foggidawn’s books and stuff 2023, part I

Hi, all! Welcome to old friends and new. For the latter, I'm a children's librarian in a small Ohio town. My reading tastes range from children's and young adult literature, to fantasy and some sci-fi, to mysteries, to historical fiction and literary works, to romances, to biography and memoir, with a smattering of other nonfiction (it's been a pretty light smattering, of late) and anything else that catches my fancy.

I live on a farm with my husband John, who is also an avid reader, though his tastes run towards graphic novels, golden age sci-fi and nonfiction, mostly about history or chicken husbandry. We have a Springer Spaniel, Lottie, above, who is immensely spoiled and loves being a farm dog. We also have about 65 chickens and somewhere around 50 rabbits (too many; what they say about them multiplying is true) and about 43 acres of hayfields.

For 2023, I haven't really set myself any firm goals as far as reading goes. I'd like to continue reading broadly and diversely, to read some of the books that have been languishing on my TBR shelf, and to enjoy myself -- including finding my way back into genres that I have been feeling burnt out on (fantasy, YA).

As for the "and stuff" part of my thread topper, you may also see me posting here about board gaming, gardening, cooking, and theatre. Though I'm not active in a theatre group at present, I do hope to see some live shows this year. Last year my gardening efforts were pretty minimal, as I was planning our wedding at the time, so I'm hoping to focus on establishing my garden a little more this year. Having moved away from my game night friends, I'll have to work on finding gaming opportunities (though John is a willing participant when he has the time). As for cooking, my sole New Year's resolution this year is to be more intentional about menu planning, so I will probably post about that here. My strategy is to make a list before shopping of what meals I'd like to make over the following week, and then keep that list on the fridge so I know what ingredients I have on hand when it comes time to cook. I probably won't assign specific meals to specific days, but we'll see how it all plays out. Oh, in the summer I also hope to do some hiking and kayaking, so that may also get a mention.

I hope you'll all join me here this year!

Favorite Books of 2022

Looking back on my top reads, they're a mixed bag. Rather than make a numbered list, I thought I'd do categories this time.

Best serious reading
Award: Maus I & II by Art Spiegelman
Honorable Mention: Night by Elie Wiesel

Best Stand-Alone Work:
Award: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Honorable Mention: The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Best Series Finale:
Award: The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers
Honorable Mention: The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

Best Series Continuation:
Award: The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison
Honorable Mention: The Vanderbeekers on the Road by Karina Yan Glaser

Best (Mystery) Series Starter:
Award: Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
Honorable Mention: Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg

Best Romantic Read:
Award: Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Honorable Mention: How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry

Best Fantasy:
Award: Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
Honorable Mention: Kelcie Murphy & the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts by Erika Lewis

That's a little more than a top ten, but it sums up what I read and liked pretty well.

That Book Meme Thing

I adore this meme, and was so sad that I couldn't do it last year for reasons of professional privacy. This year, I'm back, baby!

Describe yourself: A Secret Princess

Describe how you feel: When Women Were Dragons

Describe where you currently live: The Forever House

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Enchantment Emporium

Your favorite form of transportation is: The Vanderbeekers on the Road

Your favorite food is: Different Kinds of Fruit

Your favorite time of day is: Night

Your best friend is: Heart of a Samurai

You and your friends are: The Good Luck Girls

What’s the weather like: Scattered Showers

You fear: Other People's Houses

What is the best advice you have to give: Live Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer is Much Faster)

Thought for the day: We Are All Made of Molecules

What is life for you: A Gathering of Days

How you would like to die: Go to Sleep (I Miss You)

Your soul’s present condition: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

What was 2022 like for you? The Garden of Small Beginnings

What do you want from 2023? A Common Life

Books Acquired in 2023

I don't usually keep a list, but thought it might be fun.

1. Moira's Pen: A Queen's Thief Collection by Megan Whalen Turner. Purchased, Azn.
2. Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman. Purchased, Azn.
3. In the Serpent’s Wake by Rachel Hartman. Purchased, Azn.
4. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. Purchased, Azn.
5. Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer. Purchased, Azn.
6. In Every Life by Marla Frazee. Purchased, Azn.
7. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. Purchased, Azn.
8. One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde. Purchased/store credit, Bkmns.

Wishing you a comfortable reading year in 2023, Foggi.

I look forward to trying to keep up with you as usual. xx

Welcome back, Foggie!

Happy New Year, Misti!

Happy new year Foggie!

Hi Misti, I have you starred.

Happy New Year, foggi!

Happy New Year and happy new thread foggi!

Happy New Year. I hope 2023 is a good year for you.

Happy new year, and looking forward to following your reading again, foggi!

Thanks for visiting, Paul, Jim, Roni, Susan, Kim, Kriti, Nora, Nina, Beth, and Mary! I am still making my way around the new threads, so I'll try to find yours soon! In the meantime, I've added the Annual Book Meme, a list of 2022 favorites, and a cute picture of Lottie above, so don't miss out. ;-)

(1 book read)



The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood -- Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith is trying to set up her best friend Ahn with a guy she used to date, which entails convincing said friend that she's over said guy. So, Olive hastily stages a kiss where Ahn is likely to see her. What she doesn't realize until too late is that she's kissing Dr. Adam Carlsen -- the hot, young department superstar, known to be an arrogant jerk. To Olive's surprise, Adam is willing to go along with a fake dating scheme, for his own reasons. Of course, we all know (even Olive knows) how the fake relationship trope is likely to turn out...

It's easy to say that this is the best book I've read so far this year (seeing as it's the first book I've read in 2023), but I imagine it will be turning up on my list of year-end favorites for all that. The characters are so delightful, and the situations they get into so hilarious. I love how Olive keeps referencing the trope, while Adam, who has never watched a rom-com in his life, is baffled by her references. There's a steamy chapter or two, but it's much more focused on characters and plot development outside the bedroom. I will be looking for this author's other books right away, and highly recommending this to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance.

Late getting here but so delighted that The Love Hypothesis was as good a read for you as it was for me. Such pure fun!

Also happy new year/thread, etc. :)

Happy New Year!

>2 foggidawn: Yours is the first posting I've seen of that meme this year---I find it a lot of fun too.

Lottie is adorable!

>3 foggidawn: I love your answers! I enjoy doing these year end memes, if only to revisit the books that I read for the year.

Looking forward to all kinds of recommendations from you in 2023, foggi. Happy New Year!

>17 MickyFine: Thanks for the recommendation!

>18 compskibook: Back at you! :-)

>19 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks! I've seen it in a couple other places, now that I've done some visiting around.

>20 alcottacre: Thanks! Yes, it is a good way to spark memories, especially of some of the earlier books of the year.

Hi Foggi, I think I'm new to your threads, better late than never.

I like your 22 best of, it definitely reminded me some books I have to get and/or read

Maus II, I read Maus many years ago, but when it was in the news about banning, I bought them both. Need to read II
Project Hail Mary - yep, need it
Becky Chambers, read Long Way to a Small Angry Planet last year, definitely have to read the rest

see you round the threads...

>1 foggidawn: I'm here, and your thread is now starred!

>22 mahsdad: Welcome! Sounds like we have some overlapping interests. I almost want to do a reread of the Becky Chambers books, though it hasn't been long since my first read.

>23 fuzzi: Thanks!

Happy new year, Foggi! I have you starred.

I'm another who loved The Love Hypothesis. Just pure fun!

Of your 2022 faves, The Golden Enclaves, The Galaxy and the Ground Within, and Nettle and Bone are on my shelves waiting for me. I also loved Book Lovers last year.

And you reminded me that I saw a copy of The Rose Code in a Little Free Library I pass on dog walks the other day. Maybe I should see if it's still there....

>25 curioussquared: Yay! Sounds like you have a lot of good reads awaiting you in the new year.

>25 curioussquared: Yep those were good reads, Book Lovers included even though it didn't jump my hurdle from fantasy romance to real romance.

>1 foggidawn: Foggi, I love that topper and your dog looks beautiful. As I recall it was a Springer, no? The breed I grew up with.

I'm on the same page as you about TBRs, as you may have noticed when you popped by to say hi. I hope we thrive with the reading and discarding or keeping of the TBRs... they're such nags sitting on my bookshelf.

>26 foggidawn: Update: I snagged The Rose Code from that Little Free Library while walking the dogs tonight :)

>29 curioussquared: I can see it now:

Natalie: No, no Tim. You relax at home and I'll do the dog walk tonight.

Tim: Natalie, wait - don't forget the dogs!

>27 quondame: I think most romance novels are fantasy to some extent, don't you?

>28 SandyAMcPherson: Yes, Lottie is a Springer. I also grew up with them, so I was at least somewhat prepared for the boundless energy! And Roni has a great quote on her thread about TBR shelves being like a wine cellar, with the books waiting for just the right time, mood, etc. I like the thought, but I'm hoping that the right time for several of mine will be this year!

>29 curioussquared: Yay! Enjoy! I liked other books by that author, but The Rose Code was my favorite. I'll be interested to see what you think when you get to it.

>30 humouress: LOL! And then the dogs delightedly sprinting along with her toward the Little Free Library!

>30 humouress: >31 foggidawn: LOL. The house that this Little Free Library is attached to is actually the home of three whippets and after I grabbed the book, Otter and Kermit gave it a good sniff-over, so they were also pleased with my acquisition 😂 We'll see when I get to it!

>32 curioussquared: Ah, the Deep Sniff Test. I know it well.

I've decided to use post >4 foggidawn: to keep a list of book acquisitions this year. Could be fun; we'll see how long it takes me to forget to add things to that list.

>31 foggidawn: Well of course, but I do like both sides of the romance to have comparable levels of human idiosyncrasies and traits that make them other than a perfect fit from the get go. Not necessarily faults or big issues, it surely doesn't take that to make our fellow species members difficult to live with, but something, please something from both sides, not just the protagonist's.

>31 foggidawn: >32 curioussquared: I feel that there will be many more visits to that Little Free Library by Natalie, Otter and Kermit.

>34 quondame: That makes sense.

>35 humouress: Yes, indeed!

I mentioned in my topper that better menu planning is my resolution this year. We coasted through the first week on leftovers and easy meals, but yesterday I did the planning and shopping for the upcoming week. Here’s what’s on the menu:

Ham and Bean Soup
Creamy Rabbit with Mushrooms
Stuffed Shells
Taco Soup
Fish Filets and Cheese Squash

I’ll make the rabbit today, as it’s probably the most complex recipe on the menu. John’s work schedule and my own make the first part of the week a little tricky, so most of the proper meals happen later in the week. John is one of those people who are fine with eating once or twice a day and can ignore feeling hungry, whereas I need three square meals and a snack or two, and get hangry if I go without for too long. So, we’re still figuring things out regarding food and meals. I do most of the cooking, though John is capable of handling the basics and sometimes makes dinner when I work an evening shift.

I hope meal planning works for you. It's a lifesaver for Mr. Fine and I.

>38 MickyFine: Thanks, I hope so, too. When I don’t have a plan written down, I forget what I bought ingredients for and fall back on old standbys. I was feeling in a rut for the last few months. John doesn’t mind; I think he could eat the same thing every day. But I mind!

Oh, and…

Wordle 568 2/6

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>40 foggidawn: Nice!

>39 foggidawn: I have a template in Word that I print out. It puts 4 weeks on a page so it helps with food rut. Although I have to admit I have the same thing for breakfast every weekday and I love it.

>41 MickyFine: Oh, breakfast is a different matter. I go through long phases of having the same thing for breakfast. And if I’m not having leftovers for lunch, it’s pretty much variations on a sandwich, some popcorn, and a piece of fruit. But I do like to change things up for supper.

I recently saw someone on TikTok who made a spreadsheet where you can input a bunch of recipes and then the spreadsheet will either suggest what to make or just make it easier to choose what to make, as well as autopopulate a shopping list for each recipe. I'm intrigued, but the up-front work of inputting all the recipes is daunting.

>43 curioussquared: That does sound like a lot of work! I can kind of see the appeal, but also a lot of drawbacks.

(2 books read)



Marmee by Sarah Miller -- Little Women told from Marmee's point of view. Written in diary format, this book hews very close to the events of the original, while showing another side to familiar characters and introducing a few new faces, as well.

As a lifelong fan of Little Women, I really enjoyed this book. I felt that the author stayed true to the original characters and events, while still adding enough new material to make it interesting -- an impressive feat, indeed. I don't know how this would read for someone who has not read the original; I imagine it would still be a compelling read. Also, if you cried over a certain event in the original, you're going to cry at the same point in this one. If you know, you know.

(3 books read)



The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman -- Four residents of an upscale retirement community enjoy getting together on Thursdays to go over cold case files . . . but when they are all witnesses to a real murder, will they be able to solve the crime before the police do?

This started out reminding me strongly of The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths, but really only because of the retirement village setting and the group of quirky characters determined to solve the murder. Once those similarities faded and I really got into the story, I enjoyed it more and more. The author skillfully led me from one suspect to another, in a way that felt like I was one step ahead, but I turned out to be wrong every time until the final surprise twist. This was just my cup of tea.

>37 foggidawn: >38 MickyFine: Completely agree about meal planning! I have been doing it for so many years now that it is just second nature to me.

>45 foggidawn: I will have to check that one out! Thanks for the recommendation, foggi.

>46 foggidawn: I get to dodge that BB as I have already read it. I am glad to see that you enjoyed it.

Have a marvelous Monday!

I'm on a roll with my reading so far this year -- three above-average reads in a row! Crossing my fingers that the trend continues.

In other news, I got the Christmas tree taken down this weekend, but the other Christmas decorations still linger. Maybe tonight I will get around to putting them away. I did make the rabbit and mushroom dish this weekend. John liked it, while I was just okay with it. The meat seemed tough to me, and I don't know if that's because of the cooking method, this rabbit in particular, or rabbit meat in general. This was my first foray into cooking with it, but it's a reliable source of meat for us, so I'm trying to learn to do more with it. Next time I will try a stew. Tonight and tomorrow John will be at work by the time I get home, so I'll just forage around the kitchen for easy pickings. I may go ahead and put the ham and bean soup in the crock pot tomorrow morning before work so John can have some before he leaves and I can have some when I get home. I also made banana bread this weekend, yum. I brought some of it into work in the hopes that other people will eat some of it, because I feel entirely capable of eating the whole thing on my own, carbs and calories or no!

>47 alcottacre: I've been doing a haphazard job of meal planning (sometimes good, sometimes not), and notice that I waste less when I do it right, so that's my goal this year. Hopefully it will become second nature to me, too. In regards to >45 foggidawn: the author of Marmee also has a book called Caroline about the mother from the Little House series. I enjoyed it, but I liked Marmee better.

>49 foggidawn: I have been doing meal planning for 30+ years now, so I have had a lot of practice, lol. My local library does not have either of the books by Sarah Miller so I am going to have to look further afield.

>46 foggidawn: This is one I'm hoping to get to this year. Glad you liked it!

Went back up to see the posts you added in the beginning and I just finished Project Hail Mary which you awarded the best stand alone to. Agreed. It was awesome. And I also really enjoyed the romance Book Lovers.

>46 foggidawn: And The Thursday Murder Club. Guess I should hang out here more often! LOL. I've read the second one and enjoyed it just as much. I am sure I will find the third one sometime later this year.

Good luck on the meal planning. I go through phases where I am way into it and then RL things pop up and I lose the routine. Right now I do have the next three dinners all set to go, so not bad.

Happy Monday!

>50 alcottacre: Good luck with the books! When I was living on my own, I did less cooking, or I would cook one big thing (a casserole, a pot of soup) and eat it several times, maybe freeze a few portions. I still cook large portions of things in order to have leftovers, but of course they don't go quite as far any more. :-)

>51 curioussquared: Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

>52 Berly: Glad to hear that we are in agreement on those books! Yes, I am all too familiar with that meal planning scenario. We'll see how it goes this time around.

Glad your reading is off to such a nice start! Hope it continues. Our tree is still up, but we just had our last Christmas gathering on Saturday evening, and I didn't feel like taking it down yesterday. Plus, the boys love it.

Ugh, meal planning. I need a better system, but it's hard when I work late every night, I never know what time my husband will be home from his town job or if he will be doing farm stuff, and the boys may or may not have eaten with their cousins. I try to do a lot of cooking and baking during the weekend to at least help get us through the first couple days of the week.

Happy reading this year!

Happy reading in 2023, Foggi!

>54 aktakukac: Thanks! Yeah, I see how so many factors makes meal planning tricky. John's work schedule is pretty predictable, and then if it's light outside, he'll probably be doing something around the farm. During the summer it can be difficult to find him for meals sometimes, as I prefer not to eat at 9pm, but at this time of year it works out well enough.

>55 FAMeulstee: Thanks, and same to you!

>53 foggidawn: I still cook large portions of things in order to have leftovers, but of course they don't go quite as far any more. :-)

Yeah, adding a partner and/or kids into the equation definitely changes things.

>57 alcottacre: Sometimes, if he's been working hard and hasn't eaten all day, I'll think I've prepared enough to have leftovers, only to find that it's going to stretch to maybe one extra portion!

(4 books read)



Moira's Pen: A Queen's Thief Collection by Megan Whalen Turner -- All of the ephemera from the world of the Queen's Thief. It was lovely to dip back into that world for a few moments, but I think that the optimal time to read this collection would be immediately after finishing the series. It sometimes took me a minute to remember who certain characters were, or where in the story a certain story might fall. And, of course, reading this collection without having read the entire Queen's Thief series would be an exercise in confusion at the very least. It wasn't everything I might have hoped... so, so, so. What is? It's always wonderful to get even a fleeting glimpse of Gen, up to his usual shenanigans.

>58 foggidawn: Tim works a desk job and this still happens to me sometimes!

>59 foggidawn: I think I'd still like to read this, but your review makes me a little less eager. Maybe I'll wait until I want to do a reread.

>60 curioussquared: I was halfway wishing that I had done a reread first. I think part of the problem is that I don't know the last book in the series nearly as well as the other ones, so I felt a little lost when trying to dredge up those memories. I may love Moira's Pen more next time I read it -- because I will reread it, when I do a full series reread.

(5 books read)



Toad Words and Other Stories by T. Kingfisher -- A collection of short stories, mostly fairy tale retellings. This sort of thing is like catnip to me; I love fractured and retold fairy tales, and have since a very young age. I've also liked everything I've read so far of Kingfisher (a.k.a. Ursula Vernon)'s writing. I enjoyed each of these stories in its own way; my favorite may have been "Boar & Apples," or maybe that's just because it's the last, and longest. At any rate, highly recommended if you also enjoy fairy tale retellings.

Hi Foggi, lovely batch of books you have read so far. It's always fabulously encouraging to have a streak of enjoyable reading, isn't?

>45 foggidawn: I had never heard of a retelling of Little Women. I don't remember much of the story but you betcha! I certainly know what event I wept over and I'm not sure my pandemic brain wants to go there just yet. However, you wrote an enticing overview, so I've copied the link to my WL.

>62 foggidawn: I loved the last book by Kingfisher I read, which was also a retelling and very well done, and add classic fairy tales. Definitely adding this one to my list.

>63 SandyAMcPherson: There have been lots of Little Women retellings in the past several years, mostly for young readers (or at least the ones that I'm aware of have been) -- graphic novel retellings, setting the story in the present day, changing the characters' race, etc. I haven't read most of them, because I tend to be disappointed by retellings, but I'm glad I took a chance with this one (which was, unlike the others I know of, published for adults). You're right, it's very satisfying and encouraging to have a solid reading streak.

>64 WhiteRaven.17: I'm curious as to which book of hers you've read! I have not read very many yet, so I have a great deal of pleasurable anticipation as I contemplate which one of hers to pick up next.

>65 foggidawn: That's how I'm feeling about Kingfisher right now! Love finding a new author with an extensive back catalogue :) I don't know that I'll venture into her stuff that's more strictly horror, but I have a feeling that if anyone could make me thoroughly enjoy horror, it would be her.

>66 curioussquared: Likewise, I'm not a horror fan, but I'll have to see how far in that direction she goes.

(6 books read)



97 Orchard by Jane Ziegelman — A history of the culinary life of New York City’s Lower East Side, featuring the stories of five families who lived in the tenement located at 97 Orchard Street between the years of 1860-1930. The book takes a broader look at how immigrants of various nationalities affected the city’s foodways, from pushcart merchants to delicatessens to urban poultry farmers raising geese in tenement basements. It’s fascinating stuff, especially if you’re interested in culinary history or in New York City in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. I was hoping to recognize some of my own family food traditions, but nothing struck a particular chord. Still, very interesting reading!

>68 foggidawn: Apparently all it takes is for me to read the word "delicatessen" to crave a corned beef on rye sandwich. *drools* Probably doesn't help it's almost lunchtime here.

>65 foggidawn: I read What Moves the Dead which is a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. It was the first book by her that I've read and it was in my top five reads of last year. It is more in her horror genre range, so to your own discretion, but I highly recommend it.

>69 MickyFine: Lol! I'm not a fan of rye (or sauerkraut, which got a lot of mentions in this book), so no Reubens for me, but I hope you get to enjoy your corned beef on rye soon, if that's what you're craving!

>70 WhiteRaven.17: Wow, I hadn't even heard of that one! I don't usually do horror, so I'll probably look into more of her fairy tale stuff first, but you never know.

>68 foggidawn:, >71 foggidawn: My paternal grandmother's parents immigrated here from Slovakia, so there was always a crock of sauerkraut festering (that's what my dad called it!) in her cellar, and jars of garlicky dill pickles on the shelves down there. These were the only remnants of that part of our heritage that survived into my lifetime. Until I was well into adulthood, I was never even sure what part of Europe my ancestors on that branch came from. Eventually, I was lucky enough to locate the actual small village in the current Slovak Republic, and to communicate (briefly and awkwardly, given language barriers) with some distant cousins still living on the family homestead (as our family still has possession of, and some live on the Pennsylvania homestead my great-grandparents established in the late 19th century).

>72 laytonwoman3rd: A taste for sauerkraut seems to be one of the only remnants in my family, as well. (I didn’t inherit that gene; I like your dad’s “festering” description!)

Menu planning update:

Since I’m off today for the MLKJ holiday, I’ll do my shopping for the week later this afternoon. I did not get all of the planned meals made this past week, so a couple of them are rolling over to this week’s schedule (fortunately, all the ingredients can hold on for a bit). I made the rabbit, the taco soup, and the ham and beans. The taco soup was a big hit with John.

Today I made stew with dumplings for lunch, which we both enjoyed very much, and there were two servings left over, so we’ll enjoy it again as a workday lunch some time soon. In addition to that, here’s what’s cooking this week:
Stuffed shells
Fish fillets and cheese squash
Shepherd’s pie
Quiche with ham and mushrooms

I already have a lot of the ingredients on hand (even for the ones I wasn’t planning on making last week), so it should be an easy shopping trip.

>46 foggidawn: I just saw that when I was going through my Overdrive wish lists. (I've already migrated them to Libby, but I'm trying to go through them one last time before Overdrive goes away.) I want to start with that one since it is first in the series.

>68 foggidawn: That one's been in my wish list for a good while too, but it may not be available on Libby.

>75 thornton37814: Hope you enjoy them when you get to them!

>48 foggidawn: I have never partaken of rabbit, Foggi. Not really sure why to be honest as it is fairly common in the UK and my brother likes it. Must check that box next time I go back to the UK as I have never seen it on any menu over here.
Taco soup is one I like and I adore cottage pie (Shepherd's pie but with beef instead of lamb).

What are stuffed shells?

I love menu planning and Hani is very helpful in embracing menu projects.

>77 PaulCranswick: I used rabbit in the stew today and liked it better that way. The taste is similar to the dark meat of chicken. I usually make cottage pie, but actually bought some ground lamb this time, so shepherd’s pie it is. Stuffed shells are (at least in my version) conchiglioni pasta stuffed with a ricotta/parmesan/spinach mixture and baked in marinara sauce, topped with mozzarella.

>78 foggidawn: Stuffed shells sound very hearty and I realise that lunch is almost upon us here!

I will definitely try rabbit soon and get the impression that it is most commonly in stews in the UK.

>79 PaulCranswick: Yeah, it’s not exactly a light meal, but it’s definitely tasty.

(7 books read)



84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff -- A New York City scriptwriter with a taste for old books begins a correspondence with an antiquarian bookstore in London. Over the years, this develops into a long-distance friendship between Hanff and the bookseller who answers her letters -- and, indeed, with his co-workers and family as time goes by. Gifts are exchanged, news is shared -- but will Hanff ever manage to visit the bookstore in person?

By turns funny and touching, this exchange of letters is delightful. I was completely absorbed from the first page. I know I'm not the first to warble on about this one, but I'm glad I finally got around to it. For book lovers, a must-read.

>81 foggidawn: I read this one for the first time last year and it ended up on my favorites list for the year. I can definitely see myself rereading it. I also enjoyed the film!

>82 curioussquared: I will have to watch the film one of these days.

>81 foggidawn: I watched the film last year and STILL haven't made it around to the book. Maybe this year?

Also, I have many thoughts about Scattered Showers now that I've read it. What was your favourite story?

>84 MickyFine: I enjoyed the whole book, but the one that has stuck with me most is the last one.

(8 books read)



The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard -- Cliopher Mdang is the secretary (read: second-in-command) to the Emperor, the Sun-on-Earth, a literal god, ruler of the entire world. It's a heady position, but Cliopher, or Kip, as he's known to his family, is both humble and civic-minded. He just wants to serve his lord and make the world a better place. But he's noticed, lately, that His Radiance looks a little... tired, maybe? Would it be the height of presumption to suggest a vacation? Kip knows just the place...

I loved every bit of this book. I didn't want it to end; I am thrilled that there is a sequel and that this author has written other books (though why are they so expensive and hard to find?!). I could say that this book is light on plot, and that there was one misunderstanding (Kip's family and friends being completely unaware of his importance, even after seeing him made Chancellor) that I felt went on way too long, and that the library ebook version that I read had several typographical errors. But none of that matters because I loved it so much. Highly recommended, especially if you enjoyed The Goblin Emperor.

>81 foggidawn: I saw the movie first and, in a way, I wish I'd read the book first so I could enjoy the story, "fresh" as it were. Both were wonderful, though the movie's ending had a different impact on me compared to the book.

>87 SandyAMcPherson: I'll be interested to see how I feel about it when I get around to watching the movie.

>86 foggidawn: This one was already high on my list and your review only pushed it higher :)

>86 foggidawn: I am so happy to have found Victoria Goddard's books. And using enjoyment of The Goblin Emperor as the criteria for recommending them is exactly right. The Greenwing & Dart books are mostly much more eventful adventures, but have a lot of the same feel.

Wow. So, you've been reading my mind/shelves? So many overlaps...and book bullets, for ones I haven't read yet ("much more focused on characters and plot development outside the bedroom" is an instant grab, for me).

I _love_ Victoria Goddard and have read (almost) everything she's written so far. The only problem is that the Empire series(es) all overlap and link and run into one another - which means that any time I read any of them I immediately want to read all the other ones that cover the same ground, which means I want to read all of them... I've only reread five or six so far. Including Hands. I'm resisting starting again at the beginning of Greenwing & Dart, at least until the next book comes out...

And I also love Ursula Vernon/T Kingfisher. I may not have read everything she's written...a few may have escaped me. But I've even read her horror, and I don't do horror. Hers doesn't hit me badly, though - they never really feel hopeless, which is the trigger for real horror for me. They're always doing something about it, even if they're not sure what to do. Also, her retellings have so far gotten me to read The Willows by Algernon Blackwood (which is straight-up horror...or would be, if I didn't keep comparing it to The Hollow Places) and to get, though not yet read, The Fall of the House of Usher. Her fairy tales and "kid's books" are even better. I love Castle Hangnail, Digger (a graphic novel) is amazing (and just released in a new edition via Kickstarter, Digger Unearthed - it's also online), the paladin romances are great (starting with Paladin's Grace)...The worst I've read of hers has been "not bad, not great" (I don't remember what that was, probably one of the fairy tale shorts).

Happy New Year, foggi! >3 foggidawn: I always did suspect that you were a secret princess:)

You have hit me with a couple of BBs: The Love Hypothesis, Toad Words, and you have made me smile with books I've enjoyed (The Thursday Murder Club - I have the third book on hold on audio), and an all-time top 5 favorite: 84 Charing Cross Road.

I have long done a weekly meal plan. Back when we first moved back to the US I had Fridays off (in exchange for the crazed performing and touring schedule of the Chorale) and that was my day to plan and shop. I had each day of the week planned out. Now I plan meals and shop for about a week's worth, but actually cook them as the schedule permits. An easier or earlier day might mean a more involved recipe, and a super busy day will be one for leftovers or one of the staple meals I can do with my eyes closed.

Stuffed shells is in the plans for next week as it is a favorite of Callia's and Marina doesn't care for it (and is in Italy and won't care).

>91 jjmcgaffey: It looks like the next G&D book is down the queue - the next books VG mentioned are 2 Red Company books. I would like the G&D chronology to catch up to AtFotS. I don't know when the next RC fits in, it could be before AtFotS or after.

>89 curioussquared: Read iiiitttt! I waited a while because I knew it was a chunkster, but actually it didn't feel that long when I was in the process of reading it. I wished it was longer!

>90 quondame: I'm looking forward to her other books -- I like her style, so I'm sure I will enjoy them as well!

>91 jjmcgaffey: Thanks for the Kingfisher/Vernon info. I may get to her horror eventually. I'm surprised at myself that I haven't picked up the Castle Hangnail series yet, knowing how much I enjoy juvenile fantasy. Soon, I hope!

>92 AMQS: Heh, very secret. Hope you enjoy the book bullets! I'm on the second book of the Thursday Murder Club now, and have the third one checked out and ready to go. And I don't think I could stick with a plan of what to cook on which day, but planning out about a week's worth of meals and then cooking whichever one sounds good when I get home seems to be working for me. I may do the shells tonight, as all of the discussion is making me crave them!

>93 quondame: I'm proud to have puzzled out all of your acronyms there.

>94 foggidawn: Hmmm, maybe I'll check it out in advance of my upcoming vacation. You're convincing me!

>95 curioussquared: I think it would be a nice vacation read. Where are you going?

>96 foggidawn: We're headed to Costa Rica in about a week, so I'll have some nice long flights to get some reading in. Though I should really try to sleep on the first one as it's overnight :)

>97 curioussquared: Perfect! And enjoy the warmth and sun! I can sometimes sleep on a plane ride, but it never feels like good, restful sleep.

>98 foggidawn: Thanks! It's technically a very delayed honeymoon so we're planning to make the most of it. I don't sleep well on planes, either, but we get in around 7:30 am local time, so I'm going to try my best, lol.

>97 curioussquared: Best part about flying is uninterrupted reading time!

Hi Foggi! Already on book 8! I'm on 1. But I'm nearing the end of a couple of others.

My aunt always wanted me to read 84 Charring Cross Road, but I could never get myself to do it.

>99 curioussquared: Enjoy -- and good luck getting some sleep on the plane.

>100 PaulCranswick: Right?!

>101 The_Hibernator: Well, you do have quite a bit going on! 84, Charing Cross Road is a pretty quick read, so maybe you can fit it in sometime. But I understand; I have been known to avoid books that were too strongly recommended to me by relatives!

>89 curioussquared: >94 foggidawn: Oh yes, it is such a pleasant book to read and Victoria Goddard has mastered the flowing story technique so you just feel a current is pulling you through.

>103 quondame: An apt description.

(9 books read)



The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman -- The Thursday Murder Club is up to their usual tricks. When Elizabeth is contacted by someone claiming to be a man that she saw dead many years ago, the group is pulled into intrigues involving diamonds, cocaine, and the Mafia -- oh, my!

I enjoyed this second book almost as much as the first one. There weren't quite as many red herrings, but the author still kept me guessing until nearly the end.

>105 foggidawn: I liked this second one, too. I think the third is already out, but I don't want to buy a hardback copy. Should look it up at the library...

Enjoy the weekend!!

>106 Berly: Thanks! I’ll have a review of the third one up soon, but for now I’ll just say it was a good one!

I’ve had a nice, lazy weekend of doing pretty much the absolute minimum. I’d intended to grocery shop this afternoon, but we got a couple of inches of snow and I didn’t feel like going out in it. I’ll probably run to the store after work tomorrow for basics, but I’m going with stuff that I pretty much always have on hand for the week’s meal plan (plus the shepherd’s pie that didn’t get made this past week):
Shepherd’s Pie
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Breakfast for Dinner
Frozen Pizza

Next week I’ll get back on my game and try some different recipes, but I’m giving myself some grace this week.

>108 foggidawn: Breakfast for dinner is an interesting concept and I have done this with porridge oats a few times.

Yasmyne, my eldest, makes ciabatta bread that doubles as a wonderful pizza base. I think I am going to have an Italian cooking day tomorrow. I will make pasta, Belle will do tiramisu and Yasmyne on the bread/pizza.

>109 PaulCranswick: My breakfast for dinner menu this time is eggs and sausage. I sometimes do pancakes when I do breakfast for dinner. My mother has a good ciabatta recipe, but I’ve never tried it as a pizza base.

I have been thinking of rereading 84, Charing Cross Road sometime this year or possibly listening to the audio version. The Osman books are on my radar, but I have other things to read first. Glad you are enjoying them.

Breakfast for dinner can be a lifesaver. My husband is a fan of homemade Egg McMuffins, so I make those from time to time.

>111 aktakukac: I made myself the most delicious breakfast sandwich on Saturday -- basically an Egg McMuffin, but on toast. I had forgotten how good they can be! I agree, breakfast for dinner is a lifesaver. Plus, our chickens are laying well for us right now, so we're not feeling the pinch of the high egg prices.

(10 books read)



The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman -- When the Thursday Murder Club decides to investigate a cold case involving a local journalist, the decision may have been influenced by Joyce's desire to meet a certain local celebrity -- but soon the whole club is involved in the case, which is suddenly not so cold after all.

This series continues strong, and I'm a little sorry that there are only three books in the series so far -- though hopefully we'll see another out this fall. The cast of characters remains delightful, and there are signs that we'll see some of them again in future books. I found this tightly plotted and pleasant to read. Mystery fans, if you haven't hooped on this bandwagon yet, you might want to!

(11 books read)



Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? : A Memoir by Roz Chast -- Cartoonist Chast recounts the final years of her parents' lives in a mixture of illustrated essays and cartoon panels. Though she brings her trademark humor to the situation, it's still a fairly grim topic, and she doesn't spare the details: bedsores, dementia, money problems -- it's all there, along with her grappling with her own mixed feelings about her relationship with her parents and her unhappy memories of childhood.

A thought-provoking read, recommended -- though not, perhaps, if you've just experienced the loss of a parent.

(12 books read)



I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys -- It's 1989, and life under Communist rule is all that 17-year-old Cristian Florescu has ever know -- but even he knows that there are some very wrong things happening in his home country, Romania. The food lines, the constant surveillance, the cold apartments in winter . . . his parents are silent shadows of themselves, his beloved sister grows thinner and thinner, and his grandfather is dying of cancer. When he's approached by a state agent and told that he's to become an informer on the son of the American ambassador, he agrees, but only if he can get medicine for his grandfather. As the Iron Curtain falls and countries around Romania gain their freedom, Cristian struggles with what he's been told to do, and longs to make a difference, to show the world what life in Romania is like.

This is a deeply impactful story, especially for those, like me, who remember the fall of the Berlin Wall and other events surrounding the fall of the Iron Curtain from childhood news stories, but don't have much real knowledge of what conditions were like in Romania under Ceaușescu. Sepetys' writing style is always strong, and the setting and characters are vivid as the plot moves toward revolution. Historical fiction fans, especially those interested in this period and region, will be rewarded to consider this book.

Just letting you know our school Mock Caldecott finalists for this year!

Hot Dog
Kick Push
Out of a Jar
Two Dogs

It is the year of the dachshund!

>116 compskibook: No kidding! Thanks for sharing your selections. I think Hot Dog is the one one I've read so far, though I've spotted the others on our shelves.

In case anyone missed it, I've updated post >115 foggidawn: with a book review. (I had left a placeholder earlier.)

(13 books read)



Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood -- When Bee gets her dream position as head neuroscientist on a project at NASA, she's literally jumping for joy, until she learns that her co-lead is Levi Ward, her nemesis since grad school. He hates her, and he's going to make this project a nightmare, she knows. When she arrives and none of her equipment is in place and her office hasn't been set up, her suspicions seem to have been confirmed. But does he really hate her? And is he really the one causing delays in the project? Or is there more going on than meets the eye?

This was a solidly fun romance read, with some steamy bits, but not enough to overpower the story. There's a "You've Got Mail" subplot, and also some Glenda/Elphaba bits involving some secondary characters. Perhaps the fact that so many pieces of the plot reminded me of other things was the reason that I didn't feel that this was as strong a book as The Love Hypothesis, Hazelwood's other novel that I've read. It's still a good book, don't get me wrong, and very enjoyable for romance fans. There's cool neuroscience stuff, a lot of Marie Curie love, and some serious shade cast on standardized testing. A fun light read.

>119 foggidawn: I didn't think this was as strong as The Love Hypothesis, either. Still enjoyed it, though! What did you think of the ending? I've seen a lot of people say it was over the top and ruined the book for them -- it took me by surprise a little but didn't ruin it for me.

>119 foggidawn: I have this one sitting on my nightstand right now and I'm looking forward to it. I was also in the bookstore recently and noticed that they've released a collected volume of a bunch of Hazelwood's novellas (Loathe to Love You) so I'll be snapping that up at the library sooner rather than later.

>120 curioussquared: I thought it was a little over-the-top, but I wouldn’t say it ruined the book for me. I did think it was unrealistic for him to show up and monologue at her like some kind of supervillain, but hey, it’s fiction.

>121 MickyFine: Enjoy! I’ll be interested to see what you think. I also have a hold placed on the volume of novellas, though I don’t think our library has it on the shelf yet.

(DNF)



How to Make Friends With the Sea by Tanya Guerrero -- A boy with obsessive-compulsive disorder finds ways to face his own fears and be strong for his new foster sister, a little girl with a cleft lip.

I found myself halfway through the book, not really caring about the characters. There were also some weird quirks in the writing -- incomplete sentences, words used oddly, and so forth. It wouldn't have been enough to pull me out of the story on its own, but nothing else was pulling me in. I'm neither Filipino nor OCD, so I can't speak to the representation of those communities, but I had some concerns about the way things were described (lots of "weird" and "alien") and, at least up to the point where I stopped reading, the way Pablo's OCD was handled (there was a lot of mind-over-matter happening). I've read another book by Guerrero and really enjoyed it, so perhaps this debut effort was just not her strongest, but I can't say I recommend it.

>112 foggidawn: I get my eggs from my mom, so I haven't had to buy any in the store for quite some time. She's had loyal customers for years and now has people on a waiting list. Glad your chickens are laying well this time of year!

Happy to see you liked the Sepetys book, too! It was one I really liked last year.

>124 aktakukac: We share our eggs with John's parents and uncle, and sometimes with other friends if we have extras, but we're not set up to sell them. I'll bet people who do are popular right about now! Yes, I'd been meaning to read the Sepetys for a while now. I've read all but one of her books (and it's on my TBR shelf), and they're always well-crafted.

(14 books read)



Ellen Outside the Lines by A.J. Sass -- On a school trip to Barcelona, 13-year-old Ellen looks forward to spending a lot of time with her best friend Laurel, seeing the sights in a beautiful city. Her dad has come along as a chaperone, she's got the itinerary written down in her bullet journal, and she knows just what to expect. When things start to go differently from what she has planned almost immediately, it will be a challenge for Ellen to adapt. Laurel is interested in also spending time with some of her other friends, the teacher has changed the format of the trip from previous years, and there's a new student who challenges a lot of Ellen's lists and categories.

I really enjoyed this book, both for the great setting and for the sensitive and insightful handling of interpersonal relationships. The characters and their interactions were very believable and real. It definitely made me want to travel to Barcelona, too!

Thanks to AMQS for the book bullet!

>86 foggidawn: I found your thread! (Sorry I am late!) I loved The Hands of the Emperor so much that I had a hard time starting something new. I did not want to leave Kip at all. I know there are other books set in this world, but I feel like I have to dole them out and not gobble them all up at once.

>127 clamairy: Good news that the direct sequel, At the Feet of the Sun, is like a million pages long! I love it all.

>128 reconditereader: True! But I'm still going to wait a bit to start that one.

>59 foggidawn: I read the first couple of books in the Queen's Thief series and then got sidetracked and never went back to it. I really need to read the whole thing in one big go!

>68 foggidawn: Dodging that BB as I have already read that one.

>81 foggidawn: One of my all-time favorite books!

Skipping, skipping, not enough time in the day. . .

>115 foggidawn: Ruta Sepetys is one of my favorite YA authors. I will have to track that one down.

>130 alcottacre: Oh yes, you do need to get on with The Queen's Thief.

Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed Ellen Outside the Lines. And boo for >123 foggidawn:. Sounds like a good one to miss. I just looked it up on Titlewave and it has great reviews, but word of mouth is best for me:)

>127 clamairy: I feel the same way!

>128 reconditereader: I am glad about that. I’m sure I will get to it soon.

>130 alcottacre: Yes! The Queen’s Thief is a great series for a binge read.

>131 quondame: I second that.

>132 AMQS: Maybe it gets better by the end, but I didn’t feel like hanging in there to find out.

(15 books read)



Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel -- There's a glitch in the timeline. If you stand under a certain old-growth maple tree on Vancouver Island, you might get a flash of a different place, a few notes of violin music, an airship taking off hundreds of years and thousands of miles away -- or, if you stand in the airship terminal when the old man is playing his violin, you might find yourself, just for a moment, standing in the forest. It happens to a remittance man in 1912. To a teenager in the early 21st century. To a famous author in the early 2200s. And who is Gaspery-Jacques Roberts, whose story seems, impossibly, to touch each of theirs?

This is just what I expect from this author: the writing is superb, the premise is deeply thought-provoking, and I'll be thinking about it for days afterwards.

>134 foggidawn: I just finished this a few days ago! Loved it. (I enjoyed it more than The Glass Hotel which I read right before it.

>135 clamairy: Same here! I read The Glass Hotel a couple years ago and didn't love it. I liked this one better, but not as much as Station Eleven.

I went ahead and did some shopping and meal planning for the upcoming week. Here's what's on the menu:
-Curried Lentils with Tomatoes
-Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
-Quiche

(I did quiche a couple of weeks ago, but we like it a lot and I vary it based on what ingredients I have on hand.) I'm finding that, with our work schedules, three dinners in a week is about all we end up eating together. John's about to switch over to the day shift at his non-farm job (he alternates days/nights month by month) so that may change, but I have a few easy meals/frozen things on hand if I end up cooking more.

>123 foggidawn: Sorry that one didn't work. It has a nice cover illustration.

>138 thornton37814: It is a very pretty cover. But you know what they say about judging books by their cover! ;-)

Today is the Best Monday of the Year -- the ALA Youth Media Awards Press Conference! You can take a look at the webcast HERE, and they should have a press release with the winners listed up very soon. I hadn't read many of the winning titles this year, of course -- I gave myself some time off from reading a lot of juvenile and YA this year, after last year's concentrated bout of reading. So, it looks like my reading list just got beefed up considerably!

Though I wasn't able to be there in person, it was so nice to hear the crowds cheering. This is the first in-person announcement they've been able to do since the pandemic.

(16 books read)



The Best Man by Richard Peck -- His grandfather. His father. His Uncle Paul. These are Archer's role models, the men he wants to be like when he grows up. This slice-of-life story follows Archer from first grade to sixth, from the first wedding he was in (there was an unfortunate incident involving a pair of white velvet shorts) to the second (when his Uncle Paul marries Archer's former student teacher, Mr. McLeod, and Archer is best man). I found it an enjoyable read, with some bits that I didn't entirely buy into -- Peck's signature style involves some tall tale flair, which he employs here. I'm not sure if contemporary kids would recognize themselves and their schools in this story, but there's plenty of fun to be had.

(17 books read)



The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree by Paola Peretti -- 10-year-old Mafalda has Stargardt's disease, a form of macular degeneration that will soon take away her sight. As she struggles to accept the changes in her life, she finds support in unexpected places: Filippo, a boy at school with a reputation for being a troublemaker, and Estella, a school janitor who is dealing with her own personal challenges. Mafalda also finds solace in her and her father's favorite book, The Baron of the Trees, and in the cherry tree that grows on her school grounds, where she feels closest to her deceased grandmother.

I'm not going to mince words: this is the most depressing book I've read in a long time. The subject matter is grim, and all of the secondary characters are struggling in one way or another. It's a very adult book, for a children's book. I also felt that there were certain plot points that never got resolved (like when Mafalda stole some items from other students on a class trip), and the whole book felt like I was viewing it at a remove. It veered back and forth from realistic to slightly fantastical, with one foot in either camp. All in all, not a book I can see myself recommending.

>141 foggidawn: I loved The Best Man. It makes a good, funny read aloud, too. I think I skipped ordering >142 foggidawn: The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree for exactly the reasons you described, because I do remember looking at it.

I love the ALA Awards day - I like to see how many of the winning and honored books I already have (makes me feel like I'm on top of collection development).

>143 AMQS: When I was doing collection development, I felt the same way!

(18 books read)



Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree -- Viv is an orc, and she knows how her story's going to end if she stays with her adventuring party: someday, maybe soon, a blade will slip through her defenses, and that will be it for her. What the rest of the party doesn't know, however, is that Viv has dreams -- and, moreover, plans -- that don't involve being struck down in the heat of battle or ambushed along the side of the road. She takes her life savings, a stone that is rumored to bring good fortune, and the research she's done along the way, and strikes out for a new town to open a coffee shop. As an unknown entrepreneur selling an unfamiliar product, she'll need all the luck she can get -- but she's not the only one who wants the good fortune the stone can bring...

I knew I would like this book the first time I heard about it, and guess what? I was right! It's a cozy fantasy read that never feels low stakes, despite the tagline. I was totally invested in Viv's venture -- and I don't even like coffee! It seems that this sort of gentle fantasy is having a moment, and I am here for it. I hope Baldree has more stories for us soon.

>145 foggidawn: I loved this one, and I agree. More like this, please!

Yes! This is actually his first book (written) - he's a professional audiobook narrator, doing a lot of fantasy novels, so he's had exposure to a lot of writing and authors, but this is the first one he's written and published. I am very much looking forward to the rest of his output. There's one coming out sometime this year, a prequel - Viv as an adventurer, some 10-20 years before L&L.

>147 jjmcgaffey: That's fascinating. I'm so glad he decided to try his hand at writing. And, yay! A prequel.

Lots of great-looking books here, Foggi. Very impressive amount of reading this month, too.

>146 clamairy: Yes!

>147 jjmcgaffey: I was excited to see that the prequel is coming out, too.

>149 SandyAMcPherson: Thanks! Yes, I surprised myself at how many books I finished this month, and how many of them I really loved. If I can keep up anything like this pace, it will be a banner year.

>145 foggidawn: Well, that's a BB for me.

(19 books read)



The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat -- Sai is two people: an accomplished Mapmaker's Assistant with a bright future ahead of her, but also the daughter of a con man from the worst area of the city. In a land where lineage is everything, she must keep her background secret if she wants to rise above her humble beginnings. When the opportunity arises to take part in a sea expedition with her employer, Sai jumps at the chance, planning to learn all she can on the journey and then leave the ship before it returns to her homeland and start a new life somewhere else. Of course, she's about to learn just how much things don't always turn out the way you plan...

This is a 2023 Newbery Honor, and I think it is deserving of the award. Lots of strong characters and plot twists, though I did think that there were a couple of coincidences that were a little too convenient. Still, an enjoyable read!

>151 MickyFine: Ah, good. I think you'll like it.

>152 foggidawn: BB!

>152 foggidawn: Woah ! Def a BB ~ Fantastic catchy review.


My good ship TBR is sinking and it's only February.

>154 quondame: and >155 SandyAMcPherson: Hope you enjoy it! I'm trying to get to all of this year's Newbery books soon.

I ended up not cooking much last week — we ate at John’s parents’ house one night, and at a church function another night, and I was feeling a little queasy another night (side effect of a medication I take) and didn’t feel up to eating, much less cooking. This week I’ll be back in the saddle. Grocery shopping is done, and the menu this week is:
Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Corned Beef Hash
Tacos
And, if needed, I can carry over quiche and/or curried lentils, as neither got made last week.
The chicken for the casserole is in the instant pot now. I’ve been trying to do some cleaning, but it’s (un)surprisingly hard to find any motivation, when there are books to read and a dog to pet.

I feel you on the lack of motivation for adult tasks today. I did mine today but it was super tempting to skip them all.

The casserole got made (and consumed, and leftovers boxed up for lunches), and I cleaned all the floors (still need to mop the kitchen, though) and did some other fiddly little tasks. That’s all the adulting I’m going to do today!

>157 foggidawn: I may well borrow the idea for curried lentils, Foggi. I do need to eat well and lentils are certainly wholesome aren't they?!
Intermittent fasting is on my agenda again and also trying to ratchet things up with some light exercise. Walked home from dinner with the girls last night and I managed it without my inhaler and in fairly good order (about 25 minutes walking).

>160 PaulCranswick: Here’s the recipe I use: https://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/a27081059/curried-tomato-coconut-lentils-...
I serve it over rice, but it’s fine on its own if you’re trying to cut back on carbs. The yogurt balances the flavors perfectly. It’s pretty quick and easy to make, too.

>161 foggidawn: Thanks Foggi.

>161 foggidawn: Simple and yummy lentil recipe. I like simple...
Caveat! Except I know most folks may tend to the idea that making bread isn't simple ~ so I should be careful in my strange opinions!
I answered your question as best I could about recommending a bread book, too.

>162 PaulCranswick: You’re welcome, Paul! Perhaps you will inspire me with the light exercise — I’ve been very bad about that lately.

>163 SandyAMcPherson: Thanks, I’ll go see what you have to say. I don’t think of bread making as difficult, just time-consuming. But I usually just make it the way my mom does, and lately I’ve been thinking I should try some different variations.

>164 foggidawn: In my case it is little steps too, Foggi. I will go for a stroll later - the hot and humid climate saps and disincentivizes me so I will wait for a better part of the day before venturing on foot to the mall to add to my coffee stocks.

>165 PaulCranswick: Whereas here it's been too cold and windy for me to want to venture out. And when it starts to warm up, it will be muddy... perhaps I should try exercising indoors.

(20 books read)



Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee -- Maizy Chen is an LA girl through and through -- but when her grandfather's failing health inspires a cross-country trip to Last Chance, Minnesota, she's not opposed to spending some time with the grandparents she's never really gotten to know. In Last Chance, she hears fascinating family stories and learns to play poker from her grandfather, eats delicious food at the family restaurant, and even makes some new friends. But life's not all rosy: she also experiences instances of racism and bullying directed at both her and her family. As her grandfather's health declines, Maizy is left with a mystery to solve...

This novel exhibits strong and engaging writing. I enjoyed the family stories interspersed with the present-day events -- both were equally interesting, which is not always the case with such split narratives! This book also made me super hungry for Chinese food, as there are many delicious descriptions of meals served up at the Golden Palace. The story feels familiar to me, as there are plenty of kids' books with a character transplanted from one place (usually the big city) to another (often a small town) for a summer, but Yee's writing and the timely issues she addresses make the book feel fresh. I also thought that both the struggles she faces and the way she goes about solving the mystery I mentioned above are realistic. I can see how this Newbery Honor book managed to stand out in the eyes of this year's committee.

>167 foggidawn: Oh that looks interesting. It would be my second book with a Chinese Restaurant in a Midwestern state - that one also had a mystery.

>157 foggidawn: I love that you let us know the queasiness is due to medication in case we jump to another conclusion :)

>168 quondame: Out of curiosity, what was the other book?

>169 compskibook: Yeah, don’t jump to any of those conclusions! John and I would both be happy if that were to happen, but at my age (and given certain other factors), I think it unlikely.

>170 foggidawn: The Family Chao. My review here.

>171 quondame: Thanks. Sounds like maybe I don't need to rush out and get it, though.

(21 books read)



Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano -- Finlay is back at it again. Despite her new years' resolutions of swearing off men, junk food, and dead bodies in the back of her minivan, she still has business to settle with a certain gangster, who wants her to find the identity of a certain contract killer -- and it looks like the killer may be a dirty cop. To find out his identity, Finlay needs to hang out with some cops. When she and Vero agree to participate in a cop training camp for civilians, things get pretty complicated. Especially since Nick, the hot cop that Finlay knows she can never have a future with, is running the camp...

If you liked this first two books in the series, you will like this one, as well. It's just as funny and full of action, and a lot of familiar characters get more time on the page (plus some new ones, of course). It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but not enough to make the wait for Book 4 torture.

>173 foggidawn: I really need to nudge this series up the list (she said as the other series on her list sighed in exasperation).

>174 MickyFine: Don't listen to all those other series! ;-) I do think you'd really like this one.

My daughter and children had an English Springer Spaniel. He was black and white. He was with them 14 years! They drove from Ohio to Indiana to obtain the puppy. What an incredible dog!!!!

>102 foggidawn: Actually I don't mind reading books suggested by this person. It's just the sheer number of books she suggests.

>176 Whisper1: My family had Springers throughout my childhood and teen years. I’ve always found them to be intelligent, active, loyal, and affectionate.

>177 The_Hibernator: Ah, I see. I try not to be that person. :-)

I'm mostly lurking, but thank you for the review in >145 foggidawn: - light is what I'm after just now. I've added it to the wishlist.

>179 charl08: You're welcome -- I hope it hits the spot.

(22 books read)



Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson — When Homer’s family makes a run for freedom, things don’t go as planned. Separated from their mother and chased by dogs, Homer and his little sister Ada are rescued by Suleman, a mysterious wild man who leads them to Freewater, a secret settlement in the middle of the swamp. There, they meet many formerly enslaved people, and some children their own age who were born in Freewater. Sanzi is one of these, a girl about Homer’s age who longs to be a hero like Suleman, but who has never been allowed to leave the safety of Freewater. Homer and Ada are amazed at their first taste of freedom — but they long for a way to bring their mother to Freewater, too. A daring rescue plan, fraught with danger and including some unexpected companions, may be their best hope.

What an amazing book! This is an extraordinarily talented author, and one to watch, as this is her first novel. I was surprised at how quickly I was drawn into the story and how compelling I found it. The characters are fantastic, the writing strong, the setting fascinating, and the plot and pacing kept me on the edge of my seat. I don’t think the cover design does the book any favors, but the inside of the book is terrific. Fully deserving of the Newbery Medal, and highly recommend!

>181 foggidawn:. Ace review of Freewater. , foggi. Adding it to my WL.

I liked your reviews of Sea of Tranquility and Legends and Lattes, too. I enjoyed both those books. I’m particularly happy that the latter worked well for you even though you’re not a coffee drinker. Good to know for recommending it to others.

>182 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! You were one of the first people I thought of recommending it to when I finished it. I’ve had some really stellar reads so far this year.

Hi Foggi! Catching up after my vacation. I got Legends and Lattes for Christmas and really want to pick it up soon. The Last Mapmaker looks delightful!

>184 curioussquared: Welcome back!

(23 books read)



Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango — Iveliz hopes that seventh grade will finally be her year, and she’s made a list to follow to make sure she goes everything right. But pretty soon she’s landing in in-school suspension for letting her quick-burning anger get the better of her, failing her classes, and having trouble keeping old friendships, much less making the new ones she’d hoped for. She loves her mom, but they don’t see eye to eye. She’s glad her grandmother is coming to live with them, but it’s because her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s is getting worse. And her dad… well, it’s complicated.

This is a moving exploration of a pre-teen coping with past trauma. It’s written in Spanglish, to the point that I kept Google Translate open beside me. Kids who speak both languages will appreciate this, I think, but for those who don’t know any Spanish it might be frustrating, as not everything can be understood or guessed from context. I’m a little surprised that it got a Newbery honor because of this, though I do think the narrative voice and the depth of emotion it evokes are something special.

(24 books read)



Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay -- Gay shares the experiences that have literally shaped her in this brave, heartbreaking memoir. A traumatic experience as an adolescent led to her developing coping mechanisms that involved using food for comfort and weight as a shield. Now, she faces the realities of existing in a world that is not set up to accommodate bodies of size.

While I don't share Gay's experience of trauma, I have (unfortunately) shared some of the experiences she relates about being a larger person in a world not suited for big figures. I applaud the bravery and raw honesty she shows in putting these words to paper. Gay starts out by telling her story chronologically, but then it feels like she moves over to handling things more topically, which leads to some jumping around in the timeline. Some later parts of the book also feel more like essays, leading me to wonder if they started out that way (the CIP data indicates that parts of the book appeared elsewhere prior to publication). I'm glad that I read this book. There's no lesson to be learned here -- Gay is on a journey, same as the rest of us; she hasn't figured out the magical secret to weight loss that we all would love to discover.

I didn’t post a meal planning update over the weekend, but I did plan and shop. We’re going out of town later in the week for a cousin’s wedding, so I’m sticking with some simple meals for the nights we’re here: tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, meatballs and kidney beans over rice, quiche, etc. I’m also going to make a peach cobbler for Valentines Day.

>187 foggidawn: This one has been on my radar a while. I'm glad it's worth the time.

>188 foggidawn: Soup and a sandwich are a perfect dinner this time of year. And cobbler... Yum!

Happy Valentine's Day!

>189 clamairy: Thanks, and happy Valentine's Day to you, too. I'll eat soup and sandwiches for lunch or dinner any time of year, but I agree that they particularly hit the spot when it's cold and gloomy.

Hi Foggi, I'm way behind on the threads but wanted to swing by and see what's been reviewed.
Like you, I am happy to have soup for dinner, especially when it's cold and gloomy. If there's homemade bread to toast with cheese on top, we consider it a full and tasty meal.

>191 SandyAMcPherson: Yum! Your description paints a cozy picture.

(25 books read)



When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb -- If you go the the synagogue in the shtetl that's so small and out of the way that it's only called Shtetl and look in the back corner by the door, you might see an angel and a demon studying the Talmud together. Or at least you would have until Essie, the baker's daughter, left for America and caused her family great worry by not replying to their letters. Little Ash, the demon, sees an opportunity to travel to a new place and cause mischief along the way, and convinces the Angel that it is their duty (not to mention a mitzvah) to go after Essie, as she is a member of their community and could be in mortal danger. On the trip to America, they cross paths with Rose, a strong-minded young woman who is also off to America for a better life. The journey will change all of them as their stories converge in new and unexpected ways.

If Sholem Aleichem were to write a young adult novel, it might be something like this. I was also put in mind of The Golem and the Jinni just a little bit. I found this a delightful read with great characters and dialogue. If I had one criticism, it would be that things pulled together very neatly in the end, but this is a YA book after all, and it's not like I don't want these characters to have a happy ending. If you like coming to America stories with a touch of magic, then you won't want to miss this book.

>193 foggidawn: BB!

(26 books read)



Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good by Nancy Werlin -- Zoe has one guilty pleasure that she hides from her upright, uptight boyfriend Simon: she's a big fan of a sci-fi show called Bleeders. When she learns that the first episode of Season 2 will be shown early at DragonCon, she finds a way to get from Boston to Atlanta without anyone -- especially Simon -- knowing. It's just for one night, and she really doesn't want to listen to a lecture from Simon about how she could be doing something useful with her time. At the con, she meets up with a small group of Bleeders fans, all of whom are concerned at the low turnout for the midnight screening. Is there anything that they can do to help boost the show's popularity, ensuring that it doesn't get canceled before its time? Zoe agrees to join them in cosplay at the upcoming New York Comic Con -- which means more lies and evasions. As Zoe gets deeper into the world of fandom (and duplicity), she's convinced that she can keep the two parts of her life separate. After all, she's a terrific planner and organizer. But if she makes one misstep, her castle of lies could come crashing down around her head...

I found this a fun light read, though it was pretty obvious from the start that the lies were going to catch up to Zoe (though, I have to admit, they did so in a dramatic and funny way that I wouldn't have guessed). What I enjoyed most, however, were the relationships that developed between Zoe and her friends in the fandom. These felt genuine to me, and the descriptions of the various cons were spot on. Geeky readers of YA literature are the obvious audience for this book.

>194 quondame: Oh, I think you will like it!

>195 foggidawn: That sounds fun too, though I can't consider loosing an uptight non-fanish boyfriend a bad outcome!

>196 foggidawn: I hope to!

Great to catch up on all your reads, with so many enjoyable ones!

(27 books read)



Princess of the Wild Sea by Megan Frazer Blakemore -- Princess Harbor Rose lives on an island with her mother and aunts, hidden away because of the curse that was placed on her at her christening. She's surrounded by loving family and kindhearted villagers, and she would say she knows every inch of the place. Now, in her thirteenth year, she is sure that she will come into the magic that all the women in her family hold -- and if she can avoid pricking her finger as the curse threatens for one more year, she will be able to rejoin her people on the mainland. However, fate has some surprises in store for Harbor Rose, who may not know her island, or her family, as well as she supposes.

It's great to see Sleeping Beauty get more girl power; I liked seeing Harbor Rose having adventures. I'm still a little hazy about some aspects of the "curse," but that may be a case of me reading distracted, rather than the fault of the narrative. I do feel that too much of the plot relies upon Harbor Rose being kept in the dark about things that specifically pertain to her -- a time-honored device, but it would have been so much simpler and safer if the adults around her had taught her everything she needed to know about her world. (But then, of course, there wouldn't be much of a story.) Overall, however, I enjoyed it. Fans of juvenile fairy tale retellings should take a look!

>197 quondame: That was kind of the weak point of the story, of course -- trying to make the reader believe that Simon was that great of a boyfriend in the first place, to make the stakes high enough for Zoe. Still, it was pretty fun.

>198 ronincats: Yes, thanks for stopping by! I feel like I've had a lot of really stellar reads so far this year. Hope that trend continues!

(28 books read)



The Windeby Puzzle by Lois Lowry -- In 1952, a body was found in a German peat bog -- an adolescent's body, about 2,000 year's old. Lowry takes the bare facts imparted by the remains and spins a story one way and then another, based on the region's history, the observations of archaeologists, and technological advances that have revealed more details since the discovery. The result is two well-written novellas bookended by brief but edifying historical notes. We know how the story will end, either way, but in spite of that, Lowry's tales are both touching and uplifting. Recommended for readers who enjoy stories set in ancient history.

>201 foggidawn: That looks interesting, Foggi and I must admit to never having heard of it before.

>202 PaulCranswick: I'd never heard of the Windeby child either -- I knew that bodies in peat bogs were often well-preserved, but other than that, hadn't learned much about any specific cases.

I think I'm finally caught up on book reviews and reading threads. I took the weekend off LT because John and I traveled to attend my cousin's daughter's wedding. It was over in Pennsylvania, at the church my grandparents attend, so we got to see a lot of family. It was a small wedding (about the same size as ours, or maybe a little bigger) and my sister-in-law was supposed to be the photographer, but my nephew got sick the night before, so photography duties fell to me. I felt like the paparazzi, but I'm told I got some very good photos (I handed the camera over to my SIL to sort through right after the wedding), so that's a relief. It was exhausting, though -- when we got home, I slept for 12 hours, and that's after a nap in the car! I don't recall ever sleeping that much when I wasn't sick. Sunday was taken up with church and with prepping for the week, and Monday was a staff training day, which was pretty much exactly like every staff training day I've ever attended over five different library systems now. The food was pretty good and we got out a little early, so it met both of my criteria for a decent training day.

Speaking of food, my meal planning for the week includes pancakes, baked fish and scalloped potatoes, broccoli cheese soup, and Thai red curry vegetables.

Your mention of pancakes has me curious if pancake day is a thing in the Orthodox church? Mr. Fine grew up Catholic but doesn't do/care about pancake day (and also isn't a big fan of breakfast for dinner) so we did not have pancakes yesterday.

>205 MickyFine: No, pancake day/Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras isn't part of the Orthodox tradition, and we actually had our pancakes on Monday evening. Just a coincidence -- or maybe I succumbed to subliminal messaging from hearing people talk about it! Orthodox Lent actually starts this coming Monday (there's some difference in how the 40 days are counted; I used to know but have forgotten the specifics).

Last-minute photographer duties sound so stressful!! I'm not surprised you slept for so long after :)

>207 curioussquared: It was a perfect storm of exhaustion: two nights sleeping on a bed that isn't mine, travel back and forth, a big event with lots of interacting with people, including a lot of people I don't know, surprise photography responsibilities, and then spending time with my nephew (who got over his stomach bug within 24 hours) and Lottie, so always being on guard to make sure things are going smoothly between them (they played with his bowling set and had a blast; fortunately he thinks her loud barking is hilarious, not terrifying). I also made supper for the family the night before and deviled eggs for the wedding reception. So, yeah, it's not surprising that I was sleep-the-clock-around exhausted, looking back!

>204 foggidawn: I can't imagine the stress of having to photograph a family member or friend's wedding. Kudos to you for sticking to it!

>206 foggidawn: Subliminal messaging gets me all the time too. :)

Hopefully your energy levels are back up to normal now!

>209 The_Hibernator: The couple was pretty low-key about the photos, but yeah, thanks!

>210 MickyFine: Even my normal energy levels seem pretty low lately, but I'm not sleeping 12 hours at a stretch any more.

(29 books read)



Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad -- Four Indian-American sisters find romance over the course of a year, as does their widowed father.

This book didn't really do it for me. It took me a while to read it, despite the fact that it's basically four novellas tied together, as each sister gets a story. For some reason, it dragged, and I had a hard time connecting with the characters. The author did a good job of differentiating them in terms of character and voice, so perhaps I just wasn't in the mood for this. I was also irrationally irritated by the title. Other reviewers enjoyed it, so this may have been just the wrong book at the wrong time for me.

(30 books read)



Petty Treasons by Victoria Goddard -- In this novella, we get the emperor's perspective on the hiring of Cliopher Mdang as his personal secretary -- the calm proficiency, the underlying humor, the potentially disastrous eye contact -- and the early days of their work together. (We still don't get to know what the joke was -- I suspect that, like the Noodle Incident in Calvin & Hobbes, the author believes that our imagination will be better than any specifics she could provide.) Since these events are discussed in The Hands of the Emperor, this book is treading familiar ground, but it's lovely to drop back into that world. I don't usually like second-person narration, but when I realized that the narrator is using it to differentiate between himself as the emperor ("you") and himself as a man ("I") it made it more interesting to me. Recommended to fans of the author who want just a little more of that story.

I am trying hard to not just jump in and binge everything Goddard has written, but to space them out and savor them. Still, the temptation is there!

I am trying hard to not just jump in and binge everything Goddard has written, but to space them out and savor them. Still, the temptation is there!

Same! Didn't stop me from buying a few of her e-books this month to have them ready to go though hahaha.

>214 bell7: Our library has most of her ebooks through Hoopla, which was an exciting discovery for me!

>215 foggidawn: Oooooh, I looked on Libby (I can get some) but not on Hoopla, I'll bear that in mind.

>216 bell7: Hoopla can be hit or miss, so I'm always excited when I find something there that I want to read.

I had a couple of book acquisitions recently -- I bought Major Pettigrew's Last Stand because my library doesn't have it (I was shocked) and I didn't want to wait for an ILL. I also bought a copy of One of Our Thursdays is Missing -- I had it in paperback, but wanted to own a hardcover copy. And I bought a picture book, In Every Life by Marla Frazee, because I love her artwork. That brings me up to 8 books acquired so far this year, unless there are ones that I have forgotten about.

>213 foggidawn: Oooh, it's not over 1,000 pages! That means I can rationalize reading it soon! Thank you..

>219 clamairy: Happy to enable!

(31 books read)



Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson -- Major Pettigrew, a widower, strikes up a friendship with Mrs. Ali, the widowed proprietor of the shop in the village. Can he move past his own inhibitions to pursue something more than friendship -- and if he does, what will the neighbors think? What will the members of his golf club think? What will his son think? Does it matter? To Major Pettigrew, who has spent his entire life focused on correct, polite behavior, of course it does. But there are some things in life that just might matter more...

I'm late to this party, but I really enjoyed the humor and depth of this book. While it does feature a romance, there's a lot more going on in terms of family relationships, racism and classism, and British small-town life. The Major's dry humor (and Mrs. Ali's, for that matter) really made the book for me. I thought the ending was a little over-dramatic, but it did the job of getting everything resolved. And really, that's a very minor quibble considering that the reading experience as a whole was so pleasant. Recommended.

I decided it was time to start a new thread -- please join me over there: https://www.librarything.com/topic/348986#

I'm a MONTH BEHIND? Say it ain't so!

>201 foggidawn: I'd try reading it just because it was written by Lois Lowry. I've read and enjoyed/appreciated three of her written offerings so far.