Another Classic - The Scapegoat by Daphne Du Maurier

Well I have done it again.  Too many library holds have arrived before I was ready to balance them all.  Currently was reading the nonfiction Strangers by Belle Burden as a buddy read with Susan at The Cue Card and just finished it yesterday.   Review upcoming on this one.

My latest classic finished is The Scapegoat by Daphne DuMaurier.  I was hoping to read at least three more from my list before the end of the year.  It's a balancing act with all  the library books I am getting, wanting to get to them all.

What a story.   A nice English history professor named John, vacationing in Le Mans, is considering his life and how to change it when he meets a Frenchman named Jean.  This man Jean holds an artistocratic title, is almost a twin in physical resemblance to English John but their ethics and personalities are quite different.  Jean is a true scoundrel.  They may look identical but there is a vast difference in their morals and lifestyle.

"We did not speak: we went on staring at one another. I had heard of these things happening, of people who meet casually and turn out to be long-lost cousins, or twins parted at birth; and the idea is amusing, or perhaps fraught with tragedy, like the Man in the Iron Mask."

After getting John drunk Jean absconds  with English John's identity papers, money and possessions.  He goes to England to assume John's life.  Upon awakening from a drunken sleep,  John feels he can not contact the police with zero proof of his true identity so he assumes Jean's identity and heads for the chateau.   Well...of course, that makes sense.

John walks into a family situation where no one expects him to be good or kind.  Remember,  Jean was/is a scoundrel and left a wake of misery behind. It was interesting to see John with his decent values change the dynamics of that family's situation, repairing relationships and financial dealings. The end leaves one wondering which path these two men will take. Jean will never change, but I don't think John will either.  

Linking with:

 Joy for British Isles Friday

The Classics Club

Mr. Braithwaite vs Miss Brodie{Two from my classic club list}

Hello bookish friends. My posting has suffered from a disheartening lack of motivation. Let's hope this is a reboot by writing about what I am reading.

This month I have tackled a few from my classics club list and also a book for the Women in Translation event.  For now I want to record the two classics about teachers with many similarities. 

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark and To Sir, With Love by E.R. Braithwaite.

Both were made into movies, both are short and well written, both teachers employ unconventional teaching practices and are influencial with the students.

The Prime of Miss Brodie is set at a girls school in Edinburgh. Miss Brodie teaches the junior level at a private school, girls aged 10-12 who are quite impressionable. 

We may have had teachers in our lives who we looked up to and in turn have influenced us.  Miss Brodie was an impressive teacher but not a good one, in my humble opinion.  She set up her own clique of young ladies who were easily affected, molding them to her values rather than teaching them critical thinking skills or encouraging their own opinions. She treated these select young girls as confidantes rather than keeping the professional boundaries needed in a teacher-student relationship. 

Miss Brodie inappropriately shared stories about her love life from an earlier time in her life, belittled one of her Brodie set girl, Mary MacGregor, yet keeping her within the group because she neeeded that scapegoat. This made the other girls, the Brodie girls, keep poor Mary at arm's length as they didn't want to stand out and found wanting.

Miss Jean Brodie - a supporter and admirer of Hitler and Mussolini, a strong willed teacher living some of her sexual dreams by sharing the meanderings of her romantic mind (in her prime or not) through the children.  As she is in a custodial position of trust I found that most inappropriate.   She unwittingly (or not) created her own little Fascist following with her set of girls.

Our main character here is actually the narrator, not Miss Brodie as one would think from the title. Keep an eye on young Sandy as she experiences and relates all of the "teachings" in this book.  She ends up betrayed by a student yet she kept a relationship with her "Brodie set" into their adult lives as they stayed in touch. 

Why would they stay in touch, was my question? 3 stars from me on this one and that is being rounded up.

Next is To Sir, With Love.  This one is set in a tough London school.  His students are a challenge and his perserverance pays off.

The narrative was smooth and I was impressed with the language, the premise and the outcome.  This book gave you food for thought about the racial climate in the 1960s as well.  Braithwaite served in the Royal Air Force and was brilliant with electronics, serving  as an engineer.  While he was born in Guyana he grew up in England, was well educated and eventually received a masters degree in physics.

Once out of the service he was told he was very well qualified for professional positions in his field.  While he was a good candidate it was his race that figured into the decision making.  Being black made him nearly unemployable and he became very bitter. It was suggested he apply to Greenslade school in a rougher poorer part of London as they needed teachers desperately. Braithwaite needed to live, to eat and pay a rent so he accepted this position teaching seniors. At first, it was just a job.

As an extraordinarily intelligent and well dressed man he stood out at this school, especially as he was the first black teacher there. The children were a nightmare, always pushing the limits, using poor language,  having zero expectation of him staying.  

The turning point came when he'd had it with their behavior and disrespect and announced some rules for the class.  He would be addressed as Mr. Braithwaite or Sir.  In turn he would address the young ladies as Miss and expect the boys to do the same.  The boys were treated to respect as well and this, among other reasonable rules, changed the young adults for the better. The children wrote weekly reports about what they learned, allowing them to air any grievences they may have without fear of reprisal.  

"Nonetheless, one thing clearly emerged: they were very pleased to be treated like grown-ups, to be talked to like equals. Fernman wrote: “He speaks to us as if we understand all the words he uses, and most of us try to look as if we do.” I smiled at this; they were already showing their stuff."

This modification of teaching tactics changed the students' interest regarding everything from active classroom discussions/interactions, exposure to cultural events by going to museums and concerts on field trips and even their hygiene.  They were treated with a respect never known before and in turn, became respectful of others. Mr. Braithwaite also experienced growth in character after negotiating the social norms and prejudices he can not change.  He becomes empathetic toward his charges and it is reciprocated.

I liked this book very much as it was well written and had my complete attention. Afterwards I sought out more of his books and have those to look forward to in the future. 4.5 Stars

Sharing with The Classics Club and Joy's British Isles Friday.

Saoirse is engaging and Ivan Ilyich dies

It's been a week of storms and reading. Last Friday we had plans to pick up takeaway and watch a movie.  A big storm blew in rapidly with straight line winds, caused damage and knocked out electricity.  It was rather scary to be honest and I watched the neighbor's porch awning torn off the wall of his home.  Another neighbor had a tree fall on their house, knocking the chimney off their roof and into another home. Sadly two people died in the adjoining neighborhood when a tree fell across their car.

Electric was out until 2:30 a.m. which made sleeping a real treat. It was 80 F/26 C in the house and we were trapped.  The garage door is electric and the emergency manual pull was not aligned, which we didn't know beforehand so...yeah...trapped at home.  But I should not complain as so many had it worse and we only experienced discomfort.  These storms seem to be getting worse every year. 

 Let's get to the books I read this week with Loki, my reading buddy. 

The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a very short and introspective book. 

This novella is about a man who has regrets during the end of his life. Ivan Ilych attained a good position in society and had a respectable career as a prosecutor.  He married well and you'd think he could be happy with his life.  But as soon as things aren't smooth in his marriage after his first child is born, he is irritated and displeased.  He spends less time at home to avoid conflict instead of being a partner in marriage, helping with any difficulties.  That may not have been the way life works for a man of that time period or how it goes in Russia.

"He now realized that matrimony – at any rate with Praskovya Fedorovna – was not always conducive to the pleasures and amenities of life, but on the contrary often infringed both comfort and propriety, and that he must therefore entrench himself against such infringement."

Upon hearing of Ivan's death his colleagues thoughts turn to promotion, now that a vacancy has occured they will all move "up the ladder."

"So on receiving the news of Ivan Ilych’s death the first thought of each of the gentlemen in that private room was of the changes and promotions it might occasion among themselves or their acquaintances."

It's a mystery why Ivan died.  He was hanging curtains and fell.  After that his health declined slowly.  His brother-in-law noticed this decline when he visited and urged Ivan to go to a doctor but no specific treatment was mentioned.  As he faded Ivan thought about all the things he wished he had done as he knew death was near.  He should have read more.  He should have been kinder and so on.  Regrets as he circled the drain.

I didn't feel sorry for him as he allowed pride and vanity to come before kindness and understanding. He wasn't a mean man but, if things weren't great for him, his irritation showed and he removed himself from a situation.

What happens after you die?  Well a lot of things happen after you die.  They just don't involve you.  Life goes on.

This is one from my Classics Club list.  3 stars.

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Next up is Saoirse. I liked this better than Ivan's story.

 An author new to me is Charleen Hurtbuise.  I would certainly read another of her books.  Saoirse was a page turner for me.  The end chapters were a bit intense and I stayed up late to finish the book.  The setting is 90% in Ireland and the back story is set in Michigan and Florida.  Two places I have lived :-)

Our main character's real name is Sarah Roy and she is living a secret life.  Sarah/Saoirse has fled a horrific past in the U.S.   She had grown up with a drug addict mother, a manipulative step father, neglect and crime.

Using a stolen passport she gets on a flight to Ireland.  Her seatmate Paul is overly solictious, helping her when she doesn't want it and after they land, kindly offers her a place to stay with his family...just for a few nights until she gets organized.  But Paul is not a good man. Paul is a creep and this is revealed later. Paul's mother makes room for her and over time things get out of hand. 

The Irish name Saoirse is bestowed on her by an admirer named Daithi (pronounced Dah Hee) when she is on a camping trip with Paul and his friends. I loved his character and Daithi is a good man. The wild coastline of Donegal county is where Daithi lives and it's so appealing in the descriptions.

Saoire is a talented artist but not a professional until, eventually,  her work gains great  attention.  The publicity she is getting makes her nervous as she fears her past will be revealed. She refuses interviews and doesn't attend any of her art showings. This only makes her more appealing and mysterious. 

Interspersed between some of the chapters are descriptions of Saorise's art.  It gives the title of the piece and the medium used such as charcoal, acrylic  etc. This is followed by one of her memories which inspired the art.  The thing is, the memories are not public, this is for us readers to hear her backstory and it isn't pretty.  Her trauma is expressed through art.

All she wants to do is reinvent her life and hopes the past will never catch up.  4.25 stars

Upcoming is Under Water by Tara Menon.  It was a good buddy read with Susan at The Cue Card .  Very descriptive prose about female friendship.  More later....

Sharing with:

Deb at Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon

Joy for British Isles Friday (for Saoirse)

The Classics Club

Be Curious, Not Judgmental{2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge}

This is a book for Ted Lasso fans.  If you have not watched the show the book will give you spoilers about some of the characters such as their emotional growth, both tragic and hilarious moments and certain key developments.  Of course if you have not watched the show you probably wouldn't read this book.

There are 12 chapters cleverly divided between sections titled Warmups, First Half, Second Half and Stoppage Time.

This takes you through the series from beginning, history of how the show was created, the making of season one during covid and the lockdown,  interviews with everyone involved.  The writers, the characters...all of them.  The format may not appeal to everyone but I was fine with it.

This is not a show about soccer.  It's about human decency, personal growth, relationships and touches on sensitive subjects such as mental health and anxiety.  

A few quotes:

• "The concept was simple: Take all the antiheroes that had dominated TV for years, from Tony Soprano to Walter White to Larry David, and do basically the opposite. 'Treat others with kindness. Greet setbacks with grace. Be curious, not judgmental. "I personally didn't want to do the arc of son of a bitch to saint," Sudeikis recalled "I was like, What about just playing a good guy," Jason Sudeikis
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•  "Brendan's football reference knowledge is unreal, like, its unprecedented. Its verging on concerning. He is the sage with that stuff" quote by Phil Dunster/Jamie Tartt. Page 132

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• "It’s mad that this was normal, people being fucking horrible to each other… It felt revolutionary to see someone being nice… And it shouldn’t have.” Brett Goldstein/Roy Kent

One of the chapters focuses on the music used in the show.  I had no idea there were so many hoops to jump through to get permissions to use a song.  Did you notice during the Rolling Stones song Like a Rainbow the different colors imposed on the scenes? Keely showed up in gold when that color was sung, when Leslie Higgins sees his wife "she's all in blue" and this song was Higgins' ringtone for his wife well. 

Roy Kent realizing what his heart wants, running through the London streets to Nelson Road. All the while the Stones are playing in the background.

The Father and Son song is still in my head.  That fits so well with sooooo many characters.  Jamie and his dad, Ted and his father, Ted and Henry, Rebecca, Nate Shelley and Sam Obisanya. 

* screenshot off Facebook (I'm not on FB but this was available to me)

All three seasons are set in England with one episode in Amsterdam. Ted, his family and Beard are the only Americans in the show.  Most all the other actors are British.

Obviously I am a big fan.  We watched it a second time a month ago.  Caught some other things we didn't notice before.  The Believe sign is on my wall at home. The water bottle is Loki's for the car.

Themes of forgiveness, healing, love

Linking up with Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge. Category: Television

Also sharing with Joy for British Isles Friday

Books, doctors and an anniversary!

These past few weeks have been a little busy but more like those hurry-up-and-wait  situations. We are both trying to change doctors which is taking way longer than it should. Then last week was a CT scan for my husband; we are scheduled for the results at a neurosurgeon this week. Friday I'll see a podiatrist and I sure hope I don't need that awkward boot on my foot.  It's my driving foot!  And I need to walk....ok, I am borrowing trouble early here, lol.

The good things are today is our 42nd wedding anniversary I think we are going out to lunch.  Also, I've been putting a dent in my summer reading plans as I've been inside quite a bit.  That equals more reading so, without further ado...here are some the books I finished. 

The News From Dublin. This Colm Tóibín book is a set of seven short stories set primarily in Dublin. There is sadness of course because that's what you get with Irish literature.  The first story was good, the second was confusing to me as to what was going on until read over half of that one.  Then  after a few more I was tired of the short stories so I count this as a DNF. 

I very much liked his books Brooklyn, Long Island and Nora Webster but I could have given this one a miss.  Just my opinion. I would read more by this author in the future.

Hotline by Dimitri Nasrallah.  The setting is Montreal in 1986. I heard about this book from Jackie at Junkboat Travels, her post HERE.

This is about an immigrant from Lebanon trying to make a new life for herself and her young son Omar.  In 1984 Muna Heddad lived in Beirut with her beloved husband and son Omar. During the civil war her husband was kidnapped.  Her husband's family took care of her for a while but then "encouraged" her to follow through with the plans she and hubby made to immigrate to Montreal. Muna didn't really have a choice.

Muna is fluent in French and was a qualified teacher in her home country.  As there were a good number of French language teaching positions she thought she'd be able to get a good job in Montreal.  The postions always went to someone else who were either Canadian citizens or were just not Lebanese.

Finding housing and a job proved very difficult.  She was discriminated against for her nationality as well as having a child.  No one wanted to rent to her and have a noisy child around (he was not noisy).

Muna was forced to accept a job as hotline operator for a weight loss center.  You know the ones selling packaged foods and pitching the positive lifestyle? It was a paycheck and she needed to provide for her son.  The experience was sad watching her stretch her money to afford decent food, shop at thrift shops for warm clothes all the while missing her husband.  Always holding out hope he survived. 

The positive part of her job was connecting with people, realizing her "clients" were also experiencing hardships and her calls helped them, just by lending an ear and being positive.  Sometimes that's all someone needs - a kind word.

This story is inspired by the author's experience as his mother moved them to Montreal and scraped together a  life for them.  I can't imagine  being in that position, moving to a foreign country where my options were limited only by others prejudices and trying to make ends meet. Overall a positive and heartwarming story. 

I would read more by this author. 4.5 stars

This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman.

This is one of those family drama novels I like with an interesting cast of characters.

After I had read this book I saw some reviews saying it was like short stories but I didn't find it to be that way.  The first chapter had so many characters mentioned I was getting confused about relationships until I bookmarked the family tree in the front.  After that, I had no trouble keeping the relationships straight.

First off it starts with the youngest sister Jeanne in hospice and all the family members making visits. Some heartfelt and loving, others obligatory visits. After that chapter each one after focuses on one person's point of view as life goes on. 

In one chapter where Pam is telling her boyfriend about the Isabella Gardner art museum and how you get in free if your name is Isabella, I had to look that up.  Yep, it's a lifetime free pass if your name is Isabella. (That's the boyfriend's daughter's name).

I had many bookmarked pages on the kindle and highlights which can be read on Goodreads. 4.25 stars

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So, that's one book off the library holds list and two from my shelves,  I am just about finished with Priceless, a nonfiction about art theft. 

How is your summer or winter reading going, depending on your hemisphere? 

Sharing with:

Deb at Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon

Joy for British Isles Friday

Books and flowers and rabbits

 Hello fellow bookworms! I hope life has been good and you have lots of good reading material on hand.  Mornings I've been outside fiddling with the flowers, inside reading during the hottest part of the day and have had a couple of surprisingly pleasant evenings on the back porch.

It's not usually cool enough to sit out but we did have two nights.  Doug had his bourbon and I had my fizzy water.  Loki enjoyed some treats and stared out into the yard. He was asleep by the time this rabbit visited.

Let's talk books.  Recently I finished the Midnight Train by Matt Haig.

You can't change the past but you can witness it unfold on The Midnight Train.   The catch is, if you're on the Midnight Train you have just died.  You look on as a spectator at both the wonderful moments and the painful ones.

Our main character is Wilber Budd and after he dies he has this experience. The long dead Mrs. Bagsdale is his guide, a bookshop owner he liked and respected in his youth. She is with him on this journey as the train makes stops during the key moments in Wilber's life. 

Wilber's father died in WW II and he grew up poor, watching his Mam counting coins to see what groceries she could afford. It imprinted a sense of financial insecurity that stuck with him.  

As a young boy he was very well read, lots of classic books reminding me of Noel in Crooked Heart and V for Victory.  Wilber would haunt Bagsdale's Bookstore and read, standing there wanting to buy the book but having no money.   He strived to do all he could to afford good things in life, but it came at a dear expense with relationships.

There is tragedy, moments of celebration and of course regret he has for the-road-not-taken.  His dead self would like to alter things and he continually asks Mrs. Bagsdale if he may interact, change the path of his life.  

Way into the book towards the end the character Nora Seed pops up.  She has a small part and was the main character in The Midnight Library.  I was delighted to see her for those fleeting moments.  If you are a fan of Matt Haig's you'll enjoy this book.  I think I enjoyed The Midnight Library more but I liked this book. 

I suppose the theme is take a look at your life as it is and while you can't change the past, you can  be mindful of your choices here and now. 

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Currently reading Hotline by Dimirti Nasrallah, one of the books on my kindle I'd planned to get to.  Actually I am almost done so I will be starting my list for the next goal, the library holds list. That can be summer reading.

I just got in these three, one is an interlibrary Loan so I need to be mindful of that due date.

What is on your reading list currently?  Any challenges for the summer?  Wishing you all the best.

Sharing this post with Joy for British Isles Friday as British author Matt Haig book set this book primarily in London.  

Hotel Du Lac and Two Old Women (two very short books)

The Classic Club Spin number was 9 so I read Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner.

This book is short at 184 pages but it felt long....because nothing significant happened. I found myself starting to skim and who does that with a book under 200 pages. I'm in the minority as I see its gotten good reviews but this one didn't do it for me.

Our main character is Edith Hope and she finds herself leaving London and spending time at Hotel Du Lac in Switzerland.  An exile of sorts.  She abandoned her fiancé as well as the married man she was diddling around with.  A faithful woman she is not. There are many descriptive chapters but not a lot of dialogue.

 With her ruminating about her situation, she finally settles on a life decision.  She is knowingly settling and accepting how her life will be with neither enthusiasm or regret, just acceptance. Some people loved this book but I did not.

Anita Brookner was an English novelist with many publications. Maybe I'll try another book of hers in the future.

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I also read Two Old Women (Anniversary Edition) by Velma Wallis. Publication date 1993, 140 pages. #oldercharacters

This is a story about a migrating group of indigenous people, trying to survive the harsh Arctic conditons without starving or dying of hypothermia.  It was survival of the fittest and with food scarce, it was decided to leave two elderly women behind as they continued their trek to find shelter and good hunting.  

Some tribesmen didn't want to leave the women to freeze or starve while others knew the burden of slowing their pace or sharing the little food they had. The women, both over 75 years of age, were heartbroken by this betrayal.  They decided they would die trying before giving up and surprised themselves.  After some introspective thoughts they started hiking towards a area where fishing was plentiful.  They set snares to capture rabbits, they worked together and while it was slow progress, they weren't ready to lie down and die.

We have learned much during our long lives. Yet there we were in our old age, thinking that we had done our share in life. So we stopped, just like that. No more working like we used to, even though our bodies are still healthy enough to do a little more than we expect of ourselves.”

This short book was packed with themes of resilience and determination. 4 stars

Armchair travel took me to Alaska, France and England.

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Upcoming a list of books to get off the shelves and kindle and a monthly wrapup.

Sharing with:

 Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday (for the Anita Brookner book)

The Classics Club

Mudlarking would be a fun hobby

The Mudlarkers Club by Jane Riley is a very light positive read.  This women's fiction is predictable in many ways with cosy descriptions of friendship and personal growth.    This is set in London where our main character, Gemma, learns about trust and self discovery after her husband abandons her.  

I'm not usually drawn to cosy type books but I liked the connection with a group who share a passion for mudlarking... which sent me down that rabbit hole.

The topic had me look up mudlarking which led me to follow an Instagram account to see the treasures people find.  Here are snaps of two Instagram accounts with their mudlarking finds.

Just finished YesterYear with Susan at The Cue Card and just... wow. Review upcoming but I'll say this was a surprise ending. Funny how captivated I was by a book with awful characters.  Well written and I'll post a review here and on Goodreads.

Currently reading The Young Will Remember by Eve Chung.  Well I just started it this morning so, not too far in.

The Classic Club spin number indicates I will read Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner.  This is a short book so I may add another title from my classics list. Knock out two, why not.   

Other than that, I am still fiddling with flowers, seeds and weeding early in the day.  It gets awfully hot after 10:30 so I am in...reading. Hope your life is full of good things and great books.

Linking with:

Joy for British Isles Friday 

British Breakfasts, Classics and bookish plans

Hello to my bookish friends!  I am inside for a very rainy day and getting some good reading in.  Taking a break to post about books and have more coffee. 

Currently I am reading YesterYear by Caro Claire Burke with Susan at The Cue Card. The start of this leads me to believe we are getting a snapshot of events from our main character's future, us being dropped in the middle of a crazy situation.  I read on to see what happened beforehand.  She isn't a very likeable person yet I am interested to see how events unfold, before and after. It's a page turner.

Recently I finished a nonfiction by Felicity Cloake titled Red Sauce, Brown Sauce: A British Breakfast Odyssey.

This was a fun book about traveling through England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as the Isle of Man, in search of regional breakfast preferences.  Felicity Cloake rides her bike, meeting up with other cycling enthusiasts and samples a traditional breakfast from the area. The end of the chapters, after eating, they state their preferences for using a red or brown sauce, or nothing added at all.

I grew up using ketchup on eggs, still do. That is apparently a regional thing as I witness anything from raised eyebrows to revulsion here in the south.  Completely unsolicited opinion on MY breakfast.  I grew up in the Philadelphia area and that's what I was used to.

They stop at pubs, tour farms and are educated about honey and bread making, disappointed by being turned away at the Marmite factory as it was during lockdown/covid times.  They ride in beautiful weather as well as rainy gloomy conditons. Felicty suffered a hamstring injury early on but managed to adapt, making her way across the British Isles.  This is a story about cycling. friendship with a detailed foodie element. Oh, there are also some recipes included.

The English-speaking peoples are differentiated from the other nations of the earth by the peculiar and substantial character of their breakfast … to the nation as a whole the British breakfast remains as sacrosanct as the British constitution. – F. Marian McNeill, 1932

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Last but not least, the Classics Club has announced another Spin event HERE and I will write up a post about it next.  Hope to participate with a book from my list.

I hope you are well, have a stack of great books and enjoying life.

Linking with:

Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge for the Food category

Joy for British Isles Friday for British author Felicity Cloake

John Green and Chloe Dalton captivated me this week

I had two excellent nonfiction books this past week.  Let's start with John Green's book.

This was my first John Green book and I found it very informative and sad at times.  The explanations for medical resources and discoveries were written in laymans terms, easy enough for me to understand, saddened by the lack of medical care where it is needed most, yet hopeful for those suffering from tuberculosis.

The disease was where the cure was not, and the cure was where the disease was not.

Not all who suffer from the disease have options for treatment. It's like chasing your tail in Sierra Leone with rates of tuberculosis remaining high because of poverty and malnutrition. There is foremost the issue of affordability for food and medicine, not to mention the costs of transporation to a facility to receive treatment.

Where there is a wealthy population elsewhere in the world, the cure is readily available.   Therefore, the disease is not is not an issue.

"We could reimagine the allocation of global healthcare resources to better align them with the burden of global suffering."

In chapter 11 it was interesting to read about superstitions in the ages past and how the disease changed fashion. In 1916 a magazine article discusses how hemlines were shortened so women's dresses didn't drag through dirt, thus bringing bacteria into the home.  Men's whiskers were trimmed, or shaved completely, in attempts at cleanliness. 

There is great information in this book for the health category and I'm glad I read it.

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Next was the book Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton.  I couldn't put this one down.

Chloe Dalton, a British foreign policy writer in a fast paced environment is suddenly thrust into a solitary life style when the pandemic hit. Remember that, when we all wore masks and avoided people because of Covid?  She sheltered and worked remotely from her rural home in the English countryside when she crossed paths with a leveret.

A leveret, a baby hare, was trying to be invisible in the path.  She wisely left it alone as the mother hare wouldn't accept it, or find it, if she moved it out of harms way.  But it was there hours later and she took it to shelter before it was found by predators or crushed by a vehicle.   That moment changed her life.

She took care of it and against all odds it survived.  In doing so she never tried to domesticate it, never named it and allowed it the freedom to go back to the wild when it was ready. The relationship evolved and caused Dalton to look at nature differently. She became more attuned to the seasons, wildlife and how man and nature sometimes did not exist harmoniously.  She made great accommodations for the hare as it grew, being there for safety but allowing it to be wild. I very much enjoyed reading her thoughts over the three year period she researched, provided and observed the hare and other creatures in nature.

Some of this book reminded of James Rebanks' Pastoral Song in regard to being stewards of the land.  That was a very good book as well.

This story is a 5 star for me. 

Linking with:

Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge for the Health category on the Green book and the Memoir category on the Dalton book. 

Joy for British Isles Friday for British author Chloe Dalton and Raising Hare

Lots and lots of books....

Saturday already.  I've been trying to get myself organized with the books I want to review as well as the next books in queue.  Let's talk books first.

Currently reading two nonfictions. Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green and Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton.

My reading buddy, Loki, enjoying some sunshine while I sit in the shade. 

Raising Hare is hard to put down and I'll most likely be done with both nonfictions before the end of the weekend.

Finished Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (review in link).  This is a good one for a book club discussion.  

Here is my list of books I hope to get off the shelf or read on Kindle.

Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan

The Coast Road by Alan Murrin

Red Sauce, Brown Sauce: A British Breakfast Odyssey by Felicity Cloake - Nonfiction

But wait! ....the library holds came in so...here is what I received. 

The Rest of Our Lives by Benjamin Markovits and More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen.  Let's see how I can balance these with due dates and length of books. Yikes.

Watching

We don't subscribe to Britbox but we did manage to get season 3 of Blue Lights from the library on DVD. Police (Peelers as they are called in Northern Ireland) work the streets in Belfast.  Gritty and tense, great police drama if you like them.  We had the previous two seasons from the library as well.  Hope they do a fourth season.

Linking up with:

A Good Book and a Cup of Tea

Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday

Watching, reading and sneezing

I've come to realize this online diary connects me to people all over the globe, when I link up to socialize. Otherwise it's just nice to sit at my keyboard and get some thoughts out.  

Even though I use a lovely planner and write just about everything in it, it's nice to post what I am reading and watching. Observations. Disgust and embarrassment about my country.  Plans for books, shows and flowers in the garden. 

Almost done reading Buckeye by Patrick Ryan.  A buddy read with Susan which has generated much discussion about events unfolding in this long drama. I'll add a review next week but I am sure I will add some spoilers to be hidden via Goodreads as well.

Reading plans are always fluid....even when I write out a few titles in my notebook to keep me on track. As I was fortunate enough to win a couple of books from LibraryThing I will add those to the list. I finished Should Have Told You Sooner by Jane Ward. Thank you, LibraryThing for the book.  Complimentary books are always appreciated.

The main character here is Noel Enfield, a woman with secrets. She was named for her grandfather, by the way.  She is working at a museum in Massachusetts and has the career opportunity of a lifetime at a gallery in London. Here is the complication (one of many) - she is going through divorce from Andy and she has a young stepdaughter Alice. Noel wants to retain the relationship with Alice but the acrimonious nature of this divorce has Alice picking sides and it's not Noel's.

This one statement from her husband Andy made her decide to end her marriage. "For someone who's never been pregnant you sure know a lot." That was in reference to a woman feeling ill at their party. It was a big secret she kept from Andy; she had a baby and gave it up for adoption.

Noel couldn't continue to live a lie. After 7 years of marriage it's a bit late to explain you had a baby and gave it away. She never did tell Andy so I imagine he was blindsided by the divorce with zero explanation.  Starting a marriage with such a big secret was definitely a bad idea.

Back story: Bryn was Noel's partner when she lived in London, also the father of the adopted out baby, and she never stopped caring for him. Before you cast hate at Bryn know that he was never aware of the pregnancy.  That is another story woven in  explaining the situation. Their relationship started and ended in London and here she is, about to immerse herself on a path that crosses her past and future.

Near the end of the book I liked the what if thoughts Noel had. A mental checklist of things that may have turned out differently.  Who among us hasn't had those thoughts?  "What if I had stayed in my old life, what if I left Andy but stayed closer, what if I stayed in London, or come back to London sooner...so many different life scenarios.

Main setting is London and Wales.  The book touches on Covid, loss, grief, love and forgiveness.  It's a book about second chances.

Watching

Shrinking has been one of our favorites and we just finished season 3. The cast work well, the banter is natural and you have some tearful moments in this season.  Heck, I had tearful moments in the previous two seasons!  I can see how they could end the series here but I hope they will have another season.  We will tune in for sure. 

We started watching Colony starring Josh Holloway (you may remember him from Lost). Not sure how to describe it, only 2 seasons and so far we like it.

Very much lookiing forward to a few shows we are waiting for all episodes to drop.  Hate waiting for the weekly show one at a time.

Nice surprise in the mail.  Thank you Vicki! You know me well :-)  Really cheered me up!

I wish everyone good health, good reading and whatever makes you happy.

Sharing with"

Joy for British Isles Friday

Boondock Ramblings for  A Good Book and a Cup of Tea

Aussie tragedy and Labradors

Hello...(tapping on screen). I was posting regularly for a while but have been hibernating with some miserable allergies as well as some healing from the dermatolgist cutting on me. Nothing like stitches on the face to make one feel pretty, lol. Results back show some precancer areas which can be handled by a prescription cream. Yea for that.

Enough complaining.  Let's talk about books.  I can share two I have finished and a few reading plans.

Currently Reading / Buckeye by Patrick Ryan.  This is a buddy read with Susan at The Cue Card. Just started part two and this is a good read, in my opinion.

Finished

I had been looking forward to another book by M.L. Stedman for well over a decade.  I thought The Light Between Oceans was amazing, filled with love, grief and much emotion.  (click on the title link for review on my old book blog, if interested).

This book hit me the same way.  No one writes tragedy like Stedman, pulling you in with empathy and compassion for the characters as they navigate life with secrets and hardships.  Set in the far-flung reaches of Australia on a sheep station, the McBride family had been farming, called pastoralists, for generations.

The beginning: Phil McBride is the father, driving his truck with his eldest son Warren and youngest Matt.  The truck crashes, killing Phil and Warren almost instantly.  Matt is flung through the window with grave injuries and has a long recuperation with a head injury which caused significant memory loss.

Everything changes then, for so many people.  Lorna McBride loses Phil, her husband and love of her life.  Matt didn't have the responsibility of inheriting the family business and had dreams of traveling as Warren would take over the station ...but Warren is dead.  Rosie is the middle child and only daughter, helping run things best she can while also visiting Matt in rehab until he comes home.

Is that enough tragedy? Nope. Something unspeakable happens which will turn off some readers and they will quit the book (I saw that voiced in a few reviews) but if you do, you will miss out on a good story.  One of my favorite characters is Pete Peachy, a roo hunter who works for the McBrides.  He is a good man and I wanted to know more about him.

Great character development, lots of side stories, themes of compassion, love, guilt and duty. 5 stars.  Well done.

Next up is Dog Days by Andrew Cotter.  

This is a second book about the adorable labs Olive and Mabel in a diary type accounting told by Andrew Cotter.  I will admit to loving his first book Olive, Mabel and Me more.  That said, if you like following this trio, you'll be amused by this accounting of post Covid activities and appearances. Amazing how popular these canines are and the following they have on social media. 

The first book had lots of background on the dogs, Cotter's experiences with mountain climbing and the lockdown from Covid.  Also photos which were great.   This second book does not compare. If you can get Dog Days from the library or on a good sale it would be worth it.  If you have an interest in Olive and Mabel then grab this one pictured below.

Rounded up to 3 stars.

This is a nonfiction I could place under the memoirs category but I will add it to my Grazing Category.  I've some other books in mind for memoirs for the 2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge.

Up next in no particular order - Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green, The Astral Library by Kate Quinn and Dear Missing Friend by Susan McGuirk.

Linking with:

Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge for the grazing category. 

Joy for British Isles Friday for Scottish author Andrew Cotter