Donna Reads Through A New Decade (1)

Welcome to my wonderful world of books! My reading life changed for the better in March of 2007 when I read about Library Thing in the Wall Street Journal. I promptly joined and began tracking my reading online. I have kept lists of the books I’ve read since the mid-70s and started adding reviews in 1997. LT makes the process much easier, plus I’ve made many friends around the world and have received untold gentle book bullets. I am so grateful to this community of readers. Thank You! 😍 📚

On the personal side, my family gives me great joy. My husband and I celebrated 50 years of marriage in July of 2018. Our three children and six grands had fun in our (rented) mountain home outside of Breckenridge, CO. This Christmas is the first time we’ve all been together since then. As you can see by the picture, we had so much fun! Our house is quiet once again, but I have a few books to keep me company. Thank goodness for my home library and a neighborhood library a brisk 20-minute walk from my house.

I have been doing this end-of-year reading meme for the past eight or so years. I notice several people have added some bonus lines this year. More fun!

Fill in the prompts using titles of books you've read in 2019...

Describe yourself: The Good Neighbor

Describe how you feel: Wish You Were Here

Describe where you currently live: Disappearing Earth

Your favorite time of day is: The Gilded Hour

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Secret Garden

Your favorite form of transportation: The River

Your best friend is: The Chosen

You and your friends are: The Great Believers

What’s the weather like: A Cold Day in Paradise

You fear: Leaving Everything Most Loved

What is the best advice you have to give: Play Dead

Thought for the day: Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It

How you would like to die: Crazy Brave

Your soul’s present condition: Quiet Girl In A Noisy World

What is life for you: This is Happiness

Your favorite food is: Olive, Again

What I would like for my birthday next year: Journey to Munich

1. Marley
2. The Island of Sea Women
16. The Crossing Places
17. The World's Strongest Librarian
18. The Huntress
20. The Game of Kings
25. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend

I’ve considered not giving ratings to the books I read. They seem so arbitrary and dependent upon mood and on what is going on in my life. However, I think I will continue the practice because it is in my nature as an ex-teacher to give grades. ;-)
Rating System
One Star......Not worth my time
Two Stars....Finished grudgingly
2.5 Stars......Fair, but not for me
Three Stars..Liked it pretty well but had reservations
3.5 Stars.....Good but not great
Four Stars...Great book; I recommend anything with a 4-star and beyond rating
4.5 Stars.....Excellent; a keeper
Five Stars....Superb - Timeless; a real treasure.
I have very few 5-star ratings. I want this designation to be saved for those few life-changing books out there.

Simplified Rating System
Five Stars --- Superb
4.5 Stars ---- Excellent
Four Stars --- Great
3.5 Stars ---- Good
Three Stars - Okay
2.5 Stars ---- Fair
I don't have the patience to read anything below a fair rating.
Life is too short to waste on bad books!



January Reading:
1. The Butterfly Girl by Rene Denfeld. 4* Comments
2. Norwegian By Night by Derek B. Miller. 4.3* Comments❤️
3. Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane. 3.2* Comments
4. The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See. 4* Comments
5. The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane. Comments
6. To Die But Once by Jacqueline Winspear. 3* Comments
7. The Huntress by Kate Quinn. 3.5* Comments
8. Marley by Jon Clinch. 3.5* Comments
9. The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths. 3.5* Comments.

February Reading:
10. The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett. 3.5 * Comments
11. The Sacrament by Olaf Olafsson. 3.7* Comments
12. Underland by Robert Macfarlane. 4* Comments
13. The World Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagame. 3.8* Comments
14. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood. 4* Comments
15. Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Krueger. 3.9* Comments
16. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald (audio). 2.8* Comments
17. Simon the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles. 4.1* Comments.❤️

March Reading:
18. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates. 3.7* Comments
19. A Dangerous Crossing by Ausma Zehanat Khan, 4* Comments
20. A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin. 4.2* Comments
21. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. 4.2* Comments
22. The Fall of Light by Niall Williams. 4.5* Review❤️
23. The Story Hour by Thrity Umrigar. 3.7* Comments
24. The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel. 4.2 * Comments
25. Lost in Translation by Ella Frances Sanders. 3.5* Comments
26. Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener. 3.7 * Comments.

Top Ten Fiction Books of 2019 listed in the order I read them...

History of the Rain by Niall Williams
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkah
A Catalog of Birds by Laura Harrington
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson
Deep River by Karl Marlantes
The Women of Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
This is Happiness by Niall Williams

It’s interesting (to me) that my first and last notable books are by the same author. I definitely want to read more by Irish author Niall Williams this year.

Another new-to-me author whom I enjoyed this year was Stewart O’Nan. I had heard of him but didn’t think his books would appeal to me. Wrong! I look forward to exploring his other works.

Some of the Non-fiction books I enjoyed were:
These Truths by Jill Lepore
Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country by Pam Houston
Bibliophile by Jane Mount
A Lowcountry Heart by Pat Conroy.

I read exactly 100 books in 2019. That is my goal, but I don’t always make it. I read primarily literary fiction, although I’m making a real effort to read more NF.
I read 17 NF books which might be a record for me.
I also listened to 17 audio books, mostly on road trips to Colorado and Northern Michigan.
I read two graphic books, my favorite being Quiet Girl In A Noisy World.
I read only one book on my Kindle.

Total Page Count for the year was 35,366.

2019 was a great reading year, and I’m looking forward to more of the same in 2020.

Happy Reading, Everyone!

: )

Hope 2020 is kind to you!

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

Best wishes for 2020!

Happy reading 2020, Donna.

Great to see you back, Donna. Happy New Year.

Happy 2020, Donna! Wish you all the best in the new year!

Happy New Year of reading, spending time with your grandchildren, and finding time to enjoy what makes you happy!
I wasn't as active in 2019 as I would have liked to be. But, I am back, and will check your thread regularly.

Welcome back!

Happy new year, Donna!

Hi Donna. After a horrible 2019, I am back on LT and will try to be more active this year.
Amazing to see how your grandchildren have grown over the years. (they tend to do that). I remember Molly was born about the time our first grandchild, Boden, was born.

Happy reading in 2020, Donna!

Happy New Year, Donna!

And now I can greet my visitors! I love having company.

>6 Berly: Thanks for that brilliant star, Kim.

>7 ChelleBearss: Wishing the same to you, Chelle.

>8 PaulCranswick: Those are words to live by, Paul. Thanks!

>9 DianaNL: Thank you, Diana.

>10 Ameise1: I’m looking forward to getting started on my reading, Barbara.

>11 BLBera: It’s good to be back. Happy New Year to you, Beth.

>13 Whisper1: it’s good to see you here, Linda. Thanks for all the good wishes. I wish you peace, comfort, and good books!

>14 drneutron: Thanks, Jim. And thanks for all the hard administrative work. We appreciate you!

>15 katiekrug: Hi Katie. Happy New Year to you and The Wayne!

Hi Donna, Happy New Year. Your beautiful grandchildren are certainly growing up. It's a reality I don't like facing lol. When I ask Mia where is my little baby she puts me in my place. Grandma, I'm a big kid now! Happy reading my friend.

>16 arubabookwoman: Deborah, I’m glad your husband is doing better. I’ve missed you on LT. Yes, the grands are growing too fast. I hope you get to see yours more frequently after your move to Florida.

>17 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. I’d better get started!

>18 ronincats: Ooh, pretty star, Roni. Thank you.

>22 brenzi: Hi Bonnie. It’s so much fun to see them learn new things. I had both Hope and Molly reading Christmas books to me this past week. Heaven! The teenagers, on the other hand, had their eyes fixed on their phones most of the time. 🤷🏼‍♀️

>12 Carmenere: Lynda, you sneaked up on me! I’m wishing good things for you as well. Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your family.

My responses have disappeared! What is going on here?
Oh good, they’re back. We must be overloading the system, I’ll do my bit and go start reading!

I am looking forward to your book reviews and family updates and wishing you a year of great reading in 2020. All the best!

Happy 2020!

Found you and dropped my star :)

Happy New Year! Here's hoping I keep up with everyone a little better this year. :)

Book No. 1: The Butterfly Girl by Rene Denfeld. Library, 264 pp., 4 stars.

“Celia was in the library. It was her favorite place to be, besides her own imagination. The best part was becoming one with the butterflies...When they talked to Celia, it was like the sweetest notes of music. She could hear them coming from afar. She could see them now, covering the misty library windows..Celia’s eyes filled with tears as the butterflies gave voice to her own wonder.” (43, 45)

Rene Denfeld's books won't be for everyone because of the magic realism yet I've liked all three of them. Her latest book is a sequel to The Child Finder. That title is a description of Naomi, one of the main characters in the book. She was the victim of an abduction as a child and lived several years in an underground bunker. When she was able to run away at age 9, her younger sister was left behind and she never forgave herself. Now she is a grown woman who makes her living as a private investigator trying to find missing children. The story goes back and forth between her search for her sister and the plight of an abused 12-year-old girl named Celia who lives on the streets of Portland, Oregon. Their paths cross repeatedly as they both seek to overcome their wrecked lives.

This psychological thriller is written from the perspective of a woman who knows what it's like to live on the streets as a homeless child. I need to research the author to find out her story. It is tough reading about these situations but there is always hope lurking in the background. I particularly liked that the fictional Celia had a friend in the librarian who stashed away her beloved book on butterflies. I usually don't enjoy these emotional roller coaster books but Denfeld has credibility and knows how to build suspense. I would suggest reading The Child Finder first.

Welcome back, Donna! Lovely to see your family’s smiling faces!

>27 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. I enjoy following your thread, too. All the way to Hawaii!

>28 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda. I planted a star on your thread awhile ago.

>29 RebaRelishesReading: You are likewise found and starred, Reba. My, this is some LT party!

>30 nittnut: Jenn, just do the best you can. I am much more likely to be sitting in a corner of the gathering watching all the other kids visit while I quietly look up from my book. 😉

>32 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. We sure had a good time. It is sooo quiet at our house now.

>31 Donna828: What book are the quotes from?

>34 Berly: Kim, I was wondering if anyone had noticed a quote with no reference. I had to take The Butterfly Girl back to the library this afternoon then had to support the Missouri State Lady Bears basketball team in their Chicago game against Loyola. We won in overtime! I am just now thinking about what to say about my first book of the year. Stay tuned...

Hi Donna and Happy New Year!

I have not read anything by Niall Williams but will give him a try based on your comments/summary of your 2019 reading.

Dropping off my star for another year, of course. :-)

>36 EBT1002: Hi there Ellen. Thanks for stopping by my quiet little thread. That's quite an LT party going on out there. I do hope you like Niall Williams. His books have lots of rain and sprinklings of dark Irish humor in them. I don't understand why he is not more well known. I was particularly entranced with History of the Rain which was my only 5-star book of 2019.

The Child Finder was a good read for me last year, Donna. I didn't realize the follow-up was out already. I will look for it. Thanks!

>38 katiekrug: You're welcome, Katie. I "discovered" Denfeld when my book group read The Enchanted a few years ago. It was heavy on the magic realism but told quite a story about imprisonment. Have you read that one?

I havent' read that one, Donna. I'll take a look for it at the library.

>40 katiekrug: Good! My work here is done. I’m not quite the warbler Mark is, but if you’re familiar with Denfeld’s writing style, I’m pretty certain you will like her other books.

History of the Rain is the one I put on hold at the library, so I'll try to remember to report back about how I like it. It sounds like my kind of read.

Have you read When All Is Said by Anne Griffin? I think you might like it....

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2020, Donna! What a sweet picture of the grandkids (and boy, have they grown!)

Happy New Year, Donna. Looks like you have already started a great reading year in 2020!

>31 Donna828: Great review, Donna. The Child Finder was already on my radar. Now there is a second one to put on my list.

Hi Donna, just thought I'd stop in and see what's happening on your "quiet little thread," as you called it. Your grandchildren are sure growing up! Hope 2020 is a good one for you.

Happy Saturday, Donna! No, no, no...I'm not gonna look at starting a new series. Thanks, just the same. ;0) Oh, but wait, I do like Magical Realism. Sooooo, maybe.

>42 EBT1002: Ellen, you are a temptress! When All Is Said is entered into my little black book with your name by it. How can I resist a dark Irish novel about an old Irish “codger”? I am determined to refer to my LBB frequently, and now I have a way of remembering who recommended what!

>43 lkernagh: Thanks for the good wishes, Lori. I can’t believe Sadie will be in college next year! I must be old. Haha.

>44 Familyhistorian: One book down, 99 to go, Meg. I will go Star your thread right now if I haven’t done so already. It’s a jungle out there!

>46 lauralkeet: I am off and running, Laura. Thanks for stopping by.

>47 Carmenere: Saturday...also known as Start Undecorating Day. So far nothing has been done.

Don’t think of the Denfeld books as a series. They are just two remarkable books about lost children. Plus, they’re on the short side. Due to their “unputdownability”, they are also quick reads. You won’t be sorry, Lynda!

Now my local library is tempting me. There is a prize for completing this challenge in the next two months. Easy Peasy! I’m in. Maybe I’ll get another bookmark for my massive collection. 📚😍

So you think you're ready to master the Winter Reading Challenge? Pick up a form at your nearest branch library starting January 2. Get started by selecting books that meet at least five criteria from the following list of 15.

*Listen to a book
*Teaches you something new
*Graphic novel or comic book
*First in a series
*In another time or place
*Recommended
*Author new to you
*Outside your comfort zone
*Under 200 pages
*Made into a movie
*Always meant to read
*Retelling of a story
*Set in an imaginary world
*Author of color
*Winter setting

Well, here you are! I was wondering why I wasn't seeing your thread and duh! I hadn't visited to drop a ⭐ yet. Now, first visit and I'm hit with a double BB (the Denfield books). My TBR list is already longer than the year has days. :)

Happy New Year!

Darn, I keep missing visitors.

>45 Ameise1: Sorry, I overlooked your post, Barbara. I am glad you stopped by and I hope you get to the Denfeld books this year.

>52 Storeetllr: Hi Mary. I’m sure you remember how crazy busy the threads are for the first week or two in January. It’s fun but exhausting. I may sign off for the evening and go start another book. Happy New Year to you!

>51 Donna828: My library also has a challenge, Donna. They are always fun.

I didn't like The Child Finder as much as you did, Donna. I found the premise very unrealistic. My sister was a foster parent for years, and kids like Naomi were very damaged.

>51 Donna828: That's a nice collection for the Winter Challenge--best of luck!!

Happy new year, Donna! Looking forward to following you & your reads again this year.

Happy New Year, Donna and Happy New Thread! Somehow, I did not have one of my longest running and favorite LT pals starred. Shame on, Mark! But I am here and wishing you a wonderful 2020, filled with good books and tons of quality family time.

Dropping my star off Donna. Happy reading year.

Finally getting around to your thread and dropping my star! Happy 2020 reading!

>41 Donna828: I LOVE that I am now entered into your LBB. How cool is that. I know it's hard with all the book bullets we get hit with around here but I do hope you read When All Is Said. Beth got me with it and I was ever so glad that she did.

I recently read Unsheltered and gave it 4.5 stars. I saw on Anita's thread that it was one of your top reads back in 2018; I'm glad to find another fan. A lot of people are liking it but not loving it. I remain an un-ambivalent Kingsolver fan.

Have a great week, Donna!

Happy New Year, Donna! Love the family photo up top. Hope we can meet in CO this year - any travel plans?

History Of Rain sounds wonderful.

And now Ellen has gotten me with When All is Said!
>42 EBT1002: (Darn you, Ellen!) 🙂

ETA: What Anne said.

Okey Dokey, I've reserved The Child Finder. Hope I can squeeeeeze it onto my dance card :0)

>54 BLBera: I agree with you, Beth. I had to pull out my “suspend belief” card when reading both The Child Finder and The Enchanted. However, despite the overdone butterflies in The Butterfly Girl, I found the homeless street child premise to be more realistic since it appears to be based on Denfeld’s life experience. I also believe that some people have the capacity to overcome devastating experiences either through therapy or the care and concern of people like your sister. I’ll bet she has some stories to tell!

>55 Berly: Hi Kim, I’m looking forward to the library challenge. They do a summer one every year but this is something new.

>57 msf59: There you are! I had faith you would find me amidst the flurry of new threads. We do go way back, Mark. I look forward to trading book bullets this year. I just finished a book that I think you would love. Stay tuned..,

>58 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline.

>59 thornton37814: it’s been crazy this past week, Lori. Thanks for the Star.

>60 EBT1002: Those book bullets have a powerful ricochet effect, Ellen. I will read When All Is Said soon. I have to space out my books about old men. I seem to have developed a “thing” for them. Lol. Kingsolver is one of my most reliable writers. I’ve read and loved everything by her except Animal, Vegetable, Mineral. I must rectify that omission.

>61 AMQS: It’s good to hear from you, Anne, and it would be better to meet up in person. My two trips to CO last year were rushed ones. I’ll try to do better this year. I’m thinking of making the trek to Denver sometime in June. I’ll keep you posted.

>62 Copperskye: Hi Joanne, I’m glad I’m not the only one who gets hit by stray book bullets. It is one of the many things I love about this group. I am going to make a book meetup a priority for my next trip out west. I think you will love History of the Rain.

>63 Carmenere: Yay for a full dance card, Lynda. There are no wallflowers in this group. ;-)

Book No. 2: Norwegian By Night by Derek B. Miller. Mine, 292 pp., 4.3 stars.

"An eighty-two-year-old demented American sniper is allegedly pursued by Korean assassins across Norway after fleeing a murder scene." (46)

That is a quick book summary but it in no way tells all. The Korean assassins are actually from Kosovo and it was more of a rescue than flight after a young Serbian boy's mother is murdered in the opening pages.

I have to say this is the first ScandiCrime book I've read by an American author. Miller does an excellent job depicting life in Oslo through the eyes of the recently transplanted Sheldon Horowitz. Donny, as he is called, is persuaded to leave NYC by the granddaughter he raised after his wife dies. She suspects he has dementia, but it looked to me more like an overactive imagination impacted by memories of his time in The Korean War and subsequent death of his only son in VietNam. There is a lot going on in this book!

As I mentioned to Ellen, I am developing a 'thing' for older crotchety men. Sheldon is right up there with Ove as lovable protagonists. He is brave, funny, and wise beyond his years. Highly recommended.

ETA: I have Janet to thank for this recommendation. I made a note back in 2016 that it sounded like it was my kind of book. Thank you, Janet.

Good Afternoon! The Butterfly Girl is already on my tbr list. Your description encourages me to see if I can get this book from the library. I am trying very hard in 2020 to curb my book buying and either read those I already own, or go to the library.

>70 Whisper1: Hi there, Linda. I depend on the library for much of my reading. I only read 20 of my own books last year. I hope to read at least two per month this year. Most of my books are from used bookstores or library book sales. I love that they have a history and don't even mind if they are annotated. I hope you have a wonderful week!

Hello Donna and Happy New Year! I hope all is well with you.

>69 Donna828: Creepy cover that did not fit with the original description. Thank you for the clarity. Sounds very interesting. Excellent review.

>69 Donna828: I have this in the tbr mountain, I can't remember whose review made me pick it up Donna.

Hi Donna!

I thought I’d wished you happy new year, but discover your thread has 73 messages already without single post from me!

Belated Happy New Year! Gorgeous pic of the grands.

>31 Donna828: I bought this book after reading and loving The Child Finder. I’m sure I’ll get to it this year, it’s just a matter of when. I've tagged it '2020 read' to help jog my memory. Glad to see you gave it 4 stars.

>69 Donna828: Great review, Donna. My libray has got a copy. I put it on my list.
Sweet Thursday.

>72 brodiew2: Hey Brodie, it's good to see you here. That is a bit of a creepy cover, but it's a creepy story so it fits. I fixed the typo in the quote so it makes more sense. I need to go find your thread now. Happy Newish Year!

>73 Caroline_McElwee: Caroline, I hope more people read and talk about Norwegian By Night as it is such a good book.

>74 karenmarie: Karen, I am still "finding" people on this year's challenge. I made the mistake of starring threads without posting and have missed greeting people. I will catch up someday I'm sure. I'm sure you will like The Butterfly Girl. So handy to have it on your shelf, but I know sometimes we tend to ignore the 'handy' books.

>75 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. I hope you enjoy Norwegian By Night.

Book No. 3: Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane. Borrowed from another library system, 468 pp., 3.2 stars.

"As we walked into the sunlight, Angie slipped an arm through mine and we sat on the lawn under a tree and faced the doors through which Jason would exit in a few minutes. It's an old trick of ours to play lovers when we're tailing someone; people who'd possibly see either one of us as incongruous in a given place rarely gives us a second glance as a couple. Lovers, for some reason, can often pass easily through doors the solitary person finds barred." (115

Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro have been best friends since Kindergarten. They are on a fairly routine case when it erupts into something that shakes these seasoned private detectives to their cores. This is the second in a series and is much darker than the first. It had a lot more violence than I cared to read about but Lehane's writing is so good and he can tell a great story so I read it to the horrifying end. It's probably not much worse than reading the daily newspaper because of all the crime that happens in a big city like Boston (or a small city like Springfield, MO for that matter), but he builds the suspense in a way that almost makes me feel like I am experiencing the events. Not a bad thing when reading crime fiction I suppose. I will continue with the series as I bought the next two books while at the Joplin meetup.

>69 Donna828: I have looked at that one a few times, Donna, and you might just have persuaded me to add it to the shelves.

Have a lovely weekend.

Dropping a star, Donna. Your grandkids are getting so big! What a beautiful group.

>69 Donna828: I have this one in the stacks!

>77 Donna828: Excellent review. I agree with you that the second book is much darker than the first. You are reminding me that I need to get back to that series - I had to take a break after that one.

>78 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, I cant say enough good things about Norwegian By Night. The problem with reading an outstanding book is the the next few tend to be disappointing. My weekend was filled with College Basketball. Our local university has a women's team that is a force to be reckoned with. They won Friday night and again this afternoon. Go Lady Bears!

>79 Crazymamie: Mamie! It’s lovely to see you here. I fully intend to read more of the Kenzie/Genarro series, but I will space them out so I can have some recovery time between books. 😉

Happy Sunday, Donna. I hope you had a good weekend. Good review of Norwegian By Night. I have been meaning to read that one forever.

Hi Donna, I too loved Norwegian by Night. He has a follow up novel called American by Day that I mean to get to.

>1 Donna828: What a lovely family Donna! They're beautiful.

>81 msf59: Happy Tuesday, Mark. My weekend went by way too fast with basketball and books the feature events. I must urge you to read Norwegian By Night at your first opportunity. It needs some warbling done for it. It was recommended to me by Janet, and now Bonnie is chiming in on its allure. You won't be disappointed.

>82 brenzi: Bonnie, I liked the small role of the female investigator in Norwegian By Night, so I'm pretty certain I will enjoy following her story in American By Day. The question is, when can I fit it in?

>83 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel. I think they're all pretty special myself. We're a little spread out so we don't get together every holiday. The two teenage granddaughters both work so it was a rushed trip for them which meant we didn't get many pictures. I hate to be the grandmother that sticks a camera in their faces all the time. The little ones don't mind but the older ones have to grin and bear it.

This is Book Group night, one of my favorite evenings of the month. Here is the list of the books we'll be reading and discussing this year. It's a combination of group member picks and leader's choices:

January: The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
February: The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family, one of our facilitator's favorite books. I've never heard of it but it sounds interesting.
March: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, reread for me.
April: Calypso by David Sedaris. This will be the first book I've read by him.
May: The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. Another reread.
June: The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood, one of the few I havent read by Atwood.
July: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. I listened to this one.
August: Killers of the Flower Moon. My choice!
September: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I've read it several times.
October: The Witchfinder's Sister by Beth Underdown.
November: Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen. Isn't that the truth? Looking forward to it.
December: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. Another one that got my vote.

>85 Donna828: What an interesting mix of genres!! You should have lots of fun with this collection. I have read 6 of them and intrigued by Lies My Teacher Told Me.

Book No. 4: The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See. Library, Book Group, 374 pp., 4 stars.

"No one picks a friend for us; we come together by choice. We are not tied together through ceremony or the responsibility to create a son, we tie ourselves together through moments. The spark when we first meet. Laughter and tears shared. Secrets packed away to be treasured, hoarded, and protected. The wonder that someone can be so different from you and yet still understand your heart in a way no one else ever will." (36)

Two teenage Korean girls become friends in the late 1930s when they become part of the Haenyeo culture of Jeju Island where the sea women freedive for food to provide for their families while the men stay home and raise the children. They work both the wet and dry lands of this volcanic island always hoping to bear a son who could perform ancestor worship. Young-sook and Mi-ja become soul sisters as they learn the tradition of diving. It's a harsh but satisfying life for them even under the stern eyes of the Japanese soldiers who watched their every move. One would think that when Korea gained their independence from Japan in 1945 that life would improve, but it became complicated by having United States forces in the country, coupled with the dissidents that wanted complete control of the government. Through most of the time of conflict, the sea divers did what they did best and took care of their families. And then came the Uprising on April Third, 1949, when all hell broke loose.

That's all I'm going to say about the plot except that on that fateful day, the strong friendship between the two young women was broken and Young-sook holds the grudge into old age when she is approached by the family of Mi-ja and all the tragic memories are revived. This is not a spoiler as the contact is made at the beginning of the book. I learned much about living off the bounty of the ocean and primitive life in Korea. The book also raises the question about grudges and forgiveness while giving a rather confused history lesson about this period in Korean history.

Hi Donna! I like your review! I just finished The Island of Sea Women for my library book discussion group. I gave it 4 stars more so for the historical information I gained regarding Korea than for the story itself. This was my third book by See and although I enjoy her writing her stories are somewhat similar in nature.

>31 Donna828: I enjoyed The Child Finder, so I will definitely be on the lookout for The Butterfly Girl. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!

>69 Donna828: I went to add that one to the BlackHole only to discover it was already there. Obviously I need to pull it out!

>87 Donna828: Adding that one to the BlackHole. I appreciate the recommendation, Donna!

Oh Donna, I want to join your book group. What an interesting year of reading you will have with your book pals.
We are holidaying in Kona right now and head back to reality tomorrow but I thought of David Sedaris today. I have read all/most of his books and find him fun, quirky, edgy and often moving and insightful. He has lots to say about family. One of his stories is about his culottes, that he loves to wear and I think he started his collection from a pair he bought in Japan. I saw a man wearing culottes today (baggy pants, almost skirt, calf level) and it made me smile, a big smile thinking of the Sedaris story. Hope you like him too!

>85 Donna828: What a varied selection. Sounds like a great book club.

>31 Donna828: I did not realize that the sequel is already out! I read Child Finder last year and really enjoyed it.

>85 Donna828: Looks like a great list, Donna. I've liked the Lisa See's that I've read so I'll add this one to my (very long) "wish list" and look forward to what you have to say about the others. The only ones I'm familiar with are The Alice Network, which I liked very much, and Rebecca which I read many, many years ago when I binge read all of the du Maurier books.

Hi Donna! And a very late Happy New Year!

Ouch - a BB straight to the heart The Butterfly Girl. I really enjoyed The Child Finder and hadn't realized a new one was out.

>69 Donna828: I'm glad you enjoyed Norwegian By Night which was a book club pick several years ago. I've added the sequel onto the never-ending list.

>85 Donna828: That looks like an interesting list of book club titles!

I've read several by Lisa See and The Island of Sea Women also goes onto the list! Great review!

Oh dear, how am I ever going to get more read off my shelves while reading your thread???!!!

>84 Donna828: my MIL is a camera junkie. They get used to it! 😁

>86 Berly: Kim, I was pleased with the year’s selection. I’m so glad we got the whole year lined up in advance. We used to get only 3 months at a time.

>88 Carmenere: Lynda, I was going to pass this one up, but am so glad I read it. After reading Pachinko last year, I knew how the Japanese mistreated Koreans. I had no idea how much animosity there was within the Korean nation.

>89 alcottacre: Hello Stasia! It’s been a long time since we’ve chatted on LT, or in person. I hope your posting means your arm surgery went well and you are feeling better.

I’m always glad to add to the ever expansive Black Hole, and, by all means, pull Norwegian By Night out of there and read it. It’s a good one!

>90 mdoris: Hi Mary, lucky you starting off a new year in paradise! That culotte story made me smile. It’s about time I read me some Sedaris. I think he is coming to Springfield this spring. That’s probably why his book was chosen. Maybe I’ll get to see him.

>91 figsfromthistle: I was excited when I heard about the release of The Butterfly Girl, Anita. I sure like Denfeld’s books. My book club has been going strong since 2009. I have missed very few meetings.

>92 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, our book group meets the second Tuesday of every month. Stop by and get a book report on our current read. There is only one book I couldn’t finish in all these years. I was extremely turned off by Wicked. I had even bought a copy of the book because Maguire was so popular at the library. Go figure.

>93 streamsong: Janet, I have the same problem on your thread. You have introduced me to quite a few books over the years. I am going to try more this year than the 20 I read off my shelves from last year. I hope you have a wonderful new year of reading.

>94 The_Hibernator: My family is pretty used to me and my handy iPhone camera, Rachel. They don’t complain too much because they know how happy the pictures make me. I do get lots a silly faces, though, and an occasional rolling eye or two. ;-)

>96 Donna828: :)

>1 Donna828:

What a Great Christmas photo - Thank you!

Has your Family seen The Breckenridge Troll?

>98 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, I'm not sure if your happy face is because you didn't like Wicked either or because you will check back for my book group reports. As far as Wicked goes, I was in the minority in my group; everyone else finished it and some even liked it. Haha. I probably should have given it more of a chance but it just wasn't my kind of book years ago. I'm a little more tolerant these days.

>99 m.belljackson: Om my! How could we have missed seeing The Breckenridge Troll? He wasn't on my radar, that's for sure. We will have to go back and check out this memorable sight! Thanks for the heads up, Marianne.

>100 Donna828: Could. Not. Read. Wicked. Just awful.

I am another Wicked non-fan.

I like your book list, Donna, you have some good reading ahead of you. And you got me with The Island of Sea Women.

>100 Donna828: I haven't read Wicked and don't plan to. I was smiling at the idea of checking back for monthly reports.

>85 Donna828: That's a great list! Hope you love the Atwood and the Arden! I just finished the Arden and immediately put the next in the series on hold :)

>85 Donna828: That is an interesting list, Donna.

>87 Donna828: This one sounds like one I would like; onto the list it goes!

>85 Donna828: I like your Book Group choices, Donna. Some solid reads there. I have heard mixed things about The Island of Sea Women, so I am glad to hear that you liked it. Happy weekend, my friend.

Love your book group choices, Donna (there's even a couple I've read!), and I'll be looking forward to seeing what you think of them.

Many of the artist's Trolls were on Joe's thread awhile back.

The Breckenridge one was our favorite - it looks like he's creating a cairn or a rock sculpture.

Photos would be great when you visit!

(And, what a contrast with the Mountain Troll that barged into Hogwarts...)

Happy Saturday, Donna! Just wanted to thank you for visiting my thread while I was out of commission and for your kind words of support and healing thoughts.

I just finished The Child Finder and wanted to thank you for the recommendation. I found it gripping and did not have to suspend belief as you did because I have never known anyone who fostered children. I can imagine a child like that would be deeply and perhaps irremediably scarred. I'm looking forward to more by Denfeld.

>99 m.belljackson: >100 Donna828: How in the world did I miss the Breckenridge Troll when I lived in Colorado? My nieces lived in Frisco, which is just next door to Breck, and I visited the area many times.

>101 brenzi: Thanks for confirming my decision to stop reading Wicked, Bonnie. I just couldn't find anything redeeming in the 100 or so pages that I struggled through.

>102 AMQS: I guess we can't like all the books, Anne. I had low expectations for Sea Women and was pleasantly surprised. I hope you like it.

>103 RebaRelishesReading: That's kinda what I thought, Reba. I always look forward to the second Tuesday of the month so I can talk books in person with like-minded readers.

>104 ChelleBearss: I've loved all the books by Atwood that I've read, but for some reason, skipped over The Penelopiad, Chelle. I'm not a big fan of mythology, although I did really like The Song of Achilles and Circe. I read the latter for book group last year. Hmmm, I didn't realize that The Bear and the Nightingale was part of a series. I'm sad I have to wait until December to read it as it has been on my wishlist for too long.

>105 BLBera: Beth, I hope you enjoy The Island of Sea Women when you get to it. It wasn't the "fluff" I was expecting. I think I did a short boycott of books with "Girl, Woman/Women, Wife" etc. last year for some reason. I know better than to judge a book by either its title or the cover.

>106 msf59: There were no mixed feelings in my book group, Mark. I had kind of given up on Lisa See as an author because of the repetition. Sea Women had the usual friendship gone bad theme, but the historic part of it more than made up for that…at least for me.

>107 bell7: Hi Mary. I always like hearing about your book group sessions, too. I think being a book facilitator would be a tough job. My biased opinions would want to come out. I read about how you didn't like your last book while the rest of the group did. It's a real skill to keep the discussions on track and let everyone feel comfortable stating their opinions.

>108 m.belljackson: We noticed so many interesting rock structures while we were hiking in Colorado, Marianne. We see them occasionally in Missouri, but it's a passion in the mountains it seems.

>109 Storeetllr: I know, Mary. I feel cheated that none of the websites or local tour info included information about The Breckenridge Troll. Oh well, it gives us both an excuse to go back someday. I'm glad you're feeling well enough to be posting here after your surgery. I'm also glad you liked The Child Finder. Now you'll have to read The Butterfly Girl and perhaps The Enchanted.

I was going to write some comments about my latest two books, but I think I will let that wait until tomorrow. I mentioned upthread something about my last year's boycott of books with references to women, girls, wives. etc. in the titles and how petty that was. Well, I do believe book titles (and covers) are important and have shared my views with DH. He recently brought home a page from his office daily calendar with these book titles on them. It made me laugh…

Funny Book Titles That Ought to Exist

How to Choose A Steak by Porter House
Stringed Musical Instruments by Amanda Lynne
Mountain Climbing Techniques by Andover Hand
A History of Nuclear Weapons by Adam Baum
Blowout! by Vlad Tire
Off to Market by Tobias A. Pigg
Battle Axes by Tommy Hawk
The Long Island Chain by Archie Pelago
Red Vegetables by Bea Troot
Housing Construction by Bill Jerome Holmes
Don't Come Near Me! by Vera Way

>113 Donna828: Those are funny!

>114 AMQS: Thanks, Anne. I thought they were worth sharing.

Book No. 5: The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane. Library, 128 pp., no rating.

"Once upon a time, words began to vanish from the language of children. They disappeared so quietly that at first almost no one noticed - fading away like water on stone. The words were those that children used to name the natural world around them…"

Thus begins this illustrated book by Robert MacFarlane. I picked it up from the library on a whim while I am waiting for Macfarlane's Underland to become available. I think I was expecting more from it. Granted, it's a lovely book with an interesting premise…it's just that the words that he writes about aren't all that obscure; they've just been replaced in the Oxford Junior Dictionary by more 'modern' words such as broadband and voice-mail. Well, I don't like that idea at all, but to say that words from the natural world like acorn, heron, and otter are not in children's vocabularies is a ludicrous claim. In my unscientific test of an average 6-year-old female (who happens to be my granddaughter) to identify the 40 words in the book, only three were "lost" to her and I must admit that I would be hard-pressed to come up with a definition for "conker", which is the hollow shell of a horse chestnut. The other two that stumped Molly were adder (a snake) and bramble, which she thought was a walk in the woods…a pretty good guess.

Granted, I am showing my persnickety ways here. It is a beautiful children's book with some interesting acrostic poetry, although in my opinion, the size and heft of the book would make it awkward for children to handle. I am not going to rate it because it is clearly beloved here and on Amazon.

Book No. 6: To Die But Once by Jacqueline Winspear. Library, 325 pp. 3 stars.

"I think something is very wrong, Miss Dobbs. I think something is terrible amiss..I've wondered what Joe has been doing with himself when he's not working. In the past three weeks or so, something has been wrong with my boy. I've asked myself if the headaches have been brought on by whatever it is he's working on…" (26, 27)

This 14th installment in the Maisie Dobbs series was a slow one for me. Just as the war with Germany has started out slowly for those in London, Maisie's investigation of what happened to young Joe, the son of a local pub owner who was on assignment to paint military bases with fire retardant was a bit of a snoozer for me. The parallel story of her friend Prudence's missing young son of about the same age was a little more exciting and pertinent to the developing war as we get a look into the evacuation of Dunkirk.

We're left hanging at the end as to Maisie and the little girl in her care. It's enough for me to look forward to the next book in the series which will get me all caught up and in the market for a new series about a female detective. I'm leaning toward the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths. Thoughts or other suggestions?

>112 Donna828: It's definitely a different experience being the facilitator than a participant. Occasionally I can state my opinion, but often I find my contributions are more to keep the conversation going than to say how much I loved or hated something. And I will sometimes temper my opinion when it's strong like the last one!

>116 Donna828: Ooh, I like Molly's response in guessing what "bramble" means. I wouldn't have come up with "conker" either, but I think it might be more of a British term? (I base this entirely on a line from a Paul McCartney song that talks about "playing conkers").

>117 Donna828: The Maisie Dobbs series is one that I need to get back to. I am many volumes behind, I am sure. Thanks for the reminder, Donna!

Hi Donna!

>85 Donna828: I love reading RL book club lists. I’ve read three and have The Penelopiad on my shelves. All sound good. Have fun with David Sedaris – he’s a local boy (Raleigh NC) and one of my favs. I saw him at a local indie and got him to sign my copy of Calypso.

>100 Donna828: I couldn’t read Wicked either.

>117 Donna828: I love the Ruth Galloway series by Ellie Griffiths. I read the first one, The Crossing Places in 2014 then for some reason didn’t pick the series up again til last year, when it was mentioned on lizzied’s thread. I devoured the rest of them, books 2 through 11, in July and August of last year and will have the 12th one in hand next month, when a friend is coming back from London with a copy so I won’t have to wait until June when it’s published in the US.

>116 Donna828: but to say that words from the natural world like acorn, heron, and otter are not in children's vocabularies is a ludicrous claim That's exactly what I thought!

These are conkers, by the way. They're not the hollow shell, they are the hard fruit inside. That was one word that I found it very suprising that had been included, having had a son who seemed to have collected hundreds of them over the years. Probably a British thing though...

>118 bell7: Mary, I definitely think it’s more fun being in a book group than leading one. I am SO grateful to you and the other facilitators out there who gently lead readers in exploring all those wonderful books.

I love Sir Paul and now I have a “new” song by him to enjoy. I love “That Was Me”...another thank you is in order!

>119 alcottacre: I’m happy to remind you, Stasia. I have enjoyed my times with Maisie through two world wars as she solves her big and little crimes. I’m kind of sad there is only one more book for me.

>120 karenmarie: Karen, I can only hope I get to meet David Sedaris when he comes to town. I kind of think there will be too many people in the audience for him to be signing books.

Maybe we should have a thread in this group devoted to books we couldn’t read. I don’t have many because I screen my books pretty well, although sometimes I just get curious about a book and don’t listen to my inner voice.

I have a copy of The Crossing Places to take to Kansas City with me. I’m thinking the series will be a GO for me.

>121 SandDune: Oh Conkers! Thank you, Rhian, for the picture of what I would probably call a Buckeye, although we don’t have them in my area of the U.S. That’s also the name of a yummy chocolate-covered peanut butter candy that I sometimes make at Christmas. The finished product resembles a buckeye/conker.

Book No. 7: The Huntress by Kate Quinn. Library, 550 pp., 3.5 stars.

"It was war: day was night, life was death, sorrow was joy." (210)

The Huntress has all the bells and whistles of a best seller…a gripping plot about pursuing Nazi war criminals and larger-than-life characters overcoming their personal fears to reach their goals. It was a good read yet it didn't engage me enough to make it a memorable book for me. While I enjoyed the sections about the Soviet women pilots, the role of Nina was so overwritten that it made me cringe. I'm sure others have loved this book so please don't be turned off by my lukewarm reaction. 3.5 on my rating scale simply means good but not great in my humble opinion.

>123 Donna828: Hi Donna! We saw David Sedaris a few years ago at a large-ish theater in Princeton NJ. The show was great, and I was also really impressed with the book-signing afterwards. My daughters both got in line while my husband and I waited nearby. He made a little bit of chit chat with every single person, as if he had all the time in the world. I was really impressed. So I hope you get to see him, and have him sign your book!

>123 Donna828: >125 lauralkeet: Same. I saw Sedaris a couple of years ago in a very large venue and had him sign my book after the performance. The show was great and he was absolutely wonderful. He had a stack of Barbara Demick's Nothing to Envy that he was recommending because he had read it recently and loved it so much. (So did I.) And he was writing a personal note on every book after he chatted for a few seconds. Truly worth the wait.

>125 lauralkeet: >126 brenzi: Thank you for that feedback, Laura and Bonnie. I love authors who go the extra mile for their readers. Peter Heller was like that...resulting in me becoming a Fan for Life! I’m always excited when we have a major author event in our little midwestern city. I’m looking forward to reading Calypso...and having him sign it.

We finally got a pretty snowy day here in The Ozarks. Just enough to cover the grass and cling to the trees, but not enough to stop me from meeting friends for lunch today. I am off to Kansas City tomorrow for a week with the grands while their lucky parents go to Mexico. I hope their roads are clear up there.

>128 Donna828: That's Beautiful Donna. Enjoy your time with the grands. Will there be a trip to the bookshop in Kansas City?

>128 Donna828: That's a lovely snow. I'm still waiting for a pretty one here. We had an inch or so back in 2019, but nothing worthwhile in January. Still waiting on snow days!

HI Donna!

>123 Donna828: and >125 lauralkeet: I was told by a friend who works at Quailridge bookstore (in nearby Raleigh) that Sedaris signed books until 2 a.m. Quailridge also lets you buy a book and they’ll set it aside for an author to sign and then you can come pick it up later! He signed two books for me, and I saw many people in line with multiple copies of Calypso in addition to other folks who brought in other books by him.

>128 Donna828: Pretty. And conveniently light enough for you to still go out to lunch.

>122 Donna828: You're very welcome, Donna! My dad is a huge Beatles/McCartney fan and that was one of the new McCartney songs he liked.

>124 Donna828: My reaction was much the same as yours.

>128 Donna828: Lovely! Enjoy your trip and time with the grands :)

>128 Donna828: SO pretty! Thanks for sharing.

Wishing you safe travels, Donna.

>128 Donna828: - What a beautiful picture! Wishing you a wonderful weekend and week ahead, Donna.

>116 Donna828: My brother gave me this book for Christmas. It is really beautifully illustrated, and I haven't had time to properly read it, but flipping through it I was surprised by some of the words as you were. But the kids in our lives read. I wonder what my students would make if it.

The grands are off to school. Freedom for this Grandma!!! I had forgotten how hard Monday mornings are. I’m not used to waking up to an alarm in my ear, and 6:15 a.m. is an ungodly hour. ;-(

>129 Caroline_McElwee: Yes indeed, Caroline. I have two boxes of books in the trunk of my car which will be traded at Half-Price Books for a few new-to-me books. I’ll probably do that tomorrow morning because snow is in the forecast for tomorrow night.

>130 thornton37814: I was glad to get my annual snow picture, Lori. I’m good with a small amount of snow and hope that’s it for the season. Still a good amount of winter possibilities left, though. Like tomorrow...

>128 Donna828: That is really lovely, Donna, although I cannot imagine sitting out there at the moment for a full chapter length of reading.

>131 karenmarie: Hi Karen. Dave Sedaris sounds like my kind of author, however, I won’t be standing in line until 2:00 in the morning. Those days are over for me.

>132 bell7: The weekend went well, Mary. We were busy with a basketball game each day and had dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant last night. The kids even taught me a new game. It’s called Quixx. Played with dice, it’s fun and addictive.

>133 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie. My pleasure. You probably don’t get too much snow in Georgia either. We used to get more in Missouri. It’s been a few years since we got a heavy snowfall.

>134 lkernagh: It was a great weekend, Lori. I didn’t get much reading done, but I can rectify that today with the three kiddos in school until mid-afternoon. I brought three books with me to keep me occupied. I started Marley and look forward to reading more of it today.

>135 AMQS: Your brother did well, Anne. That was a perfect choice for a children’s librarian.

>136 Donna828: An alarm in your ear at 6:15 a.m. OMG!! I feel your pain.

>141 Donna828: Two more days, Reba. At least I'm getting used to it, and to be fair, it's not right in my ear but on the nightstand about two feet away. It's still a jarring way to greet the day. My bedtime gets earlier and earlier.

>128 Donna828: So pretty! Even without the snow, I think your backyard is lovely.

Are you standing in for the parental units? My guess is yes, since you seem to be getting kids off to school.

Tomorrow is my RLBC where we'll discuss Killers of the Flower Moon. I had read it when it first came out, but the reread was just as shocking for me. I know it'll be an interesting discussion, and I'll be interested to see what your club says about it. Did you read it before you recommended it?

Book No. 8: Marley by Jon Clinch. Library, 288 pp., 3.5 stars.

"Scrooge is no Marley, and Marley is no Scrooge, and their partnership is the better for it. A matched pair of oars may propel your boat nicely across a placid country pond, but real navigation on the perilous waters of the world, be they aquatic or financial, requires resources more sophisticated and diverse." (35)

I'm not sure about sophistication but Marley was certainly the opportunist in this partnership. He was skilled in forgery and illicit ways to make money. He had more schemes up his sleeve than London had dark alleyways. Jon Clinch is a very competent writer who captured the dreary atmosphere of the early 19th century in Dickensian style. While I enjoyed reading this backstory to A Christmas Carol, I got tired of the unremitting gloom and the detestable business schemes of Jacob Marley.

It was interesting that Clinch tried to lighten the mood with some affairs of the heart. Marley was paired with Ebenezer Scrooge's sister Fen while Scrooge was wooing the lovely Belle. It became apparent that Marley had no heart, and I was delighted when Fen saw through his shallow promises. Scrooge came across in a more favorable light until he got bogged down in the soul-sapping drudgery of trying to rectify some of Marley's more heinous business undertakings. It was easy to see how Scrooge became a miserly workaholic in need of serious redemption.

>137 PaulCranswick: I missed you up there, Paul. It's another snowy day here in Kansas City. Again, there isn't enough snow to cancel activities such as school for my grandkids, but I will be staying inside with my books today.

>142 streamsong: Thank you, Janet. I love living on a small lake in the city. We get a lot of aquatic wildlife and the occasional fox and deer because of it. My daughter and husband are off to Mexico this week. They do this to me every year. Haha. It's fun for a few days, but I'll be ready to go home this week end.

I haven't read Killers of the Flower Moon but have been wanting to read it. I looked for a copy of it at the used book store yesterday but no luck.

>142 streamsong: >144 Donna828: I am 2/3 of the way through the audiobook of Killers of the Flower Moon. Shocking is right. Sad as well. Grann's writing is accessible and compelling. Will Patton shined for me s the central of three narrators. I hope you get to it soon, Donna.

>128 Donna828: What a beautiful landscape!

>145 brodiew2: Thanks for the confirmation about the quality of Killers of the Flower Moon, Brodie. I am so glad I will be reading it with my book group as it sounds like a good one to talk about.

>146 figsfromthistle: It is beautiful, Anita. The first thing I do in the morning is look out the window at that vista. There is just something about a body of water that is calming. I am a Lucky Lady having that in my backyard.

Book No. 9: The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths. Library, 303 pp., 3.5 stars.

"Beyond her front garden with its windblown grass and broken blue fence there is nothingness. Just miles and miles of marshland, spotted with stunted gorse bushes and criss-crossed with small, treacherous streams…Far off is the sea, a line of darker grey, seagulls riding in on the waves. It is utterly desolate and Ruth has absolutely no idea why she loves it so much." (13)

The melancholy setting that is neither land nor sea is an important aspect of this introduction to Ruth Galloway and her life as an independent single woman in her late thirties. Ruth just happens to be an archaeologist who is called upon to identify some old bones that have been uncovered in her beloved surroundings. Detective Inspector Nelson is hopeful that the 10-year-old cold case of a missing girl will get some closure, but Ruth quickly identifies these particular bones to be those of a young girl from the Iron Age.

I liked the juxtaposition of the old and new. I'm both fascinated and repelled by the history of human sacrifices in the marshes. Ruth is a believable character who is self-assured and aware of her shortcomings. This will be my new series about a female sleuth as I am near the end of Maisie Dobbs books. I'm delighted to still be in England and look forward to exploring the natural world of the saltmarsh area as a change of pace from Maisie's London setting.

Good morning, Donna!

>148 Donna828: This is a good series and Ruth is a very fine companion, full of doubts and insecurities like the rest of us! Sounds like your week with the grands is winding down. They sound like such fun kids but, oh, that early alarm. No fun in that!

>149 Copperskye: Hi Joanne, I was just thinking about you and how easy it would be to head west instead of south when I take off later today. My daughter and SIL won't get home until tomorrow but the other grandparents are checking in with the kids after school and will keep them company until close to bedtime. Sadie is almost 18 and very reliable, plus they all get along (most of the time) so it's not a challenging gig…except for that early alarm.

I was glad that Ruth seems so normal and look forward to more mysteries on the marsh.

This has been a fun week to be in Kansas City. In case you haven't heard, there is an epic Super Bowl coming up on Sunday. I broke down and bought a league championship shirt and hope I have to replace it with a Super Bowl winning shirt. I can't believe I'm becoming a sports fan! I'm leaving a day early so that I can watch my Missouri State Lady Bears play basketball tonight. They've got a good team and the games are pretty exciting.

I started listening to The Sacrament on the 3-hour drive up here with the intention of listening to it at night. However, I have been so tired I haven't had much listening time. It's my kind of book (i.e., slow) but I'm thinking of starting over for continuity purposes. The writing is so good that I won't mind a review. There was a lot of back and forth in time and geography between France and Iceland as Sister Joanna is called on to review the puzzle of what really happened when a priest fell to his death decades earlier. I love my road trips accompanied by a good audio book.

Good luck with the Super Bowl, Donna. It sounds like you are enjoying the grands. I had a sleepover with mine last night, and we had loads of fun.

Isn't granny-nannying wonderful, even if it is also exhausting?!? I really miss interacting with Ruby except from a distance. (She's a bit rough for me at this point - get too close and she's liable to smack me right in the middle of my incision. Not on purpose, of course, but she's really physical for a one-year old.)

Have fun with the Super Bowl! Will there be a Super Bowl party on Sunday?

I'm happy to see you're starting the Ruth Galloway series, Donna! I just started book #8 today myself.

>143 Donna828: Good review of Marley. This is the first LT review I have seen. I am a big fan of Clinch. I will have to track down a copy.

Happy Sunday, Donna. I am really enjoying LaRose. Have you read this one? Erdrich is one of our most consistently good authors.

Go Chiefs! I will be rootin' for 'em!

>155 msf59: Jon Clinch's books are impossible to find in Malaysia. I must try harder to track him down.

Have a lovely Sunday, Donna.

Hi Donna!

I, too, am glad that you liked the first Ruth Galloway. I'm all caught up and anxiously awaiting the 12th book - The Lantern Men.

I just requested The Sacrament from the library - it sounds good.

I want KC to win, too. Here's hoping!

Hi Donna - I just finished The Sacrament after hearing the author interview on the NY Times podcast. I'm a huge fan of audiobooks but I think this one would have been difficult to listen to because of the multiple timelines. I'm eager to hear whether you went back to it and what you thought.

I have way too many series going but plan to add the Elly Griffiths as soon as I can complete a few others!

>87 Donna828: I have The Island of Sea Women in the TBR pile. Your review moved it up the stack for sure!

>152 BLBera: You know by now that The Chiefs won the Super Bowl!. My grandkids are looking forward to no school and a big parade on Wednesday, weather permitting. It's supposed to snow here. Sleepovers with grandkids are the best.

>153 Storeetllr: That must be so hard to keep Ruby at a distance, Mary. Heal quickly so you can have some good cuddles! We didn't go to a Super Bowl party but we watched the game with high hopes. Mahomes came through in the 4th quarter. Such excitement!

>154 lauralkeet: I'm glad I decided on Ruth Galloway, Laura. I move fairly slowly through series books so I won't catch up to you.

>155 msf59: Hi Mark, our friend Linda who took over the American Authors group from you wrote a good review of Marley and got me interested in it. I didn't like it quite as well as Finn but, as you know, Clinch can't write a bad book. I loved LaRose and am a huge Erdrich fan. Looking forward to her new one.

>156 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Lots of excitement here with a big win in the Super Bowl. FYI, Kansas City is in both Kansas and Missouri. Arrowhead Stadium is on the Missouri side of the river so we get to claim the Chiefs as our own despite what our President thinks!

>157 karenmarie: Hi Karen. It's good to know that I have 12 more books to go in the Ruth Galloway series. It will probably be more like 13 or 14 by the time I get that far along. It will keep me busy for several years unless I do some binge reading. I am over halfway through The Sacrament and enjoying it very much. I may look into other books by Olafsson. Yay for The Chiefs!

>158 vivians: Vivian, I am getting used to the rapid changes of times and settings in the book. I'm glad I started over as I was fairly confused at first. I think the author could have done better on the transitions. I'm hoping the print version at least had some spaces between the different scenes. There was barely a pause in the audio version. I don't think you will be disappointed in Elly Griffiths.

>159 nittnut: I hope you like The Island of Sea Women as much as I did, Jenn. It was a sad glimpse into a fairly unknown part of Korean history. My father was in the army and stationed on the mainland of Korea about this time. His only stories were about the intense cold and the way the Korean "house boys" would steal anything that wasn't under lock and key.

Book No. 10: The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett. Borrowed from another library, 543 pp., 3.5 stars.

“To the men exposed to his rule Lymond never appeared ill: he was never tired; he was never worried, or pained, or disappointed, or passionately angry. If he rested, he did so alone; if he slept, he took good care to sleep apart."

Francis Crawford is the "Bad Boy" of a noble Scottish family who is on the run after being charged with treason. Instead of escaping abroad, he dashes around Scotland creating havoc and evading arrest. He is most often referred to by his territorial name of Lymond and has an odd sense of humor and a penchant for drama. He speaks in quotations, often in different languages including Latin and Olde English, with a good dose of literary and mythological allusions. One of the plethora of characters said what I was thinking: “I wish to God that you’d talk—just once—in prose like other people.” I can see why so many readers are fascinated with this charismatic character. I may be in the minority for not particularly caring for swashbuckling super heroes.

I won't say much about the plot except that Lymond is trying to clear his reputation and family name while English troops are trying to kidnap the 4-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots, to be married to the young King Edward. There is plenty of action throughout the book. Dunnett knows her history and has woven the fictional Lymond into it quite well, although I had to do way too much deciphering along the way. As others have said, it gets easier to follow as the events progress. I tended to stop and look up the references I didn't understand which interfered with the progression of the plot. I also went back and did some rereading. A book of this size would normally take me 14 hours or so to read, and I estimate that I spent almost that much time trying to make sense of it. The opportunity cost is just too high for me to continue the series. War and Peace reads like a walk in the park after my experience with Lymond.

Well.....maybe I should read War and Peace. I've never heard it described as a walk in the park before Donna. Lol

Bonnie, I’m sure you realized that was a thoroughly “tongue-in-cheek” expression. I was just trying to point out that War&Peace can be read and understood without doing extra research.

Book No. 11: The Sacrament by Olaf Olafsson; audio by Jane Copland. Hoopla, 304 pp., 3.7 stars.

I finished this book a few days ago and have been thinking about it ever since. I tend to like dark brooding books, and having a religious slant made this one even more thought provoking. The plot revolves around a suicide that was witnessed by a young boy in Iceland. He was discovered in a locked broom closet by a young nun who had been sent to Iceland to investigate charges of inappropriate actions by a priest. We first meet the nun protagonist as Pauline who is studying at The Sorbonne in Paris. She learns the Icelandic language from her roommate and later becomes a nun known as Sister Johanna.

This is a book about memories, thwarted love, abuse of power, and sin. Yes, I used the "S" word. My thoughts have revolved around that word, both its true meaning and its consequences. The book's melancholy tone is made even darker by the atmospheric descriptions of Iceland as winter is settling in during Sister Johanna's first trip to Iceland. There are three timelines in the book with little distinction between the transitions. I really had to pay attention to figure out whether she was in France or on her first or second trip to Iceland. This was the only drawback to a higher rating from me.

Hi Donna!

>166 Donna828: I won't read your review, since I'm picking up The Sacrament today at the Library. I'm excited about it.

>166 Donna828: I love that cover! Very dark indeed

>166 Donna828: I did not order that one for our library because I couldn't order everything and ordered something I thought would check out more. However, I made a note of it because I wanted to read it. I'm #11 on 2 copies so I'll eventually get it.

>166 Donna828: I think that one would suit my temperament, Donna.

How about those Chiefs, Donna!! My family in Kansas are big fans (even though the Chiefs are actually in Missouri).

>167 karenmarie: Hi Karen. I can't see The Sacrament becoming an LT favorite as it's so dark. I do hope you appreciate it for the good writing and atmosphere. It was a solid hit for me.

>168 ChelleBearss: Chelle, I love it when the cover matches the mood of the book.

>169 thornton37814: Lori, you were correct in your judgment about the popularity of the book. Some people don't appreciate gloom and doom the way I do. Haha.

>170 PaulCranswick: Paul, it's strange but true (for me anyway) that when I get down in the doldrums I just want to read books that mirror my mood.

>171 ronincats: We are elated about the Chiefs' win, Roni. My daughter and family live in Overland Park, Kansas, but consider the Chiefs as their team. I think they are popular throughout the midwest this year. I hope they can keep up the momentum and win another Super Bowl in the next few years.

Book No. 12: Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert Macfarlane. Library, 468 pp., 4 stars.

"The way into the underland is through the riven trunk of an old ash tree..a labyrinth unfurls..Time moves differently here in the underland. It thickens, pools, flows, rushes, slows." (Pp. 3.4)

It was difficult for me to determine whether Macfarlane is first a scientist, a poet, or an adventurer. He is the whole package. I do know that he is brilliant and that I had to read this book slowly over a period of several weeks. His exploits under the earth triggered claustrophobia in me. I just don't get how people can crawl through solid rock deep in the earth but I'm so glad he did so he could satisfy a curiosity I didn't even know I had.

I learned the meaning of Anthropocene, a "current epoch of immense and frightening change at a planetary scale." (14) The adoption of the Antropocene label as an Earth epoch began in 1950, "coinciding with the dawn of the nuclear age." (394) This is deep stuff and well beyond my complete understanding but I could still be fascinated by it. I must admit that I did get lost in the dark matter of outer space being studied by people much smarter than me in an underground lab in Yorkshire. I could relate more to his geological journeys around the world where he travels deep into the earth with a guide. As Macfarlane says, "to understand light you need first to have been buried in the deep-down dark." (50) This was a beautiful book with so much to ponder.

Book No. 13: The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagame. Library, 304 pp., 3.8 stars.

“The public library contains multitudes. And each person who visits contains multitudes as well. Each of us is a library of thoughts, memories, experiences, and odors. We adapt to one another to produce the human condition.”

So, I read this book for my book group which met last night. To be honest, I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did after looking at the goofy cover. (Note to self: Quit judging books by their covers!) This was a memoir written by a librarian in Salt Lake City who just happens to be a weight-lifter. Yes, it does sound a little bit out of the ordinary, but even more so, when you read that he suffers from a serious incurable form of Tourette Syndrome. A librarian that hoots, hollers, and has uncontrollable tics sounds like an unlikely combination. However, Josh loves books to the extent that he is willing to suffer embarrassment and misunderstanding if he can be employed in a place he loves. He wholeheartedly believes that "A library is a miracle. A place where you can learn just about anything, for free. A place where your mind can come alive.”

Tourette's is more than an inconvenience. Josh has lived with it most of his life and has even named it -- Misty -- short for Miss T. It has made it difficult for him to achieve his goals. He had to interrupt his quest for a university degree so many times that it took him almost a decade to achieve it. But he doesn't take the self-pity route. He becomes a weight-lifter to help control the tics with mixed results. I'm not certain his unstable relationship with his Mormon faith can be blamed on Misty but it is clear that one can't easily fulfill the requirements to go on a 2-year mission with Misty as a companion. Josh shares his triumphs and his failures equally. There are many humorous vignettes and human interest stories which were unanimously enjoyed by the nine members of my book group.

>174 Donna828: "This was a beautiful book with so much to ponder." I am so glad you liked Underland, Donna. This made me an instant fan of Macfarlane. I am really enjoying That Wild Country. If you like reading about our National Parks and public lands, check this one out.

>174 Donna828: Nice review of Underland, Donna I'm putting it on my TBR list.

>174 Donna828: Ths s in the pile Donna.

>175 Donna828: And this sounds intriguing.

Thanks to Mark, Mary, and Caroline for keeping my thread going in my absence. It has been a busy week for me.

>176 msf59: I always make note of your recommendations, Mark, and will follow up with your latest someday. Of course, I love our national parks and would like to visit more of them someday.

>177 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary. Underland demands careful reading…perhaps during Ruby's naps?

>178 Caroline_McElwee: Both of my most recent books were very good, Caroline, but you can zip through the Librarian much more quickly than the Macfarlane.

>175 Donna828: Interesting review, Donna.

Book No. 14: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood. Library, 419 pp., 4 stars.

"I'd spent my earlier years doing things I'd been told would be impossible for me. No one in my family had even been to college, they'd despised me for going. I'd done it with scholarships and working nights at crappy jobs. It toughens you. You get stubborn. I did not intend to be eliminated if I could help it. But none of my college-acquired polish was of any use to me here. I needed to revert to the mulish underclass child, the determined drudge, the brainy overachiever, the strategic ladder-climber who'd got me to the social perch from which I'd just been deposed. I needed to work the angles once I could find out what the angles were." (117)

…tears came out of my two visible eyes, my moist weeping human eyes. But I had a third eye, in the middle of my forehead. I could feel it; it was cold, like a stone. It did not weep, it saw. And behind it someone was thinking: I will get you back for this. I don't care how long it takes ..." (149)

I like a book featuring a female protagonist with strength and purpose. Aunt Lydia fits this description perfectly. In this follow-up to Atwood's more powerful book The Handmaid's Tale, Lydia shares the limelight with two much younger women. Agnes was raised in Gilead and is a very bland character. Daisy hails from the more enlightened Canada and is a typical teenager with a very interesting past that she only learns about after tragic circumstances. We learn the backstories of these three women in alternating narratives taken from Lydia's personal journal and the testimonies of Agnes and Daisy. I'm kind of surprised that Atwood revisited the world of Gilead. I did not watch the Hulu production and don't plan to. Now that I have read this shared Booker Prize winner I am more interested in the book that probably should have been the sole winner. The idea of a shared prize is such a cop-out and in my opinion was an insult to both authors.

>175 Donna828: Thank you, Paul. It was an interesting memoir.

Hi Donna!

>166 Donna828: and >172 Donna828: It was a hit with me, too, and my only criticism was the same as yours – it was hard to figure out which timeline we were in. I was absolutely surprised at the ending but figured it out as soon as the boy said he saw someone else up there with the priest. “Thank you for saving me, Sister.” gave me chills. I didn’t condemn her for it at all – did you?

>174 Donna828: Just placed a Library request for Underland – it sounds fascinating. We only have one copy at our library and it’s currently not available, so I don’t know when I’ll get it.

You have been reading up a storm, Donna!

Congrats on your Super Bowl win.

I also loved The Testaments. I thought Atwood's approach was smart - not exactly a sequel, more a companion novel. Also, we got to learn about a character we hated in A Handmaid's Tale.

>177 Storeetllr: >179 Donna828: What is this thing you call "naps?"

>166 Donna828: I wish my local library had that one. I have put it in the BlackHole for now.

>174 Donna828: That one looks really interesting. Thanks for the recommendation, Donna!

>175 Donna828: Another one into the BlackHole! My brother-in-law suffers from Tourette Syndrome, although from the sounds of it, a milder form than Hanagarne suffers.

>181 Donna828: I still have not read The Handmaid's Tale. One of these days!

>183 karenmarie: Hi Karen, I am in agreement with you 100%. I know we don't want to give anything away so I'll just say that I think Sister Johanna earned a secure place in heaven. Haha.

Enjoy Underland and be prepared to feel claustrophobic, fascinated, and informed.

>184 BLBera: Beth, I almost reread A Handmaid's Tale before I started The Testaments but I don't think it is necessary. As you said, "it's not exactly a sequel" despite the subtitle's claim. I am going to start Simon the Fiddler later today.

>185 Storeetllr: Hi Mary. So Ruby doesn't like naps. Sounds like my youngest son. With two older children it turned out pretty well that we could skip naptime if we needed to. It seemed like there were a lot of time conflicts in the different schedules. I have fond recent memories of napping with my Molly who I usually had at my house one day a week to give my DIL a break. I still can't believe she is now in first grade.

>186 alcottacre: Stasia, I've never known anyone with Tourette's, but I'm sure even mild symptoms would be disconcerting. I learned so much about that and the Mormon Church from Hanagarne. I think everyone should read The World's Strongest Librarian.

Oh, please do read both The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments. They aren't my favorite books by Atwood but I think she is a remarkable writer who can tell different kinds of stories in memorable ways. I've read most of her books and haven't been disappointed.

>112 Donna828:

In Wisconsin, people are drawn to the Effigy Mounds, plus the drumlins, kettles, eskers, kames, and moraines, with an occasional erratic.

>189 m.belljackson: Interesting, Marianne. We drive through Wisconsin frequently as I have relatives in Northern Michigan. However, I don't think I'd have much luck getting my husband to stop and explore on a 14-hour road trip. Sometimes we break up the drive and spend the night in Madison. I'll have to see if there are any mounds or the other things you mentioned nearby.

>190 Donna828:

Madison's Capitol sits on a drumlin and the world's largest (or, it was when I taught 4th grade!)
Eagle Effigy mound is on the grounds of the Mendota Mental Institution - north side of Lake Mendota.

Other mounds and geological features are all over Madison and Dane county.

If you PM a business address, I can mail a map.

Book No. 15: Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Krueger. Borrowed from a friend, 352 pp., 3.8 stars.

"During summer in the north country, the sun seemed to linger forever. The light near dusk was like one final exhibition that breathed gold onto the pines and tamaracks, the birch and aspen, and everything seemed to hold very still as the sun let out its long last breath. Cork loved summer evenings in Tamarack County, loved those moments when the earth itself seemed to pause in its turning." (54)

This book grabbed me from the introduction and the story of the sinking of the Daniel J. Morrell ore freighter on the Great Lakes. Krueger moved the locale from Lake Huron to Lake Superior and changed the name of the lone survivor to meet the needs of his fictionalized account, but it's still meaningful to me because I had a dear uncle who made a career of ferrying foreign ore boats throughout the Great Lakes as regulations require navigation by an American captain. I have fond memories of boarding one of these massive ore boats by means of a rope ladder when I was about 9-years-old and my uncle was docked in Sault Ste. Marie.

This is the third book in the excellent Cork O'Connor series written by Wm. Kent Krueger. He writes very well of Minnesota and his Native American Ojibwe heritage. Cork is a very likable protagonist who has an interesting family life and backstory. He is the past sheriff of Tamarack County and still acts the part. They're not perfect books, however, as the unfolding of the plots tend to be on the side of incredibility. Hey, they're gripping stories and great page turners so I just roll with the disbelief and enjoy the action. This one involves the timber industry and a kidnapping. It had me literally on the edge of my seat.

>191 m.belljackson: Okay, it sounds like something we do need to check out. I'll do some research and twist my DH's arm (just a little) as we may be stopping in Madison as we drive through in July. We're usually exhausted on the return trip but you make it sound very intriguing. By the way, I am a retired 4th and 5th grade teacher here in Missouri.

Hi Donna -

>192 Donna828: I also enjoy this series. You remind me that it's been a while. Time to pick it up again.

How's Simon the Fiddler going? I really enjoyed it. I finished it this morning.

Happy weekend, Donna - you're getting some terrific reading in!

>192 Donna828: I read the first book in the Cork O'Connor series and liked it, but never went back to it. Sounds like I need to give the second book a shot.

Have a great Saturday, Donna!

>192 Donna828: That is yet another one to look out for, Donna!

>194 BLBera: Beth, I was fairly certain that you knew about the Cork O'Connor series since it's set in Minnesota. I'm really enjoying it.

I finished Simon the Fiddler yesterday and liked it almost as much as News of the World.

>195 AMQS: Hi Anne, I'm doing more reading than LT hopping. Life is a balance, isn't it?

>196 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. I've done that with series before. It's hard to keep track of them, especially now when we don't have FictFact to keep us updated.

>197 PaulCranswick: Paul, it's a pretty good series. I particularly enjoy the setting in the Northern U.S. and the Native American characters. I would imagine the books are scarce in Malaysia.

Book No. 16: The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Vivald; audio by Fiona Hardingham and Lorelei King. Libby, 402 pp., 2.8 stars.

I tend to love books about books, and this one started out fine when a young Swedish woman visits her bookish pen pal in America only to find that she had died. Sara has lost her job and has nothing else to do so she decides to stay in Broken Wheel, Iowa, in Amy's house. When she discovers the cache of books of all kinds, she decides to open a bookstore in one of the many empty storefronts in the dying town.

While, I thought the premise was good, I did not care for the stereotypical characters and contrived romances. Let's see, we had a gay couple, a black man and a white woman, a bisexual man paired with a much old spinster, and then the Swedish woman on a 2-month visa whom the town decides should marry the grumpy eligible bachelor. Too much for me! Light, light, light. The only saving graces were the books and the letters that went between the U.S. and Sweden. If I had been reading it in print, I would have stopped early on, but audio books are harder for me to give up on. I think I slept through some of it….

Book No. 17: Simon the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles. Early Reviewer copy. 339 pp., 4.1 stars.

"Simon gazed around at the other men sitting slumped back in their chairs to listen, and knew they all shared memories of the chaos of the Civil War, of death and destruction, poverty, dislocation. But he had his music… Nothing could match it, nothing in this day-to-day world could ever come up to it. It existed outside him. It was better than he was." (74)

After serving the shortest stint ever in the Texas Confederate Army, Simon was dependent on his fiddle to provide him with a better life. He and a few other survivors scratch out a meager existence by playing their music in the seedy Galveston bars. He sighted a lovely Irish girl on one of his more proper gigs and vowed to marry her someday. His dreams of making a life with Doris Dillon gave him the resolve to "play music and make money."

Meanwhile Doris travels to San Antonio with the military family she serves as an indentured governess. She is not treated well, but finds solace in her surroundings: "There are remnant spirits in this country from another time. She watches for them in the trembling heat waves of the noontime and she listens carefully during the hot nights with the fernlike leaves of the mesquite overhead and the cook fire drying down. She might as well be on the moon." (114)

Ms. Jiles writes poetically about her beloved Texas and captures the atmosphere of turbulence after the Civil War. Martial law prevailed and people survived as best they could amongst the prevailing fear and uncertainty. The book started out slowly for me but picked up when Simon settled on his quest for the hand of Doris and the hope for their future. Music was the backbone of this story. It gave Simon a way to set aside a little money for his dreams and it gave him a respite from his hardscrabble life. People were desperate for entertainment and being a fiddler opened the way for him to achieve his dreams.

Great review, Donna, I'm really looking forward to Simon!

>202 vivians: Thank you, Vivian, for the compliment AND for keeping my thread warm!

My thread should be good for the rest of the month. I am tired of my Happy New Year greetings in my introduction so I updated for spring.

I usually catch up on threads over the weekend but I had an overnighter with my two lovely granddaughters that live across town. We invited a special book guest to join us. Dory Fantasmagory was a big hit with Haley and Molly. I have both Beth and Anne to thank for the recommendation. I follow a plethora of book sights on the web, but my best recommendations come from fellow LTers. 😘

Book No. 18. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Library, 403 pp., 3.7 stars.

"…I think now that this is how the running often begins, that it is settled upon in that moment you understand the great depth of your peril. For it is not simply by slavery that you are captured, but by a kind of fraud, which paints its executors as guardians at the gate, staving off African savagery, when it is they themselves who are savages, who are Mordred, who are the Dragon, in Camelot's clothes. And at that moment of revelation, of understanding, running is not a thought, not even as a dream, but a need, no different than the need to flee a burning house." (100)

This well-writen and thoughtful book shows one of the many variations of slavery. Some would say that Hiram didn't have such a bad situation. He was one of the Tasked for sure, but his tasks were different. You see, his father was his owner and he recognized Hi's gift of a photographic memory as a useful way to entertain his guests with parlor games. He was given the gift of an education and a job in the main house as his (half) Brother's Keeper. That ended with a tragic drowning accident that became the source of Hi's knowledge about his special gift that becomes more apparent midway through the book. This gift of Conduction is where the story began to lose its appeal for me and that 5-star rating I was envisioning began dwindling even more when Mr. Coates gave a historical figure the same powers of magical realism. I have a personal dislike of altered history so others may not be as bothered by this as I was. Bottom line, it was a good read with a disappointing (to me) element that kept it from being a great read.

Happy new thread, Donna. It would be nice to have a nice spring thread but I'll have to wait a while I fear.

>201 Donna828: I'm looking forward to reading this one Donna as I only recently read and loved News of the World. I don't think Simon the Fiddler will be released until April.

Checking in to see how you are doing. Hope you enjoyed the time with the grands!

Great reviews!

Underland sounds very interesting. I've been very curious about it. I think it is one that I would do better to listen to on audio; audio helps get me through tough spots instead of just putting the book aside. I'm not a huge fan of caves and mines.

I wasn't overly enthusiastic about The Handmaid's Tale until I started watching the series on DVD. Now, I'm totally hooked on the series which falls in the time between THT and The Testaments.

I hope to read both Simon the Fiddler and The Water Dancer this year.

I have one more Jiles on Planet TBR: The Color of Lightning. I suppose I should read that one before adding Simon to the pile, too. It's one of my unspoken resolutions to not acquire more of an author until the current unread volumes have been digested. Unless of course, there's a wonderful deal, or I see something I want at the FOL or the newest and shiniest work is too wonderful to pass up.

>199 Donna828: Oh, has Fictfact fallen by the wayside? I was never really a series reader, but liked listing books there :)

Hi Donna.

Sigh. You got me with Norwegian by Night. Not only does the book sound good, the name is wonderful.

I also really liked Simon the Fiddler. I need to get to writing that review since I received it as an ER (as several of us seem to have done). I still like News of the World a wee bit better but Jiles evokes the era and the area so beautifully.

And I really want to read some William Kent Krueger. I have Ordinary Grace on the shelves. It's not one of the Cork books but I think I'll like his writing style.

>205 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, my thread isn't new but it does have a new vibe with the spring flowers up at the top. I kind of like my quiet little thread because I dislike creating new ones. One per quarter seems to work well for me.

>206 brenzi: You're right, Bonnie. Simon the Fiddler will be released next month. I think you will like it.

>207 ronincats: Thanks for checking in, Roni. I am planning to visit a few threads today and tomorrow to try and catch up with my LT friends. It's always a good time with the grandkids. I have some quality Molly-alone time in my near future. Haley and her mother are going to Miami over spring break to visit a friend. Molly will be at home with dad. He plans to take her to work part of the time, but I will have her for a few days as well. I don't get much alone time with Molly since she started school so I'm really looking forward to it.

If I had paid attention to my post number (205) I would have realized it wasn't really new, just looked so nice and fresh it fooled me :) I seem to do about one thread per quarter too, although I just put up a new one so I'm a bit ahead of schedule this year.

>208 streamsong: I got a kick out of 'I'm not a huge fan of caves and mines', Janet. Neither am I. I felt mildly claustrophobic throughout much of Underland but the payoff of a better understanding of geology made up for it. I'm just the opposite about those "tough spots" in books. I'd rather be reading them so I can skim if necessary. Maybe I will look into the TV series of The Testaments on your recommendation, although I don't watch much television these days.

>209 LovingLit: Yes, I forget when it happened, Megan, but it was a big disappointment to lost Fictfact as I kept track of my husband's series books on it. That way I could easily check to see what he hadn't read when I was at library book sales looking for cheap paperbacks. Now I will have to make a written list. I laughingly call myself his "Book Pimp"!

>210 EBT1002: Good to see you, Ellen. I'm glad your Mohs' Surgery is over. I've had it several times. The first time was the most traumatic as the carcinoma was on the tip of my nose and I had to go back in THREE times to go deeper each time. Ended up having skin grafts, too. Painful and ugly. I still have a scar.

I can recommend all the Wm. Kent Krueger books. My favorite was Ordinary Grace but they are all atmospheric and tell good stories. I agree with you giving News of the World a slight edge. I hope they don't ruin it with the movie adaptation.

>212 RebaRelishesReading: I figured that's what happened, Reba. I'll be over to say hello on your new thread this weekend. I have so much planned that I hate to lose that hour to DST. Haha.

>214 Donna828: I'm looking forward to seeing you :) Hope you have a good weekend with all of your planned activities in the meantime.

Book No. 19: A Dangerous Crossing by Ausma Zehanat Khan. On loan from the Tulsa Library, 342 pp., 4 stars.

"In the glare of the volunteers' flashlights, Rachel had her first look at a boat arriving from Turkey. It was a small rubber craft designed for twenty people, but double that number were crammed aboard, sitting on each other's laps, children packed into the middle, silent and numb with cold. A few of the older boys who could swim were clinging to the sides of the boat, treading water to prevent the boat from sinking under the weight of such a load. Families were squeezed together--the elderly, the middle-aged, the young--small children and babies gripped in their mothers' arms." (169)

The Canadian Community Police duo of Detective Esa Khattak and Sergeant Rachel Getty travel to the Greek island of Lesvos, the base of a huge refugee camp of displaced Syrians and others in the region fleeing for their lives. While Esa and Rachel are concerned about the humanitarian crisis, they have been sent to find out what happened to Audrey Clare. She just happens to be Esa's best friend's sister so the search is both a police and a personal matter. Audrey was last seen running from her tent, which headquartered the privately sponsored Women2Women Organization she supported, after an Interpol leader and a refugee were shot and killed there. This first-rate mystery/suspense novel is No. 4 in the series. It's best to read them in order because A Dangerous Crossing goes back to previous events and relationships with little in the way of explanation.

I have learned much about the world of refugees and injustices from this series. Esa is a practicing Muslim, and the author shows the religion at its best and worst. Ms. Kahn has credibility with her doctorate in International Human Rights Law and compassion for refugees. This book showcases the tragedy in Syria under the Assad regime that has resulted in the overcrowded camps in Europe where people exist with little hope for the future. Be certain to read the Author's Note at the end of the book to get more insight into the complicated ongoing situation in the Middle East.

Your experience with Moh's sounds difficult. They had to go in twice with my scalp and he was definitely scraping bone the second time around (I could hear it!). The crater is not large -- about dime-sized -- but it's deeper than I had hoped. Still, it seems to be healing well.

>216 Donna828: Adding that series to my wish list. Since P has retired she has just been consuming mystery and other series like candy. I'm a wee bit envious but looking forward to doing the same when my turn comes (17 months but who's counting?).

>216 Donna828: and >217 EBT1002: Oh for pete's sake. I read the first in that series in 2018 and gave it 3.5 stars. I'll certainly return to it.

And a belated book bullet for Underland, btw. The library has it, but all 19 copies are out and I'm #14 in line--which is fine because I have plenty of library books to get through before it.

>217 EBT1002:, >218 EBT1002: Ellen, we are both lucky that our skin problems were found and cured. I'm not complaining at all. My other experiences with Mohs went pretty smoothly…one on my neck and the other on my back. That time until etirement will go by quickly for you, and you can give P a run for her money in the reading races! I frequently start a series and forget to return to it. If too much time elapses, there is always the possibility I will forget what took place. Luckily, I don't mind rereading books; in fact, I get more out of them the second (or third) time around.

>219 ronincats: Those library books do stack up, don't they, Roni? My problem is management. I forget to check on them and freeze some of them so they don't all come in at one time. I feel 'book pressure" when I have too many checked out at once. At least the books in my home library are pretty patient with me.

I mentioned my busy week end to Reba upthread. It was filled with women's and girl's basketball games. Yesterday our Missouri State Lady Bears won their 25th consecutive home game AND the conference chamionship! I went to a 3rd Grade BB game today and watched Haley's team win their tournament! It's been fun. Basketball season will be over after the regional tournament and the NCAA tourney. I will miss it. However, Reading is still my Favorite Sport. And the season lasts forever. ;-)

Happy Sunday, Donna! I miss seeing you around. I enjoyed your thoughts on Simon the Fiddler. I have that one waiting in the wings. I think we share similar feelings about The Water Dancer. I really enjoyed the first half or so, but it never really clicked in the second half. I wonder if NF, is where he excels?

>221 Donna828: Congrats to the MSU Lady Bears! I have been spending a LOT of my weekend in front of the television, watching women's basketball championship games all over the place. Normally I am an avid Duck-hater but this year I am hoping they take it all. Call me a bandwagon jumper. :-)

I actually managed to read a bit during one of today's games. Usually I can NOT read with the television on but I'm trying to break through that, at least with BB games in which I'm less invested.

Have a good week, Donna!

Hi Donna - I started the Getty & Khattak series and DNFed Among the Ruins. But your review is prompting me to take another look at A Dangerous Crossing, so thanks for that!

I'm a frustrated grandmother at the moment. My daughter-in-law, who is 6 months pregnant and is an MD, requested that I stay away from Rafa for a couple of weeks since I just traveled by plane to a conference. I'm suffering from withdrawal but respect her caution. FaceTime will have to suffice!

>221 Donna828: Reading is still my Favorite Sport. And the season lasts forever.

Love that.

Hi Donna!

>204 Donna828: We’ll be reading The Water Dancer for February 2021 book club discussion, so I’m going to skip your review. 3.7 stars ain’t bad, though, so something to look forward to.

Sorry about the NCAA tournies being cancelled - my poor husband was looking forward to March Madness even if Carolina flamed out last night to Syracuse, losing 81-53.

It is sad not to have "March Madness."

>222 msf59: Hi Mark. You may have something there about Coates and non-fiction. I really enjoyed Between the World and Me. I have slowed down on my social activity here on LT. Maybe it will pick up now that I am trying to stay home more these days. I feel good about my interaction with books and will try to read more from my own shelves rather than the public library…right after I pick up The Mirror & the Light. lol

>223 EBT1002: Ah, college basketball. I feel so sorry for the players who have put so much into their sport and won't be able to compete in the annual tournaments. It seems like some people are making much bigger sacrifices than others. I'm a disappointed fan but I'll get over it fairly quickly and look ahead to next season. I am doing my part by social distancing, but it's not difficult for an introvert like me to be 'forced' to stay home. Bring on the books!

>224 vivians: Vivian, I don't think the Getty and Khattak series is for everyone. It is hard to get into for one thing and gets offtrack into romantic bits for another. It works for me, though, so I will continue with it. I hope the Raja ban has been lifted, although a protective mother in the medical field may be self-quarantining for some time. Thank goodness for FaceTime.

>225 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. I am going to miss the NCAA Basketball Tournament this year, but it's a small sacrifice in the bigger scheme of world events.

>226 karenmarie: There are a lot of disappointed basketball fans, Karen. I guess sports in general is a bust for awhile. Oh well, life goes on. We need to do what is best for the nation's health right now.

>227 thornton37814: Sad indeed, Lori. I will spend my "extra" time reading and maybe doing a little spring housecleaning.

Book No. 20: A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin. Libby Audio, 432 pp., 4.2 stars.

For someone who tries to avoid short stories, this collection was an awakening to the power that minimal words can wield. Thanks, Mark, for your recommendation several years ago. This book is a compilation of Berlin's autobiographical struggles with life with a few joys sprinkled in for levity. Her life was not easy, but she makes the most of her travails in such a way that I felt as if I was struggling right along with her. The topics of alcoholism, cancer, and abuse of all kinds can get pretty disheartening. Maybe it's a good thing that most of the pieces were short. I liked that there were longer stories mixed in and several recurring characters and themes were explored.

I listened to the stories while on my walks and turned off my phone after each one so I could have some reflection time between them. I wish I had a copy of the book so I could share some of the marvelous quotes. I may be a convert to the short story form.

>230 Donna828: One of my absolute favorites Donna. Are you hunkered down and lapping up lots of books? I'm nearly done with The Mirror and the Light. What a book!

>231 brenzi: I can see why Cleaning Women is one of your favorites, Bonnie. And, here, I didn't think I liked short stories. These were phenomenal! I picked up my copy of the new Mantel yesterday. Can't wait to dive in. There's not much else to do these days other than housework and that doesn't sound like much fun.

So, tonight was supposed to be my book group meeting postponed from last Tuesday because of the election in Missouri. The library programs were canceled a few days ago…and now the library is closed until the end of the month. Sad Face. I went ahead and read the book for tonight even though it was a reread for me. It still tugged at my heartstrings the second time around.



Book No. 21: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Library book, 440 pp., 4.2 stars.

“In the years that she had been tying scraps to the branches, the tree had died and the fruit had turned bitter. The other apple trees were hale and healthy, but this one, the tree of her remembrances, was as black and twisted as the bombed-out town behind it.”

I read this one on my Kindle 3 years ago and shed a tear or two. Same response this time. Kristin Hannah sure knows how to punch emotional buttons. Two sisters separated by age and temperament, an absent widowed father, Nazi invasion of France leading up to hell on earth. I think I was in the mood for a sensationtal story and this one filled that need.

Vianne and Isabelle had different experiences during WWII both involving great sacrifices. It was hard to read about their heartbreak as they gave up so much. It was a slow starter for me both times I read it, but once I passed the initial set up which showed both sisters at their worst, I couldn't put it down. I had to ignore a few discrepancies in the plot and some clunky phrasing. These few minor defects paled in comparison to the heart of the story about survival and endurance of love. I sure would have liked talking about this one with the group.

>233 Donna828: Donna, I also read The Nightingale a few years ago -- also for a book club -- and really liked it. I remember it sparked a lot of conversation about the two sisters, and the moral dilemmas they each had to face.

Hi, Donna. Glad to know you're doing well and getting some good reading done. I'm having a hard time settling down to read, what with all the distressing news everywhere, so I'm back to rereading comfort reads. Take care, stay safe.

>234 lauralkeet: Laura, it wasn't the most uplifting book to read in these sad times, but it did remind me that things could be so much worse. I'm sorry our book group wasn't able to talk about The Nightingale. No telling when we will meet again. I'll try to keep up with our planned reads in the hope that we can have an extended time when the library reopens to talk about all the books we had planned.

>235 Storeetllr: Hi Mary. I wish you the same -- take care and stay safe. Rereading comfort books is an excellent idea. I have The Mirror and the Light next in the reading queue. A good long (757 pp.) dose of Thomas Cromwell in the times of Henry VIII should take me away to a different time and place for a few days. Spring cleaning can wait!

Book No. 22: The Fall of Light by Niall Williams. Borrowed from a friend, 305 pp., 4.5 stars.

"In an autumn long ago, the Foleys crossed the country into the west like the wind that heralds winter… There was Francis Foley and his four sons. They rode horses through the night, travelling with all their possessions in raggle-taggle fashion, leading a small cart on which lay a large wooden telescope. The midnight creaking of the cartwheels and the clattering of the hooves on the road stirred those who slept on the edges of their beds in thin dreams. The Foleys fled through the fields of Tipperary and across the wide green of all that country until they reached the river. Then they stopped and slept beside their horses beneath the hidden moon of that October, their breaths misting on the darkness like visions and their eyes in sleep seeing the home forever lost to them now." (From the opening paragraph)

I am hopelessly in love with this author's books. His words transport me to Ireland and touch my heart and soul. My love affair started with History of the Rain about a chronically ill Irish girl reading through her deceased father's library and continued with This Is Happiness, the coming-of-age story of Noah, living in the 1950s with his grandparents in County Clare. The Fall of Light goes back in time to the mid-19th century to the Irish Potato Famine which killed over a million people in a 10-year period. To say times were hard is in understatement.

Like many families, the Foleys left their home to find work and food. As in the other books by Williams I've read, the rain is almost another character: "It fell as arrows of rain, the hard cold rain that announced winter and told the animals in their hidden places that the season had turned. It did not pour down, but seemed a stuff of thin metal that fell piercingly and killed the light of morning." (42) The elements are harsh. The River Shannon takes away their father so now the four young men are "orphans" missing both a mother and father. Teige is the youngest at age 12. The gypsies who rescue them discover quickly that he has a sixth sense for horses. This is mostly Teige's story as the brothers drift away, some to different continents, including North America. The separation of family is one of the strongest themes of the book. I enjoyed the different story lines of their travels, but it was the writing that moved me almost as much as the encompassing love of this family that had lost everything but their memories of happier times.

>237 Donna828: Donna you are VERY persuasive about reading Niall Willams books! Great review.

Oh thanks Donna - I absolutely loved History of the Rain on audio and will definitely add The Fall of Light. I hadn't heard of this new one.

Hi Donna, I need to get started on this author whose books you are hopelessly in love with. Every time you write a review I go and add the book to my Overdrive list and it hasn't gotten any farther than that. Maybe now is the time.

Hi Donna.

>233 Donna828: I'm glad your library is closed and sorry your library is closed. Given what seems to be going on in the country right now, I'll be surprised if they open up again after the end of the month. Ours is closed indefinitely.

Passing through and waving hello! I hope all is well with you and your family. :)

Hi Donna, yes, you are very persuasive with Niall Williams, and The Fall of Light has been added to my WL. Hope you are well.

This is my new motto these days. Like many of you, I am staying home more than I want to. It seems counterproductive to do nothing in this pandemic. I hope all my LT friends are healthy and looking forward to better days ahead. In the meantime, wash your hands and read a good book! I have The Mirror & the Light keeping me company these days. When I get through that, I will start in on the neglected books in my home library. Happy Reading to All!

>238 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. His books won't appeal to everyone, but those who love lyrical writing and thought-provoking themes will probably share my admiration for this new-to-me author.

>239 vivians: Yay! Another Niall Williams fan in the group. Vivian, you may be the one who called him to my attention in the first place. The Fall of Light was released in 2001. Williams' latest book is This Is Happiness. It came out last year and is set in the same Irish village as History of the Rain.

>240 brenzi: Bonnie, I hope I've convinced you to read Williams without delay. His books are perfect for these days of waiting for the world to heal itself.

>241 karenmarie: "Im glad your library is closed and sorry your library is closed." Well said, Karen. These are days of mixed feelings for sure. I understand the need for making sacrifices, but I'm sad to think about the consequences of shutting so many things down. I am working on my faith and patience.

>242 nittnut: We are all well, Jenn. Thank you for checking in. Hope all is well with your crew. It is certainly more challenging for those with children at home. I'm an old lady who delights in being shut in with my books so being told to stay home isn't much of a sacrifice for me.

>243 AMQS: Hi there, Anne. Your area has been hit harder than mine. We are increasing the numbers of those with Covid each day…and have had 3 deaths here in the last 2 days. *sigh* Stay well.

Book No. 23: The Story Hour by Thrity Umrigar; narrated by Sneha Mathan. Hoopla audio, 341 pp., 3.7 stars

I wanted to love this book, but ended up only liking it. I finished it a few days ago, and I have been thinking about this unusual friendship ever since, so maybe it is one of those books that deserve a closer look. The friendship of a psychologist and her client was so unprofessional that it clouded the waters for me. I do think Lackshmie needed a good friend so I should be happy for her. L is an immigrant from India in a loveless marriage who decides to end her life. Instead, she is put in a psychiatric hospital under the care of Maggie who has her own problem that is also hard for me to understand. I persevered because I wanted to see how things worked out for these two flawed characters. If you don't like abrupt endings, then you probably won't like this book. I don't mind open endings but this one really left me hanging!

I don't want to be too negative because there were many things I did like in the book. I thought the author did a good job of showing life in America through the eyes of a young immigrant woman. I also liked the narrator's reading of the Indian dialect. The voice in my head wouldn't have done it nearly so well. I will definitely read more by the author as I was a fan of The Space Between Us when I read it 15 years ago.

>244 Donna828: Hi! I lost you there for a while, but I am trying to check up on my LT friends now that I am stuck at home and have time on my hands. : ) Glad to see you are well. My bookclub got cancelled two weeks ago but we are going to try to do it this Friday visually using Zoom. I think it should be fun! Happy reading.

>244 Donna828: My motto these days is "We all need to give one another a little grace." Things are really hard right no for a lot of people, and I want to try to give people the benefit of the doubt rather than quickly assume the worst. Hang in there, Donna.

Stay safe, Donna. I must say that Malaysia is doing a reasonable job of controlling the virus here.

>248 Berly: Hi Kim! I have been totally immersed in The Mirror and the Light for the past few days. I have tried to stay abreast of the Covid news. Lots of craziness out there. I spend most of my time at home by choice so it's not too much of an inconvenience for me to be told to practice social distancing. I've been hearing good things about Zoom. It should be perfect for a smallish book group discussion.

>249 AMQS: Giving and receiving grace is always a good thing, Anne. I get frustrated with being told what I can or cannot do so I will try and be more patient and practice grace. Ha, it gives more meaning to the word 'graceful'.

>250 PaulCranswick: It's good to know that things are well in Malaysia. I am complying with governmental guidelines even though it's hard for me to understand why our city is shut down. We currently have 14 patients in area hospitals with coronavirus. The population of the Greater Springfield Area is 275,000. Perplexing.

Hi, Donna. Glad to know you're doing well.

>250 PaulCranswick: >251 Donna828: It's shut down because the virus is so contagious. Be glad it's shut down. I wish we'd been shut down sooner here.

>252 Storeetllr: - And because people can be asymptomatic and infect others. That's the whole point of "social distancing" - to prevent unknowing transmission. And don't get me started on the lack of testing, which is keeping numbers unnaturally low.

Donna, be glad your (official) number is so low and that you still have an opportunity to flatten the curve. Many areas, mine and Mary's included, aren't so lucky.

Book No. 24: The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel. Library, 757 pp., 4.2 stars.

Jane Seymour: "It is he who does everything in England. I did not understand that, till one of the ambassadors told me. He marvelled that one man could have so many posts and titles. It is a thing never seen before. Lord Cromwell is the government, and the church as well. The ambassador said the king will flog him on to work till one day his legs go from under him, and he rolls in a ditch and dies." (169)

*****Spoilers abound*****

Mantel starts off the third book in the trilogy about King Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell, the second most powerful man in England, with the same gruesome scene of the beheading of Anne Boleyn that ended Bring Up the Bodies. Thomas Cromwell is elevated in status to Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal despite being a blacksmith's son. His whole life depends on the next beat of King Henry's heart, his future on his smile or frown. (paraphrase, pg. 48).

Lord Cromwell is a master of manipulation. One would have to be in order to be the leader of the Reformation of England while he is building his own power base. He performs a precarious balancing act of outsmarting his enemies and maintaining the king's trust. King Henry has been spiraling out of control after the annulment of his first marriage and the beheading of his second wife. His third wife, Lady Jane Seymour dies after giving birth to the future King of England, Prince Edward. Cromwell has served his king well. He arranged Henry's love life satisfactorily until he botches the match-up with Anne of Cleves. It turns out that Henry can't stand the woman -- and someone must pay. Guess who?

Dame Hilary has done an exceptional job of making this time period accessible to the patient reader and has even drawn some parallels to politics today in regard to unchecked ambition and the rise and fall of power. However, in this last book she seems reluctant to say goodbye to Thomas Cromwell. There are too many flashbacks to his miserable childhood and the ghosts of people he trampled in his rise to power. The long intricate downfall of Lord Cromwell, who gains yet another title of Earl of Essex toward the end, lacks the spark of the two preceding books. The sense of doom that has been slowly and steadily building throughout the sometimes tedious middle section comes to a head when Cromwell is led to the Tower of London where he sent so many before him. After devoting his life to doing Henry's dirty work and exhibiting loyalty until the end, the "mirror and the light of other kings" turns his back on his longtime advisor.

*****End of spoilers*****

Some further thoughts…
If I ever have that 'desert island' experience, I would like to take the entire trilogy with me to read and ruminate over without interruptions. Perhaps then I might appreciate them as masterpieces as many others do. Until then, I will consider them excellent examples of well-written historical fiction. They require much time and concentration. Perhaps my lack of the latter makes this last book seem like the weakest of the three.

>252 Storeetllr: >253 katiekrug: I knew my views would get me in trouble. I understand that Covid-19 is much worse in other parts of the country. Please forgive me, Mary and Katie, if I seemed insensitive. I blame my husband. LOL. He is a numbers guy (CPA) and is lamenting the threat of a shutdown of the economy. I see both sides of the picture and will continue to keep socially distant and think of my friends who are on the front lines, both in terms of threatened health and threatened livelihoods. We are in a Catch-22 situation. Back to my mantra: "This Too Shall Pass"…in the meantime, stay well, friends.

You're not in trouble, Donna, at least not with me. I'm sorry my response made you feel bad.

>254 Donna828: good review. I'm looking forward to reading Bring Up the Bodies and this one as as my ability to concentrate returns.

>230 Donna828: Hooray for A Manual for Cleaning Women! I am so glad you decided to give this incredible collection a try. Sadly, I have not read her follow-up. I NEED to remedy that.

Hi, Donna. I am glad to hear you are doing well. I am looking forward to reading The Mirror and the Light. Yep, I am one that thinks the first two are masterpieces.

>247 Donna828: Hmm I think I had similar thoughts on that one as well and gave it a slightly lower rating.

Enjoy the start of the week!

Hi Donna - I haven't read Wolf Hall yet, but I plan to remedy that this year. Especially if we are at home for a while longer. I am just happy we are well here and that I have a job.

Gee whiz Donna I hope you find a book that rates five 5 stars and ends up being a the perfect desert isle book with your next book. You don't have to wait until you're actually stranded on a desert isle. It could happen unexpectedly lol. I'm in love with the trilogy and am glad I reread the first two before tackling the last one but you may find your nirvana in something else.

>256 Storeetllr: No worries about my feeling bad, Mary. I'm feeling much worse about coronavirus in general and didn't mean to come across as not caring. I am befuddled and confused like much of the country. Stay home, stay safe. Yes, I get it, but I don't have to like it. ;-) Enjoy the Mantel books. They are very good and will help keep your mind off the discouraging news.

>257 msf59: Mark, Cleaning Women made me realize that short stories have much to offer. I will continue to explore the medium. I have a few Alice Munro collections I need to dust off. I might even agree with you that the Mantel books are masterpieces. I've been giving my 5-star ratings much thought and will write something about that on my next thread. In a nutshell, just because something is well written doesn't mean that I can identify with it and get the emotional satisfaction that I look for in a 5-star book. Does that make sense?

>258 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita, I kept thinking this book could have been better. I think I will stick with the Umrigar books set in India. The sun is shining which makes my days much brighter. I hope you are doing well during these strange days.

>259 BLBera: Beth, I predict that you will love Wolf Hall and the next two books in the trilogy. They are detailed and force on to pay attention. I'm for anything to take my mind off the pandemic. I'm glad you and your family are well and that your job is going on even in a different way. Hey, it might be fun to teach a class in your pajamas!

>260 brenzi: Bonnie, I think I should have reread the first two books before I attempted The Mirror and the Light. It was hard for me to get into and concentrate on. I will revisit the trilogy sometime even if it's on my patio swing or my reading chair in the snuggery. I give very few 5-star ratings. I will address that on my new thread…coming either later today or sometime tomorrow. I'm a tough audience; that's just how I roll. Lol.

Book No. 25: Lost in Translation by Ella Frances Sanders. Library, 110 pp., 3.5 stars.

This was an enjoyable illustrated book, perfect for "coming down" from the heavy-hitting book I just finished. The illustrations are lovely and featured a variety of words from around the globe. As the introduction stated, "the words in this book may be the answers to the questions you didn't even know to ask". I wish she had included a pronunciation guide.

A few of my favorites:
commuovere: (Italian) To be moved in a heartarming way, usually relating to a story that moved you to tears.

hiraeth: (Welsh) A homesickness for somewhere you cannot return to, the nostalgia and the grief for the lost places of your past, places that never were.

komorebi: (Japanese) The sunlight that filters through the leaves of the trees.

wabi-sabi: (Japanese) Finding beauty in the imperfections of the cycle of life and death.

tsundoku: (Japanese) Leaving a book unread after buying it, typically piled up together with other unread books.

I think we can all relate to that last one!

>201 Donna828: I ordered that one today using the gift card from BAM that my hubby got me for my birthday. I am really looking forward to reading it.

>204 Donna828: That one I already have in the BlackHole. The magical realism and alternate history will not bother me as much as they do you, I do not think.

>216 Donna828: My local library only has one book in that series, the first one. I am going to have to read it once I can get library books again!

>230 Donna828: Added to the BlackHole. My local library actually even has it! But I cannot get to it since the library is closed. Wah!!! lol

>233 Donna828: Another one that my local library has that I cannot get to. The unfairness continues. *tongue planted firmly in cheek*

>237 Donna828: Adding that one to the BlackHole. My local library does not have a copy of it. I own As It is in Heaven by Williams though and should probably read it one of these days.

>247 Donna828: Added to the BlackHole!

>254 Donna828: I started my re-read of Wolf Hall today anticipating reading that one, so I am skipping the review and the spoilers!

Book No. 26: Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener. Mine, 326 pp., 3.7 stars.

"Each man I knew had a cave somewhere, a hidden refuge from war. For some it was love for wives and kids back home. That was the unassailable retreat. When bad food and Jap shells and the awful tropic diseases attacked, there was the cave of love. There a man found refuge. For still others the cave was whiskey, or wild nights in the Pink House at Noumea, or heroism beyond the call of valor. When war became too terrible or too lonely or too bitter, men fled into their caves, sweated it out, and came back ready for another day or another battle." (72)

Wow, it has been a long time since I've read a Michener book. This was his first novel; he won the Pulitzer Prize for it in 1948. You may be familiar with the musical/comedy based on the book. I remember listening to the soundtrack ad infinitum in my youth as my parents were big fans. The book is much grittier than the adaptation and the accompanying music.

Michener includes some humor, lots of lush descriptions of the area, and scenes from the seedier side of war. There were some racial slurs that are signs of the time. I don't know how much of the book was based on Michener's war career, but he served in the Pacific and it seemed realistic. He did a very good job of bringing the island people to life and portraying the loneliness, fear, and sometimes sheer boredom of the men serving their country in a tropical paradise.

>264 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, it's good to hear from you. It looks like the book bullets are hit and miss, mainly because your library doesn't have some of the titles. I sure do miss my library visits and the book group that meets there once a month. It's a small sacrifice in the scheme of things. I just finished the last library book I had checked out. My shelves are going to get my attention now. I picked up the Michener on a whim and enjoyed it. I hope all is well with you and your family. I know your parents are a big concern to you. Stay well and keep in touch.

>265 Donna828: On my shelves, I love Michener, and I should try to get to it this year. I love South Pacific - I've seen it on stage and watched the movie many times.

>265 Donna828: Tales of the South Pacific was one of the last Pulitzer's I read partly because it was off-puttingly long and also because I didn't expect to like it (although I loved the musical). It turned out to be engaging enough that it didn't seem long at all. Sounds like you enjoyed it too .

>267 karenmarie: I would love to see South Pacific on stage, Karen. I used to know all the lyrics to all the songs, but I would try not to sing along from the audience. ;-) I have a few unread Michener's in the bookcase: Caravans, The Covenant, The Novel, and the 2-book set of Texas. I also have the copy of Centennial that I read 30-40 years ago. I remember he started with the dinosaur age in Colorado. Michener was very thorough.

>268 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba. Tales of the South Pacific was a relatively short one, only 326 pages. I wasn't expecting linked short stories, but the form worked for me. Do you have any Michener favorites?

>230 Donna828: Not a short story person either, but I really liked Manual For Cleaning Women when a read it a few years ago.

>254 Donna828: >259 BLBera: I’m another who hasn’t read the Wolf Hall trilogy. I must remedy that this year.

Hi there, Deborah. I think I'll dig out another book of short stories to keep on hand for these days of short attention spans. Thanks for visiting. I saw on your thread that the move to Florida might happen mid-April. Best of luck with that. I know you are eager to get closer to your family.

>265 Donna828: it's years since I read Mitchener Donna.

>269 Donna828: South Pacific is the only one I've read I'm afraid.

>272 Caroline_McElwee: Me too, Caroline. I really enjoyed South Pacific. I plan to read some more by him. They are strangely comforting.

>273 RebaRelishesReading: Well, it was a good one, Reba!