klobrien2 Karen O's Book-It List Part Five

I live in Minnesota, where this really happened the other day:



Welcome to my 2022 reading thread, Part Five!

I've been with the 75-bookers for many years now, and I enjoy so much the camaraderie and book talk that happens here. I'm very glad to join with you all again!

The year 2022 has continues to be a terrific time for reading. I find myself reading pretty much as the spirit leads. I participate in the American Author Challenge, and plan to continue with them. A long-term project of mine is to accomplish reads from the "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die" book, so that may guide my reading a little. Current 1001 Books count: 215.

What directs my reading more are my friends here on LT, so keep those recommendations coming!

This is my thirteenth year participating in the 75 Books Challenge. In 2009, I read 94 books; in 2010, I made it to 148!; 153 in 2011; 160 in 2012; 114 in 2013; 92 in 2014; 109 in 2015; 145 in 2016, 210 in 2017, 200 in 2018, 180 in 2019, 225 (3 x 75!) in 2020, 242 in 2021. In 2022? Maybe I'll shoot for 243?

In addition to reading books, I've also discovered the world of Great Courses DVD lifelong learning courses. I love them! Below is a list of the courses I've completed, and I will try to always have at least one course going all the time.

A list of the Great Courses I have done can be found here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/331920

I've also begun some serious magazine reading, using my public library as source once again. I keep track of and read some fifteen magazines, on a range of topics: science, quilting, nature, birding, cats, news, etc.

I read three newspapers, two daily (St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune), and one more on Sundays -- the New York Times).

Here's where I'll list the books I read (the number at the end of each line represents the post number where I listed the book).

The books I read in January:

1. The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park -- 2
2. Baking With Dorie: Sweet, Salty & Simple by Dorie Greenspan -- 19
3. The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink, and Eat...Everything with Ranch by Charlie Berens -- 20
4. Good Bones by Maggie Smith -- 21
5. The Colour of Milk by Nell Leyshon -- 26
6. In Memoriam, A. H. H. by Alfred Lord Tennyson -- 30
7. Hench: A Novel by Natalie Zina Walschots -- 36
8. My Friend Dahmer: A Graphic Novel by Derf Backderf -- 37
9. Cove by Cynan Jones -- 39
10. Fauci: Expect the Unexpected: Ten Lessons on Truth, Service, and the Way Forward by Anthony Fauci and National Geographic -- 41
11. La Mere Brazier: The Mother of Modern French Cooking by Eugenie Brazier -- 45
12. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr -- 46
13. Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives (Cat Kid Comic Club #2) by Dav Pilkey -- 50
14. Murakami T: The T-Shirts I Love by Haruki Murakami -- 51
15. How Did I Get to Be 40 & Other Atrocities by Judith Viorst -- 52
16. Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine -- 65
17. Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead -- 68
18. When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson -- 71
19. When Did I Stop Being Twenty (And Other Injustices) by Judith Viorst -- 74
20. Some Buried Caesar (Nero Wolfe #6) by Rex Stout -- 77
21. Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 1 by Brian Herbert -- 78
22. Train Dreams by Denis Johnson -- 80
23. Maus I: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman -- 86
24. On Tyranny Graphic Edition: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder, illus. Nora King -- 87

The books I read in February:

25. It's Hard to Be Hip Over Thirty by Judith Viorst -- 89
26. Bird by Bird: Some Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott -- 91
27. Forever Fifty and Other Negotiations by Judith Viorst -- 93
28. Suddenly Sixty and Other Shocks of Later Life by Judith Viorst -- 105
29. I'm Too Young to Be Seventy and Other Delusions by Judith Viorst -- 106
30. Unexpectedly Eighty and Other Adaptations by Judith Viorst -- 107
31. Nearing Ninety and Other Comedies of Late Life by Judith Viorst - 108
32. Foster by Claire Keegan -- 112
33. A Month in the Country by J. L. Carr -- 119
34. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn -- 129
35. The Annotated American Gods by Neil Gaiman, annotated by Leslie S. Klinger -- 130
36. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave -- 154
37. Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman -- 160
38. Recitatif: A Story by Toni Morrison -- 166
39. The Maid by Nita Prose -- 178
40. The Book Rescuer by Sue Macy -- 182
41. Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright: An Animal Poem for Each Day of the Year, selected by Fiona Waters, illustrated by Britta Teckentrup -- 188
42. Moon Crossing Bridge by Tess Gallagher -- 192
43. How to Listen To and Understand Great Music (Great Courses) by Robert Greenberg -- 193
44. Raise High the Roof Beams, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction by J. D. Salinger -- 202
45. Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh -- 204
46. Over My Dead Body (Nero Wolfe #7) by Rex Stout -- 205
47. Bone, Vol. 1: Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith -- 207

The books I read in March:

48. The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells -- 209
49. 5 Ingredients: Quick and Easy Food by Jamie Oliver -- 216
50. Matrix: A Novel by Lauren Groff -- 222
51. The Princess Mononoke: The First Story by Hayao Miyazaki -- 236
52. The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa -- 237
53. Bones, Vol. 1: The Great Cow Race by Jeff Smith -- 238
54. Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh -- 247
55. The Inexplicable Universe: Unsolved Mysteries (Great Courses) by Neil deGrasse Tyson -- 248
56. Poems to Learn By Heart, ed. Caroline Kennedy -- 256
57. Bones, Vol. 3: Eyes of the Storm by Jeff Smith -- 257
58. Bones, Vol. 4: The Dragonslayer by Jeff Smith -- 257
59. Bones, Vol. 5: Rock Jaw by Jeff Smith -- 257
60. Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning -- 259
61. A Deadly Affair: Unexpected Love Stories from the Queen of Mystery by Agatha Christie -- 260
62. Return of the Pharaoh by Nicholas Meyer -- 266
63. On the Bus With Rosa Parks: Poems by Rita Dove -- 273
64. Bone, Vol. 6: Ghost Circles by Jeff Smith -- 274
65. Bone, Vol. 7: Old Man's Cave by Jeff Smith -- 274
66. Bone, Vol. 8: Treasured Hunters by Jeff Smith -- 274
67. Bone, Vol. 9: Crown of Horns by Jeff Smith -- 274
68. Rose: A Graphic Novel (Bone Prequel) by Jeff Smith, ill. Charles Vess -- 274
69. The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz -- 296
70. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman -- 299

Thread Two:

71. Watercress by Andrea Wang, illus. Jason Chin -- 14
72. The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections by Eva Jurczyk -- 26
73. Where There's a Will (Nero Wolfe #8) by Rex Stout -- 32
74. Nine Stories by J. D. Salinger -- 38
75. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger -- 42
76. Franny and Zooey (1001 Books #215) by J. D. Salinger -- 44
77. Black Orchids (Nero Wolfe #9) by Rex Stout -- 47

The books I read in April:

78. Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff: Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life by Matt Paxton -- 51
79. Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old by Steven Petrow with Roseanne Foley Henry -- 61
80. Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman -- 62
81. An Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett -- 65
82. Instant Lives by Howard Moss, illus. Edward Gorey -- 66
83. National Geographic Photo Ark Wonders: Celebrating Diversity in the Animal Kingdom by Joel Sartore -- 68
84. The Rime of the Modern Mariner by Nick Hayes -- 78
85. Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, drawings by Edward Gorey -- 79
86. Not Quite Dead Enough (Nero Wolfe #10) by Rex Stout -- 82
87. Nicholas Meyer's The Seven-Per-Cent Solution by David Tipton -- 87
88. An American Sunrise: Poems by Jo Harjo -- 92
89. Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow -- 93
90. Macbeth (Shakespeare Classics Graphic Novels) by Gareth Hinds -- 97
91. Riots I Have Known by Ryan Chapman -- 100
92. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff -- 103
93. The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scholzi -- 108
94. Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan -- 109
95. National Geographic The Photo Ark Vanishing: The World's Most Vulnerable Animals by Joel Sartore -- 111
96. In Search of Lost Time: Swann's Way: Graphic Novel by Marcel Proust, adapted by Stephane Heuet, trans. by Arthur Goldhammer -- 115
97. Birds of the Photo Ark by Noah Strycker -- 126
98. In Search of Lost Time: In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower: Graphic Novel (Vol. 2) by Marcel Proust ,adapted by Stephane Heuet, trans. by Laura Marris -- 132
99. The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera -- 141
100. Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips -- 148
101. Resident Alien Omnibus Volume 1 by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse -- 155
102. She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan -- 161
103. Amphigorey: Fifteen Books by Edward Gorey -- 163
104. The View from Split Rock: A Lighthouse Keeper's Life by Lee Radzak with Curt Brown -- 171
105. Resident Alien Volume 4: The Man With No Name by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse -- 181
106. Resident Alien Volume 5: An Alien in New York by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse -- 181
107. Resident Alien Volume 6: Your Ride's Here by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse -- 181

The books I read in May:

108. Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio (graphic) by Derf Backderf -- 188
109. Love in the Time of Bertie: 44 Scotland Street #15 by Alexander McCall Smith -- 190
110. The Mystery of the Jeweled Cross (A Shadwell Rafferty Adventure by Larry Millett -- 191
111. The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff -- 199
112. Severance: Stories by Robert Olen Butler -- 200
113. Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon by Larry Millett -- 213
114. Amphigorey Again by Edward Gorey -- 214
115. Amphigorey Too by Edward Gorey -- 218
116. The Windsor Knot (Her Majesty the Queen Investigates #1) by S. J. Bennett -- 219
117. Amphigorey Also by Edward Gorey -- 231
118. I Need a New Butt! by Dawn McMillan -- 232
119. Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman -- 233
120. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan -- 237
121. Silent Speaker (Nero Wolfe #11) by Rex Stout -- 245
122. The King by Donald Barthelme -- 253
123. Mastering the Art of French Cooking (Volume 1) by Julia Child -- 254
124. Let There Be Light: The Real Story of Her Creation by Liana Finck -- 262
125. Plaid and Plagiarism (Highland Bookshop Mysteries #1) by Molly MacRae -- 266
126. The Selected Poems of Emily Dickinson -- 268
127. Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart -- 270
128. My Butt is So Silly by Diane McMillan -- 278
129. The Last Bookseller: A Life in the Rare Book Trade by Gary Goodman -- 279

Thread Three:

Books I read in June:

130. Hello, Molly!: A Memoir by Molly Shannon -- 10
131. Ocean State by Stewart O'Nan -- 12
132. Too Many Women (Nero Wolfe #12) by Rex Stout -- 27
133. Shaq's Family Style: Recipes for Feeding Family and Friends -- 28
134. Manga Classics Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Crystal S. Chen, Julien Choy -- 29
135. All the Queen's Men (Her Majesty the Queen Investigates #2) -- 36
136. Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama: A Memoir by Bob Odenkirk -- 47
137. These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett -- 48
138. Snow White by Donald Barthelme -- 56
139. The Seven-Per-Cent Solution by Nicholas Meyer -- 57
140. The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke, ed. and translated by Stephen Mitchell -- 69
141. Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillo -- 71
142. Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon by Kate DiCamillo -- 71
143. Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln by Kate DiCamillo -- 71
144. Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package by Kate DiCamillo -- 71
145. Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem by Kate DiCamillo -- 71
146. Franklin Endicott and the Third Key by Kate DiCamillo -- 71
147. Lambslide by Ann Patchett -- 76
148. And Be a Villain (Nero Wolfe #13) by Rex Stout -- 77
149. Scones and Scoundrels (Highland Bookshop Mysteries #2) by Molly Macrae - 85
150. Love in Color: Mythical Tales From Around the World, Retold by Bolu Babalola -- 99

The books I read in July:

151. I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir by Harvey Fierstein -- 118
152. The Who: The Official History by Ben Marshall -- 122
153. Escape Goat by Ann Patchett -- 128
154. The Second Confession (Nero Wolfe #14) by Rex Stout -- 136
155 Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez -- 141
156. Thistles and Thieves by Molly MacRae -- 157
157. The Sissy Duckling by Harvey Fierstein, illus. Henry Cole -- 158
158. Trouble in Triplicate (Nero Wolfe #15) by Rex Stout -- 164
159. The Book That Did Not Want to Be Read by David Sundin -- 172
160. Playing With Myself by Randy Rainbow -- 191
161. You Better Be Lightning by Andrea Gibson -- 192
162. Sherlock Holmes and the Ice Palace Murders -- 193
163. The West End Horror by Nicholas Meyer -- 200
164. A Is For Bee: An Alphabet Book in Translation by Ellen Heck -- 204
165. The Story of Human Language (Great Courses) by John McWhorter -- 205
166. Who's Irish?: Stories by Gish Jen -- 206
167. The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill -- 214

The books I read in August:

168. The Paper Girls, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan -- 228
169. The Paper Girls, Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan -- 228
170. The Paper Girls, Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan -- 228
171. The Paper Girls, Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughan -- 228
172. The Paper Girls, Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughan -- 228
173. The Paper Girls, Volume 6 by Brian K. Vaughan -- 228
174. The Castlemaine Murders (Phryne Fisher #13) by Kerry Greenwood -- 233
175. The Phantom of the Opera: The Graphic Novel by Varga Tomi -- 240
176. The Locked Room (Dr Ruth Galloway #14) by Elly Griffiths -- 258
177. Heather and Homicide (Highland Bookshop Mystery #4) by Molly MacRae -- 277
178. Thor, Goddess of Thunder, Vol. 1 by Jason Aaron -- 278
179. Torch Song Trilogy by Harvey Fierstein -- 279

Thread Four:

180. Three Doors to Death (Nero Wolfe #16) by Rex Stout -- 24
181. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt -- 30
182. P Is For Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever by Raj Haldar -- 42
183. The Little Sisters of Eluria by Stephen King -- 46
184. Heathen Volume 1 by Natasha Alterici -- 52
185. Plainsong by Kent Haruf -- 55
186. The Beatles (White Album) Super Deluxe Set (5 CDs, 1 Blueray, essays, song notes, photographs) — 63
187. The Annotated Archy and Mehitable by Don Marquis -- 64
188. Heathen Volume 2 by Natasha Alerici -- 75
189. Mashkiki Road: The Seven Grandfather Teachings by Elizabeth S. Barrett and Jonathon Thunder -- 77
190. Octopus, Seahorse, Jellyfish by David Liittschwager -- 78
191. In the Best Families (Nero Wolfe #17) by Rex Stout -- 79
192. Argyles and Arsenic (Highland Bookshop Mystery #5) by Molly MacRae -- 82

The books I read in September:

193. Two Dogs by Ian Falconer -- 88
194. Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris -- 99
195. Flung Out of Space by Grace Ellis and Hannah Temple -- 100
196. Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection, Vol.1 by Hope Nicholson -- 104
197. The Vampyre: A Tale by John William Polidori -- 105
198. The Sweet Remnants of Summer (Isabel Dalhousie #14) by Alexander McCall Smith -- 108
199. Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe -- 119
200. Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed -- 121
201. Neil Gaiman's Chivalry; adaptation, art, illuminated manuscript lettering by Colleen Doran -- 130
202. Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection, Vol. 2 by Hope Nicholson -- 132
203. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel -- 140
204. Downsize: Living Large in a Small House by Sheri Koones -- 142
205. Brain Games for Cats: Loving Ways to Build a Bond with Your Cat Through Games and Challenges by Claire Arrowsmith -- 143
206. Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman, illus. by Colleen Doran -- 149
207. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus -- 153
208. Queen of the Flowers (Phryne Fisher #14) by Kerry Greenwood -- 162
209. The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There by Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey -- 166
210. Sherlock Holmes and the Rune Stone Mystery by Larry Millett -- 173
211. The Hurting Kind: Poems by Ada Limon -- 176
212. Basquiat: The Graphic Novel by Paolo Parisi -- 178
213. Trump: A Graphic Biography by Ted Rall -- 179
214. Arrowsmith, Vol. 1: So Smart in Their Fine Uniforms -- 180
215. Jewish Comix Anthology, Volume 1, ed. Steven M. Bergson -- 183
216. Jean-Michel Basquiat, ed. by Rudy Chiappini -- 184
217. Kaddish: Before the Holocaust and After by Jane Yolen -- 190

The books I read in October:

218. When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill -- 199
219. It's So Magic by Lynda Barry -- 205
220. The String Quartets of Beethoven (Great Course) by Robert M. Greenberg -- 209
221. The Carrying: Poems by Ada Limon -- 210
222. Fading Ads of the Twin Cities by Jay Grammond -- 230
223. Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M. C. Beaton -- 231
224. Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer -- 237
225. Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton -- 247
226. Bright Dead Things: Poems by Ada Limon -- 256
227. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe -- 257
228. Step Aside, Pops: A Hark! A Vagrant Collection by Kate Beaton -- 263
229. Agatha Raisin and The Vicious Vet (Agatha Raisin #2) by M. C. Beaton -- 264
230. Everything: Volume 1: Collected and Uncollected Comics From Around 1978 - 1982 by Lynda Barry -- 270
231. The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anna Ursu -- 279

Now we're in Thread Five:

232. Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery": The Authorized Graphic Adaptation by Miles Hyman -- 19
233. The Bullet That Missed (Thursday Murder Club #3) by Richard Osman - 20
234. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan -- 28
235. What Doesn't Kill Us Makes Us Bitter by Chuck Lorre -- 31
236. Come Over Come Over by Lynda Barry -- 37
237. The Potted Gardener (Agatha Raisin #3) by M. C. Beaton -- 38

The books I read in November:

238. Snacks for Dinner: Small Bites, Full Plates, Can't Lose by Lukas Volger -- 41
239. Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?: A Memoir by Seamas O'Reilly -- 43
240. A Song of Comfortable Chairs (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #23) by Alexander McCall Smith -- 49
241. Once & Future, Volume 1: The King is Undead by Kieran Gillen -- 57
242. Sinister Graves (Cash Blackbear Mysteries #3) by Marcie R. Rendon -- 65
243. Death By Water (Phryne Fisher #15) by Kerry Greenwood -- 69
244. Busy Betty by Reese Witherspoon, ill. by Xindi Yan -- 72
245. A Very Mercy Christmas (Mercy Watson) by Kate DiCamillo, ill. by Chris Van Dusen -- 73
246. Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley (Agatha Raisin #4) by M. C. Beaton -- 85
247. Tales from the Haunted Mansion, Vol. 1: The Fearsome Foursome by John Esposito -- 91
248. Tales from the Haunted Mansion, Vol. 2: Midnight at Madame Leota's by John Esposito -- 91
249. Tales from the Haunted Mansion, Vol. 3: Grim Grinning Ghosts by John Esposito -- 91
250. Tales from the Haunted Mansion, Vol. 4: Memento Mori by John Esposito -- 91
251. Human Chain: Poems by Seamus Heaney -- 92
252. The Greatest of Marlys by Lynda Barry -- 94
253. Once & Future, Vol. 2: Old English by Kieron Gillen -- 106
254. Revenge of the Librarians: Cartoons by Tom Gauld -- 108
255. Friends, Lovers, and the Big, Terrible Thing: A Memoir by Matthew Perry -- 109
256. Pitch: Poems by Todd Boss -- 121
257. Tough Luck: Poems by Todd Boss -- 122
258. Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade by Patrick Dennis -- 123
259. Once & Future, Volume 3: The Parliament of Magpies by Kieron Gillen -- 134
260. My Perfect Life by Lynda Barry -- 135
261. Beowulf: A New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney -- 136

The books I read in December:

262. Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in Mexico by Rick Martinez -- 139
263. Curtains for Three (Nero Wolfe #18) by Rex Stout -- 142
264. Our America: A Photographic History by Ken Burns -- 147
265. Has Anyone Seen My Toes? by Christopher Buckley -- 153
266. Foundations of Western Civilization (Great Courses) by Thomas F. X. Noble -- 162
267. A Book of Days by Patti Smith -- 167
268. Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage (Agatha Raisin #5) by M. C. Beaton -- 177
269. Someday the Plan of a Town: Poems by Todd Boss -- 184
270. A World of Curiosities (Chief Inspector Gamache #18) by Louise Penny -- 186
271. Ducks: Two Years in the Oli Sands by Kate Beaton -- 189
272. Once & Future: Monarchies in the UK by Kieron Gillen -- 192
273. Baking With the St. Paul Baking Club: Recipes, Tips and Stories by Kim Ode-- 195
274. A Game of Thrones, Volume 1: The Graphic Novel by Daniel Abraham -- 196
275. A Game of Thrones, Volume 2: The Graphic Novel by Daniel Abraham -- 197
276. The So Blue Marble by Dorothy B. Hughes -- 199
277. Wombat Said Come In by Carmen Agra Deedy -- 208
278. Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist (Agatha Raisin #6) by M. C. Beaton -- 213
279. Christmas at Highclere: Recipes and Traditions from The Real Downton Abbey -- 214
280. A Game of Thrones, Volume 3: The Graphic Novel by Daniel Abraham -- 217
281. Grievous Angel: An Intimate Biography of Gram Parsons by Jessica Hundley -- 218
282. Around the World with Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis -- 234
283. Murder by the Book (Nero Wolfe #19) by Rex Stout --236
284. A Christmas Memory/One Christmas/The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote --241
285. Good Girls Don't Make History (graphic) by Elisabeth Kiehner --242
286. Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years by Joy Harjo -- 245

Here is where I'll list the authors selected for the 2022 American Authors Challenge, the books I will read, and if I complete them (here's hoping!)

2022 AAC

JANUARY Graphic novels, comics and/or non-fiction:
My Friend Dahmer: A Graphic Novel by Derf Backderf -- COMPLETED
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder, illus. Nora King -- COMPLETED
Dune Book 1 by Brian Herbert and Frank G. Anderson, illus. Raul Allen -- COMPLETED
Maus, Vol. 1 by Art Spiegelman -- COMPLETED

FEBRUARY Tess Gallagher Moon Crossing Bridge: Poetry -- COMPLETED
MARCH Bernard Malamud -- gave up on The Fixer
APRIL Jennifer Finney Boylan -- She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders -- COMPLETED
MAY 19th Century American Author of your choice -- Selected Poems of Emily Dickinson -- COMPLETED
JUNE John Dos Passos -- Manhattan Transfer -- Giving up (DNF)
JULY Gish Jen -- Who's Irish: Stories by Gish Jen -- COMPLETED
AUGUST Henry Louis Gates, Jr. -- The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song -- Giving up (DNF)
SEPTEMBER Pulitzer Prize Winners — A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan -- COMPLETED
OCTOBER John McPhee -- Did not read
NOVEMBER Native American authors, themes and history -- Sinister Graves by Marcie R. Rendon -- COMPLETED
DECEMBER Martha Gellhorn -- Will not read

My 2003 "Books Read" list (casually kept, and probably incomplete): http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2003-reading-list.html
My 2004 "Books Read" list (see above caveats: things get better!):
http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2004-reading-list.html
My 2005 "Books Read" list (most pathetic list yet): http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2005-reading-list.html
My 2006 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2006-reading-list.htm
My 2007 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2007-reading-list.html
My 2008 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2008-reading-list.html
My 2009 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2009-reading-list.html
My 2010 "Books Read" list : http://librata.blogspot.com/2012/04/karens-2010-reading-list.html

Here is a link to my last thread from 2011: http://www.librarything.com/topic/122919

Here is a link to my last thread from 2012: http://www.librarything.com/topic/138897

Here is a link to my last thread from 2013:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/156012

Here is a link to my thread from 2014: http://www.librarything.com/topic/163564

Here is a link to my thread from 2015: https://www.librarything.com/topic/186139

Here is a link to my thread from 2016: http://www.librarything.com/topic/211096

Here is a link to my last thread from 2017: http://www.librarything.com/topic/268142#

Here is a link to my last thread from 2018: https://www.librarything.com/topic/298557

Here is a link to my one-and-only thread from 2019: https://www.librarything.com/topic/301738

The books I've read in the first half of 2020 (115 of them) are here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/314888

The books I read in the second half of 2020 are here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/322010#

The books I read in the first half of 2021 are here:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328372#

The books I read in the second half of 2021 are here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/333390#

The books I read in the first quarter of 2022 are here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/338204#n7791489

The books I read in April and May of 2022 are here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/340601#n7851702

The books I read in June, July, part of August of 2022 are here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/342092#

The books I read in August through part of October of 2022 are here:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/343494#n7961305

Good reading to you!

I maintain a weekly list of the books I have available to me--a plethora of riches. Here's last Friday's list, and it's already out of date; some fun new things added.

Friday Reading Roundup!

Why I do this "Round Up": Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (10/21/2022):

Actively reading

The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu -- p. 104 0f 303
The Bullet That Missed (Thursday Murder Club #3) by Richard Osman -- p. 57 of 348
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Alliance by Larry Millett -- p. 0 of 302
Ragtime (1001 Books) by E. L. Doctorow -- p. 20 of 210
Eventide by Kent Haruf -- p. 11 of 281
Did Ye Hear Mammy Died by Seamus O'Riley -- p. 53 of 231

*AAC (American Author Challenge) for September/October: Pulitzer Prize Winners -- A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan -- p. 92 of 303

My current Great Course(s): Foundations of Western Civilization; 6 of 48 lectures

New Category: On the Short List for Getting Read

Cheech is Not My Real Name: But Don't Call Me Chong by Cheech Marin -- p. 0 of 260
The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language by John McWhorter -- p. 15 of 327
Curtains for Three (Nero Wolfe #18) by Rex Stout -- p. 9 of 184
Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher
Death by Water (Phryne Fisher #15) by Kerry Greenwood
Lady Susan by Jane Austen -- p. 0 of 284

Not-So-Time-Sensitive-But-Still-Want-to-Get-to-Them (so, these are readily available to me although I might not be reading them quite yet or may have had to return them to the library; most are my own books.

Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1) by Stephen King
The Canary Trainer by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 10 of 224
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor -- p. 68 of 299

Happy new thread, Karen!

>3 FAMeulstee: Thank you! Great to see you here!

Fans of Doc Martin, did you know that Season 10 (the really-truly last season) is now on Acorn? They put the first two episodes out right away, and they were very nice.

Happy new thread!

>1 klobrien2: Oh My! I am sure the snow won't stick around too long.....

Happy new thread!

>1 klobrien2: From Malaysia with only one season in one year, Karen, happy new thread!

I thought I'd finally stop in and say hi before the year evaporates. What a lot of good reading you've done this year.

And Minnesota looks beautiful.

Happy new thread Karen! >1 klobrien2: As a fellow Minnesotan I can definitely relate. It's already snowed once and stuck to my car and then just rained yesterday. Gotta love it.

Hello, everyone! So cheery to see your greetings! Thank you for visiting!

Wordle 493 5/6 irate, mound, bossy, loopy, foggy

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>2 klobrien2: I've heard good things about Fairy Tale by King, but I have so many other books of his to read that I don't know if/when I'll ever get to it. (I recently finished From a Buick 8 which I bought many years ago...)

And I hope you like the Gunslinger!

Happy New Thread, Karen. Love the topper. How much snow did you get?

>14 msf59: less than an inch, and it had melted by afternoon. It sure was gorgeous while it lasted!

>13 ocgreg34: I’ve really enjoyed King’s later books, so I’m hankering to get at Fairy Tale.

Thank you both for stopping by to chat!

Enjoyed this one! English is such an interesting language!

Wordle 494 4/6 irate, doubt, clout, flout

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OMG, that is an amazing topper. Can I ask you a favor? My inmate penpal wants pictures of Minnesota, but a I don't have any. That is so beautiful, would you mind my sharing it? It's ok if you say no. 🙂

>17 The_Hibernator: That's not my photo; I just copied it from Facebook. I see there is a "watermark" on it -- opelife.com (they sell Minnesota-themed stuff, I guess).

You should be able to just right click, then copy the picture. Because of the watermark, I don't think that breaks any ownership rules.

Isn't it a great picture?!

Have a great Wednesday!

232. Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery": The Authorized Graphic Adaptation by Miles Hyman



Just as creepy and horrific as the original short story by Shirley Jackson. This graphic book is done by a grandson of Jackson, and includes a lovely reminiscence of "Grandma" before he gets down to business.

There's hardly a word of text in the early pages; the books feels like an old-fashioned "flip book" but the illustrations are lovely, painterly, with earthy colors.

233. The Bullet That Missed (Thursday Murder Club #3) by Richard Osman



Lovely third installment in this series! Characters, both old and new, are delightful, full of life, and funny as hell. So many twists and turns near the end!

I love the representation of elderly people and their relationships with each other and with their youngers. Love and friendship are honored!

Can't wait for the next book!

Here's a few passages that I really liked (no spoilers here):

"Kendrick was, once again, the right man for the job. If life ever seems too complicated, if you think no one can help, sometimes the right person to turn to is an eight-year-old."

"Chris is celebrating solving the case in the way that all hard-bitten cops have done throughout the ages. He is drinking blueberry kombucha and dipping celery sticks into organic hummus, as he watches the darts.

"He is thinking that murdering people must have been so much easier before the era of DNA evidence. You almost had to feel sorry for homicidal maniacs these days."

>20 klobrien2: clearly a popular series. I am #312 on the hold list for one of the 100 e-book copies the library has.

>21 ffortsa: I think your wait might be quicker than you think—I hope so, anyway!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wordle 495 4/6 irate, razor, marry, carry

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Hiya, hiya.

>24 weird_O: So clever! Thank you!

Had to go away and think about my fourth word, but finally thought of it, and then it seemed so apparent…

Wordle 496 4/6 irate, cheap, bleak, sneak (ooh, lots of negativity in these words!)

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Happy Friday, Karen. Glad to see you are enjoying the books. Have a good weekend.

234. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan



Finally finished this book, which I started off reading for the September American Authors Challenge; finishing in October.

This is not a novel, nor a collection of short stories, but it is similar to both. The "stories" of the book are linked through time, and by the characters they portray. That linkage kind of alleviates one of my pet peeves about short story collections, that once you get your mind around a story then, poof!, it's done, and you have to start all over again.

Once I got into the rhythm of the book, it went better for me. I really liked the next-to-last story, the Powerpoint presentation--it was so different from anything else I've read, I loved it for novelty's sake, if nothing else.

I found the Wikipedia write-up of the book very helpful; it listed the individual stories, the characters within, and their relative times. Time is very important to this book: "Time," after all, is "a goon, right? You gonna let that goon push you around?"

The version of the book that I read includes a few pages of the next book, The Candy House. I'll let this book stew for a while in my mind before I decide what to do about the next book.

Friday Reading Roundup!

Why I do this "Round Up": Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (10/28/2022):

Actively reading

Did Ye Hear Mammy Died by Seamas O'Riley -- p. 86 of 231
What Doesn't Kill Us Makes Us Bitter by Chuck Lorre -- 2/3 done (unnumbered)
A Song of Comfortable Chairs (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (#25?) by Alexander McCall Smith -- p. 16 of 228
Snacks for Dinner by Lukas Volger
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Alliance by Larry Millett -- p. 0 of 302
Ragtime (1001 Books) by E. L. Doctorow -- p. 20 of 210
Eventide by Kent Haruf -- p. 11 of 281

*AAC (American Author Challenge) for November: Native American authors, themes and history -- Will read Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

My current Great Course(s): Foundations of Western Civilization; 12 of 48 lectures

New Category: On the Short List for Getting Read

Curtains for Three (Nero Wolfe #18) by Rex Stout -- p. 9 of 184
Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher
Death by Water (Phryne Fisher #15) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 20 of 250
Lady Susan by Jane Austen -- p. 0 of 284
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

Not-So-Time-Sensitive-But-Still-Want-to-Get-to-Them (so, these are readily available to me although I might not be reading them quite yet or may have had to return them to the library; most are my own books.

Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1) by Stephen King
The Canary Trainer by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 10 of 224
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor -- p. 68 of 299

Wordle 497 4/6 irate, mined, pixel, libel

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235. What Doesn't Kill Us Makes Us Bitter by Chuck Lorre



The television creator/writer/producer Chuck Lorre places "vanity cards" at the end of the credits for his shows' episodes. They move off the screen very quickly, but are usually worth catching because of their humor, sass, and sometimes, heartbreaking lucidity.

This book is a massive, heavy (poundage), and beautifully illustrated collection of selected Lorre vanity cards. Really enjoyed it. I read it beginning to end, but it could easily be enjoyed by picking random cards.

After word 3, took my fingers off the keyboard! and puzzled and puzzled until I got it…

Wordle 498 4/6 irate, quota, pasty, waltz

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>32 klobrien2: Aha! This is why I missed seeing your thread...you moved on!

Anyway...good path to the streak staying alive. Happy week-ahead's reads! (I hope Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? is the treat for you that it was for me!!)

>33 richardderus: I'm really enjoying "Did Ye Hear"! So sad, but funny in spite of the sadness. I should finish reading in a day or two.

I'm glad you found me!

Wordle 499 4/6 irate, doubt, tally, aptly

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>35 klobrien2: That seems to be the most usual length of game today. It was weird to get an adverb that part of speech as the answer to me. I don't know why, it's not the first time it's happened!

Lovely week-ahead's reads, Karen O.

236. Come Over Come Over by Lynda Barry



The classic Maybonne and Marlys book has been reprinted 10+ years later, and it is lovely. Sweet, funny, with lovely graphics. Even as the girls face some heartbreak and unhappiness, we know that they have each other and will be okay.

237. The Potted Gardener by M. C. Beaton



Great little cozy mystery featuring Agatha Raisin and her village cohorts.

Another, “well, that certainly can’t be it!” day. Must learn to trust a hunch!

Wordle 500 4/6 irate, liken, vined, piney

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And it’s Wordle game 500!

>39 klobrien2: We took the same number of steps today...and I had that very thought, might even have spoken it aloud....

238. Snacks for Dinner: Small Bites, Full Plates, Can't Lose by Lukas Volger



Interesting cookbook; the 2020 pandemic had a great deal to do with the generation of this book: "the COVID-19 pandemic began gripping our lives and mandating extra-resourceful cooking at home."

Lots of interesting recipes here, split up into their general types of "snacks": for example, "Crispy-Crunchy|Savory, Snacky Bites" is the first section header.

Recipes are all (I think) vegan or vegetarian. It all seems fresh and healthy, but, unfortunately, not much looks particularly appetizing to me (sorry). However, the book is well laid out, and beautifully photographed and written.

Fun one today. Finding first letter helped a lot.

Wordle 501 3/6 irate, intel, inept

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239. Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?: A Memoir by Seamas O'Reilly



Funny, heartbreaking memoir of growing up in Northern Ireland, losing his mother to cancer at a terribly early age. AND there are eleven children in the family.

There are many stories about the family, the extended family, and the people of the religiously-divided country. The bits about the "troubles" add to the heartbreak recorded in this book.

I happen to be watching episodes of the latest season of "Derry Girls"; it added to the enjoyment of both the show and this book to sense the synchronicity (I love when that happens!)

Here's one of my favorite passages (I found many "favorites"!):

"...in my experience ordinary rank-and-file Catholics are mostly decent and lovely people, who don't literally agree with every little church teaching. But with Catholicism, you are in or you are out. You don't get to pick and choose the bits you agree with, by definition. It's like saying you're a teetotaler who only drinks wine. There was once a huge movement toward creating a subset of Catholics who 'agree with Catholicism except this bit or that bit' and it became wildly popular with the public. It was called the Reformation and those people are called Protestants."

Got a little sloppy, but pulled it together to make a perfectly-acceptable four. Stepped away from the keyboard (metaphorically) after word 3 to settle down and be smarter. It worked.

Wordle 502 4/6 irate, foamy, quota, aloud

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>44 klobrien2: It's a great strategy, isn't it? It led me to a 3day today.

Happy streak-extending day, Karen O.

Wordle 503 3/6 irate, lofty, photo

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>46 klobrien2: Yay for 3day! I had one, too, Karen O.
Happy weekend-ahead's reads!

>47 richardderus: Quite a few LTers had a 3day! Yay for us! Good reading to you, too!

240. A Song of Comfortable Chairs (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #23) by Alexander McCall Smith



Lovely, comfortable read featuring Precious Ramotswe and Grace Makutski. I love those ladies, with their sweetness, smarts, and graceful treatment of others. This is the 23rd!! book in the series!

We finally finished our rewatch of "Lovejoy," a British series from 1986-1994 (six seasons). Truly lovely series. Nearly the full cast was back for at least an episode of the last season, and the one who was missing (Malcolm Tierney, "Charlie Gimbert) was a second-string character.

Now we have a big gap in our viewing schedule, but we have a couple of "Thin Man" DVDs waiting for us. Life is good!

>50 klobrien2: Oh, I did love Lovejoy back in the day.

>49 klobrien2: Twenty-three books and going strong...wow. What an achievement.

>48 klobrien2: Oh dear, it was a 3day again today! I'm hoggin' 'em all.

Friday Reading Roundup!

Why I do this "Round Up": Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (11/04/2022):

Actively reading

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Alliance by Larry Millett -- p. 9 of 302
Ragtime (1001 Books) by E. L. Doctorow -- p. 30 of 210
Eventide by Kent Haruf -- p. 24 of 281
Sinister Graves (Cash Blackbear #3) by Marcie R. Rendon -- p. 5 of 227
The Greatest of Marlys by Lynda Barry -- p. 10 of 249
Death by Water (Phryne Fisher #15) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 75 of 250

*AAC (American Author Challenge) for November: Native American authors, themes and history -- Will read Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer -- p. of

My current Great Course(s): Foundations of Western Civilization; 18 of 48 lectures

New Category: On the Short List for Getting Read

Curtains for Three (Nero Wolfe #18) by Rex Stout -- p. 9 of 184
Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher
Lady Susan by Jane Austen -- p. 0 of 284
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Joseph Smith and the Mormons (graphic) by Noah Van Sciver
A Snake Falls to Earth (Darcy Little Badger)

Not-So-Time-Sensitive-But-Still-Want-to-Get-to-Them (so, these are readily available to me although I might not be reading them quite yet or may have had to return them to the library; most are my own books.

Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1) by Stephen King
The Canary Trainer by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 10 of 224
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor -- p. 68 of 299

Liked this Wordle and the solution!

Wordle 504 3/6 irate, bread, dream

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>53 klobrien2: It was a fun one wasn't it? I took an extra step but could easily have been 5 today. I thought of BREAM but rejected it for CREAM then DREAM.

Happy reading, Karen O.!

I had a hard time with yesterday's Wordle because I was having an anxiety attack. I had it down to the last four letters, in order, and still couldn't figure it out.

>55 The_Hibernator: Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is to just stop guessing, take a break, let it stew for a while. If you tried that, then I apologize...sometimes the word is ungraspable! So then you start a new streak!

Hope your weekend is going well! And thanks for visiting!

241. Once & Future, Volume 1: The King is Undead by Kieron Gillen



Very fun, very exciting series here, putting a huge twist in the King Arthur story! I saw this series mentioned in https://www.librarything.com/topic/345472#n7969221 (The British Author November challenge--Arthurian Legend). Thanks!

This first volume (I found four volumes at my library) was a real treat to read, with great characters, and very exciting, supernatural creatures, portals between worlds, etc.

Happy with my two-ey!

Wordle 505 2/6 irate, stale

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>58 klobrien2: I love those 2days...I've had my one of 'em. Fun, but the way I play it wouldn't be possible to get another unless I changed my 2nd word.

>57 klobrien2: Sounds like a perfect graphic novel to me. I hope it proves to be just that!

Key thing for me today was leaving it for a bit after word two…let the puzzle stew.

Wordle 506 3/6 irate, plied, begin

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Three's a great result, Karen O. and thank goodness for it!

Wordle 507 4/6 irate, blend, smell, spell

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Hi, Karen. I am back and slowly catching up on LT. I hope all is well with you. Hooray for the Goon Squad. I wasn't as enamored with The Candy House, though. A misfire for me.

>63 msf59: I’ve got a long wait until Candy House comes my way on Libby, so I can think about if I really want to read it. I’ll search out your thoughts on the book.

Hope you’re feeling better, soonest!

242. Sinister Graves (Cash Blackbear Mysteries #3) by Marcie R. Rendon



This series gets better and better. In this third book, Cash is keeping up with college, catching various farm plowing and trucking jobs, playing pool for profit, and most importantly to us, serving as informal assistant to Wheaton, a small-town sheriff.

It's spring in the Red River Valley, and the body of a young woman has floated out of the annual spring flood. Cash investigates.

Rendon's writing shows two sides of Cash and Cash's world: reservation life/city life; Anishinaabe/white; natural/supernatural; female/male; Jeff Lourey says that Cash "is a character both fierce and vulnerable." So much to think about here, and my little report doesn't do the book justice. I couldn't put it down.

Wordle 508 4/6 irate, fairy, daily, rainy

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>66 klobrien2: Yay for a 4day!

>65 klobrien2: The series is still holding up...that's always a good thing. Nothing disappoints me more sharply than a series running out of steam early in its run.

>67 richardderus: Hi, Richard!

I feel like the Cash Blackbear series has gotten steadily stronger (and it was pretty great to being with). Looking forward very much to the next one(s).

Good day to you, sir!

243. Death By Water (Phryne Fisher #15) by Kerry Greenwood



Another very satisfying read in this series. This time, we're on a cruise ship from Australia to New Zealand, with lots of interesting stuff about cruise life in the early 20th century, New Zealand, and the Maoris.

Wordle 509 4/6 irate, white, quite, unite

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Wordle 510 3/6 irate, glean, medal

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244. Busy Betty by Reese Witherspoon and Xindi Yan



Fun romp of a book, with very pretty illustrations.

245. A Very Mercy Christmas (Mercy Watson) by Kate DiCamillo



I love the Mercy Watson books, and this new one is a sure-to-be-classic. Beautiful message, beautiful illustrations, lots of fun. Would make a great Christmas gift for youngsters.

Friday Reading Roundup!

Why I do this "Round Up": Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (11/11/2022):

Actively reading

Ragtime (1001 Books) by E. L. Doctorow -- p. 30 of 210
Eventide by Kent Haruf -- p. 24 of 281
The Greatest of Marlys by Lynda Barry -- p. 110 of 249
The Walkers of Dembley (Agatha Raisin) by M C Beaton -- p. 20 of 155
Friends, Lovers, and the Big, Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry -- p. 12 of 250
Human Chain: Poems by Seamus Heaney

*AAC (American Author Challenge) for November: Native American authors, themes and history -- Will read Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer -- p. of

My current Great Course(s): Foundations of Western Civilization; 24 of 48 lectures (halfway done!)

New Category: On the Short List for Getting Read

Curtains for Three (Nero Wolfe #18) by Rex Stout -- p. 9 of 184
Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher
Lady Susan by Jane Austen -- p. 0 of 284
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Alliance by Larry Millett -- p. 9 of 302

Not-So-Time-Sensitive-But-Still-Want-to-Get-to-Them (so, these are readily available to me although I might not be reading them quite yet or may have had to return them to the library; most are my own books.

Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1) by Stephen King
The Canary Trainer by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 10 of 224
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor -- p. 68 of 299

Happy 3day, Karen O.!

Phew! indeed! The streak continues...

Wordle 511 6/6 irate, steam, bated, taken, facet, valet

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>69 klobrien2: I need to find the book series. I enjoyed the TV series immensely.

>76 klobrien2: That was a close one!

Happy Weekend!

>77 ocgreg34: Hi, Greg! I find the Phryne Fisher books to be very comfortable, not a big time (or energy) commitment, lots of fun. I hope you get a chance to read them, and that you like them!

Thanks for stopping by to chat!

>78 figsfromthistle: It was close, for sure. That’s why today’s feels so good:

Wordle 512 2/6 irate, inane

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My first word came through in a major way.

>80 klobrien2: ...and on such a great word, too...yay Karen O.!

We’ve been watching “Magpie Murders” and really enjoying it. i read the book, but it was a while ago, so still seems really fresh to me. I love the way the two sets of plot (real, fictional) are intertwined in the show.

I want to finish up “Derry Girls” but will be sad to be done, so I’m letting it stretch out.

Also want to start up “The Crown” season 5. Curious to see Imelda Staunton as the Queen.

We watched the original “The Out of Towners” (Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis) and it was as hilarious as I remembered.

I just started the new season of The Crown, and I think Imelda Staunton is very good in the role.

>83 katiekrug: Good to hear (I am sure she would be). Is it sad to watch "the Queen" on screen, knowing the real one is no longer with us?

Have a great weekend!

246. The Walkers of Dembley (Agatha Raisin #4) by M. C. Beaton



I loved this Agatha Raisin. Introduction of Sir Charles (I hope he's as present in the next books as he was in the TV series).

>84 klobrien2: - I don't find it sad, but I'm not that big into the whole monarchy/royal watching thing.

>85 klobrien2: Me neither, BUT watching The Crown made me feel that Elizabeth, the person and the Queen, was amazing. And it's interesting how each new actress presents Elizabeth in each phase of her life. The history of it, I guess.

Have a great Sunday!

Lucky guess gave me a Wordle-in-three.

Wordle 513 3/6 irate, above, maple

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>88 klobrien2: Yay! I took 4 but am still perfectly pleased with the result. Lots of Canadians seem to have taken 4 today, too, which startles me.

Took me a while, but loved playing “fun” words…

Wordle 514 5/6 irate, roach, quark, swarm, snarl; my stab at a Wordle Sentence: She was irate when a stupid, wayward roach zapped the quark and caused the universe's ions to swarm and snarl up her experiment.

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247. Tales From the Haunted Mansion, Vol. 1: The Fearsome Foursome by Amicus Arcane (John Esposito)





248. Tales From the Haunted Mansion, Vol. 2: Midnight at Madame Leota's by Amicus Arcane (John Esposito)





249. Tales From the Haunted Mansion, Vol. 3: Grim Grinning Ghosts by Amicus Arcane (John Esposito)





250. Tales From the Haunted Mansion, Vol. 4: Memento Mori by Amicus Arcane (John Esposito)



Great quartet of only-kinda-scary short stories, meant for the middle-grade group (I guess), published by Disney Press. Beautifully-made books, easy to handle, lovely subdued illustrations throughout.

I liked the standardized format (individual stories broken up by "Interludes" and framing notices from the narrator, the Librarian Amicus Arcane. The snarky comments of the Librarian throughout give humor and ease the scariness of the content.

I would have really liked these books in the fourth grade! I liked them a lot now, a "few" years later. Thanks to whoever brought them to my attention (was it mstrust?) I must keep better track of my influencers!

251. Human Chain: Poems by Seamus Heaney



I loved Heaney's translation of Beowulf so decided to give this slim book of poetry a read. I don't know a lot about poetry, but Heaney surely had a gift for language (and translation).

Here's a few examples:

AN OLD REFRAIN

i

Robin-run-the-hedge
We called the vetch--
A fading straggle

Of Lincoln green
English stitchwork
Unravelling

With a hey-nonny-no
Along the Wood Road.
Sticky entangling

Berry and thread
Summering in
On the tousled verge.

ii

In seggins
Hear the wind
Among the sedge,

In boortree
The elderberry's
Dank indulgence.

In benweed
Ragwort's
Singular unbending,

In easing
Drips of night rain
From the eaves.

And, some translated verses (I apologize for my lack of accent marks):

COLUM CILLE CEDINIT

i IS SCITH MO CHROB ON SCRIBAINN

My hand is cramped from penwork.
My quill has a tapered point.
Its bird-mouth issues a blue-dark
Beetle-sparkle of ink.

Wisdom keeps welling in streams
From my fine-drawn sallow hand:
Riverrun on the vellum
Of ink from green-skinned holly.

My small runny pen keeps going
Through books, through thick and thin,
To enrich the scholars' holdings--
Penwork that cramps my hand.

ii IS AIRE CHARAIM DOIRE

Derry I cherish ever.
It is calm, it is clear.
Crowds of white angels on their rounds
At every corner.

iii FIL SUIL NGLAIS

Towards Ireland a grey eye
Will look back but not see
Ever again
The men of Ireland or her women.

11th/12th Century

A guessy-guessy day (ugghh!). But I made it.

Wordle 515 6/6 irate, eager, waver, caper, baler, baker

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252. The Greatest of Marlys by Lynda Barry



What a feast of Marlys, et al.! Jumbo-sized for easy reading, as Barry draws very dense cartoons, with details that you don't want to miss.

Typical "Marlys" themes and characters, but there are some darker and scarier themes that I don't remember encountering elsewhere (and I've been reading a lot of Lynda Barry!).

This is my favorite collection of Barry's so far--it's just so massive, and packed with good stuff.

Wordle 516 3/6 irate, store, there; She was so irate to find that her marshmallow store was no longer there!

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>95 klobrien2: Oh, me too, Karen O.!

I'm pleased you're still delighting in Lynda Barry's work. It's a terrific trove of good thinking and storytelling.

Yikes! Not a single correct letter in my first two words! But my third word was very helpful, as it really limited the possibilities for the solution.

Wordle 517 4/6 irate, doubt, shyly, glyph

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>97 klobrien2: ooohhh excellent third word! It wouldn't occur to me at all. I've got to add it to my tally of strange-word-day words.

Happy weekend-ahead's reads!

Wordle 518 4/6 irate, later, terry, avert

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Friday(-ish) Reading Roundup!

Why I do this "Round Up": Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (11/18/2022):

Actively reading

Ragtime (1001 Books) by E. L. Doctorow -- p. 47 of 210
Eventide by Kent Haruf -- p. 41 of 281
Friends, Lovers, and the Big, Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry -- p. 96 of 250
Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade by Dennis Patrick -- p. 63 of 299
Fen, Bog, and Swamp by Annie Proulx
Tough Luck: Poems by Todd Boss
Has Anyone Seen My Toes by Christopher Buckley -- p. 13 of 236

My current Great Course(s): Foundations of Western Civilization; 30 of 48 lectures

New Category: On the Short List for Getting Read

Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in Mexico by Rick Martinez -- p. 73 of 297
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
Once and Future, Vol. 2: Old English by Kieron Gillen
Curtains for Three (Nero Wolfe #18) by Rex Stout -- p. 9 of 184
Murder in the Dark (Phryne Fisher #16) by Kerry Greenwood
Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher
Lady Susan by Jane Austen -- p. 0 of 284
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Alliance by Larry Millett -- p. 9 of 302

Not-So-Time-Sensitive-But-Still-Want-to-Get-to-Them (so, these are readily available to me although I might not be reading them quite yet or may have had to return them to the library; most are my own books.

Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1) by Stephen King
The Canary Trainer by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 10 of 224
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor -- p. 68 of 299

>100 klobrien2: Fen, Bog, and Swamp by Annie Proulx
Ooo! Ooo! I am eager to hear what you make of this read. One amazing thing to me was to be reminded of how old Dillard is...twenty-six years older than I am, old enough to be my mother! Somehow, to me, she's a peer, she shares my concerns and attitudes. But she would...she helped *form* them.

>99 klobrien2: Excellent Wordleing!

Happy weekend-ahead's reads, Karen O.

>101 richardderus: Richard, after you'd said how good Fen, Bog, and Swamp was, I'd put in a request at my library, and now it's finally come in! So, I'm looking forward to the read!

Have a great weekend, Richard!

Wordle 519 4/6 irate, grade, brake, brave

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Wordle 520 4/6 irate, mania, amiss, axiom

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>104 klobrien2: Four seems to be the going rate around here today...I'm not surprised TBH since there's so little call for most of us to use the word.

Cheers for a nice week ahead, Karen O.

253. Once & Future, Vol. 2: Old English by Kieron Gillen



The second in the series...lots of gore! Found myself quite confused at times reading this alternate worlds/alternate history graphic. It started to clear up for me later in the volume. I have great hopes for the next volumes. Artwork is fantastic!

Wordle 521 3/6 irate, pride, prime

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254. Revenge of the Librarians: Cartoons by Tom Gauld



So funny, so smart! This artist is regularly seen in The Guardian and The New Yorker, and has published several books (I've read three of them, now). A real treat for their silliness and their intelligence.

255. Friends, Lovers, and the Big, Terrible Thing: A Memoir by Matthew Perry



The "big, terrible thing" of the title is Perry's battle with addiction to opiates, which consumed him through most of his life. Additionally, he dealt with addictions to alcohol and tobacco.

It's just amazing to know that he was so sick and still performing so well on "Friends" and his other efforts. I really respect him for surviving, and for coming clean with this book.

The book does get a little gossipy, although Perry doesn't name too many names. There is one big faux pas, where Perry uses Keanu Reeves as an example of a bad actor, where it was uncalled for and unnecessary (much better to use himself!) Where was his editor??

Overall, a compelling read.

>108 klobrien2: I adore Tom Gauld's humor!

>107 klobrien2: I went a lot farther than you did thanks to doing the dreaded guessing game. Ah well...streak's alive!

*smooch*

Oh, boy! A very surprising two-fer for me today! Pure luck, after a good first word set-up.

Wordle 522 2/6 irate, drive

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Thank you as always for books, thank you for this group and thanks for you. Have a lovely day, Karen.

Happy Thanksgiving, Karen. Ooh, Revenge of the Librarians: Cartoons. I will have to request that one immediately. I am a big Gauld fan.

>112 PaulCranswick: Happy Thanksgiving, Paul!

>113 msf59: Happy Thanksgiving, Mark! The Gauld was great!

Hi Karen!

I’m thankful for my LT friends, who I’ve been not good about keeping up with this year. I shall strive to do better. Today is a hard reset.
.

Phew! Got stuck playing the guessing game, but my streak continues, for which I am very thankful! Happy Thanksgiving!

Wordle 523 6/6 And the solution is so appropriate for today!: irate, teach, yeast, least, beast, feast

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>116 klobrien2: It's a clever thing to hide their holiday message in the Wordle! Happy Thursday, Karen O.

>108 klobrien2: BB for me.

Happy Thanksgiving

I really feel this shouldn’t have taken me so long, but it is a strange word!

Wordle 524 4/6 irate, input, idiot, itchy

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256. Pitch: Poems by Todd Boss



I really like this book of poems, the style of the author, Todd Boss, and he is a Minnesotan! At least, he was at the time of this book's compilation, in 2012.

He often starts his poems with the title as the first line, as in this one:

The World Is in Pencil

--not pen. It's got that same silken
dust about it, doesn't it,
that same sense of
having been roughed
onto paper even
as it was planned.
It had to be a labor
of love. It must've
taken its author some
time, some shove.
I'll bet it felt good
In the hand--the o
of the ocean, and
the and and the and
of the land.

His poems are down to earth, playful, sometimes really sad, sometimes full of humor. Always fresh.

257. Tough Luck: Poems by Todd Boss



Another book of poems by Todd Boss. This one is five years later (2017) than Pitch: Poems.

Here's one of my favorites (maybe you bird types would like this one):

They Mate for Life

Swans
don't laugh.

Gees
don't either.

No gander
ruffles
his spouse's
eider.

Sad-faced
gibbons
make as sober
a culture
as angelfish
or turkey
vulture.

They mate
for life
like the turtle
dove,
but none
would survive
a human love.

This volume contains the full "Fragments for the 35W Bridge," a memorial to the major interstate bridge of Minneapolis, and the people that died in its collapse in August 2007. Pitch: Poems had included "Six Fragments"; the whole thing is here. There are 35 stanzas of 35 words each, all arranged vertically in a line of single words (like the space of air between the now non-existent bridge and the water below). Very moving to read.

258. Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade by Patrick Dennis



What a fun read! I'm pretty sure that I read this book in my wastrel youth (well, I was never quite a wastrel), but it read as very new to me. The book dates to 1955 but remains fresh, although it can be quite sexist and classist (though it points out, in scorn, discrimination and inequity.

Here's what the author wrote about this book: "Auntie Mame...isn't even a novel, really. It is, instead, a couple of dozen episodes that take place in a couple of dozen localities over a couple of dozen years. . .Both novel and play are freaks, then--but such popular freaks that their lavish eccentricities cannot be entirely despised."

Now I'm waiting for a turn with the sequel, Around the World with Auntie Mame.

>123 klobrien2: I loved those books so much! I'm so glad you like it, too.

>122 klobrien2:, >121 klobrien2: Goodness will you look at that! Completely blank spaces. So odd...:-P

>120 klobrien2: It was, wasn't it!

*smooch*

>123 klobrien2:

>122 klobrien2: klobrien2:, >121 klobrien2: klobrien2: Goodness will you look at that! Completely blank spaces. So odd...:-P

Oh, you are such a card! Did you ever read that book of po---y that you were threatening to read? I must go back and look.

Always good to see you here, dear Richard!

Friday Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (11/25/2022):

Actively reading

Ragtime (1001 Books) by E. L. Doctorow -- p. 47 of 210
Eventide by Kent Haruf -- p. 41 of 281
Curtains for Three (Nero Wolfe #18) by Rex Stout -- p. 65 of 184
Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in Mexico by Rick Martinez -- p. 73 of 297
Fen, Bog, and Swamp by Annie Proulx
Has Anyone Seen My Toes by Christopher Buckley -- p. 26 of 236
Flying Solo by Linda Holmes -- p. 42 of 284

My current Great Course(s): Foundations of Western Civilization; 32 of 48 lectures

On the Short List for Getting Read

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
Liberation Day by George Saunders -- p. 10 of 222
Murder in the Dark (Phryne Fisher #16) by Kerry Greenwood
Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher
Lady Susan by Jane Austen -- p. 0 of 284
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Alliance by Larry Millett -- p. 9 of 302

Not-So-Time-Sensitive-But-Still-Want-to-Get-to-Them (so, these are readily available to me although I might not be reading them quite yet or may have had to return them to the library; most are my own books.

Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1) by Stephen King
The Canary Trainer by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 10 of 224
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor -- p. 68 of 299

>125 klobrien2: I did.

I did indeed. I read it.

This is my blog's #Booksgiving, where I'll post reviews of books I really, really like and think people should gift to each other and/or themselves.

This book...will not appear.

Liked today’s, especially using words that I knew weren’t the solution, but I loved using them anyway!

Wordle 525 5/6 irate, amend, paean, ocean, clean

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Wordle 526 4/6 Solution was appropriate to how I felt after I got it! irate, among, jazzy, happy

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Wordle 527 3/6 irate, timed, tepid

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>130 klobrien2: *sigh* I had 4day because I just couldn't wait until I finished the coffeepot. *sigh*

Happy new-week's reads, Karen O.!

>131 richardderus: A 4day is really pretty great! I’ll be around to see how you did today…

Here’s how I did:

Wordle 528 4/6 irate, globe, queue (loved! Playing this word), undue

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Played the first two words, then left it for a while…the third word came pretty easy after that.

Wordle 529 3/6 irate, doubt, study

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259. Once & Future: The Parliament of Magpies by Kieron Gillen



This is the third volume in "Once & Future," a series about the Arthurian mythos arising in modern Britain (I got that description from another reader in the LT work page; I find it really difficult to describe these books!). These books are leaving me confused and overwhelmed by all the violence and gore, but I'll still keep reading them because they are pretty cool. The heroes in these books are an elderly (but certainly not fragile) woman, who has been fighting monsters all of her adult life, and her grandson, who fits the mold of a knight-in-shining-armor a little more typically.

260. My Perfect Life by Lynda Barry



Excellent collection of comics, this time focusing on Maybonne (sister of Marlys), a teenaged girl finding her way. Lots of fun!

261. Beowulf: A New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney



I'd read this lovely book years ago, but it must have been before my LT life, so certainly it was time for a reread. In my other reading, I'd gotten nudges to Beowulf (in the Once & Future books, in the Tom Gauld comics), so this was added incentive. I just love the story (actually, stories), and I love this translation.

Here are a few passages that stuck with me this time:

Undaunted, sitting astride his horse,
the coast-guard answered, "Anyone with gumption
and a sharp mind will take the measure
of two things: what's said and what's done."

And here, Beowulf is describing the death of Grendel, the monster (I almost feel like I should use a spoiler frame!):

But now he won't be long for this world.
He has done his worst but the wound will end him.
He is hasped and hooped and hirpling with pain,
limping and looped in it.

Those words just sing!

>136 klobrien2: I completely agree, Karen O. Heaney's work on this story is magnificent and breathtakingly perfect. I wish someone could come up with a few billion to create an animated setting for these glorious words.

...I need to lie down...praising poetry is hard on me....

Wordle 530 5/6 I used some strange words today, but it was fun, albeit a little nerve-wracking: irate, quest, knelt, tweet, eject

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262. Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in Mexico by Rick Martinez



This is an excellent cookbook, but it is also a wonderful travel book, and a fascinating and compelling memoir of a man who searched for his roots and found them in the Pacific coast of Mexico.

To tell the truth, most of the recipes here are past my abilities to cook myself. But I can certainly appreciate the region by region approach, the wonderful photography, and the insightful instructions in the recipes. This is one of the most beautiful cookbooks I have ever read.

Martinez set off to visit all of the regions of Mexico, collecting recipes and techniques, with the aim of writing this cookbook. He found a lot more than that. He actually sheltered there during the pandemic, not wanting to go back to NYC (although he loves the city).

He has much to say about the immigrant experience, about fitting in to America as a person of color.

"But I think that happens to many immigrant families: you try so hard to fit into your new country that you forget where you came from. I needed to find my origins."

"When I set off on my trip, immigration in the US was always spoken about in a negative way. It was an 'issue.' no matter which side of the 'issue' you were on. It meant border camps and xenophobia and kids in cages. But I want to talk about the positive side, which has always existed, since the first groups of humans started to walk across continents. Because some of the most iconic and delicious dishes (here and everywhere) exist because of immigration and because of immigrants. And these dishes are--and should be--for everyone."

Wordle 531 3/6 irate, flame, chafe

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Friday Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (12/02/2022):

Actively reading

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Alliance by Larry Millett -- p. 26 of 302
Our America: A Photographic History by Ken Burns
Has Anyone Seen My Toes by Christopher Buckley -- p. 43 of 236
Flying Solo by Linda Holmes -- p. 63 of 284
Someday the Plan of a Town: Poems by Todd Boss -- p. 16 of 109
Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage by M. C. Beaton -- p. 8 of 199

My current Great Course(s): Foundations of Western Civilization; 38 of 48 lectures (only 10 lectures to go!)

Coming to me this weekend:

The So Blue Marble by Dorothy B. Hughes
A Book of Days by Patti Smith
Baking With the St. Paul Bread Club: Recipes, Tips, and Stories by Kim Ode
The Best Quick Breads by Beth Hensperger

On the Short List for Getting Read

Ragtime (1001 Books) by E. L. Doctorow -- p. 47 of 210
Eventide by Kent Haruf -- p. 41 of 281
Liberation Day by George Saunders -- p. 10 of 222
Murder in the Dark (Phryne Fisher #16) by Kerry Greenwood
Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher

Not-So-Time-Sensitive-But-Still-Want-to-Get-to-Them (so, these are readily available to me although I might not be reading them quite yet or may have had to return them to the library; most are my own books.

Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1) by Stephen King
The Canary Trainer by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 10 of 224
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor -- p. 68 of 299

263. Curtains for Three (Nero Wolfe #18) by Rex Stout



Excellent, satisfying 18th volume of the Nero Wolfe series. There are actually three short stories/novellas here: (1) The Gun With Wings, (2) Bullet for One, and (3) Disguise for Murder. All sharp, funny, vintage Rex Stout.

>141 klobrien2: Ooohhh, The So-Blue Marble! It delights me that so many people are discovering Dorothy Hughes.

Happy weekend-ahead's reads, Karen O.!

Bit of a struggle today, but I got there. Cool word!

Wordle 532 5/6 irate, thorn, tromp, tutor, torso

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>144 klobrien2: It was a 4day for me, but the word appeared in my head after I used STROP, a word I'd honestly forgotten I knew.

Saturday orisons!

>145 richardderus: That’s great! One of my favorite things about Wordle is that it’s like playing with words, like modeling clay.

Have a great weekend, Richard!

264. Our America: A Photographic History by Ken Burns



A terrific (but exceedingly large and HEAVY!) collection of photographs; with history of photos, photographers, and subjects (included at the back of the book). Its just amazing how evocative a picture can be of the subject, especially when each photo has a write-up that makes the historicity even more clear.

Thanks to whoever on LT recommended this tome! It's well-worth checking out (best to check it out from your library if they have it--it's a little pricey.

Wordle 533 4/6 irate, large, azure, adore

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Wordle 534 5/6 irate, enemy, wench, woven, woken

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Hi. My name is Lindy.

>149 klobrien2: Same results, different path. It felt like I was just not connected when I set out on this one!

>147 klobrien2: Pretty looking book!

>151 richardderus: That’s how I felt today—like I wasn’t connected. I solved in 5, so there’s that.

I’ll be by to see what you’re up to! Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Wordle 535 5/6 irate, repay, waver, adder, amber

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265. Has Anyone Seen My Toes? by Christopher Buckley



I am a huge fan of Christopher Buckley, and reading this book made me even more so. The narrator is an author, living with his wife and family in South Carolina during the recent pandemic (earlier days). He is trying to write a screenplay, but is having trouble concentrating, and the whole book is full of his wonderful flights of thought and topics of discussion: Proust, the movie "The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!" (one of my all-time favorites), the poetry of James Dickey, the dangers of living in SC (both political and fauna-related), current affairs, Googling, his favorite restaurant, Hog King (I don't think it's a real restaurant, but it could be!), you name it).

Made me chuckle often, cry a little, and is bound to stay with me for a while. Highly recommend this one!

As far as our magic traveling-around-the-world-via-television-box, we've been watching (and finishing) a lot:

Finished Derry Girls final season (3) (Netflix). Loved it, loved seeing them on an episode of "Great British Baking Show: Holiday," (HBO Max) too.

Finished Avenue 5 season 2 (HBO Max). Very funny, pretty outrageous. Hugh Laurie!

Finished Magpie Murders (PBS Masterpiece). Really good, made the story much more accessible to me, "seeing" it. I hope there's another season!

Finished Great British Baking Show (Netflix). I really enjoyed most of the shows. I haven't watched prior to this year, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but I'll watch next year for sure.

Finished Young Wallander: Killer's Shadow (so, season 2 of Young Wallander) (Netflix). Okay, seeing a strong trend here, Netflix and HBO Max are the services we hold onto! Young Wallander is a good show. It's been out for a while, but we hadn't gotten around to it before now.

Have started with "Three Pines" (Prime) and really liking it. I reread all of the Louise Penny Inspector Lamache books last year, and it's great to see how the series is coming along. Alfred Molina is terrific! I think the other characters will become more familiar to us as the show goes on.

There is a Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday special on Disney+, which is just a hoot! Kevin Bacon guest stars!

Finally, we had seen the original Pitch Perfect, but not the second and third sequels. So we did! They may not be the smartest of movies, but they are fun, and there is lots of singing and choreography.

Thought of two more: We finished the tenth and final season of Doc Martin (Acorn). Wonderful, wonderful show! There is one final special episode to salute the show, but then it’s probably all over.

Lastly (I think) we just watched two episodes of the third (and final) season of His Dark Materials. Excellent show! This is on HBO, as well.

>154 klobrien2: My millennial son and his girlfriend weren’t all that impressed wit the Guardian Christmas special, but Mrsdrneutron and I thought it was a hoot! Kevin Bacon!

>153 klobrien2: Ouch! BB for me!

>154 klobrien2: I must say that Three Pines is a lovely presentation of the storyverse. Molina is, in my mind, the pitch-perfect Gamache...if just a tidge on the old side for the first book.

Happy midweek madness, Karen O.

>156 figsfromthistle: Has Anyone Seen My Toes? is a pain-free BB! Hope you like it as much as I did!

Thanks for stopping by!

>155 drneutron: Oh, the Guardians of the Galaxy was definitely watchable. Have you seen the “I am Groot” shorts that are out there? They are also very fun.

Thanks for stopping by!

>159 klobrien2: Yes! Those are great!

Got a little guessy-guessy at the end, but I love the solution!

Wordle 536 4/6 irate, doubt, mount, joust

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266. Foundations of Western Civilization (Great Courses) by Thomas F. X. Noble



I really enjoyed this course, but it took me a long time to make my way through 4500 years (48 lectures of 30 minutes each). The course was probably pretty traditional in its approach to ancient and medieval history in the Western world, but its makeup was fairly identified in the title. Dr. Noble is a very good teacher, and he kept my attention throughout. I am someone who normally relies on closed-captioning, but I was able to follow along even without captions. Strongly recommended.

>154 klobrien2: Your post made me go away to look at when His Dark Materials series 3 airs in the U.K. - apparently it is December 18th. I thought the first two series were excellent.

>163 SandDune: Me, too—I really liked the first two seasons of the show, and the third is top-notch so far. I might need to read the books again!

Glad the show is coming your way soon!

Now, this was fun! Took my time, but I was proceeding uncaffeinated so I was a little worried. Having the first letter was key.

Wordle 537 2/6 irate, infer

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Wordle 538 3/6 irate, grain, braid

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267. A Book of Days by Patti Smith



An amazing journal/memoir/calendar, a page for every day of the year; the photographs chosen run the gamut of people, places, things. Among my favorites are the assemblages, or collages, that Smith puts together out of photos and objects. She really has the artist's eye, in my humble opinion. And the musician/poet's ear.

Smith started on Instagram at the suggestion of her daughter. "The images in this book are drawn from existing Polaroids, my archive, and the cellphone. A process unique to the twenty-first century...A Book of Days is a glimpse of how I navigate this culture in my own way. It was inspired by my Instagram but is uniquely its own. Much of it I created during the pandemic, in my room alone, projecting into the future and reflecting the past, family, and consistent personal aesthetic."

I found it just amazing, and inspiring! One of my best reads of this year!

Friday Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (12/09/2022):

Actively reading

A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Alliance by Larry Millett -- p. 56 of 302
Someday the Plan of a Town: Poems by Todd Boss -- p. 22 of 109
Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage by M. C. Beaton -- p. 85 of 199
The So Blue Marble by Dorothy B. Hughes -- p. 16 of 194
Scoop by Evelyn Waugh -- p. 0 of 275

Coming to me this weekend:

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
The Gods and Goddesses of Greece and Rome by Philip Matyszak
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
The Paper Chase by John Jay Osborn
Around the World with Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis

On the Short List for Getting Read

Ragtime (1001 Books) by E. L. Doctorow -- p. 47 of 210
Eventide by Kent Haruf -- p. 41 of 281
Liberation Day by George Saunders -- p. 10 of 222
Murder in the Dark (Phryne Fisher #16) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 0 of 260
Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher
Baking With the St. Paul Bread Club: Recipes, Tips, and Stories by Kim Ode
The Best Quick Breads by Beth Hensperger

Not-So-Time-Sensitive-But-Still-Want-to-Get-to-Them (so, these are readily available to me although I might not be reading them quite yet or may have had to return them to the library; most are my own books).

Flying Solo by Linda Holmes -- p. 63 of 284
Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1) by Stephen King
The Canary Trainer by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 10 of 224
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor -- p. 68 of 299

Patti Smith? Ok, I'll take that bullet. Now on the list.

>169 weird_O: Yay! The book was a treat. I really hope you like it as much as I did!

I struggled a little with this one. Strange word—of course, any word looks strange if you look at a little too closely (“semantic satiation” from Ted Lasso!).

Wordle 539 5/6 irate, cloud, scoff, mooch, knock

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>171 klobrien2: I used my new alternating #2 word MURKY and it was the key to the puzzle.

>168 klobrien2: Around the World with Auntie Mame!! I adored those books, and of the two, that one was my favorite.

We Are Legion is languishing...I see it in its dingy, unlit corner with inky tears running down its spine, so so wounded by the cruel lady's neglect...

>167 klobrien2: Isn't Patti Smith fascinating? I wasn't a fan of her music, kinda like a lady version of Bob Dylan to me, but her life and times were enrapturing reads!

Happy weekend-ahead's reads, Karen O. *smooch*

Happy Saturday, Karen. I am a big fan of Patti Smith. I loved her memoir Just Kids. I will add A Book of Days to the list. Glad to see you have Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands on tap. Loved that one.

>172 richardderus: We Are Legion, etc., are books I own, so I let them languish while I read library books. I should make the series a priority in 2023!

Patti Smith: I was amazed by how loving she is to everyone she talks about in her book. I kept thinking to myself, “Man, I would like to be her friend…”

*Smooches* to you, too! i love to see you here!

>173 msf59: I’m sure I got into Just Kids on your reccie, Mark! And Ducks, as well (though I’ve been having a Kate Beaton comics fest). I hope you get a chance to try A Book of Days, and that you like it as much as I did (I bet you do).

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you’re feeling better!

We’ve been watching some good stuff on the tube lately. Got a DVD of “The Manchurian Candidate” from the library. What a terrific movie, and it’s like 60 years old! Great actors, including Angela Lansbury (why we especially wanted to see the movie) and Frank Sinatra.

Just watched episodes 3 and 4 of “Three Pines” and I’m really liking it (haters, no need to respond). Yes, it is an adaptation of the books; yes, they have changed/added some things but that’s the nature of “based on” and the skills of the adapters. I stopped following the Three Pines thread on FB because of the whining of some posters; I will probably pick it up again once all the episodes are out there and my experience of them won’t be tainted. End of rant. It’s a very good show!

And we’re watching Trevor Noah's last “Daily Show” right now. He is such a funny, intelligent guy—he will be missed!

268. Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage (Agatha Raisin #5) by M. C. Beaton



One of my favorites of the Agatha Raisin series so far (five books in). A lot of Agatha's back story; we (and James) learn maybe why Agatha is the way she is (tough, feisty, maybe a little low on the self-esteem). Good reading.

Took me way too long today--but, then, I haven't had coffee yet!

Wordle 540 5/6 irate, abide, faire, maize, naive

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>178 klobrien2: Silly lassie! Precaffeinated Wordleing is a very, very bad bet indeed.

Happy week-ahead's reads!

Solved post-caffeination today!

Wordle 541 3/6 irate, alpha, apply

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>180 klobrien2: Ha! Me, too!

>178 klobrien2: I solved pre-caffeinated, but had WAIVE in there and just had to stare at it awhile til I realized what word was left.

>182 bell7: I had the hardest time thinking of any words that fit that frame! It’s like I had blinders on. Ugh!

Today, a little better…and have had some coffee…

Wordle 542 3/6 irate, phone, spoke

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269. Someday the Plan of a Town: Poems by Todd Boss



When the author felt his life fall apart (his 20-year marriage had ended, badly; his children were estranged and in rebellion; his "creative projects seemed fruitless"; "and my country was in the throes of a slobbering authoritarian delirium," he was ready for something different.

So he began house-sitting his way around the world. He paid no rent; his only living expenses were travel and food. He had thirty house-sitting assignments, over two years. And while he traveled, he wrote poems, souvenirs of his travels. This book contains these poems.

Here are some of my favorites:

The Wobbling, Body-Long Bubble of Concern (a small, lovely passage)

...One can
consider (easily so) that the world
is little more than a bubbulous
agglimmeration of polymorphous
Venns--Venns whose intersections
contain and recontain....

Always That Last Trip to the Airport

in a taxi...always the city through
the windows seeming unexplored,
no matter how exhaustively I toured.
Always the temptation to cancel
flights and remain, a new resident.
If the world is, aren't I too in pencil,
a sketch of a man? It's no accident
I'm grafted here, drafted here, a
figure stenciled on a foreign scene,
rogue, but increasingly road weary,
denizens of the requisite in-between.
Not all who march march for a cause.
I travel like some drink--to be lost.
My bags may as well be stuffed with
gauze for all the blood my journey's
cost. Then: Airline? asks the driver.
I check my phone. I can't remember.
We seem to be here early. We seem
to have navigated the stars. Seems
I've been studying my chauffeur in
the mirror--tanned Britannica, brown-
eyed Qur'an--reading and re-reading
there, I swear: How I could love. How
I could love anyone. How I could love
anyone and anywhere.

Marrakesh, Morocco

Wordle 543 5/6 irate, lamps, atlas, shoal, usual

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270. A World of Curiosities (Chief Inspector Gamache #18) by Louise Penny



Terrific reading for this 18th volume in the series! I really didn't want to set the book down because I had to see what happened next. Some great insights into the beginning of the relationship of Gamache and Beauvoir, as well as Agent Chouquet. Many memorable characters here!

>186 klobrien2: Oh, Jean-Guy...such a complicated man.

Happy reading going on, I see, even the shudder poetry *ptooptoo* book. Always a good thing!

>187 richardderus: Hi, Richard! You made me chuckle with your comment. You have been reading up a storm, and you've hit me repeatedly with Book Bullets (I'm thinking especially of that atlas book, which I *have* to pursue further). Isn't reading fun?! 8>)

271. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton



Thanks to msf59 (Mark) for bringing this book to my attention. I've been a fan of Kate Beaton, but for her Hark! A Vagrant comics, and this book is really a horse of a different color.

Beaton worked on the oil sand fields in western Canada after her years at university; her need was to make enough money to pay off her student loans. She encountered a rough culture, of men away from home and families. Some of those men sexually harassed and tormented the few women who worked there. The workers endured extreme cold at times, pesky bugs, and pollution practices that killed wildlife (the Ducks of the title) and probably inflicted cancer on them and on those who lived around them.

Beaton has created such great documentation of the time and place, and made clear the offenses that the corporations made against the workers (especially the women), the land, the indigenous people,...I hope that things have changed, but I'm afraid they haven't. Something to research!

Wordle 544 4/6 irate, fairy, birch, rival

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Hi Karen! I love Great Courses. I'm working on two of them right now. Biblical Literature and Great Mythologies. Both are pretty good, though the second is crazy long. I should check out the one you mention above, but I have several on my Audible account that I should check out first.

272. Once & Future 4 (Monarchies in the UK) by Kieron Gillen



Enjoying this graphic series more and more. The writing is becoming more organized, it feels as if things are being explained better. The artwork, as always, is magnificent. Lots of fun for King Arthur fans; really, any fans of British mythology.

Wordle 545 5/6 irate, grove, drone, broke, probe

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>193 klobrien2: I was a step out of sync with you today. Funny thing how we can get into the guessing game mode!

Have a wonderful weekend-ahead's reads! I'll traipse by soon to check on the weekly report.

273. Baking With the St. Paul Bread Club: Recipes, Tips and Stories by Kim Ode



Very fun read about a group of local bread bakers who formed a bread baking club at the end of the last century. Fascinating stories and recipes! Tips galore! I think I'll be locating a copy of this for my own (I read a library copy).

274. A Game of Thrones, Volume 1: The Graphic Novel by Daniel Abraham



I'm reading the Game of Thrones graphic series; I've previously only read the first volume, but now there are more volumes! I liked this first one as much as when I first read it; the illustrations are magnificent, and Abraham does a stellar job of distilling and adapting the original George R. R. Martin books for this new format.

"Common people pray for rain, healthy children, and summer that never ends. It's no matter if the high lords play their game of thrones, so long as they're left in peace."

275. A Game of Thrones, Volume 2: The Graphic Novel by Daniel Abraham



Excellent reading, but I have to be careful not to read these before bed or I dream "Game of Thrones."

>195 klobrien2: That sounds like a good one!

Happy weekend :)

276. The So Blue Marble by Dorothy B. Hughes



I enjoyed this exciting read from the "Golden Era" of crime mysteries. Lots of violence and deaths, though!

This particular edition had annoying misspellings (e.g., "The car was at the door when they came *flown*" rather than "down") and punctuation goofs (e.g., leaving off the beginning quotation mark from a quote). It's very irritating, and there is no excuse for the lack of proofreading.

Nevertheless, I won't hold that against Dorothy B., and will probably seek out more of her books.

Friday Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (12/16/2022):

Actively reading

Around the World with Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis --p. 13 of 224
Murder by the Book by Rex Stout -- p. 27 0f 214
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Alliance by Larry Millett -- p. 56 of 302
Scoop by Evelyn Waugh -- p. 0 of 275
The Gods and Goddesses of Greece and Rome by Philip Matyszak
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
The Best Quick Breads by Beth Hensperger

Coming to me this weekend:

Yellowrocket: Poems by Todd Boss
Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist by M. C. Beaton
Christmas at Highclere
The Dark Tower Companion

On the Short List for Getting Read

Ragtime (1001 Books) by E. L. Doctorow -- p. 47 of 210
Eventide by Kent Haruf -- p. 41 of 281
Murder in the Dark (Phryne Fisher #16) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 0 of 260
Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher

Not-So-Time-Sensitive-But-Still-Want-to-Get-to-Them (so, these are readily available to me although I might not be reading them quite yet or may have had to return them to the library; most are my own books).

The Paper Chase by John Jay Osborn
Liberation Day by George Saunders -- p. 10 of 222
Flying Solo by Linda Holmes -- p. 63 of 284
Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1) by Stephen King
The Canary Trainer by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 10 of 224
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor -- p. 68 of 299

Wordle 546 4/6 irate, mourn, sword, chord

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>201 klobrien2: It was a 3day by me but that was down to having four of five letters in my first two words.

>200 klobrien2: I'm curious to see if the Marple collection is something worth the eyeblinks. So many times I feel let down by continuations, but short stories have a solid case for being invested in...not much time spent.

Happy weekend!

Wordle 547 4/6 irate, alter, tamer, taper

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Guessy-guessy today…

Wordle 548 4/6 irate, plate, elate, slate

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Wordle 549 3/6 irate, doubt, third

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Wordle 550 3/6 irate, manor, lunar

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>206 klobrien2: Three's great, Karen O. I remain thrilled the streak's alive!

I'm whupped. I wrote eleven reviews for the new thread today. *whew*

277. Wombat Said Come In by Carmen Agra Deedy



Delightful picture book about the very neighborly Wombat and his neighbors, all threatened by a forest fire. Lovely!

Oh, I struggled with this one! Quite pleasantly surprised at the solution.

Wordle 551 4/6 After eliminating all other vowels, I felt sure that there had to be two “e”s, and I knew where they had to be: irate, peony, guess, excel

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>209 klobrien2: Well...never say never, eh what? The vowel situation is the principle limiter on my two-word starter strategy.

>208 klobrien2: Wombat's adorable! The real ones are, too, aren't they? Practically the only creatures on the continent that're not plotting how to kill you.

Hi Karen! How'd that blizzard treat you? ;)

>211 The_Hibernator: We got about six inches of snow, I think. Very light and powdery. It is SO freaking cold, though (my thermometer reads -4 degrees F right now). How are you folks doing?

278. Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist (Agatha Raisin #6) by M. C. Beaton



Fun installment of the series--this one's on Cyprus and, of course, there is murder. Good thing that Agatha is there!

279. Christmas at Highclere: Recipes and Traditions from The Real Downton Abbey by Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon



Quite a fun and timely read! Lots of great photos and history of the beautiful "castle" of Highclere. The author seems very nice and down to earth, and this book was so pleasant to read in these days before Christmas. Lots of good recipes, too, but since I don't have a chef, I'll wait to make these recipes some other time. 8>)

Happy Christmas from my Christmas gnome!

>215 SandDune: Thank you! And happy Christmas to you too!

Your gnome is so cute!

280. A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel, Volume 3 by Daniel Abraham



"When you play the game of thrones, there is no middle ground. You win or you die."

Series continues great...

281. Grievous Angel: An Intimate Biography of Gram Parsons by Jessica Hundley



Didn't put this on my weekly "Reading Roundup" because I'm just so angry at the waste of talent in the life of Gram Parsons (he had an early, drug-caused death at the age of 27). What might he have done if he had cleaned up and stayed away from the drugs?

This book features interviews with friends and musicians, and was written in close touch with Parsons's daughter.

Friday Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (12/23/2022):

Actively reading

Around the World with Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis --p. 44 of 224
Murder by the Book by Rex Stout -- p. 98 0f 214
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Alliance by Larry Millett -- p. 56 of 302
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: 50 Poems for 50 Years by Joy Harjo -- p. 10 of 127
Christmas By the Book by Anne Marie Ryan

On the Short List for Getting Read

Yellowrocket: Poems by Todd Boss
Ragtime (1001 Books) by E. L. Doctorow -- p. 47 of 210
Eventide by Kent Haruf -- p. 41 of 281
Murder in the Dark (Phryne Fisher #16) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 0 of 260
Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher
The Paper Chase by John Jay Osborn

Not-So-Time-Sensitive-But-Still-Want-to-Get-to-Them (so, these are readily available to me although I might not be reading them quite yet or may have had to return them to the library; most are my own books).

Liberation Day by George Saunders -- p. 10 of 222
Flying Solo by Linda Holmes -- p. 63 of 284
Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
The Canary Trainer by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 10 of 224

Wordle 552 3/6 strange word, but couldn't think of any other! irate, party, aorta

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Wordle 553 5/6 irate, chime, guide, spike, poise

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Malaysia's branch of the 75er's wishes you and yours a happy holiday season, Karen.

>222 PaulCranswick: Lovely! Thank you! And all the best of the new year to you!

Wordle 554 4/6 irate, steam, rated, extra

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Arrgh! Bombed today. My current streak lasted to 76 games.

Wordle 555 X/6 irate, smoke, queue, lunge, fudge, budge (and it was judge)

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>225 klobrien2: I had the same third as you, then went NUDGE, BUDGE, FUDGE and ran out of guesses as well. So frustrating...

>225 klobrien2: It's the Curse of the Guessing Game! I'm sad about your lost streak. It was a crummy day for me, too, and for almost everyone I know, because of the number of options.

Well. 2023 is on her way to rescue us from this dismal, po-faced old wretch of a 2022.

*smooch*

>226 bell7: >227 richardderus: It kind of takes the fun out of it, for sure! I was cheered up to see I wasn’t alone in my flailing.

Great to see you both here!

Today was almost as bad, but squeaked out a success. Sure used some strange words…

Wordle 556 6/6 Irate, peony, gnome, bonus, conch, condo

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Wordle 557 4/6 irate,
Ionic, imbed, impel

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I see that you have a tentative start on The Canary Trainer, the third of Nicholas Meyer's Holmes-and-Watson stories. My 75er Santa (Carrie, a.k.a. cbl_tn) included the second of Meyer's series in the books she sent me, and I'm about 1/3 into it. Trying to get just a book or two closer to 100 in 2022. It's good.

>230 klobrien2: If I'd even thought of word #3 I'd;ve been 4 for today, too!

*smooch*

>232 richardderus: I know! It seemed to timely, so right...I was pretty sure my #2 wasn't it, but it was fun to play it! Good job on your Wordle-in-3!

I just finished Around the World with Auntie Mame and I just loved it! Thanks for the heads up! At the time I read Auntie Mame I didn't realize there was another book. Enjoyed them both very, very much.

282. Around the World with Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis



Loved this book--so much fun! Thanks to Richard for bringing it to my attention!

The author takes such delight in WORDS, in several languages, in this book. But he also loves playing with SOUNDS, and dialects. Usually the dialect-using drives me crazy, but here it is part of the charm.

Dennis invents a character named "Lady Gravell-Pitt," for goodness' sake. "Lady Gravell-Pitt was the sort of woman you dislike at first, but after you get to know her a little better you detest her."

Here's another passage that I loved: "Forgetting all too soon the tiny apartments and suburban bungalows whence they sprang, the expatriate civil servants and foreign representatives tended to become languid, lordly, and loquacious, patronizing of the native population, snappish at the vagaries of their cooks and nurses and gardeners--they who had never before had a charwoman to wait on them."

Yes, there is a lot of humor, and fun does get poked, but Mame and her nephew (Mame's "little love") are not immune to the fun. And a lot of the satire is aimed at the bigotry and nastiness of the peoples Mame and Patrick come into contact with on their journey around the world. I am sure to be rereading both the original Auntie Mame and Around the World with Auntie Mame. Top notch!

>231 weird_O: Good to know that you’re liking The West End Horror! I really want to make some progress on my Nicholas Meyer’s reads early in the new year—I’m planning to read them all.

Thanks for stopping by! I keep up with your 2022 thread, and will make sure to find you in 2023!

283. Murder by the Book (Nero Wolfe #19) by Rex Stout



Classic Nero Wolfe, lots of suspects, and only Nero can solve the murders (well, with lots of help from Archie Goodwin and even Inspector Cramer.

I got the full set of Nero Wolfe (with Maury Chaykin and Timothy Hutton) TV episodes for Christmas! We've watched them all previously, but they definitely should be great for some rewatching, especially after reading quite a few of the books.

>234 klobrien2: My all-time favorite was when Beau's cousin showed up to woo and win Mame (and the money) but called her "Dollfeather"...and she couldn't remember that, she was so sloshed!

Wordle 558 5/6 Ooh, that’s a strange word!: irate, gland, masks, happy, havoc

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>237 richardderus: Oh, and wasn’t he something! That chapter was so sad because Mame so obviously missed her Beau, and the cousin was such a horrible substitute.

Time for an idiot box update?

We finished up the lovely “Three Pines” season, are about to finish the bleak but fascinating “His Dark Materials”, and are starting up “National Treasure: The Edge of History” (young female protagonist! Interesting backstory! Shows a lot of promise).

I’m working on the latest “Dead to Me” and the current “The Crown.” Art isn’t interested in these two, so I happily watch them on my free time.

We watched “Glass Onion” ( the follow-up to “Knives Out”) and really liked it. I hope there are more Benoit Blanc movies in the works!

284. A Christmas Memory/One Christmas/The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote



I'd read the first story before (many times) but I don't recall reading the other two (and they are very memorable stories). Loved them! Read them after the holidays, but they were just as enjoyable.

285. Good Girls Don't Make History by Elizabeth Kiehner



Great graphic representation of the fight for women's suffrage. It was a little disconcerting to be jumping between eras, but I'm sure there was a reason for that--to point out the similarities and the differences between the times? Thanks to whoever brought this to my attention--richardderus? msf59? You know who you are--Thanks!

"Respect our existence or expect our resistance!"

Wordle 559 3/6 Strange word! irate, march, molar

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>243 klobrien2: I got it wrong way round first. MORAL then MOLAR

>242 klobrien2: Either him or me, it was a well-worthwhile read wasn't it? Such a pleasure!

286. Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years by Joy Harjo



As much as I like Harjo's poems (and I've seen some of these before in her other collections), I LOVED the the Notes section (with some back story and explication for each poem). The notes really brought the poems to life for me. There is also a foreword by Sandra Cisneros which tells us about the history the two of them shared as colleagues at the U of Iowa's Writers' Workshop.

Here's one poem that I really liked: Praise the Rain. The notes for this poem say "The rhythm of the rain took over the patterning in the poem. I followed it and found a poem. I am often guided by rhythm. I have learned that my creative impulse is primarily kinetic and visual. This bears out frequently in my poetry."

Praise the Rain

Praise the rain, the seagull dive
The curl of plant, the raven talk--
Praise the hurt, the house slack
The stand of trees, the dignity--
Praise the dark, the moon cradle
The sky fall, the bear sleep--
Praise the mist, the warrior name
The earth eclipse, the fired leap--
Praise the backwards, upward sky
The baby cry, the spirit food--
Praise canoe, the fish rush
The hole for frog, the upside-down--
Praise the day, the cloud cup
The mind flat, forget it all--

Praise crazy. Praise sad.
Praise the path on which we're led.
Praise the roads on earth and water.
Praise the eater and the eaten.
Praise beginnings; praise the end.
Praise the song and praise the singer.

Praise the rain; it brings more rain.
Praise the rain; it brings more rain.

I'm resisting going to find any 2023 threads because it is still the Old Year. I'll put up my 2023 thread on January 1, and then go put some stars out onto some 2023 threads. It feels like a reckoning of the old year's reading, and a look to the next year. No need to rush that.

Spelling Bee (NYTimes puzzle) provided a pangram, a wonderful word--"logophile" (lover of words). I think that's what we LTers are, especially (maybe) those of us who do the daily Wordle puzzle. I'm glad to be a logophile!

I may have one more book to ascribe to 2022, but I'll definitely have a Wordle, and then it will be off to 2023. If you've already made the move, I'll see you there!

Friday Reading Roundup!

Because I rely on libraries so much for my reading (and do so much eBook reading), what I'm reading at any given time changes often, and changes quickly.

Karen's current reading (12/30/2022):

Actively reading

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Alliance by Larry Millett -- p. 40 of 302
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz -- p. 15 of 357
Yellowrocket: Poems by Todd Boss
Ragtime (1001 Books) by E. L. Doctorow -- p. 56 of 210
Flying Solo by Linda Holmes -- p. 63 of 284
Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death by M. C. Beaton -- p. 2 of 199

On the Short List for Getting Read

Trust by Hernan Diaz
Before I Forget (Leonard Pitts, Jr.)
The Trees by Percival Everett -- p. 12 of 325
Eventide by Kent Haruf -- p. 41 of 281
Murder in the Dark (Phryne Fisher #16) by Kerry Greenwood -- p. 0 of 260
The Paper Chase by John Jay Osborn

Not-So-Time-Sensitive-But-Still-Want-to-Get-to-Them (so, these are readily available to me although I might not be reading them quite yet or may have had to return them to the library; most are my own books).

Marple: Twelve New Stories by assorted authors
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
The Canary Trainer by Nicholas Meyer -- p. 10 of 224

>247 klobrien2: ::sad trombone::

I see Bob and the Bobiverse have been retired. I'm holding onto hope you'll be pulled back to them!

>248 richardderus: Oh, I’m very much planning to reread/read the Bobiverse books in the new year! I just felt so bad to leave them hanging out at the end of my list, ad nauseam…

Have a lovely day, Richard, and all the best to you in 2023!

Really had to work at this one; and now it seems so simple! Different strokes for different folks, I guess!

Wordle 560 5/6 irate, among, human, manta (ha!), manly

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>250 klobrien2: Word #4 worked?! Wow! I'm tucking that one under my wig for future reference.

Thank GOODNESS it's only 8 hours away.

See ya next year! Like you, I'm waiting to start a new thread 'til 2023.

See you on the other side, you weird_O!

I saw others putting a 2022 Wordle summary out there, and I liked the idea, so here goes…

Played 260 games; 97% win rate; current win streak of 5; maximum streak of 76

Won in 1 — none (but it rhymes!)
…in 2 — 20
…in 3 — 66
…in 4 — 83
…in 5 — 69
…in 6 — 15

My favorite fiction of 2022 (I read them in this order):

Cloud Cuckoo Land
Train Dreams
Matrix: A Novel
Department of Rare Books and Special Collections
Kaiju Preservation Society
Ocean State
The Ogress and the Orphans
Lessons in Chemistry
When Women Were Dragons
Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade

My favorite non-fiction of 2022 (again, no real order):

National Geographic Photo Ark Wonders: Celebrating Diversity in the Animal Kingdom
National Geographic The Photo Ark Vanishing: The World’s Most Vulnerable Animals
These Precious Days
Arctic Dreams
Our America: A Photographic History