Anne (AMQS) Reads in 2021 - Chapter Last

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Anne (AMQS) Reads in 2021 - Chapter Last

1AMQS
Editat: nov. 29, 2021, 11:10 am

Welcome to my third (and brief) 2021 thread! I am very glad to have you.

My name is Anne. 51. I am an elementary school teacher librarian in a little Colorado mountain school. My husband Stelios and I have two grown daughters and two kitties. I read mostly literary fiction, a lot of children's literature, and I love audiobooks.

This is my 12th year in this wonderful group, and your love and support truly sustains me. I am so thankful for my friends here and I will always welcome new friends.

Here is a photo of Stelios and me hiking yesterday at O'Fallon Park in Jefferson County, Colorado:

2AMQS
Editat: des. 15, 2021, 11:05 am

Now reading:


Audio:

3AMQS
nov. 28, 2021, 9:27 pm

2021 Reading (1):

January, 2021
1. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
2. The Trouble With Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon
3. Walking on Eggshells by Jane Isay
4. We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly
5. The Switch by Beth O'Leary
6. The Sacrament by Olaf Olafsson

February, 2021
7. The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
8. Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
9. It’s a long story but there was a book #9.
10. The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly
11. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
12. The Librarian by Salley Vickers

March, 2021
13. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai
14. The Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay
15. When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson
16. From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
17. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
18. Please, Mr. Postman: a Memoir by Alan Johnson
19. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
20. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
21. Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

April, 2021
22. The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
23. The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
24. Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie
25. Aloha Rodeo: Three Hawaiian Cowboys, the World's Greatest Rodeo, and a Hidden History of the American West by David Wolman and Julian Smith
26. Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Older

May, 2021
27. Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart
28. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
29. Rick by Alex Gino
30. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
31. The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali
32. Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
33. In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall III
34. Consent for Kids by Rachel Brian
35. The Worry (Less) Book by Rachel Brian
36. Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
37. The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
38. When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

June, 2020
39. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
40. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
41. The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
42. Thornwood by Leah Cypess
43. Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce

4AMQS
Editat: gen. 1, 2022, 2:09 am

2021 Reading (2):

July, 2021
44. Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
45. No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod
46. Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker
47. Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart
48. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
49. A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat
50. Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
51. Becoming Muhammad Ali by Kwame Alexander, James Patterson, and Muhammad Ali Enterprises

August, 2021
52. A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal by Ben Macintyre
53. You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar
54. Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
55. A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul

September, 2021
56. Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
57. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
58. Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar
59. Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am by Julia Cooke
60. Ground Zero by Alan Gratz
61. Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes
62. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

October, 2021
63. The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron
64. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
65. The End of Vandalism by Tom Drury
66. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
67. Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices
68. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

November, 2021
69. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
70. The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick
71. The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power by Deirdre Mask
72. Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: George and Martha Washington’s Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away by Erica Armstrong Dunbar & Kathleen Van Cleve
73. The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts
74. Weather by Jenny Offill

December, 2021
75. Brother’s Keeper by Julie Lee
76. The One Thing You’d Save by Linda Sue Park
77. The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London by Christopher Skaife
78. Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
79. Persuasion by Jane Austen
80. The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories, edited by Martin Edwards
81. Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

5AMQS
nov. 28, 2021, 9:30 pm

6AMQS
Editat: nov. 28, 2021, 9:35 pm

I realized I never shared a photo of my Halloween costume - I always try to dress as a book character, and this year I was the extremely popular (with the elementary set) Fly Guy.

7AMQS
Editat: nov. 28, 2021, 9:46 pm



74. Weather by Jenny Offill

This is a beautifully written book about Lizzie, wife and mother, once promising student now working in the academic library of her former school. Lizzie is offered a side job by her former mentor answering Big Questions for readers of an end times podcast. Lizzie also supports her brother who struggles with addiction. She is increasingly obsessed with prepping - working on survival strategies for end times, which, with climate change and the election of Trump, seem imminent. The book is bitingly funny (good perspective for me, who entertains dreams of working for a college/university), thought provoking, and at times bleak. Recommended. It's short:)

8alcottacre
nov. 28, 2021, 9:54 pm

Happy new thread, Anne!

>7 AMQS: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thank you for the review and recommendation!

9PaulCranswick
nov. 28, 2021, 10:16 pm

Happy new thread, dear Anne. Looking forward to see what you have for us as your 75th offering.

10lauralkeet
nov. 29, 2021, 7:04 am

Hi Anne! I love your photos. And your review of Weather. That one caught my eye when it was released, and then I forgot about it. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

11scaifea
nov. 29, 2021, 7:20 am

Happy new thread, Anne!

Your costume is THE BEST! Charlie was a huge fan of Fly Guy back in the day, and I remember that we could hardly keep them on the shelves when I was volunteering in the school library.

12drneutron
nov. 29, 2021, 10:55 am

Happy new thread!

13foggidawn
nov. 29, 2021, 12:29 pm

Happy new thread! That Fly Guy costume is great!

14MickyFine
nov. 29, 2021, 1:11 pm

Happy new thread, Anne! Love the photo of you and Stelios at the top of the thread!

15RebaRelishesReading
nov. 29, 2021, 1:14 pm

Happy new thread, Anne. Your costume is fantastic and I love the photo of you and Stellos.

Hope you have a happy holiday season :)

16BLBera
nov. 29, 2021, 2:02 pm

Happy new thread, Anne. Love the Halloween costume. Kids do love Fly Guy! The photo of you and Stellos is great as well.

17FAMeulstee
nov. 29, 2021, 4:06 pm

Happy new thread, Anne!

>1 AMQS: Lovely picture of Stelios and you.

18curioussquared
nov. 29, 2021, 4:08 pm

Happy new thread, Anne!! Great photos :)

19AMQS
nov. 30, 2021, 11:27 am

>Thank you, Stasia! Weather was funny at time, thoughtful and certainly depressing at times, but it did make me want to seek out more of Jenny Offill's work, which is among the highest praise a book can receive!

>9 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. Book 75 will be a toss-up between the print book I'm reading Brother's Keeper, a middle grade book about two kids fleeing 1950s North Korea, and The Ravenmaster on audio. I'm enjoying both, but of course, they're very different from each other.

>10 lauralkeet: Thank you, Laura! Have you read other books by Jenny Offill?

>11 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! The kids really enjoyed it. Fly Guy has always been popular, but the books have been flying off the shelves this year;)

>12 drneutron: Thank you, Jim! And thank you, as always, for creating this space for us.

>13 foggidawn: Thank you, foggi! It was super cheap to make, and that's always a plus:)

>14 MickyFine: Thank you, Micky! We try to get out for a hike every weekend, but don't often remember to take a picture.

>15 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba! It doesn't feel much like a holiday season yet - Denver has broken the record for most number of days without snow, and the weather has been 60s and 70s. We'd enjoy it more if we weren't so worried about wildfire and drought. Nevertheless, I did get the advent calendar our before December, which I've never been able to do! This will be the first year I'll be hanging most of the ornaments on it by myself. Enjoy your new home in holiday mode!

>16 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! I have an idea for next year's costume... hard to top Fly Guy though.

>17 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita! I hope you are well.

>18 curioussquared: Thanks, Natalie! I hope you have a WONDERFUL time honeymooning in Hawaii! We have a long family history in Hawaii, but we haven't been there since my grandmother moved from Hawaii to Colorado to be closer to family. My grandmother passed away more than 20 years ago, which means it's probably been 35 years since I've been there. My mom turned 78 this year, and has said that when she turns 80 the family is going back to Hawaii. It's well past time.

20lauralkeet
nov. 30, 2021, 6:47 pm

>19 AMQS: I haven't, Anne. I'm not sure why Weather caught my eye.

21LovingLit
des. 2, 2021, 3:03 pm

>7 AMQS: My library has it :)

Which means, I will soon have it :) :)

22AMQS
des. 3, 2021, 10:21 am

Yay! >20 lauralkeet: Laura and >21 LovingLit: Megan, I hope you enjoy it!

23AMQS
Editat: des. 8, 2021, 11:15 am



75. Brother's Keeper by Julie Lee

This is a middle grade book based on the real-life experience of the author's mother. 12 year-old Sora narrates her own story. Hers is a farming family in North Korea in 1950. She is an outstanding student who recently had to drop out of school to care for her younger brother Jisoo, and she resents it bitterly. Sometimes she hides under the schoolroom window of her younger brother Youngsoo to be able to get snatches of learning, though recently, the learning is exclusively communist party propaganda. North Korea is well in to a scary time - neighbors being rewarded for reporting on neighbors, compulsory portraits of the Supreme Leader, churchgoing forbidden. The dangerous political climate creates unbearable tension in the family, and Sora is also struggling with her mother's hostility - Sora is only a girl, after all, and is told constantly how much less she is worth than her brothers, how her hopes and dreams are irrelevant, and how her chances of marriage are slim because she's so hopeless at cooking. The family is torn by the desire to flee and the fear they'd be in more danger. Probably like all refugees. After initially choosing to stay - with the father buried for safety in their field - they make the desperate decision to flee. The going, difficult anyway, becomes even more harrowing when refugees streaming south are bombed. Sora and Youngsoo are separated from their parents and Jisoo and presume that they are dead. What follows is a grueling journey of improbable survival and unimaginable hardship.

I can't say more, except to say that it's been a long time since I cried quite that much, and that I truly believe that everyone should read refugee stories. The refugee experience in Korea in the 1950s is not so different from any other. A choice to flee one's home is never really a choice. My husband is a refugee - having fled his home as a child when Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974. There are countless instances of refugees fleeing war and oppression, but I think people have no idea what's coming with climate change, which could make refugees of anyone.

24drneutron
des. 3, 2021, 6:28 pm

Congrats on hitting the goal!

25FAMeulstee
des. 4, 2021, 4:51 am

>23 AMQS: Congratulations on reaching 75, Anne!

26thornton37814
des. 4, 2021, 8:22 am

>23 AMQS: Congratulations!

27msf59
des. 4, 2021, 8:40 am

Happy New Thread, Anne! Perfect photo of you two in the topper. Congrats on hitting 75! Yah!

28ctpress
des. 4, 2021, 8:41 am

>23 AMQS: Congrats on nailing the 75, Anne. Sounds like a worthy read for the 75th.

29curiousstr.eam7
des. 4, 2021, 8:46 am

S'ha suprimit aquest usuari en ser considerat brossa.

30MickyFine
des. 4, 2021, 9:48 am

Congrats on reaching the magic number, Anne!

31RebaRelishesReading
des. 4, 2021, 12:23 pm

Congratulations Anne! You have a month spare.

32AMQS
des. 5, 2021, 1:20 pm

>24 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>25 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita!

>26 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori!

>27 msf59: Thank you, Mark! Stelios and I try to get out and hike on the weekends. Won't happen this week, though.

>28 ctpress: Thank you, Carsten! It's nice to see you here.

>30 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky!

>31 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba - I'm glad for that - things will be busy for the rest of the year!

My reading has been pretty up and down this year. Sometimes I had thought I'd get to 75 way early, and sometimes I wondered if I would make it. Glad to be here, though I know it's about the reading and not the number. Thanks for the well wishes!

33AMQS
des. 5, 2021, 1:36 pm




76. The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park

This is a small little middle grade gem. Framed as an assignment to consider what is the one thing you'd save in a fire, knowing that your family and your pets were safe. The kids reflect on their object and each others', and the teacher's object she'd save is informed by their responses. It's lovely. It's little - beautiful illustrations throughout, and the book is in verse, the line structure borrowed from sijo, an ancient form of traditional Korean poetry.

As much as I enjoyed the book, my favorite lines are the two last of the author's note at the end of the book: "All the poems employ the sijo syllabic structure; however, many of them are much longer than traditional sijo. Using old forms in new ways is how poetry continually renews itself, and the world."

34Berly
des. 6, 2021, 2:56 am

I am a little late, but...

Happy new thread! I love the fly costume and congrats on hitting the magic 75! Wishing you a great week ahead. How much time do you have left before winter break?

35AMQS
des. 6, 2021, 12:44 pm

>34 Berly: Hi Kim! I'll gratefully accept good wishes any time:) We have just over two weeks left. Our last day of school in December 21. I wonder how many students and teachers will be out those days. Because of the way the dates work, our winter break is short this year, which I don't love, but am determined to make the most of. Hope you have a good week also!

36AMQS
Editat: des. 6, 2021, 8:53 pm



77. The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London by Christopher Skaife, audiobook narrated by the author.

This book made me happy. I do love ravens and corvids, and we have had some ravens living near us every summer and using our birdbath as an abattoir. While yucky, it's cool. And Chris Skaife is cool. A wonderful storyteller, recounting his days as a troublemaker in Dover, as a boy soldier with an eventual 24 year career in the army, and as a yeoman warder at the Tower of London and Ravenmaster. His love for the ravens is palpable, but he is upfront that he is no ornithologist or scientist. He operates on instinct, experience, and total respect for these magnificent birds. There's quite a bit of English and Tower history included as well, offered not by a historian, but by a storyteller. I found this book utterly charming.

37Copperskye
des. 6, 2021, 9:08 pm

Congratulations on reaching 75, Anne!!

>36 AMQS: I’ll look for this one. It sounds very entertaining!

38AMQS
des. 6, 2021, 9:16 pm

>37 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne! Huh. I was thinking it was you who had recommended The Ravenmaster. Guess not. Marina and I visited London and the Tower a few years ago when we went to Wales, and saw a couple of the ravens. I bought the book for her in print but tried the audio myself and loved it. Hope you do also.

39PaulCranswick
des. 6, 2021, 9:19 pm

Slightly late to wishing you congratulations on reaching 75 books, Anne!

40lauralkeet
des. 7, 2021, 8:02 am

>36 AMQS: The Ravenmaster looks like a good one, Anne. I'm also a fan of ravens and corvids. For a while we were hooked on YouTube videos about Fable the Raven. Such amazing animals. I've added the book to my library wish list.

41AMQS
des. 7, 2021, 11:33 am

>39 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul! I will happily and gratefully accept wishes any time, and since mine are often so dreadfully late, I'd be the last one to pooh-pooh any:)

>40 lauralkeet: Hi Laura! If you are a fan of ravens you will most likely enjoy The Ravenmaster. I was utterly captivated! Now I'm going to have to look into Fable:)

42AMQS
Editat: des. 8, 2021, 11:18 am

abandoning:


I had kept this one around despite my unease with the subject matter (as the mother of girls) because the author of the delightful love letter to books: Dear Fahrenheit 451, Annie Spence. The Virgin Suicides appeared to be by far her favorite, and her love for the book is palpable. But I just couldn't. It wasn't that I didn't like it or that the writing wasn't wonderful, etc, I just can't. And I tried to talk myself into it before asking myself why? So I stopped. And not only that, I put the book into a Little Free Library on my way to school this morning because of the unease it gave me. Which feels both like cowardice and like growth.

I've had some smash hits from Dear Fahrenheit 451, probably the best was the lovely National Book Award winning memoir by Patti Smith Just Kids about her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe. But the last two two books read because of Dear Fahrenheit 451 were definitely misses and were rare book abandonments. I knew The Virgin Suicides might be tough for me, but I absolutely could not continue with No One is Here Except All of Us. So yeah. Onto something else.

43RebaRelishesReading
des. 7, 2021, 11:54 am

>36 AMQS: Since you like the audio I thought I would try it but Audible claims not to have it :( Perhaps I'll wishlist it and see if they add it.

44MickyFine
Editat: des. 7, 2021, 1:33 pm

>36 AMQS: I read this one a few years ago and really enjoyed it. If you're on Instagram, his posts are full of lovely shots of the ravens and the Tower (@ravenology1 is his handle).

>42 AMQS: I really loved Dear Fahrenheit 451 but quickly realized that while she's great at writing compelling reader's advisory blurbs, our tastes are quite different and none of the books I came away with on The List were ones I finished.

45alcottacre
des. 7, 2021, 1:42 pm

>23 AMQS: >33 AMQS: Added to the BlackHole!

>36 AMQS: I already have that one in the BlackHole so I get to dodge that BB.

>42 AMQS: Good on you for giving up on a book that just was not doing it for you. The Virgin Suicides is a book I have never been tempted to read and given the same circumstances that you have - mother of daughters - I think it will forever be on my 'Do Not Read' list.

Happy Tuesday, Anne!

46AMQS
des. 7, 2021, 2:12 pm

>43 RebaRelishesReading: Oh I hope it gets added, Reba. I don't do Audible - I am usually able to find what I want through my library account on Axis360.

>44 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! As soon as he said he takes lots of pictures and posts I went and found him on Instagram:) I don't do Twitter, so I'm glad he does both. I'm parmalee_library if you ever want to drop in on the elementary library world:)

As for Dear Fahrenheit 451, you may be right. I don't have The List here with me at school but for as many titles as I wrote down, when I consider looking for some of them on audio and read a bit about them I've decided against a few.

>45 alcottacre: Glad I could get you, Stasia! And yes, not only is The Virgin Suicides on my Do Not Read list, it was on my Needs To Leave My House Today list. And you know what? That's okay. The older I get it is easier to say no to books I don't want to read. With lots of support and encouragement here, of course!

47BLBera
des. 8, 2021, 9:52 am

Congrats on reaching and passing 75, Anne. Brother's Keeper, The One Thing You'd Save and Ravenmaster all sound like good ones. Onto the list they go!

I agree, it is OK to pass on books. Every year I try to be objective about what I will never read, for whatever reason, and find another home for it.

48bell7
des. 8, 2021, 8:33 pm

I'm late in saying happy new thread AND congrats on 75 - so congrats on surpassing 75! Like you and Micky, I found that my reading taste was often different from Annie Spence's - I don't think I added many to the TBR list from that one.

49foggidawn
des. 9, 2021, 9:19 am

Same here -- loved the book, but didn't get a lot of good recs from it.

50richardderus
des. 10, 2021, 5:29 pm

Hi Anne! You inspired me to look for MG novels for the BookRiot challenges back on my thread, so I had to come find you & say the Universe delivered one right to my inbox...and on sale for $1.99! The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown, perfect for the challenge, for my Spooktober blogging reading, and cheap here: https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Girl-India-Hill-Brown-ebook/dp/B07M5CWL9P/

And suddenly I realize I haven't been here before, so happy 75, aren't you & Stelios lookin' finer'n frog-hair split four ways and sanded, and happy new thread!

51katiekrug
des. 10, 2021, 5:42 pm

Just de-lurking to say "Hi, Anne."

I hope the run-up to winter break isn't too taxing and that you enjoy some well-deserved down time.

52AMQS
des. 13, 2021, 10:40 am

>47 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! And yes, I do the same, and I am getting better about abandoning books I am not enjoying. So many great books out there - why slog through a clunker?

>48 bell7: Thanks, Mary! That's been a surprise to me - how few books are a good fit from Annie Spence's books. Ah, well.

>49 foggidawn: foggi, did you know that instinctively, or did you learn that the hard way like I am?

>50 richardderus: Oh wow, Richard! I have not heard of that one, so I hope it's a great read for you. And thank you!

>51 katiekrug: Thank you, Katie! Oh boy, we are counting down! As for down time, it's looking like not much. Lots of family here after hardly any last year. Both girls will be home, though Callia only briefly because she is working. My brother and his wife and 2 YO are coming from Germany. Staying with my mom, but we're planning on lots of family time together. My mom will be returning to Germany, where she lives for half of the year the first week of January (my brother & family will stay about 10 days longer), so it's always a little crazy preparing for that and squeezing in more family activities, etc. And then I just found out that my brother in law is coming between Christmas and New Years with his two kids. They will be staying with us. So... it won't be a relaxing winter break, but we are very glad to see family.

53foggidawn
des. 13, 2021, 10:44 am

>52 AMQS: I think I mostly realized from her booktalks that the books she was recommending would not be to my taste. She did make them sound great, though!

54AMQS
Editat: des. 13, 2021, 11:48 am



78. Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho, audiobook narrated by the author.

I enjoyed this one a lot. Acho's conversational style is appealing, and the scholarly heft is enlightening for the reader, and provides a large pool of resources for further reading and action. Acho covers topics such as implicit bias, unconscious bias, the N-word, the history of structural racism and its impacts today, including poverty, continued segregation, the prison system, the Black family, and more. No topic seems taboo or too sensitive. His audience is white people who want to know more, and who want to be meaningful allies. I would say this is essential media (there is a video series also) for anyone who thinks we're in a post-racial America, and especially for people who know we are not.

55AMQS
des. 13, 2021, 11:53 am

>53 foggidawn: Good to know:) I guess I had no sense of that, since there were some books on her list that I already loved.

56katiekrug
des. 13, 2021, 11:56 am

>52 AMQS: - Oh, my. That's, um, a lot. Good luck!

57BLBera
des. 13, 2021, 5:56 pm

It sounds like your holiday will be busy, Anne, but in a good kind of way.

>54 AMQS: This one goes on my list. It sounds like one I would appreciate.

58richardderus
des. 13, 2021, 7:29 pm

>54 AMQS: An interesting topic, and approached from a very productive angle. Now to get the word out....

>52 AMQS: what >56 katiekrug: said

...I need a nap now...

59alcottacre
des. 13, 2021, 7:45 pm

>54 AMQS: Thanks for the recommendation of that one, Anne. I will add it to my reading list for next year.

60AMQS
des. 14, 2021, 12:57 am

>56 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. It is a lot, but it will be good to have family here. I just wish I had another week of winter break!

>57 BLBera: Beth, I think you would appreciate it. I'm positive you were the one who recommended So You Want to Talk About Race. This is similar, and as my mom told me when we were talking about these books, their message definitely bears repeating and on our part, re-listening. There's a young readers edition also, aimed at middle grade readers audience. It's called Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Boy, and I think I'm going to read or listen to that one also since that is the age of my students.

>58 richardderus: Oh Richard, I need a nap, too! I ended up taking a personal day Tuesday (tomorrow as I write this). I just need some time.

>59 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, I hope you enjoy it!

So the brother in law who is supposed to come between Christmas and New Year with our niece and nephew has COVID. He's pretty upset and worried, He's vaccinated but not boostered - from his description it sounds like a difficult process to get an appointment in KS. He is a professor at UMKC which recently revoked its mask mandate for students. So huh. The pandemic is over apparently in Missouri? I'm glad mask mandates are still in effect in my district.

61curioussquared
des. 14, 2021, 11:49 am

Oh no! Hopefully your brother in law's case is mild. It's pretty tough to get booster appointments around here, too; once they opened eligibility to the general public it got pretty impossible to find a slot. We were lucky to score walk-in shots the Monday after Thanksgiving but several of my family members are getting theirs this week or next week.

62RebaRelishesReading
des. 14, 2021, 11:53 am

>60 AMQS: so sorry to hear about your brother-in-law. I hope his case is light and that he recovers well. I'm sad and angry that people who do what they should still end up sick because others refuse to.

63lauralkeet
des. 14, 2021, 12:36 pm

Wishing your brother in law a speedy recovery, Anne.

64AMQS
des. 14, 2021, 5:56 pm

Thank you >61 curioussquared: Natalie, >62 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, and >63 lauralkeet: Laura for your well wishes for my brother in law. We do know in all likelihood that his case will be mild and that he will recover quickly. He told me this morning he is feeling OK, but congested and very sleepy.

65richardderus
des. 14, 2021, 6:10 pm

Your BiL is likely to feel crappy for a while but UNlikely to need hospitalization, thank goodness, because he's vaxxed but not boostered. I empathize...I felt so tired and couldn't smell or taste for weeks. But it's not hospitalization!

66LovingLit
des. 16, 2021, 3:34 pm

That's tough! I hope his symptoms are mild, and that he has time to rest.

67SandDune
des. 16, 2021, 3:59 pm

>60 AMQS: >61 curioussquared: At the moment we are being battered by the Omicron variant and they are having a huge push to get everyone who is eligible for a booster jabbed by the end of this month (over 18s who had their 2nd jab at least 3 months ago). That is a lot of booster jabs and whether that will actually happen remains to be seen.

68AMQS
des. 16, 2021, 5:43 pm

>65 richardderus: Richard, I'm so sorry you were sick. And yes, there's sick and there's hospitalization. You didn't need it, did you?

>66 LovingLit: Thank you, Megan. Rest is all he can do, I think. He cannot go back on campus until 10 days since the onset of symptoms, and he is quarantining in his basement so he stays away from the rest of the family. I think he's bored, but there's nothing for it.

>67 SandDune: That's what I've heard, Rhian. Hope you stay safe. It's coming here also. I just saw that New York's cases have exploded and they're attributing it to Omicron. I feel such dread about the upcoming holidays. We were going to try to get the family together, and we have people flying in. Callia from Oregon for only 3 days and my brother and his family from Germany, if flying from Europe is still happening. I think everyone is boosted except the Germany family, and of course, my 2 YO nephew is too young for the vaccine. I canNOT believe we are still in this position after all this time.

69alcottacre
des. 16, 2021, 5:46 pm

>64 AMQS: I do hope his case does truly turn out to be a mild one!

70AMQS
des. 16, 2021, 6:06 pm

>69 alcottacre: Stasia, thank you. When I checked in with him today he said he is feeling stronger and his main complaint is nasal congestion. Sounds like progress, and I hope it continues!

71alcottacre
des. 16, 2021, 6:34 pm

>70 AMQS: Good! If a stuffed up nose is his main complaint, it sounds like he will get off easy. I hope it continues too, Anne!

72richardderus
des. 16, 2021, 7:08 pm

>70 AMQS: It's a good sign he's fighting off the infection if his nose is clogged. "Buy lots of tissues" is all one can advise...but YAY for not being deathly ill!

73BLBera
des. 18, 2021, 9:30 am

I hope your brother-in-law has a mild case and recovers without any lasting effects, Anne. I also cannot believe we're still worrying about this. My unvaccinated nephew is still in the ICU. Our family is having a small celebration this year, with vaccinated people who are going to be tested the day before coming.

I agree with you that we have to continue to educate ourselves about race. I recommend A Good Time for the Truth; it's our Common Book, and filled with great essays. If you'd like a copy, I have an extra. PM me your address and it's yours.

74AMQS
des. 20, 2021, 12:07 pm

>71 alcottacre:, >72 richardderus:, >73 BLBera: My brother in law has taken a turn for the worse, but it doesn't seem that he is in danger - he just feels rotten, and suffering on top of this from low spirits. He is just so tired and can't stay awake, and is suffering from severe nausea, which I guess happens in about a quarter of cases. Breathing/respiratory all seem OK. My mother in law, who tends to jump off of the hysteria bridge, is jumping. I can't say that I blame her, being so, so far away and helpless to do anything. So I guess we can't know if my BIL and family will come after all - he's got to recover first. I appreciate your good wishes. Now we're preparing for my own brother's visit with his family. Since they live in Germany they were vaccinated late, as their rollout was slow, and of course little Falcon cannot be vaccinated at all. Scary time.

>73 BLBera: Beth, thank you! I will send you a PM. I think about your nephew every day and am sorry he's still needing such intensive care.

75AMQS
des. 20, 2021, 12:11 pm




79. Persuasion by Jane Austen, audiobook narrated by Rosalyn Landor

A comfort reread for me, and a bit of a marathon read, TBH, as I needed to make sure I finished it before I was on winter break and likely would not have listening time. It is just as delightful and comforting as always. This is a title I requested that my public library acquire at the beginning of the pandemic, as they didn't have a digital audio version. The librarian I corresponded with was so accommodating, and bought two copies for Axis360, and they have been in demand ever since, so I am not the only one seeking comfort rereads:)

76AMQS
des. 20, 2021, 12:18 pm

Not on winter break yet... two more days. You can imagine how ready the kids are for engaging, rigorous instruction, right? I'm irked that these are school days during the week of Christmas, and even more irked when I discovered that our entire district administration went on winter break as of Friday afternoon. It's just teachers and school-based staff, and this makes me crazy. Also crazy-making is that often in online meetings our district admin and support staff are joining from home. I KNOW how hard remote work is (though joining meetings with librarians isn't nearly as hard as ACTUALLY TEACHING ONLINE), and I know they're working, but it is hard not to resent them being at home while we are all in buildings with kids. Blurg. I'm still not thrilled that our winter break is under two weeks this year. These past two years (and really three school years have been impacted by COVID) have been incredibly difficult, so short breaks and inequity of winter break days between teachers and district admin feels like a major slap.

OK, enough angry teacher ranting. I hope everyone has a great week!

77curioussquared
des. 20, 2021, 1:05 pm

>76 AMQS: That would frustrate anyone, Anne! I hope these next few days speed by and you're soon enjoying break :)

78alcottacre
des. 20, 2021, 1:19 pm

>74 AMQS: Sorry to hear that your brother-in-law has taken a turn for the worst and hope that he starts improving soon!

>75 AMQS: I am planning on doing a read/reread of all of Austen's novels next year. There are a few that I know I have not read, Persuasion among them.

>76 AMQS: I do not blame you for your rant!

Have a marvelous Monday, Anne!

79MickyFine
des. 20, 2021, 1:25 pm

Ooof, I'm so sorry to hear about your short winter break. Schools in my town are also open today and tomorrow but they don't go back until January 4 or 5 so they still get a full 2 weeks off.

Sending well wishes for your brother-in-law and hope he's feeling more the thing soon.

80richardderus
des. 20, 2021, 2:17 pm

>76 AMQS: The Plague is exhausting all our patience, Anne, but no one has more justification to vent than you do ATM. Please don't ever feel as though that's unfair or a burden, here is the place to do your self-care shouting!

81RebaRelishesReading
des. 21, 2021, 12:02 am

>76 AMQS: Sounds to me like you have every reason to rant! Sorry you're having to endure this. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas when you finally get to it.

82AMQS
des. 21, 2021, 11:14 am

>77 curioussquared: Natalie, thank you. For all of my grumbling, yesterday was a really good day and my classes were calm and focused. Just got to get through today and then I'm home free:)

>78 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, good news to report from my brother in law: yesterday he seemed to have turned a corner and was feeling and looking much better! I'm sure I'll reread another Austen next year, or more likely, re-listen. Persuasion is a favorite. Not only was it my first Austen, it was also my first audiobook, and I was instantly smitten with both!

>79 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky. I'm trying to focus on the positive today after wallowing a bit yesterday. We've always had two weeks and a little bit off so this year feels harder to have less time, particularly when we need it so much. My brother in law was much better yesterday. My husband and his brother have always been very close, but what with life and work and families they don't talk as often as they would like. The one silver lining for us with his illness is that they have talked to each other every day, and I know that has meant a lot to my husband.

>80 richardderus: Aww thank you, Richard. Yes, this is a very safe and comfortable space for me, and that's because of steadfast and supportive friends like all of you!

>81 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba. Getting closer, and yesterday was a really good day. My family typically hosts a gathering at my mom's house, but we felt uncomfortable this year. My aunt just turned 80 and my parents are not far behind her, plus people flying in from all over. So we decided to have it at our house outside on our new patio with fire pit, etc. Though it will be a simplified celebration, I am still noticing things about my house you tend to see only when expecting company:) Also, a perk to working in a school is that you can borrow stuff like large tables to put outside. I hope your Christmas is wonderful also. Will you be home or traveling?

83BLBera
des. 21, 2021, 11:23 am

>76 AMQS: I would be irked as well, Anne.

I love Persuasion; it might be time for a reread.

Good luck with your last two days.

84alcottacre
des. 22, 2021, 1:41 am

>82 AMQS: Glad to hear that there is finally some good news regarding your BIL! As far as Persuasion goes, I am going to read Austen's novel in published order, so it is down the road aways.

85RebaRelishesReading
des. 22, 2021, 1:02 pm

>82 AMQS: We're at my son's in San Diego.

86SandDune
des. 24, 2021, 6:15 am



Or in other words: Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

87msf59
des. 24, 2021, 8:14 am



Have a great holiday with the family, Anne. Miss seeing you around.

88richardderus
des. 24, 2021, 11:55 am


May all your surprises be good ones this Holiday season.

89witchyrichy
des. 24, 2021, 12:57 pm

Best wishes to you and yours for now and the new year!



And...rant away! We expect so much from school based educators and it has been grueling for you. I am wondering what the attrition rate will be post-holiday? A few divisions in Virginia gave extra days but several went right until Wednesday. I do love seeing the pics of your students learning to code and create. They always look so intent and engaged.

90ronincats
des. 24, 2021, 2:24 pm

91PaulCranswick
des. 24, 2021, 7:28 pm



Have a lovely holiday, Anne.

92AMQS
des. 26, 2021, 12:30 pm

Happy Boxing Day! I send all of you my love and best wishes for the holiday season. I hope it was filled with comfort and joy. Ours was eventful. I'm a little wrung out but thankful for many things, including all of you!

93AMQS
des. 26, 2021, 12:37 pm

>83 BLBera: Thank you, Beth. The last two days were good ones, but i'm very happy to be on break. When do you go back? Did I read on Karen's thread that you are retiring or considering it?

>84 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. He is now feeling great. I don't know that he is still planning to come though. We hope to see them soon. Good luck with your Austen reads next year!

>85 RebaRelishesReading: Enjoy! Is it rainy?

>86 SandDune: Thank you, Rhian!

>87 msf59: Thank you, Mark. Christmas is magical with little ones - I know you're enjoying your little one a lot. I love the owl!

>88 richardderus: Richard, thank you. There have been some surprises.

>89 witchyrichy: Thank you, Karen, and thanks for following along for my IG teaching adventures. I'm pretty nervous about what the new year will look like at school. I am guessing that COVID will affect attendance and staffing in a big way. Our district went remote last year between Thanksgiving break and two weeks into the January term. I don't know that there are plans to do the same this year. I doubt it. And it wold be a logistical nightmare for me as devices are not going home with students daily like they were last year. I guess We'll just meet the challenges like we always do. Grateful for your support! Your photo is so beautiful and welcoming.

>90 ronincats: Roni, thank you. I hope you enjoyed being close to family this year.

>91 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul - hoping I can put my feet up near a fire soon! Best wishes to you and your family.

94Berly
des. 26, 2021, 4:11 pm



These were our family ornaments this year and, despite COVID, a merry time was had by all. I hope the same is true for your holiday and here's to next year!!

95AMQS
des. 26, 2021, 7:05 pm

>94 Berly: Kim, those are great - well done! Yes, here's to next year!

96AMQS
des. 26, 2021, 7:08 pm




80. The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories edited by Martin Edwards

This was a fun collection of British Christmas-y, murdery stories. These were short diversions and the perfect things to read in a busy and distracting time.

97BLBera
des. 27, 2021, 8:21 am

>96 AMQS: I'll make a note of this one for future holiday reading.

Yes, Anne, I'll be retiring at the end of the school year. We start again on January 10, but I am starting prep now.

98RebaRelishesReading
des. 27, 2021, 1:23 pm

>93 AMQS: We had a huge storm a couple of days ago but yesterday was beautiful and today is looking good. Hoping for nice weather the coming week when we'll be doing a lot of outside things at our Road Scholar program.

99AMQS
des. 28, 2021, 9:14 pm

>97 BLBera: Beth, that's so exciting! Are you counting down yet?

>98 RebaRelishesReading: Safe travels, Reba.

Children's Hospital visit today with Marina for her twice-annual MRI of her jaw. It makes for a long day. The results came in, and though they're fairy incomprehensible to us, they are pretty much identical to her last one 6 months ago, and her rheumatologist was so pleased with that one she reduced her Humira frequency. We'll see what she says about this one.

Still waiting to "finish" Christmas as my mom has been sick. She's tested negative for COVID but can't shake the cold/cough/sinus/fatigue ick she's pretty sure my SIL brought with her from Germany, and my SIL in turn suspects daycare.

100Berly
des. 29, 2021, 1:10 am

>96 AMQS: That one sounds like fun! WLing it for next year. ; )

>99 AMQS: Hope you get to celebrate the rest of Christmas soon and hope the MRI results are favorable.

101BLBera
des. 29, 2021, 8:16 pm

I'm not counting down yet, Anne. I just hope to get through the semester in the classroom. I'll start to count if we have to move classes online.

Scout and I read a book she endorses today: The Bridge to Sharktooth Island. She says she thinks it is a good one for second graders. She read parts aloud and didn't have any problems.

102Copperskye
des. 29, 2021, 8:43 pm

Merry Christmas, Anne! I hope you get to put your feet up sometime during your short break.

I drove through Missouri a couple weeks ago and stopped overnight. Mine was the only mask I saw. Covid pandemic? What Covid pandemic? *sigh*

Sorry to hear that your mom isn’t feeling well but so glad that it isn’t Covid.

Happy to hear the good MRI news for Marina!

103LovingLit
des. 30, 2021, 5:13 am

>99 AMQS: the old illness chain huh? Troublesome for sure.

I hadn't realised M's issue was in her jaw...or is this just where they test things?

It being very close to midnight here, we are very close to it being New Year's Eve! We have zero plans to party for NYE here, but W will have a friend over and they will camp on the back lawn and roast (giant) marshmallows over the brazier/bbq thingie, and stay up til midnight etc etc. All good fun for 13 year olds.

104Berly
Editat: des. 31, 2021, 8:49 pm

Happy New Year Anne!! I am all in for the marshmallows, LL. : )

105PaulCranswick
gen. 1, 2022, 2:36 am



Forget your stresses and strains
As the old year wanes;
All that now remains
Is to bring you good cheer
With wine, liquor or beer
And wish you a special new year.

Happy New Year, Anne.

106AMQS
gen. 1, 2022, 1:54 pm

>100 Berly: Kim, it is fun. A nice Christmas read, and again, short stories work well for me when things are really busy. Not too much backtracking to remember what is happening:). Marina will see her rheumatologist next week, but since these results are just about identical to the last ones, we think that's a good thing! Happy New Year to you!

>101 BLBera: Happy New Year, Beth. I don't know what to think about this coming semester. Moving online would be a logistical nightmare for me, as this year has been more "normal" and K-4th graders are not taking Chromebooks home daily like they were last year. This in turn has dramatically reduced my workload dealing with Chromebook issues coming from the wear and tear (scraping dried juice from keyboard keys. etc). We of course pivoted to remote on a dime in March of 2020, but the thought of doing it again makes my body hurt. And remote learning is just awful for everyone. But... if we're in for that they say we're in for, then I can see school closures as staff gets sick as we can't safely open buildings. I get so angry reading NYT comments from people trashing lazy teachers who just don't want to work. But if teachers get sick then schools will have to close. Hopefully illness and disruptions will be brief!

Thanks for the recommendation from Scout! I always love to hear suggested books for grades 2-3. I added it to my Titlewave list.

>102 Copperskye: Hi Joanne! Yes, the difference in COVID attitudes are astounding to me, but I see things right here in CO... when we go out, that is. Sometimes I think I have an idea of what people are doing but since I rarely go anywhere I'm not really sure. Avalanche games, for example. Masks are mandated but once inside, rarely worn. The few games I've attended this year I've remained double masked and never ate or drank anything. My mom is still not feeling great. She just can't seem to shake this. My brother & family went to the mountains for a few days so I told her we would come up and help her shovel. She lost power when we had that horrible wind, so everyone came here to spend the night. Happy New Year to you!

>103 LovingLit: Yes, for sure, Megan. Thanks for your concern. Marina's arthritis is in her jaw, which we have learned is fairly common for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients. When she was first diagnosed her arthritis presented in her fingers and wrists, but the rheumatologist wanted us to keep a close watch on her eyes (eye exams every 6 months for a time) and her jaw. The disease never affected her eyes but it did in her jaw, and fast enough that her orthodontist ended treatment early so as not to aggravate it. But she has been injecting herself with Humira for some years and it seems to be helping a lot. She is now in remission in her hands and wrists and her jaw is looking good.

Your New Year plans sound so fun! We celebrated Christmas outside for safety reasons. We lucked out with weather. For New Year we were (and still are) having a major snow!

>104 Berly: Happy New Year, Kim! And yes, I'd be in for the marshmallows also. I can do without the rest of the s'mores stuff, but I do love toasted marshmallows.

>105 PaulCranswick: Happy New Year, Paul, and thank you! I hope you have a wonderful year.

107AMQS
Editat: gen. 1, 2022, 5:46 pm

I got one more in just under the wire!



81. Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

This is an outstanding middle grade fantasy that has echoes of both Harry Potter and of Nevermoor, and yet is definitely its own, strong story. Amari has a lot on her plate. She attends a fancy private school on a scholarship, yet is unwanted and ostracized for living in the projects. But Amari and her single mother are devastated by the disappearance six months earlier of her older brother Quinton. Quinton was a genius, a mentor, universally beloved, and Amari's best friend and protector. Against his mother's wishes he skipped college to start working, but upon his disappearance, there seems to be no trace of him. No pay stubs, no tax records... so of course the police assume the worst about his activities and show little interest in the case. But Amari receives a mysterious delivery one day which leads to a meeting with her brother is a dream form, and he gives her a nomination for a tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Once there, Amari is connected to hew own supernatural abilities, and discovers that her brother is just as revered here as he was on the "outside," and also that she herself feels just as much of as outsider as she did at her private school. Amari must prove herself while also dedicating her life to finding her brother.

I flew through this book and was thrilled to learn that there is a sequel to be released in May!

108AMQS
gen. 1, 2022, 4:29 pm

2021 Wrap Up:
81 books read, which break down as follows:

Adult Fiction: 36
Nonfiction (all): 17
Own: 22
Parmalee Library: 26
Audio: 28
POC: 32
Children’s: 29
YA: 4
Rereads: 3

Favorites (in order read):
The Sacrament by Olaf Olafsson
When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod
Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London by Christopher Skaife
Persuasion by Jane Austen

Happy New Year, dear friends! See you over in the 2022 group!