Lori (thornton37814) reads in 2026

Image: Pandemic by Long Dog Samplers, progress to 31 Dec 2025, 15 of 20 pages completed; stitched with Anchor 102 on 40 count antique white linen

Hi! I'm Lori Thornton, an academic librarian who loves cats. In my spare time, I read or listen to books and cross-stitch. I also accept an occasional genealogy client or make presentations to societies and conferences on genealogical topics, so genealogy is "work" for me also.

I have 3 cats who might decide they want to appear on my thread from time to time. Here is a photo of them taken in December 2025.


Front to back: Barney, Mr. B, and Sherlock. As Carrie (cbl_tn) will tell you, they like to line up in alphabetical order.

This year I want to read what I want to read. I suspect there will be a mixture of mystery and historical fiction (my two favorite genres) with some literary fiction, Amish fiction, and miscellaneous fiction interspersed. There will probably be religious titles, history, social history, travel, cooking, biography, needlework, and anything else that strikes my fancy as far as nonfiction goes.

I also participate in the category challenge, but this year, my categories are the month something was finished, so I don't need to cross-post those here.

I'll try to get to the year-end memes tomorrow and figure out what my top reads of 2025 were.

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

Look forward to keeping up with you in 2026, I hope I am not jumping in too soon, Lori. xx

No. I'll just post stuff as the number comes up! I'm pretty disorganized this year! LOL

Wow, loving that sampler!! I'm currently working on a knitting project (baby blanket for a colleague's infant daughter) but when that's finished I'm definitely going to take a look at the Long Dog offerings. Though I'm also pondering a quilt project. In my "free time", lol.

Sir Fergus and Minka send respectful greetings to your resident felines. I wish they could co-exist as amiably as your "overlords" do, but nope. It seems as if I'm going to try to add a rescue kitten from my Mexico trip to the menage by February, which will make things better or worse. Paws crossed!

Happy New Year, Lori and happy reading - I'm also disorganized when it comes to my reading plans for the coming year. I always have some vague plan that seldom materializes - other than it will be a lot of old classics and theology - and often the odd new novel for the book club. Might post some thoughts on it soon.

I will add greetings from my Mallory, Chalfont, and Ilan to add to Sir Fergus' and Minka's, Lori.

Happy New Year! Glad to see you back for yet another year and I hope your reading in 2026 is just as you want it to be.

Happy new year, Lori. Just dropping my star.

Happy New Year, Lori!
Your sampler is amazing. Such intricate work!
Your kitties are adorable too.

Happy New Year, Lori!
Your cross-stich looks great. Why is it called "Pandemic", though?...

Happy New Year, Lori. That sampler is amazing. I have been thinking I need to get back to needlework.

>4 Chatterbox: Long Dog Samplers does offer smaller projects. I started this one with a local group 2 years ago. The retirees are done. I am making more progress than the other two although one is a little ahead of me so it's probably going to be a draw as to which of us finishes first. Cats can be funny about other cats. They are very territorial. One of my cats goes ballistic when the neighbor's cat comes to visit at the French doors on the patio.

>5 ctpress: I plan to read what I want to read when I want to read as much as possible. I do have some book clubs that might drive a few choices at times, but since this month's is an Agatha Christie biography, I think I'll enjoy it!

>6 alcottacre: Greetings from Sherlock, Barney, and Mr. B to your fur babies.

>7 sirfurboy: Thanks for stopping in. I'm still in the process of visiting threads and haven't managed to visit many yet. I'll get there during breaks today.

>8 Carmenere: Thanks! I'm really enjoying that stitch a lot more than I thought I would. It just makes me relax.

>9 zuzaer: Apparently the designer released the chart as a Freebie during the COVID-19 Pandemic and many people got it free back then. I didn't get it then, so I paid for mine. Our local stitching group decided to tackle it in 2024 so I've been stitching on it 2 years. I called it a 5-year project then, but it will probably be finished next summer, so I guess I doubled the estimated time.

>10 BLBera: If you need some inspiration to get you going, try FlossTube, which is YouTube for cross stitch. You'll find a variety of stitchers there, depending on what kinds of things you like to do. I always enjoy Helen D. who has some great finishing tutorials and keeps hers fairly short. Tara Sullivan (how you search although she calls her channel Sully Stitches) also has become a favorite. I also enjoy Two Needles Pulling Thread which are a couple of Maine stitchers who are sisters-in-law. There are some by shop owners (such as Welcome Stitchery) and some by designers (such as Nicola Parkman). You'll find all kinds of eye candy just waiting for you!

Here's the annual meme most people do. I'll try to do the dinner party one next.

Describe yourself: Botched Butterscotch

Describe how you feel: Out of Circulation

Describe where you currently live: Kittybunkport

Your favorite time of day is: The Blue Hour

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: National Parks A to Z

Your favorite form of transportation: A Pair of Wings

Your best friend is: The Impostor Heiress

You and your friends are: The Secret Guests

Describe your job: The Peacemaker

What are you eating: Who Moved My Goat Cheese?

What’s the weather like: The Rising Tide

You fear: The Grey Wolf

What is the best advice you have to give: We'll Prescribe You a Cat

Thought for the day: Don't Invite a Bear Inside for Hanukkah

How you would like to die: Death by Chocolate Snickerdoodle

Your soul’s present condition: Deepening Your Prayer Life

What is life for you: A Curious Incident

Did you have guests during the holidays, Answer the questions with titles of books you read in 2025

What would you call the event? Cat Trick

How did they find their way? The Crow's Call

How did they know they'd arrived? Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop

Any special activities? Baseball Saved Us

Did your guests stay over? Happily Ever After

Were there servants to help? The Boardinghouse Women

Was there turn down service? The Nature of Rest

How were the guests greeted? Followed by the Lark

Was dinner held for late comers? Penne Dreadful

And dinner was? Cooking from China's Fujian Province

Afterward? Aftermath

>13 thornton37814: Thanks for the recommendations.

Top Books of 2025:

1. The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman (5 stars)
2. Deepening Your Prayer Life by Charles F. Stanley (5 stars)
3. The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves (4.5 stars)
4. We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida (4 stars)
5. Murder at Kensington Palace by Andrea Penrose (4 stars)
6. A Brief History of the World in 47 Borders by Jonn Elledge (4 stars)
7. Simon's Cat vs. the World by Simon Tofield (4 stars)
8. Always Italy by Frances Mayes with Ondine Cohane (4 stars)
9. Murder Most Fair by Anna Lee Huber (4 stars)
10. The Cafe with No Name by Robert Seethaler (4 stars)

>16 BLBera: Not a problem! There are hundreds of them out there. I've got others I watch but I don't really know your tastes so you can probably find some on your own. Flosstubers generally shout out other FlossTubes so you can find a lot.

Welcome back, Lori!

Happy New Year, Lori. Love the picture of Barney, Mr. B, and Sherlock. Greetings from Pooh and Punky. I also really enjoyed We'll Prescribe You a Cat and Simon's Cat vs. the World. I was intrigued by your review of The Blue Hour. Looking forward to books you discover in 2026 because you usually introduce me to some I might not have found otherwise. I've put The Blue Hour and The Blackbird Girls on my TBR list. Have you read An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo; The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict; or The Restaurant of Lost Recipes by Hisashi Kashiwai? I enjoyed those this past year. I would attach a picture of Pooh except I don't know how. However, he is my profile picture now.

>19 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>20 mitchma: I have not read any of those you suggested, but I'll see if one of my libraries has them. The Marie Benedict book is on my radar, but I have a love/hate relationship with Benedict's work.

>14 thornton37814: Haven't done the meme yet -- thanks for the reminder!! Your answers were so good this year -- several of them made me laugh:

What are you eating: Who Moved My Goat Cheese?

What is the best advice you have to give: We'll Prescribe You a Cat

Thought for the day: Don't Invite a Bear Inside for Hanukkah

>22 Berly: And the last one was the only one that was a children's book. The cat one was Japanese fiction, and I enjoyed it.

My furry overlords are demanding that I take a petting break, so I'm off to pet cats and finish a book! I'll probably be back to report it in a bit!

All the happy new years!

>24 thornton37814: I am currently visiting friends for the holiday and getting in doggo time. So I don't get to pet my furry overlord right now. Though she has been surprisingly insistent on it during working hours the last couple of weeks. I hope your love break was enjoyed by all.

Happy New Year! & Happy New Thread!

I found you! I'm going to have to use Boardinghouse Women for the same meme prompt. I don't really have anything else that fits!

>25 justchris: I'm sorry you don't get your petting time in at the moment, but I'm sure you'll find that the holidays just go by too quickly! I am not ready to go back on Monday!

>26 SilverWolf28: Thanks!

>27 cbl_tn: It is a really good one to use there! I was trying really hard not to reuse ones from the other meme, but I think I actually did pretty well. I almost used Boardinghouse Women on the other one for something, but I found something I liked better, and it really was the best I had for that category.

Book 1.

Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book

>28 thornton37814: I actually did find a different title to use!

Happy New Year, Lori!

Happy New Year, Lori! I love your sampler.

Hej Lori, wish you a peaceful 2026, filled with time for prayer and possibilities to bring and receive peace

Happy new Year, Lori - may your year be full of happines health and joy - and of course - books.

A joyous new year, Lori! The sampler and the kitties are glorious!

I like to do samplers, Lori. My granddaughter is interested and she likes to do her own thing, so I am hoping we can work on one together.

Happy new year! The sampler is gorgeous. And the kitties know they are the best.

Your answers to the meme are fun! I want to live in Kittybunkport.

Happy New Year and happy new books! What intricate embroidery! What beautiful cats! What fun answers to the memes!

>30 cbl_tn: I'll have to head over to your thread and read your results! I needed to get some stitching in on a couple of things, and the cats wanted attention so I was able to stitch and occasionally pet. All my projects have some of that specialty cat hair fiber!

>31 quondame: Same to you!

>32 vancouverdeb: Thanks!

>33 paulstalder: Thanks! Blessings to you as well.

>34 SirThomas: Of course, it needs to have all those things! Hope yours is great as well!

>35 Dejah_Thoris: Glad you like the cross stitch design and my boys!

>36 BLBera: Perhaps you can. There are so many out there. Of course, you have to watch because some are doing AI designs now, and I understand there are often a lot of problems with AI-generated patterns. I purchase most of mine from known designers, but I occasionally get one from Etsy.

>37 witchyrichy: I thought it sounded like where my boys lived. That was a really cute children's book that I just stumbled across at our local library. Those children's book titles do come in handy for the year-end memes!

>38 foggidawn: Thanks to all three!

Happy new year and thread, Lori.

>42 Kristelh: Thanks!

Happy new year, Lori!

Dropping in to say hello and wish you a great 2026!

>41 thornton37814: I usually make my own designs. I do have some books as well.

Happy New Year! Botched Butterscotch LOL!

>44 bell7: Hope yours is great as well!

>45 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita! Hope your year is outstanding!

>47 AMQS: I thought it was a pretty good answer for that one!

Happy new year, Lori. What a gorgeous sampler up top, not to mention the beautiful photo of your cats on the quilt!

Enjoyed your meme answers, too!

Book 2.

Source: Knox County Public Library Digital Audiobook

I am happy to see another Cork O'Connor fan. The audiobooks are well done, I think.

>53 BLBera: They do seem to be. I would have gotten to this one sooner, but every time I checked it was out until this last time! I've got something on hold that hasn't come in, but I'll have to get a new audio book for the commute on Monday. I'll probably look tomorrow afternoon to see what is in that looks interesting.

Nice to see your boys and your needlework up thread, Lori. I hope your work is less crazy in 2026.

>52 thornton37814: I have a RL person who keeps encouraging me to read this series. Thanks for the reminder.

>52 thornton37814: I read Ordinary Grace by Krueger some years ago and remember liking it a lot. Sounds like another good one from him.

>55 Familyhistorian: I hope it gets off to a better start. I think I'm one of the first who noticed the great network anomaly last year because I open the library which opens before offices do. I knew it was pointless to call IT before 8 am, but I called them and reported that "My computer is possessed" to which they replied, "so is everyone else's." We had to put notices on all the computers in the library so students would not try to log in. They didn't get computer labs re-opened until mid-March. Most of us who had laptops brought our own computers and just used wifi data from our phones. It was not fun!

>56 Dejah_Thoris: I do enjoy the Cork O'Connor series. I hope you do when you give it a try!

>57 ctpress: I think that was a stand-alone. This one is in his Cork O'Connor series. I think the author does a good job of evoking the region in his novels.

>52 thornton37814: Sounds good! I've placed a hold on the first book of the series, but Copper River is the first one available for me to borrow.

>61 justchris: I think there is action in Copper River that you would enjoy better if you had the back story. I'm not saying it won't work, but I'm glad I'd read earlier installments.

3.

Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book

>62 thornton37814: No doubt! But patience isn't really one of my virtues.

>64 justchris: I somehow can relate to that, sigh.

Wish you a good start into this first work week of the year

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

>1 thornton37814: Wow, I'm impressed by your work. I wouldn't have the patience or fine motor skills for that.

>63 thornton37814: Looks like I DNF'd that one, probably for the reasons you mention.

Hi Lori my dear, i have starred you again and i hope to stop by on a more regular basis during the year.

Hi Lori, found your thread. I enjoyed your meme answers--it is very clear from your photos that you live in Kittybunkport--that made me laugh. I've never done the dinner party one--also very funny.

I enjoyed your review of Copper River. I like that series a lot but I only read it when I'm in northern Minnesota in the summer, so it's one book at a time. I'm up to Purgatory Ridge. It's a slow way to work on a series but because of the strong sense of place, it feels right to me to do it that way.

Have a great New Year, Lori! I hope your work will be less crazy this year.

>1 thornton37814: Wow, that sampler is impressive! Very intricate. Have fun finishing it!

>65 paulstalder: Thanks for the good wishes! Today was middling, I can only hope to do better as the week goes on.

>63 thornton37814: Indeed, this guidebook doesn't sound so helpful for people with experience as you point out. I guess that's the challenge--writing something widely applicable often entails watering advice down to broad generalities.

>63 thornton37814: >71 justchris: I am finding this issue more often lately in different parts of my life. I messaged my meditation app to ask for more content directed towards older folks specifically (retiring, caregiving, end of life concerns) as many of their meditations seemed geared towards people with jobs and younger children. They responded kindly, but I suspect their challenge is creating content for a different demographic and life situation. I have thought about offering to consult. Maybe you could update the guidebook with tips geared towards the more seasoned traveler.

I did add your other two books to the TBR list. I could use a new series.

>64 justchris: I'm trying to learn it, but it's a tough one!

>65 paulstalder: So far it's going better than the first week last year!

>66 Ameise1: Hope you also have a great new year. It somehow relaxes me in the evenings. I'm not sure I'll get around to it tonight so I'll have to put in double tomorrow night. I'm going to be on the back end of a webinar tonight, and I'm not sure I can stitch and juggle my responsibilities with it.

>67 foggidawn: Glad I'm not the only one who was less than impressed with it.

>68 johnsimpson: It's always lovely to see you, John! I hope 2026 is treating you well.

>69 AnneDC: I thought Kittybunkport was the perfect--or is that purrfect?--answer on that question. If I spent time in northern Minnesota each year, I'd probably read them there as well.

>70 atozgrl: Thanks! I want less craziness too. I will be happy to finish it, but I'll probably miss it in some ways. Of course, I'll have other large projects that can take its place already in progress.

>71 justchris: I wish the title had been more reflective of its intended audience. I suppose the cover design was, but you can't always judge a book by its cover. I suppose I should have in this instance.

>72 witchyrichy: With Christian devotions, especially those for women (or even adults), it presupposes you are married and have a family--even if they are grown. I think singles, especially older ones, often get overlooked. People don't really know what to do with us.

>14 thornton37814: I love your meme answers but I fail to see how you are Botched Butterscotch :)

>15 thornton37814: I did not do that one but I may have to give it a try. . .

>17 thornton37814: Nice list! I have only read The Blackbird Girls, so I am going to have to hunt the rest of them down.

>29 thornton37814: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the review and recommendation, Lori!

>52 thornton37814: I have only managed to read one of Kruger's books. I really need to get back to them at some point!

I hope you have had a wonderful Wednesday!

>82 alcottacre: Well, I just liked the answer on Botched Butterscotch. ;-) I'll look forward to your dinner party meme. I hope you like Dinner at the Night Library. I've been kind of on a Japanese literature kick lately.

Hi Lori--Just trying to keep up here!!

>52 thornton37814: I'll have to go add Copper River to my WL...Just added my name to the library list! : )

>84 Berly: I enjoy that series. I'm way behind on it though!

I think I'll go read for a bit this evening. I got some stitches in on one of my cross stitch projects. I should have put some in on my blessing sampler because I skipped it yesterday evening too, but I'm so close to finishing one novel. If I hadn't had to go to work this morning, I would have probably stayed up last night to see how it turned out, but another half hour would have made me tired all day. I can still finish that blessing sampler this month! It will just get more stitches over the weekend!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/377584

>87 SilverWolf28: Thanks. I'll be reading an Agatha Christie biography for my book club that meets Sunday evening!

Book 4.

Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book
Challenges: AlphaKIT - E

>81 thornton37814: That is the truth!

And enjoy the rest of your Christie biography - I hope the RL bookclub is a fun one.

Hi Lori, I have starred your thread and looking forward to seeing what you read this year!

>90 Dejah_Thoris: It usually is. I think this one will generate some discussion if we are feeling well enough to really discuss it. I know a couple of people aren't feeling their best. I did make some good progress on it last night. If I can make that kind of progress tonight and get in a couple of good reading sessions tomorrow--one before I go to the choir event and one after--and then finish it off Sunday afternoon, I'll be in good shape. It's doable--and if I don't quite make it, I should be close to a finish.

>91 aktakukac: Thanks, Rachel!

Just wanted to wish you a lovely weekend, Lori

>94 PaulCranswick: Thanks! This was the Saturday we cross stitch at the local library. I'm glad because I didn't have to drive somewhere else to stitch on this rainy Saturday. I have a choir party this evening and will be leaving sometime in the next hour for it. I want to arrive soon enough that I'm not parked too far out from the building (just because I don't like walking around the downtown area after dark at night), but not too early either.

Book 5.
Source: Knox County Public Library Digital Audiobook

Book 6.
Source: Purchased (and will be donated to the university library where I work)

I think I liked that Christie biography a bit more than you, Lori. Good to see your work is starting out better than last year.

>98 Familyhistorian: I think you and Carrie enjoyed it more than the rest. I didn’t dislike it, but I think the chronological approach made less interesting stories bog it down.

>97 thornton37814: Tax details don't often make great reading, Lori, the payment of them is even less enjoyable.

>96 thornton37814: Thanks for the review, Lori - I remember liking The Wednesday Wars a lot, but I guess this is a different sort of thing. Have a nice weekend.

>100 PaulCranswick: Yes. That is a true statement.

>101 ctpress: It did garner a Newbery honor. I don't think it was at a level of some of the older honor books though.

Abandoned Read #1:
Source: Knox County Public Library digital audiobook

>104 thornton37814: Thanks for your review of the book. It sounds like one I will not pursue.

>105 Kristelh: You should probably read Ridgeway Girl's review of it. She read to the end and said that the last chapter unified it. She didn't give away spoilers. It wasn't for me.

>106 thornton37814: the reason why I would choose not to read is the graphic premarital sex. The graphic would stop me even if it wasn’t premarital. I don’t think it is necessary to share details about sex with the reader to get the point across.

>107 Kristelh: I agree. There was a time when that was almost "taboo" unless it was a "bodice ripper" romance which I avoided.

>104 thornton37814: I have that one on the shelves but it is likely to stay there for a goodly while given your lack of enthusiasm for it.

>104 thornton37814: Lori, I couldn't finish that one, either. There are too many books out there to waste time on something you don't love.

>109 PaulCranswick: My friend Kay who used to be in the Category Challenge but now is only in Club Read liked it better than I did. She said the last chapter made it all come together. However, that's a long slog to get to the last chapter!

>110 Dejah_Thoris: I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't make it through it.

Book 7.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library juvenile collection
Challenge: HomeCAT (from Category Challenge group)

Book 8.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library Juvenile Collection
Challenge: CultureKIT (from Category Challenge)

Book 9.
Source: Tennessee Reads digital audiobook
Challenges: MysteryKIT, AlphaKIT - F

Book 10.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library
Challenges: DecadeCAT, ArtsCAT

Book 11.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library
Challenges: DecadesCAT, ArtsCAT, AlphaKIT - F

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378083

>118 SilverWolf28: I suspect I'll be stitching and reading a lot over the weekend. I'm not sure how much, if any, of this storm we'll get as the predicted amounts keep decreasing.

Hi Lori my dear, just thought i would pop by to say hello after my recent medical issue, i have got some of my lost sleep back but still tire easily.

Are you caught up with all the snow and winds that seem to be affecting large parts of America?

Hope all is well and if you have the cold and snow, keep nice and warm dear friend.

Book 12.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library
Challenges: Roads Less Traveled (Americas Off the Beaten Path)

>120 johnsimpson: We did not get what they predicted for us earlier in the week. In fact, almost all of ours has been just plain rain. We had a little snow followed by about 10-15 minutes of sleet at the beginning. Sadly unless something changes overnight, things will be on a normal schedule tomorrow.

Book 13.
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Challenges: AlphaKIT - E

>123 thornton37814: Thanks for this review, Lori. I think this is one I would like.

>124 Kristelh: I think it's a useful book. While I see some of the connections, but not all of them, I still enjoyed the different perspective.

14.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book
Categories: AlphaKIT - E
Note: This is a re-read for me. (I'd forgotten I had read it in 2015 because I failed to delete it from my wish list.) This is my original review.

Book 15.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book
Challenges: NonfictionCAT, RandomKIT

Book 16.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library book
Challenges: AlphaKIT - E & F

Book 17.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library
Challenges: NonfictionCAT

>126 thornton37814: Sounds like a "cute, cozy read"! Went into my wishlist.

>130 zuzaer: I do think I checked it out of a different library the last time I checked it out. I believe it is one we have at the university because it was in the period we purchased all the Caldecotts medals and honor books. I would read them all before they went on the shelf. Sometimes we might be a year or two behind in purchasing them because of budget issues, but we still kept up for the most part.

Glad you didn't get weather as bad as was predicted. We didn't either but surrounding counties did. Mama (Calhoun County) was without any electricity for about 36 hours. Pontotoc, Lafayette, Union and further north in pretty bad shape.

>132 mitchma: I have relatives in Tippah and Tishomingo County that are affected by the TVA main line outage. The one in Tippah has gas heat and a gas stove and a generator. My nephew in Tishomingo has a generator that he's running some stuff off; he also has a small hole in his roof. He's hoping to be able to place a tarp on it soon. My brother in Tishomingo has gas heat. He took his insulin to my nephew's house to refrigerate. He placed a cooler outside with the perishable stuff from the refrigerator (meats, etc.) so far it's cold enough to be working. He has it propped open a bit so cool air gets inside. My brother says it may be a while before they get power restored. They did get it restored to the nursing home where my sister-in-law is head of the dietary department this afternoon. She has been at the nursing home since Friday about 10 p.m. My other brother's widow remarried and lives in Union County. She's probably without. I have a nephew in Benton County who is probably out although my niece that lives in Tippah said she thinks he is on something other than Tippah electric (which does at least cover part of the county). A niece in Lee County has been without. They briefly got it back today, but then it went back out. It will probably come back up before long if they are really working on it. My brother says that as soon as she gets power, he's going to her house to shower.

>133 thornton37814: Wow! Sounds like all your family is in the counties I heard were having such a hard time. I hope they'll have some relief soon. We've been hearing that several power associations have sent help/extra crews. Mama got her electricity back, but a limb had pulled the weatherhead and bent it and there's a main wire dangling just above her roof. I hope they'll get that fixed soon because I'm afraid it's dangerous. Of course, I understand their main priority is getting the electricity back first and then go back to individual problems.

I hope you're doing fine. You stated, that your part is not so much affected by the cold, but still.
You are reading quite a lot.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378251

Hi Lori! Great reading here. I already had Tea With Elephants on my list. I had some hesitation about Disappearing Earth also - subject matter seems too heavy for me just now.

>137 AMQS: It definitely wasn't working for me. I really did like Tea with Elephants though.

Abandoned Book 2.
Source: Kindle

Note: I don't think I'll try to find a 365-day replacement for this as I'd have to make up an entire month. The last day I read from it was January 31. I think I'll use some shorter period devotions or other Christian non-fiction books to fill the gap left by this one in my daily devotional period.

Book 18.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book

Book 19.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book

Book 20.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book

>142 thornton37814: was the misspelling a one-at-a-time occurrence or something that went on throughout the book? If the first, sometimes we see the word and not really see it, especially if it's something very usual. If the second, then yes, it's someone at the editing press' fault.

Book 21.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book

>143 zuzaer: It was the only time it appeared in the book.

>145 thornton37814: then, although it's a shame they missed it, I'd say it was an easy to make mistake.

Book 22.
Source: Carson-Newman University library

>144 thornton37814: I bought that one for my library because of its positive professional reviews. It's cute but I didn't love it. My kindergarten students did, though - it was a hit when I read it aloud. We were working on a lion craft and I paired it with Lion Lessons and the day before I had read Library Lion which is so lovely and Watch Out for the Lion which is hilarious:)

Hi Lori - It looks as though you've been reading plenty, but I'm sorry you're not enjoying all the books more.

Btw, you added From the Farm, To Our Table to my Challenge, #7. Unfortunately, it didn't work for the T spot, because the challenge calls for the first letter of the title word - I don't seem to have made that very clear.

I hope you don't mind, but I moved your book to an S where I had parked a book. Now that I've done it, I feel very presumptuous....

>148 AMQS: I tend to agree with you. Any book with a cat is cute, but that one just wasn't as good as some. I do like Library Lion. I'm not familiar with the other two.

>149 Dejah_Thoris: That's fine. I was going by the fact that I saw some of the others with letters farther into the words.

>151 thornton37814: I guess I'd better go back and take a look. Thanks!

>152 Dejah_Thoris: I was also a bit distracted at the time. There were all sorts of emergency vehicles going to a house that I can see from mine (because I sit up high). They are still there almost 2 hours later. I never saw a fire, but I'm not sure what it is. You would think that there would have been an ambulance leaving if it had been something like that. I know there was a fire in another neighborhood tonight because I saw that on the town's FB group.

Book 23.
Source: My library

>153 thornton37814: I hope everyone is ok!

>155 Dejah_Thoris: Me too. There are at least 4 vehicles with flashing lights--and maybe a 5th one.

>156 thornton37814: Ooh dear. Do keep us informed of your real life drama. Hopefully there are no fatalities but it doesn't sound promising.

>157 PaulCranswick: They were still there when I went to bed. I have no idea how it turned out. No visible signs of a fire anywhere. Must have been emergency personnel, but they sure did stay a long time.

Book 24.
Source: Gifted by Publisher at a Conference

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378417

>160 SilverWolf28: Thanks!

Book 25.
Source: Kindle (Amazon Prime freebie)

Book 26.
Source: Knox County Public Library digital audiobook

If you get a chance, I'd love to see a picture or image of that challenging puzzle that is being done at your library , Lori. I am guessing that next weeks special puzzle will have a Valentines day theme?

Just popping by to say hello, and to wish you a happy rest of the weekend!

>164 vancouverdeb: No, but after the "cat is out of the bag" I'll try to remember to tell everyne about it. I'll see if I can remember to take a photo of the puzzle tomorrow night while I'm working.

>165 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks. I got out of the house today on a weekend for the first time in a month! It was so nice to be out and about. I ran into a little snow as I approached the Tri-Cities area, but it wasn't too bad on the roads where I went.

Book 27.
Source: My Personal Library

Lots of reading going on here, Lori. Did you find out why those emergency vehicles were at the house you could see?

>169 Familyhistorian: I never found out. Never saw anything on the local social media groups. If this had been more "in town," I can guarantee you that someone would have posted what was it. There would have been snarky answers and eventually what happened. I'm not inclined to ask questions like that in the groups.

Book 28.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library

Book 29.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library
Note: This was a re-read, and I'm posting my review from 2024 here rather than writing a new one.

>144 thornton37814: It is so good to see that you are also reading illustrated books!

Well, I am almost 100 posts behind and not even trying to catch up, Lori. I hope all is well there!

>173 Whisper1: I'm trying to meet some of the TIOLI challenges and Category challenges and the only way to hit some is with some illustrated ones. I also want to make it through some of the books I'd like to read that are at our public library.

>174 alcottacre: It's easy to get behind. I feel I'm posting a bit more than I did last year.

Book 30.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library

>175 thornton37814: I'm trying to balance watching the Olympics and reading books for challenges and that I have coming due for Libby - I've definitely overreached!

>178 Dejah_Thoris: I'm always overextended when it comes to books. I have one checked out from where I work that I just keep renewing (because I can). I'm really hoping to read it sometime in the next couple of months.

>179 thornton37814: Oh, I'm the same, at least 10 different books that I should've read a year or so ago. Thankfully, no one wants to borrow them yet.

Habe a wonderful Special Day, Lori!

Book 31.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library
Challenges: AlphaCat - X

>180 zuzaer: I suspect a lot of us are that way at times. I do try to be a bit more timely than I was with that one.

>181 SirThomas: Thanks!

Happy Birthday, Lori!

Oh my goodness - happy birthday!

Belated Happy Birthday Lori! You read 31 books already! Amazing!!

Happy Birthday. :)

Happy birthday! Hope its filled with plenty of laughter and good food :)

Happy Birthday, Lori.

Happy Birthday, Lori!

Have a Happy Birthday, Lori!

Happy Birthday! 🎂

Here's the Valentine's Day readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378586

It's your birthday! I hope you are having a great one!

Happy Belated Birthday, Lori!

>185 ronincats: Thanks!

>186 Dejah_Thoris: Thank you!

>187 Whisper1: Don't be too impressed. Some are children's books! Some of the others are shorter works.

>188 mitchma: Thank you!

>189 figsfromthistle: Thanks! It was filled with normalcy for the most part. My cats really did wish me happy birthday though.

>190 BLBera: Thanks!

>191 Kristelh: Thank you!

>192 quondame: Thanks!

>193 SilverWolf28: Thank you!

>194 SilverWolf28: I am reading and listening!

>195 atozgrl: It was okay, I suppose.

>196 vancouverdeb: Thanks!

>197 Whisper1: Happy Valentine's Day to you too!

Happy belated birthday and Valentine's Day!

I hope your birthday and the weekend have been wonderful, Lori.

>211 Whisper1: Happy Valentine's Day--Belated!

>212 witchyrichy: Thanks!

>213 Dejah_Thoris: I had my stitching group at the library Saturday and then my cats the rest of the time (except for church), so it was good.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378812

I don't know how I managed to miss your birthday, Lori, although I had not been going round the threads too much due to RL issues.

Please accept my very belated best wishes. I have Hani back in Malaysia now to put my life back in smoother running order!

>217 SilverWolf28: Thanks!

>218 PaulCranswick: I'm running behind at the moment too, so I completely understand! I need to try to catch up on reviews this week or weekend!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/379026

Book 32.
Source: Tennessee Reads e-book
Challenges: MysteryKIT

Book 33.
Source: Knox County Public Library digital audiobook

Book 34.
Source: Knox County Public Library ebook
Challenges: NonFiction Challenge--All that Jazz (75 Group)

Book 35.
Source: Carson-Newman University print book
Challenges: ArtsCAT, NonFiction Challenge--All that Jazz (75 group)

>223 thornton37814: I love the Maisie Dobbs series. Overall, it was consistently good.

>226 BLBera: I'm enjoying it more and more. The first book or two didn't really work as well for me as later ones have. I'm glad I decided to give the series a second chance. That's why I'm behind!

Book 36.
Source: Tennessee Reads ebook
Challenges: DecadesCAT, ArtsCAT, 75 Nonfiction Challenge: All That Jazz

>223 thornton37814: >226 BLBera: >227 thornton37814: This is one of the series I want to get back to this year. Thanks to LibraryThing, it looks like I read more than I remember. It looks like there is also a "profile" of Maisie Dobbs that includes interviews with the other characters. I believe Winspear ended the series last year.

Book 37.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library Children's Books
Challenges: AlphaKIT - B; DecadeCAT

Book 38.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library children's book
Challenges: AlphaKIT - B

Book 39.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library children's book
Challenges: AlphaKIT - R

Book 40.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library children's book

Book 41.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library children's book

>179 thornton37814: I'm always overextended when it comes to books. Isn't everyone? I know that I always am.

Sorry I missed your birthday! I hope it was a good one!

>222 thornton37814: One of these days I will get that series read. . .

>223 thornton37814: I am currently making my way through Maisie Dobbs. I got off track when I went back to school and am now doing my best to catch back up again. I am now up to book 11, A Dangerous Place.

>224 thornton37814: I enjoyed that one as well. I am glad to see you did too!

>230 thornton37814: and onward - a bunch of books that I need to add to the BlackHole. Thanks for the reviews and recommendations, Lori!

I hope you are having a marvelous Monday!

>224 thornton37814: Thank you so much for choosing this book for a TIOLI Challenge (and the Nonfiction Challenge) last month - I really enjoyed it!

And what great cat books you've been reading! I need to get my hands on The Cat Who Walked Across France.

I also loved the Maisie Dobbs series, Lori and I never did find out what puzzle you put out for Valentines week. Can you tell me?

>235 alcottacre: Thanks for stopping by! Monday was okay. Our university had some students (and a couple of faculty members and a trustee) on an archaeological dig in Israel when the war broke out. We received news they made it into Egypt yesterday. I think they are currently scheduled to come back Friday unless the travel advisory helps expedite their return.

>236 Dejah_Thoris: I just browsed in our library's catalog to see what books they might have. I always enjoy cat books, so I decided to try those.

>237 vancouverdeb: The puzzle was a photo of our library dean in knickers that one of the university vice presidents purchased for us. Our dean's daughter supplied the photo. It really was a "group effort." It really was for his later February birthday.

Book 42.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen County Public Library Juvenile Fiction
Challenges: HomeCAT--Attic; DecadeCAT - 80s

>241 thornton37814: I read a lot of the Mandie books as a pre-teen, but I don't feel any desire to revisit them as an adult!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/379251

>242 foggidawn: I read it because it fit the HomeCAT "Attic" category for March. I guess I could have read the Nancy Drew one instead, but this one was a little shorter--and it came out after I was an adult. I guess I was in grad school at the time this one came out.

>243 SilverWolf28: Thanks. As I said on the other thread, I did read and listen over the weekend, but I wasn't online much.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/379488

Book 43.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library book
Challenges: HomeCAT--Attic; DecadeCAT - 80s

Book 44.
Source: Knox County Public Library digital audiobook
Challenges:

Book 45.
Source: Tennessee Reads digital audiobook
Challenges:

Book 46.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library book
Challenges: AlphaKIT - V
Note: This was a re-read. The review is mostly from the ARC I read, but I've updated it.

Book 47.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library book
Challenges: ArtsCAT--Let's Go to the Movies

Book 48.
Source: Christmas gift to me
Challenges:

>250 thornton37814: This sounds good. I do love the Brunetti series.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/379749

>253 BLBera: Benita's reading group read that one this month. She and I both felt it was a solid 3 stars. You do get a little more background to her as an author that is useful to have while reading the Brunetti books, although you may have already figured out a lot of what she discusses.

>254 SilverWolf28: Thanks!

I've been away for a while and just wanted to pop in briefly to wish you a wonderful weekend, Lori.

>257 SirThomas: Thanks

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/383150

>259 SilverWolf28: Thanks!

Looks like you have recovered your reading mojo, Lori.

I hope so. I've got several more to report. Hoping I find time to post them later today. Just got done helping host an online conference so I'm taking a little bit of a screen break for the next couple of hours at least.

Book 49.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library book
Challenge: ArtsCAT - Let's Go to the Movies!

Book 50.
Source: Tennessee Reads Digital Audiobook

Book 51.
Source: Carson-Newman University Library book
Challenges: MysteryKIT - Nordic Mysteries, AlphaKIT - R

>265 thornton37814:, I’ve read a couple of books by this author. This sounds like it might fit in with the two I read.

Book 52.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen Public Library print book
Challenges: Nonfiction - Know Little But Want to Know More; 75 Nonfiction - Off the Beaten Path: Religious Sects

Book 53.
Source: Morristown-Hamblen County Public Library print book
Challenges: CultureKIT - Close to Home

Here's the Easter readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/383354

Looks like you have your reading chops back, Lori. You reminded me of the series by Andrea Penrose. I want to get back to those and I don't believe I've read Death at the Sanatorium either.

Hi Lori. You are reading a lot of good books. I'm going to order a copy of Agent Josephine : American beauty, French hero, British spy by Damien Lewis. Thanks for your wonderful review. I've read various books regarding Josephine. She certainly lead a busy, productive life.

>267 thornton37814: I've been wanting to read a book about Jonestown for several years, I remember seeing the photos in Time Magazine - so brightly colored and yet so horrifying. I've been a bit concerned I'd find it too depressing. Maybe a YA version is the answer. Thanks for the review!

>269 SilverWolf28: Thanks!

>270 Familyhistorian: Well, it slowed a bit this weekend as I’ve been running a fever and not feeling up to much of anything. Fever was lower today but I’ve still rested lots.

>272 Dejah_Thoris: I saw it in some library book lists and was excited when the local public library added it. It is pretty dark, but you just keep wondering how so many were taken in by Jones. The book offers some ways through the narrative, but you still wonder.

>271 Whisper1: Hope you enjoy!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/383511

>277 SilverWolf28: Thanks!