Bohemima’s 2020 Book Bag #1

I’m still buried in 2019, but looking forward to a better year in 2020.

I’m Gail, a 75’er since 2009 (how is that even possible?), so this thread starts my twelfth year in our talkative group. I was introduced/invited by Richard, met Kath almost immediately (for which I’ll always be grateful, Richard) and then many more friends, and I’ve never looked back.

I’m 70 (Oh, that can’t be right. Wait...let’s see...17, carry the one, ignore the wrinkles...yep, still 70). I have two grown children and am currently the female version of Jeeves for my two cats.

I like almost any kind of book, although I’m not absolutely in love with Westerns or Romances. I’ll give them a look and sometimes a read, but I prefer mysteries, Victorian fiction, and a wide variety of nonfiction.

My goal this year is to enjoy my reading.

I’ve had better reading years than 2019, although the total number of books read was good.
ETA: No, the number wasn’t that great either, being my lowest total since 2013, which is saying a great deal.

FICTION: 25
NONFICTION: 22
MYSTERIES: 44

Male Authors: 50
Female Authors: 41

Saved 4 and last

Welcome back!

I’m awfully glad to be here, Jim

*smooch*

Hi Gail, I'm here to read your stories!

Hello Gail! What will your first mystery be for 2020?

Hi Gail my dear, just starred you dear friend.

Eeeee...visitors!

>8 richardderus: Glad to see you here, Richard, since you’re the one who slyly led me down the primrose path of BB’s and exploding Wish Lists.
But I’d be glad to see you even if that weren’t so.

>9 DianaNL: Diana, you never know what I’ll come up with next. For an old lady who thinks she leads a quiet life, things can get pretty strange around here.
I’m very glad to see you.

>10 susanj67: Susan! Mercy, I’ve no idea what that first whodunnit will be. I’m thinking about George Bellairs or Gladys Mitchell—their lists are enormous—or possibly an author new to me.
Whoever it is, I’m sure I’ll have have one mystery done and dusted by January 7th, no matter what else is going on, either in books or in life.

>11 johnsimpson: Oh, John, it’s wonderful to see you in my cozy corner. I’m looking forward to chatting with you again in this coming year.

Susan got me started on a tangent...what to read first in 2020? I’m currently reading Barbara Pam’s Excellent Women but I’m pretty sure to finish that before the first. I might squeeze in another mystery as well.

Hmm. One book I know I’m reading in January is The Bertrams by Anthony Trollope in a group read with Liz. For the rest, my plans are foggy at best. My list of available mysteries is seemingly endless, so I’ve got to look that over and see what seems appealing.

My problems could be a lot worse than not knowing which book to read.

>16 Matke: No joke. It took me FOUR DAYS to read a 250pp frothy queer Xmas romance...this apnea thing really rots. Focusfocusfocus annnnd wake up! Where was I? What did I read? *sigh*

Sorry. Feeling the self-pity swamp sucking at my shoes.

Got you starred, Gail.

>17 richardderus: I’m sorry, Richard. And I think you’re entitled to a least a brief Pity Party until this whole sleep thing gets sorted.

>18 Berly: and >19 CDVicarage:
Welcome to my book parlor, Kim and Kerry! I think I’ll be a better hostess this year. Whatever miasma had settled over me seems to be lifting.

I loved Excellent Women...I'm not sure I have any unread Pyms left. That's a sad state of affairs. My husband turned 70 this year, and I'll tell you what I told him---don't start referring to yourself as "old"...that's how it gets ya! Looking forward to seeing what mysteries (particularly) you choose this year.

Hi, Gail! - Happy New Group and Thread. :)

Delighted to know you'll be joining us for The Bertrams: as noted elsewhere, I think I'm going to hold off starting the group read until a couple weeks into January, to let the crossover madness subside a bit.

BTW while I was poking around in Golden Age mysteries I found your review of The Plumley Inheritance, which you liked a bit better than I did; possibly because I know how different it is (in that First Book way) from the rest of the series! I am planning to re-read The Perfect Murder Case at some point, so perhaps we can organise a shared read? Doesn't have to be in January though!! :D

Hi Gail-Things have settled down for me a bit, and I’m back on LT hoping to do better this year. Will be following your thread. BTW, do you live in Florida? Our plan is to move there this spring, _target date May, somewhere in the Sarasota area.

>22 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda! I’m not immediately recalling another Pym that I may have read, but this one...I’m 20 pages from the end...is something quite special. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of these.

Oh, I never think of myself as old except in the most academic sort of way. Other than the usual boring health things my usual reaction is, “I can’t possibly be 70.” I don’t feel any particular age; I just am.

That said, however, I have to admit my dismay at seeing the dreaded crepey skin thin going on.

>23 lyzard: Hey, Liz!

Yes, I’d love a shared read of The Perfect Murder Case. I thought the first book showed some promise and really hope I’m right. any time is fine for me; just let me know when you have a free slot.

>24 arubabookwoman: Why, Deborah, it’s delightful to see you here! I hope that this year will be a better one for you.

Yes, I do live in Florida, in the town immediately north of Sarasota—Bradenton. Have you spent a lot of time in Florida? I absolutely love it here, but I lived here for 35 years, moved away, and moved back. It does take some getting used to.

I’d be thrilled to have a meetup.

Hi Gail! Enjoy your reading in 2020. I'll be watching!

>26 Matke:

Excellent! Now I just have to find my copy...

Gail, I hope to reconnect with you in 2020. I'm dropping off my star but I won't be visiting much until I wrap up 2019. This time of year is so wild in the 75ers community!

>27 Matke: I haven’t spent a lot of time in Florida, but I was born and raised on Aruba, so I love beaches and palm trees. Not too sure about the alligators, though. Also I no longer do well in hot weather, especially coming from 30+ years in Seattle, where I love the cool summers and moderate winters. However, all of our kids ended up on the east coast-3 in NYC, 1 in Houston, and 1 in Tampa. Florida seemed to us the most logical place for us to go, esp. if we can be near a beach.

Best wishes for 2020!

Another resolution is to keep up in 2020 with all my friends on LT. Happy New Year!

Hi Gail my dear, wishing you a very Happy New Year from both of us dear friend.

Happy reading in 2020, Gail!

Hi Gail. I hope 2020 is a good year for you. I look forward to seeing what reading inspires you this year.

Happy New Year, Gail. I hope 2020 is a stellar year for you.

Happy New Year Gail!

Happy new year Gail.

A big Thank You to all my visitors and a very Happy New Year. May this be a great year for LT, the 75’ers, and all readers.

Hope 2020 is kind to you, Gail!

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2020, Gail!

I understand the "being buried in 2019" part. I'm really behind on threads. Trying desperately to catch up! Have a great year of reading!

>42 ChelleBearss: and >43 lkernagh: Thank you, Chelle and Lori! I hope that 2020 will prove to be a wonderful year of reading for both of you!

>45 Matke: Yep, Lori, I'm swamped right now, too, but trying to get around to all the threads as quickly as I can.
I think I’ve put my 2019 reading to bed now, and can concentrate on 2020!

Book #1
God Save the Queen by Dorothy Cannell is a fluffy little mystery story with a not-too-sweet romance thrown in on the side.

This book almost veers into silliness but the author just barely avoids that.

The story involves a rich man deciding to leave his considerable estate to his butler. Much heartburn ensues, as well, of course, as the butler’s murder.

There’s no heavy lifting here, either for the author or the reader, but there’s plenty of amusement and fun.This was my second book by this author, and I’ll try one more for luck.

2.5 stars

Book #2 A Perfect Madness by Frank Marsh Oh dear. This just isn’t very good.

The story is rather trite: young lovers in Austria are overwhelmed by the juggernaut of WW II. They’re both medical students; the girl is Jewish and the young man is German.

I’m sure you can predict the arc of the story: the young man is slowly but surely won over to the Nazi idea of a master race and eventually works at Auswitch. The young woman becomes a resistance agent.

I’ve been reading about the Holocaust all my life, so perhaps I’ve been spoiled by some of the exceptionally fine or especially moving work I’ve read. I did keep hoping that we’d see some drama, some tiny new slant, some depth of emotions, something to make this book rise above the trite situations and mundane storytelling here. Unfortunately that didn’t happen, and so it remains, sadly, a 2 star book.

This subject deserves better.

Book #3 Books and Persons by Arnold Bennett is a collection of newspaper pieces that Bennett wrote from 1908 through 1911.

The articles are funny and sharply critical of the British literary scene of those years. He talks about publishing and about being a writer. He reviews or critiques several writers of that era, notably H.G. Wells and Marie Corelli; but also Henry James, E.M. Foster, and several others.

The more general pieces, particularly those involving the financial side of publishing, seem strangely current, more than a hundred years later.

This leads me to the drawback of the book: many of the writers he mentions are either fairly obscure or completely forgotten. And that prevents the reader from a full enjoyment of what Bennett has to say. Not that it’s his fault: I’m sure that even in his dreams Bennett didn’t see that these quite casual pieces would still be read over a century later.

I give the book 4 stars for his style and wit, but I had to deduct one because of the references to passé authors and situations.

Still worth a quick read if you like Edwardian literature.
3.5 stars

Currently reading:

Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self Claire Tomalin
For Suzanne’s Nonfiction Challenge

Wolf Hall Hilary Mantel
Have to gear up for the new book coming in March

And I have a mystery to pick out for night time relaxation.

Oh! And for those off moments I have Meeting of the Minds by Steve Allen
More on this topic later

Hi Gail! I'm also reading Wolf Hall. Suzanne is tutoring me, which you probably read on my thread, and even commented on (I don't remember who commented and who didn't.) https://www.librarything.com/topic/315359

Good luck with your reading!

Fascinating period of history is the Tudor times and I'm sure that you'll enjoy Wolf Hall.

Have a great weekend, Gail.

>49 Matke: *ow*ow*ow*

Got me.

>51 The_Hibernator: and >52 PaulCranswick:
This is my third reading of Wolf Hall. I had the extreme good fortune to receive it as an ER book, and then read it again before reading Bring Up the Bodies, which I also got as an ER—someone was smiling on me.
Now that, after what seems an eternity, the third and final volume is coming out in March, I though it best to go back and re-read the first two, just to sharpen up my mental equipment.
I’m lucky in that I’ve had a life-long interest in the Tudor era, so the books are in familiar territory for me.
I’ll be interested in your thoughts, Rachel.

>53 richardderus: I think you’ll like it, Richard, but you might find it worthwhile to not read it all at once. Bennett has some axes to grind, and he grinds them exceeding small.
He has other funny books, like How to Live on a Twenty-four Hours a Day and Literary Taste: How to Form It, which are charming little nothings, but amusing.

A slow and easy Sunday for me. Sautéing assorted veg to go with egg lunches during the week; preparing other veg for cooking tomorrow; laundry; reading.
Sounds perfect to me.

Book #4 The Crime at Halfpenny Bridge is an entry in George Bellairs’ lengthy Inspector Littlejohn series. The story here involves two connected murders in, as usual, a small town or village. The setting is 1943 (written in ‘46), but the war doesn’t intrude much except for the blackout, which actually contributes to the solving of the crime.

Bellairs is at his comically acidic best here, nastily describing the characters inhabiting the town. However, Littlejohn is a perceptive man who has sympathy for some and contempt for others.

The mystery is a good one and there are few lulls in the narrative. If you like snark and don’t mind loads of undesirable characters, these books are definitely for you. But if you need to identify with the people in books in order to enjoy your reading, proceed with caution.
4 stars

Well, Gail, I'm glad your third and fourth books of the year were more enjoyable than the first two!

>56 Matke: Yes, indeed, a perfect day. What specifically are "egg lunches" with which your sautéed assorted veggies go?

>55 Matke: I Kindled them all. Bless Project Gutenberg!

>56 Matke: What >58 EBT1002: said.

>57 Matke: Ah, Bellairs! How deliciously malicious he was.

Hi Gail. We will be leaving Seattle in mid-April, but with stops along the way will be arriving in Florida by the beginning of May. We will be staying with our son in Tampa a week or so, but then plan to stay in various Air BnBs in several towns in between Tampa and Sarasota to try to get a feel for where we want to settle. Looking on Zillow, Bradenton looks to be very nice. I will try to PM you once we become more settled, perhaps later in the summer, so maybe we can arrange an LT get together.

You are much more ambitious than I am..happy thread!

I’ll be back.

Some health issues going on.

>62 Matke: Do take care of yourself, Gail and get well soon. xx

What Paul said ~

>62 Matke: Never fun! Recover, rest, recoup your invincibility. *smooch*

>62 Matke: Be well, Gail.

Take Care Gail my dear, sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

Sorry to hear you’re having health problems. I hope you feel better soon.

Sorry it has taken me so long to find your thread, Gail, and also sorry to hear about the health problems. I do hope they are sorted soon!

Hope you are starting to feel better!

Sending you healing energy, Gail. Hope the health issues clear up soon. xo

I'm coming in late but adding my heartfelt wishes that you may soon be rid of health problems and back to LT. Love to you, Gail!

Get well, stay well, drop by. xxx

Thanks to all who have posted and/or read the thread.

I’m completely overwhelmed by various circumstances. The most I can do right now is keep my books current and post the occasional review. I am reading threads but not posting, either on my own thread or that of others.

Keep your collective chins up, please. Everything, but everything, is ephemeral.

>74 Matke: I hope you're able to escape into the books for a while every day, Gail. Good to hear from you.

Nice to see you post, Gail. Burrow into your books and we'll see you sometime soon! Stay well.

Just waving Gail. Hope you are coping OK in these unprecedented times.

>74 Matke: Here's to hoping you can get back to whelmed soon.

>76 Berly: Hey, Kimmers, thank you for stopping by

>77 Caroline_McElwee: I’m trying, Caroline, but it’s been sticky, to say the least.

>78 richardderus: Richard, don’t I wish.

And today two of my three kids have been presumptively diagnosed as positive and await test results.

Not a good year.

I’m retreating to Victorian lit and mysteries.

>79 Matke: Oh NO!! I'm so sorry for this rough news making a shite year nastier. *smooch*

>79 Matke: Oh, I'm sorry, Gail. May their ordeal be brief and mild.

No words, Gail, but I do hope your children will have the easiest time possible if they do, in fact, have the virus.
Meanwhile, take care of yourself in every way. You're right: this isn't going on forever. Keep us posted, please.

>79 Matke: So sorry to see that! Hope they all have mild cases and recover very fast!

I am so sorry for your hard times. I hope your kids are young and otherwise healthy and come through this with fairly mild cases.

>79 Matke: I am sorry to hear that things are not going well for you this year, Gail. I hope that the test results are negative or, if they do test positive, that they are not sick for long.

Hi Gail my dear, so sorry to read that two of your children have Coronavirus, hope that it is only a mild case and they make full recoveries, we are both thinking of you at this difficult time and you are all in our prayers. Sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

>79 Matke: I saw your post on FB, Gail. I'm so sorry and will keep you and yours in my thoughts and prayers. xx

>79 Matke: wishing your kids a speedy recovery Gail.

Hoping for better news, Gail. Hugs aplenty.

Hopefully your kids don't have it, and if they do, I wish them a very light case. My hubby is definitely on the mend, getting cranky about isolating in the bedroom. A good sign to be sure! Hang in there.

One is ever-so-slowly recovering, feeling as though a truck has run over him.

One still quite sick.

One auxiliary kiddo is having a chest x-ray today.

Thank you for your kind thoughts, Kim.

Oh, Gail, so sorry to hear that your family has been hit by this awful stuff. Best wishes to you and yours for improved health.

>93 tymfos: Thoughts and prayers continue, Gail.

I wanted my message this year to be fairly universal in a time we all should be pulling together, whatever our beliefs.

Gail, I do hope your boys are on the mend. xx

Thank you, Terry and Paul. Two of three ok but still debilitated. The third one is physically better but emotionally on the edge as she is a nurse in New Jersey.

I’m up to 27 books, which is very nice. Staying home does encourage reading.

OTOH, life’s whims can seriously interfere with one’s concentration. This will probably be a big mystery year around here.

>97 Matke: Whatever makes the day better is a good thing, and heaven only knows mysteries are a wonderful way to indulge one's need to have *some*thing go right with the world!

*smooch*

And naturally I spoke too soon. One of three is having a serious relapse/difficulty getting out of the virus mire. Still progress being made.

>98 richardderus: Yes, hurray for making the day better.

I’ve always liked mysteries from the puzzle-solving and justice being done angles. Because life isn’t like that.

I'm still thinking about you and your kids (!), Gail, and hoping for brighter days all around.

>101 LizzieD: Thank you, Peggy. It’s hard but we will come through it, I’m sure.
I’m one of the fortunate ones who doesn’t mind being restricted to essential trips outside, so that’s a positive.

Oh, sorry about the relapse for one of the kids. I have heard that is a thing. My hubby is out and about tithe house, but he is still just so wiped. I think it will take quite a while to get completely over this thing. Hang in there!

It is tough, isn’t it, Kim? I make a real effort to remain cheerful.

>99 Matke: I've not heard too much about relapses, and I wondered if it was likely to happen. So sorry one of yours is answering the question. Still sending strong positive vibes out in all directions for full recovery, both in body and mind.

>103 Berly: I missed that your husband has been ill, Kim. I hope he soon feels much more like himself, but patience is key to regaining strength after something like this. And most men don't have a lot of that in their "toolkit".

>105 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda. It just seems to take forever to clear up.

At least I have all books read so far listed up top. That’s progress.

I think.

Honestly, you’d think I’d know myself by now. I toyed with the idea of not buying books this year.

Hahahaha...no.

First Quarter Statistics: 26

Mysteries: 15

Novels: 9

Nonfiction: 2

Male Authors: 16

Female Authors: 10

Longest Book: The Mirror and the Light 784 pages

Shortest Book: Literary Taste 72 pages

Average pages per book: 332

Average pages per day: 94

>108 Matke:
Not too bad a start. Ow I just need to stop being distracted by extraneous yet irritating garbage.

We’ll see. I’d like to read some longer books this year, and have, but mysteries are winning the battle for my scattershot attention these days.

I don't have it in me for long, thoughtful books just now. Lighter fare definitely!

>107 Matke: >108 Matke: Nice job catching up there! : )

Hope the relapse has been defeated, Gail. You and yours are very much in my thoughts.

>110 Berly: I agree with that Kimmers. I don't want stream of consciousness stuff now - tell my a story, instruct my mind or woo me with wordful wizardry.

>110 Berly: and >111 PaulCranswick:
You wouldn’t believe this, probably, but I got so wrapped up in the second half of the plot in Mr. Scarborough’s Family that I raced to finish it, well ahead of a group read schedule. While I love Trollope, I wouldn’t call his books especially plot-driven or exciting. They’re more like that very comfortable old pair of slippers, so this was a pleasant surprise.

Currently reading On Being the Right Size, a delightful collection of scientific essays, and possibly the worst biography ever, about Louis Mountbatten.

Well, ok, maybe not the worst ever, but pretty bad.

>108 Matke:
What!?!

94 pages per day?

Simply not acceptable.
At all.

>108 Matke: Considering the circumstances, this is a good result indeed.

>113 Matke: How does one make Mountbatten of Injia's life tedious? How?!

Be well and happy.

>115 richardderus: Right? A man who was sophisticated, charming, intelligent, witty, personally brave, handsome and extremely well-dressed—if just a tiny bit tedious...
But this book does it.
I’ll finish anyway, but I wanted so much more.

ETA Ok, maybe not especially intelligent

>107 Matke:

Hahahaha...no.

:D

Totally agree with all your comments about the therapeutic qualities of mysteries! I'm just about to tuck up on my bed with the cats and a coffee and polish off The Tolliver Case (as usual I have the 'who' sorted but not the 'why').

And of course I always find Trollope comforting too---though as you note, usually more in the immersive sense than the plot-driven! I haven't read Mr Scarborough's Family for yonks; that's one I'll be re-visiting at some point during the current project.

Very sorry to hear about your family's troubles---I hope everyone comes through quickly and thoroughly.

Wow.

I’m in my 12th year on Librarything. Mostly (99.99%) it’s been a great experience.

This year, however, I found out that there’s a very dark, as in ebony black, side to LT.
Little pockets scattered here and there that make one feel...kinda unclean.

Fortunately those few places are easy to avoid. It’s sad to even know that they’re here, though.

>118 Matke: Happy Thingaversary! Don't give yourself nightmares about the darkness, as it is easy to avoid.

Hi Gail my dear, Happy Thingaversary dear friend. I hope all is well with you despite the unpleasant times we are in and that you are coping with the restrictions. It is sad that there is a dark side to LT, i think i have managed to avoid these and will continue to do so.

Sending love and hugs to you from both of us dear friend.

Delurking with Happy Thingaversary wishes, Gail!

Also delurking to hope that your Thingaversary was a happy day all around! I studiously avoid places on LT that I suspect are dark.
I'm most grateful for our group here, and for you - a very important part of it.
(I wish I were reading 94 pages a day. I used to. *sigh*)
And I hope your children are improving with each day. Stay well, Gail.

Apparently it is my Thingaversary tomorrow so you were a year and a day ahead of me. :)

>118 Matke: Happy Thingaversary Gail.

Sorry to learn you've had a bad experience this year though.

>119 richardderus: Why, hello, Richard!
Since I’d avoided it before this month, it should be easy to just ignore it.

>120 johnsimpson: Hi, John!
Things are going pretty well. All kids either recovered or well on their way. This virus is nothing to fool with.
Love to you and Karen.
Oh! I joined up at Big Fat Books.

>121 lkernagh: Thank you, Lori. I do enjoy LT and find it absolutely remarkable for recording all the books.

>122 LizzieD: Hey, Peggy! Very nice to see you here, and thank you for the kind words.
Like you, I’m beyond glad that I had the very good fortune to land in the 75’ers group. Very little drama, thank goodness.

I can (vaguely, but still) remember reading 5 to 7 books a week as a kiddo and teen, and not all mysteries, by a long shot. Those were the days!

>123 lyzard: Hi, Liz! Over the years your threads have led me down interesting paths...

>124 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline.
Well, I should have just peered around a bit and walked right out.
Lesson learned.

Oops! Back up >117 lyzard:

Maybe because so many of my very early independent reads were mysteries, they’ll always have that comfortable, warm and safe sort of vibe for me. When nothing on the groaning physical or virtual shelves appeals, I can almost always lose myself in a mystery.

And they don’t have to be especially good mysteries, either. Annie Haines, anyone?

>128 Matke:

I think my brain finds puzzle-plots soothing.

:D

Or Thomas Cobb (proud author of the weaker-than-weak-tea The Crime Without A Clue, which I always use as my anti-yardstick). Though he did get better, if never better than second-rate. I actually get more annoyed by better writers who I consider lazy---like Brian Flynn, whose Anthony Bathurst's style of "investigation" is one intuitive leap to the next.

Shamelessly stolen from Richard, who shamelessly stole it from Paul:

These are the 50 Literary Hub Must Read Chunksters:

1. The Overstory by Richard Powers
2. The Fifth Season
3. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco READ multiple times; first time for the plot, then to discover the nuances, and loved a little more each time 5*
4. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
5. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell READ; Loved this tale within a tale within a tale 5*
6. The Witch Elm by Tana French
7. The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood READ; loved Atwood’s version of the old folk tale 4.5*
8. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
9. Little, Big by John Crowley
10. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides READ; Just ok; I was hoping for so much more 3*
11. The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt
12. Possession by A.S. Byatt READ; One of my favorite books of all time; Byatt proves herself a virtuoso of style here; 5*
13. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel READ; Absolutely in my literary wheelhouse 5*
14. The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee
15. The Secret History by Donna Tartt READ; I liked it better while reading it than I do in retrospect; it was ok 3.5*
16. The Parisian : A Novel
17. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie OWN
18. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters READ; ok 3.5*
19. The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami READ; meh; 3*
20. Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson
21. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie OWN
22. American Gods by Neil Gaiman READ; good but certainly not great 3.5*
23. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay by Michael Chabon READ; I love this story which uses comic books and magic to tell a deep and moving tale; 5*
24. The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
25. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
26. Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
27. A Naked Singularity by Sergio de la Pava
28. An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears READ; too many stories going on and so the book lacks focus; 3.5*
29. A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
30. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson OWN
31. The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe READ; Not my favorite author by any means; 3.5*
32. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
33. Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin
34. JR by William Gaddis
35. Almanac of the Dead by Leslie Marmon Silko
36. Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon
37. Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany
38. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett OWN
39. The Stand by Stephen King READ; King’s weaknesses become increasingly obvious over time 3.5*
40. Underworld by Don Delillo
41. The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
42. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke PEARL RULED
43. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry READ; I can’t praise this book enough; 5*
44. 2666 by Roberto Bolano R
45. Sacred Games by Vikram
46. Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann
47. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
48. Parallel Stories by Peter Nadas
49. Women and Men by Joseph McElroy
50. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth OWN

Mr. Cranswick’s alternative 20

1. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
2. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon READ; I loved it but I’m afraid to read it again 5*
3. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova OWN
4. The Far Pavilions by MM Kaye
5. Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess (1980)
6. White Teeth by Zadie Smith
7. The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman OWN
8. Saville by David Storey
9. To Serve Them All My Days by RF Delderfield READ; loved it at the time; might find it schmaltzy now; 4*
10. Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
11. Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth
12. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks (1993)
13. Sophie's Choice by William Styron READ; a book that has some flashes of humor but will leave you on the floor with your heart ripped out; 5*
14. Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh OWN
15. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver READ; a brutal indictment of misguided people who think they know how to “improve” their “little brown brothers”; 4.5*
16. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving READ; Not the best Irving but not the worst, either; 4*
17. The Singapore Grip by JG Farrell OWN
18. Magician by Raymond E Feist (1982) 864 pp
19. The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy; honestly don’t know what to say about this book; 3.75*
20. A Chain of Voices by Andre Brink

>130 Matke:
Well, that was fun. I see that I need to get to work on some modern Big Books.

Of the original 50 I’ve read 16 (or 32%) and own 5 more.

Of Paul’s 20 I’ve read 6 ( or 30%) and own 4 more.

Hmm...this bears thinking about. Looking possible for this year, maybe:

The Singapore Grip
The Sunne In Splendour
Midnight’s Children
Americanah

And we’ll see how that goes.

Currently reading:
Civilization by Gore Vidal (can’t find the right touchstone)
Reading Henry James by Louis Auchincloss
An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine (Boy, is this good!)
The Writing on the Wall by Mary Mcarthy
War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
Murder Intended by Francis Beeding

And that list gives a picture of my scattered mind at the moment.

>132 Matke: hmm, I'm sure I have An Unnecessary Woman somewhere, I'll have to hunt it down Gail.

I’m so glad your kids are recovered. While worrying about our 3 kids in NYC, I too am doing much lighter reading this year-mysteries best sellers etc. Our 4/15 move to Fl was postponed until covid calms down, although all our stuff is on its way to a storage unit there. We are living in a Residence Inn in Wa for the time being.

>130 Matke: I forgive you unreservedly for liking the comic-book superhero novel. *shudder*

>131 Matke: Ooo ooo Midnight's Children!! Yay!!

>132 Matke: Ooo ooo An Unnecessary Woman!! Yay!!

*smooch*

Thanks for posting Paul's 20. I'm off to see how I do with his list. (I'm so far behind on his thread{s} that I haven't checked in in some time. Doggone it.)
I'm sorry you didn't love Perdido Street Station, but we agree on a number in the original list.
Please add me to lovers of An Unnecessary Woman - a totally necessary book!

>132 Matke: An Unnecessary Woman sounded familiar so I checked "my books" -- turned out I read it in 2014 and gave it ****1/2 so I think I agreed with you :)

Hi Gail!

First time visitor, seems like mysteries are a huge thing we have in common…. And cheesecake. *smile*

>132 Matke: Well. I’ve successfully avoided BBs for a while, but here you go and give me An Unnecessary Woman. I just ordered it. Thank you.

I hope that your kids are all on the road to recovery.

>133 Caroline_McElwee: When and if you find it, Caroline, you’ll be glad. It’s quite a book.

>134 arubabookwoman: Oh my, Deborah. I know how worried you must be. And living in a Residence Inn isn’t exactly a vacation on the Riviera, either.The late DH and I spent some time in one of those in Idaho when he was post op and we were far, far from home.
I hope your move will get back on track soon.

>135 richardderus: Hey, Richard; good to see you here. A.U.W. is a great book. I hope I’ll like the Rushdie just as much.

>136 LizzieD: Hi, Peggy! So good to see you here. I’m not sure which book you meant...not Perdito Street Station. Total agreement is a bit boring; good to have differences to discuss. And yes, I’m loving A.U.W.

(That reminds me: about a hundred or so years ago, I belonged to the, I think, AAUW (American Association of University Women). I had forgotten it altogether.

>137 RebaRelishesReading: It’s hard not to like this book! I remember when it was all the rage and thinking that I’d just save it for later. And I’m glad I found it again.

>138 karenmarie: Hi, Karen, and welcome! Yes, I’m an avid mystery fan. I just keep adding them to the kindle and working my way through those virtual stacks.

A BB on your first visit! At least it’s one that’s worthwhile.

So the kids all seem to be doing reasonably well, which is a considerable weight of my mind.

Still trying to work out details of surgery scheduling...it will happen, but I’d like it to be sooner rather than later. I don’t like having something like that hanging over my head.

My sweet boy's father is probably dying of his COPD made worse by the plague. Since he's a rotten-souled homophobic bully, I am not sad, but Rob went to the hospital to say goodbye earlier today after stopping here to "top up his love tank" with a hug and a smooch from me. I met him outside, down the block, and that was the absolute highlight of this dark, grey, foggy day.

He's on the train back to Brooklyn by now, but it's lovely that he wanted to see me to get the emotional support he needed to do this rough thing.

I join you in feeling a large weight lifted...the World still has people in it who want me around! So I came to remind you that you're wanted around, and not just by your family. *smooch*

>143 richardderus:
Well, thank you, my Dear Boy, for that kind message. You made my day.

This will be a tough time for Rob, I’m afraid. I’m more than sure that your kindness and love will help him through to the other side.

>132 Matke:
I abandoned Civilization by Vidal. (Again, can’t find touchstone). It has what SF/F fans call “info dumps”. Endless, and endlessly tedious, info dumps. Vidal’s strength, superb characters, is here but not enough to make me want to slog my way through a long, long, long book.
I can’t remember abandoning another Vidal book—wait—Myron went to the wall, many years ago.

Anyway, the others are chugging along. I finished Murder Intended by Francis Beeding. More of a “Will they get away with it” than a traditional whodunnit, it was mildly interesting.

Also finished The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club for a TIOLI read. I think it might be my favorite Wimsey, although it’s very close between this, Clouds of Witness, and Murder Must Advertise, surely the funniest book Sayers ever produced.

>145 Matke: Yay for abandoning the Vidal! Life is just too damn short.

>146 Matke: Sayers's sense of humor is legend among mysterians, and make her stories a sheer delight to read even now, a century-± later.

Have a lovely week ahead!

Hi, Gail! Glad to see that your kids are doing better!

>147 richardderus: Yes, I’m finally realizing that book abandonment isn’t even a very venial sin.

I do enjoy Sayers if I spread them out a bit.

The week is going okay, but more on that below.

>148 tymfos: Thank you, Terri! It’s a huge relief to me, and to them, of course.

Apparently I’m in competition with the world for the Not Having a Very Good Year Award.

I spent my birthday and Valentine’s Day in the hospital. And now it looks as though I’ll be spending Mother’s Day there as well. So not the very best year I’ve ever had.

I’ll be in for 3 to 7 days, depending. I’m not sure, but I don’t think I’m going to be on LT during that time. So wish me well, and I hope to see you all in a week or so, after I finish just one mor3 Post here.

Currently reading

An Unnecessary Woman great so far

The Writing on the Wall and Other Literary Essays really quite good. McCarthy is incisive and interesting

The Gods of Mars what can I say? It’s pulpy fiction at its best.

War of the Worlds neglected (by me) speculative fiction at its best

The Mystery at Underwood House which is good-ish

and I hope to start The American Senator soon.

These are all kindle books. I’m setting Auchincloss on Henry James aside until I get back home.

>150 Matke: Come back well and refreshed!

>150 Matke: I'm sorry to hear about another hospitalization, Gail. Sending strong positive wellness thoughts your way.

Adding to the well-beingness thoughts Gail.

♥️❣️

What Linda said - Sending strong positive wellness thoughts your way.

OH, no! So sorry to hear that you're in the hospital.

Good luck while you are in the hospital! Sorry the timing is not the best, but sooner is better, right? Hang in there!

Oh dear. No time is good for hospitalization, but this may be the worst. Do take care of yourself mentally and emotionally and let the medicos do their very best for you. Read A LOT. We love you, Gail.

Hi Gail my dear, sorry to read that you are hospitalized, hope everything is going well and that you will be out as soon as possible. Take the time to do a bit of reading and we all love you, sending special Yorkshire love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

Thinking of you Gail. And I know it is not the pleasantest of circumstances but:

Get well quickly, dear lady.

Stopping by and joining the others in sending wellness wishes for a short hospitalization and a quick recovery.

Oh my goodness, Gail - best wishes for your quick recovery!

It’s wonderful to come back to so many good wishes. Thank you all!

Just some lung surgery. I know, sounds like a huge deal. And while it is, in its own way, I was fortunate enough to have a very experienced surgeon, and so everything went smoothly. He takes extra care so his patients won’t be subject to infection, and I was in and out in a few days. There’s a significant improvement in breathing but best of all: I’m cough free!

>165 Matke: YAY for cough-free lungs! *smooch* for being back in the saddle again.

I did add a few books (retail therapy, anyone?) and get some reading done. Pain is impeding my concentration levels somewhat, but there’s always a mystery or three to get one over the worst part.

>151 Matke: I’ve finished An Unnecessary Woman, The Gods of Mars, and Mystery at Underwood House.

Still reading The Writing on the Wall and Other Literary Essays, and War of the Worlds. And I’m reading...um...
Good Omens by Pratchett and Gaiman. As soon as I find it I’m going back to Reading Henry James.

Let’s see: I did start The American Senator but I wasn’t quite able to focus, si I’m probably going to start that over. And finally, reading a Nigel Strangeways mystery: The Dreadful Hollow.

So quite a lot on my reading placate right now. We’ll see how it goes.

>167 Matke: Enjoy it all. And, in your shoes, it makes all the sense in the world to give The American Senator a breather. Trollope isn't feathr-light reading.

>165 Matke: Glad your surgery went well and that breathing is easier -- that is important!!

>168 richardderus: Hi, Richard! I am enjoying just meandering around, picking up this and that as the mood strikes. Never a Current List sort of reader, I’ve stacks and virtual stacks of tomes to explore.

>169 RebaRelishesReading: Why, hello, Reba!
Yeah, that whole breathing thing can be tricksy. I had a pneumothorax back in February which is far too long a story to post here, but this latest should clear up the whole matter nicely. Thank you for stopping by!

NOTE:

Never, ever, ever vacuum eight days after surgery. Just not ever. I promise that if you ignore this advice you will regret it in every possible way.

That said, I’ve come back from that particular stupidity and now believe that I may very well live after all, and not want to die.

Well, thank goodness! I'm delighted to hear that you're home, reading, and cough-free. GOOD for you!!!!!
I'm off to look for Auchincloss on James. I read them both, especially HJ, some time ago. I'm also a big N. Blake fan.
All of it sounds good to me.

♥️

Hi Gail my dear, glad that the surgery went well and you are recovering nicely, take it easy and just read a few books, everything else will wait. Sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

Glad you are safely through the surgery and slowly on the mend Gail, but I'd give the hoovering a miss if I were you. You have some books needing attention,

>173 LizzieD: Hi, Peggy!
I’m awfully glad to be home myself! I think you’ll love the Auchincloss on HJ. LA is one of my all-time favorite authors. And I do love Nigel Strangeways mysteries. Witty and just intriguing enough.

>174 mckait: And a gigantic ❤️ right back to you, Kath.

>175 johnsimpson: Hello, John. Nice to see you here. I hope you and Karen are both doing well, although missing Hannah.

>176 Caroline_McElwee: Yes, indeed, Caroline; my books are calling out to me.

I'm glad to hear the surgery went well. It's hard to not want to get right back to normal things, isn't it?

Glad to see that you are now at home recovering from your surgery!

It's good to have you back, Gail. And very good news about successful surgery, and an improved state of well-being for you.

>172 Matke: I'm sure that's good advice, but for the most part, I have stuck to an even more stringent rule for about 40 years--no vacuuming during or after pregnancy. My husband took that job over when we were expecting our daughter, and I just never took it back!

I’m ever so slowly (it seems to me) getting around the threads. Not that I’m an old lady or anything, but my energy levels are, shall we say, not quite where they should be.

On the other hand, the disappearance of the constant, annoying cough is a true blessing.

And then there was the oral surgery yesterday...I’m done with medical procedures for a while, I think. Time to rest and recoup my concentration and reading mojo.

>Recover! Go sleep and recover! Let the healing progress with as little aggravation as possible.

>179 karenmarie: Hey, Karen. Yes it’s wonderful to be home. I’m sort of fiercely independent, so letting others help is difficult for me, but really I have no choice if I ever want to get back to optimum health.

>180 lkernagh: Good morning, Lori! Yes, it’s wonderful to be at home. I just need to pace myself a bit more carefully so I don’t get in my own way.

>181 laytonwoman3rd: Hah! That’s perfect, Linda.

>183 richardderus: I know, Richard! I’ve probably proved anything I needed to prove to others and/or myself. Time to just take it easy.

>185 Matke: If you ever watched As Time Goes By, you might remember Mrs. Bale having a huff and a half: "I am NOT a spent force!" when a tactless doctor said something about her age and health. Don't be Mrs. Bale! *smooch*

Hi Gail! Glad to hear you're feeling better (no cough). We've been lucky in our house as far as respiratory problems go. Good luck on recovery from surgery!

>186 richardderus: I know! I love that series. Half of me says, “ For Pete’s sake, let it go!” while the other half says, “But geez, I’m exhausted and not even half way through.”

>187 The_Hibernator: Thank you, Rachel! I’ll recover just fine, I’m sure, once I stop trying to be 40.

>184 Matke: Let someone who suffers a bit from the same thing encourage you to let others help, rest and concentrate on regaining your strength.

Dear Gail, I'll just add that people who love you or even just like you regard your letting them help as a gift. It's a hard one to give, but you can do it.
once I stop trying to be 40 Oh how well I know that one!

>188 Matke: That must be my problem too, Gail, because I am occasionally still convinced that I am a mere youngster.

At the close of Ramadan I give thanks to all my friends for making this place a special comfort to me. xx

>189 RebaRelishesReading: and >190 LizzieD: I’ve given this exact advice to others so often...and I don’t believe in, “Do as I say, not as I do,” so I clearly need to pay attention, don’t I?

>191 PaulCranswick: Right? I’ve never felt any particular age at all since I was about 18, so it’s a constant effort to remind myself that it’s ok to slow down a bit, that by all measures I’m far ahead of my age group (or would that be “behind” my age group?), and that, you know, it’s not really required that I be Superwoman anymore.

Sigh. It’s tough to get old, but so far it beats the hell out of the alternative.

So, maybe some very random book chat:

Clouds of Witness has a great big old plot hole in it that somehow I’d not noticed before. This time was a, “Wait. Didn’t...Did I miss the resolution of that somehow?” followed by mad page flipping which revealed that, nope, not resolved. And it kind of makes nonsense of an important part of the book. That made me sad. Other than that, the book was satisfying.

>194 Matke: ????? Now I'm wondering what I've missed, Gail. Can you give me a hint in a spoiler please?????

>194 Matke: Oh drat! Well, it took...um...a fair few years for you to notice, so it isn't *that* bad.

*smooch*

>195 LizzieD: I’ll try.

Wimsey gets shot. His collarbone is broken. And yet he’s pulled out of the awful muck by his arms with no mention of extra pain or difficulty. And he has to hang on to Bunter for quite some time. And no mention of recovery, which I don’t think would be possible in the time frame.

>196 richardderus: Excellent point, Richard, but I surely wish I hadn’t noticed it this time, either.

Hi Gail my dear, hope that you are having a good weekend and behaving yourself, lol, and wish you a good week ahead. Sending love and hugs to you from both of us dear friend.

A good week to you and Karen, too, John.

I had the vast excitement of going to _target today. First time I’ve been to anything other than a grocery store or a doctor’s office in what seems like a very long time!

XXOO

>197 Matke: Oh. Well, you're right. I thought that Sayers was more careful than that, but since I didn't see it, I guess I must forgive it! Thanks, though.

Hi Gail! I joined you for The Gods of Mars for TIOLI Challenge #1 this month. Would you be interested in a shared read of The Warlord of Mars next month?

>201 LizzieD: Right? It’s a little disappointing. OTOH, she was clever enough with the writing that most of us (self included) skate right by it through readings and rereadings. I hated seeing though.

>203 Dejah_Thoris: I noticed that, Princess Dejah, and I’d be delighted to share a read next month.

>204 Matke: Perfect! It'll fit into my Challenge (#2) but so will several other things I'm reading - I'll let you pick the spot. It's nice to share this one!

Challenge #2 will be fine!

I'll go add it.

I'm trying to read a book for each year of the 20th Century, and the early decades are tricky. ERB is an easy option for me, so I'll probably keep on with the series.

>207 Dejah_Thoris:
Maybe H.G. Wells?

I’ll add my shared read today.

Hello me lurve. I came to disturb your bubble, and I'm sorry in advance, but I'm convinced that you need to know this exists. From my thread:

Many of y'all love Marilynne Robinson immoderately. I have never been among you. However, her essay "What Kind of Country Do We Want?" in the New York Review of Books has made me willing to purchase her entire catalog simply to express my support for what she writes. For example:

How is it that we can be told, and believe, that we are the richest country in history, and at the same time that we cannot share benefits our grandparents enjoyed? When did we become too poor to welcome immigrants? The psychology of scarcity encourages resentment, a zero-sum notion that all real wealth is private and is diminished by the claims of community. The entire phenomenon is reinforced by the fact that much of the capital that accumulates in these conditions disappears, into Mexico or China or those luridly discreet banks offshore.

I want to sob and cheer and generally create a ruckus as I read this. Simple, direct statements of our shriveled vision of our country's wealth and potential have never had the effect of eliciting the emotional response that these questions have had.

>209 richardderus: I’ll definitely check it out, Richard. Thanks for pointing me to it!

Well, here’s something.

I love to read mystery series if the premise/detective/setting/writing pleases me or strikes me as funny or whatever.

So on the recommendation of Lyzard (and I urge you to check out her thread; it’s fascinating) I started reading Gladys Mitchell. My next up in her Mrs. Bradley series, Death at the Opera, is only available in paper, so I ordered and received a copy from Better World Books.

So far, so very ordinary. But when the copy came...

It was issued by Rue Morgue Press, a small concern in Colorado. Run by Tom and Edith Schantz, the company specialized in reprints of mostly obscure and out of print Golden Age mysteries. The owners provided introductions in each volume, and plenty of chatty family news in their catalogues. As I was reading the owners’ intro to this particular volume, I remembered how sad I was to learn of Edith’s death and then Tom’s efforts to carry on. Ultimately the business folded, which was a sad day indeed for fans. Their books are still available here and there on Amazon, etc., but there won’t be new releases, obviously.

And then I thought about another small company (perhaps Commonplace Books?) which I shopped at for years through the mail. I was heartbroken when they closed.

No Big Life Lesson here. Just a small, sad, nostalgic reflection on my personal bookish life.

Random Book Notes:

Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson was a considerable disappointment to me. I was so taken with A Walk in the Woods that I stashed Bryson away in a mental cabinet as an author to both amuse and beguile the reader in troubling times.

Yeah. That whole thing has been going steadily downhill as I meander through his bibliography. This early book is whiny. The complaints about tourists (gee whiz, Bill, look in the mirror) are endless and quickly become annoying. In fact the whole tone of the book is one of dissatisfaction and bitchiness. Since I probably can supply that outlook myself, without Bryson’s help, this just grated on the few nerves I have left.

In fairness to Bryson, there were two short sections that made me laugh aloud. But they couldn’t take the bitter taste away.

Not recommended.

Random book notes continued:

The Writing on the Wall is a selection of previously published lit’ry essays by Mary McCarthy, a good author and critic. I enjoyed the essays about writers I know, but McCarthy, who was clearly a whole lot smarter and more erudite than I’ll ever be, left me in the dust in some places.

Her writing is very sharp, very witty, and always on point, however. So if you want a bit of a stretch, try this on to see what criticism was like in the 1960’s.

Sorry about the Bryson. I can heartily recommend At Home if houses turn you on. I need *Walk* and I also need to read Mary McCarthy, but maybe not the essays.

>211 Matke: Coachwhip is another micropress I'll miss...as is the mail-order Commonplace catalog that damn near ruined me!

Sweetiedarling, have I ever told you about https://neglectedbooks.com/? Reviews of overlooked delights from all eras in all genres and wildly variable states of availability reviewed by Brad Someone. He's written his reviews and other articles since ~2006, and I've had him bookmarked almost that long. Such trenchant assessments of writers I've heard of, books I've heard of or read or simply hadn't so much as encountered...and talk about good reading!

Anyway. My eville plotte against your bank balance accomplished, I shall debouch myself from your presence.

>214 LizzieD: Hi, Peggy! I can recommend The Group by McCarthy, which I remember as being great, but I’m long overdue for a reread.
Also, I quite enjoyed Bryson’s The Road to Little Dribbling, although it was full of snark. I’ll keep my eye out for At Home. I think my problem is that I read his best book first, and so spoiled myself unintentionally.

>215 richardderus: Oh my, yes! That catalogue! How eagerly I pored through its pages...it was a sad, sad day when they shuttered the shop.

Somehow I missed Coachwhip, probably just as well.

And really? You *just had* to give me this recommendation, didn’t you? Never mind your naughtiness, I’m duly grateful.
Check out Steve Donoghue sometime; he’s especially good on SF and all things Classical.

ETA:
Good grief, what a treasure trove! Thank you!

Random Book Notes:
Don’t expect too much from authors.

I love Disc World. It’s sometimes silly, sometimes over the top, but overall it’s just a lot of harmless fun. And anyone who can give the world the tremendous gift of The Wee Free Men is someone to be grateful for.

And I like what I’ve read of Neil Gaiman, especially The Sandman series.

However. I found Good Omens not so much to my taste. It’s too long, too fragmented, and has an unbelievably weak ending. There are some amusing parts, and the conceit of a demon and an angel being friends is a good one. P and G needed a good editor here—someone in the mode of a fond but exacting tutor. The boys are having too much fun trying to top each other, and so they fail to realize that their book has no focus, no through-line of plot. It’s just a jumbled schoolboy mess.

If they were, say, juniors in high school they’d get a B for creativity and a D for planning and coherence.

YMMV, of course.

>217 Matke: *smug smile*

>218 Matke: *chuckle* My sentiments exactly. BUT and this is important so let me speak clearly and slowly BUT the TV adaptation is stellar and marvelous and, since one is accustomed to hippity-hoppity in TV stories, the frag-grenade effect is mitigated.

>219 richardderus: My eldest kept saying, “Ma, you really ought to see the TV series first. Ma...”
I dunno. You young whippersnappers may be right.

Almost done with a big old book about murder and the Victorian attitudes toward it. Quite interesting.

My smaller girl, Sophie, has been having a tough day with just too many noises and too much wind. So after dinner I picked some catnip for her. She proceeded to get thoroughly plastered. But hey, she relaxed.

Happy Sophie. Sounds like a plan to me, but it's too late, so I'll just go to bed instead.
Hi and good night, Gail!

Glad you got your surgeries out of the way and that you are feeling better. My healing advice? Take it easy and read another book! : )

>220 Matke: Young! She called me young! ::hearteyes::

>222 LizzieD: Yes, Peggy, she was a happy and relaxed girl, which was what I was hoping for.
I hope you had a great night’s sleep!

>223 Berly: I am taking it as easy as possible, Kim, trying to avoid too many news sources. And reading along at a fair rate.

>224 richardderus: Why, you are young, Dear Boy!

>225 Matke: Indeed, a mere stripling of sixty! Practically adolescent. *smooch*

A couple of re-reads this month plus The Next Exciting Installment in the John Carter of Mars series.

Meanwhile I’ll be looking for something a bit mo substantial but I’m not sure what.

Oh! I started Curiosities of Literature by John Sutherland last night. And what a breezy, fascinating little rabbit hole it is. I had trouble turning off the kindle.

Ah. A tiny check of my catalogue reveals that I read this in The Lost Year of 2014. I have absolutely no memory of this book.

2014 was clearly one of the worst years of my life. Thank goodness a merciful fate has almost totally eradicated it from my memory cupboards.

>228 Matke: Mine too.

Have you read Gilead? It's $1.99 today. I think you might like When I Found You, a really engrossing read about a man who finds his son in a binky under a tree while he's out duck hunting.

No. Really, it's good! And it too will set you back a princely $1.99 today.

>212 Matke: For me, all his travel books all sound the same, except In a Sunburned Country, which I’ve re-read twice. IMO, his best books are A Short History of Nearly Everything, One Summer: America, 1927, and Shakespeare: The World as Stage. At Home’s pretty good, too. Looks like it’s time for me to cull the travel ones, except for In a Sunburned Country. And you can't his books within 6 months of each other.

>218 Matke: and >219 richardderus: I agree with RD, the TV adaptation is fantastic.

>220 Matke: That’s what I did – watched the TV series first, then read the book. I still liked the TV series better.

>221 Matke: We must take care of our cat children. Getting her high on catnip was a kindness.

Gilead was good

>229 richardderus: I did snag Gilead, thank you, Richard. I loved it when I first read it and couldn’t resist the reasonable price. I’m not as diligent as I should be, but I do scout for bargains now and then.

And speaking of bargains:
I had the amazing, to me, good fortune to snag the old Thomas Costain four-volume history of the Plantagenets at $.99 apiece. History that’s really fun to read.

>230 karenmarie: You’re so right about not reading Bryson’s books within six months of each other. It’s hard for me not to believe that his other books won’t surprise me the way A Walk in the Woods did. Maybe down the line sometime...

Yeah, I came to the conclusion that I should have tried the series first. Although I honestly don’t think it would have improved my opinion of the book.

My poor little girl. She gets so nervous sometimes, making full inspections of the house, unable to settle down, etc. Sometimes that catnip plant is a blessing. I still remember, though, when I first brought one home years ago, and came home to find the plant stripped bare of leaves and one very drunk (and then hung over) kitty. She learned from that experience.

>231 mckait: Kath!
*faints*

Yes, I loved Gilead.

I’m very glad to see you here!

Whew!

I’m honestly trying to read more books off my shelves, whether physical or virtual. To help me do that, I’m participating in this year’s TIOLI Challenges. My second, and almost as important, goal is to have as many shared reads as possible. This month’s list:

Sleeping Murder read
Fun Home read
The Warlord of Mars reading
Stoner reading
Golden Hill
Strong Poison read

I think this is do-able. I put the list here so I won’t forget which books I committed to.

>235 Matke:
That doesn’t mean I won’t be reading other books in between and around the challenges. I like to mix up my reading as much as possible.
Which is really different from my younger days when I’d become riveted by some topic, author, or time period and read 10 books in a row about that very thing.

I show up now and then and lurk. I just feel like I have nothing of interest to add. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

>237 mckait:
I know that feeling so well...

>235 Matke: I can. not. wait. to hear what you think about Stoner.

>237 mckait: Just saying "hi, I'm here, see ya later" is lovely. *smooch*

>239 richardderus: I’m about a quarter of the way through Stoner. It reminds me somewhat of Wallace Stegner and/or Larry Watson. I’m not prepared to say anything else yet.

Random book notes:

Quarter 1
Best Book: The Mirror and the Light
Best Mystery: Murder at the Vicarage
Best Nonfiction On Books and Persons

The mystery is a (frequent) re-read.

My reading had some good novels, almost no nonfiction, and a selection of middle-of-the-road mysteries—not mediocre, but certainly no first reads that stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Random book notes #2:

The Mirror and the Light, the last volume of Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell trilogy, very nearly lived up to my hopes. Which isn’t to say that it’s in any way inadequate; it isn’t. No book could have matched my hope for this one.

Mantel takes us from Anne Boleyn’s death through the death of Cromwell (surely not a spoiler for anyone). As Cromwell ages and the boiling pot that was Henry VIII’s court seethes with Henry’s increasingly erratic behavior, Cromwell becomes more reflective and aware that life has become unpredictable and crazy. Eventually he realizes that his life is dependent upon Henry’s whim, and that even his best and cleverest efforts can’t save him.

This is an excellent book. It’s not Wolf Hall, but what could be? I hope she wins her third Booker, but I’m not counting on it. After all, a five-person judging panel which says that last year’s vote ended in a tie is not a group inspiring any sort of trust. I hope any resulting controversy only drives up the sale of Mantel’s books.

Hello Gail! I also hope that Hilary Mantel wins the Booker - I think on my thread I've said it's a certainty, just in case the universe is listening :-)

I'm sorry your year has been so rough, health-wise and with your family having the virus. But hooray that you are now cough-free!

Hi, Gail. I have both Stoner and The Mirror and the Light on my TBR shelves...I wish I could settle in for a good immersive read, but at the moment life isn't conducive to that. I'm very glad they are there waiting, and they show no signs of impatience!

>243 susanj67: Hey, Susan. Thank you for visiting!

Let’s keep our fingers crossed for the Booker. Mantel’s accomplished an amazing feat (it took a while, but it was worth it), and she deserves to be recognized for it.

>246 Matke: Hello, Linda!

I’m finding that much more reading has happened since I stopped visiting Facebook. Maybe I’ll go back after the election, maybe not. I’ve tried to cut down on my news consumption as well, and that’s helped.

That said, there have been a couple of years when I just couldn’t concentrate on anything much more than mysteries and easy-read novels, with a few humorous nonfiction thrown in the mix. I hope that you’ll soon be able to dive deep into an immersive read.

Random Book Notes

I have a couple of projects in reading this year, going on in the most desultory fashion imaginable. What’s cute, odd, serendipitous to me is that I had absolutely no projects in mind at the beginning of the year. In fact they developed by themselves as the year progressed, in a natural sort of way, and I only realized that my subconscious was being its usual OCD self when I looked more carefully at the books I’ve been reading so far.

Project 1 is reading Edgar Rice Burroughs Barsoom series. I don’t read much fantasy and usually even less science fiction, so this is a step in fixing that. I love old books; despite the glaring period attitudes one often finds in them, those books can be soothing mindless entertainment to while away a couple or three hours. Funnily enough, Dejah Thoris has encouraged me in this area.

Project 2 is making my way slowly but steadily through the Chief Inspector Littlejohn series by George Bellairs. Written from the forties through the sixties, these snarky and comical mysteries are almost as much brain candy as the Barsoom books.

I’ve seen some criticism of these as displaying prejudice and misogyny. And yes, there is some casual and infrequent prejudice shown, but I don’t think I agree about the misogyny. Bellairs sees all his characters through jaundiced eyes; males are just as stereotypical as females. Fortunately his books are funny enough to overcome that—for me. As I mentioned above, if you need to like and/or sympathize with characters other than the detective, these books may not be for you.

Project 3 is a truly s-l-o-w progression in Anthony Trollope’s work. I’ve read both the Barsetshire and Palliser series; the rest of his are stand-alones, or as someone on Book Tube said, “lonely Trollopes.” I’m in no hurry; I read them as the mood strikes.

Reading Trollope is relaxing for me. Since I’ve been reading Victorian fiction since I was 8 or 10, I’m completely comfortable with the background ambience of his work. The only problem (at least this year) is the length of his books. Since 2020 has become the year all time travelers will avoid forever, concentration is sometimes difficult to muster up. But I hang in there. I think my next is going to be either The American Senator (tried once but just couldn’t) or The Claverings.

I love that Trollope can portray female characters so well, although he has one or two idiots scattered here and there. I love his humor. And I especially appreciate his portrayal of characters who have slipped over the edge into Cloud Cuckoo Land. He doesn’t mock them or use them as easy vehicles for humor; instead he tries to show how they break down over time, often in spite of their own best efforts.

Project 4 is to venture into more of the above-mentioned fantasy/science fiction/speculative fiction. I’ve made a little progress there (H.G. Wells), and we’ll see how it goes.

I don’t feel any pressure at all about these projects or goals. Since they developed organically Ill just let them run on in that way.

My two hidden goals that I have every year are a.) Reading more of my in-house TBR; and b.) Reducing mysteries read to 1/3 of total books read (why?? No one cares but me) are always with me. I am reading more off my owned shelves, whether virtual or physical, not that it stops me from procuring new volumes; but, this quarter at least, I’m right at half my Books Read being mysteries. Maybe that’s just who I am.

>248 Matke: Since I’ve been reading Victorian fiction since I was 8 or 10

Did y'all call it "Victorian" then? After all, Victoria was still on the throne at the time....

*smooch*

>250 richardderus: You want I should slap 'im, Gail?

>250 richardderus: Not quite, Young Man.

Although the coronation of the naughty but sartorially elegant Edward VII seems a distant memory...

>251 laytonwoman3rd: He is a bit saucy, isn’t he? Sometimes we have to overlook the lese majesty of these young men.

Anyway.

More Random Book Notes:

A while ago I read something called There Came Both Mist and Snow by Michael Innes. Generally I like his books. And I liked this one too, all the way to the penultimate chapter. But the solution was one of, if not the, most contrived pieces of nonsense I’ve ever seen. Honestly, it was just stupid.

And I say that as someone who has read most of John Dickson Carr, master of the convoluted Locked Room mystery sub genre. Very very disappointing, especially as it ruined, IMO, a really good book.

/soapbox rant

>253 Matke: You got nothin' on me goin' after Dame Ags for Murder in Mesopotamia! Most ridiculous premise for a mystery I've ever read.

>251 laytonwoman3rd:, >252 Matke: :-P

>254 richardderus: Yeah, that’s unbelievable. Also not possible, barring total amnesia.
I still enjoyed the book, though, because of Nurse Leatheran.

>246 Matke: >247 Matke: >238 Matke: >249 Matke: Some interesting projects Gail. I definitely need to get back to Trollope.