Why didn't I know there was a new Daniel Silva book? Stop You're Killing Me is not what it used to be!

I'm reading The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store that I have heard so much about. It's a pitiful story of Americans who got here earlier than others being so slow to accept (and ugly with it) immigrants, as if we all are not such. And if you want to know more about the treatment of American Indians, read Centennial by James Michener. It won't make you proud, and it isn't what was taught in American History when I went to school.

Thanks to the mentions above of The Secret Garden, I started a reread and am nearly finished.

I read The Secret Garden in two sittings and loved it as much as I did as a girl. I'm now reading a biography of the author, Frances Hodgson Burnett which I read years ago. That was when I still bought books so I had it on my shelf. Odd, she was a very famous author in her time, known for books for adults. She became a household name with Little Lord Fauntleroy but is now chiefly known for The Secret Garden. She had a very interesting life, including great sadness. She moved a lot, living between the US and Europe.

I was amazed and delighted to learn that when she wrote The Secret Garden she lived very near where I grew up on Long Island, before my time, I hasten to add. She is buried nearby too. One Easter, we had dinner with my in-laws' friends whose house was once her carriage house. Her main house was destroyed years ago.

I would second The Secret Garden as one of my favourite childhood books, along with Little Women and ones byE Nesbiteg The Railway Children. I wonder if 'modern' authors will stand the test of time?

I have just finished The Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendelson A 'clever' look at a totally dysfunctional family ruled over by an egotistic failing artist, his more-able but totally feeble sculptor wife and needy adult children. It is set in the usual North London/Hampstead area, a mixture of wealth and decaying seediness. I kept hoping something positive would happen to them all. Perhaps the loathsome father would be given a fatal 'over-dose' by the dodgy Dr? Will the sculptor ever get to Venice? Perhaps the kids will get therapy before it is too late? We can only guess.

vee, Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series seems to be standing the test of time. Last Christmas I gave a copy of Caddie Woodlawn to a young newcomer to our family whom I never see. I can only hope she liked it as much as I did at her age. It was a Newberry Prize book back in the day.

Carolyn, I agree about Laura Ingalls Wilder. It's hard to believe but they began to be published in 1932, almost a century ago. My mother read them when she was a girl and got me started on them. I read them over and over. I even went to DeSmet, South Dakota, the location of the 'little house on the prairie'. Her house is still there in the town but the surveyor's shanty, impossibly tiny, where they survived 'the long winter', is a reproduction. Sad to say, current authorities revile Wilder because they believe--wrongly--that she was somehow anti-Indian and anti-black. They even removed her name from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award.

The Secret Garden was a childhood favorite of mine as well. I wanted a secret garden of my own.

I was never a huge fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books. They were okay, but they did not engage me the way Caddie Woodlawn did.

I have read Little Women more times than I can count. Another favorite (not so well known these days) was A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter.

A while ago I read and admired The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, but I will not re-read it. Too painful to go through that again.

Three of Anne Tyler's books are real favorites of mine: Saint Maybe, Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, and The Accidental Tourist. I have not enjoyed her recent books as much, and pretty much stopped reading her books.

Tom (DH) is the serious mystery fan in our house. Just the other day I ordered the first book in Peter May's Lewis trilogy for him. I think he will like it.

As for me, I ordered a copy of James Michener's Centennial for a local book group I will be attending. I read it many years ago and don't really much remember it.

Finally, right now I am listening to a recorded book of What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris, the first of the Sebastien St Cyr historical mystery series. I read it some years ago and did not remember much of it. Pretty gory, which is probably why I did not continue with the series.

I have just started The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes. It is set in one of my special places, The Cotswolds in England where we used to weekend when we could get away from London and work commitments.

I can only read a few pages at a time then have to stop to mop my eyes from laughing so much. It is so amusing to me but I know not everyone has the same sense of the ridiculous!

I'm reading Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant just now and enjoying it. Didn't realize it was a finalist for a Pulitzer and the NBA in 1983. Stumbled across that a few days ago.

IamKathy - Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant is a long-standing favorite of mine. Enjoy it!

Rosefolly, I really like the St. Cyr series.

I'm reading Free Fall by Robert Crais, another mystery series I've recently discovered.

I'm reading Queen Alexandra, a biography of Queen Victoria's Danish daughter-in-law who married her oldest son, the Prince of Wales. I just watched a movie with Maggie Smith playing Queen Alexandra and I knew nothing about her so got the book. It's very interesting and I'm enjoying it, except for some anti-Irish bits which raise my hackles. The bits were by the author, not Queen Alexandra.

I finished Cecily by Annie Garthwaite, which is about the Duchess of York in the 15th century, the mother of Edward IV and Richard III. If it is even half true, she was a person to be reckoned with! Someone on the cover quotes has said 'Wolf Hall for the 2020s' but although I enjoyed it, I don't think it comes near Hilary Mantel.

Might be simpler to read though! I didn't find Mantel's writing style easy to follow. I have yet to finish the third book.

I just finished Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune. it’s thr sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea. I liked it, but not as much as the first one. I would have been perfectly happy without a sequel, but it wasn’t bad. I might even read it again down the road. Sometimes, my opinions change upon a later reading.

Carolyn, I may read the second St Cyr novel, that is, after I finish Centennial. Now that is a weighty volume! I used to read Michener a lot when I was younger, but eventually I found there was too much of a sameness in the pattern his books took. I also did not like investing emotionally in characters only to have him abandon them to fate in the march of time. Long before George RR Martin killed off beloved characters, Michener did the same, though perhaps not so ruthlessly.

Ginny. Can you please tell me who wrote the 'Princes Alexandra' book. Poor woman had much to put up with besides being deaf and all those other 'ladies' in her husband's life!

I notice that a DVD of Edward the Seventh is coming out soon but it seems to be a show made in 1973 and reissued! Anyone know anything about this?

Annpan, I remember seeing it the first time round. I suppose this is a re-edited/re-mastered adaptation.

Thanks, Vee.

Vee, The author of the Queen Alexandra biography I'm reading is Georgina Battiscombe. Hope you enjoy it, as I am. Yes, she put up with a lot!

Rosefolly, I liked Michener's Hawaii so much that I continued to read him for a good while. I lived in Hawaii for a year once, and it is one of my favorite places in the world. Ever since I read the book, I've wanted to go to Tahiti, and--dream fulfillment--my daughter and I have booked a South Seas Islands cruise learly next year arriving and departing from Tahiti. I'm already excited.

I have started the latest William Kent Krueger book, Spirit Crossing.

I'm reading Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA by Tim Weiner. It was written in 2007 (and won the National Book Award for Nonfiction that year) after a bunch of information became declassified between 2002-2005. It is really disheartening to confirm all of the horrific conspiracy theories I've heard over the years with primary source documents. I need to find something upbeat and hopeful after this one.

Phaedosia, I'm sure you already know this but it's never a good idea to rely on one book about such a vast subject as the history of the CIA. There are many books about the CIA even tho one is probably enough for most of us, unreliable or not. Take a look at the Wikipedia entry about this book and see what you think. It's not very long. The part called "Reception" is especially interesting. Journalists liked the book; scholars and other authorities, not so much, it says. There are footnotes with links to academic reviews of the book as well. They might be helpful.

Thanks for pointing that out - the book does seem overwhelmingly negative and I was wondering what I might read to balance it out. The author doesn’t seem too concerned with playing devil’s advocate (what would have happened if they hadn’t done some of the things they had done? Were ANY of them good men trying to make the right decision based on information they had?) He leaves the reader despairing that every terrible regime or negative world event somehow ties back to the corruption and/or failings of the CIA.

I have just discovered the Robert Crais series with Elvis Cole and Joe Pike and am currently reading Lullaby Town. The books are set in Los Angeles, and I'm finding it fun to read all the street names that I know from Michael Connelly's books.

I'm still reading Yours, Cheerfully .......my attention has been diverted these past two months due to a serious situation with DH , who recently had to have a subdural hematoma removed from his brain. Thankfully all went well and he is free of the stroke symptoms but it has been a long, frightening time. This is a cautionary tale for anyone taking blood thinners.......avoid a head injury at all costs. Simple falls can lead to disastrous problems.

Bon, I’m so glad to hear your DH is okay! I know it must have been really scary for you both.

I’m reading The Villa by Nora Roberts. It’s about a wine making family with estates in Italy and Napa. I’m only mildly interested in it, so it will take me a while to read all 700+ pages.

Donna

Yoyobon, I am so sorry to hear about your husband's medical issue and what you have been going thru. Prayers for a continuing and positive complete recovery.

I finally got Ann Cleeves' latest Vera mystery, Dark Wives. I'm enjoying it so far tho the topic is timely but depressing.

Good to hear that your husband is on the mend.

I take Eliquis blood thinners and I am careful about falling but these things happen. My eldest GD got her husband to pressure hose my paved area as it was getting slippery with weeds and mould.

The biggest problem with the thinners is that blood takes so long to congeal after dental work and insect bites!

I am waiting on Dark Wives from the local library.

Yoyobon, I hope your husband continues to improve!

I am rereading Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer’s Rocky Start before reading their newest, Very Nice Funerals, which is the 2nd volume of a three part series.

I am also reading, or trying to read, More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satosho Yagisawa. I say trying because, although I liked the first one, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, I am not feeling involved with the characters as much. It may go back to the lbrary unfinished.

Thank you all for the kind words.

Yoyobon, I'm glad to hear that your husband's surgery was successful and pray for his continued rapid healing.

I just got the new James Benn book, The Phantom Patrol, to download from the library. Now I can hardly wait to finish Lullaby Town so that I can start it. So many books . . .

Yoyobon, that sounds quite frightening! I'm glad everything went well.

Yoyobon, that must have been terrifying. I am happy to hear that your husband's health is improving. Wishing both of you the best.

Yoyo, sending you positive vibes from across the Pond; can you feel the ripples yet? My DH has faced some problems with blood thinners. Nothing nearly as critical as you have had to deal with but a simple nose bleed can make the bathroom floor look like a 'scenes of crime' situation

My goodness, Bon, the situation with your husband sounds frightening. I'm glad he's recovering. What a difficult time you must have had.

At the end of August my DH came home one day and said " The oddest thing....I saw five black crows sitting on top of a neighbor's roof as I drove down the street. What do you think that means ? "

( note: we are not into signs, symbols or omens , as a rule,,,,,though he is Irish! )

I replied that I had no idea and then forgot about it.

A few days later he mentioned it again and asked what it meant. ( this is not typical of him ).

So I did a search on possible meanings.......egads. Not good , for sure .

And here is what happened in September through late October the following two months :

- he fell backwards on a sloped driveway, hit his head and was unconscious and bleeding.

- Ambulance + Trauma Center .......showed no fracture or bleeding in brain.

- Stayed in hospital two days

-As a result we both got Covid ( first time for both of us)

- 2 weeks later he exhibited stroke symptoms including aphasia and disgraphia ....Ambulance + ER/Trauma Center

- Diagnosed with hematoma on both sides of his brain ( subdural)

- Procedure done to emobolize and stop leaking veins

- One week later neurosurgeon announced the hematoma on L side was growing and surgery was necessary

- Had brain surgery to remove clot and solve leaking vein.

- Now is in recovery and doing well

- And October is at an end......two months of unbelievable health challenges

So........Five black crows sitting on a roof ridge ?

Yoyobon, I am not into omens but I do know that animals sense things. My pets were very restless before we had an earthquake in the area.

However I think the crows were probably there because something tasty was around! We get a lot of crows and magpies come after the lawns have been mowed and the pickings are good.

It must have been a worrying time for you both and I am so glad he is doing well. Even a fall shakes one up let alone one with such repercussions.

So two months of worry and trauma for both of you. That's a long, hard time--without the crows. I don't believe in omens either, but I hope they have found another place to sit. I'm really happy for you that you are looking at a good outcome.

I'm not superstitious in any way but the mention of crows is a coincidence. Earlier this week, The New York Times published an article in its Science section that indicates that crows hold grudges. Grudges against people. It's worth tracking down online. Hard to believe but seems to be true.

Ginny.....I heard the same article mentioned and they said that the "grudges' were that the crows remembered a person who purposefully did something annoying to the crows and the crows would avoid or react to that same person for a long while.

I love crows and feel a special connection with them. We live in a wooded area with many families of crows and I always talk to them ! I find them very smart and interesting.

One winter I watched a crow repeatedly dive into a pile of fluffy snow......and later discovered in one of my "crow resource books' that this is a form of entertainment or play for the crow.

We have the same idea with our magpies (which are not related to northern hemisphere magpies, just called that by original settlers because they are black and white). When nesting in spring, they are feared for their swooping on people walking past, but apparently remember people who are 'harmless' and leave them alone. We live opposite a park with many of these birds and I was careful when we got our dog to teach her to leave them alone. They never bother us :)

Kath, don't you think his headgear is colored and striped like your magpies? Perhaps it was a territorial male defending his territory and/or female and chicks? Very interesting video. Thanks for posting.

We have these so called magpies running tame around the retirement village. Some residents feed them. I love to hear them carolling and the "peeping" noises the fledglings make to their parents.

We have a tree filled park next door where many varieties of birds, doves, magpies, crows kookaburras and parrots nest. Sometimes another bird like an ibis will drop by or even a hen from a nearby coop gets loose. I have a wide lawn area at the front and keep watch for them.

Ann, one of the things I’m really enjoying about our new rural home is the variety of birds. I never paid a lot of attention to them back in the city. Now I love to sit on my screened porch and use my bird app (free download from Cornell University) to identify them. We even have wild turkeys nearby!

Bon, are you anywhere near Cornell? Two of my most influential and loved bosses were graduates of the school of hospitality.

Donna

Ginny, it could appear that way but magpies will attack anyone, with helmet or not.

There was some advice to put eyes on the back of helmets, painted or a transfer.

I don't know if it worked though.

Donna......Yes, it's a 45 min rural drive to Ithaca. One of the day trips my group of friends enjoyed was touring the Botanical Gardens then going to the Statler Hotel on campus for lunch.

Re: turkeys

My DIL has 35 free range chickens and one week a young turkey showed up and tried to join the flock ! It would sleep on top of the chicken coop at night then hang around with the hens as they roamed about the property during the day. After a few days of unsuccessfully wooing "the girls" it moved on :0).

I live in New England and flocks of turkeys have become very common here. There are several dozen who regularly march thru my property. We also have to watch out when we drive as they saunter across the road taking their own sweet time. :)