LovingLit || thread the third

A little still life to begin, featuring a black bench-top, coffee pot and apples.

Books so far

-January-
1. Poems for a World Gone to Sh*t
2. How to Fail by Elizabeth Day NF
3. The Gum Thief by Douglas Coupland

-February-
4. The Wall by John Lancaster
5. Three Women by Lisa Tadeo NNF
6. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
7. The White Book by Han Kang NF

-March-
8. Human Acts by Han Kang 224p
9. Politics and the English Language by George Orwell NF (essay) 48p
10. Interpreting our Heritage by Freeman Tilden NF, illustrated

-April-
11. In the Bedroom by Andre Dubus (short stories)
12. Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay
13. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells audio (reread)
14. Stories: The Collected Short Fiction by Helen Garner

-May-
15. Can you Tolerate This? by Ashleigh Young essays NF
16. The Fasting Girls by Joan Jacobs Brumberg NF, illustrated
17. Family by Mark Haddon short stories
18. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett audio
19. What Is It All but Luminous: Notes from an Underground Man by Art Garfunkel NF, illustrated
20. Paul Simon: The Life by Robert Hilburn NF, illustrated

-June-
21. Signs Preceding the end of the World by Yuri Herrera
22. Capitalism: A Ghost Story by Arundhati Roy NF
23. How we Met by Michele A'Court NF
24. The Affairs of the Falcons by Melissa Rivero

Books so far cont'd...

-July-
25. Ghost by Jason Reynolds YA
26. Now or Never: A Dunkirk Story by Bali Rai YA
27. The Vivisector by Patrick White audio
28. Man Alone by john Mulgan
29. I am not your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez YA
30. The Lake by Jack Lasenby YA

-August-
31. Piano Rock: A 1950s childhood by Gavin Bishop young YA, illustrated
32. Cleo: How an Uppity Cat Helped Heal a Family By Helen Brown NF
33. Into Thin Air by Job Krakauer NF
34. Left for Dead by Beck Weathers NF
35. The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest by G. Weston DeWalt and Anatoli Boukreev NF

-September-
36. The Boy Behind the Curtain by Tim Winton NF, audio
37. The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld (dnf, read 200 of 280p)
38. The Riders by Tim Winton audio

-October-
39. The Strange Adventures of H by Sarah Burton audio
40. Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse YA, illustrated
41. Nutshell by Ian McEwan audio

-November-
42. Dark Summit by Nick Heil NF, illustrated
43. Imitation of Life by Fannie Hurst (dnf, read 222 of 310p)
44. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed NF
45. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles audio audio
46. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo

-December-
47. Cautionary Tales by Hilaire Belloc illustrated, verse
48. The Political Years by Marilyn Waring NF
49. Impossible by Stan Walker and Margie Thomson NF
50. The Gifts of Reading by Robert Macfarlane NF
51. Tomorrow by Graham Swift
52. Mean Girl: Ayn Rand by Lisa Duggan NF

Currently reading


A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, on audio.
So far- loving it!

From the last thread:

Where quondame pointed to >250 charl08, and said: Atonement was the movie/book that finally broke any attraction I had to stories that depended on wealthy Brits (or anyone else for that matter) in a big house rather than characters with interesting lives.

I have heard about the film and thought I should read the book, see the film, but can't really bring myself to carve out time for that. Especially not now :)

And where RD successfully directed the following riposte at moi: Terribly., thus leaving the floor open for me to..... end that particular exchange (it having run its course) :)

And, karenmarie said- Hi Megan.
I’ve never read anything by McEwan, and certainly won’t read this one. I do have Atonement on my shelves but so far haven’t felt the need to read it.
>247 LovingLit: It was ever so terribly clever. Damning with faint praise.

Funnily enough, I am reading A Gentleman in Moscow now, and although he is fancy, a Count and all, he carries it well :) So, far from being a pretentious foetus, his flowery language suite perfectly, leaving me to sit and let the wonderful words wash over me!

Happy new thread!

A pot of coffee is a great way to start.

Happy new thread, Megan.

Hi, Megan!

Happy new thread!

Hi Megan and happy new thread!

>4 LovingLit: Glad you’re loving AGiM so far.

>5 LovingLit: So, far from being a pretentious foetus, his flowery language suite perfectly, leaving me to sit and let the wonderful words wash over me! *smile*

Happy new thread!

>6 quondame: Hiya!

>7 PaulCranswick: So say I *every* morning of *every* day :) That coffee pot saw me through our 51 day hard lockdown earlier this year, and now is a regular part of my morning routine

>9 kidzdoc: Hi Darryl! Great to see you here :)

>10 figsfromthistle: Thank you!

>11 karenmarie: It's all I can do not to listen to it all the hours I am meant to be at work. I will listen on my commute, so that gives me 40 mins a day at least

>12 drneutron: Thanks doc!

Happy new thread, Megan!

Happy New Thread, Megan. Love the still life topper.

>4 LovingLit: Hooray for the Count!

Heavens, you move fast when you want to. *shakes road dust onto Megan's new floor*

Hi Megan my dear, happy new thread dear friend.

Ahhhh. A fresh thread. So wonderful, exuding promise. It'll be great!

>14 FAMeulstee: Thanks!

>15 msf59: Yes, the Count is living a sedate lifestyle so far in Book 1. We shall see what Book 2 has to say about that!

>16 richardderus: A new thread will do that to a gal :)

>17 johnsimpson: Thanks JS.

>18 weird_O: Filled with promise, indeed :) There's nothing like a new thread for that- just think of all the books I will read!

I am such a home-body that I sometimes forget there is life outside my house after dark! I went to the movies this evening, and in the process happened upon late night shopping at *the mall*.

Given my homeliness....it was a little shocking to see so many people out consuming. I all but ran to the dark theatre (my happy place) and watched a NEW RELEASE! Yes, NZ gets to have some of those, but only if they are NZ films, like this one is. Baby Done- in which Taika Waititi had a hand. Very fun film, highly recommended.

Side note about NZ films, invariably they feature every Kiwi actor that is currently working. Haha, we are so small, it makes me smile even to think of it. Every second person in the film is a familiar face from the small screen :)

Oooh, I love Taika. Everything he touches is hilarious and wonderful.

>21 scaifea: Yes, he is a gem :)
The film is very cool- about a reluctant expectant mother.

>20 LovingLit: A Kiwi lad I once knew said that going to the theater was like watching home movies on the big screen. Taika Waititi's home movies I would deffo watch.

>24 richardderus: That is such a lovely way of putting it! It rings true :)

I chanced upon a second hand book sale out today in the 26 degC (78.8F) heat, and bought (in order of purchase):
(1) The Optician of Lampedusa by Emma Jane Kirby
(2) The Crucible by Arthur Miller (as a gift for my old school friend, as we read the main parts aloud in our English class way back when)
(3) Sunset Village by Frank Sargeson (published 1974)
(4) Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
(5) The Folly by Ivan Vladisovic, a fable, apparently.
Each edition was $4, and all are in lovely condition. A win!

I've not had much luck with Ivan Vladislavic - found the tricks he plays with form quite hard to get my head around. I would love to know what you make of this, Megan.

Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed

A welcome interlude between A Gentleman in Moscow and Imitation of Life, whose title I love way more than the reading of the book.

Jealous that you got to go to an actual movie theater!!! Our COVID numbers are skyrocketing. Sigh.

On a brighter note -- happy new thread and yay for the book haul!!!

>27 charl08: The author's name sounded familiar, but I am not sure I have actually read anything of his before. I look forward to it, as it is an unusually small book (in surface area!). So is cute :)

>29 Berly: It took me ages to get back to movies after our hard lockdown, I guess I got home-stuck! And then we had our little scare where some restrictions were in place...but now I have been to three in 5 weeks! All you US-ites are in my thoughts a lot these days. Watching with bated breath on election results etc... :|

STILL with the Imitation of Life! Masochist.

Well, anyway, have a lovely Sunday and a great week ahead.

>31 richardderus: Trying to carry on with it. I want to have read it, but the actual reading of it is proving less rewarding!

Also reading:
Dark Summit by Nick Heil, yet another Everest story....le sigh. I just cannot help it. They are just so compelling!

>32 LovingLit: Good heavens, it's grimgrimgrim! Fannie Hurst was popular, but not very deft. The story is evergreen because it's always popular to read about how miserable women are without A Man to support them.

Eccchhh.

>33 LovingLit: Sounds like a pulse pounder. Enjoy.

>34 richardderus: I am considering abandoning Fannie Hurst! I am 4/5 of the way through, and still feel like I cannot carry on. Sheesh.
High hopes//dashed.
:)

Hi Megan my dear, i hope that you and the family are having a good weekend and that you are all well, sending love and hugs to you all from both of us and Felix, dear friend.

>36 johnsimpson: Hi JS, thanks for stopping by. It is *pouring* with rain here, so we are having a nice restful day. The fire it lit, I finished a book in bed this morning, we will do some cleaning today, and then I will take the kids to the pool- where I will luxuriate in the spa and sauna!

Well, PM Ardern said it well:
Congratulations President-elect @JoeBiden & @KamalaHarris on your victory in the US Presidential election. With so many issues facing the international community, your message of unity is one we share. New Zealand looks forward to working with you both!

>38 richardderus: That she did! We love her so :)

So, my reading over the the years has almost consistently tanked! This year, however, I have already improved on last year and am forecast to hit 50 if I get my skates on!

Spiffy chart! Depressing data, though readily explainable what with that whole getting-a-degree thing with the raising-two-boys thing on top.

>40 LovingLit: Never mind, Megan. Next year will see you back in triple figures!

One would think that with working from home and not doing much stuff away from home that my reading would be going well. One would be wrong - I may not crack 100 this year, with a long term average of 109 +/- 3. Don't know why...

Glad yours is picking up a bit!

>41 richardderus: yeah- the first big drop was when Lenny stopped having day sleeps, which also coincided with me starting university. Makes sense really!

>42 PaulCranswick: Triple figures feels like a pipe dream! I intend to so no to part time casual uni contracts next year....however, I have said that before...so, I think I will only take some if they involve research or writing on a topic that really, truly, interests me. his will give me some breathing space to plan ahead for more than the week- and- more reading time!

>43 drneutron: Yeah, lockdown for me meant an increase ONLY in the consumption bad-for-me things (mainly alcohol and of freezer-based Indian snack foods).

>44 LovingLit: "freezer-based Indian snack foods" What might those be - only the Aloo Chat that we can get seem to match the snack food label, and it's on the healthy side, what with chickpeas and all.

>45 quondame: specifically, it is the Shore Mariner branded box called "Indian platter"- containing mini samosas, mini bhajis and mini pakoras. 10-15 minutes in the hot oven from frozen and you have yourself a spicy, tasty treat :)
Very high is salt sugar and fat, no doubt, but so so so good

>46 LovingLit: We are alas, not within range of this product, though we do have some versions of mini samosas easily within reach. I haven't checked out the frozen sections of local Indian markets, and this is a good, if not quite great, neighborhood for Indian food.

*munches another Zebra Cake*
>46 LovingLit: sounds nummy

>47 quondame: Alas, indeed. I wish you well on your quest for Indian goodies! We are lucky enough to have a delicious Indian Takeaway close to where we live, let's just say that we are "known to them". :)

>48 richardderus:
(also, RD, >31 richardderus: I gave up on Imitation of Life, it was just getting too painful.)

>49 LovingLit: We have lots of Indian markets within a mile or two, but they tend to be small with 1 person wide aisles so I'm going to avoid them for a few more months. But I ordered in from the best local place last night, so I'm really not feeling sorry for myself at all.

>49 LovingLit: FREE AT LAST

Also:

although yours looks a lot yummier
happy sunday

Currently reading:


The Political Years by Marilyn Waring
This book is super interesting (said no one ever - unless they were interested in life, fairness, society, politics, feminism, or history). This amazing woman was elected into parliament in 1975 as a 22 (or was it 23?) year old. So let's recap, it was 1975, she was (and still is, I believe!) a woman, she was young, and she was in government. Let the fun begin!
I have read her before, and saw her speak last year at the annual 'State of the Environment' event held at my university. She is smart, articulate and scathing of the ways in which we wreck our planet for short term gains. But, back then, she was amongst all men, mostly at least twice her age, and she was fighting for women's rights, as well as sticking up for those in her constituency. The Prime minister at the time was Robert Muldoon, a sexist pig, some might say, so she had her work cut out for her (and she was a member of HIS political party!).


Cautionary Tales by Hilaire Belloc
What a find at the local market this weekend just gone. Folio Society, brand new looking, and lovely illustrations. This book was at my childhood friend's house, and she was recently (as in, some time this millenium) reminiscing about how fun, funny, and inappropriate these tales (told in verse) are. So, I will read it, and give it to her for Christmas so she can relive the experience with her own kids- who are just at the right age to have a good laugh.

>50 quondame: Sensible. THat's one thing the supermarkets do have, width. I like the vege barn place, as it has mega wide aisles. And, of course, the cheap veges!

>51 richardderus: I did see the zebra cakes you pictured there on my internet search. I bet they come individually packaged, they look like they might. Are they crumbly, or spongey? I need to know.

>53 LovingLit: They are coated in wax industrial vanilla fondant; the cake is sponge-y and the filling is vanilla buttercream.

>54 richardderus: A picture well painted. I definitely have a sense now! Stand by for a visitation to your thread! (home sick, can wander the web)

From PC, via RD, to ME, to you!

1. Name any book you read at any time that was published in the year you turned 18:
The Giver by Lois Lowry. I probably didn't read one book in the actual year I turned 18 though. I was a late starter to the joys of reading!
2. Name a book you have on in your TBR pile that is over 500 pages long.
Richard Ford, one of those Frank Bascome trilogy ones- The Lay of the Land maybe?
3. What is the last book you read with a mostly blue cover?
Dark Summit by Nick Heil
4. What is the last book you didn’t finish (and why didn’t you finish it?)
Imitation of Life - so much detail, so little point
5. What is the last book that scared the bejeebers out of you?
The Discomfort of Evening- ew ew ew.
6. Name the book that read either this year or last year that takes place geographically closest to where you live? How close would you estimate it was?
Piano Rock: A 1950s childhood by Gavin Bishop set in Kingston, at the other end of the lake from Queenstown, which is 5 hours drive away.
7.What were the topics of the last two nonfiction books you read?
NZ politics, and the climbing of Mt Everest
8. Name a recent book you read which could be considered a popular book?
A Gentleman in Moscow popular on LT, and Nutshell popular in RL (but I hated it)
9. What was the last book you gave a rating of 5-stars to? And when did you read it?
The Vivisector by Patrick White, July 2020.
10. Name a book you read that led you to specifically to read another book (and what was the other book, and what was the connection)
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer led me to Left for Dead by Beck Weathers which led me to The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest- all personal accounts of the same disastrous Everest attempt
11. Name the author you have most recently become infatuated with.
Willy Vlautin
12. What is the setting of the first novel you read this year?
A stationery store :)
13. What is the last book you read, fiction or nonfiction, that featured a war in some way (and what war was it)?
A Gentleman in Moscow WWII
14. What was the last book you acquired or borrowed based on an LTer’s review or casual recommendation? And who was the LTer, if you care to say.
A Gentleman in Moscow - Ellen!
15. What the last book you read that involved the future in some way?
The Time Machineby H. G. Wells, in April this year
16. Name the last book you read that featured a body of water, river, marsh, or significant rainfall?
The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld (avoid this book if you can't face yucky/sad things)
17. What is last novel you read by an author from the Southern Hemisphere?
The Riders by Tim Winton
18. What is the last book you read that you thought had a terrible cover?
Nutshell terrible cover terrible contents.
19. Who was the most recent dead author you read? And what year did they die?
Fannie Hurst, died February 23, 1968.
20. What was the last children’s book (not YA) you read?
Cautionary Tales, reading it myself and the odd one to Lenny
21. What was the name of the detective or crime-solver in the most recent crime novel you read?
I tend to avoid crime novels.
22. What was the shortest book of any kind you’ve read so far this year?
A nifty wee Delmore Schwartz number of 6 pages!
23. Name the last book that you struggled with (and what do you think was behind the struggle?)
Imitation of Life, just so many words for so little payoff.
24. What is the most recent book you added to your library here on LT?
The Political Years by Marilyn Waring (politician, academic, feminist, advocate, hero)
25. Name a book you read this year that had a visual component (i.e. illustrations, photos, art, comics)
Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse (woodcut illustrations)

I too, liked Sandy's Bonus Question for the meme above, so I too, adopted it:

26. What is the title and year of the oldest book you have reviewed on LT in 2020?
Well, I have not reviewed it yet as am still reading it, but Cautionary Tales was originally published in 1907, which makes it OLD.

1907 is indeed OLD. Quite significantly so. Aleutian Sparrow? Intriguing....

>57 richardderus: I must warn you, the book is written in verse, which is perilously close to poetry. So, yeah. *backs away slowly*
But, it does have lovely illustrations!

I am sorry you weren't swept away by Tiny Beautiful Things. I thought it was an amazing read, even though much of it was heart-rending. She is long overdue for a new book.

>59 msf59: I thoroughly enjoyed Tiny Beautiful Things! I recommended it highly to my bookclub, and one of them is reading it now and reports that they are loving it too.

>58 LovingLit: ABORT
     ABORT
commence evasive maneuvers

>40 LovingLit: GO fifty GO!! You can do it! ; )

>49 LovingLit: >51 richardderus: I am happy to take any leftovers....

Hi Megan!

>40 LovingLit: I love bar graphs. Sorry about the long term trend, but glad that you have 50 in your sights for the year.

>51 richardderus: I usually avoid looking at the end caps at the grocery stores because that’s where all the really tempting stuff is, but I indulged last week. Drat you, Little Debbie Christmas Trees!

Good luck with hitting 50!!

Hi Megan! I'm just trying to catch up on some threads.

>50 quondame: Would that be 1 person wide aisles with piles of boxes halfway along them?

>49 LovingLit: Thanks, but no thanks. I'm trying to save the wildlife (because someone in our family ought to make at least a token effort).

>51 richardderus: >63 karenmarie: Erm ... delicious?

>65 humouress: Not quite that severe, but unlike the one in Bloomington IL, they are all small shops, like you'd find in mini-malls, and don't leave much room between shelves or have any place to self isolate while waiting for checkout.

>61 richardderus: sensible move

>62 Berly: My recent holiday (stand by for pictures) gave me some time to read a *whole book*. So, I am looking good for 50 this year!

>63 karenmarie: I know what you mean about the aisle-ends (that is what end caps means, right) of supermarkets! They are laden with things that will not do us good :)

>64 ChelleBearss: Thanks! I reckon I can do it.

>65 humouress: I am not sure about zebra cakes either, unless they are dense. I fear a light spongy 'cake' hides within that choco-casing ;)

>66 quondame: That is one thing a supermarket does give you isn't it, a wide aisle. We even had one way aisles here during our 'hard lockdown'- where you couldn't go out unless an essential worker, or for either food or medical reasons, plus one lot of outside exercise in your neighbourhood. It seemed to work pretty well, but there was always some numbskull who wandered into your path, freaking you out! (sometimes that was me- oops!)

I can scarcely even believe that my holiday came to fruition. With a regional lockdown a few months ago, and threats of COVID making its presence felt again, I was worried we would have to cancel, but- me and my friend got to Great Barrier Island (off the coast of Auckland, not the Australian reef that might be more familiar).

Population 800 (give or take), no reticulated power, its a haven for birds and native bush.


Pa Bay, Great Barrier Island

.....
Blind Bay (L) and Harataonga (R), which is on the eastern side of the island, at the very end of the (dirt) road!


The rubbish dump is signposted as 'Donald Trump"

>68 LovingLit: WOW

That's just gorgeous, Megan, and I'm so happy for you to have had this chance to get all the way away.

Lovely pictures. But no NZ penguins? Were they hiding? (Or is this not the right bit of NZ?)
I can't say after flying to Australia I am that keen to fly so far again, but all this being cooped up is making me question my priorities! Were the beaches so empty the whole time?

Wow glad you got your vacation! Looks like a great spot

>69 richardderus: you know, RD, I am jealous of myself on this one! I have wanted to go there for a long time and, even though I was half sick (we're talking a whole lotta phlegm here) it was a wonderful getaway.

>70 charl08: There were little Blue penguins there, but we didn't see any. I did see dolphins in the bay though!
And yes the beaches are mostly empty. The island isn't really developed for tourism, so accommodation options are few, so there are never that many people about. And there are lots of little bays *all over the place*, which helps. It is pretty spectacular.

>71 ChelleBearss: Me too Chelle. I dared not dream it would happen, so when I found myself at the airport about to board the plane, I was ultra excited. :) This was compounded by my friend having free access (+1) to the free-breakfast-and-complimentary-glass-of-champagne place prior!

>68 LovingLit: >69 richardderus: We usually agree RD, but not this time. I'M JEALOUS AS HELL!

>73 PaulCranswick: I'm sorry to taunt you Paul, in good time you will be back!

>74 LovingLit: I can still see me buying a pad near Lake Wanaka or Arrowtown or Lake Tekapo at some stage.

>75 PaulCranswick: Well, you'd have lots of visitors at those locations, that's for sure!

>68 LovingLit: Beautiful!

>75 PaulCranswick: With a bookshop?

>77 humouress: oh my goodness, yes. Of course! This is Paul and his family's new mission- to move to NZ and start a book shop!!

A holiday! And by the sea! So jealous.

>68 LovingLit: Totally jealous!! Just like everyone else. : ) Love the photos and thanks for the Trump/dump laugh. I needed that.

>79 SandDune: yeah, the coastline up north is amazing (remembering that for us Southern Hemispherians 'up north' equals warmer too!). So many lovely bays, and craggy rocks.

>80 Berly: We are lucky to have our freedoms! (Of course, it came after 6 weeks of none, which we all performed diligently.) The sign is a faux-regulation Automobile Association sign, very nicely replicated by hand!

>76 LovingLit: & >77 humouress: Well Sheffield/Leeds will be the first one but who knows. The main street of Arrowtown may justify such a venture.

Have a lovely Sunday, Megan.

>82 PaulCranswick: Ooh - a book emporium empire. Hefty discounts and freebies for long-standing friends, right Paul?

Happy new week, Megan. I hope your vacay has set you up proper for a lovely one!

>82 PaulCranswick: oooh, the beginnings of an empire!

>83 humouress: LT rates apply...a worldwide network of book-lovers!

>84 richardderus: He he. The week has gone juuuuust fine. I am writing to finish an article, and this is lsow going, but I am getting closer to the goal!

>85 LovingLit: All power to your writing elbow, Megan.

>86 charl08: ha ha!! I would love to get out as many words as Kermit seems to be!! But I hope I spell them better than I did in >85 LovingLit: (lsow going? lol)

Hi Megan!

>68 LovingLit: Okay. I’ll bite. What is reticulated power? I’m guessing it is above-ground wires and poles, but could be completely wrong.

Beautiful spot, love the Donald Trump sign.

>88 karenmarie: you should have bitten before when I mis-wrote it as 'articulated' power (same amount of syllables, you see where I went wrong).
It just means a power system connected to the mains. All homes and businesses on Great Barrier use independently generated power, either from a generator, or make their own with solar or wind. So yeah, there are no power lines.

Finished book #49!


Impossible: My Story, written by Stan Walker with Margie Thomson.

Stan Walker is a New Zealander who, while living in Australia, won Australian Idol in 2009. He is widely known here as a top guy, and an amazing singer and actor. This book is his story, and it is a doozey.
He grew up on the marae in NZ, but left for his family to try a new start in Australia. His family were kind of trying to escape themselves though (they struggled with intergenerational violence and poverty). Stan's story is really about airing his tough upbringing, physical and sexual abuse, and his coming to terms with his Maori self, his demons, and his religion. He is in a place now where he not only forgives his father for the, what can only be described as ruthless and cruel, beatings, but they speak out together publicly about domestic violence, getting help, hope, and how things can (and should) change. The book is accessible and powerful.
4 solid stars

BOOK 50

The Gifts of Reading by Robert Macfarlane

An essay about the joys of giving and receiving books. What's not to like?

>91 LovingLit: Absolutely nothin'

Have a lovely weekend ahead!

>92 richardderus: thanks RD. Just went out and Christmas shopped, got groceries and 90% of my list done in 90 minutes! I hate shopping so get it over with quickly. :)

It's that Christmas-biscuit time of the year! Here we have the snowy white plate, the retro-brown plate, and the colourful plate, we also had the factory seconds plate (not shown) :)

I'm sure the factory seconds tasted just as good as their more photogenic siblings...

>94 LovingLit: Those look amazing! Are they gingerbread?

>95 charl08: they weren't all bad! And they tasted great :)

>96 scaifea: They are officially called "Secret Latvian Recipe Christmas Biscuits". Yes, ginger in is in there, but so is mixed spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, malt, honey, butter, sugar, egg yolks, baking soda and flour.

They sound like spy biscuits. Do they come with instructions that self destruct?

>91 LovingLit: Fifty is at least a nice round number. Lovely book cover.

>68 LovingLit: Wow! I would love to visit this place! Great photos.

Hi, Megan. I hope you and the family are doing well. The Gifts of Reading sounds really good.

Tachyon Publications, an SFF house, posted this on Twitter. Says it all, no?

>98 charl08: they could well do! Hey probably should, as my dad isn't too happy about me handing his recipe out all over town!

>99 PaulCranswick: 50 is a nice number, but we might make 52 yet!

>100 msf59: You would love it! It is such a lovely wee island, and the scenery! WOW is all I can say.

>101 richardderus: And the cat scratching the whole thing up s well! Apt.

Hi Megan!


... and here's to a better 2021!

I am audio-trawling my way through Tomorrow by Graeme Swift, and I must say it is a trial. I can't quite figure out my beef with it (other than that it is an extended series of banal observations, punctuated by seemingly unwarranted over-wrought anxieties).

I am thinking that the author's (mis)use of a female voice in this book is a huge indictment on women. He has her obsessively worrying about *everything*. The entire book is her awake in the wee small hours simply worrying. Which, of course does happen, but I am left cross with her about the extent of her intensity about everything. It comes over as kind of ridiculous and it annoys me that the author thought it OK to do this through a female voice. I feel like he has 'gone to town' on some lazy stereotypes here.

So that's my musings.

>104 LovingLit: I've been complaining about the "woman-as-victim" trope in fiction by and about women for a long time. It makes me angry to see them only as compulsive worrywarting passive crazy persons, victims of sex crimes, and either incompetent or spineless, in every genre of fiction.

I won't read rape-based stories anymore because, while it happens and while some of these are redemption narratives, I just do not want that imagery in my head. Poke me with a fork, I'm done.

>103 karenmarie: Thanks! 2021 will hopefully bring me less stress, less work, and more quality family time, and time for exercise :)

>105 johnsimpson: Thanks JS! I have to say, it is feeling very Christmassy here and now. The tree is smelling lovely, and the biscuits are flowing.

>106 richardderus: I have been thinking about this too, but mainly from the angle that I have loved and admired a lot of male authors whose work basically consists of extended existential rambles (Richard Ford, Philip Roth etc), and how female authors couldn't potentially 'get away' with this (as it would/could be painted as petty or inconsequential).
(Look at me, ranting!)
So, when a male author writes this worst version of how women are viewed, it irks! I am still processing, but they are interesting thinking points. So thanks.

Or in other words, Happy Christmas! And have a great New Year as well. Here’s hoping 2021 is better than 2020.

Have a wonderful holiday with the family, Megan. I hope you can squeeze in some reading too.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
May 2021 bring you less need for masks, loads of peace and joy, good health and, of course, books! (Can we read one of them together?!)

Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays Megan!

Wishing you and yours the very best of the season.

I hope you get some of those at least, Megan, as we all look forward to a better 2021.

Thanks for the Christmas greetings everyone!

We had a busy, but ultimately lovely day at my mum's, a family friends, my sister-in-laws, and then here, with friends to stay and other friends who came over. The boys were pleased with their presents (a lesson at the mountain bike park, and a cool new school back pack for W, and a mouse/keyboard/mousepad and basketball for L).

Then, because it rained, Boxing day was a stay at home movie-marathon day! I watched all the Bridget Jones films, and then Panic Room. And I LOVED it :) The kids popped in and out too, but were largely gaming and playing with Christmas presents.

2020 books!

>117 LovingLit: Lovely grid!

>118 richardderus: extremely satisfying! 52 books for the year also very satisfying. The grid omits my current read and one other, but includes two that I am close to finishing, so it evens out in the end.

>117 LovingLit: That is nicely done, Megan.

Great range of covers there Megan!

Hi Megan!

It sounds like your Christmas was quite lovely.

>117 LovingLit: Lovely montage.

BOOK 51

Tomorrow by Graeme Swift

Ha! My opinion of Tomorrow, (as hinted at in >104 LovingLit:) is validated!
Wikipedia reports that Lionel Shriver, as reviewer, stated "about the character of Paula, Shriver deplores that the apologetic, alternatingly gushy and beseeching style seems artificially female—like a man's idea of a woman's voice".
My thoughts exactly. Ah well, onwards and upwards.

>120 PaulCranswick: Covers are so pretty :)

>121 charl08: Nice, huh?

>122 karenmarie: Hi Karen, seasonal greetings to you too.

>117 LovingLit: Nice. I was thinking of doing something similar. What programme/ app/ website do you use? Though I'm trying to avoid having to save any more photos.

>125 humouress: I just snip the image set up on LT of the covers. I tag each book I have read this year with 2020, then select only those images, and it just happens to be that 52 books is 4 rows 13!

>123 LovingLit: I did like his earlier books (but read a long time ago), but haven't tried this one. Not tempted now, either!

Ah- I did it! Started a new thread for 2021~ https://www.librarything.com/topic/327864#n7359553

See you over there people, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

:)

Happy New Year Megan and family.

Time to take out the trash!

>129 johnsimpson: thanks JS.

>130 weird_O: brilliant gif!

Megan

As the year turns, friendship continues