Joanne (copperskye) Still Reading in 2022 - I

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Joanne (copperskye) Still Reading in 2022 - I

1Copperskye
Modificato: Giu 30, 2022, 8:10 pm

Whatcha reading?


Hello and welcome fellow readers! Here's to 2022 - may it be a little less interesting.

I’m Joanne and I've had a thread in the 75ers Group since 2010. Although I grew up in northern New Jersey, we moved to the front range of Colorado when I was in my late 20s and consider it home. I can't remember a sadder year for our state but I do love it here. After 30 years of working in the corporate programming offices of a couple different cable operators, I happily retired a few years ago. I'll be (good lord) 63 this month and live with my husband, a golden retriever, and a tuxedo cat. We have one son who is a grad student at the U of Illinois.

I read mostly fiction, lots of mysteries lately, and read to be entertained and enlightened. I've listed some of last year's favorites below. Last year I just made it to 75. I'm trying for more this year. I'm also trying very hard to read books off my own shelves. Sadly, that's been getting easier and easier as I keep buying more books. I generally don't review books, more just a comment or two. I'm also an avid TV watcher and love watching British mysteries.

I used to post and visit threads more than I do now and hope to get back in the habit. I'm a quiet one though, so I often just lurk. I love all the book suggestions I get here and enjoy the easy comradery of the group.

Old friends and hopefully, new friends, are more than welcome to stop by and say "Hi"! Or not. But I hope you do.

Skye and Boomer, my best girls.

2Copperskye
Modificato: Gen 1, 2022, 12:58 pm

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

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

3Copperskye
Modificato: Apr 1, 2022, 3:29 pm

Books Read in 2022

January 2022

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

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

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

4Copperskye
Modificato: Giu 30, 2022, 8:12 pm

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

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

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

5Copperskye
Modificato: Giu 6, 2022, 10:29 pm

Photo filler, just because.

6richardderus
Gen 1, 2022, 12:55 pm

So, I'm hoping this wasn't needed for your lists...?

Happy 2022, Joanne! I'm happy to see you back among the Elect. *smooch*

7PaulCranswick
Gen 1, 2022, 12:59 pm



This group always helps me to read; welcome back to the group, Joanne.

8Copperskye
Gen 1, 2022, 1:37 pm

Two of my favorite LTers!

>6 richardderus:, Nope, you're good, Richard! Thanks for stopping by!

>7 PaulCranswick: I LOVE that, Paul! It's pretty perfect!

9drneutron
Gen 1, 2022, 1:47 pm

Hiyah, Joanne! Welcome back for another fun year of reading!

10BLBera
Gen 1, 2022, 1:53 pm

Happy New Year, Joanne. I look forward to following your reading in 2022. I hope it's a good year for you.

11Copperskye
Gen 1, 2022, 2:22 pm

>9 drneutron: Hi Jim! Thank you, and thank you for keeping us all so well organized! Happy New Year!

>10 BLBera: Happy New Year, Beth! I still need to get around to the new threads.

I'm off to shovel some snow!

12FAMeulstee
Gen 1, 2022, 3:28 pm

Happy reading in 2022, Joanne!

13alcottacre
Gen 1, 2022, 3:31 pm

>2 Copperskye: Amor Towles is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. I absolutely love A Gentleman in Moscow.

Happy New Year, Joanne. I am looking forward to tons of book bullets from you this year!

14karenmarie
Gen 1, 2022, 4:01 pm

Happy New Year and happy new thread for 2022, Joanne!

15msf59
Gen 1, 2022, 5:08 pm

Happy New Year, Joanne. I like the topper post. I also like your best of list. So glad to see Mystic River on there. I was hoping to kick off the year, with The Lincoln Highway but I am stuck in library limbo with that one. Sighs...

How close were those fires to you? Boy, Colorado can't catch a darn break.

16AMQS
Gen 1, 2022, 5:15 pm

Happy New Year, Joanne! You're right - it was a really difficult year for Colorado and for many other places. Still love it, though, as you do. I'm coming along this year! Your recommendations are gold.

17ffortsa
Gen 1, 2022, 6:09 pm

Happy 2022, Joanne. Yes to a somewhat less interesting year!

18thornton37814
Gen 1, 2022, 7:03 pm

Hope your 2022 is filled with good books!

19Copperskye
Gen 1, 2022, 7:54 pm

>12 FAMeulstee: Same to you, Anita!

>13 alcottacre: All three of Towles’ books have been 5 star reads and end of year favorites for me. Can we get him to write faster, Stasia? :)

>14 karenmarie: Happy New Year to you, Karen!

>15 msf59: Happy New Year, Mark! The fires were no where near - about 30 miles away. Shocking though, where and when it was - the ‘burbs in December.

>16 AMQS: Happy New Year, Anne!

>17 ffortsa: Happy 2022 to you, Judy!

>18 thornton37814: Same to you, Lori!

20Crazymamie
Gen 1, 2022, 8:14 pm

Happy New Year, Joanne! Dropping a star and looking forward to following your reading in 2022.

21Copperskye
Gen 2, 2022, 1:53 am

>20 Crazymamie: Nice to see you, Mamie. Happy New Year to you!!

22katiekrug
Gen 2, 2022, 9:30 am

Happy new year, Joanne, and happy new thread. I'll be here for the duration :)

23figsfromthistle
Gen 2, 2022, 9:58 am

Happy new year! Beautiful topper photos.

24PaperbackPirate
Gen 2, 2022, 10:02 am

Happy New Thread!

25Donna828
Gen 2, 2022, 8:09 pm

Your opening picture makes me very happy, Joanne. Happy Reading in 2022. I am hoping for interesting books, but wouldn't mind living in duller times. We made a whirlwind trip to Brighton in late September. I hope when we go back later this year that we can arrange some sort of meetup even if it's a picnic in a park. Actually that sounds like fun!

I am a big Towles fan as well, and like Mark, I am waiting in a library queue for The Lincoln Highway. I also have Great Circle on my library list. I read 57 of my own books last year, but I still have over 600 unread books here to keep me busy while I'm waiting.

26EBT1002
Gen 2, 2022, 8:30 pm

Hi Joanne. My heart breaks for all that Colorado has experienced this past year. These recent fires were so devastating and almost incomprehensible. I know the snow was welcome when it finally arrived.

Hey, reading your intro up there.... I did my graduate work at University of Illinois. I hope your son is having a good experience.

Happy New Year to you. I'm dropping off a star and hoping to be more of a presence on LT in 2022.

27brenzi
Gen 2, 2022, 9:12 pm

Happy New Year Joanne? Your picture from your walk was a jolt for me because I thought you took it today while I'm looking out a snow clogged streets. I can't complain though because we haven't really had any snow to speak of and Colorado is dealing with those devastating wild fires. Happy reading!

28Copperskye
Gen 2, 2022, 9:26 pm

>22 katiekrug: Hi Katie, Happy New Year to you, too!

>23 figsfromthistle: Welcome figs! Thank you!

>24 PaperbackPirate: Hi Pirate! Good to see you and happy 2022!

>25 Donna828: I’m very happy to see you back, Donna! Hopefully, we can get together soon. Congrats on getting your own books read! Great Circle and The Lincoln Highway we’re both so good - enjoy!

>26 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, Welcome! The fires were awful. I learned yesterday that three people I know lost their homes. Considering the pandemic, Chris is managing pretty well and happy that he’s in a three year program since his second year was all remote from his apt. in Denver. He’s so glad to be back in Champaign with his friends and cohorts for his last year!

James Taylor and Carole King on CNN - wow, love these two!

29Copperskye
Modificato: Gen 2, 2022, 9:31 pm

>27 brenzi: Hi Bonnie! We can only hope it’s a happy 2022. We just got our first snowfall yesterday, just 3-4” here. Desperately needed though. It’s been unbelievably dry and fire season is year round now, apparently.

But we have our books to keep us sane! Happy reading!

30Copperskye
Gen 3, 2022, 1:37 am

New books for Christmas! I’m reading The Office Of Historical Corrections and its very good! I’m anxious to get to the rest.



And my best big girl, just because.

31alcottacre
Gen 3, 2022, 1:58 am

>19 Copperskye: If we can get him to write faster, do we get commissions too along with great books?

>30 Copperskye: Nice Christmas haul, Joanne!

32BLBera
Gen 3, 2022, 9:24 am

>30 Copperskye: Nice book haul, Joanne. My book club is reading The Glass Hotel this month. It's a reread for me. I don't mind though; I really liked it. I wanted to read it before her new one comes out this spring. I think some of the same characters appear.

33karenmarie
Gen 3, 2022, 10:16 am

Hi Joanne!

>30 Copperskye: Yay for lots of new books. I love Anthony Horowitz, and have added The Glass Hotel to my wish list.

Between you and Ellen mentioning An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed I just purchased An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good for my Kindle.

Lovely pic of Skye.

34witchyrichy
Gen 3, 2022, 10:26 am

Happy new year! I have read both Amor Towles books and loved them.

I just started Caste by Isabel Wilkerson and will read her first one next.

35Crazymamie
Gen 3, 2022, 1:02 pm

>30 Copperskye: Great photos, Joanne! Nice book haul. Love the one of Skye by the tree.

36scaifea
Gen 3, 2022, 1:13 pm

>30 Copperskye: Aw, I LOVE that photo of Skye! Please give her an ear skritch for me.

37AMQS
Gen 3, 2022, 1:42 pm

Great book haul, Joanne! And a wonderful photo of your sweet Skye.

38Storeetllr
Gen 3, 2022, 1:59 pm

Aw, Skye and Boomer! Give them each a pat for me. Beautiful shot in >1 Copperskye:. I sure do miss that view!

Happy New Year! Happy new thread too. Hope 2022 behaves itself

39Copperskye
Modificato: Gen 3, 2022, 8:12 pm

>31 alcottacre: I thought so, too, I just need to get to them.

>32 BLBera: I noticed that she had a new book coming out but I didn’t realize there was a connection. It’s been on my list for ages - I need to get to it. I’m glad to be reminded that you liked it, Beth!

>33 karenmarie: Hi Karen, I hope you like An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good. I thought they were fun, little murderous stories! :) Of Horowitz’s books, I’ve only read Magpie Murders and I hope his other books are as good!

40Copperskye
Gen 3, 2022, 8:19 pm

>34 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, Amor Towles’ books have all been 5 star reads for me. I will get to Caste eventually - I’ll need to be in the right frame of mind, I think.

>35 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie!

>36 scaifea: Thanks Amber! Done!

>37 AMQS: Thanks Anne!

>38 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary, I will! 2022...such a low bar...

41Copperskye
Gen 3, 2022, 8:23 pm

I love the annual reading meme and seeing everyone’s answers! Here are mine -

2021 Reading Meme:

Describe yourself: Early Morning Riser
Describe how you feel: Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket
Describe where you currently live: The Haunted Heart Of Denver
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Warmth Of Other Suns
Your favorite form of transportation is: A Pale Horse
Your favorite food is: The Book Case (I apparently need to read more books with foodstuff in the title, but this one will work!)
Your favorite time of day is: The Hour Of Land
Your best friend is: Agnes Grey
You and your friends are: Normal People
What’s the weather like: The Dry
You fear: The Madness Of Crowds
What is the best advice you have to give: Rules of Civility
Thought for the day: To Everything There is a Season
What is life for you: Feral Creatures
How you would like to die: Falling
Your soul’s present condition: A Night in the Lonesome October
What was 2021 like for you? Midwinter Murder
What do you want from 2022? This is Happiness

42richardderus
Gen 3, 2022, 8:29 pm

>30 Copperskye: I love the photo of your best big girl the most! And, of course, all those lovely books went down very well, too.

43Copperskye
Gen 3, 2022, 8:42 pm

>42 richardderus: Hiya Richard! I concur on both counts! :)

44AMQS
Gen 3, 2022, 10:16 pm

Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket LOL! I put the book on my list after your recommendation last year. That's just an awesome meme answer!

45Copperskye
Gen 4, 2022, 12:45 am

>44 AMQS: I know, right!? It actually would have worked as an answer for several of them. Sadly..

46thornton37814
Gen 4, 2022, 11:29 am

>41 Copperskye: Good answers! I loved how you feel!

47witchyrichy
Gen 4, 2022, 2:07 pm

>44 AMQS: >45 Copperskye: I am browsing LT as I wait for a meeting I don't want to attend with a person I don't have much respect for about a proposal that I have no interest in. I'm doing it to be nice and a team player. Today A Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket is exactly what I needed to see! Laughed out loud in kinship with you. I'm reminded of Network when the Albert Finney character screams out the window that he is made as hell and not going to take it anymore. It really is time for me to retire.

Fortunately, someone else from my organization will be at this meeting with me. I am hoping she takes the lead.

>39 Copperskye: And at what age can I be the elderly lady who is up to no good? That is definitely on my TBR list.

48Copperskye
Gen 5, 2022, 12:43 am

>46 thornton37814: Hi Lori, Thanks! I love the annual meme. We need more of them.

>47 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, I do not miss meetings like that! You’re going to love being retired! And lol, the older I get, the older “elderly” gets. It’s always fun to be up to no good - why wait until you’re elderly!

I meant to mention my current reads - The Office Of Historical Corrections and A Necessary Evil. Both seem to be taking me forever but I like them!

49msf59
Gen 5, 2022, 7:46 am

>30 Copperskye: Love the gift books, Joanne. That is awesome. I loved The Office Of Historical Corrections and I hope you feel the same way. The Vanishing Half was very good too.

50Copperskye
Gen 7, 2022, 1:00 pm

>49 msf59: Good morning, Mark. The Office of Historical Corrections seems like it'd be right up your alley so I'm not surprised you loved it!

51Copperskye
Modificato: Gen 7, 2022, 9:44 pm



1. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

A beautifully written novella about a man faced with a terrible choice in his small Irish village. This one will stick with me for a while. It's not often that I wish there was more to a story, not that it wasn’t wonderful in itself, just that I wanted to see the outcome and cared about the characters. 4.25 stars

52AMQS
Gen 7, 2022, 11:35 pm

>51 Copperskye: Oh, you got me with this one, and you've never steered me wrong.

53PaulCranswick
Gen 8, 2022, 12:50 am

>41 Copperskye: I'm with Anne! @ >44 AMQS: Remind me to not go supermarket shopping with you Joanne!

The Madness of Crowds is a timely one too.

Have a lovely weekend.

54alcottacre
Gen 8, 2022, 1:57 am

>51 Copperskye: That one is already in the BlackHole or I would be adding it again.

Have a wonderful weekend, Joanne!

55Donna828
Gen 8, 2022, 2:03 pm

Your first book of the new year looks interesting, Joanne. I love Irish literature. I agree with Anne. All your book recommendations have resonated with me. Have a great weekend!

56Copperskye
Gen 9, 2022, 2:37 am

>52 AMQS: Highly recommend it, Anne!

>53 PaulCranswick: Lol, I promise I won’t be the one to go mad! Actually, for a short while, after using the grocery pickup option for months, I looked forward to going to the grocery store. I had missed it! But now, with so many people walking around with no masks, or, worse, a mask below their noses (we have an indoor public space mask mandate in our county), I just want to grab what I need and go.

>54 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, it’s a good one! Happy weekend to you!

>55 Donna828: I think you’d like this one, Donna. I could certainly say the same about your (and Annes’s) recommendations. Our reading tastes are all so similar!

57Storeetllr
Gen 9, 2022, 11:24 am

>56 Copperskye: Oh! Don't the maskless/masks-worn-under-their-noses crowd just fry you! What are they thinking? No, never mind. Stupid question. They aren't.

Whew, okay, I feel better. Rant over.

Happy Sunday, Joanne!

58EBT1002
Gen 9, 2022, 2:47 pm

An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed was my first read for the year and it was great fun.
I'm now reading Great Circle and it feels like it's going to consume the rest of the month! I'm loving it but it is certainly long.

>51 Copperskye: That is already on my wish list and now I want to go ahead and click on "purchase"!

59richardderus
Gen 9, 2022, 3:50 pm

>51 Copperskye: *ow*ow*ow* book-bulleted me!

60witchyrichy
Gen 10, 2022, 11:20 am

>51 Copperskye: >58 EBT1002: Leaving with three more books moving higher up the TBR list.

61Whisper1
Gen 10, 2022, 6:32 pm

Happy New Year Joanne!

I love the photo of your girls! I remember Skye when a puppy!

I note one of your favorite books of 2021 was The Lincoln Highway. A few days ago, a long-term friend and I shared our favorite reads of 2021. She highly recommended The Lincoln Highway. It is on my tbr list.

And, The Office Of Historical Corrections is another one now on the tbr pile.

After getting read to hit the post message button, I went back and added Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

All good wishes for a wonderful 2022!

62BLBera
Gen 11, 2022, 12:21 pm

Great comments on the Keegan novella, Joanne. I am waiting for my turn for the library copy. That reminds me, though, I do have another work of hers on my shelf. I should pick that up; it's another novella, Foster.

63AMQS
Gen 11, 2022, 1:45 pm

>56 Copperskye: Mask-wearing went down a lot once vaccines rolled out. I just never felt ready to do without. Maybe it was the scarring school year. I didn't even go to Vail with the Chorale in June - just not ready to go there. But mask-wearing has steadily gone up again, but even with the mandate there are too many people without. A few weeks ago I saw a woman make her entire shopping trip with a mask dangling off of one ear.

64Crazymamie
Gen 12, 2022, 11:00 am

>51 Copperskye: I just brought this one home with me on my last library run, Joanne.

65msf59
Modificato: Gen 13, 2022, 9:25 am



^Sweet Thursday, Joanne. Have a great birthday! I am waiting for my copy of Small Things Like These to come in.

66Storeetllr
Gen 13, 2022, 11:00 am

Happy birthday, Joanne! Hope it's your best one ever!

67richardderus
Gen 13, 2022, 11:42 am


Hope it's a happy celebration, too.

68katiekrug
Gen 13, 2022, 12:50 pm

Happy Birthday, Joanne!

69Donna828
Gen 13, 2022, 1:09 pm

Have a wonderful birthday, Joanne! I remember helping you celebrate with some kind of cupcake at one of our meetups quite a few years ago when Jenn lived in CO. Good times!

I have Small Things Like These on hold at the library. Bad news: I'm No. 20 in the queue. Good news: My library system owns 6 copies. Plus, it's short so people shouldn't be keeping it the full 3 weeks.

Let us know if you get anything book related for Your Day!

70alcottacre
Gen 13, 2022, 1:12 pm

Happy birthday, Joanne! I hope it is a lovely, book-filled day.

71BLBera
Gen 13, 2022, 3:24 pm

Happy Birthday, Joanne. Many happy returns.

72AMQS
Gen 13, 2022, 6:07 pm

Is it your birthday, Joanne? I hope you have a lovely day.

73brenzi
Gen 13, 2022, 6:11 pm

Happy Birthday Joanne. You and my daughter have the same birthday. I loved the Keegan novel when I read it in December.

74PaulCranswick
Gen 13, 2022, 7:04 pm

Also piping in with birthday wishes dear Joanne.
Enjoy the rest of your day. xx

75rosalita
Gen 13, 2022, 7:27 pm

Oh! It's your birthday, Joanne? I hope you had a splendid day!

76witchyrichy
Gen 14, 2022, 8:02 am

Hope you had a wonderful birthday!

>61 Whisper1: Yes, yes, yes to Lincoln Highway. It was one my favorites from last year.

77Copperskye
Gen 14, 2022, 6:50 pm

>57 Storeetllr: Yes, it’s so annoying! Just wear it, or be an idiot and don’t, but don’t half-ass it either. I just got back from another cross country adventure and again, I was the only masked person in the hotel in Salina, KS last night. Ugh.

>58 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, Everytime I thought that Great Circle was about to bog down, Shipstead changed up the action in the story - at least it seemed that way to me. It is a chunkster though!

>59 richardderus: Hi Richard, Yay!

>60 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, At least they were already on the list?!

>61 Whisper1: Hi Linda, Thank you, it seems like only a year or so has passed since we got her. Good books, all! I hope you are doing well!

>62 BLBera: Oh, that’s interesting, Beth, thanks. A good thing to find on your shelves. I will add it to my list.

78Copperskye
Gen 14, 2022, 7:03 pm

>63 AMQS: Hi Anne, I just don’t understand the point of having it hang off an ear...
I still don’t go anywhere indoors without one.

>64 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie, I need to wander over to your thread to see what you think of it!

>65 msf59: Thanks Mark! So pretty! You’ll enjoy the Keegan.

>66 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary!

>67 richardderus: Thanks Richard - that’s quite a cake!

>68 katiekrug: Thanks Katie!

>69 Donna828: Thank you, Donna! Yes, Jenn brought me a birthday cupcake when we met at the old TC in Highlands Ranch. That was so sweet of her. Birthday gifts included a TC gift card from my long suffering husband who long ago gave up trying to stop me from buying books, and a copy of What Are You Going Through from Chris.

>70 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia!

>71 BLBera: Thanks Beth!

>72 AMQS: Thank you, Anne!

>73 brenzi: Thanks Bonnie, and happy birthday to your daughter!

>74 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul!

>75 rosalita: Yes, another year has rolled by - Thanks, Julia!

>76 witchyrichy: Thanks Karen!

79Whisper1
Gen 14, 2022, 7:39 pm



Happy belated wishes!

80Copperskye
Gen 15, 2022, 1:41 am

>79 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda! That’s a lovely sentiment.

81PaperbackPirate
Gen 15, 2022, 10:31 am

>77 Copperskye: Happy Belated Birthday!
I went to Kansas for Thanksgiving, and was the only masked person in a Subway. I thought I'm not going to die from Covid, but might possibly die from a hate crime.

82Copperskye
Gen 15, 2022, 2:18 pm

>81 PaperbackPirate: Thanks Pirate! And I absolutely hear you on the hate crime worry. I felt like I had a sign on my back saying “lefty”. Not that I had any issues, but it’s sad that it’s come to this.

83Copperskye
Modificato: Gen 16, 2022, 11:08 am



2. A Necessary Evil by Abir Mukherjee

This is the second book in the Captain Sam Wyndham series, after A Rising Man. I really liked A Rising Man when I read it last year and was looking forward to this one. It was good, but kind of dragged in the middle, and I was bothered by what I feel was an unnecessary capital punishment scene involving an elephant. I did enjoy most of the historical aspects and learning a bit about India in the 1920s and absolutely love the two main characters, Sam and, especially his sergeant, “Surrender-Not”. I’ll continue the series since I already own Smoke and Ashes, but that’ll be it if I don’t like it more than this one.

84jnwelch
Modificato: Gen 15, 2022, 6:46 pm

Happy New year, Joanne. I love that photo of the sky up top. Nice ones of Skye and Boomer, too.

I see lots of books that make me smile! Warmth of Other Suns is so good, isn’t it. I wasn’t quite as sold on Rules of Civility, but I had fun reading Lincoln Highway.

>30 Copperskye:. I got a kick out of the Anthony Horowitz mysteries.

I’n glad someone mentioned Caste. Another great one from her.

>41 Copperskye:. “Like”. Especially “Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket”. Now I have to look for that book!

Belated happy birthday wishes - I hope you had a good one.

85Whisper1
Gen 15, 2022, 7:14 pm

Good evening Joanne. I added A Necessary Evil to the tbr pile. I've studied a lot about India in the 1940's when they were still under British domination. The breakup of Pakistan and India was a bloody mess.

86bell7
Gen 15, 2022, 8:22 pm

Happy belated birthday, Joanne!

87Copperskye
Gen 16, 2022, 11:14 am

>84 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe! The Warmth of Other Suns was a sometimes difficult read and when I’m ready for it, I absolutely will read Caste.

>85 Whisper1: Good morning, Linda! Have you read the first in that series, A Rising Man? I recommend it first. Also The Widows Of Malabar Hill is another good read with a lot of history and also takes place in India of the 1920s.

>86 bell7: Thank you, Mary!

88Copperskye
Gen 18, 2022, 8:57 pm



3. The Office Of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans

A fabulous collection of six short stories and a novella. My favorites were Boys Go to Jupiter and Anything Could Disappear. Evans’ characters are compelling and the storylines emotionally complex with some surprising twists. Highly recommended!

89msf59
Gen 19, 2022, 7:48 am

Hooray for The Office Of Historical Corrections! I loved that collection, as well. Sure hope she delivers another one.

90witchyrichy
Gen 19, 2022, 10:07 am

Happy belated birthday! Lots of good reading going on.

91BLBera
Gen 19, 2022, 2:17 pm

>88 Copperskye: I'm happy that this one is already on my list.

My sister was in a parking ramp with her two grandchildren, both of whom had on masks and both were laughing and having a good time when a man came up to her and said, "Get those masks off those kids! Are you crazy?" She was taken aback, to say the least. It's not like the kids were crying that they couldn't breathe. People are just nuts.

92AMQS
Gen 19, 2022, 2:23 pm

>88 Copperskye: Joanne, this looks really good. Thank you - your recommendations are always wonderful.

>91 BLBera: Oh Beth, I have no patience for this. I would have likely been stunned into silence, but as someone who wears a mask all day every day and teaches in a mask (teaches kids who wear masks all day every day) I just can't tolerate people who complain so much. I would also have made up a story in my head about him, which I sometimes do to keep from being angry all the time. Like, maybe he's been in a coma for the past three years and doesn't understand why all of the masks everywhere.

93Copperskye
Modificato: Gen 20, 2022, 7:35 pm

>89 msf59: Have you read Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self, Mark? I guess I need to keep an eye out for that one.

>90 witchyrichy: Thank you, Karen!

>91 BLBera: I think you’d read like the Evans book, Beth! That’s a scary and very sad story. Just the type of person/comment you’d like to push back on but probably much safer not to. I’ve seen so many kids wearing masks, seemingly happily, certainly uncomplainingly, that some adults could learn from.

>92 AMQS: Hi Anne, I think you’d like her stories, too! And lol to your maybe he’s been in a coma thoughts. Very forgiving of you!

94PaulCranswick
Gen 22, 2022, 12:46 pm

Wishing you a lovely weekend, Joanne.

>88 Copperskye: I will definitely look out for that one.

95Copperskye
Gen 22, 2022, 8:59 pm

>94 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul! I hope your weekend is going well!

96msf59
Gen 22, 2022, 9:09 pm

>93 Copperskye: No. I did not realize Evans had another story collection out. Sweet.

97Donna828
Gen 23, 2022, 7:30 pm

Hi Joaane. My grandkids don't have a problem with wearing masks. I know they would prefer to wear a mask and stay in school rather than revert to online "learning" which is their status for next week...and maybe longer. We were doing just fine with a mask mandate for the first semester, but our state government is threatening to sue districts that require masks so the mandate was dropped after Christmas and now Covid is rampant among both teachers and students. These are crazy times!

I'm still waiting for Small Things Like These from my library...

98Copperskye
Gen 25, 2022, 12:51 am

>96 msf59: Just in case you didn’t have enough books to read, Mark.

>97 Donna828: Hi Donna, It’s so nice to have you back and posting again! I hope you’re feeling better. Ugh. Some kids are doing a great job being role models even as so many adults have sadly abandoned that responsibility. Perhaps there is hope for the future!

99PaulCranswick
Gen 25, 2022, 4:09 am

>97 Donna828: I really don't see the argument for not wearing masks in schools at least during interactions. It may be tough to wear them the whole school day long but - as long as it is a decent mask and not a simple cloth one - they clearly do provide a modicum of protection.

100Copperskye
Gen 25, 2022, 7:22 pm

>99 PaulCranswick: Well, no rational argument anyway.

101Copperskye
Gen 25, 2022, 7:31 pm



4. State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louis Penny

This was a decent political thriller. It’s not a genre I usually read because the plots always seem to be both absurd and scarily plausible. Same here. Was it obvious, reading the sentence fragments, that Penny wrote it? Yes (the fragments work better here than in the Three Pines books). Did Clinton have an axe to grind? Yes (but I don’t blame her). Will I read a follow-up by this pair? Yes, please!

102richardderus
Gen 25, 2022, 10:31 pm

>101 Copperskye: Yes, please!

Aaannnd sold!

103Copperskye
Gen 28, 2022, 4:26 pm

>101 Copperskye: Hi Richard, enjoy! :)

104BLBera
Feb 3, 2022, 12:01 pm

>101 Copperskye: This does sound like a fun one, Joanne. One of these days. I know the library list is super long, but I think my mom has a copy, so it might not take me a year to read it.

105Copperskye
Feb 3, 2022, 9:09 pm

>104 BLBera: it was a quick, entertaining read, Beth!

106alcottacre
Feb 3, 2022, 9:16 pm

>88 Copperskye: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Joanne!

>101 Copperskye: Dodging that BB as I have already read it.

Have a fantastic Friday!

107Copperskye
Feb 3, 2022, 9:28 pm



5. Maigret Enjoys Himself by Georges Simenon

This is my new favorite Maigret novel. In this 50th (!) installment of a series I’m not reading in any particular order (nor do I plan on reading them all), French police detective Maigret is technically on leave, but circumstances have kept him and his wife in Paris. When a sensational murder happens, he’s forced to watch from the sidelines, checking the twice daily newspaper reports and surreptitiously assisting his department solve the crime. I seem to especially like the books where Madame Maigret plays a larger role as she did in this one.

108alcottacre
Feb 3, 2022, 9:31 pm

>107 Copperskye: I still have not managed to read 1 of Simenon's books! I really need to get to them at some point.

109Copperskye
Feb 3, 2022, 9:40 pm



6. An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Turstan

This is the second little book about Swedish school teacher, Maud, an octogenarian who you really don’t want to get on the wrong side of. But she also happens to have a heart of gold. Charmingly vicious stories!

110Copperskye
Feb 3, 2022, 10:04 pm

>106 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! It’s a good one! Enjoy your weekend!

>108 alcottacre: I’ve liked some more than others but there are a lot to chose from!

111alcottacre
Feb 3, 2022, 10:05 pm

>110 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne!

112brenzi
Feb 3, 2022, 10:12 pm

>109 Copperskye: "Charmingly vicious".....I love that Joanne. I read the first one and need to find this one.

113Copperskye
Feb 4, 2022, 6:53 pm

>112 brenzi: Hi Bonnie, If you liked the first one, you can’t go wrong with this one!

114richardderus
Feb 4, 2022, 6:57 pm

"Charmingly vicious" almost won me over to read the stories. I just can't bring myself to read Forrest-Gump-meets-Dexter-via-100-Year-Old-Man stuff with my ever-fewer remaining eyeblinks.

But you have come the closest!

note to self avoid Joanne like she gots the cooties

115figsfromthistle
Feb 4, 2022, 8:20 pm

>107 Copperskye: I like that series. I had forgotten about it though. Thanks for the reminder.

Happy weekend!

116Donna828
Feb 5, 2022, 8:34 pm

I'm waiting for the first Elderly Lady book, Joanne. These books sound like fun reads. I mean, who doesn't like a charmingly vicious story, right?

I hope your recent snow has evaporated by now. We got six inches a few days ago and it's still around. No walks for this elderly lady until the icy roads clear off.

117PaulCranswick
Feb 5, 2022, 10:01 pm

Stay warm and safe, Joanne.

Good excuse for a hot toddy and a good book.

118Copperskye
Feb 6, 2022, 7:50 pm

>114 richardderus: Hi Richard! I don’t get that vibe at all from Maud. But at least I almost got you. :( Come back...I don’t have cooties!

>115 figsfromthistle: Hi Figs! Hope you have a good week!

>116 Donna828: Hi Donna, We got about a foot of snow but you know how it is here - sunny blue skies are making quick work of it. 6” is unusual for you, isn’t it? Sounds like a lot to me for southern MO.

>117 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, It’s nice to have an excuse, isn’t it? ;) Hope you have a great week!

119richardderus
Feb 6, 2022, 8:19 pm

*peers fearfully around the corner*
hijoannehopeyoureokaywellgottago
*skedaddles before cooties climb on*

120witchyrichy
Feb 12, 2022, 11:55 am

>101 Copperskye: I really enjoyed this book despite, like you, not normally reading these kinds of thrillers. And I am definitely looking forward to the next one. Have you tried the Bill Clinton/James Patterson books? They were fun but not as good as this duo.

Happy weekend!

121Whisper1
Feb 12, 2022, 12:06 pm

>87 Copperskye: hi Joanne. I haven't read A Rising Man. I will read this book first. Thanks!

122Copperskye
Feb 19, 2022, 7:48 pm

>119 richardderus: Lol!

>120 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, I haven’t tried the Patterson/Clinton books. I think I did read one of Patterson’s books many, many years ago, but that’s about it. Did you see the news about a movie based on State Of Terror? Could be good. Hope all is well with you!

>121 Whisper1: Excellent, Linda! :) I bet you’d enjoy Sujata Massey’s Perveen Mistry series, too (India, same time period, female attorney).

123Donna828
Feb 19, 2022, 8:20 pm

Hi Joanne. It's good to see you posting again. I was getting worried that you were still buried in snow. I read my first "Elderly Lady" book and thought it was a hoot. Thank you for calling Maud to my attention.

124Copperskye
Feb 19, 2022, 10:55 pm

Hi Donna! I was just visiting your thread. We’ve been so lucky with all our snow this year, but I’m getting a little tired of it. And since it’s Colorado, we’re enjoying sunshine and 60s this weekend before Monday’s expected deep freeze and more snow. And I love that you loved Maud!!

125PaulCranswick
Feb 19, 2022, 11:31 pm

>120 witchyrichy: I am a little bit inclined against Patterson's franchising of novels. It seems to take the art our of it. What did Bill write, what did James contribute? He has made a habit of this type of "work" in the last couple of decades and for me it is selling books under false pretences.

Guy has "written" like a million books!

126Copperskye
Feb 20, 2022, 12:00 am

>125 PaulCranswick: He does seem to use a slew of “co-authors”, doesn’t he? Kind of like an assembly line. I do appreciate that he gives back to bookstores through his giving program. But then, he is one of the wealthier/est authors out there.

127PaulCranswick
Feb 20, 2022, 12:16 am

>126 Copperskye: I know of no other author who has an entire bookshelf to his books in Kino as he does. I cannot criticise or even critique his work as I haven't read any of it - I have some friends who swear by him - but I just don't care for putting your name to a book if your role in it has been limited to say the least.

128Copperskye
Feb 20, 2022, 1:31 am

>127 PaulCranswick: I’m unfamiliar with the bulk of his writing but he certainly did figure out how to create a successful brand. And make money at it. And folks seem to like what he puts out. To each his own. *shrug*

129msf59
Feb 20, 2022, 9:48 am

Happy Sunday, Joanne. Glad you were enjoying some sunshine and milder temps. Seeing that Ellen was in Hawaii, reminded me that you both have gone annually. Has this just been postponed because of Covid?

130karenmarie
Feb 20, 2022, 10:50 am

Hi Joanne!

Just trying to catch up, without much success. I'm not sure I'd love tomorrow's deep freeze and more snow that you're going to get, but I would like at least one light snowfall before the end of winter.

131Copperskye
Feb 21, 2022, 11:55 am

>129 msf59: Good morning, Mark! Today will be or last warmish one until next weekend and we still have a bit of sunshine before snow and cold. Good staying in and reading weather! Covid definitely put a crimp on our annual Maui trips. We’re still hesitant to travel plus John’s chronic back issues have gotten worse so we just have to play it by ear. :(

>130 karenmarie: Hi Karen! We’ve been getting snow every week for the past month or so which is really rather a good thing! At least we get a break in between with sun and light fleece jacket weather. I feel bad for my son in central Illinois - he’s not used to the constant cold, ice, and snow they’ve been having. Not that he’s complained, but he’s so used to being able to run and bike and hang out on patios mid-winter.

132Copperskye
Modificato: Feb 21, 2022, 12:36 pm



7. Little Souls by Sandra Dallas

Sandra Dallas’ latest historical fiction novel is well researched with a great sense of time and place. Taking place in Denver during the flu pandemic of 1918, she tells the story of two young women, sisters, who are trying to adopt an orphaned girl. This book evolved into a much darker story than I had expected and certainly darker than other books that I’ve read by Dallas, but the storytelling was excellent and I enjoyed it.

What didn’t sit right for me seemed to be the lack of urgency dealing with the pandemic. I didn’t feel the sense of horror that I should have felt at the thought of bodies left in corner lots and the risk of death so imminent for the nurse and doctor characters. Maybe it had to do with the perspective of a young and rather naive narrator and/or what we are living with now, but that bugged me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read. The release date is April 26.

133Copperskye
Modificato: Feb 21, 2022, 3:02 pm



8. Ghosting the News: Local Journalism and the Crisis Of American Democracy by Margaret Sullivan

At 95 pages, I wish there would have been more to this but there is a list of “further reading” included. I’m an avid newspaper reader and have been a subscriber to our Denver Post since 1987 (and also the Rocky Mountain News until its demise). Today, the local daily is a mere shadow of its former self thanks to its hedge fund owner bleeding it dry. There’s the new Colorado Sun available digitally, with some of the former writers of the print dailies, and some of the TV reporters are picking up the slack, but nothing matches the old school newspaper to page through. Interesting little read if you care about the subject and its future, but it’s all rather frightening.

134Storeetllr
Feb 21, 2022, 3:26 pm

Hi, Joanne! Sorry you aren't getting to take your annual Maui trip but better to be cautious. Also sorry to hear John's back issue is worse.

I read one Patterson book (The Murder of King Tut), which I absolutely hated, so I've never read another of his. (Not only was the research lacking, but I thought the writing was abysmal.) Anyway, it might have been a one-off, but I don't have time to try more by him when there's so much else out there.

>132 Copperskye: Reading Truman, and the 1918 pandemic is mentioned in passing. I was surprised that it's effects weren't discussed more fully; it was barely a postscript.

135AMQS
Feb 21, 2022, 10:19 pm

>133 Copperskye: I miss the paper. I stopped subscribing to the Denver Post when Jeffco had its awful school board. I felt like i was paying to see me and my colleagues trashed and i was done. I kept subscribing for longer than I wanted because Callia enjoyed reading the paper, so I kept it even though the rates increased astronomically. I used to go to the public library to read it after I stopped subscribing, but even that is not worth it. As you say, it is a mere shadow of its former self.

136thornton37814
Feb 22, 2022, 6:45 am

>135 AMQS: I miss the papers like they USED TO BE. What we get now is not worth the paper on which it is printed.

137Storeetllr
Feb 22, 2022, 1:21 pm

>133 Copperskye: >135 AMQS: >136 thornton37814: I get a local New Jersey newspaper, but it arrives a couple of weeks late. (My daughter's father-in-law brings them to me to use for Nickel's cage.) I admit to reading it sometimes, even though it's late, and have been impressed by some of the content to the point of considering subscribing to it. I subscribe to the digital versions of The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times but refuse to subscribe to the New York Times.

138richardderus
Feb 22, 2022, 2:51 pm

>133 Copperskye: It could easily have been 500pp...or 30pp...there's no way to tell more than a slice of the story, really, which is what They *vigorous hand-wave* are counting on.

139brenzi
Feb 22, 2022, 6:28 pm

>133 Copperskye: Ohhhhh Margaret Sullivan was an editor at the Buffalo News back many many years ago, Joanne. Then she went to The NY Times where she was the public editor for quite a while and now she's at the Washington Post. I was a real fan of her editorials when she was here in Buffalo so I followed her career. Our paper is also a shadow of its former self. Actually I think it's true all over the country.

140Copperskye
Feb 22, 2022, 7:50 pm

>134 Storeetllr: I wonder if we’re more attuned to a flu pandemic because of the situation we’re in now. If you were reading that 5 years ago would you have noticed that it was hardly mentioned? I think that’s a lot of it.

>135 AMQS: Hi Anne, Every now and then I think about canceling. John reads much more of it then I do.

>136 thornton37814: Hi Lori, I buy it for the local stories but they keep cutting staff writers.

>137 Storeetllr: Lol, and I thought we had late deliveries. :) I bet it’s either The Record or the Star-Ledger, two of the few remaining papers I grew up with.

>138 richardderus: Keep them dumb, Richard.

>139 brenzi: I’m a fan, too, Bonnie. And she talked about the Buffalo paper, of course.

141thornton37814
Feb 22, 2022, 7:58 pm

>140 Copperskye: I used to subscribe to my hometown paper, but it would arrive a couple weeks later in shreds (from the mail sorting machines). By then I'd already read the stories online or heard them from people living in town.

Where I live, the paper is the worst paper I've seen in my life. They give very little local news. They publish six days a week. The paper in the county where I work is better. It used to come out twice a week but now is weekly. I can read both of them at the library where I work. I spend very little time with the one from where I live and more time with the one where I work.

142Copperskye
Feb 22, 2022, 8:00 pm



9. Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

I read the 6th book in this series, The Twelve Clues Of Christmas, back in December when I was looking for something Christmasy. This is not my usual fare, and I didn’t expect to get reeled into a new series, but the voice of Lady Georgiana, 34th in line to the British throne, is so fresh and fun that she’s hard to resist. This first in the series was also good, escapist fun!

143Copperskye
Feb 22, 2022, 8:15 pm



10. Force Of Nature by Jane Harper

An engaging thriller about a woman who goes missing during a weekend corporate wilderness retreat.

144Copperskye
Modificato: Feb 24, 2022, 3:32 pm



11. The Maid by Nita Prose

A fun little hotel murder mystery with quirky characters. Probably not for everybody but I enjoyed it.

145Copperskye
Feb 22, 2022, 8:31 pm

>141 thornton37814: Not for lack of trying on the staffers part, I’m sure. And a paper in literal shreds! Truly useless.

146katiekrug
Feb 22, 2022, 8:32 pm

I also recently read (listened to) the first in the Royal Spyness series and really enjoyed it.

147PaulCranswick
Feb 22, 2022, 8:56 pm

>133 Copperskye: Thank you for that review, Joanne.

As you may have noticed from my own writings on my thread, I am increasingly alarmed at the breakdown and corruption (in terms of the ethics of journalism and objectivity) of the mainstream media. The newspaper medium has been hugely degraded by the dumbing down of public discourse by social media forums such as twitter, FB, instagram etc., and TV "news" has become spouters of opinion with agenda from Fox to CNN to MSNBC to the BEEB and UK Channel Four and the rest of them.

All of this has impacted and found its way into the newspapers. Of course circulation has impacted the local newspapers to the extent that it has restricted their ability to employ enough journalists who can be studied, considered and fair. This unfortunately has been replicated into the national and international press and serves to polarise and divide people rather than looking at real news and inculcating universal values as they used to do more regularly.

I love newspapers and magazines and still subscribe to an unreasonable number - NYT, WSJ, Times, Guardian, Yorkshire Post, Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, Spectator, New Statesman and Literary Review but they are not what they once were.

148richardderus
Feb 24, 2022, 4:36 am

>144 Copperskye: I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, too! Silly thing but very amusing.

I'm awake at this ridiculous hour because I'm in pain from the revolting weather. But the heck with that, I used my time to tart up my last few Black History Month reviews, fixing some stuff and getting my final count: I'll have blogged 29 new reviews this month, averaging one a day.

Very pleased with myself. PLUS my new thread's got, in its first two days of existence, four new reviews in it, another personal best.

Maybe I can't sleep but I sure can putter.

149Copperskye
Modificato: Feb 24, 2022, 2:57 pm

>146 katiekrug: Hi Katie, And I just finished the second in the series. It’s turned into a comfort-read series for me.

>147 PaulCranswick: Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Paul. It’s sad what’s happened to journalism. And many people can’t seem to tell the difference between opinion and fact, whether from laziness or lack of critical thinking skills. I don’t see it getting any better but I do know there are at least a few good journalists out there doing their best in the midst of corporate greed and shrinking readership.

>148 richardderus: Hi Richard, Sounds like you were putting your night owl time to good use! I need to check out your new reviews. I, too, was up late last night but glued to the coming horrors in Ukraine. Not conducive to a good night’s sleep. But I did manage to finish a book at 2am, so that’s something.

150Copperskye
Feb 24, 2022, 3:09 pm

Wordle 250 4/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Today’s word was almost my third guess, but I thought, nah, you read too many British mysteries!

151richardderus
Feb 24, 2022, 4:14 pm

>150 Copperskye: Ha! I know a lot of us Murruhkuhnz probably thought that.

152FAMeulstee
Feb 26, 2022, 5:46 am

>150 Copperskye: >151 richardderus: I'll never know these differences, all foreign to me ;-)

154Donna828
Mar 4, 2022, 8:07 pm

>132 Copperskye: Hi Joanne. I've read some Sandra Dallas books and find them enjoyable. I'll look forward to this one later in the year. It will be interesting to see how Covid-19 and its variants appear in the literature of the future.

I love reading real newspapers as compared to news stories online. Our paper is becoming a joke, though, because of the lack of depth in the reporting. I think we get it because my DH likes the crossword puzzle. I do the Jumble and read the bridge column that is in it 3 times a week.

I can't watch the news at night. When I did during the first days of the Ukranian crisis I found it nearly impossible to get to sleep. What a sad situation.

155PaulCranswick
Mar 5, 2022, 8:34 am

Dropping by to wish you a lovely weekend, my friend.

156Copperskye
Mar 6, 2022, 1:22 am

>154 Donna828: Hi Donna, I’ve read a lot of Sandra Dallas’s older books but then kind of jumped off the wagon. It’s been a while since I’ve read anything new by her but this one was fine.

It’s so sad what’s going on in Ukraine. Unbelievable.

>155 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! Happy Sunday to you!

157Copperskye
Mar 10, 2022, 5:52 pm



12. A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen

This is the second book in Bowen’s Royal Spyness series. I could see the outcome of the cozy mystery a mile away, but I find Georgiana very endearing (also, unfortunately, very naive) so the book was still entertaining.

158Copperskye
Mar 10, 2022, 6:18 pm



The Lewis Man by Peter May

Wow, this second book in the Lewis Trilogy was even better than the first (The Blackhouse). The well-preserved body of a murdered young man is found buried in a peat bog on Lewis and DNA evidence indicates he was related to a Lewis resident, Tormad MacDonald. Tormad, who had raised his family on Lewis and had always claimed to be an only child, suffers from dementia and can’t explain who it might be. Fin Macleod, back on Lewis after leaving the Edinburgh police force, realizes that Tormad will be a prime suspect in the murder and works to uncover the truth, but his digging only opens up more questions. Meanwhile, we are privy to Tormad’s heartbreaking remembrances of his childhood, sure that something terrible will happen but unsure as to who or why. Beautifully done!

159Copperskye
Mar 10, 2022, 6:35 pm



14. Maigret and the Good People Of Montparnasse by Georges Simenon

Another smart, delightful installment in this long-running French series starring Inspector Maigret. I’m finding the later books to be better than the earlier ones. This is number 58 and, thankfully, reading in order doesn’t seem to be necessary.

160rosalita
Mar 10, 2022, 9:55 pm

>158 Copperskye: Agreed! The passages from Tormad's POV were heartbreakingly realistic, weren't they? And now you must read the final book in the trilogy!

161thornton37814
Mar 11, 2022, 8:04 am

>159 Copperskye: Maybe I should try later ones because I didn't like the earlier ones that much.

162Copperskye
Mar 11, 2022, 2:41 pm

>160 rosalita: Hi Julia! I couldn’t agree more about starting the next one. I was a little annoyed with myself when I started The Lewis Man because I had waited so long to read it and had forgotten a lot of the details in The Blackhouse (thankfully May did a good job jogging my memory). I have The Chess Men right here and it’ll be the next book I start.

>161 thornton37814: Hi Lori, Simenon probably isn’t for everyone, and I haven’t read all that many of them, but I recommend a later one if you’re going to give him another shot.

163richardderus
Mar 11, 2022, 2:48 pm

Hiya Joanne, happy weekend-ahead's reads.

>158 Copperskye: I liked the Lewis Man well enough, but my favorite of his was Coffin Road. Really good read indeed. He's very, very good at bringing multiple strands together, like Simenon.

164Copperskye
Mar 11, 2022, 3:12 pm

>163 richardderus: Hi Richard! Duly noted! I checked and my library has a copy, both physical and digital (I like having both available!). LT notes that Coffin Road is a Lewis Trilogy “tangent”. Are the characters the same or the location?

165richardderus
Mar 11, 2022, 3:17 pm

>164 Copperskye: The location is the same, but they don't share actual characters. I was a bit surprised that they didn't as I read along, to be honest!

166alcottacre
Mar 11, 2022, 3:17 pm

Well, I am only 50+ posts behind and not even trying to catch up. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

167BLBera
Mar 12, 2022, 10:27 am

Hi Joanne. I need to give Peter May a try. I think I would like those books.

168Copperskye
Mar 12, 2022, 11:18 am

>165 richardderus: That does seem kinda’ odd. It’s not like it’s a big place.

>166 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! Happy weekend to you!

>167 BLBera: Hi Beth! I’ve only read the two, but I think you would like them.

169Storeetllr
Mar 12, 2022, 12:43 pm

>158 Copperskye: And just like that, wham! Hit by a bb straightaway. I've just borrowed the audio of The Blackhouse from the library. As if I don't have enough books in the TBLT (to-be-listened-to) queue.

Hope you're having a great weekend, Joanne! We're having a snow day. Well, snow and sleet. Next week is spring, and my tulips have started coming up, but Winter's not giving up without a fight!

170brenzi
Mar 12, 2022, 6:27 pm

I also loved the Peter May trilogy Joanne. Once I started I went through them in a mad rush. So good. I still have to read Coffin Road.

171alcottacre
Mar 12, 2022, 6:36 pm

I am going to have to give some of Peter May's books a try. They sound right up my alley!

172Copperskye
Modificato: Mar 24, 2022, 8:51 pm

>169 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, Nice to see you! I think you’ll like The Blackhouse. I’m reading the third book in the trilogy and like it as well. I’d be interested in hearing the accent on the audio version. We’ve been having snow every week and it’ll be in the high 70s over the weekend. Springtime on the Front Range!

>170 brenzi: I’ll definitely be reading more, Bonnie!

>171 alcottacre: They’re very good, Stasia. With a wonderful sense of place.

173Copperskye
Mar 29, 2022, 3:36 pm



15. Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor

The story of an older widow who moves into a hotel with other elderly occupants and their shared experiences and quasi-friendships. Sweet, sometimes humorous, and, ultimately, very sad. I liked it so much that I immediately purchased another by Taylor, At Mrs Lippincote's.

174alcottacre
Mar 29, 2022, 3:39 pm

>173 Copperskye: Dodging that BB as I have already read that one!

Happy Tuesday, Joanne!

175Copperskye
Mar 29, 2022, 3:40 pm



16. Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen
The third book in the Royal Spyness series. Popcorn, but I think I need a break.

176Copperskye
Mar 29, 2022, 3:48 pm



17. The Girls on the Shore by Ann Cleeves

This is a Matthew Venn “short story”. Matthew notices two young, unaccompanied girls on the beach, takes them home, calls DS Rafferty, and contacts their mother who explains the issues involving the girls. The description says it’s 36 pages but it’s more like 12. Wholly unsatisfying.

177alcottacre
Mar 29, 2022, 4:01 pm

>176 Copperskye: Wholly unsatisfying.

Ouch! Hoping your next read is better for you.

178Copperskye
Mar 29, 2022, 4:01 pm



18. The Chessmen by Peter May

This is the final book in May’s Lewis Trilogy and I know I’ll miss the characters. I didn’t like it quite as much as the first two, which I loved, but it was a good conclusion. I love the way May weaves the lives and backgrounds of his characters to tell their stories.

I abandoned two books this month, both of which I’d looked forward to and got pretty far into (I give up on a lot of books after just a few pages but rarely after 50-100 pages). Both were new releases by authors I usually enjoy - Thrity Umrigar’s Honor and Stewart O’Nan’s Ocean State. I just didn’t have the energy anymore for the tragedies in either of them.

179Copperskye
Mar 29, 2022, 4:02 pm

>177 alcottacre: At least it was extremely short (which was the problem)!

180alcottacre
Mar 29, 2022, 4:03 pm

>179 Copperskye: There is that.

181msf59
Mar 29, 2022, 6:27 pm

Hey, Joanne! Sorry about the birthday snafu! LOL. But I am glad you are doing well, out west.

Any feeder action?

182alphaorder
Mar 29, 2022, 6:43 pm

>173 Copperskye:. This book sure has stuck with me!

183Copperskye
Modificato: Mar 29, 2022, 9:03 pm

>174 alcottacre: I hope you liked it as much as I did, Stasia!

>181 msf59: No apology needed, Mark. Lol. It was nice to hear from you! Same old, same old at the feeders. Mostly house finches, chickadees, and nuthatches. We still have our winter juncos and the goldfinches are reappearing. Quiet out there today. I think they’re all hiding from the rain.

>182 alphaorder: Hi Nancy, I think it’ll stick with me for a while, too. It was very moving.

184Copperskye
Apr 2, 2022, 11:12 pm

Springtime!

185rosalita
Apr 2, 2022, 11:44 pm

>184 Copperskye: We're not there yet in Iowa, Joanne, but I have my fingers crossed that it won't be long!

186Copperskye
Apr 3, 2022, 12:46 am

>185 rosalita: I’ve lived here long enough to know it won’t last, Julia, but enjoying it while I can. :) I hope some warm weather finds you soon!

187richardderus
Apr 3, 2022, 8:50 am

Hi Joanne! Wandering by for a Spring visit. I relate to >184 Copperskye:...though it's colder today than yesterday, it's still not COLD and that's good enough for me.

188BLBera
Apr 3, 2022, 12:06 pm

Both the Taylor and the May books have been on my WL forever, Joanne. Maybe in retirement, I'll be able to get to some of these.

189Storeetllr
Apr 3, 2022, 2:21 pm

>184 Copperskye: Don't tease me, Joanne, and don't listen to Richard. It's still winter here - cold and rainy and altogether ugly out there. Although I'm glad I'm here with my kids and grands, and being able to get to know them and watch them grow is one of the best parts of my life, I miss Colorado. Yes, there's snow and cold during the winter, and HEAT during the summer (but it's a dry heat), there's also so much more sunshine. Oh, well, it's almost spring, and that's definitely a good thing!

190AMQS
Apr 3, 2022, 2:33 pm

We've been enjoying the spring weather, but Stelios, who has lived here for nearly 30 years, asked if we should start planting things. Um... apparently he hasn't remembered the not until Mother's Day rule?

191msf59
Apr 3, 2022, 6:44 pm

>184 Copperskye: Smiles...

We went on a short hike today, with Bree, Jack and Duke. Hope to do this more often as it begins to warm up. Still seeing juncos in the backyard too. Also had a male goldfinch stop by in his summer plummage.

Happy Sunday, Joanne.

192PaulCranswick
Apr 3, 2022, 8:19 pm

In a place devoid of seasons, Joanne, I can enjoy your fresh air vicariously but also with just a smidgeon of envy.

Have a great week.

193Donna828
Apr 3, 2022, 9:39 pm

I'm glad you got some good weather, Joanne. We enjoyed some park time today before the 3 days of possible rain descends on us. Ugh. I am going to try Peter May books someday...I think I've been saying that for awhile. Too bad you had to bail on the new one by Stewart O'Nan. I have a few of his that I haven't gotten to yet so will read them first. I know you're a fan and I trust your judgment.

194Copperskye
Apr 4, 2022, 10:09 pm

>187 richardderus: Hi Richard, Not cold is sometimes the best we can hope for.

>188 BLBera: Hi Beth, I know you have a lot of good reading to look forward to when you retire!

>189 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, 40° in cloudy NY is much, much colder than 40° in sunny CO. Spring will be here shortly and soon we’ll be complaining of the heat! :)

>190 AMQS: Hi Anne, But it’s soooo tempting! And there’s always pansies...

>191 msf59: Hi Mark, I bet that was a fun walk! On my walk today, there were a ton of red-wing blackbirds and Merlin’s sound app identified a Say’s Phoebe for me.

>192 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, Well, it’s not always very pleasant here in January... And tomorrow we’re supposed to get high winds so fire danger looms. Springtime... Hope all is well with you.

>193 Donna828: Hi Donna, I’ve been wanting to read that May trilogy for ages and so glad I finally did. I’m hoping some others in the group get to the new O’Nan soon so I can see if I should give it another go. I have the new Anne Tyler to read next. :)

195Storeetllr
Apr 4, 2022, 10:27 pm

>194 Copperskye: >189 Storeetllr: Right?!? I told my daughter that, and she thought I was making it up. And yes, you're also right about complaining about the heat in a few months. Actually, it's not the heat as much as the humidity here. I mean, it gets hot in Colorado in summer too - Pueblo cooked some days - but it's...you know what I'm going to say, right?

196Copperskye
Apr 4, 2022, 11:16 pm

>195 Storeetllr: Lol! Something about a dry heat and it’s definitely true! And speaking of cooking, have you mentioned to your daughter that boiling water isn’t as hot here as it is there? (That surprised me when we moved out here.)

197PaulCranswick
Apr 4, 2022, 11:31 pm

>196 Copperskye: Huh? That is why you guys drink coffee so quickly?!

198Storeetllr
Apr 5, 2022, 4:29 pm

>196 Copperskye: Hah! No, I haven't mentioned it to her. I've got to admit, it is pretty weird how that works. It took me awhile to figure out how to soft boil eggs again after I moved here from Colorado. Baking takes longer there too, I think. Something to do with atmospheric pressure.

199PaulCranswick
Apr 7, 2022, 8:18 pm

>198 Storeetllr: I do find that extraordinary and had never heard of it before. We learn something new everyday!

200msf59
Apr 8, 2022, 8:01 am

Ooh, I want to see a Say's Phoebe. I have an Arizona birding trip coming up soon. Maybe I will see one there.

Happy Friday, Joanne.

201Copperskye
Apr 8, 2022, 3:06 pm

>197 PaulCranswick: Lol, do we? I’ve always wondered how the Brits always seem to make a pot of tea so quickly when someone shows up at the door (my reference is British crime shows and the folks at the door are usually detectives).

>198 Storeetllr: Yup, it can be tricky especially up higher, like in Leadville at 10,000 ft or so.

>199 PaulCranswick: Things you only realize when you live here!

>200 msf59: I’m glad I had my phone with me for a change!

202Copperskye
Modificato: Apr 10, 2022, 9:08 pm



19. The Children Return by Martin Walker

This is the seventh book in the Bruno series with two parallel stories of children returning. In current day St Denis, an autistic young Muslim boy, long missing, has returned from Afghanistan but questions remain regarding his past and possible radicalization. And there are terrorists who don’t want him talking. The other storyline has to do with a bequeath, a thank you from Jewish siblings who had been hidden in a small town, perhaps St Denis, during WWII. I’m still not sure if I like this series or not. I like Bruno and his relationships, and the beautiful small town descriptions and good food, but dislike the more militaristic elements that keep creeping in. I guess I’ll keep reading until I decide otherwise.

203Storeetllr
Modificato: Apr 11, 2022, 2:15 pm

We don't talk about Bruno - is the first thing that sprang to mind when I read your review. The perils of living with a toddler.

ETA Good review! I've got a hold on the audiobook of Bruno, Chief of Police.

I miss Colorado so much!

204richardderus
Apr 11, 2022, 2:05 pm

>202 Copperskye: I'm kind of in your court, Joanne...the series isn't always comfortable but the story I read it for is about Bruno anyway.

Have a great week-ahead's reads.

205thornton37814
Apr 11, 2022, 3:07 pm

>202 Copperskye: You're caught up with our group read. We're reading the next one this month, entitled The Patriarch in the United States but The Dying Season in the UK.

206Copperskye
Apr 11, 2022, 9:03 pm

>203 Storeetllr: Ha, ha! I had no clue what you we’re referring to but then I googled “we don’t talk about Bruno”! Encanto! I get it now! I’m woefully behind on my Disney movies... :) You need to come back for a visit - you still have family here, don’t you?

>204 richardderus: Hi Richard, At least no animals died in this one.

>205 thornton37814: Hi Lori, I didn’t know there was a group read! I already checked to make sure one of my libraries has a digital copy of the next one available but I’m not sure if I’m ready to start another yet.

207Copperskye
Modificato: Apr 11, 2022, 11:18 pm



20. The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields

I first read this marvelous book in 1995 and have fond memories of discussing it with my mom who was reading it at the same time. It’s one of those books I say I love, but frankly, couldn’t remember much more than the first few very memorable pages.

Carol Shields won the Pulitzer Prize in 1995 for this fictionalized autobiography of Daisy Goodwill. I’m sure it has its detractors, but I loved it, with its shifting points of view and odd structure, as much this time as I did 25 plus years ago. If you’ve missed it, I suggest giving it a try.

208thornton37814
Apr 12, 2022, 7:28 am

>206 Copperskye: Here's the thread for the group read: https://www.librarything.com/topic/338481

209katiekrug
Apr 12, 2022, 8:12 am

>207 Copperskye: - I read this several years ago and absolutely loved it. I could definitely see re-reading it, which is rare for me.

210Storeetllr
Apr 12, 2022, 11:05 am

>206 Copperskye: I would if I could, believe me, and would probably not want to leave. Sorry to all those who love the Northeast, but it is just not for me. It's especially not for me now, what with the damp (actually, wet) cellar I live in. Oh, well, I could be a homeless refugee from Ukraine, so I need to stop complaining and be grateful.

I don't know why Epitaph didn't click. I tried to read it 2 or 3 times over the past few years, and each time I get only so far and then just don't want to go back to it. I think it's because I never liked Kate, and she features in it a lot more. Now that I've finished my re-listen of Doc, I'll try one more time. I'm going to try to read the hardbound book (the one I got at the book signing in 2015 at, I think, Tattered Cover). (Didn't we go together? Or was it my sister I went with? My memory these days is like swiss cheese.)

211BLBera
Apr 12, 2022, 1:11 pm

I really liked the first Bruno, but it's the only one I've read. I keep meaning to read more in the series. I remember the setting and the food.

I loved The Stone Diaries as well, maybe it's time for a reread.

212Copperskye
Modificato: Apr 14, 2022, 11:09 am

>208 thornton37814: Thank you for the link, Lori, I’ll check it out!

>209 katiekrug: I don’t do a lot of rereads, either, Katie, but I’m so glad I revisited this one.

>210 Storeetllr: Having grown up in NJ, I know what you mean. I don’t think I could move back there. We really are spoiled here. And yes, that was me with you at the book-signing at the Colfax store. Seems like forever ago now.

>211 BLBera: Series books are a pretty big time commitment. And of course, I highly recommend a reread of The Stone Diaries. :) I just finished French Braid and loved it.

213witchyrichy
Apr 17, 2022, 11:54 am

Just stopping by to say hello!

214Copperskye
Modificato: Apr 18, 2022, 10:57 pm

Hi Karen, Happy Easter to you! Thank you for sharing your photos - it looks like spring has sprung on the farm!. I especially like The Crew and Spot and Fred. :)

215Copperskye
Modificato: Apr 18, 2022, 11:25 pm



21. French Braid by Anne Tyler

A quintessential Anne Tyler book. The chapters, each a decade or so apart, take a close up look at one event in the life of a Baltimore family, culminating in the final chapter, with the start of Covid. I loved how it started in 2010 and then backtracked to 1959. If you’re a fan of Tyler, like I am, you’ll enjoy this. If you’re new to her, this is as good a place as any to start. My favorite is still Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant.

216Copperskye
Apr 19, 2022, 12:49 am



22. Maigret is Afraid by Georges Simenon

While returning to Paris after a conference, Maigret stops in a small town to visit an old friend and becomes involved in a murder investigation. This is the 42nd book in the series and seemed pretty dark, lacking the usual subtle humor of some of the other books in the series.

217Whisper1
Modificato: Apr 19, 2022, 3:14 am

>215 Copperskye: Joanne, Like you, my favorite Anne Tyler book is Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. It is a book that after I read it, I felt I had to tell my friends to read it right away! I re-read it a few months ago. It still held some of the magic. Her character development is so very special.

After reading Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant book, I read most of the following. However, I found that as the series went on, it was too cookie cutter like. A few were down right disappointing. I'll look for the French Braid book. I'm glad for the recommendation. I've been in a reading slump, and maybe this will start the engine.

218Copperskye
Apr 22, 2022, 5:23 pm

>217 Whisper1: Hi Linda! So nice to see you here and I hope you are doing well today! I also reread Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. I originally typed that I had recently reread it but I looked and it was in 2014, so not so recent, I guess. I had read it for the first time in the early 80s, though, so it was a long time between reads. Her books all have a similar feel and theme and I have to read descriptions to tell one from the other, but maybe that's part of the charm for me. I've only been disappointed once, or maybe twice, by one of her books. I've read them all except one or two of her very early books. I'm sorry you're dealing with a reading slump. French Braid may help.

219richardderus
Apr 22, 2022, 8:18 pm

Hi Joanne! Happy weekend-ahead's reads.

220Whisper1
Apr 22, 2022, 9:28 pm

>218 Copperskye: Hi Joanne, I plan to visit my local library tomorrow. They are holding a copy of 0French Braid for me! When i recently re-read Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, I remembered how much I loved her character development. This remains my favorite of all of hers I've read.

221Storeetllr
Apr 23, 2022, 12:09 pm

I haven't read much Anne Tyler. I remember reading The Accidental Tourist back in the '80s or '90s, long before I started keeping track on LT, and think I enjoyed it okay, but apparently not enough to read more of her stuff. Maybe I'll try Homesick Restaurant, since it seems to be well-loved.

Have a lovely weekend!

222Copperskye
Apr 23, 2022, 2:13 pm

>219 richardderus: Happy Saturday, Richard! One more chapter to go in my current read (an Ian Rutledge) and then it's on to something new (and dealing with the overabundance of choices).

>220 Whisper1: Oh, I hope you enjoy French Braid, Linda!

>221 Storeetllr: Hi Mary! She's definitely one of my favorite authors but I know she's not for everyone. I hope you like it if/when you get to Homesick Restaurant!

223karenmarie
Apr 25, 2022, 9:30 am

Hi Joanne! I've continued having a hard time keeping caught up with threads. I added up all the unread messages just now, and it's over 1400.

>131 Copperskye: I hope your son in central IL is getting more spring-like weather than winter-like weather by now. We’re in full-blown pollen-heavy spring right now. And I’m sorry to hear about John’s chronic back issues getting worse.

>133 Copperskye: I have a 70-year-old newspaper reporter friend in Montana who is living the sad story of the decline of local newspapers. She finally got on as a reporter for the local paper, but part-time only and paid a pittance while watching the publisher grow richer and richer. She’s been told that circulation has increased since she started there about a year or so ago, but that hasn’t translated into full time or benefits.

>207 Copperskye: This has been on my shelves since before I joined LT, just waiting for the right time. Sigh.

224Copperskye
Apr 27, 2022, 1:45 am

Hi Karen! It’s good to see you! Spring is in full swing here, too. Fingers crossed for a bit more snow, though (or at least some rain). Chris will miss Illinois but not the weather. I’m sorry that your friend is having to deal with the newspaper industry. That’s a job that’s done out of love and it’s so unfair. Both my sister and her husband, until they both retired several years ago, worked as reporters and editors at local papers in NJ and NH. I think my BIL got burned out and was happy to leave when he did. My sister still loved her job as a reporter but the paper just kept making it harder for her to do her job. Finally, when the local office closed and she had a long commute to an ugly office, she left, but I know she resented it.

225BLBera
Apr 27, 2022, 6:16 pm

Hi Joanne - I was just complaining this morning that I am still wearing my winter coat! It's still below freezing when I leave the house in the morning. Supposedly we're going to get some 50s later this week...

Great comments on Tyler. I've loved most of what I've read by her as well. I have missed some of her early ones.

226Copperskye
Apr 28, 2022, 7:40 pm

Hi Beth! Boo on winter coats! I hope your weather is improving! It's not unheard of, in the least, for us to get snow well into May. This year has been weird though, so who knows.

227BLBera
Apr 29, 2022, 10:44 am

On a positive note, my spring allergies haven't kicked in yet.

228Copperskye
Apr 29, 2022, 4:11 pm

>227 BLBera: That is a positive note! I stocked up on Claritin this morning at Costco. We've been having some wildly windy days and I know that's not helping my allergies.

229BLBera
Apr 29, 2022, 5:23 pm

I should probably prepare. Usually I start the Claritin on April 1.

230Whisper1
Apr 29, 2022, 5:46 pm

Hi Joanne. I'm stopping by to see how you are, and what you are reading. My daughter called early this morning from Ohio to say her allergies are so bad that the entire left side of her face is swollen. She rarely takes a day off from work. She had to take three days. I know she was miserable. A bit better now that suddenly, it felt like all the water drained and immediately her head ache and the rest of the misery abated. Sorry that you struggle with allergies.

231msf59
Apr 29, 2022, 7:12 pm

Happy Friday, Joanne. Another Spring allergy sufferer, here. I also don't like windy days. I finally got to The Stone Diaries a few years ago and loved it. I am also a Tyler fan, so I am glad that you enjoyed her latest.

232Copperskye
Mag 1, 2022, 8:31 pm

>229 BLBera: I’m not very good at remembering to take it when I’m feeling good...

>230 Whisper1: Oh, that sounds miserable, Linda. It’s the facial swelling that triggers migraines for me. I hope she’s feeling better!

>231 msf59: Happy Sunday evening, Mark! I hope you had a good weekend. I’m so glad I reread The Stone Diaries. It’s so good!

233Copperskye
Modificato: Mag 1, 2022, 8:49 pm



23. A Game Of Fear by Charles Todd

This is the latest (#24) Ian Rutledge mystery and I thought it was pretty entertaining. A widow living in a manor house witnesses what she thinks is a crime, but the problem is, the perpetrator died in an auto accident a few years ago. Did she see a ghost or is someone trying to scare her? I really like the WWI backdrop in this series, as it continues to haunt people after it has ended. I’m not really caught up with the series - I’ve read the first ten, and then the most recent three or four books. I’ll catch up eventually but I do like the later ones better. And I hope the son half of the writing team is able to continue with the series.

234rosalita
Mag 2, 2022, 10:41 am

>233 Copperskye: Reading a series out of order? For shame, Joanne! For shame! :-D

I thought this was a very good entry in the series. I also hope the series can continue now that one of the authors has passed.

235Copperskye
Mag 4, 2022, 1:10 am

>234 rosalita: Hi Julia! I know, right?! Horrors! I had an ARC of A Divided Loyalty that I wanted to read and then I couldn’t resist reading the next after it and then the newest... It really was a good one so, no regrets!

236richardderus
Mag 4, 2022, 5:20 pm

>235 Copperskye: I've always said "start where you are" and when I (usually accidentally) get a later volume in a series as a DRC, I go from there. It very, very rarely happens that authors don't put in details you need to appreciate where you are. (And when it does happen, I think the series most likely wouldn't have been for me anyway.)

Smoochings upon thee, Joanne.

237Copperskye
Mag 4, 2022, 8:17 pm

>236 richardderus: Hi Richard! Oftentimes a series just gets better as it goes along so you’re doing yourself a favor starting midway. :) But then there are series that absolutely should be read from the start. Ruth Galloway and Shetland come to mind. I’m reading the Maigret series catch as catch can, but I do usually try to start at the beginning, though. Smooches back at you! I hope spring has arrived on Long Island!

238Copperskye
Mag 5, 2022, 8:42 pm



24. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

This was truly an entertaining and fun book to read. It was almost like reading three different books. We follow Omeir and Anna in 1453 Constantinople, Zeno and Seymour in contemporary Idaho, and Konstance somewhere in the future, and they are all linked, one way or another, by a lost book. Part of the fun was waiting for the stories to come together, and I especially loved Omeir and Zeno’s stories (not to mention poor Tree and Moonlight). Honestly though, I found Konstance’s future chapters less engaging and frankly could have done without them, but that could be my own dislike of sci-fi bias getting in the way. Highly recommended!

239Copperskye
Mag 5, 2022, 8:54 pm



Bullock’s Oriole grabbing some sugar water today.

240richardderus
Mag 5, 2022, 8:57 pm

>238 Copperskye: It definitely was a winner for you, Joanne, so yay!

>237 Copperskye: It's been weird and unsettled weather...yep, that's spring all right.

Happy Friday-ahead's reads.

241Copperskye
Mag 6, 2022, 12:52 pm

Hi Richard, Hope you have a great weekend!

242BLBera
Mag 7, 2022, 5:27 pm

>238 Copperskye: Great comments, Joanne. I hope to get to it this summer.

243Copperskye
Mag 9, 2022, 9:24 pm

>242 BLBera: Hi Beth, I hope you have as much fun with it as I did!

244Copperskye
Modificato: Mag 10, 2022, 11:56 am



25. At Mrs Lippincote’s by Elizabeth Taylor

This is a story about an RAF officer whose wife and sister rent a house near the airfield to be close to him during the war (WWII). Roddy and Julia, and the sister, Eleanor, are all very different people with their usual conflicts. Young Oliver, Roddy and Julia’s bookish son is the most endearing character, and I could have done with more of him. This was Taylor’s first novel and I’m glad it wasn’t my first of hers. I liked The View Of the Harbour and loved Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont. I thought this was just ok.

245karenmarie
Mag 11, 2022, 11:31 am

Hi Joanne!

>228 Copperskye: and >229 BLBera: I take Claritin-wannabe, Loratadine, year-round, rather than trying to figure out what’s giving me fits. Thank goodness Claratin went generic so many years ago.

>239 Copperskye: Nice photo of a beautiful bird. We do not get them out here, alas.

246msf59
Mag 11, 2022, 7:03 pm

>239 Copperskye: Hooray for the Bullock's Oriole. Nice pic. I had my Lifer, in AZ but never got a close look.

Happy Wednesday, Joanne. I finished Cloud Cuckoo Land. I enjoyed the ride but can't say it blew my socks off.

247Copperskye
Mag 11, 2022, 8:09 pm

>245 karenmarie: Hi Karen!

That’s a good idea - just taking it year-round. I imagine you have a longer growing/pollen season than we do. The orioles just pass through on their way elsewhere but I love to see them, however briefly. I’m waiting for the western tanagers to do their annual fly-by but so far, no luck.

>246 msf59: Hi Mark! They are handsome birds. Cloud Cuckoo is probably not for everyone and I think it probably hit me at the right time. Oh well, glad your socks are ok, though!

248Copperskye
Mag 11, 2022, 8:25 pm



26. And a Dog Called Fig: Solitude, Connection, the Writing Life by Helen Humphreys

This was a pleasant surprise, although I’m not sure why I’m surprised. I’ve only read two books by Humphreys, Coventry and The Frozen Thames, and loved them both, and I’m certainly a dog lover. I’m not a writer in the least, though, and maybe I expected this to focus more on craft. Although she does write of her writing life, Humphreys mostly recounts short diary entries of her new Vizsla puppy and reminisces about the dogs in her past, interspersed with interesting tidbits she had researched about other writers and their dogs. Really rather delightful (although I was getting concerned about the number of facial bites her pup was inflicting)!

249rosalita
Mag 11, 2022, 8:56 pm

>248 Copperskye: Yikes! to the facial bites, but otherwise this sounds sweet. I'll look for it at the library.

250Copperskye
Mag 11, 2022, 9:00 pm

>249 rosalita: Hi Julia! I know, right? I’ve been extraordinarily lucky with my puppies, I guess. The book is sweet - enjoy!

251BLBera
Mag 12, 2022, 11:58 am

>248 Copperskye: This one does sound good. I'll also look for a copy.

252rosalita
Mag 12, 2022, 12:16 pm

>250 Copperskye: My library didn't have And a Dog Called Fig, so I recommended it for purchase. In the meantime, Overdrive never wants you to leave empty-handed, so they suggested a couple of other books that I might like and are available to borrow right away. Sometimes these "similar" recommendations are laughably off base, but this time it surfaced You Had Me at Woof, which looks like it could be cute. Boston terriers, not Goldens, though. :-) I'll let you know how it goes!

253Copperskye
Mag 12, 2022, 1:21 pm

>251 BLBera: I hope you have better luck finding it than Julia did, Beth!

>252 rosalita: Yes, let me know how you like it! Overdrive and Goodreads both give some wildly off recommendations, I’ve noticed. I’ve chuckled a few times over them.

Well, I had planned on planting some annuals this morning but it’s just too darn windy and it’ll be too sunny out front this afternoon to do it then. I’m glad I got some planted yesterday during a lull. Fingers crossed for tomorrow. More reading time today! And I did just notice that it’s my 14th Thingaversary today.

Good grief, 14 years...! I’ve bought some books lately, and some are still on the way. Probably 14 or so.

254rosalita
Mag 12, 2022, 1:27 pm

>253 Copperskye: Happy, happy Thingaversary, Joanne! And Beth also, I see from my Home page module. I'll hit 17 years in December, assuming the world (and I) survive that long. :-D

255Storeetllr
Mag 12, 2022, 2:20 pm

>253 Copperskye: Happy Thingaversary, Joanne! 14 years! Incredible. What did we ever do before LT?

>254 rosalita: 17 years! Wow!

Oh, wait. I'll be celebrating 17 years this August too. Um, really? That's...that's just inconceivable. (Yes, I do know what it means. But, still...)

256Copperskye
Mag 12, 2022, 3:08 pm

>254 rosalita: Thank you, Julia! I didn’t realize Beth and I shared our Thingaversaries, probably because I rarely remember. 17 years! You’re an LT pioneer!! We’ll all survive that long if only to see what happens next. :/

>255 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary! Another pioneer!! I’ll bet we all had a lot less books on hand before LT! Blessing or a curse? :)

257BLBera
Mag 12, 2022, 3:58 pm

Happy Thingaversary, Joanne. It must have been a good day to join. :)

258rosalita
Mag 12, 2022, 4:21 pm

>256 Copperskye: I had more books, because I kept buying used copies of books I already owned because I couldn't find them. :-)

259PaperbackPirate
Modificato: Mag 12, 2022, 10:28 pm

Happy Thingaversary!

260Storeetllr
Mag 13, 2022, 12:46 pm

>256 Copperskye: No, I had lots more physical books back then, mostly because I had so much more room. I've moved 7 times and culled hundreds from my library since then. What LT has helped me with is remembering which books I have read.

Funny coincidence. I was posting on Paul's thread about a book I remember hating, and I went back to around the time I thought I might have read it to see if I had. I went through my threads for 2008, 2009 and 2010 and was stunned at all the books I reviewed that I absolutely do not remember having read. I thought that was incredible.

261richardderus
Mag 13, 2022, 2:46 pm

>256 Copperskye:, >255 Storeetllr:, >254 rosalita: I'm on my 16th Thingaversary this August, which really surprises me. How can it be almost 20 years?!

*smooch*

262Copperskye
Mag 15, 2022, 8:32 pm

>257 BLBera: Thanks Beth, and absolutely!

>258 rosalita: Lol, I still do that sometimes because I usually don’t add a book to my LT library until I start reading it. I’m trying to break that habit.

>259 PaperbackPirate: Hi Pirate! Nice to see you and thank you.

>260 Storeetllr: I guess I’d have a lot less books if I move. We’ve been in this house since 1987, so not a lot of mandatory culling. I’m also growing books in the house with Chris leaving more books here every time he moves.
I do that too, with books I’ve read. I’ll go to look up an interesting book on LT and be surprised that it’s in my library and then surprised again when I see that I’ve read it already. Not an awful problem, though!

>261 richardderus: Time is so darn slippery, isn’t it, Richard!? How long has Goodreads been around? What did we do before LT... Smooch back at you!

263Donna828
Mag 16, 2022, 9:37 pm

Hi Joanne, I joined LT 15 years ago in March. I'm proud to be a member of the Oldtimer's Club! What did we do before LT? I kept notebooks listing my books with a short synopsis. I'm sure my kids and grands will enjoy reading through them someday, right?

Thanks for stopping by my thread when I had Covid. I needed the cheering up for sure. I am soooo over being sick. I'm glad my second time didn't last as long as my earlier bout.

I'm glad you liked Cloud Cuckoo Land. It was a pleasant surprise for me, too. I even liked the sci-fi parts.

264Copperskye
Mag 18, 2022, 12:31 am

Hi Donna! I’m so glad you’re feeling better! You’ve really had your fair share, and then some, of Covid. And yay! for 15 years of LT! I used to keep my book list in a little notebook but didn’t include any notes about them. Sometimes not even the author’s name - how lazy of me. I also read less books, usually around 30-35 a year. So about half what I read now. I’m glad the 75ers have pushed me to up my game!

265richardderus
Mag 18, 2022, 3:16 pm

>262 Copperskye: Goodreads is 15 this year. I'm glad I found LT first, tbh. It's always had a quiet corner for me, and that's always a joy to have.

We're getting into summer heat this weekend. I spent my morning moving books, vacuuming, getting ready for the maintenance guys to get the a/c installed...then moving everything back. I'm whupped as a result, but...!
I got, for the 5th time in 108 games played, Wordle in 2!!

266Storeetllr
Mag 23, 2022, 2:24 pm

How are you doing, Joanne? All dug out from the TWO (2) FEET OF SNOW yet? Honestly, in the 5 years I lived in Colorado, I don't remember a snowstorm so late in the season. Latest I recall was the year I moved to Pueblo, it snowed on April 29.

267Copperskye
Modificato: Mag 23, 2022, 11:58 pm

>265 richardderus: Wordle in two! Good job! And a nice way to start the day. :) (
I sit with my coffee every morning and do the Spelling Bee and then Wordle.) I got today’s in three. Turns out that after my second guess, there was only one word possible and it took me an embarrassingly long time to figure it out, but figure it out I did.

I’m glad you found LT, too.

>266 Storeetllr: Lol! Well, it was actually closer to 7 or so inches (with very high water content) and that was on the grass. And just a couple inches on the pavement. I think I heard that it was our 8th latest snow on record, this after nothing at all in April. We were very lucky in not having any serious damage - just some broken branches. I did go out at 11pm, 2am, and 7am to shake and broom so maybe a bit more than just luck. Lots and lots of tree damage around though, the worst I’ve seen in quite some time. Neighbors down the street had a huge tree on their front lawn split in half. It’s a shame to lose it, not to mention the expense of getting it removed. Still chilly (50s) but we should get summer back by the weekend. Whelp, that’s our wild weather report! :)

268msf59
Mag 24, 2022, 7:30 am

Hi, Joanne. Sorry to hear about your late season snow. Wow. I saw that on the news. It will probably melt pretty quickly, right? How are those books treating you?

269richardderus
Mag 24, 2022, 3:19 pm

Gawd...snow in May...ugh

Anyway, I'm reviewing a thriller I think you'll like tomorrow, so coddiwomple around sometime then.

*smooch*

270Copperskye
Modificato: Mag 24, 2022, 8:57 pm

>268 msf59: Hi Mark, It’s like it never happened. Except for all the tree limbs lying about. Should be in the 80s by the weekend. Books are good - no complaints from me!

>269 richardderus: Hi Richard, Hopefully just rain in June! Thanks for the heads up - I’ll be sure to check in on your thread tomorrow.

271EBT1002
Mag 30, 2022, 9:30 pm

14 years on LT. 17 years on LT. So cool. I was about to note that I'm just halfway through my 13th year and then realized that, well, 13 is right behind 14. We do get older. AND we stay on and love LibraryThing!

Hi Joanne.

I have Cloud Cuckoo Land on the TBR shelves and now I am going to look for a copy of And a Dog Called Fig. It sounds wonderful, and I also loved both Coventry and The Frozen Thames.

272Copperskye
Modificato: Mag 31, 2022, 7:18 pm

Hi Ellen! So good to see you! I think you’d really like And a Dog Called Fig. And Cloud Cuckoo Land.

I think it’s pretty amazing that so many of us have stuck around LT and continue to catalog our books and check in with each other. I certainly miss some folks who are no longer here, but am grateful that so many have chosen to stay. Thirteen, fourteen years...we certainly aren’t any older though, are we?? :)

273Copperskye
Mag 31, 2022, 7:38 pm



27. The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Even though I had watched, early on in the pandemic, the David Suchet TV interpretation of this story, somehow I didn’t remember who done it. It is such a good, timeless, murder mystery and makes me want to read more since I’ve sadly somehow missed out on reading most of the Poirot books. I’m very glad I finally got to this one.

A couple nights ago, I rewatched The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd. It was fine (I loved the Art Deco touches and the performances) but the book (of course) is so much better.

274Copperskye
Mag 31, 2022, 7:46 pm



28. Long Bright River by Liz Moore

Two sisters on two different paths, one a Philadelphia police officer, the other an addict, living on the streets until suddenly she goes missing. A fantastic, gut-wrenching, literary mystery.
.

275rosalita
Modificato: Mag 31, 2022, 8:03 pm

Two good ones in a row, Joanne! Long Bright River surprised me in all the best ways.

276Copperskye
Modificato: Giu 11, 2022, 1:00 am



29. Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner

Evie, one of the characters responsible for forming the Jane Austen Society in Jenner’s previous book, reappears here as a Cambridge grad whose plans after college go awry and so she gets a job cataloging rare books at Bloomsbury Books. Bloomsbury Girls is delightful, following the struggles and triumphs of Evie, Vivian, and Grace as they fight against the rampant sexism and racism of their male coworkers and 1950s London. Lots of literary name dropping and appearances made this a lot of fun! A perfect balm.

277Copperskye
Mag 31, 2022, 8:05 pm

>275 rosalita: Absolutely, Julia! One of those I let languish too long on the shelf!

278BLBera
Giu 2, 2022, 10:43 am

I loved Long Bright River, Joanne. Did you read The Jane Austen Society? My sister gave it to me for my birthday. I hope it's a good one.

279Donna828
Giu 2, 2022, 12:40 pm

Hi Joanne, I also liked Long Bright River. I checked to see what I rated it and found out that I didn't enter anything about it. Luckily I still keep a written reading log and found that I read it in October of 2020 and gave it 4 stars. I remember it as kind of a tough read because of the opioid subject matter. I have always missed not having a sister and felt so bad for the protagonist.

Happy June!

280Copperskye
Giu 2, 2022, 10:37 pm

>278 BLBera: Hi Beth! I did read The Jane Austen Society and liked it a lot. I may have liked Bloomsbury Girls a bit more but they were both enjoyable reads.

>279 Donna828: Hi Donna! It was a difficult read at times. Especially considering it may not be far from the truth of some people’s lives. I thought the author did a really good job with the sister relationship.

281karenmarie
Giu 3, 2022, 8:16 am

Hi Joanne!

>247 Copperskye: We have three pollen seasons in NC – Oak and other trees with the most pollen peak in April. Grasses peak in May. Weeds peak at the start of September. I’m also allergic to cat dander and we have 3 cats, so there’s that, too.

>253 Copperskye: Congrats on 14 years on LT! I’ll celebrate my 15th Thingaversary in October. New badge time.

>274 Copperskye: Yay for Poirot. Bill and I just started talking about BritBox and will give up Peacock for it, so I can watch the David Suchet Poirot series among other wonderful things.

282Copperskye
Giu 4, 2022, 12:15 am

>281 karenmarie: Hi Karen, Yay for your upcoming 15 year Thingaversary! Boo to all those allergy triggers. Enjoy Britbox if you get it. I’ve found lots of good stuff to watch. The new ‘Why Didn’t They Ask Evans’ was really well done. Oddly, a couple seasons of Poirot aren’t there. I had to watch Roger Ackroyd on YouTube since they don’t seem to have the rights to S7 anymore.

283Copperskye
Giu 6, 2022, 1:36 am



30. When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman

A beautiful coming of age story, about a brother and sister, and family and friendships, told in both a magical and humorous way. The style reminded me a lot of Kate Atkinson’s Behind the Scenes At the Museum which I also loved.

Thank you to Katie who recommended this after I read and loved Winman’s Tin Man a few years ago.

284msf59
Giu 11, 2022, 6:41 pm

Happy Saturday, Joanne. Hooray for Long Bright River! Such a good book. I am also a big fan of Winman, so I will add When God Was a Rabbit to the list.

285BLBera
Giu 11, 2022, 6:46 pm

I loved When God Was a Rabbit as well, Joanne. I haven't read Tin Man yet.

286richardderus
Giu 11, 2022, 7:22 pm

>283 Copperskye: You make it sound awfully tempting!

Awfully!

Sigh....

287katiekrug
Giu 11, 2022, 7:36 pm

>283 Copperskye: - Yay! So glad you liked it, too 🤗

288Storeetllr
Giu 13, 2022, 9:27 pm

>283 Copperskye: Hmm, I'm not familiar with Winman. Might be time to change that.

Hope all is well with you! Hi to John and pats for Skye and Boomer.

289Copperskye
Modificato: Giu 14, 2022, 1:49 am

>284 msf59: Hi Mark! Yes, definitely look for When God Was a Rabbit. And now I can think about reading Still Life.

>285 BLBera: Hi Beth, Tin Man was very good. I think you’ll like it.

>286 richardderus: Hi Richard, Come on now, it’s not a bad thing! Just don’t let your tbr pile fall on you! :)

>287 katiekrug: Thanks again, Katie!

>288 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, I’ll pass along your hello and pats! Much appreciated. I liked both of the Winman books I’ve read so I do recommend her. I may have liked WGWaR a bit more than Still Life.

290Copperskye
Giu 14, 2022, 1:14 am



31. The Misty Harbour by Georges Simenon

Number 15 in the Maigret series, the ninth one I’ve read, and my new favorite. Twisty and atmospheric, I could almost feel the mist and hear the foghorn.

291Copperskye
Modificato: Giu 14, 2022, 1:52 am



32. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

Four dispirited women, strangers to each other and all very different, rent a villa in Italy and escape dreary 1920s London for flowers, sunshine, and soul rejuvenation. Laugh out loud moments at Rose and Lottie’s arrival in Italy and the hot bath, but mostly I was simply enchanted. I hope the sunshine and transformation returned with them when their month was over.

292karenmarie
Giu 14, 2022, 9:20 am

Hi Joanne!

>282 Copperskye: We traded out Peacock and got BritBox through my Amazon Prime subscription, saving a stunning 50¢ a month. We got another season of Midsomer Murders and have started watching a costume drama, Aristocrats, about the Lennox sisters, daughters of the 2nd Duke of Richmond. We're loving it.

293Storeetllr
Giu 14, 2022, 4:05 pm

>291 Copperskye: So glad you were enchanted by Enchanted April! I've read it on my Kindle and as an audiobook, and love the film adaptation too. It's probably on my top 10 favorite books of all time.

294Copperskye
Giu 15, 2022, 12:29 am

>292 karenmarie: Hi Karen, I think you’re getting much better value with Britbox as well as saving as much as $6 a year. Just think, after three years, you can buy yourself a new trade paperback! :) Enjoy!

>293 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, I’m so glad I finally read it! John and I watched the movie a couple nights ago. I think I’ve seen it before. It was good, but, of course, the book was better. And thank you for mentioning the audio book. I’ll keep it in mind for my next long car trip.

295witchyrichy
Giu 17, 2022, 7:53 pm

Life has gotten in the way of LT these days but I am happy to get mostly caught up. Retirement on just a couple weeks means more free time!

>238 Copperskye: I just read Cloud Cuckoo Land and loved it.

>239 Copperskye: We should have Baltimore Orioles: is that a hummingbird feeder? We have plenty of the feeders and the hummers so lots of sugar water around.

>253 Copperskye: Happy thingaversary!

296richardderus
Giu 18, 2022, 10:36 am

>291 Copperskye: It's a lovely read, isn't it? My mother and I read it together many years ago, before she went blind. Her life...von Arnim's...was so interesting I went on a hunt for biographies of her, never found one. Her book about herself, the one that focuses on her dogs, is the one I ended up reading and enjoying.

Happy weekend's reads, Joanne!

297Copperskye
Giu 19, 2022, 11:10 am

>295 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, So nice to see you, thank you for dropping by! Retirement! Yay! Soon you’ll wonder how you ever had time to work. And yes, that’s a hummingbird feeder. There was half an orange about 10 ft away but I guess he preferred the sugar.

>296 richardderus: Hi Richard, That’s a nice memory to have. Now you have me wondering if my mother ever read it. I know she would have loved it, too. Thank you, thank you for mentioning All the Dogs in My Life. I picked up a kindle copy for $2.99.

298PaulCranswick
Giu 25, 2022, 1:51 am

>291 Copperskye: Pleased to see that Von Arnim's book was a hit.

Your copy of it has a much nicer cover than the one I own.

Have a lovely weekend, Joanne.

299Copperskye
Giu 25, 2022, 7:51 pm

>298 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! I’m looking forward to reading more of her work. I do like that cover and quietly admit that a good (or bad) cover can influence my enjoyment of a book. Hope you are well and enjoying the weekend!



33. Love & Saffron by Kim Fay

I’m a sucker for an epistolary novel and this sweet story of friendship and food (and love, as the cover notes) did not disappoint. The author states that she intended it to be read in one sitting and even I, distracted reader that I am, managed to read it in an afternoon.

300Copperskye
Giu 25, 2022, 8:09 pm



34. Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz

The follow-up to Magpie Murders and just as good as the first.



35. In a Summer Season by Elizabeth Taylor

Kate is a wealthy widow married to a younger, rather feckless, man. Things are fairly calm as she balances her husband, children, and mother-in-law. Life starts to tilt when an old friend and his daughter return to their neighboring home after the death of his wife. Taylor is fast becoming a favorite author for me. I especially like her skill with dialogue. And I love the covers on these Virago editions

301Copperskye
Giu 25, 2022, 8:25 pm



36. Mrs McGinty’s Dead by Agatha Christie

Entertaining Poirot mystery about a murdered charwoman. A police detective suspects that the man they’ve arrested and convicted of the murder is actually innocent and asks for Poirot’s help.



37. Maigret’s Holiday by Georges Simenon

This series seems to run hot and cold for me and I’m not sure why. While they are on holiday, Maigret’s wife is taken ill and hospitalized. When a young patient in her ward dies suddenly and a mysterious note is found, Maigret is on the case. This one was not a favorite.
.

302Copperskye
Modificato: Giu 25, 2022, 10:02 pm



38. Denver Noir edited by Cynthia Swanson

A mixed bag. Thoroughly disliked some stories, and liked a handful. Especially enjoyed two, Peter Heller’s The Lake, and Cynthia Swanson’s Pieces of Everyone, Everywhere. In The Lake, a novelist, living on Sloans Lake, has an issue with some folks hanging around said lake. Heller himself lives in Sloans Lake so that made the story oddly entertaining. In Pieces Of Everyone, Everywhere, Swanson uses the rather gruesome history of Denver’s Cheesman Park (formerly a cemetery) as the backdrop for her revenge tale.



39. Sharks in the Time Of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn

I’m still digesting this one and although I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone, and early on I struggled to continue, I think it’s one I’ll be thinking about for a long time. A heartbreaking story of a family and a shockingly good debut.

303scaifea
Giu 26, 2022, 10:31 am

>299 Copperskye: Love & Saffron sounds good - I think I'll add it to my list!

304richardderus
Giu 26, 2022, 10:34 am

>302 Copperskye: #39 is one of my favorite debut novels. It's such a treat to find so confident a story coming out first in a writer's life!

>299 Copperskye: Oh, I'm so glad that story spoke to you. It's very charming, isn't it.

Happy week-ahead's reads, Joanne!

305Storeetllr
Giu 26, 2022, 4:40 pm

>295 witchyrichy: Congrats on your upcoming retirement, Karen!

>294 Copperskye: You're welcome! I mostly do audiobooks these days, no need for long car trips for me, which is good because I don't do long car trips anymore. At least I haven't since I left Colorado for New York back in 2018. Mercy! That seems like a long time ago!

306Donna828
Giu 26, 2022, 8:01 pm

Hi Joanne, it's good to see you posting. I enjoyed reading about the books you've finished. Quite a variety and good comments. The Enchanted April is one of my "feel good" books. I quite enjoyed Sharks in the Time of Saviors, too. It was such an original and compelling story. I hope he writes another book soon.

Enjoy summertime in Colorado. Mike and family are making another trip back here so we won't be coming out your way. I look forward to the time when we can meet up again without the Covid threat hanging over us.

307Copperskye
Giu 28, 2022, 11:43 am

>303 scaifea: Hi Amber! Oh good, I think you’d like it!

>304 richardderus: Hi Richard, Agree with you on both counts! Hope all is well with you!

>305 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, Yes, 2018 seems like a lifetime ago. Good you got out before the world fell apart. You’d have been alone in Pueblo rather than with family. I’m still not very good at listening to audiobooks when I’m doing anything but driving. I listen to podcasts when I work on puzzles sometimes but that’s about it. I think it would just take practice.

>306 Donna828: Hi Donna, Someday we’ll be able to get together again. I’m glad your Colorado family is able to go see you. I’m looking forward to trying more books by von Arnim.

308RubyJadeG
Ago 24, 2022, 12:34 am

>2 Copperskye: We are reading soulmates! I love both Amor Towles novels. I also loved The Dry and ended up reading all four of Jane Harper's novels. I haven't read Great Circle, but recently read Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead and enjoyed it. Dennis Lehane and Isabel Wilkerson are on my read next list.

I have to plug Long Bright River by Liz Moore. I just finished it and it blew me away!

309Copperskye
Ago 24, 2022, 12:07 pm

>308 RubyJadeG: Yes, I guess we are. I read Long Bright River a couple months ago and loved it!
Questa conversazione è stata continuata da Joanne (copperskye) Still Reading in 2022 - II.