Mdoris (Mary) reads in 2024 WELCOME #2

This photo was taken on our walk today. The garden is amazing and changes frequently to showcase the blooms of the moment. I love it and we walk past every day and feast our eyes.

Hello, my name is Mary. I live in Comox, on Vancouver Island. I have been a member of LT since 2011 and I love it here. It is great to see what people are reading, to follow threads and to make new friends. I am a slow reader (it will be a miracle to reach 75!). Please don't kick me out of this wonderful group!

Almost all my books are from the library. I love cookbooks and do get lots of them too but do not list them in my grand total count. Most recently the cookbooks have been about COOKIES! YUM!

I have 4 daughters who have all flown the coop. They are all living far away and they now have little ones. Now I am Gramma to 9, 4 boys and 5 girls. I was passionate about kids' books when our kids were little and still read lots of the newly published ones too. I am a retired Speech/Language Pathologist and loving retirement.

WELCOME! Please come and visit!

Happy new thread Mary!

>3 Owltherian: Thanks Lily. Hope you are having a great day!

>4 mdoris: I am! I hope your day is going well!

Happy New Thread, Mary. Love the colorful garden topper. Glad to hear that you are healing properly. May the advances continue.

Followed by the Lark sounds like a fun read.

Happy New Thread, Mary! What a beautiful picture of the garden flowers .

Happy new thread dear Mary.

That is a wonderfully colourful garden!

Happy new thread, Mary!

>1 mdoris: Lovely sight, all those tulips. The tulips in my garden are gone now, we had an early spring.

Hi Mary! I lurked all through your first thread and decided it was about time I said hello. I love your thread topper.

Happy new thread, Mary. I love the photo at the top.

Love the >1 mdoris: Topper Mary.

>5 Owltherian:, Hope Lily that you are having another very good day!
>6 msf59: Thanks Mark. I think you would like Followed by the Lark and all the bird mentions!
>7 vancouverdeb: HI Deborah, that garden changes all the time but must be so much WORK!
>8 PaulCranswick: Hello Paul. Will you have a garden when you return to the U.K.?
>9 FAMeulstee: HI Anita. I am so surprised that your spring is already nearly over with tulips finished!
>10 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. I returned the lurk and must visit you more often. I love all your garden talk there!
>11 BLBera: Thanks Beth for the good wishes. Hope all's well with you !
>12 Caroline_McElwee: Hello Caroline. Perhaps I should take more pictures of this garden to show the changes over the seasons. It must be lots of work but with such results!

Happy new thread!

Thanks Jim.

Book #32
The End of Race Politics by Coleman Hughes p. 179 library



This very recently published and excellent book is written by a young man with such good ideas and insight. He presents so many arguments for a colorblind racial approach, such as the one that is consistent with the principles and goals from the civil rights movement instead of the present one in vogue promoted by authors such as DiAngelo and Kendi that Hughes calls "neo-racist" that just perpetuates discord, without solutions.

p. 176 "What better than affirmative action -what would truly benefit people of color-is an educational system that helps children develop the habits, attitudes, and skills they need to flourish in adult life."

>16 mdoris: The End of Race Politics sounds interesting , Mary. Yes, gardening is a lot of work. I stick to container gardening with out being in a townhouse. I had a great walk today, despite the wind and a light drizzle. I got about 3 miles in, and walked around Garry Point Park, where I can see out to the Ocean and the Fraser River. I listen to music with my ear buds when I walk without Poppy, and that just adds to the enjoyment. I guess you are close to the Ocean too, so plenty of birds to see and always a great view - maybe not on really overcast days.

>17 vancouverdeb: Hello Deborah it is great weather for walks these days. We are a block from the ocean (a long city park) and then a walk along the ocean on a very natural beach. From there there is a view of the Comox glacier to be viewed on clear days and it is spectacular. There we can let Loki off the leash and she can sniff to her heart's content. Usually there are a pair of eagles on the tallest trees and often many sailboats about.After high winds a boat will get loose and swept up to shore, a drama no doubt for the owner. Sure sounds like we are lucky with our walks. Yours sounds very wonderful!

Happy new thread, Mary. It's nice to see the picture of spring flowers in the sunshine at the top of your thread.

Hi Meg, well you take the most wonderful neighbourhood photos so I thought I might give it a try too. Hope you are having a very good weekend!

The Womens Prize shortlist was announced today!

River East, River West
Soldier, Sailor
Enter Ghost
Brotherless Night
Restless Dolly Maunder
The Wren, The Wren

Well, you know what I think of some of the books on the shortlist, Mary! :-) At least I have read the two I disliked, and I just barely started on Brotherless Nights, but it seems promising. I own the two I have not yet read, so I will get to them. I was surprised that Ordinary Human Failings was not on the list. We had a nice out in Vancouver yesterday and today I just finished doing both of our taxes, so I am glad to have that behind me.

And -I know what an immersion blender is. I was just on Paul's thread. Dave got one with some points from work. I have not used it yet, but I think it will come in handy with making soup.

Hello Deborah, If you love soups you will love the immersion blender and good for you to remember the name, not my faulty/funny descriptions that got some press!

>23 mdoris: I did get a chuckle of that " bad press " , Mary!

>13 mdoris: I hope so, Mary. I am looking at a few places although my brother wants me to use his second home first which does have a garden albeit not a huge one.

>21 mdoris: I have read four of the six so far and am leaning towards Brotherless Night so far.

>22 vancouverdeb: / >23 mdoris: & >24 vancouverdeb: I think that Hani has one too (immersion blender, I mean!) and I am still wiping coffee from my laptop!

>24 vancouverdeb:, >25 PaulCranswick: Hi Deborah and Paul, chuckles are very good for our health and immersion blenders make very good soup. I love soup!

Book #33
We've Got Issues by Dr. Phil McGraw library p. 359



I have recently viewed Dr. Phil on a few internet interviews and he is on fire with his concerns so I thought I would read his very recently published book. I have not followed his TV show at all but I did know a little about him but now that I have read his book I know a lot more, his early and difficult up rearing, his career path and now his great concerns about family, faith and country. He has lots of tips/ advice to stear you in the right direction and gives an injection of courage to be honest and true to yourself and challenge what you think needs change. He bites off a lot with this book and he is fired up with concerns!

Book #34
Behind the Curtain: Inside the Network of Progressive Billionaires and Their Campaign to Undermine Democracy by Jeff Reynolds library, p. 173



I am not sure why I reserved this one from the library! Did I see it mentioned on someone's thread? It was an eye opener for one side of the aisle and I am sure there is a book to be written about the other side but it does give some insight into the Billionaire's Club and the pressure and results they get pushing their agendas as an unelected presence on government work. There is so much money behind the scenes! It boggles the mind with NGO's and non profits shuffling vast sums of money about.

Happy new(? - is it still new if I am weeks behind?) thread, Mary!

Have a fantastic Friday!

>1 mdoris: What a great variety of colours!

Happy new thread!

Happy Friday, Mary. I hope you are having a good week and enjoying those books. I got a little Jackson time in yesterday. He certainly loves driving the battery-operated vehicle Grandma got him.

I am enjoying the sunshine and nice weather , Mary! I got out for a nice long walk without Poppy today. I find I can actually walk faster and further without her . It was a great day too look across the Fraser River at planes taking off and just taking in the great weather. I think tomorrow I am walking Poppy as Dave is planning to go stunt kite flying, but I'll get Poppy to move along pretty quickly! I know you are enjoying the great weather too!

>27 mdoris: I don't know much about Dr. Phil either, Mary, but he seems to be quite a straight-talker and seeks to cut through some of the nonsense being spewed by some portions of the illiberal left and the conservative right.

>28 mdoris: Likewise, Mary, it is very concerning that the power of the purse is being used to manipulate the populace. Social media platforms are open to clear abuse and control by people with agendas. The 44 billionaires created out of the chaos and misery of COVID is also something that profoundly concerns me.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, Mary!

>29 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, Hope you are having a very good week!

>30 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita, If I can get my act together I will take more pictures as the seasons and colours change. Hope all is well with you! i will come for a visit!

>31 msf59: Hi Mark, Glad that you are getting some Jackson time. Love the pics of him in his little car. He must be in heaven!

>32 vancouverdeb: Deborah, I am loving this weather too. Doing lots of work outside, tidying up. Would much rather be outside than inside! Enjoy those wonderful walks!

>33 PaulCranswick: Hello Paul., I on a roll with lots of non fiction and deeply concerning books right now. Hmmm., might be good to switch but you seem to "get" my concerns so well! Yes, I have watched some recent interviews with Dr. Phil and he is not taking any nonsense!

>34 alcottacre: Hello again Stasia. i have been regulary visiting your thread but i guess keeping a bit silent! I do greatly enjoy reading your book reviews! Hope you are feeling well!

>35 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. I appreciate you coming by even if you are a 'silent' visitor. All is well here :) I hope the same for you!

I'm just now getting caught up on your newish thread, Mary. I missed out on the announcement as I am living under a rock these days. Haha. I don't spend much time on LT, but had to create my new thread and got hooked on catching up.

I look forward to more pictures of your scenic yard. Your walk sounds divine...wouldn't mind a few pictures of Loki at the beach. She sounds like Penny who has only two speeds: full ahead as fast as she can go and dead stop to smell...and smell some more. We don't have anywhere we can let her off leash which is a shame.

Book #35
Bad Therapy: Why the kids aren't growing up by Abigail Shrier home shelves p. 250



I am a sucker for books about parenting, kids and their challenges and this one was another winner along with Generations, Coddling of the American MInd, Anxious Generation (and more). When our kids were little I read Siblings without Rivalry and was teased that it was "Earth without Gravity"! Also years ago I read Bringing up Bebe about a mom moving to France and describing the difference between American and French childrearing and the ensuing results. Fascinating and very good to know! So this book looks at the very challenged present generation of children who are experiencing very significant mental health concerns and she examines parenting, education and therapeutic approaches.There are so many children diagnosed, in therapy and on heavy duty medications. She has a lot to say and really we must find the "adult in the room" to do a better job as children are not being managed well. The book is well researched with many interviews of experts in their fields and with further book recommendations and references to academic research.

>36 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia. More silent visits very soon!

>37 Donna828: Hi Donna, that is not my personal scenic yard but one that we walk past every day. It is small but powerfully grand! I will try and take more pictures throughout the summer. I will try also to get a Loki picture on the beach. (we are very bad at taking our cell phone on our walks!). Too bad you can't let Penny off the leash but I'm sure she must be getting lots of wonderful walks. You sound busy these days! Hope all's well!

I had another lovely walk today, along the dyke across from the Vancouver Airport.I always enjoy watching planes take off and land, and the float planes, helicopters etc. I read Siblings Without Rivalry when I was a young mom too, but what the secret is , I don't know. My two sons are not close, I think in part because they are 5 1/2 years apart, and then Wm is married with two children and Daniel is single and intends to stay that way. But as I am sure I have mentioned , me and my 4 siblings are all close. I don't think my parents did anything in particular, nor read a book. I have heard that having a sister in the mix helps with sibling bonding.

My copy of Long Island came in from the library yesterday , and I hope to read it after I finish Soldier Sailor.

>40 vancouverdeb: Deborah you are on a reading whirlwind, mighty impressive. I am hoping that soon I can get off the non fiction reading and get some ficiton done. My list is long. These days have been fantastic. I am off to brunch with a friend today. Can hardly wait. She is a new gramma and will have lots of stories to tell. Your walks by the airport sounds wonderful. My garden is exploding. It is such a great time of year when the weather co-operates!

>39 mdoris: Hi Mary, and many thanks for linking my threads. I will be on top of doing that if/when I have a Thread #3.

In regard to the scenic garden topper, I should have paid closer attention to your caption. It’s even better that you get the daily enjoyment without the upkeep. *Smile*

All is well in my world and wish the same for you.

Well, I don't think I read with much speed at all,Mary, but I did finished Soldier Sailor and have just started Long Island. I hope you had a lovely brunch out with your friend, the new gramma! That is exciting stuff. A friend of mine recently became a new grandma, and it is a little girl name " August" . As my friend said, she is struggling with the name August for a girl. The little one was born with a hold in her heart, but they knew a week prior to the birth, so wee August was taken by air ambulance at birth from Winnipeg to the Children's Hospital in Edmonton. The open heart surgery was done successfully and little August has been home for several months and is doing well.

>42 Donna828: Donna this was taken today on our beach walk of Loki before she explored the beach. It wasn't an ideal day because of some overcast so the mountain views were not the best and Loki is all set for grooming tomorrow for her summer cut. It was low tide as you can see! I am about to post a picture of wistera, just down the block from >1 mdoris: picture!

And you are right, wonderful gardens are better on someone else's property. Way less work!

And here is another picture from our walk today, blooming wisteria. Isn't it amazing!

>43 vancouverdeb: Deborah, I think you are on a major roll with the Women's Prize fiction reading. i have so many titles that I want to get to but I seem to be stuck in this sort of disturbing non fiction writing about how our world is going. But like all things there will be an end to this reading! My friend's new grand-daughter is named Olivia so of course she got all the books about the sweet little pig with the same name. My former neighbour and great friend has a grand-daughter named Sparrow. My friend could not keep a straight face when she used the name and I coached her that she needed to practice in front of a mirror so her face would not give away her concerns. This next generation, I tell ya!!!!

I am very happy to hear that your friend's grand-daughter has a good result from her surgery. That must have been difficult.

Loki looks gorgeous, Mary. The highlight of the photo, I think. Beautiful wisteria as well. Yes, I'm very happy the little August's surgery went well . Olivia is such cute name for a baby. I had a great aunt names Olivia - it's nice to see the old names come back into style. I'm still waiting on the name Deborah: -) Sparrow is quite cute, but I think likewise I would have struggled with it. I agree, some of the names the new generation uses.

Hello Deborah, I will have a long wait until "Mary" might gain any popularity. Loki says "thank you=woof" for the compliment. She is now chewing on a raw hide bone and seems perfectly content. Yes the baby naming is all over the place with some traditional and then some very unique names. Interesting times!

book #36
When Kids Say They're Trans library p. 294



This is an excellent book written by 3 experienced psychotherapists with great information (research based) to support families experiencing challenges due to gender transitions of children. There are a lot of good references included.

I haven't had to deal with any one close to me deciding that they are trans, Mary. A very close friend of mine has a brother who at the age of 50, admitted that he had struggled with his - now her gender identity. He was on his second marriage and has four children. Ken, now Kaitlyn , had quite a struggle I think, as did his children and his wife . I guess it would be easiest to realize it at a younger age and go forward with that prior to marriage and children, but I guess it does not always happen that way, especially for people of my generation. My 1 st cousin has a daughter who uses the pronouns we /they , but Sarah's parent's seemed to have accepted it really well.

Enjoy your weekend.

Hello Deborah. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. We had a big air show here today and in the middle of the afternoon a major hail storm with freezing wind came. What a day!

>44 mdoris: Mary, Your dog is beautiful. Is she she a stamdard poodle?

I enjoy your images and your description of walking.

>52 Whisper1: Thank you Linda. Yes she is a standard poodle. We jokingly say she is a sub-standard poodle as she can be a bit contrary. She is our 5th standard in 37 years. We got our first when Claire our youngest was 3 and Claire has just turned 40. Yikes how did that happen? My husband grew up with standards for allergy reasons so we just continued. This one is called Loki, the mischief maker and of course we love her!

>44 mdoris: Beautiful setting. Loki looks majestic as she contemplates her adventure!

>45 mdoris: I am a fan of "other people's gardens" as I struggle with my own. The wisteria is gorgeous. I hope your recent hailstorm didn't decimate them.

What beautiful photos, Mary!

Nice pictures of Loki and the wisteria, Mary. It definitely isn't picture weather the past few days, here at least and I imagine there as well. It seems wrong to go from warm weather clothes to sweaters and sweatshirts. I hope it turns back the other way soon!

Like Meg, I'm looking forward to better weather, but I think we have rain for several days yet.

>54 Donna828: Hello Donna, I can't claim the wisteria as my own, just a wonder I see on our daily walks. You must see some wonders too when you take Penny for her walks. I know you have had a house full of dogs, dogsitting your grand-dogs!

>55 BLBera: Thank you Beth! I might have chosen a better day to take the pictures showing the mountains in the background. Oh well!

>56 Familyhistorian: Hello Meg. I know! The weather has been horrible, windy and cold. We have lost power and lots of branches down to clean up. Yes, back to wooly sweaters. Ugh.

>57 vancouverdeb: Big black clouds here today Deborah. Not great weather for a bit but we'll really love it when it arrives!

Book #37
The Dying Citizen by Victor Davis Hanson library p. 346



This was a very interesting book written in 2021 about the change in political climates and its affect on the citizen. Chapters were Precitizens-Peasants, Residents, Tribes) and Post Citizens (Unelected, Evolutionaries, Globalists). The author is an historian with a deep understanding of Classics to understand where democracy has come from and now where it is going. There is much to be alarmed about currently. i have watched a number of podcast interviews with this author and they too are very interesting if not concerning of content.

p. 213 The duty of a journalist to the citizen is to stay neutral and disinterested and to report the truth, at least as it can be determined by testimonies, evidence, motive and common sense-without concern for whether such reporting injuries or aids a particular politician or agenda. Otherwise, the citizen has few sources of reliable news by which to form an independent opinion on any issue- and thus to participate in democracy in an effective manner.

Just stopping by to say hi, Mary. I have been quite fortunate with my reads this past while. I have you to thank for Long Island by Colm Toibin. I recall you let me know about his new book and so I was able to put a hold on it before it was actually in the library. Thanks! I hope your reads are treating you well too.

Book #38
Second Class:How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women by Batya Ungar-Sargon library p. 211



I just finished this brand new and recently published book by Ungar-Sargon. It is another wonderful book of hers this time looking at challenges of working class folks. Her first book Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy was about journalism. This one follows the many interviews she did for over a year across the country in the U.S. interviewing working class men and women to get at some answers concerning jobs, housing, immigration and government policy. The reading provided insights and created sensitivities. I kept thinking of the "opportunity of birth" and what gifts that provides.

Is the American Dream still possible?

Mary, I may have mentioned that my vet's favorite breed is the standard poodle. A friend has a beautiful standard poodle. she is so very regal!

>60 vancouverdeb: Sorry Deborah but the recommendation was not me as I have not read Toibin's new book! Hope all is well with you! I am loving this warmer weather!

>62 Whisper1: Hello Linda. We call her a "sub-standard" poodle just to be brats but she is a lovely dog. She is our 5th standard poodle. We got our first one when our youngest daughter was 3 and she just celebrated her 40th birthday. Loki will turn 5 soon at the end of June.

Checking in on you as it has been a while since I visited, Mary. I hope all is well there.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

>64 alcottacre: Hello Stasia, hoping all is well with you!

Book # 39
Mrs. England by Stacey Halls library p. 320



This book takes you back in time and place (1904, England) to uncover several secrets in a situation that shows the upstairs/downstairs culture of the time. I think I heard about this book on Paul's thread. Thank you Paul!

>66 mdoris: I enjoyed that too, Mary, Mrs England. She has written several other books, all of which I have enjoyed. The Foundling, The Familiars and just lately, The Household. Good taste in books.

>66 mdoris: I note that I added Mrs. England in 2022. I will see if I can obtain in from my local library.

>67 vancouverdeb: Hello Deborah. i might have heard about the book from you two! i must read more of her books!

>68 Whisper1: Hi Linda, I hope you like the book when you get to it! It is a fast gobble.

Sweet Thursday, Mary. Just checking in. It looks like the books are treating you well.

>61 mdoris: You got me again with Second Class, Mary. Your thread is dangerous!

>70 msf59: Happy Father's Day to you Mark! Hope you get to visit with your kids and Jackson today. Thank heavens for visits on-line for us.

>71 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg, your thread is exceedingly dangerous so just so nice that I can send you an idea or two! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. I think we could do with some more heat though!

Yes, Mary, such sad and shocking news about Anita F. So sad. Dave also lost a colleague - former, I guess, since he retired, in the tunnel accident last Wednesday https://bc.ctvnews.ca/significant-delays-expected-at-george-massey-tunnel-northb...

Dave said he was just a year from retirement, and a really great guy. He left behind a wife and two kids. He was a big advocate for motorcycle safety, but I guess you never know.

Deborah, I am so sorry to hear/read about this horrible motorcycle accident. What a loss!

And I think Anita's sudden passing has sent a big tremor through the group. She will be so missed.

Yes, Anita's passing has sent a big tremor through the group. On Facebook today I saw picture of the fellow who died in the motorcycle accident, and the family is asking for anyone to come forward that has information on the accident. The semi truck that rolled over the poor fellow may not have noticed that it drove over the man, and no one has come forward yet.

Well,I thought it was on the warm side today and Poppy definitely felt it was too warm. We just walked an easy couple of miles today, in a shady park, but other than eating her dinner today, she has just been resting from the heat. She has just perked up now and will soon be on her evening walk.

Hello Deborah. Hope today is a better walking day for Poppy! Loki with her black fur is not such a big fan of the heat either.

DNF I got to p. 55 of Outback by Patricia Wolf and had to Pearl rule this book as it was too creepy/scary for my mood at the moment. She is a good writer so I can't fault her there.

>66 mdoris: I own that one. I just need to find my copy and get it read!

>77 mdoris: I hate DNFing a book but sometimes the time is just not right for a particular book. I sure hope your next read is better for you, Mary!

>78 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia. I think I will select a Gad Saad on happiness. The Saad Truth About Happiness. He is a wonderful Canadian professor who talks a great deal of sense. I hope you are having a very good weekend.

Me too, I don't DNF very often.

>79 mdoris: A book on happiness sounds just the ticket to wipe the awful taste of your last read out of your mouth!

Have a terrific Tuesday, Mary!

Checking in on you, Mary. I hope all is well there!

Just checking in to see if all is well, and what you are reading, Mary.

Thank you Stasia and Deborah for checking in on me. i am reading NOTHING! Grandkids from Fernie are visiting 3 and 5 and we are having so much fun. I should say that I am reading lots of kids books so does that count? Ha, ha! Hope you are both having a wonderful start to summer. The sunshine and warmth has been fantastic the past week. We are lucky!

Oh sure, kid's books count. I'm glad you are having such a wonderful and busy time with your two young grandchildren! It is beautifully here in BC!

Sounds like you are having a wonderful visit with the grandkids, Mary. I hope you are still enjoying the warm weather!

Good for you having fun with your grandkids. They definitely come before Library Thing. I've just finished three weeks with very little reading getting done and am ready to a personal readathon to end the month of July.

Happy Reading to you when you can fit it in, Mary. Enjoy weather...yours is warmer, ours is cooler...and we're both happy campers. ;-)

>84 vancouverdeb: What a summer it has been! We have been so lucky with the warm weather and sea temperatures for swimming. We had lots of fun with the grandkids. Today we were hit with a rain storm. Really it was raining cats and dogs! Happy Anniversary to you and Dave Deborah!

>85 Familyhistorian: Meg I am getting no reading done whatsoever. Well I start something and I put it down and then the pile grows. It happens to me in the summer sometimes (usually).😎

>86 Donna828: Hi Donna. good luck with your personal readathon. I'll come over for a visit to see what you're up to!

This is me in the summer, most summers!

Boketto a Japanese word that means.....

gazing vacantly into the distances without really thinking about anything specific.

I had a another cardioversion today for a stuck high heart rate. i have had two not very successful heart ablations in the past and meds to control the arrhythmia which don't seem to be working either. But the good news is how wonderful the staff at the hospital are in character, humour and professional abilities. We are so lucky! New meds today so fingers crossed that it will work.

Wow, no rain here today, Mary, but I think it is supposed to rain on Monday, and possibly a chance of brief shower tomorrow morning. Boketto. I've not heard that word before. I am glad you are enjoying the summer, but very sorry to read about your stuck heart rate and today's cardioversion. I sure hope the new meds work for you. I'm very glad to read that the hospital staff are so wonderful. I'll keep you in my thoughts and my prayers. I actually do pray for people, and you will be one of them now. I'm so happy you've had such a great time with the grands. Hugs, Mary.

Thank you Deborah! Those are kind thoughts you share.

>90 vancouverdeb: Deborah I first encountered BOKETTO in a lovely book Lost in Translation an Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World. I think it is time for me to do a re-read of it!

That is scary about your heart problems, Mary. I hope the new meds are working wonders for you. I’m sure you have been advised to rest. The perfect time to practice Boketto and curl up with some comfort reads. You are in my prayers.

Sorry, double message.

>89 mdoris: I hope the new meds are working for you, Mary!

I hope that the medications are working well for you, Mary and that you are feeling much better. I hope we will see you on the threads soon here. You are missed.

Hopefully the new meds are working for you, Mary, and you are enjoying more Boketto.

Hi, Mary. Just checking in. I hope you have these heart issues under control. Fingers crossed. Keep us updated. Those books treating you well?

I am checking in on you too, Mary. Hope all is well there!

>93 Donna828:, >94 Donna828:,>95 alcottacre:, >96 vancouverdeb:, >97 Familyhistorian:,>98 msf59:, >99 alcottacre:. Hello wonderful L.T. friends Donna, Stasia, Deborah, Meg and Mark. Thank you so much for keeping my thread warm so it has not disappeared. I am fine and fingers crossed this new medication will help keep the heart rhythm/rate in the normal range. I often read less in the summer as I am outside busy but this summer I guess I have not read any books since June, how weird! We have had 3/4 daughters visits with families so life has been busy and wonderfully fun! Of course I have been keeping up with your threads with your great descriptions of travel, camping , times with grandkids and trying to escape the heat and puzzle making and of course the very impressive books you have all been reading. I'm sure I will rev up my reading in the fall but meanwhile thanks for keeping my thread warm.

No books since June! :-) Enjoy the summer, Mary and I do hope that your new medication will keep your heart rhythm/ rate in the normal range.

>88 mdoris: What a wonderful concept.

I hope the heart rhythm is regular with the new meds, Mary. It sounds like you are enjoying your summer.

Sounds like you are having a wonderful summer, Mary! With the recent weather feeling like fall, has it tempted you to pick up a book?

I am so happy to hear that you are OK, Mary, and having wonderful visits with your family!

>100 mdoris: I hope the medication works for you!

I know what you mean about the slowdown in reading. I am usually at work or outdoors and by the time I get in and settle down I am exhausted.

Hope you continue to enjoy the summer weather.

Hi Mary - I'm glad you've been having fun with your family and grandkids! Hope the new heart medicine has been working. I'm also having heart rhythm diagnostics this week.

I hope we see you back on LT soon, Mary. I found out I have high cholesterol and have just started on a statin. Argh! I need to lose about 25 lbs and keep up with my brisk walking and possibly I can reverse it , says my GP. I think there is genetic factor as well, as my dad had high cholesterol and had a stent put in when he was 64, and of course was then on a variety of medication for his heart, but he also had non- Hodgkin's Lymphoma, so he died from the cancer some 8 months later. I have a couple of siblings with borderline high cholesterol, and they are both slim and exercise , so yes, partly genetic.

Hello Deborah, Beth, Meg, Stasia, Anita, Janet and Deborah again. Thank you for your visits! i must have had a " no reading" shot and hoping I will recover from that. I float about on your threads and get lots of great reading ideas. But meanwhile back at the ranch I am glued to my computer and watching many podcasts as lots seems to be brewing in the world and it is fascinating and often scary to learn about. But thank you for your visits. Heart is behaving and summer is extended with some wonderful and warm weather. Hope you are all well and still enjoying summer.

book #41 Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout library



I loved this book like I did the other E.S. books! There are so many themes and it is told in such a personal and intimate way. She does an amazing job weaving her previous books together with all the previous characters meeting again to tell their stories, Olive Kitteredge, Bob Burgess (and family members), Lucy Barton (and family members) and we meet some new characters too who are much in need of kindness and supports. This is my first book finished since June and I am hoping that I am back on the horse!

It's great to see you back posting and reading, Mary! I have a hold on Tell Me Everything, so I'll get to eventually. I hope you are back on the horse, so to speak . I think most of us have non -reading spells. I'm so glad your heart is behaving. Good news indeed!

>110 vancouverdeb: Thank you Deborah. Lovely to receive your kindness.

>109 mdoris: I still need to get to the Lucy Barton series! Thanks for the reminder, Mary.

I hope you have a super Saturday!

Book #42 Morning After the Revolution by Nellie Bowles library



This wonderful book was written by a journalist who took a contrarian position and an examining point of view towards the current political/social trends (imagine having the fortitude and courage to do so!) Well done Nellie I say! Lots of personal stories are told.
Topics covered
Black Lives Matter, Seattle occupation, defund/abolish the police, identity hierachy, anti racist training programs, homelessness/drug addiction, gender and implications for lesbians, gender and the implication for womens' rights, asexual revolution, gender identity for children, who are the current feminists?, safety/deterioration of cities, struggle sessions/judgementalism, intolerance/cancelation
She took on a lot of topics!

Nice to see you back posting, Mary! Morning After the Revolution looks like a good one.

Hi Meg, Nice to see you visit too! Yes the book was a good one. Do you know about Bari Weiss? There was a big conflict at NYTimes and then Bari left and now has a very successful Substack called The Free Press. Anyway, Nellie Bowles and Bari are married and just had a baby! The Free Press is a very interesting journalism idea and hosts many wonderful pieces and writers.

>115 mdoris: No, I don't know about Bari Wiss or the conflict at NYTimes. I'll have to check out The Free Press.

Great to see you back posting, Mary! Late at night , I know,but I like to start a new thread when it is quiet at night here on LT.

>113 mdoris: I need to read that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Mary!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

>113 mdoris:

Hi Mary.

I must go and look for that. I am always open to a contrarian!

I hope all is well with you and I trust that you will have a lovely weekend.

Happy Saturday, Mary. I hope to bookhorn in Tell Me Everything next month. I am a big fan of Strout and she rarely disappoints, if ever. I hope all is well with you.

>116 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg, >117 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, >118 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, >119 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, >120 msf59: Hi Mark

You are all so good to keep my thread warm. I have not been on L.T. much as you can see but with the change of weather perhaps I will be reading more and it is always so wonderful to get the hot reading tips from all of you! i have been spending lots of time on podcasts and off legacy media and Substack subscriptions to try to understand what is happening out there in the big wide political world. Am I any further ahead? Maybe not!!! Should I come back to understanding the world through gifted writers of fiction? Maybe so. Time will tell but thank you all for your visits! I continue to do lots of lurking visits on your threads without leaving a footprint!

Book #43 The Queering of the American Child by Logan Lancing



This was a very interesting book for me. I saw Lancing interviewed on a few podcasts and observed that he was a thoughtful, curious and articulate person so wanted to read more of what he had to say. As a new dad he became curious about the state of education that our children experience so he did a deep dive and what he discovered was the "queering" of education. By queering he is not referring to same sex attraction but of the present post modern movement that examines what is considered "normal" and they does an upheaval of that. He found plenty in the education world to be concerned about from teacher education, teacher unions, pedagogy, teacher interactions with children, course content and how buried critical theory is based in instruction no matter the content being taught being that of reading, writing or math. I found plenty here to sink my teeth of concerns into!

This was sent to Simone, the wonder-girl yesterday for her 4th birthday from gramma and grampa. i think she liked it! These wonderful dress up clothes are made by a Canadian Company The Great Pretenders. They just might be getting a few more for Christmas!

https://greatpretenders.ca

>123 mdoris: oh so cool!

>123 mdoris: That is a great photo Mary.

What a cute picture of Simone,Mary! Great costume. She looks thrilled!

Thank you Anita, Paul and Deborah. We will do the long drive at Christmas to visit the family in Fernie from Vancouver Island . Please pray for good weather! We did the drive a few years ago and it was horrible. But more dress up costumes have been purchased so it will be fun to see if they are a hit!

For those who are fans Niall Williams has a new novel. I am late to the party and now must wait for ages for my library copy!

I've yet to read a book by Niall Williams but I put a hold on Time of the Child at the library. I think there are about 5 people ahead of me, and just one copy, so it will be a while until I get it.

Hello Deborah, I really like his writing and want to get my mitts on this new one but like you, it will be quite a wait!

It’s good to see you posting, Mary. I’ve been very hit and miss (mostly miss) the last few months. Playing catch-up little by little.

Guess what I picked up at the library today? Hint: the author’s initials are NW. I am so excited!!!

Oh Donna, lucky, lucky you! I will be very interested to see what you think! Nice to see you visit. I have not been on L.T. much these days but always like to see visits from my book pals!

>123 mdoris: Such a great photo, Mary. It sure looks like the dress up clothes are a hit!

Hi Meg, Big hit I think! And more is coming for them at Christmas. I've done my shopping. It is a Canadian company and makes great play things!

book #44
Good Energy by Casey Means


This lady is on a mission! She was near the very end of her surgical residency as a ENT doctor when she quit and studied to be a functional medicine doctor. She is appalled by the rampant metabolic diseases and obesity in the American population, adults and children and how this has greatly changed over time due to the processed food industry. She is on a mission to remedy this with the information packed in this book. Her brother was co-author and he has had insight from being a lobbyist in the food production world.

From Beth's thread just for future reference!
https://apps.npr.org/best-books/#view=covers&year=2024

Thinking of you at this time, dear Mary.

Happy Holidays, Mary. I hope you had a nice Christmas with the family.