Alcott Acre's Home, Room 11

Thanks for stopping by my eleventh thread of 2022! All visitors are welcome - with the exception of spammers!

Excellent Reads from 2022 (thus far and in the order in which I read them):

5 Stars
The Writing of the Gods by Edward Dolnick
The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo
The Singapore Grip by J.G. Farrell
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Maus I: A Survivor's Tale by Art Speigelman
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Walking with the Wind by John Lewis with Michael D'Orso
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Bewilderment by Richard Powers
Fatelessness by Imre Kertesz
The Destruction of Black Civilization by Chancellor Williams

4.5 Stars
These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett
My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk
Square Haunting by Francesca Wade
Dare to Disappoint: Growing Up in Turkey by Özge Samancı
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith
A Mortuary of Books by Elisabeth Gallas
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Speigelman
Watercress by Andrea Wang
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Mighty Justice: My Life in Civil Rights by Dovey Johnson Roundtree and Katie McCabe
From Left to Right by Nancy Sinkoff
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
The Fell by Sarah Moss
Black Birds in the Sky by Brandy Colbert
Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books by Aaron Lansky
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
The Wars by Timothy Findley
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox by Barry Hughart
Remote Sympathy by Catherine Chidgey
Enchanters' End Game by David Eddings
The Ponder Heart by Eudora Welty
The Heart of Race by Beverley Bryan, et al
The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb
Pollak's Arm by Hans von Trotha
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Zorrie by Laird Hunt
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Loyalty in Time of Trial: The African American Experience During World War I by Nina Mjagkij
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Cove by Cynan Jones
Plainsong by Kent Haruf
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
The Immortal Irishman by Timothy Egan
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
The Book of Jonas by Stephen Dau
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
Lost Illusions by Honore de Balzac
The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard
The World of Pooh by A.A. Milne
South Riding by Winifred Holtby

4.25 Stars
The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed
The Fall of Light by Niall Williams
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
Lenny's Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict by Tamra B. Orr
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand
Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
Still Life by Sarah Winman
The Bird Way by Jennifer Ackerman
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
The Wrong End of the Telescope by Rabih Alameddine
Time and Again by Jack Finney
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini
Love & Saffron by Kim Fay
Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
A Room on Lorelei Street by Mary E. Pearson
The Library of the Unwritten by A. J. Hackwith
Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy B. Tyson
Trailed by Kathryn Miles
A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge
Nella Last's War edited by Richard Broad and Suzie Fleming
Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez
Home Before Morning by Lynda Van Devanter
Empress Dowager Cixi by Jung Chang
Brewster by Mark Slouka
The Bell in the Lake by Lars Mytting
I Was Born There, I Was Born Here by Mourid Barghouti
Apollo 8 : The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon by Jeffrey Kluger
The Murrow Boys by Stanley Cloud and Lynne Olson
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
My Brilliant Life by Ae-Ran Kim
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle
Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan by Deborah Reed
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Five Days in November by Clint Hill with Lisa McCubbin

September TIOLI Challenges:

Challenge #1: Read a nonfiction book by or about an individual who either ran for or held an elected office
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin - Completed September 24, 2022

Challenge #2: Read a book (either F or NF) about someone with a long standing major problem who grows either because of or in spite of it
My Brilliant Life by Ae-ran Kim - Completed September 2, 2022

Challenge #3: Read a work of fiction set prior to 1922 in a country then (or once) part of the British Empire
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict - Completed September 4, 2022

Challenge #4: Read a book with the word “trickster(s)” in the title or listed under tags F/NF
Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection by Matt Dembicki - Completed September 3, 2022

Challenge #5: Read a book with one person on the cover, who is looking out at the reader
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett - Completed September 23, 2022
Harry Haft by Alan Scott Haft - Completed September 28, 2022
Witness to a Century by George Seldes - Completed September 13, 2022

Challenge #6: Read a book about a person who was born in the same decade as you
Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe - Completed September 2, 2022

Challenge #7: "S" is for September and Science Fiction: Read a book on The 50 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time located here (https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g39358054/best-sci-fi-books/)
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey - Completed September 24, 2022

Challenge #8: Read a book first published in the 1990s or 2000s. List in publication year order.
The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu - Completed September 22, 2022
The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews - Completed September 30, 2022

Challenge #9: Read a book whose title contains more than 22 letters
Colonialism and Gender Relations From Mary Wollstonecraft to Jamaica Kincaid by Moira Ferguson - Completed September 7, 2022
The Destruction of Black Civilization by Chancellor Williams - Completed September 29, 2022
Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan by Deborah Reed - Completed September 18, 2022
A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying by Kelley Armstrong - Completed September 5, 2022

Challenge #10: Read a book that has part of a college or university's name in the title or author's name
Instant Lives & More by Howard Moss - Completed September 30, 2022
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - Completed September 14, 2022

Challenge #11: Read a book about Korea or written by a Korean or ethnic Korean author - started by PaulCranswick
The Plotters by Un-Su Kim- Completed September 25, 2022
Untold Night and Day by Bae Suah - Completed September 15, 2022
The Waiting by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim - Completed September 9, 2022

Challenge #12: Read a book about a dead laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature OR one written by a living laureate
Conversation in the Cathedral by Mario Vargas Llosa - Completed September 24, 2022
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - Completed September 22, 2022

Challenge #13: Read a book set in Europe in the 20th century
Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner - Completed September 11, 2022
In the Midst of Civilized Europe by Jeffrey Veidlinger - Completed September 30, 2022

Challenge #14: Read a book With a word beginning or ending with one of the following letters: BETTER WEATHER
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor - Completed September 27, 2022
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner - Completed September 3, 2022
Beartown by Fredrik Backman - Completed September 11, 2022
Clementine by Sonia Purnell - Completed September 13, 2022
A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny - Completed September 18, 2022
The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard - Completed September 28, 2022
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells - Completed September 12, 2022

Challenge #15: Read a book originally written in French by a citizen of member state of "La Francophonie"
Lost Illusions by Honore de Balzac - Completed September 7, 2022

Challenge #16: Read a book where all the words in the title have the same number of letters
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen - Completed September 20, 2022

Challenge #17: Read a book that completes the verse “See you in September or lose you to……….”
Desperation in Death by J.D. Robb - Completed September 11, 2022
King of the Murgos by David Eddings - Completed September 8, 2022
Winter by Christopher Nicholson - Completed September 19, 2022
The World of Pooh by A.A. Milne - Completed September 30, 2022

Challenge #18: Read a book/work with a significant part set in/dealing with the period from 1 January 1960 to 31 December 1980
1968 by Mark Kurlansky - Completed September 18, 2022
Tap Code by Carlyle S. Harris - Completed September 15, 2022

Challenge #19: Read a book for the TV Trope Back to School Challenge
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - Completed September 14, 2022

October TIOLI Challenges:

Challenge #1: Read a book whose title words only start with the letters A, B, C, X, Y and/or Z.
American Bloomsbury by Susan Cheever
Ancient Appetites by Oisin McGann

Challenge #2: Read a scary book
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - Completed October 4, 2022

Challenge #3: Read a book for the Grady Girls rolling challenge
Agatha of Little Neon by Claire Luchette - Completed October 9, 2022
Brighton Rock by Graham Greene
Denmark Vesey’s Garden by Ethan J. Kytle and Blain Roberts
Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg - Completed October 7, 2022
The Yard by Alex Grecian

Challenge #4: Read a book tagged "historical" or "historical fiction"
His Bloody Project by Graeme MacRae Burnet
The Report by Jessica Francis Kane

Challenge #5: Read a book with a cover image in which a woman's face is important
The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
Miss Marjoribanks by Margaret Oliphant

Challenge #6: Read a book with the word “teeth” in the title or the image of teeth somewhere on the cover
Thirty-Three Teeth by Colin Cotterill - Completed October 15, 2022

Challenge #7: Read a book in a language that is not your mother tongue
Watch Out for Clever Women by Joe Hayes - Completed October 1, 2022

Challenge #8: The “Murder She Wrote” Challenge: Read a murder mystery, solved or unsolved, written by a woman author (NF only, please)
Covered with Night by Nicole Eustace
The Massey Murder by Charlotte Gray
We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper - Completed October 7, 2022

Challenge #9: Read a book with a fall color (Red, Orange, Yellow, Brown) predominate on the cover or with one of the color names in the title or author name
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Patience & Fortitude by Nicholas Basbanes

Challenge #10: Read a book, fiction or nonfiction, about the British royal family
Royal Blood by Bertram Fields
When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman

Challenge #11: Read a book written by someone who uses three names
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel - Completed October 4, 2022

Challenge #12: Read a book whose title identifies what kind of narrative it purports to be
Tales from the Arabian Nights translated by Andrew Lang

Challenge #13: Read a book with an uneven number of pages
Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear
Brunelleschi’s Dome by Ross King
Endpapers by Alexander Wolff
From the Land of Green Ghosts by Pascal Khoo Thwe
The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai
Us Against You by Fredrik Backman - Completed October 1, 2022

Challenge #14: Read a book with a verb used as a noun in the title
Fire Watch by Connie Willis - Completed October 11, 2022
Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong - Completed October 5, 2022
South Riding by Winifred Holtby - Completed October 13, 2022

Challenge #15: Read a book with a 4th quarter month in the title
Five Days in November by Clint Hill with Lisa McCubbin - Completed October 10, 2022
The October Country by Ray Bradbury - Completed October 9, 2022
The Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders - Completed October 10, 2022

Challenge #16: Read a book by an author who teaches writing
Coming into the Country by John McPhee
Giving Good Weight by John McPhee

Challenge #17: Read a book by an author sharing the name of a Post-War British Prime Minister or a book by or about a Post War British PM
The Gathering Storm by Winston S. Churchill

Challenge #18: Read a book in honour of Queen Elizabeth II
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

2022 Goals - I am going to record the titles as I finish them:

Reading (or rereading as they case may be) all of Jane Austen’s novels this year
- Sense and Sensibility - Completed January 13, 2022
- Pride and Prejudice - Completed March 17, 2022
- Mansfield Park - Completed May 11, 2022
- Emma - Completed July 19, 2022
- Northanger Abbey - Completed September 14, 2022

The St. Mary’s books
- Just One Damned Thing After Another - Completed January 14, 2022
- A Symphony of Echoes - Completed April 17, 2022

The In Death series - started in 2021
- Vengeance in Death - Completed January 9, 2022
- Abandoned in Death - Completed February 8, 2022
- Holiday in Death - Completed March 13, 2022
- Conspiracy in Death - Completed May 12, 2022
- Loyalty in Death - Completed July 4, 2022
- Witness in Death - Completed August 8, 2022
- Desperation in Death - Completed September 11, 2022
- Judgment in Death - Completed September 26, 2022

The Decker/Lazarus series - started in 2021
- Sacred and Profane - Completed January 23, 2022
- Milk and Honey - Completed June 23, 2022

The Outlander series
- Outlander - Completed February 12, 2022
- Dragonfly in Amber - Completed August 14, 2022

The Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series - started in 2021
- The Murder of Mary Russell - Completed February 16, 2022
- Island of the Mad - Completed July 10, 2022

The Murderbot series - started in 2021
- Artificial Condition - Completed February 20, 2022
- Rogue Protocol - Completed September 11, 2022

The Three Pines series
- Still Life - Completed March 6, 2022
- A Fatal Grace - Completed September 18, 2022

The Maisie Dobbs series
- Maisie Dobbs - Completed March 22, 2022
- Birds of a Feather -

Classics - at least one a month; could be children's classics, modern classics, scifi/fantasy classics
1. Kim by Rudyard Kipling - Completed January 7, 2022
2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou - Completed February 5, 2022
3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey - Completed March 6, 2022
4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Completed March 12, 2022
5. The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole - Completed March 28, 2022
6. The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope - Completed April 25, 2022
7. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf - Completed April 29, 2022
8. Heart of the Race by Beverley Bryan et al - Completed May 9, 2022
9. Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana, Jr. - Completed May 12, 2022
10. Silas Marner by George Eliot - Completed June 21, 2022
11. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier - Completed July 1, 2022
12. Waverley by Sir Walter Scott - Completed July 12, 2022
13. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - Completed August 23, 2022
14. Lost Illusions by Honore de Balzac - Completed September 7, 2022
15. The World of Pooh by A.A. Milne - Completed September 30, 2022

Continuing my Black Studies reading (at least one book per month)
1. How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith - Completed January 21, 2022
2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou - Completed February 5, 2022
3. Mighty Justice by Dovey Johnson Roundtree and Katie McCabe - Completed February 23, 2022
4. Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood by bell hooks - Completed March 5, 2022
5. The Hands of Peace by Marione Ingram - Completed March 11, 2022
6. Black Birds in the Sky by Brandy Colbert - Completed April 3, 2022
7. Walking with the Wind by John Lewis with Michael D'Orso - Completed April 28, 2022
8. Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy B. Tyson - Completed May 31, 2022
9. Loyalty in Time of Trial: The African American Experience During World War I by Nina Mjagkij - Completed July 18, 2022
10. Slaves in the Family by Edward Ball - Completed August 16, 2022
11. The Destruction of Black Civilization by Chancellor Williams - Completed September 29, 2022

Continuing my Holocaust/Jewish experience reading (at least one book per month)
1. We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter - Completed January 16, 2022
2. Sala's Gift by Ann Kirschner - Completed January 25, 2022
3. A Mortuary of Books by Elisabeth Gallas - Completed February 4, 2022
4. From Left to Right by Nancy Sinkoff - Completed March 10, 2022
5. The Boys: The Story of 732 Young Concentration Camp Survivors by Martin Gilbert - Completed April 26, 2022
6. While Six Million Died by Arthur D. Morse - Completed April 29, 2022
7. The Children of Willesden Lane by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen - Completed May 21, 2022
8. Village of Secrets by Caroline Moorhead - Completed July 15, 2022
9. Fatelessness by Imre Kertesz - Completed July 28, 2022
10. Landscapes of the Metropolis of Death by Otto Dov Kulka - Completed August 28, 2022
11. In the Midst of Civilized Europe - Completed September 30, 2022

Books on Berly’s Indie List:
1. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra - Completed February 1, 2022
2. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders - Completed February 6, 2022
3. Moonglow by Michael Chabon - Completed February 11, 2022
4. Mudbound by Hillary Jordan - Completed March 12, 2022
5. The Outlander by Gil Adamson - Completed May 4, 2022
6. The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell - Completed May 23, 2022
7. Silas Marner by George Eliot - Completed June 21, 2022
8. The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker - Completed June 27, 2022
9. Brewster by Mark Slouka - Completed July 24, 2022
10. The Book of Jonas by Stephen Dau - Completed August 29, 2022
11. The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews - Completed September 30, 2022
12. The Report by Jessica Francis Kane

Monthly Nonfiction Challenge:
January - The Feather Thief by Kirk Johnson Wallace - Completed January 20, 2022
February - The Anthropocene reviewed : essays on a human-centered planet by John Green - Completed February 17, 2022
March - Avenue of Spies by Alex Kershaw - Completed March 30, 2022
April - Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron - Completed April 11, 2022
May - First Into Nagasaki by George Weller - Completed May 27, 2022
June - The Emergency: A Year of Healing and Heartbreak in a Chicago ER by Thomas Fisher - Completed June 4, 2022
July - The Murrow Boys by Stanley Cloud and Lynne Olson - Completed August 9, 2022
August - Slaves in the Family by Edward Ball - Completed August 16, 2022
September - Clementine by Sonia Purnell - Completed September 13, 2022
October - Royal Blood by Bertram Fields

My biggest challenge this year is for the Asian Authors Challenge. I am so stoked for this one. I want to try and read at least 3 books per month toward this challenge.

Proposed Books for September:
My Brilliant Life by Ae-ran Kim - Completed September 2, 2022
The Plotters by Un-Su Kim - Completed September 25, 2022
Untold Night and Day by Bae Suah - Completed September 15, 2022
The Waiting by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim - Completed September 9, 2022

Proposed Books for October:
From the Land of Green Ghosts by Pascal Khoo Thwe
The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai
Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong - Completed October 5, 2022

Shared/Group Reads:

Lost Illusions by Honore de Balzac - shared read with Paul - Completed September 7, 2022
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner - shared read with Mark and Joe - Completed September 3, 2022
King of the Murgos by David Eddings - shared read with Nina - Completed September 8, 2022
Us Against You by Fredrik Backman - shared read with Mark - AUDIOBOOK Completed October 1, 2022

On hold currently:
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott - shared read with Mamie - OCTOBER??
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett - shared read with Kim and Mark - NOVEMBER
The Winners by Fredrik Backman - shared read with Mark - JANUARY??

Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart Postponed at Karen’s request
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Zafon Ruiz Postponed at Karen’s request
Here I Am by Jonathan Safron Foer Postponed at Kim's request

Pick a Shelf Challenge - Goal is 2 a month - I literally just chose a shelf in my library and emptied it of books. I will mark them as I complete them - and then pick another shelf!

The Art of War in the Western World by Archer Jones* - Completed June 24, 2022
The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte
The Yard by Alex Grecian
Killing Mister Watson by Peter Matthiessen
Hard Evidence by David Fisher - Completed February 27, 2022
The Italian Boy by Sarah Wise - Completed January 27, 2022
Day After Night by Anita Diamant - Completed May 28, 2022
Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks - Completed January 9, 2022
Witness to a Century by George Seldes - Completed September 13, 2022
Scoop by Evelyn Waugh
The Maker of Heavenly Trousers by Daniele Vare - Completed July 30, 2022
Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O’Neill - Completed March 27, 2022
The Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne - Completed March 31, 2022
Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman - Completed February 9, 2022
Gillespie and I by Jane Harris - Completed April 14, 2022
Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov - Completed April 16, 2022
A Room on Lorelei Street by Mary E. Pearson - Completed May 26, 2022

I have now chosen another shelf since I am getting so close to finishing the first one. I expect this one is going to take longer as it had more books on it!
Adios, Nirvana by Conrad Wesselhoeft
All Hallows' Eve by Charles Williams
Almanac of American Women in the 20th Century by Judith Freeman Clark
"And I Was There" by Rear Admiral Edwin T. Layton *
Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volumes I-III, by Miriam Lichtheim
The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr
The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu - Completed September 22, 2022
The Bureau by Diarmuid Jeffreys
The Color of Distance by Amy Thomson
Dreams, Parts One & Two by Jayne Ann Krentz
Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly
Eric Sloane's America by Eric Sloane
Execution's Doorstep by Leslie Lytle
Fall of the Roman Republic by Plutarch - Completed August 27, 2022
The Glass Magician by Charlie Holmberg
The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing
A History of Western Architecture* by David Watkin
History of the Second World War by B.H. Liddell Hart*
How the Other Half Lives by Jacob Riis
I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This by Jacqueline Woodson
A Many-Splendored Thing by Han Suyin
The Master Magician by Charlie Holmberg
The Member of the Wedding and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Moonheart by Charles de Lint
The Paper Magician by Charlie Holmberg
Quiet Street by Zelda Popkin
Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg - Completed October 7, 2022
Saving Childhood by Michael Medved and Diane Medved
The Tea House on Mulberry Street by Sharon Owens
Twist of Fate by Jayne Ann Krentz
The Upstairs Room by Johanne Reiss - Completed August 27, 2022
When Egypt Ruled the East by George Steindorff and Keith C. Seele

*Due to the length of this volume, I will likely only read one book from this list in that particular month.

The next one is yours, while I spend some time fixing Touchstones. . .

Happy new thread Stasia! That's an amazing array of statistics up there :)

>10 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba!

Happy new thread, Stasia!

Finished this afternoon:

325 - Desperation in Death by J.D. Robb - The latest entry into the series finds Dallas trying to take town an operation that is grooming young girls to be escorts, slaves, prostitutes, which of course, leads to nightmares of her own. One of the girls is on the run after her partner, with whom she was escaping, dies in the attempt and it is up to Dallas and Peabody to track her down before the bad guys do. Another solid entry into the series.; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

326 - Beartown by Fredrik Backman - I do not remember who brought this book to my attention recently, but I am glad to have read it. The story revolves around Beartown, "a hockey town," and what happens when one of the prized hockey players is accused of rape by one of the girls in the town. The book is excellent with one small quibble on my part - I hate foreshadowing in books and it seems like every chapter ends with that I called a 'pronouncement.' One or two times, fine. But every chapter is too much; Highly Recommended (4.25 stars) Library Book

327 - Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner - A disparate trio of women are working at the Bloomsbury Bookstore in the years after WWII is over and they fight back with the tools at hand over the subtle and not-so-subtle sexism and racism that they encounter. There are cameo appearances in the books by Daphne du Maurier, Samuel Beckett, Mrs. Nelson Doubleday, Mrs. George Orwell, and several other well-known people of the time, which makes the book fun as you never know where the encounters with these people will lead; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

>12 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

Hiya! I brought cookies. Got milk?

>15 laytonwoman3rd: As long as it is the non-dairy variety. I am allergic to cow's milk :)

Thanks for the cookies, Linda!

Happy new one, Stasia. I have Bloomsbury Girls on my shelf. Hope to get to it sooner rather than later.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, dear Juana.

Happy new thread, Stasia!

>13 alcottacre: Oh yay, I'm glad to see you liked Beartown. I recently read the third in the trilogy and really enjoyed it, but he does use those pronouncements quite a bit in all three books.

Morning, Stasia. Happy New Thread. I hope you had a good weekend and I am glad you enjoyed Beartown. I plan on reading the follow-up, Us Against You soon, if you want to join me. I don't know why I put if off for so long.

>17 jessibud2: I hope you enjoy Bloomsbury Girls when you get to it, Shelley!

>18 figsfromthistle: >19 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Anita and Paul.

>20 bell7: Did you find the pronouncement thing as irritating as I do, Mary, or is it just me? I want to read the rest of the trilogy at some point, so I guess being forewarned will help.

>21 msf59: Let me know when you would like to read Us Against You, Mark, and I will definitely be joining you.

Would you be up for starting Us Against You early next week?

*smooch*

Happy New Thread! Again, I enjoy perusing your lists of favorites that start your new threads. So many good titles, some I've read and some I need/want to read.

>13 alcottacre: I am a fan of the Beartown books. Backman has a unique (and sometimes frustrating) writing style, but I do enjoy his books. I think you will enjoy the other books in the series. I am on a long waiting list for The Winners which comes out later this fall. I am finishing up a reread of Anxious People for my book group tomorrow night. It's not my favorite of his but still a decent read that will make for an interesting discussion.

Happy new one, Stasia! I’m visiting family in Temple, Texas, this week, will be heading home passing through/around Dallas later this week. I’d try for a meetup, but we don’t have a lot of extra time heading home - maybe next time!

>23 msf59: I will go ahead and put it on hold at the library, Mark, and let you know when it is in.

>24 richardderus: Back at you!

>25 Donna828: You know, Donna, I look at the list of what I call "Excellent Reads" every time I begin a new thread and think to myself about how many good books are on that list. The list would make a good start to anyone's library, I think - although I may be prejudiced on that point :)

I have read several of Backman's books and enjoyed them all. I hope at some point to be able to read his entire ouvre.

>26 drneutron: That would be great, Jim. I would love to meet you in person!

Finished tonight:

328 - Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells - This is the third book in the Murderbot series and once again our SecUnit finds herself in unfamiliar circumstances as she tries to gather evidence against GreyCris. In this volume, we meet (I think for the first time) a robot who is different from the others - she is not really designed for security, but places a high value on the lives of the humans for whom she is responsible; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Stasia...328 books read. WOW!

>29 Whisper1: Thank you, lovey.

Nichole Update: Nichole was supposed to be released from the hospital in Houston last week into her mother's care. However, on the way home to her mother's from the hospital, she attempted to jump from the moving vehicle onto a busy highway. Barbara, Nichole's mother, promptly took her back to the hospital because obviously Nichole is still suicidal.

Nichole was diagnosed with COVID again, but was re-tested and got a negative result, so we think it was a false positive.

Please continue to pray for Nichole and her situation. Kerry will not be able to visit her in Houston, but they are not going to re-release her until she is no longer a threat to herself.

Thank you so much.

>22 alcottacre: sometimes more than others. I found the narrative voice really irritating in Anxious People (which I overall liked), but thought it worked well in The Winners.

>31 alcottacre: oh I'm sorry, Stasia. Continued prayers headed your way.

Edited to get touchstones to cooperate

>32 bell7: Anxious People is one of Backman's books that I have not read yet. It looks like Mark and I will be reading the second book of the Beartown trilogy, Us Against You, starting next week. I hope to get to The Winners after that.

Thank you for the continued prayers, Mary!

Finished this evening:

329 - Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill by Sonia Purnell - Nonfiction; After reading this book, Clementine Churchill strikes me as a hard woman to know as she had so much of her life wrapped up in that of her husband - and he needed every bit of help that she could give him. She may not have been much of a mother to her children - and her mother was a terrible example to her - but she was a terrific wife to her husband. Purnell writes about her ups and downs, does nothing to sugarcoat her failures, especially in regards to her children, and demonstrates just how needed she was to Winston; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

"Clementine was not cut out from birth for the part history handed her. Adversity, combined with sheer will power, burninshed a timorous, self-doubting bundle of nerves and emotion into a wartime consort of unparalleled composure, wisdom, and courage."

330 - Witness to a Century by George Seldes - Nonfiction; This book was one I really wanted to like better than I did. I just felt like there was too much self-aggrandizement in Seldes' book. Some of the name dropping in the book felt like name dropping for the sake of it. For instance, there is one mention of John Gunther in the entire book. No introduction of who Gunther was at all, so if you have never heard of him, you are out of luck as to why he is showing up in the book, which is never fully explained at all; Not Recommended (3 stars) Mine

"Father would say, 'Don't waste your time reading a book that you will never look at again. Read books that you will re-read - and that you will never outgrow. . .All this world's civilization is to be found between the covers of books.' "

>31 alcottacre: It is such a complicated situation with Nicole and you are so good at helping to keep us up to date.Thank you Stasia! Thinking of you and family!

>35 mdoris: Thanks, Mary!

>31 alcottacre: I hope Nichole will do better emotionally as she goes through her illness.

*smooch*

So sorry to hear about Nichole's continuing complications :(

Such a very sad situation with Nichole. Wishing strength for all concerned.

I've read all of the Backman books and liked them all but A Man Called Ove and the Bear Town series were definitely my favorites.

>37 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. **Smooches** right back at you!

>38 curioussquared: Thank you, Natalie.

>39 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba. Trust me when I say we need it.

I loved A Man Called Ove!

Sorry, to hear about the latest episode with Nicohle. I was hoping, (like I am sure you were) that things were beginning to level off. You are in our thoughts, my friend.

I should be able to start Us Against You in a week. If that won't work, we could make it a bit later.

Happy Wednesday, Stasia.

>41 msf59: Believe me when I say I so appreciate the good thoughts, wishes, and prayers of this group!

Us Against You is on hold for me at the local library, Mark, so I should be able to start it next week as well. If something comes up and for some reason I cannot do so, I will let you know. Thanks!

Happy new thread, Stasia. Continued kind thoughts and energy to you and yours.

(((Hugs))) Sorry to hear of the new complications in Nichole's situation, Stasia. Sadness piled on sadness for all of you.

>43 WhiteRaven.17: Thank you, Kro!

>44 laytonwoman3rd: Yeah, it is rather rough on all of us around these parts. Thanks for the hugs. They are always appreciated.

Finished this afternoon:

331 - Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - Not my favorite Austen for sure, but Austen's take on "tropes of fiction, kinds of readers, and modes of reading" (The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen) made for enjoyable reading, especially since I could relate to its heroine Catherine Morland, being possessed of an overactive imagination as she has when I was younger. I think Austen sense of irony really comes out in this one but the writing is not her best; Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Mine

>5 alcottacre: I didn't even realize I had my own category!! I am honored.

>7 alcottacre: State of Wonder in October? : )

>13 alcottacre: Loved Beartown and any Bachman.

>28 alcottacre: I am on #2 of Murderbot and really have to get back to that series soon!

And 328 books!!!!!! No wonder you can do so many shared reads. LOL

>31 alcottacre: Bet wishes to Nichole and all of you. Dang.

>47 Berly: You have had your own category all year long, Kim, and I have gotten some good (and some not-so-good) reads out of it!

Does your question mean we are or are not reading State of Wonder in October?

I am glad to hear from another Backman fan - and another Murderbot fan to boot!

Nope, it is now 332 books. See below.

Thanks for the wishes for Nichole!

Well, I think I am a wee bit too far behind to do State of Wonder in September, RL and all that, but I have found my copy and am up for October if that works for you. : )

Oh, well, 328 was just a typo I guess. LOL

Finished tonight:

332 - Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - Young Adult; I tried to read this book several years ago, read about 25 pages and gave up on it. The read went much better this time - I honestly cannot remember what the issue was before. I like the world that Mead has created here with the different kinds of vampires inhabiting it - Strigoi (probably what we would think of as 'traditional' vampires), Moroi (mortal vampires), and Dhampir. Lissa is a Moroi princess whose best friend, Rose, is a Dhampir and her guardian. Lissa's parents and brother were all killed in an accident and Rose has been guarding her ever since and her guardianship includes getting Lissa out of the school that they both attend. There is a lot less teenage angst in the book than I was expecting - there is some, of course, but it is not overblown. Rose is in training to keep Lissa safe, but Lissa in the meantime is causing issues within the school; Guardedly Recommended (3.75 stars) Library Book

>49 Berly: It is OK about the 328 books - I just followed along and did not even look at my log when I said 329. It is actually now 332 and probably will increase by at least one tonight.

October works for me just fine, Kim. I am looking forward to reading it!

Hmmm. I can argue typo from 328 to 329 but now that you are at 332 in one day I just have to admit that I can't keep up with you! : )

>51 alcottacre: Also, Mark says 2nd half of October will work better for him. For SOW.

>52 Berly: LOL!

>53 Berly: That is fine with me. I pulled the book off the shelf when he first mentioned reading it, so I am ready to go whenever.

Finished tonight:

333 - Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle - Juvenile; I discovered this book recently on Linda's (Whisper's) thread. The book-length poem explains the history behind Juneteenth as well as the need for it. The notes for the book describe it as "evocative" and I understand why - from the beginning ("The War is Over!" until the end, the reader gets a sense of why the people were so excited to find out that they were "Free at Last." The artwork in the book by Alex Bostic is wonderful and very realistic. My one quibble of the book is that at the very beginning, a black man is shown reading the Emancipation Proclamation to the people around him. Given that almost no black people knew how to read since they were not taught by the slave owners, I do with that had been handled a little differently, although I am not sure how. If you have children or grandchildren the age range for whom this book is intended, you could do worse than this!; Highly Recommended (4.25 stars) Library Book

>31 alcottacre: Oh no! It must be quite awful to be in a state of turmoil like that. Hope she is able to settle soon.

>56 figsfromthistle: To say that it has been a roller coaster ride is something of an understatement. Thanks, Anita!

Finished tonight:

334 - Tap Code: The Epic Survival Tale of a Vietnam POW and the Secret Code that Changed Everything by Col. Carlyle S. Harris - Nonfiction; Harris was kept as a POW during the Vietnam War for some 8 years. His son was born after Col. Harris was shot down, his daughters grew into young ladies - they were 3 and 4.5 when he was shot down, his wife, Louise, had to pick up and move several times until she could find the right place for her family. This book is told from both Col. Harris' standpoint and from his wife's and I appreciated that as we got to see what was going on from both of their standpoints. The title of the book refers to a tapping system through which the POWs could communicate with each other and in most instances, that communication helped keep them sane as they underwent torture from the North Vietnamese. I will say that although I recommend this book, it is written from a Christian viewpoint as both Smitty and Louise are devout Christians, so if that offends you, stay away; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

"In my years of captivity, I had learned over time to have no emotions, at least not to demonstrate them while held prisoner. What an indescribable feeling to finally let go and allow myself to feel once again. Seeing Louise, my children, and all of my dear family elicited a release of emotion I had held in for years. It felt like heaven on earth."

And another one:

335 - Untold Night and Day by Bae Suah - There is a quote later in the book, "Using both index fingers, Wolfi was typing out the sentences that were coming into his head in a long rambling stream" and that is how I feel about this book - it is a long rambling stream that I just do not understand as the characters are intertwined into this weird dreamlike narrative. We start with Ayami, who is a forcibly retired actress, working at a theatre for the blind that is closing down, and through her we are introduced to the characters of the director (never named that I could see), Yeoni, the poet Kim Cheol-sseok, and Buha. The beginning of the book made sense to me, but the further it went along, the less sense it made. There is not a doubt in my mind that Bae Suah can write - I very much enjoyed some of her more desciptive passages - but her writing does not speak to me; Not Recommended (3 stars) Mine

Happy weekend, smoochling.

>60 richardderus: Thank you, RD. Same to you! ((Hugs)) and **smooches**

Finished last night:

336 - Unicorns vs. Goblins by Dana Simpson - Juvenile; I had to skip volume 2 in Simpson's series as my local library does not have it, but there was no issue in picking up Phoebe's adventures in volume 3. These are just plain fun books! In this one, we meet Marigold's sister Florence, she of the unfortunate nostrils; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

Hi Stasia and happy new thread.

>31 alcottacre: Oh no. Once again terrible news. Nichole is in my thoughts and prayers. Strength to all of you, and special (((hugs))) for you.

Your reading continues to impress.

>63 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen!

Nichole Update: Kerry found out yesterday that Nichole is not going to be released from the Houston hospital any time soon which means, in essence, he cannot visit her due to the distance from home to there. We are trying to find a work around, but flying from DFW to Houston at least once a month is not a viable option either.

>64 alcottacre: I sure wish you could have a spot of good news for a change, Stasia. Are virtual visits a possibility (Zoom, or Facetime, or the like)?

Stasia, I don't really know anything about how this works but is there a Ronald McDonald House (for families of hospital patients who live far away) that might be available for Kerry to stay at, at least for a short while.

>64 alcottacre: I hope you find a workable way around, Stasia, so Kerry can visit Nichole soon.
(((hugs)))

>66 jessibud2:
I don't know how the much touted Ronald MacDonald houses work overall, but we have found that in our area of the country (Kansas and Nebraska) they are very picky about who gets to stay in them and for how long. In general, they are for people with "children" in the hospital, and only those who meet income limitations. And this in an area of the country where it is common for families to have to travel several hundred miles (like Kerry) to visit or stay with family members. This past spring my sister was denied staying at the Ronald MacDonald house in Lincoln, Nebraska, even though she lived over 100 miles from the hospital, lives on her social security check, and had a 30 year-old unmarried son with no family other than her, who was in the hospital there for 66 days. She ended up paying for hotel stays and gasoline to drive back and forth because gasoline was cheaper than the hotel stays - and this when gasoline was $5.00 per gallon. The same was true when her son was transferred to Wichita, Kansas hospital, which was 183 miles from their home. It may not be that way at every place but it is the norm for the regional hospitals in the middle of the country.

Stacia - please tell Kerry that I understand his feelings about his inability to be able to visit his daughter. The world may be getting smaller, but not in certain parts of the U.S.

That’s a real bummer about Kerry not being able to see his daughter in the hospital. Cell phone technology isn’t quite the same but I suppose FaceTime or Google Duo would be better than nothing. My heart goes out to you, Kerry, and Nichole in this sad situation.

Stasia, I am so glad you are a reader. There is no better way to “”escape” reality than to get lost in a good book. Well, board games might work, too. I envy you reading Us Against You. I love those Beartown books.

>65 laytonwoman3rd: I will mention that to Kerry, Linda, but he is not the most technically savvy person, but he has done at least one meet up with our girls. The question is going to be on Nichole's end as to whether or not she would be up for doing it, I think, and a lot of that would be dependent on her state of mind. Thank you for the suggestion!

>66 jessibud2: I had always thought that Ronald McDonald houses were for the parents of children, not adults of Nichole's age - she will be 38 next month. I will check into it though.

>67 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita! The hugs are much appreciated too.

>68 benitastrnad: Good information, Benita. Thank you. I am sorry to hear about your sister's situation - and your nephew's, of course.

>69 Donna828: I just went and mentioned to Kerry about using Google Meet Up (which is what I use for meeting up with Beth and Catey every week) or some such, Donna, but he said that Felisha told him that Nichole is not even talking right now. *sigh* I am very glad to be a reader these days too!

Finished this afternoon:

337 - 1968: The Year That Rocked the World by Mark Kurlansky - Nonfiction; I was born in 1962, so in 1968 was only 6 years old and certainly did not comprehend all of the changes that were taking place in the world around me. Kurlansky's book was very expansive, not only relating events in the U.S., but in Czechoslovakia, France, Canada, Mexico, Biafra, Nigeria and other places around the world. If I have any complaint about the book, it is that it might be too expansive; however, it is very well written and I learned a lot from it; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

Happy New Thread, Stasia!

So sorry to hear of Nichole’s continued struggles. This world can weigh so heavily. Sending lots of positive thoughts her way.

Looks like you’re having lots of good reading. I haven’t yet read the new Eve Dallas, Desperation in Death, and I can’t wait to fix that! What an outstanding series.

Were you a fan of The Westing Game as a kid? Our daughter was, and is, and recommended to me The Inheritance Games trilogy, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. So good! I just finished the last one, The Final Gambit. Lot of puzzles and twists and turns. It sure made me think of TWG.

>73 jnwelch: Thank you so much for the positive thoughts regarding Nichole, Joe. They are appreciated!

I do hope you get to Desperation in Death soon. It is another solid entry into the series. I completely agree - it is an outstanding series, which is why I regularly re-read it.

I never read The Westing Game as a child. I read it a few years ago for the first time, so I am betting my thoughts on it as an adult would be different had I read it as a child. I will check and see if my local library has tbe Barnes' trilogy. Thanks for the recommendation!

Finished this evening:

339 - Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan by Deborah Reed - I have no idea how this book has flown under the radar. I do not think I have seen a single mention of it here in the group, but it is oh, so very good. It is one of those stories in which nothing much happens, it is a quiet book, but the journey through the biography of the fictional artist Violet Swan. The book goes back and forth between her past and her present, telling her story and her secrets; Highly Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine

Finished tonight:

339 - A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny - This is the second book in Penny's Three Pines series (I would still like to live in Three Pines despite all the murders that happen there). We get more of a glimpse not only into Gamache, but the characters around him, as well as the events leading up to Gamache's falling out with the Surete as he undertakes 2 cases - one a case out of his jurisdiction and one in Three Pines. It turns out that the cases are connected and it is up to him to figure out how; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Morning, Stasia. We are back from our camping adventure. I got a little reading in but not much so I won't be able to start the Backman until Wednesday or so. Sorry, to hear the latest on Nichole.

Was this a reread of A Fatal Grace?

Hi Stasia! Have a good Monday.

>72 alcottacre: I did not realize you were such a youngster, 9 years younger than I am. *smile* I have two, as yet unread, by Kurlansky: Salt: A World History and The Basque History of the World.

I do hope that Kerry and Nichole can Zoom or Google Meet Up or Face Time or whatever. It would certainly be good for Kerry and might be good for Nichole, too.

Good morning Stasia!...and here's a hug.

I read Salt a few years ago and found it interesting, it should go nicely with the Basque history. Kurlansky's other book that I read was Milk: A 10,000 Year History, it was a let down so you might not want to waste your time on that one.

>77 msf59: Yes, it was a re-read of A Fatal Grace, Mark. I am not sure where I left off with the Penny series when I went back to school, but I am reading/re-reading them all to catch up.

>78 karenmarie: I enjoy Kurlansky's books. I am trying to remember if I have read Salt or not. I know for sure I have not read the other book. As far as Zoom or Google Meet Up, I asked Kerry about it yesterday. He said it will not work - Nichole is not speaking at all these days.

>79 kaida46: Thanks, Deb. I appreciate the hug - and the info on Kurlansky's books.

I am going to apologize in advance for not being around much and probably not being around much over the next few days. I am currently fighting a CFS flare up, so between sleeping and reading, I will not have a ton of time for being her. Right now I really need the reads!

>76 alcottacre: Ooh, I love reading Louise Penny! I reread all of them, myself, in preparation for last year's "new" book, The Madness of Crowds; now I'm eagerly awaiting the next one (the 18th!),A World of Curiosities (due out 11/29/22). I envy you your reread/read!

Karen O

>81 alcottacre: You care for yourself first and foremost. *smooch*

>82 klobrien2: Thank you, Karen!

>83 richardderus: I am trying, RD! Thank you.

Finished today:

340 - Winter by Christopher Nicholson - This is a fictionalized account of author Thomas Hardy in his later years. His first wife has died and his second, younger wife Florence, is insecure in her relations with him, especially as it appears that he has become smitten or infatuated with one of the village women, a young mother 60 years his junior. The book basically revolves around the relationship between Hardy and Gertie, who is supposed to be acting in a play based on Hardy's Tess of the d'Ubervilles. At times it is hard to tell who is speaking as we have the points-of-view of all the major characters and an all-seeing narrator; Guardedly Recommended (3.75 stars) Mine

I’m so sorry to read your latest update about Nichole, Stasia. Thank goodness you have your books to escape to. Please take care of yourself.

>64 alcottacre: Oh dear, how stressful for you all. I hope that Kerry finds a way to be with Nichole as much as possible.

>81 alcottacre: I am struggling a little too in that I am falling asleep entirely drained at around 11 pm and awaking at 2 am feeling less than great but unable to sleep again but not having sufficient energy to be my normal self when "awake". Take care of yourself, dear lady.

Stasia, sorry to hear both about your CFS flare up and the continued bad news on Nichole's condition. Please take care of yourself and know we're all thinking & praying for you and your family.

Yes thinking of you too Stasia!

Hang in there, Stasia. I hope and trust things will improve for you soon. Be sure you and Kerry hug often.

>86 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. I am trying! I agree with you - thank goodness for the books.

>87 PaulCranswick: You take care of yourself too, brother.

>88 bell7: Thank you so much, Mary.

>89 mdoris: Thank you, the other Mary, lol.

>90 weird_O: Thank you, Bill. I am doing what I can for him!

I got a copy of Richard Osman's latest book, The Bullet that Missed in today. I do not even remember pre-ordering it! I put it on hold at the local library and had to call today to cancel it. I wonder if I ordered it in my sleep. . .

>92 alcottacre: Hahaha I wonder if he writes them in his sleep! He has knocked out the first three books in extra quick time.

Happy Wednesday, Stasia. I hope the week is going well. I have one story left in Blank Pages and then I can start Us Against You. I am assuming you liked the way it started?

'Morning, Stasia!

I just got my copy of The Bullet That Missed yesterday, too. I, however, remember pre-ordering it. *smile*

I hope you're doing better today.

>93 PaulCranswick: Yes, he has and they are pretty good too boot!

>94 msf59: Other than the, what I call 'pronouncements,' I am liking it. Congratulations on finishing Blank Pages!

>95 karenmarie: I am doing better today, but I desperately need to catch up on my reading. The end of the month is fast approaching and I just do not have time for CFS right now, lol. I will be curious to see what you think of The Bullet That Missed, Karen, as you are more than likely to get to it before I do.

Finished last night:

341 - Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen - This was a reread for me of a book I first read several years ago. As I recall, I liked the book better then than I do now and I believe that is because my tastes have changed. That is not meant to say that I do not enjoy the book - I still do and it will remain in my library. I enjoy this story of a woman running from an abusive husband, back to the childhood home that her sister never left, with her daughter in tow. There are light touches of magic throughout the story and I appreciated them; Recommended (4 stars)

Finished this afternoon:

342 - The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - I have never seen the film by the same name, although I am certainly aware of it just as I am aware that the lead roles were played by Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson - perfect casting, if you ask me. Throughout the novel, I can hear Hopkins and Thompson reciting the dialogue. There is not a ton going on in the book - it is a picture of bygone days. Days in which the British aristocracy leaned on butlers and housekeepers to keep the aristocracy going and in the bubble of their very own world. Those days are disappearing and Stevens is looking back at them with fond remembrance and, to some extent, reevaluating them as well; Highly Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine

>98 alcottacre: Oh, now that you've read the book you simply must watch the film! I did it the other way around so I absolutely had Hopkins and Thompson's portrayals in my mind as I was reading. But it's also a really good movie in its own right, and the way Hopkins plays Stevens during some of his more "emotional" moments is really incredible.

>99 lauralkeet: Thanks for the nudge, Laura. I was thinking that I need to watch the movie. I will have to see if I can get hold of it through my local library or through Kanopy. I do not have Netflix since I almost never watch movies.

And another one down:

343 - The Beautiful Things That Heavens Bears by Dinaw Mengestu - I originally bought this book some 9 years due to Richard's recommendation of it. This was a reread for me and I am glad to have gotten back to it (finally). The story is one of an immigrant man, Sepha, who came from Ethiopia to to the U.S., lived with his uncle for a while, and the set up his own business, which is failing in a neighborhood that is supposedly going to be gentrified. I enjoyed this book and I wonder how much of the immigrant experience was experienced by my grandfather as he headed over to the U.S. from Belgium during the world wars. He never spoke of it and I never asked; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Happy Friday, Stasia. Hooray for The Remains of the Day! What a great novel and it is also a fantastic film version and yes, the casting is impeccable. I am off to a slow start with Us Against You, due to other commitments but this weekend, should give me chance to do some catching up.

>102 msf59: It is a great novel! I have not read a book of Ishiguro's that has disappointed me yet and I have read at least 4 of his.

No worries about Us Against You. I certainly have plenty to read in the meantime since I am behind on my September reading because of the CFS flare up, which appears to be gone now, thank goodness.

Finished tonight:

344 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett - I am a fan of both Patchett's fiction (her Bel Canto is one of my all-time favorite books) and her nonfiction. This book is excellent as it explores the relationship between Danny and his sister Maeve throughout their lifetimes. Danny is the narrator and he starts at the very beginning - his beginning that is - and relates how his family moved into The Dutch House after his father fell in love without, although his mother never did and soon left the children with their father, who remarried to a woman who cared about his money and little else. This is the story of a dysfunctional family made even more dysfunctional by the appearance of the stepmother, Andrea. It is also a book of well-drawn characters. What it does not have is a ton of plot, but honestly, the characters are so well done that I did not miss a plot, per se; Highly Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine

Happy Saturday, Stasia. Hooray for The Dutch House. I loved it and I am also a big fan of Patchett. Have you read Commonwealth? That might be my favorite of her novels. I sure hope to spend plenty of time with Us Against You this weekend. Fingers crossed that the CFS stays away!

>105 msf59: I have not yet read Commonwealth, Mark, but I have it on top of a stack in my bedroom. CFS has left me alone for the past 2 days and I am trying to catch up because of the time it has cost me.

Let me know how far into Us Against You you get and I will catch up to you :)

Finished this afternoon:

345 - Conversation in the Cathedral by Mario Vargas Llosa - This is one of those books that I feel like I should like more than I do. I have read several of Vargas Llosa's book and this one is by far my least favorite and it all has to do with Part I of the book, which I found incredibly frustrating and perplexing to read as I tried to figure out who was who and what was happening. Beginning in Part II, the book is a much more straightforward narrative and I could see the direction in which Vargas Llosa wanted me to go as he began to underscore the differences between the rich and the poor in Manuel Odria's Peru; Recommended (3.75 stars) Mine

" ' What the government didn't need was a subversive cell right in the heart of Lima," Bermudez said. "In a few days the police can be pulled out, San Marco will open up and everything will be quiet.' "

>107 alcottacre: I think I liked this one a bit better than you did, Stasia, because I went in with the foreknowledge that Vargas Llosa was going to lead me a merry measure for a while but to Persevere. It really does help a lot.

LitHub published a piece of MVLl's on Looking Back by Juan Gabriel Vásquez, whose novel The Sound Of Things Falling I really loved, that goes into the awful, cruel way zealots use their children. The review is MVLl's typical pithy, uncomplicated words cutting along the centerline of a very big subject to show what it *really* is made of.
https://lithub.com/mario-vargas-llosa-on-looking-back-a-novel-of-never-ending-wa...

>108 richardderus: Thanks for the link, Richard. I will take a look when I have a minute to do so. CFS has cost me a lot of time this past week and I am peddling as fast as I can, trying to catch up!

Yeah, maybe had I gone into the book knowing about the merry chase going into the book my opinion may have changed.

Finished tonight:

346 - The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin - Nonfiction; This was a re-read for me, although it is probably 20-30 years since I first read it, so it was probably high time! I genuinely enjoy the way that Franklin relates his life and it is unfortunate that his autobiography was unfinished because even into his old age, Franklin was a force to be reckoned with. He is funny, he is self-deprecating, he is honest in his opinions and does not fail to give them. He makes no bones about the fact that he is against slavery (he was a Quaker, after all) and his opinion of the "friend" that came to him and suggested a government of blacks so that he could sell them if he did not agree with them, did not go over well at all with Franklin. He relates the death of his 4-year-old son from smallpox and urges his readers to get their children inoculated. Two hundred years on from when it was originally written, I still feel like the book is worth the read; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>110 alcottacre: Did you see Ken Burns's documentary on Benjamin Franklin, Stasia? It was excellent.

>111 laytonwoman3rd: No, I did not. I did not even realize Burns had done one on Franklin, Linda. Thanks for the mention. I will seek it out as soon as I am done with the series on the US and the Holocaust.

>112 alcottacre: It will be a lot easier to watch than the Holocaust one! I haven't felt ready to tackle that one yet.

Finished tonight:

347 - The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey - Coming in at number 50 on Esquire's list of the top 50 all-time science fiction novels (the list can be found here - https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g39358054/best-sci-fi-books/), The Echo Wife seems to be asking about what it means to be human. Evelyn has divorced Nathan, who stole her cloning technology, and created a clone of her without all of the personality quirks that made Evelyn who she was. Her clone, Martine, seemed to live only to please Nathan - until, that is, she killed him. So now Evelyn and Martine are making a clone of Nathan and getting rid of the things in his personality that they do not like. It is an interesting novel, IMHO; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Just dropping by to wish you all on the Acre well, Stasia.
Any update on Nichole?

>115 PaulCranswick: We have not had an update on Nichole for a week now, Paul, so I am thinking that nothing has changed in any meaningful way. I will update as I know differently.

Thanks for dropping by the Acre!

Hi Stasia!

>110 alcottacre: I’m glad it has held up for you. I have two copies on my shelves, unread. Another book I need to try to get to sooner than later.

>116 alcottacre: Thanks for the non-update on Nichole. Kind regards to Kerry and (((hugs))) to you.

>117 karenmarie: Yeah, I think it is worth a read when you get around to it, Karen.

I appreciate all hugs! They are needed around here these days. ((Hugs)) back at you, Karen.

>118 alcottacre: I appreciate all hugs! Yes, yes, yes. I miss the hugs I shared (often) with Judi. Hugging a pretzel can full of her ashes doesn't compare. Get 'em while you can, and make them meaningful. But you know that.

I ought to re-read Ben's autobiography.

>119 weird_O: Yes, I do know to make them meaningful and I try very hard to do so. Thanks for stopping by the Acre, Bill.

>75 alcottacre: I do love those quiet books as you well know, Stasia. I am looking forward to reading Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan.

>104 alcottacre: I also liked The Dutch House and haven't read Commonwealth. I'm a fan of hers but did not like Run for some reason.

I suppose no news about Nichole can be looked at in a somewhat positive way because you probably would hear if there was a major crisis.

I'm glad to hear that your CFS has settled down again so you can get your end-of-the-month reading done. I dropped out of the Take it or Leave It group because of that pressure (that I probably put on myself). It is a fun way to read the books on your shelf, though, and always fun to see the creative categories people come up with.

>121 Donna828: I hope I remember to bring the book to you, Donna! Send me a reminder the week before Joplin, would you? Lol

I have Commonwealth set aside for one of the TIOLI challenges in October. I am very much looking forward to it as I have seen lots of good things about the book in the group.

I completely understand about putting pressure on yourself to get the TIOLI books read. I have started giving myself more of a break in that regard. If I get them all done, I get them done. If not, I do not. It is helping me to read so many books I might otherwise not have done, that I figure that is good enough for me.

Finished tonight:

348 - The Plotters by Un-Su Kim - This is a book that I am surprised I liked. After all, it is about assassins and the people behind the assassinations, right? Not exactly my normal cuppa, but the book surprised me. There is quite a bit of violence in the book as might be expected given the subject matter, but by the end of the book, I really cared about Reseng, the main character. The book read more like a series of short stories than a novel with a continuous narrative and each chapter gives us a little more of a glimpse of Renseng and what his life is like; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

"To the plotters, mercenaries and assassins were like disposable batteries. After all, what use would they have for old assassins? An old assassin was like an annoying blister bursting with incriminating information and evidence. The more you thought about it, the more sense it made. Why would anyone hold on to a used-up battery?"

'Morning, Stasia! I hope you have a wonderful day.

>124 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen. Same to you!

Finished this morning:

349 - Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb - In this entry in the series, someone is killing cops and it is up to Eve to discover who it is. When she figures it to be another cop, all hell breaks loose. In the meantime, Roarke's past comes back to haunt him in the form of one Max Ricker, who may be behind the cop killings; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>126 alcottacre: You're well on the way to 5 x 75 for the year, Stasia!

*smooch*

>127 richardderus: My goal for the year is 400, although I am not sure if I will make it. Thanks though, RD.

((Hugs)) and **smooches** right back at you

400!!! That goal is completely amazing.

>129 mdoris: Whether it is reachable or not is the question, Mary.

I had thought the CFS flare up was over, but evidently it is not done with me yet. It is a pain in the rear end.

Today is my day of my weekly meet up with the girls too. I am just hoping I do not fall asleep mid-sentence or something stupid like that. I also still have a ton of reading to get done before Saturday!

Sorry Stasia that the CFS still has you in its clutches. Hopefully it will be done soon and you can get that visiting and reading done.

>131 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. I wish CFS would leave me alone too. I have books yet to finish before the month end and I am supposed to be reading Us Against You with Mark - and failing miserably.

Finished this afternoon:

350 - Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor - Young Adult; This book was a re-read for me, the first book in a trilogy that I need to complete. Sunny is an American-born Nigerian, but gets picked on a lot because she is an albino. She does make friends though and her friends help her to understand herself better - and through them, she discovers that she has magical abilities - and they do too. I love the young adult characters in this book. Okorafor treats her teenage/young adult characters as such - she does not make them children, nor does she make them adults - and she writes them well. I am hoping to get to the other books in the trilogy soon!; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Best wishes in getting the CFS to get back into its cage!! You have enough other things to deal with without that.

>134 RebaRelishesReading: Yeah and it is especially frustrating because I thought this bout was over and done! Thanks, Reba.

Hi Stasia,
Hope you are feeling better. I sortof know what you are going through since I get the occasional lupus flare and it knocks you out for a few days depending on how strong the flare is. The Nnedi Okorafor books look interesting, might have to check them out soon.

Happy Wednesday, Stasia. I hope you wake up today, feeling much better. Like I mentioned, I should finish Us Against Us today. Maybe, we can do a shared read of The Winners but that would be for next year, if you can wait that long.

*smooch*

y'know. just cuz

>136 kaida46: I hope you can dodge the lupus flareups, Deb. I was checked for lupus back when I was in college the first time - over 40 years ago now. I enjoy Nnedi Okorafor's books. You just have to know going in that the majority of her books are for young adults. Thanks for stopping by!

>137 msf59: I am feeling better this morning, thanks. Whether it continues is up for debate, lol. How about January for The Winners? We will have crowned a new College Football Champion then :)

>138 richardderus: Thanks, RD. All hugs and smooches are welcome!

Hi Stasia! I'm another Okorafor fan who needs to finish the Akata trilogy. I think I'm going to put Akata Woman on my list of books I want to get through next year so I have more motivation :)

>139 alcottacre: Have you read her excellent novel Who Fears Death? That one is aimed at adults and deals with some pretty heavy stuff.

>140 curioussquared: I am planning a TIOLI challenge for January 2023 to read books in a trilogy in the hopes that maybe I will get some of my unread trilogies finished. You are welcome to join in, Natalie!

I have not yet read Who Fears Death?, but it is in the BlackHole. Maybe after I finish the Akata series?

>141 alcottacre: Ooh, I don't usually look at the TIOLI challenges but I might have to join in that one!

>139 alcottacre: It is a date, Stasia. 😁

Feel better soon, Stasis.

>142 curioussquared: I will let you know when the January challenges are up, Natalie - if I remember :)

>143 msf59: Sounds great, Mark! Thanks.

>144 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley.

Finished tonight:

351 - The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard - This book is fantastic, no two ways about it. I am not really sure how to describe it - I keep thinking "character study," but that is not it at all, even though the book is centered on one character, Cliopher, aka Kip, a top government official who decides, after he comes back from a vacation of his own, to invite his lord on vacation. Kip's family really does not understand what he does or who he has come to be in the government until his lord decides to enlighten them - and that is pretty much what the book does - we are enlightened as to who Kip is and what Kip does. The book is long, but to me, it was worth every minute spent in its company; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

352 - Harry Haft: Survivor of Auschwitz, Challenger of Rocky Marciano by Alan Scott Haft - Nonfiction; This book was a recent recommendation from RD (thanks!) and I am happy to have read Harry Haft's story. Harry Haft was a fighter - and I do not mean that just in the sports-related definition. He came into the world fighting, fought for his existence as a child, fought for his existence in labor camps during WWII, and then literally fighting as an exhibition boxer for the Germans and as a boxer in the US. His son, fighting to get to know his father, finally got his life history out of him; Recommended (3.75 stars) Mine

Hi Stasia!

CFS begone. Best wishes on the final sprint for end-of-September reads.

>147 karenmarie: Yeah, the sprint is going along. Whether I get them all read or not is still in question. Thanks for stopping by, Karen!

Finished this morning:

353 - Two Dogs by Ian Falconer - Children's; Karen O'Brien recently recommended this kid's book about 2 dog brothers and I needed a break from the two heavy books I am currently reading, The Destruction of Black Civilization and In the Midst of Civilized Europe, so I decided to read this one as a diversion and it did the trick. Perry and Augie are dachsunds. Perry is the not-so-serious one and Augie is the serious one. One day, they get out into the backyard of their owner's home when they are away and they get into all kinds of mischief!; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

Finished this afternoon:

354 - The Destruction of Black Civilization by Chancellor Williams - Nonfiction; This book was mentioned in Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me and I am so glad I tracked down a copy. Williams spent 16 years doing the research for the book and it shows. I read the Third Edition, which was published in 1987, so there is some datedness here. I have no idea if the book has been updated since. I found the reading fascinating as Williams starts in Ancient Egypt and comes forward with the history of the black peoples. If you have any interest in the subject at all, I would highly recommend this book. The bibliography alone is worth the price of the book!; Highly Recommended (5 stars) Mine

One note on my copy of the book - My copy of the text has some problems which in no way detract from the text itself, but I thought worth mentioning. There is text that is faded, text that is somewhat smudged, pages on which the spaces between the lines is different, that kind of thing.

"The status of African people throughout the world remains to precarious to deal with their history by merely chronicling important events. The situation demands that greater efforts be made to determine the meaning of those events, their effect on the people, the overall change in the direction of history, and what new directions the race must take."

I finally caught up with you. Something weird was going on with your threads. I'm sorry to see the news about Nichole. I hope you are done with your flare up.

>150 alcottacre: I think yours is the last edition of the book...it was his masterpiece, it started a lot of fights, and he was roundly criticized for his "Black Egypt" hypothesis's developmental holes. ...umm...like, reinterpreting evidence is what scholarship's about, y'all....

>151 Familyhistorian: Not sure what might be going on with the threads, Meg. Thanks for catching up with me again though. Evidently the flare up is not done with me yet although I thought it was. That might have been wishful thinking on my part :)

We have not heard anything lately about Nichole, so I am hoping that means that no more crises have arisen.

Oh, last because he died in 1992. At 98. *whew*

>152 richardderus: I have no doubt that the book was controversial, but I loved it. Thanks for the information about the edition, RD.

>154 richardderus: Well, he had a good, long life, didn't he? And he stirred people up, to boot!

Finished today:

355 - In the Midst of Civilized Europe by Jeffrey Veidlinger - Nonfiction; Most of my studies regarding the Jews of Europe has been regarding the Holocaust. I had no idea how widespread the pogroms of the late 1910s/early 1920s were and how many people were killed as a result of them. Over 100,000 Jews died as a result of pogroms throughout Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, etc - just a small foretelling of the devastation that was to come as a result of the Holocaust. Veidlinger spares no details of the violence that was inflicted on the Jewish populations of eastern Europe and it gets wearing on the reader after a while - at least it did me. I still do not, and doubt I ever will, understand the reason that mankind feels the need to hurt or kill people that are different than they are; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

"Accounts of the pogrom in Zhytomyr differed from the on in Ovruch in at least one important way. The Ovruch progrom was the tragic product of a warrior gone amok, with easily identifiable villains carrying out their own circumscribed killing by subjecting the population to a reign of terror focused on the Jews. The Zhytomyr progrom, on the other hand, was a much more complex ethnic riot. It was perpetrated not just by marauding troops but by an array of ordinary citizens: trusted servants, neighboring peasants, students, women, and children, and even, eventually sophisticated urbanites."

"All came to Germany with the firm belief that, as (Arnold) Margolin claimed German foreign minister Walter Rathenau assured him, 'those terrible pogroms that occurred in Russia never could or would occur in Germany.' "

Hi Stasia. Happy last day of September.

>150 alcottacre: Onto the wish list it goes.

I hope the CFS flare is going/gone and that you have a wonderful weekend.

Happy Friday, Stasia. Begone, CFS! You are sure churning through the books. Wow! And such a nice range too.
The Destruction of Black Civilization sounds particularly good.

>158 msf59: The last day of September means I am reading like a mad woman, lol. I just finished one and have 2 more to go. CFS is still dogging me. I really hope it goes away soon, but I already feel a nap coming on.

>159 alcottacre: I hope you can get to The Destruction of Black Civilization, Mark. It is very much worth a read.

Finished this morning:

356 - The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews - This is the first of Toews' books that I have read and hopefully it will not be the last. I very much enjoyed this story of a family torn apart by the mother's mental illness, an aunt who steps in to care for the kids, the teenage boy who is both trying to rebel and take care of his family, and the young daughter who is a ball of energy who seems afraid to stop. We do not get a very in depth look at Min and her mental illness, but rather we see its effect on her children, her sister, and other people around her; Recommended (3.75 stars) Mine

"Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, Anna Karenina . . .Min's girl guide to the universe of pain. Her library of loss. She was well read."

Finished this afternoon, in between naps *sigh*

357 - Instant Lives & More by Howard Moss - Bill recommended this one several months ago and I am finally getting it read. The book is a parody of the artists mentioned in it - my favorite being Proust (and the Edward Gorey illustration for him is spot on). There were a couple of people with whom I was unfamiliar, which was a shame because it interrupted the flow of the book for me when I had to stop to find out who they really were, but overall, I enjoyed this; Recommended (3.75 stars) Mine

And the last book for September:

358 - The World of Pooh by A.A. Milne - Juvenile; This book (or the 2 books of which it is comprised) is a classic for a reason and I thoroughly enjoyed my re-read of this one. I hope I never get too old for Winnie-the-Pooh - and I do not mean the Disney version. I love that my copy of the book has the illustrations by E.H. Shepard. The stories of Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and my favorite, Eeyore, are timeless; Highly Recommended - and I do not care how old you are! (4.5 stars) Mine

>162 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, you do a very convincing job of going for a re-read of The World of Pooh. Well done!

>163 mdoris: It is a classic for a reason, Mary!

Finished tonight:

359 - Us Against You by Fredrik Backman - This was a shared read with Mark for me and I am going to be an outlier on this one - I did not care for it much at all. The "pronouncement" thing from the first book continues here and it continues to irritate me. I hate politics and this book is rife with it in the form of one Richard Theo. New characters are introduced in this book and sadly, one of them is killed off before the end of the book, which feels almost like a cheat to me. Again, I know that I am an outlier on this one. I hope that the third book in the trilogy feels more like the first one to me; Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Mine

Mark like the book more than I did, so you might want to check out his comments!

360 - Watch Out for Clever Women! by Joe Hayes - This is a bilingual book (Spanish/English) that I read for one of the October TIOLI challenges. My local library has the book classified as juvenile and I strongly disagree with that - I think that the folk tales in this one will go over the heads of kids. All of the tales emphasize how clever and smart women can be, a great message for kids, but I do not think they will understand the reasoning behind them. One thing that I will note aside from how much I enjoyed the folk tales is the illustration. The illustrations in the book are well done pencil drawings which serve to underscore the text and I very much appreciated them. If you are working on your Spanish language skills, this book is a good place to start (although I spotted at least, what I think, is one mistranslation.); Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

>34 alcottacre: Stasia, I am saddened to learn of Kerri's daughter's emotional instabilities. This is a heavy burden to go through for all.
Please tell Kerri I am thinking of all of you!
I read this book a few months ago. I agree with your thoughts about the hard-nature of Clementine. From what I've read about Winston Churchill, he too had his wicked outbursts.

Thinking of you!

Hi Stasia! I hope you are doing well. Happy Sunday.

>161 alcottacre: I love Instant Lives – I can’t figure out if it’s the same as yours or a different version, but either way I’ve been cracking up over this book since before I joined LT 15 years ago. I'm a serious Edward Gorey fan, which is how it caught my attention.

>165 alcottacre: Backman doesn’t interest me anymore as a rule, but our book club will be reading Anxious People for our November meeting and it interests me. We’ll see.

>166 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda. I will pass along your good wishes to Kerry.

>167 karenmarie: Yeah, Instant Lives is a corker and I enjoyed it a lot. Like I said, my favorite was Proust wrapped up from head to toe in a muffler (I think that is what it is). I have heard good things about Anxious People. I hope you enjoy it come November!

Nichole update: Kerry heard from Felisha last evening. Nichole is not doing well and is not going to be released from the Houston hospital any time soon. She is eating and I think this is largely in part due to the threat of them putting in a feeding tube. However, she is incontinent and wearing a diaper. She still refuses to talk. She cannot walk. She is still suicidal. They are continuing her cancer treatments. Even after she is released to go back to Nacogdoches, she will be going back to Houston for those.

Oh Stasia, I have caught up with your last three threads and have read so much awful news. My heart is so heavy for you, for Kerry, and for everyone who loves Nichole. How terribly cruel. And how cruel for you to have a CFS flare up also. I will be thinking about your family and wishing I could hug you.

>169 alcottacre: Well, that isn't the greatest news ever. I wonder if going back to Nacogdoches is, in fact, a good idea at all.

So much stuff to decide, obviously. The week ahead is not going to be a lot of fun, is it.

{{Stasia and family}}

>169 alcottacre: Oh that is heartbreaking news. The poor girl.

Hugs to all of you, Stasia. As tough as it is Kerry needs to keep his chin up. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers. xx

Stasia, love to you and Kerry and all the Dosters. I'm so, so sorry that Nichole got into this state. Y'all be especially good to each other.

Hi, Stasia. Poor Nichole! It sounds like she’s been dealt a very difficult life. I wish she was in this group so we could at least give her some virtual hugs and support.

I enjoyed reading all your reviews. I’m a Nnedi Okorafor fan, and was particularly happy to see your positive comments about Akata Witch. Per your wish, I did read Desperation in Death, and thoroughly enjoyed it, as usual. Robb/Roberts did an impressive job of tackling the sex trafficking issue. I think she could stamp “Guaranteed to Satisfy” on the Eve Dallas books and never be accused of false advertising.

Like you, Debbi and I both loved Garden Spells, and I should follow your good example in re-reading it soon. I am reading Sarah Addison Allen’s new one, Other Birds, and I’m happy to report that it’s really good so far, about halfway through.

My re-reading project is Plainsong, one of my favorite books ever. (I got my act together too late for Mark’s Group Read). Improbably, Plainsong is even better than i remembered. What a book!

>170 AMQS: Thank you, Anne. I wish I could hug you right back!

>171 richardderus: I do not think Nichole's going back to Nacogdoches is going to help her at all either, Richard. I think she would be better off staying where she is rather than constantly going back and forth, but I have no say in the matter.

>172 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley!

>173 PaulCranswick: Thank you so much, Paul!

>174 LizzieD: We are trying, Peggy. It has been hard on all of us, including Beth and Catey, who has taken it especially hard.

>175 jnwelch: I wish everyone could be part of this group, Joe. There is so much here to be admired, appreciated, and loved.

I think she could stamp “Guaranteed to Satisfy” on the Eve Dallas books and never be accused of false advertising. Very, very true.

Good to know about Other Birds. I will have to see if my local library has a copy of it yet.

Stasia Update - I am having a difficult time right now. I am burying myself in both books and board games. It is not just the situation with Nichole. It is the situation with Nichole, worrying about my father's health, my mother's state of mind - she has become very needy these days, as well as dealing with this latest bout of CFS that just will not leave me alone.

I am sorry that I am not online more often and visiting the threads as I used to do. Hopefully things will improve soon. In the meantime. . .

Finished tonight:

361 - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - This book reminded me of the old gothic novels along the line of Barbara Michaels an Mary Stewart in that they were more creepy than horror-ish (although this book does have incest, which is a horror all of its own). Noemi is sent to see about her cousin, Catalina, who has married despite the family's concerns, but has sent a message back to the family asking for help. Noemi goes to assess the situation and learns Catalina's husband's family secret; Recommended (3.75 stars) Library Book

>177 alcottacre: Message your pals any time you want company or someone to vent to, Stasia, Juan included. xx
Please take care of yourself you are so important to the fabric of our little community.

>178 alcottacre: I recently added that one and it looks like I made a good choice.

>177 alcottacre: Sometimes it feels like everything at once, it helps to have something to lose one's self in and I hope you find the small moments in your days to get through and cope with the rest. Take care Stasia.

>178 alcottacre: I actually just started this the other day, it is my cousin and I's first pick for our October joint reads. So far I can definitely see what you mean by being more creepy than horror, but I'm glad you liked it. Our meeting to discuss it is this Thursday, hopefully we will have similar sentiments.

Morning, Stasia. How are you feeling? Thanks for the Nichole update. I wish it was better news. That is so sad.
I just started Remarkably Bright Creatures. You were a fan of that one, right?

Stasia, so sorry to hear the latest update on Nichole and your own struggle with the weight of all the stress you're dealing with from just everything. Hugs and prayers sent your way.

I'm nearly halfway through The Hands of the Emperor, and though I'm sorry it won't be a shared read for September, I'm really enjoying it! I'm glad to hear that Mexican Gothic is more creepy than horror (that, I can usually take), as I plan to read it hopefully in time for my book group discussion on October 13. So many books...

You're in my thoughts and prayers, Stasia. Hang in there.

Yes, do what is right for you!

>177 alcottacre: So sorry you're dealing with so much, Stasia. Take care of yourself! We'll be here when you're in a better headspace :)

>178 alcottacre: I'm another one who's glad you found this one more creepy than horror -- that's my sweet spot :)

>177 alcottacre: Take care of you, first and foremost. Don't think we're judging you for that, or worry about anybody's feelings except yours right now.

This is a tremendously tough passage. Get through it, we'll be here when you need support.

>179 PaulCranswick: >180 WhiteRaven.17: >181 msf59: >182 bell7: >183 karenmarie: >184 torontoc: >185 curioussquared: >186 richardderus: I am sitting here with tears in my eyes. Thank you all for your understanding, love and support. This group of people is so important to me. Words can just not express.

>179 PaulCranswick: Thank you for the venting privileges, Paul. Do not be surprised if I take you up on them! I hope you enjoy Mexican Gothic if and when you get to it.

>180 WhiteRaven.17: I will be curious to see what you and your cousin think of it, Kro.

>181 msf59: Mark, I have not yet read Remarkably Bright Creatures. It is in the Black Hole. My local library does not have it.

>182 bell7: I am glad to hear that you are enjoying The Hands of the Emperor. By the time I was done, I loved it. I do not think you will struggle with the "horror' of Mexican Gothic. I hope you get it read in time for your book group!

>183 karenmarie: >184 torontoc: Thank you, Karen. Thank you, Cyrel.

>185 curioussquared: Yeah, creepy I can handle. Flat out horror - thank you, no.

>186 richardderus: The support from the group has been fantastic, Richard. I could not ask for more.

Today is my day to meet up with Beth and Catey. I am sure that the meeting will do my heart a world of good.

>177 alcottacre: So sorry you have so much to deal with, Stasia. Sending hugs and lots of wishes for things to improve.

>177 alcottacre: Stasia you are dealing with so so much emotionally and physically, just really hard times. Thinking of you my friend!

>175 jnwelch: Joe, How right you are about the support this group provides! We both know this very well. Stasia, I am praying. Severe depression is so very difficult. I have a sister who is four years younger than I am, she suffers from depression, and has struggled most of her adult life.

I am so sad that you and Kerri are going through so very much right now. Much love to you and your family.

So sorry you and yours are going through so much at once. I hope your talk with Beth and Catey went well and I am sending lots of big hugs. We'll see you when you have time and energy. Take care of yourself and enjoy those books!

>189 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba! The hugs and wishes are greatly appreciated.

>190 mdoris: I appreciate it, Mary!

>191 Whisper1: You have so much on your own plate, lovey. Thank you for stopping by the Acre.

>192 Berly: I had a great time with Beth and Catey. We normally always have a good time visiting together.

Finished tonight:

362 - Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel - I loved Mandel's Station Eleven, liked The Lola Quartet, and did not even finish The Glass Hotel (although I think it was just my mood at the time), so I am happy to say that I really liked Sea of Tranquility, a time traveling book in which we meet Gaspery Roberts, who is invited to be a time traveler and finds himself wholly unprepared for the task he has undertaken. There are unexpected twists and turns in this one and trying to anticipate what was coming was part of the fun of the book; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

Kerry is off on the 5th, so I will unlikely be online tomorrow (not that I have been online that much these days anyway). I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

>194 alcottacre777: Gaspery Roberts. What a wonderful name.

>194 alcottacre777: I really liked Sea of Tranquility, too. I have Glass Hotel home from the library, so I’ll probably be reading it soon.

Thinking of you often, and sending you good thoughts!

Karen O

I just polished off Sea of Tranquility and it was my first of E St.JM but for sure not the last. I have had Station Eleven sitting on my shelf for ages and must get to it! Oh my she sure looks so very young on the back flap of the book!

Sending more hugs to you and yours, Stasia.

>196 PaulCranswick: I agree, Paul! If nothing else, it is certainly unique.

>197 klobrien2: I will be curious to see how you like Glass Hotel, Karen. I am going to have to give it another shot at some point. Thank you for the good thoughts! They are much appreciated.

>198 mdoris: I really hope you like Station Eleven, Mary!

>199 kaida46: Thank you so much, Deb!

Kerry and I got a couple of board games in today, and I also managed to polish off:

363 - Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong - This book reminds me of one of the reasons I read: to live someone else's life. Hang lives in Vietnam, but is being sent to Russia as an "exported worker," after having to drop out of school and as she travels she remembers the course of her life. She has an absent father, a mother who is really not sure how to treat her - she is by turns overdoing it as a mother or not doing enough - and an aunt who truly loves her. We also see the changes in the government through Hang's eyes and how these changes affect her family; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

"His (her father's) past life, with all its ordeals, had receded, but it lay dormant under the swamp grasses like an insistent nightmare. Even so, the years of mud and stench, the dregs of that past, seemed to settle and dissolve under the depths."

"Never look back, I thought, even for a second. No happiness can hold; every life, every dream, has its unraveling."

>201 alcottacre: An interesting observation, Stasia. Do we read to live someone else's life? Perhaps to have a vicarious sense of another's experience would describe one of my reading motivations.

>202 PaulCranswick: Exactly, Paul. I will never be a Vietnamese person, but I can certainly read to learn more about what that person's life is like.

>203 alcottacre: World peace is probably too much to ask for but greater understanding and tolerance can definitely be effected by reading the fiction - especially the good fiction - from other cultures, Stasia.

>204 PaulCranswick:: Oh, definitely. I am a firm believer that education can lead to greater understanding and tolerance - and a lot of that education comes from the books we read and identifying with the people about whom they are written.

>205 alcottacre: Good points made in the good discussion above!

>206 RebaRelishesReading: One of the things I love about LT - good discussions!

Sorry to be out of pocket completely yesterday, but I was not feeling well at all. Back to (my) normal today.

>207 alcottacre: Glad things have improved for you today and sorry you were really under the weather yesterday. Hugs and best wishes for a nice long string of good days now.

>208 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba!

Finished today:

364 - Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg - This book is one that plays on your emotions and knows it is doing it. The story of Lainey Berman, who husband lies in a coma after being struck in the head by an icicle (I am not making that up), is moving at times, insipid at other times. I tried to put myself in her situation - a husband in a coma for 3 months - and wondering what I would do and cannot think of what I would do. Lainey has 2 daughters at home so not only does she have to deal with the reality of a husband who might not wake up, but daughters who are having to deal with the tragedy as well; Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Mine

365 - We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper - Nonfiction; Jane Britton, an archaeology student at Harvard, is found murdered in her rooms and after almost 50 years, Cooper sets out to see if she can discover who the murderer is. Cooper was relentless in her search for the files, the data, the witnesses, anyone she could find remotely connected to the case - and therein lies part of my problem as there are numerous characters introduced into this narrative and sometimes telling them apart is problematic. When the police announce that they have discovered who the perpetrator is, Cooper is let down by the answer; Recommended (3.75 stars) Library Book

Nichole Update: Kerry spoke with Barbara, Nichole's mother today. Nichole is being transferred tomorrow from Houston to Lufkin, which is much closer to where we live than Houston is. She is now talking a bit more, although she is still having issues with walking. Nichole will be able to receive her cancer treatments at the new facility, so she will not be going back and forth between Houston and Lufkin.

>211 alcottacre: That is MUCH better than I had expected. I'm glad that Kerry was able to talk to Barbara, and I am grateful to any improvement at all. I hope that she likes the Lufkin facility. Pretty good news!!!!

>211 alcottacre: That brightens up the start of a long weekend for me, Stasia. Thank you for the update. xx

Dropping in to say hello.

>211 alcottacre: Glad the transfer is closer to where you live and that Nichole is doing better!

>211 alcottacre: It's nice to see a bit of good news about Nichole, Stasia. I hope that will make it easier for you and your family to visit.

>211 alcottacre: That's a positive development, Stasia. Keeping all digits crossed that everything goes smoothly with the transition. Y'all need a GOOD break.

>212 LizzieD: >213 PaulCranswick: >214 figsfromthistle: >215 lauralkeet: >216 laytonwoman3rd:: Thank you all so much for helping keep my thread warm and stopping by the Acre! Unfortunately, there has been more drama since my last post about Nichole. *sigh*

I am still reading despite the drama all around me. Today I finished:

366 - Agatha of Little Neon by Claire Luchette - I am not sure who first recommended this book, but I very much enjoyed it, so 'Thank you' to whoever it was. Agatha is a nun, who with her 3 other sisters has to relocate as their convent is bankrupt. They end up in Little Neon, a not so great place to be, in Rhode Island. Agatha, who has never taught before - let alone taught Geometry - is pressed into service as a teacher. She learns quite a lot from her students and from one of her other teachers, Nadia. The people who are at Little Neon are teachers in and of themselves and Agatha, despite their addictions and lifestyles, learns a lot from them too; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

367 - The October Country: Stories by Ray Bradbury - Like most of these short story collections, there were stories I liked better than others in this 'creepy' collection of stories - not really horror, just enough to give shivers down your spine. A couple of my favorites were "The Man Upstairs" and "Homecoming," both of which coincidentally feature kids as protagonists. I love Ray Bradbury's books, especially Dandelion Wine, so I was predisposed to enjoy this collection and it did not disappoint; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>218 alcottacre: Still reading is something of an understatement, Stasia, and all to the good.

>217 alcottacre: So sorry, Stasia. Hugs and strength to all of you dealing with this.

Yay for the reduced stress of Nichole being within visiting distance!

*smooch* and be good to yourself, old friend.

>219 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. Books and board games are all that is holding my sanity together right now.

>220 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you again, Reba!

>221 richardderus: Yep, Kerry has already made plans to see her this next weekend barring any problems. You take care of yourself too, RD!

Finished this morning:

368 - Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders - I am not exactly sure how it happened, but I have concurrently been reading 3 books of short stories - the one by Ray Bradbury that I finished yesterday, Fire Watch by Connie Willis and this one by George Saunders. This one is my least favorite of the three. My favorite story in the book is called "Sticks" and it is all of 1.5 pages long. Why? Saunders has drawn a picture for me with his words that creates the scene of the story so well that I feel like I could draw it. He can certainly write, but none of the other stories in the book did much for me aside from that one; Guardedly Recommended (3.5 stars) Library Book

I am off to get in a nap now. I am literally falling asleep as I am typing. . .

Just coming by to say I finished and LOVED The Hands of the Emperor, Stasia. Sorry I didn't quite manage a shared read with you last month. OTOH, I have Petty Treasons and Stargazy Pie on the Kindle, so let me know if you're ready for another joint read sometime, and I'll happily revisit the Nine Worlds.

>224 bell7: I am so glad that you loved The Hands of the Emperor just like I did, Mary! I will happily revisit Nine Worlds too. Maybe after the beginning of 2023?

>225 alcottacre: Sounds like an excellent plan to me, Stasia.

Finished this afternoon (after both of the naps I have taken, lol)

369 - Five Days in November by Clint Hill with Lisa McCubbin - Nonfiction; Clint Hill was one of the Secret Service agents assigned to the motorcade in Dallas during which President Kennedy was shot. He was the agent shown in some of the iconic pictures holding on to the Cadillac while trying to protect the Kennedys from the shots. At the beginning of the book, I was a bit disconcerted at the way it read - it read as if it was the here and now, not the past. However, I think this was a deliberate choice on the part of the authors - the immediacy of the text took me there, before the president's assassination as they were preparing to head to Dallas on into the president's funeral and its aftermath. Something else that I found a bit disconcerting is when Hill mentions that Mrs. Kennedy believed her son John would be a pilot when he grew up as he loved flying so much - which, of course, is what he did and what killed him in 1999, 14 years before this book was written; Highly Recommended (4.25 stars) Library Book

"Fifty years later, countless myths continue to be perpetuated and debated in films , documentaries, books, and blogs, in an endless quest for justification. The information presented by the majority of these people is theory, not fact. They were not witnesses to the assassination, have little or no knowledge of protective procedures, did no know the depth of the dedication of the Secret Service agents on this assignment and cannot possibly comprehend what those of us in that motorcade experienced."

Morning, Stasia. We are back. I got zero reading in, so I hope to start playing catch up. I loved Tenth of December, (my first Saunders). He sure seems to be a polarizing author around here but I am a big fan.

Hi Stasia!

>194 alcottacre777: Sea of Tranquility is on my shelves, just waiting for me to get out of this phase I’m in.

>210 alcottacre: Also on my shelves. I can actually believe the icicles bit – I can’t find it, but I have a picture of lethal-looking icicles hanging off the gutters one nasty winter. They were huge and we all made sure we didn’t stand under the gutters.

I read We Keep the Dead Close last February. I rated it 4* and recommend it, too. Here’s what I wrote about ‘the answer’ in my review: DNA advances and a lucky hit in CODIS proved that her killer was actually someone completely unknown to her, a serial rapist. Every time he was let out of prison for whatever reason, he raped and/or killed another woman. A miserable and evil man. The way Becky Cooper frames it, almost unworthy of being Jane’s murderer. It needed to be someone associated with Harvard, one of the three most likely candidates whose lives were tainted to a degree by the murder never being solved.

>211 alcottacre: Talking and being closer to Kerry and you is good. I’m still keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.

>217 alcottacre: Drama is so exhausting, and I’m sorry it keeps making an appearance.

>228 msf59: I cannot say that I am not a Saunders fan and I cannot say that I am, Mark. I would certainly be willing to try more of his stuff.

>229 karenmarie: Drama is exhausting and it keeps coming, unfortunately. More drama with Barbara yesterday. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers, Karen!

My day got away from me today so I am just now checking in. I had my weekly meet up with Beth and Catey today and we were having a good time playing games on Board Game Arena. I am now off to sit down and actually read something. . .

Finished tonight:

370 - Fire Watch by Connie Willis - Another short story collection, this one by one of my favorite authors. There was not a story in this that I did not at least enjoy - not a clinker in the bunch. My favorite was actually the eponymous first story in the book, "Fire Watch."; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Happy Tuesday/Wednesday dear Juana.

>230 alcottacre: There is a reason Barbara is the EX wife. *sigh*

Hoping she calms the eff down soon.

So sorry about the continuing drama, Stasia. Some people just seem made that way, don't they (not that that makes it any easier to deal with). Hugs

>232 PaulCranswick: >233 richardderus: >234 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you all for dropping by. Things are in a bit of a muddle here. Kerry is trying to visit Nichole this weekend and took a couple of days off work to do so, but he cannot seem to find out where she is currently. There has been so much back and forth it is ridiculous. He wants to speak to her medical providers himself to find out exactly what is going on, but he is not even sure if she is in Houston or Lufkin and cannot get a straight answer from Barbara. He has spoken to Felisha and even she does not know because she cannot get any kind of anwers from her mother either. The whole situation is infuriating and all Barbara seems to want from Kerry is money.

>235 alcottacre: So sorry. One would hope that a mother would pull it together for what is best for her child. What a sorry mess you have to deal with.

>235 alcottacre: I'm sorry, Stasia, how awful. I hope Kerry is able to work out where Nichole is soon.

"The whole situation is infuriating" And heart-wrenching, I'm sure. Wish my magic wand could fix it.

Deep breaths. And lots of {{hugs}}

Aw, I'm sorry for all the drama and difficulty, Stasia. What Linda said in >238 laytonwoman3rd: pretty much sums it up.

>370 It's been awhile since I read that one, but I still remember bits and pieces of "Fire Watch". I went to St. Paul's Cathedral on a tour soon afterwards, and climbing up the stairs (they're set up so you go up one way and down another), I got just a glimpse of how the Fire Watch had to run up and down and try not to get lost. It was eerie and cool at the same time!

>236 RebaRelishesReading: >237 curioussquared: >238 laytonwoman3rd: >239 jessibud2: >240 bell7: Thank you all for your kindness. I wish I could tell you how much it means to me.

We did finally find out today that Nichole never left Houston and is still hospitalized there. Kerry is taking a long weekend in order to travel there as well as check out the nursing home in Lufkin. He will also visit with Catey in Longview on Sunday. Barbara hit him up today for more money, saying that she needs help in playing Nichole's rent which, as near as I can tell, Nichole was able to pay before she was hospitalized. She was already on disability before this.

>240 bell7: What a cool story, Mary! I would probably have gotten lost every single time I had to go up and down!

>242 alcottacre: Oh yeah, if I were on the Fire Watch I would've got lost regularly! Since they only let tourists go on the one staircase up and have it all clearly marked (I seem to remember others being completely off-limits or roped off), I was good to go :D

>241 alcottacre: I'm glad to hear that you know where Nichole is now and that Kerry will be able to visit as planned.

The reading continues at least, and I finished a dandy today:

371 - South Riding by Winifred Holtby - This is one of those books that when I got to the end, I did not want to pick up another book. I just wanted to ruminate on this one. It is a slice of life, moment in time book. Written in the 1930s, it is a look at the lives of people in rural England at the time. There is a whole cast of characters, but I never had any trouble telling who was who in this one. There are tragedies (quite a few of those) and triumphs (not so many of those) and I daresay, the book is quite realistic; Highly recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

Thanks to Peggy for sending me this one!

Hi Stasia!

I'm sorry about the continuing drama surround Nichole and especially sorry that Kerry has to deal with Her Mother.

Reading is such a great escape, isn't it?

Happy Friday, Stasia. I hope things begin to improve on the Nichole front. That is so sad. How are you feeling? Any better?

>244 alcottacre:
I read South Riding a few years ago. I read it because I watched the BBC production of it on Masterpiece and was intrigued by the story. The book introduced me to the County Committee way of governing in Britain and because of that I easily caught onto the governing system in Call the Midwife. I agree with you that this is a book that is very timeless and very good. I hope more people will read it.

Stasia, I'm glad Kerry is making his road trip this weekend and will get to see Nichole and the place where she might be heading...not to mention a visit with Catey. It's bad enough that Nichole is so sick without all the added drama. Life is so hard sometimes. My thoughts and prayers continue for you and your family.

>194 alcottacre777: I've been hearing so many good things about Sea of Tranquility. It's on my list despite my lack of love for time travel books. I will read it with an open mind and hope for the best. I trust your judgment!

>245 karenmarie: Reading and board games are keeping me sane right now, Karen. I never dreamed that my hobbies would be such a needed escape!

>246 msf59: I am doing better some days, others not so much, Mark. Thank you for asking!

>247 benitastrnad: I hope so too, Benita! I would consider it a "classic," although I think most other people would not. It has that timeless quality to it.

>248 Donna828: Donna, I hope you enjoy Sea of Tranquility when you get to it! Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers.

Finished today:

372 - Thirty-Three Teeth by Colin Cotterill - I very much enjoyed this second entry in the Dr Siri Paiboun series, which is set in Laos. The location is especially important in this book as it deals a lot with the folklore of Laos and the spirits found in them. There is a mysterious animal wandering the neighborhoods close to where Dr Paiboun lives and it is up to him to find out what is going on as this animal is killing people; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Hello Stasia. i had forgotten all about Colin Cotterill's books. Thanks for the reminder!
So glad your reading is going so well!

>241 alcottacre: I have the horrible feeling that Kerry is being taken advantage of a little.

I will be thinking about both of you this weekend and I do hope that his road trip brings at least as much comfort as sadness.

>251 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. The reading is helping me stay sane.

>252 PaulCranswick: I think so too, Paul, and am trying to help him see the questions he needs to be asking. Thank you.

Yes often so important not to take the bait. I guess we learned that a lot when we had teenagers in the house! You are wise to be helping Kerry with the critical questions.

Finished tonight:

373 - The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett - This is my second read of this one this year and it remains a favorite. This read was in honor of the late queen. I love the way she is portrayed in the book - down-to-earth and willing to change in later life to going from a non-reader to a reader; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

"What she was finding was how one book led to another, doors kept opening wherever she turned and the days weren't long enough for the reading she wanted to do."