Familyhistorian's Reads for 2022 - Part 9

Welcome to my thread. My name is Meg and I live on the west coast of Canada in a land of soaring trees and rugged mountains. This place feels like home now because I miss the sight of abundant foliage when I travel elsewhere. But I’d really like to travel elsewhere. I was just getting into the swing of having more time to travel when everything shut down. Still there were things to keep me busy, like writing and reading. I must have been doing a lot of that in the last year because keeping up with the threads was more of a challenge than usual. I’d like to say that I’ll do better this year but, who knows. We’ll see what this year brings.

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I write about genealogy and history on my blog. I’ve recently taken my research on the road to find out new information. You can see my latest blog posts at: A Genealogist’s Path to History

Challenges

Reading Through Time

Quarterly

January-March 2022 – 19th Century Europe (& rest of the world, excluding Northern America) - A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn - DONE
April-June 2021 – 19th Century Northern America (includes Civil War; excluding the Old West) You Wouldn't Want to be a Civil War Soldier by Thomas Ratliff - DONE
July-September 2021 – The Old West - Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine - DONE
October-December 2021 – 20th Century: Before WW1 (1900-1913)

Monthly

January: Eastern Philosophies & Religion - Jade Dragon Mountain by Elsa Hart - DONE
February: Rural Life - The Black Country by Alex Grecian - DONE
March: We are Time's Subjects - The Victorian and the Romantic by Nell Stevens - DONE
April: Technology - Radio Girls by Sarah Jane Stratford - DONE
May: Beginnings - Fall of Angels by Barbara Cleverly - DONE
June: The Golden State
July: Mental Health – Then and Now - The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridely - DONE
August: What Fiction can Teach Us about History - A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier - DONE
September: Harvest Moon - The Babes in the Wood by Ruth Rendell DONE
October: Musically Speaking
November: Ends and Endings
December: Reader’s Choice

2021 Nonfiction Challenge

January: Prizewinners and Nominees - Canada's Odyssey: A Country Based on Incomplete Conquests by Peter H. Russell - DONE
February: Welcome to the Anthropocene
March: Espionage (and Counter-Espionage) - Agents of Influence: A British Campaign, a Canadian Spy, and the Secret Plot to Bring America into World War II by Henry Hemming - DONE
April: Armchair Traveling - Road through Time by Mary Soderstrom - DONE
May: From Wars to Peace - Hitlerland: American Eyewitnesses to the Nazi Rise to Power by Andrew Nagorksi - DONE
June: Science & Medicine - The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease by Daniel E. Lieberman - DONE
July: Books by Journalists - The Billionaire Murders: The Mysterious Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman by Kevin Donovan - DONE
August: Cross-Genres - The Bulldog and the Helix: DNA and the Pursuit of Justice in a Frontier Town by Shayne Morrow - DONE
September: Biography - Brigham Young: A Concise Biography of the Mormon Moses by Ed Breslin - DONE
October: From the ‘Middle Ages’ to the Renaissance
November: Books About Books
December: As You Like It

List of books for challenges

Non-fiction:

February: The Making of the British Landscape (start early, close to 700 pages)
March: Agents of Influence: A British Campaign, a Canadian Spy, and the Secret Plot to Bring America into World War II
April: Road Through Time: The Story of Humanity on the Move
May: Hitlerland: American Eyewitnesses to the Nazi Rise to Power
June: The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, Disease
July:
August: Britain 1940: The Decisive Year on the Home Front
September: Chanel
October:
November:
December:

Reading Through Time

Monthly

January: Jade Dragon Mountain
February: The Black Country
March: The Victorian and the Romantic
April: Radio Girls
May: Fall of Angels
June: The Black Dahlia
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:

Quarterly
January-March:
April-June: Battle Cry of Freedom
July-September:
October-December:

Little Free Library

Books culled in 2022

January - 7

February - 0 (there's a fence around my usual LFL)

March - 7

April - 7

May - 7

June - 3

July - 2

August - 7

September - 0

October - 5

Books read in August

Divided in Death by J.D. Robb
An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire by Manda Collins
Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone
A Girl Called Justice by Elly Griffiths
Lady Violet Investigates by Grace Burrowes
The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
One Dance with a Duke by Tessa Dare
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Twice Tempted by a Rogue by Tessa Dare
Pancakes in Paris by Craig Carlson
To Marry and to Meddle by Martha Waters
East of Hounslow by Khurrum Rahman
Visions in Death by J.D. Robb
The Adults by Claire Hulse
Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality by Helen Joyce
Fiction Can Be Murder by Becky Clark
Tooth and Nail by Ian Rankin
The Bulldog and the Helix: DNA and the Pursuit of Justice in a Frontier Town by Shayne Morrow
Lady Violet Attends a Wedding by Grace Burrowes

Books read in 2022

Books acquired in 2022

Acquisitions for August 2022

While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams
The Last Dress from Paris by Jade Beer
All Signs Point to Paris by Natasha Sizlo
Lady Violet Finds a Bridegroom by Grace Burrowes
Lady Violet Enjoys a Frolic by Grace Burrowes
Lady Violet Holds a Baby by Grace Burrowes
Lady Violet Goes for a Gallop by Grace Burrowes
Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History by Richard Thompson Ford
Murder 101 by Richard Boyer
Conviction by Denise Mina
Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are by Robert Plomin
Ticket to Ride by Winona Kent
A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong

Welcome!

Greetings, Meg, and a new-thread orison.

>12 richardderus: You were quick, Richard! Thanks for the new thread wishes.

Whew, that took a while. My regular computer, the one with two monitors, is out of commission so it took me longer to set this thread up. Lots of things seem to be taking me extra long lately. I'm behind on a writing deadline (that rarely happens). Also probably the reason I decided to start a new thread to avoid getting back to the writing. It doesn't help that life is getting busier now that September has hit.

Happy new thread, Meg. I love the flowers at the top.

Happy Wednesday, Meg. Happy New Thread. Lovely topper.

Happy new thread Meg!

Happy New thread, Meg. Great topper.

>15 BLBera: Thanks Beth!

>16 msf59: Hope you are having a happy Wednesday, Mark and a sweet Thursday, tomorrow.

>17 quondame: Thanks Susan!

>18 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley, the flowers in the garden in the park were just begging to be in a photo.

Happy new one Meg! With a "books read in August" list that long I don't know how you have time to do anything else!!

Happy new thread, Meg. x

Happy new thread!

>6 Familyhistorian: I am impressed by your culling rate there Meg. Happy new thread. I hope you are able to pick up (more of) the books after meeting your writing deadline.

Happy new thread, Meg!

This didn’t come to me right away but probably should have
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>20 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba. Reading seems to be much easier to get to these days than other things.

>21 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul!

>22 drneutron: Thank you Jim!

>23 charl08: Hi Charlotte and thanks. Unfortunately the culls are lagging behind the acquisitions. I still haven’t caught up with the writing deadline but reading still goes on. Have to get those holds back to the library on time!

>24 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita!

>27 Familyhistorian: Have to get those holds back to the library on time!

It's good to know your priorities are, as always, in the proper order.

>28 richardderus: Most of them are due the day before I leave on my next trip so I really need to take care of that, Richard.

Happy new one!

>1 Familyhistorian: WOW!!!

That came easily
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>30 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita!

>31 mdoris: The gardens at Lafarge Park have wonderful gardens, Mary.

Looks like you are doing well on your Wordling.

>34 thornton37814: It comes and it goes, Lori. Sometimes I barely make it and times, like today, I get it in a couple of minutes.
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>35 Familyhistorian: I added LOTTO in word #3's spot, so it was 4day; but that's my usual score so all was well.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

I’m getting behind on the write ups on my reads again. Life is getting busier and more complicated. My son was over a couple of days again to have a look my desktop computer which has intermittent issues where I can’t get it to boot up. He figured out that it was my keyboard. Who knew they give out after a while? It’s the same vintage as one of my monitors, an old square HP. I just checked and the monitor was manufactured in 2006.

It’s a challenge working without a keyboard but I can still use my desktop to Zoom but chatting is out of the question. To type I have to use my laptop. It took longer to retype my blog into Chrome yesterday working with one small screen rather than the two screens I’m used to.

148. Beverly by Nick Drnaso



As drawn, the characters in Beverly are recognizable people stumbling through life trying to connect or at least understand themselves. The abnormalities of people and the difficulties of connection were pictured in a series of stories depicting modern life in America.

A strange arrangement of letters
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149. Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb



Having read a good part of the series before, I know that Survivor in Death is one book in the series that is referred back to in later books. There are a few like that in the series but, in this case, the recollection is because of Eve Dallas’s emotional reaction to finding the sole survivor of a family who has been killed in their home. Eve, the first person on the scene in the aftermath, finds young Nixie Swisher covered in blood, hiding thinking she will be killed next. It flashed Eve back to her own past, as she was of a similar age and also discovered covered in blood when found wandering in Dallas.

Dallas took the girl into her home, or rather Roarke’s as they investigated the case. It was another good mystery and one that brought out more of the characters of the main protagonists.

Hi Meg, I hope you are doing ok with all this smoke. I had a bit of trouble today with breathing but am much better this evening, I think some of the smoke has now passed on. Sorry you have been having computer issues - I know how horrible that can be!

Hi Meg my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend.

Why was this so hard to figure out?

>41 DeltaQueen50: The smoke doesn't bother me that much, Judy. I was out in Mission and it didn't seem to be so bad out there. The computer issues are aggravating but at least I have a new lap top as back up.

>42 johnsimpson: Hi John, good to see you here. Thanks for the new thread wishes.

150. Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine



Through the medium of Luz “Little Light” Lopez, the reader was shown the story of her trials and tribulations in Denver. The experiences of her family including her brother, Diago, and the visions she had of the past that her family had lived in the Lost Territory showed how tenuous their hold was on the land and life both in the present of the 1930s and the more distant past.

The shifts in view and time were a bit hard to follow, at times, but it was worth reading Woman of Light through to eventual understanding.

Woman of Light is on my list already, after Joe warbled about it. I also loved her story collection, which I highly recommend. I hope your week is off to a good start.

Not my first choice for an English word
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>47 msf59: Hi Mark, Woman of Light, was a good one. Hope you get to it soon. The week is shaping up to be a busy one. Hope yours is going well too.

151. Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell



The author of Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism is a language scholar. Linguistics was the lens she used to look at the rise and proliferation of various cults. Those cults ran the gamut from Jonestown and Scientology to fitness practitioners who keep their following linked through language. She also delved into the world of multilevel marketing/direct sales.

It was an eye opening read and had me nodding my head a few times especially when she got into the language that Trump used.

>46 Familyhistorian: Congratulations on reaching 2 x 75, Meg!

>50 Familyhistorian: Will have to have a look at Cultish

by the words we describe ourselves we will know ourselves.

Thanks for the tip.

>46 Familyhistorian: Brava for your double-75 Meg!

>50 Familyhistorian: This one sounds good, Meg. Onto my WL it goes. And 150! Impressive.

A quick one today
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>51 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita. Those library holds are speeding up my reading this year.

>52 magicians_nephew: Cultish was a really good read and brought in more factions than I had thought about. I think you’ll find it interesting, Jim.

>53 richardderus: Thanks Richard. The books are going down easy.

>55 Familyhistorian: I used THEME as #3 or I'd've been the same place as you.

>54 BLBera: It was interesting and the cultish language is in more parts of our culture than you’d think. Thanks re the 150. I’m not sure where my reading numbers will end up this year.

>59 richardderus: Well, my second word was their so I had the th in place and knew e was in the word but not the third letter

Happy new thread!!

That took less than a minute
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>62 Berly: Thanks Kim!

>63 Familyhistorian: It was a, um, a simpatico word for my present mood...yours, too, I take it.

Have a thunderous Thursday, Meg!

>150 Familyhistorian: I have this one on hold at the library. Can't wait till it's my turn.

Have a great weekend!

>65 richardderus: It spoke to me, Richard.

>66 alcottacre: Stasia! Good to see you out and about.

>67 figsfromthistle: It’s a popular one, Anita. I hope you enjoy it when your turn comes.

I got skunked but it was with a word I’ve never seen before
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Last guesses were paper, payer, pacer. Stumped by parer. I didn’t know that was a word.

>71 Familyhistorian: - I also got skunked today and got yesterday's in 2.

>71 Familyhistorian: Huh! I knew the word because it's what I've always called the thing, but might be a specifically US word for it. Who knew.

>71 Familyhistorian: I knew it was a word. As I told one of a lot of friends who also got skunked, I could think of 3 words for the last 2 options. I picked the wrong two. My last three were paper, payer, and then parer would have been my next guess. I think parer is used more regionally. I've heard a potato peeler called a parer and also a paring knife called one.

Back on track
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>72 jessibud2: I think it is a word we don’t use, Shelley.

>73 richardderus: Maybe it is US usage, Richard. We use a two word term.

>74 thornton37814: Good to know I was in good company on that one, Lori. Maybe it is a regionally used word.

Just a guess but it worked
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I’m a bit computer challenged right now so not getting around the threads much. Currently I’m on a cruise ship heading to Alaska so a bit distracted too.

Enjoy the cruise, Meg. It's a lovely time of the year to be travelling.

>80 Familyhistorian: Alaska cruising is a lot of fun you can cover more ground from the boat than you can driving around.

Alaska is such a huge state acreage-wise but so few people - a state bigger than Texas with a population smaller than some American cities.

But lots of lovely stuff to see. Enjoy. Report back!

>80 Familyhistorian: Have a lovely cruise, Meg, and we'll all be here gnashing our gnashables in wretched envy awaiting your homecoming.

Not too bad today
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>81 DeltaQueen50: Thanks Judy. The cruise is going well so far.

>82 magicians_nephew: Thanks, Jim. I didn’t realize Alaska is so big. I probably should done some background research into its history but I’m sure I’ll find out stuff while I’m here.

>83 richardderus: Thanks Richard, I’ll endeavor to comply.

>86 Familyhistorian: when we were there we took a narrow gauge railway ride into the Yukon Territory from Skagway -- actually crossed the border into Canada -- and visited one of the major Gold mining camps there. Fascinating.

There are many thing done in the Midnight Sun
By the men who moil for gold

and if you're in Juneau and the rangers are in a good mood you can walk right up to the glacier and check it out up close and personal - exciting. But note the lines that mark where the glacier USED TO be - the ice sheet is receeding, and that ain't no lie.

Big state but the people mostly live in the coastal cities.

Not bad today
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Just waiting to get off the ship in Skagway to go on a street car tour. Yesterday we went on a jaunt through Juneau.

>89 Familyhistorian:, >90 Familyhistorian: Lovely job, Meg, and enjoy Skagway!

Meg hoping you are getting the glorious weather we are getting. Enjoy your trip!

Hi Meg my dear, congrats on reaching 2 X 75 books read so far this year. Sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

I am sure you are having a great time in Alaska, Meg. We did the cruise in 2004 and it was probably my favorite vacation ever. We also stopped in Juneau and Skagway.

>91 richardderus: Thanks Richard. Skagway was interesting.

>92 mdoris: Hi Mary, it was nice sunny weather in Juneau yesterday but the clouds hid the tops of the tops mountains in Skagway today.

>93 johnsimpson: Thanks John. I hope you and Karen are doing well.

>94 msf59: Good to hear you had a good time on you trip to Alaska, Mark. Mine has been enjoyable so far.

I am a little jealous, Meg, as I have always wanted to visit Alaska. Have a lovely time.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

>90 Familyhistorian: Hmm Don't recall a street car tour in Skagway when we were there. We liked Juneau a lot - not as touristy as some part of the state

Phew
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>99 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul, the trip has been interesting.

>100 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita!

Sounds like a great trip - enjoy!!

Not sure where that one came from
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>105 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba. Things are winding down now.

>106 Familyhistorian: Between my words 1 & 2 I got all five letters, so it was pretty darn easy for me today!

>108 richardderus: Nice one, Richard.

Just got it in the nick of time today
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Hope you're having a great trip, Meg!

That was a quick one
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>111 bell7: Thanks Mary! My trip is over today but it was fun while it lasted.

A pointed message?
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152. The Library of Lost and Found by Pheadra Patrick



It’s heartening to read stories of people getting out of the rut that their life has become. In The Library of Lost and Found, Martha was a perpetual volunteer. Serving others was what she was used to. Hadn’t she put aside her future with the man she loved to look after both of her parents until their demise? But just as the house they left her, filled with the bric-a-brac of the family’s prior existence and Martha’s volunteer tasks, need to be cleaned out so did her life.

The catalyst for this change came in a book that she found in a second-hand book shop. The tome held clues that what had happened in the past was not what she had been told. In searching for the truth, life as she knew it would be up ended. Sometimes that’s a good thing.

Should have got this one sooner. I see the word often enough
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>115 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg my dear, we have this book on the book pile in our bedroom, looking forward to reading this.

>115 Familyhistorian: Would love to meet parents who named their daughter "Phaedra".

But the book sounds a treat. My aunt Alice was the one of her family who stayed home and took care of my grandfather in his later years, putting aside dating or career to do so. The book made me think of her.

Maybe the way the east coast feels
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>117 johnsimpson: I was surprised to find that I had another one by the author as well, John. Do you have The Messy Lives of Book People, too. I think that it is the book related titles that catch our eye and cause us to buy the books.

>118 magicians_nephew: It's quite the name. A good way to get noticed, though.

I don't think I would be able to put aside my life to look after others. Some people, like your Aunt Alice, have more of the caring gene.

>115 Familyhistorian: Sometimes it's good to have your preconceptions challenged...others, maybe not so much.

Phaedra Patrick is a very interesting writer indeed.

>120 Familyhistorian: I have The Messy Lives of Book People too -- definitely the title that caught my eye. I decided to use it for my rl book club pick for December so haven't read it yet.

I have both those Phaedra books and they are on the *visible* TBR pile... in fact, I have several books with *library* in the title. Magnets to LTers, I suspect! Right, Meg?

153. The Babes in the Wood by Ruth Rendell



We have a tendency to think that climate disasters are a recent thing but a glance at the publication page of The Babes in the Wood shows that it came out in 2002. As the mystery began Wexford’s patch, Kingsmarkham in Sussex, was flooding with water lapping at the garden wall in Wexford’s garden. Initially it was thought that the three missing people the Chief Inspector and his men were searching for had been drowned. But more sinister forces were at work. The water had receded and months passed before the mystery was solved.

>122 richardderus: Preconceptions are a tricky thing, Richard, but often necessary to get us through life relatively unscathed. I like Phaedra Patrick's style and have another book by her on my shelves.

>123 RebaRelishesReading: The Messy Lives of Book People looks like a good book club pick, Reba. I hope you enjoy it.

>124 jessibud2: I laughed at the "visible" part of the TBR pile. Does that mean you got them recently and if you don't get to them soon they will no longer be visible? That seems to be what happens with my TBR piles.
Putting library in the title is a definite attractant!

A difficult one today
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>129 Familyhistorian: I enjoyed today's challenge. It took me 5 as well.

154. The Cold Moon by Jeffrey Deaver



A friend passed along The Cold Moon for me to read. It was one of a series featuring Lincoln Rhyme a quadriplegic ex-cop who works with the police to solve cases. One of those officers was Amelia Sachs who works the crime scenes for him. Through the investigation into a serial killer they came up against police corruption, bringing to the fore incidents in the past that caused Sachs to question whether she should continue to serve for the NYPD. These doubts, which would impact the team and the deviousness of the criminal they are chasing obscured the wrongdoers ultimate plan until it was almost too late.

>130 richardderus: It baffled me for a while, Richard. I was happy when I found the right answer.

Almost forgot to do this today
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>115 Familyhistorian: I enjoyed that one as well. A nice cozy read.

>129 Familyhistorian: I agree. It was frustrating!

>134 figsfromthistle: Nice that it was book related too.

That one wasn’t as bad as today’s.
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>135 Familyhistorian: Today's was a gimme for me...I had four letters from my two starter words. So, 3day for me.

155. The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah



I grew up reading Agatha Christie mysteries so I picked up the continuation of the Poirot novels by Sophie Hannah. The first one I read was The Monogram Murders. Unfortunately, it didn’t really gel with me. I don’t know if that was why it took me so long to read it or if it was the fault of spreading the read over such a long time was why it didn’t really strike my fancy. I hope the next in the continuation series works better.

>136 richardderus: Well, they were obviously better letters than the 4 that I had because it took me 3 tries after I had 4 letters!

156. Quite Ugly One Morning by Christopher Brookmyre



I thought for a minute that Quite Ugly One Morning was set on Islay and I wondered how a fast paced mystery could be set on a smallish western island. I was keen to see the author try, but it turned out to be the investigating officer’s dream of being posted in a relative backwater. The mystery itself was set in Edinburgh. Fair enough, I could picture that just having been there recently.

The mystery was fast paced and, while fairly graphic, told with verve and a sense of humour that had the pages flipping over quickly. Now I need to seek out the next book in the Jack Parablane series.

157. Brigham Young: A Concise Biography of the Mormon Moses by Ed Breslin



Having spent some of my time in Salt Lake City learning about the history of the Mormons rather than spending all my time at the Family History Library, I knew a bit about the lives of the early Mormons. Brigham Young: A Concise Biography of the Mormon Moses filled me in on a lot more. Some of the early history surprised me but a lot of the lore I had found out over the years.

Much easier today
Wordle 469 4/6

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>141 Familyhistorian: Me too! (Or four, I suppose.)

>140 Familyhistorian: Mmm...interesting man, even though I don't much like or approve of what he did.

>139 Familyhistorian: I enjoy his writing. He's...the stories and the language go together, and either one wouldn't work without the other.

Happy weekend ahead's reads, Meg.

>142 richardderus: Today's Wordle was a relief after yesterday's near debacle.

Brigham Young was interesting and, mostly, a good leader but tends to be remembered for his polygamy. Having 56 wives tends to set one apart.

I read and liked the Ambrose Perry books first before trying one that Christopher Brookmyer wrote on his own. I like both.

Enjoy your weekend, Richard.

Some Alaska sights:







Juneau's tourist shopping mecca.

158. The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter by Hazel Gaynor



Occasionally the Family History Masterclass I attend on Zoom picks books so that we can study how they are written. Unfortunately, they tend to choose books with sad endings – such is the outcome of writing about people’s historic lives. We tend to know how those lives ended. While the books are fiction the outcome tends to be the same. One of the choices was The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter. I stalled midway through but finally picked up and finished the book which was told in duel timelines and hinged on women living in lighthouses on either side of the Atlantic.

>144 Familyhistorian: All that green!

>146 richardderus: That wasn't something that struck me, Richard. I just have to go outside to see lots of green.

I think I'll go out and walk in it now. We still have summer weather here and a drought. Looks like all that gripping about our rain and cold weather in June and July worked overtime!

HI Meg, Can you believe this fantasic weather. Poor plants though. It has been very tough for them.

>145 Familyhistorian: - I haven't read that one, Meg, but have loved other titles I"ve read by Hazel Gaynor.

>148 mdoris: It's hard to believe it's October, Mary, and here we thought that we wouldn't have any summer this year when June and July were so miserable.

>149 jessibud2: I've only read one other Hazel Gaynor book that I remember, The Girl from the Savoy. It was good but I remember it having a sad ending as well. I don't do well with those. You would probably like The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter if you liked her other books.

Hi Meg. Congratulations on reading so many books, many of them seem to be good ones! For now, I've added The Library of Lost and Found to my tbr list.

Happy weekend to you!

>152 Whisper1: Hi Linda, thanks re the books. I hope you enjoy The Library of Lost and Found. Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead.

Nice photos from Juneau, Meg.

>154 BLBera: Thanks Beth. I have more Alaska photos to share and as it was a shorter trip than the one to Scotland I hope to get around to posting them all.

This was a fast one
Wordle 470 4/6

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More Alaska pictures, this time of Skagway.



Museum exhibit of men following the gold rush trail



Our cruise ship was one of many in Skagway



Our street car driver/guide at the Gold Rush Cemetery about to give her dramatic rendition of the shootout and did for Soapy Smith.

Another quick one
Wordle 471 4/6

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>158 Familyhistorian: It didn't take me long, either.

>157 Familyhistorian: I love the streetcar driver's expression! I'll wager she did a fine job, indeed.

Great Alaska pics!

Thanks for sharing the Alaska pictures!

Wonderful pictures. It looks beautiful.

Are those climbers are going to hit the ceiling soon?!

>157 Familyhistorian: They told us when we were in Skagway that the miners going into "The Yukon" had to basically bring an actual TON of supplies to make camp and have any chance of survival in the gold fields.

>159 richardderus: It was an irony and lively story, Richard. Well worth the price of admission!

>160 thornton37814: Thanks re the pics, Lori. There are more to come.

>161 Whisper1: Thanks Linda!

>162 charl08: It was beautiful, Charlotte and the weather cooperated, which was great. I don't think those climbers are making much headway so the ceiling is in no danger.

>163 magicians_nephew: In the museum it gave figures of the amount of supplies the miners had to carry in. No soft packs either. A lot of them hired help to carry the necessary pounds of supplies so that they could continue on.

Another one that took less time than I expected
Wordle 472 3/6

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Meg, the best vacations are those wherein we learn a lot about our history. This was a beautiful learning experience.

>169 Familyhistorian: It was a guessing game for me...took 5. *sigh*

>170 Whisper1: I agree with you there, Linda. I love learning about history when I go on vacation.

>171 richardderus: After the first two tries the word just came to me and, unlike many other times it was correct.

159. The Weight of Memory by Shawn Smucker





I found The Weight of Memory to be a well written and emotional read. The connection between the ailing grandfather and his young granddaughter, Pearl, was poignant but foreshadowed the ending. That’s probably why it took me so long to finish this read. I’m more of a happy ending type of reader.

>174 Familyhistorian: I haven't heard of that one, but it sounds intriguing, Meg. Shame about the name of the author though - I would have thought a pseudonym was in order!

>144 Familyhistorian: Neat! I like the different coloured buildings.

>175 PaulCranswick: Paul...I laughed right out loud when reading your comment about the name of Shawn Smucker!

More Alaska pictures, this time of Glacier Bay

>175 PaulCranswick: From the author bio, it looks like he has more books to his credit and maybe he thought I should continue with a name that was at least memorable.

>176 figsfromthistle: It was colourful, Anita, perhaps a reflection of their colourful historical past. The less historical part of town seemed to have regular brick buildings.

>181 Familyhistorian: :)

Our last stop in Alaska was Ketchikan

>178 Familyhistorian: Austere beauty!

>179 Familyhistorian: It is certainly that, Meg!

In Ketchikan, we visited Creek Street



where the highlight of our visit was Dolly's House Museum, the house of one of the women who plied their trade in this area of town. In the house there was a wall with a few of her portraits

>183 PaulCranswick: We went through that area slowly with so many of the passengers with their eyes glued to the windows to see that beauty.

Last night a friend and I stayed in downtown Vancouver for a concert. We saw the Black Keys at Rogers Arena.





This morning we went for a walk downtown and found a new to me book store. I'll need to visit it again. We also went for a walk on the seawall in Stanley Park. It was strange to be walking there eating ice cream in October but nice too!

Hi Meg, welcome back. Your pictures remind me of when my hubby and I did an Alaskan cruise. We sailed up stopping at the same towns as you did and then rode a bus over to Anchorage and flew back to Vancouver from there.It was interesting but a lot of it reminded me of B.C. and our own coastal waters.

I'm ready to go to Alaska now! I might need to find a really heavy coat!

>184 Familyhistorian: Wonderful trip, interesting history, and a lot of fun to go with you on it (without actually moving anything that hurts)! Thanks, Meg.

>187 DeltaQueen50: It was a fun trip, Judy, but I didn't make it as far into Alaska as you did. We didn't see Anchorage. Did you get a sense of that city as well, or just see the airport? The scenery reminded me a lot of BC.

>188 thornton37814: It wasn't that cold when we were there, Lori. Just a few degrees cooler than Vancouver in most places although when we got off the ship in Skagway the wind was strong and cold!

>189 richardderus: I'm glad you enjoyed it, Richard.

Probably took longer than it should have
Wordle 473 5/6

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>188 thornton37814: The amazing thing about Alaska in the summer is that its pretty much like the lower 48 - people walking around in tee shirts and shorts a lot of the time.

>194 magicians_nephew: That's probably right. It was only a few degrees cooler than Vancouver but as it is on the same coast with the same kind of terrain that makes sense. It took a lighter jacket and was fine.

A respectable result.

>196 Familyhistorian: Hah, forgot to post my Wordle
Wordle 474 4/6

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A busy day today. Two zoom meetings for PoCo Heritage. (I have to write a short report in between). After that I’m cooking dinner early for Thanksgiving as that’s the time my son was available.

A word with more than one meaning
Wordle 475 5/6

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I was sorry to see the news that Peter Robinson the author of the Alan Banks series, among other works, died on Oct 4. He was 72.

>200 Familyhistorian: Yes, I am a bit sad today too about the death of Peter Robinson. I think I have read the first 20 (of soon to be 28) of his Banks books. He lived in and loved Toronto by all accounts but his books were firmly rooted in his native West Yorkshire.

>201 PaulCranswick: I appreciated Peter Robinson a lot more after seeing him in person at the Vancouver Writers Festival one year. It was after that that I started working my way through the DI Banks series. Apparently he has a new book in the series due to come out in 2023.

>202 Familyhistorian: Indeed. That will be number 28.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving weekend, Meg

Not something I feel after Thanksgiving dinner
Wordle 476 4/6

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>208 Familyhistorian: I’m only at the beginning of the series and it might take me a while to get through. I had been sourcing the books at the Vancouver library but a few of the next ones are only in electronic form. I’ll have tind a new source.

>204 figsfromthistle: Happy Thanksgiving to you, Anita!

>205 jessibud2: I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, Shelley!

Hi Meg My dear, Happy Thanksgiving weekend dear friend.

>210 johnsimpson: Hi John, thanks for the Thanksgiving wishes.