Tess Reads in Time and Space Page 5

I didn't wanna do it--create a new page. Was hoping to make it through December, but it was getting too large!



Hi, I'm Tess, newly retired in 2020 and enjoying life. I still teach one class online each semester to keep my mind (and my purse) functioning. I am a professor of History, mostly modern (post Renaissance), with a concentration on WWII, specifically the Holocaust.

I live with my husband of 46 years in a very small area of mid-west Ohio. I dabble in gardening both flowers and vegetables. Besides reading I like to travel, play games, and mostly just laze on the deck and in the pool every chance I get. In central Ohio, we feel the full force of all the seasons.

The loves of my life are my 7 grandchildren ranging in ages from 3-20. I never knew you could love anybody as much/more than your children; but 7 times I've been proven wrong!

My goal is to read 100+ books per year, hopefully most of them from my shelves.

Why do I read? To travel to and understand other places and times!

My rating system:
1 star--waste of paper and ink
2 stars-Is this literature? -major flaws or mind numbing boring
2 1/2 stars-not so bad I had to stop reading
3- (minus) Finished, just to say I read it--stayed the course!
3 stars-average, but still quite enjoyable
3 1/2 fun, informative, thought provoking
4 stars-excellent read
4 1/2 exceptionally good, among my favorites
5 stars-in all ways a superior read

Books may count in multiple CATS/KITS if the shoe fits!



My reading year runs from Dec. 25 to Dec. 25 As of Dec 25 there are 498 books on the TBR.

1. The Middle Ages Life in a Medieval Village by Frances Gies READ
2. 1800-Modern Day The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang HOST READ
3. Early Modern 1500-1800 Tulip Fever READ
4. Ancient 8 BC-AD 600 People of Fire READ
5. Dynasties/Civilizations/Empires Restoration (Charles II) READ
6. Military/War/Revolution Lionheart READ
7. Social History The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek READ
8. Your Own Country The Pioneers READ
9. Religion/Philosophy/Politics/Law The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoffer READ
10. Country/Region of Your Choice The Radetsky March Austria READ
11. Events Americans in Paris READ
12. Exploration and Discovery Camping with the Communists READ

KITASTROPHES



Jan-March Technology/Industrial/Manmade Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo READ

April-June Transportation and Maritime HOST Into the Abyss READ

July-Sept. Weather/Geological/Fire To Sleep With the Angels by David Cowan READ

Oct-Dec. Riots/uprisings/sieges/invasions THE SARACEN STORM: A Novel of the Moorish Invasion of Spain by J.M. Nunez

All year: Epidemics
1. Wickett's Remedy by Myla Goldberg READ

Books that have no CAT, that I just want to read!

1. 365 Penguins by Jean-Luc Fromental
2. Shackleton's Journey by William Grill
3. Nightwood
4. 1984
5. Patience and Sarah
6. A Gentleman's Murder
7. The Convenient Marriage
8. Sapphire and Shadow (A Woman's Life #1)
9. Master and Man
10. The Personal History of Rachel Dupree
11. The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side: A Miss Marple Mystery (Miss Marple Mysteries)
12. Keep the Aspidistra Flying
13. Midwives
14. The Legend of Mickey Tussler
15. One Grain of Rice
16. The Woods of Red Hill DNF
17. Swallows and Amazons
18 Devil's Brood
19. Anthony Adverse
20. McBroom's Wonderful One-Acre Farm
21. The Miller's Dance
22. The Shape of Mercy
23. How Martha Saved Her Parents From Green Beans
24. Thin Rich Bitches
25. Of Mortal Love
26. Nora and the Great Bear
27. Pig Surprise
28. Imperial Rescript
29. It's Not Over
30. Skeleton Lake
31. Ninety Two in the Shade
32. A Lovely Way to Burn
33. The Six Swans
34. Drowning Ruth
35. The Loving Cup
36. The Palm Wine Drinkard
37. Philoctetes
38. Ordinary People
39. Bella Poldark
40. Thriving in Babylon
41. Orestia
42. The Pilot
43. Peder Victorious
44. Flesh and Blood
45. Yours Sincerely, Giraffe
46. The Last Puritan
47. Her Final Words
48. Miss Julia to the Rescue
49. Sing Down the Moon
50. Far Away Across the Sea
51. Fields of Gold
52. The Theban Plays
53. Harvest Home
54. Tom Cringle's Log
55. When I Was You
56. Guy Mannering
57. Mother Mason
58. The Leopard Rider
59. The Twelve Disciples
60. The Life of Apostle Paul
61. The Picture of Dorian Gray
62. Her Royal Spyness
63. Medicus
64. The Lioness of Morocco
65. The Day of the Locust
66. Down the Santa Fe Trail and Into Mexico
67. The Life of Paul
68. The Abduction of Seraglio
69. The Country Where No One Ever Dies
70. The Two Baronesses
71. Peter Ibbetson
72. Ward Allen Savannah River Market Hunter
73. The Brief History of the Dead
74. Life with Father
75. Move Over, Darling
76. Who Gets the Drumstick
77. I'm Not Scared
78. One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow
79. The Story of Beautiful Girl
80. Frog Music
90. The Loyal Wife
91. The Damned Thing
92. Dagon
93. A Separate Peace
94. The Red Pony
95. Evangeline: A Tale of Arcadie
96. Dr. Zhivago
97. The Agony and the Ecstasy
98. The Librarian of Auschwitz
99. Bastard out of Carolina
100. Chickamauga: A Novel of the American Civil War (Blair Howard's Civil War/Western Series Book 5)
101. The Once and Future King
102. Sons by Pearl S. Buck
103. A House Divided
104. The Secret Daughter of the Tsar

Reads in Place: Books set in France
1. Restoration READ
2. The Gauguin Connection: A Genevieve Lenard Novel READ
3. The Nun by Denis Diderot READ
4. Mauprat by George Sand READ
5. No Exit by Sartre READ
6. Madame Tussaud READ
7. The Second Empress

Books published in 1936
1. War with the Newts by Karel Capek READ
2. Nightwood by Djuna Barnes READ
3. Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier READ
4. The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie READ
5. Keep the Apidistra Flying by George Orwell READ

Reads in Time: Reads the 5 oldest and newest books on my shelf (as of 1-1-2021)

OLDEST
1. The Courage to Care READ
2. Sapphire and Shadow READ
3. Midwives READ
4. In the Garden of Beasts READ
5. Tulip Fever READ

NEWEST
1. Death by Water READ
2. A Lovely Way to Burn READ
3. Florence Nightingale READ
4. Flesh and Blood READ
5. Curses! READ

Reads in Time: Read 5 books from childhood/teen years
1. Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Caldone
2. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
3. The Bobbsey Twins on an Airplane Ride by Laura Lee Hope
4. Beauty and the Beast
5 Peter Pan

Reads 5 non-fiction books/plays.
1. Life in a Medieval Village READ
2. Zoo Nebraska READ
3. Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 READ
4. The Rape of Nanking by Irish Chang READ
5. Rani Laxmibai: Warrior-Queen of Jhansi READ
6. The Diaries of Giacomo Meyerbeer READ
7. The Physical Death and Resurrection: A Surgeon's View READ
8. Living our Best Lives READ
9. Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project READ
10. This is my Lemonade: An Adoption Story READ
11. Aida READ
12. The Diary of Samuel Pepys READ
13. Frost Freezes and Fairs READ
14. The Kingdom of Sicily, 1100-1250: A Literary History READ
15. The History of Rome: The Republic (Volume 1) READ
16. The Federalist Papers READ
17. Rosemary the Hidden Kennedy READ
18 . The Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook: Recipes for the Best Pan in Your Kitchen
19. The Cost of Discipleship
20. The Girls ALone: Six Days in Estonia READ
21. What is Life Worth?
22. Hunting Trips of a Ranchman: Sketches of Sport on the Northern Cattle Plains
23. In The Heart of the Sea
24. The Rifle and the Hound in Ceylon
25. The Mayflower Compact
26. The Battle with the Slum
27. The Laughing Muse
28. A Chant for the Love of England
29. Into the Wilderness
30. Of Plimouth Plantation
31. The Battle with the Slum
32. Trials of Passion
33. Papers of Ben Franklin (https://franklinpapers.org/framedVolumes.jsp?vol=43&page=316)
34. Poems by William Cullen Bryant
35. Owls of the Eastern Ice
36. The Pope and Mussolini
37. The Book of Eels
38. . Francis Marion and the Snow's Island Community: Myth, History, and Archaeology

Reading Through Time



Quarterly Reads
1. Renaissance Hamnet READ
2. 17th Century Tulip Fever READ
3. 18th Century Memoirs of a Sleepwalker READ
4. Napoleonic The Second Empress READ

Monthly Reads
1. Shakespeare's Children Hamnet READ
2. Fashion The Case of the Flashing Fashion Queen: A Dix Dodd Mystery (Dix Dodd Mysteries Book 1) by Norah Wilson READ
3. Argh, Matey HOST Jamaica Inn READ
4. The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire Narrow Road to the North Read
5. Meet the Press When Google Met Wiki Leaks READ
6. Rewriting the Past Eli READ
7. Now we are free A King's Ransom READ
8. Food The Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook: Recipes for the Best Pan in Your Kitchen READ
9. Time Travel/Prehistoric Primordial Earth READ
10. Supernatural Blood Coins: The Judas Chronicles--Books One, Two, and Three READ
11. Reader's Choice READ
12. TBD Brrr it's cold READ

New CAT (as of July 1, 2021)



My rules: I can carry this challenge into 2022, if not finished. A book may only count in 1 category.

1. A 19th century classic: any book first published from 1800 to 1899 The Story of an African Farm READ

2. A 20th century classic: any book first published from 1900 to 1971. All books must have been published at least 50 years ago; the only exceptions are books which were written by 1971 and posthumously published. Of Mice and Men READ

3. A classic by a woman author. Wuthering Heights READ

4. A classic in translation, meaning any book first published in a language that is not your primary language. You may read it in translation or in its original language, if you prefer. Madame-Villeneuves-Story-Beauty-BeastREAD

5. A classic by BIPOC author; that is, a non-white author. (intent: Phyliss Wheatley, Complete Writings) READ

6. A classic by a new-to-you author, i.e., an author whose work you have never read. (intent: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie) READ

7. New-to-you classic by a favorite author -- a new book by an author whose works you have already read. (intent: Romola by George Eliot) READ

8. A classic about an animal, or with an animal in the title. The animal can be real or metaphorical. (i.e., To Kill a Mockingbird). I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings READ

9. A children's classic. THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE READ

10. A humorous or satirical classic. (intent: Fairacre School Book #1) READ

11. A travel or adventure classic (fiction or non-fiction). It can be a travelogue or a classic in which the main character travels or has an adventure. (The Alhambra by Washington Irving) READ

12. A classic play. This is a work that was originally written for the stage. Plays will only count in this category. THE THEBAN PLAYS-READ

Welcome to my last thread of 2021. Please join me for some cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, molasses cookies, and tea! (sandwiches not my pic, cookies--my pic)

End of the year plans or what I need to read by Dec. 25

For scaredy kit: a Stephen King, a classic horror READ
Reading Through Time: A book with a cold setting READ
Genre: mystery
History: Camping with the Communists

To finish my CATS:
Classics: A BIPOC author Philis Wheatley complete writings,READ
Romola by George Eliot,READ The Alhambra by Washington Irving READ

Happy new thread! Hope the last two months of the year bring you some great reading!

Happy new thread! You've read tons this year by the looks of it!

Happy new thread - hope the last 2 months fill the thread nicely with reads.

You've been doing some dedicated shelf clearing it seems. The Book of Eels! Looking forward to what's next.

Happy new thread! Looking forward to seeing what you find on your shelves next.

Happy new thread! I hope it's a grand finale.

Happy new thread, Tess. Looks loke you have had a great reading year so far!

Happy new thread, here's hoping these last 2 months of the year bring you good books and some relief for your back pain.

207. Romola by George Eliot, probably my most favorite author. This book was unlike any of Eliot's other works. This is a deep historical fiction book based in Florence from the death of Lorenzo de'Medici (1492) through Savonarola's hanging. The main character, Romola, begins as a genteel, if not impoverished gentlewoman who cared for her blind, scholar father. The book clearly follows Romola as she transitions between daughter, wife, and citizen. The plot (story) is good and as usual, Eliot gives the characters their full due. (development) However, the book was difficult to read because of its dense prose. I had to work too hard to focus on reading the words and did not enjoy the story as much as I could have. Was I glad I read the book? Yes! Would I recommend it? Probably not. I think most would find this book in the extreme of Victorian writing. 572 pages 3 stars CAT: Classics

So far I have only read Silas Marner and Adam Bede by Eliot, but I enjoyed both. For now I will stick to her books that are on the 1,001 List so I suspect The Mill on the Floss will be the next one of her's that I tackle.

Going back to your previous thread, I enjoyed Remarkable Creatures when I read it. Since then I’ve noticed that there are a number of books about Mary Anning.

Enjoy your reading for your new thread!

>23 DeltaQueen50: I've read all those you mentioned in addition to Daniel Deronda and Middle March. They were all 5 star reads except Middle March which was 3.5 stars.Romola was just not what I expected from her!

>24 hailelib: Oh, wow, Tricia! I did not even know Mary Anning was a real person. I thought the book was entirely fiction! I should have suspected, though, because all the books I've read thus far by the author have been historical fiction set around an artist.

208. Elevation by Stephen King. A story of a man who looses weight uncontrollably. Listened to this on Audio--King narrated it himself. Very good narration! Story--well--I'm not a King fan, per say, so it was "passable." 4 hours 12 minutes=159 pages 3.5 stars CAT: November ScaredyKit

>26 Tess_W: You might want to take a look at The Fossil Hunter: Dinosaurs, Evolution, and the Woman Whose Discoveries Changed the World by Shelley Emling. I have it on my shelf but haven't read it, it's only about 200 pages and I plan to read it before the year end.

>28 clue: TY, I certainly will check it out!

209. A Separate Peace by John Knowles is a coming of age story set during 1941-1942. The war is in the background, but not a front and center part of the story. It is the story of two friends and their struggles at a New England boarding school. While slow moving, it is yet profound and poignant. 228 pages 3 1/2 stars CAT: Because I Wanna

210. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. This is a re-read for about the 4th time for me (once for myself in the 1960's, once for my children in the 1980's, again in 2018, and this time for and with my 12 year old granddaughter). It has lost any luster it might have held for me! 170 pages 3 stars CAT: Children's/YA Reads That completes this CAT for me!

211. The Red Pony by John Steinbeck was the coming of age story of a young man through the death of his beloved pony. This book has often been characterized as being brutal, but to me it is just the facts of life living on a farm. 174 pages 3 stars CAT: Because I Wanna

212. Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie is an epic poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. IMHO, it is the greatest "love story" ever written. This poem is based on a true historical event, the expulsion of the Arcadians from Nova Scotia in the mid 18th century. This was about the 4-5th re-read for me. 92 pages 5 stars CAT: Because I Wanna

When I was very young my family lived in Nova Scotia for a few years and we often went for a drive/picnic to a park that honors Evangeline. I was so surprised when I returned there as an adult and found it is very tiny, there is a small chapel and a wishing well but that's all I can remember about it. I really should read the poem and discover actual story!

>34 DeltaQueen50: interesting!

>33 Tess_W: I should re-read that one!

213. Burial Rites by Hannah Kent This was Kent's debut novel and it was superb! It is the story of Agnes Magnusdottir, a 30 year old woman in Iceland that was put to death for a gruesome murder. The first lines of the book set the tone, and they are chilling: "They said I must die. They said that I stole the breath from men, and now they must steal mine. I imagine, then, that we are all candle flames, greasy-bright, fluttering in the darkness and the howl of the wind, and in the stillness of the room I hear footsteps, awful coming footsteps, coming to blow me out and send my life up away from me in a gray wreath of smoke." The book, although a novel, was based on a true story. Definitely a winner! 336 pages 5 stars CAT: RTT Brrr it's cold!

214. Tales of the Alhambra by Washington Irving is a collection of short stories and essays written by the author about Granada and specifically the Alhambra, from 1829-1830 while he was given free reign of the fortress. It can't really be called a travelogue or memoir because included are folk stories and local oral histories. I think one that has visited the Alhambra or knows more of Moorish history might better enjoy this book than I. 348 pages 3 stars CAT: Classics Challenge: Travel/Adventure in which the main character has an adventure. Irving claims he entered a pyramid and retrieved a book contained therein.

215. Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral by Phillis Wheatley. Phillis Wheatly, an amazing woman to be sure, I think tried too hard on these poems. They seemed to be in the manner and style of the Greek poets (which I don't care for). Throughout the poetry she often mentions "sacred nine", "angelical nine', etc. Many references to nines. Other than the muses, I can't find what this may be "code" for! 106 pages 2.5 stars



Yeah! This finished my classics CAT challenge.

>39 Tess_W: Congrats on finishing that challenge!

216. The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
can be described as a home invasion with an apocalyptic theme. This book was the ultimate in slow moving--you can read the first 50 pages and the last 50 pages and still have "read" the book. I was surprised by the ending, but not enough to make up for the sheer dullness of the rest of the book. That being said, it wasn't a "bad" book, but certainly not one that I would read again. Perhaps this might have worked better as a short story. 272 pages 3 stars CAT: Classic Horror (Scaredykit December)

Been caring for my mom for last 2 weeks. She's doing fine! I came home yesterday and look what was waiting for me! A surprise, for sure. After the holidays my new kitchen adventures will begin!

Glad to hear that your Mom is doing well. It must be a huge relief for you to be back home among your own things - and to find a new thing for you to play with as well!

>42 Tess_W: It's always nice to come home to a present! Have fun! Glad Mom is doing well.

Good news about your mom.

I'm glad to hear your Mom is doing well. Have fun playing with your present!

>43 DeltaQueen50:
>44 VivienneR:
>45 hailelib:
>46 MissWatson:
Thanks so much!

217. The Village Diary by Miss Read The Village Diary was divided into 12 chapters, each with the appropriate activities for the season. I see that even then, teachers, although getting 8 weeks off, still worked most of that time preparing for the next year! 258 pages 5 stars CAT: November Random Cat

While I sat with my mom for 2 weeks I pulled a couple oldies off her shelf and did some re-reads:

218. The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone is a biography of Michelangelo. One of my all-time favs! 776 pages CAT: Because I Wanna 5*

219. Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak Again, always a great read. I tried to look up some persons who play a prominent place in the book, but with no luck. Still, always a great read! 704 pages 5* CAT: Because I Wanna

OMG Can't believe it--the final Diana Gabaldon book is out--Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone. After my walk will snuggle up to fire with iced tea and a box of tissues and read! I'm so sad that this is the last one!

>50 Tess_W: I've been holding off on picking this one up but I expect that any day now my willpower will give out!

220. The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe was billed as a young adult novel, but I question that young adult designation. This novel was based loosely on the life of 14 year old Dita Kraus. Dita and her family were Czech Jews and were first sent to Terizen and then on to Auschwitz. The Nazis kept a family camp at Auschwitz for about a year so that the press and Red Cross could visit and tell the world that this was a nice place. They even had a "school" for children-with no books, desks, pencils, papers, etc. Through the resistance Dita came to have 8 books which she cared for and passed around. Had she been caught it would have been the gas chambers for her and her family. Dita and her mother were transferred to Belgen-Belsen where things were even worse than Auschwitz. Eventually Dita is liberated by the English. There are some interesting interviews with Dita on Youtube. I felt this book was a little too much fiction--it even had the obligatory romance--prisoner and Nazi officer. It was billed as a novel, so I don't want to judge too harshly. Also, if it was written for 13-17 year olds, I understand the included romance. 447 pages 3.5 stars CAT: Because I Wanna

Now I'm so stuffed I can't move! That being said, I'm going to...that's right, prepare some more food! Going to can (my new canner) some turkey broth and bone broth. I will be making turkey tetrazzini and eating that tonight and freezing the other pan. In between that, I'm going to take down the fall/Thanksgiving decorations and begin to replace them with Christmas. Really, this is all much easier than going out on Black Friday weekend--which I will NEVER do! I shop all year and my Christmas gifts are already purchased usually by June or July each year.

>53 Tess_W: I may put up the tree later today--or I may wait until tomorrow. I dread getting the decorations out from under the steps. The cats always want to help, and it takes me forever to coax them out of that storage area.

221. Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison Just wow! This was a book that I abhorred. It made me nauseous. I should not have finished it. This was a tragedy for sure: child abuse and rape. This was no happy ending. I do not know what compelled me to finish it. This is the stuff of which nightmares are made. A grim story with superb writing that compelled this reader to continue. I don't recommend if you are squeamish. This was a library e-book. If I had known the content, I would not have requested. I even wonder how I came to request it! 326 pages 4 stars CAT: Because I Wanna

222. Chickamauga: A Novel of the American Civil War (Blair Howard's Civil War/Western Series Book 5) by Blair Howard was a fictional account of said battle. It was very dry, as I find much military history. I thought by reading it in novel form it would be more interesting, but not so much! In summary, the Confederates were successful, but at a great price in lives that they could ill afford. Many have said this victory was the death knell for the Confederates. General Bragg claimed the victory and left the battlefield to retake Chattanooga from U.S. Grant; which he failed to do. Grant cleared Chattanooga for General Sherman to make his way through the south. I read this book because I do not know a lot of specifics about the U.S. Civil War--I know, it's shocking as I'm a history prof....but I teach modern American history from 1876-current day and as such have not really studied this time period. I did have a few college courses 40 years ago, but they were just general survey courses of the Civil War. 352 pages 3 stars CAT: KITastrophe: October - December - Riots/Uprisings/Sieges/War/Invasions

223. The Once and Future King by T.H. White was a novel of Arthurian romance. Arthur, who is called Wart, is educated by Merlyn. Merlyn allows Arthur to assume the forms of animals so that he can view life in different social classes. From fish he learns that "might is right." From wild geese he learned heroism and from badgers he learns about potential. Arthur is being educated without the knowledge that he is being trained for the throne. Arthur becomes king when he pulls the sword from the stone. Arthur is tested many times by Queen Morgause as well as Lancelot and Guenever; but he is unable to stop the forces moving to destroy his kingdom. This really wasn't my type of book---I'm not an Arthurian fan. It was veryyyyyyyyy long, 656 pages. 3 stars (just) CAT: Because I Wanna

>57 Tess_W: When I was young I was fascinated by King Arthur and Merlyn, so naturally I was interested… but 656 pages! Maybe not.

224. Blood and Justice: A Private Investigator Mystery Series (A Jake & Annie Lincoln Thriller Book 1) by Rayven T. Hill was book #1 in a PI series husband and wife team. They work to catch a serial killer who acts as a vigilante. The writing is very basic, the plot line is acceptable; no surprises. I got this for free on Kindle in 2015. 305 pages 3 stars CAT: Genre Cat December

>59 Tess_W: I'll try to remember to give that series a pass.

November Recap:
16 books read

Favs: Dr Zhivago (re-read), Burial Rites

Stinkers: I read nothing below a "3" (average but still enjoyable) I think this is a first in a long time!

>57 Tess_W:

I have been contemplating reading The Once and Future King next year. I read it first as a teen and then again as it was a required read in a college prose class. I was the only person in the class who liked it! The guys were particularly upset at the assignment. The first part has been published as a YA and called The Sword in the Stone.

>62 hailelib: I hope you enjoy the re-read. I am not surprised that you were the only one in the class to like it! I'm not one for fantasy or sci fi or the like, and so I don't usually enjoy genres such as this.

225. L'Amore Dei Tre Re (The Love of Three Kings) In continuing with researching/reading/listening to some of the great operas, I stumbled upon a bilingual copy of this (English/Italian) at a Friends of the Library sale for just $1! It's dated 1950 and smells musty. It's going away now that I've read it. (have been keeping in bag away from other books). This opera was based on a poem by the same name written by Sem Benelli. If was first performed at La Scala in 1913. It is the story of the invasion of Altura by barbarians and those they loved or hated and visa versa. I listened to this on YouTube in English. The sound track was magnificent and tragic! The libretto was 68 pages in length. CAT: Non-fiction. The link is not correct. I could not bring up what I had, exactly!

Had high temp for last 3-4 days and last night had no sense of taste or smell--still don't. Covid test today returned positive. Sigh......I've had both vaccinations and was scheduled for booster on Monday. I wear a mask at all times in public, even when not required. Sigh......The high temp is making me sleepy so not getting much reading done. Coupled with the raging headache, I just want to sleep! This has to end!

Very sorry to hear that you've caught Covid despite all your precautions and that you're feeling so awful, Tess. I hope that your two vaccinations will help you get over it quickly.

>65 Tess_W: Sorry. I had another friend who came down with it this week too. Like you, she was vaccinated.

>65 Tess_W: Oh nooooo Tess I'm so sorry! And so close to your booster date too :( Hope you're feeling better soon and that your taste and smell return quickly.

>65 Tess_W: So very sorry to hear you tested positive even after all your precautions. Be good to yourself and get well again soon.

Oh no! I hope you feel much better soon - take care xx

So sorry to hear this, Tess. Take care of yourself.

Thanks so much all! It's really bad in my county (and State and country!) In my county we have only one hospital which has 79 beds dedicated to ICU/Covid. All 79 beds are filled. Our county's population is 158,000. We are averaging 93 new cases per day in our county. Since Nov 1, cases have increased 50% per week.

My county/state since March 2020

Fairfield County
Total cases
24,395
Deaths
287

Ohio
Total cases
1.7M
Deaths
26,587

The U.S.
Total cases
48.1M
Deaths
777,000

I can tell you I am sick and tired of the anti-vaxxers running the show. Their "liberty" is threatening the lives of others. Our current federal government administration will do nothing, I'm sure.

I hope it runs it's course quickly Tess. I'm really concerned by the new varient and fear we'll be back to sheltering this winter.

That is such awful news, Tess. I hope it proves to be miuld case, goes away quickly and has no lasting effects. Take good care of yourself!

Day 8.......I'm really B O R E D! Fever for 8 days, but it has gone done significantly! Still a headache, but not nearly as bad. Between now and Friday I expect to see a return to full health! The Dr. said if no temp (without Tylenol) on Friday, I will be released from quarantine on Saturday! Yeah!

My thingaversary is this month (although not till later), but I'm celebrating early because I'm bored. I can shop from my desk! Since 2022 is my "no buy" year, I am going to buy a few for this thingaversary (11th) and savor them throughout next year. I'm not buying 11, but here is what I have purchased:

The Race to Save the Romanovs: The Truth Behind the Secret Plans to Rescue the Russian Imperial Family by Helen Rappaport. This is a rabbit hole for me...I'm currently reading my 2nd book, this one fiction, about the Romanov's. I think I need to tie it up with a non-fiction.

Veritas: A Harvard Professor, a Con Man and the Gospel of Jesus's Wife by Ariel Sabar. This has always been a controversary as to whether Jesus was married. I'm not sure who the con is, the Harvard professor or this author. I hope to find out!

Two books by one of my favorite authors, Pearl S. Buck, which will fit my Asia CAT in 2022 Peony and Eternal Wonder. I purchased both of these on audio.

Poland by James Michener I would like to read all of Michener's books in my lifetime--not sure that I will be able; but I try to read 2-3 per year.

Finally, Rodin's Lover by Heather Webb. Billed as part art history, party psychological thriller.

Happy Thingaversary to me!

>76 Tess_W: Happy Thingaversary! Glad to hear you are on the mend.

226. Sons by Pearl S. Buck This is book #2 of The Good Earth Trilogy. It was familiar, but then, I've read a lot of Buck. I have no record of reading it, but whether or not, it was new enough to be a great read. This is the story of Wang Lung's sons and how they divide the estate after his death. 229 pages 4 stars CAT: Cause I Wanna

227. A House Divided by Pearl S. Buck This is book #3 of The Good Earth Trilogy. Again, deja vu, but no record. Yuan, a younger son who fled China, returns in the midst of a peasant uprising and tries to bring peace to his family. 348 pages 3.75 stars CAT: Cause I Wanna

>77 christina_reads: TY!

Happy Thingaversary, Tess. I'm glad you're feeling better and the end of quarantine is in sight! Hang on in there!

Happy Thingaversary, Tess. I was very happy to read that you are feeling better and looking forward to being released from quarantine.

>79 Jackie_K:
>80 DeltaQueen50:

TY TY!

228. The Secret Daughter of the Tsar by Jennifer Laam was a bit of historical speculative fiction assuming there was a 5th daughter born to Empress Alexandra Romanov. The story is told in 3 time lines and I am surprised that this first-time author does it rather well. All in all, a good read. 342 pages 4 stars CAT: Because I Wanna

Happy Early Thingaversary!

Relieved to hear that you're almost recovered and will soon be allowed out.

>83 pamelad: TY, Pam!

229. Camping with the Communists by Karen Gilden was the story of the author's family on their 6 month tour of the Soviet Union, Ukraine, Georgia, and Estonia in a VW van in 1977. Interesting! 224 pages 4 stars CAT: History Cat/Dec/Adventure/Exploration I think this book was a 2016 recommendation from Jackie_K, but I'm not sure!



With this read I have completed the CATS that I wished to participate in this year.

Happy Thingaversary to you, Tess! Peony was one of my favourites when I read Pearl S. Buck in my teens. Doesn't seem all that long ago...
Also, congrats on finishing your challenges.
All the best that your quarantine ends soon.

>86 MissWatson: TY!

>85 Tess_W: I certainly read Camping with the Communists a couple of years ago, so the BB could well have been from me. I think you gave it more stars than I did, which is good for a BB (I always feel awful when I rave about a book, someone else reads it based on my review and then doesn't like it!).

Hurray for online shopping! Glad you were able to get the Thingaversary celebration in while in quarantine. I think a James Michener book counts for at least 2 regular books ;)

Happy Thingaversary!

I was sorry to read about the Covid but gad you are feeling better.

>89 rabbitprincess:
>90 hailelib:

TY TY TY!

Two more Thingaversary books to add:
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
The Third Reich at War by Richard Evans (Book 3 of 3)

230. Cogar's Despair by Nate Granzow. This was book one in a series about an unconventional reporter who seems to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The writing was good and the story was average. The setting with South Korea and Shanghai. 244 pages 3 stars This was a free Kindle book from 2014. CAT: Asia Reads

231. Francis Marion and the Snow's Island Community: Myth, History, and Archaeology by Steven D. Smith While this book was about the "Swamp Fox" and his part in the U.S. War for Independence, it was more. I loved that this author separated the man from the myth and also told about the various patchwork of partisan cells contained within South Carolina. Even though they lost plenty of battles, they did win the war. This was a rabbit hole for me while reading Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone where Francis Marion plays an integral part in 2 chapters. Great read! Lots of footnotes and documentation. 352 pages 4.5 stars CAT: Non-fiction

My last two Thingaversary presents to me:

The Mysteries of Paris by Eugene Sue supposedly a Gothic novel that inspired Les Miserables.

Hearts Of Fire: Eight Women In The Underground Church And Their Stories Of Costly Faith Voices of the Martyrs.

>94 Tess_W: Some good options there! I'll have to start planning for my Thingaversary haul in March, but I suspect I'll have to limit my spending because I splurged on the year-end sales this month. It can be done with used books and Kindle though so I'm not worried!

>94 Tess_W: I hardly ever buy a book unless it's on sale or through library sales. Sometimes, though, for the "hard" history books, I, alas, must pay full price!

I will be leading a group read of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart in Jan-March (2022) in Geeks Who Love the Classics. Please join me! https://www.librarything.com/topic/337543#n7681504

Hope you're continuing to feel better, Tess!

>94 Tess_W: The Mysteries of Paris looks interesting, but very, very long.

>97 Tess_W: A really worthwhile book.

>97 Tess_W: I have that one on reservation from the library, in an aim to read more off the 1001 list. I may pop in when it arrives.

232. The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America by Matt Kracht is a hilarious and sarcastic book featuring major North American birds. The author has made up nicknames for the birds, such as Caspian Turd (Caspian Tern), Yellow-Bellied Shitsucker (Yellow-bellied sapsucker). Reminds me of teenage boys! Even though irreverent, I found it quit funny! The author has also hand drawn each bird and it is rather exact even though it appears to be done with crayons. 135 pages 4 stars CAT: Because I Wanna

233. Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone by Diana Gabaldon is book 9/9 in the Outlander series. On April 15 (2021) Gabaldon announced this wasn't the last book, as it was expected to be. Go tell the bees that I am gone is an old Celtic saying that means you must inform the bees of a birth, death, or a long coming/going or the bees will fly away. While loving all the other books in this series, I was a bit disappointed in this book as it branched out so much with characters that I was little familiar with or had never heard of before--lots of them! Much of the action took place outside of Fraser's Ridge. The ending was also unsatisfactory. I had hoped for more in 932 pages. 4 stars CAT: Because I Wanna

Two 8-hour baking days: 5# peanut butter fudge, 5# chocolate fudge, Christmas cut out sugar cookies with icing, applesauce cookies (50% frosted, 50% plain), Amish toffee, and peanut brittle. Pics to follow as I'm making plates to give away today! If time allows: Jam thumbprint cookies, molasses sugar cookies. IF molasses from Amazon arrives today! Went to 5 different stores and no molasses!

Wow, that is a LOT of baking! The cookies sound delicious -- hope your friends and family enjoy them!

That was a lot of baking. I did well to make a pecan pie today!

2021 Summary: I think I'm done reading for 2021. Time to request books, pick my January line up and begin reading when I can. Between now and Jan 1 is very busy for me and I start teaching an in person class (for which I need to prepare) on Jan. 10th. See you in the 2022 group!

Total Books Read: 233

CATS/KITS COMPLETED FULLY: Historycat, Kitastrophe, Because I Wanna, Books set in France, Books published in 1936, 5 Newest/5 Oldest books on my shelf, 5 books from my childhood/teen years, Non-fiction, Traveling Thru Time (another group), GeoKit. I dabbled in: RandomCat, MysteryCat, ScaredyKIT.

2022: We don't want any trouble from you. Just arrive on January 1 and sit down and keep quiet!

See you on the boards!

Have a wonderful Christmas, Tess, and hope you manage a bit of a break in between the teaching prep and the Christmas shenanigans! (and thank you so much for the Christmas card, it was lovely to receive!)

You certainly had a great reading year! I had a rather lackluster year overall and I'm ready to move forward too...although I don't have my 2022 thread ready to go yet! I hope you can enjoy some reading time before your class begins!