Lori (thornton37814) Watches Birds with Her Fur Boys in 2021 - Thread 2

Napping Cats. Sherlock, Mr. B, Barney

My cats love napping, but they love bird watching almost as much. This year's theme receives its inspiration from their pastime.

The topics for my categories remain similar to last year's. I split mysteries into multiple categories so I don't have 80+ books in one category again! I took out cats and replaced it with "Older than 50 years" so I would force myself to read more older and classic works. I expanded my "food" category to include other things associated with the old home economics class and called it "domestic arts." I anticipate developing a new genealogical lecture or two that will involve some works that fit here.

My main goal for 2021 is to read more history and social history books. I recently joined an online book club with other genealogists reading a title a month. In addition to the main monthly discussion, they also hold "Bring Your Own Book" nights where we get to share a few minutes about a book we read or are reading. I own many unread books that fit this category and just ordered several more with the end-of-the-year university press sales.

I'll address inspiration for individual category names under the first post for them.

My 2021 Categories:

1. Bald Eagle - Mysteries with a United States setting
2. Puffin - Mysteries set in the United Kingdom or Ireland
3. Peacock - Mysteries set in the Rest of the World
4. Bluebird - Children's & Young Adult Literature
5. Flamingo - Poetry
6. Goldfinch - Historical Fiction
7. Cardinal - History & Genealogy
8. Hummingbird - Domestic Arts (Food, Drink, Needlework, etc.)
9. Sparrow - Religion & Spirituality
10. Penguin - First published more than 50 Years
11. Lorikeet - Other Fiction and Literature
12. Owl - Other non-fiction

Abandoned Reads will go in the category - "The Raven."

Image Credit: Paul Friel, "“Helga” – A Bald Eagle," 2005, Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/34157260@N00/46140365);
CC BY 2.0

The United States national bird!

Category 1: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with a United States setting)

1. Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day - completed 9 January 2021
2. A Death Long Overdue by Eva Gates - completed 23 January 2021
3. Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay - completed 9 February 2021
4. Lavender Blue Murder by Laura Childs - completed 14 February 2021
5. Deadly Ever After by Eva Gates - completed 26 February 2021
6. Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert - completed 13 March 2021
7. Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams - completed 15 March 2021
8. Deadly Anniversaries edited by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini - completed 14 May 2021
9. Bowled Over by Victoria Hamilton - completed 28 May 2021

Image Credit: Henrik Thorburn, "Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) spreading its wings, Iceland," 2010, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Puffin_Latrabjarg_Iceland.jpg); CC BY 3.0

I often read books set in northern parts of Scotland or the Shetland Islands which mention puffins.

Category 2: Puffin (Mysteries set in the United Kingdom or Ireland)

1. Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters - completed 4 January 2021
2. Murder on the Lake by Bruce Beckham - completed 20 January 2021
3. Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 28 January 2021
4. In the Teeth of the Evidence by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 7 February 2021
5. The Black Lizard Big Book of Locked-Room Mysteries edited by Otto Penzler - completed 14 Februrary 2014
6. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz - completed 23 February 2021
7. Striding Folly by Dorothy L. Sayers - completed 1 March 2021
8. The Stolen Letter by Paige Shelton - completed 27 March 2021
9. Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie - completed 20 April 2021
10. Murder by Milk Bottle by Lynne Truss - completed 9 May 2021
11. Death Comes to London by Catherine Lloyd - completed 31 May 2021
12. Death Walks in Eastrepps by Francis Beeding - completed 2 June 2021

Image Credit: BS Thurner Hof, "Peacock (Pavo cristatus), displaying his tail, Duisburg Zoo," 2005, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Pfau_imponierend.jpg); CC BY-SA 3.0; GFDL

Inspired because peacocks seem to be more populous in other parts of the world such as Africa.

Category 3: Peacock (Mysteries set in the rest of the world)

1. The Golden Egg by Donna Leon - completed 13 January 2021
2. Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker - completed 2 February 2021
3. In the Shadow of Power by Viveca Sten - completed 12 February 2021
4. The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star by Vaseem Khan - completed 7 March 2021
5. By Its Cover by Donna Leon - completed 8 March 2021
6. The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker - completed 10 April 2021
7. In the Name of Truth by Viveca Sten - completed 17 April 2021
8. Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer - completed 7 May 2021
9. Murder in Chianti by Camilla Trinchieri - completed 21 May 2021
10. Falling in Love by Donna Leon - completed 22 May 2021
11. Mist by Ragnar Jonasson - completed 26 May 2021

Image Credit: Blalonde, "Male western bluebird in December on the UBC Okanagan campus," 2014, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Western.male.jpg); CC BY-SA 4.0

Inspired by the nursery rhyme "Bluebird, Bluebird."

Category 4: Bluebird (Children's & Young Adult Literature)

1. Child Whispers by Enid Blyton - completed 26 January 2021
2. I Escaped the Donner Party: Pioneers on the Oregon Trail, 1846 by Ellie Crowe and Scott Peters - completed sometime in January 2021 but I forgot to record it so I'm putting down yesterday 1 February 2021
3. The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha; illustrated by Yuko Shimizu - completed 4 February 2021
4. Snap: A Happy Book of Colors by Patricia Hegarty - completed 14 March 2021
5. The Cookcamp by Gary Paulsen - completed 18 April 2021
6. Alida's Song by Gary Paulsen - completed 19 April 2021
7. The Quilt by Gary Paulsen - completed 20 April 2021

Image Credit: Adrian Pingstone, "Caribbean Flamingo, also known as the American Flamingo, at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, England," 2004, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Caribbean_Flamingo.jpg); Public Domain.

Flamingoes seem to be a bird made for poetry.

Category 5: Flamingo (Poetry)

1. The Space Child's Mother Goose by Frederick Winsor; illustrated by Marian Perry - completed 14 January 2020
2. What Though the Field Be Lost: Poems by Christopher Kempf - completed 15 January 2020

Image Credit: Rhododendrites, "American goldfinch at a feeder in Green-Wood Cemetery," 2020, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Goldfinch_%2833612%292.jpg); CC BY-SA 4.0

Goldfinches remind me of "gold" which reminds me of kings. A lot of kings play roles in historical fiction set in the Renaissance or earlier.

Category 6: Goldfinch (Historical Fiction)

1. Dear Miss Kopp by Amy Stewart - completed 1 January 2021
2. A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel - completed 7 February 2021
3. The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict - completed 10 March 2021
4. The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate - completed 20 Mar 2021

Image Credit: Torindkflt, "Male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis Cardinalis) perched on a bird feeder," 2008, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Male_Northern_Cardinal_At_Feeder.jpg); CC BY 3.0; GFDL

I'm not really sure why I chose this one for this category. It just seemed to fit, and I went with it. Maybe red is associated with royalty?

Category 7: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

1. The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power by Deirdre Mask - completed 2 January 2021
2. The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer - completed 5 January 2021
3. The Conquering Family by Thomas B. Costain - completed 17 January 2021
4. Gone to the Grave: Burial Customs of the Arkansas Ozarks, 1850-1950 by Abby Burnett - completed 31 January 2021
5. They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers - completed 12 February 2021
6. The Passion of Anne Hutchinson: An Extraordinary Woman, the Puritan Patriarchs, and the World They Made and Lost by Marilyn Westerkamp - completed 18 February 2021
7. The Tombigbee River Steamboats: Rolladores, Dead Heads and Side-Wheelers by Rufus Ward - completed 18 February 2021
8. Colonial Mississippi: A Borrowed Land by Christian Pinnen and Charles A. Weeks - completed 24 March 2021
9. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick - completed 26 March 2021
10. D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II by Sarah Rose - completed 1 April 2021
11. The Glass Universe: How the Women of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars by Dava Sobel - completed 1 May 2021
12. The Soul of the Family Tree: Ancestors, Stories, and the Spirits We Inherit by Lori Erickson - completed 15 May 2021
13. The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany by Gwen Strauss - completed 29 May 2021
14. Journeys Home: Inspiring Stories, Plus Tips & Strategies to Find Your Family History featuring Andrew McCarthy, Joyce Maynard, Pico Iyer, Diane Johnson, & the National Geographic Travel Teams - completed 1 June 2021
15. The Family Tree: A Lynching in Georgia, A Legacy of Secrets, and My Search for the Truth by Karen Branan - completed 7 June 2021

Image Credit: Pslawinski, "Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)," 2014, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Male_Ruby-Throated_Hummingbird_Hovering.jpg); CC BY-SA 4.0

As people look out their kitchen windows, they often see the ruby-throated hummingbird at a feeder.

Category 8: Hummingbird (Domestic arts--food, drink, needlework, etc.)

1. A Real Southern Cook: In Her Savannah Kitchen by Dora Charles - completed 29 January 2021
2. Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years by Elizabeth Wayland Barber - completed 1 May 2021
3. The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook: More than 100 Recipes from the Best Little Bakery in the South by Cheryl Day and Griffith Day with Amy Paige Condon - completed 13 May 2021
4. Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet: A Culinary Journey through Southeast Asia by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid - completed 31 May 2021

Image credit: Simon Pierre Barrette, "Song Sparrow, Refuge d'oiseaux de Nicolet, Quebec, Canada," 2010, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Song_Sparrow.jpg); CC BY-SA 3.0

"His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

Category 9: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

1. Anchored in Jesus: Holding on to Truth in a Drifting World by Johnny Hunt - completed 10 January 2021
2. Bathed in Prayer by Jan Karon - completed 17 January 2021
3. The Gospel at Work: How the Gospel Gives New Purpose and Meaning to Our Jobs by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert - completed 29 January 2021
4. Uncommon Church: Community Transformation for the Common Good by Alvin Sanders - completed 9 February 2021
5. Magnify His Name by Ed White - completed 27 February 2021
6. Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life by Lois Tverberg - completed 13 March 2021
7. Jesus Among Other Gods: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message by Ravi Zacharias - completed 24 March 2021
8. The Walk: The Life-Changing Journey of Two Friends by Michael Card - completed 29 March 2021
9. Old Testament Words for Today: 100 Devotional Reflections by Warren Wiersbe - completed 10 April 2021
10. 50 Women Every Christian Should Know: Learning from Heroines of the Faith by Michelle Derusha - completed 25 April 2021
11. Jesus in Me: Experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion by Anne Graham Lotz - completed 9 May 2021
12. All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment by Hannah Anderson - completed 21 May 2021

Image credit: Gary Bembridge, "Gentoo Penguin Orne Harbour Antarctica," 2019, Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tipsfortravellers/33460794478/); CC BY 2.0

Penguin publishes classics.

Category 10: Penguin (First published more than 50 years ago)

1. Good-bye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton - completed 16 January 2021
2. The Sweet Flypaper of Life by Roy DeCarava and Langston Hughes - completed 26 January 2021
3. Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope - completed 27 February 2021

Image source: Andrew Mercer, "Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) in Brisbane, Queensland," 2013, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Rainbow_Lorikeet_-_AndrewMercer_IMG08212.jpg); CC BY-SA 4.0

I needed to use the colorful bird that bears my name, so I chose it for the fiction catch-all category since reading genres will vary. Other literary forms such as drama or essays will also fit here.

Category 11: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

1. The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James - completed 14 January 2021
2. An Amish Surprise by Shelley Shepard Gray - completed 13 February 2021
3. The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury - completed 3 March 2021
4. Portobello by Ruth Rendell - completed 15 April 2021
5. The Penguin Book of Ghost Stories: From Elizabeth Gaskell to Ambrose Bierce edited by Michael Newton - completed 21 April 2021
6. At Lighthouse Point by Suzanne Woods Fisher - completed 24 April 2021
7. The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant by Kayte Nunn - completed 2 May 2021
8. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy - completed 10 May 2021
9. An Amish Husband for Tillie by Amy Lillard - completed 16 May 2021

Image source: William H. Majoros, "Megascops asio (Eastern screech owl, captive)," 2011, Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Screech-owl-101.jpg); CC BY-SA 4.0

Reading non-fiction makes us wiser.

Category 12: Owl (Other non-fiction)

1. Thinking Inside the Box: Adventures with Crosswords and the Puzzling People Who Can't Live Without Them by Adrienne Raphel - completed 1 March 2021
2. Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World by Simon Winchester - completed 14 April 2021

Image source: Marcin Klapczynski, "A raven spotted on the roof," 2005, Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Raven.JPG); CC BY-SA 3.0

"Quoth the raven . . . Nevermore."

Abandoned Reads: Raven

1. Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner - abandoned 27 April 2021
2. Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen - abandoned 3 June 2021

BINGO CAT


1. Portobello by Ruth Rendell
2.
3. The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker
4. Bathed in Prayer by Jan Karon
5. Falling in Love by Donna Leon
6.
7. A Death Long Overdue by Eva Gates
8.
9.
10. The Gospel at Work: How the Gospel Gives New Purpose and Meaning to Our Jobs by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert
11. The Sweet Flypaper of Life by Roy DeCarava and Langston Hughes
12. A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel
13. Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters
14.
15. The Space Child's Mother Goose by Frederick Winsor; illustrated by Marian Parry
16.
17. Murder on the Lake by Bruce Beckham
18. The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James
19. The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer
20. Anchored in Jesus by Johnny Hunt
21. What Though the Field Be Lost: Poems by Christopher Kempf
22. Good-bye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton
23. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
24.
25. Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams

Next is yours!

Woo! New thread!

Love the birds.

>17 fuzzi: Thanks!

Book 42. The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury

Date Completed: 3 March 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other fiction & literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Molly Allen and Ryan Kelly meet as students at Belmont College. They come from different backgrounds. Ryan grew up in Carthage, Mississippi and aspires to be a studio musician. Molly's father owns a large shipping company in San Francisco and wants her to manage that company and marry Preston Millington. She dreams of playing violin in a symphony orchestra. Since Molly and Ryan share a music major, some of their courses are the same. Although her parents' Brentwood home provides an ideal setting, she knows the house's servants would report Molly's study dates to her father who would then make her come back to San Francisco. Instead, they find an ideal place at a Franklin bookstore called "The Bridge" owned by Charlie and Donna Barton. Something goes wrong, and both go their separate ways. The devastating "Nashville flood" plays a major role in this Hallmark movie-style tale. I listened to the audio and enjoyed the narrator.

Happy new thread, Lori. The birds are so lovely!

Happy New Thread, Lori. Your Bingo card is filling right up.

>20 MissWatson: Thanks. I enjoy seeing them (and hearing some outside my windows now)!

>21 dudes22: It is coming along. I'll have trouble filling the "magic" one. I'm sure the others will fill. I haven't made any special effort to focus on filling them yet.

Happy new thread! The owl picture caught my eye this time around, although they're all great pictures. Looks like you're close to a bingo!

Happy new thread, Lori!

>23 rabbitprincess: I'm sure I am. I've read something I thought about using for the marginalized group square. It certainly does fit it, but I've got others I plan to read that are better fits.

>24 RidgewayGirl: Thanks, Kay!

Happy new thread, Lori!

>26 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy!

Book 43. The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star by Vaseem Khan

Date Completed: 7 March 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set outside U.S. and British Isles)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Chopra investigates the disappearance at a live performance of a movie star, a presumed kidnapping. His assistant Rangwalla investigates an odd situation for a group of eunuchs hired to attend unusual weekend events at a large home. Chopra's elephant Ganesh comes to his aid more than once. I love this series because the elephant makes it fun even if it is implausible. The dual lines made the novel a little too busy. The author provides enough details in the beginning that those failing to read earlier installments could still appreciate this one. I listened to the audio version, mostly on a long drive.

Book 44. By Its Cover by Donna Leon

Date Completed: 8 March 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set outside U.S. and British Isles)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: In this installment, Brunetti investigates book vandalism for the art market and book theft for private collectors at a library in Venice. The chief suspect is a man purporting to be an American scholar from a heartland state offering a major in maritime studies. The library's regular patrons include a former priest nicknamed "Tertullian" because he enjoys reading church fathers and first requested one of Tertullian's works. As Brunetti investigates he learns more about the way these thieves operate. The novel felt "unfinished" because it lacked a wrap-up, and the only "justice" achieved was through a murder. We see the Italian justice system's corruption at play in this novel as in many of the author's works.

>29 thornton37814: How many books are there in this series now? I think I must have read a good dozen and that was years ago.

>30 RidgewayGirl: I think #30 is coming out this month or soon.

Book 45. The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

Date Completed: 10 March 2021

Category: Goldfinch (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Author Marie Benedict provides a biographical fictional account of Hedy Lamarr's life. Beginning with the lead-up to Hitler's rise to power, we see Hedy's Austrian family's awareness of eminent danger to Jews. Her family sees she marries a man who can provide her safety. Is she really safe though when he tries to control her and abuses her. Unfortunately the poor writing and my own lack of interest in all things Hollywood made this a poor selection for our book club. (Some sentences felt like they came from an elementary reader.) A straightforward biography would provide insights into the more fascinating parts of her life without fictional discourses which probably did not play out as the author wrote them.

>32 thornton37814: Oh dear, you are the second person who has given Marie Benedict poor marks for her writing recently. Unfortunately I already have about three of her books, including this one, on my Kindle. I won't be rushing to read any of them.

>32 thornton37814: - And I just saw a notice for her book The Personal Librarian which I thought sounded interesting, but maybe I'll hold off on that.

>32 thornton37814: I started another book by this author for my book club and gave up on it. It was so poorly written and felt like she was just stringing together her snippets of research.

>32 thornton37814: - I really didn't enjoy one of her previous novels. Based on your comments regarding this one, I think it's safe to say that I'll just pass by her books in the future.

>33 DeltaQueen50: I'm not in a hurry to read anything else by her.

>34 dudes22: Looks like that one is co-authored. Let's hope the co-author's writing works better than Benedict's.

>35 RidgewayGirl: I'm glad I'm not the only person who thinks she writes poorly.

>36 LittleTaiko: I'm curious which one you read. I'm not anxious to try anything else by her either.

>38 thornton37814: - It was The Other Einstein which was about Einstein's wife. It started off okay but just lost me along the way. Then again I struggle with fiction books based on real people. I usually find that I'd prefer an actual biography.

>39 LittleTaiko: I think that may be the case for me too. I haven't really tried to read much fictional biography so I gave it a shot.

I purchased a few things at the Island Bookstore in Corolla today to celebrate my first visit to a bookstore in a year. With limits on the number of people allowed inside at once, I felt somewhat safe. I did wait to look at a section because someone else was looking at gardening books, and I stayed on the stairs because there were a couple of people waiting on the guy checking out who were standing there. (They were with him rather than waiting in line it appeared.) I managed to keep my distance. It was nice to be able to safely browse. I'm not sure when I'll have an opportunity to do that again because the stores back home are more crowded. I couldn't resist the cat mad lib book on top of the stack. One book in the stack is for my grand-nephew. It's a cute "crab" book! I need to go back to the grocery store tomorrow. I saw a shovel he would enjoy, but I was on my way out the door when I spotted it. I know where they are now, and I can get one and see if I can find some more of that sugar free strawberry lemonade that is so good! I need to take some of it home with me!

Re: Benedict books - It's too bad if she writes poorly because the premise of most of her books sound interesting.

>42 dudes22: It really is. If it had not been a book club read, I would have been the first one in this year's "Raven" category -- "nevermore" (abandoned reads).

I sometimes like to read novels about actual people but they have to be well researchd and written with some depth. I read the book about the Einsteins and I thought it was shallow in every way. I have one more by her and it's in a box ready to go to the library booksale. Whenever that might be.

>44 clue: We didn't hold our sale last year, and we won't be holding it this spring. We are going to let the retired faculty run the sale for us in the future, and I think some of them want to run it in conjunction with homecoming in the fall. I guess we'll see if they decide that's a good time or not.

>41 thornton37814: The Outerbanks books look really good...I made a note. We will be vacationing there in September. Have you been? If so, any advice on things to see/do?

I've been on the Outer Banks all week, and it was the last place I went before the shut down. It's very safe here. Everyone wears masks, and most stores limit customers. I love the boardwalk out to the wildlife viewing station at Bodie Island. You'll get a long walk at the Wright Brothers memorial from the museum out to the area where the monument is. They also have some other things scattered throughout the park. I recommend lots of walks on the beaches. There is stuff over on Roanoke Island in Manteo--Elizabethan Gardens, a play based on the Lost Colony, a used bookstore, etc. Island Bookstore has locations in Corolla (the largest one), Duck, and Kitty Hawk. On the upper part of the Outer Banks, you can see lighthouses at Corolla (Currituck), just below Nags Head (Bodie Island), and at Buxton (Hatteras). There's a bookstore in Buxton if you can catch it open. I've been coming in off season so a lot of things are not open. You can do a tour to see the wild horses up at Corolla, but not during the off season. If we're mostly vaccinated, it might be safe to do that when you go. I've mostly done my own cooking this time. I found a place that sold fresh seafood, so I just made my own. Most of the seafood restaurants were closed. I'd recommend asking a local person where the best seafood is since I've not been here when they are fully open. I always make a trip to Duck Donuts. They offer unusual flavors--and I'm hoping they have the one that had key lime I got last year when I stop in later today. You can view some of the shipwrecks down close to Hatteras. There's a museum down there called the Graveyard of the Atlantic, but they will probably tell you where you can walk to see some visible wrecks. I've seen a few people coming from various piers (and entering crosswalks on NC12) with their fishing poles. If you are into that, you can join a charter group at some of the piers.

>47 thornton37814: Thank you so much! I've copied your entire paragraph and pasted in a file on my comp called "Outer Banks." We are going in the off season, mid-September. I taught for 30 years and we could only go in high tourist season, when it cost us and arm and a leg; now we don't have to do that. Again, thanks so much! I hate to ask another question--near where would you suggest that we stay--just my hubby and I. (Nothing real fancy--but not dirty or shabby, either. Probably with at least a kitchenette).

>41 thornton37814: Hooray for the bookstore visit! Tomorrow, VictoriaPL and I have an appointment for an hour at the Friends of the Library Booksale here and we are both very excited. But only an hour to browse!

>48 Tess_W: I'm at the Town Place Suites in Kill Devil Hills. I was fortunate enough to get an ocean view room (which cost about $20 more than a regular room, but I thought it was worth it since it was off season rates--and I've loved the ocean views). The hotel was built in 2019 so it's nice. It has everything except a baking oven as far as kitchen. It has a microwave, nice-size refrigerator, two-burner stove, dishwasher (although I've just washed dishes as I went). I baked a batch of brownies before I came so I'd have something sweet. I did think of one other thing to do. Pea Island is a wildlife station that is south of the Oregon Inlet (where Bodie Island lighthouse is located). They have some trails there that are great for watching sea birds.

One more thing about the Town Place Suites: Eighth Street crosses just south of the hotel on NC12 and takes you over to US 158. There's a Harris Teeter grocery store right there--and if you have a Kroger valucard, it works there too. There's a little road that runs behind the hotel that you can take if you are coming from the grocery store to go into the hotel without having to cross traffic on NC12.

I stayed at the Ramada last year which is right on the beach, but I didn't think the beds were very comfortable. I'd booked an oceanfront room, but I ended up in a dunes view room because I brought pets. I could still hear crashing waves, but I couldn't see the water.

There are hotels up near Duck and Corolla and down around Hatteras too. I don't know what the quality of them is. I do know there's a Hampton up toward Corolla. There's a Holiday Inn Express down in Nags Head that looks like it would be okay. It's on the ocean front too. Just up the road are several hotels in the Comfort Inn group (Comfort, Quality, etc.) Not sure how they are--probably depends on hotel age and management. There's also a Best Western in that area. I'd look at reviews before trying any of them.

>50 thornton37814: Again, thank you so much!

>41 thornton37814: I've been to the OBX, but Manteo and points south.

>52 fuzzi: Manteo is close--and I did go to the great BBQ place over there for carryout, but I've been staying in Kill Devil Hills (between Nags Head and Kitty Hawk). Finding something I would enjoy that is cat-friendly has been the key component in my choice of place to stay. The cats are chattier than usual this time. A yappy dog checked in next door yesterday too so they've objected to him when he's barked by making the gutteral noises cats make in situations like that. I think there is better camping down from about Rodanthe to Buxton, but I think the better hotels are on the north end. I suspect you can find acceptable rentals just about any place from Corolla to Hatteras and in the lower parts like Ocracoke too. I plan to hit Duck Donuts one last time on the way out of town, but I will probably get a bag of ice first for my Little Playmate. I'll have a few left-over groceries to take home with me. I bought small portions so if some of them have to be tossed, it won't be too bad, but I think everything will fit. The extra waters and tiny pop cans may need to be left out of the cooler, but they'll be fine. I can put them back in the fridge at home. I ate all the seafood tonight in my leftovers so it's mostly breakfast stuff and salad stuff remaining.

>53 thornton37814: oops, I'd not thought about the cats!

When we last did OBX we stayed in a hotel near Hatteras lighthouse. It was reasonably priced, clean, quiet, not sure if they took pets. To get to the beach it was a short walk across the small parking lot to a break between the oceanfront condos.

>54 fuzzi: There are a few hotels down nearer Hatteras, but it's easier to find pet friendly ones in the Nags Head/Kill Devil Hills area.

Book 46. Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert

Date Completed: 13 March 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Over a year passed since then NYPD police detective Shana Merchant almost became the fourth victim of a serial killer befriending lonely women. Now engaged to the man she met when he counseled her in the months after the tragedy, she relocates with him to upstate New York. Against his advice, she takes a job with the police. A Nor'easter begins to bear down on the region, and she must go to a private island on which a missing persons case (and likely a murder) occurred. She heads out with fellow officer Tim who knew her fiancee growing up. They find an elderly matriarch, a servant, and members of her family along with a couple other guests present. The missing man's bed contains much blood, but some oddities puzzle the investigators at first. Shana begins interviewing them one by one while Tim keeps the others together. Shana's flawed character makes her an interesting investigator. I like her fellow investigator Tim and her mostly absent boss "Mac." This first installment shines, and I look forward to reading or listening to future ones. I listened to the audio version. The narrator was acceptable but not outstanding.

Book 47. Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life by Lois Tverberg

Date Completed: 13 March 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion and Spirituality)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Author Lois Tverberg offers insights into Jesus' words by examining in the social context of the first century Middle East. In this particular book she looks at how Jesus' audience would understand the words He spoke to them. Our pastor frequently provides insights of this nature, and finding an author who offers similar insights presents a bonus. I want to read some of her other books as well as some of the books she cited in the text or notes.

>57 thornton37814: Also a BB for me!

>58 Tess_W: She wrote another book before this one that is a bit more famous. I found this one in a Kindle sale about 6 weeks ago.

Book 48. Snap: A Happy Book of Colors by Patricia Hegarty; illustrated by Fhiona Galloway

Date Completed: 14 March 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's & YA Literature)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: This colorful book about a crab that loves to snap his claws will entertain young listeners. The claws are cut out in varying sizes.

>32 thornton37814: What a shame! I saw the recent documentary about her life, they used tapes she had made with a journalist decades ago as part narration. It was brilliant: she came across as an amazingly smart, resourceful person.

>60 thornton37814: This looks like a lovely gift for a little one.

>61 charl08: I saw the documentary after I read the book. It's much better. We discussed it in the book group last night. General consensus (with the possible exception of the suggester) is we didn't like the liberties the author took and that some facts were distorted, particularly concerning her first marriage. A couple persons read non-fiction accounts instead, refusing to read "historical fiction" based on a real person they knew little about. Those persons were happier with what they'd read. The children's book is a gift for my great-nephew (or grandnephew, if you prefer). I just had to read it before I send it to him along with a couple other things for his birthday that comes up in May. I think he'll enjoy it and the other gifts. The real trick is going to be how to package one of the gifts. It will be expensive to mail/UPS/Fed Ex. If I'm fully vaccinated by then, I may end up driving it to him over a long weekend.

Hi there! I am finally back and getting caught up with my LT friends. Too much going on lately!

>63 LadyoftheLodge: Welcome back! I'm a bit behind in commenting myself. I did glance at threads, but I just didn't have time to do full visits. Hoping I can do better next month once my presentations are out of the way.

Book 49. Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams

Date Completed: 15 March 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Previously I enjoyed some of Adams' other series, I assumed that would be the case here. After finding her husband with two women in an elevator, Ella Mae moves back from New York to her native northwestern Georgia town. She dreams of opening her own restaurant, and her way with pies makes it clear a pie shop serving both sweet and savory offerings fits her perfectly. Before she can begin, she becomes a murder suspect because of crime scene evidence and insults she hurled at her childhood rivalry. As she investigates, she must learn a little about horses. While I enjoyed the mystery itself to a certain degree, I did not enjoy the incorporation of "magic" into the recipe. I prefer my cozies to be straightforward mysteries, not a combination of genres. Magical realism simply didn't work here. It's too far-fetched and just plain strange. The mystery left much to be desired. I'll skip the rest of this series.

>65 thornton37814: Oh boy, that cover looks familiar! I bet that one is lurking on my shelves somewhere. BTW--I am using your library to get my reading selection for RandomCAT.

>66 LadyoftheLodge: I saw the thing for RandomCAT. I have no idea if I'll have a chance to participate in it or not. I've got so much going on. That pie shop series may improve, but I'm not big into magical realism. I do need to remember to add that one to the square for "Magic" though in BingoDOG.

I now have an appointment for my first COVID vaccine. It's March 30. I couldn't get a spot in my county, but I managed to get one in nearby Sevier County.

Congrats!! I was able to schedule my first shot for the 24th. Did a happy dance!!

>68 thornton37814: Glad to hear! I had my 2nd vaccination this week (I am a healthcare worker so was prioritised) - both times just had a sore arm the next day, but no other side effects.

>69 LittleTaiko: Great news! It's only a few days for you.

>70 Jackie_K: That's great. You'll only have a couple more weeks after that until you're considered fully vaccinated.

Thanks to all of you who marked the spammer! I never saw his comment.

Good news, Lori. We were able to book my husband's first appointment today and are looking forward to booking mine in a week or so.

I'm so glad you were able to schedule the vaccine, Lori.

>68 thornton37814: >69 LittleTaiko: >70 Jackie_K: Such good news!!!

>73 DeltaQueen50: Glad you all are getting in.

>74 RidgewayGirl: Yes. I'm glad I booked on the day I did. They opened up to everyone 55+ the next day and will be opening April 5 to everyone 16+. I can't imagine how horrible it will be to book appointments now.

Book 50. The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

Date Completed: 20 March 2021

Category: Goldfinch (Historical Fiction)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: During Reconstruction, many of the formerly enslaved used a religious newspaper to try to reunite with family members and others. One such person, the mulatto daughter of a slave owner, wishes to claim her inheritance. In the present, a new teacher seeks a way to make studies engaging for her students in a poor Louisiana district. She spies a library in a somewhat abandoned house owned by her landlord and ends up finding much more. The two stories end up merging perfectly in the end. In most stories with past and present storylines, I enjoy the historic one most, but in this one I found myself enjoying the more recent story better. Each older section concluded with a clipping of from the religious newspaper. I found those fascinating!

Book 51. Jesus Among Other Gods: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message by Ravi Zacharias

Date Completed: 24 March 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: I had never read Ravi Zacharias' books although I knew many readers appreciated his approach to Christian apologetics. After his recent death, allegations came to light regarding his personal life. After they appeared in Christianity Today, many Christian-affiliated universities pulled his books from their shelves and even a major Christian bookseller/distributor pulled all his work from their catalog. After reading a discussion, I decided I wanted to read his work to judge its merit. I chose several titles that interested me because of their acclaim or their subject matter. This work is one of his most popular. I found it a mixed bag. On the one hand, he gets into philosophical aspects that would be difficult for lay persons to understand. On the other, he uses personal anecdotes that seem to make lay persons his intended audience. In the long run, the work disappointed because the topics were not laid out in a manner that would help Christians defend their faith. I hope the other volumes use a different style to deliver content. In the end, I do not believe this volume will stand the test of time. I will read other works later, but I don't want to plunge into the next volume at the moment.

Book 52. Colonial Mississippi: A Borrowed Land by Christian Pinnen and Charles A. Weeks

Date Completed: 24 March 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: While Mississippi became the 20th state in 1817, settlement occurred as early as 1699 when the French began to settled what would eventually become Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and even part of Florida. The area's inhabitants, mostly by the Choctaw, Creek, and Chickasaw, presented many challenges during this time. The British gained control after the French and Indian War in 1763. The border was pushed further north during this period although the Native Americans continued to reside on the land. In 1779 the Spanish claimed "West Florida." After the American Revolution, Georgia claimed the area all the way to the Mississippi. With competing land claims, it provided a rich fabric. The Mississippi Territory was established in 1798, but included land in what would become Alabama. It did not include the coastal area at that time. This well-documented account provides an excellent study for the history of what would become the state of Mississippi and the surrounding areas that were important at various historic periods. The language is very academic as one expects in university press publications. The source citations lead to many excellent sources, and the authors provided an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources dealing with this period of the state's history. Anyone with historical or genealogical interests in Mississippi during this period should read it.

Book 53. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick

Date Completed: 26 March 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Nathaniel Philbrick's well-researched account draws from diaries and other sources in the Nantucket Historical Society's museums and other locations to paint a picture of the tragic shipwreck of the Nantucket whaling vessel, the Essex, commanded by Captain Pollard. His first mate was Owen Chase. While many of the men were from the island, some crew members, particularly African Americans, were outsiders. A large sperm whale attacked the ship. By the time they abandoned the ship to the smaller vessels, some of their provisions were unusable. They spent 93 days at sea without adequate food or water. One week was spent on Henderson Island where they found a small spring and a few fishes, but nothing adequate enough to sustain them. Fear of cannibals kept them from sailing to easier ports, and in the end, they ended up eating their fellow crew members (mostly deceased ones although they did shoot one) to survive. The smaller vessels became separated, and three men chose to remain on Henderson Island. Finally the survivors were rescued, and the author brought us up to date on each of their lives as best as records permitted. I think this is the first audiobook to which I've listened where nearly two hours of footnotes were read. You might think they were boring, but I found them enjoyable as they were read in such a manner that added to the narrative. This story, of course, inspired Herman Melville to write Moby Dick, and Philbrick mentions Melville's reading of Chase's account and interview with Capt. Pollard who became the island's night watchman. The cannibalism parts lasted longer than I could tolerate in places, but otherwise, it was an excellent book.

>77 thornton37814: - My sister-in-law recommended this to me also. I'm hoping to fit it in soon.

>77 thornton37814: I'm glad to see your review of this and will read it as well. I've met Lisa numerous times through her career, she's been fun to follow because she's grown as a writer so much through the years. The Friends group here was working to bring her to our library before the pandemic hit, I hope we can still work a visit out later. When we first started thinking about it she only lived a couple of hundred miles away, but has since moved back to Texas.

>80 thornton37814: I have that on my TBR, recommended by RP

>81 dudes22: It was an interesting read. Not perfect, but quite good.

>82 clue: How nice to have been able to meet her! I hope you enjoy it.

>83 Tess_W: I enjoyed it. It made for a nice change of pace in my audio listening.

Book 54. The Stolen Letter by Paige Shelton

Date Completed: 27 March 2021

Category: Puffin (Mysteries set in UK or Ireland)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: A far-fetched and implausible plot makes a strange read. On the one hand, you want to keep reading it to see how much more convoluted it can become; on the other you want to abandon it. I chose to stick with it. After a failed inspection the bookshop never knew occurred or received notice about until city council was scheduled to meet to close the shop, Delaney and friends uncover a plot. At the heart of the investigation is a city council member whose wife thinks she is the reincarnation of Mary Queen of Scots. His wife Mary bears an uncanny resemblance to Delaney. A car explosion kills her husband. Delaney works with two police inspectors as well as on her own. The most far-fetched thing came near the end when Queen Elizabeth herself showed up to defend the bookshop. This one just went beyond the bounds of believability. The book needed better editing as well. Not recommended.

I was so jealous of your Lighthouse photos on FB. You traveled to many that are on my bucket list. I'm so glad you had a wonderful time.
A bird theme! We have some kind of bird disease floating around so our authorities have advised us all to remove our bird feeders this season until the OK is given. Our kittehs are not happy.

>86 VictoriaPL: That is sad. My boys would definitely not be happy if they couldn't see the birds.

Book 55. The Walk: The Life-Changing Journey of Two Friends by Michael Card

Date Completed: 29 March 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: I loved this story of William Lane's discipleship/mentorship of Michael Card from Michael's days as a student at Western Kentucky University where Bill taught a young Michael until Bill's death due to multiple myeloma. Throughout the book we see Bill pour his life into his students and into Michael. We see how to live out the Christian life. Without Bill's influence on Michael's life, I suspect the world of Christian music would never hear Michael's theologically rich songs. I received this book at a conference and recently found it stuffed in a conference tote that I never fully emptied until my cleaning project. I'm sad I did not read it earlier. I absolutely loved the book. If someone wants to see what Christian discipleship and mentoring in the faith looks like, this book demonstrates it.

I'm celebrating my 14th Thingaversary by getting my first "Fauci ouchie" (COVID vaccine) this afternoon. I ordered my "Thingaversary haul" (14 + 1). Here's what arrived or is on its way:

1) The Cheese and the Worms: The Cosmos of a Sixteenth-Century Miller by Carlo Ginzburg - I've heard Warren Bittner talk about this book at genealogy conferences for years. I look forward to finally reading it.
2) A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich - Recommended by numerous people over the years. I've read other things by the author so I think I'll enjoy it.
3) A Guide to Genealogical Resources in Cincinnati & Hamilton County, Ohio by Connie Strunkel Christman and Kenny R. Burck - I lived in Cincinnati 12 years, and I still enjoy visiting there. Their public library used to always make the top ten genealogical collections in the country. Based on my last visit there, I think management ruined a lot of the enjoyability of researching there with some of their department relocations, but they still offer a strong collection. It's just not browsable at all. It used to be a combination of browsable and staff pulls.
4) Becoming an Excellent Genealogist: Essays on Professional Research Skills by Kory L. Meyerink - This was recently recommended by someone on Facebook.
5) Cincinnati Food: A History of Queen City Cuisine by Polly Campbell - I needed a cookbook or food book for my haul, and I decided to continue my Cincinnati reminiscences with this one!
6) Cincinnati's Literary Heritage: A History for Booklovers by Kevin Grace - Continuing the Cincinnati theme here, but I think this will satisfy my literary curiosity.
7) In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made by Norman F. Cantor - In the last year, I've read a few historical fiction books on the "black death." It's time to read something factual. When I noticed Norman F. Cantor wrote one, I wanted to read his. Cantor, along with a man whose surname is Schneider, wrote How to Study History which was used in my graduate church history courses. I believe our professor studied under him at University of Chicago.
8) The Best Poor Man's Country: Early Southeastern Pennsylvania by James T. Lemon - This one has been on my wish list for a long time. I'm not sure how "early" his early is, but my Amish arrived in the area in the 1730s to 1750s. It should be an interesting read.
9) Constable on the Hill by Nicholas Rhea - A police procedural for my Kindle.
10) Amish Homesteads of 1798 by John M. Byler - Ordered from Masthof Press, a publisher of a lot of Amish and Mennonite genealogy and history, this one sounds like it might be based on the tax list of that year but delve a little deeper by aligning the tax list with deeds and other goodies.
11) Early Amish Land Grants in Berks County, Pennsylvania by Pequea Bruderschaft Library - This one sounded important for me to own since it is where most of my Amish first settled; ordered from Masthof.
12) History of the First Amish Mennonite Communities in America by Grant M. Stoltzfus - This was his dissertation, but it is important enough that Masthof keeps it in print.
13) The Nicholas Keim Family: The Roots of Somerset County by James Yoder - Nicholas Keim is my 3-great-grandmother's brother, making him a distant uncle. Purchasing this one from Masthof was a "no brainer." I'll add the book (and delete the note) so there's a touchstone when I receive it. In the meantime, it won't work.
14) Dead in the Water by Dana Stabenow - I really loved the first couple in this series, but this one hasn't been available to me. Now I'll be able to read it on my Kindle.
15) A History of Monroe County, Mississippi by Monroe County Book Committee - I began researching my family history in the early 1990s. All my ancestral lines converged in Monroe County, Mississippi. This "heritage book" was published a few years before but was already out of print by that time. I've searched for a copy for years. I stumbled across a copy online in the last couple of weeks. I didn't think twice about ordering it for $125 plus postage and tax which brought the total to just under $150. (It originally sold for $75, I'm told.) I've wanted a copy for nearly 30 years. It arrived last Friday. It's the perfect "one-to-grow-on" book!

Happy Thingaversary to me! This is the most I've ever spent on a Thingaversary haul. The "one-to-grow-on" book blew my budget. The others were aided by a couple of gift cards from Christmas. I'm very happy with my haul though. That's the important thing!

LOL to Fauci Ouchie! What a great haul. I placed 3 of them on my wish list. I live about 2 hours from the largest Amish community in Ohio and visit often to shop. I also have studied their meeting houses (which they sometimes share with the Mennonites) and have several books on that subject.

Happy Thingaversary, I hope you enjoy your new books!

Happy Thingaversary, and I hope that the vaccine isn't too ouchie!

Congrats on the vaccine and the Thingaversary!! That's a great list of books!

Happy Thingaversary, and congrats on finally finding that history of Monroe County!

Congrats, Lori on your Thingaversary and on getting your vaccination!

Good for you - getting your shot and books too.

Happy Thingaversary! What a stellar haul that is. And, most importantly, congratulations on getting your first shot! One step closer to ending this pandemic.

>90 Tess_W: I have a pretty large collection of Amish books, but these were some that worked well as additions to my collection. I hope you enjoy the ones you choose to add.

>91 clue: Thanks. I suspect I will!

>92 Jackie_K: My arm is sore today, but it's not as bad as I feared the soreness might be.

>93 casvelyn: Thanks. Can you tell I'm a genealogist by my selections?

>94 christina_reads: I must admit that is the most exciting book for me! I copied the sketches pertaining to my ancestors, but now I can truly enjoy all it offers in the way of context.

>95 DeltaQueen50: Thanks! I'm excited about both.

>96 dudes22: It is a strange combination, isn't it? However, I appreciate both!

>97 RidgewayGirl: Thanks! I'm pleased by my haul. I look forward to ending the pandemic--whenever that may be.

>99 thornton37814: Nah, hadn't noticed. :)

>93 casvelyn: LOL

Book 56. D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II by Sarah Rose

Date Completed: 1 April 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: During World War II, the British placed French-speaking female spies inside France as part of the Resistance efforts. These women did important work preparing for a forthcoming operation to be called D-Day. While designed for a general audience with the loathsome hidden endnotes, the heavy use of military jargon made it difficult to read. I appreciated learning about the efforts of Odette, Andree, Lise, and others, but I found myself disinterested so much of the time because of the heavy use of military abbreviations and jargon (and perhaps espionage jargon). The story needs to be told. I wish it had been a more engaging narrative.

>103 thornton37814: a BB for me probably.......I don't' like military abbreviations, either!

>104 Tess_W: We're reading this for a "women's social history" book club. It did improve toward the end when less jargon appeared in the narrative, but I never became as interested because of it.

>103 thornton37814: thanks for the warning!

>106 VictoriaPL: You might like it better than I did.

>89 thornton37814: Happy Thingaversary! And congratulations on your Fauchie Ouchie!

"I've searched for a copy for years. I stumbled across a copy online in the last couple of weeks. I didn't think twice about ordering it for $125 plus postage and tax which brought the total to just under $150. (It originally sold for $75, I'm told.) I've wanted a copy for nearly 30 years."

*\o/*

>108 spiralsheep: I started doing genealogy a few years too late so no copies remained.

Happy new thread, Lori, and congrats on your shot!

>111 MissWatson: Thanks. Only 12 days until #2.

Book 57. The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker

Date Completed: 9 April 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set outside US & British Isles)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Bruno Courrèges joins national investigators to discover who attempted to burn fields and a greenhouse experimenting with genetically modified crops. His local knowledge leads him to suspect commune members, but he also learns vineyard growers from other countries want to buy up land in the area. It's not long until he finds himself working with another government entity to investigate a murder. I really love the setting of these mysteries and Bruno's character. He seems very content with the village policeman life and understands the importance of community relations.

Book 58. Old Testament Words for Today: 100 Devotional Reflections by Warren Wiersbe

Date Completed: 10 April 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Wiersbe's reflections on words appearing in the Old Testament provide engaging meditations for one hundred days if read one per day. While readers will connect with some more than others, one always gains something by reading the words of this great Bible teacher.

>89 thornton37814: Wow, great haul!

A women's history reading group sounds brilliant to me, even if this book wasn't so great. Any books you are particularly looking forward to reading?

Congratulations on the Thingaversary and the vaccine appointments.

>115 charl08: The next two are books I wouldn't normally pick up. I'm looking forward to one later in the year, but the books for several intervening months have not been announced.

>116 hailelib: Thanks! Just 8 more days until #2!

Book 59. Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World by Simon Winchester

Date Completed: 14 April 2021

Category: Owl (Other Non-Fiction)

Rating: 2 stars

Review: While I expected the book to be written on a popular level rather than an academic level, I expected the author would tackle land in a more traditional historical manner rather than by jumping from one incident to another in various parts of the world. On page 122 of 660 in the Kindle version, the author states, "No American, so far as I am aware, ever professed a deep and unsullied affection for the USGS topographical sheets that it is possible to order from government agencies. They are fine enough maps, and they cover the entirety of the nation. But seldom are they bought for the sheer pleasure of ownership, of the ability to pore over them and imagine, or remember, to draw contented admiration at their elegant appearance and scrupulous accuracy." My immediate thought was that he had never met a land-platting genealogist! Many purchased these maps for every location in which their ancestors lived or in which they were working for a client. Nowadays the maps are available online and most use software to plat the deeds so fewer maps are being purchased, but there are still many who prefer to own these maps. I realize the author was making a point about the availablility of Ordnance Survey maps in many places in the UK whereas they needed to be ordered from a single location in the United States, but he overstated his case. Unfortunately he exaggerated points in many places in the book. While I initially planned to purchase a copy of this pre-publication, but I'm glad I decided to read a library copy before purchasing. I do not need another dust catcher, and that's exactly what this book would do on my shelves. Its usefulness is minimal.

>118 thornton37814: Obviously I'm not speculating on the contents of a book I haven't read, but I strongly suspect OS maps have cultural significance that USGS maps don't.

OS maps aren't merely available on every High Street, they're also in most homes, and most libraries have two full sets (1:25,000 and 1:50,000). The maps aren't only used as maps either, they have a long history of being hung on walls as art or used in other decorative ways. People also collect them and related items. So in my local High Street I can buy OS maps, borrow them from the library, buy altered OS map art, buy OS maps framed as prints, buy notebooks with OS map covers (and probably other similar stationery), buy fridge magnets with OS map backs, etc etc etc. I could also buy several best-selling books about OS maps and/or our love of OS maps. Brits have a history of two hundred years of love affairs with OS maps. I'm sure USGS maps are good maps but I suspect they don't have a similar cultural significance. It's the difference between making historical adventure movies about heroic surveyors and making a film such as The Englishman who went up a Hill but came down a Mountain.

/passionate love note to OS maps which, yes, I adore :D

"No American, so far as I am aware, ever professed a deep and unsullied affection for the USGS topographical sheets that it is possible to order from government agencies. They are fine enough maps, and they cover the entirety of the nation. But seldom are they bought for the sheer pleasure of ownership, of the ability to pore over them and imagine, or remember, to draw contented admiration at their elegant appearance and scrupulous accuracy."

I protest! Although I'm a genealogist now, I actually started using the USGS maps in grad school (public history) when I took a class on historic preservation. My professor was old school and insisted that we should know how to plot land by hand. Of course, I love all sorts of maps. I think my favorite are fire insurance maps, because they're so colorful.

I also just realized that since I moved last year, I now live in a different quadrangle and need to get a new map. Not that topo maps are terribly useful in Central Indiana; it's so flat here. :)

>118 thornton37814: I cannot profess a deep and unsullied affection for the USGS topographical sheets...however....I had to use them in a geography class in college at the senior level. I did not appreciate them then, but I do now!

Happy Thingaversary, Lori. What a haul! Congratulations also on your "Fauci ouchie". I just got one too.

>119 spiralsheep: I think he "overstated" his case when he said discussed our maps as he did. I realize Ordnance Survey maps are used for all sorts of things in the UK--and yes, they are, in general, more beloved than our USGS ones. However, his statement was overblown and inaccurate.

>120 casvelyn: Yes, Indiana does tend to be flat. For what it's worth, I posted the statement to my Facebook page, and genealogists have also been protesting the statement with their love of the maps. I enjoy the puzzle of doing it the old fashioned way. I have my kit downstairs.

>121 Tess_W: Anyone who has worked with metes and bounds really appreciates them!

>122 VivienneR: I'm pleased with my haul. I get my second one Tuesday. I've managed to get another librarian to commit to opening the library on Wednesday so I won't have to worry about whether or not I'm sick. If I'm not sick, we'll have two opening that day, but we figured that having two there to open was better than having no one.

>118 thornton37814:

Normally I like Simon Winchester's books but maybe I get that one from the library!

>124 hailelib: I'm glad I got it from the library. You may like it better than I did. This one didn't work for me.

Book 60. Portobello by Ruth Rendell

Date Completed: 15 April 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This book differs from the other Rendell books I read. The novel studies several characters whose lives become intertwined because they live on or near or visit Portobello Road. One character is a middle-aged man addicted to a candy; his fiancée is a doctor who becomes a personal physician to a man we meet because he becomes injured on the Portobello Road. A young thief who loves a girl he assaulted and whose relative belongs to a cult-like church also appears. The action is slow. The flawed characters often express themselves in peculiar manners. While it is not my favorite Rendell book, I didn't hate it. I listened to the audiobook read by Tim Curry.

Book 61. In the Name of Truth by Viveca Sten

Date Completed: 17 April 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set outside U.S. and British Isles)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Nora Linde serves as prosecutor in an economic crime case in which a former partner's key testimony will likely indict. She receives threatening emails. Benjamin, an eleven-year-old boy, goes to sailing camp at his father's insistence. Two other boys immediately begin bullying him, but the inexperienced group leader fails to notice. This boy's father, as the reader knows, is the key witness in Nora's case. Thomas first goes to the camp when a girl disappears. When the girl shows up back at home, Thomas returns to Nacka. The Nacka unit will relocate as part of restructuring soon. His partner Margit received a promotion when he left the force, but she persuaded the powers-that-be to rehire Thomas when he found himself pushing paper in his new private sector position. Thomas' new partner is Aram. When Benjamin fails to show up for breakfast one day, Thomas and Aram go back to the island. Is it a case of a runaway child? Is it a case of bullying gone bad? Is it a case of kidnapping? Thomas and Aram must investigate all this as Nora finds her key witness does not share the same story he told the police once he takes the stand. Her chances of promotion look bleak. At the same time both Thomas and Nora experience trouble in relationships. Thomas and his wife find jobs getting in the way of life. When Jonah takes a flight to Thailand days before the wedding with promises of returning in time, she becomes upset. There is much going on in the installments. I'm tiring of all the personal issues in the novels and wish they would stick to the investigations. However, the mystery and the trial were both satisfying. Both story lines improved over the previous installment characterized by a "stuck in a familiar rut" scenario.

>127 thornton37814: - I didn't read your review as I haven't started this series yet, but plan to later this year.

>128 dudes22: I hope you enjoy it. We've been doing a group read of the series. Some installments are definitely better than others.

>129 thornton37814: - I took it as a book bullet last year and Amazon had them on sale so I picked up the first three which should give me an idea if I want to continue or not.

>130 dudes22: True. I've stuck with them. We're nearing being caught up--at least with the English versions.

Book 62. The Cookcamp by Gary Paulsen

Date Completed: 18 April 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's & YA Literature)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: A five-year-old boy sees more than someone his age should witness. His father serves in the military during World War II. His mother, back home in Chicago, cheats on her spouse. After the boy caught the mother and his "uncle" making strange noises, his mother sends him to his grandmother who cooks for men building a road into Canada. While he loves his grandmother and the great adventures with the camp men, he misses his mother. I do not consider this book age appropriate.

>132 thornton37814: I have read two by this author and neither one was age appropriate.

>133 Tess_W: When I taught middle school, my students liked his books, but I did not at all.

>133 Tess_W: Well, I got a book bullet on the third in the series. I should finish the second one this evening. It's very short. I'll see if it is any better.

>134 LadyoftheLodge: I liked Hatchet when we read it for a middle grades course in library school.

Book 63. Alida's Song by Gary Paulsen

Date Completed: 19 April 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's & YA Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Now a young and somewhat troubled teen, a boy discovers his grandmother found him a job on a farm working for Gunnar and Olaf. She serves as the men's private cook. The boy's home life leaves much to be desired with two alcoholic parents who show no interest in him. The boy spends all his time working, has no time to study, and passes to the next grade only "because they don't want to keep him around another year." Years later the boy discovers the truth about that summer job which endears his grandmother to him all the more.

Book 64. The Quilt by Gary Paulsen

Date Completed: 20 April 2021

Category: Bluebird (Children's & YA Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: In this third installment, the story goes back to a time when the boy was six. He goes to spend the summer with his grandmother in northern Minnesota. It isn't long until she receives a call from an expectant mother who needs help on the farm. The boy and grandmother soon arrive where he meets farm animals galore. His grandmother calls in other women. He hears a very scary sound as the birth pangs begin. As the women sit in the kitchen, they bring out a quilt and share stories of those who passed. Before the story ends, the women will need to sew another square on the quilt. It's a touching story--a tribute to the author's own grandmother.

>137 thornton37814: I'm SO glad you enjoyed those books.

I'd never heard of Gary Paulsen before I discovered LT. I think it was in one of Joe's threads where I first saw Hatchet mentioned...

...some 30+ books later...

My favorite book by Paulsen is Winterdance, an adult book on his woefully unprepared run of the Iditarod. He was at our library a few years ago and in the session for teachers it was clear they love him because his books can influence boys to read.

Hi Lori,
A kitty update--two of my four kittyboys have gotten their checkups and shots for the year. They were very good boys! They also got to sit in their new kitty carriers with us in the car when some people went through our house. They love their new carriers. The other two boys will go to the vet in May for their shots and checkups.

>138 fuzzi: I'd read Hatchet previously. I still like Hatchet better, but I'm glad I got to read these.

>139 clue: I have not read that one. It's important to get boys to read.

>140 LadyoftheLodge: It gets expensive when you have so many. It's always a chore to round them up for the visit.

The second COVID vaccine really knocked me for a loop. I ran fever of two or three degrees most of the day. I threw up twice. I had a headache all day long. I was miserable. The fever finally broke sometime between midnight and 6:30 a.m. I'm feeling better this morning, but I can't go into work because I haven't been fever-free for 24 hours. I will be monitoring reference chat from home. I don't feel 100% yet. I still have a little bit of headache, but it's not as bad it was yesterday. It's also not like my usual sinus headache so I know this one is vaccine-related. I managed to eat some crackers last night. I ate dry toast this morning. I'm hoping for chicken noodle soup at lunch--even if I have to make it from scratch. (If I have a can, I'll use it because my skinless chicken won't give as rich a broth.)

>142 thornton37814: Congratulations on getting your second jab! I'm sad to hear it was a little rough but I hope the longer term benefits will be worth it.

(I admit I'm not looking forward to actually getting my second dose but I'll be glad when it's done.)

>143 spiralsheep: Yesterday was a very rough day. It definitely made me question if it was worth it. I'm a little more optimistic about the answer to that this morning.

Book 65. Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie

Date Completed: 20 April 2021

Category: Puffin (Murders set in UK or Ireland)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: In this short Miss Marple mystery, a young couple purchased a home. It invokes a memory in the young woman of a strangled woman named Helen. After meeting Miss Marple who encourages the woman to write to someone who may know if she'd ever lived in England, she finds the woman she saw was probably her stepmother. However, no one ever suspected the woman dead. The story told at the time was the woman ran off. Untangling eighteen years of lies, the couple, with the help of Miss Marple, find the truth. I knew from the moment we first met the guilty party who it was, but it was still a fun romp with Miss Marple via a Full Cast BBC production audiobook.

Book 66. The Penguin Book of Ghost Stories: From Elizabeth Gaskell to Ambrose Bierce edited by Michael Newton

Date Completed: 21 April 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: While some of the stories were interesting (such as "The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs and "Afterward" by Edith Wharton), others just fell flat (such as the overly long Henry James story, "The Jolly Corner," and Edward Bulwer Lytton's "The Haunted and the Haunters: or, The House and the Brain.") We read this as a group, and most of us even questioned whether some of the stories were true ghost stories. Almost all the stories are available in the public domain, so this collection is a bit pricy when that is considered. Purchasers essential pay for the editor's additions--an introduction, a nice bibliography, a bit on each author, and a few end notes. I really wish the author introductions had been at the beginning of each story instead of with the end notes. I wish the end notes had been true footnotes. Most notes explained a word in the text, and it would have been nice not to have to flip on the rare occasion I actually needed to see a definition. I wish the anthology included several contemporary stories.

>146 thornton37814: the problem that I find with anthologies is that, at least for me, it's 20% good reads and 80% stinkers!

Congrats on surviving the after-effects of the 2nd shot! It is rough, but as someone reminded me - this is a mild, short version of the real thing.

And who are you all who are so brave as to bring multiple cats to the vet at once? One angry cat is enough, thank you! Of course, one at a time means I am at the vet almost every month, but it still seems safer. Also, your cats like each other, while mine merely tolerate each other.

>142 thornton37814: Sorry to hear you were ill after your second vaccine. Still, it is better than contracting the virus.

Hi Lori, I hope you are feeling better and that the after-effects are over.

>147 Tess_W: This one was probably a little higher than that ratio. Just because some weren't ghost stories doesn't mean they weren't good stories otherwise. I'd give it a 50-50 rating. We had disagreement over some of the stories, but the discussions were good.

>148 RidgewayGirl: Well, I started them that way when they were kittens and much easier to round up. Now they just all come due at the same time.

>149 VivienneR: There were moments yesterday I wondered if I had the virus. I was sick!

>150 DeltaQueen50: I was able to work the entire day virtually so I think that was good. I also worked on stuff at home tonight, so I worked a very full day.

Hi Lori,
I am glad to know you are feeling better after the second shot. I had chills and fatigue after mine, but nothing like you experienced.

>152 LadyoftheLodge: It was a rough 36 hours or so

Book 67. At Lighthouse Point by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Date Completed: 24 April 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: While I missed the previous installment in the series, I found myself able to pick up fairly well with the story of three sisters and their father Paul who purchased Camp Kicking Moose near Bar Harbor, Maine, to bring it back to the glory days remembered by the father. The oldest two daughters are both expecting children. Oldest daughter Cam finds herself at odds with the town over a proposed cellular tower. Middle daughter Maddie's husband endangers his health by stretching himself too then to serve pastoral needs of the area. Recent Cordon Bleu graduate and youngest daughter Blaine returns to find renovations of the kitchen make it impossible to realize her dream of opening a restaurant. Blaine also brings along friend Jean Paul from France who needs time away from his father to reflect on his life's dreams. He seems to be accident-prone, but his mouth voices spiritual wisdom each character needs to hear. Blaine discovers Artie serves the island and several others via a medical transport boat. Paul's father comes for a visit, hoping to get to know his granddaughters and repair a damaged relationship with his son. There's a lot going on in this Christian fiction novel, but it seems to work together pretty well. Readers may wish to begin with the first in the series to see the changes and growth in characters over time. I received an advance review copy through LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.

Book 68. 50 Women Every Christian Should Know: Learning from Heroines of the Faith by Michelle Derusha

Date Completed: 25 April 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: While most of the selections are women most Christians admire, a few make you scratch your head and ask why she included them--even after she explained her reasoning. A couple of the included women were not Christians; therefore, they cannot be a "heroine of the faith." The author included information on each women, but in some cases, her story mostly came from a single source. In other cases, she drew from varied sources. Some selections interested me more than others. I read two sketches per day most days until I finished the book. I did not want to draw it out 50 days. I found that to be a good pace.

Abandoned Book 1. Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner

Date Abandoned: 27 April 2021

Category: Raven (Abandoned Reads)

Comments: Abandoned. The story wasn't drawing me in, and the overuse of the "F" word turned me off.

>156 thornton37814: Missing, Presumed was abandoned, had to admit that made me smile. ;)

>157 fuzzi: And it was the first book to hit the "Nevermore" status for the year!

I'm both looking forward to and dreading a visit from the Charter/Spectrum serviceperson tomorrow. I want my Internet fixed. (Upload speed is .03 mbps which makes it impossible to do a lot of things. The download speed is running under what it should be but not so drastically.) However, I still don't really want a serviceperson who may or may not have been vaccinated in my home. I know there is a COVID outbreak at the local Charter/Spectrum store. One of the intermediary steps was to replace my modem. I went yesterday at 5:45 pm. They were supposed to be open until 8 pm. The clerk told me I came just in time because they were closing at 6 pm. He said 2 employees tested positive, and two more were waiting on their results and quarantined until they had them. I'm not sure if he was safe to be around, but I kept my distance. He put the modem on the counter, and I picked it up. No contact. I think it did improve the download speed a bit, but it didn't solve the upload problem. The problem may be on the cable line itself as I've had some issues with cable channels sometimes saying they were offline. I didn't really think about it at the time. Hopefully everything will be fixed tomorrow morning.

>159 thornton37814: Here's hoping it's fixed with little or no contact. I'm having the same problem with AT&T; although I'm not sure if cable or computer (that is now 8 years old).

>160 Tess_W: We really hoped the new modem would do the trick. It didn't, so I get the home visit. At least they are getting to it quickly. I feared it might be next week--even though I began the process early in the week.

>159 thornton37814: Good luck with the service job.

>162 spiralsheep: Thanks. I'm working from home until he arrives. I'll go in after he leaves. That way I'm not just turning around and heading back home when I get to work.

Book 69. The Glass Universe: How the Women of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars by Dava Sobel

Date Completed: 1 May 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Sobel discusses the admission of women to the Harvard Observatory even in the day when Harvard's student population consisted of males only. The women cataloged and observed the stars, making important contributions to the field of astronomy. While it is nice to see women play an important role beginning in the late nineteenth century, the book suffers from a dry narrative which takes us mainly through the end of the World War II with the main subjects. The book discusses astronomy prizes in the women's honors which continues their legacy to the near present. Although a handful of footnotes pepper its pages, the book mainly includes two sections of narrative notes for each chapter. It also includes a glossary of astronomic terms, short biographies of persons who worked at the Harvard Observatory, both male and female, and a timeline. It also included a section of photographs. Perhaps the saddest photograph shows the now idle observatory refractor. The city's expansion means it never grows dark enough in the evening to make observations. The author includes an extensive bibliography, but the lack of documentation throughout the book limits its academic appeal. The dry narrative will not engage a popular audience. Only those with a genuine interest in astronomy will likely complete their attempted read of this one.

Book 70. Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years by Elizabeth Wayland Barber

Date Completed: 1 May 2021

Category: Hummingbird (Domestic Arts)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Barber's book focuses on the history of spinning and weaving in ancient civilizations. Most of what we know came through archaeological discoveries. While some consider this book scholarly, its lack of citation footnotes or end notes limits its usefulness in academia. Most footnotes used are explanatory in nature. The author provides notes on her sources by chapter, but facts lack individual citation. Some of the source comments do describe how she used the work in her narrative. Extensive illustrations are used, but in the paperback edition, all appear in black and white. It is unknown if the hardcover edition makes use of needed color illustrations of some of the discovered textiles. I expected the book to be a little broader in scope than it was, but it seemed to focus mainly on spinning and weaving. Those who adhere to "young earth" theories will question the dating of materials as they do with most works focusing on this era.

>164 thornton37814: "Perhaps the saddest photograph shows the now idle observatory refractor. The city's expansion means it never grows dark enough in the evening to make observations."

I think it's both sad and hopeful when one form of scientific progress is rendered obsolete by another. It's sad the refractor can't be used but I'm glad the city is lit safely with electricity and not gas, candles, and firelight.

>165 thornton37814: "Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years"

Best title award goes to.... :D

"Those who adhere to "young earth""

I adhere to the ground under my feet which is up to 680,000,000 years old. >;-)

>166 spiralsheep: True. It's a mixed bag.

>167 spiralsheep: A friend purchased this from my Amazon wish list for me. The day it arrived, it was raining. I might have thought about the flood in Genesis when I picked up the package and found the book water-damaged. At least it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I managed to fan out the pages and dry them with a fan.

>168 thornton37814: It's idiomatic isn't it? A disaster "of biblical proportions", and a world flood or deluge is one of the oldest tropes of all disaster tales. It also gives us delightful words such as antediluvian, which I've always enjoyed using.

I have no luck drying out books without bending and crinkling. I hope you managed better than I do.

>169 spiralsheep: I do believe the Bible. I believe in a Creator God. I also believe geology shows evidence of a flood. I leave the geologic dating to others.

>170 thornton37814: I hope your beliefs bring you peace. :-)

>171 spiralsheep: And because this doesn't come across in text unless I type and post it: the blank bit in the above comment is me listening to you, because I believe in listening carefully to people.

>171 spiralsheep: >172 spiralsheep: No problem. There is disagreement within the Christian community on geologic dating. While I know how I lean, I don't think it's worth debating so I leave that to people with more subject expertise. My faith brings me great hope, joy, and peace.

>170 thornton37814: I'm with you!

>174 Tess_W: Thanks!

Book 71. The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant by Kayte Nunn

Date Completed: 2 May 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: In 1951 a woman's husband commits her to a mental asylum in one of the Scilly Isles. She becomes attracted to the doctor. In 2018 a marine scientist discovers letters addressed to Esther Durrant from "R." when she becomes marooned on the island. She becomes determined to reunite them to the parties. While a lot more happens in the novel, this summarizes the main story line. The remainder involves the life of the marine biologist, the female patient and her granddaughter, and the other patients and staff of the asylum, including a tragic moment. I'm not a fan of the alternating time periods that seem to be all the rage at the moment, and this one had moments it worked better than at others.

>176 thornton37814: - Hey, Lori - Seems to me I saw this somewhere else and decided against a book bullet. I don't usually mind alternating time periods, so not sure why I decided not to read this - maybe too many book bullets already?

>177 dudes22: I don't remember who delivered the book bullet to me. I had just checked within the last couple of weeks, and it was an expected 14-week wait, so I was shocked when it showed up for me. I guess people really are using that feature to delay it.

>178 thornton37814: - I know here in RI (we're small so it's all one ILL system), if there's someone from the home library waiting, they get it before it goes to another library even if they're not first on the list. So sometimes you get a book sooner than you'd think. Does that make sense?

Anyway - I might put this back on the BB list.

>179 dudes22: I didn't look to see if I had an "advantage," but they may have been the case.

Book 72. Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer

Date Completed: 7 May 2021

Category: Peacock (Mysteries set in locations other than US & British Isles)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: 1920s Egypt provides the setting for this debut novel featuring Jane Wunderly. Jane accompanied her Aunt Millie to Cairo where they stayed at the Mena House. When Anna, a colonel's daughter, dies, Jane becomes a suspect. She meets Redvers, an intriguing man who assists her in her sleuthing efforts while pursuing his own interests which remain mysterious for much of the novel. A second murder occurs. Guests' travel plans force Jane and Redvers to step up their sleuthing efforts before parties of interest leave the country. This is the best debut mystery I've read in a long time. I wish the author many more well-written and well-plotted mysteries featuring Jane and Redvers. The Egyptian setting for this one reminds me of the Amelia Peabody series, but I suspect similarities will not be present when the series moves from that location. I listened to the audio book well read by Sarah Zimmerman.

>181 thornton37814: This sounds like something I would like and my library has it so I'll pick it up next time I go.

>182 clue: It's been on my radar since before its release. Carrie (cbl_tn) just finished it and loved it. I decided I needed to bump it up, and since the audiobook was available at a time I needed a new one, I grabbed it. I'm so glad I did.

>181 thornton37814: on my WL that goes!

>184 Tess_W: I think you'll enjoy it.

Book 73. Murder by Milk Bottle by Lynne Truss

Date Completed: 9 May 2021

Category: Puffin (Mystery set in UK or Ireland)

Rating: 1 stars

Review: I simply fail to connect with the characters and plots in the Constable Twitten series. I began reading this one a couple months ago. I decided I had too much else on my mind to continue it and would pause it until I was past some things that demanded more of my attention. Unfortunately I never felt I understood what was going on other than that someone had been murdered by a milk bottle. I think I'll stick to Truss' non-fiction in the future. I received an advance review copy through NetGalley with a hope, but not requirement of, an honest review. Mine is very tardy. Frankly, if I had not won this book and felt obligated to review it, I would have abandoned it.

Book 74. Jesus in Me: Experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion by Anne Graham Lotz

Date Completed: 9 May 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: In one of the most engaging Christian books I've read in months, Anne Graham Lotz discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. Drawing heavily from Scripture and relating life experiences to which the reader can relate, she examines the Spirit's role as a constant companion and takes us through the roles Scripture gives to this part of the Trinity. She encourages readers to spend time in the Word and in prayer. I will seek other books by Lotz to use in my devotional times as I appreciated her writing style.

Book 75. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Date Completed: 10 May 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Cute and well-illustrated fable that focuses on kindness. The horse seems to be the wisest in this one.

Responses are in your other thread.

#75? Congratulations!

Yes. That was #75. I have several others in process, but it may be a couple days before I finish any.

Book 76. The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook: More than 100 Recipes from the Best Little Bakery in the South by Cheryl Day and Griffith Day with Amy Paige Condon

Date Completed: 13 May 2021

Category: Hummingbird (Domestic Arts)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: An interesting collection of recipes from a Savannah bakery. Its recipes include both sweet and savory recipes. Recipes are grouped by 1) Breakfast, 2) Coffee Cakes, Quick Breads, and Sweet Yeast Breads, 3) Cupcakes and Cakes, 4) Pies, Cobblers, Crisps, and Tarts, 5) Puddings and Custards, 6) Cookies, 7) Brownies and Bars, 8) Confections, and 9) Savories. Most people will find at least a few recipes of interest. Many recipes include variations that can be incorporated. I will try to remember to visit the bakery the next time I'm in Savannah.

Book 77. Deadly Anniversaries edited by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini

Date Completed: 14 May 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Each short story occurs on an event anniversary in this anthology compiled by the Mystery Writers of America and edited by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini. Few mystery short stories work well for me because authors simply lack time to build an interesting plot. About three worked really well for me, and a couple of others seemed better than average. I tried one author's series in the past and found I hated her short story just as much as her series. One story alternated between the past and the present--an over-used style I hate more and more each time I encounter it. Overall it is an average to slightly above average mystery short story collection.

Book 78. The Soul of the Family Tree: Ancestors, Stories, and the Spirits We Inherit by Lori Erickson

Date Completed: 15 May 2021

Category: Cardinal (History and Genealogy)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: Lori Erickson became interested in her family history, but her infatuation focused more on the Norwegian ethnicity and potential connection to Leif Ericson than to correctly tracing her ancestry or a true exploration of her spiritual heritage. For most of the book she focused on what she wanted to learn rather than verifying the information first. While the narrative does not bore, it fails to demonstrate sound genealogical research. It does perhaps emphasize the influence of epigenetics. She finally visited a museum, hiring a research to investigate one line. Although she mentions the conversion of many Norwegians to the Lutheran faith and Norse mythology, she never really explored those connections in the light of her own family history. It seemed to be more at a macro level than the micro level. I found myself disappointed a Christian publishing house published this book whose author's own statements fail to acknowledge the power of the Cross, opting instead for a dualistic-type religion. This review is based on an advance readers' edition provided through LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.

Book 79. An Amish Husband for Tillie by Amy Lillard

Date Completed: 16 May 2021

Category: Lorikeet (Other Fiction & Literature)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Near Christmas Tillie Gingerich returns to her Pontotoc County, Mississippi Amish home without the father of her soon-to-be-born child. She followed Melvin to Columbus when he left the Amish, working in a day care while he followed his dream to work with engines. She knew she wanted her child to grow up in the Amish country rather than the English world. Her dream, however, is impossible unless Melvin returns and marries her. She faces excommunication and shunning. Levi Yoder wanted nothing more than to hibernate after his wife and unborn child died a few months earlier. His sister Mims tries to help him, but he retreats more and more. Although much of the plot seems predictable, I felt connected to the characters and wanted the best for Tillie and her child. I wanted the Christmas miracle I knew would happen. I knew a specific death must take place for the miracle to take place so that did not catch me by surprise. I received this book through a GoodReads giveaway. While a review was not required, one is appreciated.

>194 thornton37814: DANGIT. That's a bookbullet for me and I wasn't planning on reading another "Amish" book.

Maybe the library has it...

...just checked, nope.

>195 fuzzi: I think it is still pre-release so you may not be out of luck with the library yet.

>196 thornton37814: thanks!

>197 fuzzi: No problem!

Book 80. All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment by Hannah Anderson

Date Completed: 21 May 2021

Category: Sparrow (Religion & Spirituality)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: This readable book based on Philippians 4:8 is great for personal or group Bible study. Some may ask how an author can write an entire book on a single verse. The answer lies in the book's organization. Part one's chapters bear these titles: Taste and See, The Good Earth, and Worldly Wise; part two's are: Whatever Is True, Whatever Is Honorable, Whatever Is Just, Whatever Is Pure, Whatever Is Lovely, Whatever I Commendable; and part three's are: Every Good Gift and Our Common Good. i only discovered the questions for discussion when I got to the end of the e-book, but they help readers focus on the main point of the chapter. Sometimes the main point got lost in the personal illustrations when reading alone. I will look for other Bible studies by this author.

Book 81. Murder in Chianti by Camilla Trinchieri

Date Completed: 21 May 2021

Category: Peacock (World Mysteries)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: This excellent debut mystery features former NYPD police detective Nico Doyle who moves to his deceased wine's Italian town. A small dog alerts him to a problem in some wooded property adjoining his own. He calls the local carabinieri when he discovers a murdered man. Nico, fired from his position and with no other remaining family, moved near his wife's family where he helps them with a restaurant. He loves culinary experimentation. When Perillo, the local maresciallo, discovers Nico's background, he asks for his unofficial assistance in the investigation. In spite of his request for assistance, Perillo does appear to be a competent investigator. I loved this book which reminds me of Martin Walker's Bruno series with an Italian rather than French setting. I look forward to reading the next in series.

Book 82. Falling in Love by Donna Leon

Date Completed: 22 May 2021

Category: Peacock (World Mysteries)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Opera diva Flavia Petrelli returns to Venice to star in Tosca. Guido Brunetti and wife Paola enjoy a performance. He learns a stalker sent large yellow rose bouquets to her dressing room and apartment. She feels violated the fan could find where she lives. When the stalker makes attempts to murder persons associated with the singer, Guido and his team step up their efforts to protect Flavia and catch a potential killer. It was nice to become reacquainted with Flavia and see where life took her over the years since her first encounter with Guido. While little time is spent on the wrap-up and readers may entertain lingering questions, the perpetrator received a measure of justice, whether ideal or not.

>199 thornton37814: I love Hannah Anderson! I read All That’s Good a couple years ago, but I’ve been a fan of her podcast for much longer than that.

>202 casvelyn: I enjoyed her book. I made several highlights.

Book 83. The Mist by Ragnar Jonasson

Date Completed: 26 May 2021

Category: Peacock (World Mysteries)

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Following her own daughter's suicide, Hulda is called to a remote eastern Icelandic farm to investigate a murder. During the course of the investigation, they stumble across something linking the case to a missing Reykjavik daughter and father. We also see what's happening as the story unfolds. I enjoyed the dark, suspenseful feel to this novel. The author did a great job of waiting until the perfect time to reveal certain things.

>204 thornton37814: The Mist sounds good, Lori. I've picked up the first book in the Hulda series.

>205 DeltaQueen50: I enjoy that series.

Yesterday morning my PC laptop gave up the ghost. It refuses to start again. Everything should be backed up to Carbonite so loss should be minimal. I'll pick up a new MacBook Pro later this afternoon (probably in the midst of a big predicted rainstorm). It will take me a bit to get things set up as I had a prescheduled Zoom Genealogy Chat this evening. I'll begin it via the iPad and work on getting things set up. I spent yesterday determining which of my subscription software will allow me to install without purchasing a license. Fortunately the Office 365, Adobe stuff, and my genealogy software are all on the good-to-go end. I've identified a couple of minor things for which I'll need alternatives, but I've got several suggestions and should be okay. After Memorial Day, I'll see if the PC laptop can be revived with more expert assistance or if I can rescue the hard drive, encasing it as an external drive.

Sounds like you are prepared to go, even in the face of an "emergency"!

>207 thornton37814: Eep! Nightmare! I'm glad you're organised and have a plan. I'd probably just panic.

Good luck!

>208 Tess_W: I hope so.

>209 spiralsheep: Sometimes you do what you "gotta do."

>210 RidgewayGirl: Yes. I'm looking forward to this. I made the decision last year that I'd replace this one with a Mac. It's been slow for a year, but it always passed all the diagnostics. I knew something was wrong, but I could never decide what it was.

A new computer is both scary and exciting. Good luck with your setup and I hope you are up and running in no time!

>212 DeltaQueen50: The file download is going very slowly. I'm supposed to be able to download up to 10 GB at a time from Carbonite, but I'm finding that I get error messages with more than 7 GB. So I've basically gone to doing it at a top folder level if it is under 7 GB. If that folder is large (such as my genealogy one), I'm having to use the next level and sometimes the level after that on graphic-intensive folders. It's going pretty well overall. I decided to stop for the evening so I can do something else. I did install the printer driver and make sure it worked. Everything downloads to a Zip file so I have to unzip everything to the folder and move it into the directory where I want it. At the moment, I'm keeping my old file structure (mainly so I can make sure I have everything before I transfer Carbonite to the Mac), but I plan to move some stuff around eventually. That was actually something I planned to do beginning this summer anyway. I'll just do it a little bit at a time. It will eventually get done. But as you can see, I can log onto LibraryThing! I need to review an audio book finished yesterday and a non-fiction one finished today while I was waiting on some of the bigger downloads.

Wow, Lori, you sound like you are on top of everything! When I get a new computer I just take the old and new one in to the Geeks and let them do all the transfers and set-up.

Book 84. Bowled Over by Victoria Hamilton

Date Completed: 28 May 2021

Category: Bald Eagle (Mysteries with U.S. setting)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Jaymie loves vintage kitchenware. Jaymie took potato salad to the town picnic in a vintage depression glass bowl which someone used to kill Kathy Cooper, a long-time childhood friend who began feuding with her in high school for reasons unknown to Jaymie. Jaymie decides to help the local detective solve the case--since her bowl was the weapon. Since she's an amateur sleuth, you can expect her to get herself into trouble with her nosiness. The audio narration is a little too much on the "sweet" side for me. Still this is a fun series with lots of twists and turns. The solution was not immediately obvious and kept the reader guessing.

Book 85. The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany by Gwen Strauss

Date Completed: 29 May 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Nine women who worked for the Resistance were captured and sent to camps. Their courage saved them when they fell out of line, hid, and fled the camp before they were sent to the crematorium. They faced many challenges while escaping, but these women already led remarkable lives. While the author favors her own relative Helene in this account, she references accounts written or told by the other women. I felt the documentation was sparse in this account, but most of it did come from the women's accounts or from interviews with their descendants. The advance review copy included some photographs which will hopefully be of better quality in the final book. At times the narrative did not flow well. Much of this was because of skipping between the current story and back story and because of telling the story of other women in chapters with a different one of the nine named in the chapter title. I received an advance review copy through GoodReads. Although reviews are appreciated, they are not required.

Book 86. Death Comes to London by Catherine Lloyd

Date Completed: 31 May 2021

Category: Puffin (Mysteries set in British Isles)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Major Robert Kurland goes to London where he will receive a noble title for his war valor. Lucy and Anna Harrington, daughters of Kurland St. Mary's rector, travel to London for the season, hoping to find a husband. Robert runs into an old army acquaintance. When the acquaintance's relative, the Dowager Countess of Broughton, dies under suspicious circumstances, the amateur sleuths (Robert and Lucy) use the developing scientific field of poison identification to determine how she met her death and who might be responsible. I found the book enjoyable although the mystery takes a back seat to some of the other less enjoyable plot elements, such as the pursuit of marriage.

Book 87. Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet: A Culinary Journey through Southeast Asia by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid

Date Completed: 31 May 2021

Category: Hummingbird (Domestic Arts)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: I wanted to like this cookbook more than I did. The illustrations were lovely, and the authors present a variety of recipes for those wanting to make dishes from countries such as Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, and Laos in Southeast Asia. I just did not connect that much with the travel narrative section, and I did not find many recipes I would want to try in my own home. I'll probably stick to occasionally enjoying these cuisines in specialty restaurants.

Book 88. Journeys Home: Inspiring Stories, Plus Tips & Strategies to Find Your Family History featuring Andrew McCarthy, Joyce Maynard, Pico Iyer, Diane Johnson, & the National Geographic Travel Teams

Date Completed: 1 June 2021

Category: Cardinal (History and Genealogy)

Rating: 3 stars

Review: National Geographic brings us this book, published in 2015, on heritage tourism. Using journalists' stories about their family history, each takes a trip to an ancestral home. Some authors followed better genealogical practices than others did. Some simply relied on family stories which may or may not be correct. A few made their journey based on National Geographic's now-defunct DNA test. I was disappointed the well-documented stories of well-regarded genealogists who also know how to write were not included. Most stories contain a "Connections" sidebar which often includes restaurants or recipes and a "Get to Know" sidebar providing information about the country. A brief "Genealogy 101" section and country-specific research tips are included after the stories. The country-specific information is often too brief to be all that helpful, but it often points to the FamilySearch wiki which remains useful and updated as more and more microfilm and records are digitized around the world. Some information, of course, is dated. For example, National Geographic no longer offers their DNA test. There are a couple of new players in the field and a glaring omission of 23andMe as a DNA testing company. The best books on genetic genealogy have been written since the book's publication, making that section dated. Some major digital repositories for some countries seem to be missing, but some of these may have come online since the book's publication. The book appeals more to a recreational genealogist than addicted ones.

Just stopping in to say hello.

I did make a note of Murder in Chianti. Sounds like it would be good.

>217 thornton37814: After reading your review, I've put Death Comes to Bath on hold. Catherine Lloyd is prolific!

>220 hailelib: I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

>221 pamelad: I took the book bullet from someone else here on LT.

Book 89. Death Walks in Eastrepps by Francis Beeding

Date Completed: 2 June 2021

Category: Puffin (Mysteries set in British Isles)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Corresponding to the regular clandestine visits of a man to a married woman, a serial killer appears to target the victims who lost money in a venture. The whole town becomes fearful with regular patrols of the street. On the night of one such venture, an up-and-coming Scotland Yard sergeant makes an arrest. The evidence, while circumstantial, appears solid to those reviewing the rest. While the man admits to other crimes, he denies the murders. I spotted the solution pretty early in the novel, but the author did a pretty good job at making readers who came to that conclusion second-guess themselves. This classic golden age mystery provides readers with an interesting case.

Abandoned Book #2: Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen

Date Abandoned: 3 June 2021

Category: Raven (Abandoned Reads)

Comments: Abandoned. This book was not for me. The language was too crude. The writing style just didn't work. It was supposed to be funny, but I never got far enough to determine it. I'm not sure whether a friend's review or a publisher's blurb placed it on my radar. It didn't live up to its promise.

Book 90. The Family Tree: A Lynching in Georgia, A Legacy of Secrets, and My Search for the Truth by Karen Branan

Date Completed: 7 June 2021

Category: Cardinal (History & Genealogy)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Karen Branan relates the story of her family sparked by her discovery of a lynching in Hamilton, Georgia, her ancestral town. She found herself related to one of those hanged because of an ancestor's second family with a black woman. While it is obvious the author researched the story well, the story seemed to drag a little too much in places. In places she seems to include abstract information that could not come from an interviewed source and did not come from the cited account. It is an interesting read that shows a dark side of Southern history. I appreciated the author's family chart in the front of the book which helped place individuals. I detest the blind endnotes used in this book. Please give me footnotes or at least numbered endnotes so one is aware of their existence!