karenmarie's book journey of 2016, thread #4

Hi all and welcome to thread four. My, my, I've loved having so many visitors this year! We're three-quarters of the way through 2016 and I feel like I've read so many interesting books this year. My Mount TBR is 1,685 (from 1,634 at the start of last thread). In my defense, I've also culled 113 books. I know I can't resist buying more books this year, but I will try to slow it down a bit.

Too many books, too little time.

Here's the list of what I've read so far this year:

1. van Loon's Geography by Hendrik Willem van Loon 11/1/15 01/02/16 ***1/2 505 pages hardcover
2. *reread* The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto 12/9/15 1/7/16 ***1/2 **audiobook** 622 pages hardcover
3. Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay 1/2/16 1/8/16 ***1/2 292 pages trade paperback
4. Pacific: Silicon Chips by Simon Winchester 1/3/16 1/24/16 ***1/2 444 pages hardcover
5. At Home by Bill Bryson 1/8/16 1/28/16 **audiobook** **** 560 pages hardcover
6. The Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey 1/24/16 1/24/16 **** 64 pages hardcover
7. The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker 1/24/16 2/2/16 **** 640 pages trade paperback
8. *reread* Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie 2/2/16 2/3/16 **** 212 pages hardcover
9. Desert Heat by J.A. Jance 2/3/16 2/4/16 *** 373 pages MM paperback
10. The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson 2/4/16 2/8/16 *** 376 pages hardcover
11. A Key into the Language of America by Roger Williams 2/8/16 4/4/16 *** 205 pages trade paperback
12. *reread* Green Tea and Other Ghost Stories by J. Sheridan LeFanu 2/8/16 2/9/15 **1/2 92 pages trade paperback
13. Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews 2/9/16 2/12/16 ***1/2 427 pages hardcover
14. *reread* The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith 2/1/16 3/4/16 **** **audiobook** 464 pages hardcover
15. The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink by Erle Stanley Gardner 2/14/16 2/15/16 **1/2 226 pages mass market paperback
16. Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin 2/13/16 2/16/16 ***1/2 228 pages mass market paperback
17. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins 2/16/16 2/17/16 **** 323 pages hardcover
18. Fox Evil by Minette Walters 2/17/16 2/24/16 **** 369 pages hardcover
19. No Shred of Evidence by Charles Todd 2/24/16 2/26/16 **** 341 pages hardcover
20. Ross Poldark by Winston Graham 2/27/16 3/1/16 ****1/2 455 pages trade paperback
21. Demelza by Winston Graham 3/3/16 3/4/16 **** 432 pages trade paperback
22. Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews 3/8/16 3/11/16 *** 464 pages trade paperback
23. My American Duchess by Eloisa James 3/12/16 3/15/16 **1/2 404 pages mass market paperback
24. Girl Jacked by Christopher Greyson 3/18/16 3/21/16 ***1/2 218 pages trade paperback
25. *reread* The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith 3/21/16 *audiobook** 455 pages hardcover
26. Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben 3/25/16 3/27/16 **** 387 pages hardcover
27. Anatomy of a Murder by Robert Traver 3/27/16 3/31/16 **** 437 pages hardcover
28. Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews 3/31/16 4/2/16 *** 419 pages hardcover
29. *reread* Funerals are Fatal by Agatha Christie 4/4/16 4/5/16 ***1/2 226 pages hardcover
30. The Reluctant Widow by Georgette Heyer 4/8/16 4/10/16 ***1/2 316 pages trade paperback
31. *reread* Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 4/10/16 4/14/16 **** 850 pages mass market paperback
32. *reread* Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon 4/15/16 4/24/16 **** 947 pages mass market paperback
33. On the Choice of a Mistress by Benjamin Franklin 4/22/16 5/24/16 ***1/2 59 pages mass market paperback
34. *reread* Voyager by Diana Gabaldon 4/24/16 4/30/16 **** 1059 pages mass market paperback
35. *reread* Griffin & Sabine by Nick Bantock 4/29/16 4/29/16 **** 48 pages hardcover
36. Sabine's Notebook by Nick Bantock 4/29/16 4/29/16 **** 48 pages hardcover
37. The Golden Mean by Nick Bantock 4/29/16 4/29/16 **** 48 pages hardcover
38. *reread* Drums of Autumn by Diane Gabaldon 4/30/16 5/8/16 1070 pages **** mass market paperback
39. The Pharos Gate by Nick Bantock 5/8/16 5/9/16 **** 60 pages hardcover
40. The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon 5/8/16 5/17/16 ****1/2 979 pages hardcover
41. Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler 5/25/16 5/30/16 ****1/2 375 pages hardcover
42. A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon 5/17/16 6/2/16 **** 980 pages hardcover
43. An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon 6/2/16 6/23/16 **** 820 pages hardcover
44. Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon 6/23/16 7/1/16 825 pages hardcover
45. The Fireman by Joe Hill 7/2/16 7/14/16 ***1/2 748 pages hardcover
46. Hot Guys and Kittens by Audrey Kuhner 7/7/16 7/7/16 ****
47. Enough Rope by Dorothy Parker 7/14/16 7/14/16 **** 110 pages hardcover
48. Who Stole Sassi Manoon? by Donald E. Westlake 7/13/16 7/14/16 ***1/2 178 pages hardcover
49. String Theory by David Foster Wallace with an introduction by John Jeremiah Sullivan 07/14/16 07/15/16 **** 138 pages hardcover
50. *reread* Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith 7/18/16 8/4/16 **** **audiobook** 512 pages hardcover
51. Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters 07/15/16 07/25/16 **** 326 pages hardcover
52. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman 07/24/16 7/30/16 ****1/2 343 pages trade paperback
53. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 7/30/16 8/1/16 ***** 255 pages hardcover
54. But Nellie Was So Nice by Mary McCullen 08/03/16 08/04/16 183 pages hardcover
55. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling et. al. 8/5/16 8/6/16 **** 308 pages hardcover
56. Rooms by Lauren Oliver 08/06/16 8/9/16 **** 303 pages trade paperback
57. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny 8/9/16 8/14/16 *** 386 pages trade paperback (ARC)
58. The String Diaries by Stephen Lloyd Jones 8/15/16 8/18/16 ** 420 pages trade paperback
59. Where God Was Born by Bruce Feiler 7/30/16 8/18/16 *** **audiobook** 381 pages trade paperback
60. The Night of the Mary Kay Commandos Featuring Smell O-Toons by Berke Breathed 8/25/16 8/26/16 **** 96 pages paperback
61. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson 8/19/16 8/28/16 **** 864 pages trade paperback
62. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear 8/28/16 8/31/16 *** 294 pages trade paperback
63. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee 9/1/16 9/3/16 ***1/2 278 pages hardcover
64. Bath Tangle by Georgette Heyer 9/4/16 9/4/16 *** 368 pages trade paperback
65. A Gentleman's Mistress by Mary Brendan 9/5/16 9/5/16 ***1/2 206 pages mass market paperback
66. The Wary Spinster by April Kihlstrom 9/8/16 9/8/16 *** 222 pages mass market paperback
67. The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham 9/8/16 9/9/16 **1/2 208 pages mass market paperback
68. A Radical Arrangement by Jane Ashford 9/9/16 9/10/16 ***222 pages mass market paperback
69. Miss Dornton's Hero by Elisabeth Fairchild 9/10/16 9/11/16 *** 1/2 212 pages mass market paperback incl Author's Note
70. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 8/5/16 9/14/16 ***** **audiobook** 255 pages hardcover
71. Yukon Ho! by Bill Watterson 09/14/16 09/14/16 **** 128 pages paperback
72. All Cry Chaos by Leonard Rosen 9/11/16 9/18/16 ****1/2 330 pages trade paperback (ARC)
73. The Lonely Dwarf by Rosemary Lamkey 9/18/16 9/18/16 ** 49 pages hardcover
74. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty 9/19/16 9/20/16 **** 464 pages trade paperback
75. Yuge! by Gary Trudeau 9/20/16 9/26/16 **** 111 pages trade paperback 2016
76. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens 9/1/16 9/28/16 ***1/2 472 pages hardcover
77. Until I Find You by John Irving 9/1/16 9/29/16 ****1/2 820 pages hardcover
78. The Dinosaur Feather by S. J. Gazan 9/29/16 10/5/16 ***1/2 431 pages hardcover 2008
79. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker 10/5/16 10/17/16 484 pages trade paperback
80. The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer 10/17/16 10/25/16 **** 337 pages trade paperback
81. America's Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation by Kenneth C. Davis 9/15/16 11/3/16 **** **audiobook** 288 pages hardcover
82. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis 10/30/16 11/5/16 **** 493 pages mass market paperback
83. Cakewalk by Rita Mae Brown 11/5/16 11/7/16 **1/2 301 pages hardcover
84. Love Story with Murders by Harry Bingham 11/8/16 11/15/16 **** 387 pages hardcover
85. The Naked Mole-Rat Letters by Mary Amato 11/15/16 11/16/16 ***1/2 266 pages trade paperback
86. Night School by Lee Child 11/17/16 11/20/16 369 pages hardcover
87. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris 11/3/16 11/21/16 ***1/2 **audiobook**

Currently reading:

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt 11/15/16 318 pages hardcover 2012
Travels with My Aunt by Graham Greene 11/27/16 254 pages trade paperback

Here are my culls for the year. Most of them have gone to the thrift store after daughter picked through them. There are about 40 ready to go through the same process sitting on the little yellow table in the sunroom.

1. Angel Face by Suzanne Forster. I liked some of her thrillers, but started this one and realized this wasn't a keeper.
2. The History of Ancient Egypt by Professor Bob Brier. Dull as ditch water. Dry. Sahara-like, even with photos. Abandoned.
3. Bathroom Reading: Short Stories for Short Visits by Rick Bylina. Where in heaven's name did I get this one?
4. Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay. Thought I'd like it when I found it at the thrift store. Looked at the back cover and NO.
5. Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner. Read it, liked it, time for it to go.
6. Faithful Place by Tana French. Duplicate copy.
7. Accused by Mark Giminez. Read, liked.
8. Con Law by Mark Giminez. Started twice, didn't like.
9. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. Bought it but am not reading this type of fiction now.
10. The Shack by William P. Young. Christian fiction. I'm not Christian, so don't know why I bookmooched it.
11. The Witch's Boy by Alex Beecroft. Fantasy. I'm past my (admittedly short) fantasy phase.
12. Raising Abel by W Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear. Too many thrillers, too little time.
13. To the Power of Three by Laura Lippman. thought it was part of her Tess Monaghan series, but it wasn't.
14. E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton. Found a hardcover to replace.
15. I is for Innocent by Sue Grafton. Found a hardcover to replace.
16. Passage by Connie Willis. Won't ever read again, need the shelf space.
17. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Found a lovely hardcover copy for daughter, so don't need to keep on my shelves. I'll never read it again.
18. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell. First of a series, terrific, won't continue the series.
19. Under the Beetle's Cellar by Mary Willis Walker. Don't want to read about buried children.
20. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. fantasy. See #11.
21. Green Tea and Other Ghost Stories by J. Sheridan LeFanu. Read twice.
22. As Husbands Go by Susan Isaacs
23. good in bed by Jennifer Weiner. A very good book, just don't want to keep it any more.
24. In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner.
25 The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner. Bought at a thrift store, now don't know why.
26. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
27. No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. Saw the movie, hated it, will never read the book.
28. Forty Words for Sorrow by Giles Blunt. Loved this book, but hated others in the series.
29. The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink by Erle Stanley Gardner - I must have read it in my early teens because I read ALL the Perry Mason books but don't remember a single thing about it. I just re-read it and don't want it on my shelves any more.
30. F is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton. Duplicate.
31. One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz. Duplicate.
32. Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart by Gordon Livingston. Read it for bookclub and disliked it.
33. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Read it, don't need it cluttering up my shelves.
34. The True Darcy Spirit by Elizabeth Aston. duplicate.
35. Black Fly Season by Giles Blunt. Abandoned the series with this one.
36. The Seville Communion by Arturo Perez-Reverte.
37. Leonardo's Swans by Karen Essex. I'm less inclined to read historical fiction.
38. Flashman and the Dragon by George MacDonald Fraser.
39. The Jester by James Patterson and Andrew Gross.
40. Calamity Town by Ellery Queen. I liked his older stuff, not so much his newer stuff.
41-52. The Alphabet Series by Sue Grafton, hardcovers: A,B,C,D,G,H,J,K,L,M,N,O. Duplicates.
53. The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold. Duplicate.
54. Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner. Read it, don't need it cluttering up my shelves.
55. These High, Green Hills by Jan Karon. I don't know how I got this on my shelves, but don't read Jan Karon.
56. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
57. Artemis Fowl The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer. Bought both of these at the thrift store for daughter when she was about 12 or so - 10 years on my shelves is more than enough.
58. Murder Being Once Done by Ruth Rendell. duplicate copy.
59. A Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh. duplicate copy.
60. Jade Island by Elizabeth Lowell. Had the trilogy, got rid of the first and third. Here goes number two.
61. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. Just because.
62. Murphy's Law by Lori Foster. silly romance.
63. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. Blech. Tried reading it and was irritated beyond measure. got these CDs at the library sale and don't even want to try them.
64. Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. Dated. won't ever read again.
65. Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews. Vacation read. Off to the thrift store.
66. My American Dutchess by Eloisa James. Vacation read. Off to the thrift store.
67. Revenge by Lisa Jackson. Read 2/3 of it and just couldn't continue.
68. Favorite Brand Name low-carb magic by Publications International, LTD
69. The Charlotte Cookbook duplicate
70. Nourshing Traditions
71. The Chapel Hill Cook Book duplicate
72. Favorite Recipes from our Best Cooks Cookbook by Woman's Club and Jr. Woman's Club of Diamond Bar
73. The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker
74. Umbrella by Will Self
75. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
76. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
77. Bad Men by John Connolly
78. King and Maxwell by David Baldacci
79. Long Lost by Harlan Coben
80. Presidential Quiz Book by E. H. Gwynne Thomas
81. The Pursuit of Pleasure by Elizabeth Essex
82. The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews
83. The Source by James Michener An old faded, creased copy. I have two others
84. Lady Fortune by Anne Stuart Not worth carrying upstairs to my retreat.
85. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley duplicate copy, sent to daughter for her shelves
86. The Endangered Arctic by Fredrick Granath
87. Night of Sin by Julia Ross
88. The String Diaries by Stephen Lloyd Jones read and found wanting
89. The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris audiobook
90. The Ice Master by Jennifer Niven audiobook
91. Lost in the Amazon by Stephen Kirkpatrick and Marlo Carter Patrick
92. The Unlikely Pilgrimmage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce started and ugh!
93. The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell will never read the rest of the series
94. Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie duplicate copy
95. Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen duplicate copy
96. The Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamen by Howard Carter duplicate copy
97. The Celestine Prophecy: An Experimental Guide by James Redfield
98. Where God Was Born by Bruce Feiler audiobook
99. Death of an Expert Witness by P.D. James duplicate copy
100. A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Devereaux duplicate copy
101. Miss Grantham's One True Sin by Melynda Beth Skinner started and abandoned
102. The Wary Spinster by April Kilhstrom read and don't need to keep on my shelves
103. The Masked Heiress by Vanessa Gray started and abandoned
104. Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson bought soft cover, this is a duplicate
105. Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick duplicate purchased at FOCCL sale
106. The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig duplicate purchased at FOCCL sale
107. The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer duplicate
108. April Lady by Georgette Heyer duplicate
109. Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer duplicate
110. The Toll-Gate by Georgette Heyer duplicate
111. The Conqueror by Georgette Heyer duplicate
112. Tempting Harriet by Mary Balogh duplicate
113. The Gilded Web by Mary Balogh duplicate
114. The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie duplicate
115. The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories by Agatha Christie duplicate
116. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens triplicate
117. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens triplicate
118. So Well Remembered by James Hilton duplicate
119. River of Darkness by Rennie Airth abandoned after 202 pages

2016 acquisitions

January - 16
Amazon Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey
Amazon The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva
AbeBooks Shooting Stars by Stephan Zweig
Bookmooch Pay Dirt by Rita Mae Brown
Bookmooch Murder at Monticello by Rita Mae Brown
Thrift Store Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews
Thrift Store The Pope's Rhinoceros by Lawrence Norfolk
Thrift Store The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
Amazon A Catholic Interlinear Old Testament Polyglot Volume 6 by Paul A. Boer Sr.
Journal Subscription Lapham's Quarterly Volume IX, Number 1, Winter 2016:Spies by Lewis Lapham
Amazon The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain by Bill Bryson
Thrift Store The Black-Eyed Blonde by Benjamin Black
Thrift Store The Stolen Bride by Jo Beverly
Thrift Store The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker
Thrift Store The Confabulist by Steven Galloway
Amazon The Fountain Overflows by Rebecca West

February - 9
Circle City Books Used Books Desert Heat by J.A. Jance
Circle City Books Used Books The Arrangement by Suzanne Forster
Amazon Dead in the Scrub by B.J. Oliphant
Bookmooch The Murderer's Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers
Amazon - Christmas Money No Shred of Evidence by Charles Todd
Bookmooch Remains of Innocence by J.A. Jance
Bookmooch Portrait of a Killer by Patricia Cornwell
Amazon A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King
Amazon Ross Poldark by Winston Graham

March - 10
Amazon Demelza by Winston Graham
Amazon Jeremy Poldark by Winston Graham
Thrift Store Dark Places Gillian Flynn
Thrift Store Outlaw Mountain by J.A. Jance
Thrift Store Damage Control by J.A. Jance
Thrift Store Dead Wrong by J.A. Jance
Amazon Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Neighbor Larry Nightmares and Dreamscapes by Stephen King
Neighbor Larry The Talisman by Stephen King
Costco Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben

April - 80 (76 Friends of the Library Sale, 4 Amazon)
Amazon Lexicon by Max Barry
Amazon And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
Amazon Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Amazon The Sherlockian by Graham Moore
Easton Press 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" leather-bound books of poems by: Browning, Burns, Byron, Coleridge, Longfellow, Shakespeare, Shelley, Tennyson
The Friendly Jane Austen by Natalie Tyler
The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig
Life for a Life by T. Frank Muir touchstone not working
Flood of Fire by Amitav Ghosh
The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh
An Impartial Witness by Charles Todd
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Love Story, with Murders by Harry Bingham
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
Shakespeare's Wife by Germaine Greer
Night Train by Martin Amis
The Arts by Hendrik Willem Van Loon
The Reluctant Widow by Georgette Heyer
Lila by Marilynne Robinson
Ladies Night by Mary Kay Andrews
On the Choice of a Mistress by Benjamin Franklin
The Chessmen by Peter May
Blowback by Peter May
The Lewis Man by Peter May
Exit Lines by Reginald Hill
A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd
Bruno Chief of Police by Martin Walker
The Marx Sisters by Barry Maitland
Police by Jo Nesbo
The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin
One Man's Flag by David Downing
Dark Mirror by Barry Maitland
Folly du Jour by Barbara Cleverly
The Blood Royal by Barbara Cleverly
The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization by Hornblower and Spawforth
How to Do Everything by Courtney Rosen & the eHow Editors
Three Exemplary Novels by Miguel de Cervantes
King of the Confessors by Thomas Hoving
Heloise & Abelard by James Burge
Insatiable by Meg Cabot
Memento Mori by Muriel Spark
Rooms by Lauren Oliver
The Future for Curious People by Gregory Sheryl
Jefferson's Legacy A Brief History of the Library of Congress by John Y. Cole
Founding Brothers by Joseph J. Ellis
Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer
The Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier by Jakob Walter
Nora Webster by Colm Toibin
The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories by O. Henry
Passing on by Penelope Lively
The Teleportation Accident by Ned Beauman
The Illustrious Dead by Stephan Talty
Impulse & Initiative by Abigail Reynolds
The Game of Thirty by William Kotzwinkle
Autumn, All The Cats Return by Philippe Georget
The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz
The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld
The Intern by Gabrielle Tozer
The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
The Preacher by Camilla Lackberg
The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz
Fiddlers by Ed McBain
In a Dark House by Deborah Crombie
A Sight for Sore Eyes by Ruth Rendell
Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs
Disclaimer by Renee Knight
Where God Was Born by Bruce Feiler audiobook
America's Hidden History by Kenneth C. Davis audiobook
His Excellency George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis audiobook
Paris by Edward Rutherford audiobook

May - 19
Family 9 Bibles
Family 2 New Testaments
Neighbor Louise Cold Vengeance by Preston & Child
Amazon The Pharos Gate by Nick Bantock
Bookmooch Sudden Death by Alvaro Enrigue
Amazon The Prague Cemetary by Umberto Eco
Amazon The Bird Artist by Howard Norman
Amazon The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon
Friend Karen Justice Hall by Laurie R. King
Friend Karen The Moor by Laurie R. King

June - 18
Thrift Store Betty Crocker's Ultimate Cookie Book
Amazon The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
Friend Karen North Carolina Architecture
Friend Karen North Carolina Pottery
Amazon The Romantic Egoists
Amazon 10-day Green Smoothie Cleanse
Amazon To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
Amazon - Christmas Money End of Watch by Stephen King
Amazon The Story of Land and Sea by Katy Simpson Smith
Thrift Store lightning by Dean Koontz
Thrift Store Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner
Thrift Store Ape House by Sara Gruen
Costco The Fireman by Joe Hill
Amazon The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye
Amazon Villa America by Liza Klaussmann
Amazon Written in My Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon
Amazon The Outlandish Companion Volume 2 by Diana Gabaldon
Amazon Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

July - 7
Amazon Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters
Friend Karen Hot Guys and Kittens by Audrey Khuner
Showed up on Shelves - probably from Friends of the Library Sale Rooms by Lauren Oliver
Amazon Who Stole Sassi Manoon? by Donald E. Westlake
Amazon String Theory by David Foster Wallace
msf59 Crow Lake by Mary Larson
msf59 Astray by Emma Donoghue

August - 19
Amazon - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
Friend Teresa When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson
Friend Sarah A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
Friend Louise The Divide by Nicholas Evans
Friend Louise A God in Ruins by Leon Uris
Friend Louise Regulated for Murder bu Sizamme Adair
Thrift Store Willoughby's Return by Jane Odiwe
Thrift Store A Voyage Long and Strange by Tony Horowitz
Thrift Store The String Diaries by Stephen Lloyd Jones
Thrift Store In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner
Thrift Store Sentenced to Die by J.A. Jance
Thrift Store Impulse & Initiative by Abigail Reynolds
Amazon Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
Amazon The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua
Friend Louise Unquiet by John Connolly
Amazon Vanishing Point by Michael Roessner
McIntyres Fine Books and Bookends A Coffin for Dimitrios by Eric Ambler
McIntyres Fine Books and Bookends Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin
McIntyres Fine Books and Bookends River of Darkness by Rennie Airth - returned and replaced with
McIntyres Fine Books and Bookends Tishomingo Blues by Elmore Leonard

September – 56

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power by Richard J. Carwardine
The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough
The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee – I’m sad because the box is seriously damaged, but the CDs are immaculate
Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo
Summerland by Michael Chabon
Travels With My Aunt by Graham Greene
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee
Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
The Greater Journey by David McCullough
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
The Old Devils by Kinglsey Amis
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
The Portable Dorothy Parker with an introduction by Brendan Gill
Euphoria by Lily King
The Enormous Room by e.e. cummings
In One Person by John Irving
The Red Pole of Macau by Ian Hamilton
Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson
The Confusion by Neal Stephenson
The System of the World by Neal Stephenson
The Teachings of Don Juan
A Separate Reality
Journey to Ixtlan
Tales of Power
Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper Case Closed by Patricia Cornwell
The Real Jane Austen by Paula Byrne
A Christmas Memory, One Christmas, and The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote
Dexter’s Final Cut by Jeff Lindsay
Redemption Road by John Hart
Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner
This Fabulous Century: 1910-1920 by the Editors of Time-Life Books
The Distant Echo by Val McDermid - hardcover
A Modest Proposal and Other Satirical Works by Jonathan Swift - trade paperback
Three Complete Novels in One Book: O Pioneers!, The Song of the Lark, and Alexander's Bridge by Willa Cather- hardcover
The Book of Merlyn by T.H. White - hardcover
Kim by Rudyard Kipling - hardcover
Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride - trade paperback
Voltaire's Calligrapher by Pablo de Santis - trade paperback
The Dream-Detective by Sax Rohmer - trade paperback
The Chameleon's Shadow by Minette Walters - hardcover
The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks - hardcover
Nothing to be Frightened Of by Julian Barnes - hardcover
Nelson's complete book of Bible Maps & Charts - Thomas Nelson Publishers - trade paperback
Ask Your Angels by Alma Daniel, Timothy Wyllie, and Andrew Ramer - trade paperback
The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War by the Editors of American Heritage The Magazine of History - two hardcover volumes slipcased
Amazon We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates
Amazon Yuge
Bookmooch The Dinosaur Feather by S.J. Gazan
Amazon Like Water on Stone by Grant Steen
Amazon The Grand Tour by Matthew Prichard

October - 3 237 ytd

Amazon The Horse and His boy by C.S. Lewis
Lapham's Quarterly Volume IX, Number 4, Fall 2016:Flesh
Amazon The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

November - 12 so far
? That Old Ace in the Hole by Annie Proulx - it was on the little yellow table and I don't know how it got there
Amazon Cakewalk by Rita Mae Brown
Thrift Store The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
Thrift Store Natchez Burning by Greg Iles
Thrift Store A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
Thrift Store The Book Club Cookbook by Judy Gelman and Vick Levy Krupp
Amazon The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt
Amazon Night School by Lee Child
Bookmooch Blood, Tears and Folly by Len Deighton
Amazon The Literary Study Bible
Bookmooch A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
Quail Ridge Books Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

249. Yipes.

YTD Through September Statistics:

YTD average pages read per day 99
YTD average pages per book 377
YTD Audiobook hours 83.33
YTD Physical pages read 27,169

Pages read September 4100
Books read/listened to in September 15

Author

Male 46%
Female 54%

Living 70%
Dead 30%

US Born 68%
Foreign Born 32%

Medium
Hardcover 48%
Trade Pback 25%
Mass Market 18%
Audiobook 8%
e-Book 1%

Source
My Library 99%
Other 1%

Misc ARC/ER 3
Re-read 18 23%
Series 34 44%

Fiction 86%
NonFiction 14%

Author Birth Country
Australia 2.6%
England 23.4%
Ireland 1.3%
Netherlands 1.3%
Scotland 1.3%
Switzerland 1.3%
US 67.5%
Zimbabwe 1.3%

Original Year Published
1643 1.3% 1989 1.3%
1861 1.3% 1990 1.3%
1926 1.3% 1991 2.6%
1929 1.3% 1992 2.6%
1932 1.3% 1993 3.9%
1934 1.3% 1995 1.3%
1939 1.3% 1996 1.3%
1945 2.6% 2001 1.3%
1946 2.6% 2002 1.3%
1952 1.3% 2003 1.3%
1953 2.6% 2004 1.3%
1955 1.3% 2005 5.2%
1958 1.3% 2006 1.3%
1960 2.6% 2009 2.6%
1969 1.3% 2010 1.3%
1974 1.3% 2011 1.3%
1979 1.3% 2012 2.6%
1983 2.6% 2013 5.2%
1987 1.3% 2014 7.8%
1988 1.3% 2015 6.5%
2016 14.3%

Breakfast.

Happy Saturday, Karen! Happy New Thread! Lovely looking breakfast. I love that coffee cup. It is a beauty.

Thanks, Mark! The cake was yummy. I got the coffee cup at the Habitat for Humanity store for $.50. Such a deal and I really like it a lot.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread! You have been reading some great books this year, Karen!

Hi Karen, Happy new thread my dear. Hope you have had a good weekend and all is well with you. Sending love and hugs.

Happy new thread Karen.
Your next book is going to be the 75 :-)

I just started Great Expectations.

>8 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel. Thanks. I've never gotten up to 4 threads before..... it's fun.

>9 porch_reader: Hi Amy. Glad you like my list..... I've read quite a few chunksters, for sure, along with the light and/or frivolous.

>10 johnsimpson: Hello John. Thanks. The weekend has been pretty good. Love and hugs back to you and Karen.

>11 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita. Thanks. I know.... don't know if it will be Great Expectations or Until I Find You. I've decided to keep the Irving book as my 'free reading' book, even though it's for a challenge. I'd like to finish it by the end of September to make it in time for the September challenge. It's so good. I'm up to page 445 out of 820.

And good for you on Great Expectations. I hope you enjoy it.

We went to a party last night - the first party in I can't remember how long. A book club friend and her husband hosted and we met some very interesting people. Talked politics of the Democratic kind, happily trashing the Republicans. This was even in front of a Republican Appeals Court candidate - she was very circumspect about what she said regarding things in her potential role of having to rule on things some time into the future - but I really liked her. I may, gasp!, even vote for her. I met an author, too, and today bought his book for my Kindle. It's Like Water on Stone, by Grant Steen, which doesn't show the correct touchstone. I'll have to check back tomorrow to see if it's been added. We happily chatted about books for an hour or more.

Happy Sunday, Karen. The tension builds on which book will be your 75th...bated breath.

Happy Sunday, Karen! Ohh - I'd be afraid to track my acquisitions, though I have been quite good this year. I do know I got rid of a lot of books via the second hand store! Of course then I find more to read at the store.

Good for you getting rid of so many books. I swear, sometimes I look at my shelves and think no way in hell do I want to move all that. Time to purge. Then the feeling passes.

>13 msf59: Hi Mark. Except for the Panthers losing, I had a good day yesterday. I read huge chunks of Until I Find You and did some more organizing work in the Library.

>14 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. Ignorance is bliss, and books are necessary. Having said that, this is the first year I've ever tracked my acquisitions AND culls, and they're both eye-openers. I have culled more this year than other years because I've retired and am getting my shelves organized. Having daughter's rec room turn into my Retreat and giving me 60 linear feet of shelving for books has made a HUGE difference. I've moved books I've read to her shelves (after boxing up all her stuff! and putting it in her closet), and the sunroom and library now only have, with few exceptions, books that are either reference or to be read. Whoo-yah!

I know there are a lot of people here on LT who get books from the lie-berry, as SGiV calls it, but I buy books rather than use the library. I have, just this year, started deciding about whether a book gets shelf space when I've finished reading it, and have culled several that way this year. It's a new question I'm asking myself after each book read.

>15 SomeGuyInVirginia: Hi Larry. Thank you. Husband and I talked about downsizing about a year ago and decided against it - deciding to try to stay here for 10 years. That's why we've replaced 2 outside doors, 3 windows, and a slider with a window, plus getting lots of repair work done. We're going to get the house power-washed and painted next month. Our friend who will do the power-washing recommended a painting service, and their quote was surprisingly low for what they will do.

I can't imagine downsizing my books. But now I don't have to think about it for 9 years.

#75 – the honor goes to:

Yuge!: 30 Years of Doonesbury on Trump by Garry Trudeau





It is amazing how well Garry Trudeau has pegged Donald Trump over the years. I’ve never paid strict attention to Trump – heck, I haven’t paid any attention to Trump over the years except to think what a blowhard. The cartoon strips are priceless and I laughed out loud a lot.

The inside front flap says He tried to warn us. Ever since the release of the first Trump-for-President trial balloon in 1987, Doonesbury’s Gary Trudeau has tirelessly tracked and highlighted the unsavory chareer of the most unqualified candidate to ever aspire to the White House. It’s all there – the hilarious narcissism, the schoolyard bullying, the loathsome misogyny, the breathtaking ignorance – and a good portion of the Doonesbury cast has been tangled up in it. Join …… as they cross storylines with the big, orange airhorn who’s giving the GOP such fits.

The inside back flap says Garry Trudeau is the “sleazeball” “third-rate talent” who draws the “overrated” comic strip Doonesbury, which “very few people read.” He lives in New York City with his wife Jane Pauley, who “has far more talent than he has.”

The strips are all in color and each strip has the date originally published under it. It is arranged chronologically and it’s amusing to see how his portrayal of The Donald has evolved. Well worth the money if you agree with Trudeau’s assessment above and love Doonesbury as I do.

Hi Karen, I don't track my culls but have tracked my purchases since joining LT and getting to know Paul Cranswick and so far this year I am up to 167 purchases. I had hoped to have read more than purchased but it is 2 to 1 on the purchase side I am afraid.

We have spoken about possibly moving and downsizing when we are mortgage free in 2023 but how I fit all my books in I do not know, at the moment I am nearing 2250 on the TBR pile, add to this my cricket book collection of at least 300 then there are my art books and Karen's cookery books. Somehow I don't think we will be able to downsize but we did think after our trip on Saturday that being by the coast or near to it would be good. The houses over looking Crosby beach with the Gormley standing statues would be ideal although I would probably have to change a house to an upside down house with the bedrooms downstairs and the room with a big picture window on the first floor looking over the beach. I can just imagine looking out and then getting back to my book with the scenery outside constantly changing and the sunsets would be brilliant.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

Happy New Thread, Karen!
Love the coffee cup! Would have loved the cake! Love that you had a fun party! Congratulate (and almost envy) you on culling! Am pleased to read GT on Trump!
It was down into the 60s here last night; temps up today, but I do believe that fall is coming. YAY!

Congrats on 75!

Congratulations on reaching 75 :-)

I started reading all my unread childrens/YA books last week, intending to cull all books with 4 stars or less, where the 4-starred ones are debatable ;-)

>18 johnsimpson: Hi John! I checked out the Crosby Beach with the Gormley statues and it's quite stunning. I can see why you'd like to move there. Love and hugs to you and Karen.

>19 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I've got the sunroom door open to get some of that lovely crisp air in the house. We had torrential rains last night - waves of hard rain from about 10 p.m. until well after midnight. Given that we have crappy electrical power from Duke and crappy DSL from Centurylink, the Presidential debate got interrupted when signal loss converted from HD to SD but we didn't lose power.

>20 drneutron: Thanks, doc! It's been a chunkster year so far, with 15 books 500+ pages. I've also tracked pages read, with 2,689 page equivalents for audiobooks and 25,446 pages physically read. I may go back and record the hours listened to.

We watched the debate last night and were pleased to see that Hillary stayed calm and offered details and specifics while The Donald was his bombastic, narcissistic, and crazy self.

Morning Karen! Congrats on hitting 75!! We knew you could do it. Have a great day.

Thanks, Mark!

Obsessive me, I've updated my spreadsheet with the hours listened to per audiobook - 6 so far this year, for a total of 83 hours 20 minutes.

That's not obsessive, that's simple note taking! Do you download books from the lie-berry, or use Audible or some other service? I like Audible ok, but Amazon's music and viseo services leave a lot to be desired.

Well, you're right. It is simple note taking.

I did have to go upstairs and look at the audiobook boxes for 6 of the 7 audiobooks I have listened to so far this year.

So far I have only listened to audiobooks in the car and since my commute has gone away (not complaining, by any means!) it takes a long time for me to listen to an audiobook.

I buy audiobooks from the twice-year Library sales and have enough to keep me going for a while. Plus re-listening to my favorites.

#76 Great Expectations by Charles Dickens





Somewhere between friend Richard’s calling Dickens “Chuckles the Dick” and LizzieD making her username an homage to Dickens, lies my reaction to Great Expectations. I will never be a Dickensian, alas, but ended up liking the book much better than I thought I would halfway through.

From Amazon: Charles Dickens's Great Expectations charts the course of orphan Pip Pirrip's life as it is transformed by a vast, mysterious inheritance. A terrifying encounter with the escaped convict Abel Magwitch in a graveyard on the wild Kent marshes; a summons to meet the bitter, decrepit Miss Havisham and her beautiful, cold-hearted ward Estella at Satis House; the sudden generosity of a mysterious benefactor - these form a series of events that change the orphaned Pip's life forever, and he eagerly abandons his humble station as an apprentice to blacksmith Joe Gargery, beginning a new life as a gentleman. Charles Dickens's haunting late novel depicts Pip's education and development through adversity as he discovers the true nature of his identity, and his 'great expectations'.

Until about 70 or pages until the end, I didn’t particularly like Pip at all. Perhaps that’s Dickens’ intent, I do not know. Pip is weak, a spendthrift, and prideful. And, for the life of me, I cannot figure out why he loves Estella. She is proud, disagreeable, and cuts him at every turn.

It is only when bad things happen to him that we see that Joe’s influence on the young Pip was stronger than might be expected, and I come to respect Pip as having grown up, learned his real place in the world, and been satisfied with it.

As for Dickens’ writing style, I found it alternatively lyrical and turgid, wordy and obtuse. There are some extremely eccentric characters, alternatively irritating and endearing.

Thank goodness I decided to read 2 chapters a day until I had finished it; it was only when I got to Chapter 56 that I decided a sprint to the finish line, as it were, would be a good idea. I think that if I had read it without a plan, I would have put it down.

Belated congrats for your 75th book my dear.

Oh no! Which edition did you read, and did it have the happy and (original) sad ending? This is a re-read for me and I remember not caring for the happy ending, but that sad ending really got to me.

Hi Larry! It was the one with the "happy ending - I took her hand in mine, and we went out of the ruined place; and, as the morning mists had risen long ago when I first left the forge, so, the evening mists were rising now, and in all the broad expanse of tranquil light they showed to me, I saw no shadow of another parting from her.

Hi Karen! Good review of Great Expectations. I have read it a couple of times but it has been awhile. I do remember liking it a bit more than you and appreciated the fact that it wasn't 800 pages.

>29 johnsimpson: Hi John, thanks! Last year for a variety of reasons I didn't read 75, so I'm back in stride.

>32 msf59: Thanks, Mark! My edition was 'only' 472 pages. Not a doorstop, not a wedge. Hmmm....

In my youth I was quite a fan of Dickens, but now I am not sure that I would be. I was reading your comment on Mark's thread re : your husband doing chores around the house etc. My husband is the opposite. Only he knows how to do it properly (in his own mind :) . Dave thinks turning on the dishwasher is too complicated for me. Oh that makes me laugh. However, I do run it when he has not gotten around to it and I think he should have. I let him do all the unloading as only he knows how to do it properly. Makes for an easier life for me :)

Good morning, Deborah!

Your husband sounds like a hoot - each one, each marriage is unique, isn't it?

We had tremendous thunderstorms last night, starting around 8ish. Lightning, rolling, house-vibrating thunder, lots of heavy rain. The power flickered several times and I unplugged the TV and all other electronic equipment in my Retreat - I'm not sure if what we have up there is a UPS, surge-protector strip or just a power strip. Better safe than sorry. This is August weather, not late September weather.

Oh my god. How PERFECT for reading mysteries! We got rain here, but I slept through it and nothing was blinking this morning so we didn't lose power.

You should read Dickens's original ending, the sad one, because it makes the whole book make sense. I don't blame you for not liking the book- the publishers made Dickens change the ending to happy so that it would sell more. And I agree with you, there is no way that Pip should have been so in love with Estella. Didn't you love the wedding cake with the spiders, and Miss Havisham going up in flames? Fun!

Hi Larry! Spoiler first: I just found and read the original ending. It actually does make more sense, although it still gives Estella more credit than I wanted her to get. Thanks for suggesting that I read it. I loved the spiders and mice and Miss Havisham's going up in flames. I also loved Magwich's resignation to his life - crime, punishment, wealth, re-capture, death. And I was so happy that Joe and Biddy married and had two children.

It could have been perfect for a mystery, but I was reading Until I Find You for the American Authors Challenge - John Irving in September. I just finished it a little while ago. We are supposed to get more thunderstorms today, so I'll have a mystery ready, I think. :) drneutron recommended The Dinosaur Feather, and as it's described on Amazon: Selected by NPR's Maureen Corrigan as her favorite mystery of 2013 and one of the top ten mysteries of the year by The Wall Street Journal's Tom Nolan, S.J. Gazan's debut novel The Dinosaur Feather is a classic of Scandinavian noir. With keenly observed and deeply flawed characters, this scintillating thriller uniquely employs one of the most controversial and fascinating areas of contemporary dinosaur and avian research in its diabolical twists. The Dinosaur Feather has been published in more than a dozen countries and won the Danish Crime Novel of the Decade Award. The Financial Times called it "a top-flight thriller--smart and outrageously entertaining.

So back to John Irving. Whew. What a read, what an accomplishment, if I do say so myself!

Until I Find You by John Irving





From the last paragraph of the description of the book from Amazon: A melancholy tale of deception, Until I Find You is also a swaggering comic novel, a giant tapestry of life’s hopes. It is a masterpiece to compare with John Irving’s great novels…

Had I read any description or review of the book before I read the book itself, I might never have read it. However, it grabbed me, as the voice of the four-year-old Jack is so authentic and sweet as he and his mother go to Europe to track his father, William, down. The characters are larger-than-life and focused in the way of people who love what they do - tattoo artists and organists, novelists and actors, wrestlers and teachers. Jack’s life is as rich and eccentric and thoughtful as it is tragic and sad.

This is not a book for the faint of heart. It is long and very detailed. I found myself rooting for Jack to be happy, to be whole, to understand his life and the love waiting for him. I wasn’t disappointed.

I always looked on Estella and Miss Havisham as two of the great Dickensian villains, really nasty one, and I don't think they deserved any credit. The way they treated Pip, and leading him on to believe they were responsible for his elevated position. Horrid people.

I checked in to see whether you're in the flooded part of NC. I sincerely hope not. We have escaped so far, thank goodness!
I'm so glad that you stuck with *GE*! I think I've said that this is not a favorite, but I always find CD's prose glorious. I guess you know that. I have a copy of Havisham that I want to get to --- I really need to read faster and more often!

>38 SomeGuyInVirginia: Hi Larry! I agree. And once Magwich gets transported and works hard, makes a fortune, and tries to set Pip up as a gentleman, he turns around his life and redeems himself from his early life of crime.

>39 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! We are north of the flooding. The night Fayetteville got 10 inches, we got 2.5, so no worries. The last several days have been gloomy and sodden, and this morning is no different.

** Since writing the above and before posting this message it's started raining again. And it's too muggy and warmish to open the door for fresh air. Ooh, thunder, too! And BIG rain. And now no rain and partial blue sky and sunshine through the crepe myrtle. Really bizarre weather.

Coffee, books, couch!

Plus I have decided to bite the bullet, so to speak, and make sure that every book in my catalog has the correct cover and, to complicate matters, NOT the Amazon cover. If there's a high-quality member uploaded cover that matches my cover I choose it, otherwise I scan my book and upload the cover. It takes just a little over a minute to scan, save, and upload a book's cover. Yesterday I got shelf L01 squared away. Today it's on to L03. (no, there's no L02 - no books on that shelf in the secretary).

Since I'm not going to finish any more books before midnight, here's the link to message #4 above for my ytd statistics.

YTD Reading Statistics

Cool cabinet, and you've got Mystery Book Club books! They're awesome!

Thanks, Larry! Good eye! I inherited those books from husband's mother. I don't know if she got them or her mother got them. Wish I had more.

We inherited the cabinet from his mother, too. It's got lots of neat stuff in the desk and drawers, too. I haven't cleaned out anything from the desk or drawers (yet). I've looked at it, and put it all back as it was.

Hi Karen, just loving the cabinet you have inherited, I would love one but it is finding the room. Hope all is well with you my dear, sending love and hugs.

>44 johnsimpson: Thanks, John! We have so much stuff - the picture above is deceptive because it barely looks cluttered.....

Love and hugs back to you and Karen.

>45 karenmarie:, Thanks my dear.

Congrats on your 4th thread and your 75th book. I'm close. Having a LONG road trip over the past few days has helped as I had enough hours in the car to finish Off To Be The Wizard.

I feel like I have found my people in your thread! I can't seem to not buy books. Even on this business trip, I bought two at Heartwood in Abingdon, Virginia: a Ralph Stanley biography and a memoir of blueberry farmers.

In the midst of ongoing working travel but hoping to stop by your thread more often. I'm awed by your simple notetaking and hoping to find some time to do some of my own recording.

Congratulations on 75 books! What a gorgeous cabinet!

Yay 75!

>43 karenmarie:. I have an antique desk just like yours. It even has secret cubbies to hide things in!

>47 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! Thank you, and good luck on getting to 75 soon. I can't seem to not buy books, too - today I decided that I needed the missing volume in the hardcover editions I have of the Chronicles of Narnia - I have all the paperbacks AND the hardcovers except The Horse and his Boy. So I ordered it. Do I need it? No. Have I even ever read ALL the Chronicles of Narnia? No. Do I anticipate ever reading all the Chronicles of Narnia? No. Did that prevent me from buying it? No. Sigh.

Visit often! Since retiring I've spent more time tracking my books AND just being verbose. I love it.

>48 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah! And thanks re the cabinet - I admit that I think it's gorgeous too. My husband's mother had exquisite taste.

>49 beeg: Hi beeg! Thanks. I am on a roll right now, and envision finishing 110-120 easily.

>50 Dianekeenoy: Hi Diane! Neat aren't they? But I haven't discovered any secret cubbies - maybe I need to pull out all the drawers out and start looking. Any hints?

Husband and I just finished watching the third season of Transparent. We loved the series, and I think I'm going to rewatch the whole thing upstairs in my Retreat. After that we watched two episodes of The Naked Archaeologist - what a 180!

And now it's time to read.

What can I say, Karen. A book lover is a book lover, and heaven forbid that we should be cured!
That is a lovely secretary/cabinet.
May we all stay relatively dry!

Good morning, Peggy! Yes, I do love my books as physical objects, in addition to loving what I read in them.

Yesterday while trying to get some covers scanned for the books that don't have appropriate member-uploaded covers, I looked through an 1853 copy of The Principles of Latin Grammar. One or more of husband's family members had put poll-and-other tax receipts in it, an October 1903 cutting from a Hickory, NC newspaper (I couldn't figure out why it was kept - couldn't see any of husband's family members or other important Family stuff), and inked onto the front cover, upside down at the bottom, was "S.D. Lowe" - one of husband's Civil War family members. I sure wish my family had done stuff like that!

I might go through the secretary today, just for the heck of it.

And this morning is a crisp, clear, 60F! I've opened the sunroom door to get some fresh cool air in. And it's only supposed to get to 80F today. Dare I say the word Fall?

>51 karenmarie:. Good morning, Karen. Inside my desk are partitions . There is a small door in the middle flanked by 2 decorative side pieces. The decorative side pieces slide out and are hollow. It's really neat and we keep special things in them. Unfortunately, they were empty when I got it! I love it! Mine was called a secretary.

Hi Diane! I call it the Secretary, too.

Alas! No doors. There is a drawer in the middle, but it is as deep as the space available. Other than that, there are open shelves.

Oh!I've always dreamed having of a desk / secretary like you have. Gorgeous. Your husband's mother did have beautiful taste indeed.

Today is the first play of the season for the Chapel Hill Playmakers. I go with my friend Louise. We have season tickets and always go to lunch first, then the matinee.

After I get home around 5-5:30, I have to finish making the deviled eggs for book club's annual pot-luck book selection meeting at 7. Fortunately it's only about 10 minutes from home. I've narrowed it down to 4 books:

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Travels with My Aunt by Graham Greene
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
Euphoria by Lily King

I'm leaning towards Travels with My Aunt. As a reminder, my choice for last book club year was Go Set a Watchman. The year before The Goldfinch.

Have fun with the book club book selection! How fun! I haven't heard of any of your alternatives except for the Christopher Moore book, so I can't help you out there! :)

Hi Rachel!

All four books were purchased at various Friends of the Library sales.

Big news - yesterday was my NINTH Thingaversary. That means I get to buy TEN books.

And, although I pondered using the Friends sale books to count towards the ten, I've decided that I'm going to buy 10 more books.

I'll have to look over my wishlist, which is on Bookmooch, to figure out which of the 313 books I really want. I probably need to revisit it, too, and remove some.

Don't look now, but your secretary is harboring three penguins of Madagascar! Gad I loved that movie.

Good eye, Larry! I loved that movie, too! Most of the stuff in there is husband's mother's, but yes, the penguins came with the daughter territory and somehow ended up in the secretary. In message #40 above, the 2nd shelf has another Penguin of Madagascar AND two ceramic penguins that I named Tiger Lily and Mrs. Hook's Baby Little Boy. They were given to me by friends Daniele and Nancy the night we were watching the Mary Martin Peter Pan at their house.

We picked books tonight at bookclub for November 2016 - October 2017 and picked some good ones, I think:

The Golem and the Jinni Helene Wecker
Travels with My Aunt Graham Greene
Defining the Wind Scott Huler
The Old Man and the Sea Ernest Hemingway
The Language of Houses Alison Lurie
My Brilliant Friend Elena Ferrante
Vinegar Girl Anne Tyler
This Side of Paradise F. Scott Fitzgerald
Spill Simmer Falter Wither Sara Baume
The Crying of Lot 49 Thomas Pynchon
Born a Crime Trevor Noah
A Gentleman in Moscow Amor Towles

Whew! Long day. I also went to see Detroit '67 at the Playmakers in Chapel Hill with friend Louise, so was basically gone all day. Now, it's time to read!

>59 karenmarie: Belated happy 9th Thingaversary, Karen!
Have fun sorting out wich 10 books to buy ;-)

>61 karenmarie: Nice books to read for your bookclub, some I have never heard of, others I want to read someday.

Happy Thingaversary!

>62 FAMeulstee: Thank you Anita! I love LT - it's my absolute favorite website. And my 10 book budget is a wonderful luxury. When I get books at the Friends of the Library Sales, it's only out of what they offer - these 10 books can be what I really want. Yay!

I've only heard of 3 of the 12 books myself, although I have other unread books by Anne Tyler and Amor Towles.

>63 beeg: Thanks, beeg!

Morning Karen! trying to make the rounds of neglected threads. Quite a task but an enjoyable one, never the less...

Good review of Until I Find You. You have definitely sparked my interest in that one.

I really like your book club picks. I may join you on a few. I have wanted to read The Golem and the Jinni forever and I have it saved on audio.

>61 karenmarie: Nice list.

>64 karenmarie: I agree with that Karen - it is my favourite website too by a country mile, but it is a little more than that. I have made friends here in this little niche of the ether that are as firm and full as most I have made in RL. Meetings and meet-ups are invariably a confirmation of the inherent warmth and goodness of the people here.

You have had a great last quarter posting wise and are steadily climbing the posting league - people are catching on to one of the best kept secrets of the group! xx

Happy Thingaversary + 1!!!! I definitely don't think you should count library sale books among your ten. Where's the fun of that?
Long may we LT!

>65 msf59: Hi Mark! Thanks for visiting, and I'm glad you liked and had your interested sparked by my review of Until I Find You. LT friend Tess (tess_schoolmarm) has piqued my interest in Widow for One Year, but I am temporarily Irvinged-out. I might consider a read early next year.

I just got The Golem and the Jinni in the mail (thank you, Amazon!) and will start it as soon as I finish a strange one that I'm reading, The Dinosaur Feather. drneutron liked it, and I do too, although the translation is a bit rough at times (from the Danish). I'm at page 313 of 431 pages.

>66 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! I think the list is pretty good, too - nothing inherently weird like our book club proposes some years. Nothing I've eliminated without giving it a fair shake (like other years!)

And thank you for your kind comment regarding my posts being 'one of the best kept secrets of the group!' I'm flattered.

I haven't participated in any meet ups yet, but I may threaten to visit Peggy (LizzieD) one of these days soon, as she's only a couple of hours away from me. There are a couple of people here in my own town, too, that I should try to get up with. And, of course, when you visit the US, you're welcome here in central NC or I could travel to where you decide to stay. :)

>67 LizzieD: Thanks, Peggy! And I can't count book club books, either. No fun. So, I just figured out how to pull my wishlist to excel from Bookmooch, and now I can start playing. :)

>68 karenmarie: You would definitely be one of the people I would want to meet when I finally am able to make it stateside. xx

>69 PaulCranswick: Yay, Paul! That would be lovely.

I've cleaned up my wishlist to only include books I don't already own (I had to remove 6 that I had not deleted earlier, and 4 that I definitely either don't want or don't understand why I put them on there.)

So now, to pick 10 books out of my 304 book wishlist. Or, of course, there other books I might get instead.....

I can just picture you sorting and cataloging and culling...

>71 weird_O: Hi Bill! With dust flying, too! Yes. That's been me since the beginning of February, off and on, but mostly on. I'm finally getting a good handle on my books.

While making sure the guest bedroom was ready for a friend to stay over tomorrow night, I found one of my books on the nightstand - daughter had obviously started it a while back and I didn't realize it was there. I had cataloged it as 'misshelved', but now it's home will be on R81. :)

I must say, though, that I think I would have been a terribly cranky librarian because even with one daughter and only myself I can see how books can get disorganized and misshelved. It makes me unhappy at home and I'm in much more control than a librarian would be in a public library with just anybody moving books around!

78. The Dinosaur Feather by S. J. Gazan





Here’s how BookBrowse described this book:
Winner of the Danish Crime Novel of the Decade, S.J. Gazan's debut novel The Dinosaur Feather is a classic of Scandinavian noir, from its richly imagined and deeply flawed characters to its scintillating exploration of one of the most fascinating aspects of contemporary dinosaur and avian research.

Biology postgraduate and hopeful PhD Anna Bella Nor is just two weeks away from defending her thesis on the origin of birds when her supervisor, the arrogant and widely despised Dr. Lars Helland, is found dead in his office chair at the University of Copenhagen. In the dead man's bloody lap is a copy of Anna's thesis.

When the autopsy suggests that Helland may have been murdered in a fiendishly ingenious way, the brilliant but tormented young Police Superindendent Søren Marhauge begins the daunting task of unraveling the knotted skeins of interpersonal and intellectual intrigue among the scientists at the university. Unfortunately for him, everyone involved - from embittered single mom Anna Bella Nor to Marhauge's own ex-wife, who is pregnant with her current husband's child - has something to hide, presenting the detective with the greatest professional and personal challenge of his entire career.

Correction to above: Marhauge was not married to Vibe, but they were together for a very long time.

I liked this book and didn’t like this book. The story was good – academic controversies and infighting, murders and a detective. There was also a fascinating discussion of what it takes to be true to science versus pet theories. However, there were three main characters, two murders, and so many secondary themes that I sometimes found myself bewildered. I felt like the author wanted to say so much about so many things but tried to compress them into one book.

The translation was uneven, too. Every once in a while there would be something to distract – usually related to dialogue or expressed emotions. Lots of screaming and what seem to be disproportionately strong emotions when taken in context to the scene.

Having said those negatives, my liking it is beginning to win out over my disliking it, and I’m sure I’ll remember it for quite a while. In addition, there is a sequel, The Arc of the Swallow, which is now on my wishlist.

Interesting, Karen! I'll at least think about it....
Btw, I'm counting on meeting you when Jen is in G'boro and settled - at the very least! And of course, if you come south on I-95, you must make a bit of time for me.

Your book club list looks interesting. I've only read Vinegar Girl. It was a nice breezy read. Nice review of The Dinosaur Feather. I think I'll wait on that one....

Sweet Thursday, Karen! How is the culling going?

>74 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I just checked out Jenn's thread and they're in Greensboro. I left her a PM and suggested when she was well settled that the three of us could get together.

>75 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah! I really like the list this year. Of course I say that now - as a rule I tend to read about 60% of the books. Thanks re my review. Not quite a totally ringing endorsement, but the book has grown on me since finishing it.

>76 msf59: Hi Mark! 118 this year so far. I am going to make a new duplicates cull list and attack it this weekend if possible.

A friend of ours, a singer-songwriter who has a gig in Fayetteville tonight, stayed over last night and left about 4 today. He's a hoot and a half, although somewhat exhausting to be around since he's so hyper. So last night I went upstairs early to read while my husband and Pierce shot the breeze and watched The Pacific, a WWII thing that I was not interested in. I have gotten quite a good start on The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker for next month's book club discussion.

I may end up going to California earlier than I had planned (not booked, mind you, just planned). I had thought to go out a week to get caught up with my sister sometime around the end of October. But, my mom had a slight stroke yesterday evening, was severely dehydrated, had blood sugar of 222, and has a UTI. My sister has been at the hospital with her.

What really gets me is that she has two boarders who she is subsidizing with ridiculously low rent payments. This is good, I admire her for it. The discussion of living alone has been obviated by them being there, but they let her get dehydrated and disoriented last night and wouldn't have done anything about it if my sister hadn't called and raised the alarm when Mom couldn't get some of her words out and was in bed by 7 p.m. *grumble*

So when I talk with my sister tonight I'm going to ask her point blank when she wants me to come and how long she wants me to stay. It may be another false alarm - we had a similar situation (although without the stroke) earlier this year and it sorta fizzled out. I don't want to be alarmist, but I also don't want my sister to have to bear the burden by herself. I'm not quite sure what to do yet - it all depends on what my sister wants.

Stress. And tonight's weather report is still forecasting 7-10 inches of rain with steady high winds for Wilmington starting tomorrow. So now I have to ramp up the worrying about daughter. She sounds fine when we talk - she's definitely not the kind of child to call mom and dad to come rescue her - so we'll see how she gets through this. She has friends and lots of support out there..... but still. She's only 23.

I couldn't resist posting this - Kitty William (aka Catman) has decided that sleeping on my printer is his favorite thing.

Smart cat! I bet it's nice and warm. As for the boarders, they're useless. Don't depend on them for jack. It's awesome that you aren't going to let your sister shoulder it alone, some people would.

Are you guys in for a lot of rain? I guess Florida is going to get creamed. Man, you could not pay me to live in Florida. All that weather, the bugs, and crime is through the roof.

Hi Larry!

It is nice and warm on top of the printer, but mostly from the lamp.

I'll start looking at flights today - I'm very nervous about H. Matthew and don't trust the projections that it's going to weaken and make a hard right before North Carolina. So I'll look at something mid-next week, I think.

I think we're supposed to get some rain from H. Matthew, although this morning it's drizzling and we had some rain last night and at least one power flicker, maybe more from a different weather system. Matthew should bring us about 3" of rain and some moderate winds tomorrow.

Today is lunch with friend Don. We used to work together before they ignominiously fired him after over 40 years with the company - walked him out the door one day. This was about 5 or so years ago. He still doesn't like to talk about our company - gee, I wonder why! What we do have in common is books and politics, so it will be an enjoyable lunch discussing books and NC and federal politics.

So sorry to hear about your mom! And I hope you're surviving the storm as well. Virginia is just getting rain.

Mostly stopping by to just say hello: this is a busy time of year for me and I've been neglecting Library Thing!

>81 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! Thank you. Mom's still in the hospital. They are trying to get her sugar down and her blood thinned. There's a caseworker that my sister's been talking with. I don't have a current update, though. But I did finally get to speak with Mom and she was mostly coherent with occasional mumbles about a storm and sliding glass doors - hallucinations about the house. Sigh. At least she's being monitored and things brought slowly back under control.

Well, unfortunately it's been a bit more exciting than we wanted it to be here at the house.

We lost power about 5 hours ago. We have a generator so are pretty much okay, but instead of the roughly 3 inches we were supposed to get, it's up to 6 inches now with perhaps another 8-10 hours or more of rain still to come. Matthew still hasn't even gotten to Wilmington yet. We aren't getting too much heavy rain, just constant with occasional heavier bands and some winds.

We've now lost two trees at the creek and the creek is out of its banks 50 feet on each side; we have a 100-foot wide river.

Wow. That's a lot of water! Stay safe and dry!

Thanks for the update, Karen! I hope the water stays contained. Sorry to hear about the trees. Sending positive vibes to my pal.

>83 drneutron: Thanks, doc! It is a lot of water. We've stayed well away from it - it is moving very fast and is probably 3 feet deep at the back fence.

>84 msf59: Hi Mark! We're fine if frustrated - the estimate of power back on at 8 p.m. has now been revised BACK to 'assessing damage' with damage caused by falling trees/limbs. They're on site, and will, we hope, be able to repair/replace the equipment soon. The checked outage, the one we're in, is 1,140 customers.



To be fair, there are hundreds of thousands of people without power here in NC, and I know they're working hard.

Friends Carl and Dwain will probably take the wood from the downed trees, so I don't think we'll have to pay anybody. So far we've only lost the two trees.

Fingers crossed that the rains abate quickly and the waters subside, Karen. Love the map and I have to comment that the names on it are so suggestive. Gum Springs is one to get your teeth into so to speak.

Despite the weather, have a lovely weekend.

Sorry for all of the stress in your life right now. I'm glad you have a generator , but completely understand your anxiety about your daughter. And then your. I hope that are able to stabilize things for her. How frustrating about your mom's boarders! Hugs to all of you.

>86 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! Rains gone, creek is back down to creek size. We still don't have power, ran the generator all night. My husband just switched the refrigerator and freezer in the garage off and turned the well pump on so we could have water for a while. The most important reason, for me, is coffee, which is brewing right now.

Gum Springs is because we have trees called gum trees (liquidambar trees). They are nice to look at, but have the nastiest seed pods - nothing you'd ever want to step on barefoot.

I've had better weekends, what with the stuff with my mother and the storm, but my daughter just texted that she's okay and our friends are coming over this afternoon to watch the Dallas Cowboys.

>87 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah. Hugs are good.

Morning Karen! Hooray for your generator. A life-saver, I am sure. Hope that power comes on soon.

>89 msf59: Thanks, Mark! The big power outage of 1,140 customers is gone, but we are now one of 155 customers still without power. Strange. I don't think we got power back in the middle of the night only to lose it again, but I was up from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. last night and when I looked it didn't show a power outage for us. Now it's back.

As long as I can drink coffee and (eventually sometime today) take a shower, I'm good. Our stove is gas, as is the oven in the stove (we have a wall oven that's not got power when we run the generator). So we can cook and bake if we want. I just made sausage for breakfast - just plain sausage for me, sausage sandwiches for my husband.

Good lord! That's a dramatic picture, kiddo. What a relief that the creek subsided. I'm thinking lovely thoughts for you Karen, you're going through it.

Hi Larry! Thank you, I am frazzled. We have friends coming over this afternoon to watch the Cowboys game. They didn't lose power! Amazing. They're bringing pizza and it will be a nice diversion.

Daughter's safe, my mother's lawyer has gotten us in touch with someone who can help us wade through long-term care options - she and my sister might even have something in mind by the time I get out there as soon as I can get there. No damage to our house, thank goodness, and I'm grateful we got by with just two trees down since the ground was so wet already before Matthew. Here's the creek back in its banks:



I think I'm going to read a bit then make some Chex mix for munchies this afternoon.

Wacky, it doesn't even look like the same place.

Happy Thingaversary a little late!

Hi Karen my love, hope that you get the power back soon and that the damage around the trees is not too bad. You like your coffee and I like my tea and as long as we get our drinks we are ok, everything else can be sorted. Sending love and hugs dear friend.

Chex mix made, shower taken - things are getting back to normal!

>93 SomeGuyInVirginia: Hi Larry! It is dramatic, for sure. It doesn't even look like it was flooded.

>94 The_Hibernator: Thank you, Rachel! I've been slowly trying to figure out what books to get, but what with hurricanes, power outages, and my Mom's hospital stay and not good news, I haven't spent much time in the last 3 days.

>95 johnsimpson: Hi John. Power's back, but the trees are a total loss. We're trying to see if the insurance will pay for any of the cleanup based on the fence line getting damaged. I'm still drinking coffee, even though it's four in the afternoon! Unusual, but it sure tastes good. Thank you and love and hugs back to you and Karen.

It turns out that we have lost three trees - two hackberry trees and one that husband doesn't recognize, probably a type of oak. I haven't walked down there yet. Here's a pic he took just inside the pasture up at the house:

I'm heading to California today - my flight is at 3:47 p.m. and I get into Ontario at 8:13 p.m. I'll be there until October 25th.

My sister and her husband spent a hellish day yesterday getting my mom into a board and care home close to Mom's house. It's too early to call out there, but I hope they all get a good night's sleep and can recoup their energies today.

I'm taking my laptop to CA so will be able to check in here some. I've got enough books and my Kindle for travel and can buy books in CA when I need them, so I've got two important things covered!

Be safe and well, Karen. I'll be thinking about you and wishing you good things.

Morning Karen! Glad all is well at the homestead. Have a safe trip to CA.

Have a good trip my dear.

Hi Karen, as I see, much has happened since I last time visited a thread of yours. Sorry to hear about the damages around your house. I hope it isn't too worse. Congrats on reaching 75. I probably won't hit it, I'm too far behind.
Wishing you a safe trip to CA.

>98 SomeGuyInVirginia: >99 msf59: >100 johnsimpson: >101 Ameise1: Thanks Larry, Mark, John, and Barbara!

Yesterday was long but not horrible. My bag and I both made it safely, and my sister picked me up a couple of minutes after I got out of baggage claim.

It was too late to go see Mom, but we'll go over this morning. I'll be using Mom's car while in town, and since my sister has to work at least some of the time I'm out here, it will give me a lot of flexibility.

My mom is feeling better - we can tell because my sister said that she's talking about going home and driving again! The driving will never happen even if she disowns us both. We now have the keys and the car, and possession is 9/10ths of the law! Although legally we cannot prevent her from driving - can you believe it? But we're resolved.

The going home probably won't happen. She's in a wonderful facility of 6 women, all with rooms of their own, owned and managed by what my sister says are wonderful people. And, compared to what my husband's mother was paying and our neighbor Louise is looking to pay in NC, it's about half the cost. We've got to figure out finances and how her damned reverse mortgage works.

Can't wait to see her. Hurricane Matthew, worrying about daughter in Hurricane Matthew, trees down, power out, Mother not doing well. It's been VERY stressful since about last Monday or so.

It's early here - 3 hours earlier than North Carolina. I've got coffee and a book and will wait for 'the locals' to rise and shine.

The Golem and the Jinni is a wonderful book. I'm over 2/3 of the way through it and thoroughly loving it.

>101 Ameise1: Hi Barbara! My husband will wait a bit to call the tree service to get them cut up and turned into firewood for our friends. He's also going to submit a homeowners claim since they did hit the pasture fences. Them being down doesn't hurt anything except that our horse boarder let her horses out yesterday. Husband called her to tell her she should keep them in the paddock so that they don't get entangled in the trees and get hurt, but she didn't seem to care. We're glad this is her last month of boarding them with us.

I'm sorry you won't get to 75 books this year - last year I didn't get to 75 but never even considered for one second not being part of this 75 group. You are all the best!!!

Wow, I am so glad you didn't walk into a poo storm. Good luck on the driving thing, that's a tough one. I always like going onto Pacific time because I'm (finally) an early bird.

Thanks, Larry! Me, too! I'm definitely an early bird here. After retiring I've started getting up anywhere between 8 and 9 a.m.

It's amazing what happens when you get your proper medications and food and are using a wheelchair so that you don't fall down. Me on the left, sister Laura on the right, my 84-year-old Mom.



Yesterday I spoke with the nice guy at Fidelity and Mom's squared away with her board and care facility for a awhile. Also got her checking accounts in order. And started some VA stuff. And today I had to call Fidelity back to get the proper instructions to get the POA.

I'm very angry with the women who live at Mom's house. Besides hovering over us at the house yesterday, we kept hearing snarky comments about Mom ("She loves that worn out old blouse and I can't get her to get rid of it", "I've told Lonnie...", "Lonnie shouldn't...", and etc.) It may just be inappropriate ways of showing love and concern for Mom, but it just sounds like bitchiness to me.

Today is visiting Mom and paying some of her bills and going back to her house and bringing all her papers over to my sister's to go through them. One of the women who lives there is way too knowledgeable about Mom's finances/mortgage, etc., drat her.

We're also going to get Mom a trac phone. Apparently she threw her cell phone out.

What a great photo of you three. Sorry to hear about the women at your mom's place. It's so awful to have no privacy.

Thanks, Barbara! Alas, my mom is in the situation of no privacy anymore. But the board and care facility, Leaning Pine, is a house. There are 6 women there, it is immaculate, and the managers are wonderful. Mom will get the best of care there. Hospice is involved, too, so Mom's safe, well cared for, and relieved that Laura and I are taking over.

Wow! What a great photo! Your Mom looks good. Love the smile.

Glad things are going well in SoCal, Karen.

Mom's smiling, that's great! Is you mother moving in to a hospice facility? Does she have a ton of books?

>107 msf59: Thanks, Mark! Lots of work re her finances, but Mom's doing so much better than last week.

>108 SomeGuyInVirginia: Hey Larry! Mom's in what's called board and care, whatever that means. She's under hospice care, too. Mom can't read any more. She does listen to audiobooks, mostly Harry Potter over and over, and we're going to start getting things over to her that will make her happy, like her cd player.

Hi Karen, a lovely photo my dear and good that your mum is doing better than last week. Sending love and hugs dear friend.

Thanks, John! Mom is a lot better, and we're working through her finances and etc. Love and hugs back to you Karen!

>104 karenmarie: Lovely picture, Karen!
Good you and your sister taking care of things, I hope all goes smoothly.

Thank you, Anita! Yesterday was a little calmer. I didn't go to see Mom, but worked on some of her financial things from my sister's house. I definitely needed a little bit of resting time.

Happy Friday, Karen. Glad to hear your Mom is doing a little better. Hope that continues. When do you return?

>114 msf59: I return October 25th..... unless things get weird and I have to stay longer. Don't know yet, but things are going well so far. Thanks for asking!

I hope everything works out well for you and your family in California, Karen. (You threw me off with the remark about getting into Ontario since to me that means the province.) Sounds like RL is throwing lots of things your way right now, probably a good thing that you are retired so that you have the time to deal with things.

>104 karenmarie: I love the picture Karen. It is always so splendid when families get together for however fleeting that reunion is.

Don't forget that gentle hug. xx

Wishing you a lovely weekend, Karen.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker





A synopsis of the book from Helene Wecker’s website:

An immigrant tale that combines elements of Jewish and Arab folk mythology, The Golem and the Jinni tells the story of two supernatural creatures who arrive separately in New York in 1899. One is a golem, created out of clay to be her master’s wife—but he dies at sea, leaving her disoriented and overwhelmed as their ship arrives in New York Harbor. The other is a jinni, a being of fire, trapped for a thousand years in a copper flask before a tinsmith in Manhattan’s Little Syria releases him.

Each unknown to the other, the Golem and the Jinni explore the strange and altogether human city. Chava, as a kind old rabbi names her, is beset by the desires and wishes of others, which she can feel tugging at her. Ahmad, christened by the tinsmith who makes him his apprentice, is aggravated by human dullness. Both must work to create places for themselves in this new world, and develop tentative relationships with the people who surround them.

And then, one cold and windy night, their paths happen to meet.

Not a book I would have ever chosen to read, this is a book club choice, the first one of our new book club year.

I was totally absorbed by it. I thought it well written, interesting, and the historical detail was good without appearing too obtrusive on the story itself.

Chava, the golem, and Ahmad, the jinni, are likeable characters, believably drawn. Each has a non-human character that stays non-human but that I became sympathetic to as each grew and became more self-aware. There is hope at the end, which I look forward to in the sequel, The Iron Season, to be released in 2018.

Glad you liked it, just got it in and it's my next read.

Excellent, beeg! You'll have to let me know what you think!

Hi, Karen. I enjoyed your thoughts on The Golem and the Jinni. Glad you liked it. I will have to find a way to get that one in my audio rotation.

Hi Karen, glad to hear that you've got time for some good reading.

>122 msf59: Hi Mark! Thanks. I'd love to hear what you think.

>123 Ameise1: Hi Barbara! Not much time for reading in the last couple of days, unfortunately.

Just lots of figuring out Mom's finances. Today is going to close out her safe deposit box, get on her checking accounts. That will take a while because just getting to where her banks are will take an hour and a half each way.

Sigh. But I am having a wonderful time with my sister. She and I went to visit her daughter/wife/grandson Tuesday. We spent Tuesday night and came back early yesterday for a meeting with one of Mom's care team yesterday morning at the board and care, then Laura had to go to work and I went BACK to the board and care to have Mom sign a couple of checks. I also went over and picked up the rent from her boarders. So I'll deposit that money in her account today too.

Busy. I'm freaking out a little bit because there's a lot to do and I'm flying back Tuesday. I can probably take care of everything else from home with my durable POA, but it's just a lot easier out here.

Sounds like you and your sister make a good team.

I am sending all sort of positive love and energy your way. The fact that is Mom is safe and cared for is so important. The rest is a pain but will come together. It is great that you and your sister seem to be working so well together.

BTW, I loved The Golem and the Jinni. Glad you did, too.

Oh my goodness, Karen. I've been so involved with my tales of woe that I haven't seen what you've been going through. I'm frankly happy to be able to read through all of it and see that your mom is in a safe place, smiling (great picture! Great smiles all around!), and relieved that you and your sister have taken charge. I also am glad that you weren't really smitten by Matthew. My poor little town is devastated.
Enjoy the rest of your visit while you're getting things done, and have a safe trip home!

It's great that the two of you are able to work through everything for your Mom, Karen. I hope it all goes smoothly.

>124 karenmarie: It is wonderful when siblings can cooperate so well together like that, Karen. I get on great with my twin but he and our sister are at loggerheads which places a strain on everybody. Thankfully when my mum was hospitalised they were able to set aside their considerable differences for a while.

Best wishes for a lovely weekend.

Hi all!

I've been having problems with Mom's bank because the name on her account isn't her legal name on the POA. The account with her legal name is a trust account and I can't touch it without the original trust document, which I cannot find.

Today is getting Mom to sign a notarized document that states all her names and (finally) depositing the rent money. Maybe the bank will accept the POA with the notarized document. And then again, maybe not. Wells Fargo sucks in every way imaginable.

It is what it is, but I'd sure rather be home and not dealing with any of this.....

>130 karenmarie: I.HATE.BANKS.PERIOD.

Oh sorry for all of the trouble you are going through sorting things out for your mom. My dad had cancer 9 years ago, and we knew it was terminal, so my mom and dad were able to get things sorted out prior to my dad's passing , at young age of 66. My mom was very surprised to find out that what she thought was her legal name was in fact different on her birth certificate when she applied for it. I think she found that a bit of hassle, but at that time my dad was still well enough to deal with it. Fortunately they dealt with a notary that had I had grown up with.

Sorry to hear about your mom's bank troubles. It's so annoying. I hope it works out fine with the new documents.
Thinking of you and sending lots of positive vibes.

Ugh, banks. Hope you get it all sorted, Karen.

Happy Sunday, Karen. Sorry to hear about all the banking woes. I hope you got it sorted out. Getting any reading in?

Yow! Let us know how it goes with the bank. That's scary. My name was misspelled on my birth certificate, but I got it changed years ago. I guess it was a good thing I did.

Yes, Wells Fargo has really dropped the ball. Spectacularly.

Hi Karen, sorry to hear of your troubles with the bank my dear, it is so annoying when they add to problems instead of being helpful at times like this. I do hope you can get things sorted my dear and that your mum is ok. Sending love and hugs from us both.

>131 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! I mostly agree - certainly Wells (f&*#&ing) Fargo is disgusting for what their higher ups did by creating fake accounts to improve their numbers for their stockholders and Wall Street.

The saga of the bank accounts continues - I was told Monday that we needed Mom's birth certificate AND a new doctor's letter with all her different first names on it - Lonnie AND Lavon and all the permutations and combinations of that.

I was also told on Monday that the DPOA I have would work at the branch that has her safe deposit box and it did - after another hour with the banker at that branch. But he made the branch decision to grant me access although not put me on as a signatory. So, I cleared it out. When the renewal comes up, I'll close the box. He was very nice and helpful, and it helped that one of the tellers who he spoke with about Mom's safe deposit box came over to my sister and me and asked after Mom, expressed concern, and said I looked a lot like Mom. Mom's birth certificate and Dad's birth certificate were in the box, fortunately. And my sister is getting the new doctor's note.

>132 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. You're lucky. You're not in California. I'm hoping that my local Wells (f&*#&ing) Fargo will be additionally or more helpful. It's only 11 miles from my very rural location. An exception to the usual rule of having to drive long distances to get anything done out here.

>133 Ameise1: - > 135 Thanks Barbara, Meg, Mark.

Mark - I finished a second book, a reread, The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer. I haven't had a chance to get it added to my lists yet, just finished it on the airplane yesterday.

>136 SomeGuyInVirginia: Hi Larry! My Mom's been with Wells (you-know-what) Fargo since at least 1978, so yes, I'd agree that they've dropped the ball, given all the valid evidence I've given them so far.

>137 johnsimpson: Thank you John! Love and hugs back to you and Karen.

-----------------
I'm home. Tired, feel like I've been hit with a two-by-four, but home in my winter jammies and slippers, drinking coffee.

Husband and I are going out for lunch in a while and then food shopping to get me some of the stuff that I need. Husband gave all the perishables that we had purchased before my precipitate departure to California to our cleaning ladies, so I need salad fixings and etc.

Sometime later today I'll continue the process of Mom's DPOA and her bank. And call her on her cell phone and see if she actually answers. We've given her several lessons and 'tested' her by calling her on our cell phones and having her call us on our cell phones while visiting with her, but whether she answers 2 days later is questionable.

I started reading River of Darkness by Rennie Airth. A mystery set in England in 1921. Very good so far.

Now for the daunting task, to be completed over several days, of getting caught up on other peoples' threads.

Rested up? It's going to be around 80 degrees Saturday. Sheer wackiness!

Hi Larry!

79F tomorrow and 83F Sunday.

Very good for the house being painted. They're almost done with the exterior and will do the interior (just 3 walls, some trim, and a bathroom/trim upstairs) on Monday.

The paint fumes give me a headache and the cats are locked up in my library - I don't even dare open the door right now to put food and water in there because my recently-turned-outdoor kitty Inara Starbuck will zoom out and get on the newly painted back porch. It will take 'til tomorrow to dry enough for light-weight kitties to walk on. And the front porch will also be done today and will also take 'til tomorrow to dry for kitty-weight. We'll hold off walking on it for a couple more days.

After the door in the picture below and one other door on the other side dry (about an hour each after painting) we can close the kitties in one part of the house with food, water, and box.

See the kitty door in the picture?

You do realize your house is marvelous?

>138 karenmarie: hit with a two-by-four
Wow, I missed the transition to a new thread, and life has sure packed a wallop into this month for you.

>138 karenmarie: A Quiet Gentleman and River of Darkness, it's almost like you are reading from my shelves, Karen. I hope the banking works out for you. At least now you are home and a bit more relaxed.

I hope you soon get things sorted out with the bank. Your home and porch look beautiful and I love the kittie door. I have a dog door for Poppy. So handy if she suddenly has to "go" in the middle of the night, or Dave and I want to sleep in. She prefers to be taken out to a park, but she will use our small back yard as needed.

Morning, Karen! Happy Saturday. Love these mild temps. Things will be turning soon. Love the back porch. Great job.

>141 SomeGuyInVirginia: Hi Larry! Well, yes, we do. Thank you. We made a decision a year ago now to live here another 10 years rather than fix it up and downsize. It's way too big for the two of us, but I love my library, Retreat, and Sunroom-Home Office. We love being in the middle of nowhere, no street lights, just us and nature and the occasional rumble as big trucks go by on the US 64 about a mile away from us and the occasional rumble as our neighbor Joey, in his second childhood, works on restoring an old car.

>142 qebo: Yes it has, Katherine. I woke up twice in the middle of the night thinking about Mom's finances.

>143 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Yay for the same reading tastes. River of Darkness is getting spooky as they start delving into the mind and actions of the murderer, who we are 'introduced' to rather early on. There are a few anachronisms but not so many that it makes me want to put it down. And the anachronisms are more in the reactions of people than in actual historical facts or artifacts.

>144 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. We originally had an in-the-screen-door kitty door but opted for one cut through the siding after only 2 years in the house. It is quite wonderful, although it lets in strange kitties every once in a while. For a while we were getting a huge black cat in our bathroom in the middle of the night - he had to go through a hall, breakfast room, living room, our bedroom, and finally into the bathroom, but he managed it! - which is very disconcerting if you're up in the middle of the night staggering to the bathroom not quite awake.

I'm glad Poppy condescends to use the doggie door and your back yard as needed.

>145 msf59: Hi Mark! Thanks. We love 'em too. I've got the Sunroom door open getting in some of that cool fresh air, even without a screen to keep out the bugs. I hate bugs in the house, but none have come in yet this a.m. The crepe myrtles, plum, and maples are starting to turn. Yay autumn in NC!

Today is errands, lunch out, early voting. Tonight we are going to watch Kingsman: The Secret Service. I watched it with my sister and husband and want my husband to see it. I want to see it again because I liked it so much.

I hope the husband liked Kingsman as much as both we two. Shame about CF in it though don't you think?

Have a lovely Sunday and I finally managed to complete Great Expectations again today.

ETA By the way this post is the 1000th on your threads this year. Well done and it has been an absolute pleasure following you and your reading throughout the year as usual. xx

He loved it, Paul! He wants to see it again soon to pick up on things he's sure he missed. I saw more the second time I watched it to, and will probably see more the third time I see it. CF? My mind isn't working yet.

We have nothing planned for today. Bill will probably watch pro (American) football, but by being away 16 days I don't even know how the Panthers are doing (probably not well) and am strangely not in a football mood.

Yesterday afternoon I worked on putting up linens - I had pulled out all husband's mother's sheets and pillowcases about 4 months ago to get them organized. There are a lot of them. Husband's job loss got me all of a dither, and yesterday was the first day I felt I could deal with them again. I have way too many of each type - twin and double - so even though I put them all away in drawers with identifying papers in each drawer as to what was in there, I'll probably go back through soon and cull the ones I don't like and mismatched sets and take them to the thrift shop. Realistically I only need 2 sets per bed. I also found 2 king-sized sheets and matching pillowcases, which we can use on the queen bed downstairs or the queen sofa sleeper.

So today I'll finish cleaning up daughter's bedroom and my Retreat and make up the guest bed since a friend stayed over before I left and I hadn't had a chance to change the sheets yet. Daughter will, I hope, come home soon and since Bill snores me out most of the time and I sleep in her bedroom for quiet, she sleeps in the guest bedroom when she visits.

Congratulations on finishing Great Expectations. I'll check the thread out in a bit - I noticed a new post but didn't look further right to see who posted. I'm seriously considering A Tale of Two Cities next February or March and might be bold enough to suggest a group read.

Wow. 1000. Thank you for all the great statistics you provide our group, Paul, and I feel the same way about following you and your reading.

Morning Karen! Happy Sunday! Cooler and a bit more damp here today but we are going on a short hike, with the dog. I will be watching for birds...of course.

Hi Mark! Thanks. Would you do some hiking for me? I need the exercise. *smile*

Started your life list yet?

>140 karenmarie: I see the kitty!

Hi Rachel!

Happy Halloween! Bwaha! Bwahahahaha! *hee* coffcoff (Lots of second hand smoke in hell.)

Happy Halloween to you too, Larry! It's always quiet here in rural NC - no trick-or-treaters at our end-of-the-cul-de-sac road one mile off the rural highway between two small towns. Do you get trick-or-treaters? Do you buy candy for yourself? We only bought some candy corn about a month ago and so far have resisted the siren's call to buy more.

The painters are back - painting the shutters, putting a lightly-colored finish on the deck in the back, and starting the inside paint work.

Nope, trick or treating isn't allowed in my building. They put on a party over the weekend that looked pretty good, and all the kids were invited to that for dressing up and candy swag.

I bought some Ghirardelli chocolate squares at CostCo, but they're long gone. I didn't even bother to pretend they were for Halloween. There are M&Ms in the break room that are broadcasting an irresistible siren song...

I think a lot of churches put on parties last night here in central NC, but we were blissfully ignorant.

We actually have quite a bit of candy in the house, but none of it 'Halloween' candy. There are Skittles in a candy dish in the living room and Lindt truffles, Red Vines, dark chocolate, and semi-sweet chocolate chips in the pantry. I've been strong so far. I was not as strong in CA.

Drat those M&Ms! Good luck resisting. I can usually resist plain M&Ms, but not Peanut M&Ms.

My mother's prognosis has changed somewhat - with proper care she could live for years according to the doctor who saw her last week. Of course she could have a heart attack or major stroke just as easily. I've been discovering that my mother's finances are not strong, and the board-and-care facility, as inexpensive as it is relatively speaking, would bankrupt her in 4 months. So we are looking at something called Angel Care and/or other home health care and letting Mom go home. She would be able to walk with supervision, which she is not allowed to do now, and being in her home would be beneficial in many intangible ways.

Today is lunch with my old IT department and a quick stop at the food store for salad fixin's. I've been craving Greek salads since I got home last week.

Morning Karen. Good news about your Mom. I hope that can relax you a bit more.

>157 karenmarie: Hi Mark! Yes, both my sister and I are thinking this will be the best solution for Mom and since Laura's in CA and I'm not, most of the work will be on her, unfortunately. But she is the agent on Mom's Advanced Health Care Directive and so all of this falls to her anyway - I have the financial stuff which is worrisome in its own way.

All we have to do is get one of her freeloaders, Anne, (oops, boarders :) ) out and the other one will probably agree to shopping and cooking for Mom and putting out her medications as needed for a small stipend and no rent. I really like Terril, and except for her talking your ear off, she's a genuinely nice person.

Hi Karen, I hope you get your mum sorted out for the best both for her and for you and your sister. I remember when Karen's dad had his stroke and he was in hospital and then in a care home until we could get the right care package in place and it was a traumatic time but as I had promised him that I would get him home I fulfilled that promise unfortunately the stroke was so bad that he had another minor one and then when I got him back home from the hospital on the afternoon of Christmas Eve he had another major one forty minutes later and he finally passed away on the 2nd of January which will be three years come January.

I am sure she will be better off at home in surroundings that she is familiar with. Sending you and the family lots of love and hugs.

Hi John and thank you for the love and hugs and for sharing about your FiL. Sending you and Karen love and hugs back.

The house painting is complete, and I'll post some pics in the next few days.

Today we took our girl kitty Inara Starbuck in for her every-three-year distemper shot and while there the Vet was able to examine the bumps she has on her skin, gave her a shot, and determine that the dermatitis is aggravated by fleas, but we haven't seen a single flea on her for months and months! But I guess all it takes is one flea once a kitty is sensitized to them, so we've now ordered some more flea stuff for the next 3 months.

And I was over at neighbor Louise's this afternoon helping with her laptop - there was a bogus tab on her browser that I got rid of, changed her desktop to a picture of her dogs, not her daughter's dog (why would someone put a picture of their dog on their mother's computer when their mother has two dogs of her own and perfectly good pictures of them.....?), got her e-mail working again, and installed some free antivirus software that she likes on this new laptop. Spent about half the time there answering her husband's questions - he has dementia and asks the same questions over and over and over. I am extremely patient, for some reason, and keep answering and answering and answering. It's all good.

Now to drink some water, read my book, and contemplate the stuff we took off the porches for the painting - 1. throw away, 2. put back on the porches, 3. put in already chock-full garage storage. I hope we can get it all squared away tomorrow morning.

>141 SomeGuyInVirginia: >146 karenmarie: Your house is wonderful and I understand the joys of living in too-big house in the country. It's so nice to have a library and a craft room so I can escape the office now and then. Our whole place needs painted. We keep thinking we're going to do it ourselves but it seems less and less likely.

Dear Karen, you are a lovely person. I hope that the rest of settling your mom goes easily. I love your patience with your neighbors. And your work on your house...... And your reading!

>162 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! Thank you and living in a too-big house in the country suits us perfectly. I have my home office a.k.a. The Sunroom, my Retreat, and my Library. My husband has his media room (which he isn't using much these days, drat him!), and his home office. The living room is de-facto his because when he isn't sleeping or in his home office after I go to bed, he's there. He owns the remote controls.

We decided a year ago that we would have a 10-year plan - live here 10 more years until I'm 73 and husband's 70 - then decide what to do then. Obviously things may change in the meantime, but based on that we replaced the front door/transom/sidelights, the back French doors/transom, removed a sliding glass door and put in a window, replaced 3 casement windows (avoid like the plague - just sayin'!), replaced one baseboard in the breakfast room, and replaced our wood stove with a propane stove. Finally, we got all painting done. The total price was significantly lower than we thought it would be and the quality significantly better than we thought it would be. The price included the 2 porches, 2 air conditioner fences, and the deck. They painted our well house and our shed just because they thought we'd like it, and took down and painted our flying goose and put it back up on a different wall for us.

We could never, never, done any of this work ourselves, and fortunately we were able to find good quality people who did good quality work. That's always more than half the problem, IMO.

>163 LizzieD: Thank you Peggy. You're generous in your compliments.

Speaking of reading, off I go! To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis beckons. Husband is at lunch with a friend so I can actually read in the living room, an unexpected pleasure.

Sweet Thursday, Karen! Still basking in a beatific win but I also feel a bit liberated. More reading and visiting threads, although I am bit too tired tonight...

Hi Mark!

I got caught up in the Panthers perfect record last season until the Super Bowl, and remember the feeling that even though they lost at the very end I was done with it for a while. It was a relief for sure.

To Say Nothing of the Dog is a lot of fun. Paul C has recently purchased and reviewed Wind, Sand, and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which has inspired me to start it today. I'll fetch it from the Library after husband gets up - don't want to wake him by being too noisy next to the bedroom.

I finished listening to America's Hidden History by Kenneth C. Davis.

America’s Hidden History by Kenneth C. Davis





Kenneth C. Davis is one of several authors I have read in the last 10 years or so who delve into the personalities, power struggles, motivations, and … er… hidden history of the United States. These authors, including but not limited to Nathan Philbrick, Joseph Ellis, and David McCullough, do us a great service in alerting us to the richness and complexity of history in general and American History in particular. Their writings highlight the abysmally sterile and meager pieces of American History doled out in schools across the country.

I have been a student of history ever since I was in high school and felt, at the time, that I received a pretty good education in and understanding of How The United States Came To Be.

Columbus, Roanoake, Pilgrims and Puritans, George Washington, July 4, 1776, Lexington and Concord, Valley Forge, Jefferson, Adams, Benjamin Franklin, The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, Paul Revere, ‘Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death’, manifest destiny against the Native Americans, and etc.

That is probably about 1/10th of 1% of what really happened in the 18th century in North America, and it now infuriates me that I’m only finding out more of what really happened. I’ve now read about the Dutch settlements in the Northeast, the political maneuvering between the Dutch and the English, the French influence in the Northeast, and many of the people slighted by History without whom we would have never created the first republic voted into existence by the people of the colonies (admittedly white male landowners). I’ve also read more about the strengths, foibles, weaknesses, stubbornness, and brilliance of the men and women who contributed to what has become the United States of America.

America’s Hidden History details the stories of the first real ‘pilgrims’, who were wine-making French Heugenots, Queen Isabella and how pigs influenced the spread of disease to Native Americans, the bloody relationship between Puritans and Native Americans, Benedict Arnold as war hero prior to becoming the Worst Traitor in American History, George Washington as war criminal who signed a confession and started a war, and more.

The writing is interesting, detailed, and cohesive. Each subject has a timeline, the history, and a conclusion. I recommend this book to any student of American History.

Morning Karen. Happy Friday. Hidden History sounds like a winner. Good review.

Sounds good, I'm in. I just downloaded an audio copy from the lie-berry. Thanks for the heads up!

>168 msf59: Thanks, Mark!

>169 SomeGuyInVirginia: Cool, Larry! I hope you like it. You'll have to let me know.

I just finished To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - what a wonderful romp!

Now, since I've been up since 4:30, it's time to go back to bed for a while. *smile*

Morning Karen! Happy Saturday! Last work day of a long work week but I do have the next 2 days off. Yah!

Enjoy your weekend.

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis





From Amazon:

Ned Henry is badly in need of a rest. He's been shuttling between the 21st century and the 1940s searching for a Victorian atrocity called the bishop's bird stump. It's part of a project to restore the famed Coventry Cathedral, destroyed in a Nazi air raid over a hundred years earlier.

But then Verity Kindle, a fellow time traveler, inadvertently brings back something from the past. Now Ned must jump back to the Victorian era to help Verity put things right--not only to save the project but to prevent altering history itself.

A fun time-travel romp through England – 1395, 1940, 2018, 1888, and 2057 – in search of a dread bishop’s bird stump. There is quite a bit of good speculative science here, along with an in-depth and cheeky look at how upper class Victorians lived.

I don’t usually care much about chapter headings, but these are a large part of my enjoyment of the book. Each chapter has a quote at the top, an etching of Cyril the Bulldog, and phrases describing the chapter. Here’s the first one:



If you look closely amongst the humorous situations, needling of the Victorians, and dire threats to the continuum, you will also find some beautifully lyrical prose.

The very real mystery is solved satisfactorily. The author invokes two of my favorite authors to make some of her points, and the more you know about Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers and their works the more subtle pleasure you can derive.

Recommended for time-travel lovers and mystery lovers.

>173 karenmarie: I loved Doomsday Book and have always wanted to read the other books in this series!

>173 karenmarie: I had that one hanging around for years but the plot description didn't appeal, then I started reading and was hooked.

>173 karenmarie: That looks a real winner, Karen. I spent my student days in Coventry and have something of an affinity with the old place.

Have a lovely Sunday.

>174 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel! Well, color me embarrassed. I didn't realize it was part of a series. I didn't catch any references to previous people or situations but I might have missed them since I wasn't looking for them. It worked as a stand-alone book.

>175 qebo: Hi Katherine! Kerry (avatiakh) mentioned it on Paul Cranswick's thread, so pulled it down and I, too, was hooked.

I've started Cakewalk by Rita Mae Brown. It is about my favorite set of characters - Wheezie and Juts - sisters in the little town of Runnymede that straddles the Pennsylvania/Maryland border. Wheezie/Louise is 19 in 1920, Julia/Juts is 15. I bought the first book of the series, Six of One, in New London CT in 1979. I have probably read it 10 times over the years, and about 6 years ago retired that copy, after getting it signed, tatters and all, by RMB herself at a reading event here in my tiny town of Pittsboro. I can't read it anymore because it's too fragile, so I have another copy, a trade paperback, whenever I need a 'fix'.

Cakewalk was just published on October 18th, and maybe it will take a while before someone links it up as the 5th in the Runnymede series.

Today is lunch with friend/neighbor Louise then The Crucible performed by the Chapel Hills Playmakers Repertory Company, then November book club meeting to discuss The Golem and the Jinni, which I loved.

Aak! To Say Nothing of the Dog is over 500 pages! It sounds great, though. And I can't believe I don't have anything by Rita Mae Brown. I'll have to check her out.

Happy Sunday, Karen. I had mixed feelings about Doomsday Book, so have not read any other Willis, but I have wanted to read To Say Nothing of the Dog, so that is back on the list. I hope you are having a good day.

>178 SomeGuyInVirginia: Hi Larry! Yup, it's a chunkster. My mass market paperback has 493 pages. For Rita Mae Brown Six of One, Loose Lips, Bingo, High Hearts, Sudden Death, Dolley, and Southern Discomfort are all great and I loved them.

Cakewalk is a pretty big disappointment. Review later. I'm only giving it

>179 msf59: Hi Mark! Wow. Another BB for someone. Yes I was having at the time you wrote and ended up having for the whole of it, a good day.

Friend Louise and I saw The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The venue is small, and they added seating to make it a theater in the round. We wondered why until we saw how the play was performed - actors talked in all directions and actors used all theater-goer entrances/exits to come into and leave the stage, a square of wooden slats. I love Playmakers sets and this one was no exception. The first was a bed, nightstand, and chest at the foot of the bed, and that was all. Then those props were lowered through the stage and a kitchen table and chairs came up. After act one, the table/chairs were lowered, and for the second act a second stage was lowered onto the first, and it had 2 benches, a couple of chairs, and a desk/chair. Spare, and modern brushed aluminum.

The thing about Playmakers is that they are always stretching boundaries. In The Crucible they had all of the villagers in Puritan garb but all the legal representatives in modern day garb - the magistrate, the cops, the clerk of the court. It was very well done, powerful, and disturbing. The magistrate even pulled a cell phone out to call someone, which with the clothing and props was entirely appropriate.

For book club we discussed The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, which I reviewed here: Golem and the Jinni

Today is getting husband to decide what to do with the small cement planters that we used to put pansies in. He doesn't want them on the deck any more but doesn't want anything else put in the garage. And when I said get rid of them he said "You mean throw them out?" in a disbelieving voice. A conundrum.

Hi Karen! I LOVE having Mondays off and our stretch of beautiful fall weather is continuing. Back to normal tomorrow though.

Hi Mark!

Well as one headline said it, America Got Trumped. I'm absolutely sick over this and can hardly believe it.

>182 karenmarie: Trumped... and as I understand the Congress and Senate turned Republican too :-(
These are sad times.

A victory for the angry and uneducated. Hope they are happy.

Is this fails. Who are they going to blame? Obama?

>177 karenmarie: To Say Nothing of the Dog is the first of a group of time traveling books loosely related to each other.

>184 msf59: These people will not notice failure. A recession/depression and any healthcare issues will be blamed on Obama, war will be blamed on Muslims, and any dignitaries that Trump crudely insults will be considered too sensitive - that's-not-what-he-meant-Democrats-say-these-things-too. Any other failure will be rationalized away. They are under a terrifying spell.

>183 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita. The only remotely shining light in this is here in NC even though it may go to a recount we think our Democratic candidate, Roy Cooper, has beaten Mr. "HB2" himself, Pat McCrory. Very sad times. I'm back to distraught mode, which I retained for the entire 8 years of Baby Bush's Presidency.

>184 msf59: Hi Mark. I'm sure they are. I'm very afraid for where out country is going to go now. Trump is bad, Pence is unspeakable.

>185 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel! "Loosely related" is encouraging. Perhaps they are like the Jack Reacher books - the friend who introduced me to them insisted that I didn't need to read them in order and it turns out she was correct.

And, sadly well put re the Trump victory:

These people will not notice failure. A recession/depression and any healthcare issues will be blamed on Obama, war will be blamed on Muslims, and any dignitaries that Trump crudely insults will be considered too sensitive - that's-not-what-he-meant-Democrats-say-these-things-too. Any other failure will be rationalized away. They are under a terrifying spell.

Gah! I've been up since 2:00am and I am ready to fall the flip down. The electorate has turned on the DNC and GOP. It's a weird day to be in the Nation's Blah.

Hi Larry! Long day for you, for sure. I'm puzzled by your thinking the electorate has turned on the GOP - now immortalized as the Grab Our Pussies party. Trump is the ultimate outsider, but both the Senate and House of Representatives are fully in GOP control. Even with the split in the GOP between the Trump supporters and what remains of the old GOP, they still wield total power. Perhaps they'll implode?

I've been weepy all day - a combination of frustration at Wells Fargo regarding my mom's DPOA and the election results. Not a good day at all, although I'm enjoying a book called Love Story, With Murders by Harry Bingham. it's the second in the D.C. Fiona Griffiths series. There are references to her back story and the previous book, but not enough to make reading it frustrating or a chore.

Yay comfort reading!

>188 karenmarie: I've been weepy all day
Me too. And now comes the divisive finger-pointing. It's gonna be a fun few years.

Wells Fargo as a corporation... grrrrrr. I have accounts there because it ate the bank that ate the bank of my original accounts, and in principle I'd rather switch to a more local bank, but I really like the neighborhood branch of Wells Fargo.

>188 karenmarie: I have said this before but.....I hate banks.

Interesting times that we live in, Karen. It seems like people in many countries are surprising the pollsters as they have voted for change. It remains to be seen what will really happen.

Good review of To Say Nothing of the Dog. It somehow made its way to my wish list.

>189 qebo: I would like to say that there might be something positive coming out of the next 4 years, but all I can anticipate is Trump gutting Obamacare, appointing wing nut conservative judges to the Supreme Court, and Gingrich, Christie, Palin, and Giuliani in positions of power. The mind boggles.

We feel the same way about Bank of America. Hateful, evil institution.

After this I would never, ever, consider banking with WF. Even before this, hearing about their malfeasance with creating bogus accounts, I would have never considered banking with them.

>190 PaulCranswick: I agree with you, Paul, now more than ever. Even our bank, that I have had an account with for about 20 out of my 25 years here in NC, First Citizens, has its punitive aspects. I'd switch banks but honestly can't think of one that I'd consider switching to that wouldn't present its own problems. Better to deal with the devil I know.

>191 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg! The yahoos/fascists/populists are winning all over the world, I'm afraid. Le Pen in France, Putin in Russia, and now Trump in the US.

Thank you re my review! And a book bullet, too.

Today is waiting for the final piece of documentation I need for WF and Mom's DPOA since they would take a scanned copy of her birth certificate but not of the Determination of Incapacity, weasels that they are.

I might even do some book shelf inventorying in addition to reading.

>192 karenmarie: all I can anticipate
Me too. The route to sanity (your own and the world) may be to get involved in local issues and non-profit organizations focused on the things that will become vulnerable, e.g. environment and civil rights.

>192 karenmarie: creating bogus accounts
Yeah, that's exactly my dilemma. If I weren't so impressed with the people at the local branch, I'd switch immediately.

Morning Karen! However dim our future looks, we should stay hopeful, although it will not be easy.

Have a good day, my friend.

Hi Karen! I'm trying to get caught up a bit. Wow - you've had quite a month with the high creek (is that the highest you've seen it?) and getting your mother situated.

I'm glad you've got your mother well taken care of. This is probably not what you want to think about now, but it's not too early to start contemplating the next step of her care, since things can happen so suddenly. :-(

I don't think my brother fully appreciated the sheer amount of time that helping my Mom took even though she was living independently. Kudos to you for handling the finances! I would have been so grateful if my long distance brother had done something to acknowledge my time. When they asked what they could do to help, I suggested a cleaning lady at my place once a month. That didn't go over well at all! If you can think of anyway of giving your sister back a bit of her time, I'd say go for it!

I inherited a bit of stock from my Mom. Wells Fargo stock is the only one of her portfolio that has gone down significantly this year. So they've managed to hurt themselves not just with customers pulling accounts but with investors losing faith.

As for the election - can you imagine the reaction if Trump had won the popular vote but Hillary won the electoral college?

>193 qebo: Good idea, Katherine. I'm already on the board of the Friends of the Chatham Community Library. Since we have never know where the economy is going and thus always anticipate budget cuts from the county, there's always been a goodly reserve to supplement the library if needed. Now, more than ever, is time to be careful with those funds in anticipation of being Trumped.

There's also the local food pantry. I might try to get involved with them. More people are probably going to need their services.

>194 msf59: Staying hopeful has been a roller coaster in the last 2 days, Mark. One minute I think it just might be okay, then I remember who we're talking about and all his sycophantic idiotic ultra-conservative minions who he's going to let into government to do what they will. Sigh.

>195 streamsong: Hi Janet! Thank you for visiting. The creek might have been as high, but I don't think much higher. The issue this time was that we had had rain from Hurricane Julia and just normal late summer/early fall rain so that the ground was saturated. it's very strange - once the branches and foliage were cut from the trunks, the trees righted themselves! I don't know if they'll survive or not. Strange.



I'm sorry that your brother didn't realize the amount of time it took. Fortunately my sister does.

I'm thinking about doing something special for her 60th birthday, in January. My husband has said that we should buy airfare for my sister to come visit, so perhaps that would be her birthday present along with perhaps a day or so at Biltmore and a day visiting my daughter in Wilmington.

Wells Fargo stock was part of husband's mother's portfolio, along with "sentimental" stocks that performed poorly during her last years. I say sentimental because her dad owned a Ford dealership so she bought Ford, my husband worked for Nortel so she bought Nortel. And etc.

Had the result been reversed I'm sure the yahoos would have been out in force with their guns. *shudder*

Speaking of WFF, yesterday I got the original Letter of Determination of Incapacity, the last piece that they needed to grant DPOA. So I trundled off to the local WFF, only about 12 miles from my house, and a perfectly marvelous man named Robert got it all done for me. I could have probably brought in the copy and he wouldn't have questioned it - I knew if I dealt with someone local it would go better - so now I'm officially on one of my mother's checking accounts. The other one is tied to a trust and I can't find the original trust document. The lawyer hasn't returned my calls, so I guess I have to step that up. Worst case scenario is that Mom calls WFF to transfer her savings back to her checking, stop the automated $25 transfer to savings, then writes a check to cash that we deposit in the account I have DPOA to. Sheesh.

Next step is to get POA for her Fidelity account. We have the forms filled out but they need to be signed and witnessed by 2 people in the presence of a notary public. My sister will get that done in a week or two. I know, I know..... things might change, but my sister is stretched to her limits right now.

Today is paying a couple of Mom's bills, calling her cable company to find out how much of the $80 increase after freeloader 2 moved in is attributable to her being there, and calling State Farm to discuss breaking the earthquake insurance into monthly payments, which is what Mom usually has done.

And today is a free lunch for veteran husband at a local eatery and possibly an errand or two.

Delivered upon request :)

KITTIES! I'm glad you're getting that bank stuff worked out, what a chore. And I totally understood about 'sentimental' stocks. They've cost people a ton of money. Including me. I'll never listen to 'the street' ever again.

>197 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle. My two kitties and I appreciate it.

>198 SomeGuyInVirginia: It is a chore. And no more sentimental stocks!

Got my flu shot today at Walgreen's. I don't ever remember someone ever jabbing me so hard with it. Whoo-yah. But now I feel fine.

Snort. I remember one army nurse (I was maybe 10) threw the syringe into my arm like a dart. (I've got a bad cold, dad needs me down there this weekend to take care of stuff, I have a 4 hour drive after I get out of the office, and I have to cancel dinner this Monday because the three-year old daughter of of my dad's friend is undergoing chemo and I don't want to get her sick. (She's in recovery, she's going to be OK.)

Thus endeth the rant.

Hi Larry!

I'm sorry I didn't see this last night. I'm so sorry you're sick and still have to go take care of business. I know you like visiting your dad, but when you're sick it sucks to be out and about.

We became very germ conscious when we had our daughter. We were great until she started daycare, when she "shared" all the new germs she acquired. We got stabilized with those germs, then she started school and got a whole new set.

So far no reaction to the flu shot. I'm still in major Trump Slump. I watched Bill Maher last night on HBO. It was a combination of "get over it, energize, be ready for the mid-term and next Presidential elections" and "can you believe that asshole is President?"

Today is coloring, reading, straightening up the desk in the sunroom (I've let it get terribly out of hand), and looking at my last year's Christmas card mailing list and editing it for this year. Spreadsheet, of course!

Morning Karen. I will have to watch that Maher segment. LOL.
Boo to the Trump Slump. I am trying to grasp on some positive and then I hear another scary move and I topple backwards.

Have a great weekend.

Hi Mark!

Yup. One step forward, two steps back.

So far so good on the weekend, as long as I don't look at the news.....

Join me in complete ignorance. It is bliss. I've decided to stay home and recuperate. I've been reading I Am Not a Serial Killer and it's pretty good, although it seems like a supernatural YA Dexter. Parker sends his love.

Hi Karen, sorry to read that you are in Trump slump, it seems you are not alone among the LT ladies and all I can do is send love and hugs to you all from over the pond as I cannot personally visit you all to give you a big hug.

>204 SomeGuyInVirginia: Staying home is probably a good idea so as to help you recover and not share your germs with your dad. I've avoided the news since this a.m. That is saying something for a news junkie like me.

Ha. I am Not a Serial Killer sounds great. I love Dexter so the idea of a supernatural YA Dexter is not out of the realm of possible reads. And thank you Parker! Give him a skritch from me. He's so beautiful with those big old eyes.

Inara Starbuck, she of the UTI and dermatitis is really doing well, finally. Dermatitis going away, appetite way up, and she's now left us two voles in as many days, gifts, I'm sure, for helping her feel better. Bill took one outside and I took the other one. With it finally becoming autumn-like, the critters are on the move and she's our dear brave Diana, the kitty huntress.

>205 johnsimpson: Yes, I've got a bad case, I'm afraid. A real hug from our dear John would work wonders, I'm sure. Love and hugs back to you and Karen!

(I'd like a Trumpectomy, but alas!.....)

>206 karenmarie: Yup, I Am Not A Serial Killer is great fun! I liked the whole series.

Happy Sunday, Karen.

>207 drneutron: Hi Doc! Hmmm. Two voices raised in praise. Just added it to my wishlist.

>208 Ameise1: Hi Barbara! It's nice to see you 'out and about'.

So here's the question. Should I watch President-Elect You-Know-Who's 60 Minutes Interview, or should I bang my head against the wall? Either will inflict great pain.

I was inclined to watch it just to see what we're up against, but then the Panthers lost, stupidly, in the 4th quarter, against the KC Chiefs, and now I'm depressed and don't want to get any more depressed.

I'll probably NOT watch it tonight but rather watch it on Youtube or somewhere. Just to, you know, learn more about the enemy.

>209 karenmarie: I think banging your head against the wall will be far less painful.

>210 qebo: And it won't last near as long.

I was going through pictures today and found this. Apropos.



I didn't watch the interview. We watched football then the last half of the James Bond movie Spectre. Two glasses of wine later, it's off to read and sleep.

Light a fire, prop your feet up with a cup of tea, and watch a movie with hubbie. Doctor's orders.

Aak! Leaped! See, I told you!

Good morning, Larry!

Today will be a bit of diversion - the November Friends of the Chatham Community Library Board Meeting.

I'm really enjoying Love Story, With Murders by Harry Bingham. It's the second D.C. Fiona Griffiths book and although it would have been nice to have to read the first book first, I don't feel that I've lost too much.

One more jab, simply because it arrived in my e-mail inbox this morning from A.Word.A.Day:

kakistocracy

PRONUNCIATION:
(kak-i-STOK-ruh-see, kah-ki-)

MEANING:
noun: Government by the least qualified or worst persons.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek kakistos (worst), superlative of kakos (bad) + -cracy (rule). Ultimately from the Indo-European root kakka-/kaka- (to defecate), which also gave us poppycock, cacophony, cacology, and cacography. Earliest documented use: 1829.

USAGE:
“We must weigh our votes carefully. Else we are in danger of turning America’s time-tested democracy into a kakistocracy.”
Dan Warner; The Best Man for the Job Is Not as Easy as it Sounds; The News Press (Fort Myers, Florida); Jan 17, 2016.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed, and love of power. -P.J. O'Rourke, writer (b. 14 Nov 1947)

>215 karenmarie: kakistocracy
A random coincidence that it arrived in your mailbox at this time.

>216 qebo: :)

Hi Karen, I put the Parkin recipe that Karen swears by on my thread for you dear friend, sending love and hugs.

Though a Canadian, Karen I've been in a Trump Slump and slowly recovering. I watched the 60 minutes interview and it did nothing to assuage my concerns. My mom is much calmer about Trump and says she let's see what he can do. Oh dear.

I especially like the etymology of the word- kaka. I'll make a note of that. And the quote is vintage O'Rourke, love that guy. I've never met him but I passed him once going to the office. Lots of jornos where I work.

>218 johnsimpson: Thank you, John! I've cut and pasted it into a Word document, added the converted measurements, and will try to make it soon. It sounds yummy.

>219 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah. I'm slowly recovering, too. I DID NOT watch the interview, but will find it online some time this week. I need to know the enemy. About 20% of the time I'm with your mother, but the more he says, does, and tweets, the more despondent I become. Brannon as top security advisor and strategist?!? Wanting his adult children to get Top Secret Security Clearance, Giuliani for Sec'y of State, and John Bolton for Attorney General. They make Reince Pribus as Chief of Staff look reasonable. The mind boggles.

I went to a board meeting yesterday and the woman who recruited me into the Friends of the Chatham Community Library is a staunch Republican. She's also very, VERY religious, and I simply can't understand how she voted for Mr. GOP (see message #188). I simply didn't want to get into it yesterday, but might broach the subject one of these days.

>220 SomeGuyInVirginia: Good morning, Larry! I immediately thought of caa caa, of course. And, I love P.J. O'Rourke too. I wonder what he's thinking right now? I know he said he wouldn't vote for Trump.

Okay I said >215 karenmarie: was the last jab, but Anu Garg, ("A.Word.A.Day with Anu Garg") is probably a disappointed Democrat and a provocateur. Here's what was in my inbox this morning:

coulrophobia

PRONUNCIATION:
(kool-ruh-FOH-bee-uh)

MEANING:
noun: The fear of clowns.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek kolobatheron (stilt) + -phobia (fear). Earliest documented use: 1980s.

USAGE:
“They all share my coulrophobia with Congressional clowns and presidential hopefuls.”
Fred Pfisterer; Which Came First, Clowns or the Politicians?; The News Leader (Staunton, Virginia); Mar 6, 2016.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge." -Isaac Asimov, scientist and writer (1920-1992)

Today is a deep tissue massage, which I desperately need. Mom's bills, talking with the California Earthquake Authority, creating an online banking presence now that WFF has granted me legal access to her account.

The Super Moon was stunning. It was cold and wet - we had had rain, but there was a break in the clouds and my husband said to come out and see it. Next occurrence is November 25, 2034. Wonder if I'll be around for it?

"kakistocracy" & "coulrophobia"!!

Some heavy words to start my morning. As this man starts to round out his cabinet, the dread begins to rise again...

Hooray for a deep tissue massage. I am long overdue. I am off today but it will be a bird/dog walk, followed by books!

The dread is always bubbling to the surface. I'm not deliberately provoking it, but I am a news junkie and the headlines make my head hurt.

Have fun, fun, fun!!! How's your life list coming?

My Life List is going slow, especially when I am out walking on my own, but I will get there. I will persevere...

>224 msf59: That's the whole point, I think, to savor each sighting, learn more and more about birds as you go. I still recommend The Big Year by Mark Obmascik for a humorous approach to life lists, annual lists, and lots and lots of information about birds.

Love Story, with Murders by Harry Bingham





From Amazon:

A tale of snow, love - and multiple murder.
A human leg is discovered in a suburban freezer. The victim is a teenage girl killed some ten years earlier. But then other body parts start appearing. And these ones are male, dark-skinned, and very fresh . . . British detective Fiona Griffiths starts to investigate, in the midst of the coldest winter on record. Up in a remote cottage in the Welsh Black Mountains, she finds the data that contains the clue to the entire mystery . . . but, as the first snow starts to fall, she discovers that she's not alone.

This is the second of three books about D.C. Fiona Griffiths. I haven’t read the first in the series but will remedy that situation soon, then the third. Some series I feel that I have to read in order. I picked this book up in a fit of despair after picking up and putting down 3 others, and for some reason it stuck. I became enthralled, immediately captivated by Fiona.

Fiona is 26, lives in Wales, has a boyfriend, an adoptive family, and also has an extremely unusual disease, Cotard’s Syndrome, which colors her every move and thought. The mystery/thriller is told in the first person, which perfectly suits our getting to know Fiona.

This is an intricate, clever, well-written book that just keeps going and going. It’s like a rock that is dropped into a still pond, sending out ripples until they reach the bank.

Harry Bingham lets us get to know the players slowly, carefully, in detail. He grows Fiona in a totally believable way, exploring her relationship with her boyfriend Buzz and the D.I. on the case, Rhiannon Watkins, a prickly take-no-prisoners officer. There are no short cuts to the story, no shallow summaries to explain characters, murders, connections, or scenes.

In other words, this is a first-class book: vivid, detailed, satisfying, logical, believable.

>211 karenmarie: I have one to add that I'm pretty sure I didn't quote anywhere on LT.. Now, I suddenly feel free. (I didn't watch 60 Minutes either. The voice drives me insane; I'll have to get over it.)
So anyway ---
Lincoln ----- Teddy Roosevelt ----- DJT ------------- no wonder Republicans don't believe in evolution!

>227 LizzieD: Oh, Peggy, I like that. It took me a minute to figure it out, which made it just that much more delicious.

Thank you!

I had bought the new Jack Reacher, Night School (very rarely anymore do the touchstones work - this one's first choice was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, but when I went to record the number of pages and etc. in my spreadsheet just prior to starting it, I discovered that the back cover was torn away from the spine and I couldn't see that 'til I removed the dust jacket.

Rats.

So 'returned' it on Amazon, boxed it up with the UPS return label, and while in town this a.m. put it in the UPS pick up box in town. I should get my new shiny hopefully-undamaged copy in 2 days.

Now I've started The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion. We'll see.

The deep tissue massage was wonderful. Sherri is a fantastic human being AND massage therapist.

Stopping by to say hello: my reaction to the whole election has been to mostly stay away from any media but I'm sorry it included LibraryThing. A deep tissue massage seems like just the thing to help with relaxation. Chin up...the work has just begun!

Hi Karen! I've mostly confined my remarks to either my thread or the few threads where people made their opinions known first.

Chin up! I'll try to keep that in mind.

I left The Righteous Mind upstairs and was too lazy to go get it so have started The Naked Mole Rat Letters by Mary Amato. I'm laughing out loud and pleasantly diverted from RL.

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion . That sounds interesting - let me know if it actually is worth the read , when / if you decide to read it. I'm a news junkie, too. Hard not to be somewhat anxious and I live in Canada. I'm so glad we recently voted in a great progressive Prime Minister. Facebook - what a minefield.

>232 vancouverdeb: Good morning, Deborah! I'll continue with it today. I only read about 5 pages of the introduction yesterday before I got lazy and picked up

The Naked Mole-Rat Letters by Mary Amato





From Amazon:
When her father begins a long-distance romance with a Washington, D.C. zookeeper, twelve-year-old Frankie sends fabricated e-mail letters to the zookeeper in an attempt to end the relationship in this story about family, friendship, and growing up.

I originally bought this book because of the title, because it’s just so delicious, but having just finished it realize that there is much wisdom in this sweet and hilarious book.

Frankie and her brothers Skip and Nutter have lost their mother some years previously and it is a vaguely unhappy household that appears to be working fine on the surface. Her Dad is keeping his relationship with zookeeper Ayanna secret partly because it is so new to him and he thinks he’s doing the right thing to not bring something into his childrens’ lives until he’s more sure of it. In my opinion he also just wants something to himself and doesn’t consider how it will affect his children.

Frankie is a straight-A student. Skip likes to spy on people. Nutter is anxious to have a good costume for Halloween. Two things precipitate Frankie’s downward spiral into lies, bad behavior, meanness, and self-pity: her knowledge of her Dad’s new relationship via an e-mail to a family e-mail address and her getting a minor part in the play The Miracle Worker instead of the role of Annie Sullivan, which she thinks she deserves more than anybody else in the school. We see her trying to justify her actions through her diary entries. We see the behavioral issues through conversations and actions resulting from phone calls made throughout their small town. Frankie says her dad’s having a nervous breakdown to a neighbor, and that neighbor decides he needs a wife/mother for his children. She then tries to set him up with the school guidance counselor Miss Trolly, who Frankie hates and calls The Troll.

The initial e-mails Frankie writes to Ayanna are hilarious in their ridiculousness. Her brothers have debilitating diseases, they are poor and sleep in a trailer in little bunks side by side. Anything to break it off. Ayanna replies thoughtfully, reaching out to the girl who’s clearly unhappy with so many things. But keeping this relationship ultimately does more harm than good.

When Frankie wants to start spying on her Dad’s work e-mails because he and Ayanna are communicating through his work e-mail account, she gets better acquainted with one of the town’s “bad boys”. After an incident at school that Frankie perceives as unfair, she has to decide which is more important, being true to your feelings towards someone and risking social ostracism or being part of the crowd and betraying a friendship.

And amongst all this we learn so much about naked mole-rats that I went online yesterday to see video of them. They are definitely not cuddly. They are more ant-like than mammal-like and without realizing it, Frankie absorbs enough to write a great science report about them.

Events catch up with Frankie. There is a scene with her Dad. Feelings come out into the open. The book ends with Frankie getting back on an even keel and the family healthier and happier.

I love epistolary novels and this one didn’t disappoint. Frankie, her Dad, Skip, Nutter, Ayanna and the other characters come to life easily and vividly. I was reminded of how glad I am that middle school and high school are way behind me, too.

A great little book that is definitely worth picking up.

Morning Karen! Hooray for naked mole rats! Very warm here in the Midwest today but we come crashing back to reality this weekend. Ugh! We have been spoiled.

Hi Mark!

Right now it's a crisp 39F going for a high of 66F. Just about right for this time of year, here.

That sounds perfect. We are hitting 72 today but will struggle to reach 40, over the weekend.

My birding will be on hold. Boo!

I have some hunter friends who freeze in stands, blinds, and behind trees waiting for the perfect shot. But I don't remember my serious-birder friend Louise ever mentioning suffering in the pursuit of a bird for her life list. *smile*

Oh man, it's perfect weather in the Nation's Blah. Do you have any plans for the weekend?

It's beautiful today. 74F, clear light Carolina blue sky. Just got home from having lunch with friend Sara from our RL book club. She works for Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh NC and I met here there..... so of course when she had to go back to work I just HAD to buy a book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J.K. Rowling. I want to see the movie this weekend, so will keep badgering husband until he gives in.....

Tomorrow is the hazardous waste day at the dump, so we're taking all the old paint cans and poisons we've accumulated..... plus regular errands. Major excitement!!!

Other than that, not much. I'll go ask you the same question on your thread!

Aaak! I hate going to the hazardous waste dump. I have seen way too many horror movies to be ok with that!

>227 LizzieD: Regression for sure. In fairness though FDR - JFK - Obama - HRC shows a similar, if less frightening, regression.

Have a lovely weekend Karen. xx

>241 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. So far coffee, reading, playing on the computer. Husband just got up. We'll eventually make a hazardous waste run to the county landfill (two days a year, one today and one in April) and regular errands to regular dump, lunch, and food shopping.

I'm going to make noises about Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them all weekend until he gets tired of the badgering and agrees to go. He wants to see it, I know, it's just a matter of getting him there. After all, it's over 50 miles round trip to the closest theater.

So I was wandering around on Facebook and saw this. It is how I feel right now.

Snort, good one.

Good lord, I really can't imagine traveling 50 miles to see a movie. I'd have to make a day of it and see 3 or 4. The theater is about 2 driving miles from where I live. The only things closer are a Five Guys, a 7-11 and the guy who sells meth on Rt. 1. I love the country, it's in my blood, but I like being around stuff.

>242 karenmarie: Perfect cartoon!

Morning Karen! We are having our first real day of winter. Brrr...but I know I have a beer waiting for me on the other side and that keeps me going.

>243 SomeGuyInVirginia: Hi Larry! Thanks. The advantages of the country outweigh the stuff in the city for me. The two weeks in California made me really appreciate being able to look out my windows and see trees and sky.

>244 msf59: Thanks Mark! Winter in Chicagoland? High of 37F today? Yeesh. We're about double that, but it will get to 31F tonight. We had a hard freeze earlier this week and the trees are now finishing their color and starting to shed their leaves furiously. We went out to the hazardous waste thingie today and as I was waiting for my husband to come out the leaves sounded like rain on my windshield.

Back safe and sound. A bookmooch book arrived and now it's time to read and be lazy.

Yay! We're going to the 4 p.m. showing of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them!!!!!

Ha! You're in the movie now! How was it? It looks really good, and I especially like that it's set in the US.

We both loved it. Husband missed a few references because he's not read the books, but he is enough of a HP fan to appreciate it.

I'm going to try to persuade our daughter to go see it with me Thanksgiving weekend. Her dad may or may not want to see it again.....

New York, 1926. Cool.

edited to add: Just read a review, which says that other movies may be set in different cities. Doesn't imply the US, doesn't imply NOT the US.

>201 karenmarie: that phrase trump slump is so good. I feel like that. I woke up the other day and thought "they voted him in. They voted him in! They voted him in!?"
It's hard to deal with still.

>249 LovingLit: Hi Megan. I shudder every time I read those words. Although technically they didn't vote him in. The Electoral College will vote him in on December 19th. Theoretically, the electors can vote for whoever they wish. If they don't vote based on their state's popular vote, they would pay a "small" fine, don't know offhand what it is.

Hillary won the popular vote, looks like by about 1.7 million depending on what website I look at. Nobody thinks the electors would overturn the projected electoral college vote putting you-know-who in power.

It makes me seriously depressed. Two times of the last five presidential elections the Democrats have won the popular vote and lost the Electoral College vote. I thought Baby Bush was bad, but he's nothing compared to our neo-fascist president-elect.

Morning Karen! Happy Sunday! Meeting Joe & Co. for lunch and brews later on. Looking forward to it. We are long overdue for a reunion.

"I thought Baby Bush was bad." Amen to that, my friend.

>251 msf59: Your lunch plans sound like a lot of fun.

My husband took these beautiful pictures this morning of our little Red Japanese Maple. The quality obtainable on a smart phone is absolutely amazing. It was a Tinkers-to-Evers-to-Chance sort of deal - text messaged to my cell phone, my cell phone to my computer, my computer to my Gallery, my Gallery to this message! Although never predictable in how big the image will be in a message. If I try to blow them up they get blurry. Sigh.

From the newest Jack Reacher, Night School, by Lee Child. Written prior to the Debacle of November 8th, but eerily appropriate.

"He's betraying his country. Which is also mine."

"Do you love your country, Mr. Reacher?"

"Major Reacher."

"Perhaps that answers my question."

"I prefer to think of it as healthy yet skeptical respect."

"Not very patriotic."

"Exactly patriotic. My country, right or wrong. Which means nothing, unless you admit your country is wrong sometimes. Loving a country that was right all the time would be common sense, not patriotism."

"I'm sorry your country is having these troubles."

>252 karenmarie: Although never predictable in how big the image will be in a message.

Well, Karen, that's what the "preview" button is for. You enter all the digits and gobbledegook, then click on "preview." A display opens below the text box showing you what the message will look like. If the photo is too big or too small, you can adjust the size and try "preview" again.

Just sayin...

>254 weird_O: Thanks, Bill! I'll try it.

I saw this on Twitter and it made me laugh out loud.

I love it!

And I watched part of the SNL sketch with "Trump" and "Pence". "Trump" said "I love you Mike. You're the reason I'm never going to get impeached."

:)

>252 karenmarie: I love Japanes maples, so beautiful!
The one with red leaves in my front garden has lost all leaves now.

Hi Anita. We love ours too. It's still full of gorgeous scarlet leaves.

Your latitude of 52N outdoes our 35N as winter approaches. Eek! I was going to say trumps, but I just can't do it, so it's synonym time for the next 4 years.

>259 karenmarie: Winters are usually mild here, Karen, as we are close to the sea.
Past 11 years we only had one real cold winter with night temperatures below zero Fahrenheit.

>260 FAMeulstee: I should have figured that out since I looked up your town. I'm a definite fan of mild winters, although I love living where the are true seasons, here in central North Carolina USA.

Night School by Lee Child





From Amazon:
It’s 1996, and Reacher is still in the army. In the morning they give him a medal, and in the afternoon they send him back to school. That night he’s off the grid. Out of sight, out of mind.

Two other men are in the classroom—an FBI agent and a CIA analyst. Each is a first-rate operator, each is fresh off a big win, and each is wondering what the hell they are doing there.

Then they find out: A Jihadist sleeper cell in Hamburg, Germany, has received an unexpected visitor—a Saudi courier, seeking safe haven while waiting to rendezvous with persons unknown. A CIA asset, undercover inside the cell, has overheard the courier whisper a chilling message: “The American wants a hundred million dollars.”

The last couple of books have been slightly disappointing, so it was nice to go back to Army Reacher and follow a twisty-turny plot with the NSC, CIA, and FBI. Jack Reacher does what he does best – kick ass on the bad guys and go to the heart of the matter even if the higher-ups don’t want go to there.

The language was less choppy than the more recent several books and although the descriptions of many of the characters were shorthanded to types, they nevertheless were good enough for me to follow the action in my mind. Descriptions of Hamburg, where the action starts, are vivid. The one thing I do not like in the books is Child’s fat-shaming, and unfortunately he doesn’t let up in this book either.

The logic in figuring out what the hundred million dollars is for is quintessential Reacher and quite clever. So is the ending, and all in all this was a very good addition to the Reacher series.

My husband does take the best photos:

That is nice. Man, I am getting so jazzed for the holidays!

Me, too, Larry! I hope you've got great plans for Thanksgiving?

There will be 10 of us for Thanksgiving here at our house. I've done all the shopping, and have started straightening up the house. It's a partial potluck. I make the turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, 2 pies, provide the house and the atmosphere, and most of the drinks and some of the appetizers. It's a win-win situation because we've been doing mostly the same for 25 years. We've lost a few and gained a few and a good time will be had by all.

Today I'm going to Social Security to have them unlock the online account I created 2 years ago but can't get into. I called them this morning and got some info. After discussing it with my husband, have decided that I'll start collecting SS January 1 - getting the check in February. Momentous decision.

And I'm going to meet up with friend Warren at the SS office to give him some home-made pickles for Thanksgiving. He lives near there so will be killing 2 birds with one stone. It's been a Karen-Warren tradition for about 15 years now, but not working got me all off kilter so here it is 3 days before Thanksgiving.....

I've started The Hellfire Club by Peter Straub. And I'm reading The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to join Rachel's Read-the-Bible-in-2017 group.

I'm not Christian, but have always wanted to read it cover to cover.

Wired, much?

Congratulations on going for the SS, Karen! They pay you to breathe..........or they pay you back as you keep breathing, however you want to think about it. It's great!
(I tried to read the Bible at age 11 and got into Numbers, which is called that for a reason. Oh well.)

Thanks, Peggy! I feel good about it. If I waited 'til I was 66 it would take until I'm 81 until the amount received starting now equaled the higher amount waiting would provide. 18 years of catchup if I wait..... no brainer.

Plus with you-know-who going to be in the White House and all his you-know-what cronies and members of the GOP (no longer stands for Grand Old Party, of course..... :) ) I want to make sure I'm on SS so that when they try to take it way I might be grandfathered in or something.

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris





From Amazon:
David Sedaris plays in the snow with his sisters. He goes on vacation with his family. He gets a job selling drinks. He attends his brother's wedding. He mops his sister's floor. He gives directions to a lost traveler. He eats a hamburger. He has his blood sugar tested. It all sounds so normal, doesn't it? In his newest collection of essays, David Sedaris lifts the corner of ordinary life, revealing the absurdity teeming below its surface. His world is alive with obscure desires and hidden motives -- a world where forgiveness is automatic and an argument can be the highest form of love.

David Sedaris is merciless. Almost the entire book is a sly picking away at the people he loves, a sledgehammer to the people peripheral to his life, and total honesty about his own motives and feelings. Yet every once in a while we are given a glimpse of the real love he feels for his parents, his siblings, and his niece Maddy. It is always a joy to either read or listen to him narrate his own books. In this audiobook he absolutely nails his brother Paul’s high-pitched, fast, vulgar, and hilarious voice, his own whininess while trying to describe to Parisian friends and his lover Hugh that the fake hand was rubber NOT plastic, and the endless bickering between siblings.

Morning Karen! Hope you are bundled up, with coffee and a good book.

And yes, your husband does take very nice photos.

I have been meaning to read more Sedaris but he just doesn't call to me loud enough...

Morning, back! Warm with coffee. And Thanks re husband's photos.

This was an audiobook I listened to in the car. Since I don't commute anymore, it takes a long time to finish a book, so I just picked something light. I can't imagine ever listening to Harry Potter again - I used to listen to them about every 18 months or so, taking about 4-6 months for all of them.

I've picked up and put down a couple of books, but hope that Tishomingo Blues by Elmore Leonard sticks.

Yay! I love David Sedaris. I've listened to some of his audiobooks but not that one. You're right, he does a brilliant job narrating.

There's a bonus in his stuff for me because I live about 30 miles away from Raleigh, where quite a few of his childhood stories take place. The beach stories make sense too because of our renting beach houses over the years.

Hi Karen, have a great Thanksgiving my dear.

Thank you, John!

Today was baking pies and starting on the table linens. Then I stopped to make dinner and watch NCIS, Bull, and an episode of The Naked Archaeologist, season 2, with my husband. And now I'm whupped and it's time to go to bed.

Tomorrow will be very busy and I'll love all of it and be glad when it's over.

Happy Turkle Dee Karen!

We posted at the exact same time, Larry!

Thank you and the same to you and Parker D.

Happy Thanksgiving, Karen! Good luck tomorrow, my friend. We are going over to my cousin's for dinner. It is nice, not hosting.

Happy Thanksgiving, Karen! Have a lovely day!

>277 msf59: Thanks, Mark! I hope you enjoy your non-hosting Thanksgiving!

>278 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah. I just looked up the Canadian Thanksgiving and realize I didn't wish my Canadian friends Happy Thanksgiving in October. I'll try to do better next year.

Yesterday was a very stressful day because our daughter had to work an extra long day and won't be home until later this morning instead of a reasonable time yesterday. As way of apology, her boss gave her Saturday and Sunday off. I was expecting her to have to leave Friday to work on Saturday, so although I was cursing her boss all day yesterday, I'm glad we get our daughter for Two Whole Days after Thanksgiving.

And my mom has bronchitis - when my sister got there yesterday the LVN was there and gave her a breathing treatment. It was a bit scary until he confirmed that it wasn't pneumonia and her blood oxygen came back up..... I'm glad yesterday is over.

So today our family is coming over at 2 p.m., we'll eat about 3:45 or so (and then most of the family will sit down to watch the Cowboys Redskins game at 4:30..... dessert is always a free for all anyway.

I love Thanksgiving and having our house full of people, but I will also be glad at about 9 p.m., when everybody's gone and it will be just the three of us.

Sorry you had a stressful day yesterday. I also got a surprise day off - Thanksgiving itself. I'm was originally supposed to be at work right now. Yay!

I am so glad you're getting to spend time with your daughter. There's a lot of love in your family and that always makes me happy.

Karen, I am thankful for your presence in the group and for the fact that we have been able to exchange so many posts over the last year. xx

>280 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel! I'm so glad you had yesterday off! I hope you had a fantastic day.

>281 SomeGuyInVirginia: We have our moments, Larry, but you're right - there's a lot of love, for which I'm grateful.

>282 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul!

I feel like I've made real friends in our group and am glad I've had a chance to be more involved. And I continue to feel grateful that you set up my group read thread Great Expectations! Fortunately, now I feel confident enough to set up the February Bleak House read.

Retiring in January really made it possible for me to be more involved, and I'm definitely grateful for your presence, your eclectic reading and inevitable book bullets, and your sharing your personal and business life.

Yesterday was, as predicted, fun and tiring. There were 10 of us. Our cousin Jordan had to leave about 5 to work, so fortunately we sat down to eat at about 4:15. He had a quick piece of pie then left.

The best part of this Thanksgiving for me was watching daughter Jenna (23) and cousin Cassidy (19) step up their helping in the kitchen - Cassidy stirred and stirred to reduce the turkey juices so I could make gravy. Jenna and Cassidy peeled the potatoes and when they were cooked Jenna mashed, added butter, milk, S&P, and got them just right. There was a crowd in the kitchen for a while - getting the turkey out of the oven (big one - 21 lbs), potatoes, gravy, carving, heating rolls, re-heating dressing, and etc.

After eating Cassidy's mom Rebecca told me to sit down and she and the girls did dishes and put up all the food - yay. There was a lot of singing and laughing in the kitchen. Normally Aunt Ann and friend Diane do the dishes, but Rebecca shooed Ann out and Diane wasn't feeling 100% Meanwhile, there were lots of fun *not* political discussions going on everywhere. And the Dallas Cowboys-Redskins game was, happily for our house, won by Dallas.

All in all a lot of fun. Today is putting away the good china and silverware. Bill and Jenna are still asleep, time for book and coffee.

My book is Tishomingo Blues by Elmore Leonard.

Glad you had a good day yesterday, Karen, enjoy your book, coffee and some rest today :-)

Hi Anita, thanks!

Our girl kitty Inara was hunting this morning and brought in a vole. I heard her come in the kitty door and, unusually, stand in the living room and meow.

When I went to investigate, she was sitting on the coffee table and there was a dead vole in front of her on the floor. I thanked her. Yeesh. No husband around to 'escort' it outside, so I did the honors.

Back to coffee and book.

Happy Friday, Karen. Glad you survived your Thanksgiving. Ours was completely stress free. Felt great. Glad your Cowboys won. I didn't watch any football.

Thanks, Mark! Today is blessed quiet time with husband and daughter. We did go out to eat lunch, but we'll hibernate the rest of the day.

I'm glad you had a stress-free Thanksgiving!

Hi Karen, glad you had a nice Thanksgiving my dear and hope you are having a really nice Friday, sending love and hugs.

>279 karenmarie: Two Whole Days
Well that doesn't sound like a bad tradeoff.

Morning Karen! Happy Saturday! Hope you make it out to the movies today. My crew saw it and liked it.

Happy Saturday, Karen! I can't wait to see Dr. Strange and Arrival!

>290 msf59: Hi Mark! Daughter just wants to hibernate today after yesterday's exciting lunch out..... I'm a bit disappointed but will survive. I'm glad you liked it.

>291 SomeGuyInVirginia: Hi Larry! I hadn't heard of Arrival and just checked it out, sounds great. My husband is a serious sci-fi fan so I might entice him to see that AND to see Dr. Strange.

I am bogged down in Tishomingo Blues by Elmore Leonard. I'll keep reading for a bit more to see it it clicks, but right now it's a bit of a slog.

Just stopping by to say hello! We celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday so today was my day off: coffee and reading was my plan. Sounds like you had a great family get together!

Stopping by to say hi! I agree that the most fun part of family get together, either for Thanksgiving or a birthday or whatever, is observing the younger generation. My son and daughter - in law have been married for 1 1/2 years and my niece and her husband for just over 2 years now. The single ones are also so fascinating. It's just fun to see them grow up and hear their varied takes on the world. It's nice to all one's efforts at parenting / aunting etc sort of come to fruition, though I confess I have moments when I am frustrated with my eldest son. :) It is my husband sixtieth birthday party tomorrow and my son and his wife are hosting that. ( He has till early December to remain at 59) :) How'd we get so old :)

Our eldest turns 32 in December and our younger son is 26 ! When did that happen? Child bride! :) LOL!
P.S I married a guy born on Dec 1 and then had our first child also in early December. Boy it makes for a crowded December. My brother had 2 of his kids in December, as did my other brother. Busy, busy.

Oh dear, sorry to hear about your mom's bronchitis. A constant worry. My dad passed away of cancer 9 years ago and he wanted to die at home. We were glad to all pitch in but it was very stressful. He was just 66. My mom is now 74 and nearly 75, but she is healthy and very active. Thankfully my sister, who is single, lives with her. That works out well for both of them.

Sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Karen. I hope you are enjoying the rest of your weekend.

>293 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! Coffee and reading sound like a perfect day to me. I hope you thoroughly enjoyed yourself.

>294 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah! 60 doesn't seem so bad to me, considering I'm 63. :)

Our family is so small now we don't have a single congested month of birthdays/anniversaries. Sigh. It sounds like your sister and mother's arrangement is perfect.

>295 Familyhistorian: Thank you Meg. The rest of the weekend has been very quiet. Daughter just wants to veg out after a very busy summer and fall at work.

She did go through our record albums last night - we bought her a record player for Christmas last year and she's finally decided to take some records with her. Last night she found 32 sets of duplicates between my husband's records and mine, which proves that our musical taste is dissimilar since we have over 700 records between us. She had fun looking and we had fun looking at what she brought down. it was a heady mix - Switched on Bach, Swingle Singers Bach, Electrified Bach, Carly Simon, Elton John, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Moody Blues, The Messiah, Cat Stevens, Mannheim Steamroller, and etc.

Mom's doing better. She says that she basically doesn't remember Thanksgiving Day, but was very sharp when I spoke with her Friday and Saturday.

I finally got one of her lodgers, the one who came in August, to pay the difference in the phone/internet/cable bill that increased when she wanted more stuff than Mom had. My sister reported that Anne's furious with me for insisting she pay, but I don't really care. And I confirmed that she was moving out at the end of January, which she also apparently didn't like to see in writing. However, her and my mom's original agreement was end of January and I'm holding her to it.

I abandoned Tishomingo Blues. It was just not holding my interest, so I've picked up Travels with My Aunt by Graham Greene. This book is my choice for book club for the book club year November '16 - October '17, and it's just the kind of book I like - sly humor, whole events painted with a few words, irony, and interesting characters.

We will be discussing it on December 4th, so I have time to read and savor.

Morning Karen! Happy Sunday! I did not see the movie but my wife and kids did.

I am a big fan of Elmore Leonard but have not read Tishomingo Blues. I have not read much of his stuff, since joining LT. Maybe a couple.

>297 msf59: Hi Mark! Oops, sorry I didn't read your post right. Is Fantastic Beasts a movie that interests you and you just didn't get to see it, or is in the Pass category?

This was my first attempt at Elmore Leonard, and perhaps my last. It will go back on the shelves, though, just in case it tickles my fancy sometime down the road. It's particularly irksome as it is one of the minority of books I acquired this year at full price at a local indie book shop.

Glad your mom's doing better! Hope you had a great weekend!

Heya kid! I'm glad things are working out at your Mom's. I've never read anything by Leonard, have you read anything other than Tishomingo Blues?

>299 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel. The weekend has been very nice and relaxing and Mom sounds much better than she sounded last Wednesday.

>298 karenmarie: I skipped Fantastic Beasts, so I could stay home and read. I'll see it on DVD.