Alcott Acre's Home, Room 12

Well, let's get the introduction out of the way. My name is Stasia and I have been happily married to the recently retired Kerry for 36 years. We have 6 children, 4 of whom are my stepchildren and 2 of whom are ours together. We also have 8 grandchildren. 2023 was a tough year for our family as we lost my father and stepdaughter, Nichole, within days of each other back in February.

I love to read and it has been a huge solace to me over the past year - I call it "burying myself in books." Since Kerry retired December 29th, it is going to be interesting to see how his retirement affects my reading! I am playing it safe and just shooting for 100 books read this year. I also suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (known to me familiarly as 'stupid CFS') and it seems like my bouts are becoming longer each time it springs up, so it affects my reading for the worse. CFS drives me crazy because I hate sleeping!

That's about it, I think, so come on in and grab a cuppa!

Excellent Reads from 2024 (in the order in which I read them):

5 Stars
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Cold Crematorium by Jozsef Debreczeni
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig
An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina
The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard
Woman, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrapi
Sacred Legacy: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indian
The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
999: The Extraordinary Young Women of the First Official Jewish Transport to Auschwitz by Heather Dune Macadam
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
Maus by Art Spiegelman
The Chosen by Chaim Potok

4.5 Stars
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs
A Man's Place by Annie Ernaux
Heading North by Holly M. Wendt
Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi
Derring-Do for Beginners by Victoria Goddard
Thirteen Doorways Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger
The Postcard by Anne Berest
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
An Interrupted Life and Letters from Westerbork by Etty Hillesum
Foster by Claire Keegan
Life Laid Bare by Jean Hatzfeld
The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Drew D. Hansen
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by T. E. Carhart
The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard
Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles
Symphony for the City of the Dead by M. T. Anderson
My Friend Anne Frank by Hannah Pick-Goslar
The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman
The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony with Graham Spence
Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
Jewish Literacy by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan
The Game of Courts by Victoria Goddard
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Treachery in Death by J. D. Robb
Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew by Bart D. Ehrman
The Grand Alliance by Winston S. Churchill
When We Ruled by Robin Walker
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
Sinister Twilight: The Fall of Singapore by Noel Barber
Pacific Crucible by Ian W. Toll
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Watership Down by Richard Adams
April 1865 by Jay Winik
The Wishing Pool and Other Stories by Tananarive Due
Winterdance by Gary Paulsen
Eyes on the Prize by Juan Williams
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel
A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
Man Is Not Alone by Abraham Joshua Heschel
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
Brigadistes:Lives for Liberty by Jordi Marti-Rueda
The Promised City by Moses Rischin
Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky
Freedom Summer by Bruce Watson

4.25 Stars
The Serial Garden by Joan Aiken
Freezing Order by Bill Browder
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison
All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
My Hair Is a Garden by Cozbi A. Cabrera
Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall and Hugo Martinez
Code Girls by Liza Mundy
Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age by Katherine May
Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb
The Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush
The Art of the Wasted Day by Patricia Hampl
English Creek by Ivan Doig
Gin, Turpentine, Pennyroyal, Rue by Christine Higdon
Eden Mine by S. M. Hulse
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher
Promises in Death by J. D. Robb
At the Feet of the Sun by Victoria Goddard
Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir by Natasha Trethewey
Absolution by Alice McDermott
The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard
I Shall Not Hate by Izzeldin Abuelaish
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich
Between the Woods and the Water by Patrick Leigh Fermor
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Go As a River by Shelley Read
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Confusion by Elizabeth Jane Howard
A Reader's Delight by Noel Perrin
Classic Crimes by William Roughead
Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig
Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner
The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason
The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
James by Percival Everett
Virginia Woolf in Manhattan by Maggie Gee
A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine
Casting Off by Elizabeth Jane Howard
An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
New York to Dallas by J. D. Robb
Trust by Hernan Diaz
The Book of Lamentations by Rosario Castellanos
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Holocaust Journey by Martin Gilbert
Bound for Canaan by Fergus M. Bordewich
My Beloved Monster by Caleb Carr
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Lies, Damned Lies, and History by Jodi Taylor
Pastoral Song by James Rebanks
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Shared reads:

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman - Completed February 14, 2024
Derring-Do for Beginners by Victoria Goddard - Completed February 12, 2024
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne - Completed February 18, 2024
An Interrupted Life by Etty Hillesum - Completed March 30, 2024
Martin Dressler by Steven Milhauser - Completed March 5, 2024
The Hand of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard - Completed March 25, 2024
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell - Completed March 16, 2024
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki - Completed April 16, 2024
At the Feet of the Sun by Victoria Goddard - Completed April 21, 2024
The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham - Completed May 8, 2024
The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard - Completed May 12, 2024
Those Who Hold the Fire by Victoria Goddard - Completed June 8, 2024
The Game of Courts by Victoria Goddard - Completed July 4, 2024
The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason - Completed August 3, 2024
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson - Completed September 18, 2024
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - Completed September 19, 2024
Traveller's Joy by Victoria Goddard - Completed September 21, 2024
Ride with Me, Mariah Montana by Ivan Doig - Completed October 16, 2024
How Music Works by David Byrne - Completed October 28, 2024
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray - Completed November 13, 2024
Aurelius (to be called) Magnus by Victoria Goddard - Completed November 4, 2024
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham - Completed November 14, 2024
Terec and the Wild by Victoria Goddard - Completed December 1, 2024
Bound to Please by Michael Dirda - Completed December 19, 2024

December TIOLI Challenges:

Challenge #1: Read a book with a two-word title in which the first word starts with the letter "O"
Ocean State by Stewart O’Nan - Completed December 17, 2024
Open Season by Archer Mayor - Completed December 22, 2024
Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky - Completed December 22, 2024

Challenge #2: Anita Memorial Reads: Wild Card
Pastoral Song by James Redbank - Completed December 26, 2024

Challenge #3: Inspired by Anita: 3 letters from the word “December” are in the title
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card - Completed December 28, 2024
Terec and the Wild by Victoria Goddard - Completed December 1, 2024

Challenge #4: Read a book for the Zodiac Challenge (Sagittarius: Rolling Half and Half (A-M first name/N-Z last name)
Ben-Gurion: Father of Modern Israel by Anita Shapira
Calculated in Death by J. D. Robb - Completed December 1, 2024
Making It So by Patrick Stewart
Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson - Completed December 4, 2024
Rosa Luxemburg: A Life by Elzbieta Ettinger - Completed December 21, 2024
Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon - Completed December 20, 2024

Challenge #5: Read a book in honor of my recently deceased father, Edward (Ed)
In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes
The Miracle of Dunkirk by Walter Lord - Completed December 23, 2024

Challenge #6: Read a book whose title completes the sentence "All I want for Christmas is..."
The Most Wonderful Books by Michael Dorris and Emilie Buchwald - Completed December 10, 2024
The Promised City by Moses Rischin - Completed December 15, 2024

Challenge #7: Read a book that links to the PDG's Centenary (see main thread)
A Passage to India by E. M. Forster - Completed December 3, 2024

Challenge #8: Rolling challenge: alternate between books that have a wintry/cold word and a summery/warm word in the title
Freedom Summer by Bruce Watson - Completed December 27, 2024

Challenge #9: Read a book with a title that conveys generosity, however you define it
Bound to Please by Michael Dirda - Completed December 19, 2024
Brigadistes: Lives for Liberty by Jordi Marti-Rueda - Completed December 7, 2024
Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde - Completed December 5, 2024

Challenge #10: Read a 'leftover' book that you've been planning/intending to read since Jan 1, 2024
The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil - Completed December 28, 2024

Challenge #11: Read a book in which someone's or something's beauty plays an essential part
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang - Completed December 16, 2024

Challenge #12: Read a book with some tie to Spain ...or Spanish.
Crusade of the Left by Robert Rosenstone - Completed December 6, 2024
Ghosts of Spain by Giles Tremlett - Completed December 14, 2024

Challenge 13: Read a book about something magic
Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder - Completed December 18, 2024

Challenge #14: Read a book you put on, and took off, the TIOLI challenge in 2024
The Sisters of Sinai by Janet Soskice

Challenge #15: Read a book whose title implies something that gives comfort or joy
Waiting for an Angel by Helon Habila - Completed December 11, 2024

Black Studies Reading
Must reads for this year: King: A Life by Jonathan Eig and When We Ruled by Robin Walker
1. Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho - Completed January 5, 2024
2. Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall and Hugo Martinez - Completed February 2, 2024
3. Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome - Completed March 1, 2024
4. King: A Life by Jonathan Eig - Completed March 6, 2024
5. The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Drew Hansen - Completed April 29, 2024
6. T.R.M. Howard: Doctor, Entrepreneur, Civil Rights Pioneer by David T. Beito and Linda Royster Beito - Completed May 30, 2024
7. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson - Completed June 12, 2024
8. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by Frederick Douglass - Completed June 17, 2024
9. Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward - Completed July 29, 2024
10. When We Ruled by Robin Walker - Completed August 13, 2024
11. The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson - Completed September 18, 2024
12. Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington - Completed September 20, 2024
13. Bound for Canaan by Fergus M. Bordewich - Completed October 30, 2024
14. Eyes on the Prize by Juan Williams - Completed November 5, 2024
15. Freedom Summer by Bruce Watson - Completed December 27, 2024

Jewish Studies Reading
Must reads for this year: Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People and Its History by Joseph Telushkin
1. 28 Days by David Safier - Completed January 25, 2024
2. The Archive Thief by Lisa Moses Leff - Completed January 28, 2024
3. Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi - Completed February 3, 2024
4. Cold Crematorium by József Debreczeni - Completed March 4, 2024
5. Etty Hillesum: An Interrupted Life the Diaries, 1941-1943 and Letters from Westerbork by Etty Hillesum - Completed March 30, 2024
6. Plunder: A Memoir of Family Property and Nazi Treasure by Menachem Kaiser - Completed April 6, 2024
7. Ordinary Men by Christopher R. Browning - Completed April 25, 2024
8. My Friend, Anne Frank by Hannah Pick-Goslar - Completed May 30, 2024
9. Jewish Literacy by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin - Completed June 14, 2024
10. 999 : The extraordinary young women of the first official transport to Auschwitz by Heather Dune Macadam - Completed June 16, 2024
11. They Were Good Germans Once by Evelyn Toynton - Completed July 18, 2024
12. Sacred Trash by Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole - Completed August 10, 2024
13. Life Is With People by Mark Zborowski and Elizabeth Herzog - Completed September 4, 2024
14. Holocaust Journey by Martin Gilbert - Completed October 29, 2024
15. The Chosen by Chaim Potok - Completed November 19, 2024
16. Man is Not Alone by Abraham Joshua Heschel - Completed November 21, 2024
17. Kantika by Elizabeth Graver - Completed November 24, 2024
18. The Promised City by Moses Rischin - Completed December 15, 2024
19. Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky - Completed December 22, 2024

The War Literature Challenge - I will be attempting to read at least 2 books toward each monthly challenge.

JANUARY - The Ancients (Greeks, Romans etc)
A War Like No Other by Victor Davis Hanson - Completed January 9, 2024
The Battle of Salamis by Barry Strauss - Completed January 31, 2024
Persian Fire by Tom Holland - Completed January 29, 2024

FEBRUARY - The American War of Independence
Killing England by Bill O’Reilly - Completed February 3, 2024
Unlikely Allies by Joel Richard Paul - Completed February 22, 2024

MARCH - WILDCARD - Pick your own fight!:
An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina - Completed March 10, 2024
Life Laid Bare by Jean Hatzfeld - Completed April 28, 2024

APRIL - Wars of Religion
The Thirty Years War: Europe's Tragedy by Peter H. Wilson - Completed April 27, 2024

MAY - The Napoleonic Wars
The Illustrious Dead by Stephen Talty - Completed May 10, 2024
Mirage by Nina Burleigh - Completed May 21, 2024

JUNE - The English Civil War
The origins of the English Civil War: conspiracy, crusade, or class conflict? by Philip A. M. Taylor - Completed June 13, 2024
The White Witch by Elizabeth Goudge - Completed June 24, 2024

JULY - Colonial Wars - Not Participating

AUGUST - World War Two
Code Name Pauline by Pearl Witherington Cornioley - Completed August 5, 2024
The Grand Alliance by Winston S. Churchill - Completed August 12, 2024
Sinister Twilight: The Fall of Singapore by Noel Barber - Completed August 28, 2024
War Diaries 1939-1945 by Lord Alanbrooke - Completed August 15, 2024

SEPTEMBER - The American Civil War
April 1865 by Jay Winik - Completed September 28, 2024
A Diary from Dixie by Mary Chesnut - Completed September 24, 2024
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara - Completed September 26, 2024

OCTOBER - American Follies (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and the Gulf Wars)
They Marched into Sunlight by David Maraniss - Completed October 14, 2024

NOVEMBER - World War One
Private Peaceful by Michael Murporgo - Completed November 20, 2024
A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin - Completed November 14, 2024

DECEMBER - The Spanish Civil War
Brigadistes: Lives for Liberty by Jordi Marti-Rueda - Completed December 7, 2024
Crusade of the Left by Robert Rosenstone - Completed December 6, 2024

The “Read More Sci-Fi” Challenge - using the Esquire list found here (https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g39358054/best-sci-fi-books/) - which has now been expanded - and the book Science Fiction, The 101 Best Novels, 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul di Filippo as guides. Also adding in Hugo Award winners and nominees.
1. The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers - Completed January 22, 2024 (Esquire List #29)
2. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut - Completed February 25, 2024 (Esquire List #18)
3. Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut - Completed March 3, 2024 (From the book - 1985)
4. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell - Completed March 16, 2024 (From the book - 1996)
5. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury - Completed May 25, 2024 (Esquire List #3)
6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - Completed June 14, 2024 (Esquire List #14)
7. A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine - Completed June 29, 2024 (Hugo Award Winner, 2020)
8. Soldiers of Paradise by Paul Park - Completed July 19, 2024 (From the book - 1987)
9. A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine - Completed August 22, 2024 (Hugo Award Winner, 2022)
10. Way Station by Clifford D. Simak - Completed September 29, 2024 (Updated Esquire List #65)
11. The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal - Completed October 31, 2024 (Updated Esquire List #74)
12 Ammonite by Nicola Griffith - Completed November 25, 2024 (Updated Esquire List #25)
13 Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card - Completed December 28, 2024 (From the book - 1985)

The Around the World in 80 Novels Challenge inspired by the book of the same name. I want to try and expand my reading horizons to places I have rarely or never been. In addition to reading from the book that inspired this challenge, I will also be using Around the World in 80 Books as a reference.
1. The Missing File by D.A. Mishani - (Israel) Completed January 31, 2024
2. Bleak House by Charles Dickens - (England) Completed February 16, 2024
3. Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier - (England) - Completed March 8, 2024
4. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck - (China) Completed April 4, 2024
5. The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney (Canada) - Completed June 8, 2024
6. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (London, England) - Completed July 5, 2024
7. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (Iran) - Completed August 9, 2024
8. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Spain) - Completed September 19, 2024
9. The Book of Lamentations by Rosario Castellanos (Mexico) - Completed September 29, 2024
10. The House of the Spirits - Isabel Allende (Chile) - Completed October 10, 2024
11. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (Congo) - Completed November 23, 2024

The Monthly Nonfiction Challenge - I try to read at least 100 nonfiction books a year and this challenge is instrumental in helping me achieve that goal. Last year, I was just short with only 96 nonfiction reads in the year, so I am hoping to improve that number in 2024!
January The Archive Thief by Lisa Moses Leff - Completed January 28, 2024
February Code Girls by Liza Mundy - Completed February 12, 2024
February The Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush - Completed February 24, 2024
March Written in Bones by Paul Bahn (editor) - Completed March 16, 2024
April Vermeer's Hat by Timothy Brook - Completed April 19, 2024
May Sacred Legacy by Edward S. Curtis - Completed May 19, 2024
June Between the Woods and the Water by Patrick Leigh Fermor - Completed June 19, 2024
July Never Home Alone by Rob Dunn - Completed July 30, 2024
August Sacred Trash by Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole - Completed August 10, 2024
September Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman - Completed September 22, 2024
September Wonderlands by Charles Baxter - Completed September 28, 2024
October How Music Works by David Byrne - Completed October 28, 2024
November I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong - Completed November 20, 2024
December Rosa Luxemburg: A Life by Elzbieta Ettinger - Completed December 21, 2024

The American Authors Challenge - This is one that I dip into and out of as the case may be
January The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain - Completed January 11, 2024
February Reborn: Journals & Notebooks 1947-1963 by Susan Sontag - Completed February 8, 2024
March A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote - Completed March 2, 2024
April Plunder: A Memoir of Family Property and Nazi Treasure by Menachem Kaiser, Ordinary Men by Christopher Browning, The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Drew D. Hansen, The Town That Food Saved by Ben Hewitt, and The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by T. E. Carhart
May The Heavenly Tenants by William Maxwell - Completed May 12, 2024
June Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson - Completed June 12, 2024
July A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power - Completed July 21, 2024
August The Blue Jay's Dance by Louise Erdrich - Completed August 29, 2024
September Trust by Hernan Diaz - Completed September 14, 2024
October The Old Order by Katherine Anne Porter - Completed October 4, 2024
November The Chosen by Chaim Potok - Completed November 19, 2024
November Kantika by Elizabeth Graver - Completed November 24, 2024
December Bound to Please by Michael Dirda - Completed December 19, 2024

The British Authors Challenge - I have never participated in this one before and I suspect that, like the American Authors Challenge, it will be one into which I dip only on occasion
January The Serial Garden by Joan Aiken - Completed January 4, 2024
February Between Two Thorns by Emma Newman - Completed February 16, 2024
April An Eye for an Eye by Anthony Trollope - Completed April 9, 2024
May The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman - Completed May 31, 2024
June The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - Completed June 4, 2024
July Animal Farm by George Orwell - Completed July 8, 2024
August The Grand Alliance by Winston S. Churchill - Completed August 12, 2024
September Empire of the Sun by J. G. Ballard - Completed September 29, 2024
October The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - Completed October 15, 2024
November The Optimist by E. M. Delafield - Completed November 16, 2024

Series Reading - I will post these as I read them:

The In Death series by J.D. Robb
Creation in Death - Completed January 3, 2024
Random in Death - Completed February 6, 2024
Strangers in Death - Completed February 22, 2024
Salvation in Death - Completed March 24, 2024
Promises in Death - Completed April 19, 2024
Kindred in Death - Completed May 13, 2024
Fantasy in Death - Completed June 9, 2024
Indulgence in Death - Completed July 12, 2024
Treachery in Death - Completed August 3, 2024
New York to Dallas - Completed September 1, 2024
Passions in Death - Completed September 8, 2024
Celebrity in Death - Completed October 6, 2024
Delusion in Death - Completed November 2, 2024
Calculated in Death - Completed December 1, 2024
Thankless in Death -

The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
A Breath of Snow and Ashes - Completed January 18, 2024
An Echo in the Bone - Completed August 25, 2024
Written in My Own Heart’s Blood - Completed December 20, 2024
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone -

The St. Mary’s books by Jodi Taylor
What Could Possibly Go Wrong? - Completed February 29, 2024
Lies, Damned Lies, and History - Completed November 29, 2024
And the Rest is History

The Decker/Lazarus series by Faye Kellerman
Grievous Sin - Completed January 31, 2024
Sanctuary - Completed October 26, 2024
Justice -

The Three Pines series by Louise Penny
The Brutal Telling - Completed March 22, 2024
Bury Your Dead - Completed November 28, 2024
The Hangman

The Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear
An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear - Completed June 29, 2024
Among the Mad -

The Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson
One Good Turn - Completed May 28, 2024
When Will There Be Good News?

The Shetland Series by Ann Cleeves
White Nights - Completed July 6, 2024
Red Bones - Completed September 24, 2024
Blue Lightning -

Touchstone loading time. . . again. I really hate this! Lol

And now I am getting 'Timeout' errors. Geez louise.

Sunday is my traditional 'day off' technology, but I suspect I will be back at some point. . .

I hope everyone has a lovely day!

Happy new thread Stasia!

Stasia, both the amount and the range of your readings is incredible!

Happy new one, Juana.

Happy new thread!

Enjoy your Sunday

Happy New Thread!

Happy new thread, Stasia. Enjoy your Sunday.

Happy new thread, Stasia. Hope December bodes better than November did, on the kitchen front.

Happy Sunday, Stasia. Happy New Thread. Of course, The Covenant of Water has been excellent and I bet you are not surprised at all, are you? Enjoy your day.

>12 quondame: >13 Whisper1: >14 PaulCranswick: >15 figsfromthistle: >16 SilverWolf28: >17 Kristelh: >18 jessibud2: >19 msf59: Thank you, Susan, Linda, Paul, Anita, Silver, Kristel, Shelley, and Mark!

>19 msf59: No, I am not in the least bit surprised, Mark. I hope you continue to enjoy the book.

Finished tonight:

345 - Calculated in Death by J. D. Robb - The 36th entry into the In Death series is another solid read. In this one, Dallas is investigating the death of a woman whose death was made to be an accident, but she is not fooled and knows that it was murder. The woman, Marta Dickenson, is an accountant and Dallas suspects that her profession led to her murder. Unfortunately, Dickenson's murder is not the only one in a string of murders that ties back to one of her clients, but which one? Dallas is going to find out.; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Finished tonight:

346 - Terec and the Wild by Victoria Goddard - Mary and I are continuing our read through of Goddard's Nine Worlds series with this novella. In this one, we learn about Terec, who is Conju's love, and a wild mage. When he is 19, Terec decides to leave his home to seek out the Wild. He is afraid that he might hurt someone, however inadvertently, with wild magic and so he leaves to spare anyone harm. As with all these novellas, I want more. I want to know more of Terec as we get just an outline of him here, I suspect; Guardedly Recommended (and only if you have read more in the Nine Worlds series) - 3.75 stars Mine - Kindle

Oh my oh my. I feel like a rank beginner in the face of ALL that reading you do. Here I am: "See Spot run." Keep it up. I hesitate to ask, but did you get your kitchen back? I don't get around enough to keep up with projects.

>23 weird_O: You are not at "See Spot run," I am sure, Bill.

No, the kitchen is not back yet and it will be at least a couple of more weeks before it is finished since the wrong sink cabinet was ordered. I specifically told them that I had an over mount sink - at their recommendation, mind you - and they ordered me an under mount sink instead. *sigh*

Happy new thread! Sorry to hear that the kitchen reno is still giving you grief.

>25 foggidawn: Thanks, foggi!

Happy New Thread, Stasia! I hope you had a good Thanksgiving. I'm hopelessly behind on threads, but wanted to stop by and give a hello!

Happy new thread, Stasia! Sorry you have to wait so long for the correct cabinet to be delivered. Sheesh! Seems like renovations can never go smoothly.

>27 tymfos: Thank you, Terri. I understand completely about being behind on the threads!

>28 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene! Yeah, the sink is due to be installed this morning so that I can at least have a functioning kitchen again, but they will have to uninstall it and reinstall it when the correct cabinet shows.

I may be leaving on my trip to Longview sooner than Saturday. My mother fell and broke her shoulder last night. She was taken to the hospital and released about 1am this morning. However, as both her housemates have full-time jobs, we are going to need to have someone there with her to help. I spoke with my sister this morning and for right now, it is under control, but that may change in the next few days, so we will see. I was due to be in Longview on Saturday.

>30 alcottacre: - Oh, Stasia. This is the year of never-ending woes, isn't it? I do hope your mum recovers quickly and that you can arrange help for her until she does. Yikes.

>30 alcottacre: Why, oh why do they release elderly patients to home in the wee hours like that? With opiates?

>31 jessibud2: It looks as though the Longview contingent, including my sister and her kids plus my own daughter, Catey, have everything covered. Thanks, Shelley.

>32 laytonwoman3rd: I do not know, Linda, but I am very thankful that my nephew Benjamin, who lives with my mother, was there to be able to take her home.

>30 alcottacre: I'm sorry to hear this. Prayers for your mother and for you and your sister as you navigate it.

>34 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori!

Finished this afternoon:

347 - A Passage to India by E. M. Forster - Audiobook; I thought I had read this book previously, but I had not. As a consequence, I was not sure what I was getting when I picked it up. The book was originally published in 1924 and unfortunately has the underlying racism that haunts so many of the books of the period. The tale is basically a colonial one: the British ruled India at the time in which the book is set. Forster was evenhanded in the treatment of both the British and the Indians - there are good and bad on both sides. Overall, I enjoyed this period piece - although we will not talk about the treatment of women by both the Brits and the Indians; Recommended (3.75 stars) Mine

So sorry to hear about your mom, do hope she mends well and feels better soon. Glad she has the support of family.

>37 Kristelh: Thanks, Kristel. I spoke to her about an hour ago and she is in quite a bit of pain, not unexpectedly, and saying that she is probably going to have to have surgery on the shoulder. She was an orthopedic nurse for over 40 years, so she would know.

>38 alcottacre:, yes, she would know! I am a nurse also but not an orthopedic nurse. But pain, no fun to have pain.

I'm sorry to read about your mom's fall. For her sake of course, but also for you because of the disruption and general stress/worry. Sending many virtual hugs your way.

Adding my sympathy re your mom’s fall, Stasia. I’m glad it was”just” her shoulder. Hitting the head can be disastrous for us old folks. The problem with a bum shoulder, from what I’m told, is that they’re not as far along in successful shoulder surgery as they are with other joints, hips being the best. As an orthopedic nurse she probably knows a heckuva lot more about that than I do.

Happy New Thread!

I like your idea of a Nonfiction challenge; I probably should read more NF than I do. I don’t average one a month right now- that would be a good goal. The NF just doesn’t call to me like the fiction does.

Speaking of which, I’m nearing the end of The City and Its Uncertain Walls. It’s been a strange and smooth journey; can t wait to see where we end up!

Hi Stasia. Passing through and admiring your list of books read!

Wishing you and your mother the best. It does sound like a nasty fall, still needing surgery.

Oh, no, not one more worry for you! I'm sorry about your mom and that she's in pain, but I guess that's to be expected so soon after the fall. It's good that the family near her have things under control for now. Prayers for you both.

>36 alcottacre: That one's still on my TBR list. I started it once but didn't get very far. I'll get to it eventually.

>39 Kristelh: Definitely not! I am not a pain lover at all, lol.

>40 lauralkeet: Thank you so much, Laura!

>41 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. I appreciate the good wishes regarding Mother. I love doing the nonfiction monthly challenges as it has been my goal for many years now to read at least 100 nonfiction books in a given year. The monthly challenges help me get there.

I will be curious to see what you make of the Murakami book in the end.

>42 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella!

>43 atozgrl: It is very nice to have my sister and all of her kids (4) so close to Mother (her son Benjamin lives with my mother) as well as my daughter Catey there too.

>44 atozgrl: I honestly thought I had read it previously but once the narration and story got going I realized I had not. It is definitely not the strongest of Forster's books IMHO - I personally prefer A Room with a View - but still worth the read, Irene.

Hi, Stasia. Keep us updated on your Mom. I bet you wish you had a little less drama in your life. Jeesh...

I still NEED to get to A Passage to India.

Sorry to hear about your mom. Hopefully she recovers quickly and won't need surgery.

>30 alcottacre: I'm saddened by the new extra stress in your life. I hope your mother's surgery goes well. Please keep us posted. Sending healing thoughts.

>30 alcottacre: I'm sorry about your mother's fall and hope it works out so your plans are minimally disrupted - they will be altered so much by her condition, I'm sure.

>46 msf59: I will do so, Mark. My life seems to be nothing but drama these days, lol.

I know what you mean about NEEDING to get to a book and I hope you get to that one some day.

>47 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita. I really hope she does not need surgery too.

>48 Whisper1: Thanks, lovey.

>49 quondame: Yeah, I think the visit is not going to be what it normally is. We will see how it goes.

Hi Stasia! Happy new thread.

>24 alcottacre: I have an overmount sink, too. The delays and problems are crazy making for you, and I hope you have a fully functional kitchen soon.

>30 alcottacre: So sorry to read about your mother, glad it’s under control for now and that she has such a good local support network.

>38 alcottacre: Ugh to the pain and needing surgery.

>50 alcottacre: Yes, there is way too much drama in your life. I wish for calmness, no more unexpected bad events, and all good things for you.

Here I am to find out how your mom is doing today. I'm sure that the pain is awful. I didn't know that she had been an orthopedic nurse, so she does know what she's in for. I expect some things have improved since she retired.
I'm also here to see how you're bearing up. I hope you slept some last night and that you will continue to read, game, and enjoy being home with your almost-ready kitchen!

Happy new thread! So sorry you’ve had new stress in your life…

>51 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen - on all counts.

>52 LizzieD: No, to the sleeping last night - I got all of 90 minutes. However, Kerry and I played a couple of games today amidst working in the kitchen trying to find what fits where and get things put away. We will be at it again tomorrow too.

>53 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

Finished tonight:

348 - Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson - Audiobook; Peggy recently read this one and as I needed some humor in my life right now, I decided to pick it up for a re-read. This is British skewering humor at its best. In this book, the first of a series, Lucia, a middle class grand dame, who basically has no use for the upper class but still strives to emulate them, is introduced to us. There are numerous key players in the book including Lucia's friend, Daisy Quantock, who introduces an Indian guru to the village, and Georgie Pilson, who she occasionally speaks 'baby talk' to. A lot of good fun and humor all the way around. A note about the narration on this one: Nadia May does a great job with it IMHO; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Hi Stasia. Sorry about your mom's fall! I hope she recovers smoothly and quickly. A broken shoulder does not sound like fun.

I started reading Bound to Please today -- the introduction and his plea to read beyond the bestseller list. I think it's going to be a fun read.

>56 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen.

I very much hope that you enjoy Bound to Please!

Happy New Thread, Stasia! So sorry to read about your mom's fall. I hope your mom's surgery goes well.

Good morning, Stasia. As usual, I hope you slept and are set up to get your kitchen moved into to your satisfaction. I'll keep checking to see what you've heard from your mother!

>58 vancouverdeb: As of right now, there is no surgery scheduled, but that may change in the coming days. We will see. Thanks, Deborah!

>59 LizzieD: Sleeping right now is a joke, Peggy. I slept about 2 hours last night, which I guess is better than the 90 minutes of the night before. I did have a healthy nap this morning though - about 3 hours.

Nothing new on the Mother front. She is still in a lot of pain - she is, after all, 85 years old and things just do not heal as well - and needing lots of help. I am very glad I had already planned to go down there on Saturday.

I am not going to be online much either today or tomorrow. I have things that must be done before I am gone to Longview on Saturday. Once there, I will be without Internet until I am home late on the 15th.

I hope you find your mother improving, and her attitude positive when you get there, Stasia. Safe travels.

>62 laytonwoman3rd: Thank you, Linda!

Finished tonight:

349 - Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde - Trevor McKinney, a 13-year-old boy, takes a social studies option to get extra credit to heart - his teacher, a disfigured Vietnam War vet named Reuben St. Clair, asks his class to think of something to change the world. Trevor's idea is a simple one: Pay it forward. He tries to put this plan into action by helping a man named Jerry, who unbeknownst to him is a junkie. When Jerry messes up and ends up back in jail, Trevor is disheartened and feels like his idea is a failure, especially when his next attempt does not work out either. In the meantime, Trevor's mom, Arlene, and his teacher are becoming close - until Trevor's father, Ricky, re-enters the picture. I enjoyed the book for the most part, but felt that the story was almost simplistic - there was really never any doubt as to how things would turn out after all, we know pretty much from the outset that Trevor does not live until the end - and I did not care overmuch for the ending at all; Recommended (3.75 stars) Library Book

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/366284

Happy Friday, Stasia. Good luck with your trip preparations and keep us updated about your Mom.

>65 SilverWolf28: Unfortunately I cannot take part this weekend, Silver, nor next.

>66 msf59: Thanks, Mark.

Finished my last library book before I head out of town:

350 - Crusade of the Left by Robert A. Rosenstone - Nonfiction; This book looks at a group of young men from the United States, The Lincoln Battalion, who went to fight in Spain for the republic. For someone like me whose knowledge of the Spanish Civil War is scanty at best, this was an excellent read as we track the men from before they left until after the war is over. I really felt as though Rosenstone did a great job of introducing us not only to the men, but to their experiences as well. One chapter in particular, "The Lessons of War," I really found to be insightful; Recommended (4.25 stars) Library Book

"There is no doubt that the Americans who journeyed to Spain to fight beneath the banner of the Abraham Lincoln Battalion were genuine volunteers who knew what they were getting into. At least they knew as much as anyone can know who has never dashed across a naked field lugging a rifle, the angry whine of machine gun bullets filling the world, as much as a man can know who has never huddled in a trench, his mouth dry with fear as the sky splits into a million pieces of shrapnel, as much as a human being can know who has never joked with a comrade and taken a swig from his canteen and suddenly seen him slump forward in the posture of death."

>30 alcottacre: Sorry to hear about your mom Stasia.

Stasia, please know I am thinking of you and your mother. I know that this is added stress, especially because your remodeling project is so darn diificult.

All good wishes for a safe surgery for your mom, and a safe trip to Long View for you.

>69 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline.

>70 Whisper1: Thank you so much, lovey!

So sorry to hear about your mom, Stasia. Sending prayers for healing, and hope your visit with her is a good one.

You and I had similar thoughts on Terec and the Wild, though I rated it slightly higher than you. We get just a taste of such an interesting character - I want a full novel! Are we ready to read Terec and the Wall in January? :D

Safe travels to Longview!

>72 bell7: I am definitely ready for more Terec in January, Mary!

Thanks!

Well, I was hoping to get around on the threads today but it just did not happen with everything going on here.

Kerry and I will be leaving for Longview early in the morning. I will be out of touch for the next week plus.

Take care of yourselves and each other!

Good luck in Longview, Stasia, and safe travels. Hoping for the best for your mum.

Safe travels, a successful surgery for Mom, and a happy homecoming for all, Stasia.

*smooch*

What Richard said.

Safe travels and wishing your mom a smooth and quick recovery.

>60 alcottacre: I see that you say there actually is no surgery scheduled for your mom. I hope that stays true, and that your mom recovers quickly and that she is soon out of pain. Wishing you a good trip, good visit with your mom, and that you are able to take care of everything as needed while you are there.

I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom's fall. I hope her pain is much better soon!

And I hope that when you return all the Christmas angels will have your kitchen in much better shape so that you enjoy it over the holidays.

Just got a text from Stasia ---- good news! Her mother doesn't need surgery, at least not right now! YAY!

>81 LizzieD: - Great news! Thanks!

>81 LizzieD: Wunderbar! Glad to hear it and may she recover fully without it.

Hi Stasia! I am very behind, but sorry to hear about your mother's shoulder. Very glad she doesn't need surgery, though.

>81 LizzieD: great news! Thanks Peggy.

What with renovations and then your Mom's injury I think you are due some good things happening soon, Stasia. Take it as it comes and try and find some downtime. Safe travels.

That is sad news about your mother’s fall and her broken shoulder. Ouch! You will be a big help to her. I hope she’s a good patient for you and that she heals quickly.

>73 alcottacre: Dear Juana,
please take care of yourself. You have far too much on your plate right now.

x

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/366438

Just a quick fly by to let everyone know that I am home. It was an exhausting trip and I am very happy to be home.

Thank you so much for all of your thoughts, prayers, and concern for my mother! It is so very appreciated. I cannot express my appreciation enough.

>90 alcottacre: Welcome home! You have been missed!

Karen O

>90 alcottacre: *smoochiesmoochsmooch*

YAY!! HOORAY!!!! Stasia's home! I hope you sleep well in your very own bed tonight!

Dear One

Thinking of you and hoping you can rest and that your mother is doing well.

>90 alcottacre: I am glad you are back home. I hope your mom is recovering well. I too send wishes that you will get a good long sleep tonight.

So glad to hear your visit went well and happy to have you back home. You were missed.

Welcome home, Stasia.

Welcome home. I hope you have a chance to 3R - rest, relax, read. Of course, it's the crazy holiday season, so maybe not.

Sleep as much as possible. Stress is exhausting. *smooch*

Welcome home and as everyone said, hoping you can get yourself back on track soon!

>91 klobrien2: Thank you, Karen!

>92 richardderus: ((Hugs)) and **smooches** back at you, RD!

>93 LizzieD: Well, I wish I could say that I did, but no. However, I did sleep very well in Kerry's bed, lol.

>94 Whisper1: Thank you, lovey.

>95 atozgrl: >96 Kristelh: >97 lauralkeet: >98 karenmarie: Thank you, Irene, Kristel, Laura, and Karen.

>99 richardderus: I slept until almost 1pm, so that should tell you something, RD! Stress is exhausting and living on less than 2 hours of sleep for 5 consecutive days does not help much either.

>100 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley!

Obviously it is going to take me a few days to catch up, but I will as I can. Again, I thank you all for keeping my thread warm, for keeping my mother in your prayers, and wishing me safe travels.

I am taking the lazy way out and just listing the books that I read while I was at Mother's:

351 - Brigadistes by Jordi Marti-Rueda - Nonfiction, a recommendation from Richard - Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

352 - The Most Wonderful Books edited by Michael Dorris and Emilie Buchwald - Nonfiction; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

353 - Waiting for an Angel by Helon Habila - Recommended (3.75 stars) Mine

354 - Ghosts of Spain by Giles Tremlett - Nonfiction; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

355 - The Promised City by Moses Rischin - Nonfiction; for my Jewish Studies reading; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

Welcome back home!

>103 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita!

Finished tonight:

356 - A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang - My local library does not have this book billed as Young Adult, but it sure read to me like it is one. YMMV on that, but it is a good read no matter how it is categorized. It also reads like historical fiction, a genre of which I am very fond. In this book, Xishi, who is of the Yue village, and is supposed to make her fortune because of her face - she is very beautiful. She has suffered the loss of her younger sister and her land is under the control of the kingdom of Wu. Presented with the opportunity to infiltrate the Wu, she becomes a spy challenged with using her beauty to affect the king, Fuchai. I appreciated the story telling in the book quite a bit. The only real quibble that I have is that I thought the ending was a bit rushed; Recommended (4 stars) Library Book

Good to see you back, Stasia. I hope your mother is on the mend and that you get lots of downtime now.

Good morning, Stasia. Welcome home. How is your Mom doing?

Hi Stasia! So far, I have cooked the Chickpea Tagine. It is delicious, though I can only eat about a cup at a time because it fills me up so fast. So I have enough extra that I haven't made any of the other recipes yet.

>107 msf59: Hello, Mark! It is very good to be back, My mother is doing better day by day. When I was there it seemed like she got stronger every day. She is still having to take it easy because it is going to take at least 6 weeks for her shoulder to fully heal. Thanks for asking!

>108 The_Hibernator: I am glad to hear that you enjoyed the Chickpea Tagine, Rachel. I like that one too!

>102 alcottacre: Oh, you liked Brigadistes! I'm so glad. It really puts into perspective the inconveniences I endure compared to the sacrifices they made. Perspective is always a good thing.

Happy rested return! *smooch*

The guys are here this morning installing the correct cabinet for the kitchen and then all of the cabinet work will (finally) be done. This afternoon, our plumber will be here to take care of hooking up the dishwasher plumbing. Then I am retiring from home improvement projects for a while. . .although Kerry and I still have stuff to put away in there.

On the reading front, I am currently listening to Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon. It is going to take a while to finish, especially since I barely listened to any of it last week and it is 40 hours long. I am hoping to finish Ocean State by Stewart O'Nan today. I am continuing on with Bound to Please by Michael Dirda, Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder, and Rosa Luxemburg: A Life by Elzbieta Ettinger. I am also hoping to start Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky today. We shall see. . .

Today is meet up day with Beth and Catey. Catey is in charge of her grandmother today, so it may be a very short meet up, lol. Again, we will see. . .

I hope everyone has a terrific Tuesday!

Finished tonight:

357 - Ocean State by Stewart O'Nan - Up to this point, I have either very much enjoyed or loved all of the Stewart O'Nan's books that I have read, so I was very surprised to find that I did not care over much for this one at all. I have a very low tolerance for teenage angst and this book has it all over the place. We know from the very beginning that there is no happy outcome here - one teenager girl murders another one over a teenage boy. There are multiple points-of-view represented, all from the perspectives of females, none from the perspective of the teenage boy who is involved. I did not really like this changing of narrator to begin with but to except any males' points-of-view just seems unrealistic. In addition, there are a lot of references to pop culture in the book and I am afraid that as time passes, this is seriously going to date the book; Not Recommended (3 stars) Hoopla - Kindle

As an avowed O'Nan fan, I also found Ocean State disappointing.

I'm glad you are home , Stasia. I'm glad you mom does not need surgery. I purchased Ocean State from my library for $1.00, but I've yet to read it and I won't hurry to read it. I've read 3 other books by Stewart O'Nan that I enjoyed, so I guess sometimes an author has a miss.

>113 katiekrug: I am glad to know that I am not the only one, Katie. I have read at least 6 of O'Nan's books to this point and this is the first one that i have found not up to his usual standard.

>114 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. I am very thankful that Mother does not require surgery.

Yeah, I think that Ocean State was O'Nan's miss, to my mind anyway, but the first one that I have encountered. YMMV.

So, my last kitchen cabinet was installed yesterday (yay!), but our plumber friend Jake could not make it out to help with the rest of the plumbing, but we are hoping to see him today - especially since I am tired of the dishwasher being in my way. We will see.

I am still catching up on stuff - being out of town always does this to me - and trying to get some sleep in, which is why I am not getting on LT a lot although I need to catch up here too. *sigh* Have I ever mentioned that I would like a clone??

On the reading front, I was able to finish Ocean State by Stewart O'Nan last night, a disappointment. I am still listening to Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon. I am continuing on with Bound to Please by Michael Dirda and Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder, which I am hoping to finish tonight. I did not get any reading in Rosa Luxemburg: A Life by Elzbieta Ettinger and I also did not start Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky last night so I am behind on my reading as well as life, lol.

The Luxemburg bio looks good, Stasia. I own but have not yet read Outwitting History

>117 jessibud2: This will be my third read of Outwitting History, Shelley. I just love the story. I hope that you enjoy the book when you get around to it.

I will keep you posted as to my thoughts on the Luxemburg book.

Hope this message finds you fully washdishered and cabinetted and rested. *smooch*

>119 richardderus: Thanks, RD!

Finished tonight:

358 - Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder - This is the second book in Snyder's "Study" series as we continue to learn more about Yelena, now that her story has taken a turn and she reunites with her long lost family - however, not everyone wants her back and she seemingly faces enemies on every side. Her love, Valek, does not show up until past the midway point of the book and I was not sorry to see that - I wanted to see more of how Yelena makes her way through without depending on him to help. If anything, Yelena seems a little too good at everything, although she has a few missteps. I am looking forward to reading Fire Study soon(ish); Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Just stopping by to say hello.

>122 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori! Nice to see you here.

Finished tonight:

359 - Bound to Please by Michael Dirda - Nonfiction; I used Dirda's Classics for Pleasure to guide my reading for much of the year, but that book had only 11 chapters in it, so I wrapped up my reading year with this one of his. Towards the end of the book, Dirda states that "the implicit argument of this entire book - the need to read widely in the world's literature, regardless of time, geography, and genre" and if that was his intent, I think he did a great job of doing so. The authors and books highlighted in Bound to Please covered a great deal of time and space. The subtitle of the book 'An Extraordinary One-Volume Literary Education' is fitting, I think. Benita, on the group read thread for the book, mentioned that she found a couple of facts that simple fact checking proved wrong. I am very disappointed in this as I enjoyed the book overall; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>116 alcottacre: Have I ever mentioned that I would like a clone?? Ooooh not a clone. Get a house-elf. Maybe a part timer. A clone is bound to be trouble. If it's a real clone, won't it have that damn CFS thing? How will your husband tell the two of you apart? You'd have to be wary that the clone doesn't push you into the Black Hole.

Jus' sayin'.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/366615

Hi Stasia!

>112 alcottacre: I still need to read Last Night at the Lobster – one of Katie’s favorite books as I recall. It’s in a box, B07, upstairs. Nothing I can easily pull off a shelf, alas. I will avoid this one, though.

>116 alcottacre: A clone or a personal assistant who works for free. Or, as Bill writes in >125 weird_O:, a freed house-elf.

Happy Friday and I hope you can get more caught up today. Also hope that the plumbing is done and the dishwasher safely where it needs to be, out of your way.

>125 weird_O: Ooooh not a clone. Get a house-elf. Ooo, great idea, Bill! I wonder if Dobby has someone he could recommend!

>126 SilverWolf28: I am definitely in, Silver!

>127 karenmarie: I also enjoyed Last Night at the Lobster, Karen, and definitely recommend it over Ocean State.

Thanks, Karen.

Well, Jake the plumber did not make it out yesterday, but we are hoping he shows up today. I am really ready for the kitchen to be completely done.

I am back to cooking though. We are having Thai Green Curry Vegetables, brown rice, and vegetable egg rolls for lunch.

I will be finishing Written in My Own Heart's Blood today. I am continuing with Rosa Luxemburg: A Life by Elzbieta Ettinger and Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky and have also started The Miracle of Dunkirk by Walter Lord and Open Season by Archer Mayor. I am hopeful of starting Pastoral Song by James Rebank, my Anita Memorial Reads book for the month.

I hope that everyone has a fantastic Friday!

I loved Outwitting History. One of my favourite parts is the roles each of the book collectors took when they visited a person who was donating books.

>130 torontoc: I am with you, Cyrel. I do not read books 3 times if I do not love them! I am so glad to see that you loved it too.

So weird, Stasia. I just went to request the Rosa Luxemburg from my library and the only copy they have is for reference only, meaning if I want to read it, I have to do that in the library! Can't borrow it and take it home. What's up with that??!

All I can say is that I hope Jake shows up today with the correct tools and GETS THE WORK DONE!!!!!!!!!

>132 jessibud2: Really?? I wonder why they have the book marked as a reference copy? That is just weird to me.

>133 LizzieD: Thanks, Peggy. Thus far, no sign of Jake, nor any word from him. I hope he is OK.

Finished this morning:

360 - Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon - Audiobook; I actually started reading this one at the end of November in hard copy form due to its length, but when I returned from Longview, I picked up the audiobook in order to finish it out. Prior to this book, I had read all of the others in the series, one of those series that I love. Until Gabaldon finishes it out - supposedly with book 10 - I have only one more book in the series to read and I admit that I am going to miss it while I wait. The continuing adventures of Clare, husband Jamie, and the rest of the family are now in the midst of the American Revolution. Things are confused, what with battles here and there, marriages taking place, and Brianna and Roger with their kids ending back up in the late 1700s; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Darned plumbers!

Have a lovely weekend, Stasia, in any event.

Solstice cheer, Stasia!

>130 torontoc: >131 alcottacre: I had not heard of that one before. Sounds fascinating! You got me with a BB. Onto the list it goes!

>136 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul! I hope you have a lovely weekend as well.

>137 richardderus: Thanks, RD! ((Hugs)) and **smooches**

>138 atozgrl: I do hope you enjoy Outwitting History if and when you get to it, Irene!

Finished tonight:

361 - Rosa Luxemburg: A Life by Elzbieta Ettinger - Nonfiction; One of the reviews that I read for this book states' "I would hold Luxemburg to be one of the most important voices of the left in the 20th century and, I have yet to find a greater one in the 21st" and that pretty much sums up Luxemburg's life. She did not get everything she wanted out of life - for one thing, she wanted to have a husband and children - but she got a lot out of the life that she lived. She was a complex woman with complex relationships, especially with Leo Jogiches, with whom she had a multi-year affair, but also worked with closely. She was a 'full-steam ahead' kind of woman and there are numerous examples spread throughout the book which seems to be a pretty straightforward biography of Luxemburg's life; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

Hi Stasia, I was hoping to hear good news about the sink--or dishwasher?, but since there's no news, I presume the situation has not changed. I hope it is resolved soon!

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 would go ahead and send my holiday greetings. I wish you a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year. Have a great time with your family!

>141 atozgrl: It was the sink cabinet, Irene. It has been installed. However, the plumbing is still not all complete. *sigh*

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Today being Sunday, it is my normal 'day off' technology (although it feels like I am staying off technology a lot these days with everything that is going on here, lol). I am hoping to finish off at least one book today so I will probably be back at some point.

I hope you all have a lovely day!

Happy Sunday, Stasia. I hope you are having a good weekend, despite the plumbing woes. I have a lazy day planned with the books.

>144 msf59: I have a lazy day planned too, Mark. Kerry went out of town yesterday, but I did not get nearly as much reading done as I had hoped. I have spent this morning reading though, waiting for him to get back home.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Finished this afternoon:

362 - Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky - Nonfiction; This makes at least my third read of this book about a young man who discovers that Yiddish books are being unceremoniously dumped and/or destroyed and determines to do something about it. The stories he tells about rescuing the books are terrific, but they are outdone by the stories he learns from the old (for the most part) Jewish folk who are donating the Yiddish books. I love the idea of saving the Yiddish books. I just wish that we could preserve the stories and memories of those who donated them as easily; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

"But precisely because Yiddish literature is finite, it is enormously important, a link between one epoch of Jewish history and the next. Its world's having been ferociously attacked and almost destroyed only serves to underscore its significance."

Finished this afternoon:

363 - Open Season by Archer Mayor - This is the first book in a long running series that was first recommended to me by Judy (ffortsa) several years ago. I enjoyed this one quite a bit - I liked the complexity of the crime, I liked the main character, I liked the setting - despite some holes in the story. I will mention that my copy of the book had some weird errors in it such as hyphens in words that did not require them, almost as if the word was expected to go on to the following line. I am not a huge fan of police procedurals, but this one has enough going for it that I am planning on reading further in the series; Recommended (3.75 stars) Mine

>146 alcottacre: I love the idea of saving the Yiddish books. I just wish that we could preserve the stories and memories of those who donated them as easily.

You may enjoy knowing that the Yiddish Book Center that Lansky founded is doing just that - not necessarily the stories of the donators, but those of Yiddish speakers. It's the Wexler Oral History Project and several videos of interviews and documentaries are available through their website.

>148 bell7: Thank you for sharing that, Mary! I am so very glad to hear it.

Along with everyone else, I am sure the next few days are going to be busy, if not downright hectic. Kerry and I will be having our traditional Christmas dinner tomorrow on Christmas Eve, so I will be busy in the kitchen both today and tomorrow.

I am not sure how much I will be around over the next several days, so I am leaving with this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE

One of my all-time favorite Christmas songs by one of my all-time favorite groups. Happy holidays, everyone!

Happy Holidays, Stasia.

Do you read Chaim Potok in your Jewish Studies reading? My next is the follow-up to My Name is Asher Lev, called The Gift of Asher Lev.

I liked the new Murakami very much, and reviewed it, although I haven’t moved the review from my thread to the book page yet.

>147 alcottacre: Your post about the Archer Mayor book caught my attention, Stasia. What an interesting life the author has had!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

>151 jnwelch: I love Chaim Potok's work, Joe. I have read and enjoyed My Name Is Asher Lev, which I rank just slightly lower than The Chosen, which is one of my all-time favorite books.

>152 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas too.

I agree about Archer Mayor. . .

Last book before Christmas:

364 - The Miracle of Dunkirk by Walter Lord - Nonfiction; I have read and enjoyed several of Lord's books and this one is no exception. He (to me anyway) writes the story of whatever he is telling in a straightforward, easy to follow manner. The last is really important because with so much going on in the narrative, it would be easy to get lost. In the case of The Miracle of Dunkirk, we have the British, French, and German armies to try and keep track of - along with the individuals' stories that he tells along the way. One of the things I truly appreciate about this book is the maps - again, easy to follow and tell who was where and when. To me, one of the most miraculous things about Dunkirk is that any of the BEF and French forces were rescued because of the amount of confusion!; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

>150 alcottacre: Happy Christmas! Hope you have a wonderful dinner tomorrow.

Here's the Christmas readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/366724

Hi Stasia!

Nadolig Llawen, Happy Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas Stasia. Best wishes to you and your family.

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

Thank you all for the Christmas wishes! It has been a very long, tiring day around here what with all the cooking going on - since I am vegan and Kerry is not, I essentially end up cooking 2 Christmas meals, lol - but tomorrow should be more laid back.

Kerry and I got two Christmas movies in as well as two games amongst all the cooking, but I did not read a word at all today. That rarely happens!

>161 AMQS: Winslow is beautiful. I love cats. My two, Chalfont and Mallory, who are brother and sister, are tortoise shell and black cats, respectively.

Thinking of you at this time, Stasia

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Stasia!

>163 Whisper1: >164 PaulCranswick: >165 Carmenere: Thank you so much, Linda, Paul, and Lynda! I wish the same for you all.

I was ridiculously spoiled with books for Christmas:

I received 2 books from Kerry:
Middlemarch by George Eliot - planning on reading this one in January
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky - specifically the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation

I received 2 books from one of my friends in the 75ers group:
Women in the Valley of the Kings by Kathleen Sheppard
Atlas of Vanishing Places by Travis Elborough

I received 3 Nonfiction books from my 75ers Secret Santa, Benita:
Riddled with Life by Marlene Zuk
Backwards & in Heels by Alicia Malone
Prague Winter by Madeline Albright

I also received 3 Fiction books from my 75ers Secret Santa, Benita:
Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa
Angels & Insects by A. S. Byatt
The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher by Hilary Mantel

Hi Stasia!

Congrats on your book haul.

I hope you're relaxing after the 2-Christmas-meal prep.

>168 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. I hope you are relaxing as well. As far as meal prep goes, all of that was done on Christmas Eve, which is when we traditionally have our Christmas dinner. Yesterday was pretty much all about family until later in the day :)

I'm kinda lonely over here....

https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24622/75-Books-Challenge-for-2025

>170 drneutron: I have joined the group under all 3 of my accounts here on LT, Jim. That should cure some of the loneliness, right?

Finished tonight:

365 - Pastoral Song (aka English Pastoral in the UK) by James Rebanks - Nonfiction; This was my Anita's Memorial Reads book for this month and I am glad I read this one. Rebanks, whose grandfather and father were both farmers (as he himself is), takes a look at farming in the UK and how it has evolved through the years, including the age of industrialization that we currently seem to be in. He looks at the problems with each of the eras of farming as well as the benefits. Since farming has been in his family for so long, he basically can track the farming eras with his family history. He rightfully points out the impact that Rachel Carson's Silent Spring had when it was published and the impact it continues to have as he is trying to get his farm back to being more biodiverse; Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine

"I've come to see that the reality of being a farmer is anything but an escape from the world; it is often like being a slave to it. Everything that happens on a farm is affected by the era it exists in; it is shaped by a host of powerful external forces."

>171 alcottacre: Absolutely!

>167 alcottacre: What a wonderful book haul. And, it was another great year of reading for you! 365 books -- incredible!!!!

>173 drneutron: Great! I will make a thread in the 2025 group when it is actually 2025.

>167 alcottacre: Thank you, lovey. I was very spoiled this Christmas. I agree, it has been another great year of reading for me!

Joyous Holidays, Stasia!

>176 quondame: Thank you, Susan! Same to you!

Finished tonight:

366 - Freedom Summer by Bruce Watson - Nonfiction; I read this book for my Black Studies Reading. I know so little about African American history and it shames me. This book also shames me. Reading the book made my blood pressure boil, I am sure. Watson pulls no punches about what life was like for blacks in Mississippi in the 1960s when Freedom Summer took place. It appalls me that, for example, because a few black teenagers wanted library cards, the librarian called the police and the library was shut down. When the teenagers tried again the following week, the library was shut down indefinitely for everyone. I asked Kerry, "What good did that do anybody?" One of my personal heroes, Fannie Lou Hamer, is discussed in this book. What she went through just to try and register to vote is shocking to me. Watson makes all of the people he talks about in the book, many of whom he had firsthand interviews with, come alive. He makes the history come alive; Highly Recommended (4.5 stars) Mine

>178 alcottacre: More than a book a day!!! You are my hero. : )

I didn't realize that Kerry was not also vegan, Stasia. That would be a lot of work!

>167 alcottacre: Great book Haul!

>179 Berly: Thanks, Kim (I think, lol)

>180 vancouverdeb: Kerry's not being vegan is not normally an issue, Deborah, since I do all the cooking - which means he is a vegan if he wants to eat. However, I do cook meat for him on the holidays. . .

Finished this afternoon:

367 - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - Audiobook; This was a re-read for me, although my initial read of the book was over 10 years ago so a lot of the book was 'new' to me as my memory is not what it once was. Andrew ("Ender") Wiggins is a third - the third child of a couple who had to have some kind of special dispensation in order to have 3 children. When the book begins he is living with his family - his parents, his brother Peter (who is some kind of sadistic bully), and his sister Valentine, whom he truly loves. Turns out that Ender is wanted to train as a soldier - at age 6. He goes off to be trained by the military as the world is concerned that the 'buggers' who invaded at one point are coming back and the military needs soldiers and military minds. Most of the book is taken up with the training that Ender goes through and there are points that are really heart breaking as Ender is not well liked by the majority of the people who he is training with - some of them dislike him to the point of wanting to murder him - and Ender has problems determining why he is being set apart by those in authority; Recommended (4.25 stars) Mine

Finished tonight:

368 - The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil - Nonfiction; This is the story of Clemantine Wamariya who was 6 years old when the Rwandan genocide took place. She and her older sister were able to escape when their grandparent's home burned to the ground. Numerous relatives were killed and the girls believed that their parents had also perished in the blaze. Wamariya then proceeded to live in 6 different refugee camps in various nations before she and her sister Claire made it to the U.S. when she was 12. Due to the intervention of Oprah Winfrey, they were reunited with their parents. This story does not have a happy ending though. Wamariya, who eventually graduated from Yale University, struggled with her self-image, with her mental health, and with trying to mend the relationship with her parents who, because of their long separation, were basically strangers to her. I have been wanting to read this book since about March and am glad that I finally have been able to get to it. Reading about the Rwandan genocide was my 'wild card' in the War Literature challenge as I continue to struggle to understand why genocide still happens even today; Recommended (4 stars) Mine

"If you're eleven and you haven't eaten, if you've been hiding all day and night and you are literally walking on spent artillery shells - and then someone shows you a nice house they've stolen and offers avocados and stew they are cooking, you want it. I wanted it. I wanted release from misery, however ill-gotten and short-lived."