Oregonreader in 2020

I haven't been around much in the last year. I've had some health issues and other projects that have kept me away. I am making a "New Year's Resolution" to be more active in visiting you all.

Thank you all for your support and good reading!

Best wishes for 2020!

Another resolution is to keep up in 2020 with all my friends on LT. Happy New Year!

Welcome back!

Happy reading in 2020, Jan!

Wishing you 12 months of success
52 weeks of laughter
366 days of fun (leap year!)
8,784 hours of joy
527,040 minutes of good luck
and 31,622,400 seconds of happiness!!

Happy New Year, Jan. I hope 2020 is a good year for you.

Happy Reading in 2020, Jan!

Wishing you a great 2020, Jan!

Hope 2020 is filled with stellar reads and that you'll be around a bit more!

Thanks, Lori, it's always good to hear from you. Happy reading to you too.

My first books of the new year.

1. The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes I picked this up because of her connection to Downton Abbey. She wrote five companion books for the series. This is her first novel. From the title, I thought the mystery was all about the Mitford family and they were definitely involved. But the the novel centered around a young nanny they employed and her relationship with a young policeman. The book had a slow start for me but quickly picked up speed and had me hooked.

2. A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths I've been reading the series in order but somehow missed this one. I found this one really interesting, dealing with Aboriginal bones brought home as trophies and the fight to bring them back to Australia for burial.

Looking good, Jan! You may have gotten me with the Fellowes. I am a great Mitford fan although I can't quite tell you why.
May 2020 be a wonderful year for you!!!!!

Thanks, Peggy. In this book, the Mitfords seem to reflect what I've read about them in other articles and biographies. I think you would like this one.

Your reading has gotten off to a great start!

Hi, Anita. Thanks so much for stopping by. I just started Tombland and at 800 pages, it will slow down my other reading. But I'm really enjoying
this one. Happy reading to you!

Just stopping by to say hello!!

>12 Oregonreader: I think I already have The Mitford Murders in the BlackHole. Off to check. . .

Belated Happy New Year, Jan!

A Room Full of Bones--I need to get back to Elly Griffiths. : )

>17 SuziQoregon: Hi Juli, thank you so much for stopping by. I have been remiss in visiting others. I'm still going through radiation for my breast cancer and it does make me a little tired. But I hope to get beyond that soon and be a real presence here on LT. Are you planning any trips to Ashland soon? I always associate you with Ashland since you're probably the most dedicated playgoer I know!

>18 alcottacre: Stasia, It's always good to hear from you. If you like the Mitfords and mysteries set in that era, I think you'll like this one.

>19 Berly: Kim, You can never read too many RGs!

3. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz This is the first of AH's novels that I've read and I'm really hooked. I love complicated murder mystery plots and this is definitely one. The narrator is a book editor for a popular mystery novelist. He sends in his next manuscript and it is missing the final chapter where he discloses all. At that point, the editor takes over as sleuth. He's a good writer and I plan to read more.

4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern This has been in my TBR stack for so long and I don't know why it took me so long to read it. Maybe because I normally don't read fantasy. I was drawn in by the wonderful ingenuity in creating the circus and the characters involved. The language is beautiful. But I found near the end that I wanted the mystical language to end and to find out what actually happened.

5. A Necessary End by Peter Robinson I have recently rediscovered this author. He's a prolific writer so there's lots of new books for me. It features Chief Inspector Alan Banks who has to deal with a very abrasive Scotland Yard colleague as they solve a murder. I'll be reading more of these.

6. Death in St. Petersburg by Tasha Alexander I've been reading this series and really enjoyed them for awhile but this one is so repetitive in theme and so predictable that I think I'm done.

7. Tombland by C. J. Sansom This is a long book but so compelling I could not put it down. For me, this is Sansom's Magnum Opus. Matthew Shardlake is working for young Princess Elizabeth while her younger brother, King Edward, was on the throne and Mary is waiting on the sidelines to take over. Elizabeth calls Shardlake to request his help in tracking down a woman she thinks is related to her and may lead to scandal. His search takes him into the countryside and he is caught up in the Peasants Rebellion of 1549. The author does an amazing job of describing the rebels and their goals as well as the King's advisors reaction to them. Sansom includes many of the historical figures involved. There are so many characters so well drawn. I loved it.

>21 Oregonreader: I loved The Night Circus, language and all. : )

How has life been? Hope you are hanging in there with treatments.

>23 Oregonreader: I need to get back to that series, Jan. I have read the first book in the series and liked it but thought his book on World War II, Dominion, stunningly good.

>24 Berly: Kim, I have read so many rave reviews that I think I'm alone in my reaction. I was fascinated with the language even though it finally got too much for me. But each part of the circus is so clever and beautifully described that I'm not surprised it got good reviews.

I am hanging in there with the radiation treatments. My skin is so fair that I expected some skin burn but it's not too bad. Once this ends, I'll start the medical part of the treatment. But I shouldn't complain, the prognosis is good and I'm grateful for that.

I hope you are well. It seems like you've had a lot of ups and downs with health issues.

Do you think this rain will ever end?

>25 PaulCranswick: Paul, thanks for stopping by. I haven't read any of his books except the Shardlake series but I just picked up Winter in Madrid. I'll have to check out Dominion.

>26 Oregonreader: Jan, I am glad treatment has been pretty manageable for you so far. Sending you lost of good wishes as you continue!

True--I always have health things going on, but it has been a bit more than usual lately. Oh, well. What can you do? Making the best of it and on the upswing today. Yay!

I don't mind the rain, since our business cleans stormwater, but could it just rain at night?! Is that too much to ask? ; )

Kim, that is the perfect solution, listening to rain as you go to sleep and waking to clear skies! I could live with that for a long time.

I'd heard that the radiation might make me tired and it has now set in. I can still get up and do what needs to be done, but I'm napping which I never did before. The worst is that I'm having a hard time focusing on challenging books or even the not so challenging ones. I think I just might do a rereading of Heyer until it's over.

I hope things go better for you in the next months. You have so much going on in your life.

Sorry you're struggling with radiation, Jan. I can image that is difficult and hope it gets better for you soon.

Keeping you in my thoughts, Jan. xx

Hi Jan, hope things are going well.

Dear Jan, I'm always glad to see you posting. I'm sorry that the radiation is slowing you down but thrilled to know that the prognosis is good. You will get through this! (I am an inveterate napper with nothing at all wrong except early old age. ! )
Believe it or not, I've started Tombland twice and put it down. I know that I'll love it, but as you say, it's long, and I have other things going. I'm not in an especially good reading place this last while. Concentrating on anything is a bit of a chore, but I am loving a reread of Sylvester and being happy to discover Stasia's favorite *In Death* series. I'm reading the second book when I'm not doing GH. I've also started At Home and find it entertaining and educational.
I wish you very smooth sailing through your treatments. You are a champ!

Jan--Haven't heard anything from you in a while. I hope all is well with you. And that your concentration has returned so you can read a few books!! Hugs.

Thanks for stopping by, Peggy and Kim. I am doing well, finally getting over a cold that has lasted for weeks. I am self-isolated at home. I haven't been here much but I have been reading. I should be more of a presence from now on. I've got a lot of catching up to do on other's threads.

8. The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan I had read about this somewhere on LT and I'm glad I picked it up. Detective Cormac Reilly is given the job of looking into a twenty year old mystery that he had first investigated as a rookie. There are interesting characters and plot twists. I suspect this is the beginning of a series.

9.Come Be My Guests by Elizabeth Cadell I've been cleaning and rearranging bookshelves, something I would never do if I wasn't stuck at home, and I came across several books I had forgotten about. It is best described as a romantic comedy. I thonk I enjoyed it more when I first read it forty years ago.

10. The Four Graces by D. E. Stevenson This was another reread and I enjoyed this one much more. The four Grace sisters live in a small English town with their widowed father. There are lots of colorful characters and descriptions of country life as WWII draws to an end.

11. The Woman in Blue by Elly Griffiths I have loved the Ruth Galloway books so far but this was my least favorite. I think all the dark religion and snide comments by Ruth finally got to me. I understand why Ruth would feel the way she does given her childhood but this one got to me. Of course, I'll be reading the next book soon!

12. The Hanging Valley by Peter Robinson This is my favorite mystery series at the moment and I'm glad he wrote so many books. Detective Chief Inspector Banks moved from London to the Yorkshire countryside looking for relief from the stress of big city policing. He actually finds more than he expected. Well-plotted with interesting characters, these are a treat.

13. Cousin Kate by Georgette Heyer This is another reread that I reach for when I want a little escape.

14. Open House by Elizabeth Berg Sam is a recently divorced woman with an adolescent son. After her husband leaves her, she goes through many of the ways people try to cope with loss and change. She finally decides to take in roommates and finds her path.

15. The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer Another reread and another escape into the ordered world of Regency England!

16. Past Reason Hated by Peter Robinson This time Inspector Banks takes on another murder and discovers the victim lived in lies and secrecy.

Keep 'em coming!!

I could use some Heyer about now. : )

Thanks, Peggy, for your list. Here are my answers.

1. Who are you named after? My middle name is Ruth, after my aunt.
2. When was the last time you cried? A couple of days ago after looking at pictures of my grandchildren on FaceBook.
3. Do you like your handwriting? I did when I was younger but it has deteriorated with the rest of me.
4. What is your favorite lunch meat? Turkey
5. What is your longest relationship? My husband and I were married for 42 years before he died.
6. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes
7. Would you bungee jump? Not even when I was younger. I am not physically brave.
8. What is your favorite kind of cereal? Cheerios
9. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Yes
10. Do you think you are strong willed? Yes and my family would agree.
11. What is your favorite ice cream? Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey
12. What's the first thing you notice about a person? Their eyes.
13. Football, baseball, or basketball? College football
14. What color pants are you wearing? Grey
15. What is the last thing you ate? Wheat Thins
16. What are you listening to? Nothing right now but I like smooth jazz and classical
17. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Light blue
18. What is your favorite smell? Antique roses
19. Who was the last person you talked to? My BFF
20. Married? Yes, for 42 years. Now widowed
21. What is your hair color? Blondish gray
22. What is your eye color? Blue
23. What is your favorite food? I love to eat so it's hard to say, probably apples and lasagna.
24 Scary movies or Happy Endings? Definitely happy endings.
25. Last movie you watched in a theater? Little Women
26. What color shirt are you wearing? Light green
27. Favorite holiday? Christmas
28. Wine or beer? Wine
29. Night owl or morning person? Originally a morning person but retirement turned me into a night owl.
30. Favorite day of the week? They are all the same to me
31. Favorite animal? Dogs.
32. Do you have pets? I have one, a Cairn Terrier mix named Bobby.
33. Where would you like to travel? Portugal and Tuscany.

Looking forward to seeing Peggy's questions on other 75er threads.

Glad to read your answers, Jan. Take good care of yourself!

Take care, Jan.

It's interesting to me that we all seem to be night owls :)

Hi Jan! Glad you are doing OK.

>40 LizzieD: Peggy, I've forwarded this to some of my fellow shut-in friends and we had a good time with it. I heard on the news today that the virus numbers in No. Carolina are growing rapidly. I hope all three of you are safe.

>41 BLBera: Beth, thanks for the good thoughts. Mine go out to you as well.

>42 RebaRelishesReading: Rhonda, I'm hanging in there. Sadly, I live alone with my dog so I don't have much conversation. The best he can do is a little whimper or whine! I hope all three of you are coping well.

17. The Shape of Family by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. This is an ERC. It is one of the better books I’ve reviewed lately. It’s the story of a family living in the Bay Area, the mother from India and the father a white American. They have two children. A terrible tragedy occurs and the author tracks each of the family members as they react with grief and guilt and differing cultural customs. Each take a different spiritual path, in the broadest sense of the word, to try to move on.The format is an omniscient narrator who devotes chapters to each of them in turn as he follows them over the years. In some books, that format can be very choppy but it works well here. Gowda does a wonderful job of getting the reader into the head of each character.

18. A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark I found this on one of my shelves and didn't remember reading it. I am a fan of Spark and thought I had read almost everything she wrote. Set in post WW II, a young war widow, Mrs. Hawkins, works in the struggling publishing industry and lives in a boarding house. Her wonderful insights into the people around her and herself make for a good story.

Jan -- have you thought about "visiting" with someone via Skype or FaceTime or Messenger or the like? We had lunch with friends that way the other day and it was a lot of fun.

Beyond that, stay well and give you dog a hug for me.

I set up a video conference on Zoom for mrsdrneutron and her quilting buddies yesterday. It’s free, though limited to 40 minutes at a time for a free account. She really enjoyed getting together with her friends.

>21 Oregonreader: Adding Magpie Murders to the BlackHole. I have already read The Night Circus, so I get to dodge that BB.

>35 Oregonreader: Adding The Four Graces to the BlackHole. I am a Stevenson fan.

>44 Oregonreader: Adding A Far Cry from Kensington to the BlackHole. I do not think I have read that one by Spark yet.

Hang in there, Jan!

Just breezing through with a wave, Jan. We're fine. Only 2 cases confirmed in my county so far - one of them a local vet but not the one our animals see.
Continue to be careful!

Hi, Jan! Hoping all is well with you. We are doing fine. A little stir crazy, but not too bad. Hugs.

Glad to see you around, Jan. I'm sure you're getting a lot of reading in, and I look forward to finding out what it is.

>49 Berly: Kim, I saw on your thread that your husband has the virus. I hope he is continuing to improve. I feel like I should be making masks for my family but I don't sew. I never thought that would be a needed skill.

>50 LizzieD: Peggy, I definitely have time to read. Since I can't go to the library, I've spent way too much on ordering books. But I do have a good supply. I've been cleaning and dusting my bookshelves, something I have never done before, and I found books I had forgotten I had. I've set some aside for rereading.

I've been watching more TV these days. I discovered a series on Netflix called *Anne with an E*, a retelling of Anne of Green Gables. It's very well done and I'm enjoying it.

Check out "Easy No-Sew Shop Towel Mask" on youTube, Jan. It uses shop towels (by the roll at auto parts stores, Walmart, etc.), staples & rubber bands and is super easy. Took me under a minute. They aren't pretty (I'm modeling mine on my page) but do the job nicely, can be washed a few times and then very easily replaced when necessary.

Have a lovely, peaceful, safe and healthy weekend, Jan

Reba, I checked out your mask on your thread and it doesn't look bad. Whatever gets the job done. Our paper today had a pattern for making one from a bandana. They didn't mention staples but that's a great idea.

Thanks, Paul. The same back to you.

Several weeks ago, Powells had to shut their doors and layoff all their employees. I recently saw the happy news that there have been so many online orders that they are hiring back 100 employees! Good job, Portlanders!

>54 Oregonreader: Jan, these are trying times! On my bucket list is a visit to Powells!

>54 Oregonreader: There's one I've seen on Facebook where you take a cotton bandana and fold it into a long rectangle, the slip a largish rubber band over each end and fold the ends in to make a smaller rectangle -- rubber bands go over the ears and smaller rectangle covers the mouth and nose. Easy and would be better than nothing but an advantage to the shop towel one is it's made of pressed fibers (rather than woven or knitted ones) which I've read provides a better filter.

Powell's was able to rehire 100 folks because of all of the mail orders they're getting -- so we can all help them (or other bookstores like Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA) :)

Stay safe.

>55 PaulCranswick: When you make that visit, Paul, let me know and I'll be there!

>56 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, my mask problem is solved. A kind neighbor brought me over a good mask. Now I can go to "senior hour" grocery shopping with a good mask and gloves. It's rather sad how much I look forward to this. Shopping seems a little bit of normalcy.

Here's a quote I'd like to share. It seems to me to be especially relevant during these times.

God make me a channel of your disturbance.
Where there is apathy, let me provoke,
Where there is silence, may I be a voice.
Where there is too much comfort, and too little action, Grant disruption.
Where there are doors closed and hearts locked, Grant me the willingness to listen.
When laws dictate and pain is overlooked . . .
When tradition speaks louder than need. . .
Disturb us, O God, Teach us to be radical.
Grant that I may seek rather to do justice than to talk about it;
To be with as well as for the poor;
To love the unlovable as well as the lovely;
To touch with passion the Pain of those we meet;
To accept responsibility to be community.
God, make me a channel of your disturbance.

Gina Kohlhelpp

Amen, Jan.

My DH just found and article from our local paper online from 1918 with a picture illustrating a homemade mask and encouraging people to make them and wear them when they went out. Gives one pause, doesn't it?

I wanted my message this year to be fairly universal in a time we all should be pulling together, whatever our beliefs. Happy Celebration, Happy Sunday, Jan.

>57 Oregonreader: lovely prayer, Jan. Wishing you a Happy Easter (or Spring or Passover or whatever you may be celebrating )

Thanks for stopping by, Reba. I's always good to hear from you.
Here's some more reading I've been doing.

19. Universe of Two by Stephen P. Kiernan This was an ERC. The main character in this novel, Charlie Fish, is very loosely based on the life of Charles Fiske, who built the detonator for the atomic bomb. The main story is about his work at Los Alamos which he initially saw as an abstract science problem. Very slowly, he began to realize the use to which his work would be put, and to experience a crisis of conscience. The other plot line involves his romance with a young woman he meets because of his love of organ music. This part seems to be complete fiction and is added, I think, to flesh out the character. But this story line seemed to plod along. This was an interesting book because it gave a glimpse of the army of men that worked on this project.

20. Wednesday's Child by Peter Robinson This is another in the Inspector Banks series and involves a child taken from her mother by two people claiming to be from the English equivalent of Children's Services. This is a tightly plotted suspense novel and was well done.

21. The Road Home by Rose Tremain Tremain is one of my favorite authors and I was surprised that I was slow to be drawn into the book. But maybe it was just my mood at the time. Once I got into it, I was fascinated by Lev and his experiences as an Eastern European immigrant in London. The characters are amazingly well drawn. I really enjoyed this one.

22. The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths Another Ruth Galloway mystery that I really loved. It involved a very complex plot that put Banks into unfamiliar territory.

I've started reading Bill Bryson's At Home. What a amazingly curious mind he has. I'm really enjoying it.

Stay safe, everyone!

>57 Oregonreader: Great quote, Jan!

Hi Jan -- looks like you've been doing some good reading. I agree, Bryson has an amazingly curious mind. I really liked At Home too. I've got The Body: A Guide for Occupants but I'm not sure right now is the best time for than one :)

Hi, Jan. Just popping in to check up on my fellow Oregonian. Looks like your hanging in there, mask and all. ; ) Happy reading!

Reba and Kim, thanks so much for stopping by. I haven't been much of a presence here lately. In part, it's because of stay-at-home fatigue. I've been spending a lot of time in my yard. I had prepared a large bed for planting last fall and I'm just getting to it. It is starting to take shape and until the rain comes (forecast next week), I'll be out there. I hope you are both staying safe.

23. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens I've been cleaning bookcases and reshelving books trying to organize them in some way. I've come across several books I'd like to reread. This one has always been my favorite Dickens and I love the characters: Mr. Micawber, Uriah Heep, Aunt Betsy, Mr. Dick. I enjoyed this again but, my goodness, Dickens is wordy! It made me appreciate modern fiction where emotions are shown, not described.

24. The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths I enjoyed this one although the motive for murder seemed a little thin. And what a cliff hanger. I can't wait for the next one.

Hi Jan! Hope you are enjoying the gardening.

Nice to see your update, Jan.

Have a peaceful and relaxing Sunday.

Hi Jan -- good to "see" you and hope you enjoy your garden.

Hi Jan: I hope you are well. With all this staying at home, it's great that the spring is here and we can at least spend time in our yards.

I loved A Far Cry from Kensington, and The Shape of Family looks good as well. I have the Tremaine on my shelves and hope to get to it soonish.

>62 Oregonreader: I have The Road Home around here somewhere to read. I really need to get to it!

>68 Oregonreader: Well, since Dickens got paid by the word, he used lots of them :)

BTW - thanks for the recommendation of The Four Graces. I read it a few weeks ago and enjoyed it. Not the best Stevenson, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Hi, Jan. Glad to see you reading and posting, and happy that gardening works for you.
The Road Home is a beauty - my first and favorite Tremain. Others are almost as good, and some in lesser hands wouldn't be good at all. Mostly though, I love her.
I'll give you that Dickens is wordy, but on every page you'll find at least one sentence with a turn of phrase that is pure genius. Often he gives us more. I am a DICKENS DISCIPLE. My "Lizzie" is for Hexam, and my "D" is for Dickens.

>69 banjo123: I hope you've had a chance to enjoy the sunshine before the rains came back, Rhonda. The weather actually worked well for me. I have a lot of clay soil and the rain did a good job of moistening it so I could plant. The flowers have attracted more birds to my feeder. My grandson gave me his book of Oregon birds so I can try to identify him.

>70 PaulCranswick: Paul, thanks so much for stopping by. It's always a treat to hear from you.

>71 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, so good to see you here. I hope you and your family are all safe and healthy.

>72 BLBera: Hi, Beth, I'm happy to find another Muriel Spark fan. I've been doing some rereading off my shelves and Memento Mori is in the stack.

>73 alcottacre: Stasia, it is such a pleasure to hear from you! I'm glad you enjoyed The Four Graces and I think you'll like The Road Home as well.

>74 LizzieD: So now I know the backstory on "Lizzie"! For some reason, I always associated it with Elizabeth Bennett. You are right about the turn of phrases in Dickens. I was surprised at how many phrases I recognized from reuse by other authors and by common usage.

I am celebrating the end of Ramadan, Jan, a time of thanks and forgiveness and I want to say my thanks to all my LT friends for helping keep me somewhat sane these last few years.

Paul, thanks for letting me share in your celebration. Something I've always admired about the Muslim and Jewish religions is this tradition of giving time for thankfulness. We could all benefit from this.

25. The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan This is the second in the Det. Cormac Reilly series. Set in Galway, this mystery involves his girlfriend and puts his reputation in jeopardy. I'm looking forward to the next one.

26. At Home by Bill Bryson I love the way Bryson's mind works. He looks at something simple, like a fork, and wonders about its history, then expands it to look at homes themselves. Where were the earliest, how did people live in them? I found this really interesting.

27. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton Cabinet houses, an elaborate miniature of the owner's real house, were popular in Amsterdam during the 17th century. The author uses this to construct a tale of one such family, a wealthy merchant and his 18 year old bride. There are so many mysteries and secrets among his family and the cabinet house plays a role in uncovering them. This was a page turner for me.

28. The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer Another comfort read for me.

Hi Jan! So nice to have comfort reads from time to time.

Heyer is also a comfort read for me, Jan. I'm not sure whether I have read The Nonesuch.

I look forward to The Scholar; I really liked the first one. And I still need to read my first book by Bryson. He sounds like an author I would enjoy.

I'm glad that you enjoyed At Home. It will be a favorite for me for a long time!
I have what seem like 20 or 30 books going right now, but I'm as likely as not to put all of them down for a Heyer. I never know.

Rhonda, Beth, and Peggy, it's nice to see some fellow Heyer lovers here. It seems like no matter how many times I've read her books, I can always reread them!

I just got a copy of Big Sky and I'm excited to get into it. But I'm reading Rutherfurd's New York, a big chunkster that I'm loving. Peggy, I'm not that good at reading more than one book at a time. I must be very single minded!

29. Under Major Domo Minor by Patrick DeWitt I picked this up because I liked DeWitt's earlier book, The Sisters Brothers and was curious to see his next. This book is hard to describe. There is a quirkiness which reminded me of Monty Python. It is set in a vague time and place like a fable. Lucien Minor is a liar who thinks lying is God's greatest gift to mankind. He lies to make himself appear stronger, braver, more honest than he is. He is offered a job in a castle no one in his town has heard of, owned by a reclusive Baron. His experiences there have a strong effect on him. An interesting book.

30. The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn I discovered this in my stacks and had a day of guilty pleasure reading this. It was better written than expected.

31. Shakespeare: The World as a Stage by Bill Bryson Bryson looks at the life of William Shakespeare as he does other projects, separating the facts that we know about him and all that is conjecture. Very fun to read.

>83 Oregonreader: Hmm The Other Miss Bridgerton sounds like just what I need right now. I've been finding it hard to concentrate on more "serious" books. Hubby and I listened to Shakespeare: The World as a Stage on the way back from Chautauqua last fall and really enjoyed it.

Hi Jan, I loved The Sisters Brothers, but I heard Dewitt read from Under Major Domo and it didn't seem up my alley.

Rhonda, the books are so different. I loved Sisters Brothers but this one not so much.

32. New York by Edward Rutherfurd I saw this title on a list of suggested chunksters. I had this on my shelf and pulled it out. The author traces the history of the city from New Amsterdam to modern day New York. It follows two families, one Dutch, one English, over that time. It was very entertaining.

33. Final Account by Peter Robinson I discovered a site for Second Sales which has used books for very low prices. I ordered a few just to see how it worked. This was one of them. Part of the Chief Inspector Banks series, this one has a very complicated plot which can sometimes lead to disaster. But the author skillfully leads us through them and ties it all up nicely. One of my favorite Banks mysteries.

34. Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson I had read about this on LT, I don't remember where, but it sounded intriguing. I was captivated by it. Even though I knew the storm was coming, Larson leads the reader on the approach of the hurricane in a way that creates great suspense. He also includes a lot of information about weather prediction at the time and the science of weather. Great book.

35. Winter in Madrid by C. J. Sansom I am a great fan of Sansom's Shardlake series so I thought I'd read another of his books. This book is set in the days right after the Spanish Civil War, during the early days of WWII. A young English soldier, out of the fighting due to injuries, is enlisted by the British Secret Service to track down a former schoolmate thought to be in Madrid. He is led into a world of Franco's army, Nazi spies, and Republicans still fighting the civil war. I saw many of the same Sansom writing skills in both the Shardlake series and this one.

36. Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie I thought I had read every one of Christie's Poirot novels but was surprised to discovered this one. Again, Poirot uses his gray cells to untangle a complicated murder. Always fun to read.

Good reading, Jan! I haven't read any Rutherford although I have several around. Life seems awfully short to try one, but I can't quite get rid of them. I like Banks and Co., but haven't read that one.
I finally found my copy of Isaac's Storm, which I have looked for for at least two years. I'm not sure that hurricane season is the best time to read it, but it is on my READ NOW table.
Winter in Madrid is a Sansom I haven't read. I'm glad that you found it good.
Nor do I have a copy of Dumb Witness. Like you, I thought I had them all. Something else to look forward to!

>87 Oregonreader: I have to say that CJ Sansom is impressive. I loved his book Dominion too which imagined Halifax making peace with Hitler.

In this difficult year with an unprecedented pandemic and where the ills of the past intrude sadly upon the present there must still be room for positivity. Be rightly proud of your country. To all my American friends, enjoy your 4th of July weekend.

Hi Jan - I hope you are well. You've been doing a lot of great reading. Many of your recent reads, Winter in Madrid, New York, and the Bryson on Shakespeare have hopped on to my WL>

Paul, thank you so much for your message. It is difficult to feel proud right now but we will get through it.

Beth, Thanks for stopping by. I haven't been on the website in awhile. Too much going on. But it's nice to come back and seeing that you've visited.

37. The Overstory by Richard Powers I enjoyed this book with its unusual look at the interaction of trees and the humans around them. This is the first book I've read of his and he is a very good writer. The only problem I had with following the stories is that when a character from one story is introduced to another, I had to go back and refresh my memory about who they were. Probably my lack of concentration!

38. IQ by Joe Ede This book has many good things to recommend it, good writing, humor, and interesting characters. But when the element of a rather scary suspense entered the story, I realized I am not capable of reading suspense any more. Not that it was so horrible, but I think at my age and given the state of the world, I just can't handle much.

39. Excellent Women by Barbara Pym was just what you would expect from Pym: excellent writing, fascinating characters, and humor. Really enjoyed it.

40. Cotillion by Georgett Heyer I comforting escape on a dull day.

41. Too Close to Home by Peter Robinson Two parallel investigations run through this story. The deaths of two young boys twenty years apart. The author does a great job off following each story to a satisfying end.

42. Golden Hill by Francis Spufford I wasn't sure what to make of this one when I finished. The main character is a man of mystery, just arrived in New York 1746 from London. At that time, New York was a small town of 7000 people and his arrival brought him a lot of attention. He encouraged their curiosity for no apparent reason. Why was made clear at the end but aspects of the ending left me a little dissatisfied. But I know this book has been enjoyed by many.

43. A Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus Another book I discovered in my stacks. In 1854, at a peace conference, a Cheyenne chief requested of the US Army the gift of 1000 white women. Because of their matrilineal society, the children would belong to their mother's family and assimilation would be achieved. This never happened, of course, but Fergus uses this to imagine what would have happened if it had. The diary of one of the women is used to describe the events.

>94 Oregonreader: I was one who quite enjoyed Golden Hill. The ending was a bit of a shock though!

>93 Oregonreader: I had the same problem with Overstory Jan. I thought about making a "cheat sheet" to keep the characters straight in the second half but ended up just flipping back a lot.

Jan, I love and adore R. Powers, but I don't think I can concentrate on Overstory right now.
I liked Golden Hill a lot - not as much as Paul and Stasia - but a lot. Like you, I didn't 100% buy the ending although I knew that something like that was coming. Anyway, I'm happy to have read it. My FtF book club has *1,000 White Women* in its collection, but I haven't been pulled to it.
And I have enjoyed Peter Robinson in the past and have some unread ones, but the mysteries seem to be piled up behind *Lantern Men* and the E. George that I've stalled on for the time being.
Happy reading to you! I look forward to hearing about it.

>95 PaulCranswick: There's lots to like about it, Paul. I agree about the ending.

>96 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, I'm glad I'm not the only one struggling to remember characters. I always blame my aging memory!

>97 LizzieD: Hi Peggy, Overstory does take some concentrating. It was one of those books I had to be in the right mood for. I'm still drawn to mysteries, especially those with complex plots. Robinson is my current favorite. I'm still waiting for the next Ruth Goodman.

>98 Oregonreader: I like Robinson too. I haven't read the last couple and I should get reacquainted with DCI Banks soon.

>98 Oregonreader: I used to have a doctor who was in her 50's I would guess. First question she always asked me was "what are you reading" (probably prompted by the book I always had on my lap) and one time said she was trying to read the same book but was having trouble getting started because she couldn't keep the characters straight. I was nearly finished so I handed her my cheat sheet and she was able to finish the book and enjoy it thanks to the cheat sheet. So you see, it isn't just our age that's the problem :)

Hi Jan, hope you are doing well. I also found all the characters in The OVerstory a bit much.

Goodness, Jan! It's something over a month since you wrote on your thread. I do hope that this means that you're enjoying family as you can in this hard time.
I just came over to say that I finally located A Killer in King's Cove today - exactly where I thought it should be and where I had looked carefully several times. That's my brain these days. It's also the brain that guided me this morning: I washed the four cherries I was going to eat at breakfast, pulled the stems off three of them, and put them down. I then pulled off the fourth stem, put the four cherries on the stems and carried the last stem to my plate. I have no idea what I was thinking about, but it certainly wasn't cherries. Weep or laugh.
Hope to hear from you soon!

Back again. It wasn't you who sparked my interest in *K in K's C*, was it? I'll leave the post though because I miss you.

I'm finally back after a long absence. I've had some health problems and depression over the state of the country. I'm living in real fear of Trump's reelection. But I did spend two weeks with all my children and grandchildren. We were in Sun River and rented a house set in the woods with 35 miles of bike and walking trails. It was very therapeutic. But I have continued to read.

Paul, Reba, Rhonda, and Peggy, thanks so much for thinking of me and stopping by. It's always a pleasure to see you.

44. In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson My latest Inspector Banks mystery. This is my favorite mystery series at the moment.

45. His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie This was an ARC. Set in modern-day Ghana, Afi is a young woman with a large extended family who live very traditional lives in a large city. Her family arranges for her to marry a wealthy man she has never met. He has fallen in love with a very unacceptable woman and Afi's job is to get him away from her. What follows is a story of love, disappointment, and finding of new strength. There are a number of humorous situations but but the author draws a serious look at Afi's life.

GLAD to see you back, Jan! As I just wrote somewhere else, if 45 is re-elected, we're toast. We depend on SS and Medicare.
I look forward to seeing what else you're reading. I do like Banks and crew, especially Dalziel and Elly.

>104 Oregonreader: A week with family in the middle of a woods full of trails -- oh my, that sounds wonderful. I hope it boosted your spirits and restored your health. Glad to have you back.

So glad that you are back, Jan! And the family cabin vacations sounds like a winner.

105> Peggy, you are so right about 45. Medicare and SS are essential for so many of us. I've always read a lot of mysteries, but, given my state of mind, they are a good distraction. I just ordered The Bookseller by Mark Pryor. It looks like the beginning of a series I might like.

106> Reba, Thanks for visiting. As you know, time in an inviting location does wonders! I've always envied your Chautauqua summers.

107> Rhonda, I have two children and four grandchildren. Luckily we all really like each other and love to spend time together. It was wonderful.

46. Murder in an English Village by Jessica Ellicott I'm not sure where I came upon this one. Famous world traveler, Beryl Helliwill, visits her old friend, Edwina Davenport, and murder and mayhem ensue. This is the first of a new series. I enjoyed it but I don't know that I would read another one.

47. Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump I couldn't resist reading this and it confirmed everything I suspected about the family. Easy to read but depressing.

>108 Oregonreader: What pain! I can only read a bit of the Mary T. at a time. It is depressing.
I expect that you'd like my current mystery, A Killer in King's Cove. It's set in British Columbia immediately after WWII, where a former English intelligence agent has moved to get away from her past. It is moving very slowly, but I don't really mind in these perilous times.

>109 LizzieD: Peggy, that sounds exactly like my kind of book! It goes right to the top of my list. I was ordering some books today and it occurred to me that it's a good thing I can't track how much I spend on books each year. I'm sure it's much more than I spend on clothes.

Lovely to see you back posting, Jan. xx

Thanks, Paul. Today my car is in the shop for repairs so I should have plenty of time for posting while I anxiously await the verdict and cost!

48. Big Sky by Kate Atkinson I've loved all the Jackson Brodie books I've read but this was my least favorite. There are so many plot lines and Brodie played a smaller part in them. Still, she's a very good novelist and worth reading.

49. Blood at the Root by Peter Robinson I bought a number of Inspector Banks mysteries from Second Sale and I'm enjoying them all. This one involves three Pakistani boys who are suspected of murder. Banks deals with racial prejudice in solving this one.

50. The Women in Black by Madeleine St. John I picked this up from Suzanne's thread. The story is of four women who sell women's dresses in a department store in Sydney. Told with hope and humor, the story shows how working together changes all their lives.

Hi Jan - your time with your family sounds wonderful. I try to take politics in limited doses these days.

I read The Bookseller and really liked it. The second one was good too.

Beth, that's good to hear. The Bookseller will be my next read.

I can't believe how long it has been since I've been here. My friends and family are dealing with fires, many evacuated, or on order to be prepared to leave, including my son and his family. I am not in any fire danger but the smoke is so heavy, I can't leave my house. My poor dog has no idea why he hasn't been walked in several days.

I'm still working to get my roof and pergola fixed after our incredibly strong winds blew a branch from my neighbor's tree on to them. I was surprised to find out that if weather causes damage from a neighbor's tree, it is the homeowner's insurance that covers it. I have a $1000 deductible so it will mostly fall on me. That's the kind of year I've had!

Hi Jan, glad you are safe, but isn't the smoke horrible? Hoping for rain soon.

Glad to see you back and know that you're at least safe from the fire. I'm sorry about the air quality.
Also sorry about your house expenses - no choice but to fix that roof.
You're making me want to look at Women in Black again and you've put The Bookseller of Kabul on my radar. Thanks for the BBs!

We've been talking to our daughter in Portland and the smoke sounds simply horrible. Now that the weather is cooler they're able to keep the windows closed and run the air through the fan of their heating unit (without adding heat) which makes the inside livable but they aren't able to go outside at all. Our thoughts are with you all, Jan, as you deal with the horrible fires, smoke, winds, etc. and their unfortunate effects (I would have thought that branch would have been the responsibility of your neighbor's liability insurance -- who knew!)

Rhonda, Peggy, and Reba, it is always great to see you here. My family is all coping and just waiting for the air to clear.

Some more reading:

51. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett I had read many mentions of this book on LT but really had no idea what to expect. I found it very engrossing. I loved the themes of anger and resentment and how we can feed them over time. I also loved that it dealt with forgiveness or at least some understanding of the people who cause the anger. Not a great book but well worth reading.

52. Red Wine of Youth: A Life of Rupert Brooke by Arthur Stringer This was published by Franklin Classics and is a reproduction of historical artifacts. It was interesting to read descriptions of Brooke by his contemporaries and friends. So much of his youth struck me as being lived in a "Byronic" style, financially independent, theatrical, cynical. He is quoted as saying he didn't want to live beyond thirty as he would no longer to be able to really experience life after that. He was initially drawn to writing plays but all around him saw his genius for poetry and pushed in that direction. I have always been drawn to some of his poetry. Here is one of my favorites.

One Day

Today I have been happy. All the day
I held a memory of you, and wove
It's laughter with the dancing light o' the spray,
And sowed the sky with tiny clouds of love,
And sent you following the white waves of the sea,
And crowned your head with fancies, nothing worth,
Stray buds from that old dust of misery,
Being glad with a new foolish quiet mirth.

So lightly I played with those dark memories,
Just as a child, beneath the summer skies,
Plays hour by hour with a strange shining stone,
For which (he knows not) towns were fire of old,
And love has been betrayed, and murder done,
And great kings turned to a little bitter mould.

Wow! That's some poem, Jan. I know only Brooke's war poetry, so that is a revelation. Thanks!
Stay in and stay safe!!!!

Thanks, Peggy. The air seems to be slightly less hard to breathe today. I'm optimistic! I read on your thread that you will miss the brunt of Sally. So glad to hear that.

53. In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende In a snowstorm in Brooklyn, a 60 year old university professor hits the car of a young woman, an undocumented Guatamalan immigrant. He is surprised when she shows up on his doorstep later that night asking for help. He enlists the aid of his renter, a forty something female academic from Chile. What follows is surprising, funny, and poignant as they join forces to get themselves out of a tough situation. I really enjoyed this one.

54. Time Was Soft There by Jeremy Mercer This is memoir but just as much a biography of George Whitman. Whitman owned a Paris bookstore when he bought Sylvia Beach's books from Shakespeare & Co. She was closing her store so he took the name for his. This is the store where Mercer sought refuge and spent several months living there. He describes the store and the many characters with good detail. I learned so much about the famous store that I had not known.

55. Friend of the Devil by Peter Robinson Robinson usually has two murder investigations intertwining in his novels. That is true in this one as well. He is very good at keeping the reader clear on what is happening in each plot line. This was a good one.

Hi Jan - I really enjoyed In the Midst of Winter as well. The book about Shakespeare & Co. sounds good as well.

I hope you are staying safe. I'm sending thought of rain your way.

>121 Oregonreader: Peggy, we are having a good rain today and I'm loving it. I think it has cleared the air somewhat and we really need that.

>123 BLBera: Beth, your thoughts of rain seemed to have done the trick! It's very cozy sitting here watching the rain. I suspect you've read more of Allende's work than I have but I was very surprised at how much I loved this one.

One more for the list.

56. The Bookseller by Mark Pryor. I can't remember where on LT I read about this series - I've got to start keeping a list - but I'm glad I checked it out. This is set in Paris, where Hugo Marsten is head of security for the American Embassy. A good friend of Marsten disappears and the police are not doing much so he takes over.I loved the setting. My husband and I lived in Paris for about four months when we were young. Pryor mentioned Rue Lepic, the street we lived on. I was excited to see it and I'm anxious to read the next one.

I'm still grieving the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The world is a lesser place without her.

Hi Jan. I agree. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is missed. I wonder, and am concerned if Trump is about to select and push through his choice. So many need health care, and I would hate it if that would be changed.

Thanks for stopping by, Linda. It looks like Trump will succeed with his court nominee. She's so young, she could serve for the next fifty years. I'm looking forward to the debate tomorrow and crossing my fingers that Joe will dominate!

57. Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan I'm a fan of O'Nan's books but was disappointed in this one. An elderly widow, her grown children, and grandchildren gather at their vacation home in Chautauqua which they are selling. They spend a week there selecting what things they want to keep and expressing their feelings about the sale. O'Nan spends a great deal of time describing each character through their thoughts and conversations with each other. He chronicles each day with such details as what they have for breakfast, who gets up when, and every mundane activity we all go through. I got bored and there didn't seem to be any point to it other than a minute dissection of this family. They weren't that interesting.

I finally have time to catch up on my reading entries. I've been dealing with a damaged roof, the roofers, and my insurance company. Everything seems to take up a lot of time!

58. A Killer in King's Cove by Iona Whishaw Peggy recommended this to me and I was not disappointed. The plot was well crafted and the characters interesting. I will be reading more of her books.

59. The Bay of Angels by Anita Brookner Zoe grows up with a very reclusive mother and her reading is all about happy endings in fairy tale settings. She thinks if she is very passive, a man will come along to change her life for the better, a la Cinderella. This is understandable in a ten year old but not a twenty year old. She also has an extreme obsession with independence but has very little insight into what that means to her. The novel follows her young adult life. I found the character very frustrating. Eventuallly, some hard knocks cause her to question her beliefs.

60. The Crypt Thief by Mark Pryor I read Pryor's first Hugo Marsten novel, The Bookseller, and enjoyed it. This is the second one and very different. Marsten follows a serial killer through the graveyards of Paris but the plot is so violent and gruesome that I was unable to finish it. I know I am very sensitive about these things in books but I'm sure many would be able to deal with it and enjoy the story. One bright spot, my husband and I lived in Paris for several months in our youth and Pryor mentions Rue Le Pic, the street we lived on. If you're familiar with the city, I think you'll enjoy his descriptions.

Hi Jan. Too bad the Brookner disappointed and I will certainly not be reading The Crypt Thief. I hate reading about violence. Are you a Louise Penny fan? Her latest book is set in Paris and isn't gruesome so you might enjoy it.

Hi Jan! What a drag about the roof---houses are a lot of trouble, aren't they?

>130 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, I am a Louise Penny fan. I have a hold on the book at my library but I'm down the list so I'll be waiting awhile. I've heard such good things about it.

>131 banjo123: You are so right, Rhonda. For me, problems seem to come in bunches so hopefully I'm good for awhile.

Hi Jan! Sorry to hear about your roof, but I subscribe to the "Things come in bunches" and I hope your bunch is over! I really enjoyed A Killer in King's Cove, too.

>125 Oregonreader: I am about to start RBG's book. I miss her and all that she stood for. Not impressed by her intended replacement.

Thanks for stopping by, Kim. My daughter is reading RBG and will pass it on to me but I think it may be awhile. Carmen is an Assoc Attorney General here in Oregon and working very long hours. At least she can work from home but her reading definitely has suffered. At least I have lots of books to distract me from the news.
I've been writing letters for Vote Forward. On Saturday, over 1 1/2 million letters will go out to democrats all over the country urging them to vote. It was exciting to be a little part of it.

That's awesome that you are encouraging people to get out and vote. We just got our mail-in ballots today, so we will be filling them out this weekend. : )

61. The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware I can't remember how many mystery writers I've read who are described as the new Christie. In this case, the claim is a little closer to the truth than most. Ware is an excellent writer. In this one, a young girl goes to large country house and the mystery develops there. It's a well constructed plot. A bit more intensely suspenseful than I expected but very enjoyable.

62. The Sea Runners by Ivan Doig Loosely based on a true story, four men indentured in Russian Alaska in 1853 decide to make their escape which has to be done by sea down the coast of Alaska and Washington. It is a horrifying trip. Their boat is an Native American canoe and they have very few supplies. One of Doig's strengths is his ability to describe the setting and make you feel you are with them in the boat. I'd recommend it.

63. The Collected Poems of Rupert Brooke by Edward Marsh I picked this up when I read Brooke's biography and have been dipping into it since then. In his early poems, he expresses his sensuousness, his joy in physical objects, from a cloud to a tea cup, and some of his poems simply list these things with his expressions of happiness. Later poems deal with love, lost and found, and death. I enjoyed discovering these poems; he does have a direct, clear voice.

64. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz The Arthur Conan Doyle Estate authorized a new Sherlock Holmes novel and chose Horowitz to write it. They certainly chose the right man. He writes as Dr. Watson did, telling all the details of Holmes solving a crime involving high ranking men in London. As I read the book, I actually forgot I was not reading Watson's writing. AH somehow managed to find Watson's voice with perfection. If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, this is a must read. Highly recommended.

65. The Beekeeper's Ball by Susan Wiggs When I first started reading this, I thought it was going to be a romance like you find in a Hallmark movie (don't ask me how I know!) But the author soon added a different element. Isabelle runs a large farm and lots of beehives. She is planning to open a cooking school there. A journalist arrives and says he has been asked to write a biography of her father, a Danish refugee from WWII. We follow that story, along with the romance, and it added another level of interest. A nice read.

Number 62 sounds great! I think you got me with that one.

>134 Oregonreader: I did letters for Vote Forward too and left them with my BFF to mail along with hers. I was excited to find a way to help that worked for me. Eight years ago I volunteered to make phone calls and discovered it just really isn't my thing.

>138 drneutron: I think you'll enjoy it, Jim. I'm a big fan of Doig.

>139 RebaRelishesReading: I'm with you, Reba. Phone calls are too stressful for me, even calling fellow democrats. I was happy to find a letter writing project.
I hope your move is going smoothly.

66. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo Much has been said about this book on LT so I'll just say I also loved it. I was surprised at the number of women in the book but all were done so well.

Jan, I am so very sorry you are dealing with breast cancer, and your stuggle with radiation. My daughter had thyroid cancer. Rather than remove the thyroid, she opted for radiation threatment. It left her with a very compromised immune system.

In fact, when the covid virus hit, her oncologist personally called her and strongly told her to stay away from situations where she could be exposed.

I'll hold you in my thoughts and prayers.

Hi Jan! What a lot of good books here. I recently read Girl, Woman, Other as well and loved it.

I agree with you about the Mark Pryor books. I loved the first one, and the second one was so violent, I paused. I might try another to see if he tones it down a bit. I was going to mention my theory that mysteries by men seem more gratuitously violent, but I don't want to start THAT conversation on your thread, Jan. :)

I'm also a fan of Killer in King's Cove. I recently read the second one in the series.

Kudos, Jan, for the letter writing! I suppose that I could have/should have done that. I react badly to phone calls from any party, even mine. I would never, ever volunteer for a phone campaign.
You remind me that I have several I. Doigs on hand and haven't read one. Shame on me!
I'm happy to see your thread so active these days!!!!!

Hi Jan! We also did Vote Forward letters. It seems like a really good program.

I can't believe how fast time slips by. I feel a little guilty for my frequent absences here but RL keeps interfering.
Thanks for stopping by, Rhonda. All the early voting makes me think that all those letters helped.

67. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
68. An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn I have been so depressed and anxious over the election and virus spread that the only escape was into Regency England where the only problems they have are romantic ones. It was restful.

69. Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell I didn't know what to expect from this one. I think I expected a more straightforward telling of the story of Hamnet Shakespeare. I was a bit confused by the jumping back and forth in time but as I read, I found myself more and more captivated by the characters and enjoyed it very much. O'Farrell is a wonderful writer.

70. The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths I was disappointed in this one. It seems like a copy of so many of RG's books. A body is found at a sacred sight, a newer body is discovered and Ruth and Nelson investigate. What was interesting were the relationships between Ruth and Nelson and the other characters.

71. The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths This was a much better book. Both Nelson's and Cathbad's family are involved in the mystery which is very involved with unexpected turns.

Hi Jan -- nice to see you :) I'm having trouble concentrating on reading and should probably try a good period novel. I think I've read son by Ms. Quinn way long ago -- probably should go there again.

Hi Reba, I keep waiting for my mind to quiet down but with all the Trump drama, it's hard to do. I keep telling myself that this will end soon.

Here's some more reading.

72. All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penney This is far and away my favorite of the series. I have read all the books and I'd have to say that the format of long discussions in Three Pines on the nature of good and evil was getting a bit stale for me. Penney has changed the pace and the location in a very positive way. I loved getting to know his family better.

73. Murder at Brightwell by Ashley Weaver My daughter loves mysteries set in 1930's England and passed this on to me. A wealthy young woman questions her marriage to her playboy husband and decides to get away. She goes to a party held a a grand hotel and murder ensues. Enjoyable.

74. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson Tyson has a deserved reputation for being able to explain scientific concepts to nonscientists. I have been dipping into this book for most of the year and and feel glad that even a few of the ideas have stuck. That's the best I can hope for! Tyson includes an index that is very helpful.

75. Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elisabeth Phillips A destitute young widow with a 5 years old son ends up in the small No. Carolina town where she is held in contempt. Married to a corrupt televangelist, who was killed fleeing with millions of dollars, the town blamed her for corrupting him. They couldn't let go of his image as a man of God. With no money and a broken down car, she is forced to find a way to survive. This story is a little short on character development but it's an interesting one with a little romance thrown in.

Congrats on hitting the goal!

>148 Oregonreader: Congratulations on reaching 75, Jan!

Congratulations on 75!! I agree with you about All the Devils Are Here. I liked the change of scene and the family playing a bigger role. I did miss Three Pines though and I hope she goes back there at least for part of the story next time.

Thank you, Jim, Anita, and Reba. I've had a few years when I didn't meet the goal so I never take it for granted!
Here's one more to add to the list.

76. The Old Success by Martha Grimes I have read all the Richard Jury books but drifted away when Grimes started a series of books where he wasn't featured. He is back in this one although there are so many people, victims, witnesses, and detectives that it didn't have the feel for Jury, Melrose Plant, and the gang at the pub. But I did enjoy it and I'm glad he is back.

Hi Jan - I also loved Hamnet, one of my favorites this year!

I'm glad to hear that All the Devils Are Here is a good one. My mom lent me her copy, so I hope to get to it soon.

I am another Richard Jury fan. I hope there are a couple of more books.

Congrats on reaching 75.

WOW!!! You're at 75 and reading on! GOOD for you, Jan, and CONGRATULATIONS! (I'm trying to use fewer !s. Not only am I not successful, but I've added an all-caps fetish now.)
If I were in another mind-set, I'd look in to the NdGT book. I tried to read some nuclear physics with Jim's help, and that lasted about two weeks. I just don't get it. I still don't know whether I'm supposed to understand that stuff the way I understand the subjunctive, for instance, or just to take it as a given.
Oh, Richard Jury and Melville Plant. I read enough of them to have bought several more, but I got tired of Aunt V and fairy cakes, etc. I remember being in love with The Anodyne Necklace though, which was my first.

Congrats on reading 75 books!

Congrats on the 75!

Slightly belated congratulations on passing 75, Jan.

This Brit wishes to express his thanks for the warmth and friendship that has helped sustain him in this group, Jan.

Beth, Peggy, Anita, Rhonda and Paul, thank you so much for the congratulations. I'm still reading but nothing too challenging. I'm in the Holiday mode!

Paul, thank you for the Thanksgiving message. I am also thankful for the group support. I am not a regular here as my RL pulls me away and there are gaps in my visits. But I do value all of you.

77. A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel This was an ERC. When I requested this, I was attracted by the setting in Ireland and I expected a story of village life. I was very mistaken. This is an extremely poorly written book which I think must have been aimed at middle schoolers. Cliched descriptions and no character development sum it up. It is also imparts a strong Christian message as the main characters look to God for direction. Not recommended.

78. Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick Philbrick is one of my favorite historians. His books are well-researched and include a lengthy index of sources. My main interest in this one was Benedict Arnold. I knew nothing about him except his conviction for treason. The author looks at his life as the Revolution begins, his deep belief in the cause and his heroic actions early on. He was one of Washington's favorites. He was ambitious, demanding, and made a lot of enemies. Philbrick gives a clear account of his path toward treason. I found this fascinating. I highly recommend this one.

Congrats on passing the big 75!! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Enjoy the Holiday Mode!!

>160 Oregonreader: Donegal is where my ancestors hail from, Jan, and I am sure that they liked to dance.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
May 2021 bring you less need for masks, loads of peace and joy, good health and, of course, books!

I hope you get some of those at least, Jan, as we all look forward to a better 2021.

Happy Holidays, Jan. I wish you a wonderful 2021.

Jan

As the year turns, friendship continues