Mary (bell7) Reads in 2023 - Thread 2
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Discussions75 Books Challenge for 2023
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1bell7
Welcome to thread #2!
For those that don't know me, my name is Mary, and I've been with the 75ers since 2010. To those that do, welcome back! Hope you'll sit back, relax, and continue to enjoy hearing about reading and life in 2023.
About me: I'm single but part of a large family, including two brothers, two sisters, a couple of in-laws, my parents, and a niece and nephew, all of whom may be mentioned on this thread at some point. I'm a librarian living and working in western Massachusetts, and my job responsibilities include the local history collection, a book club, and buying all the adult fiction for the library. I tend to share a bit of my life here, so you’ll hear about my house (purchased in 2020, with interesting connections to my family in the neighborhood), knitting, sports (primarily football and hockey, Giants and Bruins respectively, and also tennis), and genealogy when I can manage to find time for all that.
About my reading: I'm an eclectic reader. The last two years found me mostly reading general fiction, followed by fantasy, and then historical fiction and memoir not far behind. I have a wide variety of interests and will try just about anything that’s not horror.
I'm mostly reading what I want to this year, though I have a couple of book clubs I participate in (one is for work), and I'm hoping to read books for the Massachusetts Center of the Book reading challenge this year. I'm tracking a few stats on my reading log regarding diversity and global reading.
For those that don't know me, my name is Mary, and I've been with the 75ers since 2010. To those that do, welcome back! Hope you'll sit back, relax, and continue to enjoy hearing about reading and life in 2023.
About me: I'm single but part of a large family, including two brothers, two sisters, a couple of in-laws, my parents, and a niece and nephew, all of whom may be mentioned on this thread at some point. I'm a librarian living and working in western Massachusetts, and my job responsibilities include the local history collection, a book club, and buying all the adult fiction for the library. I tend to share a bit of my life here, so you’ll hear about my house (purchased in 2020, with interesting connections to my family in the neighborhood), knitting, sports (primarily football and hockey, Giants and Bruins respectively, and also tennis), and genealogy when I can manage to find time for all that.
About my reading: I'm an eclectic reader. The last two years found me mostly reading general fiction, followed by fantasy, and then historical fiction and memoir not far behind. I have a wide variety of interests and will try just about anything that’s not horror.
I'm mostly reading what I want to this year, though I have a couple of book clubs I participate in (one is for work), and I'm hoping to read books for the Massachusetts Center of the Book reading challenge this year. I'm tracking a few stats on my reading log regarding diversity and global reading.
2bell7
2023 Book Club Reads (library)
January - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann - COMPLETED
February - The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris - COMPLETED
March - Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown
April - Wingshooters by Nina Revoyr
May - All We Can Save edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katherine K. Wilkinson
June/July/August - a low key "what are you reading now?" meeting where participants can tell us about their current book(s)
September - The Overstory by Richard Powers
October - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
November - Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford
December - The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
2023 Book Club Reads (SIL and friends)
January - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - didn't reread, but did go
February - The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan - COMPLETED
January - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann - COMPLETED
February - The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris - COMPLETED
March - Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown
April - Wingshooters by Nina Revoyr
May - All We Can Save edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katherine K. Wilkinson
June/July/August - a low key "what are you reading now?" meeting where participants can tell us about their current book(s)
September - The Overstory by Richard Powers
October - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
November - Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford
December - The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
2023 Book Club Reads (SIL and friends)
January - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - didn't reread, but did go
February - The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan - COMPLETED
3bell7
Best reads 2022 (not including rereads) -
4.5 stars
Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
Caste: the origins of our discontent by Isabel Wilkerson
The winners by Fredrik Backman
The hero of ages by Brandon Sanderson
By the book by Jasmine Guillory
The grief of stones by Katherine Addison
The Thursday murder club by Richard Osman
The book eaters by Sunyi Dean
True biz by Sara Novic
The Raven tower by Ann Leckie
These precious days by Ann Patchett
5 stars
Ain't burned all the bright by Jason Reynolds
Did ye hear Mammy died? by Seamas O'Reilly
The hands of the emperor by Victoria Goddard
The Twyford code by Janice Hallett (comes out Jan 2023)
4.5 stars
Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
Caste: the origins of our discontent by Isabel Wilkerson
The winners by Fredrik Backman
The hero of ages by Brandon Sanderson
By the book by Jasmine Guillory
The grief of stones by Katherine Addison
The Thursday murder club by Richard Osman
The book eaters by Sunyi Dean
True biz by Sara Novic
The Raven tower by Ann Leckie
These precious days by Ann Patchett
5 stars
Ain't burned all the bright by Jason Reynolds
Did ye hear Mammy died? by Seamas O'Reilly
The hands of the emperor by Victoria Goddard
The Twyford code by Janice Hallett (comes out Jan 2023)
4bell7
Random things I'm keeping track of -
Bookish articles:
1.
How to make pretty block quotes (directions from Richard):
{blockquote}TYPE OR PASTE QUOTED TEXT HERE{/blockquote} and replace the curly braces with pointy brackets.
Number of books read since keeping count on LT:
July - Dec 2008 - 65
2009 - 156 (plus over 70 graphic novels and manga volumes)
2010 - 135 (Note: in June, I started working a second part-time job for full-time hours)
2011 - 150
2012 - 108 (Note: accepted a full-time job in February)
2013 - 107
2014 - 126 (plus 8 Graphic Novels)
2015 - 120 (plus 6 Graphic Novels)
2016 - 141
2017 - 114
2018 - 105 (Note: my first full year as Assistant Director)
2019 - 116
2020 - 153
2021 - 138
2022 - 131
Bookish articles:
1.
How to make pretty block quotes (directions from Richard):
{blockquote}TYPE OR PASTE QUOTED TEXT HERE{/blockquote} and replace the curly braces with pointy brackets.
Number of books read since keeping count on LT:
July - Dec 2008 - 65
2009 - 156 (plus over 70 graphic novels and manga volumes)
2010 - 135 (Note: in June, I started working a second part-time job for full-time hours)
2011 - 150
2012 - 108 (Note: accepted a full-time job in February)
2013 - 107
2014 - 126 (plus 8 Graphic Novels)
2015 - 120 (plus 6 Graphic Novels)
2016 - 141
2017 - 114
2018 - 105 (Note: my first full year as Assistant Director)
2019 - 116
2020 - 153
2021 - 138
2022 - 131
5bell7
Rough guide to my rating system:
I'm fairly generous with my star ratings - generally a four is a "like" or "would recommend" for me, while a 4.5 stars is a book I would reread. I break it down roughly like this:
1 star - Forced myself to finish it
2 stars - Dislike
2.5 stars - I really don't know if I liked it or not
3 stars - Sort of liked it; or didn't, but admired something about it despite not liking it
3.5 stars - The splitting hairs rating of less than my last 4 star book or better than my last 3
4 stars - I liked it and recommend it, but probably won't reread it except under special circumstances (ie., a book club or series reread)
4.5 stars - Excellent, ultimately a satisfying read, a title I would consider rereading
5 stars - A book that I absolutely loved, would absolutely reread, and just all-around floored me
I see it more in terms of my like or dislike of a book, rather than how good a book is. My hope is that as a reader I convey what I like or what I don't in such a way that you can still tell if you'll like a book, even if I don't. And I hope for my patrons that I can give them good recommendations for books they will like, even if it's not one I would personally choose.
I'm fairly generous with my star ratings - generally a four is a "like" or "would recommend" for me, while a 4.5 stars is a book I would reread. I break it down roughly like this:
1 star - Forced myself to finish it
2 stars - Dislike
2.5 stars - I really don't know if I liked it or not
3 stars - Sort of liked it; or didn't, but admired something about it despite not liking it
3.5 stars - The splitting hairs rating of less than my last 4 star book or better than my last 3
4 stars - I liked it and recommend it, but probably won't reread it except under special circumstances (ie., a book club or series reread)
4.5 stars - Excellent, ultimately a satisfying read, a title I would consider rereading
5 stars - A book that I absolutely loved, would absolutely reread, and just all-around floored me
I see it more in terms of my like or dislike of a book, rather than how good a book is. My hope is that as a reader I convey what I like or what I don't in such a way that you can still tell if you'll like a book, even if I don't. And I hope for my patrons that I can give them good recommendations for books they will like, even if it's not one I would personally choose.
6bell7
Currently reading
Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World by Barry Lopez
Bible reading/Devotionals
Genesis, Psalms
February
16. The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
15. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
14. The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard
13. Normal Family by Chrysta Bilton
12. Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper
January
11. So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow
10. Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
9. The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland
8. No One Goes Alone by Erik Larson
7. Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
6. Petty Treasons by Victoria Goddard
5. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
4. The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner
3. The Emma Project by Sonali Dev
2. The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde
1. Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown
DNF
Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World by Barry Lopez
Bible reading/Devotionals
Genesis, Psalms
February
16. The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
15. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
14. The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard
13. Normal Family by Chrysta Bilton
12. Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper
January
11. So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow
10. Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
9. The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland
8. No One Goes Alone by Erik Larson
7. Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
6. Petty Treasons by Victoria Goddard
5. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
4. The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner
3. The Emma Project by Sonali Dev
2. The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde
1. Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown
DNF
7bell7
Global reads in 2023 (author's country of origin):
Create Your Own Visited Countries Map
Unites States
Canada
Japan
Carrying this over from 2022:
Create Your Own Visited Countries Map
Australia
Bangladesh
Canada
China
Iran
Ireland
Japan
Lebanon
Malaysia
Mexico
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Philippines
Portugal
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
Create Your Own Visited Countries Map
Unites States
Canada
Japan
Carrying this over from 2022:
Create Your Own Visited Countries Map
Australia
Bangladesh
Canada
China
Iran
Ireland
Japan
Lebanon
Malaysia
Mexico
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Philippines
Portugal
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
8bell7
You are now free to post! A question to get us started, if you'd like to answer - what's surprised you about your reading so far this year? Or, if two weeks in is a little too early to say, what's surprised you about your reading lately?
9Storeetllr
Happy new thread!
ETA No reading surprises so far this year. In the past year or two, it's been a pleasant surprise how much I've enjoyed the nonfiction I've read. Last year's favorite was Soul of an Octopus. The year before, it was The Disordered Cosmos. Both were stellar reads (no pun intended).
ETA No reading surprises so far this year. In the past year or two, it's been a pleasant surprise how much I've enjoyed the nonfiction I've read. Last year's favorite was Soul of an Octopus. The year before, it was The Disordered Cosmos. Both were stellar reads (no pun intended).
10bell7
>9 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary!
Oh, that's a nice surprise, especially for those of us who tend more towards fiction. The Soul of an Octopus has been on my TBR for awhile, and I've seen it on Mark's thread (and now your comment) most recently. I really should get to it.
Oh, that's a nice surprise, especially for those of us who tend more towards fiction. The Soul of an Octopus has been on my TBR for awhile, and I've seen it on Mark's thread (and now your comment) most recently. I really should get to it.
12thornton37814
Happy new thread!
14PaulCranswick
Happy new one, Mary!
15figsfromthistle
Happy new one!
>2 bell7: You have some interesting book club selections. I noticed for February you are reading The sweetness of water. I really loved that book. A very strong debut
>2 bell7: You have some interesting book club selections. I noticed for February you are reading The sweetness of water. I really loved that book. A very strong debut
16Copperskye
Happy new thread, Mary!
17foggidawn
Happy new thread! I’m surprised at the quality of my reading so far this year — I’ve read three books already that I can see being on my favorites list at the end of the year (I haven’t posted a review of the most recent one yet), and there haven’t been any clunkers yet. Hoping this bodes well for the next 11.5 months!
18curioussquared
Happy new thread, Mary! Nothing too surprising so far this year -- I did have one book, The Jewel Thief, that really exceeded my expectations. And I'm a little surprised that I've read more print books than audiobooks so far. We'll see if that continues!
20WhiteRaven.17
Happy new thread Mary! I see The Joy Luck Club is on your list for next month, look forward to your thoughts, that's one I keep feeling like I need to get to. Honestly, my only surprise thus far is that I've managed to finish three books already and stay on goal, last year I didn't finish a single book until April and my last few months have not been productive reading.
21FAMeulstee
Happy new thread, Mary!
22bell7
>11 msf59: Thanks, Mark! Not as much reading as I would've thought, but I did watch a couple of episodes of Doctor Who and enjoyed myself.
>12 thornton37814:, >13 quondame:, >14 PaulCranswick: Thanks Lori, Susan, and Paul!
>15 figsfromthistle: That's great to hear about The Sweetness of Water. I'm excited about a lot of our selections this year.
>16 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne!
>17 foggidawn: Oh wow, that's an impressive start, foggi. Mine has started a little more slowly, though I do already have my first five star read of 2023.
>18 curioussquared: That'll be really interesting to see, Natalie. I really kicked off with e-books so far this year, and I'm curious to see if that remains a higher percentage than in the past.
>19 Berly: Thanks, Kim!
>20 WhiteRaven.17: Thanks, Kro. My SIL just read and really enjoyed it, so it's our pick for my social book club (as opposed to the work one). I've never read any of Amy Tan's work, and I'm looking forward to that one.
>21 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!
>12 thornton37814:, >13 quondame:, >14 PaulCranswick: Thanks Lori, Susan, and Paul!
>15 figsfromthistle: That's great to hear about The Sweetness of Water. I'm excited about a lot of our selections this year.
>16 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne!
>17 foggidawn: Oh wow, that's an impressive start, foggi. Mine has started a little more slowly, though I do already have my first five star read of 2023.
>18 curioussquared: That'll be really interesting to see, Natalie. I really kicked off with e-books so far this year, and I'm curious to see if that remains a higher percentage than in the past.
>19 Berly: Thanks, Kim!
>20 WhiteRaven.17: Thanks, Kro. My SIL just read and really enjoyed it, so it's our pick for my social book club (as opposed to the work one). I've never read any of Amy Tan's work, and I'm looking forward to that one.
>21 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!
24bell7
Good morning! Yesterday was nice and relaxing. I didn't read as much as I expected to, but I broke my "rule" and watched a couple episodes of Doctor Who to finish out the second series (the first of the David Tennant series') in the middle of the day. My massage was excellent in releasing some muscles I didn't even know were especially tight. I'm only a little sore today and may apply ice if needed. Bible study was good. I got to the end of the day feeling pretty tired, but in a good way.
Today I should leave shortly to walk the dogs. I put on some of the Australian Open, since Djokovic's night match was still on when I got up. My hope for the morning is to get my sister's belated birthday give ready to go and mailed before work. I'd also like to get started on packing for staying with the dogs starting tomorrow, and finish up washing the dishes.
At work, I've got a couple of volunteers coming in, and a Trustees meeting tonight. I also want to get started prepping for tomorrow's book club.
Today I should leave shortly to walk the dogs. I put on some of the Australian Open, since Djokovic's night match was still on when I got up. My hope for the morning is to get my sister's belated birthday give ready to go and mailed before work. I'd also like to get started on packing for staying with the dogs starting tomorrow, and finish up washing the dishes.
At work, I've got a couple of volunteers coming in, and a Trustees meeting tonight. I also want to get started prepping for tomorrow's book club.
25drneutron
Happy new one! The surprise for me this year so far has been how much I enjoyed Andy Serkis' narration of The Hobbit!
26katiekrug
Happy new one, Mary!
Not sure if it counts as a surprise, but I am very glad I didn't have a repeat of last January where I had a bit of a reading/book funk to start the year.
Not sure if it counts as a surprise, but I am very glad I didn't have a repeat of last January where I had a bit of a reading/book funk to start the year.
27BLBera
Happy new thread, Mary. It seems incredible to be looking at second threads already. You're having a great start to your reading year.
28bell7
>25 drneutron: Thanks for the reminder - I found it thru Overdrive and placed a hold. Andy Serkis was incredible in LOTR and I expect that narration would be excellent as well!
>26 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! Hoorah for the lack of a reading funk! Glad it's been a good month so far.
>27 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! Amazingly, I started a second thread on exactly the same day last year. I'm sure things will settle down in the coming weeks, though the beginning of the year certainly kicks off with a bang!
>26 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! Hoorah for the lack of a reading funk! Glad it's been a good month so far.
>27 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! Amazingly, I started a second thread on exactly the same day last year. I'm sure things will settle down in the coming weeks, though the beginning of the year certainly kicks off with a bang!
29Crazymamie
Morning, Mary! Happy new one.
I was surprised that my first six books were all by female authors, the illustrations by female illustrators and the narrations all by women. I did not consciously choose this; it just workout that way, and it made me smile BIG.
I was surprised that my first six books were all by female authors, the illustrations by female illustrators and the narrations all by women. I did not consciously choose this; it just workout that way, and it made me smile BIG.
30bell7
>29 Crazymamie: oh that's a nice surprise for sure, Mamie! Very cool.
32bell7
Happy hump day! Yesterday's trustees meeting was two hours long and I finished the night exhausted, but it's only 3 more work days for me before my boss is back, and meetings are all over. I also got the cash register to cooperate and brought turnover to Town Hall.
I have the Australian Open on while I have my coffee and start getting mentally prepared for the day.
This morning, I'm leaving for my dogsitting job to stay there for a week instead of just going over and doing the morning walks. I told them I'd try to be there for 8:30 so I have time to pack up the car and get ready for the day. However, if I forget anything I only live 5 minutes away, so I should have time to go back and collect things before I have to head to work.
I'm working 12-8 and have my book club tonight, which I expect will be excellent. Most of my time today will be prepping for that and supervising volunteers. Thursday and Friday, in between volunteers, I'm hoping to type up my notes from the Friends' and Trustees' meetings to pass on to my boss.
I have the Australian Open on while I have my coffee and start getting mentally prepared for the day.
This morning, I'm leaving for my dogsitting job to stay there for a week instead of just going over and doing the morning walks. I told them I'd try to be there for 8:30 so I have time to pack up the car and get ready for the day. However, if I forget anything I only live 5 minutes away, so I should have time to go back and collect things before I have to head to work.
I'm working 12-8 and have my book club tonight, which I expect will be excellent. Most of my time today will be prepping for that and supervising volunteers. Thursday and Friday, in between volunteers, I'm hoping to type up my notes from the Friends' and Trustees' meetings to pass on to my boss.
33katiekrug
You'll understand my distress when I realized last night that we are going to a friend's birthday party on Saturday night. Ack! And she's not much of a sports fan, so..... Sadness.
34jnwelch
Hiya, Mary.. I hope all is well.
I just finished a heartfilling YA recommended by our Becca, called Loveless. It's by Alice Oseman, the author of those charming Heartstopper graphic books. I think it's one you'd appreciate.
Otherwise, we're doing fine. We get the grandkids back next month, so we're just trying to stay in fighting trim (keeping up with the nonstop energy trim) until then.
I just finished a heartfilling YA recommended by our Becca, called Loveless. It's by Alice Oseman, the author of those charming Heartstopper graphic books. I think it's one you'd appreciate.
Otherwise, we're doing fine. We get the grandkids back next month, so we're just trying to stay in fighting trim (keeping up with the nonstop energy trim) until then.
36bell7
>33 katiekrug: Oh nooooo... is she a good enough friend you can ask for a small TV to be turned on in the background? hehe...
My brother R. feels your pain - he has a show that night and he told my dad the bar would have it on the TV and he'd be able to watch during the songs he knew really well.
>34 jnwelch: Keeping busy as ever, Joe, but things are good here. Thanks for the rec, I'll look it up for sure. I still have Heartstopper on the TBR list as well.
My brother R. feels your pain - he has a show that night and he told my dad the bar would have it on the TV and he'd be able to watch during the songs he knew really well.
>34 jnwelch: Keeping busy as ever, Joe, but things are good here. Thanks for the rec, I'll look it up for sure. I still have Heartstopper on the TBR list as well.
37bell7
Good morning, everyone, and happy Thursday! As you can see from my posting this late, it's been a busy morning. I'm staying at the house with five labs (the owners brought one with them on their trip) and a cat, and spent the morning getting everyone fed, walked, and medicated (the cat needs thyroid meds on her ear) and ran out the door in time to grab coffee on my way to work. And I arrived by 9! I worked slightly longer days on Tuesday and Wednesday, though, so I'm planning on giving myself a little bit of a break tomorrow and coming in for 9:30. (I'm salary, so there's a lot of flexibility). And then I have a three-day weekend.
Today at work the main thing will be making sure there's enough for all the volunteers to do. In the evening, I've got dog walking and feeding again and I'm planning on making lentil soup and watching some of the Australian Open.
Today at work the main thing will be making sure there's enough for all the volunteers to do. In the evening, I've got dog walking and feeding again and I'm planning on making lentil soup and watching some of the Australian Open.
38Crazymamie
Hello, Mary! Happy Thursday. Well done with your morning - I am tired just thinking about it. Glad it went smoothly and that you even had time to stop for coffee on the way to work.
39MickyFine
Well, you don't have to worry about staying active with all that dog walking. :P
As for your thread opening question, I'm surprised by how many books I've already completed this month. It's amazing what reading for pure fun and not caring about numbers can do. :)
As for your thread opening question, I'm surprised by how many books I've already completed this month. It's amazing what reading for pure fun and not caring about numbers can do. :)
40katiekrug
>36 bell7: - I am hoping she'll have enough other people wanting to watch the game that it'll be on somewhere. But I know she's worried everyone will just watch it and, as she said, "I don't wanna football party!" I can't say that I blame her...
41The_Hibernator
Wow! Already on thread two! How did you manage? We're only 19 days in.
As for posting late - I sometimes don't get my daily post in till days later. I just posted Monday's today. So, 10am is probably an ok time.
As for posting late - I sometimes don't get my daily post in till days later. I just posted Monday's today. So, 10am is probably an ok time.
42bell7
>38 Crazymamie: Hope you had a good Thursday, Mamie, and I didn't tire you out to much with all my activity! :D I had purposely gone in 15 minutes early on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I gave myself a little wiggle room tomorrow and will plan on going in for 9:30. The only "rush" days left will be Sunday (9 a.m. nursery) and Wednesday (working 9-5).
>39 MickyFine: Yeah, I get my steps in for sure! Hooray for reading the books that you want to and reading more books as a result :)
>40 katiekrug: Well hopefully you'll at least get to see a little bit, but yeah, I can't blame her for not wanting it to become a football party if it's not what she's into.
>41 The_Hibernator: No idea, Rachel, but it was this fast last year too. "Late" was just referring to my own morning routine - usually I post in the morning when I'm having my coffee and doing the Wordle before work. All of that was postponed due to dog walking haha.
>39 MickyFine: Yeah, I get my steps in for sure! Hooray for reading the books that you want to and reading more books as a result :)
>40 katiekrug: Well hopefully you'll at least get to see a little bit, but yeah, I can't blame her for not wanting it to become a football party if it's not what she's into.
>41 The_Hibernator: No idea, Rachel, but it was this fast last year too. "Late" was just referring to my own morning routine - usually I post in the morning when I'm having my coffee and doing the Wordle before work. All of that was postponed due to dog walking haha.
43bell7
6. Petty Treasons by Victoria Goddard
Why now? I bought the e-book shortly after finishing The Hands of the Emperor, and read it yesterday & today as a joint read with Stasia
Told from the perspective of His Radiance, the last Emperor of Astandalas, this is the story of how Cliopher Mdang became his right hand man, beginning with their first meeting when Cliopher made eye contact - and a joke - both forbidden actions but much appreciated by the man who has been constrained by traditions for years.
It was fun to revisit the world of The Hands of the Emperor in this novella. The emperor tells his own story, sort of to himself because he's often talking to "you" but occasionally switches to "I". I couldn't tell if it was a way of distancing himself from who he had been in the past or something less intentional, though for a character who loves poetry and precision of language, I rather think it was meaningful. I enjoyed seeing the story from a new perspective and getting some of the background of events that were part of the back story of the larger novel as well. 4.5 stars.
Borderline if I would rate it 4 or 4.5 stars, but ultimately, I enjoy the characters enough that I'd reread it. I've placed a hold on The Return of Fitzroy Angursell to continue reading the stories in the "author recommended order".
Why now? I bought the e-book shortly after finishing The Hands of the Emperor, and read it yesterday & today as a joint read with Stasia
Told from the perspective of His Radiance, the last Emperor of Astandalas, this is the story of how Cliopher Mdang became his right hand man, beginning with their first meeting when Cliopher made eye contact - and a joke - both forbidden actions but much appreciated by the man who has been constrained by traditions for years.
It was fun to revisit the world of The Hands of the Emperor in this novella. The emperor tells his own story, sort of to himself because he's often talking to "you" but occasionally switches to "I". I couldn't tell if it was a way of distancing himself from who he had been in the past or something less intentional, though for a character who loves poetry and precision of language, I rather think it was meaningful. I enjoyed seeing the story from a new perspective and getting some of the background of events that were part of the back story of the larger novel as well. 4.5 stars.
Borderline if I would rate it 4 or 4.5 stars, but ultimately, I enjoy the characters enough that I'd reread it. I've placed a hold on The Return of Fitzroy Angursell to continue reading the stories in the "author recommended order".
45bell7
TGIF! Dogs all walked and fed, and since I came in early a couple of days this week I don't have to be at work till 9:30. I have my regular volunteering in the evening teaching 3rd and 4th grade girls and expect to be back with the dogs around 9 in time for evening walks and bed. I'm nearly finished another book, so hope to post the review this weekend.
46msf59
Happy Friday, Mary. We are off to Michigan for the weekend. Have a good time with the doggies.
47alcottacre
>43 bell7: I did not get to finish that one yesterday (my CFS was dogging me), but I hope to finish it today. I am glad to see that you enjoyed it!
Have a fantastic Friday, Mary!
Have a fantastic Friday, Mary!
48bell7
>47 alcottacre: thanks, Stasia! I hope you're able to finish it today - I'll be busy in the evening, but should have a more relaxed day tomorrow to share more of my thoughts with you 🙂 Hope your CFS is better today and you're able to get some good reading in.
49alcottacre
>48 bell7: Thanks, Mary, I hope so too. Like you, I have ordered the next book.
50Storeetllr
>43 bell7: I started Hands of the Emperor but didn’t get very far into it before it had to go back to the library. It just wasn’t grabbing me, for some reason. Do you think I should start with this novella instead?
51quondame
>50 Storeetllr: I wouldn't. The novella gets it's impact from the connection to THofE. Try Stargazy Pie which has a lot of action and a very different pace, but the same values.
52bell7
>49 alcottacre: My library hold came in quicker than I expected, and I checked out the e-book today. I'll probably start it in a couple of days, depending on how long it takes me to finish The God of Endings.
>50 Storeetllr: Oh that's too bad. It did take a little while to get going, but I absolutely loved it in the end. I wouldn't start with the novella, as >51 quondame: Susan says, it gets its impact from what you already know if you've read The Hands of the Emperor. The author as a suggested reading order on her website, if you want to get into more detail. I've only read the two books so far.
>51 quondame: Hi, Susan! It'll take me a couple more books to get to Stargazy Pie, I think, but I'm looking forward to it when I do :)
>50 Storeetllr: Oh that's too bad. It did take a little while to get going, but I absolutely loved it in the end. I wouldn't start with the novella, as >51 quondame: Susan says, it gets its impact from what you already know if you've read The Hands of the Emperor. The author as a suggested reading order on her website, if you want to get into more detail. I've only read the two books so far.
>51 quondame: Hi, Susan! It'll take me a couple more books to get to Stargazy Pie, I think, but I'm looking forward to it when I do :)
53quondame
>52 bell7: I read Stargazy Pie months before The Hands of the Emperor. Of course I'd forgotten it enough I didn't connect them when I did, other than recognizing I'd been dumped in a world where a lot had happened before the current story.
54bell7
7. Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
Why now? I first heard about it at a couple of book events I virtually attended in 2021, and was intrigued by the sound of it - got it recently from the library and finally picked it up because it was next due.
Kokoro has stopped going to school, and can't tell her mother exactly why. One day while she's home, she sees her mirror shining and is able to walk in. She enters a castle and meets six other students about her age and a young girl with a wolf mask. This child calls herself the Wolf Queen, and she tells them that they can look in the castle for a key to a Wishing Room that will give one of them any wish.
I expected more action, so when much of the book ended up being much more internal as Kokoro slowly becomes friends and explains what happened to make school such a difficult place for her, I found myself readily putting the book down to read more pressing books instead. But, Kokoro and the others intrigued me enough to keep reading, and the final 100 pages or so kept me turning pages quickly, and ultimately paid off for staying with it. 4 stars.
Why now? I first heard about it at a couple of book events I virtually attended in 2021, and was intrigued by the sound of it - got it recently from the library and finally picked it up because it was next due.
Kokoro has stopped going to school, and can't tell her mother exactly why. One day while she's home, she sees her mirror shining and is able to walk in. She enters a castle and meets six other students about her age and a young girl with a wolf mask. This child calls herself the Wolf Queen, and she tells them that they can look in the castle for a key to a Wishing Room that will give one of them any wish.
I expected more action, so when much of the book ended up being much more internal as Kokoro slowly becomes friends and explains what happened to make school such a difficult place for her, I found myself readily putting the book down to read more pressing books instead. But, Kokoro and the others intrigued me enough to keep reading, and the final 100 pages or so kept me turning pages quickly, and ultimately paid off for staying with it. 4 stars.
55bell7
>53 quondame: I actually kinda like being dumped in and figuring it out haha. I'll enjoy seeing how all the stories connect.
56alcottacre
>48 bell7: I did finish it tonight. I wish it had been longer!
58bell7
>56 alcottacre: yeah it felt kinda...slight, didn't it? I enjoyed it, but wanted more somehow, which is why I wavered some over my rating. And somehow there wasn't as much to say about it as there was when we read 84, Charing Cross Road.
>57 PaulCranswick: I'll look forward to your thoughts, Paul. It was a quiet sort of book for much of it, which I wasn't expecting, but in the end I was glad I'd had the patience to see it all unfold.
>57 PaulCranswick: I'll look forward to your thoughts, Paul. It was a quiet sort of book for much of it, which I wasn't expecting, but in the end I was glad I'd had the patience to see it all unfold.
59bell7
Wordle 581 4/6
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Had a good long think between guesses three and four before the solution presented itself.ARISE, POUTY, CHURN, BLURB .
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Had a good long think between guesses three and four before the solution presented itself.
60Storeetllr
>51 quondame: Thanks, Susan! I will.
>52 bell7: And thank you too, Mary, for the website link. I'll check out the author's suggested reading order. I find authors' ideas of how to read their series to usually be useful.
>52 bell7: And thank you too, Mary, for the website link. I'll check out the author's suggested reading order. I find authors' ideas of how to read their series to usually be useful.
61bell7
>60 Storeetllr: you're welcome, Mary! I'll look forward to seeing what you decide to read 🙂
62bell7
Wordle 582 4/6
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The word choice made me smile.ARISE, MONTH, MATED, MATEY .
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The word choice made me smile.
63katiekrug
What a crap game last night. We stopped watching at half time. I hope Matthew isn't too disappointed...
64bell7
>63 katiekrug: Absolutely painful to watch... I actually did stay up, I ended up going over my brother's (invite at 4 p.m. lol) but the best thing about it was the snacks my SIL made.
Not sure what Matthew thought, but I'm sure having the visit from Grandma & Grandpa helped distract him from any major disappointment.
Not sure what Matthew thought, but I'm sure having the visit from Grandma & Grandpa helped distract him from any major disappointment.
65bell7
You'd never know I was off yesterday and today for how little I've been on the threads this weekend... I actually have a 3-day weekend, and have been "home" with the dogs. Labs are, I have decided, the extroverts of the dog world and I find a day home with them at least as exhausting as a day where I walk them only before and after work.
Yesterday I did take a bit of a lazy morning, and watched some replays of the Australian Open, including much of the match between Murray and Bautista Agut. I cooked lentil soup. I walked the dogs three times each (13,000 steps, thank you very much), and then after their dinner and walks, I headed over to my brother's for the terrible Giants-Eagles game. Not that I really expected them to win, but I did think it would be a little more competitive. Ugh. Ah well - it was a surprisingly good season for a "rebuild" year, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Daboll can do next year. Since I got back around 11:30 at night, I just let the dogs out for a quick pee before heading to bed.
Today I had nursery at 9 a.m. service, so I got up right a 7 a.m. and fed and walked the dogs, ate and had some coffee, then left for the morning. I got back in the afternoon, walked the dogs for the second walk of the day, and then went grocery shopping. We're due for some snow tonight, so got some water just in case of power outages. And one of the dogs is on turkey and rice and I only have enough for tomorrow morning, so I made some more. And now I'm finally sitting down haha. The dogs are all out of their pens and mostly in a state of rest for the moment. The puppy is more active and gnawing on a bone. I've got the football on and am cheering against the Cowboys. (Actually, I predicted midway through the season that the Eagles and Bills would meet in the Super Bowl, and so far that looks like a really good prediction - I'm going for the Bills now that the Giants aren't in it, they have a good fan base and haven't won a Super Bowl).
Yesterday I did take a bit of a lazy morning, and watched some replays of the Australian Open, including much of the match between Murray and Bautista Agut. I cooked lentil soup. I walked the dogs three times each (13,000 steps, thank you very much), and then after their dinner and walks, I headed over to my brother's for the terrible Giants-Eagles game. Not that I really expected them to win, but I did think it would be a little more competitive. Ugh. Ah well - it was a surprisingly good season for a "rebuild" year, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Daboll can do next year. Since I got back around 11:30 at night, I just let the dogs out for a quick pee before heading to bed.
Today I had nursery at 9 a.m. service, so I got up right a 7 a.m. and fed and walked the dogs, ate and had some coffee, then left for the morning. I got back in the afternoon, walked the dogs for the second walk of the day, and then went grocery shopping. We're due for some snow tonight, so got some water just in case of power outages. And one of the dogs is on turkey and rice and I only have enough for tomorrow morning, so I made some more. And now I'm finally sitting down haha. The dogs are all out of their pens and mostly in a state of rest for the moment. The puppy is more active and gnawing on a bone. I've got the football on and am cheering against the Cowboys. (Actually, I predicted midway through the season that the Eagles and Bills would meet in the Super Bowl, and so far that looks like a really good prediction - I'm going for the Bills now that the Giants aren't in it, they have a good fan base and haven't won a Super Bowl).
66bell7
8. No One Goes Alone by Erik Larson
Why now? Julia mentioned it as a good book to try after I read The London Seance Society, focused as it is on a similar time period when the US and UK were enamored with seances and the supernatural
Josiah Frost narrates the story of an expedition to Dorn Island, where a supposed haunted house is, along with William James, Adam Winter, Catherine, Madeline, Mrs. Northrup, and other members of the Society for Psychical Research. They want to scientifically test to see if there is a real haunting at play in the mysterious history of the house, though some are more skeptical than others. What they begin to experience has them unsure if they can trust each other, even as they try to get to the bottom of the cause of the phenomena they experience, which gets creepier the longer they stay.
This is the sort of (possibly) ghost story that I can enjoy, giving you just a hint of creepiness and chills but not paralyzing fear. Josiah annoyed me at times. He seems to think that either of the young women on the expedition are there to fall in love with him, and gets a chip on his shoulder about feeling like an outsider with the rest of the group that I wasn't sure was true or just in his mind. Also... well, for making a point of saying no one should be alone, Josiah ends up alone and doing simply foolhardy things a couple of times. All that aside, however, the story does have the atmosphere to tingle your spine on a fall day in front of a fire. It's an audio original and ably read by Julian Rhind-Tutt who only falters a bit on the American accent of William James as many Brits do putting the wrong sort of emphasis on the "r's". I also enjoyed the author's note explaining where Larson took from real life (William James, the psychologist and brother of Henry James, really existed and was president of the society). 4 stars.
Why now? Julia mentioned it as a good book to try after I read The London Seance Society, focused as it is on a similar time period when the US and UK were enamored with seances and the supernatural
Josiah Frost narrates the story of an expedition to Dorn Island, where a supposed haunted house is, along with William James, Adam Winter, Catherine, Madeline, Mrs. Northrup, and other members of the Society for Psychical Research. They want to scientifically test to see if there is a real haunting at play in the mysterious history of the house, though some are more skeptical than others. What they begin to experience has them unsure if they can trust each other, even as they try to get to the bottom of the cause of the phenomena they experience, which gets creepier the longer they stay.
This is the sort of (possibly) ghost story that I can enjoy, giving you just a hint of creepiness and chills but not paralyzing fear. Josiah annoyed me at times. He seems to think that either of the young women on the expedition are there to fall in love with him, and gets a chip on his shoulder about feeling like an outsider with the rest of the group that I wasn't sure was true or just in his mind. Also... well, for making a point of saying no one should be alone, Josiah ends up alone and doing simply foolhardy things a couple of times. All that aside, however, the story does have the atmosphere to tingle your spine on a fall day in front of a fire. It's an audio original and ably read by Julian Rhind-Tutt who only falters a bit on the American accent of William James as many Brits do putting the wrong sort of emphasis on the "r's". I also enjoyed the author's note explaining where Larson took from real life (William James, the psychologist and brother of Henry James, really existed and was president of the society). 4 stars.
67rosalita
>66 bell7: So glad you liked it, Mary! I agree with your comments about Josiah — he struck me as quite immature and self-absorbed and for a while I wondered if that was a clue to the eventual solution.
68bell7
>67 rosalita: Yes, I wondered the same! I read through the reviews when trying to write mine (I couldn't remember some of the characters' names and was hoping the work page would have them) and enjoyed your review as well.
69bell7
I just realized I had the wrong channel on and have been invested in San Fransisco beating the Cowboys in a replay of of a 2021 game instead of watching the live Bengals-Bills game. Oops...
Thankfully I'm not actually invested in either of them, it's just background noise while I read/knit.
Thankfully I'm not actually invested in either of them, it's just background noise while I read/knit.
70bell7
Wordle 583 4/6
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The result and the word were pleasing today.ARISE, POUTY, FLUME, ELUDE .
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The result and the word were pleasing today.
71msf59
Morning, Mary. Sorry about your Giants. I was rootin' for them. I was also happy to see the Bengals & 49ers win. The Larson novel isn't quite calling to me...yet. Maybe I want more NF from him.
73bell7
>71 msf59: I haven't read any of his nonfiction, Mark, and that was probably an advantage in approaching this one, judging from the reviews. I have a couple of his books on the TBR list and shall endeavor to move them up.
>72 katiekrug: Yayyyyy! Now for anyone-but-the-Eagles ;)
>72 katiekrug: Yayyyyy! Now for anyone-but-the-Eagles ;)
74bell7
I'm off today and hanging out with the dogs. Right now it's raining but it's supposed to change to snow sometime in the afternoon. Definitely the kind of day I'm happy not to have to go anywhere. Planning on Australian Open watching, reading, and knitting. And lots of walking, of course.
75rosalita
>73 bell7: Those reviews are stupid. OK, bad choice of words but I was vexed when I read them after writing my own review. :-) My best guess is that many are from people who don't ever read audiobooks and struggled with not being able to flip back and re-read bits, because several of them mention that they thought the plot was something other than what was very clearly stated. And at least one of them seems to think that Larson himself narrated it.
I guess you can lead a reader to an audiobook but you can't make them actually listen. Ha!
I guess you can lead a reader to an audiobook but you can't make them actually listen. Ha!
76bell7
>75 rosalita: Definitely there's an underlying unfamiliarity with audiobook format - though to be honest, I sometimes wanted to check against a page too. I was thinking more of novelcommentary's review, who apparently reads a lot of Larson's nonfiction but was more mixed about this one, than the ones who clearly didn't know what kind of story they were in for and then got annoyed when it turned out not to be true crime.
77alcottacre
>76 bell7: That is my worry in reading Larson's fiction - I love his nonfiction and am not sure whether his fiction would work for me or not.
78rosalita
>76 bell7: Fair point. And I don't read a lot of audiobooks myself, so I could relate to the confusion but not to then blaming the story itself for it rather than the format or the listener.
79bell7
>77 alcottacre: Having not read his fiction it's hard to say, but I do think this would be a good one to try, Stasia, if you don't mind it being available only as an audiobook. It's not terribly long.
>78 rosalita: Also fair :)
>78 rosalita: Also fair :)
80bell7
9. The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland
Why now? First saw in a LibraryJournal Early 2023 SFF preview. I'm trying to keep up with the digital review copies I've requested & downloaded, especially if I can read them in time to nominate them for LibraryReads.
*Free e-book ARC received from the publisher through Edelweiss Plus - thank you!*
Anna grew up with her father and brother in 1830s New York when a tuberculosis epidemic had the townspeople convinced there were vampires, and desecrating graves in an attempt to get it to stop. Anna's beloved father, a gravestone carver, dies as does her brother, and she's brought to her grandfather's - where, instead of dying, she's turned into one of the feared beings. In her present, 1984, she is back at her grandfather's house, hiding her true nature and teaching a preschool for children. When she's suddenly driven by incredible hunger, she knows that Czernobog, the God of Endings, is after her once again, and fears what she will lose next.
Anna - Colette in 1984 - narrates the story, bringing readers in and going back and forth between the narrative present and the past that brings you to where she is today. This, and the difficulties revealed from her past, make her sympathetic even as bizarre things beginning happening to her. She has had a long, hard life and despairs of continued immortal existence, afraid and alone. I had mixed emotions reading about her, not sure if I could trust her or not, and questioning why she made certain decision along the way. Compelling, if sometimes bizarre, reading make for an intriguing debut and I'll be interested in seeing what Holland does in the future. 3.5 stars.
The book is due to come out March 7.
Why now? First saw in a LibraryJournal Early 2023 SFF preview. I'm trying to keep up with the digital review copies I've requested & downloaded, especially if I can read them in time to nominate them for LibraryReads.
*Free e-book ARC received from the publisher through Edelweiss Plus - thank you!*
Anna grew up with her father and brother in 1830s New York when a tuberculosis epidemic had the townspeople convinced there were vampires, and desecrating graves in an attempt to get it to stop. Anna's beloved father, a gravestone carver, dies as does her brother, and she's brought to her grandfather's - where, instead of dying, she's turned into one of the feared beings. In her present, 1984, she is back at her grandfather's house, hiding her true nature and teaching a preschool for children. When she's suddenly driven by incredible hunger, she knows that Czernobog, the God of Endings, is after her once again, and fears what she will lose next.
Anna - Colette in 1984 - narrates the story, bringing readers in and going back and forth between the narrative present and the past that brings you to where she is today. This, and the difficulties revealed from her past, make her sympathetic even as bizarre things beginning happening to her. She has had a long, hard life and despairs of continued immortal existence, afraid and alone. I had mixed emotions reading about her, not sure if I could trust her or not, and questioning why she made certain decision along the way. Compelling, if sometimes bizarre, reading make for an intriguing debut and I'll be interested in seeing what Holland does in the future. 3.5 stars.
The book is due to come out March 7.
81bell7
Wordle 584 5/6
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Bit of a guessing game today, but got it in the end.ARISE, POUTY, DOUBT, MOUNT, COUNT .
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Bit of a guessing game today, but got it in the end.
82Crazymamie
Mary, it sounds like it is going well with the dogs. Did you say one of them is a puppy? Do you know yet how long you are staying?
I am tempted by the Larson, so if the mood strikes...
I am tempted by the Larson, so if the mood strikes...
83bell7
>82 Crazymamie: Yep, one of them is a puppy. I think she's officially not a puppy at age 2, and she's getting close, if I'm not mistaken. I'm theoretically staying at the house through Thursday, depending on the weather. They're being pretty good, but I'll be glad to go to work today and not have a full day home with them haha. I was getting annoyed last night and had to put everyone in their kennels and go upstairs to read for awhile without having dogs trying to get pets, sit on my lap, or ring the bell to go "out" only to eat snow instead of peeing or pooping.
I'll still be coming back in the mornings 'til not sure when to give them their morning meal and walks, but it's much less work/responsibility and is keeping me active in winter.
I hope you enjoy the Larson if/when you're in the right mood!
I'll still be coming back in the mornings 'til not sure when to give them their morning meal and walks, but it's much less work/responsibility and is keeping me active in winter.
I hope you enjoy the Larson if/when you're in the right mood!
84Crazymamie
I totally get that. Good for you for snagging a mental moment. Our dog Biscotti used to ring the bell and then grandly walk outside and lay down in a patch of sunshine. Cracked us up every time. She was a character. I cannot imagine caring for so many big dogs at one time. We did have four dogs, but they were all toy poodles, so very tiny in comparison to the labs you are watching.
85curioussquared
The dogs ringing the bell to go eat snow is hilarious from my POV but would become super annoying quite quickly if I was the one opening the door for them every time, lol. Happy Tuesday, Mary!
86Berly
Oh my gosh! That sounds like a lot of dogs (and cat) to take care of. LOL. I think 1 can be time consuming. Eating the snow and grandly lying in the sunshine both made me laugh. A girls dogs gotta have fun!
87weird_O
>73 bell7: Eye yi yi yi! Bite your tongue. Hard! You have to be loyal to the NFC north. * smile *
89bell7
>84 Crazymamie: that's hilarious, Mamie... I wouldn't mind so much if they would just lie down instead of eating things that could make them sick 😂
>85 curioussquared: happy day, Natalie! It got old fast lol but usually I can distract her letting her sit next to me on the recliner.
>86 Berly: well, I'm nearly done, Kim. I'm off the hook either tonight or tomorrow, if the snow and ice cancel their flight.
>87 weird_O: I don't go for anyone in the NFC east but the Giants 😜
>88 figsfromthistle: oh excellent, hope it's a winter for you, Anita!
>85 curioussquared: happy day, Natalie! It got old fast lol but usually I can distract her letting her sit next to me on the recliner.
>86 Berly: well, I'm nearly done, Kim. I'm off the hook either tonight or tomorrow, if the snow and ice cancel their flight.
>87 weird_O: I don't go for anyone in the NFC east but the Giants 😜
>88 figsfromthistle: oh excellent, hope it's a winter for you, Anita!
90bell7
Wordle 585 3/6
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Not as impressive as it looks, there were a couple of hours between guesses two and three.ARISE, WAIVE, MAIZE .
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Not as impressive as it looks, there were a couple of hours between guesses two and three.
91bell7
Happy Wednesday! Today might be my last with the dogs. I expect I'll find out tonight if their flight gets postponed due to weather. But in any case, I'm at work and planning on going back for dinner.
92foggidawn
>90 bell7: I'm still going to be impressed, as it took me all six guesses today!
93bell7
>92 foggidawn: I guess there were a couple other possible words, but they weren't any that I knew!
94bell7
Wordle 586 5/6
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Slow and steady progress today on a bit of a challenging one.ARISE, POUTY, ENEMY, FEELY, BEEFY .
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Slow and steady progress today on a bit of a challenging one.
95bell7
Happy Thursday morning! I'm home, but will be leaving shortly to walk the dogs before work, and continuing that 'til they tell me not to or leave again for part of the winter *shrug*. Having a tough time getting motivated this morning, but I'll be getting out of here shortly.
Today I'm just working 'til 2:30 and then going to my first-ever cardiologist appointment. I kinda pushed for it at my last physical. My family history has a lot of heart problems and though I haven't really experienced anything myself, my cholesterol has been borderline for years and was high this time so I would like to be evaluated for my own personal risk.
Then this evening, I have the first in a series of four classes on the basics of genealogy offered through the Western Mass Genealogical Society over Zoom. What I've learned has been so piecemeal and dependent on my own family history and I'm looking forward to getting something a little more comprehensive/methodical. I'll plan on eating dinner and attending in the comfort of my living room (and thankful that I'm not juggling dogs with the laptop).
Today I'm just working 'til 2:30 and then going to my first-ever cardiologist appointment. I kinda pushed for it at my last physical. My family history has a lot of heart problems and though I haven't really experienced anything myself, my cholesterol has been borderline for years and was high this time so I would like to be evaluated for my own personal risk.
Then this evening, I have the first in a series of four classes on the basics of genealogy offered through the Western Mass Genealogical Society over Zoom. What I've learned has been so piecemeal and dependent on my own family history and I'm looking forward to getting something a little more comprehensive/methodical. I'll plan on eating dinner and attending in the comfort of my living room (and thankful that I'm not juggling dogs with the laptop).
96Crazymamie
I bet it was good to sleep in your own bed, Mary. And be surrounded by your own things - I am such a homebody.
Good for you with the cardiologist - I think it is wise to be out in front of things health-wise. Hoping the appointment goes well.
Good for you with the cardiologist - I think it is wise to be out in front of things health-wise. Hoping the appointment goes well.
97bell7
>96 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie, it is always nice to be home and sleep in my own bed! (I'm a homebody too...) The only thing that's a little frustrating is that walking them in the morning takes longer when I have my coffee and breakfast at home and then drive there - I have trouble getting to work on time. But I am salary and I checked with my boss tomorrow, she's fine with being flexible about exactly when I arrive Wednesday-Friday (the days it affects most), and I'll just make up the time on other days, staying late or coming in early.
Thanks re: the cardiologist. Turns out he wasn't super inclined to do any testing or a CT scan about calcification (unless I insisted) since my personal risks are pretty low. We decided to try to work on diet and exercise to lower my cholesterol and check back in six months - if it stays high, he'll want to put me on statins *pouts*
Mostly I'm nervous because I'm getting close to the age my paternal grandmother was when she died of a heart attack - 43 (I'll be 40 on my next birthday). Dad tells me she only ever felt pain in her elbow, and my reading on menopause informs me that women are 1. more likely to have heart disease after menopause and 2. can experience less pain with a heart attack than period cramps (!). What I really want is a magic test to tell me if I should be prepared for something like that in my 40s but there isn't anything that does that, sadly.
Thanks re: the cardiologist. Turns out he wasn't super inclined to do any testing or a CT scan about calcification (unless I insisted) since my personal risks are pretty low. We decided to try to work on diet and exercise to lower my cholesterol and check back in six months - if it stays high, he'll want to put me on statins *pouts*
Mostly I'm nervous because I'm getting close to the age my paternal grandmother was when she died of a heart attack - 43 (I'll be 40 on my next birthday). Dad tells me she only ever felt pain in her elbow, and my reading on menopause informs me that women are 1. more likely to have heart disease after menopause and 2. can experience less pain with a heart attack than period cramps (!). What I really want is a magic test to tell me if I should be prepared for something like that in my 40s but there isn't anything that does that, sadly.
99bell7
Happy Friday! Busy day (busy week...) with dog walking, work, volunteering in the evening. I will come home and go to bed, essentially.
I talked to my boss yesterday letting her know what I'd been asked to do with the dog walking and checking that it would be okay to be late on certain days and make it up on others. I'm on the calendar for coming in at ten so that I'm not scheduled for the first hour of the day on the desk, and I'll be coming in early and staying late some days to make up my time.
The cardiologist appointment was okay. I think he'll eventually want me to go on statins to keep my cholesterol under control, but this was the first test that it was actually high (and was right after the holidays when I eat the worst and exercise the least), so I'm getting another fasting lab and following up in six months. Basically I was encouraged to do more of what I'm doing - more exercise, more healthy eating - and he did mentioned that meditation can be good, too, so I might try incorporating that too. There's not much we can do about family history and apparently the CT scan to check for calcification has its own risks with radiation and such, so he didn't recommend it. Ah well... we'll see how things go in July. I'd like to put off going on statins as long as possible.
I got home around 4 and had time to unpack and tidy up a bit, so that was nice. Supper was reheated shrimp etouffee, and then a genealogical society meeting. That was really fun - it was the first of four in a basic course on genealogy, and while it was overwhelming in terms of what I need to organize because I've been somewhat sloppy, it was also really nice to hear that *everyone* had a box (or more) of stuff that they had to tackle. And we chatted afterwards a little later than usual, with folks sharing their recent genealogy finds. For once I had something to share - I'd recently found my 4th-great-grandmother's probate records from New York, 1881. (I'm waiting to hear if I can get a death certificate, as it's the first year that New York required them.)
I'm reading and really enjoying Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki. It's funny but also deals with some very serious issues. Barry Lopez's last collection of essays, Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World has been really enjoyable, and I'm reading only one or two a day to savor them. My e-book/audio combo is So Many Beginnings, a retelling of Little Women about a Black family living in a freedpeople's town during the Civil War. That one is... okay. Sometimes it can get a little preachy/on the nose with things that could be more subtle - but it's also written for a YA audience, and that's probably part of it.
I should have more time to catch up on threads tomorrow - hope you all have a great weekend!
I talked to my boss yesterday letting her know what I'd been asked to do with the dog walking and checking that it would be okay to be late on certain days and make it up on others. I'm on the calendar for coming in at ten so that I'm not scheduled for the first hour of the day on the desk, and I'll be coming in early and staying late some days to make up my time.
The cardiologist appointment was okay. I think he'll eventually want me to go on statins to keep my cholesterol under control, but this was the first test that it was actually high (and was right after the holidays when I eat the worst and exercise the least), so I'm getting another fasting lab and following up in six months. Basically I was encouraged to do more of what I'm doing - more exercise, more healthy eating - and he did mentioned that meditation can be good, too, so I might try incorporating that too. There's not much we can do about family history and apparently the CT scan to check for calcification has its own risks with radiation and such, so he didn't recommend it. Ah well... we'll see how things go in July. I'd like to put off going on statins as long as possible.
I got home around 4 and had time to unpack and tidy up a bit, so that was nice. Supper was reheated shrimp etouffee, and then a genealogical society meeting. That was really fun - it was the first of four in a basic course on genealogy, and while it was overwhelming in terms of what I need to organize because I've been somewhat sloppy, it was also really nice to hear that *everyone* had a box (or more) of stuff that they had to tackle. And we chatted afterwards a little later than usual, with folks sharing their recent genealogy finds. For once I had something to share - I'd recently found my 4th-great-grandmother's probate records from New York, 1881. (I'm waiting to hear if I can get a death certificate, as it's the first year that New York required them.)
I'm reading and really enjoying Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki. It's funny but also deals with some very serious issues. Barry Lopez's last collection of essays, Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World has been really enjoyable, and I'm reading only one or two a day to savor them. My e-book/audio combo is So Many Beginnings, a retelling of Little Women about a Black family living in a freedpeople's town during the Civil War. That one is... okay. Sometimes it can get a little preachy/on the nose with things that could be more subtle - but it's also written for a YA audience, and that's probably part of it.
I should have more time to catch up on threads tomorrow - hope you all have a great weekend!
100msf59
Happy Friday, Mary. I hope you give Larson a try. So many terrific books. You are a NF fan, right?
101curioussquared
>99 bell7: Light from Uncommon Stars is one I've been eyeing so I'll be interested in your thoughts!
102bell7
>100 msf59: Happy weekend, Mark! I definitely plan on reading at least one of Larson's NF titles. I have two on my TBR list and own Devil in the White City which is somewhere in a book pile upstairs. I am a NF fan, though it's a fairly small percent of my reading (29 books for 22% last year).
>101 curioussquared: So far I am very much enjoying it, Natalie, and almost added it to my list of books to recommend to your husband.
>101 curioussquared: So far I am very much enjoying it, Natalie, and almost added it to my list of books to recommend to your husband.
104bell7
I'll be getting ready for the day and leaving shortly to walk the dogs, then I'll be coming home and getting my grocery list together - I discovered last week that fairly early on a Saturday morning the store is emptier than even a Monday afternoon around 2:30, so I'm seeing if it makes sense to change my grocery day.
After that, I have nothing in particular planned. I'm hoping to watch the recording of the women's finals of the Australian Open (and *not* looking at various apps on my phone so I spoil who won) and get some reading in. Otherwise I'll putter around the house, water the plants, and discover whatever is annoying me most (yes, this is how I prioritize housework).
After that, I have nothing in particular planned. I'm hoping to watch the recording of the women's finals of the Australian Open (and *not* looking at various apps on my phone so I spoil who won) and get some reading in. Otherwise I'll putter around the house, water the plants, and discover whatever is annoying me most (yes, this is how I prioritize housework).
105StellaThatcher
Cet utilisateur a été supprimé en tant que polluposteur.
106katiekrug
>104 bell7: - I get the "what is annoying me most" approach to house stuff. Right now, mine is the bed in our guest room/my office where I tend to dump things. It'll be cleared off today and everything put back in it's proper place...
Enjoy the bliss of a puttering day!
Enjoy the bliss of a puttering day!
107PaulCranswick
>104 bell7: My most annoying thing in the house today was trying to find a particular book Assembly by Natasha Brown that somebody has taken from the shelves and not put back where it should be. Could be my sister in law but she has gone off for the weekend. I had planned to read it next month and have made it KIV. Problem is at my place if the books are misplaced it is like finding a needle in a haystack!
Have a great weekend, Mary.
Have a great weekend, Mary.
108bell7
>106 katiekrug: right? There's never enough time for everything, so things pile up and I find there's at least one thing I *have* to do before I can mentally settle down. Hope you were able to clear out the office to your satisfaction!
>107 PaulCranswick: I hope you're able to track it down, Paul! Someday I will buy a couple more bookshelvea and be able to organize what's in piles in a small room upstairs, but yesterday's tasks were generally focused on cleaning up the kitchen.
>107 PaulCranswick: I hope you're able to track it down, Paul! Someday I will buy a couple more bookshelvea and be able to organize what's in piles in a small room upstairs, but yesterday's tasks were generally focused on cleaning up the kitchen.
109bell7
Yesterday was a pleasant day, and it was really nice to have some things to do without needing to rush around to get them all done. I walked the dogs, grocery shopped, and watched the recording of the women's Australian Open final. The state of the kitchen turned out to be annoying me the most, so I cleaned out the fridge, did dishes, potted some baby spider plants, and swept up. I still had time to watch a couple episodes of Doctor Who, just getting started on Series Three, and got Chinese takeout for dinner.
Today I woke up early so watched the end of the Australian Open men's final.I'm leaving shortly I left around 7:45 to walk the dogs, and now I'm back for a little while before going to church, and then to work. My brother invited me over to watch the football playoff games, so I'll head to his place from there. Busy day that makes me glad I'm off tomorrow!
Today I woke up early so watched the end of the Australian Open men's final.
111Crazymamie
Happy Sunday, Mary! I honestly do not know how you do everything that you do. I used to have crazy days when the kids were younger, but thank goodness, those days are behind me.
Hoping you can fix the cholesterol with diet and more exercise. Did you like the cardiologist?
Hoping you can fix the cholesterol with diet and more exercise. Did you like the cardiologist?
112bell7
>111 Crazymamie: To be honest, I don't entirely know myself, Mamie. Even on days off, I sometimes can't sit still until certain things are done.
Thanks re: the cholesterol. I'm not sure about the cardiologist, it was such a quick appointment. He seemed nice enough , but I don't know that he took my concerns all that seriously and was basically like, "We'll give you a pill for the cholesterol and try to get your weight down. Exercise more and practice the Mediterranean diet." Which is... fine. I can't really tell if my concerns are unfounded (yes, I know my grandmother who died at 43 was a smoker... my dad was not, and he had a heart attack at 52, and is still living) or if he's not aware of some risk factors in women, like lower estrogen levels. So I guess we'll see?
Thanks re: the cholesterol. I'm not sure about the cardiologist, it was such a quick appointment. He seemed nice enough , but I don't know that he took my concerns all that seriously and was basically like, "We'll give you a pill for the cholesterol and try to get your weight down. Exercise more and practice the Mediterranean diet." Which is... fine. I can't really tell if my concerns are unfounded (yes, I know my grandmother who died at 43 was a smoker... my dad was not, and he had a heart attack at 52, and is still living) or if he's not aware of some risk factors in women, like lower estrogen levels. So I guess we'll see?
114bell7
Good morning, all! Yesterday flew by - even work was busy right up until the end, which almost never happens on a Sunday - and the second playoff game was fun to watch with my brother and his girlfriend. We were kinda going for the Bengals, but overall just enjoyed a close game.
Today is... well, pretty much my norm, honestly, though enough of it will be at home that it will feel like a bit of a break. I need to go soon to walk the dogs, and then I told someone at the church I'd meet them around 10 this morning to go over the church library (that I'm sort of in charge of but have neglected since pre-Covid and now people have dropped off a bunch of unwanted donations). After that, I'll come home and cook some things, and get ready for Bible study tonight. I have two books I'm nearly finished, and anticipate having enough time in the day to finish one or both of them.
Today is... well, pretty much my norm, honestly, though enough of it will be at home that it will feel like a bit of a break. I need to go soon to walk the dogs, and then I told someone at the church I'd meet them around 10 this morning to go over the church library (that I'm sort of in charge of but have neglected since pre-Covid and now people have dropped off a bunch of unwanted donations). After that, I'll come home and cook some things, and get ready for Bible study tonight. I have two books I'm nearly finished, and anticipate having enough time in the day to finish one or both of them.
115Crazymamie
"...I don't know that he took my concerns all that seriously" Mary, I would be looking for another doctor. Being heard and taken seriously are key elements to your working together for your best possible heart health. This happens so often with women. You deserve to be heard and to feel like you are working together with the doctor as a team, not being condescended to or dismissed as if your concerns were not valid.
Hoping today is kind to you. Sorry about the unwanted donations - slightly painful.
Hoping today is kind to you. Sorry about the unwanted donations - slightly painful.
116bell7
>115 Crazymamie: I'll still go to the follow-up in July and go from there, but I will take your comments to heart, Mamie. I left the appointment feeling kind of unsettled, yet not quite knowing what to do because there's nothing specific I could put my finger on in what I would have wanted to be different. You're absolutely right regarding women's health, and I generally ask for a woman practitioner, but didn't get one in this case. I may ask to switch come July.
Thanks re: the donations. The meeting today was brief but good, I think. We're planning on offering a lot of old study guides to folks in the congregation to take, and revamping some things to hopefully get more use out of some of the reference materials available. I'm hopeful I can get some help with it, too, which would be ideal.
Thanks re: the donations. The meeting today was brief but good, I think. We're planning on offering a lot of old study guides to folks in the congregation to take, and revamping some things to hopefully get more use out of some of the reference materials available. I'm hopeful I can get some help with it, too, which would be ideal.
117bell7
10. Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
Why now? I originally added the book to the TBR list back in June 2021 when I heard about it at the ALMA BookBuzz webinar, then when I was talking to a co-worker she asked for recommendations for standalone SF and I realized I was interested in taking this one for myself
Shizuka Satomi made a deal with hell years ago that she would deliver seven souls in return for her music: she has taught violin to six, and now, ten years since her last student, the "Queen of Hell" is searching for her seventh. Enter Katrina Nguyen, a trans girl who runs away from an abusive home and happens upon Shizuka one afternoon, untrained but talented. As Katrina and Shizuka begin working together, it becomes clear that it will be difficult for Shizuka to complete her bargain. Oh, and did I mention that there's an alien lady running Starrgate Donuts that Shizuka may just be falling in love with?
This was a delightful, warmhearted book that nevertheless deals with heavy issues, whether it be racism, transphobia, or suicidal ideation. Sometimes the people you should be able to trust in your own community can be just as bad - or worse, because they should know better. Perhaps it's this dealing with real-life issues head on that allows a book with such whimsy to also feed grounded. I was invested in the characters, laughed out loud multiple times, and dearly wish I could hear Katrina play. 4.5 stars.
Why now? I originally added the book to the TBR list back in June 2021 when I heard about it at the ALMA BookBuzz webinar, then when I was talking to a co-worker she asked for recommendations for standalone SF and I realized I was interested in taking this one for myself
Shizuka Satomi made a deal with hell years ago that she would deliver seven souls in return for her music: she has taught violin to six, and now, ten years since her last student, the "Queen of Hell" is searching for her seventh. Enter Katrina Nguyen, a trans girl who runs away from an abusive home and happens upon Shizuka one afternoon, untrained but talented. As Katrina and Shizuka begin working together, it becomes clear that it will be difficult for Shizuka to complete her bargain. Oh, and did I mention that there's an alien lady running Starrgate Donuts that Shizuka may just be falling in love with?
This was a delightful, warmhearted book that nevertheless deals with heavy issues, whether it be racism, transphobia, or suicidal ideation. Sometimes the people you should be able to trust in your own community can be just as bad - or worse, because they should know better. Perhaps it's this dealing with real-life issues head on that allows a book with such whimsy to also feed grounded. I was invested in the characters, laughed out loud multiple times, and dearly wish I could hear Katrina play. 4.5 stars.
118Copperskye
Hi Mary, I'm catching up a little bit here. Dog sitting 5 dogs?? Yikes! Good for you. I sometimes felt overwhelmed with two.
I didn't realize Larson wrote fiction. I love his non-fiction.
I didn't realize Larson wrote fiction. I love his non-fiction.
119bell7
11. So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
Why now? A book I was first made aware of because of bookish emails in my work inbox, I got it most recently because the audio and e-book combo were available at the library when I was ready for those formats
Meg, Joanna, Bethlehem, and Amethyst are four Black young women living in the freedmen's colony on Roanoke Island during the Civil War. While their father is away, they draw close to their mother and each other for support as they start their new, emancipated life together.
This book was a mixed bag for me. Some of it was definitely the reader's fault - or, at least, my preferences for what I would have liked to see in a Little Women retelling. I could appreciate some of the changes she made, such as Jo's writing being impassioned articles regarding their experiences in the colony and the nature of Beth's illness. Others simply confused me - why does Amygo to Boston escorted by Jo and Lorie, and why does this happen before Meg's wedding, and how exactly did their father suddenly get back from the war? And I thought one choice of Beth's very out of character for her. The characters can get a little preachy but, well, so did the original. And probably because I was already on the fence, I found myself getting hypercritical about the writing style, especially a quirk where the author writes "despite that" when she just wanted "though": "His shoulders were exactly as broad as Amy remembered, despite that she'd been so young when he visited" or "{he} was never made to feel unwelcome in the home, despite that he still wore the vest he'd brought from Roanoke". Ultimately, I would have preferred to see what Morrow would have done with historical fiction about Roanoke that wasn't constrained by the outline of the classic. 3 stars.
Why now? A book I was first made aware of because of bookish emails in my work inbox, I got it most recently because the audio and e-book combo were available at the library when I was ready for those formats
Meg, Joanna, Bethlehem, and Amethyst are four Black young women living in the freedmen's colony on Roanoke Island during the Civil War. While their father is away, they draw close to their mother and each other for support as they start their new, emancipated life together.
This book was a mixed bag for me. Some of it was definitely the reader's fault - or, at least, my preferences for what I would have liked to see in a Little Women retelling. I could appreciate some of the changes she made, such as Jo's writing being impassioned articles regarding their experiences in the colony and the nature of Beth's illness. Others simply confused me - why does Amy
120bell7
>118 Copperskye: So nice to see you, Joanne! Yeah, they own five labs and a sixth one is staying with them now. I've stayed for part of the time, though right now I'm home and just giving them morning feeding and walks. I go one at a time, so it ends up taking about an hour, but it does give me exercise!
I believe No One Goes Alone is his first fiction and is only available as an audiobook. I hadn't heard of it before Julia mentioned it, and I found it enjoyable. I will endeavor to move his nonfiction up the list :D
I believe No One Goes Alone is his first fiction and is only available as an audiobook. I hadn't heard of it before Julia mentioned it, and I found it enjoyable. I will endeavor to move his nonfiction up the list :D
121WhiteRaven.17
>117 bell7: I've had this on my shelf for awhile now and am finally reading it in February for my cousin's and I's bookclub. I've already been looking forward to it, but this cements my eagerness to start it.
122bell7
>121 WhiteRaven.17: I hope you enjoy it! I'll look forward to your thoughts.
124bell7
Happy Tuesday, all! We got a dusting of snow today, not so bad that I have to pay for plowing, but enough that I had to clean my car off before walking the dogs (I decided last night that I'd rather clean off the car than park in the garage and muddle through the basement in the dark). They took me a little over an hour, all told, but I have already walked nearly 6,000 steps for the day. I'm going in a little early today to make up my time last week, and staying a little late tomorrow to do the same.
Today I'm working 12-8, I have only a couple of volunteers in, so I'll see what I can get them to do. I also have a shipment of local history supplies to use in rehousing some collections, which will probably ultimately be a volunteer project as well. My hold on the newest Newbery Award winner should be in - and bonus, it was already on my TBR list - so I'll pick that up when I go in. And my co-worker will be putting out the Blind Date with a Book display tonight. I'll try to remember to take some pictures and share.
Since I finished up a couple of books yesterday, I started Stella by Starlight and Normal Family: On Truth, Love, and How I Met My 35 Siblings by Chrysta Bilton last night. I have a few memoirs on my stack right now, and will be deciding in the next few days which ones I will attempt to read before the due date and which are going back, but this one so far is very compelling reading and shouldn't take me long at all. Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World, on the other hand, is excellent but dense (I did expect that), so I'm pacing myself with only a few essays a day. I don't expect I'll finish anything tonight, though, so I'll write up a January in review post today or tomorrow.
Today I'm working 12-8, I have only a couple of volunteers in, so I'll see what I can get them to do. I also have a shipment of local history supplies to use in rehousing some collections, which will probably ultimately be a volunteer project as well. My hold on the newest Newbery Award winner should be in - and bonus, it was already on my TBR list - so I'll pick that up when I go in. And my co-worker will be putting out the Blind Date with a Book display tonight. I'll try to remember to take some pictures and share.
Since I finished up a couple of books yesterday, I started Stella by Starlight and Normal Family: On Truth, Love, and How I Met My 35 Siblings by Chrysta Bilton last night. I have a few memoirs on my stack right now, and will be deciding in the next few days which ones I will attempt to read before the due date and which are going back, but this one so far is very compelling reading and shouldn't take me long at all. Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World, on the other hand, is excellent but dense (I did expect that), so I'm pacing myself with only a few essays a day. I don't expect I'll finish anything tonight, though, so I'll write up a January in review post today or tomorrow.
125bell7
January in review -
11. So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
10. Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
9. The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland
8. No One Goes Alone by Erik Larson
7. Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
6. Petty Treasons by Victoria Goddard
5. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
4. The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner
3. The Emma Project by Sonali Dev
2. The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde
1. Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown
Did Not Finish
None
Books read: 11
Rereads: 0
Children's/Teen/Adult: 0/1/10
Fiction/Nonfiction/Plays/Poetry: 9/2/0/0
Country of origin: US - 9, Canada - 1, Japan - 1
Massachusetts Center of the Book Challenge: The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde (under 100 pages)
Because I want to awards:
Hardest to explain (but so excellent!) - Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
Excellent book, but maddening content - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
YTD stats -
Pages read: 3,102
Avg pages a day: 100
Books by POC authors: 6 (55%)
In translation: 1
DNF: 0
Thoughts: The first word that comes to my mind looking at my January reading is "consistency." I also read 11 books last January. I read 36,181 pages in 2022 with an average of 102 pages a day, and my January reading is right there at 1/12 of that and 100 pages a day.
It's too early in the year to read much into my genre reading, but I did read 4 of what I labeled fantasy and 2 historical fiction. The rest are in single digits. Though I didn't make official "goals" this year, I'm pleased that the percentage of books by people of color is starting out high, and I do hope to keep it over 50%. I read only one book in translation and two outside of the US (Victoria Goddard is Canadian, and as I'm reading more of her books this year, that particular number will probably be higher than usual this year). I also want to read a bunch of the digital review copies on my Kindle. Three of the books I read this month - Black Candle Women, The London Seance Society, and The God of Endings - are "upcoming" titles, and probably helped contribute to having 55% of my reading be digital, which is unusually high for me.
Finally, my ratings are a little lower than usual. Four books have four stars - enjoyed and would recommend, but probably not reread from cover to cover - and only the two I gave awards of the month to had 4.5. Still, I'm not disappointed in the least with my reading overall and am looking forward to seeing how my 2023 reading develops over the next few months.
11. So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
10. Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
9. The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland
8. No One Goes Alone by Erik Larson
7. Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
6. Petty Treasons by Victoria Goddard
5. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
4. The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner
3. The Emma Project by Sonali Dev
2. The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde
1. Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown
Did Not Finish
None
Books read: 11
Rereads: 0
Children's/Teen/Adult: 0/1/10
Fiction/Nonfiction/Plays/Poetry: 9/2/0/0
Country of origin: US - 9, Canada - 1, Japan - 1
Massachusetts Center of the Book Challenge: The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde (under 100 pages)
Because I want to awards:
Hardest to explain (but so excellent!) - Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
Excellent book, but maddening content - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
YTD stats -
Pages read: 3,102
Avg pages a day: 100
Books by POC authors: 6 (55%)
In translation: 1
DNF: 0
Thoughts: The first word that comes to my mind looking at my January reading is "consistency." I also read 11 books last January. I read 36,181 pages in 2022 with an average of 102 pages a day, and my January reading is right there at 1/12 of that and 100 pages a day.
It's too early in the year to read much into my genre reading, but I did read 4 of what I labeled fantasy and 2 historical fiction. The rest are in single digits. Though I didn't make official "goals" this year, I'm pleased that the percentage of books by people of color is starting out high, and I do hope to keep it over 50%. I read only one book in translation and two outside of the US (Victoria Goddard is Canadian, and as I'm reading more of her books this year, that particular number will probably be higher than usual this year). I also want to read a bunch of the digital review copies on my Kindle. Three of the books I read this month - Black Candle Women, The London Seance Society, and The God of Endings - are "upcoming" titles, and probably helped contribute to having 55% of my reading be digital, which is unusually high for me.
Finally, my ratings are a little lower than usual. Four books have four stars - enjoyed and would recommend, but probably not reread from cover to cover - and only the two I gave awards of the month to had 4.5. Still, I'm not disappointed in the least with my reading overall and am looking forward to seeing how my 2023 reading develops over the next few months.
126bell7
Wordle 592 4/6
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ARISE, POUTY, FLOWS, SCOLD. Not bad for only having two letters after two words .
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127bell7
Happy February!
I woke up early this morning with night sweats (fun times!), but decided to take advantage of it and see if I can walk the dogs and still be on time for work today. I'm going to gather things and head out after I post this.
Today after dog walking, I'm working 9 (or whenever I get there) to 6 to make up the time I was short last week. The genealogy group has their monthly meeting at 6 p.m. tonight over Zoom, so I'm planning on helping myself to a library laptop and pair of headphones to participate there before heading home for the night. I'll either read or watch an episode or two of Doctor Who when I get back.
Reading is the same as yesterday. I have too many books due in early February, so I'm returning a couple unread today, and crossing my fingers that The Joy Luck Club comes in today, because I need to finish it for Feb. 11.
I woke up early this morning with night sweats (fun times!), but decided to take advantage of it and see if I can walk the dogs and still be on time for work today. I'm going to gather things and head out after I post this.
Today after dog walking, I'm working 9 (or whenever I get there) to 6 to make up the time I was short last week. The genealogy group has their monthly meeting at 6 p.m. tonight over Zoom, so I'm planning on helping myself to a library laptop and pair of headphones to participate there before heading home for the night. I'll either read or watch an episode or two of Doctor Who when I get back.
Reading is the same as yesterday. I have too many books due in early February, so I'm returning a couple unread today, and crossing my fingers that The Joy Luck Club comes in today, because I need to finish it for Feb. 11.
128msf59
Happy February, Mary. I remember loving The Joy Luck Club when I read it decades ago. I really liked the film version too.
131bell7
>128 msf59: oh that's good to hear, Mark! I think it'll arrive today, and I'm hopeful I'll be able to make a good start over the weekend.
>129 scaifea: what fun, Amber! I'll look forward to being book buddies with you on this one and look forward to your thoughts.
>130 weird_O: it is amazing how fast time flies the older I get, Bill.
>129 scaifea: what fun, Amber! I'll look forward to being book buddies with you on this one and look forward to your thoughts.
>130 weird_O: it is amazing how fast time flies the older I get, Bill.
133bell7
I tried to post in the morning, but LT was having conniptions at the time, so here's a quick recap of the day.
Last night, my brother invited me out with friends to watch the Bruins game, so I stayed out later than usual. It was fun, though - I got dinner out, they enjoyed some beers, and we took turns playing pool. His girlfriend had some hard cider for me to take home, and I'm looking forward to trying it tonight (in many years of having me try his beer and only finding 2 I liked, in a matter of months his girlfriend recommended about 3 ciders that I have enjoyed).
My boss will be out the rest of the week sick. Somehow an unexpected time of her being out is less stressful than a known vacation. I was busy today without even trying, though, and looking forward to a quiet weekend. I'm going to do payroll tomorrow.
I really am having a quiet night in tonight! I am home from work, put the car in the garage because the next two days are going to be extremely cold, and finally brought the garden hose in to defrost in the basement (I turned the water to it off months ago). Now I'm just going to heat up some leftovers and relax for the rest of the evening.
Last night, my brother invited me out with friends to watch the Bruins game, so I stayed out later than usual. It was fun, though - I got dinner out, they enjoyed some beers, and we took turns playing pool. His girlfriend had some hard cider for me to take home, and I'm looking forward to trying it tonight (in many years of having me try his beer and only finding 2 I liked, in a matter of months his girlfriend recommended about 3 ciders that I have enjoyed).
My boss will be out the rest of the week sick. Somehow an unexpected time of her being out is less stressful than a known vacation. I was busy today without even trying, though, and looking forward to a quiet weekend. I'm going to do payroll tomorrow.
I really am having a quiet night in tonight! I am home from work, put the car in the garage because the next two days are going to be extremely cold, and finally brought the garden hose in to defrost in the basement (I turned the water to it off months ago). Now I'm just going to heat up some leftovers and relax for the rest of the evening.
135Crazymamie
Morning, Mary! Happy Friday.
"...in many years of having me try his beer and only finding 2 I liked, in a matter of months his girlfriend recommended about 3 ciders that I have enjoyed." This made me laugh.
Hoping that your evening was as relaxing as it sounded.
Did The Joy Luck Club come in? I read that one many years ago, and it has stayed with me.
"...in many years of having me try his beer and only finding 2 I liked, in a matter of months his girlfriend recommended about 3 ciders that I have enjoyed." This made me laugh.
Hoping that your evening was as relaxing as it sounded.
Did The Joy Luck Club come in? I read that one many years ago, and it has stayed with me.
136PaulCranswick
Just caught up and I also got stuck in the conniptions yesterday (nice word!).
I hope we don't get any more over the weekend and that you have a great one Mary. x
I hope we don't get any more over the weekend and that you have a great one Mary. x
137bell7
>135 Crazymamie: It *is* funny, we were joking about it Wednesday. Most of the time I find beer bitter, and my brother tends to like really hoppy IPAs. He's had me try some fruity stuff, but the only things I've liked have been a chocolate stout and some kind of lager that he got at a Giants game once (I have forgotten and always have to ask him what it was). Not that I'd have a full glass, mind you, I just didn't grimace upon swallowing. The Joy Luck Club has come in! I'm looking forward to reading some this afternoon.
>136 PaulCranswick: Ha, thanks, Paul! Happy weekend, and hope our use of LT today is smooth sailing.
>136 PaulCranswick: Ha, thanks, Paul! Happy weekend, and hope our use of LT today is smooth sailing.
138bell7
Wordle 595 5/6
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Really thought I had it in four for a second.ARISE, POUTY, TUNIC, UNTIL, UNLIT .
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Really thought I had it in four for a second.
139bell7
Happy weekend! I'm headed out shortly to "walk" the dogs (it's currently -10 with a windchill of -28, so I'm mostly planning on letting them out in their pen a couple of times), and then I have a hair appointment. After that, I'm headed home and planning to read a lot and stay warm.
141bell7
>140 katiekrug: I screenshot the weather and sent it to a friend from Minnesota who promptly told me that "negatives for a day" were "sooooo tragic". *eyeroll* I won't be out long, though, and I'll get over it.
142klobrien2
>138 bell7: Wordle-in-5 for me, too, today. We had the same word-4-to-5-segue. That sequence made me smile.
Have a great weekend!
Karen O
Have a great weekend!
Karen O
143Crazymamie
Happy Saturday, Mary! I am not a big beer drinker, but I do like Fat Tire beer and some of the pumpkin ales that abound in October.
I'm glad that The Joy Luck Club has come in for you.
I'm glad that The Joy Luck Club has come in for you.
144bell7
>142 klobrien2: I was pretty surprised by it, Karen, and realized afterwards that UNFIT was still on the table as a possibility.
>143 Crazymamie: I don't like squash so I don't think I could appreciate the pumpkin ales, Mamie. I do think it's interesting how different everyone's personal tastes are.
>143 Crazymamie: I don't like squash so I don't think I could appreciate the pumpkin ales, Mamie. I do think it's interesting how different everyone's personal tastes are.
146bell7
Good Sunday morning! It's already warmer than all day yesterday, and I'll be walking the dogs in a relatively balmy 24 degrees F.
Yesterday the dogs mostly went quickly. One poor girl didn't go for me but I brought her in anyway when she started lifting up her back paws from the cold. I went from there to my haircut, and on the way got texts that one of the boilers at the library was down. Where I get my haircut is just a few minutes away, so after that I stopped in to see how things were going. It had gotten down to 59 degrees in the building overnight, with one boiler working and apparently a window blew open, was 61 when folks got there, and 63 when I did. Definitely on the chilly side, folks were working with their jackets on. At that point, the technician coming out to check wasn't far away, so I waited to see what would happen. He came in, banged around for awhile (literally) and told us that frost in one of the intake pipes froze up and wouldn't let it work, but both boilers were at 100% when he left. So hooray for that! I got home around noon, had lunch, and spent the rest of the day knitting and giving myself a Doctor Who marathon.
I didn't start The Joy Luck Club (hopefully today), but I did finish Stella by Starlight, and I have only about 80 pages left in Normal Family. I started The Return of Fitzroy Angursell as my newest e-book, and have the audio for Jennette McCurdy's memoir, but I'm waiting until I've finished one memoir to start another.
I got up early today to have time to walk all the dogs before I have 9 a.m. nursery and then go to church. I'd said I could stay after service to go into the library where we have some Bible studies we're giving away (they've been sitting there for literally years...). And my boss texted me last night to say she's still sick with RSV and could I work today. We left it up in the air, but there's a very real possibility I'll be working 1-5. If I don't have to work, I will be home for much of the afternoon. I might tidy up a bit, and I will definitely read.
Yesterday the dogs mostly went quickly. One poor girl didn't go for me but I brought her in anyway when she started lifting up her back paws from the cold. I went from there to my haircut, and on the way got texts that one of the boilers at the library was down. Where I get my haircut is just a few minutes away, so after that I stopped in to see how things were going. It had gotten down to 59 degrees in the building overnight, with one boiler working and apparently a window blew open, was 61 when folks got there, and 63 when I did. Definitely on the chilly side, folks were working with their jackets on. At that point, the technician coming out to check wasn't far away, so I waited to see what would happen. He came in, banged around for awhile (literally) and told us that frost in one of the intake pipes froze up and wouldn't let it work, but both boilers were at 100% when he left. So hooray for that! I got home around noon, had lunch, and spent the rest of the day knitting and giving myself a Doctor Who marathon.
I didn't start The Joy Luck Club (hopefully today), but I did finish Stella by Starlight, and I have only about 80 pages left in Normal Family. I started The Return of Fitzroy Angursell as my newest e-book, and have the audio for Jennette McCurdy's memoir, but I'm waiting until I've finished one memoir to start another.
I got up early today to have time to walk all the dogs before I have 9 a.m. nursery and then go to church. I'd said I could stay after service to go into the library where we have some Bible studies we're giving away (they've been sitting there for literally years...). And my boss texted me last night to say she's still sick with RSV and could I work today. We left it up in the air, but there's a very real possibility I'll be working 1-5. If I don't have to work, I will be home for much of the afternoon. I might tidy up a bit, and I will definitely read.
147MickyFine
A very full day ahead for you.
Sorry to hear you had to deal with mechanical issues at the library while your boss is off sick. Sounds stressful.
Sorry to hear you had to deal with mechanical issues at the library while your boss is off sick. Sounds stressful.
148bell7
>147 MickyFine: Nah, yesterday turned out to be not so bad. The facilities manager had been in and called for a technician. I figured it would be good for me to show my face and not make those working on Saturday feel like management was completely disconnected while making them work in the cold. And thankfully the technician was able to fix it without much of a problem and it warmed up. If he hadn't been able to fix it, I would've been a lot more stressed out attempting to advocate for staff with a boss who *hates* to close the library. As it was, I just spent the time waiting and reading my Kindle book 'til he said everything was all set.
Today is actually a little more stressful. She tried to come in, but I stopped in on my way back from church and sent her home because she's still feeling miserable. There's a movie program happening and she sent me all the links so I get to hope & pray that the Zoom portion works out okay in about 20 minutes. And I did the desk schedule assuming she's not in again the rest of the week - she may well be at some point, but this way we'll only re-do it if she adds herself back in to the desk schedule rather than having to cover for her hours.
Today is actually a little more stressful. She tried to come in, but I stopped in on my way back from church and sent her home because she's still feeling miserable. There's a movie program happening and she sent me all the links so I get to hope & pray that the Zoom portion works out okay in about 20 minutes. And I did the desk schedule assuming she's not in again the rest of the week - she may well be at some point, but this way we'll only re-do it if she adds herself back in to the desk schedule rather than having to cover for her hours.
149atozgrl
Hello, Mary, I thought I would pop in and introduce myself. I'm Irene, a recently retired librarian, and new to the 75 Books Challenge. Your thread caught my eye, since you're also a librarian. Now that I'm retired, I'm hoping to find the time to do some work on my family's genealogy.
>137 bell7: I read Joy Luck Club many years ago and remember that I really enjoyed it. I hope you do too!
>148 bell7: It sounds like you've had a crazy weekend at the library! I hope the movie program and the Zoom went well for you today.
>137 bell7: I read Joy Luck Club many years ago and remember that I really enjoyed it. I hope you do too!
>148 bell7: It sounds like you've had a crazy weekend at the library! I hope the movie program and the Zoom went well for you today.
150bell7
>149 atozgrl: So nice to see you, Irene! Welcome to the 75ers. I look forward to retirement in about 22 years :D Though fortunately because our library's local history collection falls under my responsibility, I can make the argument that knowing about genealogy is part of that, and I can blend work and fun a little. They're paying for me to attend a conference in May, for example. Thanks, re: The Joy Luck Club. I will start it today and am looking forward to it.
151bell7
Wordle 597 5/6
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Who knew there would be so many options?ARISE, POUTY, FILTH, WIDTH, NINTH .
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Who knew there would be so many options?
152bell7
Well, Sunday did turn into a busy day after all, but at least the shift went by quickly. I was originally planning on staying at church after service for a Bible study giveaway (DVDs and books that have been sitting in the church library for *years* unused), but there was a meeting scheduled in the room at the same time, so we postponed 'til two weeks from today. I hightailed it to work because my boss had texted me yesterday saying she was still ill and could I cover... we'd left it up in the air, but the library was essentially on my way home, so I stopped in to see how she was. She still felt miserable, so after I had lunch, she went home.
I had to cover a movie/Zoom program that fortunately went off without a hitch - only 3 people attended, but they loved it. We had a fair number of people in the building for the 4 o'clock hour, which is usually dead, and between a family checking out at the last minute and one of them leaving their coat in the building, I didn't actually leave work 'til ten after and worked a full 5 hours after all.
I'd normally take today off for working yesterday, but have decided to go in 10-3 and basically be ahead in my time a little bit and make it up by showing up late some days after dog walks. I should leave soon to walk the dogs, since all told it will probably take me an hour or a little more.
So dog walks, work, grocery shopping and Bible study is the plan of the day.
I had to cover a movie/Zoom program that fortunately went off without a hitch - only 3 people attended, but they loved it. We had a fair number of people in the building for the 4 o'clock hour, which is usually dead, and between a family checking out at the last minute and one of them leaving their coat in the building, I didn't actually leave work 'til ten after and worked a full 5 hours after all.
I'd normally take today off for working yesterday, but have decided to go in 10-3 and basically be ahead in my time a little bit and make it up by showing up late some days after dog walks. I should leave soon to walk the dogs, since all told it will probably take me an hour or a little more.
So dog walks, work, grocery shopping and Bible study is the plan of the day.
153bell7
12. Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper
Why now? E-book/audio combo for this book that's been on my TBR for awhile when I was ready for the formats
Twelve-year-old Stella Mills and her family live in Bumblebee, North Carolina. It's the Depression in 1930, and the Ku Klux Klan has a meeting she and her younger brother see one night near their home. The Black community of Bumblebee deals with that fear while Stella goes about her life, going to school, struggling with writing, and coming together with love when hardship happens.
The story is pretty episodic, in a way that I haven't read in a kid's book in awhile but reminded me of the pacing of a lot of books I would read as a child. It's much more about Stella's internal growth and coming of age than it is about one plot thread holding together. And Draper doesn't shy away from showing the racism and tensions Stella and her family deal with on a regular basis, from when Stella's father registers to vote to when an act by the Klan rocks her community. And yet, it's done with nuance and a light touch: there are white people who treat the Black community with respect and compassion as well.* 3.5 stars.
*Unfortunately this is probably not enough for the folks who have been attempting to rid schools of any books that might make white kids "feel bad", and I wouldn't be surprised to start seeing it on lists of books challenged.
It's a little reminiscent of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, though I didn't like it quite as well.
Why now? E-book/audio combo for this book that's been on my TBR for awhile when I was ready for the formats
Twelve-year-old Stella Mills and her family live in Bumblebee, North Carolina. It's the Depression in 1930, and the Ku Klux Klan has a meeting she and her younger brother see one night near their home. The Black community of Bumblebee deals with that fear while Stella goes about her life, going to school, struggling with writing, and coming together with love when hardship happens.
The story is pretty episodic, in a way that I haven't read in a kid's book in awhile but reminded me of the pacing of a lot of books I would read as a child. It's much more about Stella's internal growth and coming of age than it is about one plot thread holding together. And Draper doesn't shy away from showing the racism and tensions Stella and her family deal with on a regular basis, from when Stella's father registers to vote to when an act by the Klan rocks her community. And yet, it's done with nuance and a light touch: there are white people who treat the Black community with respect and compassion as well.* 3.5 stars.
*Unfortunately this is probably not enough for the folks who have been attempting to rid schools of any books that might make white kids "feel bad", and I wouldn't be surprised to start seeing it on lists of books challenged.
It's a little reminiscent of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, though I didn't like it quite as well.
154bell7
13. Normal Family: On Truth, Love, and How I Met My 35 Siblings by Chrysta Bilton
Why now? I didn't think I wanted to read this until I listened to an interview on NPR and decided to add it to my TBR list - I'm working my way through some books that I placed on hold and suspended last year, and finally started this when I was running out of time with the library book
Chrysta is the oldest daughter of Debra, a sometimes-closeted lesbian who desperately wanted children, and Jeffrey, a man Debra met and convinced to be a sperm donor who occasionally shared in his children's lives.
Though much is made in the marketing of this book of that last piece of the subtitle, "my 35 siblings," the bulk of the book is not about that at all. It's about Chrysta's growing up in a unique situation, about her relationships with her mother, her father, and her full sister Kaitlyn. Her childhood was largely difficult and dysfunctional, and Chrysta could've made either or both of her parents the villain of the story, but she tells all of their stories with compassion and understanding. This memoir is absolutely wild, and I won't say too much about it because learning it as Chrysta reveals it is the best way to take it in. What a life she had, and what a strong woman she's become by the end. 4.5 stars.
Why now? I didn't think I wanted to read this until I listened to an interview on NPR and decided to add it to my TBR list - I'm working my way through some books that I placed on hold and suspended last year, and finally started this when I was running out of time with the library book
Chrysta is the oldest daughter of Debra, a sometimes-closeted lesbian who desperately wanted children, and Jeffrey, a man Debra met and convinced to be a sperm donor who occasionally shared in his children's lives.
Though much is made in the marketing of this book of that last piece of the subtitle, "my 35 siblings," the bulk of the book is not about that at all. It's about Chrysta's growing up in a unique situation, about her relationships with her mother, her father, and her full sister Kaitlyn. Her childhood was largely difficult and dysfunctional, and Chrysta could've made either or both of her parents the villain of the story, but she tells all of their stories with compassion and understanding. This memoir is absolutely wild, and I won't say too much about it because learning it as Chrysta reveals it is the best way to take it in. What a life she had, and what a strong woman she's become by the end. 4.5 stars.
155atozgrl
>150 bell7: Thanks, Mary! Hopefully you will enjoy your remaining years of work! The library I worked at has a great genealogy collection, but I spent most of my time working with systems, so didn't get as much of a chance to learn about genealogical research as I would have liked. I'm glad you can blend the genealogy with your work; understanding the research is really helpful for working with patrons, so I'm glad they encourage you to build your skills.
156bell7
>155 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene! The genealogy/local history is one aspect of my job that I really enjoy. Working in a small public library, there's a fair amount of hats I have to wear, but fortunately I enjoy most of them.
157bell7
Wordle 598 3/6
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ARISE, MONTH, APPLE. Little bit of luck there, when I decided that no more vowels was more likely than one with a U in the middle .
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158msf59
Morning, Mary. I hope your week is off to a good start. 42F here at the moment. I am in Florida? Grins...
159bell7
>158 msf59: Hi Mark! Wow, for once it's warmer where you are than here! It's currently 20 degrees but we'll have a high of 43 today. I haven't had to pay for much plowing this year, and not complaining about that at all :D
160bell7
Hello all, and happy Tuesday! After I finish my coffee and oatmeal, I'm headed out to walk the dogs. What I do with the rest of my morning depends largely on how long that takes, but I do need to put some food together to bring to work the next couple of days. And now I'm getting to the point where I need to start *both* my book club books - The Joy Luck Club for Saturday (yeah, still haven't, on today's to-do list) and The Sweetness of Water for a week from tomorrow.
I'm working 12-8, and will be working with volunteers and trying to fit in a conflict of interest training we all have to take as municipal employees.
I'm working 12-8, and will be working with volunteers and trying to fit in a conflict of interest training we all have to take as municipal employees.
161atozgrl
>156 bell7: Having a lot of hats to wear can be a good thing! I found that when I had lots of different things to work on, the job never got boring. That should help keep you interested in your work for years to come.
164bell7
Wordle 599 4/6
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Little bit of luck, but that was a fun puzzle.ARISE, POUTY, CHAIN, FLAIL .
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Little bit of luck, but that was a fun puzzle.
165bell7
Yesterday was an interesting one at work. We had two people out sick, including my boss, and enough programs that I had to be on the desk from 2-8, with a half hour break to eat with a pager in hand (thankfully that went uninterrupted). One of my co-workers was kind enough to offer to work a split, so I wasn't the only one on the desk while there was an evening program. Needless to say, I didn't get that conflict of interest training done.
After I finish breakfast, I'm going out to feed & walk the dogs, planning on working 10-6, and coming back to make dinner and read The Joy Luck Club. I did in fact start it yesterday and read to about page 50. My goal is to have 100 pages or fewer left to read Saturday morning, which should be sufficient to finish it (or be darn close) before our 5 p.m. meeting.
After I finish breakfast, I'm going out to feed & walk the dogs, planning on working 10-6, and coming back to make dinner and read The Joy Luck Club. I did in fact start it yesterday and read to about page 50. My goal is to have 100 pages or fewer left to read Saturday morning, which should be sufficient to finish it (or be darn close) before our 5 p.m. meeting.
166Crazymamie
Morning, Mary! You have been keeping very busy. Hoping work slows down for you soon.
Good luck with your plans for today - may all of it go smoothly.
Good luck with your plans for today - may all of it go smoothly.
167bell7
>166 Crazymamie: thanks, Mamie, I hope so too. Work always gets a little nuts when my boss is out, and she's been so (either planned or sick) for about four out of the last five weeks. I'm pondering taking a day or two off in a couple weeks just to catch my breath 🙂
168bell7
Wordle 600 5/6
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So many options today!ARISE, SCALE, SHAPE, SKATE, STAGE .
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So many options today!
169bell7
Well, yesterday was a whirlwind - I did manage to get that conflict of interest training in, though! - and when I got back at 6:40, I was hungry and not in the mood to cook, so made myself a platter of cheese and crackers, defrosted shrimp, and almonds, with hot chocolate for dessert. I had enough reading time to make progress in The Joy Luck Club, watched an episode of Doctor Who, and went to bed early.
I got woken up early (5:30 a.m.) this morning by hot flashes, so that was a fun start to the day. I read The Return of Fitzroy Angursell in an attempt to go back to sleep, but instead of sleeping I'm over halfway through the e-book and have, my Kindle tells me, about 3 and a half hours of reading left ahead of me. It's been a really fun adventure fantasy story so far.
I'll be leaving shortly to walk the dogs, then work from whenever I arrive 'til 5, and when I come home I really do need to cook something for dinner, but at least it will be only around 5:30 when I get home. Pizza or soup for supper, more reading (and possibly Doctor Who-watching) planned in the evening.
The work day will start with catching up with our facilities manager about a hot water heater that was leaking earlier this week (something always happens when my boss is away, but this is fairly minor in the scheme of things), and end with several volunteers coming in.
I got woken up early (5:30 a.m.) this morning by hot flashes, so that was a fun start to the day. I read The Return of Fitzroy Angursell in an attempt to go back to sleep, but instead of sleeping I'm over halfway through the e-book and have, my Kindle tells me, about 3 and a half hours of reading left ahead of me. It's been a really fun adventure fantasy story so far.
I'll be leaving shortly to walk the dogs, then work from whenever I arrive 'til 5, and when I come home I really do need to cook something for dinner, but at least it will be only around 5:30 when I get home. Pizza or soup for supper, more reading (and possibly Doctor Who-watching) planned in the evening.
The work day will start with catching up with our facilities manager about a hot water heater that was leaking earlier this week (something always happens when my boss is away, but this is fairly minor in the scheme of things), and end with several volunteers coming in.
170Crazymamie
Morning, Mary! Hooray for getting the conflict of interest training in.
I also did a charcuterie type of thing for dinner - I do that a lot, actually.
Boo to hot flashes.
Hoping the day goes smoothly for you and that you are in the mood to cook when you get home. I think the one or two days off to catch your breath sounds like and excellent plan.
I also did a charcuterie type of thing for dinner - I do that a lot, actually.
Boo to hot flashes.
Hoping the day goes smoothly for you and that you are in the mood to cook when you get home. I think the one or two days off to catch your breath sounds like and excellent plan.
171quondame
>169 bell7: The Return of Fitzroy Angursell has such a different pace and rhythm than The Hands of the Emperor that the masterful way Victoria Goddard pulls you through the story sneaks up on you. I particularly enjoyed the reunion in the town square, though if you haven't read Stargazy Pie etc, some of the characters won't carry quite as much weight.
172bell7
>170 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! I don't always have enough items for a charcuterie type dinner, so I was pleased with what I came up with. Boo to hot flashes indeed - and when I'm stressed, I get them (and waking up early with them) more. I had enough energy for pizza last night :)
>171 quondame: I get the sense (and this is just my third book by her) that she writes exactly the sort of story she means to: the length that says all she needs to, the tone that fits. And I daresay I will continue to enjoy them all and seeing how the stories overlap and wrap altogether. I get what you're saying about not quite the same weight, though I think Goddard does a good job ofconveying the emotion of reunited friends in a way that works even though I haven't read Stargazy Pie yet.
>171 quondame: I get the sense (and this is just my third book by her) that she writes exactly the sort of story she means to: the length that says all she needs to, the tone that fits. And I daresay I will continue to enjoy them all and seeing how the stories overlap and wrap altogether. I get what you're saying about not quite the same weight, though I think Goddard does a good job of
173bell7
Wordle 601 5/6
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I picked the wrong second word.ARISE, MONTH, CHEAP, HAVEL, HEADY .
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I picked the wrong second word.
174msf59
Happy Friday, Mary. I hope you have a day off soon to unwind. It sounds like you could use it.
175bell7
Good Friday morning! I am SO ready for the weekend...
I need to finish packing up for a day completely away from home, and then I'll head out to walk the dogs. I'm late enough that I'll probably be at work at ten or a little later, but didn't sleep great and couldn't get myself up any faster so *shrug*. I have to do payroll and will field volunteers this afternoon.
After that, I've got my regular volunteer gig followed by a meeting for an event we're doing in March for the girls in my class and 5th+6th grade. So a long day, and hopeful for a more relaxed weekend, even if it's not really 'til Monday.
I need to finish packing up for a day completely away from home, and then I'll head out to walk the dogs. I'm late enough that I'll probably be at work at ten or a little later, but didn't sleep great and couldn't get myself up any faster so *shrug*. I have to do payroll and will field volunteers this afternoon.
After that, I've got my regular volunteer gig followed by a meeting for an event we're doing in March for the girls in my class and 5th+6th grade. So a long day, and hopeful for a more relaxed weekend, even if it's not really 'til Monday.
176bell7
>174 msf59: I really could, Mark. I think I'm gonna look at the schedule at work and see about asking my boss for a couple of days not far from now.
177bell7
Wordle 602 5/6
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Tough one today, but I was pleased with the word.ARISE, POUTY, MULED, UNDUE, DEBUG .
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Tough one today, but I was pleased with the word.
178bell7
Happy Saturday, y'all! It's been a busy week, but now I have a fairly chill day in front of me, and I'm very happy to say that. I thought my cousin was coming over today, but turn out I'd put it in my calendar wrong, and she's coming next Saturday.
I've walked the dogs and finished two books, and now the only thing I absolutely *have* to do is make the dish I'm bringing to my SIL's for book club tonight. I'll probably make a start on my work book club book, The Sweetness of Water, too.
I've walked the dogs and finished two books, and now the only thing I absolutely *have* to do is make the dish I'm bringing to my SIL's for book club tonight. I'll probably make a start on my work book club book, The Sweetness of Water, too.
179bell7
>171 quondame: Now that I've finished it, I realize what reunion you were talking about. I think you're right, but that's okay. I will get to Stargazy Pie soonish, I think - I had not originally planned on reading through all of Victoria Goddard's works, but that seems to be the 2023 project I have landed on. Not that I'm complaining! I'm enjoying the stories and these characters so very much.
180bell7
14. The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard
Why now? Continuing to read through a most excellent fantasy series
****spoiler warning**** for The Hands of the Emperor, I think. Unavoidable in explaining what this book is about.
Artorin Damara begins his quest to find his heir - or, well, sort of. He's looking for three mirrors that will show him the past, present, and future. Now that Cliopher is left behind officially running the government, the old taboos of not being touched or meeting his eyes no longer apply, but Artorin - who was also the notorious poet and adventurer Fitzroy Angursell before he was the Last Emperor of Astandalas - doesn't know who he is as a man any longer, either. Along the way on one quest, he may just rediscover more that is equally, if not more, important.
The Hands of the Emperor was one of my five-star, favorite reads of 2022. This one picks up very soon after that, and while it doesn't have the same tone or length, it is equally delightful. I loved learning more about Artorin/Fitzroy and meeting new-to-me characters along his travels. As a quest narrative, it was more episodic, but it has the same heart and I found myself laughing and tearing up along the way. Just excellent, and I can't wait to read more set in the Nine Worlds. 4.5 stars.
Why now? Continuing to read through a most excellent fantasy series
****spoiler warning**** for The Hands of the Emperor, I think. Unavoidable in explaining what this book is about.
Artorin Damara begins his quest to find his heir - or, well, sort of. He's looking for three mirrors that will show him the past, present, and future. Now that Cliopher is left behind officially running the government, the old taboos of not being touched or meeting his eyes no longer apply, but Artorin - who was also the notorious poet and adventurer Fitzroy Angursell before he was the Last Emperor of Astandalas - doesn't know who he is as a man any longer, either. Along the way on one quest, he may just rediscover more that is equally, if not more, important.
The Hands of the Emperor was one of my five-star, favorite reads of 2022. This one picks up very soon after that, and while it doesn't have the same tone or length, it is equally delightful. I loved learning more about Artorin/Fitzroy and meeting new-to-me characters along his travels. As a quest narrative, it was more episodic, but it has the same heart and I found myself laughing and tearing up along the way. Just excellent, and I can't wait to read more set in the Nine Worlds. 4.5 stars.
181bell7
15. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Why now? For my friends' book club tonight
When her mother, Suyuan, dies Jing-mei "June" Woo is invited to take her place in the mah jong table in the Joy Luck Club along with her friends, An-mei Hsu, Lindo Jong, and Ying-ying St. Clair. The women were from various places in China with very different backgrounds, but all met after they immigrated to San Francisco in the late 1940s. The narrative intersperses their stories with that of their American daughters, including Rose Hsu Jordan, Waverly Jong, and Lena St. Clair in addition to Jing-mei.
I had to keep reminding myself that this book was written in 1989, because it didn't read like a nearly 35-year-old book. The stories are set up as each move in a mah jong game, eventually building up to a whole that gives the reader a fuller perspective of the seven narrators' stories, and that of the newly-deceased Suyuan, despite the fact that she never speaks herself. It's intricately crafted and shows how little we can really know of another person: like these mothers and daughters, we see others through our own prisms of experience and our relationship with them, not necessarily seeing the complex whole of a human being. An excellent book club choice. 4.5 stars.
Why now? For my friends' book club tonight
When her mother, Suyuan, dies Jing-mei "June" Woo is invited to take her place in the mah jong table in the Joy Luck Club along with her friends, An-mei Hsu, Lindo Jong, and Ying-ying St. Clair. The women were from various places in China with very different backgrounds, but all met after they immigrated to San Francisco in the late 1940s. The narrative intersperses their stories with that of their American daughters, including Rose Hsu Jordan, Waverly Jong, and Lena St. Clair in addition to Jing-mei.
I had to keep reminding myself that this book was written in 1989, because it didn't read like a nearly 35-year-old book. The stories are set up as each move in a mah jong game, eventually building up to a whole that gives the reader a fuller perspective of the seven narrators' stories, and that of the newly-deceased Suyuan, despite the fact that she never speaks herself. It's intricately crafted and shows how little we can really know of another person: like these mothers and daughters, we see others through our own prisms of experience and our relationship with them, not necessarily seeing the complex whole of a human being. An excellent book club choice. 4.5 stars.
182curioussquared
Hi Mary! I'm catching up on threads after my vacation. Glad you enjoyed The Joy Luck Club -- I also loved that one when I read it!
183katiekrug
>181 bell7: - Guess I need to pull The Joy Luck Club off the shelf!
184LizzieD
Mary, you make me want to reread *JoyLuck* too. I'm sure that I didn't associate her structure with a mah jong game, but that's a perfect insight! Thank you.
185bell7
>182 curioussquared: Welcome back, Natalie! I'll make sure to check your thread over the next couple of days to see the photos :)
>183 katiekrug: Looking forward to your thoughts on it, Katie!
>184 LizzieD: I can't take full credit for that one, Peggy, as my SIL mentioned the four-part structure before I started reading, and that made me pay attention all along. The first section also gives a clue when Jing-mei ponders the difference between Jewish and Chinese mah jong, and the aunties tell her "You must watch what everybody else throws away and keep that in your head too" and that they have to build the four walls together - then at the very end of the same section, Jing-mei asks what kind of stories she should tell her half-sisters, and she declares, "And I am sitting at my mother's place at the mah jong table, on the East, where things begin." Which then is the beginning of all the stories that follow.
It made me wish for a college class to discuss it in, honestly.
>183 katiekrug: Looking forward to your thoughts on it, Katie!
>184 LizzieD: I can't take full credit for that one, Peggy, as my SIL mentioned the four-part structure before I started reading, and that made me pay attention all along. The first section also gives a clue when Jing-mei ponders the difference between Jewish and Chinese mah jong, and the aunties tell her "You must watch what everybody else throws away and keep that in your head too" and that they have to build the four walls together - then at the very end of the same section, Jing-mei asks what kind of stories she should tell her half-sisters, and she declares, "And I am sitting at my mother's place at the mah jong table, on the East, where things begin." Which then is the beginning of all the stories that follow.
It made me wish for a college class to discuss it in, honestly.
186figsfromthistle
Happy weekend!
>181 bell7: I have that one in a box somewhere....I should find it. Everyone seems to like it and your review was excellent!
>181 bell7: I have that one in a box somewhere....I should find it. Everyone seems to like it and your review was excellent!
187WhiteRaven.17
>181 bell7: Well that confirms that I should read it and maybe I'll even put it up a suggestion for one of the books my cousin and I read together.
188bell7
>186 figsfromthistle: thank you! I'll look forward to your thoughts when you get to it.
>187 WhiteRaven.17: oh that would be cool, I'd love to know what you both think of it if you do. Our book discussion last night over the food was short but everyone liked it.
>187 WhiteRaven.17: oh that would be cool, I'd love to know what you both think of it if you do. Our book discussion last night over the food was short but everyone liked it.
189bell7
Wordle 603 4/6
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ARISE, MONTH, PATIN, GIANT . I was a bit surprised my guess 3 was accepted.
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190bell7
Good Sunday morning! It feels a little bit like a Saturday to me today, but no, there's a lot going on, in fact. Walking the dogs, going to church, going to work, and then coming home for the evening. I'll have the Super Bowl on tonight, but for the first time in my life I'm more interested in seeing how I did with the squares we did at work than literally anything about the game.
Tomorrow I'm off and planning on a very quiet day at home. I do have to do a grocery shopping, make soup, and bring snack to Bible study, but the majority of my time will be binge-reading The Sweetness of Water for Wednesday's book discussion. I just got started on it last night and have both the paper and e-book going so I can make quick progress.
Tomorrow I'm off and planning on a very quiet day at home. I do have to do a grocery shopping, make soup, and bring snack to Bible study, but the majority of my time will be binge-reading The Sweetness of Water for Wednesday's book discussion. I just got started on it last night and have both the paper and e-book going so I can make quick progress.
191Crazymamie
Happy Sunday, Mary! I am glad to read that you will get a quiet day tomorrow.
Loved your review of The Joy Luck Club, and I added my thumb to it. Like Peggy, I didn't connect the structure of the book with being like the structure of a mah jong game, but it makes sense.
Loved your review of The Joy Luck Club, and I added my thumb to it. Like Peggy, I didn't connect the structure of the book with being like the structure of a mah jong game, but it makes sense.
192bell7
>191 Crazymamie: Yep, should be pretty quiet after all the nutty weeks. And my boss is back! So less stress, hopefully, this week... Thank you re: The Joy Luck Club. It kinda makes me want to learn mah jong! My SIL got a game for Christmas, I think, and is trying to learn.
194bell7
Happy Monday! I'm off today having worked yesterday. I stayed up 'til the end of the Super Bowl, kinda watching and kinda reading. The highlight was that one of my "squares" won because the score ended in the right numbers at the end of the 3rd quarter. My dad got more upset by the holding call than I expected since he doesn't really have a team in the game (and, if push came to shove, would go *against* Philly), but apparently my nephew stayed up and watched the game with them (I should not be surprised) so I'm kinda looking forward to hearing more about it.
Today's plan is to walk the dogs after I've finished my coffee, then come back here and read a chunk of my book club book. I need to make a soup and go grocery shopping, including getting a little more cheese for snack at Bible study tonight. But that's really it, and will be more relaxed than the last several days have been.
My boss was back to work yesterday and I passed on the important stuff. I've discovered that the hardest part isn't so much being in charge, it's being in charge in the interim. It affects how I make decisions, because I'm holding her place 'til she gets back, not simply deciding how I want to react or move forward. In a weird way, I almost think being director would be less stressful than assistant director, no more of this going back and forth with exactly how much authority I have. Anyway, I *am* glad she's back and I'm not straddling two jobs anymore. One of my co-workers left me a funny article to give my father and a note telling me I'd done a good job over the last several weeks. It was nice to get, since he's been in management before and knows the challenges. I think I'd be a good manager, but it's nice to get that feedback from someone I occasionally manage.
Today's plan is to walk the dogs after I've finished my coffee, then come back here and read a chunk of my book club book. I need to make a soup and go grocery shopping, including getting a little more cheese for snack at Bible study tonight. But that's really it, and will be more relaxed than the last several days have been.
My boss was back to work yesterday and I passed on the important stuff. I've discovered that the hardest part isn't so much being in charge, it's being in charge in the interim. It affects how I make decisions, because I'm holding her place 'til she gets back, not simply deciding how I want to react or move forward. In a weird way, I almost think being director would be less stressful than assistant director, no more of this going back and forth with exactly how much authority I have. Anyway, I *am* glad she's back and I'm not straddling two jobs anymore. One of my co-workers left me a funny article to give my father and a note telling me I'd done a good job over the last several weeks. It was nice to get, since he's been in management before and knows the challenges. I think I'd be a good manager, but it's nice to get that feedback from someone I occasionally manage.
195Crazymamie
Morning, Mary! I'm with your dad about that holding call. Other than that, it was a very good game.
Hoping that your day off is full of lazy. Or at least contains some lazy.
I get what you are saying about being in charge in the interim. It's hard to manage while respecting someone else's management style. I used to have to do that a lot when I worked at the hospital, and it is very tricky.
Hoping that your day off is full of lazy. Or at least contains some lazy.
I get what you are saying about being in charge in the interim. It's hard to manage while respecting someone else's management style. I used to have to do that a lot when I worked at the hospital, and it is very tricky.
196katiekrug
The holding call seemed wrong, but then the Philly player said after the game that yes, he was holding and hoped to get away with it, so....
Enjoy your day off, Mary!
Enjoy your day off, Mary!
197Crazymamie
>196 katiekrug: I had not heard that. Honesty. That's refreshing. I went to bed directly after the game, so did not watch any of the after game stuff.
198katiekrug
>197 Crazymamie: - Yeah, I was kind of surprised. I saw it on Twitter a bit after the game ended.
199bell7
>195 Crazymamie:, >196 katiekrug:, etc.
My dad stands by the holding call not being called, saying that while it's technically a hold, they hadn't been calling a lot of penalties all game and wasn't up to the threshold that had been set. The rules expert the TV had on said it was a clear hold, and so did Bradberry (a former Giant!) after the game. Neither is "my" team, and I don't have strong feelings one way or the other. It was a really good game all around, though, which is the best I could hope for as a non-fan!
My dad stands by the holding call not being called, saying that while it's technically a hold, they hadn't been calling a lot of penalties all game and wasn't up to the threshold that had been set. The rules expert the TV had on said it was a clear hold, and so did Bradberry (a former Giant!) after the game. Neither is "my" team, and I don't have strong feelings one way or the other. It was a really good game all around, though, which is the best I could hope for as a non-fan!
201bell7
Good morning, all! I did everything I needed to do yesterday, and only got a bit of lazy in if you count the period of time I was reading my book club book that we're discussing at work tomorrow. I have a little less than 120 pages left, so it will be finished on time. The soup, by the way, came out absolutely delicious, and I'm putting Dinner in One on my wishlist.
I'll be leaving shortly to walk the dogs, reading The Sweetness of Water for much of the morning, and then working 12-8 today.
I'll be leaving shortly to walk the dogs, reading The Sweetness of Water for much of the morning, and then working 12-8 today.
202msf59
Morning, Mary. I am so glad you loved The Joy Luck Club. Not sure if you are much of a movie fan, but try to see the film version. It is also well-done.
203katiekrug
>201 bell7: - What was the soup you made? I need to look into that cookbook, as I love one pan dishes. You might like the one I got for Christmas - Milk Street: The World in a Skillet. Lots of international flavors.
204bell7
>202 msf59: I am curious to watch it, Mark, particularly because the narrative of the book seems challenging to convey in film and I'm curious how it's done. Since you've reminded me, I've now put it on hold at the library. Maybe I'll get a chance to watch it this weekend?
205bell7
>203 katiekrug: Lemony Turkey and White Bean Soup with Winter Greens. I'll try to post it later today if I have time - but I had a bunch of kale (there are other "greens" options for those of you that despise kale), some turkey stock that my SIL had made after Thanksgiving that I took out of the freezer, I used a bunch of dill and a small amount of parsley and basil as the fresh herbs. So delicious!
207bell7
Happy hump day! I'm working 12-8 today because I have book group tonight, and need to remember that I'm *not* going in for ten after walking the dogs. Instead, I have a little bit of the morning to myself, though I do want to do a little cooking. I'm planning on making salmon and roasting veggies, since it's the least time-intensive meal I have planned this week. I can make a slightly more involved soup tomorrow after work.
Yesterday was a productive work day, though I'm not sure I can actually remember what I did anymore. I picked up my Super Bowl squares winnings and confirmed with the town administrator that my intern was all set to go. And I had enough projects for volunteers (thanks to co-workers) that I didn't have to run around finding things for them to do. I finished my book club book last night and started I'm Glad My Mom Died.
Yesterday was a productive work day, though I'm not sure I can actually remember what I did anymore. I picked up my Super Bowl squares winnings and confirmed with the town administrator that my intern was all set to go. And I had enough projects for volunteers (thanks to co-workers) that I didn't have to run around finding things for them to do. I finished my book club book last night and started I'm Glad My Mom Died.
208victoriaramirez4
Cet utilisateur a été supprimé en tant que polluposteur.
209bell7
Here's the recipe for Lemony Turkey and White Bean Soup with Winter Greens:
3 T. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
1 large onion, diced
1 large carrot, diced
1 bunch sturdy greens, such as kale, broccoli rabe, mustard greens, or collards
1 T. tomato paste
3/4 t. ground cumin, plus more to taste
1/4 t. crushed red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
1/2 lb. ground turkey
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 T. finely grated fresh ginger
1 t. kosher salt, plus more to taste
2 (15.5-ounce cans) white beans, drained and rinsed
4 to 6 cups chicken stock, homemade or store-bought
1 c. chopped soft fresh herbs, such as parsley, mint, dill, basil, tarragon, chives, or a combination
Fresh lemon juice, to taste
1. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat for a minute or so to warm it up, then add the oil and heat until it thins out, about 30 seconds. Add the onion and carrot and saute until very soft and brown at the edges, 7 to 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, rinse the greens and pull the leaves off the stems. Tear or chop the leaves into bite-size pieces and set aside.
3. When the onion is golden, add the tomato paste, cumin, and red pepper flakes to the pot and saute until the paste darkens, about 1 minute. Add the turkey, garlic, ginger, and salt, and saute, breaking up the meat with your spoon, until the turkey in browned in spots, 4 to 7 minutes.
4. Add the beans and enough stock to cover everything and bring to a simmer. Simmer until the soup is think and flavorful, adding more salt, if needed, 15 to 25 minutes. If you like a thicker broth, you can smash up some of the beans with the back of the spoon to release their starch. Or leave the beans whole for a brothier soup.
5. Add the greens to the pot and simmer until they are very soft. This will take 5-19 minutes for most greens, but tough collard greens might take 15 minutes (add a little water if the broth gets too reduced).
6. Stir the herbs and lemon juice into the pot, taste, and add more salt, cumin, and lemon juice until the broth is lively and bright tasting. Serve topped with a drizzle of oil and more red pepper flakes, if desired.
There are notes on swapping out ground pork or chicken for the turkey, adding more veggies, or even making a vegan option in the book, Dinner in One by Melissa Clark.
My own notes: Don't be intimidated by the large list of ingredients and directions, it goes faster than it looks. I had a pretty big bunch of kale, so that was the "greens" I used, I added a carrot, and I forgot that it was a 1/2 lb. turkey and put the whole package in. The herbs were primarily dill, with a little parsley and basil added, and I put more than a cup. I also had more like a teaspoon of cumin, because I love it, and probably a little less of the red pepper flakes. I had turkey stock my SIL had made from scratch at Thanksgiving and mushed some beans, which made the broth so thick that it all got soaked up in the leftovers in the fridge, so I've been adding water when I reheat it in the microwave and it doesn't lose its flavor at all. I also have closer to six servings (the book says four). De-licious.
3 T. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
1 large onion, diced
1 large carrot, diced
1 bunch sturdy greens, such as kale, broccoli rabe, mustard greens, or collards
1 T. tomato paste
3/4 t. ground cumin, plus more to taste
1/4 t. crushed red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
1/2 lb. ground turkey
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 T. finely grated fresh ginger
1 t. kosher salt, plus more to taste
2 (15.5-ounce cans) white beans, drained and rinsed
4 to 6 cups chicken stock, homemade or store-bought
1 c. chopped soft fresh herbs, such as parsley, mint, dill, basil, tarragon, chives, or a combination
Fresh lemon juice, to taste
1. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat for a minute or so to warm it up, then add the oil and heat until it thins out, about 30 seconds. Add the onion and carrot and saute until very soft and brown at the edges, 7 to 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, rinse the greens and pull the leaves off the stems. Tear or chop the leaves into bite-size pieces and set aside.
3. When the onion is golden, add the tomato paste, cumin, and red pepper flakes to the pot and saute until the paste darkens, about 1 minute. Add the turkey, garlic, ginger, and salt, and saute, breaking up the meat with your spoon, until the turkey in browned in spots, 4 to 7 minutes.
4. Add the beans and enough stock to cover everything and bring to a simmer. Simmer until the soup is think and flavorful, adding more salt, if needed, 15 to 25 minutes. If you like a thicker broth, you can smash up some of the beans with the back of the spoon to release their starch. Or leave the beans whole for a brothier soup.
5. Add the greens to the pot and simmer until they are very soft. This will take 5-19 minutes for most greens, but tough collard greens might take 15 minutes (add a little water if the broth gets too reduced).
6. Stir the herbs and lemon juice into the pot, taste, and add more salt, cumin, and lemon juice until the broth is lively and bright tasting. Serve topped with a drizzle of oil and more red pepper flakes, if desired.
There are notes on swapping out ground pork or chicken for the turkey, adding more veggies, or even making a vegan option in the book, Dinner in One by Melissa Clark.
My own notes: Don't be intimidated by the large list of ingredients and directions, it goes faster than it looks. I had a pretty big bunch of kale, so that was the "greens" I used, I added a carrot, and I forgot that it was a 1/2 lb. turkey and put the whole package in. The herbs were primarily dill, with a little parsley and basil added, and I put more than a cup. I also had more like a teaspoon of cumin, because I love it, and probably a little less of the red pepper flakes. I had turkey stock my SIL had made from scratch at Thanksgiving and mushed some beans, which made the broth so thick that it all got soaked up in the leftovers in the fridge, so I've been adding water when I reheat it in the microwave and it doesn't lose its flavor at all. I also have closer to six servings (the book says four). De-licious.
210curioussquared
>209 bell7: Ooh, that looks like my kind of soup. I might need to try that one!
211bell7
>210 curioussquared: Oh good, let me know how it goes if you do!
212bell7
16. The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
Why now? Book club book! I finished it just in time last night for discussion tonight
It's nearly the end of the Civil War and in Old Ox, Georgia, brothers Prentiss and Landry are emancipated but haven't gone far from where they were enslaved. George and Isabelle, a white couple that live nearby, give the men a job and mourn the loss of their son, Caleb. The choices of all four, their kin and family, will have far-reaching repercussions for them all.
This is a debut novel by a young man who was under 30 when it was published to great acclaim in 2021. He shows a lot of promise: the protagonists are complex, and the stakes of their choices high, much of the novel is deliberately paced, but as a reader you're generally carried along wanting to know what will happen, a tension behind the story that doesn't have to be spelled out. The writing style was slightly over-the-top with similes, but occasionally has real moments of clarity and loveliness of description. I look forward to seeing what he can do in the future. 3.5 stars.
Why now? Book club book! I finished it just in time last night for discussion tonight
It's nearly the end of the Civil War and in Old Ox, Georgia, brothers Prentiss and Landry are emancipated but haven't gone far from where they were enslaved. George and Isabelle, a white couple that live nearby, give the men a job and mourn the loss of their son, Caleb. The choices of all four, their kin and family, will have far-reaching repercussions for them all.
This is a debut novel by a young man who was under 30 when it was published to great acclaim in 2021. He shows a lot of promise: the protagonists are complex, and the stakes of their choices high, much of the novel is deliberately paced, but as a reader you're generally carried along wanting to know what will happen, a tension behind the story that doesn't have to be spelled out. The writing style was slightly over-the-top with similes, but occasionally has real moments of clarity and loveliness of description. I look forward to seeing what he can do in the future. 3.5 stars.
214bell7
We had an excellent discussion last night: I had mixed feelings about the book, but everyone else really loved it, and in discussing it I had a greater appreciation for the author's skill. One patron mentioned the importance of water throughout the book, and as she went through example after example, I realized how thoroughly it was tied into the story in a way that I hadn't even noticed as I was reading. We talked about the characters' growth and their solitude. Several said they'd love to read a sequel and find out what happened next.
Today I'm heading out soon to walk the dogs, followed by work 'til 5, and I'm stopping on the way back home to my own library to pick up some tax forms since we're almost out. I've tried to reorder through the program a couple of times, but it's being a pain and my orders won't go through. Hopefully I can get that sorted out and have enough for the rest of tax season. I'll come home and make dinner, I'm thinking Instant Pot Pad Thai (which... isn't exactly Pad Thai, but it's still tasty).
I'm reading/listening to I'm Glad My Mom Died and though it's pretty sad, it's a compelling story with short chapters and I'll probably finish it tonight. I technically started it Tuesday but read a little over half yesterday, and the evening at home will be enough to polish it off.
Today I'm heading out soon to walk the dogs, followed by work 'til 5, and I'm stopping on the way back home to my own library to pick up some tax forms since we're almost out. I've tried to reorder through the program a couple of times, but it's being a pain and my orders won't go through. Hopefully I can get that sorted out and have enough for the rest of tax season. I'll come home and make dinner, I'm thinking Instant Pot Pad Thai (which... isn't exactly Pad Thai, but it's still tasty).
I'm reading/listening to I'm Glad My Mom Died and though it's pretty sad, it's a compelling story with short chapters and I'll probably finish it tonight. I technically started it Tuesday but read a little over half yesterday, and the evening at home will be enough to polish it off.
Ce sujet est poursuivi sur Mary (bell7) Reads in 2023 - Thread 3.