Cecilturtle Returns

Hi Everyone! It's so nice to be back with so many familiar names! I wish you all a happy and healthy 2026 with a lot of ROOTy good reads.

I really enjoyed my format from last year so I'll be adopting the same. Basically, any book that has the potential of being a ROOT gets added to my total.

Last year I was a bit ambitious so I'm scaling my number down to 70 ROOTs but I would like for at least 20 of these to be 5 years or older. I did a clean up today and may have sneezed from the dust on some of my tomes.

I'm thrilled with this year's theme and will be posting some birds of my own. One of my other goals is to spend 1000 hours outside (yes, reading counts!) and I intend to capitalize on my birding passion as well.

Take care, Friends, and feel free to pop by any time!

2026 Seeds
1. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
2. The Little French Bistro by Nina George
3. The Jealousy Man by Jo Nesbo
4. Death of a Codebreaker by Max Folsom
5. The Book of (More) Delights by Ross Gay
6. The Birding Dictionary by Rosemary Mosco
7. High Agency Human by Vickie Lanthier
8. Different Seasons by Stephen King
9. Scottish Girls About Town edited by Pocket Books
10. Ornithography by Jessica Roux
11. The Waiting by Michael Connelly
12. Project Hail Mary by Andrew Weir
13. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Borrowed (does not count to total)
1. Ten Birds That Changed the World by Stephen Moss
2. The Fran Lebowitz Reader by Fran Lebowitz
3. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

2025 Seedlings

1. Nemesis Spawned by James Lackie
2. Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa
3. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett
4. Ils dansent dans la tempête by Dominique Demers
5. Devenir fasciste by Mark Fortier
6. Angels Flight by Michael Connelly
7. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
8. Deadline by Sandra Brown
9. We Want What We Want by Alix Ohlin
10. A Year at the French Farmhouse by Gillian Harvey
11. The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs

2021-2024 Saplings

2024
1. Ford County by John Grisham
2. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
3. The Weeping Girl by Håkan Nesser
4. Éteignez tout et la vie s'allume par Marc Levy

2023
1. The Gastronomical Me by MFK Fisher
2. Au hasard la chance by Michel Tremblay

2022
1. The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery
2. Five Little Indians by Michelle Good

2021
1. Thésée by André Gide
2. Les bonnes by Jean Genet

2016-2020 Trees

2019
1. Mountains beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
2. Château en Suède by Françoise Sagan

2018
1. Tel Aviv Noir edited by Etgar Keret and Assaf Gavron
2. The Telling Room par Michael Paterniti

2001-2015 Mature Trees

2014
1. Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino

2010
1. Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh

2009
1. Empire of the Sun by JG Ballard

2008
1. How to Read and Why by Harold Bloom

Today's bird: the Bohemian Waxwing

True to their name, Bohemian Waxwings wander like bands of vagabonds across the northern United States and Canada in search of fruit during the nonbreeding season. High-pitched trills emanate from the skies as large groups descend on fruiting trees and shrubs at unpredictable places and times.

This one is all puffed up because it was -20C with the wind chill. I think she looks like an avian Dame Edna :D

>8 Cecilturtle: Awwww so fluffy! Have a great reading year!

Happy ROOTING in 2026, Cécile

Welcome back, Cécile. Happy ROOTing.
Love the photo of the bird. He/she looks like a little snowball with coloured arms.

>9 rabbitprincess: Thank you, RP! I found her on trail 52 in the Mer bleue sector :)
>10 Robertgreaves: Thank you, Robert! Happy ROOTy year to you!
>11 connie53: Thank you, Connie! She does! I love her hair style too!

I love the way you categorised your ROOTs, Cécile. Good luck with the Mature Trees!

I'm glad to see you back here again, Cécile. And I love the picture of the Bohemian Waxwing. It's a nice idea to tie in your bird pictures with the ROOT Progress thread theme.

>13 MissWatson: Thanks, Birgit! I'd like to get at least 20 off my shelf - wish me luck!
>14 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene! Yes... I hadn't thought about the birds in the trees- lol! Thanks for pointing it out :)

Best of luck with your ambitious ROOTing goal, Cécile.

>1 Cecilturtle: good to see you hear, I like how you're reading 20 that 5+ years. Good Luck & Happy Reading for 2026

Welcome back, I'm liking your "outside" emphasis!

>16 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg!
>17 AnishaInkspill: I appreciate your support, Anisha!
>18 detailmuse: Thank you, MJ! I'm hoping I'll see more wildlife!

Today's bird: the House Sparrow

House Sparrows can be found on every continent except for Antarctica! This makes the species the most widely distributed wild bird species in the world. While the House Sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean, and a large portion of Asia, they either intentionally or accidentally been introduced to North and South America, Africa and Australia.

This little one was tucked away in a bush with friends to keep warm from our brutal temperatures.



ROOT 1 (1 for January): Nemesis Spawned by James Lackie

James is a colleague and I wanted to support his work. The writing is terrific but the topic was a little too much for my tender nature.

No birds: it's either been terribly cold or dark and dreary.

ROOT 2 (2 for January): Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa

This is a book club pick. I look forward to our discussion because this book is less straight forward than it seems. Everyone is likely to have a different read.

ROOT 3 (3 for January): Ford County by John Grisham

I picked up this copy in 2024 at a nearby coffee shop. I'm a big fan of free libraries!

Nice bird pics - and your ROOT categories are very creative! I keep track of the age of my ROOTs also - it's good when I get to blow a lot of dust off of them!

>22 LisaMorr: Thanks, Lisa! It's such a good feeling especially when it's a gem! Good luck in your reading this year!

Today's bird: the Barred Owl
The owl is well- known for its repository sounds and excellent skills of hunting. The huge eyes of the owl and asymmetrical ears are very accurate that helps it to pinpoint the location of very small prey species in wild.

I was thrilled to encounter this beautiful bird on my snowshoeing walk yesterday.



ROOT 4 (4 for January): The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

This was a Christmas gift and boy, what a ride!

>24 Cecilturtle: I've heard good things about Janice Hallett. Maybe it's time to add her to my wishlist.

>25 Robertgreaves: I think she's worth a read. I'm not sure how her work would stand the test of time, but she's definitely relevant today. I really liked Amanda's smarts in that particular novel.

>24 Cecilturtle: That's a beautiful bird! How cool that you got to see it on a walk. Thanks for sharing.

>27 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene! It was definitely a treat!

I love your categories and you've inspired me to add in the year I acquired each book I read to my thread.

I'm also enjoying your birds. I have no bird photos to share, but we have a blackbird pair feeding every day on the berries on next door's pyracantha bush. There's another juvenile male hanging around, and Mr & Mrs don't like him.

Glad I found your thread: those pictures of birds are fantastic. (And of course, I enjoy your reviews ;-))

>30 Dilara86: Merci! Au plaisir de se retrouver :)

Today's bird: the Pileated Woodpecker
The Pileated is the largest living woodpecker in North America. It is the inspiration behind the cartoon character Woody Woodpecker!

I saw this beautiful lady right near my home!



ROOT 5 (5 for January): How to Read and Why by Harold Bloom

This is definitely an old ROOT with yellowed pages. I've dated it to circa 2008 but it's likely older.

>32 Cecilturtle: I LOVE Pileated Woodpeckers! We only see them every once in a while, here.

>33 LisaMorr: Aww I'm glad! We're lucky to have several species here. Right now a couple of Black-backed Woodpeckers are visiting but they have been snubbing me - I guess that means I just have to keep birding ;)

Today's bird: the White-breasted Nuthatch
This lovely little bird is my spark bird! A spark bird is the species that gets one down the birding path, that truly sparks the birder's interest for the first time.
White-breasted Nuthatches are bolder and braver when they forage together with chickadees and woodpeckers than when they foraging alone. I love it when they land on my hand to get some seeds.



ROOT 6 (6 for January): Tel Aviv Noir edited by Etgar Keret and Assaf Gavron

I was looking forward to this one and it turned out to be a bit of a dud. It's been on my shelves since 2018.

>35 Cecilturtle: White-breasted nuthatches are relatively common visitors to our yard (along with chickadees and woodpeckers), but I have never had one land on my hand. That has to be quite an experience!

>36 atozgrl: I just thought the same thing Irene. I love to have one on my hand. But it has to be a great tit. We have nuthatches too, but I only have seen one or two in my garden.

>35 Cecilturtle: >my spark bird
Your thread and Cheli's group thread are turning out to be my spark birds :)

also >35 Cecilturtle: I've loved Etgar Keret's stories and have been wondering if he's released more lately. Glad for your review, I'll probably pursue a collection of his vs an anthology.

>36 atozgrl: >37 connie53: When we have subarctic temperatures (-20 or -30C) the birds are not as shy! Chickadees usually lead the way (they are brave little souls and they know they'll get rewarded with seeds) and the Nuthatches follow. I even had a Downy Woodpecker land in my hand! This is usually in an urban setting where they are used to people.

>38 detailmuse: I'm glad you're getting bird inspired, MJ :D
Yes, the Keret story that was included was one of the better ones. I would definitely recommend a collection although I preferred Assaf Gavron and Deakla Keydar. It was definitely a good introduction to a series of authors I knew nothing about. I'd say I enjoyed about half out of 14.

>39 Cecilturtle: I have noticed that about chickadees. When we moved into our house and I first put out a bird feeder, a chickadee was the first visitor we got. They like to take a seed and go back into the tree, but they usually show up first, before anyone else.

ROOT 7 (1 for February): Mountains beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

Not a lot of birding these days. This ROOT has been on my shelves and in my car since 2019. I think I intended to travel with it at some point but it never left my side until now!

ROOT 8 (2 for February): Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

This is a "seed" that I've been wanting to read for a long time.

Today's bird: the Black-capped Chickadee

We've been having a very traditional winter with almost 2m of snow and -30C colds, so I'm not able to bird as much as I want to. But one thing is true: I can always count my little Chickadee friends to come flapping to my mittens for a treat. They are also photo darlings and I love taking their portrait.



ROOT 9 (3 for February): Château en Suède by Françoise Sagan
This play had Sagan's signature games of love but with a dark comedic moody streak. Maybe it would come off better on stage but I found it difficult to believe. The characters aren't consistent with the plot where they are in on an elaborate hoax but at the same time seem surprised by it. It was confusing and misleading.

Lovely bird!

>45 connie53: thank you, Connie :)

I was definitely charmed by this lovely book despite some harsh themes.

ROOT 10 (4 for February): Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

>43 Cecilturtle: I have thought about reading this because it is a classic but I wasn't sure about the subject matter. Your review has encouraged me, Cécile. I'll keep it on my wishlist.

>47 Cecilturtle: That was a great book for me too, Cécile. Glad you liked it also.

>48 missizicks: I find reading it with the Epstein Files in the background actually helped me see Lolita more clearly: she has often been misleadingly portrayed as a sex pot but I challenged myself to read between the lines - it's really a very complex read. There are definitely trigger warnings to be said though: Humbert makes no qualms about how he uses her :(

>49 connie53: It's always tough to know when a book is over-hyped but I loved the world that Kya created for herself!

Today's bird: the Northern Shrike

I won't lie: I'm super proud of this photo of a beautiful Shrike with her prey. I have been out a lot to participate in the citizen-led Canada Birds, with Audubon and Cornell, Great Backyard Bird Count. This count helps researchers understand bird population health and changes, as well as set a baseline for upcoming migrations.

Shrikes are known for their viciousness: they hunt in brushy, semiopen habitats, chasing after birds, creeping through dense brush to ambush prey, or pouncing on mice. They often save food for later by impaling it on thorns or barbed wire.



ROOT 11 (5 for February): Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
I've had this ROOT since 2014!

>50 Cecilturtle: I read Lolita such a long time ago - probably due for a re-read, and I would find it quite interesting to read now along with current events.

>51 Cecilturtle: I love Italo Calvino; I read somewhere that all the cities in Invisible Cities are meant to be Venice.

>52 LisaMorr: Yes, the book hints that it is Venice in all its various facets. I think it's such a clever book. I just really dislike that all the names are women's names.

>53 Cecilturtle: I didn't read it that long ago, and I didn't even notice that!

ROOT 12 (6 for February): The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

I've had this ROOT since 2022 - what a lovely tale!

ROOT 13 (7 for February): The Little French Bistro by Nina George

read for book club

ROOT 14 (8 for February): Ils dansent dans la tempête by Dominique Demers

This is the third in a trilogy for young adults. I didn't read the first two and I'm not young and so I'm definitely not the target audience. I usually enjoy Demers's book for all ages but this one felt overly emotive and grandiose. I probably would have secretly loved it had I been 13.

ROOT 15 (1 for March): The Jealousy Man by Jo Nesbo

I haven't seen many birds lately. We're in late winter where trails are becoming in turn icy, slushy and wet. I hold the unpopular opinion that Spring sucks because it's the worst for nature walks (although Summer at the height of bug season can be a challenge too!). I'll be in a better mood in May :)

ROOT 16 (2 for March): Death of a Codebreaker by Max Folsom

I discovered this local-to-me author through LT and I liked it so much, I'm recommending it to all my friends!

ROOT 17 (3 for March): Devenir fasciste by Mark Fortier

This is a satirical look at our crumbling democracies and strong push toward authoritarianism the world over. It does not pretend to go into depth but rather retraces the tendencies, movements, ideas and decisions - from both the right and the left (no one is spared!) - that have brought about our world today. There are interesting lines of thought which would be interesting to pursue for anyone who would want to go deeper.

>60 Cecilturtle: Interesting! I've seen a couple of interviews with the author (he did the rounds of French lefty independent media a few weeks ago) and I can't decide whether I want to read it or not. Is it very flippant? It sounds like it might be...

>61 Dilara86: It starts off flippant but he doesn't manage to pull it through, really. Ultimately it's just a good summary mostly from the Fall of the Berlin Wall to today. I like how he blasts both the hysterical right and the complacent, supercilious left for the mess we're in. This said, it's a short read so it's very much a 10000 foot view of issues.

Thanks, that was very helpful! I'll borrow the book if my library carries it, but I don't think I'll buy it :-)

ROOT 18 (4 for March): Thésée by André Gide

This is a retell of Theseus's adventures by the hero himself as an old man. Theseus looks back at his life, with some derision when he was young: all brawn and bold action, and with some nostalgia when he was ruler of Athens: now measured, compassionate and dedicated to his people. He walks with other elders now like Oedipus taking stock of his decision, mourning the death of his wife and son. It is a simple tale but each word is precise and weighted where time and tone shift seamlessly until the final years. It is the kind of story that is worth reading through again so grasp all the elements and to put it back in the context of that grand, complex and rich tapestry that is Greek mythology.

>64 Cecilturtle: Wishlisted

>65 Robertgreaves: It's very short, about 100 pages, but very deft.

>66 Cecilturtle: Yes, I had a bit of trouble finding it but eventually tracked it down as Theseus and Oedipus. It doesn't seem to exist as an ebook so it will have to wait till I can go book shopping again.

Hi Cécile, just visiting and finding out what you have been reading. Waving at you!

>68 connie53: Hi, Connie! I hope all is well with you. I'm tackling the 1000-page Shantaram by Gregory Roberts, sitting through what I hope is our last snow storm in the season. I'm a big fan of snow but maybe not a week before Spring - lol

>69 Cecilturtle:. Hi again. Here we had snow too this morning, but it turned into rain ad it is still raining. I have started a BFB too Spaans Vuur by Wouter van Mastricht a mere 609 pages. ;-))

>70 connie53: it will help the Big Fat Book totals ;)

>71 Cecilturtle: it certainly will and it's a good book so far, so I don't complain.

>32 Cecilturtle: Just catching up with your thread. When my wife and I lived in rural Northern California, we often saw these beautiful pileated woodpeckers in the trees behind our house. We loved them. On the other hand, those pesky redwinged woodpeckers would bang on, and put holes in, the walls of our wood house, blast them!

>73 rocketjk: Redwinged Woodpeckers? I've never seen those! I would find them very exotic :D

It's been a while since I posted birds. This one winters in my town and will soon be leaving: the Canada Geese are coming back and I've seen our first Robins and Song Sparrows!

Today's bird: the Common Goldeneye
They are nicknamed "whistlers" because their rapid wingbeats produce a distinct, loud whistling sound in flight, which is amplified in cold air. These diving ducks nest in tree cavities or boxes, and one day after hatching, the ducklings jump up to 40 feet to the ground.



ROOT 19 (5 for March): Angels Flight by Michael Connelly

Northern Cardinals are monogamous, often mate for life, and are highly territorial, frequently attacking their own reflections. Females are unique among North American songbirds for singing, often doing so while nesting to communicate with their mates.
I love them in the winter and spring because they add such a dash of colour.



ROOT 20 (6 for March): Empire of the Sun by JG Ballard
This is an ancient ROOT which I've had for almost 20 years. Another classic I'm glad I finally got to.

Today's bird: the Red-winged Blackbird

Blackbirds are fiercely territorial, with males spending up to 25% of daylight hours defending their turf—often by dive-bombing humans, dogs, and much larger birds. Despite their bullish reputation, I always love to see the first one: more than Robins, there are harbingers of Spring!



ROOT 21 (1 for April): The Gastronomical Me by MFK Fisher

The Swans are transiting through town!

Today's bird: the Trumpeter Swan
The trumpeter swan is completely white but often appears rust-colored on the head and neck. This is caused by staining from minerals in wetland soils where they feed. They can fly up to speeds of 155 kph.



ROOT 22 (2 for April): The Book of (More) Delights by Ross Gay

This book club pick was a dud for me.

>78 Cecilturtle: This review made me laugh and cringe at the same time! How was this book ever published?

I love your bird posts, BTW!

>79 Dilara86: Merci!
It's funny about the book: it's very culturally inclined. Usually I like to read about different cultures, but for some reason this one really didn't stick. It has a well-shucks-be-darned, boys-will-be-boys feel that didn't sit well with me. And this is part two! I much more enjoyed La Première Gorgée de bière by Philippe Delerm.

It's great you have 22 ROOTS done already! I enjoy the bird posts also.

>81 kaida46: Thank you, Deb! I hope to have lots more now that the migration has started!

Today's bird: the Wood Duck
Wood ducks are unique North American waterfowl that nest in tree cavities, often high above the ground, and possess sharp claws for perching on branches. I can confirm this is true: imagine my surprise as I was looking for warblers and came across a Wood Duck perched on a branch! I took this photo on Tuesday and I'm really hoping it's the last of the snow :(



ROOT 23 (3 for April): The Weeping Girl by Håkan Nesser

Today's bird: the Hooded Merganser
Hooded Mergansers have a specialized nictitating membrane (a transparent third eyelid) that acts like goggles, allowing them to see clearly while diving. This handsome fellow was parading around with his fiancé at the lake.



ROOT 24 (4 for April): Au hasard la chance by Michel Tremblay
I really enjoyed this short story set between Ottawa and Montréal: I could picture all the neighbourhoods perfectly. Tremblay explores different endings to show the whims of destiny. The first time is surprising, of course, but each bifurcating is equally unexpected even though Ti-Loup remains true to herself. A fun, delightful and engaging read.

I'm enjoying your bird posts too! I love the songs of the cardinal and the red-winged blackbird; we see a lot of them here.

Also enjoying your reviews - I need to get to Empire of the Sun one of these days!

>84 LisaMorr: thank you, Lisa! Empire of the Sun is a tough, emotional read but definitely worthwhile.

Today's bird: the Double-crested Cormorant.
Unlike ducks, Double-crested Cormorants have less preen oil, meaning their feathers soak up water. This lack of waterproofing makes them more agile and fast while diving underwater. I love this one's goofy look.



ROOT 25 (5 for April): The Birding Dictionary by Rosemary Mosco
This was a birthday gift.

Today's bird: the White-throated Sparrow.
There comes a time in a birder's passion where sparrows all of a sudden become fascinating in all their different details.
The White-throated Sparrow is known for its distinct "Oh sweet Canada" whistle, two-color morphs (white-striped and tan-striped), and unique, complex mating behaviors.



ROOT 26 (6 for April): Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
This copy was a Christmas gift.

>86 Cecilturtle: Interesting! I didn't know lack of preen oil made them faster underwater. It also explains the cormorant's standard pose (or at least the one we often see them in), standing with their wings spread out to dry.

>88 atozgrl: yes! that's exactly why :) In some native mythologies, they are the rain bird, that call in rain and fertility, probably inspired from that very pose.

Since we're doing a fowl theme...
Today's bird: the Wild Turkey
Wild turkeys are large, ground-foraging birds native to North America, boasting incredible speed (up to 60 mph in flight, 18 mph running) and a 270-degree field of vision.
I've seen perched up high in trees too and... hanging out cemeteries



ROOT 27 (1 for May): Deadline by Sandra Brown

>90 Cecilturtle: Good grief! That’s quite a scary encounter when visiting your loved one’s grave.

>91 MissWatson: haha - there was a group of at least 10! They are becoming quite frequent in town. There are a few on my work campus and in some popular parks; people are used to them. The only time to be caution is during mating season when males get a little frisky and can be agressive :)

>92 Cecilturtle: We used to have traveling flocks of wild turkeys pass across our property regularly when we lived in Mendocino County (CA). The males' fanning of their tail feathers during mating season is pretty astounding. I used to be able to watch the males bump chests and otherwise chase each other around during mating season through my home office window. Since our house was on a hillside, the flocks would sometimes come down the hill and fly up onto our roof. If the roof was icy, this made for some excited exclamations and scrabbling up there. Though I must admit that the first time I heard their footsteps up there, I had brief thought that Santa was real, after all, even though we are Jewish and it was not even December yet. Also, wild turkeys are very intelligent birds. When they came down the hill towards our house and wanted to go around the house and down toward the road, they would pause and send a scout around the house to see what was down the hill from them. If the scout saw something she didn't like, she come hustling back to the flock and they'd all turn and go back the way they'd come. I saw this happen many times, particularly when our yellow lab (and later our German shepherd) was in the front yard, even though that yard was fenced in. It was fascinating stuff. You have to keep them away from your garden, though. In Mendocino (or maybe it's all of California) there is a hunting season that applies to them, but they are not easily eaten. It takes a long and arduous preparation to allow for removal of their feathers, and for softening up their very tough meat. Finally it was a lot of fun to see the flocks of hens coming down the hill in the springtime with all their little chicks around them.

Here are a couple of snapshots of a pair of males during mating season one year, taken through the window of my home office in Mendocino County.

*

>93 rocketjk: Very cool story, Jerry! Yes, birds in general, are much smarter than we give them credit for. The colours on those males are gorgeous! I've seen their wattles turn bright red too. We're right in mating season here in Ontario and last year we had poults on our work campus: hoping to see little ones this year again.
Thanks for sharing!

Today's bird: The Ring Duck
Ring Ducks possess the unique ability among diving ducks to jump directly from the water into flight.
I thought this lovely couple looked adorable.



ROOT 28 (2 for May)

High Agency Human by Vickie Lanthier

..

ROOT 29 (3 for May): We Want What We Want by Alix Ohlin

Today's bird: The Common Loon
Loons can stay submerged for 90 seconds to 5 minutes, reaching depths of up to 250 feet, and can fly at speeds over 70 mph.

I have rarely seen Loons and this year I've already seen two. They represent "a helping hand" and feature in Indigenous creation stories



ROOT 30 (4 for May)

Different Seasons by Stephen King

Celebrating 20 years at LT today! I love it as much today as I did then!

Not a ROOT, but bird-related so I thought I'd share since it's our theme.

This happy fellow is an American Redstart. He's no doubt singing his triumphant travels from the South to the North. I look forward to enjoying him all summer.



Ten Birds That Changed the World by Stephen Moss

>99 Cecilturtle: Oh happy day, happy 20th!! I'll join you this coming October and I also still love it.

Congrats, Cécile

I love all these birds - so different from the ones this side of the Pond! I've had my eye on that Stephen Moss book too :)

>99 Cecilturtle: Congratulations on 20 years!

I've already got Ten Birds That Changed the World on my wishlist, or I would be adding it. It looks very interesting.

>100 detailmuse: crazy how quickly it goes!
>101 Robertgreaves: thank you, Robert!
>102 Jackie_K: I enjoyed it: it's a very well-rounded perspective
>103 atozgrl: thank you! I recommend the book: I forgot to ost my review but I enjoyed it

ROOT 31 (4 for May): Scottish Girls About Town edited by Pocket Books

Today's bird: The American Redstart
Redstarts constantly fan their tails and droop their wings to reveal striking patches of orange (on males) or yellow (on females). This flash of color startles hidden insects, causing them to flee directly into the bird's path.

I caught one doing exactly that this morning!



ROOT 32 (5 for May) Après Dieu by Richard Malka

The author spent a night in the Panthéon, a place that honours the great women and men of France. There he specifically speaks to Voltaire, known believer in God but rejecting all religions. Malka talks about the slow but clear erosion of secular practices, the very foundation of the French Republic. I found it thought-provoking and was reminded of the importance of keeping the state and church apart, something that North America has never succeeded in doing.

Today's bird: Canada Goose
Canada Geese are strictly monogamous and mate for life. They boast very low divorce rates and even tend to choose partners of similar size.

There are plenty of goslings these days that are looking positively adorable.


An old (2021) and an ancient ROOT (2010) to round off the month:

ROOT 33 (6 for May): Les bonnes by Jean Genêt

I did not love this play. I think I wold probably have appreciated it more on stage, but this criticism of class differences left me indifferent

ROOT 34 (7 for May): Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh

Today's bird: Warbling Vireo
Males are incredibly territorial and sing almost incessantly. They won't even stop singing while sitting on the nest to incubate their eggs.

They are usually very difficult to photograph so I'm particularly happy with this shot!


A seedling, gift to myself for my birthday this year

ROOT 35 (1 for June): Ornithography by Jessica Roux

>108 Cecilturtle: oh that looks gorgeous! Beautifully illustrated nature book, yes please!

>109 Jackie_K: The author also published one on flowers with equally beautifully drawings!

>110 Cecilturtle: I saw that and added both to my wishlist!

Hi Cécile. I see you have reached the half way point. Good job done and keep on ROOTing.

>112 connie53: thanks, Connie!

Hi! Lovely bird photo!

>114 kaida46: Thank you, Deb. It's a labour of... persistence!

Today's bird: the Red-winged Blackbird

Actually, I did post the right photo! The female looks nothing like the male and is often confused for another species altogether. This is a good example of how names are not neutral and can sometimes be even misleading. I'm open to suggestions for a new name to designate both!



ROOT 36 (2 for June)

The Telling Room par Michael Paterniti

ROOT 37 (3 for June): The Waiting by Michael Connelly

>108 Cecilturtle: I already had this one on my wishlist, or I would have added it. I've been enjoying the bird pictures you're posting.

So many great bird pics! The best I can do is luck out when a common robin or wren alights near an outdoor camera...their curiosity (at the camera lens?) is cute, though :)

>118 atozgrl: Thank you! Yes, the book is a real treat, and informative!

>119 detailmuse: Thanks, MJ! Needless to say, I spend a LOT of time outside - lol. I'm hoping I'll get better once I retire and learn to fine-tune my photos.

ROOT 38 (4 for June): Project Hail Mary by Andrew Weir

>121 Cecilturtle: We rarely go to movies anymore but we did make a point to see Hail Mary, it was good entertainment. From reading other reviews it seems that is how Weir writes. Personally though, I have not read any of his books so far.

>122 kaida46: He's an engineer by trade so I imagine these details interest him - I think good sci-fi is rooted in good science but he's definitely focused on the technical and engineering problems than on the social/philosophical aspects that can also be exploited in the genre (like LeGuin or Bradbury do)

Today's bird: the Grasshopper Sparrow

Unlike many sparrows, the male Grasshopper Sparrow has two very different songs. The first is a dry, insect-like buzz (which sounds just like a grasshopper), and the second is a more complex, musical flight song belted out while hovering in the air



ROOT 39 (1 for July): The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Today's bird: the Common Tern
Common Terns rarely stop for a drink! These birds can drink while flying by skimming close to the water's surface and dipping their beaks in. Coastal Common Terns even possess specialized nasal glands that allow them to drink saltwater!



ROOT 40 (2 for July): Five Little Indians by Michelle Good

Today's bird: the Belted Kingfisher
The Belted Kingfisher breaks traditional avian rules with brighter colors. Males display a solid blue-gray breast band, while females have both the blue band and an eye-catching chestnut (rust) band across their bellies.
Sorry to bring you a dull male photo, but I still think he's pretty handsome :)



ROOT 41 (3 for July): A Year at the French Farmhouse by Gillian Harvey

Hi Cecilturtle! Its always interesting to check your thread. I've never heard of the Grasshopper Sparrow but would certainly like to hear it! I got lucky one day walking on a trail and was graced with the presence of a Belted King Fisher who had a wonderfully lovely song.
If you would like to explore the topic of Indigenous people a bit more I recommend The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian and also The Bean Trees, both of these books gave me fuel for thought.

>127 kaida46: Thank you, Deb! The more I learn about birds, the more I'm interested in them.
Thanks also for the book recommendations. I found out yesterday that the crimes against North American Indigenous peoples are now considered genocides. Yesterday, I did a walking tour through Canada's national cemetery where we were shown the graves of those responsible for the policies - and those for denouncing them, such as Dr. P. Bryce. It was most educational and humbling.

Today's bird: the Osprey, also known as the Sea Hawk
When diving at speeds of over 100 km/h, ospreys can completely submerge themselves. They close their nostrils to keep water out and use a third eyelid called a nictitating membrane, which acts as a built-in pair of waterproof swim goggles so they can see their prey beneath the surface.
This is a Mama with at least two babies, eating a big chunk of sashimi. Dad was on the other side of the nest, keeping watch for his family.



ROOT 42 (4 for July): The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs
This was a gift from my daughter last Christmas as I griped about another two years of work. I got the good news I can leave 1,5 year early with a bonus: no murder necessary!

Today's bird: the Spotted Sandpiper
The female Spotted Sandpiper is the one who establishes and defends the territory. She arrives at the breeding grounds earlier than the male.
The male takes the primary role in parental care, incubating the eggs and taking care of the young.



ROOT 43 (5 for July): Éteignez tout et la vie s'allume par Marc Levy

This novel was a, rather expected, disappointment. Levy explores love when the lovers are cross-starred through time: either too old or too young. It seems that today a big age gap is not so much of a barrier; Levy has decided that it still is and tries to make it romantic. It's just rather dull and needlessly introspective. It has the merit of being short.