BanjoReadsOn2024

Uemura Shōen

“For any kind of reading I think better than leaving a blank still a blank, because the mind must receive a degree of enlargement and obtain a little strength by a slight exertion of its thinking powers; besides, even the productions that are only addressed to the imagination, raise the reader a little above the gross gratification of appetites, to which the mind has not given a shade of delicacy.”

― Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Welcome, reading friends! I am looking forward to another year in this amazing group, and hoping for lots of 5 star reads. My reading quality is really enhanced by the reviews and comments of 75-er members, so thank you all!

And I am Rhonda, living in Portland , Oregon, working as a social worker, living with my wife, out grown daughter, and three cats.

Favorite Reads of 2023:

By The Sea by Abdulrazak Gurnah
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
Greta and Valdin by Rebecca Reilly
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois by Honoree Fanzine Jeffers

Goals for the new year:

Looking at my 2023 reading list, I would like to read more non-fiction and more poetry in 2024. I also have a goal to read more of the books off my shelves, and so have catalogued all of the books on the little shelf in my bedroom. If you are curious what's on it, you can find it here: https://www.librarything.com/catalog/banjo123
My hope is to read at least half of the book out of that shelf, which will give me room for MORE BOOKS! Or also for some of the books that are in the big bookshelf in the spare room, which are stacked somewhat precariously.

Currently Reading:

Read in 2024

1. Goodnight Irene by Luis Urrea. 1/6/24
2. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. 1/9/24
3. Girl With Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. 1/14
4. Solitary by Albert Woodfox
5. Braiding Sweetgrass
6. St Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell
7. Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

8. Backcast by Ann McMan
9. Fraud by Zadie Smith
10. I'm Glad My Mom's Dead by Jennette McCurdy
11. A Little More About Me by Pam Houston
12. We are Watching Eliza Bright byA.A. Osworth
13, Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow
14, Magic for Liars
15. The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen
16. Permafrost
17. The Flight of the Iguana

18. My Vietnam, Your Vietnam
19. The Future by Naomi Alderman
20. The Bee sting by Paul Murray
21. The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen
22. The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
23. Above Ground by Clint Smith
24. The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue
25. When Women were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

26. Deep River by Karl Marlantes
27. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout (re read)
28. The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
29. A Man Called Ove
30. This House of Sky (DNF)
31. invisible bridge
32. Mister Monkey by Francine Prose
33. The Enchantment of Lily Dahl by Siri Hustvedt

34. Bad Behavior

Welcome back, Rhonda!

Happy New Year, Rhonda, and Happy Reading in 2024. I did read Hamnet in 2022, and I loved it. Great list of favourite reads.

I am always surprised at the start of the year when I read the introductions thread how many long-term LTers there are that I don't regularly converse with! So, hello, and I hope yo see you around the threads this year :)

Happy new year (and new thread) Rhonda. Wishing you a great year of reading. I also have ambitions to read from my own shelves in 2024.

Happy new thread and new year, Rhonda.

Happy New Year, Rhonda. Good luck with your reading goals. It looks like you have a good dose of Austen and Woolf ahead. Great list of favorites from 2023.

>7 drneutron:. Thanks, Jim!
>8 vancouverdeb:. Thanks for stopping by, Deborah. Hamnet was SO good.
>9 Berly:. Happy new year, Kim!
>10 LovingLit:. Thanks for stopping by! It's such a rich group, I always have trouble keeping up.
>11 charl08:. Thanks for stopping by, Charlotte. And hooray for reading from our shelves. I always feel bad when I think of how excited I was to read these books when I first got them, and realize they have been sitting waiting for years.
>12 jessibud2:. Thanks, Shelley.
>13 BLBera:. Thanks and happy new year, Beth.

It's a beautiful day here in Portland, clear and cold. We took a little walk, which resulted in an addition to my TBR piles---I picked up a copy of How Much of These Hills is Gold from a book box near-by. We have a New Years brunch with friends, coming up.

I am hoping to have some more time in the evening, to catch up on threads and to post some more here. I wanted to post pictures of our cats, for sure.

I have a link on my thread for an Oregon meet-up! Let's find a date!!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/356633

Hi Rhonda and Happy New Year!

I see you have The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois on your 2023 favorites list. I have that on my shelves and I keep wanting to read it and being daunted by its size! Still, my hope is to read more "chunksters" in 2024 now that just one of them presumably won't occupy an entire month of reading time!

>16 Berly:. Awesome! Thanks, Kim

>17 EBT1002:. I was daunted by the length, also, but once I started it, the length ended up being more of a plus.

Happy reading in 2024, Rhonda!

Happy New Year Rhonda.

We also took a walk yesterday afternoon. It was just lovely out.

>18 banjo123: Good to know. I will definitely get to it this year.

>19 FAMeulstee:. Thanks, Anita!
>20 SuziQoregon:. Thanks, Suzi! It was a great day for the new year.
>21 EBT1002:. Great, I look forward to seeing how you like it.

Good luck with your 2024 reading!

>23 banjo123:. Thanks, Tess!

>23 banjo123: Aww. How cute.

Happy weekend reads.

And here are our fur-kids, from left to right, Francis, Willi and Banjo.

Francis has us worried these days. Almost a year ago, the vet gave him months to a year to live. He has kidney problems, thyroid problems, heart problems, IBS, and most likely stomach cancer. So most any treatment makes some other condition worse. We have him on "palliative care" and he has been doing pretty well; looking scruffy and like an old-man cat; but still eating and still playful. But he will have periodic dips, were he doesn't eat, and doesn't play (he's always been a VERY active cat) and we have to give him appetite stimulants and fancy feast cat food. He just turned 15, and I imagine that we don't have too much longer with him. I am trying to enjoy this time, and not be sad ahead of time.

>23 banjo123: Aw...sweet kitties!

>26 figsfromthistle: and >28 RebaRelishesReading:. Thanks Anita and Reba! We really enjoy them, and it's lucky that they all get along.

Good Night, Irene by Luis Urrea

The Donut Dollies were young women, recruited by the Red Cross during WWII, to bring coffee, donuts, and female charms to US soldiers on the front lines. Urrea's mother was one of the Dollies, and later suffered from (undiagnosed) PTSD as a result of her wartime experiences. The stories of these women who were in the front lines of war have been mostly absent from history books; Urrea (and his wife) researched this book, so it's historically accurate although a novel.

I had heard Urrea speak at the Portland book festival, and his mother sounded like a great character, though somewhat difficult, and her friend Jill, who he interviewed in his research, was quite a treasure. Urrea was really dedicated to uncovering this piece of women's history, which is awesome.

To be honest, I didn't like this book as much as I have liked the other Urrea novels I read, Perhaps he was too close to the subject? But on the other hand, lots of other people loved this book. I am rating it 3 1/2 stars.

>23 banjo123: - So sweet! Ever since I brought my Owen and Theo home, I have been noticing the ginger/dark cat combos everywhere! Sorry to hear about Francis. I went through that with a few of my previous cats. It doesn't get easier...:-( Hugs to you all.

I'm sorry to to hear about Francis' issues, Rhonda. Our dog Poppy is 10 years old, and here I am a little anxious for her upcoming dental, which means she will be put under a general anesthesia. I'm sure she will be fine. I do think sometimes, that yes, Poppy is 10 years old and likely we have about 5 years left with her , so I make sure to give her some extra loving. They are beautiful cats. (We've had to previous dogs, so I know ).

I DNF'd Good Night Irene after about 50 or so pages. As you say , so many people loved it. I think I felt the characters seemed to " young " for there age ? It just wasn't for me.

Happy new year of reading Rhonda! I also hope to get to more nonfiction and poetry this year & >23 banjo123: look at those cute cuddlebugs!

What lovely cats! I have three myself, although they would rather cuddle the dogs than each other. I hope you get lots of cuddles with Francis!

>27 banjo123: That is sad news, Rhonda. Suffering pets are like children in that they cannot vocalize to us what the problem is. At least Francis knows he is well loved.

Happy New Year, Rhonda. Wishing you a safe and healthy 2024. Hooray for Hamnet! I have a copy of The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois on shelf. Maybe I can bookhorn it in this year.

>31 jessibud2:. Thanks, Shelley! Yes, your guys remind me of ours. Thanks for the hugs.
>32 vancouverdeb:. The dental work is always a worry, Deborah, and so pricey! Yes, Goodnight Irene never really caught for me, though lots of folks loved it. And quite a story, I do appreciate Urrea for shining light on women's experiences in wartime
>33 WhiteRaven.17:. Awesome, we can compare poetry and non-fiction notes!
>34 elorin:. Thanks! Cats and books do go well together.
>35 PaulCranswick:. Thanks, Paul. Francis has always been such a lively guy, and he really has had a good life, so far.
>36 msf59:. Hi Mark! I hope you do get to Love Songs. It reads quicker than you'd think.

Hi Rhonda! I hope this year brings you many good books. Too bad I was unable to come to Oregon with my family this year. I would have liked meeting with you again.

>23 banjo123: Great photo, Rhonda. I am sorry to hear about Francis.

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois is on my shelf but it is daunting. Still, I might get to it this year.

>23 banjo123: *smile*

>39 BLBera: Maybe we need to do a shared read to push past our collective dauntedness. (Is that a word?)

>40 EBT1002: If you can be undaunted i guess you can be daunted too

>38 The_Hibernator:. Hopefully you will make it next year, Rachel!

>39 BLBera:. I talked to someone at the NY party, whose book group read Love Songs, and they all liked it. I think pretty dedicated book group, to read something that long.

>40 EBT1002:. I was also daunted, Ellen, but picked it up finally.

>41 magicians_nephew:. Happy new year, Jim!

Enjoy your time with Frances and I hope you enjoy Love Songs. And stay warm!!

>40 EBT1002: Maybe you are right, Ellen.

>42 banjo123: You are selling on Love Songs, Rhonda. I will move it to my "read soon" pile.

>43 Berly:. Thanks, Kim! Hope you stay warm and keep power!

>44 BLBera:. My work is done!

And happy weekend, everyone! I am happy to have the long weekend (Martin Luther King, jr Day); but the weather here in Portland is awful, and we are pretty stuck inside. It was snowing earlier, which would have been pretty without all the wind, and now we have freezing rain. So far we still have power, and I am happy we have a nice, safe home to stay in.

Hopefully time to read and catch up on LT; and maybe get the chores done.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

This book was less literary than I usually read, but a compelling plot and I really enjoyed it. Historical fiction, about Bletchley Circle, centering on three different women who worked there. Many of the characters based on real life people, and she gave a good explanation of this at the end.

We read it for book group, so will get to discuss next week.

We did something new, and fun, this week. On Wednesday, we went to a silent reading group at nearby pub. People all gathered with their own books, read quietly (and drank beer) for an hour. And then at the end we had a nice chat with the folks at our table. I think we will do it again.

Glad to hear you're warm and safe. We are too. Now...if the power just stays on...

Thanks for the welcome! A silent reading group sounds right up my alley.

>47 banjo123: A silent reading group would be right up my alley. I'll have to look for one in SA

>47 banjo123: That sounds like so much fun! Portland is so cool. The weather here is bad as well. This morning the temp was -12, and I think it's supposed to stay below zero for the next week. At least I got my snow cleared yesterday. It seems like we are getting our winter.

There was a pretty good PBS series on a few years ago called The Bletchley Circle about some of the women "data analysts" of Bletchley.

Most of the people who worked with Alan Turing on Enigma were men but there were scores of women who worked tirelessly to find pattens and sieve data and product important and actionable Intel.

>48 RebaRelishesReading:. Hope you stay warm, Reba! we are doing well here.

>49 justchris:. This one was at Leikam Brewery, really a cute place. Our neighbor introduced us to it.
But it's apparently a global phenomenon. Website is here: https://silentbook.club.

>50 elorin:. I hope you find one!

>51 BLBera:--Oh Beth, now I feel like a wimp. Yesterday was 17 here; today it's in the 20's. And all should warm up by Wednesday. I did shovel, though, which was quite the chore as we are on a corner lot.

>52 magicians_nephew:. Interesting, Jim. Mrs. Banjo was reading a non-fiction book on the topic as well.

Hello, Rhonda! I'm returning your visit, and I've dropped a star.

>27 banjo123: I'm so sorry to hear about Francis. My sister has several cats who are getting to be elderly. Last year three of them had health problems, and then her favorite one passed away in the fall. He was the one that always sat on her lap. It has been hard for her. I'm glad you're enjoying the time you have with him. Do try not to be sad while he is still here.

>1 banjo123: What a pretty topper! I spent a year in Japan, studying abroad. This reminds me that I picked up some woodblock prints while I was there, and I really need to go get them framed and put them up. Out of sight, out of mind.

I hope your power holds! Stay warm!

I’m sorry to hear you cat friend is not doing well. My old kitty had very similar issues during the last few years of his life. It’s incredibly hard to watch. I hope he is as comfortable as he can be and I know you will do whatever you can to ensure he is.

>23 banjo123: Aw I love to see all three of your kitties together. Ours all get along well too. Sorry to hear Francis is struggling with so many health issues.

Rhonda, I feel cold just reading about the weather!

Sorry to hear about your weather, Rhonda. Ours has been bad too. We have been hunkered down at home since Friday and no sign of a warm-up.

Glad you haven’t lost power. It’s just a mess all over the area.

Silent reading clubs at pubs seem to be all the rage right now. I've read about a couple of them in Seattle, you've attended one in Portland. I love the idea!!

Sorry to hear about Francis. I know how hard it is when one of our beloved furkidz is not doing well.

Sorry about your kitty, Rhonda, but glad to hear you're safe and warm. Today is so pretty it's tempting to go out (even 33/0)according to my watch. Bad news there is it will start the thaw which will freeze again tomorrow! I love snow and love having a taste of winter but it's about time for this to be over with :)

A silent reading club sounds great, Rhonda. Sorry about the kitty. ☹️

>54 atozgrl:. Thanks for stopping by, Irene! Your Japanese woodblocks sound like fun.

>55 PawsforThought:. I suppose that when we get cats, we know that this day will most likely come, but it is hard. He is still enjoying life, it seems, and hopefully we will know when the time comes.

>56 ursula:. It is so sweet to see them sleeping together!
>57 PaulCranswick: Brrr--thanks for stopping by, Paul! We had some sunshine today, but still very cold.

>58 msf59:. Yikes Mark! I really should not complain. We are supposed to have freezing rain tomorrow, but after that it should warm up.

>59 SuziQoregon:. Quite a mess, Juli! A number of big trees are down in our area, but luckily our power has held.

>60 EBT1002:, and >61 EBT1002:. The silent reading group was fun, Ellen. A nice way to be a little social, but with not much pressure. And yes, I think most of us would agree that cats and dogs have way to short of life expectancies.

>62 RebaRelishesReading:. I took a couple of walks today, Reba, and it was nice to be out, but mighty cold. I think we will be back to normal in a few days.

>63 The_Hibernator: thanks, Rachel.

Francis seems to be doing pretty well, actually. He is sleeping more, but still has time to play.

Glad you kept your power through all this. So happy to have mine back!! Now if this icy rain would just stop so I could get out of my street! Yeesh. And reading by candlelight is actually kinda hard -- not very bright and very flickery. Still I managed to get some done. : ) Like the pub silent reading idea. Might have to try that one.

I read The Alice Network some years ago and really enjoyed it . I'm glad you enjoyed The Rose Code. One day I will try to get to it. I got out for a walk today, but only for 20 minutes or so. So many unshovelled sidewalks, it proved to be to treacherous to go further, I decided. Tomorrow rain. I don't love rain, but it is better than snow.

>65 Berly: Well, this is where candle lanterns and hurricane lamps come in handy. I have both. Though I am still trying to find an appropriate oil for the lamp because I don't want to use kerosene or any other fossil fuel derivative. Tried olive oil, but it wouldn't keep the wick lit.

>65 Berly:. Kim, I am so glad you have power also! And yes, let's get rid of the ice. I was so stir-crazy I tried to take a walk a little bit ago, and slipped and fell. I should've worn the yaktrax. Luckily it was a slow fall and no damage.

>66 vancouverdeb:. I like snow when it's white and fluffy, Deborah, but this is just melt and refreeze sheets of ice. The book group all liked The Rose Code; the plot really carries you, so it would be a good travel book, I think.

>67 justchris:. Good luck with the oil search, Chris! Just like Hanukkah. I was going to suggest reading from your kindle.

Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

I had a copy of this on my TBR pile, so I am happy to be able to cross this one off of this list, and to put the book in one of our nearby little free libraries, for someone else to read. Probably everyone else here has read this one? Historical fiction about a young woman working as a maid for Vermeer. I was really enjoying the book at first, for the depiction of life in the Netherlands in 1664. In the end, I felt there was a lot of housecleaning and laundry, and not enough plot. So, 3 1/2 stars.

>68 banjo123: Glad the fall was slow and graceful and no injury!! We actually made it up our street and out into the real world today!! Made a grocery store run -- yay--and visited my daughter to see the water damage from her burst pipes -- not pretty. Saw around 30 trees down, and I don't mean branches, I mean TREES. Glad the ice is mostly gone.

Hi, Rhonda. I hope you had a good weekend and I am glad you weren't hurt in your fall. Your weather has been miserable. I hope it stabilizes.

>69 banjo123: Lot of housecleaning and laundry and not enough plot

I suspect the maid of the title would agree with you

Take care, Rhonda. I hope your ice is gone soon. I remember enjoying The Girl with the Pearl Earring but don't remember much about it...

>70 Berly:. Kim, Yay for getting out of the house! We actually went out to a play Saturday night, What the Constitution Means to Me; which was good, thought a tad polemical in parts.
All the down trees are so sad.

>71 msf59:. Thanks, Mark! The weather is fine now, just rainy.

>72 magicians_nephew:. Hi Jim! Oddly, the maid seemed to like cleaning things.

>73 BLBera:. Around here, the ice is gone. It's an OK book, Beth, but I think there are better historical fiction books now.

we saw What the Constitution Means to Me on Broadway pre COVID with the author playing the lead - added a lot i think.

If you subscribe to Netflix they have a nice version of the show on streaming.

I think its VERY important to see the Constitution as a living document that changes as we change.

Schreck is very good at pointing out when the Constitution stopped being a list of things that the Government CAN'T do, and morphed into a list of thing that the Government SHOULD do.

The play ends with a call for a new Constitutional Convention, which I think would be madness in these partizan times. But who knows?

What the Constitution Means to Me sounds awesome! I think I will have to look for the Netflix version though.

>76 Berly: Oops just realized it's on Amazon Prime NOT Netflix. But definitely worth a listen

Hi Rhonda. First, I'm glad your period of being iced-in is at an end. I'm also glad your fall on the ice wasn't worse. I really hate trying to walk on ice; Yaktrax are great but sometimes even they aren't enough!

How is Francis doing?

Very glad your ice is gone. So is ours , thank goodness and were back to the usual rain. Sorry to read about your fall, but I'm very glad there was no damage, Rhonda.

Sorry about your fall Rhonda!

Be careful on the ice, Rhonda.

>75 magicians_nephew:. >77 magicians_nephew:. That is so cool, Jim, that you saw this with the author. The production at Portland Center Stage was really very good, but I agree that having the author present would have given extra punch.

A few things were changed, and the ending, I think, was one. They didn't end with a call for ditching the constitution, but had a "debate" pro and con constitution with the main character, and a high school debater from a local high school. Then the audience (or rather one member) chose the debate winner. We chose to keep the constitution. That part was pretty effective, actually.

I would like to see the televised version, but we don't have Amazon, unfortunately.

>76 Berly:. It is interesting, and very informative, Kim. Also very funny in parts.

>78 EBT1002:. Francis is doing pretty well, actually. He is sitting nearby looking princely as I write.

We have new neighbors, very nice, and they have a large, beautiful, orange cat named Porkchop. He is indoor outdoor, and loves to come sit on our porch. This has caused great consternation in our cat population, which I think is actually good for them, some extra mental stimulation.

>79 vancouverdeb:, >80 The_Hibernator: and >81 PaulCranswick:. Thanks Deborah, Rachel and Paul! Luckily nothing hurt except my dignity, and the ice is all gone now.

We had a great meet-up today, with new and old friends. And a big sale at Powell's, which was a madhouse, but the checkout lines were very well organized. I was restrained, I thought. I have been meaning to read more poetry, and with poetry I do better if I own the book. So I bought Above Ground by Clint Smith, and a collection of Jane Kenyon. Then on my way out, I picked up Tarana Burke's Unbound. I heard an interview with her, and she seemed so impressive, and plus, the book was on sale.

Kim has some pictures, which I think she'll post. The folks there were Kim, Juli (SuziOregon; Reba and husband; Chris (JustChris; ChrisG, and LyndainOregon.

Great to see you today! Nice batch of purchases!

>83 banjo123: Nice to meet you and everyone else today! Glad all the ice has melted so we could all get about safely.

>74 banjo123: Sounds like an interesting play, but probably not one I'd go see.

Nice to see you Rhonda. Enjoy your poetry!

Pictures posted!! Great to see you again yesterday. I agree with you about the poetry -- I like to take my time and ponder them, so owning the book makes sense. Hope you like them!

It sounds like you had a great meet up, Rhonda. Hooray for poetry. I just finished a collection by Kenyon, and I loved it.

>84 SuziQoregon:. Yes, what a fun meet-up!
>85 justchris:. Yes, it was a great time, we will have to do it again.
>86 RebaRelishesReading:. I am looking forward to the poetry.
>87 Berly:. Yay! Thanks for picture posting, Kim.
>88 BLBera:. Beth, I think you are responsible for the Kenyon. I have read that one poem by her before, but the review on your page really piqued my interest.

And some reading:

Solitude by Albert Woodfox

Woodfox was a Black Panther, who was wrongly convicted of the murder of a prison guard at the Angola prison in Louisiana. He spend 43 years in solitary confinement, finally released in 2016. This book was released in 2019; and gives details of his life, and in his struggles to have the conviction overturned, and the lengths that Louisiana went to to keep him incarcerated. Also about the struggle to limit the use of solitary confinement. He was amazingly able to keep his humanity through this. Sadly, he died of COVID in 2022, at age 75.

I would compare this book to The Autobiography of Malcom X. It really gives details about life in Angola prison. (horrifying)

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

I listened to this book on audio; and perhaps it would have been better to read it. Parts of it felt repetitive, and maybe the length of time for the audio was a detriment. There were lots of parts that I did like about this, however, the weaving of science and traditional knowledge; the concept of reciprocity; that the land gives to us, and we can also give to the land.

St Lucy's Home for Girl's Raised by Wolves by Karen Russel

Karen Russell is, I think, a bit too strange for me. She writes really well, but I don't quite know what to think when I read her. I gave up on Swamplandia for that reason. But I picked up this book of short stories, because I loved the title, and I ended up liking most of the stories, though they were sad, all about children who were failed by the adults in their lives. The last story was the titular one, and maybe because I had just been reading about Native American history, and the history of boarding schools, it really touched my heart and raised this book to 4 stars.

Maybe I will try Swamplandia again.

>90 banjo123: I read an excellent book a few years ago about life in Angola, In A Place of Justice by Wilbert Rideau. Rideau was convicted of murder when he was a teenager, but that sentence was commuted to life. He started a prison newspaper, that ultimately received many national awards, and he was often a commentator on NPR and other outlets. He tried many times to get parole, but was always foiled by the prosecutor for the parish where the crime was committed, even though there was clear evidence of complete rehabilitation and the crime was committed when he was a young teenager during a bank robbery gone wrong. If you're interested in reading more about Angola I highly recommend it. (I have an interest in Angola because my grandparent's farm was right down the road from the prison. Always big excitement when there was an escape). I am going to look for Solitary, which I had not heard of.

Good to hear about your successful meetup! I saw a picture on Kim's facebook.

I also liked St Lucy's Home for Girl's Raised by Wolves. It looks like you had a nice Meet Up with the Portland group. Jealous...

Are you still thinking about joining us on The Bee Sting? I am starting it this week.

Wow, the Woodfox book sounds powerful, Rhonda. Onto the list it goes.

I read Braiding Sweetgrass and loved it, and when my book club chose it for next month, I thought I would try listening, but I kept falling asleep. I think reading it was a better experience.

I love the title of the Russell stories. I keep meaning to read her. I've only read a story here and there.

>93 arubabookwoman:. Thanks, I will look for the Rideau book. I also thought that the chapter on Angola in Clint Smith's How The Word Is Passed was really good.

>94 The_Hibernator:. The meet up was so fun, Rachel! Hopefully next year we will have a meet-up with you in it.

>95 msf59:. Hi Mark! Definitely a fun meet-up, and you are welcome to join us next time! I probably won't be reading Bee Sting in February. I am still waiting on the library.

>96 BLBera:. Hi Beth! I will be interested to see what you think of Russell, when you get to her books. She is definitely interesting.

Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

I had this one on my shelves, and it fit into the goal of reading more poetry. Honestly, I think Gorman's work is better read aloud, which makes sense as she comes from a Poetry Slam background. But I do enjoy her word-play, and it was also good to be reminded of how tough the start of the Covid pandemic was. It's only a few years, but already I forget how frightening it was.

Here are some lines I liked:

Graduation Day
We don't need a gown.
We don't need a stage.
We are walking beside our ancestors,
Their drums roar for us,
Their feet stomp at our life.
There is power in being robbed
& still choosing to dance.

January reading reflection:

I am happy with how well I've done with my reading goals this month; seven books read one book of poetry; two non-fiction; and four that were read from the little bookshelf in my bedroom. Two of them were on the shelves but not on my list, but I am still counting them towards that!

Honestly the book I enjoyed most this month was The Rose Code; which probably wasn't the best book, but I enjoyed listening to it so much.

BackCast by Ann McMan

This one is for the Lesbian book group, we meet on Tuesday so I will see how folks liked it. I thought it was OK, but not great. It's a pretty structured story, with lots of humor, about a group of 12-13 women, on a retreat in Vermont; trying to create a sculpture/literary project. A fishing project is also thrown in. The book presents the women's backstories with their present day personas; which would have been more interesting if the author had done a better job of delineating the characters. TBH; 13 major characters is a lot to get across, but I kept getting them mixed up.

Congratulations on your 7 books Rhonda! That's a good start to the year.

What a great January you had, Rhonda. I didn't do so well reading from my shelves, but I did read some works in translation, which is a goal for me this year.

>101 The_Hibernator:. Thanks, Rachel! It feels like a great start.

>102 BLBera:. Thanks, Beth! I am afraid that I may have gotten new books to replace all of the ones I read off of the shelves, but at least I am trying.

Today was fun. Mrs. Banjo and I signed up for a 3 part birding class, today was the first class. I really know very little about birds, but was wanting a new, not too rigorous, outdoor activity. This was lovely, we were at Sauvie's Island and saw lots of Bald Eagle, Kestrel, Trumpeter and Tundra Swan, Egret, Heron, etc. Also lots of different kinds of sparrows. Probably the most exciting thing is that we saw an Egret eat a mouse.

>82 banjo123: I'm glad Francis is doing well. And I love that you have a new neighbor cat named Porkchop!

>99 banjo123: I have a couple Kate Quinn books on the shelves that I want to get to. Really, if you enjoy the book, that is what matters most!

>103 banjo123: Your bird watching expedition on Sauvie's Island sounds like fun. I have wanted to sign up for something like that in our area. Now that I'm retired, I'll see if I can make it happen. It may have to wait until we're back in the Willamette Valley.

>103 banjo123: That sounds really cool, Rhonda!! (well maybe not for the mouse...but...)

>103 banjo123: This is awesome, Rhonda. Very proud of you both. Post as many sightings as you can. You know I love hearing about them.

>103 banjo123: That sounds lovely! I'm really looking forward to kayaking the Willamette this summer and maybe seeing some birds along the way. I hope you're able to take pictures on your next outing.

>100 banjo123: At least it was light reading, and maybe the discussion will be more interesting than the story. I missed 2 book club discussions of the same book last month because I couldn't find my copy. Finally turned up when I unpacked all the book boxes (I was so sure it was someplace else!). And I'm getting ready to read 2 books for 2 book clubs in my neighborhood this month. Exciting! And both interesting reads: All About Love: New Visions and Most Ardently.

Your birding class sounds fun, Rhonda.

>103 banjo123: I know what you mean about replacing books. We could do worse things.

>104 EBT1002:. Porkchop is beautiful, Ellen, I should take a picture.
Sauvie's Island was lovely. I never had the patience for birding when I was younger, but I think I have slowed down a little, and now I don't mind standing around looking for birds.

>105 RebaRelishesReading:. It was cool, Reba! But definitely not for the mouse; the Egret swallowed it whole and wriggling.

>106 msf59:. Thanks, Mark! I will definitely post. Have you been to Sauvie's? It's a great place for birding.

>107 justchris:. Thanks, Chris! I never manage to get good photos of birds on my cell phone, so I didn't even try. One of the instructors had a super fancy camera.... I am a bit jealous.

The book discussion was interesting, actually. I liked the book better afterward.

>108 BLBera:. You are right, Beth. Definitely we could have worse habits.

Hi Rhonda! How are you?

>109 banjo123: Ewww! Egret eating whole wriggling mouse. But otherwise the class sounds great. ; )

>110 Owltherian:. I am good, thanks Owl.

>111 Berly:. Yes, gross, but kind of cool. It was far enough away I didn't really see more than a blob, but then the instructor showed us on his fancy camera.

And the Audubon Society has just changed their name to Bird Alliance of Oregon, which is good.

I've been having a busy, but good weekend. I have also gotten lots of reading done. My reading has been augmented because I've just discovered that I enjoy audio books. Hoping to get the reviews done, but not sure I will because we are going tonight, to a friend's 70'th birthday party.

>112 banjo123: Thats good!

So, audiobooks first:

The Fraud by Zadie Smith

I really enjoyed this historical novel, which was narrated by the author. It's based on real historical characters. William Harrison was a second rate author, contemporary to Dicken's. The story is mostly narrated by Eliza Touchee, who is his cousin, his housekeeper, plus more. Eliza had been involved in the abolition movement, and the story also involves the slave trade in Jamaica. The book is told in short chapters, perfect for an audio book. Lots of moral issues are raised, and none of the characters behaves admirably.

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

The memoir about child abuse, child actors (McCurdy was a star in the Nicklodeum show, "I Carli"), and eating disorders. Also, it's very funny. McCurdy's voice is fresh and resilient.

A Little More About Me by Pam Houston

This 2013 collection of essays was a fun read. Houston shares stories about her love of adventure, the outdoors, and dogs; and also a little about her struggles with mental health and body image. It's a look at what she was like a decade before she wrote Deep Creek; which is a favorite book for me.

We Are Watching Eliza Bright. by A.E. Osworth

Kind of an exploration of Gamergate. Eliza Bright is working in an up and coming game company, Fancy Dog, when she experiences sexual harassment. She reports this, and things go badly for her from there. The book is told mostly in sort of a Greek chorus of Reddit and 4Chan users; and partly with another interesting group voice.

Not perfect, it's hard to focus on characters with this shifting narration, but it's also an interesting way to look at the issue, and at times it really works.

Goodness, you've been reading up a storm Rhonda. I too enjoy audio books, especially for "lighter" reading.

>112 banjo123: Why the name change and why do you think it is good?

Ugh, an egret eating a mouse. My husband says " it's the circle of life" which I know is true, but it's hard to watch. I saw a video of seagull swallowing a dead squirrel and - excuse me while I vomit. I did wonder why the squirrel didn't fight, but then I realized it was dead. I hope you don't read this before dinner, Rhonda.

>118 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba!

>119 Berly: Kim, it turns out that Audubon was a creepy slave owner/dealer. The national group decided not to change the name, but a lot of the local groups are changing.

>120 vancouverdeb: Sorry, Deborah! That kind of thing doesn't bother me, unless it's really up close.

Don't worry about the egret eating a mouse on my behalf at all, Rhonda. I mean, I watched the awful video of the seagull eating a dead squirrel myself. It was gross , but I had to see. Dave has told me about various horrible things he has seen as he works a the ramp at Vancouver International airport. There are many open fields etc around the area, and he has seen coyotes snap up birds and what not to eat, and I think a dust up between a raccoon or coyote and a bald eagle. I can't remember who ate who.

>111 Berly: That's the sort of nature experience I loved as a kid. I used to go catch frogs to feed to the snake at the rehab center.

>117 banjo123: We Are Watching Eliza Bright seems kinda horrifying. Sounds like a good book, and I am a fan of epistolary styles (and their modern-day equivalents), but do I really want to go swimming in the toxic headspace of online misogynists of various flavors as the primary viewpoints? It was bad enough witness the shitshow of GamerGate as it was unfolding, and I wasn't even directly involved, just tangentially aware. Maybe the subject is too close for me.

>122 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah, nature is definitely "red and tooth and claw".

>123 justchris: Actually, you might like it? It has lots of funny bits. But I am not sure it counts as epistolary.

I am right now re-reading Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow (and loving it again) We are discussing for a book group next week. So I guess it's my gaming month! I have basically never played any video games, so that's kind of ironic.

Did you know that Gabriel Zevin is coming to Portland for Everybody Reads with the Library Foundation and Literary Arts? April 4th!! : )

https://literary-arts.org

>125 Berly: You are so lucky.

>124 banjo123: is in my "almost up" pile. Perhaps it needs to get promoted to the higher priority pile next to "my" chair :)

>124 banjo123: & >125 Berly: We very rarely get author visits here in Kuala Lumpur so I am a tad envious.

Have a great weekend , Rhonda

>125 Berly: Yes! We are going with the book group, so looking forward to it.

>126 BLBera: We are lucky, Beth.

>127 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, it's been a really good read.

>128 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! The author talks are fun.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

I had read this last year, but our book group is discussing it next week. I thought that I'd skim, maybe read a few chapters....well, I ended up falling right into the story and read the whole thing and loved it again. Last year I rated 4.5 stars, I am going to up it to 5 stars based on the re-read being so compelling.

I know that some folks had issues with parts of this book, especially the end. It's true that the main characters, Sadie and Sam, are both characters with some major flaws. But I loved the way the book chronicled the ups and downs of their friendship, and interwove the game world and the real world.

This time around I also enjoyed thinking about the way that the "real world" is also a game in some ways. Here's a quote that gets at that, from right at the beginning:

"A truly magnificent thing about the way the brain was coded, Sam thought, was that it could say "Excuse me" while meaning "Screw you." Unless they were unreliable or clearly established as lunatics or scoundrels, characters in novels, movies, and games were meant to be taken at face value---the totality of what they did or what they said. But people--the ordinary, the decent and basically honest--couldn't get through the day without that one indispensable bit of programming that allowed you to say one thing and mean, feel, even do, another."

>130 banjo123: You are convincing me about this one, Rhonda.

>131 BLBera: I hope you give it a try!

I moved it into the pile next to "my" chair -- which is where I reach for my "next book". No reading today though but maybe tomorrow :)

>133 RebaRelishesReading: Or tomorrow or tomorrow?

Happy weekend, I am tired today, after a bit of a tough work-week. I try to be chill about work stress, since if it gets too bad, I can just retire, but I had a tough email that came out of the blue on Friday afternoon. Luckily we had planned dinner and a USWNT (soccer) watching party with a few neighbors last night, and that was so much fun.
Today, I think I will stay chill, and then try to be productive tomorrow.

I will have to add A Little More About Me to the list. Like, you I loved Deep Creek. Hooray for Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. It was such a nice surprise for me.

Have a good weekend, Rhonda.

>135 msf59: Thanks, Mark! Pam Houston is a treasure, isn't she?

The book group had a good discussion of T3; and everybody liked it, even the non-gamers. I am looking forward to hearing Gabrielle Zevin speak.

Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey

My daughter had liked this, and I'd liked Gailey's later book The Echo Wife; so decided to listen to this on audio. It was OK--- easy to listen to, but several plot holes and too much drinking. The plot is that Ivy Gamble is a private detective, hired to track down a murder that happens in a nearby School for Mages; where magical adolescents are taught (reminiscent of Harry Potter). Ivy's twin sister is a teacher of theoretical magic in the school; Ivy is estranged from her twin, and feels resentful about being the non-magical sister.

>135 msf59: Oh, I forgot to say, but I dropped by the library and found a lucky day copy of The Bee Sting. So I will be joining the group read, though maybe after everyone else has finished it.

The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen

literary and discursive, but somehow good. Cohen based this novel on a real life incident that Harold Bloom had told him about, when The Netanyahu's (the parents, siblings and a young Benjamin Netanyahu) visited Cornell, where Bloom was teaching. In this novelized version of the event, Reuben Blum is a professor of economic history, and the Netanyahu visit lays waste to his professional and family life.

It's funny at times, with lots of discussion about anti-semitism, history, Jewish identity in the US and Israel.

>139 banjo123: - I don't think I could stomach reading a word about that family, fictionalized or not, much in the same way I could not force myself to read about the trumps. Barf-inducing, both of them. I don't actually know much about the late, younger Natanyahu, Jonathan, other than the fact that he was the hero of the raid on Entebbe Airport to rescue the hostages held there in 1976. He was only 30 when he died, probably too young to have had much political clout, if he had chosen to go that route. He was a selfless hero, though, at the time and is probably spinning in his grave, see what his bother turned out to be.

(my best friend and her husband were among those hostages, back then. I remember is as if it was yesterday)

>140 jessibud2: Oh, that sounds so hard, Shelley, to have your friend as a hostage.

This book is pretty literary, and I did learn a little bit of history about the Netanyahus, but not too much. I think it would be good for people who liked to read Saul Bellow; Phillip Roth maybe even Jonathan Franzen?

I really loved The Bee Sting, Rhonda, so I hope you will too. I'm considering reading Wolf Hall right now, but it's so long it's intimidating me a bit. I have a copy out from the library, so no great loss if I don't read, but if you are going to read Bee Sting, maybe I can handle another long tome. The group reads are fun. I read the The Bee Sting with Paul and Stasia last fall and very much surprised myself by getting ahead of them. It was that good!

I haven't read anything by Gailey, but maybe I will give her a try. Maybe THe Echo Wife? Not sure about The Netanyahus..

I finished Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow last night. I'm pretty sure I read it because of your recommendation. I read it in just two days and was surprised at how captivated I was (given than I'm not and never have been a gamer)...right up to the last 50 pages or so where I thought it fell of the rails badly. Still, I'm very glad I read it so Thank You :)

>142 vancouverdeb: I am really liking The Bee Sting, Deborah, and it's moving fast even though it's long, and I do miss the quotation marks. I read Wolf Hall a few years ago, and I liked it, but it was definitely not a fast read.

>143 BLBera: I think you'd like them Beth, though definitely not great literature in my opinion.

>144 RebaRelishesReading: I liked the end of T3, Reba, but I know a lot of folks agreed with you on the last 50 pages. But glad you liked it overall.

And happy weekend, everyone!

And February reading update:

10 books read, which is amazing for a short month. 4 were from my TBR shelf, so hooray for that as well.

I did read 3 non-fiction, two were memoirs, which I think of as non-fiction-lite; but I did get a lot out of Flight of the Iguana. I have been reading poetry, though haven't finished any of my books. So I feel pretty good about my progress to my goals.

Favorite for the month was my re-read of Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Zadie Smith's The Fraud is a close second.

>139 banjo123: I need to get to that one. Probably pretty topical.

Have a great weekend.

Well, Rhonda, I did enjoy my time at the birthday party for my grand nephew . I'm still plowing along with Wolf Hall But so far, I'm determined to get through it. I read The Bee Sting which is about the same length, and I flew through that, reading 100 pages a day, which is much faster than I usually read and certainly faster than I doing with Wolf Hall. That I am managing about 50 pages a day and now on page 225.

I'm really looking forward to the Women's Prize Longlist on Tuesday too. I hope to read quite a few from that list, depending on what is available and what grabs my interest.

Happy Sunday, Rhonda. Glad you were able to snag a copy of The Bee Sting. Looking forward to your thoughts. It sure seems to hit every reader differently.

Hiya, Rhonda. Sounds like a good reading yesr so far. I’m another one who liked The Alice Network and you’ve tempted me with The Rose Code.

Right now I’m enjoying Claire Keegan’s Foster. She’s an author i’ve been meaning to get to for quite some time.

I envy you being able to go to Powell’s whenever you like! We visited a few years ago and loved it. It was heartwarming to see a bookstore so busy.

>148 vancouverdeb: Thanks for stopping by, Deborah, and glad the party was fun. And yes, on Wolf Hall being a bit of a trudge. Maybe it would have gone faster if I knew more English history.

>149 msf59: Happy Sunday, Mark! We just had the second installment in our birding class, so I thought of you. It was cold and rainy, but we did see some fun birds. Sandhill crane, egrets, kestrel, bald eagle, Harrier hawk, snow geese, some swans, etc. The snow geese were flying in big crowds, they looked like they were just floating in the sky, so pretty.

>150 jnwelch: Definitely try The Rose Code then, Joe. I've heard it's her best. I have to get to Foster. I read Small Things Like These a while back, and it was really good.

We are lucky in Portland to have so many bookstores and book events! Hopefully you will come and visit again; for some reason I wasn't able to meet you last time.

and book review catch-up:

The Flight of the Iguana by David Quammen
This is a collection of essays on nature/evolution/philosphy, published in 1988, and mostly from articles in Outside Magazine. Some are probably out-dated, but overall I enjoyed the collection. I learned more about islands and evolution; which was cool. Also there are two essays about the sanctuary movement; and it was interesting to see how that movement started and how things have played out all the years since.

Permafrost byEva Baltasar

For the Lesbian book group, this was originally in Catalan, and feels very literary and European. Overall, I liked it and it will be interesting to see what the group thinks. Here's a passage to give an idea of the language:

"Catalan phrases strutted out of her throat wrapped in French-accented mink, but with a lowly, port-like fragrance that I attributed to her Marseilles roots and which drove me wild. In her mouth, Catalan sounded the way it should sound as a perfect language. Any word that I said immediately afterward was a faded daisy in comparison, a silly little flower."

>153 banjo123: !!! That is quite the quote, Rhonda.

>152 banjo123: Looks interesting.

>147 PaulCranswick: I missed you, Paul! Yes, a very topical book. I had bought it a year or so ago, thinking it looked interesting; and I will admit that recent events prompted me to finally pick it up.

>154 BLBera: Yes, she's also a poet. The translator (Julia Sanches) has a really interesting note at the end.

>155 The_Hibernator: Thanks for stopping by, Rachel! It was an interesting read.

Happy Saturday, Rhonda. Thanks for your bird class report. Very nice. We are slightly out of line on the migration route for snow geese. I have seen them and in great numbers but we have to go southwest Illinois to see them. Awesome to see.

>116 banjo123: Adding that to the list, Rhonda. I like Pam Houston. She posts some lovely photos on FB.

I'd love to see a photo of Porkchop if you get one.

I read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and liked it, but less than many others. But your summary and comments reminded me of it and raised it in my estimation. I love that quote.

>157 msf59: Thanks, Mark! I am enjoying the birding. More to follow on that topic.

>158 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen, happy to raise your view of T3. And Pam Houston is a treasure.

I will have to get a photo of Porkchop. He is pretty gorgeous.

We just got back from a trip to Arizona! We went to several spring training games, got some sun, and even got in a little birding. And now it's all sunny here in Portland, and I took a couple of days off work, so time to enjoy.

Baseball report: we saw the Padres vs. the Angels; the Oakland A's vs the Diamondbacks, and the Cubs vs the Brewers. The last game was the most exciting, the Cubs won with a walk off home run in the 9th.

We used to watch a lot of baseball, Banjo, jr was pretty obsessed with the game when she was younger. But Portland doesn't have a team, and we haven't watched much in recent years. It was fun to get back in the groove. And the spring training ballfields are all so sweet.

We did go a couple of times to the Riparian Park in Gilbert, to look for birds. It was so pretty...I will try to post some pictures later. Since I am just a very beginning birder, I can't say that I had a lot of exciting bird viewing, but it was fun to see different birds than here. We saw a lot of mockingbirds and doves, which you never see here, so that was fun for me. Also a curved-bill thrasher, pretty cool. But the neatest were the American White Pelican and Snowy Egret. I have never seen the white Pelican before.

Sounds like a fun trip. Sounds like you missed the huge rains that have been hitting south of here.

I introduced my son to baseball with Angels games when we lived in Orange County then he moved his loyalty to the Padres when we moved to San Diego and is still a big fan -- has a bucket list item to see them play in every N.L. park in the U.S. He has also sung the National Anthem for Padres games at Petco Park several times. His loyalty to them has spilled over a bit to our house as well. Not that we're big fans but if forced to pick a team it would be the Padres.

>161 RebaRelishesReading: We tend to support the Padres; as we used to go to the Beavers, when they were in Portland, and they were the Triple A team for the Padres. Generally, though, we are Mariners fans.

Great pictures of your trip, Rhonda! It sounds like you all had a great time.

>160 banjo123: Oh, fun! I'd love to get to Spring Training some year and watch the Cubs play. My sister went to school in San Diego, so I tend to like the Padres as well (1984 aside). I'm glad you got to do some birding too. Thanks for sharing the pictures from your trip.

>160 banjo123: It does sound like a fun trip, Rhonda. I love the bird photos as well.

>166 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. It was fun!

>167 atozgrl: Thanks for stopping by, Irene, the spring training was fun. Though, it's gotten busier and more expensive than when we went years ago.

>168 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! I am trying to pick up the birding habit. So far it's fun, and it gets me outside.

And now, some book reviews.

The Future by Naomi Alderman

I did most of this book on audio, but read the last part because I couldn't bear not to know what was going to happen. Such a good book, and a great audio. I liked it much better than her earlier book, The Power.

This book covers AI, climate change, corporatization, and the power of elites; and does it with a fast moving plot and fun characters.

The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen

This was Nguyen's sequel to The Sympathizer; which I loved. In this book; Nguyen takes on the French. The book takes place in Paris; with gangsters, drug-dealers, etc, and at points a bit too violent for me. Overall, however, I liked it. Here's a favorite quote:

"that's what nobody tells you about the afterlife. It smells like rotten mean and putric water and black mold."

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

I really liked the first part of this book, about an Irish family who seems to be falling apart. however, it was quite a long book, and they had lost me by the last 50 pages; and I am not sure I know what happened.

I most enjoyed the sections from the daughter, Cass. Dickie was annoying and I never did understand why anyone put up with him.

Hi, Rhonda. I like your outdoor pics. You look like a pro with your bins. Were you able to ID any specific birds? Glad you hung in there with The Bee Sting. I agree it was a challenge but I ended up liking it.

My Vietnam, Your Vietnam by Chrisitina Vo and Nghia M. Vo (an early reviewer book)

This book is a "dual memoir" with chapters alternating between the American-born Christina Vo, and her father, a physician who immigrated from South Vietnam in 1975. Christina Vo was raised in mostly white suburbs, without a lot of connection to Vietnam, not really even knowing the language. She had/has a distant relationship with her father. In her 20's she goes to Vietnam, working for a international agency. She has a really different relationship with Vietnam than her father does. You can really see the gaps in connection between them, for example when she does not consider what his feelings will be when she chooses to go to Hanoi rather than Saigon. Of course, how would she know when he didn't talk to her about Vietnam, while she was growing up?

Overall, an interesting book, I am glad that I read it. The writing is good, not great, but the topic was interesting enough to pull me through. I appreciated how hard it was for Nghia Vo to lose his homeland, and to know that he could never really return. Christina Vo's journey was interesting, she seems to be somewhat flighty and undisciplined. It's probably partly her way have being self-deprecating; I suspect she is really a more solid than it seemed, but I also wondered if feeling disconnected from her culture played a part.

>173 msf59: Hi Mark! I did ID some birds; thanks to the Merlin App. And also another birder, who pointed out the curved bill thrasher. The White Pelican were probably the most exciting.

Glad you were able to see the curve-billed thrasher. We saw them in Texas. They look very similar to our brown thrasher, that summer here. I love the white pelicans. We see them during migration.

>165 banjo123: Beautiful photos, I love the lil guy on the cactus! Sounds like you had fun.

Wow, you have been doing some great reading, and great comments, too. I bought The Future when I was in Portland, and want to read it soon.

I wasn't a huge fan of The Sympathizer so will probably pass on The Committed. I have his memoir, which seems interesting.

>176 msf59: That's cool. I don't think we see any pelicans here, though maybe further south. I did see brown pelicans once, in California.

>177 elorin: Thanks for stopping by! It was fun.

>178 BLBera: The Future will be a treat for you, Beth! And yes, if you weren't a fan of The Sympathizer; skip The Committed. I did read his short story collection, The Refugees, which was really good, and you'd probably like it, but maybe you have enough to read....

And here is Porkchop on our porch, and a picture that shows our (indoor) cats being annoyed that Porkie is on our porch..

Very cool cats! 🐈

I love the photos!

Hi Rhonda, i love the pics!

>181 dianeham:, >182 BLBera: and >183 Owltherian: Thanks Diane, Beth, and Lily! All of the cats are such characters, we really enjoy them.

I was on jury duty today, which involved sitting around in a large room. This allowed me to read the book group book When Women Were Dragons, lucky I had the time since we discuss on Wednesday. I will probably wait until then to review; I enjoyed the read, but the book does have some big flaws.

>184 banjo123: I would bet, they are pretty dang cute.

>180 banjo123:
OMG Porkchop and that tail! I hope your kitties learn to love him (or tolerate him).

>180 banjo123: Porkchop is a beauty, Rhonda
Indeed the two inside are not amused...!

Assuming you did not get chosen for jury duty. I didnt' either last fall. Cute cat photos. : ) And I cannot wait for our warm spring weather coming up! Yay!

Cute picture of Porkie, Rhonda. I hope you managed to avoid jury duty , unless you wanted to so . I know people who genuinely feel they are doing their part for society by serving on a jury and indeed, they are . One the other hand I knew a fellow who served on a jury for a murder trial and he was left with PTSD for a while afterwards.

>185 Owltherian: Thanks, Owl! They do give us lots of enjoyment.

>186 Deedledee: It's a pretty fancy tail, but the ears are what does me in. I don't think we are going to get our cats to be friends--maybe frenemies? I figure that the mental stimulation is good for them

>187 FAMeulstee: Yes, Anita, and Porky is very sweet as well.

>188 Berly: Yes, just a couple of boring days hanging around the courthouse. But they did do a good job of explaining that our presence was a civic good. And I am off the hook for 2 years.

>189 vancouverdeb: Yes, in theory I would be happy to do jury duty, but generally speaking I don't get picked, due to knowing too much and having too many opinions to be neutral. And yes, I once was up for a murder trial jury and was very happy to get off of that panel due to being anti-death penalty. Now they have done away with the death penalty in Oregon, so I will have to figure out a different angle if it happens again.

And happy Easter to all who celebrate.

I have been a bit absent here on LT; it's been busy here. Work is super-busy, I am hoping to catch up with myself by the end of April for work. Also, soccer season has started, so that has taken time. It should be a fun thing, but unfortunately both of our teams are doing dismally so far. Hopefully they grow into the season.

Today I am going with my daughter and sisters to see a women's basketball game, part of March Madness. They are playing here in Portland, so we thought a good opportunity to see a game, and it will be fun to be totally neutral (at least going in!) It's North Carolina State vs. the Texas Longhorns. I don't really follow college basketball, but I understand that the Longhorns are favored to win.

Well, the game was fun, and now we are Wolfpack (NC State) fans. Very impressed with Saniya Rivers. Of course, they will lose in a few days to South Carolina, and I can't even be upset about that because, Dawn Staley.

I have a few books to review, and also hope to get around to some other people's threads.

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

This was a book club read, and we had a good discussion on it. In general, the consensus was that there were good parts to the book, but that it was repetetive, with some plot holes. The idea of this book is that women, throughout history, have had the ability to transform into dragons fueled by anger or other passions. There was a mass dragoning event in the 50's, when a large number of women transformed to dragons, left homes and families, leaving a certain amount of destruction.
So in general, a woman's empowerment story. I would probably give this one 3 or 3.5 stars; and I'd say that if you liked Lessons in Chemistry you might like this as some of the themes are similar.

The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert

I finally got around to reading this book, which combines climate science, natural history with focus on evolution and extinction. I did really like it, she does a nice job of making science accessible.

Happy Sunday, Rhonda. I thought The Sixth Extinction was excellent.

>195 msf59: Thanks, Mark, and I agree. I am glad I finally got to it!

>192 banjo123: I would have warned you not to underestimate the NC State lady Wolfpack. They've been good for several years now, but have fallen short in the tournament. Maybe they're surprising people this year with a lower ranking. But South Carolina is a big challenge. I'm glad you had fun at the game.

>197 atozgrl: It was way fun! I don't really follow college sports, but will definitely try to watch their next game. It seems like the coach is onto a good thing.

A couple more books read:

Above Ground by Clint Smith

Part of my read-more-poetry plan. I like Clint Smith, but this book was in general not a favorite. It is really focussed on his children and fatherhood, sweet, but too sentimental for me. But there are some gems in here; here is one:

The New York Times
reports that 200 Iraqi
civilians have been killed
by U.S. military airstrikes
— Clint Smith
after Hanif Abdurraqib

& the man on television calls it unfortunate yet inevitable collateral damage & i wonder what it is that turns mourning into a metonym or a proclamation of conjecture & i read his bio & see that he has a wife & i can’t imagine he would call it inevitable if her body were pulled from the quiet implosion of scattered rubble & i see that he has a son & i can’t imagine he would call the boy who bears his name collateral in someone else’s war & i see that he has a daughter & i think of what it might mean for someone to render her final breath an inescapable reality of global politics & i understand what he means i know he means that war is callous & unforgiving that a militant can surround himself with a dozen women & children so that the pilot must decide between a target & the soft ache of his own heart’s detonation i do not misunderstand the cruelty of war but i regret the way we talk about its casualties how their lives become tacit admonitions how the tyranny of a border made out of thin air means that bombs are only dropped on one side of it but i too have felt the empathy corrode inside the most cavernous parts of me have taken the quarters from my pocket & used them to cover my collusion who among us has not used spare change to ornament our contrition laid a garland of rations atop the bodies of names we do not know & i’m not sure what it means for us not to be the one to fire the bullet but to behave as if the bullet always belonged in that chest & not our own

>198 banjo123: Living in central NC, it's impossible to avoid college basketball. But I haven't followed the women's teams very closely. I do know that NC State has been very good for most of the past few years, with just one bad season in the mix. They've been really good since Wes Moore took over as coach.

But I'm a Tarheel fan, and my teams are out of the tournament now.

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue

I listened to this, it's an excellent audiobook. I looked up an interview with the author, and found out that she wrote this during the first year of COVID, wanting to write something that would help her and the people who read it feel good. She's done it, it's a funny, warm-hearted book. There is tension, but the narrator (Rachel) tells part of the story from her older-self; so you always know she will end up OK.

It's an Irish novel, set in Cork where Rachel and her best friend James are coping with the economic depression of 2009 and with figuring out their own identities and futures; while spending time going to parities, bars and getting drunk; and in between school and working in a failing bookstore.

Here is a passage, as Rachel reflects on her choice of getting a degree in literature:

“I liked dead women talking glibly about society. I liked long paragraphs about rationing and sexual awakenings in France.”

>200 atozgrl: Well, at any rate, good for the Wolfpack for getting to the Final Four. Oregon State did well this year, but lost today to the Gamecocks.

I would actually kind of like to watch more women's basketball, but am too cheap to get the kind of cable/streaming package that would allow that to happen.

March Round-Up

Again, a good reading month. Listening to audio-books has really upped my numbers, and I am enjoying listening some. I always wished I liked audiobooks better, because this way if I ever lose eyesight, I can still read.

I read 8 books this month, 2 non-fiction, one poetry, and 2 from my book shelf. My favorite of the month is The Future by Naomi Alderman.

You did have a good month of reading, Rhonda. I do look forward to The Future, when I get through my current pile of library books!

>201 banjo123:

“I liked dead women talking glibly about society. I liked long paragraphs about rationing and sexual awakenings in France.”

Love this!

>203 banjo123: It took me a while before I liked audiobooks, but I can only listen well while my hands are doing something like driving.

I have listened to a few audio books, Rhonda, but I still prefer physical books. It's a good way to walk, or clean or cook while " reading' at the same time. Yes, retirement is going well.

Hi and happy weekend to all. In unfortunate news here, I have gotten COVID. Have been isolating in bed, basically for the past 3 days. Fortunately Mrs. Banjo hasn't gotten it yet, thought this means the poor thing has to sleep on the sofa. I have been sleeping lots, reading some and watching sports on my computer. I have a "mild" case; so it's really like a light flu with the addition of paxlovid mouth.

This is my first bout with COVID, so I am lucky. I do feel a bit of a dolt, as a 65 year old, I was due another vaccine but I dilly-dallyed about getting it.

Anyway, today I am feeling a tad better, so will try to catch up on LT a bit.

>204 BLBera: I hope you like it as well as I did, Beth! Wendy also read it and loved it. I

>205 magicians_nephew: It's definitely a fun read, Jim. Lots of great lines.

>206 The_Hibernator: Yeah, mostly I do audio books when driving or walking.

>207 vancouverdeb: Nothing will ever replace physical books for me, Deborah, but I figure good to diversify. And hooray for retirement going well.

So, I do have a bunch of books to review.

I re-read My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout; as we are reading it for my book group. Actually, I listened to the audio. This is a fast read (or listen).
I am a Strout fan, but this isn't my favorite Strout--- Lucy is not an appealing character; which of course is sort of Strout's bread and butter; finding the inner workings of a flawed people. Normally I like that; but there is something about Lucy that doesn't ring true for me. It will be interesting to see how the book group feels.

Feel better soon, Rhonda!

House of Sky by Ivan Doig

I know lots of folks love Doig, but I was so-so on The Whistling Season. I picked this up becasue it's a memoir about being from Montana; centering around the identity of the West, which sounded interesting to me. However, this book never seemed interesting to me, and I quit after 100 pages. So it's a DNF; but I am going to count it because I did read 100 pages, and it's a book that going off my shelves into a nearby LFL.

>211 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley!

Deep River by Karl Marlantes

I picked up this book of historical fiction last year in Anacortes, Washington, thinking it would be good to read about Finnish immigrants, Wobblies, loggers and fishermen in Oregon/Washington in the early 1900's. And it was good to read about, but I am afraid that the book is over 700 pages, and I don't think that Marlantes is a good enough writer for that long of a book. His writing is OK, and I was interested in the characters, but there just wasn't enough of a punch to keep it from becoming a slog.

A Man Called Ove by Frederick Backman

This was a feel-good book, appropriate for my sick reading. One quibble, Ove is described as an old man, but he is only 59!

The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

I really liked this book. It's historical fiction, read for the lesbian book group. (the Lesbian contact is there, but light.) It is set in a fishing village in Finnmark, Norway in 1617, where two young women, Maren and Ursa meet. A freak storm drowns almost all of the villages men, including Maren's father, brother and fiancee. Hargrave really sets the stage, a bleak landscape and a hard life. We also learn about Maren's sister-in-law, Diinna, who is Sami; and a little about the relationships between the Sami and the Norwegian.

Unfortunately this is just before the Norwegian witch trials. The king sends a commisioner, Absalom Cornet; who has a record of "successful" witch-hunting. Cornet brings with him his new, young and pretty, Norwegian wife, Ursa, who befriends Maren.

Most of the book is pretty traumatic, actually, because the witch hunts were awful. But I couldn't put the book down.

Here's a passage:

“The day is impossibly bright: the sort of crystalline clarity that comes when winter still sits in the air. They have already entered at the narrow mouth of the fjord, and the cliffs rise sheerly either side, a clean hundred feet, the black rock raked with lines of lighter grey. The sea is green and glitters with chips of ice, and as soon as the wind bites at her face and brings up its blood, chilling her lungs, she feels better than she has since she left home."

Sorry to hear you have Covid, Rhonda. I think I had it after my first vaccination. But it was before you could self test , and I was to exhausted to trek to the doctor or a covid testing " station" as they were called. There was just one in my city then, and my husband had a observed the long line ups regularly on his way to work, so he didn't want to drive me. I think that was before giving Pavloxid was widespread, so I guess it would have not made much difference, unless I had trouble breathing or something. I hope you are feeling 100 % soon and I am glad to see you are getting some good reading in.

>217 vancouverdeb: Yes, back then it was pretty hard to get testing; glad that you recovered. I seem to be getting better, but still pretty tired.

>208 banjo123: Oh no! I am so sorry. I see you have been using your bedtime to catch up on your reviews -- nicely done. And Ove is NOT old!! LOL. Be well and say Hi! to Mrs. Banjo for me.

>208 banjo123: Sorry you got Covid, Rhonda, I hope you feel better each day.

>215 banjo123: I felt the same about Ove. Although some 59 year olds can be rather old ;-)

>219 Berly: Thanks, Kim! I am working on getting better!

>220 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita, I am feeling better, but still so tired. And glad we agree about Ove.

Good to hear you are feeling better, Rhonda.

Re Ove. I think it helps to remember that the author, Fredrik Backman, is rather young himself, born in 1981 (I just googled). So, to him (even younger when he wrote the book), 59 must seem ancient, lol. I'm sure his perspective will mellow as he himself gets closer to that age ;-)

I am glad you are feeling better, Rhonda. I haven't had COVID either. And I probably just jinxed myself saying that. The Mercies sounds good. It's good that you can read while you are ill.

Hi, Rhonda. Sorry to hear about your recent bout of Covid. Ugh. I hope you are feeling better. I am sorry to see that you were lukewarm on both This House of Sky and Deep River. I loved both.

>222 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley! I didn't realize that Backman was that young.

>223 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. COVID is good to avoid, I think. But I imagine we will all get it sooner or later. I thought that The Mercies was a gem. But very sad.

>224 msf59: Thank's Mark! I think I am better, but I get tired easily. I've been back at work, and it's been a challenge. Makes retirement seem like a nice option.

I am glad you liked Deep River. I was thinking of loaning it to a friend who has an interest in those topics, but was hesitating. It is so long! But it definitely has lots to recommend it.

Did you read The Cold Millions ? Similar topic, but not so much about logging.

>225 banjo123: I really must read something by Karl Marlantes this year, Rhonda.

I also have Cold Millions on the shelves.

> 226 Thanks for coming by, Paul. Marlantes has a new book out that has gotten a lot of buzz.

And Cold Millions is definitely worth a read!

I am doing better, overall, with the COVID, but I think that I overdid it yesterday and now I am so tired. I hope that if I take it easy today, tomorrow will be better. So, I should get some reading in at any rate.

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer

I had read Orringer's book of short stories How to Breathe Underwater, which was excellent, and so picked this, her first novel, up at a used bookstore in Olympia Washington. It was a good deal, as it was on the dollar rack; but I didn't have any cash, and the seller didn't want to run a card for only a dollar, so he gave me the book.

Overall, I liked this book, though it could have done with some editing. (758 pages) It's inspired by the authors family history; which I think made the details seem a bit too precious to her. The book is about a Hungarian Jewish family and starts in 1937. So the whole book is very stressful, you start of wanting to shake the main character, Andras, and tell him to leave the continent. (not that that was easy at that point, but he could have tried!) But he didn't have foresight and so instead goes to Paris, studies architecture, and falls in love with a ballet dancer with a backstory.

The depiction on 1937 Paris was interesting, and the plot involves a theater company, which is interesting. But of course, so stressful, and the Hungarian parts are more stressful still. I did learn more about the Hungarian WWII experience, which I didn't really know that much about. Orringer ends the book with a poem by Wislawa Szmborska, which I thought very powerful.

“Any Case” – Wislawa Szymborska

It could have happened.
It had to happen.
It happened earlier. Later.
Closer. Farther away.
It happened, but not to you.

You survived because you were first.
You survived because you were last.
Because alone. Because the others.
Because on the left. Because on the right.
Because it was raining. Because it was sunny.
Because a shadow fell.

Luckily there was a forest.
Luckily there were no trees.
Luckily a rail, a hook, a beam, a brake,
a frame, a turn, an inch, a second.
Luckily a straw was floating on the water.

Thanks to, thus, in spite of, and yet.
What would have happened if a hand, a leg,
one step, a hair away?

So you are here? Straight from that moment still suspended?
The net’s mesh was tight, but you– through the mesh?
I can’t stop wondering at it, can’t be silent enough.
Listen,
how quickly your heart is beating in me.

– Translated from the Polish by Grazyna Drabik & Sharon Olds

Take care, Rhonda. The Invisible Bridge has been on my shelf for years. Darn, I need to read some of these. I read a later novel by Orringer and thought that it was too long, so she must have a tendency.

Love the poem.

>230 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! That's too bad that the later book was also too long, I had thought about reading it. I am OK with books being long, if I feel that the length serves the plot....

I am doing better, still low on energy.

Glad to hear you're doing better, Rhonda. I'm surprised how hard it can still hit people after most of the population is vaccinated. I haven't caught it for a couple years, knock on wood

Happy Sunday, Rhonda. I LOVED The Cold Millions. I sure hope Walter comes out with a new one soon. 🤞

>232 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel. A lot of folks I know are getting COVID recently. At least I should be good for a couple of months.

>233 msf59: Yes, hooray for Jess Walter!

It's a lovely day here, and Mrs. Banjo and I went off birding this morning with my sister. Unfortunately, there were a bunch of children on the trails, because it's earth day, so we didn't see that many birds. (also because we aren't really that good as birders.) We did see some white pelican, flying, very pretty. And also a couple of sweet spotted towhee.
It was lovely, we went out the Ridgefield, which is a lovely wildlife sanctuary. I am still short on energy, though, so it kind of used my energy for the day.

Happy end of April, everyone! I am feeling whiny as I am still feeling tired and easily winded from the COVID. I am having to take it easy, and try to guard my stamina.

I did read one book, so will do a quick review.

Mister Monkey by Francine Prose

This book follows a collection of characters involved with the production of a children's musical, "Mister Monkey." It's over-all an engaging and funny book, though I would say a little disjointed and slapstick. I will probably give it 3.5 stars.

(and another one off the shelf!)

Happy May Day, Rhonda. Sorry that you are still feeling the effects of COVID. Be kind to yourself.

>236 banjo123: I thought this was very funny, but I can understand why it wouldn't appeal to everyone.

Thanks, Beth! And I did find Mister Monkey funny, but it didn't completely land for me.

I am continuing to get better, but more slowly than I wanted. Next week, hopefully, I will get back to the gym.

And for reading, I finished another book off my shelves, The Enchantment of Lily Dahl which I took because I wanted to read something by Siri Hustvedt. Unfortunately, after I started it I read that this is not one of her better books, so I will probably try something else.

This wasn't bad, it held my interest enough that I finished it; but it somehow didn't come together completely for me. Lily Dahl is a young woman, living in a small town, working in a restaurant, and acting in a local production of Midsummer's Night Dream. She makes friends with an older woman in her boarding house. (this was a fun relationship). She has several men interested in her and falls for an artist, who is older than her. There are a number of odd characters and mysterious happenings in the town; which echo, but don't repeat the plot of Midsummer's Night Dream. I think maybe the point is Lily finding her own place in the world.

I am giving it 3.5 stars.

And the April reading report; 7 books read and one DNF; which I am counting. Pretty much all fiction, I think that being sick reduced my focus on non-fiction. I have been reading some poetry, but no books finished in that genre. 6, actually, from my to-read pile. My favorite of the month was The Mercies.

So all-in all a good month.

I love Siri Hustvedt, but I haven't read The Enchantment of Lily Dahl.

Sorry to see you got caught by the Covid bug but it looks like it gave you a lot of time to read :)

>241 BLBera: I think this is a bit obscure, Beth, what are your favorites by Hustvedt.

>242 RebaRelishesReading: Yes, at least I was never too sick to read! Welcome back, Reba!

Bad Behavior by Mary Gaitskill

This book of short stories was apparently the author's break out book. The stories are mainly in New York, mostly involving women in masochistic relationships. The characters are often unpleasant, sometimes cringey. As a result, I couldn't read this book very fast.

But the writing is so good! I couldn't not finish it.

and happy mid-May, everyone. I have been busy, mostly fun stuff, like watching soccer and mother's day dinner. I think I am finallyt over the COVID. But work's been super-stressful and that has been taking it out of me.

The good news is I have a mini-vacation coming up; we are going down to Ashland to see some plays. (Oregon Shakespeare Festival). More about that later.

Hurray for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival!! I haven't been down there in years. Hope you continue to feel better. I am still getting over long Covid, but making progress. : )

>243 banjo123: I loved all of the novels that I have read: The Summer without Men, The Sorrows of an American, What I Loved, and The Blazing World.

What will you see at the Shakespeare Festival?

I'm glad you're feeling better.

Stopping by to say hi, Rhonda. Sounds like a great mini vacation you have coming up. I hope you are feeling better.

Glad you're feeling better, and have fun on your mini-vacation!

> 246 Thanks, Kim! Ashland was super fun. Hope your long COVID continues to get better.

>247 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! I will have to look for one of those. We saw Macbeth, and a couple of newer plays. More about this later.

>248 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. It was really nice to get away. And I am continuing better.

>249 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel!

I have been absent for LT for a bit, and have lots to catch up on. First, I think I will start a new thread, as this is getting long, and I should have a little time with the Memorial Day weekend.