Oregonreader 2023

Happy New Year to all my fellow readers. I’m looking forward to sharing some good books this year.

Welcome back, Jan!

Yay! You do have a thread in 2023. Looking forward to adding tons of books to the BlackHole, Jan.

Happy New Year!

Happy reading year, Jan. Great to see you back.

Jim, Stasia, and Paul, thank you so much for welcoming me back for another year. I wasn’t much of a presence last year but I’m always hopeful!

It’s time for me to introduce myself again, I think. I worked at the University of Oregon in the Dept of Human Physiology as financial manager. I was widowed in 2004. After my husband of 40 years died, I decided to move to the Portland area to be near my children and grandchildren. I have two children and four amazing grandchildren. I moved here knowing no one else so I joined Obama’s re-election campaign and met many women like myself. In 2012, I helped form Concerned Citizens for Social Justice. We work on gun control, hunger and other local interests. I have always loved to read and finding LT in 2008 was a blessing. I joined this group in 2010 and found my home.

ed!!

So happy to see you back here again! I will be eagerly following along. : ) Happy New Year!

What Kim said! Happy New Year, Jan!

Happy Friday, Jan!

Happy New Year, Jan. I hope 2023 is a good year for you.

Happy reading in 2023, Jan!

Happy to see you back, Jan!

>6 Berly: It’s always good to see here, Kim. Here’s to a happy and healthy new year.

>7 Crazymamie: Mamie, it’s such a treat to welcome you here. I’ll be visiting you to say hi and see what you are reading!

>8 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia, my thoughts are with your family.

>9 BLBera: Anita, thank you so much for the visit. I was glad to see you are out walking again.

>10 FAMeulstee: Rhonda, I hope you are staying warm. I was in Milwaukie this morning for my granddaughter’s basketball game and it was hailing. So unpredictable!

I’m off to a slow reading start this year.

This is my first ARC this year.
1. The End of Drum Time by Hanna Pylvainen
I loved this book. This is an historical novel about Lapland and the Sami people there. The author writes beautifully of the natural setting and how these reindeer herders survived. There is an inevitable clash with Christianity as represented by the Lutheran church. This results in the same tragedy that we are familiar with from cultures around the world.

2. The Female Quixote by Charlotte Lennox
Lennox was a contemporary and friend of Samuel Johnson, Richardson, and Fielding. While this is a parody of 18th century romances, it is also a commentary on the powerlessness of women as were many of the romances. There is evidence, that Jane Austen used this as a model for Northanger Abbey. Some literary historians see evidence that one of the crucial chapters was written by Johnson. If you are interested in the history of English literature, this is an interesting book.

3. Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers This is my favorite mystery of hers.

4. Spare by Prince Harry All the press about Harry made me curious to read this. I’m glad I did. Contrary to my first impression, this is not just a tirade against his family. It is a memoir about his life to date, his childhood, his mother’s death, his career in the army, and time spent in Botswana. He has very kind things to say about his father. His real anger is toward the British press. If you are curious about the story, I recommend this.

5. The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer
A comfort read for me.

Glad to hear you enjoyed Spare. I had been wondering what people thought of it. I do feel for him. And Heyer is always a fun read for me. Happy weekend!

>13 Oregonreader:. I will have to look for The End of Drum Time. My sister would be interested, they visited Finland and she loved the reindeer.

Happy Sunday, Jan! You got me with The Female Quixote - adding it to The List. I had also been wondering about Spare and will probably get to it at some point, so thanks for sharing your thoughts.

*edited to correct spellcheck, which make me crazy

>13 Oregonreader: Adding The End of Drum Time and The Female Quixote to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendations, Jan!

I hope you enjoy both, Stasia. It’s always a treat to hear from you.

>13 Oregonreader: Interesting start to the reading year, Jan.

I don't think I will read Spare. I don't much like the Royals to be honest and, though he clearly has every right to tell his story, and I am sure it will be a huge seller, it is going to be picked over for sensationalist means. Those who oppose Meghan & Harry will sift it to demonstrate their perceived treachery and self serving nature whilst those who support them will empathize with his point of view.

I have nothing against them but I don't think that their story has such importance to fill the news as it tends to do.

Great to see you posting dear lady.

>19 PaulCranswick: Paul, I agree with you. Frankly, I have enough drama in my life and do not need to know about the woes of Megan and Harry, both of whom seem to be self absorbed and have much more money than I do.

Harry doesn't get along with his brother -- neither do I, but it isn't something I would devote pages and pages about.
Harry lives in California where he has a very nice home -- I live in Pennsylvania -- I have a cozy home, for which I pay the mortgage and do not live on financial backing from anyone.
Harry's father said some hurtful things about him -- boo hoo -- my father did the same, until he was no longer in my life. I want to tell Harry to GET OVER IT!

I could write more, but won't for the same reason that I have no desire to read Harry's book--not worth more of my time.

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On the positive side, thanks for you wonderful posts, your statistics and mainly for your kindness and support of which you show to so very many in this group.

Have a terrific Tuesday, Jan!

Interesting comments about Spare. I think this is a prime example of how the press shapes our attitudes about the famous. That’s why I was so surprised when I read the book.

6. Mutual Admiration Society by Mo Moulton
I’m a big fan of Dorothy Sayers so I was interested in her early years. In 1912, while at Somerfield College, Oxford, she formed a writing group with five other students. They called themselves the Mutual Admiration Society. This book follows their lives at school and their subsequent careers. They were all very involved with women’s rights.

They lived in an interesting time as women gained the right to higher education, the right to vote, the right to stand for Parliament, and increasing access to good paying jobs. These women, in their different ways,worked to push the boundaries further. The author says “Dorothy Sayers and her Oxford circle remade the world for women”. A bit of hyperbole but we do have to acknowledge the impact of their efforts.

I discovered a thread on here called the best historical novels and it reminded me of books on my shelf that need to be read. I’ve started The Leopard by Lampedusa. I’m reading a translation from the Italian. The language is beautiful but I don’t know how much credit goes to the author and how much to the translated. Kudos to both, I guess.

Morning, Jan! Nice review of Mutual Admiration Society - that sounds like one I would enjoy, so I'm adding it to The List. If you have not already read it, you might like Square Hauntings - Sayers is one of the five women featured, and the book is very interesting.

You are reminding me that I have The Leopard on the shelves where it has been waiting patiently for years.

Mamie, I haven’t read Square Hauntings but I will check it out. I just finished The Leopard.

7. The Leopard by Giuseppe di Lampedusa
Set in Sicily during the 19th century, Garibaldi is successfully leading a democratic revolution. The main character, aging Prince Salina, and his family, represent the Sicilian aristocracy. They see the revolution as a threat to their comfortable lives. As the Prince says, Sicilians fear change. His beloved nephew, Tancredi, joins the revolutionaries and the tensions among the two forces are played out in their stories. The author does a wonderful job of demonstrating the societal changes through this family. Beautifully written.

>24 Oregonreader: That is on my list for this year, Jan. Nice review!

>20 Whisper1: Thanks for those kind words, Linda. Pot, kettle and black.

I think I will pass on reading spare as well. From the news articles about the book, it sounds like a money gram and a complaining kinda book. Not my thing.

Anyhow have a great Monday!

8. The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett
I’ve read in several places about what a great historical novelist Dunnett is. I selected this book as my first of hers. I’m sorry to say that I was unable to finish it. I found the main characters unlikeable (although I suspect that changes), the pace is very slow, and I found the extensive use of 16th century Scottish daunting. It may be that I started with the wrong book or a book that didn’t suit my mood. Does anyone have a suggestion of a better book to start with?

>27 Oregonreader: This is the first book in the Lymond Chronicles series. It's a good place to start in the sense that at least you didn't jump into the middle of a 6-book series. But ... I read three and stalled out.

Lymond (and Dunnett) have legions of fans on LT, which is how I learned of it. Dunnett expects readers to know their history though, and I did not. I bought a companion book to help me sort out the historic vs fictional characters and events, and I became accustomed to looking up things I didn't understand. By the fourth book I had gotten to know the characters and felt more invested in the series. But the pace is slow, despite all the swashbuckling, and I've kind of stalled out. It's been two years since I read book 4, and I'm not sure if or when I'll pick up the next book.

>27 Oregonreader: I have to say, Jan, that I read that one and never bothered to try another. I guess some series are just not meant to be.

Have a great weekend.

I think both Mutual Admiration Society and THe Leopard sound like ones I would enjoy. Great comments, Jan. I did read Square Haunting, and it is great. I think you might like it.

I can't believe how long it has been since I visited here. I had a severe cold that knocked me out for about two weeks so that is part of it. I think cold germs are getting stronger! I did do some reading though.

>28 lauralkeet: Thanks for your tips, Laura. I've decided to give up on the series.

>29 PaulCranswick: Glad to hear you had the same reaction, Paul.

>30 BLBera: Beth, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

9. The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig. This was a well-told story set in Montana. I was never sure about the time frame but I think it was early 1900's. A widower raising three boys hires a housekeeper. The story is told through the eyes of the boys which gives it a lot of its charm. Loved it.

10. Hyphenated Relations by Daniel Maunz This was an ERC and a happy surprise. Sam is a young widow whose former father- in- law reenters her life after two years of no contact. The story is essentially about grief, but it is handled with so much lightness and understanding that the characters really come to life in a complex way. I enjoyed this.

11. The Librarian and the Spy by Susan Mann. I thought this would be a mystery with a little romance but it turned out to be just the opposite. Not for me.

I'm sorry to be such a no-show here. My life has been very hectic of late. I'm planning to move in with my son's family this summer. That means I have to sell my house and there is much work to be done! Stressful. But here's my reading.

12. When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth Phillips I have read a number of her books over the years when I"m in the mood for a light, very humorous romance. This one was fun.

13. Greek To Me by Mary Morris I got interested in this book at the urging of a friend who is a retired university professor in the classics. She reads Ancient Greek, of which I'm in awe! This book is part linguistics, looking at the origins of Ancient Greek and how it led to so many words in English. The second part is a memoir of her travels in Greece, trying to use her imperfect modern Greek. I really enjoyed this one.

14. Nobody's Sweetheart Now by Maggie Robinson When I started this mystery, the broad plot outline seemed very familiar to me. Then I realized I had read this book several years ago. I didn't remember how it ended so I finished it. A so-so mystery.

15. The Lost Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland This is not about the bookstore itself but about the young woman who owns it. She carries a secret about her parents with her which affects her life choices. I'm glad I read this one.

16. The Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton The title refers to the occupants of a boarding house in London during WWII. They all live alone and lonely. The writing is terrific and he does such an amazing job of developing the characters. I recommend this one.

17. Measuring the World by Daniel Kehlmann This is a fictional treatment of two historical geniuses, Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Friedrich Gauss.They were both German living and working in the early 19th century. von Humboldt set out to physically measure the world, traveling from France down into Africa. He measured the height of every rise and the depths of caves and volcanos. He has been referred to as the father of Ecology as he was the first to demonstrate the nature is all connected. Gauss, on the other hand, stayed at home thinking about physics. To describe all his influences on physics today, you would have to read about him in Wikipedia. But one big one was his demonstration that space is curved. This introduced me to two amazing men I had known nothing about.

18. Candide by Voltair. This was a reread from many years ago. Candide had much to learn in the world after studying with Dr. Pangloss and his theory of Optimism, all is for the best. It still had it's charm.

19. The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer I thought I had read all her books at least once but I found this in my stacks and couldn't remember what it was about. Time to read it and I enjoyed it.

Wow, that was a lot to get through. Happy reading to all!

Nice job catching up on your reviews!! Phew! Where does your son live? Good luck getting everything ready--that will be a task!! Sending you good wishes with it all.

Thanks, Kim. My son and his family live in Milwaukee and we’ll be looking for a home there. I will still be traveling back and forth to Tigard regularly since all my connections are there. But I’m excited about being in my two grandchildren’s lives. They are nine and five. Most importantly, I’ll have my private space when I want.
The hardest part is getting my home ready for sale. Too much delayed maintenance!

Just as long as you don't leave the state. ; ) Maintenance -- ugh!! I fell your pain. Sounds like it will be a wonderful move though. Happy for you!

>33 Oregonreader: >35 Oregonreader: That is a big step, Jan, but worthwile because of your grandchildren.
Good luck with getting your house ready for sale, and of course with the move.

Wow, Jan, that seems like a HUGE move to me. Congratulations on deciding to do it now when you can still enjoy the grandchildren and travel home easily. I do wish you patience and stamina in getting your house ready to go on the market. Make books and LT your retreat from the stress.

Good reading going on here as usual.... I will surely look at *Greek to Me* (your Touchstone doesn't go to the Morris book though) and *Solitude*. I have *Admiration Society* and *Leopard* on hand, but my reading time remains limited.

I'm sorry that D. Dunnett didn't work for you (or Laura or Paul). I read the series the first couple of times when I had a great deal of reading time and attention, at least as compared with now. What you have to remember is that Lymond is perfect. If you find him cruel or capricious or any other negative, you just haven't read far enough to know what's going on. *grin* and *sigh*

Sorry about the cold, Jan. The move sounds exciting. Milwaukie has lots of good parts, we did a walk on their Old Trolley Trail last weekend.

Your grandkids are lucky to have you in their lives!

Most of my previous message disappeared. I’ll have to gear up and try again.

I apologize to all my LT friends. My life is very chaotic right now and it’s hard for me to keep up. I suspect I will be an occasional visitor here for awhile.

I just got back from a CA visit to my 93 year old sister. She is in a care home. She has dementia and is bedridden. I suspect I will have to head down there again. I’m also getting my home ready to be sold and have a lot of deferred maintenance. Then we have to house hunt with my son’s family.

I wish all of you best wishes and happy reading.

Jan, sorry that life is chaotic for you right now - I can relate. It's lovely to see you here whenever you have the time and inclination. Sounds like you have your hands full. Sending you positive thoughts and wishing for you only good things. Hoping you and your son's family find just the right house.

Hang in there! We'll be here whenever you can come back. Hugs.

I'm a little thrown. Milwaukee in Oregon? or Wisconsin?

Just another friend here hoping that you are keeping a firm center with everything going on in your life. Peace, friend!

Good luck with the move, Jan.

Thinking about you during the festive season, Jan.

Missing you greatly.

Happy Holidays!! Hope all is well. : )