BLBera's Reading in 2020 - Page 6

As we head back to school, at least partially face to face, there is some anxiety, well expressed by one of our favorites, Mo Willems.


My name is Beth. I love books – talking about them, writing about them, reading about them. I also love to read with my granddaughter Scout.

I teach English at my local community college, so I am always looking for books I can use in my classes. I like to discover new writers.

I tend not to plan my reading, other than for my book club, which meets once a month.

This year I would like to read more nonfiction and increase my reading in translation.

Welcome to my thread. Lurk or stop and say hello. This is the most social interaction I get during a day during this END OF DAYS!

2020 Favorites - So Far

Currently Reading

You Must Read This!
Human Voices


In 2012, I wrote:

On the cover of Penelope Fitzgerald's novel is a quote by A.S. Byatt: "A wonderful combination of deadpan English comedy and surreal fare." This captures perfectly Human Voices.

Fitzgerald worked for the BBC during the war, and that's obvious from her detailed, behind-the-scenes descriptions. The story follows two directors and their assistants through the first year of the war. This novel captures brilliantly the uncertainty and the chaos that rules. Assistants come and go, and they're all very young. In normal times, most of them would still be in school.

A taste of the time: "The BBC loyally defended their own. As a cross between a civil service, a powerful moral force and an amateur theatrical company that wasn't too sure where next week's money was coming from, they had several different kinds of language, and could guarantee to come out best from almost any discussion."

Wonderful book. Recommended.

Plans for 2020 (always subject to change)
Shared Reads:
✔️May: Wolf Hall - with Julia?
✔️End September: Tar Baby - Laura

Sometime in 2020?The House of the Spirits ? - Ellen??

Book Club Choices
✖︎The Friend
✖︎The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
✖︎The French Lieutenant's Woman
✖︎Sula
✖︎The Overstory
✖︎An American Marriage
✖︎Midnight's Children
✖︎Go, Went, Gone
✖︎The Handmaid's Tale
Miss Emily
The Phantom Tollbooth

Other Possible Reads for 2020

Women's Prize for Fiction Longlist
📘Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara
📘Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
📘Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
📘Dominicana by Angie Cruz SL💥
📘Actress by Anne Enright
📘Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo SL💥
Nightingale Point by Luan Goldie
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes SL💥
📘How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee
📘The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel SL💥
📘Girl by Edna O’ Brien
📘Hamnet by Maggie O’ Farrell SL💥 WINNER!
📘Weather by Jenny Offill SL💥
📘The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
📘Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

August 2020
80. Valentine💜
81. The Pull of the Stars
82. A Children's Bible💜
83. Why I Read: The Serious Pleasure of Books*
84. Olive, Again
85. The Winner's Circle*
86. A Good Time for the Truth*💜
87. Midnight's Children*
88. One Year of Ugly
89. The Elements* by James Scannell McCormick
90. Deadly Threads*

August Reading Report
Books read: 11
By women: 9
By men: 2

Novels: 8
Poetry: 1
Essays: 1
Nonfiction (books): 1

Library: 5 (all physical copies)

From my shelves: 6
- Physical copies: 5
- ebook: 1
- Gave away: 2

September
91. This Is What America Looks Like
92. Long Bright River
93. Go, Went, Gone* REREAD💜
94. The Lantern Men
95. My Time Among the Whites*
96. The Resisters
97. Foreign Wife Elegy*
98. Girl, Woman, Other*💜

September Reading Report
Books read: 8
By women: 8

Novels: 5
Poetry: 1
Memoirs: 2
Translation: 1

Library: 4 (all physical copies)
From my shelves: 4
- Physical copy: 3
- Ebook: 1
- Gave away: 1

October
99. Tar Baby*
100. Transcendent Kingdom
101. The Great Gatsby: A Graphic Novel Adaptation*
102. What Are You Going Through
103. The Handmaid's Tale* REREAD
104. Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir
105. The Eighth Detective

*From my shelves

Read in 2020
January
1. Grand Union
2. The Bone Clocks* 💜
3. Cantoras
4. Monument*
5. Enchanted Islands*
6. Tricky Twenty-Two*
7. Will and Testament
8. The Dutch House

January Reading Report
Books read: 8
By women: 7
By men: 1
Novels: 6
Poetry: 1
Short stories: 1
In translation: 1

Library: 5
- Audiobook: 1
- Physical copies: 4
From my shelves: 3
- Physical copies 3
- Gave away: 1

February
9. A Long Petal of the Sea
10. And Then There Were None* REREAD
11. No Fixed Line
12. The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee* 💜
13. The Friend* REREAD
14. The Decent Inn of Death
15. Grass
16. American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin
17. Simon the Fiddler* 💜
18. Summer Hours at the Robbers Library*
19. Abigail 💜
20. Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick
21. Gender Queer: A Memoir

February Reading Report
Books read: 13
By women: 9
By men: 3
Nonbinary: 1

Novels: 9
Poetry: 1
Short stories: 1
Memoir: 1
Nonfiction: 1
In translation: 3

Library: 8
- Physical copies: 8

From my shelves: 5
- Physical copies: 3
- Ebooks: 2
- Gave away: 1

March 2020
22. Still Waters
23. Hate that Cat*
24. Tracks* REREAD
25. Queenie
26. Weather
27. The Private Patient* REREAD
28. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn* REREAD
29. So You Want to Talk About Race
30. Dominicana* 💜
31. Indelicacy
32. House of Trelawney
33. How We Disappeared
34. The Night Watchman
35. Norse Mythology
36. Hamnet* 💜
37. New and Selected Poems 2

March Reading Report
Books read: 16
By women: 14
By men: 2
Novels: 14
Poetry: 1
Essays: 1
In translation: 1

Library: 10
- Audiobook: 2
- Physical copies: 8

From my shelves: 6
- Physical copies: 4
- Ebooks: 2

April
38. The Most Fun We Ever Had 💜
39. The French Lieutenant's Woman* REREAD
40. Lady of Quality*
41. Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line*
42. An American Sunrise*
43. Victim 2117

April Reading Report
Books read: 6
By women: 4
By men: 2
Novels: 5
Poetry: 1
In translation: 1

Library: 2

From my shelves: 4
Gave away: 1

Read in 2020
May
44. Girl
45. Sing, Unburied, Sing* REREAD
46. The Waters of Eternal Youth*
47. Sula* 💜
48. Turbo Twenty-Three
49. Actress
50. Your House Will Pay
51. Bossypants*
52. The Long Call
53. Wolf Hall* 💜
54. Crewel World
55. A Conspiracy of Bones
56. The Giver of Stars

Reading Report - May
Books read: 13
By women: 13
Novels: 12
Memoir: 1

Library: 8
- Audiobooks: 3
- Physical copies: 5

From my shelves: 5
- Physical copies: 5
- Gave away: 1

June
57. Lockdown*
58. Old in Art School
59. The Overstory*💜
60. Masked Prey
61. Writers & Lovers 💜
62. A Jury of Her Peers: American Women Writers from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Proulx*
63. Vacationland*
64. Redhead by the Side of the Road
65. Fleishman Is in Trouble
66. The Turtle Catcher
67. Hid from Our Eyes

Reading Report June
Books read: 11
By women: 8
By men: 3
Novels: 9
Memoir: 1
Nonfiction: 1

Library: 7
- Audiobook: 1
- Physical copy: 6

From my shelves: 4
- Physical copies: 3
- ebook: 1

Gave away: 1

July
68. New Poets of Native Nations* 💜
69. Bring Up the Bodies* 💜
70. The Shadow King
71. Afterlife
72. The Glass Hotel 💜
73. Yellowrocket*
74. Star Fall
75. How to Be an Antiracist*
76. Dear Edward
77. All Adults Here
78. Death in a Darkening Mist*
79. Under Ground

July Reading Report
Books read: 12
By women: 10
By men: 2
Novels: 9
Poetry: 2
Memoir: 1

Library: 7
- Physical books: 7

From my shelves: 5
- Physical books: 5
- Gave away: 2

*From my shelves

Happy new thread, Beth.

Wishing you a lovely weekend too.

On your last thread I listened to your friend read her book by the silver lake and am sorely tempted to add it as a book read (audio book read)!

Happy new thread!

>9 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. Thanks. I should move that link over here. The geese are famous and while I would not like to live across from the lake because of the mess, it is fun to watch them.

>10 quondame: Thanks Susan.

This is my friend reading a story by the lake near my house where I walk every day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEOy-rPDaec

Happy new one!

Happy new thread Beth and best of luck returning to teaching. I know that will happen soon. Love that you have 💜s on your favs. I must read some of those!

Happy new thread, Beth.

>4 BLBera: I think that's a Penelope Fitzgerald I've missed Beth, have to put that right.

Happy new one Beth. I am tempted by the Fitzgerald. I found her The Bookshop a bit depressing though (obviously) well written. Do you think this will be the same? Or a completely different tone? (Or should I just read it and find out for myself?!)

Hi Beth! Happy new thread!

Happy Sunday, Beth. Happy New Thread! How is Midnight's Children coming along? We did a Group Read of it a decade ago. I remember it being challenging but also rewarding. My only Rushdie to date.

ETA- Well, it looks like I only gave it 3 stars, so maybe not as rewarding as I remember. Grins...

Happy new thread, Beth!

Hi Beth, hope your reading is great going forward in your new thread.
Confession: I've never been engaged by Salman Rushdie's books. There seems to be a lot of admiration for Midnight's Children however.

Hi Anita, Mary, and Reba.

>17 Caroline_McElwee: It's one of my favorites, Caroline.

>18 charl08: Well yes, Charlotte. You should read it, but it is very different from THe Bookshop.

>19 lauralkeet: Hi Laura and Anita.

Mark and Sandy, more on Midnight's Children later. I'm almost done!

Hi Beth, and happy new thread!

From your last thread, let me join the chorus of those who loved Olive, Again. As you said, a lovely book.

Good luck with school starting tomorrow. Is Scout going to be AT school or online or homeschooled?

Hi Karen: Scout's school will be face to face, at least for now. My daughter thinks they will be completely online in about a month. We'll see.

And for those of us who are spending way too much time online, I ordered Pigeon masks for Scout and Vanessa. https://outofprint.com/collections/new-arrivals?page=2&grid_list=grid-view

86. A Good Time for the Truth is a wonderful collection of personal essays by Minnesota writers of color. A variety of cultures are represented: Hmong, Vietnamese, African American, Latinx, and Indigenous, to name a few. Some authors include Kao Kalia Yang, David Mura, Heid Erdrich, and Andrea Jenkins.

The library has been hosting a number of virtual sessions with various authors, which have been informative. I've attended ones with Kalia Yang and Shannon Gibney. As one of the writers states, echoing several of the authors, "...if you fail to value a people's stories, you fail to value them." This collection is a good start.

I'll be using it in my classes.

Happy New Thread, Beth! Also safe school-going for all of you out there!

Thanks Peggy. I have my last little Scout time today. :(

Happy new thread, Beth, and hope all works out with Scout and her school year. Such difficult times for parents.

Happy new thread, Beth. Good luck tomorrow!

Happy Sunday and Happy New Thread!

>29 banjo123: Hi Rhonda - Yes, it is a hard time for parents. I think Scout will be fine. She lost another tooth while she was at my house today!

>30 katiekrug: Hi Katie. Thanks. I will need it. We just need to be kind and patient. I've been answering emails from students who can't tell me what section they are in.

>31 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary. Now, I'm going to try to finish Midnight's Children before school!!

Hi Beth. I am slowly working my way through some of the threads. Belated congrats on 75 books read! Some great reading since my last visit.

Happy new thread.

Thanks Lori.

Good wishes for tomorrow, Beth. Being a community college, hopefully you don't have to deal with the Greek and dorm living laboratories for the virus, but it's still a crap shoot. Keep us posted.

Happy first day to you, Beth! Hope it goes well.

My grad student son has his first class tomorrow and starts teaching on Tuesday. It’s all remote, though, at least for this semester.

Happy new thread!

How's Monday shaping up in your neck of the woods?
It is indeed difficult times for parents. The decision to find alternative (less risky) schooling for the children preoccupies our minds here, too.

I hope today goes well for you, Beth!

Hope it all goes well, Beth. And that Scout likes her new mask. I ordered a spiderman for one young person, was tempted to find a superhero one myself, but wasn't sure I could pull it off!

Thinking about you on your first day, Beth. What a weird time!

Thanks Roni, Joanne, Jim, Sandy, Katie, Charlotte, and Peggy. To start the day, Zoom crashed, so half my first class wasn't able to "come" to class.

It is a weird time. On the plus side, it is wonderful to see my colleagues again! We are commiserating now. And my dean brought ice cream treats for us.

87. Midnight's Children has been written about and commented on, so I'll be brief. This was a reread for me, but I found I remembered little of it. It is a dense novel, full of allegory, symbolism, and satire. But, at its core, it's a coming-of-age story, the story of Indian, as manifested in the life of a boy.

I found discussing this novel made me appreciate it more, but I think I'd like to read it again when my mind is less occupied with other things.

Happy new thread, Beth. What a timely cartoon for your topper. You got me with a BB for the Penelope Lively book. I hope that the rest of your week goes better than your first day, but at least there was ice cream!

Hi Meg: I loved Human Voices; I think you will like it; the account of the war work at the BBC is fascinating, and at times very funny. Well, my second day started with technology not working, but finally, in the third class, I got it to work, so we'll see.

Checking in to see how things went today. Any triumph over technology is a good triumph!

I love Rushdie's language.

Hi Beth!

>25 BLBera: I don’t doubt about Scout’s school being online in a month. My great-nephew is starting kindergarten in SoCal and is apparently on a hybrid schedule – some time at the school and some time at home.

>32 BLBera: My daughter is a 25-hour-a-week tutor for the community college she just graduated from in May and the stories from the summer session and even yesterday, first day back, are rather amazing for the inability of some students to understand how Blackboard works, where assignments are, how to get in touch with their professor online, etc. Fortunately Jenna kept all her class notes and all her text books and had most of the same professors and knows their quirks so has been quite helpful.

>42 BLBera: It seems to me that Zoom is rather unreliable all around – I’m amazed that colleges are using it instead of some other apps – GoToMeeting has been reliable for our Friends of the Library Board meetings. It is a necessary expense these days, right? Yay for seeing your colleagues again and getting ice cream treats.

>45 BLBera: I'm glad you got working tech yesterday, even if it was only starting at the third class. I hope today it works from the get-go.

>46 LizzieD: I think I have the glitches figured out, Peggy, although those are famous last words... Tomorrow is my last day this week, and I am ready for the weekend! This is exhausting.

>47 karenmarie: Hi Karen. I feel sorry for kids starting kindergarten online. I would be tempted to wait a year. Community college students tend to need a lot of hand holding, especially at the beginning. Many of our students come from underserved populations and haven't had success in school. That's what I love about CC. I feel like I can really make a difference in students' lives.

I'm hoping I have the tech sorted, at least for now. We'll see.

Well, week 1 is under my belt, so to speak! I am exhausted. Today we tried break-out rooms, and they worked, so I am hopeful my plan for the semester will be OK. It has been 90 degrees all week, and my office at school says it's 68, so the heat doesn't feel so bad when I leave my office. Right now, I am listening to a neighbor boy mow my lawn. So, now I can enjoy a few days off, with no Zoom!

Happy Zoom free weekend Beth. Glad you survived.

Congratulations on getting through your first week back! Enjoy your weekend.

Thanks Caroline and Lori.

88. One Year of Ugly is an entertaining novel with some truths about the plight of immigrants. I really enjoyed the story of the Palacios family, illegally in Trinidad after escaping from Venezuela in a boat. Ugly is a gangster who is blackmailing them after one of the family incurs a debt related to the immigration.

Yola, the narrator, is the star of the novel. Outspoken, her voice is unique and funny. She also sees clearly the problems of undocumented immigrants, which seem to the be same everywhere; it turns out that Venezuelans are despised by Trinidadians. Yola says, " in our under-the-radar lives, all people like us Palacios had was the helping hands of our oppressors...You have to be grateful for the employer who hires you under the table, even if it's doing bitch work for below minimum wage."

The end seems a bit contrived, but overall, this is entertaining and undemanding. Go along for the ride.

89. The Elements by James Scannell McCormick is a collection of poetry inspired by painting and nature. Scannell is a colleague of mine.

One of my favorites was "Trouble."

Who was looking for you that you've come knocking on my door,
And looking like s single spark in an August of no rain? You're

What follows There's no easy way to say this, you're the damp crack
In the cellar wall, the shadow on the x-ray, the one last martini before
driving back

Home on a slippery night.

>48 BLBera: Just catching up here.
I saw that comment about Kindergarten kids.
I'm not a fan of using "tech" in the elementary classes, especially the youngest age groups.

It is indeed a difficult choice because so much of the earliest school years set the tone for later grades. And in my mind, the biggest value of Kindergarten/Grade 1 is the socialising aspect, learning to sit in a designated spot, listen to the teacher etc.

Sandy: My daughter and I were just discussing this. One of her nieces is starting kindergarten, and my daughter said if she had a kid starting K this year, she would wait a year, especially, in this case if it is a kid with a summer birthday.

90. Deadly Threads is a satisfying, well-plotted installment in the Josie Prescott series. When Josie's friend Riley is murdered, Josie is devastated and determined to help the police catch the killer. There are lots of twists and turns to misdirect us, but they lead to a satisfying solution.

One of the things I like about this series -- other than the setting -- is that each book focuses on a different type of antique. As one might guess from the title, this one is about vintage clothes, shoes, handbags. As usual, there is a lot of information about the process of authenticating the items.

This was entertaining and undemanding, just what I needed.

Beth, one of our neighbors teaches at Portland State, and it sounds like the Zoom teaching experience is exhausting all around. They haven't started fall term yet, but in June she was so stressed out with helping students with their Capstones and all.

>58 banjo123: Rhonda, I hate to complain because I am grateful to have a job and to be well, but it is exhausting. Usually, by the end of the first week, I know all my students' names. Now, if I could name a couple, it would be a miracle. It doesn't help that all are wearing masks.

At least by the end of the week, I feel like I somewhat have a handle on the technology. We'll see how next week goes.

Beth, what a challenging beginning. Hope next week is smoother and not so tiring.

Thanks Mary. Fingers crossed.

Oh dear. Things were bad enough without a pandemic. I'll be thinking about you and hoping that you hit your stride soon without so much job stress, Beth.

>62 LizzieD: What Peggy said, Beth. xx

Thanks Peggy and Paul. I did a quick LT visit this morning, and now it's time for class prep.

Sorry to hear things are so tiring, Beth. Hope the prep went well, today. Will you be teaching the dystopia class this year, or is it too close to things?

I am aiming to pick up Hamnet soon, but still haven't braved Mantel. I will if she wins, I think.

Hi Beth, I hope your next week is less exhausting. Why are the students wearing masks for a zoom meeting?

>65 charl08: Charlotte, unfortunately my dystopian fiction class was canceled due to low enrollment. Our enrollment was really down until like the day before classes. You will love Hamnet, I think. I still have the last Mantel to read. Probably during break.

>66 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. Students who are in the classroom are wearing masks. We have half remote and half face-to-face classes. Our classrooms aren't big enough for the entire class to be there at once. Not ideal, but it's what there is for now.

>57 BLBera: Sounds like a BB for me.
I didn't know about this series. I've just requested Consigned to death from my local PL.
Sadly only 3 titles are available locally, in this series. I'm looking forward to the eventual interlibrary loans being available.

Sandy: I've gotten most of these from the library, but this latest one was an ebook; I got it on sale, so you could watch for them. They don't go on sale very often.

Hi Beth, Sorry to read about your classroom struggles. Your situation seems to reflect the entire school system. My second grade granddaughter is learning on line at least until November. Not a good plan for her age.

Human Voices sounds like something I would enjoy. I'm adding it to my TBR list which is growing dangerously!

TwinB -- From your last thread -- I just finished Olive Again and I loved it!!

>2 BLBera: Love your posting of favorite book covers from this year--may steal that one. : )

Sorry the Zoom/classroom is so frustrating and exhausting. I hope it improves with time.

>69 BLBera: Thanks for suggesting e-book sales.
I need a format that's not a Kindle. Sometimes the sales don't extend to other platforms, but it is not like I have nothing on my own bookshelves that is unread!

>72 SandyAMcPherson: If you have a Kobo, they usually (but not always) match Kindle sale prices. And if they don't offer it at the sale price, you can submit a price match form to get reimbursed for the difference.

Sorry to see back to school is a struggle.
Our first day was pushed back to Sept 14th, if it even starts.

Happy Hump Day, Beth! I hope it's not too frustrating. I also hope that you're not living for the weekends. That's a sadness I know well.
Meanwhile, I'm cruising along in *KinK'sC*. I can pick it up and put it down without losing anything because of its leisurely pace. Very pleasant!

>73 rosalita: Thanks for that info! I had no idea and will investigate.
Kobo is pretty much a monopoly here because it is the device of choice if you want to use our PL system.

Hi visitors!
>70 Oregonreader: Hi Jan - I think things will work out -- and who knows how long we will even be face to face. I do feel sorry for the little ones, though. It has to be very stressful for them.

>71 Berly: Hey TwinK! I thought Olive, Again was a lovely homage to aging. Steal away! I think we'll get used to using Zoom. This week things are going smoother. I'm going to reward students heavily with break-out room discussions, so I hope that will be an incentive for them.

>72 SandyAMcPherson:, >76 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy - good luck with your ebook explorations.

>73 rosalita: Hey Julia, you should get paid for being a Kobo ambassador!

>74 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle - I imagine your little ones are anxious. Good luck!

>75 LizzieD: Thanks Peggy. It's not THAT bad. I enjoy the students. I'm glad you're enjoying King's Cove.

Thanks for stopping by. I am exhausted in the evenings, but I feel like I am getting into a rhythm -- and we do have a long weekend ahead. :)

91. This Is What America Looks Like
In her memoir, Omar talks about her earliest memories of growing up in Mogadishu, until the arrival of the civil war when she was eight years old. The family escaped to a refugee camp in Kenya. When she arrived in the US at the age of twelve, not speaking English, she was determined to get an education and make a better life.

She speaks candidly about her personal struggles and how difficult it has been to come to terms with being in the public eye, admitting, "If I'm honest with myself, there are situations where my trying to help causes more harm than good." She has always been a fighter, and is still learning when to stop and listen before acting.

Her story is a remarkable one, and after reading her memoir, I admire her tenacity and spirit. She says, "I want to help all those who feel small to feel large; to give strength to all those who believe they are weak; to make loud those who think they are voiceless. To me, that is the American dream...We are not living up to the ideals we export to the rest of the world. In our country, we've normalized inequities and hardships to the point what we don't even recognize them as such."

Recommended.

>73 rosalita: You're welcome! I should have added the caveat that my experience is in the U.S. but hopefully they have the same policy worldwide.

>77 BLBera: Ha! I do try to make sure people (especially in the U.S.) know there are viable alternatives to the Amazonian monolith. I chose Kobo because I think a healthy ecosystem with multiple viable vendors makes a better market for the consumer but I've found it to be a high-quality device and I'm quite happy with it. A friend loaned me her Kindle for a few days and I thought the user navigation was much clunkier, but that may be because it wasn't what I'm used to.

>78 BLBera: it's in the tbr mountain, I'll nudge it up a bit more Beth.

>79 rosalita: I know we've talked about this, Julia. I have a Nook, the B&N version of the e-reader. I got it because when I wanted to buy one, the Kindle didn't allow one to check out books from the library. I totally agree about multiple products being better. I will definitely look at Kobo when I am next in the market. It sounds like it allows for more variety.

>80 Caroline_McElwee: Hi Caroline. It's a pretty quick read. It certainly gave me new respect for Omar.

>81 BLBera: The Nook is also a good choice, Beth, although I am worried about Barnes & Noble will continue to support it. They seem on rather shaky ground lately financially. But as long as it's still working for you, that's what counts!

It doesn't really support it anymore, Julia. It no longer supports any apps, although I don't care about that because I just use it to read, but I think they expected more of the market share from Amazon. But, I'll keep it as long as it works.

>78 BLBera: A remarkable-sounding memoir indeed. On my list it goes! Thanks for the review quote.

It is a good read, Sandy. When we talk generically about immigrants, we don't understand their stories, so I think it's good to remind ourselves what many of them have gone through. I've had a lot of Somali students, and their stories are very similar to Omar's.

Hi Beth!

I hope you'll get a chance to recharge your batteries with the long weekend.

I've only done it once, but our Library uses Overdrive and I was able to download a Library book to my Kindle. I even returned it after I'd read it although I know that it would have 'disappeared' on its due date.

Karen - I know that now you can check out library books on Kindles, but when I was shopping for an e-reader, you couldn't yet.

92. Long Bright River is a book I'll be thinking about for a long time. More than just a murder mystery, this novel captures the costs of addiction on families and neighborhoods.

The novel starts with a list; soon we realize that it is a list of people who have died drug-related deaths. The narrator, Mickey, grew up with her sister and grandmother in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. After the death of their mother from an overdose, Mickey took over the care of her little sister, who becomes addicted herself.

Now a police officer, Mickey becomes anxious when she can't find her sister. There have been a series of murders of vulnerable women in Kensington. Mickey realizes that the most vulnerable members of society are not always well served by police.

The neighborhood and characters are complex and realistic. Recommended.

>88 BLBera: - LBR will be on my best of the year list, I think. Glad it found another fan in you, Beth.

>88 BLBera: >89 katiekrug: Agreed! Such a powerful read.

I really hope she's busy writing another novel!

>78 BLBera: Sounds like a fantastic read. On my WL it goes.

>89 katiekrug: I know I heard lots of positive comments here, Katie. I'm terrible at remembering who loves what.

>90 charl08: I have her first ? novel Heft on my shelf, which one of my cousins recommended.

>91 figsfromthistle: I really liked it, Anita.

>88 BLBera: I've had that one on my library holds list forever, Beth. You've given me another reason to look forward to it finally arriving.

I'm happy to see so many fans of Long Bright River! It was so much more than a crime/mystery novel. I loved it.

Hi Beth, glad that you are getting more into the swing of the school year. I do feel for families with young kids.

>93 rosalita: I think you'll like it, Julia.

>94 lauralkeet: I loved the vivid description of place, Laura. Do you know the neighborhood?

>95 banjo123: Hi Rhonda. Yes, it is going to be a tough year, I think. Fingers crossed that next year we have a vaccine.

Hi Beth. I haven't read a Rushdie yet as I freely admit I am nervous about tackling him. I do have The Satanic Verses sitting on my shelf, right at eye level. I've been trying to avoid it, but one of these days I will break down and give it a try.

You, and all teachers have my greatest admiration for how you are working to find ways to continue educating in these difficult times. If I am thankful of one thing it is that I am older and not having to deal with children/schooling issues or even my own work issues. Being retired, I just have to stay socially distant, masked and respectful of the conditions that we are all dealing with. My hat is off and my heart goes out to everyone that is ensuring our society carries on.

Thanks Judy. I love what I do, and I hope these tough times are temporary, and that a vaccine will normalize the classroom. After the election, of course.

I can't imagine teaching in person and online at the same time, Beth. It must be draining. Enjoy your long weekend. You must need it to rest and recharge. I'm looking forward to Long Bright River but it looks like it will be a while before it comes up in the library hold list for me.

I'm glad you're getting a long weekend, Beth. I'm so glad my teaching days are over. I think teaching on Zoom would be a nightmare. Of course, I taught elementary students where so much depends on personal attention and instant feedback. Scout is lucky to be back in the classroom. My Haley and Molly are going to school on Monday and Tuesday with the rest of the week online. The bright spot for me is that I get them on Friday. By then they are mostly doing learning modules to review the in-class teaching. I add some enrichment activities because it's fun for me. We wrote poetry this week and learned about Sisyphus. They are in 2nd and 4th grades.

I just checked and I am tenth in line at the library for Long Bright River. I have four books currently checked out and 9 holds pending. I need to pick up the reading pace. Getting a dog last month slowed my reading down, but I am having no trouble getting my 10,000 steps in every day!

>96 BLBera: Beth, I'm familiar with the Kensington neighborhood where Long Bright River takes place. We live in Fishtown, which is adjacent to Kensington (and gets a mention or two in *LBR* as the home of an upscale coffee shop). Fishtown has gentrified in the past 10 years, where Kensington hasn't and is now a center of the opioid epidemic. Liz Moore's portrayal is very well done.

>99 Familyhistorian: I am pretty tired at the end of the day, Meg. Long Bright River is worth the wait.

>100 Donna828: Good luck with Haley and Molly! Poor kids. At least they do get to go back to school partially. What fun ages. I had a long wait for Long Bright River as well. Hooray for steps!

>101 lauralkeet: That is so cool, Laura. I love it when I recognize places from books. I was wondering if her portrayal was accurate.

From Foreign Wife Elegy, by another ex-colleague of mine. I'm finding this collection somewhat uneven, but I like this one.

"Foreign Wife"

My husband asked me where I would go if he dies.
Foreign wives are homeless without their husbands.
We give up our homes at the wedding.

So where do foreign wives go after the death of their husbands?

I would walk into our bedroom. The smell of his presence has no
name, but its warmth would remind me that I am not alone, that I am
alone. No one would know that I was sitting on our bed.

>103 BLBera: That sounds pretty sad. I never thought about the status of "foreign wives".
Are they not naturalised citizens anywhere? Do they become stateless? Or is this a liminal experience?

>103 BLBera: Of my 3 siblings' 8 spouses, 2 were Canadian, and one each from France and Valenzuela, they have each had, but no longer have, a US born spouse, or two in my younger brother's case. I'm the only one who never divorced my spouse and he was born within 200 miles of where I was born in southern California.

>88 BLBera: Hi TwinB--Long Bright River sounds look a good one. Good luck this week!

>104 SandyAMcPherson: Sandy: I think she's a citizen and the poem is more about the fact that if her husband dies, she is far from her family.

>105 quondame: The world is becoming smaller, Susan.

>106 Berly: I think you would like it, TwinK. I'll take the good luck.

Hi, Beth. Good review of This Is What America Looks Like. Sounds like a solid memoir. Hooray for Long Bright River. I agree with you, this was such a nice surprise. A nearly perfect thriller.

I’m adding Long Bright River to my really long list!

I think Scout has the right idea about fruit picking!

The foreign wives poem reminded me of one of my mum's colleagues. Her sister had to return from the US very quickly after he (unexpectedly) died, as he was the one with the work visa. It was hard. I'm probably being too literal though!

>103 BLBera: I was once a foreign wife -- married to a Dutch citizen and living in the Netherlands with the equivalent of a U.S. "green card" (although they kept offering me citizenship but it would have required me to give up my U.S. citizenship at that time and I didn't want that). We moved back to the U.S. before we divorced so I was never faced with the "what do I do" of being widowed or divorced in the foreign country but I can certainly understand the dilemma. Had I been widowed there, my in-law family would have certainly supported me. I was fluent in the language and the culture isn't all that different. My son was born there. But at the same time, there was no reason for me to not move back to the U.S.. My biological family was here and friends from school and early adulthood. I've lived in the U. S. full-time again for 37 years now but I still feel a special kinship for the Netherlands. The dilemma lives on.

>108 msf59: Hi Mark - I wanted to learn more about Omar, and it was good for that.

>109 Copperskye: You will love it, Joanne.

>110 charl08: Interesting connection with the poem; I was taking it more in a figurative sense. Must be the English teacher in me. :) Scout is one smart kid, true.

>111 RebaRelishesReading: I was also a foreign wife, Reba, and understand exactly what you mean.

Well, school seems to be going well; we're not locked down yet, so ... that's good. Winona State U, about 40 minutes away, has gone online for the next two weeks due to a surge. I suspect, though, that is mainly due to off-campus activities of the students, who have very much been in the news.

Morning Beth, I’m glad to see things are going relatively well for you guys at school. I hope it continues for the remainder of the quarter or semester that you’re on. Trying times for sure.
I think you had mentioned that Hamnet was your favorite book in the women’s prize. And now look it won! I was hoping for girl woman other simply because I own that book, ha! I’ll check my library for Hamnet availability.

We're still hanging in there, Lynda. We're on semesters. I can't believe my favorite book won! I'm usually not good at predicting these things.

Hi, Beth! I requested Hamnet from the library a few weeks ago. Still waiting and will be for another few weeks, I think. Hope tomorrow goes well and you have a quiet, restful weekend in which to recharge! Teaching in this pandemic has to be rough, whether in person or by remote. My son-in-law has to teach in person, and he's not happy because he doesn't want to bring the virus home to his family, but he doesn't like remote teaching either.

Hi Beth. Back on your prior thread, I saw your comments about Why I Read: The Serious Pleasure of Books and it made me want to read it slowly, savor it as you described. Thank you for adding it to my TBR stacks a few weeks ago!

I was pleased that Hamnet won the Women's Prize. I thought it was excellent, certainly among my favorites of the year which I see you feel, as well. I have The Glass Hotel on my TBR stacks, too, and look forward to reading that one. I'd like to read it soon as I think it would be a good one to pass along to my sister. And I see that you are reading Go, Went, Gone. I liked that one a lot, too.

The Brady/Osaka match this afternoon was SO good. Now Serena is up 4-1 in the first set of her match with Azarenka. I'm rooting for Serena but I'd like to see Vika play better.

>115 Storeetllr: It is well worth the wait, Mary. Teaching is exhausting these days. I would rather be in the classroom although I do worry about contagion.

>116 EBT1002: You are very welcome, Ellen. I thought you might enjoy it. I am rereading Go, Went, Gone for my book club today. I hope to finish it before we meet (via Zoom, of course).

I do like Osaka; her stand for justice is inspiring. Serena :( Is she going to play in the French?

Oh, I'd love to discuss Go, Went, Gone with a group. (Maybe I should suggest it to the work group?)

Hope the meeting goes well.

I wish they would run Wimbledon once things are back to normal so that I can get my annual fix of tennis, but I guess that's asking too much of the British weather to run it any time other than the 'summer'.

We had a good discussion of Go, Went, Gone, which people liked. All agreed it was timely and beautifully written. We discussed how it showed the plight of refugees but was not sentimental.

Now, on to The Lantern Men.

Ah, a Ruth Galloway. Always a good in-between read. :-)

I was disappointed for Serena last night; I'm just not thinking she has number 24 in her. And one had to hand it to Azarenka; she was tough as nails after being so demolished in the first set!

>120 EBT1002: It was pretty impressive to see Vika's flying around the court.

How's the new knee doing?

Hi, Beth. In case it hasn't come to you yet, you are likely to get a signed first edition of Utopia Avenue in the mail soon. I'm gobsmacked. Mine arrived today. I had given it up. Hooray for ER!!!!!
I put Hamnet on my Kindle yesterday since I had the offer of $5 off. It was still too expensive, but I'm not one to pass up any kind of bargain.
Enjoy your weekend! Also enjoy your RG. It was good to be back in King's Lynn for a bit, I thought.

Hi Beth. I'm parked in front of the telly to watch Osaka and Azarenka. As you know, I like them both but I'm rooting for Naomi. In the second game of the first set, Vika is looking pretty good.

The knee is coming along beautifully. Sleep is a serious issue -- part of that is discomfort and part of that is anxiety about all going on in the world (covid, fires, politics, return-to-work looming large...). I really look forward to being able to move around, lie on my side as well as my back, etc.

>122 LizzieD: How cool is that. I received a copy of Utopia Avenue, gift from an LT friend, and look forward to reading it. Is there a group read developing?

>122 LizzieD: How cool, Peggy. I hope I get my copy as well! I think you will love Hamnet. I am enjoying The Lantern Men. Trying to decide what to read next...

>123 EBT1002: I am cheering for Osaka as well, Ellen. I also have it on.

I was thinking of you when I woke up at three this morning. I thought about texting you...:)

I won an ER copy of Utopia Avenue, but never got it. That was months ago and I gave up on it. Peggy said hers just came though, so fingers crossed that I get a copy as well. I imagine a group read could be a thing.

Osaka is tight. I hope she loosens up and we get a good match to watch.

I wasn't sure she would pull it off, but she came through!

94. The Lantern Men is intricately plotted. It's the best constructed mystery that I've read in this series for a while. As the novel begins, Dr. Ruth Galloway is living and working in Cambridge, where she has been for two years, after deciding on a new start with Frank. However, when a serial killer caught by Nelson says that he'll only reveal where he buried some bodies if Ruth excavates them, Ruth is drawn back to Norfolk. It seems as though they've already caught their killer. But have they?

The downside of this novel is the relationship between Ruth and Nelson. I find the waffling very annoying. Figure it out, already!

I have The Lantern Men on order from the library. I'm eagerly awaiting it even though I know the Ruth/Nelson plot line will annoy me!

Hi Beth! I hope you get Utopia Avenue, I like Mitchell.

>127 BLBera: "Figure it out, already!" LOL!

My next Ruth Galloway is The Chalk Pit. I probably should have reserved it for this recovery period.

Oh, and, what a match! It ended up being entertaining and a joy to watch. I almost wanted both women to win!

>128 Oregonreader: Hi Jan - it's a good one - I zipped through it in two days, but I do find the non-resolution of Nelson's and Ruth's relationship irritating.

>129 banjo123: Fingers crossed, Rhonda. I've loved the books by Mitchell that I have read. I was really looking forward to Utopia Avenue.

>130 EBT1002: I would think Ruth would be a great companion for your recovery, Ellen.

I am so happy for Osaka, and it was a good one. They both played so hard. I'm cheering for Thiem tomorrow.

95. My Time Among the Whites should be required reading for all teachers and college administrators, at the very least. Capó Crucet's memoir/collection of essays reveals the racism and bias she encounters as a student and, later, professor. Her parents are Cuban, and Capó Crucet grew up in Miami. When she decided to go to Cornell, it was the first time she had been far from home. It was a difficult experience, more so because of the lack of orientation for first-generation college students.

Her message is "The real truth is that people of color didn't create these problems, and we don't have magical solutions to them that we are keeping from you. We're in more vulnerable positions than you are. We need you to solve these problems because it is costing us our lives. You are part of these systems yet refuse to believe how immensely you benefit from them. Losing privilege can feel a lot like inequality."

We see this inequality as she discusses her experience in education and as a lecturer. In one of the funny/scary essays, she talks about going to work on a ranch in Nebraska for a week so that she would understand where her mostly white students were coming from.

I loved her novel Make Your Home Among Strangers, which is obviously autobiographical. I can't wait to see what she will write next.

Recommended.

>134 BLBera: Noted. It does sound like required reading and it sounds interesting, as well. I'll add both this one and Make Your Home Among Strangers to my wish list.

Hi Beth! I have so many series going that I'm reluctant to add Elly Griffiths but I'm sure I will do so eventually. There's a new Robert Galbraith out this month which I'm looking forward to.

I just finished The Death of Vivek Oji - a terrific novel by a new-to-me Nigerian author.

Hope you have a good week!

>135 EBT1002: I'm sure you would love both of Capó Crucet's books. The gaps in orientation for a first-generation college student were unbelievable.

>136 vivians: I will be adding The Death of Vivek Oji to my list, Vivian. Your recommendations usually work for me. I hope your week is wonderful as well. You're back in the office, correct?

>134 BLBera: Adding that one to the TBR list. Thanks, Beth!

Just a quick hello, Beth. I'm glad you liked the mystery parts of The Lantern Men, even if you are irritated with the Ruth/Nelson bits.

>138 bell7: I hope it works for you.

>139 karenmarie: Hi back, Karen. Yes, I will stick with Ruth; she's still one of the characters with whom I would love to share a glass of wine. :)

A glass of wine with Ruth sounds fine to me too. I'd even sit behind a pint with Nelson if offered the chance.
Has your Utopia Avenue come yet? It has a lot farther to go to you than mine did to me.

>127 BLBera:, >139 karenmarie: >140 BLBera: I think a lot of us in the RGFC feel the same way - we're sticking loyally with Ruth but a lot of ambivalence with the Nelson part of the narrative.

>142 SandyAMcPherson: A lot, maybe, but not all. I find the Ruth-Nelson relationship to be nuanced and interesting, and fully reflective of the messiness of real-life complicated situations. Whenever I feel impatient that it's not resolved, I ask myself what I want the resolution to be, and given the way Elly Griffiths has drawn all the characters involved, it's hard for me to choose who "deserves" to end up with who.

Just my two cents, which in no way negates how anyone else feels, of course!

>143 rosalita: - I feel the same way, Julia. And without that relationship and how well it is drawn with all the complexity and nuance you mention, I would find the books super dull, because, except for a few, the mysteries themselves are not very strong. I do agree with Beth that the mystery in TLM was better than usual.

>144 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. I agree with you and Beth that the mystery this time around was a cut above the usual for this series. I'd love to see that continue if she has it in her. I'm not sure I'm willing to wait any longer for the next installment, though, so that's a bit of a conundrum. :-)

>141 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. I got Hieroglyphics but am waiting for Utopia Avenue - I had given up hope for both of them! Maybe it will be waiting for me when I get home from school today.

>142 SandyAMcPherson: Sandy! Yes, but see the comments of both Julia and Katie.

>143 rosalita: Julia - I see what you mean. When I think about how I want it resolved, I don't have an answer. And Katie put it very well, that it is complex, so, I guess I'll go with the flow on this. I think I felt bad for Frank this time. I thought that might be a way out of the situation.

>144 katiekrug: Great point, Katie.

I’m loving the Ruth-Nelson chatter! Like others here I can’t figure out a good way to resolve it. I also agree the most recent mystery was one of the better ones.

I know, Laura. So, I guess we'll be stuck with the status quo for the next little while.

I had some pleasant book-related happenings. I got my signed copy of my ER book Utopia Avenue AND my mom dropped off the latest Louise Penny. She doesn't like to wait for library books if there are long waitlists, so she just buys the book. She said it's a good one. Now I just have to find time to read all of these!

Laura, Katie, Beth, Julia - I like dissecting the RG narratives, too.

It's good to air our thoughts. Here's a revelation that I had today:
(not a spoiler unless you are brand new to the RGFC)
A friend here in town is avidly reading the series and we finally were able to meet up for a great chin wag. She suggested that I think about why I get so wound up about the affair Ruth is having.
"C'mon Sandy, you're a grown woman what's bugging you?"

So basically we discussed the writerly art and maybe what Elly G is doing (and thank you >144 katiekrug: for pointing this out really), it is a well-drawn real life situation, with all the complexity and nuance that can happen.

Which lead me to realise: a lot of my angst is that I really like the Michelle character and her family, especially the little boy arriving so late in the game.

I gave the novel 4★s when I reviewed it in August. It *is* one of the better mysteries alright.

>149 BLBera: Congrats on getting a signed ER book and for getting the latest Louise Penny -- it is a good one imho -- hope you enjoy it.

>146 BLBera: I really loved Utopia Avenue Beth, and I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts! In my eyes Mitchell is an absolute genius. (I heard him speak a couple of years ago in Brooklyn and he was charming as well.) He seems to have a grand scheme that connects all his novels, and I find that beyond impressive. At the time I thought The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet was a stand-alone historical novel, but in fact it connects totally to the others.

I'm listening to the new Ferrante now and next up for me is the new Yaa Gyasi.

>150 SandyAMcPherson: Great comments, Sandy. I guess I think what I would tell Ruth if she were my friend -- "move on," would be my advice, albeit easier said than done. :)

>151 RebaRelishesReading: I know, Reba, good book karma this week.

>152 vivians: Hi Vivian - I don't know when I'll get to the Mitchell. I have been super impressed with what I've read: Cloud Atlas and Bone Clocks. I have a couple of library books that must go back, and I am reading Girl, Woman, Other with Kim and Tar Baby with Laura, so I think it will be a couple of weeks before I get to Mitchell, or I might save it for break.

All caught up with your thread now!

>149 BLBera: I quite like Louise Penny! I am currently reading A Better Man right now.

Hi Beth, nothing to say, but I hope you continue to enjoy your reading. :)

Hi Anita and Judy!

96. The Resisters
One doesn't usually mention dystopia and baseball in the same breath, but in her novel The Resisters, Gish Jen combines these seemingly disparate things and builds a chilling and all-too-realistic world.

In this future world, Aunt Nettie rules, much as the faceless Big Brother in 1984. Houses surveil their inhabitants, and outside there are drones, and many people have implanted chips. Climate is extreme, with terrible storms and flooding. Society is divided into the Surplus and the Netted. The Surplus are people whose jobs, in the new AutoAmerica, have become automated and how are deemed unretrainable. Teachers comprise one of these groups. Not surprisingly, the Surplus are people of color, while the Netted are "angel fair."

The story focuses on one Surplus family. Grant, the narrator, was once a professor. His wife Eleanor is a lawyer, and they have a daughter, Gwen, who has "an arm." From the time she was a baby Gwen had a talent of throwing things and hitting her mark. Her dad plays catch with her, but as she grows, he realizes she needs a team. So even though baseball games are considered illegal gatherings, Grant organizes a league so his daughter can play. Team members work together to evade surveillance. Many of the parents of team members are resisters like Eleanor and Grant.

Jen shows us how difficult it is to keep one's humanity in a police state, where decency is not rewarded. Eleanor's mantra is "Right makes might." And despite beatings, imprisonment, and torture, she continues to resist and draw attention to the illegal actions of the state. On her daughter's baseball team, we see how people who play together can learn more than a sport. They learn values like loyalty, which will help them during dangerous times. Grant goes back to the idea of baseball being America's sport: "But if baseball took on a hallowed meaning, it took on that meaning in our American dreams. For was this not the level playing field we envisioned? The field on which people could show what they were made of? And didn't we Americans believe above all that everyone should have a real chance at bat?"

I really liked this.

Beth, Resisters sounds like a fascinating book. It also reminds me a lot about where we are right now in our society. Definitely going on the list with a bullet!

Hi, Beth. I don't have anything much to say either, not being a fan of either Penny or Griffiths (I know, heretic), but wanted to delurk just to say Happy Friday! Also, good review - The Resisters sounds good,

>157 BLBera: Great review, Beth.

I'm tempted too: nice to see a view of a sport as including a community rather than for the highly paid superstars.

Hope that the teaching online is ok and that you and your students are keeping well.

>158 Oregonreader: It is a good one, Jan, and it is a little scary because it's not an impossible premise.

>159 Storeetllr: Hi Mary - you heretic, you! That's OK though; it would be pretty boring if we all liked the same things.

>160 charl08: Thanks Charlotte; I should perhaps have added a disclaimer. People who don't like dystopias may not like this. School is keeping me busy. So far, we are still meeting.

The Resisters sounds like a very worthwhile book but I'm not sure I could bear it right now:(

Resisters sounds like a very worthwhile book but I'm not sure I could bear it right now

>157 BLBera: Well. I love baseball, and I am a sucker for a good dystopian read (although maybe not so much while living in the midst of a dystopia) so your review has earned this a place on my wishlist.

Glad to hear the teaching is going well. Things have been much the same here.

>162 RebaRelishesReading: Reba - Yes, it may be too true to life.

>163 RebaRelishesReading: Do add it to your list, Julia. It's a good one -- and I don't even like baseball.

I've added two to the list from your dangerous thread.

The first is My Time Among the Whites: Notes from an Unfinished Education.

I love this :"Her message is "The real truth is that people of color didn't create these problems, and we don't have magical solutions to them that we are keeping from you. We're in more vulnerable positions than you are. We need you to solve these problems because it is costing us our lives. You are part of these systems yet refuse to believe how immensely you benefit from them. Losing privilege can feel a lot like inequality."

I have no clue how to fix things, either. But for the sake of my future grandkids, I must do what I can.

And I also added The resisters : a novel. :) Yay for dystopian!

Hi Janet: I have loved both Capó Crucet's novel and this memoir. We ALL have to work on this.

I'll watch for your comments on The Resisters.

Hi Beth!

>140 BLBera: I’ve thought about and read about a dinner party with historical figures, and would love to make one up of fictional characters. Ruth would definitely be included. However, I can already think of so many characters that I guess individual dinners or even just glasses of wine with each would be better. *smile*

>143 rosalita: You’re absolutely right, Julia.

Oops, sorry, I managed to double post up there *tiptoeing quietly away*

>157 BLBera: Nice review!! Now if the sport was just soccer, I'd be in. : ) Happy Sunday, Twin.

>169 RebaRelishesReading: Not a problem, Reba. It has happened to all of us.

>170 Berly: Hey TwinK. I don't like baseball, and I still liked the book. Just saying. So, I've startedGirl, Woman, Other - it's awesome so far. I'm on Carole's chapter.

On Chapter 2!

Do you mean Carole's chapter? You are zipping!

>136 vivians: and >137 BLBera: I'm also adding The Death of Vivek Oji to the wish list. :-)

I was pleased to see the discussion above regarding RG and Nelson; I'm in the "not bothered" camp. I like the tension their feelings for one another generate and I like that they both bring a sense of ethical complexity to the situation.

As you know, Girl, Woman, Other was one of my favorite reads of last year. It's one I can definitely imagine rereading.

Hi Beth! I will have to read The Resisters. I love baseball, and Gish Jen.

>161 BLBera: I think you're ok re the disclaimer. I am increasingly thinking my blanket anti-dystopia attitude is shifting. I loved Station Eleven and seem to have had plenty of 'good' reads recently that fit that category. Not sure if you'd want to claim me as a convert though...

Hi Beth, hope this coming week is good reading. The Resisters sounds interesting. Good thing you mentioned that despite not liking baseball, it is an enjoyable story. I'm not much of a spectator-sports fan at all!

>174 EBT1002: Hi Ellen - Girl, Woman, Other will make my favorite list as well -- not that it should be a surprise to you. I am loving it.

>175 banjo123: Hi Rhonda - It sounds like The Resisters is made for you, then.

>176 charl08: Charlotte, I tend to enjoy dystopian novels, but some are better than others -- there are some mediocre ones out there, especially because it is such a popular genre right now.

>178 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy - Thanks for stopping by.

I have to visit some threads this weekend. School is busy.

97. Foreign Wife Elegy is another collection of poetry by a colleague. I found the collection uneven. There is some nice imagery, as in "Poem."

Poem
The wind swings
a leaf round
and round
in the air;
the sky drops
its vast blue
on the surface
of the ocean.
I listen to the old
sound, humanly
full and silent.

This may have suffered in comparison with the wonderful Girl, Woman, Other.

98. Girl, Woman, Other is a fantastic novel on so many levels. Much has already been written about it, so I'll mention two things that stand out to me.

First, I love the way Evaristo uses style to complement her message. No periods, capital letters, written in a stream of consciousness that gives the novel a sense of the epic. This values the lives of women of color, who are too often invisible. Also, the characters are remarkable. Despite the MANY (my only tiny quibble), characters, each woman is a distinct person, often with connections to others.

In fact, each woman could easily carry off her own novel. Wonderful novel.

>181 BLBera: I'm so glad you loved this one, Beth. It was one of my top reads last year, and fell just a teensy bit shy of 5 stars.

It will be one of my top reads this year, Laura. I hope Tar Baby doesn't suffer in comparison.

A bit of a scare on Thursday; Scout came home from school with a high fever. Negative for COVID. Whew!

All the RG conversation made me realize how far behind I am on that series. I'll sneak in the next one for me if I can figure out which one that is. Maybe I have too many series on the go?

ETA Glad to hear that Scout is negative. I hope she is all better now.

>184 BLBera: I’ll say a bit of a scare. I hope she’s feeling better!

>184 BLBera: Hope you're all having a little bit of a relaxing weekend after that, Beth! Glad to hear she's negative, and hope she feels better soon.

Meg - Don't talk to me about series - I think I was following about 300 on FictFact!

Hi Joanne - Thanks. It was quite a scare. Her mom says she's feeling better. I dropped a bag of treats at their door this morning.

Thanks Charlotte. I imagine she'll pop back pretty quickly.

Whew! Glad to hear that Scout is already feeling better. I hope that the weekend takes care of her completely.
I also wish you a restful Sunday with time to read. I can't decide whether I'm wounded or merely got a scare from The Resisters. I'll keep it in the back of my mind for now. (Funny, how I can pull up titles of books that interest me but not other things that are equally important to me.)
I'm relieved that your copy of Utopia Avenue finally arrived. High time! Like you, I can't start it yet, but I'm looking forward to it. I haven't read D. Mitchell earlier than Cloud Atlas, which still remains his best in my mind. I hope to get back to them at some point, especially *JdZ*.

I'm glad Scout is okay. Whew!

I'm halfway through Tar Baby already. It's an easier read than I expected. How are you getting on with it?

Thanks Peggy. Cloud Atlas is my favorite Mitchell as well. I do look forward to Utopia Avenue, however.

>190 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. I'm about 100 pages in. I had some school work to do. I hope to read more this evening. It is very interesting. Very different from other things she's written.

Happy Sunday, Beth. I am so glad you loved Girl, Woman, Other. What a terrific achievement.

What a scare to have Scout with a fever! Glad that she is OK.

I'm glad Scout is okay, Beth. Whew!

And I'm glad you loved Girl, Woman, Other as much as I did. I think I said it over on my thread but I love your comment that any of the women she created in this collection could warrant her own novel. Maybe some of that will happen....

I'm enjoying Utopia Avenue. Mitchell is such a great storyteller.

TwinB--SOOO glad Scout is fine!! Whew.

I am not totally in love with GWO, so I have put it aside to come back to later. I think maybe I am not in the right frame of mind. Too many people whose opinion I respect love that book and I don't want to miss out. So...later. Hope you have a great week ahead!

Morning, Beth! Glad to read Scout was negative for C-19. Scary moments for sure. How long did you have to wait for the results?
So cute you left goodies by her door.
I have GWO beside my reading chair and hope to get to it as the nights get longer and weather gets colder. Positive remarks from you will urge me on.

Glad to hear about the negative test!

I, too, am glad that Scout tested negative for Covid. I hope she's fully recovered from the fever.

OMG, having a family member with a high fever right now is most scary!! Glad it all turns out OK.

>192 msf59: Hi Mark - GWO is remarkable.

>193 banjo123: The fever made me think how our lives have changed this year. Rhonda. Now a fever is something to fear.

>194 EBT1002: Hi Ellen - I was pretty sure I would love GWO. I hope to get to Utopia Avenue this year.

>195 Berly: We'll have to try another one, TwinK.

>196 Carmenere: I think the results took 24 hours, Lynda. Luckily, she was tested on a Friday, so she didn't miss a whole week of school. I'll watch for your comments when you get to GWO.

Thanks Anita, Karen, Reba. I think she is back to normal.

Glad to hear the results were negative for Scout Beth, must have been stressful waiting for them.

Every sneeze, cough and sniffle is stressful these days, Caroline!

Another huge fan of Girl, Woman, Other here, Beth, and I'm still annoyed that Evaristo didn't win the Booker on her own last year. I think it's one I'll probably reread at some point.

My library has radically increased its overdrive offerings, and I spent most of the weekend listening to several titles. I just want to recommend Shuggie Bain, on the Booker shortlist, which I thought was terrific.

It's amazing how quickly we've all adapted to a COVID world, in which a fever is a frightening symptom. I'm glad Scout was virus-free. I was a the doctor this am for a routine visit and had to complete an extensive questionnaire before being allowed into the office. And this weekend I'll be attending an outdoor memorial service for the husband of a dear friend, and the church has already emailed an elaborate set of distancing requirements and cautions.

I agree that GWO is better than The Testaments, Vivian. I was thinking I might reread at some point as well. Thanks for the Shuggie Bain recommendation. I think my library has a copy.

I got my flu shot yesterday. Ouch. My arm is sore. It is weird how we've changed to a world where we get nervous with every sniffle, sneeze or sore throat. It didn't take long. Stay safe at your memorial service. I'm going to one next week in California. I'm taking my dad; he really wanted to go to say good bye to his sister, my favorite aunt. But...I do want to go but I am certainly not happy or excited about it.

Wow, Beth, you are closing in on that 100 Milestone. That's pretty amazing considering the stressful job you have. I hope school is getting easier for you. I'm still doing Grandma School once a week and that's about all I can handle.

That was a scary time with Scout's illness. So glad it wasn't Covid, though it's still a concern when they feel so badly.

>181 BLBera: - Oh, you got me with Girl, Woman, Other!

Catching up a tiny bit and I see I need to get to Girl Woman Other, which I'm lucky to have handy. I'm also thinking it has been a while since I read a Ruth Galloway and that might be just the series to settle into. (However I am all caught up on Louise Penny--I hope you enjoy the latest one.) Good that Scout tested negative--I had a fever scare with my daughter a couple of weeks ago and was grateful that it was pretty straightforward to get a test--negative, fortunately.

Hi, Beth.1 hope your week is wrapping up nicely. 1 got some good news today when I woke up to an email saying that my application Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program had been approved. No more student loans after 10 years! I think I still owed about $23,000 so not exactly chump change. Perhaps I will celebrate by going book shopping at Prairie Lights. Online, of course, which isn't nearly as much fun.

Hi Donna - I worry about my girls getting sick, but try not to dwell. Strange times.

Hi Lori - It's a good one.

Anne! I'm so glad you're back. GWO is great; I think you'll love it. I have the latest, lent to me by my mom, but I'm not sure when I'll get to it. Stay safe.

Great news Julia! We'll have to raise a virtual glass next time we meet. Some book shopping is definitely in order.

To kick off Banned Books Week:

https://lithub.com/here-are-the-most-challenged-books-from-the-last-decade/

I finished Tar Baby but I have to think about it a bit. There's a lot going on. After I finished, I read some comments that Morrison made about it and that is making me think a little more.

Hi Beth! Looking forward to your thoughts on Tar Baby I think that I read it before, but so long ago that I remember nothing from it.

Well, Rhonda, it's one that I could read again, I think. For what it's worth:


99.Tar Baby is Toni Morrison's fourth novel and a departure from her previous ones in that this one is set on a Caribbean island, and that white people are central characters. There's a bit too much going on for this to be a wholly successful novel, but it does provoke thought, and it's one I will revisit at some point.

The novel takes place in December, over the Christmas holiday. There are Valerian and Margaret Street, the "masters" of the island; their US servants, Sydney and Ondine; and servants from the island Yardman and "Mary." Jadine, Sydney and Ondine's niece, is visiting, and Michael, Valerian and Margaret's son, is expected for Christmas. Into this world comes Son, an intruder who jumped ship and is hiding from the authorities.

Morrison writes, "If my work is to be functional...then it must be witness and identify that which is useful fro the past and that which ought to be discarded. She also states that in Tar Baby "memory meant recollecting the told story." While I am always skeptical about accepting an author's statement about her work, it seems to me that these comments do offer some insight into this novel.

As I finished the novel, a couple of things struck me. First, going back to what Morrison said about the past, it seems like Jadine and Son's relationship embodies the conflict of what to keep and what to discard. Each wants to make over the other. Son wants to remove Jadine from the bad influences of the "white" world and go back to the all-Black town that he grew up in, while Jadine finds nothing there for her. She wants Son to continue his education and integrate into the professional world she lives in. Yet Jadine can't commit fully to the white world and marry a white man either.

There's also the interesting relationship between Sydney and Ondine and Valerian and Margaret. Do the roles start to blur at the end -- and what does that mean? And what about the Caribbean servants? Where do they fit?

Lots to think about here.

>214 BLBera: Lots to think about here.

You got that right. Great review, Beth.

Good to have the negative test for Scout.
I always love to see what you think about your reading, Beth.

Thanks Laura and Peggy.

Hey Beth, popping in on your thread! It's been such a long time - hope you are well! :)

>214 BLBera: Definitely one I want to get to someday! Happy Monday, TwinB.

Hi Vik! Nice to see you. I hope all is well with you.

>219 Berly: Happy Monday to you, TwinK.

I failed miserably to pick up Jazz when I had it from the library, but one day I hope to read more Morrison.

I've just picked up V for Victory and am enjoying it very much. I found Burnt Sugar a bit of a slog, a twisted mother-daughter relationship.

>181 BLBera: I've added Girl, Woman, Other to the tbr list. Your comments led me to want to check to see if my local library has this book. I've purchased a lot of books these last few months. While I'm having great fun, I need to be more cost effective now that there is only one salary, and my university income was cut right in half when I went on social security.

I find books on two sites -- BookOutlet.com and Thrift Books. The prices are great. Thrift Books are used, but in very good condition. I've only ever received one book that was in poor condition, and they replaced it.

I'm sorry to hear about your aunt and hope that you and your dad stay safe to, from, and during your time in California.

>221 charl08: I'll check out your comments, Charlotte. I want to finish reading Morrison's novels. I have two I haven't read yet.

>222 Whisper1: As someone nearing retirement, I hear you, Linda. I have been trying to buy fewer books and use the library. I do use BookOutlet. I also buy used books whenever I can.

>223 karenmarie: Thanks Karen. I kind of wish they would postpone the service, but I get it. She was a remarkable person and I miss her.

100. Transcendent Kingdom is the story of Gifty, daughter of Ghanian immigrants. Now a researcher in neuroscience, the novel traces Gifty's search for answers to her brother's addiction. Brought up in Alabama in an evangelical church, Gifty has always been searching. She is looking for God. As a scientist she balances her religious faith with science, something she sometimes finds hard to reconcile:

"Because of our work, we are often given to thinking about the part of humans that is the vital, inexplicable essence of our selves, as the working of our brains -- mysterious, elegant, essential. Everything we don't understand about what makes a person a person can be uncovered once we understand this organ. There is no separation. Our brains are our hearts that feel and our minds that think and our souls that are."

I love Gifty's philosophical musings as she searches for answers to the inexplicable. Why did her brother die? Why couldn't he stop taking drugs? Her struggle to reconcile God and science are interesting. She also points to possible physiological effects of internalized racism.

I liked this novel better than Homegoing. While I thought the premise of Homegoing, of tracing two branches of the family tree through history, was interesting, I never felt attached to any one person because we got short snips of each person's life. In Transcendent Kingdom, we get a complete portrait of a young woman, with her curiosity, her struggles, her heart. I prefer the deeper character development.

In a few places, perhaps the philosophical discussion takes precedence over the plot, but I could forgive that. And the end seems rather abrupt. But those are minor quibbles. I loved this novel.

Such a great review, Beth! I think you had more patience with Gifty's interior struggles than I did, but I'm glad it spoke to you. I wonder how autobiographical the novel is - all I know is that Gyasi was born in Ghana and grew up in Alabama.

>225 BLBera: - The premise of Gyasi's new one hasn't interested me, but I will still read it at some point. I loved Homegoing despite the inability to connect deeply with any of the characters.

>225 BLBera: Looking forward to this novel when it comes out here next year Beth. Glad it was a hit for you.

>227 katiekrug: what Katie said, although your review piques my interest a bit more, Beth.

Hi Beth, I am very happy that Scout tested negative - I know having family members - especially the younger ones go through this is scary but getting a negative result brings great relief!

I need to read more Toni Morrison so far I have only read a couple of hers and enjoyed both. I also have yet to read Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing so there's another author I've neglected!

>226 vivians: I agree with Vivian - that is a very good review, Beth. I enjoyed Homegoing but, like Evaristo's Booker winner, some sections were more compelling than others. I will look out for this one.

>225 BLBera: Transcendent Kingdom is an intense sounding read, Beth. And an excellent summing up.
Interesting theme, looking at the spectrum of religion and scientific views

>226 vivians: Hi Vivian - I was also wondering about the autobiographical aspect. I thought you liked it; I must have remembered wrong.

>227 katiekrug: I did love Homegoing, Katie. I just loved this one more. I really liked the philosophical questioning aspect. And I really liked Gifty.

>228 Caroline_McElwee: I'll watch for your comments when you get to it, Caroline.

>229 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. I think you might like this one.

>230 DeltaQueen50: I'm currently in California with family for a memorial service, Judy, so I hope we don't all regret doing this now. Some of my family members have a very cavalier attitude toward the virus, but it only takes one case to impact a family, and I hope no one gets sick.

You have some good reading ahead. Just out of curiosity, which books by Morrison have you read?

>231 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul -I think that's the danger of multiple stories - some are always more compelling.

>232 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy! Thanks. I loved Transcendent Kingdom. I did like the examination of science and religion together.

>225 BLBera: What a great review! Yet another one of the books you read that I vow to get ahold of.

I note you mentioned your are nearing retirement. November 1 will be my two year anniversary of retirement. After 36 years of teaching in academia, I can honestly say that while I miss some of the great students, I knew that it was time.

I admit that I had tears in my eyes when this September birthday brought approximately ten text messages of good wishes. This was so unexpected, and so lovely.

You will know when the time is right!

Thanks Linda - I think you are right; I have the feeling that the "right" time is approaching.

101. The Great Gatsby: A Graphic Novel Adaptation*

I love The Great Gatsby, and while this graphic novel adaptation won't replace it, It is a fine homage to the original. As these works from the 1920s start to come into the public domain, it will be interesting to see what people do with them.

The advance reader's copy of the graphic novel was not in full color, as the final product will be, the the sample provided fit the art work, with an art decoish palate. The women, Jordan and Daisy are slender flappers who seem to float.

Woodman-Maynard as pared the dialog to fit the graphic format and selected the key events of the novel. She has even added some of Fitzgerald's poetic passages. The narrator, Nick, manages to sympathize with Gatsby while at the same time disapproving of him. I felt his portrayal really matched that in the original novel.

In the author's note, Woodward-Maynard explains some of the changes she made, which seem appropriate.

Fans of the original should be pleased with this.

Excellent review of Transcendent Kingdom, Beth. I loved Homegoing, so this should be another winner. I hope I can bookhorn it in, by the end of the year.

Well, in a backhanded way you got me with a BB, Beth. I didn't realize that Homegoing traced branches of the family back through the family tree. That sounds like my kind of book. I'm now on the library hold list for it but it will probably take a while as I am number 74 in line.

Stay safe.

>236 BLBera: ooo, not sure. Haven't really done many GNs. I'll have to look of course, when it's out here, one eye closed probably...

Thanks for good reviews, Beth. I sort of have Yaa Gyasi on my radar, and I'll be on the lookout for a copy of either book.
I'll be happy to hear that you're home from the family memorial service. I hope that it was a celebration and that everybody - especially you - stays well.
Have you started Utopia Avenue? I'm pretty much loving it!

>225 BLBera: Have been seeing great reviews of this, and now yours, I will just have to be patient, (like Caroline)!

I didn't realise there was a GN version of The Great Gatsby - I'd just seen one for The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists - I wonder if that is because of the same copyright freedom.

>233 BLBera: Beth, I have read The Bluest Eye and Sula by T. M. I have Beloved waiting patiently on the shelf so that will be my next read by her.

>241 charl08: Hi Charlotte. I really liked Transcendent Kingdom. It will be interesting to see what happens when those books originally written in the 1920s come into the public domain.

>242 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy - Beloved is great. You have a treat ahead.

Happy Saturday Beth. It is bright and shining outside this morning.

Happy Saturday to you, Linda. I'm hopeful for a nice day as well, although I do have a lot of schoolwork to do.

>245 BLBera: I was delighted to have cool and gloomy for my coffee expedition this morning!

>225 BLBera: Nice review! I did like Homegoing, so looking forward to this one as well.

Hi Beth. Well, your Vikings owned the first half (that Cook is good!) and my Seahawks appear to have shown up for the second half. What a roller coaster!

I'm looking forward to reading Transcendent Kingdom when my turn comes up in the library queue.

>246 quondame: Great, Susan. How was it?

>247 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda. I liked the new one better, but I suspect I'll be in the minority.

>248 EBT1002: Hi Ellen! I heard it was exciting. I was flying back to Minnesota while the game was on. Although I haven't been watching football this season. I'm boycotting it because I think it's a bad idea with COVID. Before I left for the airport, I did get to see most of the Rafa match. He was on fire. I haven't seen him play so well for a long time. Did you watch it? You will like Transcendent Kingdom, I think.

102. What Are You Going Through was disappointing. It is very like The Friend, which I loved, but I don't want to read the same book over and over. The style is very similar; much of this is an internal monologue. In it, the unnamed narrator tells the sad stories of several people she knows, focusing mainly on a friend who is dying of cancer. So, basically, another book about death and grieving.

Read The Friend instead.

>250 BLBera: Thanks for the warning, Beth. I also loved The Friend but I don't need to read another book just like it. Except this one has a cat instead of a dog, I guess, judging from the cover. :-)

Thanks for the heads-up, Beth. I'm in the library queue for the audio but may give it a pass now. I did like The Friend.

I'm loving the new Tana French - I don't remember if you're a fan of hers. It's not a police procedural but still has a mystery at its core.

>252 vivians: Oooh on the Tana French — I pre-ordered that one and it is sitting here staring at me while I try to finish off at least one of the two other books I'm already reading. So glad to hear you are enjoying it. I loved the Dublin Murder Squad series but also really liked The Wych Elm standalone as well. She's such a good writer.

>251 rosalita: Well, you could try it, Julia. You might feel differently. There is a cat, but it is not central to the story.

>252 vivians: Maybe it would be better on audio? I don't know, Vivian. I have only read In the Woods, which I did like a lot. I have been meaning to continue with French. What is the title of the new one?

>253 rosalita: I agree that French writes well, Julia. I need to continue with the Dublin Murder Squad.

The Wytch Elm is her latest, and quite good!

>254 BLBera: The new Tana French is The Searcher, Beth.

Thanks Jim and Julia.

Nice to read your comments on your reading, Beth. I know what you mean about Homegoing--but for me the brief amount of time allotted to each character was a great match for my attention span at the time! I will have to check out Transcendent Kingdom.

I think at this point I have read all of Toni Morrison's novels--but reading about Tar Baby reminded me that I read that book in high school, which barely counts I think. Time for a reread.

And I had no idea there was a new Tana French! (I need to get out more.) I just downloaded The Searcher and can barely restrain myself from starting it now.

>250 BLBera: Thanks for the heads up Beth. I have The Friend in the pile next to my bed, hope I will get to it soon. I hadn't come across Nunez before, but she seems to have a fairly large back catalogue. I wondered if I'd just missed her, or if you thought The Friend had got more widely reviewed than her others.

Hi Beth!

Whew! I dodged some find sounding BBs - I'm wallowing in comfort reads now mostly except for How to be an Antiracist.

Glad you're home safe and sound from the service.

Hi Anne! Great to see you around. I think I could read Tar Baby again, although I suspect that this is not one of Morrison's better books. There was too much going on. I need to go on to the second in the Dublin Murder Squad. I finally read the first one and thought it was great.

Hi Charlotte - The Friend was the first Nunez I read as well. I loved it -- the new one, not so much.

Hi Karen - Comfort reads are a good thing. I am keeping my fingers crossed that no one gets ill after the service. There were masks and social distancing, so I hope everyone stays healthy.

Hi Beth. I trust your recommendations. I've added The Friend to my tbr list.

I hope you like it, Linda. I'll watch for your comments.

Hi TwinB!! I just finished The Bluest Eye for both my RL bookclub and a read with my Dad and daughter. There was a lot of sex abuse/rape, which made it a little awkward to talk about with my Dad, but he said he was a big boy and could handle it. Not my favorite of Morrison's, but a powerful book and stylistically kinda cool with the whole Dick and Jane poem and how she used it throughout the book as chapter headers. Great for discussion.

Hey TwinK - how's the nose?

The Bluest Eye is a great book for discussion -- and to think it's her first novel! That is pretty remarkable.

I'm rereading The Handmaid's Tale for my book club this month.

My book club discussed The Handmaid's Tale today. People who just read it for the first time found it frightening, and too close to reality for comfort. One of the members found a NYT review by Mary McCarthy written when the novel was first published. McCarthy found the novel too unrealistic...

In other comments, Melania as one of the wives?

One person listened to a new audio version that included an essay by Atwood and another essay about the novel.

>266 BLBera: I recently told a friend of mine who just read The Handmaid's Tale that the first time I read it many years ago it was science fiction, when I re-read it in 2013 it was uncomfortably realistic speculative fiction, and I'm afraid by the time I do another re-read it will seem like journalism!

>266 BLBera: We read it recently for the work bookgroup, I'd never read it (had always avoided Atwood's non-historical books). Some of the members remembered reading it the first time round. A little bit of reading time travel.

>267 rosalita: Almost everyone found it scarily prescient, Julia. If you remember, it starts with the assassination of the president and much of Congress. Think kidnapping plot of Michigan's governor...Fingers crossed that it never goes so far!

>268 charl08: So, what did you think, Charlotte? Was it a good discussion?

104. Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir is unfortunately an all-too-familiar story. Yet, Trethewey's poetry and honesty make it visceral and personal. Even though I knew the story, this memoir was heartbreaking.

Trethewey begins by talking about her idyllic childhood, surrounded and protected by people who loved her. Later, her parents divorce and her mother remarries. It doesn't take long for Trethewey to feel that something is wrong with Big Joe, what she calls her stepfather. He starts with emotional abuse of Natasha when Natasha's mother is at work. Soon, she realizes that he is hitting her mother. She tells some people, but no one does anything. It takes her mother years to escape and divorce Joel, but he continues to stalk the family, with a tragic outcome. When Trethewey is nineteen, her mother is murdered. (Not a spoiler - she mentions this at the beginning.)

This is beautifully written and one that will stick with me.

Hi Beth, it's been awhile since I dropped in and I had some catching up to do! I liked your comments on Transcendent Kingdom. It had caught my interest and now it's definitely on my TBR list.

We had a Covid scare with my 7 year old granddaughter (she tested negative) so I can relate to what you went through with Scout.

Chiming in regarding covid scares, last week, my daughter had a fever, sore through, coughing. My daughter immediately took her to her primary care doctor. He thought it was a cold, but gave her the test non the less. The negative results came in the next day. I admit to a restless night of worrying.

What a world!

Beth

You are reading some very good books. I read the Handmaids tale when it was published. Hulu lists the movie. I think I will re-read the book before watching the movie.

I am going to look for Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir. Where did you obtain the book?

It sounds like a worthwhile, but heart-wrenching book.

>271 Oregonreader: Hi Jan - Yes, I worry for my girls!

>272 Whisper1: Yes, what a world, Linda. I was happy the test only took 24 hours. Memorial Drive is a library book. My library has curbside pick up. Love it. Although it has cut into reading from my shelves.

I've never watched The Handmaid's Tale series. This is a reread for me. Still a great book. I guess there was a movie in the 1980s as well.

>270 BLBera: This was one of my favorite books of the year for her gorgeous writing and contemplation of memory. Glad to see it's one that will stick with you, too!

Happy Saturday, Beth. Ooh, I have Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir on my audio TBR. Glad to hear you loved it. I have read some of her poetry.

Hi Beth. I hope you're well. Our ne executive director has been here for one week and I'm very optimistic. I can't just hand him the keys (and all the problems) and walk away but I already like his style and appreciate his competence.

I read an Ian Rankin this week -- good escape lit. Now I've started Shuggie Bain and I think I'm going to like it.

We voted today. Washington has been a vote-by-Mail state for about 15 years so its well organized. We dropped our ballots in the lock box by the courthouse and went for a drive through the Palouse. Covid Fatigue is a real thing and I've got it.

>275 bell7: Hi Mary. She does write beautifully. I wasn't expecting it to have such an impact because I was already family with the story. I was wrong.

>276 msf59: Hi Mark. I think you'll like Memorial Drive, I'll watch for your comments.

>277 EBT1002: Hi Ellen! I am well. Hooray for your new executive director. I hope he can take some of the load off you soon.

I voted a few weeks ago. I am with you regarding Covid fatigue. I am getting sick of my own company.

Just a quick hello, Beth. I hope all is well at your place.

Well, I wasn't convinced I'd want to read >270 BLBera: but I think I do now. Too many books! Maybe the library can help: two reservations turned up last week, which made me very happy.

With you re the COVID fatigue.

>280 Ameise1: Thanks! So far, we are well. Just sick of this pandemic.

>281 charl08: Charlotte, it's not as depressing as one might think. I think you'd like it. I love my library's curbside pick up program.

>282 BLBera: Here the second wave has just started. We have to wear the mask everywhere and all the time. Only in our own house we don't have to do so. Tomorrow I'm back to school after our autumn break.

>283 Ameise1: Are your classes face to face, Barbara? Here, some of the elementary schools are face to face, but many are hybrid. Half the class goes to school one day and does online learning the next...It's not optimal for the little ones.

>284 BLBera: Yup, since May the classes here in Switzerland are face to face. It's good so and until before the autumn break I had to wear a mask in the classroom very seldom. But due to the second wave we have to wear it everywhere and all the time.

We all have to wear masks in the classroom as well.

>279 BLBera: "I am getting sick of my own company." Exactly! And I generally like my own company!! :-)

>270 BLBera: Sounds powerful and worthwhile. Adding it to my wish list.

>279 BLBera: Me too on the Covid-19 fatigue.

>287 EBT1002: I know, Ellen! I guess too much of a good thing... :) You will love it.

>288 PaulCranswick: Hang in there, Paul.

105. The Eighth Detective is a clever detective story. In it, mathematician Grant McAllister has proposed a mathematical theory of the rules for detective stories. He then wrote seven stories to illustrate the rules. Twenty years later, an editor visits him on an isolated island in the Mediterranean where he lives the life of a hermit. A publishing company wants to publish his stories with commentary, which the editor will write. This then, is the novel. There is a story, followed by the editor's and Grant's discussion. The stories themselves are entertaining, but as the novel progresses, we start to sense that something is off. The endings are surprising and satisfying. Very clever indeed.

Thanks to Charlotte for bringing this one to my attention.

Great review Beth. I can't quite get over the difference in approach taken by the cover artist - it could be a completely different book! This cover says thriller to me - whereas the UK one seems to reference more classic / historical themes.

Thanks Charlotte. Wasn't the title different in the UK as well? I'll take another look at your cover.

>290 BLBera: I am in the library queue for this one. :-)

I think you'll like it, Ellen. You can read it in small chunks, and it is so damn clever.

>279 BLBera: Nice review! Our library has curbside pick up as well, but the waits for holds have gotten super long. I should not complain because I have plenty to read on my shelves.

>293 EBT1002: me too, thanks to you!

>295 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda. I am not complaining about the waiting, either. I'm just happy to have a library option. They were planning a limited opening, with browsing for 30 minutes by appointment, but have put that on hold because of our surge.

>296 vivians: I hope it works for you, Vivian. I liked being about to read a story and then putting it down. (My COVID brain).

>290 BLBera: Nice review, Beth. I've added myself to the long library holds list, which means by the time it comes I will have forgotten who recommended it to me — I'm hoping posting now will help job my memory later.

I think you'll like it, Julia. I never remember who recommends books either, unless I read it within a day...

I guess it's time to start a new thread. Probably it will be this weekend.

Hi Beth, I am squeezing in here at the end of your current thread. I've enjoyed catching up here. The Eighth Detective sounds interesting.

>279 BLBera: Beth I got a good chuckle at your wisdom "sick of my own company'. Yeah, I get ti!

Hi Judy and Mary.