Mary/Storeetllr Reads Through 2023-Chapter 2

Welcome to my Q2 thread!

Reading keeps me going, but my grandkids are my life!


Ruby, who loves dolls, dressing up, climbing, dancing, making art, cooking and baking, and watching videos of cake decorating; and Rowan, who loves balls, cars, balls, climbing, balls, stuffies, balls, mealtime, balls, sweeping/vacuuming, and emptying the dishwasher.


Princess Mode


When I said he loves mealtime, I wasn't kidding! Mmm, good to the very last drop.

Books Read in April

36. Noumenon by Marina J. Lostetter. 3 stars. Audio.

37. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot. 3.5 stars. Audio.

38. Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews. 4.5 stars. Graphic Audio.

39. The Iggy Chronicles by Spenser Quinn. 3.5 stars.

40. Bark to the Future by Spenser Quinn. 4 stars. Audio.

41. Dust and Shadows by Lyndsay Faye. 4 stars. Audio.

42. At Grave’s End by Jeaniene Frost. 4 stars. Graphic Audio.

43. Both Feet in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost. 4 stars. Audio.

44. An Impossible Imposter by Deanna Raybourn. 3.5 stars. Audio.

45. Who Cries for the Lost by C. S. Harris. 3 stars. Audio.

May

46. Under Alien Skies by Phil Plait. 3.75 stars. Audio.

47. The Bride Wore White by Amanda Quick. 3.5 stars. Audio.

48. The World in a Grain by Vince Beiser. 4.5 stars. Audio. Recommended by Richard.

49. Persephone Station by Stina Leicht. 3 stars. Audio. Recommended by Richard.

50. A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn. 4.5 stars. Audio.

51. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. 4.5 stars. Audio

52. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn. 4.5 stars. Audio

June

53. Identity by Nora Roberts. 4 stars. Audio.

54. Witch King by Martha Wells. 3.5 stars. Audio.

55. Scout’s Progress by Sharon Lee. 4 stars. Audio. Audible.

56. Brazen Virtue by Nora Roberts. 3 stars. Audio.

57. Long Shadows by David Baldacci. Audio. 4 stars.

58. The Librarian of Crooked Lane by C. J. Archer. 4 stars. Audio.

59. The Medici Manuscript by C. J. Archer. 4 stars. Audio.

60. A Brief History of Black Holes by Dr. Becky Smethurst. 4 stars. Audio.

Currently Reading

Mars Adrift by Kathleen McFall. Dead-tree book. (!)
Foundation, the history of England from its earliest beginnings to the Tudors by Peter Ackroyd

Up Next:

Elder Race by Adrian Tchiakovsky

In the Queue:

On My Holds List:

I Swear by Katie Porter
Resonance Surge due 7/25/23
Payback in Death due 9/5/23
System Collapse due 11/14/23
The Hands of the Emperor Kindle.
John Dies at the End
The Bullet that Missed
The Serpent Sea by Martha Wells. Kindle
It's a Wonderful Woof by Spencer Quinn. Audio.

DNFs

Starry Messenger by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Audio. Interesting, but other books seduced me and I ran out of time.
Infinity Gate by M. R. Carey. Audio. Gave it a good chance, but it didn’t provide enough enjoyment for me to get over my dislike of the characters.
The Cloisters by Katy Hays. Audio. DNFd at 25% Love the Cloisters; bored by the book. Sadness.
Kunstlers in Paradise by Cathleen Schine. Recommended by Katie. It’s really interesting, and the writing is too-notch. I think it’s my stupid mood that I just didn’t feel like picking it back up when I put it down; then it was due back to the library. I’ll probably try again sometime.
The Possibility of Life by Jaime Green. Audio. Potentially exciting subject made boring by the droning voice of the narrator and, sadly, by the writing style, though it might work in text form.
Half of a Yellow Sun. Got distracted by other books and lost track of the time. I’ll try again sometime.
Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton. Audio. I just couldn’t get into it. The aliens were so badly (to my mind) drawn and the humans such caricatures.
The Tigress of Forli by Elizabeth Lev. Audio. Ran out of time but put a hold on it again. (Haha, looks like I took a break from Middle Ages savagery to read about even worse Renaissance savagery.)
She-Wolves, The Women Who Rules England Before Elizabeth by Helen Castor. Audio. Ran out of time. Also, I needed a break from Middle Ages savagery. I will borrow it again to finish it.
The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz. Audio. Interesting world building, but kind of boring nonetheless, and none of the characters made me care.
Prosper’s Demon by K. J. Parker. Kindle. Just couldn't get into it.
The Wife of Bath by Marion Turner. Audio. Ditto.
The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner. Audio. Ditto.

*Smooch1*

Richard! My first visitor to my second thread! Welcome! And I love the "Smooch1" because it implies there will be more smooches coming along. :)

Happy newest, Mary! I love Princess Mode Ruby. And Rowen will love that photo when he's a high schooler.

I'm so glad you are enjoying the Herriot on audio. I'm thinking that may be one of the better ways to read it.

Thanks, Joanne! I love those pics too.

I am enjoying All Creatures Great and Small, but I'm finding I need to space my time listening to it. Between Sigfried's gaslighting, Herriot's uptightness, and Tristan's fecklessness, it gets a little much in too long of doses.

Happy new one, Mary! Your topper is full of adorable. Love the photos - thanks for sharing.

>10 Storeetllr: A trifecta of issues! Are they more apparent on audio than in print or has time made them more difficult to deal with?

>12 Copperskye: I think maybe both. I know I'm highly sensitized to gaslighting, having been married to a man who used to do it to me, and then after the 2016-2020 fiasco, but I don't have the same personal experience with the other issues (except that I sometimes don't think before I act so might appear a bit feckless myself). I'm just hoping Helen puts some backbone into James; he comes off as a bit of a bumbling coward. I mean, he was driving a car with no brakes for a long time, and kept telling Sigfried about it, and kept believing Sigfried when he assured James he'd take care of it; then when Sigfried crashes the car, James lets Sigfried get away with accusing James of not telling him? Gack.

I know, it's just a book, and those were different times, but really. Men. lol

Happy new one. Cute pics of the grandkids!

>11 Crazymamie: Oops, missed your post! Hi, Mamie! Thank you, I think they are adorable too, but I'm their grandma so it doesn't count as much as when you think so. :)

>14 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita! Glad you like them!

Happy new one, Mary! Such pics! How can you not smile!

>17 jessibud2: Right?!? They are such characters! Thanks, Shelley!

Happy new thread Mary!

What delightful photos of utterly delightful subjects!

Happy new thread, Mary!

Happy new one!

Happy new thread, Mary.

Love the toppers! The picture of Rowan enjoying his food/drink reminds me of what I am like during Ramadan when it is time to break fast!

>13 Storeetllr: Yes, absolutely different times. My god, driving a car with no brakes?!! I always tended to think that Siegfred's gaslighting of Jim was exaggerated into more of a running joke, something for the reader to roll their eyes at and think, "Here we go again". But the joke would certainly fall flat if you've had to endure it in real life!

Hope you have a good week!

>19 quondame: Thanks, Susan! Glad you enjoyed the photos. I agree with you, they are delights!

>20 FAMeulstee: >21 drneutron: Thanks, Anita and Jim!

>22 PaulCranswick: Haha, that must be a sight to see! (I imagine I’d be the same.) Rowan does love his food and, unlike Ruby, isn’t too choosy about what he’s served. The food he was slurping there was lentil soup. It was his second bowlful.

>23 Copperskye: I’m sure you’re right, Joanne. Unfortunately, it triggered my PTSD. It’s a mild case, so I was able to get past it, but I couldn’t help but be affected negatively. There’s a lot of really lovely bits in the book, though, so all-in-all I’m glad I read it.

Hope your week is going well!

36. Noumenon by Marina J. Lostetter. 3 stars. Audio. A multigenerational odyssey where 9 ships filled with clones are tasked to study an anomalous star many light years from earth and return with scientific info. Ultimately disappointing though I finished it hoping for a stellar (npi) ending. Saw it compared with sevenEves, but the only thing in common was the wimpy ending. Also saw this is first of a trilogy. Not sure if I’ll read the next.

37. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot. 3.5 stars. Audio. So, I remember loving these memoirs when I read them back in the 70s. Unfortunately, this one hasn’t held onto the same charm for me. Parts were lovely, but the interactions between the author and Sigfried drove me crazy, as did Tristan’s fecklessness and James’s angst.

Currently reading She-Wolves, The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth. Just finished The part about Matilda’s and Stephen’s war over the throne, a terribly disruptive time especially for the common people of England and France. Of course, it’s obvious why the powerful men in England didn’t want Matilda to be on the throne, and of course that makes me sympathize with her, but what I ultimately took away was how unfair and destructive it is for so few to hold so much power.

>30 Storeetllr: Matilda's biggest obstacle to power was the Church. Her dead husband the Emperor had forever tainted her in their eyes by infecting her mind with the shocking demi-heretical idea that the royal ruler ruled, not the church's hierarchs. The heresy was very much infectious, as her son Henry II of England got himself into boatloads of trouble asserting the same thing. The Angevin Empire they tried to solidify was whittled away with church complaisance if not always active support in order to keep them in line (didn't work, did it).

>31 richardderus: Yes, I was including the bishops (and Pope) when I said “powerful men.”

>32 Storeetllr: I'm not in the habit of that...I regard the religious professionals as inhuman, so refer to them by offices not genders...and goodness knows their reasons for doing the rotten things they did for millennia, with Divine Sanction, put them even further from the rest of us!

>33 richardderus: Right there with you on that, Richard.

Happy Wednesday, Mary. Happy New Thread. LOVE the grandkid topper! I hope those books are treating you well.

>29 Storeetllr: Interesting Mary that you felt that the books hadn't aged as well as you may have expected. I loved the James Herriot books as a young man, but they were very different times.

Happy new thread, Mary. Your grandkids are adorable, and growing!

Happy new thread, Mary. Great photos of the grandkids to start your thread. On your last thread you said you were trying a new series by Deanna Raybourn. I've just started her latest, Killers of a Certain Age. It's definitely a departure!

>35 msf59: Hi, Mark! Thanks, I love those little cuties and love to share pics of them. Speaking of pics, lovely ones of your NOLA trip over on your thread!

>36 PaulCranswick: Yes, it was disappointing, Paul, but, as you say, different times, both of the events in the book and where I was when I read it.

>37 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! They are growing SO fast. Too fast, although I’m enjoying each phase. I watched them last night so their parents could have a night out. Rowan was already in bed-and slept the entire 4 hours I was there-and Ruby and I watched a silly kids’ show for 20 minutes, then she worked on her Easter egg project. (She’s decorating wooden eggs for her mom, dad, brother, and grampa.) Then she announced she was tired and going to bed. It was the first time she’s ever gone to bed without being cajoled. She’s definitely growing up!

>38 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! So nice to see you here! Glad you like the pics of the kids. Because I love posting them.

The Deanna Raybourn I read was part of the Speedwell/Stoker series. I can only take it in small doses, Veronica’s a bit much. I’ll have to check out the new series.

Happy new thread! Your grandchildren are adorable. I have decided I am going to wear a tiara every day in honor of Ruby. We should be in princess mode every day.

>42 Storeetllr: I haven't kept up with the Speedwell/Stoker series. I feel like I need to revisit every series and figure out how far behind I am. Thinking Masie Dobbs and a few others.

>43 witchyrichy: Thanks so much, Karen! I think they are adorable too, even when they aren’t. 😂 I love the idea of us being in princess mode every day and absolutely think you should wear a tiara every day! I usually only wear mine on my birthday. And when Ruby insists.

It’s too easy to lose track of series; there are so many! But it’s great to rediscover ones you’ve enjoyed.

38. Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews. 4.5 stars. Graphic Audio. This is the one where Dina’s sister Maud goes to Dyson (sp?) with Lord Arlen. It was my least favorite of The Innkeepers Chronicles, but this adaptation is stellar. If you haven’t already checked out the Graphic Audio works, you should. Not every book lends itself to this format, but the ones that do—at least the ones I’ve tried—are wonderful. I’d suggest you only listen to books you’ve already read, though, at least the first time.

Edited to fix touchstone.

Happy new thread, Mary! Love the photos of the grands.

>45 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary! Thank you! Glad you liked the pics. There’s always more to come! 😆

Well, I seem to have caught yet another cold, though I haven’t taken a Covid test yet so am only guessing it's a common cold. Honestly, every time I turn around I catch another bug. It’s getting old.

Last week, I bought a bunch of wooden eggs, and Ruby decorated them: one each for her mama, dada, brother, grandpa, and herself. (She's 4, what can I say?) I helped when she asked, but she did them all herself, from choosing the colors to choosing the art mediums, what she painted, and the decorations. All I've done is finish them off with varnish. It was a lot of fun, though the mess was epic.

For Ruby's Easter basket, I bought a bunch of art supplies, while Rowen's getting a little lamb stuffy and a bunch of balls. (Have I mentioned that he loves balls?)


Mama's, Dada's, Rowan's (a rainbow ball because "he loves rainbows and balls"), Grandpa's (because "he's Irish and loves green"). (Clockwise from the top.)

.
Ruby had just a little help from me painting the bunny and the carrot, but she did most of it herself.

Also, I painted one of the wooden eggs for Ruby.



Tomorrow, since the weather's been so nice, we're having a cookout for Easter, though I think we'll be eating inside. My offerings will be cheese and crackers, chips and salsa, a nice bottle of Pinot Grigio, and maybe a cake (if I feel up to baking later today). I really hope I don't test positive for Covid because I really don't want to miss out on being with the kids.

Happy Easter to all who celebrate!

Nice work, Mary! I also have a cold and am not bothering with a test ince I am sure it's just a cold. It's nice to be able to say that again, isn't it.

Thanks, Shelley! We sure had fun with those eggs!

I wouldn't bother testing, but since I want to hang with the family tomorrow, and the kids' 80-year old grandpa will also be there, I'm going to test before I bake the cake tonight just to be as sure as I can.

Have a lovely Easter!

>48 Storeetllr: Where there are small children there are colds. I hope that is all it is and that it's soon gone and long in recurring.

Hi Mary, and belated happy new thread.

Skippety-skip-skip… and here I am since I last posted on your thread in January.

>1 Storeetllr: Adorable pics of the grands.

>48 Storeetllr: Oh, no. I hope it’s only a cold and not COVID. I’m impressed by the beautiful eggs, Ruby’s and yours.

Happy Sunday, Mary. Are you spending the holiday with your lovely grandkids? I will definitely be seeing Jackson and our weather will be beautiful.

>51 quondame: Ha, that is true. In this case, however, I seem to have caught a bug without their help because neither of them have colds.

I think I know how it may have happened. I went to Trader Joe’s on Wednesday, and forgot to put my mask on until I’d been in the store for about 5 minutes. (It was hanging on my wrist ffs.) Almost no one else was wearing a mask. That’s the only place I’ve been all week, with or without a mask. So upsetting as I’m usually good at making up.

>52 karenmarie: Well, you’re here now, and that’s all that counts!

Thanks. I love posting pics of them.

Ruby loves spreading every color of paint and glitter all over everything. She’s just beginning to draw recognizable shapes and figures. I love that we can play with paint together.

>53 msf59: That’s the plan, Mark! So glad your weather is beautiful. Have a wonderful Easter with Jackson! He’ll have so much fun!

Sunday *smooch*

>54 Storeetllr: You're probably right, but those little ones can still spread a cold with out having it themselves - they may have recovered from an earlier visit of one the brought home again.

Oh my, I love those pictures of Ruby and Rowan. It is so good to see a kid that loves food. I raised 3 picky eaters and most of my grandchildren have food issues. It makes mealtime interesting. The wooden eggs will be heirlooms someday. It looks like Ruby may have inherited some of her grandmother’s talent.

I hope your cold is short lived and that you had a lovely Easter yesterday.

Enjoyed the conversation between you and Joanne about the Herriot books. I still have my collection and plan to read them someday. Have you watched the PBS series?

>57 richardderus: Love them smooches!

>58 quondame: Hah! They are germ magnets.

>59 Donna828: Hi, Donna! My daughter was a picky eater after she turned about 5, and so is Ruby. I’m hoping Rowan doesn’t follow in their footsteps. We’ll see.

I’ll be interested to hear your take on the Herriot books when you get around to reading them.

39. The Iggy Chronicles by Spenser Quinn. 3.5 stars. Cute short story in the world of Chet “the Jet” and Bernie, a private investigator. In this one, their neighbor’s dog Iggy goes missing, and Chet and Bernie are on the case. Told from the sometimes easily distracted viewpoint of Chet, an almost police dog who flunked out of training school on his last day due to an unfortunate mishap to do with a cat.

Love the wooden eggs, Mary. Scout also loves art, and one needs a high tolerance for a mess! I hope you are feeling better.

Indeed, Beth! It’s not like I’m a neatnik, much less House Beautiful, but Ruby takes it to a whole ‘nother level.

Speaking of the Easter eggs, in particular the one I painted for Ruby, I happened to enter it in a contest on Instagram, and I won! I’ll be getting a set of Daler Rowley gouache paints (like watercolor but opaque), brushes, and paper. I’ve never tried that brand, which is based in England, so I’m excited.

>65 Storeetllr: That's wonderful and well deserved! Congratulations! And new painting supplies - score!!

Wow on the art prize. At first I read it as "pants" which might have been interesting. ;-) I just finished my second Murderbot book. I'm so glad I have a few more to look forward to.

>65 Storeetllr: Congratulations on the Easter egg decorating win!

Thanks, Joanne, Donna and Susan! It was a challenge/contest to submit something Eastery/ spring-y, but I think they just randomly pick a submission rather than judge the art on the merits. I’ll take it though!

>67 Donna828: I’m so glad you’re enjoying the Murderbot Diaries, Donna! Yes, you’ve got three more novellas and a novel to read, then a new novel is coming out in November.

This is just my own opinion, but I’d suggest this reading order for the next books rather than the order of publication, because these are in chron order of the action:

1. Rogue Protocol
2. Exit Strategy
3. Fugitive Telemetry
4. Network Effect

Oh, yes, there are also two short stories you can read for free: “Home”, which comes right after Exit Strategy ; and “The Future of Work: Compulsory “ which is actually a prequel to All Systems Red.

I just reread The Future of Work. It is short, but it really packs an emotional wallop! (No, of course I’m not crying. I just got something in my eyes.)

>70 Storeetllr: thanks for spelling out the internal chronology, I was wondering! Where do the other books fit in -- after those? I have read them all but I read in publication order, and it's been a hot minute. I might want to re-read them in internal chronological order, for fun!

>72 reconditereader: My pleasure! Which “other books” are you asking about?

I reread this series regularly; it is one of my favorite comfort reads.

For anyone interested in trying Murderbot Diaries, here is a list of all the short stories, novellas and novel(s) in internal order and the reading order I recommend:

1. The Future of Work: Compulsory
2. All Systems Red
3. Artificial Condition
4. Rogue Protocol
5. Exit Strategy
6. Home
7. Fugitive Telemetry
8. Network Effect
9. System Collapse (due November 2023)

You could, however, read the short story The Future of Work at any point as a kind of flashback to Murderbot’s earliest days as a rogue Sec Unit.

40. Bark to the Future by Spenser Quinn. 4 stars. Audio. Sweet but sometimes dark mystery sees Bernie trying to help a down-on-his-luck former high school acquaintance. When the man disappears, Bernie and Chet investigate, and the bodies start falling. Or, in a couple of cases, rising to the surface.

>74 Storeetllr: Thank you, that's awesome!

>76 reconditereader: Glad I could be of help! Have you read any of the Murderbot books yet? I read them first on the Kindle, then listened to the audiobooks, and I think I got a lot more out of both formats than if I’d only done one or the other.

>77 Storeetllr: I've read them all in a combination of printed book & kindle. I can't do audiobooks though. But I might do a big re-read before the next one comes out!

>74 Storeetllr: hugely helpful for newbs... I hope you get a lot of converts to The Series.

*smooch*

>78 reconditereader: Oh, that’s too bad. The reader (Kevin R. Free) is amazing! But, any way you read these wonderful books is great! I’m planning a(nother) reread of the entire series (in order) before November too.

>79 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! I love talking about Murderbot almost as much as I love reading the books. If I can tempt even a few folks to try Murderbot, I’ll be happy.

There’s someone I follow on IG who talks a lot about the series, the characters, gender, the cover art, etc. I think you get on IG sometimes. If so, check them out: @drop.everything.and.read. They do Murderbot Monday which is often very fun.

41. Dust and Shadows by Lyndsay Faye. 4 stars. Audio. I missed this somehow back when I was reading a lot of Faye, so, when I was browsing on Hoopla the other day and saw it, decided to pick it up. Glad I did! Not as good as her other book of short Sherlock Holmes stories, it was still fun to read a different take on the Ripper case.

You may notice that I’ve been editing a lot of my posts. I apologize. I’m using my phone, which has a vicious spellcheck, and, if I’m not careful to proofread what I’ve typed before I click “Post,” the strangest things sometimes appear.

>83 Storeetllr: LOL
My Pixel is bossy, too, Mary.

>82 Storeetllr: It sounds like a good time was had by adventuring. Yay when a familiar author can unexpectedly deliver outside your expectations.

>81 Storeetllr: I'll try to get it to work for me soon.

42. At Grave’s End by Jeaniene Frost. 4 stars. Graphic Audio. Third in the Cat and Bones urban fantasy series. I was sorry when the series was brought to a conclusion, even though there were three spin off series, because I really liked the protagonists Cat and Bones a lot. Now they’re back in a new format, and I couldn’t be happier. This installment has a lot of action, much of it gory, as Cat and Bones find themselves and their allies under attack by a powerful old vampire who indulges in the darkest form of witchcraft, a craft that is forbidden to to vamps.

I really enjoy these Graphic Audio (“a Movie in Your Mind”) adaptations, especially of books I’ve already read and enjoyed. And it’s great to be back with Cat and Bones again as they try to make a safe place for themselves and those they love in a world filled with hostile monsters.

>84 richardderus: Heh, so you get it.

>85 richardderus:. I ten member remember browsing the sheen bees shelves of the L.A. Can heal Central Library back when I worked in downtown Los Angeles. Browsing virtual shelves isn’t quite as fun, though it is easier on my knees, hips, and back.

>86 richardderus: Just thought you might enjoy the MB chatter.

ETA that the strikeouts are what my crazy spellcheck came up with.

I have enjoyed Murderbot, Mary. I've only listened to the audiobooks and agree that Kevin Free is awesome.

Hi Mary, I don't know how it happened but I somehow lost track of your thread. I've reapplied a star and hopefully will be able to keep up with you from now on. Sounds like you had a lovely Easter and congrats on winning yourself some art supplies! My hubby and I have been sticking pretty close to home lately and my books have really helped me get through some long days! After some really stormy days, it looks like the sun is back and we are in for some mild spring weather. I am looking forward to being able to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine (of course, I am in no hurry for the blistering heat of summer.)

>89 BLBera: Free is wonderful as MB, isn't he, Beth! I know some have said listening to the audiobooks makes it difficult for them because they think of MB as a woman, but I really haven't had that problem. It's clear MB considers itself non-gendered, though it has some masculine and some feminine characteristics. MB is a really fascinating character, however one thinks of it.

>90 DeltaQueen50: Oh, I so know how that is, Judy. I'm always losing track of threads and people on LT and then running across them weeks/months/even years later and wondering how I managed to do it. As a matter of fact, I recently went back over some of my earliest threads, and some of those who visited my threads back then have completely disappeared from my LT life in the years since, though I believe they're still around. Just that we lost touch, and I regret that. I'm glad we've stayed connected!

I hope the weather and your reading continue to comfort you, Judy. I know you've been going through some things; thank goodness for books!

Well, I continue to improve with my hip and knee PT, but I found out yesterday that I'm about at the end of the road with that as Medicare only covers PT for so long. I'll try to continue doing the exercises at home so things don't get back to the way they were, with me not being able to walk or even stand for long - and also try to get to the gym regularly - but it's crazy to put a cap on something like PT that helps keep me from having to get a hip and/or knee replacement, which would cost so much more, not only in money but in time spent recovering, pain, and trauma.

I'm finally getting to The Tigress of Forli, about Caterina Riario Sforza, Renaissance Countess of Forli, who married a pope's nephew and, as a favorite of the pope, was a powerful woman in the Vatican, then, after her husband was assassinated, defended her lands from the Borgias, and eventually married into a lateral branch of the Medici family. It's doubly appealing to me because it talks about many of the places I visited when I traveled through Italy in 2003. I'm probably not going to finish before it's due back to the library, but I'll put a hold on it and finish it when it comes available again.

>93 Storeetllr: Now Caterina does sound like a woman worth reading about!

She was fierce! Perhaps too much so, but, from what I’ve read that time period, especially in Italy, people had to be to survive.

>93 Storeetllr: Sorry to hear about the PT cap. It does seem odd since it is helping you. If you belong to AARP, you might want to check out some of their exercise videos. They have stretches and exercises for flexibility that might help.

>96 witchyrichy: Hi, Karen! Yes, it is ridiculous, but insurance often is. Skimp on relatively inexpensive treatments that really help, which only results in much more expensive procedures later. I’m determined to continue doing the exercises and stretches and go back like once a month to check I’m on the right track.

So, I seldom post my Wordle score, but there’s a funny story about this one. This morning, my daughter sent me a Zillow posting of a duplex not far from where we are living. It would be perfect, giving both of us much needed room. Unfortunately, it would more than double our monthly mortgage payment, and I simply couldn’t afford it. So, feeling disappointed about the state of my finances, I did today’s Wordle, and the correct word didn’t just pop into my head. It was already there!. (adieu, story, broke)

Wordle 672 3/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

43. Both Feet in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost. 4 stars. Audio. Not quite as enjoyable as The Other Half of the Grave, this was, nonetheless, an entertaining look at the story told by Cat in One Foot in the Grave, this time from Bones’ pov.

44. An Impossible Imposter by Deanna Raybourn. 3.5 stars. Audio. I gave it only 3.5 stars because it was a bit too angsty for me, and the villains too one-dimensional, though I did enjoy learning more of Veronica’s past, and all the twists and turns, and the shocker, were fun

45. Who Cries for the Lost by C. S. Harris. 3 stars. Audio. Would have been 3.5 stars if not for the narrator, Jenny Sterlin, who sounded like she had a head cold and had been trying to treat it with too much medicinal brandy and was now eating a mouthful of mashed potatoes. Also, the plot was convoluted. Still, it has It’s moments.

It’s a sad day, the end of an era: Overdrive is no more. I knew it was coming, but no amount of time is ever enough. Yes, I know, there’s Libby, and I’ve been using it, but, to be honest, I’ve never warmed to it. It’s not reader friendly, imo. I’m not crazy about Hoopla either, tbh.

Someone on another site said we’d still be able to use the web version of Overdrive, but, no, that seems to have been just a cruel tease. I tried, and it just sends you to Libby.

I was going to do my stats for April, but I’m too depressed so that will have to wait till later, after I’ve processed the worst of my grief.

Change is always for the worse when it comes to tech. Sad day indeed.

I'm in the "hate Libby" camp. The user interface is just so ill-conceived. And yeah, Hoopla is just yeesh.

>103 richardderus: This particular change is especially bad. I started using it months ago, as I knew sometimes changes get better with familiarity. Nope. I hated it then, and my opinion hasn’t changed after 6+ months of using it.

>104 drneutron: Make room for one more at that camp, Jim. I just wonder what they were thinking and if they bothered to ask actual users what they thought about the app’s features (and lack of them) before theyy started fooling around with it.

April Stats

Total books listened to: 10

Scifi: 1
Fantasy: 3
Historical mystery: 3
Cozy mystery: 2
Fictional memoir: 1

Favorite of the month

38. Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews. 4.5 stars. Graphic Audio (A Movie in Your Mind)

46. Under Alien Skies by Phil Plait. 3.75 stars. Audio. I enjoyed this tour of the galaxy, for the most part. It’s a clever idea, part hard science and part scifi. The author is an astrophysicist, and he plays tourist as he takes us from one celestial body to another, describing what he would see and feel if he could actually visit these places. From our moon to an asteroid to Mars to Saturn and so on until we reach our galaxy’s center and the black hole of Sagittarius-A. I admit, I found this part both the most interesting and the most incomprehensible and ended up listening to it 3 times. (I still didn’t quite get the entire concept of what a black hole is and does.) Quite a trip. The only thing I didn’t like was the voice of the reader, who was the author. I’m not sure how it managed to be both enthusiastic and soporific at the same time, but I often found myself losing track of what he was saying and had to backtrack. (I do wish authors would pay pros to narrate their books. Except for Neil Gaiman. He’s amazing.)

>108 Storeetllr: Writers so often aren't performers which is what an audiobook needs. At least it kept your attention, Mary.

*smooch*

Interesting with the Overdrive/Libby discussions. I'm in the like Libby camp, but not the Love Libby camp. Its been a long time since I had used Overdrive. For me with audiobooks, Libby just seemed to work better and that's all I've ever used.

With ebooks, I haven't actually used Libby to do the reading. I've borrowed books thru Libby, but then had them delivered to my Kindle.

Hoopla, I've only ever used to read graphic novels

>110 mahsdad: Hi, Jeff! Well, I’m using Libby, and I don’t hate it enough to burn it down, but I greatly preferred Overdrive. What did you use before Libby came on the scene? I remember there was another app—I think it was called One-Click—but I didn’t care for it either.

47. The Bride Wore White by Amanda Quick. 3.5 stars. Audio. A quick and fun but ultimately forgettable paranormal romance set in the 30s in Burning Cove. Jack, left scarred both physically and psychically by a fiery explosion is hired by Madam Ariadne, Psychic Dream Consultant, to find out who’s out to frame her for a murder she didn’t commit. Dark chocolate brain candy.

>111 Storeetllr: I think it was just Overdrive. When I look at the app store I "bought" Libby in 2018 and Overdrive in 2014. I can't remember what the trigger was that made me flip. I wasn't reading as many audiobooks back in the day. I was more getting them physically from the library, ripping the CD and loading them into itunes

>107 Storeetllr: Nice stats!

Happy weekend reads!

>113 mahsdad: Oh! I remember doing that too! What a drag, but I’ve still got a bunch of old audios on my back-up external drive.

There’s one audiobook edition of a book I like to re-listen to every so often that has disappeared from the library. I don’t like the edition that replaced it. I’m planning to buy them as CDs (if I can find them), then figure out a way to get them on my iPhone, which is what I use to listen to audiobooks. Otherwise, I’ll be happy to never do that again!

>114 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita!

48. The World in a Grain by Vince Beiser. 4.5 stars. Audio. Wow. Who knew 1) sand was such a highly sought-after commodity and 2) that a book about sand would be so compelling? Thank you, Richard, for reviewing and recommending it.

I preferred Overdrive but started using Libby exclusively when my libraries kept telling me that Overdrive was going away. I know I preferred Overdrive but I don't remember why. I only use it to check out ebooks to read on my Kindle. I don't like that Libby keeps redirecting me to the shortest wait queue. Normally that'd be fine, but more often than not, it's the library I'm already maxed out on the number of holds I can have. Such problems! :)

>117 Storeetllr: I'll look for that one for John.

Hope all is well, Mary!

>117 Storeetllr: YAY for you finding the story as compelling as I did. *smooch*

>118 Copperskye: I dislike Libby but am using it because, as you noted, no choice. Just yesterday, though, I discovered a way to recommend books, though you don’t automatically get put on the hold list if the library acquires a book you recommended, and it takes a number of extra steps to get to the place where you can recommend a book. Even so, at least it’s possible. Why they had to hide the feature under layers is beyond me. Anyway, it’s what we have so…

I think John would enjoy it. You too. It was pretty fascinating and easy to read.

>119 richardderus: I did, and thank you again for suggesting it!

49. Persephone Station by Stina Leicht. 3 stars. Audio. Loved the diversity and one of the characters (Rosie rocked), but I wasn’t thrilled with the numerous infodumps broken up by shoot-em-up action, all of which was only made worse by the sugary teenager-ish voice of the narrator. I was interested enough in the outcome to finish it, but I’m not going to rush out and get the next in the series. And, if/when I do, I’m going to read it on Kindle. (Recommended by Richard).

>122 Storeetllr: The narrator really must've been horrible, Mary. I'm sorry it wasn't the read for you that it was for me. Onward and upward through the books we fly!

>123 richardderus: Yep, terrible for me, anyway. If you listen to a sample of the audiobook, let me know what you think. I mean, it could just have been my mood.

The second season of Good Omens is set to drop on August 28, a couple days after my birthday. Best birthday present ever!

Happy Friday, Mary. How are you? How are those grands? Inquiring minds and all that...

>126 msf59: Mark! So nice of you to stop by! Kids are sick but on the mend and still manage to look cute as ever. So far I’ve managed to avoid getting what they have, even tho I’ve so been with them almost every day, getting coughed on. *touch wood*

50. A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn. 4.5 stars. Audio. Someone has threatened to kill Stoker’s eldest brother, blaming him for a tragedy that happened in his youth, and bragging they had already killed two of those who had also been present at the time of that tragedy. Lord Templeton turns to Stoker and Veronica to find the killer before he becomes another victim. He organizes a house party at his country estate, where the events of the past has taken place, and invites the others who had been present at the time of the tragedy and their wives. Meanwhile, on a personal front, Stoker hasn’t forgiven Veronica for her lack of confidence in him stemming from their last escapade, and she is at her wit’s end at what she sees as his intransigence. It’s all very neatly and (mostly) happily resolved, which leads me to believe this may be the last book in the series. I hope I’m wrong.

>128 Storeetllr: Eight books is a fine track record for a series, but I hear you about wanting more. If it's still possible to imagine more stories in the world they're set in, I hope you get your desired outcome.

*smooch*

>129 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. I know the author has begun what may be another series, this time a contemporary mystery - Killers of a Certain Age, to be precise - so who knows if she'll go back to Regency England.

A little late, but here's a photo I took on Mother's Day of my beautiful daughter and my darling grandkids.



Here's a picture of the Mother's Day event I attended on the day before Mother's Day. My local chapter of Moms Demand Action For Gun Safety marched over the Tappan Zee Bridge to meet the Westchester chapter in the middle to demand the reinstatement of the Ban on Assault Weapons. It was a glorious morning, and we had more than 100 folks from our chapter and even more from the Westchester chapter. I am happy to say I was able to make it halfway to the middle before I had to turn back.


I'm just visible behind the umbrella on the right side, wearing sun glasses, just in front of the tall man with the beard.

>131 Storeetllr: Kudos all the way for taking a public stand on a hugely important issue. Relatedly, I think the weather goddesses agree with you... look at the day they gave you!

Thanks for your encouragement, Richard. It gets pretty discouraging sometimes—so many mass murder, so little public outcry. You’d have thought that, after Sandy Hook, more and stronger gun regulations would have been enacted and everyone would have been behind it, but no. At least being a part of the Moms grassroots movement gives me some hope and a vehicle to feel I’m doing something.

Went for my last physical therapy session yesterday. I’m still not fully recovered, but, though I still have enough Medicare benefits left for a few more sessions, my therapist and I decided it would be best to save them for when the cold weather returns and my joints really need help. In the meantime, I’m going to start going to the gym at least a few times a week and continuing the PT exercises and stretches the other days.

Bought a HumbleBundle of 39 art-related digital books for $18, which I thought might be worth having. Some are on watercolor painting, some on drawing techniques, some on acrylic painting, etc. I’ve gone through a few of them out, and, yes, very much worth it! Here’s the link, in case anyone else is inclined: https://www.humblebundle.com/books/learn-to-draw-with-walter-foster-books?hmb_so...

Hi Mary, just cruising through, seeing how you are doing. Looks like your reading is going well, as is mine. I haven't been feeling 100% lately, but luckily, this doesn't interfere with my reading. Went for a slew of blood tests yesterday and have my fingers crossed that the doctors can figure out what is going on with me and get it corrected. Good on you for getting out there and protesting! I admire you for taking a stand!

>134 Storeetllr: The Humble Bundle offerings didn't tempt me this time but I can absolutely see your interest in them! Happy weekend ahead's reads, Mary!

*smoochiesmoochsmooch*

Hi, Richard! I don't get many bundles, but this one called to me, and I couldn't resist. Hope you had a lovely weekend and your week has started out great!

51. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. 4.5 stars. Audio This was so much fun! Who could have predicted folk like Viv, an orc with a dream of getting out of the killing business and opening a coffee shop, Tandri, a succubus who works hard not to practice her craft, and Thimble, a ratling addicted to coffee who bakes the most scrumptious treats ever known to man or, you know, orc? The other characters are as compelling, from the bard with the acoustic lyre to the mob boss with a sweet tooth to the wizard who dislikes hot drinks but insists on taking up space at one of the tables. As advertised, this is high fantasy with low stakes, though the stakes are worth fighting for, just not in the way you might imagine, what with an orc involved. Read by the author, and he did a really good job of it! Short but powerfully fun, and highly recommended.

>138 Storeetllr: Oh hell

*trudges off to Ammy to finally get one*

>139 richardderus: 😘

>131 Storeetllr: Great photo of your daughter and grandkids.

Thanks, Beth!

Not much book reading the past few days, other than listening to some comfort reads, which I don't add to my list of books read because most of the time I'm not paying close enough attention to them to count. I've got a pinched nerve in my mid back, so I've been in too much pain to be able to concentrate. Instead, I've been watching two of my favorite shows: Good Omens, Season 1, and Sandman.



If you haven't read or watched Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (well, the show was screenwritten by Neil, but he stays pretty close to the way it was envisioned by him and Terry), I high recommend you do now. The story's great, and the acting is wonderful! Every actor is perfect for the role(s) they play, and I ended up enjoying even the characters I dislike (Witchfinder Sergeant-Major Shadwell, e.g.).



As for The Sandman, what a wild ride! It's not the feel-good show that Good Omens is, but I love it too. It's filled with wonders and terrors, sublime beauty and sickening ugliness, despair and hopefulness. I admit to crying a time or two. I think my favorite episode is The Sound of Her Wings, the one that features Death, though the scenes with The Corinthian are compelling, as is the episode where Morpheus visits Hell.

I can't wait for the second season of both of these shows.

>143 Storeetllr: I've never been a comics reader but this version of THE SANDMAN is glorious visually and very involving in its scripting.

So eager for GOOD OMENS s2!

So eager for GOOD OMENS s2!. YES!!!

I think The Sandman was the first comic/graphic novel I read since childhood. After that, I have enjoyed a few GNs, like March and Maus and The Twilight Man, to name a few, though it’s not my favorite form of literature. (I need to read the physical book, not digital, and even then it might not work; sometimes the text is too small and hurts my eyes.)

52. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn. 4.5 stars. Audio. For all who love the Thursday Murder Club and the Elderly Lady novels, check this out. Four elderly women have worked for decades as assassins for a shadowy agency called The Museum. The Museum was begun after WWII, dedicated to ridding the world of Nazis and other wrongdoers. The women are set to retire and have been given a fancy cruise as a retirement gift by The Museum. They’re having a great time when they recognize one of the crew as an agent of The Museum and set to work to discover what he’s doing there. The answer isn’t pretty. Besides being a really fun romp (notwithstanding all the murdery stuff), the entire novel is a pretty powerful metaphor for what it’s like to be an elderly woman and the way many men look at women of all ages, without being a man-hating screed or ignoring some women’s sometimes less unattractive traits. I hope this turns into a series.

Calling all audiobook scifi fans. HumbleBundle is offering 20 audiobooks for $20. All 6 of the Murderbot books plus a bunch of others with which I’m unfamiliar. I already own 3 of the 6 Murderbot audios, but it’s still a good deal on the other three, plus I might find a new author/series. And it helps the National Coalition Against Censorship. https://www.humblebundle.com/books/marthawells-agriddle-and-more-audiobooks-book...

Getting caught up on threads so here we go!

>104 drneutron: >106 Storeetllr: >110 mahsdad: I use Libby to search for ebooks but don't use it to read. I use Hoopla exclusively for audio books, and the interface is fine but I *hate* its ebook format. And, neither of them search the analog book catalog so I have to remember to do a separate search. Also, Hoopla checkouts do not count towards the specific library branch, which for a rural county is an issue as the supervisors always threaten to close one of branches to save money. Thank for listening ;-)

>107 Storeetllr: I like the way you do stats.

>131 Storeetllr: Lovely photo! And, you go, girl. The time has come to make sure alternative voices are heard. In the day, MADD make a big difference in drunk driving laws, I think.

>138 Storeetllr: Got me!

>134 Storeetllr: >135 DeltaQueen50: How did I not know about Humble Bundle for books? I've bought software but a long time ago.

>143 Storeetllr: Sending healing thoughts to you. And, again, how did I not know there was a Good Omens 2?!? I evidently do live under a rock!

May Stats

Total books listened to: 7

Scifi: 1
Fantasy: 1
Mystery: 3
- historical mystery: 1
- paranormal mystery/romance: 1
- contemporary mystery
Nonfiction: 2

Favorite of the month

I can’t decide. I read four almost-5-star books this month, all of them different genres, styles, subjects. If I were forced, I guess I’d choose the fantasy, because it is so different from other fantasies I read, and it’s such a feel-good story, though there’s a lot more to it than that.

51. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. 4.5 stars. Audio

>148 witchyrichy: Hi, Karen! Sorry, I seem to have missed seeing your post until now. No, I’m not going blind quite yet. For the past week, when I haven’t been babysitting, I’ve been working on painting a bunch of Wear Orange rocks to commemorate National Gun Violence Awareness Day, June 2 this year. The Moms Demand chapters for Rockland and Westchester are getting together for a picnic/program to watch the Tappan Zee Bridge lit up orange Friday night in honor of survivors of gun violence, and I’ll be giving away the rocks at the event. Pics to follow.

Curious why you don’t use Libby for audiobooks.

My stats are very basic compared to many folks’ stats, but I just don’t have the patience to gather more details. Works for me though, and I’m glad you like it!

Good Omens 2 won’t be out for awhile, but at least there will be one. Ditto The Sandman.

ETA that GO2 is due out the end of July on Prime. I’m SO glad I was mistaken! (It’s Sandman 2 that won’t be out for at least a year.)

>149 Storeetllr: You had a great reading month, Mary, deciding between four amost 5* books :-)

Anita! Hi! Thanks so much for visiting! Yes, it was a really good reading month, even though I read fewer books.

>150 Storeetllr: Your activism always inspires me!

My library's version of Libby doesn't seem to have many of them so I now always start with Hoopla.

>149 Storeetllr: Happy-Sunday *smooch*

>153 witchyrichy: Ah, well, that's on your library. The more people who ask for audiobooks, the sooner more will show up on the library's system. There's a way to recommend books on Libby, but it involves a deep dive into the Search feature. Nothing so easy as what OverDrive used to have.

I'll be posting some pics from the Wear Orange/Gun Violence Awareness Day event of Friday evening. We had a good turnout. As always, it was a beautiful and inspiring event, though heartbreaking to hear the stories of students and survivors, so a lot of folks come who might not go to more spirited rallies and protests.

>154 richardderus: Thanks, RD! Hope your weekend has been lovely! You must be enjoying the cool weather, though I imagine the winds aren't fun down near the ocean. *smooches*

Picture time!


Rowan was too interested in the Orange Bridge (aka the Tappan Zee or Cuomo Bridge) to look at the camera.


Group Picture: Ruby and I are in the front row, holding up the letters "D" and "E," respectively. Taken by another Mom supporter.


Ruby (and a few other kids) holding up signs for the audience to join in the folk song: "Ain't gonna let those Legislators turn us around..."


The Tappan Zee (Cuomo) Bridge from Memorial Park in Nyack NY


Moon over the Hudson with the TZ (Cuomo) Bridge and our Wear Orange attendees.
ETA that I didn't take this particular pic--another Mom did--but I thought it was a great shot.

Hi Mary, Love those pictures! It looks as if you have a very active group. I saw your painted rocks somewhere, Instagram, maybe? Anyway, they are beautiful!

>146 Storeetllr: Glad to see you enjoyed that one. I've got it on my list.

>157 Storeetllr: What a lovely event to have pictures of yourself and the grands at!

>158 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne! It is pretty active for a suburban area. We’d have had more attendees, but I’m sure many were discouraged by the severe thunderstorms that ended only minutes before the event was scheduled to start!

I think you’d enjoy Killers, though I must warn you that it can get a bit bloody, and the “good guys” are more anti-hero than not. I loved it!

>159 richardderus: Yes! Ruby’s been to every Wear Orange event except during the worst of the pandemic, in 2020 and 2021, and Rowan’s been to every one since he was born. It was easier with him last year: though he could walk, he wasn’t half as fast as he was this year. He’d be halfway across the field toward the playground by the time one of his parents started after him. I cherish the memories.

53. Identity by Nora Roberts. 4 stars. Audio. This romantic thriller was a bit hard for me emotionally because of the subject matter. Not only was the villain a serial killer, he was an identity thief. (It’s got me checking my credit card and bank account like a paranoid.) Also, I didn’t feel much of a spark between the main couple, though I liked them both. In fact, there wasn’t a lots of drama between any of the characters, but I think that may have been on purpose to highlight and contrast the drama caused of the psychopathic identity thieving serial killer. It was, all in all, an engrossing read, as are most of Roberts’ novels.

54. Witch King by Martha Wells. 3.5 stars. Audio. Signature Martha Wells, this fantasy novel drops you smack in the middle of the story with no explanations, then drags you along on a wild adventure, still with little or no explanation of what’s going on or who these people are or why they’re doing what they’re doing. Also signature Wells, you keep reading because it’s all so interesting. Unlike most novels that do this, tho, this one never clears things up. I think it might be that I’m going to have to reread this to get it, but I’m not rushing to do that. Anyway, I liked the characters, especially THE demon Kai (inside joke), and the world building and systems of magic.

Have a fabOO weekend, Mary, now that the AQI is heading the good way!

Thanks, RD! It’s a relief! Also reasons to enjoy the weekend: one evil and hypocritical religious extremist is enjoying his new existence in hell (damn, I wish I believed in hell), and one treasonous bloated orange lunatic has been indicted on 37 (38?) counts. I’m diggin’ those vibes!

>163 Storeetllr: As Witch King is rapidly rising to the top of my TBR (books due at the library) this is good to know. I have no trouble being dropped in medias res.

>166 quondame: I think you’ll like it, and I hope you “get” it. (When you do, clue me in. 😂)

>160 Storeetllr: Sounds good to me! :)

>168 Copperskye: 😘 Let me know what you think when you get to it!

55. Scout’s Progress by Sharon Lee. 4 stars. Audio. Audible. When you can’t figure out what you want to read, and nothing you try grabs you, a novel from the Liaden Universe can usually do the trick. I don’t know how I missed reading this, as I’ve had it in my own Audible library forever, but I’m glad I finally got to the story of how Daav and Aelliana (sp?) meet. I love how she rescued herself, but it wasn’t clear to me why and how the learning unit was unlocked. Now I’m going to check out Mouse and Dragon, the next in the series, though I’m almost positive I already read it.

56. Brazen Virtue by Nora Roberts. 3 stars. Audio. First published in 1988, this romantic thriller is a jolting look back at our not-all-that-distant past—of landlines, typewriters, bulky desktop computers, misogyny, and lots and lots of cigarette smoking. (Hard to believe we really lived like this, tho I was there!) I probably read this back then, but I swear I remember nothing of it. Because it is, ultimately, forgettable, except for the aforesaid look back in time and the disagreeable characters.

57. Long Shadows by David Baldacci. Audio. 4 stars. I don’t usually care much for the flawed and tortured hero, especially in mysteries, but the problem suffered by the hero/detective in this series is so interesting that I am okay with it. Amos Decker has had a lot of tragedies in his life, and he hasn’t reacted well to any of them. A former pro football player whose career ended with a brain injury that caused him to end up with a bunch of brain anomalies, he becomes a cop after recovering (physically). One day he returns home to find his wife and daughter slaughtered. When the series actually begins (with Memory Man), he’s lost his house, is living in a cardboard box on the street, and has put on a huge amount of weight due to his terrible diet. In this installment, no. 7 in the series, he’s unhappy to be paired with a new partner (“I don’t do well with change”) and sent to Miami to solve the murder of a federal judge and her bodyguard. But nothing is as it seems. Good twisty mystery, moderate thrills. I really like the growth of this character, and I almost shouted in glee at the ending.

Hiya Mary! I see you've been re-experiencing the Bad Old Days...the modern movie industry's repromoting smoking, angeringly, with the current crop of major releases. Here we went to all the trouble of demonizing the devil's toilet paper and these idiot kids are undoing that work along with the rest of the social progress we fought for. Damn their hides!

Ah, yes, now I get why the Nora Roberts was packaged as a new publication. It’s been adapted for TV. Honestly, I don’t get why anyone would choose that novel to adapt. She’s written some really excellent romantic thrillers recently that I’d rather see adapted. Oh, well, I’m not the audience they’re targeting (because I’m not big on TV and films).

Thank you so much for visiting my thread and commenting, Richard. I know your thread is really busy, so I appreciate your taking the time to keep me company.

Hope you’re doing better and the tenderness has completely abated.

Looks like you’re keeping active, Mary. Congrats for winning art supplies and fingers crossed that the activism of your group brings positive results.

>175 Familyhistorian: Greetings, Meg! So lovely to have you visit!

I too am hoping our activism helps bring about change. It’s the old “One step forward, two steps back” dance, but I try to remember the huge change MADD made back in the 80s. That took some time too, but eventually change came about.

58. The Librarian of Crooked Lane by C. J. Archer. 4 stars. Audio. Delightful historical mystery where magic is commonplace and each kind of magic is unique to a specific subject. The protagonist believes she came from a family who could wield silver magic. The detective’s mother’s magic is related to time, and he is engaged to a woman whose family has leather magic. The mystery involves art theft. This is a spin off from the Glass and Steele series that began with The Watchmaker’s Daughter.

59. The Medici Manuscript by C. J. Archer. 4 stars. Audio. Not quite as compelling as the first, and it ended so abruptly I was surprised, but second books are often not as good as the first. In this one, Sylvia continues to search for answers to whether her family could be Silver magicians in an old book written in code, tho Gabe seems more intent than her on finding the answer. Then someone steals the book, and another attempt is made to kidnap Gabe. I’m looking forward to the third book, when I hope some answers are forthcoming.

60. A Brief History of Black Holes by Dr. Becky Smethurst. 4 stars. Audio. It was interesting to listen to the author talk about what we know about black holes, with her northern England (Manchester) accent. And her enthusiasm for the subject really came through. As for me, I comprehended maybe 25% of what she was talking about, which is actually more than I usually manage, perhaps due to her excellent style of explaining and partly because I’ve read about it all before. (Eventually, some of it has got to sink in.) Anyway, I should probably read this again, and I probably will, because it is so accessible, not to mention fascinating.

>177 Storeetllr: I'll at least have to try 58!

>177 Storeetllr: Dr. Becky is one of my favorite science communicators! Her explanation in a recent YouTube outing of how to interpret sigma numbers was the one I finally understood.

Sabina Hassenpfeffer or whatever is the other excellent YT science explainer but the German accent can be a bit much for my tiny little 386 processor brain.

>178 quondame: I hope you enjoy it when you get around to it!

>179 richardderus: She really is the best I’ve read so far. I just subscribe to her YouTube channel. Such enthusiasm is contagious! I’ll have to check out the other one you mentioned, though I know what you mean about some accents.

>181 Storeetllr: Here's her channel's link:
https://www.youtube.com/@SabineHossenfelder

>182 richardderus: Thanks! I’ve subscribed to her too!

June Stats

Total books listened to: 8

Scifi: 1
Fantasy: 3
- historical romantic fantasy: 2
- dark fantasy: 1
Mystery: 3
- romantic mystery thriller: 2
- contemporary mystery: 1
Nonfiction (astrophysics): 1

Favorite(s) of the month (none were 5-star reads, but these 4 were memorable)

Identity by Nora Roberts. Real life scare-fest where the monsters are those who defraud and ruin peoples’ lives. And they are everywhere.

Scout’s Progress by Sharon Lee. Such a pleasure to visit the Liaden Universe again.

58. The Librarian of Crooked Lane by C. J. Archer. Cool new historical fantasy series set in the world of The Watchmaker’s Apprentice.

60. A Brief History of Black Holes by Dr. Becky Smethurst. Like Dr. Becky, I really like saying spaghettification.

Biggest disappointment

Witch King by Martha Wells. While it was enjoyable, and Kai was an interesting character, it was no Murderbot.