Mary (bell7) Reads Diversely and Globally in 2021 - thread #6

If you're just stumbling on my thread now, hello and welcome, I'm Mary, a librarian from western Massachusetts. I read a variety of books, leaning mostly towards fantasy, science fiction, contemporary fiction, and mysteries, though I'll try just about anything but horror and read a small amount of nonfiction a year. This year's reading goals are for at least 33% of my reads to be by authors of color and to read an average of a book a month by an author not from the US or UK.

Besides reading, I knit, I watch sports, and I talk about life here. I have a large family consisting of two brothers, two sisters, one BIL, one SIL, one niece and one nephew, and my parents. I volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters and see my Little a couple of times a month. I follow the NY Giants football, Boston Bruins hockey, and tennis. I haven't been watching baseball much this year, but when I do, it's the Red Sox. I bought a house in December and dogsit on the side. All of that may appear on the thread from time to time as I talk about life.

2021 Book Club Reads
One of the fun parts of my job is facilitating one of our library book clubs. As a group, we often like historical fiction and memoirs.

January - Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate - COMPLETED
February - Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson - COMPLETED
March - Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker - COMPLETED
April - A Burning by Megha Majumdar - COMPLETED
May - The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin - COMPLETED
Summer break
September - Beloved: a novel by Toni Morrison - COMPLETED
October - The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
November - The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
December - The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Rough guide to my rating system:

I'm fairly generous with my star ratings - generally a four is a "like" or "would recommend" for me, while a 4.5 stars is a book I would reread. I break it down roughly like this:

1 star - Forced myself to finish it
2 stars - Dislike
2.5 stars - I really don't know if I liked it or not
3 stars - Sort of liked it; or didn't, but admired something about it despite not liking it
3.5 stars - The splitting hairs rating of less than my last 4 star book or better than my last 3
4 stars - I liked it and recommend it, but probably won't reread it except under special circumstances (ie., a book club or series reread)
4.5 stars - Excellent, ultimately a satisfying read, a title I would consider rereading
5 stars - A book that I absolutely loved, would absolutely reread, and just all-around floored me

I see it more in terms of my like or dislike of a book, rather than how good a book is. My hope is that as a reader I convey what I like or what I don't in such a way that you can still tell if you'll like a book, even if I don't. And I hope for my patrons that I can give them good recommendations for books they will like, even if it's not one I would personally choose.

Random things I'm keeping track of -

Bookish articles:
1. Best New Science Fiction Books - the ones I have read from here, I really liked
2. NPR's Readers Vote on 50 Best SFF of the Decade - ditto
3. 10 Books by Malaysian Women Writers You Should Be Reading - for my world literature reading goal

How to make pretty block quotes (directions from Richard):
{blockquote}TYPE OR PASTE QUOTED TEXT HERE{/blockquote} and replace the curly braces with pointy brackets.

Number of books read since keeping count on LT:
July - Dec 2008 - 65
2009 - 156 (plus over 70 graphic novels and manga volumes)
2010 - 135 (Note: in June, I started working a second part-time job for full-time hours)
2011 - 150
2012 - 108 (Note: accepted a full-time job in February)
2013 - 107
2014 - 126 (plus 8 Graphic Novels)
2015 - 120 (plus 6 Graphic Novels)
2016 - 141
2017 - 114
2018 - 105 (Note: my first full year as Assistant Director)
2019 - 116
2020 - 153

Countries I've visited in my reading:
It can get a little dicey to figure out if a book fits as a "global" read or not, so here's how I'm counting it -
-The country I'll identify is that which the book was published in or the author is from, rather than the setting of the book
-The author currently lives in their country of origin, which for my purposes is not the U.S. or U.K.
-If the work had to be translated into English, regardless of where the author is currently living
-If the author is an expatriate, they had to move in adulthood (as a college student, refugee, or any other reason), and I'll count the country of origin as where the book is "from"

(South) Korea - Umma's Table by Yeon-sik Hong and Uncomfortably Happily by Yeon-sik Hong
Australia - Garth Nix, author of The Left-handed Booksellers of London, though the book itself is set in a sort of alternate England; and Lynette Noni, author of The Prison Healer, which is set in a fantasy world
Syria - The Teeth of the Comb & Other Stories by Osama Alomar
Bolivia - Our Dead World by Liliana Colanzi
Italy - Like Family by Paolo Giordano
India - A Burning by Megha Majumdar
France - The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Sweden - Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Turkey - Ahmet Yorulmaz, author of Children of War, a book set on Crete
Canada - Esi Edugyan, author of Washington Black, which was set on Barbados, the Arctic, England...
Japan - Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya

Currently Reading
Kaleidoscope by Brian Selznick
A Little Hope by Ethan Joella

Devotionals/Bible reading
Nehemiah, Acts
Daily in His Presence by Ellie Claire
New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp

October
104. Front Desk by Kelly Yang

November

December

September
103. Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
102. The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
101. Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya (23 volumes/manga)
100. The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker
99. Arsenic and Adobo by Mia Manansala
98. Beloved by Toni Morrison
97. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
96. Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews
95. Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford
94. The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

August
93. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
92. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
91. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
90. The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
89. Nowhere Girl: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood by Cheryl Diamond
88. A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor
87. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
86. Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi
85. Listen, Love, Repeat by Karen Ehman
84. Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
83. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
82. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
81. Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

July
80. You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamarr
79. The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison
78. Wholehearted Librarianship by Michael Stephens
77. Nine Nasty Words by John McWhorter
76. A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
75. On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed
74. A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
73. The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
72. Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

June
71. The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand
70. The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
69. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
68. The Fire This Time, edited by Jesmyn Ward
67. Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev
66. A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark
65. Mosses from an Old Manse by Nathaniel Hawthorne
64. Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
63. The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

May
62. Children of War by Ahmet Yorulmaz
61. Long Life: Essays and Other Writings by Mary Oliver
60. Missing May by Cynthia Rylant
59. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
58. The Haunting of Tram 015 by P. Djeli Clark
57. Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan
56. The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson
55. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
54. The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
53. Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay
52. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
51. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
50. Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age by Sanjay Gupta, M.D.
49. The Trouble With Poetry: And Other Poems by Billy Collins
48. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
47. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells

April
46. Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly
45. Library of Small Catastrophes by Alison C. Rollins
44. Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
43. A Promised Land by Barack Obama
42. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
41. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Bradbury
40. A Burning by Megha Majumdar
39. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
38. Night Sky With Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong
37. Like Family by Paolo Giordano
36. Our Dead World by Liliana Colanzi
35. Fans: How Watching Sports Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Understanding by Larry Olmsted
34. All Systems Red by Martha Wells
33. When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
32. The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
31. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forma
30. The Archive of the Forgotten by A.J. Hackwith

March
29. Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
28. The Teeth of the Comb & Other Stories by Osama Alomar
27. Creativity: a short and cheerful guide by John Cleese
26. The Liar's Dictionary by Eley Williams
25. Uncomfortably Happily by Yeon-Sik Hong
24. Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari
23. The Left-handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix
22. Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker
21. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

February
20. Smoke and Iron by Rachel Caine
19. A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
18. Bloodchild and other stories by Octavia E. Butler
17. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
16. What I Carry by Jennifer Longo
15. The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo
14. The Book of Delights: Essays by Ross Gay
13. Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
12. The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman
11. Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor
10. Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

January
9. Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
8. An American sunrise by Joy Harjo
7. The Last Stargazers by Emily Levesque
6. This Time Together by Carol Burnett
5. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
4. Umma's Table by Yeon-Sik Hong
3. Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
2. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
1. Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine

The new thread is open for business! As August is winding down, I'm wondering - what's been one thing you've really enjoyed this summer?

Happy new one, Mary!

My favorite part of the summer has been giving notice at work 😀

I'm here. And, as ever, I've really enjoyed the opportunity to perv on the pretty surfer boys as they parade around nearly nekkid.

Don't tell Rob.

Happy New thread, Mary. I hope all is well. Glad to see you also enjoyed A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories. It is one of my favorite collections.

Happy new thread!

>9 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! Is there a sense of relief every work day knowing the end is in sight? My dad was positively *thrilled* after he'd put in notice and counted down to retirement at the end of 2020 (my house purchase was among his last closings).

>10 richardderus: Hiya, Richard, nice to see you as always. Your secret's safe with me!

>11 msf59: Good morning, Mark! I am keeping busy as always, and getting some really good reading in lately. So far I'm already completed more books in August than I managed all of July.

>12 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori!

Happy new thread, Mary!

90. The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
Why now? It was one of the books featured at Edelweiss's BookFest, and a DRC I was able to download on my Kindle without requesting and waiting for publisher approval

*Free DRC offered by the publisher through Edelweiss/Above the Treeline. Thank you!*

Rachel has myalgic encephalomyelitis, better known as chronic fatigue syndrome, but she's built a successful life as a best-selling author of Christmas romances. Now, her contract is up and her publisher tells her they'd really like her to write a Hanukkah romance instead. To get inspiration, she decides to finagle her way into the Matzah Ball Max, a big to-do being organized by Jacob, the boy from Jewish summer camp that was her first love - but pranked her in the worst way, and broke her heart.

This enemies-to-lovers story was a fun but often frustrating read. Perhaps it's just not my trope in the romance genre, as the lack of communication necessary for the protagonists to be mad at each other for more than half the book really annoyed me. I understood Rachel's reluctance to open up and Jacob's fear of abandonment, but instead of opening up to each other over the course of the book, there were a few fights with big revelations along the way, instead of a slow build. It's too bad, as there were some bright spots. The author herself has ME/CFS and includes authentic details of her experience living with the disease, and lovingly depicts an Ashkenazi Jewish community in New York. This is her first book, so I could forgive some of the formulaic aspects (could the gay best friend, Mickey, get his own love story, please?), and I could see it being a very good holiday rom-com movie. 3.5 stars.

>14 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

I had a bit of a slow start to my day, which has been nice. I have a dentist appointment - just the 6 months cleaning in which the hygienist typically exclaims over my amazingly clean teeth. From there, work, where the day will go by quickly because there are only two of us on reference and we're trading off every two hours. Tonight I have to pack for the dogsitting gig, cook a little supper (I splurged and had Chinese last night), and wash the dishes. It's raining heavily, so no yard work for me!

Happy new thread! It's been a weird summer, but I've enjoyed getting to go out in my kayak a few times -- and, of course, I've read some great books, even if I can't tell everyone about them yet.

>18 foggidawn: Thanks, foggi! That's great that you've had some chances to go kayaking this summer - I have enjoyed it when I went, but whew, did my upper back and arms feel the workout the next day! I'm especially looking forward to seeing the Newbery list when it comes out in 2022, and anything you're allowed to tell us after the judging is over :D

Happy New thread, Mary!

Sorry if I missed you comments on it, but how did you like Project Hail Mary? I've been on the fence about whether or not to try it.

>20 jnwelch: Nice to see you, Joe! Project Hail Mary is excellent science fiction, IMO, with a wide appeal. I was rather coy in my review to try to avoid spoilers - the protagonist/narrator doesn't know much at the beginning because he wakes up with amnesia, but the revelations are a fun reveal and the adventure story superb.

>13 bell7: - Oh, yes, the sense of relief is lovely. I am not slacking off, but knowing I won't be involved in some of the stuff being discussed is very liberating. No sense of dread :)

>22 katiekrug: That's good to hear, Katie! I'm happy for you :)

Happy new thread!

And here it is Thursday again! Doesn't it seem like there have been too many Thursdays this month?

Anyway. Your lot won't like the book I just read, After the Dragons, it's a near-future Beijing with dragons...but it was lovely.

Happy new thread! I was intrigued by The Matzah Ball seeing the title but I think I will avoid it based on your review as that lack of communication is my least favorite thing in romance.

Kudos for your busy, involved life, Mary. I'm making it through this summer, though it is not what I would have envisioned or preferred. I was pleased to read at Mamie's that you've read a LOT of Connie Willis. It's encouraging to hear from her fans, since a certain gadfly is following me around to talk anyone who is listening out of reading Willis. I also am impressed with your year's reading. Lots of book I'd like to dip into.

Happy new thread, Mary!

Happy new thread, Mary. I think my favourite activity this summer has been reading in my hammock in the backyard. Something I got to do more of than anticipated with working from home.

Happy new thread, Mary! I guess one thing I really enjoyed this summer is that we actually had an in-person summer reading program this year, after not being able to last year. We kept it all outdoors, with social distancing, and the weather actually cooperated! The other main thing I enjoyed was the vacation I just finished, especially time spent sitting on a porch at an historic inn, in a rocking chair, with a book, with a mountain lake view. Now I've got through the weekend at home (laundry time!), then back to work Monday!

>24 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>25 richardderus: Too many Thursdays and not enough Fridays. You're right, my patrons wouldn't, but it looks like it would be right up my alley...

>26 curioussquared: Thanks, Natalie! Sorry to make it a miss for you, but yeah, if I can tell the protagonists, "You know, a five minute conversation would clear this up," I find myself extremely irritated when they don't listen to me :)

>27 weird_O: Hey Bill, yes, I do enjoy Willis, though it's been awhile since I've read any of her books. Crosstalk was the latest I knew about, though I enjoy her time traveling historians and Bellwether too. Sorry your summer hasn't gone as planned, but hope you're still finding some bright spots and enjoying your reading. And thank you, it's always fun to know I'm aiding and abetting other people's out of control TBRs.

>28 swynn: Thanks, Steve!

>29 MickyFine: Oooh, I like that as a summer activity, Micky! It's been too humid here for that lately, but a freestanding hammock is on my home wishlist.

>30 tymfos: Thanks, Terri! Oh, wasn't it great to have in-person programming again? That's really cool that you were able to go outdoors for yours. We had summer reading but no extra programs this year, and we're kind of in a wait and see mode for the fall. And that sounds like a lovely vacation! Hope your unpacking and laundry goes well and you're ready for your Monday return.

Happy 6th thread, Mary.

Happy newish thread, Mary! I am wanting to get to Project Hail Mary - Craig loved it. Also A Good Man is Hard to Find and A Psalm for the Wild-Built, so your some of your August reading is sitting in my stacks.

Hiya. Nothin' exciting to say. I finished a récit called "Muslim": A Novel because of the flippin' nightmare in Afghanistan. Good, but...slight.

*smooch*

>32 PaulCranswick: thank you, Paul! I got here fast, my numbers appear to be keeping place with last year though my reading has slowed some.

>33 Crazymamie: thanks, Mamie! I hope you like all of them. Project Hail Mary was an especially fun read.

>34 richardderus: hey, Richard, thanks for visiting! I think I will skip that one for now, I'm still needing mostly lighter reads to escape the stress of the real world.

Weekend plans are busier than usual, I've got double duty dogsitting again and my youngest sister is up visiting from Virginia, so lots of family plans packed into there as well. I'm hoping to go out to breakfast with her shortly, followed by a bookstore run to pick up her birthday gift (bought 8 months ago but there were delays), and we're planning on playing doubles tennis with my brother and his wife. I expect that to be... frustrating, but we'll see. Tomorrow is a cookout (or in if Henri finds way here) with some extended family as well.

Happy Saturday, Mary. Sounds like an action-packed weekend. Enjoy your visit with your sister and good luck with that tennis match.

>36 bell7: Have a great time! See you the next time you're able to lift your arms....

Happy New Thread, Mary!

Your weekend sounds fun and busy,

>37 msf59: busy but good, Mark. I'm not in the least athletic, but it was fun and I didn't do too poorly.

>38 richardderus: heh, yeah I'm a little sore, Richard, but not as bad as it could be all things considered. It was really hot out and my SIL and I bowed out after only a set.

>39 streamsong: thanks, Janet, it has been that!

Henri ended up enough east of us that we got some rain and wind, but it hasn't been too bad. I brought the dogs to the get together today and they were pretty well behaved till the end when Daisy decided she wanted her carrot and we didn't have any to give so she just hovered every time anyone went to the fridge. When we got home, I got her one but she turned up her nose at it till I walked into the other room and started messing around on my phone. Now I think she's wandered to the bedroom further ignoring me, whole Brewster is sleeping above me on the couch.

>40 bell7: Silly pooch. She showed *you* didn't she.

We had another boring hurricane here. I love boring hurricanes!

>41 richardderus: She is silly. She rules the roost at home, and basically barks at me for being too slow or misunderstanding her every whim lol. But the other pooch is an absolute doll and loves me. I love boring hurricanes as well!

I am still here, just busy with life in general (dogsitting, work) and I haven't finished a book because I've been binge-watching Virgin River.

>43 bell7: Well, then! At least you're IGNORING US for a good reason.

*huffy snort*

Hello, Mary! Rae and I binge-watched each season of Virgin River as soon as it became available. Now we wait...

>43 bell7: Glad I'm not alone!

>44 richardderus: *laughing snort*
I got through the first 2 seasons and haven't yet decided if I'm going to try the books (some genres I watch better than read)

>45 Crazymamie: ad >46 charl08: oh good, more fans! I just started... though I managed to get through 2 seasons in a little less than a week. I'll start season 3 from home and then will have to wait as well.

Re: Virgin River, it was first on my radar because my co-worker's wife (coincidentally also named Mary) was a big fan, and we have similar tastes in shows/movies. I made a point of telling him yesterday that I'd started watching, and basically got an eye roll and "Don't tell me, my wife tries to tell me about what's happening, I don't want to know!" So that was fun :D

>47 bell7: Too funny!

I read the first two books in the Virgin River series and watched the frist two episodes of Season 1 but never carried on. I found it okay, but quickly forgot about it. I might have another go at it...

I watched the first two seasons of Virgin River and enjoyed it. So far I've only watched the first episode of season 3 and then got distracted by other things (ER was added to Prime recently and that's been filling my soapy drama needs). I read the first book in the Virgin River series and it was fine but I prefer the show over the book. Writing was only so-so, IMO.

>48 Crazymamie: I thought so hehe. I mentioned to him today that I should get more recommendations from his wife sometime, and he did actually talk about some of the stuff he liked or didn't about the show - I think it just got progressively too unbelievable for him, so it's not his thing. But apparently one of the actors is in Bride and Prejudice, so now I have that out from the library to watch during my vacation week.

>49 katiekrug: I enjoyed the first two seasons, Katie. If you and Micky are kinda meh about the books, I might skip them though.

>50 MickyFine: I didn't get all the way through the first episode of season 3 before it was time for me to leave where I was dogsitting, so that's where I'll start when I'm reading to watch from home. It's funny, I watch and read for two different things, so I tend to prefer my romances on the screen than in books. I was starting to wonder how much the book and show diverged, but if you're so-so about the writing I may skip it after all.

Well, I'm beat. I got back from dogsitting last night and got unpacked and went grocery shopping. Today after work, I mowed the front until I ran out of daylight, and made myself some turkey burgers and mushrooms for dinner and tomorrow's lunch. And I finished She Who Became the Sun. Now I'm showered and in PJs, ready to grab a book and go to bed.

Tomorrow after work my uncle (Dad's brother) and aunt are coming over for dinner, so I'm making Darryl's shrimp etouffee recipe (I have yet to find crawfish to try it as written) and a salad. My uncle knows how to put in ground fault interrupters so he's going to take a look at my kitchen and baths to see what I need to get.

And I took next week off, so after tomorrow I'm on vacation. I have a home to-do list and some day trips to keep me busy, including heading out to the U.S. Open on Wednesday. Should be a fun week! I will hopefully be able to get some good reading and catching up on threads as well.

>51 bell7: The book and the show diverge a lot as the story moves forward. The show works because it is fun to watch, but the I liked the story arc in the books better. I read the first three or four books in the series in my pre-LT days and also some of the books in her series that intersects with the Virgin River books - the Grace Valley books. I reread the first book last year, and I still like the story. Is it the best romance writing I have read? No, but it is worth a read if you are interested in the original story line - they changed A LOT of the story for the miniseries.

Have fun with your dinner, and hooray for vacation.

>52 bell7: No frozen crawfish in your grocery store?! How weird.

Have a lovely dinner anyway, and read hearty in your week off (instead of chores ickshudder)!

Happy vacation eve, Mary!

>53 Crazymamie: The show works because it is fun to watch, but the I liked the story arc in the books better.
Ah, yeah, that's what I was starting to wonder, if I would like some of the story arcs in the books better. I'll probably try the first somewhere down the line and decide. Some days I'm really picky about writing, so it may just come down to my mood at themoment.

>54 richardderus: I know, huh? The noive. We had a nice dinner, and my uncle likes to cook, so I was heartened by his compliments on the meal. The plan for the week off will be a mix of chores and relaxing. Sometimes just knowing I have all day to plan when I want to work on chores that I would otherwise be rushing between work and weekends, and rewarding myself with a good book after I accomplish something is enough to make said chores go lighter. But I am going to try to fit in a totally lazy me-day too.

>55 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky!

91. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
Why now? This fantasy book was getting so. much. buzz. that I needed to check it out. And then it sat on my library stack so long I started reading it because it was due next, and even then I still needed an extra renewal to finish it.

A peasant girl told she has no future grasps greatness by her sheer force of will. Zhu Chongba, as she is known for most of the book, assumes her brother's identity after their father and he die. Meanwhile, a eunuch named Ouyang waits for the day he can have revenge on the people who killed his family.

This epic story reimagines 1300s China in a sweeping tale of Zhu's years growing up, going to a monastery, and hiding her identity all the while driven by ambition and desire to live. It explores gender identity and fate. All the ways it succeeded in doing that, however, made it not quite the book for me. I get bogged down by too much description without dialog, and the first several chapters were almost entirely narration. No character is really likable, and they're all willing to do some pretty awful things in pursuit of their goals, making it a pretty dark and sometimes gruesome read. The second half, once you started to see some of the character motivations make sense and military strategy comes to the fore, was more interesting but most nights it was all too easy to leave the book on the table. 3.5 stars.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why this is fantasy and not alternate history. I think that was part of it, I kept waiting for something more blatantly magical and there was very little. But the publishers are billing it as "Mulan meets The Song of Achilles" and if you add the fact that there are few sympathetic characters and those that I did like were all killed, it's fairly accurate.

>57 bell7: Yeup! So much less than meets the eye. I gave up at 13%. Fare thee well, Chongba.

Happy Saturday, Mary. Have a nice vacation. I hope you get plenty of reading in.

Enjoy your time off, Mary!

*aaahhh* the aura of *VACATION* pervades this space...heady!

>58 richardderus: Yeah, I'm not surprised. Neither that nor the book I finished this morning are books I think would appeal to you much.

>59 msf59: Thanks Mark! I started off right finishing a book this morning.

>60 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

>61 richardderus: I had a slow, relaxed morning coffee and finished a book, then hung out with my Little at her place. Now I'm relaxing at home for the evening, since there's a threat of rain so I feel justified putting off the yard work yet again. The back yard is in desperate need of mowing, but tomorrow is good enough for that, honestly.

92. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Why now? Well, I've been wanting to read it, the original review for me to buy it for the library sounded good and it became popular. It's actually last on my library stack priority list because it's from a library with unlimited renewals, but I decided to read it next for a shared TIOLI challenge.

London, 1791: Nella owns an apothecary shop but in addition to healing, she also helps women by providing them with poison to kill the men in their lives that did them wrong. Then a servant girl, Eliza, shows up in her shop looking for a way to kill her mistress's husband. In the present day, Caroline was supposed to be here on her anniversary, but she's just learned of her husband's infidelity and leaves without him. She always wanted to be an historian, a dream she gave up for more practical pursuits, so when she finds a vial while mudlarking she decides to hunt down its origin.

Three perspectives - Nella, Eliza, and Caroline - and two time periods make for a compelling read, and it was fun to see how Caroline's discoveries matched up with the events in 1791. I loved the research scenes at the British Library, and if Caroline has a few coincidental discoveries and jumps in logic, I could mostly forgive it. Eliza's narration was particularly well done. My only real quibble was how closely certain events in the two time periods mirrored each other in a way that beggared belief. Still, a solid first novel and I'd read more by Penner. 4 stars.

Soooo, funny story about this one. A library patron returned it, and held it up, then said, "No, I'm not even going to tell you about this one," and returned it. Usually when a patron wants to talk about a book, it's because they love it, so we asked a little more about it, and it turned out she really didn't like it, though I can't remember now if she gave her reasons. Basically, I remember her saying she had been hearing a lot about it and couldn't see why it was so popular. I checked it in and laughed, brought it over and said, "Well, I hope I like it better than you did - because I'm getting it next!" My hold had come up next in the queue - and thankfully, probably at least in part to tempered expectations, turned out I liked it pretty well.

Glad to hear your vacation is off to an excellent start, Mary.

Hopefully the mowing isn't too crazy if you tackle it today.

>64 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! The mowing was a pain because I'd let it get so long - it was probably 3 weeks or more since I last did it. But I had already done the front Thursday night and had the most straightforward part left, so it wasn't super awful.

Happy vacation, Mary! The Lost Apothecary sounds intriguing...

>66 curioussquared: Thanks, Natalie! It was a fun few hours spent with the characters for sure.

Today is my errand day, and then apparently most every other day has filled itself with fun plans. Who knew.

I spent the morning figuring out how much fun money I have left to spend over the next few days, including the trip to the U.S. Open. After that, those quick trips that add up, and coming home to eat lunch. This afternoon, I'm planning on getting out into the garden and seeing how much energy I have to work on various tasks, from pruning back overgrown roses to hedge trimming bushes to dividing irises. This all sounds very involved, but basically I'm going to start and see how much stamina I actually have to work on things.

Tomorrow I'm going out to lunch and a bookstore with a cousin I haven't seen since pre-Covid, and then heading over to my parents to watch some U.S. Open and stay over, because on Wednesday we're going for the day session. So today I'm getting some laundry done and packing for that.

>65 bell7: Glad to hear it wasn't too terrible. I did a bit of hedge trimming yesterday (Mr. Fine did the bulk of it) and I'm definitely feeling it in my arms and shoulders today. Love our new hedge trimmer though. :)

ETA: Sounds like a full Monday ahead but glad to hear the rest of the week will be more fun things.

>68 bell7: You're quite the butterfly, sweetness. Alighting here, dropping down there...what fun to have the week to do these fun and necessary things without stressing about how to work it all around the job's demands.

>69 MickyFine: Heh, yeah, I got to work on some hedge trimming too and I'm properly tired now. So glad I have the right tool!

>70 richardderus: Yeah, I tried to get the stuff done today that had been stressing me out because I never seemed to have time for it. I mostly accomplished that, so I'm good. Now to fold the laundry, and I'm done being productive for the day.

93. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Why now? I believe Richard first convinced me to tip this on to the TBR pile, and as a collector of dictionaries familiar with the OED story, this was right up my alley. Wedged it in to finish out the month of August and have a shared TIOLI read.

Esme grows up at the Scriptorium where her father works for the dictionary, hiding under the table as men attempt to define the English language. Starting with grabbing a fallen slip for "bondmaid," Esme begins collecting words of all sorts - but particularly those that are overlooked.

I love words and dictionaries, and I knew from the start that this would be a near-perfect book for me. Esme's coming-of-age story is a good read, but the real strength of the book is the meditation on language, what "makes it" into the dictionary and polite usage, and the words that don't because they're spoken by the poor and illiterate or by women or are considered vulgar (but are no less part of the language). "Bondmaid" really was accidentally left out of the dictionary, and other details about the dictionary's making and the words included or left out, are accurate, allowing the fictional character of Esme to blend seamlessly with historical characters. As Esme grows into adulthood and older and the dictionary gets closer to completion, both the first World War and women's fight for suffrage bring into relief the inadequacy of language to fully express the totality of human experience. 4.5 stars.

I find it a little funny that I unintentionally read two books back to back that had something to say about the erasure of women in the written record - history in The Lost Apothecary and language in The Dictionary of Lost Words.

>72 bell7: *happy dance* You liked it you liked it! I'm always delighted when people like a book I was that pleased by.

>72 bell7: Oh, I recently read The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Lost Apothecary is waiting for me at the library.

>73 richardderus: oh this one was so much in my wheelhouse it wasn't even funny, Richard. I'm recommending it to a friend of mine ASAP (or maybe just buying it for her birthday).

>74 quondame: oh that's great, gotta love it when my reading corresponds with someone else's like that. I hope you enjoy The Lost Apothecary at least as much as I did.

Tomorrow I'm heading out to the U.S. Open with my folks, so I won't be checking in, but I am bringing my Kindle and The Personal Librarian along for the ride, as my dad decided to drive in the rain. Fortunately we have tickets to Ashe stadium, which is covered. It's not as much fun as getting to walk the outer courts, but at least we're guaranteed some tennis.

Welp, yesterday turned out to be a fun day and it's a good thing I didn't know how close of a call it was to flooding and rainstorms until later... the rain held off, we actually got to the outer courts, and when it started raining around 5 p.m. we left the stadium. We managed to stay ahead of the worst of the storm the whole way, though it was raining the entire time. Got back to my parents' house and it started getting worse, so I decided to stay over again for the night. Woke up today to flood warnings, but it's sunny and cool now, and though there's still flash flood and flood warnings in our area, I was able to get home with only one detour along the way. The river next to one of our main roads in the area was the highest I've ever seen it, but not getting over the road... yet. And thankfully no flooding or seepage in the basement in my house either.

Today's the most laid back day I have planned for the week, and I'll probably putter around at home and take advantage of the cool weather by doing some more work out of doors.

Glad to hear you kept ahead of the worst of the rain, Mary, and that your house has remained dry. Enjoy your laziest vacation day. :)

>78 MickyFine: Legitimately watched the tennis coverage that night (and saw Katie's post...) thinking that we could've easily been stranded if things had gone only slightly differently. People were walking around the grounds with water up to their calves. I did some gardening today (divided some irises and weeded, you can barely tell though it took me hours) and found a soggy patch in my yard, but that's about it in my immediate vicinity. A lot of towns around here had streams swelling and some flooding.

August in review

93. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
92. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
91. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
90. The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
89. Nowhere Girl: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood by Cheryl Diamond
88. A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor
87. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
86. Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi
85. Listen, Love, Repeat by Karen Ehman
84. Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
83. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
82. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
81. Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

Books read: 13
Rereads: 0
Children's/Teen/Adult: 0/1/12
Fiction/Nonfiction/Plays/Poetry: 11/2/0/0

Because I want to awards:
Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova for a really fun, inventive portal fantasy and the first I've read by a new-to-me author who I'll enjoy exploring more
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir for being a fun adventure/sf story
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams for being my favorite historical fiction of the month - it was about dictionaries, specifically the OED, so how could I not like it?

YTD stats -
Pages read: 27,609
Avg pages a day: 114
Books by POC authors: 43

Thoughts:
No rereads at all? How weird. Anyway, as usual a good mix of genres, even if I did manage to read two historical fiction in a row to end out the year, and two books that overlapped a little thematically as well. A lot of good reading at the beginning and end of the month especially. I didn't finish as many ARCs as I would've liked, but still read a couple and made a pretty good dent on my library stack.

Such wonderful luck, Mary! I'm happy for all y'all that your storm was as dull as my own was.

Good month's reads! *smooch*

Normally I am a person who Knows My Own Mind. Startling, I realize, for you to hear this...as I've always been such a soft-spoken crowd-goer-alonger.

Stop laughing.

Anyway. I need help. The wisdom of the crowd is sought to help be decide between two equally strong contenders for Read of the Month. I am simply incapable to unparalyzing myself from the FOMO I get thinking about this problem.

Please vote on the poll or you will be directly responsible for my re-admission to the Goofy Garage this birthmonth.

>81 richardderus: glad to hear you were good through the storm as well! And I'd update my YTD stats, but my WiFi went down last night and I can't get into my Google spreadsheet to update it. I think the problem is the coax cable, but I don't know how to fix it myself. I have a coax cable that came with the router to swap out, but I don't actually know where the plug is. I'm using a split that was already in the kitchen, run through the floor from the basement 😒

>82 richardderus: hope my vote helped, for what it's worth! I'll be interested in seeing what you choose after all the votes come in.

>83 bell7: At 5pm today...it was A TIE!!

I think I hurt myself laughing. I'mma wait til tomorrow at 5 for the few stragglers to come vote.

>84 richardderus: Bahahaha well honestly, you know you can't lose. You can always pick one and get the other from the library.

Posting briefly from my phone as the Internet is still down. The power to my modem is just fine, I took the split off and plugged the cable directly in, but no go for getting WiFi up and running. So it's probably one of the cable cords in the basement? Anyway, I'll probably have to call Comcast to make a house call ($90+, whew!) come Monday, unless anyone else has any brilliant ideas about what else I can do?

Xfinity is coming out tomorrow morning to (hopefully) fix my Internet. I have self-diagnosed that it's a coaxial cable problem and they'll most likely have to be replacing wires either into the house or in the basement. If I have to pay them for the service call anyway, I might see if they can rewire into the living room instead of the kitchen.

My microwave also died over the weekend.

And I went back to work today to find my computer won't turn on, and also needs to be totally replaced. Good thing there's books to keep me busy!

I owe a review on The Personal Librarian, which I finished on Sunday, and I'm well on my way to finishing Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford, which I started yesterday.

Isn't living in the future great??

This morning the expensive headphones I got for telework conference calls just stopped working completely. Then a few hours later they worked perfectly fine.

>87 bell7: ...waitwaitwait...your nuke *and* your work computer passed away the same weekend?!

Mary dear, have you been tested for magnetic anomaly fields? Has your personal gravity been dialed up a few notches?

Eek!

>88 norabelle414: I was half afraid the computer would turn on just fine for the IT guy after I'd tried it three times, adjusted the plugs, and tried it again before emailing. But no, it didn't work for him either and he called it a "total train wreck". How odd about the head phones! I hate when that happens and I don't know why.

>89 richardderus: Yeahhhh, I know, but in all honesty the slightly-to-very old appliances came with the house so I'm expecting them to start not working and need replacement in the next few years. The washer doesn't entirely drain right and the older-than-me gas stove's right burners need to be lit manually now. Not sure when the house got cable, but the cords do NOT look new, and there's nothing in the wall, just cords from the basement in the kitchen (what I used) and living room (some cables visibly poking through and never worked).

The work computer is more of a mystery to me. It wasn't working right a few weeks ago, though, and when IT came out that time they told me their fix might have worked or I might need a brand-new tower, so it wasn't entirely unexpected either. It's been a very odd last four days or so with no Internet though!

>90 bell7: Odd?! I'd be in a state of nervous collapse!

The stove's older than you?!? Did they *have* natural gas back then? I thought the dinosaurs needed to die first....

*chortle*

>91 richardderus: *snort* actually it's propane 😝

And yeah, the copyright on the manual (still in the cupboards when I moved in, and very helpful in showing me how to take it apart to clean) is 1978.

I am back among the Internet connected!

The Xfinity tech came out this morning, said the cable is fairly new and should last several years. So I went to the Xfinity store today to get a new modem - I am cheap and have prepaid, so as it turns out there's barely a warranty on the dang things. But I signed up for a plan that costs just as much, including the modem/router rental, and if it craps out this time they DO replace it. Faster Internet speed to boot. So I'm happy.

>93 bell7: Well! A problem solved and bids fair to be so for good. Worth any non-budget-busting cost.

"I am back among the Internet connected!" Hooray!

Happy Wednesday, Mary. I hope you are having a good week and enjoying those current reads.

I miss my internet :( A tech is supposed to be out tomorrow, and we are hoping he can move the interface to somewhere other than the basement, especially as the remediation company just called to say they'd be out tomorrow to start the clean-up... My mobile hot spot is working okay for work, but I miss my streaming services!

>94 richardderus: Yep, I just have to remember in two years to "renegotiate" the price so it doesn't go up on me hehe

>95 msf59: Thanks, Mark! I've been reading some good books and need to catch up on reviews!

>96 katiekrug: Aw, I'm sorry you're not up and running with Internet yet, Katie. Here's hoping that tomorrow gets it all set for you. I had data on my phone when I needed it, but I had to keep reminding myself not to look up every little thing when I thought of it.

94. The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Why now? The "best seller" (non-holdable) copy of the book came into the library when I was on the desk and I nabbed it - decided I'd better read it on my week off to return it in a timely fashion

Belle da Costa Greene was J.P. Morgan's personal librarian - but she has a secret, that she's actually a Black woman passing as white, born Belle Marion Greener and the daughter of a man who was a well-known civil rights speaker. In this historical fictional imagining of Belle's story, she navigates the world of the rich and famous, gaining Morgan's trust and amassing an impressive collection, all the while wrestling with her hidden life.

The collaboration by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray tells the fascinating story of the woman who worked as the personal librarian for J.P. Morgan from 1905 until his death. She was responsible for acquiring items to add to his phenomenal collection of manuscripts and art. And, she was Black - but her mother, siblings, and she lived as a white family. Belle as written worries about being found out, a little repetitively, and the dialog is a little clunky, making this a book I wouldn't reread. But I'm definitely checking out a biography of Belle soon. 4 stars.

95. Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford
Why now? Library Journal's Day of Dialog first put this book on my radar, I got it out from the library and finally managed to read it towards the end of my vacation

Ashley recounts her experiences growing up in Indiana, and her relationship with her mother, grandmother, and incarcerated father.

This memoir has been getting a lot of press lately, where much of the focus is on the fact that her father was incarcerated. But... it's really so much more. It's about her relationships with family members that she loves but that are imperfect. Her mother was often angry, and Ashley was often afraid of being "bad". Her grandmother wanted to be her confidante but also could be critical. And her father was largely absent, in jail for reasons Ashley didn't know until she was a teenager. It's also about memories - those we want to forget and those we want to imprint indelibly. And it's all wrapped up in lyrical writing that was an absolute pleasure to read. 4.5 stars.

96. Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews
Why now? My librarian book club is reading it this month, and I decided to start it a little early because I have three book clubs meeting this month

Nevada Baylor runs her family's PI business, and gets called in to capture Adam Pierce and turn him in - alive - to his family. The only problem is Adam is a Prime fire magic user, and he doesn't want to be caught. Nevada realizes she's basically expected to fail, but she's determined to do her best anyway. Connor "Mad" Rogan becomes a reluctant ally, working on rescuing his nephew, Gavin, who was present when Pierce pulled off a bank heist and killed a guard in the firestorm.

I was interested in much of the story and the world building in a Houston much like our own, but where magic exists after the discovery of a serum generations ago has allowed several families to have, essentially, super powers. Nevada can tell if someone is lying, though there are some hints that there's more to discover about her abilities. Mad Rogan is a... decent sociopath? - with a lot of power and resources of his own. Nevada finds herself irresistibly drawn to him while knowing he's bad news. Their banter could be entertaining, and they begin to trust each other some as they discover that the plot behind what Pierce is doing may be much bigger than they thought. Unfortunately, there's all set up and no resolution in this first in a series. 3.5 stars.

Early in the story, I thought I'd be interested in reading more in the series, but I was so annoyed with the end that I probably won't haha. I'm also not a huge fan of instalove/lust.

I'm reading/listening to Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, and I just started Beloved for next week's book group. This will be my third, I think, or maybe fourth, read through Beloved, but my first not for college. I'm interested in seeing what I think of it now, having lived more life. So far only about 20 pages in, my first impression is wow, could Morrison write! (Why haven't I read any other fiction by her?)

Yay for the internets being back up and running!

It looks like you've been doing some good reading, too...

Happy Thursday, Mary? Are y'all getting any of this rain? It's a steady soaker here.

Glad you're re-reading Beloved as a full grown-up. Why have you never read Song of Solomon again?

>102 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! It's amazing how dependent I am on it, even when I'm not working from home. And yeah, I've really had a stellar start to my reading month. Both the books I'm reading now will probably get high ratings as well.

>103 richardderus: Yeah, it's pretty steadily raining here, too, Richard, but I have to say I'm not entirely sad to be unable to work in the yard. I'm fitting in other things, like making soup and finishing the laundry. I'll be able to relax for the evening and sit down with a book in about an hour or so, I think. I am loving the prose in Beloved, and I think it's even better as a reread. I know, the only other book I've read by Morrison is Playing in the Dark back in 2019, and I really should read more of her fiction. I'll put Song of Solomon near the top of the list.

Happy weekend, all! No books to report, but I'm about 80% of the way through Mistborn and am progressing in Beloved and really loving the writing.

Today was a funeral followed by a baby shower, so I'm emotionally wrung out and ready to relax. I'm listening to the US Open Women's Final and deciding what to do with the rest of my day. I might use a little daylight to work out in the yard, but mostly I think it's going to be puttering at home, reading and knitting.

My Young Gentleman Caller surprised me by showing up for a cuddle. I slept with his arms around me and woke up less willing to slaughter the entire population of the planet and make a start on cleansing away the interstellar-space amino acids to prevent Life from ever recurring.

Y'all should be setting up shrines to the man.

>105 bell7: Nothing wrong with puttering!

>106 richardderus: aw, that's a great surprise! Glad that made for such a good day.

>107 drneutron: no, there's not! I'm making up for it today and tomorrow with yard work, but I just did not have the energy yesterday.

Busy Sunday today, I volunteered in nursery, went to service and went home to mow my lawn. I didn't get quite finished, but stopped to shower and get to my brother's for the Giants game and U.S. Open final.

When I get home tonight, it'll be reading my book club book, hopefully finishing tomorrow or Tuesday without too much trouble.

97. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Why now? A friend had recommended this to me a few years ago, and I'm finally getting to it - it was an e-book/audio combo, put off a little 'til I could get both versions together and had time for a long, epic fantasy

Vin is in a thief band, and has a bit of Luck where she can influence people to fall for their schemes, but lives in general squalor as one of the oppressed skaa who have few rights under the Lord Ruler and his noblemen. Kelsier is also a thief, but his band is of a different sort: instead of living in fear of betrayal, his merry band trusts each other. Now, they're about to embark on their greatest job ever: to raise a skaa army and take down the Lord Ruler. Vin gains their interest, and becomes part of their plan, but she isn't so sure she can trust them not to drop her when she becomes inconvenient, even while Kelsier teaches her about using her abilities, which are so much more than simple luck.

This sort of epic fantasy with complex world-building, political maneuvering, and a large cast of fabulous characters is, quite simply, my kind of read. It was long but didn't feel that way, because I was fascinated by every new development. The story ended in a satisfying way still leaving some threads for further books in the series, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here. 4.5 stars.

So the Giants lost (I actually won a small bet on that between my brother, my uncle and me, guessing the closest result) and Djokovic lost in straight sets to Medvedev. I got home around 8 o'clock and didn't have the energy to stay up reading. I went to bed really early the last two nights, but I'm hoping I'll have a little more energy today.

Today's agenda is work 9-2, come home to finishing the mowing and read my book club book, and then my Bible study starts tonight. I have some irises in the car to give to some of the ladies in my study.

>110 bell7: Glad you enjoyed it, Mary. I loved all Mistborn books some years back.

>111 bell7: Is Bible study f2f, Mary? I very much hope that the vaccination uptake is high among your congregation...or you double-mask!

I am finally at the double-75 mark reviewing, but Inseparable: A Never-Before-Seen Novel wasn't the best read...I'm still nervous about the general response among her fans. I chickened out and didn't tag the publisher on Twitter, as I normally would.

Well, anyway. Have a lovely Monday and get thoroughly edified this evening.

>112 FAMeulstee: Glad to find another fan, Anita!

>113 richardderus: Yeah, it's mostly face to face, though I think a couple of people are planning on Zooming in. I haven't decided mask or not yet, though I'll bring one. Sadly, I don't think vaccination is particularly high, though I've been back to in-person services since I've been fully vaccinated and have debated every week since the Delta variant if I should wear a mask or not. The sad thing is, it'll do more to protect the people who have chosen not to vaccinate than it will protect me, leaving me with a weird sort of conundrum to work out. Fridays working with elementary kids are more clear cut (for me, anyway...), I'm wearing a mask there.

I can see choosing not to tag the publisher for a review of a mediocre book. When I give a less-than-stellar review on Edelweiss I tend not to send it to the publisher, myself, figuring they can find it if they really want to know what I thought. Speaking of, I've got a TON of e-books on my Kindle to catch up on, mostly books coming out this month!

It's Tuesday, which means my late day at work (12-8), and because I have book club tomorrow, I will work another 12-8 shift.

I went grocery shopping and came back home to Zoom in to a librarian book club - a Readers' Advisory Round Table that I used to participate in (in person) before I became Assistant Director, and then gave up (along with a programming round table) when I got the new position. Since it's online on my mornings off, though, I've taken the opportunity the last couple of months to participate on my own time, so that's been fun.

I still have quite a bit left in Beloved, so while I should finish it today, I may have to read some at work to have time to prep for book club, answering some questions and poking around online to see if there's other things I want to bring up or ask. As facilitator, I tend to overprepare, and then when the conversation takes its own turn in the moment, I can let it go pretty organically and may or may not bring up the extra items I had at the ready.

Beloved is a deep, enfolding read. I hope y'all's discussion is satisfying.

Happy Wednesday's prep!

>116 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! Unfortunately that got derailed, I woke up this morning with a sore throat which means I need to be symptom-free and have a negative Covid test before going back to work. Ugh. I get why - and I even agree with it - but it's so frustrating to have plans have to change at the last minute every time I get a sore throat.

I'm still starting Arsenic and Adobo today in the hope that the test will be negative and I'll still have book club (this one is my sister-in-law's brainchild rather than the one I facilitate) next Thursday.

98. Beloved by Toni Morrison
Why now? Book club choice for September in the discussion group I facilitate for work

Sethe and her daughter, Denver, live in a house haunted by Sethe's baby girl who died 18 years ago. When Paul D, a man who was enslaved with Sethe, arrives and shakes up the house, they think the haunting may be over but then a young woman appears from nowhere, calling herself after the one word inscribed on the baby's stone: Beloved.

This is an intricate, challenging, beautiful, and heartbreaking exploration of the legacy of slavery in the lives of one family and their community. Whether Beloved is really the ghost is left open for debate, but her presence ultimately changes Sethe and Denver as they grapple with the past. A deserved Pulitzer Prize winner, and just as worth reading now as when it was published in 1987. 5 stars.

This was my third? time reading it, and the first time when it wasn't for a college class. It's dense and hard to read, but so haunting and beautiful at the same time. It's also the only fiction I've read by Toni Morrison (I've already read Playing in the Dark), but now I'm definitely adding more of her books to the TBR list.

I keep meaning to re-read Beloved. I've only read it once - for a high school English class - but I loved it.

Sorry to hear about the sore throat, Mary. Fingers crossed it's just a regular bug and not the actual plague. :P

Fingers crossed your covid test is negative! I really need to get to Beloved one of these days...

>119 katiekrug: I think there's a lot to gain from a reread in this one, Katie. Lots of layers, and easier to dive into when you know the outline of the plot.

>120 MickyFine: and >121 curioussquared: Thanks, Micky and Natalie! Fingers crossed... this'll be my 3rd covid test for a sore throat, and so far all have been negative. Hopefully I'll find out for sure tomorrow.

>121 curioussquared: Beloved is definitely worth reading when you're in the right head space for it. I'm reading a much lighter cozy mystery now.

99. Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
Why now? I'd read some good reviews that prompted me to buy it for the library collection, then picked it for my book club with my SIL because I figured the cozy mystery with recipes would work well

Lila has returned from Chicago and a bad relationship to her Midwestern small town and family restaurant. But when her high school ex-boyfriend and aspiring nasty food critic Derek dies after sampling some of their fare, her Tita Rosie's restaurant is temporarily closed and Lila becomes a murder suspect. But she's determined to find out what really happened, and gets some help from friend Adeena and Adeena's brother lawyer, Amir, clearing the family name.

This is the first book in a planned series. It's a read that goes down easy and has all the cozy tropes, from small town to close-knit family to recipes included. Where traditional mysteries may be in a small English village, this one includes a large cast of diverse characters, from Lila's Filipino American family to her friends and neighbors of various ethnicities. The mystery, however, turns out to be a little slight. There's no real clear direction in Lila's sleuthing, which primarily consists of her going to rival restaurants and sampling their food while she grills the owners, and with 30 pages the pieces still hadn't come together, and wouldn't have if the villain hadn't been a cliched confessor. However, there's a lot of promise here and I wouldn't say no to reading another book in the series. I did, after all, read this one in a single day. 3.5 stars.

5 stars for Beloved? I think that is perfect, Mary. I read it again a couple years ago and I felt it was even better than I originally thought. A contender for the Great American Novel.

>123 bell7: Sometimes potential is enough to bring me back to the table, too.

>118 bell7: Oh yes *happy sigh* you were still ensorceled! I'm glad for you. It means we won't have to forcible enroll you in sensitivity boot camp.

>117 bell7: That pure-D unadulterated rots. I hope you're going to get another negative result.

A contender for the Great American Novel.

I think you're right, Mark. I had to be about 17 years older than I was when I first read it, but now I can see why all my English professors adored it (it was assigned 3 times in college, and I think I finished it twice and got through most of it a third time then). And of course any book read after it was going to suffer by comparison.

>125 richardderus: Re >117 bell7: Yeah, it stinks. I think I have a mild cold, but needs must. I was really bummed, though, I wanted to hear what my book club ladies thought of it.
And yes, I honestly liked Beloved much more this time around than I did read it because I had to for class. It took me a week, but only because it was difficult at times (I wasn't about to read it the day of a funeral) and needed to be savored.
Re >123 bell7: There's definitely potential there, and perhaps if I went into book #2 expecting more family and less mystery, I'll find myself more satisfied. (It also wouldn't hurt to not read it right after a 5 stars read...) It'll be interesting to see what my librarian-and-friend book club makes of it.

>127 bell7: Indeed it will be interesting to see what comes next.

Oh, the frustration of planning something, preparing for it...and having it fizzle for whatever reason.

>126 bell7: I've never read *anything* by Toni Morrison, even though I see such rave reviews and discussions in this group. With such enthusiasm, it behooves me to check out Beloved from the local library, doesn't it?

>128 richardderus: so very frustrating... I'm still planning for the weekend as if I'll get a negative test, so we'll find out (soon I hope) if things go back to normal or if I have to cancel everything for two weeks.

>129 SandyAMcPherson: Beloved is her most acclaimed novel, so I'd certainly recommend starting there, Sandy.

Edited to fix my numbering

>130 bell7: Sure seems slow in hearing the result of your test. Does that reflect the number of people needing to be tested? We're certainly swamped here in our city/province. Worst rise in cases in the country compared to other provinces in Canada, at the moment. 90% of the active cases are in the unvaccinated, and about 20% of the 90% are in children too young to be immunized. So so sad.

>131 SandyAMcPherson: Yeah, it's longer than last time - a little over a month ago, the same thing happened, and I had a negative result the night I took the test. There's been an uptick in tests and cases, though thankfully my state is one of the top 5 most vaccinated in the U.S. by percentage of population. I'm hoping there's just a slight delay because of the number of tests rather than the fact that I need a call for a positive result (this testing site emails negative, calls for positive). Our rates aren't as bad as they were over the winter, but overall slightly climbing. It's frustrating to see that happen all over.

Finally catching up here, Mary--you've had so much going on! Hope your test is negative.

>133 ronincats: We both seem to be leading very full lives at the moment, Roni! Hope you have a good weekend.

The test came back "inconclusive" so I'm going out for another test today, and will plan on calling my boss today at work to go over what to do if it's inconclusive a second time or positive. I still have mild cold-like symptoms, but good energy (I even stayed up for the Giants last night, more fool am I), which is a super frustrating combination. And I'm canceling plans two days at a time hoping for a negative test so I don't have to wipe out two weeks' worth...

>135 bell7: Either way, I'm crossing the crossables for it to be conclusive this time.

Happy weekend-ahead's reads!

>136 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! I did think Wednesdays was the most cursory swipe I'd had, while today's was much more thorough (and uncomfortable), so I'm hopeful for a conclusive result this time around. In the meantime, today I feel like I have a cold, complete with sneezing and sniffles. I think a nap is in my future.

Currently reading The Hidden Palace and Harlem Shuffle. Neither is particularly fast-paced, so we'll see how much progress I make.

I look forward to your thoughts about Harlem Shuffle, Mary. I'll read it later this year.

Did you see the Giants-WFT game?! (WTF!!)

>138 kidzdoc: ugh, yes I did 🤦‍♀️ what a bungle all the way around, and after all that if the lineman could just wait for the snap, a missed field goal would've ended in a win. So disheartening.

Btw, Darryl, in my messing around on the internet today, I came across a reference to sneezing being a more common symptom of COVID-19 among the vaccinated. I couldn't tell how reliable the site was, but have you heard anything about that? I may be reading too much into my inconclusive testing result, but I'm wondering if it's likely that I got a partial match because of a low viral load...

I'm not very far into Harlem Shuffle as I've been reading it on my Kindle before bed, but hopefully I'll make good progress over the weekend.

Ugh, inconclusive is a super annoying result! In my own small breakthrough covid experience, my case started with a sore throat and then moved into lots of congestion and sneezing for several days.

Hoping it's just a soggy cold not The Medium C. (Still less the deeply-to-be-dreaded Big C!)

My goodness it's sunny out there. Positively sunstruck. I hope it's similar up by you. *cyber-smooch*

>140 curioussquared: yeah, inconclusive was extremely frustrating. Hopefully today I get a conclusive result... Though I have to say, today I feel absolutely miserable so even if this is "just" a cold, it's the worst I've gotten sick since the pandemic started (most of my sicknesses are very mild/short). I was scheduled to work tomorrow and already told my boss I wouldn't be able to go in even if I'm negative.

>141 richardderus: it's a gorgeous sunny day here, too, Richard! I went to sit on my sun porch and decided it was too hot, so I'm keeping cool in the living room now. I haven't had much energy, so after a video chat with my Little I watched some Great British Baking Show and now I'm contemplating a movie because concentrating on my book is a lot.

>142 bell7: *there there, pat pat*

Hope you feel well again, soon Mary.

Sorry you are feeling under the weather.

Thanks, Richard, Sandy, and foggi.

Still waiting on those *bleep* results and feeling like crap today, so it's a day of lazing about for me. I've already watched all of Pride & Prejudice (Firth version) between last night and this morning, and now I'm binge-watching Fruits Basket. These are my go-tos when I'm sick, and just in case I have to quarantine the rest of the week I've lined up a few more movies.

I made very little progress in my books yesterday but might read a bit this afternoon too. I'm down to four library books and will probably read my own before the week is out if my results come back inconclusive x2 or positive. I'll still be spoiled for choice, though, I have over 200 to choose from.

>146 bell7: Hiiissssss boooooo on delayed results! Whatever they are, best to know and begin proper actions...cancellings, reschedulings, schedulings...than just sit there feeling punk.

Wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery, Mary. xx

Sorry to hear you continue to be under the weather, Mary. I'm terrible for doing any reading when I'm sick. P&P is an excellent home sick viewing choice. My go to is always the Anne of Green Gables with Megan Follows.

Happy Sunday, Mary. Sorry, you are under the weather. I hope this is just a bug. Fingers crossed. My son's co-worker just tested positive, so Matt is required to get a test before returning to work tomorrow. He is getting it now.

Aw, I'm sorry you're feeling so rotten, Mary. I hope you're better soon and you get those results soon, too!

>147 richardderus: Yup, waiting is the worst! I finally emailed today to say I hadn't gotten the results yet, and got an email back with them - negative! yay!

>148 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

>149 MickyFine: I usually don't get this sick, Micky, but when I do I enjoy a P&P rewatch. Anne of Green Gables is also a stellar choice and one I did a lot as a teen, but it's my parents who had it on VHS and I do not... Hm, that might be one to add to the Christmas list this year!

>150 msf59: Thanks, Mark! It turned out to be just a bug, but man, I haven't felt this awful in awhile. I hope your son's test comes back negative and he remains well.

>151 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! Finally did get them, though I'm still under the weather.

Well, thankfully after all that I did not have Covid, but wow, did that cold knock be back for a solid five days. I'm still coughing and low energy, but not as bad as I was over the weekend. I'll take work a day at a time, and I'm still taking it easy today hoping to feel better in time for later-this-week plans that could still happen - book club with my SIL and friends on Thursday, going out with my Little on Saturday, and Giants game on Sunday.

Glad to hear your test (eventually) came back negative. Crossing my fingers I'll have the same news later this week as I also came down with a cold yesterday and go for my test this afternoon. Haven't pulled out Anne yet, I've opted for binging ER.

>154 MickyFine: Oof, sending good wishes your way, Micky! Even "only" a cold can really suck...

Glad it’s not Covid! I hope you get to feeling back to normal soon.

Hope you feel better soon and glad it's not covid!

That's two good things this Monday did. None of them to me, sadly.

Yay for the negative Covid test, but I'm sorry that the cold knocked you for such a loop!

I hope you start feeling better today, Mary!

Thanks, Jim, Natalie, Richard, Amber, and Katie!

I'm feeling a lot better today with the end game of a cold hanging on. I took the day off from work hoping that I'll be able to get back to my old self quicker instead of pushing myself too early and setting myself back as a result. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be more completely back to my old self.

I need to do a small grocery shopping to have the food I need for book club (my SIL and her co-workers/friends) on Thursday. Other than that, I have a very small at-home to-do list that will very quickly change as I find the need to pace myself. Tomorrow night may be hiding those projects that I didn't have the time to finish before company comes over haha.

I finished The Hidden Palace last night, and I'll start working on a review for that soon. Since I watched Fruits Basket, it made me hanker after the manga, so I'm rereading the series now. That was a grad school discovery (thanks, YA lit class) and has become a regular feel-good reread for me. "Sorta Cinderella" as a school play makes me laugh out loud every time.

Morning, Mary. Glad you are feeling better. Rest up today. Matt was negative on his test, which was great, since he really can't afford to be off of work.

>161 bell7: Good stuff, all of it. I'm so glad you're so commonsensical.

Hi Mary, glad you're feeling better. I'm just waiting for a test result, really hope it comes back quickly for all the reasons you said.

I've never heard of Fruits Basket, but since I loved all the other comfort watching you mentioned, off for a google.

>162 msf59: Thanks, Mark! Glad to hear Matt's test was negative, too - it's always a bit of a relief, isn't it?

>163 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! I'm trying to be good, anyway. Fortunately the projects bugging me today were simple things like setting mouse traps and blocking a knitting project. No hedge trimming for me - maybe next week!

>164 charl08: Good luck on your results, Charlotte, and hope it's negative. Ugh, it stinks doesn't it? I hope you find Fruits Basket to your liking :)

100. The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker
Why now? I really enjoyed The Golem and the Jinni so when the sequel came out, it was high on my list of summer reads I was excited for

Chava Levy, a golem, and Ahmad al-Hadid, a jinni, continue living in secrecy in New York City, meeting each other at night to walk and argue. But as time goes on, Chava realizes that people will start to be suspicious of her as she never ages, and Ahmad keeps everyone at a distance, much to her chagrin.

When it comes down to it, it's very hard to say what this story is about, and I think that's also what left me feeling a bit dissatisfied. Reading it was enjoyable, but events just kind of meandered along as we follow not only Chava and Ahmad, but also Sophia Winston, the woman whom Ahmad had seduced and left cold (literally) in the first book, and the orphan girl Kreindel over the course of 15 or so years. It was frustrating to have a narrative pulling me in so many disparate directions at once, and I thought the way everything came together at the end was a little heavy handed. 3.5 stars.

This one was tough... it's not that I didn't like it, exactly, but I was left feeling vaguely dissatisfied, and I can't tell entirely if it was the story, me (I did read the second half while sick), my expectations or some combination thereof.

101. Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Why now? Comfort reread as I recover from a cold

Yeah, I'm counting the whole series (23 manga volumes that I can read in about a half hour each) as one book. I first discovered these in grad school and have reread them a few times since - apparently the last time was March of 2013.

So the gist of the story is a high school girl, Tohru Honda, happens upon the home of "Prince" Yuki Sohma where he lives with his relative Shigure. Tohru's an orphan and living in a tent nearby, but she ends up temporarily moving in with the family, and another relative who shows up, Kyo, who really hates Yuki - and the feeling's mutual. Yuki is popular at school, but really shy and standoffish, and for good reason: his family is cursed, and when he's hugged by a member of the opposite sex, he transforms into a rat. Other Sohma family members transform into other Chinese zodiac members - Shigure, the dog, and Kyo, the cat, who was left out of the banquet in the story, as well as others that Tohru meets along the way. So far, so silly right? Yes, they are comedic and ridiculous but what keeps me coming back to the story is the depth of the characters and their interactions. At its heart, it's about a bunch of people trying to find their way in the world, feeling unwanted and isolated, whether cursed or not. The stories are so sweet and funny and heartwarming, that the story still doesn't fail to make me laugh, cry, and cheer all over again when I revisit it.

The anime is also good, but it basically ends after volume 6 with one more "ending" that doesn't make much sense tacked on.
Edited to add: I'm referring to the 26 episode series that premiered in 2001. I just discovered there's a new one, and may have to check that out...

>167 bell7: That curse always sounded like a blessing to me...but it would, wouldn't it. And there are a fair few women who would say I don't need any help being a rat.

>168 richardderus: *snort*
The transformation would still be awkward in non-romantic relationships, no? And I wouldn't say you're any more a rat than anyone else, all humans have the capacity for goodness and evil in them, I think. *smooch*

>169 bell7: You're way too kind...but don't stop!

>170 richardderus: *blush*

Now that the cold is gone, I'm back to my normal crazy schedule. I'm taking a short break at the beginning of my last hour of work to write this up, because I'm not sure when I'll find the time otherwise.

Today after work is book club with my SIL. We're discussing Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala, but more importantly we're eating recipes from the book and the Philippines. My contribution is the meeting place and chicken adobo, which is currently marinading and I'll start cooking when I get home.

Tomorrow is work, I'm starting the morning working from home and the project will be uploading and close captioning videos for Storytime and scheduling them to go up in October. And then I'm taking some personal time for a funeral for a retired co-worker (actually the reason I'm working from home, since it's in the town where I live, so silly to go to work and come back only to go back to work), and then going into the library to work the rest of the afternoon. After that, I'm starting a dogsitting job and (after missing last week with the cold) the regular Friday night volunteer job at the church, working with 5-6 grade girls.

Weekend: Saturday is finishing up dogsitting in the morning (it was just an overnight, but it was unexpected extra spending money, so I'll take it), going out with my Little, and going home for the evening. Sunday is the Giants game with my brother.

I'm currently reading The Reading List which is...okay, and Harlem Shuffle as an ARC on my Kindle, but I may have to switch to a paper book on the latter. I think I read the beginning parts too far apart, and I'm having trouble of keeping track of what's going on.

>172 bell7: You're back to 90mph Mary! I'm glad your energy levels support it. Be cautious, please, don't deplete yourself for want of listening to your needs.

Glad to hear you're feeling better and are back doing all the things. Sounds like the reading you have going on in between is only ok though. Hopefully it either gets better or you move on to something better.

Sweet Thursday, Mary. Glad the cold has moved on but sorry the workload has picked up. Looking forward to your thoughts on Harlem Shuffle. The buzz has it shaping up to be another gem.

Glad you are over your cold, Mary!

Good to see that your cold was not something worse, Mary and even more that it is now a thing of the past.

Congratulations on passing 100 books and I hope you'll have a lovely clear-headed weekend.

>173 richardderus: I am, and thank you, I'm keeping well, Richard :) That was mostly why I took Tuesday off - I knew the weekend was going to be busy, and wanted to make sure I wouldn't push myself too early and relapse.

>174 MickyFine: Yeah, no stellar reads for me lately, Micky. I think I'll like Harlem Shuffle, but I paused it for now and I'm gonna restart it (probably in October at this rate). The Reading List feels like it should be more my thing, about people connecting to each other through books, but I think part of the problem is that I've read some really excellent books in that genre so it has a lot to live up to and it's not hitting that high mark.

>175 msf59: Thanks, Mark, I'm planning on starting it over after I finish a couple of books so I can really focus on it instead of just reading a few pages before bedtime and losing track of what's going on. This weekend is very busy, but I'll have some calmer days. I'm going to be dogsitting over Columbus Day weekend and I'm not working that Sunday, so I should have two semi-restful days in a row, and a TV to watch all the football on.

>176 ronincats: Thanks, Roni, good to see you!

>177 PaulCranswick: Me too, Paul, thanks for the good wishes and the book number congrats. September is shaping up to be one of my fewer books read month (funny to say that about a month I'll read probably 9 or 10 books in, but true this year), but I'm well on pace for 120 this year, which is usually what I can manage with a full-time job and busy life.

Today was fun, but I'm exhausted so I've given myself the rest of the day off from being super productive. I was dogsitting in the morning, but I slept in a little before going out for coffee and taking the dog for a walk, then packed up and read a bit before the dog's owners came home. I left their house a little before their planned arrival, stopped to buy some yarn, and then headed out to get my Little. We went to an orchard that sells produce and has an art display every other year, and it was really cool to walk through and see sculptures by local artists. We had some time after that, so went to the downtown area of the town and walked through small shops, ate lunch and had ice cream.

And now I'm home! I do need to get some laundry done, and may pick some raspberries, grapes and tomatoes out in the garden when I get a second wind.

I'm still reading The Reading List though I'm making progress. It's holding my interest enough, and the real reason I feel an obligation to finish it (though I'm reading the paper book) is because I got the ARC from NetGalley and I'd like to catch up on some reviews there and Edelweiss Plus. I stopped Harlem Shuffle and I started A Little Hope by Ethan Joella, which is due to come out in November. I'll start over with Harlem Shuffle maybe a few days from now and hopefully keep better track of what's going on.

>179 bell7: Sounds like a very full day indeed, Mary. Loved your photos of the art installations at the orchard and I hope your little had a fun time checking them out too.

>180 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky, and I think she did.

Yesterday's game was... well, not fun, they lost again and it was a game they really should've won. But we had a safe trip, met up with one of my dad's law school buddies to tail gate, and got our Eli Manning bobbleheads. The halftime ceremony to retire Eli's jersey was the highlight of the day, and there were more people in the stands then than at any single point in the game, I think. I drove home and though we had a lot of traffic 'til we got over the bridge, it wasn't too terrible. I got home around 10 and went right to bed.

Today was my short day at work, and I had some stuff at home I wanted to do and decided to make a grape pie out of some of the grapes I picked. I was working along, got it out of the oven, saw that a gap in the crust was bleeding grape filling, so I picked it up to put it on a tray - and dropped it all over the kitchen floor, completely upside down and broke the pie plate to boot. So that was extremely disappointing. Got it cleaned up, managed to squeak a few other things on my to-do list in so I could say I accomplished *something* for the day, and headed out to Bible study.

I'm now back and ready to relax with a book before heading to bed. I've finished my paper book (I owe a review for The Reading List, which I finished Saturday night) and I wanted to start The Firekeeper's Daughter next. I'm still reading the e-book of A Little Hope, which comes out in November.

Tomorrow morning hopefully I haven't packed in too tight of a to-do list, but I want to bring my trash to my friend's dumpster, run to the bank to deposit some dogsitting money, and do a grocery shopping before coming home to make a new grape pie that I will, this time, cook ON the tray and bring to work like that. I have some outdoor projects I'd like to work on, including one last mowing for the season, but I've decided they can wait.

Sorry you dropped your pie! What a disappointment! I am intrigued by the grape filling - what is it like? I can’t say that I have ever have seen grape pie

I was so sad for you when I saw your pictures on Instagram of the dropped pie. It's so upsetting. My last big and messy kitchen fail was making chai - I wasn't keeping a close eye on it and the milk boiled over everywhere (along with the tea and spices that were in there). I hope today's attempt goes much better.

I'm also curious about grape pie. I've heard of raisin pie but never grape.

>183 jayde1599: From what little I had, I think it ends up being a little like grape jelly/jam? I'm hoping to try again tonight and bring it to work tomorrow, so I'll let you know!

>184 MickyFine: I was extremely sad, if only because I had put quite a bit of work into it and had absolutely nothing to show for a whole afternoon gone except to clean up the mess :( There's still a couple of stains in the linoleum (light, but I know they're there) so I'll have the visual reminder of it for awhile lol. The consistency seems to be a little like jelly/jam. Apparently Concord grapes have enough pectin in them to jell without adding extra, so I might try my hand at some jam one of these days. The other recipe I have is for grape juice. I have never heard of raisin pie! What's that like? (I actually don't like raisins in my cookies, so I'm not sure if I would approve of said pie...)

102. The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
Why now? This was an ARC I downloaded after hearing about it over the summer, and I'm trying to read through some of the books I downloaded with high hopes and then haven't yet read that came out in September. I... actually read the library book after we purchased it rather than the ARC on my Kindle.

*ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley. Thank you!*

Aleisha, a teen working at an underfunded and underused library, finds a reading list in a book and, though she never thought of herself as a reader starts working her way through the list. Mukesh, an older man grieving his wife's death, goes into the library and asks for a recommendation, since his wife was an avid reader and he wants to feel connected to her. Their first meeting over the library desk is a bit of a bust, but as they start reading through the list, they form a friendship.

I have read a lot of "books about books", whether fiction or nonfiction, that celebrate the power of reading and how it can bring people together, so I admittedly have high expectations going in. Almost the first scene in the book takes place a very depressed, barely-used library and the 17-year-old listening to music and playing with her phone at the circ desk is called a "librarian", so it started off on the wrong foot for me and never really fully recovered after that. It's a nice story and people do come together over their love of reading, but in the end there are better examples in the genre. 3.5 stars.

Hi, Mary. I"m glad it wasn't covid and that you're over that cold. We had a nasty one going around out here that leveled Debbi and me and seemed to take longer than other colds to depart. I'm sorry the one by The Golem and the Jinni (which I liked, too) author was a disappointment. I love "books about books", too, and it's too bad this one wasn't better. Have you read Anne Fadiman's Ex Libris? The answer's probably yes, but if not, it's a wonderful one.

>186 bell7: Ooh yeah, that opening would also rub me the wrong way. Pulling it off The List, I think.

>187 jnwelch: Sorry to hear you got sick too, Joe, that sounds like a similar type of crud to what I was dealing with. You may enjoy the sequel to The Golem and the Jinni, it may have had more to do with the reader/timing than the book itself. But yeah, I'd have a tough time recommending The Reading List. I LOVE Ex Libris, it's among one of my favorites and I've reread it a time or two. I would also put The Starless Sea and 84 Charing Cross Road up there.

>188 MickyFine: Ugh, sorry, but yeah, I think that would annoy you :( I tried to tell myself maybe libraries are different in the UK, but then I thought, no, not different enough that the summer temp would be a librarian. And after that I was just on high alert for every niggling thing.

Congrats, we've made it through hump day! I'm relaxing at home now, after having a quick and productive day at work (mostly I spent time reading through emails about new books that I'm a couple weeks behind on and getting our next book-related email put together) and, yes, finally baking that pie. It's successfully in my fridge, and I will bring it to work tomorrow to share.

Have I mentioned here before that I have mice? I've put out some traps, but mostly they're mocking me. I've seen one waltzing around in the kitchen, dining room, and my bedroom, and there was an itty bitty baby one hanging out in the kitchen and dining room while I attempted to bake the pie tonight. Ugh. So gross. And a couple nights I've started to have trouble sleeping from hearing them scuttle about. Anyway, I'm getting to the point where I'm seriously considering calling in professionals (and hopefully stopping up places they can get in) or getting a cat. I mean, I have always been interested in having a cat, but this is moving up the timeline potentially.

I have a bit of a long weekend planned to catch up on yard work (especially now that it gets dark too early for me to really do much after work) and putter around at home. I typically take the day after a Sunday I work off, but next week that's a holiday, so I'm off this coming Monday instead and I have a massage scheduled as well as a stop in to an older patron who's become a friend. I have a few movies out from the library that I'm hoping to watch over the next few days as well.

>190 bell7: Sorry to hear about your mouse problem. Perhaps a friend will let you borrow a cat for a few weeks.

How nice of you to share your baking with those you work with!

Enjoy the rest of the week

Ugh, we had mice a few years ago. We had success with live traps baited with peanut butter. They're so gross but I like rodents a little too much to kill them straight out, but if the infestation had gone on a bit longer I'm sure we would have brought out the kill traps.

>190 bell7: Hi, Mary! I eeem to have just stopped by just in time to learn about your mouse problem. We have had great success with trapping mice...In fact, we caught three of them recently. My husband heard something making noise in the walls. I'm glad he heard it because I am so hard of hearing they would have had grandchildren by the time I discovered them. Anyway we bought a large humane trap. We got the large one because we had recently seen a rat outside and thought it might be a rat. We baited it with peanut butter...and Voila! We caught one mouse. Another day we caught another mouse. A third day we caught a third mouse. We had fun with the last nouse because we had gone on a picnic that day with family to a local deserted park (formerly a golf course). We released the mouse in the park in a place where it could run for shelter. My three-year-old granddaughter and eight-year-old grandson thought that was great fun. :D

On the other hand, one of my good friends had a mouse infestation in her house where the mice had already been living and doing damage in her pantry. In that case, she did need the exterminator.

Good luck!

By the way, our walls are quiet now,,,not that I would know anyway! :D

>191 figsfromthistle: Maybe I could... I was actually offered a cat not long ago and may go back and take her up on it... And thanks, but really it's just a way of allowing myself to have some but not eat the whole pie!

>192 curioussquared: Yup, live traps are set all over the place but nothing yet. I may set a couple more while wearing gloves to see if I get any when the traps don't smell like human.

>193 SqueakyChu: Ha! Yeah, I kinda wish I couldn't hear them, it keeps me up in night because they're either in the closet or in the walls of the bedroom. Mocking me, I tell you. If I don't start catching some in the snap traps, one of my brother's friends work for an exterminator and I may call them.

Success on the second time with the pie! I made it last night, and brought it to work today. It got about half eaten in one day, and I had a slice with a cup of tea for my morning break. Delicious! Basically tastes like Welch's grape jelly toast. I'm lazy and buy pie crust, and then the filling was actually quite simple - cooked grapes, skins, sugar, flour, and lemon juice. The part that took the longest - besides the cooking itself - was skinning all the grapes, but even that can get into a rhythm.

Today after work, I came home to cook a good soup. It's cold today and starting to feel like fall so it was a good day for that. I listened to podcasts while I cooked last night and today (I'm perpetually a month behind...) and now I'm ready to settle down with Firekeeper's Daughter, which I'm really enjoying.

103. Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Why now? Reese's Book Club first put this on my radar, and the timing was such that I finally got it out of the library, hm, about 7 weeks ago? I needed an extra renewal to get it finished, even though it floated to the top finally as the next one due.

Daunis Fontaine is 18 and preparing for college with her best friend Lily in 2004. She's a white and Ojibwe woman who's unenrolled because her well-to-do grandparents refused to put her father on her birth certificate, and her identity is complicated by her constant bridging of two cultures. When meth production (and addiction) threatens her community, FBI investigators ask her to be a confidential informant, leaving Daunis feeling even more in-between than usual while she navigates trying to help them and lying to her family to do it.

This was SO good. I loved Daunis and her narration as she digs into the mystery and debates how much to trust the mysterious Jamie Johnson, dealing with grief and loss in her family, and so much more. The author herself is an enrolled member of a Sault Ste. Marie tribe, and knows the area she's describing intimately. The complexity of the characters and their community is especially well done, and the investigation becomes riveting in the end as Daunis gets closer to solving who's behind the meth. The story ends in a satisfying way but I thought it left the possibility of a sequel open, and if there is one I will be on the library holds list ASAP. 4.5 stars.

I finished Firekeeper's Daughter about 10:30 last night, finishing off my books for September. I'll write up a "in review" for the month, probably over the weekend because today's pretty busy.

One thing I wanted to mention about the book was that there are a lot of "explanatory commas" (a phrase I'm borrowing from NPR's code switch) telling the reader about the tribe's culture. It was... helpful for me as a white reader who didn't know a lot about it, but felt like I was centered in a story with an Ojibwe protagonist, leaving me feeling a little uncomfortable, especially at the beginning. As the story went on, there was less and less of it but I wonder how much of that came from the author and how much from the publisher, and if any of her subsequent books would have that or kind of back away from it as she becomes more established.

>196 bell7: Based on your blurb, for a bit I thought the novel was set in Canada as the traditional territories of the Ojibwe include Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario but then the FBI showed up. LOL. Who knew there was more than one Sault Ste. Marie? Glad to hear it was a good read overall.

Hi Mary. Nothing truly new since you've already visited the new thread.

I see your pie disaster got superse(e)ded by a success, so no condolences needed; I'm pretty sure there will be some empurpling on your floor for a while.

I'm still so tired from all the wandering around Valerie and I did that I'm back to Napland!

>198 MickyFine: oh yeah, I don't blame you for that, my bad for not specifying the Upper Peninsula of Michigan right by the border like the book does! Apparently there's a Sault Ste. Marie on both sides. And it was, I was recommending it to coworkers yesterday. Apparently it's going to be a Netflix series in 2022 as well.

>199 richardderus: oh yes, still a little enpurpling of the floor and a bit on the stove where I wasn't able to reach in and clean. I brought the rest of the pie to volunteers at the church last night, and it was promptly finished. I *might* try my hand at making grape juice this weekend, depending on how the rest of my to-do list goes.

Hello, Mary! Swinging by on my way through the threads. Thanks for coming by mine.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

It's Sunday...fancy that. And October! Ye gawds.

A boatload of feel-better read-well wishes for the end of this wretched cold.

>201 alcottacre: Nice to see you, Stasia! Hope you had a wonderful Sunday yourself.

>202 richardderus: The year continues to fly by, Richard! And thank you, I think I'm well over the cold and have enjoyed time catching up on home chores a little this weekend. I have a few morning errands tomorrow, but expect it will be more of the same.

I've set up shop on my new thread where I've put up my September in review and will have a review up shortly of the book I finished this weekend.