Berly Turns the Page #5

É uma continuação do tópico Berly Turns the Page #4.

Este tópico foi continuado por Berly Turns the Page #6.

Discussão75 Books Challenge for 2021

Entre no LibraryThing para poder publicar.

Berly Turns the Page #5

1Berly
Editado: Jul 31, 2021, 3:49 pm



The heat wave continues here in the NW. Quite frankly, I am missing the rain!! LOL

2Berly
Editado: Set 22, 2021, 3:06 pm



So many choices!! What should I read?

Reading Now
L Troubled Blood (K 945 pages) by Robert Galbraith
@ How to Give Up Plastic (B 212 pages) by Will McCallum
@ Thermodynamics: Four Laws That Move The Universe
(🎧 12.5 hours) Great Courses

Next
The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead
Hummingbird Salamander (B 357 pages) by Jeff VanderMeer
Oct --Tales of Terror and Madness (B 429 pages) by Edgar Allan Poe
Oct--Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch (B 275 pages) by Rivka Galchen, IR #92
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi with ffortsa/Judy ??
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett with Vikzen ??

3Berly
Editado: Set 22, 2021, 3:06 pm






Read in September ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
2021 Total // pages / ?? hours

57. @ Elon Musk (K 399 pages) by Ashlee Vance 3.0
56. The Butterfly Lampshade (B 284 pages) by Aimee Bender 4.0
55. Moranthology (🎧8.5 hours) by Catlin Moran read by Helen Monks 3.75
❤️ @ Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy (B 258 pages) with Ellen 5.0
53. @ The President's Daughter (B pages) by Pres. Bill Clinton and James Patterson 3.75
52. @ The Pact (🎧 17 hours) by Jodi Piccoult read by George Guidall 3.5
51. @ Becoming Nicole: The inspiring story of transgender actor-activist Nicole Maines and her extraordinary family (B 297 pages) by Amy Ellis Nutt 4.0

Read in August ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
2021 Total // pages / ?? hours
50. ✔ Beautiful World, Where Are You (B 15 pages, sample) by Sally Rooney
49. ✔ The Book of Delights (B 140/274 pages) by Ross Gay ✗
48. @ A Good Day for Chardonnay (🎧 12 hours) by Darynda Jones, read by Lorelei King 4.0
❤️ @ A Bad Day for Sunshine (🎧 12 hours) by Darynda Jones, read by Lorelei King 4.5
❤️ @ Outland (🎧10.5 hours) by Dennis E Taylor 4.5
45. @ When We Believed in Mermaids (K 348 page) by Barbara O'Neal 4.0
44. @ The Lost Apothecary (B 300 pages) by Sarah Penner 4.0

Read in July ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
2021 Total // pages / ?? hours
43. @ Gold Diggers (B 344 pages) by Sanjena Sathian 3.0
42. @ I Have Always Been Me (K 250 pages) by Precious Brady-Davis 3.5
41. @ The Magic of Found Objects (K 362 pages) by Maddie Dawson 2.75
40. @ One Two Three by Laurie Frankel 3.5
❤️ ✔ Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent (B 395 pages) by Isabel Wilkerson 4.5
38. @ Hadley and Grace (K 344 pages) 3.75 by Suzanne Redfearn
37. ✔ Black Coral (K 317 pages) by Andrew Mayne 3.75
36. @ I Thought You Said This Would Work (K 301 pages) by Ann Wertz Garvin 4.0
35. ✔ In Bad Company (K 485 pages) by Viveca Sten 3.5

Ratings
❤️ Favorite(s) of the month
Loved it! 5.0
Really Good 4.0
Good 3.0
Hmmmm 2.0
Don't Bother 1.0

Source
IR = Indiespensable Readers
LT = LibraryThing Early Reviewer
✔ = Off the shelf (not acquired this year)
L = Library
↩ = Reread
@ = Acquired this year
✗ = DNF

Media
B = Printed Book
🎧 = Audio
K = Kindle
= Graphic Novel

4Berly
Editado: Jul 31, 2021, 3:19 pm

Read in June ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
2021 Total // pages / ?? hours
34. L Sweep with Me (146 pages) by Ilona Andrews 3.5
33. L Sweep of the Blade (322 pages) by Ilona Andrews 3.5
32. L One Fell Sweep (K 340 pages) by Ilona Andrews 3.5
31. L Sweep in Peace (K 315 pages) by Ilona Andrews 3.75
30. ✔ Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews 3.5
29. @ In the Puma Years: A Memoir (K 298 pages) by Laura Coleman 3.75
28. @ The Immune Mystery: A Doctor's Impassioned Quest to Solve the Puzzle of Autoimmune Disease by Anita Kass 4.0
❤️ ✔ Voyagers (B 414 pages) by Robert Silverberg ARC 4.5

Read in May 763 pages / 4 🎧 hours
2021 Total // 5,733 pages / 55 hours
26. @ Billie Eilish (🎧 2.0 hours) by Billie Eilish 3.5
❤️ @ Klara and the Sun (B 303 pages) by Kazuo Ishiguro, RL Bookclub 4.5
24. @ I'm Not Dying With You Tonight (2 of 🎧 5.5 hours) by Kimberly Jones - ✗
23. @ Special Circumstances (K 460 pages) by Sheldon Siegel with my Dad 3.0

Read in April 0 pages / 23 🎧 hours
2021 Total // 4,970 pages / 51 hours
❤️ @ Later (🎧 6.5 hours) by Stephen King 4.5
22. @ Beginner's Mind (🎧 1.5 hours) by Yo-Yo Ma 4.0
21. @ Between Two Kingdoms (🎧 13 hours) by Suleika Jaouad 4.0
20. @ Sleeping Dogs Lie (🎧 2 hours) by Samantha Downing 3.75

5Berly
Editado: Jul 31, 2021, 3:25 pm

Read in March 1,495 pages / 3 🎧 hours
2021 Total // 4,970 pages / 28 hours
19. ✔ In the Name of Truth (K 459 pagers) by Viveca Sten 3.5
❤️ @ Anxious People (K 349 pages) by Fredrik Backman, RL Bookclub 4.5
17. ✔ The Sandman (🎧 3 of 8.5 hours) by Neil Gaiman ✗
16. @ IR Leave the World Behind (B 256 pages) by Rumaan Alam 4.0
15. @ In the Woods (B 431 pages) by Tana French 4.0

Read in February 1,802 pages / 25 🎧 hours
2021 Total // 3,475 pages / 50 hours
❤️ @ Untamed: The Wildest Woman in America and the Fight for Cumberland Island (B 310 pages) by Will Harlan 5.0
14. @ The Book of Delights (B 141/274 pages) by Ross Gay ✗
13. @ The Cipher (K 325 pages) by Isabella Maldonado 3.75
12. ✔ IR Did You Ever Have a Family (B 295 pages) by Bill Clegg IR #55 with Paul 4.0
11. ✔ In the Shadow of Power (K 393 pages) Book #7 by Viveca Sten 3.5
10. ✔ In Search of Black History (🎧 5.5 hours) by Bonnie Greer 3.75
9. @ Dead Heat (B 338 pages) by Patricia Briggs 3.5

Read in January 1,673 pages / 25 🎧 hours
8. @ Keep Sharp (🎧 8 hrs) by Sanjay Gupta 4.0
7. @ The Viscount Who Loved Me (K 344 pages) by Julia Quinn 3.75
6. ✔ Squeeze Me (B 336 pages) by Carl Hiaasen 4.0
5. @ Banker (K 323 pages) by Dick Francis 3.5
4. ✔ Heaven's River (🎧 17 hrs) Bobiverse #4 by Dennis Taylor 3.75
❤️ @ Themes and Variations (K 17 pages) Essay by David Sedaris 4.0
2. ↩ Jazz (K 244 pages) by Toni Morrison 3.0
❤️ ✔ Girl Waits With Gun (B 409 pages) by Amy Stewart 4.25

6Berly
Editado: Jul 31, 2021, 3:25 pm



Catalogued shelves -- I am determined to finish this in 2021 and I am off to a good start.

1/5 -- I am now in the M's.
1/25 -- In the N's.
3/19 -- In the P's.
3/22 -- In the R's
3/25 -- In the S's.
4/19 -- More S's.



Books Freed = 0
Powell's isn't open for drop-offs....although I do have a bag waiting to go and I just found out I can enter them by ISBN and see if they are willing to take them. Another project!!! : )

7Berly
Editado: Set 9, 2021, 9:40 pm



RL Book Club #1
✅ February - News of the World by Paulette Jiles
✅ April - Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
✅ June - Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
✅ August - The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
October - The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead

RL Book Club #2
✅ February - Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
✅ June - Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
✅ September - Becoming Nicole: The inspiring story of transgender actor-activist Nicole Maines and her extraordinary family by Amy Ellis Nutt
October -
November -

Literary Arts 2021-2022
October 2021 -- Daniel James Brown Facing the Mountain
January 27, 2022 -- Cathy Park Hong Minor Feelings
February 17, 2022 -- Britt Bennet The Vanishing Half
April 21, 2022 -- Richard Powers The Overstory (have it) & Bewilderment (free copy from LA later in the year)
May 12, 2022 -- Edwidge Danticat Everything Inside

8Berly
Editado: Ago 6, 2021, 12:21 pm



Powell's Indiespensable Readers Challenge

Hubby signed me up for this (Thank you!!). Over the years I have received over 90 installments (some with two books), and I haven't read all the books yet. Not even close! In an effort to catch up -- I want to read 8 this year. The complete list (such as it is) can be found here:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/301060#

Done
1. Did You Ever Have A Family by Bill Clegg
2. Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
3. Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian
4. Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen--reading
5.
6.
7.
8.

9Berly
Editado: Set 22, 2021, 3:05 pm



I can't resist buying books!!

I seem to manage to read around 50% of my newbies, except in 2019 where I (ahem) added a few more books to my collection than normal. But then in 2020 I killed it and read almost 75% of my newbies!!

2017 47/85
2018 45/88
2019 45/128
2020 75/103

Let's see how I do this year...

2021 34/72 Read

Keep Sharp by Sanja Gupta MD
2. Paradise by Toni Morrison
Themes and Variations: An Essay by David Sedaris *
Hadley and Grace by Suzanne Redfearn *
5. Cold Earth by Sarah Moss (Thank you TwinB!) *
6. The Liar's Dictionary by Eley Williams
The Book of Delights by Ross Gay - DNF
8. Effie by Suzanne Fagence Cooper (Thank you Whisper1!) *
9. Infinite by Brian Freeman *
Voyagers by Robert Silverberg * ARC
The Cipher by Isabella Maldonado
12. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates
Untamed: The Wildest Woman in America and the Fight for Cumberland Island by Will Harlan
14. In the Woods by Tana French
In Bad Company by Viveca Sten
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
19. The Light Through the Leaves by Glendy Vanderah *
20. My Year Abroad by Chang-Rae Lee * IR # 90 (Thank you Hubby!)
21. Hummingbird Salamander by Jeff VanderMeer
Beginner's Mind by Yo-Yo Ma *
Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad *
Sleeping Dogs Lie by Samantha Downing *
Billie Eilish by Billie Eilish 3.5
I'm Not Dying With You Tonight by Kimberly Jones
Special Circumstances by Sheldon Siegel with my Dad 3.0
Later by Stephen King
Beginner's Mind by Yo-Yo Ma *
Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian * IR #91
31. The Murmer of Bees by Sofia Segovia
The Immune Mystery by Anita Kass *
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
✅ The Puma Years:A Memoir by Laura Coleman
The Pact by Jodi Piccoult *
36. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier *
37. Shelter by Harlan Coben *
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters *
39. A Burning by Megha Majumdar * Thank you Mark!
40. The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich * Mark again!
41. Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen * IR #92
42. Love Like That by Emma Duffy-Comparone * IR #92
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney * IR #92
44. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
The Magic of Found Objects by Maddie Daws *
I Have Always Been Me by Precious Brady-Davis *
47. Mr Rochester's Ghost by Lindsay Marcott
When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O'Neil *
Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance
A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones
A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones
Outland by Dennis E. Taylor
53. These Toxic Things: A Thriller by Hall Rachel Howzell *
54. Perfect Little World: A Novel by Kevin Wilson
55. What Strange Paradise: A novel by Omar El Akkad * IR #93
56. The Thirty Names of Night: A Novel by Zeyn Joukhadar
57. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous: A Novel by Ocean Vuong
58. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
59. In Our Time by Hemingway
The Butterfly Lampshade: A Novel by Aimee Bender
61. Doc: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy with Ellen
63. The Midnight Library: A Novel by Matt Haig with Ellen
64. Second Place: A Novel by Rachel Cusk with Ellen
The President's Daughter by Pres. Bill Clinton and James Patterson
Becoming Nicole: The inspiring story of transgender actor-activist Nicole Maines and her extraordinary family by Amy Ellis Nutt
67. The Barefoot Summer by Carolyn Brown
68. Thermodynamics: Four Laws That Move the Universe by Jeffrey Grossman *
69. How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum
70. Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
71. Still Lives: A Novel by Maria Hummel
72. Daughter of the Morning Star by Craig Johnson *

* Free or gift

10Berly
Editado: Jul 31, 2021, 3:31 pm



Favorites from 2020
Fiction
Miss Suzy by Miriam Young (Childhood Favorite)
The Night Before Christmas by Jan Brett (Christmas Tradition)
The Institute by Stephen King
There, There by Tommy Orange
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

Non-Fiction
I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell
How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi
Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald
Still Life with Oysters and Lemon by Mark Doty
Liquid: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances That Flow Through Our Lives by Mark Miodownik

11Berly
Editado: Set 12, 2021, 11:56 pm



I am going to try and keep track of series I am currently enjoying here:

Series/Author/Next Book
Bobiverse / Dennis E. Taylor / #5 not yet published
Quantum Earth / Dennis E. Taylor / #2 not yet published
Bridgerton / Julia Quinn / #3 An Offer From A Gentleman
The Chronicles of St Mary's / Jodi Taylor / #6 What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Cormoran Strike Series / Robert Galbraith / #5 Troubled Blood
Kinsey Millhone Mystery Series / Sue Grafton / Read ABCDEFQX / Next G is for
Kopp Series / Amy Stewart / #2 Lady Cop Makes Trouble
Sandham Murders / Viveca Sten / #10 Buried in Secret / release date Jan 2022
Sweep Series / Ilona Andrews / #6 not yet published
Sunshine Vicram / Darynda Jones / #3 not yet published

12Berly
Editado: Jul 31, 2021, 3:37 pm

13quondame
Jul 31, 2021, 3:33 pm

Happy new thread!

(This seemed a traditional first outsider spot)

14Berly
Jul 31, 2021, 3:39 pm

Hello! How about a nice bouquet as a thank you for starting off my thread so quickly? : )

15BLBera
Jul 31, 2021, 3:57 pm

Happy new one, TwinK! I hope you are feeling better and the weather is cooling off. It has been hot here as well, although nothing like Portland!

16Berly
Jul 31, 2021, 4:05 pm

So, I finally beat the infection, but I had it so long it kinda wore me out. I was starting to feel better and I had returned to TKD to get back in shape when I was asked to be an assistant instructor in TKD again (I used to do it years ago, but quit to have more time with my kids in high school). I love being a Jogyo Nim! It was going great until Monday when I was leading stretching at the beginning of class and, for no good reason, my hip popped out. Ouch!! So now I am limping around in the hot weather we are having. I am grumpy, to say the least. Will have to try to schedule PT next week and I am out of TKD for the foreseeable future. Grumble. Grumble. On the bright side, maybe I will have more time to be on LT! : )

17Berly
Jul 31, 2021, 4:06 pm

>15 BLBera: Well, I was feeling better and then...read >16 Berly:. Got your postcard! Thank you so much for the well wishes. And the Scout story. LOL. We have 5 more days of 90-degree weather and my AC is still not fixed. Argh. Not the Portland weather I remember when we moved here 25 years ago!!

18BLBera
Editado: Jul 31, 2021, 4:10 pm

Glad you're feeling better, relatively speaking. ;)

Yes, Scout is quite the character.

Boo to broken AC. I don't have AC because for years, we never had more than a handful of days in the 90s. That has changed, so I think next spring, I am going to get it.

19Berly
Jul 31, 2021, 4:11 pm

>18 BLBera: Yeah, now I am thinking that AC is a necessity out here. Phew!

20quondame
Jul 31, 2021, 4:14 pm

>14 Berly: Ooo! I love Gerbera daisies!

21msf59
Jul 31, 2021, 5:30 pm

Happy Saturday, Kim. Happy New Thread. Good to see you posting. As usual we have missed you. Sorry, to hear about the continuing heat. I sure hope you get a break. Let me know when you plan to start State of Wonder. I have been meaning to read that one for ages.

22charl08
Jul 31, 2021, 6:17 pm

Sending you some cool drizzle from the UK. Well, I would if I could. Happy new thread anyway...

23drneutron
Jul 31, 2021, 6:36 pm

Happy new one!

24lauralkeet
Jul 31, 2021, 6:52 pm

It's nice to hear from you again, Kim. I'm glad you beat the infection but oh man, that hip thing is a drag. I hope PT helps accelerate your recovery.

25richardderus
Jul 31, 2021, 7:00 pm

>16 Berly: Oh ICK. I will say it this one time, then allow it to subside: This close to sixty, one needs to be a very great deal more aware of *not*pushing*limits* because, at this point, they push back really really hard.

Love, hugs, smooches

26LovingLit
Jul 31, 2021, 8:01 pm

Yikes- your hip popped out??! Sounds horrendous. I hope you can get about OK, and that it heals up quickly. (And that the weather cools!)

27PaulCranswick
Jul 31, 2021, 8:15 pm

Great to see you back with a new thread, Kimmers!

>16 Berly: Ouch!! I do feel my hip too these days - especially hearing tales like that one. Hope you get back to normal soon.

28Berly
Editado: Jul 31, 2021, 9:28 pm

>20 quondame: Yay!! : )

>21 msf59: Hello, Warbler!! I have added your name up above next to State of Wonder so I can give you a heads up when I get to it.

I thought of you last week on a walk. Look whoooo I saw.....



We saw three of them!

29Berly
Jul 31, 2021, 9:08 pm

>22 charl08: I would take that cool drizzle in a heartbeat!! It's the thought that counts though, so we are all good. Thanks!

>23 drneutron: Thank you! Hope I am a frequent visitor. ; )

>24 lauralkeet: I swear, if it's not one thing it's another! LOL. Thank you for the good wishes. I will survive!!

30Berly
Jul 31, 2021, 9:15 pm

>25 richardderus: I get that!! But I wasn't even pushing hard! And that's my beef. Not even a good knock-out story or anything. Just stretching. Sigh.

>26 LovingLit: Yes, I now have a nice bruise forming on the back of my thigh from internal bleeding. Very attractive. NOT! And I have to keep reminding myself not to limp, because that will just throw off my other leg or back or something and I don't want that! LOL

>27 PaulCranswick: My primary provider can't get me into PT until September, so I am hoping to get a referral to the second tier of healthcare. It will cost me more but I think waiting a whole month is a really bad idea.

As always, a pleasure to see you. And I wish you happy hips. : )

31figsfromthistle
Jul 31, 2021, 9:19 pm

Happy new one!

32Berly
Jul 31, 2021, 9:28 pm

>30 Berly: Thank you!! Happy weekend. : )

33EBT1002
Jul 31, 2021, 11:21 pm

>1 Berly: I am desperate for rain!!!!!

>16 Berly: I am so very sorry. It just feels like you cannot catch a break!

I miss you and hope we can connect soon, my friend....

34Oregonreader
Jul 31, 2021, 11:32 pm

So sorry to hear about your hip. That sounds really painful. Therapy sounds like the way to go.
Wishing you well and cooler weather.

35SirThomas
Ago 1, 2021, 3:19 am

Happy new thread, Kim.
Good to see you back - I hope you will be able to exercise pain free in cool temperatures soon.
I wish you a wonderful Sunday and hope you can enjoy the day a bit.

36FAMeulstee
Ago 1, 2021, 4:53 am

Happy new thread, Kim!

Glad to hear from you, sorry about your hip :-(

37Caroline_McElwee
Ago 1, 2021, 5:43 am

>28 Berly: Amazing. I'm very green, and three. Lucky you Kim.

38karenmarie
Ago 1, 2021, 9:47 am

Hi Kim, and happy new thread!

>30 Berly: September? Not good. I hope you can get in sooner somewhere else. More money isn’t fun, but more pain is worse.

39RebaRelishesReading
Ago 1, 2021, 9:59 am

Happy new thread, Kim! So sorry to hear about your hip. That sounds just horrible! And what's this about five more days of 90+? I looked at my forecast just before we left FL and it looked like we were going to be in the 80's but now I see a drop to 84 today but then back to 91, 93, 91 for the next three days -- boo!! hiss!!! When will fall start?

40jessibud2
Ago 1, 2021, 10:48 am

Happy new thread, Kim, and hope it stays happy, after the spate of crappy stuff going on in your life. Feel better soon!

How are you surviving without A/C???! Can you purchase a portable one until someone is able to repair your main one?

41Berly
Ago 1, 2021, 1:52 pm

>33 EBT1002: Yes, a break would be nice. Rain, being healthy....But I do have a job and a house, a happy marriage, and great kids. And books! So life ain't all bad. : ) I miss you , too. Maybe a phone catchup?

>34 Oregonreader: Much appreciated! If I get cooler weather, so do you, right? I think after Wednesday we get back down in the 80s which will feel like heaven. Right now I am enjoying low 70s in my front garden before it heats up.

42Berly
Ago 1, 2021, 1:58 pm

>35 SirThomas: Wonderful wishes kind Sir! I hope you are having an enjoyable weekend, too. I am slowly making my way round the threads, so see you on yours soon.

>36 FAMeulstee: Yup, bummer on the hip. But a new thread is fun! Thanks for popping in.

>37 Caroline_McElwee: It was pretty amazing to see three owls on one walk. Loved it! Don't stay green for too long. It's not healthy. ; )

43Berly
Ago 1, 2021, 2:04 pm

>38 karenmarie: Hi Karen! Yeah, I don't want to wait until September. We'll see...I started taking Arnica last night and the hip does feel a little better today. As long as the paint and mobility are moving in the right direction!

>39 RebaRelishesReading: Right? This heat is ridiculous. And we still have August to go!!

>40 jessibud2: Hi! Well, no, the AC repair guys are booked out like a month, so I think we have to suck it up this summer. We wait until the air outside is cooler than in, and then we throw open any and every window we have! Sometimes that doesn't happen until 11 at night, which makes falling asleep a little harder, but luckily, most nights it gets down in to the 60s so we do cool off.

44johnsimpson
Ago 1, 2021, 3:37 pm

Hi Kim my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend.

45Familyhistorian
Ago 2, 2021, 3:00 pm

Happy new thread, Kim. Sorry to hear about your hip. Just when you were getting back on track too.

I hear you about the rain. I've actually felt a few sprinkles a couple of times but then nothing. Not the regular weather for a rain forest. It's been over 45 days without measurable rain where I live.

46ffortsa
Ago 2, 2021, 10:37 pm

So nice to have you back. And sorry about your hip, the state of your a/c, the post-crud fatigue, etc. I hope August is easier - and then It will be fall and we will all cool off.

47MickyFine
Ago 3, 2021, 5:05 pm

On the subject of surviving heat sans A/C, do you have a box fan? I usually set mine up in a window (blowing out) at one end of the house and open one or two windows on the other side. Helps create an air current which cools things a little faster than just opening all the windows. :)

Hope you're able to get some relief for your hip pain soon.

48banjo123
Ago 5, 2021, 12:53 am

Happy new thread!'

Sorry about the hip pain, and the AC. Hopefully we get some cooler weather soon. And rain!!

49johnsimpson
Ago 5, 2021, 3:54 pm

Hi Kim my dear, so sorry to hear about your Hip pain after everything else this year and obviously the A/C problems, i do hope the heat starts to drop for you all. Things are a bit difficult for us at the moment but that is as far as i can go with it, we are trying to get back to day to day things but take each day as it comes.

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

50weird_O
Ago 5, 2021, 4:45 pm

Hi, Kim. I thought I had displayed my best wishes for your delectation, but apparently it was on a previous thread. I share the concerns of all your other LT friends, and like them, I wish you well.

51ronincats
Ago 5, 2021, 9:38 pm

Hey Kim, sorry to hear about your hip and the AC. That central AC is what makes Kansas in the summer bearable!

52Berly
Ago 5, 2021, 11:11 pm

>44 johnsimpson: >49 johnsimpson: Thank you, John! The hip is slowly feeling better. And today only got up to 84; nice, normal summer weather. : ) Next week we hit 100 again. : (

>45 Familyhistorian: We are supposed to get a little rain tonight. But probably only .10 inches. Not much.

>46 ffortsa: I am not sure I have ever been so excited for fall weather!! LOL

53Berly
Ago 5, 2021, 11:16 pm

>47 MickyFine: Oh absolutely! I have a box fan in my bedroom window and another in the living room, trying to get that cooler outside air in. I also run my fans in the bathrooms and over the stove for a bit, to move the hot air out. It works pretty well!

>48 banjo123: Thank you for all the good wishes! I take them gladly. ; )

>50 weird_O: Doing decently right now. Won't bore you with more medical details, but making progress. I just want a stretch of feeling good. Is that too much to ask? ; )

>51 ronincats: It's funny. We didn't have AC for the first 10 years we lived out here and it was just fine. Now? Not so much!

54Berly
Editado: Ago 5, 2021, 11:23 pm

So, how about some book talk? I just finished The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner for my RL bookclub (next Monday)--perfect summer reading!



From Amazon--Named Most Anticipated of 2021 by Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, Hello! magazine, Oprah.com, Bustle, Popsugar, Betches, Sweet July, and GoodReads!

A forgotten history. A secret network of women. A legacy of poison and revenge. Welcome to The Lost Apothecary…

Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.

Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.

With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecary is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time.

55Berly
Editado: Ago 6, 2021, 11:34 am

And Literary Arts has announced the lineup for 21-22!! I have listed books I have read or are in my TBR pile and the last one listed after each author is their newest book (I think).

October 2021 -- Daniel James Brown Boys in the Boat, Facing the Mountain
January 27, 2022 -- Cathy Park Hong Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning
February 17, 2022 -- Britt Bennet The Mothers, The Vanishing Half
April 21, 2022 -- Richard Powers Orfeo , The Overstory , Bewilderment: A Novel
May 12, 2022 -- Edwidge Danticat Everything Inside

They are going to try to have in person events, but are already planning on simultaneously broadcasting virtually in case 1) people aren't ready to be in a public place yet and 2) in case COVID goes wild again. Wise move.

56Berly
Editado: Ago 6, 2021, 11:34 am



They came in a swarm, probably 35 of them, flying between the nearby tree and my feeder. Loved seeing and hearing them!

57weird_O
Ago 6, 2021, 12:03 am

>53 Berly: I just want a stretch of feeling good. Is that too much to ask? NO, I reply. I feel exactly the same. The miseries are everywhere. We ALL just want that good feeling.

58quondame
Ago 6, 2021, 12:09 am

>57 weird_O: Hear, hear!

59Berly
Ago 6, 2021, 12:25 am

So, this past Monday and Tuesday, we held a Celebration of Life for my MIL who passed last August. We went up to Mt Hood, because she loved our winter ski trips so much and we visited Canon Beach, not quite the same as a Florida beach where she grew up, but still sand and sun. I got her favorite flower, beautiful white roses, and each person got to place one and in memory of her and also had some petals to toss into the wind. It was very nice. I miss her.


60Berly
Ago 6, 2021, 12:26 am

61SirThomas
Ago 6, 2021, 1:53 am

Glad you're at least feeling a little better.
These are beautiful pictures from Celebration of Life for your MIL - thanks for sharing.
I wish you all the best!

62lauralkeet
Ago 6, 2021, 7:18 am

>59 Berly: what a lovely ritual to celebrate the life of a special person.

63Crazymamie
Ago 6, 2021, 9:36 am

Hello, Kim! Sorry to read that your hip is not behaving - no fun. Sending you good healing mojo and all of our love.

>59 Berly: Lovely photos - thanks for sharing. That view is amazing. I thoughtful and meaningful way to pay tribute to her memory. Next month will be a decade without my Dad - it seems hard to believe it has been ten years and yet it also feels like forever. I miss him.

64BLBera
Ago 6, 2021, 9:48 am

Your celebration of your MIL sounds nice, TwinK. Thanks for sharing the photos. I hope the hip is healing.

>56 Berly: Love the birds!

65Berly
Ago 6, 2021, 11:33 am

>61 SirThomas: Thank you! I cannot tell you how glad I am that it is Friday. : )

>62 lauralkeet: It was really special. One of the best parts was the party bus we all rode to the two sites. What a great chance to catch up with family and it was so easy to get up and move around to sit next to someone new. Lots of great stories and memories. Yes, we wore masks.

>63 Crazymamie: I can't believe it has already been a year! I know how close you were to your Dad and that you completely understand.

>64 BLBera: I was just glad my hip was good enough to make the walk on the mountain! Hubby and I had scoped it out a month ago and we chose a spot below the lodge and just beside the chair lift and there were two small wooden bridges to cross, very symbolic and nice. There was a small path to follow, but it is a frickin' mountain after all! LOL. The beach was much easier to navigate.

66Berly
Ago 6, 2021, 11:42 am



Gold Diggers (B 344 pages) by Sanjena Sathian 3.0

"A magical realist coming-of-age story, Gold Diggers skewers the model minority myth to tell a hilarious and moving story about immigrant identity, community, and the underside of ambition.

"A floundering second-generation teenager growing up in the Bush-era Atlanta suburbs, Neil Narayan is funny and smart but struggles to bear the weight of expectations of his family and their Asian American enclave. He tries to want their version of success, but mostly, Neil just wants his neighbor across the cul-de-sac, Anita Dayal.

"When he discovers that Anita is the beneficiary of an ancient, alchemical potion made from stolen gold—a “lemonade” that harnesses the ambition of the gold’s original owner—Neil sees his chance to get ahead. But events spiral into a tragedy that rips their community apart. Years later in the Bay Area, Neil still bristles against his community's expectations—and finds he might need one more hit of that lemonade, no matter the cost."

What did I think? It was okay but not great. I never cared for the main character, Neil, or his crush, Anita. I didn't find it very funny, more on the dark side. But I did enjoy hearing about this perspective of life as an immigrant and thought it did a great job of exploring the cost of ambition.

67richardderus
Ago 6, 2021, 12:45 pm

>66 Berly: Oh rats...hoping for better, I was. Sad that such promise wasn't better utilized. An author who has a plot like that one is already working against the unsympathetic-plight problem. Why not go out of one's way to make the people sympathetic, or double down and go full noir?

>59 Berly: Safe journey home, ma'am. Such lovely remembrances. *smooch*

68jnwelch
Ago 6, 2021, 1:07 pm

Happy New Thread, Kim!

I'm sorry to hear that Gold Diggers wasn't better. The Lost Apothecary sounds good, although a bit scary for a Y-chromosomer.

69RebaRelishesReading
Ago 6, 2021, 2:03 pm

What a beautiful celebration of life you orchestrated!

So sorry you continue to have physical issues. I too hope that you get your (long) stretch of just feeling good very soon. Take advantage of this mini-stretch of cooler weather and we'll hope the blast that's coming next weekend doesn't last very long.

70karenmarie
Ago 6, 2021, 2:54 pm

Hi Kim!

Sorry about the continuing AC and PT woes. Glad to hear that you were able to have the Celebration of Life for your MiL.

Yay for >54 Berly: being a good read, boo hiss for >66 Berly: being a meh read, and thanks for the great the bird invasion pic.

71magicians_nephew
Ago 6, 2021, 5:31 pm

>54 Berly: Usually not a fan of those "parallel lives" stories but this one sounds like a good one. Will let you know.

72kidzdoc
Ago 6, 2021, 9:09 pm

Dang. I was hoping that Gold Diggers was a better book than that, especially since it's set in suburban Atlanta. I'll put it on the back burner for now.

73brenzi
Ago 6, 2021, 10:01 pm

Hi Kim, good to see you posting again but but I'm sorry to hear about your hip giving you trouble. Lovely send off for your MIL.

74laytonwoman3rd
Editado: Ago 8, 2021, 10:20 am

>59 Berly: How lovely.

I sympathize with your hip and your A/C woes. We just have window units, but I dread the thought of one breaking down. A sustained period of heat without relief just wears me out, and if my bedroom isn't shivery, I find it very hard to sleep.

75Berly
Ago 11, 2021, 9:30 pm

>67 richardderus: Yeah, it just didn't wow me. And I know I am not alone since Gold Diggers has a 3.5 reading on LT.

>68 jnwelch: As a Y-Chromosomer, you'll be safe 'cuz you are one of the good guys!!

>69 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks. It was a very nice way to remember my MIL. She was a truly wonderful lady.

76Berly
Ago 11, 2021, 9:34 pm

>70 karenmarie: Hi Karen!! Thanks for responding to like everything I posted!! LOL. You are the best.

>71 magicians_nephew: I hope you enjoy The Lost Apothecary!

>72 kidzdoc: Sorry. I thought it had such promise. Maybe it will work better for you? I mean, you do have the city connection. : )

77Berly
Ago 11, 2021, 9:36 pm

>73 brenzi: I am trying to get back into the swing of things. Look! I'm back again! Two times in one week. LOL

>74 laytonwoman3rd: This heat wave is much better than the last one. 104˚F vs 113˚F, so I think we can muddle through. Might sleep downstairs--it's about 6 degrees cooler than the main floor.

78BLBera
Ago 11, 2021, 9:42 pm

Still no AC, TwinK?!

79Berly
Ago 12, 2021, 5:15 pm

Nope. No AC. : (

The AC guys are booked way out, like September/October. The only guy who said he could come out to install a new one now was going to charge us $10,000. We said no thanks!! We'll get one this winter.

80msf59
Ago 12, 2021, 5:28 pm

Sweet Thursday, Kimmers! These heat patterns you are going through are awful, and with no A/C either? Good luck, my friend and keep cool. How are those books treating you?

81karenmarie
Ago 12, 2021, 5:31 pm

>79 Berly: We have a 3-HVAC unit house, believe it or not, and when we got them replaced 6 years ago it cost us $18,000. But living where we do we have to have AC or I'd have moved a long time ago.

82BLBera
Ago 12, 2021, 6:41 pm

>79 Berly: Wow! Do you need a new one or repairs? I'm going to put a note on my calendar to get AC next spring, before the heat...

83richardderus
Ago 12, 2021, 9:21 pm

>79 Berly: Even if you just need repairs, Berly-boo, take this as gawd's still, small voice thundering "BUY ONE NOW BEFORE THEY CAN'T BE HAD AT ANY PRICE"

Y'know, the way gawd does.

84Berly
Ago 13, 2021, 5:55 pm

>80 msf59: So no AC and the smoke level went back up so we are staying downtown in a hotel again. : ) We skipped the movies and got drinks from the bar. Yummy!

I have been binging on audible books lately. I'll post some pics and reviews....

>81 karenmarie: Ugh!! That's a lot of moola, but sometimes you just need AC!! LOL. We only have one unit and they cost about 2 to $3,000 and I just can't see how the install would cost $7,000. We'll get one this winter.

>82 BLBera: See above. : )

85Berly
Ago 13, 2021, 5:56 pm

>83 richardderus: Nope. Need a whole new one. Gawd tole me it was okay to wait 'till the fall. ; ) (Nice Gawd impression!!)

86Berly
Ago 13, 2021, 6:03 pm

So, I have totally been binging on audio books and past authors I've loved. : )

From Dennis E. Taylor (he added the "E" because there are just too many Dennis Taylors out there--his explanation) author of one of my favorite series, the Bobiverse, comes a new Sci-Fi series: Quantum Earth. Well, it is going to be a series, but only the first one is out yet. It involves portals between worlds and young grad students and earthquakes. Oh! and mastodons. Read by the fantastic Ray Porter--loved it!!

87Berly
Ago 13, 2021, 6:18 pm

And then by Darynda Jones, author of the Charly Davidson series, comes Sunshine Vicram. This series has two books so far. : )

No supernatural stuff this time, just a sassy female Sheriff in a small town in New Mexico. She's a single parent of a teenage daughter and has a major crush on the head of a crime-filled family, although he is law-abiding, she thinks. Her deputy is her best friend from kindergarten and they drink a lot of coffee, or Chardonnay, depending on the time of day. Also she was abducted as a teenager and she wants to find the guy and get some justice. Same snarky humor and same amazing narrator, Lorelei King.

I loved the first one, A Bad Day for Sunshine (her name is Sunshine) and am jumping right into book two, A Good Day For Chardonnay.

88Berly
Editado: Ago 13, 2021, 7:18 pm

So, what else am I reading now?

Elon Musk (K 399 pages) by Ashlee Vance
Hummingbird Salamander (B 357 pages) by Jeff VanderMeer
Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch (B 275 pages) by Rivka Galchen, IR #92

89richardderus
Ago 13, 2021, 8:48 pm

>88 Berly: Did you need an emetic that badly, dear? Reading about ptooptoo Elon? *shudder* Not quite up there with That Fuck Zuck but closin' in....

>86 Berly: On Audible ONLY and that's like knockout drops to me *sob*

90karenmarie
Ago 14, 2021, 9:20 am

Hi Kim!

Hotels and binging on audiobooks sounds like a marvelous way to beat the heat and smoke.

91RebaRelishesReading
Ago 14, 2021, 12:01 pm

Hope the weather changes as predicted today (cooler with less smoke). What a summer this has been, eh?

92Berly
Editado: Ago 14, 2021, 4:15 pm

>89 richardderus: I don't get the man (Elon Musk) so I want to learn more about him and what makes him tick. Only 20 pages in and so far it has been all about how the author finally got him to cooperate and be part of the research for the book. We'll see....

The book is available in all formats, although I don't know what your library has available. Sorry! Dang it!

>90 karenmarie: The first two nights at the hotel were a functional must. Tonight is gonna be date night!! Hoping to catch a movie. I'd love to see Respect with Aretha Franklin played by Jennifer Hudson.

>91 RebaRelishesReading: Today is much better already. Less heat and smoke. So, are you glad you moved out this way?! I am! One of these days we'll get together.

93ffortsa
Ago 14, 2021, 6:44 pm

>87 Berly: you are evil.

94Berly
Ago 14, 2021, 7:12 pm

You are welcome!!! : )

95richardderus
Ago 14, 2021, 7:28 pm

>92 Berly: Other formats...I went to Ammy to check & there it was! *smooch*

96Berly
Ago 14, 2021, 7:34 pm

>95 richardderus: Yay!!! Have fun. *smooch*

97tymfos
Ago 14, 2021, 9:39 pm

Hi, Kim! Sorry to hear about the hip, and the heat, and the lack of AC in your house.

Enjoy your Audible!

98Berly
Ago 14, 2021, 10:07 pm

99BLBera
Ago 15, 2021, 10:19 am

I haven't read any Darynda Jones, but I saw a couple of her books when I was browsing audiobooks on my library site. I might give her a try.

>98 Berly: Nice.

Have a great Sunday.

100weird_O
Editado: Ago 15, 2021, 11:20 am

Oh oh oh. Post number 100! And I've got it.

Nice to have you back in moderate circulation.

101Berly
Ago 15, 2021, 3:01 pm

>99 BLBera: Happy Sunday, Twin!! Darynda Jones is very light, funny stuff. Murder mystery, sexy, big grins. Hope you find one to try out!

>100 weird_O:. Whoohoo!!



Look at me! Three days in a row!! : )

102RebaRelishesReading
Ago 15, 2021, 4:06 pm

>92 Berly: I am very glad we moved. I really like Vancouver, like our house and love being near the family. I hope we can get together sometime soon too.

103Berly
Ago 15, 2021, 7:19 pm

Spent the day in the office doing payroll/accounting stuff. Happy to be headed back to my house and not the hotel. : )

104banjo123
Ago 16, 2021, 12:48 am

Hooray for some cooler weather!

105Berly
Ago 17, 2021, 9:48 pm

>104 banjo123: Finally!! I spent about 3 hours in my garden in the nice cool temps!! Loved it! Then I was blowing off the decks and the garage. Made new nectar for the hummingbirds and I got those ant deterrent hangers, so got those up, too. The place looks good--Now I am ready for family game night tonight! We can sit outside without dying of heat. Yay!

Just hoping it stays cool--my daughter is running in the Hood to Coast next Friday.

106BLBera
Ago 17, 2021, 10:08 pm

Glad the weather is better, and it sounds like you are back to your normal, busy self.

107Berly
Ago 19, 2021, 8:45 pm

Today I wrestled the blackberry bushes for an hour or two on the side of the house. Two full compost bags. Man they are tenacious!! I love having a forest in my back yard...most of the time! LOL



Finished A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones. It did not disappoint! Certainly hope there is a book #3.
: )

108Berly
Ago 19, 2021, 8:48 pm

Starting Jodi Piccoult's The Pact read by George Guidall, the amazing narrator from the Craig Johnson Western series.

109humouress
Ago 23, 2021, 5:39 am

Hi Kim! I lost you again. I'm sorry to hear you've been in the wars again; I hope your hip has improved by now? I'm sorry about your MIL too. The Celebration of Life you described sounded beautiful.

It just occurred to me that in the States you have whole-house heating and cooling systems, right? In Singapore we have wall mounted a/c units just in the rooms we use it (and I'm always yelling at the kids to shut the doors when it's running, to keep the cool air in). Could you get something like that there?

110BLBera
Ago 23, 2021, 7:50 am

>107 Berly: It sounds like you are back to normal, TwinK!

111Berly
Ago 23, 2021, 12:55 pm

>109 humouress: I am doing my own home hip rehab. LOL. I still want to get into the Physical Therapist but I still have two weeks to wait for that. So, I have started doing some stretching, using stretchy band resistance, and doing some light walking/jogging. I am also doing my TKD forms VERY slowly with no high kicks. So far so good.

The window AC would work great for a small room like my bedroom except that I don't have the up down windows, but the side to side kind and I don't want to hassle with trying to block off the top half. I am hoping that the last heat wave is it for this summer and we can get the AC fixed before next year. This week, at least, is supposed to be gorgeous!! yay!

112Berly
Ago 23, 2021, 12:55 pm

>110 BLBera: Not normal yet. Just faking it!! : )

Tell me how the first day of school goes!

113streamsong
Ago 23, 2021, 2:38 pm

Good luck on the hip! Don't fake it tooooooo hard!

Here's my favorite hack for the combo of heat and smoke along with cool nights.

Buy a hepa furnace filter (amazon) roughly the size of a fan you can place in your window. Put the filter between the window screen and the fan which is set to blow inward once it cools off. Bingo - filtered cool air coming into your house. You *can* overheat the fan if the filter is becoming clogged so you need to keep an eye on it and not run it overnight. Luckily running it an hour or so in the evenings works for me and then I turn off the fan and shut the window.

Can you tell that I don't have air conditioning?

It's supposed to be gorgeous here, too, for the next few days. We had some rain so the smoke has been washed out of the air.

114richardderus
Ago 23, 2021, 2:42 pm

Blackberries are botanical imperialists, for sure, and very well-armed ones. The inducement they offer to leave them in peace is pretty persuasive, though....

115quondame
Ago 23, 2021, 7:01 pm

>114 richardderus: But the inducement to interfere and absorb is ever so strong.

116brenzi
Ago 23, 2021, 10:00 pm

We're in the middle of another heat wave here too Kim. July was the wettest July on record. August may well be the hottest August on record. Good thing climate change isn't real 😳

117BLBera
Ago 24, 2021, 8:47 am

Take it easy with the hip, TwinK! I hope the worst of the heat is over. I'm getting AC next year!

118banjo123
Ago 24, 2021, 3:17 pm

Hi Kim! Hope the hip is getting better. You could use a portable AC with vertical windows (we have those too.) However, the portable AC we got didn't work well and was super loud, we ended up getting central air.

119humouress
Editado: Ago 24, 2021, 9:32 pm

>111 Berly: I remember seeing window a/c units. I was never a fan (pun unintended) because they block the air and light, should you want to use the window as a window. Wall units are a step up though you would have to install the pipes and electrical lines.

Maybe they’re not available in the States because central heating (and cooling) is the de facto built-in option?

120RebaRelishesReading
Ago 26, 2021, 1:03 pm

>119 humouress: They are available because we considered getting one for our place at Chautauqua.

121Familyhistorian
Ago 26, 2021, 1:06 pm

I hope you’re experiencing rain and cool weather today like we are, Kim.

122Berly
Ago 29, 2021, 4:02 pm

>113 streamsong: Glad you are having nice weather!! FINALLY...we are too! This is how summer is Portland is supposed to be. : )

>114 richardderus: I just admit, I do love me some blackberries. I'd just rather someone else do the gathering!! LOL

>115 quondame: And I'd rather someone else cut them back in my yard. ; )

123Berly
Editado: Ago 29, 2021, 4:08 pm

>116 brenzi: Your July was the wettest on record? I think ours might have been the driest! Weather sure is messed up right now. And maybe for the future....

>117 BLBera: I start PT for the hip in a week and a half. I passed on the adult sparring camp in TKD. See? I am being careful!!

>118 banjo123: >119 humouress: AC just needs to be replaced when prices aren't quite so astronomical and people are available. We'll fix it this winter. Right now the weather is gorgeous!

124Berly
Ago 29, 2021, 4:09 pm

>120 RebaRelishesReading: Definitely get something before next summer! : )

>121 Familyhistorian: Much cooler weather, but no rain still. Well, we got a mist of moisture. Today is perfect summer weather and I watered my plants this morning so everyone is happy!

125Berly
Ago 29, 2021, 4:39 pm

So, yesterday I was fortunate enough to:

1) go shopping at Powell's, which I haven't done in a year and a half and

2) do it with Ellen and P!!



We had a lovely time and, of course, I bought books.

Perfect Little World: A Novel by Kevin Wilson
The Thirty Names of Night: A Novel by Zeyn Joukhadar
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous: A Novel by Ocean Vuong
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
In Our Time by Hemingway
The Butterfly Lampshade: A Novel by Aimee Bender
Doc: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
The Midnight Library: A Novel by Matt Haig
Second Place: A Novel by Rachel Cusk

I also got my next Powell's INDIEspensable book from Hubby!
What Strange Paradise: A novel by Omar El Akkad * IR #93.

What a great day!

126johnsimpson
Ago 29, 2021, 4:44 pm

Hi Kim my dear, glad to see that you are getting some more normal weather after the carnage of the heat. We are having mixed weather at the moment and for most of this week it will be no higher than 18C / 66F, a few degrees below the norm for this time of year.

I must say that i love Blackberries and enjoy picking them, when we picked in 2019 i kept going back to a spot where there were lots of nice juicy berries and it was a long stretch of bushes, being tall (6'4") i took the ones at the top, over three days i picked about 10kg of berries and we have just used the last of them along with the Red Gooseberries to make some jam. I would pick Blackberries every day compared to Gooseberries. When the Veg bed is completed we are going to have a Thorn less Blackberry at the back of the Veg bed.

Hope all is well with you and the family and that you are having a good weekend, sending love and hugs to you all from both of us, dear friend.

127BLBera
Ago 29, 2021, 4:48 pm

>125 Berly: I wish I were there! Two of the twins in one spot!

128richardderus
Ago 29, 2021, 4:54 pm

>125 Berly: Yay for meet-ups! Glad y'all got to get together. And quite a lovely shopping spree!

129quondame
Ago 29, 2021, 8:25 pm

>125 Berly: Book store and meetup! Yay!

130EBT1002
Ago 29, 2021, 11:20 pm

It was so great to see You, Kim, and spend a bit of time (and a bit of money) in Powell's. I'll post my book buying spree on my thread. The last three on Your list are also on mine and we've said we'd read them together:

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
The Midnight Library: A Novel by Matt Haig
Second Place: A Novel by Rachel Cusk

Actually, I didn't purchase the Cusk because I just got it from the library. So that'll need to be our first shared read, Kim. After I finish the wonderful Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford.

131Berly
Ago 29, 2021, 11:45 pm

Okay! So noted. I need to wrap up one before I can start Second Place: A Novel. Will get on it. : )

Loved seeing you! xoxo

132LovingLit
Ago 30, 2021, 2:30 am

>125 Berly: yay! I love a good meetup story.

133Caroline_McElwee
Ago 30, 2021, 5:31 am

Great meet-up Kim, lovely to see you all together, doubly great photo as I could peruse the shelves!

134SirThomas
Ago 30, 2021, 6:08 am

>125 Berly: A meetup and a lot of good books - Wonderful!
I wish you a good start to the week, Kim.

135thornton37814
Ago 30, 2021, 7:33 am

>125 Berly: Congratulations! I ventured into McKays briefly the one day I went to Knoxville this summer. It was so crowded, that I got out as quickly as I could. I didn't feel safe. I think I purchased a couple of books, but I don't remember what they were. Of course, the others in the store were not wearing masks like you all are. I won't say I was the only person in the entire store with a mask, but masks were few and far between.

136figsfromthistle
Ago 30, 2021, 7:49 am

>125 Berly: Yay for the meet up! Looks like you had fun

137lauralkeet
Ago 30, 2021, 8:00 am

Love the meetup photo! Lucky you (all three of you)!

138drneutron
Ago 30, 2021, 10:38 am

Glad you had a great meetup!

139Crazymamie
Ago 30, 2021, 12:36 pm

Love the meetup photo! How wonderful to go book shopping with such excellent company.

I also have that Rachel Cusk book in the stacks - picked it up on my last library run.

140RebaRelishesReading
Ago 30, 2021, 2:21 pm

>124 Berly: Actually that was the place-before-last at Chautauqua which we sold in 2016. Meanwhile, we've also sold the one we bought there in 2016 (which had standard, whole-house A/C). Our WA house also has whole-house A/C so we're well covered (thank heavens)! Hope you're able to find someone to get our situation sorted out for a decent price before next summer.

Is Powell's fully open now?

141humouress
Ago 31, 2021, 1:23 am

>125 Berly: >130 EBT1002: Nice meet-up photo!

>127 BLBera: Wait; there are more twins?

142karenmarie
Set 1, 2021, 6:41 am

Hi Kim!

>125 Berly: Ooh, a meet up. Thanks for sharing the pic and your book haul.

143richardderus
Set 2, 2021, 7:53 pm

Normally I am a person who Knows My Own Mind. Startling, I realize, for you to hear this...as I've always been such a soft-spoken crowd-goer-alonger.

Stop laughing.

Anyway. I need help. The wisdom of the crowd is sought to help be decide between two equally strong contenders for Read of the Month. I am simply incapable to unparalyzing myself from the FOMO I get thinking about this problem.

Please vote on the poll or you will be directly responsible for my re-admission to the Goofy Garage this birthmonth.

144laytonwoman3rd
Set 3, 2021, 5:25 pm

I was sure I posted here last night, but I guess I never hit the button! I said, as I recall, Hooray for meet-ups, it's good to see P's face (at least some of it!), and I want to read Once There Were Wolves.

145richardderus
Set 3, 2021, 7:10 pm

>143 richardderus: BERLY!! HELP!! There was an exact tie at 5pm, so I've settled on TOMORROW (Saturday 4 Sept) at 5pm for the final decision. Please come vote! https://www.librarything.com/topic/334521#7593915

146msf59
Set 4, 2021, 7:51 am

>125 Berly: Love the Meet Up photo and what a great book haul. I am starting The House in the Cerulean Sea today.

Happy Saturday, Kim. I hope you enjoying a nice holiday weekend.

147jnwelch
Set 4, 2021, 2:26 pm

>125 Berly:. “Love”

How great that you were able to meet up with Ellen and Pru, Kim. We sure loved our meetup with you when we were in Portland. I still wander the aisles of Powell’s in my dreams . . .

We’ve spent our Saturday so far on an unsuccessful phone call with our provider to try to get re-connected to the internet. The next level up there is supposed to call back by tomorrow night. I hope your weekend is off to a better start than ours.

148witchyrichy
Set 5, 2021, 3:53 pm

The meetup looks fun! Enjoy all the new books!

149The_Hibernator
Set 6, 2021, 11:40 am

Hi Kim! Again, I wish I were there right now! Aaron and the kids are headed home from Sun River today. They said it was pretty smoky. How's the smoke in Portland?

150EBT1002
Set 6, 2021, 1:33 pm

Hey Kim. I know you've been awol for a few days (I'm one to talk - LOL!) but I thought I'd let you know that I've started reading Second Place by Rachel Cusk. At first I thought it was going to require a level of concentration I would have difficulty mustering at present, but as I've moved along, it has settled in quite nicely. I'm about 40% through it. I had it from the library so I had to dig right in or lose it.

I hope you are doing well! We are having lovely weather here this weekend. Oh, and I posted the link to the announcement about my job over on my thread.

151Berly
Editado: Set 7, 2021, 3:00 pm

>126 johnsimpson: Our weather has been perfect! And except for hitting 90 tomorrow, we will be in the 80s or 70s. Loving it! Had a wonderful weekend and hope you did too.

>127 BLBera: Wish you were here with us too!! It always makes me laugh that there are three of us and we are twins. LOL.

>128 richardderus: >129 quondame: It was happiness all the way around. : )

152Berly
Set 7, 2021, 2:12 pm



>130 EBT1002: Ellen, I am starting Once There Were Wolves today. 30 pages in and I am really liking it!

153Berly
Set 7, 2021, 2:14 pm

>132 LovingLit: The meetup was very nice. I just want this whole COVID thing to be over so we can have bigger get togethers. I missed seeing our other usual OR LTers. And it still made me really nervous to be in the city. There were so many people!! At least everyone was doing it right and wearing masks.

154Berly
Set 7, 2021, 2:31 pm

>133 Caroline_McElwee: You mean "peruse" the books so you could "pursue" one or two of them? LOL Love autocorrect. This time it worked!!

>134 SirThomas: It's a week later, but your wish for a good start to the week still works! Thanks and same to you.

>135 thornton37814: It definitely felt weird and uncomfortable to be around so many people in the bookstore and just in the city! It was packed. Definitely not the norm for me right now, but fun for the few hours and only because everyone was wearing masks. Thank goodness!

155Berly
Set 7, 2021, 2:34 pm

>136 figsfromthistle: >137 lauralkeet: It was very fun! I mean books and friends were involved! Right? : )

>138 drneutron: It was so nice to see Ellen and P in real life. Virtual is better than nothing, but I have definitely missed seeing friends in person. And even family, too!

>139 Crazymamie: Ellen gave the Cusk book a 3. Let me know what you think. I started, but the first few pages were really dark. So, I switched to Once There Were Wolves >152 Berly:

156Berly
Set 7, 2021, 2:37 pm

>140 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks! We'll get the AC fixed this winter. And the weather lately has been cooperating and it has been just fine without.

Powell's is fully open but they are still not accepting trade-ins on books yet. And their computer mail-in system was down but hopefully is up and functioning again.

157Berly
Set 7, 2021, 2:41 pm

>141 humouress: So, BLBera, Berly and EBT1002 (Beth, Me and Ellen) frequently got mixed up by people responding to us on threads, partly because our names are similar and also because we frequently enjoy the same books. Initially two of us became Twins but when it quickly became clear it was three of us, so we are now the 3 Twins. I hope that is perfectly clear. LOL

158Berly
Set 7, 2021, 2:45 pm

>142 karenmarie: It was my pleasure, both the day and the picture post!! : )

>143 richardderus: >145 richardderus: Damn! I was MIA and so completely useless in helping you decide. I will take a look on your thread and see what the verdict was. xoxo

>144 laytonwoman3rd: I hate when my posts disappear! Dang it. Yeah, taking pictures right now is kinda funny because everyone has half their face covered with masks. Oh well! Better than nothing. ; ) And I am starting Once There Were Wolves today. 30 pages in and liking it!

159Berly
Editado: Set 7, 2021, 2:49 pm

>146 msf59: Had a very nice weekend, although two days of it were spent in the office catching up on Quickbooks. It made me feel better to get caught up. And then yesterday, my youngest turned 21!! We had a fun family dinner get together. He didn't want any gifts, just money 'cuz he is headed to Las Vegas next weekend! He is very excited. I am nervous about COVID, but he is vaccinated and promises to wear his mask.

160Berly
Set 7, 2021, 2:55 pm

>147 jnwelch: Wandering the aisles of Powell's' in my dreams...that made my smile!! Yes, it was so much fun to go. I hadn't been in over a year and a half! Can't even begin to tell you how hard it was not to buy three times what I did. LOL

How is your internet? Fixed by now I hope!!

>148 witchyrichy: Thank you!! I promptly took the stack and then reorganized my TBR piles by my nightstand--those are the TBR Soonest books. Then there are the Next piles under my window, but still in the bedroom. And then there are the Someday piles in the bookcase downstairs. LOL I know you understand.

161Berly
Set 7, 2021, 2:59 pm

>149 The_Hibernator: Wish we could have met up this year. Hopefully next summer! The smoke has been fine in Portland lately. The fires this summer sent smoke off to the south and/or east from us. Did the family have fun though? I hope so!

>150 EBT1002: I have put the Cusk book aside for later. The first few pages are kinda dark and I am not in the mood. I started our other shared read Once There Were Wolves!!

And I saw your great news!! Congratulations! I know it can be awkward to suddenly be the boss of your former peers, but I know you can pull this off. And the promotion shows how very much you are trusted and appreciated. Now you can do things your way!! AND end your career on a high note. Whoohoo!!

Remember not to stress too much. : )

162banjo123
Set 7, 2021, 3:24 pm

Hi Kim, hooray for meet-ups! and bookstores.

163BLBera
Set 7, 2021, 4:41 pm

>157 Berly: Excellent, clear explanation. :) TwinK

164msf59
Set 7, 2021, 6:42 pm

>152 Berly: Ooh, looking forward to your thoughts on Once There Were Wolves!

Happy 21st birthday to your son! How exciting.

165Berly
Set 7, 2021, 10:35 pm

>162 banjo123: It's the little things in life.

>163 BLBera: : )

>164 msf59: Yeah. It's funny how he keeps getting older and I am still the same age! LOL. He told me I am frozen at age 40 in his mind. I told him he is now my favorite son. (He is my only son!) ; )

166Berly
Editado: Set 7, 2021, 11:02 pm

Had a great talk tonight with my family bookclub. We read the President's Daughter by Pres. Bill Clinton and James Patterson. It was a great summer read. Good plot and characters. Also lots of social issues to discuss and plot twists to ask who saw it coming. 3.75 stars

167Berly
Editado: Set 8, 2021, 8:30 pm

And for our next read, we chose an Edgar Allen Poe collection, Tales of Terror and Madness. Our goal is to talk terror techniques and which short story is our favorite. Also appropriate for October and Halloween!!

168drneutron
Set 8, 2021, 9:53 am

>167 Berly: Nice choice! (though the touchstone goes to a Lovecraft book)

I'll be interested in hearing about your book club discussion.

169Berly
Set 8, 2021, 8:29 pm

Should be a fun Halloween read! I know I have read a few of the short stories, but it has been a while, so I will have no problem re-reading them!

I know. The touchstone doesn't have the right book available....

170BLBera
Set 8, 2021, 8:39 pm

Poe is a good Halloween read, and as much scary as I can handle.

171Berly
Set 8, 2021, 8:40 pm

172LovingLit
Editado: Set 9, 2021, 1:24 am

>153 Berly: that is promising! (the mask wearing that you witnessed)

Also, the cover of >152 Berly: leads me to believe the book will be good ;). Are you still liking it?

ETA: >171 Berly: AAAAHH!

173charl08
Set 9, 2021, 2:50 am

>165 Berly: Your convo with your son made me laugh, thank you for that! Friends' kids are already taller than me and they're only just teenagers. How is that possible?

I have Portland on my travel list (post COVID of course). One day.

174karenmarie
Set 9, 2021, 7:40 am

Hi Kim!

>159 Berly: Happy belated birthday to your youngest.

>166 Berly: I have the first one in their collaboration – The President is Missing but haven’t read it yet. Have you read it?

175BLBera
Set 9, 2021, 12:46 pm

>171 Berly: TwinK! You are grossing me out.

176richardderus
Set 9, 2021, 1:50 pm

>171 Berly: Zombie Grant Wood? Iiiinteresting...has the nice resident suggested a, um, alteration to your inpatient routine?

177Berly
Set 9, 2021, 8:22 pm

>172 LovingLit: Portland is doing pretty well with the mask wearing. Other parts of the state Not so much. We are also well vaccinated but the rural areas much less so. One of the hospitals has only 40% of their workers fully vaccinated and our governor has required that all health care workers be fully vaccinated. I fear a lot of them will leave or be let go just when the hospitals are at full capacity and need them most. Grrrrr.

Loved Once There Were Wolves so much that I stayed up till 3 in the morning to finish it! Full review later...

Tee Hee!!

178Berly
Editado: Set 10, 2021, 12:31 am

>173 charl08: Yes, I am officially the shortest person in my immediate family now. Sigh. But at least I am not the oldest!! Hubby beats me by a year and a day. : )

And, of course, as soon as you book that trip to Portland, someday, you will tell me!! I KNOW we will have a good time! LOL

179Berly
Set 9, 2021, 8:27 pm

>174 karenmarie: Thanks! He and his girlfriend are headed off to Las Vegas tonight to celebrate the big 21. He is sooo excited! And I am glad that my responsible oldest daughter and her fiancee are going with them to keep them in line. LOL. They actually have a lot of outdoor things planned, which makes me feel better about the whole COIVD thing.

I haven't read The President is Missing but I enjoyed the second one so I am sure I will get to it at some point. Thumbs up!

180Berly
Set 9, 2021, 8:50 pm

>175 BLBera: Love you!! ; )

>176 richardderus: Yes. After analyzing the results of many tests, my inpatient routine must now include red wine at happy hour. Testing it out today!! LOL

181Berly
Editado: Set 10, 2021, 12:30 am

I had to get something to drink after TKD class tonight and a book was crying out to me from the shelves!!!

How To Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum

I am excited to start it because I have to make changes NOW!



182figsfromthistle
Set 10, 2021, 6:01 am

>181 Berly: I read that one a few months ago. Some interesting ideas. Hope you find some that work for you.

183BLBera
Set 10, 2021, 10:09 am

You'll do a tips post when you learn all about how to give up plastic, right?

Sigh. I'm adding Once There Were Wolves to my list.

184Berly
Set 10, 2021, 10:22 am

>182 figsfromthistle: I hope I get at least a few ideas from this book and that I am strong enough to buckle down and actually practice them!

>183 BLBera: I'll try to share some plastic-free ideas -- that's actually principle #5, to get people thinking about this and talk to friends and coworkers!

185Berly
Set 10, 2021, 10:24 am

So, my reading taste is a wee bit scattered this morning. I added these to my collection.

and

186richardderus
Set 10, 2021, 10:45 am

Thermodynamics...eliminating plastic...wine...yep. All's as per usual here.

187Berly
Set 10, 2021, 10:46 am

: )

188banjo123
Set 10, 2021, 2:59 pm

Hi Kim! There Once Were Wolves sounds like a must read.

189EBT1002
Set 11, 2021, 4:09 pm

>167 Berly: That sounds like a fun read and a fun focus for discussion.

>181 Berly: YAY! We have been really working on reducing our plastic use for the past couple years. I'll look forward to hearing any tips you get that you can pass along.

I'm on page 100 of Once There Were Wolves and it is SO good. It's painful so I find myself reading it in small sips.

190witchyrichy
Set 16, 2021, 12:47 pm

>166 Berly: I have enjoyed both Clinton/Patterson books and am eager to read the other Clinton's collaboration with Louise Penny.

Hope all is well. I have decided I am going to spend at least one of my LT anniversaries at Powell's. It is October 15 so I don't think it is this year.

191Berly
Set 17, 2021, 7:31 pm



Headed OUT to see David Sedaris in person tonight!! Excited and a little nervous. They ask for proof of vaccination and masks are required so should be safe and hopefully very funny! : )

192richardderus
Set 17, 2021, 8:00 pm

>191 Berly: Enjoy the outing, and the event! *smooch*

193BLBera
Set 17, 2021, 9:18 pm

Lucky you! Have fun and report back.

194karenmarie
Editado: Set 18, 2021, 5:46 am

Hi Kim!

I saw David Sedaris in Raleigh in 2018, just after Calypso came out. He was absolutely marvelous. I hope you had a wonderful time.

So I was wondering why he was out and about and didn't realize that he had published a book since Calypso. Sigh. I've just now ordered The Best of Me and it should arrive on Monday.

195figsfromthistle
Set 18, 2021, 5:46 am

>191 Berly: Have fun!

196SandDune
Set 18, 2021, 11:12 am

>181 Berly: I try and avoid plastic as much as possible and made a real effort about changing some of my choices in 2019. I have to admit that I backslid a little over the pandemic when I really didn’t want to go and do my own shopping, but many changes have stuck.

197laytonwoman3rd
Set 18, 2021, 2:01 pm

>191 Berly: Interesting. Sedaris was supposed to be here in NE PA as part of our county library system's American Masters lecture series, and it has been cancelled twice, the latest date being just earlier this month. I think the cancellation may have been on our end, as COVID numbers have been surging around here in the last couple months. Our Board is not privy to how the County Board makes these decisions (our library is one of several in the County system, and our individual Boards are independent, but some programs are managed at the County level...it's complicated). I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't want to have to enforce the proof of vaccination and masking requirements.

198EBT1002
Set 18, 2021, 4:41 pm

It's raining in Pullman! Yay!! I hope you're getting some precipitation, too.

199EBT1002
Set 18, 2021, 4:42 pm

>191 Berly: How was it?

200witchyrichy
Set 20, 2021, 9:54 am

>191 Berly: >199 EBT1002: Inquiring minds want to know!

And wishing you a happy Monday.

201humouress
Set 20, 2021, 11:04 pm

>157 Berly: Ah! 3 Twins. Perfectly clear. ?

>150 EBT1002: I've given up trying to keep up with your thread Ellen, but I understand congratulations are in order. Congratulations!

>159 Berly: Happy 21st to your son!

My eldest is looking forward (he has Plans!) to being 18, while my youngest has just overtaken me in height (a year and 3 months ahead of the schedule set by his brother). I'd been getting in all the short jokes I could - now I have to sit and take them coming back at me. Kids have no gratitude.

>183 BLBera: Looking forward to those tips. I do carry my own reusable bags and coffee cups, but I do have to remember to carry them with me when I go into a mall for a browse in case I do decide to buy something. (Pretty much 90% of our shopping is in air-conditioned malls.) I have a big bag with all that stuff occupying the front passenger seat, to the derision of my husband and kids, but at least that way I remember to take it with me more often and it's easy to grab.

202thornton37814
Set 21, 2021, 8:13 am

>201 humouress: I try to keep my reusable bags in the car too. However, I've been using curbside pickup most of the time so I get a lot of plastic bags. I do try to reuse them when they don't split wide open before I get them inside the house. I've got a stash that I need to take to the book sale room for our next book sale. That's what I do with the remainder. I can double bag books when people purchase them at the library.

203richardderus
Set 22, 2021, 6:57 pm

I'm hoping this means you're floating on Cloud Fun still, and not downtown in a swanky hotel with a studly young gigolo.
...
...
...wait....

204PaulCranswick
Set 24, 2021, 12:03 am

No studly young gigolos in sight in downtown Kuala Lumpur!

205EBT1002
Editado: Out 9, 2021, 6:32 pm

Did this thread just end? Is there a new one that didn't connect with this one?

Hi Kim! We still have a shared read to do based on our Powell's purchases when I was in PDX. ;-)

206LovingLit
Out 11, 2021, 12:09 am

^ what she said! :)

Hi Kimmers....hope the Sedaris thing was good!

207humouress
Editado: Out 11, 2021, 3:17 am

Yo Kim! I hope all is well with you and yours.

>202 thornton37814: I read that, ironically enough, the man who invented plastic bags intended them to help the environment by being reused ie not for single use as we tend to do.

208BLBera
Out 11, 2021, 9:08 am

New York, eh?

209SuziQoregon
Out 14, 2021, 11:48 am

Well you got me with >87 Berly: just requested both from the library.

Hope all is well

210Berly
Out 14, 2021, 2:00 pm

Wow! Have I really not even been on my own thread in a month?!?! Shame on me!

Thank you all for keeping my thread warm. You are the best!

I do have a lame excuse...my Hubbie's computer broke and he uses it for business, so he absconded with my laptop. I have a computer I can use in the study, but I usually do my LT time while I am sitting in bed watching the news and that didn't work without the laptop. He was stalling until the new Apple computers come out, but I finally said I need mine back!! LOL. So he got one now and will get a newer one in a few months and hand his off to one of our employees who needs an upgrade.

So, anyhow, I'm here!!

And I think it is time for a new thread...so I'm off to set it up.
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