Vivian's 2022 Reading

Hi and welcome to my LT friends! I think I mistakenly posted this in the 2021 group so I'm correcting now. (Never been known for my technological prowess.)

2021 fiction favorites

The Survivors
Klara and the Sun
How Beautiful We Were
Light Perpetual
Strange Flowers
Still Life
Bewilderment
Oh William
The Lincoln Highway
Cloud Cuckoo Land
What is Left the Daughter

2021 non-fiction favorites

Jews Don't Count
The Book of Eels
Nomadland
Half the Way Home
A Swim in the Pond

Yay for What is Left the Daughter!

Welcome to 2022, Vivian!! 😀

Heh. I hadn't noticed that you started your thread in the 2021 group. I've put this one in the 2022 Threadbook instead.

Happy reading in 2022, Vivian!

Happy New Year, Vivian. I look forward to following along on your reading journey this year. Great list of favorites.

Welcome back to the group, Vivian.

I’m glad we’re in the correct year. I still like your favorites list, Vivian.

Whew. Found you.

>4 drneutron: Thank you Jim for correcting my error! And thanks again for organizing this group.

Hi to Katie, Laura, Anita, Beth ,Paul, Donna and Ellen and thanks for stopping by. Hard to believe a week of 2022 has already passed. Here's what I've been reading:



#1 The Golden Rule Amanda Craig
This was on the 2021 Women's Prize longlist, which I've almost finished reading in its entirety. Hannah is a single mother living in London, having "escaped" (in her mind) a poor upbringing in Cornwall. This was a poor take on a "Strangers on a Train" pact, with the author inserting social commentary on Brexit, the class divide, gentrification and poverty throughout. A bit heavy-handed and predictable, but I enjoyed the desriptions of Cornwall.



#2 The Ink Stain Meg Keneally
The fourth in the Montsarrat series, set in colonial era Australia. Monsarrat and his intrepid housekeeper Mrs. Mulrooney, both ex-convicts, must solve the murder of a Sydney newspaper editor who had been agitating against the efforts of the corrupt governor to curtail the rights of the press. Love this series and could easily see it being adapted as a miniseries.



#3 Mistress of the Art of Death Ariana Franklin
I loved listening to the audio of this mystery set in medieval Cambridge (thanks Beth!). King Henry II appeals to his cousin, the King of Sicily, to send medical experts to unravel the murders of four children. The crimes are blamed on the local Jewish community, and Henry fears the loss of tax revenue if the mob has its way. The expert forensic physician turns out to be a a woman trained at the University of Salerno, who has to hide her skills and identity in Britain for fear of being charged with witchcraft. Great characters, believable motivations, in-depth historical background - just perfect.



#4 Morningside Heights Joshua Henkin
A quick read about a brilliant Columbia professor's descent into early Alzheimer's. Wonderful New York references (I went to Columbia and lived on the Upper West Side), interesting family complications. I had read a number of gushing reviews and don't think it quite lived up to them. It would probably rate about 3- 3.5 stars if that's a scale I consistently used.



#5 Zorrie Laird Hunt
National Book Award finalist. A moving story of a woman's life in Indiana, mid-20th century. Zorrie is an orphan, then a widow, always hard-working and resilient. It's a quiet book about personal joys, disappointments and heartbreak. Beautifully written.

Hi Vivian, I've had The Mistress of the Art of Death on my list for what seems like forever. Thanks for the reminder.

>10 vivians:, >11 brenzi: Thanks to you and Beth, I requested Mistress of the Art of Death from my library and it's already in transit so I'll be reading it as soon as I finish my current read.

I read and loved (but barely remember) The Mistress of the Art of Death in 2018. I think I want to reread it before I move on in the series.

I have Zorrie on hold at the library. Your description makes me think of works by Kate Southwood, with whom I was friends in grad school. I don't think her books have gotten the attention they deserve and "quiet" captures the essence of her writing for me.

>10 vivians: Zorrie sounds good.

I'm glad you loved Mistress of the Art of Death; it's a short series, but I think the first couple are the best. The Keneally series sounds like one I would like. I'll have to look for it.

Great way to start the year, Vivian.

Hi Bonnie and Laura - I really enjoyed the Franklin and hope you do as well. Perfect historical fiction for me.

>13 EBT1002: I just looked up Kate Southwood, Ellen, and her books
sound wonderful. Added to TBR!

>14 BLBera: Hi Beth!



#6 The Dead Yard Adrian McKinty
This installment was even more brutal and graphic than the last, and I was really wincing throughout much of Gerard Doyle's evocative narration. Michael Forsythe joins MI6 and the FBI in an undercover operation to expose a violent IRA cell in New England. I still think McKinty is a great writer but this series doesn't live up to Sean Duffy.



#7 Shelter Jung Yun
This was highly recommended on one of the podcasts I listen to. Jung Yun also has a new one with great reviews that I'm loking forward to (O Beautiful). Kyung Cho is Korean born, living with his American wife and son in perpetual financial difficulties. A cataclysmic event involving his parents forces him to confront his difficult relationship with them. There's a lot of pain and suffering as engrossing themes of filial duty, racism, domestic violence and immigrant discrimination are explored. Tough to read but very worthwhile.



#8 Infinite Country Patricia Engel
On Obama's 2021 list. A Colombian family is fractured - half living in the US and half in Bogota over many years. Short and a little dispassionate but good.



#9 Assembly Natasha Brown
Novella about a Black British woman from a working class background who rises to an exalted positon at an investment bank. She's about to marry her wealthy and privileged white boyfriend when the combination of health issues and meetinghis family makes her rethink the effect of racism, colonialism and sexism on her life. The style is very fragmented but very effective. Really searing.

Hi Vivian! I need to start the McKinty series. I just finished one... I loved Infinite Country.

Assembly sounds good as well.

I think we're on the same bookish wave length, Beth!

And one more:



#10 The High House Jessie Greengrass
Wow - I could not put this down and read all day (instead of catching up on work as planned.) Shortlisted for the 2021 Costa prize. I read her debut novel Sight a while ago but remember very little except that it was a mix of scientific discoveries and an essay on motherhood. This one is an apocalyptic novel, not usually something I'm interested in reading, about a scientist who prepares a safe haven for her son because she knows the environmental crisis is imminent. It's very bleak, of course, but also really well written and totally absorbing.

This one sounds great, Vivian. I do love dystopian fiction, well done of course.

>17 vivians: I'm at position #2 at my library. Can't wait to get this one.

I read the first few pages of Assembly Vivian, and couldn't get into the rhythm of the staccato sentence structure and dropped it. I guess I should've been more patient because I know it's gotten a lot of rave reviews.

And my overdrive options don't have The High House which sounds like it's right up my alley. I will have to look elsewhere.

>10 vivians: I need to see if we still have Zorrie at the library. I couldn't keep up with all the books I wanted to read, and I don't remember if it is one whose time was up or not. There's always the public library if it went back to the book leasing company.

>15 vivians: I hope you enjoy Kate Southwood's works, Vivian. I know I'm biased because we were friends in grad school (I've done shots of Jamison's with that author!) but I truly love her novels. They are set in the Midwest (grad school = University of Illinois) but she has lived in Oslo for most of her adult life.

I agree with Ellen, Vivian. I've read two of Kat4e Southwood's novels and loved both of them.

>18 BLBera: >19 lauralkeet: I'm looking forward to hearing both of your comments on The High House. It's frustrating to read something like that one without being able to discuss!

>20 brenzi: I hope you find a copy, Bonnie. I was surprised to see that my library had it as I don't think it's been a very big commercial success (other than the Costa nomination).

>21 thornton37814: Good luck finding Zorrie Lori - it's well worth it.

>22 EBT1002: >23 BLBera: I've just placed a library hold on Evensong and am looking forward to it!



#11 When Maidens Mourn C.S. Harris
Best St. Cyr yet (I think I say that with each installment) as all the characters continue to be developed. Terrific subplot about the legendary Camelot and the resurgence of the Arthurian legend as a threat to the Hanoverian throne. The victim this time is an antiquarian and friend of Hero Jarvis. Also involved are two young boys - George and Alfred Tennyson. Even the romance worked for me. But important to read this series in order.



#12 Because of You Dawn French
I was surprised that this made the Women's Prize longlist - the plot was silly (two women give birth in neighboring hospital rooms at midnight on January 1, 2000, one child lives and one doesn't), the writing wasn't great and the ending was beyond ridiculous. The author narrated and did an excellent job but there were so many plot holes and steroetypical characters that I'd give it a fairly low rating.

Now reading:
Afterlives Abdulrazak Gurnah
and listening to:
The Anomaly Herve le Tellier

I must get back to the Harris series, Vivian. Great comments on Because of You; I can cross that one off my list. It sounds like a book that would annoy me. Before too long, we'll have another Women's Prize list to read through!

>25 BLBera: You're so right Beth! It takes me the whole year to read through that list and then I'm back at beginning of another.



#12 Afterlives Abdulrazak Gurnah
I hadn't heard of Gurnah prior to the Nobel award and am thankful to have discovered him. This excellent novel takes places over 80 years, from the time of the German colonization of east Africa, through the years of British mandate and finally to independence. The main characters are Khalifa, who is of Indian heritage and works as a bookkeeper for a merchant, Hamza, who joins the German army as it attempts to put down local insurrections, and Afiya, who has been abandoned by her parents and abused by her adoptive family. Great storytelling.



#13 The Anomaly Herve Le Tellier
2020 Priz Goncourt winner. If you're thinking of reading this, try not to read any reviews whatsoever. It's best to go in blind! I won't say more except that it was a mindbending mix of science fiction and typically self-absorbed French philosophy, but totally creative and completely immersive. Can't wait to talk to someone about this one.



#14 Small Things Like These Claire Keegan
A combination of a rave review from NY Times editor John Williams and a number of LT members drew me to this Irish novella set in the winter of 1985. Poignant, hopeful, beautifully written and quite an indictment of the Catholic Church and its treatment (actually enslavement and exploitation) of unwed mothers.

>26 vivians: All three of these sounds wonderful, Vivian. I just read another novella by Keegan that was absolutely lovely.

>26 vivians: - I'm planning to read the Keegan today while we wait out the snow. Are you getting a lot?

>26 vivians: I'm definitely going to be looking up her back list too, Beth.

>27 BLBera: Will wait to hear your reaction Katie!



#15 The Writing of the Gods Edward Dolnick
Thanks to Suzanne for this great recommendation. Although it got a little too much into the weeds at the end, most of it was a gripping, witty and entertaining read.



#16 Mr. Beethoven Paul Griffiths
Not as much enthusiasm for this Walter Scott longlisted title, but I suspect some of that has to do with my lack of classical music knowledge. The premise is that rather than dying in 1827, the maestro lives a few more years and travels to Boston to complete and perform a new oratorio. Lots of digressions and details, including the interesting use of sign language by the mostly Black, deaf community on Martha's Vineyard. Lots of musical scholarship here, and I felt a little hit over the head by it all.



#17 Those Precious Days Ann Patchett
One of my favorite fiction writers, and a masterful essayist as well.



#18 State of Terror Hillary Rodham Clinton
Good thriller, if a bit transparent payback to Trump (thoroughly enjoyable). I found the insertion of Three Pines, one of my favorite series, a little awkward but fun. I loved the strong, intelligent and brave women, as well as all the insider intrigue.

The essays and the thriller are both in my library queue. Good to see your positive comments

I loved the Patchett essays as well, Vivian. Did you have a favorite? I think my mom bought State of Terror, so I'll have to try to borrow it from her. The library list is never-ending.

I listened to the Patchett essays Vivian, and of course she narrated it herself. It was excellent. I wonder how Louise Penny is going to incorporate what happened in State of Terror into the next Gamache novel?

>30 lauralkeet: I've been hugely successful with library borrows recently, Laura. I don't know if they've expanded their hoopla/overdrive budgets, but I'm finding lots of options and the "hold" capability helps too.

>31 BLBera: Hi Beth! I loved the Sooki essay and kept admiring Patchett's capacity to add close friendships at this stage of her life. And everything she wrote about Karl really appealed to me - what a kind and generous man.

>32 brenzi: I was debating about listening rather than reading the Patchett, Bonnie, but decided it would be easier to dip in and out in print. I'm sure she did a great job narrating. I hope you got to see the photograph accompanying the essay about her three fathers. I kept referring to it throughout the book.

Re Three Pines - I was wondering that too! Will Myrna really have a partner in the next book and how will she incorporate that thread?

Here's a photo of baby Kai (now 8 months) and her parents celebrating Chinese New Year yesterday!

>34 vivians: - Aww, Kai's adorable! Is that the son and family that lives quite close to you?

>34 vivians: Awww, that's a very sweet photo and I agree with Katie, an adorable child.

>35 katiekrug: Yes! Gideon and Monica live about 4 miles from us - so great.
>36 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura!

Not to be left out, here's a photo of Shai (yes, rhyming cousins), 3rd child of Marcus and Yona who live in Brooklyn. She's 5 months old now.

Another cutie!

You are so lucky! How many grandchildren now? Do you get to see them?

>34 vivians: >37 vivians: Beautiful!

>29 vivians: Some good reading Vivian. I am waiting for the Penney/Clinton thriller in paperback as its a tome, glad you liked it.

I too lived the Pratchett essays.

>34 vivians: Lovely family.

>34 vivians: & >37 vivians: What lovely photos. The little fellow has such an expressive face!

>38 katiekrug: She's a real smiler! I think when you met Marcus he was not even married! Eons ago, but seems like last year.

>39 BLBera: Thanks Beth - 4 all together, all 3 and under! So it's happened very rapidly. We see them all regularly: the Brooklyn crowd every 2 weeks or so (only inside in the last month, what a joy after 2 years outside and masked), and Gideon a couple of times a week since he's just down the road.

>40 brenzi: Thanks Bonnie, I'm a very happy "Oma." Plus I still have two unmarried kids, so who knows how many more will come. Although my youngest daughter (only 20) has vowed never to have kids, and I respect her decision.

>41 Caroline_McElwee: Hi Caroline! I wonder if you've heard of the debut novel A Terrible Kindness, see below, and whether it has good press in the UK. I really loved it.

>42 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul! Despite the fact that Shai has traditionally been a boy's name, this one is a girl! I think she'll probably get a lot of that as she grows up.



#19 A Terrible Kindness Jo Browning-Wroe
I heard this author speak about her debut novel on a British podcast I really enjoy, hosted by Simon Mayo. I immediately ordered the book and read it all day today. This historical fiction begins with the 1966 tragedy in Aberfan, Wales, in which a sliding mountain of slag killed dozens of residents, mostly children at the primary school. The novel's hero is a 19 year old recent graduate of embalming school, whose back story as a talented chorister is gradually revealed. Really excellent: a tender, humane story about a caring man. And I cried - very unusual for me. I have a beautiful copy and would love to pass it along.



#20 Whose Body Dorothy Sayers
The Backlisted pod tweeted that they'd be doing a later Sayers so I figured it was time to start the Peter Wimsey series. I thought it was pretty good, with lots of humor and interesting characters. Obvious culprit, and some unocmfortable characterizations of Jews were the sticking points.

>43 vivians: I tried really hard to get into the Lord Peter series. I read the first two books but they just didn't click for me. I am disappointed because I admire Sayers as a literary pioneer and really wanted to like her work.

>43 vivians: >44 lauralkeet: I re-read the Sayers books for the group read a couple years back. I did not enjoy them as much as many of the other people did. I was really glad when I got to the end and there were no more! I doubt I'll ever feel the need to re-read the series.

>44 lauralkeet: That's interesting, Laura. I picked up the first one because a podcast I love was reviewing a later entry. I may give another one a try but it seems they don't hold up so well.

>45 thornton37814: You're another "meh" for Lord Peter, Lori! I'm feeling less and less enthused about the series.



#21 What Darkness Brings C.S. Harris
Another great entry in the St. Cyr series. A gem dealer is killed and a rare blue diamond, which can be traced to the French crown in pre-revolutionary days, is missing. The historical context is alwys fascinating (the Hope diamond!) but my primary interest is in the development of the characters and their relationships.



#22 The Serpent's Tale Ariana Franklin
Although there was some dragging in the middle, I really loved the second novel in the "Mistress of the Art of death" series. Adelia remains in reluctant service to Henry II, and is called upon to investigagte the murder of his mistress Rosamund. Eleanor of Aquitaine plays a role, as does an elaborate labyrinth outside of Godstow Abbey. After reading this, Lauren Groff's Matrix seems much less original. I highly recommend this series.



#23 Free Love Tessa Hadley
I don't think Hadley is as popular here as she is in the UK. Her latest takes place in 1968 and is about a seemingly satisfied housewife and mother in suburban London. There's a great sense of place and time, and the atmosphere of rebellion, both personal and political, is very well drawn.



#24 The Bloomsday Dead Adrian McKinty
I'm so glad to be done with this violent trilogy - just too much killing for me. I love the humor in McKinty's writing, and Gerard Doyle narrates perfectly. Belfast post-Good Friday agreement is a fascinating backdrop as the bad-guy hero tries to rescue a kidnapped child. Page-turner, for sure.



#25 Knife Edge Simon Mayo
I enjoy Mayo's podcast and author interviews, during which he often hawks his own writing. Chilling, coordinated murders of seven journalists opens this thriller about global terrorism and attacks on the press. Great female protagonists, mostly-fast paced timeline, and great backdrop of London and Coventry. Not my favorite genre but I still raced through it.

Heh, just bought my first Tessa Hadley book last week, The Past. I'm looking forward to it Vivian.

Some good reading there, Vivian. Lord Peter has a lot of fans around here, but I guess I'm just not one of them. I'm glad to see you're continuing to enjoy both St Cyr and the Ariana Franklin series. I just finished Matrix, and had forgotten it's set around the same time period as Franklin's books. But other than the strong female protagonist, it's a quite different book.

I own four books by Tessa Hadley and haven't read a single one.

Glad you are enjoying your reads!

I think your comments about The Serpent's Tale are interesting, Vivian. I must admit, when I read Matrix, I did think about this series.

I did love the Lord Peter series, but it's been a while since I read them. If you are going to read one, Gaudy Night is a good one, lots about women scholars, an issue that Sayers struggled with, I think.

I need to get back to the St. Cyr series...

Hi Vivian.

I'm adding Afterlives to my list. And I've been working my way through Adrian McKinty's Sean Duffy series. Not sure I'll give the Dead series a go.

Kai and Shai are both adorable!

>47 brenzi: , >49 katiekrug: I think Hadley is extremely popular in the UK but not here. It's also true of Marian Keyes - have either of you read anything by her?

>48 lauralkeet: I saw a lot of similarities, Laura, not only the historical setting and the labyrinth, of course, but also the depictions of the abbess and the nuns, the impact of the Crusades, the reign of Henry II and how the Becket affair damaged him, among others. I really enjoyed reading them close together.

>50 BLBera: Hi Beth! The Backlisted podcast about Gaudy Night was my impetus to try the series. Not sure I'll make it all the way through 9 more titles....

>51 EBT1002: Thanks Ellen! I'm really enjoying grandparenthood and am so grateful that they're nearby. Now if I can only get my California kid to move back east....but he's having too much fun out there.



#26 The Final Revival of Opal and Nev Dawnie Walton
From Obama's list. Similar to Daisy Jones & the Six but not as good, although a good full cast recording. It's an oral history of a rock duo in the 70s made up of an unknown black Afro-punk singer from Detroit and a white pop singer from the UK. Had its moments but dragged in places.



#27 A Lonely Death Charles Todd
My monthly Rutledge installment, about the killing of a number of young war veterans in July of 1920. As always, Rutledge is dealing with his "shell shock", and there was also a subplot about another officer's unsolved murder case at Stonehenge.



#28 Lolly Willowes Sylvia Townsend Warner
Recommended on the Book review podcast. A somewhat dated book about the life of an unmarried daughter caring for her father in 1920s England, who has no alternative after his death other than living with her married brother and his family. Although she appears to be a paragon of family loyalty, she is suffocating inside, and makes a radical move after 15 years of being a devoted aunt. I found the strange twist at the end very jarring, and it negatively affected what would have been a good review. Maybe I'm just too conventional.



#29 Finlay Donovan is Killing It Elle Cosimano
I picked this up after my librarian gushed about it. A debut mystery about a broke suspense writer who is mistaken for a contract killer. Lots of bad judgment and ridiculous predicaments. Very over-the-top but still fun.

I've got Lolly Willows lined up to read later this year, Vivian. It's been on three different podcasts that I listen to and I happen to have a copy so....

I plan to read Gaudy Nights without reading any of the preceding books in the series, something that goes against everything I believe. Really odd since I have so many of them on my Kindle but I just want to get to,the Backlisted episode.

I've never heard of Marian Keyes but Tessa Hadley is wildly popular on bookish Twitter and I've heard her being interviewed on the Maris Review.

I think Gaudy Night stands up by itself.

I've been wondering about Final Revival of Opal & Nev - I think it's a maybe someday book.

>53 brenzi: Hi Bonnie - I think you and I have a similar podcast line-up. I'm going to look for that Maris interview.

>54 BLBera: Good to know about Gaudy Night, Beth. Maybe I'll skip the ones in between!

Fun celebrity spotting in Brooklyn yesterday! At a neighborhood playground I saw Jordan Klepper of the Daily show and now podcast fame. He was very friendly, said all the right things about the three perfect granchildren I was toting around, and graciously agreed to a photo.

>55 vivians: - So where's the photo, hmmm?

>56 katiekrug: Couldn't get it to appear right side up (really! that's not a dodge!) so I'll text it to you.

How fun, Vivian. I've always been surprised by Klepper's courage in immersing himself in Trump rallies. I would be scared to do that.

Agree that Gaudy Night stands out on its own. I certainly read it first, and years before I picked up the other books, and absolutely loved it.

Some great reading. Claire Keegan is going to go down as one of my fave books of this year. I'm dipping into her short story collection, Antarctica, now.

Omigod, the Aberfan disaster... A friend of my father's (an artist) did a number of renderings of harrowing images of a widow and children set against the backdrop of the Aberfan slag heap. I can't look at it, so it's tucked away in my spare room. (His drawing of a gypsy woman from Derbyshire is, however, on my wall...)

Gorgeous grandkids. I love Kai's beaming face.

Thanks for the rotating tip, Laura!!

Nice photo, Vivian. The best and easiest way I've learned to deal with the sideways photos (hat tip to Linda/laytonwoman3rd) is to edit the pic on your phone before uploading. Just making the tiniest little crop is enough, and it will be right-side-up when uploaded.

>58 BLBera: I was definitely star- struck, Beth!

>59 Chatterbox: Hi Suzanne - always great to see you here. I had never heard of the Aberfan disaster, and the descriptions in Jo Browning Wroe's novel were shattering. I might look for some non-fiction about the event.



#30 Fight Night Miriam Toews
Nine year old Swiv, the narrator of the bulk of this novel, is memorable, as is her quirky, feisty grandmother who makes friends with everyone she meets. They live on the edges of a fundamentalist community, three generations of women whose central belief is that they have to fight for survival. Funny, hopeful and moving.



#31 The Maid Nita Prose
A lot of love on LT for this one but it was just so-so for me. Neuro-divergent maid at an upscale NY hotel finds a prominent guest dead in his bed and helps solve the murder. Kept me reading but I didn't love it.



#32 An Island Karen Jennings
Finally, my last 2021 Booker Prize longlist entry, just about in time for 2022! An old lighthouse keeper with a troubled past lives alone on an island off the coast of an unnamed African country. A refugee washes ashore, providing the opportunity to explore xenophobia, solitude and trauma. I believe this should be read as an allegory for the great crises in the modern world, but much of that went over my head. But even viewed as a simple story it felt worthwhile.



#33 Castle Shade Laurie R. King
My first Holmes-Russell in a long time, and more enjoyable because of the long break. Historical setting is fascinating: Queen Marie of Romania (granddaughter of Victoria and Tsar Alexander II) and Castle Bran in Transylvania. Lots of googling which I always enjoy. Gothic tropes mixed with post WWI European history.

>61 lauralkeet: It worked!! Thanks!

>63 vivians: yay!

>62 vivians: The Maid has been on my radar, but I'm keeping an eye on reviews before committing myself.

Well once again were in the same reading groove Vivian. I finished the audio of Fight Night yesterday and started The Maid this morning. Both make for good audios.

>60 vivians: Klepper is a favorite of mine too. Great pic!

>60 vivians: Nice photo!

I'm glad to see another fan of Fight Night - your description is perfect.

An Island has been on my shelf for a while. Maybe this year...

I enjoyed the Russell-Holmes series early on more, but this one was better than a lot of the more recent ones.

>62 vivians: Hi Vivian. Lovely pictures of your grandchildren. How nice that they live close to you. I also liked the fangirl pic of you in the park. ;-)

Great thoughts on Fight Night and now I see Bonnie has joined the club which may have been started by Beth. Haha. I watched an interesting interview with Miriam Toews on YouTube. She talked about the grandmother character in the book being based on her own mother. I didn't know she (Miriam) is a Mennonite. Very interesting.

Dropping by to wish you a splendid weekend, Vivian.

>65 thornton37814: I'm curious to hear what you think about The Maid, Lori, it was just ok for me.

>66 brenzi: Hi Bonnie - great minds.....

My kids were embarrassed that I asked for a photo but they were also very jealous that I met him!

>67 BLBera: Hi Beth - I agree, that series was sub-par for a while but this one was much better.

>68 Donna828: Hi Donna - Beth, Bonnie and Laura are great sources for me as I think we often have similar reading tastes.

>69 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the visit, Paul!

I just returned from a lovely 6 day trip to Costa Rica, my first time there and my first trip since March of 2020. It was a terrific combination: 3 days in the Arenal Volcano area, with hiking, wildlife spotting, hot springs, and even a volunteer morning at an animal rescue center, and then 3 days on the Pacific coast. It's a beautiful and diverse country, very conscious of its excellent record in renewable energy sources, its democratic government, and lack of corruption; its landscape is clean (quite a contrast from its poverty-stricken and violent neighbor, Nicaragua), the food is excellent and the people are upbeat and glad to see tourists. I got to spend lots of time with my 20 year old daughter, a rarity these days, and I got lots of reading done. A perfect time, just somewhat marred by a 28 hour return trip from hell.



#34 Grave Goods Arianna Franklin
Adelia Aguilar investigates the possible remains of Arthur and Guinevere at Glastonbury Abbey. Love the mythology surrounding Arthur as well as the historical details about Henry II. This has been a terrific series for me.



#35 Islands of Mercy Rose Tremain
2021 Walter Scott longlist. A dual narrative set in Bath in 1865, where a transplanted Dubliner opens a tea house, and an independent young nurse faces misogyny and limited opportunities, and in more exotic Borneo, where a colonialist Englishman takes advantage of (and is taken advantage by) locals.



#36 The Foundling Stacey Halls
London, 1748, an unwed mother gives up her child (temporarily, she hopes) to the Foundling Hospital. The child is adopted by a wealthy widow whose childhood traumas have resulted in severe agoraphobia resulting in virtual imprisonment for the child. The story is narrated by the two women who are worlds apart in terms of wealth, social class and maternal abilities. Too many coincidences and too much predictability for me, but a great setting.



#37 The Whistling Season Ivan Doig
Brilliant storytelling, a five star read for me. A homesteading widower raising his three sons in 1909 Montana hires a housekeeper who arrives with her highly educated brother. The narrator is a bright 13 year old, looking back on those years from the 1950s. I couldn't put this down: drama, humor and unforgettable characters.



#38 Why Kings Confess C.S. Harris
Another good St. Cyr: the usual gruesome murders framed by an interesting historical context (this time about French aristocratic emigres in London and the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty) and the wonderfully developed characters,

Yikes The Whistling Season is sitting on my shelf. It's been there for eons Vivian. What am I waiting for.

Your trip to Costa Rica sounds fabulous.

Your trip sounds great, Vivian. Both the Doig and Islands of Mercy caught my attention - you did manage to do some reading while in Costa Rica. It is on my bucket list.

>71 brenzi: & >72 BLBera: Hi Bonnie and Beth - only a week later and that wonderful trip has already receded from memory! Guess that means it's time to plan another. :)



#39 The House in the Cerulean Sea TJ Klune
I enjoyed this entertaining YA (albeit somewhat juvenile) fairy tale and understand it to be directly referencing the placement of indigenous Canadian children into orphanages. Although predictable and at times lacking nuance, it still held my interest.



#40 Hyperbole and a Half Allie Brosh
I read about this graphic memoir on Amber's site - it's fabulous and I highly recommend it.



#41 The Paper Palace Miranda Cowley Heller
Women's Prize longlist. Lots of very familiar places in NY and Cape Cod, with a timeline that matched my years growing up. It was fun to read about getting shoes at Stride Rite, shopping at Lamston's, both activities I shared. I didn't love the book though, with its unrelenting emotional and physical abuse of children, and its dysfunctional and uninspiring characters. I'm very curious to hear what others think.



#42 In Love: A memoir of Love and Loss Amy Bloom
Beautifully written. I read it in two sittings and wept throughout. I've read some of her fiction but this was simply astounding.

I'm going to have to gird myself for the Bloom. I had a feeling, given the topic, but your comments cement it.

>74 katiekrug: It's well worth it, Katie.

Quick reviews - I'm off to Oakland tomorrow, just for the weekend, to visit son Oren. I'm looking forward to that uninterrupted airplane reading time. Katie: I have Ocean State with me!



#43 The Appeal Janice Hallett
A clever, if sometimes tedious, format for a mystery: two law students are assigned the task of overturning a murder conviction, provided only with emails, text messages and other documents as evidence. Great characters. I think this would have been difficult for audio but I did hear that it's performed by a full cast.



#44 Clouds of WitnessDorothy L. Sayers
I wanted to try another Lord Wimsey and this one was pretty good, especially since it involved his family members.



#45 The Mad Women's Ball Victoria Mas
Great premise for a debut novel: a 16 year old spririted and intelligent young woman is confined to an asylum in 1800s Paris. It was ok, just not as well executed as I had hoped.



#46 Deep Water Patricia Highsmith
This was suggested by a podcast as one of her best. Really tense domestic drama in which the reader roots for the psychopath. Very very good.

I am hoping to finally get to Ocean State when I finish the ER book I need to read.

Are you going to watch the adaptation of Deep Water now that you've read it? I sort of loathe Ben Affleck so will likely pass...

Safe travels!

>76 katiekrug: Oh! That's why there's suddenly been talk about this 1957 thriller! Thanks for letting me know about the movie - I might watch it but am not eager (in the Bridgerton way).

A crushing attempt to get to Oakland late last night: sat on a JFK runway for 3 hours and returned home at 3AM after two more hours in the terminal. I wish it was an April Fool's joke but it isn't. Not tragic in the scheme of things but beyond disappointing.

>77 vivians: - Oh, that's awful. I'm so sorry.

So sorry you didn't make it to Oakland, Vivian. The Bloom book is what most calls to me in your recent reading. The Paper Palace is a maybe; there's a long list at the library, so I might not get to it, especially if it doesn't make the short list.

>77 vivians: oh my, that's a travel nightmare. I'm sorry to hear that, Vivian.

Oh no, that's awful Vivian. I'm a big Amy Bloom fan and her book is up next for me.

Hi Katie, Beth, Laura and Bonnie, and thanks for your sympathy! I also managed to contract a really yucky cold, probably in that godforsaken terminal at 3AM.



#47 From the Wreck Jane Rawson
I've had this on my TBR for ages but can't remember who recommended it. It's a weird combination of historical fiction (a man survives a shipwreck in mid-19th century Australia and then goes on to live a haunted, traumatized life) and science fiction (an otherworldly shapeshifter narrates a portion). The wreck is real and the sailor is the author's ancestor. Weird but good - I have a copy if any one is interested.



#48 The Island of Missing Trees Elif Shafak
Longlisted for the Women's Prize. Beautiful and memorable. I never would have believed I'd enjoy a book narrated in part by a fig tree, but Shafak pulls it off brilliantly. I l loved learning about Cyprus, and I thought the teenage girl in present-day London was especially well drawn.



#49 The Arc Tory Henwood Hoen
Read for book group. A high-priced NY matchmaking service purports to make perfect matches. The main character has the job title of "VP of Strategic Audacity" and she belongs to a feminist health club with a "womb room" and a room in which china can be hurled against the walls. The story line was totally predictable and the over-the-top satire was annoying. Very meh.



#50 O Beautiful Jung Yun
A half-Korean, one-time model turned journalist, returns to her home state of North Dakota to write an article about the oil boom and the changes it has wrought. The all-pervasive misogyny and racism seems to be the main theme, but there were just too many undeveloped threads that were left hanging. This was recommended in Elisabeth Egan's Group Text" column in the Times.

The fig tree made the book for me, Vivian. I think this one is my favorite Shafak.

I hope you feel better soon.

>83 BLBera: I agree Beth, as usual!

I haven't posted in ages - just busy with work, holidays, etc.



#51 Mercy Street Jennifer Haigh
Mercy Street is a women's clinic in Boston which provides health care and counseling as well as abortions. I found the different story lines (the people who work there, the protesters outside) a bit disjointed but otherwise I thought it was very good.



#52 Who By Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai Matti Friedman
I'm a rabid fan of both subject and author, so this was a perfect storm for me. Loved it.



#53 Ocean State Steward O'Nan
Not quite at the level of Emily, Alone, which I think is among his best, but still a very gripping read. A younger sister reflects on the tragic events of passionate and destructive teenage love. Great reflections on class, single parenthood, alcoholism and obsession.



#54 A Visit from the Goon Squad Jennifer Egan
A reread in anticipation of her new novel. I loved it 10 years ago but not quite as much this time. Two main protagonists, Bennie Salazar, a record producer, and his assistant Sasha interact with a number of people in different places and times.



#55 Lessons in Chemistry Bonnie Garmus
I really enjoyed this debut novel about a brilliant and frustrated woman chemist in the 60s and how she deals with misogyny and heartache. Witty dialogue, lots of humor and pathos. I could have done without the precocious 6 year old reading Faulkner, but otherwise just great.

Hi Vivian! I just finished Ocean State too and posted my thoughts on my thread. I agree that it was good but not among his best.

Jennifer Egan, eh? Can I lure you to my 'hood for this? I'll buy you dinner! https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTQ0MzY3

And if not, do check out the Saturday schedule - I'll be there most of the day :)

As usual, great reading, Vivian. Lessons in Chemistry goes on my list; there is a long wait at my library, but I do have other books.

I had hoped to reread A Visit from the Goon Squad before reading her new one, but I won't get to it; I already have a copy from the library of The Candy House.

Mercy Street sounds like one I would like as well. I really liked the previous book by Haigh that I read.

>85 katiekrug: Arggghhhh Katie - I was off LT (rescheduled Oakland trip) and didn't visit my thread. Thanks so much for the offer - I would love to hear Egan and see you but the date doesn't work. Hope another opportunity comes up soon.

>86 BLBera: Hi Beth - I just listened to an interview with Bonnie Garmus and she sounds so likeable. She's working on another book, so something else to look forward to.



#56 The Book of Form and EmptinessRuth Ozecki
Unlike a lot of LTers, I wasn't a fan of A Tale for the Time Being, but I really enjoyed this one. 12 year old Benny's musician father dies in an accident and he and his mother grieve deeply. Benny begins to hear voices and his mother suffers from anxiety, hoarding and depression. Both find solace and solutions in books. Although it was quite long, there was a real rhythm to it, and the broad issues of mental illness, poverty, Zen philosophy, politics, etc. kept me interested.



#57 Young Mungo Douglas Stuart
Similar themes to Shuggie Bain (gay adolescent, Glasgow, alcoholic mother, troubled siblings) and not quite as good.



#58 Devotion Hannah Kent
Highly recommended if you liked Burial Rites. A young woman in a Lutheran community in 1830s Prussia emigrates with her family. Hanne is an unusual, friendless child who meets her kindred spirit just before the arduous voyage to South Australia.
I have a copy I'm happy to share...



#59 The Sentence Louise Erdrich
I liked this much better than her more recent works. Lots of humor in this Covid-era novel as well as colorful characters, a bit of magical realism and contemporary realities such as racism. And most importantly, the power of books to restore our humanity.

Great reading, Vivian. I would take Devotion if it is available.

I loved A Tale for the Time Being, though not the title, as well as The Sentence. I agree it's the best Erdrich in a while.

I just started The Candy House, and I REALLY wish I had reread Goon Squad first, so, you are well prepared.

Wow, you've been on a binge with some very notable books. I appreciate your takes on all of them!

I am so looking forward to Devotion Vivian after loving both The Good People and Burial Rites. I loved the Erdrich which I listened to. She is a terrific narrator. I really didn't like A Tale for the Time Being at all so I've been hesitating to read her new one. Good to see it is a better book.

Some brilliant stuff being read here, Vivian.

I am waiting Hannah Kent's book arriving here.

>88 BLBera: Devotion is on its way, Beth!

>89 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura!

>90 brenzi: I agree on the Ozecki, Bonnie, and definitely liked this newest one better.

>91 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! Hope you get to Devotion soon.

I’m really surprised at the Pulitzer fiction choice. I read The Netanyahus and found it witty with some serious reservations. Not a great choice, IMO.



#60 Sankofa Chibundu Onuzo
Recommended by Caroline and very worthwhile. After the death of her Welsh mother and the betrayal of her husband, a middle-aged biracial woman searches for her father in West Africa.



#61 Who Buries the Dead C.S. Harris
St. Cyr investigates the brutal decapitation of a relic collector. I loved the addition of Jane Austen as a peripheral character! The series is consistently good.



#62 The Undertaking Audrey Magee
This was a Bailey nominee in 2014 and discussed on a recent podcast. A Nazi soldier enters into an arranged marriage in order to obtain honeymoon leave; his bride does so in order to guarantee a widow's pension. The narrative alternates between the home front and the battle of Stalingrad, and is mostly told through dialogue. Not for me.



#63 Mother's Boy Patrick Gale
I've loved Gale's work in the past and this is no exception. It's a fictionalized account of the Cornish poet Charles Causley and his mother Laura, from her time "in service" as a teenager in 1914 through the end of WWII. Gale's audiobook narration was perfect. My only minor complaint was a rather rushed ending, but otherwise I'd highly recommend it.

Thanks Vivian. The Gale, Harris and Onuzo all sound great. You did it again!

>93 BLBera: Hi Beth!

Not much new here except work continues to be crazy. Lots of reading though!



#64 A Murderous Procession Ariana Franklin
Adelia accompanies the wedding procession of Joanna, daughter of Henry II, through France and to Sicily. Great series.



DNF The Emerald Mile My RL book group chose this and I really tried to get into it. It's the story of the 1983 speed record (since broken) for running the Grand Canyon river. Long and meandering, like the river!



#65 Companion Piece Ali Smith
I'll read anything she writes, even if I feel that I'm not "getting" it all. A middle-aged artist, Sandy Gray, whose elderly father is in the hospital during the height of the pandemic, gets a call from a university acquaintance that plunges her into a variety of dramas. I'm sure I missed many of the the allusions but still thought it was terrific.



#66 Work Song Ivan Doig
Further adventures of Morrie Morgan in 1919 Montana. Unionization, libraries and ranchers feature prominently. Wonderful.



#67 Search: A Novel Michelle Huneven
A Universalist church forms a committee to search for their next minister. One member, the narrator, is a food critic and writer, and she sprinkles the story with recipes and food prep. Interesting discussions about theology, spirituality, generational differences and the relative importance of preaching vs social action. A bit long but good.



#68 French Braid Anne Tyler
Great story-telling, as usual from Tyler, about a multi-generational Baltimore family beginning in 1959. I found the individuals' inability to bond with each other very sad. There's no great action or drama, just everyday lives of the Garretts, married for 50 years, and their 3 children who are disconnected throughout their lives. Recommended for Tyler fans - this one fits right in.



#69 All About Me Mel Brooks
I'm not a memoir fan but have a special place in my heart for Brooks and it was fun to hear him narrate.



#70 The Confession Charles Todd
Rutledge #14 is set on the Essex coast - and the mystery is convoluted as usual. An entire village is complicit in the smuggling trade with France, and several murders are connected.

Nice batch of reviews, Vivian. I will eventually get to French Braid (long hold list), and decided to read from her backlist in the meantime. I just finished Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, and there are many more at the library should the mood strike again while I'm waiting.

You got me with your positive comments on Ali Smith's Companion Piece, and reminded me I should read another of the Arianna Franklin books soon.

I am reading Summer right now and hope to read Companion Piece next month. Search sounds interesting. I will look for it.

I agree that French Braid was vintage Tyler.

The Mel Brooks sounds fun as well.

I'll have to have a look for the Mel Brooks audio. We went to a screening of Young Frankenstein at NJPAC in Newark a few years ago, which was followed by a Q&A with him. He was delightful.

Hi Vivian, I'm skimming through your wonderful brief reviews, looking for something to download from the library in case I finish The Intuitionist before my travels are done. I shudder at the thought of being at 35K feet, finishing this novel, and not having anything else ready to go! Today I browsed at a small indie bookstore here in Black Mountain, NC, but the only things I wanted (that they had) were still in hardcover, so I resisted. I think I'm going to see what I can find by Anne Tyler that I haven't already read.

Or maybe the first in the CS Harris series?

^ Not available so I checked out Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon.

>94 vivians: Ivan Doig is an author I have enjoyed, Vivian, but for some reason his books don't get sold to Malaysia by the publishers which I really don't understand.

Oh, I should have mentioned that I am a fan of Ivan Doig although I have not read anything by him in a while. I still remember reading Dancing at the Rascal Fair. It was my first Doig and I LOVED it.

Absent on my thread - first too much work and then a 5 day conference in gorgeous Banff. We had time for a few hikes, including a very tough one on the Athabasca glacier, and a wonderful e-bike ride. Spotted 4 bears (from a bus, thank goodness), several elk, prairie dogs and lots of birds. A great change of scenery.

>95 lauralkeet: Hi Laura - once upon a time I read every Anne Tyler that was published but it's been a while. I remember enjoying Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant.

>96 BLBera: All my kids are huge Mel Brooks fans, Beth, and quite a few memorable lines have entered the family lexicon. They still make each other laugh with:

Prince John: You mean you changed it TO "Latrine"?
Latrine: Yeah. Used to be "Shithouse."
Prince John: Good change, good change.

>97 katiekrug: Young Frankenstein is a good one, Katie. I went to a talk with Gene Wilder a few years ago, but he was quite fragile and it was pretty sad. The audiobook sounds like Mel Brooks is still in top form, amazingly.

>98 EBT1002:, 99 Hi Ellen - I followed your trip on your thread and was glad to see you thought it was worthwhile. And some good reading too!

>100 PaulCranswick: Glad to see another Ivan Doig fan, Paul!

>101 EBT1002: You too, Ellen!

Here are my latest:



#70 The Magician Colm Toibin
Fascinating fictional account of the life of Thomas Mann. Strangely enough, it didn't prompt me to read more of his work (I read Buddenbrooks and Death in Venice years ago).



#71 The Death of the Heart Elizabeth Bowen
Recommended by one of the podcasts. An orphaned 16 year old is sent to live with her half-brother & sister-in-law in 1930s London. She's quite defenseless and yet unwittingly wreaks havoc upon the household with her spied upon diary entries. Bowen's writing, rather than the plot, is the driver of the book, and at times I found it too florid and overdone.



#72 Trust Hernan Diaz
I really enjoyed this multi-layered novel about wealth, privilege and manipulation on Wall Street in the 1920s and beyond. Best to read this without reading reviews or spoilers so that the layers are more effective. Really good!



#73 The Widows Jess Montgomery
Why oh why did I begin yet another series? This one was highly recommended by the podcast "Book Cougars," and is about the first female sheriff in a 1920s Ohio mining town. Unions, accidents, poverty, and two very courageous women, so highly entertaining. (I think the sheriff part was handled better by Amy Stewart in her Kopp series though.)



#74 Sea of Tranquility Emily St. John Mandel
Loved, loved, loved this one. Very skillful time travel, with some recurring characters from The Glass Hotel. Highly recommended.



#75 Book Lovers Emily Henry
Perfect plane read. Light and sometimes annoyingly repetitive, but fun.



#76 The Colony Audrey Magee
The setting for this novel is a remote Irish island at the peak of the Troubles in 1979. Two summer visitors, an English painter who yearns for isolation, and a French linguist who is studying the end of the Irish dialect, each have their own agenda. Very compelling POV shifts.



#77 The Premonitions Bureau Sam Knight
Another gripping non-fiction from a New Yorker writer! Jane Mayer and Patrick Radden Keefe are two other skilled writers who successfully transformed long-form articles into books. It begins with the Aberfan disaster (about which I read a tremendous fictional account earlier this year, A Terrible Kindness), and how it seems to have been foretold by several people. A psychiatrist and a journalist then investigate premonitions to see if disasters can be predicted and avoided. Knight includes other topics such as the UK's mental asylum system in the 1960s, aversion therapy and death caused by extreme fear. These diversions gave the book a very jumpy, non-linear feeling, but I still found it fascinating.

Congrats on passing 75, Vivian. The ones that caught my eye are Trust, The Colony, and the Tóibín.

My Mel Brooks quotes come from "Young Frankenstein," maybe the funniest movie ever.
"It could be worse." "It could be raining."

Totally agree about not reading reviews of Trust, Vivian. Best to go in knowing absolutely nothing which is generally how I approach most books but this one especially.

I'm looking forward to The Premonitions Bureau

>102 vivians: Congratulations on reaching 75, Vivian!

Congrats!

Thanks Beth, Bonnie, Anita and Jim!



#78 An Artist of the Floating World Kazua Ishiguro
An early Ishiguro I had never read. Set in post-war Tokyo during the American occupation, a renowned painter is faced with his complicity as a propaganda artist. Not quite up to his later novels but still worthwhile.



#79 A Year of Marvellous Ways Sarah Winman
Thanks to Caroline for recommending this. I love Winman and this one did not disappoint. Two lives converge: a 90 year old healer living in remote Cornwall and a broken-hearted young soldier.



#80 The Candy House Jennifer Egan
This one is still reverberating in my head! I'm glad I reread Goon Squad, although I think this would have worked as a stand alone too. There is a huge cast of characters, and my only complaint is that there were too many unresolved threads. Otherwise, a terrific exploration of a new technology with very mixed blessings. So creative - multiple styles, formats and perspectives. Loved it.



#81 Lost on a Mountain in Maine Donn Fendler
I was just a work conference in Banff and did some hiking with other participants. When Mt. Katahdin was mentioned, one man launched into a story of his grandfather's 9 day survival ordeal on the mountain when was only 10. This is YA - a one sitting read and pretty gripping!

Oh, my. I own that Winman and completely forgot about it! Shame on me...

The Winman does sound good, Vivian. I also loved The Candy House. At first, I wished I had reread Goon Squad, but it worked out OK.

>102 vivians: I've done that hike across that Athabasca glacier - it's beautiful! We stayed in a cabin on the Athabasca River (this was at least ten years ago). Banff and Jasper are lovely places.

I need to get in the library queue for Sea of Tranquility. And I'm glad to see the comments about A Year of Marvellous Ways. I had not heard of that one but, having recently read my first Winman, I want to read her other work. I think she may end up on that list of favorites that includes the likes of Sarah Moss, Louise Erdrich, and so on.

>108 katiekrug: Winman's Tin Man is also terrific, just saying...

>109 BLBera: I remembered so little of Goon Squad, so I'm glad I reread it. Egan is such a master of back stories, isn't she? I would love an entire novel for each of the Candy House characters!

>110 EBT1002: Hi Ellen - that glacier hike was so difficult and my hips felt sore for several days. But it was well worth it.

I just returned from a chaotic but fabulous week in Truro, Cape Cod, with my two oldest sons and their families. There are 4 kids, ages 11 months to 3 years, so it was pure joy to be with them on the beach, at the ponds, walking in Ptown, rolling on the dunes, etc.
Of course we took hundreds of photos - here's one with us and kids:



Brief comments because I’m so behind:



#82 A Sunlit Weapon Jacqueline Winspear
Latest Maisie Dobbs focuses on the segregation of U.S. troops in Britain.



#83 The Murder Rule Dervla McTiernan
A favorite Irish author with a disappointing U.S. setting and several annoying errors. (A character putting on her coat when leaving work at 5PM ....in the dark….in Virginia in August!) Interesting premise involving the Innocence Project, but wooden characters and a variety of developments that were hard to credit, such as law students interviewing major witnesses.



#84 Horse Geraldine Brooks
Good historical fiction about a an enslaved horse trainer, a magnificent stallion, and contemporary Smithsonian researchers.



#85 Leonard and Hungry PaulRonan Hession
I loved this story about two gentle bachelors finding their way as their families change around them. Highly recommended debut novel.



#86 Seating Arrangements Maggie Shipstead
I enjoyed The Great Circle and so went back to Shipstead’s earlier success. Unlikable wealthy and entitled family preparing for the eldest daughter’s wedding on a Martha’s Vineyard-like island. Very meh for me.



#87 The Singer’s Gun Emily St. John Mandel
Great story-telling by a real master. A family of low-level crooks, and the son’s attempt to escape from his participation.

Oh, I've read Tin Man and adored it :)

Yay for Cape Cod and what a great pic!

I've been curious about the new Brooks - glad to hear you liked it.

Great picture Vivian - what a cute kids! Grandkids are the best. The only problem is they grow up too fast.

Nice round up of reading. I have the Mandel on my shelf and will look for the Brooks and the Hession. I'll pass on the Shipstead.

I loooove that family photo, Vivian! I'm so glad you were able to spend time together in such a beautiful setting.

Love the photo Vivian. What beautiful grandchildren. I've actually spent quite a bit of time in beautiful Truro. I read Leonard and Hungry Paul a couple of months ago and loved it also.

I found you! >111 vivians: What an awesome photo; looks like you had a fabulous time. : ) Horse is on my radar; glad you liked it. Happy weekend!

>111 vivians: Fantastic photo of treasures in the sand dunes. What fun you must have had. Your reading roundup looks like fun, too. Happy Summer, Vivian!

Thanks for the photo comments Katie, Beth, Laura and Bonnie! It was a great week.

>116 Berly: Hi Kim! I've been lurking on your thread and am glad to see you here!

>117 Donna828: Thanks Donna, and happy summer to you too.



#88 Death and the Maiden Samantha Norman
I'm sorry to have this series end, although this last installment didn't quite live up to the ones written by Franklin. A bit repetitive and predictable but still an enjoyable focus on Adelia's daughter, Allie.



#89 Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow Gabrielle Zevin
This very hyped book didn't seem appealing to me at first, given that it is about Gen X video game programmers. But I loved this story of a 30 year friendship, which read like a happier mix between A Little Life and Ready Player One. The characters and settings were great.



#90 River of the Gods Candice Millard
Another fabulous narrative non-fiction work by Millard about the search for the source of the Nile. Highly recommended.



#91 The Swimmers Julie Otsuka
The beginning is about a group of adult swimmers who regularly swim in an underground community pool. It's written in first person plural - a very effective Greek chorus. Then the focus turns to Alice, one of the regulars, who is suffering from dementia. It packs a very emotional punch.



#92 The Whole Body Reset Stephen Perrine
Recommended by my exercise teacher. Some good ideas about protein but otherwise mostly recipes and meal plans which I'm unlikely to follow.



#93 Crow Lake Mary Lawson
Set in northern Ontario, narrated by the third of four orphaned children in a remote farming community. Loved this and couldn't put it down.

>118 vivians: I need to get back to the Arianna Franklin series (I loved the first book). I keep getting enticed by other books, darn it!
Also ... I loved Crow Lake too. And her other novels, The Other Side of the Bridge and A Town Called Solace. She can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned.

>119 lauralkeet: I liked A Town Called Solace too, Laura, but I think this was even better. I have to get to her others.



#94 Rose Nicolson Andrew Greig
I'm getting back to the Walter Scott list, now that more titles are available here. A fictional account of the real-life poet and trader, Will Fowler. Set in the political and religious upheavals of the late 16th century and a joy to listen to given the accent and vocabulary.



#95 The Convert Stefan Hertmans
Hertmans has a home in Southern France, and he hears of his village's connection to an 11th century marriage of a Christian convert to the son of a rabbi. There is a single historical document found in the Cairo Genizah (preserved medieval manuscripts); using this he reconstructs their tragic story and follows their journey. His own involvement in the story is a little self-indulgent but that's just a small quibble. Very different historical fiction.



#96 When Falcons Fall C.S. Harris
St. Cyr #11 and still the series remains fresh and entertaining. Sebastian travels to Shropshire to follow a lead regarding his own parentage, and there he is brought into the investigation of the murder of a young widow. The enclosure act takes center stage, as does the appearance of Lucien Bonaparte and his family.



#97 Bittersweet Susan Cain
Cain's earlier work, Quiet, changed my life, so I was eager to read this. This is closer to a memoir, and focuses on the power of sorrow and longing in leading to creativity and greatness. She writes a lot about Leonard Cohen and his melancholy verse, and coincidentally I just saw the newly released movie about him and the song "Hallelujah." I've been a huge fan of his for years, and found the references to his work illuminating.

Lots of great reading, as usual, Vivian. >120 vivians: The historical fiction especially sounds interesting, and they are ones I'm not familiar with.

>120 vivians: Not the first time I've said this here, but I'm glad the St Cyr series continues to entertain. I just finished book #6.

Hi Beth - another historical fiction review coming soon for News of the Dead...let me know if you'd be interested in my copy.

>122 lauralkeet: I'm also reading the Ian Rutledge series by Charles Todd and I'm finding that, unlike ST. Cyr, it's getting tedious and the plots are more convoluted. Makes me appreciate C.S. Harris even more.

Last night I attended my first post-Covid book event and heard Amor Towles interview Anthony Marra about his new book, Mercury Pictures Presents. Great talk, full of insights about the research and writing processes and what drew Marra to Los Angeles in the 1930s. Then I completely embarrassed myself at the book signing table, referring to an earlier non-fiction book I loved (Four Seasons in Rome) which in fact was written by Anthony Doerr, not Anthony Marra. Very grateful for the mask which hid my mortified face.

#98 Sweet Thunder Ivan Doig
The third in the trilogy, just as wonderful as the first two. Morrie Morgan in Butte, Montana, still fighting for the miner's union and against the Anaconda Copper company, this time as an editorial writer.



#99 A Lost Lady Willa Cather
The beautiful, elegant younger wife of a pioneer railway man captivates the Nebraska town of Sweetwater, especially young Neil Herbert. His feelings for her change over time as he begins to understand the complexities of her life. A short and excellent work.



#100 News of the Dead James Robertson
This year's Walter Scott winner. Three storylines beginning with the arrival of Christianity to Scotland and a hermit named Conach; then (the most gripping) a sleazy antiquarian examines and translates the Conach manuscript in the early 1800s; finally a contemporary Covid-world narrative by an elderly woman. The Scottish dialect is hard to decipher at times but otherwise this was a well-deserved win. My copy is available!



#101 Proof of Guilt Charles Todd
Mediocre Rutledge with a very convoluted plot. An unidentified hit-and-run victim eventually takes the investigation to a family wine firm with a branch in Madeira. Lots of bodies, lots of driving back and forth between London, Surrey and Dedham, and very choppy resolution.

Oops! about confusing Marra and Doerr. But I sometimes have to stop and think which is which. Must be the double Rs :)

>125 katiekrug: So embarrassing! Poor guy just had no idea what I was talking about.

Sorry for your "senior" moment, Vivian. I sometimes do the same thing for authors with the same first name and who write in similar genres.

News of the Dead does sound good. I would love your copy -- I'm hopeful in retirement to do a better job of reading from my shelves.

>127 BLBera: It's on its way, Beth!



#102 Booth Karen Joy Fowler
2022 Booker Prize longlist. A reasonably good historical fiction focusing on John Wilkes Booth's many (9!) siblings. The pacing was slow but it was so interesting to read about the politically divided family and the handsome next-to-youngest son who became fanatically pro-slavery and pro-secession, despite being raised in a vegetarian, anti-slavery family.



#103 The Trees Percival Everett
Another Booker Prize longlist. Painfully caustic and satirical, this book deals with the legacy of lynching in the US and the murder of Emmett Till in 1955. (1955 - not ancient history!) Retributive justice, a racist sheriff, two Black investigators from the state and an enormous body count. Very powerful chapter listing the victims of lynching. Extremely disturbing but worthwhile.



#104 Mrs. England Stacey Halls
Walter Scott longlist. I enjoyed this novel about two women: a children's nursemaid who is sent to an isolated family estate in 1900s Yorkshire, and her employer. Both have past traumas which are slowly revealed. Very good.



#105 Resurrection Bay Emma Viskic
I'm not sure why I started another series, but at least this one is limited to 4 installments. Caleb Zelic is a hearing-impaired private investigator in Melbourne who gets caught up in the murder of his friend, a cop. Lots of humor and twists, very enjoyable.

I'm glad that you liked Booth and The Trees, Vivian. I read and greatly enjoyed the wicked humor of The Trees earlier this year, and I purchased a copy of Booth during a LibraryThing meet up with Katherine (qebo) and Zoë (_Zoe_), which I'll start reading next week, after I finish Song of Solomon.

>128 vivians: As always great brief comments, Vivian. I think I'll put Booth on the "maybe" pile. "Reasonably good" sounds like something that can wait. :) I did like The Trees and both Mrs. England and Resurrection Bay sound good.

Thanks for the book! Have you read A Thousand Ships? Would you be interested in my copy? I'd like to return the favor.

>129 kidzdoc: Hi Darryl - so nice to hear from you! I miss your thread in the 75 group. I hope Philadelphia is treating your well and that your mother is doing ok.

>130 BLBera: Thanks for the offer, Beth, I already have A Thousand Ships on my pile. I'm going to try to get to her Pandora's Jar soon.



#106 Remarkably Bright Creatures Shelby Van Pelt
I think I saw this on Katie's thread. Totally entertaining - the story of lonely and grieving Tova, a 70 year old cleaning woman who has suffered two great losses, Cameron, a struggling young man searching for his birth father, and Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus nearing the end of his life in captivity. Really good on audio.



#107 Nightcrawling Leila Mottley
Booker longlist. Hard to believe this is a debut by a teenaged author: a desperate story about poverty, abuse and racism in East Oakland. Kiara's father is dead, her mother in jail and her older brother deluded by dreams of becoming a rap star. Unable to find a job, she turns to sex work and is caught up in a (real-life) police scandal. I thought some of the prose was heavy-handed, with too many run-on sentences and metaphors. But it's an outstanding debut.



#108 Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? Seamas O'Reilly
Another bow to Katie - a great recommendation and beautifully read by the author. It's a memoir of the devastating loss of O'Reilly's mother, his chaotic upbringing among 10 siblings, his enormously devoted father, and the Troubles rumbling away in the background. I bet his columns in the British & Irish press are a blast to read.



#109 The Bread the Devil Knead Lisa Allen-Agostini
The last of the Women's Prize shortlist for me, and worth waiting for. A story of domestic abuse with a strong and memorable protagonist. Set in Trinidad, it was reminiscent of the also excellent How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps the House. It took me a few pages to get comfortable with the dialect, but otherwise a terrific (grim but ultimately hopeful) read.

RBC was such a nice read, wasn't it? And the O'Reilly was just perfect. I'm so glad you liked them both!

>131 vivians: These all sound great, Vivian. I have The Bread the Devil Knead in my read-soon pile. Nightcrawling has a long waitlist, but I will get it eventually.

>132 katiekrug: Both were great recs, Katie, thanks.

>133 BLBera: I have a few more Booker reads to go, Beth, and am finding it's a very interesting list this year. So far the Keegan is still my favorite of the 7 I've read.

We just returned from a one week adventure to Iceland and had glorious weather (cold but so preferable to NY 90+ degrees) and did some great hiking and touring around. And...Gary woke up with a fever this am and has now tested positive for Covid. We avoided it for so long but are now paying the price. I'm trying to isolate but expect I'll be next.



#110 The House of Mirth Edith Wharton
Early 20th century NY privileged society and the downfall of socialite Lily Bart. Unsurprising but still cringe-worthy anti-Semitism.



#111 Cold Comfort Charles Todd
An Ian Rutledge novella, set in the 1915 front lines and the underground tunnels.



#112 Rogues Patrick Radden Keefe
Most of these were familiar from PRK's gripping New Yorker articles, but all were worth rereading. Most chilling was the profile of Mark Burnett, the promoter who turned Trump into a celebrity. Also: the defense attorney in the Boston Marathon case. A master of investigative journalism.



#113 The Family Chao Lan Samantha Chang
Picked for my book group because it was on Obama's summer list. This debut is a retelling of The Brothers Karamazov, and we all agreed that there was not a single likable character. It certainly highlighted the plight of 1st generation Americans and their immigrant parents, but it was a dehumanizing view of an entire community. A disappointing read.



#114 Where the Dead Lie C.S. Harris
This series continues to get better and better. St. Cyr uncovers a series of horrific murders of homeless street children. As usual, terrific insights into early 19th century London.

Sorry to hear that COVID has struck your house, Vivian. Fingers crossed that you escape it. Rogues sounds good, as does the Harris. I do love Wharton.

What was your favorite part of Iceland? I've been thinking about going.

I've only read a few of the Booker list, but my two favorites are the Keegan and The Colony.

Oh dear, I'm sorry Gary has the virus, Vivian. Friends of ours also recently returned from Iceland and found themselves with COVID the next day. But I don't hold Iceland responsible! The same thing happened to two people on our recent family holiday to Europe.

I hope he recovers quickly and that you are able to avoid it.

>135 BLBera: Hi Beth - we rented an RV which gave us tremendous flexibility. We didn't have to make hotel reservations and were able to change our plans as we went along. The hiking was the best, and we also did a food tour in Reykjavik which was excellent. The food was excellent and innovative everywhere we went.

>136 lauralkeet: We heard there was very little Covid in Iceland, Laura, but of course there were loads of tourists. We're finding it very odd that four of us were in an RV (so close quarters) for a week and only Gary got it...so hard to understand how the contagion works.



#115 Haven Emma Donoghue
I'm a big Donoghue fan and the writing here did not disappoint. But this story of 7th century Irish monks dragged a little for me, despite the really interesting dive into the dangerous effects of blind faith and obedience.



#116 And Fire Came Down Emma Viskic
Second book in the series about the hearing-impaired private investigator, Caleb Zelic. Great social commentary about small (Australian) town racism, drug abuse, family issues. Lots of loose ends to set up the third installment.



#117 Salt Lick Lulu Allison
This Women's Prize longlisted title got lots of love on LT and I think it was warranted. Set in near-future England, severely damaged by pandemic, politics and climate change. The countryside has become deserted as all food production has moved overseas. The narratives of Jesse, a country boy, and Isolde, a city girl, are separated by time and space but eventually their stories converge. I wasn't thrilled about the feral cows' chorus but that may have been more effective in print than on audio.



#118 Unnatural Death Dorothy L. Sayers
Wimsey #3. The suspicious death of an elderly woman interests the detective and eventually other murders pile up. I liked the appearance of Miss Climpson and hope she becomes a regular. I'm still feeling uncomfortable with the issues of race and anti-Semitism but I keep reading that later installments are vastly superior.

I'm looking forward to Haven, Vivian. I don't think reading Salt Lick made the cow chorus any better. I loved the novel overall, but really didn't see why the cow chorus was needed.

The Island of Missing Trees is about to come up in my library queue. I'm looking forward to it! Looking forward to Haven and I'm glad you liked Salt Lick. I was not a huge fan of the cow chorus but I do imagine they worked better in print.

I bought The Trees at Third Place Books last time I was in Seattle. Sounds like a must-read.

Hi Beth and Ellen! So many new books dropping onto my TBR this fall and I just wish I could read faster. Atkinson, Kingsolver, Galbraith, Strout, Ng: I don't know where to start! Plus I'm still enjoying multiple series. I do love work too, so no retirement prospects for me anytime soon.



#119 Delta Wedding Eudora Welty
I'm so grateful for LT and the nudge I needed to read this classic. Welty spoke at my college commencement and I've always meant to rectify my embarrassing failure of never having read her. I enjoyed it with reservations. A family wedding in 1923 Mississippi is the setting for the gathering of the multi-generational, chaotic Fairchild family. Much is told from the outsider POV of a 9 year old visiting cousin, Laura. I'm still puzzled over the entire family's veneration of one uncle, who behaves reprehensibly (even for the times), so I'll have to look up some reviews to make sure I understood his actions with the mysterious girl in the woods correctly.



DNF Glory NoViolet Bulawayo
This highly satirical novel, shortlisted for the Booker Prize, about the fall of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, just didn't work for me. The device of using farm animals didn't seem to add anything to the narrative. I know others loved this.



#120 Foster Claire Keegan
A beautiful novella, I think currently being developed into a film, about a young girl sent to live with distant relatives in 1980s rural Ireland. The unnamed girl finds love, kindness, and feels valued for the first time in her life. Definitely one to reread.



#121 The Marriage Portrait Maggie O'Farrell
This received a terrible NY Times review, in which it was called "overwrought" and "ridiculous." I totally disagree and highly recommend it (although it doesn't quite reach the heights of Hamnet and although it did drag a bit in the middle). The first pages drop the reader into the panic of a 15 year old bride who knows her husband intends to kill her. Loosely based on Lucrezia de Medici of 1550s Florence, who is married off to cement an alliance with another duchy, it is filled with evocative scenes and a great sense of place. Rich historical fiction at its best.

>140 vivians: I just got my copy of The Marriage Portrait, Vivian, and trust your opinion more than that of the NYT. Plus, O'Farrell. I'm on the fence about Glory. I loved Foster as well. Keegan has mastered the novella.

You still manage to do a lot of reading despite working.

What Beth said about O'Farrell!! I'll have to keep an eye out for that one. And I await your verdict Twin!

>140 vivians: I decided I didn't think Glory would work for me, so I skipped reading it. Your review makes me want to skip it. You hit me with a book bullet on Foster. I need to read some novellas to help me catch up to where I need to be. The Marriage Portrait is already on my radar--mainly on the basis of Hamnet. I'm glad to know you liked it far better than the critics.

I had Glory from the library and started it about three weeks ago. Part of it was that I "needed" to dig into Delta Wedding, but I also just didn't feel in the mood for it. I didn't give it enough of a chance, probably, but I don't know whether I'll dig back into it sometime in the future.

Oh, and Foster by Claire Keegan sounds wonderful. Perhaps that will be first on my list for shopping at The Strand in October. :-)

>141 BLBera: Looking forward to your comments, Beth.

>142 Berly: More O'Farrell love!

>143 thornton37814: Hi Lori - I think Keegan's writing is astounding and I hope I can find some of her other works as well.

>144 EBT1002: I think I'll look up some reviews of Glory to see what I missed. Hope to get to see you in NY!



#122 Miss Kopp Investigates Amy Stewart
Another fine addition to the fictionalized version of the historical Kopp sisters in post-WWI New Jersey. This one focuses on the youngest, Fleurette, and is based on newspaper accounts and family interviews. It sets up future installments with the opening of the Kopp Detective Agency.



DNF: Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies Maddie Mortimer
I got about halfway through this Booker longlisted saga about a woman's devastating cancer diagnosis. It's quite experimental in language and form (the illness itself becomes the narrator as it takes over Lia's mind). It was interesting for a while and then just became too fervid and too long for me.



#123 Notes on an Execution Danya Kukafka
A serial killer on death row has only hours to live, and he very chillingly narrates (in second person, somewhat oddly) and philosophizes about his crimes. Other POVs are the women in his life from an earlier timeline, including his mother and the detective tracking him. Some of the language was too flowery for me but overall it was thought-provoking.



#124 The Door Magda Szabo
I think I'm in the minority here because I didn't love this deep dive into the peculiar relationship between a writer and her elderly housekeeper. The latter's abusive and volatile behavior is excused by her wartime experiences, but that doesn't explain why it is tolerated by everyone else. I was most interested in the political backdrop of post WWII Hungary, but specific references were mostly obscure. I'm still glad I read this and will be thinking about it for some time.

I've had Notes on an Execution on my WL for a while. I'll get to it, eventually...

Notes on an Execution does sound good, Vivian. I've read and liked The Door. I would like to read more by Szabo. The Mortimer I'll pass on. Thanks for your comments.

Hi Katie and Beth!



#125 Lucy by the Sea Elizabeth Strout
I didn't anticipate enjoying a "pandemic novel", particularly one about the New York experience, but Strout is a master at portraying isolation and disconnection. By now Lucy and her family feel like old friends with whom I've been on a long journey. This might be my favorite of them all.



#126 The Labyrinth Amanda Lohrey
Winner of the 2021 Miles Franklin award and highly recommended by the Books on the Go podcast. Erika moves to a small coastal town in order to be close to her imprisoned son. Some great characters and lots of unresolved questions (including the meaning of the labyrinth about which Erika obsesses), overall a bit of a slog but worthwhile.



#127 The Guest List Lucy Foley
Light and diverting murder mystery with plenty of suspects (most of them quite miserable people). A very quick read.



#128 The Bullet That Missed Richard Osman
This continues to be a great series, despite the improbable mystery. Fiona Shaw was a first-rate narrator.



#129 When I'm Gone Look for me in the East Quan Barry
Five Buddhist monks travel together across Mongolia to interview several children who may or may not be the reincarnation of a revered lama. Two of the five are identical twins: one is the narrator, a devoted novice monk, and the other is his dissolute brother who has abandoned his own path as a reincarnated lama. Fascinating insights into Buddhism, Mongolian history and geography, post-Soviet politics, all combined with gorgeous prose. This will be one of my top books of 2022 and I highly recommend it.

>148 vivians: We are reading along similar paths, Vivian. I read The Guest List a while back on my daughter's recommendation and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I'm also a fan of the Thursday Murder Club and finished the third book a few days ago.

And ... a few moments ago I finished Lucy by the Sea. I LOVED it. I completely agree with your take. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, and also to feel such strong emotions at certain points in the story. I agree -- my favorite of the series.

When I'm Gone Look for Me in the East is now on my wishlist Vivian. Sounds wonderful

Good to hear that Lucy by the Sea is a good one, Vivian. I was disappointed by Oh! William. I've had When I'm Gone Look for Me in the East on my list. Something to look forward to.

The Labyrinth also sounds intriguing.

Wow - the days just go by - I can't believe how long it's been since I visited my own thread! Work, kids, helping one son move from Oakland to Washington DC (YAY!!!), horrible dental work...all contributing factors.
Thanks for visiting, Laura, Bonnie (I've missed you!) and Beth. I do follow the threads and having been collecting some great recommendations.



#130 Shrines of Gaiety Kate Atkinson
I liked this slightly more than Laura, but it was a disappointment overall. Laura's review is spot on. It was chosen by my book group so I might have further comments later.



#131 Love Marriage Monica Ali
London-based soap opera: an Indian doctor, specializing in geriatrics and generally uncertain about her professional choice, is equally undecided about her upcoming marriage to a wealthy white doctor who has deep mother issues. Entertaining but not great.



#132 The Hummingbird Sandro Veronesi
This was recommended by a podcast, touted as "brilliant." Veronesi has a reputation as one of Italy's most revered authors. It's the story of Marco Carrera, an ophthalmologist whose life is marked by challenges and tragedies. There are letters, emails, 3rd person narratives and even several lists (which I did think were brilliant). Overall it worked quite well for me, especially the themes abut love and loyalty, but I wouldn't give it a "rave."



#133 The Furies Natalie Haynes
Thanks Katie - this was really good and cemented my admiration for Haynes. Alex Morris has a perfect life in London as a theater director until her fiancé is brutally murdered. She flees to Edinburgh and takes a job at a special school for troubled kids. Very good.



#134 Darkness for Light Emma Viskic
This is the third in the Caleb Zelic series and I found it very repetitive. Same characters, more murders and conspiracies. Only one more in the series, otherwise I think I'd drop it. I do like the main character though, a deaf investigator with a passion for his ex-wife.



#135 Simple Passion Annie Ernaux
Speaking of passion....my first Ernaux, a novella about the author's all-consuming affair with a married man. I wouldn't have been able to read a full-length novel in this style but the novella really worked. It was honest and vulnerable and beautifully written.

Our Missing Hearts Celeste Ng
A dystopian novel about race and violence against minorities, specifically those of Asian descent. The 12 year old protagonist Bird and his revolutionary mother (a poet) were particularly convincing, but it did require some suspension of belief during his trek from Cambridge.

Glad you liked The Furies!

ETA: Sorry about the dental work. I need to schedule my appointment for the first part of the implant process. Ugh.

I'm very interested to hear about your book group's reaction to Shrines of Gaiety, Vivian. I'm still bummed out about that book.

Thanks for the review of Love Marriage. This one was on my radar but I was unsure about it. Looks like I can skip it.

Hi Vivian, I read my first Ernaux last year, Happening which pretty much described what a nightmare we have coming with the striking down of Roe v. Wade. I thought it was quite brilliant but now have been waiting since she won the Nobel to get anything else by her but they're all back ordered. Waiting, waiting.

I liked Shrines of Gaiety probably more than either you or Laura and wasn't at all bothered by by the light nature of the book. I don't expect every Atkinson to be brilliant and I liked the historical aspect and the light humor🤷‍♀️

>153 katiekrug: I'm with you on the "ugh" Katie!

>154 lauralkeet: I'll keep you posted, Laura. We're only meeting on 11/14 and by then I'll have forgotten all the plot points!

>155 brenzi: Hi Bonnie and glad Shrines of Gaiety worked for you. I'm watching the BBC show "Peaky Blinders" (because I love Helen McCrory) which also depicts London's underworld in the 1920s, albeit much more brutally.



#137 Why Kill the Innocent C.S. Harris
Sebastian St. Cyr #13. A piano teacher whose students include the regent's daughter (and heir to the the throne) is murdered. Absolutely brilliant portrayal of the brutal winter of 1814 and the frozen Thames. And I loved the portrayal (historically accurate, I think) of the Prince Regent's terrible treatment of his wife and daughter. Had me Googling away!



#138 Brother of the More Famous Jack Barbara Trapido
I can't remember which podcast raved about this one, but I'm very glad I picked it up. It's a coming-of-age novel set in 1970s London. Katherine Browne, a naïve but intelligent suburbanite, is adopted by her professor's large and eccentric family. Great characters, interesting thoughts on class and religion, comedy and tragedy - a really fun read.



#139 A Prayer for the Crown-Shy Becky Chambers
I loved this second chapter in Chambers' hopeful vision of humanity after a near apocalypse. Dex, a nonbinary monk, and Mosscap, a sentient robot, are on a road trip to discover teh essence of humanity. Loved this, as I've loved every Chambers that I've read.



#140 This Time Tomorrow Emma Straub
Things I loved: fabulous portrait of the upper West Side and so many familiar landmarks; beautifully drawn best friendship; heartwarming father-daughter relationship, all the more poignant with the knowledge of Straub's own father's recent death. Not so great: lots of unresolved plot holes surrounding the time travel element, and some confusion about which time period was which.

#141 Best of Friends Kamila Shamsie
Childhood best friends who attend a posh school in Karachi at the beginning of Pakistan's return to democracy.
They remain close in adulthood in London despite different paths and political views. Not as breathtaking as Home Fire but still superb.



#142 Case Study Graeme Macrae Burnet
Booker longlist. A young woman in 1960s London begins therapy sessions with a discredited psychotherapist to unravel the mystery of her sister's death. It's a blend of fact and fiction, complete with unreliable narrators and mysterious notebooks. It kept my interest but I wouldn't recommend.



#143 The Lighthouse Road Peter Geye
A young woman immigrates from Norway to a small town on Lake Superior in the 1890s. The story centers around her, her son, and the local pharmacist/doctor and his adopted daughter. Absolutely riveting and evocative: oh that cold! Can't wait to read the rest of the series.



#144 Act of Oblivion Robert Harris
My favorite kind of historical fiction, it had me googling away about Charles I and Oliver Cromwell. Harris recreates the manhunt for the regicides who were responsible for Charles I's execution. Fabulous on audio.



#145 Hunting Shadows Charles Todd
An ok Ian Rutledge installment, a bit tedious because of the confusing characters and towns, with Rutledge racing back and forth constantly. Two victims in the Fens area appear to be unrelated, and Rutledge must tease out the connection as well as the motive.



#146 The Escape Artist Jonathan Freedland
Freedland is a Guardian columnist, a podcast host and a prolific author of spy novels. This is the carefully researched true story of Walter Rosenberg (later known as Rudolf Vrba) and his unthinkable escape from Auschwitz at the age of 19. His courageous attempt to warn the Hungarian Jewish community of their fate was a devastating failure as the rest of the world ignored or buried his report.

Now reading Demon Copperhead and loving every page!

Thanks for the reminder about the new Shamsie and Kingsolver novels!

I came over here after seeing your mention of Act of Oblivion on my thread. That looks really good! My library has it, so I've made a note of it.

>157 vivians: Magic words: "Fabulous on audio."

I loved the Peter Geye book that I read, Vivian and look forward to more of his work.

I also loved Best of Friends - great minds, right?

Demon Copperfield is my next book, when I finish my book club selection. Can't wait.

Hi, Vivian. I finally tracked you down. I see that you are still reading an interesting range of books. Hooray for The Lighthouse Road! I am a big Geye fan. I recently read and enjoyed his latest one. Good to hear that you are captivated with Demon Copperhead. You know that one is high on my list.

>158 katiekrug: Looking forward to your thoughts when you get to them!

>159 lauralkeet: Act of Oblivion is my favorite kind of historical fiction, Laura. Really gripping and solidly based on fact.

>160 brenzi: Hi Bonnie! So much of my reading is now on audio, so I'm really conscious of what a difference the narrator makes. (See below note on The Twist of a Knife.

>161 BLBera: By now I think you've read and loved Demon Copperhead, Beth. We continue to agree!

>162 msf59: Hi Mark - I think I read the Peter Geye on your recommendation, so thanks!



#147 Demon Copperhead Barbara Kingsolver
Kingsolver does it again: another best of the year for me. In an interview she spoke about spending a night in Dickens' seaside home and hearing his voice say "let the child tell the story." So she retold David Copperfield's story, setting it in 1990s Appalachia. She tells hard truths about the US and our priorities and prejudices, but accomplishes it in a way that is uplifting and hopeful. Just superb.



#148 Killers of a Certain Age Deanna Raybourn
Lots of unmerited hype in my opinion, as if the success of Richard Osman's series meant that seniors needed another "moment" in cozy mysteries. It took me a while to get the characters straight and I felt the humor was flat. The four female assassins and the outlandish revenge killings just seemed silly to me.



#149 Those Who Perish Emma Viskic
The last Caleb Zelic - a satisfying conclusion as the deaf detective tracks his brother, a relapsed addict, to an isolated island where a sniper is loose.



#150 Any Other Family Eleanor Brown
A NY Times (Elizabeth Egan) recommendation about an unusual family dynamic: three sets of parents who adopt four biological siblings. Very moving descriptions of the many scenarios that may lead to adoption, including infertility, pregnancy loss and family dynamics. A quick read, interesting but not very plausible.



#151 Twist of Knife Anthony Horowitz
I'm in awe of this most prolific writer who churns out books, TV adaptations and plays. This is another great addition to the Hawthorne series: a classic murder mystery with wonderful twists.

Vivian, I love visiting your thread. You're usually a step ahead of me on new releases. Sometimes you encourage me to get hold of a book ASAP; at other times I get a preview of a book that's already on my radar. Today is a rare instance where I'm currently reading one of the books you just finished: Demon Copperhead. I'm maybe 1/3 of the way into it and loving every word. I agree with you, it is absolutely amazing.

Hi Vivian, I actually liked Killers of a Certain Age maybe because I'm a certain age and lol. I listened to the audio and raced through it. I wonder how long before we see it as a movie??

I'm in the middle of Demon Copperhead and loving it. The narration is amazing.

I'm way behind on the Horowitz books and I don't even know why but I'll catch up at some point.

>163 vivians: Congratulations on reaching 2 x 75, Vivian!

>163 vivians: Great minds, Vivian. 😀 Demon Copperhead will be one of my favorites for the year.

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

>164 lauralkeet: The feeling is mutual, Laura! Although I only post here every week or two, I visit (and mostly lurk) on your thread daily!

>165 brenzi: One of the things that bugged me about Killers of a Certain Age is the constant references to the 60-year old assassins as creaky and achy and generally out-to-pasture. I was glad to see them operating under full steam but was still annoyed given my advanced age.

>166 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita! Not quite as many as last year but still going strong!

>167 BLBera: Great minds!!

>168 PaulCranswick: A belated thanks, Paul.

Work is really busy for me so my reading has suffered. Also some great TV: Magpie Murders on PBS, Broadchurch (thanks to Katie - really loved this), and sadly the last season of Doc Martin, my all-time favorite.



#152 Wintering Peter Geye
Fabulous second installment of the Eide trilogy. Two narratives: a dangerous wilderness trek during a Minnesota winter by a father and son in the early 60s, and the narrative of that adventure 30 years later to the father's long-time love. Terrific pacing.



#153 Who Slays the Wicked C.S. Harris
A despicable and depraved aristocrat connected to Devlin's family is murdered and the suspects are numerous. The historical look at London's bone and rag pickers and Hero's passion for social justice add to the enjoyment of the mystery.



#154 Black Cake Charmaine Wilkerson
On Obama's list and read for IRL book group. Estranged siblings fulfill their deceased mother's last wishes by listening to an audio tape of her secrets. Too many issues were covered, from closed adoption to arranged marriages to domestic abuse to climate change, and this, plus disjointed time changes, affected my enjoyment of what would have been a good historical novel.



#155 Checkout 19 Claire-Louise Bennett
I've loved stream of consciousness novels, most notably Ducks, Newburyport but this one did not work for me. It was a top ten NY Times book for 2022. Some of the ramblings were interesting, particularly the many that referenced female authors, but overall I found it too repetitive and unstructured.

Here's to great TV! I have Magpie Murders cued up to watch, and have been relishing "Only Murders in the Building". I have to ration my screen time (migraines are pesky again) which is good for stretching out the excellent viewing. I haven't yet ventured into White Lotus, though.

I still have Checkout 19 on my wishlist, but shall bear your comments in mind as/when I get around to it, and prob will not be buying it for myself.

My big positive surprise of the last few weeks was Anthony Doerr's newest book, which I loved. Cloud Cuckoo Land was creative in a way that captivated me; that said, I was one of the few for whom All The Light We Cannot See just did not work.

Hi Vivian - I loved checkout 19, but I think I must have been in a particularly receptive mood when I read it. Those types of books can be hit or miss. I really look forward to Wintering; the first Geye I read, I loved. My reaction to Black Cake was similar to yours. I thought Wilkerson worked too hard to tie everything up in the end.

I hope all is well with you.

Sweet Thursday, Vivian. I hope to get to Wintering next year but it looks like I can skip Checkout 19. Trust is shaping up to be my favorite novel of the year.

>172 msf59: Mark, I just added Trust to my Kindle (I've got the new Kindle beta rewards program, and it was double points today, so...) Many book bullets about that one!!

>170 Chatterbox: >173 Chatterbox: Hi Suzanne - I loved Cloud Cuckoo Land as well...it and Trust will be on my top 2022 reads which I'm just beginning to compile.

>171 BLBera: It seems unusual that we don't agree, Beth, but I'm glad Checkout 19 worked for you. I haven't heard too many comments about it, either on LT on IRL.

>172 msf59: Hi Mark! Glad to hear Trust worked for you too. I have his earlier book on my list for next year - I hear it's just as good.



#156 We Ride Upon Sticks Quan Barry
This novel was an enormous pivot from the author's When I'm Gone Look for me in the East spiritual journey, which I read and loved earlier this year. It's about the 11 member 1989 Danvers (Mass) losing field hockey team and their transformation (via witchcraft) into a powerhouse. Way too long but very entertaining.

#157 The WardRoom Thibault Delloue
A self-published account of the author's five year stint as a navy officer. Thibault was my son's college roommate. It's a pretty damming indictment of the lack of training he received, as well as an account of the recent fatal accidents on warships (the USS Fitzgerald and the USS McCain). Really well written.



DNF The Infiltrator Robert Mazur
Mazur, an ex-CIA agent and the undercover agent who brought down the Medellin cartel, was the guest speaker at my last conference. An anti-money laundering training is an annual requirement for me, and he was by far the most thrilling presenter we've ever had. But the book paled in comparison to his in-person account, and I couldn't get through it.



#158 The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club Dorothy L. Sayers
So far the best of the Wimsey series so far. An elderly general is found dead in his armchair at his club and an investigation is required to determine the exact time of death. I particularly appreciated Wimsey's change of tone and his compassion when confronted with the impact of WWI on one of the suspects.



#159 The School for Good Mothers Jessamine Chan
This was on Obama's 2022 list as well as the NYTimes top 100. A dystopian look into the government's overreach into child welfare. A horrendous lack of judgment on the part of a single mother results in severe and (to me) unimaginable punishment. It was an ok read for me but didn't live up to the hype.

>163 vivians: >164 lauralkeet: >165 brenzi: >167 BLBera: Dang it! I tried so hard to get my bookclub to read this one and it didn't make the cut. I will definitely have to read it now.

>170 Chatterbox: I am the reverse of you -- Cloud Cuckoo Land was good for me but I am really enjoying All the Light We Cannot See!

>175 Berly: Hi Kim - I expect Demon Copperhead will stay with me for a long time and I've bene recommending it to everyone! Hope you get to it, despite the bookclub decision.



#160 Northernmost Peter Geye
A very satisfying end to this excellent trilogy, this one set in both current day Minnesota and 19th century Norway. Another harrowing winter ordeal, similar to Gus and Harry's in the last book, is the central adventure.



#161 We Don't Know Ourselves Fintan O'Toole
A superb combination of personal memoir and Irish history from 1958 to the present. Terrific chapters on the Kennedy visit, the introduction of TV and the tension between British and American programming, the 2008 crash, the domination of the Catholic church and its eventual decline, etc. I listened to this over a couple of weeks.



#162 The File on H Ismail Kadare
The author Rebecca Makkai is sharing her books in translation journey, a tribute to her late father. Not all are easily available, but this was in my library. Two Irish scholars from Harvard travel to rural Albania in the early 1980s in the attempt to link the local epic poetry to Homer. The local governor arranges surveillance, assuming, because of their never-before-seen tape recorder, that they are spies. Lots of humor and misunderstandings result from the world and culture clashes. Very Kafka-like, lots of satire.



#163 O Caledonia Elspeth Barker
The author died this year, and her only novel was rereleased with an introduction by Maggie O'Farrell. An incredibly atmospheric story of a murdered Scottish teenager (this is revealed on the first page) in post-war Scotland. With her love for animals, her deep intellectual curiosity and her off-putting sense of humor, Janet is an outsider to her family and among her classmates. Great pacing, beautiful prose, another excellent Backlisted Podcast recommendation.



#164 You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty Akwaeke Emezi
I loved her earlier The Death of Vivek Oji but this one was a bust for me. Extremely beautiful people telling each other repeatedly how beautiful they are. Non-stop gratuitous profanity and no substance. The main character was manipulative and cruel at times, and the love story seemed less like a romance and more like lust.



reread Foster Claire Keegan
I went back to this novella after just a few months because of how perfect it seemed. Totally held up to a second reading. Just fabulous.

>176 vivians: Beth and Ellen and I are gonna try to read Demon Copperhead in March -- Yay!! Nice job getting this reviews done. I really need to do a better job of that next year. Oops.

Claire Keegan is wonderful, isn't she?

My book club is reading Wintering next month, and I loved the first Geye I read so I am looking forward to it.

The Barker and Kadare are also calling my name.

Happy new year, Vivian.

>177 Berly: Hi Kim - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

>178 BLBera: Thanks Beth, and to you too! So glad to share the reading love with you!