025
Two Old Women by Velma Wallis - Completed June 1, 2025

Challenge #2: The “Now There’s a Question” Challenge - a book that either has the word ‘question’ in the title or a book whose title includes a question mark
The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher - Completed June 21, 2025
When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson - Completed June 29, 2025

Challenge #3: Read a book with a woman's first name in the title
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto - Completed June 5, 2025

Challenge #4: Read a book whose title makes you think of a reduction in noise
Radio Free Albemuth by Philip K. Dick - Completed June 9, 2025
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World by Debbie Tung - Completed June 2, 2025

Challenge #5: Read a book with a title no more than five words long, but that contains five or more vowels
Among the Righteous by Robert Satloff - Completed June 9, 2025
The Bingo Palace by Louise Erdrich - Completed June 14, 2025
Brotherhood in Death by J. D. Robb - Completed June 4, 2025
The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn - Completed June 27, 2025
The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig - Completed June 18, 2025
The Lost Eleven by Denise George and Robert Child - Completed June 25, 2025

Challenge #6: Reading Shame Forgiveness - read that book you feel ashamed not to have read yet.
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger - Completed June 4, 2025
Metamorphoses by Ovid - Completed June 26, 2025

Challenge #7: Read a book whose title has at least one set of consecutive double letters that are consonants
Chenneville by Paulette Jiles - Completed June 16, 2025
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - Completed June 29, 2025
Reckless by Cornelia Funke - Completed June 30, 2025
The Weaver of the Middle Desert by Victoria Goddard - Completed June 17, 2025

Challenge #8: Read a memoir written by a Soldier, Politician or Mother
The Autobiography of the British Soldier edited by John Lewis-Stempel - Completed June 22, 2025

Challenge #9: Read a book with the word or number '''Zero''' in the title or subtitle
Zero Day by David Baldacci - Completed June 20, 2025

Challenge #10: Read a book which has language as a theme
The Riddle of the Labyrinth by Margalit Fox - Completed June 20, 2025

Challenge #11: Read a book which meets a category on the 2025 Seattle Public Library book bingo card (list the category)
The Free by Willy Vlautin - Completed June 18, 2025
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer - Completed June 30, 2025
Memorial Days: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks - Completed June 27, 2025

Challenge #12: Read a book with an event in the title
The Storm of the Century by Al Roker - Completed June 4, 2025

Challenge #13: Read a book with something bright in the title
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson - Completed June 25, 2025

Challenge #14: Read a book discussed by the BBC World Book Club in 2005
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - Completed June 25, 2025

Challenge 15: Read a book with the letter combos MO, RP, HI, or DA anywhere in or the letter E at the beginning of a word in the title
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis - Completed June 29, 2025
The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee by Marja Mills - Completed June 21, 2025

Challenge #16 : Read a book with a character who shares the name of an American Revolutionary War leader
The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny - Completed June 16, 2025

Shared reads:

Terec and the Wall by Victoria Goddard - Completed January 4, 2025
Balancing Stone by Victoria Goddard - February with Mary - Completed February 8, 2025
My Antonia by Willa Cather - Completed February 4, 2025
The Spoilt City by Olivia Manning - Completed February 24, 2025
Till Human Voices Wake Us by Victoria Goddard - Completed March 26, 2025
Friends and Heroes by Olivia Manning - Completed March 29, 2025
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber - April with Mark DNF
In the Realms of Gold by Victoria Goddard - Completed April 1, 2025
The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel - Completed April 5, 2025
The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami - Completed May 17, 2025
The Glassblower by Victoria Goddard - Completed May 3, 2025
Mother London by Michael Moorcock - Shared read with Peggy and Karen DNF
The Weaver of the Middle Desert by Victoria Goddard - Completed June 17, 2025
Stargazy Pie by Victoria Goddard - Shared read with Mary July 2025
The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon - Shared read with Mark in December

Black Studies Reading
1. Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum by Antonia Hylton - Completed January 9, 2025
2. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah Completed February 8, 2025
3. Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story by Martin Luther King, Jr. Completed April 26, 2025
4. Freedom's Daughters by Lynne Olson Completed May 28, 2025
5. The Lost Eleven by Denise George and Robert Child Completed June 25, 2025

Jewish Studies Reading
1. Farewell Espana by Howard M. Sachar - Completed January 18, 2025
2. Time's Echo: The Second World War, The Holocaust, and The Music of Remembrance by Jeremy Eichler - Completed January 24, 2025
3. The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million by Daniel Mendelsohn - Completed March 29, 2025
4. What I Wish My Christian Friends Knew About Judaism by Robert Schoen - Completed April 1, 2025
5. Prince of the Press: How One Collector Built History's Most Enduring and Remarkable Jewish Library by Joshua Teplitsky - Completed May 7, 2025
6. There Once Was a World by Yaffa Eliach - Completed May 21, 2025
7. Among the Righteous by Robert Satloff - Completed June 9, 2025

The American Authors Challenge - This is one that I dip into and out of as the case may be
January A Sudden Light by Garth Stein - Completed January 11, 2025
February Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa - Completed February 26, 2025
March Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan - Completed March 25, 2025
April Mountain Path by Harriette Simpson Arnow - Completed April 17, 2025
May Across the Wide Missouri by Bernard DeVoto - Completed May 5, 2025
June The Free by Willy Vlautin - Completed June 18, 2025

The British Authors Challenge - Same as the American Authors Challenge
January Theatre by W. Somerset Maugham - Completed January 13, 2025
February Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky - Completed February 20, 2025
March My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell - Completed March 12, 2025
April The Children of Men by P. D. James - Completed April 23, 2025
May Staying On by Paul Scott - Completed June 11, 2025

Paul's Grand Tour Challenge

JANUARY
Middlemarch by George Eliot - Completed January 25, 2025

FEBRUARY
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset - Completed February 18, 2025

MARCH
Embers by Sandor Marai - Completed March 3, 2025

APRIL
The Wildcat Behind Glass by Alki Zei - Completed April 11, 2025

MAY
Enemies: A Love Story by Isaac Bashevis Singer - Completed May 16, 2025

JUNE
Metamorphoses by Ovid - Completed June 26, 2025

JULY
Fearless by Cornelia Funke

The “Read More Sci-Fi” Challenge - using the Esquire list found here (https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g39358054/best-sci-fi-books/) - which has now been expanded - and the book Science Fiction, The 101 Best Novels, 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul di Filippo as guides. Also adding in Hugo & Nebula Award winners and nominees.
1. The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein - Completed January 15, 2025 (from the book)
2. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky - Completed February 20, 2025 (number 54 on the Esquire list)
3. Solaris by Stanislaw Lem - Completed February 23, 2025 (number 53 on the Esquire list)
4. The Children of Men by P. D. James - Completed April 23, 2025 (number 36 on the Esquire list)
5. The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon - Completed April 24, 2025 (Nebula Award Winner, 2004)
6. The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal - Completed May 17, 2025 (Nominated for a Hugo Award, 2023)
7. Radio Free Albemuth by Philip K. Dick - Completed June 9, 2025 (from the book)
8. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis - Completed June 29, 2025 (Won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards)

Monthly Nonfiction Challenges - I try to read at least 100 nonfiction books a year and this challenge is instrumental in helping me achieve that goal. In 2024, I was able to read 133 nonfiction books.
January Pearl Buck in China by Hilary Spurling - Completed January 21, 2025
January Time's Echo: The Second World War, The Holocaust, and The Music of Remembrance by Jeremy Eichler - Completed January 24, 2025
January Atlas of Vanishing Places by Travis Elborough - Completed January 24, 2025
March In the Enemy's House by Howard Blum - Completed March 28, 2025
April The Age of Revolution, 1789-1848 by E. J. Hobsbawm - Completed April 4, 2025
June The Storm of the Century by Al Roker - Completed June 4, 2025

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

The In Death series by J.D. Robb
Thankless in Death - Completed January 27, 2025
Bonded in Death - Completed February 9, 2025
Concealed in Death - Completed March 4, 2025
Festive in Death - Completed March 11, 2025
Obsession in Death - Completed March 18, 2025
Devoted in Death - Completed June 4, 2025
Apprentice in Death

The St. Mary’s books by Jodi Taylor
And the Rest is History - Completed March 8, 2025
An Argumentation of Historians -

The Decker/Lazarus series by Faye Kellerman
Justice - Completed March 16, 2025
Prayers for the Dead -

The Three Pines series by Louise Penny
The Hangman - Completed March 21, 2025
A Trick of the Light - Completed April 14, 2025
The Beautiful Mystery - Completed June 16, 2025
How the Light Gets In -

The Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear
Among the Mad - Completed February 27, 2025
The Mapping of Love and Death - Completed March 16, 2025
A Lesson in Secrets -

The Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson
When Will There Be Good News? - Completed June 29, 2025
Started Early, Took My Dog -

The Shetland Series by Ann Cleeves
Blue Lightning - Completed January 18, 2025
Dead Water - Completed March 20, 2025
Thin Air -

The Mirrorworld Series by Cornelia Funke
The Glass of Lead and Gold by Cornelia Funke - Completed January 10, 2025
Reckless - Completed June 30, 2025
Fearless -

The Wayfarers Series by Becky Chambers
A Closed and Common Orbit - Completed May 27, 2025
Record of a Spaceborn Few

Harlem Renaissance Reading (as an adjunct to my Black Studies reading):
1. My Soul's High Song: The Collected Writings of Countee Cullen edited by Gerald Early - Completed January 7, 2025
2. The Harlem Renaissance Remembered: Essays Edited with a Memoir by Arna Bontemps Completed February 12, 2025
3. Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray Completed March 5, 2025
4. The Novels of the Harlem Renaissance: Twelve Black Writers, 1923-1933 by Amritjit Singh Completed April 10, 2025
5. The New Negro edited by Alain Locke - Completed June 19, 2025

Louise Erdrich Challenge (featuring the Love Medicine series: https://www.librarything.com/nseries/2972/Love-Medicine)
1. Love Medicine Completed February 15, 2025
2. The Beet Queen Completed April 20, 2025
3. Tracks Completed May 23, 2025
4. The Bingo Palace Completed June 14, 2025
5. Four Souls

The “Lists” Challenges: Reading from the lists, nonfiction and fiction, that are growing rapidly at my local library

Nonfiction:
1. All In by Billie Jean King - Completed January 5, 2025
2. Archaeology of the Bible: The Greatest Discoveries From Genesis to the Roman Era by Jean-Pierre Isbouts - Completed January 19, 2025
3. Sailor and Fiddler by Herman Wouk Completed February 2, 2025
4. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah Completed February 8, 2025
5. Sylvia Beach and the Lost Generation by Noel Riley Fitch Completed March 28, 2025
6. The Bookseller of Florence by Ross King Completed April 15, 2025
7. The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold - Completed May 13, 2025

Fiction:
1. Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram Completed February 6, 2025
2. Virgil Wander by Leif Enger - Completed April 1, 2025
3. The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan - Completed April 8, 2025
4. Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - Completed May 6, 2025

I will take a nap while Touchstones are loading. . .

Happy New Thread, Stasia!

>12 alcottacre: Thank you, Deborah!

Finished tonight (but now falling asleep, so no 'review')

132 - Tracks by Louise Erdrich - Reread; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Happy new thread, Stasia. Have a good weekend. Hope you get a new sleep pattern with your new thread. I see you were up late last night.

Happy New Thread, Stasia. I hope you can make the best of this holiday weekend. 🤞🤞

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Stasia, and best wishes for CFS to give you a break soon.

Happy new thread, Stasia. Adding my well wishes that the CFS moves on soon.

Happy new thread!

>16 Kristelh: I was up late last night, Kristel, and up early this morning, so I am hopeful that the CFS has finally abandoned me. I really, really need it to! Thanks.

>17 msf59: Thank you so much, Mark! Kerry and I were out game shopping today - making the best of the weekend, right?

>18 figsfromthistle: >19 bell7: >20 MickyFine: >21 banjo123: Thanks, Anita, Mary, Micky, and Rhonday!

I appreciate the wishes regarding the CFS as well!

Finished today:

133 - How to Read a Book by Monica Wood - This was initially a recommendation from Deborah (VancouverDeb), so thank you so much for that! I thoroughly enjoyed the read. We are introduced to multiple characters in the book but the main characters are Violet, a young woman who through tragic circumstances ends up in prison where she meets retired teacher Harriet, who supervises the book club for the inmates. We are also introduced to Frank who is working at a local bookstore as a handyman of sorts. This is an unlikely trio to carry a book, I grant you, but Wood does a great job of making the unlikely seem likely with her writing skill. These are people who feel real, not just pasted on characterizations; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

Happy new thread, Stasia!

>24 quondame: Thanks, Susan!

Another ezeekat video short that I am sure we can all relate to:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-Ni-ZEAuNbY

Another thread!!!!!! I'm thrilled that it's starting on an AWAKE and ALERT note!!!! Long may your normal reign!!!!!

Happy new thread, Stasia! I sincerely hope the CFS is leaving you alone now.

>27 LizzieD: Thanks, Peggy. Yes, my insomnia is back, lol.

>28 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene. It seems to have gone away again at least for the moment :)

Today is my traditional 'day off' technology so plenty of board gaming today as well as books, books, and more books. Hopefully tomorrow I will be up early enough to get some catching up on LT done as I am once again behind.

I hope everyone has a lovely Sunday!

Happy day off tech, Stasia. Enjoy your books and gaming.

'Morning, Stasia! Happy day off technology.

I haven't played a board game in decades, but will be playing Wyrmspan with my daughter and her wife on Wednesday if things go the way they're supposed to. I forget - do you have it or have you played it?

Happy new thread, Stasia.

Sorry to be slow slow in picking up your new thread. I seem snowed under these days.

Hope that the weekend has helped banish the CFC my dear lady.

Hi Stasia my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend, i have been absent of late on LT due to pain issues, Karen's recent birthday and trying to do little jobs.

>31 Kristelh: Thanks, Kristel. Let's just say that my Sunday did not turn out as I had planned.

>32 karenmarie: Karen, Wyrmspan was my game of the year in 2024. I love it!

>33 PaulCranswick: I am sorry to hear that you are snowed under these days, Paul. I hope that situation is rectified soon. Thanks.

>34 johnsimpson: I understand about pain issues, John, I really do. You do what you can to take care of you and yours. It is always wonderful to see you.

Well, my current level of disgust with myself knows no bounds. After thinking for all of 1 day that I might be out from under CFS, it returned yesterday with a vengeance. I had at least 3 naps. I got a whole 49 minutes of reading done yesterday, enough for me to finish a book, but still. I was in bed at 5pm and slept until 11:50am this morning - almost 17 hours later! Arggggg!!!!!

I hate this. I hate this. I hate this.

Finished yesterday:

134 - The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick - Juvenile; This is a re-read for me of a book I originally read all the way back in 2008, the year after it won a much-deserved (IMHO) Caldecott Award. The book tells the story of 12-year-old Hugo who lives with his father, a watchmaker caught up in the world of automatons, until the father dies and Hugo goes to live with his uncle, who is the timekeeper at a Paris train station. After his uncle mysteriously disappears, Hugo sets all of the clocks at the station. Until one day. . .; Highly Recommended (5 stars) Mine

>37 alcottacre: Oh, I remember the movie Hugo. Mostly the visual impact, but clockwork and train station for sure.

>36 alcottacre: so sorry Stasia, give yourself some love.

Happy new thread!

>38 quondame: Yeah, I saw the movie version of it way back when too, Susan. I still love the book best though!

>39 Kristelh: I do not do so well on that, Kristel, but I do try. Thanks!

>40 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>36 alcottacre: *hugs*

Oh dear. Give yourself some love indeed! ((((((Stasia))))))

>42 richardderus: Thanks, RD. ((Hugs)) and **smooches** back at you!

>43 LizzieD: I will try, Peggy.

Finished tonight (and once again too tired for a formal 'review')

135 - Marmee & Louisa by Eve LaPlante - Audiobook, Nonfiction; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Off to bed shortly. . .

>36 alcottacre: Chin up, Juana. Juan is thinking positive thoughts.

>36 alcottacre: Stasia 17 hour sleeps. i can see why you are completely frustrated with this. Enough! Be gone CFS. Now!

Grrr re your CFS Stasia. So debilitating. Still, you did finish a book.

Happy new thread! I hope the CFS lightens up soon -- this has been quite a long spell!

>46 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Juan!

>47 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. It was not quite so bad today, thank goodness. I cannot ever remember sleeping 17 hours straight (although I may have when I had mono 30+ years ago, lol). I hope I never do it again though!

>48 Caroline_McElwee: Yep, I am having to prioritize as much reading as I can these days as I still have several books I need to finish yet in May.

>49 foggidawn: Yeah, I do not think that the 1 day break I had counts! Thanks, foggi!

Happy Tuesday, Stasia. Just checking in. Sorry to hearing about the continuing CFS woes. Does it usually plague this long? I hope you are at least finding comfort in the books.

Finished this afternoon:

136 - A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers - This is the second book in Chambers' Wayfarers series, a series of books that won the Hugo Award for best series. Although it is in the same series as the first book, A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, other than 1 character, it features an entirely new cast. Personally, I like this book better. We grow up with Jane, a child on a planet who seems simply to have been abandoned there with other children for the purpose of putting them to work. They have 'Mothers' who tend them - meeting only their basic needs and scarcely even them - and the children have each other for company. Jane gets separated from her companions and ends up alone except for an AI who probably does a better job of raising her than the 'Mothers' ever did. Eventually, they escape the planet and head to somewhere more hospitable. . .maybe?; Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine

I have loved everything I've read that B. Chambers has written. Read on!

I surely hope that tomorrow is even better than today.

>52 alcottacre:
I liked this entry in the series. It was as good as the first one.

>54 benitastrnad: I have read all of the books in the series to this point, I think. I am glad to know that you enjoyed it too, Benita.

>52 alcottacre: She does make readin' fun, doesn't she? I'm glad some fun stuff happened! *smooch*

So, yes, I am still alive. I have so many books to finish for May that it is not even funny. I have crossed off about a dozen. I do not think I am going to get either my Nonfiction read for the month, Private Revolutions, finished. That is a real shame because the book is also on the Women's Prize for Nonfiction shortlist. I do not think I am going to be able to finish my BAC read for May either. *sigh* I need a clone who does not have CFS!!

I will be heading to my mother's late tomorrow for her birthday on Friday, so my goal for the next couple of days is to read as much as I possibly can. I should be finishing one of my shared reads, Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch, today, as well as Freedom's Daughters. I started Feed last night and it is reading pretty quickly. I have yet to start The Safekeep, which I have been wanting to read for a year now. Luckily, Devoted in Death is on audio because I have 6 hours of driving ahead of me between tomorrow and Saturday.

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday! Do not mind me, I am making much ado about nothing :)

ETA: Just a reminder that while at my mother's I have no Internet access at all. I have not been online a lot because of the CFS, but I do not want people to worry because I have completely disappeared, if anyone would.

>56 richardderus: Yes, she does. When a series wins the Hugo, it definitely has my attention!

Happy newish thread, Stasia! Hope your mum has a Happy Birthday. I cannot believe I didn't even visit your last thread once and you read two books I rate highly too: Apprentice to the Villain and The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper,

>59 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. We have good taste in books, don't we?

Finished this afternoon (after yet another nap, lol):

137 - Freedom's Daughters by Lynne Olson - Nonfiction; Author Olson does a deep dive into the Civil Rights Movement, focusing on the women, to whom little credit has been given, who helped drive it. More notable names are among the lists of these women - my personal hero, Fanny Lou Hamer, is there as well as Eleanor Roosevelt - but little known women also make appearances. Much of the work of the Movement was done behind the scenes by women, who were definitely a driving force. Even Martin Luther King Jr, who is given much of the credit for the success of the Movement, did not give women their due; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

"The struggle for racial freedom, in fact, is a multilayered sage that spanned several generations, originating before the Civil War and finally reaching its climax at mid-twentieth century. It was a struggle that women helped to mold, lead, and organize from its very beginning."

Finished tonight (and yes, there was another nap in between):

138 - Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch by Rivka Galchen - This book was long listed for the CBC Canada Reads prize back in 2022 and I can see why. Although I did not care for the book as much as Mary (bell7) did, I still thought it was a good read. The problem is with me - I just do not care for courtroom testimony in a book and I find the repetition tedious - but I did like the premise of the book and the way Katharina's story unfolds. Check out Mary's review for a differing opinion (https://www.librarything.com/work/25612228/reviews/286135329)!; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>23 alcottacre: I am glad you enjoyed How to Read a Book, Stasia.

Travel VERY CAREFULLY, Stasia!!!! Happy Birthday to your mother and Happy Your Mother's Birthday to you and Catey!

>63 vancouverdeb: I really did, Deborah. Thank you so much for that recommendation! I have passed it along to my daughter, Beth.

>64 LizzieD: Thanks, Peggy. I will wish my mother happy birthday wishes from you.

Another 14 hours in bed. Really tired of this.

Happy New Thread!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/371287

>67 SilverWolf28: I could not take part yesterday, Silver, but I will try and join in today and tomorrow.

I am home and I am actually feeling good. "Normal" (for me) sleeping over the past couple of days and I am really hoping that the CFS is in my rear window.

Kerry and I will be board gaming today and then I have 3 (!) books I would like to finish before the day is out. The good news is that I am almost done with one of them and have started the second.

I hope everyone has a super Saturday!

Hope you have a good one too, Stasia, and that you make progress (at least) on your books.

Finished on my way home from Longview:

139 - Devoted in Death - J. D. Robb - Audiobook; This entry in the In Death series finds Dallas trying to find a pair of killers who are on a spree - killing their way across the U.S. to get to New York, where they killed Dallas' victim and have kidnapped 2 others. Eve does something she rarely does and allows a deputy from Arkansas in on her investigation because he is sure that his victim is one of the couples' but his idea that his victim was one of the couples was discounted by the FBI. By the time Eve is through, she finds over 20 victims and has part of her department, Santiago and Carmichael, in NYPSD West; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>70 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba!

>71 alcottacre: I have to say "Ella-Loo" put me off in the biggest way when I read this one. That spelling...!

Stay away, CFS!!

>73 richardderus: She was certainly a piece of work, wasn't she?!

Thanks, RD! ((Hugs)) and **smooches**

Glad you are feeling better Stasia.

>75 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline!

Finished tonight, but too tired to comment on:

140 - Feed by Mira Grant - Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Mine

141 - The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden - Not Recommended (3 stars) Mine

Staying On is not going to get completed in May unfortunately. Too tired to finish it yet tonight and I do not want to rush through it.

>69 alcottacre: So glad to hear that you are feeling better!! Enjoy the weekend :)

>78 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita!

June is starting so much better for me than May. I am excited because after almost 2 years, I have reached my goal weight. I slept a 'normal' amount for me last night - about 3.5 hours and my CFS seems to have finally gone away. I am excited because next Saturday I am leaving for Pennsylvania to visit our (Whisper) Linda and am going to be able to meet (Layton woman) Linda for the first time as well as seeing Judy and Jim again!

On the reading front, I have 4 library books that I need to start and finish before I leave. . .

So, today being my day off technology, I am hoping to get some games and reading in plus I have a family meet up today.

I hope everyone has a lovely Sunday!

>77 alcottacre: I liked #141 just that crucial bit more than you did, Stasia, probably due to my fellow-queer sensibilities. Still not a powerfully pushed-forward read for me, either.

Sunday-off *smooch*

>80 alcottacre: I am so happy to hear that you are feeling so much better! Stay away, sCFS! Have a wonderful Sunday, Stasia!

>81 richardderus: Overall, Richard, I just did not care for the style of the book. That was really my main complaint.

>82 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene!

A new Ezeekat short for your viewing pleasure:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XY_KVMP5pS0

Finished tonight:

142 - Two Old Women by Velma Wallis - This book was recommended by Janet (streamsong) several years ago and I am just now getting around to reading it. I very much enjoyed this slim folktale volume, a story from the Gwich'in people's past, a story told to her repeatedly by her mother that the author wanted to ensure lived on. In the tale, The People decide to abandon two old women because they are taking up resources that might be better used to keep others alive - other younger people, that is. However, the old women are determined that although they have been left to their own devices, they are not just going to lay down and die. They successfully return to a spot that The People had left years before, but had been a fruitful spot, and they make it into an abundant spot once more. . .and then The People send out men to seek them out; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

Belated Happy New Thread, Stasia

>80 alcottacre: So pleased that you are more like your old self, Juana.

I have had a pretty downbeat month too with work weighing me down.
Sill I started a new thread to make a clean slate of things and hopefully it will do the trick.

>86 ArlieS: Thank you, Arlie!

>87 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul.

I hope that June brings better things for you!

It is looking like a good day today. I have been working on cataloging my library this morning - I figure that even if I only work in 30 minute increments, I will eventually get it done. Maybe.

Kerry and I will be gaming at some point today. It is his pick and I do not know what it is yet :)

I have already gotten some reading in this morning: listening to Brotherhood in Death and reading The Catcher in the Rye, which I have to say is not doing much for me. I hope to get to some books I started yesterday, The Storm of the Century and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. I also hope to start The Night in Question. Since I doubt I am going to get much reading done next week while I am up north, I figure I need to get as much in this week as I can.

I hope everyone has a marvelous Monday!

‘Morning, Stasia! Enjoy your day.

>35 alcottacre: Game of the year. Impressive. Although I don’t have anything to compare it to, I can see why it’s such a wonderful board game.

>36 alcottacre: I hate the CFS for you. Hugs.

Back to >23 alcottacre:. It’s one of 2 books I’m considering for my RL book club’s 2025-2026 reading year. The other one is There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak.

>80 alcottacre: Congratulations on reaching your goal weight. Normal amount of sleep, and CFS has gone away, too.

>89 alcottacre: Catcher in the Rye never really did it for me either; however, every other thing Salinger ever published spoke to me starting in high school and still speaks to me. This includes the three books and the Uncollected Short Stories. One of my favorite memories of high school is going to the Pomona Public Library in SoCal, and, over the course of several days, reading every single short story published by him in the original magazines they were published in. Hooray for the card catalog!

>80 alcottacre: Stasia, congratulations on reaching your goal! That's quite an accomplishment. I'm looking forward to reading about your travels and seeing some wonderful LTers. I've had the privilege of meeting all four of them and know you will really enjoy yourself.

>85 alcottacre:, I really liked that book, Stasia, when I read it.

>90 karenmarie: Hey, Karen. Thanks for stopping by!

Hooray for the card catalog indeed!

>91 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. With the exception of (Layton Woman) Linda, I have met the others previously. I am hoping I enjoy this trip the second time around as much as I did the first trip some 15-16 years ago now.

>92 Kristelh: I am glad to hear it, Kristel!

I'm thrilled that you are sufficiently skinny (I thought so when you were here, but then, what do I know?) and sleepless to be getting on with things. Looks like you've grabbed it and growled. (I don't know the last time I said that - 60 or so years ago, I'd think.)

ENJOY!

>94 LizzieD: I would still like to lose another 5 pounds, Peggy, but I am okay with 130 since that is where my doctor wants me to be.

I have never heard the expression 'grabbed it and growled,' lol.

THANKS!

Almost 100 posts behind already, Stasia. Belated happy new thread wishes! Glad the CFS has left you and you can get back to the important business of reading :)

>96 curioussquared: I never stopped reading, Natalie, but between the CFS and reading, I had little time for anything else, lol.

Thanks for dropping by!

Finished tonight:

143 - Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert's Story by Debbie Tung - Graphic novel; This book was a recommendation from Joe a few years ago and I am so glad I finally got my hands on a copy. Rarely have I read a book that so 'gets' me the way this one does - as I was reading it I kept thinking how 'this is my life story' on just about every page. Debbie is not good in social situations - neither am I - and she is constantly looking for a way to get out of them - so do I. Debbie wonders what is wrong with her - I do this all the time - as she never can fit in. I could go on and on. For me, this is an absolutely wonderful book!; Highly Recommended (5 stars) Mine

I'm so behind on LT, Stasia! Congratulations on reaching your goal weight. I am still struggling with mine. I lost 8 lbs in Dec - Jan and have gained them back. I'm back on the wagon, but it's challenging.

>80 alcottacre: So glad you are feeling better Stasia, and yay to an LT meetup too. I look forward to hearing all about it.

>99 vancouverdeb: If you are behind, Deborah, I am behind-er than behind, lol. Thanks regarding the weight. It is a challenge to lose it and now I have the challenge of keeping it off. Best of luck to you with your own goal!

>100 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. I am very excited about the Pennsylvania trip. It has been 15 years since I have been up that way.

Morning, Stasia. Glad to hear you are feeling better and congrats on the weight loss. Your upcoming trip sounds wonderful. I have met Jim & Judy but never had the honor of meeting Linda, one of my longtime pals. ❤️

Hi, Stasia. What Mark said. Good to hear you’re feeling improved and congrats on reaching your goal weight.

I’m really happy that Quiet Girl in a Noisy World worked so well for you! Debbi and I loved it, too. I hope other Lters pick up on that one.

We loved How to Read a Book like you did, too. Mark and I were talking yesterday how that deceptive title wasn’t the best choice. I know originally I thought I already knew the book because of the title, which was appropriate for the Mortimer Adler one.

As you say, what an unlikely trio of lead characters. But of course that’s big part of what makes the book so good and satisfying.

You probably remember that Pride and Prejudice’s first title was “First impressions.” Like that one , How to Read a Book teaches that first impressions can be misleading.

>102 msf59: I have met all of them before and anticipate having great meet ups with everyone involved. After that, I am busily planning a Chicago trip :)

>103 jnwelch: Thank you so much for the recommendation of Quiet Girl, Joe. Like I said, I have never read a book that 'gets' me as much as that one does. I hope it gets wider readership as well.

It is funny because when Deborah originally posted her review of How to Read a Book, I originally thought she was talking about the Mortimer J. Adler book, which I read years ago. I also think that Wood's book would have been served better if the title was different. Ah, well.

Meet up day with the girls today. I have been up and around for hours now and getting stuff done including working on the Great Library Project, although I still have work to do on it yet today.

Kerry and I are playing the game I chose as my reward for hitting my weight loss goal today, Azul: Queen's Garden. I am hoping that we like it!

I have already read in The Catcher in the Rye today and should be finishing it up tomorrow. I am also getting relatively close to the end of my current audiobook as well, Brotherhood in Death. I am continuing on with The Storm of the Century and Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. I may start something else today, we will see how it goes.

I hope everyone has a terrific Tuesday! Be back later!

Shoeey! Sorry I'll not be in the meetup when you arrive, but I'll be at the local hospital's Cardio-Spa on Friday, getting heart arteries unclogged. Have a swell time. I'm hoping my spa-time investment will pay off for me. (Selfish? Perhaps)

>89 alcottacre: One of my book clubs read Catcher in the Rye almost a year and a half ago. It was a reread for me, and it didn't improve with time. I didn't like it the first time, and didn't remember just about anything of the story. With the reread, I found myself rolling my eyes a lot. Definitely not for me.

>98 alcottacre: Hmmm, I'll have to think about that one. It sounds like it might be a lot like me too. But I haven't gotten into Graphic Novels yet. I guess I'll have to see if the library has it.

I forgot to congratulate you on reaching your weight loss goal. You go girl!

Happy Wednesday, Stasia. I hope you are still feeling good. If so, keep it going. Not much planned for the rest of my week- lots of PB and book time. I can live with that.

>107 atozgrl: Irene, I quite literally just finished The Catcher in the Rye, which I had never read before. My thoughts are below. . .

Thanks!

>108 msf59: Yay for book time, Mark! I hope you enjoy it!

Finished today:

144 - Brotherhood in Death but J. D. Robb - Audiobook; Eve is called to an older brownstone where Mr Mira, on whom she has a mild crush, has been injured trying to come to the aid of his cousin Edward, who has now disappeared. Despite Eve's best efforts to locate him, Edward Mira shows up battered, tortured, and quite dead the following day. Unfortunately he is not the last of his inner circle to show up this way and it is up to Eve to find out why these men are being tortured and then murdered and hopefully stop the next. She has to battle some personal demons along the way; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

145 - The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger - Until now I had never read this 'classic,' and someone needs to explain to me why it is considered a classic because it did absolutely nothing for me - I suspect that is in large part because I am not in the right age group for an initial read of the book. We are introduced to Holden Caulfield and pretty much the entire book I wanted to tell him to get over himself. We learn about his older brother, D. B., his younger brother, Allie who sadly dies in childhood, and his younger sister, Phoebe. What we really do not learn about is why Holden, who has been kicked out of yet another school, does not apply what is an obviously intelligent mind to his studies so that he can make something of his life. Like I said, I wanted to tell him throughout to get over himself. Not really a book for me; Not Recommended (3 stars) Library Book

"What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it."

For me today was one of those days where nothing went according to plan. On the good side, I have finished one of the library books that I need to read before I head out of town on Saturday - and I am hopeful of finishing another one tonight - but I never made it to LT to visit threads at all and now I do not have the time. *sigh*

Maybe tomorrow??

>110 alcottacre: My reaction to Catcher in the Rye was just the same, and I read it a long time ago. Disaffected youth (by which I guess I mean boys) seem to be taken with it. Maybe no one else should try to make sense of it?

I'm SO EXCITED for your trip to Linda and the others!!!! Y'all take a lot of pictures and have extra fun for the rest of us who don't get to go!

I have to say that Holden has my heart. I don't know that I "like" the book, but he is a damaged person, not getting a lot of outside help to repair the damage. That said, about ten minutes in the presence of a RL Holden would drive me completely insane.

>112 laytonwoman3rd: One thing I know for sure is that I am definitely not the target audience, Linda. Disaffected youth, as you point out, probably is.

>113 LizzieD: I will take as many pictures as I can, Peggy, because that way I know for sure that I will not be in them :)

I can see Holden driving me insane in less than 10 minutes!

Finished tonight:

146 - The Storm of the Century by Al Roker - Nonfiction; I read this for the month's nonfiction challenge. This is the second book that I have read about the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the first being Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson, which I read several years ago and which, I think, is the better of the two books - I really enjoy Larson's style of narrative nonfiction. That being said, Roker's book is not bad - he definitely puts faces on those affected by the disaster so consequently makes it a very human event with over 10,000 people dead and millions of dollars in damages. He also points to where, had things been handled differently, lives could have been saved and the impact to the island minimized somewhat; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

"What Isaac Cline can't know is that, more than a century later, this storm will remain not just the worst hurricane, but the worst natural disaster of any kind, ever to hit the United States: 10,000 or more lives lost in one night; higher winds and lower pressure than any previously recorded; damage estimated at nearly $20 million (more than $700 million in twenty-first century money; a great city reduced overnight to miles of rubble."

>110 alcottacre: From DOMESTIC VIOLETS, a truly funny book:

"Not bad. She's teaching The Catcher in the Rye again this year.
I guess her kids love it."

Curtis shakes his head. "Well of course they do Tommy.
The only people who can actually get through that self-indulgent tripe
without throwing up are teenagers and the criminally insane."

>115 alcottacre: Perhaps a copy of the book should be sent to the current "acting" head of FEMA, who only learned this week that there's a "hurricane season."

>115 alcottacre: That was a third of the population of Galveston then! Such a tragic event.

I hope you love the trip to PA, Stasia! *smooch*

>116 m.belljackson: Love that quote, Marianne! Thanks for sharing. I am going to have to track down a copy of Domestic Violets!

>117 weird_O: Geez Louise. Even I know that there is a 'hurricane season,' although I will say that there is one guy in Roker's book who does not believe that the word 'hurricane' should ever be allowed to pass through anyone's mouth.

>118 richardderus: Yes, it was a tragic event and I cannot imagine how much loss of life there would be now if the same circumstances occurred.

I hope so too, RD! It has been 15 years since I have been up that way.

Finished tonight:

147 - Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto - This book so reminded me of the days when I used to read cozy mysteries, romances, and nonfiction and pretty much nothing else. We have Vera Wong, the owner of a teahouse, who unfortunately wakes one morning to discover a dead body in her shop. Vera, strong in her belief that the police are no darn good since they will not even submit DNA, determines to figure out from "her" list of suspects who the guilty party is. She heads down the wrong track to begin with and manages to make friends out of all of her suspects. I had a great time with this book and will be reading the second book as soon as I can; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/371431

>116 m.belljackson: What a great quote! So funny. It expresses my feelings toward Catcher in the Rye perfectly.

I have looked at Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murders. Maybe I'll have to put that in my mental TBR. I know the library has it.

Happy Friday, Stasia. We are finally enjoying a nice stretch of weather, giving me the opportunity to either go birding or play pickleball regularly. Have a good, healthy weekend.

>121 SilverWolf28: Not this time, Silver, but thanks for the invite.

>123 vancouverdeb: It is one of those books that you cannot take seriously, but I had a good time with it. I think that once I return from my trip, I will try and get to the second one. I hope you enjoy it if and when you get to it, Deborah.

>124 msf59: I hope you make the most of the weather while you can, Mark! Have a great weekend!

Today Kerry and I are having our monthly gaming marathon. We actually started yesterday - we played 3 games yesterday - but we are finishing it off today. We are also going to indulge in some Indian food for lunch.

I leave for Pennsylvania tomorrow. I am nervous. I do not fly that often so panic is starting to set in:

I am all packed, but did I forget that thing that I know they will not have in the entirety of the state of Pennsylvania?

What if I get up there and no one likes me any more?

What if I get up there and I have been forgotten at the airport and spend the week in the Philly airport?

What if something happens to Kerry while I am gone?

Ack!! You get the picture. Stasia's insecurities showing up all over the place. . .

Be calm, Stasia - or at least think of the very, very, very good reasons that you are going!

(I would be a disaster at this point if I were you. I have to be in the place before I can really remember why I left home. At least stop agitating about things that aren't going to happen, like people not liking you (!) or forgetting to pick you up (!)! Ain't happening........)

Have a wonderful, wonderful time. Let somebody else take a picture or two so you can be in them, please.

"What if I get up there and no one likes me any more?" Aint' gonna happen, my friend. Cross that one off. I do understand the anxiety, though. The idea of long trips is much less appealing to us than it used to be. Getting there used to be half the fun---now we just long for transporter technology.

>128 laytonwoman3rd: Now we just long for transporter technology. Personally Linda, I am very disappointed that teleportation has not been possible in my life-time. I was raised with the expectation of Scotty's skills!

>127 LizzieD: I have pretty much been a disaster all day long, Peggy. It is lucky for me that Kerry and I got some gaming in as my mind has not settled to anything else - reading is just not happening today.

Let somebody else take a picture or two so you can be in them, please. No.

>128 laytonwoman3rd: Yeah, I would really like to know why I was not blessed with the gift of teleportation. If I was a superhero, that is definitely the talent I would pick, lol.

>129 Caroline_McElwee: I am very disappointed that teleportation has not been possible in my life-time.

You and me both, Caroline!

Now you're making me wonder if I read Quiet Girl in a Noisy World. I know I own it and Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murders. I really should put them in the rotation soon.

You're going to have a fabulous time on your trip. These are LTers, just drop some book talk and your anxiety will disappear in an instant!

Are you traveling alone, Stasia? I can empathize with your anxiety. I wish you a delightful time with book people. And I hope your travels are without any glitches.

I'm glad to see you had a good time with Vera Wong. I'm currently reading the second book and it's just as much fun.

Wishing you smooth travels to Philadelphia and I hope you have a fabulous time while you're there.

I assume you are traveling today, Stasia. I wish you safe and trouble free transport. Have fun getting together with other LTers!

I’m glad you’re feeling better again, Stasia and good luck on your travels. I’m also a nervous traveller, although for me it’s mostly stress about the actual travel (delays and cancellations being what gives me the most anxiety). Since travelling more for work, I’ve gotten very good at packing Goldilocks-style (not too much, not too little, but just right). I still have more with me that’s most people I know, but I usually do end up needing it.

Stasia, have a fabulous weekend as I
know you will. At least you don't have to deal with border crossings, lol!

Thank you for all the good thoughts and wishes regarding my traveling. Despite the Philadelphia airport and its myriad difficulties, I finally met up with Linda and her granddaughter, Kayla, and am now safely ensconced in Linda's house - and fixing to eat dinner. Breakfast was a LONG time ago!

Glad to hear you've arrived safely. Hope you have a fabulous time!

>137 alcottacre: HOORAY!!!!! Y'all are going to have such a wonderful, excellent, fabulous, marvelous time!!!!!

>137 alcottacre: Yay. Waving at you all.

>137 alcottacre: Hooray!
I was intrigued by your mention of the Philadelphia airport and its myriad difficulties, as that was my "home airport" for many many years. It was familiar, so I never thought about it being difficult or confusing. But I can see how that might be the case as you try to find your way out of the labyrinth.

Have a lovely time with both Lindas!

Hooray for a Meet Up! Hugs to you all. Enjoy!

Glad to read here that you've made it to the Lehigh Valley, Stasia. Have a good time with old friends.

Have a great meet-up with Linda.

I'm sure that you will.

Thank you all! It has been a wonderful day here in PA. Linda took me to the most marvelous vegetable & fruit market. I told her I could have spent days there. I saw jackfruit for the first time ever that was not in a can! Purple yams, which I love! Organic raspberries for 99 cents as opposed to the $4.99 that I have to pay in Texas for the same size package. We bought a ton of stuff because I eat a lot :)

We then went and had some lunch at a little hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant that neither of us had ever been to before and it was wonderful. I always love it when a restaurant advertises 'vegetarian options.'

We then went to Linda's home and unpacked all of our veggies, went to a different grocery store to pick up grocery staples, went to a game store, went back to Linda's and ordered a vegetarian pizza for dinner, and put part of a puzzle together. And we laughed. A lot.

>145 alcottacre: Sounds like a thoroughly wonderful day. Mexican food is a particular favourite of mine.

I actually had two Jackfruit trees in my garden in Johor Bahru and was terrified the huge fruit would fall down upon the kids when they were playing out.

I'm glad you are enjoying your time away, Stasia. I did pick up Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murders from the library, but I am not sure if it is my next read.

Hi Stasia, what a very wonderful day that you described and top it off to be full of laughter. So fun to have a L.T. meet up with the two Linda (s). Enjoy every minute!

>145 alcottacre: What an excellent visit! I hope y'all enjoy yourselves enormously.

Sounds like a great visit, Stasia. Good food, good fun, good friends!

Waving to you all!!!

Hi, Stasia. Sounds like a wonderful meet-up with Linda! But did I miss it- no bookstore?

I love having a fellow “in Death” appreciator. Good review of Brotherhood in Death. As you know, I’m unfortunately all caught up, and I believe the time has come to start re-reading. After this long, wonderful book journey, I’m very curious to re-read the first one, Naked in Death.

>145 alcottacre: Sounds just perfect Stasia.

Yesterday Linda and I stayed in as we had our trip to New York City scheduled for today.

We are now back from our day trip into New York City. It was a long, tiring day but we had a great time. We met up with Judy (ffortsa) and Jim (magician's nephew) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art - and I spent pretty much the entire time there just gawking at the Egyptian exhibit, which I did not get to see nearly enough of! I took a ton of pictures of the exhibit.

After we left there, we went to a small cafe where we met up with Deborah (arubabookwoman) whom I had never met before, so that was a special treat. Unfortunately for me, I fell asleep while we were all sitting there talking. Color me embarrassed!!

Linda and I will be sticking pretty close to home again tomorrow as the following day we are meeting up with Linda Koons (laytonwoman3rd).

I will check in again tomorrow as I can. I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

You have canned jackfruit available at home?????????

I'm looking for pictures, woman - and I don't mean of jackfruit!

Sounds like you are having a great trip, Stasia!

Fun trips are great! I am heading off on my own adventure about noon today. Going to Montana for my niece's wedding. I am going to stop at Jewel Cave National Monument and do a hiking trip. It is listed as moderately strenuous, so I hope I can do it. Have a great time in and around Philly. It is a wonderful city.

We are off this morning to meet up with LaytonWoman Linda. We are both very excited about it!

Thank you so much for the good wishes about our visits! Hopefully I will get a chance to reply to everything when I get home.

>158 alcottacre: @laytonwoman3rd is pretty excited about it too!

>154 alcottacre: Happy trip news, especially the bit where you were so tuckered out from All the great stuff you're doing to make it impossible to stay awake. That's the sign of a well-spent day. *smooch*

Vicariously enjoying your adventures. Safe trips. xx

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/371538

>145 alcottacre: glad you are having a wonderful time! Horray for lotsof laughter 😆

Sounds like you've been having a whale of a time with Linda and meeting the other LTers! I'm a bit envious of the fruit and vegetable market (not a lot of that here due to climate) and a visit to the Metropolitan? Aww, green with envy.

We are having another quiet day today together as this is my last full day here. My plane leaves tomorrow at 4pm meaning I have to be at the airport by 2pm, so a short day together tomorrow.

Not much on the agenda today, a bit of souvenir shopping for me is about it, and Linda would like me to meet her friend Lorraine. Other than that, it is just Linda and me time :)

Happy Friday, Stasia. It sounds like you are having a wonderful time with Linda. Glad you had a nice visit to NYC and got in another Meet Up with Jim & Judy.

So glad to hear it's been a great trip, Stasia (not that I would expect anything less from a meet up with such wonderful people as y'all are). Enjoy the last day and safe travels back home!

>166 alcottacre: What a great way to ease back into reality after the friend cocoon! Y'all have the best time today.

I'm delighted to hear it's been a wonderful trip, Stasia. Wishing you safe travels today!

>166 alcottacre: What Great Fun You all Had -
sending hope that your next meet-ups are via Train!

I will be back tomorrow to check in on everyone!

Welcome back home Stasia.

>173 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel!

It is both Sunday and Father's Day so a double reason for a 'day off' of technology for me. I am so very happy to be home, but I had a wonderful trip thanks to Linda (I cannot say enough about how wonderful she was to me!) and visits with Judy, Jim, Deborah, and Linda Koons. How lucky am I?

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and stepdads!

Linda loaned me several of her children's books to read while I was at her home, but I only read a few of them - time was not on my side as far as reading went on the trip. Anyway, here are the books I completed while I was gone:

148 - Radio Free Albemuth by Philip K. Dick - Guarded Recommended (3.5 stars) Mine

149 - Among the Righteous by Robert Satloff - Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine

150 - Staying On by Paul Scott - Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Mine

151 - Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford - Juvenile; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Loaned to me by Linda

152 - Naamah and the Ark at Night by Susan Campbell Bartoletti - Juvenile; Recommended (4 stars) Loaned to me by Linda

153 - Coolies by Yin - Juvenile; Recommended (4 stars) Loaned to me by Linda

154 - The Bingo Palace by Louise Erdrich - Recommended (4 stars) Mine

I am up early this morning because I have a ton to catch up on from being gone - and Kerry and I are going out of town next week for a day trip to celebrate our anniversary - so lots to do!

Kerry and I are going out to lunch today as a belated Father's Day celebration. It was pouring rain here yesterday and I was tired from the traveling so it was a natural thing to postpone until today - although I did give him his present yesterday.

We will also be gaming today as we did yesterday. It felt good to get a game to the table for the first time in over a week! Kerry said to me, 'You must be going through withdrawal' and I kind of was because I am used to playing games pretty much every day, just like I read every day.

I am listening to Cyteen by C. J. Cherryh as my current audiobook. I opted to switch to the hard copy of The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny and I should be finishing it today. I am also finishing Chenneville by Paulette Jiles today if all goes well. My current reading also includes The New Negro by Alain Locke, The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig, the book Linda Koons gifted to me while I was in PA, Zero Day by David Baldacci, The Free by Willy Vlautin, a new-to-me author, and The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher.

I hope everyone has a marvelous Monday!

I have been traveling too. I am in Bozeman, MT for my niece's wedding. It was outdoors yesterday afternoon and it rained. We had almost an hour delay while waiting for the rain to stop. I will be visiting a bookstore today and go to a hot springs this afternoon. Then tomorrow I start the drive home.

>175 alcottacre: You did some really good reading indeed, Stasia! Linda's loans were cherce topics. I'm glad y'all had a good visit.

It's cool and a bit dank here. I could wish for more sunshine but that sounds like heat would follow, so I'll enjoy the last bits of cool weather before the torture. My Edelweiss+ feed got loaded up with fun, interesting illustrated kid-books, so I'll get to do some of those after Pride.

Sending hugs.

>177 benitastrnad: Safe travels, Benita! I hope the rain does not follow you home.

>178 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. We had such a wonderful visit, words cannot describe.

We had rain here while I was gone but the temps this week are going to be in the mid-90s with not a rain cloud in sight. *sigh*

((Hugs)) back at you!

Happy Monday to you too, Stasia. You are one busy gal! I'm exhausted trying to keep up1 Have fun!

Finished this afternoon:

155 - The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny - I started this book in audio form but ended up reading it in hard copy form. This was a re-read for me of one of my favorite books in the series. I think it really marks the turning point - Penny started it a few books earlier, but this book was the key, I think. Now that point-of-view can be taken with a grain of salt as I have not read the entire series, but for me, this is it. The 'beautiful mystery' is not just that a monk is slain and Gamache has to figure out who done it, but the mystery of the characters and their interactions, which is the key to solving the main mystery presented here. Penny makes it look so easy on the face of it, but I do not think it was as easy to write as she makes it seem. Gamache and his interactions with Beauvoir and in turn, his interactions with Francoeur. The monks interactions with each other. So very good - a book I did not want to end as I get completely caught up in these people and their lives; Highly Recommended (5 stars) Mine

>180 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley!

Finished this evening:

156 - Chenneville by Paulette Jiles - Mark first introduced Paulette Jiles to me as an author and I am so glad he did because I have enjoyed everything of hers that I have read. This book is no exception. We follow John Chenneville as a wounded Union soldier who spends a year recovering from a head wound before he can work his way home, only to find that the home he had known and the sister he adored have disappeared. His home is occupied only by an old family servant and his sister is murdered along with her husband and infant son. Chenneville vows vengeance on the man responsible. Jiles is very skillful in making Chenneville into a full-bodied character rather than a one-note one, which would have been easy to do, I think. I did not love the ending of the book, but I did not hate it either. It did leave open a future for Chenneville; Recommended (4.25 stars) Kindle - Hoopla

Welcome Home, Stasia! Sounds like you had a terrific time on your recent trip. I loved hearing about it and looking forward to your Chicago trip in August.

Hooray for Paulette Jiles! She has been so consistent. Glad my warbling paid off.

Welcome home, Stasia!

>181 alcottacre: and >183 alcottacre: Loved them both!!

>185 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah! It is great to be back home.

>186 RebaRelishesReading: Just goes to show that we have good taste, right?

Finished tonight:

157 - The Weaver of the Middle Desert by Victoria Goddard - In this novella, once again a shared read with Mary, we find the story of the third of the Sisters Avramapul, that of Arzu, the eldest, who is a weaver, not the soldier-adventurers that her sisters are, but with her own strengths. I actually think I liked this one the best of the sister's stories. Arzu may not have the adventures of her sisters, but she can still guide and help them. Again, I enjoy the almost mystical flavor with which Goddard infuses the sisters' stories; Recommended (4 stars) Mine - Kindle

Off to see what Mary thought of this one. . .

Hey, Stasia! I'm happy to see you back in reading mode. I liked the Sardeet Avramapul least of any Goddards that I've read; in fact, I put it aside and didn't read it. Somehow, her mystical tone tone that you like doesn't work for me - or we may be talking about two different things.

I hope that you come to love Cyteen.

>188 alcottacre: Once again, we agree quite a bit. Though I rated them similarly, this was my favorite of the three sisters' stories as well.

>189 LizzieD: I am sorry to hear that you did not like Sardeet's story, Peggy, but it was probably my least favorite of the three. As I mentioned, Arzu's story, The Weaver of the Middle Desert, the best of the three. Maybe give this one a try?

I have made it about 80 pages in Cyteen. Thus far I am not loving it, but I have a long way to go!

>190 bell7: Yeah, I hope Goddard writes more of Arzu's story!

I found Sardeet's story more of a classical adventure, in which it is Pali going through most of the major growth as a character. Sardeet herself doesn't seem to act much as an individual until close to the end of The Redoubtable Pali Avramapul and now in The Weaver of the Middle Desert. I wanted a bit more revealing about Arzu from this latest book, and it's sort of there, but in the as demonstration of her maturity, for which she was well equipped and trained, not in any sense a struggle.
It's a fun fairy story as it stands, a good sister story.

It looked like you had a fabulous trip, Stasia. Aren't book people the best?

>192 quondame: It's a fun fairy story as it stands, a good sister story. I agree but I sure do want to see more of Arzu's story!

>193 Familyhistorian: I am extremely lucky to have 2 hobbies that feature wonderful people - books and board games. My trip was fabulous, Meg!

Finished this morning:

158 - The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig - This is the book that Linda Koons (laytonwoman) graciously gifted me when we met last week in Pennsylvania and I am so glad to have had the chance to read this fictionalized version of author Hautzig's childhood. She and her family were Polish Jews who were shipped off to Siberia because they were deemed to be capitalists and enemies of the Soviet way of life. Life in Siberia was not easy - her grandparents were separated for the first time, her father who had been a successful businessman was condemned to do manual labor, and her mother had to work as well. As Linda says in her review, "Written for young adults. Recommended for everyone" and I certainly agree with that assessment; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Fun fact: This book won the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor award. It was the All of a Kind Family series of books that Sydney Taylor wrote that started my lifelong fascination with Judaism and the Jewish people.

"There was one place that I forgot the cold, indeed forgot Siberia. That was in the library."

Happy Wednesday, Stasia. Did you miss me up there? This is how you treat your pals? 😜❤️

Good to see you back, my friend.

>196 msf59: Sorry, Mark! I try hard not to miss anyone!!

Finished this morning:

159 - The Free by Willy Vlautin - This is a book that I picked up solely because of the American Authors Challenge. Vlautin is not an author that I had read before but this book is not going to be the last of his that I read. The title is a misnomer - no one in this book is truly free. We have a young man who went to war and was seriously injured and now has attempted suicide. We have a divorced man working 2 jobs in order to make ends meet and who is in danger of losing everything he has because he just cannot keep up. We have a single nurse who takes care of a father who really does not appreciate it. Every day people living every day lives - and somehow Vlautin makes you care very much for them; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Kindle - Hoopla

Hi, Stasia! Glad you had a fun trip. I just finished a book called The Judgment of Yoyo Gold by Isaac Blum. With your interest in Judaism, I thought you might particularly enjoy it. Very good writing, and I found it a fast read.

>194 alcottacre: Arzu seems too complete in herself and fulfilled in her cultural role for an adventuress like Pali or a mobile seeress advisor like Sardeet. She's who you go home to, if you are very, very fortunate.

>199 foggidawn: Thanks, foggi. I will see if I can locate a copy!

>200 quondame: Yeah, you are right, Susan. Maybe more of a backstory for Arzu?

>198 alcottacre: Completely agree with your assessment. Love his writing.

I'm in the hospital RN getting my foot infection IV antibiotic'd so it won't get worse.

>202 richardderus: I am very happy to hear that you are getting some treatment for your foot, Richard! I hope it helps ease the pain soon!!

Finished this evening:

160 - The New Negro edited by Alain Locke - Nonfiction, for my Harlem Renaissance Reading; This book covers a lot of territory as far as the Harlem Renaissance goes - it features not only poetry by some of the best known Harlem Renaissance poets (Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, etc) but short stories, a play, music, and essays by people such as W. E. B. DuBois. I do not think there is an aspect of African American life that is overlooked here - at least as far as it goes when the book was written, 100 years ago. This is both its strength and its weakness - its strength because the book gives us a snapshot in time of the way things were 100 years ago, but its weakness because it was 100 years ago. Still, I think it was worth reading if for nothing more than an introduction to the Harlem Renaissance; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>203 alcottacre: Good news is I'll be heading home tonight with new Rx and some changed dosing instructions. I'm delighted to say it's not bad at all.

>205 richardderus: That is wonderful news, Richard!! I am happy to hear that "it's not bad at all."

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/371693

>207 SilverWolf28: After having missed the past couple of readathons, I am in as much as I can be, Silver.

Happy Friday, Stasia. Glad to see the Willy Vlautin love. I have enjoyed a couple of his books but have not read The Free. I hope you have a nice, healthy weekend.

>209 msf59: Thanks, Mark. I hope you get to The Free at some point. Are there any books of Vlautin's that you particularly recommend?

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Finished this evening:

161 - The Riddle of the Labyrinth by Margalit Fox - Nonfiction; I had read one of Fox's other books, The Confidence Men: How Two Prisoners of War Engineered the Most Remarkable Escape in History, and enjoyed it so I picked up a copy of this one as the subject was of interest to me having read about Sir Arthur Evans and his work on the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations. What I did not know about was the work of a woman, Alice Kober, to help decipher Linear B, a previously unknown script that Evans discovered in his digs. I thought the decipherment of Linear B was all at the feet of Michael Ventris as outlined in John Chadwick's book The Decipherment of Linear B, which I read several years ago. Fox makes Kober's contributions - and had she not died at a young age, potential decipherment of her own - very clear. Fox's abilities to describe the work that Kober was doing was excellent and something that a general reader such as myself could understand. Very good stuff; Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine

Finished tonight:

162 - Zero Day by David Baldacci - I am not sure how this book ended up in the BlackHole, but it did, and since it met the criteria for one of the TIOLI challenges for this month, I finally got it read. Evidently my reading tastes have changed over the past 15-20 years because I suspect I would really have enjoyed this book all those years ago but these days, not so much. John Puller seems to me to be a Jack Reacher clone (although it has been a while since I read any of the Reacher books) with an interesting family - a father who is a revered, retired Army general and an older brother who was convicted of treason (although exactly why was really never revealed.) Puller is still in the Army and sent to West Virginia to discover the reason that an entire family was massacred. Along the way, he comes to know the local law enforcement - a female sheriff who, thankfully, he does not sleep with (a nod to Baldacci's sensibilities in staying away from that trope) - and the local rich family who basically looks down on everyone else. Puller has unknowingly stepped into a nuclear nightmare that he has to figure out. The writing was OK at best, I enjoyed the character of Samantha Cole the sheriff, but disbelieved a lot of what went on in the book; Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Hoopla - Kindle

Hi Stasia! Happy Saturday to you.

I’m glad you had a wonderful trip, glad you’re back home and reading and playing board games.

>211 alcottacre: I own and have read Chadwick’s The Decipherment of Linear B, a gift from Jenna in 2013. I just went to Amazon and the Audible version of The Riddle of the Labyrinth was free with my membership, so $0. Happy Dance.

>212 alcottacre: Evidently my reading tastes have changed over the past 15-20 years because I suspect I would really have enjoyed this book all those years ago but these days, not so much. 100% agree. I also need to spend time culling books to free up shelf space for more books. *smile*

>213 karenmarie: Hey, Karen! Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you enjoy reading The Riddle of the Labyrinth if and when you get to it.

Just as my taste in games has changed through the years, my taste in books has as well. Culling both books and games is becoming a full-time occupation around these parts!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Finished this evening:

163 - The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher - This book is a recommendation from Deborah (VancouverDeb) and I am glad to have finally gotten to it. I really thought it was going to be like a traditional 'cozy' mystery with an 87-year-old detective looking into the death of one of the residents at the old folks home where she lives and the potential suicide of the home's director. Instead much of the book is spent on Florrie's (the main protagonist's) past. It is done in a natural way - the current events and Florrie's history kind of wrapping themselves around each other in the story telling. I enjoyed this one and would read more of Fletcher's books. Thank you, Deborah, for this recommendation!; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Finished tonight, but I am just too tired to type up a review:

164 - The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee by Marja Mills - Nonfiction; Recommended by Linda (Whisper), who wrote a wonderful review of her own; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

My day off technology this week will be spent in preparation for Kerry and I going out of town tomorrow for a day trip - our 37th wedding anniversary is tomorrow. Catey is coming into town today to house sit and have some down time - work has been stressful for her lately.

I hope everyone has a lovely Sunday!

>217 alcottacre: Happy day off, and many more good years to you and Kerry!

>218 richardderus: Thanks, RD! ((Hugs)) and **smooches**

Finished this morning:

165 - The Autobiography of the British Soldier edited by John Lewis-Stempel - Nonfiction; Peggy gave me this book a mere 12 years ago so I figured it was high time that I finally read it. This is a look at the soldiering life from the soldier's perspective from all major British wars ranging from the Battle of Agincourt up until Iraq in 2006. Because of the sheer number of individuals involved, there is a lot of difference in both writing skill and style but somehow that makes it feel all the more real; I was very surprised to see author Patrick Leigh Fermor make an appearance ('The Kidnapping of General Kreipe'); Recommended (4 stars) Mine

"It is after the battle when the field is strewn with the dead and wounded, that the full horror of war makes itself felt; a horror which words but feebly express, and entirely fail to describe, were you bold enough to describe such scenes; but the soldier has no place for fine feeling, and at the call of duty he must do or die, and leave the sentiment for others." (Private Parsons Finds His Brother's Body on the Battlefield, Sebastopol, 8 June 1855)

Happy anniversary to you and Kerry!

>217 alcottacre: Happy 37th anniversary (Hubby and I have our 37th coming up in August)

Happy Anniversary Stasia and Kerry. Enjoy your day trip.

Happy Anniversary!

Joining in on the congrats!! Hope you had a fun day!

I'm also joining the queue of well-wishers to both of you. xx

Happy 37th Anniversary, Stasia and Kerry! I'm glad you enjoyed The Night in Question.

I hope you had a good celebration Stasia.

Happy Anniversary, Stasia. Congrats. You are one year ahead of us. You asked about Vlautin- I would also recommend Don't Skip Out on Me. I still have several of his to read yet. I hope you had a nice healthy weekend.

Happy anniversary, Stasia and Kerry! Enjoy your celebrations.

happy anniversary! Hope it's a great day!

Happy anniversary! I hope you and Kerry are having a wonderful day today.

Happy anniversary! Hope you're having a lovely day.

Thank you all for the anniversary wishes! We have had a wonderful day together despite not being able to make the day trip that we had hoped to make. Our daughter, Catey, came down on Sunday to visit and she is returning home tomorrow so we have spent time visiting with her and playing games :)

>227 vancouverdeb: Thank you again for the recommendation, Deborah. I did!

>229 msf59: I will have to see if I can locate a copy of Don't Skip Out on Me, Mark. Thanks!

>234 alcottacre: & >229 msf59: I can echo Mark's recommendation, Juana. Don't Skip Out on Me is a winner.

>234 alcottacre: Not getting to go on the trip sounds like it was made up for by Catey being there, so All the yay.

*smooch*

It has been an interesting few days around here. Catey came into town on Sunday for a mini-vacation during which Kerry and I were going out of town for our anniversary Monday and be back on Tuesday. Well, things did not work out for that because we are (all of a sudden) having plumbing issues in our family bathroom. We opted to stay in town instead and spend time with Catey while we could and Kerry could work on the plumbing - which he is still doing even this morning. We had a great time visiting and playing games with Catey so that helps make up for the disappointment of not going out of town, as Richard points out at >236 richardderus:.

Kerry is working on plumbing, I am waiting for groceries, and life goes on. Kerry is going to Nacogdoches on Friday and will not be back until Sunday, so I have time planned to spend with Beth and will hopefully get a lot of books read.

I am struggling with fatigue a lot these days. My CFS was an issue in May but this appears to be different so I am not sure what is going on there. *sigh*

I am still listening to Cyteen but doubt I will get done with it before the end of the month. We will see. I may end up pulling out my hard copy of the book to finish it. I have 3 books I would like to finish today, The Golden Compass, The Lost Eleven, and When Stars Are Scattered. I am continuing on with Ovid's Metamorphoses (how did I not know that this was a very long poem??!!) and Doomsday Book by Connie Willis, one of my all time favorite books.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!!

A belated happy anniversary, Stasia! I hope your energy picks up soon.

>238 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg, on both counts!

Finished this afternoon:

166 - The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - Juvenile/Young Adult; This is one of those books that I think I would have been better served to read while I was younger. I just did not connect with any of the characters and while I could appreciate what Pullman seemed to want to do, the writing did not work for me and I found the world building a bit lacking as well. *sigh* I feel as though I should have loved this book and did not, which makes me feel as though I have failed as a reader. Anyone else have that problem?; Not Recommended (3 stars) Library Book

Hello Stasia, I am trying to catch up, It sounds like you have had a rough go with your stupid CFS and I am so sorry. On the other hand what a wonderful LT trip you were able to take - I really enjoyed reading about everything you got up to (and ate !).

I see up top that The Library at Night was a 5-star read for you, which is great news for me as it has been on my shelves for awhile. I read Quiet Girl in a Noisy World some time ago and gave it to Marina for her birthday. She said she cried while reading it because she felt so seen. Isn't it magical what books can do?

I've had How to Read a Book on the list for awhile but while I am getting caught up on LT I am seeing it again and again. Time to look for a copy.

>241 AMQS: I had an awesome trip, Anne! Everyone was so lovely and I so enjoyed being able to see Linda, Judy, and Jim once again.

I hope that you enjoy The Library at Night if and when you get to it. I understand exactly where Marina is coming from regarding Quiet Girl in a Noisy World! Yes, books can be the most magical of objects, can they not?

Good luck in finding How to Read a Book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday evening!

>240 alcottacre: Sorry to hear that book didn’t work for you. I adore His Dark Materials, even though I only read them as an adult.

>243 PawsforThought: Different strokes for different folks and all that, right? We cannot all like the same things - if we did the world would be a very boring place. I am disappointed that I did not enjoy the book more but then, I cannot force myself to do so. I am glad to hear that you do enjoy it, Paws!

Happy Wednesday, Stasia. Bummer about The Golden Compass. I was mulling over doing a reread of the trilogy. I remember having a very good time with it, the first time around. 20 yrs ago?

Finished tonight:

167 - The Lost Eleven by Denise George and Robert Child - Nonfiction; Yet another disappointing read for me and I knew it would be virtually from the outset of the book: There is a forward (? - not sure what else to call it) to the book called 'Dear Reader' in which the authors say, "This exciting true story of eleven black heroes will delight your spirit, give you rare first-person historical insights, and make you proud of America's devoted GIs,' which is all well and very good had they not already warned the reader that 'while accurate in content, some of it has been creatively retold. Some of the dialogue, unrecorded by history, has been created.' (emphasis mine) The issue with the authors creating dialogue is that there is a lot of it in the book. Why not let the story of these 11 men carry itself? It is certainly interesting enough to do so. We are not just looking at 11 black men who were tortured and died at Nazi hands, but 11 men who had to overcome the bigotry of those in charge, had to learn hard how to fight, had to deal with both segregation and desegregation of troops; Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Mine

>245 msf59: I hope you enjoy it just as much this time as you did your previous read of it, Mark!

Finished tonight:

168 - When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed - After a couple of disappointing reads, I am so glad that I finished this recommendation from Janet (streamsong) from 4 years or so ago. This graphic novel was a National Book Award finalist - I have no idea how usual or unusual that is for a graphic novel - but I can easily see why the book was considered for the honor. Omar Mohamed was a child in Somalia when his father was murdered by soldiers and his mother told him to run with his younger brother, Hassan. Eventually the two boys made it to a refugee camp where they waited for their mother to join them. And waited. And waited. They were given a foster mother, Fatuma, who looked after them. The tale of the camp and its occupants is really a tragedy - children unable to go to school, parents unable to feed their children, fathers without jobs and no way to support their families, etc. The illustrations in the book vividly paint pictures of people largely without hope; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

Sorry to hear about the plumbing issues, Stasia, but glad you still managed a good visit with Catey. I also didn't love The Golden Compass (I read the trilogy, but gave 3.5 stars to the first, 4 to the second, and 3 to the third). I much preferred his series that begins with The Ruby in the Smoke but it was about 20 years ago (!) that I read it and don't know how it would hold up now.

>249 bell7: Thanks, Mary. The plumbing issues look to be resolved for now although additional work will be needed in future.

I am glad to know that I am not the only one who did not love The Golden Compass!

The Golden Compass impressed me as interesting and different when I read it ~20yrs back, and I found it is still a decent adventure, but rather drawn out and overly weighted with fate.

I'm glad that the plumbing issues are resolved. Sorry to read that you are struggling with CFS.

Hi Stasia!

Happy 37th anniversary.

I’m sorry about the non-CFS fatigue. I hope it’s a temporary blip. And of course, I hope that CFS leaves you alone for a long while.

>240 alcottacre: I read the trilogy and realize that I can cull it since I’ll never read it again and Jenna never will read it. 3 down, hundreds to go!

Sweet Thursday, Stasia. I also loved When Stars Are Scattered. Glad you got to it.

>251 quondame: Maybe that is part of my issue, Susan. Twenty years ago it would have been fresh, but these days it seems tired and dated?

>252 vancouverdeb: It really is not CFS, Deborah, because I am not sleeping 10-16 hours a night, but I am taking multiple naps during the day.

>253 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen! It is still hard for me to believe that I have been married 37 minutes, let alone 37 years.

I am hoping it is a temporary blip too. We will see. I am just hoping it is not CFS in a different form, lol.

Yay for being able to cull something, anything!

>254 msf59: Yeah, that one is staying in my collection, Mark. I am happy to hear that you loved it too.

Kerry and I were out running errands this morning and this is the first I have been online. As I desperately need a nap, it will likely be a while before I am back, lol.

We are going to try a new game this afternoon, Harvest, and I really hope we both enjoy it.

It does not look as though I am going to finish Cyteen in audio form before the end of the month and although I had thought about switching to hard copy, I have too many other books to finish up that way before the end of the month, so no on that. I hope to make progress on Ovid's Metamorphoses and Doomsday Book today as well as finish Door-to-Door Bookstore. I have several books waiting in the wings for me to finish before the end of the month so we will have to see how that goes - and how many more naps I need.

I hope everyone has a thoughtful Thursday! I hope to be back later!

Finished tonight:

169 - Metamorphoses by Ovid - This is not a book I had not read previously, although it seems like I should have read it long ago, and so had no idea it was basically a long poem. Not being a poetry fan, that was definitely a detriment for me, but I do enjoy Greek mythology. However, Roman mythology was also included and I am not nearly as familiar with it so thank goodness for explanatory footnotes and Wikipedia!; Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Mine - Kindle

Sorry to see you have more sleep issues. Good luck with book finishing, Stasia.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/371899

Happy Friday, Stasia. How have you been feeling? I am enjoying Going After Cacciato. Are you a fan of Mr. O'Brien?

>258 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg. I finished one I had not planned on finishing and not finishing one that I had planned to. Typical! Lol

>259 SilverWolf28: I am in, Silver. Thanks!

>260 msf59: I am feeling tired these days, Mark, and hope it goes away soon. I am a fan of Mr. O'Brien and loved his The Things They Carried.

Kerry left about 90 minutes ago for east Texas. He is stopping in Longview to go to lunch with Catey before heading on to Nacogdoches to visit Felisha and her kids. I am hoping to meet up with Beth today and get a bunch of reading done - assuming that I do not fall asleep. Naps are still happening a lot here.

I am still listening to Cyteen. I have a ton of books that I want to finish before the 30th. We will see how that shakes out.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Friday!

Finished this afternoon:

170 - Memorial Days: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks - Nonfiction; I am not sure what possessed me to pick this book up today to read - a day on which Kerry is gone and my house feels empty without him and when the rawness of my BIL Jeff's death is still very tangible here. Brooks was married to writer Tony Horwitz who died suddenly in 2019 and the book tells of her experience in dealing with the grief of his death. In many ways, Brooks description of her marriage echoes my own: happily married for many years with 2 children (in her case boys, not girls, and she did not have stepchildren as I do) to a man with a sense of humor (I keep telling Beth and Catey it is definitely most needed and highly desirable in a partner!) I never felt like Brooks was being overly maudlin or preying on my sympathy. I did feel like she was a woman dealing with one of the most devastating events of her life; Highly Recommended (5 stars) Mine

>263 alcottacre: Wow, Memorial Days sound like a good read. I can't believe I didn't have it on my TBR already, but it's there now! Thank you.

Karen O

>264 klobrien2: I am fairly sure that you will find it highly relatable, Karen. Please let me know what you think of it if and when you read it!

Finished tonight:

171 - The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn - A big 'thank you' to Mary for putting this book on one of the TIOLI challenges for this month. I had not heard of the book, but Hoopla had a copy so I got a chance to read it. The book is no great shakes but it does have a charming story and I give it props for that. What's more, it manages to tell its charming story without every other word being a swear word, minimal violence (of the domestic variety in this case and behind closed doors), and no sex. The book is positively antiquated in those regards and I enjoyed it the more because of it. This story of an old man and a 9-year-old little girl is (again) charming in its innocence; Recommended (4 stars) Hoopla - Kindle

>263 alcottacre: Hello Stasia, That sounds like a good one and I have put it on reserve at the library and there is a bit of a wait. but thank you for the excellent review! Hope the constant fatigue and napping are done with soon. Hope you have a very good weekend!

Trust Kerry will have a safe journey and an enjoyable one, Stasia.

>263 alcottacre: & >266 alcottacre: look a good way to spend the hours during his absence.

>267 mdoris: I think you will enjoy it, Mary. At least I hope so!

>268 PaulCranswick: Yes, I had a very nice reading day, Paul. That does not happen a lot these days.

Happy Saturday, Stasia. I have Memorial Days: A Memoir on my audio list. Thanks for the reminder. I miss her writing.

>270 msf59: It was a hard read for me from an emotional standpoint, Mark, but it sure is a good one. I hope that you get a chance to read it soon.

Yesterday was a good reading day for me - I managed to read for about 4.5 hours. I am hoping for more of the same today, but we will see. When I spoke to Kerry last night, he mentioned that he might cut his trip short and head home today instead of tomorrow morning.

I am still listening to Cyteen and will be for a few days yet, probably into July. I am starting Barkskins by Annie Proulx today due to its length. It is a library book that needs to go back before I leave for my mother's house July 12th and visit there for a week+. I am continuing on with Doomsday Book, When Will There Be Good News?, and Reckless but doubt I will finish any of them today. I have a couple of others that I would like to finish before the end of the month, but I refuse to rush through any of my reads just to say that I read the book, so we will see.

I hope everyone has a super Saturday!

Memorial Days sounds like a good (and difficult) read. Adding it cautiously to my list.

Wow, reading for 4. 5 hours ! That is amazing, Stasia! The Door-to-Door Bookstore sounds interesting, I'll keep it in mind.

>273 AMQS: I will be curious to see what you make of it if and when you get to it, Anne.

>274 vancouverdeb: Same goes for you too, Deborah!

Today is Sunday and so my 'day off' technology. Kerry is also due back home this afternoon. I am hoping to finish up a couple of books today, Doomsday Book and When Will There Be Good News? We will see how much headway I make in my reading since, as I said, Kerry will be back home.

I hope everyone has a lovely Sunday! I promise to start a new thread in the next couple of days :)

Finished this morning:

172 - Doomsday Book by Connie Willis - This is one of my all-time favorites book and it has been way too long since I read it (2009, I think?). A lot has happened since then including the COVID pandemic which makes the Black Death pandemic in this book all that more relatable not to mention the influenza epidemic introduced in the 'contemporary' section of the book (toilet paper shortages!) This is a dual timeline, time traveling book in which Kivrin, is sent back to the 1300s but ends up, not in 1320, but in 1348 when the plague is raging. In the meantime, an influenza epidemic is taking its toll on the contemporary historians. I think Willis does a wonderful job in striking a balance not only between the two timelines but in keeping the book from being all doom and gloom - Colin is a terrific character who helps the reader to remember to have a sense of humor; Highly Recommended (5 stars) Mine

>277 alcottacre: There is no obvious reason I should not love that book, yet I do not. I don't recall any specific thing I DISliked but it just sits in my memory like a rock.

Why ever, I wonder again as I read you warble of delight.

Sunday well, smoochling.

>278 richardderus: I understand, RD. That happens to me - I cannot put my finger on why I do not like or dislike something, but there you go.

((Hugs)) and **smooches** for today

Finished this afternoon:

173 - When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson - The third book in Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series and, to my mind, the one that I have liked the most to this point. There are multiple 'main' characters in this book but it is not hard to keep track of who is who because the characters are so very different. We are introduced to Joanna Hunter as a child when her family, with the exception of her father, are all murdered. Fast forward 30 years and she is now Dr. Hunter, married and with a child of her own, and the man who murdered her mother, brother, and sister has been released from prison - and now Dr. Hunter has disappeared. Is there some connection? In the meantime, Jackson is injured in a train accident and the 16-year-old who rescued him is begging him to help find Dr. Hunter, for whom she works. Atkinson takes multiple story lines and makes them all work; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>248 alcottacre:. I read When Stars Are Scattered in 2020. I very much liked it.

So sorry about the plumbing issues. How fortunate that Kerri can fix the problem. It's those little and big projects that cost a lot when you have to hire someone to do this for you.

I'm sorry that you are having issues with tiredness. Hopefully, this won't last long.

And, Happy 37th Anniversary!

>281 Whisper1: Thank you, lovey!

Finished tonight:

174 - Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - This book is almost 100 years old now (it was originally published in 1934) so most people have either heard of it or seen a film version of it and so are familiar with the story. This is almost a 'closed room' mystery as it is set on a train that has been stopped by snow and it is during this period that the murder is committed. Luckily, Hercule Poirot is on this particular train and at the request of M. Bouc, one of the train company's officials, he agrees to help sort it all out; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

"M. Bouc said with violence, 'But does everybody on this train tell lies?'

'That,' said Poirot, 'is what we are about to find out.' "

Kerry made it home about 3pm this afternoon, so all is now right with my world. I am heading to bed in the hope that I will actually get some sleep!

I hope you slept well Stasia.

>284 alcottacre: Hurrah!

>285 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. I wish I could say that I did. Feast or famine with me, as usual.

>286 PaulCranswick: Yep!

Finished this morning:

175 - Reckless by Cornelia Funke - Young Adult; Richard reviewed this series a few years ago and his reviews captured my attention at the time. I am just now getting to it though. While this book is billed as 'young adult,' I am pretty sure that adults of any age can appreciate the dark fantasy world that Funke is building. We are introduced to brothers Jacob and Will Reckless whose father, John, has gone missing. In his attempts to find his father, Jacob stumbles across a mirror that plunges him into a different world - it is similar to the world from which he has come, but in the new world, magic is an active force. What Jacob does not count on is his brother tumbling into the new world too and suffering dire consequences. Now Jacob has to figure out how to save his brother; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Thank you, RD, for this recommendation! I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series brings!

Morning, Stasia. I hope you had a fine, tech-free Sunday and got a decent night sleep. I got zero reading in on Saturday due to the car shopping but I made up for it yesterday. I am really enjoying Going After Cacciato. It is so much different than I expected.

I have one more book to finish yet today towards June's TIOLI challenges and then on to July - not to mention that I have errands to run today and chores. Ugh.

Kerry and I will be playing The Magnificent again today if all goes well. We have only played it once and that was a few weeks ago so I imagine that today's play will be another learning game.

Still listening to Cyteen. I have already started on July's reading with Barkskins, which on top of being a library book is quite lengthy. I still need to finish Life As We Knew It towards June's reads and then I am hoping to start a couple of library books that are due back before I head to Longview at the end of next week, Hitting a straight lick with a crooked stick and I am Princess X.

I hope everyone has a marvelous Monday! I am off to sneak in some reading before breakfast.

>289 msf59: My local library has the O'Brien book. I am glad to hear that you continue to enjoy it. I need to get to it one of these days, lol.

>288 alcottacre: Oh yay! I really enjoyed that series. I hope the rest of the books work for you, too.

>292 richardderus:
I find that, in general, Cornelia Funke's books are the kind that adults and YA's should like, but it seems to me that adults in the US like them more than do YA readers. There is so much in them that I think the content overwhelms YA readers who want adventure and a light hand on the ethics and morals part. Funke wrote all of her early works in German and they had to be translated, so I suspect that translation is part of the problem with reading them. They tend to be heavy reads. Again - that translation thing.

Funke now lives in California and it is possible that the newer series are written in English. That might make them easier to read.

>293 benitastrnad: It could easily be translation issues, Benita. German tends to have a certain heaviness in translation though I'm of the opinion it's in the original...no proof, just vibes.

>292 richardderus: Thanks, RD. I am slated to read the next book in the series, Fearless, in July.

>293 benitastrnad: >294 richardderus: As Richard says, it could very well be translation issues.

My last book for June:

176 - Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer - Young Adult; No idea how I managed to be reading two young adult books at the same time, but there you go. I also have no idea how I managed to be reading two books, Doomsday Book and this one, in which the world is breaking down and apart, at the same time. This was a re-read for me, and I think I enjoyed this one a little less this time around than I did the first time - much of it seems very familiar given that COVID still haunts us. Although the end of the world happening in this book is not due to disease but rather an alteration of the moon's orbit because it was hit by a massive asteroid, the end result is the same; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Busy day here today as it is my weekly meet up with Beth and Catey. I have already been up and doing chores this morning, including one I did not do last night thinking I would get to sleep early which, of course, did not happen.

Kerry and I will be playing Space Base today. We have a physical copy of the game but this is one that is also available on Board Game Arena so we may play it there instead. We shall see.

On the reading front, I am continuing on with Cyteen in audioform and Barkskins in hard cover. I am hoping to start at least the other 2 library books that I have on hand, Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick, which I would swear that I owned but could not find (no one else has that problem, right?), and I Am Princess X. I also need to start on my shared read of Stargazy Pie with Mary. After that, who knows.

I will be starting a new thread before the day is out! I hope everyone has a terrific Tuesday!

Happy July reading Stasia. I am curious whether you are liking Cyrene. I’ve heard good things about it and actually bought it.

>296 alcottacre: I remember reading that one when it came out, and feeling the urge to stockpile canned goods after reading!

Hi Stasia! I am very behind and just did a skim to catch up. So glad you had a lovely trip to visit Linda. I'm very excited to get to Doomsday Book for the first time this year after reading and loving the rest of the series.

>297 alcottacre: Will this be your first read through Greenwing & Dart? Or a reread?

>298 Kristelh: I am enjoying Cyteen, Kristel, although it was a slow starter for me. I am hoping to finish it tomorrow.

>299 foggidawn: I completely understand that feeling, foggi!

>300 curioussquared: I hope you enjoy Doomsday Book as much as I do, Natalie!

No, this is not my first read through of Greenwing & Dart. I believe Mary and I first read the series starting in 2023.