Berly's Bookin' It! #13

My Winter Wonderland Reading Spot

I am a mom of 3, married to a great guy (he introduced me to LT) and besides books, I love TKD, working in glass, and chocolate. I have had an eclectic "career" in nerve regeneration research, advertising, the NBA, and editing. Now I work with my husband cleaning industrial processed water and stormwater, getting it up to EPA standards. I do the marketing and the financial stuff.

There are more books coming in than going out and I am making but a small dent in the TBR piles; I haven't given up hope yet though! I can't because books are everywhere. Some are under the window in my bedroom, some are stacked by my night table, in the study, downstairs in the bookcases, and then there is the Kindle....I know you all understand. Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way. ; )

Reading Now
Quietly in Their Sleep (K) by Donna Leon, Two Guidos Thread
Educated by Tara Westover

Soon and/or I need for Color and Alphabet challenges
Start without Me by Joshua Max Feldman, ARC
W -- Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck

ON HOLD until I heal my Plantar Fasciitis -- Walk to Run One Mile (A) by Aaptiv, narrated by Jaime McFaden ( This is me trying to get back in shape--it's actually awesome! One segment a day for like three weeks. And then I hurt my heel....)

Read in December / ? pages / ? total read
105. Educated (329 pages) by Tara Westover 4.5
104. The Dirt on Ninth Grave by Darynda Jones 4.0
103. Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones 4.25
102. In Pieces by Sally Field 4.25

Read in November / 2,459 pages / 30,302 total read
101. Native Tongue by Carl Hiaasen 3.0
⭐️ 100! The Buried Giant (365 pages) by Ishiguro, RL Bookclub #1 4.5
99. Bleak Harbor (349 pages) (K) by Bryan Gruley 4.0
98. Lethal White (647 pages) by Robert Galbraith 3.75
97. Riding the Bus with My Sister: A True Life Journey (K) (308 pgs) by Rachel Simon 3.75
96. X (412 pages) (K) by Sue Grafton 3.0
95. Seventh Grave and No Body (333 pages) (A) by Darynda Jones 4.0

Read in October / 2,909 pages / 27,843 total read
94. The Queen: Aretha Franklin (A) (3 hr 48 min) by Mikal Gilmore 3.0
93. The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir (337 pgs) (K) by A Marzano-Lesnevich 4.5
⭐️. A Monster Calls (225 pages) by Patrick Ness 5.0
91. Vox (336 pages) by Christina Dalcher 4.0
90. Enrique's Journey (299 pages) for RL Bookclub #2 3.75
89. Lullaby (A) (37 min) short story by Jonathan Maberry 3.0
88. Sixth Grave on the Edge (336 pages) (A) by Darynda Jones 3.75
87. Sing, Unburied, Sing (291 pages) by Jesmyn Ward for RL Bookclub #1 3.0
86. The Fireman (768 pages) (K) by Joe Hill 3.5
85. Daughters of the Lake (317 pages) (K) by Wendy Webb 3.75

⭐️ Favorite(s) of the month
Masterpiece 5.0
Stunning 4.5
Excellent 4.0
Very Good 3.5
Good 3.0
Average 2.5
Eh 2.0
Don't Bother 1.5
Bad 1.0
Anathema 0.5

A=Audio
L=Library
GN=Graphic Novel
IR=Indiespensable Readers
K=Kindle
LT=LibraryThing Early Reviewer

Read in September / 3,223 pages / 24,934 total read
84. The Coming Storm (A) (2.5 hours) by Michael Lewis 4.0
83. The Rule of One (270 pages) (K) by Ashley and Leslie Saunders 4.0
82. The Lords of Discipline (103 of 578 pages) (K) by Pat Conroy, DNF
81. The Fate of the Tearling (496 pages) (K) by Erika Johansen 4.0
80. The Invasion of the Tearling (544 page) (K) by Erika Johansen 4.0
⭐️. Queen of the Tearling (434 pages) by Erika Johansen 4.5
⭐️. Fifth Grave Past the Light (A) (L) (352 pages) by Darynda Jones 4.25
77. Burning Girl (247 pages) by Claire Messud INDIEspensable #68 3.5
76. Speak: The Graphic Novel (384 pages) (GN) by Laurie Halse Anderson 4.0
75. Tragedy Plus Time: A Tragi-Comic Memoir (256 pages) (A) by Adam Cayton-Holland 3.5
74. Acqua Alta (387 pages) by Donna Leon 3.75

Read in August / 4,246 pages / 21,711 total read
73. A Criminal Defense (347 pages) (K) by William L. Meyers Jr 3.5
72. The Woman Who Died A Lot: A Thursday Next Novel (385 pages) (K) by Jasper Fforde 3.75
71. Archangel (200??) (A) by William Gibson, Michael St. John Smith 2.0
70. The Brand New Catastrophe (260 pages) (A) by Mike Scalise 3.5
69. The Good Samaritan (K) (390 pages) by John Marrs 3.0
68. Magical Thinking (268 pages) by Augusten Burroughs 4.0
67. The Masked City (Invisible Library Series #2) (K) (381 pages) by Genevieve Cogman 3.75
66. Death and Judgement (320 pages) (Commissario Guido Brunetti Series) (K) by Donna Leon 3.5
65. Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (368 pages) by Darynda Jones 4.25
64. The Soul of an Octopus (254 pages) by Sy Montgomery 4.0
63. Third Grave Dead Ahead (368 pages) (A) by Darynda Jones, Narrated by Lorelei King 4.25
⭐️62. We Were Eight Years in Power (367 pages) Ta-Nehisi Coates 4.25
⭐️61. The Second Grave on the Left (336 pages) (A) by Darynda Jones, Narrated by Lorelei King 4.5

Read in July / 4,904 pages / 17,665 total read
60. Loving Frank (L) (K) (402 pages) by Nancy Horan-- RL Bookgroup (Frank Lloyd Wright) 3.5
59. Forever is the Worst Long Time (K) (read 100) by Camille Pagan DNF
⭐️58. First Grave on the Right (315 pages) (A) by Darynda Jones 4.5
57. The Invisible Library (K) (L) (351 pages) by Genevieve Cogman 3.5
56. The Snow Child (386 pages) by Eowyn Lvey 3.5
55. "D" is for Deadbeat (320 page) (A) by Sue Grafton 3.75
54. The Singularity Trap (release data 10/18, pages 350??)(A) by Dennis E. Taylor of Bobiverse Fame! 4.25
⭐️53. Beartown (432 pages) by Fredrick Backman 4.5
⭐️52. The Eye of Zoltar (405 pages) by Jasper Fforde 4.5
51. The Front by Patricia Cornwell (304 pages) 3.5
50. The Song of the Quarkbeast (290 pages) by Jasper Fforde 3.75
49. Howl's Moving Castle (438 pages) by Diana Wynne Jones 3.75
48. A Secret History of Witches (515 pages) by Louisa Morgan 3.75
47. The Last Dragonslayer (296 pages) by Jasper Fforde 4.0

Read in June / 1034 pages / 12,761 total read
46. Search Inside Yourself (268 pages) by Chade-Meng Tan 3.0
⭐️45. A Gentleman in Moscow (462 pages) by Amor Towles 4.0
44. The Autobiography of Gucci Mane (304 pages) (A) by Gucci Mane 3.5

Read in May / 2,171 pages / 11,727 Total Read
43. Ten Women (50 pages) by Marcello Serrano DNF 2.5
42. Hello Universe (313 Pages) by Erin Estrada Kelly
⭐️41. The One and Only Ivan (307 pages) by Katherine Applegate 4.5
40. The Light of the Fireflies (329 pages) by Paul Pen
39. Dressed for Death (287 page) (K)(L) by Donna Leon 3.0
38. The Gray House (K) (110/728 pages) by Mariam Petrosyan -- DNF
37. No Time Like the Past (332 pages) (A) by Jodi Taylor 3.75
36. Monsoon Mansion: A Memoir (235 pages) (K) by Cinelle Barnes 3.0
35. The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind (208 pages) by Barbara K. Lipska 4.0

Read in April / 2,320 Pages / 9,554 Total Read
34. Norse Mythology (299 pages) by Neil Gaiman 3.0
33. Start Without Me (278 pages) by Joshua Max Feldman
⭐️32. The Hounds of Spring (160 pages) by Lucy Andrews Cummin 4.5
⭐️31. How to Get Run Over by a Truck (294 pages) (A) by Katie C.McKenna 4.5
30. I Feel Bad About My Neck (137 pages) by Nora Ephron 3.5
29. Neighborly: A novel (313 pages) (K) by Ellie Monago 3.5
28. The Ladies Room (220 pages) (A) by Carolyn Brown 4.0
27. The Jekyll Revelation (493 pages) (K) by Robert Masello 3.5
26. ...And the Earth Did Not Devour Him (126 pages) by Tomás Rivera

Read in March / 2,156 Pages / 7,234 Total Read
25. C is for Corpse (K) (320 pages) by Sue Grafton 3.5
24. Digging in: A Novel (241 pages) (K) by Loretta Nyhan 4.0
23. Alias Grace (468 pages) by Margaret Atwood 3.5
22. A Time of Love and Tartan (K) (247 pages) by Alexander McCall Smith 4.0
⭐️21. Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body (320 pages) (A) by Roxane Gay 5.0
20. Death in a Strange Country (272 pages) by Donna Leon (K) (2 Guidos) 4.0
19. The Last Black Unicorn (288 pages) (A) by Tiffany Haddish 4.0

Read in February / 2,928 Pages Read
18. The Slow Regard of Silent Things (176 pages) by Patrick Rothfuss 4.0
17. Killman Creek (348 pages) by Rachel Caine 4.25
16. Salvage the Bones (271 pages) by Jasmyn Ward 3.75
15. Raisin in the Sun (151 pages) by Lorraine Hansberry 4.0
14. Princess Diarist (A) (272 pages) by Carrie Fisher 2.5
13. B is for Burglar (K)(320 pages) by Sue Grafton 3.5
12. A is for Alibi (K)(224 pages) by Sue Grafton 3.5
⭐️11. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike (A) (400 pages) by Phil Knight 4.5
10. Parable of the Talents (422 pages) by Octavia Butler 3.5
⭐️9. The Dead House (500 pages) by Harry Bingham 4.5
8. The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes--And Why (266 pages) by Amanda Ripley 4.0

Read in January / 2,150 Pages Read
7. Black Swan Green (OTS) (294) by David Mitchell, ColourCAT Challenge 4.0
⭐️6. Parable of the Sower (345) by Octavia Butler 4.0
5. Vittorio, The Vampire (OTS) (288 pages) by Anne Rice 2.5
4. The Power (387 pages) by Naomi Alderman 3.75
3. God Stalk (271 pages) (K) by P.C. Hodgell, GR led by Roni 3.75
2. Talking As Fast As I Can (OTS) (209 pages) by Lauren Graham 3.0
1. Death at La Fenice (356 pages) (K) by Donna Leon, Two Guidos GR 3.75

⭐️ Favorites

Longer Plans for Reading


RL Book Club #1
February - Evicted by Matthew Desmond
April - The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck - DNF
June - A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles ✅
August - Loving Frank by Nancy Horan ✅
October - Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward ✅
December - Choose books!!

RL Book Club #2
January - The Power by Naomi Alderman ✅
February - Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood ✅
March - Alias Grace continued ✅
April - I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron ✅
May - The Hounds of Spring by Lucy Andrews Cummin ✅
October - Enrique's Journey ✅
November - The Buried Giant by Ishiguro ✅



The Guidos Murder Mystery Thread
January - Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon ✅
March - Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon ✅
May - Dressed for Death by Donna Leon (originally published as Anonymous Venetian in 1994) ✅
July - Death and Judgement by Donna Leon (originally published A Venetian Reckoning in 1995) ✅
September - Acqua Alta by Donna Leon (also published as Death in High Water) ✅
November - Quietly in Their Sleep by Donna Leon (also published as Death of Faith)

I am hoping these challenges will help me choose books I already own.



ColorCAT Challenge
Black - Black Swan Green by David Mitchell ✅
Brown - Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry ✅
Green - Neighborly: A Novel by Ellie Monago ✅
Yellow - I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron ✅
Blue - Bear Town by Fredrick Backman ✅
Purple - Native Tongue by Carl Hiaasen ✅
Pink - A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton ✅
Grey - Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs ✅
Metallic - The Buried Giant by Ishiguro ✅
Orange - The Burning Girl Claire Messud ✅
Red - The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen ✅
White - Search Inside Yourself by Chade-Meng Tan ✅

And for color backup, Travic McGee by John D. MacDonald (thanks Joe!)



AlphaCAT Challenge
A - Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs ✅
B - The Burning Girl by Claire Messud ✅
C - A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness ✅
D - Digging in: A Novel by Loretta Nyhan ✅
E - The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen ✅
F - Start Without Me by Joshua Max Feldman ✅
G - A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles ✅
H - The Hounds of Spring by Lucy Andrews Cummin ✅
I - Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham ✅
J - Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward ✅
K - Killman Creek (348 pages) by Rachel Caine ✅
L - A Time of Love and Tartan by Alexander McCall Smith ✅
M - Start Without Me by Joshua Max Feldman ✅
N - Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight ✅
O - The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate ✅
P - Princess Diarist by Carrie Fischer ✅
Q - The Song of the Quarkbeast by Jasper Fforde ✅
R - Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry ✅
S - The Good Samaritan by John Marrs ✅
T - We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates ✅
U - Hello Universe by Erin Estrada Kelly ✅
V - Vittorio the Vampire by Anne Rice (love a double V!) ✅
W - Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck
X - X by Sue Grafton ✅
Y - Search Inside Yourself by Chade-Megn Tan ✅
Z - The Eye of Zoltar by Jasper Fforde ✅

Last year I read 47 out of the 85 new books I acquired. This year I am trying to read more off my shelves, but I also can't resist new books! We'll see how I do!!

✅ 45/88 read so far....

New Books in 2018
✅ Princess Diarist (A) by Carrie Fisher
✅ Not Perfect (K) by Elizabeth LaBan - Free Amazon First*
✅ We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates
✅ A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
✅ Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs
6) Go, Went, Gone by Jeremy Erpenbeck (Beth's Fault!!)
✅ The Soul of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery
8) Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
✅ Alias Grace (K) by Margaret Atwood
✅ Killman Creek (K) by Rachel Caine, (Stillhouse Lake Series #2)
✅ Neighborly (K) by Elllie Monago - Free Amazon First*
✅ The Last Black Unicorn (A) by Tiffany Hadish - Free Amazon First*
✅ ...And the Earth Did Not Devour Him by Tomás Rivera
✅ A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
✅ B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
✅ C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton
17) Poldark by Winston Grahman
✅ The Jekyll Revelation by Robert Masello
✅ A Time of Love and Tartan by Alexander McMall Smith
✅ Bear Town by Frederick Backman
21) The Empath's Survival Guide by Judith Orloff, MD
22) A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
23) Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
24) Your Duck is My Duck by Deborah Eisenber, LT INDIEspensable Reader #72
25) Census by Jesse Ball, LT INDIEspensable Reader #72
26) Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
27) The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck
✅) No Time Like the Past #5 (A) by Jodi Taylor
✅ The Hounds of Spring by Lucy Andrews Cummin
✅ Norse Mythology by Neil Gaimon
31) The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon
✅ The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind by Barbara K. Lipska
✅ Forever is the Worst Long Time: A Novel by Camille Pagán
34) The House by the River by Lena Manta
35) Still Waters: Sandhamn Murders, Book 1 by Viveca Sten
36) The Great Passage by Shion Miura *
37) The Question of Red by Laksmi Pamuntjak *
38) Last Train to Istanbul: A Novel by Ayse Kulin *
39) The Gray House by Mariam Petrosyan *
✅ The Light of the Fireflies by Paul Pen *
✅ Ten Women by Marcela Serrano *
42) Never Stop Walking: A Memoir of Finding Home Across the World by Christina Rickardsson, Tara F. Chace - Free Amazon First*
43) Conversations on Writing by Ursula K. Le Guin, LT INDIEspensable Reader #73
44) The Flame Throwers by Rachel Kushner, LT INDIEspensable Reader #73
45) The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner, LT INDIEspensable Reader #73
46) There There by Tommy Orange, LT INDIEspensable Reader #74
✅ The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
✅ Hello, Universe by Erin Estrada Kelly
✅ The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde (of Thursday Next fame, #1 in series)
50. Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh
✅ Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
✅ Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
53. Less by Andrew Sean Greer
✅ A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan
✅ The Eye of Zoltar by Jasper Fforde (Dragonslayer #3)
56. The Night Watch by Sarah Waters
✅ The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
✅ Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (Another series Twin talked me into!!)
✅ The Song of the Quarkbeast by Jasper Fforde (Dragonslayer #2)
✅ Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones *
✅ Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones *
✅ Vox by Christin Dalcher
63. The Weatherman by Steve Thayer (from Dad, set in Mpls) *
64. Territory of Light by Yuko Tsushima, LT INDIEspensable Reader #75
65. The Third Hotel by Laura Van Den Berg, LT INDIEspensable Reader #75
66. Emma (A) by Jane Austen *
67. Pretend We Live Here by Genevieve Hudson
✅ The Coming Storm (A) by Michael Lewis *
✅ Lethal White by Robert Galbraith
✅ The Rule of One by Laura and Ashley Saunders *
71. Mudbound by Hilary Jordan
72. Ice Bound by Dr. Jerri Nielsen
73. Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson
✅ Enrique's Journey by
✅ Sixth Grave on the Edge by Darynda Jones *
✅ Seventh Grave and no Body by Darynda Jones *
77. These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore
78. She Would Be King by Wayetu Moore, LT INDIEspensable Reader #76
79. The Silk Road by Kathryn Davis, LT INDIEspensable Reader #76
✅ In Pieces by Sally Fields ( I forget who recommended this recently)
81. Stephen Fry's Victorian Secrets *
82. The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter *
83. Noir: A Novel by Christopher Moore
84. Sleep Better by Aaptiv ( for that annoying insomnia -- no touchstone) *
✅ In Pieces by Sally Field
86. Out of My Mind by Alan Arkin *
87. The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon *
88. Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones *

* = Free

Favorites from this year:
Fiction
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Queen of the Tearling (the whole series! -- done) by Erika Johansen
First Grave on the Right (the whole series -- on #8) by Darynda jones
Beartown by Fredrick Backman
The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Hounds of Spring by Lucy Andrew Cummins

Non-Fiction
We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight

Favorites from 2017:
Fiction
Kafka on the Shore by Murakami
The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey
This Thing of Darkness by Harry Bingham
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse#1) by Dennis E. Taylor
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
LaRose by Louise Erdrich
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Non-Fiction
The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
Radium Girls by Katie Moore
Entwined: Sisters and Secrets in the Silent World of Artist Judith Scott Joyce Wallace Scott
Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay
Dr. Mütter's Marvels by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz

Series I want to continue...

#6 The Deepest Grave Fiona Griffiths by Harry Bingham
#4 Lethal White Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith
#1 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith
#4 E...by Sue Grafton
#6 Jodi Taylor
#4 The Chronicles of Kazam by Jasper Fforde, 2019??
#7 Seventh Grave and No Body by Darynda Jones
#2 THe Masked City by Genevieve Cogman
#8 Thursday Next by Jasper Fforde
#2 The Rule of Many by Leslie and Ashley Saunders

Well, at least here it is. Come on in!!

Happy new one, Kim!

Happy new thread, Kim. Is it cold and clear there? It is here up north of you.

Your thread toppers fill me with a sense of inferiority and futility...so organized and aesthetically pleasurable. At the same time. I swear it's black art. The Devil Herself would be pleased at her pupil's success!

Happy new one, Kim. I LOVE that first topper..... :-)

Happy new one, Twin. What a lot of green checks you have! Good job! I loved Go, Went, Gone - one of my favorites this year.

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread!

>13 katiekrug: Hi Katie! Here'a a little thank you for being first...

It comes with or without alcohol. Either way it will keep you warm. ; )

>14 Familyhistorian: Yup. Cold and clear here. I might need mittens the rest of the week. The steering wheel was cold this morning!

>15 richardderus: Why thank you for the compliment! Sorry it made you feel inferior. Bwa ha ha!!!

>16 jessibud2: I am so glad you liked the topper! Me too. : )

>17 BLBera: I know! I am so excited. I think I will finish both challenges as well as my reading groups. I even read half of my purchases. Hurray for ✅!!

Go, Went, Gone is a December read--it's happening soon! Glad you liked it.

Happy new one, Kimmers.

>18 figsfromthistle: >19 quondame: Hi guys! Thanks for popping in to get this thread going.

I am super excited because tomorrow I get see Tara Westover -- twice! In the afternoon the author of Educated is giving a talk to about 60 high school students and I get to go listen in. And then, in the evening, I am going to her regularly scheduled Literary Arts talk downtown.

Hi, Kim! No way I could catch up on the last, but I can at least appreciate your beautiful December thread! Such an inviting place!
Wow! Great that you get to hear Tara Westover - twice! I look forward to Educated sometime in the near future. (Doggone the Touchstones tonight anyway.)
I am at least with you in buying more than I read. I wish it bothered me more, but no --- I'm happy.
I also have *Go, Went, Gone* but I doubt that I get to it this year. *sigh* I do my best. It's not very good.

Happy New Thread, Kimmers!

>24 Berly: Have a great time! You know I saw her at University of Idaho and she is a wonderful speaker. I think my next read will be her memoir. Enjoy. Enjoy. Enjoy.

Back to your prior thread, I'm a fan of Jane Gardam but her writing style is not for everyone. I think Old Filth is the first in the trilogy. LibraryThing seems to be sort of "down" right now (the search function is not working at all) so I can't verify. I still have a couple of hers on my shelves not-yet-read.

Hmm, 5.5 hours. If I leave at noon (realistically, noon-thirty), I get in around 6pm. Is that early enough? I can try to adjust and leave earlier....

>23 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul!! Love seeing you out and about the threads. I hope to see more of you, your wit, and your books. xoxo

>25 LizzieD: Well, I am glad to have you show up whenever you can. And I know -- the Touchstones are not working at all right now. Dang it! I'll let you know what I think of Tara after tomorrow and Educated when I actually get to it...sometime this month.

I am definitely happy to buy books--make no mistake! But I am out of shelf space, so reading off my shelves has to be part of the plan. ; )

I need my "W" so I have to get to Go, Went, Gone! Either that or Exit West....

I think your best is pretty darn good! Don't sweat it. Are you reading? Then you are good.

>26 ronincats: Thanks, Roni!! I can't believe it is December. How did that happen so fast?

>27 EBT1002: Ellen-- i remember you speaking highly of Westover and I can't wait to see her tomorrow.

I will try to check out Jane Gardam and Old Filth when the touchstones are back up. I am intrigued...

Update to get the Touchstones to work...finally!

From last thread: And I totally agree with you about LT people: They are fun, intelligent and kind -- like you! I love being part of it.
Yay, me too (you were actually talking to Whisper1 here....but she said what I thought anyway, so we're all good)

This is a community like none on the internet, imo. Everyone here means a lot to me even though I am not on as much as I want to be these days.

I enjoyed Old Filth, what did you think of your latest Ishiguro, may I ask? I found that one a bit fantastical for my liking, but enjoyed giving it away to a friend who is into that sort of thing.

>24 Berly: Ooo! What a great hook-in you have, Berly-Boo. And no one better, because you take full advantage. And report back, which is lovely.

Old Filth is the first of Gardam's books about the man. Then came The Man in the Wooden Hat and topped off by Last Friends. I found all three enjoyable once I got past the idea that they should be a conventional sequential trilogy.

Hi Kim and happy new thread.

>24 Berly: I'm on the wait list for Educated at the library. My daughter read it for her college English class this semester and we've had some great discussions about it. She got a 98 on her paper about it, so she was jazzed. Her copy was so marked up that I opted for the library - possibly a mistake because I got on the wait list on 11-14 and they still haven't notified me one's available.

I'm reading Old Filth now because weird_o mentioned it as a possible read in December and I had it on my shelves. (I guess I need to pop by his thread and tell him that I'm reading it). I'm halfway through and it's very good so far. I also have the second in the trilogy on my shelves.

Happy new thread!

Enjoy Westover! Lucky you.

Old Filth is indeed the first of three linked novels. I loved it! Gardam rules.

>28 Berly: I hear you about being out of shelf space, Kim. I think I have been in denial for a while but I am running out of space to stack books outside of the shelves now. Something has to be done and I don't think that not buying books is the solution (because that just won't happen, will it?)

Hi Kim my dear, happy new thread.

Happy New one from me too. Just hit two scarf weather here...

Boy, I hate this new thread business. I click to the thread, then click and click and click on the link "jump to the first unread". Before catching on: ALL the damn messages are unread. Dumkopf!

As Karen reported (>32 karenmarie:), I am reading Old Filth as several people recommended. They were spot-on. It is fun. I'd read more of these.

ETA: I feel an embarrassing book-buying reveal coming on. Who coulda knew?

Happy New Thread, Kim!

Wow, I love that photo up top. Did you take that? What a great reading spot.

Nice to see A Monster Calls among your favorites. Maybe I mentioned before - we've been giving that one as a gift.

Happy New Thread!

From your last thread - regarding TMI on TKD. No such thing. I am interested. I am so impressed at my friend's skill and dedication, and love seeing her succeed. I like seeing you succeed too. :) I loved doing Karate and I'd like to get back to it. I just can't fit another thing into my life at the moment. That said, I will not be competing at any level. I don't have a competitive bone in my body.

Happy new thread, Kim!

You still have me thinking about TKD. Thinking, thinking ...

Hi Kim, I read Old Filth a few years ago and really enjoyed it. So I went out and got the next two in the trilogy but haven’t read them. Maybe I’ll reread the first and read the other two next year.

Happy new-ish thread!

Oh my goodness! You have a new thread!! Well, Happy happy new one, Kim! Your winter reading spot looks delightful!

Happy new thread, Kim!

You are doing well, both on books read as reading the books you acquire!

>31 richardderus: Fine, fine, fine. Old Filth is on the WL.

And I do love that you love my hooks. : )

So Tara Westover...I have my copy of Educated now and am opening the cover...

I loved hearing her talk with the High School students. I tried my best to take notes and want to share a few shared insights here. I don't type fast enough to transcribe verbatim nor did I have a recorder, so keep that in mind. This quote was posted by the students at Franklin HS.



My best effort at recapping some of her thoughts....

Do I wish my life had been different? That would be like wishing myself out of existence.

I had to lose my family to be myself, who I wanted to be.

Are there family traditions I want to keep? Yes! But maybe not the popcorn. My dad liked it DROWNING in butter. Dripping.

Every family is their own cult. The information is curated. Some stories are told over and over. Some drop out of history. Politics is much the same.

It is important to read authors you agree with. And then go read someone you don't. Question your stance.

There's a difference between a memoir and an autobiography. Usually autobiographies are written when people are much older; at age 75 you know how things turned out. A memoir is an artistic choice. There is no correct age. It covers a moment and should be written when the time is right.

I wrote Educated at age 28. I had to wonder, did I make the right choice leaving my family? I didn't have the answer.

The mirror metaphor...you either get it or you don't. My editor didn't!

I chose not to put pictures in. I thought this would allow readers to populate the story with their own images.

The college application? I didn't write it. My older brother did.

It's good to be in touch with the people we were, but not be ruled by them.

>32 karenmarie: Old Filth again...I can take a hint!!

I hope you get your hands on a copy of Educated soon!! My daughter just got hers and we are going to read it together.

>33 drneutron: Thank you! Love seeing you here.

>34 BLBera: Okay, okay. I give!!

>35 Familyhistorian: More shelves?! Not buying books is not a reality. : )

>36 johnsimpson: Thank you, sir! Hope all is well with you. How was your trip?

>37 charl08: Thanks! Yes, I finally caved and wore gloves because the steering wheel was so cold. Stay warm!! Two-scarf weather is very descriptive. LOL

>38 weird_O: Bill, I know you will eventually get the hang of new threads. ; ) Book reveal? Ooooh! I have to check out your thread again.

>39 jnwelch: No, sadly I did not take the topper photo, which also means sadly, that spot is not in my house. I would love it!!

I got A Monster Calls at Powell's when you guys were out here. I thought the fact that you were giving out to people was a pretty high recommendation indeed! Thanks!

>40 nittnut: I hope you find the time to do Karate again...someday. With or without the competition piece. ; )

>41 humouress: Think harder!! TKD, TKD, TKD. Say it every night before you go to sleep.

>42 brenzi: Dang. Looks like I better get a copy soon. That way I can read the first, Old Filth and maybe there can be a group read of 2 and 3 next year....

>43 thornton37814: Thank you and glad to see you!

>44 Carmenere: Maybe my next house can have a spot like that topper? I would sit there ALL THE TIME!

>45 FAMeulstee: Hi there! I am feeling pretty good about 2018. I hit 100 books (review coming soon I swear!), topped 30,000 pages already, I will finish all my challenges and I have managed to read half of my new acquisitions. Even better is that I had fun doing it and sharing all of it with my friends here on LT!

Hope 2019 is just as great.

Oh, and December is my Thingaversary!!! 10 years. : )

Hi Kim - love the Educated quotes - and how nice to read together with your daughter. Maybe I can persuade my Mum? (I'd have to tell her it has crime in it, I think*) Congrats on the thingaversary too. Where does the time go?!!
ETA I cracked and reserved Educated.
*Slight exaggeration of her reading focus.

I've sent my daughter your Westover quotes - she just read it for her college English class. I'm still on the wait list at the Library, but that's okay because I have to finish my 2018 reading goals and pretty much all of them have to be off my shelves.... sigh.

Gracious! August was my Thingaversary. I got a lot more than the statutory 13 books, since Kindlebooks on sale are so cheap and my enabler Young Gentleman Caller is so happy to provide them. He gets to read them too.

Happy new thread, Kim! Thanks for posting those wise comments by Tara Westover.

>48 Berly:, We have had two good days here in Wiltshire my dear, today we visited Winchester and the Christmas market. Over the two days we have picked up four books and one or two presents and I also picked up a nice little bottled ink and a fountain pen.

Tomorrow we go into Salisbury and look around their Christmas market and the lovely Cathedral City. Sending love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

I'm going to have to get a copy of Educated. Those quotes sound too good to miss.

Debbi loved Educated, too. I plan to read it soon.

I'm glad we inspired you to get A Monster Calls. I'd forgotten!

Hi, Kim! That's a lovely December thread topper.

Happy new one, Kim. What a lovely topper.

>50 Berly: Happy Thingaversary, Kim!

>51 charl08: LOL. I hope you talk your Mom into reading Educated with you! I hope to finish it this year and my daughter also has it for her next bookclub. She just finished Exit West for her book club this month and it got lot of interesting reactions. That one is also on my TBR list, so I want to read that soon while she still remembers it and we can talk about that one, too.

>52 karenmarie: Fun! I am glad you shared the quote with your daughter. Didn't she nail the paper? Have fun reading it when you get your hands on it and best of luck finishing up your off-the-shelf quota for the year. ; )

>53 richardderus: 13! Happy very belated Thinaversary. And, no, I wouldn't imagine you had trouble finding enough books. LOL

>54 kidzdoc: Hi D! So nice to see you here. Thanks for visiting and I am glad you enjoyed the Westover comments. It really was a pleasure to hear her.

And, foodie that you are, I am making a much-requested gnocchi dish tonight. FYI. : )



Ingredients
1 package vegan gnocchi
1 bag frozen baby Brussel sprouts or fresh
12 oz. cremini or white mushrooms
1 bunch asparagus (or other veggie of your choice, fresh or frozen)
1 tsp. dried thyme
2 cloves garlic, minced (I always use double garlic)
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. cumin
2 Tbs. canola oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions here...
https://onetsp.com/recipe/1040640-crispy-gnocchi-with-mushrooms-asparagus-and-br...

Onetsp is where I store all my recipes on-line. Love it!

>55 johnsimpson: Another pen! John, how many does that make now? And where do you store them all? : ) Glad the shopping is going well; I am doing pretty well on all but two people. Scratching my head on them....

Hugs!

>56 ffortsa: Excellent plan! Ellen says she is cruising through the book this weekend and loving it! I haven't had time yet. Yesterday I took a glass class on sandblasting. Made two plates! I will post photos after they are slumped--that means heating them enough to allow them curve into a mold. And then we went and cut our own tree--so much fun!

>57 jnwelch: Yes, sir -- you are a good reading influence for sure! A Monster Calls was one of my favorite reads of the year. Hope you enjoy Educated, too.

>58 tymfos: Hi! Thanks for popping in. : ) Today is all about getting the tree up!

>59 Ameise1: Hey! Nice to see you here. The kids are all coming over tonight to help decorate the tree. It is bittersweet because my daughter is taking her ornaments this year for her own tree. I am glad I had the tradition of giving my kids an ornament each year so they would have something meaningful to decorate their own tree, but I will miss seeing them on my tree. Oh well, at least she want them! LOL

>60 thornton37814: Hi, Lori. I can't believe I have been on LT for 10 years!!! This is such a great place.

>62 Berly: *faints with concupiscence*

>65 richardderus: What happened? There, there. *starts fanning poor Richard* And here's a glass of water. Just a little sip. Do you feel better?

BTW--nice word! I had to look up the exact meaning: Concupiscence is an ardent, usually sensual, longing. In Catholic theology, concupiscence is seen as a desire of the lower appetite contrary to reason.

In other words--you like that recipe...a lot!! ; )

It's a lulu, ain't it? So precise and exact.

Happy 10th Thingaversary!

>63 Berly: Um - about 'yesterday' - huh?

>46 Berly: What's interesting about your notes from Tara Westover's talk is that they are so different from what I would have come away with when I heard her speak a couple months ago. A couple of them are the same but it indicates that she mixes up her talks, that she has enough to say not to have to fall back on the exact same content to entertain an audience for 45 minutes or so.

Did she sing a hymn for you?

>67 richardderus: Stellar!

>68 humouress: Thank you! Now I feel entitled to buy some books. LOL

>69 ffortsa: Um....That makes no sense whatsoever! LOL. I must have done something and I lost half the post. Fixed now. : )

>70 EBT1002: I am not surprised that Westover has enough material to change up her talks. I actually found her comments more interesting when she talked to the kids (those are the ones I tried to convey), but I still enjoyed the evening talk too.

I missed out on the hymn though. Darn it. I was hoping she would sing because she said that was what motivated her to go to college in the first place. Her brother told her they had classes in it.

Hello Friend. I agree with you regarding A Monster Calls and The One and Only Ivan. I read both a few years ago and loved them!

Happy Thingaversary! I am late but congrats anyhow!

Hi Kim! Westover sounds great. I kind of regret that I decided to save money by skipping literary arts this year, but I look forward to the podcast.

and ps Happy Thingaversary!

>71 Berly: The first question she got during the Q&A was whether she would sing a hymn (and yes, it was music that led her to college; otherwise she may not have been able to give herself permission to pursue formal education). The questioner specified a hymn and she asked if she could sing something else. Well, sure. Not having read the book yet, I was thinking "are you kidding me? this is the best question we can pose for this remarkable woman??" Well. She did sing a hymn and I had tears rolling down my cheeks. Her voice is angelic (I use that word quite intentionally -- how far into the book are you?). I've never been much for hymns but some of them do have a way of moving me, especially when sung a cappella by someone like, well, like Tara Westover. :-)

Oooh, I missed that it's your Thingaversary. Happy one!

>62 Berly: Thanks for reminding me about that gnocchi recipe, Kim! I haven't made it in several years. Hmm...I have everything except mushrooms, so I may make it sometime next week.

I use Pinterest to save my recipes, using my first and last name as my username. I have three food boards, one for Favorite Recipes that I've made, another for Interesting Recipes I'd like to try, and a third entitled Recipes that I share with a fellow pediatrician who I met when she spent a week on our service when she was a third year resident at Emory.

Happy thinkaversary, Kim. I'm looking forward to pics of the glass work.

Hi Kim and congrats on your 10th Thingaversary.

>61 Berly: Yes, daughter got a 98 on her paper. I'm still waiting for my copy from the library, but am not in a rush. I have 8 books to meet my 105 book challenge and 2 of those need to be non-Sue Grafton books-off-my-shelves for my 42 book ROOT challenge. I'm feeling pretty confident right now about getting them all in. I'm on V is for Vengeance on my A-Y Grafton challenge, too.

>62 Berly: Sigh. The one thing I've told daughter to look for in a mate is someone who has the same food likes/dislikes as she does. My husband won't touch Brussels Sprouts, mushrooms, or asparagus. It sounds wonderful to me, though. Perhaps I'll make it for lunch one day during the week.

>62 Berly: When do we eat?

Happy 10th!

It sounds like Westover is great in person. I did enjoy the book.

>62 Berly: May I have some butter and cheese on mine?

>79 karenmarie: On the other hand, that means there’s more for you. My kids seem to have picked up on all my favourite foods - probably I pigged out when I was expecting - so of course I give them the lion’s share.

Hay Kim - just passing through and catching up. I hope to read Educated soon. Love your notes.

I am alive! But exhausted. Company expo show all this week. Just finished tear down. I will be back...after some sleep!

Thank you all for visiting. Love you! : )

ZZZZZZzzzzzzz.....

>84 Berly: Ha. I love that image. I need to borrow it perhaps. I am SOOOO looking forward to my break which starts December 22.

Happy Not So New Thread, Kimmers! And Happy 10th Thingaversary! I haven't been by in awhile and wanted to show my bookish mug over here. I hope all is well, my friend.

>84 Berly: Perfect! With less good reason, I feel the same way today. (Well, I did have a hard workout). I'm going to go crash like that and enjoy some zzzz's.

>1 Berly: I LOVE your winter reading spot! So cozy looking

Kimmers my petite ange...what the devil is this House Speaker trying to do by proposing "no single family zoning" in all of Oregon? I am not to understanding suchlike. If please you will to explaining issue?

Kim, I love your winter reading spot. We all need a place where we can be cozy and warm with our books. Also, I loved your notes on the talk Tara Westover gave to the students. I loved her comment about not wishing to have had a different life. Those students (and you!) were so lucky to have had the experience of hearing an author expound on her work.

Happy Tenth Thingaversary!

>89 richardderus: (I think she's asleep, Richard. Shhhh.)

Educated turned up at the library. I am trying very hard to read the books I need to finish and not just start this!

KIM WEYLER, KIM WEYLER, YOU ARE BEING PAGED

PLEASE RETURN TO THE BAGGAGE AREA THAT YOU MAY BE CLAIMED, BAGGAGE

*sigh* Yet another male who insists on doing the opposite of what he's told.

^LOL!

I resemble that remark . . .

Sleep well, Kim.

Find the Light—Reflect the Light—Be the Light

Happy Yule 2018!

Hmmm, we can hope that Kimmers is off celebrating the Winter Solstice.

Kim, I hope you and yours are all well!!! xoxo

I hope you are off doing fun holiday things, Kim. All the best of the season to you and yours.

Hoping your holidays are filled with good friends and good books

Happy Holidays Kim!

May you have a relaxing Holiday!

Wishing you and your family all the best for the holidays, Kim.

Hi Kim, we would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and festive season and send seasonal love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

^Have a great holiday with the family, Kim. We miss seeing you around, but I am sure you are crazy busy.

I chatted with Kim on the phone today. She is well -- just swamped with holiday activity, family, work.... you know, life!

Testing....

Hello all you wonderful friends!! Thanks for all the warm wishes. Life is finally somewhat under control again. Done shopping. Done wrapping. Have my groceries for tomorrow's Christmas Eve dinner with relatives. Phew! I have been busy with a work expo, Christmas letters from work, out-of-town relatives visiting early (argh!), bookclubs and bookshops, shopping, and a glass class! All of it fun, but holy cow. : )

Rather than reply to all of you here, I am just going to jump over to your threads and say Hi! there. Be patient. I'll get there in the next two days.

These are the two plates I made in my latest glass class -- sandblasting!!

I had to glue actual pine branches down on the glass and then sandblast up, down, left and right around them. Then I had to remove the branches and voila!!

I had so much fun and I am definitely in the Christmas spirit.

>110 Berly: oooo aaaahhhh

How pleasant to re-make your acquaintance, madam.

not a *smooch*

>111 richardderus: Well then, you must mean *smoochES*!!! Because you missed me so much and now I am back. : )

>109 Berly: - Love this image!!

>110 Berly: - Wow, love this. I have not tried sandblasting or plate-making! Would love to! Is this a course you take or just work on your own in a studio?

>110 Berly: that is fabulous!

It's nice to hear from you and know that all is well other than the visiting relatives 😉

Have a very merry Christmas!

>110 Berly: Wow, those are awesome! Great job!
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

>110 Berly: Those are gorgeous!

I am hopelessly behind on threads but didn't want to let the year go by without wishing you a wonderful season of peace and light and a magical new year!

Merry Christmas!

>110 Berly: - Oh, I love those plates! What a wonderful trick to create such a stunning result!

Hard to believe 2018 is almost coming to a close. Where did the year go? Stopping by to wish you and your family peace, joy and happiness this holiday season and best wishes for 2019!

>110 Berly: Very impressive! Good to know it was fun stuff keeping you away rather than any health stuff, Kim. Have a wonderful Holiday Season

Merry Christmas to you and yours! Looking forward to a very bookish 2019

Happy holidays, Kimmers!

Happy Christmas from Santa Mouse and Rudy the Red Shelled Lobster, Kim!

>110 Berly: Gorgeous! I want :0)



Seasons Greetings from Singapore! Wishing you and your family joy, peace, good fortune and good health now and in the coming year.

So glad to hear from Ellen that all is well with you, Kim. I know about being swamped at Christmas. This year we added a bathroom renovation to the chaos. What were we thinking?
Wishing you peace and some quite reflective time before the new year begins.

>110 Berly: Those are gorgeous!

Hi All! So much for getting caught up. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve Dinner, but unfortunately, my MIL fell on the sidewalk right in front of her condo. She was admitted to the hospital and we have spent a lot of time there. Not quite sure what caused the fall. She either passed out or her legs gave out. Still running tests and she starts PT today.

Thanks for all the lovely holiday wishes. Please know I really appreciate them and I read each and every one. I am already ready for the weekend to come!! LOL

>128 Berly: Oh, gosh! I hope she wasn't badly hurt.

My MIL broke her nose and cracked her cheek bone. : (

Still don't know why she fell, but she seems to have passed all the tests. The good news is she is going home later tonight with a new walker and my FIL has people coming to the house tomorrow to assist. I will pop over tonight to make sure all is going well and I am sure I will pay a visit tomorrow.

What a way to end the year! I am ready for 2019. : )

So sorry about your MiL's fall and facial injuries. May she recover quickly and completely.

>131 weird_O: Thanks, Bill. She's a bit of a wreck. I hope being back home in her own four walls and sleeping in her own bed will help her feel a bit better.

Sorry to hear about your MIL, hope being back at home, as you say, will help.

Hi, Kim. Sorry, to hear about your MIL's injuries. What a bummer. Please keep us updated. No worries, the New Year is just around the corner.

Hi Kim!

You've had a busy time of it for sure, between Christmas Joy and your MiL falling. I'm glad she passed the tests, sorry that she broke her nose and cracked her cheek bone. I do hope that being back in her house will help her recover more quickly.

I suppose a few deep breaths and a few minutes in your Winter Wonderland Reading Spot would not be bad ideas.

Sorry to hear about your MIL!! Hope 2019 is kinder to you!

>109 Berly: Love the tree.
>110 Berly: You are so talented. I think you got most of it, Twinnie.

I hope the MIL is doing well. One of my friends fell and broke both her leg bones on election day and is still in a wheel chair - no weight bearing for another four weeks! And, in the middle of it, her mother had a stroke. So, it could be worse. Watch your step, Twin.

Happy Holidays. I'll see you around, hopefully in Minnesota, next year. :)

>133 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. I know they have help in the morning hours so I will be checking in with them this afternoon. And by "them" I mean my MIL and FIL.

>134 msf59: Come on 2019!!

>135 karenmarie: Karen, I like how you think! In fact, I am meeting up today with some friends fro round two discussion of The Buried Giant because I was the only one who finished it on time for bookclub. So more on that later....also I am picking up my New Year Cards because Christmas cards didn't happen in time. LOL

>136 ChelleBearss: Thank you!! All good wishes appreciated and I am in for a kinder year. Happy holiday wishes to your busy family. : )

>137 BLBera: Twin, that's awful about your friend and her mom! Sorry.

I was planning on seeing my folks in MN soon, but they gifted me an airplane tix to visit them in FL this March. Yay! Sunshine during the rainy period! So now I don't know when I am coming to MN, but as soon as I do you'll know. xoxo

Holy Samuel Gomperts' Mother, this damned year need to end already. Enjoy Flahdah in March...maybe Minnesota in the fall?

>140 richardderus: I like the way you think!!

Wishing you happy holidays Kim!

I hope your MIL recovers soon. A fall like that can be a nasty thing. Is she familiar with using a walker? My aunt fell because she had a new walker and didn't really know how to use it.

>142 EllaTim: Hi! Happy holidays to you, too!

She has a new walker after the fall and is totally not familiar with using it. I hope it goes okay. Fingers crossed.

Ouch. So sorry about your MIL's fall. I'm afraid her injuries are typical in older people (says she who will be 70 next month), as they don't have the reflex speed to get hands up to protect the face. When my mom was still going to the supermarket by herself, she tripped over the curb and also broke her nose.

I hope your MIL gets home and recovers soon.

While I'm at it, happy new year to you and all your relations!

Sorry to read about your MIL's fall. Hope her recovery is not too difficult.

Dear Kim, I'm late but sorry about your MIL's fall. May she already be seeing some recovery!
>110 Berly: Gorgeous!!!!! Just my taste, in fact.
I wish you some rest during your holiday with time to read and a very happy new year!

Boo to Florida! Hold out for Minnesota, preferably in January or February, when it's not hot. :) How's the MIL doing?

>144 ffortsa: It is no fun getting old and tripping on things. Sigh. She is feeling well enough to come to our house tomorrow for my daughter's birthday celebration. We had to put the ping pong table away in the garage so they can pull in and won't have to deal with our very hilly driveway.

>145 thornton37814: I am sure she will not want her picture taken tomorrow, but I hope they make it for the Bday brunch. I am making two quiches, a fruit salad, bacon and a ton of things to toast: 3 bagel types, and two breads, and TONS of toppings. Should be fun.

>146 LizzieD: Thanks for the good wishes. And I am glad you like the glasswork. It is so much fun and I have enjoyed using them already. Rest will happen after there brunch cleanup! Yay!

>147 BLBera: Now, now. I am looking forward to some sun in the spring, when it is cold and rainy here. I promise to try and fit in MN sooner rather than later. My siblings and I are still planning a get together this summer. : )

Sorry to hear about your MIL, Kim. I hope everyone else keeps healthy for the rest of the holiday period. Happy New Year!

Chiming in with the others, I hope she feels better soon. Birthday brunch? It looks like you have a busy end of year. Happy Sunday.

>148 Berly: Wow, sounds yummy! Wish I could come for breakfast :-p

Best to you and healing thoughts to your MIL. Brunch does sound wonderful.

Florida in March sounds like an excellent plan, Kim. You can get caught up with your parents without having to brave the end of a Minnesota winter. So sorry about your MIL. I'm glad she is recovering and that it wasn't any worse than it was. Old age is scary…and I'm speaking from experience. I look forward to trying to keep up with you in 2019.

Happy New Year to you and your wonderful family!

>110 Berly: Awesome, Kim! The glassware looks very professional!
Hope your brunch goes well and MIL is showing signs of improvement.
I love quiche! I guess I'm too late for brunch, huh?

Hiya, Kim!

My sympathy to your MIL. That sounds like a tough fall.

Mmm. Brunch sounds good.

>150 Familyhistorian: My MIL did not make it to the celebration today. It was just too much. : ( Thanks for the healing wishes -- shed still needs them!

>151 Ameise1: Yes, the end of the year is busy around here. You know, I actually waited an extra month to get pregnant so I wouldn't have a December baby, but she came a month early!! Mother nature. Gotta love her. : )

>152 ChelleBearss: I wish you could come too!! I have a slice or two of the veggie quiche left and some fruit. Oh, and some bagels. Hurry up!

>153 witchyrichy: Thank you. Here's a toast to you!!

>154 Donna828: Right? FL in March is a much better plan!! Thanks for all the good wishes. Happy 2019 to you and yours! And I look forward to seeing you here. Lots. : )

>155 Carmenere: I used the glassware today and looked great and worked just fine, so success! I have a few nibbles left, but don't dally!

>156 jnwelch: It was a tough fall and she is still a hurting unit. No emergencies, so that's good. I think it will just take time to heal.

Happy New Year's Eve!!



I am moving on... New thread over here!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/301047#6674308

Hi Kim my dear, sorry to hear about your MIL and we both send love and hugs and special healing hugs. We would like to wish you and your family a very happy new year and hope you have a really good 2019 from both of us dear friend.

Hi Kim!

You're moving on to your new thread, but I'm stubborn enough to want to finish off 2018 with



Wishing you a new year filled with joy, happiness, laughter, and all the wonderful books you could wish for.

Have a great New Year, Kim. I plan on making the 2019 rounds tomorrow morning.

>160 johnsimpson: Thanks, John. My MIL is making slow and steady improvements. : ) Wishing you and your family a wonderful new year filled with books and happiness!

>161 thornton37814: Lori-- Love that one! I have posting after it all day long! LOL. Happy New Year.

>162 karenmarie: Karen--Thank you! And don't change a thing--I love your stubborn ways. : )

>163 msf59: OH, that is so you! Happy New Year, Mark.

The Group Read of These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore is up and running! Come visit...

https://www.librarything.com/topic/301417

>164 Berly: I had to find a good new year's one with a cat! I knew that one was it when I saw it.

Happy New Year Kim! May 2019 be healthy!

Hoping your MIL is feeling better soon.

>168 humouress: >167 Whisper1: >168 humouress: : )