Alcott Acre's Home, Room 10

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

I love to read, it goes without saying and Kerry is very good about all of the books strewn throughout our house. Since Kerry retired in late 2023, we have spent a lot of time over the course of 2024 and 2025 playing board games (my other hobby) and despite that, my reading has continued apace.

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

I have traveled quite a bit this year and had the privilege of several LT meet ups! I doubt 2026 will live up to this years travels, but one can always hope :)

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

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

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

4.5 Stars
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon
Farewell Espana by Howard M. Sachar
Time's Echo: The Second World War, The Holocaust, and The Music of Remembrance by Jeremy Eichler
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Our Riches by Kaouther Adimi
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts by Louis Bayard
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset
Our Daily War by Andrei Kourkov
Sylvia Beach and the Lost Generation by Noel Riley Fitch
The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million by Daniel Mendelsohn
A Fire in the Mind: The Life of Joseph Campbell by Stephen Larsen and Robin Larsen
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Jane Austen's Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
Bookish: How Reading Shapes Our Lives by Lucy Mangan
The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
Freedom's Daughters by Lynne Olson
The Free by Willy Vlautin
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Bibliophile: An Illustrated Miscellany by Jane Mount
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Isola by Allegra Goodman
Bibliophile: Diverse Spines by Jamise Harper and Jane Mount
Beneath a Ruthless Sun by Gilbert King
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
How We Learn To Be Brave by Mariann Edgar Budde
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan
The History of Sound: Stories by Ben Shattuck
The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
East West Street by Philippe Sands
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
Queen Demon by Martha Wells
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
The Master Butcher's Singing Club by Louise Erdrich
Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton

4.25 Stars
Making It So by Patrick Stewart
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss
Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier
The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eva Eger
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
The Harlem Renaissance Remembered: Essays Edited with a Memoir by Arna Bontemps
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa
And the Rest is History by Jodi Taylor
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
Till Human Voices Wake Us by Victoria Goddard
In the Enemy's House by Howard Blum
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
The Age of Revolution, 1789-1848 by E. J. Hobsbawm
The Wildcat Behind Glass by Alki Zei
Mountain Path by Harriette Simpson Arnow
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold
Papillon by Henri Charriere
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
Among the Righteous by Robert Satloff
Chenneville by Paulette Jiles
The Riddle of the Labyrinth by Margalit Fox
We Remember with Reverence and Love by Hasia R. Diner
Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
War & Turpentine by Stefan Hertmans
The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich
Framed in Death by J. D. Robb
Remember Me to Harlem edited by Emily Bernard
The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
Bee Sting Cake by Victoria Goddard
The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land In Between by Hisham Matar
Hope for the Best by Jodi Taylor
One Goal: A Coach, a Team, and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together by Amy Bass
Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell
Bookworm by Lucy Mangan
Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers

THIS POST KEEPS TIMING OUT, SO UNFORTUNATELY I CANNOT POST THE TOUCHSTONES. I AM SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.

October TIOLI Challenges:

Challenge #1: Read a "Northwest" book
The Story of Archaeological Decipherment by Maurice Pope - Completed October 30, 2025
West by Carys Davies - Completed October 10, 2025

Challenge #2: The “Is it Abstract or Concrete?” Challenge: Read a book with a 2 word only title in which both words can be used nouns
Cold Earth by Sarah Moss - Completed October 25, 2025
Salt Lick by Lulu Allison - Completed October 13, 2025
Tin Man by Sarah Winman - Completed October 20, 2025
Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald - Completed October 22, 2025

Challenge #3: Read the second book in a series
Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky - Completed October 6, 2025
Half Share by Nathan Lowell - Completed October 21, 2025
Queen Demon by Martha Wells - Completed October 13, 2025

Challenge #4: Read a book that uses a US State Nickname Word
The Volunteer by Jack Fairweather - Completed October 4, 2025

Challenge #5: Read a book whose title implies a scary or disturbing read
Dark in Death by J. D. Robb - Completed October 4, 2025
Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell - Completed October 19, 2025

Challenge #6: Read a book where the title words are in alphabetical order
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - Completed October 17, 2025
A Grain of Wheat by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo - Completed October 1, 2025

Challenge #7 - Read a book in or translated from a language that is not one of the 15 most spoken languages in the world
The Magician of Lublin by Isaac Bashevis Singer - Completed October 16, 2025

Challenge #8: Read a book with a title word that is equal to or could be a substitution for the word “ troublesome” (your choice)
The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick - Completed October 3, 2025

Challenge #9: Read a book by an author whose surname also is used as a first name
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne - Completed October 22, 2025
Doc by Mary Doria Russell - Completed October 10, 2025
Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton - Completed October 29, 2025
The Story of a Heart by Dr. Rachel Clarke - Completed October 11, 2025

Challenge #10: Read a book with something costume-related on cover/in title
The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg - Completed October 8, 2025

Challenge #11: Read a book that has some connection with a book you've read in the last 3 months, state how it's related
Arthur Alfonso Schomburg by Elinor Des Verney Sinnette - Completed October 29, 2025
The Master Butcher’s Singing Club by Louise Erdrich - Completed October 28, 2025
Olive and the Dragon by Victoria Goddard - Completed October 4, 2025
Troubling the Waters by Cheryl Lynn Greenberg - Completed October 9, 2025

Challenge 12: Read a book with an ugly cover.
Bookman’s Pleasure: A Recreation for Booklovers by Holbrook Jackson - Completed October 11, 2025

Challenge #13: Read a book a book with a word in the title starting with the letters in SEATTLE MARINERS
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery - Completed October 16, 2025
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman - Completed October 23, 2025
Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers - Completed October 28, 2025

Challenge #14: Read a book with a cover featuring the backs of people
One Goal by Amy Bass - Completed October 15, 2025

Challenge #15: Read a book with a red cover, one with blood on it or both (indicate on wiki)
The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths
The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine - Completed October 6, 2025

Challenge #16: Read a book from PEN America's School Ban List (2024-25)
The Girl Who Drew Butterflies by Joyce Sidman - Completed October 7, 2025

Challenge #17: Read the 8th or 10th book in a series.
Hope for the Best by Jodi Taylor - Completed October 17, 2025

Lots of audiobooks this month. . .

Shared reads:

Terec and the Wall by Victoria Goddard - Completed January 4, 2025
Balancing Stone by Victoria Goddard - February with Mary - Completed February 8, 2025
My Antonia by Willa Cather - Completed February 4, 2025
The Spoilt City by Olivia Manning - Completed February 24, 2025
Till Human Voices Wake Us by Victoria Goddard - Completed March 26, 2025
Friends and Heroes by Olivia Manning - Completed March 29, 2025
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber - April with Mark DNF
In the Realms of Gold by Victoria Goddard - Completed April 1, 2025
The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel - Completed April 5, 2025
The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami - Completed May 17, 2025
The Glassblower by Victoria Goddard - Completed May 3, 2025
Mother London by Michael Moorcock - Shared read with Peggy and Karen DNF
The Weaver of the Middle Desert by Victoria Goddard - Completed June 17, 2025
Stargazy Pie by Victoria Goddard - Completed July 4, 2025
Stone Speaks to Stone by Victoria Goddard - Completed August 1, 2025
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers - Completed September 12, 2025
Bee Sting Cake by Victoria Goddard - Completed September 19, 2025
Olive and the Dragon by Victoria Goddard - Completed October 4, 2025
The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon - Shared read with Mark in December

Black Studies Reading
1. Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum by Antonia Hylton - Completed January 9, 2025
2. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah Completed February 8, 2025
3. Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story by Martin Luther King, Jr. Completed April 26, 2025
4. Freedom's Daughters by Lynne Olson Completed May 28, 2025
5. The Lost Eleven by Denise George and Robert Child Completed June 25, 2025
6. Beneath a Ruthless Sun by Gilbert King Completed July 17, 2025
7. Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks by Donald Bogle - Completed August 16, 2025
8. The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers- Completed September 12, 2025
9. The Negro’s Civil War by James M. McPherson - Completed September 18, 2025
10. Troubling the Waters by Cheryl Lynn Greenberg - Completed October 9, 2025

Jewish Studies Reading
1. Farewell Espana by Howard M. Sachar - Completed January 18, 2025
2. Time's Echo: The Second World War, The Holocaust, and The Music of Remembrance by Jeremy Eichler - Completed January 24, 2025
3. The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million by Daniel Mendelsohn - Completed March 29, 2025
4. What I Wish My Christian Friends Knew About Judaism by Robert Schoen - Completed April 1, 2025
5. Prince of the Press: How One Collector Built History's Most Enduring and Remarkable Jewish Library by Joshua Teplitsky - Completed May 7, 2025
6. There Once Was a World by Yaffa Eliach - Completed May 21, 2025
7. Among the Righteous by Robert Satloff - Completed June 9, 2025
8. We Remember with Reverence and Love by Hasia R. Diner - Completed July 24, 2025
9. A Cat in the Ghetto: Stories by Rachmil Bryks - Completed August 4, 2025
10. Troubling the Waters by Cheryl Lynn Greenberg - Completed October 9, 2025
11. The Magician of Lublin by Isaac Bashevis Singer - Completed October 16, 2025

The American Authors Challenge - This is one that I dip into and out of as the case may be
January A Sudden Light by Garth Stein - Completed January 11, 2025
February Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa - Completed February 26, 2025
March Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan - Completed March 25, 2025
April Mountain Path by Harriette Simpson Arnow - Completed April 17, 2025
May Across the Wide Missouri by Bernard DeVoto - Completed May 5, 2025
June The Free by Willy Vlautin - Completed June 18, 2025
July The Winter Lodge by Susan Wiggs - Completed July 19, 2025
August American Sherlock by Kate Winkler Dawson - Completed August 28, 2025
September The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman - Completed September 10, 2025
October Doc by Mary Doria Russell - Completed October 10, 2025
October Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell - Completed October 19, 2025

The British Authors Challenge - Same as the American Authors Challenge
January Theatre by W. Somerset Maugham - Completed January 13, 2025
February Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky - Completed February 20, 2025
March My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell - Completed March 12, 2025
April The Children of Men by P. D. James - Completed April 23, 2025
May Staying On by Paul Scott - Completed June 11, 2025
July I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith - Completed July 8, 2025
July Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake - Completed July 11, 2025
August Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh - Completed August 13, 2025
September This One Sky Day by Leone Ross - Completed September 9, 2025
October

Paul's Grand Tour Challenge

JANUARY
Middlemarch by George Eliot - Completed January 25, 2025

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

MARCH
Embers by Sandor Marai - Completed March 3, 2025

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

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

JUNE
Metamorphoses by Ovid - Completed June 26, 2025

JULY
Fearless by Cornelia Funke - Completed July 5, 2025

AUGUST
War and Turpentine by Stefan Hertmans - Completed August 24, 2025

SEPTEMBER
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles - Completed September 20, 2025

OCTOBER
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne - Completed October 22, 2025
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery - Completed October 16, 2025

The “Read More Sci-Fi” Challenge - using the Esquire list found here (https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g39358054/best-sci-fi-books/) - which has now been expanded - and the book Science Fiction, The 101 Best Novels, 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul di Filippo as guides. Also adding in Hugo & Nebula Award winners and nominees.
1. The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein - Completed January 15, 2025 (from the book)
2. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky - Completed February 20, 2025 (number 54 on the Esquire list)
3. Solaris by Stanislaw Lem - Completed February 23, 2025 (number 53 on the Esquire list)
4. The Children of Men by P. D. James - Completed April 23, 2025 (number 36 on the Esquire list)
5. The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon - Completed April 24, 2025 (Nebula Award Winner, 2004)
6. The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal - Completed May 17, 2025 (Nominated for a Hugo Award, 2023)
7. Radio Free Albemuth by Philip K. Dick - Completed June 9, 2025 (from the book)
8. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis - Completed June 29, 2025 (Won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards)
9. Cyteen by C. J. Cherryh - Completed July 2, 2025 (from the book)
10. Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh - Completed August 13, 2025 (Won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, 2024)
11. Witch King by Martha Wells - Completed September 29, 2025 (Hugo & Nebula Awards finalist)
12. Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers - Completed October 28, 2025 (Hugo Award for Best Series, 2018)

Monthly Nonfiction Challenges - I try to read at least 100 nonfiction books a year and this challenge is instrumental in helping me achieve that goal. In 2024, I was able to read 133 nonfiction books.
January Pearl Buck in China by Hilary Spurling - Completed January 21, 2025
January Time's Echo: The Second World War, The Holocaust, and The Music of Remembrance by Jeremy Eichler - Completed January 24, 2025
January Atlas of Vanishing Places by Travis Elborough - Completed January 24, 2025
March In the Enemy's House by Howard Blum - Completed March 28, 2025
April The Age of Revolution, 1789-1848 by E. J. Hobsbawm - Completed April 4, 2025
June The Storm of the Century by Al Roker - Completed June 4, 2025
July Blind White Fish in Persia by Anthony Smith - Completed July 16, 2025
August Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks by Donald Bogle - Completed August 16, 2025
September The Book of Old Ships by Henry B. Culver (illustrations by Gordon Grant) - Completed September 6, 2025
October Bookman’s Pleasure: A Recreation for Booklovers by Holbrook Jackson - Completed October 11, 2025
October Bookworm: A Memoir of Childhood Reading by Lucy Mangan - Completed October 24, 2025

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

The In Death series by J.D. Robb
Thankless in Death - Completed January 27, 2025
Bonded in Death - Completed February 9, 2025
Concealed in Death - Completed March 4, 2025
Festive in Death - Completed March 11, 2025
Obsession in Death - Completed March 18, 2025
Devoted in Death - Completed June 4, 2025
Apprentice in Death - Completed July 19, 2025
Echoes in Death - Completed July 31, 2025
Secrets in Death - Completed September 3, 2025
Framed in Death - Completed September 6, 2025
Dark in Death - - Completed October 4, 2025
Leverage in Death -

The St. Mary’s books by Jodi Taylor
And the Rest is History - Completed March 8, 2025
An Argumentation of Historians - Completed July 10, 2025
Hope for the Best - Completed October 17, 2025
Plan for the Worst -

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

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

The Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear
Among the Mad - Completed February 27, 2025
The Mapping of Love and Death - Completed March 16, 2025
A Lesson in Secrets - Completed August 29, 2025
Elegy for Eddie - Completed September 25, 2025
Leaving Everything Most Loved -

The Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson
When Will There Be Good News? - Completed June 29, 2025
Started Early, Took My Dog - Completed July 23, 2025
Big Sky - Completed August 22, 2025
Death at the Sign of the Rook -

The Shetland Series by Ann Cleeves
Blue Lightning - Completed January 18, 2025
Dead Water - Completed March 20, 2025
Thin Air - Completed September 12, 2025
Too Good to Be True -

The Wayfarers Series by Becky Chambers
A Closed and Common Orbit - Completed May 27, 2025
Record of a Spaceborn Few - Completed October 28, 2025
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within -

The Rivers of London Series by Ben Aaronovitch
Rivers of London aka Midnight Riot - Completed August 12, 2025
Moon Over Soho -

Harlem Renaissance Reading (as an adjunct to my Black Studies reading):
1. My Soul's High Song: The Collected Writings of Countee Cullen edited by Gerald Early - Completed January 7, 2025
2. The Harlem Renaissance Remembered: Essays Edited with a Memoir by Arna Bontemps Completed February 12, 2025
3. Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray Completed March 5, 2025
4. The Novels of the Harlem Renaissance: Twelve Black Writers, 1923-1933 by Amritjit Singh Completed April 10, 2025
5. The New Negro edited by Alain Locke - Completed June 19, 2025
6. Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick by Zora Neale Hurston - Completed July 9, 2025
7. Harlem Speaks by Cary D. Wintz - Completed August 6, 2025
8. Remember Me to Harlem edited by Emily Bernard - Completed September 10, 2025
9. Arthur Alfonso Schomburg by Elinor Des Verney Sinnette - Completed October 29, 2025

Louise Erdrich Challenge (featuring the Love Medicine series: https://www.librarything.com/nseries/2972/Love-Medicine)
1. Love Medicine Completed February 15, 2025
2. The Beet Queen Completed April 20, 2025
3. Tracks Completed May 23, 2025
4. The Bingo Palace Completed June 14, 2025
5. Four Souls - Completed July 26, 2025
6. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse - Completed August 25, 2025
7. The Painted Drum - September 23, 2025
8. The Master Butcher’s Singing Club - Completed October 28, 2025

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

Nonfiction:
1. All In by Billie Jean King - Completed January 5, 2025
2. Archaeology of the Bible: The Greatest Discoveries From Genesis to the Roman Era by Jean-Pierre Isbouts - Completed January 19, 2025
3. Sailor and Fiddler by Herman Wouk Completed February 2, 2025
4. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah Completed February 8, 2025
5. Sylvia Beach and the Lost Generation by Noel Riley Fitch Completed March 28, 2025
6. The Bookseller of Florence by Ross King Completed April 15, 2025
7. The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold - Completed May 13, 2025
8. Brilliant Blunders by Mario Livio - Completed July 15, 2025
9. The Volunteer by Jack Fairweather - Completed October 4, 2025
10.

Fiction:
1. Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram Completed February 6, 2025
2. Virgil Wander by Leif Enger - Completed April 1, 2025
3. The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan - Completed April 8, 2025
4. Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - Completed May 6, 2025
5. Barkskins by Annie Proulx - Completed July 9, 2025
6. Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue - Completed August 3, 2025
7. Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan Henry - Completed August 13, 2025
8.

Touchstone loading time. I think I will go for a walk. . .

Happy New Thread, Stasia!

Happy new one, dear Stasia. Loving all the lists and challenges that you keep up with far better than I ever can.

>12 alcottacre: Thanks, Deborah!

>14 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Not sure that all the lists and challenges are kept up with as well as I like :)

Happy new thread Stasia!

Happy Wednesday, Stasia. Happy New Thread. Glad to hear that you are enjoying the Kopp sisters. Go Cubbies! Hoping for another win today. It is sad that Horton is on the IL and can't start today. He has been awesome this season. 🤞🤞

Happy new thread, Stasia. I will be back later to browse your thread. For now, greetings on this first day of October.

Good morning, Stasia! Happy New Thread!

New-thread orisons, Stasia!

Happy new thread!

I should be starting my own new thread....but I'm much rather be reading yours, so that's what I'm doing!

Happy new one, Stasia.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Stasia!

That is something to go through all your reading organization. Wow! Happy new thread Stasia! And your new cat is a gorgeous one!

Happy New Thread!

>17 humouress: Thank you, Nina!

>18 msf59: Too bad about the Cubbies today. Tomorrow is another day, Mark. Yeah, Horton was a good add to the starting rotation after the loss of Justin Steele early in the season.

>19 Kristelh: Thanks, Kristel! Happy October 1st to you too.

>20 Carmenere: >21 richardderus: >22 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Lynda, Richard, and Anita!

>23 laytonwoman3rd: I will be off shortly to see if you changed your mind and decided to start a new thread for yourself, Linda.

>24 RebaRelishesReading: >25 foggidawn: >26 quondame: Thank you, Reba, foggi, and Susan!

>27 mdoris: Aw, thanks about Isla. We think she is gorgeous too, but then I am a sucker for kittens, lol. You know you do not have to go through all that stuff about my reading organization, right? I appreciate it though, Mary.

>28 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver!

Finished tonight:

264 - A Grain of Wheat by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo - Audiobook; I know pretty much nothing about the political situation of any country in Africa, either before or after the colonial era, so even though this book is fiction, I got a real sense of what was happening in Kenya about the time that Kenya was getting its independence from Great Britain. We learn about a group of characters in the villages - characters that are not 'important people,' but rather people just trying to live their lives and deal with the consequences of the transition. The reader is taken back and forth as we go from before independence to after it. I found this read very interesting; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

My October reading is off to a very good start!

>30 alcottacre: Coincidentally I came across a book on a Kenyan warrior woman in the ER giveaways last night, if you're interested.

>18 msf59:
I have several of the Kopp Sisters books as well and haven't read them yet.

Happy October, Stasia!

>29 alcottacre: Yes I know but it is very good to do because there are lots of moments of inspiration from your amazing reading lists!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/374356

Well, I am still alive despite appearances to the contrary yesterday. I pretty much managed to sleep throughout yesterday and was in bed early last night - and I am really hoping that it does not mean that my CFS has decided to flare up again!

Kerry and I are holding our monthly gaming marathon today or we will be, after he mows the lawn. We are hoping to get at least 3 games in but we will see as one of the games we are playing, Starship Captains, is completely new to us.

On the reading front, I am currently listening to Dark in Death. I am reading the library books I have out The Volunteer by Jack Fairweather and The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick. I have a couple of books checked out from Hoopla that I have not started yet but will soon. I am also reading a book of my own, Children of Ruin, by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Not finishing anything today though!

I hope everyone has a fantastic Friday!

>31 humouress: I pretty much do not do the ER giveaways, Nina, but thanks. I am not gifted at review writing and I do not like to do it.

>32 benitastrnad: I think they are just fun, Benita, but I have only read a couple.

>33 ffortsa: Thanks, Judy! Same to you!

>34 mdoris: OK. I have never thought of my lists as particularly inspiring, but I find other people's that way, so I can see it.

>35 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver! I am in.

Happy new thread, Stasia!

Another thread!!!! I look forward to its being a happy one. It's bound to be busy and interesting!

On your last thread you had just finished a book by Charlotte McConaghy. What a coincidence - so did I. I have been listening to Wild Dark Shore by her. It also features an unreliable narrator and the real question is Were these murders or accidents? It didn't catch my interest at first, but then it did. If your are looking for a book to listen to this one might be a good choice. It has a caste of narrators and they are all narrators that I have heard on other books so they do a great job of reading.

>38 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene!

>39 LizzieD: Not sure about the 'busy and interesting' part, Peggy, but I sincerely hope that it is a happy one!

>40 benitastrnad: I already have Wild Dark Shore in the BlackHole, Benita, but thanks for your thoughts on the book. I will have to get to it soon!

Finished tonight:

265 - The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick - I enjoy good historical fiction as probably everyone knows by now and this book was a good one. The book begins in the early 1960s as we meet 4 women who decide to start a book club. Originally wanting to read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Margaret Ryan, the founder of the club, has her mind changed by another woman she has invited to the neighborhood book club, Charlotte, who convinces her that the club should read The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan - and they do, learning about spreading their wings as women. At this point, I will confess that I have never read the book so I cannot personally attest to anything said about it in the Bostwick book. However, a lot of my childhood memories of my mother reflect what the woman in this book went through so I understand from that point-of-view. There is a lot of growth on the women's (Margaret's, Charlotte's, Bitsy's and Viv's) part throughout the books and a lot of ups and downs. The one thing that I really did not care for in the book was the ending, which I am not going to spoil here; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

>42 alcottacre: OMG, Stasia! I had forgotten all about that book. My bookclub considered it a couple of years ago and chose something else instead. I thought then that I would read it on my own and then totally forgot about it. Thanks for the memory jog.

>43 RebaRelishesReading: I would not have read it if not for one of October's TIOLI challenges, Reba. I am not even sure I had heard of the book before. Glad I read it and will be curious to see what you think of it if and when you read it!

I'm getting a late start today, Stasia, but I'm reading Olive and the Dragon now. Since it's about an hour and a half reading in total, I will plan on finishing it today.

Finished this afternoon:

266 - Dark in Death by J. D. Robb - Audiobook; This entry sees Eve investigating a murderer who is copying an author's fictional detective and the deaths that she is investigating. The author herself comes in, along with her friend Nadine, to point Eve to the similarities between the real life murders - there had been one prior to the one that Dallas is now investigating - and the murders in her books. It turns out that there are 8 books in the series thus far and the murderer looks like he/she wants to mimic them all; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>45 bell7: I have not started it yet, Mary, but it is next up on my agenda for today. I imagine I will be finishing it as well today. Thanks for the heads up!

Finished tonight:

267 - The Volunteer: One Man, An Underground Army, and the Secret Mission to Destroy Auschwitz by Jack Fairweather - Nonfiction; Witold Pilecki was a 39-year-old farmer, married with 2 children, when WWII broke out in Poland. He promptly fought until Poland fell and then started working with the Polish underground. His mission was simple enough: get caught, get sent to Auschwitz, and work with the underground there to get the facts about what was happening in the camp smuggled out. Easy as pie, right? Pilecki, under an assumed name, ended up being in Auschwitz for over 2 years, during which time the camp went from being a concentration camp to being a death camp. Pilecki's early reports of rampant disease and death in the camp became reports of intentional extermination of the Jewish internees. Pilecki eventually escaped the camp only to find out that although the death camp was known in the West, little to nothing was being done to help save those interned there. I have to salute Witold Pilecki's daring and bravado for even attempting his initial mission - although I have to say that if I was his wife, I might have felt otherwise; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

"Witold's story is essential for our understanding of how Auschwitz came into being and obliges us to confront how we respond to evil in our own time."

Finished tonight:

268 - Olive and the Dragon by Victoria Goddard - This is the newest installment in the Greenwing & Dart series and as I was reading through this novella, I kept thinking that I was glad that last month's read of Bee Sting Cake (book #2 in the series) was very timely in relation to this book - and wouldn't you know that Goddard mentions this in the author's note at the end of the book? The titular Olive is Jemis' Greenwing's mother and throughout the Greenwing & Dart series she is a background character - we see bits and pieces of her, especially through Jemis' eyes - but in this book, she is the focus and I was glad of it. She steps out of the background and we get to see her as the lady of the woods. As in Bee Sting Cake where her son meets a dragon, in this book, she meets a dragon. We learn how important honey and the bees are to her - they are her favorite past times next to gardening and embroidery - and the importance of honey is definitely highlighted in Bee Sting Cake. She has the Sight and can see multiple futures for herself and her little family. I think that most importantly we learn of Olive's inherent strength, a strength she passes on to her son; Recommended (4 stars) Mine - Kindle

"Olive was a daughter of the Woods; the daughter of the Woods. Her mother might hold the title and the power in her tight grip, might manage the wizardry of the Road and the Border crossing to the approval of the Emperor, but it was not the Dowager Marchioness whom the Woods wanted."

>40 benitastrnad: Good to know about Wild Dark Shore, Benita. I was planning on getting it in print but you may have swayed me into considering the audio, which would be a faster alternative.

Happy Sunday, Stasia. Boo to our Cubbies! I hope they bring their "A" game tomorrow night.

>50 msf59: Yeah, the Cubs effort yesterday was more than underwhelming, Mark. I really hope tomorrow is better!

My 'day off' technology and it is probably just as well as I did not get up until after noon. That makes 2 days running. *sigh*

I hope you all have a lovely Sunday!

Reposting because my post disappeared into the aether (apologies if it appears more than once). LT seems to be on a go-slow at the moment.

>49 alcottacre: I posted this on Mary's thread: I just discovered Victoria Goddard's website last week (if I'd known earlier, I'd have bought one of the bundles on there. As it is - Murphy's Law - I already have at least one book in each bundle on offer). I had a look and Olive and the Dragon is only currently available as an e-book so I went ahead and purchased it (I'll probably get the paperback copy later for my shelves) late last night. I did try reading it in bed but I felt I was too tired to do the concepts in the first chapter justice.

>52 alcottacre: I hope you're having a much better Monday. *smooch*

>49 alcottacre: I read Olive and the Dragon today which was a short but lovely book. Though I did find their family happiness at the beginning a little sad in contrast to what we know (from Bee Sting Cake) happened afterwards I thought the ending was beautiful.

I hope that you needed less sleep last night, Stasia, and that your new week will be a lot better all around!

I need more V. Goddard and will check out her website, but I really should be getting everything for Kindle. *sigh*

Happy Monday, Stasia. I hope you had a good weekend and kept the CFS at bay. Go Cubbies. We NEED a big win tonight.

>53 humouress: I did not know Goddard's website had bundles either, Nina, and since I have pretty much everything to this point, I am in the same boat as you are. I am glad that you were able to get a copy of Olive and the Dragon though!

>54 richardderus: It has been a better Monday, Richard. Thanks! ((Hugs)) and **smooches**

>55 humouress: I agree: "short but lovely" sums up the book nicely, Nina. Goddard sure can write!

>56 LizzieD: My body is currently doing crazy things to me, Peggy. I have no idea if I am coming or going, lol. Thanks though!

>57 msf59: Go, Cubbies, indeed! They need a big win tonight!!

>49 alcottacre: I rated it the same, Stasia. I really enjoyed getting Olive's point of view and the details the story adds to Jemis's.

>59 bell7: I am glad that you enjoyed it as well, Mary! I will have to pop over to your thread and check out your review.

Finished this evening:

269 - Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky - This is the second book in Tchaikovsky's Children of Time series. I very much enjoyed the first book in the series and I rate it higher than I did this one - unusual for me as I tend to like follow up books more than I do the original book in the series. In the original book we have 2 civilizations, spiders and Humans, taking center stage. In this book we have multiple civilizations: spiders, Humans, octopuses (I like that the author pointed out that octupi is incorrect, lol), and the We. I felt like trying to keep all those balls up in the air was somewhat distracting - to me as a reader and to Tchaikovsky as a writer. We do not see nearly as much character development in this book as we did in the last, to the book's detriment. Still a good, solid read, but it could have been better - and really needed some editing IMHO; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>61 alcottacre: I agree that Children of Ruin isn't as good as Children of Time. But I adored the idea of space going octopuses - though why they couldn't be modified not to require water on the ships bugged me. After all, they don't need it for support in zero-g and having no bones, they don't need to worry about bone loss.

>62 quondame: I love the idea of space going octopuses too, Susan. I did not think overmuch about them being modified but you have a valid point.

Have you read Children of Memory yet?

Finished tonight:

270 - The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine - When I was younger, I enjoyed thriller and suspense books more than I do now, so this book did not work for me as well as it might have once upon a time. In this book, a famed chef decides to write her memoirs and she wants one editor, Thea, in particular to work on the book with her. The chef, Maria, and her husband, Damien, had a love story for the ages - that is, until Damien committed suicide. Or did he? Is there any truth to the rumor that Maria killed her husband despite evidence to the contrary? There is more to the story than meets the eye; Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Kindle - Hoopla

I must mention that there are parts of the book that make me very glad that I am a vegan, lol.

>63 alcottacre: Not yet. I've taken a break from Adrian Tchaikovsky after a couple of ones that didn't quite appeal to me as much as the first 2 of that series.

>65 quondame: Understood. I hope to get to it soon. I just found out that there is going to be a fourth book in the series as well.

Finished tonight:

271 - The Girl Who Drew Butterflies by Joyce Sidman; Juvenile Biography; This book is an excellent example of a beautiful educational book. It is centered on the person of Maria Merian, a woman who, since childhood, was fascinated by butterflies. She not only draws them, but studies them in their native habitats. She is doing this during the 17th century in a time when women were almost exclusively expected to take care of their homes and children. The artwork in the book, including some of Merian's own, is absolutely stunning. Do yourself a favor and read this one to a child in your life; Highly Recommended (5 stars) Library

>67 alcottacre: What a gorgeous book. I wish I'd had it as a kid!

Wednesday well, Stasia! *smooch*

>68 richardderus: It is not only gorgeous, Richard, but it is well-written to boot! I wish I had it as a kid too!

Finished this morning:

272 - The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg - From the well-written to the not. This is a book I have owned for years now and finally gotten around to reading. I loved the idea of the magic in this world that Holmberg has created - there are magicians who work with metal (Smelters), magicians who work with paper (Folders), etc. - but unfortunately, I did not care for the main character at all. She is a young lady recently graduated from Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined (she had a full scholarship) and has been handed an opportunity that she does not appreciate. She falls in love with the magician who supplied her with the scholarship and is now in charge of her training although he is a 30-something guy who has displayed little to no interest in her (probably because she is only like 18) - and then the book takes a decided turn into violence; Not Recommended (3 stars) Mine

>70 alcottacre:
Interesting review. This series is one that I have on my reading list. I may make it less urgent to get my hands on the book, so thanks for letting me know about it.

>71 benitastrnad: I have the first 3 books but I am not bothering to read books 2 and 3. I am taking them all to my daughter Catey's shop. I hope that you enjoy the book more than I did, Benita, if and when you get to it!

So, we took the kitten for the first vet visit today - we were there for a long 2 hours - and discovered that we went in with Isla Ivy Doster and came out with Ilan Ivor Doster. Yep, she turned out to be a he, lol.

No issues were found except yeast infections in his ears. No ear mites, thank goodness, and no feline AIDS or leukemia.

Happy Wednesday. Stasia. Go Cubbies! They got it done tonight but I have no fingernails left. It would be extremely difficult to win the final 2 games, especially against a darn good team but you never know.

Hooray for your new kitten!

That's funny, about the kitty. That happened with my first 2 cats, Jessie and Buddy. It turned out that Jessie was Buddy and vice versa. Dogs are much easier that way, lol.

Happy newish thread, Stasia. Funny about Isla actually being an Ivor. I was going to say that I've only had female cats but then I thought of Archie and Duffy who were male but the males didn't stick around as long as the females.

>73 alcottacre: Well , that's something , Stasia! Talk about gender confusion.

>74 msf59: If the Cubbies offense does not turn around rapidly, I think they are done for tonight. They were so good in the first half of the season!

Thanks, Mark.

>75 jessibud2: Yeah, part of the problem in telling the gender of Ilan is the fact that he has so much fur and we could just never get a really good look. so I can understand how it happens.

Congratulations to your Blue Jays!

>76 Familyhistorian: Our cats have stuck around luckily. I do love my critters. It is still sinking in that Isla is now Ilan. We still keep calling him a her, lol.

>77 vancouverdeb: Yep, gender confusion indeed! Of course, Ilan does not care at all. . .

>78 alcottacre: - Haha! My previous 2 cats were girls. Had them for nearly 20 years. After bringing Theo and Owen home, it took me some time to get the pronouns right. And like Ilan, they didn't care, as long as I fed them!

I'm checking in on you and Ilan. We're fine. Nothing going on here except study club for me, which means another day with very little reading. If I read a page now before a nap takes me, I'll be proud!

>79 jessibud2: Well, Chalfont and Mallory are girl and boy so the balance is now tipped in the boy's favor, lol.

>80 LizzieD: Glad to hear that you are fine, Peggy! I hope you made yourself proud :)

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/374573

>73 alcottacre: I laughed out loud at the message about your cat was not a she, but a HE.

Last week, I had a two-hour dentist appointment. When I came home and put the key in the door, I was quite surprised to see Meow, Meow waltzing over to me from the side of the house. She must have sneaked out when I opened the door to leave. I was quite relieved that she found her way home from where ever she was for two hours.

If I knew she got out, I would have been a mess for two hours. Sitting in the dentist chair that long is difficult enough. Now, Kayla and I are very careful to check that she does not sneak out.

She played another trick last week. She's having some very wicked asthma episodes. When she had six episodes in one day/night, I called the vet. They were able to get me in at 10:30. I rushed around, found the pet carrier, and was ready to leave...BUT, there was no Meow Meow in sight. I was frantically looking all over the house to no avail.

I called to apologize and the vet's assistant said that unlike dogs, cats have ESP, and she has many tales of cats hiding right before they are supposed to leave. She talked of people coming in badly scratched when they were found.

Two hours after the scheduled time we were to leave, she came waltzing out of the downstairs bedroom. I think she hid between the plastic containers under the bed.

I was able to get an appointment at 4:30 the next day. I was careful to shut that door in the morning so that she could not hide again.

Fortunately, friends were here and helped me get her into the carrier.

$150 later, she came home after two shots and more meds. Sadly, the next day she had two asthma attacks. The vet promises to work with me and when I called to ask what could be done, he told me her time isn't up yet and he will continue to work with her. the pollen count in the area where I live is very high. Nestled between two mountains, the pollen simply is stuck in the air.

Fortunately, it rained and that helped somewhat with the series of episodes.

It is so very hard watching her and listening to the croppy cough when she is in asthma attack mode.

Every time I loose a pet, I vow not to get another because we get so very sad when we have to say goodbye. After losing Shetland Sheep dog Lilly, I thought I simply could not go through that again. Yet, I said yes three years ago when Kayla brought home the kitten.

Good luck with your new pet!

>82 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver. I will be in again!

>83 Whisper1: They always manage to surprise you, don't they? I hope Meow's asthma quiets down soon!

Finished tonight but just to tired to 'review' it:

273 - Troubling the Waters by Cheryl Lynn Goldberg - For both my Black and Jewish studies reading; Nonfiction; Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Hoopla - Kindle

Thanks Stasia. You met Meow, Meow (called this because she usually looks up with an almost silent noise "Meow, Meow!") Always a dog person, I never thought about obtaining a cat. This one warmed her way into my heart.

How is your sleeping?

>73 alcottacre: Congratulations on your 'new' tom.

>83 Whisper1: Ha! If Jasper had ESP he'd be sitting in the car waiting for us to take him to the vet's before we walked out of the front door.

Go Cubbies! Go Cubbies! Great win. Happy Friday, Stasia! Big game tomorrow.

>86 Whisper1: Well, my sleeping is what it is, lol. Up and down, feast or famine.

>87 humouress: Thanks, Nina!

>88 msf59: Oh, yeah. A nice win for the Cubbies. Let's hope they can take their roll into Milwaukee and win there!

Speaking of sleeping, I am off to take a nap now. Yeah, already. *sigh* These days are multiple nap days.

Finished this afternoon:

274 - Doc by Mary Doria Russell - Audiobook; This was a re-read for me. I originally read the book several years ago and loved it, giving it 5 stars. I was sure that was going to change but it did not. I still love this novel of "Doc" Holliday. The research that Russell put into the book is evident and I did not feel a single wrong note throughout the entire book. If you have not already read it, I urge you to do so - even if westerns are not your thing. I think of this one more as excellent historical fiction that just happens to be set in the western U.S. rather than your typical western; Highly Recommended (5 stars) Mine

On to Epitaph, which I have not read as of yet!

>91 alcottacre: I'd say "If you have not already read it, I urge you to do so" pretty much sums up my response to anyone who hasn't read MD Russell.

Weekend orisons!

>92 richardderus: She is very good, isn't she? It does not seem to matter whether it is the Old West or outer space.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend too, RD!

Finished this evening:

275 - West by Carys Davies - Another re-read for me. It has been about 6 years or so since I originally read this short novel. It features the dual narrative of Cy Bellman, who is curious about some old bones that have been discovered in Kentucky, and his daughter Bess, who he leaves with her Aunt Julia, Bess' mother having passed away. Bess is only 10 when her father goes away, but her father promises her he will be back "in two years (when) I will be twelve." Unfortunately it is not a promise that Cy can keep. This is one of those books which is all about the journey, both Cy's literal one and Bess' figurative, and not the destination. I was a bit disappointed in my read of the book this time around - I just wanted more; Recommended (3.75 stars) Library Book

Yep, MDR is FINE!!!! I haven't read Epitaph either - another case of hoarding. (I hope I'm not going to die with all the books unread that I KNOW ahead of time I'm going to love.) (That should have been LOVE to continue the affectation of those first sentences!)

Hope Ilan is still settling in, that the other two are accepting him, .... that Kerry is accepting him!
I'm sorry, Linda, that Meow is having trouble, but your vet sounds good. I hope that a reliable asthma treatment occurs very soon.

I'm sorry about all the napping again, Stasia. We'll hope SCFS gets tired of you and leaves you alone!!!

>91 alcottacre: I've liked all of the Mary Doria Russell books I've read including Doc which was a bit of a surprise because I'm not really into "westerns".

Happy Saturday, Stasia. Hooray for Doc. I could not agree with you more on that one. MDR Rocks! Too bad she retired.

Big day for us. Pre-wedding party this afternoon. Cubs/Brewers game tonight. We know the first part will be wonderful. Lets hope the second part is just as celebratory. 🤞🤞🙏🙏

rare double post...

GO CUBBIES!!

>91 alcottacre: OK, OK, after all the love for this one here, I'm adding it to Mt. TBR. Somehow it had escaped my notice previously. Of course, westerns aren't my usual genre.

>95 LizzieD: I am currently reading (listening to) Epitaph, Peggy. I will let you know if it is worth moving it out of the hoard. I suspect it will be, lol.

Ilan is settling in but has no inclination to let us put the drops into his ears and that is proving problematic.

Yeah, I slept until after 2pm today. Talk about a CFS shortened day!

>96 RebaRelishesReading: I think calling Doc a western is really a stretch, lol. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed it as well, Reba!

>97 msf59: I completely agree about MDR's retirement.

I hope you have a wonderful day all around. Go, Cubbies, go! I have my lucky "Wrigleyville" shirt on today. I hope it brings them luck.

>98 msf59: You said it!

>99 atozgrl: I hope you love Doc as much as I do, Irene!

Well, it has been an odd day. I woke up at 2:12pm, ate some lunch, then sat down and played a 2+ hour game with Kerry. I hope I can get some reading in tonight! I plan on finishing 2 books, both of which I do not have a long way to go, so fingers crossed :)

Finished tonight:

276 - Bookman's Pleasure by Holbrook Jackson - Nonfiction; Another re-read for me, lol. In this book, Jackson sets out to "show what writers of books think of their predecessors, their contemporaries, and themselves." Essentially what the book contains is quotations from noted authors (and their contemporaries) about a wide variety of topics including such things are discussions of their travels, how they view themselves, how they view others, and my personal favorite, "bookmanship." As with any such collection, I enjoyed some of the chapters more than others and the same with the quotes; Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Mine

Regarding The Beggar's Opera, Thomas Carlyle is quoted as saying, "A mere outpouring of bilge-water and oil of Vitriol on the deepest wounds of humanity."

Safe to say that he did not care for it overmuch?

Finished tonight:

277 - The Story of a Heart by Dr. Rachel Clarke - Nonfiction; This book won the 2025 Women's Prize for Nonfiction and I would say deservedly so. The book is absolutely terrific! Dr Clarke takes us through the story (courage, determination, love) of two families: Max's family as they have to watch their son's daily struggle to live, and Keira's family as they make the heart wrenching decision to donate their daughter's organs so that other children might live. Clarke guides us through the donation process from both ends, emphasizing the care and consideration that both patients receive. She also gives us a bit of the history behind transplantation and how it all works. If you can get through this book without a tear in your eye at some point, you are better than I am; Highly Recommended (5 stars) Mine

>103 alcottacre:
I think that more of us need to read books like this so that we understand some of the medical decisions that get made and why they do. If we understood the process better there might be more research and better buyin by the public.

>91 alcottacre: Doc by Mary Doria Russell remains one of my favorite books! All of her books are incredible! I have never recovered from reading The Sparrow!

>103 alcottacre: I just ordered from Audible! Thanks!

>104 benitastrnad: I agree, Benita. Dr. Clarke's discussion of exactly how the transplant procedures - and I mean everything from how a patient gets on the list, to how the organs are delivered - is well worth reading on its own.

>105 Dianekeenoy: I completely agree about The Sparrow, Diane. It is an awesome book!

>106 Dianekeenoy: I hope you enjoy the book when you get a chance to read/listen to it!

>105 Dianekeenoy: "Doc by Mary Doria Russell remains one of my favorite books! All of her books are incredible! I have never recovered from reading The Sparrow!" I concur with all of that, Diane. I am so glad I had a chance to meet her and have a drink with her. Special lady.

Happy Monday, Stasia. Looking forward to a quieter week, after all the bustling pre-party preparations. I hope your week starts off well. 🤞🤞

>109 msf59: Thanks, Mark! I hope your week goes well too!

Finished this afternoon:

278 - Queen Demon by Martha Wells - The second book in Wells' The Rising World series, I thought this book better than the first. Both Mary (bell7) and Susan (quondame) - you can see both of their reviews here: https://www.librarything.com/work/32840660/reviews/297227266. They both thought highly of the book as well. Kai's adventure continues in this book and I continue to stand in admiration of Wells' ability to build a highly believable world inhabited by memorable characters. Start with the first book if you are intrigued by this one!; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

Finished this evening:

279 - Salt Lick by Lulu Allison - This book was on the Women's Prize for Fiction back in 2022 and, much to my chagrin, I cannot for the life of me tell you why. I normally like dystopian tales, and this book set in the near future, is such a book. However, it did not work for me well at all. We have 2 narrators, in multiple timelines, with a Greek chorus of sorts - of cows. Yep, cows. Why? I have absolutely no idea other than there is a farm location where some of the action takes place in the book. The book also had a strange pace for me and, although Allison can certainly write, it seemed like she tried to hard in some places. Not a book for me unfortunately; Not Recommended (3 stars) Mine

Stopping by to say hi, Stasia. You have not hit with me with any BB's this time!

Oh! I really, really need to read Witch King and thought I'd do it this month. I may not make it. I'm glad to see that you liked the sequel so well, Stasia. I'll get to them both, I trust.

I wish you a day of activity and a night of decent sleep!!!!!!!! (Happy time with the daughters!) (And Kerry!) (And Cats!)

>111 alcottacre: Oooh, so glad to see you also enjoyed Queen Demon! I'm going to have to reread when the next book comes out, but it's going to be well worth it to better appreciate the intricacy of the world.

Hope you're having an excellent Tuesday.

>113 vancouverdeb: Well, rats. Maybe next time, Deborah!

>114 LizzieD: I do hope you get to Witch King, Peggy, if not this month then in the near future.

Night of decent sleep - hmm, if you consider going to bed at 7:15pm and not getting up until 9am, I got it. . .

>115 bell7: I liked the first two books so much I am passing them on to my daughter, Beth, who I think will love them.

I had a great meet up with the girls today so yes, an excellent Tuesday! Thanks, Mary.

Finished tonight:

280 - Hope for the Best by Jodi Taylor - The continuing 'will they ever catch Ronan' quest continues in this, the 10th book in Taylor's Chronicles of St. Mary's series and I will admit, I had a great time with this one. It was a roller coaster ride of a book seeing Max as mother, making deals with bad guys, mad as a wet hen when things do not turn out the way she thinks they are going to - and Ronan on the loose again. Great fun!; Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine

I cannot wait to see what Plan for the Worst brings!

>108 msf59: How wonderful that you got a chance to meet her, and have a drink together!!! A dream come true!

>111 alcottacre: One for the 'at some point (after I've read those books of hers currently on the TBR pile)' pile.

>119 humouress: Well, I hope you enjoy the Wells' books that you currently have - and this series as well, Nina!

Finished tonight:

281 - One Goal: A Coach, a Team, and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together by Amy Bass - Nonfiction; This is a book that Joe (jnwelch) recommended to me when Kerry and I were up in Chicago as it was written by a relative of his. It is a very good read - you know, the underdogs make good kind of read, but it is so much more (and I am not going to tell you how it ends, lol). The real story of the team is how much tragedy those players went through, most of them refugees from Somalia, and how the town of Lewiston, Maine, in one of the least integrated states in America, learned to help and work with these immigrants. It was not easy at all for either side as they learned to accept each other's similarities and differences. The same held true for their soccer team despite repeated disappointments and flat out discrimination not only by other players and teams, but often with the referees as well; Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine

>121 alcottacre: You read 282 Books!!!! Amazing!

I agree, 281 books read ! Amazing! I might make it to 75 books this year, and I think that's amazing, for me. :-) I have not managed that in a number of years. I think I am currently reading book 54.

>122 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda. 282 coming up!

>123 vancouverdeb: In the good old days, Deborah, I used to read 500 or so a year, lol. I am certain you can make it to 75!

As promised, 282:

282 - The Magician of Lublin by Isaac Bashevis Singer - The reviews of this book seem somewhat mixed, but I enjoyed this tale of Yasha, the magician of the title, who is also a fire eater and an acrobat of some renown. He is married to Esther, a virtuous Jewish woman although he considers himself an apostate. They both lament that they have no children. Yasha is little better than a sailor in regards to having a woman in every port - due to the traveling nature of his job, he has women just about everywhere. He decides that he really wants to marry one of these women, Emilia, but to do so he has to provide for Esther as well as Halina, Emilia's daughter. He has a plan, but as all men's plans do, this one goes awry; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

"How had he, Yasha, come to be in his present predicament? He most certainly would not have become involved in all these love affairs and other escapades if he had put on a fringed garment and had prayed thrice daily. A religion was like an army - to operate it required discipline. . .The prayer-house was like a barracks; there God's soldiers were mustered."

>117 alcottacre: All those books are such a hoot. I'm amazed and thrilled the world's found her and embraced the Disaster Magnets.

Still got the cold. Going to try to sleep it off.

I need to read some Jodi Taylor and quit hoarding her. Oh dear. Same is true for Wells. Oh dear, oh dear.

So............ Have you started the next Ishmael yet??? You'll read it in a day if you're staying awake. How about Wellington????? I won't finish him this month, doggone it. I don't seem to be able to read more than 10 pp before falling asleep no matter what time I read it - and I really am interested. *sigh*

Take care!

>126 richardderus: Disaster Magnets is a great name for that group!

Sorry about the cold, RD. ((Hugs)) and **smooches**

>127 LizzieD: I understand about the hoarding, Peggy, but you really do need to get to the books!

I packed Ish last night to head to Joplin with me today - in about 15-20 minutes, lol. I have started Wellington and have read a little over 50 pages at this point. I understand all too well about falling asleep while reading, lol.

You take care of yourself too!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/374695

Finished on my Joplin trip and too dadgum tired to review them:

283 - The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery and

284 - Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - Audiobook

Both of these books were re-reads for me (at least 3 times each) and my judgment of them has not changed - 4.5 stars for each

It is my day off technology and probably just as well since I did not wake up until almost noon and I feel like I could go right back to sleep. . .

Finished tonight:

285 - Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell - Audiobook; This follow up book to Russell's excellent Doc is more concerned with the Earps, especially Wyatt, rather than Doc Holliday on which the earlier book was concentrated. There is no doubt in my mind that given Russell's reputation for research, this book gets the fight at the OK Corral as close to the truth as is possible given the contradictory information about it. She fleshes out the characters of all the Earp brothers and their ladies and Doc Holliday is still in the book, just not the main character. The town of Tombstone is a character in the book as well, with its unsavory reputation intact for the most part. Although I enjoyed the book, I did not care for it as much as I did Doc. I thought it too long - a good 200 pages longer than Doc - but maybe that is because there are a lot more characters on which the book is dwelling? As far as the audio version of the book goes, I definitely preferred the narrator of the first book, Mark Bramhall, to the narrator of this one; Recommended (4.25 stars) Hoopla

Happy Monday, Stasia. How did the Joplin trip go? Hooray for reading and loving One Goal. I really enjoyed it too. That is a talented family.

>132 alcottacre: That's more or less how I felt about Epitaph too. Doc was such a treat, I'd re-read it, and have recommended it to many people. Epitaph suffers a little by comparison, but is still a good read.

>132 alcottacre: I do like Ms. Russell's books -- will keep this one in mind

>133 msf59: The Joplin trip was terrific, Mark - with the exception of my CFS, which just would not leave me be. Roni posted pictures of our hauls to the Joplin thread here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/371059

>134 laytonwoman3rd: Epitaph is still a good read and I am not sorry to have finally gotten to it, but Doc is definitely a better read, at least for me. The difference in narrators did not help my read of it out any either.

>135 RebaRelishesReading: If you decide to read Epitaph, Reba, read Doc first! It is only a 2-book series but I think that you would be better served to read them in order.

Finished today:

286 - Tin Man by Sarah Winman - This makes the third of Winman's books that I have read - the others being Still Life, which I really liked, and A Year of Marvellous Ways, which was OK - and I still need to get to When God Was a Rabbit, which I am pretty sure I own and have around here somewhere. Winman has created a wonderful story here about Ellis and Michael, who become friends as children, then become more than friends as teenagers, only to see them drift apart as adults. Ellis wants to be an artist, a career that his father does not want him to aspire to so Ellis does what his father wants and is completely unsatisfied with his working life until he finally after 20 or so years, decides to take his art more seriously. Michael, in the meantime, leaves for London not telling Ellis and his wife, Annie, where he is going, leaving a hole in their lives. It sounds like such a simple story in outline but there is more to it than that, of course. Ellis and Michael tell their own stories in multiple timelines, and this is where the book fails a bit for me - some of the segues between the timelines are a bit rough; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

". . .sometimes I feel as if my veins are leaking, as if my body is overwhelmed, as if I'm drowning from the inside."

>136 alcottacre: I have read Doc Stasia. It's been a few years (maybe several years actually) but I still have a pretty good memory of it. I'm feeling almost overwhelmed by Mt. TBR at the moment though so I won't be thinking about Epitaph yet.

Still Life on the other hand is waiting over there in the stack on the cabinet next to my desk...I'll get to it someday.

Sometimes I am also too tired to review a book and then I just don't mention it, Stasia. I can understand. Glad your trip went well.

Finished today:

287- Half Share by Nathan Lowell - This is the second book in a series that Peggy (LizzieD) recommended to me and I quite enjoyed it. This volume continues to see Ish grow and mature. It touches upon the weighty subject of domestic violence, introducing a character who has run away from it. Old favorite characters are back too and Lowell still has a great sense of humor in his writing- Ish going clothes shopping was a hoot!; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

I now have the next 3 books in the series on their way to me. . .

Finished today:

288 - Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald - Nonfiction; This book of essays by Macdonald sat better with me than H Is for Hawk did. There is a much more general approach in this one and a couple of the essays really hit home with me, which did not happen with the previous book. Mary (bell7) also recently read the book and wrote a lovely review of it here: https://www.librarything.com/work/24120233/reviews/296968809. Note that she enjoyed the book more than I did, lol; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

"All of us have to live our lives most of the time inside the protective structures that we have built; none of us can bear too much reality. We need our books, our craft projects, our dogs and knitting, our movies, gardens and gigs. It's who we are."

>140 alcottacre: Heh Heh Heh! ! !

>142 LizzieD: I figured you would like that, Peggy!

Finished tonight and too tired to write about it (this is the latest I have been up for the past several days, lol). Besides, it is a classic pretty much everyone knows about:

289 - Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne - Audiobook; I got a kick out of learning all about the differences between the screen adaptations and the actual book; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>141 alcottacre: Glad it was a pretty good read for you, Stasia. And very kind of you to shout out my review :) Always fun to have a shared read.

>130 alcottacre: I agree both of those reads are excellent!

Happy rest of the week

>145 bell7: Yes, I love the shared reads, Mary! I try and squeeze in as many as I can each month, lol. I am so glad that you enjoyed the book too.

>146 figsfromthistle: Those two books are firmly planted on my 'Favorites' list, Anita.

I hope you have a happy rest of the week too.

Finished today:

290 - The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman - This is book 5 in the Thursday Murder Club Mystery series. I have enjoyed all of the books for the most part, but book 4 was outstanding for me, so I was really looking forward to reading this installment. I found it a letdown in comparison to the last book, but still a good read. All of the usual suspects are here, of course, although Elizabeth is not quite the Elizabeth that she was. Joyce's daughter, Joanna, takes a more substantial role here as does Ron's grandson, Kendrick, and there is another young character introduced in the person of Tia, who is mentored (!) by Connie. A mysterious code is involved, a missing person, and a murder, don't you know; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

I apologize for my absence lately. I am very much struggling right now. Hopefully the ship will right itself soon. I miss you all.

I wish you a wonderful Wednesday. I am going to bury myself in books again. . .

>148 alcottacre: I'm reading this one right now........... loving Kendrick and Joanna and having Joyce come more into her own. I miss the old Elizabeth, but I think Osman has done a splendid job in dealing with her recovery. Now I have to get back to see what Ron and Connie are up to.

Stasia, my dear, you've lost a day. It's Thursday. I hope yours has gone better than the last week or so.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/374911

>149 alcottacre: I hate that the CFS is hitting so hard again. May it go away ASAP! We'll gladly see you here whenever you feel up to it, but take care of yourself first.

You do what you have to do for Stasia's welfare, good woman. We'll be here whenever you can be here.

>150 LizzieD: I think Osman has done a splendid job in dealing with her recovery I completely agree with that, Peggy. Obviously the events of the previous book are going to have an impact on her (trying to avoid spoilers).

I knew that. Maybe. . .

>151 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver. I am taking part as I can.

>152 atozgrl: I am trying to take care of myself, Irene, but the multiple naps every day are getting to me. Thanks.

>153 laytonwoman3rd: Thank you, Linda!

Finished this afternoon:

291 - Bookworm: A Memoir of Childhood Reading by Lucy Mangan - Nonfiction; I read Mangan's Bookish: How Reading Shapes Our Lives earlier this year on the recommendation of Caroline (Caroline_McElwee) and when I bought that book, I bought this one as well. I am very glad that I did because so much of it resonates to me what I was like as a child. In this book, Mangan not only relates the books she read as a child and why she loved them, but also addresses how they have aged - or not - and how she feels about them these days. She also mentions her son, Alexander, quite a few times and how she hopes he feels about the books when he reads them. She includes a list, Lucy's Bookshelf, about the books she mentions here as well as others that she did not; Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine

Finished tonight:

292 - Cold Earth by Sarah Moss - Wow, talk about a disappointing read for me. This is it. The book is Moss' first and I have read The Fell, which I liked, so I am glad that this is not the first book of hers that I have read because I might not have given her another try. I think she tried to do too much here: we have the story of 6 people who go to Greenland on an archaeological dig (I have no idea why one of them was even allowed on the expedition since she is neither an archaeologist, anthropologist, etc nor a particularly interesting character) with a possible epidemic looming, which they were aware of when they left and their communications with the world are hit-and-miss at best. Why was that not enough of a story? But no, we have to introduce 'woo woo' elements of ghosts, spirits, whatever. Yea, that premise did not work for me at all. What really did work for me is Moss' descriptive capacity; Not recommended (3 stars) Mine

>156 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! Nice review of Cold Earth. I gave it 3.5 stars and in my review I wrote, "There were a few small flaws in this novel, where Moss could have done more to dispel my inner cynic ..." I don't know what I was referring to but it could be those same 'woo woo' elements. I read it back in 2010; I wonder if it would land differently now that we've all been through a pandemic.

Good morning, Stasia. I sure hope you are feeling better. Bummer about Cold Earth. I can say her writing has improved mightily- I loved Ripeness.

>157 lauralkeet: I would be curious to see your thoughts on the book if you ever go back and re-read it, Laura, especially since you would be reading it post-pandemic.

>158 msf59: I enjoyed The Fell as I said, Mark, and it was definitely better for me than Cold Earth was. I already have Ripeness in the BlackHole.

Way behind Stasia, just galloped through.

>149 alcottacre: I hope you are feeling better.

It looks like you have had some good reads at least.

>160 Caroline_McElwee: I do not blame you for galloping through, Caroline. Too many threads, too little time, lol.

Most of my recent reads have been very good. I have been lucky - October has been a great reading month for me despite everything else.

Your CFS letting go, sweetiedarling? At least a little bit? I very much hope so. I'm sending hugs and smooches!

>162 richardderus: No, no, and no. Thanks for the hugs and smooches though, Richard! Right back at you!

Finished tonight:

293 - Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers - This was a re-read for me and I enjoyed it as much the second time around as I did the first. Chambers does a great job with world building and, despite the fact that all of the characters in this book differ from the ones in the first two books and there are multiple narratives from them, we get a wonderful sense of who each of the characters are. The 'spaceborn few' of the title all get their moments in the sun and tell of the world as each of them knows it. This is a great series and I was very glad to see that it won the Hugo Award for Best Series; Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine

Finished tonight (and only because it is an audiobook, lol):

294 - The Master Butcher's Singing Club by Louise Erdrich - Audiobook; This is another re-read for me and it is of my favorite book (thus far) in the Love Medicine series. I am not sure why this book does it for me more than any of the others since none of them are poorly written or anything like that, but this story of Fidelis, a young soldier in WWI when the book begins, and his life just hits home with me. The emotions are real through all of the characters. Though Erdrich normally writes about Native Americans, there is barely a whisper of them in this particular volume. Instead she addresses what it was like to be an immigrant and to build a life in a strange country; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

It is way past my bedtime. . .

It is way past my bedtime. . . NOOOooo!!!! Somebody has stolen Stasia, and I suspect stupid CFS. I'm sorry, friend. I know that it will disappear. I'm with you in hoping for sooner rather than later.

Hope that CFS is behind you soon, Stasia. You have too many games to play and books to read!

Way behind, Stasia, but stopping by to say hi. I hope the CFS is behind you soon.

>165 alcottacre: I agree, Stasia. The Master Butcher's Singing Club was/is my my favorite of that series.

>169 RebaRelishesReading:: I also liked that book. My real life bookclub read it back in 2013 and I still remember it.

>166 LizzieD: Well, I was up early this morning with only 3 hours of sleep under my belt so maybe CFS has finally decided to leave me alone! I took advantage of the extra time in my day and made a Caramel Apple Cake, which was wonderful, lol.

>167 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. You are very right!

>168 vancouverdeb: I appreciate the visit, Deborah. Thanks. I am hoping it is gone for a while, but it has fooled me before.

>169 RebaRelishesReading: >170 benitastrnad: I am glad to hear that you both liked it too!

Finished today:

295 - Arthur Alfonso Schomburg: Black Bibliophile & Collector by Elinor Des Verney Sinnette - Nonfiction; Earlier this year, Linda (Whisper1) reviewed Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library, a children's book about Arthur Schomburg, which I read and to which I gave 4.5 stars. I wanted more though, especially as I have been reading about the Harlem Renaissance this year. This book is a good biography of Schomburg and takes pains to point out the drive he had for black history and the need to preserve it, even when he disagreed with such influential figures as W.E.B. DuBois about that need. Schomburg amassed a huge collection of books and art - estimates are around 10,000 pieces according to the book, although an exact inventory is not available. Considering that he was not a wealthy man, his contributions to African American history are even more outstanding; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

"With considerable justification, Alain LeRoy Locke might be described as the doyen of the Harlem Renaissance. Similarly, Arthur Alfonso Schomburg deserves to be considered the documentor of the movement."

Finished tonight:

296 - Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton - Nonfiction; This month I have read Dr. Rachel Clarke's The Story of a Heart and this book, both of which were on the 2025 Women's Prize short list, which Clarke's book eventually won. I do believe that it is the better book of the two, but that takes nothing away from this book, which I thought was excellent. During the pandemic, Dalton discovers a leveret in her garden and, despite taking precautions to make sure her scent is not on the baby hare, ends up raising the animal. She never tries to domesticate her leveret, a decision that she ends up being happy with as hares really are wild animals. The entire book is her journey from pretty much complete ignorance about hares to her seeing 'her' hare grow up and have leverets of its own - and the impact this simple decision has on her life. She mentions in the last chapter that she 'would not have built the relationships I formed around the hare, with other people and with this patch of land, and felt this unexpected, uncomplicated joy, and learnt not to tamp down the emotions it generates in me.'; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

"If it is possible, as William Blake would have it, 'to see a world in a grain of sand', then perhaps we can see all nature in a hare: its simplicity and intricacy, fragility and glory, transience and beauty."

>173 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, I loved those two books too and would give them top marks, top of the pile, full stars.

>173 alcottacre:
That's a BB.

>174 mdoris: That is wonderful, Mary!

>175 benitastrnad: I hope you enjoy the book once you get a chance to read it, Benita.

I have not yet gotten rid of CFS it appears. In bed around 9:30 last night - which was nice and certainly later than I have been able to stay up recently - and slept until after noon today. *sigh*

Tomorrow being Halloween, Kerry and I are going to play Arkham Horror, a massive game that he has never played before. I normally only ever get to play it with Catey and at most once a year, so I am very excited for this! It takes around 3-4 hours to play so I am just hoping to stay awake, lol.

Finished this afternoon:

297 - The Story of Archaeological Decipherment by Maurice Pope - Nonfiction; While I might wish that this book was broader in scope, what Pope discusses - the decipherment of the Egyptian hieroglyphics (which takes up fully half of the book), cuneiform (especially that of Persia and Babylon, but almost nothing on the Mayans), the Cypriots and Linear B - is interesting and intriguing. I love the charts he puts in the book showing quite literally the development from one person to the next and how slow the increments were as they proceeded. I find this kind of stuff fascinating and had I not already read John Chadwick's The Decipherment of Linear B, I would be sorely tempted to do so now! (hmmm, maybe a re-read?); Recommended (4 stars) Mine

"The primary importance of Coptic for the understanding of ancient Egypt was linguistic. Without it Champollion's decipherment would certainly not have taken place as it did. Indeed it is possible, perhaps probable, that ancient Egyptian would have remained permanently obscure." (emphasis mine, SCD)

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/375051

>179 SilverWolf28: I am in as much as I can be, Silver! Thanks.

Finished this afternoon (my last book for October):

298 - The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths - The third book in the Stephens and Mephisto series, one that I continue to enjoy, sees Edgar and Max taken in at the beginning of the book by a man who knows that a real crime has been committed which may lead to further crimes in future. I was glad to see Emma and Ruby getting some real 'book' (instead of screen) time in this one, although I am getting a bit tired of Emma's mooning over Edgar, which is my main quibble about the book; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

On to November! Hopefully the CFS will completely abandon me at some point. . .

>181 alcottacre: ...and forget where to find you forever after...

>182 richardderus: That would be so nice! Unfortunately, I am off to bed already tonight and it is not even 7:30 yet!

I ran across a book review today that might interest you.

Citizens of the Whole World: Anti-Zionism and the Cultures of the American Jewish Left
Benjamin Balthaser. Verso, $26.95 (320p) ISBN 978-1-80429-137-5

Literature scholar Balthaser (Anti-Imperialist Modernism) charts the complex relationship between Jewish leftist thought and the Zionist movement in this insightful intellectual history. Surveying the 20th-century organizations, intellectuals, and activists who opted for a more diasporic vision of Jewish life than their Zionist counterparts, Balthaser homes in on the 1960s and ’70s emergence of the New Left and the ways in which anti-Zionist thinking overlapped with the New Left’s broader anticolonialist ideology. Along the way, he explores such fascinating tangents as how the era’s thinking was influenced by the 1950s Red Scare and the role that Jewish “red diaper babies” played in the prominent 1960s organization Students for a Democratic Society. Balthaser highlights divisive moments in the history of the American left brought about by conflicting opinions about Zionism, particularly intense debate in the aftermath of the 1967 Six-Day War. Some of the book’s most fascinating segments deal with anti-Zionist “radical Jewish collectives” in New York that clashed with the Zionist, far-right Jewish Defense League over the Vietnam War, among other political flash points. Late in the book, Balthaser shifts into a more literary analysis, weaving in revealing discussions of how Zionism and anti-Zionism play out in books by the likes of Philip Roth, Jess Row, and Joshua Cohen. The result is a powerful showcasing of a long-standing and robust strain of anti-Zionist sentiment in American politics.

And here is another one to maybe add to the Black Hole.

No Neutrals There: U.S. Labor, Zionism, and the Struggle for Palestine
Jeff Schuhrke. Haymarket, $24.95 trade paper (320p) ISBN 979-8-88890-455-8

Historian Schuhrke (Blue Collar Empire) spotlights in this eye-opening account the “more than one hundred–year alliance between US union officialdom and Zionism.” In 1917, American Federation of Labor delegates voted to endorse a measure that encouraged the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, and Schurhke traces how, as U.S. labor power increased in the ’30s and ’40s, the unions’ material support for Israel grew in kind. American labor officials directly lobbied UN diplomats for the creation of a Jewish state in 1947, and millions of dollars of State of Israel Bonds were purchased by U.S. unions, often over the protests of rank and file members. The motivation of union leaders, Schuhrke shows, was a “patriotic” desire to stay in step with U.S. ideological alignment on international issues, from the anti-communism of the Cold War to the war on terror of the 2000s. Schuhrke’s unspooling of American unions’ international machinations is impressive and concise. Equally fascinating are his ironic snapshots of conditions for Palestinian workers during the same period: “Israeli employers were free to violate union contracts and discriminate against Palestinian workers by paying them lower wages,” he notes. The result is a unique and revealing look at one facet of America’s deep relationship with Israel.

I'm awfully sorry that this bout of CFS hasn't gotten out of the way. I do hope that you and Kerry got in a whole episode of Arkham Horror. You know how much I enjoyed our abbreviated play of it with Catey when y'all were here the first time!

Oh those language books call to me! (Do you know that the Geniza Project has completely finished the online entries of the whole of their manuscripts???) Amazing! I can't do them now though. Whew!

Enjoy your weekend!

>184 benitastrnad: >185 benitastrnad: Thank you for those recommendations, Benita. I will have to check my local library to see if they have either of those titles.

>186 LizzieD: We did get in the whole game, Peggy, which we lost, lol. I still love the game though!

No, I did not know about the Geniza Project. That is so cool!

I am going to try and get a new thread up and running before the day is out - even though I am, yes, once again fighting to stay awake (already 2 naps today!) - and even though this one is not anywhere close to 250 posts. I like having a new thread every month :)

>273 It was good wasn't it? I too have read both Dalton and Clarke's books and they are different and wonderful in their own ways - I preferred Dalton's book, slightly, but I can seen why Clarke's book won, given that it is the more "important" of the two.

I have read a bit more non-fiction this year and have been very impressed by the overall quality.

I hope your CFS is on the way out Juana. I have got my energy levels back to normal - I moved into Yasmyne's empty room and the smaller colder space seems to suit me better.