Berly Browses Books - 1

Hi! I'm Kim and I've been on LT since 2008. Happily married for over 30 years, I'm a mom of 3, one of them married, and we all live in Oregon. I have an eclectic work history: nerve regeneration research at Boston Children's Hospital; advertising account exec; editor and writer (Milkweed Editions and Portland Parent Magazine); MN Timberwolves Community Relation Mgr and 501C3 Account Exec; accounting, client acquisition and website development for Clarus (a water cleaning company my Husband started here in Portland); and recently Business and HR Mgr for a Montessori school. And 2024 will be me looking for a new job! Also, I am a third degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. And I am on two Advisory Councils for Literary Arts here in Portland. I read almost everything, although I lean towards Fiction.

Let's Talk Books!!

So many choices!! What should I read?
Reading Now
@ Cormoran Strike Series #6 The Ink Black Heart (🎧 33 hours) by Robert Galbraith
✔ Everything Inside (B 223 pages) by Edwidge Danticat
✔ The Body (B 452 pages) by Bill Bryson
@ The Bee Sting (K 658 pages) by Paul Murray

Ideas...

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

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

For those interested, I found the Bingo Card here!
https://www.librarything.com/topic/354729, >100 Berly:
1- Food or Cooking
2 - Ugly Cover
3 - Only Title and Author On Cover
4 - Featuring Twins
5 - Topic with Specific Knowledge
6 - Publication Year Ending in -24
7 - Epistolary or Diary
8 - "Big" or "Little" in Title
9 - LT Similar Library
10 - About Friendship
11 - Three-Word Title
✔ 12 - Paper Based Item in Plot - Yellowface
13 - Read a CAT
14 - Short Story Collection - Everything Inside
15 - Person's Name in Title - Amy & Isabelle
16 - Set in a City
17 - Less Than 100 Copies on LT
18 - POC Author
19 - Author 65 or Older
✔ 20 - Featuring Water - Tom Lake
21 - Warriors or Mercenaries
22 - Reread a Favorite Book
23 - Written in Another Cultural Tradition
24 - Set in Multiple Countries
25 - Current or Recent Bestseller

Read in January ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
2024 Total ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
5. @ Exit Strategy Murderbot #4 (🎧 4 hours) by Martha Wells - 4.0
4. ✔ Fight Night (B 100/251 pages) by Miriam Toews - DNF
3. @ Yellowface (🎧 8.5 hours) by R.F. Kuang 4.5
2. ✔ Tom Lake by (🎧 11.5 hours) Ann Patchett, read by Meryl Streep 4.0
1. ✔ Twelve Slays of Christmas (🎧 8.25 hours) by Jacqueline Frost 3.5

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

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

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

Berly's Best of 2023
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges (Children's Book)
Demon Copperhead Barbara Kingsolver
Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
Roadkill by Dennis E. Taylor
The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
A Carnival of Snackery by David Sedaris

I can't resist buying books!!
I seem to manage to read around 50% of my newbies, except in 2019 where I (ahem) added a few more books to my collection than normal. But I killed it in 2020 when I read almost 75% of my newbies and in 2022 I read 70%!!

2017 47/85
2018 45/88
2019 45/128
2020 78/103
2021 50/105
2022 54/77
2023 56/88

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

2024 2/7 Read
1. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
✅ Yellowface by R.F. Huang
3. Last Night by Luanne Rice *
4. The Bad Weather Friend by Dean Koontz *
5. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson * (From Hil)
✅ @ Exit Strategy by Martha Wells *
7. Cormoran Strike Series #6 The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith

✅ Read
* Free or gift

LT Reads
✅ Jan - The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff with Beth and Ellen
Feb - Chenneville by Paulette Jiles with Beth and Ellen
Feb - The Bee Sting by Paul Murray with Mark and Others
Feb - The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne with Stasia
March - Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer with Mark and Mahsdad
March - The Lost Journals of Sacajewea Debra Magpie Earling with Beth and Ellen
March - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann with Ellen and Beth
April - Monster: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer with Ellen and Beth
May - Here I Am with Stasia
June - The Known World by Edward P Jones with Ellen, Bill (WeirdO), Judy, Katie, Jim (MagiciansNephew)

Literary Arts
January 25, 2024 -- David Grann Killers of the Flower Moon, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder
February 29, 2024 -- Charles Yu Interior Chinatown, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
April 18, 2024 -- Aimee Nezhukamatathil World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments and book of poetry Oceanic

RL Book Club 2024
February Rules for Commuting by Iona Iverson
April The Wolves at the Door by Judith Pearson
June The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
August Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
October The Librarianist by Patrick DeWitt

And Honorable Mentions
The Physics of Everyday Things James Kakalios
No Two Persons Erica Bauermeister
Crying in H-Mart Michelle Zauner
Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Evil Eye Etaf Rum
James Percival Everett
Hello Beautiful Ann Napolitano
Spare Prince Harry
Go As A River Shelley Read
Everything Inside Edwidge Danticat
Tom Lake Ann Patchett

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

Series/Author/Next Book
A Royal Spyness Mystery // Rhys Bowen // #2 A Royal Pain
Bobiverse / Dennis E. Taylor / #5 not yet published
Bridgerton / Julia Quinn / #3 An Offer From A Gentleman
Commisario Brunetti by Donna Leon / read 1,2,4,8 next #3 The Anonymous Venetian
Cormoran Strike Series / Robert Galbraith / #7 The Running Grave
Elizabeth Cage / Jodi Taylor #4 ???
Finley O'Sullivan / Debra Webb #3 All the Little Truths
In Death Series / JD Robb / Naked in Death #1 (I have been reading out of order)
Kinsey Millhone Mystery Series / Sue Grafton / Read ABCDEFGQX / Next H
Kopp Series / Amy Stewart / #2 Lady Cop Makes Trouble
Mickey Bolitar / Harlen Coben / #4 not yet published
Murderbot Diaries / Martha Wells / #5 Fugitive Telemetry
Quantum Earth / Dennis E. Taylor / #3 ??
Sandham Murders / Viveca Sten / #11 not yet published
Sunshine Vicram / Darynda Jones / #4 ??
Sweep Series / Ilona Andrews / #6 not yet published
The Åre Murders / Viveca Sten / #2 Hidden in Shadows Dec '23
The Chronicles of St Mary's / Jodi Taylor / #7
The Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries / Jacqueline Frost / #2
The Time Police / Jodi Taylor #5 ???, Santa Grit 4.5
The Thursday Murder Club / Richard Osman / #3 The Bullet That Missed

Hubby signed me up for this (Thank you!!). Over the years I have received over 90 installments (some with two or three books), and I haven't read all the books yet. Not even close!

2024 Indispensable Reader Challenge
1. The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne -- February with Stasia

Next up??
Silas Marner by George Eliot (a classic with a new afterward)
Running the Rift by Naomi Benson (Stasia really liked it)
The Listeners by Leni Zumas
How Music Works by David Byrne
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison
The New & Improved Romie Futch by Julia Elliott
Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer with Stasia but super long...
A Girl is a Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

The complete list can be found here --

https://www.librarything.com/topic/336987#n7662792

You know, in case I need more ideas for books to read!

Total Read - 46
✅ 2023 - Demon Copperhead
2023 - Trust (Diaz)
2022 - The Netanyahus
* 2021 - The Night Watchman
✅ 2020 - The Nickel Boys
✅ 2019 - The Overstory
✅ 2018 - Less
✅ 2017 - Underground Railroad
* 2016 - The Sympathizer
✅ 2015 - All the Light We Cannot See
✅ 2014 - The Goldfinch
✅ 2013 - The Orphan Master's Son
✅ 2012 - NO AWARD - Swamplandia - Nominee
✅ 2011 - A Visit from the Goon Squad
✅ 2010 - Tinkers
✅ 2009 - Olive Kitterridge
✅ 2008 - The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
✅ 2007 - The Road
2006 - March
✅ 2005 - Gilead
2004 - The Known World
✅ 2003 - Middlesex
✅ 2002 - Empire Falls
✅ 2001 - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
✅ 2000 - The Interpreter of Maladies
✅ 1999 - The Hours
1998 - American Pastoral
1997 - Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer -- reading in March
1996 - Independence Day
✅ 1995 - The Stone Diaries
✅ 1994 - The Shipping News
1993 - A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
✅ 1992 - A Thousand Acres
1991 - Rabbit at Rest
1990 - The Mambo Kings
✅ 1989 - Breathing Lessons
✅ 1988 - Beloved
✅ 1987 - A Summons to Memphis
✅ 1986 - Lonesome Dove
1985 - Foreign Affairs
1984 - Ironweed
✅ 1983 - The Color Purple
1982 - Rabbit is Rich
✅ 1981 - A Confederacy of Dunces
✅ 1980 - The Executioner's Song
1979 - The Stories of John Cheever
1978 - Elbow Room
✅ 1977 - NO AWARD
✅ 1976 - Humboldt's Gift
1975 - The Killer Angels
✅ 1974 - NO AWARD
1973 - The Optimist's Daughter
✅ 1972 - Angle of Repose
✅ 1971 - NO AWARD
1970 - The Collected Stories of Jean Stafford
1969 - House Made of Dawn
* 1968 - The Confessions of Nat Turner
1967 - The Fixer
1966 - The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter
1965 - The Keepers of the House
✅ 1964 - NO AWARD
1963 - The Reivers
1962 - The Edge of Sadness
✅ 1961 - To Kill a Mockingbird
1960 - Advise and Consent
1959 - The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
1958 - A Death in the Family
✅ 1957 - NO AWARD
1956 - Andersonville
1955 - A Fable
✅ 1954 - NO AWARD
✅ 1953 - The Old Man and the Sea
✅ 1952 - The Caine Mutiny
1951 - The Town
1950 - The Way West
1949 - Guard of Honor
✅ 1948 - Tales of the South Pacific
✅ 1947 - All the King's Men
✅ 1946 - NO AWARD
1945 - A Bell
1944 - Journey in the Dark
1943 - Dragon's Teeth
1942 - In This Our Life
✅ 1941 - NO AWARD
✅ 1940 - The Grapes of Wrath
1928 - The Bridge of San Luis Rey

* Have on hand
✅ Read

Please join us if you are interested in Reusing and Recycling. People are sharing brand and book suggestions and also keeping track of their efforts. Check it out!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339326

Below is my personal list of what I am doing and want to be doing. I plan to keep updating this as I make improvements in my lifestyle this year. Brands listed are my choices and more suggestions are listed in the above thread.

Things I was already doing
*Carry reusable shopping bags
*Reuse packaging and don't overwrap (I have a whole closet of boxes and packing material I recycle)
*Use recyclable paper and cardboard instead of styrofoam packing material
*Buy my veggies in cardboard crates instead of plastic containers whenever possible
*Use a home soda maker with reusable bottle
*Dishwasher detergent -- Planet
*Silicone and beeswax dish toppers/wraps
*Garbage Bags -- Seventh Generation
*Compost Collector under sink that goes into city Compost Bin
*Cloth Napkins
*Wider comfort range for heating and cooling house
*Motion detectors on lights to keep them off when not in use
*Keeping a reusable water bottle and cup in the car
*And a reusable utensil kit in my glove compartment
*And a reusable metal straw
*Phone Case -- Switched to compostable case by Pela
*Toilet Paper -- Who Gives A Crap (recycled) Grove (bamboo)
*Laundry Detergent sheets -- TruEarth
*Cloth "Paper" Towels -- Marley's Monsters
*Recycled Paper Towels -- Who Gives A Crap
*Sponges compostable -- If You Care
*Scrub Cloths cotton and cellulose -- Down to Earth Basics
*Blueland Toilet Bowl Cleaner--works great!! https://www.blueland.com/products/toilet-cleaner-starter-set

Next steps
*Transitioning from liquid soap, shower gels and shampoo to solid versions not packaged in plastic. This one may be a bit harder for me with my skin allergies, but I am going to try. I am using up what I have left and then I will try to make the switch.
*Toothpaste
*Composter -- outside
*Ridwell for recycling things

450 years for a plastic bottle to break down in the ocean
114* years since first plastic was invented
90 percent of seabirds have plastic in their stomachs
80 percent of plastic in the ocean originates on land
59* years since the first plastic bag was created
1 rubbish truck of plastics enters the ocean every minute
We typically use a plastic bag for less than 15 minutes
Most tampons have plastic in them
*(+5 years since publication)

How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum. Awesome book!! Read it!

Come on in!!

Wow, am I first? Happy new year, Kim!

Your "give up plastic" journey inspired me (back in 2022, I think it was). I've made a few changes but not as many as you have. However, I did just use a gift card today to order a reusable water bottle and expect it will live in my car most of the time.

>12 lauralkeet: Yes, you are first!! Happy Almost New Year!!

I feel like I did a lot in 2022 on my less-plastic journey, and not so much in '23. We'll see what I can do in '24. Enjoy the reusable car water bottle -- Maybe we can inspire each other! : )

Happy new year, Kim!

Happy New Year, Rhonda!!! Should I start a new Oregon-Get-Together Thread? Maybe a January date?

Happy New Year, Kimmers. Hoping for the best for you and your lovely family. Looking forward to another year of LT and following my book buddies. I hope we can do a couple more shared reads. If you would like to do a shared read of Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer, I would be up for it. It is the only one I have missed since the early 90s. I read American Pastoral earlier this year. Pick a time. I am in.

Dropping off my star! Happy New Year, my friend. I hope it is SO much better than 2023!!

>16 msf59: Awesome, Mark! I was just saying to myself, I have to read a few more Pulitzers! Let's do Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer in March. Work for you?

>17 EBT1002: Hello, Ellen!! Yes, I am looking forward to a better year and a new start. And you moving down here! : ) Happy New Year!

Happy 2024, Berly-boo! *smooch*

Happy new year, Kim!

Good luck with your 2024 reading. I, too, am trying to transition to more eco-friendly procedures and containers; right now mostly through growing, processing, and preserving my own food, making my own laundry detergent, and slowly replacing all my plastic Tupperware with glass. I will check back in for your "advice" on this subject!

Great set up thread as always, Kimmers.

Another firm believer here in ecology and conservation which I think is more existentially a threat to humankind than climate change (although I am no denier of that either).

Star dropped and I look forward to keeping up with one of the good guys again in 2024.

Welcome back, Berly!

>19 richardderus: Smooches Ricardo!! Looking forward to your wisdom and snark again this year. : )

>20 bell7: Happy New Year!!

>21 Tess_W: Thank you! Best wishes for your 2024 reading as well. Love to hear more about your eco-friendly endeavors. Let's start with how do you make your own laundry detergent? : ) I don't do much food growing, only herbs, peppers and tomatoes, but I enjoy doing that.

>22 PaulCranswick: Paul! So nice to see you here and I thank you for the thread compliment. Also trying to do what I can for the world on my micro-level. How much longer is the 2nd tallest building in the world gonna take? Yeesh! And, whoohoo, I am one of the good guys!! : ) I look forward to your thread suggestions throughout the year.

>23 drneutron: Hello there, Doc! Thank you so much for all you do to make LT possible. This place means so much to me. As do you! I hope I can be more present this year. That's the plan anyhow.

Happy new year, Kim!

Happy New Year, Kim! Happy Reading ahead!

Happy new year, TwinK! And good luck with the job hunt. I will be reading with you in 2023, and maybe we'll have a visit as well?

Happy new thread and happy new year, Kim.
And all the best for you and your plans in 2024!

>18 Berly: That will work perfectly, Kim. I will add Martin Dressler to my "shared reading" post.

Happy Sunday!

Happy new year, Kim! You mentioned you were listening to Caitlin Moran on your last thread and enjoyed one essay on men. You might be interested to know she has a new book out What About Men? that delves into it more.

Hi Kim, just setting my cushion down.

Welcome back, Kim!!

Happy New Year. Have a great reading year in 2024.

Happy new year, Kim. I hope 2024 is good to you and look forward to hearing about the adventures it brings you.

Happy New Year, Kim. I’ll be starring your thread, again.

Happy new year, Kim, and yes to a meet-up thread!

>26 katiekrug: Happy New Year, Katie!! Here's to books and snark! : )

>27 vancouverdeb: Deb -- Happy New Year and Happy Reading to you!

>28 BLBera: Twin! Here's to Retirement (you case) and a new job (mine)!! We'll see each other again and I look forward to our shared reads.

>29 SirThomas: Sir Thomas! Happy New Year -- best wishes to you and yours.

>30 msf59: Mark--So noted on my shared read post -- and Happy New Year!

>31 MickyFine: Micky--Thanks for the note on Caitlan Moran -- I will definitely keep an eye out for that one. You're the best! Happy New Year!

>32 Caroline_McElwee: By all means, get comfortable Caroline -- I want you to stick around!! Happy New Year!

>33 lindapanzo: THanks, Linda -- Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

>34 RebaRelishesReading: Reba--Here's to a great 2024! And I am happy to share my "adventures" -- thanks for reading all about them. : )

>35 EllaTim: Ella! I haven't found your 2024 thread yet, but I'll be happy to star you back. Happy New Year!!

>36 banjo123: Rhonda--Happy New Year!! I'll get a meet-up thread put up tomorrow so we can plan a January date. : )

Hi Kim!

Wishing you a great one!

Your lists are so inspiring! I very nearly used the back arrow to get back to my own thread to start making my own list of lists to make :)

Happy New Year- glad to see we are both still here, still reading, still going strong!

Happy new year and new thread, Kim!

Happy New Year, and happy first thread of 2024, Kim!

Happy New Year and new thread! Hope 2024 is kind to you

Dropping off a star and wishing you a Happy New Year!

Hi Kim, and Happy New Year. I've set up a thread here again--We'll see how long my participation lasts! Still desparately missing the PNW, but I have finally found one decent bookstore here that is not a B & N.

I'll follow along, Kim.

I'm enjoying trying out different shampoo/ conditioner bars. They seem to be increasingly easy to get hold of here.

>24 Berly: Laundry Detergent
2 gallons of water
1 cup of shredded laundry bar soap (eco-friendly-such as Castile Soap)
½ cup baking soda
½ cup laundry soda
Essential oils-optional if you desire scent

Using some of the water, place in a pot on the stove and turn to medium high. Add the shredded soap and stir frequently until the soap is melted. Add this and all the remainder of the ingredients to a large bucket (I use 5 gallon) and leave sit overnight. It will gel overnight. The next day I use an immersion blender (but you can use your hands) to blend the soap product together. I then pour into glass gallon mason jars and cap. Usage: 3 tablespoons for average loads, ¼ cup for large loads or heavily soiled loads. I’ve been using this for about 6 months and haven’t noticed any difference (except the cost) in the cleanliness of the clothing; although my friend says her white things got dingy. I have well water and even though we have a softener, my white things get dingy after 4-5 washings anyway, so I really don’t know! (Hence, I hardly ever buy white!) Literally, this cost me less than 20 cents per load.

Happy New Year, Kim. I hope you have many wonderful reads in 2024.

>4 Berly: Stone Blind made my list as well, Kim. Demon Copperhead is there, too, but it’s much more popular around here than the Haynes book.

Happy New Year Kim! We made the transition to solid shampoo a while ago, and I actually prefer the solid shampoo now. We buy ours in Lush: they are more expensive than the shampoo I used to buy, but the bars last a lot longer.

Happy New Year! May it be a year of good reading.

Happy New Year!

I'll definitely join you and Mark for some Martin Dressler in March.

>41 quondame: Happy New Year, Susan!! Happy Reading!!

>42 LovingLit: Lists of lists!! LOL. I like lists because 1) then I don't forget to do something and 2) I like the satisfaction of checking things off!! So glad we are both still here! Cheers!

>43 jessibud2: Happy New Year and here's to a wonderful 24!!

>44 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen! Happy New Year! Happy Reading!

>45 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! Hoping 2024 is a wonderful year!

>46 SuziQoregon: Happy New Year, Juli! Hey, gonna try to get a January get-together going. I'll post here with a new thread later today...!

>47 arubabookwoman: Glad you are hanging on in here, but the PNW misses you. : ) A good bookstore is a blessing -- yay!! Happy New Year!

>48 charl08: Hi Char! Happy New Year! Have you found a favorite new shampoo? If so, let me know the brand. I'm still looking for a eco-friendly one.

>49 Tess_W: Tess--thank you for the recipe! I will have to give that a closer look. Much appreciated. : ) Happy reading in 2024!

>50 Donna828: Donna--Happy reading in 2024! I am not surprised we share some favorite books -- here's to finding more!

>51 SandDune: I haven't tried Lush yet for shampoo. Thanks! Happy New Year!

>52 witchyrichy: And I wish you happy reading as well! Here's a toast to 2024!

>53 mahsdad: Happy New Year! Yay for a shared read in March -- Looking forward to it. : )

A thread to talk about when us PNWers might get together in 2024!! Come visit and let's choose a January date!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/356633

Happy new year, Kimmers.

>58 Berly: Jealous!

Good to see your 2024 thread, Kim. Best of luck with the job hunt but hopefully not too many jobs at once this time.

Happy New Year to you, Kim!

Well I am already 61 posts behind so I will start from this point :)

Happy 2024!

Hi Kim -- just swinging by again while I make my new year's rounds of threads. Maybe I'll keep up better in 2024. I'm certainly excited about moving back to Oregon!

>59 PaulCranswick: Happy New Year, Paul!! I can only hope that we a meet up someday. : )

>60 Familyhistorian: Thank you! Yeah, two jobs at once was not supposed to happen. LOL. Only 1 this time...

>61 AMQS: Love the star and that you are behind it! Happy New Year!

>62 figsfromthistle: Happy 2024!! I feel you -- am basically spending today trying to catch up on LT. LOL.

>63 EBT1002: Hi there!! Yeah, I am just sitting here trying to keep up on LT. LOL. You have a fun year ahead with great travel spots and then later I can't wait to have you back here in OR. : ) Hey, I also set up a thread in >58 Berly: to try and get a meet-up going in OR. But you might be in Hawaii or somewhere...can't remember...

Yep, I'll be in Hawaii. the latter part of January. :-)

>66 EBT1002: That's what I thought. It's okay; I'm sure there will be another one. And I'd rather be in HI myself!! LOL

Happy New Year and Thread, Kim!

Hi Deb! Happy New Year and I hope I get to see a lot more of you this year!! : )

So, it's' the first day of the New Year and I bought a book. Surprise, surprise. ; )

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray. For a February group read started by Mark. Trouble has begun!

Happy reading in 2024, Kim!

>70 Berly: At least you read the books you buy! You are almost ready for a new thread.

Happy New Year! I like the book stack in your thread topper!

Happy New Year, Kimberly!

>71 FAMeulstee: Thank you and vice-versa!!

>72 BLBera: Yeah, I am consistently reading over half of my newbies, but the other half of my reads includes library books, so I am not catching up on my shelves -- Uh oh!! : )

>73 foggidawn: Glad you like my topper!! I love the thought that people put into their pictures on the threads -- they are fascinating and give such character.

>74 Carmenere: Happy New Year!!

I don't think I've found your 2024 threads yet...off to hunt for them!

And here it is!!

The 2023 Year-End Meme!

Describe yourself: The Hero of This Book
Describe How Your Feel: Heir of Uncertain Magic, Betwixt
Describe Where You Currently Live: Candy House (Think candy canes and Peppermint Hershey Kisses)
If You Could Go Anywhere, Where Would You go? The Long Bright River
Your Favorite Form of Transportation: The Road Trip
Your Favorite Food Is: Sweet Tea Tuesdays
Your Favorite Time of Day: When the Rain Ends
Your Best Friend Is: More Than a Woman
You and Your Friends Are: The Girls(s) in Cabin 13
What's the Weather Like: The Vaster Wilds
You Fear: The Christmas Card Crime
What Is the Best Advice You Have to Give? Act Like You Got Some Sense
Thought for the Day: The Chemistry of Love
What Is Life for You? Through My Eyes / a State of Wonder
How You Would Like to Die: Fashionably Dead and Twenty Years Later
Your Soul's Present Condition: The Stupidist Angel
What Was 2023 Like for You? Project Hail Mary
What Do You Want from 2024? The Way Life Should Be

^ more inspo ;)
THANKS!

Happy new year, Kim! Dropping off a star!

drive-by *smooch*

>78 LovingLit: You're welcome!! LOL

>79 curioussquared: Hi there! Thanks for the star! Don't think I've found your thread yet....but Happy New year!!

>80 richardderus: Blows *smooch* at Ricardo speeding by in the car!

1. Twelve Slays of Christmas (🎧 8.25 hours) by Jacqueline Frost 3.5

A charming, holiday, murder mystery. I will be reading #2 next year for Christmas!!

Happy New Year Kim

>70 Berly: I'm in for the February read of The Bee Sting too! I almost purchased a copy of the book when we were in Ireland. I wish I had done so!

I'm sure you will enjoy The Bee Sting. I certainly did last year. What puzzle are you and your daughter working on ?

>83 ArlieS: Happy New Year, Arlie!! Happy to see you here. : )

>84 EBT1002: Yay! Another shared read with you. I went with buying the Kindle version of The Bee Sting because 1) it was cheaper, 2) not as heavy (656 pages) and 3) I can have it with me wherever I am. : )

>85 vancouverdeb: Excellent! I love getting endorsements for my future reads. Thanks. : )

We are working on a 1,000 piece Scooby Doo puzzle (my daughter loves Scooby and Shaggy!). Just have most of the border done.

Hello Dear Friend!

I hope 2024 brings lots of time to read and relax.
All good wishes!

I confess to loving puzzles. I prefer the 1,000 piece ones. I buy them on sale and keep them in large plastic containers. I already have one chosen to start tomorrow.

Thinking of you and hoping 2024 is good to you.

>56 Berly: Like Rhian I also use Lush, but I've also tried Faith in Nature. I like Alter/native soap as well (found via Ethicalsuperstore.com). I'm not entirely plastic free, I should add. Trying, but still get seduced by claims of other brands to sort frizz!

Happy Wednesday, Kim. Glad to see that we already have a couple of shared reads lined up. The early part of the year is really taking shape.

>82 Berly: Hiya smoochling...I read holiday-themed gay romances after my Matt Coyle binge this Yule. I'm debating the merits of reviewing them, something I don't usually do for that genre because what's to say? You like the formula or you don't. But someone who gifted me a few of them wondered why I hadn't said anything about them, so I think permaybehaps I should. Still looking for an angle of attack that will offer something informative about them.

Happy New Year & new thread!

>4 Berly: More Best of lists! I love those things. I will have to read the ones to which I have not read yet. Thanks, Kim!

>8 Berly: Let me know when you want to get to Here I Am. I still have it set aside to read with you.

>58 Berly: I so want to do this! If only I lived closer. . .

>70 Berly: It is a good one (at least I thought so!) I hope you enjoy it!

>77 Berly: Great answers!

Happy New Year! Happy New Thread!

>87 Whisper1: Hello Linda!! Well, 2024 had a rough start for me. Intestines got blocked the night before last (for those of you who don't know me, I have ulcerative colitis and have had LOTS of GI surgeries), and it was extremely painful and I was wiped yesterday. Slept most of it. But good news is it resolved on its own and I didn't have to go in to the ER or anything, so yay! Feeling pretty decent today and, hey, I already finished a book! LOL Maybe some puzzle time today when S gets home from work. : )

>93 Berly: I'm sorry to hear you were unwell but glad you don't have to worry about it further for now. I hope a spot of rest will see you back to peak form.

>64 Berly: Thanks! There's a cool word art program I use with my students, and it's easy and fun to make my own:)

Happy New Year, Kim!

>88 charl08: ooh! Thanks for more ideas! I will add these to the Recycling Thread. And, no, I am not plastic-free either, but I'm trying! : )

>89 msf59: Happy Hump Day, Mark!! I am also very glad we have some shared reads in our future. Wouldnt' have it any other way.

>90 richardderus: Hard one, Ricardo. Short reviews would give these satisfying books credit and maybe attract new readers. Maybe a shorter review with plot summary? Maybe I should add a little plot summary to my Christmas review....!

>91 ChrisG1: Hi Chris! Glad you found me and the OR meetup thread. Happy New Year and happy reading. I read my fair share of Sci-Fi, so I'll be looking for suggestions. Have you read the Bobiverse? That's one of my favorites, especially on audio.

>92 alcottacre: Hi Stasia--Woman, you get major points for catching up on the entire thread!!

-- Happy to help you out with yet another Best Of List, LOL. It's only fair with all the book bullets I get from you.
-- How about Here I Am in May?
-- I wish you lived closer!!
-- Just started The Bee Sting -- I'll let you know what I think.
-- Glad you liked my end-of-the-year meme answers. : )

Happy New Year and thanks for being a frequent visitor and reading pal. xoxo

>94 quondame: Thank you! Operating at about 70% today. Went for a walk with a friend to get coffee and then called hubby to give us a ride back to the house. I was a little too ambitious, too soon. LOL. Then I spent about two hours catching up with her, so it was rejuvenating overall. Hope to be mostly back to normal tomorrow.

>95 AMQS: Very cool! I am impressed. : )

>96 ronincats: Happy New Year!! Happy Reading!!

Happy New Year Kim & family! Wishing you happiness, health and lots of reading adventures in 2024.



Sorry to hear you've been under the weather again. Best of luck with your job hunt.

Take care, TwinK. I hope this is the only medical drama you have for a while.

>100 Berly: if you knew how easy it was (1st graders also do this with me), you'd be less impressed:) wordart.com

Wow I just realized I had not managed to stop in here yet, I see it's been buzzing!

Sorry to hear about your painful intestinal issue, and also sorry you're only back to 70% afterward. Hoping things start looking up rapidly!

>93 Berly: Ouch! I don't have anything that bad myself, but a nephew has Crohn's Disease, so I have a second hand idea of how miserable that can be. You have my sympathy, and I'm glad this episode resolved itself.

>98 Berly: Good idea. I'll do that over the weekend.

Glad you didn't have to do the ER run! *smooch* for a much easier rest-of-2024.

Dropping off a late star. Hope you are feeling better.

Yay for no ER visit and I hope you are better soon Kim. I just started a jigsaw a few days ago. It's been awhile so I decided to start small with a 500 piece one.

Hey, Kim! Happy New Year, and here's to problems resolving themselves. Hope you have perked up by now.

Your Pulitzer list reminds me to check my own. Lists are on my my hard drive, and I often forget to update or reference them. Not so useful, for reference or bragging. Maybe I'll reform.

My cousin Bonnie is at work on a mammoth project involving a partially burned piano, and the show should be up in the second quarter of the year, so I'm going to try to get there. Let's try to coordinate, so I don't arrive when you're on a round-the-world cruise.

>93 Berly: Well, damn, Kim!!! So sorry the year started badly but glad it resolved itself and that you're feeling better.

>82 Berly: I didn't manage to get the current one this year for Christmas. I saw that the line was too long when I looked, so I'll try to listen to it for Christmas in July or something like that.

Sorry to hear about the blocked intestines, Kim. I hope you are well on your way to recovery. I've just started sorting my next jigsaw puzzle, Cobble Hill with a Winter Scene, a Christmas gift from my sister. Wishing you well.

Kim, I missed your health woes. I'm so sorry. My stepmother has been on this journey, though her cause is different. Her last one she waited out, like you. She was determined, but it was stressful for all of us. I wish you smooth sailing and good health.

Wait, you've started The Bee Sting already?

>101 humouress: Thanks for the New Year wishes!! I actually read a lot last year, but I didn't do many reviews or get much time here. Hoping for a better balance in 24.

>102 BLBera: You know me -- if it's not one thing it's another! LOL. I ignore my medical stuff to the best of my ability and just keep going. ; ) Hoping to be in the dojang on Saturday.

>103 AMQS: Nope. Still impressed and I'm gonna check it out!

>104 ursula: Hi there! It's my own fault. I ate waaaaay too much popcorn and didn't drink enough water to wash it through. Normally Hubby and I share the bowl, but apparently he didn't eat much and I just kept going! LOL. Popcorn is tough to digest, but dang, it tastes so good. Haven't had a blockage in a long time, so hopefully I'll be good for a while.

>105 ArlieS: Yeah, GI stuff is not fun. I came down with ulcerative colitis during my pregnancy -- the hormone change kicked it off. I had to have surgery while I was pregnant because I kept bleeding out (I was advised to abort, but didn't). It was no fun at all, and I have had multiple surgeries since then, but I've been dealing with it for over 30 years and mostly it isn't a problem now. Knock on wood. Good luck to your nephew!

>106 richardderus: Yeah, glad it resolved on its own. I went to the ER enough last year. ; )

>107 Oberon: Thanks for the star! Feeling better. I slept like 11 hours last night, so another good night sleep and I should be pretty good.

>108 Familyhistorian: I do much better with 500 piece puzzles, but since it is the two of us working on it, we should be good. Have fun!

>109 ffortsa: I hope to read at least two Pulitzers this year, otherwise they will just award another one and I'll fall further behind! LOL. I like having the list on my thread as a push and for easy reference.

I have no around-the-world cruises in mind, so let me know when you are coming out here!!

>110 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks! Maybe having a rough start means the rest of the year will be easy! Right? : )

>111 thornton37814: Well, at least you still have one more in th series still to read. That's good! And Christmas in July could work. ; )

>112 vancouverdeb: Just tired today. No more GI issues or pain. Ate normally today. : ) Your puzzle sounds pretty -- your sister gets gift-giving points! Have fun doing it.

>113 AMQS: Thank you. Sorry your stepmother has to deal with something similar. Ugh. Glad she has your understanding and support. Hope we both have a good year ahead! (And you too!)

>114 EBT1002: Yes, I have started The Bee Sting early! Because it is a tome and because I don't know how my reading time is going to go, so I'm getting a head start. And it sounded good!!

GI issues - oh shit!
All the best for you and your health, Kim.

ugh, sorry to hear you've been dealing with GI issues, Kim. It sounds like you're recovering so I hope that continues.

Re: Pulitzers, you cracked me up with "otherwise they will just award another one and I'll fall further behind." Like they're doing that just to make your life difficult! But I know the feeling. I've read many Pulitzer winners and I'm not on a quest to read them all but I like to keep up with the current winners where possible. Same for the Booker and Women's prizes. I'm a bit of a literary prize junkie, I guess.

Happy new year Kim! Hope 2024 is treating you well so far, and continues to do so.

A new job? That sounds exciting! Are you looking for a specific field or position? I'm keeping my eye out for new work too, as there has been some issues (management-wise) at my current place and if it continues I don't want to stay.

Happy Friday, Kim. Sorry to hear about the GI issues. I hope they subside quickly. I hope you enjoy The Bee Sting.

Hi Kim.

>93 Berly: Nooo….. but yay to NOT going to ER.

>115 Berly: 🤞 on your being able to go to the dojang tomorrow.

>116 Berly: I was advised to abort, but didn't I had lunch with a friend yesterday who was pregnant with her second child at 42 and her nurse practioner advised her to abort because she was high risk even though she knew my friend/husband had deliberately chosen to get pregnant. She was/is also Catholic, and stopped seeing her.

>119 Berly: I’m glad no GI issues or pain early this morning.

You may have said this (I've skimmed a bit) but which two Pulitzer Prize winners are you thinking about reading this year? I have Trust on hold at the library and I would absolutely reread The Known World. Just sayin'....

Popcorn! Yeah, it can be the devil. People I know ended up with pieces up under their gums, with frightening results, and swore off. Sorry it caught you.

>125 EBT1002: I've had The Known World on my shelf forever. If you decide on a date to start it, I'll try to join you. I read Trust in December and found it quite interesting.

Hi Kim my dear, starred you once again. A belated Happy New Year to you, Walt and the family my dear friend, i will be visiting throughout 2024.

>99 Berly: We have been reading pals for a long time now, haven't we? I will slate Here I Am for May although I am highly likely to forget, lol.

The GI issues do not sound fun at all, but I am glad to hear that you are recovering.

>118 Berly: Absolutely right (I hope), Kim!!

On, No, blocked intenstines -- no fun!
Please get better soon!
I'm hoping 2024 is a good year for us regarding health issues --- and reading.
i send much love.

I'm glad you are enjoying Bee Sting, Kim. I felt the size was intimidating initially , but it was such a great read that I finished it up in a week or less. I hope you find the same.

Happy new year of reading Kim!

Great MEME answers Kimmers - Project Hail Mary indeed!

Have a lovely weekend.

Liked Trust a lot be curious to know what you make of it

Hi Kim! I didn't know you used to work in a neuroscience lab! I worked in an SCI lab for a while. We were trying to determine the roll of immune response in injury progression immediately upon injury.

Kim? You okay?

Yeah, what >136 EBT1002: said

>120 SirThomas: "Oh Shit!" to my GI issues. Very funny!! : )

>121 lauralkeet: Glad you got a laugh! A Literary Junkie is not a bad thing to be.

>122 PawsforThought: Hope things get better at work or I wish you luck in your search! Not sure exactly what I am looking for, but maybe something in the non-profit sector. We'll see...

>123 msf59: Thanks, Mark. Still having some Gi issues and some other stuff. Talking to my doc on Thursday. I just reached part two in The Bee Sting and there is a shift in point of view. Wasnt' expecting that!

>124 karenmarie: Well, obviously my oldest daughter is glad the pregnancy worked out!! LOL. It was touch and go though and I was advised not to try again. We had already decided to try and adopt our last child, so we just moved up the plan a little. Second and third children are adopted. : )

>125 EBT1002: >126 ffortsa: Trust sounds great, but I wont' be able to get my hands on a copy for quite a while...same for The Known World, but I have requested both of them from the library.

I still like popcorn. : )

>127 johnsimpson: John--So nice to see you here! I'll be seeing you around. Here's to 2024!

>128 alcottacre: You're one mom my favorite reading buddies -- I'll remind you in May!! LOL.

>129 RebaRelishesReading: Fingers crossed for 2024!!

>130 Whisper1: We deserve an easy 2024, right? Hoping our health cooperates and great books fall into our hands.

>131 vancouverdeb: Glad to hear you liked The Bee Sting! So far, so good.

>132 WhiteRaven.17: Nice to see you here!! Happy wishes right back atcha!

>133 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. My weekend was decent. Hope you had a good one! I am already behind on LT. LOL

>134 magicians_nephew: And another endorsement for Trust! I have ordered it from the Library.

>135 The_Hibernator: That's cool! I was working on using different substrates to try and encourage dendritic growth. The idea is great, but tracing fluorescent dendrites under microscope was a little too isolating. Ultimately not for me.

>136 EBT1002: >137 SuziQoregon: Thanks for checking up on me. Rough start to the year. Talking to my doc on Thursday. : ) But I did manage to finish Yellowface!



An awesome look at the literary publishing world, plagiarism, racism and social media (not necessarily listed in order of importance). Fast-paced, very insightful, dark, but told with amazing humor and the audio version was awesome. I think this would be a great discussion book or one to simply enjoy on your own -- win, win!!

I felt the same about Yellowface and agree that the audio was well done.

Sorry you are not fully up to snuff - I hope the conversation with your doctor can provide some help.

>139 Berly: My Son the Younger and his wife chose to adopt. After two adoptions, Sam got pregnant. So, three and done.

If you and others read The Known World, I'd welcome the opportunity join. My daughter gave me a crisp, clean, brand-new copy for my birthday in 2017. I started it, but some BIG came up (I don't know what, but it had to be BIG). My reading of the book crashed and I failed to get it righted and rolling. So... If you do get to it, please let me know.

Yellowface is on my list this year. Nice review!

Hi, Kim. I hope you are feeling better. I am looking forward to Yellowface. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

The Known World is outstanding. It would make a perfect Group Read.

Wishing you a new year without health issues, Kim!

Slightly sideways: I read today that water from plastic bottles contains even more micro and nano plastics than was thought before. Avoiding them is a very good idea.

>140 Berly: Maybe The Known World in May or June?

Hi Kim. Loved your book meme answers way upthread, especially this one: "How You Would Like to Die: Fashionably Dead and Twenty Years Later." Right on!

I'm glad that your intestines straightened themselves out this time. Here's to good health and more good books in 2024. You may have swayed me to read Yellowface. I've been on the fence about that one...possibly due to the cover. Haha.

>144 katiekrug: I think Yellowface will be one of my faves for '24. Thanks for the good wishes -- I'll take 'em!

>145 weird_O: It all works out. : ) It's interesting that one of my adopted kids has connected with birth family members, particularly one sister; but my other adopted child has had absolutely no contact and as far as I know, has no desire to. I am okay with it either way because I just want my kids to be happy and if exploring their bio roots helps them in some way, then I am all for it, and the more people in your life that love you, the better!

Does June work for The Known World? : )

>146 drneutron: > 147 I hope you enjoy Yellowface as much as I did! Loved it on audio and I kept finding excuses to do chores so I could listen some more! LOL

>147 msf59: Planning on a June read! ; )

>148 EllaTim: Hi there! Rough start to this year already, but Dr appt on Thursday. Fingers crossed for some answers, but thanks for the good thoughts.

And that's not good about the bottled water. I don't tend to drink it much -- I have my own water bottle that I refill from the house. Thanks for the tip!

>149 EBT1002: June? : )

>150 Donna828: Glad you enjoyed my meme answers. I love doing those every new year -- so much fun! I hope I have nudged you to get a copy of Yellowface -- and that you enjoy it!

>151 Berly: So far as I know, June is perfect for reading The Known World.

>154 weird_O: I like perfect!!! We're on!

So, I asked for this for Christmas having no idea that it was a Do-It-Yourself project!! LOL It's a miniature city scape to place on a shelf amongst your books. This is going to take me forever, but I am already having fun doing it.


Finished product


All the pieces, some of which need gluing or paint!


First things put together -- 2 little planters --the pots are the size of my fingernail!! And the red sign (which is 3 pieces glued together and then painted on the sides). They can all be seen in the lower front of the illuminated top pic.

>156 Berly: What a surprise! I hope you enjoy working with small objects. I think the finished project will be worth it.

>156 Berly: Looks like a fun project!

Hope you are feeling better.

>156 Berly: I Love it!

I always see ads for those wooden marble run games that you put together from a kit. My Dad would have loved it - not sure my fingers (or my eyes) would be up to the challenge.

Love it, I would enjoy putting together a miniature, but so would my cats!

Hi Kim! Looking forward to seeing what you get on the docket this year :)
>156 Berly: My Roomate got me one of those and built it for me. This one looks cool!

>156 Berly: It looks like you need a degree to put this together, TwinK! Have fun with it.

>156 Berly: How fun! I don't think I would have the time or the patience or the skill, but I can't wait to see your finished product!

>160 magicians_nephew: I do a marble run activity with my students. We call it rollercoasters. We use those long flexible foam tubes you can buy at hardware stores to insulate piping. The kids connect them - to bookshelves, the ceiling, to each other, under chairs, loop-de-loops, jumps, etc and try to get their marble down the rollercoaster and into a waiting cup. It's a great, if crazy collaborative challenge that I usually save for the weeks when we're doing standardized testing, so they have a break from academics and can let loose:)

>157 Donna828: I may have to borrow my Hubby's glasses, which are a stronger version than mine!! LOL

>158 figsfromthistle: So far, so good -- I haven't messed up yet! And I'm doing okay today. : )

>159 SirThomas: Me too! I've never done a project like this.

The miniature is so cute! I have a little tiny bookstore that was gifted to me that I still haven't worked on putting together. Maybe it's time to pull it out...

>160 magicians_nephew: >164 AMQS: I didn't know there were kits for the marble runs -- my siblings and I used to try to make them from paper towels rolls we cut in half and then taped together. It was fun!

>161 ursula: LOL. Not seeing this happen with kittens in the house.

>162 Ravenwoodwitch: Nice to see you and I look forward to your books as well! Nice roommate you got there. ; )

>163 BLBera: Yeah -- the manual is 26 pages!!

>164 AMQS: See up >160 magicians_nephew:, but also that's a really cool idea to give them a stress relief from testing. You get points.

>166 curioussquared: Yes! You should put the bookstore together -- but we are not gonna race, LOL

>156 Berly: How cool (and how fun I think)

>156 Berly: I've seen those advertised and quite fancied one myself. I'll be interested to know how you get on.

>156 Berly: Oh, I love those! I’ve been going back and forth about getting one myself (because I love miniature things and building but I’m not a big fan of a lot of decorative stuff around the house). There was one I saw that was like a train cabin from the 50s-ish. I was SO close to buying it!
Also seen several bookshop/library versions and those are of course always great.

>156 Berly: That is so cute. Does putting pieces together really 'click' as it does in the adds? I guess glue and paint are included.

Hello, Kim, I found your thread! It's gotten so long already, I'm afraid I'm going to have to do the line in the sand, except for looking at the topper entries.

We're trying to do better with being more eco-friendly. We've been using Reel Paper recently for paper towels and toilet paper. I really need to check out How to Give Up Plastic.

Here's to a great reading year!

>169 RebaRelishesReading: >170 SandDune: I am having fun with it!! I am on my second coat of paint on the front "door" and I put together another planter today.

>171 PawsforThought: So, you can't see it from the photo, but the other side has a bookstore!!! There are a few different ones available at Uncommon Goods.

https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/storybook-diy-kit

>172 quondame: I don't know if they "click" together -- I am still on the paint and glue stage!

>173 atozgrl: I'll add Reel Paper to the recycling thread!! I use Who Gives A Crap paper products. : ) Happy Reading!



https://www.librarything.com/topic/339326

>156 Berly: What a cool idea, Kim. Can't wait to see the finished product.

I am really looking forward to Yellowface.

Thanks, Mark! Still painting and gluing. It says my version should only take about 7 hours to assemble. Ummmm...maybe after all the painting is done? Cuz it's gonna take me way longer than that! LOL

I'll be dropping you lots of spoiler comments once you start Yellowface!

>156 Berly: That project looks so cool but fiddly, Kim. Are there many more pieces to it?

Your post about Yellowface has piqued my interest.

Looking at all those small parts I think I'll stick to admiring the completed product, Kim. I'm sure it will look lovely on the shelf.

>156 Berly: I would cry if I got a DIY project! I am so non-artistic, do it yourself, that I wouldn't attempt it. I only create things in the kitchen, foodwise!

I love those little miniature thingies, but I can't help but think they take away too much space from actual books ;-)

Hi Kim!

>139 Berly: I would never have known you had 2 adopted children, which is the way it’s supposed to be. I babysat for a family in 1968-1971 that tried forever to get pregnant, couldn’t, adopted, then immediately got pregnant. They were very happy with their 2 children.

>148 EllaTim: Drat. Now I need to get glass-lined drinking bottles.

>151 Berly: My Uncle’s 2nd wife, my Aunt Joanne, gave up two children in her late teens - the first got in touch with her and they were thrilled. The adoptive parents always thanked her for giving them Cathy. The second child was still mad at being give up for adoption but had a wonderful adoptive family who felt threatened by my aunt and there was no contact after the initial conversation. *shrug*

>175 Berly: I love Who Gives a Crap toilet paper. They or their carrier recently screwed up – first time ever – and after I sent an email with pics they processed a refund. Not as much as I expected, frankly, but better than nothing.

Hi, Kim!!!!! Yours is my visiting place this morning! (Do you know that you had 70 posts before the new year? Good Grief and Wow!)

>156 Berly: I saw that on your fb post too. It is precious! I would have a flower pot lost in my ear and the sign hanging off my nose if I tried to put it together, but I'm delighted that you can do it.

I mostly came by to say, "Wordle in 4 today. Humph ;~)

You make me want to read Yellowface, but I have another couple to get to first and am eager for Babel.

The Known World in June. I'm making a note of it. I think Judy may join us. Maybe some others as well?

>148 EllaTim: Ha! That is why I drink at home (and usually take with me) from a glass mason jar. It doesn't work well in the car, though, as it's too big for the cup holder!

>156 Berly: That will be adorable once finished! Not sure I would have the patience to put one together though!

>178 Familyhistorian: There are sooo many little pieces!! LOL.

>179 charl08: Like I said, I had no idea it was a DIY when I asked for it for Christmas-- I just like how the finished item looked on the shelf and I could envision it amongst my books! My daughter is helping me put it together and we are having fun with it though our puzzle has gotten sidelined....

>180 Tess_W: LOL. I like artsy stuff. Drawing, photography, working in glass. But these pieces are so small!! I think this will be my first and last miniature project. : ) And being creative in the kitchen certainly counts!

>181 katiekrug: Nah, I think it will only take up the room of two or three books. ; )

>182 karenmarie: I was very good at sending yearly updates and photos to the birthparents, but after 18 I figured it was up to my kids to stay in touch if they wanted to. My daughter's birth sister is the one that keeps in contact. Neither of the birthparents have really reached out. She has met both of them, but I don't think they clicked.

>183 LizzieD: So glad you came over here to hang out this morning! But you need to take the sign off your nose and put it back on the table -- I'm going to need it later. LOL. Don't hold your breath -- this construction might take a while!

Babel "The Necessity of Violence"? Hmmmm....do I have the right book?

>184 EBT1002: Great! The more the merrier. I think WeirdO is joining us for THe Known World in June as well.

>185 Tess_W: I don't know if the micro-plastic is only from store-bought water bottles or if it includes reusable ones. Must investigate further....

>186 ChelleBearss: I hope it is adorable as the picture when I get done with it! LOL.

Fight Night by Miriam Toews

This was a DNF. Three generations of women are trying to make life work, but the pregnant mom just cried too much and the young daughter was so excitable -- way too many exclamation points. I just didn't care for the characters. It has a very good rating. Oh well. Moving on...

I started Everything Inside by Edwidge Danticat.

Oooh, The Known World! I've been meaning to read that for ages. June you say? I might join...

>192 katiekrug: You should!! I'm adding your name to the list so I can remind you. : )

Exit Strategy Murderbot #4 (🎧 4 hours) by Martha Wells - 4.0

This is the last in the series and I'm sad to see it end. Not quite as good as the other three, but still very enjoyable and it was an appropriate ending (don't want to give anything away).

See >195 curioussquared: -- not the last one!!

>194 Berly: Good news, Kim -- there are three more Murderbots after this one and more in the works!

>193 Berly: May i stick an oar in as well re : The Known world

>175 Berly: I use Who Gives a Crap T.P. too and like it a lot. I would just say -- be prepared to store a lot of it because it comes in a VERY big box. Fortunately we have a 3-car-garage and only one car so I can store it without problem but in a small apartment it could be a problem :)

I also use Seventh Generation 100% recycled content facial tissues and paper towels. They aren't quite as soft as the traditional brands but, really, they're just fine.

I've been using Earth Breeze laundry sheets (which come in a cardboard sleeve) and they work fine but they are made in China and the thought of all of the shipping involved to get them to me (even though the distribution center is in Oregon) bothers me. I'm on the lookout for environmentally friendly cleaning products made in North America.

>189 Berly: I’m for being careful. Use my own glass water bottle (quart size wine bottle) and I want to avoid plastic packaging for take-out. As heated plastic will also give off particles. Should be doable, just takes planning.

Ooh, I will have to watch for your thoughts on Everything Inside: Stories. That one sounds good and I am overdue for a story collection.

Sweet Thursday, Kim.

>195 curioussquared: Oh, you have made my day!! I thought there were more, but the write up said this was the last one. More Murderbot!! Hurray!

>196 magicians_nephew: Absolutely!! Adding your name to The Known World!!

>185 Tess_W: I found an insert for the car's cup holder that is very expandable on Amazon - in fact it converts a single cup holder into a double cup holder.

>197 RebaRelishesReading: Yes, WhoGivesACrap sends a big box of TP!!! LOL. I like Seventh Generation products a lot, too.

And I use TruEarth (Canada) laundry sleeves and I just got a bag of Stoneworks (CA) laundry pellets/pods to try out...!

>198 EllaTim: Careful is good! I also try to avoid takeout packaging and also bag my own veggies at the store when possible. I like hints and reminders and new products to check out!!

>199 msf59: One story in so far...will keep you posted. But a good start and I like Danticat. Happy Thursday!

>201 quondame: Nice!! We have to help each other out. : )

Hi Kim!

>191 Berly: I absolutely adore the author’s name, but don’t have anything by her yet.

sorry Fight Night didn't work for you. I really liked it. I hope the Danticat works better, but I love her writing.

I think Exit Strategy is my favorite Murderbot, but the new one is good, too. And, there's another coming this summer. I listen to them and they are really good audiobooks.

>202 Berly: Are those laundry products made in the US or just shipped from here?

>204 karenmarie: I've read two others by Danticat-- Breath, Eyes, Memory and Brother, I'm Dying -- and enjoyed them both. You should get your hands on one of hers!!

>205 BLBera: I am enjoying the Danticat and I'm just so happy there are more Murderbots still to go! : )

>206 RebaRelishesReading: TruEarth is made in Canada and Stoneworks is from the US. I also found a cool website that tells where things are made!!

https://enviromom.com/where-is-your-laundry-detergent-made/

So today I ran errands because tomorrow it's supposed to snow 10 inches. Which means on my hilly, curvy roads, I am gonna be snowed in!

I was at the Dr's office to give another blood sample, and the guy next to me was in shorts and a t-shirt. It was 34 degrees outside. I have lost my MN cold tolerance -- I had a sweatshirt and a jacket on. I asked him where he grew up -- MN or Alaska? He said Alaska. LOL

The grocery store was packed with everyone buying food in case they can't get out. Nobody does this back in MN. Course it is flat there and people have snow tires, know how to drive in snow, and they have way more plows to dig people out with. Also way less black ice, which we get a fair amount of here.

But got my groceries and I am busy making cauliflower mash for dinner and pumpkin bread for tomorrow's breakfast. : )

>190 Berly: Not the first time I've done the same on a highly rated book. Not this one specifically, but still. Sorry it didn't work out.
>208 Berly: In fairness, I also think men seem to run hotter. I knew guys in high school in basketball shorts in the winter.
But oh, pumpkin bread! I'd love to know how that goes :) I love pumpkin- flavored baked goods so much.
Good luck with the snow!

>205 BLBera: Exit Strategy is wonderful. I also liked 2&3 more than 1, 5 & 6, but they are all solid.

I think Exit Strategy is my favorite Murderbot, too. And after reading the last one (#7), it seems that more are planned. Hooray!

Water bottles: I have been using glass ones for years. There is a brand called LifeFactory that makes glass ones with silicone sleeves and we really have used them for 10+ years. They will break if you drop them just right, but I love them. The downside is that they are really heavy for travel, etc. But for every day use, or carrying back and forth to school they're ideal.

Happy weekend and stay warm!

>156 Berly: too cute!!! I love that.

>190 Berly: you wine some and you....well.

ETA- Fruedian slip with the 'wine' instead of 'win'?? lol

I have a couple by Edwidge Danticat on the shelves.

>77 Berly: I have been looking for this list! Yours is a treasure trove of great reading.

>82 Berly: I am glad you enjoyed it. I finished the fourth one this year and am worried that it may be the last as the plot seemed very final.

>156 Berly: I am planning to ask for one of these for my birthday! I put a garden themed greenhouse for my sister a few years ago and enjoyed it even though this isn't my usual crafting. There are lots of tiny pieces and it is fun to see how they turn into the scene. Have fun!

>194 Berly: I need to get back to the Murderbots.

Happy weekend!

>211 AMQS: I second the glass water bottles with the silicone sleeves. I've had mine for a while although I did break one.

I always marveled at my students who would come to class all winter in nothing more than a sweatshirt -- in Minnesota! And as soon as it hit 30 degrees in the spring, I would see shorts. It makes me cold thinking about it!

That's too bad, I loved Fight Night. But good to bail when you are that irritated.

Stay warm!

>207 Berly: Thanks for the web site Kim. When I get through my stack of Earth Breeze I think I'll try TruEarth -- BC is just up the road :)

We're warm and cozy and fully stocked -- hope you are too!

So did it snow the 10 inches? Our 8 inches from Monday night is just sitting there in the negative zero temps we are having, but at least the roads have pretty much been cleared off, and no hills to speak of.

>194 Berly: I'm a little confused because Exit Strategy isn't the end of the series? System Collapse was published last year (#7).

>205 BLBera: and >211 AMQS: I'm not sure I have a favorite one, maybe Network Effect because the arguments and sulking are especially hilarious in this one.

I lose track of which is which because I read/listened to them in the order they became available in Libby rather than in reading order. So I get them confused.

>175 Berly:, >182 karenmarie:, >197 RebaRelishesReading:, >202 Berly: I started using Who Gives a Crap last year because I was able to split orders with neighbors before going ahead with an order by myself. I'm just about out of TP now, but my storage options are more limited in my new condo...

>182 karenmarie: >198 EllaTim:, >211 AMQS:, >215 BLBera: I'm still using metal water bottles. I tend to drop stuff a lot, and even with protective sleeve, I would worry about breaking a glass bottle while out and about.

>21 Tess_W: I had mostly switched to glass bowls for leftovers, particularly for reheating in microwave. But I didn't bring the microwave with me during my move, and I replaced it with a toaster/air fryer combo. Bit of a bummer after the fact because I rely on flaxseed heating pads and am sad to give up my claypot microwave popcorn maker. Maybe chose the wrong combo kitchen appliance.

A lot fewer plastic shopping bags floating around Portland, plus I have a lot fewer friends in the area, so I am figuring out my new trash arrangements. It's been a couple of decades since I bought plastic bags specifically to hold trash, just been repurposing shopping bags collected from friends and my occasional trips with my own bags forgotten. Anyway, haven't figured out what to do once I run out of my current supplies.

Similarly, I use empty food packaging bags to handle what I scoop out of the litterbox. No worries about running out there, given all of the food packaging.

>10 Berly: I do a lot of what you're doing already too. What I found so funny while packing up for the big move was the number of people who offered me packing material--bubble wrap and the like. I have an extensive fabric stash, plus all my clothes and household linens--why not use all of that to pad fragile items? I ran out of breakables before I ran out of fabric to pack it away.

It's interesting to compare Portland vs Madison recycling programs. City composting is convenient, though it seems like my neighbors don't participate considering how empty the bin is when I dump out my compost pail.

I certainly miss the benefits of cooperative efforts with my cohousing neighbors--for example, someone else was willing to take styrofoam to the drop-off site. Now I have to figure out whether I can even drop it off at a site in Portland (and how, lacking a car). That collective sustainability approach is also how I replenished paper and plastic shopping bags without acquiring them at stores myself.

So, power went out yesterday morning at 11:00am. Still out. Snow, hail, wind gusts, trees down. 52 degrees inside the house. Just went downstairs to make sure the fire is still going strong. Dont' want to waste my battery -- I'll update when we actually get power again!!

>221 Berly: I hope your power comes back, sooner better than later! Do you have enough books? (Just kidding!)

Karen O

>221 Berly: Oh no! Hope you get power (and heat) back soon. Glad you can have a fire going in the meantime to help.

>221 Berly: Sorry to hear about the weather emergency. Hope you were able to stay warm and power comes back soon. All is well here, just another regular day for me in north Portland.

We are having gales here...cold because of that...but a generator means no power outages have happened or are terribly likely to for very long. Hoping yours is back soon, and it gets above sixty at least! Inside of course, since outside is not headed that way....

*smooch*

>221 Berly: Hope your power comes back soon! We've been lucky -- perhaps because I put batteries into the two lanterns I have 😁😁 (left over from when our neighborhood in S.D. had a spell of frequent power loss). Stay warm!

Oh, that is terrible, Kimmers! Sending you warm vibes! Keep us posted.

Keep warm and safe. I hope the power is back on soon.

Some of the ladies from our church crochet blankets from the plastic bags for the homeless. Apparently they are very warm and waterproof when completed. It takes a lot of bags to make one blanket, but the way the stores sometimes put everything in separate bags and put things in bags that I'd prefer they didn't (like gallon jugs), we end up with lots.

>156 Berly: oh my gosh! That is adorable! I bet a pair of tweezers would come in handy for placing those objects inside!

Hope your power comes back soon!! What about heat?! Can you cozy up by a fireplace?

Hi, Kim! I hope you are well. Thanks for stopping by my thread.

This is just a drive-by hello. I'm going to try to read more and be more active on LT this year, but I've said that for the past 7 years, ever since I got the library director job.

(Isn't it weird that being a librarian has slowed down my reading?)

>156 Berly: That's adorable, but I can't imagine putting it together!

Uggh! Hope your power is back SOON!

This is not good news, I hope that everything will soon be ok again. All the best!

Hi Kim!

>207 Berly: Drat, ah, er, good. *smile* I’ve now ordered Breath, Eyes, Memory.

>208 Berly: We have a member of our book sort team who wears shorts pretty much all winter long. ‘Course we haven’t had any snow/ice for a winter or two, so don’t know what he’ll do then. Pumpkin bread. *whimper*

>221 Berly: Sorry about losing power. 52F is brrrr, stay warm and safe.

Oh I used to hate when the power went out when we lived in Seattle. It happened fairly regularly whenever there was a windstorm. Thankfully most times it was usually back on within 5-6 hours. But I remember one time it was out for 4 days. We tried to find a hotel but the were all booked up. I hope your power comes back on much sooner than that, and that you stay warm in the meantime. (It always seemed to happen in the winter).

Hope you get your power back soon!

Hey Kim. Sending warm wishes your way. I would be looking for a beach read if I were you. 🏖️

You mentioned the possibility of being snowed in upthread. I’m glad you stocked up on groceries before this double whammy hit!

I love the discussion on plastic-free and recycled-paper stuff. After reading a few recent magazine articles, I tossed all my soft-sided plastic containers except one or two I use for non-food stuff. There's just enough room in my bathroom for the smaller shipment of whogivesacrap, and I'm comparing sources paper towels that are recycled, and plan to use more cloth for some of those uses as well. We have talked a bit about getting a soda machine to limit the number of soda bottles we accumulate, even though we scrupulously recycle them. And I discovered that Staples has a box for recycling plastic bags and other 'film'.

Stay warm, TwinK!

I hope they get the power back on soon. I hope you're not frozen. I hope your pipes are not frozen!!!!

>220 justchris: What a great use for your fabric stash while moving! I hope I never have to move, and if I do I probably won't have any use for my fabrics, but it's still a great idea.

Haven't heard from you for a couple of days so I assume you're still one of the thousands of customers without power! Hope you're warm and OK especially since tomorrow is supposed to be an ice storm!

Hi Kim, stopping by to wish you a wonderful 2024... and that your power comes back on soon!

Thanks for all the visits!! Individual responses later. I promise!! Power still out and we are scheduled for Tuesday night around 10pm, but there is another storm coming tomorrow, so I'm doubtful. Managing to keep the upper floor in the 50s, but the downstairs is in the 30s. Dang it. Currently warming ourselves up at our downtown work office, catching up on things electronic and trying to recharge everything!!

Just started reading What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum; enjoying Bee Sting by Paul Murray and also Urslala LeGuin's No Time To Spare.

2024 -- Dubious Start! LOL

Good luck - I hope you get your power back.

Yikes, Kim!! I hope your power is back soon.

Dropping in to say hello. I hope you are staying warm and that the power has been restored!

Blergh … hope for lights and heat soon.

That's a long power outage, Kim! Good to see that you've found ways to recharge. Hope your snow was way less than predicted.

Hope the power is fixed soon, Kim. We've just had the first snow flurries for 2024, but nothing compared to your weather.

As I write it is still snowing, since last night. I imagine Kayla won't have to each school today. And, the beauty of online classes is that she can do her work from home. My job today is to continue to get books in order -- a never ending task.

I hope you are feeling better, and that power is restored.

Glad your power is back on! We have a tradition of lighting candles and playing Clue when we lose power.

>252 AMQS: Brilliant idea!

New Yorkers are all spoiled all our power lines and suchlike are safely buried underground.

Where my parents used to live in Connecticut it was above ground power lines on poles and they lost power regularly. My father used to buy those cheap $1.99 flashlight whenever he went to the hardware store and there were dozens of then scattered around the house.

Got our power back!!! Took a shower and it was heaven! Running the dishwasher now and crossing fingers that we don't lose power again -- ice and wind storm again tonight. Ramping the heat up to 75 inside in case we do. Fingers crossed. Be back again later to answer you all -- thanks for the love!!

>255 Berly: YAY! So glad power's back! Crossing all the crossables that it stays on overnight despite the storm.

You are going great guns with your reading, Kim, which is great! I'm just about 1/3 of the way through my third book. And I'm still working on the same puzzle! I've been a bit busy with " real life" so my reading and puzzling has suffered a bit. I'm glad you have your power back.

YAY for the power and the shower!
Hopefully it stays that way.

Glad your power is back! We were blessed that ours did not go out during this huge snowstorm. Now we're just dealing with cold. The temp was zero last night with wind chills up to -15. (I know that's nothing for folks in Wyoming and Montana, etc., but it's very unusual here.)

Yay, power!!!

Glad your power is back. Looks like you may start thawing soon too. I checked the news when I got up and it showed the thaw nearing southern Portland. I'm hoping to get to the store this afternoon but it isn't urgent and I won't go until the ice is gone.

So happy to hear your power is restored. Enjoy!

Tom Lake is on my Kindle and it looks like you enjoyed it.

Sorry to see that you were without power for so long! Hope the ice storm didn't affect you on the second round and that you're toasty warm!

>175 Berly: Thanks, Kim, I see you added Reel Paper to the paper towels section on the recycling thread. Don't forget to add it to the toilet paper as well--that's what we use mostly.

>231 tymfos: Isn't it weird that being a librarian has slowed down my reading?
No, I don't think so. The same thing happened to me. I had to retire for my reading to pick back up.

>255 Berly: I got behind and missed that you had lost power for so long. I'm glad you got it back, and I sure hope it stays on!

Okay. I lied. I am not going to answer you each individually. My power was out a long time, LOL!!

Thank you so much EVERYONE for your wonderful support and good wishes. I popped in and read them between my quick updates.

Yes, we did finally get power and then after getting caught up on dishes and a shower and putting everything back where it belonged, I just crashed, exhausted.

I still have friends without power and my daughter's power came back on but they have water leaks and damage. No fun at all.

Today we are getting frozen rain, so still not able to leave the house -- the roads are a mess near my house.

Random answers to comments
Love all the Murderbot comments (yes the series is longer than advertised and I thought --yay!); yay for recycling ideas and enthusiasm; I appreciate the fellow winter hunker-downers empathy; I very much wish our power lines were underground so trees don't fall on them; we lit candles and played gin, mah jong, and toco cat goat cheese pizza; I save all my packaging from deliveries and reuse them when I send out mail but I love using fabric as padding too; and crochet plastic blankets!; haven't had to use tweezers yet on the miniature build, but I took a pause during the power outage - must get back to it!; Chris you need a microwave.

Okay!! I am moving on -- time to start a new thread and be over this winter mess. : )

Nice to see you in good spirits Kimmers. xx

>266 PaulCranswick: : )