Joanne (copperskye) Still Reading in 2022 - II

Hi, I’m Joanne, and welcome to my second thread for the rest of 2022! We’re still sticking close to home (although I’m starting to get itchy). Here’s a recent photo from one of our nearby parks - Roxborough State Park (Colorado).



And these two girls make sticking close to home much easier, Skye, the best dog, and Boomer, the best cat.

My favorite reads of 2021. In the order I read them, nicely bookended by Amor Towles.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
The Dry by Jane Harper
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Books Read in 2022

January 2022

1. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, 4.25 stars
2. A Necessary Evil by Abir Mukherjee, OTS #1, 3 stars
3. The Office Of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans, OTS #2, 4.5 stars
4. State Of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny, OTS #3, 3.25 stars
5. Maigret Enjoys Himself by Georges Simenon, OTS #4, 3.75 stars
6. An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Tursten, OTS #5, 4 stars

February 2022
7. Little Souls by Sandra Dallas, OTSk #6, 4 stars
8. Ghosting the News by Margaret Sullivan, OTS #7, 4 stars
9. Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen, 3.5 stars
10. Force Of Nature by Jane Harper, OTS#8, 4 stars
11. The Maid by Nita Prose, OTS #9, 4 stars
12. A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen, 3 stars

March 2022
13. The Lewis Man by Peter May, OTS #10, 4.5 stars
14. Maigret and the Good People of Montparnasse by Georges Simenon, OTSk #11, 3.5 stars
15. Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor, 4.5 stars
16. Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen, 3 stars
17. The Girls on the Shore by Ann Cleeves, 2 stars
18. The Chessmen by Peter May, OTS 12, 4 stars
19. The Children Return by Martin Walker, OTS #13, 3.5 stars

April 2022
20. The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields (reread) OTS #14, 5 stars
21. French Braid by Anne Tyler, OTS #15, 4.5 stars
22. Maigret is Afraid by Georges Simenon, OTS #16, 3 stars
23. A Game of Fear by Charles Todd, 3.5 stars

May 2022
24. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, (arc) OTS #17, 4.75 stars
25. At Mrs Lippincote’s by Elizabeth Taylor, OTS #18, 3.25 stars
26. And a Dog Called Fig by Helen Humphreys, 4.5 stars
27. The Murder of Roger Ackroid by Agatha Christie 4.25 stars
28. Long Bright River by Liz Moore, OTS #19, 4 stars
29. Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner, 4.25 stars

June 2022
30. When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman, OTS #20, 4.5 stars
31. The Misty Harbour by Georges Simenon, OTS #21, 3.75 stars
32. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim, OTS #22, 4.75 stars
33. Love & Saffron by Kim Fay
34. Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz, OTS #23, 4 stars
35. In a Summer Season by Elizabeth Taylor, OTS #24, 4 stars
36. Mrs McGinty’s Dead by Agatha Christie, 4 stars
37. Maigret’s Holiday by Georges Simenon, 3 stars
38. Denver Noir by Cynthia Swanson, OTS #25, 3 stars
39. Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn, OTS #26, 4.5 stars
40. My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier (reread) OTS #27, 4.5 stars
41. Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen, 3.25 stars

July
42. Where the Sky Begins by Rhys Bowen, OTS #28, 2.75 stars
43. A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark, OTS #29, 4 stars
44. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, 4.25 stars
45. Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie, 3 stars
46. The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith, OTS #30, 3.5 stars
47. The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths, 4.25 stars
48. Plainsong by Kent Haruf (reread) OTS#31, 5 stars

August 2022
49. Excellent Women by Barbara Pym, OTS #32, 3 stars
50. Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths, OTS #33, 3.5 stars
51. Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra, 5 stars
52. The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor, OTS #34, 3.5 stars
53. The Sleeping Beauty by Elizabeth Taylor, OTS #35, 4 stars

September 2022
54. The Bookshop Of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser, 3 stars
55. A Distant Grave by Sarah Stewart Taylor, 3.75 stars
56. West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge, OTS #36, 4 stars
57. Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie, 4 stars
58. Smoke and Ashes by Abir Mukherjee, OTS #37, 3 stars
59. A Matter Of Justice by Charles Todd, 3 stars

October
60. The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman, OTS #38, 4.25 stars
61. The Drowning Sea by Sarah Stewart Taylor, 4 stars
62. Where the Water Goes by David Owen OTS #39 3.5 stars
63. Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout, 4 stars
64. Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves OTS #40, 3 stars
65. Nora Webster by Colm Toibin, OTS #41, 4.25 stars
66. Wild Strawberries by Angela Thirkell, OTS #42, 3 stars
67. Maigret and the Headless Corpse by Georges Simenon, 3.75 stars
68. A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny, OTS #43, 5 stars

November 2022
69. 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard, 3.75 stars
70. The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander, 2.25 stars
71. Santa’s Little Yelpers by David Rosenfelt, 3 stars
72. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, 5 stars
73. Silent Voices by Ann Cleeves, OTS #44, 3.5 stars

December 2022
74. Foster by Claire Keegan, 4.5 stars
75. Murder on Christmas Eve by Cecil Gaycord, OTS #45, 3.25 stars
76. Slow Horses by Mick Herron, OTS #46, 4 stars
77. The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly, OTS #47, 3.5 stars

Just in case...

In going through old photos, I came across this one, from 2012. Here’s my LT namesake, my dear angel, Copper, meeting Skye for the first time. It took a couple of weeks for Copper to reconcile herself to the fact that Skye was staying and not just a pesky little visitor. Skye is now the age Copper was then (10). They were truly great buddies.

Happy new thread, Joanne. Great photos.

>8 Copperskye: Awwww.

>8 Copperskye: So lovely to revisit Copper and see baby Skye!

>9 BLBera: Thank you, Beth!

>10 rosalita: Hi Julia, I thought so, too! :)

Happy new thread!

>1 Copperskye: Oh how I miss Colorado!

>8 Copperskye: Adorable! Brings a tear to my eye and a smile to my lips. I don't think I ever met Copper (I moved to Colorado in 2013, and it was a year or so after that when we had our first meetup), but Skye is one great dog!

Thanks for visiting my thread. I've moved back to the 75er group and hope you'll visit me soon here.

Aw, thank you, Mary! And no, you never met Copper, but she was the best dog, too.

I just posted on your new thread. And as I said there, welcome home!

Thanks!

Copper looks like she was a best dog, as now Skye is the best dog. I miss having a dog, but I can hardly manage to take good care of Nickel. No dog in my future, I'm afraid, so, as far as dogs go, I'll just have to live vicariously through your pics of Skye.

Oh, what a wonderful picture of Copper and Skye together! Such good dogs:) And Boomer! Beautiful cat.

Where are you itchy for?

Happy new thread!

Yours looks a lovely part of the world, Joanne.

Congrats on the June reading!

>8 Copperskye: *baaawww* I still miss hearing about sweet Copper. Skye's a beauty, though, and a good girl indeed.

New thread orisons!

Hi Joanne!

From your last thread, Bill and I got rid of Peacock and got BritBox. We watched as much Vera as they had, have watched a other things there including Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?, and have started watching the David Suchet Poirot two nights ago. We're happy.

I like your comments about Sharks in the Time of Saviors, although I haven’t been thinking about it much since reading early last year.

>1 Copperskye: and >8 Copperskye: Love the photos of your fur kids – especially Boomer since I’m a cat person. *smile*

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread! Lovely pictures of the dogs and Boomer the cat. If you have to be close to home, Colorado is a pretty nice place to be.

Happy new thread, Joanne!

Love the pictures, nice to compare Sky and Copper at the same age.

Happy New Thread, Joanne. LOVE the toppers!! I hope you had a nice 4th. I want to thank you for recommending Somebody, Somewhere. I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to season 2. I am watching "Dark Winds" on AMC +. It is very good but I am reluctant to pay for another platform. I also just finished the first season of Slow Horses on Apple. I highly recommend it. I will gladly take any TV recs.

On the book front- If Zorrie is not on your radar- it should be. Definitely your cuppa.

>14 Storeetllr: You’re welcome to be her Auntie Mary, Mary. :)

>15 AMQS: Thank you, Anne! And I guess, just somewhere else. A beach that’s not attached to a lake would be nice. I miss Maui. My cousin just got back from Ireland and it has always kind of called to me. He shared some photos of Skerries where my family is from. And I like to google the locations in the books I’m reading. One of these days I’ll get on a plane again!

>16 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! It’s got some nice scenery - come on out!

>17 alphaorder: Thanks Nancy! I’m kind of surprised at how many books I read last month.

>18 richardderus: Thanks Richard!

>19 karenmarie: Hi Karen, Thank you! I love Poirot. I can watch them over and over again. I don’t know what your threshold is for violence in your tv mysteries, but Line of Duty and River are both favorites of mine that are on Britbox. And Vera and Shetland are wonderful, too.

>20 drneutron: Thanks Jim!

>21 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! Thank you! Oh, I know, I’m certainly not complaining. I could be back in NJ...but then I could go down the shore. But no, I love the mountains and the weather here is really pretty perfect.

>22 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita, Thank you! They have their similarities, but they’re very different, too. The biggest difference is Skye’s hair. She’s like a little teddy bear who sheds constantly and always needs her paws trimmed!

>23 msf59: Hi Mark, Thank you! I’m so glad you liked Somebody, Somewhere! We’re also watching Dark Winds. It’s better than the promos made it look. You have cable, don’t you? We don’t have AMC+, I just DVR it when it’s on AMC. Slow Horses is on my list, too. I was thinking I might read the book first but maybe not. We’re also watching The Old Man on fX (via Hulu but I assume it’s on fX on cable). It’s really good. And I’m looking forward (with much trepidation) to Better Call Saul coming back next week. Gosh, I watch a lot of tv! :) I haven’t gotten to Zorrie yet. I had it checked out from the library a while ago (I think Beth had recommended it) but I never got to it. Thanks for the reminder!

Hi, Joanne. Copied from my thread- "Funny, I was able to see the first 5 eps of "Dark Winds" for the free week on AMC but the last two eps had not dropped yet. I will have to figure something out, because it is very good. I just don't want to pay another subscription." Maybe, I can watch the final 2 eps on regular AMC, when they drop. Thanks. I was curious about "The Old Man". I may check it out. I try to get plenty of reading in during the day, so I like to reserve my nights for movies and an occasional show or two.

>25 msf59: Shows dropping all at once have spoiled us! I kind of like having to wait a week, but if they’re there, it’s a different story.

I've also been enjoying "Dark Winds," Joanne. The acting is really good.

>26 Copperskye: I have it recorded, Joanne. I appreciate the heads up.

Happy new thread, Joanne!

>8 Copperskye: What a lovely photo - unbelievable that it was TEN years ago!

>8 Copperskye: I love the picture of Copper and Skye. It’s hard to believe you’ve had Skye 10 years now. Time does fly by! Our grand-dog Maverick will be here for a week starting Saturday. He is a beautiful and well-mannered Golden Retriever. Too bad he has to bring his naughty little brother, Cowboy, with him. Cowboy is a Schnoodle (Schnauzer/Poodle) who is not completely housebroken, barks and chews a lot (including books!), and bites children he doesn’t know. 8-yr-old Hope will be here from CO for most of the week-long visit. Yikes!

>27 BLBera: The promos for it seemed a bit cheesy but we really like it.

>28 msf59: :)

>29 bell7: Hi Mary! Thanks and I know, where did the years go.

>30 Donna828: Hi Donna, Hope is 8? Wow! Maverick sounds like the perfect golden. Cowboy sounds like, well, a terrible house guest. Good luck! And have fun with Hope and the rest of your family this week!

40. My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

I distinctly remember reading this for the first time in 1989, on a plane to Hawaii, but other than the abundant sense of unease, I remembered little of the story. Young Phillip, sheltered throughout his life by Ambrose, his beloved guardian, finds himself adrift when Ambrose meets and marries Rachel while he’s abroad. Things don’t go well. Phillip is at first suspicious and then smitten by Rachel. Things continue to not go well. The ending is ambiguous. Many times I wanted to just reach into the book and give Phillip a good talking to. I think I felt more sympathy for Rachel when I first read it. None this time. A classic gothic novel and well worth the reread!

>32 Copperskye: You've reminded me of my intention to read more duMaurier, Joanne. I read Rebecca back in 1993 while my mom was dying (I really needed a book to get lost in and it filled the bill, though I find that I don't remember much of it now). And I read the book of short stories that contains the story that Hitchcock's classic film "The Birds" was based on, and enjoyed most of them. But I know there are more like this one that I would probably enjoy. I will check the library!

>32 Copperskye: My one memory of that read is, "whatinahell's the appeal of this simpering drip?" Scheming little minx.

Anyway, I see that is closer to your modern take, as you've lost sympathy for her during this read.

Hoping it's an omen for good reads to come.

>33 rosalita: I would guess, that under those circumstances, you wouldn’t remember much about Rebecca, Julia. You’ve got some good books to look forward to. I read Jamaica Inn several years ago and loved it, too. I have Frenchman’s Creek here somewhere and hope to read it sometime this year.

>34 richardderus: Yes, “scheming little minx” is an apt description. Seriously, I want to just reach in and slap Phillip! I think it’s one of those books you look at differently as you age (or maybe I was just more forgiving in my relative youth).

Hi, Joanne. I should read My Cousin Rachel at some point. I loved Rebecca. I just started Under the Banner of Heaven, on Hulu and I think this will be a good one. I also watched "Girl in the Picture" on Netflix. Very disturbing doc but very well made. Have a good week.

I love the DuMaurier discussion. I just started watching Jamaica Inn on PBS. Very atmospheric for sure.

Hi, Joanne! Lovely photos. Such a sweet memory of Skye and dear Copper meeting for the first time.

I loved Rebecca the first time I read it when much younger, but I couldn't seem to get through it at all when I attempted a re-read a few (five? six? seven?) years ago. Go figure.

Hi, Joanne! Believe it or not, I've never read Du Maurier. *ducks and covers* I think it was because Rebecca is so hyped and "must-read," and I just never felt compelled. Perhaps I should try. I do love the first sentence of the book, though. You'd think that would be enough to pull me in, wouldn't you.

>36 msf59: I agree, Mark. I think you’d like it. We finished Under the Banner Of Haeaven and liked it a lot. I haven’t read the book but John did. Apparently there are some changes in the tv show. I haven’t heard of The Girl in the Picture but I’ll look for it!

>37 BLBera: I keep meaning to watch Jamaica Inn, Beth. Thanks for the reminder!

>38 tymfos: Hi Lori, Ha! I also tried to reread Rebecca just a year or so ago and finally just didn’t pick it up again after 50 pages or so. I think I’m just too familiar with the story, as much as I loved it. I had watched a tv adaptation not long before, as well, which probably didn’t help. I remembered so little of My Cousin Rachel so that wasn’t a problem.

>39 Storeetllr: Hi Mary! So many books, so little time... :) And such an iconic first line! If you like gothic novels, I think you’d like her. I especially think you’d like some of her very creepy short stories, like those in Don't Look Now.

41.Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen

This fourth book in the Her Royal Spyness series has Lady Georgiana traveling to a wedding at a castle in Transylvania as a representative of the royal family. As usual, there’s lots of silliness and a dead body or two. Lady Georgiana is an endearing protagonist and the recurring support characters are well drawn. Taken in small doses, this is a fun series and I’m still enjoying it.

42. Where the Sky Begins by Rhys Bowen

Since I’m enjoying Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series, I thought I’d try one of her stand-alone books. This one is her latest. During the Blitz, a young woman, happy with her new found freedom now that her husband has been drafted, is bombed out of her cafe job and her home and is relocated from London to a small town. Here she is housed in a manor house with an older, bitter woman and her cranky housekeeper. But she immediately fits right in and makes friends with everyone in the village, and then opens a tea room in the manor house to cater to the servicemen at a nearby airbase and, of course, falls in love with a pilot. There’s also some spying going on and of course she’s enlisted to help. I was looking for a good WWII homeland story but this wasn’t it. The prose was overly simple and the plot lines truly outlandish and wholly unlikely. Double meh. And I still haven’t figured out the title.

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Publication date is Aug 2.

I've finished (and enjoyed) Her Royal Spyness but, actually, I'm glad you didn't like this one since I don't need another book to add to the stack :)

>43 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba! Happy to help! :)

Happy Friday, Joanne. I am liking Under the Banner Of Heaven but it is not blowing me away. I will finish it out. I am thinking of starting the series Pachinko after that. I have heard good things and I liked the book.

We will be starting Plainsong next week. Just sayin'...

>21 witchyrichy: I laughed out loud: I grew up in eastern PA and we went "down the shore" every summer, specifically Ocean City, NJ. I just said that to a New Jersey friend the other day as I was recommending the John Ceepak series to them.

>46 witchyrichy: Just driving by to say I love the John Ceepak series, and special thanks to Joanne for introducing it to me.

>39 Storeetllr: >40 Copperskye: Turns out I've got Hungry Hill on my physical bookshelves. Apparently, it was one of my grandma's books. I discovered it when I had to remove and replace all the books in order to get the new floor laid.

(I was hoping I could organize the books while I was putting them away, but it was taking me so long that I just started throwing them onto whatever shelf fit them. Also, I culled about 50 - some (mostly kids' books, women's fiction, and women's issues) I'm giving to my daughter in case she wants them and some are going to the local library for their annual book sale, which should be soon, I think. I was hoping to cull more, but I just could not do it.)

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

>45 msf59: Hi Mark, I’ll be ready for Plainsong as soon as I finish the latest Ruth Galloway book I just started today. It’ll be a quick read! I specifically bought a paperback copy of Plainsong at the library sale last year. I knew I wanted to reread it but didn’t want to read the hardback copy I have. I’m looking forward to it!

>46 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, We were a Long Beach Island family, specifically Beach Haven. And then Seaside Park when I was older. I don’t think I’ve ever been to Ocean City. It’s a bit far from North Jersey. I remember there were always a lot of PA folks on the Island. I’m so glad you like the Ceepak series, too!

>47 rosalita: Hi Julia, Yay me! :) You guys have reminded me that I have one more Ceepak book to read!

>48 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, I’m not familiar with Hungry Hill. And isn’t that the way it always goes - the best of intentions at organization waylaid by sheer exhaustion and the desire to just get your space back together. I’ve been there. Hot, hot, hot here this weekend and we’ll continue baking all next week. Thank goodness for air conditioning!

43. A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark

Mrs Hawkins looks back to her time as a young war widow in postwar London, living in a rooming house and working for a small, struggling publisher. Her career flounders when she insults an author, and at home, a fellow resident is desperately distraught at being blackmailed. This was wryly funny and very entertaining.

And this Virago cover illustration is just too perfect.

Hi, Joanne. I see a new episode dropped for "Dark Winds", #6. I will watch it soon. I have a short book to get through and then I will start Plainsong. Funny, I forgot that I had gave someone my personal copy of it, so it was missing when I reached for it. I will replace it, but in the meantime, I have a library copy.

>32 Copperskye: I have finished a couple of DuMaurier's in July: a re-read of Rebecca and my first read of Mary Anne, which are very different books. I am going to have to get to My Cousin Rachel some time soon. Thanks for the mention, Joanne!

>50 Copperskye: Already in the BlackHole or I would be adding it again. Thanks for the reminder that I still need to get it - eventually.

Have a wonderful week!

>51 msf59: Hey Mark! I just started Plainsong. Dark Winds was solid. I really liked the cast. Definite Longmire vibe. Have you read Hillerman at all? I haven’t but I know my mom loved his books.

>52 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! Mary Anne is another duMaurier I’m unfamiliar with. If you liked Rebecca, I’m pretty sure you’d like My Cousin Rachel, too!

44. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

This was such a wonderful surprise! I didn’t know quite what to expect when I started it. Tova is a recent widow who keeps busy by working as a cleaner at the local aquarium in Sowell Bay, WA. She has a group of friends, speaks her mind without being a curmudgeonly type, and is kind and likable. She also lost her 18 year old son in a drowning incident years ago and struggles with the mystery surrounding it. Cameron is a young man who comes to town from California, searching for the father he never knew. And Marcellus, my favorite character, is a rescued giant Pacific octopus. They all have their say in alternating chapters and it all works beautifully. Another fabulous debut!

>54 Copperskye: I'm glad to see your review. I ordered that one for the library, but I haven't heard anyone comment on it. I might give it a whirl sometime in the fall.

>54 Copperskye: Book Bullet! I think you got me with your favorite character...an octopus. Thanks for calling Remarkably Bright Creatures to our attention, Joanne. It's a good thing I'm patient and have lots of other books to read as I am No. 14 in the library queue.

I'm glad you have air conditioning in this hot weather. We weren't so lucky when we lived in CO Springs in the 90s. Everyone said it wasn't necessary. That was probably true for 50 weeks out of the year, but those hot spells were pretty miserable during the day. Thank goodness for cool mountain air in the evenings.

>55 thornton37814: Hi Lori! I hope your patrons like it as much as I did. And you, too, of course!

>56 Donna828: Hi Donna, You’ll see what I mean about the octopus when you get to it. Octopi are sorely underrepresented in fiction. :)

We moved here in ‘87 but didn’t put in central air until 2004. We can still turn it off at night, but it’s certainly warmer now than it was then.

Hi Joanne! Lucky you... we finally brought an HVAC guy to give us some AC options because we're melting. We don't love any of the options. Central AC involved tearing up the ceiling and walls of our finished basement and the room units like they have all over Europe are more than double the cost. Ugh.

I have put Remarkably Bright Creatures on my list - thanks for your review! And if you need a travel companion to Ireland, I'm available:)

I also really enjoyed Remarkably Bright Creatures when I read it a couple of months ago. Glad it was a winner for you!

Remarkably Bright Creatures sounds great, Joanne. Onto my list it goes.

Also available for Ireland travel. :)

>58 AMQS: Those sound like lousy options, Anne. I guess we were lucky that they were able to use our existing duct system when they put our air in. Our basement is also finished and that would not have been ideal. I think you’ll like Remarkably Bright Creatures! And wouldn’t that be a fun trip!!

>59 katiekrug: I’m going to have to visit your busy thread more often, Katie. I would have found it sooner!

>60 BLBera: It was, Beth!

>58 AMQS: >60 BLBera: Let’s have an LT adventure! It’d be like The Enchanted April but different!! :)

45. Hickory, Dickory, Dock by Agatha Christie

I didn’t like this one as much as the last couple Poirot books I read. There were too many characters introduced and not enough Poirot.

46. The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

I’m glad I finally read this. I already watched the TV series a while back which I enjoyed but luckily didn’t quite remember the outcome until nearly the end of the book. Maybe a little too wordy but I’ll happily read the next one.

47. The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths

I loved this latest, 14th (!) entry in the Ruth Galloway series. There was very little digging or old bones in this one but that was fine - I read this series more for the wonderful characters. Ruth has a new neighbor and Nelson is investigating a suicide that may be murder, but Covid is about to change life for them all. And I love that Cloughie made an appearance. My new favorite book in the series!

And this place was central to the story, Tombland and the Augustine Steward House in Norwich, which has a gruesome history and a grey lady ghost. I had to google it to see if it was real, and of course it was. I at least get to travel in my books. :)

>64 Copperskye: Yay! I knew you'd love it, Joanne. I so agree that the characters are the main attraction in this series for me as well.

>64 Copperskye: - I'm reading - and enjoying - the newest Griffiths now, so I only skimmed your comments, Joanne. Glad you liked it!

>64 Copperskye: It really does look like it's falling down, Joanne.

Yes, LT trip!

Waving in passing -- Hi Joann!

>54 Copperskye: >56 Donna828: I'm #136 in the queue, though the library has 44 copies. I'll be waiting awhile, unless I can find it sooner somewhere else.

>63 Copperskye: How come I didn't know the Strike mysteries was made into a TV series? Is it any good? I'll have to look for it, though Prime and Netflix are all I have available.

A/C is necessary here in the Lower Hudson Valley, not even so much for the heat (which is unbearable at times) but for the humidity. I keep the A/C on all the time - A/C during the day and dehumidifier during the night. Otherwise, I'd be covered with mold and mildew. Talk about a premise for a Stephen King novel.

>69 Storeetllr: ...or a Jeff VanderMeer novel...

Hi Joanne! Hoping you and yours are well, cool, and contented.

>70 richardderus: *shudder* Yes!

>65 rosalita: Hi Julia, So good! Even the Covid stuff was done really well.

>66 katiekrug: Hi Katie, I hope you love it, too!

>67 BLBera: Hi Beth, Yes, it would be a blast!

>68 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba! *waves*

>69 Storeetllr: Hey birthday girl! Well, I didn’t realize they were based on books until after watching the first episode! It’s on HBO but I’m guessing you could get the DVDs from the library if you have a player (it seems like such old technology now with everything streaming...) We really liked it and after reading the first book, I’d say the first season followed it pretty well. The chemistry between the two leads is great.

Don’t forget, I’m from NJ so I know about the horrors of humidity.... I don’t miss that damp feeling at all. Stephen King could create a character who slowly gets enveloped in moss...

>70 richardderus: Hello Richard! All’s well here as I hope it is there! A thunderstorm is looming, though, and has chased me inside.

>64 Copperskye: Just a drive-by hello, Joanne.
A gruesome history and a grey lady ghost. Sounds like something I'd like . ..

>73 tymfos: Hi Terri, Nice to see you and thanks for dropping by!

48. Plainsong by Kent Haruf

Such a great book and a wonderful reread. I first read it in December of 1999 so it’s not surprising that I forgot so many of the details. Haruf’s story of brothers, family, and community, and the conflicts and prejudices of a small eastern Colorado plains town is lyrical and rings so true. It you’ve missed this one, or read it decades ago, find a copy. You won’t be sorry.

49. Excellent Women by Barbara Pym

Honestly, I was kind of disappointed in this one. Maybe I was too distracted to fully appreciate it or get it, but frankly, I was bored and kept waiting for something more to happen. I’ll try another Pym one of these days.

>72 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne! I do have a DVD player (and a VCR too, and a cassette player, and a turntable - no, I'm not a luddite - I like streaming too) so I'll check out if it's available at our little library.

>75 Copperskye: Thanks for reminding me of Haruf, Joanne. You probably don't remember that I picked up hardcovers of the Holt Cycle books (or at least all the ones that had been published at that point) during my wonderful visit to Boulder in 2015 for Booktopia. I should pull those out and re-read, too.

>78 rosalita: That was a wonderful visit, Julia! One of my favorite meet-up memories.

>77 Storeetllr: All three seasons (I think there’s three) are really good!

>78 rosalita: I have all three Holt books in hardcover, too, but my acquisition of them doesn’t involve any happy memories (only Benediction, I guess, which is signed and purchased at a talk he gave at our library). I wish we could all get together again in Boulder! And yes, I recommend a reread. I’m planning on rereading them myself.



>79 Storeetllr: Mine, too!

>80 Copperskye: Oh! Love seeing all your beautiful faces! Great photo! (Except for me being center stage - how did that happen?) Wish we could meet up again - Boulder or New York or New Jersey or Iowa or Missouri.

I vote for Jersey!

Joanne - I could buy us all some Rippers at Rutt's... :)

Iowa is the most central for everyone ... just sayin'. ;-)

What a good looking group of women we are!

I'd drive to NJ, but I'm afraid Iowa's a bit far for me these days. I WISH it could be Boulder though.

>84 Storeetllr: I'm willing to drive to Jersey, Mary. And Joanne (and Anne) could swing by on their way from Colorado and we could carpool. And Donna could come up from Missouri and hitch a ride, too. :-)

>82 katiekrug: Rippers!! I rarely eat hot dogs these days, Katie, but I’d make an exception.

>83 rosalita: >84 Storeetllr: >85 rosalita: Lol, I think I took my last marathon drive through the Midwest (south of you, sadly, Julia) a couple weeks ago, but you never know. And Katie’s getting us all dinner at a local institution, but I still vote for Boulder. :)

Road trip! I'm in!

>8 Copperskye: So nice to see a picture of Copper again. At least our dogs will always be with us in our memories.

>76 Copperskye: Maybe Some Tame Gazelle will appeal...or Quartet in Autumn...but generally speaking Pym's not a terribly action-oriented storyteller.

Lovely reading *whammy*s

>87 BLBera: Yeah! I think we need a bus!

>88 PaperbackPirate: Hi Pirate! Agree! Our angel pets live on in our hearts.

>89 richardderus: Hi Richard! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Pym. As it happens, I have A Glass of Blessings, Some Tame Gazelle, and No Fond Return Of Love on my kindle (can’t resist a sale sometimes), and a copy of Jane and Prudence. Would you recommend I try Some Tame Gazelle over the others?

>90 Copperskye: I think Some Tame Gazelle has a poignance that sort-of offsets Pym's slightly snarky edge. A Glass of Blessings is advanced Pymliness...books about bored people aren't easy to make into barn-burners...and No Fond Return of Love is a bizarre amalgam of snark and sentimentality, which works fine when you're ready for it, but no one marathons without lots of practice. Of them all, Jane and Prudence is my personal least-favorite read. They're awful women. Dreary company for a vile, dismal Sunday, one already ruined after going to church to hear a hellfire sermon delivered by an inept, mumbling preacher. Not to be countenanced otherwise.

>84 Storeetllr: >85 rosalita: >90 Copperskye: A bus for our reunion roadtrip. What a great idea! Personally, I wouldn't mind going to Katie's area in New Jersey. You could visit family while we're there and Katie could take us to trivia night. :-)

>80 Copperskye: That picture brought back some good memories.

>80 Copperskye: Slightly jealous - even in a nostalgic way, Joanne!

I would have loved to have been the thorn to all you roses!

>91 richardderus: Lol, Some Tame Gazelle it is then, when I get to it. And I love animal stories. :) Thanks for the entertaining write-up, Richard!

>92 Donna828: Hi Donna, Trivia night would be a hoot. Well, the thought of the whole trip is a hoot! I have no more family in NJ, but visiting old friends could be fun.

>93 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! It was a fun weekend and you would only have added to the pure joy of it!

Sweet Thursday, Joanne. I can't believe it has been a month since I visited. WTH? Hooray for the Plainsong love. So glad we got the reread in. I don't think I will get to a reread of Eventide this year but next year for sure. LOVE the reunion photo. That is wonderful!

I have been watching some excellent TV- I finished the fantastic "Black Bird" on Apple and now I am enjoying the equally fantastic "The Offer" on Paramount. I highly recommend both.

>95 msf59: Hi Mark! Welcome back! :) I haven’t heard too much about Black Bird but we’ll give it a go. We only have two more episodes of Better Call Saul to watch so we’ll be looking for something new. Have you watched any good comedies lately? I think I need something light. Both Hacks and Somebody, Somewhere were very refreshing.

50. Smoke And Mirrors by Elly Griffiths

This second entry in Griffiths Mystery Men/Brighton Mysteries series was fine, but maybe a little slow to get going. The setting is 1950s Brighton where two children disappear and are found dead in the snow. There’s lots of misdirection and suspects that kept me guessing. I like the two main characters, a police detective and a magician who had become friends when they worked together in a special force during WWII. The secondary police characters are also very well drawn. Not as good as the Ruth Galloway series, but fun!

>97 Copperskye: I never clicked with that particular series, Joanne, even though I love Griffiths' other work so much. Have you read the series about Harbinder Kaur? It started with The Stranger Diaries. I like it almost as much as Ruth.

>98 rosalita: Yes, I read both it and The Postscript Murders and liked them well enough. I think there’s another coming out in the spring. Ruth is my favorite though as she is for so many of us. Honestly, the other two series, I could take or leave.

>80 Copperskye: What a lovely meet up photo!!!

Is it necessary to read The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths, the series in order of when they were written?

>63 Copperskye: I enjoy that series although each book get wordier. How do you like the TV series vs the book?

Have a great Sunday

>100 Whisper1: It was a fun time, Linda! Elly Griffiths does a good job nudging the reader’s memory about characters and situations and you wouldn’t necessarily be lost starting from here. That said, you’d miss a lot of the character development and so some of their actions, past and present, might not make a lot of sense. And since I read this series more for the characters than for the mysteries, I’d say start with The Crossing Places.

>101 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita, I did notice that they are books...of substance. Wordy tomes, indeed! Since I did it backwards and saw the tv show before I read the book, I’d have to say that the book followed the series very well. I’ll read the next two that I have on the shelf even though I watched them already. :) The chemistry between the two main characters came across very well.

51. Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra

I loved this book. I loved the characters, the settings, and the historical elements. Maybe not quite as wonderful as A Constellation Of Vital Phenomena, but honestly, that’s a tough act to follow.

eta: If you do pick this one up, make sure to read the acknowledgements at the end. It will definitely add to the reading experience, not to mention the old tbr pile.

>103 Copperskye: It is a tough act to follow, but I'm glad this one made some of the grade for you!

>104 richardderus: Hi Richard, I saw some mixed reviews, but I really can’t complain about any of it.

Happy Wednesday, Joanne. I am so glad to hear you loved Mercury Pictures Presents. It sounds like it was worth the wait. I plan on kicking off September with that one.

You asked up there, about watching any comedies. The only one recent is Ted Lasso and I have not started the second season yet. I did try the first ep of "The Bear". Not quite a comedy but a mix.

>106 msf59: Good morning, Mark, I loved Ted Lasso - what a treat that was. I already watched it twice - once with John and again with Chris. Maybe I should watch it again... :) Haven't heard of The Bear.

>107 Copperskye: I am possibly the last person in America to watch Ted Lasso, but I did finally start the first season last week after having it in my queue forever. And I love it! Looking forward to continuing to dodge spoilers while I try to catch up. :-)

>103 Copperskye: I've been wondering about this one, Joanne. Nice to hear your positive comments.

>108 rosalita: Ted Lasso is such a treat, Julia, enjoy! I was dodging spoilers as we finished up Better Call Saul. I started rewatching Foyle's War last night. Not exactly a comedy, but so well done and it's been years since I first watched it.

>109 BLBera: I loved it, Beth!

Sweet Thursday, Joanne. Glad to hear that you have seen and enjoyed Ted Lasso. I started the series Pachinko. Not sure if you have read the novel or not but the series has been very good. It is on Apple.

>111 msf59: I did read Pachinko, Mark. I liked it but didn’t love it. I have it on my list to watch but for some reason it’s not really calling to me. Thanks for the reminder, though!

I did see today that Ewan McGregor will be starring in the series, A Gentleman in Moscow. Really looking forward to that one!

52. The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor

Although it got a little draggy somewhere in the middle, I really enjoyed this solid police procedural. Maggie is a Long Island detective whose cousin disappeared 23 years ago in Dublin. Another woman’s disappearance, in the same area in current day, uncovers old evidence, and Maggie travels again to Dublin in search of her cousin. I loved the setting and the descriptions of the mountains in Ireland and the characters were likable and realistic. The estranged relationship between the two cousins and the shifting time periods reminded me a lot of Long Bright River. The twisty ending had me looking forward to reading the next one.

>113 Copperskye: I'm listening to A Distant Grave, the next in that series now. I'm mostly listening on my commute so it will probably be Tuesday before I get back to it unless I do a drive somewhere.

>113 Copperskye: This does sound good, Joanne. She had another series that I liked.

Joanne, thanks again for calling attention to Remarkably Bright Creatures. I finished it a few days ago and loved it! Hope all is well with you and your family.

We will be out your way for Thanksgiving and Hope's 9th birthday the day before. We might as well do early Christmas the day after Turkey Day, right? I think we actually did that a few years ago! Unfortunately, it will be a rushed trip with no time for a meetup. *sad face*

>114 thornton37814: Hi Lori, I just started A Distant Grave myself. I hope I didn’t start it too soon after finishing The Mountains Wild.

>115 BLBera: Hi Beth, I noticed she had another series. I may need to check it out.

>116 Donna828: Hi Donna, I’m so glad that you loved Remarkably Bright Creatures! I think it will be one of my year-end favorites but it will have a lot of competition. I’m also glad you’ll be able to travel out for a triple celebration! Wow, Hope’s birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas! Maybe you could squeeze in New Years as well? :)

53. The Sleeping Beauty by Elizabeth Taylor

Another winner with great characters and gentle humor from Elizabeth Taylor. Recently widowed Isabella, living in the seaside town of Seething, is visited by her old friend, Vinny, who is there to offer condolences but winds up falling in love with a neighbor. There are a couple different love stories, and resentments and discoveries galore, but my favorite parts were those with Isabella’s adult son, Laurence, more of a minor character, and Isabella and her friend Evalie and the racing form. I loved this one from start to finish.

Hi, Joanne. I think we both had similar feelings about Pachinko the novel and the limited TV series was okay but nothing to shout about. You are fine taking a pass on that one. I just started The Sandman, which Joe has been raving about. I did read several of the GNs, quite a few years ago but I never got hooked like many devoted readers did.

I am really loving Mercury Pictures Presents. The dude sure can write...right?

Hi Joanne!

Skippety-skip-skip.

>63 Copperskye: I love this series and have the 6th in hand. I’ve started it, love it, but have gone down some other rabbit holes reading-wise and it’s currently languishing. The first two seasons are available on Amazon Prime streaming now, even though not free. We’re finishing up Castle, so I might see if Bill’s interested.

>98 rosalita: I agree 100%, Julia. Love the other two series, didn’t click with this one.

>54 Copperskye: Already in the BlackHole or I would be adding it again!

>75 Copperskye: I recently re-read that one too, Joanne. I loved it the first time around and I love it still.

>81 Storeetllr: You could always come to the annual Joplin meet up, Mary. It is in Missouri :)

>103 Copperskye: I need to get that one read!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

>119 msf59: Hi Mark, I’ve seen some good press about The Sandman but I haven’t tried it. I’m not really a big fantasy fan (it’s fantasy, isn’t it?) and the only books by Gaiman I’ve read are The Ocean at the End of the Lane (liked it) and The Graveyard Book (loved it), so I’m not familiar with the story at all. I may need to give it a look see. Guilt on PBS was great (and complicated) and we are enjoying Bosch Legacy on Freevee.

>120 karenmarie: Hi Karen, Lol. The tv show is great. I’m going to start reading The Silkworm soonish. I keep meaning to give Castle a try. I don’t know why I’ve resisted a Nathan Fillion vehicle for so long.

>121 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! Lots of good reading ahead! Hope the books are keeping you well.

>118 Copperskye: That is a really nice cover of Sleeping Beauty, Joanne. I don't think that I have seen that one before.

54. The Bookshop Of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser

I not a big romance reader. If the librarians have placed a little heart on the spine of a book I usually steer clear of it. But this one drew me in and I really liked it. Thea is in her 40s and floundering when, in rapid succession, her husband leaves her for a friend and she loses her job. When a great uncle passes away, leaving her his cottage and possessions in a small tourist town in Scotland, she has nothing to stop her from visiting for a while. His possessions include an extensive library of expensive old books and of course, there’s an antiquarian book store in town that is owned by a handsome curmudgeon. Sweet, fun, bookish, and surprisingly rich, but at 430 pages, it could have been made better if it was 75 or so pages shorter. But that may be my aversion to the romance genre talking.

>123 PaulCranswick: Isn’t that a great cover, Paul! I love it. I’ve been buying my Taylors from Book Depository mostly because of the cover art. I had one delivered last month though, with a different cover from the one I ordered (same style as The Sleeping Beauty), and now I hesitate to buy another. I was looking at Angel just today. BDs FAQs tell me that different covers then those pictured can happen. :(

The annual book sale at my library is this weekend. Here’s what I picked up today. I may go back on the weekend if I get a chance. They moved the fiction books to a smaller room this year and I suspect there were many more that hadn’t been put out yet. Of course I picked up the Sy Montgomery because I loved Remarkably Bright Creatures.

Nice haul! I can't remember — are you up to date with the Rutledge series?

>127 rosalita: Hey Julia, Well, it depends on how you define up to date. I can never remember where I am without looking, and it looks like the next I need to read in order is #11, A Matter of Justice. I’ve read the three newest ones, though, so I guess in a way I’m up to date with quite a few to catch up on!

Well done, Joanne!

>126 Copperskye: I can vouch for The Soul of an Octopus being an excellent read. Roni gifted it to me yonks ago, and it's fun to delve into the lore of the 'pus.

I will confine my Shuggie comment to *squee*

Sending hugs to you, dear Joanne.

>128 Copperskye: Ha! That's why I didn't remember — I blocked your heresy right out of my mind. :-D

>117 Copperskye: I hope you enjoyed A Distant Grave as much as I did!

>126 Copperskye: Nice book haul! I LOVED Shuggie Bain. Have not read the others, but The Soul of an Octopus sounds promising.

Happy Weekend, Joanne!

>126 Copperskye: Great haul! I've been hunting for a used copy of The Soul of an Octopus for a long time.

>129 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba!

>130 richardderus: Oh good, Richard! I glad you liked them both! Hugs to you and hope you have a great weekend.

>131 rosalita: I know...I hang my head in shame. But seriously, I really liked the more recent ones so not sorry. :)

>132 thornton37814: Hi Lori! I’m glad you liked it, too. I have about 100 pages to go. I’m dying to know what’s going on and can’t wait to get back to it!

>133 msf59: Hey Mark! I remember Shuggie Bain was getting a lot of love but somehow I still managed to miss it. I was happy to find a nice used copy.

>134 PaperbackPirate: Hey Pirate! Have you read Remarkably Bright Creatures? I think you’d like it.

Nice book haul, Joanne.

>136 BLBera: Thanks Beth!

>126 Copperskye: Great library haul. I have Shuggie Bain on my self and have yet to read it...

55. A Distant Grave by Sarah Stewart Taylor

A Distant Grave picks up a few months after the events of The Mountains Wild and Det. Maggie D’arcy is back at work on Long Island. When an Irish national is found murdered on the beach, Maggie combines her upcoming vacation in Ireland with the investigation. Like The Mountains Wild, this book seemed to drag a little in the middle but it soon picked up and the final 100 or so pages just flew by. Likable characters, realistic situations and some recent history combine to make this a series I really like. I rarely read series books nearly one after the other, but I’m already looking forward to starting the next (and so far final) one.

>138 figsfromthistle: Thanks! I have a lot of books like that on my shelves! :)

Hi Joanne. >126 Copperskye: The Soul of an Octopus remains one of my favorite books! You were able to obtain quite a few good books.

Hi, Joanne. I just snagged an audio copy Remarkably Bright Creatures. I plan on getting to it soon. On the little screen, I am enjoying The Sandman and wrapping up "The Bear", which has been such a nice surprise. Any other TV series recommendations?

>141 Whisper1: Hi Linda! It's good to see you here. I'm looking forward to The Soul of an Octopus. I'm intrigued!

>142 msf59: Hi Mark, I had to look up The Bear - it does sound interesting. We'll give it a try. Have you watched Hacks on HBO or Guilt on PBS? Guilt is very complex but it's British so there are only a few episodes per season/series (2). So good!

>139 Copperskye: While I think I liked her New England series better (although it's been a long time since I read it), I am finding this one so much better than some of the other series out there.

I highly recommend "The Bear", which I just finished. I also have been hearing good things about "The Patient", also on Hulu. I have not seen "Hacks" but have added it to my Watchlist and should start it soon. "Guilt" also sounds good. I had not heard of that one.

>144 thornton37814: You are the second LTer to mention Taylor's other series, Lori. I'll definitely look out for it. I put the third book in this Maggie D'arcy series on library hold. I seem to be hooked.

>145 msf59: I saw the promos for The Patient. It looked a little too Misery-like (meaning the Stephen King book/movie) which turned me off as being just too gruesome. I'll be interested in your thoughts when you get to it. Sometimes the previews try too hard, and I might have the wrong impression.

>143 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne! I just started watching Hacks recently and it's great. I'll have to check out Guilt on PBS Passport.

>147 rosalita: Hi Julia, Isn't Hacks a hoot? I love Jean Smart's character and how she interacts with Ava. And Guilt is great. The second season is a little complicated, but so worth the attention it demands. I love Passport. I used to be able to wait a week to watch the next episode of a program on my PBS station, in fact, liked to, but now I tend to just forge ahead!

>146 Copperskye: I'll save it for a few months, but I'll get to it.

>126 Copperskye: I know Murder in the Mews as Dead Man’s Mirror. Love Sayers, of course. Don’t know the others. Our book sale is Sept. 23-24. I’m on duty the whole time except first thing, when I’m always a customer. *smile*

>126 Copperskye: Nice haul! I’ve heard about Soul of an octopus and have been meaning to read it. I really miss going to library used book sales.

Hi Joanne, I wasn’t as successful as you were at my local library sponsored book sale. I came home with two for my permanent collection: LaRose and Eventide. My Erdrich and Haruf collections are nearly complete now. I’m happy about that…and I don’t regret the almost 2 hours I spent looking for other gems, although it took awhile for my neck to recover. Haha. I hope you’re having a wonderful Sunday.

>149 thornton37814: I have a bit of a wait if I want to read a physical copy but the library’s ebook will probably be available sooner.

>150 karenmarie: Sadly, I own several Sayers books but haven’t read any yet. I’ll rectify that soon. Good luck with your library sale!!

>151 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, Is it Covid or a lack of space that keeps you away from your library sale?

>152 Donna828: Pure quality there, though, Donna! I love looking through all the book boxes at the sale.

I went back to the sale on Saturday and picked up a couple more books, but skipped Sunday’s bag sale. I have some restraint.

56. West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

This was a sweet travelogue/coming of age, depression-era story of a young man who drives two giraffes cross-country from NY to the San Diego Zoo. Remarkably based on real events. I loved traveling the roads with them. Thank you to my LT friends who read and loved this story, thus encouraging me to finally read it. I was afraid it would be hokey but it certainly wasn’t!

And check out this photo of the actual giraffe truck. I thought I was having a difficult time picturing it, but turns out the author described it pretty well. Really unbelievable.

I loved The Gods of Gotham. Great pick. West With Giraffes sounds good too.

I was pleasantly surprised by West with Giraffes when I read it last year.

>153 Copperskye: Both, actually, though partly because the local library stopped having used book sales during the worst of the pandemic, and as far as I know they haven't started up again.

Joanne!

I've heard only good things about West with Giraffes. It's on the WL.

>155 msf59: Hi Mark, I haven’t read anything by Lyndsay Faye yet. I think you’d enjoy West With Giraffes.

>156 katiekrug: I was surprised, too, Katie. I think it’s the only free Prime offering I’ve read.

>157 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, I hope they start up again. I noticed there were quite a few audio books on offer at this last sale.

>158 richardderus: Richard! Hi!

>159 BLBera: It was entertaining, Beth, and I think you’d like it.

Skye didn’t understand why we were cleaning out the boat the other day. It’s still 90°, Mom! Well, it’s 60° today, and sadly, summer’s nearly over...

57. The Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie

This was a very entertaining Miss Marple mystery about a young woman who buys a house and has some very dark, mysterious memories surrounding it. I had some vague memory about who done it and realized that I must have seen one of the BBC productions. It didn’t mar my enjoyment in the least, though.

>161 Copperskye: I hadn't realized that this one was her last Marple. I liked it, although the story was quite, quite silly. Enjoyable fiction doesn't need to be scientifically accurate, said the reader of space operas.

Skye's probably right to wonder about your haste...fall boating is always exciting!

>162 richardderus: Hi Richard, I agree, the premise the mystery was based on was a bit far-fetched. There’s nothing within the story that indicates it’s Miss Marple’s last case. I mean, she doesn’t die or anything, thank goodness! (I was a little afraid of that, frankly.)

Yes, and Colorado fall weather can be exciting, and not in a good way! Actually, the marina closes on 10/31 and our friend who drives it up north and wraps it up for the winter is going out of town for three weeks, so, away it goes.

Hope all is well with you!

Lots of great reading here...I opened a bunch of new tabs to get the books onto my TBR list.

Summer is ending here as well and I am closing up the swimming pool today as today's storms will drop the temperature some 20 degrees!

I loved seeing the meetup picture and was reminded of my one and only LT meetup in Denver with you, AMQS and Storeetllr. It was such fun to chat about books in the Tattered Cover. Thanks for welcoming me.

>164 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! It was fun! I’m still sorry we didn’t get a photo. That TC location closed very recently and moved down the street to a new building near Coors Field. I haven’t been down there yet - or Denver at all, actually, since Covid. Glad to help add to your tbr stack! :)

58. Smoke And Ashes by Abir Mukherjee

This is the third book in the Wyndham & Banerjee mystery series. Captain Wyndham stumbles across a dead body while escaping from a raid on an opium den in 1920s Calcutta. When another body is found with similar wounds, Wyndham must investigate any link without giving himself away. As well as a decent mystery, I feel like I’m getting a fascinating political history lesson with each book in this series.

>160 Copperskye: Aw, I love it! Safety first, and Skye does it with style!

>167 scaifea: Hi Amber! She loves when we get her swim coat out - she knows good times are coming. Yes, for safety, without it, we wouldn’t be able to get her back on the dock if she “fell” in not near the boat.

Hi Joanne! I've enjoyed getting caught up, particularly when I can relive happy meet up memories!
>80 Copperskye: Look at us! That was such a fun day.
>85 rosalita: I don't have much of an appetite for road trips, mostly because there's a whole lot of nothing to drive through in any direction from Colorado, but to carpool would make it really fun!

>118 Copperskye: Joanne, you got me with The Sleeping Beauty. I've enjoyed the Elizabeth Taylor books I've read.

>164 witchyrichy: that was a fun meet up, Karen!

>165 Copperskye: I had no idea! Like you, I didn't get out much due to covid and still don't. Going to see a show next weekend at the Buell, though:)

That’s a great picture of Skye upthread. Penny supposedly has Labrador in her mix but she does not like to get wet! Come to think of it neither did our purebred Lucky. I am glad, though, as our backyard pond has some algae in it that I wouldn’t want to be brought into the house.

I hope you’re having a great weekend, Joanne.

I always love seeing pics of Skye, and, like her, I’m sad to see summer coming to an end. Hope you’re having a great weekend!

>169 AMQS: Hi Anne! Good to see you. The Sleeping Beauty was very good. And going to the Buell, lucky you - what did you see?

>170 Donna828: Hi Donna, I’ve heard of goldens who don’t like to swim, as well. Sometimes I think it would be so much fun to have a pool in the yard. Skye would love it. And that’s the problem, Skye would love it.

>171 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, It’s been so warm here so far. It’s only just begun to feel like Fall. The cold is going to be a shock when it gets here.

59. A Matter Of Justice by Charles Todd

#11 in the Ian Rutledge series and a solid revenge story. Even though we know the motive and who is responsible right at the start, I thought the set up was unique and I liked this one a lot.

>173 Copperskye: I assume, with series stories, we're reading the installments for the pleasure of the setting, the characters, and the ethos if not always the specific plot.

>174 richardderus: Yes, for the most part. It’s good to have an interesting murder, though, and this being a story of revenge, knowing what exactly was being revenged was kind of important! I liked how it broke out a bit from the basic formula.

60. The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman

The third entry in the Thursday Murder Club series. These books are such fun and no matter how unlikely some of the plotting may be, I love the characters and can’t hardly wait for the next one. I only wish that Osman had started off with his Club members just a tiny bit younger...I fear for their health and abilities!

61. The Drowning Sea by Sarah Stewart Taylor

This is also the third book in a series and a solid one at that. After the events ending the previous book, A Distant Grave, Maggie is no longer a detective on Long Island but is spending the summer on the west coast of Ireland with her family. Of course, there’s a murder and some strange goings-on in the village while Maggie tries to figure out next steps in her life. This series has a nice mix of action, history, and realistic relationships and the ending here set the stage beautifully for the next book.

>177 Copperskye: I am going to look for this series, Joanne. My library has it.

>178 BLBera: Oh, good! I think you’ll like it (and they should be read in order). I was able to find a mass market paperback of O’ Artful Death and hope to get to it eventually.

62. Where the Water Goes: Life And Death Along the Colorado River by David Owen

David Owen starts off in a small plane above Rocky Mountain National Park, at the headwaters of the Colorado, and then follows it, mostly by car, until it ends in a trickle in Mexico. Along the way, he has some interesting facts about the controversies surrounding its use and misuse and its importance to the Western states and tribes that share in the rights to use its increasingly limited water. When he was writing about water laws and usage, and the history and future of the dams and reservoirs, I found the book very interesting. He kept getting off track though and his meandering stories about uninteresting people and things made the second half of the book a bit of a slog. But I’m still glad that I read it as it’s certainly been in the news lately. The river is endangered and the states need to drastically cut usage for it to survive.

63. Lucy By The Sea by Elizabeth Strout

This is probably my favorite of the Lucy Barton books that I’ve read (I missed Anything is Possible), but as with the others, I liked it but didn’t love it. Lucy is more or less all of us as the confusing early days of the pandemic change everything and her ex-husband, William, whisks her away from NYC to coastal Maine. Her experiences brought back things I’d forgotten about the early days of the virus. Her passivity bothered me but maybe we were all caught up and frozen in the confusion at the start. I liked meeting up with Bill Burgess again and hearing a little Olive Kittridge gossip, and all in all, it was a good read.

64. Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves

I love Ann Cleeves’ Shetland books and I’ve tried a few times to start her Vera Stanhope series. I started reading the first two and finally clicked with this third book in the series. Here Vera and her team investigate two murders, of a teenager and a young teacher, both found strangled and then posed in water surrounded by flowers. I thought the ending was a bit rushed and book Vera is somehow even less likable than TV Vera (I do like TV Vera). I’ll keep reading them though, I do like Ann Cleeves.

Have you read The Long Call? I really liked that one. I have read a few of the Shetland books and none of the Vera.

Great comments on Lucy.

Happy Saturday, Joanne. Sorry, Where the Water Goes didn't work better for you. Sounds like it could have worked better. Good news about Lucy by the Sea. I need to catch up on the last 2 Strout novels. I loved Anything is Possible.

Watching anything good? I am almost done with "Dahmer" on Netflix. It is surprisingly good but not for the faint-hearted. I am also just about done with "The Patient" too. This is on Hulu. A solid show and Steve Carrell is terrific. I guess I am on a serial killer roll.

>182 Copperskye: Vera's a LOT less sympathetic in print to me, too, Joanne. I didn't read past book two...like >183 BLBera: I very much enjoy the Matthew Venn series. And you already know how much I enjoyed the Shetland books and Jimmy Perez!

Where the Water Goes is...just too much for me...at least right now. I'm kind-of wishing I could retreat from reality anyway, and books like this aren't making that feeling any weaker.

Enjoy the weekend!

>183 BLBera: Hi Beth! I did read The Long Call and the second in the series. When I think of Ann Cleeves I automatically think of Vera and Shetland but not the newest series. I think it needs to grow on me a bit.

>184 msf59: Hi Mark! Where the Water Goes had enough interesting bits to make it worthwhile in the long run. You would probably like it. Western water laws are so weird. Let’s see, on TV, just finished up Shetland and Welcome to Wrexham, currently watching Derry Girls (happily discovered that I forgot to watch S2, so two seasons to enjoy!), Vandervalk, and Magpie Murders. We’ll probably try The Watcher tonight. Still not so sure about The Patient but Dahmer is definitely a no go!

>185 richardderus: Hi Richard! Funny, with Vera, I couldn’t get through the first two. I have a few more on my shelves that I’ll read. I really hope book Vera gets a little less crusty. I’ve been thinking about rereading the Shetland books, Raven Black, at least. It’s been a lot of years. Water issues are a huge problem with no easy solutions, but somehow less stressful to read about than the politics of the day...

Thanks for your TV report. Someone else recommended "The Watcher". How is Magpie Murders? I remember liking the book. I also started Ted Lasso S2. Such a light, fun show.

>187 msf59: The Watcher is fine, bordering on being campy, but it’ll be entertaining. I only watched the first episode of Magpie Murders but so far so good! Ted Lasso is so fun - enjoy! You should try Welcome to Wrexham - a down on its luck football club hoping to be turned around. I was surprised by how good it was and hope there’s another season.

>182 Copperskye: I think the third is where the Vera series began to work better for me too.

>189 thornton37814: Hi Lori, I know the first books in a series aren’t always the best, and luckily, I already liked Ann Cleeves’ writing from reading the Shetland series. I’ll happily keep reading.

Have a delightful fall Sunday, Joanne! *smooch*

>191 richardderus: Hi Richard, Wishing you the same! xo

Hi, Joanne. Thanks for the recommendation of "Welcome to Wrexham". Netflix? I also started "Black Butterflies", which I am enjoying but will be much too dark for you.

It would be nice if you could bookhorn in either State of Wonder or Women Talking next month.

>193 msf59: Whoops, should have mentioned- WtoW is on Hulu. Safe travels!

>187 msf59: >188 Copperskye: I am enjoying Magpie Murders on PBS. And I envy you watching Ted Lasso for the first time. I really enjoyed it although when I shared the first episode with my elderly parents, I was reminded of the liberal use of the F word. I suppose they’ve heard it before.

65. Nora Webster by Colm Tóibín

Beautifully written story of a young widow, coping with her grief and four children, in a small town in 1960s Ireland. It was only after I finished it that I read about the autobiographical aspects of Tóibín’s book and that made it all the richer.

66. Wild Strawberries by Angela Thirkell

Slight little comedic romance at a family estate in 1930s Britain. I wanted to like it more than I did, but it did have its moments. I’m thoroughly charmed by the Virago cover art, though.

>195 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, Ah, the awkward joys of watching TV and movies with your parents or children... I rewatched the first two episodes of Magpie Murders because my husband had missed them and enjoyed them just as much the second time around.

Hi, Joanne! Just checking in. Hope your week is off to a great start! Tomorrow's Election Day; I'm so nervous! I voted early and know you've probably gotten in your mail-in ballot (lucky you!). Crossing my fingers and wishing SO HARD!

>199 Storeetllr: Hi Mary! Yes, dropped off our ballots last week - so easy! Voted straight blue but then I always do. Just with a greater sense of urgency this time than ever before. I’m nervous, too, as well as a whole hodgepodge of other emotions.

67. Maigret and the Headless Corpse by Georges Simenon

Number 47 in the Maigret series - thank goodness I have no desire to read these in order, or all of them necessarily, for that matter. A barge traveling in a Paris canal dredges up body parts and Maigret and his team (well mostly Maigret) need to work out the identity and the killer of the man. A headless corpse doesn’t make the story grisly in any way, in fact, Maigret shows a lot of humanity in this book and I liked it a lot.

Having never been to Paris, I love googling street names and intersections from Simenon’s books and checking out street view. It’s not the 1950s, but seeing the canal and footbridges that are mentioned is kind of fun.

68. A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny

This is a fun read for October, narrated by Snuff the dog and filled with recognizable villains, dark magic, and lots of heart and good humor. I read a chapter a night and it was perfect.

Thanks again to Mary for putting it on my radar!

69. 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

Both single and new in town, Ciara and Oliver meet in a Dublin grocery store. They date for a couple weeks, and things seem to be going well when the Covid lockdown looms. What the heck, they’ll form a single household and move in together. What could go wrong? Right from the start, we know everything did. Told from various viewpoints and moving back and forth in time, this is a solid Covid thriller. Although I liked the way it was structured, having the same situation described from different POV sometimes slowed the narrative enough that it felt bogged down. For the most part, twisty fun!

70. The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander

Jess loses her grandmother and library job in rapid succession. Her quiet life upended, she sells the house she shared with her grandmother and buys a rundown cottage in a quaint village. There’s an old call box on the property which she turns into a tiny lending library and along the way, meets her neighbors, forms community, and, of course, finds love. Cute cover but really slow and predictable on the inside.

You certainly do have a good eye for picking out book covers, Joanne.

I am enjoying following you along towards the 75!

71. Santa’s Little Yelpers by David Rosenfelt

In this 26th Andy Carpenter mystery, an employee of Andy’s dog rescue foundation, a disbarred lawyer, is accused of murder. Andy, a reluctant lawyer himself, agrees to represent him and begins an investigation. This was a more complicated and satisfying legal mystery then the silly title led me to believe. Lots of snarky humor, an interesting case, dogs, and the Christmas season (not to mention the northern NJ setting) made it a winner for me. Having only read the first three books in the series, I didn’t feel at a loss at all. A light, entertaining legal mystery. Fans of Chris Grabenstein’s John Ceepak series may enjoy the similar tone.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins/Minotaur for the egalley.

>160 Copperskye: Skye is such a beautiful dog!!!! I miss Lilly so very much. She suddenly became very sick a few months ago. Rushing her to the vet on a Monday morning, after she had such a terrible night on Sunday, I knew the only choice was to help her into doggie heaven. Suddenly, her kidney's failed. I took her the the vet the week before because she seemed lethargic. He did a blood test that showed kidney's were a bit off, but nothing dramatic. Then, much to our surprise she very quickly went down hill. The vet is such a kind, gentle man who also took care of previous sheltie Simon. He had tears in his eyes when Lilly was transitioned.

In order to deal with my grief, a neighbor who lost his wife to Covid last year invited me to walk with him and his little white dog. Full of energy, this four year old schitzu, (spelling) is with me two days a week. Bill's wife was retired and with the dog all day. He noted that he left for work at 6 in the morning and didn't return until 5:30 and was concerned that the dog was lonely.

This week was very cold, and each day that he brought her to my house this week, she wore a different doggie sweater to keep her warm. I still would very much like to own another Shetland Sheep dog, but am trying to contain the urge to rush into it. Taking care of Angie is a way to deal with my grief. She is a bundle of energy, and loves my grand daughter Kayla so much that she jumps around and lands then spins around and around.

Congratulations on your recent book sale hauls! I found the site Thriftbooks.com. I admit to acquiring quite a few good used books there. Reasonably priced, and in very good shape, it is a bargain!!

All good wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

>205 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul!
I’m getting there- it’s been a good reading year for me. I usually don’t make it to 75.

I don’t judge a book by its cover, as they say, but I really do appreciate a good one. One of the reasons I like paper books more than ebooks.

>207 Whisper1: Hi Linda!

It’s so heartbreaking to lose a dog and both Lilly and Simon were such good ones. They leave such a huge hole in our hearts and our lives. You and your neighbor seemed to have worked out a wonderful situation for both his pup and you! Angie sounds like a sweet. It’s so hard to think about opening up your heart again to a new dog but you’ll know when the time is right.

Wishing you a peaceful Thanksgiving!

Joanne, I know you too know the sheer grief of losing a beloved dog. They give so very much to us. Our vet believes that for sure there is an after life for dogs. He's had a practice for 47 years. He is a very wise man. My grand daughter Kayla was with Lilly when she transitioned. She kept saying "This is too quick!"

He gently told her the process of transitioning Lilly. He said that I've had a lot of surgeries, and that I go to sleep in one room, and after the surgery awake in another, and that Lilly will awake in a place filled with all the dogs we've had in our family over the years. And she will be there when we cross over.

>210 Whisper1: That’s absolutely lovely, Linda. Your vet sounds like a wonderful (and caring) man.

>206 Copperskye: We've listened to a few of Rosenfelt's book on road trips. He writes books that Dave and I can both enjoy. I've lined up some of Craig Johnson's Longmire books for our trip out your way this week. Hope's birthday is on Wednesday so we will have two big celebrations. Unfortunately, our time will be short, and we are taking Penny with us, so there will not be time for a meetup. Darn.

What a sweet thought Linda shared about the dogs we have lost. I thought long and hard before I told DH I wanted another dog in our lives. He and I have both been very happy with a new dog to love.

Hi Joanne! It's good to get caught up with you.

>172 Copperskye: We went to see Come From Away, which we all loved. Terrific storytelling and such a wonderful story of the best of us on the worst of days.

>176 Copperskye: Im glad the Thursday Murder books keep their sweet quirkiness!

>180 Copperskye: Where the Water Goes looks like a good, if imperfect read. I am designing a headwaters project for 3rd graders at the request of one of the 3rd grade teachers. Trying to make accessible for 8-9 YOs. It will involve some research, and then annotating a map to mark important places along each of the four major rivers that have their headwaters in CO.

>212 Donna828: Hi Donna! I think Rosenfelt and Johnson would both make good driving companions. It looks like you'll have great travel weather - enjoy your family!

>213 AMQS: Hi Anne! We saw Come From Away a few years ago and loved it, too. It was so well done. That sounds like an interesting project for your kiddos. Coincidently, I thought one of the things that was sadly missing from Where the Water Goes were some maps of the waterways and his travels.

>203 Copperskye: Ooohhh, I really liked this book! I'm glad it worked okay for you, too, Joanne.

Happy Turkey Holocaust!

>213 AMQS: >214 Copperskye: I watched a filmed stage production of Come From Away on Apple TV+ last year. It was excellent.

>215 richardderus: Hi Richard, It sure was a fun one! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Richard. We’ll have a quiet day here but that’s ok with me.

>216 rosalita: Hi Julia, I watched it on Apple TV, too. It had the added bonus of closed captioning availability for all the words I missed live!

Thank you as always for books, thank you for this group and thanks for you. Have a lovely day, Joanne.

>198 Copperskye: I watched a couple of the episodes of Magpie Murders twice just to pick up on details. Sorry it has ended. At least I had to wait for each episode so I didn't binge them all at once.

Happy Thanksgiving from Bottle Tree Farm

Happy Thanksgiving, Joanne! Hope you have a lovely day!

>218 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. I’m thankful for your visits. As lousy as I am at visiting and commenting, you are a faithful friend!

>219 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, Happy Thanksgiving greetings to you. Your photo collage is lovely! We have the final episode of Magpie Murders to watch tonight. I’m glad we listen to Horowitz’s commentary after the episodes. There were some events that I had no memory of from the book and apparently for good reason. It’s been fun though, I love the way the two timelines mesh!

>220 Storeetllr: Happy Thanksgiving to you, my friend! We had a quiet day but I did put a turkey breast in the oven for us. Yesterday was John’s birthday so we had his kids over for pizza and ice cream cake. I’m happy to get back to turkey leftovers today - my favorite part of Thanksgiving! :)

Hi Joanne! I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one.

>153 Copperskye: At the risk of being presumptuous, and if you haven’t already read one of the two Sayers books I see in your catalog, I suggest Hangman’s Holiday first. It’s short stories and will give you the flavor of Sayers’ writing and Wimsey’s character and 1920s-1930s England. Busman’s Honeymoon is the last Wimsey novel and although they don’t have to be read in order, the Wimsey/Vane ones do, and it’s the last of the original four written by Sayers in that subseries. The first one in the entire series is Whose Body?, the first in the Wimsey/Vane subseries is Strong Poison.

>176 Copperskye: Still on my shelves waiting for the right time.

Happy Sunday, Joanne. I hope you had a good holiday. How often do you see Chris? How is he doing?

It sounds like you had a good Thanksgiving, Joanne.

>204 Copperskye: I love this cover. Too bad the inside didn't live up to it.

>221 Copperskye: Belated birthday wishes to John!

I enjoy the leftovers almost more than the original meal. Yesterday I had a plate of leftovers, including the cranberry sauce. My neighbor brought me a slice of her homemade pecan pie, which I had for dessert. I ate while sitting in my easy chair listening to an audiobook. It was lovely!

>222 karenmarie: Hi Karen! I absolutely appreciate the suggestions regarding Dorothy Sayers! As it happens, I just checked and I have an omnibus of the first three Wimsey books on my Kindle. So I suppose I should start with Whose Body? unless I’m more in the mood for short stories when I get to her. I do prefer to start at the beginning though. I found The Bullet That Missed to be a real mood brightener.

>223 msf59: Hi Mark! We saw Chris for a week or so in August before he left for California. He’ll be back for a couple weeks at Christmas. He’s good, supporting himself by doing on-line tutoring and some substitute teaching while he applies to PhD programs for next fall. He’s also an intern at Electric Lit. Basically, taking a year off and writing a lot, but I know he’s really missing the academic world. Thanks for asking!

>224 BLBera: Hi Beth! It was, hope yours was, too!

>225 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary - I’ll pass it along. That does sound pretty perfect! I was kind of sad finishing up the leftovers today with hot open-faced sandwiches. I didn’t bake or buy a pie because I knew we’d have ice cream cake the next day but tomorrow I’m making an apple-cranberry crisp to make up for it. I love it for breakfast.

Hi Joanne, we are back from CO and appreciated the sun and brisk temps while we were visiting. It turned out that Mike's dog, Duke, did not like Miss Penny so we spent all our time juggling dogs. It was challenging but we still enjoyed our visit. Hope came over for a long swim in our hotel pool every day and we went for a lot of walks with very excited dogs. I may post a picture on my thread if I can work up the energy.

Your quiet Thanksgiving sounds pretty wonderful. We had Hope's birthday party in our hotel room because we can't leave Penny alone as she will bark. No ice cream cake, but we had takeaway from Texas Roadhouse, her favorite. All my grandkids seem to love steak. I hope you got the waves I sent from Brighton to Littleton! Sure wish we could have done a meetup.

>227 Donna828: Hi Donna, I think you got out of Colorado just in time - it’s cold and snowy today. (The sun just came out, in time for it to set.) I’m so sorry Duke didn’t take to Penny. Sometimes dogs are just too protective of their home turf. That must have been very stressful, though. The hotel pool must have been a great treat for Hope, not to mention Texas Roadhouse!

One of these days we’ll get together again!

72. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

I loved this quirky story of Elizabeth Zott, a chemist facing misogyny and mid 20th century stereotypes as her plans of working in a research lab are thwarted and she finds herself starring in a cooking show in order to support herself and her daughter.

There is a fairly graphic act of violence early on. It’s not gratuitous at all but momentarily shifted the light tone of the book so it was a bit shocking. The 50s and 60s really weren’t a good time for a woman with ambition, but Elizabeth turns convention on its head and you can’t help rooting for her.

Oh, and there’s a great dog in the story, too. This will be a year-end favorite for sure.

73. Silent Voices by Ann Cleeves

The fourth book in Cleeves’ Vera Stanhope series and my second. Vera finds a murder victim in the steam room at a local hotel. A solid police procedural but I still prefer Cleeves’ Shetland series.

74. Foster by Claire Keegan

Claire Keegan once again demonstrates how well she can say much with few words. This is a bittersweet little gem.

Solidarity. Tomorrow I’ll start over with a 1 day streak. Much less pressure this way. :)

>232 Copperskye: Wow that's impressive! My streak only ever got up to 278 before I lost it. The streak I'm losing in today's boycott is only about 50, but solidarity nonetheless.

>233 norabelle414: You shouldn’t pair “only” with your 278, I’d be happy to get half that going forward! It must have been a painful day. Here’s to fresh starts and brand new streaks!!

Happy Friday, Joanne. Are you getting some winter weather there? Glad to hear the latest Keegan is a winner. I will have to get to that one.

>232 Copperskye: - My streak was only 86, but it still hurt a bit to break it ;-)

I'm hoping to find Foster under the Christmas tree...

>235 msf59: Hi Mark! Yes, Foster was a winner! The last few days have been beautiful - t-shirt and fleece vest on my walk this afternoon. The bottom will drop out tomorrow night, they say, with snow and v cold. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

>236 katiekrug: Hi Katie! Painful indeed. Foster would be lovely to find under the tree. And perfect for a Christmas afternoon read.

Annoying to lose such a streak! But it was the right thing to do.

Happy week-ahead's reads.

>231 Copperskye: Hi Joanne. I haven't read Foster. Your review prompts me to obtain a copy.

>238 richardderus: Hi Richard! Yeah, I thought so, too. I’m in the middle of Slow Horses and I wish it wasn’t such a busy week. I need more reading time! I hope your books are treating you well.

>239 Whisper1: Hi Linda! I think you’d really like Foster.

Hi, Joanne. Sue and I are surprised how much we are enjoying the latest White Lotus. We like it more than the first one and the setting is absolutely jaw-dropping. I liked the first season of Slow Horses so looking forward to the next one.

I also loved Lessons in Chemistry and Foster, Joanne. Keegan's writing is so beautiful.

>241 msf59: Hi Mark, I didn’t like this season of WL at first but I wound up liking it more than the first. And that ending! I could watch a whole other series about Harper and Daphne and their spouses. There is a lot of backstory that could be mined. I just finished reading Slow Horses. I’ll try the TV series now and expect I’ll love it!

>242 BLBera: Hi Beth, Both of those books were wonderful in their own way! Definitely year end favorites.

>6 Copperskye: Congratulations on reaching 75 books read!!

>244 ocgreg34: Thank you!!

75. Murder on Christmas Eve: Classic Mysteries for the Christmas Season by Cecily Gayford

This was an interesting mix of seasonal mysteries. My favorites were The Trinity Cat by Ellis Peters and Cambric Tea by Marjorie Bowen. I am spoiled, however, by Martin Edwards’ classic mysteries collections and the way he introduces the reader to both the writer and the story before each selection. I missed that here.

Yay to me -75! It doesn’t happen every year and I’m always happy when I get there!

76. Slow Horses by Mick Herron

I liked this first-in-a-series spy story - the characters, storyline and humor all worked for me and I’ll continue.

>247 Copperskye: Hooray for the slow horses! I've read the first three but my library doesn't have any of the others so I've been stalled on continuing. The series on Apple TV+ is also great.

>246 Copperskye: Congratulations on reaching 75, Joanne!

Happy Friday, Joanne. Congrats on hitting 75!! Have you got much snow? We haven't had a lot but I am sure it is coming.

>248 rosalita: Hi Julia! I'm looking forward to watching the tv show and continuing the books! Spy stories are not my normal fare, but I loved the Slow Horses!

>250 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita!

>251 msf59: Thanks Mark! No snow here. The blizzard a couple of days ago just missed us (thank goodness for that big snow fence to the west!) but it has been pretty darn cold!r

We got a dusting of snow a few days ago here in the Lower Hudson Valley. Now it’s just rain and gloom and cold, but not quite cold enough for snow. I’ve got my (fuchsia) Christmas lights up and leave them on all day to try and alleviate the gloom. Glad that bad storm missed you! (I would still rather be there than here.)

>247 Copperskye: Just watched the first episode of Slow Horses - the first scenes was set in Stansted Airport which is just down the road from us.

Congrats on reaching 75, Joanne. I keep meaning to read Slow Horses; I've heard so many good things about it. Maybe next year?

>246 Copperskye:
Yay!!

Woo hoo! Congrats on reaching 75, and surpassing it! Just in time, too. Or, as Wordle puts it, “Whew!” You’ve still got time for a couple more!

Hooray for 75!

Congrats on reading 75 books!

Congrats!

Congrats on reaching 75, Joanne!

Congratulations on reaching the 75 challenge goal!

I send all good wishes for a wonderful holiday!!!

>253 Storeetllr: Christmas lights add a lovely warm glow to the gloom! They’re forecasting a high of 2° here on Thursday...

>254 SandDune: It’s such fun to recognize local landmarks in TV shows! We enjoyed seeing remembered local spots in The Sopranos.

>255 BLBera: Thanks! I think you’d like it, Beth.

>256 richardderus: Yes, yay! :)

>257 Storeetllr: Lol, certainly not “impressive” around this crowd. Just under the wire. Thanks Mary!

>258 PaperbackPirate: >259 figsfromthistle: >260 drneutron: >261 bell7: >262 Whisper1: Thank you, thank you!!

>262 Whisper1: That’s beautiful, Linda! Happy holidays to you!

I have been offline most of the month, busy baking, crocheting, traveling, and reading but didn't want to let the end of the year pass without wishing my LT friends good blessings!

My LT time is limited but I wanted to wish anyone who stops by a very happy holiday and a new year bright with good health, happiness, and a ton of good books with the time to enjoy them!


-Mary Engelbreit

>264 witchyrichy: Thank you, Karen, Merry Christmas!

Malaysia's branch of the 75er's wishes you and yours a happy holiday season, Joanne.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Joanne! Hope your holidays are filled with good food, good friends, good fun, and great reading! Also presents. Lots of presents. And maybe some nice wine. 🎄🎁🎄🍷

>267 PaulCranswick: >268 PaperbackPirate: Happy, happy holidays and Merry Christmas Paul and Pirate! Best wishes for 2023!!

>269 Storeetllr: Merry Christmas wishes to you, Mary, thank you! I was just on your thread and saw your Covid news. Hope things are on the upswing soon!

Hi, Joanne. Sounds like you have been busy, but I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Did you just stay home? I hope Chris made it in.

Hi Mark, Merry Christmas to you and yours! We are home and Chris is here, too. Luckily, his flights on Southwest were/are unaffected by the current mess. (Fingers crossed that that continues.)

I have the nightly news on and it sounds like Southwest is a mess and have already canceled a third of their flights. WTH? Good luck to Chris.

Hi Joanne!

Congrats on 75.

One of my new year’s resolutions is to be a better LT friend.

>273 msf59: Thanks Mark, hopefully SW will have their act together by next week!

>274 karenmarie: Thanks Karen! Happy New Year to you and happy reading in 2023! I hope to get around LT more myself (and maybe have more to say...).

I read an interesting post by a SW pilot about the current mess. He said it’s the result of years of bad management at the top. He said the CEO and COO were bean-counters, not interested in operations, and ignored all the warnings in favor of the bottom line. He said SW has a new CEO and COO, both of them operations oriented, but it would take years to completely correct course. I take most of what I read on social media with a grain of salt, but it sounds plausible. Anyway, I hope you’re having a great time with Chris and he doesn’t have any issues when it’s time to go back.

>276 Storeetllr: I think I glanced at that same post, Mary. The guys in charge of an airline should have experience in getting people safely and efficiently from Point A to Point B. Radical opinion, I know. They cancelled relatively few flights out of DIA today compared to thousands yesterday so they seem to be getting it together.

If anyone’s interested, I finally started my 2023 thread and here’s the link to follow along! No books yet, but I hope you stop by sometime.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/347362#

>278 Copperskye: If anyone's interested? Of course we're interested, silly. I'm going to go star that thread right now.

>278 Copperskye: >279 rosalita: Me, too!

>279 rosalita: You’re too sweet, Julia! :)

>280 witchyrichy: Yay!