Berly's Bookstacks #3

For those of you who don't know me, I have been on LT and a 75er since December 2008. I have a great Hubby (who found LT for me) and 3 grown children (the oldest got married last year!). I like almost any book there is, but I tend more toward fiction. I currently work with my Hubby in our business which cleans industrial and storm water and brings it up to EPA standards. Particle removal, pH balancing, heavy metal decontamination, etc. He's a ChemE and I was a Neuroscience major, so I understand the science of our projects and can translate them into English for our customers (LOL); I also do the accounting and marketing -- you just don't want me to design the equipment! I have been a neuroscience lab researcher, an editor and writer, an advertising exec, and the Community Relations Mgr of the NBA MN Timberwolves as well as their 501C3 Director. Career path? NO! Eclectic and fun? YES! I am currently on two advisory councils for Literary Arts here in Portland, Oregon, and I am trying to get back to practicing TKD (3rd degree BB), or at least I am when my knee cooperates and I am not exhausted from long COVID symptoms! I try. : )

My heart goes out to Ukraine

So many choices!! What should I read?
Reading Now
@ Earthside by Dennis E. Taylor
@ Stone Blind (B 371 pages) by Natalie Haynes with Beth and Ellen
@ The Winners by Fredrik Backman with Mark and Stasia
@ The XX Brain (B 311 pages) by Lisa Mosconi
✔ An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us (K 481 pages) by Ed Yong

After that...
May - Trespasses by Louise Kennedy with Ellen and Beth
✔ March - Empire of Pain (B 517 pages) by Patrick Radden Keefe with Mark - I'm Late
@ February - Mort by Terry Pratchett Group Read / Hibernator -- oops
?? - The Heart's Invisible Furies IR by John Boyne with Beth

Source
IR = Indiespensable Readers
ER = LibraryThing Early Reviewer
✔ = Off the shelf (not acquired this year)
L = Library
↩ = Reread
@ = Acquired this year
✗ = DNF
? = Need to get

Media
B = Printed Book
🎧 = Audio
K = Kindle
GN = Graphic Novel

Read in April ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
2023 Total ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
39. @ Travel by Bullet (🎧 3.75 hours) by John Scalzi 4.0
38. @ Roadkill (🎧 9 hours) by Dennis E. Taylor 4.0
37. @ Dolly Parton, Songteller (🎧 3.5 hours) by Dolly Parton 3.75
36. @ The Cloisters (🎧 10.25 hours) by Katy Hayes 3.0

Read in March ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
2023 Total ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
35. ✔ The Hound of the Baskervilles (🎧 7.5 hours) by Conan Doyle 3.0
34. @ I'm Glad My Mom Died (🎧 6.5 hours) by Jeannette McCurdy 4.0
33. @ I Will Find You (🎧 10.25 hours) by Harlan Coben 4.0
36. @ Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession, and the Birth of the Lie Detector Amit Katwala ER* 3.75
35. @ Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (🎧 14 hours) by Gabrielle Zen 3.75
34. @ Demon Copperhead (B 549 pages) Barbara Kingsolver w/ Ellen & Beth 4.0
❤️ @ Mad Honey (🎧 15.5 hours) by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan 5.0

Read in February 2,349 pages / 56.25 🎧 hours
2023 Total 6,078 pages / 76.50🎧 hours
32. @ No You Can't Be an Astronaut (K 94 pages)by Patience Fairweather (2/23 ER!!) 4.5
31. ✔ Bewilderment (B 278 pages) by Richard Powers 3.75
30. ✔ The Adventure of the Crooked Man (🎧 .75 hrs) Arthur Conan Doyle 3.0
29. ✔ A Song For You: My Life with Whitney Houston (🎧 10.5 hours) by Robyn Crawford 4.0
28. @ The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes (K 350 pages) by Cat Sebastian
27. @ The Maid's Diary (K 376 pages) by Loreth Anne White 3.5
26. @ It Ends with Us (🎧 11 hours) by Colleen Hoover 4.0
❤️ ✔ Horse (B 401 pages) by Geraldine Brooks 5.0
24. ✔ A Carnival of Snackery (🎧 17 hours) by David Sedaris 4.0
23. @ Matrix (B 272 pages) by Lauren Groff for RL Bookclub 3.75
❤️ @ Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges *Gift from Linda 5.0
21. @ Aunt Fanny's Stars by Brigitte Weninger *Gift from Linda 4.0
20. L The Queer Principles of Kit Webb (K 348 pages) by Cat Sebastian 3.5
19. L The Twilight Man (GN 180 pages) by Koren Shadmi 4.0
18. @ Billy Summers (🎧 17 hours) by Stephen King 4.5

Read in January 3,729 pages / 20.25 🎧 hours
17. @ Fashionably Dead in Diapers #4 (K 253 pages) by Robyn Peterman 3.0
16. @ Hell on Heels #3 (K 380 pages) by Robyn Peterman 3.5
15. @ Fashionably Dead Down Under #2 (K 308 pages) by Robyn Peterman 3.5
14. ✔ Silver Blaze Sherlock Holmes (🎧 1 hour) by Arthur Conan Doyle 3.0
13. @ Fashionably Dead #1 (K 322 pages) by Robyn Peterman 3.5
12. ✔ Your Duck is My Duck (B 100 pages) IR by Deborah Eisenberg DNF
❤️ @ The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (K 334 pages) by Sangu Mandanna 4.5
10. ✔ The Adventure of the Copper Beaches Sherlock Holmes (🎧 1 hour) by Arthur Conan Doyle 3.0
9. ✔ The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet Sherlock Holmes (🎧 1 hour) by Arthur Conan Doyle 3.0
❤️ @ The Witch of Tin Mountain (K 328 pages) by Paulette Kennedy 4.5
7. @ The Chemistry of Love (K 347 pages) by Sariah Wilson 3.5
6. @ Candy House (K 348 pages) by Jennifer Egan with Ellen and Beth 3.75
5. ✔ The Adventures of the Engineer's Thumb (🎧 1 hours )Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 2.75
❤️ ✔ All the Light We Cannot See IR (B 520 pages) by Anthony Doerr 5.0
❤️ ✔ Project Hail Mary (🎧 16.25 hours ) by Andy Weir, narrated by Ray Porter 5.0
2. @ A Vampire's Kiss (K 136 pages) by Rebecca Zanetti 3.0
1. ✔ State of Wonder (B 353 pages) IR by Ann Patchett 4.0

Ratings
❤️ Favorite(s) of the month
Loved it! 5.0
Really Good 4.0
Good 3.0
Hmmmm 2.0
Don't Bother 1.0

Source
IR = Indiespensable Readers
LT = LibraryThing Early Reviewer
✔ = Off the shelf (not acquired this year)
L = Library
↩ = Reread
@ = Acquired this year
✗ = DNF
? = Need to get

Media
B = Printed Book
🎧 = Audio
K = Kindle
GN = Graphic Novel

I can't resist buying books!!

I seem to manage to read around 50% of my newbies, except in 2019 where I (ahem) added a few more books to my collection than normal. But I killed it in 2020 when I read almost 75% of my newbies and in 2022 I read 70%!!

2017 47/85
2018 45/88
2019 45/128
2020 78/103
2021 50/105
2022 54/77

Let's see how I do this year...

2023 25/33 Read
✅ The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
✅ The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy *
✅ The Chemistry of Love by Sariah Wilson *
4. The XX Brain by Lisa Mosconi * Gift from Abby -- reading
✅ Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan
6. Mort by Terry Pratchett
✅ Matrix by Lauren Groff *
8. Florida by Lauren Groff
9. The Nutmeg Tree by Margery Sharp *
✅ The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
✅ No, You Can't be an Astronaut: Why You Shouldn't Follow Your Dreams and What to do Instead by Patience Fairweather LTER*
✅ Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession, and the Birth of the Lie Detector Amit Katwala LTER*
✅ Fashionably Dead by Robyn Peterman *
✅ Fashionably Dead Down Under by Robyn Peterman *
✅ Fashionably Dead in Diapers by Robyn Peterman *
✅ Hell on Heels by Robyn Peterman *
✅ Billy Summers by Stephen King
18. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
✅ Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges *Gift from Linda
✅ Aunt Fanny's Stars by Brigitte Weninger *Gift from Linda
✅ It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
✅ The Maid's Diary by Loreth Anne White
23. The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore *
✅ Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver *
25. Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
✅ I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jeannette McCurdy
✅ Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
✅ I Will Find You by Harlan Coben *
29. The Winners by Fredrik Backman
✅ The Cloisters by Katy Hays
✅ Travel by Bullet by John Scalzi
✅ Roadkill by Dennis E. Taylor
✅ Dolly Parton, Songteller by Dolly Parton *
34. Earthside by Dennis E. Taylor

✅ Read
* Free or gift

Random LT group reads
✅ December -- A Visit from the Goon Squad with Ellen and Beth
✅ January - 1/26 Candy House by Jennifer Egan with Ellen and Beth
✅ February - 2/23 Horse by Geraldine Brooks with Ellen and Beth
✅ March - 3/23 Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver with Ellen and Beth
April - The Winners by Fredrik Backman with Mark and Stasia
April - Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes with Ellen and Beth
May - Trespasses by Louise Kennedy with Ellen and Beth
July - A Childrens' Bible by Lydia Millet with Ellen and Beth
August - Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood with Ellen and Beth
Sept - 11/22/63 by Stephen King with Ellen and Beth

Literary Arts
✅ January 18, 2023 -- Lauren Groff Florida, Matrix
February 22, 2023 -- Patrick Radden Keefe Empire of Pain
April 20, 2023 -- Ada Limón poet -- Just won US Poet Laureate!!

RL Book Club #1 2023
✅ March - Bewilderment by Richard Powers

RL Book Club #2 2023
✅ February - Matrix by Lauren Groff
✅ April - The Cloisters by Katy Hayes
✅ June - The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
August - West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
October - Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

And Honorable Mentions
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
✅ Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan and Jodi Picoult
Running with Sherman by Christopher McDougall
The Keeper, Soccer, Me & the Law That Changed Women's Lives by Kelsey Ervick

I am going to try and keep track of series I am currently enjoying here:

Series/Author/Next Book
Bobiverse / Dennis E. Taylor / #5 not yet published
Bridgerton / Julia Quinn / #3 An Offer From A Gentleman
Commisario Brunetti by Donna Leon / read 1,2,4,8 next #3 The Anonymous Venetian
Cormoran Strike Series / Robert Galbraith / #6 N
In Death Series / JD Robb / Naked in Death #1 (I have been reading out of order)
Kinsey Millhone Mystery Series / Sue Grafton / Read ABCDEFQX / Next G
Kopp Series / Amy Stewart / #2 Lady Cop Makes Trouble
Mickey Bolitar / Harlen Coben / #4 not yet published
Murderbot Diaries / Martha Wells #2 Artificial Condition
Quantum Earth / Dennis E. Taylor / #2 Earthside -- reading
Sandham Murders / Viveca Sten / #11 not yet published
Sunshine Vicram / Darynda Jones / #4 ??
Sweep Series / Ilona Andrews / #6 not yet published
The Chronicles of St Mary's / Jodi Taylor / #7
The Time Police / Jodi Taylor #5 ???, Santa Grit 4.5
Elizabeth Cage / Jodi Taylor #4 ???

Hubby signed me up for this (Thank you!!). Over the years I have received over 90 installments (some with two or three books), and I haven't read all the books yet. Not even close!

2023 Indispensable Reader Challenge
1. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 5.0
2. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 4.0
3. Your Duck is My Duck by Deborah Eisenberg -- DNF
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

Next up??
Silas Marner by George Eliot (a classic with a new afterward)
Running the Rift by Naomi Benson (Stasia really liked it)
The Listeners by Leni Zumas
How Music Works by David Byrne
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison
The New & Improved Romie Futch by Julia Elliott
Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer with Stasia but super long...
A Girl is a Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

The complete list can be found here --

https://www.librarything.com/topic/336987#n7662792

You know, in case I need more ideas for books to read!

Total Read - 45
2022 - The Netanyahus
* 2021 - The Night Watchman
✅ 2020 - The Nickel Boys
✅ 2019 - The Overstory
✅ 2018 - Less
✅ 2017 - Underground Railroad
* 2016 - The Sympathizer
✅ 2015 - All the Light We Cannot See
✅ 2014 - The Goldfinch
✅ 2013 - The Orphan Master's Son
✅ 2012 - NO AWARD - Swamplandia - Nominee
✅ 2011 - A Visit from the Goon Squad
✅ 2010 - Tinkers
✅ 2009 - Olive Kitterridge
✅ 2008 - The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
✅ 2007 - The Road
2006 - March
✅ 2005 - Gilead
2004 - The Known World
✅ 2003 - Middlesex
✅ 2002 - Empire Falls
✅ 2001 - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
✅ 2000 - The Interpreter of Maladies
✅ 1999 - The Hours
1998 - American Pastoral
1997 - Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer
1996 - Independence Day
✅ 1995 - The Stone Diaries
✅ 1994 - The Shipping News
1993 - A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
✅ 1992 - A Thousand Acres
1991 - Rabbit at Rest
1990 - The Mambo Kings
✅ 1989 - Breathing Lessons
✅ 1988 - Beloved
✅ 1987 - A Summons to Memphis
✅ 1986 - Lonesome Dove
1985 - Foreign Affairs
1984 - Ironweed
✅ 1983 - The Color Purple
1982 - Rabbit is Rich
✅ 1981 - A Confederacy of Dunces
✅ 1980 - The Executioner's Song
1979 - The Stories of John Cheever
1978 - Elbow Room
✅ 1977 - NO AWARD
✅ 1976 - Humboldt's Gift
1975 - The Killer Angels
✅ 1974 - NO AWARD
1973 - The Optimist's Daughter
✅ 1972 - Angle of Repose
✅ 1971 - NO AWARD
1970 - The Collected Stories of Jean Stafford
1969 - House Made of Dawn
* 1968 - The Confessions of Nat Turner
1967 - The Fixer
1966 - The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter
1965 - The Keepers of the House
✅ 1964 - NO AWARD
1963 - The Reivers
1962 - The Edge of Sadness
✅ 1961 - To Kill a Mockingbird
1960 - Advise and Consent
1959 - The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
1958 - A Death in the Family
✅ 1957 - NO AWARD
1956 - Andersonville
1955 - A Fable
✅ 1954 - NO AWARD
✅ 1953 - The Old Man and the Sea
✅ 1952 - The Caine Mutiny
1951 - The Town
1950 - The Way West
1949 - Guard of Honor
✅ 1948 - Tales of the South Pacific
✅ 1947 - All the King's Men
✅ 1946 - NO AWARD
1945 - A Bell
1944 - Journey in the Dark
1943 - Dragon's Teeth
1942 - In This Our Life
✅ 1941 - NO AWARD
✅ 1940 - The Grapes of Wrath
1928 - The Bridge of San Luis Rey

* Have on hand
✅ Read

Please join us if you are interested in Reusing and Recycling. People are sharing brand and book suggestions and also keeping track of their efforts. Check it out!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339326

Below is my personal list of what I am doing and want to be doing. I plan to keep updating this as I make improvements in my lifestyle this year. Brands listed are my choices and more suggestions are listed in the above thread.

Things I was already doing
*Carry reusable shopping bags
*Reuse packaging and don't overwrap (I have a whole closet of boxes and packing material I recycle)
*Use recyclable paper and cardboard instead of styrofoam packing material
*Buy my veggies in cardboard crates instead of plastic containers whenever possible
*Use a home soda maker with reusable bottle
*Dishwasher detergent -- Planet
*Silicone and beeswax dish toppers/wraps
*Garbage Bags -- Seventh Generation
*Compost Collector under sink that goes into city Compost Bin
*Cloth Napkins
*Wider comfort range for heating and cooling house
*Motion detectors on lights to keep them off when not in use

Recently started
*Keeping a reusable water bottle and cup in the car
*And a reusable utensil kit in my glove compartment
*And a reusable metal straw
*Phone Case -- Switched to compostable case by Pela
*Toilet Paper -- Who Gives A Crap (recycled) Grove (bamboo)
*Laundry Detergent sheets -- TruEarth
*Cloth "Paper" Towels -- Marley's Monsters
*Recycled Paper Towels -- Who Gives A Crap
*Sponges compostable -- If You Care
*Scrub Cloths cotton and cellulose -- Down to Earth Basics

Next steps
*Transitioning from liquid soap, shower gels and shampoo to solid versions not packaged in plastic. This one may be a bit harder for me with my skin allergies, but I am going to try. I am using up what I have left and then I will try to make the switch.
*Toothpaste
*Composter -- outside
*Ridwell for recycling things

450 years for a plastic bottle to break down in the ocean
114* years since first plastic was invented
90 percent of seabirds have plastic in their stomachs
80 percent of plastic in the ocean originates on land
59* years since the first plastic bag was created
1 rubbish truck of plastics enters the ocean every minute
We typically use a plastic bag for less than 15 minutes
Most tampons have plastic in them
*(+3 years since publication)

How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum. Awesome book!! Read it!

Latest effort

Blueland Toilet Bowl Cleaner--works great!! https://www.blueland.com/products/toilet-cleaner-starter-set

❤️ 2022 Fiction
The Music of Bees (B 336 pages) by Eileen Garvin 5.0
The Vanishing Half (B 343 pages) by Brit Bennet for Literary Arts, 2/7 Bookclub 5.0
The Girl With the Louding Voice (B 382 pages) by Abi Daré 4.5
Long Shadows (🎧 11 hours) by Jodi Taylor 4.5
A Hard Day for a Hangover (🎧 10.5 hours) Darynda Jones read by Lorelai King 4.5
Lock In (B 336 pages) by John Scalzi 4.5
Beyond the Wand (🎧 6.5 hours) by Tom Felton, Draco from Harry Potter! 4.0
Cloud Cuckoo Land (K 640 pages) by Anthony Doerr 4.0
The Man Who Died Twice (B 384 pages) by Richard Osman 4.0
Before We Were Yours (Book 342 pages) by Lisa Wingate 4.0

❤️ 2022 Non-Fiction
The Black Friend (🎧 5 hours) by Fredrick Joseph 5.0
The Woman They Could Not Silence (K 562 pages) by Kate Moore 5.0
How to Give Up Plastic (B 212 pages) by Will McCallum 4.5
These Precious Days (🎧 11.25 hours) by Ann Patchett 5.0

I am here to talk about my books. But I am also a good listener!! Let's talk. : )

Hope I am not jumping in too quickly to wish you a very happy new thread, Kimmers.

Just love looking at all the books you've read and and your ratings. It's easy to get ideas over here for more reading. Happy new thread to you!

Happy new one!

Happy new thread Kim!

>1 Berly: I love the book table topper!

Happy new thread, Kim!

>13 PaulCranswick: Right on time, Paul!! And it is always a pleasure to see you here. Frequently and whenever because we are...

Happy new thread, Kim!

I finished another Indie book today, Battleborn, and very much enjoyed the stories. Thanks again for the list.

>14 mdoris: I hope you pick up a few book ideas here; that's one of the best things about LT!! Thanks for popping in. : )

>15 figsfromthistle: >16 quondame: >17 FAMeulstee: Thank you! Happy to see you all here.

And, Susan, I'm glad you like the topper. ; )

>19 alcottacre: Hi Stasia--I am so glad you are enjoying the list! Haven't gotten to that one yet, but I am glad it is a good one.

I just finished Matrix by Lauren Groff. 3.75

She is a fellow Amherst Alum, so yay! I read it for one of my RL bookclubs (Monday night discussion) and I have to admit that I might not have finished it if I didn't have that commitment. But I am glad I did. Once I adjusted to the third person narrative filled with all sorts of religious vocab, the characters and their fortitude really drew me in. I learned a lot about this time period I knew little of.

This historical fiction is about Marie de France, a bastard Plantaganet child who is kicked out of the court by of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine in the twelfth century. In real life, Marie de France is also a famous WOMAN author from this time period, and one happy to claim her fame, a most unusual thing back then.

Deemed too coarse and rough-hewn for marriage or courtly life, seventeen-year-old Marie de France is sent to England to be the new prioress of an impoverished abbey, its nuns on the brink of starvation and beset by disease. At first taken aback by the severity of her new life, Marie finds focus and love in collective life with her singular and mercurial sisters. In this crucible, Marie steadily supplants her desire for family, for her homeland, for the passions of her youth with something new to her: devotion to her sisters, and a conviction in her own divine visions. Marie, born the last in a long line of women warriors and crusaders, is determined to chart a bold new course for the women she now leads and protects. But in a world that is shifting and corroding in frightening ways, one that can never reconcile itself with her existence, will the sheer force of Marie's vision be bulwark enough? Equally alive to the sacred and the profane, Matrix gathers currents of violence, sensuality, and religious ecstasy in a mesmerizing portrait of consuming passion, aberrant faith, and a woman that history moves both through and around. Lauren Groff's new novel, her first since Fates and Furies, is a defiant and timely exploration of the raw power of female creativity in a corrupted world.

Happy new one, Kim. Great topper!

Happy new thread Kim! >5 Berly: You are doing really well reading your newly acquired, much better than I at only 2 of the 22 new additions read.

>10 Berly: I have been using Liggett's bar shampoo for quite a while now, and I really like it. I hope they might have a variety that you can tolerate.

Happy new thread, Kim!

>23 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley! Bookstacks are a good thing, right? : )

>24 WhiteRaven.17: Hi Kro! Well, I'm only doing better at reading my newest finds because I am reading easy, light, fun books right now and apparently a lot of my TBRs are on the more serious side so...I don't think I have ever had this fast a start to the year. ; ) You shouldn't feel bad about your ratio though because we all need TBR stacks. They are our security blankets!

>25 laytonwoman3rd: Ooh! Awesome!! I will check that shampoo bar out. Thanks for the tip and the link, Linda!

Update--Read the ingredients and it's a no. Almond oil and I'm allergic. Dang it. Please do keep sending me any other ideas you have though!! I'll check them out.

>26 banjo123: Hi there, Rhonda. : )

Hi Kim. That is all. ❤️

Well that is plenty. ❤️

>27 Berly: That certainly helps, the poor serious tomes always get put off. Hopefully the trend continues for you and that they're good reads! :) And yes, though I feel the 200 on my shelves already might argue it's secure enough. Lol.

>4 Berly: Is this really what you have read this year??!?! I am in awe :) I think I have read 5 or 6.

But I have read 3 out of 4 of the most recent Pulitzers (>9 Berly:). So I feel vindicated now :). I loved The Netanyahus, btw. That author really got to take his literary genius out on to the open road and open'er up!

>28 Berly: Oh, too bad about the almond oil, Kim. Did you check out their other varieties? I checked the one I'm currently using, and it has coconut oil...I suppose that's no better for you.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Kim. You're making great progress on the Pulitzers!

Happy new thread!
For what it's worth, I also can't take most soaps and detergents because of the perfumes and dyes. I'm not allergic to the oils though. Before all the perfume-free stuff came on the market I used baby products with good results.

Happy new thread, TwinK! You are doing well with your Indispensable Reads! I loved Matrix and will read anything by Groff. How's Horse going? It should be an interesting discussion.

Happy new thread, Kim!

Hi Kim my dear, Happy new thread dear friend.

Hi, Kim. Happy threading. Your various lists are so amazing. I'm not organized enough to schedule more than my book club reads. Very impressive. I may steal some lists from time to time.

Happy new thread, Kim!

>22 Berly: Sounds interesting. It does sometimes take time to really get into a new book. Good you stuck with it.

Happy New Thread, Kim. How are you doing on Horse? Of course, I loved it and I thought the Group Read thread worked out fine. Are you enjoying An Immense World?

Happy new thread, Kim.

>31 WhiteRaven.17: I don't know how many TBRs I have in my many stacks and I don't think I need to know 'cuz it's too many!! Wait...can it ever really be too many? : )

>32 LovingLit: I do have to get to the more recent Pulitzers. But I don't see if in my immediate future. Later this year...

>33 laytonwoman3rd: Yeah, no. No nut oils or coconut or sesame. It's hard but I haven't given up! I will find a better earth friendly shampoo!!

>34 foggidawn: >35 RebaRelishesReading: Hi and welcome and thank you!!

>36 mstrust: I have shampoos I can use, but they are all packaged in the plastic bottles which is what I am trying to get away from. I agree thought that the kid products are a lot easier without the dyes and perfumes.

>37 BLBera: So I thought Matrix was pretty good and the rest of my RL Bookclub loved it! We had a great discussion and yummy Japanese food to go with it. : )

Dropping by to keep up, Kimmers and wish you well. xx

>38 curioussquared: >39 johnsimpson: Thanks you guys! Nice to see you here, as always.

>40 ffortsa: Feel free to steal away!! If I don't keep track I get off course and behind. I am down from 6 bookclubs (during COVID peak) to 2 RL bookclubs and my monthly virtual one with Ellen and Beth and then random LT groups reads. So a little easier to manage. Phew!

>41 EllaTim: Hi Ella! Some books really just need that extra push to get something really great in the end. The hard thing is knowing when to persevere and when to Pearl Rule. I usually hang in there for my bookclubs. : )

>42 msf59: Hi Mark. : ) I am about to pick up Horse again (put aside for Matrix deadline) and I was enjoying when I put is aside. Looking forward to getting back to it!

And I read some more of An Immense World today in fact! I am about 1/3 of the way in. It continues to amaze me. This last chapter was about frog larvae and how they can actually emerge more quickly if they feel vibrations that indicate birds are feeding. They just pop out early and take their chances! LOL

>43 ArlieS: Hi Arlie! Thanks for popping in!!

>46 PaulCranswick: And I see you Paul! You can't hide in the middle of all my responses. LOL

Wishing love and happiness to all my dear LT friends on Valentine's Day.

>50 Berly: Ha! I had an interesting exchange with Hani by video call today:

SHE: "I thought you would have sent me flowers" (She is in Holland at a location I don't know)
ME : "You always tell me you hate to be given flowers as flowers die but love shouldn't die."
SHE : "Mmm, but you could have sent me something"
ME : "Of course and I did. I sent you my Happy Valentine wishes"
PHONE CONNECTION LOST

>51 PaulCranswick: Ouch! I hope that the phone connection was all that was lost.

>52 quondame: I might have lost a tooth without the telephone connection, Susan.

Happy new one, Kim, if a bit late…

>51 PaulCranswick: >52 quondame: What Susan said! Me thinks you better have some flowers for her when she returns home. ; )

>54 drneutron: Never too late!!

So, we celebrated our birthdays a little early this year since daughter S left yesterday on a weeklong glamping trip (She has a little camper she's towing behind her Jeep, so glamour camping) and then daughter J leaves on her Honeymoon to Australia right when S gets back. I just finished listening to A Carnival of Snackery by David Sedaris (loved it! So snarky) and I am enjoying Horse. Also I slept for 12 and a half hours the day before and still needed a two hour nap. Blech! I hate Covid fatigue. Headed out for a walk soon and then to the office for as long as I can last. : )

Happy Thursday!!

Great celebration by the look of it. Happy travels to those going on them.

>57 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you!! Family life is going well right now. : )

Another rough day. 12.5 hours of sleep and another 2 hour nap. Having a little trouble keeping up with daily chores and work. So I apologize if I don't make it to people's threads. It's all I can do to keep up with mine! LOL

With S on her camping travels, Hubby and I are empty nesting again for a week. Kinda nice. : )

Looks like a wonderful celebration!

>59 Berly: I hope you are back to your energetic self soon!

Hi Kim and belated happy new thread.

From your last thread, sorry about all the health issues stemming from Long Covid and your knee continuing to give you fits, AND the bad reaction to the Shingles vaccine. I still need to take the 2-dose version although it will have to be later this year after my knee replacement surgery next month. I did take the 1-dose version a long time ago, though, so at least there’s that. Way too late to the King discussion except to say that 11/22/63, The Green Mile, and On Writing stand out.

>7 Berly: I just finished the 6th Cormoran Strike, on audiobook, and it worked well for me after abandoning the print book twice.

>47 Berly: Six book clubs? six? I don’t even read all the books from my one real-life book club. Wow. But even down to RL and monthly VBC, I’m totally impressed.

>56 Berly: Happy Birthdays, a tad early. Nice pics.

Sorry to hear you're still battling fatigue after your bout with Covid, Kim. Hope your weekend brings you some rest and good reading!

A belated happy new thread and all the best for your health, Kim!
Have a wonderful weekend.

You will get past this COVID fatigue; take it easy and be good to yourself. Looks like a great birthday celebration. Who is 60? 😁

60!?!! Been there, done that. So yeah, >64 BLBera:, who is the birthday person?

So sad to read about your long COVID woes. I admire your grit.

Oh boy, I stopped by to see how you are doing, and just read about your long covid etc. I hope things turn around for you soon.

Happy Birthday to you and your family members!

I am curious if you have heard of our used Pango Books. One of my co-workers introduced me to it last fall and I have been able to move a number of my books to new happy homes, while also picking up a few for me off my wishlist. You probably don't have the energy for something new now, but thought I would share in the interest of recycling and reusing. :)
https://pangobooks.com/

Happy Birthday to all!

Your kids sound like they are living their best lives! Glamping looks like an adventure, that caravan thingie looks so cute and cosy :)

Stopping by to say hello...sending healing energy to you!

Happy newish thread, Kim. Looks like a fun celebration up thread. Hope you get your energy back soon.

>60 figsfromthistle: Well, I wouldn't say energetic exactly, but I did make it to a TKD class this morning. : )

>61 karenmarie: I love Cormorant Strike!! And #6 is next on my list, so glad to hear you enjoyed it. Maybe I'll get that for my next audible book...

And I have 11/22/63 by Stephen King scheduled for May, so glad that made the top of your list, too. You are full of good news!

I must admit, six bookclubs was a tad too much. Glad to be back down to 3, two of which alternate months, so kinda more like 2. ; ) Also bookclub reads usually mean I have to keep buying books because we don't choose titles for the entire year which would enable time to order them from the library. That can get expensive! And spontaneous reads usually come from my TBR stacks which is a good thing. ; )

>62 bell7: After TKD this morning, which was just forms, I have been snuggled in bed listening to an audio book, It Ends With Us, which has a lot more going on than just a romance. More on that later. It was really good.

>63 SirThomas: The weekend is off to a good start, Thomas. Tonight we are headed out to an Italian restaurant to meet up with one of my best Porltand friends, who moved out to Bend a few years ago. We saw them ever so briefly at the wedding, but it will be nice to have one on one time with them.

>64 BLBera: >65 weird_O: I keep having good days when I think I am over this COVID fatigue thing and then it hits me hard again. Oh well. Patience is a virtue.

Hubby turned 60! : ) His bday is the day before mine, so whenever I wish him Happy Birthday! he has 24 hours to find me a present. It's worked out great -- he's never missed once! LOL. And that's a funny story, but he is a very thoughtful guy so I am pretty sure he wouldn't ever miss it anyhow. Actual birthdays are this week.

>66 alphaorder: Oooh! Thanks for the link! I have earmarked that entry and will take a look at it later. Mostly I have been either sharing finished books with my friends or dropping them off at Powell's and earning credits I can use on new books. But I can always use a new way to look at book! : )

>67 banjo123: Thank you!! Hubby is Monday and I am Tuesday.

>68 LovingLit: My daughter has been having a wonderful time in the camper. She is traveling south along the coast and she has been sending wonderful oceanside pictures, waves, and birds, and lighthouses. Awesome.

>69 witchyrichy: All hellos and healing energy gratefully received!!! Thank you. And happy weekend wishes to you.

>70 Familyhistorian: Happy Saturday! I got my exercise in today and I am chilling out right now so I have something left in me when we go out to dinner tonight with friends. So far, the conserve energy plan seems to be working. : )

>75 Berly: Sounds like you are doing alright, Kim. Hope it was an enjoyable evening with friends. Sometimes that is an energy giver rather than taker.

Happy Birthday, Kim! I hope you and Walt had a wonderful time. I am sure new books were acquired, right? Stupid question?

Happy birthdays to both of you Kim. Books seem like a good idea.

Happy birthday, Kim, to you and yours, all of you! In our family, all the birthdays are in November/December, so I know that feeling of not only squeezing it all in, but extending the celebrations! :-) Have a great week ahead!

We'll have to sing to you when we talk this week. :)

Happy Belated Birthdays to the Kim Krew! Your family always finds fun ways to celebrate each other.

I’m glad you are learning how to manage Long Covid. I wish there was a miracle drug for that as I know several people who are having long term energy issues. I can relate (slightly) because my 75-year-old body sometimes quits before my youngish brain! Planning and achievement of lesser goals works for me. And what Meg said in >76 Familyhistorian: is spot on. Certain people exude energy that you can tap into. Stay away from the energy suckers! Haha.

Happy belated birthday!

I join in the good wishes!
All the best for you and the new week, Kim!

Sorry I missed the Big Days, but happy birthday to both you and your beloved.

I am also sloping in slightly shame faced to wish you a wonderful belated birthday, dear Kimmers!

Happy newish thread. Kim.
Matrix had been on my watchlist but I think it neef to bump it up. 3.75 is pretty good.

Did I miss your birthday?! Bad Laura! Hope it was a good one, Kim!

Happy Birthday, Kimmers! Hope you had a good one, in addition to your early celebration.

It looks like the belated birthday party is at least as big as the timely one! Felicitations, Kim!

For some reason, I have your birthday in my book as tomorrow. So I missed it! Darn. I hope it was wonderful.

Tell Walt I said welcome to the 60s! They're not really so bad.... lol

Belated happy birthday to you and your husband, Kim!

Hi Kim! And now, Belated Happy Birthday!

>73 Berly: Hubby turned 60! : ) His bday is the day before mine, so whenever I wish him Happy Birthday! he has 24 hours to find me a present. Good way for him to remember unless he's a planner-in-advance. *smile*

When my husband and I got engaged, I told him that there were 2 dates he was required to remember and do something about, and x conditional dates ditto. The first two are my birthday and our wedding anniversary, and the x dates turned into one – Jenna’s birthday. He’s never let me or Jenna down.

Good morning Kim. How's the snow in your neck of the woods?

2nd largest single day snowfall for Portland. My sister couldn't make it to the airport yesterday and then turned around to go home but the road closed due to a tree down. They walked down the side of the road and my Hubby drove to pick them up. Took 3.5 hours to rescue them. They slept here last night. Roads still all backed up today. Red is bad. : P

Yikes!

We're having a snow storm here too! 18 in so far. I hadn't heard about the snow in Portland yet.

>95 Berly: Oh no! That's awful, Kim. Hope you're bundled up and staying warm.

>95 Berly: Oh, I hope you keep them toasty warm for the delay!

I hope it gets better soon, All the best for the weekend!

Oh no!! Glad to hear your sister is okay. What a nightmare. How much snow did you get?

Wow! You were really hit hard yesterday! Hope the red begins to fade away soon. What a mess!
Happy belated birthday to you and your hubby! 60’s are the new 40’s! It’s all in how you look at things.

I saw some nightmare footage of I-5 and other roads :( Hope things are getting less crazy for Portland soon! We just got a light dusting up in Seattle.

>95 Berly: Sorry to see your post about the snow, Kim. Looks like there is cold weather all down the west coast. Our weather turned cold. Snow is predicted for BC including the Lower Mainland (where Vancouver is) on Saturday and Sunday. Hope it's not as bad as your dump of snow and that yours has cleared up by then.

Happy belated birthday! Keeping you in my thoughts as you deal with the winter storm.

>95 Berly: Oh wow! What a long journey. Hope it clears soon.

>11 Berly: Hello Friend. I've been MIA lately. Sorry I missed your birthday! I started going through your favorites list. I added five books in a short period of time. I know I'll return again for more. Your list is outstanding!

>95 Berly: I thought of you when I learned the winter snow in your area was severe. Your husband is a brave soul to drive to rescue your sister. While it sounds like quite an experience, I am glad that all were well.

With the exception of a dusting of snow one day in January, we have a snowless winter. It is very odd to experience this.

>76 Familyhistorian: I am lucky to have many energy givers surrounding me. : )

>77 msf59: Thank you! Actually, I think everyone is tired of giving me books...again. So, no, I didn't get any! LOL. But lots of other thoughtful gifts and lots of love, so I'm still a happy camper.

>78 EllaTim: I never say no to books! None of us here do. ; )

>79 jessibud2: Ah! So you do understand having a birthday swarm!! Well, now we are good for a few months. But it was lots of fun.

>80 BLBera: I don't think you sang! You owe me. LOL

>81 Donna828: Avoiding energy suckers indeed! And I have my first long-Covid class on 3/1. Looking forward to any tips they might have.

>82 mstrust: >83 SirThomas: >84 weird_O: >85 PaulCranswick: Thank you for all the birthday wishes! LT is the best place. Much appreciated. : )

>86 Carmenere: I did enjoy Matrix! And it's not even my favorite genre. Good discussion too.

>87 lauralkeet: >88 ronincats: >89 quondame: >90 EBT1002: More birthday wishes!! I think all my well wishers broke a record this year. So nice to be noticed and celebrated. Thank you.

>91 EBT1002: Oh, he feels much better now knowing he is in your good company!

>92 FAMeulstee: >93 karenmarie: Thank you! And Walt is actually very good at remembering important dates and making me feel special, but it was a joke just-in-case when we first got to know each other. He still laughs at it.

>108 Berly: Huh? Unless they gave you the exact book before there is no again with books - each book gift is entirely new!

Snow Update Well, it was a little rough for 3 days. I still haven't used my car to go anywhere, but I should be able to tomorrow. I live in a particularly hilly, windy area. Hubby's truck worked just fine the whole time. He actually wound up on the news when he was rescuing my sister and niece from that closed road. His moment of fame!! They got their car towed back to their condo and it was in the nick of time, because the car parked right in front of them was getting towed by the city. Way to avoid those fines! We actually had a great time once we knew their car was safe, and played lots of games and cooked some fun meals together. They stayed with us for two nights and then Hubby drove them home. We are supposed to be unusually cold for the remainder of the week, but hopefully no more snow. Back to "Normal" tomorrow.

>112 quondame: LOL. I know. But not all of them are readers and they wanted to give something different than book, any book. I'll get them back on track. : )

Also, I picked up The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore (I love him!) at a little free library on my slushy walk in the snow today. Definitely reading it this December!

A Song For You: My Life with Whitney Houston (🎧 10.5 hours) by Robyn Crawford 4.0

This was a very good read. I didn't know any of the back story of Whitney Houston and there was a lot to learn about. Sure, this is from Robyn Crawford's point of view, and some of the characters may not be happy with their portrayal, but I think it was pretty genuine and very touching.

I didn't sing! I do owe you. :) Next time.

HI There Snow Angel!

How neat that your husband made the news!

I added yet one more of your books. A Song For You: My Life with Whitney Houston sounds enticing.

Nice that you had your intrepid husband and his trusty truck there and he was able to go to the rescue. Has your snow cleared up yet? We got snow on Saturday/Sunday and it's still sticking around. Our temperatures are just on the cusp so the snow I shovelled to get my car out yesterday was that really heavy wet stuff. I got a work out!

>117 BLBera: ; )

>118 Whisper1: Snow Angel! I love that. And, yup, Hubby was pretty excited about making the news. I hope you can get your hands on the Whitney Houston book -- I listened to it on audio or I'd send it to you.

>119 Familyhistorian: The truck was a life saver because it can just go anywhere! We spent the day yesterday trying to shovel out so the warmer temps in the afternoon could help melt what was left. Cleared about half the roadway up to the main street. And yes it was very wet and heavy -- I felt the workout, too! And then of course it snowed again. LOL. I think I will still be able to get out this afternoon. The main street up above us is fine. Fingers crossed.

Hey, Kimmers. Thanks for the snow updates. Glad you survived it, intact and hooray for your heroic hubby. Hope the rest of the week goes smoothly.

>121 msf59: Yesterday it hailed 3x and I mean HARD!! Today it snowed again. LOL. So far it has all melted away again. Temps about 37˚F.

About halfway through the day yesterday I felt like a human being again and today was a normal day with no brain fog and pretty normal energy. I hope it is a trend! But I have had these days and then I slide backwards. Oh well, having them once in a while reminds me of who I used to be and will be again someday. Tomorrow is my first Long-Covid class and I can use all the tips I can get. : )

Oh and I got a belated Bday present...A BOOK!!!

Demon Copperhead in hardback, which I plan to start tonight. Happiness!



>112 quondame: There's hope yet!

Also just got my copy of Tremors in the Blood by Amit Katwala. My February LT Early Reviewer win!

Late one evening in the summer of 1922, Henry Wilkens burst through the doors of the emergency room covered in his wife’s blood. But was he a grieving husband or a ruthless killer who conspired with bandits to have her murdered?

To find out, the San Francisco police turned to technology and a new machine that had just been invented in Berkeley by a rookie detective, a visionary police chief, and a teenage magician with a showman’s touch. John Larson, Gus Vollmer, and Leonarde Keeler hoped the lie detector would make the justice system fairer, but the flawed device soon grew too powerful for them to control. It poisoned their lives, turned fast friends into bitter enemies, and, as it conquered America and the world, transformed our relationship with the truth in ways that are still being felt.

As new forms of lie detection gain momentum in the present day, Tremors in the Blood reveals the incredible truth behind the creation of the polygraph, through gripping true-crime cases featuring explosive gunfights, shocking twists, and high-stakes courtroom drama. Touching on psychology, technology, and the science of the truth, Tremors in the Blood is a vibrant, atmospheric thriller and a warning from history: beware what you believe.

Now if I can just figure out how to download it on my phone instead of the computer....

>123 Berly: Nice! I'm a cheapskate so I have the paperback version on pre-order from Amazon. I get notices that they've pushed back on the release date. Ugh!

>122 Berly: - Hi Kim. There is an excellent current affairs show I watch on tv every night, called The Agenda. Last night, they had a really interesting discussion about long covid. The 3 experts come from slightly different approaches but all agreed on the main question: is long covid really just *one* illness? It's about a half hour of watching but I think you might find this informative. I wasn't familiar with the American woman, but the 2 Canadian doctors have been in the media since covid began and Dr. Deonandan is one I am very familiar with as he has been one of the go-to voices since covid hit.

https://www.tvo.org/video/is-long-covid-a-single-illness

>125 Carmenere: Dang it! Sorry you have to wait longer. I am glad I was gifted my copy because I am supposed to be reading it this month. LOL

>126 jessibud2: Unfortunately, I didn't learn anything that new or helpful in today's already scheduled seminar with my medical group. So, I am excited to check out another site and get more info from another source. Thank you so so much for sending it to me. I really appreciate the support. : )

>123 Berly: Yikes I had forgotten that I wanted to read Demon Copperhead this month too, Kimmers. I will reshuffle my reading and join you if I may? x

>127 Berly: Yay! Of course. : ) Guess I should set up a thread....

Okay, here is the Demon Copperhead thread!!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/349040

Also, March 2nd is apparently National Read Across America Day. Whoohoo! Started in 1998 by the National Education Association, it's the nation's largest celebration of reading.

The focus for March is "Bringing Communities Together." For more book suggestions check here: https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/read-across-ameri...

Now that I've mentioned it, how did you or how are you going to celebrate? : )

It may not fit that theme, but I am going to start Demon Copperhead!!!

>131 Berly: Bringing communities together should be the watchwords of governments and politicians but so often they take extreme polarizing views that sets people against each other. I always believe in trying to find the positive in situations and the essential good in people - LT helps me do that.

I'm in on Demon Copperhead!

>132 PaulCranswick: Paul, I can clearly see that you are always on the lookout for those around you and encourage positivity and acceptance. Thank you for that. : )

On to Copperhead!

There's an article on long covid in Scientific American this month. Not sure if it's encouraging or not, but everyone seems to be working on it. Somewhere I read about a not-new medication that had surprising benefits for brain fog, but my brain is too fogged to remember what it is.

Just popping in to wish you a wonderful weekend, Kim - and all the best for you!

Hi Kim my dear, wishing you and the family a lovely weekend and we both send love and hugs to you all, dear friend.

Catching up on threads, hope you are having a nice weekend. Also >124 Berly: sounds interesting, I hope it's a good read for you and you figured out how to get it on your phone.

No You Can't Be An Astronaut by Patience Fairweather 4.5

This was an LT Early Reviewer. Thank You!!

An excellent book for anyone looking for a new job or career direction, but particularly helpful for younger people starting out. Filled with practical advice and LOTS of online savvy and links. Helps evaluate the "loves" of your life (in terms of jobs and skills) and points to where you can actually make money. I am passing this one on to my son and daughter!!

Recommended in electronic format because then all the links take you right there!

>134 ffortsa: LOL. Well I will have to do some research then!! Thanks for the heads up. : )

>135 SirThomas: >136 johnsimpson: I had a very nice weekend. And I hope you did, too!

I went to the Portland Art Museum and saw a totally bizarre storytelling film about AI and future predictions with a female prisoner and her hidden flowers. Wow. I am sure this one went over my head. LOL

Then we saw an amazing exhibit by Sioux Painter Oscar Howe. If you have ever been to the Corn Palace in South Dakota (I did as a kid!), he did the artwork and murals there, too.



The first one here depicts the Sun Dance where the circle is a symbol of unity. The second shows another favorite technique where straight lines symbolize unrelenting truth or righteousness. More info on the Sun Dance ritual can be found here: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sun-Dance

I actually cried when I saw his Massacre at Wounded Knee painting.


I love his work!

In front of this Howe exhibit was a huge glass installation by Jeffrey Gibson. "They Come From Fire," in collaboration with Bullseye Glass (where I do my glasswork!), celebrates Indigenous people.

>137 WhiteRaven.17: I finished my first of two LT Early Reviewers this month. Tremors in the Blood is up next. I haven't spent any more time trying to get it uploaded, but I'm sure I'll figure it out. : ) Hope you had a great weekend, too.

>139 Berly: Thank you, we had...

And thank you for sharing the wonderful and touching pics!

Hey, Kimmers. I love the Oscar Howe artwork. Have a great time with the Demon Copperhead Group Read. Such a good book.

>141 SirThomas: It was one of my favorite exhibitions for sure. Glad you enjoyed my few photos.

>142 msf59: Glad you liked Oscar Howe's work as well! I am only about 50 pages in on DC, but enjoying it a lot. RL keeps getting in the way this week.

Maybe I should leap cavalierly into this Demon Copperhead enterprise. I have a copy (Christmas gift) and no particular reading commitments. On that infamous "other" hand, my group read record is woeful.

Stand by for a decision. Probably. Maybe...

Possibly, Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda, CAN!!!

>138 Berly: Maybe I should get this for my kids :0)

>146 humouress: Yes! : ) If they are looking for jobs and want to think about their career path moving forward and $, it's good.

The Women's Prize Longlist has just been announced. I do not know many of them, meaning I haven't heard much about the books and/or I don't know the authors. But some have already piqued my interest. Here they are!

Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh
The Dog of the North by Elizabeth McKenzie
Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo
Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris
Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks
Homesick by Jennifer Croft
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver reading now
I'm a Fan by Sheena Patel
Memphis by Tara M Stringfellow
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell interested
Pod by Laline Paull interested
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff interested
Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin
Children of Paradise by Camilla Grudova

Many of these are so new on LT there's no pop-up description if you hover over the title--yet.

I am just starting Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin on audio. So far, so good!

Does anyone know the best way to contact LT employees? I want to suggest that they add hours for audio books physical description. Length and width don't matter much for this media. ; )

>150 Berly: Kim, I was going to suggest you post in the Recommended Site Improvements group, but I just searched the group's threads and see that you tried this already! From the messages there it looks like this has been suggested in the past as well, but neither acted upon nor formally responded to. I've seen people resurrect an old post by adding a new message to it. Here's a link to yours, in case you want to do that: https://www.librarything.com/topic/337013

Happy Friday, Kim. Everyone keeps reminding me that I need to read Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. How to bookhorn it in? Sighs...

Have a great weekend, my friend.

>151 lauralkeet: I resurrected it for you so someone else made the comment. Now everyone else that think the length in hours and minutes and the file size are important additions in the digital era should hop on over and suggest it.

I want to get to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow soon! My bestie read it recently and enjoyed it, and I managed to snag a used copy at my favorite bookstore. Now just to read it...

>151 lauralkeet: Well, we can just keep trying! Thanks for researching. : )

>153 thornton37814: Thanks for adding your post and I added mine...again!! LOL

>152 msf59: >154 curioussquared: Maybe you can read it tomorrow? ; )

I joined your little fun read, Kim. I not going to be sorry, am I?

Yay! I certainly hope not. : )

>124 Berly: Tremors in the Blood looks like an interesting one, Kim. My library must agree because they have it on order.

>139 Berly: I should have checked your thread sooner as the art work sounded interesting but the photos are no longer there.

>159 Familyhistorian: Hi there! Happy weekend. I hope to get to Tremors soon, but I have too many going right now to start it. Have to clear the decks a little first.

I still see the photos. Weird. And sorry. It is a great exhibit.

So, this week I actually made it to my first TKD Black Belt class in months! I did about 90% of the exercises and my knee isn't too sore. I was going to go again last night but I took a walk with a friend and the knee isn't up for two exercises in one day. So I did the forms class this morning and made it through everything. I'm ecstatic! : )

>161 Berly: That's great!

Awesome that you are getting back to TKD!

Congrats on getting back to TKD! That's gotta feel great.

>162 ffortsa: >163 banjo123: >164 ursula: I am by no means back to 100%, but it still feels awesome! Thank you. : )

Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession and the Birth of the Lie Detector by Amit Katwala

Yes, I finally figured out how to download this onto my phone, which is much easier to read than from than my computer, LOL. I 'm about 10% in. We're back in the late 19th century, early 20th, in California. There are several stories going on at once. 1) A mysterious car theft and the murder of Henry Wilkins wife Anna and 2) then the rise of mailman Gus Vollmer to that of Police Chief and his interest in collecting evidence and keeping records to better catch criminals. Third branch to the story : Young policeman John Larson who's into fingerprints and then reads an article about spikes in blood pressure and how they reflect truth telling. The beginnings of the lie detector?? I'm enjoying it!

>161 Berly: That's awesome!! Good job!!!

Great to see that you are back to your regular TKD class, Kim and that you've started Tremors in the Blood.

>131 Berly: I am #12 on the library waiting list for Demon Cooperhead. This is in high demand. Sorry to be out of touch. I've come down with a nasty cold. I haven't had one in a long time. I forgot how rotten they make me feel. I hope you are well..good news regarding the fact you are back to your regular TKD class!!!! Good for you my friend!!!!

>166 Berly: This sounds intriguing, look forward to your review.

Someone has requested Demon Copperhead back from the library, I better get on with reading it. Especially seeing all the enthusiasm here.

>166 Berly: Well, you got me with that one!

>167 figsfromthistle: Thank you! And, of course, this week I have scheduling conflicts, so no TKD until Friday. : ( But two of the conflicts are book-related. I have my Lit Arts board meeting tonight and then tickets to go see Ruth Ozeki and A Tale for the Time Being on Thursday. Good excuses, right? : )

>168 Familyhistorian: It's nice to be back in the dojang. I just have to not push it too hard. The knee isn't 100%. Not sure it ever will be. Aging sucks. LOL

>169 Whisper1: Hope you are over the cold by now! Ugh. They are a nuisance. And I hope you get your copy of Demon Copperhead soon -- I am about halfway through and enjoying it.

>170 charl08: Yes, get going on Demon Copperhead!! And check out the thread.... https://www.librarything.com/topic/349040#n8094279

>171 drneutron: Nice! I am halfway in and it's good!

Sweet Thursday, Kim. Hooray for getting back to your TKD classes and being mostly pain-free. I am still listening to my current audiobook so I don't expect to get to Empire of Pain until early next week. FYI- It will also take me quite awhile to get through. I don't have as much audio time like I used to.

Happy Thursday, Mark! I am still only halfway through Demon Copperhead and I want to finish that before I start Empire of Pain, so later next week works just fine for me. Sorry you don't have as much audio time now, but I know you are enjoying your bird time; fair trade. : )

Wordle 635 5/6

⬜🟨🟨🟩⬜
🟨🟨⬜🟩🟨
🟨🟩⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Okay. I haven't Worded in forever. Personally, I think my fourth word was better than the final word. LOL (aDIeu, IRkeD, dIvER, cIDER, WIDER)

>175 Berly: A recent trip to the local library netted a copy of Empire of Pain, and Putin plus another clunker about Elizabeth II. I am number 12 on the waiting list for Demon Copperhead. Barbara Kingsglover is hit or miss for me. Demon Copperhead is very popular among the threads. I'm anxious to learn of your thoughts.

Stay healthy...and happy. Much love coming your way!

>161 Berly: Yay! It’s a great feeling to be able to return to something you love. Best wishes for the knee returning to 100% and holding up.

It's good to hear you're doing better, Kim!
Have a wonderful Sunday!

>166 Berly: That looks fascinating!

I hope you're doing well.

I recently got Empire of Pain out from the library and should get to it soon so will be reading it around the same time. I'll be interested to see your comments.

>166 Berly: This does sound good, TwinK! Good to hear you are feeling better and good luck with your new direction.

Happy Friday, Kim. I hope you are doing okay. Fingers crossed. I have listened to a healthy chunk of Empire of Pain but still have a long way to go. It has been very good. Did you finish Demon Copperhead?

Hi Kim, I hope that all is good with you.

Just checking in....

Hope all is well, TwinK!

A belated Happy New Thread, Kim. I'm also very interested in the Women's Prize Longlist. So far, I have read Demon Copperhead, Trespasses and The Bandit Queens. I've enjoyed them all. I hope to get to Wandering Souls as well as The Marriage Portrait. I'm finally back with a thread in the 75's. If you get a chance , come on over for a visit.

Also just checking in Kim, hope everything is well.

Indeed, Kim, hope all is well and look forward to hearing from you again soon.

>116 Berly: that one sounds really interesting...I haven't heard of it til now. Or of Robyn Crawford. I think I will aim to read it (one day) :)

Also, how/where are you? Hope you're all good.

Hopelessly behind, even on my own thread. But Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter to you and yours Kim. Hope this post means you're well but just busy.

Still experiencing COVID fatigue, so there's just not enough time in the day. I slept 15 hours twice this week. Argh. But these sleep days are getting farther and farther apart. I miss being here. : )

>193 Berly: 15 hour sleeps are not normal? I have a teenager (on holiday) doing that right now ;0)

Glad to hear you're getting better.

Ugh, sorry to hear days are going by like that. I sleep a ton when I'm not feeling well too. And I know this is just a lingering effect, but my most common lingering effect from anything (illness, stress, whatever!) is sleep, so I get it.

Sounds like you're making some progress against the Covid fatigue. Hope its keeps on and that you're soon back to your usual fit self.

Sorry to hear that you are still experiencing Covid fatigue. How annoying! Hopefully, it goes away soon!

>194 humouress: LOL. Yes, I remember those sleep-all-day teen years. But my normal last year used to be around 7 hours so 15 is double that!! Ugh.

>195 ursula: I am getting better, but it is just so #@!!* slow! And I can't always predict when one of these fatigue days will just slam me. Some of them definitely come after I have pushed myself too hard, but others...just happen.

>196 RebaRelishesReading: I have progressed and I am even back to TKD. I have prioritized that because exercise is one of the recommended ways to get back on track. I have progressed from white belt classes back up to my black belt classes and it is great to see my friends again. I usually have to stop once or twice because I am just so fatigued, but the Masters know I am trying.

>197 figsfromthistle: "Soon" seems way too hopeful, LOL. It has already been almost 10 months. At this point I am hoping for "it goes away completely someday"!!

Hang in there, TwinK. It sounds like things are improving, even if it is too slow for you.

>200 BLBera: Hi Twin! So very slow, but at least it is in the right direction. Made it though class tonight with no breaks! Also read a recent report about vitamin supplements, so I started taking some of them yesterday. Fingers crossed. : )

That's good news - all the best for you!
And thank you for another BB, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was great!

I'm so glad you're feeling better! At least better than you were, and that's a big deal.

>199 Berly: Good for you!! I hope it helps you back to normal ASAP.

>202 SirThomas: I love when book bullets hit the right place! LOL. Glad you enjoyed Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.

>203 mstrust: I will gladly take better than I was! Thank you. : )

>204 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks! I am trying and crossing my fingers. (And toes and arms, and legs, just not when I am doing TKD!)

How about Horse by Geraldine Brooks or Mad Honey by Jody Piccoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan? The latter is told from two timelines (really well done) and in addition to the mystery explores issues of transgender. Rated both 5 stars.

I read two of Jennifer Finney Boylan's books (one written before her surgery) but not Mad Honey -- I should read it whether or not I end up recommending it. I recently read Horse and it's on the long list in my head.

I just went to put Mad Money on my wish list and found it already there -- recommended by a book club friend :)

drive-by *smooch*

Dropping in to say hi, Kim! I hope the COVID fatigue continues to abate.

>207 RebaRelishesReading: I can only recommend Mad Honey. Don't know about Mad Money! LOL

>208 richardderus: Smooches!

>209 curioussquared: Thank you! Hoping to make it through a TKD pre-test today. Fingers crossed.

Time for a new thread....