The Read goes ever on and on...MrsLee 2025 chapter 3

Are we beginning the third quarter of the year already? Really?

Today I plan to begin reading:
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman on my Kindle
Royal Flush by Rex Stout, an omnibus of stories, the one which I am reading for the next A&E special is The Next Witness, but actually I'm going to read them all.

We are quite hot here today and tomorrow, low 100s, so I'm going to go cut up a watermelon.

>1 MrsLee: Happy New Thread and Happy Reading!

>1 MrsLee:
Happy new thread and keep cool. We are hovering around 100 and I would not want it hotter. In fact I do not want it this hot.

>1 MrsLee: Happy New Thread!
Have a great time with your books!

And keep cool...

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread! Yes, I join the "stay cool" chorus, though I think right now it's affecting a lot of us.

Happy reading!

Thanks all! Although it is warm, we are actually having a nice summer so far. Our "normal" temps are usually above 100. As far as I am concerned, once it gets above 90 I am not good for anything after noon. Even if we have air conditioning.

Happy new thread! Stay cool, and best wishes for your treatment {{{hugs}}}

On the "stay cool" point, here in our part of Brisbane, it's a bright, clear but very windy morning. Present temp 11.6℃ ("feels like" 0.5). For Brisbane that's seriously cold.

Happy new thread :) Best wishes for your latest treatment, I hope it goes well.

Happy new thread!

Hoping that the summer stays on the "cooler" side of things, cooler being a relative term. Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

Did you get parts of the storms that went through northern Cal yesterday?

>12 catzteach: Nope. They stayed in the mountains. We just had wind last night. Lots of interesting clouds over the mountains though.

I'm glad you are having better luck with the weather so far this year!

>13 MrsLee: we had another storm roll through Thursday night. It was wild! My friend’s house almost got hit. Hopefully there won’t be any fires started from any of these storms.

Happy new thread! 100s is far too hot for me, I melt when it gets over 80.
I'm glad you have aircon and good books to read.

>14 Karlstar:, >15 catzteach: & >16 Sakerfalcon: Thank you for the well wishes. I'm around, I'm reading, but not feeling very chatty. Lurking though. I am always watching. *cue eerie music*

Still reading the books I began this thread with, along with Isaac's Storm, which is heartbreaking, but very interesting.

In addition, I began a book which my friend wanted us to read together. She has been recently diagnosed with cancer and is working her way through it. The book we are reading is Eat to Beat Disease by William W. Li, M.M.

I bought it because she asked me to, but I was leery of it because I didn't want to read another author who tells you that if you just do the right things you will be cancer free and happy. This is not that book, in fact, the title is very misleading. What this is, is a course in biology with a focus on immunology. He teaches you about the several systems in our bodies that help us to stay disease free, or to recover from disease when it attacks. Then he goes on to tell about the foods which enhance and feed those systems. He never says all sickness can be cured by what we eat, but he encourages people to eat the best they can to support their immune system while under treatment for their disease, and for those who are not sick, to keep their immune system as healthy as possible. He encourages us to eat even the healthy foods in moderation, in other words, just because kale has healthy elements, we don't need to binge on it.

I was inspired to buy some squid (cuttlefish) ink because it is one of the good things, but I have no idea how I will use it, and I would like to know more about it before I get hooked on it. Do they farm it without killing the cuttlefish, or do they farm it and still use the cuttlefish for food, or do they kill the cuttlefish only to get the ink? That last one would be a no-go for me.

All this to say, that it is a great read so far, especially the first five chapters which explain the immune system and how each part functions. After that he focuses on specific foods and what they do to help each function (cheese, wine, beer and chocolate are a few, but keep in mind his mantra of "moderate" consumption. :) That's the part of the book I'm in right now. At the end there are food charts, etc. I find this so interesting it has nudged aside my Nero Wolfe and Neil Gaiman books, although I'm still dipping into them.

I think July will be a low book count as far as reading goes. My mind is sort of dull and I am oh so tired of radiation, but, only two more days of it.

On the TV front, I've been binging on NCIS. Somehow I missed this one. So far I watched the first season of NCIS: Origins, which was a lot of fun because it really looks like a show from the early nineties (I'm not one to spot inconsistencies, but all the old tech, talk and chauvinism is there), but the storylines seem more sophisticated to me. I say that because now I am watching the first episode of the first season of NCIS, filmed in 2003, which also seems quite dated in some aspects. I'm enjoying it enough and have 22 seasons to watch! Oh, my first introduction was NCIS: Australia, which I enjoyed much. I think there is also NCIS: Hawaii and NCIS: New Orleans.

I am breaking up the watching of NCIS with other shows. I've tried Watson, which I like and don't like. I don't like many of the characters, I do like the medical bits. I like Watson himself OK, but I keep my reservations. Honestly, I don't see why they tried to tie it into the Sherlock Holmes stories. He could be another House; with less cranky.

Also started Gentleman in Moscow TV series. I love, love Ewan McGregor, and he is doing a fine job, but the first episode is so sad. You would think it is a Russian story. ;) I have read and loved the book, so I know it, but sometimes it is harder to watch the sad things than to read them.

>18 MrsLee: Glad you are enjoying Eat to beat Disease, it sounds educational. We have a cookbook with recipes on reducing inflammation, which we've found somewhat useful.

>19 MrsLee: It isn't a happy show, but definitely was great.

Lurking (>17 MrsLee:) as well as reading and watching NCIS seems perfectly acceptable behavior to me.

With regard to the title for Eat to Beat Disease, it seems as if it was crafted to grab attention and make folks curious enough take the book off the shelf in the store, although, like you, I would have been hesitant with regard to false promises. I like that the author focuses on moderation in eating habits.

>21 jillmwo: That's what I thought. A publisher who wanted an eye-catching title, like so many of the reports on scientific studies which want to grab the public with something sensational. Then you read the actual science article and it is generally much more subdued.

>18 MrsLee: Eat to Beat Disease sounds like an informative read.

>18 MrsLee: That does sound like a good book, despite the misleading title. I've only heard of squid ink being used in pasta. For example Squid Ink Bucatini con le Sarde

>23 Narilka: & >24 Sakerfalcon: It is informative, and written so a person who hasn't attended medical school or has a degree in science can understand.

>24 Sakerfalcon: That is the only way I'm familiar with it as well. I'm not going to make my own pasta. I have tried before and it is a task that my brain and patience rejects when there is perfectly good pasta to buy. Doing a quick search the other day, I saw photos of black ice cream, cookies and cake. None of those appeal to me, but I might make black rice to go with stir fry veggies? Or perhaps a sauce over a vegetable casserole? Will do more research.

I have watched NCIS from the beginning, including the story arc that started in on JAG.

I am listening to How Not to Die. It is about how a plant based diet can help people be healthier. It was recommended by a coworker. I wonder if it has similar suggestions as your book.

>25 MrsLee: Black rice sounds like a good idea. Like you, I don't think I'd ever make pasta myself although some people seem to enjoy the process. I'd rather be reading. I look forward to hearing what you decide!

>26 catzteach: I think any changes we make towards whole foods, with plants being the majority, will be a good change. One thing this doctor/author says, is that different diets are good for different issues. My sister-in-law has a genetic condition which causes her brain to develop tiny holes. (Totally unclear about the exact issue). They believe that chronic inflammation exacerbates it. She has switched to a vegan diet to hopefully delay the bad stuff as long as possible (her mother had it, lived to 91, and it was only really an issue the last two or three years of her life).

However, some people with other conditions need stuff from the non-vegan lifestyle. Things found in the dark meat of chicken, seafood and cheeses. When I get to the end of the book I plan to make a chart of the good stuff for me and make those things part of my lifestyle. Many of them already are. I'm thrilled that I should seek out more Pacific oysters to eat! I won't necessarily eliminate all the bad/questionable stuff, but I will make the majority the good stuff. I already have eliminated almost all processed foods, and we rarely eat out. I don't drink sugar in anything and I don't eat much deep fried foods, so any changes will be more like small tweaks for me. Hope you continue on your journey and find it fun and delicious to discover new foods.

>27 Sakerfalcon: Spent half an hour yesterday looking at recipes. I saved a seafood risotto one and a seafood pasta dish with squid sauce. I may try it in a bread too. I bought dried powder. Hope it still has the goodness in it. Says it does. By the way, the ink is a by-product of the harvest of squid and cuttefish for eating. I can live with that.

>28 MrsLee: I had a friend with rheumatoid arthritis back in the ‘90s. It totally went away when he switched to a vegetarian diet. It truly matters what we put in our mouths. I have totally stopped eating processed foods, The Husband not so much. I’ve learned I really like roasted sweet potato. :)

>29 catzteach: Husband's can be a problem with the program. Mine is slowly coming on board after 10+ years. He needs his breakfast cereal, but has switched to those low in sugar, and is even eating other cooked grains (my phone made that brains, which I should have left) now instead of the processed junk. As long as he has some chicken to eat in the house he is fine with everything I cook. The doctor in this book says chicken thighs/dark meat are on the good list for our immune system, so yay! Of course the doctor wants me to remove the fat and skin, and that's never going to happen. ;P

During Prime day, I got the Apple channel for a good discount. I've been watching "Shrinking." There is too much of the "fuck" word, and also too much talking about it, but it is somewhat addicting. I miss my dear friend so much when I watch it. Her husband was a psychologist and she would have been fun to watch it with.

>30 MrsLee:
I will ignore your sexist comments.

I have been told I can eat chicken and turkey as long as I remove the skin. Also told to avoid red meat and processed meats. I cannot say I have kept to this 100% but am pretty compliant.

Speaking of “cooked brains”, the menu at the bistro we had lunch yesterday included roast calf’s head. Funnily enough none of us ordered that.

>31 MrsLee:
I am sorry you are missing your friend. It feels, however, that while you miss her you are recalling happier times. Is it the use and frequent discussion of the word you mention what reminds you of her?

>32 pgmcc: One of the more distressing "delicacies" in some parts of this country is called "smileys". They are roasted sheep heads.

edited for spelling

>34 hfglen:. To describe such a dining experience as merely "distressing" is the height of understatement.

"Distressing" is more appropriate when you apply it to things like MrsLee's comments about her husband's breakfast selections in #30 above: (my phone made that brains, which I should have left)

I may need to go slip some Kahlua into my coffee after some of the topics read in so many threads this morning. (Honestly, the more I think about that, the more it appeals...)

>32 pgmcc: Note the words can be. As always, you are the exception to the rule, as are any other of the men here who don't fight eating healthy foods. :D

My grandmother is the only person in my real life who ate brains with relish. She scrambled them with eggs (no actual relish). My parents used to make head cheese. I was young and never tried it. I won't seek out brains to eat, but I'll keep them in mind.

>33 pgmcc: Haha, no. That would be a real turn off for her, but I think she would like the rest of the show. The frustrations of a therapist when a patient won't stop their destructive behavior and the messy lives of the therapists themselves. Very real, yet portrayed with humor. Her husband frequently came to her for a dose of reality. She was good at that.

>34 hfglen: I will never forget the huge pot with a whole head of a pig in it, simmering away to make that head cheese. They said it was delicious.

>35 jillmwo: BRAINS, BRAINS, BRAINS!!! Is your bottle empty yet? ;P

>36 MrsLee: "I won't seek out brains to eat, but I'll keep them in mind."

Now that is exactly the type of clever turn of phrase that I have come to expect from our @MrsLee.

>36 MrsLee:. It was when you mentioned the "huge pot with a whole head of a pig in it" that drove me back into the kitchen to root amongst the alcohol. More Kahlua-laced coffee is decidedly required.

>37 ScoLgo: & >38 jillmwo: :P

This week I managed to finish three of the four books I've been reading this month.

Isaac's Storm became so compelling that I removed it from the throne room and read the last few chapters. Part of that motivation was to get through the heartbreaking chapters at the end quickly.

Not much else to say about this one. I'm not exactly inspired to read more about Norse mythology, there are so many others to explore, but this was about my brain speed for now.

Eat to Beat Disease was a surprise favorite this month if only for the insights into how our bodies work. Very relatable and interesting. As for the rest, it's in my review.

I'm still dallying through the Nero Wolfe Royal Flush omnibus. Always enjoy these stories, haven't found many social justice plots lately, just fun mysteries. Reading Murder by the Book one wonders just how much Stout disliked lawyers, or if they simply made good targets.

I started Up and Down California in 1860-1864 the Journal of William H. Brewer. It is a 500+ pages tome and so will be reading this awhile. The only way I get through books that size anymore is to read a little every day and have something else going on the side.

The something else (besides Rex Stout) this time is Butter. Yes, I succumbed to the barrage of bullets for this one which were flying around the pub in the not to distant past. That, and I was able to buy it for $1.99 on Amazon during Prime days. I also purchased The Little Paris Bookshop but that might not get read soon.

>41 MrsLee: I've added this to my wish list. It sounds very interesting. Thanks for the review.

>30 MrsLee: Yesterday I texted The Husband and asked what he would like for dinner. He texted back "real food" and then hamburger, hot dog, pizza, taco, cake, and cookie emojis. *eye roll* I texted back a bunch of vegetables. Then today he says he "needs to get this weight off." I stopped myself from telling him to stop eating "real food" then. :P

>43 Narilka: Hope you enjoy it when you get it. I was talking to a vendor at Farmer's Market and she was very interested, so I will give her my copy after I get the info and charts I need copied from the book.

>44 catzteach: Hilarious! When I ask my husband what he wants the answer is always, "cookies, cake, candy and ice cream." But he's good with the vegetables now, so long as there is chicken to go with them.

Didn't read much while my sister was here. I'm trying to get into reading Butter: a novel of food and murder. I'm not feeling it yet, but only at the beginning still. The two girls have very similar names, and I wonder if I got a copy with a bum translator, because the closest comparison I cane come up with is that it reads like a Dick and Jane book. Now that my sister has gone home, I will give it a better try.

>46 MrsLee: Uh-oh. I have this one on my Kindle.

I hope you had a wonderful time with your sister.

I don't read many of the comments, hidden spoilers or reviews of books that I think I might want to read someday. Apparently I should have for the book, Butter. I do not hate it, but it isn't what I was expecting at all. I thought there would be humor, murder and food. It is not much of any of that except maybe the food part. However, I am finding the spotlight on Japanese culture, especially the attitudes and expectations of women, very interesting. Also the food they eat, which seems to be nothing like the stereotype I had in my head of healthy small portions of carefully prepared food. Get with the times, Lee.I find Rika and Reiko extremely uncomfortable characters to read about, but I think that highlights the difference between western and eastern cultures more than anything else. It is this difference that I find both interesting and odd/sad. I think they would probably feel the same reading about me.

Reading Up and Down California became so interesting that it has become my main read.

In its place in the bathroom is Then Again by Diane Keaton. Very early in the book still, but I like the way she is writing and think I will enjoy it. Sometimes she makes me crazy in the roles she portrays, but her writing is interesting, with only a mild affectation now and then.

>48 MrsLee: I’m with you on Butter. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I did enjoy it. It did make me buy better butter and try it on my rice. It did make my plain rice taste better. :)

>49 catzteach: I am already a butter fanatic, but yes, it does give one a craving for buttered rice or noodles. I never thought to add a dash of soy sauce to my buttered rice. I am toying with the idea of getting a rice cooker, but Mark doesn't love rice and I need every bit of counter space I can get. If I can fit it in a cabinet when not in use, I might go for it.

>50 MrsLee: They do make mini ones! Dorm room sized, even! I saw some on Amazon for as little as $16, but I wouldn't trust them.
This was the brand my daughter borrowed from a friend and was using for several years at my house.
https://a.co/d/4fyZ3As

>50 MrsLee: I have an Instant Pot brand rice cooker, and I keep it in a cabinet when not in use. I never thought I needed a rice cooker, as opposed to cooking the rice in a pot on the stove, but it is convenient (and frees up a stove burner, if you're making a big meal).

>51 clamairy: That is the one I saved to my "Wish list." The price makes me hesitate, but I also don't want a cheapo one that isn't satisfactory. Good to know this one delivers. I like the simplicity of it.

>52 foggidawn: Yes, I can see that benefit of the stovetop thing. I happen to have two stoves, so eight burners, but I wonder in the summer here, if it would be cooler than cooking on the stove.

>53 MrsLee: It probably would be cooler. It vents some steam, but that's still probably less heat released than that from a stove burner.

>48 MrsLee:
I enjoyed Butter. Like you I had expected more of a crime investigation. The Japanese culture fascinated me. I have read many older Japanese books and Butter is from the more recent tranch of Japanese writers who promote more independence and strength in women. @Sakerfalcon informed me of the modern trends in Japanese books.

>55 pgmcc: I've finishes it now. It requires some digestion before I can talk about it.

Also >51 clamairy: & >55 pgmcc: My husband thought the rice cooker was worth a try so I ordered it. When I looked more closely at the logo of the company on the cooker, I saw that it is a tiny elephant.

>56 MrsLee:
Husbands are so good.

Glad to see your Elephant Awareness is working well. There is always an elephant.

>56 MrsLee: Awesome. May you enjoy many years of rice consumed from that cooker. I put it in my wishlist for now.

>56 MrsLee: let us know how the rice cooker works. I usually use the stove, but if I can find one that can hide away when not in use ….

I hear you can make a nice rice pudding in one of those! My husband is currently having trouble with eating rice, so my brand-new rice cooker remains in its box.

>58 clamairy: >59 catzteach: >60 jillmwo: We love our rice cooker. I used to always make it on the stove, but I admit the rice cooker does a great job. I just made Rick Bayless' Mexican tomato rice in it the week before last. In ours, we have to watch the time a little, if we let it go the full time the rice will be dry.

>59 catzteach:, >60 jillmwo: & >61 Karlstar: Good to know it isn't just for plain and brown rice. The instructions come with a recipe for rice custard, but you have to do most of it on the stove, then the last bit in the cooker. Not sure I see the point, but then it's my husband who likes rice custard, not me.

I tried it with one cup of rice, which made the perfect amount for two servings in our household. Rice was perfect and I think I'm gonna love it. Also found a place in the cupboard for it. Mine can only make 3 - 6oz. cups of rice, which is more than enough for us.

One of these days I will update my thread with reading, but I've been quite tired lately, so not reading a ton.

A comment on NCIS. I am a newbie to this show. I started with the prequel of NCIS:Origins, which I enjoyed. It seemed to capture the 1990s well, even the attitudes towards women in the workplace. But now I've been watching the first two seasons of the original, filmed in 2003 and 2004. I am amazed at the latent sexism, homophobia and transgender bias. Much more so than the show set in the 1990s, because I don't think they could reenact that now. That's a good thing. I don't intend this to be political or religious, just a look at our culture, and hopefully a little hope that progress in loving one another is being made even if it seems a dim hope at times.

>56 MrsLee:, >57 pgmcc: The elephant is the sign of a quality product! You made the right choice!

I'm glad you stuck with Butter and found it interesting. It certainly raised some uncomfortable issues but I enjoyed it a lot.

>63 Sakerfalcon: I did end up appreciating my read of Butter. As you will see from my review, it was not an easy book for me. I struggled with the judgmental attitudes, so negative and superficial:
Women who try to cook complicated food dishes are asserting their egos.
Women who don't cook are neglecting themselves and their family.
Women who gain weight aren't trying hard enough.
Women who are too thin are unhealthy.
When any man or child dies or becomes a bad person, it is the fault of the mother who didn't raise them "traditionally."
Men are all out to destroy women.
Women who don't work hard enough and raise their children perfectly are inferior.
Women who chose to raise their children traditionally and not work are lacking.

There is no winning. I would smother in this culture of expectations.

There were several instances when I didn't feel like something was stated correctly, but I'm betting that is a translation issue. Not sure about this one: "The whites of his eyes were clouded." How the hell are whites of eyes clouded? This was stated more than once. The whites are WHITE. They can be yellowed with jaundice, red with bloodshot vessels, but clouded? I know cataracts can make cloudy eyes, but that is because they cover the irises. That was the only part that made me take a step out of the story.

As you can see from the trouble I've taken in this post and in my review, the story did have an effect on me, which I appreciate, and it has stuck in my mind, which I cannot say for many of the books I read.

In other news, I finished Royal Flush, an omnibus of Nero Wolfe stories. Pleasurable, as always. Next up is Trio for Blunt Instruments, the focus story (meaning the one adapted by A&E for television) is "Murder is Corny."

>65 MrsLee: Good to see that you are enjoying some of your favorites!

>64 MrsLee: Oh, yikes! I bought this one when it was on sale for Kindle a month or two ago. Now I think I will probably let it sit a little longer before I'm brave enough to try it. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it more. Hopefully I will become so interested in the food content of this book that I will be able to ignore all (or at least some) the sexism.

>64 MrsLee: I've heard so much about this book, but I have yet to read it. I can understand your struggles with it! Reading your take on it was really interesting, thank you :)

>67 clamairy: I bought mine in that same sale. It isn't the cozy, funny, foodie book I thought it would be, but I do think it is worth reading. Probably different folks gather different things from it. :)

>68 Alexandra_book_life: Thank you, that means a lot to me because I always admire your write ups when I read them (I tend to be careful not to read about books I think I may want to read so as to avoid spoilers).

I looked outside and we have about a dozen wild turkeys in your yard! This makes me happy. We are finally seeing more wildlife now that there are no squatters living in the wild area below our house.

>69 MrsLee: Oh, thank you! :)

I am happy about your wild turkeys too.

>69 MrsLee: Oh! The 'camp' is gone? That's wonderful news! Enjoy the turkeys. I've started throwing out an extra scoop of bird seed for mine. Probably not a great idea, but they seem very appreciative.

>64 MrsLee:

I can understand your trouble with the attitudes towards and the pressures on women in Japan. In this book I believe they were presented to demonstrate how difficult it is for women to be strong and independent. My overall feeling about the book is that it is about Raki's development and consequent confrontation of the cultural norms that impinge upon her individuality. My interpretation of the book is that Raki conquered these misogynistic pressures and started carving her own place in the world. It was her realisation of how Kajii was manipulating her that awakened her to her own predicaments in other areas of her life. Her taking control of her relationship with Kajii and her realisation of how the other pressures were affecting her gave her the strength to stand up for herself and become a much more confident person.

In relation to the similarity of names I must agree with you. I too had difficulty coming to grips with Raki and Reiko. I am having similar problems with the book I am currently reading, Inspector Imanishi Investigates. It is a Japanese murder mystery and it has many examples of the misogyny present in Japanese culture in the 1960s. Given your reaction to it in Butter I suspect you would find it tough going if you were to read this book. It is so blatant in the book I can only assume the author meant it as means of highlighting the problem the same way Dickens highlighted the squalor of poor people in his novels.

You are correct to state that Butter is not a typical mystery. The mystery of whether Kajii is guilty or not appears simply as a framework in which to tell the story of Raki. We never find out if Kajii is really guilty or not, but in the end it does not feel relevant. The book is a coming of age and rebirth story.



@Sakerfalcon sent me a link to an article about the recent surge of interest in Japanese books, both old and new. It also explains about the recent increase in Japanese women writers who are producing novels about strong independent women. I consider Butter to be part of this wave of modern writing. The article can be found HERE. I found it a fascinating read. I hope you do too.

>71 clamairy: Yes, we found out that much of that land belongs to the school district and there is a school across the ravine from us. That gave the legal impetus to remove the people to another piece of land further away. Whether they will stay or or not is another question. In the meantime, I am happy to say that the wildlife is trickling back in and my view is no longer tarps and garbage.

I quit feeding birds some time ago when I realized I was only luring them to their death. I have a mighty hunter cat, and there are at least six other cats, some feral, some owned by neighbors, that hang out in my yard. I keep water out there and am trying to plant bird friendly bushes, plants and trees, but no more ground food. I've never seen a cat approach a wild turkey though. Not even the Siamese I had years ago. My newest cat, Grár, was unnerved and came to hang out with me while they were on the patio.

>72 pgmcc: Thank you for your thoughts about reading Butter. I often find that hearing others express their thoughts helps me to express my own.

"We never find out if Kajii is really guilty or not, but in the end it does not feel relevant. The book is a coming of age and rebirth story."

When I realized this, it made it much easier for me to enjoy the book and her journey.

>72 pgmcc: The article was fascinating, thank you! I've read quite a few of the titles mentioned, too. It was nice to see :)
I like Sayaka Murata's and Banana Yamamoto's books a lot, and I also enjoyed Strange Weather in Tokyo, Traveling Cat Chronicles, and There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job :)

>69 MrsLee: Congrats on the return of the turkeys.

>64 MrsLee: This is a great post and review. The restrictions and judgement levelled at women that you list are grim, but I liked seeing how Rika finds happiness and a found family by the end of the book. I also liked the portrayal of her friendship with Reiko.

>76 Sakerfalcon: Agreed

I finished watching A Gentleman in Moscow last night. Made me want to read the book again, I've forgotten so much. I love watching Ewan McGregor in everything I've seen him in.

Also finished my Stout book, Trio for Blunt instruments, next up will be The Mother Hunt.

I am enjoying Then Again; it rings true and I don't mean with facts, but with the emotions and stages women go through in their lives.

Also still enjoying Up and Down California, but I can only read a chapter a day in it.

>77 MrsLee: I'm glad you enjoyed the mini series. Perhaps I will splurge for it when Winter comes.

>77 MrsLee: I really enjoyed the TV series of A Gentleman in Moscow also. I thought they did a great job.

Yesterday I finished Then Again. My review doesn't clearly say all I felt while reading this. I've not been one of Diane Keaton's biggest fans. Could take her or leave her in most of the movies. However, as a woman, I am impressed with her, especially after reading this. So many of her words and thoughts echoed my own as far as the struggle goes to really understand our moms, who they were, the significance they have in our lives and how to move forward without them. Also her honesty about her own struggles was - I can't think of a better way to say it than true, or real. Not that she told us about her struggles, but that she looked at herself and faced them.

Enough of my inarticulate efforts of praise. I'm very glad I read this book.

I also finished The Mother Hunt yesterday. A pleasurable as usual read.

Today I've begun Three at Wolfe's Door which includes the novella "Poison a la Carte" which is one of the stories filmed for the A&E mystery specials.

I've also begun reading The Acts of King Arthur and his Noble Knights by John Steinbeck. It is going well so far, but I've barely begun.

>80 MrsLee: *Pew pew pew*. I might try to find this as an audiobook read by Diane herself. I am glad you enjoyed your time with her.

>82 clamairy: I could never do an audio book with her reading. The way she struggles to verbally express herself in her acting is what drives me crazy about watching her movies. However, now that I've read her book, I understand that better and will have more compassion. :P To tell the truth, I thought of you often while reading this, I think you would like it.

>80 MrsLee: I'm not one of Diane Keaton's biggest fans either. I really enjoyed reading your impressions of this book. So heartfelt... Thank you.

>83 MrsLee: Well, I can borrow it for free so if it's terrible I can try the Kindle version instead. I am hoping that since she was reading from a written script there wasn't a problem. I'm happy that you were thinking of me while reading something you enjoyed. :o)

>81 MrsLee: Bear in mind that Steinbeck's version was in process when he died. I think you may find that the tone of the writing shifts throughout the course of the published version. The letters included are interesting as you learn what intrigues Steinbeck as an individual reader.

>84 Alexandra_book_life: Thank you. 😊

>85 clamairy: Sounds like a plan! If all else fails, I would be happy to send you my copy, but I know you prefer the Kindle/audio route.

>86 jillmwo: Thank you for the warning. I will be reading it slowly. Impressions so far (I'm at the point where someone must pull the sword out of the anvil); the modern language lacks romance and mystery, but I learned that the word "coma" is much older than I thought. I might have grown out of my "King Arthur" attraction, although I loved reading Tolkien's The Fall of Arthur a couple of years ago. I didn't know letters were included in this? Something to look forward to.

>86 jillmwo: Thank you for the heads up about the letters. I have skipped to that part and am loving it! I may go back to read the stories after I finish these.

I finished reading Up and Down California. Things I found interesting not mentioned in my review:
At one point, they had scurvy in camp, which surprised me, because I think the cause of scurvy, or at least the prevention, had been around for 100 years. I suppose their food was pretty basic (pork, beans, biscuits, wild meat), but they weren't that far from Los Angeles where he mentions the citrus groves and other food. However, they were traveling by mule and foot, and carried many scientific instruments, so perhaps they didn't know they would need the fruit. He doesn't mention that as an issue after the first couple of months.

As Hugh said in a post about an older book, the opinions of this author towards other races have worn badly. Not only other races, but most anyone who wasn't from the northeastern states and hadn't been to college. This was during the Civil War in America, and he was decidedly anti-secessionist, but emancipation was only a means to winning the war to him. That said, he seemed to judge folks by their behavior and actions, not only their race and education.

The hardiness of these men was something almost unknown now. They would travel at times 20-30 miles a day in the wilderness mountains and canyons. They occasionally had a tent, but usually not. They slept in a blanket at elevations of over 10,000 feet, sometimes in the rain and snow, often in the wind or dust. The temperatures he noted were beyond anything we hear of now, sometimes 156°, which is hard to believe, although 120° is not unusual at times in the summer. He wasn't in Death Valley, he was in the Sacramento/San Joaquin valley during those times.

In 1863 when he was near the summit of Mt. Lassen (this was before the last eruption, but there was mention of an eruption in the 1850s), he waited by the barometer to take readings. While he waited, he finished reading Bleak House, which was first serialized in 1853.

His summation of the valley I grew up in: "Pit River Valley (Fall River Valley now) is too far away from the rest of the world to be of value yet." That is almost true today, although there is much farming there and the trout fishing is renowned.

Next book to read for me: Tasting History by Max Miller. I purchased this on Amazon during one of their sales. Have only read two Babylonian lamb recipes so far, but I intend to try at least one of them. It is entertaining, although perhaps not comprehensive.

>90 MrsLee: Oh!!! I'm tempted...

>90 MrsLee: My sister and nephew love the Tasting History videos on Youtube. I've watched a couple, should probably take in a few more. I'll be waiting for your thoughts on the book.

>89 MrsLee: I guess I better get my act in gear and finish Bleak House, I don't have the excuse of trekking through unexplored mountains.

>91 clamairy: as >92 Karlstar: says, if you don't want to commit to the cookbook, you can watch his YouTube videos. I found him when I was in some slump or other. Fun watch. I've read more of the cookbook and I think many of the recipes he puts forth are doable. I will skip the Spartan blood stew though.

>92 Karlstar: That is a Dickens book I haven't read yet, but the universe seems to be bringing it to my attention lately. It was no surprise to see it mentioned in the pub, but then to see it in an explorer in the 1860s book, and last night on an NCIS episode, makes me take note. Sadly, it is also one that isn't currently on my shelves.

>93 MrsLee: There should be a few free versions from Amazon. Here's one: https://www.amazon.com/Bleak-House-EireannPress-Charles-Dickens-ebook/dp/B0748GQ...

I'm not great at sitting and watching cooking videos. Not sure why.

>93 MrsLee: Better Half and I have watched more than a few of his. Haven't seen his cookbook, but I've quite often "mined" his website when short of ideas for what to cook for dinner. His recipes work, and are eminently do-able.

>95 hfglen: That's a great idea for dinner inspiration.

Today while waiting for various appointments at the hospital, I began reading Tales from the Stranger Times volume 1, by C.K. McDonnell. It is a recent Kindle purchase and just the thing to read while being strapped to an IV for a couple of hours.

I confessed to the doctor that more frequently than not I found myself unable to concentrate and just stared into space or closed my eyes. He said, "That's what all the best geniuses do." I've yet to receive my epiphany, but one can hope.

>97 MrsLee: I'm sending healing hugs your way, my friend.

>97 MrsLee: What clam said only more so.

>97 MrsLee: Joining the chorus. Clearly the doctor knows you.

>97 MrsLee:
Big hug. C.K. McDonnell is just the thing for a genius. Book 5 of Stranger Times is due out in October.

>97 MrsLee:. I suspect being strapped to an IV for a few hours offers ample time for plotting mayhem, etc. Use that evil genius of yours to come up with a scathingly brilliant plan for taking over the world.

>97 MrsLee: Sending healing wishes your way.

>97 MrsLee: Adding my healing juju to the others.

>97 MrsLee: Best of luck and healing with your treatments.

>98 clamairy: - >105 Karlstar: Thank you all for the kind thoughts and words. Sorry I'm a bit too tired to list each post individually. That is my lazyevil genius sleepy brain.

Today was a meeting to learn about our Medicare and insurance options. Then a little stroll downtown whet we happened to be across the street from a used bookstore (meeting was in a town about 40 miles from where we live). I found a copy of Bleak House and now it is mine, but no promises to read it soon. Now for a nap.

>97 MrsLee: I'm joining everyone is sending healing hugs and wishes.

>97 MrsLee: I hope you're feeling better after treatment.

I hope all is well, and you are tied up with family gatherings, and with resting/reading when you can. I'm sending more good juju your way.

As Clam notes, you're in our thoughts.

Thinking of you.

Hello all, this is Lee's daughter, Anna. I'm sorry to share this news with you all, but my mom passed away this week after suffering an unexpected and very severe stroke last Sunday night. She passed peacefully in the hospital, surrounded by her family. I think you all know that she was going through cancer treatments, and while this development was shocking and devastating for all of us we are glad that she was still able to be relatively active and participate in the activities and hobbies she enjoyed right up until the end; I know she would have wanted it that way.

My mom often mentioned tidbits from various LibraryThing communities that she participated in, and I know that this community in particular meant a lot to her. I'm glad that you were all part of her life, and I'm sure she sends her love and would want you all to remember her for her nerdy hobbies and interests rather than being sad.

If any of you know another group where this information should be posted or any of her online friends who I should reach out to directly, please share them with me as I'm not sure how to go about finding all of them. Please also feel free to reach out to me if any of you have questions or would like to stay informed as we figure out final arrangements and how to honor her life. I will try to check back here periodically when I am at my parents' home, but I've also created an account here called MrsLeesKid (I inherited my mom's lack of imagination for usernames) where you can message if you'd like.

The Road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

Omg I’m bawling. I’m so sorry you lost such a shining individual as your mom. The one time we met and had dinner at her home with her husband was fantastic- not just for the amazing food, but the company and warm hospitality. She was a genuine person and will be greatly missed.

I'm so sorry to hear this! MrsLee was my friend here on LT so long that I don't remember when she wasn't. She was (and will always be) a person we valued and will greatly miss in our discussions.

>112 MrsLee: Anna, I have been engaging with your mother in this particular Librarything group since 2009. She and I finally met in person when she made a trip out here to the East Coast. I share your devastation and I am so sorry that her death came so unexpectedly for you.

Lee was always so gracious in her postings -- about books, about food, about her skeleton dress ups -- and it was so clear that she prioritized her love for her family across past and rising generations. I will never hear or read the phrase of The Road Goes ever on and on without thinking of her. It was so genuinely part of her thinking. Nothing in words will be adequate, but I hope you are able to recognize how much we loved her presence here and how we will miss her.

I am so sorry. Your mother was a wonderful person, full of love and warmth. We will miss her.

>112 MrsLee:
Anna, my sincere condolences. Lee has been a great friend here for years and I will miss her wit and clever comments. Her work compiling various family projects has always amazed me. I never managed to meet your mother as I am in Ireland and the opportunity never presented itself, but she is a person I would love to have met. We shared many messages and discussions, so I felt I got to know her quite well.

Wishing you and the rest of Lee's family and friends strength at this time. She is a life that can be celebrated for all the love she obviously had for family and friends, and for everything she accomplished. As others have said above, she will be missed.

>112 MrsLee: More condolences; the blessing of interacting with Lee truly spanned the globe, and she will be sorely missed in this group, for all the reasons others have mentioned above. When I had a heart problem a few years ago, it was Lee that my Better Half contacted to inform this group, and somehow Lee was close to us, despite being physically on the far side of the planet.

May I join in with all that >117 pgmcc: (and others) have already said.

>112 MrsLee: Joining in the general outpouring. I don't remember of whom it was said that "(s)he touched nothing that (s)he did not adorn", but it could certainly have been said of your mother. I will always regret never having been able to meet her.

As to other groups: she used to hang out in Cookbookers, The Guild of Pratchett Fans, Good Show Sir!, and The Black Orchid that I know of. Since I'm now admin of two of those four, I'll post a message in each linking back to your post.

>112 MrsLee: I am so deeply sorry. She will be terribly missed. I think Lee was part of this group for close to 19 years and touched many of us with her kindness and humor.

Edited to add: I have let the Green Dragon crew on Facebook know.

>112 MrsLee: So sorry to hear this. I met Lee along with Jill, when she came to the east coast. She was always a source of positive vibes in all our threads. Holding you and all her family in the light.

Anna, I have been away from LibraryThing for a long time, but still have connections with some of the Green Dragoners on Facebook.

Your mom was such a shining star in our pub. The fun we had talking about books, blue-footed boobies, rambunctious rumbas and pan-galactic gargle-blasters has always stayed with me. I admired her so much and always enjoyed her erudite comments and discussions. I always hoped that someday we would be able to meet in person.

I am so very sorry for your loss, more than words can say. She made the world a better place and will be missed very, very much.

Oh, Anna, I'm so sorry. She will be much missed. She was a lovely person and touched so many people. I'm truly sorry for your loss.

I’m so sad to hear this. Lee was one of the first people I connected with here on LT. She was inspiring in so many ways. I will always cherish the memory of the scavenger hunt she left me in the Sylvia Beach hotel. She stayed there a few months before I did. The clues stayed until I found them. She left a little card behind a book with Green Dragon in the title. She was so smart and witty. I am sorry I never got a chance to arrange a meetup. She will be truly missed. A light has left earth and is now a shining star in the sky.

Oh no. What sad news. MrsLee was a wonderful part of this community for as long as I've been here. She was always a happy voice, joining in with out silliness. Her love of books and reading came through as strongly as her love for all her wide family. You must all be devastated, thank you for taking the time to let us know, and as much as another internet voice can make a difference, my condolences to you all.

>112 MrsLee: I'm so sorry to hear this news. Lee was such a wonderful person who I wish I could have met in real life. Her love for her family shone through in all her posts here on LT and Facebook. She deserved to have many more years with you all.

Condolences to you and family. Lee will be missed.

I had the pleasure of meeting her in person in Philadelphia and thankfully have a picture of us together.

MrsLee -

Learning of your passing hit me harder than I expected it could. You were a constant here, like the one light bulb in the house that never burns out, and quietly and competently illuminates its space.

Since the beginning, your unflagging participation in our community was a given. Whether I was absent from LibraryThing for a few hours - or many months - I'd always see many threads whose most recent contribution was from you. If the Green Dragon's product was conversation, you were its most reliable provider.

Thank you for your final post. Tolkien himself could not have written a more apt ending to a life, a blend of cherished habit and the gentle acceptance of age.

... a little stroll downtown whe<re> we happened to be across the street from a used bookstore ... I found a copy of Bleak House and now it is mine, but no promises to read it soon. Now for a nap.

Enjoy your nap, MrsLee. You deserve the rest, and may you go on to a place where the bookstores all have many narrow corridors leading to many unexpectedly large rooms - each providing a haphazard display of books, with the most amazing reads to be found in every case, on every shelf.

My condolences to the family and friends. This will leave a big hole in our community as MrsLee has been one of the pillars that always held us up. She will be missed terribly.

>112 MrsLee: Anna, my condolences to you and your family. I am very sad to hear she has passed. @MrsLee was an engaging, funny and thoughtful presence here on LT. I very much enjoyed her family stories and her projects putting together books of family history and I appreciated her thoughts and comments on my thread. She will be greatly missed.

A death tends to leave me without speech. I’ve been sitting with the news since yesterday.
Coming back here and reading others posts is choking me up again.
But I will try…

Though I’ve never even seen a picture of this dear lady, I feel as if I know her as a friend. We’ve conversed about books, gardens, cookbooks, jobs, medical issues and family over the years.

I hold your family in an embrace while you say goodbye. Praying that all the good memories surface through the pain you are feeling. God bless you all.

Thank you all so much for your comments and condolences. There are too many to respond to each, but I have read all of them and it's wonderful to see all the lives that my mom touched.

Thank you as well to those who have helped to spread the news to her other friends and groups on Facebook and elsewhere.

>132 MrsLeesKid:
She was much loved here, as you can see from the comments.

>112 MrsLee: I am shocked to see this and so very, very sorry, Anna. Please accept my condolences to you and your family. She will be greatly missed here. Thank you for thinking of us here at LT during this time.

>132 MrsLeesKid: I only knew your mother through her posts here but I got a very clear impression of her as a kind and generous person. Condolences to you and your family. May your memories be a source of comfort.

>112 MrsLee: So sorry to hear of your loss.

I didn't know your mum a lick except for the corny jokes she would make about bad science fiction covers here and on http://goodshowsir.co.uk/ that inevitably made me laugh.

She brought sparks of joy into my life without ever having met her, and you should be proud.

>132 MrsLeesKid:

Anna, I am so sorry for your loss. I did not know your mother well, but I knew she was a fixture here—an early, prolific, well-known and beloved member of the community. We messaged several times, and I appreciate now how nice she was even amid some problems I had caused for her. Thank you for sharing this sad news with us. I lost my mother to a similar unlooked-for death, so I can guess how you feel, and the effect it must have had on your whole family. I am glad that she was with you, active and engaged in what she loved, until almost the end. You and your family are in my thoughts.

I didn't know her for long, but she sure added to our goofy discussions in "Good Show Sir".

I'm very sorry for you and I'll miss her.

My condolences as well for you, her family and many, many friends. I didn't know her well, but her sense of humor and kind words will be sorely missed. My thoughts go out to everyone whose lives she touched.

I am having a hard time just going about 'business as usual' in this group since Lee's loss. I'm not sure how to address it. I realize she wouldn't want us wailing and rending our garments, but to just plod along also seems inappropriate right now.

Her absence will be felt for quite a long time, I suspect.

>141 clamairy:
I know the feeling. Her passing has left a big void. Any mention of Bleak House reminds me of her. I was just musing how much she would like The Kamogawa Food Detectives. She pops into my mind on many occasions.

>141 clamairy: Even though my activity is not general in the group, I feel that way too. How about setting up a thread called “MrsLee’s Memorial Table” or something like, where we can gather round, raise a glass and carry on …
Can someone please post a picture of her? I’m sure meetups produced a few.

>141 clamairy: and >142 pgmcc:. I feel the same way.

>143 2wonderY: I though about that. I'm thinking perhaps we should just keep it here in the thread she started, though. What do the rest of you think?

>142 pgmcc: & >144 jillmwo: I'm glad it's not just me.

>143 2wonderY: I just went to her photo gallery and grabbed this one.

>145 clamairy: I'm agreeable either way.

>143 2wonderY: Some time ago she sent me a pdf of the family cookbook she assembled (typical @MrsLee kindness!). It has several pictures of her in it. It should be technically possible to massage one into a jpeg and upload it to this thread, or the one you propose. It would be doubtfully legal (copyright), and I'd ask @Haydninvienna for advice before doing so.

>146 clamairy: Thank you! I’m not sure why I never thought to look there.

I have been wondering if it would be possible to designate her profile page as a Memorial page somehow or if we could ask for an icon to note a member who has joined the Library Celestial. I am sure that many of us remember -Pilgrim- who could also be remember in this way.

>146 clamairy: That's a lovely photo!

Lee was such a cornerstone of the Pub that I agree it would be good to honour her memory in some way.

>145 clamairy:
I think somewhere to post remembrances of Lee is a good idea. Either here or a dedicated thread is good as far as I am concerned.

This thread is reaching the number of posts to trigger the continuation to a new thread. Would it be an idea to reach that point a start a new thread that is a continuation of her line of threads? She did love piffle parties and it would not take much piffling to reach 150.

>146 clamairy:
That is a lovely picture.

My condolences, Anna. A light has gone from our community, for sure.

>147 hfglen: Hugh, I appreciate the thought, but not me, thanks. I don’t know squat about US copyright law.

>151 pgmcc: Lee used to like to let her threads get nice and long, and wait for the change of seasons, or there about, to start a new one. So perhaps we could wait a few weeks.

>149 Taphophile13: That would be up to her daughter to change her profile. It sort of stands as a memorial to Lee already.

>149 Taphophile13: I like this idea. Incidentally, I can’t remember any other time when Tim has posted personally about the passing of an LT member.

>145 clamairy: No, it's not just you. I remember her from back when I first joined here, and she was one of the first folks I recognized when I came back after a long absence.

>141 clamairy: Agree with this as well. I'm sure she would want us to just proceed but it just doesn't feel right. We need to sit with this for awhile.

For what it's worth, I like the idea of keeping her thread open for whatever remembrances we need to share.

Love the photo. ❤️

>112 MrsLee: Oh no! I'm heartbroken and so sorry for your (and our) loss. MrsLee will be very missed :(

I agree with you all: LT won’t be the same. I’ve been thinking about her constantly.

We could do a group read in her honor????

>158 catzteach: A group read would be fun, but what to choose? She liked Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe books and (obviously from the title of her thread) Lord of the Rings. What other suggestions are there?

>149 Taphophile13: We've gone back and forth on a "memorial" status. This would be an easy case because her daughter showed up and had access to her account, so there's confirmation. But it's also an easy case, because the daughter could change her profile to indicate it's a memorial, as, for example, was done with @ibonewits.

>158 catzteach: I love this idea. Either Tolkien or Pratchett is my thought.

Check out this thread for our current thoughts on a group read in her honor: https://www.librarything.com/topic/373372#n8943080

>162 Karlstar: thanks for the link!

>112 MrsLee: Anna, I'm sorry for your loss.

I've been in the Green Dragon sporadically over the years but always recognised MrsLee whenever I was here, as well as a few other places around LT. This year I've been in the pub a bit more and one thing she posted on my thread in August was her love of her family.

>146 clamairy: Im so sad to hear this and send my condolences to you and yours. Loved reading her posts and her reviews she was very dear to us and will be missed. May her name be for a blessing

>156 terriks: also thinking of reading from her DNF books, like we did for Rebecca

>167 cindydavid4: That's another great idea.

I think a group read in Lee's memory would be a great idea, if we can agree on a suitable title.

ETA just caught up! Perfect choice of The nine tailors.

I'm sorry for the pub's loss of a longtime denizen, especially one of such piffling talents. I enjoyed reading her witty and thoughtful comments.

May cherished memories comfort Lee's family and friends. ❤

I’ve just found this. So, so sorry to hear. Condolences.

I had such a vivid dream about @MrsLee last night. She was in that gorgeous green dress walking away from me and I kept calling her name so we could say a proper goodbye, but she just kept walking. She did stop and turn around so I could give her a quick hug, and then she slipped away.

Oh you made me tear up. Jeez. I miss her, too and sort of envy your dream. She was a gem, wasn't she?

>172 clamairy:
That would be so her to have a final goodbye.

>172 clamairy: love that dream

>173 Bookmarque: >174 pgmcc: & >175 cindydavid4: I suspect my subconscious was trying to give me the closure I felt I didn't get. I did wake up hoping her family managed to have a holiday season that wasn't too painful.

Yeah, I thought about Mark and the family, too.

>172 clamairy: Oh, what a dream... Hugs!

>172 clamairy: That sounds nice. I hope it made you happier rather than sad :0)

>172 clamairy: thank you for sharing that, its nice to think of her. I have missed seeing new posts to this thread in the Talk list.

>172 clamairy: I think that's a lovely dream. ((Hugs)) Lee tends to resurface for me as I look at the books she recommended to me.

>172 clamairy: That's the kind of dream that stays with you. Certain spiritual gurus would assure you that you did, indeed, have a visitation that allowed for a hug before she slipped off. I don't know about that, but maybe it feels more like closure now.

I share your hopes that this holiday season wasn't too intensely painful for her family.

She sure looks lovely in that green dress. A happy time.

Oh, what a nice dream. I think she was wishing you a happy new year. I miss her very much. I often think of her.

That's a lovely dream. I'm sure she was visiting you. I too was thinking of her family and hoping that they managed to find comfort in each other over the holidays.