2020 4: LizzieD's Reading Hope Springs Eternal

For readers of Jill McCorkle's HIEROGLYPHICS, here is the long-gone Lorraine Hotel in all its glory.
The only times I remember going in were when Olin Mills Photographers were there taking pictures of the town's children. I thought it was elegant. The lobby was in the basement, so that you walked down upon entering and could admire the tall ceiling two stories above.
On the other hand, Hedgpeth Pharmacy the storefront on the left was a familiar gathering place. The pharmacy itself was also in the basement, but the old-fashioned soda shop with long counter, booths, and round tables was at street level. The teenagers gathered there. Also Miss Dovey Prevatte, the scourge of the fourth grade (after kids had had a pleasant experience with Miss Penny and Miss Bunch Rowland, and Mrs. Priddy), ate lunch there every day. She would take off her white gloves, and then get her own silverware and napkin out of her purse. In those remote days, everybody could go home for lunch and have plenty of time to get back to school for the afternoon's work. I walked to my grandmama's where there were always her biscuits, iced tea, and a fresh apple pie for dessert no matter what else she served. Those were the days!

Books Read

READ IN OCTOBER
48. Crossroads of Twilight
49. Quarter Share
50. Half Share
51.Full Share
52. *Utopia Avenue
53. Double Share

Into the House in October
155. Ancient Bones: Unearthing the Astonishing New Story of How We Became Human ✔ - ER!!!!
156. The Lois McKendrick Omnibus ✔ - Kindle - Birthday $
157. Double Share ✔ - Kindle - Birthday $
158. Children of Earth and Sky - Kindle - Birthday $
159. The Debatable Land ✔ - AMP
160. Lords of the Horizons - AMP - Birthday $
161. Captain's Share ✔ - Kindle - Birthday $
162. Justinian's Flea - AMP - Birthday $
163. An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors - Kindle through BookBub - B'day whim

READ IN NOVEMBER
54. Captain's Share
55. Owner's Share
56. Loyalty in Death
57. The Obelisk Gate
58. In Ashes Born

Into the House in November
164. Warlight ✔ - Kindle through BookBub
165. The Light Years - Kindle through BookBub - B'day whim
166. Owner's Share ✔ - Kindle
167. Creation in Death - PBS
168. Strangers in Death - PBS
169. Great Expectations: The Sons and Daughters of Charles Dickens ✔ - AMP
170. Fantasy in Death - PBS with a little help from my friend
171. Innocent in Death - Ditto
172. Promises in Death - Yet again
173. Night Boat to Tangier - Kindle Daily Deal
174. The Belgariad: Volume One - AMP - Last of the Birthday $
175. In Ashes Born ✔ - Kindle
176. Visions in Death - PBS
177. Memory in Death - PBS
178. New York to Dallas - PBS
179. Martyr - Kindle Deal from long ago
180. Treachery in Death - PBS, and that's all for a long time!
181. A Promised Land
182. Ink and Bone - Kindle Deal
183. To Fire Called ✔ - Kindle
184. Every Heart a Doorway - Tor freebie

READ IN DECEMBER
59. Daughters of Chivalry
60. To Fire Called
61. Hamnet
62. Knife of Dreams

Into the House in December
185. Down Among the Sticks and Bones - Tor freebie
186. Beneath a Sugar Sky - same
187. In an Absent Dream - ditto
188. Come Tumbling Down - do
189. Rodham - Kindle Daily Deal
190. Agatha Christie: Premium Collection - Kindle $.49!!!
191. The Landmark Herodotus - Christmas Gift!!!! (Who could wait to open this one? NOT ME)
192. The Victorian City: Everyday Life in Dickens' London - Same
193. Princesses: The Six Daughters of Geroge III - AMP
194. Sunshield - Kindle Deal through BookBub

Out of the House
Mine ~ 9 Wards'~4

* Review on book page

Open for December Reading



(Just because they're open doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to get to them this month. *sigh*)

Memorable in the First Quarter!
The Silence of the Girls*
Cesare: A Novel of War-Torn Berlin*
At Home*
Tracker*
IN DEATH*

Memorable in the Second Quarter!
RUTH GALLOWAY*
Second-hand Time
Tombland
Dead Wake
The Old Ways*
Isaac's Storm

Memorable in the Third Quarter!
Too Much and Never Enough
Time Was Soft There
The Wizard's Butler
The Fifth Season*

Memorable in the Fourth Quarter!
The Lois McKendrick Omnibus*
Hamnet*
Daughters of Chivalry
Utopia Avenue

* = best of the best because I think of them frequently

I'm not sure what I'm actually reading right now. I'd love to finish one more book in October, but that means that I need to settle on something and read it. Could be *Obelisk*; could be *Hamn*. Could be my TIOLI mystery challenge St. Peter's Finger, which I haven't even bothered to list in >3 LizzieD:.
Anyway, visitors are most welcome!

Gladys Mitchell! Good gracious, haven't seen even a *mention* of her in yonks. Diana Rigg played her series character, didn't she?

Anyway, happy new thread.

Happy new thread, Peggy!

Interesting about the Hedgepeth Pharmacy. When she was little, our daughter got called about any last name that began with an "H" since people panicked about a 3-syllable last-name. This included Hedgepeth, which of course only has 2 syllables; it took us a while to realize that Hedgepeth was a well-known local surname.

And super congrats on your absentee ballots showing up as Accepted. You can breathe again.

Happy new thread!

Yippee! I love a new thread when it's done because I get visitors!!!

Richard, do you remember everything???? You are like my life-long friend Edward, and that's a great compliment. I didn't know that D.R. had done a year of Mrs. Bradley mysteries, but I see that it's so. I think that it was Gail that recommended G. Mitchell, but I knew the name from the Virago group, I think. This one hasn't come alive for me yet.

Oh, I see the spelling comparison, Karen. Hedgpeth is definitely a local name. When I worked in AFDC, one of my office mates was S. Jolitz. I was P. Edens. We got lots of calls asking for "Miss Eeeee...." or Miss "YOoooo...."
Incidentally, you guessed somewhere that I didn't like the Beatles . I did, though, like them well enough to buy a pressing of both Dr. Pepper and Abbey Road. Songs from those two are about the only ones that I can still sing at least some of the words.

Thank you, Susan, for the visit. I wish you may return!

>9 LizzieD: Not *everything*, but close enough to piss off my nearest and dearest...I can be counted on to say, "but you said the opposite of what you're so passionately espousing on 25 May 1988, when we were...". It drives people NUTS.

Heh.

Happy new thread, Peggy. Great timing for your topper, I've just started Hieroglyphics.

>9 LizzieD: I do come by quite regularly, really, but it's true I don't often comment unless someone is off spreading excessive love for a volume I consider worth slapping a warning on. Even then I often refrain, though who'd notice.

Happy new thread, Peggy!

Happy new one!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, dear Peggy.

happy new thread, Peggy.

Hi Peggy!

>9 LizzieD: Worthy albums, for sure. I have way too many brain cells tied up in old songs – the Beatles, Cat Stevens, Carly Simon, the Turtles (!), James Taylor, Queen.

Love the visits! Thank you, Karen, Judy, Paul, Jim, Anita and Anita (I'll leave you to decide who is who), Susan, Beth, and Richard!

>10 richardderus: "but you said the opposite of what you're so passionately espousing on 25 May 1988, when we were...". Yep. That's Edward. Now if you're equally devoted to Sarah Vaughan and Cecilia Bartoli and enjoy sending propositions, proofs, and whatever to advanced math mags, I'll begin to wonder. I must say that Edward has never been a great reader of fiction.

>11 BLBera: Yay, Beth! I hope you enjoy the book well enough not to think you've wasted your time.

>12 quondame: Oh Susan! Your slaps are always worth considering. Please feel free!

>18 karenmarie: Naturally, my old songs are older. Think "Kingston Trio," and other folkish folk. Anybody else remember Joe and Eddie?

>12 quondame: I don't often comment unless someone is off spreading excessive love for a volume I consider worth slapping a warning on...
I love when you do that, Susan. Heh heh

Hi Peggy, nice shiny new thread and all.

Happy New Thread, Peggy, and hurrah for the ballots being processed!!

First album I ever bought was Rubber Soul. Didn't buy too many back then, as discretionary spending was pretty much nil, but I have a LOT of cassette tapes of friends' albums!

Sandy and Roni, YAY!!!!!
Thank you for finding your way here. Do come back.

I see that I am in line to get an ER ARC of In Love with George Eliot. I didn't remember asking for it, and when I looked, I saw that it was published two years ago. What's with that????? I also read a snatch of it at Amazon and found sentence fragments and present tense narration. This may be a trial - and what a thing to do to that consummate writer!

>18 karenmarie: aaaargh don't get me started on "old" records!
Regular listener to music from 1950-2010 or so ( the last decade I haven't listened to quite as much new stuff) and I have a playlist of songs for every one of those 60 years.

>19 LizzieD: I have a copy of Joe and Eddie's There is a Meeting Tonite from 1963 somewhere in the house.

First LP I bought myself was Out of the Blue by ELO and Bob Dylan's The Times They are a-Changing. and then the following month Best of Bread and Dylan's Street Legal. I started buying music on my own at 12 years old.

Hi, Paul! I'm delighted (you can tell by my friendly face) to see that somebody remembers Joe and Eddie.
The first LP I bought myself was Leonard Bernstein's Brahms's First Symphony. Next, I think, was From the Hungry I. That was when I was about 14. Like Roni, I didn't have a lot of $ to spare for extras through college. I'm sure I've spoken before about skipping a meal or two in order to buy a pb book. Didn't hurt me. Makes me appreciate my riches now.

Hi Peggy!

>21 ronincats: I think the first record I bought was Rubber Soul, too, Roni, which I still have. I seem to think it was $3, which was 6 weeks worth of allowance. The only album I ever won was Hard Day's Night from radio station KFWB when I was 10. I've still got it, too.

I remember being violently upset when my grandmother sent me a record for my birthday one year and it was Connie Francis, who I had never even heard of. I think I still have it, too. Mom made me write a thank you anyway...

I bought quite a few albums and books when I was in high school because I babysat A LOT at $.50/hour.

Hi Peggy and a happy weekend's reads to you.

>25 karenmarie: Marconi was a lad when you were ten, Horrible. Radio as such was still a dream.

Peggy - I am really liking Hieroglyphics so far.

Good night and a bright morning to you all, Karen, Richard, and Beth!

I had a bit of fun relaxing with E. Wharton and Hudson Bracketed tonight after I got home. I do love the end/beginning of a new month when I'm not beating myself up trying to squeeze in one more book!

>28 LizzieD: Good night Peggy. Hope the sleep is sound and serene.
And good for you, not beating myself up trying to squeeze in one more book, because I'm on the brink of that crazy-making feeling of "I should have finished Ralph Moody's book by now and at least read more than the first chapter of The Heirs of Locksley.

Hope your weather is not treating you to the scourge of Zeta and whatever is next.

>28 LizzieD: Peggy, I thought for sure I'd read Hudson River Bracketed, but it appears I haven't (I have several Wharton VMCs and thought I'd read them all). I love Wharton, so I am eager to read your thoughts on this book.

>26 richardderus: I wish I could muster even half of Richard's charm!

Have a lovely weekend, Peggy.

>31 PaulCranswick: Suave and debonair, thass me.


Hi there, Peggy, happy weekend reads ahead!

>32 richardderus: YIKES!
>26 richardderus: >31 PaulCranswick: and >32 richardderus: Variety spices life! Your several charms are inimitable, and Brrrrrr - it's cold in here! (That's what we used to say in the 60s. Figure it out.)

Laura, welcome! I haven't read enough Wharton to know how typical this one is, but I'm enjoying it a bit past a third of the way in. The crass mid-West meets east coast sophistication, but Vance and Echo are more than symbols, of course.

Hi, Sandy! Zeta had nothing but some wind for us, not even gale force. What is coming next is always the big question. I think there's a possibility for more in the Atlantic again. We normally don't get hurricanes or even tropical storms in November, but who knows what's normal these days?

ETA for Laura: ECHO??? Who is Echo? The woman's name is Halo (short for Héloise). I have no idea what happens to my very adult mind.

>33 LizzieD: Inimitable is an apt description of that gentleman pictured scaring the birds in >32 richardderus:. This group would be lessened by his absence for sure as it would be yours. xx

Happy New Thread, Peggy!

>22 LizzieD: Maybe the publisher is making a second-effort push to get the book noticed?

I just looked and I think Ethan Frome is the only Wharton I have read. I know I've read it twice and loved it. So it surprises me that I haven't explored her more. Hmmm, another retirement reading project. Nine months to go, but who's counting?

>34 PaulCranswick: You are different from Richard, Paul, but you're inimitable in your own right and necessary to this group's well-being. Believe it!

Thank you for the visit, Ellen. I guess you're right about the Eliot book. I hope it's better than I fear.
I don't know how I've neglected E. Wharton either (and I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't read Ethan Frome. What's wrong with me?) I've read only The Age of Innocence and The Buccaneers. I can fix that. I have a great biography of the woman too that I'm eager to read. Aren't books grand?!
Nine months! Don't start counting the days yet.

>36 LizzieD: Peggy! If you've only read a couple of Edith Whartons, you have so much excellent reading in store! The Buccaneers is probably one of my least favorite. Ethan Frome is often taught in high school lit and it seems students often hate it, but I read it as an adult and thought it was quite good. The House of Mirth is excellent, and The Custom of the Country was a 5-star read. I could go on ... 😀

Uh oh. It's *Custom* I meant, not *Buc*! I despair of my brain.

>38 LizzieD: Oh I'm glad to hear that Peggy! Definitely a better choice.

The House of Mirth is one of the least cheery books I've ever read, but it is lovely.

>40 richardderus: I totally agree, RD!

>40 richardderus: >41 lauralkeet: Agreed!
Incidentally, Laura, I read *Custom* before including it in a list of independent novels for my AP classes one 9 weeks. Not many chose to read it, but the ones who did loved it and reacted in amazing ways. Two of my favorite kids were sympathetic to Undine and wrote at length about how unfairly thwarted she was at every turn. They were the same two who read Poisonwood Bible from another list and identified with the oldest daughter. Teaching was never dull!

"Aren't books grand?!"

Indeed they are. *big smile*

>40 richardderus: That is actually a compelling recommendation from my POV.

Hi, Ellen! I'm always happy to see you here. I was going to add to your rant on your thread, but I'll make my two points briefly here and be done. DJT is a sociopath, and he's going to do what a sociopath does in the same way that a poisonous snake or a rabid dog does. I really, really, really blame the Republicans who thought they could control him, and then when they couldn't, pandered to him to preserve their own hides. That's what I think.

I managed to work myself up into a mild tizzy today. Stupid! I'm tired and dispirited and going to bed to sleep it off.

I hope you're doing better today, dear friend.

I agree with you 100% I don't trust Republicans as far as I can throw them, but some of them may have a desire to want to come down on the right side of history and not let DJT steal the election. Or, better, it's such a Blue Tide that there's no chance of stealing the election.

A Blue Tide will be much better, Karen.

Today's my day for being in a tizzy. I did a quick check of WaPo but then decided for my mental health I'm not going to do too much election results hovering.

I finished The Fifth Season and reviewed it - c'mon over and see if I did it justice.

>47 karenmarie: Yup, I saw that.

I'm still reeling from a crummy, unsettled night and very early rising, just to check the Canada Edition of the HuffPost...

Hi Peggy. I agree completely with >44 LizzieD:; it was never about the good of the country.

Holding mental hands with you, Karen and Sandy. I went to sleep after Mr. Biden's speech last night, but this morning my stomach is upset and I'm shaky. This calls for a brisk walk and a session with the cello.

A cheerless hello on this awful, bad, no-good day.

A more hopeful good night to you, Richard, as we wait and wait and wait.

I reviewed Another Life is Possible, one of my 3 ER books, without reading more than 60 pages of it. It's a coffee table book with beautiful color plates and short essays about residents of Bruderhof communities (fundamentalist Christian) around the world. I'll dip into into it from time to time, but I certainly won't read it all consecutively.

I continue to escape with Ishmael in Captain's Share and am in no hurry to finish. Today I spent a little additional time in Obelisk Gate and Daughters of Chivalry, both very good.

I NEED to stop buying books. I keep seeing books that I NEED!

'Morning, Peggy! Happy Saturday to you, your ma, and your DH.

I'm encouraged by Georgia needing runoffs for BOTH Senators. I'm distressed by Tillis being .8% ahead of Cunningham, and even more distressed that third party votes siphoned off 4.3% of the vote. No guarantee that it would have all gone to Cunningham, but still...

I'm reading the newest Jack Reacher and enjoying it a lot.

THANK GOD!! THANK GOD!! THANK GOD!!

I'm too tired to be in tears, but I'm going to be euphoric.

I had pretty much given Cunningham up, Karen, so I'll be glad to hang on however long it takes.

CAPTAIN'S SHARE by Nathan Lowell
Is this perfect space opera? Of course not! Is it easy and fun? Absolutely!!!! Ishmael takes command of the worst freight hauler in the fleet. His discipline and respect for his crew work an ongoing sea change. On to *Owner*!

And, to use your own words on my thread,

GLORY BE!!!!!! JOE BIDEN, #46 ELECT!!!!!!

There's dancing in the streets here in Philly, and much honking of horns. It's a great day.

So happy on the other side of the Atlantic!!!

Joyful here, too.

Never so glad to see you before, Sandy, Anita, Laura, and Karen!!!!!!

Thank heavens, a relief from four years of unspeakable “government.”

If you’re going to read Ethan Frome, which is excellent but bone-achingly depressing, I recommend pairing it with Summer. They’re often sold in a paired edition as they’re quite short. And Frome id all winter, all the time. What a book though. My h.s. class loved it; we had a collective eye for irony and really depressing books.

Music?
The Limelighters
Pete Seeger
Brothers Four

I’m sure you’re seeing a pattern here. But honestly I was mad for music of all kinds then, and have remained so. Despite my love of literature and all things to do with words, my happiest classes were Chorus, Choir, and Glee Club.

>59 Matke: AMEN~AMEN~ and WHOOPEEEEEEE!!!!! I loved everything about Biden's speech tonight and Ms. Harris's too. Just get them past January 20 and into office, please, and I'll deal with whatever comes next.
I wasn't much for the Limelighters, but I'm with you on Seeger and Brothers Four; I had forgotten the latter, so thanks for the refresher. I was also a great Joan Baez fan, but I guess she came later.
Words and Music - yes indeed! I love and adore choral music which combines the two. For a small town we had an amazingly good civic chorale for some 20 years from the 70s to the 90s. That's where I learned to sing second soprano, still the hardest line for me to hear, having sung that and alto and tenor from time to time.
I can't read Frome now, but I promise myself that I will.
Thank you for the visit, Gail!

A very happy Biden/Harris Sunday to you, Peggy!

I loved everything about Biden's speech tonight and Ms. Harris's too. Just get them past January 20 and into office, please, and I'll deal with whatever comes next. Absolutely agree.

I knew you would, Karen, and a happy Biden/Harris Sunday to you too!

I didn't read anything today but Owner's Share. Mr. Lowell is taking a discouragingly long time to get this one launched.

Have a terrific Tuesday, Peggy.

Hi Peggy, Just dropping by to share the elation over Biden's win. When my daughter heard the news, she teared up and told me it was the first time she felt like her vote really counted. I think I know what she meant.

I'll be writing letters for the GA senate runoff through VoteForward. I pray that it helps. I'm being an optimist and knowing that Trump and the Republicans can only bluster so long!

Stay safe and healthy, dear friend.

Pete Seeger, The Weavers, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul and Mary!!! I saw the latter in person for the first time in 1969 and the final time I saw them here in San Diego (I can't find the date!). Let me recommend Album 1700 (out when I was in university), Late Again in the early 70s, and Lifelines (1995) for their absolute best!

Hi, Roni! Oh yeah - especially Joany! I heard her in person when I was at Chapel Hill (also Blood, Sweat and Tears, but I wasn't so crazy about them). And I Really liked P,P & M! (The woman member of *Utopia Avenue* has Mary's hair.) I didn't ever have any of their albums though. Pete Seeger gets a Yay as does Woody Guthrie, and now we're really moving back in time. I didn't really listen to the Weavers for whatever reason. Good memories.

Thank you for coming by, Jan! I was teary more than once, and I'm still elated and not too anxious about the continuing drama in the White House. I was briefly furious at a conservative friend who suggested that the Democrats be moderate in their gloating about their victory. (I remember how restrained the Republicans were after the election in '16.) Then I reminded myself of the Obamas' "They go low; we go high," and calmed down.
Good of you to write letters, Jan! I hope that they will be helpful. Meanwhile, you continue your vigilance too!

I had a Tuesday, Richard, and I appreciate your presence here when I can't even find a reason to check in.

I guess I haven't mentioned yet that I heard the founder of Duolingo on How I Built This Sunday morning and trotted over to sign up for Italian. I'm taking it slow, but there's plenty of repetition, so I think I can pursue this. I'd also adore to try Japanese or Chinese or Russian, but Italian and cello will keep me occupied, I'm sure.
I'm still picking out hymn tunes on the cello. What is instinctive on the piano is not all that easy on the cello. Also, my arthritic thumbs hurt, but I love and adore the sound.

Italian is a lovely learning experience. It always sounds musical! Bon prudi, as Sicilians say.

>68 LizzieD: Peggy, I used Duolingo to work on my French. I wasn't completely new to the language, but never had more than a tourist's command of it, and was rusty. I enjoyed the "game" aspects of Duo and while the repetition was sometimes annoying it also works. I did it every day for a year, got my one-year badge on Christmas Day last year, and promptly rewarded myself with time off. Now I'm rusty again. 😀

I love that you're learning the cello as well. Glad you're making progress and enjoying the journey.

>70 lauralkeet: Wow, Laura! A whole year of French! I'll bet you made significant progress. Maybe I should be doing French too or even German. I just long for more in the "tips" department. Progress on the cello is very if-y. I don't really care. I'm 76. What do I think I'd do with it if I learned the instrument properly?

>69 richardderus: And a bon prudi! to you too, Richard! I just polished off my Wednesday Malbec, or I'd raise the glass to you for sure. I've always thought it odd that the two native Italian speakers whom I know in this little town (or "knew" in the case of the one deceased friend) were both Sicilian. I always wanted to ask them to help me with the language, but that was a pipe dream when all three of us were working.

'Morning, Peggy! Happy rainy Thursday to you - it's raining cats and dogs here according to our weather station. We've already gotten almost 1.5" since midnight.

I took a course in German through our local community college 7 or 8 years ago. I was disappointed because I learn best by structure, learning rules and verbs, and taking baby steps with speaking. It was more of an immersion-lite course, and I remember more from my elementary school/high school Spanish than from it.

Good morning to you, Karen! I don't know how much rain we've gotten. So far we're not in danger of flash flooding as you are in the center of the state. I can't remember whether you're vulnerable. It's raining like billy-o here. (Where did that come from???)
Speaking the language from the get-go is considered (or was, a decade + ago when I was teaching Latin) best practice. I preferred a combination of speaking and structure. Since my HS students didn't know anything about English grammar, I thought that was best practice.
I took a semester of German my last year in college just because I could. The fact is that I just love language study. In fact, I'm off in a minute to do my daily Italian!

>60 LizzieD: Among the other things we have in common is our vocal range. Second soprano can be hard; in any female-only group, that’s what I sang. In mixed groups in h.s. it was usually soprano unless it was a quite complex piece; then it was back to second soprano.

Later I drifted into alto/tenor. My oldest was a natural second soprano but often sang alto. My second was a light but pleasing baritone always.

I *must* investigate duolingo.

And hey, even if you just learn a tiny bit of cello, you’ll be good. That’s why I love Bach so much: magnificent cello pieces.

Oh no no no, Peggy, Sicilian isn't Italian! It sounds a little like it, but it's far more Arabic-inflected than any other dialect of Italian. Always best to go for "school Italian," the kind the TV speaks.

Which, incidentally, is a good way to practice your conversation skills. Watch Italian films and TV on Megahertz network. Have a great Thursday!

We would be in danger of flash flooding if we lived near the Haw River or if we lived further down the hill, closer to our creek. I just posted a pic on my thread of the flooded creek that Bill took about half an hour ago.

Hi Peggy, I hadn't heard of duolingo but I'm very interested. Going to Italy is on my bucket list so I would probably choose Italian, too. In the 60's, my husband and I spent some time in Paris and I went to classes there to learn French. Students from all over the world were there and there was no common language. The class was conducted totally in French from day 1. I really struggled with it and my terrible accent!

'Morning, Peggy! I hope you have a good day. Kind regards to your DH, gentle hugs to your ma, and many fierce hugs to you!

Good morning - just barely,but still morning - Karen and Jan! I'm always happy to see you both here and send you and your families Karen's greetings of gentle and fierce hugs and kind regards.

Jan, if I had thought another minute, I would have realized that I should be studying Spanish. It would be helpful here, but my heart wants Italian. I envy you your French in Paris. My French background consists of two years in high school with a wonderful teacher who had spent a lot of time in France, including a master's from the Sorbonne. My close friends and I all placed in junior level French at our respective colleges, and I took two more semesters just because I loved the language. My accent was a disaster. I'd hear the prof come into my language lab sessions, and she'd snap, "You're drawling" within the first ten seconds. On the other hand, in free conversations, I'd get, "Tres idiomatique," so I did well anyway. Merci, merci, Madam Stephens. I can still slip into French thought patterns, but the vocabulary is gone.
Fascinating, I'm sure. Off to Italian!

Hi Peggy, happy weekend ahead...it's time to start looking *forward* to things as each day brings Yuletide closer!

Peggy, the hubs and I want to improve our spoken French, in anticipation of an extended stay at some point in the future. It seems like a good winter project. He found a site called FrenchToday which uses audio to teach modern spoken French. I just took a placement test which confirmed that I have a reasonable foundation of "book learning" (vocab, grammar, written French) but when someone speaks to me I can't understand a darn thing let alone converse. Hence the audio method. I think we'll give it a try.

Greetings, Richard and Laura! Lovely to have you both here!!!!!!!

Richard, it is a happy weekend. My mama turns 99 tomorrow. She's excited about it today as she has received flowers and cards. We're both a bit incredulous that it can be true.

Laura, how WONDERFUL that you can look forward to an extended stay in France. I won't envy you because there wouldn't be any point. Enjoy your study! Keep me posted on your audio learning, please.

OWNER'S SHARE by Nathan Lowell

I continue to enjoy Ishmael and his adventures. This was the longest one so far, and it shouldn't have been. I got tired of the set-up. Ish leaves his employer under the employer's auspices and sets himself up with a fast packet. The financial background for that change took an inordinate amount of time. Once in the Deep Dark again, I began to enjoy the day-to-day of life aboard the ship. Then something dire happened, and I was pretty upset.
I think I'll try to give Ishmael a rest before I pursue him on his next adventure.

Meanwhile, I've totally screwed up the number of books I've read this year. I'll have to wait until I'm not asleep to figure out where I've gone wrong. In fact, I found one place, but then, I got off track again. *sigh* Old and sleepy: not a good combination.

Congratulations to your mother Peggy! My mother will be 99 at the end of December as well. It’s amazing to think how the world has changed since they were young.

>82 LizzieD: Yay for Mama's 99th! I hope she's had a lovely, lovely day, and all y'all have a great week ahead. *smooch*

>44 LizzieD: "I really, really, really blame the Republicans who thought they could control him, and then when they couldn't, pandered to him to preserve their own hides. That's what I think."
I agree 100% and I still agree because they are still doing it. Infuriating.

Happy 99th birthday to your mama, Peggy!!!!

I love that you are studying Italian and cello. One thing I enjoy thinking about is what I will do with my time when I retire (no final decision yet, but my fantasy date is 259 days away). I'm thinking drawing lessons to start with. :-)

Happy 99 to Mama!!

Happy Birthday to Mama, Peggy!!

Oh thank you, Roni, Laura, Ellen, Richard, and Rhian for good wishes for Mama's day. We had a good one, but I'm asleep on my seat again. More tomorrow!

Good morning, friends! It is gorgeous here today! Ten degrees or so cooler than yesterday with Carolina blue skies. Feels like fall at last!

Rhian, you and I are the happy ones. Congratulations ahead of time on your mother's 99th! Hope she is able to enjoy it as much as my mama enjoyed hers although her arm got really tired of holding the phone while my talky cousins kept her entertained. (At least three of them kept her on the phone for 45 minutes apiece, bless their hearts.)

*smooch* back, Richard, and identical wishes for your week.

Ellen, I tell you that the world reopens on retirement. I'd love a housekeeper and cook so that I could devote myself to all my projected projects. Or, failing that, I wish that I had Roni's energy.

Thank you, Laura and Roni!

LOYALTY IN DEATH by J.D. Robb

This is another solid, if predictable, entry in readable escape from reality mode. I enjoyed the development of relationships among the continuing characters more than the resolution of the case itself, but that's not to say that the case is bad. (Well, I have my doubts about the big escape at the climax, but it's sort of an urban fairy tale anyway, so I won't question it.) I've been collecting more of the series, but I think I'll wait a bit before I start #10. It's fine not to feel the need to hoard!

I mostly read Obelisk Gate today but didn't finish it. It's really good but maybe not as exciting as *5th Season*. I realize that I tend to enjoy the first book of a trilogy more than the second.
YouTube is either wonderful or frustrating. I'm using it more than ever. Tonight I was looking for original Kingston Trio stuff. I was in love with Dave Guard when I was 14 or 15 and was happy to see some of the 1950s clips. If I knew that Bob Shane died in January of this year, it hadn't registered. I've also been listening to new finds, namely Sol Gabetta, my cello goddess, and Aaron Diehl, fabulous jazz pianist, courtesy of Judy. There's a lot available from both of them.

>91 LizzieD: It's not your imagination, Peggy, The Obelisk Gate was not the pulse-pounder that The Fifth Season was. I think, at least for me, that the excitement of being a totally new place...and you have to give it to Jemisin, this is a totally new place!...wears off and the story, whatever it is, does a lot of to-ing and fro-ing in a second book in a series. The bright, shiny newness does, in this book's case, mellow into a fine, satisfying glow.

YouTube can suck an entire day down its never-ending algorithmically enhanced discoveries. I started out watching Time Team...found Digging for Britain...then Extreme Archaeology...eeeee help it was Wednesday last time I looked!

Sunday orisons.

Thanks for the support, Richard.

>93 LizzieD: *smooch*

Hi Peggy, and happy Tuesday to you. Hi to your ma from me.

>90 LizzieD: I have found the books to be predictable in a good way. I’m not sure if I’ll ever re-read them, but they’re still on my shelves.

>91 LizzieD: I can’t figure out what gets me immersed in a book. I devoured The Fifth Season and want to read the rest of the trilogy, but haven’t felt inclined to pick up The Obelisk Gate yet. It’s not my go-to-genre, granted, but it would be nice to keep the momentum going.

>95 karenmarie: *sigh* Now it's "Good afternoon, Karen." This was the day that I meant to get a head start on Thanksgiving prep, but nothing so far except for cleaning off the dining room table yesterday. That's more of an achievement than it might appear to be on the surface (which I can finally see). I did get in an extra walk with my DH, and that's always a bonus.
You see the discussion of *Obelisk*, I guess. I'm hoping to finish it today (another sigh coming, I'm afraid), and I will look forward to #3, but I'll be a bit less eager to pursue it than I was when I started #2. As for the *Deaths*, I'm pretty sure that I'll reread some of them when I need a bit of mindless relaxation. At least, that's my story.
I can’t figure out what gets me immersed in a book. I don't really know the answer to that one either, but I can tell you one way I know I'm really into it. I dream about it. Nothing significant usually happens, but there I am in the middle of whatever I've just read about. Anybody else do this?

Hello Peggy, I've enjoyed getting caught up here. Congratulations and belated wishes to your mother - 99! I love that you're learning Italian. Marina decided on Italian for her language requirement in college. It was hard at first to make the switch from French, but she has learned so much and I enjoy hearing it.

Hey, Peggy, I get lots of down time too, and without an elderly parent to care for. (That will change once I'm back in Kansas--for the nonce my poor sister is dealing along with a demanding job.) I'm still waiting for my bedroom floor to be done so I can move furniture back in, and then I'll have lots to do here.

Welcome, welcome, Roni and Anne!!!!!
>97 AMQS: I love that I'm learning Italian too. DuoLingo takes up very little time, so it's slow-going even with daily lessons, but I really feel as though I'm going to get a good grounding. Good for Marina! If she can keep the vocabulary straight, (there's a word for confusing which language a word belongs in - where is Richard when you need him?), French ought to be a help. Latin surely is. And thank you for good wishes for my mama.

>98 ronincats: Roni, I'm always amazed at the number of things you get done so well. I can't think that you have much down time at all.

THE OBELISK GATE by N.K. Jemisin

I took entirely too long to read this one, and that cut into my enjoyment of it, I think. As Richard said above, the wow factor of Jemisin's world building has settled down, but it's still a very good book. I'm not quite as eager to see what happens next as I was when I started this one, but I will certainly read The Stone Sky before I forget the first two. Lots goes on even if I dragged, but I'm most interested in the stone eaters. I have a sort of half-baked theory.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, to dear friends in the USA! Happy Thursday to the rest of you!

Everything for our big meal is under control here, and I'm waiting for my DH to bring the turkey breast, drippings, rice, turnip greens, and dog over so we can get on with it. (It took most of my life for me to realize that other parts of the country eat mashed potatoes rather than rice.)

He's here! Off to make the gravy.

Rice is a wonderful alternative to mashed potatoes, and with turnip greens it becomes my entire meal...love love love greens and rice with bacon (or without, not that fussy).

Eat hearty and enjoy the holiday!

>100 LizzieD: "... and dog" ?! I sincerely hope that was a dinner guest and not part of the meal LOL.

Despite my husband's ardent love for mashed potatoes, we roast them at Thanksgiving. The sweet potatoes, however, were mashed. Brown sugar and pecans may also have been involved. So yummy.

I hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving, Peggy!

Thank you for the visit, Richard and Laura! I hope your day was filled with good things to be thankful for. (No bacon in the turnips since my DH fixed them, Richard, but I'll add some when I heat them again.)
I neglected to name my part of the fixings: the dressing (my favorite), gravy (on the dressing!), sweet potato casserole (with pecans and brown sugar, Laura, but also an egg, butter, orange juice, rum flavor, raisins (plumped in the OJ and rum), fake ambrosia (5 cup fruit salad), and Sister Schubert rolls because I am too lazy to make real ones. Also cranberry sauce from the can, my DH's preference, and a thin slice of pound cake for dessert, and we were all well and truly stuffed - except the dog, who did get one tiny piece of turkey.

Sounds lovely, Peggy. My sweet potato recipe is similar to yours, although it doesn't have raisins or rum which sound like very tasty additions.

This Brit wishes to express his thanks for the warmth and friendship that has helped sustain him in this group, Peggy.

>103 LizzieD: It's enough stuff to mask the taste of sweet potato, Laura, which is not my favorite.

>104 lauralkeet: Thank you, Paul! You keep us going!!!

And good night! I'm off to read myself to sleep.

Hi Peggy! Happy Day After Thanksgiving.

>103 LizzieD: Your feast sounds quite wonderful. The standout, of course, is the Sister Schubert Rolls, which as you know, were on our table, too. I normally make sweet potato casserole because Jenna Must Have her grandmother’s Sweet Potato Souffle, but without Jenna here I boiled sweet potatoes in their jackets, peeled them, sliced them about ½” wide, put S&P, ginger, butter, and brown sugar on them and then baked them. Cranberry sauce from the can is my preference, too, so cheers to your DH!

Gravy, of course, is its own food group, and was on the turkey, dressing, and mashed potatoes.

Two of the same messages is ridiculous, don't know how it happened, but I'll make this second one a bit different by saying that it's slow but good progress on A Promised Land. I'm supposed to have the first 78 pages read by the 30th, so I'll be busy between now and then.

Good day, Karen! Ummm. Ginger in sweet potatoes sounds good to me. Anything that hides the yammy taste is worth a try. I feel the same about pumpkin except that I"m not a great fan of pumpkin pie spice. More heresy!
I'm looking forward to *PLand*. My friend is making a copy available to me. I need to finish my medieval princesses and current Ishmael first.
Off to Italian lesson and then lunch - leftovers!!!!!!!

IN ASHES BORN by Nathan Lowell

Lowell takes this whole book to set up the next one. Mostly, that's O.K. with me. I love the details that most readers find tedious; I find them comforting. In the end Ishmael is set up as captain of the Chernyakova with Pip acting as cargo master and Chief Stevens in charge of engineering. They are off on an adventure when the next book starts!!!!!

>109 LizzieD: I admire your courage, Peggy...coming out against the vile yam/sweet potato is politically risky. Clouds of flying monkeys will tell you how wrong you are not to like them. I object most to their stringiness, but that flavor isn't one I enjoy.

>110 LizzieD: Sometimes just spending time with the cast is enough for me, too.

Have a lovely week ahead!

>111 richardderus: Two hearts that don't beat as one for yams, etc. and less than love for Sir Terry. There's a bond, Richard! Lovely week to you too!

I confess that I went back and started *¼ Share* again just because. I won't read it all, but I'm not excited about having Pip presented as a bad guy. We'll see.

Otherwise, I continue with the daughters of Edward I, which is also pleasing to me, but not enough to finish it tomorrow. Soon!

And off to read or nap or whatever comes before the walk if it's not raining in an hour.

No-rain *whammys*

>111 richardderus: Vegetable dishes should be savories. No sweets. And sweets need to be worth the calories, which yam/sweet potatoes aren't when compared to pumpkin or pecan pies. I generally don't opt for ice-cream or cheesecake either, though I love custard and crème brûlée. I even prefer pudding to ice-cream and cheesecake so I can't claim any consistency.

The whammy worked! Thanks.

Hi, Susan! Hmmm I'm trying to think of another vegetable that gets sugared up down here. Can't. I don't know anybody who does savory sweet potatoes. I tried something once not too long ago, but I don't remember what it was: only that it was not good.
No pumpkin pie, please, but pecan pies are lovely. I'm pretty sure I've told my pecan pie on the third date with my DH story. He married me anyway. I love custards and puddings and creme brulee, but I wouldn't think of them as alternatives to ice cream and cheesecake or any other cake! Sweet tooth active!

Richard's no-rain whammy protected you but the rain headed north - it's been raining here for an hour or more. No worries, though. The kitties are all inside and the kitty door locked for the night. Reading to the sound of rain is actually very soothing.

>114 quondame: I'm amazed at all the antipathy to sweet potatoes. I love them, and prefer them plain or savory. No marshmallows or maple syrup, please! I think the trick to avoid stringiness is to roast them a long time. The ones I roasted were not stringy at all, and delish.

>117 ffortsa: Hi, Judy! de gustibus and all that! Come back and we'll talk about books!

Rain is gone, Karen, and the skies are Carolina blue, the wind is blowing, and temps should start to fall. It is November 30, after all.

Reading? A lot of Ishmael, a little of Edward I's daughters, and a very little of *Wheel 11*. It has 99pp of introductory chapter of which I've read only 70. This is supposed to be a better one, I think/hope.

Hi Peggy, "only 70?" Whenever I feel as though I haven't read enough books in one year, I am reminded of how many of my friends think reading five books in a year is just wonderful.

And, I try to remember that though we strive for 75, this is a remarkable group who really don't count your books, rather we love your presence.

Much Love to you. It is another rainy day in NE Pennsylvania. I have to go out for a pain management appointment with the surgeon who performed the nerve ablation. I'm anxious to learn his comments, and since I am still in a lot of pain from inflammation, I want to know if this is normal -- two weeks since the surgery.

Thinking of you.

>118 LizzieD: I've read only 70
This and Linda's comments (>119 Whisper1:) brought to mind a recent meetup with a knitting friend and her husband, whom I had not met. All four of us consider ourselves readers, and we got into a discussion of print vs Kindle vs audio. My friend's husband expressed his opinion that "the problem with Audible" is you have to read one book a month. At first I thought he just meant, one audio book in the midst of all the other books you're reading, but quickly determined that he meant literally one book. I had to work very hard to maintain a serene, non-judgmental expression. 😀

---

Also, I think you must have sent your rain our way. Fortunately we have nowhere to go today (or any day, really, so funny how I still obsess about the weather).

Hi Peggy, we have rain here too but it's a good thing. We're hoping it will help end our drought which contributed to all the wildfires this year.

You have been busy with all the reading, studying, and cooking! I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm between books at the moment. Still thinking about what to read next. But I'll decide today. I have to have something to read!

Hello, lovely Jan, Laura, and Linda! You all make me so happy here. My inner life does revolve a lot around what I'm reading, want to be reading, should be reading, will read next, won't finish, etc. I'm pretty sure that you are the same. Three of my best high school friends are readers and almost always have a book going. They don't obsess about it and don't feel unsettled if a day or two goes by when they don't read at all. Only one of them lives here though, so we don't get to talk books often. The third is a chick lit person almost exclusively, so that cuts down on our book conversations.
What a world!

Linda, I'm off to see how your session with the doctor went. Laura, you are a kind person. Jan, hope you've landed on something nice!

Now I am off to let the e-book bargain people know that Tor is giving away a book a day of Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series just as they did the Murderbots last year. I've snagged a copy.

Hi Peggy and happy Wednesday to you.

Ditto on inner life revolving around what I'm reading, want to be reading, should be reading, will read next, won't finish, etc. I have only read part of one chapter of one book so far this morning but have gotten quite a few things accomplished. I deserve to read for a while.

Hello Smoochling. Staying busy? Holiday madness infected you yet, like it did our dear Horrible with her online shopping madness?

I got smacked by Berkley Books via NetGalley about this May release...The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley. They are going all-out to get early readers, so they think they've got a winner here. I've learned to trust them, about this fluffyfroth genre at least. Their book description is even appealing!

"Piper Parrish's life on Frick Island—a tiny, remote town smack in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay—is nearly perfect. Well, aside from one pesky detail: Her darling husband, Tom, is dead. When Tom's crab boat capsized and his body wasn't recovered, Piper, rocked to the core, did a most peculiar thing: carried on as if her husband was not only still alive, but right there beside her, cooking him breakfast, walking him to the docks each morning, meeting him for their standard Friday night dinner date at the One-Eyed Crab. And what were the townspeople to do but go along with their beloved widowed Piper?

Anders Caldwell’s career is not going well. A young ambitious journalist, he’d rather hoped he’d be a national award-winning podcaster by now, rather than writing fluff pieces for a small town newspaper. But when he gets an assignment to travel to the remote Frick Island and cover their boring annual Cake Walk fundraiser, he stumbles upon a much more fascinating tale: an entire town pretending to see and interact with a man who does not actually exist. Determined it’s the career-making story he’s been needing for his podcast, Anders returns to the island to begin covert research and spend more time with the enigmatic Piper—but he has no idea out of all the lives he’s about to upend, it’s his that will change the most."

If you're on NetGalley, I'd say go ask for one; otherwise, I think this is something we could use right now, a read that demands nothing and gives smiles.

Greetings my favorite Karen and Richard in the world!

Whether I deserve time off or not, lunch is cleaned up, the tea is steeping, and I'm going to read a bit and nap too soon before time for our afternoon walk. Good times!

I can't even keep up with ER, Richard, much less NetGalley. Thank you though, for the BB. My DH was stationed on the Chesapeake Bay in the Coast Guard in the late 60s and we honeymooned for a bit there, so I'm always open for something set there.
Meanwhile, I will continue the medieval princesses and whatever else I put a hand to. I read a bit of *Wheel 11* today. I'm waiting to be gripped.

I tried to love The Wheel of Time and failed. But it's something that truly does *grip* its fans, so I'm rootin' for a big finish for you.

Something about the Chesapeake really speaks to me, for no reason I can think of. It's just so *present* and it's unlike other places' estuaries or bays, and I've lived on plenty of 'em.

>125 LizzieD: >126 richardderus: I've re-read all of the main WoT books except the final volume, of which once was enough. I still remember who dies and how of the characters that I became attached to. The series had a sort of dorky charm which Sanderson could only vaguely approach and which GRRM totally avoided in his fantasy epic.

Hi, Richard and Susan. *Wheel* is a commitment. "Dorky charm" comes as close to any reason I've found for continuing it, Susan. Having learned a good bit of the vocabulary, I can't stop now, but I would like to get back to the dc of the early volumes.

>128 LizzieD: I read and re-read it pretty much as it came out, and as much of my reading 1990-2017 was re-reading it never felt a burden, but similar to catching up with a weird social circle.

I read the first 6 or so books as they came out in mass pb, Susan, but then topped out and stopped. I've read the first 2 or 3 at least a couple of times trying to finish once and for all, and this is my best attempt. #10 was a burden. I do look forward to reading other epic fantasy without feeling guilty that I'm not Wheeling. (The Calvinist guilt is a heavy, heavy thing!)

>130 LizzieD: It's quite common for #10 to be considered the most tedious of the series.

This is one time when I'm sorry to go with popular opinion, I guess. I mean that I'd really prefer to like what most other people like although I don't really need more books that I want to read. Somehow I think that's not at all clear.
Hi, Susan! Glad to see you!!

Peggy, It is interesting how our choices of books change. When I first found this group, I knew nothing of young adult. Then, visiting Anita's thread, opened the door to so many wonderful explorations. Prior to joining LT, I read historical fiction and "actual" history (if there is such a thing.) Now, I am all over the map, and finding it fun to read illustrated books without embarrassment, or reading five or six books in a row about the terror of 9/11 and the plots of al qaeda. I still find a book or two regarding the civil rights movement in the U.S., and cannot help but compare what our country is going through, and the riots of those who are simply seeking a world where someone doesn't have a killing pressure on their neck.

I so admire that you find time to read amidst taking care of your beloved mother. I think you are an incredible soul!

Dear Linda, you are the amazing one!!!!

I'm interested in your perception that your reading tastes have changed. I don't really think that mine have. I've always wanted to read everything. On the other hand, before LT my "everything" was very, very limited. We are happy people to have the wherewithal to read what we want when we want.

>134 LizzieD: I think I am much less of a reading snob than I used to be. I don't think I would have ever tried a graphic novel without this group or bought and tried as much Sci-fi as I have.

By the way you a both amazing.xx

Many thanks for the visit, Paul, you amazing person!!!!! I used to apologize a lot for my indulgences. No more! One of the first LT groups I joined was the *Snobs*, and I quickly found that I was nowhere close.

What a great group we are! I don't mind having an amazing-fest; it's all true for all of you.

Reading? Some. I hope to settle down with the medieval princesses when I get home tonight. I like the level of detail (Daughters of Chivalry), and for late 13th century, they have left enough documentation that we can get a tiny sense of who they were. I need to research the second surviving adult daughter Joanna, who was willful, motivated, and able to choose her own life. Super novel material! Otherwise, a little Wheel, a little Ishmael. I'm ready to start something new though.

ETA: There is a novel, *The Love Knot* by somebody named Vanessa Alexander, available in hb from Amazon for $920.00 new or $48.41 used. Maybe not.
Touchstones died.

Hi Peggy,
This group has certainly widened my range of reading, and indeed it is a great little place in a tiny corner of the internet :-)
Coming here reminds me to continue the Wheel of Time next year, I finished book #6 last June.

Welcome, Anita!!!!! You will fall right into book 7 since you've read so far. Some of those middle ones are hard going, but again, you know what you're getting into, and I hope you find it worth your play time. I certainly have!

The high point of the day happened on our afternoon walk. We passed a couple walking their 5 (!) yapping little dogs. The man said, "You see our whole family of rebel rousers." Save your Confederate money, boys, the South's gonna rise again!

>139 LizzieD: Afternoon walks would be lovely Peggy. I am quarantined! In any event Kuala Lumpur's climate is not the place for such wishful activity.

Have a lovely weekend.

Oh dear, Paul. I haven't been anywhere in public (except 3 medical appointments) since mid-March, but we are able to walk every afternoon. I'm scampering over to your thread to see what's going on.

Happy Sunday, Peggy!

>139 LizzieD: I think we have Bill’s Mama’s maternal grandfather’s family’s Confederate money in the safe… not much, but interesting to look at.

>141 LizzieD: Once again I say, Brava! for taking such good care of your mother.

Thank you, Karen. I don't know how good the care is, but it's devoted.

One of my life-long friends has just found some very fragile books of her mother's. She writes, "I suspect if these 9 books were in a library's rare collection, the public would not be able to examine them, even under controlled conditions, white gloves, etc. It's possible they are quite valuable. Limited edition of 350 copies, numbered 114 and signed by Stephen Vincent Benet, for example." Then she asks whether my LT friends have suggestions for getting in touch with a rare book expert. She's in the Triangle area. Whom should she call?

Hi Peggy!

I just sent your query to the rare book dealer we use for exceptional Friends of the Library donation finds. I asked him if he was the rare book dealer she should call or if he could recommend someone in central NC.

Thank you, Karen! That's absolutely wonderful.

Happy Humpday, Peggy, and only the best reads for the rest of the week. The weekend, now, no guarantees....

I mostly thank you, Richard. The same back to you!

DAUGHTERS OF CHIVALRY by Kelcey Wilson-Lee

I finished this one today as Ellen was giving way to Dr. Phil on my mama's TV. I really, really enjoyed it even though it took me in the neighborhood of five months to read the poor little thing. It's too late for me to think now, so I'll say something about it tomorrow.

Hi Peggy and happy Sunday to you.

I smiled at your description of Daughters of Chivalry as a 'poor little thing'.

I hope your back is better. It's overcast and somewhat dismal out there this morning and I'm still trying to wake up with copious amounts of coffee.

Give my regards to your ma and your DH and many hugs to yourself.

Thank you for Sunday greetings, Karen! My back is better, thank you, and I slept last night and look forward to doing it again tonight!

TO FIRE CALLED by Nathan Lowell

Oh dear. This has now replaced In Ashes Born as my least favorite. I was happy to catch up with many characters from the early novels. Ishmael and Pip (!) have bought the Chernyakova together and headed to the Toe Holds, an unregulated sector in the universe. I continue to enjoy the day-to-day workings of the ship and crew, decorating the cabin, buying Ish new clothes, etc. I don't much care for the lead-up to action, of which there is a great deal. Our guys are on what is more or less a spy mission to locate the shipyard that is rumored to have built a mega-hauler or the m-h itself. Whatever. I'm on to the next anyway.

>149 LizzieD: Oh no, Peggy, Series Sag has set in. Frustrating feeling that. I hope the next one snaps right back to the prior pleasure level.

Hello Peggy ... inspired by discussion on this thread, I started reading Hudson River Bracketed last night. I just re-read this thread to remind myself of the discussion, which seemed to veer quickly from this novel to Wharton in general. Have you finished *HRB* ?

>150 richardderus: I'm giving myself a bit of a cleanser before I start the last of this series, Richard. I hope that when I pick it up again, the pleasure reasserts itself. A curtsy for the good wish.

>151 lauralkeet: Laura, *HRB* somehow got lost in the shuffle when I jumped on the Nathan Lowell books and also buckled down to have a review or so for the ER copies that arrived - 4 within a couple of weeks, if I remember correctly.
I really was enjoying it and will get back to it. Meanwhile, I'll trot over to your thread to see what you're making of it. I also want to get back to the bio. Good stuff all!!!

Meanwhile, I noticed Hamnet on my "currently reading" (ha!) list and started that again. I like it; it's not anything that I would have imagined, and that's often serendipity.

>152 LizzieD: I'm not very far into it yet, Peggy, maybe 75 pages. It's good, in a Wharton-ish sort of way, but I need to sort of adjust my mindset to get into it. I'm also reading the Obama memoir and I may give that my full attention for a bit to finish it.

Hi Peggy! Happy Tuesday.

I asked for Hamnet for Christmas from our cousin Rebecca and know she'll get it for me. I was lazy and never went to the branch of our Library that I could have checked it out from (no interbranch loans during Covid) and for some reason just didn't want to spend the money on it.

Hi Peggy.
Saw your message this morning... and have answered here (I think, that was what you were interested in).

>152 LizzieD: Those are two whoppers, Laura. I'm convinced that you need a third smaller book just to keep you undiscouraged.

>154 karenmarie: On the other hand, Karen, Hamnet is acting as my shorter book to keep me motivated since I have a lot of whoppers with bookmarks showing ongoing reading Merry Christmas when it comes!

Getting in a good-wish smash before the Snowpocalypse due here tomorrow. No idea if the power will go out, but we have a generator; it's the wifi that might go flooey.

Anyway, onward! Excelsior!

>156 LizzieD: yes, I think the whopper factor is part of my problem. I will keep HRB on my nightstand for bedtime reading, and even once I finish the Obama book I will probably have something lighter as a companion read. I have an Angela Thirkell waiting on my shelves.

>157 richardderus: The tail-end of the ice is supposed to be east of us. I hope the forecasters are correct. I despise ice. I could handle snow.

>159 thornton37814: I myownself hope the ice stays in the clouds!

Howdy do, Miss Peggy Ma'am. Stay warm today!

Hi Peggy! Just a quick pass through. Cold and rainy this morning, is supposed to clear up this afternoon.

My chunkster is A Promised Land. We'll see where I am by the end of the year.

Tachyon Publications, an SFF house, posted this on Twitter. Says it all, no?

Heavens! Poor thread. Thank you, Laura, Richard, Karen, and Lori, for keeping it from going moribund.

I am not onsite much lately. It's not that I'm doing a great deal otherwise, but that I don't have much to say about anything. I'm Wheeling again, and that is really not discussable.

2020 - a year that will live in infamy. Surely, surely, 2021 has to be better. Surely.

Hi Peggy! Wheeling seems like an amazing accomplishment to me - thousands and thousands of pages and so many books! I'm impressed.

There's not much to say about much of anything, really - same old same old politically, distressingly same old same old pandemic-wise.

But two things for you: the GK Chesterton book is supposed to get there Thursday and


... and here's to a better 2021!

Or in other words, Happy Christmas! And have a great New Year as well. Here’s hoping 2021 is better than 2020.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
May next year bring you greater peace and joy, good health and many books.

Peggy--Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
May 2021 bring you less need for masks, loads of peace and joy, good health and, of course, books!

All the best for the year to come Peggy. It has been fun following your book journey.

Happy Holidays Peggy!

I hope you get some of those at least, Peggy, as we all look forward to a better 2021.

What dear and faithful friends you are!! Thank you, Paul, Susan, Sandy, Kim, Anne, Rhian, Jenn, and Karen, for including me in your Christmas greetings! I wish that everybody may have had some extra reason for thanks on this very different Christmas day. We were fine. On the bad side I learned today that a dear cousin has been moved to the ICU in his battle with COVID. On the good side I'm looking forward to a normal day tomorrow for celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary .

Peggy, I'm very sorry to hear about your cousin's situation and will keep them in my thoughts. Happy 50th to you and your husband -- that's quite a milestone.

'Morning, Peggy! I'm so sorry to hear that your cousin has been moved to ICU.

I'm only 20 years behind you -

Merry Christmas and Happy Anniversary. I hope your cousin recovers from COVID. Stay safe, my friend.

>172 LizzieD: Many congratulations on 50 years of marriage!

Happy 50th wedding anniversary, Peggy and I hope your dear cousin will soon be on the mend. What a year this has been. Here's to a better, happier, and healthy 2021.

Many thanks for the good wishes for us and for Cousin Carl. I haven't heard from him today, and that's at least neutral news.
We had a happy anniversary doing what we normally do. Fifty years is a long time. Comparing memories is fun and instructive!
Again, many thanks for the visit and the blessing, Linda, Susan, Beth, Karen, and Laura!!!!!

Oh my word! Fifty years! Congratulations and the very best wishes for many more anniversaries.

I hope Cousin Carl is improving.

Many many more happy years together, Peggy, and may your cousin's stay be brief in the ICU.

The 2021 group is up now! A perfect time to shake the muck of 2020 from your feet and come be social in the slightly early new year, eh what?

Thanks for good wishes, Gail and Richard!
Carl says to his daughter that he is doing better. We hope it's so.
I'll make my place for 2021 (YAY), but I don't have a new thread set-up in me yet.

>180 richardderus: I am so glad to be planning for 2021!!!

Hi Peggy. I didn't manage to visit and drop off holiday greetings so I'm cruising around (watching the Seahawks out of the corner of my eye) wishing everyone a Happy New Year a bit early.

AND ... Happy Anniversary!!!

Thank you, Ellen! All good wishes right back to you!

HAMNET by Maggie O'Farrell

Now that I have learned that "Hamnet" and "Hamlet" were interchangeable in Shakespeare's time, I am giving this one a full five stars. I love Agnes, the playwright's wife, who is the center of the novel. She is unique, a bit uncanny, and believably loving. She sees depths in her husband that nobody else does, but he isn't the overbearing presence that we might expect. I don't know that the novel adds anything to academic scholarship, but it does give present readers an emotional experience for dealing with love and loss and picking up life again.

>184 LizzieD: It has more than made a difference if it's "...give{n} present readers an emotional experience for dealing with love and loss and picking up life again." That's beyond price, and a thing only the best stories do.

>184 LizzieD: I'm glad to see you enjoyed Hamnet, Peggy. I was just looking through my 2020 reading and realized it was one of very few 5-star reads I had this year.

I am another Hamnet fan, Peggy. It is certainly one of my favorites this year.

50 YEARS! How wonderful to have a partner for that long! Congratulations.

Belated congratulations on your 50th aniversary!

What a lovely thing to find visitors at year's end!
Thank you, Anita and Judy, for the anniversary congratulations. It's hard to get my head around; it's hard to think that we're that much older than 50 ourselves to speak the truth.
Glad to see the Hamnet love, Beth and Laura. Glad for the affirmation, Richard! This is the first Women's Prize winner in years that I've really loved since maybe The Lacuna.
*Wheeling* to the end of #11, maybe tomorrow if I have time, but more likely Wednesday. I could almost weep in relief that it's not the slog that #10 was. In fact, I've been so pleased with it that I used my Christmas GC to order a copy of the *Wheel Companion*. I'm back in love with Aes Sedai, and I'll really enjoy their info on individual characters. (The love is enough to carry me past my frustrations with all the usual weaknesses.)
I didn't say, but my DH is a carver. He carved a very Roman looking charm (about an inch and a half long) from soapstone with a Roman numeral L on one side and our initials on the other. I love the way it feels in my hand, but I'm wearing it on a chain to maybe keep from losing or breaking it. Soapstone is pretty brittle. If I can get a picture of it from my phone to here, I'll show it to you.

Hi Peggy!

What a lovely anniversary present from your DH. I'd love to see it.

Here we are, coming to the end of the annus horribilis. The only reason that it's okay for there to be 2 more days in 2020 is that I think I can squeeze in one more book.

Gentle hugs to your ma, kindest regards to your DH, and many hugs to you!

Oh, Karen, I wish I could squeeze in one more book. Then I could look at my list and think, "If only I had read one more book a month, I could have reached 75." Alas! I can't and won't.

KNIFE OF DREAMS by Robert Jordan

This number 11 is so much better than number 10 that I thought it was wonderful. In fact, it is wonderful for what it is. After almost two huge books, some plot lines are happily sewn up: Perrin and Faile, Mat and Tuon, Elayne and Andor. Egwene is making inroads in the White Tower. Rand, on the other hand, ...... Tarmon Gai'don is coming!
I'll be on to number twelve as soon as I have the Companion in hand to accompany my reading.

I'm talking teensy books for the last two read and last push - 122 pages, 160 pages, and 100 pages to finish by tomorrow midnight. Good books, but more novellas than novels.

You, on the other hand, have been reading chunksters. Brava.

Hi Peggy.
Unlike Karen there, I'm holding off starting anything. I did a big round up earlier this week of completed books and hit 140 this year. I had hoped to do a double 75 just for a fun objective but that went by the wayside.

Be well and enjoy your reading. I'm simply lurking/delurking around before the flip to 2021.

Thank you for visiting, Sandy and Karen! Hard as it is to believe, 2020 is going to be OUT of here!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, dear friends!!!! Get the vaccine as soon as you can and believe that better times are on the way.

Peggy

As the year turns, friendship continues