Ellen (ebt1002) reads in 2025 - Thread 3

I am FINALLY starting a new thread!!

I'm Ellen, a retired university administrator now living in central Oregon with P, my wife of 29+ years, and Carson, our high-maintenance ginger cat. In addition to reading, I enjoy hiking, biking, canoeing, and watercolor painting. 2025 will be my second year of retirement and I hope I can pick up the pace on my reading. I used to regularly read 75-90 books a year; in 2024 I only got through 57. A lot of that had to do with my time spent watercolor painting, but I still hope to get back to the 75 mark this year.

I'm looking forward to a few shared reads, lots of book recommendations back and forth, and just connecting with my wonderful LT friends. I've been on LT since January 2011 and it has been a source of inspiration, information, and support throughout those years.

I honestly believe our democracy is falling apart -- or, more accurately, has been taken over by an authoritarian regime. It is frightening and horrifying, and I find it tricky to balance staying informed with staying sane. Reading, watercolor painting, and time with friends help.

Stay Calm and Read On!!

My boy, Carson

My first-ever painting of Carson. I did this for #worldwatercolormonth2025 when the prompt was "tired." I've been intimidated to paint Carson (or any animals!) but I am really pleased with how this one turned out. It's 5x7".

COMPLETED IN JANUARY

1. The Great Fortune by Olivia Manning 3.5 stars
2. The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden 4.5 stars

COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY

3. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 4.5 stars
4. The Bear by Andrew Krivak 5 stars
5. The Spoilt City by Olivia Manning 4 stars
6. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa 3 stars
7. We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman 5 stars
8. A Sorrowful Sanctuary by Iona Whishaw 4 stars
9. Mercy Falls by William Kent Krueger 4 stars

COMPLETED IN MARCH

10. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon 4 stars
11. Friends and Heroes by Olivia Manning 3.5 stars
12. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan 4 stars
13. Guide Me Home by Attica Locke 4 stars

COMPLETED IN APRIL

14. Isola by Allegra Goodman 3.5 stars
15. Copper River by William Kent Krueger 4 stars
16. The Husbands by Holly Gramazio 3.5 stars
17. Midnight at Malabar House by Vaseem Khan 3.5 stars

COMPLETED IN MAY

18. My Good Bright Wolf by Sarah Moss 4.5 stars
19. How to Read a Book by Monica Wood 4.5 stars
20. Autumn by Ali Smith 3.5 stars (reread)
21. The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich 3 stars

COMPLETED IN JUNE

22. Winter by Ali Smith 4.5 stars
23. The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton 5 stars
24. Spring by Ali Smith 4 stars
25. The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan 3 stars
26. These Precious Days by Ann Patchett 5 stars
27. Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench 4 stars
28. Fagin the Thief by Allison Epstein 4 stars

COMPLETED IN JULY

29. All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley 5 stars
30. Second Life: A Novel by Paul Griner 3.5 stars
31. The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka 3 stars
32. Summer by Ali Smith 4.5 stars

COMPLETED IN AUGUST

33. Saint Mazie by Jami Attenberg 3 stars
34. The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen 3.5 stars
35. The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn 3.5 stars

COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER

36. The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers 5 stars
37. Solito by Javier Zamora 4 stars

COMPLETED IN OCTOBER

38. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore 3.5 stars
39. Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood 4 stars
40. Tilt by Emma Pattee 4.5 stars
41. Heartwood by Amity Gaige 4 stars
42. Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan 4.5 stars

COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER

43. My Friends by Fredrik Backman 3.5 stars
44. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd 4 stars
45. A Deceptive Devotion by Iona Whishaw 3.5 stars
46. Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk 5 stars
47. Four Letters of Love by Niall Williams 4.5 stars

COMPLETED IN DECEMBER

48. I See You've Called In Dead by John Kenney 5 stars
49. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
50. Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshanathan 4 stars

Shared Reads / Group Reads

January
✅ The Great Fortune by Olivia Manning -with Mark and others
✅ The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas -with Mark and others

February
✅ Silas Marner by George Eliot -with Kim and Beth
✅ The Spoilt City by Olivia Manning -with Mark and others

March
✅ Friends and Heroes by Olivia Manning -with Mark and others

April
✅ The Husbands by Holly Gramazio -with Kim and Beth

June
✅ The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich -with Kim and Beth

July
✅ The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka -with Beth

August
✅ Saint Mazie by Jami Attenberg -with Kim and Beth

September
✅ The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers - with Beth, Mark, Benita, Marianne

I thought I would share one more painting. I did this one today for #worldwatercolormonth2025; the prompt was "spicy."

WELCOME FRIENDS!!

Happy new thread, Ellen!

I just finished These Precious Days which I picked up on your recommendation!

Happy new thread!

>9 EBT1002: Looks great!

Sorry. Somehow double posted .

>9 EBT1002: I really like that one! The volumes of the peppers are very effectively rendered and the way you've made the background conveys motion, a breezy feel. The stems add to that sense of the peppers being in motion, too, the angles all add to it.

World watercolor month! Go know from this! New-thread orisons, Ellen.

Hi Ellen! Your painting is really coming along. Your portrait of Carson captures his likeness beautifully, and I love the texture in the peppers.

Happy Saturday, Ellen. Happy New Thread. I hope those books are treating you fine. Mine sure are...Miss seeing you around.

>4 EBT1002: Great portrait of Carson, and love >9 EBT1002: too.

Happy new thread, Ellen. Love the photo and portrait of the boy. There is no better subject than a snoozing cat! Question: when you paint, do you have the subject in front of you or do you take a photo and paint from that (in case the subject moves or light changes)? Or do you paint from memory or imagination?

I hope you will post more photos of your remarkable talent. And your new house, hint, hint...

Welcome to see both Carsons!

>9 EBT1002: Oh, pretty and cheerful!

Happy new thread! I love your picture of Carson!

I'm really impressed with your progress with the watercolors, Ellen. What a wonderful portrait of Carson! And the peppers look absolutely crunchy...

>9 EBT1002: Like it a lot!! (and happy new thread too)

I love both the Carson and the pepper watercolors, Ellen.

I hope you post more of your watercolors.

Happy new thread. So far I like The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida; I don't know if enjoy is a verb for this novel. The violence is hard to read.

Happy new thread, Ellen.

What Beth said.

Happy New Thread Ellen! What a beautiful watercolour of Carson and of the peppers. You are very talented.

Happy new thread, Ellen!

Whew. It has been a busy couple of weeks.

I just finished The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. Winner of the Booker Prize in 2022, the novel is set in Sri Lanka during the brutal civil war. Maali has just died and the 2nd person narration takes us through the first seven moons of his afterlife, during which time he must choose whether to go to The Light or.... the choices were never really clear to me. In fact, the novel was difficult to read. The magical/supernatural element made the story hard for me to follow. I never really connected with any of the characters, at least not very deeply, and the violence was difficult. It was important, but it was difficult.

I'm happy to be moving on to my next read.

Sounds like a tough read -- congratulations on seeing it through!

>28 EBT1002: It sounds like The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida was a bit of a mixed bag, Ellen. One day I will read it, I hope.

Happy new thread, Ellen! Love the pics of Carson especially the one with your own personal touch.

>28 EBT1002: I had a difficult time with that one, too Ellen.

>28 EBT1002: I think I liked it more than you did, Ellen, but I would like to talk about it.

>4 EBT1002: Great painting of Carson :-)

>9 EBT1002: I saw and admired your pictures for #worldwatercolormonth2025 on Facebook. Keep up the good work. Have a nice weekend.

>28 EBT1002: I bounced off the second-person narration. It and I never connected at all, to my sadness. The story is important...I had a gay Sri Lankan friend who sought work in the UAE and ominously vanished a few years ago. I think that played into my inability to find a way into the story.

Happy Augusting here shortly.

>28 EBT1002: I had trouble with this one as well, Ellen. I really wanted to learn more about Sri Lanka but the magic just didn't work for me. I think Brotherless Night, also set during the civil war and told from the perspective of a young woman hoping to become a doctor, was a better read for me.

>36 vivians: Seconding Vivian's rec. That was an intense read but very good.

Well, July has been a light reading month for me. It has been World Watercolor Month so I've dedicated time every day to painting. However, last night I finished reading Summer by Ali Smith so I've completed one of my "Retirement Reading Projects," to read her Seasonal Quartet in close proximity to one another. It helped with identifying the loose thread(s) that make the four novels a quartet. I think this last one was my favorite.

Congrats on finishing the quartet, Ellen. I kept the books so I will reread them at some point.

I'd love to see more watercolors.

Here's a painting I did last week with which I was particularly pleased. The prompt that day was "sea." It's 5x7".

>29 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you Reba!

>30 vancouverdeb: I appreciated more than enjoyed The Seven Moons, Deb. I believe the 2025 Booker Long List has been announced. I need to look at it although I'm less determined to focus on them than I was a few years ago.

>31 Familyhistorian: Thanks so much, Meg. I want to do another painting of Carson. I'm so intimidated by the task and that one turned out so well, I'm just more intimidated! Our minds are interesting and complicated, are they not?

>32 lauralkeet: Thanks for the validation, Laura.

>33 BLBera: I'd still be interested up in chatting about it, Beth. I think I appreciated the novel but didn't really enjoy reading it. Some of that's about my current mindset, I think. Maybe I'm getting intellectually lazy in my retirement! lol

>34 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara.

>35 richardderus: oh wow, Richard, that would be a difficult edge to reading The Seven Moons. And August. Already. Damn the time does fly. (I know that's a trite aphorism but it's so freaking true!)

>36 vivians: Thanks for the recommendation, Vivian. I will look for Brotherless Night.

>37 lauralkeet: Second noted, Laura, and appreciated too!

>40 EBT1002: Beautiful and calm Ellen.

>40 EBT1002: If you ever start accepting commissions...

>40 EBT1002: I love it!

>42 EBT1002: Maybe when we talk about Saint Mazie.

>40 EBT1002: You really are a talented artist, Ellen! Thanks for sharing your work with us. I'm green with jealousy that you can create such beauty but I like you anyway!!

>40 EBT1002: - Beautiful!!

>40 EBT1002: Lovely. It looks like you went more for detail.

>45 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline.

>46 laytonwoman3rd: haha, thanks Linda. I have done one "commission," for a friend's parents, and I've promised a crow painting to one of my best friends in Seattle.

>47 BLBera: Thanks, and yes. I think Kim will be patient with us while we briefly discuss The Seven Moons.

>48 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks for the kind words, Reba. Of course, you know I only post my absolute favorite accomplishments here. There are so many that would fall in the category of "meh."

>49 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley.

>50 quondame: Thanks Susan. It was fun including some pen work with the watercolor.

I started reading Saint Mazie by Jami Attenberg. So far, so good.

I really enjoyed Saint Mazie when I read it several years ago!

>40 EBT1002: That is amazing , Ellen ! Beautiful.

>40 EBT1002: I love the shades of blue and the texture of the paper really adds to the movement of sea and clouds. I would love to spend a summer there.

Wishing you a lovely weekend, Ellen.

>40 EBT1002: I really like your artwork, Ellen. Thanks for sharing. We MISS YOU!!

I quite enjoyed Saint Mazie and have started reading Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe. So far, it's really good.

>54 katiekrug: It was an enjoyable read, Katie.

>55 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deb.

>56 labfs39: Wouldn't a summer on that headland be divine, Lisa? Think of all the reading one could do (in between spells of staring at the ocean with a cup of tea!).

>57 PaulCranswick: Thank you so much, Paul. Of course, every day is Saturday now. *smile*

>58 msf59: Thank you, Mark. And I miss you all, too. I'm finding less time for reading and LT than I expected in retirement. Painting and stand-up paddle boarding are claiming some of my time.

>59 EBT1002: Ellen I haven't read Say Nothing, but the TV adaptation was excellent. It's on Hulu.

>62 lauralkeet: Thanks for the tip, Laura!

I'm about 70 pages into Say Nothing and it's very good. It's interesting(?) reading about some of the abuse people did to one another in Belfast during The Troubles; for example, tarring and feathering women suspected of involvement with British soldiers. I find myself incredulous that, in modern times, civilized people would behave so. And then I think "it could and possibly will happen right here in our country, given the current state of things." It's rather disturbing.

>64 EBT1002: It's appalling to think that could, likely will, be the case. It's the reason I think our current situation won't end without bloodshed.

>65 richardderus:
It didn't before (January 6th) so why would January 2028 be any different?

>66 benitastrnad: Because this is it. If they get voted out in 2026, the looneys will have to stop a transfer of power. Inciting the nutcases to do their worst is the only hope they'll have at that point.

>64 EBT1002: Yes, I thought Say Nothing was powerful.

>64 EBT1002: Civilized folk seem equal in violence and cruelty to any human group called barbaric.

>64 EBT1002: I was living in Dublin toward the end of "the Troubles" and I think I heard enough about what was happening in the North on the nightly news to not want to revisit that time. But Say Nothing sounds like a powerful book.

Happy Birthday, Ellen!! I hope you are having a wonderful day.

🐦🦉🎂❤️

Happy Birthday, Ellen!!

I had you down for joining us with The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois, in September. I am starting it this week, due to a crazy busy schedule next month. I hope that is okay.

Happy birthday, Ellen. I hope you are having a great day. Talk tomorrow?

Happy Birthday, Ellen!

Sorry I missed your birthday yesterday, Ellen! (day too full of jury duty). I hope it was a lovely one.

Well, it's official: We are Old People now. Welcome, sibling.

Happy belated birthday, Ellen!

Belated birthday wishes Ellen.

Hey everyone.

Just letting you know that there's a fast-growing fire, the "Flat Fire," just north of us. We're not in the evacuation area yet but our evacuation kit is in the car. It's really scary. Our friends have evacuated their property about 10 miles north of town and it looks on the maps like their place may be burning. So sad.

I stayed up late last night, reading while I monitored the alerts. I finished The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen. It was a good, propulsive read.

More soon. And thank you all for the birthday wishes!!

Yikes. Stay safe and stay alert!

>80 EBT1002: Fingers crossed that the fire does not reach you, Ellen. I really liked the Department Q series. The Netflix series, which covers the one you just read is quite good.

Sorry to hear you're in fire-alert mode. I hope they can contain this one soon. Sending omms for your safety and sanity.

Oh no! Stay safe. Hopefully it won’t come your way

>80 EBT1002: I hope it's one they can control without loss of property.

>80 EBT1002: Oh dear, Ellen. We missed the news last night and I didn't know about the fire. Sending strong wishes for a good outcome for you and your friends (and everyone else in danger over there).

Belated birthday wishes and hoping you are staying safe. I hope the humidity continues to rise and the winds to abate.

The threat of wildfire is very real (but climate change isn't?) I am looking into doing some wildfire prevention work on the house here in Munden. I already have a steel rook, but I need to get fire screens put over the attic and outside vents, and I want to put in a 5 foot no burn zone around the entire house. This will involve landscaping and that is going to be expensive. I want to use rock around the house and that will cost a great deal to install and to maintain. However, Kansas has had 3 wildfires in the last 8 years so I believe it can happen here. People in other parts of Kansas have said that even the corn stubble fields have burned. I have corn fields on three sides of the house, so I think it is best to be prepared and do what I can to mitigate the fire hazard. It will cost quite a bit, but the upside is that there are some insurance discounts that will kick in when I get the work done.

Oh no. I hope the fire doesn't get near you.

Keeping my fingers crossed Ellen, very scary.

Thinking of you Ellen and hope all is well. If there's anything we can do please let me know.

Hi Ellen, I saw on FB that there's a fire situation near you. Just checking in to see how things are faring...

>4 EBT1002: I love this pic of Carson, it captures so well the way that cats scrunch up their eyes when snoozing. Your progress with painting is amazing!

Uggh...wildfires are so scary. And it sounds like it will be a while before contained. I hope it doesn't get any closer to you.

Hi everyone. There was indeed a fire near us and it was a scary one. It got going quickly and made a fast run down a nearby canyon, headed straight for our little town. We evacuated last Saturday and stayed with friends in Camp Sherman for two nights. We came home on Monday and have been on alert. The firefighters have done an amazing job. They're still monitoring it and mopping up hotspots but, other than smoke, we feel pretty safe now.

>94 EBT1002: what a relief! Thanks for the update, Ellen, and I'm so glad you and P are okay.

I finished The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn last night. It was my first novel by her. It was decent biographical fiction about a sniper - Lyudmila "Mila" Pavlichenko, a woman sniper - in the Soviet Union during WWII. The last quarter was especially fun to read - good suspense. It was interesting how Quinn portrayed Mila's feelings about the Soviet Union. She was fiercely patriotic, especially after the Nazis invaded, but very aware of the hardships imposed by the Soviet regime: long lines for daily goods, lack of privacy, and the severe punishments for any dissent from the Party line. Very interesting in these days of authoritarian government in our own country.

Today I will start reading The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers for the September shared read. I have a couple of days with no fixed engagements except joining in the local Labor Day protest tomorrow. I plan to read, paint, and visit some LT threads.

I'm so glad to hear from you, Ellen. I'm glad you evacuated (better safe than sorry), but even happier that you were able to return to your home, safe and sound.

I hope the fire is contained now, Ellen. The subject of The Diamond Eye sounds interesting, but I wasn't a huge fan of The Alice Network, so I'm not sure...Luckily, I have other things to read. I am reading The Safekeep for my RL book club right now and will pick up The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois when I am done. Quite a commitment.

>94 EBT1002: I'm relieved to know y'all're out of immediate danger, Ellen. Fire is a scary, scary thing to face in your home.

Happy Sunday, Ellen. Hooray for starting The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois. Looking forward to your thoughts on it and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

>95 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. It was scary for a while there.

>97 labfs39: Thanks Lisa. I was glad we evacuated, too. We weren't officially in an evacuation zone but last Friday and Saturday, the alerts for evacuation were marching so quickly towards us that I just lost my nerve. We packed up the kitty and stayed in friends' sweet little 1-BR apartment above their garage. It made for a much less stressful couple of days.

>98 BLBera: I enjoyed The Diamond Eye, Beth, and the subject was quite interesting, but it wasn't wonderful. I gave it 3.5 stars. Worth reading but not necessary, especially with so many other things to read! I do think I'll give Quinn another try one of these days.

>99 richardderus: Thanks so much, Richard. I found myself thinking about the fire on Maui last year (year before?) and a fire in the small northeast Washington town of Medicine Lake a couple of years ago. That down was completely destroyed by a wildfire. If fire gets going, nothing is going to stop it. This was a fast-moving fire for a couple of days there but then we got lucky with light-to-moderate winds and even a cool day with unexpected light rain. I'm so relieved and super grateful to the firefighters and other personnel. It is tough and dangerous work.

>100 msf59: Hi Mark. I dug into Love Songs this morning and I already love it. I haven't gotten far yet but I can tell it's going to be a good one.

>102 EBT1002: Good to know that Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois is a good one from the start; it is a Tome.

>103 BLBera: indeed, Beth, Love Songs is a tome, but it reads pretty fast. I'm just on page 78 and this morning I had that delicious and somewhat rare (for me) feeling of sinking into a really long, really good book. Examples that come to mind include The Stand, The World According to Garp, and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I guess they weren't all really *that* long but longer than my average. The Count of Monte Cristo is another good, long read, but less fast-moving than these others.

I am going to start Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois today as well. I finally finished reading my previous long book and have this one ready to go. I think that Mark and a few others are ahead of us, but that wil probably make for a better discussion.

I am glad to hear that things came out OK for you regarding the fire.

Hooray! glad the fire is more under control. That was smart to evacuate for a couple of days. A few years ago, when we had the fires near here, people did that and no regrets for the peace of mind and the ability to make sure the pets are OK.

Thanks for sharing your art! I was fortunate to spend my mother's 90th birthday with her. And...we spent several afternoons watercoloring! We bought kits that had flower cards with outlines. They were easy to do.

Happy Wednesday, Ellen. How are you coming on The Love Songs? Inquiring minds...

>105 benitastrnad: Good to know, Benita. Look forward to your thoughts.

Glad to hear you are safe Ellen. Very scary.

I finally finished reading The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers. This was a 5-star read for me. I'm really glad I finally got around to reading it!

Today I'll start Solito by Javier Zamora. This is a shared read with Kim and Beth.

>110 EBT1002: You've sparked me to look at this book further and I'm hooked. Onto the list it goes. Thanks Ellen :)

>110 EBT1002: I haven't even started it yet! I plan to take it to SF for my nephew's wedding. I should have some good reading time on the plane/ in airports.

I am reading Sarah Moss's new one. :)

>110 EBT1002: Hooray! I am glad you read this book, it was really good.

I finished reading Solito by Javier Zamora late last night. It started a bit slowly but wow did it take off. I highly recommend this memoir about a 9-year-old boy who immigrated from El Salvador in 1999, all alone as he tried to make his way to his parents waiting for him in California. He's with a coyote and other immigrants, but in fundamental ways he is solito, all by himself. It's a poignant, gripping, and important story.

Thanks for the reminder to get on this, Ellen.

>115 EBT1002: Wow...that sounds like an amazing story but also a very hard to read story. Not sure I'm up for it...maybe.

>115 EBT1002: Wow, that went straight to my wishlist.

>116 BLBera: It's a good read, Beth.

>117 RebaRelishesReading: I recommend it, Reba. Part of it is indeed difficult to read but also compelling. He says he wrote it as part of his healing process and I can see that in his narrative.

>118 labfs39: I think you'll appreciate this important memoir, Lisa.

I finished The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan last night. He is such a terrific writer. 4.5 stars with the 1/2 star reduction just because I couldn't always keep the characters/narrators clear. I want to read his collection of short stories next.

We leave this Friday for almost a month in Sydney (4 days) and New Zealand. We'll be hiking on the South Island for 14 days. I don't know if I'll read more because I'll be painting less, or if my reading will stay slow because we'll be exploring so much. We'll see.

Safe travels! Your trip sounds fantastic.

>121 EBT1002: Exciting! I hope there will eventually be paintings inspired by the trip.

Have fun!

>122 BLBera: Thanks Beth. I'm still trying to decide what to pack!

>123 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks Linda. I definitely plan to take some photos -- probably lots of photos!! -- for painting when we get home.

>124 labfs39: Thanks Lisa. I'm excited - and a bit nervous about leaving / returning to the USA at this time. But I can't wait to see these new places!

>121 EBT1002: Have a great trip, Ellen. We were in NZ many years ago and really loved it. I'd love to go back.

Safe travels, Ellen. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

Yes- safe travels indeed! I can't wait to have an international meet up if we can swing it.

Hooray for The Love Songs! I am so glad you thought highly of it, as I did. Hooray for the upcoming trip. You both are going to LOVE it!! 14 days hiking the South Island? Sounds heavenly. It was my favorite place on our AU/NZ trip. I also loved the Cairns area. Have a fantastic time.

I will add The Spinning Heart to the obese TBR. I still have not read Ryan. Bad Mark?

>121 EBT1002: Oh wow! I hope it's glorious. Will look forward to hearing about it as and when you can.

Safe travels, Ellen and have a fantastic time! Taking your sketchbook?

Have a wonderful trip, Ellen!

Have a fab time Ellen.

Safe travels! Have fun.

Enjoy your trip, Ellen and Prue! Sound fabulous.

Happy vacationing!

>126 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba. I'm super excited (and a bit anxious about the loooong flight from LAX to Sydney).

>127 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura!

>128 LovingLit: I will see you on October 23, Megan! I'm looking forward to our international LT meetup!

>129 msf59: Mark, you simply must read Donal Ryan. I know you'll like his work.

>130 richardderus: Thanks Richard. I'll probably be pretty quiet (as if that's news) while abroad but I believe I'll have stories to tell. Megan and I will post a meetup photo, of course.

>131 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley. Yes, indeed, the sketchbook is going along. I'm intentionally taking minimal tools, forcing myself to go monotone.

>132 Familyhistorian: and >133 Caroline_McElwee: and >134 banjo123: and >135 vancouverdeb: and >136 figsfromthistle:
Thanks for the well wishes, Meg, Caroline, Rhonda, Deb, and Anita!

I'm currently reading Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood. Very enjoyable so far. The narrator's voice reminds me some of Kinsey Millhone.

I'm looking forward to seeing your NZ art and wishing you strength for that very, very long flight. It's worth it though because "down under" is lovely.

We are safely in Sydney, spending a few days with a friend we met on our Ireland trip a couple years ago. I finished Fortune Favors the Dead, a solid whodunnit featuring a pair of hard-boiled female private detectives. Set in NYC in 1945, it was a fun read.

I also blew through Tilt by Emma Pattee. Set in Portland, Oregon, the story unfolds over the course of one terrible day when "the big one" - a devastating earthquake - occurs. Annie, who is 37 weeks pregnant, is in IKEA when the quake hits. She narrates her post-disaster adventures to Bean, the baby she Carrie's through said adventures. Alternate chapters provide depth and context via flashbacks. Fast-moving and suspenseful, this was a perfect airplane read.

>142 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba. The flight ended up being pretty easy. We were in "premium plus" so we had small leg rests and a bit more room. I envied the folks in business class who could fully lie down for the flight but I actually slept better than usual.

I started listening to The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers on the plane. I'll probably finish listening to it on the flight from Sydney to Christchurch on Thursday.

Glad to hear, that you safely arrived. Enjoy Sidney, it's 45 years ago that I've been there.

Happy Travels, Ellen. Are you both walking the Sydney Harbour Bridge? I did not but a friend of ours did. I am not a city person but Sydney was beautiful. If you get a chance to get out to the Blue Mountains do so.

I just requested Tilt.

Glad your flight was "pretty easy" and know you're enjoying Sydney. Australia has more than its fair share of wonderful cities imo and Sydney is certainly one of them. Hope you get to visit the Opera House and Circular Quay and I agree with Mark that the Blue Mountains are lovely. Happy travels!!

Good to know that the flight went smoothly. The flight length has made me hesitant about a trip to Australia/New Zealand.

Sydney has been lovely although it's supposed to go up to 36C today. Hot. Tomorrow we fly to Christchurch and some much more palatable temperatures.

I'm about halfway through Heartwood by Amity Gaige. Very engaging.

>146 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara!

>147 msf59: Hi Mark. We did not walk the bridge but are headed up to the Blue Mountains today. I think you'll enjoy Tilt.

>148 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba. We walked around the circular quay and visited the iconic opera house. Today we're headed to the Blue Mountains where it will hopefully be a bit cooler. Tomorrow we fly to Christchurch for the main part of our adventure.

>149 BLBera: We admittedly paid a bit extra for the " premium plus" seats, Beth. This was absolutely worth it. We did NOT pay the extra several thousand dollars each for business class. Haha.

>152 EBT1002: Sounds wonderful (except the heat...I really don't do heat well). You're gonna love NZ.

How was the Blue Mountains? Sadly, the day I took a tour out there it was very foggy and drizzly so we missed many highlights. I was bummed but the area was gorgeous. I did see many of these beauties-



-Sulfur-crested Cockatoo

Wow- I hadn't realised Sydney was so hot for you! 36 degC is too hot by my standards.

I'm not sure if this is the place to break it to you, but we (Christchurch) are forecast for dangerously high winds this afternoon. I suspect your flight - and out meetup - will be delayed.

>153 RebaRelishesReading: We're now in NZ and I already love it!

>154 msf59: We saw a sulfur-crested cockatoo, Mark! I thought of you immediately. And I hadn't seen your post yet. I just knew you'd like the bird. So pretty. It was hazy in the Blue Mountains because of the heat -- about 35C -- but it was still beautiful. The landscape is so vast!

>155 LovingLit: I'm just seeing your post now, Megan, but (as you know) we were able to land even with the winds (and a 2-hour delay). It was a bit of a harrowing landing.

Megan and P and I had a fun time. Megan showed us around the city a bit and we ended up at a wine bar where each of us got to taste a flight of wines. It was lovely. I already LOVE Christchurch and New Zealand.

Megan gave me a beautiful illustrated book called Native Birds of Aotearoa by Michael Szabo. I will treasure it.

>157 EBT1002: I am glad the winds didn't send your plane on a random detour! It was so great to (finally) meet you and achieve an *international meetup* :)

Fingers crossed for a smooth trip for the rest of the South Island!

>157 EBT1002: I commented on Megan's thread but why not say it twice: it's really amazing that the two of you were able to get together. Your smiles say it all.

LT meetups are the best! Thanks for the photo!

> 157 Beautiful smiles, indeed! What could be better than having an LT guide in a new city?

Glad you had a great meetup Ellen.

When we were "down-under" we were told that surfer-crested cockatoo's are known as "naughty birds".

landing in heavy winds sounds harrowing indeed!! Glad you're safely on the ground and hope the weather improves.

>157 EBT1002: love the photo and the international meet-up

Now I really, really want to go back to NZ.

>158 LovingLit: Thanks again for showing us around and for the wine and conversation, Megan. I've had quite a few LT meetups but this was my first international one! And a huge thanks for the lovely book. It will be my favorite souvenir from the trip.

>159 lauralkeet: and >160 BLBera: and >161 laytonwoman3rd: and >162 Caroline_McElwee: and >163 RebaRelishesReading:
Kia Ora! Laura, Beth, Linda, Caroline, and Reba, thanks for stopping by. I'll try to post occasional updates as we go.

I finished Heartwood by Amity Gaige last night. It was a really good, propulsive read about the search for a woman lost in Maine on the Appalachian Trail. It's inspired by a true story but entirely fictional.

Next up: Heart, Be At Peace by Donal Ryan

>166 EBT1002: Still in Christ Church?

>167 RebaRelishesReading: Nope, we started our 14-day hiking adventure on Saturday (aka Friday in the States). I'm posting pics on FB. If you use FB you can follow along. DM me if you want key words for finding/friending me.

I finished and LOVED Heart, Be at Peace.

Now I'm reading My Friends by Fredrik Backman, my first by this author.

I can't believe how much reading you are doing!

>168 EBT1002: Thanks Ellen but I dropped FB a couple of years ago. I really liked My Friends -- perhaps his best imo (and I think I've read everything he's written)

Happy hiking!!

>157 EBT1002: Happy smiles say it All!

Have an amazing hike, y'all.

Looks like Tilt by Emma Pattee and your latest Donal Ryan book (Heart, Be at Peace) are both available at my library (as audiobooks), so I will add them to my list.
I read The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan a while ago, and didn't rate it that highly. I feel I might have been too harsh as have been hearing only good things about him since!

Hi folks.
The hiking adventures were amazing - and a wee bit exhausting. Now we are on the North Island, on our own. Today we went to Zealandia, an amazing sanctuary for native flora and fauna. We saw SO MANY BIRDS!!!

I finished My Friends by Fredrik Backman on the train yesterday and enjoyed it. 3.5 stars

Now I'm reading The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.

>174 EBT1002: It really sounds like a wonderful trip! I'm a little amazed you're finding any time to read at all. I hope the next leg is as much fun as the last.

Thanks for the update, Ellen. You are getting an amazing amount of reading done. I hope we will see some photos eventually?

Sounds like a vacation of a dream you are having, Ellen.

I listened to The Invention of Wings on audiobook and it was amazing. Such good narrators.

Nice to hear from you and that your hike went well. Hope to hear a lot more about your whole trip at a meet-up sometime soon.

Stopping by to say hi, Ellen. I've been seeing your photos on Facebook , but have neglected visiting your thread. Glad you are enjoying New Zealand.

I finished The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd yesterday while riding the train from Wellington to Auckland. It was a very good read and I learned about the Grimke sisters.

Now I'm reading A Deceptive Devotion, sixth in the Lane Winslow series by Iona Whishaw.

For those who've stopped by, our trip has been wonderful -- and I am so ready to be home. It turns out that a whole month away is just a wee bit too long. We have one more full day in Auckland and then we head to the airport. We get home a few hours before we depart. *smile*

Safe travels Ellen.

Hope your trip home is safe and uneventful!!

>180 EBT1002: - I get itchy when I'm away from home more than 10 days, LOL. Glad your trip was worth it, though! Safe travels home.

>180 EBT1002: I found my copy of The Invention of Wings the other day, so will read that soon Ellen.

SMITHSONIAN Magazine now has an inviting feature on New Zealand.

I also enjoyed invention of Wings when I read it back in 2022. It was one of my Zoom book discussion group books and it generated lots of discussion.

We're home safe and sound and mostly recovered from the looooong travel day. I'll post a few photos soon. The theme of the trip was BIRDS. If you're a bird-lover, and I know many in this group are, I recommend adding New Zealand to your bucket list.

I finished A Deceptive Devotion by Iona Whishaw. It was a fine installment in the Lane Winslow series.

I'm now about 80 pages into Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk. It is so good. Her language (as translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones) is deceptively straightforward and beautifully visual. Here's a sentence I had to read three or four times, just to savor it:

"Low, dark clouds had been scudding across the sky all day, and now, late in the evening, they were rubbing their wet bellies against the hills."

>187 EBT1002: I remember that sentence from Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead -- quite striking. I'll be interested in your thoughts about the whole novel once you've finished it. Meanwhile, don't read my review!

>187 EBT1002: Welcome home, weary travelers. I'm looking forward to photos like I know we All are.

>187 EBT1002: Welcome back! Cant wait to see some pictures. Yes, 4 weeks is a long time to be away and no doubt you have lots to catch up on at home. Rest well.

Welcome back. We will talk soon, I think. I loved the Omar El Akkad book.

Welcome back home, Ellen. Looking forward to hearing more about the trip, the birds and the books.

Welcome Home!! Looking forward to hearing more about the trip and seeing some photos.

We've organized some lovely fall weather as a welcome for you :)

Welcome home Ellen & P!

>188 laytonwoman3rd: lol. I will stay away from your review until I finish reading Drive Your Plow, Linda. So far, I'm liking the novel.

>189 richardderus: Thanks Richard. I'll select a few of the best photos to post.

>190 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita. It has felt busy since we got home! The approaching holidays add to that.

>191 BLBera: Hi Beth. Yes, we're scheduled for a conversation soon. I'm still in the queue for the book but I'd like to proceed with our discussion nonetheless.

>192 msf59: Thanks Mark. I'll be sure to post a couple of bird pics. *smile*

>193 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba. I have to admit, this fall weather is a bit jarring after the lovely New Zealand spring! Haha

>194 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura!

Well, I've tried to upload a photo. It tells me no file was selected. Have I mentioned before that I *hate* the photo system in LT?

ETA: The photo I was unable to post was taken by a co-hiker and shared with me. Maybe that's why LT doesn't recognize it? Even though it's in my photo library..... *shrug*

Tūī - one of my favorite NZ birds
He has a striking white tuft on his shirtfront. And he's an enthusiastic singer.

Tūī
They like to snack on the berries (?) of the New Zealand Flax.

Kākā - native New Zealand parrot

Great bird photos!! Thanks. (more coming?)

It was spring so in addition to the expected gazillions of sheep, we saw so many lambs. ♥️
This was from the train so there's a bit of reflection.

Aoraki Mt. Cook - it was out in all its glory the first day of our visit to this amazing place. The mountain was a favorite training venue for Sir Edmund Hillary.

Yellow-crested Fiordland penguin in Milford Sound

Pīwakawaka (New Zealand Fantail)
This adorable bird is hard to photograph because he is so busy. He's another of my favorites.

Kererū - a large forest-dwelling pigeon (2nd largest pigeon in the world, I think).

Those are amazing photos, Ellen!

Tuatara, the sole surviving member of an ancient order of reptiles -- about 12-15 inches in length. We got to see about a dozen of them in Zealandia, an amazing bird and Tuatara sanctuary in Wellington.

Threatened but seeing a bit of a comeback thanks to New Zealand's aggressive and passionate conservation efforts.

NZ has no endemic land mammals; the only native mammals are two species of bat. Introduced mammals such as stoats, weasels, and the Australian Possum (very different from possums in the U.S.) prey on the many bird species who evolved in a predator-free ecosystem. Others such as rabbits and red deer destroy native plant life on which birds and Tuatara depend. NZ has a "predator free by 2050" initiative in place. I hope it's successful.

A somewhat younger Tuatara

Amazing photos, Ellen. I can see some of these becoming inspiration for future paintings.

In >204 EBT1002:, did you mean penguin?

Wow, amazing birds and sweeping landscapes. What a treasure trove of a trip it must have been!

Wow, I looooove all those photos!

>206 EBT1002: Looks like a *hawk* it's so big!

Lovely, lovely, lovely. Thank you for sharing them!

Wonderful, excellent photos!! Thanks so much for sharing, Ellen.

Love your photos! Hope you are recovering from the jet-lag.

Such great photos Ellen. I’m never going to get to NZ, but everyone I know who has, found it amazing.

Was Carson glad to see you?

>210 jessibud2: LOL, indeed I did mean penguin. Thanks Shelley. I fixed it now.

>211 quondame: It really was an amazing adventure, Susan. I feel very privileged to have seen a few of the wonders of New Zealand.

>212 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura.

>213 richardderus: The Kererū really is huge. Richard. I'm glad you liked my pics.

>214 RebaRelishesReading: You are so welcome, Reba. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

>215 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda. Yep, jet lag is gone. I was surprised at how much I slept for several days after returning, but I think that is as much about the sudden jolt into late fall (and short days!) as jet lag.

>216 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline. It's a lovely, lovely country.

Carson was indeed glad to see us. He doesn't do the cat-punishment thing that some cats do. He was restless the first night but has settled in. The treatment for his thyroid has had a *very positive* effect on his energy and appetite. He lets us sleep through the night!

I finished Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk just a few minutes ago. What a novel. I'm going to have to think about its a bit before I know what to think but it was beautifully written and translated and very affecting. Sort of a whodunit in disguise, it's a quiet mediation on morality, tradition, and the cost of having a voice (or not). So interesting.

ETA: I just went and read a few reviews. I liked this book more than some did. I agree that the astrological musings were a bit distracting (honestly, I skimmed them as I didn't feel the need to absorb the specifics of what planet was in what house, etc.,) but I felt they also contributed to the theme of madness -- or the fine line between madness and deep feeling. The protagonist is considered mad by members of her community, and understandably so, but that madness is a symptom of her exquisite connection with animals, with the earth, and with the deep tragedy that is our collective trajectory. I'm not sure I make much more sense here than she does, but I found her madness compelling and sympathetic.

I love all these photos, especially the birdy ones. I can't believe I missed the Tui. Merlin picked up their call a couple of times but I never got eyeballs on it. I also missed the Kaka and the Kea. I did get a couple of wagtails, so I didn't completely strike out.

What a fantastic trip this must have been! You both planned it out perfectly. ❤️

Your photos are amazing, Ellen. And not fer nuthin', as they say near here, one of my long-time LT contacts, who has become a real life friend, is called "Tui". Not after the bird, but because her brother couldn't pronounce her name properly, as I understand. We had a funny conversation a few years ago about the bird, which neither of us had heard of before.

>219 EBT1002: I loved this one as well, Ellen. I am glad you are getting rest and getting over jet lag. Do you travel for Thanksgiving?

Love your photos. I live on the outskirts of Auckland and we often get tuis warbling in our trees. Always appreciated, they are beautiful birds. Fantails are less common in our garden but a common feature in my rural childhood.

The photos are terrific, Ellen, sounds like a fabulous trip. I've always wanted to get there and hope I will someday!

>219 EBT1002: Hi TwinE -- Ok, here I am! Trying to get back into the LibraryThing thing.

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead was a very interesting read and I enjoyed talking about with my RL bookclub. The photos on your trip have been fantastic -- what an amazing trip!! And I look forward to seeing you at your next Portland watercolor class. : )

Such stunning pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Amazing photos, Ellen! New Zealand is firmly planted on my bucket list.

I finished reading Four Letters of Love by Niall Williams last night. I quite enjoyed it and will most definitely be reading more of this Irish author's works. It also made me want to return to Ireland (this is not difficult to do).

This afternoon I read the first "chapter" (essay?) of One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad, a shared read with Kim and Beth. It's going to be a tough read. I'll need to intersperse it with a fiction read, but something that won't distract me from processing the El Akkad.

>220 msf59: It was indeed a fabulous trip, Mark. I don't think I had wholly understood how central birds and bird-watching would be to our experience.

>221 laytonwoman3rd: I remember seeing Tui around this community, Linda, but I have not connected with her. I love the story of her name.

>222 BLBera: Hi Beth. We were at home for Thanksgiving. We had friends over for dinner and Prudence cooked a turkey on our grill using the rotisserie mechanism. It was perfect.

>223 avatiakh: You live in a beautiful country, Kerry. The birds were a highlight but the landscapes and the people really made the trip.

>224 vivians: I hope you're able to visit NZ someday, Vivian. I think you would appreciate the beauty of the landscapes.

>225 Berly: Hi Kim! I'm excited to see you when I'm in Portland for my watercolor studio class.

>226 figsfromthistle: You are so welcome, Anita! I'm glad you enjoyed the photos.

>227 labfs39: Oh Lisa, I hope you're able to visit New Zealand. I'm sure you'd love it.

I'm glad you got the El Akkad book. It is a tough read, but necessary, I think.

i just finished The Antidote, a strange book, but I liked it. I will take a couple of days to process

We got 8.5 inches of snow. My arms are stiff from shoveling. Haven't done that in a while. My daughter helped.

>232 BLBera: Eight and half inches of snow!!! I'm envious.

I'll be interested in your thoughts about The Antidote.

I'm glad we are reading One Day, Everyone... but I'm still trying to decide what my accompanying fiction read will be.

P and I are watching episode three of Ken Burns' The American Revolution. It is, unsurprisingly, well done. I appreciate the point that our country was born in violence. Also that, while we were fighting against empire in the form of Britain, we were fighting for empire in the desire to capture and own the land west of the Appalachian Mountains.

>234 EBT1002: The entire history of the US is encapsulated in that one realization. No Empires! (except ours).

Delightful December wishes to you and P.

>233 EBT1002: Well, by the time I was done shoveling, I was ready for winter to be over. :)

I would suggest something light to accompany One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.

I am looking forward to the Ken Burns.

>234 EBT1002: We watched that one too and I agree it was very well done.

" I don't think I had wholly understood how central birds and bird-watching would be to our experience." Awesome!!

Happy December, Ellen. I just dipped into Strange Flowers.

>206 EBT1002: I love the kererū/ bush pigeon as well (and tui and piwakawaka/fantail)- there's nothing like being in the bush as having a kererū swoop by, they are larger than even that image makes them look, and their *swooping* wing noise can give you a fright!

Also, I am currently reading Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan which I think we talked about when we met. I see you awarded it 4.5 stars- I am loving it too :)

>239 LovingLit: Very jealous you got to actually meet each other!! How cool is that? : )

Wonderful photos of your trip, Ellen, especially the meet up picture! Nice to see that you enjoyed Fortune Favours the Dead. I liked that too and have the second in the series in my stacks. I was surprised to see that the series is now 5 books long.

Last night I stayed up too late finishing I See You've Called In Dead by John Kenney. I LOVED this novel and I encourage everyone to read it. Admittedly the narrative occasionally descends into platitudinous musings about life and death and the importance of living life to the fullest, but the characters absolutely transcend this flaw in the writing. I will always remember the narrator's landlord and friend, Tim, and their 7-year-old neighbor Leo.

Our narrator is Bud, a 40-something obituary writer whose wife has left him. He finally musters the courage to give app dating a try; his date shows up with her former boyfriend with whom she is getting back together. Bud goes on an understandable bender and ends up accidentally posting his own obituary. He is put on administrative leave and thus the story really begins. The novel is funny, poignant, sweet, and life-affirming. One of my favorites of the year.

>235 richardderus: So true, eh, Richard?

>236 BLBera: I See You've Called In Dead was a perfect accompaniment to One Day Everyone Will. Now I need another fiction work to accompany the next stage. I'm only two chapters into the El Akkad.

>237 RebaRelishesReading: We haven't yet finished watching the Ken Burns, Reba, but we will get back to it.

>238 msf59: I'm really glad you have discovered and fallen in love with Donal Ryan, Mark. He is such a good writer.

>239 LovingLit: I agree that watching and hearing the kererū swoop by overhead is a treat, Megan. I would go back to Zealandia over and over again just for that experience. I'm glad you're enjoying (probably past tense by now) the Donal Ryan. He is getting lots of love around LT these days, and much deserved it is.

>240 Berly: Meeting Megan in person was a highlight of the trip, Kim, and it was an amazing trip! LT meetups are the best and I think this is my first international one.

>241 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. I had not realized that the Stephen Spotswood series is now five novels. I'll need to get back to it before it gets to voluminous! Haha.

I also loved I See You've Called in Dead, Ellen. You described it perfectly!

>242 EBT1002: Think you got me with this one Ellen.

>242 EBT1002: this does sound good. I will look for it.

>245 EBT1002: Wrong Twin. :)

I started reading Whiskey When We're Dry from my TBR shelves. So far it's very good.

>246 katiekrug: It was a great read, indeed, Katie. I don't think a lot of folks have read it but it seems to be gaining momentum. I think it was a NYT notable book for 2025.

>247 Caroline_McElwee: I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Caroline.

>248 BLBera: I think you'll enjoy it, Beth.
And OOPS! I've corrected that error.

I finished Whiskey When We're Dry by John Larison and quite enjoyed it. I'm really reading slowly these days.... too much time spent painting!

Last night I started Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshanathan. I've had it on paused hold at the library for eons.

I finished Whiskey When We're Dry by John Larison and quite enjoyed it.

I'm really reading slowly these days.... too much time spent painting!

Last night I started Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshanathan. I've had it on paused hold at the library for eons.

>252 EBT1002: Hoping all's as dry as possible there, with no atmospheric river shenanigans affecting y'all.

Enjoy the read.

It will be interesting to compare Brotherless Night with The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida.

Dear Ellen, as y'all celebrate this year, remember:

Merry Christmas, Ellen!

Have a lovely festive season, Ellen.

I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas and not affected by the heavy rains, Ellen.

Hi there!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Hope to see you at one or more NW get-togethers in 2026.

Happy new year, Ellen. I hope 2026 is good to you.

Happy New Year, Ellen. See you on the other side.

Hi Ellen!

New Year greetings from Kuala Lumpur. My project is at least physically completed and an addition to the city scape.

Look forward to keeping up with you in 2026

I wish you a healthy and happy New Year filled with many exciting books. May all your wishes come true.

Happy New Year, Ellen