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Lcsmcat

Joined May 2016

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Thurber Carnival by James Thurber

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The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bront�

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Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bront�

review

Secrets of Eden: A Novel | Chris Bohjalian

Pick

pick

I‘ve been going down genealogical rabbit holes a lot lately, so haven‘t read so much. But I did find time to finish my #bookspin for May. I won‘t say I figured out the twist, it I recognized the red herrings. It‘s hard to say this was an enjoyable read, given the dark subject matter, but it was something like that.

Amiable I just spent the day dragging my poor husband around to track down 10 gravesites of various ancestors and the house where my great/grandfather was born in 1878! I‘m totally here for your rabbit-hole dives. 😀 2d

Lcsmcat @Amiable Fun! Did you find them? It‘s such a great feeling when you do. 2d

Amiable @Lcsmcat I did! Although my great-great grandmother did not have a stone where she is buried (according to the cemetery burial records). I think it‘s because her son (my great-grandfather) died before she did. And I‘m guessing my great-grandmother (who I was fortunate to know —she died when I was 13) never bought her mother-in-law a gravestone. This makes me sad! 2d

See All 8 Comments

Lcsmcat @Amiable Or maybe the stone didn‘t survive. I manage the town cemetery as part of my job, and the older stones don‘t always survive. But it does affect me a lot when I find a child dying before a parent. Even with large families, you know the mom grieves the one she lost in spite of the 11 or so that survived. 2d

Amiable @Lcsmcat It‘s not that old—my great-great grandmother died in 1956. Her son, my great-grandpa, died in 1953. And the stone for her husband (who died in 1922) is there on the spot and intact. (edited) 2d

Lcsmcat @Amiable I forget that not all families are as spaced out as mine. My great-great grandparents all but one died before the depression. And my great-grandparents died decades before I was born. (edited) 2d

Amiable @Lcsmcat I was lucky enough to have known three of my great-grandparents. Two of them died when I was a child (about 7-10 years old) and the third when I was a teenager. I think that luck was a product of several generations who married/ had children young and then also lived for years past their typical life expectancy! 1d

Lcsmcat Wow, that is lucky! I knew all my grandparents, but two of them died when I was still a child. (The other two when I was late 30s, so it evened out.) I‘m trying to get each line back to the original immigrant, but since most of them came in colonial days it‘s tough. 1d

41 likes1 stack add8 comments

blurb

Ethan Frome | Edith Wharton

(I thought I‘d start with a little levity, because that‘s all we‘re going to get.) Is this the anti-Romeo & Juliet, or at least Wharton‘s response to that romantic trope? An argument against the belief that suffering makes one noble? Or just a bleak view of human nature? I‘ll post some favorite quotes below. #whartonbuddyread

Lcsmcat @jewright @Louise @Sace @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @Currey @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @mdm139 @emilyhaldi @rubyslippersreads @KathyWheeler @llwheeler @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @BookishTrish @graywacke @leftcoastzen 2w

Lcsmcat “my heart tightened at the thought of the hard compulsions of the poor.” 2w

Lcsmcat “It‘s horrible for them all,” I murmured. 2w

See All 34 Comments

Lcsmcat “and the way they are now, I don‘t see‘s there‘s much difference between the Fromes up at the farm and the Fromes down in the graveyard; ‘cept that down there they‘re all quiet, and the women have got to hold their tongues.” 2w

Lcsmcat “She had taken everything else from him, and now she meant to take the one thing that made up for it all.” 2w

Currey Yep, great quotes. Even on the second reading it still packs a punch of utter despair. When I wrote my brief review upon my first reading I said: “he had no choices and still managed to make the wrong one” 2w

Lcsmcat @Currey Love that quote from your review! 2w

Currey @Lcsmcat and Wharton gives us a glimpse of what would have happened to our beautiful horse rider without euthanasia in The Fruit of the Tree…not only did the sleigh ride destroy all hope, but it destroyed all beauty, in mind as well as body. 2w

Lcsmcat @Currey Good point. One wonders how long she had been thinking about the subject. 2w

Graywacke @Currey The Fruit of the Tree had a a memorable sleigh ride too. A curious Wharton symbol for romance. 2w

Lcsmcat @Graywacke It makes me wonder if she was contemplating the scenario and then working it out with different variations. “What if they died? Didn‘t die? What if they were rich? Or poor?” Like she really needed/wanted to explore the idea of what makes life worth living, or not. I‘m not expressing myself very well. 2w

Graywacke Even though I did read some or all of this in high school, this was essentially a first read. Nothing was familiar. The first five chapters were so slow, I was surprised how intense this became. I got really into Ethan‘s various moves and Zeena‘s reactions. 2w

Graywacke @Lcsmcat hmm. Certainly there is a feeling of chance, the sled skating recklessly over the surface, taking fate where is may. But then I think Ethan was fully in control of the sled. 2w

Graywacke @Lcsmcat i love the comic, by the way. Was i the only one who found an element of humor in the ending? (I‘m not saying it wasn‘t moving. It certainly was for me.) 2w

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I think there was some dry New England humor in that last sentence. You can almost hear him chuckling to himself and shaking his head as he says it. 2w

jewright I just love this story even though it‘s so sad. Wharton just makes you feel and sympathize with all the characters. I hate Zeena, but I feel sorry for her too. And poor Ethan has just had the worst luck his whole life. My question after our last two reads is: Why is Wharton obsessed with spinal injuries?! 2w

Lcsmcat @jewright There is thought that EF was inspired by/based on a real coasting accident in Lenox in 1904, prior to the publication of either work. One girl died and others were wounded. It may have gotten her thinking. https://theberkshireedge.com/the-real-life-tragedy-that-might-have-inspired-edit... 2w

Graywacke @Lcsmcat Well the last line is brilliant. I was thinking how Zeena‘s hypochondria and Ethan‘s innocence are both unmasked, and how Zeena distracts him at the penultimate moment. Although I guess it‘s arguable that Ethan gets unmasked - it takes me some leaps to get there. Should I go there? 2w

Cathythoughts Just starting second half …. I‘m scared for what‘s coming ! 1w

Leftcoastzen I loved the writing, the quotes you picked are so good. 1w

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Zeena‘s face hovering before him made me picture some bad movie animation with a disembodied head floating in the air. 😂 1w

Cathythoughts @Lcsmcat Yes , and the rocking chair when Ethan and Mattie are alone that night. Zeena‘s haunting presence.. ‘as they sat thus he heard a sound behind him and turned his head. The cat had jumped from Zeena‘s chair….and as a result of the sudden movement the empty chair had set up a spectral rocking ‘ very scary (edited) 1w

Lcsmcat @Cathythoughts Ooh yes, very cinematic! I haven‘t watched any of the adaptations but I might have to now. 1w

Graywacke For what it‘s worth I loved this novella. I loved how Wharton created this stark Starkville, with few words, none reliable, with strong fallen personalities, all (starkly?) portrayed in black against the cold white snow and ice. 1w

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I did too. It‘s a stunning display of virtuoso prose, portraying a place and the internal lives of characters so well. 1w

arubabookwoman I don"t have much to add--all the comments are great. Definitely a devastating ending, and Ethan, Mattie and Zeena are imprisoned in Starkville for life. I think this is one of her more perfect novels. 1w

Leftcoastzen @Graywacke maybe the book should be renamed Starkville.😀 1w

CarolynM Love the cartoon😆 Well, I wasn‘t expecting that story at all. It‘s certainly an affecting piece of writing. I‘m astonished by how few words she needs to create so much atmosphere, in terms of both the stark, cold landscape and the claustrophobic household. While I felt for Ethan and even more for Mattie (did she really have feelings for Ethan, or was it just the bleakness of her immediate future?) I didn‘t understand Zeena at all. 1w

Graywacke @Leftcoastzen we should definitely rename it! Outer Starkville? 1w

Graywacke @arubabookwoman I agree it‘s about perfectly done. 1w

Graywacke @CarolynM I like how her few words mirrored the characters words. (I wonder - if we are watching EF make Mattie a Zeena, maybe Zeena once was a kind of Mattie too, before Ethan came along.) 1w

Lcsmcat @CarolynM I wondered the same about Ethan and his feelings for Mattie. It seemed to me that he reached out for whatever was close and comforting; first Zeena, then Mattie. (edited) 1w

Cathythoughts @CarolynM I wasn‘t expecting this story either .. what a piece of writing indeed. @arubabookwoman a devastating ending it was ! I‘m left with that feeling of impact Ethan and Mattie must have felt… physically and mentally and every possible way. @Lcsmcat your quote about the dead & graveyard sums it up for me .. this story goes beyond all feeling. 1w

Cathythoughts @Graywacke I loved this book too. Ethan‘s presence took me in completely from the very beginning.. ‘ I saw his face as it probably looked when he thought himself alone … he looks as if he were dead and in hell now‘. Then the poverty, the isolation, the cold snow … Brilliantly done, what great writing. 1w

37 likes2 stack adds34 comments

blurb

Tenant of Wildfell Hall | Anne Bront�

My first time reading this, although as you can tell, I‘ve had this copy for a bit. #pemberlittens @BarkingMadRun

blurb

Ethan Frome | Edith Wharton

Well, we know this can‘t end well. 🙂 I‘m getting some Cather vibes from this one: a narrator we don‘t really get to know, the setting as a major character, the effect the climate/weather has on characters‘ personalities. Anyone else seeing that connection? And how do you feel about Ethan‘s behavior - justified because of Zeena‘s , unforgivable, or somewhere in between? #whartonbuddyread

Lcsmcat @jewright @Louise @Sace @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @Currey @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @mdm139 @emilyhaldi @rubyslippersreads @KathyWheeler @llwheeler @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @BookishTrish @graywacke @leftcoastzen
3w

Lcsmcat Some quotes I highlighted, this one about Ethan “I simply felt that he lived in a depth of moral isolation too remote for casual access” 3w

Lcsmcat “Zenobia, though doubtful of the girl‘s efficiency, was tempted by the freedom to find fault without much risk of losing her;” 3w

See All 48 Comments

Lcsmcat Zeena took the view that Mattie was bound to make the best of Starkfield since she hadn‘t any other place to go to; but this did not strike Ethan as conclusive. Zeena, at any rate, did not apply the principle in her own case. 3w

Lcsmcat He recalled his mother‘s growing taciturnity, and wondered if Zeena were also turning “queer.” Women did, he knew. Zeena, who had at her fingers‘ ends the pathological chart of the whole region, had cited many cases of the kind while she was nursing his mother; and he himself knew of certain lonely farm-houses in the neighbourhood where stricken creatures pined, and of others where sudden tragedy had come of their presence. 3w

Lcsmcat And finally Ethan, contemplating Mattie: “Now, in the warm lamplit room, with all its ancient implications of conformity and order, she seemed infinitely farther away from him and more unapproachable” 3w

Currey @Lcsmcat Loved the quote about Mattie making the best of Starkfield… Although I had read this previously what I remembered was the cold and of course, the ending. I had it in my head that the narrator was a woman, as it would be a woman who would be haunted by the face of a broken man. I was surprised to find it “an engineer”, who no doubt at the time was a man. 3w

Currey @Lcsmcat Ethan‘s behavior is completely above board in this section. He is well aware of not kissing her, not even touching her hand but clearly he is communicating longing and Mattie is hearing it. Wharton has made Ethan so sympathetic that it seems natural to think he deserves some happiness. However, we are also well aware that something is “not right” and that keeps seeping in with the cold 3w

Lcsmcat @Currey I like your phrase “seeping in with the cold.” Wharton is so skillful that, even though it was 80 plus degrees outside I was cold while reading it! 3w

Lcsmcat Interesting thought about thinking the narrator a woman. I had thought him a man, but also thought that a man would talk more about his own business than our narrator does. Maybe just showing my prejudice there! 3w

Graywacke @Currey @Lcsmcat it never occurred to me that the narrator might be a woman. I just assumed a man, but I have no idea why. 3w

Graywacke @Lcsmcat interesting about relating to Cather - who was little known in 1911. I felt the same at the beginning. The narrator set up and the tangible landscape. The tone felt Cather-ish and was not like other Wharton novels. But by the time I finished Ch 5 I no longer thought of Cather. Now it feels like my vague memories of Nathaniel Hawthorn. 3w

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I wasn‘t implying that Wharton was influenced by Cather, just that it gave off that vibe to me. And then, it went full Little House with the “queer” women bit. 😂 3w

Graywacke Overall I find it dense but in an interesting way. Every word has meaning. Since Ethan and the two woman don‘t say much, everything they do say conveys a world of possible stuff, much of it very dark and emotionally spare. And that seems to have drifted into the text itself. I keep thinking mainly about mostly silent Zeena vilified by Ethan. His version of her is haunting…and quietly dehumanizing. 3w

Graywacke @Lcsmcat 😂 … and I understood - overlapping vibes. 3w

Graywacke I‘m not sure I have much sympathy for Ethan. A little. But he‘s so manipulative in his few words. His backhanded flirting is creepy. And Mattie is trapped with this creep…although I‘m not sure how she feels about it. She, ya know, doesn‘t say. Maybe she‘s amused. 3w

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I‘m a bit creeped out by Ethan‘s behavior too. And I don‘t think that type of flirting is innocent. But Mattie seems to encourage him, whether because of her feelings or for some sort of gain. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3w

arubabookwoman I read this in 10th grade English class and hated it, then finally reread it 15 or 20 years ago and I remember loving it. This time so far, I am not feeling it--maybe b/c so far we've just read the "set-up" so to speak. But Wharton's depiction of the chilly and isolating landscape is wonderful. 3w

llwheeler I'm not rereading this as I don't have time this month, but I read it a couple of years ago. I definitely remember the climate/environment having a huge impact on the story, reminded me of a lot of CanLit in that sense. 3w

arubabookwoman She is also masterful in depicting her characters. Ethan "looks as if he was dead and in hell!", with a look on his face which "neither poverty nor physical suffering could have put there." He seems part of "the mute melancholy landscape, an incarnation of frozen woe...." It was interesting that it was noted that perhaps Ethan would not have married Zenobia had his mother died in spring rather than winter. 3w

arubabookwoman And such a contrast between Zenobia and Mattie. "Zenobia's fault finding was of the silent kind, but not the less penetrating for that." Mattie with her cherry red ribbons, laughing eyes, using the best pickle dish that Zenobia always stored away in the cupboard and never used. 3w

Graywacke @arubabookwoman interesting. I find it out of tune with the Wharton novels we have read. I wonder if that impacts your impression. It does mine. For what it‘s worth, at this point Wharton‘s marriage was essentially dead. She was having or would soon be having a secret and not so great affair. And she was relocating or had settled in France. I wonder if she just needed to be away from New York. 3w

Currey @Graywacke @Lcsmcat @arubabookwoman We definitely have the common Wharton theme of not being able to communicate verbally. Not being able to just “say it”, so as Graywacke points out all the little that is verbalized contains almost too much. 3w

Currey @graywacke @lcsmcat @arubabookwoman Also, why do I not feel much sympathy for Zeena who was a cheerful helpful woman before being stuck with Ethan and Starkfield and before getting ill. Intellectually I think I am but Wharton isn‘t helping me. What did others think/feel? 3w

arubabookwoman @Graywacke It is different than what we've read so far, not HF, not a "society" novel. But previously in my mind I had categorized it with other novels of hers involving country folk or working class people, and I in the past liked some of those more than her society novels. (Thinking of Summer). I'll be interested in whether this picks up for me in the 2nd half. As I said I placed this among my top Wharton reads when I read it last. 3w

arubabookwoman @Currey Agree that the lack of communication is at the forefront here, but at least so far it's failure to communicate, not miscommunication. I also feel no sympathy for Zenobia, and I think Wharton intends that. Such a negative character. Ethan was subject to the same environment, but retained his love of nature, humanity, maybe dreams, while Zenobia became a harpy. 3w

Graywacke @Currey I‘m think Zeena is a victim of a smear campaign driven by Ethan‘s repressed sexuality, and she is in too much pain to do anything about it. 🙂 3w

arubabookwoman @Lcsmcat Re the picture--Was there a film made of Ethan Frome? This is a good visual. B/c I was having a hard time visualizing Ethan putting his face in Mattie's sewing. 2w

Lcsmcat @arubabookwoman I pulled that off the internet and yes, it‘s from a film. I think there are multiple film versions, but I‘m not sure. 2w

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Z as the victim of a smear campaign is an interesting thought. But I think there‘s more to it than that. Like, she could be cheerful when she was busily taking care of someone, but losing that importance sends her into a funk. 2w

Leftcoastzen The weather is so much a character here , made me feel cold in a hot climate.Ethan is frustrated & frustrating no doubt. I remember noting that when he married Zeena it seemed like he settled for the obvious, & would he have made a different choice in a different season? I think a bit about if Zeena was/is depressed by the whole situation.most” medicines “ of the day where really alcohol,opium or other drugs , maybe she‘s more addicted than sick. (edited) 2w

Leftcoastzen I love how Wharton era reads are so filled with that repressed tension. Even though the characters are working class , they still feel the moral norms of the time & aspire to adhere to them . A touch or gesture means so much .. 2w

Lcsmcat @Leftcoastzen Good point! She‘s probably out of it most of the time! 2w

Cathythoughts Yes good point about Zeena being out of it on medicines , I hadn‘t thought of that. I‘m really enjoying this so far, I like Ethan, at least I‘m very curious about him and interested to see where this goes. The weather and the isolation play such a big part .. I can feel the cold as I read it. I‘m just at the part with Mattie and her red ribbon and the red jar is down from the shelf .. a wedding present .. I‘m hooked 2w

Leftcoastzen I found as well the sense of downward mobility, farming & the mill not meeting their needs . Even the family house is smaller now then when the family was more prosperous.Did I remember that right.?.🤔 2w

Louise Such great comments from all of you! I bought the book but didn‘t get to it. We have to move out by May 31st and are still looking for housing we can afford in this inflated market. Say a prayer for us, dear reader friends, that we find our way. May all be well. 💗 2w

Lcsmcat @Leftcoastzen Yes, the downward mobility has been a recurring theme. 2w

Lcsmcat @Louise I‘m so sorry. Sending all the good housing karma your way! 2w

Leftcoastzen @Louise sending you hopes to find reasonable & good housing ! Rents have gone crazy in many parts of the country,just insanity! A friend of mine had to move after being informed his new lease would increase his rent $800 a month , NOT affordable 2w

Leftcoastzen @Cathythoughts I liked the reference to the red ribbon & the red jar.My grandma had the habit of considering items too nice to use. 2w

Louise @Lcsmcat Thank you, Linda! Good housing karma is always welcome! 💗 2w

Louise @Leftcoastzen Thank you for your good wishes, Linda. Yes, it‘s crazy how the prices have skyrocketed. I hope your friend found something nice and also affordable. 🏡 2w

CarolynM Definite Cather vibes for me and very atmospheric. The cold and dark is a real presence. I‘m not feeling much sympathy either @Currey I‘d like to know more about how Ethan and Zeena have reached this point. Why did E decide Z would “lose her identity” in a city? If Z was already suffering before they were married (as suggested by the comment about how she learned her nursing skills) how & why did her demeanour change? Why no communication? 2w

CarolynM I‘m not getting much sense of who Ethan is yet. I‘m intrigued by your comments about him @arubabookwoman @Graywacke I hadn‘t thought about addiction either @Cathythoughts but your suggestion makes a lot of sense @Leftcoastzen I‘d still like to know how she got to this condition, though. 2w

CarolynM @Louise Hope you find a new home soon🤞🍀 2w

Graywacke @CarolynM me too… wondering how Zeena became this person we are seeing. @Louise wish you well with your housing search. 2w

Lcsmcat @CarolynM I wonder how much we‘ll find out about how Ethan and Zeena got to this point too. I remember the twist, but it‘s been so many years, uhm, decades, since I read it that I don‘t remember. 2w

Louise @carolynM @Graywacke Thank you both! 2w

37 likes48 comments

blurb

Untitled | Untitled

My May #bookspin #doublespin list. @TheAromaofBooks

BkClubCare Oh! Becoming Duchess Goldblatt- a treat 3w

Lcsmcat @BkClubCare My sister said the same thing. 3w

BkClubCare @Lcsmcat - I read the book and immediately “reread” the audiobook. 3w

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3w

24 likes4 comments

blurb

Ethan Frome | Edith Wharton

Reminder - we start Ethan Frome next Saturday. Let me know if you want to be added to or removed from the tag list. #whartonbuddyread @jewright @Louise @Sace @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @Currey @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @mdm139 @emilyhaldi @rubyslippersreads @KathyWheeler @llwheeler @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @BookishTrish @graywacke @leftcoastzen

CarolynM Thanks Linda. Looking forward to it🙂 3w

Cathythoughts Thanks ! I‘m going to try and read this one 👍🏻❤️ 3w

Currey @Lcsmcat I will be reading with you 3w

See All 10 Comments

Graywacke Looking forward to this. Thanks Linda. (And looks like i need to start thinking about the next book.) 3w

Graywacke I got really confused when, scanning through my edition, i saw chapter 11… until I figured out it was chapter II. 3w

Leftcoastzen Cool ! Thanks for including me! 3w

Lcsmcat @Graywacke 😂 I‘ve done that before! 3w

Leftcoastzen Question, my first time with the group, I‘m supposed to start reading the first part on Saturday or have read the first part by Saturday? 3w

Lcsmcat @Leftcoastzen Have read - although we‘re not draconian about it. 😀 This Saturday we will discuss the first half. But if you haven‘t finished it, you can chime in when you are finished. 3w

Leftcoastzen Thanks ! I‘m sure I can most likely get it read .😃 3w

21 likes10 comments

review

Before You Know Kindness | Chris Bohjalian

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A family matriarch whose daughter is married to a militant animal rights activist, and whose son is a secret hunter. Two preteen granddaughters who get too little attention from their parents. One tragic accident. I stayed up til 1:30 this morning to finish it. Nan exhausted me with her “vigor” yet she was my favorite character.

Lindy I have felt exhausted by “vigorous” characters too. Lovely photo, btw. 4w

Lcsmcat @Lindy Thanks. These two and their mom visited us two years ago. (And deer figure importantly in the plot.) 4w

Leftcoastzen Love that photo! 4w

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awww 🦌 ❤️ 3w

42 likes1 stack add4 comments

review

A Spool of Blue Thread | Anne Tyler

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Anne Tyler‘s families have a way of getting to me, and this bunch was no exception. It was a relaxing way to rest up today before the Easter Vigil tonight.

blurb

A Spool of Blue Thread | Anne Tyler

I‘ve not read enough of it to know how I feel about it yet, but started this one today.

KellyK I enjoy Anne Tyler‘s family stories. This was the first of her many novels I read. 1mo

Lcsmcat @KellyK I went to school in Baltimore, so I like all the local references. 1mo

Chelsea.Poole This one turned me into an Anne Tyler devotee. 1mo

33 likes2 stack adds3 comments

review

Once There Were Wolves | Charlotte McConaghy

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I have loved wolves since I started following their reintroduction into Yellowstone. McConaghy gets that part right, and you can feel her love for wilderness. The mystery was engaging but not necessary for my enjoyment of the book. But if it gets more people to understand how necessary apex predators are to the environment then more power to it.

blurb

Untitled | Unknown

🥚 I do. I‘m in the choir at church and will sing for seven more services between now and Easter Day.
🥚Yes, I‘ve read some good ones so far.
🥚 This week I‘m grateful for spring trees and flowers and all the new growth.
Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView
#wondrousWednesday @Eggs
Who wants to play? Consider yourself tagged.

TheSpineView You're welcome! 1mo

Eggs Lovely post📚💗🥰 1mo

27 likes2 comments

review

A Thread of Grace: A Novel | Mary Doria Russell

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I loved this book! Russell never disappoints, but reading this book, with themes of how war is never a good thing, but how people reach out to help others in the worst situations, was particularly relevant with all we‘re hearing coming out of Ukraine. So many WWII books center on France, this is the less often told story of the war in Italy and the country people who helped those in need.

LeslieO This is one of my favorites! 💕💕 1mo

51 likes1 stack add1 comment

quote

A Thread of Grace: A Novel | Mary Doria Russell

This is both the perfect time and the worst time to be reading this book!

blurb

Henry VIII | William Shakespeare

Hey #shakespearereadalong peeps, you know I always want to watch the plays? Well I found not one, but two Zoom performances of Henry VIII. (And no full performance otherwise.) We live in odd times.

janeycanuck Have you checked StratFest@Home? The Festival has made a tonne of their productions available through that - some are still available with no subscription, too, I think. 1mo

Lcsmcat @janeycanuck I haven‘t yet. Thanks for the reminder. 1mo

29 likes2 comments

review

Untitled | Untitled

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An excellent short story from Margaret Atwood!

blurb

A Thread of Grace: A Novel | Mary Doria Russell

A character list and two maps at the beginning of this book mean I‘m going to love it (plus it‘s by Russell) but I can already hear certain members of my book club whining that it‘s too complicated. 🙄 And I chose it because I consider her a good author whose work is accessible. #bookclubwoes

megnews I loved her

[tagged book]

The Women of the Copper Country

1mo

Lcsmcat @megnews Me too! And

[tagged book]

1mo

Suet624 Sounds like an interesting read. 1mo

megnews I‘ve had Soc on my tbr for awhile. 1mo

phyhill I love that one! 1mo

47 likes2 stack adds5 comments

review

A Ladder to the Sky | John Boyne

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Maurice Swift makes a great villain. One you love to hate. And his downfall was both predictable and exactly what you wanted to happen. At the beginning I thought the dialogue was weak, but perhaps he just couldn‘t grasp Erich‘s voice, because it got better.
I read this for both #doublespin and #authoramonth.
@Soubhiville @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1mo

49 likes1 stack add1 comment

review

Don Quixote | Miguel de Cervantes

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pick

I finally finished this year‘s #chunksterchallenge! And at times it was a slog, but I‘m glad I stuck with it. I didn‘t find it as funny as many do, but I‘m not a 3 Stooges fan, and there was a lot of that vibe. Best bits were Sancho Panza‘s proverbs and Cervantes‘ digs at other authors. @Amiable

Suet624 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💕 1mo

MaureenMc 🎉👏🎉 1mo

EvieBee Yay! 1mo

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TheBookHippie 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 1mo

Amiable Yay! Awesome! What was the page count on this one? There are so many editions in Goodreads! 1mo

Lcsmcat @Amiable I read the Grossman translation on Kindle (so page count is , shall we say, flexible?), but Amazon says it‘s 976 pages. 1mo

batsy Woohoo! I too felt a sense of accomplishment when I finished this 😁 1mo

50 likes7 comments

review

In My Sister's Country | Lise Haines

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pick

A fast read, I read it in a day. Not a literary masterpiece, but a good Saturday read. #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1mo

40 likes1 comment

review

Rabbit, Run | John Updike

Bailed

bailed

This is a DNF for me, at least for now. I haven‘t given the book away yet, but I can‘t imagine picking it back up. The misogyny isn‘t just Rabbit‘s - it‘s the entire world-view of the book. If you can convince me it‘s worth putting on metaphorical hazard-gear and going back in, speak up. Because he‘s supposed to be great, but I‘m not seeing the great prose people say he wrote.

sarahbellum I just bailed on this too. Could only stomach 50 pages 🙄 2mo

Lcsmcat @sarahbellum Right? I usually give a book 100 pages before bailing, but I couldn‘t stomach this one for that long. 2mo

40 likes2 comments

review

The Return of Martin Guerre | Natalie Zemon Davis, Martin Guerre, Arnault Du Tilh

Pick

pick

I loved this dive into this early case of identity theft. I just wish Bertrande had left us her version of events!

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The Return of Martin Guerre | Natalie Zemon Davis, Martin Guerre, Arnault Du Tilh

I‘ve been fascinated by the story of Martin Guerre for years, so diving in to this today makes me happy.

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Untitled | Untitled

Here‘s my #bookspin list for April. @TheAromaofBooks

vivastory I have the Boyne on my April TBR 2mo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2mo

Lcsmcat @vivastory Me too. So I‘ll probably read it whether its number is drawn or not. 2mo

tokorowilliamwallace Currently in the middle of The Professor and the Madman, and I like the knowledge and characterization of historical figures I'm getting from it. But it's one of those I have to be in the mood for. Maybe I'll try to get through some more this weekend. I listened to his Krakatoa on audiobook and wasn't much into it, but I'm very picky about what I can read by that format, so it might be better in writing. 1mo

Lcsmcat @tokorowilliamwallace I‘m particular about what I read on audio, too. It ya very different experience. 1mo

32 likes5 comments

review

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane | Lisa See

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pick

A thoroughly enjoyable story, and lots of information on tea! #authoramonth @Soubhiville

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Ethan Frome | Edith Wharton

Our next #whartonbuddyread is Ethan Frome. We‘ll start after the upcoming holidays and, even though it‘s short, we‘ll break it into 2 sections.

Lcsmcat @jewright @Louise @Sace @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @Currey @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @mdm139 @emilyhaldi @rubyslippersreads @KathyWheeler @llwheeler @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @BookishTrish @graywacke 2mo

llwheeler Sounds good! I've already read this one, so I don't think I'm going to reread, but I'm looking forward to the discussions! 2mo

Currey I have also read it but I am looking forward to reading it with all of Wharton‘s past themes in mind. 2mo

Lcsmcat @llwheeler I haven‘t read it since high school, so I‘m looking forward to a reread with older eyes. And, as @currey says, with Wharton‘s themes in mind. 2mo

Graywacke I think I sorta read it in high school, i mean I remember a sled. Looking forward to this! 2mo

28 likes5 comments

review

The Secrets of a Fire King: Stories | Kim Edwards

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pick

This short story collection was my #bookspin for March. The most gripping were In the Garden and The Story of My Life. But Edwards skill is in taking on so many different voices so successfully. Each voice felt unique and true, whether male or female; no matter what continent the setting, or how educated or not the narrator. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo

38 likes1 comment

review

Remembering Alamance County: Tales of Railroads, Textiles, and Baseball | Don Bolden

Meh

so-so

Not particularly useful for genealogy as the author points out that most of the county‘s residents were small farmers, but then just talks about famous people. But it gave some atmosphere for the time my great-grandfather was farming there.

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The Fruit of the Tree | Edith Wharton

Reading this morning got me to the last chapter and I don‘t want to stop reading to go to work! #whartonbuddyread @Graywacke

Graywacke I finished today too. I like the ambiguities. 2mo

Lcsmcat @gratwacke I can‘t wait for 5:00 so I can read that last chapter! 2mo

Graywacke @Lcsmcat 🙂 I took a personal day today. Family is on spring break and there is that big orange ball bouncing around string-draped metal circles. 2mo

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Enjoy! (I must confess that it took me a full 10 minutes to catch the 🏀 reference. Such a bad Tarheel!) 2mo

Graywacke @Lcsmcat 😊sorry. (Glad there are some Tarheels who give the tournament a pass) 2mo

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Future Shock | Alvin Toffler

1. I can‘t say whether it‘s the longest or not, but this has been on our shelves for at least 37 years.
2. I can‘t decide whether it will still be relevant, and it wound a time sink!
3. Don Quixote, The Fruit of the Tree, Coriolanus, The Secrets of the Fire King
Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView #wonderouswednesday @Eggs

TheSpineView You're welcome! 2mo

Eggs 🍎👏🏻❤️ 2mo

Saknicole I also have an unread copy of Future Shock! I‘m sure I bought it at the used bookstore solely due to its bright yellow dust cover. (edited) 2mo

Lcsmcat @Saknicole Maybe someday we‘ll read it! 2mo

32 likes4 comments

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Dirty Dancing: A Celebration | Eleanor Bergstein

Well, it snowed. We‘re not going anywhere today anyway, but I hope we can get down the mountain tomorrow to go home.

ErinSueMreads I meannnn being snowed in somewhere beautiful isn't the worst thing in the world 2mo

Lcsmcat @ErinSueMreads Right? I‘ve got the vacation days. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2mo

MaureenMc ❤️ 2mo

Liz_M And presumably you have enough to read... 2mo

Lcsmcat @Liz_M Oh yes! A fully loaded Kindle. 😀 2mo

49 likes5 comments

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Dirty Dancing: A Celebration | Eleanor Bergstein

Spending a relaxing weekend at Mountain Lake Lodge, the set for much of Dirty Dancing. It was warm today, but it might snow tomorrow! 🤞🏻 that it doesn‘t!

LiteraryinLawrence Whoa! Maybe you‘ll get to carry a watermelon! 2mo

Lcsmcat @LiteraryinLawrence 😂 2mo

merelybookish Have fun! And yes m, hopefully no snow! 2mo

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Hooked_on_books Oh wow, it looks exactly the same! I love that movie. 2mo

LeahBergen How cool! 2mo

EvieBee Pachanga time! 2mo

TheLudicReader That was my mom‘s favourite movie. I love it too. 2mo

59 likes7 comments

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They Shoot Horses, Don't They?: A Novel | Horace McCoy

Thank you @Daisey ! How sweet of you. And your timing is impeccable- it arrived on my birthday! 😊 I can‘t wait to read it!!

merelybookish Happy birthday! 🎈🎉💐 2mo

Daisey Yay! Happy Birthday! 🥳 📚 I hope you enjoy it. I found this one really interesting. 2mo

LeahBergen Happy Birthday!! 📚❤️📚❤️ 2mo

BiblioLitten Happy Birthday 🎊💐💕 2mo

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The Secrets of a Fire King: Stories | Kim Edwards

Started my #bookspin tonight. So far all the stories are very different, but seem to circle a few themes. We‘ll see if that stays true.

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Rockingham County: A Brief History | Lindley S. Butler

I came home to #bookMail! I ordered these from Abe Books for my genealogy. Any Littens with family in NC that want look-ups, let me know. #genealogy #genealogist

Amiable I‘m a long-time family genealogist, too! My family research for the U.S. is all in New England, though. 2mo

Lcsmcat @Amiable The farthest north I‘ve found family is Pennsylvania. Most of my people are southerners. 2mo

Amiable @Lcsmcat I did track down the gravesite of my 4xg-grandfather -- he died during the Civil War and is buried in the military cemetery in Hampton, VA. So far that's the only southern connection I have. :) 2mo

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review

The Book of Lost Friends: A Novel | Lisa Wingate

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pick

Another dual-timeline book, where each chapter is a cliffhanger, got in the way of the story a bit for me. But the story is worth It. I love genealogy but never knew about these lost friends advertisements. A pick for my in-real-life book club.

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The Book of Lost Friends: A Novel | Lisa Wingate

I started this today for my irl book club and discovered it had a pretty bookmark inside. #foundinbooks

Tamra That book looks like it‘s been well loved by readers! It‘s fun to think about. (edited) 3mo

Lcsmcat @Tamra The torn bottom corner is trompe l‘œil- the dust jacket is fine except for too many stickers! 3mo

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Untitled | Unknown

My March #bookspin #doublespin list. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3mo

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Murderer in the Family | Susan Bowmer

Most of my reading this week has been old newspapers. I discovered that my g-g-g grandmother‘s brother was convicted of murder and executed in 1917, and I have fallen head first into the rabbit hole of newspaper stories about him and the trial. Any other #genealogists find a notorious criminal on your family tree? #genealogy

tpixie Interesting! 3mo

Lcsmcat @tpixie I‘m glad I‘m not a direct descendant, but it‘s fascinating reading! And the old journalism! One paper used the whole thing as an editorial on the evils of whiskey. And all of them used language that today would be called editorial even as they purported to be reporting. 3mo

tpixie @Lcsmcat interesting that news was editorial back then as well! I thought that was a new thing. Sounds like you are having a fun exploration! 3mo

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Don Quixote | Miguel de Cervantes

#chunksterchallenge

review

Tevye's Daughters | Sholem Aleichem

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pick

I finished my #bookspin today. The inspiration for Fiddler on the Roof, I found the Tevye stories better than those that surrounded them. And I didn‘t discover until I was at the end that there was a glossary for the Yiddish words, but most you can pick up from context. Not a five star read, but I‘m not sorry I persevered. @TheAromaofBooks

EvieBee What a fab find! It was on TCM not too long ago and I had to watch it, of course. It always makes me so sad. 3mo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3mo

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Coriolanus | William Shakespeare

I‘m ready, with possibly the oldest edition of any Shakespeare in my library. It‘s The Yale Shakespeare edition, copyright 1924, but printed in 1954. Can anyone beat that? #shakespeareteadalong @GingerAntics

GingerAntics That is a beautiful edition though. 3mo

Lcsmcat @GingerAntics A bit faded. Someone must have had it on the end of a shelf close to a window. 😀 3mo

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat I saw that. I prefer if they have to be faded that they‘re faded all over, like the book was always out being read and loved. 3mo

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Graywacke It‘s a little older than my 2002 Signet. 🙂 3mo

Lcsmcat @Graywacke It‘ll be interesting to see how different the footnotes are. I often get annoyed with editions for footnoting things that seem obvious to me. But then I grew up with Cranmer‘s prayer book and the King James Bible so I‘m not their target audience. 3mo

Graywacke @Lcsmcat we can compare. I would surprised if Signet was less guilty of footnoting the obvious. 3mo

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Don Quixote | Miguel de Cervantes

After way too much “peopling” at a retreat for our elected officials, I‘m holed up in my hotel room with TheDon. Made it to part 2! #chunksterchallenge @Amiable

Amiable Great progress! 👍🏼 3mo

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The Fruit of the Tree | Edith Wharton

I just started tonight, but I‘m finding it a quick read. I have to work Saturday morning so I won‘t be able to chime in until late afternoon, but I‘m looking forward to catching up then. #whartonbuddyread @Graywacke

Graywacke I planned for 5 hours of reading, but it took me half that…and now I finished our section too early. 🙂 3mo

CarolynM I've read the first chapter - very promising! Hoping to be up to speed by Sunday. 3mo

Cathythoughts This looks good! I may have to pass on this one though as I‘ve over booked myself 🙃. I‘ll try first chapter... 3mo

Lcsmcat @Graywacke That just gives you time to ponder. 😀 3mo

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review

The Heart Of A Woman | Maya Angelou

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pick

Angelou‘s personal accomplishments are rivaled only by her horrible luck in choosing men. I kept wanting to say “No, stay away from him!” Her ability to make you feel like you‘re living her life alongside her is amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed this. #authoramonth @Soubhiville

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Untitled | Unknown

It‘s not in any database on Litsy, Goodreads, or StoryGraph, but I‘ve been reading this book about my 6G grandfather, who came over pre-Revolution, first to Bermuda, then Virginia. So not much other reading happening. #genealogy Sometimes I get the bug to add another person to my #familyTree

AmyG Wow! 3mo

mandarchy I'm guilty of getting that bug. I found some living cousins during the Covid lockdown because the internet freed up. 3mo

Lcsmcat @mandarchy That‘s exciting. Have you stayed in touch? 3mo

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mandarchy @Lcsmcat sadly one died of covid shortly after. The other cousin is in touch on FB. We have shared images of heirlooms and information. I had photos and she had the family Bible. She also has an elaborate valentine my 3X great grandfather gave to her 2X great grandmother his 2nd wife. His first wife was my 3X great grandmother. The two women were aunt/niece so we have more shared DNA than you'd expect. 3mo

mandarchy And those two women we descend from were Spencer's that link us to prices Diana. So William is also my cousin! 3mo

Amiable I‘m an amateur genealogist as well! I totally understand that bug. I will go through spurts where I‘m obsessed with tracking down one particular snippet of information. I spent a year tracking down and requesting death certificates for various family members until I finally hit the jackpot and discovered the name of the village in Latvia where my 2x-great grandfather was born. It‘s such a rush when that happens! (edited) 3mo

Lcsmcat @mandarchy How great that you connected before they died. And that‘s some interesting lineage. 😀 3mo

Lcsmcat @Amiable There‘s nothing like that feeling! I‘ve only gotten three lines back to the original immigrant, and only one of those was post-revolution, so I‘m wading through eras of few records. And it‘s not helped by the fact that I‘m so much more interested in the women than the men. 😀 3mo

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The Heart Of A Woman | Maya Angelou

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The Rain in the Trees: Poems | William Stanley Merwin

#native #poetrymatters @TheSpineView

TheSpineView 🌲 🌳 ❤ 🌳 3mo

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The Heart Of A Woman | Maya Angelou

Started my first #authoramonth book this morning.

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Untitled | Unknown

My #Januarystats, which don‘t include Don Quixote which I‘m working my way through. Not a bad start to 2022. #ithadtobeyou @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome 👏🏻📚👍🏻 3mo

33 likes1 comment

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Time Traveler's Wife | Audrey Niffenegger

1. I would go back. I have several genealogy problems I‘d like to unravel!
2. I agree with @TheSpineView on the tagged book being the time travel book I would recommend.
#two4tuesday
Want to play? Consider yourself tagged.

TheSpineView The Time Traveler's Wife seems to be the most popular choice! Thanks for playing! 3mo

Lcsmcat @TheSpineView It‘s a great book! 3mo

25 likes2 comments