klobrien2 (Karen O) Books and Life in 2026 — Page 2

Welcome to my second 2026 “Books and Life” thread!

I've been with the 75-bookers for many years now, and I enjoy so much the camaraderie and book talk that happens here. I'm very glad to join with you all again!

I had great reading in 2025. I find myself reading pretty much as the spirit leads. A long-term project of mine is to accomplish reads from the "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die." My current 1001 Books count: 215.

What directs my reading more are my friends here on LT, so keep those recommendations coming!

This is my fifteenth year participating in the 75 Books Challenge. In 2009, I read 94 books; in 2010, I made it to 148!; 153 in 2011; 160 in 2012; 114 in 2013; 92 in 2014; 109 in 2015; 145 in 2016, 210 in 2017, 200 in 2018, 180 in 2019, 225 (3 x 75!) in 2020, 242 in 2021, 286 in 2022, 230 in 2023, 502 in 2024 (a LOT of children's illustrated books). In 2025, I kept track of the children's illustrated books separately: I read 130 “grown-up” books, and 392 illustrated books, for a total of 522 (so, 20 more than the year before)!

In addition to reading books, I've also discovered the world of Great Courses DVD lifelong learning courses. I love them! Below is a list of the courses I've completed, and I will try to always have at least one course going all the time.

A list of the Great Courses I have done can be found here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/331920

I also do some serious magazine reading, using my public library as source once again. I keep track of and read some fifteen magazines, on a range of topics: science, quilting, nature, birding, cats, news, etc.

I read two daily newspapers (St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune), and I also read a lot of daily newsletters from the NYTimes.

Here's where I'll list the books I read (the number at the end of each line represents the post number where I listed the book).

MY FIRST THREAD:

The books I read in January:

1. The Mistletoe Mystery: A Maid Novella by Nita Prose
2. Legends and Lattes: A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes by Travis Baldree
3. Essays After Eighty by Donald Hall
4. Cookies: The Best Recipes for the Perfect Anytime Treat by Vaughn Vreeland
5. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oliver Wilde
6. You Better Be Lightning by Andrea Gibson
7. Xolo: How One Good Dog Saved Humankind by Donna Barba Higuera, ill. Mariana Ruiz Johnson
8. Sweet Farm!: Cookies, Cakes, Salads (!), and Other Delights from My Kitchen on a Sugar Beet Farm by Molly Yeh
9. The Hedge Knight (Graphic Novel) by George R. R. Martin, adapted by Ben Avery, ill. Mike S. Miller
10. Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree
11. Dog Man: Big Jim Believes (Dog Man #14) by Dav Pilkey

The books I read in February:

12. Hoot by Carl Hiassen
13. Celebrate: Joyful Baking All Year Round by Paul Hollywood
14. The Gilded Age Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from America's Golden Era by Becky Libourel Diamond
15. The Art of Jacques Pepin: Favorite Recipes and Paintings from My Life in the Kitchen by Jacques Pepin
16. Sisters, Oregon: Five Decades of Quilting in America by Jean Wells
17. In the Heights: Finding Home by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Quirara Alegria Hudes and Jeremy McCarter
18. She-Hulk 5: All In by Rainbow Rowell
19. The Impossible Fortune (Thursday Murder Club #5) by Richard Osman
20. The Rejection Collection: Cartoons You Never Saw, and Never Will See, in the New Yorker
21. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R. R. Martin, ills. Gary Gianni
22. And to Think We Started as a Book Club... by Tom Toro
23. True North Cabin Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from a North Woods Table by Stephanie Hansen
24. Dog Show: Poems by Billy Collins, watercolors by Pamela Ztybel

The books I read in March:

25. The Rejection Collection Volume 2: The Cream of the Crap, ed. Matthew Diffee
26. The Best Poems of Jane Kenyon, collected by Donald Hill
27. The Power of Thought Experiments (Great Course) by Daniel Breyer
28. A Carnival of Losses: Notes Nearing Ninety by Donald Hall
29. You Can Never Die: A Graphic Memoir by Harry Bliss
30. Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns by Andrea Gibson
31. The Readers' Room by Antoine Laurain
32. Our Town: A Play in Three Acts by Thornton Wilder

MY SECOND THREAD:

The books I read in March (continued):

33. Lord of the Butterflies: Poems by Andrea Gibson -- 10
34. Vera, or Faith: A Novel by Gary Shteyngart -- 19
35. The Perseverance by Raymond Antrobus -- 20
36. Dear New York, by Brandon Stanton -- 34
37. The Prevensen's Book of Fairy Tales by Alice and Martin Prevensen -- 35
38. The Half-Finished Heaven: The Best Poems of Tomas Transtromer -- 40
39. Startlement: New and Selected Poems by Ada Limon -- 45

The books I read in April:

40. Dorie's Anytime Cakes by Dorie Greenspan -- 51
41. The Good Berry Cookbook: Harvesting and Cooking Wild Rice and Other Wild Foods by Tashia Hart -- 52
42. E is for Edward: A Centennial Celebration of the Mischievous Mind of Edward Gorey by Gregory Hischak -- 59
43. Milk Street Shorts: Recipes That Pack a Punch by Christopher Kimball -- 64
44. At Midnight Comes the Cry: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery #10 by Julia Spencer-Fleming -- 74
45. The Doubtful Guest by Edward Gorey -- 75
46. The Other Statue by Edward Gorey -- 75
47. A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season, selected by Robert Atwan, intro by Donald Hall, ill. Thomas Nason -- 76
48. This Big Fake World: A Story in Verse by Ada Limon -- 89
49. Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green -- 96
50. The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 1 by Bill Watterson -- 98
51. The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 2 by Bill Watterson -- 98
52. Lucky Wreck: Poems by Ada Limon -- 101
53. Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, ills. Edward Gorey -- 102
54. Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond -- 115
55. The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 4 by Bill Watterson -- 116
56. Talking to My Father's Ghost: An Almost True Story (graphic) by Alex Krokus -- 117
57. Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon -- 129
58. Cannon by Lee Lai -- 130
59. Feline: Photographs by Tim Flach, text by Jonathan B. Losos -- 131
60. The Quiet Ear: An Investigation of Missing Sound: A Memoir by Raymond Antrobus -- 136
61. String Too Short to Be Saved: Recollections of Summers on a New England Farm by Donald Hall -- 145

The books I read in May:

62. The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 3 by Bill Watterson -- 146
63. The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 5 by Bill Watterson -- 146
64. The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 6 by Bill Watterson -- 146
65. Introduction to the Qur'an (Great Course) by Martyn Oliver -- 153
66. Lee Friedlander: Christmas by Lee Friedlander, afterword by Peter Kayafas -- 157
67. Vigil: A Novel by George Saunders -- 158
68. Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans -- 168
69. Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous People of North America by Sean Sherman, with Kate Nelson and Kristin Donnelly -- 174
70. Helm by Sarah Hall -- 181
71. The Stars: A New Way to See Them by H. A. Rey -- 182
72. The Lost Language of Oysters (Professor Dr von Igelfeld #6) by Alexander McCall Smith -- 203
73. A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic, or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm by Philip Christian Stead -- 203
74. Purgatory Funeral Cakes Volume 1 by Sanho -- 203

The books I read in June:

75. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome -- 228
76. Something Under the Bed is Drooling: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection by Bill Watterson -- 229
77. Lee Friedlander: Sticks & Stones: Architectural America by Lee Friedlander -- 252
78. Attack of the Deranged Killer Monster Snow Goons: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection by Bill Watterson -- 252
79. Please Write: A Novel in Letters by J. Wynn Rousuck -- 252
80. Sugar and Spite (Agatha Raisin #36) by M. C. Beaton with R. W. Green -- 263
81. Do You Sleep in the Nude? by Rex Reed -- 263
82. Asterix Omnibus 2 by Rene Goscinny, ill. Albert Uderzo -- 263
83. The Celtic World (Great Course) by Jennifer Paxton -- 263
84. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: The Illuminating Diary of a Professional Lady by Anita Loos -- 276
85. To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes: Food Legacies of the People Who Left Behind Recipes, Etched in Stone by Rosie Grant -- 276
86. The Essential Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury by Bill Watterson -- 276
87. The Days Are Just Packed: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection by Bill Watterson -- 276
88. Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate, ill. Jennifer Bricking -- 293
89. The Dogs of Venice: A Novel by Steven Rowley -- 293
90. True North Cabin Cookbook: Volume Two: Seasonal Recipes from a Cozy Kitchen by Stephanie Hansen -- 293
91. Missing May by Cynthia Rylant -- 293
92. The Names Upon the Harp: Irish Myth and Legend by Marie Heaney, ill. P. J. Lynch -- 293
93. The Secret of Kells: The Graphic Novel, based on a film by Tom Moore and Nora Tuomey, adapted by Samuel Sattin -- 293
94. Asterix Omnibus 1: Asterix the Gaul, Asterix and the Golden Sickle, Asterix and the Goths by Rene Goscinny, ill. Albert Uderzo -- 293

Good reading to you!

*******************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony,
the illustrated children's book, and the board game.
(Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
*******************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jessibud2, Norabelle, avatiakh, AMQS, Blbera, richardderus, Booklist, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!)

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From the LibraryThing newsletter, a list of members’ “Favorite Picture Books”! Just when I thought I had read them all (Just kidding. Not even close).

https://www.librarything.com/list/45998/Favorite-Picture-Books

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Another treasure list (read in April 2025): Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children's Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World by Leonard S. Marcus. I'll search out the books a few at a time.

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Here's where I'll list the illustrated books I read (the number at the end of each line represents the post number where I listed the book).

My FIRST thread:

The illustrated books I read in January:

Illustrated1. Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
Illustrated2. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig -
Illustrated3. Melisande by E. (Edith) Nesbit, ill. P. J. Lynch
Illustrated4. Quentin Blake's Fantastic Journeys by Quentin Blake
Illustrated5. Oh, Olive! by Lian Cho
Illlustrated6. I Am We: How Crows Come Together to Survive by Leslie Barnard Booth, ill. Alexandra Finkeldey
Illustrated7. Making Art by Diana Ejaita
Illustrated8. So Cold! by John Coy, ill. Chris Park
Illustrated9. Dragon Flower by Jiang Hong Chen, tr. from French by Alyson Waters
Illustrated10. The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffman, ill. David Delamare
Illustrated11. The Tiger Prince by Chen Jiang Hong, tr. from French by Alyson Waters
Illustrated12. The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss
Illustrated13. Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider by Jessica Lanan
Illustrated14. Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, ill. Dan Santat
Illustrated15. The Christmas Secret by David Delamare
Illustrated16. Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld
Illustrated17. Invisible Things by Andy J. Pizza (Andy J. Miller) and Sophie Miller
Illustrated18. Winter is the Worst! by Dan Tavis
Illustrated19. Lucy's Christmas by Donald Hall, ill. Michael McCurdy -
Illustrated20. The Twelve Days of Christmas, ill. David Delamare
Illustrated21. Sneetches on Beaches by Dr. Seuss
Illustrated22. All the Stars in the Sky by Art Coulson, ill. Winona Nelson
Illustrated23. Remembering by Xelena Gonzalez, ill. Adriana M. Garcia
Illustrated24. The Mightiest Heart by Lynn Cullen, ill. Laurel Long
Illustrated25. Where Wonder Grows by Xelena Gonzalez, ill. Adriana M. Garcia
Illustrated26. Winter's Gift by Jane Monroe Donovan
Illustrated27. How Dinosaurs Went Extinct: A Safety Guide by Ame Dyckman, ill. Jennifer Harney
Illustrated28. Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi! by Art Coulson, ill. Madelyn Goodnight
Illustrated29. All Around Us by Xelena Gonzalez, ill. Adriana M. Garcia
Illustrated30. Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated31. A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A Story About Knitting and Love by Michelle Edwards, ill. G. Brian Karas
Illustrated32. Snowshoe Kate and the Hospital Built for Pennies by Margi Preus, ill. Jaime Zollars
Illustrated33. Mr. Putter and Tabby Take the Train by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated34. Mr. Putter and Tabby Clear the Decks by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated35. Mr. Putter and Tabby Hit the Slope by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated36. A Snow Day for Amos McGee by Philip Christian Stead, ill. Erin E. Stead
Illustrated37. Zip Zap Wickety Wack: A Story about Sharing by Matthew Diffee
Illustrated38. Widget by Lyn Rassiter McFarland, ill. Jim McFarland
Illustrated39. Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, ill. Jon Klassen
Illustrated40. The Monster in the Lake by Leo Timmers, tr. Bill Nagelkerke
Illustrated41. The Library in the Woods by Calvin A. Ramsey, ill. R. Gregory Christie
Illustrated42. Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou, ill. Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Illustrated43. Chicken Man by Michelle Edwards
Illustrated44. Listen: How Pete Seeger Got America Singing by Leda Schubert, ill. Raul Colon
Illustrated45. Oh No, the Aunts Are Here by Adam Rex, ill. Lian Cho
Illustrated46. Pup and Bear by Kate Banks, ill. Naoko Stoop
Illustrated47. Bear and Wolf by Daniel Salmieri
Illustrated48. I Am the Dog. I Am the Cat by Donald Hall, ill. Barry Moser
Illustrated49. Is It Asleep? by Olivier Tallec, tr. Antony Shugaar

The illustrated books I read in February:

Illustrated50. Mr. Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated51. Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated52. Mr. Putter and Tabby Row the Boat by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated53. Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead, ill. Erin E. Stead
Illustrated54. Cat Nap by Brian Lies
Illustrated55. Saturday Morning at the 'Shop by Keenan Jones, ill. Ken Daley
Illustrated56. Revolutions Are Made of Love: The Story of James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs, poems by Sun Yung Shin and Melina Mangal, ill. Leslie Barlow
Illustrated57. Amos McGee Misses the Bus by Philip C. Stead, ill. Erin E. Stead
Illustrated58. Dear Acorn (Love, Oak): Letter Poems to Friends by Joyce Sidman, ill. Melissa Sweet
Illustrated59. Hanukkah Bear by Eric A. Kimmel, ill. Mike Wohnoutka -
Illustrated60. The House with the Little Red Door by Grace Easton
Illustrated61. The Book with No Pictures by B. J. Novak
Illustrated62. Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel, ill. Trina Schart Hyman
Illustrated63. The Rough Patch by Brian Lies
Illustrated64. Mr. Putter and Tabby Stir the Soup by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated65. Mr. Putter and Tabby Catch the Cold by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated66. Mr. Putter and Tabby Toot the Horn by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated67. Little Bat Up All Day by Brian Lies
Illustrated68. A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott
Illustrated69. Tiny Owl's Scary Day by Petr Horacek
Illustrated70. So Much Snow by Hyunmin Park
Illustrated71. Snow by Uri Shulevitz
Illustrated72. Snow by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Lauren Stringer
Illustrated73. Snowman's Story by Will Hillenbrand
Illustrated74. So Much Snow by Kirstin Schroeder, ill. Sarah Jacoby
Illustrated75. Mr. Putter and Tabby Write the Book by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated76. Mr. Putter and Tabby Make a Wish by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated77. Mr. Putter and Tabby Spin the Yarn by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated78. The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship: A Russian Tale, retold by Arthur Ransome, ill. Uri Shulevitch
Illustrated79. Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
Illustrated80. The Lucky Red Envelope: A Lift-the-Flap Lunar New Year Celebration by Vikki Zhang
Illustrated81. New Moon's Family by Erika Adams, ill. Eric Soderstrom
Illustrated82. Bear and the Three Goldilocks by Patrick Horne, ill. Dan Yaccarino
Illustrated83. Never Give a Baby a Library Card by Erin Sandberg, ill. Tom Booth
Illustrated84. Big Kids by K. L. Going, ill. Reggie Brown
Illustrated85. The Cake Problem: Equivalent and Simplified Fractions by Bill Wise, ill. Davilyn Lynch
Illustrated86. Bats at the Library by Brian Lies
Illustrated87. From Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs by Hudson Talbott
Illustrated88. Some Days I'm the Wind by Rebecca Gardyn Levington, ill. Dinara Mirtalipora
Illustrated89. Mr. Putter and Tabby Spill the Beans by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard -
Illustrated90. Mr. Putter and Tabby See the Stars by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated91. Mr. Putter and Tabby Run the Race by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated92. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Parker by Patricia Hruby Powell, ill. Christian Robinson
Illustrated93. River of Dreams: The Story of the Hudson River by Hudson Talbott
Illustrated94. Dear Moxie, Dear Rex by Cathy Petter, ill. Bryony Clarkson

The illustrated books I read in March:

Illustrated95. Mr. Putter and Tabby Drop the Ball by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated96. Mr. Putter and Tabby Ring the Bell by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated97. Mr. Putter and Tabby Turn the Page by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated98. Mr. Putter and Tabby Dance the Dance by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Arthur Howard
Illustrated99. Llama Llama Home with Mama by Anna Dewdney

Illustrated100. Norman Didn't Do It! (Yes, He Did) by Ryan T. Higgins
Illustrated101. Cranky, Crabby Crow (Saves the World) by Corey R. Tabor
Illustrated102. The Bear Out There by Jess Hannigan
Illustrated103. Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson, ill. Jane Chapman
Illustrated104. Lone Wolf Goes to the Library by Kiah Thomas, ill. K-Fai Steele
Illustrated105. Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton
Illustrated106. Chicken Little, retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg
Illustrated107. Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
Illustrated108. No Cats in the Library by Lauren Emmons
Illustrated109. The Cat Who Walked Across France by Kate Banks, ill. Georg Hallendsleben
Illustrated110. Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen
Illustrated111. Because of a Shoe by Julie Fogliano, ill. Marla Frazee
Illustrated112. Pluto Gets the Call by Adam Rex, ill. Laurie Keller
Illustrated113. Lone Wolf Gets a Pet by Kiah Thomas, ill. K-Fai Steele
Illustrated114. Lone Wolf Goes to School by Kiah Thomas, ill. K-Fai Steele
Illustrated115. Lone Wolf on Vacation by Kiah Thomas, ill. K-Fai Steele
Illustrated116. North Woods Girl by Aimee M. Bissonette, ill. Claudia McGehee
Illustrated117. Old Home Day by Donald Hall, ill. Emily Arnold McCully
Illustrated118. Bear Can't Sleep by Karma Wilson, ill. Jane Chapman

My SECOND thread:

The illustrated books I read in March (continued):

Illustrated119. Memoirs of a goldfish by Devin Scillian, ill. Tim Powers -- 12
Illustrated120. A Stone Sat Still by Brendon Wenzel -- 12
Illustrated121. Move Over, Rover by Karen Beaumont, ill. Jane Dyer -- 12
Illustrated122. Sorry (Really Sorry) by Joanna Cotler, ill. Harry Bliss -- 12
Illustrated123. Many Moons by James Thurber, ill. Marc Simont -- 12
Illustrated124. The Truth About Max by Alice and Martin Provensen -- 12
Illustrated125. Luke on the Loose by Harry Bliss -- 12
Illustrated126. Good Rosie! by Kate DiCamillo, ill. Harry Bliss -- 12
Illustrated127. Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson, ill. Jane Chapman -- 12
Illustrated128. Paper Mice by Megan Wagner Lloyd, ill. Phoebe Wahl -- 12
Illustrated129. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney -- 12
Illustrated130. Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney -- 36
Illustrated131. Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney -- 36
Illustrated132. Llama Llama and the Bully Goat by Anna Dewdney -- 36
Illustrated133. Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney -- 36
Illustrated134. Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel -- 36
Illustrated135. They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel -- 36
Illustrated136. Everybody Says Meow by Constance Lombardo -- 36
Illustrated137. Poopsie Gets Lost by Hannah E. Harrison -- 36
Illustrated138. In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb by Marion Dane Bauer, ill. Emily Arnold McCully -- 36
Illustrated139. Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann -- 36
Illustrated140. Pearl's Garden by Carolyn Olson -- 36
Illustrated141. My Brother's Book by Maurice Sendak -- 43
Illustrated142. Many Moons by James Thurber, ill. Louis Slobodkin -- 43
Illustrated143. Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb, ill. Erin Kraan -- 43
Illustrated144. I Want 100 Dogs by Stacy McAnulty, ill. Claire Keene -- 43
Illustrated145. Lucky Ducklings by Eva Moore, ill. Nancy Carpenter -- 43
Illustrated146. The Biggest Dog in the Book by Ben Lerwill, ill. Mark Chambers -- 43
Illustrated147. Something from Nothing: Adapted from a Jewish Folktale by Phoebe Gilman -- 43

The illustrated books I read in April:

Illustrated148. The Great Quillow by James Thurber, ill. Steven Kellogg -- 53
Illustrated149. Unfunny Bunny by Kenan Thompson with Bryan Tucker, ill. Tony Neal -- 53
Illustrated150. The Weedy Garden: A Happy Habitat for Wild Friends by Margaret Renkl, ill. Billy Renkl -- 53
Illustrated151. Please Please the Bees by Gerald Kelley -- 53
Illustrated152. And, Too, the Fox by Ada Limon, ill. Gaby D'Alessandro -- 53
Illustrated153. In Praise of Mystery by Ada Limon, ill. Peter Sis -- 54
Illustrated154. Boot & Shoe by Marla Frazee -- 54
Illustrated155. Memoirs of a Hamster by Devin Scillian, ill. Tim Bowers -- 54
Illustrated156. Llama Llama Happy Birthday! by Anna Dewdney -- 54
Illustrated157. Llama Llama Gram and Grandpa by Anna Dewdney -- 54
Illustrated158. Llama Llama Loves to Read by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan, ill. J. T. Morrow -- 54
Illustrated159. Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too by Anna Dewdney -- 70
Illustrated160. Llama Llama Yum Yum Yum by Anna Dewdney -- 70
Illustrated161. Llama Llama Mess Mess Mess, An Anna Dewdney Book, by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan, ill. J. T. Morrow -- 70
Illustrated162. Llama Llama Hide & Seek: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Anna Dewdney -- 70
Illustrated163. Llama Llama Loose Tooth Drama, An Anna Dewdney Book -- 70
Illustrated164. Llama Llama Meet the Babysitter, An Anna Dewdney Book, by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan, ill. J. T. Morrow -- 70
Illustrated165. Llama Llama Back to School, An Anna Dewdney Book, by Reed Duncan, ill. J. T. Morrow -- 70
Illustrated166. Llama Llama's Little Lie, An Anna Dewdney Book, by Reed Duncan, ill. J. T. Morrow -- 70
Illustrated167. Someone Could Win a Polar Bear by John Ciardi, ill. Edward Gorey -- 82
Illustrated168. You Know Who by John Ciardi, ill. Edward Gorey -- 82
Illustrated169. The Shrinking of Treehorn by Florence Parry Heide, il. Edward Gorey -- 82
Illustrated170. Bartleby by Matt Phelan -- 82
Illustrated171. The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster, ill. Chris Raschka -- 82
Illustrated172. Wood & Words: The Story of Poet Mary Oliver by Sara Holly Ackerman, ill. Naoko stoop -- 82
Illustrated173. M Is for Monster: A Fantastic Creatures Alphabet by J. Patrick Lewis, ill. Gerald Kelley -- 82
Illustrated174. Grandma and the Pirates by Phoebe Gilman -- 99
Illustrated175. What Lolo Wants by Christina Oxtra, ill. Jamie Bauza -- 99
Illustrated176. Little Black Crow by Christopher Raschka -- 99
Illustrated177. The Blue House I Loved by Kao Kalia Yang, ill. Jen Shin -- 99
Illustrated178. That Swingin' Sound: The Musical Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong -- 99
Illustrated179. Who Will Rule the Trees? by Eric A. Kimmel, ill. Alette Straathof -- 99
Illustrated180. Uh-Oh, Rollo! by Reed Duncan, ill. Katih Frawley -- 120
Illustrated181. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault ill. Lois Ehlert -- 120
Illustrated182. Your Birthday Was the Best! by Maggie Hutchings, ill. Felicita Sala -- 120
Illustrated183. The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee -- 120
Illustrated184. The Utter Zoo: An Alphabet by Edward Gorey -- 120
Illustrated185. Brave Irene by William Steig -- 120
Illustrated186. Poppleton by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Mark Teague -- 120
Illustrated187. What Miss Mitchell Saw by Hayley Barrett, ill. Diana Suchyka -- 120
Illustrated188. Letters from Space by Clayton Anderson, ill. Susan Batori -- 120
Illustrated189. Bats in the Band by Brian Lies -- 120

The illustrated books I read in May:

Illustrated190. And They Walk On by Kevin Maillard, ill. Rafael Lopez -- 147
Illustrated191. Do You Remember? by Sydney Smith -- 147
Illustrated192. A Day in the Life off Murphy by Alice Provensen -- 147
Illustrated193. Murphy in the City by Alice Provensen -- 147
Illustrated194. The Night of the Hedgehog by Tanya Rosie, ill. Chuck Groenink -- 147
Illustrated195. Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus, ill. Polly Dunbar -- 147
Illustrated196. Terrible Horses by Raymond Antrobus, ill. Ken Wilson-Max -- 147
Illustrated197. Prince: A Little Golden Books Biography by Nikki Shannon Smith, ill. Don Tate -- 169
Illustrated198. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, ill. Juana Martinez-Neal -- 169
Illustrated199. The Library Book by Tom Chapin and Michael Mark, ill. Chuck Groenink -- 169
Illustrated200. Who Am I?: A Peek-Through-Pages Book of Endangered Animals by Tim Flach -- 169
Illustrated201. The Selfish Sister by David Sedaris, ill. Bob Staake -- 169
Illustrated202. Judgy Bunny and the Terrible Beach by Scott Rothman, ill. Linzie Hunter -- 169
Illustrated203. 999 Tadpoles by Ken Kimura, ill. Yasunari Murakami -- 169
Illustrated204. 999 Frogs Wake Up by Ken Kimura, ill. Yasunari Murakami -- 169
Illustrated205. 999 Frogs and a Little Brother by Ken Kimura, ill. Yasunari Murakami -- 169
Illustrated206. Five Minutes' Peace by Jill Murphy -- 183
Illustrated207. Hedgehogs Don't Wear Underwear by Marissa Valdez -- 183
Illustrated208. Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies -- 183
Illustrated209. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin -- 183
Illustrated210. Irving Berlin: The Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing by Nancy Churnin, ill. James Rey Sanchez -- 183
Illustrated211. The Music Inside Us: Yo-Yo Ma and His Gifts to the World by James Howe, ill. Jack Wong -- 183
Illustrated212. Cat Nap by Brian Lies -- 195
Illustrated213. Child of the Universe by Ray Jayawardhana, ill. Raul Colon -- 195
Illustrated214. To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell -- 195
Illustrated215. See You Later, Alligator! by Sally Hopgood, ill. Emma Levey -- 195
Illustrated216. Little Bat in Night School by Brian Lies -- 195
Illustrated217. The Girl Who Was Too Big for the Page by Geena Davis -- 195
Illustrated218. It's My Bird-Day! by Mo Willems -- 195
Illustrated219. Northwoods Lullaby by Mary Casanova, ill. Jordan Sundberg -- 196
Illustrated220. The Midsummer Tomte and the Little Rabbits by Ulf Stark, ill. Eva Eriksson -- 196
Illustrated221. Now One Foot, Now the Other by Tomie DePaola -- 210
Illustrated222. Katie and the Starry Night by James Mayhew -- 210
Illustrated223. Our Sacred Land of Phezuta by Tara Perron, ill. Holly Young -- 210
Illustrated224. Got to Get to Bear's! by Brian Lies -- 210
Illustrated225. Music and Silence: The Passion and Protest of Pablo Casals by Christy Mihaly, ill. Mariona Cabassa -- 210
Illustrated226. The Yule Tomte and the Little Rabbits: A Christmas Story for Advent by Ulf Stark, ill. Eva Eriksson -- 210
Illustrated227. Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, ill. Harry Bliss -- 210
Illustrated228. The Not So Quiet Life of Marcel Marceau by Jenn Bailey and Sherry Bushue, ill. Pamela Zagarenski -- 210

The illustrated books I read in June:

Illustrated229. My Little Small by Ulf Stark, ill. Linda Bondestam, tr. Annie Prime -- 222
Illustrated230. Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin, ill. Betsy Lewin -- 222
Illustrated231. Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs by Tomie DePaola -- 222
Illustrated232. The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico, ill. Angela Barrett -- 222
Illustrated233. Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe -- 222
Illustrated234. This Way, Charlie by Caron Lewis, ill. Charles Santoso -- 222
Illustrated235. Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Color by Joyce Sidman, ill. Pamela Zagarenski -- 230
Illustrated236. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, ill. Betsy Lewin -- 230
Illustrated237. Rhoda's Rock Hunt by Molly Beth Griffin, ill. Jennifer A Bell -- 230
Illustrated238. When Dad Showed Me the Universe by Ulf Stark, ill. Eva Eriksson, tr. Julia Marshall -- 230
Illustrated239. Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue, ill. Pamela Zagarenski -- 230
Illustrated240. A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech, ill. Harry Bliss -- 230
Illustrated241. All the Colors of the Earth by Sheila Hamanaka -- 253
Illustrated242. The Gold Leaf by Kirsten Hall, ill. Matthew Forsythe -- 253
Illusrrated243. Tomatoes on Trial: The Fruit v. Vegetable Showdown by Lindsay H. Metcalf, ill. Edwin Fotheringham -- 253
Illustrated244. Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff -- 253
Illustrated245. Warning: Do Not Open This Book! by Adama Lehrhaupt, ill. Matthew Forsythe -- 253
Illustrated246. Happy Springtime! by Kate McMullan, ill. Sujean Rim -- 253
Illustrated247. Which Would You Rather Be? by William Steig, ill. Harry Bliss -- 253
Illustrated248. The Man Who Didn't Wash His Dishes by Phyllis Krasilovsky, ill. Barbara Cooney -- 288
Illustrated249. Mouse Bird Snake Wolf by David Almond, ill. Dave McKean -- 288
Illustrated250. The Verts: A Story of Introverts and Extroverts by Ann Patchett, ill. Robin Preiss Glasser -- 288
Illustrated251. Did Your Mother Ever Tell You?: Words of Wisdom, Wit, and Love by Barbara Costello, ill. Margaus Lucas -- 288
Illustrated252. Monsters Are Afraid of the Moon by Marjane Satrapi -- 288
Illustrated253. Bread and Jam for Frances by Russel Hoban, ill. Lillian Hoban -- 288
Illustrated254. Lambslide by Ann Patchett, ill. Robin Preiss Glasser -- 288
Illustrated255. Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik, ill. Maurice Sendak -- 289
Illustrated256. 16 Words: William Carlos Williams and "The Red Wheelbarrow" by Lisa Rogers, ill. Chuck Groenink -- 289
Illustrated257. The Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen -- 289
Illustrated258. Life by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Brendan Wenzel -- 289
Illustrated259. Pickle-Chiffon Pie by Roger Bradfield -- 289
Illustrated260. The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnett, ill. Jon Klassen -- 289

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart
The Perseverance by Raymond Antrobus
Dear New York by Brandon Stanton

Finished: Lord of the Butterflies by Andrea Gibson

Adding:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
The Half-Finished Heaven by Tomas Transtormer

Somehow gathered eleven more illustrated books!

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 2 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 3. Transcendentalism in New England and 4. Wild Spaces of New England

TV Watching: 9-1-1 9.13, Abbott Elementary 5.16, Shrinking 3.8

Listening:

Wordle 1,734 4/6* New Wordle word today: irate, dared, learn, rehab

⬜🟦🟦⬜🟦
⬜🟦🟦🟦⬜
⬜🟧🟦🟦⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1012
🟨🟨🟨🟨
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Strands #746
“Bring a plate”
🟡🔵🔵🔵
🔵🔵

Happy new thread, dear Karen.

Happy new one, Karen

Happy new thread, Karen!

Happy new thread!

>4 PaulCranswick: >5 jessibud2: >6 atozgrl: >7 figsfromthistle: Thank you, all, for your warm greetings! Wishing you all happy weekends and good reading! I’ll be around to your threads shortly!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart
The Perseverance by Raymond Antrobus
Dear New York by Brandon Stanton
A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
The Half-Finished Heaven by Tomas Transtromer

Finished all of Wednesday’s illustrated books (9). A few more may be coming my way today. 🤗

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 2 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 3. Transcendentalism in New England and 4. Wild Spaces of New England

TV Watching: High Potential 2.15, R. J. Decker 1.1 (show inspired by Carl Hiassen (according to IMDB) and hits all my favorite “Florida PI rascal” notes. I’ll definitely keep watching!)

Listening:

Wordle 1,735 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, cabin, oasis

🟦⬜🟦⬜⬜
⬜🟧⬜🟧⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1013
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Strands #747
“Spring fever”
💡🔵🔵💡
🔵🔵🔵🟡
🔵

33. Lord of the Butterflies by Andrea Gibson



"Artful and nuanced looks at gender, romance, loss, and family."

Sorry to say that I didn't find much to like in this collection of Gibson's poems. This is her first book of poetry. I don't know if it was her selection of difficult topics, the roughness of the words, the gigantic "text block" poems,... But most of them left me cold, and that is so unusual with poetry and me. Couldn't find one poem that I want to quote here.

But that is just my feeling, and the book has lots of five-star reviews on LT. Maybe I'll give it another try someday.

Happy weekend-ahead's reads, Karen O.!

***************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony,
the illustrated children's book, and the board game.
(Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
***************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jnwelch, squeakychu, jessibud2, Norabelle, avatiakh, AMQS, Blbera, foggidawn, richardderus, Booklist, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

********************
From the LibraryThing newsletter, a list of members’ “Favorite Picture Books”! Just when I thought I had read them all (Just kidding. Not even close).

https://www.librarything.com/list/45998/Favorite-Picture-Books

********************

Another treasure list (read in April 2025): Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children's Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World by Leonard S. Marcus.

********************



Illustrated119. Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian, ill. Tim Powers



"The pros and cons of a solitary life."

Very cute!



Illustrated120. A Stone Sat Still by Brenden Wenzel



"When is a stone more than a stone?"

"How different perspectives and the passage of time can turn a seemingly ordinary stone into a site of infinite possibility."

"And it sat where it sat
with the water, grass, and dirt
and it was as it was
where it was in the world."

Really lovely words and illustrations.



Illustrated121. Move Over, Rover by Karen Beaumont, ill. Jane Dyer



"When a storm comes Rover expects to have his doghouse all to himself but finds that various other animals, including a skunk, come to join him."

Funny story (rhyming verse), great illustrations (also funny!)



Illustrated122. Sorry (Really Sorry) by Joanna Cotler, ill. Harry Bliss



"Power of reactivity and how to defuse it with love."

Love the story and illustrations (well, it's Harry Bliss!)

Book has these "blurbs" on the back cover:

"Cow started it!" (Duck)
"I'm not sorry that I love this book!" (Pig)
"I'm sorry that I didn't write it!" (Cow)
"I wish it came with a snack!" (Goat)



Illustrated123. Many Moons by James Thurber, ill. Marc Simont



"Wise and humorous tale of the princess who wants the moon--and gets it--is one of those rare stories that speak to children generation after generation."

An older version of this book was illustrated by Louis Slobodkin, and won a Caldecott. I've got that one requested, too, but Marc Simont is no slouch--beautiful watercolor illustrations! One reviewer says that Slobodkin's illustrations were "more cartoonlike and quirky."



Illustrated124. The Truth about Max by Alice and Martin Provensen



"Have you met Max?
Max is a cat
who lives on a farm.
Max is always hungry.
Max is very clever.
Max is full of mischief.
But what is the truth about Max?
Read this book and you'll find out."

Wonderful watercolor illustrations, and words are written in cursive! The words looked strange to me, and that's why. I don't think I've ever seen cursive lettering in an illustrated book!



Illustrated125. Luke on the Loose by Harry Bliss



This was a reread for me, because...well, Harry Bliss!

"A young boy's fascination with pigeons soon erupts into a full-blown chase around Central Park, across the Brooklyn Bridge, through a fancy restaurant, and into the sky."

This book is set up like a comic book for the earliest readers. Funny story, and terrific illustrations. What a handful that Luke is!



Illustrated126. Good Rosie! by Kate DiCamillo, ill. Harry Bliss



Two of my favorite authors, together!

Rosie is a loner of a dog, until she gets to spend some time at a dog park and gains two good doggy friends. This book is hilarious and so sweet.



Illustrated127. Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson, ill. Jane Chapman



"Celebration of family and friendship...Bear thanks his friends for bringing food dishes to his dinner party and finds a way of sharing something of his own."



Illustrated128. Paper Mice by Megan Wagner Lloyd, ill. Phoebe Wahl



"Richly detailed illustrations bring to life this lyrical story off discovery and friendship."

"One night, two newly made paper mice separately explore a dark house, finding each other along the way and discovering a shared love of adventure."

Old-style story and illustrations. Published in 2019? I've finally come across an illustrated book that I don't like very much. Oh, well. Out of hundreds and hundreds, one bad apple? Not to worry, then.

The book was uber-cutesie, humans had feverishly red cheeks, story didn't make much sense.



Illustrated129. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney



"A bedtime story.
A good night kiss.
And Mama Llama turns off the light.
But is everything all right?
NO!"

Rhyming, funny story! Wonderful "llama" illustrations. Nice counterpart to the previous book!

Happy new thread, Karen!
Have a wonderful weekend.

Happy Saturday, Karen. Happy New Thread. I hope those current reads are treating you just fine. I know mine are...😜

>13 SirThomas: >14 msf59: Thank you for the lovely greetings! I appreciate them so much!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart
The Perseverance by Raymond Antrobus
Dear New York by Brandon Stanton
A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
The Half-Finished Heaven by Tomas Transtromer

Magazines Read: NYT Book Review (03/01) and (03/08)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 2 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 3. Transcendentalism in New England and 4. Wild Spaces of New England

TV Watching: 9-1-1 9.14, Outlander 8.3

Listening:

Wordle 1,736 5/6* New Wordle word today: irate, bijou, chimp, icily, slick

🟦⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟦⬜⬜⬜
🟦⬜🟧⬜⬜
⬜🟦🟧🟦⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1014
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Strands #748
“Sniff sniff”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🟡🔵🔵

Today: Online church. Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

The Perseverance by Raymond Antrobus
Dear New York by Brandon Stanton
A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
The Half-Finished Heaven by Tomas Transtromer

Finished: Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart

Adding: Dorie’s Anytime Cakes by Dorie Greenspan

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 2 lectures of 24 watched.

Watched: 3. Transcendentalism in New England and 4. Wild Spaces of New England

Will watch: 5. New York’s Elites and 6. New York through the Eyes of Immigrants

TV Watching: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters 2.4, R. J. Decker 1.2, 1.3

Listening:

Wordle 1,737 5/6* Today’s Wordle is new: irate, haiku, cabin, basis, basil

🟦⬜🟦⬜⬜
⬜🟧🟦⬜⬜
⬜🟧🟦🟧⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1015
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Strands #749
“Trademarked no more”
🔵🔵💡🔵
💡🔵🟡🔵

Happy new thread!

>18 drneutron: Thanks Doc!



34. Vera, or Faith: A Novel by Gary Shteyngart



"A poignant, sharp-eyed, and bitterly funny tale of a family struggling to stay together in a country rapidly coming apart, told through the eyes of their wondrous ten-year-old daughter, Vera."

The book is the story of Vera's search for her origins. She lives with her father and stepmother and her little brother. Her birth mother is not in the picture. Vera has never known her but wants to meet her in the worst way. She enlists her new best friend (human) and her chess-playing friend (an AI entity) to help her bring this about.

Vera is a lovely character, very intelligent but needy and a little fragile. Although only ten, she is determined to live her life so that she can become a "STEM woman" and go to Swarthmore when the time comes.

I found the background of the story simply terrifying. It takes place in a near-future America, where a Constitutional Convention is looming, and who knows what will happen to democracy? A "5-3" movement is underway to allot an enhanced vote to "exceptional" Americans (those descended from Mayflower passengers or the like). Women are subject to menstrual cycle scans at certain state borders (even ten-year-old Vera is questioned and has to submit to a blood test--outrageous and horrifying!)

It could be that Shteyngart tried to do too much with this book...I think Vera's story would have been enough. But I found the book very compelling and would love to read more about Vera.

35. The Perseverance by Raymond Antrobus



"About communication and connection, about cultural inheritance, about identity in a hearing world that takes everything for granted, about the dangers we may find...if we fail to understand each other.

This collection is also about Antrobus's father, and their relationship. It's about grief and loss, and a deaf person finding their way in a hearing world.

From the end of DEAR HEARING WORLD

...You erased what could have always been poetry.
You taught me I was inferior to standard English expression--
I was a broken speaker, you were never a broken interpreter--
taught me my speech was dry for someone who should sound
like they're underwater. It took years to talk with a straight spine and
mute red marks on the coursework you assigned.

Deaf voices go missing like sound in space
and I have left earth to find them.

The book ends with a really interesting "Deaf Poetics" interview.

I really enjoyed this book and will hope to read more Antrobus in the future. I am currently reading his book The Quiet Ear: An Investigation of Missing Sound: A Memoir.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Dear New York by Brandon Stanton
A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
The Half-Finished Heaven by Tomas Transtromer

Finished: The Perseverance by Raymond Antrobus

Adding: Startlement: New and Selected Poems by Ada Limon

Magazines Read: The Week (03/13), New Yorker (03/16)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 4 lectures of 24 watched.

Watched: 3. Transcendentalism in New England and 4. Wild Spaces of New England

Will watch: 5. New York’s Elites and 6. New York through the Eyes of Immigrants

TV Watching: Call the Midwife 15.1 (so happy to see season 15 show up!), CIA 1.1, 1.2 (new show, about a partnership between an FBI agent and a British CIA agent, to solve all kind of international threats. Hey, it’s got Tom Ellis! I’ll keep watching.)

Listening:

Wordle 1,738 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, fired, serif

🟦🟦⬜⬜🟦
🟦🟦🟧🟦⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1016
🟩🟩🟩🟩
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🟦🟦🟦🟦

Strands #750
“In pieces”
💡🔵🔵🔵
🟡🔵🔵🔵

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
The Half-Finished Heaven by Tomas Transtromer
Startlement: New and Selected Poems by Ada Limon

Adding: Dorie’s Anytime Cakes by Dorie Greenspan

Finished: Dear New York by Brandon Stanton

Magazines Read: Smithsonian (Nov), New Yorker (03/23), Astronomy (Jan), (Feb)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 4 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 5. New York’s Elites and 6. New York through the Eyes of Immigrants

TV Watching: DMV 1.14, St Denis Medical 2.16, The Rookie 8.12

Listening:

Wordle 1,739 3/6* New Wordle: irate, drown, brood

⬜🟧⬜⬜⬜
🟦🟧🟧⬜⬜
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Connections
Puzzle #1017
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Strands #751
“Get over it ... or get through it”
💡🔵🔵🟡
🔵🔵🔵🔵

Tuesday orisons, Karen O.! I'm glad you liked the Shteyngart. Stay happy this spring glory.

I got a bit behind...with reference to your Our Town discussion on your previous thread...I have seen it performed multiple times, and it never fails to move me. A one-time boyfriend of mine was an actor/singer/community theater manager, and he played the stage manager in the first production I ever saw. (Might have something to do with my long-term connection to the play!) I think we have recordings of at least 3 professional versions. If you can get your hands on Paul Newman's Stage Manager performance, I urge you to do so. If your library offers the Kanopy service, I think it's on there---free with your library card. It was a Masterpiece Theater offering on PBS, so anyone with a membership should be able to access it on Passport as well.

>23 richardderus: I happened to see the current NY weather and it looks pretty nice! (Reference “spring glory”!) Always good to see you here!

>24 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks for the heads-up on Our Town! I watch a lot of movies and TV, but hadn’t thought of looking up Our Town! Now, I’m on a mission!

Thanks for stopping by!

>25 klobrien2: Happy to spread the joy!

>25 klobrien2: It's so beautiful today I feel guilty.

>26 laytonwoman3rd: My library USED to have Kanopy, but I found that they stopped the service at the end of 2025. But they have a DVD of the 2003 stage play with Paul Newman! So I’ve got it requested and look forward to watching it. Thanks again.

Glad you liked Vera, or Faith. My book group had a good discussion about it.

I have never read or seen Our Town performed, which is kind of surprising to me...

>28 klobrien2: Oh, good! I hope you enjoy it. Sorry your library has dropped Kanopy, though.

>29 katiekrug: I think you’d like Our Town, Katie.

Thanks for stopping by!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
The Half-Finished Heaven by Tomas Transtromer
Startlement: New and Selected Poems by Ada Limon
Dorie’s Anytime Cakes by Dorie Greenspan

Finished: The Provensen Book of Fairy Tales, a “snack book” that I snuck in. A real delight to read.

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 4 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 5. New York’s Elites and 6. New York through the Eyes of Immigrants

TV Watching: Dark Winds 4.6, Best Medicine 1.11, Comeback 3.1 (it’s been 12 years since season 2; glad to see this back!)

Listening:

Wordle 1,740 4/6* New Wordle word: irate, mixer, wider, wiser

🟦🟦⬜⬜🟦
⬜🟧⬜🟧🟧
🟧🟧⬜🟧🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1018
🟨🟨🟨🟨
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🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #752
“Intermission mission”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🔵🔵🟡🔵

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
The Half-Finished Heaven by Tomas Transtromer
Startlement: New and Selected Poems by Ada Limon
Dorie’s Anytime Cakes by Dorie Greenspan

Adding (just got from library): What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

Magazines Read: NYT Magazine (03/08), NYT Book Review (03/15), Scientific American (March)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 4 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 5. New York’s Elites and 6. New York through the Eyes of Immigrants

TV Watching: Shrinking 3.9, Abbott Elementary 5.17, R. J. Decker 1.4

Listening:

Wordle 1,741 2/6* Haha! Wordle word is new (and I found it in two! First word that cropped up on my spreadsheet): irate, befit

🟦⬜⬜🟦🟦
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1019
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Strands #753
“I blew it!”
💡🔵🟡🔵
🔵🔵🔵

36. Dear New York, by Brandon Stanton



I've been a fan of Stanton's books of photographs/interviews for years. He has a way of capturing the hearts and essences of people, and his photography is stellar. This book is like a love letter to the city, and he doesn't shy away from showing people in all circumstances and walks of life.

Stanton's platform is "Humans of New York" (https://brandonstanton.com/humans-of-new-york) and he posts on Instagram and Facebook (I read his current stories on Facebook). The book writeup states that he has over 30 million followers, and that he has photographed/interviewed over 10,000 people in 40 different countries. What an amazing treasure trove!

I'm always amazed by how Stanton's writing and photos can make me feel such connection with complete strangers.

Another five-star read for me!

37. The Provensen Book of Fairy Tales by Alice and Martin Provensen



"Enchanting treasury of twelve classic literary tales, with illustrations by award-winning Alice and Martin Prevensen and stories by Oscar Wilde, A. A. Milne, Hans Christian Andersen, Katharine Pyle, and others."

Just a gorgeous book! Physically, it's made of quality paper, and the pages are large, with many colorful and beautiful illustrations interspersed through the stories. The paintings are not realistic but remind me of medieval illustrations with a hint of cartoon and humor. Lovely to see! The introduction states that the stories are "literary fairy tales" as opposed to "folk fairy tales." Regardless, the stories held my attention. Some were familiar to me, some not, but I enjoyed them all.

***************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony,
the illustrated children's book, and the board game.
(Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
***************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jnwelch, squeakychu, jessibud2, Norabelle, avatiakh, AMQS, Blbera, foggidawn, richardderus, Booklist, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

********************
From the LibraryThing newsletter, a list of members’ “Favorite Picture Books”! Just when I thought I had read them all (Just kidding. Not even close).

https://www.librarything.com/list/45998/Favorite-Picture-Books

********************

Another treasure list (read in April 2025): Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children's Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World by Leonard S. Marcus.

********************

First off, a bunch of "Llama Llama books" (my latest project is reading through them). They all have lovely art and stories (with rhyming), and good lessons for everyone to learn.



Illustrated130. Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney



"Llama Llama doesn't want to share his toys with his new neighbors. But when fighting leads to broken toys and tears, Llama learns that it's better to share."



Illustrated131. Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney



"Llama Llama becomes overwhelmed as Christmas preparations progress until his mother reminds him of the real gift the holiday brings."



Illustrated132. Llama Llama and the Bully Goat by Anna Dewdney



"Following their teacher's lead, Llama Llama speaks to Gilroy Goat and tells him he should not act like a bully on the playground."



Illustrated133. Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney



"A young Llama want to play but must go shopping with his mother instead, and so he gets angry and makes a mess at the store."



Illustrated134. Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel



"A seemingly simple look at similarities and differences becomes a story of connection--a joyous ode to the natural world, in all its diversity and wonder."

A beautiful and funny presentation of diversity. Kids will love seeing the different animals and seeing how they are different and how they are similar.

Section at the back lists all of the animals that are in the book and indicates which are endangered (too many!) Wenzel is a proponent of ecological activism and protection of the natural world.

Excellent book, with so much beauty!



Illustrated135. They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel



"When you see a cat, what do you see?

In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see."

"The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws"

Teaches sensitivity to other ways of seeing, other perspectives..."put yourself in the other critters' paws."



Illustrated136. Everybody Says Meow by Constance Lombardo



"Welcome to that magical time when everybody says,

"MEOW!"

"Ready?"

Another book about accepting differences and recognizing "the other."

This book would be a hoot to read aloud--I can imagine kids roaring with laughter as the story progresses.

And the illustrations aren't too bad, either!



Illustrated137. Poopsie Gets Lost by Hannah E. Harrison



"Tell me, Poopsie--are you a snoozy house cat or are you a daring adventurerr?

Adventure is out there, just beyond the cat door!"

Funny story, with unexpected twists. Poopsie turns out to be quite the daredevil!



Illustrated138. In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb by Marion Dane Bauer, ill. Emily Arnold McCully



"Celebrates March, spring, and life itself."

Rhyming words are funny and clever. Illustrations are beautiful, with "a profusion of color and energetic line." A great book to read in the spring!



Illustrated139. Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann



Caldecott Medal book.

"The children at Napville Elementary School always ignore Officer Buckle's safety tips, until a police dog named Gloria accompanies him when he gives safety speeches."

Funny, with great illustrations.



Illustrated140. Pearl's Garden by Carolyn Olson



"As Pearl tends to her urban garden, caring for tomatoes and peppers, snap peas and beans, her dedication and generosity inspire others to share in the work and reap the rewards."

Lovely book, both in story and illustrations. The illustrations are very lush and colorful, a feast for the eyes.

Published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press. I'm so proud to be a Minnesotan!

>35 klobrien2: - This is new to me. Just placed a request for it from the library!

>37 jessibud2: The Provensen Book of Fairy Tales is a lovely book! I am feeling a strong desire to have a copy for myveryownself (tip of the hat to Richard). I hope you like it as much as I do!

Thanks for stopping by!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
Startlement: New and Selected Poems by Ada Limon
Dorie’s Anytime Cakes by Dorie Greenspan
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

Finished: The Half-Finished Heaven by Tomas Transtromer

Magazines Read: Wired (Nov/Dec)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 4 lectures of 24 watched.

Watched: 5. New York’s Elites and 6. New York through the Eyes of Immigrants

Will watch: 7. New York’s Countercultures and 8. Appalachia and the Mid-Atlantic Ghosts and Labor

TV Watching: High Potential 2.16

Listening:

Wordle 1,742 3/6* Previously used Wordle today (game 59): irate, inurn, ivory

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Connections
Puzzle #1020
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Strands #754
“Just right”
🔵🔵🔵💡
🔵🔵🟡🔵

38. The Half-Finished Heaven: The Best Poems of Tomas Transtromer, chosen and translated from the Swedish by Robert Bly



"Tomas Transtromer has a strange genius for the image...images rise seemingly without effort on his part." (Robert Bly)

I enjoyed this book of poems by Transtromer. I'd never heard of the fellow before, but I think I came across the book when I was looking for more by Donald Hall. As it turns out, Transtromer is a renowned Scandinavian poet; he won the Novel Prize for Literature in 2011.

However, I have to say that the poems seem a little bleak to me, a little choppy, they don't really flow. I can't help but think this coolness, this stoicism might be part of the Swedish mindset (there are a lot of Swedish Americans in Minnesota). A lot of the images encountered here deal with the North, with winter, and coldness.

Here's a poem that grabbed me:

The Tree and the Sky

The tree is walking around in the rain
moving past us in the squishy gray.
It has a job to do. It picks life out of the rain
like a blackbird in a cherry orchard.

As soon as the rain stops, the tree stops too.
It simply stands, motionless in the clear nights,
waiting just as we do for that moment
when snowflakes will throw themselves out in space.

And one more:

From March '79

Being tired of people who come with words, but no speech,
I made my way to the snow-covered island.
The wild does not have words.
The pages free of handwriting stretched out on all sides!
I came upon the tracks of reindeer in the snow.
Speech but no words.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
Startlement: New and Selected Poems by Ada Limon
Dorie’s Anytime Cakes by Dorie Greenspan
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

Magazines Read: The Week (03/20), (03/27); Threads (Fall 2025)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 4 lectures of 24 watched.

Watched: 5. New York’s Elites and 6. New York through the Eyes of Immigrants

Will watch: 7. New York’s Countercultures and 8. Appalachia and the Mid-Atlantic Ghosts and Labor

TV Watching: 9-1-1 9.15, Jo Nesbo’s Detective Hole 1.1, first third of Our Town with Paul Newman (will finish it today).

Listening:

Wordle 1,743 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, antsy, afoot

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Connections
Puzzle #1021
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Strands #755
“Just write”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🟡🔵🔵

Today: Online church. Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
Startlement: New and Selected Poems by Ada Limon
Dorie’s Anytime Cakes by Dorie Greenspan
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

Magazines Read: The Onion (Nov/Dec), (Dec/Jan)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 8 lectures of 24 watched.

Watched: 7. New York’s Countercultures and 8. Appalachia and the Mid-Atlantic Ghosts and Labor

Will watch: 9. Romance and Scandal in Virginia and D.C. and 10. Southern Gothic in Mississippi and Georgia

TV Watching: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters 2.5, finished Our Town with Paul Newman (excellent production!)

Listening:

Wordle 1,744 4/6* New Wordle word today: irate, mound, clump, chump

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Connections
Puzzle #1022
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Strands #756
“A bit peckish?”
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***************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony,
the illustrated children's book, and the board game.
(Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
***************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jnwelch, squeakychu, jessibud2, Norabelle, avatiakh, AMQS, Blbera, foggidawn, richardderus, Booklist, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

********************
From the LibraryThing newsletter, a list of members’ “Favorite Picture Books”! Just when I thought I had read them all (Just kidding. Not even close).

https://www.librarything.com/list/45998/Favorite-Picture-Books

********************

Another treasure list (read in April 2025): Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children's Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World by Leonard S. Marcus.

********************



Illustrated141. My Brother's Book by Maurice Sendak



This was a reread for me; I think I've read every Maurice Sendak thing I could find. This book is a treasure, both for its sheer beauty, and for its insight into Sendak.

"This is Maurice Sendak's last completed book. It's the kind of fairy tale a grieving child tells, a lament, a consolation, and a farewell.
It's Maurice's elegy for his brother, Jack, for his partner of fifty years, Eugene Glynn, and for himself, for the world of astonishing beauty he created in his books." (Tony Kushner)



Illustrated142. Many Moons by James Thurber, ill. Louis Slobodkin



Slobodkin won the 1943 Caldecott Medal for this book. Another edition of the book was published much later, and the illustrator was Marc Simont.

The illustrations in this book are much simpler, almost ethereal. It's interesting how both styles of illustration work so well with the story.

"Tale of a little princess who wanted the moon, and of how she got it. Every family will relish the perplexed wise men, the enraged king, the understanding jester, and the practical way in which the little princess solved the problem that baffled her elders."

Well, that jester wasn't baffled!



Illustrated143. Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb, ill. Erin Kraan



"I'm the Buffalo Fluffalo--
I heave and I huffalo.
Leave me alone because I've had enuffalo!"

Buffalo Fluffalo acts this gruff (or should I say "gruffalo" because he is insecure and afraid. Eventually, his friends find out that he is not so gruff and they tell him,

"You're great how you are, no matter your size."

Really sweet story, and funny and fine illustrations.



Illustrated144. I Want 100 Dogs by Stacy McAnulty, ill. Claire Keene



"When an ambitious girl declares that she wants 100 dogs, her request sets off a chain of hilarious what-ifs. Dog lovers will delight in this clever countdown that revels in all the fun (and consequences) of getting your first pet...or your first 100."

Funny and clever. Great illustrations. Educational, too--concept of "counting down."



Illustrated145. Lucky Ducklings by Eva Moore, ill. Nancy Carpenter



"Fresh and endearing true story about what happens when modern life collides with nature."

"While following their mother through town, five little ducklings fall into a storm drain."

Don't worry, all's well that ends well.

Repeated sentence in the book: "That could have been the end of the story. But it wasn't, because..."

Good story, well done.



Illustrated146. The Biggest Dog in the Book by Ben Lerwill, ill. Mark Chambers



"Full of waggly tails, floppy ears, and a shole lot of woofs, discover which four-legged friend is the Biggest Dog in the book!"

Fun, nice to look at, and educational (different dog breeds, making comparisons).



Illustrated147. Something from Nothing: Adapted from a Jewish Folktale by Phoebe Gilman



"In a rich and loving portrait of shtetl life, Phoebe Gilman presents a traditional Jewish folktale about family, love, and ingenuity that will warm the hearts of readers young and old."

"Joseph's baby blanket is transformed into ever smaller items as he grows until there is nothing left--but then Joseph has an idea.'

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
Startlement: New and Selected Poems by Ada Limon
Dorie’s Anytime Cakes by Dorie Greenspan
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 8 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 9. Romance and Scandal in Virginia and D.C. and 10. Southern Gothic in Mississippi and Georgia

TV Watching: Outlander 8.4, Call the Midwife 15.2, CIA 1.3, 1.4.

Listening:

Wordle 1,745 4/6* Reused Wordle word today (game 122): irate, begot, motet, comet

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Connections
Puzzle #1023
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Strands #757
“For a rainy day”
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🔵

39. Startlement: New and Selected Poems by Ada Limon



"Limon exalts the mysterious, rendering in lovely depth the strangeness of our lives, the magic of the natural world, and the essence of the universe."

A lovely collection of poetry from Limon. Poems from several of her previous collections are included here (I've read the last three):

Lucky Wreck
This Big Fake World
Shark in the Rivers
Bright Dead Things
The Carrying
The Hurting Kind

This book ends with "Startlement/New Poems."

I really enjoy Limon's poetry. Two of her poems have been made into lovely, illustrated books, and I have re-requested them (of course I'd already read them)-- And, Too, the Fox and In Praise of Mystery.

Here is one stanza that grabbed me this time through--from "The Hurting Kind":

I have always been too sensitive, a weeper
from a long line of weepers.
I am the hurting kind.
I keep searching for proof.

The aforementioned "In Praise of Mystery" finishes out both the new poems section, and the entire book. It's lovely:

In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa

Arching under the night sky inky
with black expansiveness, we point
to the planets we know, we

pin quick wishes on stars. From earth,
we read the sky as if it is an unerring book
of the universe, expert and evident.

Still, there are mysteries below our sky:
the whale song, the songbird singing
its call in the bough of a wind-shaken tree.

We are creatures of constant awe,
curious at beauty, at leaf and blossom,
at grief and pleasure, sun and shadow.

And it is not darkness that unites us,
not the cold distance of space, but
the offering of water, each drop of rain,

each rivulet, each pulse, each vein.
O second moon, we, too, are made
of water of vast and beckoning seas.

We, too, are made of wonders, of great
and ordinary loves, of small invisible worlds,
of a need to call out through the dark.

Limon's notes on this poem:

"...was written for NASA's spacecraft the Europa Clipper, which launched on October 14, 2024. The Clipper will travel to Jupiter's second moon, Europa, which scientists believe may have all the ingredients for life. The poem is engraved in my own handwriting on the vault plate of the spacecraft..."

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

Finished: Startlement: New and Selected Poems by Ada Limon
Dorie’s Anytime Cakes by Dorie Greenspan

Adding: Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall

Magazines Read: Minnesota Monthly (Sept/Oct), American Patchwork and Quilting (Dec)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 8 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 9. Romance and Scandal in Virginia and D.C. and 10. Southern Gothic in Mississippi and Georgia

TV Watching: Comeback 3.2, St Denis 2.17, DMV 1.5

Listening:

Wordle 1,746 4/6* New Wordle word today: irate, plasm, scamp, swamp

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Connections
Puzzle #1024
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Strands #758
“While you were sleeping ...”
🔵🟡🔵🔵
🔵🔵🔵🔵

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
The Good Berry Cookbook by Tashia Hart

Magazines Read: New Yorker (03/30), The Week (04/03)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 10 lectures of 24 watched.

Watched: 9. Romance and Scandal in Virginia and D.C. and 10. Southern Gothic in Mississippi and Georgia

Will watch: 11. Alabama and Louisiana: The Soul of the South and 12. Fisticuffs in Florida

TV Watching: Dark Winds 4.7, Best Medicine 1.12, CIA 1.5

Listening:

Wordle 1,747 5/6* Today’s Wordle word is new: irate, bijou, gimpy, silky, fizzy

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Connections
Puzzle #1025
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Strands #759
“Don't make a peep”
🔵🟡🔵🔵
🔵🔵

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
The Good Berry Cookbook by Tashia Hart

Got 8 new illustrated books in from the library!

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 12 lectures of 24 watched.

Watched 11 and 12.

Will watch: 13. Where the South meets the West and 14. The Midwest and the Dream of Post-War America.

TV Watching: Abbott Elementary 5.18, Shrinking 3.10, R. J. Decker 1.5

Listening:

Wordle 1,748 3/6* New Wordle today: irate, demur, sober

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⬜🟦⬜⬜🟧
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Connections
Puzzle #1026
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Strands #760
“On track”
💡🔵🔵🔵
🟡🔵🔵🔵

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
The Good Berry Cookbook by Tashia Hart

Got 8 new illustrated books—finished. More in today?

Magazines Read: NYT Book Review (03/22), NYT Magazine (03/15), The Onion (Jan/Feb)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 12 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 13. Where the South meets the West and 14. The Midwest and the Dream of Post-War America.

TV Watching: Glory be! No TV! I’ll make up for that, though—I have a list of episodes to watch.

Listening:

Wordle 1,749 4/6* New Wordle today: irate, oldie, beige, singe

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Connections
Puzzle #1027
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Strands #761
“Smooth(ie) operator”
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Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall

Finished: The Good Berry Cookbook by Tashia Hart

Adding: At Midnight Comes the Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Three more illustrated books read.

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 12 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 13. Where the South meets the West and 14. The Midwest and the Dream of Post-War America.

TV Watching: Georgie and Mandy 2.14, Ghosts 5.14, Elsbeth 3.14, Animal Control 4.9

Listening:

Wordle 1,750 4/6* New Wordle word today (reuses are at 11.5%): irate, abysm, sadly, sandy (makes me think of “Grease”!)

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Connections
Puzzle #1028
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Strands #762
“Early risers”
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40. Dorie's Anytime Cakes by Dorie Greenspan



"When it comes to happiness, you can count on cake."

Terrific cookbook, with lots of great-looking recipes from a baker and author who knows her cakes.

The book starts off with a "Backbone Basics" section, with lots of great info.

Then the book breaks into these topics:

Pound Cakes
Loaf Cakes
Bundt Cakes
Cakes with Corners
Baby Cakes
Salty Cakes
Frostings, Fillings, Creams, Crunchie,
and Extras That Are Fun

I might not ever make any of these recipes, but they all look wonderful (great photography). Greenspan makes a very strong case (and a very good cake!) for "anytime cakes." This was a very fun book to peruse.

41. The Good Berry Cookbook: Harvesting and Cooking Wild Rice and Other Wild Foods by Tashia Hart



"Explore the natural history, ecological importance of manoomin (wild rice), wild foods and local flavors with more than 75 inspired recipes, including favorites from over a dozen indigenous cooks from various nations."

But this book is so much more than just recipes! Hart shows the background of the gathering of the wild food and its processing and preparation. It was so interesting to see how the wild rice comes to us (I had never seen so much detail). I loved the inclusion of interviews and recipes of various indigenous chefs (including Sean Sherman, of whom I actually knew!)

Recipes and their "ingredients" are divided into the seasons (since so much depends on when the specific ingredients can be gathered). At the end is a great "Resources and Recommended Reading" section.

Very interesting and informative cookbook!

***************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony,
the illustrated children's book, and the board game.
(Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
***************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jnwelch, squeakychu, jessibud2, Norabelle, avatiakh, AMQS, Blbera, foggidawn, richardderus, Booklist, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

********************
From the LibraryThing newsletter, a list of members’ “Favorite Picture Books”! Just when I thought I had read them all (Just kidding. Not even close).

https://www.librarything.com/list/45998/Favorite-Picture-Books

********************

Another treasure list (read in April 2025): Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children's Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World by Leonard S. Marcus.

********************



Illustrated148. The Great Quillow by James Thurber, ill. Steven Kellogg



"This contemporary classic brings style and humor to the familiar folk theme of using intelligence and courage to overcome brute strength."

"Quillow, a tiny toymaker, defeats a ferocious giant named Hunder and saves his town from destruction."

Terrific story (Thurber!) and "Steven Kellogg's vivid and high-spirited illustrations." Loved this book (might need my own copy!)



Illustrated149. Unfunny Bunny by Kenan Thompson with Bryan Tucker, ill. Tony Neal



"Tomorrow is Bunny's first day of school, and everything is going to be perfect. All he wants is to be the funniest kid in class and make all his classmates laugh. But when Bunny gets there, his jokes fall flat.

What's an unfunny bunny to do?"

Kenan Thompson is one of my favorite comedians, and I was excited to see that he had written an illustrated book. The story is sweet and funny! and Bunny is a great character. The story is about friendship and working towards a goal (and coming up with great jokes!)

The book brought back a memory for me--I used to love to read joke books when I was a kid. I would even copy the jokes over (to memorize them?)



Illustrated150. The Weedy Garden: A Happy Habitat for Wild Friends by Margaret Renkl, ill. Billy Renkl (brother)



"The world will always be beautiful to those who look for beauty." (Margaret Renkl)

"If you're a child sitting still in the clover, the weedy garden will whisper its secret to you: The whole listening, singing, buzzing, calling, whirring, dancing, weedy world is filled with friends."

Lovely story and gorgeous collage illustrations. Great sections at the end--Meet the Residents of the Weedy Garden, Planting for Wildlife, Container Gardening with Native Plants, A Visit to the Artist's Studio.

Beautiful book!



Illustrated151. Please Please the Bees by Gerald Kelly



"Benedict was a creature of habit...until one morning something terribly un-same happened.

What can Benedict do to make the bees happy?"

Funny, but very important story. Excellent illustrations--the artist really captures expressions.

One illustration that really made me laugh was of Benedict, a big old bear, laying in his hammock reading "Pride and Prejudice"!



Illustrated152. And, Too, the Fox by Ada Limon, ill. Gaby D'Alessandro



"This vivid poem encourages readers to consider the everyday experiences of a fox, piecing together a living in his own wild way.'

"Brief text and lush illustrations are paired in this joyous poem about a fox."

This was a reread for me, prompted by my recent read of Limon's Startlement. Liked this book better the second time around!

Illustrated153. In Praise of Mystery by Ada Limon, ill. Peter Sis



"Looks out to the endless night sky and inward to our living planet to ask what it means to explore beyond the known world."

A reread, prompted by Startlement. Love this poem and book!



Illustrated154. Boot & Shoe by Marla Frazee



One more reread--it's such a good book, and Boot and Shoe are such good dogs!

"Book and Shoe are dogs who live in the same house, eat from the same bowl, and sleep in the same bed, but happily spend their days on separate porches, until a squirrel causes some serious confusion."

Funny, sweet story! Illustrations are lovely; have kind of a retro look.



Illustrated155. Memoirs of a Hamster by Devin Scillian, ill. Tom Bower



"Introducing Seymour, the hamster who believes he has all he ever needs until Pearl the Cat comes along."

Funny story, with great illustrations.



Illustrated156. Llama Llama Happy Birthday by Anna Dewdney





Illustrated157. Llama Llama Gram and Grandpa by Anna Dewdney



"Sure to help young children with their own first trips away from home."

The book is dedicated "to grandparents everywhere and the little llamas who love them." Sweet!



Illustrated158. Llama Llama Loves to Read by Anna Lewdney and Reed Duncan, ill. J. T. Morrow



Fine "Llama Llama" entry about learning to read and the joys of reading.

I noted the change in author information and, brokenheartedly, did some research to find that Anna Dewdney passed away in 2016 at the young age of 50, due to complications from brain cancer. How horrible! I am truly broken-hearted, but I'll continue on with my "Llama Llama" project in her memory.

Today: Online church. Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
At Midnight Comes the Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Adding: E Is for Edward: A Centennial Celebration of the Mischievous Mind of Edward Gorey by Gregory Hischak

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 12 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 13. Where the South meets the West and 14. The Midwest and the Dream of Post-War America.

TV Watching: 9-1-1 9.16, High Potential 2.17, The Rookie 8.13

Listening:

Wordle 1,751 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, befog, envoy

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Connections
Puzzle #1029
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Strands #763
“Pouch perfect”
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The "Llama Llama" books look so cute! I love the way the illustrator has given them such sweet faces.

Bunny Day orisons, Karen O.!

>56 richardderus: Great to see you making the rounds, Richard! Life has settled down a bit for you. Thanks for stopping by.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
At Midnight Comes the Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming
E Is for Edward: A Centennial Celebration of the Mischievous Mind of Edward Gorey by Gregory Hischak

Magazines Read: AARP (Aug/Sept)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 12 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 13. Where the South meets the West and 14. The Midwest and the Dream of Post-War America.

TV Watching: Call the Midwife 15.3, Dark Winds 4.8 (end of the season).

Listening:

Wordle 1,752 4/6* New Wordle word today: irate, furor, honor, sworn

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Connections
Puzzle #1030
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Strands #764
“Fringe group”
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42. E Is For Edward: A Centennial Celebration of the Mischievous Mind of Edward Gorey by Gregory Hischak



"A celebration of beloved American writer, artist, and illustrator Edward Gorey on his one hundredth birthday."

Lovely, HUGE book, wonderful reproductions of collected drawings from all over Gorey's oeuvre, plus lot of biographical and ephemeral finds. The book is very large (it was a real workout for my hands and wrists). I weighed the book--5 pounds. The book dimensions don't sound too bad off the library listing (29cm x 29cm), but it's also a couple inches thick, and it's made of heavy, high-quality paper. Trust me, this is a large, weighty book!

And it's also a great book to peruse if you are a Gorey fan, or just a fan of graphic arts.

Here is a chapter breakdown:

Chapter 1. Hapless Children: Scenes from Mr. Gorey's Neighborhood
Chapter 2. Mutant Menageries: Where Wild Things Are Everywhere
Chapter 3. Murder He Wrote: Edward Gorey and the Butler Who Did It
Chapter 4. Doing the Steps: Or, Going a Lot to the NYC Ballet
Chapter 5. Dressed to Kill: Edward Gorey and the Social Fabric
Chapter 6. Concealing the Art: Edward Gorey's Mysterious Messages
Chapter 7. Hippity Wippity: Edward Gorey and the Meaningful Language of Nonsense
Chapter 8: He Wrote It All Down Zealously: Edward Gorey's Interesting Lists

Happy April, Karen. Hooray for Startlement: New and Selected Poems. Limon is a national treasure IMHO. Alas! I have not been reading any poetry.

>60 msf59: Hi, Mark, and happy April to you, too! I have really been enjoying the Limon reading I’ve been doing. I have two more of her books waiting patiently for me…Sharks in the Rivers from 2010, and Lucky Wreck from 2021. Have you read those two? I’m glad you’re such a fan! Me, too!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
At Midnight Comes the Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Finished: E Is for Edward: A Centennial Celebration of the Mischievous Mind of Edward Gorey by Gregory Hischak

Adding: Milk Street: Shorts by Christopher Kimball

Magazines Read: Quilting Arts (Fall 2025), Elle (Dec/Jan), New Yorker (04/06)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 12 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 13. Where the South meets the West and 14. The Midwest and the Dream of Post-War America.

TV Watching: SNL 51.16 (Jack Black hosted and Jack White was musical guest and both were terrific!), The Comeback 3.3, part of Your Friends and Neighbors 2.1 (I’ll finish it today).

Listening:

Wordle 1,753 4/6* New Wordle word today (I was really surprised it hadn’t been used yet!): irate, budge, dowse, dense

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Connections
Puzzle #1031
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Strands #765
“Taking the helm”
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🔵

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
At Midnight Comes the Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Milk Street: Shorts by Christopher Kimball

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 12 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 13. Where the South meets the West and 14. The Midwest and the Dream of Post-War America.

TV Watching: Watched a LOT of TV this afternoon and tonight! Fairly caught up now, and a few shows are done for their seasons. Best Medicine 1.13 (end of season 1—excellent show), High Potential 2.18 (end of second season, also a fun show), Your Friends and Neighbors 2.1, R. J. Decker 1.6, St. Denis Medical 2.18, Outlander 8.5

Listening:

Wordle 1,754 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, inept, inlet

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Connections
Puzzle #1032
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Strands #766
“We're going under cover”
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43. Milk Street Shorts: Recipes That Pack a Punch by Christopher Kimball



I've read and enjoyed other Milk Street cookbooks, but this one is probably my favorite so far. Interesting reading, filled with tidbits about preparation and origins--and lots of terrific looking recipes.

"A "Shorts" recipe is a recipe that uses the least number of ingredients and preparation for the maximum result."

To give you an idea of the book's make-up, here are the section headings. The titles just crack me up!

Short
Shorter
Shortest
Skillet Suppers
Traybakes
Oven Easy
Short-Ish
Tuesday Night Baking
Blender Cakes and Clever Confections

This is a good cookbook, easy and simple enough for the beginner as well as more experienced cooks.

I'll have to have a look for that Milk Street cookbook. I have two others, and I love them.

>59 klobrien2: "X is for Xerxes, devoured by rats" is still my favorite line of his. I think it was in Gashlycrumb Tinies...? I batten on his sense of absurd, dark humor.

I'm experiencing spring overload of happiness as my apartment floods with morning sun, my teensy little window-opening in all that expanse of window breathes in chilly delightful air, and noise is not inane babble foisted on me without my desire or my consent. It keeps me sweet-tempered.

>65 katiekrug: Milk Street Shorts is great! I’m thinking I need my own copy. So many recipes looked so good, and so within my humble scope.

>66 richardderus: Gorey is so weird, so creepy, but very funny!

I’m so glad that your new home is working out so well for you! Nothing better than morning sun and fresh cool air!

Thank you both for stopping by! I’ll be making my rounds shortly.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
At Midnight Comes the Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Finished: Milk Street: Shorts by Christopher Kimball

I’ve got the last eight of the “Llama Llama” books from the library, plus another five, assorted (!) Good thing that the Illustrated books are so speedy (unless they are the rare complex ones, but those are a blessing of their own).

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 14 lectures of 24 watched.

Watched: 13. Where the South meets the West and 14. The Midwest and the Dream of Post-War America.

Will watch 15. The Neighborhoods of Chicago and 16. The Wild West.

TV Watching: Abbott Elementary 5.19, Shrinking 3.11 (end of third season; one of the best shows around), The Rookie 8.14.

Listening:

Wordle 1,755 4/6* New Wordle word today: irate, abeam, cagey, laden

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Connections
Puzzle #1033
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Strands #767
“In the paint”
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Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
At Midnight Comes the Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming

I finished the last eight of the “Llama Llama” books from the library.

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 14 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch 15. The Neighborhoods of Chicago and 16. The Wild West.

TV Watching: Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage 2.15, Ghosts 5.15, Elsbeth 3.15, Animal Control 4.10.

Listening:

Wordle 1,756 4/6* New Wordle word today: irate, adorn, moray, carom

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Connections
Puzzle #1034
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Strands #768
“On the sly”
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***************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony,
the illustrated children's book, and the board game.
(Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
***************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jnwelch, squeakychu, jessibud2, Norabelle, avatiakh, AMQS, Blbera, foggidawn, richardderus, Booklist, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

********************
From the LibraryThing newsletter, a list of members’ “Favorite Picture Books”! Just when I thought I had read them all (Just kidding. Not even close).

https://www.librarything.com/list/45998/Favorite-Picture-Books

********************

Another treasure list (read in April 2025): Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children's Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World by Leonard S. Marcus.

********************

These books are the last eight of the "Llama Llama" books that are left for me to read. I was brokenhearted when I researched the change in authorship that took place in the years after 2016, when Anna Dewdney passed away at 50, due to complications from brain cancer.

My broken heart was comforted when I read that the new author of the books, Reed Duncan, was Dewdney's "long-time partner" and was now in charge of the Dewdney Literary Trust. The new illustrator, J. T. Morrow, pledges to stay true to the Dewdney legacy.

**********************


Illustrated159. Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too by Anna Dewdney (2014)



"Drawing.
Reading.
Building.
Painting.

These are things that Nelly loves to do...but they're always better with Daddy Gnu!"



Illustrated160. Llama Llama Yum Yum Yum! by Anna Dewdney (2016)



"Llama Llama loves to eat....spaghetti and PB&J are some of Llama's favorite treats.

You can scratch and sniff them inside this book!"

Weird little scratch-and-sniff book! The smells had long worn away, but I would imagine that kids would love the interactive nature of the book.



Illustrated161. Llama Llama Mess Mess Mess "An Anna Dewdney Book" (2019) by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan, ill. J. T. Burrow



"It's cleaning day at Llama Llama's house...
What if Mama Llama would rather play as well?
What would that mean?"

The bibliographic note for J. T. Burrow says, "closely following the style of Anna Dewdney." I love that!



Illustrated162. Llama Llama Hide & Seek: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Anna Dewdney (2020)



"Llama Llama can't find his Fuzzy Llama.
Where could he be?
Near the blocks?
Behind the door?
Beneath the bed?

Help Llama Llama look for his beloved Fuzzy!"

Teaches location, and directions, I suppose.



Illustrated163. Llama Llama Loose Tooth Drama An Anna Dewdney Book (2020)



"With humor, drama, and plenty of comfort, this book captures the excitement of one of childhood's most important rites of passage."



Illustrated164. Llama Llama Meets the Babysitter An Anna Dewdney Book (2021), by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan, ill. J. T. Morrow



"Mama Llama is going out, and this time Grandma isn't able to stay with Llama Llama. A new babysitter is coming and Llama Llama is worried."



Illustrated165. Llama Llama Back to School An Anna Dewdney Book (2023), by Reed Duncan, ill. J. T. Morrow



"As hard as it is to say goodbye to summer, Llama starts to get excited about going back to school. Maybe he'll meet someone new?"



Illustrated166. Llama Llama's Little Lie An Anna Dewdney Book (2023), by Reed Duncan, ill. J. T. Morrow



"Llama Llama knows telling lies is wrong...

Will Llama ever muster up the courage to tell Mama the truth?"

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season
Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall

Finished: At Midnight Comes the Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Adding: Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond

Magazines Read: Atlantic Monthly (Feb), The Week (04/10), New Yorker (04/13)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 16 lectures of 24 watched.

Watched 15. The Neighborhoods of Chicago and 16. The Wild West.

Will watch: 17. The Literature of American Indian Reservations and 18. Landscapes of Red Rocks and Prairies

TV Watching: The Boys 5.1, Hacks 5.1

Listening:

Wordle 1,757 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, crude, prude

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Connections
Puzzle #1035
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Strands #769
“You're putting me on”
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Checking in on you, Karen, since it has been a while.

Happy new-ish thread! Have a wonderful weekend!

>72 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia! Nice to see you here. You have a wonderful weekend, too!

44. At Midnight Comes the Cry: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery #10 by Julia Spencer-Fleming



"A tale both so gripping and oh so timely. Truly a book for our time." (Rhys Bowen)

"From the first page we know we're in safe hands." (Ann Cleeves)

It was so sweet to be back with the people and places of this series. The series has always centered on the relationship of Clare and Russ, through their changing life circumstances and experiences. Whatever else was going on in the book, Clare and Russ were there, honest and intelligent, devoted to each other.

In this book, an encounter at a small-town Christmas parade with a white supremacist group sends these two and their friends and family into turmoil. Turns out that there is a local racist neo-Nazi militia and they are probably planning some destructive activity. Moreover, a former colleague (Flynn, remember him?) is investigating the group and hasn't been heard from for months.

This is a fast-paced, action-packed story. Great characters (the "old" characters and new ones, too).

Doing some Edward Gorey reading (things I hadn't read yet). These two are really pretty strange, but strangely funny. And, of course, the drawings are awesome.



45. The Doubtful Guest by Edward Gorey



The "guest" of the title is an annoying, troublesome person, and I can't help thinking that he/she represents a teen-ager, someone who hangs around for seventeen years and is sullen, gruff, and pretty funny-looking.



46. The Other Statue by Edward Gorey



This one is humorous in a totally different way.

The first clue we have is in the book's dedication: This is an "homage to Jane Austen".

The entire little book is a set of seeming non sequiturs, telling us things that are happening in this mysterious, isolated location. Is there danger? Is there intrigue? Don't know, but it is interesting and quite a bit of fun.

On the book's LT page, ThothJ has a great comment on the book: "Interesting and confusing at the same time."

47. A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season, selected by Robert Atwan, introduction by Donald Hall, ill. Thomas Nason



I came across this little treasure when I was looking for things by Donald Hall. It fit the bill a few weeks ago, but spring is coming to Minnesota. However, the memory of snow and winter is a persistent little bugger!

Really enjoyable, though most of the poems are written in an older fashion. They are still sweet, and the little illustrations that are interspersed with the poems are lovely.

Here's a sample: "The Snow Man," by Wallace Stevens. The endnotes state that this poem "inspired both the title and theme of this collection."

The Snow Man

One must have a mind of winter
To regard the frost and the boughs
Of the pine-trees crusted with snow;

And I have been cold a long time
To behold the junipers shagged with ice,
The spruces rough in the distant glitter

Of the January sun; and not to think
Of any misery in the sound of the wind,
In the sound of a few leaves,

Which is the sound of the land
Full of the same wind
That is blowing in the same bare place

For the listener, who listens in the snow,
And, nothing himself, beholds
Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is.

One other tidbit--In the Introduction, Donald Hall discusses the poets of the book, and their different takes on winter. "Robert Frost famously stopped by woods on a snowy evening, and on another occasion watched 'the cottages in a row / Up to their shining eyes in snow.' For Frost, sometimes snow is a desert place, but mostly he likes it. However, the great New England poet spent his winters in Miami." Ha!

Today: Church. Two of my sisters are stopping by early afternoon on their way to another gathering. We’ll have coffee and mini blueberry muffins. Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond

Finished: A Mind of Winter: Poems for a Snowy Season

Magazines Read: NYT Magazine (03/29)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 16 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 17. The Literature of American Indian Reservations and 18. Landscapes of Red Rocks and Prairies

TV Watching: Netflix Preview—watched movie and completed questionnaire; Your Friends and Neighbors 2.2

Listening:

Wordle 1,758 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, aleck, alley

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Connections
Puzzle #1036
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Strands #770
“Get ready!”
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🔵

Hi Karen! I need to get to church more, like you. I've been slacking pretty badly.

>78 The_Hibernator: I "attend" my church's online (Youtube) service. This makes all the difference for me. I have some minor mobility issues, but they just aren't a problem from my chair in the living room!

Thank God for technology!

And thank you for stopping by!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 16 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 17. The Literature of American Indian Reservations and 18. Landscapes of Red Rocks and Prairies

TV Watching: SNL 51.17, Call the Midwife 15.4, Outlander 8.6, CIA 1.6

Listening:

Wordle 1,759 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, biped, elfin

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⬜🟦⬜🟦⬜
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Connections
Puzzle #1037
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Strands #771
“While not in use”
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Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond

Adding: Three books of poetry by Ada Limon:

This Big Fake World: A Story in Verse (2007)
Sharks in the Rivers (2010)
Lucky Wreck: Poems (2021)

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 16 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 17. The Literature of American Indian Reservations and 18. Landscapes of Red Rocks and Prairies

TV Watching: DMV 1.16, CIA 1.7, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters 2.7, The Comeback 3.4

Listening:

Wordle 1,760 4/6* New Wordle word today: irate, dowse, plume, cycle

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟧
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟧
⬜🟦⬜⬜🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1038
🟦🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #772
“It's a little unclear”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🟡🔵🔵🔵

***************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony,
the illustrated children's book, and the board game.
(Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
***************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jnwelch, squeakychu, jessibud2, Norabelle, avatiakh, AMQS, Blbera, foggidawn, richardderus, Booklist, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

********************
From the LibraryThing newsletter, a list of members’ “Favorite Picture Books”! Just when I thought I had read them all (Just kidding. Not even close).

https://www.librarything.com/list/45998/Favorite-Picture-Books

********************

Another treasure list (read in April 2025): Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children's Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World by Leonard S. Marcus.

********************



Illustrated167. Someone Could Win a Polar Bear by John Ciardi, ill. Edward Gorey



I read this book for Gorey's drawings, although these drawings are very unlike Gorey's usual fine-grained, subtle work. The "pencil strokes" are very rough. Book dates back to 1964, but the next one I read is from the same timeframe, and Gorey is back in his usual style. It's a mystery.

"John Ciardi deals in fancies, fantasies--and fun, introducing a menagerie of friends and whatchamacallits, his own particular glimpses of nature and personal rules of life. Edward Gorey's marvelous drawings deftly illustrate Mr. Ciardi's whimsy."

I liked this book.



Illustrated168. You Know Who by John Ciardi, ill. Edward Gorey



"No one knows better than John Ciardi how to make easy words dance together in poems that are really fun. He writes for his own children, and he seems to have discovered that they are not exactly angels. They even like to have a little loving fun poked at them ass the author has in this collection of poems."

The poems are lovely and clever and match up well with Gorey's drawings. Loved this book!



Illustrated169. The Shrinking of Treehorn by Florence Parry Heide, ill. Edward Gorey



"For any child who has often felt ignored by the adult world, here is the perfect gift to lift the spirits...will bring a chorus of delight from younger readers."

This third Edward Gorey illustrated book is a lot of fun. Really strong story, and the illustrations are a perfect match.

Here's a quote from the book that made me laugh out loud (I recognized myself here!):

"Treehorn asked to watch television. Now he lay on his stomach in front of the television set and watched one of his favorite programs. He had fifty-six favorite programs."



Illustrated170. Bartleby by Matt Phelan



Sweet, simple story and illustrations.

"An endearing, adorable, and humorous celebration of being true to yourself even when you stand out."



Illustrated171. The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster, ill. Chris Raschka



This book won the Caldecott Medal in 2006.

The illustrations are gorgeous, very colorful, a little wild maybe, but they fit the story.

"The kitchen window at Nann and Poppy's house is, for one little girl, a magic gateway."

"...a love song, devoted to that special relationship between grandparents and grandchild."



Illustrated172. Woods & Words: The Story of Poet Mary Oliver by Sara Holly Ackerman, ill. Naoko Stoop



"From the time she was a little girl, the poet Mary Oliver found words in the woods.
And when she grew up, she shared those words with the world."

"Some people thought poetry had to be fancy, but Mary believed
poems were for everyone, best served plain."

Lovely book, featuring wonderful words and illustrations.



Illustrated173. M Is for Monster: A Fantastic Creatures Alphabet by J. Patrick Lewis, ill. Gerald Kelley



"Monster, mystery, and fantasy fans will enjoy this alphabetical tribute to those things that lurk in the shadows, go bump in the night, and thrill us to our bones."

Spectacular illustrations, with really interesting and informative writing about the various critters.

This one is for the middle grades, I think (not a simple "picture book.")

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond
This Big Fake World: A Story in Verse by Ada Limon (2007)
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon (2010)
Lucky Wreck: Poems by Ada Limon (2021)

Magazines Read: New Yorker (04/20), The Week (04/17)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 16 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 17. The Literature of American Indian Reservations and 18. Landscapes of Red Rocks and Prairies

TV Watching: The Rookie 8.15

Listening:

Got my badge for playing 1500 Wordles today! I’m still loving the daily game, so there’s no stopping now!

Wordle 1,761 2/6* New Wordle today: irate, begun; I’m just amazed to get it in two, but thrilled! I played my normal first word, then went after more vowels. This word had another vowel, and no repeating letters. Couldn’t believe it hadn’t been used before, so went with it. Yay!

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟦
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1039
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦

Strands #773
“Gift of the month”
🟡🔵🔵🔵
🔵🔵🔵

>83 klobrien2: Wow, 1500 Wordles! I have to play almost 300 more to get that far. And congratulations on getting it in 2 today. That was a great guess!

>84 atozgrl: Thanks! I was shocked to get it in 2. Maybe I should thank the Wordle gods, like karenmarie does!

Reading Roundup!

Time for an updated list! Last one dated back to 2/16/26!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (04/15/2026):

Actively reading (or the potential is there!)

String Too Short to Be Saved by Donald Hall
Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
Do Admit! The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
Just in: Helm by Sarah Hall
Just in: Vigil by George Saunders
Just in: When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen
The Quiet Ear: An Investigation of Missing Sound: A Memoir by Raymond Antrobus -- p. 12 of 190
Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global (Laura Spinney) -- p. 48 of 292
Between Two Rivers by Moudy al-Rashid --
This Big Fake World: A Story in Verse by Ada Limon
Lucky Wreck by Ada Limon
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, ill. Edward Gorey
Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome

I'm overbooked! I don't want to lose track of these books, but I can't truly say that I am actively reading them right now:

A Man Lay Dead (Roderick Allayn #1) by Ngaio Marsh -- p. 1 of 149
A Circle of Quiet by Madeline L'Engle -- p. 73 of 250 (Libby)
Before Midnight by Rex Stout -- p. 7 of 172 (Libby)
Murder and Mendelssohn (Phryne Fisher #20) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 8 of 280 (Libby)
Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3) by Robert Galbraith -- p. 96 of 439 (Libby
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman -- p. 8 of 389 (mine, on Nook)
Conclave by Robert Harris
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon -- p. 3 of 285
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger -- p. 82 of 421 (mine, on Nook)
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett -- p. 29 of 278 (mine, on Nook)
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal -- p. 81 of 253 (mine, on Nook)
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead -- p. 73 of 288 (Nook)
Agatha's First Case (Agatha Raisin #0.5) by M. C. Beaton (Nook)
Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King

I usually am reading/watching Great Courses. My current course is: A Literary Tour of the United States, taught by Arielle Zibrak. 24 lessons, just DVDs. I have finished 16 of 24.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond
This Big Fake World: A Story in Verse by Ada Limon (2007)
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon (2010)
Lucky Wreck: Poems by Ada Limon (2021)

Magazines Read: New Yorker (04/20), The Week (04/17)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 18 lectures of 24 watched.

Watched : 17. The Literature of American Indian Reservations and 18. Landscapes of Red Rocks and Prairies

Will watch: 19. Central California Farms and Fisheries and 20. Dreams and Illusions in Hollywood

TV Watching: R. J. Decker 1.7, Abbott Elementary 5.20, Call the Midwife 15.5

Listening:

Wordle 1,762 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, guilt, cubit

🟦⬜⬜🟦⬜
⬜🟧🟦⬜🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1040
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #774
“This is not working”
💡🔵🔵🔵
💡🔵🟡🔵

>75 klobrien2: Frankly one of the most surreal reads of my teens, and to this day I do not think I understood or understand much about it. Fun to look at, though!

48. This Big Fake World: A Story in Verse by Ada Limon



I have a little "project" to catch up with my Ada Limon reading, and this little book was one of her earliest books of poetry. Limon won the 2005 Pearl Poetry Prize with this book. I really enjoyed the reading and will probably reread at some point. The book really does read like a story (or novella), with returning characters and plot motifs. That really kept my attention throughout this slim little poetry book.

"It engaged me from the outset, and for all its quirky and wry observations of the human heart--or because of them--it performed that rare function: it entertained." (Frank X. Gaspar, who selected this book for the Pearl Prize, and who wrote the Introduction).

>83 klobrien2: That's the best! Your 1500th Wordle was also a super-de-dooper get! Twoo tries in that very unusual result is impressive, Karen O. I'm glad for you as well as a bit jealous that you get to keep playing where my unfortunate strokes were the end of my ability to pattern-match my way through.

Have a lovely slide into the weekend, dear lady.

>88 richardderus: Yes, Doubtful Guest was a little strange, but pure Gorey.

>90 richardderus: Thanks for your congrats on my Wordle. When I wound up in the hospital (almost two years ago!) I felt so relieved to be able to work Wordle again.

Did you know there are apps available to help with the solving? I use them all the time. There are “five letter word finders”—the one I use is 5-letter-words.com. You fill in the information you do have (letters with position known and unknown, letters to be excluded) and then “find words.” You get a long list of words. You still have to choose among them, but it really helps to get started.

I use another app to see if a particular word has been used before (still is important to know, but the Wordle peeps are reusing words now). I use fiveforks.com/Wordle — very handy tool.

Could these tools help you with your solving? I would love to see you Wordling again!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a lovely weekend!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon (2010)
Lucky Wreck: Poems by Ada Limon (2021)

Finished:

Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
This Big Fake World: A Story in Verse by Ada Limon (2007)

Magazines Read: Bon Appetit (Nov), Rolling Stone (Jan)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 18 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 19. Central California Farms and Fisheries and 20. Dreams and Illusions in Hollywood

TV Watching: Georgie and Mandy 2.16, Ghosts 5.16, Elsbeth 3.16, Animal Control 4.11

Listening:

Wordle 1,763 5/6* New Wordle word today: irate, dowse, fence, levee, belle

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟧
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟧
⬜🟧⬜⬜🟧
🟦🟧⬜⬜🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1041
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #775
“Shell company”
💡🔵🟡🔵
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🔵

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon (2010)
Lucky Wreck: Poems by Ada Limon (2021)

Adding: Vigil by George Saunders, Helm by Sarah Hall, and When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen. I’ve been waiting a long time for these, and looking forward to the reads!

Also got six illustrated books from the library!

Magazines Read:

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 18 lectures of 24 watched.

Will watch: 19. Central California Farms and Fisheries and 20. Dreams and Illusions in Hollywood

TV Watching: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters 2.8, Your Friends and Neighbors 2.3, Hacks 5.2

Listening:

Wordle 1,764 3/6* Today’s Wordle word is new: irate, shalt, toady

⬜⬜🟧🟦⬜
⬜⬜🟧⬜🟦
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1042
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩

Strands #776
“Not too much”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🟡🔵

Today: Church (bell choir music!) Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon (2010)
Lucky Wreck: Poems by Ada Limon (2021)
Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

Also got six illustrated books from the library!

Magazines Read: NYT Book Review (04/05) and (04/12), Atlantic Monthly (March)

Great Course: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 20 lectures of 24 watched.

Watched 19. Central California Farms and Fisheries and 20. Dreams and Illusions in Hollywood

Will next watch 21. From Gold to Silicon in Northern California and 22. Among the Trees in Pacific Northwest

TV Watching: Outlander 8.7, Malcolm in the Middle restart 1.1

Listening:

Wordle 1,765 5/6* Ooh, I struggled a little with this one! Stupid mistake at word 2. OLD Wordle word today (game 57): irate, loath, avant, stang, stand

⬜⬜🟧🟦⬜
⬜⬜🟧🟦⬜
⬜⬜🟧🟧🟦
🟧🟧🟧🟧⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1043
🟪🟨🟪🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #777
“Small change”
🔵🔵🟡🔵
🔵🔵🔵

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon (2010)
Lucky Wreck: Poems by Ada Limon (2021)
Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

Finished: the six illustrated books I had from the library. Also snuck in a snack book, Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Volume 1 by Bill Watterson. Like a breath of fresh air. I’ll be reading the series.

Magazines Read:

Great Course:

Finished: A Literary Tour of the United States by Arielle Zibrak. No book, DVDs, 24 lectures. 24 lectures of 24 watched. Excellent course!

Watched 21. From Gold to Silicon in Northern California, 22. Among the Trees in Pacific Northwest, 23. Adventures in Alaska and Hawaii, and 24. American Expatriate Writers.

Next course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs).

TV Watching: Malcolm in the Middle: Life is Still Unfair 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, to finish the series.

Listening:

Wordle 1,766 4/6* New Wordle word today: irate, amaze, scape, weave

⬜⬜🟧⬜🟧
⬜⬜🟧⬜🟧
⬜⬜🟧⬜🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1044
🟩🟦🟩🟩
🟪🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦

Strands #778
“Gloriously glaring!”
🔵🔵🔵🟡
🔵🔵🔵

49. Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green



What a treat to be back with Agatha Raisin and her cohorts! I really liked this one, and I think that R. W. Green is doing a great job of carrying on the tradition.

This entry had to do with a mysterious, old, masterpiece of a clock (reminds me of the Jonathan Gash "Lovejoy" books), hence the time-related title.

And there's even another "Agatha Raisin" out there, which I've just requested: Sugar and Spite.

A Literary Tour of the United States (Great Course) by Arielle Zibrak

24 lectures of 30 minutes each, 4 DVDs.



Excellent and illuminating exploration of American history and literature, all in the context of various geographical areas of the U.S.
There was no book, just the DVDs, so I'm not including this one in my "books read" but will put it on my Great Courses list: https://www.librarything.com/topic/331920

It's amazing to me that this is my 73rd Great Course! My first Great Course was The Celtic World and it was published in 2018. I read/watched it shortly thereafter. Basically, I've been doing these courses for six years. I haven't yet depleted my library's list, and they keep buying more of them, so I'll be set, one way or another. Cheers!

As I mentioned above, I snuck in a "snack book" (or two). These were like a breath of fresh air. I’ll be reading the series, and maybe go back to the original books as well. Whatever is available!



50. The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 1 by Bill Watterson





51. The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Set 2 by Bill Watterson

***************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony,
the illustrated children's book, and the board game.
(Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
***************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jnwelch, squeakychu, jessibud2, Norabelle, avatiakh, AMQS, Blbera, foggidawn, richardderus, Booklist, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

********************
From the LibraryThing newsletter, a list of members’ “Favorite Picture Books”! Just when I thought I had read them all (Just kidding. Not even close).

https://www.librarything.com/list/45998/Favorite-Picture-Books

********************

Another treasure list (read in April 2025): Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children's Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World by Leonard S. Marcus.

********************



Illustrated174. Grandma and the Pirates by Phoebe Gilman



"A deliciously funny adventure story."

"It was because of
her wonderful noodle
pudding that Grandma
met the pirates."

Really delightful! Would be a hoot to read aloud to kids.



Illustrated175. What Lolo Wants by Christina Oxtra, ill. Jamie Bauza



Sweet, moving story of a little girl whose grandfather (Lolo) is aging, who and has lost his language. The little girl helps him to discover a new way of communicating--through pictures.

Interesting to have Tagalog words interspersed. There is a little "dictionary" at the start of the book.



Illustrated176. Little Black Crow by Christopher Raschka



"A sky as big as all outdoors
a fence
one boy
one little black crow
his family
and twenty-seven questions--
what more
does a book of wonder
ever need?"

Sweet, simple watercolors illustrate this lovely story.



Illustrated177. The Blue House I Loved by Kao Kalia Yang, ill. Jen Shin



"Speaks for the multitude of refugee experiences around the world, honoring the challenges they face and the homes they create together."

From the University of Minnesota Press. This story is based in St. Paul, just down the street from where I used to live. Gentle, sweet story full of reminiscence and longing.



Illustrated178. That Swingin' Sound: The Musical Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong by Rekha S. Raan, ill. Ken Daley



"This true story about world-renowned jazz artists Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong's musical partnership is a testament to the power of dreams, the power of music, and the power of friendship to help us all keep playing on."

Fantastic illustrations--very colorful, swirling, full of energy.



Illustrated179. Who Will Rule the Trees? by Eric A. Kimmel, ill. Alette Straathof



"When God appoints leaders, the trees seek a ruler amongst themselves and appoint the olive tree for its ability to create light."

Beautiful artwork, featuring trees of many different kinds. The artist puts human faces on the trees, and it is so sweet and moving.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon (2010)
Lucky Wreck: Poems by Ada Limon (2021)
Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

Magazines Read: McCall’s Quilting (Fall), Vanity Fair (Hollywood issue), The Week (04/24)

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs).

Will read and watch: 1. Finding a Path into the Qur’an

TV Watching: DMV 1.17, Call the Midwife 15.6, 15.7, 15.8, to finish the season. Love this show, have loved it all these years. The last episode was a terrific and moving wrap-up, if this would be the final season. But the Internet says that there will be one more season (in a year or two) BUT that there will be a prequel show and a MOVIE before that! Good news!

Listening:

Wordle 1,767 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, mound, clump

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟦⬜🟧⬜⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1045
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #779
“Risky business”
💡🔵💡🔵
🔵🔵🟡🔵

52. Lucky Wreck: Poems by Ada Limon



This book of poetry was Limon's first book, published in 2006. The copy I read was its republishing in 2021.

"Today, these poems feel like a much-needed interrogation of life. An interrogation I'm still doing daily."

(Fifteen years later): "Someone asked me once if Lucky Wreck was how I'd describe myself. And even after all this time, I suppose it is."

Here's one of my favorite poem portions from this book.

The poem is called "13 Feral Cats," and this is from the tenth feral cat:

...But the moon cannot
be replaced by a bruisable thing.

And I'm told, some spaces cannot be filled
but only altered or cut away.

As in the story I heard about a captain, returning
to his ship after too much drink.

As a prank, his mates had replaced
his compass with a heart-shaped clock.

All night, in his bunk, he turned it up and down, but always
he was in charge of his direction.

Those stubborn hands were unmoved by his anger
and finally, on the deck, in his stupor, he found the moon.

I'm told, this captain, with his heart in his hand,
was, for the first time, truly amazed as he found north
to be in the heavens

and all at once his small life made perfect sense.

53. Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, ill. Edward Gorey



This was a reread, part of my Edward Gorey "project." These are some of my favorites of Gorey's drawings and the fact that the illustrations are matched with Eliot's wonderful words is a match made in heaven.

"Mr. Eliot successfully avoids the usual vices of children's books, archness and cuteness; for his cats are practical cats, cats engaged in getting something purposeful done or undone." (The Nation)

>97 klobrien2: They really are terrific, those Great Courses. A lot of them are on Kanopy...I don't know if my library system has Kanopy here but if they do I'm resuming my watching of some of the archaeology ones.

>99 klobrien2: Noodle pudding and pirates! Ella and Satchmo! What treasures you've found.

>103 richardderus: Hooray for Great Courses! I hope you find a source at your new place.

>104 richardderus: I’m all for eclecticism! (Is that a word? I guess it is!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon (2010)
Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

Finished: Lucky Wreck: Poems by Ada Limon (2021)

Magazines Read:

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs).

Will read and watch: 1. Finding a Path into the Qur’an

TV Watching: The Comeback 3.5, CIA 1.8, The Rookie 8.16, R. J. Decker 1.8

Listening:

Wordle 1,768 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, enure, snore

⬜🟦⬜⬜🟧
⬜🟧⬜🟧🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1046
🟨🟨🟨🟨
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🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #780
“Earth Day”
💡🔵🔵🔵
🔵🟡🔵🔵

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon (2010)
Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

Magazines Read:

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). One lecture of 12 completed.

Read and watched: 1. Finding a Path into the Qur’an. Will continue on with the series.

Next up: 2. Seventh Century Mecca: Religion and Oral Tradition.

TV Watching: Abbott Elementary 5.21 and 5.22, to complete the season.

Listening:

Wordle 1,769 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, slept, tweet

⬜⬜⬜🟦🟦
⬜⬜🟧⬜🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1047
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟪🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #781
“Provinces of the pantheon”
🔵💡🔵🔵
🔵🔵🔵🟡

Love Poem to Taco Bell by Rebecca Bornstein (from Poem-a-day)

Full-on, no bullshit, no irony, yes Taco Bell
where I can almost always pull together the
cash to get dinner, at my brokest
scrounging up enough change
for the pillowy warmth of a bean burrito,
extra red sauce, meant to be eaten
behind the steering wheel in a parking lot
or while driving, the wrapper crumpled up
and thrown on the passenger side floor,
leftover napkins stashed in the glovebox.
In high school we’d ditch seventh period
and drive 10 miles down I-5 to the closest town
big enough to have a Taco Bell,
where we’d house as much food as we could
pay for, lounging in the pinkpurplegreen vinyl
or the metal swivel chairs we’d knock knees under,
giving each other dares around fire sauce,
hoarding packets of mild sauce to douse everything.
And forever, my love to the Taco Bell employees,
who took my order when I was drunk or high or crying,
who listened and fed me without too much judgment
through high school and college and my thirties,
and a special love for the two who pushed my car
through the drive-thru, once, when it broke down
mid-order. I couldn’t afford a tow until payday.
They let me leave it in the lot.
This is how I know labor is entitled to all it creates,
and that given a chance most of us are helpers,
we want to help people and to be helped
by people, amidst the absolute and delicious
loveliness of ordinary things.

about this poem

“I was inspired by a podcast to write love poems to unconventional subjects, starting with Taco Bell. I grew up in rural environments where there weren’t many places for young people to hang out, and Taco Bell was one of the few places we could spend time without spending a lot of money. It wasn’t until I got to the end of writing the poem that I realized what I really loved about Taco Bell was its function as a third place, and a location where people cared for one another in this really beautiful and human way.”

—Rebecca Bornstein

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short To Be Saved by Donald Hall
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon (2010)
Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

Finished: Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me (graphic) by Mimi Pond--terrific!

Magazines Read: NYT Magazine (04/05), Scientific American (April)

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). One lecture of 12 completed.

Next up: 2. Seventh Century Mecca: Religion and Oral Tradition.

TV Watching: Georgie and Mandy 2.17, Ghosts 5.17, Animal Control 4.12, to finish the season. Really fun show!

Listening:

Wordle 1,770 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, drown, drunk

⬜🟧⬜⬜⬜
🟧🟧⬜⬜🟦
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1048
🟩🟩🟩🟩
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🟦🟦🟦🟦

Strands #782
“Hullabaloo”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🔵🟡🔵

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short to Be Saved by Donald Hall
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon (2010)
Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

Magazines Read: NYT Magazine (03/22), NYT Book Review (03/29)

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). One lecture of 12 completed.

Next up: 2. Seventh Century Mecca: Religion and Oral Tradition.

TV Watching: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters 2.9, Your Friends and Family 2.4

Listening:

Wordle 1,771 4/6* New Wordle word today: irate, boxed, homey, women

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟦
⬜🟧⬜🟧⬜
⬜🟧🟧🟧⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1049
🟦🟦🟦🟦
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🟩🟪🟩🟩
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🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #783
“On the shopping block”
🔵🟡🔵🔵
🔵🔵

>110 klobrien2: Are you enjoying the Donald Hall? I have that one on the shelf near at hand.

Reading Roundup!

Time for an updated list! Last one dated back to 4/15/26!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (04/25/2026):

Actively reading (or the potential is there!)

String Too Short to Be Saved by Donald Hall -- p. 66 of 155
The Quiet Ear: An Investigation of Missing Sound: A Memoir by Raymond Antrobus -- p. 54 of 190
Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global (Laura Spinney) -- p. 48 of 292
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon -- p. 24 of 87
Vigil by George Saunders -- p. 26 of 174
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen
Sugar and Spite (Agatha Raisin #36) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
Please Write: A Novel in Letters by J. Wynn Rousuck
Double Whammy by Carl Hiassen
Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth off History by Moudy al-Rashid --
Somewhere in the Unknown World: A Collective Refugee Memoir by Kao Kalia Yang

Graphic books I need to get to soon:

Cannon by Lee Lai
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans
Talking to My Father's Ghost: An Almost True Story by Alex Krokus
Feline (photography) by Tim Flach

I'm overbooked! I don't want to lose track of these books, but I can't truly say that I am actively reading them right now:

Deacon King Kong by James McBride
A Man Lay Dead (Roderick Allayn #1) by Ngaio Marsh -- p. 1 of 149
A Circle of Quiet by Madeline L'Engle -- p. 73 of 250 (Libby)
Before Midnight by Rex Stout -- p. 7 of 172 (Libby)
Murder and Mendelssohn (Phryne Fisher #20) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 8 of 280 (Libby)
Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3) by Robert Galbraith -- p. 96 of 439 (Libby
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman -- p. 8 of 389 (mine, on Nook)
Conclave by Robert Harris
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon -- p. 3 of 285
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger -- p. 82 of 421 (mine, on Nook)
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett -- p. 29 of 278 (mine, on Nook)
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal -- p. 81 of 253 (mine, on Nook)
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead -- p. 73 of 288 (Nook)
Agatha's First Case (Agatha Raisin #0.5) by M. C. Beaton (Nook)
Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King

I usually am reading/watching Great Courses. My current course is: Introduction to Qur'an, taught by Martyn Olliver. 12 lessons, book and DVDs. I have completed 1 of 12 lessons.

>111 laytonwoman3rd: I'm enjoying String Too Short to Be Saved, but the writing is so dense, and I don't want to miss a bit of it, so I'm reading really slow. Donald Hall is one of my favorite writers.

Thanks for stopping by to chat!

Today: Church. Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short to Be Saved by Donald Hall
Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon (2010)
Vigil by George Saunders
Cannon by Lee Lai
Talking to My Father’s Ghost by Alex Krokus
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

Magazines Read:

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). 2 lectures of 12 completed.

Watched: 2. Seventh Century Mecca: Religion and Oral Tradition.

Next up: 3. The Qur’an Becomes a “Book”

TV Watching: Outlander 8.8, Hacks 5.3, Rooster 1.1, 1.2.(I love this show! Great cast, terrific writing! Thanks to LTers who chatted about it!)

Listening:

Wordle 1,772 5/6* Today’s Wordle is new: irate, mound, oxbow, shook, gloss

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟦⬜⬜⬜
🟦⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟦⬜🟧⬜⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1050
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #784
“Get into it”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🟡🔵🔵

54. Do Admit!: The Mitford Sisters and Me by Mimi Pond



Biography of the "Mitford Sisters" interspersed with autobiography of the author. This is a history book, global and personal. The history included here is like a "big picture" of 20th century American and European history. I found the book simply fascinating.

The graphics are all done in this beautiful Prussian Blue ink, which unites the story and focuses the attention on the drawing and plot.

"The sisters could not know how much they helped a woman in her sixties reconnect with the small girl who wanted only to read about faraway places and to draw everything. They have my most profound gratitude."

55. The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium, Book 4 by Bill Watterson



Another lovely "snack book," the lovely Calvin and Hobbes.

56. Talking to My Father's Ghost: An Almost True Story (graphic) by Alex Krokus



"When Alex agrees to help his mom plan his dad's funeral, he doesn't expect the deceased to sneak in and listen to the eulogies. Alex is the only one who can see his dad's ghost, and honestly...it's kind of awesome."

Lovely remembrance/memoir/biography/love story between a father and his son. Such a nice change of pace to have all the characters here be nice people. No painful trauma, no hidden secrets, lots of love and humor, with the expected amount of sadness.

I'm going to look for more by the author!

>117 klobrien2: - Karen, is that a graphic novel format? It seems my library only has it in ebook format, which, to my mind, is just so not conducive to the graphic novel, where the pictures matter.

>118 jessibud2: Yes, it is a graphic form--more like comic strips in a book, so I think it would work okay as an ebook. And I wouldn't say that about most graphic books, but I do about this one. I'll update my description to indicate accordingly. Thanks!

I hope you get a chance to read it! It's not a big time commitment, and I found it like salve for my soul. I kept waiting for someone to be mean or to act badly, and it just didn't happen (breath of relief!)

***************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony,
the illustrated children's book, and the board game.
(Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
***************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jnwelch, squeakychu, jessibud2, Norabelle, avatiakh, AMQS, Blbera, foggidawn, richardderus, Booklist, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

********************
From the LibraryThing newsletter, a list of members’ “Favorite Picture Books”! Just when I thought I had read them all (Just kidding. Not even close).

https://www.librarything.com/list/45998/Favorite-Picture-Books

********************

Another treasure list (read in April 2025): Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children's Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World by Leonard S. Marcus.

********************



Illustrated180. Uh-Oh, Rollo! by Reed Duncan, ill. Keith Frawley



"Uh-Oh, Rollo!" is a phrase that my partner, Anna Dewdney, used to say around the house when the real Rollo was up to his usual mischief. The inspiration for this book is from her." (sigh)

Sweet and funny (look at that dog!)



Illustrated181. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, ill. Lois Ehlert



"An alphabet rhyme/chant that relates what happens when the whole alphabet tries to climb a coconut tree."

Funny and colorful!



Illustrated182. Your Birthday Was the Best! by Maggie Hutchings, ill. Felicita Sala



"It's party time!"

"One of the guests at a birthday party wasn't invited."

Cheery, funny. Kids will love being grossed out.



Illustrated183. The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee



"The Boss.
He's here.
(And FYI--he's a total baby.)

"Is there a Boss Baby in your life?"

Funny and cleverly drawn.



Illustrated184. The Utter Zoo: An Alphabet by Edward Gorey



"Twenty-six curious creatures from the fastidious Ampoo to the world's one and only Zote--fill the pages of The Utter Zoo, alphabet from the untamed imagination of Edward Gorey."

This is one of the Edward Gorey books that I had to track down for myself--my library didn't have it. I'm glad I got a copy, I'm sure I'll be looking at this one again.

Classic Gorey, with lots of silliness and a little bit of eeriness.



Illustrated185. Brave Irene by William Steig



"An extraordinarily eloquent story about love and courage" (New Yorker)

"With sure writing and well-composed, riveting art, Steig keeps readers with Irene every step of the long way." (Booklis)

This girl is very brave, and everything works out in the end. Beautifully told story, lovely illustrations.



Illustrated186. Poppleton by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Mark Teague



"Poppleton the pig moves from the city to a small town, where he makes new friends and spends Mondays reading adventure books in the library."



Illustrated187. What Miss Mitchell Saw by Hayley Barrett, ill. Diana Suchyka



"Every evening, year after year, Miss Mitchell stood on her rooftop with her telescope and swept the sky.

And then one night she saw something no one had ever seen before."

She saw a new, non-periodic comet (not coming back), C/1847 T1, known as "Miss Mitchell's Comet." She was the first woman to get credit for discovering a new comet and won international acclaim for it. She received a medal from the king of Denmark, which read, "Not in vain do we watch the setting and rising of the stars."

Beautiful illustrations! Astronomic terms are interspersed on the pages, making this a very educational "picture book."



Illustrated188. Letters from Space, anderson by Clayton Anderson, ill. Susan Batori



The author spent hundreds of days on the International Space Station, and these "letters" are what he imagines he could have sent home.

"Full of weird science, wild facts, and outrageous true stories from life in space, including hysterical illustrations from Susan Batori."

Lots of fun, and I think kids would love this.



Illustrated189. Bats in the Band by Brian Lies



"Join this one--of-a-kind music festival as the bats celebrate the rhythm of the night, and the positive power of music."

Rhyming words, lovely illustrations.

>12 klobrien2: I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A BOOK JUST ABOUT MAX!!! Or >35 klobrien2: other books by the Provensens, either. Oh my, I'm so happy!

Love your reading, Karen! I got a big box of new books last week and a teacher work day that gave me time to unbox them and read the picture books. I'll update my thread with my newest new book reads soon:)

>121 AMQS: I'll look forward to seeing what you come across! What a great job you have!

I was thrilled to find the Provensens. I need to look for more of their books. Thanks for the nudge!

>120 klobrien2: Bats in the Band looks like it would be a lot of fun to read to a kid!

I'm glad you're getting in so much good reading, dear lady.

>123 richardderus: Good morning, Richard! Reading has been good for me lately. Itching to get at non-graphic things, though. Probably today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Today: Church. Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short to Be Saved by Donald Hall
Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

Finished:

Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon (2010)
Cannon by Lee Lai
Talking to My Father’s Ghost by Alex Krokus

Magazines Read:

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). 2 lectures of 12 completed.

Next up: 3. The Qur’an Becomes a “Book”

TV Watching: Rooster 1.3--1.7 (I love this show! Great cast, terrific writing! Thanks to LTers who chatted about it!)

Listening:

Wordle 1,773 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, rinse, eerie

🟦🟦⬜⬜🟧
🟦🟦⬜⬜🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1051
🟪🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟪🟦🟦
🟪🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #785
“The ayes have it!”
🔵🔵🟡🔵
🔵🔵🔵🔵

>124 klobrien2: You've got some very compelling choices listed in >125 klobrien2: so you'll be well-stocked when you go down the rabbit hole.

>126 richardderus: I know! Lots of good reading around.

Thanks for stopping by, Richard! Happy Tuesday to you.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short to Be Saved by Donald Hall
Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen

Adding:

Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans
Feline by Tim Flach

Magazines Read: Nat Geo (Jan, Smithsonian (Dec), New Yorker (04/27)

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). 2 lectures of 12 completed.

Next up: 3. The Qur’an Becomes a “Book”

TV Watching: Rooster 1.8 (now caught up), The Comeback 3.6, DMV 1.18, CIA 1.9

Listening:

Wordle 1,774 4/6* New Wordle word today: irate, clang, shack, quack

⬜⬜🟧⬜⬜
🟦⬜🟧⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟧🟧🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1052
🟨🟦🟩🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #786
“Attention, attention!”
🔵🔵💡🔵
🔵🔵🔵🟡

57. Sharks in the Rivers by Ada Limon



"In fluid, sensuous lines, Ada Limon navigates the thoroughfares and tributaries of animal nature, within the self and throughout the universe"

I do like Limon's poetry, but it does require a lot of the reader!

Here is one of my favorites from this collection:

From "Fifteen Balls of Feathers" (this is part of number 11):

One legend says that hummingbirds were sent up
to find what was beyond the blue sky.

(Can you imagine? Such a small thing going so far?)

Turned out that there was nothing beyond the blue sky.

Which made the sky bluer and more holy than it had been before.

Past the lavender bushes and the big new buds of peonies,
an orange-tailed sun god came to welcome her home.

Buzzing wings--within its trill there is suspension.

58. Cannon by Lee Lai



"Beguilingly drawn, Cannon depicts a wide spectrum of adulthood with nuance and complexity. From one story unraveled many stories, about friendships, situationships, work, familiar obligations. I was struck by its attention and care." (Ling Ma)

I seem to be in the midst of a graphics festival of some kind! I wasn't as happy with this entry as with some of the others I am reading. Cannon is slow-paced, confusing to me (I had a hard time distinguishing the characters from one another), and quite sad and with nothing to learn from that sadness.

Still, I was glad to have read this and will see if other books by the author are available.

59. Feline: Photographs by Tim Flach, text by Jonathan B. Losos



"Stunning collection of more than 170 photographs of cats, with text on the species, their evolution, and why we love them."

This is an amazing book! It's a HUGE book (32cm x 31cm, heavy, heavy paper). Serious poundage!

The photos are gorgeous, even if you are not a cat fancier (helloo, Richard?) The text included throughout is informative and interesting. The photos of different cat breeds and varieties are great, but the photos of the big cats knocked my socks off.

Happy Tuesday, Karen. How are you enjoying Vigil? I am a big fan of Saunders but had mixed feelings about his latest. I will have to revisit Sharks in the Rivers. I wasn't crazy about it, the first time around but that could change.

>132 msf59: Hi, Mark! I'm easing into Vigil and I think I'll really like it. As for Sharks in the Rivers, there is a lot of bird imagery there--I often thought of you when I was reading it.

Have a great time on your trip!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the everyday things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short to Be Saved by Donald Hall
Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans

Finished:

Feline by Tim Flach
The Quiet Ear: An Investigation of Missing Sound: A Memoir by Raymond Antrobus

Magazines Read:

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). 3 lectures of 12 completed.

Read and watched: 3. The Qur’an Becomes a “Book”

Next up: 4. From Mecca to Medina: The Revelation Transforms

TV Watching: The Rookie 8.17, R. J. Decker 1.9 (season finale; I really hope there's a second season!)

Listening:

Wordle 1,775 4/6* New Wordle word today: irate, adorn, larch, rural

⬜🟦🟦⬜⬜
🟦⬜⬜🟦⬜
🟦🟦🟧⬜⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1053
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #787
“Fish or cut bait”
🔵🟡🔵🔵
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🔵

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

A String Too Short to Be Saved by Donald Hall
Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans

Magazines Read:

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). 3 lectures of 12 completed.

Next up: 4. From Mecca to Medina: The Revelation Transforms

TV Watching: The Boys 5.2, Big Mistakes 1.1, The Witcher 4.5

Listening:

Wordle 1,776 5/6* New Wordle word today: irate, grump, wryly, bronc, crock

⬜🟧⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟧⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟧⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟧🟧⬜🟦
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1054
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟦🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #788
“Wet blankets”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🔵🟡🔵

60. The Quiet Ear: An Investigation of Missing Sound: A Memoir by Raymond Antrobus



"Beautifully complicates and expands our understanding of what deafness is."

"Missing sound is a sound not heard within your range of hearing. Missing sound can also be interpreted as a misunderstanding, a mismanaged sense of self, a miseducation, a miscellaneous shelf in a mystery library." (This sentence is poetry in itself, as well as some excellent alliteration!)

I picked up this book soon after it came out; I didn't know that Antrobus is a poet (now I do!)

This book was so interesting to me for its insights into deaf culture. I, myself, have a "hearing difficulty" (that's how I refer to it) and have had trouble for quite a while. I'm presently between hearing aids, though I have had my hearing recently tested, and am pretty functional without the aids. It helps that I am retired, and can rely on lip reading, text communication, and patience on the part of people that I do need to communicate with. My late husband Art was my failsafe communication partner (another reason to be missing him!)

Antrobus's story is one of success in understanding and adjustment and inspiration. I am now even more a fan of his writing. He is a terrific writer, both this memoir and his poetry. I'm going to reread The Perseverance to see if my increased knowledge of Antrobus's situation affects my view of the poetry (I think it will).

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans

Finished: String Too Short to Be Saved by Donald Hall

Magazines Read:

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). 3 lectures of 12 completed.

Next up: 4. From Mecca to Medina: The Revelation Transforms

TV Watching: Georgie and Mandy 2.18, Ghosts 5.18, Elsbeth 3.17

Listening:

Wordle 1,777 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, dunce, plume

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟧
⬜🟦⬜⬜🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1055
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #789
“I ❤️ Hawaii”
🔵🔵🔵🟡
🔵🔵🔵

Lots of people thought Thursday’s Wordle was tough!

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/crosswords/wordle-review-1776.html?unlocked_a...

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans

Magazines Read:

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). 3 lectures of 12 completed.

Next up: 4. From Mecca to Medina: The Revelation Transforms

TV Watching: Hacks 5.4 and 5.5, Your Friends and Family 2.5.

Listening:

Wordle 1,778 3/6* Today’s Wordle word previously used game 164: Very lucky with my second guess, but it was one of the first words I saw on the list of possibilities; felt we were due for a Wordle reuse!; irate, brick, bring

🟦🟧⬜⬜⬜
🟧🟧🟧⬜⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1056
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦

Strands #790
“All the right moves”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🟡🔵💡🔵
🔵

Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (05/02/2026):

Actively reading (or the potential is there!)

Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global (Laura Spinney) -- p. 48 of 292
Vigil by George Saunders -- p. 26 of 174
Helm by Sarah Hall -- p. 12 of 347
Departure(s) by Julian Barnes
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans -- p. 18 of 228
The Lost Language of Oysters: A Professor Dr Von Iglefeld Entertainment Novel by Alexander McCall Smith
Sugar and Spite (Agatha Raisin #36) by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green
Please Write: A Novel in Letters by J. Wynn Rousuck -- p. 5 of 256
Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth off History by Moudy al-Rashid --
Somewhere in the Unknown World: A Collective Refugee Memoir by Kao Kalia Yang
The Stars: A New Way to See Them by H. A. Rey
Purgatory Funeral Cakes Vol. 1 by Sanho

I'm overbooked! I don't want to lose track of these books, but I can't truly say that I am actively reading them right now:

Deacon King Kong by James McBride
A Man Lay Dead (Roderick Allayn #1) by Ngaio Marsh -- p. 1 of 149
A Circle of Quiet by Madeline L'Engle -- p. 73 of 250 (Libby)
Before Midnight by Rex Stout -- p. 7 of 172 (Libby)
Murder and Mendelssohn (Phryne Fisher #20) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 8 of 280 (Libby)
Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3) by Robert Galbraith -- p. 96 of 439 (Libby
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman -- p. 8 of 389 (mine, on Nook)
Conclave by Robert Harris
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon -- p. 3 of 285
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger -- p. 82 of 421 (mine, on Nook)
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett -- p. 29 of 278 (mine, on Nook)
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal -- p. 81 of 253 (mine, on Nook)
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead -- p. 73 of 288 (Nook)
Agatha's First Case (Agatha Raisin #0.5) by M. C. Beaton (Nook)
Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King

I usually am reading/watching Great Courses. My current course is: Introduction to Qur'an, taught by Martyn Olliver. 12 lessons, book and DVDs. I have completed 3 of 12 lessons.

Today: Church. Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans

Magazines Read: NYT Magazine (04/19), Booklist (Feb)

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). 3 lectures of 12 completed.

Next up: 4. From Mecca to Medina: The Revelation Transforms

TV Watching: Monarch 2.10 (season finale—fun show!), 9-1-1 9.17 (next week is season finale).

Listening:

Wordle 1,779 6/6* Yikes! Wordle word is new today: irate, mound, lucky, pushy, puppy, puffy

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟦⬜⬜
⬜🟧⬜⬜🟧
🟧🟧⬜⬜🟧
🟧🟧⬜⬜🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1057
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦

Strands #791
“Something's fishy”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🔵🟡🔵

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans

Magazines Read:

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). 6 lectures of 12 completed.

Read and watched: 4. From Mecca to Medina: The Revelation Transforms, 5. God and Tawhid: Divine Nature in the Qur’an, and 6. The Qur’anic Creation Story.

TV Watching: SNL 51.18, Big Mistakes 1.2, The Boys 5.3.

Listening:

Wordle 1,780 6/6* ”Hard mode” requires that you use all found letters in your guesses—aarghh! New Wordle word today: irate, diver, biker, mixer, river, riser

🟦🟦⬜⬜🟦
⬜🟧⬜🟧🟧
⬜🟧⬜🟧🟧
⬜🟧⬜🟧🟧
🟧🟧⬜🟧🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1058
🟩🟦🟩🟩
🟪🟩🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #792
“May the forest be with you”
🔵🔵🟡🔵
🔵🔵🔵

Do you do jigsaw puzzles, too?

>143 The_Hibernator: Hi, Rachel…I do an online jigsaw puzzle every morning. I’ll work on a real-life puzzle if I have someone to puzzle with, otherwise I get bored. How about you?

61. String Too Short to Be Saved: Recollections of Summers On a New England Farm by Donald Hall



"This is a collection of stories diverse in subject but sutured together by the limitless affection the author holds for the land and the people of New England."

Another entry in my Donald Hall project, this book was a joy to read. So dense with memory and "right words," I had to take my time with it so I wouldn't miss anything. Hall is so good at showing us people and places! It was eye-opening to read this one in conjunction with his "elderly memoir" books, Essays After Eighty and Carnival of Losses: Notes Nearing Ninety, as well as his children's books and poetry. I loved the continuity and sewing together of events and characters from his life.

These books are doubtless keeping me sane in this crazy world. True classics!



62. The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Volume 3 by Bill Watterson





63. The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Volume 5 by Bill Watterson





64. The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium Volume 6 by Bill Watterson

***************************************************
There are only three forms of high art: the symphony,
the illustrated children's book, and the board game.
(Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan)
***************************************************

So many of these lovely books are made known to me by whisper1 (thank you, so much!) Others who have pointed me in the right direction are: jnwelch, squeakychu, jessibud2, Norabelle, avatiakh, AMQS, Blbera, foggidawn, richardderus, Booklist, and the NYTimes (please let me know if I've forgotten you!):

********************
From the LibraryThing newsletter, a list of members’ “Favorite Picture Books”! Just when I thought I had read them all (Just kidding. Not even close).

https://www.librarything.com/list/45998/Favorite-Picture-Books

********************

Another treasure list (read in April 2025): Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children's Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World by Leonard S. Marcus.

********************



Illustrated190. And They Walk On by Kevin Maillard, ill. Rafael Lopez



"...Because when someone walks on, they stay with us. They grow in our hearts and guide us as we walk in their footsteps."

Dedication from Rafael Lopez, the illustrator: "To those who walk the marigold-paved paths that lead us back to the ones we love. May this book honor the ties that never fade."

Beautiful book about death and loss, and what happens after. Lovely, colorful illustrations, including lots of a gorgeous fuchsia.



Illustrated191. Do You Remember? by Sydney Smith



"Can we make this a memory, too?"

Emotional, sad-with-a-bit-of-hope book featuring the importance of memories when life is full of change. Loss (of father?), new home, importance of clinging together. Beautiful illustrations, with a bit of fuzziness (as if seen from the future).



Illustrated192. A Day in the Life of Murphy by Alice Provensen



"Murphy-Stop-That is my name. I am a terrier.
I bark. I bark at anything and everything
and all the time."

What a fun little dog! His personality sure comes through with the words and illustrations of the author.



Illustrated193. Murphy in the City by Alice Provensen



"Beloved Murphy-Stop-That and his family are leaving the farm for the day.
They are going into the big city--full of very exciting (and dog-friendly)
activities. But will curiosity get the best of Murphy?"

Fun story, cute illustrations to match.



Illustrated194. The Night of the Hedgehog by Tanya Rosie, ill. Chuck Groenink



"Tender and sweet father-daughter book about making memories together and embracing the extraordinary in everyday experiences."

"It snuffled, it shuffled, and, with a scurrying sound,
The hedgehog emerged, its nose to the ground.
Sniffing the earth, it roamed through the clover.
"It's like you," Papa whispered. "A curious rover."

Rhyming words. Subtle, glowing illustrations.

This week's last two are by Raymond Antrobus. I've lately been reading a bit by this poet (who happens to be deaf), but these are the first illustrated books:



Illustrated195. Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus, ill. Polly Dunbar



"Little Bear has been experiencing deafness. With new hearing aids, he discovers that the persistent question he hears, "Can bears ski?,” is actually "Can you hear me?"

His new world is LOUD and will take some getting used to, but with the love and support of Dad Bear, Little Bear will find his way."



Illustrated196. Terrible Horses by Raymond Antrobus, ill. Ken Wilson-Max



"Powerful story filled with empathy and poignancy--a story of anger, reflection and learning to see someone else's perspective."

The little boy in the story is shown with his hearing aids! I don't think I've ever seen that before.
The illustrations are perfect for the story--the horses are gorgeous, not "terrible" at all.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans

Adding: Departure(s) by Julian Barnes

Magazines Read:

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). 9 lectures of 12 completed.

Read and watched: 7. Judgment Day and the End Times:Yawm ad-Din; 8. Abraham, Moses and Qur’anic Faith; 9. Prophethood in the Qur’an: Jesus and Others.

TV Watching: The Comeback 3.7, DMV 1.19, Rooster 1.9, The Rookie 8.18 (season finale—twisty ending!)

Listening:

Wordle 1,781 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, antsy, latch

⬜⬜🟦🟦⬜
🟦⬜🟧⬜⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1059
🟦🟦🟪🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦

Strands #793
“Get up!”
🔵🔵🟡🔵
🔵🔵🔵🔵

I completely bombed on wordle today. Chose every option except the correct one ;-p

>149 jessibud2: Oh, I hate it when that happens! You play the “hard” version, where you have to use all found letters? So easy to get into one of those guessy-guessy traps then.

Oh, well, there’s always tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by!

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans
Departure(s) by Julian Barnes

Magazines Read: Archaeology (Nov/Dec), Astronomy (Mar), Fons and Porter’s Love of Quilting (Gall), Nat Geo (Feb)

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). 12 lectures of 12 completed. Finished!

Read and watched: 10. From the Qur’an to Islam: Creating a Practice; 11. Sharia and Jihad: The Qur’an as Legal Text; 12. Qur’anic Philosophy, Theology, and Mysticism.

TV Watching: Nada!

Listening:

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans
Departure(s) by Julian Barnes

Magazines Read: Archaeology (Nov/Dec), Astronomy (Mar), Fons and Porter’s Love of Quilting (Fall), Nat Geo (Feb)

Great Course: Introduction to the Qur’an by Martyn Oliver, 12 lectures (book and DVDs). 12 lectures of 12 completed. Finished!

Read and watched: 10. From the Qur’an to Islam: Creating a Practice; 11. Sharia and Jihad: The Qur’an as Legal Text; 12. Qur’anic Philosophy, Theology, and Mysticism.

TV Watching: Nada!

Listening:

Wordle 1,782 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, mixed, liken

🟦⬜⬜⬜🟦
⬜🟧⬜🟧⬜
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1060
🟩🟩🟦🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟨
🟨🟨🟦🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #794
“Get-up-and-go!”
💡🔵🔵🔵
🔵🟡🔵🔵

65. Introduction to the Qur'an (Great Course) by Martyn Oliver



This Great Course was illuminating and interesting. Well-presented and clearly written.

12 lectures, about 30 minutes each. Book and DVD.

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans
Departure(s) by Julian Barnes

Magazines Read: AARP (Oct/Nov), The Week (05/01), Wired (Jan/Feb), Smithsonian (Jan/Feb), New Yorker (05/04)

Great Course:

TV Watching: The Witcher 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, to end the season. So silly and gruesome, but great special effects.

Listening:

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans
Departure(s) by Julian Barnes

Magazines Read: AARP (Oct/Nov), The Week (05/01), Wired (Jan/Feb), Smithsonian (Jan/Feb), New Yorker (05/04)

Great Course:

TV Watching: The Witcher 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, to end the season. So silly and gruesome, but great special effects.

Listening:

Wordle 1,783 4/6* New Wordle word today: irate, copse, endue, budge

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟧
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟧
⬜⬜🟧🟦🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1061
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟪🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #795
“Go right ahead”
🔵🔵🔵🟡
🔵🔵🔵

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Vigil by George Saunders
Helm by Sarah Hall
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans
Departure(s) by Julian Barnes

Magazines Read: NYT Book Review (04/26), NYT Magazine (04/12), Atlantic (April)

Great Course:

TV Watching: Georgie and Mandy 2.19, Ghosts 5.19, Elsbeth 3.18

Listening:

Wordle 1,784 4/6* New Wordle word today (tough word): irate, adorn, lycra, umbra

⬜🟦🟦⬜⬜
🟦⬜⬜🟧⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟧🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1062
🟦🟪🟨🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #796
“Garden variety”
🔵🔵🟡🔵
🔵🔵

66. Lee Friedlander: Christmas by Lee Friedlander, afterword by Peter Kayafas



This is a large (32cm square) collection of black and white photographs taken over the course of seventy years. Locations ranged all over the US. All stark, black and white, capturing "Christmas," often in conjunction with history, black/white relations, poverty, disorder. These juxtapositions (love that word!) are sometimes quite jarring.

I think Friedlander was a very good photographer. As the afterword writer, Peter Kayafas, says, "A few words about Friedlander's take on all this come to mind: plastic, disposable, cheap, timely, earnest, ceremonial, elaborate, ubiquitous, sad, beautiful, true."

"While there is critique in these photos, there is no moral judgment...a revelation of our nation's essential, quirky visual character."

I was surprised to find the collection as moving as I did! I will try to find more books about Friedlander and his art.

67. Vigil: A Novel by George Saunders



I loved this book. I continue as a huge fan of George Saunders. He writes the best ghost stories.

The "events" of this book take place at the "bedside of an oil company CEO in the twilight hours of his life, as he is ferried from this world into the next." It "takes on the gravest issues of our time--the menace of corporate greed, the toll of capitalism, the environmental perils of progress--and, in the process, spins a tale that encompasses life and death, good and evil, and the thorny question of absolution."

The "elevated" one (ghost? angel?) who comes to attend to the last earthly hours of K. J. Boone, the aforementioned oil company CEO, is the (spirit?) of the earthly Jill "Doll" Blaine. She is there to help Boone pass on, and to provide comfort. Her one goal:

"...this unyielding directive:
Comfort.
Comfort, for all else is futility."

This book reminded me, at times, of "Our Town," the Thornton Wilder play; also, A Christmas Carol by Dickens; also, Lincoln in the Bardo (not surprisingly!); Vigil is a new, classic ghost story. Eminently re-readable (I think I need my own copy!)

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Helm by Sarah Hall
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans
Departure(s) by Julian Barnes

Finished: Vigil by George Saunders

I have six more lovely illustrated books home from the library.

Magazines Read:

Great Course:

TV Watching: 9-1-1 9.18 (season finale) Your Friends and Family 2.6, Hacks 5.6, 5.7

Listening:

Today: Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Helm by Sarah Hall
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans
Departure(s) by Julian Barnes

Finished: Vigil by George Saunders

I have six more lovely illustrated books home from the library.

Magazines Read:

Great Course:

TV Watching: 9-1-1 9.18 (season finale) Your Friends and Family 2.6, Hacks 5.6, 5.7

Listening:

Wordle 1,785 3/6* New Wordle word today: irate, ambit, satin

🟦⬜🟦🟦⬜
🟦⬜⬜🟧🟦
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1063
🟩🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #797
“Garden varieties”
🔵🔵🔵🔵
🔵🟡

Checking in on you for the first time in a while, Karen! It looks lots of great reading going on here!

I hope you have a super Saturday!

>161 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia! Thanks for stopping by to chat.

Today: Church. Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Helm by Sarah Hall
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans
Departure(s) by Julian Barnes

Adding: Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America by Sean Sherman

I have six more lovely illustrated books home from the library—finished!

Magazines Read: Lake Superior (Feb/Mar)—the annual travel guide. Spent some lovely time reminiscing about my travels through the area over the years!

Great Course:

TV Watching: Remarkably Bright Creatures—terrific movie retelling of a lovely book. Sally Field was great (all cast was really good). The Other Bennett Sister (Britbox) 1.1, 1.2, 1.3. Lovely show, can’t wait for more episodes.

Listening:

Today: Church. Puzzles and papers and LT (the usual things).

Books: I’ve been dipping into these books:

Helm by Sarah Hall
Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen by Kate Evans
Departure(s) by Julian Barnes

Adding: Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America by Sean Sherman

I have six more lovely illustrated books home from the library—finished!

Magazines Read: Lake Superior (Feb/Mar)—the annual travel guide. Spent some wonderful time reminiscing about my travels through the area over the years!

Great Course:

TV Watching: Remarkably Bright Creatures—terrific movie retelling of a lovely book. Sally Field was great (all cast was really good). The Other Bennett Sister (Britbox) 1.1, 1.2, 1.3. Loved this show, can’t wait for more episodes.

Listening:

Wordle 1,786 4/6* New Wordle word today (I actually considered the word for my third guess, but it seemed so “wintry”!: irate, cobra, karma, parka

⬜🟦🟦⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟦🟧
🟦🟧🟧⬜🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

Connections
Puzzle #1064
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Strands #798
“We all saw it”
🔵🔵🔵🟡
🔵🔵🔵

I played https://squaredle.com 05/10:
72/72 words (+9 bonus words)—today’s difficulty—4 of 5 stars
🎯 In the top 16% by accuracy
🔥 Solve streak: 1

I played https://squaredle.com/xp 05/10:
20/20 words (+1 bonus word)
🎯 In the top 17% by accuracy