RebaRelishesReading in 2021 - #5 Finally Fall

I joined LT in 2007 because I wanted to catalog my library but didn't truly appreciate the full wonder of the place until I found the 75'ers in 2012 (I think that's the year). It's a favorite part of my morning now. I also love meeting other members in person when possible.

For those of you I don't know, I'll introduce my self a bit. I'm a Californian by birth and have lived there much of my life but Hubby and I decided last October that it was time to leave our condo in the Uptown district of San Diego and move to some place quieter and, most importantly, nearer our youngest grandchild. We have two older grandchildren who we adore but Ally will be going to college in the fall and Kyle will be sixteen next month so they probably won't be living near us anymore even if we had stayed in San Diego. Quinn turned three in January so we will have many years enjoying him growing up as we did the other two. So I'm adding Washington State to the list of places I've lived at various times in my life: California, Arizona, Connecticut, the Netherlands, England, the Netherlands, California, Ireland, California and now Washington.

I'm a retired city planner who travels a lot (or did pre-Covid). For the past 11 summers we were at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York but among our recent changes we have sold our place there and will probably not attend the season any more. I will miss it but it's time to move on.

I read mostly fiction with a helping of biography or history thrown in. A couple of years ago I finished a personal challenge to read all of the Pulitzer Prize winning fiction. I've also challenged myself to read the Pulitzer wining biographies but I don't seem to be making much progress on that score.

CURRENTLY READING:

(audio)

(paper)

NEWLY ACQUIRED:

READ IN 2021

January
1. What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon**** (audio)
2. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman****(audio)
3. Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner***2/3 (audio)

February
4. This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens***(audio)
5. Death Comes to the Village by Catherine Lloyd***(audio)
6. Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand*** (audio)
7. What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand*** (audio)
8. Troubles in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand**(audio)
9. West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge ****1/2

March
10. The Late Bloomers' Club by Louise Miller****
11. The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths *** (audio)
12. Sunrise on Half Moon Bay by Robyn Carr *** (audio)
13. Where the Light Enters by Jill Biden **** (audio)
14. Davita's Harp by Chaim Potok ****
15. Death Comes to London by Catherine Lloyd ***1/2(audio)
16. Death Comes to Kurland Hall by Catherine Lloyd ***1/2 (audio)
17. Death Comes to the Fair by Catherine Lloyd ***1/2 (audio)
18. Death Comes to the School by Catherine Lloyd***(audio)

April
19. Death Comes to Bath by Catherine Lloyd****(audio)
20. Death Comes to the Rectory by Catherine Lloyd****(audio)
21. The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams ****(audio)
22. The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar *****
23. How to Raise an Elephant by Alexander McCall Smith ***1/2 (audio)
24. The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar*****
25. The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith ***

May
26. The Shooting at Chateau Rock by Martin Walker ***1/2 (audio)
27. Finding Barbara: A DNA Story ***1/2
28. LaRose by Louise Erdrich **** (audio)
29. The Big Rock Candy Mountain ****1/2

June
30. Snap by Belinda Bauer ****1/2
31. Warlight by Michael Ondaatje **1/2
32. The New Yorkers by Cathleen Schine***(audio)
33. The Flight Girls by Noelle Salazar ****(audio)
34. The Bartender's Tale by Ivan Doig ****1/2 (audio)
35. Miss Austen by Gill Hornby ***1/2
36. Paris by the Book by Liam Callanan ****

July
37. Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead **** (audio)
38. Overstag by Amita Gaige (Dutch translation of Sea Wife)*** (audio)
39. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn ***1/2 (audio)
40. The Stolen Letter by by Clara Benson *** (audio)
41. One by One by Ruth Ware ***1/2 (audio)
42. Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams *** (audio)
43. The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich ****
44. Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner ****1/2

August
45. The Dark and Sacred Night by Julia Glass ***1/2
46. The Guest List by Lucy Foley ***1/2 (audio)
47. The Secret Life of Violet Grant *** (audio)
48. Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford **1/2
49. Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce ****
50. In Praise of Walking by Shane O'Mara **1/2
51. The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny *****
52. Het Laatste Leid (The Last Song) by Nicholas Sparks *** (audio)
53. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens ****
54. Old Filth by Jane Gardam ****

September
55. Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams ***1/2 (audio)
56. The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen ****(audio)
57. The Narrowboat Summer by Anne Youngson **** (audio)
58. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton *** (audio)
59. The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller *** (audio)
60. Naar de Overkant by Santa Montefiore ****1/2 (audio)
Dutch translation of Here and Now
61. A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson****1/2

October
62. My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
63. Vanderbilt by Anderson Cooper (audio) ****
64. State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny*****
65. When God Was A Rabbit by Sarah Winman ****
66. Love and Death Among the Cheetahs by Rhys Bowen ***1/2 (audio)
67. The Last Mrs. Summers by Rhys Bowen ***1/2 (audio)
68. The Good Lord Bird by James McBride ***1/2

November
69. Amanda's Wedding by Jenny Colgan **1/2 (audio)
70. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving *****
71. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout ****1/2 (reread)
72. Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout ****1/2 (reread)
73. All In by Billie Jean King **** (audio)
74. Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout ****1/2
75. Casandra At The Wedding by Dorothy Baker ***1/2 (audio)

December
76. See you in the Piazza by Frances Mayes ***
77. The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs ****(audio)
78. God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen by Rhys Bowen ****1/2 (audio)
79. Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford ****1/2
80. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald *** (audio)
81. Two Among the Righteous Few by Marty Brounstein *** (ebook)

Happy new thread!

(Yes, I was lurking)

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving *****

I could happily have read straight through all 627 pages of this incredible book had I not needed to do some other things like eat and sleep. I loved the characters. I loved the walk down memory lane of growing up in the 50's and of politics in the 80's. I found the thread of religious thought ad doubt to be most interesting and well done. A highly recommended book!

Happy new thread, Reba!

>8 RebaRelishesReading: I get to dodge that particular BB as I have already read it. It is one of Linda's (Whisper's) all-time favorite books, so I she got me with the BB years ago, lol.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy new thread, Reba!

Happy new thread, Reba!

>8 RebaRelishesReading: Like Stasia (>9 alcottacre:) I have read A Prayer for Owen Meany on Linda's (Whisper1) recommendation way back in the early years of the 75-ers. Glad you loved it too!

>9 alcottacre:, >11 FAMeulstee: Hi Stasia and Anita. I've owned it for years too but kept looking at how long it was and putting it back into Mt. TBR :) I'm so glad I finally got up the courage to read it.

>10 katiekrug: Hi Katie. Thank you!!

Happy new thread, Reba. I keep meaning to read Owen Meany. One of these days. Great comments.

Happy new thread, Reba.

>2 RebaRelishesReading: I came to the site for exactly the same reasons and got hooked.

>8 RebaRelishesReading: Similar feelings too on Owen Meany. It goes under the radar for some reason when people debate the Great American Novel but it should be in the conversation IMHO.

By the way I must also congratulate you on strolling beyond 1,000 posts on your thread this year.

>13 BLBera: Hi Beth. I know the feeling but I encourage you to bite the bullet and get going. I think you'll be glad you did.

>14 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. Funny how that works, isn't it. I think you may be right about Owen Meany.

>15 PaulCranswick: Thank you -- I hadn't added them up but it sounds impressive when you do. Of course, if we added them up for Amber, or Katie, or many others it would disappear into the distance.

My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout****1/2

I read this in 2017 but decided I need to reread it, and Anything is Possible before starting on Oh William which just arrived. It truly is a lovely little book and I very much enjoyed renewing my acquaintance with it.

>17 RebaRelishesReading: I really liked this one! She has a new book out?

>17 RebaRelishesReading: Dodging that BB as the book is already in the BlackHole. Whew!

Have a terrific week, Reba!

>17 RebaRelishesReading: I see the Great Lucy Barton Re-read is underway. I'm glad you enjoyed the first book just as much the second time around.

Happy newish one, Reba!

>8 RebaRelishesReading: I have this one in the stacks, so I am happy to see your big love for it. Maybe next year...

>18 banjo123: Hi Rhonda. Oh William is the third in the Lucy Barton "series". Second is Anything is Possible. I'm going to reread that one next and then Oh William.

>19 alcottacre: Feels good to miss one, doesn't it Stasia? :)

>20 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. They're short enough that it doesn't feel to daunting to embark on a reread before going to the new one.

>21 Crazymamie: Mornin' Mamie :) I had Prayer for Owen Meany in the stacks for several years before I got the courage to read it. It's a big one but worth the effort.

>22 RebaRelishesReading:
I agree with you about Prayer for Owen Meany. I avoided reading it for a couple of years and then a friend of mine told me that it was "the most presbyterian of novels." That line hooked me and I read the book. Never regretted it either. Fine novel.

Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout ****1/2

The second of my rereads before starting on Oh William. Many of the characters from My Name is Lucy Barton reappear and we get to find out what has been happening in their lives. Another lovely book. Maybe tomorrow I can start Oh William :)

Crazy day today. Daughter #2 was having exploratory surgery on her knee to see why it keeps causing her pain even though nothing shows on MRI, X-ray, etc and physical therapy hasn't helped. I offered to drive her, wait for her and bring her home so her partner would be free to take Quinn to school and pick him up (and to work at home in the interim). She was really sick from the anesthesia, however, so I offered to bring her to our house where she could have a quieter environment for sleeping plus a bedroom and bathroom next to each other and both on the ground floor. We got her home and in bed and then I left her under her father's care (actually she was asleep and still is) while I went off to fill prescriptions, etc. It's now 6:00 p.m. and I'm feeling a bit weary. She's been asleep for three hours though, which makes me happy because I can't think of anything that will help her more.

>25 RebaRelishesReading: I do hope your daughter is feeling better soon and that they figure out what is going on with her knee!

I hope your daughter is feeling better today, Reba. I'm sure it feels good to be around and available for her.

Adding my well wishes for D#2 that she recovers quickly and that they find the problem and an easy fix!

Oh, Reba, that was a long day for both of you. I hope she is feeling better today, and that they can figure out what the issue is with her knee. That must be so frustrating for her.

Thank you Stasia, Laura, Amber and Mamie. I got up a little after 7 this morning, dressed and went into the family room to open blinds and heard her coming down the hall on her crutches. Things looked pretty good for about 5 minutes then she tried to dip some water and took a mouse sized nibble of dry toast and was immediately nauseous again :( She's been back in bed for over an hour now. We've got to get some liquid into her (that stays for more than a few seconds) or we'll be off to the doctor for an IV soon. As to "the fix", her doctor told me yesterday that she needs a knee replacement, or perhaps a partial knee replacement would do, but they don't like to do them on someone her age so I don't know what they'll do now. All of this stems from when she was hit broadside by a full-sized SUV doing 40 mph while riding her bicycle 20 years or so ago. Lucky for her she was wearing her helmet when she was hit because otherwise...

>30 RebaRelishesReading: Sorry to hear that there is not better news regarding your daughter's knee and that she is still not feeling well today. I hope things get resolved on both fronts soon!

Thanks, Stasia. Just gotta find a way to keep some water in her and then I think things will improve...well, maybe not the knee right away but at least we'll be past this awful reaction to the anesthesia.

>32 RebaRelishesReading: As someone who suffers from allergic reactions to a lot of medications including anesthesia, I can relate to what she is going through. I hope the water stays down soon!

Thanks, Stasia -- me too

Ooh - sounds like what my dad had, where his patella (kneecap) was broken and one shard didn't bind back on. So every once in a while he'd be walking and suddenly his knee would collapse/hit him with huge pain/otherwise stop working. But whenever he was lying down for an x-ray/MRI (especially if they injected him with contrast stuff), the shard would float back into place and look perfectly innocent...

He did need knee surgery, though not (at that time) a replacement. It was amazing the difference it made.

Thinking of you and your daughter, Reba. I hope things have improved over the course of the day.

Hi Reba - I hope your daughter will begin to feel better soonest.

Hi Reba - I hope your daughter feels better soon - my kids were super sensitive to anesthesia as well, which always made for a miserable recovery, at least the first couple of days.

Too bad about the knee.

>30 RebaRelishesReading: Oh how ghastly for your daughter and wrecking for you. Knees are almost not worth the trouble, well of course they are, I knew someone with a knee that was fused and his life has had lots of difficulties, but boy are they finicky.

So sorry to hear of your daughter's reaction to the anesthesia and her knee problems Reba. She's lucky to have you there.

Fingers crossed that she can keep some liquids down today, Reba. I know how fretful you must be over it!

Oh that's tough -- hope your daughter is feeling better. I had my first bad reaction to anesthesia this year (the dread c'scopy) and it is nasty.

Love what you are reading. Have to catch up on Strout! I'm at least two books behind.

Thank you Jennifer, Laura, Katie, Beth, Susan, Bonnie, Amber and Lucy! What a heart-warming batch of good wishes!

By yesterday morning she was able to keep tiny sips of water down but was still pretty wiped out so it was sip-of-water sleep-for-an-hour all morning. We replaced water with Gatorade mid-morning and she was able to keep that down in tiny sips. Mid-afternoon her partner picked their 3-year-old up from pre-school and they came to visit. She had planned to stay another night to enjoy sleeping in the quiet our house provides but decided to go home with them instead. I think she's over the tough part now although she still will have to decide what's to be done with the knee.

Reba--Oh, so sorry that your daughter is having such a rough time. Good thing she has you!

>43 RebaRelishesReading: What an ordeal. I'm glad she turned the corner and I'm sure it was nice for her to be back home in her own bed.

Thank you Kim and Laura. I haven't heard yet how things are going today but just texted her soon to ask.

I finally finished the four new stockings and have hung the entire family by the fireplace (well...not literally of course lol)

Update...got a text from D2 last evening that she had eaten some Thai food and was keeping it down. I'd say she has turned the corner :)

>48 RebaRelishesReading: What a scare with your daughter, Reba. I am glad the last update confirmed she is doing a bit better.

All In by Billie Jean King**** (audio)

Thank you Bonnie for making me aware of this interesting book, written and read by a woman I have always admired, which provides some details of Ms. King's life that I hadn't known as well as an excellent discussion of human rights and social justice in America. I'm afraid she's (a lot) more optimistic about the latter than I am, especially given the verdict yesterday and what I fear will be the verdict in the Ahmaud Arbery case. :(

Well worth a read or a listen.

>49 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita.

Reba, I am happy to read that your daughter is feeling better and has turned a corner.

Your stockings are full of fabulous, and I also love your mantle and fireplace decor. Beautiful.

Glad your daughter is recovering.

All In sounds like one I would enjoy. It's on my list.

>47 RebaRelishesReading: That's a big family!! : ) My mom made stocking for all of us too. Sadly, since I am an empty nester only two will hang on the fireplace this year. LOL The kids took their special ones with them and I have store-bought replacement ones for them which I hang on the stairway.

>48 RebaRelishesReading: Glad she has turned the corner. Phew!

Thank you Mamie, Beth and Kim. I've made a stocking for each of us, our children, their partners and the grandkids. That makes 11. I plan to hang them even when they won't be with us on the day (we won't even be here ourselves this year) as a visual nod to the family. Hope some day we can have everyone here for Christmas and have them all filled :)

Do try All In Beth, it's very current and very good.

My transition may be complete. I went to the mall yesterday and bought my first ever puff jacket :) Today I ordered one on line for Hubby for Christmas.

>56 RebaRelishesReading: Puff jackets are so comfy. I happen to own perhaps the only truly beautiful, in a 1980 stylishly fashionable way, puff jacket in existence. The outside is a brown and teal paisley silk and though it isn't as practical as other puffy jackets it does well enough for Los Angeles when it isn't raining.

>57 quondame: sounds beautiful, Susan. Mine is just plain black but it's light and warm. I was afraid it might be too warm inside the grocery where I wore it on my first outing but it seemed just right inside too :) The info says it's "water resistant" so I'm hoping I can wear it on cold days with light rain.

Yikes on your daughter's knee.

Love the stockings!

I am going to have to look for the BJK book; I am a fan of hers. Did you see the movie, Battle of the Sexes

>47 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, the stockings are GORGEOUS!! I can enlarge the picture on my phone, and I loved looking at all the detail. What beautiful family heirlooms you've created.

>56 RebaRelishesReading: And welcome to the sisterhood of the puffa :-) I get away with just a short-sleeved t-shirt under mine in London, particularly if I'm walking around. I think it's colder where you are, though. You'll soon have a little collection of them, all fighting for your attention in the coat cupboard :-)

Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout****1/2

From the cover: "Lucy Barton is a successful writer living in New York, navigating the second half of her life as a recent widow and parent of two adult daughters. A surprise encounter leads her to reconnect with William, her first husband--and long-time, on-again-off-again friend and confidante. Recounting their college years, the birth of their daughters, the painful dissolution of their marriage and the lives they built with other people, Strout paints a portrait, stunning in its subtlety, of a decades-long partnership."

Rereading the first two Lucy Barton books made this one easier to read and more rewarding. It's a beautiful series of books, gently describing an interesting life. I wasn't a huge fan of Olive Kitteridge but I love this series.

Highly recommended -- read them through in order though.

>59 banjo123: Hi Rhonda. I'm a big BJK fan too. Do read it (or I would actually recommend listening to it).

>60 susanj67: Thank you Susan both for the compliments and for taking the effort to look at the detail. I like doing counted thread cross stitch so it was (mostly) fun to do. Also, it was over a span of years -- four of them this year though.

Also thank you for the puffa welcome. I was thinking of you both when I was shopping and when I wrote that. Your reporting on getting the puffas out and putting them away have become season markers for me :) I'm not sure how much colder it will be here on average but, so far, this year is looking like it may be cold. It was just a nidge above freezing when I got up this morning -- all the way up to about 2 C now at 9:45.

>61 RebaRelishesReading: - I think I'm going to follow your lead and re-read My Name is Lucy Barton, then pick up the second which I've never read, and THEN read OW.

>63 katiekrug: Good plan, Katie. They're quick reads and it's very worth doing them in order imho -- enjoy!

>61 RebaRelishesReading: Oh, that's fab. I'm so glad you loved it, Reba. Re-reading was a good idea; I wish I'd thought of it!

>63 katiekrug: Go for it, Katie.

Oh no. Oh William is ready for me on Overdrive but now you have me thinking maybe I should reread the first two, Reba. Decisions, decisions.

I've added My Name is Lucy Barton to my WL. : )

I am waiting for my turn with Oh William!, so I skimmed over your comments. I'm glad to see it was a good one.

Hi Laura, Bonnie, Kim and Beth -- lovely to wake up and find you all here :) Yes, unless you have a better memory that I do (not hard) and/or have read the first two Lucy Barton's recently I suggest you (re)read them first. All three of these are quick reads (and imho very enjoyable reads) so it isn't a huge time investment and (also imho) well worth it.

Hi Reba. Sorry to hear about your daughter's travail with the anesthesia, and the knee. I hope there is a resolution that will give her mobility and freedom from pain even if she doesn't get the knee replaced. I wonder sometimes what doctors think when they say some procedure is 'too soon' - in the meantime the patient is enduring pain or incapacity that could be solved now.

>61 RebaRelishesReading: I still need to get to the first two in the series before I tackle that one. I have seen nothing but good things about Oh William!

I am so glad to hear that your daughter is on the mend, Reba!

>70 ffortsa: Thanks Judy. She's over the anesthesia reaction now but still has knee pain -- maybe partly from the procedure itself. My understand with "too soon" is that based on expected life span of patient and expected life of prosthesis, if they do the surgery now she may need to have another new knee at some point. I know when my shoulder was replaced the doctor told me they had used the prosthesis long enough and in enough patients that they were sure it would last 17 years but beyond that what unknown. I've had it for 10 years now...

>71 alcottacre: They're all three quick reads, Stasia so I would say "go for it" :)

We're going to D2's partner's family for Thanksgiving dinner. I'm bringing cranberry-raspberry sauce and stuffing/dressing. We don't leave until about 2 tomorrow afternoon so I plan to do the stuffing/dressing tomorrow but I'll make the cranberry-raspberry sauce as soon as I finish up here.

I may not get to the rounds tomorrow so let me wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING now!!

A Thanksgiving to Friends (Lighting the Way)

In difficult times
a friend is there to light the way
to lighten the load,
to show the path,
to smooth the road

At the darkest hour
a friend, with a word of truth
points to light
and the encroaching dawn
is in the plainest sight.

Reba, to a friend in books and more this Thanksgiving

Thank you Paul -- Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

Reba, I am so very grateful for you, my wonderful friend here on LT.

I wish you (and yours) happiness and health on this day of Thanksgiving. And cookies. : )

Happy Thanksgiving! This is Posey's dream.

I hope you and yours had a terrific Thanksgiving, Reba. Happy Friday!

Reba, I'm hoping that your Thanksgiving was full of fabulous. And we have made it to Friday - I am thankful for that!

Kim, Lucy, Stasia and Mamie -- thank you so much for your good wishes. We had a very nice day and I hope you did too!

A non-LT friend posted this map on Facebook. It purports to show the most favored Thanksgiving side-dishes per state. I thought it was rather fun and it goes along with a line of conversation that was making its way around the threads recently.

https://apis.mail.aol.com/ws/v3/mailboxes/@.id==VjN-k_3fAEWHwfNKfMDkcbIgi1FDMygs...

>81 RebaRelishesReading: - The link just gives me an error message, but everyone knows the best side is whatever form the potatoes take :)

>82 katiekrug: Well darn. I tried to copy it like a photo but it wouldn't do that so I let it just be a link -- bummer that doesn't work either. It's pretty funny imho -- dishes I'd never heard of plus many that I would definitely not associate with Thanksgiving (and most not involving potatoes at all).

We went to D2's in-laws and were with people from N. Dakota, Texas, and California (via several other states) but menu was pretty familiar to this CA with Indiana roots girl: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, Brussels sprouts, gingered carrot mash, cranberry sauce (in three versions), rolls and butter. Pumpkin pie for dessert.

I've decided to put our Christmas tree up today even though we won't be here for Christmas. Hubby is not thrilled by the idea. If we were going to be here I'd put up the Christmas village and the nutcracker collection (this house has perfect places for each) but I'm going to skip that this year.

You have to have fun with some decorations at least! : )

Oh pumpkin pie! That was the one thing missing from our Thanksgiving at our friends' house. Every food imaginable otherwise. I ate for three, alas.

Enjoy the holiday season!

>85 Berly: Hi Kim. It wasn't fun getting it set up (mostly getting the lights to work and built-in lights are the main reason I like artificial trees!) but it's there and it look really pretty. I bought a wreath too so our front door has some Christmas too, even though it's hard to see from the street and we rarely go in and out that way ourselves. I'm happy :)

>86 ffortsa: Hi Judy. Sounds like you would have liked to have pumpkin pie. I really don't like anything pumpkin flavored so I kind of missed dessert...but we had some pecan pie in the house so when I got home I made up for it. Missing turkey sandwich material we bought a turkey breast yesterday and ate it with left-over stuffing/dressing last night :) I think I'll have turkey, cranberry sauce and cream cheese sandwiches for lunch.

Your Christmas decorations sound really nice, Reba. I totally understand putting them up even if you aren't going to be there for the actual holiday. We put our tree up on Thanksgiving Day, because my daughters still insist on being part of the process (which delights me), and no way were we going to wait until they return on Dec. 22. You'll enjoy it, I'm sure.

>88 lauralkeet: Right you are Laura. I should clarify that we put up the pre-lit tree but I'm not planning to put any ornaments on it this year. It's pretty with it's little lights and that will do for this year. Hubby is even glad we did it now that it's done.

Reba, we put up our tree yesterday, too. I would be fine with just the lights on it, and have done it that way before. Rae, however, says that there MUST be ornaments, so she put the ornaments on today. She and Craig have been slightly mad with the decorating, and it is almost all done. For some reason, Craig got it into his head that it had to be finished today. Anyway, everyone survived, and we are all decked out. Now we can sit back and enjoy it, I guess.

Which Christmas village do you have? I have the houses from A Christmas Carol, and the girls love getting them out every year - all the kids love them, so I guess I am lucky that there are four houses in all. My favorite one is Scrooge's house.

I kind of love the idea of the tree with just lights. Classic and lovely.

I have a small village that I put out every year, but it's a hodgepodge of buildings and none from the same set. I have a Dickens train station, a library of unknown origin, a firehouse (my brother used to be a fire chief), a yarn shop, and a Joann Fabrics store. Sort of my ideal town, really. Ha!

>90 Crazymamie:, >91 scaifea: Hi Mamie and Amber. I would usually put ornaments on the tree. We've collected them on our travels and from friends and family so they're really special and I love getting them out and thinking about the trip or the person as we hang them. This year, however, it just seems too much. But I definitely plan to do it next year. I do think the tree looks awfully pretty as it is though.

I have Department 56 original village with three or four houses, a library, a church, a couple of shops and some things to make a park. It's a tight fit on the cabinet we had made to hold a huge TV originally but which is now the "buffet" in our dining room. I also have a bunch of nut crackers that will have a perfect place on the sofa table in the family room...next year :)

I love hearing about what everyone is doing and would love to see photos of your decorations...hint..hint.

I pretty much do not decorate anything at any time of the year, lol, so no pictures from me :)

>93 alcottacre: Hi Stasia -- that's OK too but, for those who are decorating, it would be nice to have a peak.

Hi Reba! I have caught up with a few threads now. I'm so sorry to hear about your sister in law, but it looked like there was a lot of support in place to help tp manage her estate. That must have been a blessing in a sad time.

I'm thrilled you enjoyed Old Filth. The whole trilogy is wonderful, as others have told you. I'm pleased to see your positive review of A Town Called Solace. I've loved the other Mary Lawson books I've read, particularly Crow Lake. I just purchased the book to give as a gift to my stepmother:) I have had A Prayer for Owen Meany on my shelf for far too long - your review should nudge me to pick it up soon! Finally, I enjoyed your review of Elizabeth Strout and her Lucy Barton books. I do remember liking Olive Kitteridge

Hope you're having a good week. I love the photo up top.

>95 AMQS: Hi Anne. Thank you for your sympathy re sister-in-law. Hubby has taken the brunt of the estate work (which has been considerable) but her house sale is finally done and now we just have to wait out probate. Hopefully in another two months or so that should be wrapped up too.

You remind me that I need to look into the other Old Filth books. It also took me a few years to finally start A Prayer for Owen Meany. As you know, my advice is to just jump into it. I'm going to go order the other Old Filth books before I put it off and forget to do it.

Happy holidays.

Well, I'm a little bit sorry you aren't able to fully decorate your new house this year, Reba, 'cause it's a lot of fun. But I'm sure you'll enjoy your Christmas plans a lot too.

>97 ronincats: Part of me was very tempted, Roni, but practicality won the day. I'm really glad you're getting to fully enjoy your new home this holiday season though (and glad we're going to spend it with family and friends we don't see the rest of the year).

Casandra at the Wedding by Dorothy Baker***1/2 (audio)

For an excellent discussion see Brenzi's discussion on her current thread. I will just give you a tiny intro.

Casandra has an identical twin, Judith. They are now 24 and have been living separately for a short time, Casandra working on a Masters at Berkeley and Judith studying at Juilliard. Judith is engaged and coming home to get married at the family ranch in the California Central Valley. Casandra is going to the ranch to be her sister's maid of honor. I seriously dislike Casandra for reasons i will leave to those who decide to read the book to discover (or not, other readers may not feel that way). The feelings were so strong in me that I had a hard time liking the book.

Read Bonnie's discussion if you want a different perspective very well written. :)

>99 RebaRelishesReading: Well that's certainly a disappointment for me Reba. I'm afraid I'll lose my spot on your list of recommended books lol. Oh well, there are plenty of others for you to move on to, which I'm sure you have.

>100 brenzi: You'll hardly lose that spot for one book with a character that hit me wrong! I usually like your picks a lot but I couldn't get over my aversion to Casandra. (sorry)

I spent some more time yesterday adding to Jeff Bezo's fortune and think I'm now finished Christmas shopping. Still have a lot to do before we leave for San Diego though: gift wrapping, cookie baking, candy making, planting two blueberry bushes, adding sand and rocks around new stepping stones -- plus just daily life stuff. A long list but I hope to get through it in time.

I also have one more pickle ball lesson before we leave. I'm making progress :) If only I can learn to serve from the left court I may be ready to join an actual game (for beginners...but an actual game).

Good luck getting through your list of things to do before you leave, Reba. Going somewhere warmer does sound wonderful but anywhere that it isn't raining most of the time sounds good right about now.

>103 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. We've made a good start. I wrapped about half the presents yesterday, packing them into large suitcases so we can take them into the hotels as we drive south. Today we planted the blueberries and got about 1/3 of the sand and rock project done. Tomorrow is supposed to be dry again so I hope we can finish then. That will pretty much have the garden put away for the winter. I am well and truly tired though which should guarantee a great night's sleep.

I managed to read To Serve Them All of My Days by R. F. Delderfield while off on my Thanksgiving vacation and loved it! I have known about Delderfield's books for years but never read any of them, so this was my first and it won't be my last. Great story where nothing happens but everything happens. I don't think they have a recorded version of this one, but reading it was a wonderful experience.

>105 benitastrnad: Glad you enjoyed it, Benita.

Started the morning by unloading 100 pounds of sand and 300 pounds of rocks from the back of the car. Hubby cheerfully (not) helped . Back inside finishing up my tea now while checking LT then must go back out and finish up spreading said sand and rock in the new path we're creating on the west side of our house. It was a wilderness when we moved in but now has two raised beds along one side and will soon have a pavers and rock path up the middle. In spring I want to plant a couple of roses and then put some of that weed barrier cloth and rock down in the flower beds along the sides. Hoping to make the yard as self-sustaining as possible since neither of us is really a gardener at heart.

>107 RebaRelishesReading: That is a lot of work, Reba.
I used to like gardening with the dogs around, they always like to be outside. I find myself caring less about the garden since they are gone.

>108 FAMeulstee: I've never been much of a gardener, Anita. We haven't had a garden at all for many years but now that we do I want it to be nice...but in a way that doesn't require much work once it's finished.

You have been busy! We are 'late' decorators re Xmas, and somehow less every year. (Laziness!).

Safe travels when you head south!

I gardened like mad during my Everything From Scratch days, but it turns out that my mold allergy applies also to my skin, by my late thirties I found my fingers would swell after being in dirt! Once I started playing harp seriously (mid-forties) that pretty much ended gardening -- I do some, with good gloves on, but nothing ambitious. More like plants in pots! Tough perennials that get weeded now and then!

>110 sibylline: Fingers swelling would make me quit gardening for sure!! I can't kneel since my knee replacements in 2013 so that inhibits me a lot since everything at ground level either requires a long-handled tool or some serious bending. I managed to plant a couple of hundred bulbs this year and get the sand and gravel around the stepping stones without falling over but I'm glad it's over. The raised beds will be a lot easier to work in when we plant them in the spring -- but we have a lawn service every week and the borders all have that weed barrier cloth under rocks so there really won't be much to do besides the beds -- at least that's what I'm telling myself :)

I just finished A Town Called Solace and loved it!

My Christmas Village, also Dept 56, is up on my mantelpiece, but we haven't gotten the tree yet--that's tomorrow's project. : )

>112 Berly: Glad you liked A Town Called Solace Kim. Sounds like your house is coming together for the holidays :) We went to the Oregon Repertory Singers Christmas concert this afternoon. Beautiful music to really put me in the mood.

See You in the Piazza by Frances Mayes***

Another book about Italy by the author of Under the Tuscan Sun and, somehow, I think she's about said it all by now and I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as her earlier books about buying and restoring a house in Tuscany. This is a travelogue of several trips taken by her and her husband (and sometimes their grandson) to various less-traveled parts of Italy. There are descriptions of small towns, small hotels and small gourmet restaurants that would be extremely useful if one were planning a trip and which provide some fun armchair travel but not enough to warrant more than three stars.

Hoping your next read is better, Reba. Thinking of you as I am listening to a Royal Spyness audio and awaiting the delivery of our new fridge.

>99 RebaRelishesReading: I will be curious to see where I lie on the Reba-to-Bonnie spectrum on that one. I just picked up a copy of the book a couple of weeks ago.

>114 RebaRelishesReading: I hope your next read is a better one for you, Reba.

Happy Tuesday!

Hi Reba! To Serve Them All My Days sounds really good. Your touchstone goes to book 2: The Headmaster. Is that the one you read? Or the first?

>115 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Has it come yet?!? See You in the Piazza was OK, just not great for me. I have a Christmas Royal Spyness waiting for me on the phone but I want to wait a bit before I start it.

>116 alcottacre: I'm curious too, Stasia. Like I said above, the last one was OK and I'm fine with that. They can't all be great. Happy Tuesday to you too :)

>117 AMQS: I haven't read it Anne. That post was from Benita. Love seeing you though :)

>117 AMQS:
The book is titled To Serve Them All My Days which turns out to be an omnibus edition of two books that were published in the UK. For some reason LT doesn't list this book without that Book 2: The Headmaster part coming up, so I just went with it. I also can't find the title of Book 1. If I could I would list it as two books instead of one and give myself credit for reading one more book on my year end totals. My book as no ISBN number in it so I couldn't trace it that way either. It does say it was published in 1972 and that was right before ISBN's became the way to track a book. It is a poor record but then I have spent most of the morning dealing with poor catalog records. I am a librarian and so find the absence of good records and the prevalence of "junk" records to be a big trial. All of this is why I put the author as well as the title in my posts - so that people could find the book.

There is a new edition of this book that was published in 2009. It has its own ISBN and a snazzy new cover in black and white. It is the same book as I read and it makes no distinction that it is an omnibus version of the book - or books, as the case may be. If you frequent used book stores you are likely to find one of the old 1970's copies like I did.

So, I will end by saying what our E-Resources librarian told me today. The record isn't correct but we can't change it, and even if we did change it, in 30 days it would revert to the old record since EBSCO overlays records.

To Serve Them All My Days is the title of the book. It is a very good book so I hope you enjoy reading it.

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs****(audio)

"A wonderful exploration of the past and the future and, most importantly, of what it means to be present in the here and now. Full of the love of words, the love of family, and the love of falling in love, The Lost and Found Bookshop is a big-hearted gem of a novel that will satisfy and entertain readers from all walks of life. Lovely!"—Garth Stein

Natalie Harper works for a winery in Angel's Camp, CA in a well-paying job that she doesn't really like. Her goal in life is stability but then she is forced to deal with change. The book is about finding your path in life, about familial love and responsibility and about a book store. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

>120 RebaRelishesReading: - that sounds like the kind of book I like to have on audio. I'll keep an eye out for it.

>118 RebaRelishesReading: Oh dear, Reba, I'm sorry! I usually try to pay better attention so that doesn't happen:) I'm trying to visit LT at school while I'm eating lunch. I typically just eat in the library and work through lunch and decided to try NOT working through lunch. But the downside are distractions! So I'll start over: Hi Reba! I got confused looking at >120 RebaRelishesReading:, as I recently finished an audiobook called The Library of the Lost and Found and the titles are similar enough that when I looked at your cover and read your review it threw me off! Yet another to add to my list.

>119 benitastrnad: Thank you, Benita! I appreciate your information, and as a fellow librarian, I get it, though in general, at the school level, (I'm an elementary school DTL) poor records don't get in our way too often, particularly when your school is as small as mine and I really know the collection well. However, it does drive our district library services catalogers crazy, and we are often given catalog clean up tasks. In any case, the book looks good (I'm a sucker for stories about Wales or Welsh people) so I will look for a copy. Thanks!

>120 RebaRelishesReading: I get to dodge that BB since I already read it :)

Happy Wednesday, Reba!

>120 RebaRelishesReading: Oh, that one looks good - adding it to the list. Thanks for the review!

>121 katiekrug: Hi Katie! It's a lovely, pleasurable book to listen to.

>122 AMQS: Don't worry about it Anne. I regularly loose track of what thread I'm on, especially if there's a lot of back and forth going on. And, yes, those are similar titles. I think yours needs to get on my list too.

>123 alcottacre: A relief, isn't it Stasia :)

>123 alcottacre: You're welcome, Amber. I think you'll enjoy it.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Rhys Bowen****1/2 (audio)

It's Georgie and Darcy's first married Christmas and they're considering having a house party when they are summoned to Sandringham to join a house party at Darcy's aunt's grace and favor house on the estate. They feel some pressure to agree so along with Georgie's mother, brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew and a few of their staff they go.

It's a fun Royal Spyness novel with a Christmas theme and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

>127 RebaRelishesReading: Sounds good. I'll wait until I get to it in the series.

>127 RebaRelishesReading: I need to get back to that series. I got off track when I was in school and need to catch up!

>128 thornton37814:, >129 alcottacre: Hi Lori and Stasia! I thought I had finished the series a few months ago but new ones seem to still becoming out so I guess not. It's OK with me because they're perfect audio books for me and often make me smile. I "sort of" saved this one to read during the holiday season but it would be good any time of year.

I'm having a milestone birthday today so the daughters, pseudo-son-in-law and grandson came over this morning with bagels, schmeer, various fresh fruits and cup cakes. Son & d-i-l Face-timed just before they arrived. Then I went and had my hair cut and am pleased with the result. All by all shaping up to be a lovely day.

My b-day gift from Hubby is the up-coming Road Scholar trip to the Pasadena Rose Parade which includes a day helping to decorate the floats, a band competition, New Years Eve dinner party, and grand-stand seats for the parade. I haven't been in nearly 40 years (and have never decorated or watched the competitions) so am looking forward to it a lot.

>131 RebaRelishesReading: Happy birthday, Reba!

Happy birthday, Reba!!!

Happy Birthday, Reba - Sounds like a fabulous gift.

Happy Birthday, Reba! And what a great gift!

Happy birthday Reba! And I love that gift -- what a memorable experience that will be.

Happy birthday! That sounds like a great trip!

Thank you Anita, Rhonda, Beth, Katie, Laura and Jim. I had a lovely day and i'm really looking forward to the trip :)

Happy Birthday Reba!

Happy Birthday. Such a nice gift. I hope you’ll be having lots of fun.

Thank you Bonnie and Ella.

Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford****1/2

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet came up in a conversation with a friend and she recommended (and loaned) this second book by Jamie Ford to me. I love them both.

Love and Other Consolation Prizes is also set in Seattle and based on actual happenings there in the early 20th century. Ernest ice the the child of a poor Chinese mother and Anglo missionary. He is put on a ship full of human cargo by his dying mother and sent to Seattle where he is first placed in an orphanage and then given s a raffle prize at the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. (This is based on the fact that the Children's Home Society auctioned a "healthy boy to a good home" at that fair.) Ernest narrates the story from 1962 when Seattle again is hosting a world's fair.

There is an underlying theme of class in all of its forms included in this interesting human story: financial class, social class, class based on color, class based on gender. In an interview printed in The Book Reporter, Ford says: "The bits about social class were like nuts baked into a cookie. They aren’t the whole confection, but their essence affects the flavor. So I couldn’t write about 1909 without reflecting class structure because it was so endemic at the time."
Well said, Mr. Ford.

So... a well written, interesting story with a thought-provoking thread running through it. Highly recommended.

>142 RebaRelishesReading: Sounds like great historical fiction Reba. I didn't know he'd written anything after Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet which I really liked.

>142 RebaRelishesReading: I liked Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet also, so I may need to add this to my TBR list.

>143 brenzi: I didn't know it either, Bonnie, but he has three out and one coming next year. Existing three are: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Love and Other Consolation Prizes and Songs of Willow Frost(2013). I plan to read Willow Frost soon. The Many Daughters of Afong Moe is supposed to be released in 2022.

>144 thornton37814: That's how I feel Lori.

We're on our way to San Diego for Christmas and decided to take the coastal route because of possible snow in the Cascades. We stopped in Bandon to have lunch with my Jr. Hi and High School best friend whom I hadn't seen for 10 years or so. Had a lovely visit with her then headed on south. In Brookings we stopped for gas and were treated to a most spectacular rainbow. It was not only a complete arc it also had all of the colors and the right half of it was double. It lasted the whole time we were there and followed us for several miles after we left. At one point it looked as though we were going to drive right into the right "foot" but, of course, it kept moving and we never caught it. What a delightful treat from Mother Earth :)

>146 RebaRelishesReading: That is a treat and then some. To an observer behind you you did go through the foot!

>147 quondame: Probably true Susan -- nice thought.

>146 RebaRelishesReading: Wow. What a sight. I'm so glad you snapped a photo!

>149 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. It really was the best rainbow I've ever seen.

Happy belated birthday from me, Reba!

amazing rainbow! Have a great time in San Diego!

>151 alcottacre: Thank you Stasia. Wishes are never late -- they just extend the season :)

>152 banjo123: Thank you too Rhonda. It was by far the best rainbow I've ever experienced. Two other cars pulled into the gas station while we were there, not to get gas but to look at and photograph the rainbow. I had to you the pano feature on my phone to get it all in one shot.

Yesterday was just a great day. Today we drove on to pick up granddaughter from college for our joint ride down to San Diego tomorrow. I estimated it would take us 5 or 6 hours to drive from Smith River, CA to Merced, CA. Boy was I wrong!! It took over 10 and I drove them all -- because I'm stubborn and because I thought I would push harder than Hubby and I had hoped to spend the afternoon exploring Merced with granddaughter. We did get to take her out to dinner this evening and then back to her dorm for her last night before Christmas/winter break between semesters. I am seriously tired tonight though. Need to get to bed because we're picking her up at 8 tomorrow for the last leg of the drive. Please, oh please, let it be faster and easier than today ... she said about driving through Los Angeles ...

>146 RebaRelishesReading: What a great photo, Reba.

The Ford book sounds like a good one. I'll add it to my already huge list for 2022.

Enjoy your holiday! Good luck with the drive.

Reba, belated Happy Birthday wishes from all of us here at the Pecan Paradisio. Your gift from hubby sounds full of fabulous. And that rainbow photo! Amazing.

Crossing my fingers for you and sending good driving mojo for your drive today. Hoping it hoes quickly and smoothly. Safe travels.

>154 BLBera: >155 Crazymamie: Thank you Beth and Mamie. The day started well with an on-time 8 a.m. departure, brunch at a favorite restaurant from 10 to 11 and a decent drive from restaurant to L.A. but after that it was tough -- I think every car in L.A., Orange and San Diego counties was on I-5 today. What a slow, exhausting slog. Bright spot was our granddaughter's delightful conversation followed by a Christmas song sing-along to her Spotify playlist. We're now at my son's house where we take over dog-sitting for two days until they return from their (Covid delayed) honeymoon. I adore these two fur grandchildren and miss having a dog of my own so spending time with them makes up for a lot of awful traffic.

>153 RebaRelishesReading: That was a grueling drive. Was the traffic that much worse that expected? I'm sorry so many of us were out and in your way today.

I'm glad you arrived safely, Reba. It sounds like you made the most of being stuck in the car. Enjoy your time with the doggos!

Whew, I'm glad that awful drive is over for you! And yay for dog sitting as a reward!

>157 quondame: Hi Susan. I don't know whether it was worse than expected but probably more than I was expecting and certainly more than I hoped for. :)

>158 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura. It was fun spending time with granddaughter but I was pretty tired by the time we got here. I am enjoying the dogs -- they're so sweet.

>159 scaifea: Thank you Amber. Off to see friends today. Son and d-i-l will be home tomorrow. Then we can enjoy the dogs with no responsibility for them (although they're very good dogs and easy to take care of).

Glad you made it safe and sound, Reba. Sorry about the slog. Have fun watching the doggies - the very best medicine for a weary traveling soul.

I've been scratching behind Molly's ear while reading threads and she's been sitting next to me holding that ear out to make it easier for me to reach while the other one is in its usual relaxed state. I adore these dogs!! Son and d-i-l come home today and they will fetch the chihuahua puppy from her sitter. We haven't met her yet but she can't possibly be as sweet as these two.


We're off to have lunch with friends in a while. All of this makes it well worth the slog.

>162 RebaRelishesReading: Beware puppy power. Even future bad dogs can be ever so delightful as puppies.

>163 quondame: They're home and we've met the puppy. She's cute and cuddly but I still very attached to Molly (black lab mix) and Mia (white maltipoo). They are SO sweet!

>162 RebaRelishesReading: Beautiful pups! Probably well-spoiled too :)

>162 RebaRelishesReading: Oh my goodness, they're so adorable!! They deserve all the scritches!

>166 scaifea: What she said.

>165 alcottacre:, >166 scaifea:, >167 Crazymamie: Thank you Stasia, Amber and Mamie. They are sweet and cuddly and playful and obedient and very good to their new tiny sister (who is most of those things too).

What is the new puppy's name?

That's quite a drive, Reba! But some really special moments on the way. You just answered the question on my thread about whether or not you would be home for Christmas!

I have a copy of Hotel on the Corner somewhere, but I haven't read it yet. Sounds like I need to find it and give it a go and then get his second - thanks for the recommendation!

I hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday with your family and doggos!

>169 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie!
She's Moxy -- because she's fierce and has a lot of moxy. She plays tug-of-war with Molly, for example :)

>170 AMQS: Hi Anne -- indeed you should :) Thank you for good wishes -- hope you and yours have one too.

Birthday Books

Finally a family member who believes me when I put books on requested "wish lists" :) In the past I'd be asked for a list, provide one only to be asked again. When I would reply that I had made one they would say "there's nothing besides books". My daughter-in-law gets it :)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald*** (audio)

I had seen the movie but never read the book so took advantage of an Audible sale recently to get a copy. I think I need to read some scholarly discussions of it in order to appreciate it.

Reba, hooray for the DIL who gets it. What a nice birthday haul. I am really wanting to read The Magician, but I am going to read The Magic Mountain first - it's one of my goals for 2022.

>171 RebaRelishesReading: LOVE it! Great name.

>173 RebaRelishesReading: This is a favorite of mine. Maureen Corrigan wrote a great book about why it is significant. It's called And So We Read On.

>172 RebaRelishesReading: So nice your DIL gets it, Reba, cudos to your child who found her :-)
"Only books" on a list is incomprehensable to non-booklovers. Way back, when we celebrarted birthdays, we had the same problem. And people like my deceased brother, who could only give not listed books HE loved, most of the time not our taste...

Oh, well done, DIL!!

>175 FAMeulstee: Craig used to go off-list, too because he "wanted it to be a surprise". My last birthday, he finally bought off the list, but not the birthday list - he bought off another of my lists on Amazon, and I love that he thinks he outsmarted me.

Or in other words: Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

>174 Crazymamie:, >177 Crazymamie: Mornin' Mamie :) And yesterday she added a fourth which arrived late, The Plateau by Maggie Paxson. We're celebrating Christmas tomorrow...can't wait to see if there are more under the tree:)

She's a lovely DIL in many ways.

Thanks for the tip on the Corrigan book. I'm not sure I care enough to read a whole book on the subject but if I can't find enough in shorter versions I may go there.

Hubby doesn't really ask for a list but he does take me to the jewelry store to browse around and point out things I would like then one of them always turns up under the tree. It's a nice tradition :>

>175 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita. It is funny how people will ask you what you want and then no believe you, isn't it?

>176 scaifea: Indeed, Amber!

>178 SandDune: and to you too, Rhian :)

>175 FAMeulstee: >177 Crazymamie: We do lots of book gifts among the three of us, but also other things - Mike has picked out a few amazing gifts for me mostly on his own - it was easier when we had a local high end craft fair and I could try on this and that and then we'd separate. I really should have gone for the emerald ring he was about to get from his favorite jeweler, but well, the work situation was about at its worst.

Becky has twice given me dolls that are adjacent to what I'd pick for myself. I think I'll have to speak up before it becomes a real habit.

Hi Reba! A beyond belated happy new thread.

>17 RebaRelishesReading: I loved the Olive Kitteridge series, and should really read the Lucy Barton series, too… so I just bit the bullet and ordered a ‘very good condition’ used copy from Amazon, due in January.

>72 RebaRelishesReading: I’m sorry to hear about your daughter’s bad reaction to the anesthesia and needing a knee replacement. I do hope she can get it sooner than later – I don’t know what doctors are thinking of when they condemn someone to major pain because something isn’t normally done for a young person.

>131 RebaRelishesReading: Belated happy birthday wishes. I never went to the Rose Parade, but went to the lot where the floats are displayed after the parade and was amazed at the level of detail in each float and the size of them.

>142 RebaRelishesReading: My friend Karen in Montana is supposed to interview Jamie Ford for the paper she works for – it’s gotten put off several times, but I mailed my copy of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet to her to have him sign it for me. He and his wife live in Bozeman.

>173 RebaRelishesReading: I’ve come to the conclusion that Fitzgerald is overrated, but I’m sure it’s just me.

>180 quondame: Merry Christmas Susan! I love book gifts but also enjoy my collection of beautiful silver jewelry. It is hard to find a way to point out that a very well meant gift isn't hitting the mark, though, isn't it?

>181 karenmarie: Hi Karen! II hope you enjoy the Lucy Barton books. I like them a lot better than the Kitteridge ones (which I liked, just a lot less).

I think the "too young" issue for new joints has to do with not wanting the new joint to wear out before the owner does and having the issue of having to replace the "new" one which, I believe, is a lot more problematic than replacing a natural joint with a new one.

Appreciate your view of Fitzgerald. Suspect I may agree.

Merry Christmas to you too.

Whether you celebrated Hanukkah, or are celebrating Christmas or Festivus or Kawanzaa, or some of them, or all of them, I hope they're joyous and lead to a happy, healthy and book-filled 2022!!

Two Among the Righteous Few by Marty Brounstein*** (ebook)

This is the story of a couple in the Netherlands who organized hiding places for Jews during WWII. They approached people they trusted and asked them to take in children, adults or sometimes who families and also raised funds and collected food from sympathetic farmers to provide for those in hiding and arranged for transportation to move the hidden from place to place. It was dangerous for all involved but they saved many lives in the process.
I knew a fair bit about the work of the "underground" in the Netherlands during that war but this provided more interesting detail. It was, however, written in a rather simplistic journal style which didn't do much to enhance the story.

We're celebrating Christmas today so the grandkids can spend tomorrow with their mother. We started with game night last night (Office Clue and Apples to Apples) then had a festive breakfast this morning. We will do presents this afternoon followed by Christmas dinner and (for Hubby and me) a candlelit Lessons & Carols at 10 p.m. We'll celebrate with the Portland family when we get home.

Happy Holidays Reba!

Have a lovely holiday, Reba.

I just read an article in the NYTimes about home libraries and being "book wrapt". I think you'll all enjoy it -- here's the link: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/24/realestate/why-do-people-keep-books.html?smid...

Enjoy!

And on the topic of libraries, d-i-l scored again by giving me this beautiful tome to drool over.

Have a wonderful day, Reba!

New thread's up :)

>189 RebaRelishesReading: what a delightful article, Reba! Thanks for sharing.

I did enjoy that article, Reba - I also like "book wrapt."

These were our family ornaments this year and, despite COVID, a merry time was had by all. I hope the same is true for you (now that you are finally done with the car trip) and here's to next year!!

>193 ronincats: Hi Roni and Anne! I thought there would be a lot of 75er's who could relate :) Glad you enjoyed it.

>195 Berly: Thanks Kim, we did have a very nice Christmas. Now to hope the trip home is easier than the trip down. We'll be going the coast route again though and hope we can avoid slick, snowy roads (although it may all be gone before we get there). Glad your Christmas was good.

Reba, when do you leave for home?

>197 Crazymamie: Tomorrow we move on the L.A. where we're doing a Road Scholar program on the Rose Parade. We'll really start home on January 2.

>198 RebaRelishesReading: Gotcha. Safe travels, Reba!

>196 RebaRelishesReading: The snow is really pretty here right now; hopefully the roads will be clear by the 2nd. ; ) Enjoy your trip!

Thanks Kim. We're coming up the coast so hope we won't have too much trouble. Besides, it's a week away.

>8 RebaRelishesReading: I also just loved A Prayer for Owen Meany. The book installed itself in my heart!
Happy New Year!

Karen O.

>202 klobrien2: Happy New Year to you too! I love your "installed itself in my heart":)

Looks like you are doing a lot of traveling this Christmas, Reba. Wonderful that it's to see family. All the best for the coming New Year.

>204 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. We have indeed been traveling a lot and I'm looking forward to being home even though I'm having a nice time on the trip -- sounds weird, doesn't it?

>205 RebaRelishesReading: Not weird at all, Reba. There's no place like home.

Hi Meg -- come see me over on my 2022 thread now that the year is really ending!

I'm glad you understand my readiness to be back home even though we're having a good time. Day after tomorrow we will start the long drive north.

Forget your stresses and strains
As the old year wanes;
All that now remains
Is to bring you good cheer
With wine, liquor or beer
And wish you a special new year.

Happy New Year, Reba.