Terri continues to rearrange her library in 2026

Happy New Year to this wonderful Pub! 🍻

I hope the New Year finds everyone well and with plenty of books in their TBR pile.

I recently bought two beautiful, hardbound Jane Austen novels: Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. While looking at them yesterday, mulling over which one to start first, it occurred to me that I hadn't come across my copy of Pride and Prejudice in some time - and I was suddenly convinced that I'd lost it in the move.

After scouring three bookcases I finally found it: my battered old paperback with a pink and green cover.

I was so relieved that I sat down and immediately started reading it, chortling by page 3. So this is my official first (re)read of 2026. I'm already halfway through. ❤️ Ha!

>1 terriks: Happy new thread! I have a copy of the first edition of The Penguin Book of English Verse that I feel like that about: it went with me on an Army Reserve training camp in 1980, and I still have it (and even know where it is).

>1 terriks: Happy New Year and Happy New Thread. May all of your 2026 reads be gems, or at least really satisfying!

>2 haydninvienna: Thank you! As long as you know where your copy is, you're good! It sounds like you're old friends. :) Happy New Year!

>3 clamairy: Thank you, Claire! Back atcha. ❤️

>1 terriks: Happy new year and happy new thread! May the rest of your reading be as good as the first.

>1 terriks: Happy New Year and Happy New Thread!

Pride and Prejudice is a great way to start your reading year! 🥰

>5 Karlstar: >7 Alexandra_book_life: Thank you both!

>7 Alexandra_book_life: Agreed, even though it feels like I stumbled into it! lol

>6 Bookmarque: Love it! Thank you! :)

Happy New Year and new thread :)

Belated Happy New Year and Thread!

>9 Narilka: >10 hfglen: Thank you, thank you! :)

A Happy New Year to you both.

Happy new year to you! Rereading Pride and prejudice sounds like a surefire way to get off to a good start!

>12 Sakerfalcon: Thank you, and Happy New Year to you and yours.

I finished Pride and Prejudice last night. I slowed down for the second half. I'm sorry it's over - I love it so much. Whatever shall I do? *back of hand pressed to forehead in best Mrs. Bennet style*

*sigh* I really can't recall when I last read it, but my battered paperback copy from 1989 will be upgraded soonest. It cracked in two places during this read.

I'm starting Northanger Abbey today. This should satisfy my tendency to snuggle down with 19th century literature in the cold winters. If not, I still have Persuasion.

Enjoy your immersion into the world of Austen. She really was brilliant.

>14 clamairy: She shows up everywhere - when you know how to look.

It's astonishing, really.

>1 terriks:
Belated Happy New Year and have a great reading year. You are off to a flying start with Jane Austen.

I see you fell foul of the danger that hits us all while having a quick browse of our books; you were sucked into one of them. :-)

>16 pgmcc: Thank you!

Oh, I can assure you I've been sucked into more than one of them, but that can be our little secret. ;)

>15 terriks: One of my favorite reading moments is realizing, during a reread of my favorite novel, The Perilous Gard, that the author used Jane as one of her guiding hands.

Happy 2026 reading, Terri: You're off to a wonderful start!

>18 libraryperilous: I love it when I come across little tidbits like this! It's fun to feel how nicely we tie together with the writers we like best.

Happy 2026 reading to you, too!

I'm having a lot of fun Northanger Abbey. Little over halfway through. ❤️

I finished Northanger Abbey yesterday, and rather than let it set, I've already written my review. A new trend for 2026, maybe?

>20 terriks:
I love your review. It makes me want to Northanger Abbey again. I enjoyed it a lot when I first read it.

>21 pgmcc: Thank you! :) It's worth a re-read, I believe.

I like to revisit favorites, too - it's a more savory experience, as opposed to the first introduction to the story and characters.

>20 terriks: Your review made me feel that I haven't reread Northanger Abbey as many times as I should have :D

>23 Alexandra_book_life: Hahaha, thank you! I've a feeling I'll be right behind you. :)

I've started reading Crooked House by Agatha Christie. As usual with mysteries, I'm flying through it - too much fun!

I finished Crooked House - this was a fast read for me. I enjoy being brought right into the story without a lot of buildup, and this one fit the bill.

I really enjoy her writing - and I don’t think I've added all my titles by her on LT, I'll have to check that out.

I'm trying to be better about posting reviews this year, so I jumped on this one.

>20 terriks: Great review! So glad you enjoyed this one.

Thank you!

Not knowing how to follow an Agatha Christie mystery, I've picked up my new copy of Equal Rites. My first foray into Discworld, as well as my first Terry Pratchett.

Enjoying it so far.

>28 terriks: Ooh, love The Witches books. You're in for a real treat.

>28 terriks:
Coincidence: My son visited us yesterday. He reported that he had just read Equal Rites and persuaded me to read it.

>30 pgmcc: Ha!

I'm finding it a lighthearted romp so far. Pratchett seems to write with his tongue firmly in cheek.

I finished Equal Rites yesterday! I'm so glad to have been introduced to Terry Pratchett.

Here's my review:

>32 terriks:
I am about thirty pages in and am enjoying it.

I've been slowly working through my most recent stack of purchases from the local bookstore.

Having finished Equal Rites, I am ready for something completely different. I picked up Case Histories by Kate Atkinson last night and am already immersed.

I'm going to try not to gallop through this one, but she has a way of making me reluctant to set her books down. You know, for sleep and whatnot.

>34 terriks: I have been hearing of Kate Atkinson lately, and am interested in diving in - would you recommend starting with this book? It looks like it's the start of a series?

>35 Darth-Heather: Hi! Yes, this title is the first in a series that showcases her character Jackson Brodie. @pgmcc is reading the second in the series (and I likely will, too), so you could peek in his thread to get his take, as well.

The only other novel I've read by Kate Atkinson is Life After Life, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. (That one has nothing to do with the Jackson Brodie series.)

You could likely pick up anything and have a grand time. She's a superb writer.

>36 terriks: & >35 Darth-Heather:
I have finished One Good Turn, the second Jackson Brodie novel. I enjoyed it more than the first and had really enjoyed the first. The third one, When Will There Be Good News?, is sitting on my bedside cabinet and will be read soon.

A word of warning:
Her books have a tendency to keep me awake reading until about two a.m.

>32 terriks: Reading Terry Pratchett is always a good idea 😁😉

>32 terriks: I have noticed that almost everything I've ever read of Pratchett's hits a bogged-down stretch in the middle. The only exceptions to this are a few of The Witches books and the Tiffany Aching books. Still love them.

The Jackson Brodie books are a lot of fun. I read Case Histories back in 2007 for my library book club. This was before we even had reading journals in this group. I tried to keep up with the series as each new book was published. They are all good, but some of them are better than others. Enjoy!

>39 clamairy: I'm glad you made mention of Pratchett hitting a bogged-down stretch in other books. It wasn't terribly long in this one, he just seemed to be dragging things out as compared to how the story began. And the end was great!

I'm likely to read all the Jackson Brodie books. Don't think I could hold off!

>38 Alexandra_book_life: The man is hilarious. ;) When he's on, I'm laughing out loud!

I finished Case Histories last night. As I had to do when I finished the other Kate Atkinson book, Life After Life, I'm sitting with it for bit before I write a review.

Kate Atkinson makes me sigh. In a good way.

Per @pgmcc, the next in the Brodie series is One Good Turn, so between Atkinson and Pratchett and Austen, I find myself suddenly cobbling together my next bookstore run.

>42 terriks:
Our work here is done.

>43 pgmcc: Au contraire, mon ami - I'd say your work is just beginning! ;)

I'm trying to do a better job keeping up with reviews. I posted one for Case Histories today.

>45 terriks: Good review. There are so many fans of her books here, I will try to get to one this year.

I'm starting Pied Piper by Nevil Shute tonight. When I was growing up, I could always find some kind of Nevil Shute in the big family bookcase, but I only read On the Beach at the time and found it very depressing, even tedious.

I read it again at some point and my opinion was improved, and now it's among the small group missing books that seems to have vanished over time (and three cross-country moves).

I also read A Town Like Alice a couple of years ago, which was good enough for me to try another.

I'm interested in starting this one, because it's a title I recognize as being around the house growing up but never reached for it.

>45 terriks:
Great review. I am glad you enjoyed the book. As you know I think the second Jackson Brodie is even better.

>46 Karlstar: Thank you! You're in for a treat; once you've read something by her, you'll very likely be ready for more. :)

>48 pgmcc: Yes, you are teasing me relentlessly to move onward. If I can't find the next one at my local bookstore, I'll have to go online. I'd like to take these in order, just for fun. :)

>45 terriks: Great review. I have only the barest memory of this one.

>47 terriks: I read On the Beach not that long ago*. I was on a apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic kick. I really enjoyed his writing style. I planned to read A Town Like Alice but never got to it.

*Within the last decade, I think...

>45 terriks: Great review 😊

Note to self: read more Atkinson. One book is hardly enough.

>50 clamairy: Thank you!

Yes, he's easy to read, and clearly knows his stuff. The books I've read have all had WWII in the background, in various parts of the world.

He's an Englishman who moved to Australia, where a lot of the action plays out in A Town Like Alice. A fine read.

>51 Alexandra_book_life: Thank you! I agree with you - I have several more to go and am happy about it.

I finished Pied Piper yesterday. (It sure was better than the Superbowl.)

I tore through this one; found it hard to put down! I'm not waiting to get my review done, I'm determined not to get behind.

>53 terriks:
I like your review. You have piqued my interest with this one.

>53 terriks: My parents were fans of Shute, and had several of his books, but the only one I read (and still have) was his autobiography, Slide Rule.

>53 terriks: I remember liking this one, too. I’ve got a few of his early books in my TBR that I haven’t read yet.

>54 pgmcc: I think you'd have a great time with it - especially with your knowledge of France.

>55 haydninvienna: Mine were, too - several of his books were in the bookcase. I didn't know about his autobiography, though - it's probably fascinating!

>56 ludmillalotaria: Oh, I hope to see your reviews on the ones in your TBR stack!

He seems to be one of those writers who was extremely popular during this era, WWII and certainly post-WWII when most of his stuff came out. That's my parents' era.

>57 terriks: There's quite a bit about his time as an aircraft designer in there, including a weird incident when his company sold an aircraft to a Hungarian businessman. It was suspected that the aircraft was to be passed on to the resistance forces in Ethiopia (this was in the mid 1930s when Ethiopia was an Italian colony and the Italian forces were trying to suppress a local insurgency, and the League of Nations had imposed an arms embargo). The price of the aircraft was £6,000, and the businessman paid it with six one-thousand-pound Bank of England notes. None of Shute and his colleagues had ever seen such a thing, and neither had the cashier at the local bank, but the notes proved to be perfectly good.

>58 haydninvienna:
Does it mention his father being the Postmaster for the Irish Post Office and having to evacuate his family from the GPO during the Easter Rising and stay at the Hibernian Hotel?

>58 haydninvienna: A fascinating incident, indeed!

>59 pgmcc: Wait, what? Nevil Shute's father worked as the Postmaster for the Irish P.O.?

Pause..... okay, I just looked it up. What a tale!

I finally got out and about to my local bookstore a couple of days ago. I was really looking for the second Jackson Brodie book, One Good Turn, by my latest thrill, Kate Atkinson - but no dice. I'm not especially surprised; they seem to carry standalone books by authors rather than dedicate shelf space for series, especially one that's been out for awhile.

Anyway - the little haul:



I wanted to get a lovely hardcover for Pride and Prejudice, since my recent read from my battered old pink paperback is now in danger of losing pages. I also could not find my ancient copy of Sense and Sensibility in any of the three bookcases - so I have to assume lost in transition. It's been years. So - now a pretty hardcover! (throws up tiny cheer for pretty books)

I kind of forgot that the 7th book of the Old Man's War series by John Scalzi has been out since last September, and I made sure to catch up on the series over the summer. Loser me!! So, it's here, too, The Shattering Peace, and in fact I started it last night. Scalzi is such fun, and this one is one of those thinky/techie ones in the midst of the new crisis.

My quest for the next in the Atkinson's series will take me online, where I'll likely grab the third one, too - because why not?

In between are various other BBs and random grabs.

That is a wonderful set of purchases. Three I have read and can recommend wholeheartedly. I have never read a Scalzi to the end. I started one but got distracted. Sense and Sensibility it one I must read having greatly enjoyed Pride and Prejudice. I hope you can handle The Truth. :-)

They are nice editions you have picked up.

>61 terriks: I like this haul, I like it a lot 🥰

The Austen hardcovers are lovely. When I reread Pride and Prejudice last year, I discovered that I only had the e-book, the very very battered paperback was nowhere to be found. So I indulged myself and got a hardcover.

>62 pgmcc: Thank you! I had fun prowling the store (though it's decidedly not as beautiful as the site of your recent booksale!). ;)

>63 Alexandra_book_life: You're after my own heart! When I know I'm going to reread something I will indulge in a good hardcover. ❤️

I have a smallish bookcase stuffed with my battered old paperbacks! I love them, but I’m also afraid that the next time I visit one it will more of the same.

>61 terriks: Very nice haul! I especially love the covers on the Jane Austen books. I've read five of those and they were all great!

>53 terriks: Great write-up, that one sounds very interesting, I will try to remember to put it on the TBR pile.

>61 terriks: Very nice set of books. I kind of forgot about the Scalzi too, have to get to that one soon.

>65 clamairy: Thank you! It's interesting to reread Austen - my appreciation grows! I'll likely end up with beautiful hardcover copies of them all.

>66 Karlstar: Thanks, I think you're going to like Nevil Shute! Just heed my warning - if there's an ebook you might be all right, but avoid the paperback edition with this cover. An editor was badly needed!

I'm having a blast with The Shattering Peace! I'm very fond of the Old Man's War series.

When the Moon Hits Your Eye happened to be right there on the shelf, so I grabbed it, too.

For a Scalzi fan, I've gotten behind lately!

I finished The Shattering Peace a day or two ago, and let it sit before getting to the review.

A fun book!

>68 terriks: Great review, I need to read that one soon!

>69 Karlstar: Thank you! It was a fun one.

I'm saving When the Moon Hits Your Eye for now - another recent one that I forgot about.

>68 terriks: Great review. I can't believe there are seven books in this series now! I have so much catching up to do. (I have read the first one, and listened to the second one so far.)

>71 clamairy: Thank you!

Yes, seven books! I only read the first three over the summer, figuring that would be enough of a refresher for this one. Worked just fine.

Have fun with it! He does add new characters and species along the way, but continues to tie them all together. Good series. :)

Barnes and Noble delivered books 2 and 3 of the Kate Atkinson Jackson Brodie series yesterday.

Also found a beautiful - beautiful! - hardcover copy of Emma by Jane Austen - what can I say, it's a delight with a ribbon bookmark. I'm thrilled with it, especially since this is one I haven't read yet.

I started And Then There Were None a few days ago and will probably finish it tonight. It's been years since I've read this one and, for the life of me, I can't recall who's guilty! Just making me read faster. :)

>73 terriks: isn't just the best when you find a beautiful copy of a book? I have two copies of Rebecca, because both were beautiful hardcovers.

>74 BrokenTune: Agreed! I'm just a suckered for them. It elevates my reading experience.

I finished And Then There Were None a few days ago and just now got around to a review.

Another benefit to fussing about in my bookcases is coming across books that I bought previously, but never read.

Kind of like a TBR list, only neatly filed away.

I've picked up Rules of Civility, by Amor Towles. This was recently mentioned here in the Pub - I think by @Karlstar - and it was fun to figure out what shelf it had landed on.

He writes so well. I'm barely into it, but already charmed.

>76 terriks: Nice review. I read this one maybe 15 years ago, and I also enjoyed it. I had completely forgotten about the awful titles (the second one wasn't quite so bad) until I looked something up while reading it.

Edited to add: LibraryThing tells me I read this in 2008.

>77 terriks: Glad you are enjoying it so far!

>78 clamairy: Thanks! Yes, it's a very good yarn with some unfortunate baggage attached to it.

>79 Karlstar: So it was you! ;) I'm so glad I came across your review - it reminded me to start looking for my copy.

>76 terriks: It's been such a long time since I've read this one! I remember loving it :) Nice review, thank you.

>81 Alexandra_book_life: You're welcome - thanks for reading!

The creep factor caught me off guard, I admit, lol.

I finished Rules of Civility a few days ago, and as usual when I'm really struck by a book it takes me a minute to mull it over.

Great read. I wish Amor Towles would write more regularly than he seems to - I'm a big fan of his writing.

Review attached.

>83 terriks: Great review! I'm glad you enjoyed it. The part about the pronunciation of her last name is a perfect note.

>83 terriks: I'm happy that you enjoyed this. In fact you enjoyed it a lot more than I did. I think I read it too soon after I had read A Gentleman in Moscow and my expectations were through the roof and thus went unmet.

>84 Karlstar: Thanks! It tickled me that it was almost a running theme. Mr. Towles enjoyed his bit of fun with his character and her name. ;)

>85 clamairy: It might have been your review, coupled with a few others, that made me hold back. I bought this book over a year ago and then turned away from it. Lol.

You may enjoy it more if you gave it a reread - no surprises, but you could enjoy his writing and his characters for who/what they are. :)

>I loved Rules of Civility as well. It was my introduction to Amor Towles, so I have a soft spot for it.

I think the author has hinted in old interviews that he might write about Sofia from A Gentleman in Moscow. That could conceivably include some characters from RoC. I hope it happens. I adore both books.

>87 ludmillalotaria: That would be an interesting book! He could certainly pull it off.

I think you were lucky to have read these in their chronological order. Rules of Civility is excellent. A Gentleman in Moscow is kind of excellent +++ lol

I still have The Lincoln Highway to read, which came out in 2021, I think? Now, I'll probably let it sit on the shelf for at least another year.

Testing the new image upload thingy with a quick shot of a quick run to the bookstore.

It works, it works! Beyond thrilled with this upgrade.

The Shakespeare books were in a bargain bin and I'm happy to have them. They include extended introductions to the plays, their histories, characters, etc., as well as little glossaries. My enjoyment of reading the Bard increases when I have these enhancements.

I've never read anything by Edith Wharton and this copy looked too pretty to resist.

And with some trepidation, I may start A God in Ruins next.

I really can't believe this upgrade! It's always been a pain to get an image in here.

Huzzah!

>89 terriks: Looks like a good haul!

>91 Karlstar: Thank you! I walked out happy.

I'm waffling between The Age of Innocence and A God in Ruins - I've been busy the last few days and having a harder time settling in with something.

>89 terriks: Lovely covers! What a great haul.

This new image upload feature is a game changer. There have been so many times I just did not have the energy to cut and paste links and do the minor HTML coding required.

>89 terriks: Congratulations on your haul! It looks wonderful :)

>93 clamairy: Thanks - I was happy to see a lot more Kate Atkinson at the store this time, too.

You mention needing energy to tackle the old cut & paste before getting to the coding - same here! I could never get it to work from my phone, for starters - so had to be on the laptop and make sure I had phone snaps on the laptop before getting to the other stuff. And that's all over with now.

>94 Alexandra_book_life: Thank you! And what is your take on the new image upload feature, may I ask? A few of us are almost giddy. lol

>95 terriks: I am very happy about it! Yay, yay, yay. That html thing was tiring! 😁

>89 terriks: I've found that I love Shakespeare since I switched to Folger Library editions. They have the original text on one page and define turns of phrase on the next. Plus they have a scholarly essay. The essay on Hamlet, for example, teased out the surveillance state aspects.

>96 Alexandra_book_life: On that, we definitely agree. :)

>97 libraryperilous: Those sound like excellent editions! It really does help to have these expanded editions when reading Shakespeare.

It's funny how I never have difficulty watching a live performance or a movie version - the actors know their stuff and conveyance of the language. But reading can be more of a slog when your own brain has to provide the nuance. lol

>98 terriks: Ha, yes. Plays are interesting, because they were written to be performed. But I also enjoy reading them and find I pick up on different nuances than live or filmed performances. But it definitely requires more effort. lol.

>99 libraryperilous: Agreed! I hope to have fun with these little editions! :)

I'm very, very close to the ending of A God In Ruins and I feel like I know what's going to happen - and I don't want it to happen, so I'm dragging my feet. If I don't read it, I can keep a different ending in my mind, right? Kate Atkinson won't let me get away with this tepid protest, though. She immersed me into the London Blitz in a way I had to disentangle myself from, so reading about RAF fighter pilots in 1944...well, no spoilers here because I haven't finished it. Yet.

I'm going to have to switch to something completely different after reading this, I can tell. I am eyeing The Truth and A Case of Mice and Murder, for starters.

Something light, and minty fresh!

>101 terriks: I had the same reaction you did. I will talk to you about it more when you are done. Lining up something light and fluffy is the only way to go.

>76 terriks:. Clearly I'm behind a bit, but like you I re-read And Then There Were None within the past two months and I was actually amazed how unsettling the book was, even when one knows perfectly well how it comes out. One has to give Christie full marks on that particular novel. On one level, it makes absolute sense that we hand it to kids in middle school as a means of getting them to think about the nature of murder and guilt.

>103 jillmwo: Agreed. It earns its reputation as "the world’s best-selling mystery." The fact of just the two of us reacting this way on repeat readings of it help explain its power.

Class discussions on this would be very impactful - I know I would have enjoyed them, if for no other reason than to compare notes on the creep factor.

>102 clamairy: Dear God - she did it again.... what I was bracing myself for a detailed, agonizing account of Teddy's time as German POW, not only didn't occur, but I felt blindsided by how the book actually did end. At the moment, I'm still flailing a bit here.

I'll be sitting with this one for awhile. I can envision myself with its "companion" novel, Life After Life,at my elbow while crawling through this one again. But I won't. Right now just a tip of the hat to the ever-amazing Kate Atkinson.

I'm now extending a shiny penny to you. ;)

>105 terriks: I was gobsmacked. And no I did not see it coming. I had even listened to an interview with her on NPR where she was asked if she felt any guilt for having killed off Teddy. So I was expecting him to be lost early on, and then was increasingly thrilled to find him getting married, having a daughter and even making it into his '90s. And then she ripped the rug out from under me. I will see if I can find the post I made after I finished reading it.

Found it! https://www.librarything.com/topic/367107#8756031 I didn't actually write a review because this was before LT added the ability to embed them in your posts.

>106 clamairy: You were trying to decide if the ending was brilliant or despicable - or both. I'll go with both.

Major spoilers to follow. I'm pondering how the end ties this novel back with Life After Life, when Ursula starts to be aware of what is happening to her and tries to change various outcomes when given another chance. Teddy is part of this line of thinking...but it's been awhile now and it's become a bit fuzzy. But there's a timeline where he does return and they reunite, so this is what I recalled when starting A God In Ruins. Obviously, it's the ultimate setup by Atkinson. It's just not revealed until the end. And here I was, not wanting to be immersed in any POW camp with stories of Teddy being tortured and the deaths of his comrades there. But now I see that she didn't bother fleshing that part out, because it never really happened. She stuck to other aspects of his life "afterwards."

I'm gobsmacked, too. Each novel is excellent on its own. But strung together, they tell a powerful story about this family from WWI through WWII - and how these wars affected them. Her research is most impressive.

>107 terriks: So I will console myself with the idea that this is just one possible timeline. I admired the man Teddy became. It was a brilliant way to show the impact of one life lost needlessly to war. Atkinson was born after WW II ended, but it seems to have had some deep impacts on her nonetheless.

>108 clamairy: Agreed. I think the way Atkinson juxtaposes between two versions of the final moments of Teddy's life at the end of the book is giving the reader a choice. They're equally compelling.

She even assigns the two different scenarios of how Teddy dies to chapters of the same name: we have "The Last Flight: 30 March 1944, The Fall" and "The Last Flight: 2012, Dharma" and gives enough detail to trip the reader's mind. ;)

I've been wondering if she had this book half written by the time she finished Life After Life. She clearly wasn't done with these characters or, as she put it, she had first "...rather grandiosely believed that I could somehow cover the whole (Second World War) in less than half the length of War and Peace."

Part of me wants another one - with Izzy as the main character.

>109 terriks: I do love Izzy! That would be wonderful.

I just finished re-reading Life After Life and will be picking up A God In Ruins soon. Nope, not gonna click any of those spoilers!

That said, a third book featuring Izzy's perspective would immediately make my wish list.

>111 ScoLgo: By all means, evade those spoilers! ;) But I'll be very interested in hearing your take on both novels when you're finished.

Izzy has always been a terrific character. I'd pounce on the chance to read more of her story.

Enjoy your reading! :)

In other news, Spring in my backyard has officially arrived. It has little to do with the tree buds bursting open or the cheerful jonquils next door.

Around here, Spring is official with the arrival of the first duck on my garage roof.

>113 terriks: This is hilarious!

>111 ScoLgo: I'm also looking forward to your review!

>114 clamairy: "A bit gamey". Oh, you meant a review of the book...

>113 terriks: Hilarious! Our first sign of spring is the froggies doing their peeping thing. Love the sound!

>112 terriks: >114 clamairy: Hard to believe it's been 12 years since I first read Life After Life! It is a book that holds up well to a re-visit. I have some other library books I need to finish before returning them so it will be a little while before I get to AGIR, but I want to read it soon now that LAL is relatively fresh in mind.

Side note: This Atkinson book reminds me a bit of Elleander Morning. Have either of you read that one?

>117 ScoLgo: I haven't - or the author, either. But how interesting! Wouldn't be surprised to learn that Kate Atkinson had read it, or knew of it. ;)

I would agree that getting into AGIR while the first one is still fairly fresh is a good idea. You'll be delighted to see everyone again.

>116 catzteach: I wish I had that peeping froggie sound here! It's wonderful.

I do recall noticing when the Mourning doves started to coo again. They're here all winter, but go silent in the snow.

They'd come to the birdbath every evening and huddle together like this (water heater plugged in) and never make a sound.

>117 ScoLgo: Well that looks interesting! I think I have heard of this, but never picked it up.

>119 terriks: I've been hearing peepers! They were a lot louder last week after it rained.

>120 clamairy: This is the first place I've lived in as an adult where I have no peepers! There are all kinds of critters around here, but I've yet to come across little froggies. :(

>121 terriks: I'm surprised! You must be in a dry spot. They are a lot quieter here than I was used to in CT because most of the wetlands are saltwater.

>122 clamairy: It’s actually rather lush in SE Michigan, lakes and ponds and streams - which is why it's puzzling not to see little frogs around. Having geese and ducks around seems to point to plenty of local water. Lots of earthworms, too (I love them!).

I recall finding the little guys hiding under my flower pots in Georgia, where it was hotter and often in drought conditions. Maybe it made them easier to find since they were driven to the water.

I'll continue to be aware. Almost 4 years here and no sightings.

>123 terriks: Maybe the predators are more viscous where you are? My peepers are pretty protected in a water feature.

>124 catzteach: I think that's the likely reason. I have no ground-level water feature where they could hide or We had this Cooper's Hawk visiting quite regularly over the winter:

Just a cell phone snap from the kitchen window. When he was around, the birds and squirrels would scatter. It stands to reason that if he was around in the winter, he's around now and any frogs near my yard have nowhere to hide. Our next-door neighbor had a vernal pool for years until the city made her fill it in - no standing water allowed. If they were ever around, they likely hung out closer to her back yard, but of course those areas dry out naturally - not like the nearby ponds.

Very nice. I get Coopers and Sharp-Shinned hawks in my yard. They are so bold.

The hawk I hear and see the most is the Broad winged...they're really vocal and a pair calls this general area home. We do have peepers and they are up and singing here in northern Wisconsin. The local eagles are making the geese crabby, but that's normal. I've seen one Loon so far and a herd of ducks and swans.

>127 Bookmarque: Canada geese are often crabby. ;) That’s part of their charm - arrogant, too. They really let us know they don't give a crap what we think.

I don't think I've seen a Broad winged hawk around here.

>126 clamairy: Thank you! I'm not sure I'd know a Sharp-Shinned hawk if I saw one.

>125 terriks: I don’t know if we have Cooper’s Hawks here. Lots of red-tailed hawks and other birds of prey, though.

>129 catzteach: I think red-tailed hawks are just about everywhere! I never saw a Cooper's until I moved here to SE Michigan.

With a bit of an aching heart, I am moving forward from A God In Ruins, though I will eventually post a review.

I've been reading bits and pieces of Braiding Sweetgrass, * mostly at night before bed and, while I'm being entertained by these stories, I'm still looking for a more immersive read.

I've picked up A Case of Mice and Murder and will start it tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it!

*I do enjoy this (so far) charming blend of personal stories threaded with the author's keen scientific eye. Who else would attempt to clean up an algea-ridden pond with a rake, only to find herself in a moral dilemma as she discovers she's also swept up tadpoles and almost destroyed the nest of a yellow warbler? It's like that. :)

>131 terriks: Oh, I loved Braiding Sweetgrass! I listened to the audiobook read by the author so I felt like she was weaving her tales for me personally. She's amazing. I think you are going to enjoy A Case of Mice and Murder. It is probably just what you need to heal your aching heart after the Atkinson.

>132 clamairy: I didn't know she'd narrated her book - but I can't say it surprises me. She's quite the overachiever, isn't she? We were just talking about Ursula Vernon, aka T. Kingfisher being one of those multi talented people - Robin Wall Kimmerer is cut from the same cloth, just in different fields.

I did start A Case of Mice and Murder and it's instant love! Feels like a snuggle read, which is exactly what I need right now! :)

>133 terriks:
I am glad A Case of Mice and Murder is striking a chord with you.

>134 pgmcc: Thank you! I’m pretty sure you were the first denizen of the Pub to mention it. 😉

>135 terriks:
I think you may well be correct on that point. :-)

I'm very behind with my review for A God In Ruins, mainly because I'm still not completely over it.

I batted something out just for closure.

>137 terriks: You will never get over it, and I suppose that is the point. Wonderful review.

>138 clamairy: I think you're right about that - and thank you!

On the positive side, I've finished A Case of Mice and Murder and am very, very happy. Review is coming.

>137 terriks: Lovely review!
Yes, I will read it too... As soon as I am ready ;)

>140 Alexandra_book_life: I fear Clare and I have scared you off. :( Sorry. It's a beautiful book!

>139 terriks:
Excellent news.

Here it is. I'm so tickled that this is going to be a series - I was quite happy in Sir Gabriel's world.

>141 terriks: No worries! :) It's still on my list!

>143 terriks: Lovely! This BB is good for the Pub :) (Yes, yes, I will, I will... :D)

>144 Alexandra_book_life: I'm glad! I'm now interested in gathering other people's reviews and thoughts about it, to compare notes. It's that good. Come find me and @clamairy! lol

>143 terriks: Thank you! I agree, this has been a great BB! I'm interested in your eventual thoughts on this one, too. ;)

>143 terriks: I found the sequel at a thrift store the other day! I was so excited to see it. I have not yet picked it up to read. I will read it this summer.

>143 terriks: I enjoyed this one very much and >147 catzteach: the sequel is just as good, perhaps better. I am so glad she's going to keep going!

>147 catzteach: You know, I think I read that in your thread! You found a great deal!

>148 clamairy: I'm really glad she's continuing this series, too. Love Sir Gabriel! :)

This book was exactly what I needed after A God In Ruins.

>143 terriks: I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's a keeper series for me!

>150 libraryperilous: Same here! :) I'll be keeping my eye out for the second one. It's been out awhile now, I think - but it wasn't at the local bookstore I frequent.

I've added it to my online wishlist at Barnes and Noble just to keep it forefront in my mind. I prefer to buy in a store.

>151 terriks:
The third one is due out on 21st January 2027.

>152 pgmcc: Thank you - that's good to know! :)

>143 terriks: I picked up the e-book version of this for my daughter for Christmas, I pointed out (again) this weekend that I had read favorable reviews. Maybe she will read it someday.

>148 clamairy: and >149 terriks:. I love the Sir Gabriel Ward series by Sally Smith. I have not yet purchased print versions, but I do find them charming mysteries.

>155 jillmwo: They are charming, although there was some sadness for me at the resolution of both of these mysteries.

>156 clamairy: That’s an interesting tidbit - I had some sorrow over the resolution of the first one (NO!), but it seems she does it again in book two!

I'll file that away. ;)

In the meantime, I've started The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. I'm enjoying it so far.

My copy is one of the "pretty books" that my local bookstore carries. I came across an unacceptable typo or formatting error, though. This kind of thing drives me crazy - where's the editor?!? *shakes fist at the sky*

>157 terriks: Holy turdballs. That is unacceptable in these times!

>158 clamairy: Right?

A few other, more minor issues (ie, use of quotation marks instead of apostrophes) exist, too - I'd be more inclined to forget those, but overall I'm underwhelmed with this edition.

The spine is creaking, too, like it's going to crack before I finish it. I'm barely at the halfway point!

*sniffle*

>159 terriks: That's unfortunate.

I finally found some time to read! Life is definitely too busy when I can't get in some reading time. Warmer weather has taken me outdoors again, and gardening wipes me out. In a good way, but still.

I've finished The Age of Innocence. I enjoyed it very much, though I wish I'd read it during a period where I hadn't felt so pulled in other directions. It's been hard to read more than a chapter at a time. I'm left wondering if I'd had more quality reading time, the book would have hit me a little harder. And my copy was of such poor quality it was distracting - but the cover is still so pretty!

As it is, I still definitely recommend and am interested in reading more from Edith Wharton.

Here is my review:

I am glad you enjoyed it. I have loved almost everything of hers that I have read, with the exception of The House of Mirth. Her short stories are pretty awesome, too.

>162 clamairy: Ethan Frome arrived on my doorstep this afternoon! I ordered it about halfway through Innocence when I couldn't find it at my local bookstore.

I'm kind of afraid of it right now, though. As usual, I'm looking for something completely different after a tumultuous read.

>163 terriks: I am probably in the minority but I loved that one, too. Might be best to wait a while though. It's a bit dark!

>164 clamairy: That’s what I've heard about it, too - so while I'm glad to have it in hand, I'm just going to sit on it awhile.

I've read pretty good reviews about it, though - I am intrigued!

>161 terriks:. I agree with >162 clamairy: when she says I have loved almost everything of hers that I have read, with the exception of The House of Mirth. That's pretty much where I am as well.

>166 jillmwo: Thank you! I've noticed that it is routinely lauded as among her best, although it's marked as a tragedy. But I found The Age of Innocence depressing. Though not quite a tragedy, the characters are quite trapped.

I've been slack with reading to an embarrassing degree. Thank goodness it's starting to get too hot and humid to do much outside, and I'm pretty satisfied with my little garden atm.

Picked up The Truth by Terry Pratchett last night. I needed to leave the 19th century and go far, far away.

Enjoying it immensely already.

About halfway through The Truth, I can confidently say my favorite character is Otto.

This book is a gem! Sometimes a bit frenetic, but I think that's part of Pratchett's style. This is only the second one I've read from him, though.

He's keeping me in stitches these days! :)

>169 terriks: Do you find yourself guffawing and startling everyone around you? I'm glad you're enjoying it.

>170 clamairy: Well, if you consider that the lights were out recently and it was bedtime, and I still found myself in the throes of the giggles, then that's an unqualified Yes. ;)

>169 terriks:
I loved The Truth. My wife was commenting on my bursting out laughing while reading it. Otto is a good character.

>172 pgmcc: This is a rare book to cause actual laughing out loud. My husband was curious to know what was causing it, and all I managed was something along the lines of, "Oh, it would take so long to tell you!" Which was not satisfying at all. ;)

I finished The Truth last night. Oh, what fun it was! Although I like this one better than Equal Rites, I have a better appreciation for Sir Pratchett now, and am more open to following along the series. I finally understand what all the fuss is about!

Here's my review:

>174 terriks: Very happy to hear you enjoyed this. I also thought it was a hoot.

>175 clamairy: I did! I think we talked before about Pratchett sometimes slowing down in the middle of a book (I thought he did in Equal Rites) but that didn't happen here.

This is one that will be fun to revisit. I'll know the outcome and can enjoy the banter even more. Good stuff.

>174 terriks:
I really enjoyed this one.

>177 pgmcc: I think your review/comments resulted in this particular BB! I'm very happy with it.

>178 terriks:

:-)

My work here is done.

>179 pgmcc: 😊

I've started A Drop of Corruption, by Robert Jackson Bennett.

I didn't realize how much I've missed the banter between Ana and Din until this:

"You know, you are not a stupid person, Din."

"Thank you, ma'am," I said, pleased.

"Or rather, not an unusually stupid person."

"Thank you, ma'am," I said, far less pleased.

~chortle~ These two. And I've just started.

I enjoy Bennett's writing very much. Great world building, characters with depth, near-equal mixes of humor and intrigue. Plus - maps!!! I'll always be a sucker for books with a map.

I'm interested to explore his other series. I'm looking at you, City of Stairs. Curious to know if anyone in the Pub has read them.

>181 terriks: I am a Bennett fan and have read them. The Divine Cities is, in my estimation, his high-water mark to date. I am really enjoying the Ana & Din books - and they are far better than the Founders trilogy - but City of Stairs, City of Blades, and City of Miracles tops everything else by him that I have read. This includes a handful of stand-alones, the best of which, (for me), is American Elsewhere.

>181 terriks: You are in for a treat with A Drop of Corruption. Yay.

I will also happily second @ScoLgo - The Divine Cities is an awesome series and I can't recommend it highly enough :)

>181 terriks: I enjoyed the banter too, though it gets a lot more serious by the end.

>182 ScoLgo: >183 Alexandra_book_life: Thank you both! I was hoping to hear good things about the series.

@Alexandra_book_life: I do feel like this one is getting ready to take off. :)

>184 Karlstar: Hehheh, now I'm really intrigued! Thanks for the tidbit. ;)

Very happy to have come across this author.

>181 terriks: I agree wholeheartedly with >182 ScoLgo:

>186 Sakerfalcon: Excellent! I'm all in. :)

Coffee preparation today, courtesy of my mom's Pyrex pot from around 1950.

We lost power here in SE Michigan last night. Big storm system rolled across the state and we're among several thousand others who got hit around 6:30pm.

Word is most people will have power restored by Monday night. Grateful that the worst of the heatwave is over, at least! And grateful for 1950s technology! 🤣

I think you have all the priorities in order! (1) Coffee is a critical element of success in successfully negotiating real life. (2) Take care of the small potted plants amidst the storms of existence.

>188 terriks: Monday night? Holy cow, that’s a long time without power.

>188 terriks: I hope it is restored sooner, must be a lot of trees down and a holiday

>189 jillmwo: Without this humble pot from yesteryear, my stoicism would vanish into the (hot) ether. The plants are doing very well.

>190 catzteach: >191 Karlstar: Yes, we drove through our neighborhood and in some parts it looked like a bomb had gone off - lots of limbs down, and some streets roped off completely.

Yet, while we were waiting for the storm to pass, it just didn't seem to be packing such a punch.

Lots of local online chatter about this - being a holiday weekend, people bought extra food and drink, packing their refrigerators. Last night we ventured out to round up as much bagged ice as we could, and stuffed our coolers with it and emptied out most of the fridge.

No cheeses were harmed during this exercise.

Say hello to my little friend down there. Battery operated, and moves the air around me. We're besties.

I'm hoping they get it all back online sooner than Monday, too! Giving us a worst-case scenario so they look like heroes instead of ill-prepared evildoers. ;)

>192 terriks:
Best wishes for an early restoration of power.

>188 terriks: Strength to you! eThekwini Municipality has a well-earned reputation for gross incompetence, but even they manage to get the power back within 24 hours of messing it up.

>192 terriks: Best wishes to you! I hope the power comes back soon :)

>193 pgmcc: >194 hfglen: >195 Alexandra_book_life: Thank you all. :)

Power still off. It rained all morning and is cooler, so our heat wave is definitely over. Good news!

Maybe it will be back on tomorrow - hard to get a clear answer from these people - understandable, but still frustrating.

We've been leaving the house to drive around and stay busy while charging our phones in the car, buying ice to add to the coolers holding everything from the fridge. 🙃

But today has been nice - both of the Monarch chrysalises I've been watching opened this morning, about an hour apart.

The second shot is through the mesh cage to avoid disturbing them. They hung out and fluttered around for a few hours while I waited for the rain to stop completely. Then I released them to the backyard.

A few hours later I noticed a Monarch on the purple coneflowers - no way to know if it was one of them, but I'm telling myself it was. Why not? ;)

>196 terriks: I hope power is back sooner than they predicted! Nice to see the monarch survive.

I hope your power comes back on soon. But hurrah for the monarchs! It's lovely to see them.

So cool that you raise them...or at least keep them safe while they transmogrify. And ugh...hope the power returns. When we lived in NH we had a portable generator that ran some circuits in the house, but it was always that waiting game of when to get it, plug it in and make the switch. When we moved out here, we expected a similar outage pattern, so got a whole house model that comes on and off automatically and powers from the propane tank, but it isn't winter when it goes out. It's thunderstorm season. Best thing we ever bought.

Oh and my parents had a coffee maker like that in the 80s - all glass for the stovetop. Fascinating for little kids to watch.

>192 terriks: No cheeses were harmed during this exercise.. Big thumbs up for this. Hopefully, the power wll return today (Monday) as they suggest it might. (Absolutism seems to be less and less of a problem in our society. Everything is couched as vaguely as possible.)

>200 jillmwo:
Absolutely!

>197 Karlstar: >198 Sakerfalcon: >200 jillmwo: >201 pgmcc: Absolutely! And I still absolutely have no power!

To make this experience even more immersive, Verizon was knocked out for a few hours earlier today. So the phone was useless to help me keep checking on the absolutely meaningless predictions of when the power will return. Lol

But the phone is back up, Monarchs are freed - it's okay.

>199 Bookmarque: It only takes a few extended outages like this to start considering a generator! You're right- the last couple of winters we've never lost power, but seem to get hit when things are steamy. We'd buy a whole house model too - go big or don't bother, right? It's too stressful.

The Pyrex coffee pot is about 75 years old, with glass stem and coffee basket - my mother never broke it and I'm always determined not to be the one who does. It's incredibly simple and perks a mean cuppa. Keeping us sane.

Frustrated and sticky, but sane.

>202 terriks: You are reminding me to move the backup generator higher on the priority list.

>203 Karlstar: I think I've added one to my priority list! Lol

The power was restored last night. Our power company is apparently compelled by state law to give impacted customers some kind of per diem credit when outages last over a certain time - we'll see how that goes. ;)

>204 terriks:
Glad to hear your power is back.

Well I hope they do give back something for the inconvenience. Sheesh.

>204 terriks: Good to hear your power is back and about the credit. You'd think the credit would compel them to take steps to improve resiliency, hopefully they will after this incident.

>204 terriks: Hurray! I am glad your power is back :)

So with the power back, you have can have your coffee, the a/c rather than a small electric fan, and you can inspect the herb pots in a somewhat more comfortable frame of mind.

Yay for power! Will you continue to make coffee on the stove? Is there a difference in taste from a coffee maker?

Holy moly, looks like I missed a lot! I'm glad you got your power back and the butterflies morphed safely.