Familyhistorian’s Keeping Positive Thoughts for a Year of Change – Part 1

Hi my name is Meg. I’ve been a member of the mighty 75ers since 2013. In that time, I’ve been hit by many a Book Bullet (BB) so I can attest to the fact that this is a dangerous place. In 2020 I had trouble keeping up with the threads as we all moved more online. I hope that this year will be better, a positive change, in fact.

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The end of the year wrap up will grace my blog for the end of 2020. You can see my latest blog posts at: A Genealogist’s Path to History

Little Free Library

Books culled in 2021

January - 0

Challenges

Reading Through Time

Quarterly

January-March 2021 - Renaissance/16th Century
April-June 2021 - 17th Century
July-September 2021 - 18th Century
October-December 2021 - Napoleonic Era

Monthly

January: Shakespeare's Children - The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey - DONE
February: Fashion
March: Arggh, Matey
April: The Sun Never Sets
May: Meet the Press
June: Rewriting the Past
July: Now We Are Free
August: Food
September: Time Travel/Prehistoric
October: Supernatural
November: Reader's Choice
December:

2021 Nonfiction Challenge

January: Prizewinners - Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson - DONE
February: Minority Lives Matter
March: Comfort Reading
April: The Ancient World
May: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral
June: Discoveries
July: Cities
August: Transportation
September: Creativity
October: Heroes & Villains
November: Business, the Economy and Big Policy Questions
December: Go Anywhere

Books read December 2020

Waiting for Wednesday by Nicci French
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
Writers and Lovers by Lilly King
A Royal Affair by Allison Montclair
Hamnet and Judith by Maggie O'Farrell
To Calais, In Ordinary Time by James Meek
Killer Insight by Victoria Laurie
A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane
Second Sight by Amanda Quick
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Books acquired in December 2020

The Unquiet Grave by Sharyn McCrumb
The Mitford Scandal by Jessica Fellowes
Beyond the Sword Maiden by Dorothy Cleveland Barbara Schutzgruber
Sapiens: A Graphic History by Yuval Noah Harari
How to Pronounce Knife by Souvanskham Thammavongsa

Books acquired in 2020

Bare with me as I set up the furniture on this my fledgling thread of 2021.

Hi Meg! I hope to do a better job keeping up with you this year.

Happy new reading year, Meg!

Happy new one, Meg! Gorgeous topper!

Happy new year!

Nice to see you back, Meg.

Hope 2021 is filled with good books and genealogical discoveries.

Happy new thread!

What a gorgeous topper, Meg. I love it. I hope that I can visit your thread more often in 2021.

Happy new thread, Meg, and wishing you a great reading year.

>9 cbl_tn: Hi Carrie, good to see you here. I think a lot of people had a hard time keeping up last year. I know I did!

>10 katiekrug: Hi Katie, let's hope 2021 is better than 2020!

>11 jessibud2: This is one of the times of year that I actually get to see the sunrise, Shelley. I took that while walking around Lafarge Lake one morning. I'm going to miss this area when I move.

>12 drneutron: Thanks Jim!

>13 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, I'm glad to be back and wonder if you will be easier to keep up with in 2021.

>14 thornton37814: Thanks Lori, I think the books at least are a given. I hope to make some genealogical discoveries in 2021 as well and maybe some of them will also be in person if life turns back to almost normal.

>15 quondame: Thanks Susan!

>16 Ameise1: Hi Barbara, I hope you can too and I hope that I can keep up with you better as well.

>17 EllaTim: Thanks Ella, the same to you!

>18 Familyhistorian: - It's beautiful, Meg. Have you already started looking at where you might want to move to?

Hi Meg my dear, i have starred your thread and will be visiting during 2021, sending love and hugs dear friend.

Hi Meg, I have placed my star and look forward to keeping up with you in 2021 (or at least trying to)!

Claiming a seat on this ride, Meg! I cannot wait for 2021 to officially start.

>21 jessibud2: Hi Shelley, I'll probably stay close to the same area but I haven't really looked yet. I tend to wait until closer to the time to see what is available.

>22 johnsimpson: Good to see you here, John. I'll be sure to hunt down your thread for 2021. Right now I'm trying to catch up with the 2020 threads which I'm woefully behind on.

>23 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy, I know what you mean about trying to keep up with the threads. I've fallen behind over this year. Maybe they'll let us out for good behaviour in 2021 and our posting will slow down.

>24 Crazymamie: Hopefully the ride in 2021 won't be as bumpy as the one in 2020, Mamie. Good to have you along.

Hi Meg. I didn't make my way round the 2020 threads to leave holiday wishes so I'm making early visits in the new threads to say Happy New Year! Dropping off my star and hoping to be a more active participant in 2021.

>26 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, thanks for the New Year wishes. I hope that 2021 is better in both keeping up with threads and all the way around!

Best wishes for a better 2021!

I wish you a Happy New Year. May it be better than the old one.

Hi Meg! Good to see you.

Hi Meg! Best wishes for the New Year! I too hope to participate more than the year which will remain nameless.
Happy reading in 2021!

Happy New Year Meg!

Happy reading in 2021, Meg!

Happy New Year, Meg!

>28 DianaNL: Thanks Diana. Here's hoping it's a better one than 2020!

>29 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara!

>30 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel, it took me a while to get around to your 2020 thread. Good to see you here!

>31 Carmenere: Hi Lynda, I think we both slowed down on LT a little in 2020. Here's to keeping up better in 2021!

>32 SandDune: Happy New Year to you, Rhian!

>33 FAMeulstee: All the best to you in 2021, Anita!

>34 RebaRelishesReading: Happy New Year to you, Reba!

I intended to get around to all the threads I hadn't touched in a long time to end up 2020 but time got away from me. It seemed better spend the time to return the call of a friend who lost her husband in December to catch up with her since that happened.

And keep up with my friends here, Meg. Have a great 2021.

Happy new year!

Happy New Thread, Meg. Happy New Year! Glad we are turning the page on that one. I like that topper!

Happy new year Meg!

Dropping in with a star and a hope to keep up better this year. I've bookmarked your blog too.

>39 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, all fine things to have more of especially the hugs part. I haven't had one of those since March. One of the hazards of living alone.

>40 quondame: Happy New Year to you, Susan!

>41 msf59: Hi Mark, let's hope that this year will be much much better! I thought you'd like the topper with all those ducks in there.

>42 The_Hibernator: Thanks Rachel, I hope the New Year is a fine one for you too!

>43 laytonwoman3rd: Hi Linda, I've starred your 2021 thread even if I haven't visited yet. Nice to know that you're following my blog too.

Happy New Year Meg!

Hi, Meg! Gorgeous thread topper! I hope to keep up better this year too!

Hi Meg. Happy New Year!

>1 Familyhistorian: Beautiful photo, I love the colors and reflections. Cool birds, too. *smile*

>46 brenzi: Thanks Bonnie! Good to see you here.

>47 tymfos: Thanks Terri. Let's hope 2021 is a better year all round!

>48 Berly: Hi Kim, thanks for dropping in!

>49 karenmarie: Happy New Year to you, Karen. Thanks re the photo!

Happy new one! May you have a great reading year :)

>51 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita! Best wishes for a great reading year right back at ya.

Happy New Year, Meg.

Dropping off my and wishing you the best of new years in 2021!

>53 BLBera: Hi Beth, all the best to you in 2021!

>54 ronincats: That's a pretty glitzy star, Roni. A great 2021 to you as well.

The changing of the year is one of the times that I'm brought face to face with the artificial construct of time zones. The New Year has already come to most of you before it gets to me living here on the Pacific coast.

Did you know that the standardization of time came about because of trains? That was one of the pieces of information I covered off in my December 12 blog post which you can find here.

HI Meg, Wishing you a very happy new year and a year of wonderful reading!

>57 mdoris: Ah, you found my new thread, Mary. All the best to you in 2021!

Happy 2021, Meg!

I look forward to seeing your reading this year- and I hope to keep up a bit better, too!

Happy New Year, Meg!

That's a beautiful photo up top. Is that somewhere near you?

Of your December reads, I read Writers & Lovers and The Thursday Murder Club, and liked them both.

Happy New Year Meg! I love your opening image!

1. Clyde Fans by Seth

The artist/author of Clyde Fans drew the world behind a business which died. The story behind its demise was imagined from the portraits of the company’s founders and the realization that the need for its products dwindled as technology took them over. It was interesting and a bit disturbing.

>59 streamsong: Hi Janet, the best of the New Year to you! I've been bad at keeping up over the last year. I'm hoping that will improve on my part as well.

>60 jnwelch: Happy 2021 to you, Joe! Yes, that is a photo of sunrise at Lafarge Lake which is in the park a couple of blocks from where I live. I take a lot of my photos there especially when the light catches my attention. I'm told that the next book after The Thursday Murder Club is due out soon.

>61 Whisper1: Hi Linda, good to see you here. Thanks re the opening image.

2. Crime Seen by Victoria Laurie

The fourth of the psychic eye mysteries, Crime Seen had Abby Cooper recovering from being shot in the last book. She was reluctant to get back to her business and living with her boyfriend, Dutch, and his cat who was trying to sabotage the relationship.

She was drawn back into investigating another mystery though, this time teaming up with a female PI who ended up sharing part of Abby’s office. While they were good as a team, they also got into trouble which, for a time, had Abby hiding the facts from her FBI agent boyfriend.

Planned reads for January 2021

I'm going to put this here so that I can refer back to it when I forget what I intend to read for a challenge or which book is next up for a group read I'm participating in.

Nonfiction challenge: Caste
Wimsey category challenge: Busman's Honeymoon
Reading Through Time: The Daughter of Time
Viveca Sten read: In Harm's Way to get caught up for December when I read the wrong book

I forgot to leave a space for my 75 reads ticker when I set up this thread so here it is.

Wow, Meg 2 already on your ticker! You are already steaming right by me......

Hi Meg! I'm hoping to read Busman's Honeymoon this month, too!

I'm listening to the Donna Leon at the moment. I see that Busman's Holiday is also rather long as Gaudy Night was. I've been trying to listen to them, but I'll have to see what is available when I get to a point I can listen. Unfortunately January is not the month to make long weekend drives around here.

>67 mdoris: I'm actually behind on my reviews, Mary, but just by one so far.

>69 thornton37814: Are you following the Wimsey category challenge too, Carrie?

>70 Familyhistorian: I was thinking that Busman's Honeymoon was smaller than Gaudy Night, Lori. But I think that's because I got a well thumbed copy of Gaudy Night through the library and it looked bigger. The next one is my own copy of a brand new book but I see the page count is similar.

>69 thornton37814: It is a little smaller, but it's still much longer than the earlier installments. Gaudy Night ran 15.5 hours on the audio version. Most of the others were 6-8 hours. Busman's Honeymoon runs 12.75 hours.

>71 Familyhistorian: Yes, I am! I read most of them as a teen. I've enjoyed the rereads.

>73 thornton37814: That's an interesting way to tell their comparative lengths, Lori. I hope you can fit in lots of audio time this month.

>74 cbl_tn: I'm doing the category challenge too. I thought I had already read all of the Wimsey books but was surprised to find that I hadn't read the last two. Not that I remember anyway.

3. If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

Laurie and boyfriend, Dan, both worked for the same law firm and had been together since uni. She had been talking about having kids but he wasn’t too keen but at 35 something better happen for her soon. And it did, but a break up was not what she expected. Things became messy.

Then one evening she and the office stud entered the elevator together just before it broke down between floors for over an hour; enough time together to hatch a scheme full of unforeseen consequences. If I Never Met You was a fun story with interesting characters and sufficient twists to keep the pages turning.

>56 Familyhistorian: yes Times Zones and Train Schedules.

"No Publication either before or since the invention of printing no theological treatise and no political or scientific creed as ever been as narrowly dogmatic or offensively arbitrary in its prejudices as a railway timetable".

>65 Familyhistorian: The Daughter of Time is SUCH a good book.(Though it cannot be the last word on the Young Princes murder case).

I envy you your making acquaintance with this little novel for the first time.

>78 magicians_nephew: Thanks for that quote on railway timetables, Jim. They are indeed very arbitrary.

The Daughter of Time is a very good book but not the first read for me. It has been a while though and I'm looking forward to see what I may catch on my second time through.

4. Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke

Darren Mathews was a man with problems, a wife he was on the outs with, a fondness for the bottle and a messed-up family life growing up. Being a black Texas Ranger tended to bring those problems to the surface. That was especially true in his current case or what he believed to be his case, even that wasn’t sure.

The action played out in small town Texas where relationships between black and white were tricky so it was best not to look too close. But its hard to carry on an investigation like that and the dead, a black man from Chicago and a young white woman from the town, needed justice to be served. Not that the local law was big on that in Bluebird, Bluebird.

>80 Familyhistorian: I'm curious to know what you thought of Bluebird, Bluebird, Meg. Can't really tell whether you enjoyed it. I read one of Attica Locke's Jay Porter novels, and baled on another one (neither she nor her editor knew the difference between Ezra Brooks and scotch). Locke is our October author in the AAC this year, and I do intend to give her another try.

>80 Familyhistorian: - I found BB very powerful. I have the second in the series on my Kindle.

Happy Thursday Meg!

Hi Meg!

>65 Familyhistorian: I loved Busman’s Honeymoon and Daughter of Time. I forget – have you read anything else by Josephine Tey? She’s one of my favorite authors and I’m only sad she didn’t write more mysteries.

>81 laytonwoman3rd: I liked Bluebird, Bluebird, Linda, but found it heavy going at times because of the automatic friction between black and white. I hope that you are able to find an Attica Locke that hits you right for the AAC.

>82 katiekrug: I noticed that the end of Bluebird, Bluebird kind of left things up in the air, Katie. I'll be interested to see what you think of the second book in the series.

>83 The_Hibernator: Same to you, Rachel!

>84 karenmarie: Hi Karen, I have read a few of Josephine Tey's books. Daughter of Time is my favourite and the others can be a bit hit and miss, I found.

5. The War Widow by Tara Moss

A struggling PI, Billie Walker, not only had to keep her business afloat but had to battle prejudice against a woman in her profession which was rampant in post WWII Sydney. But she’d learned from the father she inherited the business from and from her time as a reporter in war torn Europe. Her background came in handy when a mother hired her to find her missing son. It was more than a case of a run away as Billie soon found out. There were some dark forces ranged against her and her male assistant.

The War Widow was action packed and I enjoyed the characters especially the feisty Billie. I just hope there’s a sequel in the works.

It didn't rain yesterday so I decided to go downtown to trade out my library books. There were a few holds waiting for me but they've changed the time patrons can have them out for. They were allowing 2 months. Now the time period is down to the regular 3 weeks. Which means that the books I picked up yesterday are due 18 days before the books I picked up last week. So confusing but I know that it means I need to read faster!

I don't read much crime fiction these days, but I would like to give Bluebird, Bluebird a try.

>91 msf59: I think you will like Bluebird, Bluebird, Mark. It's a good one plus birds, right?

>90 Familyhistorian: I've only been doing electronic borrowing lately. Our library is only open for curbside delivery, and the hours on that are more limited. It's just easier to borrow electronically. I can check out things here at the university library where I work--and I do have a few of those I hope to finish this month.

Morning, Meg! Happy Friday. You hit me with The War Widow - adding it to The List.

Oh, you are way off to a good reading start.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

>93 thornton37814: Electronic borrowing is probably the best way to go, Lori. But I never pick up my e-reader although I know there are some books on there. I have never taken to the experience of reading e-books. I read enough on screens as it is and like to read physical books. That means totting books back and forth from the library although, I suppose, I could read some of the books I have at home.

>94 Crazymamie: I'm sure you'll like The War Widow, Mamie. It looks like Tara Moss has other books out but none further in the Billie Walker series yet. I'm hoping another in that series will come out soon.

>95 Ameise1: Hi Barbara, thanks re the reading. I have to start reading faster because of the change in due dates for my library. Not sure what that will do to my numbers. I hope you have a wonderful weekend too!

6. Vendetta in Death by J.D. Robb

The next read I finished was actually a book from my own shelves. Vendetta in Death went down a treat. This tale, which saw Eve Dallas, her team and her husband, Roarke, who likes to give a hand when he isn’t buying up the planet, were on the track of a serial killer. This dealer in death was targeting men who had abused and belittled women, usually women the men were married to. Perhaps a crime suggested by the news focused on the scandal of men in high places being brought down for their crimes against the women in their employ which was rampant in the late 2010’s.

The novel, of course, was set in the future and the investigation and action had me turning the pages in this the 49th book in the series.

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment. Once January hit everything I'm involved in started up again. Of course, I probably shouldn't have signed up for that Future Learn course on the Scottish Clans but it was tempting and only 3 weeks long.

The info on the cross genre part of The Writers' Studio program that I'm in came out at the beginning of the week as well. I signed up for non-fiction writing as I wanted to know more about writing in that genre. Then I found out what our task will be for that genre. It's conducting an interview and writing an article based on said interview.

After reading that choice bit of info I was upset for a while. I was looking forward to learning something new and doing interviews is not new for me. I did a few interviews in the Print Futures program that I finished in 2015. After 20 years of conducting daily interviews for my job, they were pretty easy.

I calmed down and thought about who I could interview and came up with someone who is really into genetic genealogy. That's one way to learn something new.

Hi Meg! Stopping by to drop a star and to wish you a wonderful year in 2021.

>101 lkernagh: Hi Lori, good to see you here. I've dropped stars all over the threads but have yet to visit many. I hope you have a wonderful 2021 as well!

>100 Familyhistorian: I have a friend who was on the waiting list for several big genealogical things. Wouldn't you know her number came up on all of them so that there's a period this spring she'll probably rarely surface for air because of all the homework!

>103 thornton37814: Either feast or famine, isn't that always the way, Lori? I basically did that to myself with my writing. I signed up for the Masterclass of Family History Writing thinking that at least I'd have that to help with my writing if I didn't get into The Writers' Studio which is a 10 month program with lots of writing to do. Potential students had to submit written work which was judged by the program mentors to see if the students qualified for the program. Of course, since I had signed up for one writing program, I was accepted in the other as well. So with that and all the genealogical webinars, conferences and whatever that are now available my time fills up quickly.

How about yourself? Do you find that you're busier than usual?

>104 Familyhistorian: I'll be busier than normal the next couple of months, but I can't really discuss why yet. I also have a continuing client and need to squeeze in time for her, two book clubs (one at work and one with genealogists) but both by Zoom, and work for the board and program committee of a state genealogical society.

I've signed up for IGHR already because I have priority registration with it. (That is in July.) I hope to take a GRIP course this summer, but I'll need to be fast to get in either course I really want to take. I hope I can get in my first choice, but I would enjoy the second choice also.

I'm very selective with webinars, etc. these days. I could spend all my time attending those and none doing actual genealogy. I always sign up for the BCG series, but I'm very selective about other ones.

>105 thornton37814: It seems like you have things pretty well planned out, Lori. Most of your events seem like tried and true venues. I find I've been branching out more now that there are more conferences and such available online. But then I'm retired and supposedly have more free time.

Hi, Meg. Are you still reading How to Pronounce Knife: Stories or are you done? Either way, what did you think?

>107 msf59: I'm still reading the stories, Mark. I've read 3 so far and I'm impressed. I can see why the collection won the Giller.

I received the last of my Santa Thing books today. It took a while but even with the Covid delay it was much better than the year I received them in March. My Santa Thing books are:

Terracotta Warriors: History, Mystery and the Latest Discoveries by Edward Burman
Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years by Elizabeth Wayland Barber
Genealogy: Essential Research Methods by Helen Osborn

>109 Familyhistorian: I love Women's Work!

Looks like your power is back, Meg. Your big storm made our news yesterday!

>109 Familyhistorian: I got Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years gifted to me for Christmas.

>110 quondame: Good to see that you liked Women's Work, Susan. My Santee picked it from my wish list. Maybe it was a BB at some point.

>111 jessibud2: My friend asked me if I had heard the wind the night before when I met up with her yesterday. I did notice the debris on the roads but didn't hear the wind or loose power, Shelley.

>112 thornton37814: I hope you like Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years, Lori. I'm looking forward to it as I've always been interested in sewing and textiles and the history of women.

My pals in West Vancouver said the wind and damage was CRAZY from the recent storm! Glad you weren't affected!

>116 mdoris: I saw reports of bad things happening around, Mary. I live at the bottom of mountains (I don't know how many, but there are lots) and the wind doesn't get to us much. The one great exception was one August when whole trees were toppled over in our neighbourhood and power was out all over the place - ours blipped out for a minute and then came back during that storm.

Hi Meg! Hoping for a happy 2021 for us all.

Women's Work sounds interesting - I may look into it. I suspect my sister, into all things textile, has found it already.

>118 ffortsa: Hi Judy, I'm hoping for a happy 2021 too, but so far, it seems to have been more interesting that happy.

I'm not sure where I saw Women's Work but it was on my wish list. It looks like a good one and maybe your sister hasn't found it yet and you'll be able to tell her about it.

7. The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

The classic mystery The Honjin Murders was an interesting take on the lock room murders favoured by mystery writers. In this case it was set in Japan so the rooms themselves and how they were locked were in need of explanation as were the people and their place in society. I enjoyed the story more for the view of Japanese life in 1937 than for the mystery. The motivations of the characters were sometimes hard to understand as I was not familiar with the culture.

Lately I've been away from LT for long stretches of time as I work on a few projects, some of which are nagging at me because I'm behind on them.

The interview that I did for my assignment went really well, too well, I think. I am now transcribing the recording. We spoke for an hour and 50 minutes but time flies when you're having fun.

I'm also doing some 16th and 17th century research on a line that started in England before ending up in Rhode Island. Also interesting but time consuming. So that's my excuse for being so far behind with you all.

>120 Familyhistorian: That one looks great! On the list it goes...

>122 drneutron: I'm glad it caught your fancy, Jim. There's always room to fit in a classic mystery.

>120 Familyhistorian: That one was a BB from Charlotte last year, and I just recently picked it up on Kindle as it was a daily deal. Looking forward to getting to it - I love those Puskin Vertigo covers.

Hi, Meg.

I thought Clyde Fans was well done, but I didn't enjoy it. I'm not sure why he told that story with such dedication.

I did enjoy Bluebird, Bluebird, and you remind me that I want to read more by Attica Locke.

>124 Crazymamie: Is that where it came from, Mamie? The way the BBs buzz around here I'm too busy ducking to take note. Mine was a library book so I saw the cover in the flesh, so to speak.

>125 jnwelch: Hi Joe, I couldn't say that I enjoyed Clyde Fans either. It was interesting to read how long he worked on it and what inspired the story but perhaps I would have appreciated it more if I had read that at the beginning of the book so I would know what to look for rather than at the end.

Bluebird, Bluebird was at a different pace all together. I can see some more Attica Locke in my future too.

8. Long Bright River by Liz Moore

The story of Long Bright River was told through the eyes of Mickey, a cop in the downtrodden Kensington area of Philadelphia. She was a cop who didn’t fit in, too smart for her own good, too tied to the neighbourhood she worked in and grew up in. She didn’t have the needed detachment most particularly because she was on the look out for her sister, Kacey, an addict who worked the streets of Kensington in her own, less legal capacity.

This story drew me in until, like Mickey, I didn’t know who to trust or which way to root for her to go. Many things were not as they seemed but it was up to Mickey to work her way through them so the story could come to its resolution.

>128 Familyhistorian: - That one was one of my few 5-star reads last year, Meg. I thought it was so well done.

Hooray for Long Bright River. Such a good book.

9. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

I found Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents to be very readable and packed with thoughtful interpretations of history. In the book, Wilkerson equated society in the US with that of India which has a known caste system. The similarities were there for all who chose to see them. Most chilling was the account of the Nazi study of the American system when they set up their own final solution.

This book was an important but slow read. It was packed with so much history, analysis and connection to a fraught past that it required time to take it all in.

>129 katiekrug: It might have been your thread I got the BB for Long Bright River from, Katie. It was definitely one that kept me guessing and very much entering into the main character's world.

>130 msf59: It looks like you are getting into crime fiction, Mark, at least the good stuff like Long Bright River.

10. Missing from the Village: The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System That Failed Toronto's Queer Community by Justin Ling

Another book that dealt with crime, but this time in Missing From the Village, unfortunately the crimes were real and long undetected although there were whispers in Toronto’s Gay Village that there was a serial killer in their midst. It was a whisper that had its basis in fact as men who frequented the village vanished one by one never to be seen again.

This was a story that broke last year or maybe the year before and I wanted to know more. I had no idea how far the killings went back in time. But this book, a well researched account by a journalist close to the Village, gave a troubling account of a marginalized community that left its citizens easy prey for a killer.

>134 Familyhistorian: - I remember very well when this story broke. It was horrifying. Thankfully, the perpetrator was caught and is now behind bars, for life. It was truly disgusting. And terrifying for the city. I believe it broke around 4 years ago, believe it or not.

>135 jessibud2: Was it four years ago, Shelley? I remember some of the coverage on it, particularly the part about the planters. At the time, the coverage made it seem that the killer had only been active for a short while. The book made it clear that the killings had been going on for a long time.

Yes. A high power wealthy Toronto couple, Honey and Barry Sherman, were murdered in their home in Dec of 2017. That was very big news here. And it wasn't long after that that the Gay Village murderer was arrested and that knocked the Shermans right out of the headlines. So, I guess it was more like 3 years ago, though his murder spree had been happening for some time before that. But it was around 3 years ago that he was caught.

I also loved Long Bright River, Meg. I'll get to Caste eventually; I loved The Warmth of Other Suns. Missing from the Village sounds good as well. You've had some hits lately!

>137 jessibud2: The Honey and Barry Sherman murder was big news here too, Shelley. But I remember it as being quite a bit before the serial killer coverage. Maybe that is just my memory playing tricks on me though.

>138 BLBera: I've had lots of holds on recent books come in at the library, Beth. That's why all the newer books are showing up. I just paused most of my holds though as I really should do something about reading and culling my books so I don't have to move them all! I haven't read The Warmth of Other Suns yet. My hold on that one didn't come in before I paused everything.

Hi Meg! Congrats on so many good books this year. I hope you’re finding joy in all the genealogy projects you’ve got going.

>109 Familyhistorian: Bill and I watched a documentary on the Terracotta Warriors. I forget what year it was produced. This book sounds fascinating.

>131 Familyhistorian: I have that one and her WoOSuns on my reserve list. They sound really good!

I'm glad that you thought highly of Caste, Meg. I bought a copy of it last year, and I'll get to it soon.

Hi Meg, reading that you are falling behind here on LT makes me feel less guilty for neglecting your thread for so long. Hubby and I have pretty much sorted out a routine for his care and I am finding more time for myself, so trying to read and catch up. It looks so nice out today that I wish I could get out for a walk but at this point, Ken still can't get around by himself so I need to stick close by for now. I have Long Bright River on my tbr and hope to get to it soon.

>141 karenmarie: Thanks for the good wishes, Karen. I'm not getting much genealogy done lately but my writing is picking up. The books about the Terracotta Warriors looks really interesting and it was the one book that my Santee had read and recommended.

>142 mdoris: Caste was really good, Mary, and I have high hopes for The Warmth of Other Suns which I have on hold at the library. It's going to be a while until I get to that one, though, as I've paused my holds. I need to read some of my own books and whittle them down a bit so I don't have so many to move.

>143 kidzdoc: It was a really thought provoking book, Darryl, but not a quick read because there was so much to ponder.

>144 DeltaQueen50: You have more than enough to keep you busy, Judy, so no need to feel guilty, no matter what. I haven't found the time to visit many of the threads I starred for this year yet. It was nice walking weather today and I even made it to the mall once I got my car defrosted.

Hi Meg my dear, hope all is well with you and that you are having a good start to the weekend. Sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

>146 Familyhistorian: I plan to read Warmth of Other Suns next month, maybe join me?

>149 johnsimpson: Hi John, yesterday was a good start to the weekend, bright and sunny if a bit cold so your wishes for my weekend came to pass. I hope that you and Karen are having a wonderful weekend as well.

>150 PaulCranswick: Hm, tempting Paul. I have a copy of Warmth of Other Suns on hold at the library although I've paused it. However, I do have my Thingaversary coming up and copies of The Warmth of Other Suns caught my eye when I was in my local bookstore the other day. I'm pondering and will let you know shortly.

Just before I went to bed last night, I opened up the information on the virtual writing retreat that happens next weekend, the one I have been working on getting 5000 words for. There’s work due on Monday! That’s the day my newsletter article is due and by Tuesday’s class I have 7 interview write ups to critique. Looks like I have my work cut out for me today.

I read The Warmth of Other Suns a few years ago and thought it was excellent. I hope you read it soon and find it worth your while too.

>153 Familyhistorian: Good luck on the retreat!

>154 RebaRelishesReading: I might be reading it sooner than I thought, Reba. I'm looking forward to it because I know the caliber of Wilkerson's writing.

>155 thornton37814: Thanks Lori, I've done the Level I writing retreat a couple of times and found it helpful. I'm curious as to how a retreat at the next level will grow my writing.

I also have The Warmth of Other Suns on my shelf but I can't see myself getting to it any time soon. I have 4 library books on my kitchen table and another waiting for me to pick up so those will have to take priority. I do want to read it, though.

Good luck with your workload, Meg!

Good heavens, Meg! I don't know how I've managed to miss ten whole books and the fact that you're lucky enough to have Terracotta Warriors gifted to you. I too found The Honjin Murders just a bit too culture-specific to really *enjoy*, but it was fascinating as a background to 1930s Japan.

Happy new week ahead!

>158 jessibud2: That made me giggle, Shelley. I have only 13 library books at home which made me think I could fit The Warmth of Other Suns in there. Maybe I'm my own worst enemy when it comes to filling in my time? Thanks re the work load and I hope you find some gems among those library books.

>159 richardderus: Good to see you made it over here, Richard. Is The Terracotta Warriors that good then? It was interesting to see the social background in 1930s Japan in The Honjin Murders. Knowing what happened to that country in the near future added a certain something to the read.

So is it a written rule that when you're in a hurry to get things done, something technical has to hit a snag and fritter away your time? Now my computer doesn't recognize my scanner but it does know that I have the printer part of the scanner/printer. Which made me do a work around to get the image to send in with my newsletter article.

Off for my walk now before I start tackling the rest of today's work list.

>151 Familyhistorian: Okie dokie!

>162 Familyhistorian: My computer has never recognized the scanner function on our printer even though it communicates with the printer function perfectly. I've stopped caring (almost).

Hi Meg. Thanks for your message ~ I had to laugh, It was probably the best plan to wait until things settled down a bit to come on board. because no 'settling down' is apparent.

I think LT is performing a much-needed relief to the social isolation, so rapidly-filling threads are understandable.

I hope your writing retreat returns all the dividends you need to move forward on your writing aspirations.

>162 Familyhistorian: My current computer decided to forget how to recognize its power cord. I have to buy a new USB-C cord because, of course, I have USB-B cords out the ears and no Cs.

Luckily I never throw anything away. Using the last computer, the smaller-no-touchscreen one. That's been fun.

Wishing you good things on your writing retreat.

>164 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, the problem was that my computer used to recognize the scan function on my printer but now doesn't know its there at all. I suspect one of those pesky Windows 10 updates wiped out that function because when I tried to add my scanner back in to the list so it would be recognized no HP scanners were listed at all.

Good for you for almost not caring that your computer doesn't recognize your scanner. Isn't technology fun?

>165 SandyAMcPherson: The threads do seem to be quite chatty don't they, Sandy. But seemingly they used to be even more busy if those that remember the good old LT days are to be believed.

Thanks for your good retreat wishes.

>166 richardderus: Whoever invented computers probably laughed in private thinking of all the potential frustration for its users, Richard. I hear you on not having the right cord, I ran into that problem when trying to hook up the new printer to my desk top computer so now I press print on my lap top which is two floors up from the printer and trust there will be some output when I go down to the basement.

>167 magicians_nephew: Thanks Jim.

11. Blanche Cleans Up by Barbara Neely

In Blanche Cleans Up, Blanche, the title character, was guilted into acting as stand-in housekeeper-cook for Inez, the regular employee of politician, Allister Brindle and his wife Felicia. Things were tense in the Brindle household from the first day Blanche entered the kitchen. Just how tense became more obvious as bodies started dropping and threats started coming Blanche’s way. But, ever one to get to the bottom of things, Blanche just made sure she had back up while she continued to try to figure out what was going on.

This was the first book I read in this series although not the first book in the series. Oops. Oh well, it was interesting to see the contrast between how the help and those in the Brindle’s stratosphere lived. It wasn’t just a matter of income, but where they fit in Boston’s colour scheme.

So, I sent in the newsletter article yesterday, most of the prep work for the retreat is done and I finished one of the critiques yesterday so it looks like things are on the right track. There was another snow warning for today but, once again, it's just wet out there. Probably a good thing because things are starting to grow out there.

>172 Familyhistorian: I really enjoyed that series!

>174 richardderus: It's an interesting take on a mystery series, Richard. I'll have a look for more books in the series soon.

12. Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee by Noralee Frankel

After reading one of her mystery books, I wanted to find out more about Gypsy Rose Lee. There were several books about her life and I chose to read Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee. It seemed a faithful account of the events of Lee’s life told in chronological order from childhood to end with all the remarkable things that happened in between. It wasn’t inspired prose but got the story of a memorable life across to the reader.

13. This Year You Write Your Novel by Walter Mosley

I saw Walter Mosley at the Vancouver Writers Fest this year and he mentioned his book about writing, This Year You Write Your Novel. I’m always interested in finding out more about the craft of writing so I borrowed it from the library.

It’s a slim volume, but covers a lot in a succinct way and got some points across that I had only vaguely understood before. I am going to buy my own copy.

The writing course that I'm taking workshops the student's pieces every second Tuesday. There are 8 students per mentor group and usually half of their pieces are critiqued at a session. With everyone including the TA and the instructor/mentor giving feedback it takes over two hours.

This month we're working in a different genre. I chose non-fiction which is why I did an interview. Last night all 10 of us critiqued each of the eight submissions. It took way over two hours, more like 3 and was exhausting!

>178 Familyhistorian: That's wearying even to read, Meg. Wow, do I hope it was worth it.

>179 richardderus: Exactly what Richard said. Hoping Wednesday is happy making.

>174 richardderus: American Rose was a good book about Gypsy Rose Lee and her times.

Just have to remember when you watch the Broadway musical of "Gypsy" is that almost everything that happens in the musical ain't true. And that June Havoc sued everybody in sight and had the musical subtitled "A Musical Fable" and STILL everyone thinks its a reliable story of Louise and June and Mama Rose.

>179 richardderus: It was good, Richard. I wasn't sure about my write-up and they discussed my work when everyone was still awake which helped. They liked it even though it was different from the other interviews.

>180 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie, it was tiring but interesting at the same time. Not sure how happy making Wednesday will be due to housework but at least my last Zoom meeting of the day is late afternoon/early evening so I get to relax tonight.

>181 magicians_nephew: I'll have to look for that one, Jim. I've noticed that, even in non-fiction, you can tell when I book was written. Writers of newer books are freer and more lyrical with language.

The Broadway musical was covered in the book that I read and it basically said what you did about the veracity of the story in "Gypsy".

Hi Meg!

I couldn't possibly live without a scanner function. It would mean new printer/scanner time for sure.

Congrats on all the writing and zooming (or equivalent) and books read so far this year. I got caught up on your blog - in addition to reading, writing, and meetings, you've added some interesting posts in January.

Hi, Meg.

I'm glad Isabel Wilkerson's Caste worked for you. It was my best book read last year. Such an interesting and useful perspective on the systemic racism problem, and I appreciated every one of her personal anecdotes, and how she wove them into the text. The Warmth of Other Suns also is excellent, although I found it a bit repetitive in places.

The Blanche White mystery series: you're the first other person, besides my wife, I've known to read one. I love this series, and I'm waiting for the next one. I've found her sleuthing smarts, despite people pigeonholing her, irresistible.

I have Caste on order from the library. Our library system has 82 copies and there are 396 Holds, so it will be a while.

>185 karenmarie: Hi Karen, it is a new printer/scanner so I won't be buying a new one as it would work fine except for the lack of communication with the computer. I'm going to have to find a work around.

I'm glad you're enjoying the posts. Sometimes its a challenge to get to them and to the write ups on the books I've read.

>186 jnwelch: Well, there must be someone else on LT who has read the Blanche White series, Joe. That's where I found out about the series.

Caste was excellent and I'm slated to read The Warmth of Other Suns in February. I'll expect a bit of repetitiveness as I go through it.

>187 ronincats: I was way back in the hold line on Caste, Roni, but my turn came up a lot sooner than I thought it would. So maybe you'll have your hands on it soon.

14. Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers

I’m enjoying keeping up with the Wimsey group read and have discovered that there are several of the books that I haven’t yet read. One of which was Busman’s Honeymoon which I had acquired at one point but hadn’t read yet or ever.

It was an interesting mystery which showed Lord Peter and Harriet as partners in detecting and in life. They got along in both aspects of life, probably a good thing because their new abode was not what they or Bunter were expecting although finding a body was fairly normal for them. Still things improved and the mystery was solved.

I haven't been on LT much in the last few days as I've been in a virtual writing retreat. Tomorrow is the last day I have to get up to log in at 7:00 am and I am very glad of that!

15. Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

Josephine Tey’s Daughter of Time was a rare reread for me. This classic sees Inspector Grant laid up in hospital and bored until he starts in on an investigation of the deaths of the princes in the tower, deaths which have been laid at their uncle’s door. But was Richard III responsible for their deaths? In this who done it based on historical research, the author lays out her argument while entertaining the reader.

I love both Busman's Honeymoon and Daughter of Time, Meg. Hmm. Maybe time for rereads...

>193 Familyhistorian: Oh, what a terrific book that was. I loved the depths it plumbed but never felt like it was slogging me through a lot of nonsense just for the sake of it.

>193 Familyhistorian: That one is definitely worth a re-read.

>194 BLBera: The Tey was really good on the re-read, Beth. I thought I had read Busman's Honeymoon before and was surprised that I hadn't.

>195 richardderus: It was the most entertaining way of presenting an argument and the sources behind it that I have ever read, Richard.

>193 Familyhistorian: I know I was delighted with it the first time I read it, Linda. Enough time had past that it was a delight all over again.

>193 Familyhistorian: Definitely a classic!

>200 thornton37814: Deservedly so, Lori!

16. Eleanor and Hick: The Love Affair That Shaped a First Lady by Susan Quinn

The book Eleanor and Hick was the unlikely tale of a woman born to the American elite and the woman from a humble background who she befriended. Eleanor met Hick when she was feeling her way into the role of First Lady. Hick was a reporter from a rough and tumble background but the two hit it off. So began a relationship that endured for the rest of their lives with both influencing each other. It was an interesting look at both Eleanor and a woman I had not heard about before.

A new month, a new thread which will be ready in a short while. Please join me there.