RebaRelishesReading 2024 - page 5

Autumn from my front door

2. I joined LT in 2007 because I wanted to catalog my library but didn't truly appreciate the full wonder of the place until I found the 75'ers in 2012 (I think that's the year). It's a favorite part of my morning now. I also love meeting other members in person when possible.

For those of you I don't know, I'll introduce my self a bit. I'm a Californian by birth and have lived there much of my life but late in 2020 Hubby and I decided it was time to leave our condo in the Uptown district of San Diego and move to some place quieter and, most importantly, nearer our youngest grandchild. We have two older grandchildren who we adore but both are away studying now and probably won't be living near us anymore even if we had stayed in San Diego. Quinn is just six so we will have many years enjoying him growing up as we did the other two. So I've added Washington State to the list of places I've lived at various times in my life (California, Arizona, Connecticut, the Netherlands, England, the Netherlands, California, Ireland, California) and I'm enjoying becoming a north-westerner.

I read mostly fiction with a helping of biography or history thrown in. A couple of years ago I finished a personal challenge to read all of the Pulitzer Prize winning fiction. I've also challenge

My ranking system:
Superb *****
Excellent ****1/2
Very good ****
Good ***1/2
Average ***
Don't bother **
Terrible *

I try to keep this in mind when I'm assigning stars but I know I'm also influenced by my current mood, etc. so don't take it too very, very seriously.

BOOKS READ IN 2024

JANUARY
1. Old God's Time by Sebastian Barry****
2. A Song of Comfortable Chairs by Alexander McCall Smith***1/2 Audio
3. The Elephants of Thula Thula} by Francoise Malby-Anthony ****Audio
4. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus*****+
5. Lessons by Ian McEwan**
6. The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman***1/2

FEBRUARY
7. A Future We Can Love by Susan Bauer-Wu***** (reread)
8. An Immense World by Ed Yong*****
9. Day by Michael Cunningham****1/2 (audio)
10. A Chateau Under Siege by Martin Walker***1/2 (audio)
11. These Precious Days by Ann Patchett ***** (audio)
12. The Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett ****1/2 (audio)
13. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin****

MARCH
14. "O" is for Outlaw by Sue Grafton***1/2
15. Work Song by Ivan Doig ****
16. The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig ***

APRIL
17. Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton
18. An Irish Country Love Story by Patrick Taylor
19. Mannerly Forever: A Biography of Daphne du Maurier by Tatiana de Rosnay
20. The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy
21. You'll Never Know, Dear by Hallie Ephron
22. Mrs. Osmond by John Banville
23. Georgia by Dawn Tripp
24. Sleep Like the Dead by Alex Gray
25. The Hidden Palace by Dinah Jefferies

MAY
26. Long Island by Colm Toibin
27. R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton ***1/2 (audio)
28. S is for Silence by Sue Grafton **** (audio)
29. T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton ***(audio)
30. U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton **** (audio)
31. The Women by Kristin Hannah *****

JUNE
32. V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton ***1/2(audio)
33. Night Watch by Jane Anne Phillips *****
34. From a Far and Lovely Country by Alexander McCall Smith ***1/2 (audio)
35. W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton ***1/2 (audio)
36. X by Sue Grafton ***1/2 (audio)
37. The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard ****
38. Marking Time by Elizabeth Jane Howard ****
39. Confusion by Elizabeth Jane Howard ****

JULY
40. Casting Off by Elizabeth Jane Howard ****
41. Clear by Carys Davies ****1/2
42. Activating the Common Good by Peter Block ***
43. All Change by Elizabeth Jane Howard ****
44. Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton ***1/2 (audio)
45. Sipsworth by Simon van Booy ****1/2
46. All the Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams***1/2 (audio)
47. The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende ****
48. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride ****1/2

AUGUST
49. Naar De Overkant by Santa Montefiore (audio re-listen)
50. Enough by Cassidy Hutchinson *****(audio)
51. The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich ****
52. More of Poirot's Finest Cases by Agatha Christie***(audio)
53. The Great Fortune (Vol. 1 Balkan Trilogy) by Olivia Manning **** (audio + print)
54. The Spoilt City (Vol 2 Balkan Trilogy) by Olivia Manning **** (audio)

SEPTEMBER
55. How the Light Gets In by Joyce Maynard ****1/2
56. The Danger Tree (Vol. 1 The Levant Trilogy) by Olivia Manning****
57. North Woods by Daniel Mason**
58. Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout****
59. The Last Light Over Oslo by Alix Rickloff**** (audio)

OCTOBER
60. The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich **1/2
61. Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall***1/2
62. Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard****1/2 (audio)
63. Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout****
64. A Grave in the Woods by Martin Walker***1/2 (audio)

NOVEMBER
65. The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny ****
66. The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner ***1/2 (reread)
67. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah **** (audio)
68. Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene *** (audio)
69. The Last Train From Paris by Juliet Greenwood ***** (audio)*****
70. Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch**1/2 (audio)
71. The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan ***1/2 (audio)
72. The Secret History of Christmas by Bill Bryson (audio)****

DECEMBER
73. Along Came Holly by Codi Hall *** (audio)
74. Christmas at the Shelter Inn ***1/2 (audio)
75. Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan **** (audio)
76. One More For Christmas by Sarah Morgan *** (audio)
77. So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Olio ****
78, The Great Hippopotamus Hotel: No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith *** (audio)
79. The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan ***1/2 (audio)
80. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain **1/2

Welcome all. Every day I look forward to seeing what my fellow LT'ers are up to and have been reading. I hope I'll find you were regularly :)

On my way to get a haircut this morning I stopped by White Oak Books to pick up the copy of Louise Penny's latest book which I had ordered several months ago when I first read in her blog that it was finally scheduled for publication. As soon as I finish here I'm going to start reading :)

Happy new one!

>7 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita! How nice to have a visitor already :)

>6 RebaRelishesReading: ooh lucky you Reba!

>9 lauralkeet: Hi Laura -- indeed :)

Happy new thread, Reba.

Happy new thread Reba!

Happy New Thread, Reba!

Happy new thread, Reba! Your recent purchase reminds me that I've stalled out on my Louise Penny books. I should probably get back to those soon.

>6 RebaRelishesReading: I’ll be waiting with bated breath to get my library copy of The Grey Wolf. Unless I go buy my own copy.😁

Happy new thread!

Karen O

Happy New Thread, Reba!

Thank you for stopping by Paul, Susan, Roni, Meg, Karen and Deborah. It's so nice to have visitors :)

Happy new one, Reba!

Happy new thread, Reba!

Happy new thread, Reba. I will watch for your comments on the new Penny. I am waiting for a copy from the library.

Hi Jim, Katie and Beth -- thanks for dropping by.

I read about 1/3 of the new Penny yesterday and I'm liking it. Hoping for a quiet afternoon today and maybe I can finish it.

Hi Reba. Happy Halloween and happy new thread.

I notice you gave The Mighty Red only 2.5 stars. I bought a copy of it at Shakespeare & Company, got the stamp and everything. I'm sorry to hear you didn't care for it much.

We're buying a house in Sisters, or at least we think we are (still in process). I'll be close enough for regular jaunts to Portland/Vancouver!

>22 EBT1002: I just finished posting on your thread and noticed I had a new post -- hope you're having a good morning. Congratulations on your new place. Let's find lots of reasons for meet-ups :)

>23 RebaRelishesReading: JEALOUS.

Happy new thread, Reba! I tripped over it reading your last post of your previous thread. So glad.

Happy new thread, Reba!

Hi Laura, Judy and Irenę -- so nice to see you here. I've been having a rather quiet afternoon and am now on page 260 of The Grey Wolf :)

Another engaging crime novel from Ms.Penny. This time Armand is called by an old enemy but hangs up on the call rather than answering it. Then the alarm in the Gamache's Montreal flat is set off. Upon investigation he finds that an old coat is missing from the rack in the entrance but nothing else is disturbed ... but then, the coat turns up with messages in its pockets and a young man asks to meet and is then hit by a car and dies in Gamache's arms. His last word is "family".

It's the 19th in the series but she hasn't lost her touch.

>28 RebaRelishesReading: Glad you enjoyed your new read, Reba! Enjoy browsing the puzzle catalogue that you mentioned. Let me know if you make any purchases.

>29 vancouverdeb: Actually I looked through it, paused several times to think "that one looks fun" and then tossed it into the recycling. I don't think I would enjoy puzzling on my own and I don't have anyone to do it with

Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion***1/2

I read someplace that Joan Didion is the quintessential California so, as a native Californian who lived there longer than anywhere else, I thought I should read some of her works. Play It As It Lays is a gritty tale about the film industry in CA. It may well be representative of that industry in that location and in that time but it certainly wasn't like the LA I lived in during that same period. Nevertheless it was an interesting read, written in an interesting style and may lead me to try some of her other works.

>28 RebaRelishesReading: I'm looking forward to the new Gamache novel, Reba, and even more so after your review!

Good to know the latest Penny is a good one, Reba.

>32 lauralkeet:, >33 BLBera: "mornin' Laura and Beth. It's not her best but still a darned good read.

>28 RebaRelishesReading: Nice to see that you enjoyed the latest Penny, Reba. I really should get back to that series.

happy new thread!

New thread orisons, Reba!

Thanks Meg, Rhonda and Richard. Having visitors is so nice :)

I'm going to try to stay at my desk most of the day today and make some progress on the various stacks of things that need doing. Is retirement really supposed to include stacks of paperwork?

I am in Kansas and headed off to vote. My stuff will be here on Friday - then the work begins. I did spend most of the day yesterday changing names on accounts and ending things in Tuscaloosa. It is amazing how much time it takes to work your way through an automated answering system.

>39 benitastrnad: Welcome back to Kansas. Moving is a huge pain and given how long you were in Alabama probably a bigger pain that I can even imagine!! Good luck with all of the details, unpacking, phone trees, etc.! I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end though.

Rita, I'm thinking of you because as I write this I have a pot of 15-bean soup on the stove! Our weather is unseasonably warm but even though we associate this soup with colder days we decided to make it today anyway.

>28 RebaRelishesReading: Glad to read that this was a good instalment. I quite enjoy the series and there seem to be few "duds".

>41 lauralkeet: Hope you enjoy it :) Our pot is gone and, even though we've been having some "real fall weather" I don't think we need another batch of that quite yet (it does make a LOT of soup).

>42 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita. I've enjoyed all of Penny's books -- some more than others, of course -- but she has already announced another next year ("Black Wolf") and I'm looking forward to it.

Hi Reba. I'm in the minority of folks for whom the Three Pines series just didn't work. I think I read the first three and didn't return to it. Sometimes I think I should try again as so many trusted book buddies love it.

>28 RebaRelishesReading: It's the 19th in the series but she hasn't lost her touch.

I am very glad to hear that!

Happy "new-ish" thread, Reba. I hope to keep up better with you than I have with the previous threads.

>44 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, We can't all love them all after all. There are plenty of good books out there so no problem if Penny doesn't work for you!!

>45 alcottacre: Happy to see you here, Stacia but I know life does get in the way sometimes.

>38 RebaRelishesReading: Paperwork is so never-ending, isn't it?

>47 banjo123: for sure, Rhonda :(

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner***1/2

I missed last month's meeting of my RL book club and didn't find out they had changed the selection for November until a few days ago. We were going to read Paris Daughter but changed to The Jane Austen Society. I had read it in 2020 (and given it a ***1/2) but remembered absolutely nothing about it...in fact as I reread nothing sounded familiar but there it was in my LT records so I must have read it.

The story is set in Chawton, the village where Austin lived the last 8 yers of her life, in the last 1940's. The characters include the village doctor (a widower), the owner of the house Austen lived in during her days in Chawton and his daughter, a young woman widowed by the war after a short marriage, a Hollywood film star, a Hollywood film producer, the local solicitor, etc. Some of the characters are avid Austen fans who reread her works frequently. There is disagreement in the village between those who thing Austen's connection to the village should be honored and physical connections preserved and those who find the visiting American Austen fans to be bothersome and undesirable.

I'm an Austen fan so I enjoyed reading about the village and its connection to her but the story seems to me to wander around more than necessary. Still only a ***1/2 this second time through.

>49 RebaRelishesReading: I already have that one in the BlackHole, but am not in any rush to get to it any time soon. Too many better books standing in its way! Lol

Have a wonderful weekend, Reba!

>50 alcottacre: Hope you have a good one too, Stasia. (and you're probably right about not rushing to The Jane Austen Society

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah****(audio)

From the web: "A haunting, heartbreakingly beautiful novel that illuminates the intricate mother-daughter bond and explores the enduring links between past and present."

Meredith and Nina grow up believing that their mother doesn't love them. She's distant. Their father provides the love they need, however, and seems to have a very loving relationship with their mother. Mother is Russian and shares fairy tales with them. She has odd habits including always cooking way too much food which is then stored away in the freezer and she often sits outside in her "winter garden" even during cold winter days.

Meredith is married, has grown children and manages the warehouse at the family's vineyard in central Washington. Nina is a well-known photographer who travels the world. When their father dies Nina comes home and is determined to find out more about their mother and to hear the end to one fairy tale that was the source of a major family scene when they were children. (Meanwhile it provided an engaging bit of WWII history).

It took me a while to warm to this story about mother-daughter relationships and the role of the past plays in one's life and family. A touching, engaging book.

>52 RebaRelishesReading: Sounds like a good read, Reba. I've enjoyed catching up with you.

Winter Garden sounds good, Reba. I've just read one book by Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale. I really enjoyed it.

I haven't yet given Kristen Hannah a try. She seems like an author I would like, though!

>53 AMQS: Good to hear from you Anne :)

>54 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah. I had only read The Women before and thought it was quite good -- I'd rate it a bit higher than this once actually. Both of them were set in places I know well which was rather fun but the stories themselves are good even if you aren't familiar with San Diego or Washington wine country.

>55 EBT1002: I've only read two, Ellen, but I liked them both and plan to read more. Both The Women and Winter Garden have strong women characters which I think you would enjoy (as did I).

So, Xfinity guy is here. Turns out when I renewed our contract last week I changed it from Hubby's name to mine (since I was the one in the store) and that is the same as moving in Xfinity's mind. This technician has come to refigure our alarm system...TV box will be done by someone else...or maybe not since maybe I got that done in my marathon telephone call with them last week. Sigh...

>52 RebaRelishesReading: Already in the BlackHole or I would be adding it again.

>57 RebaRelishesReading: Sorry to hear about all the technical difficulties, Reba, and hope they get them sorted soon.

>57 RebaRelishesReading:
I have all kinds of stories about trying to change bills from my mother's name to my name and the conundrums that puts me and the companies in. I wanted to change the landline phone to my name and found out that my mother had added my Aunt's name to the account so had to have Aunt Josephine call the company and add my name to the account and take my mother's name off. I have to wait 30 days until the December bill comes and then I can call the company and take my Aunt's name off the bill and add my sister's. Why my mother didn't put my sister on instead of my Aunt's is a whole other story. But we solved that problem. Now on to sorting out the electricity and the natural gas bills - when I get back from doing the final clearing out of the house in Tuscaloosa.

>49 RebaRelishesReading: Exactly this: "...remembered absolutely nothing about it...in fact as I reread nothing sounded familiar but there it was in my LT records so I must have read it" is what happens to me all.the.time. nowadays. I'm not all the way sure why, but suspect it has somethin' to do with the same-ol' same-ol' stuff we read. Having a genre preference does a lot for that quality.

Be well and happy, please. The world should only support this for you.

>58 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia. I think we have the account sorted with Xfinity and we also decided to try T-Mobile's streaming service. We had fiber in our building in San Diego and used HULU for local channels. We loved that system and hope this may be just as good. We get a 2 week free trial on the T-Mobile system. I brought the box home yesterday -- may get it installed today -- we'll see.

>59 benitastrnad: Oh yes, I hear you Benita!! Isn't moving fun?

>60 richardderus: Thank you Richard. I wish you the same: be well, be happy!!

I spent much of yesterday sorting out X-finity issues, bringing summer cushions inside, and running errands. I did manage to listen to some Our Man in Havana while knitting for a couple of hours before bed. Very amusing book.

>61 RebaRelishesReading:
I really enjoyed Our Man in Havana. My book club read it as our Classic two years ago and everybody in the group found something amusing in it.

I finally remembers to put a photo in the top of this thread. We've had a lot of wind and rain the past two days which moved autumn color from the trees to the ground -- still very pretty imho

A new book arrived on my doorstep this afternoon (wonder how that happened 🤔) and since it's the sequel to The Jane Austen Society I'm moving it straight to the top of the to-be-read-very-soon stack and heading off now to "my" chair to spend some time with it. 👋

I love the autumn photo Reba. What gorgeous color!

>1 RebaRelishesReading: Very colorful!

>57 RebaRelishesReading: "...and that is the same as moving in Xfinity's mind." *rolls eyes*

>64 RebaRelishesReading: Sounds wonderful. I also have a "my chair." Isn't that the best? Carson does have a heated bed (not spoiled) that I put on "my" chair when I'm not sitting in it....

I own The Bloomsbury Girls, Reba, but I have yet to read it. A problem for many of us here on LT. I hope you enjoy it!

>1 RebaRelishesReading: - Beautiful fall colors!

Lovely topper with all that color!

>64 RebaRelishesReading: It is amazing how that happens, Reba. :)

>65 lauralkeet: Thank you Laura, Susan, Katie, and Judy. It's going to be a squishy mess if the gardener doesn't get the ones on the walk taken care of soon (they come on Wednesday or Thursday depending on weather and other work -- so hopefully that will happen today.)

>66 quondame: Hi Ellen. "My" chair has a bit of history. My BFF and her hubby bought a condo back in about 1990 and arranged to also buy a nice leather chair/ottoman combo that was there with it. It was always my favorite chair in her house. A few months ago she told me she was going to give it away and I moaned...end of long story a woman she knows who spends her winters in San Diego and otherwise lives here in Vancouver offered to bring it to me when they came north. It's now next to the fireplace in our family room and has my reading and knitting stuff on a little cabinet next to it...my own personal nest which feels like a hug from BFF every time I sit in it (it and my desk chair are pretty much the only places I ever sit).

Hi Deborah and Beth -- lol it is amazing, right? Actually since our local indy bookstore opened it happens less often but they didn't have Bloomsbury Girls and I wanted to start it so I resorted to ordering it. Only read about 20 pages yesterday...but perhaps more this afternoon because I have to take the car for service so will probably have some waiting time to read.

>72 RebaRelishesReading: I have a chair like that, adopted when a very good friend of mine moved to the west coast. It desperately needs to be reupholstered, and since it is a backsaver-style, when it finally goes I will end up on the floor. But I love it.

I love the story behind your chair, and the way you feel when you sit in it. That's lovely.

>73 ffortsa: Having a comfortable chair that came from a good friend makes it extra special, doesn't it? Mine is leather with a matching ottoman -- the leather shows its age but that just gives it character imo. I suspect it will long outlast me.

>74 lauralkeet: It is lovely, Laura. Thank you.

Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene*** (audio)

Our hero is an Englishman living in Havana and making his living selling vacuum cleaners. He has a teenage daughter and a wife who ran away with someone else years ago. He suddenly finds himself mistaken for a spy and decides the extra money would be useful so allows the situation to continue. An amusing story results.

I finished Our Man in Havana yesterday while running errands then was able to start Bloomsbury Girls while waiting for the car to be serviced.

It isn't raining today for the first time in about a week and a quick look at the weather forecast told me that rain is expected to resume tomorrow and stay around for at least a week. Soooo, I went to the nursery and bought the forsythia I've been talking about and planted it in the back yard :). Very pleased to have that done. I still need to prune the roses but that can wait a bit.

Dropping in to wish you a wonderful weekend full of great reads!

>76 RebaRelishesReading: It's one of his I had no trouble enjoying, Reba, so I'm very glad you liked it too. Good weekend-ahead's reads!

>78 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita. I think I may actually find a nice window to do that this afternoon.

>79 richardderus: It's the only one I've tried so nothing to compare it to but it was a pleasant, light listen -- perfect to accompany my knitting. Hope your weekend goes well too Richard.

>77 RebaRelishesReading: Good plan to take advantage of nice weather, Reba. Forsythia looks wonderful in the Spring.

>81 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. Hope you're enjoying the autumn weather (I assume it's pretty much the same as we're having)

Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner ***1/2

This is a sequel to The Jane Austen Society

Evie, the young serving girl from the manor house in The Jane Austen Society has managed to go to Cambridge and was one of the first female students permitted to earn a degree there. After graduation she loses out on a research position to a scheming young man and ends up working in a bookstore in London where she, and the other women working there, are under appreciated. The first 2/3 or so of the book introduces the characters and describes ways in which the women are underestimated and under appreciated. I found that part rather bland but the last 1/3 things change and the women become more assertive...but will it pay off?

We had a "Bomb Cyclone" here yesterday. I've never heard of that but it was carefully explained on the weather report. Very interesting looking from satellite images but otherwise can't say I noticed much. Skies are blue this morning and nothing looks changed outside (although I've only looked from windows).
I must be sure to watch the weather again this afternoon to see what they have to say.

>76 RebaRelishesReading: I enjoy reading Graham Greene but do not think I have ever read that one. Thanks for the mention, Reba!

>83 RebaRelishesReading: I did not know that there is a sequel to The Jane Austen Society, which I gave to my daughter Catey for Christmas several years ago. I will have to pick this one up for her too.

Have a wonderful Wednesday and watch out for the weather!

>85 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia. Have you been reading about our Bomb Cyclone? lol. It certainly wreaked havoc in some parts of the northwest but mostly nearer the coast that we are I think. It's been fairly cold for about a week and we've had enough rain and wind to get most of the leaves from the trees onto the ground -- but nothing unusual for this time of year where we live (thank Heavens).

Glad to have helped out with your Christmas shopping :)

The Last Train From Paris by Juliet Greenwood ***** (audio)

This is the best book I've "read" this year, maybe in longer.

Lily, a young woman raised in Cornwall, has know for a long time that she was adopted but otherwise knows little of her past. In 1964 she comes across an official paper that reads: "BABY GIRL, FRANCE, 1939 – the year war was declared with Nazi Germany." This starts a journey through her past that involves the meaning of parenthood, the bonds of friendship, the impacts of WWII on innocent citizens of Europe, the role of women in society (esp. in mid-20th century Europe) and pretty much everything important in life. It is well written, engaging and thought-provoking. I listened to the audio version but I'm sure it would be wonderful in print too.

We had the Bomb Cyclone here too, Reba. I think it's just a new word like " atmospheric river" is for heavy rain, but I did read it was an actual meteorological term. I'll keep The Last Train From Paris in mind, since it is the best book you have read this year.

>87 RebaRelishesReading: That is quite a recommendation, Reba. It sounds fascinating so onto the list it goes. I also loved the story about your favorite chair. Your friend sounds like a very special person.

>88 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah. Our weather reporter explained that it was an actual term, showed the satellite shots of the shape of it, etc. Rather interesting actually. It was "storm 1" of a series. Storm 2 just passed by and now the remnants of the two of them are coming together to form storm 3. Most interesting weather reports I've heard in a long time.

>89 Donna828: I'm glad I caught you Donna :>. I was very serious about that rating. It was a darned good read PLUS had a lot of serious things to present (not new to me but nice to have so well presented). I always hang back from telling too much about books I've read for fear of giving too much away but this book deserves a better review than I gave it.

My friend is indeed special. She's smart and kind and loyal and very special. Again I don't think I'm able to give her a proper review but she's great!! (I call her my sister substitute since I have no siblings and we're very close and have been for about 40 years now).

Ooh, you got me with The Last Train From Paris, Reba. Thank you.

Bomb cyclone totally sounds made up, but we had one here a few years ago and it was a doozy. Snow, of course, but the intense pressure made people feel not so good.

>72 RebaRelishesReading: I love that story about your reading chair. :-)

>87 RebaRelishesReading: You got me with that one. Five stars and best read of the year -- that is hard to resist! I have added it to my never-flagging wish list.

>92 EBT1002: Hi Ellen. Thanks for chair story love :). I really did like The Last Train From Paris (as you can tell) -- hope you like it too. It deals with a lot of issues but so well it seemed natural to me.

Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch**1/2 (audio)

This story of a pony and young girl who bond so tightly that, years later, the pony tries to reach her to help her when she's in trouble sounded like a fun listen but it just didn't work for me, at least not as an audio book. I'll admit that I may have lost the thread from time to time but there were parts that seemed to be totally out of sync. For example, the girl (now woman) is on trial and the pony is trying to find her because he senses she's in trouble but while the time span for the woman is weeks, the pony is walking from California to New York. Perhaps such issues would have been explained in a print version but in audio is just really didn't work for me.

I managed to request "wish lists" from D2 yesterday and discovered d-i-l and granddaughter have active ones on Amazon -- soooo, finally started doing some Christmas and birthday shopping. Hubby and I have agreed that we will skip gifts to each other this year so having 3 of 7 taken care of is a big step. I made stuffing and cranberry/raspberry sauce yesterday and will pick up the rest of the meal at 1 today so we're good on that score. Now to find the energy/interest/determination/whatever to get decorating done this weekend and I will feel much better about the coming month.

Hope all of my US LT friends have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow!!

I'm thankful for LT and mu friends here. You all make every day brighter!

Meanwhile, elder daughter is sick so we will only have younger daughter, partner, little grandson and our selves for dinner today. Food is prepared and only needs oven time so I'm off to watch the Macy's parade.

Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating!!

Happy Thanksgiving, Reba! The Last Train from Paris sounds like a good one.

>96 RebaRelishesReading: I'm not celebrating Thanksgiving, Reba, but I am celebrating my friends celebrating Thanksgiving! Have a lovely holiday.

>94 RebaRelishesReading: No, the issues weren't any more obvious in print...it's just a go-with-it read, and those don't always work. I was so desperate for mindless entertainment that it worked okay for me. I'm not an evangelist for it, though. Glad your bomb cyclones are past.

*smooch*

>97 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg, yes it was very good imo. Interested to hear if you agree if you decides to read it.

>98 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul -- hope you had a lovely day full of things to be thankful for.

>99 richardderus: It was diverting, Richard. I love horses and ponies (and dogs and lots of other animals) so it was fun -- wish it had had a better editor though. Did you have a nice Turkey Day?

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan***1/2 (audio)

I had a nice bunch of time today so finished The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan. It was fun -- thanks for pointing it out Katie.

Carmen feels like she's the family failure. Her older sister is a successful attorney, married to an attorney with 3 lovely children and a pretty house. Carmen didn't go to college and has worked as a sales person in a department store since leaving school but now she has been "let go" because the store is failing. Her mother and sister make a plan: Carmen will go to Edinburgh to stay with her sister, help with the children and meanwhile work in a bookstore owned by a client of the sisters while the owner tries to sell enough over Christmas to allow the store to be sold as "a going concern".

My Grinch mood lifted somewhat today after a successful Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. I got on line first thing this morning and got most of my Christmas shopping done as well!! Perhaps tomorrow I'll find the energy (and my back will quit hurting enough) to allow me to at least start on the decorations.

It's about time to go get the left-overs out to re-heat for dinner.

I'm glad to hear you're no longer grinchy, Reba! I'm sure your shopping success relieved some of your holiday stress. Sorry your back is bugging you though. Enjoy the decorating. I recommend Michael Buble's Christmas album as festive accompaniment.

>103 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. Nice idea, Mr. Buble. I think I may even have that somewhere -- we've never set the old "stereo system" up here so I'd have to play it on my laptop or something -- the idea sounds nice, the reality of it probably not so much. Back still not happy so the decorations will probably have to wait another day or two -- especially since my heating pad has gone on strike (actually quit all together I think).

Hope you had a good Thanksgiving getting to know your new extended family and that the travel went well...(are you actually home yet?)

So...I went looking for another Audible book to enjoy while knitting in the Christmas season and discovered a number of Audible's own productions that are available at no cost~!! :). One of this is a history of Christmas by Bill Bryson -- it's quite good imo!! Don't know how long it will be available for free but you may want to check it out.

>105 RebaRelishesReading: Bill Bryson's history of xmas sounds like it would be fascinating! Hope it stays good for you Reba!

>106 richardderus: Hi Richard :). I did enjoy it all the way through, Richards. It's only 3 hours long so not a huge commitment and free!!



The Secret History of Christmas by Bill Bryson (audio)****

I'm a Bryson fan so wasn't too surprised that I enjoyed this short (3 hours 3 minutes) history of Christmas celebrations around the world. It didn't hurt that it was FREE!!

and now on to December :). This is a busy month in our family but I'm pretty sure I can manage to read at least 3 books so that I can finish up by "75" just in time.

It's 27 degrees and sparkling with frost this morning -- beautiful!! It's been cold for several days but there was too much fog to allow the sparkle so this is a nice change. There are a lot of things I 'should' be doing today -- we'll see what actually gets done.

>107 RebaRelishesReading: I find freeness is a delicious sauce to pour over all but the worst stories, Reba. Here's hoping the busy is steady, good busy, not frantic last minute busy.

>110 richardderus: Thanks Richard, that's a perfect Segway into my next book...another free book from Audible


Along Came Holly by Codi Hall ***

A predictable love story with a dose of pornography thrown in. A diverting story to listen to while knitting.

>111 RebaRelishesReading: ...bet the pattern shifted...

>112 richardderus: LOL

Just discovered a big sale at Audible!! I got two more Royal Spyness books (16 & 17) and a Ladies' #1 Detective Agency for just a couple of dollars each!! It's today only so hurry over if you're interested!!

Christmas at the Shelter Inn by RaeAnne Thayne***1/2 (audio)

Natalie grew up living at The Shelter Inn, a hotel owned and run by her parents in a small town in Idaho. Her mother gets ill and dies when Natalie is 16 and shortly after her father, unable to deal with his grief, leaves to live off the grid in Alaska. Natalie's aunt takes on running the hotel and then passes it to Natalie's younger sister when she grows up. Natalie, meanwhile, graduates from college and starts an adventuresome life working as a free-lance editor and writer while traveling the world as a house & pet sitter.

As the book starts, Natalie has come home to help her sister who has been ordered to bed-rest with a difficult pregnancy. Natalie is to take care of her 2 and 5 year-old nieces and help her aunt run the hotel (brother-in-law is present but has a busy job). It's December ... to lots of Christmas activities to help make this a fun, if not outstanding, novel to read (or listen to) in December.

Beautiful, crisp day outside (35 degrees and sunny at 10 a.m.). I have to take Hubby for a CTScan at noon but otherwise a pretty quiet day.

Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan. **** (audio)

Douglas Miller is head of the family shortbread company, a job he has inherited from several generations before him. He is disappointed that his son, Ross, refused to follow him and, instead, started a sportswear company of his own. Daughter Alice is a successful doctor and not interested in providing any grandchildren or otherwise following in her mother's traditional female role. Clemmie, the youngest child, adores children and works as a professional Nanny. When they all gather at the family estate in the Scottish highlands there is love but also a lot of bickering. Douglas' mother is provides comic relief with her humor and lack of concern for propriety.

Lucy Clark is a successful marketing consultant working for a firm that has just lost a couple of major clients and is facing potential down-sizing. She has no family to spend Christmas with so decides to go to Scotland to drop off a proposal for an ad campaign for the sportswear company in the hope of winning a contract with them.

When Lucy arrives on the doorstep she is mistaken for Ross' girlfriend. When a serious storm and a fall by Lucy leaves them all snowed-in together, secrets start being revealed and a complications ensue resulting in a fun-to-read holiday story.

and that makes 75 :)

>117 RebaRelishesReading: Sounds like a Hallmark Christmas movie!

>118 ronincats: For sure -- actually all of these Christmas audio's have been like that but 'tis the season plus I have a lot of knitting to do :)

>117 RebaRelishesReading: Congratulations, Reba!

>120 richardderus: Thank you Richard!!

Congrats on reaching 75!

Congrats!

>117 RebaRelishesReading: Congratulations on 75 reads!

Yay for 75!!!

>117 RebaRelishesReading: Congratulations on reaching 75, Reba!

Thank you very much Anne, Jim, Susan, Roni and Irene!! Given this crazy year I'm glad to have made it!

Nicely done, Reba. It's been some time since I hit 75. I'll be close this year but will probably fall just short of that elusive target.

Way to go, Reba!

Nice! congrats on reaching the magic number :)

Thanks Laura, Katie and Anita. I wasn't sure I would make it but audio books + knitting helps :)

Congratulations on reaching 75 books, Reba!

One More For Christmas by Sarah Morgan *** (audio)

Another Christmas audio book to get me into the spirit while allowing me to knit.

Samantha and Emma haven't spoken to their mother in five years. She had raised them alone after their father died when they were very young and her mission was to make them tough and unsentimental. As adults they have come to resent their mother's hardness and constant criticism of their life choices but when they get a call that she has had a serious accident and is in hospital they go to see her and end up taking her along on a trip to Scotland for Christmas. Troubles, background, new romance, etc. ensue

>133 RebaRelishesReading: My Yule spirit is more that of Ded Moroz...the Slavic "Frostfather".

Permaybehaps a few slayings, a load of curses distributed widely but redly, and a few weeks of frost will restore me to equilibrium.

>134 richardderus: Goodness, I certainly hope so :)

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo****

My granddaughter was assigned this book in a college class and recommended it to me. The author describes her work as "the basic, often unsexy fundamentals that I felt people were missing when they discussed race, gender, and privilege in our society". She says the book was born from frustration "after watching so many people have so many conversations about race that went nowhere -- or worse, that caused real harm..." It is a thought provoking discussion of how to productively interact with other people who are experiencing a different reality from your own -- sexism, classism, ableism, as well as racism.

>136 RebaRelishesReading: - I've heard of this one but it fell off my radar. I'm adding it to my list of nonfiction to try to get next year which, given the incoming Administration, is focused on the idea (thanks, Richard!) of reading as resistance.

>137 katiekrug: Good idea Katie. It's a fairly quick and thought-provoking read that includes suggestions of what one can do to help.

>133 RebaRelishesReading: I need a good Christmas book, Reba. I do have one, and the name escapes me, but I am reading so slowly I may not get to it.

The Great Hippopotamus Hotel: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency 25 by Alexander McCall Smith***

I always enjoy visiting Botswana and the Ladies' Detective Agency so this was like a visit with old friends but it wasn't the best of the series. A boutique hotel has recently been inherited by the members of the next generation and now things are happening that threaten the hotel's standing as top-class. The ladies are asked to find out who is behind it. Mmm Remotswe is ill so Mma Makutsi tries to work it out on her own.

Congratulations for reading 75 and beyond, Reba! I hope your back is getting better.

>141 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg!! I appreciate the good wishes for my back. I need to try walking more and see if that helps -- we'll see.

>140 RebaRelishesReading: He is indefatigable! AGES now he's been bringin' these out. It's not possible to do that many top-quality books but it's clear he's still got the knack of speaking to his audience.

Happy slide-into-Yule, Reba!

I'm sorry your back is still bothering you, Reba.

>143 richardderus: Thank you Richard. I wish it was a slide but it's more of a sprint I'm afraid. It's a busy time with singing, shopping, sipping, supping...!! But I am managing to work in some audio books -- listening to another favorite series now "Royal Spyness". Make good company with other things are being done :)

>133 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Katie. It's become a near-constant companion I'm afraid (although it doesn't hurt yet this morning 😊)

I must have missed you mentioning back pain. That's no fun, especially if it's becoming a "near constant companion." At least the audiobooks appear to be treating you well.

Solstice cheer, Reba!

The Proof of the Pudding (A Royal Spyness Mystery Book 17) by Rhys Bowen***1/2(audio)

To my delight I found two new Royal Spyness novels recently and just listened to the first of them.
Georgie and Darcy are expecting their first baby...soon. She has recently hired a "proper chef" to take charge of the kitchen and she hosts a banquet to show him off. A few days later a neighbor (a famous crime novelist who had been a guest at her party) asks to "borrow" her chef for a house tour/banquet he proposes to host as a fund raiser for a charity he supports. The meal is a success but during the following night some guests become ill.

>146 lauralkeet: I think I need to walk more and sit less, Laura...I'm trying.

>147 richardderus: Thank you Richard. Is there some ritual I should be following? I do love long, dark evenings by the fire so I celebrate this time of year but not necessarily the move back toward longer daylight.

>149 RebaRelishesReading: I myownself think the ritual of sacrificing kittens to Hades to prolong winter is a good idea...I get all kinds of blowback when I try to get the city council to calendar it.

Hello, Reba, I'm dropping by to send you early holiday greetings. Since we will be leaving town early Monday, and I don't expect that I will be on LT again until after the new year, I thought I had better go ahead and send them now. I wish you a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year. Have a wonderful time with your family!

>150 richardderus: You're a very naughty boy, Richard -- coal in the stocking for you :)

Nadolig Llawen, Happy Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Winslow and all of us wish you a very happy holidays!

Thinking of you at this time, Reba.

The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan ***1/2

I think I have Katie to thank for finding this one which kept me happy while wrapping presents, knitting, running errands, etc.

A group of three college friends are about to turn 40 and still meet annually for a get-away to discuss a book and catch up with each other. Anna is happily married and the mother of teen-age twins, Erica is a single successful career woman and Claudia is a chef whose partner of 10 years just left her for someone else. Erica is the strong personality and her recommendation for a week at a hotel in a cozy rural hotel, The Maple Sugar Inn, is accepted by the others even though they would prefer a city hotel. The Maple Sugar Inn is owned, and operated, by a young widow with a 5-year-old adorable daughter. A cozy, holiday perfect story is the result.

Pretty sure I have Katie to thank for this one :)

Nope, not me!

>158 katiekrug: Oops, OK then...thank you who ever was the source. I enjoyed it.

We celebrated Christmas and Hubby's birthday with brunch this morning and I'm pretty darned tired right now -- fortunately it doesn't take too much energy to type :). I got three news books:
The Wright Sister by Richard Maurer
Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan
Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
Can't wait to dive in...but then there is an ever growing stack of books I really want to read waiting so we'll see which wins the race :).

BFF sent me a 500-piece puzzle of Banned Books which looks fun. I really like doing puzzles although I like it best when doing it with someone else so I may wait until her visit in a couple of months to start it.

Meanwhile I have started my 2025 thread AND I have a book to report.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain**1/2

My RL bookclub is reading James for our January 13 meeting (at my house so I'm supposed to lead the discussion). Since I had never read The Adventures of Huck Finn I'm planning to read it in preparation BUT since I had also never read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer I decided to start with that one. I have now completed Tom Sawyer and feel like I deserve some sort of prize for sticking to it!! I know it's a treasured part of American literature but it really isn't my cuppa I'm afraid. On to Huck....

>161 RebaRelishesReading: Oh Huck is MUCH better than comic Tom.

>160 RebaRelishesReading: Yay for 3 new books and a new puzzle! I have read 2 of the 3 and will be curious to see what you think of them.

I hope you are having a happy holiday season, Reba! Best wishes going into 2025!!

>162 ffortsa: Thank you Judy!! That gives me courage to continue :)

>163 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. We're having fairly quiet, but pleasant, holidays this year. It took me quite a while to get in the spirit but it's been fine. I hope yours were pleasant and also send good wishes for 2025

I'm waiting until Monday to do the 2025 honors...I've got a big tidy-up to do meantime. Busy over there yet?

>165 richardderus: Don't know -- I set up my page but don't plan to return until next week.

>162 ffortsa: Meanwhile I have made a good start on Huck Finn and agree, Judy, it's much better.

We're planning a quiet day at home today before going out to dinner at a favorite German restaurant this evening.

Brotherless Night was excellent, Reba. I hope you enjoy it too!