Katie's Reading Retreat - Chapter 9

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For anyone new to my thread, I’m Katie: reader, wine drinker, food appreciator, shenanigan-ator, and non-sufferer of fools. I live outside New York City with my husband, "The" Wayne, our cat, Leonard, and our dog, Nuala/Noodles.

My reading varies widely - I love genre fiction (romance and crime), contemporary and historical fiction, and narrative nonfiction. I try to balance my reading in all these areas. I also use my thread as a bit of a life journal, which mostly means I talk about what I’m cooking, eating, drinking, watching, doing, and avoiding doing.

Thanks for being here!

Currently Reading
(Print) (Audio)

BOOKS COMPLETED

Books Off My Shelf: 57
Books Off My Kindle: 16
Books from Audible/Chirp: 16
Library Loans (print/e-books/audios): 80
Friend Loan:

DECEMBER
169. Sandwich by Catherine Newman (4 stars)
168. Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby (audio) (3.25 stars)
167. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter (4 stars)
166. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells (audio) (3.5 stars)
165. Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan (5 stars)
164. Mischief & Mistletoe by Various Authors (2.5 stars)
163. Walks with Men by Ann Beattie (3.5 stars)
162. Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary (audio) (3.5 stars)
161. Christmas at the Island Hotel by Jenny Colgan (audio) (3 stars)
160. The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill (3.25 stars)
159. E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton (3.5 stars)
158. The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths (3.5 stars)
157. Persuasion by Jane Austen (audio) (4.5 stars)
156. Educated by Tara Westover (3.75 stars)
155. A Painted House by John Grisham (audio) (3 stars)

Did Not Finish (YTD)
12. Two Days in Aragon by Molly Keane/M.J. Farrell
11. The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey
10. Call It Sleep by Henry Roth
09. The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold
08. The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
07. Long Man by Amy Greene
06. The House at the Edge of the World by Julia Rochester
05. The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
04. The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso
03. The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev
02. The Servants' Quarters by Lynn Freed
01. Lazarus Man by Richard Price

QUARTER 1 COMPLETIONS

JANUARY
Favorite(s):

017. The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan (audio) (5 stars)
016. Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell (3.5 stars)
015. Make Russia Great Again by Christopher Buckley (audio) (3.75 stars)
014. Governess Gone Rogue by Laura Lee Guhrke (audio) (4 stars)
013. The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish (3.75 stars)
012. The Last Night at the Ritz by Elizabeth Savage (3.5 stars)
011. Righteous by Joe Ide (audio) (4 stars)
010. A Five Letter Word for Love by Amy James (4.25 stars)
009. When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris (audio) (4 stars)
008. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (3.75 stars)
007. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (4 stars)
006. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch (5 stars)
005. One Crazy Summer by Rita Garcia-Williams (audio) (3.75 stars)
004. Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin (audio) (3.25 stars)
003. The Great Fortune by Olivia Manning (3.75 stars)
002. North to Paradise by Ousman Umar (audio) (3.5 stars)
001. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (4 stars)

FEBRUARY
Favorite:

033. How to Read a Book by Monica Wood (4 stars)
032. Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen (audio) (3.25 stars)
031. First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen (3.75 stars)
030. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (audio) (3.5 stars)
029. D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton (4 stars)
028. Habits of the House by Fay Weldon (audio) (3.25 stars)
027. Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America by Laila Lalami (4.5 stars)
026. Sense & Sensibility by Joanna Trollope (audio) (3.75 stars)
025. Unwrapping Her Perfect Match by Kat Latham (3.5 stars)
024. Raven Black by Ann Cleeves (3.5 stars)
023. The Age of the Strongman by Gideon Rachman (audio) (4.25 stars)
022. The Spoilt City by Olivia Manning (3.75 stars)
021. Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton (audio) (3 stars)
020. Community Board by Tara Conklin (3.5 stars)
019. Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen (audio) (4.25 stars)
018. Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter by Kate Conger and Ryan Mac (4 stars)

MARCH
Favorite:

051. God's Away on Business by Adrian McKinty (audio) (3.75 stars
050. The Marriage Contract by Cathy Maxwell (audio) (3.5 stars)
049. The Odds by Stewart O'Nan (3.5 stars)
048. I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney (4.5 stars)
047. I'm Judging You by Luvvie Ajayi (Audio) (3.5 stars)
046. Henry, Himself by Stewart O'Nan (4.5 stars)
045. Hang On St. Christopher by Adrian McKinty (audio) (4.25 stars)
044. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden (3.25 stars)
043. The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker (audio) (4 stars)
042. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (3.5 stars)
041. Thick: And Other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom (4 stars)
040. Calico Joe by John Grisham (audio) (4 stars)
039. The Murder of the Century by Paul Collins (audio) (3.75 stars)
038. Friends and Heroes by Olivia Manning (3.5 stars)
037. Election by Tom Perrotta (audio) (3.5 stars)
036. The Accomplice by Lisa Lutz (4 stars)
035. We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman (audio) (4.5 stars)
034. River of the Gods by Candice Millard (audio) (4 stars)

QUARTER 2 COMPLETIONS

APRIL
Favorite:

065. The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen (audio) (2.5 stars)
064. The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram (2.75 stars)
063. Oral History by Lee Smith (3 stars)
062. The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang (4 stars)
061. Funny Story by Emily Henry (4.25 stars)
060. Euphoria by Lily King (3.5 stars)
059. Then She Found Me by Elinor Lipman (audio) (3.5 stars)
058. Lord Dashwood Missed Out by Tessa Dare (3.75 stars)
057. Hotel Sarajevo by Jack Kersh (3.5 stars)
056. Nothing Else But Miracles by Kate Albus (audio) (3 stars)
055. All Among the Barley by Melissa Harrison (4.5 stars)
054. The End of Her by Shari LaPena (3.5 stars)
053. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (audio) (5 stars)
052. Foster by Claire Keegan (3.75 stars)

MAY
Favorite:

078. How to Capture a Countess by Karen Hawkins (3 stars)
077. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (audio) (4.5 stars)
076. Taft 2012 by Jason Heller (3.5 stars)
075. The Wandering Falcon by Jamil Ahamd (3.5 stars)
074. White Nights by Ann Cleeves (3.75 stars)
073. Great and Precious Things by Rebecca Yarros (3.75 stars)
072. No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin (4.25 stars)
071. Digging In by Loretta Nyhan (audio) (3.25 stars)
070. Fantasy in Death by JD Robb (3.5 stars)
069. The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (4.25 stars)
068. The Tree of Forgetfulness by Pam Durban (4.5 stars)
067. Phase Six by Jim Shepard (4 stars)
066. Dark Roots by Cate Kennedy (4 stars)

JUNE
Favorite:

088. The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close (audio) (3 stars)
087. Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates (4 stars)
086. Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday (3.75 stars)
085. Faithful by Alice Hoffman (3.25 stars)
084. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (audio) (4.25 stars)
083. Maphead by Ken Jennings (4 stars)
082. All Fours by Miranda July (3.5 stars)
081. A River Town by Thomas Keneally (3.75 stars)
080. The Motel Life by Willy Vlautin (4 stars)
079. The Geographer's Library by Jon Fasman (4.25 stars)

QUARTER 3 COMPLETIONS

JULY
Favorite:

106. The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro (audio) (4 stars)
105. 1989 by Val McDermind (3.25 stars)
104. Dead Happy by Josh Silver (audio) (4 stars)
103. At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider (3.75 stars)
102. The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton (4.5 stars)
101. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome (audio) (3.5 stars)
100. HappyHead by Josh Silver (audio) (4 stars)
099. Little Comfort by Edwin Hill (3.5 stars)
098. Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson (audio) (4 stars)
097. Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson (audio) (5 stars)
096. Stories from the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana (4.25 stars)
095. Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson (4 stars)
094. The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (4.25 stars)
093. Stillwater by Nicole Helget (5 stars)
092. The Old Place by Bobby Finger (audio) (3 stars)
091. Roomies by Christina Lauren (3.75 stars)
090. Murder in an Irish Churchyard by Carlene O'Connor (audio) (3.75 stars)
089. The Rich People Have Gone Away by Regina Porter (4.5 stars)

AUGUST
Favorite:

116. An Accident in August by Laurence Cosse (3 stars)
115. Not That Bad by Roxane Gay (ed.) (4.5 stars)
114. The Punch by Noah Hawley (audio) (4 stars)
113. Crazy in Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop by Annie Darling (3.75 stars)
112. The Rising of the Moon by William Martin (3.25 stars)
111. The Colossus of New York by Colson Whitehead (3.5 stars)
110. Foxash by Kate Worsley (audio) (3.25 stars)
109. Emma by Jane Austen (audio) (4 stars)
108. The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O'Neill (4 stars)
107. Obsession by Karen Robards (2 stars)

SEPTEMBER
Favorite:

130. Seize the Day by Saul Bellow (audio) (2.5 stars)
129. If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery (4 stars)
128. My Murder by Katie Williams (audio) (4.25 stars)
127. The Other Garden by Francis Wyndham (4 stars)
126. The Burning Girl by Claire Messud (audio) (3 stars)
125. The Sojourn by Andrew Krivak (3.5 stars)
124. The Ice House by Minette Walters (3.5 stars)
123. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink (audio) (3.5 stars)
122. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson (audio) (4.5 stars)
121. Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart (4.25 stars)
120. The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers (audio) (4 stars)
119. The Blue Hour by Laura Pritchett (4 stars)
118. Red Bones by Ann Cleeves (audio) (3 stars)
117. New York, Actually by Sarah Morgan (3.5 stars)

QUARTER 4 COMPLETIONS

OCTOBER
Favorite:

143. Lost for Words by Edward St. Aubyn (3 stars)
142. I'll Have What She's Having by Nora Ephron (audio) (3.5 stars)
141. Gone to New York by Ian Frazier (4.25 stars)
140. Hunted by Abir Mukherjee (2.75 stars)
139. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (audio) (3.75 stars)
138. Hotels of North America by Rick Moody (3.5 stars)
137. The Silence in the Garden by William Trevor (4 stars)
136. The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry (audio) (3.5 stars)
135. My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh (audio) (3 stars)
134. One Day by David Nicholls (4 stars)
133. All Together Now by Gill Hornby (audio) (3.5 stars)
132. Criminals by Margot Livesey (3.75 stars)
131. Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb (3.75 stars)

NOVEMBER
Favorite:

154. The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss (3.5 stars)
153. Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane (5 stars)
152. Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis (3.5 stars)
151. Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson (audio) (2.5 stars)
150. Colonel Roosevelt by Edmund Morris (3.75 stars)
149. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (audio) (4 stars) (counted as book off my shelf)
148. Snake by Kate Jennings (3.5 stars)
147. 13, rue Therese by Elena Mauli Shapiro (3 stars)
146. My Losing Season by Pat Conroy (audio) (3.5 stars)
145. The Wishbones by Tom Perrotta (4 stars)
144. A Corpse in the Koryo by James Church (3.5 stars)

My Ratings (revised, once again, as I continue the fruitless search for the perfect scale...)

5 stars = Perfect, for me
4.5 stars = Excellent read
4 stars = Good read
3.5 stars = Not a waste of time
3 stars = Some redeeming qualities, but I wish I’d read something else
2.5 stars = Didn’t work for me
2 stars = Why didn’t I DNF it?

(Anything below 2 stars is unlikely to be finished)

Happy new thread!

I hope I brought enough wine to get you started ;)

Happy Wednesday!

My smaller book club met last night at my house to discuss Rules for Visiting, which we all loved. We had a great conversation about friendship, family, and connection. It was a late night, as we wrapped up around 9:30 or so, but my friend Rebecca stayed to finish her glass of wine and we ended up chatting until well after midnight. I'm a little draggy this morning...

But Christmas shopping calls, so I'll be headed out in a bit. The Wayne and I "adopted" a local family for Christmas, so my goal today is to knock out the gift acquisition for them. I'm almost done with most of our family, other than needing stocking stuffers.

Playing trivia tonight, but it might just be the two of us, as various regular team members have other commitments.

Books!
I DNFed A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman - I read three stories in it, and was pretty bored by all of them, so I said NOPE. I should finish the audio of A Painted House today, and I'm about 100 pages into Educated. I think I am the last person on earth to read it...

>8 figsfromthistle: - Oooh, lovely! Thanks, Anita!

>1 katiekrug: Lovely room decor! New-thread orisons.

Happy new thread, Katie. I LOVE the photo at the top. Is that your house?

Cheers and happy new thread Katie.
Although I have just had a questionnaire from the doctors that wanted to know how much I drank... I did reply with a normal week rather than Christmas!

Happy last (probably) new thread of the year, Katie!

>1 katiekrug: Lovely!

>9 katiekrug: I'm about 100 pages into Educated. I think I am the last person on earth to read it...

No, you aren't, actually. It's been on my tbr list for quite awhile but I just haven't gotten around to reading it.

Happy new one, Katie. Love the way you report on your reading (and what a lot of it there's been this year!!).

Good luck with your shopping, Katie. Julia's birthday is this Saturday so that was Job 1, and I'm just getting started with Christmas.

>11 richardderus: - Thank you, RD x

>12 BLBera: - Hi Beth! Yes, that's our living room. It doesn't get as much use as the family room, where the big tree is, but it's very cozy at Christmastime, and my book club made use of it last night :)

>13 Helenliz: - I usually fib when asked that question ;-)

>14 Storeetllr: - Hi Mary! I was never super interested in reading Educated, but a friend lent me her copy and really wanted me to read it, so here we are. And it turns out I had a Kindle version of it that I'd forgotten about :-P

>15 RebaRelishesReading: - Thanks, Reba!

>16 lauralkeet: - I just got back, Laura, and got a lot done, but now I'm tired, LOL.

>17 katiekrug:, >12 BLBera:. Wow!! I noticed what a beautiful, warm, cozy room it was but thought it was a show house from a magazine.!!

Happy new thread, Katie! Your living room looks so cozy :) We still need to acquire a tree and get decorating around here.

From the end of your last thread -- I now have Rules for Visiting in my Kindle library waiting for a sunny sea day :). Thanks!

Happy new one!!! And your room is gorgeous!! If I am ever nearby, I'll be sure to bring some wine and we can hang out there amidst all your lovely books. : )

Happy New Thread, Katie. I love the seasonal topper. What a perfect setting. I remember really liking Educated but I know it didn't work for everyone.

Happy new one, Katie!

>19 RebaRelishesReading: - If I had let Nuala and Leonard stay in the picture instead of shooing them out, you would have known it was my house :)

>20 curioussquared: - Thanks, Natalie! Wayne took charge of the mantle garland and wreath and putting up the tree (and the tree in the family room), but I did most of the rest. I noticed when we were decorating the big tree that we had a lot of bird ornaments, so I decided to have a bird-themed tree in the living room with the smaller tree. I had to fill in some with red and gold balls, but it turned out nicely.

>21 RebaRelishesReading: - I hope you like it, Reba!

>22 Berly: - I would love that, Kim :) We are very close to NYC, so you never know...

>23 msf59: - It's a compelling read, Mark, but when I'm finished, I plan to do a little digging on the story, as I often find there is a lot in dispute with memoirs like this.

>24 drneutron: - Thanks, Jim!

Happy new thread, Katie! I love your Christmas decorations

Beautiful room Katie. Probably best I can't zoom in on the shelves or I would be here for a while. A-Z or by theme or...?

I still haven't read Educated either.

Does the food bank work change over the holidays? I wondered if there was extra demand.

>26 norabelle414: - Thank you, Nora!

>27 charl08: - Hi Charlotte! The low book cases hold some fiction, which is arranged alphabetically. Those two hold some of the O-Q authors. The built-in is non-fiction, sort of arranged by topic/theme. There is another one on the other side of the fireplace, but TW has claimed it and he doesn't seem to have any sort of system, despite what he says ;-)

I do the same work at the food bank, but the shifts are a bit longer because there is more demand. Demand is up due to the holidays and due to government shenanigans surrounding benefits.

We came in 4th at trivia (of 7, I think). It was just TW and me, and we talked ourselves out of a few correct answers because we are dumb. I sort of enjoyed my nachos but wished I had gotten something else. So not the most fun trivia night ever :)

I am currently hiding in my office as Maribel works her magic. This afternoon, I'll make a grocery run and then try to finish up my current jigsaw puzzle, which I am eager to do because I want to start a Christmas-y one.

Books!
I finished the audio of A Painted House and will start Persuasion, read by Juliet Stevenson, this afternoon. A little over halfway through Educated...

>17 katiekrug: I usually fib when asked that question ;-)
I didn't so much fib as "round down". It was multi choice, and the two options I felt I fell between were drinking 2-3 times a month and 2-3 times a week. Feels there's a bit of a gap there that I fell into.

Happy new thread, Katie. What an inviting room as your topper. I was wondering if it was yours so I'm glad Beth asked the question!

I just finished Persuasion, Katie, maybe my favorite Austen.

>30 Helenliz: - I get that :)

>31 Familyhistorian: - Thanks, Meg!

>32 BLBera: - It's definitely my favorite, Beth.

A belated Happy New Thread, Katie. I love the cozy topper - your reading area ? Lovely!

My goodness, what a lovely space your living room is! I'd love to spend some time there as part of a book club.

>34 vancouverdeb: - Nice to see you, Deborah! I read in there sometimes, stretched out on the sofa :)

>35 ursula: - Thanks, Ursula! It's very cozy, especially around the holidays.

It's fricking freezing here! It was 15F when I woke up and let the dog out. She did not stay out long, LOL. I was planning to go out and do some stocking stuffer shopping, but I might hold off. We'll see...

On Friday, I did my first shift as a server in the dining room of the soup kitchen. I hate to call it that, as it makes it sounds grim and depressing and it's not. We set the tables with colorful cloths and centerpieces, and rather than standing in a line for a cup of soup or whatever, the guests are served multiple courses. Friday it was a flatbread starter, a bowl of soup, meatloaf or frittata, and dessert. It was nice to be able to chat with people while serving, and my fellow volunteers were all really nice, too. I'm serving again on Friday afternoon.

We had a mostly quiet weekend - ran some errands on Saturday and then didn't leave the house at all on Sunday. The Wayne made dinner both nights, which was a treat. Saturday was red beans and rice with andouille sausage (probably one of the best things he's ever made) and Sunday was roast chicken with asparagus and roasted potatoes. His chicken was perfectly done, and between that and the red beans and rice, there is no living with him now ;-) I made dinner last night and felt woefully inadequate, ha!

I have finished shopping for my "adopt-a-family" for Christmas and now just need to wrap some more. I'll be dropping everything off at the Human Services office tomorrow. It was fun shopping for people other than my family, especially the kids. I hope I chose well!

Books!
I owe a couple of reviews and will try to get those done today. I'm currently listening to Persuasion and in print, I'm almost done with The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths. I expect my next read will be some kind of holiday fluff...

The local bar association sponsors families at Christmas here (I think some other organizations do it too), so when I was working our firm did that adopt-a-family thing, and I miss it.

>37 katiekrug: I'm jealous you have a husband who can cook. When I was working I always had a Tuesday night meeting so Hubby made spaghetti for himself, my son and my mom but since I'm retired he has totally lost the desire/ability to cook :(. I've pretty much lost the desire now too so we're deep into the world of take-out and/or almost ready-to-eat food from supermarket.

Your volunteering is inspiring. I'm involved with some efforts but you remind me that I could be doing more.

>37 katiekrug: I think the term we use here is "community kitchen" instead of soup kitchen? I'm not sure if that's regional or what.

If The Wayne is so dang perfect at cooking dinner it seems like he should do it more often ...

>38 laytonwoman3rd: - Most of the towns around me do something similar. I'm sure you could find one to do next year!

>39 RebaRelishesReading: - My enthusiasm for cooking comes and goes, to be honest. TW would cook more if he had the time, I think, as he really enjoys it.

>40 norabelle414: - Community kitchen! Yes. I've seen that before, and it's much nicer terminology.

TW would happily cook more, but he works until at least 7pm and I don't like to eat late :-P Also, since I stopped working, I took on more everyday stuff. When we both worked, we split the duties pretty evenly.

>41 katiekrug: In fact, I think the library does it. That's where I'll start looking next year.

>42 laytonwoman3rd: - Excellent!

#155
A Painted House by John Grisham
Audio (library loan)
3 stars

#156
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
Ebook (mine)
3.75 stars

#157
The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths
Hardcover (library loan)
3.5 stars

#158
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Audio (library loan)
4.5 stars

>45 katiekrug: Too bad about the narration on Educated. I read it ("with my eyes") back in 2018 and quite liked it.

>47 katiekrug: I discovered to my surprise yesterday that I didn't own a copy of Persuasion and have probably never read it! I bought a copy though and will read it soon. Especially since you like it so well. First though, re-read of Northanger Abbey with Laura.

>48 RebaRelishesReading: - My issue with the narration was with A Painted House. I read a Kindle version of Educated :)

Gasp! Never read Persuasion?!? Well, I'm glad it's on your agenda. And then you can follow it up with a viewing of the film version with Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root, which is perfection!

It's almost 50° here, after brutal cold last night...but we're in a gale.

Kinda mitigates the warming-up of the air to be smacked with so much of it all at once. Ah, the sea, the sea....

I'm glad you're enjoying the community kitchen volunteers! It's good to have pleasant co-workers in these places because research shows volunteers make longer-term commitments when they like the company they're keeping.

>48 RebaRelishesReading:, >49 katiekrug: I love Persuasion and have read it twice, mostly recently in 2021. I could be persuaded to read it again ...

>49 katiekrug: Actually I saw a film version a couple of weeks ago and did like it very much. Right now I'm reading Northanger Abbey but perhaps I'll take up Persuasion next (now that I have a copy).

>51 lauralkeet:. Next Laura? Join us Katie?

>50 richardderus: - It was a relatively balmy 40F here today, which was a nice change :) Sorry about your gale...

I'm very much enjoying meeting new people through my volunteer work.

>51 lauralkeet: - "I could be persuaded to read it again ..."

I see what you did there :)

>53 RebaRelishesReading: - Well, no, I don't think I'll join you, as I just finished it, LOL. (>47 katiekrug:...) :)

I don't know if you would have liked the Grisham more in print; I was underwhelmed, but it has been a lot of years since I read it.

Great comments on Educated. I read it very close to The Glass Castle and I had dysfunctional family overload.

Yes! Persuasion is great. And you are right about the film.

>54 katiekrug: I wasn't expecting you to join with Persuasion -- just that I may follow in your footsteps (except I don't think it will be a reread for me)

Checking in on your new-ish thread before I lose track of you again, Katie. Congratulations on passing 75x2!

>47 katiekrug: I mostly listen to audio books to get to sleep, so am not much good at listening to them without feeling drowsy. I was listening to a book podcast recently and the hosts interviewed Juliet S about audiobooks : I'd not realised she did Middlemarch, which I still haven't got through...

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7CXSpW7SDtWHZMsySROH87?si=dPT_anYkQCqcG6VMzAOv2...

>55 BLBera: - I can't imagine reading Educated and The Glass Castle close together! Yikes. My general opinion of humanity is already pretty low...

I might re-watch Persuasion this weekend.

>56 RebaRelishesReading: - Ah, okay. The phrasing threw me off, but I can be sort of pedantic :)

>57 alcottacre: - Thanks, Stasia.

>58 charl08: - Ooh, thanks for the link, Charlotte!

Cold and windy today. I've been out to drop Nuala at day care this morning, and then out again this afternoon for a hair cut and to ship some Christmas presents to Texas. And I'll be going out again in a bit to pick up Nuala. And then TW and I will be going out to dinner. Phew! So much donning and doffing of the coat...

Tomorrow, I am working at the community kitchen's lunch service again and then I plan to do a little shopping for stocking stuffers before coming home. Satureday we are going into the city for a matinee and early dinner afterwards. Sunday will be quiet and spent at home, as TW will be starting his prep for his colonoscopy which is scheduled for Monday morning. I'm pretty sure the play and dinner will be the highlight of his weekend ;-)

And I think that's all I've got as far as an update goes. Oh! We came in first at trivia on Tuesday! There were 11 teams, and we had a couple of extra members on ours, and we won by 16 points, and only dropped 6. Go us.

Books!
I'm reading E is for Evidence and listening to Christmas at the Island Hotel. Nothing taxing...

>59 katiekrug: and I can be somewhat unclear sometimes...:)

First out of 11 at trivia -- well done!

>47 katiekrug: I just started listening to this yesterday and I'm really enjoying it. Stevenson's narration left me a bit cold on Pride and Prejudice, not because there was anything really wrong with it but because it's so familiar to me (both in print and film adaptation) that I had quibbly things about some narration choices. So far no such issues with Persuasion.

Sounds like it has been a lovely mix of things lately and I hope the show today is great!

>61 RebaRelishesReading: - Thanks, Reba!

>62 MickyFine: - P&P is the only Austen I revisited on audio this year that wasn't read by Stevenson, as I had an Audible Original read by Rosamund Pike. I'm not sure why Persuasion didn't quite work for me, as read by JS. But it's still my favorite Austen :)

Woke up to a winter wonderland this morning! 3 or so inches of snow and it's still coming down, though it should stop soon. I don't really have to go anywhere today, though one of us needs to hit the grocery store, as The Wayne has a colonoscopy tomorrow and we need Gatorade. I'm thinking I can talk him into going while I watch the Giants lose this afternoon :)

Yesterday's outing int he city was a mixed bag. It was SantaCon, which is never fun - hordes of roaming drunk people decked out in holiday "finery" filling up sidewalks and being in the way. The play was just okay. Patrick Page was excellent, but no one else really shone. And it was boring in parts. And some bits didn't make sense to me. We didn't hate it, but we were underwhelmed. On the positive side, even with the ridiculous crowds, Christmas is magical in NYC and I love seeing all the decorations. And the trains were on time. And we had some good food and drink...

This coming week is quite busy, compounded by the fact that we leave for Virginia on Saturday. In addition to TW's procedure tomorrow, he has whisky club on Tuesday (they usually meet on weekends, but this is a special one...), I have a dinner and movie date with my friend, Alice, on Wednesday (the local literary festival and independent film organization are doing a special screening of Sense & Sensibility with a talk by the film's editor afterwards in honor of Austen's birthday), Thursday is Maribel day, a shift at the food pantry, and then a holiday party for one of my book clubs. And Friday I'm supposed to have breakfast with a friend, but I might cancel that, depending on how prep goes for heading out of town for a week. Phew!

In streaming, we've gotten back into Taskmaster and are greatly enjoying season 19. The panel of guests is fantastic.

Books!
In print, I'm reading The Woman in the Library and on audio, I'm listening to Christmas at the Island Hotel.

Hope all goes well for TW!

>64 katiekrug: Wow! and I thought I was busy! Sounds like you're having a fun holiday season (well except for TW's procedure). Enjoy (but don't wear yourself out).

Do I remember correctly that you saw Kavalier & Clay at the Met? They've just opened a new block of tickets for February and I'm going to try to go.

>65 vivians: - Thanks, Vivian! He survived and got the 10 year all clear :)

>66 RebaRelishesReading: - Thank you, Reba! It's been/will be busy, but then I have a week of doing not much of anything while at my in-laws, though that will be mentally draining...

>67 vivians: - You remember correctly. This is what I said about it https://www.librarything.com/topic/374311#8972971.

It's worth seeing!

>68 katiekrug: Thanks! I think I'll get tickets. Hope you enjoy the Virginia trip!

>69 vivians: - Hope you enjoy it!

And thanks re: our trip :)

#159
E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton
Paperback (mine)
3.5 stars

I feel dumb posting that as a review, but I like to be consistent in how I post about completed books, but I had nothing much to say about this one :)

#160
The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
Ebook (library loan)
3.25 stars

#161
Christmas at the Island Hotel by Jenny Colgan
Audio (library loan)
3 stars

>72 katiekrug: Seems reasonable to me....

>74 katiekrug: Huh. I also read one of her Christmas novels this year and it also felt a bit scattered. However, I read Close Knit last year, which technically is the last (latest?) in the Mure series and didn't feel lost at all (I wasn't even aware it was part of a series until checking LT) and liked it a lot. I suppose when you write as much as she does, not every book can be a banger.

>75 richardderus: - Thank you for the validation!

>76 MickyFine: - I've liked some of her others better for sure. I probably should not have broken my own rule about reading in order ;-)

Sweet Thursday, Katie. Just checking in. It looks like the books are treating you fine. I enjoy your mini-reviews. I am really enjoying my reread of Kavalier & Clay. I wonder if I would have liked the opera? I have never seen one.

>78 msf59: - Hiya, Mark! I'm glad the re-read of K&C is going well. How could it not, though? Such a great book. I'm not sure I'd recommend it as the first opera you ever see, but hey, if it turns up in Chicago, why not give it a whirl? :D

Checking in on you, Katie! I am sorry your last couple of reads have been disappointing.

I hope you and TW have a happy holiday season!

Hi Katie, I love the picture at the top of this thread. Your living room looks warm and inviting with such a lovely tree. We downsized a couple of years ago to a small tabletop tree which I enjoy for the ease of putting it up and down. I am reading up a storm these days trying to get through a good pile before the year ends. But, of course, I am looking forward to the New Year and the new challenge!

>80 alcottacre: - Thanks, Stasia. I know they can't all be winners, but I'm hoping for an excellent read soon!

>81 DeltaQueen50: - Hi Judy! I've been lurking on your thread - well, both of them, since I already have your 2026 one starred :)

I love the anticipation of a new year of reading. I'm looking forward to New Years week when we'll be back from visiting faily and I'll have quiet time to start setting up my spreadsheets for the new year. #nerdalert

Lovely book club holiday party last night. Lots of good food and drink and conversation.

The weather has taken a weird turn and is nearly 60F and super rainy. I am keeping an eye on the river behind our house...

Today is all about laundry and packing, as we leave tomorrow. Sigh. I don't want to go! Or at least not for a whole week! WAAAAHHHH.....In chatting with some of the women in my book group, they were all shocked that we go for a whole week. I was excited when we were able to trim it to just a week, but I'm thinking next year I really need to put my foot down.

Anyway, I might be on LT more while I'm gone, since I'll need to escape ;-)

Books!
Currently reading a collection of historical romance stories with a holiday theme; Walks with Men by Ann Beattie (almost done with this one); and listening to Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby, who makes me laugh and cringe in equal measure.

>83 katiekrug: A week is a long visit indeed. I'm impressed you've kept your manners on display for so long! I'd've been chuckin' worty dirds around by day four of the first visit.

Hi Katie, I hope you have an uneventful journey (driving? train?) and that the week is better than expected. I would offer to rescue you with a meetup but we'll have family with us all week (yes all week! but that was their choice so I'm going to assume they're all okay with it). We'll have to meet up again someday though, that was fun.

>85 lauralkeet: - Thanks, Laura! We are driving, dog and cat in tow :) I prefer the train, but going for a week means bringing the menagerie... Our meet-up was so much fun! I think it worked that year, because we were there for New Year's instead of Christmas, and your girls had left already. No worries - we'll make it happen again someday.

Safe travels Katie. Enjoy your week with the in-laws. Your book club party sounds like fun.

Hope your week is much pleasanter and quicker than you expect!!. Safe travels and merry Christmas.

Wishing you safe travels and frequent opportunities to step away for some time to yourself.

I hope your trip goes well, Katie! You're welcome to come to trivia in Crystal City on Monday if you don't mind braving I-95 (and having to use an app). I would invite you along to my other plans but they involve multiple birthday parties for a 4yo and I like you too much for that.

>87 BLBera: - Thanks, Beth! The party was good fun.

>88 RebaRelishesReading: - Thank you, Reba! Merry Christmas to you, too!

>89 MickyFine: - Good wishes gratefully accepted, Beth. Thankfully, the house is large enough and laid out in such a way that I can hide when needed :)

>90 norabelle414: - Aw, thanks, Nora! If it was just a little closer, I would totally join you at trivia, even with the app ;-)

It's day two of The Visit, and I'm alive. Annoyed, but alive :)

Not much reading getting done, but I am enjoying spending time with our nephew, who is almost 9 and a really great, interesting, funny kid. Last night, I got to read to him before bed, and he said I did a good job. Awwww....

I'm hoping to get some decent reading time in today. I might go hide in the basement (it's finished so this isn't as sad as it sounds, LOL) and try to get through a chunk.

Hope everyone is having a good start to the week!

Hoping the escape room does the trick. No matter how much you like them, staying with someone else for more than a night is very wearing (or that might just be me being very antisocial!)

>92 katiekrug: I'm glad your trip is going OK and that you found a great kid to hang out with!! Hope you find some reading time (wish I could find some).

Thinking of you Katie and hoping you find the balance of family time and solo time.

>93 Helenliz: What Helen said. I admire your fortitude.

As y'all celebrate, remember:

Thank you, Helen, Reba, Laura, and Charlotte!

>97 richardderus: - That's good, RD, because I stuffed my face with TW's amazing boeuf bourguignon over perfect mashed potatoes last night. It was SO good. Tonight is their family's traditional Christmas Eve dinner of kielbasa, sauerkraut, and rye bread. Christmas dinner will be TW's famous vodka chicken parm, with pasta, garlic bread and caesar salad. A crowd favorite :)

We won't talk about all the snacking also occurring...

Trying to send you a festive holiday image and totally failing :(. Hope you have a lovely holiday filled with lots of TW's wonderful cooking and fun times.

To all my friends who celebrate...

>99 RebaRelishesReading: - It's the thought that counts, Reba. Thank you!

>98 katiekrug: I'm so jealous of your meals, they sound so good, that I'm halfway through a pound of fresh blueberries as a snacky treat.

>98 katiekrug: Sounds like you are getting though the visit…

Sauerkraut on Christmas eve? Interesting….not my first choice though. Enjoy the vodka chicken. Sounds delicious!

By the way, there's a new place to hang out! Come join me... https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/25017/75-Books-Challenge-for-2026

Hope your visit continued to go well and you had an easy trip home. All this snow! We landed in Newark last night and it took me many, many hours to get home (air train, bus to NJ Transit, subway to Times Sq, shuttle to GCT, then Metro North.) Phew! We have about 6 inches here, quite a change from the Belize beach I was on yesterday!

I agree re O'Nan royalties. I read Evensong on the plane - really wonderful to hear about Emily again.

I hope you survived the week long visit and are back home by now, Katie.

ZOMG ONOZ you're not traveling today?!?

>105 vivians: That's wild, Vivian. Our Brooklyn contingent was here for Christmas. We were a bit worried about their return trip yesterday morning (Saturday), but the storm had passed through and/or abated. They made it home without incident and I think there was virtually no snow there.

Looking forward to hearing about your holiday, Katie.

>102 richardderus: - We definitely ate well, RD!

>103 figsfromthistle: - I'm not sure where the kielbasa and sauerkraut tradition came from, though I suspect it's related to TW's German heritage...

>104 drneutron: - Thanks for the heads-up, Jim!

>105 vivians: - Oof, that's a lot, Vivian! I'm glad you made it home safely, though.

And it's great to hear the new O'Nan is a good 'un!

>106 Familyhistorian: - Thanks, Anita :) We got home yesterday afternoon.

>107 richardderus: - It was a surprisingly easy trip back - we made the best time we have in a while. I think a lot of people opted not to travel, but the conditions were fine. We hit a bit of snow in south Jersey, but it wasn't bad.

>108 lauralkeet: - The most important part of my holiday, Laura, is that it is now over, LOL :D

So The Wayne and I got home safe and sound yesterday afternoon. Traffic was surprisingly light (relatively speaking for I-95), and we made excellent time. We immediately got busy shoveling, as there had been about 3" of snow the night before. Some kind soul had done our sidewalk, but we needed to do the front walk/steps and driveway, and the back deck stairs. It didn't take long and then we unloaded the car and just enjoyed a quiet house for a bit. Ordered Indian for dinner and had an early night.

Overall, the visit was fine, but my MIL is increasingly difficult. Not in an overt way, but she's never happy about anything, has very little patience, and likes to sulk a bit. *sigh* But my SIL and BIL and nephew are great, and we managed to have a good time. We played lots of games and drank lots of wine (not the nephew!) and just tried to enjoy our time together.

Christmas was good - I got several book-y things (once I unpack I'll make a list) and three puzzles, plus slippers I wanted (two pairs of them because my MIL doesn't know how an online wish list works....), and some gift cards.

I'm very glad to be home and looking forward to a mostly quiet week. Some members of my larger book club are meeting for dinner tomorrow before seeing "The Housemaid," which we read (and I hated) earlier this year. I'm looking forward to a nice hate-watch :) Tuesday, I'm meeting up with my BFF, though no set plan has been made yet, and Friday, I'm working at the food pantry.

I owe some reviews and should have a couple of more completions before the end of the year. I'll create a thread in the 2026 group but won't be posting much beyond the usual greetings until the new year.

Good to hear you're back in one piece. Sorry about the MiL, but glad you had a good time with the rest of the family.
Please post where you set up home for the next year, it's be good to follow along for another year of reading, food and snark.

>111 Helenliz: - Ask and you shall receive, Helen!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/376847

My Christmas book mini-haul:

A Legacy by Sybille Bedford (can't remember how this ended up on my To Read list, but it's a NYRB edition and sounds excellent)
Kate & Frida by Kim Fay (I loved her earlier novel, Love & Saffron)
Christmas in Blue Dog Valley by Annie England Noblin (The Wayne always puts a holiday-themed book or romance in my stocking)
The Worlds of Jane Austen by Helena Kelly (because Jane Austen, duh)

Other bookish treats received:
A set of Jane Austen playing cards (each card features a different character from her novels and there is a little booklet included, "A Guide to the Characters and Regency Games" so maybe I'll learn to play whist...)
A Macbeth bookmark
Sloth-themed magnetic page markers
One of the puzzles I got is a collage of covers of historical fiction books.
A black canvas tote, printed in gold with "A Well-Read Woman is a Dangerous Creature"

#162
Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
Audio (library loan)
3.5 stars

#163
Walks with Men by Ann Beattie
Paperback (mine)
3.5 stars

#164
Mischief and Mistletoe by Various Authors (anthology)
Ebook (mine)
2.5 stars

#165
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan
Paperback (mine)
5 stars

I read this book every year around Christmas, and it never lets me down. Here is an old review of mine:

#166
Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
Audio (library loan)
3.5 stars

>113 katiekrug: Sounds like your Christmas was good (maybe better than expected?). Glad you got home without too much traffic/weather trouble. Also sounds like some fun gifts came your way. I have started The Worlds of Jane Austen and am liking it (although I haven't finished it yet and am a bit stalled but actually think it will be a nice reference book to just have available). I'm curious about the cards and directions for regency games -- look forward to hearing how that goes. Finally, the tote couldn't be more appropriate or wonderful!!

You led me to read Last Night at the Lobster last year and I enjoyed it. I doubt I'll reread it but I love the idea of you having it as an annual Christmas read.

So, welcome home!

>110 katiekrug: How lucky you were that it was so easy to get home. It's always a relief to get back into your space at last. Hoping for you that the next visit is consensually less extensive.

Plenty cold today, and icy, here...though we never got the really serious snow even Freeport...five miles away!...did.

Glad to see you made it home safely. Is TW back to work this week or do you get some holiday time for just the two of you?

>119 RebaRelishesReading: - The visit was about what I expected, Reba - some fun, more annoyance, and way too long, LOL. But it could have been worse, so I should count it as a win.

Glad you like my gifts - I do too! I don't think I will read The WOrlds of Jane Austen straight through. It should be a good reference, though, and it looks nice on my coffee table :)

>120 richardderus: - I cannot express how lovely it was to just sit in the quiet last night! I think Nuala and Leonard were also appreciative of it.

>121 MickyFine: - Hi Micky! TW is working this week, though he'll knock off early on NYE (or at least says he will...) and has Jan. 1 off. Depending on how his Monday and Tuesday go, I might try to talk him into taking all of NYE off, or taking Friday off.

You survived your week away. The best part about that is getting to really appreciate home even more!

>113 katiekrug: Nice haul, Katie. I, too, got slippers. I also got free snow removal from my SIL and daughter. Since it has been snowing all day today, I think I will benefit from that gift.

It sounds like your Christmas was enjoyable, considering...

>122 katiekrug: exactly my thoughts about The Worlds of Jane Austen. I think it will be a great resource.

>123 Familyhistorian: - That is so true, Meg.

>124 BLBera: - Free snow removal! That's a good gift!

>125 RebaRelishesReading: - :)

A group of 8 from one of my book clubs met for dinner last night and then saw the adaptation of The Housemaid. I didn't think it was possible, but it was worse than the book itself. Just so terrible. But we had a lot of fun!

I was supposed to meet up with my best friend today, but we've tentatively rescheduled, as she is knee deep in grading and writing midterm exams. So today will be quiet, with maybe a quick trip to the grocery store and some baking. I did no pre-Christmas baking, so I'm going to do New Year's baking instead, as I like to gift some to my neighbors. Either of those things can also be done tomorrow, so I'll see what I feel like doing today. The Wayne and I are playing trivia solo tonight.

Books!
I'm on track to finish my current read (Sandwich) and my current audio (Quietly Hostile) by tomorrow, so I can start fresh with the new year.

#167
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
Ebook (library loan)
4 stars

Ha! That sounds kind of fun.
I have to ask, how do you do the review share thing? I can't seem to find it; I can be quite dense...

>129 Helenliz: - You click "Attach Review" (found at the bottom of the message box) and choose the review you want to share. It has to have been posted to the book page.

It is a great gift, Katie, especially since we've already had more snow this year than all last year.

The Carter does sound fun.

Hi Katie! Glad you had a decent Christmas trip despite the difficult MIL and that you and TW made it home in one piece with the menagerie. Sounds like you had a nice bookish haul! I need to get around to Last Night at the Lobster at some point.

>131 BLBera: - Crazy about the snow, Beth. I'm glad you'll have someone to take care of it for you.

Keep the Carter in mind for next December. It's a perfect light read for that time of year :)

>132 curioussquared: - Good to see you, Natalie! You can pencil in The Lobster for next Christmas... just sayin' :)

#168
Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby
Audio (library loan)
3.25 stars

#169
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
Hardcover (mine)
4 stars

And that's a wrap on my reading for 2025! I'll be compiling stats later and a list of my favorites, and then move over permanently to the 2026 group.

Happy New Year!

Happy new year, Katie. Look forward to seeing your stats and following you again in 2026.

>137 RebaRelishesReading: - Thanks, Reba! And same you :)

My favorite end of the year tradition: fill in the prompts using titles of books you read in the past year.

Describe Yourself:
The Woman in the Library

Describe How You Feel:
Lost for Words

Describe Where You Currently Live:
At Home in the World

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
North to Paradise

Your favorite form of transportation is:
Walks with Men

Your favorite food is:
Sandwich

Your favorite time of day is:
The Rising of the Moon

Your best friend is:
The Accomplice

You and your friends are:
Great and Precious Things

What the weather is like:
The Ice House

You fear:
My Murder

What is the state of the world?
When You Are Engulfed in Flames

What is the best advice you have to give:
How to Read a Book

Thought for the Day:
We All Want Impossible Things

What is life for you:
Not That Bad

How would you like to die:
Dead Happy

Your soul’s present condition:
Quietly Hostile

What was 2025 like for you:
No Ordinary Time

What do you want from 2026:
My Year of Rest and Relaxation

December in Review
(Numbers in parentheses are YTD)

Books Read: 15 (169)
(Puzzles Completed: 4 (52))

Mine: 6 (88)
Library: 9 (81)

Male authors: 2 (61)
Female authors: 20 (117)
Non-Binary: 0 (0)

New-to-me authors: 10 (93)
Authors of Color: 2 (24)
US/UK authors: 21 (160)
Other: 1 - Sri Lanka (18 - Australia x3, Canada, France x2, Ghana, Ireland x5, Morocco x2, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka)

Print: 5 (69)
Ebook: 4 (34)
Audio: 6 (66)

General/Popular Fiction: 3 (31)
Literary Fiction: 2 (24)
Historical Fiction: 1 (19)
Romance: 1 (16)
Crime/Thriller: 2 (25)
Juvenile/YA: 1 (9)
Classics: 1 (9)
Speculative: 2 (11)
Nonfiction: 2 (25)

Publication:
New (2024 or 2025): 3 (25)
2020-2023: 3 (33)
2010-2019: 4 (56)
2000-2009: 2 (22)
1980s-90s: 1 (17)
1950s-70s: 1 (6)
1900-1949: 0 (3)
19th c.: 1 (7)

Re-reads: 2 (10)
DNFs: 1 (13)

Best of the month (not counting re-reads): Sandwich, I guess? It wasn't a stellar month...
Worst of the month (not counting DNFs): Mischief and Mistletoe

“Musts” for January:
Happiness for book club #1
All This Could Be Yours for book club #2

And to wrap up the year, here's my list of my top reads of 2025:

Fiction:
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
The Rich People Have Gone Away by Regina Porter
The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan
Henry, Himself by Stewart O'Nan
We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
All Among the Barley by Melissa Harrison
Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson
Stillwater by Nicole Lea Helget
The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
The Tree of Forgetfulness by Pam Durban

Honorable Mention to my re-reads:
Jane Austen's 6 major novels
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan
Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane

Nonfiction:
Conditional Citizens by Laila Lalami
The Age of the Strongman by Gideon Rachman
Not That Bad ed. by Roxane Gay

Hi Katie!

Happiest of (the rest of the) holidays, and all the best for you in 2026.

>142 karenmarie: - Thanks, Karen!

My 2026 thread is here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/376847#

I like the summaries and categorization of books read during the past year -- well done! Nice idea that I should incorporate...next year.