Familyhistorian Takes Life (and Reading) as it Comes - Part 6

Well, last year threw a monkey wrench into the works. I don’t know what this year will bring but there will be books and talk about books. That’s something to look forward to.

I didn’t quite meet my goal for reading and sending books from my personal library on their way in 2025. Still 77 recycled out of a goal of 100 is nothing to be sneezed at and it outpaced my acquisitions. Maybe I’ll do better in 2026.



Little Free Library

Books culled in 2026

January - 6

February - 7

March - 4

May - 4

June - 5

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I write about genealogy and history on my blog. It helps to have a deadline when there are so many unwriterly tasks to be done. Follow my blog posts as I embark on another year of writing about my genealogical explorations and the information I find out about my ancestors. You can see my latest blog posts at: A Genealogist’s Path to History

Challenges

Nonfiction Challenge

January – Prize Winners - The Haunting of Alma Fielding: A True Ghost Story by Kate Summerscale - DONE
February – All That Jazz - Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans by Gary Krist - DONE
March – Off the Beaten Path Religious Sects - American Cult: A Graphic History of Religious Cults in America from the Colonial Era to Today by Robyn Chapman (others) - DONE
April – Internal Matters - Everything Tuberculosis by John Green DONE
May – Been there. Bought the t-shirt
June – Who Built that Beautiful Building and Why? - Buildings of Britain by Roger FitzGerald - DONE
July – US revolution years from 1760 to 1788
August – Tweet, Tweet
September – Talk, Talk – Linguistics
October – Diaspora
November – Epistolography
December – Bibliography

Reading Through Time

January – Retellings of Classics - My Fair Brady by Brian D. Kennedy - DONE
February – Agents of change, unexpected events that change the course of lives - The Black Death: A Personal History by John Hatcher - DONE
March – Slavery in the Antebellum South - The House Girl by Tara Conklin - DONE
April – Spring - The Hounds of Spring by Lucy Andrews Cummin - DONE
May – It Happened in May - Five Days in London May 1940 by John Lukacs - DONE
June – Love & Marriage
July – The Lives of Wives
August – Holidays/Vacations
September – Daughters
October –
November –
December –

Quarterly

Jan – March – 19th Century – excluding the Americas - Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas - DONE
April - June - 19th Century Americas - EXCLUDING The Old West - Our Kind of People

List of books for challenges

Nonfiction Challenge

January - Prize Winners - Shortlisted for the 2020 Baillie Gifford prize The Haunting of Alma Fielding: A True Ghost Story

February - All That Jazz - Empires of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans by Gary Krist

May - Travel - The Victorian Visitors: Culture Shock in Nineteenth Century Britain by Rupert Christianson (still working my way through that one at the beginning of June)

June - Who Built That Beautiful Building and Why? -

Reading Through Time

January – Retellings of Classics - My Fair Brady by Brian D. Kennedy

February - Agents of Change - The Black Death: A Personal History by John Hatcher

June - Love and Marriage - The Marriage Plot

Shared reads

We Begin at the End April

Books read in 2026

Books read in May 2026

1. These Days by Lucy Caldwell
2. Playing with Fire by Peter Robinson
3. Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson
4. Strange Affair by Peter Robinson
5. A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang
6. Moonlight Murder by Uzma Jalaluddin
7. The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera
8. The Zorg: A Tale of Greed and Murder that Inspired the Abolition of Slavery by Siddarth Kara
9. Imposter by L J Ross
10. Rogue Protocol: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
11. Less by Andrew Sean Greer
12. Paper Bullets: Two Artists Who Risked Their Lives to Defy the Nazis by Jeffrey H. Jackson
13. Five Days in London May 1940 by John Lukacs
14. The Small Bachelor by P.G. Wodehouse
15. The Creak on the Stairs by Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir
16. Close to Home by Peter Robinson
17. Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes
18. The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave
19. The James Joyce Murder by Amanda Cross
20. Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
21. A New Lease on Death by Olivia Black

Books read in June

1. Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington
2. The Corpse with the Ruby Lips by Cathy Ace
3. The Librarians by Sherry Thomas
4. Checkmate to Murder by E.C.R. Lorac

Books acquired in 2026

Books acquired in May 2026

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
A Brazen Curiosity by Lynn Messina
Three in Death by J.D. Robb
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Murder at the Hotel Orient by Alessandra Ranelli

May stats

Books read: 21
Pages read: 6,521
Read pages counted in 2026: 30,878
Male authors: 9
Female authors: 12
Multiple authors: 0
Owned books: 3
Borrowed books: 18

June stats (so far)

Books read: 4
Pages read: 1,116
Read pages counted in 2026: 31,994
Male authors: 1
Female authors: 3
Multiple authors: 0
Owned books: 1
Borrowed books: 3

Happy New Thread, Meg! I hope it safe to wish you that. I am assuming you have finished setting up your thread.

>15 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, not quite. The welcome sign wasn't out yet but thanks for the new thread wishes!

>16 Familyhistorian: Oh, sorry Meg! Next time I will know.

No problem, Deborah. Visitors are always welcome!

Lovely opening shot, Meg.

Happy new thread.

Thanks on both counts, Paul.

Happy new thread, Meg.

I hope Sam's condition improves quickly in the coming days.

>1 Familyhistorian: That looks like a nice spot to swim and spend the day in peace without any crowds. Those are the best kind of spots.

Happy new thread

Happy new thread Meg!

Where is that photo in your topper of?

Happy new thread, Meg. I love the photo at the top. I wish Sam the best and hope things improve.

Happy new thread Meg. It is a gorgeous day!

>3 Familyhistorian: Happy new one Deborah! (and...sent 77 books to new homes!! The thought of that makes my heart hurt)

Happy new thread, Meg! And 21 books for May? And here I thought *I* had read a lot of books last month! Congrats!

101. Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict



Length: 336 pages

In a narrative that combined the stories of the daughter of Lord Carnarvon, Lady Evelyn, an aspiring archaeologist in the 1920s with pharaoh Hatshepsut, one of the few female pharaohs of the distant past, tales of two contentious eras of Egypt’s history were brought to life. Its main thrust was to focus on women who chafed against the restrictions placed on them by society. Goals in which they only partially achieved success in Daughter of Egypt.

>21 quondame: Thanks for both those wishes, Susan!

>22 figsfromthistle: It is an idyllic spot, Anita. One of quite a few on BC's Sunshine Coast. Thanks re the new thread!

>23 humouress: Hi Nina, it's somewhere on the Sunshine Coast near Sechelt, I think.

>24 BLBera: Thanks Beth!

>25 mdoris: Hi Mary, it looks very nice out there. I just hope the crowds are at a minimum today when I head out to Vancouver.

>26 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, I'm trying to whittle down my books so 77 rehoused tomes is a goal I hope to better this year. I'm not doing well on that count this year with other things to distract me.

>27 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary, most of those books are library books many with holds pending so they need to be read quickly!

Happy new thread, Meg!

>31 drneutron: Thanks Jim!

Happy new one Meg. Beautiful topper photo.

Sending more good health wishes for Sam too.

I had missed on your last thread that you had picked up a Kate Fansler. Will you be continuing with them? As you say, they are full of dialogue so for me not something to read one straight after another.

HI Meg, hoping each day is better for Sam in his recovery and that he will be coming home soon.

102. The unselected journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1 by Beth Brower



Length: 125 pages
Audio

The start of Emma M. Lion’s journal had Emma recently returning to London, to Lapis Lazuli House which she owned but her Cousin Archibald was overseeing while she was away. He was also overseeing her fortune, a bone of contention as there wasn’t much left except the house. But the house had a lesser side partitioned off (Lapis Lazuli Minor) so something to let and a new character to find out about. It will be interesting to see where the journals lead as this was The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol 1..

>33 charl08: I might pick up another Kate Fansler, Charlotte, but, as you say, I wouldn't make a steady diet of them. I think that relying heavily on dialogue may have been a style of the time. I noticed there was also a lot of it in Checkmate to Murder by E.C.R. Lorac.

Thanks for sending happy wishes our way!

>34 mdoris: He might be in hospital a while yet, Mary, as he has a lot to recover from. Hopefully not as long as they kept him the last time which was 31 days.

>37 Familyhistorian: Thirty one day is a long time, Meg. I hope Sam will get out sooner. Glad the buses were blasting aircon today.

>38 vancouverdeb: He should get out sooner this time, Deborah. I'm not sure when though.

Hi Meg my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend. Hope all is well with you, i hope that Sam's recovery goes well and that he gets out sooner than last time my dear.

Happy New Thread, Meg. I like that topper. I could hang out there. 😎

Another warm day today, Meg. One way on my dyke walk was breezy, but not the way back. Hope your day was okay. You have a been a care giver for a long time and Sam a patient for a long time. It must get hard for both of you.

>40 johnsimpson: Thanks John, I'm hoping for a faster recovery this time but I'm not sure how fast it will be as it is uncharted territory, last time was the result of chemo, this time is the result of surgery.

>41 msf59: Hi Mark, that's the Sunshine Coast of BC which wouldn't be far for a world traveller like you to travel. They might even have some different birds there, you never know.

>42 vancouverdeb: It didn't seem as warm as yesterday, Deborah, but nice to have a breezy walk. Too bad the way back wasn't as good.

I was a care giver for my ex for 5 years and this time for Sam has been lots shorter than that. Being older makes it a bit harder though. The change in recovery from chemo to surgery is a new wrinkle for Sam though.

I hope recovery for Sam goes well. And take care of yourself, too.

103. The Island by Victoria Hislop



Length: 473 pages

Alexis was travelling with her boyfriend and feeling stifled in their relationship and, after seeing several countries, they’d stopped in Crete. She knew that her mother had come from there so she took a side trip, on her own. Close to her mother’s village, she saw the island of Spinalonga, a former leper colony. Her exploration of the island and finding out more about her family’s history from the tavern keeper’s wife, led to the dramatic story of her family (so dramatic that I had to remind myself of who Alexis was when she came on scene again in the ending chapters). The Island was a story of family and betrayal and the ties that bind.

>46 BLBera: Thanks Beth, I'm trying to keep up with everything but I'm also aware that I can't take on much more.

Here's hoping, for both your sakes, that Sam is finally on the road to a full recovery.

104. Wednesday the Rabbi Got Wet by Harry Kemelman



Length: 312 pages

Revisiting the Rabbi Small series reminded me of life in the ‘70s, only in Wednesday the Rabbi Got Wet the narrative unfolded in small town New England. The Rabbi was rather upset about the board decision to invest in a retreat for the members of the synagogue. In addition to that, the owner of one of the town’s drugstores was concerned about getting the lease for the store renewed of particular concern since the building in which it was located was up for sale. But the owner, an old man, was sick so hard to contact. A last minute prescription for the old man was complicated by a storm and he ended up getting the wrong meds and dying. Was it a mix up at the drugstore or an intentional act? The Rabbi would figure it out.

>49 humouress: Thanks Nina. I hope so too!

HI Meg, I hope so "three" and I know there are many more here on L.T. who feel the same way!

>52 mdoris: Thanks Mary, all the support helps!

>53 Familyhistorian: Me four,Meg. I bet transit was very busy today.

>54 vancouverdeb: The Skytrains seemed to be more frequent when I got on about 2:00 pm. Probably ferrying people to the game.

Deb's post of 15 minutes earlier was the 1,000th on your threads this year, Meg. Well done and you are the first Canadian there this year albeit that Deb and Shelley and Anita are not too far behind you!

>56 PaulCranswick: Thanks for keeping an eye on our stats, Paul. My sense is that posting numbers are down overall this year although I'm still struggling to keep up or at least not let too many of them get away from me.

It has been a busy few days, aren't they all? Yesterday evening was book club and there was some discussion of this month's book, The Island along with talking of retirements and end of the school year as a lot of them work in the school system. Our next book will be The Correspondent so no pressure there as I've already read it and we take the summer off anyway.

I try to visit my son in the hospital everyday but since it takes at least 3 hours there and back with the visit in between I took today off because, well, Saturday which means morning meeting the group for the Coquitlam Crunch then in the afternoon it was PoCo Heritage's AGM which meant there were elections for some new board members to carry us forward. I decided not to stand for re-election (10 years is plenty, I think plus I have other demands on my time.) They gave me flowers!

Pretty! And yes, 10 years is plenty. How about time for YOU!

3 hours each way to the hospital??! I thought he was in a hospital more local. Wow, that's a lot of travel! I hope recovery is progressing and that he'll be home soon, Meg.

Hi Meg, Your days are very full. The flowers look beautiful!

>58 Familyhistorian: Your flowers look lovely, Meg!

>59 jessibud2: It is a local hospital, Shelley. Three hours in total there and back with the visit in between, so not as bad as you were picturing it but still a chunk out of the day. He is progressing but he has a lot to recover from.

>60 mdoris: The days are fuller than I like them, Mary, and I find that it is hard to keep up with things especially if they aren't on my phone schedule because otherwise they go completely out of my head. The flowers were a nice surprise!

>61 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky. The bouquet was so big that it ended up in more than one vase so plenty of loveliness to brighten my house.

>58 Familyhistorian: Ten years! You definitely deserve some relief (and some lovely flowers)...not to mention a medal for traveling 3 hours each day for a visit!!! every day...even though it's to visit your son.

>58 Familyhistorian: You are a great mom to visit your son virtually every day, Meg. Even when Dave was in the hospital for 10 days, one of my friends said - you don't have do go in every day. I did though, but you have had a long haul as a caregiver, and the hospital Dave was in was just 15 minutes away by car. I wish you didn't have such a long way to go, but I'll bet Sam really appreciates your visits. A day off is completely ok. The flowers are lovely and well deserved, Meg.

>65 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba, it has been a long haul but the flowers were unexpected. The hospital he is now in is the furthest away. Most of his long stays have been in the local hospital so visiting didn't take as big a chunk out of the day. I just hope that he isn't in the hospital he is now in for as long as he was in the local hospital the last time.

>66 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah, it is difficult not to visit. It doesn't feel right even when other people, like your friend, say that you really don't need to see them every day. I just hope he is discharged sooner rather than later this time.

You do have full days, Meg. I hope recovery is going well.

>58 Familyhistorian: Oh, congratulations! They're lovely.

>69 BLBera: Recovery is going slow but in the right direction, Beth.

>70 humouress: Aren't they pretty and such a surprise too!

I'm glad the recovery is positive, if slow, Meg. I guess you at the hospital or on transit right now. Warm day, dare I say hot. I have yet to walk Muffin and she really feels the heat.

>73 vancouverdeb: I started out later today, Deborah. I attended a poetry show to celebrate the solstice which was over just after 2:00 so drove home and then started my journey to VGH. It was warm today but there's lots of air con on transit. The walks to get to and from transit were warm without the cool breeze there has been on other days. It would be hot with a fur coat. Poor Muffin.

No walks yet for Loki today with her black fur coat. It is pretty hot!

>75 mdoris: It's supposed to cool down and rain by the end of the week here, Mary. Maybe Loki will get some walks in then.

105. Letters from the Dead by Steve Robinson



Length: 338 pages

Working for a client, genealogist, Jefferson Tayte, was following clues that led him to Scotland and the hunt for a ruby. Clues were delivered in the letters of a long-passed woman who had witnessed tragic events in India. Events in which the ruby went missing. The search for the ruby in present-day Scotland was also proving deadly and it was up to Tayte to solve the genealogical puzzle and find the treasure while trying to stay alive in Letters from the Dead

I walked for about an hour on the dyke today. It was a hot day, I thought, Meg. I'm not sure if rain sounds good, but at least it will be cooler.

>78 vancouverdeb: It was hot, Deborah. There wasn't much of a breeze either. I'm surprised that Muffin was willing to be out for that long!

>79 Familyhistorian: It was just me walking on the dyke today, Meg. Muffin was at doggy day care, and usually I take a walk by myself so I can go faster and farther . Especially in the hot weather. She takes it pretty easy in the warmer weather. But I need the exercise.

Glad you are joining me on Villain, Meg. It is a slow-burn but hang in there. She is such a smart writer. I am a 100 pages in.

>80 vancouverdeb: Ah, no wonder you were out so long in the heat, Deborah. I don't have a dog to walk but make sure I get my steps in every day. I used to find it so odd when I had a Fit Bit that one of the walking rates was "Brisk Walk like walk a dog", or something like that. Obviously not thought up by someone who actually walked dogs because there is seldom anything brisk about it!

>81 msf59: I'm right behind you on Villain, Mark, on page 84 so far, where changes in stakes become clear. Can't wait to see what happens next.

>82 Familyhistorian: Muffin goes quite fast in the colder months, and far too. And if she is pulling me on the leash, trying to catch a rabbit or squirrel, she can go pretty fast. But in this weather, no! Do you have an Apple Watch? I got one a few years ago.

>82 Familyhistorian: Dogs do like to sniff a lot , at least Muffin does . I know what you mean about us slow dog walkers .

>84 vancouverdeb: I do have an Apple watch and before that I had a Fitbit but I had my last dog way before that. I can remember him going slow but then he was an older dog.

>82 Familyhistorian: Jasper (golden retriever, but not the largest) likes to trot along when we're walking and my 'brisk walk' isn't as fast as he can be. Of course he also likes to stop and sniff so I have a 5m extendable leash and I keep walking while he has a good sniff and then stop when I get to the limit and wait for him. And, of course, he soon passes me again.

I ordered an 8m leash by the same company from Amazon sg but they sent me another 5m one (in a different colour from what I'd asked for) and now won't reply to me though I've been through all the automated options that I can find on the site for a complaint. Hey ho, what can you do?

>87 humouress: My last dog was a golden retriever/shepherd mix but it has been a few years. I don't remember him walking briskly but he was a senior when I last walked him and it was early in the morning so maybe he wasn't as frisky as he could have been anyway. Or maybe he was distracted by the smells - lots of wildlife in our area.

Ordering things online is so easy until something doesn't work out. I hope you eventually get the leash you are looking for, Nina.

106. The Violence: My Family's Colombian War by Adriana E. Ramirez



Length: 308 pages

My knowledge of Colombian history is sketchy at best but I know a lot more now after reading The Violence: My Family’s Colombian War. I had no idea that the conflicts went back in time and that they followed one after the other until a state of constant warfare was the reality. Weaving a family’s story through the conflicts was an effect way of bringing home how the lives of everyday people were shaped and warped by the competing factions and constantly changing rules.

Some of the names in the narrative were recognizable from news stories I’d seen and read over the years. But that was to be expected from a history that included some fairly recent events. What was even more memorable was recognizing some of the names in the acknowledgements.

>63 Familyhistorian: Exactly so, Meg.

Let's hope for a weekend of relaxation and renewal.

>89 Familyhistorian: Nice review. We can join Joe, Debbie and Becca in taking some pride in Adriana her talent and writing achievements. Vicariously at least she one of our own!

>90 PaulCranswick: A week of relaxation and renewal sounds wonderful, Paul. I would settle for my son getting out of hospital. Taking transit to see him everyday while it is jam packed with soccer enthusiasts is trying.

>91 PaulCranswick: As someone who writes about their own family's history, Adriana's book is an inspiration of how a family's story can be told and incorporated into a larger history. Plus, there is the whole LT background too so even better!

I'll bet taking transit every day to see your son is trying, Meg, especially with FIFA and transit is so crowded. I sure hope he is home soon.

>93 vancouverdeb: The commute is hard and made harder by the crowds for the World Cup. According to the latest he should be getting out sometime next week and he is looking forward to not being in hospital again for a long, long time!

Happy Friday, Meg. Hooray for The Violence. Wasn't it an excellent book? I am nearing the 300 page mark and should finish it this weekend. It is certainly a slow-paced book but there is always so much tension under the surface which keeps the pages turning.

>95 msf59: The Violence was really good, Mark. I really liked the way she brought the uncertainty of living through those times home to the reader by showing the effect on her extended family. It made it more real when it wasn't just about the fighting factions but how the effects boiled down to the people still trying to live their lives.

>94 Familyhistorian: Sam getting out from the hospital after the weekend and not needing to go back to the hospital for a long , long time is very happy news indeed, Meg! I am so happy for both of you! ❤️

That is very good news Meg that Sam will be home soon. xxx

>97 vancouverdeb: >98 mdoris: It will be good to have him home soon and not have anything to do with hospitals for a while!

107. Quietly in Their Sleep by Donna Leon



Length: 258 pages

Brunetti vaguely recognized the young woman who came to see him with her concerns. She was a nun who acted as a nurse but left the order because of five unexpected deaths. Of course, they were sick, that’s why she saw them as she was a nurse but still it didn’t seem right so she told the Commissario. But it was a suspicion that was hard to pin down. Still Brunetti tried but he was told to desist but then the ex-nun ended up in hospital after an accident. Would he be able to find out what was going on in time to save her and stop the troubling deaths in Quietly in Their Sleep?

Great news that your son will soon be home from the hospital.

>100 Familyhistorian: I love Brunetti!

>101 BLBera: Thanks Beth, it's welcome news. I love the Brunetti series too but had to be reminded of it by seeing a review on someone else's thread. Too many series on the go, I guess.

Wonderful news about your son, Meg!!

>103 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! Not long now.

>100 Familyhistorian: Hello Meg, Oh I haven't read that one so must soon! I sure like the Brunetti books!

108. Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn



Length: 388 pages

I’ve been reading the Lady Julia Grey mystery series for a long time but it has been a while since I indulged in one of the mysteries. This time it was Dark Road to Darjeeling in which Lady Julia and her husband, Brisbane were visiting old friends in India at the Cavandish Tea Plantation. There visit was not a restful one, however, as murder didn’t take long to show up. Brisbane was a private inquiry agent and, of course, Julia wanted to get in on the action too considering herself to be knowledgeable in the field of inquiry. But was she? The main sleuths were still negotiating the terms of their union and new events kept them on their toes.

It seems that I must have skipped some books in the series because I don’t remember Lady Julia being married. Maybe I should look for the episodes in this series that I skipped over.

>105 mdoris: You may have read it already, Mary. It's one of those books that ended up with two possible titles. It's also called The Death of Faith.

>106 Familyhistorian: I recently read two books set in the 17th century concerning the East India Trading Company; one set in the West Indies and one in India, before the Crown took over.

That's good news about Sam. I bet he's looking forward to coming home even more than you are ;0)

>108 humouress: The East India Trading Company seemed to be a law onto itself before the Crown took over - which is probably why they did. I bet they were interesting books, Nina.

I'm sure he'll be happy to get out of hospital but it's hard to wait at this point.

109. Buildings of Britain by Roger FitzGerald



Length: 144 pages

Sometimes there are treasures waiting patiently to be pulled from the shelf, especially from the shelves in my own home. Buildings of Britain was a slim volume but it went over the built landscape of Britain explaining how various types of buildings came to be used in different contexts. It was easy to grasp what he was getting at because the book was illustrated throughout by the author who explained his technique at the start of the book. It’s a great resource for someone interested in urban painting.

>107 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg, Yes I started at #20 and have proceeded from there with newer ones. Quietly In Their Sleep or The Death of Faith is #6 in the series. Still good to know there are many waiting for me! Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

>111 mdoris: Ah, now I understand, Mary. I started at the beginning or as near as I could get. Have a wonderful weekend!

>112 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg, Not sure it matters where you start but now I can go backwards! Hmmm.

>113 mdoris: The starting place is all a matter of personal preference although some readers seem to be very rigid in where they begin a series.

A cooler day today, Meg and very welcome from my point of view. I had a nice walk with Muffin.

>115 vancouverdeb: It was cool then it was hot again where I was, Deborah. Walks were between point A and B and transit was jam packed. Your day sounds much more pleasant.

>106 Familyhistorian: I have read a couple of Raybourn's books but nothing in that series. I will have to see if my local library has them. Thanks, Meg.

I hope you have a marvelous Monday!

>117 alcottacre: The Lady Julia was an early series of Raybourn's, Stasia. Your library might have them.

Have a wonderful week!

>116 Familyhistorian: I guess with FIFA on , transit to downtown and in downtown is packed, Meg. Too bad. I hope Sam is home very soon. Today was a nice day for walking, not too warm.

>119 vancouverdeb: No transit for me today, Deborah. I was just leaving to catch skytrain when I got the text that he was being discharged. So I got to drive to VGH in rush hour there and back. It reminded me of when I used to work at VCC and commute every day only worse because Broadway is being dug up all over. But at least all the to and froming is down with and he's home.

Such good news Meg that Sam was discharged from the hospital and is now home but the drive to and from sounded nasty. So good that you don't have to do that again soon,(fingers crossed}.

Great news about Sam's discharge! I hope his recovery continues swiftly.

>120 Familyhistorian: Great news, Meg. I hope the recovery continues to go well.

Congrats to Sam for being home and to you for no more commutes! May the way forward be much easier than the one behind you both!

It's good to hear that Sam is home, Meg. Hopefully life will be easier now for you both.

>121 mdoris: The drive wasn't bad, Mary, but I'd scoped out the parking for pick up all the days that I'd visited and when I got to the hospital they were all taken. Good thing that I'd parked by the Emergency entrance before and there were lots of spots.

>122 quondame: Thanks Susan.

>123 BLBera: Me too, Beth

>124 jessibud2: That's my hope too, Shelley.

>125 humouress: Thanks Nina, there are some wrinkles to get through (low fat diet for 4 weeks). I just hope that it doesn't cause any weight loss.

110. Our Kind of People by Carol Wallace



Length: 344 pages

The best thing about historical fiction is seeing history in action. In the case of Our Kind of People, it showed a view of old New York society with its leaders and aficionados striving to keep to the unwritten rules but change was coming. In this case, that was personified by Helen Wilcox who, though of the upper crust herself, had married an entrepreneur. But now it was show time, they were about to launch their two daughters into society at the same time that he was entering a financial precarious state in launching the Elevated which demanded more and more of his money.

What happened in the story illustrated a time of change in New York’s gilded age and was an interesting story of a family as well.

We were all set to celebrate Canada Day, July 1 with a group pub lunch. Sadly, it is not to be because World Cup struck again and there was no table to be had in the pub we are able to attend due to one of the group member's food issues. On the bright side though, is the fact that I don't have to take over crowded Skytrains and buses to the hospital in Vancouver any more!

>120 Familyhistorian: Hooray for having family home from hospital!! Here's to a healthy future!!

>130 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba, may the future be healthy for both of us!

>120 Familyhistorian: I am delighted that Sam is home for a long , long time, Meg! I know the driving must have been brutal, but now both of you can relax.

>132 vancouverdeb: It felt very strange not to have to go any long distances today, Deborah. Something I could get used to.

When I took the bus into Vancouver to visit my son in the hospital, there was a Book Warehouse store just a block away from the bus stop. So there were a few visits and I may have picked up some books. The list for this month is:

The Secrets of Our DNA: How Genetics Has Changed the World by Turi King
Remember Me by Mary Balogh
The League of Lady Poisoners by Lisa Perrin
How to Fake It in Society by KJ Charles
Last One Out by Jane Harper
The British Are Coming: The Graphic Edition, volume 1 by Nora Neus and Federico Pietrobon
A Victorian's Inheritance (Who Do You Think You Were) by Helen Parker-Drabble

>134 Familyhistorian: Gosh - good thing you won't have to go through that trauma anymore ;0)

>135 humouress: I was good, didn't go and check out the book store every time I went to the hospital. I think 3 times in 18 days showed great restraint.

>136 Familyhistorian: Very great. Though I tend to raid a place (look through every bookshelf) when I go, which doesn't leave much for a return visit if it's too soon.

Happy July, Meg. Thanks for the Sam update. I am glad he is finally back home.

Happy Canada Day Meg 🇨🇦
Glad that you don't have to travel today!

So glad to hear Sam was discharged. Hope his recovery continues to go smoothly and that you both have a lovely Canada Day.

>137 humouress: The books I find interesting when I shop depend on what mood I'm in so different books can appeal on different days. Also there's the issue of books out of reach that can sometimes be found on lower shelves in other parts of the store.

>138 msf59: Me too Mark!

>139 mdoris: Happy Canada Day, Mary. I'm really glad I didn't have to travel by transit today too as it seems there was a game on which is why our Canada Day lunch didn't happen.

>140 MickyFine: Thanks Micky, I'm happy he's discharged too but he's also on a low fat diet for 4 weeks which is a bit challenging. Have a wonderful Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day, Meg.

Great news on Sam being discharged.

>145 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul on both counts!

Happy Canada Day, Meg. Such great news to have Sam home. I hope you enjoyed the day. I didn't do anything Canada Dayish - walked the dog and wanted to avoid the crowd, mainly because I have a distance to walk in , and Muffin is not keen on long walks on warm days. Best wishes with the low fat diet for Sam.

June stats

Books read: 14
Pages read: 4,142
Read pages counted in 2026: 35,020
Male authors: 4
Female authors: 10
Multiple authors: 0
Owned books: 5
Borrowed books: 9

Travelling seems to have meant less reading time when I look at my June stats. I wonder what July will bring.

>147 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, hope your Canada Day was a good one. No great Canada celebrations here. The group Canada lunch I was going to attend was cancelled due to World Cup game taking over our meeting/dining spot. I just heard the local fireworks as I'm not far from Lafarge Lake where they let them off but they've stopped now. My activity today consisted of walking to Safeway to get more low fat provisions.

111. Self-Help from the Middle Ages: What the Seven Deadly Sins Can Teach Us about Living by Peter Jones



Length: 264 pages

The author was in Siberia teaching when he took on the project of reinterpreting the Seven Deadly Sins for a present day audience of readers. He combined the history of the how the sins were looked at in medieval times and contrasted that with how things could be viewed in a way that would be relevant today. Quiet often his then currently living conditions and the cold would intrude upon the narrative, as how could it not. Self-Help from the Middle Ages: What the Seven Deadly Sins Can Teach Us about Living was an intriguing look at old doctrine that we might be able to adapt to our present day circumstances.

Our weather apps kept promising rain but we decided to do the Coquitlam Crunch anyway. It didn't rain and we saw these two guys.

Happy July 4 to all my American visitors. Happy 250! This year I added to my collection of books about the American Revolution adding the graphic novel The British Are Coming. I also added Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution. I heard the author, Denise Kiernan interviewed on The Book Cougars. As a family historian I was surprised to find that I had ancestors who fought especially as they fought on the American side!

112. Bella Vista by Adam Strong





Length: 316 pages

Was Frank Pershall right to take his son from his mother and start a new life for them in Florida? Granted the mother was an artist who had fallen off the edge of acceptability, the accolades and drug habit making her far from nurturing. But, once he had him where he wanted him, that was it, Frank was no more nurturing himself. Instead the father’s limo driver stepped into the role taking Jay, the son in question, under his wing and into his limo but at the same time supporting Jay more than any other adult in his life.

But children have the habit of growing up and making their own choices, for good or for bad. Predictably, things didn’t go that well for Jay which was also part of the story of Bella Vista.

Hello, Meg!

>152 Familyhistorian: Our library just acquired Obstinate Daughters. It's one I think I'd like to read.

>154 tymfos: Hi Terri, after hearing the interview with the author and taking a peek at the beginning of the book, I think Obstinate Daughters is going to turn out to be a good read. I hope you're able to get your hands on that library book soon.