Betty (Dudes22) – Quilts in the Garden in 2024 - Part II

Garden Sampler, Copyright 2018 Fat Quarter Shop, This and That Pattern Company

Hi – My name is Betty and I joined LT in 2008 and I’ve been doing the Category Challenge since 2010. My husband and I live close to the coast in the tiny state of Rhode Island. Our son and daughter also live in RI so we can see them fairly often. Our grandchildren are scattered – one grandson In Maine, one in Florida and our granddaughter is in North Carolina. We moved to a retirement community 7 years ago and there’s lots to do here. Hubby golfs a couple of times a week and I play mah jong and cards with some of the girls and manage the book club. We both like to read and I also quilt.

When I was getting my “reflections” thread ready for 2023, I realized that 2024 will be 10 years since I did my quilt challenge in the Category Challenge Group and thought I’d do another one although in a slightly different format. I bought a commercial quilt pattern for a sampler quilt that has 12 blocks called “Garden Sampler”. I will confess that I worked on some of the finishing aspects of it in 2023 otherwise I won’t have a complete quilt to show at the end of the year. Each month I’ll post a picture for one block and list my reading for the month.

Besides the garden sampler, I have a few other quilting projects planned and I also keep a thread of my quilting projects over in the Needlearts Group. If you’d like to drop by occasionally to see what I’m up to, it’s here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/356476#n8334785

2. Tickers, Covers, & Book Bullet Tracking





Book Bullet Reading Tracking



BBs 2012: 0 of 6
BBs 2013: 1 of 8
BBs 2014: 1 of 11
BBs 2015: 1 of 13
BBs 2016: 0 of 20
BBs 2017: 3 of 18
BBs 2018: 2 of 21
BBs 2019: 3 of 54
BBs 2020: 0 of 54
BBs 2021: 0 of 80
BBs 2022: 4 of 53
BBs 2023: 8 of 80

Currently Reading



Recently Read

January:

Jan Block: Mint Block

AlphaKit A - Spanish Daggers by Susan Wittig Albert
AlphaKit Y – Aunty Lee's Chilled Revenge by Ovidia Yu
Book Club -
Mystery Kit - The Great Cake Mystery by Alexander McCall Smith
Random Kit - A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson
Bingo Blocks: Aunty Lee's Chilled Revenge - Themed around Food
Yellow Bird Sings - 3 Word Title
Spanish Daggers - Author >65 clue:

1. The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger
2. Aunty Lee's Chilled Revenge by Ovidia Yu
3. Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner
4. Spanish Daggers by Susan Wittig Albert
5. The Great Cake Mystery by Alexander McCall Smith
6. A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson

February:

February Block: Fennel Block

AlphaKit F –
AlphaKit E – Look Alive Twenty-Five by Janet Evanovich
Book Club - Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Property by Valerie Martin
January Calendar Cat - Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (January Birthday)
February Random Kit: The Water Keeper by Charles Martin
February Calendar Cat: Property by Valerie Martin Black History Month)
February Prize Cat: The All of It by Jeannette Haien - Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction 1987
Alpha Kit Year-Long: "X" - Aunt Bessie Decides by Diana Xarissa
Bingo Blocks: Look Alive Twenty-Five - Nothing but author & title on cover
Their Eyes Were Watching God - Written by POC
The Water Keeper - Features Water
The Baker's Secret - Similar libraries on LT
Aunt Bessie Decides - Name in title

7. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
8. Look Alive Twenty-Five by Janet Evanovich
9. Maureen by Rachel Joyce
10. The Water Keeper by Charles Martin
11. Property by Valerie Martin
12. Aunt Bessie Decides by Diana Xarissa
13. The All of It by Jeannette Haien
14. The Baker's Secret by Stephen P Kiernan
15. Corduroy Mansions by Alexander McCall Smith
16. Montana, 1948 by Larry Watson
17. The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline

March

March Block - Basil Block

Feb AlphaKit F - The Vanishing Man by Charles Finch
AlphaKit H – Slow Horses by Mick Herron
AlphaKit R - The Morisot Connection by Estelle Ryan
Book Club - True Biz by Sara Novic
March Calendar Cat - Foster by Claire Keegan - Irish author
March Random Kit: West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Bingo Blocks: The Morisot Connection - Less than 100 copies
Letters From Skye by Jessica Brockmole - Epistolary

18. Foster by Clare Keegan
19. The Morisot Connection by Estelle Ryan
20. West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
21. The Vanishing Man by Charles Finch
22. True Biz by Sara Novic
23. Letters From Skye by Jessica Brockmole
24. Slow Horses by Mick Herron

April:

April Block - Oregano Block

AlphaKit U – Montmorency on the Rocks by Eleanor Updale
AlphaKit O - The Art of Inheriting Secrets by Barbara O'Neal
Book Club -
MysteryKit - Montmorency on the Rocks by Eleanor Updale
Calendar Cat - Chenneville - April birthday
Bingo Blocks - Chenneville - recent bestseller
Night of Miracles - about friendship
The Echo of Old Books - paper-based item in plot
The Record Keeper - features twins

25. The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin
26. Montmorency on the Rocks by Eleanor Updale
27. The Art of Inheriting Secrets by Barbara O'Neal
28. Chenneville by Paulette Jiles
29. Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg
30. The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis
31. The Record Keeper by Charles Martin
32. Where Coyotes Howl by Sandra Dalles

May:

May block - Lemongrass block

AlphaKit N – The Wives of Los Alamos by TaraShea Nesbit
AlphaKit P – The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny
Book Club - The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
May Calendar Cat - The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (author birthday)
May MysteryKit: Deadly Nightshade by Elizabeth Daly (Golden Age)
Bingo Block: The Alice Network - favorite reread

33. Olive, Mabel & Me by Andrew Cotter
34. The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny
35. The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
36. The Wives of Los Alamos by TaraShea Nesbit
37. - The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
38. Deadly Nightshade by Elizabeth Daly

June:

June Block - Dill

AlphaKit J - Any Other Name by Craig Johnson
AlphaKit B - Open House by ELizabeth Berg
Book Club -
RandomKit - Initials - "W" -"E"
MysteryKit - Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham
CalendarCat: Audio Book Appreciation Month : No Two Persons
Bingo Blocks: Walk the Blue Fields - short story collection
Indian Horse - written in another cultural tradition
Open House - ugly cover

39. Any Other Name by Craig Johnson
40. Walk the Blue Fields by Clair Keegan
41. An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten
42. Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
43. Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce
44. Open House by Elizabeth Berg
45. No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister
46. Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham

July:

Cilantro Block

AlphaKit I -
AlphaKit S – The House of Unexpected Sisters by Alexander McCall Smith
AlphaKit Z - Runaway Justice by Chad Zunker
Book Club (Jul) - Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
Bingo Block - Thunder and Rain - warriors/mercenaries
Runaway Justice - Set in a City (Austin, Tx)
RandomKit: Favorites - Thunder and Rain - favorite author

47. Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
48. Thunder and Rain by Charles Martin
49. Runaway Justice by Chad Zunker
50. The House of Unexpected Sisters by Alexander McCall Smith
51. I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

August:

Thyme Block

AlphaKit I (July) - The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
AlphaKit M - The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
AlphaKit G –
Book Club (Aug) - The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Book Club (Sep) - Remarkedly Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

52. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
53. The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
54. Remarkedly Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
55. Longbourn by Jo Baker

September:

Parsley Block

AlphaKit G (Aug) - The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
AlphaKit V -
AlphaKit C - The Quilter's Kitchen by Jennifer Chiaverini
Book Club - Sold by Patricia McCormick
CalendarCat - Locked Rooms - September Birthday
Sold - Banned Book Month/Week
RandomKit: It's Raining Men - Rain: Four Walks in English Weather
Bingo Block - The Quilter's Kitchen - topic with specific knowledge
Sold m- Set in Multiple Countries

56. The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
57. The Quilter's Kitchen by Jennifer Chiaverini
58. Summer at the Garden Cafe by Felicity Hayes-McCoy
59. The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass
60. Locked Rooms by Laurie R King
61. Rain: Four Walks in English Weather by Melissa Harrison
62. Sold by Patricia McCormick

October:

Parsley Block

AlphaKit D - Deadline by John Dunning
AlphaKit T - Dead Run by P.J. Tracy
Bingo Block - The Briar Club - "published in year ending in 24" (2024)
The Little Book of Icelanders - "big or little in title"
Deadline - "Read a CAT"
PrizeCat - Deadline - Missed it by That Much - Edgar Award Nominee 1982
MysteryKit - Meddling and Murder - Not to Scary
Book Club
Book Bullets - The Air Raid Book Club - Lori (thornton37814) 2024

63. The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
64. The Little Book of Icelanders by Alda Sigmundsdottir
65. Conviction by Denise Mina
66. Dead Run by P.J. Tracy
67. Deadline by John Dunning
68: Meddling and Murder by Ovidia Yu
69. The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons

November:

Lavender Block

AlphaKit L -
AlphaKit W -
Book Club (Nov) - The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
Book Club (Dec) - The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
CalendarCat - We Solve Murders by Richard Osman (birthday)
Book Bullets - Moon of the Turning Leaves - rabittprincess & VivienneR 2023

70 - The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
71 - The Paris Apartment by Kelly Bowen
72 - We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
73 - Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice
74. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

December:
picture arriving in December

AlphaKit K -
AlphaKit Q - Signal Moon by Kate Quinn
AlphaKit L -
AlphaKit W - Two Old Women by Velma Wallis
December Calender Cat: Wait for Signs by Craig Johnson (takes place around Christmas)

75. Personal by Lee Child
76. A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie
77. Signal Moon by Kate Quinn
78. Two Old Women by Velma Wallis
79. Wait for Signs by Craig Johnson
80. Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear

Bingo Dog
I’m putting in a Bingo Dog card placehilder - just in case





1. Food or Cooking - Aunty Lee's Chilled Revenge
2. Book with an Ugly Cover - Open House
3. Only Title and Author on Cover -Look Alive Twenty-Five
4. Featuring Twins - The Record Keeper
5. Topic Which You Have Specific Knowledge - The Quilter's Kitchen
6. Published in a Year Ending in 24 - The Briar Club
7. Epistolary or Diary - Letters from Skye
8. "Big" or "Little" in Title -The Little Book of Icelanders
9. Book From an "LT Similar" Library - The Baker's Secret
10. About Friendship - Night of Miracles
11. Three Word Title - Yellow Bird Sings
12. Paper Based Item in Plot - The Echo of Old Books
13. Read A Cat - Deadline
14. Short Story Collection - Walk the Blue Fields
15. Person's Name in Title - Aunt Bessie Decides
16. Set in a City - Runaway Justice (Austin, Tx)
17. Less Than 100 Copies Listed on LT - The Morisot Connection
18. POC author - Their Eyes Were Watching God
19. Author 65 or older - Spanish Daggers
20. Featuring Water - The Water Keeper
21. Warriors or Mercenaries - Thunder and Rain
22. Reread a Favorite Book - The Alice Network
23. Written in another Cultural Tradition - Indian Horse
24. Set in Multiple Countries - Sold (Nepal/India)
25. Current or Recent Bestseller -Chenneville

Welcome to Part 2 - Let the reading begin!

Happy new thread, Betty!

Happy new thread Betty!

Happy new thread, I hope the second half of the year bring some great reading.

Happy new thread, I've settled in and now am waiting for the BBs to begin!

Happy new thread, Betty! Beautiful samplers already, I'm sure the next 6 will also be lovely!

>17 MissWatson: >18 lsh63: >19 clue: >20 DeltaQueen50: >21 Jackie_K: - Thanks to you all.

I went to the library to return and pick up a book this morning and on the free shelf outside, I found 10 Quiltfolk magazines. It's a magazine that comes out quarterly and highlights the quilters from one state. I bought the one for Rhode Island a couple of years ago when we were the featured state. I'm quite excited about this and am planning not to read them until winter when a cup of hot tea and a magazine will be a nice afternoon indulgence. (But I might look through the pictures.)

Happy new thread!

>23 thornton37814: - Thanks, Lori.

Book 47: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
Book Club: July



When Flora Poste is orphaned at 19, she needs to find somewhere to live. She sends letters to various relatives and ends up going to live on a farm in Sussex where she intends to "fix" them.

I think the introduction did a lot to give me an idea of what I was supposed to be reading. With made-up words and references that I didn't get, I'm not sure how this makes so many lists. We had some good laughs at book club as we talked about whether it really was funny or just odd. (a person who collects brassieres?) We decided that it was probably better understood when it was written (1932, I believe).

Book 48: Thunder and Rain by Charles Martin
July RandomKit: Favorites - Thunder and Rain (favorite Author)
Bingo Block: Warriors or Merchenaries



Tyler Steele is a "retired" Texas Ranger and when he runs into Samantha and her daughter Hope who have broken down on the highway, he stops to help. He soon discerns that they are running away from an abusive and dangerous person and his sense of responsibility has him helping them. Meanwhile he is trying to raise his son as a single father in the middle of getting a divorce.

I decided to stretch the meaning of warrior to include Texas Rangers - legends - what more can I say.

Happy New Thread! I'm looking forward to finding out what you think of Longbourne.

Happy new thread.

>27 RidgewayGirl: - Thanks, Kay. It's my bedtime read so it's going slowly, but I'm enjoying it.

>28 lowelibrary: - Thanks, April.

Happy new thread! The lemongrass block is my favourite of the ones you've posted so far. All very well done!

I'm reading a couple of boat books at the moment, so I'll let you know how they are ;)

>30 rabbitprincess: - Glad you're enjoying them, rp. I like the basil block. It's hard to see unless you can zoom in, but the bees in coral fabric are circling the flowers in the middle. (Had to take that out a few times to get the bees going in the right direction.)

You know me - I'll be looking forward to hearing about the boat books.

>25 dudes22: I remember enjoying the book but I really liked the movie a lot.

>32 hailelib: - Some of the other people at book club mentioned the movie. I think someone said you can find it on YouTube.

Happy new thread, Betty!

Your posting about Talking to the dead by Harry Bingham reminded me that I have to continue with this series. I really enjoyed the first two.

>34 VivienneR: - Thans, Vivienne. Judy was the one who put it on my radar and I'm sorry I waited so long to get to it. I'm going to try and fit the second one in later this year before I lose track of who's who.

Book 49: Runaway Justice by Chad Zunker
Year-Long AlphaKit: "Z"
Bingo Block: Set in a City (Austin, Tx)



David Adams is a lawyer in Austin, Tx who tries to help the homeless be represented when they need a lawyer. In this book in the series, a former client calls and asks David to help a runaway teen who has been picked up for trying to steal a purse. While he is at the jail, the FBI shows up and wants to consider the runaway as a suspect in the murder of a federal witness even though he's only 12. David thinks the kid knows more than he is telling especially after it seems that someone is now trying to kill the kid.

This is a quick read and a fairly straightforward mystery. Great for a quick summer read.

Happy New Thread! And yes, >25 dudes22: this was a great movie and it sounds like it was better than the book. It was easier to see what sort of person Flora was on screen. Hope you have a chance to catch the movie.

And agree with all the comments about your amazing quilt squares. No harm in skimming the magazines for ideas for the fall and winter, now is there??

Life has gotten crazy lately and this week looks the same. So a couple of quick notes on books I've finished before I forget.

Book 50: The House of Unexpected Sisters by Alexander McCall Smith
July AlphaKit: "S"



Another book in the Ladies Detective Agency series, I can't say there's much different in this book. Situations occur which Mma Ramotswe handles and things all work out in the end.

Book 51: I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg, narrated by author



I love listening to Fannie Flagg's books. For some outside the US who aren't familiar with the name, Ms Flagg is/was an American actress and comedian and also an author. So her books have some comic flair to them. At least one of her books has been made into a movie. She writes about small-town America and evokes a sort-of nostalgia.

In this book, real estate agent Maggie has become so discouraged about her life that she has decided to end it. But things keep getting in the way of her plans and she keeps putting it off. There are even a couple of interesting twists at the end.

Happy new thread, Betty. I love your quilt blocks. That is not one of my talents, but I love to look at what you've been doing -- and reading!

>39 BLBera: - Thanks, Beth. Although my reading has been flagging lately and I'm beginning to panic over some quilts I have planned for Christmas gifts and have been spending more time quilting lately. I can sometimes listen to a book while I do, but often forget.

Book 52: The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Book Club : August
August AlphaKit: "M"



Although I think I've heard of this book and author before, I'm not sure I would have picked up this book to read if it weren't our book club book for August.

The story takes place in small Southern town in the time between the Depression and WW II. There is still much poverty in the town. Instead of a plot that moves in a straight line, the book is more of a series of interactions between characters. John Singer and his friend Antonapoulos are two mutes who live in the town. When his friend needs to be institutionalized, he moves into a boarding house. Mick Kelly is the 16-year-old daughter in the boarding house that Singer eventually moves into. Jake Blount comes to town trying to convince people of the evils of capitalism although because he is usually drunk, it's hard to understand what he wanted to happen. Doctor Copley is the black doctor in town who is worried about his people and how they are treated. And Biff Brannon owns a local cafe in town and observes all these people and their interactions. Each of them uses Singer as a sounding board for their problems never realizing that Singer may have problems of his own.

I was somewhat surprised that McCullers wrote this when she was only 23 and tackled a number of subjects in the 1030s that might not have been popular - race relations, communism, alcoholism and loneliness.

Book 53: The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe, translated by Lilit Zekulin Thwaites, narrated by Marisa Calin
July AlphaKit: "I"
Book Bullet: Cindy (LibraryChin) 2019



”Literature has the same impact as a match lit in the middle of a field in the middle of the night. The match illuminates relatively little, but it enables us to see how much darkness surrounds it.” Javier Marias, citing William Faulkner – epigraph at beginning of the book.

For those of you who like historical fiction based on the lives of real individuals, this might be the book for you. I listened to the audio version of the book and although I didn’t think the narrator sounded like a teenage girl, I still loved the book. (in fact - I decided to buy it.)

This story is based on the life of Dita Kraus who was a teenager in Auschwitz during WW II. The Germans came to Poland when Dita was 9 and she was 16 when Auschwitz was liberated. There was a section in Auschwitz called “”the family camp” which was intended to fool the inspectors and Red Cross if they ever came to inspect the camp. It even had a school and there were 8 books that had been smuggled in. Dita became the librarian and took care of the books. Life in Auschwitz was also a big part of the book.

There’s an epilogue, a postscript, and a “what ever happened to…” section at the end of the book which fills in more of Dita’s story. The author met with Dita Kraus and even traveled with her to the ghetto where they were originally taken. The harsh realities of living in a concentration camp are not avoided and there were even statistics which enhanced the reality of what was happening. I read a review that intimated that because it is a fictionalized version of events you can lose perspective about what was happening. I found the reverse was true for me. I had to stop listening occasionally because I found it all too horrifying. This is marketed as a YA book, but I think it’s more than that.

>42 dudes22: I enjoyed The Book Thief so taking a BB for this one.

>43 lowelibrary: - Hope you enjoy it.

Book 54: Remarkedly Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Book Club: September



Tova Sullivan works after the aquarium closes each day, mopping floor and cleaning the glass tanks to keep herself busy since her husband died a couple of years ago. One night she finds the Giant Pacific Octopus out of his tank and tangled among some cords. She untangles him and gets him back into his tank and she and Marcellius become friends. Tove's son died when he was a senior in high school, and she wonders all the time why even though it's been 30 years. Cameron has come to the town in search of his father and takes a part-time job at the aquarium filling in for Tova who fell and sprained her ankle. Then there is Ehtan who owns the grocery store and is sweet on Tova, and Aubrey who owns the local paddle board shop. Although somewhat predictable, all of these people combine to make a heart-warming story. Would be a great beach read.

>45 dudes22: That sounds really nice and also a bit unusual. I love the cover with the octopus! Taking a BB!

>41 dudes22: I remember having to read this book in high school and not really remembering much about it. Thank you for your review and filling in the gaps!

And best of luck on your Christmas Quilting projects. It's never too early to start for the holiday season with homemade gifts.

>46 MissBrangwen: - Hope you enjoy it, Mirjam.

>47 threadnsong: - I thought I had read it, but it wasn't familiar so maybe it was just on a reading list. Re: Christmas quilts - I'm almost certain that I won't make it for this Christmas and might have to delay finishing until 2025. But still pressing on.

Book 55: Longbourn by Jo Baker
Book Bullet: Judy (DeltaQueen50) 2015



Jo Baker has taken Pride and Prejudice and imagined a story of what life was like for the servants who took care of the Bennets. This was just ok for me. It might have been because I took so long to get through it. It was interesting enough but just didn't grab me.

>49 dudes22: I felt exactly the same way about Longbourn, Betty. And it got such rave reviews when it came out.

>50 VivienneR: - Thanks, Vivienne. I'm glad it's not just me.

>49 dudes22: Sorry Longbourn didn't resonate with you. We usually agree on books but I guess this just goes to show that different books suit different folks!

>52 DeltaQueen50: - Yes it does. I think Kay is also a fan and was looking to see what I thought. It might just have been that I've been extremely busy and wasn't able to give it the attention it deserved.

I've been thinking about the unread, physical books I have in my house and whether or not I might realistically ever read them considering there are so many books I want to read. Some have been here over 10 years. I used to pick up a lot at library sales when I was still on Bookmooch and then I'd decide maybe I should read them first. But, when I consider the number of books I read a year and the years I might have left (optimistically), and the book bullets I've taken over the years, I think a purge might be in order. I think I'll look at the description, the rating on LT, and maybe read a few of the reviews to see if I really, really, really want to read them.

>54 dudes22: I do cull my physical TBR shelves every couple years. It stresses me out to have too many unread books and there are so many that, like you, I acquired for practically free at library sales that I don't mind taking them back for the library to sell again!

>54 dudes22: I've been thinking about the same thing but ended up just culling the heavy books that are too uncomfortable for my arthritic hands to hold. They were donated to the library along with sewing books (some never opened). I promised to myself that I will read the physical books remaining on the shelves. But even that means I will have to live a long time. :)

Like >55 japaul22: I too get stressed when I have too many unread books. My ebooks have reached stressful numbers too, suggesting that another cull is in order.

>55 japaul22: - >56 VivienneR: - Thanks for the commiseration. I'm also hoping this will be the first step in some "minimizing".

>54 dudes22: I'm in the beginning of that very project. I've pulled about 10 off the shelf in the last couple of weeks but have many more to consider.

I'm working on the theory that states "people who have pets to look after live longer" so maybe having tons of books on the shelf does the same thing!

>58 clue: - I took a couple of bags of mostly read books to the library today. I'm not in a rush to clear my shelves and I assume I'll fill them again with more books I want to read.

>59 DeltaQueen50: - If that's true, then between books and my quilting fabrics, I should live a very long time.

>49 dudes22: While I have really liked Jo Baker's other books, Longbourn has never called to me.

I've been looking over my shelves recently and pulling a few books. It's a drop in the bucket, but I guess it's a start.

>61 BLBera: - I took a book bullet last year for another of her books so I'll at least give that one a try to see if it was just the book. (or maybe just me).

Yes - a drop in the bucket. But having pulled a few and stacked them to leave, I do feel a little lighter.

>59 DeltaQueen50: I like that theory, Judy!

Book 56: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
Book Bullet: VictoriaPL 2023



I found this “book within a book” story kind of odd at the beginning. (ok – all the way through) Hannah, who lives in Australia, is writing a murder mystery which takes place in Boston. She’s sending each chapter to Leo who lives in Boston to critique. So alternately, you get to read a chapter of the book and then Leo’s response making corrections about Boston and information about where things are and language differences, etc.

The story that Hannah is writing is a murder mystery about a woman who is killed at the Boston Public Library and 4 strangers who are sitting at a table in a reading room, hear the scream, start talking and become friends. One of them is a writer who was considering what to write for a story and uses this murder and these new people to create a story.

I suppose this was clever, but I found the characters overly dramatized and somewhat stereotyped. I wanted to stop reading a number of times but ultimately felt like I was driving by an accident and I couldn’t stop looking. (or in this case – reading) And the ending was just weird. Clever perhaps, but weird.

>64 dudes22: I like that you included a line to recognize the person who shot the BB. I would like to do that next year although it sometimes takes me literally years before I actually read the book and have long forgotten where the suggestion came from.

>65 clue: - I make a note on the list I keep of BBs of where it came from. That way I can go back and look to see what it was that I liked about what the person said about the book. Sometimes in looking at those comments, I decide that maybe I won't read the book - feelings change.

Book 57: The Quilter's Kitchen by Jennifer Chiaverini
Bingo Block: Topic about which you have specific knowledge



Anna Del Maso, the new chef at Elm Creek Manor, is helping Silvia dismantle the kitchen in preparation for a renovation and new kitchen. As they empty cupboards, Silvia recounts memories that various items remind her of many of them revolving around food.

This was a rather light weight in the series. There are a lot of recipes and no quilting. I had planned to use this for the "topic with specific knowledge" Bingo block since I'm a quilter, but it really doesn't fit. But I also like cooking, so I'm going to leave it there unless something better comes along. Maybe I'll try to read the next book in the series in the hopes that there's some quilting in it.

Book 58: Summer at the Garden Cafe by Felicity Hayes-McCoy, narrated by Marcella Riordan



This is the second book in the Finfarrin series so more character development and history. The book starts with an exhibit of an ancient psalter that a patron of the library has given to the library. Hannah is somewhat ambivalent about her new relationship with Brian. Her daughter Jazz is still dealing with issues from her auto accident and learning why her parents divorced. Then Hannah finds an old diary that her aunt wrote and so learns more about her history. A pleasant listen which is what I'm looking for when I drive and this fit.

There aren't any more audio books available in my library system, so I probably won't continue this series.

>67 dudes22: I'm sure I'll eventually get to that installment. I stopped reading them, but I recently read another in the series. I know I've seen the next one in series for me on one of my TBR lists. I'm not sure if it is the library print, e-book, or audio-book one, but I know it is there. I think I'm more in the mood for these around Christmas, so maybe I'll get to it in November or December--or at least put a hold on it if it isn't available.

>69 thornton37814: - It's a really short read because a lot of the book is recipes.

Book 59: The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass, narrated by Christopher Gebauer, Jennifer Blom, and Rob Dircks
Book Bullet: Amber (scaifea) 2023



“We each have our own book spaces inside us, and they do not match up perfectly. Nor should they.”

I loved so many things about this story for middle schoolers. It starts when a little library shows up on the village green. Evan picks up two books on his way to school and discovers that one of the books shows his father returned the book the same day as the old library burned down. And the other was taken out by H.G. Higgins a famous mystery writer. When Evan’s father won’t talk about it with Evan, he decides to solve the mystery of how the library burned down.

There are lots of other characters that are included in the story, both human, animal, and ghosts. I listened to this and noticed that there are many teachable moments. Sentences that could easily lead to discussions.

>54 dudes22: I have done that from time to time, like when I dust some bookshelves and realize a series or a book or two I will never, realistically read. I need to do a re-culling as well because my TBR stack is getting way too big.

>66 dudes22: Yes! I received several books from my LT Wishlist and wish I had included who had recommended it and when.

>71 dudes22: This was a lovely book. Great comments.

>73 BLBera: - I was with a friend yesterday who is a teacher (she's retired but still subbing) and I was telling her I had just listened to this, and we talked about Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass and their other books. She teaches grades 1-3 usually so she was very interested.

Book 60: Locked Rooms by Laurie R King
CalendarCat - September Borthday



In this 8th installment in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series, Mary and Sherlock travel from India to San Francisco, the city of Mary's birth. Mary has always asserted that she wasn't in San Francisco during the earthquake and fire of 1906, but troubling dreams during the voyage have her questioning whether she might have been. She also carries a lot of guilt, feeling that it was her fault that her parents and brother were killed in an auto accident a few years later. But after they arrive, it appears that there's a possibility that the auto accident was no accident.

I quite enjoy this series and the relationship between Mary and Sherlock.

Book 61: Rain: Four Walks in English Weather by Melissa Harrison
September RandomKit: It's Raining Men
Book Bullet: JayneCM 2022



The author describes four walks she took at different times of the year with rainy weather. I enjoyed the writing, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if there were some maps. Not being familiar with England, I wasn't sure where she was.

Book 62: Sold by Patricia McCormick
September CalendarCat: Banned Book Week/Month
Bingo Block: Takes place in multiple countries (Nepal/India)
Book Club: Oct Book



Lakshmi is a thirteen-year-old girl living in Nepal who is sold into prostitution by her stepfather. She believes she is going to work in the city as a maid so she can send money home to her family. She is treated quite cruelly by the woman who runs the brothel and while Lakshmi believes she is paying off her debt, in reality, the numbers keep changing so that her debt will never be paid off.

This is our book for book club next month and the theme is "banned books". September is Banned Book Month and this last week is banned book week. This is a YA novel and has been banned in 11 school districts according to PEN America which is a non-profit organization whose goal is to raise awareness for the protection of freedom of expression.

>77 dudes22: Looks like the perfect book to raise awareness of all the banned books, and of this terrible practice of selling young girls into prostitution. And sadly it goes on in every country.

>78 threadnsong: - That's one of the points the author made in her author's note at the end. I read a trilogy by Charles Martin earlier this year that deals with basically the same subject although this was about kidnapped children and sex trafficking.

>71 dudes22: A BB for me!

>77 dudes22: I find it amazing that books raising awareness of widespread cruelty can get on a "banned" list.

>80 VivienneR: - The audio was very good.

>80 VivienneR: - Because it's listed as a YA book, I'm assuming that because it's about prostitution is the argument for banning it. (?) It will be interesting to discuss at book club, I'm sure.

>80 VivienneR: - I've decided to add this link to an article in the September Book Page newsletter that I pick up from the library each month. It's an interview (sort of) with Amanda Jones, the author of That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America.

ETA: I guess I should actually put the link:

https://www.bookpage.com/interviews/amanda-jones-that-librarian-interview/

>82 dudes22: A very interesting - and scary - article. Thanks for sharing it, Betty. The way things are exaggerated to that degree is frightening for anyone like Amanda Jones. It's been a topic of conversation with some neighbours who were shocked to find out what their grades one and three kids were learning that they were pulled from school to be home-schooled. Their grandfather asked my opinion because I'm a librarian and former library board member. It was difficult because language difficulties meant I wasn't getting all the details but mostly because I was trying to be tactful, not to the parents, but a grandparent. I told him some stories of my experiences in a public library and hoped he might draw his own conclusions. Because of my knowledge, interest, and experience with banned books I was regarded as the go-to person at the library where I worked. So I hope I helped.

Jones' book is on order at the local library so I'll keep an eye out for it.

>83 VivienneR: - I know of a similar situation with a couple and their first-grade child. The teacher called them in because their daughter wasn't using the "appropriate" pronoun for a friend. I think there was discussion of whether to pull her out or not but, in the end, the daughter "solved" the problem by saying she would just use the person's name every time.

Book 63: The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
Bingo Block: Published in year ending in 24 (2024)



I started this book back in July but couldn't manage to finish it before it was due back at the library. So, I put myself back on the hold list and finally got it again. I decided to start from the beginning to refresh my memory.

The book is about a rooming house in Washington D.C. in the early 1950s. Mrs. Nelsson believes in rules and is not really liked by the various inhabitants. Most of them basically stay to themselves until Grace March takes the tiny room on the 4th floor and starts to make friends with the other renters. A murder has occurred right at the beginning of the book and then moves back in time to when Grace arrives at the rooming house and moves forward again. Ms Quinn takes the time to develop her characters and grounds them in the events that are taking place at the time.

I particularly like the author notes she puts at the end of her books, explaining how she came to write this book and how each character related to a person from that period of time and how she makes adjustments to make it all fit.

>85 dudes22: I still have several months wait on Libby and that's at 6 libraries. Thanks for the review. I am glad you liked it. I look forward to my turn!

Our library loan system includes the whole state (RI is tiny), so once most libraries order a copy, it usually doesn't take too long. Although there was one book I waited 6 months to get. (And The Women by Kristin Hannah currently sits at 780 people waiting on 193 copies. That's the regular book - not including large print or ebook.)

Book 64: The Little Book of Icelanders by Alda Sigmundsdottir
Bingo Block: Has "Big" or "Little" in the title
Book Bullet: Lois (avaland) 2024



There are 50 essays of a couple of pages each about life in Iceland and how it is different than other places. Interesting look at things one might not notice on a visit. Which is somewhere on my bucket list.

Book 65: Conviction by Denise Mina
Book Bullet: Kay (RidgewayGirl) 2019 and Judy (DeltaQueen50) 2024



Thanks to Judy's recent read of this, reminding me that I had taken a BB from Kay for this, I decided to bring it to read on the plane on our way to a wedding in Tenn. It sucked me in immediately and I was about 3/4 of the way through by the time we got here. Trying to review this without getting totally lost in the weeds will be hard as there are a lot of moving pieces.

Actually, I know this is cheating, but I'm so busy this weekend, I think I'll just copy a description from LT:

" breathtaking thriller about a wealthy housewife who successfully conceals her dark past until a true-crime podcast and a photo posted on social media send her running across Europe, with a faded rock star by her side and extremely dangerous enemies on her trail.

Anna McLean loves to revel in life's unsavory details. When she's keeping up appearances as an upper-class Edinburgh housewife, there's no better escape than other people's sordid stories retold in true-crime podcasts. Until the day it all falls apart.

A new podcast turns out to have a connection to Anna's own dark past-the secret history she's taken great pains to conceal. Hours later, her husband announces he's leaving her-for her own best friend. And when the best friend's husband-who happens to be former rock star Fin Cohen-shows up on Anna's front stoop, a nosy neighbor plasters their photo all over the internet. Her cover well and truly blown, Anna's only choice is to run-and take Fin along for his own protection."

I think that pretty much sums it up.

>89 dudes22: I'm having a similar problem with a book by Murakami that is hard for me to describe. I have Conviction on my self and hope to get to it soon. I've been having a hard time lately settling into anything.

>90 clue: - I think we all go through periods when nothing seems to be interesting enough. I'm looking forward now to reading Confidence sooner.

>82 dudes22: Thank you for posting that link. My goodness, that was scary for that librarian, and all others going through what she's going through. I liked how she "channeled her inner xxxx" person in order to meet her different challenges during this time.

>89 dudes22: Sounds like a great book to read on a plane trip!

>92 threadnsong: - Yes - I mentioned it at our book club meeting as the book we read was on the banned book list and we had an interesting conversation about the article. My sister is a children's librarian, and one or two other ladies' daughters are librarians

Book 66: Dead Run by P.J. Tracy
AlphaKit: October - "T"



This book in the Monkeywrench series has Grace, Annie, and Sharon traveling to Green Bay to consult on what may be a new serial killer. Sharon convinces them to take a side trip, and their car breaks down in a deeply wooded area with no cell phone reception. When they walk to the nearest town, they find it empty of people. They soon discover that they are in the middle of a seriously bad situation.

Although it is somewhat gruesome, it's a well-told story and I look forward to continuing with the series.

Book 67: Deadline by John Dunning
AlphaKit: October - "D"
PrizeCat - Almost Got It - Edgar Award 1982
Bingo Block: Read a Cat



Dalton Walker has been hired as a new reporter at the Tribune. He finds his first story when a young girl is killed in a circus fire, and no one claims the body. Eventually this leads to a woman who has been in hiding from the FBI and another woman who is a Rockette dancer who is Amish.

This book was written before his Cliff Janeway book series which I loved. And this book was different but still I enjoyed it.

Book 68: Meddling and Murder By Ovidia Yu, narrated by Emily Woo Zeller
MysteryKit: Not Too Scary



Another book in the Auntie Lee series, this time Auntie Lee lends Nina to a friend because her foreign home worker has disappeared. As time goes on, Auntie Lee becomes concerned about why she can't contact Nina and what really happened to the maid.

>95 dudes22: I've read several of the Bookman series but didn't realize he'd even written anything else. I'll have to add to my list.

>97 clue: - He wrote a few stand-alone novels, some novells/short stories, and a couple of non-fiction books too.

Book 69: The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons, narrated by Jilly Bond
Book Bullet: Lori (thornton37814) 2024



I quite enjoyed listening to this book even though I wasn't thrilled by the narrator. I would call it more of a "feel good" WW II book. Gertie Bingham runs a bookstore on the edges of London which she and her husband bought right after they got married. Now her beloved husband has been dead for a couple of years and Gertie is finding it hard to live and work where she was so happy for so many years. And so, she's thinking of selling the business and retiring. But it's 1939 and there are rumors of war. Then her friend Charles approaches her and asks her to take in a Jewish child from Germany. A group he works with has arranged for a group of Jewish children to be allowed to come to London from Germany. Despite never having had children of her own, and with some misgivings, she agrees. She accepts Heddy Fisher, a 15-year-old girl to live with her. As the war comes closer to London, they organize a book club of books that people will read while they're waiting in air raid shelters and then discuss them. There are lots of interesting characters and a few twists along the way.

Hi Betty: We enjoy so many of the same books: the Monkeewrenh series, the Laurie R. King Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes mysteries, etc., but I would like to try The Little Book of the Icelanders.

>76 dudes22: The rain book sounds interesting as well, but I have a pet peeve about books that talk about places and don't include maps.

>100 BLBera: - Ah, yes, Beth. We do share quite a few authors and series. I took a stroll through your books that we share.

re:#76 - I took a BB for that book from someone here that I think lives in Scotland (or England) as it sounded like something I'd like. I suppose I could have looked the places up on the internet, but I was just too lazy.

Book 70: The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
Book Club: November
November RandomKit: I Told It My Way



This memoir tells the story of how Ms Hardin managed to change her life. She was arrested for fraud for stealing her neighbors credit cards to get money to buy heroin for her addiction. It recounts her time in jail and what she did to get out. The hoops she had to jump through to stay out and eventually get custody of her youngest son reveal the inadequacies of the justice system. She does find someone who gives her a job which becomes her way out of everything.

I was prepared to dislike this book because I don't like memoirs in general. And I really thought at the beginning that I probably wouldn't finish it. But I felt guilty because it was for book club, so I pushed through over the weekend, and it got better as I read. And there was some interesting discussion at book club.

Book 71: The Paris Apartment by Kelly Bowen



This is one of those historical fiction WW II books that has dual timelines, in case you don't like those.

In 2017, Aurelia comes to Paris because her grandmother has left her an apartment there - one she never heard her grandmother talk about. When she gets there, the apartment looks as though her grandmother left in 1942 and never came back. When she finds some hidden paintings, she contacts an art restorer to help her decide what to do with the paintings. While looking at them, he realizes that one of them was painted by his grandfather.

The other part of the story takes place in 1942 after the Germans invade Paris. Estelle Allard is asked by a friend to help hide a pilot trying to get back to England. She had had a false front put into one of her closets, creating a small room for this purpose. As the reader gets further into the book, The art restorer Gabriel's great-aunt comes into the picture back in 1942. These three stories are interwoven into an interesting tale.

The one issue I had with the book is that when Aurelia opens the apartment it's in the same condition as when Estelle left. I find it unlikely that the Germans wouldn't have searched it after she escaped or that someone wouldn't have moved in.

I haven't read this book and I know it seems unlikely but apparently it did happen. I read another novel, The Velvet Hours by Alyson Richman, a few years ago that was based on the same story. There was part of a newspaper article about the apartment included in that book. If you are interested, you can go to The Velvet Hours in the LT catalog and the first review there has a link to a British newspaper article on it that includes pictures of the apartment as it was found.

>104 clue: - Thanks for that info. I'm going to go check it out. I'm going to look up that book too and maybe put it on a "later" list. (not quite a BB but close).

ETA: Well, that puts a while new spin on the book. Very interesting to see those pictures. And I think I will put it on my BB list.

Book 72: We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
November CalendarCat: Author has November Birthday



This is the first book in a new series by the author of The Thursday Murder Club. Three influencers have been murdered and signs point to Amy having been the person who did it. Amy is a bodyguard and currently protecting a famous author. She decides she needs to know what's going on and enlists her father-in-law Steve to help. Rosie, the author, tags along as they decide to investigate the murders of the influencers to see who is setting Amy up.

An ok beginning to a new series.

Book 73: Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice, narrated by Bill Meresty
Book Bullet - rabbitprincess & VivienneR 2023



This book takes place approximately 10 years after Moon on the Crusted Snow when the lights went out and people had to learn to return to living without the modern conveniences we have. The tribe of Anishinaabe who live in Northern Ontario realize that the land where they live will not be able to sustain them in the near future. A scouting party of six people, led by Evan Whitesky will go and try to find their way to Lake Huron where they used to live and see if the area could sustain them if they moved.

Vivienne mentioned that she had listened to the audio and that the narrator was good. I'd been on the wait list for the audio and it was finally my turn and she was right - the narrator was very good. Unfortunately, my book needed to be returned just before I finished, so I went to the library and got the book for the last 20 pages or so.

>107 dudes22: I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Betty! I hope Rice writes more.

>108 VivienneR: - I haven't read his stand-alone novel yet or his collection, so I can read those while I wait if I can find them.

ETA: Looks like the library system has them so maybe next year.

>109 dudes22: I've been adding so many books to my list for next year that I don't think 12 months will be long enough.

>110 VivienneR: - I know what you mean - I'm in the same situation.

>111 dudes22: Ditto!

And just stopping by to say hello and catch up on all your reviews and great books. >107 dudes22: Sounds especially interesting, and I follow all of these LT friends (and recommenders) as well.

>112 threadnsong: - Thanks for stopping by. I'm always find it hard this time of year to keep up with this year's thread, next year's threads, and all the holiday stuff.

Book 74: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes, narrated by Julia Whelan
Book Club: December



When Alice meets Brennet Van Cleve in England, she sees a way to escape from her parents and move to America. Only once she gets there, she finds out that it's not the life she imagined. When Mrs Brady asks the ladies of the town to volunteer to be pack horse librarians under Eleanor Roosevelt's program, Alice decides to volunteer. Soon she is delivering books to folks in the hills along with Maggie, Beth and Izzy.

I've read a couple of other books about pack horse librarians and liked them all. I think those of us who love books admire these women who took such risks to bring books to others.

>107 dudes22: Oh I keep wanting to read this. Maybe this will be the month. I really enjoyed his first book. I will check on Hoopla and put it at the top of my list for this month. Thanks for the reminder!

>115 beebeereads: - Hope you enjoy it.

The battery charging cord on my Windows Surface Pro went on the blink yesterday. I was afraid it was failing most of the last week. It fails about once a year and I have to buy a new one. Always seems to fail on a weekend and at a most inconvenient time. Didn't want to fight the crowds at the store, so I decided to order one for overnight delivery. Reading LT on my IPad in the meantime.

I can't believe I haven't finished a book yet this month. I have one audio book and one kindle one that I'm working on, but as busy as this time of year is, I don't expect I'll finish a lot this month.

I've started my cookie/bread making baking for this year. I've got 3 fruitcakes, 2 orange cranberry loaves and 2 snickerdoodle breads made and in the freezer. I had thought that I might cut back a little on cookies this year being there's such a short time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, I made a list of those that I felt i really wanted on my cookie trays this year or that I really, really like and I ended up with around 17-18. Not much of a cutting back. I wonder if I could get a few extra hours in each day somehow?

Snickerdoodle bread?! That sounds delicious - do you have a recipe to share? Or I'll just do a web search and I bet I can find something similar.

I do have the recipe. I found it on Pinterest from a blog barbarabakes.com. It called snickerdoodle bread with cinnamon chips. The recipe calls for making 5 mini loaves, but I did it in 2 aluminum loaf pans. Took a bit longer to cook of course. A couple of years ago I couldn't find the cinnamon chips and had to order them. Or if you want to PM me, I'll send you the link. I'm never sure what I should be posting in a message on LT.

Book 75: Personal by Lee Child



Reacher picks up an Army Times on the bus and finds a personal ad meant for him. When he makes contact, he learns that a man he put in jail 16 years ago has gotten out and it is suspected that he is the person who recently took a shot at the president of France. The theory is that it was practice for an upcoming meeting among world leaders and they want Reacher to find him first. Typical Reacher but still enjoyable.

Book 76: A Share in Death by Debroah Crombie, narrated by Michael Deehy



When Laura over in the 75 group mentioned she was reading the next Crombie book, I thought "Gee, it's been a while since I read one in that series". When I looked to see where I was, I realized that it had been quite a few years since I read one and decided I should go back and read them again. No surprise - I remembered exactly nothing.

When Duncan Kincaid's brother and wife can't use their time share week, they offer it to Kincaid. The morning after he arrives, he finds a body in the pool electrocuted. Although he doesn't want to get involved, the inspector is so obnoxious to him and so unwilling to consider that it might be a murder and not a suicide that Kincaid ends up involved anyway. The murderer must be one of the guests and Kincaid sets out to find out who.

Now I need to catch up with the other books I had read so I can go on. It's like a brand new series (ha, ha).

Book 77: Signal Moon by Kate Quinn
December AlphaKit: "Q"



This is a short story about a young woman in WW II who listens for transmissions from the Germans. She comes across a transmission that seems to be from the future year 2023. As she talks to the man at the other end of the radio, they try to prevent a tragedy. I found it an entertaining story.

Book 78: Two Old Women by Velma Wallis, illustrated by Jim Grant
AlphaKit: November - "W"
Book Bullett: Judy (DeltaQueen50) 2024



The author Has written a story that was told to her by her mother based on an Athabascan legend. It's the story of two elderly women who are left behind by their tribe when the tribe decides to move because of a famine. Abandoned to the weather with only a few supplies, they nevertheless decide that they don't want to die and will try to make it to another camp that one of the women remembers where they had good fishing.

This was a great story of perseverance in the face of over whelming odds. The women used old methods they had learned to keep themselves alive.

>124 dudes22: I'm glad you enjoyed it, Betty. I thought the author did an excellent job of making the story feel very much like a traditional story passed by mouth.

>125 DeltaQueen50: - Yes - I agree.

Book 79: Wait for Signs by Craig Johnson, narrated by George Guidall
December CalendarCat: Stories take place mostly around Christmas



This book is a collection of short stories in the Longmire series. Most take place around the Christmas holidays. I'm not much of a short story reader but I found these enjoyable. My only quibble is that the narrator seemed to make most of the characters sound the same and, maybe because I've seen the series, he sounded older than I thought the character of Longmire was.

>114 dudes22: I enjoyed that one when I read it two or three years ago.

>122 dudes22: One of my favorite series! She doesn't write them fast enough now. It's multiple years between installments.

>128 thornton37814: - Hi Lori - I had avoided Jojo Moyes brfore reading this one for book club because I thought she was a romance/chick lit writer. But I enjoyed this one and will probably read more - sometime. (so many books....). I'm now listening to the second book int he series by Crombie and I don't remember any more from this book than I did from the first. There seem to be plenty in the series so I won't run out soon.

I hate to tempt fate by saying this - but I think I'm actually in pretty good shape for 5 days before Christmas. I have 1 gift certificate to get for a restaurant when they open later today, 2 gifts to wrap, and 1 package to take to the PO later to mail. My cookies are all baked and waiting to be packaged, Christmas breads and fruitcakes are in the freezer waiting to be packaged, and spiced nuts waiting to be put into tins. This year I cut back and only made 13 different kinds of cookies because of the short time between Thanksgiving and Christmas so maybe people will be getting a few less. The two big things I have left to do are to finish writing my Christmas cards and I have a quilt I'm giving as a gift that needs to be washed before I can wrap it.

I'm also going to start my LT year-in-review and look for answers to the annual meme.

Hi Betty, wow! It does sound like you are in good shape. I'm having a hard time wrapping gifts these days, invariably my hands start to cramp up and I have to wait it out. I do have more cookies to bake, probably this weekend.

>131 lsh63: - Hi Lisa - I confess there are a number of gift cards because our grandchildren (grand adults?) live out of state and it's easier for them when they're traveling. So a lot of gift bags this year.

>130 dudes22: "Only" 13 different kinds of cookies made me LOL. You are winning at Christmas!

>133 christina_reads: - My cookie baking obsession started when I was still working and made cookie trays as gifts for my co-workers. Somehow, even after I retired, I found people who "needed" a cookie tray at Christmas. Here's part of my production line from last year:

Tonight is our street solstice get together with a small bonfire in a firepit and luminary lighting in front of the houses. Our street is "U" shaped and our neighbor at the bottom of the "U" has it at their house. We set it up at the street and everyone brings a little nibble. We had about an inch of snow yesterday so it will be "Christmassy". It's supposed to be in the mid 20s F and breezy so pretty chilly. I probably won't last long.

>134 dudes22: Wow. those look delicious, Betty!

>134 dudes22: Wow! That's impressive and I'm sure that everyone who received one of your platters was thrilled to death.

To all my friends here at LT:

>134 dudes22: What impressive gifts!

Wishing you the best of the season.

Only one book and no gift cards for books for Christmas. Although I did get a $10 extra card when I bought some book gift cards. The book I got was The Perfect Scoop by David Lebooviitz, a cookbook of ice cream recipes.

Book 80: Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear



Among the Mad is the 6th book in the Maisie Dobbs series. While Masie is going to see a client on Christmas Eve 1931, she sees a man who is obviously troubled and disabled from the war. As she approaches to give him money, he commits suicide by blowing himself up. The next day, Scotland Yard shows up at her father’s house and wants her to return to London because her name has been mentioned in a threatening letter that they have received. She soon joins Scotland Yard in trying to find a man who is threatening the people of London. The book emphasizes the problems that men faced after WW I when they were exposed to chemical agents and the lingering effects. Meanwhile, her assistant Biily is having problems with his wife and her depression and turns to Maisie for her help.