Familyhistorian Tries to Keep Up in 2025 - Part 6

This thread in the mighty 75ers’ universe is a place for me, Meg, to share life happenings and recent reads. I want to be optimistic about the coming months but whatever happens, we’ll take it as it comes. Welcome fellow readers!

Sending books on their way once read is front and centre once more this year. Fingers crossed that my shelves will end up emptier rather than fuller by the end of the year.



Little Free Library

Books culled in 2025

January - 0

February - 4

March - 3

April - 12

May - 3

June - 3

July - 10

August - 3

September - 5

BLOG



I write about genealogy and history on my blog. Follow my blog posts as I embark on another year of exploring and writing about my ROOTs (the family kind). You can see my latest blog posts at: A Genealogist’s Path to History

Challenges

Reading Through Time

Quarterly

January-March: Renaissance/16th Century

Monthly

January: Look to the Heavens - The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal - DONE
February: Colours - Black River Road: An Unthinkable Crime, an Unlikely Suspect, and the Question of Character by Debra Komar - DONE
March: Sweet, Sweet Revenge - Atonement by Ian McEwan - DONE
April: All is not what it seems - The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor - DONE
May: Fairy Tales - Fairest by Gail Carson Levine - DONE
June: People on the Move - Ticket to Ride by Winona Kent - DONE
July: Composers
August: Don't Let Yourself Get Checkmated!
September: Highlands & Islands
October: Autumn
November: The High Seas
December: Reader's Choice

List of books for challenges

Reading Through Time

January: Look to the Heavens
February: Colours
March: Sweet, Sweet Revenge
April: All is not what it seems - The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor and/or The Dark
May: Fairy Tales
June: People on the Move
July: Composers
August: Don't Let Yourself Get Checkmated!
September: Highlands & Islands
October: Autumn
November: The High Seas
December: Reader's Choice

January-March: Renaissance/16th Century
April-June: The 17th Century

Group Reads

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Faber - April - still working away on this

Books read in 2025

8. Books read in June 2025

1. The Mile End Murder by Sinclair McKay
2. Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
3. A Discount for Death by Steven F. Havill
4. VenCo by Cherie Dimaline
5. The Poisoner’s Ring by Kelley Armstrong
6. The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts by Louis Bayard
7. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn
8. The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin
9. Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday
10. The Guards by Ken Bruen
11. Murder in Hindsight by Anne Cleeland
12. Emily Wildes’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
13. Ticket to Ride by Winona Kent
14. And the Miss Ran Away with the Rake by Elizabeth Boyle
15. The American Candidate by M J Lee
16. Murder in Thrall by Anne Cleeland
17. Dear Miss Perkins: A Story of Frances Perkins’s Efforts to Aid Refugees from Nazi Germany by Rebecca Benner Graham
18. The Book of Murder: A Prosecutor’s Journey Through Love and Death by Matt Murphy
19. Solito by Javier Zamora

9. Books read in July 2025

1. From Doon with Death by Ruth Rendell
2. Murder by an Aristocrat by Mignon G. Eberhart
3. The Peepshow: The Murders at Rillington Place by Kate Summerscale
4. Lord Wraybourne’s Betrothed by Jo Beverley
5. Yours Cheerfully by A J Pearce
6. The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey
7. A Five Letter Word for Love by Amy James
8. The River Knows by Amanda Quick
9. The Good Girls Revolt: How the Women of Newsweek Sued Their Bosses and Changed the Workplace by Lynn Povich
10. Small Bomb at Dimperley by Lissa Evans
11. Disaster at the Vendome Theater by M.L. Longworth
12. The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths
13. Girl Gone Missing by Marcie R. Rendon
14. The Sirens by Emilia Hart
15. The Serpent’s Tale by Ariana Franklin
16. Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart
17. The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn & Janie Chang
18. Cher: The Memoir by Cher

Books acquired in 2025

Books acquired in June 2025

1. Die Trying by Lee Child
2. Looking for Miss America: A Pageant's 100-Year Quest to Define Womanhood by Margot Mifflin
3. A Gentleman Fallen on Hard Times by Grace Burrowes

Happy new thread, Meg! (Is the counter in >7 Familyhistorian: allright?)

Happy new one, Meg!

Happy new thread, Meg. Love that topper!

Happy new thread, Meg.

Happy new thread. What a beautiful deer (? Reindeer?)

Happy New 🧵, Meg!

Joining the "happy new thread" chorus :)

Happy new thread, Meg!

>1 Familyhistorian: What a sight!

>13 zuzaer: Well, not actually because there are a few books that I've read that I didn't include but as of the end of my last thread, that was the number.

>14 katiekrug: Thanks Katie!

>15 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley, we met those deer on the pathway going up to the Coquitlam Crunch.

>16 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul!

>17 charl08: Hi Charlotte, definitely deer. Thanks for the new thread wishes!

>18 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah!

>19 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks for the warbling, Reba!

>20 quondame: Hi Susan, yes they were a nice surprise when we saw them in our path!

116. Trouble in Queenstown by Delia Pitts



Queenstown was a small town where everyone knew their place or, at least, where the powers that be wanted them to stay. When Evander Myrick viewed the two bodies in her new client’s foyer, something seemed off but the police weren’t going to rock the boat. Not when Mayor Hannah had things sewn up tight and the homeowner was her nephew, Leo Hannah. But PI Myrick didn’t want to play along so she dug for the truth in Trouble in Queenstown.

This, the first book in the Vandy Myrick series, lured me in. Now I need to find the next book in the series.

>21 Familyhistorian: I meant that the text is cropped but it looks like there are 40 books read but the car is over the 115?

>26 zuzaer: For some reason I found the phrase "the bodies in her new client's foyer" hilarious. I assume the new client was also dead, or needed to be cleared rather urgently.

Happy new thread, Meg.

Happy new thread!

117. The Doll's House by M.J. Arlidge



The clock was ticking as the police tried to find Ruby before she ended up as a body buried on the beach like the others that had been found. DI Helen Grace was investigating, trying to find the young woman but her commander didn’t have her back. In fact, her boss, DS Chei Harwood, was scheming to get rid of Grace. The tension was high as I rooted for Ruby and DI Grace in The Doll’s House.

>26 zuzaer: Oh, with the tickers were changed so the text is bigger and doesn't all fit on the page. The number 40 refers to the fact that the count is 40 past the goal of 75 books.

Actually the client wasn't dead, his wife and another man were, the assumption being that there was a connection between the dead wife and the dead man who had killed her. Only that interpretation didn't sit right with Vandy Myrick.

>27 BLBera: Thanks Beth!

>28 drneutron: Thanks Jim!

118. Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson



Madeline or Mad for short, missed her father after he left but she never searched for him. Life was just too busy as she and her mother ran a successful organic farm. That was before Rueben or Rube for short, showed up in a rented PT Cruiser on a quest to find his and her father. Turned out the man cycled through jobs and families and Rube’s had been the first. He pursued her to join him in the search which took them west, gathering more of their father’s offspring along the way in a madcap but bonding adventure with a somewhat common goal in mind in Run for the Hills.

Happy new one, Meg. What a fantastic topper :-D

>119 BLBera: Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn



The “retired” killers were at it again. This time Billie and the gang were on the trail of Nazi looted art, a task that took them far and brought them close to various factions trying to do them in. It was another fast paced jaunt following these particular assassins around in Kills Well with Others.

>33 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara! The deer were a nice surprise on that morning's walk.

120. It Rhymes with Takei by George Takei & Harmony Becker



The second graphic memoir by George Takei takes the story of his life beyond his childhood to his coming of age and beyond. Through it all, the search for his career, his life as an actor and the public side of his life, the reader learns that he was always hiding part of himself until he decided that coming out as gay wouldn’t harm his prospects or the projects in which he was involved. It took years. It Rhymes with Takei tells of his struggle and his hopes for the future.

Happy Saturday, Meg. Happy New Thread. I love the young buck topper. It sounds like you enjoyed It Rhymes with Takei as much as I did.

>37 msf59: Thanks Mark. The buck and his companions were a pleasant sight on our walk one day. I did enjoy It Rhymes with Takei and was surprised by some of his activism but felt more guarded about the hopeful note he ended on in today's climate.

121. Expiration Date by Duane Swierczynski



Things were bad for Mickey. As a journalist he was caught in a dead end industry. His only option seemed to be taking over his grandpop’s apartment by the El in Frankford, a down and out neighbourhood. But things went from bad to worse when he took up residence and found the pills that let him go back to the year of his birth. Just what was going on? More to the point, would he be able to influence the past, maybe prevent his father’s murder?

Expiration Date was filled with characters with sketchy motives, except for his friend Meghan, of course. Mickey found his trips to the past led to present danger as he tried to find answers before the past caught up with him.

New acquisitions for July increased a bit over the last few months but still haven't reached the unsustainable numbers they had been. New in the house are:

The Impostor Heiress: Cassie Chadwick the Greatest Grifter of the Gilded Age by Annie Reed
Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb
The Amazing Spider-Man by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
Not Safe After Dark by Peter Robinson
The Cost of a Hostage by Iona Whishaw

I'm trying to stick to mainly library books and off the shelf, Meg Of course some new books make it into the house. I did get The Cost of A Hostage shortly after it came out. We had to support local writers! :-)

>41 vancouverdeb: I've cut down a lot in my book purchases which makes sense because I mostly read books from the library anyway. But there are certain books, like the Iona Wishaw ones, that just have to be owned.

Now that I look at the list it isn't bad. The Peter Robinson book was from a Little Free Library and the one about Cassie Chadwick is for one of my book clubs and I couldn't find it in a local library.

Is that the new Iona Whishaw? I just read To Track a Traitor, and I think there are two more after that one. My library had the one I read and the next one.

>43 BLBera: That is the new Iona Whishaw. After To Track a Traitor comes Lightning Strikes the Silence and then The Cost of a Hostage. Those and more are all waiting patiently on my shelves. You're ahead of me on that series, Beth.

122. Hearts of Briarwall by Krista Jensen



I picked up Hearts of Briarwall in the Deseret Book Store in Salt Lake City so it’s a “Proper Romance”, no steamy scenes. There was an interesting tale set in the early days of automobiles. Lydia Wooding wanted to embrace the new technology but her older brother, Andrew, blamed their parents’ death on the vehicle his father was driving. So when Spencer Hayes came along wanting Andrew to invest in his motorcar company the answer was no. But Lydia was intrigued as much by the man as the car. It was an interesting conflict on which to frame this romance.

Happy new one!

>46 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita!

123. The Knife Slipped by Erle Stanley Gardner



At one point, the author was toying with other crime fighting duos before he found his winning formula. In The Knife Slipped, the large and forceful Bertha Cool owned the detective agency and Donald Lam was her smaller slippery second in command. Part of the reason the investigation went south in this one was because Bertha was trying to cut herself in on the action but, as she said “the knife slipped”.

>34 Familyhistorian: Loved that one!

>49 drneutron: Kills Well with Others was a good one. I really like that books are coming out with more senior protagonists in investigative/action roles.

>25 Familyhistorian: It just came out, Meg, and it's a good read as well. Stay cool!

I did get few more photos from William of the kids in France, so I am pleased, Meg. The next stop is Switzerland, so I hope I will get a few photos via Whatsapp then. Today was a nice, cooler day. I was on my hour long walk today, and it seemed so much easier with the cooler weather. I have mixed feelings about the upcoming rain though. I guess we should be used to it.

>52 vancouverdeb: It looks like your son and family are on a great trip. Do you know what they will be visiting in Switzerland?

>39 Familyhistorian: I also enjoyed Expiration Date, although it has been years since I read it. I am a fan of this off-beat crime writer. He always puts a unique twist to his crime stories.

Well, I was sure that I had checked in on this new thread of yours, Meg, but evidently I am delusional :)

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

>51 richardderus: Already on it, Richard. Death of An Ex is waiting for me at the library. Weather here is cold and rainy. Hope your weather is cool there too.

>56 Familyhistorian: Today won't even reach 80°! My delight is unbounded.

I hope Potts' Jersey keeps pleasing you, Meg.

>52 vancouverdeb: The cooler weather was a nice change, Deborah. I know we need the rain but it makes everything dreary. It didn't help that our power was off last night for hours. I hope you get some pics from Switzerland to see what the family are up to.

>53 Ameise1: Hi Barbara.

>54 msf59: I noticed that the author of Expiration Date also writes for comics which fits in with the off-beat crime writing and the different twists.

>55 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia! I hope your Wednesday is a good one.

>58 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg, somehow I got confused and thought I was on Deborah's thread.

I hope you are well. After three weeks of rain and cool weather here, it looks like the heat will be back tomorrow.

>61 Ameise1: Hi Barbara, no problem. It's not the first time that happened.

I hope that you enjoy the heat when it comes. Our weather has been warm and dry except for today when there was rain.

>45 Familyhistorian: That is a lovely cover, Meg.

Happy new(ish) thread, Meg! Love the topper, Deer by the Side of the Road.

I'm a bit late but happy new thread Meg!

>1 Familyhistorian: Nice deer. How amazing that it let you get that close to it.

>63 PaulCranswick: I think it was that cover that caught my eye causing me to buy the book, Paul.

>64 Storeetllr: There was actually more than one deer on our walking trail that day. A nice surprise. Thanks for the thread wishes, Mary!

>65 humouress: Welcome back from your travels, Nina! The deer was protecting the doe which is probably why he allowed us close and we had the advantage of not being as much of a threat as a bear.

I hopped on the Skytrain and went to the Chapters at Granville and Broadway today,Meg. I picked up a couple of new books, The Liar and In Place of Fear. A couple of mysteries that appealed to me. With Muffin's separation anxiety getting out on my own is pretty exciting! It's improving though. Fingers crossed. We leave her for about 30 or 40 minutes each day and watch on a camera to see how she is doing. Today she barked and howled and scratched the door -and licked it, as usual, but then she settled down and just rested by the door. Fingers crossed, Meg. I should add that we started by leaving her for just a couple of minutes back in January and have built up to this. It's a long process.

Oh, poor Muffin (and poor you). I hope she soon realizes you love her and will be right back.

124. Heart of the Sea by Nora Roberts



I found The Heart of the Sea in my collection when looking for a fast read. This was the third installment in the Irish Trilogy. Not that I read the others. It was a fast reading romance that could be read as a standalone. In it I could see some of the inspiration for the Irish connection in J.D. Robb’s in death books.

>69 vancouverdeb: That sounds like a long process, Deborah. It must be hard on you as well as Muffin. An outing to Chapters does sound like a good getaway though.

>70 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba.

125. Second Sight by Amanda Quick



I’m currently going through a sweep of things accumulating around my home. Of course one of those categories is books. I am slowly reading my way through my stash of Amanda Quick novels that I saved to read again. The idea is to give them their second outing and send them on their way. This time I read Second Sight, an intriguing Victorian romance in which the main characters unite to thwart a dastardly plot by using their paranormal powers.

It crept up on me but an email this morning reminded me that the Edinburgh International Book Festival starts tomorrow. Some of the sessions are available on demand. Check out https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on

>70 RebaRelishesReading:
>72 Familyhistorian:
Poor Muffin and me and my husband Dave indeed, Reba and Meg. We have a camera installed and it's hard to watch her, but I feel better that she is settling down after a time. It's also hard to not to just go places spontaneously . We've had to miss dinners out etc, because we get invited but only one of can go. I have booked her into overnight care at her doggy day care so we can go to a family BBQ this summer. I'm hoping Muffin will be over it by Christmas - earlier please! but I booked into boarding from the 24th to the 26 of December so that both Dave and I can to Christmas celebrations. I'm determined that she will overcome this. We had a rescue dog prior to Poppy, and she had the same problem. It took about 9 months for her to overcome the problem, but every dog is different.

Now I have to go a clean the house, and don't like cleaning much at all.

>75 vancouverdeb: Hopefully she gets over her separation anxiety sooner rather than later, Deborah. Your complaint about cleaning made me laugh. Does anyone like cleaning? I know I don't.

Hi Meg, your thread moves so fast that I don't think I had a chance to leave greeting on this new one! And 18 or 19 books read each month. Wow, very impressive. Hope you are enjoying summer!

Ugh to cleaning......

>77 mdoris: Hi Mary, it doesn't feel like my thread is fast moving to me. Maybe that's because I try to follow so many really fast moving threads. The books are going down easy which adds to the numbers although I'm constantly behind in my reviews. Summer is going well for the most part. I hope you are enjoying yours.

Hot enough for you Meg! Too hot for my liking.

Our forecast is for things to cool back down in a day or two -- hope that's true for you too.

126. The Blue Horse by Bruce Borgos



The action in the third book in the Porter Beck series wasn’t slowing down any. In The Blue Horse, emotions were high as wild horses were being rounded up. Then a man was shot out of the sky. But there were a few factions pursuing their own ends in this scenario so who was responsible: those on the side of the wild horses, the new mining outfit looking for rare earth minerals, or someone else? Porter and Charlie Blue Horse had a lot on their minds with the investigation and the early days of COVID added to the burden.

>79 vancouverdeb: It was hot when I was out walking around, Deborah. There weren't many people around at Lafarge Park, the geese were spread out all over the paths.

>80 RebaRelishesReading: I think out forecasts are pretty well in synch, Reba. Do you have rain in your forecast for Thursday/Friday like we do?

>81 Familyhistorian: A good story, like Borgos is known to deliver. He came outta nowhere for me, never heard of him and suddenly he's a good part of my mystery reading. Always a happy thing.

Good week-ahead's reads, Meg.

>84 richardderus: It was a compelling mystery, Richard. I must have felt the need to get back to that kind of book because I recently read the next for me Krueger mystery. His books are in a similar vein to Borgos's tomes.

I hope this week's reads keep you humming along.

>83 Familyhistorian: I think we do have a little rain forecast for mid-week. I know we're supposed to be over 100 today and down to mid-70's by Wednesday!! I expect we do have very similar weather given that we are on the same coast and not that far apart.

Hi Meg my dear, a belated Happy New Thread dear friend.

>85 Familyhistorian: Nevada always seemed so bleak to my eyes, and these mysteries bring that feeling to narrative life.

127. Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie



I’ve read many an Agatha Christie mystery and the wonder is that I can read them over and over and never remember who done it. This time it was Cards on the Table to meet a reading challenge. It was a fun Poirot in which Superintendent Battle and Mrs. Oliver also lent a hand each trying to come up trumps with the solution but we all know who won in the end.

>86 RebaRelishesReading: Similar to here. It's supposed to cool down tomorrow with rain starting Thursday. It will seem strange after the long stretch of sun and heat!

>87 johnsimpson: Hi John, nice to see you here. Thanks for the new thread wishes.

>88 richardderus: I'm not familiar with Nevada but the Montreal mafia in that one rang a bell.

>81 Familyhistorian: That one appeals, Meg. Lovely cover.

>88 richardderus: I'm not familiar with Nevada but the Montreal mafia in that one rang a bell.

>89 Familyhistorian: As a Bridge player it's fun to read books where Bridge games play a part. I'm one of those weirdos who re-reads Moonraker just for the trick Bridge hand Bond flummoxes the villain with,

I'll have to look for Cards on the Table

>89 Familyhistorian: I know what you mean. I hardly ever remember who done it if time passes after reading a mystery.

>90 Familyhistorian: Perhaps strange but I'm really looking forward to it :)

>95 magicians_nephew: I can imagine it adds an extra dimension to the story if you understand the game. I hope you enjoy Cards on the Table when you get to it, Jim.

>96 BLBera: It's surprising how quick we forget the murder, isn't it, Beth? But maybe not when there are so many books that come after that one, many of them with murder plots!

>97 RebaRelishesReading: I hope the rainy days lived up to your expectations, Reba. I got to drive a long distance in the rain yesterday so was not so fond!

128. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree



I’m a late reader of Legends & Lattes and I must admit the title put me off. But I finally got to it and found a heartwarming story of a tired warrior wanting to change her life and the other characters she attracted, most of whom came to be on her side. I kind of glossed over the coffee descriptions so it went down well.

>100 Familyhistorian: I think you may be getting all of the rain, Meg. So far nothing much here. It is nice and cool though.

>101 Familyhistorian: Orcs and coffee shops! Now that sounds like an interesting fantasy!

>102 RebaRelishesReading: The rain has been heavy here, Reba. It was starting to pool on the roads yesterday. I haven't ventured out yet today but it's still coming down. Maybe some will sneak across the border and head your way.

>103 zuzaer: It's a good one that's been going the rounds on LT for a long time. You should give it a try.

My son is in the process of moving back in with me very slowly. He has health issues that he has been trying to ignore but it looks like he's now on track for treatment. It's going to be a long haul.

129. He's to Die For by Erin Dunn



Police procedural, opposites attract romance, fish out of water – there are so many well-worn tropes in He’s to Die For but put them altogether in an M&M romance and it’s new and fun. Finding the perpetrator in the murder of record executive would be great for Rav as the lead detective but then he got distracted by one of the suspects, the lead singer of the band, and soon he was being pulled in different directions getting in trouble at work and in life. It was a fun read.

I am enjoying the cooler weather, Meg, though the rain yesterday I was less keen on. I guess we will have to get used to the rain again.

>106 Familyhistorian: Hope the treatment goes well, Meg. Will you enjoy the company?

>104 Familyhistorian: Dang it -- nope, no noticeable rain (yet?)

>106 Familyhistorian: sorry to hear about your son's health issues. Sending thoughts for a quick, successful outcome.

>108 vancouverdeb: The cooler weather is a nice change but I'm with you on not being that keen on the rain. I'm hoping the grass will get green again but it may take more than the inundation in Coquitlam. Records at the Coquitlam weather station show we got 95.4 mm (3.75 inches) on Friday.

>109 charl08: It's nice but strange to have someone else living with me, Charlotte. Right now he's in hospital though.

>110 RebaRelishesReading: We had more than enough rain to share, Reba. Thanks for your encouragement about my son's health issues.

Sorry to hear about your son's health issues and glad he's getting help. Sending healing vibes. I hope having a roommate is a pleasant experience for you. I'm a loner, too, and have been for many years, except for a few years when I lived with my sister right after I retired, so know how difficult it can be to live with someone else, even if they are someone you love.

>101 Familyhistorian: I really enjoyed Legends and Lattes, and the sequel Bookshops and Bonedust was fun too.

Somehow I missed reading about your son’s health problems. And he’s in the hospital. I’m sorry to hear it and best wishes for better health for him. I hope the transition of him moving back in with you goes smoothly. Our now 40 year old son moved home about 5 years ago for financial reasons , and it’s gone well. I wish the same for you.

>111 Familyhistorian: OMG!! We were supposed to get something like .8 inches but I don't think we had anything measurable. Guess you got it all :)

Except when what I wanted to snack on has vanished, my favorite pan has been misused, or the sink is too full of dishes, I love having my daughter live at home.

Best of luck to your son in his recovery, Meg, and I hope the reverse empty nest works out well for you both.

I hope your son's health improves soon.

>114 Storeetllr: My son and I moved in to the place I'm living now together so we're just remembering how that used to be. I didn't realize there was a sequel. I'll have to have a look for Bookshops and Bonedust.

>115 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah. It's encouraging to see that having your son move back is going well for you. My son is just 2 years younger than yours.

>116 RebaRelishesReading: Oh yeah, it was a dump of rain. Looks like it did a number on a lot of the wildfires so maybe it was good we got yours too, Reba.

>117 quondame: Yeah they're great to live with much of the time, Susan, but there are times as you say.

>118 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley, we'll see how the reverse empty nest works out.

>119 BLBera: Thanks for the thought, Beth, but I think it will be a long haul.

I hope it all goes well, Meg. Daniel moved home when he was about 35, as I mentioned and I really don't forsee him moving out, which is okay for us. With him working full time and he works out almost every day as well, and has a girlfriend he never plans to marry or live with - don't ask me how that works, we don't see him that much. I mean we see him each day, but just at briefly at some meals or in the evening. Like my next door neighbour said - her daughter 31 year old lives in her bedroom and that is more or less Daniel. I think it is becoming more common that adult kids live at home with their parents, though obviously not all of them.

>126 vancouverdeb: It should go okay, Deborah. Sam and I have been through a lot together having to deal with my ex-husband's brain injury. It sounds like your arrangement with Daniel works well for you.

>130 Familyhistorian: Purgatory Ridge William Kent Krueger



There was a lot going on in Purgatory Ridge, the third in the Cork O’Connor mystery series. The plot was based in part on an old ship wreck where all but one of the crew on board perished. That was the catalyst for part of the action but then wild fires and a large stand of trees that the Anishinaabe held sacred but which other forces wanted to harvest. There were misunderstandings, kidnappings and lots of hidden motives in this tale.

Well, you've finished a book, so I think life must be settling down for you and Sam, Meg. I am glad to hear it.

>129 vancouverdeb: There's always reading, Deborah, and it's not as though he's in residence as he's in hospital.

I'm trying to juggle too many things at the moment, I think. I've found evidence of a few things that I've forgotten to follow through with. My son is still in hospital but there is now a plan in place for treatment. Fingers crossed that this will be effective.

I’m really glad that there is a plan in place to treat your son, Meg . Take it easy on yourself as Sam is in hospital, and no doubt you are making frequent visits and it’s on your mind . Big hugs and take care , my friend.

>132 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah. I'm happy to see a way forward. Not sure if things will turn out okay but we'll see.

>131 Familyhistorian: I'm glad to hear your son has a plan going forward. It's comforting in a crisis situation..feels less unmooring, somehow.

Stay well yourownself, Meg.

>106 Familyhistorian: Glad he is on track for treatment. I am sure he will be happy to have you there for support.

>131 Familyhistorian: Glad there's a treatment plan now and hope it has good results. Wishing the best for both of you.

{{Hugs}} to you both, Meg

>134 richardderus: It's good to see a way forward, Richard. It's also good to have support, as you know.

>135 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita, I think he does appreciate that I am here for him.

>136 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba, it's good to be getting beyond the holding pattern he seemed to be in.

>137 jessibud2: Thanks for the hugs, Shelley.

131. When Women Invented Television by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong



I was surprised at how many women were involved in television in the early days. Because it wasn’t yet popular, they were able to get a foot hold. Of course, once TV caught on and more people were able to afford TV sets, the men muscled their way in there. When Women Invented Television looked at the early days of the medium, through the lives of Gertrude Berg, Irna Phillips, Betty White and Hazel Scott women who were involved in different aspects of the programming. It also touched on the effects of McCarthyism.

An interesting history, it was very much focused on the US. My view of the early days of television from north of the border was slightly different so I’d never heard of some of the women. I liked learning their stories and finding out more about Betty White’s early days.

>142 Familyhistorian: Only slightly on topic, I remember watching the first couple of episodes of a TV show about the woman who did the first cooking show on TV.

>138 Familyhistorian: It's urgently necessary to feel support, indeed. It truly makes success more attainable, and feels like it motivates more when energy is lacking. I'm hopeful for you both.

>143 zuzaer: It must have been hard to be the first to figure out the timing for a cooking show. Was it live or recorded or both?

>144 richardderus: I've had lots of practise being the support person and at least this time I'm dealing with someone whose mostly on the same wavelength as me and conscious so that's a plus. Thanks for sending positive energy our way, Richard.

Hi Meg, I am just catching up now and see there are lots of changes happening in your world. I have fingers crossed and hopeful that you son's treatment is very successful. Yes thank heavens we have our books and reading. It sounds like you and your son have gone through a great deal together.

>147 mdoris: Thanks Mary. My fingers are crossed that treatment will be successful. It would be nice for us to get a break, as they seem so few and far between.

Happy Saturday, Meg. We enjoyed another fabulous Meet Up with Stasia and Co. Details over on my thread. How far away from Deborah do you live? Have you ever done a Meet Up with her? Forgive me, if I have forgotten.

>148 Familyhistorian: joining you with notional crossed fingers (and some good thoughts).

>145 Familyhistorian: It was live but the meals were prepared to be at certain stages of development. They couldn't spare an hour to let the cake bake in the oven, so there was one the main character would do from scratch on stage and the other that would be waiting to be presented as finished.

I think it was HBO MAX's Julia.

>149 msf59: I thought you would have a wonderful meet up when you got together with Stasia, Mark. Deborah and I have never met in person. We live about 25 miles from each other.

>150 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba. Every little bit helps!

>151 zuzaer: That makes sense and sounds familiar, like maybe I watched one of those cooking shows at some point.

132. Mrs. Porter Calling by AJ Pearce



In Mrs Porter Calling Emmy and the crew at her work ran into problems when the owner of their magazine died and his heir, a social butterfly who wanted to change the content of the magazine so it was “less mis”, took over. How to thwart her while keeping their readers was a large part of the story but there were other things that threw Emmy for a loop as well. It was another heartwarming story with mostly well-meaning characters showing how most people learned to muck in together to make it through the dire war years.

My son doesn't usually read books but as he was in hospital I brought him a graphic novel in case he turned to reading out of boredom. He finished Bechdel's Fun Home.

133. Die Trying by Lee Child



I don’t read many thrillers and haven’t read many of the Jack Reacher series but Die Trying was a good one. A well connected woman was kidnapped off a Chicago street as Reacher was passing by. The kidnappers scooped him up too. Big mistake. Reacher and the woman both became guests of a militaristic cult with plans to make the part of the US where they’re living its own country with them in charge. Would Reacher and the woman be able to stop them or would they die trying?

>156 Familyhistorian: That is thoughtful of you, Meg. Taking your son a graphic novel and he read it. My sons are not readers either, I am sorry to say. But if one was in hospital for a while that might change. Good idea. Wishing you lots of good reads- escapist reads perhaps, as your son gets well. I hope all is going well.

>158 vancouverdeb: It was so hard to see him just lying there, I had to bring him something to read. I'm not really sure how things are going. It will be a while before we know if the chemo is effective.

Just catching up with your thread Meg. Sorry to hear that your son is in hospital. Best wishes to you both.

Continuing to send healing vibes to your son (and you - it's painful to watch someone you love suffer). At least if he can read it will help take his mind off things, and graphic novels are a good choice. What about audiobooks? I swear by those when I'm too distracted to concentrate on a book.

>161 Storeetllr: Yes, a good stack of novels and audiobooks may help him pass the time—maybe try subscriptions like audible? That way he doesn't feel guilty for trying different genres and abandoning them etc. Hopefully, the treatment will be effective and he'll come back to your house.

>156 Familyhistorian: Great choice, Meg! I'm glad it worked. Here's hoping the chemo will be speedily effective.

>160 humouress: Thanks Nina, he's out of hospital now and I'm ferrying him back and forth to cancer treatment.

>161 Storeetllr: Not sure that he would take to audiobooks, Mary. Getting him to crack the covers on a book is a feat in itself. Thanks for the suggestion though.

>162 zuzaer: He is back at my house but going for treatment. An audible subscription sounds good but maybe later when unexpected costs weren't coming in everyday.

>163 richardderus: Yeah, I though a GN would be good and he'd even heard of Bechdel, so there is that.

>167 Familyhistorian: Ideal solution All the way around.

Much success for the treatments!

Around for a visit Meg and thinking of you!

I’ve been thinking of you and Sam . I’m so glad he is home, though I know you are still back and forth for chemo for Sam . Best wishes and prayers for a full recovery, and fast one too.

Wordle 1,532 2/6

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guide, graft

Getting mixed messages.

>168 richardderus: Thanks for your encouragement, Richard.

>169 mdoris: Nice to see you, Mary.

>170 vancouverdeb: It would be nice if it was fast but steady and full would work too. Thanks for your thoughts, Deborah.

All good wishes for you and your son's recovery Meg.

134. American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI by Kate Winkler Dawson



The true crime genre is one that I enjoy. American Sherlock followed the life of Edward Oscar Heinrich who ran a business analyzing evidence at crime scenes and thus was one of the fathers of CSI in America. I enjoyed it for the most part but found it a bit dry.

>172 magicians_nephew: Thanks Jim, good wishes are always welcome.

Thinking of you and your son, Meg. I'm glad he found some distraction in Alison Bechdel.

>173 Familyhistorian: American Sherlock Heinrich was name checked once in a CSI episode. It lead to some Googling and some new stuff to learn.

Looking for the touchstone LT came up with The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes which was a lot of fun and made into a pretty nifty BBC series too.

>175 charl08: He's not much of a reader, Charlotte, so I'm not sure how much of a distraction it was. I'm still working on finding him books though.

>176 magicians_nephew: I didn't realize that Heinrich was mentioned in a CSI episode, Jim. Thanks for pointing that out. Nice to know that The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes became a BBC series.

135. Death of an Ex by Delia Pitts



In the second Vandy Myrick mystery, Vandy found herself attracted to her ex when she ran into him and the feeling was mutual. Problem was Phil Bolden was married and he and his wife lived in a swankier part of town. Still there was that feeling. Later, when Phil was walking back to where he left his car he was attacked and killed. Vandy couldn’t help but feel responsible which meant she need to solve his murder. It was a case that revealed corruption behind the scenes in Queenstown in Death of an Ex.

136. Murder in Retribution by Anne Cleeland



The second of the Doyle and Acton mysteries was Murder in Retribution. It looked like there was a turf war going on between different criminal factions but Doyle suspected that her husband was involved in it somehow. But she wasn’t feeling at her best, in fact she was ailing but still intrepid for all that. This was another involving installment in the series.

I'd planned on going on a journey this fall. Had everything booked for Ireland but it seems I'm going on a different journey. The cancer treatment schedule keeps me on the move, checking my calendar to see what needs to be changed or cancelled. On a happier note, it also shows how willing people are to help. My son needed to move out of his apartment and into my place but got too sick to do it. I mentioned it to my walking (crunching) group and we got together on Saturday and emptied his apartment. Cleaned it too. Didn't get as many steps in as usual though but it was a work out!

137. Wicked Widow by Amanda Quick



Wicked Widow kept me turning the pages to find out why Madeline kept seeing her dead husband. Just what was the plot behind the mystery that she and Artemas Hunt were trying to solve?

I only added one book to my stacks in August. It was:

Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin

>181 Familyhistorian: I'm always amazed at how willing people are to help us in times of need. It is a gift indeed.

The workout part, that may be a bit harder sell to call a gift....

138. When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi



There was no one hero to guide the reader through the story of what happened when the moon turned to cheese. But that makes perfect sense as it affected everyone in surprising ways in When the Moon Hits Your Eye. It was a fun read from a writer with a lot of imagination.

I’m so your crunch group got together to help you move Sam’s stuff out of his apartment to your place , Meg . That is a big job.

I’m so your crunch group got together to help you move Sam’s stuff out of his apartment to your place , Meg . That is a big job.

Sorry, double post. LT seems slow right now.

I’m so your crunch group got together to help you move Sam’s stuff out of his apartment to your place , Meg . That is a big job.

>186 vancouverdeb: - >189 vancouverdeb: Wow, a quadruple post, Deborah. It was great that they helped with the move. Also a plus that he had hardly any furniture. No bed (he slept in a hammock), couch or anything like that, just computer and desk etc.

HI Meg, I am glad that you had good help from your pals to move and clean Sam's place. I am so sorry a about your change of plans for travel to Ireland but I am sure hoping that will happen in the future for you. You sound busy!

>181 Familyhistorian: It's great that you are getting some help. I hope treatment goes well.

>191 mdoris: Hi Mary, my days have become very full. I was very happy for my friends helping with the move but I feel we've been on the go since.

I've been to Ireland before, but the trip was for a writing retreat which would have been good because I've attended a previous retreat with some of the same attendees. I'm not sure I'll go back to Ireland again but hopefully I'll be able to go to the UK soon as I was hoping the Ireland trip would jump start my travel there since I've missed going back recently.

>192 BLBera: Thanks Beth, it's wonderful how people offer to help.

At least I bumped up your posting numbers with my quadruple post, Meg. ;-) I bet you are very busy. I think of you and Sam often.

>195 vancouverdeb: Thanks for boosting my numbers, Deborah. It's getting difficult to find the time to do everything with all the running around I have to do now, let alone keeping up with the threads.

>181 Familyhistorian: How nice you have such helpful/thoughtful friends and glad your son is now settled in. I'm sorry you'll be missing your Ireland writing retreat but perhaps a chance will come again - hope so.

I do what I can , Meg ! 😉

>197 RebaRelishesReading: Not quite settled in yet, Reba. I'm going through the boxes bit by bit to integrate his stuff into my space. It will take a while because he's not up to much. I'm hoping to get back to travelling sooner or later. Not sure if Ireland will be on my list.

>198 vancouverdeb: 🙂!

>181 Familyhistorian: That is a heartwarming little anecdote, Meg. I am always amazed at the basic decency of most people.

Take care of yourself dear lady xx

Catching up on your August reads and adventure, Meg. Sorry to hear about your son, but glad he's now home. All best wishes for the treatment to be effective.

>201 PaulCranswick: It is very humbling to know that people are willing to help when the chips are down. Thanks for your good wishes, Paul.

>202 bell7: Thanks Mary, I hope that this all works out but we shall see. Thanks for your good wishes.

>181 Familyhistorian: Sorry you had to cancel your trip Meg. Yay for the crunch group! I hope your son's health is improving.

>205 humouress: Thanks Nina. It was wonderful for the crunch group to step up! We'll see how my son's treatment goes.