Berly Turns the Page #1

Sooooooo ready for a new year! Here's to vaccines, less masks, more books, face-to-face meetings and more LT friends! This is gonna be a better year. : )

So many choices!! What should I read?

Reading Now
Keep Sharp (🎧 8 hrs) by Sanjay Gupta
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent (B 3395 pages) by Isabel Wilkerson, Bookclub #2
Squeeze Me (B 336 pages) by Carl Hiaasen with my family

Next?
Half a Soul buy Olivia Atwater (SouloftheRose's fault)
February -- News of the World by Paulette Jiles, RL Bookclub
March-April -- Odds Against from the 1960s, first in the Sid Halley series, Dick Francis

Read in January ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
6. ✔ Squeeze Me (B 336 pages) by Carl Hiaasen 4.0
5. @ Banker (K 323 pages) by Dick Francis 3.5
4. ✔ Heaven's River (🎧 17 hrs) Bobiverse #4 by Dennis Taylor 3.75
3. @ Themes and Variations (K 17 pages) Essay by David Sedaris 4.0
2. ↩ Jazz (K 244 pages) by Toni Morrison 3.0
1. ✔ Girl Waits With Gun (B 409 pages) by Amy Stewart 4.25

Ratings
❤️ Favorite(s) of the month
Loved it! 5.0
Really Good 4.0
Good 3.0
Hmmmm 2.0
Don't Bother 1.0

Source
IR = Indiespensable Readers
LT = LibraryThing Early Reviewer
✔ = Off the shelf (not acquired this year)
L = Library
↩ = Reread
@ = Acquired this year
✗ = DNF

Media
B = Printed Book
🎧 = Audio
K = Kindle
= Graphic Novel

Books Freed = 0
Powell's isn't open for drop-offs....



Catalogued 38/52 shelves -- I am determined to finish this in 2021 and I am off to a good start. I did one shelf today!!! I am now in the M's.

RL Book Club #1
February - News of the World by Paulette Jiles
April - Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
June - Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
August - The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
October - The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead

RL Book Club #2
January - Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
February
March
April
May
June
September
October
November

Literary Arts 2020-2021
September, 2020 -- ✅ The Nickel Boys & ✅ The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
October 13, 2020 -- H is for Hawk and ✅ Vesper Flights by Helen McDonald
January 28, 2021 -- ✅ Circe by Madeline Miller
February 18, 2021 -- ✅ How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
April 20, 2021 -- An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo
May 18, 2021 -- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Powell's Indiespensable Readers Challenge

Hubby signed me up for this (Thank you!!). Over the years I have received over 90 installments (some with two books), and I haven't read all the books yet. Not even close! In an effort to catch up -- I want to read 12 this year. The complete list (such as it is) can be found here:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/301060#

Let me know if you want to read one with me!!

2021 Shared Reads
March -- The Topeka School by Ben Lerner with Twin/BLBera
April/May -- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi with ffortsa/Judy

Done
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

The Nerd 2021 Reading Challenge
To help motivate me to set off BOMBs!! (Books Off My Bookshelf) There are 52 categories and I have chosen 26 and made a few changes ('cuz this is supposed to be fun and not a chore!).

1) An Audiobook
2) An LT Trending Book
3) Gold on the Cover
4) Two Word Title
5) Author Starting with E
✅ Part of a Trilogy - Jazz by Toni Morrison
7) NYT Bestseller
8) Debut Author
✅ Title Starts with G or K - Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart
✅ Multiple Perspectives - Heaven's River by Dennis E. Taylor
11) Features Traveling
12) Standalone
13) Set in Winter
14) SF or Mystery
15) A New-To-Me Author
16) Over 400 pages
17) Food on the Cover
18) Same First Initial as Me (K)
19) Romance or YA
20) Set in the Future
✅ Released in 2020 - Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen
22) Purchased Years Ago
23) A Book Gifted To Me
24) A Book I Never Finished
25) Five Word Title
26) Body Part in the Title

I can't resist buying books!!

I seem to manage to read around 50% of my newbies, except in 2019 where I (ahem) added a few more books to my collection than normal. But then in 2020 I killed it and read almost 75% of my newbies!!

2017 47/85
2018 45/88
2019 45/128
2020 75/103

Let's see how I do this year...

2021 1/7 Read

1. Keep Sharp by Sanja Gupta MD
2. Paradise by Toni Morrison
✅ Themes and Variations: An Essay by David Sedaris *
4. Hadley and Grace by Suzanne Redfearn *
5. Cold Earth by Sarah Moss (Thank you TwinB!) *
6. The Liar's Dictionary by Eley Williams
7. The Book of Delights by Ross Gay

* Free or gift

Favorites from 2020
Fiction
Non-Fiction

Have to ponder this a little......

I am going to try and keep track of series I am currently enjoying here:

Series/Author/Next Book
Kinsey Millhone Mystery Series / Sue Grafton / Read ABCDEQX / Next F is for Fugitive
Cormoran Strike Series / Robert Galbraith / #5 Troubled Blood
Kopp Series / Amy Stewart / #2 Lady Cop Makes Trouble
The Chronicles of St Mary's / Jodi Taylor / #6 What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Bobiverse / Dennis E. Taylor / #5 not yet published

Hope I'm not too quick, Kimmers, to say welcome back. x

Me too... welcome back!

Happy reading in 2021, Kim!

Happy New Year, Kim! I look forward to seeing what you get up to in 2021.

>11 PaulCranswick: Paul -- First-to-post prize goes to you!

>12 drneutron: And, Jim, you are a close second!

>13 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita!

>14 lauralkeet: And Laura!

Welcome to all of you and thanks for starting off my new thread. Some of my favorite LT peeps. : )

Hope you have a great 2021!

Happy 2021, Kim! Here's to it being full of fabulous.

Happy New Year Kim!

>16 ChelleBearss: And I wish the same for you!!

>17 Crazymamie: I like "full of fabulous"!! Happy 2021

>18 brenzi: Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year, Kim! Hope it's filled with good reads.

And keep up with my friends here, Kimmers. Have a great 2021.

>20 MickyFine: Thank you, Micky!! Good reads to one and all! : )

>21 PaulCranswick: Paul--Yes, to ALL of that! Happy 2021 my friend.

Sitting with my Hubby, watching the ball drop (3x!) and drinking champagne. Actually feeling pretty lucky all things considered. Shout out to all my LT friends: Happy 2021!

Happy New Year Kim!

Happy new year!

>24 SandDune: Ha! We cross-posted! Happy, happy New Year!

>25 quondame: Love that! Happy New Year. : )

I wish you a Happy New Year. May it be better than the old one.

Happy new year, Kim!

Happy New Thread, Kimmers. Happy New Year! Glad we are turning the page on that one. Looking forward to sharing another year of books, with one of my very favorite LTers.

Happy New Year, Twin! My book club is reading News of the World this month! Our threads are next to each other. :)

I hope 2021 is a healthy one for you and yours and that we get to see each other. Otherwise, I suppose we'll have to Zoom.

I thought a guaranteed-turmerickless tarte tatin wouldn't come amiss as a hostess gift.

Just gorgeous caramel. Oh my yes.

Happy New Year, Kim!
No matter how much I tell myself that I have enough unread books on the shelf, that rarely stops me from buying the book that is calling to me right then.

Best wishes for a better 2021!

Happy new year!

Happy New Year, Kim! Here's to a better year!

Happy new year Kim! I, too, want to read Caste this year, but I'm waiting until March when my hold comes through.

>28 Ameise1: And indeed I hope that's true!! Best wishes for 2021.

>29 katiekrug: Happy New Year, Katie!! I hope I can keep up with your threads this year. LOL

>30 msf59: Hello, Mark, my friend. I see you caught the meaning of my thread title! Looking forward to all your warbling this year. : )

>31 BLBera: News of the World! May it be a good book and may the news be brighter this year. Yes, I hope we can meet in-person, but I am up for Zoom, too. Happy 2021, Twin!

>32 richardderus: Oh, yum. This is so good!! Sticky smooches. Would you pass me a napkin, please? And may I have a second piece?

>33 mstrust: We are in complete agreement on book buying!! LOL. But I am still gonna try to at least start off the year reading some of my shelf books. : )

>34 DianaNL: And the same best wishes to you!!

>35 witchyrichy: So cute! Love that card. Happy New Year!

>36 Carmenere: Happy 2021! It has just GOT to be a better year. : )

>37 tymfos: Happy New Year! And may the books be great!

>38 The_Hibernator: I have one bookclub reading Caste this month and another reading it this summer. You'll be reading in-between me!!

>40 Berly: Here you go, dear:

Thank you dahlink! Mmmmmmm. : )

So, I am getting back to my project of cataloguing my books (I did nothing last year). I cleared a shelf and am now proudly in the M's. My progress will be tracked up in >4 Berly:.

I added two books to my donate pile and grabbed one to read that I never finished: Eden's Outcasts about Louisa May Alcott and her father.

And in this same shelf, I also came across a book I loved, The Widow Clicquot, about the woman who made the champagne empire of the same name. My BIL gave us a bottle for New Years and we toasted him last night! Thought that was a fun coincidence.

Starting Jazz by Toni Morrison with Beth, Ellen and Laura. It's a re-read for me, but it has been so long it might as well be new!

Happy New Year Kim. So strange to have to stay up until actual Midnight to see the Times Square ball drop, instead of watching it at 9 p.m. and being able to call it a day from the West Coast.

Happy New Year, Kim!

My book club will be reading Caste, too, although later in the year. Since I nominated it, I'll have to moderate it. Not sure if that is a good thing, or not, but I'll be interested to see what you and your clubs think and discuss.

Jazz is a great way to start the year!

>47 arubabookwoman: LOL. On the other hand, we watched 3 separate New Years programs and watched the ball drop at 10, 11 and 12!! My hubby and I like to sit together and reminisce about the year that's been and wishes for the new year while we drink a little champagne. Sorry you had to adjust to East Coast time!!!

>48 streamsong: I tend to read books more carefully when I am the moderator and I think Caste will be one worth the attention. And I am sure you're a natural moderator, too!

Dropping a hello, star, and happy new year to you!

I love when you drop in!! LOL. Happy 2021!

>51 Berly: Maybe this year I can be better with keeping up with all you lovelies! Either way, thinking of you!

Perfect! We'll both try our best and know that intentions are good. : )

Hi Kim, happy new year and good luck with your cataloguing this year.

>54 PawsforThought: Nice to see you here and thank you--I'll need it!!! : ) Happy New Year!

Hi Kim, and Happy New Year!

>3 Berly: One done already? Congrats.

>56 karenmarie: Yes, that's what happens when you are up until 5:30 in the morning and just can't sleep! LOL. I finally got 4 hours and then I was up and at 'em again.

It sounds like you had a great New Year's Eve -- I hope that's an omen for a fabulous year.

Hope 2021 is full of lots of great reads!

It sounds like you had a lovely New Year celebration - hope 2021 is wonderful and book-filled? Do you live near Powell's? Lucky you!

Happy New Year, Kim!
I'll start Jazz this weekend.

>58 BLBera: I am good with a fabulous year--I hope it works out that way!!

>59 thornton37814: I don't see how it couldn't be a year of great reads with all the wonderful suggestions from my friends here. ; )

>60 AMQS: Yes, I am lucky enough to be a 10-min drive from Powell's and I love to visit!!

>61 EBT1002: Happy New Year, Ellen!! I just finished reading the intro of Jazz. I am busy trying to get on top of LT posts at the same time, so I probably won't make much progress right away. LOL

Happy new year!

>46 Berly: That looks to be a good one

>64 figsfromthistle: Thanks and the same to you! You should join us. ; )

Hmmm...have I found your 2021 thread yet? Off to look...

Happy New Year Kim! Hopefully we can get together in person this year.

Found you! Happy new year and new thread, Kim. Here's to a much better one!

>66 SuziQoregon: I am crossing my fingers that in-person will happen later in the year! : ) Happy New Year!

>67 jessibud2: Yay! Glad you made it here. : ) And I second your thoughts--here's to a much better year!!

Happy New Year, Happy New Thread and a healthy life with a lot of books!
>45 Berly: With this one we also started the new year - a good start!

>69 SirThomas: Yes, an excellent start to the new year--may the trend continue!!!

Dropping off my and wishing you the best of new years in 2021!

Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart 4.25

"From the New York Times best-selling author of The Drunken Botanist comes an enthralling novel based on the forgotten true story of one of the nation’s first female deputy sheriffs.

"Constance Kopp doesn’t quite fit the mold. She towers over most men, has no interest in marriage or domestic affairs...One day a belligerent and powerful silk factory owner runs down their buggy, and a dispute over damages turns into a war of bricks, bullets, and threats as he unleashes his gang on their family farm. When the sheriff enlists her help in convicting the men, Constance is forced to confront her past and defend her family — and she does it in a way that few women of 1914 would have dared."

Loved this story and the three sisters! It's a fun read, not only because of the confrontation with the silk lord and all the drama that follows, but also the historical background of the 1910s: economics, women's roles, the justice system, horse vs. car, etc. I think it is even cooler that the story is based on an actual real-life female person and her family! Can't wait to start the second in the series later this year.

Thank you SS Lori T!!

>71 ronincats: Hi Roni!! Now that's a star! Thank you for dropping it on my thread. : ) Happy New Year!!!

>72 Berly: I have this one in the stacks, Kim. Glad your first read of the New Year was a good one.

>72 Berly: tempting, very tempting!

Happy New Year, Kim. I am placing a star and look forward to the occasional visit to catch up with you. Wish you a year filled with excellent reads!

>72 Berly: Oooh, that sounds like a great read!

Happy New Year, Kim!

Happy New Year, Kim!

Happy New Year and thread Kim! Hope I can pop on more often this year.
You've intrigued me with Girl Waits With Gun #addstolist. I might take a look at that Nerd challenge as well (how many things can I keep up with? LOL)
Hope you are doing well and staying safe!

Happy new year, Kim! And >72 Berly: looks like fun.

Hi Kim my dear, i have dropped my star off and will be a regular visitor throughout the year dear friend.

>74 Crazymamie: Stacks of books are a good thing to have, and I am glad Girl Waits With Gun is in it!

>75 RebaRelishesReading: You know you want it! ; )

>76 DeltaQueen50: Hello there! So nice to see you. Wishing you a wonderful 2021 and I look forward to your visits, whenever they may be.

Happy new year, Kim!

Your thread is a Tony pot of tempting treats to read and enjoy - going to try extra hard to keep up this year

>77 PawsforThought: Lot of people recommended it before me!

>78 mahsdad: Happy New Year! This is gonna be a better year. : )

>79 ffortsa: Happy 2021!! 36 hours in and it's off to a good start!

>80 vikzen: Girl Waits With Gun is definitely a fun read and I think that is going to be genre of choice this year. At least for a couple more months.

The Nerd Challenge hit me the right way and I kinda like the title since I proudly am one. : )

Please do pop in...a lot!

>81 banjo123: Happy New Year, Rhonda. Do you think we'll get to meet in-person this year? Maybe by the fall? I am crossing my fingers. I miss our Oregon group! : )

>82 johnsimpson: Hello my tea-drinking, chunkster-reading friend! Well, at least tea-drinking this year. ; ) Lovely to see you here. Best wishes for a great 2021.

>72 Berly: I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. I need to go back and read that one and the three after it. I've read #5 and #6 now.

>87 thornton37814: I am delighted to find out there are 6 books in the series! : )

>72 Berly: I read and enjoyed that one a few years ago Kim, and then never went on to the next book in the series. Huh?

>89 brenzi: Well, let me know if the mood hits you and maybe we can read #2 of the Knopp sisters together later in the year!

Kim, I did find the link to the interview with Maggie O'Farrell. I posted it on Darryl's thread but here it is in case you don't get back there:

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/writersandcompany/how-the-tragic-story-of-shakespeare-s...

It's really a lovely and fascinating interview, hope you enjoy it.

>91 jessibud2: You are the best!!! Thank you. : )

So why was jessibud2 looking up the Maggie O'Farrell interview for me? She mentioned this interview on Darryl's thread and I said I absolutely loved the book and would love to hear the author! So, here's my review:



I Am, I Am, I Am was one of my last books in 2020. I loved it! Not all the brushes with death are hers (but most are). I could personally relate to several of the medical incidents, not so much the criminal ones (but they were scary and fascinating), and I was especially moved by the last chapter featuring her daughter who has eczema and allergies. I finished the chapter and immediately called my parents to thank them for doing such a great job caring for me as a little kid. I have just a few (!) medical conditions, but you won't need any to appreciate this book.

Each chapter is a different narrow escape, well written, suspenseful and told with insight and humor. O'Farrell faces death 17 times in this book. You could call her unlucky, but to still be here after all this, I think she is quite the opposite--incredibly lucky!! Recommended! O'Farrell is also the author of Hamnet, another hot read.

She talks mostly about Hamnet in the interview but near the end, they discuss this memoir, too. She is very engaging.

>72 Berly: You've hit me with the first BB of 2021!
Maybe I'll have to keep a list this year lol

I'd been wondering about I Am, I Am, I Am, Twin. I love O'Farrell and will definitely but this on my list. It sounds like you are coming to it from a unique viewpoint...

How are Mom and Dad? They're in Florida, right?

>94 jessibud2: I enjoyed reading about her, especially how she didn't want to write Hamnet until after her son had gotten older. Cool stuff!

>95 ChelleBearss: You're welcome and I'm honored! A list! Now there's an idea. LOL

>96 BLBera: I loved it. And, no, you don't have to have medical issues to understand or enjoy this book! : )

Mom and Dad are in Florida and very tired of the COVID shutdown. They've been pretty good, but my Mom has dementia and I know it is hard on Dad to not have more social interaction. He's holding up pretty well though. The have a routine going on that involves daily work on the puzzle, Zoom workouts and a little sunshine. The upside of not going anywhere is she is not confused and doesn't repeatedly have to ask where they are or who they are with.

Today is undecorated the house day. Yay! Boo.

Hi there, Kim! >72 Berly: Girl Waits With Gun looks really good, and I've seen the praise for Maggie O'Farrell here but haven't tried anything yet. Clearly that needs to change.

We undecorated yesterday and cleaned. The house always looks so bare, but I'm very glad to have completed the task and I appreciate the clean. Good luck with your undecorating!

Kim, it's good to know that given the circumstances, your parents are fine. I understand very well that it is not easy for your father to manage everything on his own.

Happy Sunday.

Happy New Year, Kim!

I didn't know there was a Powell's Indispensable Reader Challenge. What a great gift from Walt. I'm pleased that Powell's recognized that you're an Indispensable Reader. You sure are to us. :-) I love that store! If this pandemic ever leaves us alone, we may have to come visit again sooner rather than later.

Glad to hear your parents are doing well enough, Kim. These are difficult times. Good luck with your cataloging project!

Good to hear your parents have a routine they are both comfortable with. My dad had brain cancer and could be a bit erratic, but he became a big fan of going for a walk (me pushing his wheelchair) around the neighborhood at night. If I forgot, he'd remind me!

I took down Christmas yesterday. Well, I still have to pack away all my Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer figures, then I'm done.

>97 Berly: - Did you click *listen* and listen to the interview? She is a hoot, really!

Yeah, the lack of social interaction is getting to my mum, too. She lives 6 hours away from me and I obviously can't visit her. She also has dementia and is often confused but I do speak to her almost daily. Still, it's not easy.

Hi, Kim - Happy New Year and Thread. I see you've already made a great start to the reading year, well done! :)

Happy New Year Kim! I note your comments about Maggie O'Farrell and I Am I Am

This is my first addition of 2021. First book bullet !

>72 Berly: ...I am clearly losing the scraps of mind I have left...I already had that as a book-bullet *from*you*!

Maybe I'm a time traveler in my spare time? Bewildering.

I'm glad you began 2021 imbibing the champers of choice chez moi.

>72 Berly: I had that one on my TBR shelf for a while and never got to it. I think I gave it away which is odd for me. Now I'm kind of wishing I'd held onto it.

>93 Berly: Hamnet and This Must Be the Place are the only O'Farrells I've read. I gave the latter four stars in 2016 but, even having just read my short review, I don't remember it all that well. Hamnet was one of my five-star reads in 2020.

Hi Kim! Happy Almost Monday!!

Happy New Year, Kim!

Kudos for your book cataloguing project! I will have a look around the door on your thread from time to time:-)

Happy New Year and happy new thread Kim! Wishing you a more healthy 2021.

Happy new year Kim. I keep hitting the wrong button and being sent every which way away from your thread! I will keep it short accordingly and say only that I love your comments about Girl Waits with Gun. I found a hard copy of it after having read the kindle one, I liked it that much.

>98 Berly: I love my decorations and don't think they are ever out long enough so I use Epiphany as my deadline for taking them down. I may keep the book tree up for a bit.

>99 AMQS: Yes, GWWG is a good one! Hope you get your hands on it.

I left all the winterish decorations up and just took down the Christmas ones. I like the house to feel a little more cozy in the colder months. Cleaning went pretty well; still need to vacuum...

>100 Ameise1: Thank you! Yes, my Dad is managing to hold up pretty well. My mom seems very happy, which helps a lot because I know there are stages where they can get pretty cantankerous and suspicious.

>101 jnwelch: LOL. I love that you are calling me an Indispensable Reader--why thank you! Yes, I would love to see you guys out this way again. We had so much fun last time. And Powell's is a must-visit. : )

>102 The_Hibernator: Yeah. If I can get a shelf a week done, I will conquer the cataloging by summer!! So far so good. It is only the 4th though....

>103 mstrust: The routine definitely helps my mom. Spontaneous not so much. Sounds like you a had a nice time with your dad on those walks. Nice. : )

I still have some winter stuff up, but no Santas or elves or reindeer anymore.

>104 jessibud2: Dang! No! I missed that. The good news is now I have the interview to look forward to...again! : )

>105 lyzard: I am trying to talk to my Dad more often because I know he is with my mom but still kinda alone. We are doing a book read each month. This month we are reading Carl Hiaasen's Squeeze Me. They are fun books, irreverent and based in Florida where he lives. My sister, my daughter, me and my dad are reading together!

>106 Whisper1: Hello there!! Hurray! Your first book bullet of the year. Happy to make that happen for you. I hope you enjoy it immensely. : )

>107 richardderus: You must be psychic then!! Or maybe I raved about how I wanted that book so much back when I first saw it (since it is on my WL). In any case, NOW you really need to read it!!

>115 Berly:

That's brilliant, Kim! :)

>108 EBT1002: I survived Monday!! Even did TKD today and didn't keel over with exhaustion. Yay!

Hamnet and I Am, I Am, I Am are the only Maggie O'Farrells I have read. Will have to get to some of her other ones, since both of those were so good.

Are you back to work or do you get another week off? And how are you enjoying Jazz?

I can totally see the music of this book, with the tempo and the different voices. I am a little thrown by the new characters that keep taking center stage, but eager to see how this all wraps up.

>109 EllaTim: Hey! Thanks for dropping by. Please make it a habit and also keep me on my cataloging toes!! LOL I am gonna try and get one shelf a week done. Maybe I should make a tracker and totally guilt myself....

>110 humouress: Same to you and I totally could use a healthier 2021. In a big way. So far so good. : )

>111 charl08: I applaud and appreciate your persistence!!! Love seeing you here...always!! Glad you got yourself a hard copy. What a fun book. : )

>112 witchyrichy: I kept some of my winter decorations. Pine branches and cones, some candles, and my snow village houses. Nothing too Christmassy. And I love your book tree!!! I'd keep that up a bit, too.

>117 lyzard: It is definitely fun. So far, my family bookclub has read A Woman of No Importance (female spy in WW2) and then The Bluest Eye, so Squeeze Me will be our 3rd. A range of topics for sure!

You seem to have it all under control here, Kim. Cheers.

>122 weird_O: It's all an illusion!!!

>123 Berly: But isn't it a lovely illusion?

>124 weird_O: Well....yes! : )

Hey TwinK - tomorrow is the last day of Christmas! I finished Jazz, not my favorite Morrison, but worthwhile. Now I just realized I agreed to lead a faculty discussion of Teaching about Race and Racism, a book I was going to read over break...so I'd better get going on that.

I should finish Jazz tomorrow. I don't remember much of it from my first read years ago. There are some things I like about the book, but it is not my favorite Morrison either. More to say when I finish.

Read quickly!!! ; )

Also, I just got a copy of Paradise by Morrison to continue our reading in February. : )

>128 Berly: I have mine too! I'm so glad you'll be joining in, Kim.

Morning, Kim!

>128 Berly: That is the only Morrison I have read. Not planning on a reread, but I will following along with all y'all's comments and thoughts.

Hoping Wednesday is kind to you.

>129 lauralkeet: Will be fun!! : )

>130 Crazymamie: I have read a lot of Morrison and its fun to be reading these last few with the group.

Wednesday is awesome because of Georgia!!!!!

Hurray!!! Go Georgia, Warnock and Ossoff! And goodbye Mitch.

OMG! Today is a clear reminder that Democracy is fragile. These protesters need to go home. And Rump should tell them so. Not in a tweet. But go live! Be Presidential for once.

Update: And he did, but it was still whining and lying about the election. God, he sucks.

>133 Berly: We have been watching nonstop. I can't seem to do anything else even though I should stop. This is frightening. And even as Osoff is declared the winner.

I haven't done anything today but watch the news. I am horrified. Hope they invoke the 25th amendment and remove him from office.

>135 Berly: - I hope they try him as a terrorist. Because that is exactly what he is.

>135 Berly: Me too! I can't take my eyes away. What I kept thinking was that if it were a BLM protest, they would never have gotten into the Capitol.

Hawley should resign.

And six still voted to sustain the objection.

What a day! Most Republican office-holders are still weasels it seems. And the Capitol Police were clearly unprepared. I certainly hope prosecutors will comb through social media to collect photos of those posing proudly in the Senate and House chambers, in Nancy Smash's office, and elsewhere in the Capitol, toting around their treasonous flags. ID each one and prosecute.

Oh, well. Sorry for all of us.

>136 jessibud2: He is and they should.

>137 BLBera: Again, disappointed by the two different standards. Cannot believe Rump was reluctant to send in the Guard when he was so quick to want to send them in to Portland. Largely because I think he liked seeing dissidents with Rump sweatshirts on.

>138 weird_O: I am stunned by how unprepared the Capital Police were. What if those dissidents had had more weapons? This day would have been even more of a devastation. I do hope they prosecute these riotous individuals.

I am still sad that people lost their lives today. Rump ramped up the division in our country and instigated this travesty.

Now watching Congress and certification of votes. Love that many of the Senate objectors have wisened up and changed their mind and no longer support an objection to the Presidential vote. I am not impressed with the House votes in the Arizona debate.

Just reached Pennsylvania. Objections. Damn Hawley. Two more hours of debate.

Glad Twitter blocked him.

On a brighter note, my oldest daughter, who works at Oregon Health and Science University Hospital, got her vaccine today!!! She also agreed to donate blood and participate in a study of the efficacy. Happy for and proud of her!

Also, I forgot to post a book from last year. Christmas Present by Jodi Taylor. It's a quickie and I loved it and I have to get back to this series, The Chronicles of St. Mary's. I am on book #6, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

I have to get back to Jodi Taylor. I don't remember which one is next for me.

I hope the picture of Hawley with his fist raised follows him wherever he goes. What a @$@!

I am still up watching TV (at 2am my time) on the Congressional verification of the vote and it is official...Biden is the President Elect!!!

>144 Berly: YAY!
I watched the last hour too, but I had been sleeping in between.

Hi Berly, just leaving a star here. :) Happy new reading year!

>141 Berly: That's awesome!!

Congrats on the new president. When does he actually take over?

Hi Kim!

>72 Berly: I was just on thornton37814’s thread where she was reviewing one of the books further along in the series and was reminded that I have this book on my shelves and really need to get to it sooner than later.

>97 Berly: I’m glad they’re staying safe, sorry that your mother’s dementia is so hard on your father. It does sound as though less socializing really helps your mother.

>98 Berly: The only advantage to not being able to have our daughter home for Christmas was that we didn’t decorate at all and therefore had nothing to take down. I finally put up the Christmas Gift Wrapping Station on Monday, but it was upstairs in a remote room so hadn’t been in the way.

>132 Berly: The bright part of the day…

>135 Berly: I did take a bit of time out to make some gingerbread, but otherwise it kept me occupied pretty much all day. I absolutely hope they invoke the 25th Amendment, especially since he has access to the nuclear launch codes.

>139 Berly: They did have more weapons – all those backpacks had to hold something nasty. Apparently DC police found 2 pipe bombs and a cooler of Molotov cocktails near the Capitol building.

>140 Berly: Yes.

>141 Berly: So glad your daughter got her vaccine today.

>144 Berly: Although I am in shock about the Georgia results (which are fantastic), I wasn't really worried about whether Biden would become president elect. Aaron is totally concerned about civil war, though, as is the kids' mom. I hope they're not scaring the kids.

>146 PersephonesLibrary: Yay!! Another star! Nice to see you here. Hope it's habit forming. ; )

>147 ChelleBearss: January 20th he is sworn in. 13 days but who's counting?!

>148 karenmarie: Okay, you get MAJOR points for diligently reading and responding!! : ) I look forward to another year sharing life and reading with you.

>149 The_Hibernator: I wasn't that worried about the outcome, but I was worried about the process and whether it would be further divisive. I actually hope the upside of the attack on the capital will be to wake people up to the damage Rump is doing to our country and maybe we can start to move past him and get on a better path.

Oh I love Maggie O'Farrell Kim, and I happen to have I Am, I Am, I Am on my shelf. As much as I loved Hamnet and I really loved it This Must Be the Place is still my favorite.

>128 Berly: I am going to try and join the gang on Paradise. I have not read it. I am fan of Morrison. I have a copy on shelf.

>132 Berly: Hooray for Georgia! Stacey Abrams Rules!

>152 msf59: Just barging into Kim's thread here to say yay! I'm glad to see you'll be joining in for Paradise, Mark.

>151 brenzi: Well, then I will have to add This Must Be the Place to my WL!! : )

>152 msf59: Nice!! Another Morrison reader for February!! How can you go wrong with Paradise? LOL

>153 lauralkeet: See what you've started? Thank you!

Jazz by Toni Morrison 3.5
"In the winter of 1926, when everybody everywhere sees nothing but good things ahead, Joe Trace, middle-aged door-to-door salesman of Cleopatra beauty products, shoots his teenage lover to death. At the funeral, Joe’s wife, Violet, attacks the girl’s corpse."

And that's how the story's first few pages begin. Love, obsession, and black urban life. The plot line is discordant, jumping between storylines and past and present. It beats with ugly remembrances of violence and broken families, torn lives. Yet the writing in this book is simply beautiful, the unnamed narrator haunting. The book seems to echo the music of Jazz itself, saying listen to me!

Themes and Variations by David Sedaris 4.5

This essay is only 17 pages long, but I loved it! Sedaris talks about the "themes" that come up during his interactions with fans during his book tours, from what happens when you try to give away $50 to strangers to unusual things people insert into themselves. You gotta read this!

So I am cracking this one open today. But I have a numbers question...

The content part of this book is 395 pages, but when you add on the notes and index it soars to 477 pages.

When you track the number of pages you've read, do you count everything (which is what the publisher lists) or only the "storyline" pages?

>157 Berly: - It depends if I read the other stuff or not. Definitely not the index since I don't read that. But I never go with the publisher or Amazon or whatever lists as the page number because I find them way off, as they seem to count title pages and such.

>157 Berly: I always count all the pages, Kim.
I usually do read the notes, when they come up in the text. And once in a while I use the index.

>157 Berly: This looks so interesting - I just made
a screenshot to check it later!

I usually use the official number of pages according to the publisher.

>158 katiekrug: >159 FAMeulstee: >160 PersephonesLibrary: Thanks for the input you guys! Especially when I have the physical book I do not count notes and indexes unless I have used them. It is sometimes harder to figure this out on ebooks, but I try. So, I guess I am going with 395 pages. : )

The Golden Rule
According to Theresa in the Bobiverse , Heaven's River (Part 2, Ch 18)

The Iron Rule--Treat others less powerful than you however you like.
(Ouch! No!)

The Silver Rule--Treat others as you'd like to be treated.
(Currently my understanding of the Golden Rule--courteous, but not necessarily informed.)

The Golden Rule--Treat others as THEY'd like to be treated.
(Yes!! Means knowing and caring about others' beliefs and preferences.)

(parentheticals mine)

Nothing like learning better morals from Sci-Fi!!! : )

Nice review of Jazz, Kim!!

>162 Berly: Love it.

Nice comments on Jazz.

I love Sedaris.

Yes, you should read This Must Be the Place.

>138 weird_O: I certainly hope prosecutors will comb through social media to collect photos of those posing proudly in the Senate and House chambers, in Nancy Smash's office, and elsewhere in the Capitol, toting around their treasonous flags.

It is happening. The Arkansas Chucklehead (noooo, not Tom Cotton, the other one) has been arrested. The dope wearing his job ID was reported by internet sleuths to his (now former) employer.

Recall that during the summer of 2020, Trump badgered the house and senate to pass a bill making it a federal crime to deface federal property. In fact, I think it was because of the federales shenanigans in Portland that it got passed. Up to 10 year sentence. Prosecutors can wield that new law against these miscreants.

I know, it isn't literary, Kim, but it is timely.

Remember reading David Sedaris' Santaland Diaries in a small free alternative newspaper in New York City many years ago.

Having had worked for Macy's in the past in similar capacity (Dressing up as Yogi Bear and passing out flyers) I could REALLY relate.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, Kim.

Good morning, Indispensable Reader. Happy weekend.

>162 Berly: "Like!" That's a better golden rule.

I'm not a page counter, but I'm glad you're reading Caste. Can't wait to hear what you think of it.

Nice mini-review of Jazz. I want to read that one.

>162 Berly: I like those approach: Especially the Golden Rule is... well, golden! People too often think what's good for them is good for others.

I really need to read something by Toni Morrison - it's a shame I haven't done that yet. Nice review!

Hi again, only two days later!

>156 Berly: Downloaded it to my Kindle for free. Thanks!

>157 Berly: When you track the number of pages you've read, do you count everything (which is what the publisher lists) or only the "storyline" pages? If I read an introduction I add those pages in. I also always confirm the number of pages of the edition I actually read. If it's Kindle, I go by what's on Amazon.

>118 Berly: Hi Kim! You already know the answer to your question, I think, but I'll answer it anyway: I went back to work January 4. The week did start a bit slowly as classes don't start until January 19 so some folks were still using some vacation. The week ended up being one for the history books and I'm glad (glad? IDK) that I could sit glued to the telly for most of Wednesday.

I have a friend who said on Thursday "well, 2020 was what it was. And 2021 is just like 'hold ma beer.'" Cracked me up.

>165 weird_O: I kept thinking about that whole 10-years for destroying or damaging federal property on Wednesday. I guess the idiot who got his photo taken sitting at Nancy Pelosi's desk didn't (or apparently didn't) damage or destroy anything so he is facing up to one year in jail. Still, at least he was arrested.

I enjoyed Jazz and am looking forward to reading Paradise with the crew. I think I "get more" out of some reads when I have others with whom to discuss.

Have a great rest of your weekend, Kim!

Hi Kim! National events are horrifying but just trying to hold onto the Georgia good news!

Thank you for your recommendations for Toni Morrison, I've started Jazz now and I'm enjoying it.
I love your golden rule!
Have a wonderful sunday, Kim.

Happy Sunday, Kim. I hope to get to Caste in the coming months. I have heard nothing but good things.

>163 lauralkeet: Thanks! : )

>164 BLBera: I love when I get book bullets on my own thread. LOL

>165 weird_O: Thank you for the timely update on the Capital Chaos. I just hope Rump doesn't pardon all of them.

>166 magicians_nephew: You dressed up as Yogi bear?! I love it! Maybe you should write a book....

>167 Ameise1: Thank you. Yesterday was pretty low key, which was just fine by me. I had a virtual happy hour with my TKD girlfriends and got caught up.

>168 jnwelch: I am not very far into Caste and I have already used several book darts. Here's one marked passage in which Wilkerson likens our country and our racism to an old house.

"When people live in an old house, they come to adjust to the idiosyncrasies and outright dangers skulking in an old structure. They put buckets under a wet ceiling, prop up groaning floors, learn to step over that rotting wood tread in the staircase. The awkward becomes acceptable, and the unacceptable becomes merely inconvenient. Live with it long enough, and the unthinkable becomes normal. Exposed over the generations, we learn to believe that the incomprehensible is the way that life is supposed to be." (p. 16)

"Many people may rightly say, "I had nothing to do with how this all started. I have nothing to do with the sins of the past. My ancestors never attacked indigenous people, never owned slaves. And yes. Not one of us was here when this house was built." (p. 16)

But it is now ours and it must be fixed.

>177 Berly: Great quote, Kim!

>169 PersephonesLibrary: Yes, I like this updated version of The Golden Rule. And I hope you fit a Morrison read in sometime soon. My favorites so far are Beloved and The Bluest Eye.

>170 karenmarie: Well, hi again! : )

Yes, that's how I've been trying to track my pages, too. Guess I'll stick with it!

>171 EBT1002: I figured you were back at work and I am glad that it was quiet enough that you could watch the horror at the Capital unfold. I dragged all the "kids" in my house in to watch with me because it's historic and we need to talk about it and fix the problems that led up to it. See >177 Berly:.

It's not okay that these people stormed our Capital and tried to disrupt our country's transition to a new leader. I hope lots of them get punished.

>172 banjo123: Hurray for Georgia!! I felt bad that almost no time was spent celebrating that because of all the focus on the Capital. So Hurray again!

>173 SirThomas: Welcome on board with Jazz!! We are reading Paradise next month. : ) Happy Sunday!!

>174 msf59: Once again, Caste is one of those books I am going to read a bit at a time, to savor it and really let it sink in. I will try to occasionally post a quote that really resonated with me.

>177 Berly: Thanks, Reba! Wilkerson gets all the credit. I just retyped. ; )

Hey, Kim. Sorry I missed joining you for Jazz. Strangely, my library access through Overdrive is not working, and my request for the book seems to be in suspended animation somewhere in the system. I'll wait until tomorrow when the offices are fully open and call to find out what is going on.

>181 ffortsa: It's not too late! Hope you get your hands on a copy soon and you can always join us for Paradise next month. : )

>179 Berly: Thanks for the recommendation. I think I have got #Beloved on my shelves.

As this is my first visit to your thread this year, I'll wish you a better 2021, Kim.

I'm reading Caste: The Origins of our Discontents and I'm about half way through. It is one to savor and also a book that gives background to events currently happening. Chapter eleven "Dominant Group Status Threat and the Precarity of the Highest Rung" goes far to explain Trump supporters, IMHO.

>162 Berly: I'm not going to be wholehearted about that Golden rule. I'd say have a standard and consider others when applying it, but a) don't bend your standards if other seem overly demanding, and b) trust your own judgement unless it has caused you trouble already.

Hi Kim - hope you have a good week. I'm still in a funk after the events of Wednesday and obsessively reading news and commentary about it. Ugh.

>183 PersephonesLibrary: Awesome! Beloved is a good one. (And thanks for being a regular here!)

>184 Familyhistorian: Nice to see you! Caste is definitely worthy of a read. Glad to hear you are further along than me and still enjoying it.

>185 quondame: I like your addendums.

>186 AMQS: Oh, I hear you. I am still anxious and eagerly waiting Monday, to see what happens, and the 20th, which I hope goes well. Not to mention today was my MIL's bday and she passed last year, so that is hard. Sigh. Hang in there!!

A belated happy new year! It looks like you are off to a good start with your reading. I'm glad you enjoyed Girl Waits with Gun. I've only read Kopp Sisters on the March for the same book club that Lori's in. I really enjoyed the author Zoom chat and it got me excited about reading the rest of the series.

>171 EBT1002: note that the chump who sat wih his feet up on Pelosi's desk also allegedly stole her mail. That's a Federal offense all by itself.

>176 Berly: Kim, I worked alongside a young girl who dressed as Quick Draw McGraw. . The costumes were hot in New York Summer weather.

It was an experience. Macy's had the idea that they could use their Take-a-photo-with-Santa setup offseason with kids getting their photos taken with Yogi and Boo Boo and others. The Yogi Diaries" may be forthcoming. "If this bear suit could talk . . . ."

>185 quondame: I don't read it as bending one's values... rather to consider that someone else is not in the exact same position as oneself. I don't know if there is an English counterpart but there is a say in German: "The opposite of good is meant well."

>187 Berly: I like it here - it's quite comfortable. :)

Whoa! Just checking in....quite a flurry of activity here!
Sounds like you are happily reading....books and threads!

>189 cbl_tn: I definitely want to read another Kopp Sisters book later this year. The author Zoom chat was great! : )

>190 magicians_nephew: Yup. And the chump has been arrested.

Okay. LOL. Just how old were you when you wore the Yogi Bear costume? And I'd love to hear what that costume has to say!!! : )

>191 PersephonesLibrary: Oh good! Well, here's a comfy chair. Now, can I get you anything else? Coffee? A glass of wine maybe? (I think it will depend on when you read this. LOL)

>192 tangledthread: LT-wise, 2021 is off to a good start. Hoping I can start to be able to keep up with threads now that the first week is over. ; )

Heaven's River by Dennis E. Taylor 3.75

I do love the Bobiverse, but this one didn't have quite the same appeal. Mind you, the previous ones have been some of my all-time favorites. I still enjoyed the snarky humor and the characters very much; the newly discovered universe was fun and the Bob drift was interesting. It just took soooooo looooong. The audio version is amazing so kudos to narrator Ray Porter. Will I read another one? Still a definite yes.

>162 Berly: See, I like that version of the Golden Rule. I was once asked if I believe in it, and of course I said yes at first, but then I said no... because I believe we need to treat others even better than that, especially as someone who is far more kind to others than to herself.

It is my sincere hope that we can improve the world by being nicer to each other, and complimenting each other unreservedly when warranted.

>196 Esquiress: "It is my sincere hope that we can improve the world by being nicer to each other, and complimenting each other unreservedly when warranted." I love that!! : )

Thank you so much for introducing me to the Kopp Sisters. I enjoyed the reading very much.
Best wishes to you!

>198 SirThomas: I am so glad you are enjoying the series!! Yay! Wishing you a wonderful rest of the week.

5. Banker by Dick Francis 3.5

An investment banker arranges the purchase of a champion racehorse and gets caught up in murder in this New York Times bestseller that's “fraught with violence, conspiracy and, of course, horses.” (The Boston Globe). There was one person I wish hadn't died and the ending was a little too perfect, but I haven't read a mystery by this author in quite a while and it was so much fun to get back to him.

Dick Francis year-long group read found here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/328070#n7371364

Hi Kim!

>200 Berly: Yay for Banker. So glad you could join our SHARED Read, and thanks for posting the link to the thread. I've finished it, too, and agree with what you said.

I was 19 when I took on the mantle of Yogi Bear. It was a summer job in college. Still think that making me Yogi was typecasting - I could have played Huckleberry Hound ( my favorite) but they picked someone else.

Nice to be reminded of the craft and fun of Dick Francis. Remember reading Nerve as a Readers Digest Condensed novel and then running to the library to see what else he had done. Still impressed how the Readers Digest people could compress that book without dropping any of the tricky plot points.

I like that version of the Golden Rule "Do unto others as they would like to be done to"

The Wiccan Rede is "As ye harm none, do what ye will" which is not bad but for me inadequate.

>194 Berly: I really need to start trying the literary cocktails we talked about in mstrust's/Jennifer's thread. They would fit perfectly!

>197 Berly: The looks on people's faces when you offer a sincere compliment, no matter how small, just goes to show how much we all need it. One day, I earnestly told one of my managers that her eyeliner looked fantastic, and she just stood there stunned for a moment before thanking me. It's wild that we are taken aback by compliments.

Hey there Berly-boo, hoping all's well chez vous.

>204 Esquiress: Yesterday, at the supermarket, the customer after me told the cashiere, a young girl , that she had beautiful eyes. She turned to me, and said, don't you think so too? And that she noticed it because of the masks everyone is wearing. I was so surprised, and the cashiere was surprised as well I think. I thought that it would never have crossed my mind to say something like that to a person I don't know at all, but also how nice it was.

My Hubby believes that if you think something nice you should always say it. I've tried to learn to do that too, over the years. I had it reinforced a few days ago when a woman yelled at me across a parking lot that she liked my hair. I'm still smiling a bit inside from that.

>207 RebaRelishesReading: ;-)
My day felt better too, even though the compliment wasn't for me.

>207 RebaRelishesReading: - No one will be yelling at me that they like my hair. I just got fed up the other day and started chopping a bit. My hairdresser, whenever I get to see her again, will not be pleased... ;-)

>200 Berly: I enjoyed Banker. Really excited to hear about a Dick Francis group read. But I'm not even going to pretend to join because they would all be rereads for me, and this is the year I'm committing to clearing out ROOTs.

I first randomly picked up Flying Finish from a library rack and was slow to warm to the protagonist but was wowed by the (wait for it) flying finish. Then I read The Edge, and I was sold. I devoured all of the Dick Francis ouevre. I still find his books charming. I recently read Field of Thirteen and decided that I needed to never read any of his short stories. Because of their brevity and because his tales always revolve around an ingenious fiddle, the short stories focus on the villains and not on the hero foiling them. Yuck. But otherwise, Dick Francis stories never fail to entertain me.

>210 justchris: Flying Finish Was the first Dick Francis I read as well. I found the violence shocking, but not enough to keep me from reading more straight away.

I *love* giving people random little compliments like that! It's never as awkward as you assume it's going to be in your head, and it always seems to brighten their day (and mine). It feels particularly good to compliment an employee if you're in line after someone who has been rude to them (I also like poking fun at the rude person once they've gone and getting the employee to laugh about it, as a way of saying "I see you and am on your side.")

Hi Kim, It looks like you are off to a great reading start to the new year. Your book comments are always interesting.
Have a good weekend.

>201 karenmarie: Thank you for continuing the thread for us this year!! I am looking forward to the rest of them.

>202 magicians_nephew: LOL. And do you have a photo by any chance? You as Yogi Bear. One with you holding the head but wearing the body suit....Please say Yes and post it here. PLEASE!!!

And I agree with your Golden Rule assessment.

>203 PersephonesLibrary: Seriously! Those cocktails sound delish...

>204 Esquiress: It's so true that a little nice comment can truly light ups someone's day. I try to remember to share happy thoughts as often as I can. And I know I appreciate getting them now and then or even hearing someone else be complimented!

>205 richardderus: Chez-moi is hanging in there!

My daughter is moving out next weekend to be with her boyfriend. They have found a rental close by, but I am gonna miss her. My son's girlfriend is then gonna move back in with us (I can only handle so many people here at at time with COVID). We love her, so that should make me less sad. Should be a nutty weekend! And we will ultimately have less exposure with this new arrangement. Phew.

>206 EllaTim: See, that's what I'm talking about! Cost-free dopamine boosts! :D

>207 RebaRelishesReading: Doesn't it feel great?! Hair compliments are the best too. Ever since I dyed part of my hair blue, I've gotten good feedback, and it just makes me so happy :) I'll bet your hair is great too, if it's parking-lot-shouting worthy!

>209 jessibud2: Short hair is fantastic... Come to the dark side with meeee!

>212 scaifea: Exactly. As someone who works in the service industry, I can tell you, we appreciate it more than you know!

>215 Berly: It really is such a positive feeling. We need more of it, surely. PS: Sorry for hijacking your thread there for a moment! :)

>215 Berly: I tried one yesterday: "The Sound and the Slurry" (gin, creme de cassis, lemon juice). Fresh summer drink - not shabby. :D

Happy Sunday, Kim. Good luck at the Grand Portland Hotel. People always comin' and goin'. I hope you can hunker down with the books today.

>215 Berly: Good luck with the move. It is a big change, isn't it? For her and for you. It's nice that they could find a place near you.

Have a nice Sunday!

People moving in...people moving out...other people moving in...you are such a patient and kind soul, Kimmers. I aspire to possess less than half that precious quality and fail.

*smooch*

Well, TwinK, you will be as busy as ever with the same number of people in your house. Stay well!

This is always a happy thread. 😃

>207 RebaRelishesReading: That is a nice philosophy to have!

>215 Berly: I am sure that you would get on like a house on fire with Hani. She presides over similar comings and goings at our house.

Have a lovely Sunday.

>212 scaifea: Me too. And I've enjoyed receiving them. I'm a scarf lady, and often someone has complimented me on the one I'm wearing. It does give a lift on a commute.

Dear Friend

How do you handle all the comings and goings in your house? You are indeed an incredible person!

>224 Whisper1: What she said. *grin* I am in awe of you, Kim! Keeping you in my thoughts and wishing you happy.

Hope all of the moving is going well and glad you'll end up with less exposure than before. Hope we can all stay well until our turn for vaccination.

>217 PersephonesLibrary: Ooh, that sounds tasty! I'm definitely a gin girl, myself.

>206 EllaTim: I think now, with all the COVID stuff and the political tension, that nice comments like that are even more appreciated!

>207 RebaRelishesReading: See? Perfect example of niceness. : ) When my kids were about 16 or so, I made them each for a month try to do or say one nice thing a day and they had to report back to me at dinnertime. I explained that letting someone else go first at a four-way stop sign counted (since they get their Drivers License at that age) and they still remember that example! LOL

>208 EllaTim: Seeing someone be nice always warms my heart. Even if it is not directed towards me. : )

>209 jessibud2: Ha! And that's on my list for tomorrow...cut my hair!! I'll bet yours looks better than you think. I'll report back on mine....

>210 justchris: ROOTS! Yes, I understand the need to read a few of those. I have decided to call mine BOMBS...Books On My Book Shelves. If I think of them this way, that they may explode if I don't get to them soon enough, maybe the sense of urgency will get me going!

Not sure I have ever read his short story collections...not sure I will now. ; )

>211 quondame: But now if you're a fan of the SS collections then I'll just have to keep an open mind!

>212 scaifea: So true! A little bit of love and humor goes a long way to heal those negative interactions. It doesn't surprise me that you would do that. : )

>213 Oregonreader: Hey there! Hope you are having a great weeknd, too, and that Monday is part of the deal!

>216 Esquiress: Cost-free dopamine boosts! Yes!! LOL

Did you dye one side or the lower ends or highlights? My daughter has played with lots of fun colors: blue, red, purple. Me? More into the daring haircuts. I have to cut mine tomorrow, so wish me luck.

BTW--You are welcome to hijack my thread whenever you want. You are such a bright light!!

>217 PersephonesLibrary: That drink sounds delish! I think I need a more wintery concoction. Hmmm....

>218 msf59: It does feel like Hotel Kim at the moment! LOL. My sister and I sat down this weekend at started looking at condos and houses in a couple of towns between my house and where she is working. Not much on the market these days with COVID, but we saw a few potentials. Will have to go take a look to see how the footage actually feels. She is downsizing from her previous house.

No book reading today, but I did win the weekend tournament in Wordscape!!!

>219 EllaTim: Thanks. Yes, I am excited for her, but also sad she won't be in my house every day. Sigh. My oldest has already moved out, so this is number 2. And my son, number 3, wants to move out sometime this year, too. And then if my sister moves out, I could be an empty nester this year!!! We'll have to see what happens.

>220 richardderus: I am glad to know you think so highly of me, Ricardo!! Thank you. I try to be one of the good guys. As I think you are. : ) Smooch.

>221 BLBera: Twin! I am glad you think this is a happy thread. I try. But it isn't really me. It's all the wonderful LT people who visit here! Like you. : ) Happy MLK Day.

>222 PaulCranswick: Oh, I think I would have lots of fun with you and Hani! Together or apart! I could read with you and cook with her. Maybe drink together. : )

>223 Caroline_McElwee: I think that means you must have a nice scarf collection! I like them, too. Especially in the fall and winter. I have ones I use with my coats and then ones indoor decorative ones. Love them!

>224 Whisper1: How do I handle my busy, ever-changing household? LOL. I don't have a choice!! I make the best of it and treat it as treasured time with my favorite people. Even if craziness abounds.

>225 Crazymamie: That means a lot coming from you! You also have a busy household and you even handled a wedding this year. Hats off to you my lady.

>226 RebaRelishesReading: SO far, everyone in my household is really trying hard to be safe and protect against COVID. We sometimes have to have group discussions on what everyone is comfortable with and the best way to handle situations, but everyone is being loving and respectful, thank goodness.

I can not wait for the vaccines! They can't come soon enough. Only my oldest daughter has had her first shot (She works for a hospital) and my parents in Florida are getting theirs later this week. The rest of us may have a loooooong wait. Who knows?

>227 Esquiress: Cheers!! Tonight was just a glass of Syrah. Gérard Bertrand's Coté de Roses is my current favorite.

Hope I didn't miss anyone! Love you guys. : )

Just started Sanjay Gupta's Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age



My Mom suffers from dementia and I want to know what I can do to prevent decline later in my life. So far, I have 6 of the indicators and anything over 5 means I need to change a few things to limit my risk. One of the new ones is stress. This past year was a doozy! So I need to work on letting go of the things I can't change and not worry about all the possible dire outcomes, but just deal with things as they come.

What I am doing right is exercising. That appears to be the #1 thing you can do to keep your brain healthy.

More as I read on.....

I missed my Thingaversary! I joined on Dec 2, 2008, so I have been here 12 years and counting. I think that means I am due some more books. ; )

>231 Berly: I dyed the underside of the right side of my hair blue. I have an asymmetrical cut, about chin length on the right, middle of my ear on the left (think a little Velma-looking, especially when I wear my glasses, but cooler :D ), so I bleached underneath the long side and dyed it bright blue :) I was bored and laid off during isolation, and I'd always wanted to do it, so... I did :D Fortunately, because it's underneath (I think they call it peekaboo color?), my (rather strict) employer didn't reprimand me for it when we came back; after all, we lost a fair number of people during All This, so they're a bit less finicky these days. Now I just have to get my eyebrow repierced, and I'll be happy as a slightly-punk-rock lark ;)

What kind of daring haircut do you have these days? I'll bet it's lovely! :)

Why thanks, Ber :) I prefer to help people see the good rather than the ill; who has time for 24/7 negativity, anyway? Life's too short for that nonsense :D

>237 Berly: Thanks for sharing the insights from that book. I definitely need to get more exercise. I recognize Dr Gupta's name, and I'm trying to think of whose show I've heard him on.

>234 Berly: I'm sure that you'd have more fun cooking with me, Kimmers. She can be a pain in the neck in the kitchen and her OCD there makes me constantly pity Erni. The end results are tremendous but they are meals wrought from crushed feelings normally! Out of the kitchen she is a lovely warm character!

>232 Berly: It's definitely a summer drink... I will look for something more mulled and keep you informed. ;-)

>238 Berly: Happy belated Thingaversary Kim. Enjoy your acquisition of 13 books!

Happy Belated Thingaversary!
Your house sounds very busy lately! Hope you are getting some downtime for yourself.

I want to know how to keep my brain healthy as well! I like the BOMBS term - yes, I need to get some off my shelves.

Congrats on your tournament win.

>233 Berly: It is you.

Happy belated thingaversary. Of course you need some more books. :)

>177 Berly: I love that quote and that analogy! I marked it, too (I use post-its instead of book darts). It's one of many times in Caste that I felt she cleared out all the cobwebs and dusty thinking, and gave us a full-on look at the systemic problem. I believe there's motivation and determination now to do something the hell about it. We'll see. What a book.

>237 Berly: Keeping your body active in a deliberate program of exercise, particularly one that includes proprioception challenges, is a key factor in reducing dementia risk. Yay you!

>238 Berly: Thirteen, to be precise...though remember that free Kindlebooks count. BookBub, Riffle, BookCave...all great sources of free/cheap Kindlebooks.

*smooch*

>247 richardderus: I was told the free ones didn't count, but the cheap ones did. I always mix a few of those in so I don't overdo it on the pocketbook. I actually have a gift card that will help a bit when my Thingaversary haul comes in unless I use it for my birthday first.

>248 thornton37814: That piece of casuistry is silly, *every*book*counts*! Bosh. Free = not-a-book somehow? Piffle!

As long as it's used for Our Sacred Addiction, it's all good, Lori.

Hi Kim!

>238 Berly: Congrats on your Thingaversary. Yes, you are due 13 books. *smile*

Happy belated Thingaversary!

>249 richardderus: I don't remember who told me that, but I was told that a couple years ago -- or it was mentioned on someone else's thread right before my time to start acquiring my haul. I will probably set a $$ limit on my haul. I always need a few that don't cost so much when I need to purchase as many as I do. It will only get progressively worse so I'm sure in a few more years most of my acquisitions will be free or cheap!

Berly, why does your review of Vesper Flights read like a review of a cheese book?

Happy belated Thingaversary, Kim!

Happy Tuesday, Berly! Just wanted to ask you if we should pay a visit to Jennifer later together.. ;-)

>239 Esquiress: I also do the asymmetrical hairdo! Mine is a bit shorter with one side only an inch long and the other side sweeping from the part to my ear. With COVID i have been cutting it myself and it is actually the same length on both sides now. I asked my family and they voted for keeping it long for now. I think I'll do that and go back to short when summer and warm weather hits again. : )

>240 justchris: Dr Gupta is with CNN and he says even just a walk a day makes a difference!

>241 PaulCranswick: Okay then. Cooking and books with you and drinks with Hani?! : )

>242 PersephonesLibrary: Mmmmmm. Mulled wine, or something with chocolate, or apple....Eagerly awaiting your suggestion!

>243 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you!! I started collecting my Thingaversary books today.



I think I will not rush it to collect my 13, but rather feel less guilty when I buy future books. ; )

The Book of Delights: Essays is a collaboration between Literary Arts and the Multnomah County Library "Everybody Reads" event. Ross Gay is a poet and I am excited to read his essays. (He will speak virtually in April.) I am excited because the book is supposed to be a fun, funny, grateful, philosophical, beautiful book about lots of life's daily events and small details, a reminder that we need to look for delight and enjoy our shared bonds.

>244 ChelleBearss: Downtime? Alone time? What's that?

I am a little frazzled, but for the most part it has been very nice to have a full house. I am going to do my best to enjoy this while I have it, because all too soon I will be an empty nester and that might be a bit TOO quiet! Finding a balance is so hard! LOL.

>245 BLBera: Hi Twin! You're too kind. Thank you. : ) I got my first two Thingaversary books today! See above ^. : )

>246 jnwelch: I am eager to get back to Caste. My bookclub is talking about it next Friday, so I better get going! It's an amazing book and given the political events lately, it is so very important.

PS -- I am nervous about tomorrow, January 20th....

>247 richardderus: That's one of the reasons I love TKD. Not only is it great excercise, but I do better with classes and I enjoy the brain challenge of learning the new routines. I just have to try to fit in walks on my days off and on the days when I am physically not up to snuff. Something is better than nothing on those days!

>248 thornton37814: >249 richardderus: >252 thornton37814: I figure a new book, is a new book, whether or not I buy it or it's a gift or a free promotion. And as my membership here gets longer and my Thingaversary count gets higher, I am not sure I am going to want to buy that many books in a month!! We'll see...it's a nice problem to have. "Sacred Addiction" -- so true!! ; )

>250 karenmarie: >251 figsfromthistle: Thank you! I truly love whoever came up with the idea to treat ourselves with books to celebrate our Thingaversary. Brilliant!

>253 tangledthread: ROFLOL!!! I have no idea. But I must have done it because that was a write-up I did for a cheese party we had in December. I have updated the review. Good eye! Thanks. Still laughing....

>254 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas! 12 years!! Isn't this a great place to hang out? : )

>255 PersephonesLibrary: Yes!! I am in. Maybe we should do a Zoom happy hour.

Hope I got everyone.

I am off to start a new thread....

Here it is!!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/328893