Lori (thornton37814) Reads 75 + ??? More in 2021 - Thread 2

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Lori (thornton37814) Reads 75 + ??? More in 2021 - Thread 2

1thornton37814
jan 31, 2021, 8:24 pm

       

(L-R: Sherlock, Barney, Mr. B)

My cats have not been very photographic this month so I'm re-using the photo from last thread. Welcome to my 2nd thread!

I'm Lori, a librarian and professional genealogist based in East Tennessee. I'm owned by 3 cats who enjoy poking their heads in on the thread from time to time. They also enjoy parking their bodies between me and a book or device if they think I neglect them too long.

Mysteries are my "go to" genre, and I read more than 75 of them in 2020. I also enjoy historical fiction. I plan to read more history and social history in 2021.

My posts will often mention my categories from the Category Challenge, and I include them in this post for your reference.

My 2021 Categories:

1. Bald Eagle - Mysteries with a United States setting
2. Puffin - Mysteries set in the United Kingdom or Ireland
3. Peacock - Mysteries set in the Rest of the World
4. Bluebird - Children's & Young Adult Literature
5. Flamingo - Poetry
6. Goldfinch - Historical Fiction
7. Cardinal - History & Genealogy
8. Hummingbird - Domestic Arts (Food, Drink, Needlework, etc.)
9. Sparrow - Religion & Spirituality
10. Penguin - First published more than 50 Years
11. Lorikeet - Other Fiction and Literature
12. Owl - Other non-fiction

Abandoned reads go into "Raven" (for "Nevermore")

2thornton37814
Bewerkt: jan 31, 2021, 8:31 pm

Books 1-10:

1. Dear Miss Kopp by Amy Stewart - completed 1 January 2021
2. The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power by Deirdre Mask - completed 2 January 2021
3. Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters - completed 4 January 2021
4. The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer - completed 5 January 2021
5. Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day - completed 9 January 2021
6. Anchored in Jesus: Holding on to Truth in a Drifting World by Johnny Hunt - completed 10 January 2021
7. The Golden Egg by Donna Leon - completed 13 January 2021
8. The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James - completed 14 January 2021
9. The Space Child's Mother Goose by Frederick Winsor; illustrated by Marian Perry - completed 14 January 2021
10. What Though the Field Be Lost: Poems by Christopher Kempf - completed 15 January 2021

3thornton37814
Bewerkt: jan 31, 2021, 8:35 pm

Books 11-20:

11. Good-bye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton - completed 16 January 2021
12. The Conquering Family by Thomas B. Costain - completed 17 January 2021
13. Bathed in Prayer by Jan Karon - completed 17 January 2021
14. Murder on the Lake by Bruce Beckham - completed 20 January 2021
15. A Death Long Overdue by Eva Gates - completed 23 January 2021
16. The Sweet Flypaper of Life by Roy DeCarava and Langston Hughes - completed 26 January 2021
17. Child Whispers by Enid Blyton - completed 26 January 2021
18. Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 28 January 2021
19. A Real Southern Cook: In Her Savannah Kitchen by Dora Charles- completed 29 January 2021
20. The Gospel at Work: How the Gospel Gives New Purpose and Meaning to Our Jobs by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert - completed 29 January 2021

4thornton37814
Bewerkt: jan 31, 2021, 8:36 pm

5thornton37814
Bewerkt: apr 15, 2021, 10:54 pm

BINGO CAT


1. Portobello by Ruth Rendell
2.
3. The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker
4. Bathed in Prayer by Jan Karon
5.
6.
7. A Death Long Overdue by Eva Gates
8.
9.
10. The Gospel at Work: How the Gospel Gives New Purpose and Meaning to Our Jobs by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert
11. The Sweet Flypaper of Life by Roy DeCarava and Langston Hughes
12. A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel
13. Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters
14.
15. The Space Child's Mother Goose by Frederick Winsor; illustrated by Marian Parry
16.
17. Murder on the Lake by Bruce Beckham
18. The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James
19. The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer
20. Anchored in Jesus by Johnny Hunt
21. What Though the Field Be Lost: Poems by Christopher Kempf
22. Good-bye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton
23. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
24.
25. Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams

6PaulCranswick
jan 31, 2021, 9:29 pm

Hope I am not to early to say happy new thread, Lori?!

7thornton37814
jan 31, 2021, 10:00 pm

>6 PaulCranswick: I actually had a "next is yours" post on #5 until I posted the BINGO card! Thanks for the warm wishes! I'm off to a good start with several books in process. I don't think I'll confuse any of them with one another, so that's good!

8harrygbutler
jan 31, 2021, 10:17 pm

Happy new thread, Lori!

9richardderus
jan 31, 2021, 10:33 pm

Twenty-one down...damned good start!

10justchris
jan 31, 2021, 10:45 pm

You're racing along!

11ronincats
feb 1, 2021, 12:01 am

Happy New Thread, Lori!

12quondame
feb 1, 2021, 1:17 am

Happy new thread!

13Familyhistorian
feb 1, 2021, 1:29 am

Happy new thread, Lori!

14thornton37814
feb 1, 2021, 8:42 am

>8 harrygbutler: Thanks!

>9 richardderus: It's not bad. One of these years (probably when I'm retired), I'd like to do 31 in January.

>10 justchris: It will eventually slow down. The weather works to my advantage at the moment, but I'll need to spend a good bit of time this month working on genealogical presentations. Hoping I can still find plenty of time to read, but it will slow me a bit.

15thornton37814
feb 1, 2021, 8:44 am

>11 ronincats: >12 quondame: >13 Familyhistorian: Thanks to all of you for dropping by. Looking forward to seeing how well I do with my February plans with the other things that need to be done.

16thornton37814
Bewerkt: feb 1, 2021, 11:14 am

>8 harrygbutler: Thanks!

>9 richardderus: It's pretty good. I look forward to the day (probably when I can finally retire) that I can reach 31 in a month.

>10 justchris: At the moment, the weather works to my advantage, but I'm sure my pace will slow. I must work on genealogical presentations this month.

17thornton37814
Bewerkt: feb 1, 2021, 11:14 am

>11 ronincats: >12 quondame: >13 Familyhistorian: Thanks to all for stopping by! I look forward to seeing how well I do with my February reading plans while juggling other things.

18thornton37814
feb 1, 2021, 8:50 am

>8 harrygbutler: Thanks!

>9 richardderus: It's not bad, but I really would like to hit 31 in January sometime. It probably won't happen until I retire.

>10 justchris: My pace will slow down. I need to work on genealogical presentations in February which will slow me a bit. I still hope for a good month though.

19thornton37814
feb 1, 2021, 8:51 am

>11 ronincats: >12 quondame: >13 Familyhistorian: Thanks for dropping by! I look forward to seeing how well I juggle my February reading plans with other things this month.

20drneutron
feb 1, 2021, 9:48 am

Happy new thread!

21figsfromthistle
feb 1, 2021, 10:13 am

Happy new one!

22thornton37814
feb 1, 2021, 11:15 am

As you all can see, my posts kept disappearing so I recreated them. Then they all showed up! Sorry about all the duplication above.

>20 drneutron: >21 figsfromthistle: Thanks for dropping in! Let's hope things are back to posting normally.

23johnsimpson
feb 1, 2021, 4:53 pm

Hi Lori my dear, happy new thread dear friend.

24fuzzi
feb 1, 2021, 4:58 pm

Here you are!

25thornton37814
feb 1, 2021, 5:05 pm

>23 johnsimpson: Thanks, John! I'm running behind on visiting threads today. I'm trying to keep one eye out the window so I can keep an eye on road conditions before they get too bad. (It's snowing.)

>24 fuzzi: Yes. I'm here--until this thread grows too long!

26johnsimpson
feb 1, 2021, 5:07 pm

>25 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, we are due to have snowfall from about 1am and it is supposed to get heavy from about 5am, looks like i will be clearing snow in the morning to get Karen to work.

27thornton37814
feb 1, 2021, 5:10 pm

>26 johnsimpson: We don't have nearly as much as the midwestern and mid-Atlantic states. Of course, I wouldn't mind getting a little more than is predicted once I'm safe at home with my cats!

28johnsimpson
feb 1, 2021, 5:13 pm

>27 thornton37814:, Karen would like about six inches which would be very good for us and as long as we can keep warm and enjoy the books, this would be good.

29thornton37814
feb 1, 2021, 5:57 pm

>28 johnsimpson: 6-8 inches would be ideal--enough to have a couple of work from home days.

30FAMeulstee
feb 1, 2021, 5:59 pm

Happy new thread, Lori!

>22 thornton37814: That was annoying. I had some posts disappearing, but was patient enought to see them re-appearing. Some bots were bothering LT today.

31thornton37814
feb 1, 2021, 7:29 pm

>30 FAMeulstee: Glad to know what the issue was. I thought it was something with my computer until they all showed up later.

32Carmenere
feb 2, 2021, 10:22 am

Happy 2nd thread, Lori!

33ChelleBearss
feb 2, 2021, 10:28 am

Happy new thread!

34thornton37814
feb 2, 2021, 12:00 pm

>32 Carmenere: >33 ChelleBearss: Thanks to both of you for the warm wishes!

35thornton37814
feb 2, 2021, 2:11 pm

Spotted this Read Native challenge sponsored by the American Indian Library Association: https://ailanet.org/readnative21/

36thornton37814
feb 2, 2021, 2:36 pm



Book 22. I Escaped the Donner Party: Pioneers on the Oregon Trail, 1846 by Ellie Crowe and Scott Peters

Date Completed: sometime in January 2021, but I forgot to report it so I'll use 1 February 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's & YA Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: This book for younger readers relates the story of the Donner Party through the eyes of a teenager survivor. The party attempted to take a shortcut which ended up taking longer and leaving them stranded in the Sierra Nevadas without enough food. It managed to describe the problem and minimize the "gross" factor. While the middle school age boy will definitely pick up on the cannibalism, it won't leave him with nightmares. The book appears to be well-researched, and it was told in a manner younger readers will enjoy. I received an electronic copy through LibraryThing Early Reviewers with the expectation of an honest review.

37thornton37814
feb 2, 2021, 7:58 pm



Book 23. Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker

Date Completed: 2 February 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set in the rest of the world--not US or British Isles)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Bruno serves as police chief in a small community in southwestern France. Like Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry fame, he prefers to not carry a weapon unless he's hunting game. The area, known for its food and wine, suits Bruno who appreciates good food and wine. When an elderly man's mutilated corpse turns up, the gendarme want to pin it on a teenager born in France but whose ancestors came from North Africa. Bruno and the mayor work behind the scenes to make sure the wrongfully-charged lad does not become convicted of the crime. They must find answers in the dead man's past. While I enjoyed the descriptions of the village and the food, the story line itself became too embroiled in political maneuvering for me to enjoy it.

38tututhefirst
feb 2, 2021, 9:54 pm

>37 thornton37814: Lori...the Bruno series is one I dabble in periodically. I think I've read 4 of 5 of them. The earlier ones were more fun than the later ones. I had trouble following the politics in one of them, so put them on a back burner. It was validating to see that someone else got offput by the politics.

39Oregonreader
feb 3, 2021, 1:15 am

Lori, I've never read any of the Bruno series but I think I should give it a try. Starting with #1, of course. I'm compulsive about reading series in order.

40karenmarie
feb 3, 2021, 9:52 am

Hi Lori, and happy new thread.

Congrats on a good start to your reading year.

41SandyAMcPherson
Bewerkt: feb 3, 2021, 10:48 am

Hi Lori,
I lurked awhile on your first thread... didn't post afaik, but here I am to say, (1) I loved the cat photos in >1 thornton37814: and (2) I think I'll admit to a BB from January 13, The Golden Egg
(Donna Leon). I've read only two Leon "Brunetti" books and rather liked the interactions between Paola and Guido. The Waters of Eternal Youth was a 4-star read for me.

(Are there bots again on LT? Everything is slow as cold molasses).

42fuzzi
feb 3, 2021, 10:53 am

>41 SandyAMcPherson: incredibly slow. And other webpages are humming right along, so it's LT, not the internet.

43thornton37814
feb 3, 2021, 5:37 pm

>38 tututhefirst: Especially after the year we've been through, anything political puts me off.

>39 Oregonreader: There is a group read of the Bruno series. It will be every other month this year with the other months being for the continuation of the Brunetti series. The thread is here although I have trouble finding it because I can never forget the Italian and French words in the thread title: https://www.librarything.com/topic/328017

>40 karenmarie: Thanks!

44thornton37814
feb 3, 2021, 5:39 pm

>41 SandyAMcPherson: It's frustrating when things are slow here. Here's the thread that has the Brunetti reading schedule (alternating with Bruno) for 2021: https://www.librarything.com/topic/328017

>42 fuzzi: Ancestry was awful all weekend long. LibraryThing has had trouble here lately too.

45Copperskye
feb 3, 2021, 6:45 pm

Hi Lori, I've read the first 6 or 7 Bruno books but it's been a while. I need to get back to them.

46richardderus
feb 3, 2021, 6:56 pm

>37 thornton37814: What >47 thornton37814: said; and being a political animal I'm more drawn to than put off by that facet of the stories.

Good month's readings!

47thornton37814
feb 3, 2021, 8:32 pm

>45 Copperskye: This was my first. I'll see how the next one is. I do like the setting, but that's about the best thing going for the series at the moment.

>46 richardderus: I guess politics isn't for us all. Hopefully February will be a good month too.

48thornton37814
feb 4, 2021, 6:56 pm

When life gives you over-ripe bananas, you make banana bread. Guess what's baking in the oven?

49thornton37814
feb 4, 2021, 10:03 pm



Book 24. The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha; illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

Date Completed: 4 February 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's & YA Literature)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: Beautifully illustrated with a story about Mohammed Alaa Aljaleel who saved many hungry cats from starvation when refugees fled Syria. The book is deserving of its Caldecott honor status. I read this to my cats, and they enjoyed it.

50paulstalder
feb 5, 2021, 4:14 am

Just came to say hello

51thornton37814
feb 5, 2021, 11:55 am

>50 paulstalder: Thank you, Paul.

52bell7
feb 6, 2021, 8:37 pm

Happy weekend, Lori, and hope your banana bread was good!

53PaulCranswick
feb 6, 2021, 10:20 pm

>48 thornton37814: I love banana bread. I love my LT friends more. Have a nice weekend. x

54thornton37814
feb 7, 2021, 9:48 am

>52 bell7: It was good. I took most of it to work where our student workers and my colleagues helped finish it off.

>53 PaulCranswick: We all love you too, Paul! I'll be able to make more banana bread as soon as I get more eggs. I forgot to add them to Friday's grocery pick-up list. I probably need my driveway to thaw a bit more before I get out. It snowed last night. The driveway is just a tad icy--and with my knee problems, I dare not go out and spread salt since my driveway is nothing but a paved slope. I might try to go to the store before the Kitten Bowl begins on TV this afternoon. It's my boys' favorite TV show of the year!

55msf59
feb 7, 2021, 9:53 am

Happy Sunday, Lori! Happy Belated New Thread. I am back from my Minnesota birding adventure, so I should be around LT a bit more. Yah, for banana bread. My wife makes a great batch too.

56thornton37814
feb 7, 2021, 10:14 am

>55 msf59: Glad you enjoyed your birding trip. Any "vacation" would be welcome at the moment. After nearly a year of being "stuck at home," we all need a break.

57thornton37814
Bewerkt: feb 7, 2021, 4:10 pm



Book 25. A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel

Date Completed: 7 February 2021

Category: Goldfinch (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Moira Doherty, daughter of an Irish immigrant, grew up in the United States. Her mother's dying wish for Moira to return to the village of Ballymann from whence she came, and she arranged for Moira to become the village's schoolmistress. Sean McFadden, a thatcher's understudy/apprentice, comes to her rescue on more than one occasion as she encounters problems. A surly pupil alludes to something in Moira's mother's past which seems impossible to Moira. She feels the village turning against her, but some godly friends stick by her side. The book describes Moira's personal and spiritual journey as she overcomes the adversity she faces. This book is better written than many works of Christian fiction. While certain plot elements seemed a little underdeveloped, the book still held together well and kept me engaged. Some people might call this one "preachy," but most overtly Christian elements seemed to flow naturally from the moment's circumstances. I enjoyed the story and its charming setting. I received an advance reader's copy from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.

58PaulCranswick
feb 7, 2021, 10:16 am

>54 thornton37814: Thank you for that, Lori. I have been a little grumpy today, xx

59thornton37814
feb 7, 2021, 10:44 am

>58 PaulCranswick: Maybe you just need to go back to bed and make sure you get up on the "right side"? (That's an old saying in the South -- "woke up on the wrong side of the bed." Not sure if it is universal or not.)

60PaulCranswick
feb 7, 2021, 11:34 am

>59 thornton37814: Haha it is indeed a saying in the UK too, Lori. To get out the wrong side of the bed would be a painful experience as I would have to climb over Hani to do it and she would not accept that quietly!

61thornton37814
feb 7, 2021, 4:08 pm

>60 PaulCranswick: Nice to know that one extends beyond our region.

62jnwelch
feb 7, 2021, 5:21 pm

Happy New Thread, Lori.

I'm sure Sherlock, Barney, and Mr. B are having a grand time taking care of you. Nice of them to share the house. It's easy to believe they enjoyed having The Cat Man of Aleppo read to them; that sounds like a good one.

63FAMeulstee
feb 7, 2021, 7:02 pm

>61 thornton37814: In Dutch we have a similair saying, not the wrong side of the bed, but coming out of the bed with the wrong leg.

64thornton37814
feb 7, 2021, 7:37 pm

>63 FAMeulstee: At least the concept is similar!

65magicians_nephew
feb 8, 2021, 1:47 pm

I like your book categories, Lori

66thornton37814
feb 8, 2021, 7:08 pm

>65 magicians_nephew: Thanks. It was fun coming up with them.

67thornton37814
Bewerkt: feb 9, 2021, 10:00 am



Book 26. In the Teeth of the Evidence: And Other Mysteries by Dorothy L. Sayers

Date Completed: 7 February 2021

Category: Puffins (Mysteries with British Isles setting)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: A disappointing collection of short stories from Dorothy L. Sayers. While a couple of the mysteries involve Lord Peter, the majority feature Montague Egg, another detective, or no detective at all. Maybe I'm just burned out on short stories at the moment, but I really did not enjoy this collection. The ones featuring Wimsey and Egg seem more developed than the rest, perhaps because readers of previous Sayers works know these detectives.

68thornton37814
feb 9, 2021, 11:29 am



Book 27. Uncommon Church: Community Transformation for the Common Good by Alvin Sanders

Date Completed: 9 February 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Alvin Sanders discusses urban ministry and the work of World Impact, a ministry he serves as president. He shows how true urban ministry must partner with community development. He shows how gentrification often hurts those who need low cost housing most. He shares insights from his own work in the "hood." Many years ago Alvin was a student at a Bible college and seminary where I worked as a librarian. His love for the Lord manifested itself in his attitude and his attention to his studies. I enjoyed seeing how God has used him to reach others over these years. He talks about the ups and downs in terms of his ministry, showing that urban ministry is not an easy calling. I was struck by a statement he made early in the book. To paraphrase it, he stated that many Christians become involved in a service project to the hood because it makes them feel good--not to show what God can do. I couldn't help but wonder how much more effective our efforts to reach the "hood" would be if Christians forgot themselves and focused on what God can do. Certainly some of the most effective work with the poor came from people such as Mother Teresa who embraced this principle. Christians interested in reaching the poor should read this thought-provoking book.

69thornton37814
feb 9, 2021, 9:42 pm



Book 28. Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay

Date Completed: 9 February 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Well-known actor Robbie Vine came to Briar Creek to play the role of Puck in Violet's community theatre production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. With library director Lindsey Norris and Sully giving each other space, Robbie shows interest in Lindsey. When paramedics pronounce Robbie dead after drinking his signature coconut water, Lindsey wants to help the investigation. While she sticks mainly to online research, she does find a few things she reports to the police chief. Most seasoned cozy readers will determine "whodunnit" fairly early in the book, but it is interesting to see how the plot unravels . . . and it contains an interesting twist. I listened to the audio version read by Allyson Ryan, but I found her male voices not that great, and I did not like the voice she gave Lindsey that well. Still it's a pleasant way to spend a few hours, particularly in stressful COVID days.

70PersephonesLibrary
feb 10, 2021, 4:44 am

📚 Booked.

71thornton37814
feb 10, 2021, 9:04 am

>70 PersephonesLibrary: Does that mean I hit you with a book bullet?

72PersephonesLibrary
feb 10, 2021, 4:11 pm

I set a bookmark to not overlook your new thread. 😊

73thornton37814
feb 10, 2021, 5:15 pm

74thornton37814
feb 10, 2021, 5:15 pm

Knox County Library Friends are sponsoring a Stay Home and Read a Book Ball: http://www.knoxfriends.org/news-events/book-ball/

Definitely a creative fund-raising idea!

75figsfromthistle
feb 10, 2021, 6:07 pm

>74 thornton37814: What a great idea!

76thornton37814
feb 11, 2021, 11:05 am

>75 figsfromthistle: It really is a good one!

77richardderus
feb 11, 2021, 11:25 am

>74 thornton37814: What a tremendously creative way to make lemonade during this (gradually improving) pandemic.

78thornton37814
feb 11, 2021, 12:53 pm

>74 thornton37814: Definitely! I'm glad cases are declining now.

79PersephonesLibrary
feb 11, 2021, 4:08 pm

>74 thornton37814: That's an awesome idea. I have to keep that in mind for our libraries here. :) Have a lovely weekend, Lori!

80johnsimpson
feb 11, 2021, 4:52 pm

Hi Lori my dear, happy birthday you my dear friend, i hope that you are having a really lovely day. Love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

81magicians_nephew
feb 11, 2021, 5:07 pm

Yeah the early Lord Peter short stories seem rushed and formulaic - the later , longer ones (Like "Tallboys") are better

82thornton37814
feb 11, 2021, 5:24 pm

>79 PersephonesLibrary: It's an idea worth replicating!

>80 johnsimpson: Thank you! It's pretty good. Most exciting envelope of the day came from my cousin Linda who sent some photos and news clippings of my mom that were in her mom's things. There was also a clipping of my kindergarten photo.

>81 magicians_nephew: I'm really glad there's only one more month of Lord Peter for me. Ironically I'm reading a story a day in a locked-room anthology. Today's was a Montague Egg story.

83ronincats
feb 11, 2021, 7:26 pm

84AnneDC
feb 11, 2021, 7:51 pm

Happy Birthday Lori!

85quondame
feb 11, 2021, 7:58 pm

Happy Birthday!

86fuzzi
feb 11, 2021, 9:25 pm

Happy not-quite-belated Birthday!

87Whisper1
feb 11, 2021, 10:46 pm

>36 thornton37814: Book Bullet! I love the way you described the book!

Happy Birthday To You!

88PersephonesLibrary
feb 12, 2021, 4:06 am

Happy Birthday, Lori!

89connie53
feb 12, 2021, 4:11 am

Happy Birthday, Lori!!

90thornton37814
feb 12, 2021, 7:39 am

>83 ronincats: Awww - the kitty comes bearing gifts! I prefer the blossom variety to the rodent one though!

>84 AnneDC: >85 quondame: >86 fuzzi: Thanks for the birthday wishes.

91thornton37814
feb 12, 2021, 7:40 am

>87 Whisper1: I hope you enjoy it. It was an ER win.

>88 PersephonesLibrary: I hope you carved that book out of the very damaged ones heading to the dumpster!

>89 connie53: Thanks for the colorful balloons!

92drneutron
feb 12, 2021, 1:16 pm

Happy birthday!

93thornton37814
feb 12, 2021, 3:03 pm

>92 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

94richardderus
feb 12, 2021, 9:10 pm

Happy belated birthday, Lori, with many more to come.

95thornton37814
feb 12, 2021, 9:27 pm

>94 richardderus: Thanks, Richard.

96thornton37814
feb 12, 2021, 9:27 pm



Book 29. In the Shadow of Power by Viveca Sten

Date Completed: 12 February 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries Set in Rest of World--outside US and British Isles)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: In this installment, Thomas ponders his future--will he seize an opportunity or remain on the force? A man chooses Sandhamn to build his monstrosity home, infringing upon other people's right-of-ways. When a building which housed his construction workers goes up in flames and a charred corpse turns up in the ashes, the team including Thomas goes in to investigate. No persons matching the victim's description appear missing, but with so many persons apparently withholding information, the situation lacks clarity. Nora, living on Sandhamn, attended the party the night of the fire, but her efforts to befriend the family fail. A newer investigator Aram played a key role in this installment. Margit stayed behind most of the time, only appearing in briefings and at the station. I put my finger on what did not work for me in this story. With the mystery not told from the perspective of a single person, the reader witnesses too much action first-hand. While the reader does not necessarily know the identity of the person committing the crime, more of the story needs to come from the detective or from Nora. Readers must wait until the next installment to learn Thomas' decision.

97thornton37814
feb 12, 2021, 10:35 pm



Book 30. They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers

Date Completed: 12 February 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Author Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers powerfully challenges the often-held belief that white women willingly gave their husbands charge of their property, including slaves. Drawing from slave narratives, court records, plantation records, and other sources, she demonstrates white women actively participated in slave management, often usurping their husband's authority when it came to slaves she owned prior to the marriage or their descendants. She shows the women's desire to keep their property at a high value by preventing cruelty, but also the desire of some to actively participate in disciplinary actions. She finally moves past the rather dense topic of slave discipline to areas such as using slaves as wet nurses, actively participating in slave markets, and their concern for a livelihood when slaves were emanicipated. The academic writing style creates a very dense narrative in many places. The author spent too much time describing the brutality of slave punishments in the book's first half. It is, however, an important work in African-American studies.

98PersephonesLibrary
feb 13, 2021, 12:29 pm

>91 thornton37814: I wish I was so patient to do all the folding... :) A coworker is very talented and she actually creates those "message books".

99thornton37814
feb 13, 2021, 1:56 pm

>98 PersephonesLibrary: I actually remember doing that with Reader's Digests and building a birdhouse for a Vacation Bible School at my brother's church back in the 70s. It sat on a plastic plate and tumbler for the base. It was all spray-painted, and you used the artificial birds popular in the 70s to stick in the opening of the bird house. I don't remember what kind of glue we used, but it had to be re-glued later.

100thornton37814
feb 13, 2021, 10:39 pm



Book 31. An Amish Surprise by Shelley Shepard Gray

Date Completed: 13 February 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Calvin meets Miles, a foster child staying with a nearby family, when he visits the bookmobile. He and his wife Miriam wanted to start their family, but so far she could not carry a baby to term. He knows Miriam does not want to adopt yet because doing so would admit her failure to produce offspring, but he feels drawn to this child. In the meantime, Miriam cuts her foot while visiting her parents. While at the urgent care facility, she discovers she is pregnant, but she tries to keep it from Calvin. Bookmobile librarian Sarah Anne Miller, aged 61 years, rediscovers love. An underlying theme throughout the book deals with honesty in relationships. While the stories touch the heart, the books lack the strong Amish feel because of so much interaction with the Englisch--in the forms of social worker, doctors, and bookmobiles. Because the series focuses on the bookmobile, it will always face the challenge of the Englisch story overwhelming the Amish story. I received an advance review copy via Edelweiss with the expectation of publisher feedback, but not a review requirement.

101PaulCranswick
feb 13, 2021, 10:42 pm

Your reading is going well again this year, Lori. I am still on target for my first 200 books year since I joined LT and in fact since I was a student.

102thornton37814
feb 14, 2021, 11:02 am

>101 PaulCranswick: Hope you are able to achieve it! I finished one this morning, and I'll review it in a little while.

103bell7
feb 14, 2021, 11:18 am

>74 thornton37814: Oh, that's such a great idea! I'm bookmarking that to mention to our own Friends group.

Happy belated birthday!

104thornton37814
feb 14, 2021, 11:27 am

>103 bell7: I hope your Friends group considers doing it! Thanks for the belated birthday wishes.

105thornton37814
feb 14, 2021, 11:29 am



Book 32. The Black Lizard Big Book of Locked-Room Mysteries edited by Otto Penzler

Date Completed: 14 February 2021

Category: Puffin (Mysteries set in British Isles)
Comment: This book could fit any of my mystery categories, but the number of British ones seemed to be higher so I'm including it here.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Otto Penzler, owner of the Mysterious Bookshop, created a wonderful anthology featuring locked-room mysteries from the advent of the genre to the present. Penzler introduces each story with comments about the author's work in the genre and mentions prominent writings. While the mystery selected may not be the one usually chosen for mystery anthologies, the selection always fits the "locked-room" subgenre. As with most anthologies, some stories provide more enjoyment than others. It is difficult to write mysteries in short-story form because of the lack of time for character development, red herrings, and other genre characteristics. A few entries seem to be great examples of how it can be done, but readers can find a fault or two in most included stories. In the grand scheme of anthologies featuring mystery short stories, this one outshines most.

106thornton37814
feb 14, 2021, 10:27 pm



Book 33. Lavender Blue Murder by Laura Childs

Date Completed: 14 February 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: When Theodosia and Drayton visit an area plantation for an English-style hunting party, they hear an odd gunshot which sounded like it came from a pistol rather than a shotgun. Theodosia sets out to investigate and comes across the dying body of their host Reginald Doyle. He was shot at close range directly in the heart. The widow begs them to stay the night, and against their better judgment, they do so. They awaken when the house is afire. With two incidents happening so closely together, there's no question a party attendee wishes evil upon the host's family. Back in Charleston, Theodosia continues to investigate at the urging of various persons connected with the case and against the wishes of her detective boyfriend and his boss. She continues about her tea shop business, planning for and hosting themed teas involving Gone with the Wind and Lavender, as well as catered events. This installment returns Theodosia and Drayton to the teashop where the atmosphere is cozy and charming. The food descriptions make one's mouth water. As usual, Theodosia takes too many risks which could endanger her and those with her. This installment returns to the charm of earlier installments--a great improvement over the last several.

107magicians_nephew
feb 16, 2021, 12:24 pm

>97 thornton37814:

They were her property looks interesting.

Reading the Mary Chesnut diaries was my main look in on women during the Civil War but her writing doesnt really talk much about slave holding.

>105 thornton37814: Otto Penzler has some so much great work rescuing forgotten Mystery writers of the 20's and 30's. Sure some of them are forgotten for a reason but some are real delights.

Love me a good fair to the reader Locked Room Mystery

108thornton37814
feb 16, 2021, 2:55 pm

>107 magicians_nephew: Several of us are reading They Were Her Property for an online social history book club. We discuss it this week. I think Penzler is a better anthologizer than most. The story per day was a perfect way to enjoy the book.

109magicians_nephew
Bewerkt: feb 18, 2021, 11:43 am

good luck with it.

The New York Historical Society which I am active in is starting up its own online book club this month.

110Copperskye
feb 18, 2021, 11:47 am

>105 thornton37814: I've had my eye on that one but promised myself I'd make a dent in The Big Book of Female Detectives before I even consider it. Glad to hear it was solid!

111thornton37814
feb 18, 2021, 2:03 pm

>109 magicians_nephew: That's great!

>110 Copperskye: I have the female detectives one, but I need a break from mystery short stories at the moment. I'll re-evaluate later. I guess I should see how many stories are in it. I also have the Christmas one. I want to plan a reading schedule for it that will mostly be "Christmas in July" and after Thanksgiving leading up to Christmas. I just need to figure it out.

112Copperskye
feb 18, 2021, 2:06 pm

>111 thornton37814: I've been reading a few stories from the Christmas one for several years now. I should probably finish it by 2023 or so unless I step it up and just finish it. :)

113thornton37814
feb 18, 2021, 3:19 pm

>112 Copperskye: You can try the story a day approach I took to the locked-room one, but you'll have to figure out when you need to start to finish it by Christmas.

114thornton37814
feb 18, 2021, 9:31 pm



Book 34. The Passion of Anne Hutchinson: An Extraordinary Woman, the Puritan Patriarchs, and the World They Made and Lost by Marilyn Westerkamp

Date Completed: 18 February 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Marilyn J. Westerkamp presents her extensive research on Anne Hutchinson's influence in a Puritan culture in a well-documented narrative designed for a mostly academic audience. She discusses the Puritan culture and how they treated all manner of dissidents--from Quakers to Anne herself. The book discusses the migration of many of these persons to Rhode Island and even back to England. The book depicts Hutchinson as a woman with a message from God and a great following who threatened the Puritan leadership, resulting in her being labeled heretical. The author does not believe she qualifies as an early feminist.

I found the book fascinating for many reasons but perhaps my happiest moment came when an ancestor Stephen Bachiler received a paragraph of treatment. (She spells it Batchelor; it is also often spelled Batchelder.) Her wording made me feel she did not realize the church at Lynn was formerly the Saugus church as she listed them separately. I expected she might mention the belief he stood up for Hutchinson in her trial, but it was never discussed either to confirm or repudiate the claim made by other researchers. (I must confess that researching her trial transcripts to find evidence for the claim remains on my to do list.) I realize this is a minor quibble as the passage demonstrated other pastors who differed from the Puritan mainstream rather than showing my ancestor's interaction with Hutchinson.

Persons interested in Hutchinson, colonial women, Puritans, early New England, New England Quakers, and American religious history should read this book. I received an advance electronic review copy, but I intend to purchase my own copy upon publication.

Note: Current release date is 1 July 2021.

115thornton37814
feb 19, 2021, 9:25 pm



Book 35. The Tombigbee River Steamboats: Rolladores, Dead Heads and Side-Wheelers by Rufus Ward

Date Completed: 18 February 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: The town in which I grew up was along the Tombigbee River. In fact my grandmother's property had only a gravel pit between her home and the old river course (before the Waterway came through). Since some ancestors resided in the area during the steamboat era, I wanted to read this book even though I feared the author would mostly treat the Alabama portion of the river. As I began reading, I realized his interests also laid in the northern portion of the river, specifically in the steamboats reaching Columbus and Aberdeen. He even mentioned a few reaching Cotton Gin Port, the forerunner of my hometown of Amory. Cotton Gin Port merchants moved businesses to Amory when the railroad arrived, creating a "ghost town" in the former location.

Until the railroads came through, steamboats were the main way cotton made its ways to the port of Mobile for trade. Because the water became too low during late spring through early fall, the upper river could only be navigated a few months of the year. Depending on the year, it could be four to seven months. The earliest steamers seemed to meet disaster quite often so most ships lived a short life. The process of loading the ships, which included slave labor as well as other hired hands, actually placed the slaves in more favorable positions because of their value to those selling the goods.

I found this an interesting piece of social history that will find a place in narratives of some of my Monroe County, Mississippi ancestors. The author used the Columbus and West Point Public Libraries and Mississippi State's special collections in his research as well as an Alabama museum. I cannot wonder how much he missed by not going to Evans Memorial Library in Aberdeen whose special collections were almost certain to include information as well as the Southern Historical Collection in Birmingham and the state archives in both Mississippi and Alabama. He did include writings of a couple of Monroe County historians whose papers are in the Aberdeen library.

116fuzzi
feb 19, 2021, 10:05 pm

>115 thornton37814: looks like a fun read!

117thornton37814
feb 20, 2021, 9:15 am

>116 fuzzi: It was for me!

118thornton37814
feb 24, 2021, 9:15 pm



Book 36. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz

Date Completed: 24 February 2021

Category: Puffin (Mysteries set in UK or Ireland)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Anthony Horowitz created a dark and gritty mystery featuring Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Much later in life, Watson recalls the events leading to Sherlock Holmes' investigation into the "House of Silk." It begins as an older woman suspects she is being poisoned. Her son and daughter-in-law insist she eats only what they eat. It also leads to a street urchin, part of a group Sherlock often uses to run errands, and to his sister, working at a pub called the "Bag of Nails." Holmes is called to an opium den. When a murder takes place outside and Holmes holds the weapon, he is arrested for murder. Watson finds himself trying to find a way to free Holmes when he knows a conspiracy is afoot. The audiobook narrated by Derek Jacobi maintained my interest. Horowitz obviously studied Holmes and Watson carefully before embarking on this work.

119figsfromthistle
feb 24, 2021, 9:20 pm

>118 thornton37814: I finished that one a few days back and enjoyed it as well. Enjoy the rest of the week.

120thornton37814
feb 24, 2021, 9:40 pm

>119 figsfromthistle: Thanks! I'm hoping to do that. I have to work tomorrow, but I'm off on Friday since I work Sunday.

121humouress
feb 25, 2021, 1:39 am

Skimming through because I lost you. Belated Happy Birthday!

>60 PaulCranswick: And then everyone would be grumpy.

122ChelleBearss
feb 25, 2021, 7:43 am

>118 thornton37814: I'll have to add that to my list! I've read a couple by Horowitz and enjoyed them

123thornton37814
feb 25, 2021, 10:18 pm

>121 humouress: Thanks! It's easy to lose folks!

>122 ChelleBearss: I was very pleasantly surprised! Hope you enjoy it!

124thornton37814
feb 26, 2021, 8:53 pm



Book 37. Deadly Ever After by Eva Gates

Date Completed: 26 February 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Lucy's parents visit the Outer Banks in preparation for Lucy and Connor's upcoming wedding. Evangeline and Ricky, the wife and son of her father's business partner, also visit Nags Head. When the business partner everyone thought remained in Boston turns up dead outside Jake's restaurant, the investigation extends beyond Nags Head to Boston in search of a motive. In other story lines, a couple of British researchers keep Charlene busy in the rare books room, and Connor and Lucy search for a home they can call their own. I fear including more summarization would reveal spoilers. This installment marks some changes that will occur in the lighthouse library's story. The reader can't help but wonder how these changes may affect the series' charm, but it still shows promise to remain an outstanding series. I received an an advance electronic copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

125Whisper1
feb 26, 2021, 9:58 pm

Lori, as always, you find such incredibly unique books!

I send wishes for a restful weekend with lots of time to read.

126The_Hibernator
feb 26, 2021, 10:21 pm

Hi Lori! good to see that you're doing well on your reading!

127thornton37814
feb 26, 2021, 11:11 pm

>125 Whisper1: I'm not sure they are unique, but they are fun. I should finish one or two tomorrow. I'm not sure how many chapters remain in one of them. I think it's just one, but I'm not sure. I know I'll finish the other one. I'll start another one, but I'm not sure which fiction book will rise to the top! I do have some ARCs that need to be read, but others are calling my name also!

128thornton37814
feb 26, 2021, 11:13 pm

>126 The_Hibernator: Thanks! I feel like I've slowed down this week, but I don't know that I have. I think it's just that I'm reading a little in a bunch of things, but I'm finally nearing the finish line in a few.

129thornton37814
feb 27, 2021, 2:57 pm



Book 38. Magnify His Name by Ed White

Date Completed: 27 February 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: This sermon collection mostly features sermons from the Gospels. The sermons tend to be expository in nature and help the listener/reader understand the Scripture by revealing insights from first century culture. I enjoyed the content of the sermons. Unfortunately the volume needed a proofreader. Quite a few spelling errors appeared in the pages, and Bible seemed to be non-capitalized throughout the volume with a possible rare exception. I felt someone transcribed the sermons from recordings but no one proofread.

130thornton37814
feb 27, 2021, 3:26 pm



Book 39. Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope

Date Completed: 27 Feburary 2021

Category: Penguin (Books first published over 50 years ago)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Lady Mason wanted her son to inherit Orley Farm rather than her husband's older son by a previous marriage. She found a means to do this which was contested both at the time and twenty years later. Your sins will find you out. I did not enjoy this book. The overdone prose and slow-moving plot kept me wanting the three chapters a day to be over long before I completed the first chapter. Boring!

131Oregonreader
feb 27, 2021, 3:34 pm

Lori, You've been doing some amazing reading.

>118 thornton37814: I read The House of Silk recently and really enjoyed it. He is one of my favorite mystery writers.

Have a good week!

132thornton37814
feb 27, 2021, 7:14 pm

>131 Oregonreader: I've been meaning to read his The Magpie Murders, and now I really want to get to it. It probably won't be this next month, but soon!

133thornton37814
Bewerkt: mrt 1, 2021, 3:19 pm



Book 40. Striding Folly by Dorothy L. Sayers

Date Completed: 1 March 2021

Category: Puffin (Mysteries set in UK and Ireland)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This short work contains the last three Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. "Striding Folly" barely mentions Lord Peter at all, and the plot disappointed. "The Haunted Policeman" concerns a young constable who encounters Wimsey the night Harriet gave birth to their first son. Lord Peter loosens the officer's tongue with champagne. The third, "Talboys," features Lord Peter's son Bredon in trouble for stealing a couple of peaches. Then all the neighbors' peaches disappear overnight. Many modern readers probably agree with Miss Quirk's dislike of the means Lord Peter chose of punishing the boy. However, I don't like what the boy (and his father) did to the woman later. All three were mediocre reads although it was nice to see Lord Peter and Harriet settling in as a family.

134thornton37814
mrt 1, 2021, 8:34 pm



Book 41. Thinking Inside the Box: Adventures with Crosswords and the Puzzling People Who Can't Live Without Them by Adrienne Raphel

Date Completed: 1 March 2021

Category: Owl (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Author Adrienne Raphel explores the history of the crossword and her own interest in it. I enjoyed things pertaining to the crossword's history and to the crossword in the mystery genre most. When she began discussing computer tournaments and exploring more technical aspects, I lost interest. Obsessive crossword enthusiasts will enjoy the book; more casual enthusiasts will like some parts and not others. Most readers will find themselves wanting to work one or attempt to create one.

135magicians_nephew
mrt 2, 2021, 8:45 am

>118 thornton37814: Rememerb reading The House of Silkand boy was it dark.
Not my favorite Holmes adventure

If you haven't looked in on The Seven Per Cent Solution its VERY highly recommended.and they made a great movie out of it too

Magnify His Name sounds interesting. I'm not much of a sermon reader but the historian in me always perks up at first century stories and such.

Remember reading and loving Elaine Pagels; books on the Revelation and other of her books about those times

I confess to liking "Tallboys" as the last word on Lord Peter and Harriet but its minor key Sayers at best and the treatment of their guest is just playing to the groundlings. Pooh!

>134 thornton37814: i do the NY Times Crossword Puzzle daily and others - be very interested in the history behind the little square boxes. Thanks for the tip!

136thornton37814
mrt 2, 2021, 9:29 am

>135 magicians_nephew: The author of Magnify His Name was the first pastor I remember. He moved from our little church in Mississippi to a larger one and larger one before serving many years at a church in Missouri. He later moved back to his native Alabama where he still lives. He's retirement age by now, but I think he still pastors a church--perhaps only part-time. I do hope you like the crossword book if you decide to read it. I'm just an "occasional" crossworder, but my father worked the one in the local paper daily, and often had a book of crosswords besides that.

137thornton37814
mrt 3, 2021, 7:03 pm



Book 42. The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury

Date Completed: 3 March 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other fiction & literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Molly Allen and Ryan Kelly meet as students at Belmont College. They come from different backgrounds. Ryan grew up in Carthage, Mississippi and aspires to be a studio musician. Molly's father owns a large shipping company in San Francisco and wants her to manage that company and marry Preston Millington. She dreams of playing violin in a symphony orchestra. Since Molly and Ryan share a music major, some of their courses are the same. Although her parents' Brentwood home provides an ideal setting, she knows the house's servants would report Molly's study dates to her father who would then make her come back to San Francisco. Instead, they find an ideal place at a Franklin bookstore called "The Bridge" owned by Charlie and Donna Barton. Something goes wrong, and both go their separate ways. The devastating "Nashville flood" plays a major role in this Hallmark movie-style tale. I listened to the audio and enjoyed the narrator.

138connie53
mrt 5, 2021, 5:38 am

Happy Thingaversary, Lori

139PaulCranswick
mrt 5, 2021, 6:20 am

>134 thornton37814: I do enjoy crossword puzzles but I need to be in the mood for them.

140thornton37814
mrt 5, 2021, 7:20 am

>138 connie53: Well, it's still 25 days away, but I've started my list of things I want to purchase.

>139 PaulCranswick: Same here. I'm not the type who completes one daily--just a few a year--in spurts.

141connie53
mrt 5, 2021, 8:11 am

>149 thornton37814: I think I made a mistake somehow.

142thornton37814
mrt 5, 2021, 7:08 pm

>141 connie53: It's okay! You were just wishing me one in advance!

143connie53
mrt 6, 2021, 2:48 am

Of course I did!

144thornton37814
mrt 6, 2021, 4:08 pm

145magicians_nephew
mrt 8, 2021, 11:00 am

And a Merry Christmas too!

146The_Hibernator
mrt 8, 2021, 11:59 am

Hi Lori! Did I miss why we're wishing each other a Merry Christmas?

147thornton37814
mrt 8, 2021, 9:29 pm

>145 magicians_nephew: Is that early or belated?

>146 The_Hibernator: I'm not sure either unless it's because The Bridge (message 137) was set around Christmas and the trees were on the cover.

148thornton37814
mrt 8, 2021, 9:32 pm



Book 43. The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star by Vaseem Khan

Date Completed: 7 March 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set outside U.S. and British Isles)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Chopra investigates the disappearance at a live performance of a movie star, a presumed kidnapping. His assistant Rangwalla investigates an odd situation for a group of eunuchs hired to attend unusual weekend events at a large home. Chopra's elephant Ganesh comes to his aid more than once. I love this series because the elephant makes it fun even if it is implausible. The dual lines made the novel a little too busy. The author provides enough details in the beginning that those failing to read earlier installments could still appreciate this one. I listened to the audio version, mostly on a long drive.

149thornton37814
mrt 8, 2021, 9:46 pm



Book 44. By Its Cover by Donna Leon

Date Completed: 8 March 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set outside U.S. and British Isles)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: In this installment, Brunetti investigates book vandalism for the art market and book theft for private collectors at a library in Venice. The chief suspect is a man purporting to be an American scholar from a heartland state offering a major in maritime studies. The library's regular patrons include a former priest nicknamed "Tertullian" because he enjoys reading church fathers and first requested one of Tertullian's works. As Brunetti investigates he learns more about the way these thieves operate. The novel felt "unfinished" because it lacked a wrap-up, and the only "justice" achieved was through a murder. We see the Italian justice system's corruption at play in this novel as in many of the author's works.

150Familyhistorian
mrt 9, 2021, 3:52 pm

Finally catching up on LT. The book about Anne Hutchinson sounds like one I need for research into my RI people. Now to track it down.

151thornton37814
mrt 9, 2021, 6:43 pm

>150 Familyhistorian: It will be released later this year so hopefully availability won't be a problem then.

152thornton37814
mrt 10, 2021, 9:28 pm



Book 45. The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

Date Completed: 10 March 2021

Category: Goldfinch (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Author Marie Benedict provides a biographical fictional account of Hedy Lamarr's life. Beginning with the lead-up to Hitler's rise to power, we see Hedy's Austrian family's awareness of eminent danger to Jews. Her family sees she marries a man who can provide her safety. Is she really safe though when he tries to control her and abuses her. Unfortunately the poor writing and my own lack of interest in all things Hollywood made this a poor selection for our book club. (Some sentences felt like they came from an elementary reader.) A straightforward biography would provide insights into the more fascinating parts of her life without fictional discourses which probably did not play out as the author wrote them.

153swynn
Bewerkt: mrt 11, 2021, 9:13 am

>152 thornton37814: Too bad about that one; real-life Lamarr was certainly an interesting character. How did the rest of the book club feel about it?

154thornton37814
mrt 11, 2021, 9:25 am

>153 swynn: I'll find out Sunday night. I know one person refused to read it since it was fiction based on Lamarr's life. She chose a real biography to read instead. One other book club member reviewed it here earlier this month. She gave it 3 stars instead of 2, but she basically wrote it was more enjoyable if you forgot it was supposed to be somewhat historically accurate. There's a PBS documentary free this month I'll try to watch before we meet. Maybe I'll enjoy it more.

155drneutron
mrt 11, 2021, 10:22 am

I read Hedy's Folly by Richard Rhodes, an excellent biography of her. She was really a fascinating woman - too bad the novel didn't do her justice.

156thornton37814
mrt 11, 2021, 10:28 am

>155 drneutron: I think that's the one a member is reading.

157magicians_nephew
Bewerkt: mrt 11, 2021, 11:21 am

>155 drneutron: another vote for Hedy's Folly By Richard Rhodes though his thorough and deliberate scene setting may put you off. Maybe more than you want to know about New York and Vienna between the wars.

There is a wonderful short film about her life called
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story which used to be available on Amazon Prime and other streaming services.

158richardderus
mrt 11, 2021, 11:55 am

>155 drneutron: Add me to the Hedy's Folly fanboy account.

159thornton37814
mrt 11, 2021, 2:40 pm

>157 magicians_nephew: >158 richardderus: It's obvious to me that our book club should have read Hedy's Folly. I'm not anxious to read more about her at the moment, but if I do, I'll look for that one.

160thornton37814
mrt 11, 2021, 5:03 pm



I purchased a few things at the Island Bookstore in Corolla today to celebrate my first visit to a bookstore in a year. With limits on the number of people allowed inside at once, I felt somewhat safe. I did wait to look at a section because someone else was looking at gardening books, and I stayed on the stairs because there were a couple of people waiting on the guy checking out who were standing there. (They were with him rather than waiting in line it appeared.) I managed to keep my distance. It was nice to be able to safely browse. I'm not sure when I'll have an opportunity to do that again because the stores back home are more crowded. I couldn't resist the cat mad lib book on top of the stack. One book in the stack is for my grand-nephew. It's a cute "crab" book! I need to go back to the grocery store tomorrow. I saw a shovel he would enjoy, but I was on my way out the door when I spotted it. I know where they are now, and I can get one and see if I can find some more of that sugar free strawberry lemonade that is so good! I need to take some of it home with me!

161magicians_nephew
mrt 12, 2021, 10:57 am

Yeah! for getting back to an in person "browsing" book store.
Murder mysteries and cook books - is there a theme here?

162thornton37814
mrt 12, 2021, 3:38 pm

>161 magicians_nephew: I always love cookbooks. Mysteries are my favorites. Threads of Life is a history of needlework told in a different manner. It just looked interesting to me. The other Outer Banks book (other than the cookbook) is a history. Not really a theme, but certainly all things that appeal.

163richardderus
mrt 12, 2021, 3:59 pm

>160 thornton37814: Excellent first-time-back haul, Lori. I'm so jealous!

164thornton37814
mrt 12, 2021, 4:01 pm

>163 richardderus: Thanks. I think I posted somewhere else that I'm not sure when my next in person bookstore experience will be. I made the most of this one.

165thornton37814
mrt 13, 2021, 8:23 pm



Book 46. Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert

Date Completed: 13 March 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Over a year passed since then NYPD police detective Shana Merchant almost became the fourth victim of a serial killer befriending lonely women. Now engaged to the man she met when he counseled her in the months after the tragedy, she relocates with him to upstate New York. Against his advice, she takes a job with the police. A Nor'easter begins to bear down on the region, and she must go to a private island on which a missing persons case (and likely a murder) occurred. She heads out with fellow officer Tim who knew her fiancee growing up. They find an elderly matriarch, a servant, and members of her family along with a couple other guests present. The missing man's bed contains much blood, but some oddities puzzle the investigators at first. Shana begins interviewing them one by one while Tim keeps the others together. Shana's flawed character makes her an interesting investigator. I like her fellow investigator Tim and her mostly absent boss "Mac." This first installment shines, and I look forward to reading or listening to future ones. I listened to the audio version. The narrator was acceptable but not outstanding.

166thornton37814
mrt 13, 2021, 8:37 pm



Book 47. Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life by Lois Tverberg

Date Completed: 13 March 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion and Spirituality)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Author Lois Tverberg offers insights into Jesus' words by examining in the social context of the first century Middle East. In this particular book she looks at how Jesus' audience would understand the words He spoke to them. Our pastor frequently provides insights of this nature, and finding an author who offers similar insights presents a bonus. I want to read some of her other books as well as some of the books she cited in the text or notes.

167PaulCranswick
mrt 13, 2021, 10:27 pm

>166 thornton37814: I haven't read too much on theology for quite some time, Lori, but that one does look interesting.

Have a lovely weekend.

168thornton37814
mrt 14, 2021, 8:09 am

>167 PaulCranswick: I generally keep one going in my quiet time--a chapter a day. I've got two going now because one is more of a 100 day devotional. I'm also doing a daily devotional that uses hymns along with a Bible verse. I'm enjoying that one a lot.

169magicians_nephew
mrt 14, 2021, 11:43 am

>165 thornton37814: that one looks like And Then They were None transplanted to America.

I have been taking piano lessons again after many years and one of my favorite things is to pick out favorite hymns and church music i played when i was younger. Not quite a devotional but brings back good memories

170thornton37814
mrt 14, 2021, 7:31 pm

>169 magicians_nephew: There are some similarities. It has a few twists that make it different than the Christie novel. I'm glad you enjoy hymn playing. There are some wonderful older hymn collections designed for church services in varying degrees of difficulty. Back in the days we could visit used bookstores with safety, I sometimes ran across a collection, particularly if I stopped at the Chattanooga McKay store beside the interstate. I think they often ended up with more of those collections because of proximity to Lee University and other schools with church music programs. I'm sure the Nashville store probably had similar level of collections because of the music industry there and strong music programs at Belmont and several other Christian-affiliated universities.

171thornton37814
mrt 14, 2021, 7:49 pm



Book 48. Snap: A Happy Book of Colors by Patricia Hegarty; illustrated by Fhiona Galloway

Date Completed: 14 March 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's & YA Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: This colorful book about a crab that loves to snap his claws will entertain young listeners. The claws are cut out in varying sizes.

172figsfromthistle
mrt 14, 2021, 9:26 pm

Dropping in to say hello. Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

>160 thornton37814: Hooray for being able to go back into bookstores!

173thornton37814
mrt 14, 2021, 10:00 pm

>172 figsfromthistle: I won't be able to go into one around here until I'm fully vaccinated.

174thornton37814
mrt 15, 2021, 9:55 pm



Book 49. Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams

Date Completed: 15 March 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Previously I enjoyed some of Adams' other series, I assumed that would be the case here. After finding her husband with two women in an elevator, Ella Mae moves back from New York to her native northwestern Georgia town. She dreams of opening her own restaurant, and her way with pies makes it clear a pie shop serving both sweet and savory offerings fits her perfectly. Before she can begin, she becomes a murder suspect because of crime scene evidence and insults she hurled at her childhood rivalry. As she investigates, she must learn a little about horses. While I enjoyed the mystery itself to a certain degree, I did not enjoy the incorporation of "magic" into the recipe. I prefer my cozies to be straightforward mysteries, not a combination of genres. Magical realism simply didn't work here. It's too far-fetched and just plain strange. The mystery left much to be desired. I'll skip the rest of this series.

175Copperskye
mrt 16, 2021, 2:22 am

>118 thornton37814: That one sounds interesting!

>160 thornton37814: Nice book haul! I’m thinking of heading to the bookstore soon, myself. It’s been so long!

176thornton37814
mrt 16, 2021, 6:48 am

>175 Copperskye: I read that for the MysteryCAT "pastiche" challenge. It was a good one. I really enjoyed that bookstore outing. It was so nicely to browse and be safe while doing so. I won't be able to do that again until I'm fully vaccinated.

177msf59
mrt 16, 2021, 8:42 am

Hi, Lori. How are you? I have not been by in awhile and wanted to check in. I have been enjoying the warmer weather here in the Midwest, although we got a little snow yesterday. It shouldn't stick around long. I hope those books are treating you well.

178thornton37814
mrt 16, 2021, 4:50 pm

>177 msf59: I'm doing well. Just trying to finalize pre-recorded conference presentations before they are recorded next week. That with my regular work schedule is keeping me way too busy! Hoping I can come up for air soon!

179richardderus
mrt 17, 2021, 12:39 pm

>174 thornton37814: How disappointing! I always feel a little betrayed when an author suddenly...changes up something? stops doing something? whatever it may be. It's an irrational thing, I realize, but it feels real to my readerly self.

Happy Humpday!

180thornton37814
mrt 17, 2021, 5:35 pm

>179 richardderus: I know. It just didn't work for me, but some people enjoy magical realism more than I do. Perhaps it is part of the current effort to make cozies appeal to Millennials.

181thornton37814
mrt 18, 2021, 6:39 pm

I now have an appointment for my first COVID vaccine. It's March 30. I couldn't get a spot in my county, but I managed to get one in nearby Sevier County.

182laytonwoman3rd
mrt 18, 2021, 9:52 pm

>181 thornton37814: Good news! I had my first on Tuesday, my husband gets his on Monday.

183quondame
mrt 18, 2021, 10:07 pm

>182 laytonwoman3rd: Yay for vaccinations!

184Copperskye
mrt 19, 2021, 1:17 am

185thornton37814
mrt 19, 2021, 8:17 am

>182 laytonwoman3rd: Sounds great!

>183 quondame: When we were kids, who would have thought we'd be saying that

>184 Copperskye: Yes. I'll look forward to being able to do a few more things. I'll still be cautious around others and won't abandon the mask completely, but at least I'll feel a bit safer out and about.

186magicians_nephew
mrt 19, 2021, 11:27 am

They say the standard greeting in Mandarin Chinese translates very roughly to "Have you have rice today?"

Seems like the standard greeting in America now is "Have you scheduled your vaccine yet?"

187Berly
mrt 19, 2021, 11:50 am

>174 thornton37814: Sorry this one was a disappointment. Congrats on getting registered for the vaccine!

188connie53
mrt 19, 2021, 2:02 pm

Good to hear you will get your first shot at the end of March, Lori!

189thornton37814
mrt 19, 2021, 6:10 pm

>186 magicians_nephew: I've had to refrain from speaking my mind when a couple of FB friends said they weren't getting one.

>187 Berly: I'm just not a good fit for that one. I'm excited to have snagged the appointment!

>188 connie53: Worth celebrating!

190connie53
mrt 20, 2021, 4:03 am

It certainly is. I hope I get one soon, but have not had any notice yet as to when it is my turn. Waiting patiently.

191johnsimpson
mrt 20, 2021, 4:53 pm

Hi Lori my dear, glad to see you have got a date for your first vaccine shot, we have our first shot tomorrow afternoon and the second on the 8th of June, we can't wait although we are aware there may be a reaction that can last 24 hours. Luckily this is fine with us as Karen has next week off as she didn't want to go to work the day after the shot in case she wasn't feeling too good.

I hope all is well with you my dear and that Sherlock, Barney and Mr B are doing fine, we are both well and so is Felix. Have a lovely weekend and we send love and hugs to you all dear friend.

192thornton37814
mrt 22, 2021, 10:51 am

>190 connie53: I took advantage of the "body mass index" (I'm right at the threshold--one way to compute I'm slightly above, but I'm slightly under the other way--but it does say +/- 30 so I'd guess I'm right at it.) on the "at risk" category to make my appointment, but the very next day they opened testing up to my age group in my county. At least I got a little ahead of them. If I'd waited a day, it might have been even later before I got scheduled.

>191 johnsimpson: Wow - that's a long way out for the second dose. I understand I'll be given an appointment for the second vaccine that will be about 3 weeks out of Pfizer or 4 weeks out for Moderna. My fur boys are doing well and send their regards to Felix!

193johnsimpson
mrt 23, 2021, 5:03 pm

>192 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, although the vaccine manufacturers stated that there should be a three to four week gap between doses, our Government decided in its wisdom to make it a twelve week gap between doses to make sure as many people got the first dose. As it stands at the moment, about 29 million people have had their first dose of either the Astra-Zeneca or Pfizer vaccine and 2.5 million people have had both doses of either the AZ or Pfizer vaccine.

194thornton37814
mrt 24, 2021, 6:46 am

>193 johnsimpson: That's too bad. It lengthens the amount of time it takes to be "fully vaccinated" (since that is two weeks after the last dose--at least here).

195thornton37814
mrt 26, 2021, 7:45 pm



Book 50. The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

Date Completed: 20 March 2021

Category: Goldfinch (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: During Reconstruction, many of the formerly enslaved used a religious newspaper to try to reunite with family members and others. One such person, the mulatto daughter of a slave owner, wishes to claim her inheritance. In the present, a new teacher seeks a way to make studies engaging for her students in a poor Louisiana district. She spies a library in a somewhat abandoned house owned by her landlord and ends up finding much more. The two stories end up merging perfectly in the end. In most stories with past and present storylines, I enjoy the historic one most, but in this one I found myself enjoying the more recent story better. Each older section concluded with a clipping of from the religious newspaper. I found those fascinating!

196thornton37814
mrt 26, 2021, 7:48 pm



Book 51. Jesus Among Other Gods: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message by Ravi Zacharias

Date Completed: 24 March 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: I had never read Ravi Zacharias' books although I knew many readers appreciated his approach to Christian apologetics. After his recent death, allegations came to light regarding his personal life. After they appeared in Christianity Today, many Christian-affiliated universities pulled his books from their shelves and even a major Christian bookseller/distributor pulled all his work from their catalog. After reading a discussion, I decided I wanted to read his work to judge its merit. I chose several titles that interested me because of their acclaim or their subject matter. This work is one of his most popular. I found it a mixed bag. On the one hand, he gets into philosophical aspects that would be difficult for lay persons to understand. On the other, he uses personal anecdotes that seem to make lay persons his intended audience. In the long run, the work disappointed because the topics were not laid out in a manner that would help Christians defend their faith. I hope the other volumes use a different style to deliver content. In the end, I do not believe this volume will stand the test of time. I will read other works later, but I don't want to plunge into the next volume at the moment.

197thornton37814
Bewerkt: mrt 28, 2021, 3:14 pm



Book 52. Colonial Mississippi: A Borrowed Land by Christian Pinnen and Charles A. Weeks

Date Completed: 24 March 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: While Mississippi became the 20th state in 1817, settlement occurred as early as 1699 when the French began to settle what would eventually become Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and even part of Florida. The area's inhabitants, mostly by the Choctaw, Creek, and Chickasaw, presented many challenges during this time. The British gained control after the French and Indian War in 1763. The border was pushed further north during this period although the Native Americans continued to reside on the land. In 1779 the Spanish claimed "West Florida." After the American Revolution, Georgia claimed the area all the way to the Mississippi. With competing land claims, it provided a rich fabric. The Mississippi Territory was established in 1798, but included land in what would become Alabama. It did not include the coastal area at that time. This well-documented account provides an excellent study for the history of what would become the state of Mississippi and the surrounding areas that were important at various historic periods. The language is very academic as one expects in university press publications. The source citations lead to many excellent sources, and the authors provided an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources dealing with this period of the state's history. Anyone with historical or genealogical interests in Mississippi during this period should read it.

198thornton37814
mrt 26, 2021, 8:11 pm



Book 53. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick

Date Completed: 26 March 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Nathaniel Philbrick's well-researched account draws from diaries and other sources in the Nantucket Historical Society's museums and other locations to paint a picture of the tragic shipwreck of the Nantucket whaling vessel, the Essex, commanded by Captain Pollard. His first mate was Owen Chase. While many of the men were from the island, some crew members, particularly African Americans, were outsiders. A large sperm whale attacked the ship. By the time they abandoned the ship to the smaller vessels, some of their provisions were unusable. They spent 93 days at sea without adequate food or water. One week was spent on Henderson Island where they found a small spring and a few fishes, but nothing adequate enough to sustain them. Fear of cannibals kept them from sailing to easier ports, and in the end, they ended up eating their fellow crew members (mostly deceased ones although they did shoot one) to survive. The smaller vessels became separated, and three men chose to remain on Henderson Island. Finally the survivors were rescued, and the author brought us up to date on each of their lives as best as records permitted. I think this is the first audiobook to which I've listened where nearly two hours of footnotes were read. You might think they were boring, but I found them enjoyable as they were read in such a manner that added to the narrative. This story, of course, inspired Herman Melville to write Moby Dick, and Philbrick mentions Melville's reading of Chase's account and interview with Capt. Pollard who became the island's night watchman. The cannibalism parts lasted longer than I could tolerate in places, but otherwise, it was an excellent book.

199thornton37814
mrt 27, 2021, 2:21 pm



Book 54. The Stolen Letter by Paige Shelton

Date Completed: 27 March 2021

Category: Puffin (Mysteries set in UK or Ireland)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: A far-fetched and implausible plot makes a strange read. On the one hand, you want to keep reading it to see how much more convoluted it can become; on the other you want to abandon it. I chose to stick with it. After a failed inspection the bookshop never knew occurred or received notice about until city council was scheduled to meet to close the shop, Delaney and friends uncover a plot. At the heart of the investigation is a city council member whose wife thinks she is the reincarnation of Mary Queen of Scots. His wife Mary bears an uncanny resemblance to Delaney. A car explosion kills her husband. Delaney works with two police inspectors as well as on her own. The most far-fetched thing came near the end when Queen Elizabeth herself showed up to defend the bookshop. This one just went beyond the bounds of believability. The book needed better editing as well. Not recommended.

200magicians_nephew
mrt 28, 2021, 11:37 am

I can't recall the title but there was a book a while ago about a man who parks his mobile bookstore near Buckingham Palace and finds H. M. sneaking in to buy books and striking up an acquaintance

But that was more openly whimsical fantasy

201thornton37814
Bewerkt: mrt 28, 2021, 2:49 pm

>200 magicians_nephew: Yes, in this, they said Queen Elizabeth had purchased books in the store previously. Quite a stretch!

202thornton37814
mrt 29, 2021, 2:09 pm



Book 55. The Walk: The Life-Changing Journey of Two Friends by Michael Card

Date Completed: 29 March 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: I loved this story of William Lane's discipleship/mentorship of Michael Card from Michael's days as a student at Western Kentucky University where Bill taught a young Michael until Bill's death due to multiple myeloma. Throughout the book we see Bill pour his life into his students and into Michael. We see how to live out the Christian life. Without Bill's influence on Michael's life, I suspect the world of Christian music would never hear Michael's theologically rich songs. I received this book at a conference and recently found it stuffed in a conference tote that I never fully emptied until my cleaning project. I'm sad I did not read it earlier. I absolutely loved the book. If someone wants to see what Christian discipleship and mentoring in the faith looks like, this book demonstrates it.

203thornton37814
mrt 30, 2021, 8:42 am

I'm celebrating my 14th Thingaversary by getting my first "Fauci ouchie" (COVID vaccine) this afternoon. I ordered my "Thingaversary haul" (14 + 1). Here's what arrived or is on its way:

1) The Cheese and the Worms: The Cosmos of a Sixteenth-Century Miller by Carlo Ginzburg - I've heard Warren Bittner talk about this book at genealogy conferences for years. I look forward to finally reading it.
2) A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich - Recommended by numerous people over the years. I've read other things by the author so I think I'll enjoy it.
3) A Guide to Genealogical Resources in Cincinnati & Hamilton County, Ohio by Connie Strunkel Christman and Kenny R. Burck - I lived in Cincinnati 12 years, and I still enjoy visiting there. Their public library used to always make the top ten genealogical collections in the country. Based on my last visit there, I think management ruined a lot of the enjoyability of researching there with some of their department relocations, but they still offer a strong collection. It's just not browsable at all. It used to be a combination of browsable and staff pulls.
4) Becoming an Excellent Genealogist: Essays on Professional Research Skills by Kory L. Meyerink - This was recently recommended by someone on Facebook.
5) Cincinnati Food: A History of Queen City Cuisine by Polly Campbell - I needed a cookbook or food book for my haul, and I decided to continue my Cincinnati reminiscences with this one!
6) Cincinnati's Literary Heritage: A History for Booklovers by Kevin Grace - Continuing the Cincinnati theme here, but I think this will satisfy my literary curiosity.
7) In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made by Norman F. Cantor - In the last year, I've read a few historical fiction books on the "black death." It's time to read something factual. When I noticed Norman F. Cantor wrote one, I wanted to read his. Cantor, along with a man whose surname is Schneider, wrote How to Study History which was used in my graduate church history courses. I believe our professor studied under him at University of Chicago.
8) The Best Poor Man's Country: Early Southeastern Pennsylvania by James T. Lemon - This one has been on my wish list for a long time. I'm not sure how "early" his early is, but my Amish arrived in the area in the 1730s to 1750s. It should be an interesting read.
9) Constable on the Hill by Nicholas Rhea - A police procedural for my Kindle.
10) Amish Homesteads of 1798 by John M. Byler - Ordered from Masthof Press, a publisher of a lot of Amish and Mennonite genealogy and history, this one sounds like it might be based on the tax list of that year but delve a little deeper by aligning the tax list with deeds and other goodies.
11) Early Amish Land Grants in Berks County, Pennsylvania by Pequea Bruderschaft Library - This one sounded important for me to own since it is where most of my Amish first settled; ordered from Masthof.
12) History of the First Amish Mennonite Communities in America by Grant M. Stoltzfus - This was his dissertation, but it is important enough that Masthof keeps it in print.
13) The Nicholas Keim Family: The Roots of Somerset County by James Yoder - Nicholas Keim is my 3-great-grandmother's brother, making him a distant uncle. Purchasing this one from Masthof was a "no brainer." I'll add the book (and delete the note) so there's a touchstone when I receive it. In the meantime, it won't work.
14) Dead in the Water by Dana Stabenow - I really loved the first couple in this series, but this one hasn't been available to me. Now I'll be able to read it on my Kindle.
15) A History of Monroe County, Mississippi by Monroe County Book Committee - I began researching my family history in the early 1990s. All my ancestral lines converged in Monroe County, Mississippi. This "heritage book" was published a few years before but was already out of print by that time. I've searched for a copy for years. I stumbled across a copy online in the last couple of weeks. I didn't think twice about ordering it for $125 plus postage and tax which brought the total to just under $150. (It originally sold for $75, I'm told.) I've wanted a copy for nearly 30 years. It arrived last Friday. It's the perfect "one-to-grow-on" book!

Happy Thingaversary to me! This is the most I've ever spent on a Thingaversary haul. The "one-to-grow-on" book blew my budget. The others were aided by a couple of gift cards from Christmas. I'm very happy with my haul though. That's the important thing!

204LibraryLover23
mrt 30, 2021, 2:53 pm

Happy Thingaversary and awesome book haul!

205Familyhistorian
mrt 31, 2021, 1:23 am

>203 thornton37814: Great book haul, Lori. I enjoyed the Cantor when I read it last year. I hope you do too.

206sirfurboy
mrt 31, 2021, 9:39 am

>196 thornton37814: Interesting. I knew almost nothing about Ravi Zacharias, but I came across a youtube video with him in it once or twice. I haven't read any of his books, but if you find a good one I would give it a go. The Youtube video I saw contained a clever bit of sophistry in response to a question from an atheist. Although his argument was elegant, I did wonder what the point was.

207magicians_nephew
mrt 31, 2021, 10:33 am

Happy Thingaversay!

"Fauci Ouchie" is a good one - haven't heard that before

208FAMeulstee
mrt 31, 2021, 10:53 am

>203 thornton37814: Happy Thingaversary, Lori, and congratulations on your fist vaccine!

209thornton37814
mrt 31, 2021, 11:59 am

>204 LibraryLover23: Thanks!

>205 Familyhistorian: Good to know you enjoyed it!

>206 sirfurboy: I'll see how the others I selected to read work out. I'm not that impressed so far.

210thornton37814
mrt 31, 2021, 12:02 pm

>207 magicians_nephew: I've heard "Fauci Ouchie" for months around here. Maybe it's a Southern thing?

>208 FAMeulstee: Thanks! I plan to celebrate about 2 weeks after the 2nd one with another friend who gets her 2nd vaccine the same day as me. We are going to head a local dairy farm that offers its own soft serve ice cream with some interesting flavors. I'm hoping lavender honey will be one of the flavors the day we go. They offer outdoor seating at the farm.

211thornton37814
apr 1, 2021, 9:09 pm



Book 56. D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II by Sarah Rose

Date Completed: 1 April 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: During World War II, the British placed French-speaking female spies inside France as part of the Resistance efforts. These women did important work preparing for a forthcoming operation to be called D-Day. While designed for a general audience with the loathsome hidden endnotes, the heavy use of military jargon made it difficult to read. I appreciated learning about the efforts of Odette, Andree, Lise, and others, but I found myself disinterested so much of the time because of the heavy use of military abbreviations and jargon (and perhaps espionage jargon). The story needs to be told. I wish it had been a more engaging narrative.

212swynn
apr 2, 2021, 1:24 am

>211 thornton37814: To bad about that one. It does sound like an interesting subject, but military jargon would almost certainly lose me too.

213magicians_nephew
Bewerkt: apr 2, 2021, 9:58 am

At the beginning of the war Churchill was reported to have said "Now. Set Europe Ablaze!" to his SOE teams -- and a lot of brave and dedicated women (and men) tried. But the Germans were ruthless in retaliation (you kill one German soldier, the Germans kill fifty local villagers) and most Resistance sorties had a very short life.

I may have to have a look at the D-Day girls book.

214thornton37814
apr 2, 2021, 9:46 am

>212 swynn: I think it got less jargon-y further into the book, but it had already lost me.

>213 magicians_nephew: You might enjoy it. It's the book for our book club this month. Books generally deal with some form of women's social history.

215Copperskye
apr 2, 2021, 10:59 am

>203 thornton37814: Nice! Happy Thingaversary, Lori! Congrats on the vax!

216thornton37814
apr 2, 2021, 11:28 am

>215 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne!

217ronincats
apr 3, 2021, 3:47 pm

Belated Happy Thingaversary, Lori!

218richardderus
apr 3, 2021, 6:34 pm

>203 thornton37814: What a deliriously extravagant, perfect Thingaversary haul! Yay for finding the book you've hunted like Ahab's bibliowhale, too. Just a delight all the way around.

Have a lovely Easter.

219connie53
apr 4, 2021, 6:52 am

Hi Lori. Just popping in to see what you have been reading and wishing you a Happy Easter.

220thornton37814
apr 5, 2021, 9:53 pm

>217 ronincats: Thanks!

>218 richardderus: I'm very happy about finding that one, Richard.

>219 connie53: Thanks. My reading has been down lately because I've been working so much on prepping lectures. Last one for a little while is scheduled for a week from tomorrow so I can relax once it's done. The slides are mostly done, but I've got a couple of things I want to "fill in" when I find a good example.

221BLBera
apr 10, 2021, 10:05 am

Hi Lori - I jumped over to look at your comments on the Benedict book. I agree that her writing is blah -

Congrats on your first jab; I just got my second.

Your bookstore browse sounded like fun.

222karenmarie
apr 10, 2021, 2:05 pm

Hi Lori!

>198 thornton37814: I also rated this one 4 stars when I read it a year ago.

>200 magicians_nephew: The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett.

>203 thornton37814: Congrats on your first Fauci ouchie and your 14th Thingaversary. I’ve actually got one of the books you bought – A Midwife’s Tale although I haven’t read it yet.

223magicians_nephew
apr 10, 2021, 6:41 pm

Thanks Karen

224thornton37814
apr 10, 2021, 7:54 pm

>221 BLBera: It didn't inspire me.

>222 karenmarie: I attended an all-day genealogy conference today. The morning's focus was on writing; the afternoon's was analysis and correlation of evidence (which is writing-related). The Ulrich book was mentioned by the first speaker as an example of something which held your attention.

>223 magicians_nephew: Thanks for dropping in.

225bell7
apr 10, 2021, 8:16 pm

Congrats on your Thingaversary - including the fabulous book that has been so hard to find - and the covid vaccine!

226thornton37814
apr 10, 2021, 8:45 pm

>225 bell7: Thanks! I'm very excited about that book! The next vaccine is only 10 days away!

227thornton37814
apr 10, 2021, 8:49 pm



Book 57. The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker

Date Completed: 9 April 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set outside US & British Isles)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Bruno Courrèges joins national investigators to discover who attempted to burn fields and a greenhouse experimenting with genetically modified crops. His local knowledge leads him to suspect commune members, but he also learns vineyard growers from other countries want to buy up land in the area. It's not long until he finds himself working with another government entity to investigate a murder. I really love the setting of these mysteries and Bruno's character. He seems very content with the village policeman life and understands the importance of community relations.

228thornton37814
apr 10, 2021, 9:00 pm



Book 58. Old Testament Words for Today: 100 Devotional Reflections by Warren Wiersbe

Date Completed: 10 April 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Wiersbe's reflections on words appearing in the Old Testament provide engaging meditations for one hundred days if read one per day. While readers will connect with some more than others, one always gains something by reading the words of this great Bible teacher.

229richardderus
apr 10, 2021, 9:03 pm

>227 thornton37814: I'm a fan of that series as well! The way Bruno settles information into his mind is very satisfying to me.

230thornton37814
apr 12, 2021, 12:50 pm

>227 thornton37814: We have a group read (every other month) through that series. The other months we're reading Donna Leon's Guido series. (We're somewhere into the 20s with Leon, but just getting started with Bruno.)

231thornton37814
apr 14, 2021, 10:15 pm



Book 59. Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World by Simon Winchester

Date Completed: 14 April 2021

Category: Owl (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: While I expected the book to be written on a popular level rather than an academic level, I expected the author would tackle land in a more traditional historical manner rather than by jumping from one incident to another in various parts of the world. On page 122 of 660 in the Kindle version, the author states, "No American, so far as I am aware, ever professed a deep and unsullied affection for the USGS topographical sheets that it is possible to order from government agencies. They are fine enough maps, and they cover the entirety of the nation. But seldom are they bought for the sheer pleasure of ownership, of the ability to pore over them and imagine, or remember, to draw contented admiration at their elegant appearance and scrupulous accuracy." My immediate thought was that he had never met a land-platting genealogist! Many purchased these maps for every location in which their ancestors lived or in which they were working for a client. Nowadays the maps are available online and most use software to plat the deeds so fewer maps are being purchased, but there are still many who prefer to own these maps. I realize the author was making a point about the availablility of Ordnance Survey maps in many places in the UK whereas they needed to be ordered from a single location in the United States, but he overstated his case. Unfortunately he exaggerated points in many places in the book. While I initially planned to purchase a copy of this pre-publication, but I'm glad I decided to read a library copy before purchasing. I do not need another dust catcher, and that's exactly what this book would do on my shelves. Its usefulness is minimal.

232quondame
apr 14, 2021, 11:41 pm

>231 thornton37814: I have purchased 1, it covers where I live. I do love maps.

233laytonwoman3rd
apr 15, 2021, 12:12 pm

>231 thornton37814: I hate it when an author makes a broad assumption like that, especially when it does not apply to ME! My FIL had several of those topographical maps; he taught Boy Scouts to read them, but I think he just loved them, regardless. We have a couple three dimensional plastic ones hanging in our "technology room".

234thornton37814
apr 15, 2021, 6:00 pm

>232 quondame: I love maps too.

>233 laytonwoman3rd: They are wonderful maps! I'm pleased to know Boy Scouts were taught to read them.

235fuzzi
apr 15, 2021, 7:37 pm

>234 thornton37814: and reading maps is a lost art.

When we order lunch at work the caterer's delivery people always get lost. Our location is one of those places where GPS doesn't pinpoint us properly. I've created maps, but the delivery people don't understand how to read them!

236thornton37814
apr 15, 2021, 10:09 pm

>235 fuzzi: I prefer maps to GPS. I laugh at the directions it sometimes tries to give.

237thornton37814
Bewerkt: apr 15, 2021, 10:14 pm



Book 60. Portobello by Ruth Rendell

Date Completed: 15 April 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This book differs from the other Rendell books I read. The novel studies several characters whose lives become intertwined because they live on or near or visit Portobello Road. One character is a middle-aged man addicted to a candy; his fiancée is a doctor who becomes a personal physician to a man we meet because he becomes injured on the Portobello Road. A young thief who loves a girl he assaulted and whose relative belongs to a cult-like church also appears. The action is slow. The flawed characters often express themselves in peculiar manners. While it is not my favorite Rendell book, I didn't hate it. I listened to the audiobook read by Tim Curry.

238laytonwoman3rd
apr 16, 2021, 11:30 am

>234 thornton37814: Well, of course most of those Boy Scouts are now upwards of 70 years old. Don't know if the practice continued, or if it was just one of Jack's personal programs. He was a terrific Scoutmaster, from all I've heard.

239thornton37814
apr 16, 2021, 1:09 pm

>239 thornton37814: I understand, Linda. Let's hope someone continued the tradition.

240humouress
apr 18, 2021, 7:00 am

>161 magicians_nephew: Um ... don't eat if she offers to cook for you? ;0)

241thornton37814
apr 18, 2021, 11:28 am