Joanne (copperskye) Reads in 2024

Hello and welcome! I'm Joanne. 2024 marks my 16th year on LT and my 15th in this wonderful group. I'm retired in my mid-60s, and live in Colorado with my husband, golden retriever, and grey tuxedo cat. I also have a son who writes and teaches in Ohio.

I read mostly mysteries and current fiction. I keep trying to read more non-fiction and mostly failing. I'm also trying to read more books off my shelves. Last year I read 37 of my own books, about half of my total. Unfortunately, I probably bought more than that in the same time period and need to cull my shelves.

To get an idea of what I like, some of my favorite reads of 2023 were:

Still Life
The Soul of an Octopus
Crooked Heart
Absolution
The Vulnerables
The Queen of Dirt Island
Frenchman's Creek
The Last Devil to Die
Snowdrift and Other Stories
The entire Slough House series, including The Secret Hours

My two best girls. They are both 11 1/2 and grew up together.

Boomer (with some of the Christmas books that came into the house, although some have left already to go east)


Skye

Books Read in 2024

January 2024
1. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, OTS #1, 3 stars
2. Trespasses by Louise Kennedy, OTS #2, 4.25 stars
3. What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez, OTS #3, 3.75 stars
4. The River We Remember by William Kent Kruger, OTS #4, 4.25 stars
5. The Red Door by Charles Todd, OTS #5, 3.75 stars
6. The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier, OTS #6, 4.25 stars
7. The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley, OTS #7, 4 stars

February 2024
8. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride, OTS #8, 4.25 stars
9. The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly, OTS#9, 3.5 stars
10. The Confession by Charles Todd, 3 stars
11. These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer, OTS #10, 4.25 stars
12. The Road from Belhaven by Margot Livesey, 3.75 stars

March 2024
13. The Overstory by Richard Powers, OTS #11, 3.75 stars
14. The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl, 4.25 stars
15. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, OTS #12, 4.25 stars
16. Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer, OTS #13, 3 stars
17. The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz, OTS #14,
18. The All of It by Jeanette Halen, OTS #15, 4 stars

April 2024
19. Charming Billy by Alice McDermott (reread), OTS #16, 4.75 stars
20. Playing with Wildfire by Laura Pritchett, OTS #17, 4.5 stars
21. The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies OTS #18, 4.25 stars
22. Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles, OTS #19, 4.75 stars

May 2024
23. The Last Word by Elly Griffiths, 3 stars

2023 Year-End Meme:

Describe yourself: Crooked Heart
Describe how you feel: The Vulnerables
Describe where you currently live: Spook Street
If you could go anywhere, where would you go? A Month in the Country
Your favorite form of transportation is: Horse
Your favorite food is: Twas the Bite before Christmas (Thanks Paul!)
Your favorite time of day is: The Twilight Man
Your best friend is: The Mistress of Bhatia House
You and your friends are: Factory Girls
What's the weather like? Snowdrift and Other Stories
You fear: Bad Actors
What is the best advice you have to give?: Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm
Thought for the day: I Have Some Questions for You
What is life for you?: Still Life
How you would like to die: The Raging Storm
Your soul's present condition: Absolution
What was 2023 like for you?: Sea Change
What do you want from 2024?: Small Mercies

Skye helped to take down the outside Christmas lights yesterday before the weather changed. She's still not too sure about those two dogs that visit every December.

1. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

I was hoping to like this more than I did. I liked how it came together at the end but throughout, I really struggled to keep interested.

Happy reading in 2024, Joanne!

Love the pictures of Skye and Boomer.

Happy new year, Joanne!

Happy new year, Joanne.

Star dropped and will follow along with you for the duration as always.

5. Intrigued I went to check your books read for 2023. For favourite food there were a few stretches......what about Twas the Bite Before Christmas? or Dear Mrs. Bird or even All Creatures Great and Small?

Happy New Year, Joanne!

Happy New Year, Joanne! We got hardly any weather, even at school. Did you?

>8 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita, and same to you!

>9 katiekrug: Happy New Year, Katie!

>10 PaulCranswick: Happy New Year, Paul! Oh, excellent suggestions, thanks! I think I'll edit it to add Twas the Bite Before Christmas as it puts me in mind of apps and yummy sweets.

>11 norabelle414: Happy new year, Nora!

>12 AMQS: Happy New year, Anne! No, no weather for us either, as it turned out, but still glad to have the lights down. We have neighbors who keep theirs up through the stock show.

Happy New Year, Joanne. I hope 2024 is a good year for you.

>15 AMQS: We didn't manage to get lights up outside this year. Ah, well.

>5 Copperskye: Haha, I think we could ALL do with some small mercies this year!

Happy New Year to you, John, Chris, Skye, and Boomer!

Welcome back, Joanne!

Happy New Year, Joanne. Love the best girls topper, along with best of the year list. Looking forward to spending another year with my old friend.

Happy New Year, Joanne, and Happy New Thread! Crooked Heart was a wonderful read, I agree. I hope there are more in the series.

Hi Joanne and happy new year! I love your favorites list from 2023. Still Life by Sarah Winman is one of my all-time favorite reads. And I just started the Sough House series with Slow Horses; I have the second in the series on hold at the library and will certainly continue with it. I don't really remember Crooked Heart but I gave it 4.5 stars in 2015. I loved The Queen of Dirt Island and I have Absolution on hold at the library, as well.

Oh, and it's fun to see photos of Skye and Boomer!

Good luck with your 2024 reading. Small world: I live and teach in Ohio, also! Where is your son from?

>14 BLBera: Happy New Year, Beth!

>15 AMQS: You saved yourself a January chore! :)

>16 Storeetllr: Happy 2024 to you, too, Mary!

>17 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

>18 msf59: Hi Mark, Happy 2024! Looking forward to sharing another good reading year with you!

>19 vancouverdeb: Happy 2024, Deborah! I hope so, too!

>20 EBT1002: >21 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, Happy 2024! If I had to name one favorite book from last year, it would probably be Still Life. It still leaves me with a good feeling when I think about it. Oh, I hope you love the Slough House series as much as I did!! And The Secret Hours really tied it all together. I may reread them all.

>22 Tess_W: Hi Tess, Welcome and thank you! He's in Columbus, at Ohio State.

Happy 2024, Joanne! Best of reads this year.

Hi Joanne! Your girls are beautiful! Dropping a star and hope to visit regularly. Happy new year.

Found you and starred you! Happy new year.

Anxious People isn't my favorite Backman. I thought both A Man Called Ove and Beartown were stronger stories.

>24 richardderus: Hi Richard! Good to see you.

>25 jessibud2: Welcome, Shelley!

>26 bell7: Happy 2024, Mary! I loved A Man Called Ove and have heard good things about Beartown (although I'm in no rush to read it). The only other Backman book I've read is My Grandmother Asked Me to tell You She's Sorry which I thought was just meh.

Hi Joanne! A belated Happy New Year to you.

>1 Copperskye: Not Frenchman’s Creek, but my RL book club will be reading The Scape Goat by du Maurier for our March discussion. Love that Calvin & Hobbes.

>7 Copperskye: I’m sorry you didn’t like it more – I loved it and gave it 4.5 stars.

>27 Copperskye: I loved A Man Called Ove, which I wasn’t expecting to like. Haven’t wanted to try any others except for Anxious People because the premise was so different.

Hi Karen! Happy 2024! I have The Scape Goat here and on my short list. My sister read it last year and loved it. I'll be looking for your reaction as well. I was expecting to like Anxious People more than I did, and there were parts that I liked very much, as well as the premise, but I just kept getting bogged down with it. Oh well.

P read Still Life last year -- she finished it and immediately turned right back to page one and started it all over again.

>30 EBT1002: Oh Ellen, I LOVE that!!

2. Trespasses by Louise Kennedy

Oh boy, this was so good. An Irish novel, set in Northern Ireland during the 1970s, and perfectly titled. Tragedy is a given. I thought the first half moved a bit slow but then I couldn't put it down. This one will stick with me for a while.

Found you and dropped a star
Happy reading 2024 😃📖.
>32 Copperskye: I've put that one on my library list.

Hooray for Trespasses! What a great 2023 for the Irish novel. It was amazing. I think you will like North Woods. It is not Irish. 😁

Hi Joanne. I loved the Favorites list, the Reading Meme, and the Pet Pictures, especially Skye’s quizzical look at the Christmas dog visitors. So funny.

We had a whirlwind trip to CO over the weekend to see Mike and family since they weren’t able to make it to Missouri for Christmas. Loved the blue skies in Colorado. Kansas was brutal!

You’re off to a good reading start in 2024. I was a big fan of Trespasses last year. Also loved Still Life. It made my favorites list in 2022.

>33 Ameise1: Hi Barbara! Good to see you here! I need to find your thread!

>34 msf59: Hi Mark! You mean it's a happy book? I have added North Woods to my ever growing TBR list.

>35 Donna828: Hi Donna! I'm so glad that you at least got to have a whirlwind visit to your family in Colorado. Sorry Kansas was uncooperative. I've been lucky driving through Kansas but got caught in a snow squalls a couple times in eastern CO that were absolutely no fun.

>36 Copperskye: I've sent you a PM.

>37 Ameise1: Got it! Thanks Barbara!

Stopping by to say a belated happy new year and drop my star!

Your meme is full of inspiring reading. I'm going to settle in and do mine next.

>39 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, glad to see you and happy 2024!

I just this morning saw the sad news of Julia's (rosalita) passing and like so many others, I am shocked and saddened. I did get to meet her several years ago, in Boulder at a Booktopia event, and thought I'd share a photo. Rest in Peace, Julia. You will be truly missed.



Julia, Katie, Mary, Me, Anne, and Donna

3. What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez

This is the third Sigrid Nunez book I've read in the last few months and the one I liked the least, although it was still a very worthwhile read. Connections with strangers and old friends, and their shared empathy, are the themes but assisted suicide is the central core. As with all her books, there is a sly humor running through it and it is very moving and honest. She's one of those authors that I would not recommend to everyone, but she connects with me.

>41 Copperskye: She will be missed. I am so glad we were able to meet her, and I was also shocked and saddened to learn this sad news.

>41 Copperskye: Thanks for posting that, Joanne. Those were happier days...
RIP Julia.

>41 Copperskye: Of, no! I hadn’t heard. What a terrible loss. I’m so sorry. She will be missed.

That was such a fun day.

I really enjoyed Trespasses when I read it last year, Joanne. Glad you did too. I did read about the sad passing of Julia on another thread.

>43 AMQS: >44 Donna828: >45 Storeetllr: That was such a fun time. I'm so glad that we had the opportunity to get together like that.

>46 vancouverdeb: I want to check out her short story collection, The End of the World is a Cul de Sac. Have you read it, Deborah?

>32 Copperskye: I've just finished Trespasses as well. It's a wonderful book isn't it?

>48 SandDune: Hi Rhian, It was and since I posted this morning, I put a library hold on The End of the World is a Cul de Sac. I love the title.

>41 Copperskye: What a great photo and what a great bunch. I am honored to have met everyone but Mary & Donna. That will have to be remedied...

>32 Copperskye: Yes, that was a good one.

>42 Copperskye: I pretty much agree. What Are You Going Through was good but not nearly as affecting (for me) as The Friend.

>50 msf59: Yes, absolutely, Mark!

>51 EBT1002: I really liked her latest, The Vulnerables, maybe even a bit more than The Friend.

4. The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

Memorial Day, 1958, in small Minnesota town, the body of a local rancher is found in the river. Characters that I couldn't help but care about and the themes of racism, PTSD, and family secrets, made this a gripping read.

The bookish puzzle I finished last week. Fun to do except for the pile of bricks I was left with at the end.

>54 Copperskye:- ooo, this is gorgeous and looks like fun!

Hi, Joanne. We are doing a shared reread of The Sparrow sometime in March, if you would like to join us. Give it one more chance...

>54 Copperskye: What a beautiful puzzle!

>53 Copperskye: He is a solid, reliable writer, isn't he. Many years into his career, I don't know of anyone who dislikes him...at the most, some seem just not to care.

>55 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! Yes, it was!

>56 msf59: Hi Mark! I'll keep that in mind, thank you. Maybe that's the kick in the pants I need.

>57 richardderus: Hi Richard, I'm kind of surprised that the only other Krueger I've read is Ordinary Grace, which I loved. I have a copy of This Tender Land which I bought at a signing when it was first published (and what a lovely man he is). And I keep meaning to start the Cork O'Connor series, as well. I have a handful of them on my shelf, too. I'm so glad I read this latest one, at least.

>53 Copperskye: I have added this to the sooner rather than later list.

>54 Copperskye: Lovely puzzle!

>54 Copperskye: Beautiful puzzle!

Wishing you a lovely week!

Love that puzzle, Joanne! I have a few that I have been given as gifts that I haven't put together for one reason or another. I have one that I want to start - maybe this week.

>1 Copperskye: hi!
Brand new here, I was wondering, how do you add pictures to your posts?
Thanks!

>59 witchyrichy: I think it's one you'll like, Karen!

>60 Storeetllr: Happy week to you, too, Mary!

>61 AMQS: Hi Anne, I find that I need to be in the mood. Our recent cold snap had me not wanting to go out at all, so that helped, too!

>62 Books-N-Collies: Hi and welcome! I'm probably not the best one to ask and I think there are several different ways. I add photos to my gallery and then copy the image address from a photo to the thread, adding brackets as described in this link under Images:

https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Basic_HTML_/_How_to_do_Fancy_Things_in_Y...

And lots of trial and error at first...good luck

>41 Copperskye: Thanks for sharing the photo, Joanne.

I am also a fan of Nuñez and look forward to The Vulnerables. I think I am number 2 on the reserve list at the library. I loved The Friend, but What Are You Going Through not as much.

I enjoy William Kent Krueger as well; and he seems like a nice man. He visits local, independent bookstores to sign books and libraries fairly frequently.

>64 BLBera: I'll be interested in your thoughts on The Vulnerables when you get to it, Beth. I don't know anyone else who's read it. Most of the people at the Krueger signing, when I went a few years ago, were very enthusiastic, I'd say, older women, 50s-70s. It was a bit like a fan club and some had seen him elsewhere.

5. The Red Door by Charles Todd

This is the 12th entry in the Insp. Ian Rutledge series and I liked it a lot. Oftentimes, about halfway through these books, I start to get impatient with the could be this, could be that, back and forth as Scotland Yard's Rutledge tries to figure things out and solve the crime. I was right there with him in this one and found it to be very entertaining and twisty. A bit improbable probably, but entertaining nonetheless!

Happy Hump Day, Joanne. Not that us retirees care about that much anymore.

>66 Copperskye: I’ve never read one of these. Perhaps I should put the first one on my TBR list, unless I can start with this one?

>67 Storeetllr: Hi Mary! Happy Wednesday! Sometimes I'm not quite sure what day it is!

You could start here in the series, but I wouldn't. Insp. Rutledge has PTSD from his experiences in WWI and it's explained mostly in the first book. He's haunted by what happened and it would be confusing to not know the circumstances. I read the first few in order and try to keep it that way but I have already read #13 and the two most recent, #23 and 24. The only downside I've found is keeping his very limited romantic life straight.

If you like historical mysteries, this is a good series.

Aloha, Joanne!

>52 Copperskye: Ah then, I am putting The Vulnerables on hold at the library.

I'm also noting your advice to Mary just up there. I have not ever read anything by J.D. Robb and have been thinking I will start the apparently infinite "In Death" series now that I'm retired.

>54 Copperskye: Beautiful puzzle, Joanne. I think I recognize it as made by Galison ? I'm glad that you got the bricks sorted out in the end.

>69 EBT1002: Aloha Ellen! I hope the boat ride up the coast was fun! haven't read any of the In Death series but I know they are very, very popular. It is daunting, though, to consider starting a series when there are just so many to catch up on! I don't seem to be reading any more since I retired 7(?) years ago which is kind of disappointing but I am a slow, methodical reader who is easily distracted.

>70 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, I hope you're feeling better! Yes, it's a Galison, and I'm new to them. I did a couple of their holiday puzzles in December which were fun, too.

>53 Copperskye:: Hi Joanne. I'm so glad you liked the new Krueger book. I am a fan of his Cork O'Connor series so I kind of want him to get back to those, but his stand-alones are also good reads. The River We Remember was one of the last books I read in 2023 and it bumped something (can't remember now) off my Favorites List!

>54 Copperskye: I'm not a puzzle person but I might consider doing a book puzzle some day. I'm thinking it would be a fun activity to do with grandkids. That one looks very intricate. The bricks look especially challenging.

>56 msf59: I second Mark's suggestion to join the March read of The Sparrow. I read it and loved it years ago and will be reading it again so I can refresh my memory before I read the sequel, Children of God. It would be fun to have you join us. Mark runs an easy group. ;-)

Drive by *smooch*

>69 EBT1002: >71 Copperskye: The In Death books are fast and easy reads, so, if you start the series and don’t like it, you haven’t lost much time/effort. I personally think it best to start at the beginning and read the first 3 or 4 before deciding one way or the other. (The first, of course, is Naked in Death.) Cheers!

Happy weekend, Joanne!

Hope all is well and you are having a restful weekend!

>72 Donna828: Hi Donna, I have a few of the Cork O'Connor books on my shelves that I picked up at library sales. I keep meaning to start. I am seriously considering joining The Sparrow group read. I'll have to see how I feel then.

>73 richardderus: Hi Richard! Back at you! Hope you're having a good Sunday.

>74 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, Another series I've considered... Too many books.

>75 AMQS: Hey Anne! Same to you! It's a gorgeous day out there today!

>76 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! Same back to you!

>74 Storeetllr: Thanks for the tip and encouragement. And yes, I always start a series at the beginning if at all possible. This is indeed a long series but I will give it a go, starting with Naked in Death, one of these days.

Hi Joanne!

>78 EBT1002: Aloha Ellen!

6. The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier

I rarely sit down with a book in the morning (why? I don't really know) but when I was about 80 pages from the ending of this one, I just had to know what was going to happen so I planted myself on the sofa early in the day to finish it. That said, the ending was a bit of a let down. But, the whole story of a British man whose identity is stolen and replaced by a wealthy, yet struggling Frenchman, who is essentially a doppelgänger, and then the Brit falling into this new, complicated life was quite the page-turner. John/Jean initial passivity reminded me of the unnamed protagonist in Rebecca. In fact, in some ways, I thought the whole story was reminiscent of Rebecca. Not my favorite by du Maurier but an excellent read.

>80 Copperskye: Hi Joann. I loved du Maurier and read all of her books (I think) when I was in my 20's -- might be time for a reread -- if there weren't so darned many books I've never read and want to read out there.

^Just sayin'...

>81 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba! I think the only "major" du Maurier I haven't read is The House on the Strand'. I reread My Cousin Rachel not too long ago and really enjoyed it. I'd first read it in the late 80s so it was time. I enjoy rereading classics as I think I get more out of them. I loved my rereads of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights as well. All these new books are a constant battle, aren't they? :)

>82 msf59: Speaking of "new" books, hi Mark! Yup, that's the cover I have on my copy. Seriously considering it! March, right?

>82 msf59: My favorite cover ever. First and only time I chose a book solely on the basis of its cover. Luckily, it’s a great read!

>83 Copperskye: A constant (but mostly pleasant) battle indeed! But isn't it nice to have too many engaging, fun things in life rather than the opposite?

>84 Storeetllr: Covers are so important! I know they really shouldn't be, but a beautiful cover can really enhance a book! Aren't movie tie-ins the absolute worst?!

>85 RebaRelishesReading: You won't get any argument from me on that front, Reba. Having a good book to look forward to (or look back on, for that matter), is a joy!

>86 Copperskye: the worst!

I haven't read this duMaurier. I should pick up some of the books I haven't read. I really loved Rebecca and Jamaica Inn,

>87 AMQS: Yup!

>88 BLBera: I want to reread Jamaica Inn but I suppose I should read The House on the Strand first. Or not. I was surprised, for some reason, by how much I liked Frenchman's Creek. It was quite the swashbuckling romance.

7. The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley

A disparate group of London train commuters, after managing to ignore each other on their daily commutes, finally begin to acknowledge each others existence after a choking emergency. I loved all these characters and it was a fun, feel-good story which also managed to tackle some serious issues. If you need a lift out of some doldrums, this may help.

aka Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting

>90 Copperskye: - I really enjoyed that one too!

OK... Re-read some du Maurier and read The People on Platform Five -- got it!! :)

drive-by *smooch*

Hi Joanne. I'm chiming in on the book cover talk. I don't buy too many books, but one of the prerequisites is an interesting cover. Here is my copy of The Sparrow that I will be rereading next month: Hint hint!

People on the Platform sounds like fun, Joanne. That's one I am going to have to look for . I've pre-ordered a new book from amazon, The Road from Belhaven: A novel I really loved two of her other books, particularly The Flight of Gemma Hardy. I'm going to try to limit myself to one new book per month, fingers crossed!

Drat, Joanne! After letting you know that I pre- ordered The Road From Bellhaven:A Novel I checked my library, where I also put a hold on the book. Well, the hold is in early, before the book is supposed to be released on February 6. But my amazon order has already shipped. One of those things. It seems like the touchstones are not working at the moment.

The pressure is on Joanne! 😁

Are you still watching the latest True Detective? We might be starting it tonight. I am enjoying S3 of Slow Horses. 2 eps left. Such fast-paced fun and Oldman is a repulsive delight.

>90 Copperskye: - Sounds like a read I could use now. BB taken! Thanks, Joanne

>90 Copperskye: That sounds like a fun read! And I have not read (nor even heard of?) The Scapegoat. I love Rebecca so I might give this one a try.

>91 katiekrug: I was surprised by how much I liked it.

>92 RebaRelishesReading: Sounds like a plan, Reba! :)

>93 richardderus: Smooches back at you, Richard! xo

>94 Donna828: Nice, Donna!! I probably will join in on the group read.

>95 vancouverdeb: >96 vancouverdeb: I haven't heard of The Road from Belhaven but recognized The Flight of Gemma Hardy, which I haven't read. New books at my library sometimes are available very quickly and others seem to take weeks to be shelved after their release date. You just never know. You could always return the Amazon copy, no? I bought a new hardback from Amazon around the holidays and a day or two after it was delivered, I found a copy on the library's sale shelf (who donates their books so quickly?!). The Amazon book went back. Good luck with your one book per month plan - I'll be rooting for you! :)

>97 msf59: We watched the latest True Detective last night (after All Creatures Great and Small, which is so good!). I'll be curious what your reaction is to it. Slow Horses is so good!! I forget, have you read the books? Also wonderful!

I think I'm in on The Sparrow.

>98 jessibud2: Happy to help, Shelley, but sorry you need it. :(

>99 EBT1002: I don't think I had heard much about The Scapegoat either, Ellen. One of my sisters read it a year or two ago and put it on my radar. Apparently, there are two movies based on it as well.

The People on Platform 5 sounded like a good book for audio so I googled it, selected Audible (where I have a subscription) and was told they "weren't authorized to sell it in my area" (or some such words)!! Never had that before! I then tried just opening my account and searching for it and it didn't come up.

Most odd.

>103 RebaRelishesReading: - Reba - search for it using the US title Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting. It should be available then.

>103 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you Katie!! That works and it's now on my "wish list" waiting for more credits :)

>90 Copperskye: I was hit with The People on Platform Five last year. It sounds like it would be good on audio, too.

>103 RebaRelishesReading: >104 katiekrug: >105 RebaRelishesReading: I ordered my paperback copy from Book Depository and it took me a frustrating couple of minutes to figure out why, when I typed in Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting, The People on Platform 5 kept popping up and what I had typed was unavailable. Glad you found it, Reba.

>106 AMQS: Hi Anne, I think it would work on audio quite well!

Hi Joanne, how are you?

I think I am going to return The Road From Belhaven, so thanks for the encouragement, Joanne. I think you would enjoy The Flight of Gemma Harding. Thanks, my one book purchase per month will be challenging for me.

>108 Owltherian: I'm well, thank you! Hope you are, too.

>109 vancouverdeb: I should really try a one book per month limit, too, Deborah. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by my TBR piles and it's my own darn fault!

We enjoyed the first 2 eps of True Detective. Of course, I love the setting. Dark story. I have not read the Slow Horse books.

>111 msf59: I find the literal dark setting disorienting. I know you don’t read a lot of series, but I highly recommend the Slough House series. It’s smart and fun.

Joanne, I returned The Road from Belhaven to amazon today. I'm trying hard to stick to purchasing one book per month, but I can see it's going to be difficult. I did finish The Last List of Mabel Beaumont and I really loved it. My bit of review is on my thread. I've already purchased another one from amazon, Like , Literally, Dude. My library didn't have it, so I can it's going to be a challenge.

>113 vancouverdeb: Well, Deborah. if your library doesn't have a book, what else can you do?? You were almost forced to buy it. :) I'm looking forward to The Last List of Mabel Beaumont. I'm #4 on the holds list. You've steered me to some very good reads through the years!

>114 Copperskye: You are my kind of people, Joanne. Exactly, if the library doesn't have the book, what's a person to do , but purchase the book ? Force my hand. I do hope you enjoy The Last List of Mabel Beaumont.

Hi Joanne! Just catching up with my 75 friends in the new year finally. I hope it's been off to a good start!

>115 vancouverdeb: :)

>116 PaperbackPirate: Hi Pirate! Good to see you and thank you for dropping by. I've been happy with my book choices so far this year but there are just so many waiting in the wings. Hope all is well with you!

8. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

It took me a good 50 pages or so to finally warm up to this story of an impoverished neighborhood in 1930s Pottstown PA. So many characters introduced along with their nicknames - I thought I'd never keep track but the author does a great job in helping the reader keep them straight. It starts with the discovery of a body in a well in the 1970s and then moves back in time, and along with it being a study of race and religion and class, it is also a murder mystery. It was fun discovering who that body belonged to and how it got there. I need to read more of James McBride.

>42 Copperskye: For some reason ( I have no idea why because I have not read What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez) This post made me wonder if you have read Clare Pooley's books. They are The Authenticity Project and Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting, and more. These are the two I have read but I think I will read her next one, too.

*waves and flees*

>119 mckait: Hey wait! Come back here! :)

Now that I think about it, you're right, there are definite similarities between those two books. See >90 Copperskye: - I just read that one, too! I probably didn't note the connections because the writing styles are just so different but the themes are very similar. I haven't read The Authenticity Project yet but it's on my very long tbr list.

Thanks for stopping by and saying "hi". I've missed you and enjoyed catching up with you, here and elsewhere, Kath!

I should have read further, but the dryer chimed at me.

Thank you for making me feel welcome! I will visit again.. now I'll catch up on the rest of this thread.

>82 msf59: I love The Sparrow, Children of God, and every other book that Mary Doria Russell wrote.

>80 Copperskye: I reread Rebecca last year, and it was part of a trilogy with Jamaica Inn and Frenchman's Creek. Adding this one, too.

>83 Copperskye: I rarely do reread but Jane Austen has been calling along with some of the classics that came with the house.

>118 Copperskye: I have heard good things and plan to read this sooner rather than later.

I used part of my Powell's credit for a copy of The Sparrow which should be here by the weekend. I've loved everything I've read by Russell too.

I am so glad you warmed up to The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. A top read of 2023 for me. I highly recommend The Color of Water. It is one of the best memoirs I have read.

I finished Slow Horses S3. I really liked it but thought it was unnecessarily violent in the last 2 eps.

Joanne, I was hooked by Grocery Store on page one, but I am reading slower than you. Tonight I should pass the 300 page mark. I second Mark's recommendation for The Color of Water - it's outstanding.

>118 Copperskye: Great comments, Joanne. I've heard varied comments on this one, so it's on my "maybe" list. I did love The Color of Water.

>121 mckait: :)

>122 mckait: I have a lot of catching up to do regarding MDR!

>123 witchyrichy: I liked all three of those du Maurier books you mentioned more than The Scapegoat but it was still definitely worthwhile. I'll probably reread Jamaica Inn one of these days. I really liked my reread of My Cousin Rachel. My favorite Austen is Pride and Prejudice but I need to read Emma before I think about a reread.

>124 RebaRelishesReading: Oh good, Reba!

>125 msf59: Me, too, regarding Grocery Store! I was disappointed in myself for struggling at first! S3 of Slow Horses was certainly more violent then any of the others. I guess I was expecting it since I had read the books (which are so good and not usually overly violent!).

>126 AMQS: I loved Grocery Store by the end! Sounds like I need to check out The Color of Water.

>127 BLBera: No hesitation, I think you would love it, Beth!

Joanne, I don't know if you are into audiobooks but I *read*/listened to The Colour of Water on audio and it was read by the wonderful late Andre Brougher. What a voice and what a book!

>128 Copperskye: I have lovely hardback editions of Austen and always mean to binge read them in order along with Jane Austen: Secret Radical that explores each novel and identifies what Helena Kelly suggests was her real meaning.

>128 Copperskye: She's retired now, so she won't be getting any more ahead of you. I do recommend all of her books. I think The Women of the Copper Country was her last

>129 jessibud2: Hi Shelley, That actually sounds like just the kind of audio read I would like - a good narrator reading a memoir. I used to listen to audio books on my work commutes but have a difficult time concentrating in any other context. I'll keep it in mind though as I do make attempts to get back into audiobooks.

>130 witchyrichy: That sounds like a great plan, Karen!

>131 mckait: Hi Kath, I've read Copper Country and Doc and Epitaph and loved them all (especially Doc). I was sad when she announced she was no longer writing but at least I have several backlists to get to. Her art work is lovely!

9. The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly

Retired Det. Bosch and LAPD Det. Renee Ballard work a home invasion/assault and a New Year's Eve shooting in Dec 2020. I'm still warming to Ballard and Bosch was certainly relegated to sidekick here. Still love this series though.

>132 Copperskye: - Joanne, Braugher had a voice that was perfect. I would have listened to him narrate the phone book! And I haven't loved all the McBride's I've tried but I think The Colour of Water will always be my favourite, in large part because of the narrator.

So the peril of loving a golden retriever has reared its ugly head again as Skye was just given an initial diagnosis of leukemia. I took her for her regular acupuncture appt yesterday morning and mentioned my concern that she hadn't finished her breakfast that morning. The vet noticed pale gums and immediately did some blood work and an ultrasound. We then moved on to the ER vet where she spent the night and they were able to consult with oncology. I spoke with the critical care doc twice today and she is doing well and I'll pick her up soon. We are waiting to get squeezed in for an oncology appt. next week. This is something I know to expect with an older golden but it's still a gut punch. :( I'm not one for sharing a lot around here but good thoughts appreciated!

>134 jessibud2: very good to know! Thanks!

>135 Copperskye: - :-( It's never easy. No matter what you know or know to expect. It's the price of loving our pets. I've been through it for 5 previous pets and currently have 2 whose days will come, hopefully not for awhile.

{{hugs to you both}}

Hugs to you and to Skye, Joanne.

>135 Copperskye: Oh, Joanne. I’m so sad to hear that but hope Skye continues to do well for a long time to come. Such a special dog! {{{hugs to you both}}}

>135 Copperskye: I am sorry to hear about Skye. It is always stressful and worrisome when our pets are not doing well. ((hugs))

>136 jessibud2: >137 katiekrug: >138 Storeetllr: >139 figsfromthistle: Thank you for your well wishes. We appreciate you all!

Oh, Joanne, I'm sorry to learn about Skye not feeling well and the diagnosis of leukemia. We do love our furbabies. I'll be thinking the best for you and Sky and hope the treatments got well. She is such a beauty. It is so hard when our pets aren't feeling well. Poppy had a dental cleaning and had to have molar pulled today, and she is restless and not eating this evening, which is to be expected, but it is still troubling, so for you, so much more. Big hugs, Joanne.

Oh dear, I am so sorry to hear that Skye is not well. I hope that she can be helped and, above all, that she doesn't have to be in pain. I'm thinking of you both very much. Hugs xx

>140 Copperskye: Stay close to your Beauty, with hope that leukemia in dogs is highly treatable.

>135 Copperskye: So sorry, Joanne!! Dogs are such an important part of the family. A total "gut punch" indeed. I hope treatment goes well.

Sending healing thoughts to Skye, Joanne. I hope there is an effective treatment.

>141 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah. I hope Poppy is feeling much better this morning after her dental surgery.

>142 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, aside from being a little tired, she seems like her old self even after her first dose of chemo.

>143 m.belljackson: Thank you and I hope so!

>144 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba

>145 BLBera: Thanks Beth, I'll know a lot more next week when the flow cytology comes back from CSU and we meet with the oncologist.

10. The Confession by Charles Todd

This series seems to run hot and cold with me. I loved the last one I read, The Red Door, but this one, number 14 in the series, just didn't appeal. Lots of side stories, lies, and running around, along with a creepy small village and murders from different time periods.

>135 Copperskye: So sorry to hear about Skye.

>148 SandDune: Thanks, Rhian, trying to stay hopeful

>135 Copperskye: That is so sad, Joanne. My father has had Golden Retrievers like you for many years and I know he felt the loss of his dog, Holly, a few years ago keenly.

I hope that Skye will be comfortable.

Take care dear Joanne.

I have read one or two books by Charles Todd, and I just didn't get along with them. The detective, I can't remember his name, seemed to drive around in his car so much, it put me off. I know that sounds a bit silly, but it's true. Of course I am wishing the very best for you and Skye and thinking of you often.

Sending you and Skye all the hugs, Joanne.

>140 Copperskye: Joanne, I am so sorry to hear about your sweet Skye having leukemia. I am glad she is tolerating the chemo and hope she continues to do well. That is a good picture of her. Thank you for sharing the news with us. I am thinking of all of you during this sad time. Please keep us in the loop. (((Hugs)))

>150 PaulCranswick: >151 vancouverdeb: >152 scaifea: >153 Donna828: Thanks all. Feeling even less talkative than usual.

>151 vancouverdeb: Yes, exactly. I've had the very same issue with a few of the Ian Rutledge books, Deborah. They are pretty much hit or miss for me. The Red Door was good, though.

11. These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer

What fun this was! Young Leon is rescued from a grim life by the Duke of Avon, who purchases the youngster to be his page. The Duke is known to be cold, calculating, and vengeful and sees Leon as a means to get back at an old enemy. Sounds dark, I know, but Heyer's prose sparkles with witty dialog and ultimately likeable characters (Rupert was my fav). "Leon's" ofttimes over-the-top immaturity (at 19!) was maybe my only quibble.

A collection short stories, Snowdrift and Other Stories, was the last book I read in 2023 and was my first Georgette Heyer book. I know Julie was a big fan and I was looking forward to discussing Heyer with her as I read more. I remembered that several years ago she had posted her thoughts on Heyer and so I did some digging and found her comments from 2017 (thanks to Joe for asking).

I don't think Julia would mind if I post her thoughts here:

"These Old Shades is different in several ways. Most prominently, it’s set in the Georgian rather than Regency period, and largely in Paris rather than England. The hero is not very appealing, especially at first, and the several “mysteries” at the heart of the book just aren’t very mysterious. This one earned a fourth star strictly for the character of Leonie, a most unusual Heyer heroine who I enjoyed very much."

So Julia, I agree completely, except that it took a while for Leonie to grow on me, but I loved her by the end. And wasn't Rupert a hoot!

And thanks to Beth for sending me her copy of These Old Shades several years ago. I'm sorry it took me so long to get to it.

I would love to pass along Beth's copy. Any takers??

I hope you enjoy The Road from Belhaven, Joanne. It's relatively short , at about 240 or so pages. Thinking of you and Skye , or course.

>155 Copperskye: I'm glad you liked it when you got to it, Joanne. I don't remember sending it.

>135 Copperskye: Sending so much love to you, Skye, and your family.

>32 Copperskye: Your comments regarding Trespasses have encouraged me to put this on my TBR pile..I went to do so and found that i added it in 2023. Looks like I need to get moving on this one.

So sorry about Skye, sending love and hugs for both of you, Joanne.

Glad to see you liked Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, Joanne. I just got a digital copy from the library and started it today.

So sorry to hear about Skye, hoping she responds well to the chemo.

>156 vancouverdeb: I am enjoying it, Deborah, although it seems to be taking me forever.

>157 BLBera: Well, it's been a tumultuous few years since you did, Beth. The sticky note you included helped my poor memory.

>158 PaperbackPirate: Appreciate you, Pirate - thanks

>159 Whisper1: I think it was just published in 2023, or maybe 2022, so you aren't very much behind, Linda.

>160 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita

>161 bell7: Thank you, Mary. I hope you enjoy Heaven & Earth as much as I and many others did!

Monday *smooch* and some gentle skritches for the ailing Miss Skye.

>163 richardderus: Thanks Richard, she enjoyed that. :) Hope you are well.

12. The Road from Belhaven by Margot Livesey

A coming of age story of a young farm girl in late 19th century Scotland who has the gift of second sight. She is very young and very naive as she falls in love, moves to Glasgow, and makes a series of really poor decisions. I liked it but never really felt any tension or drama throughout. Happy to have read it, though.

Gentle hugs and good wishes for Skye.

>166 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba! She's doing well, one day at a time

Hi Joanne, it's good to hear that Skye is doing well. Taking it one day at a time is the way to go. I'm sure she is getting strength from the love you show and the good wishes from her LT fans.

>165 Copperskye: Our library has a few copies of The Road from Belhaven. I read Livesey's The Flight of Gemma Hardy ten or so years ago and liked it pretty well. I may read this one to see if it would be appropriate to recommend to Haley, my 13-year-old granddaughter who is turning into quite a reader. I'm always on the lookout for books for her.

Sorry to have missed your thread for so long, Joanne! Hopefully I will keep better track of you from here on out.

Hi, Joanne. We finished the latest True Detective and enjoyed it very much, despite the excessive language. We plan on starting "Poker Face". Have you heard anything about this show?

I'm glad The Road From Belhaven was an okay read, Joanne. I'm glad to hear that Skye is doing well and as you say, one day at a time, though it must be hard.

>135 Copperskye: Joanne, I know you've been through this before with your last beatuiful Golden. There are no words that can expres the terrible, awful hollow feeling. My daughter could not afford it, but took money from here pension plan and also used a credit card to keep the family pet living longer after a cancer diagnosis. The specialist told the family that if there was the money, they would have at least six more months. But, when it was time, then they needed to transition her. God Love Her!!! She spent all this money so that her three teen aged children could hold on to their beloved dog.

There was a bigger punch two years before when after a wonderful trip form Disneyworld, their father, my daughter's husband, that he wanted nothing more to do with her, OR the children. Given this transition and bitterness, she felt she really had to help hold on to the dogs. The kids had beeen through too much. I sent a check, granted it wasn't huge, but I like to think it helped a little.

I'll be thinking of you as you and your family make the right decision. Oh, God! I am so darn sorry that this had to happen again!

>135 Copperskye: Oh, I am ending all the love I can! I am glad she seems to be responding to chemo.

>168 Donna828: Thanks Donna. I want to read Gemma Hardy. I think The Road from Belhaven would be a great read for a 13 year old, especially to open up discussions about the choices Lizzie made and why, and what alternative choices she could have made. It is not graphic or violent in any way.

>169 alcottacre: Stasia! Good to see you and thank you for stopping by. I've been dreadful myself about getting to many threads, including yours, I'm sorry to say.

>170 msf59: I've heard of Poker Face but haven't watched it. I see the second season of The Tourist has started and the action has moved from Australia to Ireland. Have you watched the first season? It was excellent.

>171 vancouverdeb: I thought it was more than okay, Deborah - just more of a like than a love!

>172 Whisper1: How awful for all of them, Linda. Thank you for the well wishes.

>173 witchyrichy: Thank you, Karen!

Thanks for checking in. Skye's leukemia is in remission. There are still some issues with her blood platelets, bone marrow, etc., but she didn't get chemo last week. Probably again next week. We know it will come back but she's feeling mostly good and that's the best thing.

Thank goodness I didn't cancel her insurance when the rates got crazy high last year.

13. The Overstory by Richard Powers

I loved the first half and the stories of the trees and the families. The second half was, sadly, a drag.

I'm so glad Skye's leukemia is in remission. I'm really glad you have insurance because I can't imagine what it might cost otherwise. I'm glad you liked The Road from Belhaven.

>175 Copperskye: I felt exactly the same.

>176 vancouverdeb: Costs wouldn't have driven any of my decisions, which I know sounds very privileged, but it is nice not to think about it.

>177 norabelle414: I kept waiting to reengage, but it never happened which was especially disappointing since I loved it initially. Oh well.

Happy Saturday, Joanne. Sorry, The Overstory didn't work for you, all the way through. Bummer. We are enjoying Poker Face, about halfway through. I have not see The Tourist. I will keep that one in mind. We just started Mr. and Mrs. Smith and this shows promise. Good leads.

I'm glad Skye is in remission, Joanne. Fingers crossed.

I thought The Overstory was a bit long, but overall, I did learn a lot about trees.

Hi! Happy Saturday!

So glad to know Skye’s in remission! Also glad you have pet insurance. Makes it a lot easier, though I know what you mean about doing it anyway.

>179 msf59: Hi Mark, At least I liked the first half! :) I need to check out Packer Face.

>180 BLBera: Hi Beth, I liked learning about the Chestnut tree. The school I went to thru high school was on Chestnut St and now I know why there were no Chestnut trees in it.

>181 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, Sadly, her remission was shockingly short-lived. Trying a new compound drug this week. She seems to be feeling fine, so that’s good. One day at a time.

>182 Copperskye: Oh, no. Damn, I’m sorry. I hope the new meds keep working. It’s so hard to watch our furred/feathered babies suffer.

I saw over on Mark’s thread that you started The Sparrow and managed to get hooked. Yes, Anne is one of my favorite characters, along with the priest (I can never remember his name, but the one from Texas with the wonky eye). I hope you stay hooked and continue to enjoy it.

>181 Storeetllr: So sorry to hear Skye's remission was short-lived. Hugs and strokes to you and to her.

Happy Wednesday, Joanne. We are rootin' for Skye. Keep us updated. I am so glad you decided to join us on The Sparrow. I made it to chapter 5 yesterday. This one is meant to be a slower read, so I will take my time. It is nice to back in the company of Father Sandoz.

>183 Storeetllr: That would be D.W. and I am enjoying it. I have about 100 pages left - not much else to do but read while it snow storms outside.

>184 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba.

>185 msf59: I'm glad I'm reading it. Amazing for a first novel and so different from the other MDR books I've read.

I'm very sorry that Skyes' remission has been shortlived. I'm thinking of you all and hoping for the best, Joanne.

>187 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah. Much appreciated.



14. The Comfort Of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renki

An absolutely lovely collection of daily nature essays and musings from Renki’s Nashville TN backyard. I looked forward to reading a few each morning and loved the author’s brother’s accompanying artwork. Great prose in a beautiful package.

I have yet to to create a review for The Wren, The Wren, Joanne , and I didn't enjoy it, but you might. I know Beth and Charlotte did, so you know, one man's meat is another man's poison, as they say.

Hi! I just joined 75 this month and I kept thinking your name is familiar. I just realized that we have sent Christmas cards to each other off and on since 2017. One year you sent to me and the next I sent to you across several years. So hi again.

Hooray for The Sparrow & The Comfort of Crows. MDR & Renkl rock!

>188 Copperskye: - I absolutely love Renkl's writing, Joanne. I own all three of her books but have so far only read the first. Her brother did the illustrations for that one as well.

>189 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, I'll probably give it a try! I know Beth really liked it.

>190 dianeham: Hi Diane! Welcome to the group! Yes, we have shared Christmas cards for several years (I love when that happens) - south Jersey, right? (I'm from north Jersey - Bergen Co - so that stuck with me.) I thought I noticed you posting over on Mark's thread and now I need to find yours. Thanks for stopping by!

>191 msf59: Absolutely, Mark!!

>192 jessibud2: Hi Shelley, That's the only book I've read by Renki, but I requested another from the library. She has a lovely way with words and the illustrations are stellar!

>193 Copperskye: did you find me?

>194 dianeham: Yes, just today! Jim makes it so easy for us.

15. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

I’m so glad that I finally chose to read this (thanks for the nudge, Mark). Jesuits in space, first-contact, aliens, and best of all, relationships. I liked the dual timelines (2019 and 2060, both in the book’s future) and the setup. Maybe a little too much religion for my taste though, but I know MDR would never be preachy, and it wasn’t. I knew the ending wouldn’t be good (the reader knows this almost from the start), and still found it tense and unexpected.

The Comfort of Crows sounds like one I would love, Joanne. I usually have an essay collection going, and I haven't read anything by Renkl, so it sounds like a win win, new-to-me author and good collection.

I keep meaning to read The Sparrow; I know that Julia loved it, and it would fit into my effort to read some of her favorites.

How is Skye?

>196 Copperskye: I'm a Mary Doria Russell fan too! The Sparrow is waiting in my "next-up Mt TBR stack" :). I'm not going to take any physical books with me this trip (because I have to handle all of the luggage due to Hubby's shoulder) but I will get to it soon once we're home... (and if it happens to be in the ship's library I may read it sooner)

>197 BLBera: Hi Beth, I think you'd really like The Comfort of Crows and I think that's a wonderful reason to start The Sparrow.

Thanks for checking in. You wouldn't know Skye is sick. She's feeling good and we're thankful for that. Unfortunately, since her short remission, nothing has really helped so things are pretty precarious. On Friday, we started another chemotherapy drug which is our last option. We'll see if there's any improvement in next week's CBC.

>198 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, Oh, I've missed your thread for a bit but it sounds like you're heading out on a cruise! Have a wonderful time!!

>199 Copperskye: Glad to know that Skye is feeling well. Sending all the love I can to you!

>199 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne -- I'll do my best :)

I’ll be thinking of Skye (and you) this week and hoping for a good result.

>200 witchyrichy: Thanks, Karen

>201 RebaRelishesReading: :) Work at it!

>202 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary

16. Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer

After trying and liking one of Heyer's romances, I thought I'd try one of her mysteries. Written in 1935, this one is the first in her Inspectors Hannasyde and Hemingway series. There wasn't a whole lot of detecting, especially by these two and they didn't solve the case (although someone else did). What there was was a lot of very witty and snappy dialog, mostly spoken by the annoying half brother and sister of the dead man. I felt like I was reading the script of a movie from the late 30s or 40s. That said, it was an entertaining and quick little mystery.

>199 Copperskye: Thinking of you and Skye, Joanne.
I hope it went well with the next chemotherapy drug.

Hi all, we lost our little girl, Skye, on March 30, just 6 short weeks after her leukemia diagnosis. We tried all the limited options to no avail, and when she told us it was time, we had to let her go. We are heartbroken and our house is so quiet. She was my constant companion and best buddy, and always, a dog without a fault. And truly a very, very good girl. She will be forever missed.

Skye, 5/26/12 - 3/30/24 Angel Hero #1947 GRLS



I'm slowly making my way back into the world. My reading has suffered but is slowly recovering...

{{Joanne}}. I am so sorry for your loss. Been there, done that, more times than I want to count. It's the price of loving them, isn't it? She was a beauty!

Beautiful girl.

((Hugs)) for you, Joanne.

Beautiful Skye, Joanne. I am so sorry for your loss. You certainly did your very best for her.

I am so sorry to hear about Skye. We also became attached to her through your posts over these past dozen years.

Hugs to my pal.

>206 Copperskye: Sorry for this sad loss of your Beautiful Companion. Sure wish the treatment had worked for a long time.

Nickel and I are so so so very sorry to hear that Skye crosses the Rainbow Bridge. She was a really great dog, and I always enjoyed spending time with her. She’ll be missed.


A favorite memory: Nickel imparting parrot wisdom to a very patient Skye.

So sorry for your loss, Joanne

Sympathy for your loss. Wishing you peace.

>206 Copperskye: {{{Joanne}}}

Safe journey home to Skye.

>206 Copperskye: So sorry to hear this.

>3 Copperskye: I read The Sparrow years ago; such a good novel! And The Overstay is one my TBR list.

So sorry for your loss.

>207 jessibud2: >208 katiekrug: >209 vancouverdeb: >210 msf59: >211 m.belljackson: >212 Storeetllr: >213 norabelle414: >214 ReneeMarie: >215 richardderus: >216 SandDune: Thank you all for your kind words. They mean a lot.

>212 Storeetllr: Oh, Mary, I love that photo and remember that day. Skye looks like she was just a baby - 2014 maybe? Do you remember the year? Curiosity beat out any trepidation on her part.

>217 ocgreg34: I'm thankful for the nudges from my fellow LTers to finally pull The Sparrow off the shelf and get it read! The story certainly is sticking with me.

17. The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

I liked this when I was reading it and got used to the metafiction aspect, but, and recognizing that I read it at a really bad time, I can recall nothing about it now without checking others reviews here. I already have other books in the series on the shelf so I probably will continue with the series.

18. The All Of It by Jeannette Haien

I heard Ann Patchett recommend this and thought I’d try it and I’m glad I did. Written in 1986, it’s really a simple story, all of only 145 pages, and set in Ireland. A priest, while fishing for salmon in the rain, recalls a story told to him by a recent widow. The dying man starts it, and his widow tells “the all of it”. A quiet book, beautifully written, and fans of Claire Keegan should give it a go.

And silly me, I didn’t realize I picked up a copy of this book at a library sale years ago, never read it, and apparently gave it away (since I can’t find it). To be fair, the cover was very different from the one I just bought. :)

Hope you are bearing up ok, Joanne from the passing of your dear canine companion.

Thinking about you in these tropical climes. xx

Joanne - I am so sorry to hear about Skye! HUGS.

>220 Copperskye: I really enjoyed The Word is Murder a few years back , Joanne, and I'm glad you did too. I have't read any further in the series, and I'm not sure why. I guess we can't read all of the books that are written.

>222 PaulCranswick: >223 BLBera: Thank you Paul and Beth. She is well missed.

>224 vancouverdeb: We try our best though, don't we Deborah? ;) I liked his Susan Ryeland books well enough so I'm pretty sure I'll get to the next in the H&H series.

Oh I'm sorry to hear about Skye, Joanne. *Hugs* to you

>226 bell7: Thank you, Mary

I’m so sad to read about your Sweet Skye. It’s hard to understand why dogs don’t live longer. We just don’t have them long enough. I will be thinking of you as you process the loss of your best friend, Joanne. ~XO~

>206 Copperskye: So sorry for your loss, Joanne (((hugs)))
And thanks for sharing all lovely pictures of Sky through the years, so I could love her from afar.

>228 Donna828: >229 FAMeulstee: Thank you for your kind words, Donna and Anita.

19. Charming Billy by Alice McDermott

This was a reread for me - I dug out my old, hand-written lists to see that I first read it in Nov 1998, shortly after it was published. It reminded me of just how long, and how much, I've loved Alice McDermott's books. I'm glad I reread it as I'd forgotten so much and it turned out to be a good comfort read.

The story begins with Billy Lynch's funeral and whispers of "the Irish girl". His story, and that of his Irish Catholic family in Brooklyn and Long island, is recounted mostly by his niece. Billy was a well-loved man and an alcoholic, haunted by an old love and protected by well-meaning friends. This is a quiet book with a lot of depth.

I've really enjoyed The Ninth Hour and Someone by Alice McDermott, Joanne. I was less keen on Absolution which I read earlier this year, but I know others really enjoyed it. I am quite sure I have a second hand copy in of Charming Billy and I'll have to get to sooner than later. I'll have to comb through my shelves and piles of books to find it.

>232 vancouverdeb: I also really liked The Ninth Hour and Someone, Deborah. Absolution a little less so because it was a departure from her usual Irish Catholic clan and NY characters and settings. I know what you mean about combing through the piles of books. I tend to pretty much have a general idea where a book is unless I remove it from its usual location to maybe read and then put it back somewhere else.

20. Playing with Wildfire by Laura Pritchett

An unconventional novel about a Colorado mountain community, its human and animal inhabitants, and its land and trees, all affected by a huge wildfire encroaching upon their homes. The characters and situations are fictional, but the fire is based on the Cameron Peak Fire, the largest in Colorado history, that burned more than 200,000 acres over several months in 2020. Pritchett herself lives in a mountain town that was on the edges of that fire and writes with first hand knowledge of that, and other, fire experiences.

This book was published by Torrey House Press, a nonprofit publisher which advocates for literary arts and the environment. If you can find a copy, it's money well spent.

>234 Copperskye: Oh hell

*trudges off to Ammy*

Weekend-ahead *smooch*

Hi Richard! Hope your Saturday is going well (assuming it isn't snowing there as it is here). Thanks for dropping by!

>236 Copperskye: Snow! Oh wow, I am really jealous...it's been years since we had a decent snow here. Enjoy it, if you don't have to go out and do necessary things.

>237 richardderus: Well, I wouldn’t call it a decent snow, necessarily, just very wet and very slushy! I’ve only left the house to get the mail and, once or twice, with my trusty broom, to knock the snow off the poor trees.

I'm so sorry to hear about Skye. Sending lots of love!

>238 Copperskye: Of, no! Those poor trees! I hated it when it would snow this late in the season! I remember one late snowfall, going out with a broom to knock snow off the blooming lilacs. I thought for sure they were doomed, but they seemed to recover just fine after it melted.

Hope you’re having a good weekend!

>239 PaperbackPirate: Thanks, Pirate, she was an awfully good girl.

>240 Storeetllr: Hi Mary! Even my bleeding heart perennial survived this one which surprised me since they are so delicate. We lost a crabapple tree in a wet March snow and just had it taken down last week. :(

Hi Joanne. The Pritchett book sounds interesting. I will look for it. I am a McDermott fan as well although I have never read Charming Billy. It has been on my shelf for a LONG time.

You got me with Playing with Wildfire. I am a fan of Pritchett.

>242 BLBera: Hi Beth, The Pritchett was different. I'm so glad I reread Charming Billy. I know I loved it but I forgot so much of it! It's a good one.

>243 msf59: Hi Mark, Pritchett has another, and I expect, more traditional, novel coming out very soon, Three Keys.

21. The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman

This was a very enjoyable read, despite some rather serious goings on. Lady Augustus and her twin, Lady Julia, are two unmarried, middle-aged women living in Regency London and looking for some distractions (rather than the usual husbands). They help a friend with a delicate blackmail problem and are soon helping other women who are victims of some more serious and very dark crimes. Along the way, they meet with the handsome Lord Belford, a friend of their youth, who has some legal troubles of his own. This is a very fun romp with a feminist edge and I'm looking forward to the promised sequel.

>245 Copperskye: Oooh, that does sound like fun!

>246 Storeetllr: Hi Mary! It was great fun!

>247 Copperskye: I’m on hold for it at the library. Two weeks. That’s good, because I’ve got a half dozen books already waiting for me. So many books, not enough time. 😂

>248 Storeetllr: Oh, I hear you on that!!!

Have a great "weekend"!

>245 Copperskye: What a great idea! These ladies would be tru-crime addicts in these Twenties...then, blackmail had such a slow pace.

Happy Sunday's reads, Joanne.

>245 Copperskye: I bought this one but haven't read it yet. I have it displayed on my store's historical mystery endcap. What's irritating is that copies keep migrating to fiction & romance. I'm assuming people aren't looking carefully enough at the weapons-visible cover. Or the word mystery right on it. {sigh}

>250 richardderus: And sadly, the types of crimes against women they were investigating are still going on today, only faster. Happy Sunday to you, good man!

>251 ReneeMarie: Hi Renee! I love the cover but it does do the book a bit of a disservice in steering away non-Regency Romance readers. Sure, there are definitely elements of romance, but they are overshadowed by the mystery and adventure. The author notes that she was a fan of Georgette Heyer from a young age and I could see that, but really, it's more historical mystery/adventure. Keep moving it back! :)

22. Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles

A brilliant collection of six short stories, which take place (mostly) in NY, and one novella, which takes a character from Towles' Rules of Civility and moves her to California. I found all the stories to be deeply satisfying on their own but wouldn't mind coming across any of the characters again.

My favorite was "The Ballad of Timothy Touchett", about an aspiring writer who finally gets the life experience he needs. And I loved the cameo by Paul Auster. There's no need to have read Rules of Civility to enjoy "Eve in Hollywood". But you'll want to when you finish.

Goodreads kindly lets me know that I'm 3 books behind in my goal. I need to get cracking...

Hmm, I’ve not read Towles, but your review makes me think I might enjoy this one.

Hooray for Table For Two! Looking forward to it.

>254 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, No Towles? I hope you'll give him a try sometime. I rated each of his books 5 stars but I'd say my favorite was A Gentleman in Moscow. And Rules of Civility had a great NY vibe.

>255 msf59: Enjoy when you get to it, Mark!!

Initially I thought that I had also read The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies but no, it is on my TBR pile - one of them. It sounds very good. I seem to have no shortage of books to read lately, either ones I have purchased or holds from the library coming in.

>257 vancouverdeb: I really like it, Deborah. And it's a good problem to have, though, isn't it - too many books to read. Although I've been feeling the pressure lately to get them read. If only I could read faster.

Joanne, I wanted to come over and thank you for your recommendation of Absolution last year (I think it was last year?) I finished it this afternoon and very much enjoyed the read!

>258 Copperskye: My solution to wanting to read faster has always been not to sleep. It just saves time :)

>259 alcottacre: Hi Stasia!! How nice to see you! Absolution was a good read and I'm glad you liked it, too! It was different from her usual stories and I liked getting an idea of what is was like for women/wives overseas in the 60s.

I've tried that not sleeping thing. It's my eyes that give out on me more than sleep overtaking. Once they start to hurt and I have to shut one eye to keep from seeing double, I know it's time to quit!