Take It or Leave It Challenge - June 2022 - Page 1

For those new to this challenge: More info and monthly index can be found in post #1 of this thread or this TIOLI FAQS wiki.


...logo by cyderry

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Your TIOLI challenge for June, 2022, is to

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Read a book by a new-to-you author whose last name starts or ends with the letter "S"
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Rules:
1. Only use the *very* last word of the surname if it contains more than one word.
2. A hyphenated last name will count as one word.
3. Shared reads allowed even if the author is not new-to-you.

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Other Fun Stuff (not part of the TIOLI challenge):
1. FAMeulstee's 2022 TIOLI Sweeplette Meter
2. FAMeulstee's Our TIOLI Sweeps
3. Morphidae's List of Previous TIOLI Challenges (2010-2016) - A reference (Do a control-F scan) to avoid repeating a previous challenge. If your idea is similar to a previous challenge, make it unique by adding a new "twist" to it.
4. Supplementary Thread - for off-topic chit-chat about almost anything! :D
5. The June 2022 TIOLI Meter - Optional page on which you may track your TIOLI reading. Not competitive--- just fun!

Index of Challenges:

Challenges #1-6
1. Read a book by a new-to-you author whose last name starts or ends with the letter "S" - msg #1
2. Read a book first published in the 1990s OR set in East Anglia, Texas, Nottingham or London - msg #5
3. Read a book set in (or about) Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Paris, London, Dublin, Amsterdam, or Munich - msg #6
4. Read a book in which the total number of pages are even numbered and the total number ends with a 6 or an 8 - msg #7
5. Read a nonfiction book with a one-word title - msg #8
6. Read a book about a main character whose paid job consists of taking care of animals (F/NF) - msg #9

Challenges #7-12
7. Read a book with a one-word person or persons name for a title - subtitles do not matter, but articles do." - msg #15
8. Read a book in which something currently impossible or miraculous happens - msg #20
9. Read a book with the theme "What should I do with my life?"- msg #21
10. Read a book about or set in an emergency department of a hospital - msg #22
11. Read a book that has some connection to the constellation Gemini, especially twins - msg #24
12. Read a book that fits a category on the Seattle Public Library 2022 Summer Reading bingo card - msg #29

Challenges #13-17
13. Read a book that has a person (human) on the cover - msg #34 - thread
14. Read a book that has either "first" or "last" in the title -- on a rotating basis! - msg #37
15. Read a Book Originally Published in the Spanish language - msg #40
16. Read a book by an author who has the same initials for first and last names - msg #43
17. Read a book where at least one title word includes a double letter - msg #52

Hold your challenge until the July TIOLI challenges are posted. Thank you...and have fun reading along with us!

I'm never first!

>3 jeanned: Ha!! You have to stay up half the night to be first.

Challenge #2: Read a book first published in the 1990s OR set in East Anglia, Texas, Nottingham or London

Having read the 1970s and the 1980s, it will be no surprise to anyone to find that this month's challenge includes reading a book first published in the 1990s. Fairly self explanatory, that bit.

I spent almost all of the 1990s at University. A degree, PhD and then a postdoctoral position saw me at university from September 1990 to June 2000. In 10 years I spent time at 4 different universities:
University of East Anglia
University of Texas (go Longhorns)
University of Nottingham
University of London.
You may read a book set in any one of the titles of those 4 universities, so East Anglia, Texas, Nottingham or London. It does not need to be set in the university, any book set anywhere in Texas (for example) would fit.
"Set" means at least 25% of the book is in that location, it does not need to be the entire book in based in the location, but being on a train looking out the window as it passes through Nottingham is not enough!

Any questions on the challenge, please ask. >:-)

Challenge #3: Read a book set in (or about) Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Paris, London, Dublin, Amsterdam, or Munich

My (only) niece is now 21 and taking a Health Sciences/Hospital course near Madrid in May. Once that is done, she is meeting up with her BFF in Lisbon and will be travelling to the aforementioned cities for a month.

Upon her return, she'll be finalizing her applications for a Physicians' Assistant Master's program and then, after finishing her senior year of college, hopefully starting the year of coursework for her Master's in May of 2023, to be followed by a clinical year.

So proud of the woman she has become and all that she has achieved already (including doing volunteer medical work in Guatemala last summer).

During my lifetime, I've travelled to all of these places, except for Spain and Portugal, but, besides following her online photo albums, I'm hoping to read a book set in each of these cities in June.

>5 Helenliz: So sorry that we have a London overlap.

Challenge #4: Read a book in which the total number of pages are even numbered and the total number ends with a 6 or an 8.

Thanks to Madeline for posting June's thread - I've been having TIOLI withdrawal pains!

Challenge 5 - read a nonfiction book with a one-word title

Any sort of non-fiction is acceptable - and the book can have a subtitle.

Challenge #6: Read a book about a main character whose paid job consists of taking care of animals (F/NF)
Zoo Keeper, Veterinarian, dog walker, wildlife rehabilitator, pet sitter, Animal Control Officer, Stable's Manager, horse/dog trainer, Rancher, etc.

>7 DeltaQueen50: It is highly probable that I'm being dense. But would a book with a number of pages ending in 6 or 8 not automatically be even? Have I missed something relating to the first part of the challenge?

>10 Helenliz: Perhaps Judy means something like 242 pages which would add up to 8 (2+4+2)?

>10 Helenliz: No Helen, I am the dense one. I originally was going to just ask for an even number of pages but then decided to make it a little more challenging by asking that the page number end with a 6 or an 8. I just added that on to my original challenge instead of rewording it, as yes, if the page number ends in a 6 or 8 it automatically will be an even number! So for my challenge 242 pages wouldn't work but 246 and 248 would!

>11 lindapanzo: Ha! I didn't even think about adding the page numbers together. I think I will just leave it as it is - pages need to end in a 6 or an 8.

>12 DeltaQueen50: >:-) That I can understand. Thanks, now I know what I'm looking for.

Challenge #7: "The What's in a Name?" Challenge: Read a book with a one-word person or persons name for a title - subtitles do not matter, but articles do."

For example, The Sundowners would not count because of the article "the," but Coastliners is acceptable.

>7 DeltaQueen50: I've been having TIOLI withdrawal pains!
>10 Helenliz: But would a book with a number of pages ending in 6 or 8 not automatically be even?

LOL! All of you keep me laughing!

>7 DeltaQueen50: Judy, is this for the text proper or does it include afterwords, indices, appendices, etc?

>17 alcottacre: Let's make it the text proper.

>17 alcottacre: Thank you for the clarification! I appreciate it.

Challenge #8: Read a book in which something currently impossible or miraculous happens

Most F&SF qualify, myths, legends, etc.

Challenge #9:

Read a book with the theme "What should I do with my life?"

All sorts of things might qualify here: your book can be fiction or non-fiction, including memoirs or a biography; many coming-of-age stories would fit; so would a narrative of someone striving for an education or a career. There need not be a single goal. It might be a story of failure not success, or someone discovering their niche unexpectedly. However, the person should in some way be trying to "find themselves", for want of a better expression.

Please note that I am really looking for something non-relationship focused, but if you have a book about someone whose sole life-goal is to get married, I suppose I'd have to allow it!

Challenge #10: Read a book about or set in an emergency department of a hospital
I'll be reading The Emergency: A Year of Healing and Heartbreak in a Chicago ER by Thomas Fisher

>4 SqueakyChu: Or live on the other side of the world! ;)

In honor of my birthday in the later half of the month and following the theme of "twos" in 2022...

Challenge #11: Read a book that has some connection to the constellation GEMINI, especially TWINS.

I'm going to be really generous about creative uses of the word "twin"; however, it -must- be twin not just "two." Words can be plural or embedded.

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The following is "extra" for ideas. It is unnecessary to read for the challenge.

Any significant character can be a twin (or have twins.) The book can be about a twin. The author can be a twin. The word "twin" can be in the title or author's name. It can be set in/(significantly) mention the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul), Twin Sisters Peaks, Colorado or Twin, Belgium. There can be two (and only two) identical objects/people on the cover, i.e. there are two horses on the cover and they are identical (does not include reflections.)

Get creative. The author's last name could be Thompson (Twins) or first name Arnold or Danny (actors in the movie, Twins). Characters could be named Bert, Nan, Freddie, or Flossie (Bobbsey Twins.) Any mention of Mythological twins.* The subject could be baseball (Minnesota Twins) or hockey (Canada's now defunct Thunder Bay.

In order to stay immortal, the TWINS, CASTOR and POLLUX, were transformed into the CONSTELLATION, GEMINI from GREEK MYTHOLOGY. Their mother was LEDA and their fathers were ZEUS (who took the shape of a SWAN) and TYNDAREUS. Their twin sisters were HELEN of TROY and CLYTEMNESTRA.

The twins were considered the patrons of SAILORS, HORSEMANSHIP, and ATHLETES (yes, they were... athletic supporters! *snarfles*). They joined JASON's crew upon the ARGO.

Examples forthcoming.

* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twins_in_mythology

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_Twins_in_Native_American_culture

>24 Morphidae: Can it just contain the word Gemini in the title?

My planned reads:

Challenge #1: Read a book by a new-to-you author whose last name starts or ends with the letter "S" - started by SqueakyChu
*✔Bewilderment by Richard Powers (4)
*Cluny Brown - Margery Sharp
*Fugitive Pieces - Anne Michaels Abandoned
Challenge #2: Read a book first published in the 1990s OR set in East Anglia, Texas, Nottingham or London - started by helenliz
*✔Cloudy in the West by Elmer Kelton (4)
*A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
Challenge #3: Read a book set in (or about) Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Paris, London, Dublin, Amsterdam, or Munich - started by lindapanzo
*✔Dear Mrs. Bird- A.J. Pearce (3.5)
Challenge #4: Read a book in which the total number of pages ends with a 6 or an 8 - started by DeltaQueen
The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family - Joshua Cohen
Never- Ken Follett
✔The Writer's Library: The Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives - Nancy Pearl (5)
Challenge 5 - read a nonfiction book with a one-word title - started by wandering_star
✔Phallacy: Life Lessons from the Animal Penis - Emily Willingham (4.5)
Challenge #6: Read a book about a main character whose paid job consists of taking care of animals (F/NF) - started by dallenbaugh
✔My Patients and Other Animals: A Veterinarian's Stories of Love, Loss, and Hope - Suzy Fincham-Gray (3.5)
✔Once There Were Wolves - Charlotte McConaghy (3)
Challenge #7: "The What's in a Name?" Challenge: Read a book with a one-word person or persons name for a title - subtitles do not matter, but articles do." - Started by AlcottAcre
✔Magpie - Elizabeth Day (3.5)
Challenge #8: Read a book in which something currently impossible or miraculous happens - Started by quondame
✔The Only Thing to Fear - Julie E. Czerneda (2.5)
Challenge #9: Read a book with the theme "What should I do with my life?" - Started by lyzard
✔Educated- Tara Westover (5)
✔Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus (4.5)
Challenge #10: Read a book about or set in an emergency department of a hospital - Started by Citizenjoyce
*✔The Emergency: A Year of Healing and Heartbreak in a Chicago ER - Thomas Fisher (4)
Challenge #11: Read a book that has some connection to the constellation Gemini, especially twins. - Started by Morphidae
✔Gemini - Carol Cassella (4)
Challenge #12: Read a book that fits a category on the Seattle Public Library 2022 Summer Reading bingo card (list the category) - Started by susanna.fraser
✔The Body Keeps The Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma - Bessel A. van der Kolk (5)
✔The Cancer Code: A Revolutionary New Understanding of a Medical Mystery (The Wellness Code) by Dr. Jason Fung (4)
✔The Immortal King Rao: A Novel - Vauhini Vara (4)
Challenge #13: Read a book that has a person (human) on the cover - started by FAMeulstee
✔Covered with Night: A Story of Murder and Indigenous Justice in Early America by Nicole Eustace (4)
Go Ask Ali: Half-Baked Advice (and Free Lemonade) - Ali Wentworth Abandoned
Challenge #14: Read a book that has either "first" or "last" in the title -- on a rotating basis! started by Chatterbox
✔The Last Romantics - Tara Conklin (3)
Challenge #15 Read a Book Originally Published in the Spanish language - started by PaulCranswick
*✔Harsh Times - Mario Vargas Llosa (4)
Challenge #16 Read a book by an author who has the same initials for first and last names - started by raidergirl3
*✔The Accomplice - Lisa Lutz (3.5)
✔The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper - Phaedra Patrick (4)
Challenge #17: Read a book where at least one title word includes a double letter - started by AnneDC
✔A Boob's Life: How America's Obsession Shaped Me―and You - Leslie Lehr (4)
Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn
Nightwood - Djuna Barnes Abandoned

>24 Morphidae: Morphy, would double letters in a title word or name work as twins?

>23 jeanned: That works as well!

Time for my summer tradition!

Challenge #12: Read a book that fits a category on the Seattle Public Library 2022 Summer Reading bingo card (list the category)

>29 susanna.fraser: Ah! The "been meaning to read" square covers my entire reading list.......

>15 alcottacre: Would a nickname for a character work? I want to read Magpie by Elizabeth Day. The title refers to the character but is not her name.

>30 quondame: Ha! It's definitely the most open to interpretation on this year's card.

>31 Citizenjoyce: That is fine, Joyce.

Challenge #13: Read a book that has a person (human) on the cover

You can show your cover on this thread.

>34 FAMeulstee: But Anita, that means I have to remember how to post covers! Arg!!

>35 alcottacre: You can do it, Stasia!

(I just saw you did :-) )

Challenge #14: First/Last rolling challenge

Pretty straightforward. Read a book whose title or subtitle includes the word "first" or "last". But it's a rotating challenge! And I've started off with The Last and the First by Nina Berberova, so whoever follows as second poster can choose EITHER to follow me by using first or last. Please highlight the word, so the person following you can keep in order. And if you want to use a title with "first" and someone else has just beaten you to it, you MUST wait until someone else posts a book with "last" in the title. OR you can post two books in a row, if you want...

For those who've posted books that don't have obvious connections (like Gemini or twins in the title), please type it up on your wiki entry. Thanks!

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>25 Citizenjoyce: Yes, it can. I've updated the challenge to explain better that it's about Gemini OR twins.

>27 cbl_tn: Regretably, neither double letters or doubled words will be eligible for this challenge though I might be convinced, if no other book can be found, for a doubled word for something that *could* be a twin, i.e. a Proper Noun or Noun such as Will Grayson, Will Grayson or Bird by Bird. I've updated the challenge.

>33 alcottacre:, >38 Morphidae: Thanks

Challenge #15 - Read a Book Originally Published in the Spanish Language

Pretty broad one I guess but in most cases for our group (I know we have some Spanish linguists) the book will have been translated into English.

I am reading The House of Ulloa by Emilia Pardo Bazan.

>40 PaulCranswick: I just finished one of those....

>41 quondame: Oooops sorry, Susan!

Challenge #16 Read a book by an author who has the same initials for first and last names

I've got a couple books I'm planning to read out on audiobooks that are both same initial author names. Just two names, unless their third name is also the same initials.

>29 susanna.fraser: Here’s a question for you. I was trying to fit my book into your book Bingo. The only category into which it fits is “read outside”. I was sitting outside reading it when I discovered this category. However, I started reading it inside before today. Does it qualify or not? Most of the book will probably have or will be read inside.

>44 SqueakyChu: I'm going to say it counts, because when I complete that category for the card I'll be turning into the library, unless I choose a very short book I'm unlikely to read it ENTIRELY outside myself.

>15 alcottacre: Just want to clarify that your challenge would include Spies, Newcomer, Strangers, and Spoonbenders, as well as Zorrie, Piranesi, and Hild.

>45 susanna.fraser: Yay! Thank you. :D

>46 jeanned: Sorry for the delay, Jeanne. I am visiting my mother and her internet is spotty at best. All of the titles that you mentioned would work.

>48 alcottacre: Yay!. Thank you!

>49 jeanned: No problem!

>45 susanna.fraser: As it turns out, I finished that book (the one about the dog that was a paratrooper and was written in Hebrew) yesterday so I was still able to get it into May's TIOLI challenges. I'll see if I can get to another book for your challenge, but my book reading rate is not that spectacular! LOL!

>27 cbl_tn: In response to this need (and to address a handful of books I can't find a home for), I offer:

Challenge #17: Read a book where at least one title word includes a double letter

The letter pair must be contained in the word; it can't stretch over two words.

I'll be reading A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam and
Miss Mapp by E. F. Benson for this challenge, and some more if I can get to them.

>52 AnneDC: Wonderful! Miss Mapp was one of the books I needed to place!

If you haven't chosen a book yet for my challenge (#1) and want to do a shared read, I would recommend both Bewilderment and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Each is excellent in its own way.

>54 SqueakyChu: I literally just started Bewilderment about 5 minutes ago, Madeline! I am glad to know that you found it excellent.

>55 alcottacre: That book is so depressing, but so beautifully written. Tighten your seat belt, Stasia!

Folks, feel free to offer recommendations for shared reads of books you found to be outstanding. We all love to read great books! :)

>56 SqueakyChu: I second this recommendation of Bewilderment. Also just finished Zorrie for Challenge #7, wonderfully written and a tad less depressing than Bewilderment. I found Zorrie reminded me a bit of Gilead and Home.

>56 SqueakyChu: >58 jeanned: I can third the recommendation of Bewilderment. One of my best reads of the year!

>58 jeanned: I will be reading Zorrie before the month is out, Jeanne. I hope I like it as much as you did.

TIOLI Question of the Month:

Pick a book you are reading now or have read this month. What award would you personally give it? Make up an award (like I do every month!). You don't even have to like the book (e.g. Worst Book of the Century!). :D Do tell us which book it was and why it won that award from you.

>60 SqueakyChu: I am making headway on Midnight's Children. While it has won the Booker Prize and been awarded the Booker of Bookers, (amongst others) I'm not sure that it is ever going to be a favourite. It's clever, it has a good turn of phrase. But I think I might award it a prize for being over awarded prizes.

The May 2022 TIOLI Stats!

The stats are staying stable. Funny...so much so that the total number of books read for this month was 340...the same number that were read last month!

We shared 63 books, which was 19% of the total number.

We accumulated 33 TIOLI points which gave us a solid 215 TIOLI points for YTD May.

The most popular book, read by four of us, was The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

The most popular challenge (with 79 books read!) was the one by lindapanzo to read a book where every word in the title starts with a different letter.

The challenges with the most TIOLI points (four each) were the following:
--the challenge by AlcottAcre to read a book with the word "library" or "libraries" in either the title or subtitle
--the challenge by Chatterbox to read a play by Shakespeare, a book whose title comes from a Shakespearean play, by an author who shares their first name with a Shakespearean character OR that is set during Shakespeare's lifetime
--the challenge by cbl_tn to read a book with a 5-word title

Good reading, everyone!

>61 Helenliz: I think I might award it a prize for being over awarded prizes.

Good one! That's funny.

>60 SqueakyChu: 55 Ways of Weird go to The History of the Siege of Lisbon. I may finish it. At least it does take place in Lisbon.

>64 quondame: Haha! Love the award name.

>60 SqueakyChu:

The "I Need To Re-Read That Paragraph" Award goes to J. R. R. Tolkien for The Silmarillion. :D

I'm reading Calamity Town by Ellery Queen. I'd give it the "Where Am I, Anyway?" Award.

I've read some of the Ellery Queen books (and would like to read them all) but thought that all of them were set in New York City. I was wrong. A few are set in the fictional New England town of Wrightsville, as is Calamity Town.

>60 SqueakyChu: Alas, I have to give a very good and important book the Ambien replacement award. Covered with Night: A Story of Murder and Indigenous Justice in Early America by Nicole Eustace is a history book about early interactions between American colonists and Native Americans in the 18th century. A semi-important Native American is murdered by two semi-important colonists. Because the colonists value the copper on the land they feel they have to pretend that their idea of justice applies equally to both colonists and natives. They arrest the 2 perpetrators, throw them in jail, put them in irons, and plan to execute them. The Native Americans don't agree with the idea of jailing people and definitely don't agree with killing them in the name of justice. Their idea of justice is to support the community by keeping important members within the community requiring them to voice their remorse over their actions, supporting the grief of the rest of the community, and providing financial compensation. Over and over, the colonists fail to comprehend or even consider that there is an idea of justice that differs from their own. So, this is a good book but, alas, so dry I kept dozing off.

My "Failed to Meet My High Expectations Award" is going to The Road of the Dead by Kevin Brooks. I was really looking forward to this book and fully expected to love it but unfortunately it's poor execution and muddled plot failed to deliver.

I'm awarding Midwinter Murder with "This title is a misnomer award".
While a few of the stories are clearly set in winter, the majority did not feel to be seasonal in that sense. But it's always a pleasure to spend time with Agatha and her creations. I'm not sure I've read any featuring Mr Harley Quinn before. He is most intriguing.

>60 SqueakyChu: My award is the "I really need to know more of India's history" award, which goes to 2 books I am currently reading: A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth and A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. There are events going on in each book with which I am unfamiliar due to a lack of knowledge of India's history.

>62 SqueakyChu: I love those stats, Madeline! They are still looking good for this year.

Your awards are hilarious, fellow challengers! Keep it up.

>71 alcottacre: Yeah. I’m really pleased that there is stable and continuing interest in the TIOLI challenges. Especially now since my pandemic reading dip is slowly reversing itself. I’ve read some really great books so far this year and have high hopes for the future.

>72 SqueakyChu: I have read some wonderful books this year too, Madeline - a lot of them undiscovered gems off my own shelves. Like you, I have high hopes for the future!

I'm awarding Kerry Greenwood's collection of Phryne Fisher short stories, The Lady With the Gun Asks the Questions, the Exactly Met Expectations in the Most Delightful Way award.

>74 susanna.fraser: My library doesn’t have that book yet, but I’m eagerly awaiting it! Glad to hear you liked it!

Karen O

>74 susanna.fraser: I'd agree with that one.

I've found that picking only 1-2 books from TBR, then only reading additional books from TBR as shared reads that others here have selected, results in higher overall book ratings.

So, I have a lot of books in TBR that maybe don't belong there? How to purge?

>77 jeanned: But you do not know for sure that they do not belong there. I would hold off on purging myself unless you want to check the overall ratings for each book on LT and then decide from there. I would be afraid of missing a hidden gem if I just did a wholesale purge. That is just me though.

>78 alcottacre: Honestly, I don't know that I am constitutionally capable of actually doing a purge. Sometimes different ideas come to me about what form that purge might take....short story collections, memoirs, books out of print (but what if they re-emerge in ebook form?), steampunk (but what if there's another China Miéville out there?), cozy mysteries (but sometimes I need that break and besides, what would I do without Georgiana & Darcy, Flavia de Luce, or the delightful residents of Coopers Chase?).

>77 jeanned: I am always purging my books because I have so many incoming book donations for my Little Free Library. I find the best two ways to purge is (1) to get rid of the books that have been on my bookshelves for longer than I want to admit but remain unread, and (2) to release books which would be easy to replace should I later decide I want to read them. With that being said, my current TBR pile in my house is over 400 books (NOT counting the donations going out in my Little Free Library). Oh, well. :D

>79 jeanned: Oh I do wish China Miéville would take a break from writing history and do more of whatever he does with fiction.

>79 jeanned: I don't know that I am constitutionally capable of actually doing a purge.

I am pretty sure that I cannot, which is why I am using the baby steps approach to the problem. Madeline says she has over 400 books in her house in her current TBR pile. Mine is at least 10 times that size :)

>82 alcottacre: LOL! Stasia, your purge should include making friends with a Little Free Library steward and then periodically donating books to that person. That steward, however, should not be me!

>83 SqueakyChu: My daughter Catey runs a charity shoppe in Longview that is associated with the women's shelter there. Almost all of my book donations go there, so the steward is safe from me! Lol

>84 alcottacre: Phew! LOL

I don't keep books I've read and TBR separately, and I refuse to give a figure for TBR. Also, there are lots of books I read 10/20/30 years ago that I want to reread, and there are books that I maybe read more recently but I think it might be helpful to reread, including books that are part of series where I've got stuck and ones which now have sequels.

For example, I have the newish Elizabeth Strout book Oh William! and am thinking I'd like to go back to the first two in the series, and I've learned that there is a #4 coming out. Or there's a new sequel to The Cutting Room, a crime novel that was the author's first published book, and I read TCR maybe 20 years ago..... and the old book was an offer for Kindle recently so I don't have to worry about not being sure where my paperback copy has got to.

What I do need to clear out is the paper versions of books that I now have on Kindle, unless there are particular reasons for keeping them, such as significant numbers of illustrations and photographic plates (generally in non fiction for all ages or stories for small children!)

>86 elkiedee: I didn't know about Oh William! which is available at my library, but now, darn, I have to reread the first two.

>85 SqueakyChu: You are a hoot, Madeline!

>87 Citizenjoyce: I need to do the same.

>88 alcottacre: *laughing as a neighbor stopped by today to give me yet more books*

**later even more books were dropped off onto the bookshelf**

I can be assured of never running out of books!

>89 SqueakyChu: I have always said I am prepared for the great book famine.

>89 SqueakyChu: Well, you will have something to do in your old age, Madeline, whenever that is :)

>91 alcottacre: It’s obviously now!

>92 SqueakyChu: Nah. Old age does not start until you are at least 90 :)

>93 alcottacre: I'll be well prepared for it! :D

>93 alcottacre: The World Health Organization says old age begins in most developed countries at the age of 60. From AARP "A new study by U.S. Trust has found that perceptions of the onset of old age vary widely among different generations. Millennials, for example, say that you are old once you turn 59. Gen Xers, on the other hand, hold a slightly more generous view, saying that old age begins at 65. When it comes to boomers and the silent generation, both agree that you’re not really old until you hit age 73." With modern medicine and people taking much better care of themselves these days, these seem to me like rather young definitions of old age.

>95 Citizenjoyce: That's interesting. So I reached old age during the pandemic, according to WHO. Normally, in recent years, old age is 10 years older than my current age.

I've had the doctor using the phrase "well at your age" for at least 10 years now, so old seems to start at ~ 40 according to the medical profession - it seems to be downhill from there on in.

(clearly that is wrong!)

>97 Helenliz: Maternity services language is quite disturbing here. I was an "elderly primagravida" (first timer) at 37. I may have been called "geriatric" at 39 (2nd baby) or maybe I heard of the term being used - perhaps from 40 up.

I am more in the "age is a state of mind" camp, so I really do not care what anyone else says, lol.

>95 Citizenjoyce: Interesting information, Joyce. I never felt “old” until the onset of pandemic when my vision deteriorated to the point I lost my ability to see to drive and my independence. I became fearful, anxious, depressed, and socially isolated for an entire year. As the pandemic is easing a bit, but not that much because almost daily I learn of people I know who contract it, I no longer feel the vitality I felt prior to pandemic. Now, at age 74, I do feel “old”. I never felt that way prior to pandemic while I was also in my 70s.

>100 SqueakyChu: When I first read the CDC definition of old age, which is 60, I was 61 or 62 and still working full time as a labor and delivery nurse. For some reason, it scared me. I didn't at all think of myself as old. I retired soon after, I don't think it was because of that, stayed retired for a couple of years then went back to work doing interviews for the Census. They love hiring us old folk because the public sees us as so nonthreatening. I'm 76 now and think I might be approaching old but don't think I'm there yet; however, when I don't want to do something I love using the excuse that I'm too old. Unfortunately, the pandemic has had a very unfortunate effect on people's psyches and has intensified or created some emotional reactions.

>100 SqueakyChu: I'm sad to read this, Squeaky.

My dad's health and way of living have sadly changed since just before the pandemic, when he went from being quite an active 79 year old to someone with very limited mobility, much to his evident frustration.

The May 2022 TIOLI Awards!

The Who Knew Award goes to labfs39 for reading Grunt by Mary Roach for the challenge by quondame to read a book with a flying animal in the title or author's name. This was news to me that roaches can fly! I'm glad I didn't know that at the time I was trying to rid our house of a minor cockroach infestation. Eeek! May they all fly far, far away from our homes. Although I love insects, mosquitoes and cockroaches do NOT qualify among the insects I most like. :D

The It's About Time Award goes to FAMeulstee for reading De andere school for the challenge by wandering_star to read a book that that you have owned for at least 5 years. Our winning challenger has had this book since the 1980s...like about 40 years. Yep! I agree it was time to read it. :D

The Refreshing Break Award goes to susanna.fraser for reading The Mighty Thor Volume 1: Thunder In Her Veins for this challenger's own challenge to read a book from a genre you haven't read yet in 2022. This choice of genre, superhero comic, was something rather different. Hope it was good!

The Memories of an Age Past goes to Kristelh for reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the challenge by AnneDC to read a book by an author who has died in 2021 or 2022. This book and so many others by Eric Carle I read to my children over and over when they were young. Now, I have the pleasure of sharing this and others by the same author with visitors to my own Little Free Library. R.I.P. ERic Carle...and thank you for bringing much joy to young children (and their parents and grandparents) with your eye-catching books.

Congrats to our award winners. Feel free to add awards of your own at this time!

>103 SqueakyChu: Thank you, Madeline.
We bought all 52 novels by Simon Vestdijk in the 1980s. I have read 9 of them. So there is still a lot to go!

>104 FAMeulstee: Sounds wonderful, Anita! Enjoy them.

>100 SqueakyChu: I am so sorry you are missing the vitality of your earlier years. It is such a draggy feeling and takes adjustments I find quite difficult.
At the end of this year I will be 74, and have felt old since a few years pre-pandemic when I rather rapidly began becoming short of breath during dancing or other quick moving, or at least not leisurely activities.

>103 SqueakyChu: Congratulations to all the winners! Good going.

I think I've set a new personal best, though I don't to go back and look at every month TIOLI has been in existence. Normally I have 1 or 2 shared reads for the month but I just finished my 5th shared read for the month, the charming and heartwarming Mrs 'Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico. Hoping to see the movie at the theater next month, though I really do want to see the previous movie version starring Angela Lansbury as Mrs 'Arris.

Thanks to Donna for adding it to my challenge. My copy includes Mrs 'Arris Goes to New York and I hope to get to that one soon, too. Tracking down copies of the other two Mrs 'Arris books might be a challenge.

>108 lindapanzo: Indeed, it was such a charming read.

>108 lindapanzo: There is apparently only one library copy circulating in my region - and that includes 3 library systems. I still have quite a wait before I can read Mrs 'Arris Goes to Paris.

>110 quondame: the new Mrs Harris movie is out on July 12 and there’s a new edition of the Paris and New York books so libraries might be adding copies.

>111 lindapanzo: I've noticed Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris more than Mrs. 'arris Goes to Paris! I'm agin' it.

>111 lindapanzo: and >112 quondame: Linda, have you tried searching the author name in case there are volumes under different titles or etc? I've not read or examined my copy (one of a series of mid 20th century reprints by Bloomsbury a few years ago) but it's under the Mrs Harris Goes to Paris title and, according to the LT listing, contains both Paris and New York stories.

I'm still hoping (slightly running out of time) to get my second sweep this year.

I have six to finish :

TIOLI #5 - Imperium by Ryszard Kapuscinski
TIOLI #6 - Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy. Shared Read
TIOLI #10 - Emergency Room by Caroline B Cooney
TIOLI #11 - Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
TIOLI #14 - First Love by Gwendoline Riley
TIOLI #15 - The House of Ulloa by Emilia Pardo Bazan

There is also a musical adaptation called "Flowers for Mrs Harris" - one of the things I watched online during lockdown. You can here the songs here - https://open.spotify.com/album/4A87iiio4feeNjWhMHEYls.

>114 PaulCranswick: I'm only working on my fifth book for this month, but that's great speed and accomplishment for me.

>113 elkiedee: That's a good idea. When I try to track down Mrs 'Arris Goes to Parliament or Mrs 'Arris Goes to Moscow at my library or ILL, I'll try the alternate spellings.

>114 PaulCranswick: Good luck, Paul! I am going to need it myself as I have quite a few to finish before month end too.

>114 PaulCranswick: Go, Paul, Go! :)

>Good luck Paul!
I'm also within striking distance of a June sweep. I need to finish: War: How Conflict Shaped Us (5), When We Cease to Understand the World (15), Violeta (7), Bewilderment (1), The Gurkha's Daughter (13), and The Bobbsey Twins at the Seashore (11). I'm at least 2/3 through each of these, so I'm optimistic it can be done.

Meanwhile, I notice I have achieved a 'sweeplet" of all the even-numbered challenges.

I finished A Suitable Boy for challenge #2 and think it should count as like 3 books, lol. At 1349 pages, it is the longest book I have read in quite a while.

I should be able to complete a sweep this month now that the elephant has left the room, but CFS is dogging me again this week, so we will see how it goes.

>120 AnneDC: Good luck, Anne! I hope you make it!!

>121 alcottacre: Congratulations on completing A Suitable Boy. I found it well worth the time, not something I'm prepared to say for many a shorter work.
I once convinced a teacher that The Count of Monte Cristo was worth 3 books, and I didn't even have my dad's 3 volume set at the time.

>122 quondame: Thanks, Susan. LOL at your work in convincing the teacher!

I have finished my last book for the month, and for a sweeplette! (12-17)

>124 wandering_star: Congratulations!

>124 wandering_star: Congratulations!

Housekeeping Day!

Yes, challengers, the day has come to remove any book listed on the June wiki that you don't finish by midnight tonight (except for rolling challenges in which you can just mark your book DNF).

>124 wandering_star: Congratulations.

>124 wandering_star: Congratulations!

I managed to get Nella Last's War finished tonight, so snuck in a sweep just under the gun.

>129 alcottacre: Yay! Congrats!

>130 SqueakyChu: Thank you, Madeline!

>129 alcottacre: Yahoo, well done!

>132 Citizenjoyce: Thanks, Joyce.

>129 alcottacre: Congratulations, Stasia!

Six sweeps this month!
That hasn't happened since 2018.

>134 FAMeulstee: Six sweeps this month!
That hasn't happened since 2018.

Superb!

>134 FAMeulstee: Wow!

>134 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita!

I love seeing all the sweeps! That is wonderful!