Mdoris (Mary) reads in 2017 #2

Welcome!
This is a quote from Margaret Atwood I saw on Book Riot this morning.

Common seagulls coming to feed on the scrapings of the path getting prepared for summer swimming. Hopeful us.
Can you spot the 2 seagulls.? They oftern swallow a starfish whole, which is a spectacle, kind of an awful spectacle (especially if you are a starfish) and I won't take a picture of that!

Presently reading a few wonderful books but one that needs immediate sharing is by the brilliant, clever and funny Roz Chast Theories of Everything



I have it from the library but might have to purchase this one.

Happy New Thread, Mary! Wonderful picture! I see seagulls all the time - but ugh- I've never seen one swallow a starfish whole! Yesterday while out on my walk with the dog, we saw a Trumpeter Swan eating moss and all sort of gucky stuff from a log that he was sitting on.

Happy NT, Mary! Just marking my spot ...

Happy new thread, Mary!

Happy Friday, Mary! Happy New Thread! Like the Atwood quote.

Happy new thread, Mary!
We have many seagulls here, when a group of cormorants is diving for fish in the lake, the seagulls go after them to steal fish.

Hello to my visitors and well wishers: Deborah, Nancy, Amber, Mark and Anita.
It is a gorgeous coastal day here today.
No time for reading as I should be out sweeping and cleaning windows BUT........ I'm going to anyway! Just started The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen and I can see it will be good. Have you read the Pulitzer prize winner, The Sympathizer?
I think the reading will go well with the oatmeal/coconut cookies that just came out of the oven, don't you?

>8 FAMeulstee: Anita, I have seen the eagles do that with the otters (stealing fish) and any other creature that they can bully!

I tried to copy in a Roz Chast cartoon from Theories of Everything but it didn't work, the print is just too small but oh boy does she "get" families perfectly. She's great!

Look delicious, Mary! I'll have a cookie!

Yum, I'll have one too! And a nice hot cup of tea, please.

Happy new thread!

Checking in on the new thread, Mary!

Wishing you a very happy new thread, Mary.

Love the cookies! Our oven is broken and I haven't done baking for ages. I guess we should remedy that.
Happy new thread, and I hope you enjoyed your biscuits!

Happy new thread, Mary. I could use one of them cookies :) would go nice with my Assam tea.

Oh I guess I should have you all over for tea and cookies more often! My most recent tea that I love is "market spice". i have carrot/coconut loaves in the oven so come on over! I bought a 10lbs. bag of carrots, what was I thinking?

I am reading about Bees by Candace Savage who is written lots of books and won some Canadian prizes for them. I read her Geography of Blood: Unearthing Memory from a Prairie Landscape and it was good!



Thanks for the visits and good wishes Jim, Stasia, Paul, Megan and Carsten. The kettle's on!

Bees Nature's Little Wonders by Candace Savage.



My SIL has a big orchard full of many old apple and pear trees recently inherited from an aunt (in our new community) so it is a new and BIG project for her and of course bees feature prominently to make it all work. I wanted to know more about them and this book did not disappoint. They are ingenious little creatures.

I think there has been talk recently on LT about her bird books!

Hi Mary! Happy New Thread! I love the quote in your topper - and the flowers look so springy.

I love the blue flowers. I'll be interested to hear what you added to your garden!

My book club will be reading The Sympathizer later this month.

I have The Sympathizer in a TBR pile, but other books are vying for my attention, Mary. 10 lbs of carrots! Mary, you might turn orange! Do you remember that when your kids were babies? I recall my eldest taking on an orangish hue , that my doctor told was due to his love of baby food carrots and orange squash.

Maybe you'll become a bee keeper? I have friend who moved to Saturna Island and took a bee keeping course. I'd be scared to death! She and her husband still keep a small condo here in Richmond as they have 3 children and six grandchildren in Richmond / Vancouver, but oh what a retirement they are living.

Oh Deborah, you make me laugh! Orange me....maybe, I will have to pay close attention.

So at our place we have large shrub/trees of ceanothus (California lilac-gorgeous blue) and it blooms May/june and the bees go absolutely crazy (loud, loud buzzing- so many of them) but they are not honey bees. So really I must read more about bees as the book I read was really specific to honey bees and they amaze no end. I will not become a bee person, barely keeping my head above water here just feeding the hummingbirds. There are birds nesting all over the place and it's hard not to disturb the mommas.

I look forward to your review of The Sympathizer when you get to it!


Not my photo!

The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen

8 short stories of the immigrant experience beautifully told.

The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter


I have had more fun with doing some snooping and reading about Potter. First I read about her in the The Shepherd's Life: Modern Dispatches from an Ancient Landscape (a wonderful book!!) and thought I really should go back and read her stories again. When we moved last June after being in the same spot for 36 years, I re-homed lots of books but I could not part with the kids books so realized that I had 11 of her 23 little kids editions so re-read those with great enthusiasm. After a library search I realized there were biographies about her life, her art and her gardening and philanthropy so realized I had to read those too. Today just finished a collection of her books that are presented sequentially, with the most stunning drawings and with information about each book published. This is such a lovely book that I have to have it and ordered it to be delivered soon. There is such magic in Potter's stories that I am half hoping that when it is delivered it will be by rabbits, mice, squirrels or hedgehogs! Potter sure puts in a solid argument of rural life vs. town life. Happy 150th birthday Beatrix!

March book two


The format as a graphic novel is a perfect medium for telling this moving, intense and I must say very hard story.

Happy Friday, Mary. I loved The Sympathizer and I am looking forward to reading The Refugees. I just have to track down a copy.

Hooray for March: Book 2!

When it is delivered it will be by rabbits, mice, squirrels or hedgehogs!. Why not :) You can almost believe the magic when you watch her drawings. I have a small collection of her work and I love the paintings. Now I want to watch Miss Potter again.

I am following in your footsteps Mary with the March books.

Have a great weekend.

By the way I calculated that you had read 37 books so far this year, is that correct?

I love this, Mary! Who doesn't need some magic? There is such magic in Potter's stories that I am half hoping that when it is delivered it will be by rabbits, mice, squirrels or hedgehogs!

>31 lit_chick: Yes Nancy, for sure we all need some magic, some BIG magic! Thank you for your visit.

>30 PaulCranswick:, Paul, the March books are for sure an eye opener, not that we don't know about the content and are greatly appalled by the history but the books bring things up close and personal. Such courage!

Not sure about the book count, not really keeping track as there are those in the group who amaze me no end and I am such a slow reader (a mere baby!!) and just plodding along but how I love books! Hope all's well with you and family. I know you have traveled lots and will make some BIG changes soon and am thinking of you with fingers greatly crossed!

Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout



This is a collection of 9 short stories. They are not connected except loosely by some of the characters being related or being from the same community and most circle around providing more information about Lucy Barton to fill in a few more gaps about her (Strout's previous book). There is a tone of hardship (poverty), human disappointment in relationships (parents, siblings, children), struggles with sexual identity and misconduct, loneliness, but characters soldier on. The writing is amazing and you get hooked into the telling about these lives easily but they are portrayed as pretty unhappy, struggling ones.

I'm looking forward to Anything is Possible. I found Lucy Barton quite boring, but I loved Olive Kitteridge so I'm hoping this book will be the one about Lucy I really like.

I think you will love the finale of March: Book Three. I had them all out together from the library, and read them all together. I love how the Obama inaugaration frames the history part of the story. Such a powerful book!

Great review of Anything is Possible, Mary. This is the second glowing review I've seen of this one, so I will follow up. I didn't really care for My Name is Lucy Barton, but this one does sound like my cuppa.

You've been doing some fabulous reading, Mary . A lovely review of Anything is Possible. I'm still on the fence about whether I will get a chance to read it this time round, as it is soon due at the library. Sometimes it takes me more than one try to catch onto a book.

>35 raidergirl3: Hi Elizabeth, thanks for the visit. Glad that you greatly appreciated the March books. I have the 3rd one waiting for me at the library. They tell such a story of courage.

Happy new thread Mary and oooooohhhh..... oatmeal coconut cookies!

>39 lkernagh: Thanks for the visit Lori, help yourself to a cookie, I'll put on the kettle!

Red Notice: a True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice by Bill Browder.



This is a fascinating book about the accomplishiment of a small measure of justice for a murder of a lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky in Russia who was hired by Browder an American by birth but now a U.K citizen. Browder was a huge hedge fund coordinator in Russia who made great piles of money for his investors (and himself) but who got tangled in a web of theft (230 million) by the powers that be in Russia, that is Putin and his cronnies. This example of theft was one of many. It gives a window into the massive theft and corruption of the top poltical guns in Russia leaving the working poor citizens to be even poorer. There was graft, torture and murder done to carry this out. There is also a window into the deal making done in the U.S. to protect political powers, the in-fighting and the deal making that goes on. Lots of insight to be gained by reading this book! This book reads like a thriller but it's based on true events.

Wow! Sounds fascinating, to say the very least, Mary! Excellent review and synopsis.

Thank you Nancy. Now I'm planning my next read. It might be Bird Brains by Candace Savage.

We are dog sitting the cutest little guy "Eddie" today while his folks are at a play. He is cuddled up right beside me and he is little furnace. They rescued him from Mexico many years a go and he has had a good life.

>34 mdoris: Hooray for Anything is Possible! I have heard nothing but love for this collection. AND, I have my library copy at hand.

Hey, thanks for the beer chess idea, Mary. I think you have sparked new interest in playing that game. Grins...

And hooray for Bird Brains! Sounds like another birdy winner.

Oh another interview piece with Elizabeth Strout.

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/05/elizabeth-strout-when-...

>41 mdoris: this cover reminds me of a Russian novel that I have somewhere to read. My dad gave it to me 6 moths ago, and i really need a gripping fiction novel at the moment. Too much theoretical academic stuff for me lately.

>47 LovingLit:, I wonder if it is the one. It sure reads like fiction but it isn't!

>41 mdoris: Thanks, Mary, added to mount TBR. I saw the Dutch translation is available at the e-library.

>43 mdoris: Eddie is cute :-)

>34 mdoris: I am not entirely convinced by Elizabeth Strout, Mary and I am certainly not ready for more meanderings about Mary Barton yet.

Have a great weekend.

>43 mdoris: Oh my, Eddie is adorable. Our dog is literally on his last legs. He hasn't been able to walk with us for the past week and he is not happy about it. He seems to be getting better but, at his age of approximately 14-rescue dog-, our long walks may be over.

I am on a longish waiting list for the Strout book. It sounds like the wait will have its rewards. I got The Sympathizer at last month's book sale. I think I'll put it on top of the TBR pile so I can read The Refugees. I know order doesn't matter but I still want to read my copy first.

>50 PaulCranswick: Paul, there is lots being written about Strout , lots of interviews etc and she seems to be a "hot commodity" but I do know what you mean about not being entirely convinced. We could probably have a good conversation about that!

>51 Donna828: Oh Donna, I am very sorry to hear about your wonderful dog who has given you 14 loving years no doubt in gratitude for your rescuing him He is a lucky boy! . Our Maggie is about to turn 12 which for a standard poodle is getting up there and she is sleeping her days away now but still enthused about her walks. She is our 4th standard and we have a dogs for over 31 years. Can't imagine life without one.

>49 FAMeulstee: Thanks for the viist Anita. I bet you have a tall TBR!

How wonderful for Eddie to be rescued from Mexico! He is a doll, and your view is outstanding!

>55 lit_chick:, Nancy, that is Eddie's view not mine!. He is such a tiny little guy but feisty. I think I have mentioned on a previous thread that Eddie is not a swimmer but one day came home soaking wet and his folks figured that he had been an attempted snatch by an eagle. We have many many eagles around. The bird life here is incredible.

I am seeing lots of love for Murakami on the threads recently. Just saw this link of his books and they are on sale. Are there any recommendations of one I should start with? I have never read any of his books.
(So proud of myself, did a link to a website for the first time and I sure had to try it many times to get it right!)

here

This is painted by my pal from uni days. Isn't it gorgeous!



Best Summer Drive

I have two Strout books—Olive Kittridge and My Name Is Lucy Barton—and I guess I should shuffle them closer to the top of the TBR Tower. Even if Paul C. is withholding final judgment on Elizabeth Strout. Thanks for the link to the Atlantic piece.

>59 weird_O: Hi Bill, great to see you visit. There is also an interesting article about ELiz. Strout in the May 1st NYer. She's on lots of people's radar right now!
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/05/01/elizabeth-strouts-long-homecoming

>60 mdoris: Well, thanks again, Mary.

Hi Mary - is it too late to wish happy new thread?

I love the Atwood topper. I would have that on my wall like a shot. I thought The Refugees was a great read, and I am hoping the new Elizabeth Strout comes to me quickly via the library (but not too quickly, because I have a lot of books out to read already!).

>58 mdoris: Your friend is very talented. Do you own any of her work?

I enjoyed the interview with Elizabeth Strout, thanks Mary! And yes, you are correct, I loved Kit's Law by Donna Morrisey and I'm planning to read more by her. I know The Fortunate Brother is her latest, but apparently though you can read it alone, it is the last in a trilogy that starts with Sylvanus Now and I am so " crazy' that I hope to read them in order. Eddie is just a darling!

I also enjoyed the interview with Elizabeth Strout. I haven't read any of her books, although I do have a copy of The Burgess Boys on Planet TBR.

>62 charl08: Yes, Charlotte, I have 3 pieces of her work and I love them. She mostly does portraits and gorgeous flowers. She is an extremetly positive (intentional) person, works hard at it and so whatever she paints seems to greatly suggest joy. She has recently been painting cloud pictures. I will send you a link on your personal page for her website to have a peek .

>63 vancouverdeb:, >64 streamsong: Deborah and Janet, glad you like the Strout links. She is an interesting author for me as I find her very compelling and insightful but a struggle for me too as her books go to the "dark side" quickly. But, I would read another of her books in a heart beat as soon as they were published! Funny how that works......

Angel Catbird volume 1 by Margaret Atwood.
This is a graphic novel by Ms. Atwood, quite intriguing and with a punch of an environmental message as there are so many bird deaths caused by cats and so many cat deaths caused by their outdoor independence (mostly car accidents and predators). There are 2 more volumes in the making. This was an intriguing collaboration with artist Johnnie Christmas and Tamra Bonnvillain a comics colorist. There are some sketches included and also some information about the coloring process that I found interesting. It was imaginative!

March book 3 by John Lewis.
This is the third and final graphic novel in the John Lewis's telling of the horrendous story of the Civil Rights movement that took place in the 60's, a movement so powerful and included so many people willing to take great risks. There was such intimidation, death and violence involved to bring about "one man, one vote" for all.

I found this in my garden today and have no idea what it is and how it got there but I telling it to stick around, because I think it's gorgeous!

Read another Candace Savage book Bird Brains. It is a book about the crow family with stunning pictures and enlightening information (how clever they are) and great writing and research. She embarrases her family by mimicing crow/raven calls. She is my kind of girl!

Snow in Denver today where our 2 daughters live. YIKES!

>65 mdoris: Thanks for sharing the link - I had a quick look and they look lovely.

>69 mdoris: Great accident. I have a few that have happened this way!

Happy Friday, Mary! I am starting Anything Possible today. Yah!

Hooray for March, Angel Catbird & Bird Brains! Boo to snow in Colorado!

>69 mdoris: Yes, so pretty, tell it to stick around for sure, Mary!

Planted some canna lily bulbs a couple weeks ago and have been waiting to see a sign of them. First one poked it's head out yesterday ... just by a little bit, just to have a look around. But I'm telling it there's nothing to fear, that Okanagan sunshine (if it ever arrives!) is beyond fabulous.

>74 lit_chick:, Nancy, you made me feel better. You talk to your plants too! Yes we have to assure our plant friends that sunshine will happen, It will happen, don't you think? I am waiting patiently.........(or not).

Come for tea!
Just out of the oven blueberry squares. Blueberries are a "superfood" , so they must be healthy....right?

I'm coming - healthy blueberry cake and a cup of tea. I'm all in :)

>58 mdoris: - Oh, that is lovely!

>69 mdoris: - Very pretty flowers... and like you, I have no idea what kind of flowers they are.

>71 mdoris: - Wow. I remember snow being a common occurrence for the May long weekend when I lived in Alberta (and as a typical university student, camped in that white stuff, because, you know, it is what one does when a long weekend come along). Ironically enough, Alberta did not get snow this long weekend. Looks like Colorado got it instead.

>78 lkernagh: Nice to see you Lori. Hope you are enjoying this lovely weather. Did you get the wind last night? Thought it was going to blow me away! Surprisingly no power out though on our little island. Daughter #4 is going to be married in your wonderful city mid June so we are hoping for spectacular weather!

This is a message for the "birdy" people who might drift by for a visit on this thread!
So we are on a small island off the coast of British Columbia. There was a new trail opened last weekend for residents and an Ornithologist visited to observe the bird life on the opening with a group of islanders and "do a count". Here is what followed! 43 species, 1 1/2 hr. walk, distance 1.5 miles. numbers seen following the name......

Canada Goose 10, Mallard 2, Turkey Vulture 7, Bald Eagle 4, Killdeer 1, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Eurasian Collared-Dove 1, Barred Owl 2, Rufous Hummingbird 5, Red-breasted Sapsucker 3, Hairy Woodpecker 2, Olive-sided Flycatcher 3 , Pacific-slope Flycatcher 5, Hutton's Vireo 1, Warbling Vireo 3, Northwestern Crow 1, Common Raven 1, Tree Swallow 1,
Violetgreen Swallow 15,, Barn Swallow 12, Cliff Swallow 3, Chestnut-backed Chickadee 5, Red-breasted Nuthatch 5,
Brown Creeper 2, House Wren 2, Swainson's Thrush 2, American Robin 15, European Starling 1,
Orange-crowned Warbler 3, Common Yellowthroat 1, Yellow Warbler 2, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2,
Townsend's Warbler 2, Wilson's Warbler 2, Dark-eyed Junco 10, White-crowned Sparrow 5, Savannah Sparrow 1,
Song Sparrow 10, Spotted Towhee 10, Western Tanager 2, Red-winged Blackbird 8, Red Crossbill 8, Pine Siskin 2

>80 mdoris: I wouldn't truly consider myself a "birdie" person - certainly in the feathered sense anyhow, but I would certainly miss them were they not to be found in our skies and our trees and our hedgerows.

>79 mdoris: - Yup, we had the wind. Luckily, it didn't do much damage in our area but I am happy that the wind is now down to a gentle breeze.... just wondering if there will be enough wind on the water this weekend for the Swiftsure race.

I will keep my fingers crossed for lovely weather for your daughter's wedding!

I am not much of a bird watcher but I do love that hobbies like bird watching get people out enjoying the great outdoors.

That is quite an impressive bird count, Mary. And your blueberry squares look delicious…and healthy! Our dog is feeling better and able to walk around the block without limping. If he keeps improving, we will gradually take him on longer walks. We're all quite happy with his progress.

Looks like nature is alive and well on the new trail. The only ones that look familiar are the goose and the swallows.

The Blackhouse by Peter May



Good read, a mystery with lots of atmospheric tension and great descriptions of some historic bird culling (gannet chicks) in Scotland near the Isle of Lewis. Looked up the "image" pictures on Google and it is quite interesting!

Saw these on somebody's thread - now on the wishlist!

Where do I sign up for that group? :-)

Hi Charlotte, Come on over! I'll get out another chaise and make some nice icey drinks! Oh boy my reading which is already slow, slow....slows down even further in the summer.

>80 mdoris: WOW! That is a great bird outing, Mary. Nice. I hope you plan on making plenty of return visits.

Hope your week is off to a good start, my friend.

Dinner Chez Moi: 50 French Secrets to Joyful Eating and Entertaining

by Elizabeth Bard

I am a bit of a cookbook/info about food-a-holic and do not usually list on LT the many books that I get from the library. I just like to see trends and opinions but I want to list this one! . This is a book written by a young Amercian woman who married a French man and now lives in Provence (the lucky duck!). She gives 50 suggestions from her exposure to french cooking and philosophy for advice to compare to Amercian systems of doing things. It is a bit like the child rearing book (same situation) that I read years ago and also loved.....Bringing up Bebe. Bard has written 2 other books that I promptly put on reserve at the library. I thought this book was wonderful and bought anchovies today at her suggestion!

Dinner Chez Moi isn't available in my library system. :( Her other two books are available, though, so I'll be interested to see what you think!

>58 mdoris: lovely painting by your friend! And the blueberry slice(?) looks great too.

Dinner Chez Moi sounds wonderful, Mary! I'm glad you listed it.

a pileated woodpecker sighting today....

Nice!

>91 mdoris: - Oooohhhh.... that one totally goes on my "To Read" list! As you mention that you don't usually list you "foodie" reading, I was wondering if you have read any of the Mireille Guiliano books? I rather enjoyed her books French Women Don't Get Fat and French Women For All Seasons. I love the idea of eating only foods that are in season which is a bit of a struggle since the growing season of most grocery store produce is being forced through commercial growing seasons or travels great distances. I love the idea of savoring rich flavors (like high end chocolates)!

>95 mdoris: - Love the woodpecker sighting and glad to see it is happily in a tree. We have had a bit of a woodpecker problem in our area... the darn things like to peck holes in the cedar siding! Little buggers. ;-) Makes me wish for aluminum siding.

I am smitten with this hygge "business". How great it is to be in the present to be surrounded with friends, good food, coziness and comfort. I can see that the Danish way of viewing the world has some great advantages contributing to great happiness. This is written by one of the Happiness Institute rsearchers.

I feel like I have fallen off the spin of the world. There has been a family wedding and people coming from far and wide, yes Melbourne Australia, others from Iceland and others still from all over the U.S. and Canada. Yikes. It may take me a few days to get back to normal.

>97 lkernagh: THE SECRET SHAME OF PARIS......Lori this cartoon is for you.......Can you read the caption? It says the "Predawn roundup of Fat Frenchwomen". Yes I have read the book you suggest and got a great laugh from the New Yorker cartoon that followed.

The wedding was in your marvelous/gorgeous city. We went to the gardens of the HCP Horticulture Centre of the Pacific and they were stunning.

>95 mdoris: How delightful!

Thanks for the visit Linda. Have you caught the bird wonder? There is so much wonderful bird talk now on LT.

I hope the wedding went well. Will there be pictures? Pretty please!

Goodness, sounds like quite a wedding, Mary! Would love to see pictures, too!

Thanks Donna and Nancy. Here goes.


wedding rehearsal day, our 'girls"


proud dad and bride Claire in lace


fun with grandies both 4 (different daughters) in the photo booth at the wedding reception.

>103 lit_chick: Nancy will I hear you singing the Hallelujah song from here in a few days? Have a wonderful and long and well deserved summer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRP8d7hhpoQ

Beautiful photos, Mary! Thanks for posting : ).

Well, I can't sing, LOL, but you'll hear me shouting in a few days!

>99 mdoris: - That is a great cartoon! So glad you were able to see the gardens. They are lovely!

>104 mdoris: - What fabulous pictures! Thank you so much for sharing them here, Mary.

Traveling on ferries today and the best thing to read is a cookbook.
Aquavit: The New Scandinavian Cuisine (2003) is a cookbook written by Marcus Samuelsson. I found this book very interesting as Samuelsson was born in Ethiopia, adopted by a Swedish family when he was three, was very close with his Gramma and started helping her cook at a very young age. At 16 he received formal culinary training and then spent time in France at a 3 star restaurant being trained in all the various stations. The recipes in this book reflect a strong Swedish influence with seafood, berries etc. but with a strong international influence as Samuelsson has now lived in New York for some time with lots of exposure to ethnic foods. Aquavit is a restaurant in New York city and Samuelsson has been head chef there since he was 24 years of age. Can I please go? He has written or been a contributor to many books. I will search out more.

I did get his more current cookbook out of the library The Red Rooster cookbook: the Story of Food and Hustle in Harlem (2016) several months ago and I could not understand it at all. Grits and southern.

There was interesting spread about salmon written by Samuelsson in the current June/July 2017 Fine Cooking mag.

Another food book read Picnic in Provence. I must be hungry!
So this is a memoir by Elizabeth Bard who is married to a Frenchman and they escape Paris and high powered jobs to live in a small village in Provence where they start an ice cream business and ice cream parlour. It is more though as she shares her struggles and identity as a new parent and as a person adapting to a new country and her independence from her first family. She shares recipes at the end of each chapter.

After my fabulous reading of Beatrix Potter in early spring,(her gardening life, her art life and then her writing life.... amazing children's books, all 28 of them), I went on the hunt for bunnies and here's what I found in our local plant nursery store. So on the right was Peter with one ear missing and stored in the back shed and upon inquiries was sold to me and P (who I live with and who has assortments of glue), managed to glue the errant ear on. I then felt that he was looking for company so back to the nursery I went as I had glimpsed "Flopsy" one one visit and upon making inquiries was told that he had been sold. Imagine! So being undaunted I returned and was told that Flopsy had in fact been located and not previously sold afterall, so now Peter has company.

Yes, this is an outdoor shower surrounded by clematis and roses so I think it is a suitable home for Peter and Flopsy bunnies.

Great that you found Flopsy, Mary. They look great together. Funny what books can inspire and lead to :)

Perfect spot for Peter and Flopsy, Mary! I'm with Carsten: they look great together.

Love that green spot! Looks like the perfect place for a refreshing shower. The rabbits are fun. Next up cotton tail?

What a perfect spot for your garden rabbits to habitat!

>115 mdoris: LOL! Most dogs we had were well educated in more of these ;-)

>116 FAMeulstee: Thanks for the visit Anita. I am reading the Dog poetry book people are talking about. Hope you are having a wonderful summer.

>115 mdoris: hehehe, that is priceless, Mary!

Thanks Nancy. I think the initials of the cartoon artist should have been ARF instead of simply RF.

>95 mdoris: I can't believe I missed the pileated sighting! Good for you. Such a great bird.

>104 mdoris: Lovely wedding photos. Beautiful family.

Hope the week is going well, Mary.

Love these quotes from a newsletter from 32 Books, a wonderful bookstore in North Vancouver, B.C. AND they are quotes from Nora Ephron. What an amazing person she was!

“Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me smarter.

Reading gives me something to talk about later on. Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficit disorder medicates itself.

Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it’s a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it’s a way of making contact with someone else’s imagination after a day that’s all too real.

Reading is grist.

Reading is bliss.”

~ Nora Ephron 📚

>120 msf59: Thanks Mark! I am following all your adventures, the birding, the holidays, the fabulous reading and ugh the work OT.
Hope that you're having a fantastic summer. I love summer!

What a lovely family you have, Mary! All of you are gorgeous! You look far too young to have those four young daughters! Of course, my eldest is going to be 33 this December! How did that happen? I guess both of us were child brides! :)

>123 vancouverdeb: For sure Deborah, child brides confirmed! Yah right! Daughter #1 is 39....YIKES. (So that puts you in the category of "spring chicken"! Thank you for your positive words. Hope all's well in your world and that you are greatly enjoying summer.

I have read lots of good things on LT about this book. I think I might have been the first reader from the library collection to read this one, as I cracked the cover! It is a lovely and sad story told in verse (poetry form). Being a long time dog lover, it hit home and strummed the heart strings.

Love the Ephron quotes about reading, Mary. I have her memoir on audible which she narrates: I like the idea that she is reading to me.

>126 charl08: Charlotte, me too (in the love for Nora!). Good idea to listen to something she narrates. I will look for it!

Thanks for sharing those Nora Ephron quotes, Mary. She truly had a way with words. Your family is gorgeous. I am so glad I got to meet them through your pictures.

Hi Mary. I accidentally posted this at the bottom of your first thread, not realizing that there was a #2.

Mary, I can't believe I am only now finding (and starring) your thread!! Better late than never, I suppose. I will come back later and add some comments but right now, I have a long distance phone coming in in a few minutes.
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Hi Mary, I am way behind in your thread - in all of them actually. Just saw your post on Mark's thread (his old thread, now *sigh*) about the Tom Thomson discussion. I am always on the lookout for books about Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven. I have a few more to add to my collection in the last little while. The latest is Tom Thomson's Fine Kettle of Friends: biography, history, art and food by Angie Littlefield which combines food, art and history - sounds like it is one you might like.

>128 Donna828:, Donna I would love to know which of Nora's books you enjoyed that she narrated. Thank you for your kind words about our wedding pictures. It is now a very rare event to have all our girls together (and their kiddies) so it was a major treat!

>129 jessibud2: Happy for your visit Shelley. I am a slow reader and grind almost to a halt in the summer but love the talk and inspiration of this wonderful group.

>130 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg, Great to see you visit! I have seen you mention the new Thomson book but the library system (all of Vancovuer Island) does not yet have it but I will continue to look. I have put some others about him on reserve. I went to a summer camp on Canoe Lake from ages 9 to 14 that had a big canoe trip emphasis and there was always lots of talk about the Tom Thomson tragedy. I love his paintings and have chased them down at the McMichael Gallery (Ont.) and the Vancouver Art Gallery when there was a show.

News of the World by Paulette Jules was raved about on LT so I did my time waiting for it from the library queue and it was worth it. It is the story of elderly man taking a young girl by wagon to her relatives in the 1870's.. She had been captured by the Kiowa Indians at 6 years of age (who killed her family ) and then she was recaptured at 10 years of age and was to be returned to her relatives in Southern Texas. The book is their journey, their developing relationship, their need for each other. The writing is superb. While the book is only 209 pages it was not a fast read for me. It was to be savoured and read slowly. I felt like I travelled through old Texas.

This is a self help book written by a retired U.S. Navy Admiral William H. McRaven who learned life lessons when he trained as a SEAL and shares his advice with the graduatiing class of the University of Texas in 2014 based on his life experiences. There were some intense stories but it was mostly predictable advice.

>125 mdoris: Ive seen this one talked about, and love that it is written in verse. I will look out for it.

>125 mdoris: - Mary, there is a sequel to this one, called Hate That Cat and is every bit as wonderful. I found it on a shelf at a used bookstore not long ago, having read Love That Dog years ago. It was a surprise to me that a sequel existed but it is the perfect companion piece and beautiful and revealing in its own way. If your library has it, do read it.

Delighted you enjoyed News of the World, Mary.

More doggy self-help titles:

"The Cat Did It"
"Why Human Food is Your Best Option and How to Get It"
"The Art of Making Your Human Laugh No Matter What You Did"

I love all the talk about Love That Dog and have requested it from the library.

News of the World sounds great, Mary. Never heard of her. Yes, "Make Your Bed" does sound like a predictable advice :) hope you're enjoying the summer holiday. I have some time of but it's late august, so I'm working while others are away.

>98 mdoris: Just spotted that book title. It jumped out at me because Old English has a similar word: hyge which means thought, mind, heart, disposition etc. I would guess they share a common root.

>134 LovingLit: Good to have you visit Megan. You sound busy/happy on your thread with back to school challenges/inspirations.
>135 jessibud2: Shelley I have just put the cat/verse book on hold at the library. Fun to read a novel in verse. Very clever!
>136 lit_chick: Nancy, have you read News of the Word? I am so happy that I am reading in the summer as I often don't.
>137 streamsong: Janet, I loved the doggy self help titles. How about....

I love that you stoop (when I p--p!)
Can't you see I'm sleeping? Do NOT wake me up!

>138 ctpress: Carsten I bet you have some amazing plans when you are off at the end of August. More hiking in wilderness areas perhaps?
>139 sirfurboy: I love thinking/knowing about the roots of words. Old English....do they speak that in Wales? (just kidding!) I guess other countries have similar philosophies and more books are coming out about it.

>132 mdoris: Still waiting for my library to get a copy of this (from March!) grumble grumble. Ah well, at least I know it's worth the wait.

Option B by Sheryl Sandberg



I have read other books about grieving and I knew about this difficult story. She's the author of Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead and a CEO at Facebook. Some time ago I put this book on reserve at the library and waited my time for it. It is not exactly light summer reading !!! but it is informative and full of research and courage and family focussed. She sidetracks on many different issues which I think is important (poverty, single mothers, resilience and the needs for employee supports and family supports). I found the information about communication interactions (always my interest!) to be valuable i.e. the elephant in the room and how weird that we can't/don't talk about it. She gave some insights into the needs and skills for this. All in all, it was a valuable book about the hard process of grieving.

Oblivion by Arnaldur Indridason



Good escape in this summer heat (the west coast rarely gets this HOT!) to be reading a story told about a cold place (Iceland). I have read all Indridason's books and enjoyed this one too. There was an interesting subplot of nuclear arms secretly stored in Iceland, the American military presence there and the black market of goods from the U.S. (post war) when goods were so scarce.

Hate that Cat by Sharaon Creech



Delightful book. Lots of discussion on LT about Love that Dog which I enjoyed too so thought I would follow it up with the cat story. It is a sweet story told in verse.

>144 mdoris: Sounds like handy light relief after the book on grief. I'm not sure if they are available here but will have a look.

Looking forward to the young Erlendur when I've finished the last of the original series. Interesting choice to go back to his youth and explore that.

>143 mdoris: & >144 mdoris: I have read and liked them both, Mary, glad you did so too :-)

Tom Thomson:An Introduction to his Life and Art by David P. Silcox



I have been following the chats on LT with great interest about Tom Thomson so thought I should read about him and look at his stunning paintings once more. I grew up from ages 9-14 going to a summer camp for the month of July on Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park so had an early introduction to Thomson as a myth and as a painter. This is the lake where Thomson drowned when he was 40 and at the height of his artitistc power. I have always LOVED his work and searched it out where ever I could find it over the years.... Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, the McMichael Gallery outside of Toronto (that hightlights the Group of Seven) and the odd show at the Vancouver Art Gallery). I remember a show of his small, on the spot oil paintings that he would then bring back and make full scale paintings in the winter in Toronto. Those small paintings were stunning, so full of colour and life. It was very interesting to learn about his early start as a commercial artist, how the artists of the time were so supportive of one another and interesting to learn about the early influences that made the changes in their paintings that so captured the attention of art lovers.

>148 mdoris: - Hi Mary. I have a friend visiting from the States right now and tomorrow, we are going to the McMichael Gallery. I haven't been there for a few years and there is a special Tom Thomson exhibit on right now. I am really looking forward to it. I will report back on it. Lucky you, growing up and going to camp on Canoe Lake. I have never been to Algonquin Park

>149 jessibud2:, yes very very lucky Shelley. It gave me for life, a great LOVE for the outdoors. Please let me know how your visit to the McMichael gallery goes and hope that one day you will get to Algonquin Park.

Hi Mary, delighted you enjoyed Into Oblivion. Just starting this one : ).

>143 mdoris: Arnaldur Indridason is such a misery, Mary, that it is amazing how happy his books always make me!

Have a great weekend.

>153 mdoris: HI Janet, Great that you are enjoying the Dog/Cat books in verse form. I don't know much about the author but there is a feel for me that she is a teacher and one of great kindness, sensitivity and perceptiveness.

The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston



I thought this book was very interesting and well written. It takes you on a trip to Honduras in the wild, untamed rainforests of the interior remote valleys for a history tour, an archeological tour, a medical tour and an exposure to academic jealousies. It gives a world view of the passage of pathogens that occurred historically and those that could greatly disrupt our societies in the future. The title suggests an adventure and travel " novel" but gives way more than that. Another gem gleaned from my LT forays.

However I do remember reading an article written by Preston in the NYer mag (Jan. 1, 2017) about this expedition and was particulary fascinated about the lidar technology that made it all possible. The link to this article is
HERE

Oh, what a lovely family you have! And you look so young! Are you sure you are not one of the sisters? You don't look a day over 30! I'm afraid The Lost Monkey City of the Monkey God might just not be for me. Hmm - I'm going to read your link. I was reading in the Vancouver Sun the other day about a new genre of book, the Cli-Fi, as in Climate Apocalypse Fiction! I thought only we on LT invented new genres, like Scandi- Crime, Candi- Crime, etc ( for the Canadian Crime ) but I guess the Vancouver Sun is ahead of us! :-)

>156 mdoris: Oh Deborah. You are very funny and really, may I recommend a good opthomolgist in Vancovuer for you to get your eyes tested. Not a day over 30,..... indeed, too funny! The Denver crew are flying in this weekend so I will get great times with 2 grandies (boys), a 5 year old who LOVES books (I've kept all my kids books from our various recent moves) and a 7 month old who I'm sure loves cuddles. It will be fun.

Mary, I'll have you know that I just visited my top optometrist in June and acquired a new pair of glasses, so my vision is very good. I am so proud - as of yet, at my advanced age, I do not need close up glasses! I just have to slide my distance glasses down my nose! ;) Have fun with the grandies!

>158 mdoris: Me too Deborah, I don't need glasses for close up but horrible distance vision so long history of glasses. I was tempted to do the surgical correction but heard from my pals that after that you need reading glasses so I thought you are just trading challenges. And heh, we're readers right? So must be able to read anything/anytime! I've started Autumn by Ali Smith. Have not read anything of hers before.

Deborah, so glad you're back with the L.T. visits!

>144 mdoris: I really enjoyed Love That Dog, Mary, so I am looking forward to Hate That Cat.

>155 vancouverdeb: Hooray for Monkey God. I had a good time with that one too, but those final chapters were tough.

>160 mdoris: Great to see you visit. Have been enjoying reading about the New Yorker cover discussions on your thread. I love looking at them and figuring them out. Where is the artist coming from? Really I guess it could be many, many places!

New titles for fall reading from the Globe and Mail, so decidedly a Canadian leaning.....
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/the-most-anticipated-books...

>162 jessibud2: - Great list, Mary, thanks. I love Wayne Johnston and though I haven't read anything yet by Alison Pick, she is on my radar and I intend to, soon. I also like Michael Redhill (Consolation was great). I don't know most of the others mentioned in this list, though.

Oh, there are some great looking new books coming out from our Canadian authors! For me, The Purchase by Linda Spalding was a favourite of mine, so I'll be watching for her upcoming book. Kathleen Winter is one to watch too. Like Shelley, I also enjoyed Alison Pick's last book.

Autumn by Ali Smith



Just polished this book off and I was not a fan of it. I know that it is long listed for the Booker and has reviews describing it as a "masterpiece" but it did not grab me. I found it obvious and ponderous in its "artistic" writerly leanings, endless run-on sentences. The characters for me were vague, the plot thin and the themes too painfully political and predictable. It did provoke some curiosity for me and I looked up on Wikepedia some information about some of the real life characters to flesh out some details that were not covered in the book.

Ya can't win 'em all!

Ah, sorry , Mary , that Autumn did not work out for you. I confess I have taken it out from the library and returned it unread. I don't think is " my book" either. I did finish Exit West by Mohsin Hamid, also longlisted for the 2017 Booker Prize. I hovered between a 3. 5 and 4 and I ended up giving it a 4.

It is true that we can't win them all, but it is somewhat satisfying to knock off a few Booker long- listed tomes and feel the satisfaction of at least knowing what the stories were about and thus feel a little in the know .

I had the most delicious cherry tomatoes over the weekend, provided by neighbour. Fresh from her garden and both red and orange varieties. So sweet and delicious! There is nothing like cherry tomatoes right from the garden. I had not realized that there was an orange coloured variety. Delightful!

Appreciate your review of Autumn, Mary. Wouldn't be the first time a Booker contender fell completely flat for me. You can't win 'em all!: exactly!

Mary, I enjoyed News of the World and glad you did, too. I've read several books by Paulette Jiles, and this one is my favorite. I took a pass on Autumn: A Novel. I did not care for The Accidental but kept thinking I ought to give Ali Smith another chance. I looked through it at the library and put it back on the shelf. Not for me. Thank you for reinforcing my decision.

It looks like you've had another visit with your Denver family. What fun! I love it when the grandkids come to visit. No more babies for me. I hope you got enough snuggles to last you for awhile.

Feast: Recipes and Stories from a Canadian Road Trip by Lindsay Anderson


Now, I'm thinking who can I give this book to at Christmas!
It is a book written by 2 adventurous and knowledgable young women who did a coast to coast trip across Canada collecting recipes, stories, and gorgeous photographs. The recipes are very interesting and regional and I would love to make many of them. Three cheers to these enterpising young women! It was borrowed from the library but I just might have to buy this one.

>166 lit_chick: Oh Deborah, I am in heaven at this time of year with the tomatoes. We are growing our own, yes, for sure tomatoes I am talking about. Monsieur built a rock wall, shoveled dirt into it and the it is a very sunny hot place and the tomatoes seem to love it. I will take pictures tomorrow!

>167 Donna828: Nancy I have been thinking about you as you no doubt are heading back soon. It is hard to grasp how quickly the summer vanishes. Hope that you have greatly recharged your batteries. Loving the talk about Cairo on your thread. He sounds like such an interesting cat!

>168 mdoris: Yes Donna had a fabulous visit with the wee ones and for sure got lots of cuddles in. They are gems but the visit was very short and they have since headed back to Denver. The 5 year old had me reading lots of stories and I love that he chose some of my favourites......William Steig. I could read his stories every day! Doctor De Soto, Brave Irene Amazing Bone. Love them!

We're in the midst of another move (so fun!!! but a final one) so not as much time and energy for reading I'm afraid but once settled more reading will follow hopefully.

It is raining here this morning. First rain in months and months and the ground and plants are parched and scorched so it is a rain to be thankful for. Fire hazard rating is still in the EXTREME level.

I saw this and thought I should post it on LT, this quite "birdy" community!

>171 drneutron: Cool pic!

>155 vancouverdeb: that one looks like the same series as the Cormac McCarthy books!

>171 drneutron: - Hah, maybe the bird wanted to make sure the information in the book was accurate. ;-)

>171 drneutron: What an incredible picture, Mary!

That is quite amazing, Mary! A bird landing on your bird book! It looks like he landed on his own page?

Thank you to my visitors for keeping my thread warm! LIfe has been a bit crazy around here with yet another move and for sure very little reading done. But this is the final move and it has been fun for me to visit your threads and see what you have been reading.
But....
I did see an amazing movie on Sunday. In our new community we have "Film Circuit" which is part of TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). What an awesome organization this is because they make available to small communities wonderful movies that would otherwise not be shown. So this one was Maudie, the story of a Nova Scotia folk artist living in dismal circumstances with huge medical challenges. This is one of her paintings. She never took art classes but just loved to paint! She painted her tiny house inside and out. If you get a chance watch the movie!



There is an interesting NFB documentary about her....Maud Lewis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hrLcX0aahQ

Love the bird picture perching on the book!

So sorry that Autumn didn't work for you. I do find it fascinating the way books on the lists work and don't work across the lists. I know some have enjoyed Elmet but it really didn't grab me!

>177 charl08: - Hi Mary. I saw *Maudie* last month here in Toronto. Wasn't it just great? The actress who played her was really good, too. I had known some of Maud's story before but not to the extent that was revealed in the film.

Glad to hear you are settling down and this is the final move. Moving house is one of my own biggest stresses and, I certainly hope that I don't have to do it again!

Oh my goodness, another move! No wonder you've been busy, Mary. I had a Maud Lewis calendar one year that I just loved! Haven't seen one since, but it was so colourful and so delightful.

With lots of" bird talk" on the threads, I thought this one might be appreciated.
Once my move is settled, I will be back to reading.

>180 mdoris:, >179 lit_chick: Nancy and Shelley I had never heard of Maud Lewis until recently. I guess a painting was found of hers in a thrift shop recently and then was resold for $22,000.00 WOW! I have had fun doing some research and watching some interviews with the actors. Sally Hawkins was perfect. What an amazing actor she is!

Yes, moving is a wee bit stressful but just trying to keep a lid on it.

>178 jessibud2: Charlotte, great to see you visit!

>181 mdoris: - LOL!

>182 jessibud2: - I heard of Maud Lewis several years ago when I was still teaching. A colleague of mine was a huge fan of her work and that was my intro. I see her calendars (small and large) in stores here all the time. Although it is not my *style* of choice, there is something very endearing and appealing to her *naif* style. And of course, her story...!!

>181 mdoris: *snerk*

I had not heard of Maud Lewis prior to this. I really enjoyed the link you provided. I'll have to see if maybe my library has the movie. It sounds like a fascinating story. I quite like her bright, happy style. Oh, Mary! Moving again! This is the last time? I sure hope so.

>181 mdoris: Birds without feathers.
Out in all weathers;
Birds without wings
And none of them sings.
Birds without beaks
And another rhyme tweaks.
Birds without a nest
And a short poem must rest.

Have a lovely weekend, Mary.

The move is done, well sort of.......many boxes yet to unpack and....." where will I put stuff? " to be figured out. Reading has been nearly non existent and just trying to catch up with NYer mags and am now only 3 behind. Some very interesting articles though! Just finished Cold Earth by Ann Cleeves. I have loved the tv series so of course while reading can only "see" what I have seen on the tv.


I gather that Cleeves will be visiting Vancouver for the Writers Festival and tickets sold out very quickly. No surprise!

>181 mdoris: LIKE! That is the very same hummingbird feeder I have. I took it down for the season about two weeks ago.

Hi, Mary. Just checking in. Hope life is treating you well, along with those books.

Happy Thanksgiving, Mary

>187 msf59: Hi Mary, what is the TV series called you refer to?

>187 msf59: I tried to buy tickets to see Ann Cleeves the day they went on sale to the public but they were already sold out. So it looks like the Vancouver Writers Fest members scooped them all.

>190 Familyhistorian: Hi Nancy, the t.v. series is Shetland. Cleeves is also the writer behind the Vera series (which I love! and you probably know about it). I have the low down on a new to Canada business like Netflix that you live stream but it is the international European series. I have been presuring them for years to have availability in Canada and now they do....hurrah! Let me know if you are interested and I can give you the information.

>191 mdoris: Hi Meg, too bad, that is a disappointment about the early sell out of tickets for Cleeves. I guess that encourages membership. I have just started a Peter May book Lewis Man. Have you read any of his books? I read Blackhouse and I liked it.

>192 mdoris: Aha, I thought you might be referring to Shetland; watched that, it was excellent! Not familiar with the Vera series, must look that one up. Yes, please provide the link for the new to Canada biz you refer to, Mary : ). Thanks!

>194 mdoris: Oh Nancy, you must find Vera as soon as possible. Vera is Vera Stanhope a fantastic, brillant character. (head detective). I think there are about 7 seasons and perhaps you will have to find it at your library. It is available on Acorn but not to Canadian prescribers.....drat! I have see it on TV over time and love it. I will p.m. you the biz I am referring to.

Mary, I had lost your thread and I've now found it again!

I recently read Cold Earth by Sarah Moss and Cold Earth by Ann Cleaves keeps coming up in the touchstones. I need to read that one, too, perhaps. I think she has become much more popular since the success of the PBS series based on her Vera novels. We LOVE "Vera!"

I hope you are doing well!

>195 EBT1002: Thanks, Mary, got the link and will definitely explore : ). Must look for Vera!!

>196 lit_chick:, Hi Ellen, Wonderful to see you visit. I am dreadfully behind on ALL threads including yours. LIfe has been very busy here with yet!!!! another move but quite sure things will settle down and I will be back to steady reading and enjoying threads soon. I have been asked to join a book club in my new community which is wonderful for me. The book for October is The Wonder by E. Donoghue which I had already read. Hope all's well in your world.

Just finished The Shadow District by A. Indridason.

It was a good fast read with 2 streams going at once past and present and hiding a family's secrets and yet no Elendur as the chief detective. It was still good though.

Love Indridason! Why am I not familiar with this one? Must check ... Thanks, Mary.

>199 jeni70: I have liked the books without Elendur as much as those with him, Mary. Sadly I have read them all ;-)

>201 FAMeulstee:, 202 HI Nancy and Alita, I think this Indridason was newly published in 2017 and yes while missing Elendur it was still good! I think (sadly) I have read them all too, now we must wait patiently!

I hope you are through with all the moving around, Mary. Do you like your new place? Your new book group sounds like fun. You'll have to let us know how it went.

I have Ann Cleeves on my TBR list and now I know to look for the TV series if I ever get around to the books. Whoever said "Too many books, too little time" knew what they were talking about!

There has been "talk" about this book on LT and also it is the April selection of my new book club in my new location. It is a story about a small village in England being bombed by the Germans and how the "ladies" pull together and the stories told about many of them. It was a good read, what I would classify as a "utopian" read much like the Alexander McCall Smith books full of positive, kind, helpful, people in the midst of bullies and the snobbery of the English class system. There were many sub plots and the writing moved the story along.


The Chilbury Ladies Choir by Jennifer Ryan

The Lewis Man by Peter May
This is the 2nd book in the Lewis Trilogy and it is a very good visit to the Outer Hebrides windswept islands. There is romance, intrigue and good detective work here and the descriptions of the desolate islands and their history is well told. I look forward to the 3rd in the series!

>193 lit_chick: I started Blackhouse but got distracted. I have to get back to that trilogy. I like the Shetland series by Cleeves. I have never read any of the Vera series or watched the show because Vera's voice gets on my nerves, which is too bad because I like to watch programs with strong women.

>207 mdoris:, HI Meg, good to see you visit! I have just put the 3rd in the trilogy on reserve at the library and there are lots of holds so I will have a bit of a wait. About to go and visit your thread.........Oh I LOVE Vera, never noticed her voice at all, just her wonderful cleverness. Me too, I also like to watch programs with strong female characters.

I’ve had my eyes on Chilbury. Sounds like a book that would do me good right now. Thanks for the recommendation, Mary.

Hi Mary, you got me with Chilbury too. Appreciate your review.

>208 ctpress: I really have to get back to the first book in the May trilogy. I really enjoyed The Ladies' Chilbury Choir when I read it. I have found more good books since I started reading the threads on LT, that is both a good and bad thing!

The Antidote Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking by Oliver Burkeman



Oh dear, I am the only person on LT who has read this book. Yes, me #1! Yikes! How did I hear about it then, I thought I read about it on LT! Oh well. Now the title is a bit off putting because I do not want to be "labelled' as a someone who shuns positive thoughts and dwells in gloom. However this book is written by the fellow who does the psychology articles for the Guardian. He is a very good writer, researcher and thinker and I did appreciate his point of view on looking at happiness and how to get some! He examines common thought and turns things upside down in his thinking. He looks at attitudes towards this subject....self help books, acquiring wealth, perfectionism, endless need for safety/security, romance and work and looks at alternatives such as embracing failure, thinking about death, Buddhism, Stoic philosophy etc. He argues that our endless pursuit of happiness is making us miserable.

There is SO much being written about happiness (including current National Geographic issue) and there is a National Happiness Research Institute (Denmark) that it is always good to think all around a subject! There are no easy bullets!

>212 EBT1002: Well, first, congratulations on being the first to read the book.
And ~~ "...our endless pursuit of happiness is making us miserable."
That resonates for me.

I remember when I was in graduate school, studying clinical psychology which of course tends to focus on pathology. There was a faculty member/researcher who was one of the first to start "studying" happiness. It was a radical notion at the time.

>213 mdoris: Thanks for the visit Ellen. i have been interested in the "happiness' concept for a while and read lots of hygge books and approach to this subject from a Scandinavian point of view. It is always good though to see things from a different point of view. Life gives us many hiccups and if we are always dwelling on the pursuit of happiness, perhaps we have farther and harder to fall when the hiccup comes. I was interested in your graduate school story.

>214 EBT1002: Yep, I agree with all that, Mary. I think there is a lot of good science, as well as good sense, providing us with a more rational and more realistic understanding of how to pursue enable happiness. I also believe we underestimate the power of contentment. I think our marketing industry has successfully undermined our appreciation of contentment in lieu of exhilaration/giddiness/bliss. Both are forms of happiness and I feel lucky to experience both at times.

I was a bit puzzled as I have this book - thought I'd forgotten to put it on but it is there, honest!

Mary, I did a bit of homework and have a reply to your post in my thread, re Grenfell!!

>216 jessibud2: Charlotte, the mystery is solved. You are quite right. For the cover that you read there are 460 members who have shared that read but for the cover that I read I am the only one. I didn't know about the split personality of books and how they are represented on LT depending on their covers. I have a blue cover with a white cloud. Hmmm. I must have read about it on your thread and been intrigued and low and behold my library had it so the rest is history. Monsieur is reading it now so it will be interesting to see what he thinks!

>217 mdoris: Shelley, I will head to your thread tout de suite!

>218 mdoris: No worries Mary. You can combine different editions (and covers) of books so I've done that on the work page (it's the very bottom option on the left under the cover picture).
You could add your review (if you want!) and it will now show up for the other holders...

>218 mdoris: So much about LT that I have no idea about. Thanks for the help Charlotte!

Mary, a bout of insomnia has finally gotten me create a new thread. It's just in the past month or so that I figured how to combine books by myself. Major victory for me. Glad you enjoyed The Antidote Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking . Somewhere in my " stacks" I have Chilbury, I'll need to push it forward.

>212 EBT1002: Wonderful review, Mary! This sounds like one I would love. About time sometime wrote something about life that resembles reality, other than self help books, acquiring wealth, perfectionism, endless need for safety/security, romance and work .

>223 mdoris: Nancy, hope you like the book when it comes around from you TBR pile. It was refreshing!

The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking sounds quite intriguing.

I partially completed a MOOC called The Science of Happiness when another 75'er was taking it. I have partially completed books by Dacher Keltner and Sonja Lyubomirsky. I just googled the class and it looks like it's still available. Hmmmm.

>225 mdoris: Janet, I will have to investigate more about the MOOC you refer to. Are those the open free courses that you take on the internet? Interesting. How many have you done and has it been a good idea?

>212 EBT1002: I love your review, and I like the sound of this book! I read a couple of books on wellbeing last year, and I loved both but can only remember the title of one, The Wellness Syndrome- by Carl Cederstrom.
Eta: the other one was The Happiness Industry: How the Government and Big Business Sold Us Well-being by William Davies, which was slightly better, if you are interested. Both are only 150 pages or so, and are riveting reads. Oh, and I should say, they both take a critical view of happiness and the focus on wellbeing we see lately.

>227 mdoris: Megan thanks for the suggestions. For sure I will try and find the books you suggest. I have read lots of books about 'hygge' in the past year.

Yes. I think MOOC stands for something like Massive Open Online Courses. I've taken 6 or 8 of them. There are a couple that I didn't finish due to time constraints.

There are usually video lectures, reading assignments, sometimes other assignments. I've given up on the discussion sections. Too many people (thousands!) and most saying the same thing.

I haven't looked into any of them since I retired. It might be a good thing to do during winter evenings.

I had never heard of the MOOC courses before. It looks like there are loads of them available.

Here is the link to the MOOC courses. They are vast in selection and interests. WOW!
http://mooc.org

I'd never hear of MOOC courses either, Mary. My , but so much rain! Far too much rain, even for me and my goretex etc. Sometimes I think the majority of the work is getting Poppy into her raincoat, gathering up towels etc and then talking that raincoat back off, hanging up all the wet things and washing and drying all of the towels involved.

Finished this one tonight. In ways it was a captivating read written by an accomplished writer about the psychological aspects of changes that occur when 2 families blend after divorces happen. The focus changes, the stories get told from the point of view of many of the family members. For me it fell a little flat, a little too "in the head" but I did develop sympathy for the characters especially the children who were affected by the parents' circumstances. I'm afraid I didn't have much sympathy for the parents.

>231 vancouverdeb: Interesting, Mary. I think that if I had the time I would like to pursue some further on line studies. Maybe when I relocate to the UK via the Open University.

Most of the MOOC's I've taken have been through Coursera.org . There are several there that look interesting to me.

This is a time of year when I as a non-American ponder over what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for this group and its ability to keep me sane during topsy-turvy times.

I am thankful that you are part of this group.

I am thankful for this opportunity to say thank you.

>236 mdoris: Paul that was a wonderful what you wrote and greatly appreciated by me. It sure was a happy day when I found LT and even better when I found this fabulous group of 75ers. All the best to you! I know you have had some difficult times (topsy-turvy) and great that when we ponder we can find much to be thankful for. You said it so well!

I just finished this one and I thought it was wonderful. I grabbed it from the library and it was a a 7 day "express read" so I had to zoom through it. It might so far be my favourite Penny book! I know people on LT think her dangling sentences are annoying but I didn't find her writing style irritating at all. For me it is conversational and full of lilt and cadence. It was a very topical book with the theme of the domination of the drug cartels and exploding opioid use in our communities. It was interesting because I flipped to the backside of the Nov 2017, BCMJ (BC Medical Journal) that comes to our house and what was the ad on the back? It was sponsored by the Canadian Medical Association with a plea for the need to COMBAT CANADA'S OPIOID CRISIS, to combat opioid dependence, overdose and death. Penny sure found her mark on this one!

>238 vancouverdeb: Great review of Glass Houses, Mary. How exciting , your favourite Penny book so far! I have read about 3 or 4 books in the series and then packed it in, but it might be worth returning to for this read. Opioid dependence is very timely, though I think it is mainly fentanyl and carfentyl that we hear about in the news. That''s the area of real concern and I worry that those who legitimately need an rx for pain might miss out/ be pulled off an RX. I am all about harm reduction. Way for me to make your book review sort of political! :-) I'm a trouble maker! ;-)

Woohoo, fabulous review, Mary! I've also never found Penny's writing annoying, but I know that many do. Sounds like she did indeed hit the mark on this one with the exploding opioid use in our communities. Can't wait to read it ... Christmas holidays are coming : ).

>240 mdoris: Thank you Nancy! I am now reading Oliver Sacks River of Consciousness and what a fantastic writer/thinker he was. He was so full of curiosity!

>238 vancouverdeb: That is the most positive review I have read on Penny's new book. Great to see it and, yes, it is timely if it is about the opioid crisis although we, in Vancouver, are more likely to call it a Fentanol crisis.

The River of Consciousness by Oliver Sachs was a wonderful read. I think it is his 15th book published and this one posthumously. What a great writer he was. He was full of curiosity, loved to pursue ideas within his realm of neurology and in science too. He was so well read and knowledgable (often going back to the original writings) and his own writing has the human touch as well. He presents a big picture looking at the history of science of ideas and developments and theories and the milieu of readiness for these theories to take root.

>243 charl08: Good to know there are more Sacks books to read Mary. I love his writing style- his memoir was the last one I read. Must pick up another.

>243 charl08: - Thanks for this review, Mary. I have this one on my shelf and hope to get to it soon. I am also a big fan of Sacks, and have both read several of his, as well as having several waiting to be read on my shelf.

Not familiar with Oliver Sacks, Mary, so thanks for introducing him to me! Sounds like an excellent read.

Mary, I so enjoyed the post about your daughter's name on my thread. I replied to it there, but I'll come over here and explain how it is that I understand. Mary Claire is such a a beautiful name! Lovely! I do understand, because my my eldest brother is named after my dad - first name Hugh. My dad was named after his dad and his paternal grandfather - and so it was assumed that my brother would call any son of his " Hugh" to keep the name intact in the family , so to speak. Well, his wife is / was not at all keen on the name " Hugh" and first off they had 3 daughters. We teased my brother that he might have to call one of the girls " Hughina " or Hughella" but unfortunately he and his wife are rather serious sorts. Anyway, when number 4 child was born, it was actually a boy and my dad had passed away from cancer. He and his wife named their now 9 year old son Hugh Benjamin - but he goes by "Ben" . He actually thinks it is cool that he is H. Benjamin Surname. So cute for the little guy.

I have no idea what my granddaughter will be named, but of course I have teasingly suggested " Deborah " or " Dally" as a comprise between "Sally" and " Deborah' - Sally being Serenade's mom's name! :-) Dally lol ! My son shares my sense of humour, but less so my daughter in law. I fear she takes me too seriously, though how one can, I do not know.

>247 mdoris:, Too funny Deborah...... the daughter in law who does not share her mother in law's sense of humour. ......Many stories to be told on that front I'm afraid. Having a sense of humour is the only way to go in life IMHO. New son in law remarked on mine and I was greatly pleased.

>243 charl08: Glad to know you enjoyed this one. Thumb to your review. I have it saved on audio. It would be my first Sacks. Maybe, I will move it into the audio rotation.

Hi, Mary. I hope your week is off to a good start.

best of books for 2017 from Book Riot
https://bookriot.com/2017/12/12/best-books-2017/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_med...

>250 lkernagh: - Oh, list! I haven't read any of the books listed but I did happily come away with a BB taken for the V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic trilogy. ;-)

>251 mdoris: Hi Lori, great to see you. I love this time of year for the" best of" lists. Every year I make lists of these lists hoping to refer to them and then I seldom do. There is never I time that I'm at a loss for what to read.

>244 jessibud2:, >245 lit_chick: > 246 >249 mdoris: Thanks for the visits Charlotte, Shelley, Nancy and Mark. And thanks for the thumb of the review Mark. Sacks really was such an interesting and accomplished person.

inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong and the New Research That's Rewriting the Story by Angela Saini



What a great book! It is written by a capable journalist/engineer, fine writer/researcher who shows how biased (wrong) science research has been in the past, how theories and results have fit the agenda of the researcher and the culture of the times. She pursues many themes and shows the intersection of nature/nurture, culture/biology with much research being done on our primate cousins. Very interesting!

>254 jessibud2: - Book bullet there, Mary!

Just got out a small load (there's more!!!) of our Christmas books (I have always been a sucker for seasonal books) and will try and read at least one a day for a while. I think I read about this one on Donna828's thread and she was the inspiration for a re-read.

A Christmas Memory





It is a wonderful story based on memories of the author Truman Copote when he was a young boy living with distant cousins in a rural town in Alabama, with not a penny to rub together but with a great friendship with an elderly cousin and a dog named Queenie. Great writing and heart warming story!

The Christmas Day Kitten by James Herriott and SUPERB illustrations by Ruth Brown. There is nothing like a good animal story, well told.

I think the MOOC classes sound wonderful. For after retirement. :-)

>257 EBT1002: Mary , the book about the The Christmas Day Kitten looks lovely and cheery! At least here, it is sunny today, for a day and I hope to drink in the sun while I can! It was sure nasty yesterday . Amazing how fast the weather can change!

>257 EBT1002: I need to look for that one! I love cat books.

Oh, I love the Christmas books, Mary!

>261 mdoris: Nancy, more to follow! I'm having fun!

The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R. Tolkien



It's years since I have read this one and I had forgotten all about it. Tolkien wrote letters to his four children for 18 years and drew marvelous pictures between 1920 and 1938 as Father Christmas from the North Pole. He had his sidekick polar bear and they had many adventures with destructive mischievous goblins and his helpers, the elves. Captivating, imaginative and such interesting pictures.!

>259 thornton37814: Deborah, the sun poured in here today. It was a tonic! I made pastry today for pies. It always make such a big mess.

The Olden Days Coat by Margaret Laurence



This is an "oldie but a goodie" (1979) by famous Canadian writer Margaret Laurence. It is a story about a ten year old girl visiting her grandmother at Christmas. While exploring the property she finds an old coat, puts it on and travels back in time and meets with her grandmother in her time as a ten year old girl. It is quite a wonderful story!

>265 jessibud2: - I need to finish one more Canadian book to meet my own goal of 25 for the year and although I am reading one right now (Crow Lake) and enjoying it, I think I may not finish it on time. So thanks for this suggestion of Margaret Laurence's little story. I just placed a hold on it at the library and should be able to pick it up hopefully tomorrow or the next day. Looks like a nice one to end the year on!

The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Anderson

While Anderson (1805-1875) was writing his tales in the mid 1800's he certainly told this story with the merit of what meditation is trying to teach us now. Be in the moment! Appreciate the moment! The fir tree learned his lesson just a little too late.

Mousekins's Christmas Eve by Edna Miller

Mousekin's Christmas Eve by Edna Miller



Miller wrote and illustrated over 20 picture books for children and I loved them, they were favourites when our kids were little! . She did wonderful seasonal books and gave to children a wonderful introduction to nature from an animal's point of view, the finding of safe warm places, the need to be wary of predators, the wonder and beauty of the natural world. There is a special note at the end that her painting of the creche figures in this book is based on actual figures carved by artisans in the Bavarian Alps where they have a tradition of performing the Passion Play as they escaped death of the plague in 1663.

Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs.



I like to think of this book as one of the original "graphic novels"! What a marvel this book is showing frame by frame preparations that old Saint Nick does to prepare for Christmas deliveries. It was first published in 1973 and shows Santa as a bit of a grump. Well I guess when you have that much work to do you would be grumpy too!

Here is an interesting link to the Guardian of an interview with Briggs on his inspiration for the book.
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/dec/16/how-i-made-father-christmas-by-r....
He wrote the book the year his wife died and he does not have children but certainly know how to write for them!

This one is for Mark msf59, (an inspiration!!!) with all his AMAZiNG reading and his VERY friendly and interesting thread!

The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg



This is one of those delightful interactive books with slots for mini letters addressed to:

Baby Bear, Four Bears Cottage, The Woods,
Miss R. Hood, The Play House, Garden Path, Diddle Dumpling,
Mr. H. Dumpty, Wincey Ward, Cock Robin Memorial Hospital,
The Gingerbread Boy, McVitie House, Little Toe Lane, Toytown,
Mister Wolf, The Den,
And....The Postman himself!

It is clever and fun and full of rhyme.

Mary, you sure know how to enjoy the Christmas Season! Thanks for sharing your books with us! Such wonderful illustrations!

Not in the company of my son and daughter in law, I am starting to think of my upcoming granddaughter as " Sparrow" or " Little Wren. They won't discuss any names at all, but I maybe I end up with a little Betty or Linda or Mildred! You never know! I really have no idea as to their tastes. Well, my daughter in law is named Serenade. Maybe they'll name the little girl " Song" . I have really no idea! :-) Ordered a couple of cute GAP hoodies sweaters for " Little Wren."

Here is one of the baby sweaters' I purchased for " Song" :-) http://www.gapcanada.ca/browse/product.do?pid=935556003&vid=1&locale=en_...

I also got one in " frosted coral ' and a little sleeper. $40 % off!

>271 vancouverdeb: - Oh, I LOVE the Jolly Postman books! I used them in my classroom all the time and they were real favourites. So clever and fun

The Mole Family's Christmas by Russell Hoban, 1969 WOW, an oldie!



This is a delightful story about a hard working mole family who rarely see the light of day but instead are endlessly tunneling and toiling below ground. Young mole (Delver) gets wind of the delights of Christmas but assumes this is only a "people" thing and he also hears about stars for the first time. Being a nearsighted little fellow the sky of course is a blur and what he needs is a telescope to take in the wonders of the night sky. He does manage to write a letter to the big fat fellow dressed in red who the local mouse has told him about and low and behold his dreams are answered and the miraculous viewing of the night sky is cherished. The illustrations are fabulous by Lillian Hoban (wife of the author). There is also a subplot of an owl , Old Ephraim. He sees the star gazers viewing above ground but takes mercy on the moles and lets them be...for a while.....perhaps until then get bigger and better (more delicious)! For this he is rewarded a necktie from Santa.

>265 jessibud2: That sounds marvelous!



Wishing you a Merry Christmas filled with light, love, laughter, and many books.

The Friendly Beasts by Tomie de Paola



This is a book by a champion illustrator/writer who has contributed greatly to childrens books. It is based on an old English Christmas Carol taking us to the stable of Jesus's birth and having each animal pay tribute...donkey, cow, sheep, and dove. The illustrations are fantastic! It is hard to read without singing along.....

Hi Mary, stopping by to wish you and your loved ones peace, joy and happiness this holiday season and for 2018!

Hi Mary. I can't add pictures but I wanted to add my best wishes for the holiday season to you and your family.

>271 vancouverdeb: Hooray for The Jolly Christmas Postman! Looks like a lovely little book and thanks for the sentiments.

Merry Christmas, Mary. Have a wonderful holiday.

Merry Christmas, Mary. Hope you'll have a good time with family and friends this holiday season.

It is that time of year again, between Solstice and Christmas, just after Hanukkah, when our thoughts turn to wishing each other well in whatever language or image is meaningful to the recipient. So, whether I wish you Happy Solstice or Merry Christmas, know that what I really wish you, and for you, is this:

The Good People by Hannah Kent



It was a good read, captured the superstititions (and poverty) of the time in Ireland 1820's Perhaps it went on a little too long without developing other sub plots. Good writing style! I had been a big fan of her previous book Burial Rities. it is well researched and made me glad I was born into present time!

Now waiting for guests to arrive for Christmas dinner. Loving all the WONDERFUL greetings from my LT pals!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Wishing you all good things this holiday season and beyond.

>276 mdoris:, >278 jessibud2:, >279 msf59:, >280 ctpress:, >281 ronincats:, >282 mdoris:, 284 With thanks to Ellen, Lori, Shelley, Mark, Carsten, Roni, and Paul for your wonderful best wishes messages. I ❤️ L.T. !

The Little Book of Lykke The Danish Search for the World's Happiest People by Meik Wiking



This book is FULL of some hot tips especially for planning New Year's resolutions.

Now if only I could find my self in Denmark and experiece this happiness first hand!

I hope you are having a happy Holiday Season, Mary.

>254 jessibud2: I read Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong and the New Research That's Rewriting the Story recently. I found it so thought provoking and agree that it was very interesting.

A belated Merry Christmas, Mary! How did you find The Good People in comparison to her previous book, Burial Rites. I admit I found Burial Rites on the quite depressing , dark side. Is The Good People similar?

>287 vancouverdeb: Meg, I think I got the bb from your thread for Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong. I am very glad that I read it and I keep thinking of things I read in the book, still mulling over things.

>288 mdoris: Deborah hope that you and family had a wonderful Christmas time. It is always a busy time and when Boxing Day comes, I love to shove everything in boxes once more. Making turkey soup tomorrow.

I must say I was more taken with Burial Rites but I did like reading The Good People too. She can get under you skin and you can feel the disturbing feelings of her characters. She does pretty amazing research to portray the times.

I thought of you today as I was visiting our local and wonderful bookstore and I saw a Whishaw book and promptly came home and put them on reserve at the library. I sprung for a Peter May book the 3rd in the Lewis trilogy The Chessman.

I know this thread is getting ridiculously long but soon in will be 2018 and we can all start new ones. I love this time of year to see what everyone is suggesting for the best reads of 2017.

This is an incredible resource as Large Hearted Boy puts together an accumulated list of "best of 2017" with lots of categories sited from a zillion places. It is quite the list. Have a peek!

I have a weakness for cookbooks so I have already strolled through lots of links and have already had many of the recommended ones home from our library and have ordered a few to own (guilty pleasure). I do not count the cookbooks in my total count but maybe I should as I would be then able to claim a legitimate spot in the 75 club.

http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2017/11/online_best_of_75.html

>280 ctpress: (For Mark, there are some amazing links for bird book recommendations. )

Ooh, lists! Dangerous stuff...

>291 charl08: - Oh, thank you for this link, Mary! I had not heard of this blog/site before. I have a friend whose 2 passions are books and music and have just forwarded the link to her. Unless she already knows of it...

>291 charl08: WOW! That is a heck of a list of lists, Mary. I am going to have to come back when I have more time. I did check out the best bird books though.
Nice!! And I have read several of them too.

Another hygge book to hit my pile. I love the coziness and casualness portrayed by these books. There are beautiful photos, amazing recipes and advice given to keep your mood buoyant during the long winter months. The chef who collaborated on this book is chef of an award winning restaurant in Reykjavik's historic Nordic House on the harbour. Some day I might get to see it!
I think this year alone I have read 4 or 5 hygge (coziness) and lykke (happiness) books.

The Hygge Life by Gunnar Kari Gislason

Oh boy, I was struggling with # 295. It just didn' want to print something so I tricked it and put the paragraph first rather than after the photo. Weird! Have I got too many posts and it is starting to misbehave?

Smitten Kitchen Every day by Deb Perelman



So here is a success story if you have ever heard one. Deb Perelman is a home cook, self taught and a blogger and a photographer who has made it BIG TIME. She has 2 little kids and has made her way as a respected cook and cookbook author. I have been following her blog for years and this cookbook is a good one (her second).Thumbing through there are at least 6 recipes that I have to make tomrorrow, well um perhaps one day! There are lots of good veg ones so the book reflects the times. Good for you Deb in this very competitive field. I believe the photos in the book are hers as well as the cover photo.

>291 charl08: You're right, that is an AMAZING collation of "best of 2017" lists! Very fun.

My 2017 thread has also gotten ridiculously long but I refuse to start a new one. I've started my 2018 thread and the transition may just have to precede the actual new year. :-)

>289 mdoris: Ha, fair enough, I got Inferior as a BB as well, I just can't remember whose thread it was on. It's amazing how some books make the rounds.

It is so wonderful to see people's lists of "BEST OF 2017". Here's mine! The clock is ticking for a new year and I have a few books that will be hump books but listed in the new year.



Fiction
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
Nutshell by Ian McEwan
Days without End by Sebastian Barry
The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield
The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Anderson

Non Fiction
Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong and the New Research That's Rewriting the Story by Angela Saini
March 3 books by John Lewis Graphic Novels
The Shepherd's Life: Modern Dispatches from an Ancient Landscape by James Rebanks
The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston
The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan

Best Cookbooks
Dorie's Cookies by Dorie Greenspan
Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden
A New Way to Bake by the Martha Stewart gang
Scratch: Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun, and Totally Delicious by Maria Rodale
Sweet: Desserts from London's Ottolenghi by Yotam Ottolenghi

Very Honourable Mention
Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions byChimamanda Ngozi Adichie

>300 FAMeulstee: Nice list, Mary!
I also read The shepherd's life in 2017, with 4 1/2 star it didn't make my top 21 ;-)

Please come visit. The 2018 thread is open for business!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/279682