Donna's Life Is An Open Book

Griffin (16), Sadie (22), Audrey (19)
Donna and Dave
Molly (10), Haley (13)
Penny aka Sweet Pea (6)



Hope, age 10, riding her new hoverboard. She’s a natural!
Beautiful blue sky in Colorado.

Hello My Reading Friends. I'm Donna from Springfield, Missouri and have been an LT member since March of 2007. I am grateful for this wonderful group of thoughtful readers who encourage and challenge me in my reading endeavors. I have read more widely since joining the group, but contemporary fiction remains my first choice for entertainment.

I stay busy trying to keep up with my six grandchildren, ages 10-22. Two are in Springfield, three live in Kansas City, and one in CO. I also take care of a big house, a busy husband, and an almost-perfect dog. Penny is our 6-yr-old Boxador (Boxer and Lab mix). I am active in my church and enjoy lunching and visiting with friends. I play Duplicate Bridge once a week with mixed feelings. I like the people I play with but get frustrated with my slow improvement in playing. Everyone needs a challenge, right? I might add a volunteer job in the fall if my energy level can handle it. I loved being a reading tutor and might volunteer in a local school. Something to think about.

Books Read in January:

1. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. 3.3 Stars
2. Land of Wolves by Craig Johnson. 3.6 Stars
3. Next to Last Stand by Craig Johnson. 3.3 Stars
4. So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan. 3.5 Stars
5. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng. 4.3
6. Cleopatra: The Queen Who Challenged Rome and Conquered Eternity. 3.6 Stars
7. A River Runs Through It and Other Stories by Norman Maclean. 4.2 Stars
8. White Nights by Ann Cleeves. 3.4 Stars
9. The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn. 4.5
10. System Collapse by Martha Wells. 3.2 Stars.

3,263 pages read in January. One book was mine and one was non-fiction.

Books Read in February:
11. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. 3.7 Stars
12. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang. 4 Stars
13. Horse by Geraldine Brooks. 4.5 Stars (Reread for Book Group)
14. The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Rankl. 4.2
15. Chenneville by Paulette Jiles. 4.5 Stars
16. The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion. 3.3 Stars
17. Manitou Canyon by William Kent Krueger. 3.3 Stars.

2,490 pages read in February. Only 7 books read this month!

Books Read in March:
18. Absolution by Alice McDermott. 4.2 Stars
19. Cousins by Paulette Jiles. 3.8 Stars
20. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. 4.2 Stars
21. The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff. 4 Stars
22. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. 4 Stars
23. Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin. 3.5 Stars
24. North Spirit by Paulette Jiles. 4 Stars
25. Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon. 3.2 Stars.

2,952 pages read in March. 8 books read. One book was mine, one reread, and 2 NF.

Books Read in April:
26. The Mist by Ragnar Jonasson. 3.3 Stars
27. Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult. 3.5 Stars
28. What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama. 3.6 Stars
29. Children of God by Mary Doria Russell. 4.5 Stars
30. I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider. 3.8 Stars
31. Walking: One Step at A Time by Erling Kagge. 3.8 Stars
32. Table for Two by Amor Towles. 3.8 Stars
33. Sulfur Springs by William Kent Krueger. 3.5 Stars.

2,308 pages read in April. Eight books completed. Two were mine, and two NF.

A year-end meme that I stole from Stasia’s thread:

1. Describe Yourself: Nobody’s Fool

2. Describe How You Feel: The Queen of Dirt Island

3. Describe Where You Currently Live: This is My America

4. If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Victory City

5. Your favorite form of transportation is: The River We Remember

6. Your favorite food is: Dessert With Buddha

7. Your favorite time of day is: The Homecoming

8. Your best friend is: Best of Friends

9. You and your friends are: Women Talking

10. What the weather is like: A Week in Winter

11. You fear: A General Theory of Oblivion

12. What is the best advice you have to give: Trust

13. Thought for the Day: All that is Mine I Carry with Me

14. What is life for you: A World of Curiosities

15. How would you like to die: This Side of Brightness

Favorite Fiction Books Read in 2023

1. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
2. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
3. The Postcard by Anne Berest
4. Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea
5. Somebody's Fool by Richard Russo
6. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
7. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
8. The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger
9. Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
10. Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane

Nonfiction Books
1. The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson
2. The Lemon Tree: An Arab, A Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan
3. Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon by Malcolm Gladwell
4. The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts
5. Full Tilt: Ireland to India With A Bicycle by Dervla Murphy

Happy New Year, Donna. This will be our 16th year on LT, my friend and still going strong. I love your fiction list. I still have to get to The Covenant of Water. I would also like to read Small Mercies.

>5 Donna828: We agree about The Covenant of Water, Donna. It was my number one from last year too.

Happy new year. xx

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

Happy new year, Donna! The Covenant of Water and Demon Copperhead were among my favorites of the year, too.

It’s good to have visitors.

>6 msf59: You might be going strong, Mark, I am just going! It took me forever to get my picture of the grandkids uploaded. My work is done for the day. Ha ha. You have some good books to look forward to.

>7 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. I’m glad we share a favorite book of the year.

>8 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle. It’s so good to see you posting I have missed you.

>9 bell7: Hi there Mary. Thanks for dropping in. I will pay a return visit soon to see what you’ve been up to. These books keep us busy don’t they?

Happy New Year Donna!

>5 Donna828: Several of your favorite fiction books from last year made my list as well, Donna, but not all so I have to get to them soon. I will be reading The Postcard this month. I have not read any of the nonfiction books so I will have to track those down too!

Happy New Year! Happy New Thread! Love the picture of your grands up top.

>11 SandDune: Thanks, Rhian. It’s good to start a new year with a clean slate.

>12 alcottacre: I think you will love The Postcard, Stasia. I will be watching for your comments on it. Hope is missing from that picture. We are heading out west in a few days and I will be sure to get a picture of her. We were so disappointed that Mike and family had to cancel out on Christmas.

Happy New Year, Donna. What a great list of favorites. I have The Postcard from the library and will read it when I finish my current book. I hope 2024 is good to you and yours, and I look forward to all of the great recommendations I will get from you.

Hello! I have both The Postcard and Demon Copperhead on my TBR pile. I really want to get to them in 2024. May your 2024 be full of good reads!

>1 Donna828: Hi Donna, what a wonderful family picture, beautiful grandkids of the proud grandparents plus a very happy looking Penny!
>5 Donna828: Loved your list of favs for the year. I have Goodnight Irene home from the library right now so will get to it soon. Lots of great books listed!
Best to you and family for 2024

>4 Donna828: I love your book meme! It's a fun wee game, I might have to indulge ;)

Happy New Year, Donna. Another year with this fab group warms my heart.

Welcome back, Donna!

Happy New Year, Donna! What a wonderful photo up top.

I will be reading both The Covenant of Water and Demon Copperhead this year as they are book club selections. Looking forward to both. And from your NF list: my brother in law gave us both The Seed Keeper and The Lemon Tree for Christmas, so more great reading for us!

Happy New Year, Donna! If you are speeding past in the middle of the day on Friday, wave at Abilene instead of Salina. Your grandkids are getting so big! Stay well--both COVID and the flu seem to be running rampant around here.

Happy New Year! Love the grandkid photo up top. And your answers to the year-end meme are awesome! I was gonna post my favorite, but I actually like at least a third of them. Nicely done!

Happy New Year and thread, Donna! What a lovely picture of you, your husband and your grandchildren!

Happy New Year, Donna! That's a wonderful photo, but however did your grandkids grow up that fast?

Happy reading in 2024, Donna!

Hi Donna. Happy New Year to you.

>1 Donna828: Wonderful photo, thanks for sharing it and the great bio info.

>5 Donna828: My RL book club will be reading Demon Copperhead in May. I’m glad to see it’s a favorite for 2023.

Love the photo of the grands at top. We have 6 now too, with baby Flora just over a year old (and coming for a visit from NYC Thursday). She was born only 15 minutes too early to have been born on my birthday. Our oldest is only 13, though (born about the time Hayley was born). I can't imagine what it will be like when the grands become adults.
Having moved to Florida, we are fortunate to be near 2 of them, and the house we moved to from our beach condo is only 5 minutes away from them. Yay!

>4 Donna828: The last entry in particular is excellent, Donna.

Wouldn't it be lovely if we could go, This Side of Brightness?

Happy new year, Donna -- love the family photo!

Hi Donna, what a lovely picture of your family! Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year and a wonderful year ahead in 2024.

Happy new year, Donna — your family photo is just lovely!

Happy New Year, Donna! Lovely family

>1 Donna828: What a great family pic!

Happy start to 2024.

Hi Donna. Thanks for posting the beautiful photo of you, your husband and your grandchildren. What a great image! I remember when they were much younger. It is wonderful to have a long-term commitment to this group and to be able to continue to communicate with you and laern about what you are reading.

I hope 2024 is a wonderful year for you!!!

Nice to see a picture of you with your family and almost perfect dog, Donna. Looks like your Christmas and New Years were good ones!

>14 BLBera: Hi Beth. I am predicting that you will love The Postcard. I get so many wonderful recommendations from you that it is good to return the favor. Happy days of reading are ahead for both of us!

>15 Tess_W: Thanks Tess. Wishing you some great reads this year. You can’t go wrong with The Postcard and Demon Copperfield, although both of them are heartbreaking in different ways. Add a little “happy” to the mix!

>16 mdoris: Thank you for your kind words about the family picture, Mary. I hope you enjoy Good Night, Irene. I wasn’t crazy about the beginning, but the war scenes had me entranced.

>17 LovingLit: It’s great to see you here, Megan. The book meme was a lot of fun and gave me a chance to review last year‘s books. I also have warm, fuzzy feelings about this wonderful group.

>18 drneutron: Many thanks for continuing to lead us in this great group, Jim. I hope you have a wonderful year of reading.

>19 AMQS: What a magnificent star, Anne. Your book club is in for some good times ahead. Your family has good taste in books. Enjoy the nonfiction reads.

>20 ronincats: Abilene it is, Roni! I can’t believe how fast those grands are growing. And, yes, all kinds of crazy diseases are popping up around here. I’ve been hearing a lot about a stomach flu that is short-lived but mighty!

>21 Berly: Good to see you here, Kim. The book meme was a lot of fun to do. Have a wonderful year of reading in 2024.

>22 vancouverdeb: Hey there, Deborah. Thanks for your kind words. I am looking forward to following you again this year and getting more book recommendations from you.

>23 streamsong: Janet, it seems that I just blinked one day, and the kids were almost grown. I’m sorry I lost touch with you towards the end of the year. I will try to keep up better.

>24 FAMeulstee: It’s always a pleasure to see you, Anita. Happy new year of reading to you.

>25 karenmarie: Hi Karen. I’m who is happy to share pictures of my grandkids. I hope you love Demon Copperhead. It iis some heavy reading, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, so keep going.

>26 arubabookwoman: Deborah, you are very lucky to live near some of your grandchildren. I wish we had a baby in the family, but I will have to be patient for that. I will be checking up to see what you’ve been reading because I always get some good advice from you. Thanks for stopping by.

P.S. I just did some checking and saw that you also reread A Fine Balance last year. And we both gave it five stars! Such a good book.

>27 PaulCranswick: I also consulted your meme, Paul, and saw that you want to die By the Sea. All well and good until I noticed this: “If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The House at Sea's End.”
Don’t go there…we want you around these threads for a good long time.

>28 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba and thanks. Wishing you yet another good year of reading and entertaining with a few fun trips thrown in for good measure. ;-)

>29 lkernagh: Thanks for visiting, Lori. You’ve been sorely missed.

>30 rosalita: Julia! It’s great to see you here. I’ve enjoyed seeing your comments around the threads recently. Happy New Year of Reading to you.

>31 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda. I wish I saw more of them. They get so busy when they’re older. Sounds familiar, right?

>32 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita. I haven’t made it to your thread yet. Don’t give up on me!

>33 Whisper1: So good to hear from you, Linda. I love your kindness and positive attitude. I so agree about the long-term commitment to this group. I hope to be a more frequent visitor in 2024.

>34 Familyhistorian: Meg, the holidays have been fun and will continue as we are heading out on a road trip to see our oldest son and family tomorrow. 12 hours in the car but it will be worth it!

Whew…so many lovely visitors. I love this chatty time of year. I will be out of the loop for the next five days. We are driving to Denver to see our oldest son and family who couldn’t make it here for Christmas. I have a few books downloaded to pass time on that long drive through Kansas. Two Walt Longmire books by Craig Johnson and a nonfiction book about Cleopatra for the War Room Challenge. We will be well-read road warriors!

Book No. 1: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Library, 309 pp., 3.3 Stars.

I may be an outlier on this book. I just didn't think it was as good as other Patchett books. I may have to attribute my negativity to holiday fatigue.

This was a family story set in Traverse City, Michigan, on a cherry orchard. I actually enjoyed the descriptions of the daily lives of the parents and their three grown daughters who worked long hours during the Covid pandemic because other workers were not available. There were some very poignant moments, especially between the mother and her three daughters, however, I thought the overly long conversations about the mother's past love-life with a famous movie star were inappropriate and kind of boring. Now that's a word that shouldn't appear in an Ann Patchett review!

It did make me want to watch a video of Our Town which might have made me like it more. Like I said, the family life segments were appealing, and the writing was fine. An example: "You could spend years in a New York apartment never knowing the people who live two feet away from you but live on an orchard in Michigan and you will use the word neighbor to refer to every person for miles. You will rely on them and know their children and their harvest and their machinery and their dogs. Good writing but a so-so story is my personal take.

>44 Donna828: Donna, I think my feelings about this book were affected by listening - Meryl Streep's narration just made the experience intimate and special. Marina's high school did Our Town in her junior year, and since she was the stage manager (the actual stage manager, not the role (our exchange student also served on the crew), it was still very fresh and personal and alive in my mind. Which also probably affected my enjoyment of the book.

But often I feel that I perhaps missed something in novels that everyone loved and I only found okay.

Sorry that Tom Lake wasn't better than it was for you. I'm not sure how I missed your thread until now, but I've found it.

Happy 2024, Donna!

>1 Donna828: What a great family photo!

I liked Tom Lake more than you did but it didn't make my favorites list for 2023.

>44 Donna828: Donna, I agree with you regarding the Tom Lake book. I started it and then put it down. It didn't hold my interest. It seemed rather boring.

Hi Donna! May 2024 bring many good books your way.

>47 Copperskye: exactly how I felt about it, Joanne.

Just checking in to see if the weather had impacted your plans at all. I think the interstate was pretty clear of snow on Friday at least through the mid-state, and if you are returning Monday, I hope you miss the blizzard parts in the west of the state. From here east, should only be rain until it gets dark, when we get the snow. Stay safe.

Joanne, I agree with Roni's comments. Please be safe in your travels.

So far I have not read Tom Lake. I had it out from the library once, but either I didn't get a chance to read it , or I started it and it didn't grab me. Maybe some day in the future.

Hi, Donna. How is your year going so far? Enjoying those books? Sorry, Tom Lake didn't work for you. Like her last several books, I loved it. I really liked North Woods. Keep that one in mind.

>45 AMQS: Anne, I will definitely reread Tom Lake in a few years. I'm sure my timing was off. Ann Patchett must have some really good connections. I loved Tom Hanks reading The Dutch House and I know Meryl Streep would also be an excellent narrator. I messed up by not doing my Our Town homework. You were lucky to have a personal connection with Marina being the stage manager.

I loved the Michigan setting, although I did question the reference to "Northern" Michigan. In my UP heart, that title is reserved for the Upper Peninsula. We are called Yoopers and people that live below the Mackinac Bridge are Trolls. ;-)

>46 thornton37814: I'm glad you found me, Lori. I'm also sorry about Tom Lake.

>47 Copperskye: Glad you liked the photo, Joanne. I mostly took videos of Hope when we were in Colorado. I'm going to try and get a picture to post of her somehow. My computer skills are pitiful.

>48 Whisper1: Hi Linda. Finally an ally in the Tom Lake controversy. I must have liked it better than you, however, as I finished it and gave it 3.5 stars which is "Good" on my rating scale. I probably should not have said it wasn't as good as her other books...but it wasn't...in my opinion. Thanks for your support. *Smile*

>49 The_Hibernator: Hi there, Rachel. I wish you the same about good books.

>50 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba.

>51 ronincats: Roni, your state was not kind to us on our trip. We spent Thursday night in Kansas City with our daughter and her family and started out for Denver early on Friday. We got through KC and Topeka before we got slammed by high winds and snow. It was worse than we were expecting. I think I held my breath for about two hours! I'm just glad I wasn't driving. We saw lots of slide-offs but no major accidents.

We left CO a day early to come home and avoided the closing of I-70. We spent Sunday night in Junction City and drove the last 6 hours in heavy rain. I think our next road trips will be done in the summer!

Thanks for checking on us. Typically, we love driving across Kansas. I think the Flint Hills are very picturesque and the flatter portion of the state past Salina appeals to me because it seems like I can see forever. Seriously, KS gets a bad rap. It's a lovely state.

>52 Whisper1: Thanks again, Linda. It's very good to be home.

>53 vancouverdeb: I hope you like Tom Lake if you decide to read it, Deborah. I'll say again that it wasn't my favorite but it was a decent book.

>54 msf59: Hi Mark. I think our new year started after we got home from Colorado. It was a rough trip and we had to cut our visit a day short. Sad face. I will check into North Woods. My reading list is filling up quickly. So many good books out there. I am not complaining!

I think you picked the two worst traveling days of the season so far! Glad you missed the closing down of I-70 at the Colorado border by leaving a day earlier. Next time, stop 40 miles sooner than Junction City and spend the night at my place!

I hope I didn't overlook anyone. I'm still in recovery after riding 24 hours in the car for a 2-day visit with our kids in the Denver area.

Not enough time with Hope. She loved the hoverboard we got her for Christmas. I'm going to try and pull a picture of her on it from the video I took. It was so disappointing not having more time together.

>61 ronincats: You are so right, Roni! We were foolish to try and outwit Mother Nature. Lesson learned. What a kind offer. We were trying to get as far as we could to beat the weather. So glad it didn't snow on us for the return trip.

Yes, we had 6 to 8 inches when I woke up Monday. Very pretty but no fun to drive in.

>64 ronincats: We got about two inches of snow here today. Enough to cancel school!

I managed to get a screen shot of Hope on her new Hoverboard from the video I took. It's posted at the top of this thread. I also got her piano recital on video so I can listen to it when I'm missing her. *Sigh*

Good that you are home safe and sound after your rough travels. We did a similar 2 day drive last year to visit our daughter in Fernie, B.C. with wretched driving conditions, more grey hair! I share your opinion about Tom Lake I wanted to like it more than I did as I have really liked her other books. I guess there is always that source of comparison. Hard to be away from the grandkids! I can sympathize.

>59 Donna828: Ugh! How harrowing! Glad you got through it safely. I love driving through Kansas. But you've got to look up - it's the skies that are gorgeous! (Also, the rest areas on 70 are nice and well spaced.) :)

>44 Donna828: I enjoyed Tom Lake a bit more than you did, but I also was enjoying it knowing that Meryl Streep was narrating. ; ) I am not sure why Lara abandoned acting so quickly and I don't understand how Peter Duke would entice her up to his rehab just to screw her, but then didn't even recognize her when he visited Tom Lake -- didn't make sense to me. Also was surprised by the end reveal about her prior aborted pregnancy. I guess this just played up the shallowness of acting and how she had managed to find a meaningful life and true love later on.

We are called Yoopers and people that live below the Mackinac Bridge are Trolls This is something I hadn't known before. I have been lucky enough to visit most states thanks to the Chorale, but Michigan is one I've never been to. And having recently read Ms Patchett's These Precious Days, I don't know that she knows Michigan terribly well either (she was raised in Nashville and Los Angeles). Locals do pick up on details - I've certainly read things set in Denver that were wrong.

What do the Trolls think of being called that?

>67 mdoris: More grey hair! You got that right, Mary. I was a basket case but had to subdue my terror so DH could concentrate on driving.
I do tend to compare books if I have read multiple ones by the same author. Tom Lake is by no means at the bottom of the Patchett list.

>68 Copperskye: Joanne, I'm glad you also enjoy those Kansas skies. The sunsets are almost as amazing as the ones in Colorado if the timing is right. Also, hooray for the many clean rest stops along the way. We should get a kickback from the Kansas Tourism people. ;-)

>69 Berly: Hi Kim. I sure wish I had done the audio version of Tom Lake. Thank you so much for your wisdom in the "spoiler". Your last sentence made so much sense to me, although I still didn't enjoy reading about Lara's misspent youth.

>70 AMQS: Anne, that's a great question about what the trolls in Michigan think. I can give a qualified answer as I was actually born in Kalamazoo. I think it's pretty funny to be a Bonafide "Troll", although I do identify more with the Yoopers because I've spent most of my time in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. My grandparents lived there and we visited them frequently. I also lived in Marquette for two years in the 1960s when I was in high school.

Book No. 2: Land of Wolves by Craig Johnson. Hoopla🎧, 336 pp., 3.6 Stars.

Walt Longmire and a wolf out of its home range. What's not to like? He takes a "wait and see" attitude about the lone wolf who had "nibbled" on a hanging victim. Walt seems tired in this book which was a follow-up to his rough time in Mexico rescuing his daughter. I'm glad he's back in Absaroka (sp?) County in Wyoming. This was an enjoyable listen for me during my own harrowing adventure with the storm across Kansas. I promise I'm over it and won't bring it up again. ;-)

Book No. 3: Next to Last Stand by Craig Johnson. Hoopla 🎧, 336 pp., 3.3 Stars.

An old man dies and leaves behind a valuable painting of Custer's Last Stand. This one was a bit of a stretch for me to imagine Walt as a patron of the arts. Of course, there was the usual murder investigation and some fun scenes with Henry Standing Bear.

It was an enjoyable read but I might need to take a break from my favorite Wyoming Sheriff, Walt Longmire. For me, series books usually are more enjoyable with a little breathing room between them.

Book No. 4: So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan. Library, 119 pp., 3.5 Stars

This was a short story collection. Too bad that short stories do not appeal to me all that much. I do love Claire Keegan's writing, however, and these stories provided a way to wind down at the end of three days of travel. As usual, the writing was good. I just did not care to read about men and women behaving badly. I will stick with Keegan's novellas.

Glad you are home safely. I think I am the only person to have never read a Patchett!

Hi Joanne!

Yipes to the white-knuckle drive. I love the pic of Hope on her hoverboard.

I've read the first Walt Longmire book, have the first 13, and now see that there are 7 more. I made the mistake of watching the TV series first, and the first book was so different from the TV series that I was rather put off. I'll probably get rid of them, just have to think it through.

>76 Tess_W: You have a treat in store for you if you decide to read some Patchett books, Tess. I think I would recommend any of her essay collections and/or Bel Canto, one of her earlier works. I’ve liked all of her books, some more than others.

>75 Donna828: I had similar feelings, Donna.

>77 karenmarie: Thanks for checking out the Hope picture, Karen. I worked hard cropping that from the video I took.

Yup, that’s a lot of Longmire books for sure. My husband and I binged on the TV series during the Covid shutdown and were surprised in the differences. Both good in my opinion. It’s hard to find books on audio that we can both enjoy so I will probably save the last few for another road trip.

>79 Copperskye: My rating was mostly based on the writing, Joanne. It’s hard for me to love books if I can’t find anything redeeming in the characters. *Shrug*

I just got the sad news about losing a fellow LTer that I’ve gotten to know over the years. I’ve been fortunate to have had two meetups with Julia (rosalita) over the years. Our last correspondence here was just a few days ago. You will be missed, Sweet Friend.



May 2014. Booktopia in Boulder, Colorado.
Starting on lower left: Julia, Me (Donna), Joanne, Katie, Anne, and Mary.



Starting at the head of the table is Julia, Terri, Donna, Stasia, Catey (Stasia’s daughter), my BFF Nancy, and Sandy.
This picture was taken in November of 2017 at The Red Onion Restaurant where we eat every year after buying and talking about books at The Changing Hands Bookstore in Joplin, Missouri.

Sorry to read about Julia (rosalita). It's sad that she is gone so soon.

Nice to see the pictures of you all, Donna. Thanks for posting them. Julia will be missed.

>83 thornton37814: Yes, Lori, too soon and too suddenly.

>84 Familyhistorian: You're welcome on the pictures, Meg. Julia will indeed be missed.

Oh, Donna, I’m so sorry about the loss of your friend Julia. I remember her posts well from past years on LT.

Glad you made it safely home after what must have been a harrowing trip. And what a shame about the shortened time with Hope. I remember when she was born, and the special significance of her name.

I’ll be following your hreads, even if only in lurking mode.

Book No. 5: The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng. Library, 306 pp., 4.3 Stars.

This rollicking read had several different things going on: two different timelines and a mix of historical and fictional characters. There are also many secrets which are slowly revealed to the reader but closely guarded by the cast of characters in colonial Malaya in the early 1900s.

I thought using Somerset Maughm as a catalyst to the true stories of an Englishwoman charged with murder and the role of Malayan support in China's rise to power was brilliant. There was a lot to keep track of, although Tan's usual excellent storytelling skills made it a pleasure to eventually open the doors (ha!) to discover the hidden intrigue.

The atmospheric setting of Penang led to some beautiful descriptions of the land and water. "The wind frisked the topmost branches of the trees. Golden orioles flitting around the garden. Listening to the waves fizzing on the sand, Willie felt the knots in his body slowly unravelling. He was looking forward to a slothful restorative stay here with Gerald, free from all cares." Tan can certainly cast a spell with his masterful writing.

>86 Matke: Thank you for visiting and for those kind words, Gail.

Hope will be coming to Missouri this summer for her usual longish visit (it was almost two weeks last year) so we'll have plenty of fun times together then.

Stop by when you can. There is no pressure in this group.
As you can see, I also loved The House of Doors. He is such a good writer.

>87 Donna828: Excellent review Donna! I thought it was very good too.

So sad about Julia. Thank you for posting the picture. I have yet to read The House of Doors and am only starting on my third book, so I'm reading very slowly. Great review, Donna.

>87 Donna828: I hoot to get around to The House of Doors soon. I've enjoyed both his other books.

I had some great meet ups with Julia, too, Donna. I will miss her. Thanks for posting the pictures.

I also loved The House of Doors. I will read more by Tan.

>82 Donna828: These are some of my very favorite Meet Up photos ever. I am so glad I have been able to meet several of the group, including Julia. We will miss her. Our time will come, Donna- for a Meet up, not for the other thing.

Thanks for posting those pictures, Donna. LT meetups are so special. I was so saddened to hear of Julia's passing, and grateful that I got a chance to meet her.

It's great to see visitors. I'll be back with comments after I post about my latest book. There are so many details...I don't want to forget anything. ;-)

Book No. 6: Cleopatra: The Queen Who Challenged Rome and Conquered Eternity by Alberto Angela, translated by Katherine Gregor. Library, Both print and audio, 426 pp., 3.6 Stars.

I read this book for the War Room Challenge to read a book about Ancient wars, specifically Greeks, Romans, Persians, Spartans, Egypt, Carthage, Alexander...either fiction or nonfiction. Way too many choices. This one about Cleopatra and her escapades with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony jumped out at me because I could get both a print and audio version. I've been going back and forth in it for over two weeks now. It is classified as a Biography but with little specific knowledge about Cleopatra's private life there seemed to be quite a bit of speculation on the author's part.

There was a lot of information about the ancient world, and I enjoyed the author's fairly simple style of writing so that the average reader could understand all the twists and turns of this tumultuous time in history. I will write about the civil wars that occurred after Caesar's assasination in March of 44 B.C. and how it affected world history and post it on the War Room Challenge Thread. It will probably sound like a bad soap opera. Haha.

>89 mdoris: Thank you, Mary. Yes indeed. I read your comments and also loved the diving scene you referenced. Tan is an exquisite writer who made Malysia come alive through his descriptions.

>90 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah. Only your third book? That's pretty good if you ask me. I've been reading more than usual because of the audio books on the road trip to CO and the recent cold weather that has held me captive.

>91 SandDune: Hi Rhian. The only negative thing I can say about Tan Twan Eng is that he writes too slowly. I hope we don't have to wait another ten or so years for his next book!

>92 BLBera: I know you and Julia saw each other fairly frequently, Beth. Her passing must have been quite a blow to you as I read elsewhere on someone's thread that you had very recently spoken to her. What a shock.

You're in for a treat with Tan's other books. So I looked it up. I have been incorrectly referring to him as Mr. Eng when his surname is Tan! My apologies to Mr. Tan. I'm not even sure if I can address him as "Mr." ???

I fixed all the errors I could find...
I love this quote: "I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance."

>93 msf59: Mark, I'm glad I had a few pictures of Julia. I loved the one of her in your home that you posted.

>94 AMQS: Hi Anne. That was such a good visit we had in Boulder. As Katie pointed out on her thread, we were enjoying our dinner conversation so much that we missed the last group meeting at Booktopia.

>98 Donna828: This makes me want to read it even more than the original post (#87) did. I'll have to see if I can locate it in a library around here.

Just trying to catch up with threads.....

>65 Donna828: Wait two inches of snow cancels school?

>44 Donna828: Sorry Tom Lake did not work for you.

>87 Donna828: I am reading this one ( on and off) so far so good. Glad it was a fantastic read for you.

Happy mid week :)

So sorry about Julia. Lovely pictures that you posted!

HI Donna, did you see that we are side-by-side pals on last year's stats by Paul?
Oh I am in good company!

>100 thornton37814: Lori, I’m glad I could nudge you into looking for the latest Tan Twan Eng book. Have you read the other two written by him? They are just as compelling.

>101 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita. The saddest thing about cancelling school for two inches of snow is that it was done when the weather was perfectly fine. No wonder the kids of today expect things to be easy. They haven’t been allowed to suffer the way I did as a child. 🤣
I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying the Tan book.

>102 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle.

>103 mdoris: Mary, it’s good to be book buddies with you. Not only do we like the same books, we also have similar posting rates. I don’t post as much as some others in the group because I dislike the process of starting a new thread. Guess I’m getting lazy in my old age.

Book No. 7: A River Runs Through It and Other Stories by Norman Maclean. Mine, 217 pp., 4.2 Stars

I loved the first novella in this collection. A River Runs Through It is worthy of the Full Five Stars! According to my friend Google, a novella consists of 60-120 pages and "River" is 104 tiny-print pages in my copy. I saw the movie eons ago and liked it, but the writing absolutely stunned me...even the many pages of fly-fishing choreography. I am not a fisherwoman, in fact I don't like the taste or texture of fish, but I know good writing, and this was top notch. The story centers on two brothers in the years between 1910 and 1935. It has one of my favorite first line in a book: "In my family there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing." Maclean's father was a Presbyterian minister by profession, but a fly fisherman when he wasn't in the pulpit.

Although there's a lot of fishing in the book, my favorite parts were the close observations of nature, both the botanical and human varieties. The author's younger brother, Paul, was a gifted fly fisherman who failed at life. He worked as a reporter, although his favorite pastimes when he wasn't on the river were drinking and womanizing. How do you help someone who is beyond help? Norman learned that one can't "help those closest to us..." However we can "love completely without complete understanding." There are some powerful messages in this book about family life. I'm glad they had the comfort of the hallowed rivers and trees surrounding their little homestead to give them a respite from the trials of life.

I shared the first line, but the last lines are just as significant: "Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it...I am haunted by waters"

Note on my rating: The first novella gets 5 Stars, the short story "Logging and Pimping and Your Pal Jim" was only a 3.5 rating, and the third story/novella "the Cook and a Hole in the Sky" was a 4-star read for me. Average of 4.2 Stars.

>82 Donna828: Julia’s passing struck me hard, though I only met her that once. What a lovely woman—she will be missed—and what a great meet-up that was!

>96 Donna828: Now I want to read this one too. I’ll have to jump over to the challenge thread and see what your thoughts are.

>104 Donna828: I read one before this.

Canceling school... it seems like the process is different than it was when I was in school myself. We had to get up at the usual time and tune into a radio station to hear school closure announcements, which were made the day of. Now it seems like decisions are made the evening before based on forecasts and "what everyone else is doing" (other metro area districts). And sometimes it's a good call and sometimes the snow totals are not much. And so many ways to get information! We get robocalls, texts, emails, FB and website updates, PLUS all of the traditional media which is updated around the clock. You'd think they could make calls depending on actual conditions (sometimes they do this for mountain schools).

Our last snow day was this week on Tuesday, and while there was a little snow, it was really for freezing temperatures. It was a good call.

>109 AMQS: Our mail finally ran yesterday, but I didn't go get mine out of the mailbox until returning from church today. Our roads were icy when they decided to hold school Thursday. Many faculty and staff were unable to make it in. Many students weren't able to do so either. They should have kept things virtual which was the call every other day. (I only know of 2 universities that opened, and the other one had less business than we did opening because it is in a rural setting.) We were out MLK day already, but they did cancel a couple of events on campus that day. I'm looking forward to the gradual warm-up this week and hoping that the remaining ice (from packed down snow and freezing temps) melts from the roads, preferably on Monday, but at least by Tuesday.

>87 Donna828: Fan of The House of Doors and Eng. And thanks for posting those great meetup photos! Julia will be missed.

Stay warm! (Closing school for 2 inches of snow -- LOL.)

Sorry that I’ve been AWOL on LT for over a week. We had a one-day ice storm that shut everything down on Monday but our weather has mostly improved and I am back to all my regular activities which means less online time.

I read the comments from Mary and Kim about missing Julia’s presence here and realized that I didn’t dedicate my read of A River Runs Through It to her. It was one of her 5-star reads and it gave me an opportunity to “share” it with her.

>107 Storeetllr: Good to see you here, Mary. I enjoyed the Cleopatra book and seeing Roman history through her eyes. I’m not sure if I will read a War Room Challenge book every month, but I like the idea of occasionally leaving my comfort zone in contemporary fiction.

> 108 Enquiring minds want to know which Tan book you’ve read, Lori. ;-)

>109 AMQS: Hi Anne. It’s good to get the faculty perspective on closing schools. I taught back in the late 1980s (before we moved to Colorado) when schools weren’t as quick to close as they are today. I think we stayed open more for working parents rather than safety issues.

>110 thornton37814: Lori, you’ve had much worse weather in TN than your neighbors to the SW. For some reason our school system hasn’t gone virtual on snow days. I’m glad your weather is warming up.

>111 Berly: Hi Kim. Hooray for another Tan Twan Eng fan!

Book No. 8: White Nights by Ann Cleeves. Library, 392 pp., 3.4 Stars.

A slow thriller? I have trouble with the "thriller" classification because of the laid-back way of telling the story. I will continue to call these books atmospheric mysteries. I have no problem with the leisurely path of the story. Jimmy Perez is quiet by nature. He certainly took his time wooing the lovely resident who shall not be named because I don't want to spoil the not so surprising development. As I get to know Jimmy better, the more I enjoy his methodical ways.

I will continue with this series. I love the almost gothic feel about the Shetland Islands. I remember the white nights in Alaska and how disorienting they made me feel. Cleeves has a wonderful way with descriptions. I don't read mysteries to discover who the ultimate culprit is which is a good thing. The author takes her readers on several false starts so that the end is hard to predict. It's the getting there that is meaningful to me.

>112 Donna828: Ice. The worst.

I love that you dedicated your read of A River Runs Through It to Julia. I know the ROOTS group is reading books on her TBR list and I think that's really a lovely thing, but it would just make me terribly sad to deliberately read something I know she hadn't had the opportunity to get to. I recently read a Charles Todd book knowing that she loved the Ian Rutledge series and it was my way of feeling connected.

>115 Donna828: I can't really think of them as thrillers, either, Donna. I'm glad you're enjoying the series and I think they get better as they go along.

>116 Copperskye:: "It would just make me terribly sad to deliberately read something I know she hadn't had the opportunity to get to." That was my same thought, Joanne. I had fun looking through Julia's 5-star books to make my choice. She was like me in that she used that designation sparingly.

I don't read a lot of series, but I do agree that they improve as you get to know the characters better. Now I just have to remember to keep reading them fairly regularly so I don't forget.

I just talked to Mike on the phone and he said you're having some good weather out there. Enjoy! It's raining here.

>116 Copperskye: and >117 Donna828: - I felt the same way about remembering Julia. Like Donna, I looked through her 5-star (and 4.5 star) rated books, and selected 12 I have on my TBR. I'll read one a month. I just finished the first - The Remains of the Day.

"I love that you dedicated your read of A River Runs Through It to Julia." I completely agree with Joanne, plus it is such a beautiful collection. I hope to reread that one.

Sweet Thursday, Donna. Looking forward to your thoughts on Yellowface. I hope we can get at least a 4 star read out of you. 😁

>115 Donna828: I agree, I don't think the Shetland series are thrillers. Atmospheric mysteries is a much better description. I'm glad your weather has improved and your able to get back online . Don't let Mark pressure you into giving more stars to Yellowface when you read it! ;-) That Mark! ;-)

I did purchase a few books , Donna, though none where given to me for my birthday. Sad face, though it's probably best I choose them myself. I mentioned them on my thread.

>115 Donna828: I think the Shetland series is my favorite of Cleeves' series, but Vera is growing on me now that I'm further into that series.

>118 katiekrug: Oh, I love Remains of the Day, Katie. Such a powerful story. No wonder it's a classic. I am thinking of continuing with the Sean Duffy series by Adrian McKinty. I read and liked The Cold, Cold Ground in November and Julia loved all of them. I seem to recall they hold a special place in your heart as well.

>119 msf59: I haven't started Yellowface yet, Mark. I hope I don't disappoint you. Haha. My ratings are getting slightly lower on purpose. I want my 4 and 5-star books to really stand out from the crowd. I consider 3.5 stars to be a good book and the majority of my books will be in the 3-something range.

>120 vancouverdeb: I sometimes feel book pressure in general, Deborah, because there are so many that I want to read. The ratings are just my opinion and sometimes influenced by my mood, but I don't hesitate to state what I really feel about a book. I'm willing to listen to why others like books that don't appeal to me, and I will occasionally reread a book if I think I've treated it unfairly. Most of the time I just move on...
>121 vancouverdeb: I'm glad you got some books for your birthday even if you had to buy them yourself! At least you get what you want when you do it that way. Haha.

>122 thornton37814: It's good to know that Cleeves has two good series, Lori. I've heard of the Vera Stanhope one and been curious. I will have to see if my library has it. They have all the Shetland books so I will continue with them first.

Book No. 9: The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn. Library, 557 pp., 4.5 Stars.

"In the absence of any kind of systematic education, the Seagrave children's knowledge of the world has been patched together from disparate sources to make an occasionally workable Frankenstein's monster of information." (124)

I totally enjoyed this sprawling story of three children growing up in Chilcombe, a manor house that has seen better days, on the western coast of England. Cristabel, Flossie, and Digby are mostly left on their own to explore and put on the Shakespeare productions that keep them busy and entertained. Crista is the imaginative one who found the dead whale on the beach and claimed it become their theatre. It's a magical time in their lives that ends too soon as the days of idyllic youth turn into days of war.

I love long immersive books and this one captured me from the beginning and held my interest until the end. I was impressed with this debut novel and can't wait to see what Quinn comes up with for her next book. Thanks to Beth for putting it on my radar.

>123 Donna828: - Yes, I love the Sean Duffy series. Julia's enthusiasm for them on audio encouraged me to re-visit them in that format last year and I loved them even more :)

Have a great week!

Now The Whalebone Theatre is on my list:)

>117 Donna828: I forget to finish series, too. So now I try to read one finished series at a time.

>122 thornton37814: I'm glad to hear that you are warming to Vera as you move along in the series. I need to get to the next one and still hoping she'll click with me.

>125 Donna828: Beth also put The Whalebone Theatre on my radar and I bought myself a copy for Christmas. Now that both you and Beth have raved about it, I really need to get going on it!

Very, very behind, Donna, and not a chance of catching up, but I just wanted to wave "Hello!"

I'm catching up and late on commenting on it, but glad to see you enjoyed The House of Doors too. We were reading it about the same time. It was my first of Tan's books, and I'll definitely have to read the others now.

>106 Donna828:, Donna, your review regarding A River Runs Through It was stellar. I've added it to the list to read in 2024.

Donna, so many great books that you read...I've added A River Runs through It and A House of Doors Thanks for both these recommendations. While I've never met Julia, the comments posted throughout show how well liked she was. It is always sad when one of our group passes away.

We feel like a family, and thus everyone of us counts and is special. I am sorry for your loss, and the loss of her here throughout the group.

Donna! I am so glad you loved The Whalebone Theatre. I agree that for a first novel, Quinn did an excellent job with the pacing, and I never felt it dragged. She kept me with her for the entire journey. Her characters were great; I love those kids.

>126 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. I had a busy week although I’m not complaining because it was mostly doing fun stuff like card games and visits with friends.

>127 AMQS: I think you will enjoy The Whalebone Theatre, Anne. I sure did.

Just stopping by to say hi and see what you’ve been up to. Hope you have a lovely weekend!

>128 The_Hibernator: That sounds like a good plan, Rachel. I made lists of completed and ongoing series which is a step in the right direction. I am going to focus on the Cork O’Connor series by Wm. Kent Krueger and the Sean Duffy series by Adrian McKinty for now.

>129 Copperskye: Hi Joanne. Merry Christmas! The Whalebone Theatre was an excellent gift to yourself. I predict that you will love it.

>130 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. Thanks for stopping by my slow-moving thread.

>131 bell7: Mary, you are in for a real treat with the other two Tan books. They are all so compelling. If I had to pick a favorite, I might choose The Garden of Evening Mists.

Have a wonderful weekend!

>132 Whisper1:, >133 Whisper1: Hi Linda. I’m glad I could add some titles to your TBR list. I wouldn’t want you to run out of books to read. Haha.

Thank you for those comforting words regarding the loss of Julia. Yes indeed, we are a family here on LT and we can grieve together. 💔

>134 BLBera: I also loved Christabel and her siblings, Beth. What imaginations they had! I am already looking forward to Quinn’s next book.

>136 Storeetllr: I almost missed you, Mary. I’ve been thinking about you as I am trying to organize some coherent thoughts on the most recent Murderbot. You are one of the main reasons I read the series. I hope you have a good weekend, too. Personally, I’m glad to start a new month.

>139 alcottacre: You sneaked in here, too, Stasia. I hope your weekend is going well. My goal is to play catchup with my visitors and report on the last two books I’ve completed. Stay tuned…

>142 Donna828: Which one was it, Donna?

Yes, one month closer to spring. February is going to be an interesting month for me.

Book No. 10: System Collapse by Martha Wells. Library, 256 pp., 3.2 Stars.

I had trouble engaging with this latest book in the Murderbot Diaries. I should have reviewed Network Effect rather than depending on my unreliable memory which was hampered by the holidays and a "sneaky" Murderbot book intervention. Mary told me to read them in a different order but I forgot. *Sad face*

Despite my confusion, I got that our protagonist is depressed. Who can blame him with all the shenanigans going on? I think MB is like me and listens too much to that voice in his head...or perhaps he watches too many soap operas... I dropped the ball on this one for sure. One of these days I am going to do a marathon reading/listening deep dive into this very entertaining series.

>144 Storeetllr: Well, now you know, Mary. I even wrote down your suggested order for reading them "somewhere" but totally forgot. I will be thinking about you as you have your surgery. Hope all goes well and you get lots of reading time in during your recovery.

Book No. 11: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. Kindle, 295 pp., 3.7 Stars

"Fault! Asperger's isn't a fault. It's a variant. It's potentially a major advantage. Asperger's syndrome is associated with organization, focus, innovative thinking, and rational detachment." (Pg. 10)

What a fun book! I know a little about Asperger's and the Autism Spectrum, although I have no personal experience with it. Don Tillman has an excellent job as a university professor of Genetics. He has a very orderly life until he gets the idea that he needs a soulmate, so he comes up with a plan called The Wife Project. The results are both humorous and heartwarming. I don't normally read romantic comedies for some reason. I enjoyed my time with this one.

I am way behind times in reading this book. I blame the Kindle where I download books with good intentions, but then I promptly forget about them. There are some other hidden treasures in that pit that I will retrieve one of these days. I need to do more light reading and will probably get the next two books in this trilogy from the library.

I've heard good things about The Rosie Project.

For some reason I thought I had visited your thread yesterday, Donna. I'm glad you enjoyed The Rosie Project. I really did when I read it some years ago.

Hi, Donna. I hope you had a good weekend. I also had a good time with The Rosie Project and it's follow-up. Fun books.

How are you doing today Donna?

Hi, Donna! Glad you enjoyed The Rosie Project! I loved it. Wasn’t so stoked over the sequel.

I liked The Rosie Project too, but I never got around to the sequels.

Book No. 12: Yellowface by R. F. Kuang. Library, 322 pp., 4 Stars

Opening line: "The night I watch Athena Liu die, we're celebrating her TV deal with Netflix."

Yellowface starts off with a huge moral dilemma and doesn't let go. No, our first-person narrator, June Haywood, who reinvented herself as Juniper Song, is not responsible for Athena's death. However, she is culpable in stealing her "friend's" manuscript. All of this maliciousness takes place in the first few pages. Granted, she put in her time researching and reworking the text to the point where it felt like her own. Although it may have started out in Juniper's mind as a way to honor her friend (better defined as a frenemy) and work through her jealousy and shock, the "literary collaboration" became a best seller and opened up the idea of exploitation and diversity appropriation to the cyber bullies on social media.

This labyrinth of deception was a fairly quick read, although I had to take a few breaks to shake off the "ick" factor. I did enjoy the inside look at the publishing industry and admire Kuang's gumption to take on some appalling situations. The writing was very good and I will probably look into reading some of Kuang's earlier books.

>148 The_Hibernator: Me too, Rachel. I just never got around to reading it. Like I said, books go into my Kindle app only to die!

>149 vancouverdeb: I was late to yet another party, Deborah.

>150 msf59: The first Rosie book was definitely fun, Mark. I have the two following books checked out from the library, but I'm thinking of spacing them out a bit. They will be good palate cleansers. I kinda need one after reading Yellowface. Haha. No worries, I gave it 4 stars.

>151 Owltherian: Hi Lily. I'm having a good day and hope you are as well. I've seen you posting around the threads. I have yours starred and will visit you soon. We need more young people on LT and I'm glad you are here.

>152 Storeetllr: Hi Mary. Well, I won't be expecting a Wow Read. I sometimes just need a fun book to bring me back down to earth. ;-)

>153 arubabookwoman: I'm happy to see you posting around the threads, Deborah. I will take the plunge into sequel territory for both of us. With so many good books out there, it may be a while before I get to The Rosie Effect and The Rosie Result.

Great comments on Yellowface, Donna. I am waiting for my library copy. I think I'm up to about number 10. Lucky I have other things to read. :)

>158 BLBera: Beth, I'm so glad you have other books to read. Haha. I'm looking forward to your thoughts on Yellowface.

I also enjoyed your comments on Yellowface, Donna. What is up next for you?

Book No. 13: Horse by Geraldine Brooks. Library, 464 pp., 4.5 Stars

I reread this one for my monthly book group. It's only been two years since I read it the first time but I'm glad I read it again. There are three different timelines which called for careful reading and some science about the bone structure of horses that slowed me down. Mainly, though, I was just so happy to be back in Brooks wonderful love story between a young man and a horse that I didn't mind spending the extra time with it. It was a bonus to talk about it with book friends and see it through their eyes. The side stories about racism and art were expertly melded into the story of Lexington known as America's Greatest Racehorse.

>160 msf59: Hi Mark, you sneaked in there while I was basking in my Horse love. I am almost through The Comfort of Crows which I believe is another recommendation from you. Of course, I am loving it. It is a good comfort read.

I hope you and Sue had a Happy Valentine's Day. The love is flowing at our house, even after 56 years of marriage!

>161 Donna828: A worthwhile reread, Donna, for sure!

I enjoyed The Rosie Project, Yellowface and Horse!!! You are on a roll and I escaped without a BB (this time)! : ) Happy Friday!

>161 Donna828: Since you have read it twice already with such enthusiasm, Donna, then I really should make an effort to read it at least once!

Have a lovely weekend.

I note I the book Horse by Geraldine Brooks back in 2022...time to read this one..

All good wishes!

>163 Copperskye: Absolutely! It stood up well with the second reading fairly close to the first. I may have enjoyed it slightly more the second time around.

>164 Berly: Hi Kim. I'm glad you could escape without getting grazed by book bullets. I will try harder in the future. ;=)

>165 PaulCranswick: I'm happy to see you on my thread, Paul. I know this is an extremely busy time for you. I think you should read Horse...0r anything else by Geraldine Brooks. I've enjoyed all of her books and appreciate the depths of research she does.

>166 Whisper1: Hi Linda. Yes, it is time. I don't have a horse background but I enjoyed the historical aspects very much. It also has a present time story relating to the science and art of racehorses that was interesting. I hope all is well in your world.

>161 Donna828: I've read The Year of Wonders (yeah!) and Caleb's Crossing (boo!) by Brooks and am willing to give a 3rd one a go. I will take a BB for Horse!

Book No. 14. The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl. Library, 270 pp., 4.2 Stars.

There are so many memorable quotes in this lovely book about the seasons in the author's backyard and around the Nashville area where she lives that I couldn't choose just one. I read this over the course of several weeks so I could savor the words about the natural world that is around us if we take the time to notice it. I have an amazing view of the outside world from my snuggery where I do most of my reading and contemplating so Rankl's book was singing to the choir in my case. And sing she does.

Her little essays about all kinds of little critters in nature were fascinating and I can't give enough praise to the artwork by her brother Billy Renkl. It was a treat to turn the page to a new essay introduced by one of his colorful collages. There are 52 marvels in store for you if you read this fine collection. Just look at that vibrant cover! I will probably have to splurge on a copy for myself. *Sigh*

Hi Donna, Your idea of reading M. Renkl slowly is a good one, (only a few gems at a time). I am reading Late Migrations right now and trying to do that too! I am also enjoying her brother's art work!

Book No. 15: Chenneville by Paulette Jiles. Library, 307 pp., 4.5 Stars,

"He had come nearly 400 miles and had been on the road a month since Fort Smith, much of it on foot, and he had slept under a roof only five times."

Lt. John Chenneville was discharged from the Union Army after spending months recuperating from a serious head wound near the end of The Civil War. He makes his way back to his home in Missouri where he learns of the senseless brutal death of his younger sister and her family. He goes from a broken body to a broken heart.

With nothing to live for except to seek revenge, he embarks on a manhunt that takes him on a harrowing trip to Texas during the chaotic times of the Post Civil War. I've liked all of the Jiles books I've read, but this one was a standout for me.

Oh, visitors, Hooray!

>169 Tess_W: Hi Tess. I sure do hope you enjoy Horse. I've read seven titles by Geraldine Brooks and this one was my favorite.

>171 mdoris: Thanks for the tip on Late Migrations, Mary. I just love how one book leads to another. It's good to know that her brother illustrated that one as well. That adds an extra special touch. My brother is a good artist. If I ever write a book, I will have him illustrate it for me. Haha. Not going to happen!

>172 Donna828: I think we have that one at the library right now. Perhaps I should try it. It sounds different enough it might hit my mood and keep me engaged.

>174 thornton37814: Hi Lori. The book was quite an adventure. I hope you like it.

HI Donna I just finished Chenneville: A Novel of Murder, Loss, and Vengeance too and like you I thought it was a standout! i'm kind of missing it, you know how you can be a bit mopey after a book you have really enjoyed is finished.

I think we are on the same path.

Hi Donna! I'm glad Penny's nails are mainly worn down by walking on pavement. Poppy is 18 lbs and so walking on the pavement is not enough. We can't do her nails either , but most often the groomer does her nails without a problem This last time , Poppy was so distressed by getting her cut and also her nails trimmed, they called us to say she was too distressed for them to file down her cut nails and so they are still so sharp they hurt her. We'll try to get to it soon, but we want to give her some time to recover from the trauma of having her teeth done. Yes, pets can be so much fun! ;-) Actually, I am so glad to see her little face begging for food while eat and her little footsteps around the house.

>172 Donna828: So glad to see another Chenneville fan, Donna.

>172 Donna828: Definitely hit me with a BB with this one!

>170 Donna828: What a wonderful review of The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl. It's on the TBR list to read soon. I own this as it was given a Christmas gift this year from a friend whose reading habits are very similar to mine. Now, I know I must read it.

>175 Donna828: I checked our catalog. When I return to work tomorrow, I'll try to check it out! It's still there and is not checked out. I think it's calling my name.

>170 Donna828: I'm currently reading The Comfort of Crows, Donna. I've added it to my morning routine, reading a few chapters with my coffee after I play the daily word games. I really feel it was meant to be read slowly, and yes, it's a beautifully designed book.

Hi Donna!

I'll be doing a reread for Horse for my bookclub, too. I think it's in April. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your reread.

I'm waiting for my turn for a library copy of Chenneville. I've heard nothing but good here on LT about it.

The Comfort of Crows sounds like a winner too.

Thanks for your reviews!

Hooray for Horse, The Comfort of Crows & Chenneville! I really enjoyed all 3 and I am glad you did too.

Happy Wednesday, Donna.

^Just a March reminder, my friend.

Ah, so many visitors. I love having friends come to see me. Thank you all for being patient. My life is way too busy these days… I am having trouble keeping up here on LT, and can’t wait for my “lazy days of summer”. Please hang in there with me.

>176 mdoris: “I think we are on the same path”. I agree, Mary. I get so many good recommendations from you. Thanks so much.

>177 vancouverdeb: I love sharing dog stories with you and others here, Deborah. Dogs have always played an important role in my life. Keep the Poppy stories coming. ;-)

>178 BLBera: Hi Beth. I am a big fan of Paulette Jiles, who just happens to be from Missouri, although she is more associated with Texas these days. I've just reserved one of her older books from the library. Have you read many books by her?

>179 Tess_W: I hope you like Chenneville, Tess. It's a page-turner. Have you read anything else by Jiles? She seems to be focusing on post-civil war times these days.

>180 Whisper1: Hi Linda. Lucky you...The Comfort of Crows is a delightful book. I know you will enjoy the illustrations as that is your "thing" for sure. They added a nice touch to a touching book. ;-)

>181 thornton37814: I'm glad to hear the new Jiles' book is calling your name, Lori. I will be by your thread shortly to see how you are liking it.

>182 Copperskye: That's great news, Joanne. It's a great book to savor along with your morning coffee. I'm so glad that LT put it on my radar. Hope all is well with Skye these days. I'll be by to see how she's doing soon.

>183 streamsong: Hi Janet. I don't usually reread books within a 2-year time frame, but I'm glad I did so it would be fresh in mind for the book discussion. I got even more out of it the second time around. Thank you for visiting. I will pay you a return visit shortly.

>185 msf59:, >186 Donna828: Hooray for a double message from Mark! Good to see you, friend. Why am I not surprised we like the same books? You have always been a source of good book recommendations. It's hard to keep up with you, but I try...

I am stoked about The Sparrow shared read coming up and looking forward to reading the sequel for the first time.

>187 Donna828: I've read all Jiles' novels, Donna. I'd claim her for my state!

I haven't read The Sparrow but hope to soon. I know Julia loved that book and I did want to read some of her recommendations this year.

>191 BLBera: Beth, I know Mark would love to have you in his upcoming group read. The more the merrier! There will be lots to talk about. I will also be channeling Julia as I reread it.

Book No. 16: The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion. Library, 354 pp., 3.3 Stars.

So... I have given both of the Rosie books 3.5 Stars, but there are differences in the percentage points. The original got 3.7 stars at the top of the scale and #2 garnered 3.3 which means it wasn't quite as compelling. Kind of typical for the second book, right? My thoughts delve into the spoilerish zone so read at your own risk.

Don and Rosie are married and living in NYC. Both of them are busy with academics. Don is a visiting professor at Columbia, and we learn that Rosie has higher aspirations than being a barmaid. She is beginning medical studies while working on a PhD. No wonder she changed so drastically from being a fun, quirky person to becoming a grind.

I won't go into detail but I will say it was difficult to see how diligently Don tried to wrap his logical head around the unexpected pregnancy, while Rosie sunk deeper into withdrawal. I cut Rosie a lot of slack because pregnancy is difficult even among the best circumstances and she was clearly overwhelmed. Life happens! I hope she gets her act together for the next book.

Book No. 17: Manitou Canyon by William Kent Krueger. Library, 336 pages, 3.3 Stars.

Hmmm, another slight disappointment. Maybe I am suffering from series fatigue? This one (#15) has Cork in the Boundary Waters searching for a missing rich man. He conducted one search without results but when the grandkids asked him to try again...off he goes with the granddaughter in tow. Without a gun! Okay, I won't get into all the details about lost causes and dead ends, but it did seem strange that he went into the wilderness with only a knife for protection.

I think the bottom line for my lack of enthusiasm was trying to keep up with the large cast of characters. I will continue with the series because of the detailed descriptions of the north woods, and I do want to see how the teaser at the end plays out.

I hadn’t realized there are so many books in the Cork O’Connor series. Donna. I’m just on the second one.

>195 Familyhistorian: Meg, you have a lot of good reading ahead of you. Cork O'Connor is probably my favorite series, despite my minor quibbles with it. I think perhaps its time for Krueger to move on...which he seems to be doing with his stand alone books. They are also good.

Book No. 18: Absolution by Alice McDermott. Library, 324 pp., 4.2 Stars

I could relate to the time frame of this novel as I too was a newly married woman (girl) who followed her husband overseas during the Vietnam War era. Luckily, I was in Germany rather than Saigon. McDermott did an excellent job portraying how constrained women were at that time. I was annoyed by the overuse of the somewhat archaic word "helpmeet"; however, she did get her point across about the role of women in the 1960s.

This is a book about looking back on life and evaluating the choices one has made. There was a huge disparity between the people begging in the street and the luxurious lives the foreigners lived with their parties and servants. Tricia and her mentor Charlene worked hard to make a difference in the lives of the suffering children, but the author shows there is a fine line between service and selfishness. I enjoy books that make me think. I will be pondering this one for quite a while.

>145 Donna828: I love the Murderbot series too and just re-read them all over the past year or so in preparation for System Collapse. I cannot wait until the next!

>147 Donna828: Dodging that BB as I have already read it :)

>154 Donna828: That one too. . .

>161 Donna828: And that one! What are the odds?

>170 Donna828: I have that one in the BlackHole already thanks to Mark. I am glad to see that you enjoyed it too.

>172 Donna828: I really need to get around to that one - if my local library ever gets a copy. I have read several of Jiles' books and enjoyed them all.

>193 Donna828: I agree that the second book is not as good as the first is. Glad you finally got around to them though!

>197 Donna828: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Donna!

Yeah, the Cork O'Connor books were really successful. It's nice to see local (to me) authors be successful.

Donna, you know that I also enjoy the Krueger books. I recently read Northwest Angle, which I thought was the best one I'd read for a while. Now, I am giving the series a rest before I continue. I find when I read books in a series in a row, I start to find fault.

I am looking forward to Absolution; I think I am still #10 on my library list.

>198 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. I wish I had read or listened to the Murderbot series again so I could have gotten more from the last one. Oh well, I still enjoyed it and my reading time has been limited lately.

It looks like we are one similar reading paths, although mine is much shorter than yours. ;-)

Paulette Jiles is fast becoming one of my favorite authors.

Absolution was a slow burn, but it left an impact. I'm still thinking about it and that's a good sign.

>199 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel. Wm. Kent Krueger has brought a lot of joy to my life over the past few years. I hope he continues writing forever! ;-) Even my picky husband enjoys his books.
The only popular local author I can think of from Springfield, MO is Daniel Woodrell. I wish he would hurry up and write another book. It's been a while. Winter Bone is my favorite by him, but his others are also good.

>200 BLBera: Beth, I think I'll take your advice and slow down. I think there are only three left in the Cork O'Connor Series for me, so I need to stretch them out. I own two of them so I don't have to worry about getting them from the library.
I hope you enjoy Absolution when you get it. It's a quiet book but packs a big message.

Book No. 19: Cousins by Paulette Jiles. Library, 365 pp., 3.8 Stars.

"We were poor when we were kids, but you know, if you have memories going back, nobody's poor."

I was so excited to discover that my local library had this memoir from 1992. It was hidden away in the "Local History" section. Paulette Jiles is a Missouri native even though she now lives in Texas. Prior to this time in her life she spent seven years among the Ojibwe people of Northern Ontario. She wrote another book about those adventures called North Spirit which I just requested from the Washington University library. One book leads to another...

Back to Cousins, subtitled "Getting it all together via the interstate". I do love a good road trip story. In this one Jiles returns from the north country after her mother dies and becomes acquainted with a Texas man a few years older than her who is also at loose ends due to his messy divorce. They decide to join forces on a road trip from Missouri to Texas and other destinations mostly in the deep south to look into the lives of her 25 first cousins, many of whom she barely knows. She has a book advance and a willing driver so off they go. I wanted to get to know one of my favorite authors better and getting some family history is one way to do it. The interviews are a bit haphazard, and I found myself skimming at times, but they did give me some insight into the sprawling Jiles family. I even found out that one of her cousins lives in my city!

I have loved Paulette's (or Polly as her family calls her) more recent books. They too have journey/quest themes which gives some insight into the author's interests and influences. If you want to know more about Paulette Jiles' more bohemian lifestyle, this would be a fun book to read.

Hi, Donna! That book, Cousins, sounds great. I’d love to meet all my first cousins. I’ve known/met only 8 out of perhaps 20 or more. Not through any sort of animosity or anything. It just didn’t happen for one reason or another. So I’d be interested to read about her experiences.

I also agree with you and Beth about giving long-running series a little rest here and there. It does spread the joy; and as Beth says, prevents nitpicking.

Hope this coming week is a marvelous one for you and yours.

>203 Donna828: What a great find, Donna! And such an interesting back story. I'm hoping to read Chenneville soon -- I'm inching up the library's hold list.

Hey, thanks for the heads-up on the Jiles memoir, Donna. Nice discovery. I did not know this existed. I am starting The Sparrow tomorrow. I believe Stasia will start it today. Obviously, you can start it anytime you would like. Hope you can join us.

>203 Donna828: This does sound like a good one, Donna. I will look for it. I've read all of Jiles' fiction. I guess it's time to start on the nonfiction. North Spirit sounds like it could be interesting as well.

>204 Matke: Hi Gail. We had a few reunions in Northern Michigan many years ago so I got to at least meet most of my 18 first cousins. Unfortunately, I only keep up with one of them, but she is the family "historian" so I am aware of what most of them are up to these days. I enjoyed the cousins verbatim interviews in the book, but loved the road trip bits.

So far the week has been going well. We are dog sitting for two barky dogs which is a little annoying, but I still love them. ;-) Our dog, Penny (Sweet Pea) is ready to be an only dog again.

>205 lauralkeet: It's good to see you, Laura. I need to catch up with your thread(s). I wish I could spend more time keeping up around here. Things move faster than I do these days! I think I would like anything Paulette Jiles cares to write. ;-)

>206 msf59: Both of Jiles's memoirs were new discoveries for me. I had to order her autobiographical book set in Northern Canada from another library. It's a bit of a hassle, but think it will be worth it. I am reading The Sparrow but probably won't catch up with you.

>207 BLBera: Beth, it looks like I need to read The Color of Lightning to complete the Jiles fiction collection. I'm still waiting for North Spirit. These inter-library loans take their sweet time.

Book No. 20: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Reread, Book Group, 360 pp., 4.2 Stars.

I first read and loved this book in September of 2022. It is our city-wide read this year which means lots of programs at the library culminating in a visit from the author. I listened to the audio version this time and loved hearing Marcellus "talk" to me. The reader was perfect! All ten of the members of my book group enjoyed the experience. It is a wonderful feel-good book and I wish the author much success in future books.

Book No. 21: The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff. Library, 256 pp., 4 Stars.

"Something in her had been broken by that stone-throwing beast so many leagues behind her, that manlike monstrous thing; yet with the breaking, perhaps something else felt as though it were being returned by the place into a sort of harmony, a deep and humming noise within her that she hadn't understood had fallen out of tune." (108)

This teenager known as "The Girl", but previously named 'Lamentations' at birth and 'Zed' at the age of 4 when she was adopted as a servant, endured an appalling life. It got even worse when her "family" became part of the Jamestown fiasco and Z became a fugitive after the unthinkable event that was revealed toward the end of the book.

The entire book is misery upon misery and not for the faint of heart. It is heartbreaking to read as Z is exposed to all of nature's glory and gore in detail. I'm not sure I can recommend it as it is so detailed in all the suffering one can imagine. I powered through it, however, as the writing was stellar, and I couldn't leave Z to make her treacherous journey alone. I will positively never forget this book!

Hooray for Remarkably Bright Creatures! Such a fun, joyful read. Good review of The Vaster Wilds. I really NEED to get to that one.

I am at the halfway point in The Sparrow. Just sayin'...

>211 Donna828: I agree Donna, it is truly a "wonderful feel-good book".

>212 Donna828: excellent review of The Vaster Wilds, Donna. I completely agree about the writing, I was completely drawn into this book despite the "misery upon misery".

>213 msf59: Hi Mark, I'm sad that our shared read of The Sparrow is over. But now I get to move on to Children of God...for the first time! I am going to read a book or two in between first, though, because I am still in recovery from my trip to Alpha Centauri. I am exhausted. ;-)

>214 RebaRelishesReading: So good to see you, Reba, and share some octopus love with you. I miss Marcellus.

>215 lauralkeet: Laura, it just goes to show us that beauty can be found in the most miserable circumstances. This is the third book I've read by Lauren Groff and is my favorite while being the most devastating.

Book No. 22: The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. My book, reread, 408 pp., 4.5 Stars.

Matthew 10:29 "Not one sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it."
But the sparrow still falls.

This wonderful book about Science and Faith rocked my world when I read it 16 years ago. I had forgotten some of the details but some things about the book are so disturbing that they are permanently etched in my memory.

The story is set in two alternating timelines: 2019 and 2059/60. We learn on the first page that Father Emilio Sandoz is the sole survivor of the Jesuit mission to Rakhat. His faith is shaken and his health is ruined, yet he has to face an inquisition about what happened on the mission to Alpha Centauri.

It's hard to fathom that this was Russell's first novel. It is original and heartbreakingly beautiful. Now I need to gather up my fortitude to read the sequel, Children of God.

Thanks to Mark for initiating this group read.

Book No. 23: Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin. Library, 476 pp., 3.5 Stars.

Violette is a tragic character who grew up in foster homes and made a poor choice to get married at age 17. Her husband was ten years older and quite the lady's man. She stuck with Philippe over too many years of his philandering. Her joy in life came from her daughter, Leonine, and her job as a cemetery caretaker. I loved the setting and her gentle approach to caring for the graves and the many animals who were there mourning their losses.

It was a difficult life for Violette, but she made the best of things until she was devastated by a tragedy. The author did a great job portraying deep thoughts on life and death along with the accompanying grief and depression.

I liked but didn't love this book. It was just too hard on my emotions. I also found the non-linear narrative and overlapping timelines confusing. The book was translated from the French, so perhaps something was off with the translation. I almost set it aside a few times but decided to hang in there. I don't regret reading it at all. Some beautiful writing and I do like books with strong female characters.

>218 Donna828: I think I liked this a tad more than you did, Donna. I liked Violette so much that she carried me through. I admit the time jumps were confusing at times.

>203 Donna828: I enjoy books about family history so Cousins looks like an interesting read to me. Thanks for putting it on my radar. My library has a lot of books by Jiles including North Spirit which makes sense as I'm in Canada.

You remind me that I should hunt for the next Cork O'Connor book in the series.

Well, I'm flattered that you regard my thoughts on The Women's Prize for Fiction as better than those who are on the jury, Donna. Your confidence in me could well be misplaced , however :-) Dave seems to be very happy to be retired and finds lots to do. I'm enjoying it too!

Sweet Thursday, Donna. Good thoughts on The Sparrow. I am glad you were able to join us. It is a special one. I am thinking of doing a reread of Doc. Maybe next year?

>201 Donna828: I'm still thinking about it and that's a good sign. The mark of a good book IMHO.

>203 Donna828: Well, I checked and my local library does not have it. I guess I am not "local" enough to Missouri.

>211 Donna828: Definitely a "feel good" book and one I held on to just for that purpose!

>217 Donna828: One of my all-time favorite books and made me a Mary Doria Russell reader for life!

Have a great day!

>219 BLBera: Hi Beth. I did really enjoy Violette's characterization. It was her husband that turned me off. Still, it was a decent read and I'm glad I stuck with it.

>220 Familyhistorian: Greetings, Meg. I will put my thoughts together on North Spirit right now. It was another good one by Jiles, and I know you would appreciate the setting. Yes, by all means keep reading the Cork O'Connor books by Krueger. They are so entertaining.

>221 vancouverdeb: Deborah, I trust your judgment on books as we seem to like the same ones. I think the judges are looking for plot devices that make a book stand out in a group. Those are probably the sort of things that I try to avoid! ;-)

So glad the retirement situation is working out for everyone. Keeping busy is the key. Sometimes I wish I weren't quite so busy, though. I would probably fill my time up with shopping or some other time and money waster. I guess I'll stick with the books and my social engagements.

>222 msf59: Mark, thanks again for the nudge to reread The Sparrow. It was even better the second time around. I haven't forgotten about reading The Children of God. It is staring at me while I type this. I have a few library books to read first.

>223 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, thanks for your comments on my latest books. I'm another Mary Doria Russell fan. If I had to choose, I think that A Thread of Grace might be my favorite. I am a sucker for WWII books and that trek over the Alps to safety really stuck with me. I hope you and your family had a lovely Easter.

Book No. 24: North Spirit by Pauline Jiles. Washington University Library, 291 pp., 4 Stars.

Pauline Jiles spent the years of 1973-1980 in Northern Ontario, Canada, among the local indigenous natives. She lived in a log cabin with no amenities and probably would have frozen to death her first night there if she hadn't taken in a puppy for warmth. She slowly learned survival skills as she helped the people of the land create a radio station of sorts and a newspaper, always showing respect for the local customs and mythology. She learned the Ojibway and Cree languages and took part in the activities of daily living in the community. I even learned how to skin a rabbit--a skill I hope to never have to use!

Jiles continues to fascinate me. She seems fearless in her undertakings and is an astute and sensitive writer.

Book No. 25: Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon. Library, 371 pp., 3.2 Stars.

"...Now that I'm lying here, waiting to be found, I can't help worrying that this is my lot. Perhaps the closing words of my chapter will be spoken in a room filled with beige and forgetfulness, and no one was ever meant to hear them. You never really know it's the final page, do you, until you get there?" Pg. 3.

Florence is 84 and living in a retirement home in England. She and her best friend, Elsie, share a long history together. They are both reminded of a secret from the past when the new man moves in. He is the exact image of someone they knew who died 60 years ago.

This is a bit of a mystery but its more about the good and not-so-good things about aging. It made me smile rather than feel concerned about my own waning years. Something to look forward to. Ha! I picked it up on a whim and found it very slow moving and a bit predictable.

I had a copy of The Sparrow, but never got it read before the great purge when I got married. Shame.

Wow! I had never heard of North Spirit or the fact that Jiles wrote NF. Thanks for the enlightenment, Donna. It will be added the obese TBR.

No surprise that I also enjoyed Three Things About Elsie, Donna, as we share a similar taste in books. I actually loved it, and gave it 5 stars. I've read two other books by her, A Tidy Ending and The Trouble with Sheep and Goats. I loved all of them.

>226 Donna828: This sounds fascinating, Donna. I will look for it.

I have Three Things about Elsie on my shelf; it sounds like it can stay there a bit longer.

Hey Donna, Stopping by to check out what you've been reading lately. I must read The Sparrow again. It did not appeal to me the first time I read it and I know it's gotten so much love, I just have to give it another go.

>226 Donna828: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the review and recommendation, Donna!

>227 Donna828: Three Things About Elsie looks interesting, Donna. Onto the never-ending reading list it goes!

>75 Donna828: sorry the Claire Keegan didn't appeal. I love that cover, and have enjoyed her work before, so I would pick it up if it crossed my path :)

>186 Donna828: I hope your "lazy days of summer" are just around the corner for you now Donna! My aspirations of getting up early and LTing with coffee before the kids get up have never gotten past being aspirations, so I too am intermittent at best around here!

I think i enjoyed Three Things about Elsie a bit more than you when i was reading it, but i can’t rememner a lot anout it now.

>228 The_Hibernator: No shame at all, Rachel. We can't read everything, can we? I guess we can try, though. Haha. You may not own The Sparrow anymore, but you probably have a library card, right? Just saying....

>229 msf59: Pauline Jiles's nonfiction works were a new discovery for me, too, Mark. I enjoyed both of them because it gave me insight into her life before she started writing fiction. Did you know she began her career as a poet?

>230 vancouverdeb: I might check out Cannon's other two books. I am intrigued by the title The Trouble with Sheep and Goats. The Elsie book was a bit lighter than my usual fare, but I did enjoy it. I was specifically looking for some relief from the heavy books I'd been reading, and it hit the sweet spot! Thanks for the tip, Deborah.

>231 BLBera: Beth, you might enjoy reading the Elsie book as an "in-between" more intense books. Sometimes I just need a little relief from the doom and gloom. ;-)
North Spirit was a real treat and would make a great summer read. The setting in Ontario had me shivering.

>232 Carmenere: It's good to see you here, Lynda. The Sparrow is in a class of its own. I enjoyed the spiritual aspect of it, but it was hard to read about what happened on the expedition. Science Fiction is not my favorite genre, but this one resonated with me for the most part.

>233 alcottacre: You are very welcome, Stasia. I hope you enjoy North Spirit if you can locate a copy. My library didn't have it, so I had to get it from Washington University in St. Louis. A bit of a hassle that was worth it.

>234 Familyhistorian: It was interesting, Meg. I also have a never-ending reading list as I'm sure everyone on LT does. I'm grateful that we will never run out of books! I hope you enjoy Three Things About Elsie.

>235 LovingLit: Megan, I loved Keegan's novellas. I just don't happen to be a fan of short stories, and So Late in the Day was too far on the dark side for me to rave about it. Still, it is certainly a worthwhile read. I hope you run across a copy and you can decide for yourself.

I miss the busy days of raising children. The empty nest will come soon enough for you. Spring is definitely in the air here, but with the touch of frost a few days ago it seems like summer is a long way off. I am working on my patience. Thanks so much for stopping by.

>236 SandDune: Rhian, it's good to see you here. The Elsie book was definitely a pleasant read, but one that probably won't stick with me for long either. Those books have a definite place in my reading life. Sometimes we all need a bit of lightness to even out the more intense reading experiences.

Well, I'm finally able to catch my breath after Easter and all the Lady's Basketball games I've been watching. It's probably good that South Carolina remained undefeated, but a little part of me was rooting for the underdog for two reasons. The University of Iowa is where our LT friend Julia worked before she passed away a few months ago, and Iowa is my "neighbor" to the north.

I've been busy lately but did manage to sneak in two books to start off my April Reading. I will list them now and add some comments tomorrow when I can get my thoughts together.

Book No. 26: The Mist by Ragnar Jonasson. Library, 302 pp., 3.3 Stars.

This was the third book in the Hidden Iceland series featuring Detective Hulda. This series is interesting because it seems to be going backwards in time. There are two settings in the two time periods in the book. First, is a not-so-merry Christmas and then (two months later) there is the police investigation of a missing couple in the isolated inland of Iceland. Hint: it's probably not the best idea to open your house to a stranger on Christmas Eve.

This Thriller is a Chiller! Sorry...I couldn't resist. You will definitely feel the cold and buildup of tension. It's not my favorite kind of book, but occasionally a psychological thriller hits the spot.

Book No. 27: Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult. Library, 321 pp., 3.5 Stars.

I picked up this book at the library on a whim. I'm not a big Jodi Picoult fan but was looking for something out of my wheelhouse. There are plenty of surprises in this book, and I will try not to give anything away here and just share a few brief impressions.

--The descriptions of The Galapagos Islands made me want to visit.
--The way Covid changed many lives was all too real.
--Our minds are sometimes unreliable.

I know my thoughts aren't cohesive and I'm leaving out a lot, but the book is a bit of a puzzle. Did I like it? Honestly I'm not sure. But it did keep my attention. I also think it would made a very interesting book for discussion.

HI Donna, just dropping by to say hi and hoping that all is well in your world of books. You hit the nail on the head, "I miss the busy days of raising children.", (>240 Donna828:)......... me too!

>244 mdoris: Hi Mary. Those were busy but happy days, right? Grandchildren are a great comfort and not as much work, but I do sometimes wish I had another shot at motherhood with the patience I have now. Haha.

My world of books is treating me well and I wish the same for you.

Hi Donna! Life is a little too quiet right now with no kids and my job not starting until May, but since I am not 100% well, I appreciate the down time. The latest Picoult (I usually like her) sounds interesting....

Happy Monday!

>242 Donna828: I liked that one better than you. Those books are sometimes hit or miss with me. I must have been in the mood for one when I read it.

>242 Donna828: I think I liked The Mist better than you, Donna, as I gave it 4 stars, but you have a great review of it, so maybe we just give a different number of stars to books. I really like the Hidden Iceland series. I've read all three, but I just noticed that there is a new one FROST: Thriller - Hulda-Helgi-Serie , but I don't know anything about it as yet.

Hmm, perhaps Frost has not been translated into English yes ? I can only see it in German. I look into that further later on.

Just stopping by to wish you a wonderful weekend, Donna.

HI Donna, Hope things are going well for you and family. I have been doing a bit of research and I think you were a fan of the Lars Mytting trilogy. The third is to be published in Feb. 2025 and is called The Night of the Scourge. Now we have to wait (im)patiently!

>246 Berly: Hi Kim. Are you still having symptoms of Long Covid? That's rough I know. Enjoy the quiet time, better known as reading time. ;-) I hope you get your strength back before you start a new job. And yes, the Picoult book was interesting...

>247 thornton37814: Lori, I was just the opposite...probably not in the mood for a psychological thriller. I also am a little stingy with my stars recently, although I am giving my most recent book 4.5 stars...

>248 vancouverdeb:, 249: Deborah, that is interesting about "Frost" which I couldn't connect with a touchstone, although it is listed as #4 in the Hidden Iceland series. My German is a bit rusty (haha) so I will wait for the English translation. I liked the others pretty well. My 3.5 rating means "Good" on my scale. Hope all is well with you and the family.

>250 PaulCranswick: Thank you for dropping by, Paul. My weekend went by too quickly as usual. It has started to warm up here in Southern Missouri and the spring flowering plants and trees are lovely. I won't miss winter one little bit!

>251 mdoris: I appreciate your research efforts, Mary. It won't hurt me a bit to work on my patience. I'm just glad to know he is working on another book in the Sister's Bells Trilogy. I had to do my own little bit of research to come up with the name of the series. ;-) I still have the Chopping Wood book to read, but it isn't calling my name for some reason.

Book No. 28: What you Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama. Library copy, 256 pp., 3.6 Stars

This feel-good book translated from Japanese made for an uplifting discussion at last week's book group. It features connected stories about five individuals of all ages, sexes, and circumstances. They are undergoing changes in their lives and find just what they need from the helpful librarian at the local community center. She listens well and gives them a list of books with a special bonus. Our discussion was greatly enhanced by a new member who recently moved back home after spending two years in Japan with her husband and two young children. She was very knowledgeable and helpful with pronunciations. I hope she comes back next month.

Book No. 29: Children of God by Mary Doria Russell. My book, 438 pp., 4.5 Stars.

I have been wrestling with this book for a week now. Not exactly easy reading. It is the sequel to Russell's The Sparrow which was also a Science Fiction novel about First Contact with another planet. That one didn't go so well... The surviving Jesuit Priest, Father Emilio Sandoz was miraculously rescued although he was a shattered individual after undergoing horrific treatment on Rakhat.

Both books were emotionally painful to read. This one also has the same sense of dread and experiences with the unknown. Unfortunately, Emilio is once more in the center of things, but he had no choice in the matter this time around. Without going into detail, I'll just say the intersection of science and religious faith continue to be a big part of the story, although progress between the inhabitants of Rakhat is encouraging. Reading these books has been a bit like being caught in a long dark tunnel with a faint light at the end. The time spent in this atmosphere was seriously crushing but still an outstanding reading experience. I'm happy I got up the courage to read the sequel after reading The Sparrow two times. It definitely provided some much-needed closure. I'm so glad to be back to earth that I gave both books 4.5 Stars! Russell is indeed a gifted author.

>255 Donna828: Nice to feel a sense of completion after getting back to earth with the sequel, Donna. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

Hi Donna, Thanks for dropping by my thread and for your kind words..

>242 Donna828: I’ve read the first three books in Jonasson’s Dark Iceland series and you’ve reminded me I need to get back to it. I have The Darkness but thought I’d finish one series before I started the other, but who knows. :)

>255 Donna828: I liked The Sparrow well enough and I’m very glad I finally got to it since so many of my LT friends loved it, but I’m not in any great hurry to read the sequel. Sounds like it’ll take a lot of emotional energy.

>253 Donna828: I am afraid I don't have any German to speak, but yes, I realized afterwords that though I could find a touchstone for Frost, it appears it is only in German. I will also wait for the English translation :) I have not read anything by Maria Doria Russell but I'm glad you enjoyed your book so much.

>255 Donna828: What an interesting review Donna. It sounds satisfying that you have read these books but still difficult.

Happy Sunday, Donna. Excellent review of Children of God. You have now sparked my interest in rereading it. I am really enjoying Clear: A Novel by Carys Davies. Keep this one in mind.

>237 Donna828: I do have a library card, and I'm not afraid to use it. I actually have 24 hour access to my county library. They gave it out to regular customers. I used it for the first time on Saturday, though when they gave it to me, I doubted I had a reason to go to the library on off hours.

Book No. 30: I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider. Library, 128 pp., 3.8 Stars.

I try to read one graphic book a year and some years I don't even do that much. This one grabbed my attention at the beginning, and I read it two times because it made me laugh in so many places.

I now have a Reader's Manifesto: "I like big books with long words" and a plan for reading poetry: "If you want to understand a poem, throw yourself into it's language." This was a helpful and entertaining book in so many ways. I will never judge you by your bookshelf, but I do highly recommend that you read this book.

Book No. 31: Walking: One Step At A Time by Erling Kagge. Library, 177 pp., 3.5 Stars.

This little book made me happy. I am a dedicated walker. I walk every morning for at least 30 minutes with my husband and dog. We've done this for many years and only miss a few days in the winter when the roadways aren't safe or the temperatures dip into the single digits. We go first thing in the morning and my day just doesn't seem to go right if I stay home.

This book was translated from the Norwegian and I got the feeling that walking is part of my heritage as the granddaughter of Emil and Edna Olsen, both born in Norway. The author has many accolades in his walking experiences, including treks to the North Pole, South Pole, and Mount Everest. I am definitely not in the same category, but I share his belief that walking is integral to good health, positive thinking, and even creativity. I plan to keep on walking as long as I can.

Book No. 32: Table for Two by Amor Towles. Library, 451 pp., 3.8 Stars.

This was a busy book composed of six short stories and one novella. The stories started in Russia, however the first one (and my favorite) started in Russia during the time of Lenin and long lines for the daily necessities of life. Pushkin and his wife emigrated to New York City and the other five stories took place there over the years. I'm not a big fan of short stories, but I became engaged with these because of the wonderful writing and the enjoyment of looking for the "tables of two" where much of the interactions between characters took place.

And then there was the novella featuring Evelyn Ross who had a role in Rules of Civility which I read in 2012. In this new story, she left her life in Manhattan and traveled by train to Los Angeles. She adjusted quickly to life in the Golden Age of Hollywood and became fast friends with Olivia DeHavilland. A fun tale quickly turned into a crime story. Eve's friendship with Charlie, the retired detective she met on the train ride out west came in handy for help with the convoluted scheme to ruin her new friend's life and career.

I much prefer Towles' full-length novels. I read somewhere that we might meet some of the characters from the story collection in his next offering. Can't wait!

>256 Familyhistorian: I had a great weekend, Meg...and am already looking forward to another one. I'm really glad I read the sequel to The Sparrow. You can see by my last few books that I have doing some light reading to recuperate.

>257 Copperskye: Hi Joanne. It's good to see you here. I will finish the Hidden Iceland series before I look into another one. I have several ongoing series and need to buckle down and read them!

It took me 16(!) years to read the sequel to The Sparrow. I'm glad I took the time to reread it with you and Mark before I got up the courage to read Children of God. I'll keep the books on my shelf but have little desire to read them again. I was wasted for several days and had to regain my reading "nerve" by reading some very gentle books.

I hope you are doing okay these days.

>258 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. I'm looking forward to reading "Frost" and maybe reading the Dark Island series by Jonasson that Joanne mentioned one of these days. There are so many good series out there.

>259 mdoris: Hi Mary and thank you for those kind words. It was emotionally draining to read The Children of God but worth it to gain closure. I also want to thank you for the recommendation of the Grant Snider book. It was such a salve for my soul after reading a heavy book.

>260 msf59: Sorry to be so late in responding, Mark. It's been a full week here. I am starting to look forward to summer even though I will complain about the hot humid weather I'm sure. I will keep the Davies book in mind. Thanks for putting it on my book radar.

>261 The_Hibernator: Rachel, I loved your statement: "I do have a library card, and I'm not afraid to use it." You go, Girl! It's great that you have 24-hour access to your library. I'm confused. Are they open all the time or is it online access? My library is nearby and I'm in there on a weekly basis. My favorite time, though, is the second Tuesday evening of the month when my book group meets. I've been a member since its beginning about 20 years ago.

>263 Donna828:Walking: One Step At A Time sound interesting , Donna. I am also a dedicated walker, but I usually walk on my own or with our dog , Poppy. I used to be a jogger or runner, but when I got to close the age of 40, I decided it was too hard on my knees. I hope to keep up my walking for my lifetime too. I think we may have quite a few dedicated walkers here in the 75's.

Hi Donna

>264 Donna828: I'm reading Table for Two and am really enjoying it. I prefer novels to short stories, too, but these have all been pretty satisfying so far. I have one more ss and then the novella to go. So far, "The Ballad of Timothy Touchett" is my favorite. I would love to meet any of these stories' characters again in a longer format.

>263 Donna828: what a wonderful sounding little book! Walking is so good- I love the pace, you can take in a whole lot, watch for changes in the neighbourhood, observe the changes of the seasons, notice all the little things. I definitely have not been walking enough lately!

>267 Donna828: Some few library patrons got a card that scans them in to the closed library. It's for us responsible people. 😉

My poor little lonely thread...
Time to start a new one after I acknowledge my faithful visitors and add the last book I read in April.

Book No. 33: Sulfur Springs by William Kent Krueger. Mine, 306 pp., 3.5 Stars.

Number 16 in the Cork O'Connor series is mired in secrets and suspicions. Cork and his new wife Rainy travel to southern Arizona to rescue Rainy's son after receiving a garbled phone call from him. The situation is dicey as usual, and Cork isn't sure who he can trust. He learns some new things about his wife and leads the rescue operation in the desert while being pursued by Mexican cartels. The heat builds along with the mystery. It was an interesting change of scenery; however, I missed the Minnesota forests.

>268 vancouverdeb: Deborah, I agree that we have a bunch of dedicated walkers among the readers here. Too bad we can't get together and talk about books while we walk.

>269 Copperskye: Hi Joanne. I may be imagining it, but it seems like I read somewhere that these characters in Table for Two might just pop up again in the next full novel by Towles. I did enjoy finding out a bit more about Eve Ross from Rules of Civility so I suppose it's possible that he will expand on the plots he introduced in the short stories. Whatever he writes, I will be a willing reader!

>270 LovingLit: I enjoyed your observations on the benefits of walking, Megan. You are not a slacker because I know you take your boys on those long hikes. Walking the neighborhood didn't become a habit with me until my nest was empty. It helps to have a husband and dog who also enjoy our morning walks.

>271 The_Hibernator: That is a wonderful perk, Rachel. It's good to be a responsible person. ;-)

Please visit my new thread:
Donna's Life Is An Open Book, Chapter 2

Donna's thread #2

https://www.librarything.com/topic/360560