Terri (tymfos) takes on 2022

Discussions75 Books Challenge for 2022

Rejoignez LibraryThing pour poster.

Terri (tymfos) takes on 2022

1tymfos
Modifié : Déc 31, 2021, 3:20 pm



I cannot believe we are at the end of 2021. Good riddance, and I hope next year will be better. However, I said the same thing exactly a year ago, and we've seen how that turned out.

I'm Terri, a rural librarian in Pennsylvania. Once upon a time, when I was a part-time library worker, I used to easily exceed 75 books per year. Now that I'm employed full-time with more responsibility, my reading has decreased. I still will start out the year aiming to hit 75, though some of the titles may be picture books from Story Time!

I used to be really, really active in this group, but lately I'm lucky to keep my own thread updated. I really do keep meaning to do better!

My go-to reads when I'm stressed are mysteries, gothic, and some areas of nonfiction. I read a lot of books about disasters. (It helps me to keep life in perspective.) I love history. But you may find almost anything in my reading lists.

I'm a moody reader, and don't always finish books that I start. Life is too short to spend reading something I don't want to read -- and trying to force myself to finish a book I dislike is a sure way to simply cause my reading to stall. I've finally given myself permission to move on from a book when it's not the right time to finish it.

2tymfos
Modifié : Nov 28, 2022, 11:15 pm

CURRENTLY READING:

Hell is Empty by Craig Johnson

3tymfos
Modifié : Nov 28, 2022, 11:16 pm

Terri's FOURTH QUARTER, 2022 Reading

Books completed in NOVEMBER

67. The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James (11-27-2022)
66. A Journal for Jordan by Dana Canedy

Some picture books from work:

65. Ruby and the Itsy-Bitsy (Icky) Bug Allison Wortche
63. Puppy Bus by Drew Brockington
62. More Than Peach by Bellen Woodard
61. Beginning by Shelley Moore Thomas
60. This Story is Not About a Kitten by Randall De Seve

Books Completed in OCTOBER

59. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
58. The Apparitionists by Peter Manseau

4tymfos
Modifié : Sep 15, 2022, 9:33 pm

Terri's THIRD QUARTER, 2022 Reading

Books Completed in SEPTEMBER
57. Eliot Ness and the Mad Butcher by Max Allan Collins

Books Completed in AUGUST

Picture Books read at work:
56. Creepy Crayon by Aaron Reynolds
55. Abdul's Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
54. On My Papa's Shoulders by Niki Daly
53. Two Dogs by Ian Falconer
52. Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko
51. Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmerman
50. Howard the Average Gecko by Wendy Meddour
49. Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
48. How to be a Rock Star by Lisa Tolin
47. A Spoonful of Frogs by Casey Lyall

46. Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson 8-24-22
45. I’ll be gone in the dark by Michelle McNamara AUDIO 8-23-22
44. The Michigan Murders by Edward Keyes (8-19-22)
43. Bone White by Ronald Malfi
42. The Ghosts that Haunt Me: Memories of a Homicide Detective by Steve Ryan (via Net Galley)

Books Completed in JULY
41. Smalltime: A Story of my family and the mob by Russell Shorto

Picture books read at work:

40. Meow by Chris Raschka
39. Hot Dog by Doug Salati
38. Old Wood Boat by Nikki McClure
37. Sanctuary: Kip Tiernan and Rosie's Place, the Nation's First Shelter for Women by Christine McDonnell
36. The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson
35. The Octopus Escapes by Maile Meloy
34. Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas by Mollie Bang

5tymfos
Modifié : Août 27, 2022, 12:37 am

Terri's SECOND QUARTER, 2022 Reading

Books completed in JUNE

33. (Don't) Call Me Crazy by Kelly Jensen

Picture Books:
32. Also by E.B. Goodale
31. Baby Squeaks by Anne Hunter
30. John's Turn by Mac Barnett
29. Click Clack Rainy Day by Doreen Cronin

Books completed in MAY

Picture books:
28. Sir Ladybug by Corey R. Tabor
27. Lizzy and the Cloud by Terry Fan
26. Mommy's Hometown by Hope Lim
25. Not Enough Lollipops by Megan Maynor
24. I don't Want to Read this Book by Max Greenfield
23. Chester Van Chime Who Forgot how to Rhyme by Avery Monson
22. Let's Do Everything and Nothing by Julia Kuo
21. Big Truck, Little Island by Chris van Dusen

Books completed in APRIL

20. Love Matters More by Jared Byas AUDIO (4-28-2022)
19. Fatal Scores by Mark De Castrique (4-8-2022)

6tymfos
Modifié : Mar 31, 2022, 12:11 am

Terri's FIRST QUARTER, 2022 Reading

Books completed in MARCH

18. Flubby Will Not Go to Sleep by J.E. Morris (picture book -- absolutely adorable!)
17. Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness by William Styron (3-29-22)
16. The Chill by Scott Carson AUDIO (3-28-22)
15. The Broken Girls by Simone St. James AUDIO (3-15-22)
14. Where is Bina Bear? by Mike Curato (picture book -- recommended)
13. Hurricane! by John Rocco (picture book -- highly recommended)
12. A History of Me by Adrea Theodore (picture book -- highly recommended)

Books completed in FEBRUARY

11. Escape from the Deep by Alex Kershaw AUDIO (2-13-22)
10. The Dead Drink First by Dale Maharidge AUDIO Audible Original (2-7-22)
9. Pennsylvania's Unexplained Mysteries by Tony Urban (2-6-2022)
8. Ye Olde cat memes: the original book of cat humor by Eulalie Osgood Grover (2-4-2022)
7. The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates AUDIO (2-1-22)

Books completed in JANUARY

6. Dusk, Night, Dawn by Anne Lamott (1-31-2022)
5. The Demon Next Door by Bryan Burrough AUDIO (1-28-2022)
4. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou AUDIO and hard copy (1-27-2022)
3. A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Claire E-book (1-17-2022)
2. Purring in God’s Ears by W.L. Seaver (1-2-2022)
1. Flying Blind: The 737 MAX tragedy and the fall of Boeing by Peter Robison (1-1-2022)

7tymfos
Modifié : Déc 31, 2021, 3:12 pm

I may have something else to post here eventually, but for now it's just my thread's welcome mat.


8drneutron
Déc 31, 2021, 3:19 pm

Welcome to 2022, Terri!

9tymfos
Déc 31, 2021, 3:20 pm

>7 tymfos: Thanks, Jim!
Happy New Year to you!

10FAMeulstee
Déc 31, 2021, 6:17 pm

Happy reading in 2022, Terri!

11PaulCranswick
Modifié : Jan 2, 2022, 4:43 pm



This group always helps me to read; welcome back to the group, Terri.

12thornton37814
Déc 31, 2021, 11:34 pm

Hope you have a great reading year, Terri! Hanging my star.

13Familyhistorian
Jan 1, 2022, 6:33 pm

I hope this year is better than the last, Terri. Come to think of it that's not asking too much, is it? I hope that 2022 just keeps getting better and better as it goes along! May the year bring many good reads to you.

14Crazymamie
Jan 1, 2022, 7:06 pm

Happy New Year, Terri! I was terrible with keeping up with the threads last year, but I am hoping to do better this year.

15tymfos
Modifié : Jan 1, 2022, 11:57 pm

Greetings, Anita, Paul, Lori, Meg, and Mamie!

I started the new year by finishing an excellent book.

Book #1

Flying Blind: The 737 MAX Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing by Peter Robison

Before the pandemic took over the headlines, one of the "big stories" of the previous two years involved 2 plane crashes and the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX passenger plane. Boeing tried to blame the first crash of an Indonesian airliner on pilot error -- Indonesian airlines had a terrible reputation internationally, and had been banned from flying in the EU for a number of years. The investigation did turn up issues about the plane, but the FAA downplayed them and offered Boing plenty of time to work on a fix.

The second crash, of an Ethiopian Airlines flight, drew more scrutiny around the world, as it carried passengers from a multiple countries, including a number of Americans. This is the crash that resulted in the grounding of the 737 MAX fleet, eventually worldwide, though the U.S. was slow to follow the lead of other countries.

Robison, an investigative journalist for Bloomberg, authors a compelling account of changes in the corporate culture of Boeing -- from a culture of engineering excellence to a culture much too focused on the bottom line and making shareholders happy. The resulting damage to internal communication and other processes, and compromises made to keep to ambitious budgets and schedules, was compounded by regulatory changes that more or less put Boeing in charge of regulating itself. (What can you say when the FAA, the supposed regulatory agency, refers to the plane manufacturers as their "customers." During development of the MAX, FAA workers actually were rewarded for helping to keep the manufacturer on schedule!)

The book contains almost 40 pages of endnotes, a bibliography, and an index.

I'd say this was a great start to my reading year!

16tymfos
Jan 2, 2022, 12:28 am

Sooner or later, this meme makes the rounds each year. I haven't visited enough threads to see if anyone else has done it yet, but I'm going to give it a try. Answers are from books read in 2021. I can't say they make for a very entertaining post.

Describe yourself: The Woman in the Mirror

Describe how you feel: Unraveled

Describe where you currently live: Messy

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Where the Crawdads Sing

Your favorite form of transportation is: One Night Two Souls Went Walking

Your favorite food is: Moon Pops

Your favorite time of day is: The Sun Down Motel

Your best friend is: Monet's Cat

You and your friends are: Ghosthunting New Jersey

What’s the weather like: Fatal Forecast

You fear: Ghosts of Gettysburg IV

What is the best advice you can give: Bathe the Cat -- NOT!

Thought for the day: A Kid is a Kid is a Kid

What is life for you: My Beloved World

How you would like to die: The Decent Inn of Death

Your soul’s present condition: Hardly Haunted

What was 2021 like for you? 100 of the Worst Ideas in History

What do you want from 2022? Something Good

17alcottacre
Jan 2, 2022, 3:22 am

>15 tymfos: Congratulations on getting your reading year off to such a great start, Terri!

Happy New Year!

18tymfos
Modifié : Jan 2, 2022, 3:35 pm

>17 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia!

Book #2

Purring in God’s Ears by W.L. Seaver

This small book was a Christmas present from a friend at church. The illustrations are beautiful. It’s written by a professor who feeds feral cats in a park near where he lives. He attempts to tell each cat’s story from the cat’s point of view (and he indicates that the cats see how utterly caring and compassionate and generous he is.) Then he poses questions for theological reflection. Frankly, I’m not comfortable with his tendency to use his care for the cats as a metaphor for God’s care for us. The cats are sweet, though.

19lindapanzo
Jan 2, 2022, 4:16 pm

Happy New Year, Terri.

I'll have to look for Flying Blind. Sounds like it'd be right up my alley.

20thornton37814
Jan 2, 2022, 5:47 pm

>16 tymfos: I did get a chuckle out of your what was 2021 like answer.

>18 tymfos: While I might not agree with his theology either, I do think it sounds like a book I might want to see--if only for the illustrations!

21Copperskye
Jan 2, 2022, 7:39 pm

Happy 2022, Terri!

>16 tymfos: I love your meme answers!

22Familyhistorian
Jan 10, 2022, 7:39 pm

>15 tymfos: Flying Blind looks like an interesting read, Terri. I can remember booking flights after the scandal broke and being more concerned about the actual plane than normal. That was back in the days when flying was a normal thing, of course.

23alcottacre
Jan 12, 2022, 2:08 am

>18 tymfos: As much as I love my cats, I think I will give that one a pass.

Have a great rest of your week, Terri!

24Whisper1
Jan 15, 2022, 1:03 am

Hi Terri, I've added Flying Blind to the tbr pile. Your review is excellent!!!!

25tymfos
Jan 15, 2022, 11:01 pm

Hello, everyone! After a hopeful start, my reading and posting died out. I'm in the middle of some good books, and all their library loans have or soon will run out.

>19 lindapanzo: Linda, I think you would like it.
>20 thornton37814: Lori, that answer about 2021 was the closest I could find in my title list to the train wreck that was 2021! It kind of made me chuckle, too.
>21 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne! I hope 2022 is being kind to you.
>22 Familyhistorian: Meg, I'm not a flyer, but if I was, I still don't think I'd want to fly on a MAX, even after the software fix.
>23 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia! I hope all is well with you.
>24 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda. The problem with starting the year off with a book that good is that it's a tough act to follow for the subsequent books!

26PaulCranswick
Jan 15, 2022, 11:08 pm

>25 tymfos: I'm sure that you'll soon get back to your reading and posting of a few years ago. These difficult times don't really count as a yardstick to measure ourselves against!

Have a lovely weekend, Terri.

27tymfos
Modifié : Jan 17, 2022, 8:12 pm

>26 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul!

Snow, snow, snow. We were closed today, and will be closed again tomorrow. It's not just the snow, but the wind blowing it all around everywhere.

I had two high-quality pieces of literature by award-winning authors in progress, but am somewhat embarrassed to admit I decided to finish this e-book first while snowed in. It's definitely not a literary classic, but it was a fun (if rather implausible) tale.

Book #3

A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair

Point Pleasant, West Virginia, is famous for two things: 1) the collapse of the Silver Bridge on Christmas Eve, 1967, which killed 46 people. 2) Paranormal activity, most notably, the Mothman creature that was seen earlier in 1967, and whose appearance some believe was a harbinger of the disaster.

Eve and her mother left Point Pleasant after Eve's father was killed in the bridge disaster. Now Eve is back in Point Pleasant to deal with an inheritance following her Aunt Rosie's death. She reconnects with Caden, whose sister Maggie had been Eve's best friend. Maggie and Caden were on the Silver Bridge when it fell. Caden was one of the few survivors of the disaster, but Maggie's body was found months later. Caden blames himself for Maggie's death.

Katie is from the proverbial "wrong side of the tracks," but Eve's Aunt Rosie hired her years ago and she became Rosie's protegee. She is managing the hotel which was the family business and which Eve has inherited and initially plans to sell. Katie's sister went missing in 1967, shortly before the Silver Bridge collapsed, and almost everyone assumed she ran away.

The house Eve inherited was vandalized shortly before her arrival back in Point Pleasant. Once she arrives, she begins receiving threatening notes and strange phone calls. A dead, tortured bird is found in her yard. Meanwhile, there is a murder in the nearby nature preserve the locals call the "TNT." This is where Mothman was most often spotted in 1967, and now there are renewed Mothman sightings.

There is also some kind of "entity" in one of the structures at the TNT, and a suspicion that the phone calls scaring Eve may be of supernatural origin. Oh, and Caden's mother is a bit crazy -- or maybe Maggie's ghost is really talking to her?

This book is a mix of crime story, ghost story, monster story, and the story of a woman at a crossroads in her life. (Might she want to chuck her state government job in Pennsylvania and run the old family hotel?) I had to suspend disbelief a lot of the time, but I actually enjoyed it. It's the first in a series. I'm actually considering reading the next one. Go figure.

28Berly
Jan 26, 2022, 1:20 am

>27 tymfos: I found you!! Books are supposed to be fun. Hope you are un-snowed-in. : )

29tymfos
Modifié : Jan 28, 2022, 10:40 pm

>28 Berly: Not snowed in, Kim, but we keep getting more snow, an inch or two at a time, on top of what we got in the big storm. And it was -9 when my husband got up Thursday morning.

30tymfos
Modifié : Jan 28, 2022, 10:30 pm

Book #4

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings> by Maya Angelou

What can I say? It’s Maya Angelou, a classic.

31PaulCranswick
Jan 28, 2022, 10:32 pm

>30 tymfos: Long, long time since I read that one, but it will always be retained in my collection.

32tymfos
Jan 28, 2022, 10:39 pm

>30 tymfos: The book will stay in my collection, too. However, for much of this reading, I borrowed an audio book from the library which was narrated by Maya herself. It was fabulous to hear her voice telling her story!

Have a great weekend, Paul!

33PaulCranswick
Jan 28, 2022, 11:06 pm

You too Terri. x

34tymfos
Jan 30, 2022, 2:51 am

Thanks, Paul!

Book #5

The Demon Next Door by Bryan Burrough AUDIO (1-28-2022)

Burrough tells the story of Danny Corwin, who committed multiple murders.

The story looks at how so many people in his hometown refused to believe that the "nice young man" could be a criminal, and chose to blame the victim when he committed his first major crime, a brutal rape.

This was a short audiobook, an Audible original. It was free from Audible with my membership.

35alcottacre
Jan 30, 2022, 3:19 am

>30 tymfos: I need to get a copy of that one for my library. I read it eons ago and loved it.

36tymfos
Fév 1, 2022, 1:17 am

>35 alcottacre: Definitely worth having!

Book #6

Dusk, Night, Dawn by Anne Lamott (1-31-2022)

This was an enjoyable little read. Some of the reflections resonated with me more than others. Two favorites were "The Kitten" and "Lunch-money Faith."

It's so much more pleasant to read Lamott since she's matured, and is less strident in regard to certain politicians / stands on issues. It's still pretty clear where she stands on things, but not in a manner that gets in the way of the larger message.

37klobrien2
Fév 1, 2022, 3:17 pm

>36 tymfos: Hi! I’m currently reading Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Lamott and I really like her style. I do believe I’ll add your read to my TBR—thanks!

Karen O

38tymfos
Fév 2, 2022, 1:17 am

>37 klobrien2: I’ve read a lot of Lamont’s work. She’s one of the authors I most consistently keep up with reading.

39tymfos
Modifié : Fév 3, 2022, 6:40 pm

I think I’m getting out of my reading funk at last, perhaps. This is the third time in a week I’ve stayed up late because I just had to keep reading. I’m too tired to write about it, but here is book #7 I’ve read so far in 2022.

Book #7


The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates AUDIO (2-2-22)

Later addition: here's the review.

What luck! Just when she and her big gray cat Wolfgang don't have a place to live -- and only $20 to get by on -- Adrienne inherits a house from a relative she didn't know she had. It's a house with a history -- and a reputation for being haunted -- on a hill above the little town. Adrienne has a vague memory about the place from when she was a young child -- not a pleasant memory, but one that leaves her with many questions. The house provides more puzzles. Why are there no mirrors? Why are there strange messages scratched into walls, doors, furniture?

This was a creepy one. Through much of the book, the chills were very subtle -- lots of atmosphere. The suspense builds. Toward the end, things weren't subtle at all. All in all, a good read if you like horror stories about creepy old houses. This the first book I've read by Darcy Coates. I think I'll try another by her.

40alcottacre
Fév 2, 2022, 3:16 am

>36 tymfos: I have not yet read that one by her. I will have to see if my local library has a copy. Thanks for the recommendation, Terri!

>39 tymfos: Yay for getting out of the reading funk. I hate those things!

41tymfos
Modifié : Fév 3, 2022, 6:26 pm

>40 alcottacre: Stasia, it's been more or less a five-year reading funk, since I went to work full-time. I thought it would end when I finished my Masters degree studies -- I was stretched so thin while in school -- but then the pandemic ruined my concentration. I've had some fits and starts when my reading picked up -- usually during a vacation -- but this feels like a more sustainable interest in reading again, even at a busy time at work.

42tymfos
Modifié : Fév 5, 2022, 6:38 am

Book #8

Ye Olde Cat Memes: The Original Book of Cat Humor by Eulalie Osgood Grover (2-4-2022)

This book is actually a 2019 reprint/reformat of a 1911 work "Kittens and Cats: a First Reader." It does contain the original photographs and verse (which is dated and corny, but that is the fun of it).

I received it as a fun gift from a friend. A quick read, and reminder that there have long been folks like me who are crazy about cats.

43alcottacre
Fév 5, 2022, 12:53 am

>41 tymfos: I understand that. I was in a reading funk while I was in school full time and working full time. It has taken me a while to get out of it. I hope the sustained interest in reading continues for you, Terri!

44PaulCranswick
Fév 5, 2022, 7:11 am

>41 tymfos: It is a great feeling when you enjoy the experience of chewing up the pages again, Terri; welcome back!

Have a great weekend.

45tymfos
Fév 6, 2022, 11:50 pm

>43 alcottacre: I'm allowing myself to graze on whatever reading material catches my attention and interest, and to abandon reading anything that doesn't make me want to pick it up again. That seems to be helping my quantity, if not my actual quality, of reading!

>44 PaulCranswick: I hope your weekend was grand, Paul!

46tymfos
Modifié : Fév 6, 2022, 11:58 pm

Book #9

Pennsylvania's Unexplained Mysteries collected by Tony Urban (2-6-2022)

A friend recommended this. These are first-hand accounts by various people who say they have had unexplained experiences. There are tales of ghosts, UFOs, and even a couple of "bigfoot" encounters. As the introduction states, "While they might not all be polished and professionally written, I wanted to keep the stories in their own words and authentic."

Despite the grammatical lapses, and my skepticism of many of the tales (which have absolutely no corroboration), I enjoyed this book. Most, I think all, of the stories take place in Central and Western Pennsylvania, and I'm very familiar with the areas in which many of the stories are set. That alone made it fun to read.

47thornton37814
Fév 7, 2022, 10:06 am

>46 tymfos: Sometimes you just need those "local" things--even when they aren't the best in terms of quality.

48tymfos
Modifié : Fév 8, 2022, 1:03 am

>47 thornton37814: Indeed, Lori! Thanks for stopping by!

Book #10.

10. The Dead Drink First by Dale Maharidge AUDIO Audible Original (2-7-22)

The author’s father, a WWII vet, was prone to rages his family never understood. After his death, the author wanted to solve the mystery of a war photo his father had always prominently displayed. His search lasted 18 years, involved talking with surviving members of his father’s Marine company and family members of deceased Marines, learning about traumatic brain injury, and navigating the system charged with identifying “unknowns” and locating the bodies of those missing in action.

This resembled an audio documentary more than a regular audiobook. There were sound clips of interviews and discussions. Very interesting and just a fascinating story.

49tymfos
Fév 14, 2022, 12:16 am

Book #11

Escape From the Deep by Alex Kershaw AUDIO (2-13-2022)

50jayde1599
Fév 18, 2022, 6:26 am

>46 tymfos: I picked up a book like this that covered the Acadia/Bar Harbor, ME area. It was fun to know what he areas in the stories.

51PaulCranswick
Mar 5, 2022, 1:56 pm

Hope all is well, Terri and that you'll update us all soon.

52tymfos
Modifié : Mar 7, 2022, 8:18 am

>50 jayde1599: Hi! I love reading regional stories, folklore, history.

>51 PaulCranswick: Good morning, Paul! All is well. I'm just finishing the mandated (and complicated) Annual Report for my library, which is my least favorite part of my job. I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and today was the first day in ages that I actually wanted to get out of bed. (The fact that it's unseasonably warm and I wasn't crawling out into a chilly room probably helped fuel my ambition!) Storms will be coming through today, and the thermometer will plunge back to (or below) normal early March levels, but I've enjoyed the warm weekend.

Books 12-14
These are some of the picture books I've enjoyed most from recent orders


Where is Bina Bear? by Mike Curato (picture book -- recommended)
Bina Bear came to the party . . . didn't she? Where is she? This charming story deals with shyness and friendship.


Hurricane! by John Rocco (picture book -- VERY highly recommended)
Amazingly illustrated (as only John Rocco can do), this tells the story of a youth whose special place is an old dock -- but then a hurricane comes through and upends everything in town. It's a story of helping and being helped.


A History of Me by Adrea Theodore (picture book -- highly recommended)
A student finds it difficult being the only black person in an otherwise all-white class, especially when issues related to race are discussed in class. Talking to her mother gives her a new perspective. In a society where white people are trying to ban class discussions that make children "uncomfortable" about being white, I think this book has a whole lot to say (thought the people who need to read it will probably want to ban it).

53tymfos
Mar 16, 2022, 1:22 am

Book #15

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James AUDIO (3-15-22)

This is another of those books that moves between two time periods -- in 2014, when the planned renovation of an abandoned boarding school unearths a secret, and 1950, when the secret was buried. In 2014, a journalist is covering the story of the boarding school, where her sister's murdered body had been discovered 20 years prior. In 1950, it was still a school for girls -- the unwanted, the incorrigible, the disgraced, and the disturbed ones -- haunted by a menacing presence.

All in all, this was a very good book in its genre. There was an eerie atmosphere -- in both time periods -- and a story line that held quite a few surprises.

54tymfos
Mar 31, 2022, 12:44 am

Book #16

The Chill by Scott Carson AUDIO (3-28-22)

I've always been fascinated, in a half-sad, half-eerie way, by stories of towns forced to be abandoned in order to create lakes when dams were constructed. This is the story of one such fictional town, high in the mountains above New York City.

It's been raining for days, there are concerns that the dam may break. Strange things are happening near the "Chill" (the nickname given to the reservoir behind the dam) and even stranger things have been going on deep below the surface ever since the town was flooded. This is a subtle, atmospheric kind of horror novel.

I'm told the Scott Carson is a pseudonym under which Michael Koryta is writing his horror genre novels. Funny, since the first and most memorable of Koryta's books that I read was the very paranormal So Cold the River, which was written under his own name and is one of the best horror novels I've ever read.

Book #17

Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness by William Styron (3-29-2022)

My records show that this is a re-read, but I only vaguely remember anything from the first time I read it. The fact that it was previously read in the middle of my first semester of grad school for my library degree -- and that was a 5-week intensive course -- may explain both why I read it and why my brain retained almost no memory of it!

It is a classic, as I understand it, one of the very first memoirs to honestly deal with major depression.

Book #18

Flubby Will Not Go to Sleep by J.E. Morris (picture book)

Now for something light and fun! Anyone who has ever been owned by a cat can likely relate to this girl's dilemma. Despite the new bed she prepared for her cat, Flubby will not go to sleep -- which means that Flubby's human won't be sleeping, either.

55thornton37814
Mar 31, 2022, 7:38 am

>54 tymfos: I remember much more of what I read in the YA (middle school aged focused) course I took in my MLS program than of many other things from that era--and I was reading non-stop. I guess it helps that we had to write note cards on each book. (I suspect that dates me!)

56tymfos
Modifié : Avr 9, 2022, 4:37 pm

>55 thornton37814: It's strange how memory works sometimes, but writing notes is known to help memory!

Book #19

Fatal Scores by Mark De Castrique (completed 4-8-2022)

Sam Blackman finds the body of member of an environmental watchdog group near a waste dump that is being monitored for pollution seepage.

This book has its roots in the environmental history of the Pigeon River, and how at one time massive amounts of cancer-causing toxins flowed downstream from paper plants in North Carolina into Tennessee. Progress has been made, with monitoring taking place, but memories are long.

I don't know why it took me so long to finish reading this book. It was really a good story, and I love this series, but I guess there were just too many distractions going on.

57thornton37814
Avr 9, 2022, 5:00 pm

>56 tymfos: I love the Sam Blackman novels. I need to see which is up next for me and get to it in the next 2-3 months.

58Berly
Mai 20, 2022, 3:36 am

Terri--Where'd ya go? Hope all is well. : )

59tymfos
Mai 22, 2022, 11:10 pm

>57 thornton37814: It’s a favorite series of mine, too. And it blew my mind when, after reading some, my family history research revealed a great uncle who died in the Asheville VA hospital where the series begins!

>58 Berly: Hi, Kim! I’m OK, just a little (a lot) overwhelmed by RL lately.

60tymfos
Juil 11, 2022, 11:16 pm

I think this is the longest stretch of time I've been completely away from LT. My last post was May 22.

In the meantime, a lot has happened. Friends have died. My son aged out of our group health insurance and we're trying to sort out the new plan. The library is having its every-three-year full audit. Summer programs have started. Not to mention all the stuff that's going on in our country and in our world.

I've done very little reading.

61tymfos
Modifié : Juil 30, 2022, 1:27 am

Picture books I've read lately at work:

32. Also by E.B. Goodale
31. Baby Squeaks by Anne Hunter
30. John's Turn by Mac Barnett
29. Click Clack Rainy Day by Doreen Cronin
28. Sir Ladybug by Corey R. Tabor
27. Lizzy and the Cloud by Terry Fan
26. Mommy's Hometown by Hope Lim
25. Not Enough Lollipops by Megan Maynor
24. I don't Want to Read this Book by Max Greenfield
23. Chester Van Chime Who Forgot how to Rhyme by Avery Monson
22. Let's Do Everything and Nothing by Julia Kuo
21. Big Truck, Little Island by Chris van Dusen

62Berly
Juil 15, 2022, 12:41 am

Hi there! Yeah, it's been a while but glad to see you back. Sorry about losing your friends. That's so hard. And we are dealing with the aging out of healthcare issue here as well. Not easy. I hope life brightens up and I am wishing you some good reading. Take care. And don't be a stranger!! : )

63alcottacre
Juil 27, 2022, 5:15 am

>48 tymfos: I will have to check into that one! Thanks for the recommendation, Terri.

>49 tymfos: Adding that one to the BlackHole too. Alex Kershaw is one of my favorite nonfiction writers.

>52 tymfos: A History of Me looks very good. Adding that one to the BlackHole as well.

>53 tymfos: Have you tried The Book of Cold Cases by St. James? It is a good read too!

>54 tymfos: Too bad my local library does not have a copy of Darkness Visible. As someone who deals with depression on a regular basis, I would like to read that one!

Glad to see you around the threads again. I am sorry to hear that you are having to deal with so much all at the same time.

64bell7
Juil 27, 2022, 6:44 am

Hi, Terri! Picture books are great. I used to read a stack every now and again when I was working in a children's room, and I kinda miss that. At least my niece and nephew are still at the age that I can read picture books to them, so I get a chance to explore every now and again.

Sorry RL has been so tough lately. Hope things ease up for you soon.

65tymfos
Modifié : Juil 30, 2022, 1:29 am

>63 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! You picked good ones out of my recent reads to add to the Black Hole.
I have my eye on The Book of Cold Cases. I definitely want to read it.
Life isn't that bad these days. Came through the audit fine, Son has his new insurance. Summer programs are going well. I'm still sad about a friend who recently died. She was one of those rare people I could run things by and get feedback that was both honest and constructive.

>64 bell7: Hi Mary! Things are easing up now. We just got our monthly Junior Library Guild shipment, and there are some more great picture books!

40. Meow by Chris Raschka
39. Hot Dog by Doug Salati
38. Old Wood Boat by Nikki McClure
37. Sanctuary: Kip Tiernan and Rosie's Place, the Nation's First Shelter for Women by Christine McDonnell
36. The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson

and I think I missed getting these on my thread except in the list at the top
35. The Octopus Escapes by Maile Meloy
34. Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas by Mollie Bang

(Note: #33 was an actual grown-up book I'll talk about in the next post.)

66tymfos
Modifié : Juil 30, 2022, 1:06 am

Book # 33.

(Don't) Call Me Crazy by Kelly Jensen (June 30)

This is an eclectic collection of 33 reflections on mental health and mental illness. Its subtitle describes its purpose as being to start conversation abut mental illness. Our book discussion group discussed it as part of a series of discussions we began in May for Mental Health Month. It was so varied, there was something to appeal to and something to disturb everyone.

Picture books in the above post fill in this gap to my first grown-up book of the second half of the year:

Book #41

Smalltime: a story of my family and the mob by Russell Shorto

We all hear about organized crime in big cities like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. However the mob was active on a smaller scale in smaller cities around the country. In this book, Russell Shorto digs into the history of his paternal grandfather for whom he was named, Russ Shorto. Russ was the Number Two man in the mob in Johnstown, Pennsylvania during the mid-20th century. (The author's great-uncle was the top mobster in town.)

This was a fascinating book. Shorto is an experienced writer of nonfiction. He talked extensively with family members and their associates over a period of years, and he also did research in libraries, newspaper archives, court archives, and (eventually) even got hold of (heavily redacted) FBI files. He is careful to provide the social context -- the situation in Sicily when his great-grandfather came to America, the terrible prejudice faced by Italian immigrants here in the US in those years. This book is about family, and his ailing father joins in the project. This isn't just about the mob -- it's also about fathers and sons, and the things that can come between them.

I really enjoyed this book, and not just because it centered on Western Pennsylvania.

67tymfos
Juil 30, 2022, 1:40 am

I missed talking about
Book #20

Love Matters More: How Fighting to be Right keeps us from loving like Jesus by Jared Byas

I won't say I agree theologically with every single statement the author made, but his main points totally resonated with me. None of us truly knows the mind of God. The way each of us reads scripture is influenced by a multitude of things. The admonition to "speak the truth in love" is one of the most misused passages in the Bible. Too many Christians are determined to speak what they believe is the truth and browbeat anyone who disagrees with them -- and love has little to do with it. These folks lose sight of the Gospel -- and damage the mission and witness of the church.

Or as one retired pastor in our area put it, "I'm tired of people with a mouthful of Scripture and a heart full of hate."

Byas' main point is that LOVE is the #1 commandment according to Jesus. Love of God and love of neighbor.

I liked this enough that, while I downloaded the audio with my Audible subscription to listen in time for a church book discussion, I eventually bought a paperback copy for my bookshelf.

68tymfos
Juil 30, 2022, 1:41 am

OK, I think I've finally got my reading list sorted out.

69tymfos
Modifié : Sep 15, 2022, 10:03 pm

Book #42

The Ghosts that Haunt Me: Memories of a Homicide Detective by Steve Ryan (via Net Galley)

I need to write a real review of this one. I have mixed feelings. Stay tuned.

Here it is (I think):

https://www.librarything.com/work/28503982/reviews/222017145

70tymfos
Modifié : Nov 19, 2022, 10:32 pm

OK, I just had my whole review of Book #43 disappear when I tried to move the cursor. So I'm cursing.

Book #43

Bone White by Ronald Malfi (e-book)

In a lunch counter in the remote village of Dread's Hand, Alaska, a local man confesses to eight killings, sits on church steps waiting for the police to arrive, and leads authorities to the burial site.

In a bar in Annapolis, Maryland, Paul Gallo is watching the news on TV when he recognizes the name Dread's Hand as the last place his identical twin brother Danny was last heard from before he disappeared.

Dread's Hand is a strange village, with strange legends and strange people and a really weird vibe. Paul goes there and is soon in over his head in something he doesn't understand.

This was a pretty good horror novel. It oozed atmosphere. At the end, this story kind of left me thinking "what the ^%$*&^* was that?" However, this isn't a bad thing. When dealing with the paranormal and people's perceptions of things they can't explain, it wouldn't make sense to have too pat an ending, or wrap things up too neatly.

71drneutron
Août 14, 2022, 8:07 pm

>70 tymfos: Got me with that one!

72tymfos
Modifié : Août 19, 2022, 1:47 am

>71 drneutron: Aha! Gotcha, huh Jim? I think you'll like that one.

I started listening to the Clinton/Penny thriller, but wasn't in the mood for contrived drama. I wanted something dramatic but true, and went with true crime.

Book #44

The Michigan Murders by Edward Keyes (audio) 8-19-22

It's interesting that the author starts upfront letting us know that names have been changed in his telling of the tale. Even the guilty party's name has been changed, and the names of the victims, really most anyone except those who were public figures. This is so that the families of all involved can get on with their lives.

In the second half of the 1960's, there was a series of killings of young women in the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area of Michigan. This book recounts the story of the murders, the investigation, and the resulting arrest, trial, and aftermath. It was a fascinating story, narrated in no-nonsense style on the audio book. I like that the narrator included footnotes in the narration when they involved additional explanatory facts.

If you are interested in unusual criminal cases, this is a very well-written book that doesn't sensationalize the story.

73tymfos
Modifié : Août 24, 2022, 11:51 pm

Book #45


I’ll be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

Book # 46

Before I go to sleep by SJ Watson

74tymfos
Août 27, 2022, 12:28 am

Books # 47-56
Ah, it's Junior Library Guild time! Newly arrived picture books I read.
Creepy Crayon by Aaron Reynolds
Abdul's Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
On My Papa's Shoulders by Niki Daly
Two Dogs by Ian Falconer
Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko
Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmerman
Howard the Average Gecko by Wendy Meddour
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
How to be a Rock Star by Lisa Tolin
A Spoonful of Frogs by Casey Lyall

75tymfos
Modifié : Sep 25, 2022, 8:36 pm

Book #57

Eliot Ness and the Mad Butcher by Max Allan Collins (AUDIO)

This deals with a part of Ness's career about which I knew almost nothing. After "The Untouchables" years of going after Capone, he became Public Safety director in Cleveland -- while the city was dealing with a serial killer.

76tymfos
Nov 17, 2022, 12:28 am

So I haven't been here to post in a month and a half. I haven't read much in a month and a half! This year has been crazy. It's not a bad kind of crazy. Our library got grants to upgrade our security system, and to do an energy efficiency project. The highlight of that project is replacing our fluorescent lights with LED fixtures. But there are other parts of the project, too. There have been contractors to contact, quotes to get, reports to write. I also got named to the board of a local community organization, and I'm diving in with both feet. I also created a new website for our church. I'm managing or helping to manage about six different Facebook pages. I've actually become semi-proficient with some tech stuff!

And I'm exhausted.

I've lost track of what I've been reading, for the first time in . . . how many years have I been on LT?

Time goes by so fast. Keeps going faster.

Currently reading: A Journal for Jordan by Dana Canedy.

77tymfos
Modifié : Nov 19, 2022, 9:43 pm

Book #58
The Apparitionists by Peter Manseau AUDIO

This book about the "spirit photography" craze of the 19th century was carefully researched and an interesting read. There is a lot in it about the early history of photography in general.

Book #59

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman (reread)

This was a reread for a Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) continuing education book discussion, as part of an emphasis on multicultural awareness. This story of the inability of a Hmong family and American doctors to communicate and understand one another is a real tragedy.

78Whisper1
Nov 17, 2022, 12:41 am

Hi Terri. I've been lax in visiting threads. I hope to visit here more often. All good wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

79tymfos
Modifié : Nov 19, 2022, 10:09 pm

>78 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda!

Some picture books I've read as part of my library work:

#59

This Story is Not About a Kitten by Randall De Seve

It's not about a kitten -- it's about how a community worked together to HELP a kitten!

#60

Beginning by Shelley Moore Thomas (no touchstone)

The message of this book is that every end is a beginning. It was a very timely read for me, the day our local newspaper announced that it would stop publishing.

#61

More Than Peach by Bellen Woodard

When kids in class called the peach crayon the "skin colored" crayon, she asks "Which crayon?" They needed to learn that "skin can be any number of beautiful colors."

#62

Puppy Bus by Drew Brockington

First day of school jitters? Getting on the wrong bus may be the answer -- especially when it's going to puppy school!

#63

Ruby and the itsy-bitsy (Icky) Bug by Allison Wortche

There's a bug on the screen of Ruby's room! Ick! (But it turns out to be kind of interesting!)

80Whisper1
Nov 20, 2022, 1:14 am

Terri, I am addicted to illustrated books. The artwork in some of them is stunning.

Regarding your local newspaper closing down, I spent 36 years of my life in the Journalism Department at a local college. Mainly, I taught writing and helped students pull together the newspaper and yearbook. I also was responsible for hiring and supervising a student staff who solicited ads.

Over the years it revenue went downhill, at first slowly, then rapidly. There was a switch from the written ads to online. The transition was difficult. Trying to price an ad for online was difficult. When people can go to the computer for news, some do not want to obtain a written copy. It is so sad, but I watched as this outlet continually went through difficult times.

81tymfos
Modifié : Nov 20, 2022, 3:04 pm

>80 Whisper1: Linda, the printed word doesn’t seem to be valued by society anymore. Not only has our local weekly paper ceased publication, the daily paper out of the county seat was bought out by Gannett and they’ve gutted its local staffing, reporting, and focus. They are pushing people towards the online version, which isn’t what many people here want. A local Facebook group tries to keep people informed, but a lot of folks aren’t online here.

Our library has decided to try to fill part of the gap with a newsletter of local events. It will be a poor substitute, but maybe better than nothing.

82tymfos
Modifié : Nov 24, 2022, 9:54 am

Book #66

A Journal for Jordan by Dana Canedy

A mother (who is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist!) writes letters to her child to read in future, centered on excerpts from the child's father's journal . The father was a soldier killed in Iraq.

83PaulCranswick
Nov 24, 2022, 8:21 am



Thank you as always for books, thank you for this group and thanks for you. Have a lovely day, Terri.

84tymfos
Nov 24, 2022, 9:12 pm

>83 PaulCranswick: Best wishes to you, Paul!

85tymfos
Nov 28, 2022, 11:15 pm

Book #67

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

86Whisper1
Nov 29, 2022, 4:23 am

I started to read the book of Cold Cases but another book called to me. I will revisit the book I started and liked. All good wishes to you for a wonderful holiday season.

87tymfos
Déc 4, 2022, 1:12 am

>86 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season, too!

88Whisper1
Déc 19, 2022, 12:05 am

89Berly
Déc 25, 2022, 8:15 pm