RebaRelishesReading 2023 page 5

Welcome Fall -- my very favorite season!

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

For those of you I don't know, I'll introduce my self a bit. I'm a Californian by birth and have lived there much of my life but late in 2020 Hubby and I decided it was time to leave our condo in the Uptown district of San Diego and move to some place quieter and, most importantly, nearer our youngest grandchild. We have two older grandchildren who we adore but Ally is away at college and Kyle is a high school senior so they probably won't be living near us anymore even if we had stayed in San Diego. Quinn will turn four in January so we will have many years enjoying him growing up as we did the other two. So I've added Washington State to the list of places I've lived at various times in my life (California, Arizona, Connecticut, the Netherlands, England, the Netherlands, California, Ireland, California) and I'm enjoying becoming a north-westerner.

I'm a retired city planner who travels a lot (or did pre-Covid). We spent 11 summers at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York but among our recent changes we have sold our place there. We have plans to go back for two weeks in summer 2023 however :)

I read mostly fiction with a helping of biography or history thrown in. A couple of years ago I finished a personal challenge to read all of the Pulitzer Prize winning fiction and now I'm working on National Book Award fiction winners.

I recently joined a real-life book club, Women with Spines, and am excited to see what reading adventures this bring

My ranking system:
Superb *****
Excellent ****1/2
Very good ****
Good ***1/2
Average ***
Don't bother **
Terrible *

I try to keep this in mind when I'm assigning stars but I know I'm also influenced by my current mood, etc. so don't take it too very, very seriously.

JANUARY
1. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens****
2. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver****1/2

FEBRUARY
3. The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston****
4. A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny****1/2
5. Moonrise Over New Jessup by Jamila Minnicks****1/2
6. Violeta by Isabel Allende***
7. Horse by Geraldine Brooks*****
8. We Are the Light by Matthew Quick***
9. Zorrie by Laird Hunt****
10. Het Nieuwe Land by Eva Vriend****

MARCH
11. The Ways of My Grandmothers by Beverly Hungry Wolf ***1/2
12. A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier ****1/2
13. A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay*****
14. Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward*****
15. The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin****
16. The Round House by Louise Erdrich*****
17.Carnegie’s MaId by Marie Benedict****
18. The Friend by Sigrid Nunez****
19. The Centaur by John Updike****
20. Harry’s Trees by Jon Cohen*****
21. Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann ****

APRIL
22. The Guest Book by Sarah Blake****
23. Queen Bee by Dorothea Benton Frank***1/2
24. Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon**
25. The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty**1/2
26. Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie*** (audio)
27. Maame by Jessica George****
28. Secrets of the Cottage by the Sea by Rebecca Alexander*** (audio)

MAY
29. The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell****1/2
30. The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict***1/2 (audio)
31. Aunt Bessie Assumes by Diana Carissa***(audio)
32. Princess Margaret: A Life of Contrasts ***1/2 (audio)
33. The Winners by Fredrik Backman ***1/2
34. Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan****
35. The Golden Hour by Beatrice Williams *** (audio)
36. A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie ***1/2 (audio)

JUNE
37. A Country You Can Leave by Asale Angel-Ajdni ****
38. All Shall Be Well by Deborah Crombie****(audio)
39. The Snow Storm by Triana Walsh****(audio)
40. Trust by Hernan Diaz *****
41. Autism Spectrum Disorder by Chantal Sicile-Kira****1/2
42. I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai****
43. Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris*****

JULY
44. The Postcard by Anne Berest ***1/2
45. To Kill a Troubadour by Martin Walker ****(audio)
46. Grandparent's Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders by Nancy Mucklow*****
47. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan.***** (audio)
48. Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Goad ***1/2
49 The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray ****1/2
50. Somebody's Fool by Richard Russo ****1/2

AUGUST
51. Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult****
52. A Future We Can Love by Susan Bauer-Wu*****
53. The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama****1/2(audio)
54. In Falling Snow by Mary-Rose MacColl ****
55. "G" is for Gumshoe by Sue Grafton ***1/2(audio)
56. "H" is for Homicide by Sue Grafton ***1/2(audio)
57. "I" is for Innocent by Sue Grafton ***1/2(audio)
58. "F" is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton ***1/2(audio)
59. The Paris Apartment by Kelly Bowen****(audio)

SEPTEMBER
60. Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson****
61. Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict****
62. "K" is for Killer by Sue Grafton ***1/2 (audio)
63. The Great Transition by Nick Fuller Googins ****
64. Brigid of Kildare by Marie Benedict ***1/2(audio)
65. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett ****1/2
66. L is for Lawless by Sue Grafton **(audio)
67. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt**** (audio)
68. Dreams of Joy by Lisa See****1/2

OCTOBER
69. Elephant Company by Vicki Constantine Croke*****
70. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman***1/2
71. Oksana Behave by Maria Kuznetsova **** (audio)

Glad you followed me over to my new page. Look forward to having you visit often. This site is now open :)

Happy new thread, Reba!

Hi Diana -- I was just reading your thread when I noticed I got a message! Thank you for stoping by. If I was Richard I would have a beautiful crown to award you but I'm not and I don't -- I am most happy to have you open my new thread however. Welcome!

We're expecting rain today (and for several days to come) and we have nothing on the calendar for today so I've declared it a "sea day" (term from cruising -- on land it's a day when I don't leave the house and stay in my robe all day) -- some knitting, some TV, some reading ahhhhhh.

L is for Lawless by Sue Grafton** (audio)

In this one Kinsey gets herself involved with things she never should have gone near and the outcome is not pretty. No thank you.

New 🧵 orisons, Reba. The latest ear-read doesn't sound like it was a hit... better luck with the rest of the weekend.

Happy new one, Reba!

Happy new thread Reba!

You found a very fine topper!

Happy new thread, Reba. Great picture of your new car on your previous thread. Have you been able to drive it yet?

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Reba xx

Happy new thread, Reba!

Like you, fall is my favorite season. Sadly this year summer doesn't want to end over here.

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>10 richardderus: Indeed Richard it was not however the rest of the weekend is going well. We have tickets for the symphony this afternoon :)

>11 katiekrug:, >12 quondame: Thank you Katie and Susan

>13 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. Yes we brought it home on Thursday and did a couple of errands with it on Friday. We still have our old car too because the friends who bought it are out of town and left it with us until they return.

>14 figsfromthistle:, >15 PaulCranswick:, >16 FAMeulstee: Thank you and welcome Anita, Paul and Anita!

Happy new thread, Reba!

>18 RebaRelishesReading: I hope you had a good time at the symphony!

Symphonic sounds to replace the tedious ear-read...lucky coincidence, or crafty plan...?

Happy new one, Reba. You are zipping through the Grafton series. My next one is "I".

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>19 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene. The symphony was wonderful as always. We have a local orchestra that plays about 10 minutes from our house. It's so pleasant to go with no stress involved in travel or parking plus they're really good :)

>20 richardderus: lucky coincidence, Richard -- especially since I'm now ear-reading Remarkably Bright Creatures which is charming.

>21 BLBera: Hi Beth. Nice to know we're walking the Kinsey path together :) I skipped J is for Judgment because I wasn't able to download it even though I bought it and it shows in my "library". I have since discovered that I can get to it on my laptop so I guess I'll just do it that way. It's less portable but I often knit while I'm listening and no need to move around for that.

Little grandson and Mom were supposed to come over for a visit this morning but we just heard he's under the weather and they won't be coming. He started kindergarten this year but she was going to keep him home today anyway because the school was going to have its "first active shooter drill" this morning!!!! I can't really express how much it upsets me that in this country we won't control guns and, instead, subject 5 year-olds to "active shooter drills"!!! One of several things that make me spitting angry!!!

>23 RebaRelishesReading: I'm so glad you're enjoying Remarkably Bright Creatures! I was very, very fond of it.

Enjoy the week-ahead's reads, Reba.

>25 richardderus: Thanks Richard -- you too :)

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>24 RebaRelishesReading: Five year olds???
This leaves me speechless...

>28 FAMeulstee: Yes, his entire school which includes "kindergarten" classes which are for 5 year-olds!! Schools are now being built with high fences and gates and special locking doors -- all in an attempt to stop mass shootings at schools. Some have armed guards.

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It's been raining gently for two days now making both me and the garden very happy. Keeping my fingers crossed that this really is the beginning of fall!

*smoochiesmoochsmooch*

>2 RebaRelishesReading: I joined LT in 2007 because I wanted to catalog my library That is the same reason that I joined LT! I lucked out with the 75ers and joined the year of the group's inception, 2008.

>24 RebaRelishesReading: One of the reasons I homeschooled my girls was because of school shootings. I do not blame you at all for being spitting mad!

Happy new thread, Reba!

>32 richardderus: Good morning Richard dear :)

>33 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. I find myself shaking my head in disgust with the world more and more...which makes me feel older and older :(
LT is a bright spot though :)

>34 RebaRelishesReading: I find myself shaking my head in disgust with the world more and more...which makes me feel older and older :(

You are not alone there.

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Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt**** (audio)

Cameron is thirty and his life is a mess. He has never held a job for more than a couple of weeks and his girlfriend just kicked him out of their apartment. He heads to Modesto to visit the aunt who raised him and then heads north to a small community on Puget Sound where he meets Tova, a 70-year-old widow who works nights cleaning an aquarium where she has made friends with Marcellus, a very bright octopus. The book is the story of all three of these characters, their separate lives as well as their connections. It's a good story over-all but Marcellus is the charm that makes it a four-star read.

Went for Covid/flu shots this morning and hoped to get an RSV while I was there but they don't have it in yet. Then we stopped at TJ's where we got several things including Chicken Piccata (thank you Katie) and chicken pot pie (Hubby loves c.p.p - hope he likes this one). Also picked up some Broccoli/Kale Slaw which I love and a few other odds and ends that jumped into the cart as we passed by including a half-dozen roses for $5.99. These are tiny roses with a lot on each stem -- 45 blooms in total actually!! Final stop was Costco where we first indulged in a dog-deal lunch and then I faced the mega crowded store to pick up some sale items we use plus a rather long list of "wants" from D2 who doesn't have a membership. It now almost 3 p.m. and I'm exhausted!!

That is a very full day! I hope the chicken picatta is a winner for you. I like to make a bit of pasta on the side, tossed with some of the sauce...

>37 RebaRelishesReading: Marcellus rawks! Cute read, ain't it.

*smooch*

>38 RebaRelishesReading:
I had the same experience last Friday when I went to get my shots. I got the Flu and the Pneumonia shots, but no RSV or COVID available. They told me to call back after October 1. They MIGHT know then when it would be coming in.

>39 katiekrug: Hi Katie. I was thinking about making some mashed potatoes but pasta sounds better. I have some Amish noodles my cousin brought us when they visited -- maybe those. We have some left-over pork tenderloin that we should eat tonight so I'm planning the piñata for tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.

>40 richardderus: Hi Richard -- indeed he does and indeed it is :)

>41 benitastrnad: Hi Benita -- as shocking as it seems, Oct. 1 is only next Monday so not so far away. We got the Covid and flu (one each arm -- flu was the more sore one) and I don't need Pneumonia. Our provider will email us when they have RSV.

I'll be having a somewhat quieter day today. I signed up for a pickle ball "drill" at the gym. I haven't played since stopping lessons over a year ago and have hesitated to show up for the "open play" hours at the gym since I don't know what level of play to expect -- either from the group or from myself. I hope I haven't forgotten everything I learned.

D2 may come over today (or maybe tomorrow) to pick up her Costco order.

Otherwise it should be a quiet day. It's still raining softly most of the time and is a brisk 57/14 degrees outside right now (9:37 a.m.). I LOVE FALL!!!

Second good day in a row with Connections:

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>42 RebaRelishesReading: - I hope you enjoy the piñata ;-)

I'm getting my COVID booster tomorrow. I was going to wait to get the flu so both arms wouldn't hurt, but maybe I'll just bite the bullet and go for it...

>44 katiekrug: LOL -- didn't notice that typo Katie. Actually by the time I went to bed my arms only hurt if I actually pressed on the band aid covering the injection site -- so really no problem -- but then reactions differ. Hope you have an easy one.

>42 RebaRelishesReading: I didn't know TJs sold these ... 😂



I've served piccata with plain old spaghetti before. The pasta gets all lemony and it's delicious.

>46 lauralkeet: LOL - maybe they do in So. Cal :) Good idea! I think I'll make some pasta to go with the chicken and sauce.

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⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩Now I'm having trouble with Wordle :( least acrid peony baddy faddy waddy

A music venue in Portland is offering a program today for kids from "0-10" to explore musical instruments. Our little grandson (age 5) is totally nuts about music so we're hoping to take him today. He did end up at the doctor yesterday with an ear infection but hopefully the meds will have kicked in and he will be OK to go.

Here's the description of the event: "The Reser has partnered with local arts providers to create a day of fun, interactive musical experiences designed to empower, build community connection, and inspire creativity. The Musical Playground aims to provide an interactive and inclusive experience where children and families can create music together in a fun and carefree way. There will be a variety of music stations that will allow children of all ages to play drums, guitars, pianos, violins, and ukuleles with the support of trained instructors."

>50 RebaRelishesReading:. This looks like tons of fun, and I've heard good things about the Reser.

For Louise Penny fans who are active in their local libraries--she has written a play which can be used, royalty free, for library fund-raising purposes. She talks about it on her blog at
contact@louisepenny.com.

>51 banjo123: Hi Rhonda. The event was a success!! It was fun and quite engaging for the kids (also noisy and a bit intense but even our 5-year-old OSD kid was just fine. The Reser is really beautiful. I wish it wasn't in Beaverton (rather far for us) but we might go there for a concert sometime anyway just because it's so nice. The highlight for me was a display of classic international instruments.

"petting" the sitar


assortment of classic international instruments available for "petting"


The man who owns Backbeat Music Academy provided these instruments and was available to talk about them -- even to grandmothers (me) who were interested in them :)

What a cool event!

When my girls were preschool age, we did a weekly program/class together at a local music school. Lots of singing, movement, and props. It was so much fun.

>52 RebaRelishesReading: That's a terrific idea for an event. The sitar "petting" pose is so adorable!

>53 lauralkeet:, >54 richardderus: Hi Laura and Richard. It was fun. He is totally absorbed by music and instruments now so it was pretty much made for him but I learned some interesting things like the relationship between balalaikas and sitars (who knew?). We also saw a two-necked ukulele -- guy said it was the only one in existence.

Today being quieter I'm spending some time at my computer and trying to do the NYTimes puzzles. So far I surprised myself with Connections
Connections
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Dreams of Joy by Lisa See****1/2

When Pearl and her younger sister, May, escape from China to the U.S. about 1940 unmarried May is pregnant. Pearl raises the child, Joy, as her own and May becomes "Auntie". When Joy is 19 she finds out and then runs away from home to China, which she believes to be a socialist utopia, to find her biological father and move to the countryside to participate in this great new society. The Great Leap Forward is just beginning and things in rural China are changing as we follow Joy in her new life. Pearl travels to China to search for Joy more of the early life of Pearl and May is revealed. In the background the book reveals a great deal about China in during The Great Leap Forward. Very interesting.

Morning, Reba! Here's hoping all your reads this week are like >56 RebaRelishesReading: and >37 RebaRelishesReading:!

*smooch*

>57 richardderus: Ah, thanks Richard. Hope yours are too :)

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Rhonda's post pushed me to finally do what I'd been thinking about for a week or more ... we took the new car on its first little road trip and went apple picking. It was overcast and a bit rainy (not like the beautiful day Rhonda chose yesterday) but it was fun, we have a couple of months supply of apples and we've tested travel in the new car a bit. (Yes, I know those are pears, not apples, on the rim of the box).

We had a lovely dinner of TJ's Chicken Piccata, thank you Katie for the recommendation!! It was enhanced by adding some noodles to share the sauce with the chicken, great suggestion Laura!! This will be added to the rotation frequently.

>61 RebaRelishesReading: - Glad to hear it was good!

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Hi Reba my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend.

Hiya Reba! *smooch*

>52 RebaRelishesReading: What a great event. All of those beautiful instruments.

>60 RebaRelishesReading: What a wonderful apple harvest. I love the smell of apples.

>56 RebaRelishesReading: I am going to put that on my list. I read Island of the Sea women which was awesome but quite brutal. This one sounds like it is more of a pleasurable read.

Hope the rest of your week is fantastic!

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>64 johnsimpson:, >65 richardderus: Thank you John and Richards! Wishing you each a fine day:)

>66 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita. This one is very good but the life in a rural village in China during The Great Leap Forward isn't easy to read about.

We picked the same amount of apples last year and they lasted us until the end of the year. It's cool and rainy this morning (although supposed to warm up) so I may bake a couple of the Granny Smith's for dessert tonight.

Well, I was over here happily replying to your posts and LT evidently at my post.

I am glad that you liked Remarkably Bright Creatures and that it worked well on audio for you.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Apple picking! How fun.
And I'm glad you enjoyed the chicken piñata LOL!

Hi Stasia -- hope you had a great Wednesday too!

Hi Laura -- we've gone apple picking at the same orchard every year we've been here (this is the third already!). I ate the first of this year's Honey Crisp at lunch and it was wonderful.

Elephant Company by Vicki Constantine Croke*****

I listened to the audio book in 2017 and loved every minute of it. My RL bookclub selected it for this month which prompted me to do a reread, this time a paper copy, and I still love it. It's the story of James Williams who is "demobbed" from the British army after WWI and, in 1920, goes to work for a teak logging company in Burma. He loves the jungle and elephants and becomes an expert in both. When the Japanese start invading Burma in WWII he is tasked with establishing an "elephant army" and ends leading a large group of elephants, their drivers, and civilian refugees through the jungle to safety in India. This is a wonderful adventure story and a most interesting lesson about elephants.

Hi Reba, happy newish thread! Elephant Company sounds like something my husband would like, so thanks for the rec. And I'm glad to see Remarkably Bright Creatures worked for you!

I got both the flu and covid shots last week, too, and it was the covid arm that ached for a day or two.

I'm heading to TJs this week and I haven't bought the chicken piccata in a few months. Thanks for the reminder - it's so good!

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>73 Copperskye: Hi Joanne! Nice to see you. I think my husband would like Elephant Company except the print in my paper copy is on the small side so he may have trouble reading it.

You can thank Katie for the chicken piccata reminder since I learned about it from her. It really is good, isn't it? I love their broccoli/kale slaw kit so that's what we had with it for a veg. Good, easy meal.

I've decided to start the Thursday Murder Club series this afternoon. I have a massage appointment at 1 (much needed after the tree trimming yesterday) and a good mystery sounds like the perfect way to complete the afternoon. We can barely get the fridge door closed what with apples, half a watermelon and a lot of left-overs, so dinner will definitely be the latter :)

>60 RebaRelishesReading: Looks like you got a great haul of apples! It must have been fun to take the new car out.

>72 RebaRelishesReading: Completely unknown story to me, and exactly the kind of history I love best...off to procure...drat you! *smooch*

>77 atozgrl: Hi Irene -- nice to see you. Yes, it was fun to give it a real try-out. It did very well but takes a very long time to recharge on 110. No big problem, however, since there are plenty of 220 charging stations around.

>78 richardderus: Ah, Richard, it's only fair given the number of bullets you've given me recently. :)

I just had a massage that seems to have solved my back-pain-from-pruning problem but I remembered too late that it isn't a good idea to have a massage on a full-stomach and ate lunch just before I left -- feeling a bit sicky at the moment :(

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Puzzle #117
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Wordle 839 4/6

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>72 RebaRelishesReading: Oh, that one sounds very good! Into the BlackHole it goes!

>76 RebaRelishesReading: I hope you enjoy the Thursday Murder Club books, Reba. I am starting the (currently) last one in the series today.

Have a wonderful weekend!

>81 RebaRelishesReading: Good morning, Stasia. Glad Elephant Company appeals to you. I think you'll enjoy it. Adventure, history, enjoyable characters, great animals...

I'm about 1/3 through the first TMC and enjoying it

Hope you have a good weekend too :)

>72 RebaRelishesReading:
That was a BB for me as well.

I started a sweater knitting class that meets on Thursday's and we are well into the stitching at this point. (It's a top down sweater) and so I have been listening to lots of books while I am sitting and knitting. I am also indulging in some binge watching of TV series and movies from the local library collection. I said that retirement was going to be all about me taking the time to do some things that I have not done because I didn't have time. This class is one of them. It is a Fair Isle sweater and top down thing plus the Fair Isle are the new techniques I am learning. I am doing lots of ripping out stitches at this stage, and I am watching lots of instruction videos online, but it has been fun so far. I just wish it wasn't so far to drive for the class. It is in Gadsden, Alabama and it is 120 miles from Tuscaloosa. But, since I am not doing any other traveling at the moment the class is counting for my travel.

Wow!! That's a long way to drive for a knitting class!! I fully understand the pleasure you're getting from knitting though. I knit mostly to donate and recently have found a top-down pattern for a baby cardigan that is a pleasure to knit and comes out very well. Made four of those and then went back to use some yarn I had for a little blanket. I alternate between audio books and fun TV when I knit.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Canadian friends :)

Happy Thanksgiving, Canadian friends.

>87 richardderus: OK -- that woke me up!! LOL.

Connections
Puzzle #118
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Wordle 840 4/6

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>83 RebaRelishesReading: My local library actually has a copy of Elephant Company so that is good too!

Have a wonderful weekend, Reba!

>90 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia -- you too.

I've been running errands for the last 4 1/2 hours (well, that long including a nice lunch out) and I'm really tired!! One thing I did was try to find a new source for bulk tea and I failed at that. I've been so happy with my local tea store for a couple of years now but it went to on-line a few months ago and now has been sold and the new owner tells me she isn't licensed to sell yet (license? to sell tea? who knew?). I guess I'll see what else I can find on-line ... Anyway, it's nice to be back in my nice air-conditioned house (it's 83/28 outside 😝) and we have lots of left overs for dinner so I hope I may get to finish TMC #1.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman***

Hmmm...well not my favorite murder series so far but perhaps I'll like them better as I go along. It seemed to me to wander about a lot, provided a lot of alternative solutions and I ended up not sure who had committed which murder, or when, or why. Interesting main characters though and I will continue reading and see how it goes.

Connections
Puzzle #119
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Wordle 841 3/6

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Good luck finding the bulk teas! It's kind of frustrating, these days, how often one has to order on-line rather than going to brick and mortar stores.

I am blessed with a GREAT!!!! tea house. It is also my local yarn shop. It is Taming of the Ewe in Gadsden, Alabama. It is a yarn and tea shop. One side of the store is yarn and one side is tea. She sells tea from three different tea suppliers. Harney & Sons, Simpson & Vail, and Allegro Tea. They also sell local honey gathered by the owners husband, who is a bee keeper. Not only can I learn how to knit a Fair Isle sweater from the top down, I can do so while drinking the tea of my choice. It is just a splendid place. It is local and just a great place to purchase yarn and tea. I am so lucky.

>96 benitastrnad: What a fabulous resource that shop is!

I spent a great day yesterday with my friend Sharon. The one who owned the house in Lakewood. She is feeling so much better after her bout with breast cancer. The radiation treatments caused some heart problems for her, something about the positioning of the tumor caused radiation damage to her heart, but she is feeling much more like her old self. We talked about her house in New York, and how much she loved that house and being up there. I suspect that she is beginning to regret selling it, but she and I talked about trying to find a place for next summer for two weeks in the area. I would love to take her back.

>93 RebaRelishesReading: Oh well, we can't all like the same things can we? Although now that I think about it, it's the main characters, not the crime-solving, that keep me coming back.

>93 RebaRelishesReading: We had the same response to the read, Reba, but I decided just to abandon ship on the others. Still and all, Osman can make a funny sentence like there's no tomorrow, can't he?

Lovely week-ahead's reads!

Wordle 842 4/6

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Connections
Puzzle #120
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Well, that's a nice start to the day :)

>95 banjo123: Hi Rhonda. My local brick & mortar tea store went on-line about a year ago due to radically increased rent. It was still personal though because I knew him but I also knew that he was sick (multiple myeloma -- and a young guy too -- so sad!!!). I've foolishly let my stash get quite low so...yep...I'm now looking for something new on-line. Years back I bought from Mighty Leaf because I knew them as a start-up when I worked in Sausalito. They kept growing and moving and finally sold to Peet's who made a mess of it and now offers very little in the way of tea :(
Gripe, gripe, poor me

>96 benitastrnad: That sounds lovely Benita.

Glad to hear Sharon is doing better and hope you get a chance to go back to NY with her.

>99 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. >100 richardderus: Hi Richard. This is only one of the four (and I have them all) so I'll keep on. I may takes notes in the next one so I may be able to keep things straight. Indeed the main characters are fun and just finding out what Elizabeth did in her working life may keep me reading lol.

The Words That Remain by Stenio Gardel****1/2

Raimundo is growing up in rural Brazil when he discovers love with a neighbor boy, Cicero. As their families are tearing them apart, Cicero smuggles a letter to Raimundo. A letter he cannot read because he was required to work on the farm rather than go to school. He escapes his father's beatings and his mother's rejection and makes a life in the big city doing physical labor and keeping his true self hidden, never able to read the letter or know what happened to Cicero, until he is invited to join a senior literacy class.

This heart-breaking little book is beautifully written, heart-breaking and wonderful.

Thank you, Richard.

>103 RebaRelishesReading: I'm so very glad it was a successful read for you, Reba. It's a lovely artifact of how little people matter to others and how cruel that makes them. Such a wise book, and Gardel so young (43 feels young to me) to get it so fully...this awful human tragedy that turns into a love-letter to Love.

>102 RebaRelishesReading: I felt much the same way about the two Thursday Murder Club books that I read, Reba. I still might read #3 at some point. They were quick reads which is sometimes just what I need.

I’m glad you are enjoying Ruby’s company these days. I think red cars are the stars of the highways. I had two in a row, so got a silver Cadillac SUV two years ago. I still have trouble finding it in large parking lots! Haha. Her name is Pearl.

Elephant Company sounds good. I think my dad, who loves reading history, would like this one.

>104 richardderus: It was just lovely, Richard. (and 43 is younger than any of our children or their partners -- feels very young to me).

>105 Donna828: Hi Donna. My son, however, warned me to be careful of the speed limit in a red car (and I've heard that from others) -- I'll try but my foot gets a bit heavy at times. Pearl sound like the perfect name for a silver car (and I've had a couple of them -- none ever named Pearl though)

>106 BLBera: Hi Beth. Elephant Company was a hit with everyone in my bookclub yesterday. It's great for people who like history and for those who like animals both. I like both :)

I have let the laundry pile up for two weeks (YIKES!!) so I'm going to be paying the price today. About to leave for "seated yoga", however, so there will be a short break. Otherwise it's a cozy, rainy day today so I'm hoping to find some time to settle into a favorite chair with a book...yet to be selected.

>93 RebaRelishesReading: I will agree that the first book in the series is the weakest. I think you will enjoy the books more as you go along. I am glad to see that you are at least willing to give them a try.

>103 RebaRelishesReading: Not a book for me, I fear, after much discussion on Richard's thread.

>109 alcottacre: I may start the second one when I finish here. It's 2:00 p.m. and I still have some "stuff" to do at my desk, plus a HUGE laundry underway so I nice, simple book would fit in the cracks of the afternoon I think.

>108 RebaRelishesReading: I hope all laundy is done by now, Reba.
And that you got some nice reading time in your favorite chair :-)

>111 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. The last load is still in the dryer but I did make some progress in a new book. I decided to try the second Thursday Murder book and, so far, I'm liking it better than the first -- so that was nice.

Connections
Puzzle #122
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Wordle 844 5/6

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Puzzle #123
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Wordle 845 4/6

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>110 RebaRelishesReading: nice, simple book would fit in the cracks of the afternoon I think. Sounds like it! I hope you got a chance to at least start on it.

Connections
Puzzle #124
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Wordle 846 4/6

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>115 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! Yes, it fit the cracks in my afternoon just fine and I like this second one much better than the first :) I made great progress and hope to finish it today although we've talked about a road trip to (1) learn more about traveling in an EV and (2) buy some tea. We'll see what the day brings once Hubby appears out of the bedroom :)

Good to see that you like the second book in the Thursday Murder Club series better, Reba. It's the characters who make the books for me as well. I like that authors have started writing about older characters with agency.

Sunrise in Vancouver, WA - looking SE toward Mt. Hood, Oregon.

Thanks for stopping by, Meg. I did not get back to the book yesterday because our little road trip became a day-long adventure. We stopped at a casino 10 miles or so north of us to get a little extra charge and learn about using public chargers then went on to Gig Harbor where we found a place near the waterfront to have lunch and get a little additional charge into the car. After that we found the tea shop I had seen on-line (Everything Tea) which was everything my heart desires in a tea shop. The walls of the largish shop were lined with shelves holding maybe 200? jars of different kinds of tea. I had my glass jars with me and selected the teas I wanted to have them filled with. Jars were filled, I paid and we headed back home. There was a bad accident on the highway which had us creeping along for about an hour so we were worried about having enough charge to get home. We stopped at the casino again but only one charger was available and it didn't seem to be working properly. We went inside and had a little walk around, ate an ice cream sandwich for dinner and then headed on home with our charge level showing a warning orange. Made it safely though and the car has been charging all night. On our 110v home charge it estimated we would have a complete charge by 6 a.m. Monday -- we've decided to take it to a fast charger here in town today to fill faster. Having an EV is certainly a learning experience -- a fun one but there is definitely a learning curve.

>119 RebaRelishesReading: What a beautiful picture, Reba!

Your little road trip sounds good, although charging the car on the way was a challenge. Could you install a fast charger at home?

>120 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita. We could install a faster charger at home (one that uses 220v rather than 110v) but for our normal usage that isn't necessary and when we're on the road we aren't here to charge with it :) so...we're learning about public chargers. We joined one that we used yesterday. Their chargers are 220v and it was faster than at home, but would have taken all night to recharge at the end of our trip. Today we signed up for a second provider who has 150 KW ones (I could have recharged in a few hours on that) and some 350 KW ones (haven't found one of those to try yet). Either of the ones provided by the second company would be much better than we were using yesterday. It's a learning process which is both fun and somewhat challenging :)

Connections
Puzzle #125
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Wordle 847 3/6

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The tea shop sounds absolutely wonderful, Reba, and it sounds like your supply will last a while. I'm so glad you found it!

Your experiences with car charging are interesting. We have been waffling about what sort of car to get when we replace our 2015 Prius v. It has less than 70K miles on it and runs well so we're in no hurry, but we're idly watching developments in electric cars.

>123 lauralkeet: It is an interesting journey, Laura. I'll try to keep reporting but should also include the warm feeling we get when we pass by gas stations. That feeling will be magnified soon when we're using solar generated electricity to charge at home :)

The tea shop was wonderful -- almost made me want to move to Gig Harbor (not quite though lol). I'm having my first cup of black current this morning -- very tasty. My two jars should last me a couple of months. I wish I had known how wonderful it was going to be because I would have emptied my other two tea jars into something else and filled them too :)

Connections
Puzzle #126
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Wordle 848 3/6

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The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman***1/2

I'm not sorry I decided to read on as I enjoyed this book more than the first one, perhaps in part because I was getting to know the main characters better. Paragraphs like this one also made me smile and helped me warm to the series. Donna kneels and switches on the light. Joyce thinks about kneeling but, really, kneeling over the age of sixty-five is a pipe dream, so she sits on the step above instead. Elizabeth kneels. Is there nothing she can't do?quote>

>124 RebaRelishesReading: If I were to buy a car now (not in the plans!), I think I would look at hybrids rather than fully electric cars. I'm a bit twitchy about not being able to find a charging station when I need one, especially as it takes some time, at least, to recharge the battery.

But I don't propose to buy anything. If I rent a car, and I might from time to time, it will probably be a conventional or hybrid.

>127 ffortsa: Hi Judy. Living in NYC I doubt you drive all that much plus train service along the east coast is pretty good. We could do with a hybrid for our local stuff (and Hubby wanted a hybrid at first) but for any kind of distance travel (apple picking, tea buying, etc. lol) we would be running on gasoline most of the time anyway. With all of the good info I got here on LT I convinced hubby we could do full EV and now we're learning how to handle the charging needs. I'm confident we can drive to San Diego with no big problem. There are a lot of charging stations along the way, many of them fast ones. We don't like to drive more than about 350 miles a day anyway so if we leave home full, stop for lunch where we can charge fast and then have an overnight charge at the hotel (many have charging stations now and you can reserve your spot) we'll be fine. I would not try to drive across the middle of the country, however, because there are big blank spaces with no charging spots there but in the coastal areas there are plenty. It's mostly a question of planning ahead it seems (and that's my thing both by training and by character).

Wordle 849 5/6

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Not only did I have a hard time with Wordle today, I didn't even get close to solving Connections -- not my day!! (although I did do the big crossword with no great difficulty - whew!)

>128 RebaRelishesReading: I did see my first charging station in Kansas yesterday. It was at the Love's Rest Area on Interstate 70 between Lawrence and Topeka, KS. Of course, that is close to major urban areas. Kansas City is 30 miles from Lawrence. Lawrence is a bedroom community for K. C. and that rest stop in between Lawrence and Topeka (the state capital). I didn't look to see if they were public charging stations or if they were part of the Love's station.

>130 benitastrnad: If they were at a Love's I'm sure they were public -- as in you can "join" (i.e. give them your name and credit card number) and charge there. As far as I know the only "non-public" ones (besides ones at home) are those on business property for the sole use of charging their pool cars. If you but "EV charging stations" into the place on your GPS where you would enter an address you're looking for you will get a screen that shows all of the public stations, how many positions they have and what level they can charge at. It's interesting to do that on a bigger screen where you can see the huge voids in the middle.

Oksana Behave! by Maria Kuznetsova**** (audio)

The charming life-story of a woman born in Ukraine and brought to the U.S. by her parents at age 7. Ms. Kuznetsova has created a cheeky, bright character who does, indeed, often need to be told to behave. A fun read well read. (thanks to Katie for the recommendation)

Connections
Puzzle #128
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Wordle 850 4/6

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Connections
Puzzle #129
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Wordle 851 5/6

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Happy midweek day, Reba! *smooch*