Esquiress: Ju(lies), truths, a reckoning, and a hiatus (Thread 7)

The books I read in the first third of the year are as follows:

January (was new to the group, so didn't know about TIOLI challenges, or even what TIOLI stood for!)
1. The Silver Linings Playbook - e-book
2. Complete Warrior - e-book
3. Complete Arcane - e-book
4. Eberron Campaign Setting - e-book
5. American Psycho - PBS
6. Ready Player One - BOTS, SantaThing
7. Mania: The Story of the Outraged & Outrageous Lives That Launched a Cultural Revolution - ER
8. About a Boy - e-book

February (participated in both Fantasy February and some of the February TIOLI challenges)
9. Shades of Grey - BOTS
10. Graceling - Library
11. The Knife of Never Letting Go - e-book
12. The Alloy of Law - BOTS
13. The Woman Who Died a Lot - BOTS
14. The Simultaneous Man - PBS
15. White Lines - ER

March (participated in a March TIOLI challenge for every book I read)
16. Approaching the Hunger Games Trilogy: A Literary and Cultural Analysis - ER
17. Bimbos of the Death Sun - PBS
18. The Gilded Chamber - BOTS
19. The Bean Trees - PBS
20. The Round House - e-book
21. Gertrude and Claudius - BOTS
22. Me Talk Pretty One Day - e-book
23. Nothing Serious - ER

Atwood April (participated in one all-books-encompassing TIOLI challenge)
24. Lady Oracle - BOTS, PBS
25. Surfacing - BOTS, PBS
26. Bodily Harm - BOTS, PBS
27. In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination - e-book
28. Life Before Man - BOTS
29. The Penelopiad - BOTS

Here are the books I've read so far in the second third of the year:

May (participating in multiple TIOLI challenges)
30. The History Boys - PBS
31. The Complete Persepolis - BOTS
32. The Heroin Chronicles - ER
33. The Reluctant Fundamentalist - BOTS
34. Six-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak by Writers Famous and Obscure - Purchased
35. A Thousand Splendid Suns - BOTS
36. Olive Kitteridge - PBS

June (participating in multiple TIOLI challenges)
37. Six Words About Work - PBS
38. 14 Cows for America - library
39. A Monster Calls - library
40. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain - library
41. The Night Circus - audio, library
42. Love All: A Novel - ER
43. Arcadia - audio, library
44. Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians - library
45. The Song of Achilles - library
46. The Marijuana Chronicles - ER
47. Liesl & Po - audio, library
48. Where'd You Go, Bernadette - e-book, purchased

July
49. Requiem - gift
50. Code Name Verity - e-book

August
51. The Geek's Guide to Dating - ER
52. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - BOTS, from Roni!

September

October

Oh Es, I have been sitting staring blankly at my screen trying to think of an adequate response to make your message but I think anything I can say will inevitably be inadequate.

I think it was very brave of you to post that for a start. I can't imagine what you have had to go through over the last year. I'm glad you have had and will continue to have support from your husband, parents and theatre group.

I'm sorry to hear the house arrest will mean you can't post on LT especially as you've mentioned this has also been a source of support over the last few months. I will be thinking of and praying for you (if that's OK?) whilst you aren't able to post and I hope your husband can update us occasionally as to how you're doing.

Es - You are a brave lady to put up that message. My heart goes out to you and I'm sending you and all your family hugs aplenty from tropical climes.
Your thread will be kept going during your leave of absence and I trust that you will stay positive in the warmth of your family, friends (including all of us) and reflect upon the complicatedness of life and some of the difficulties it presents to us and which you will overcome. xx

While I don't think I've posted on your thread, I have followed and gotten some great book recommendations. Your message is heartbreaking and brave. You will be in my prayers (sorry, I'm Southern Baptist...it can't be helped) and thoughts.

Es - I've not been posting on your thread very long, but even I can see that your first post of this thread is very brave. That indeed sounds like an awful series of events, with one thing piling on another. It seems as if LT has been a refuge for you in recent times, in which case to lose that seems harsh. However I am sure you will take this on the chin and be back with us as soon as you can. It will be overcome.
I do hope your husband can continue to let us know what you're reading and that you find something to loose yourself in over the next few months.
All the best and remember that we'll be thinking of you.

Es, I had much the same reaction as Heather, I just can't come up with the words. Posting that message was very brave of you. You will be in my thoughts as well, and I am very glad that you have the support of your husband and family. For my part, I will look forward to welcoming you back in three months time.

Thinking of you, Es, and hoping things go well for you. I'll miss you on my thread, and look forward to hearing from you again.

I also have never posted on your thread but have enjoyed your contributions to other's threads. I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Sending you only kindness and love in my thoughts.

Es, I join others in applauding your courage and I wish you healing and peace in the months to come. You will be missed around here and, as Paul said, we will do our best to keep your thread alive during your hiatus. And we will look forward to your return.

Keep taking good care of you, Kristy. It's what you need to focus on for now.

Es- Thanks for having the courage to tell us of your current situation. I cannot imagine dealing with those difficult issues. Hang in there, my friend. We will be waiting patiently for your return. Gentle Hugs!

Wow, I can't imagine the hell your life has been. We will indeed be waiting for you when you get back, and I bet you'll have some great reading to report. As with others on the thread, we're pray-ers, so will be putting you and your family right at the top of our list if hat's ok.

I'm another lurker so you may not know my name very well, but I'd like to add in my awe at your courage in the face of everything you're going through. I'm a firm believer that experiences like this make us stronger. I have no doubt that you can get through this. You'll be in my thoughts until we can all welcome you back.

*hugs* for you, Es. I hope you get some good reading and cleaning done on your hiatus. I'm very glad that you have such a supportive family, husband, & theater group. I look forward to your return.

Hi Es; saw on Paul's that you need hugs, so dropping by with loads. Am a bit snowed under - have just moved countries & getting the kids settled, so just a quick visit. (My reading's taking a hit at the moment.)

Look forward to seeing you back on LT. Glad the musical is going well; the friendship and support backstage seem to get stronger towards the end, so hope that helps you through, too. Wishing you the very best. Stay strong.

Oh dear!
Es, you poor thing. I cant imagine how stressful you have had it these last months. What a nightmare.
Thank goodness you have the support of your husband and friends at the musical society. I suppose the 3 months will go quickly, so long as you are fully stocked with books?

I am very sorry to hear about your grandmothers death. I was close to my grandma, and their influence on our lives cant be underestimated. (((hugs)))

Like Heather says, there are no words to express what I'd like to. I'll be praying for you over the next few months, and do hope you manage to get a good bunch of reading in during your hiatus. We'll miss you too!

Es, it just occurred to me that you won't be attending the National Book Festival meetup in September. I'm disappointed that I won't get to meet you in person quite yet. I hope you'll be able to make it to another meetup when you have some time.

Oh Es, how bloody awful for you. What an ordeal. And how courageous of you to share. You will be missed in hiatus - but it is wonderful that your family are being a support through all of this. I suffer from 'the black dog' also, and can only imagine what it must be like for you with all of these other stressors and difficulties. I am not a pray-er, but you will be in my thoughts and always near my heart. Stay strong - this, too, shall pass.

My dear Esqrss who is Kristy, please know that I'm another pray-er who will be with you in spirit over the next 3 months. I can't begin to imagine what the last year and a piece have been for you. Do by all means ask your husband to check in here from time to time with updates. I expect he'll find new messages any time he checks. Every time you read something, remind yourself that you have friends here who will be eager to hear what you thought of it and who are wishing you well. I think you are a strong, strong woman to have coped so far. Hold on to who you are and hold on to the love.

Dear ES,
lots of sparkles and hugs from my side of the continent for you now. Like everyone else, I can't imagine what this last year emotionally has meant to you and I am sorry to hear about the three month to come. Like Peggy said, I also will stay with you in spirit in those 3 month and I am very much looking forward when you are going to be back. I am glad that your husband will let us know how you are faring.
Stay strong, try to keep up your spirit and good reading.
Lots of hugs Bianca :)

I don't have words, but know that my thoughts are with you. So glad you have support as well. Looking forward to hearing from you post-hiatus!

Just echoing what everyone else has said so well here. I think you are brave to share so much, and I am sure you must have had your heart in your throat while you were writing your journey down for us, hoping you could entrust us with your story. Courage is a powerful thing and so is trust - you can stand on them and they will hold you up. And so while you started this thread with just one voice, look how many have joined yours! You are not alone.

Hoping that while you are away you will have time for reflections and healing. For deep breaths and a renewal of joy. In the meantime, we will be thinking of you and those of us who pray will be praying for you. We will be waiting and helping to count down the days. And when you come back, we can raise a glass to new beginnings and old friends. Please take good care of you, Kristy.

Es, I've been off the computer with a miserable feverish cold the last 10 days, and just came back to see your new thread. Definitely took a lot of courage! We'll be here when you get back. As others have said, time for healing and growth, peace and renewal.

Like many others I'm a lurker... and I have to add my... my I don't know whats...my hope and thoughts and wishes for you and that you can get through everything. I do hope that your love of books helps you through. Be strong and we look forward to having you back with us.

Somehow the thing I find most shocking in the whole story is that house arrest includes a social media ban, which seems almost like a cruel and unusual punishment in the modern world.

On the other hand, I was just thinking about I could really use some time away from the internet, to read and think and be academically productive. I hope you'll end up finding a silver lining in the situation.

As for meetups, what do you (and Nora) think about Baltimore on Sunday, November 24? I'll be there for a conference from the 20-23, and I'd really like to visit this Book Thing that Madeline keeps telling us about.

>28 _Zoe_: I'm likely to be out of town a lot in Nov/early Dec for work so I can't make any promises.

I might be able to do something in B'more.

de-lurking to provide:
{{{{{Esquiress}}}}}

You and your family and friends will be in my thoughts and prayers in the coming months.

Es, thinking of you in that situation and sending my hugs and prayers. Keep going, we love you here

*BIG HUGS* - I will miss you while you are away.... you are strong and brave and wonderful! I have enjoyed your comments and book recs.... you will be in my thoughts through the coming months!

Hi, all. Thanks so much for all of the encouraging words, thoughts, prayers, glitter, and everything else that's being sent my way.

The musical I was in just closed last night, and tomorrow is the day I will be put on my monitor.

Because of rehearsals, I haven't gotten much reading done. I'll have my husband let you know when I finish Code Name Verity or Reading Lolita in Tehran!

Thanks again, all. You're great people.

*Hugs* So glad to see you, Es. I miss you already. :(

Please add my support to those above. I can only imagine what you went, and are still going through.

Gentle hugs to you.

Keep singing!It's amazing how my mood changes when I sing.

#34 I just started Code Name Verity and I like it a lot so far. Will be thinking of you.

Delurking to say that I admire your courage in coming forth with this and hope you are able to come through it with flying colors on the wings of all the good wishes offered for you here. You have many friends who are hoping for the best for you.

I am in tears, Es. Tears. I haven't been around much lately myself and I just am now trying to catch up on threads. I come here and find that you have opened your heart, mind, and life to us with an amazing amount of courage and trust. I hope you see from all the messages above me that this community, although virtual, is filled with folks who love you.

I wish you were able to participate in LT over the next 3 months, but just know that we will do our best to keep your thread going.

You already know that I'm a pray-er (borrowed from Jim) so I will be keeping you in mine. (((hugs)))

And special love to Kristy's hubby for supporting her and keeping her informed of our love and well wishes over the next few months!!

Am keeping a weather eye on your thread, for good news. Will delurk occasionally.

Bad cess to me. I didn't make it back to say how much I hope you have a productive hiatus (!). That's one in the eye for all of them. I keep thinking how easily any teacher might find herself in your position. I'm so sorry that it happened to you. SO, as I say, make a way to enjoy all the reading that you're going to have time to do. If your house gets cleaned too, my hat's off to you. (Deep cleaning is not a thing I charted for myself in retirement.)
Do you have a way to exercise? I'd think 3 or 4 trips to the gym a week would be a very sensible thing for the justice system to allow you.
I'd tell you about my reading but it's all over the place except for Religions of Rome (which you probably don't want to hear about) and The Wasp Factory which I'm plugging along with. Oh. And The Great Hunt. I find fantasy pretty impossible to talk about to people who don't read it and pretty meaningless to talk about to people who do, beyond saying how entertaining this and that were.
Will return.

Kristy, first of all, it's great to know your name. Thank you for trusting us with that and your story. Three months...your house will be sparkling clean, and I predict that you will be one of the best read in this group for that period. I'm glad you have a strong support team, and I look forward to your return in the fall. Stay strong. You are in my prayers.

Back for a pop-in dose of glitter. Since you always decorate mine, it's the least I can do while you can't be here to spread your own sparkles.

Love and hugs, Kristy.

Update to wish you the best of possible weekends considering your situation.

Just coming back to wish you well.

(((hugs)))

Me too! Take care of yourself!

Hubby, please let Es know we are thinking of her. Also, suggest that she do all her book reviews in a word processing program as she goes along so she can load them all onto LT easily when she gets back.

Thinking of you and hope that you had a better start into August than into July

I've been very slack with keeping up with threads the last few months, I'm so sorry I've been away so long and missed you before your hiatis began.

I can only reiterate what everyone else has said.

My thoughts will be with you over the next few months. I'm sure you'll come out the other side stronger.
When you have a hard day just remember we all love you and are on your side looking forward to your return.

Bodices! I say.

Good to see you're keeping your chin up, Es.

Thanks very much for the update. Wish you all the best on the job front - and praying that you may stay sane in these circumstances.

Thanks to your husband for the update Es!!
The financial strain sounds just as hard as the rest of the situation you find yourself in! Have you thought of writing a book based on your experiences? It certainly sound plot-worthy, but could take longer than 3 months to write.
Take care!

Great to hear from you, Kristy!!! Many thanks to your husband for posting!
Glad to hear that things look possible on the job front and that things are going well on the bodice front.
Oh dear. I may be forced to add Code Name Verity to the hyper-obese wish list.
Keep reading!

So glad to see some sort of good-ish news from the Es/K front. We miss you!! Can't wait to hear more about the RenFest job and see pictures! (when you're allowed)

Dear Kristy's Hubby -- thank you for typing her update to us as we all have been missing her and wishing good things for you both.

Hi Es, so happy that your hubby was able to keep us updated. Your job sounds like it's fun and keeps you busy. Hang in there and know that we are looking forward to your return.

Hello Kristy - thanks to your hubby and you for the update. Great to hear from you - and sounding so upbeat. Fingers crossed for your job interviews and know that you are missed here. I hate it when bad things happen to good people!

Es, I'm so glad to get an update. Your temp job sounds like fun. At least it gets you out of the house - and not many can say they've served lunch to the queen! Best of luck on the permanent job front. I look forward to your next posting. Thanks, Kristy's husband!

*quick catch-up*

Popping in to say hello!

Just saying you are missed and far from forgotten, Es - I hope your job hunting is 'panning out'.

Flew over to say hello

{{{{{{hugs}}}}}

Words fail me.

{{{{{Esquiress}}}}}

Ditto. :(

*hugs*

I have no words.

*Hugs*

Oh, Es. I am SO SORRY for your loss.

{{{Hugs}}} Words fail me. I'm so sorry for your loss. It must be hard to stay positive when so much has happened, but know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Oh, Kristy, I'm so very sorry about your husband. You will be in my thoughts and prayers for a long time.

{{hugs}}

Kristy, my heartfelt sympathy to you. Please take care of yourself.

Loss of words - sympathy and prayers for you

Es - I am adding my own thoughts, prayers and warm wishes to you in the hope and expectation that you will come through this torridly difficult time. We'll still be here to hear when you call. x

Oh my gosh, Kristy.... I too have no words to convey my sadness for you. Oh dear one, I can't imagine what all you are going through but just know we all love you and will keep you in our hearts, minds, and prayers!!!

Love to you Kristy!

Friends,

Thank you so much for your kindness, prayers, hugs, and support.

Today was my first day back at the Faire, and I got lots of love there too.

The best thing for me is to be surrounded by love, whether it's from family, my jobs, or the Internet. So thank you, one and all.

Much Love,
Es

I agree with the others--words simply fail me. {{{{{hugs}}}}}

Oh Es, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Please take care of yourself and know that we will be here when you are ready to return.

Big, supporting HUGS to our pal, Es! We miss you!

Oh no, Kristy. That is unbearably sad news. I am deeply sorry for your loss.

You all are so wonderful. I've not been reading much, but I think of my pals here often.

You are in my thoughts and prayers regularly, Kristy.

{{{{Kristy}}}

Weekend ((((((Hugs)))))))

Oh my gosh, Es. I'm so very sorry.

Hoping things go so very much better for you soon.

I am back on LT after a three month absence. OH... MY... GOSH!! I simply cannot find the words. I am so sorry. I am sending you a huge mental hug.

Hi, all.
Yeah, you know life's getting in the way when you haven't really read much at all for at least a month. :)
Love to everyone. Thanks for the support.
I even forget how to make an LT heart!

I forgot how to show the book cover in my message...but it came back to me.

Oh Es, I'm so sorry to hear about your husband. There just aren't words but I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

I'm needing all the vibes, prayers, support, whatever anyone sends.

I left my day job early Monday because I couldn't keep it together, and I had to leave the Ren Faire early today too since I was crying most of the day.

I won't say it is sinking in so much as hitting me harder as the reality of how dire my situation is is coming to a head. So. Much. Paperwork.

More tropical hugs Es. I hope things ease a little for you in coming days. xx

*Hugs*

I keep praying for you, Es. and *hugs*

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

{{{Kristy}}}

Hang in there--lots of love here!

Es- I cannot believe this. There is nothing I can say, apart from I'm so sorry for you.

oh Es.... I'm so sorry for your loss.... wish I could have been on sooner to give you my prayers and hugs but know that we are all thinking of you!....

Thinking of you

You are in my thoughts and prayers. In particular during the lead up to the holiday season and the many losses you have been dealt this year.

Hugs.

I'm not sure if you're keeping an eye out here, but hoping things are looking up for you.

Again, haven't been on LT in forever, but popped in today to check on you. Sending good thoughts and hope that your friends and family hold you near during the holidays. Hugs.

Thinking of you during the holidays.

In happy hopes that 2014 will bring ever greater pleasures to your reading world, Es:



Celebrate the return of the light with feasts, merriment, and gratitude for all the wonders of this wide green earth.

RMD

Thinking of you, and miss you here. Wish you a peaceful Christmas

Dropping by to wish you a happy festive season, and the very best for 2014.

Thinking of you, Es.... I don't know if you get to check this yet, but I can't imagine how tough this season is for you right now. We are still here when you get back.

Hoping for a good Christmas for you, Julie, despite everything!

Wanted to wish you and your family the best of health and happiness for the New Year.

107> Me, too. Hope to see you back here soon.