Drove through Northeast Oregon desert country and stopped at the Grande Ronde river while finishing this book in the passenger seat. Love the premise of a woman wilderness activist having a conversation with Ed Abbey at his grave. Some of his writing so inspired me in my 20s but he was sexist among other faults. #NFNov @Clwojick @rsteve388

This chunkster is a good overview of the politics, society and culture of post-Revolution America. Wood focuses quite a bit on all the ways slavery held back the South—in terms of innovation, economy, & growing a middle class, beyond just its moral repugnance. But like many prominent white historians of his generation he still can‘t help himself in making some excuses for Jefferson enslaving people. Time to call out all the “Founding Fathers.”

4 stars. Two stellar reporters recounting how they exposed the details of Weinstein‘s crimes. Also covers their reporting on Trump and Kavanaigh. She Said and Farrow‘s Catch and Kill make great back-to-back reads. Each focuses on different aspects and characters. Farrow‘s reads like an espionage novel in parts. She Said gives voice to a greater diversity of women and reflects the arduous work great journalism requires. #NFNov @rsteve388 @Clwojick

A gripping must-read book that can‘t provide me with pithy “who knew?” Or “fun fact!” Litsy comments to gain me points for #NFNov. Because it it stellar reporting on the crap nearly every woman has dealt with in life, in school, on jobs. It‘s not new news, just well reported confirmation of what many of us have endured. @rsteve388 @Clwojick

Moved up Pollan‘s book after seeing Fantastic Fungi last night. Film delves into the medical and psychological benefits of psychoactive mushrooms. And fun fact: in the American Civil War nursed would wrap wounds with moldy bread to get the penicillin benefits. The development of high grade penicillin helped the Allies win WWII. #NFNov @Clwojick @rsteve388

Watched the documentary Fantastic Fungi tonight at our local independent theater. A little too much time lapse photography but a decent film on the powers of fungi and the role they play in ecosystems. I learned that trees can actually sense their progeny seedlings nearby and send them chemical protectors and other help via mycelium. And I learned more on how they can break down petrochemicals. #NFNov @Clwojick @rsteve388

1. Scrabble.
2. Spain!
3. I‘m 6 books behind on my Goodreads goal but I‘ve been reading a lot of chunksters! But really happy with my variety of history, poetry, novels, genres.
4. Phillip Roth! Some writing is dated but he is wicked funny. Goodbye, Columbus. And prescient: The Plot Against America.
5. What children‘s book had the most lasting impact on you?

My haul from the library and Thriftbooks yesterday. Can‘t decide what to pick up next after I finish Ocean Vuong‘s novel and American Marriage.

Learning about the complicity of women in silencing other women assaulted by Weinstein and other powerful men, and how they stayed silent on what theyknew. Hillary Clinton was informed of Weinstein‘s behavior but continued using him as a Hollywood fundraiser in both her Presidential campaigns. Celebrity attorney Gloria Allred killed proposed legislation that would have put restrictions on NDAs. #NFNov @Clwojick @rsteve388

Today I learned about Chief Justice Marshall. “He... turned the Court into a “band of brothers” & worked at building consensus thru friendly discussion and more than an occasional glass of wine. He had a rule that they would drink wine only if it were raining...somewhere over their jurisdiction. LOL. Their own version of “It‘s 5 O‘Clock somewhere!” #NFNov @rsteve388 @Clwojick

Taking a break from participating in American democracy—volunteer phonebanking for a great mayoral candidate for my city who is up against a powerful realtor lobby trying to buy the election via outside PACs and paid canvassers. I learned today the many ways northern towns prospered far more economically because they did not have slavery. #NFNov @rsteve388 @Clwojick

I‘m halfway through but counting towards #NFNov because it is a chunkster! Have been reading and rereading a lot of American history this year. What have I been learning? That partisan politics were as crazy, vitriolic, and divisive in the first have of the 19th century as they are today. @rsteve388 @Clwojick

I found Farrow‘s story far more riveting than I expected. I listened to the audio version narrated by Farrow. I grew tired of his various accents and voices for the many characters in the book, but his recounting of what it took to break the Weinstein story (and bust Lauer and others) reads like an espionage novel. Hired foreign spies, wiretaps, being tailed, legal threats, celebrities.

The writing has me hooked in just a few pages. Another one that will be difficult to put down.

I seem to have lost any Circe-appropriate photos so I will post a photo of my border collie watching over my hen ladies as they enjoy time out of the coop. But wow. What an amazing novel. I‘m on a slow reread of the Greek and Roman classics and Miller‘s novel brings the timeless themes and existential questions to life. Looking forward to reading Achille‘s Heel.

Listening to the audio book narrates by Ronan. It‘s everything we already know but a good blow by blow of the hard investigative work it took to bring Weinstein down and shed some light on how powerful people protect each other. If only Ronan did not adopt a different voice and multiple accents for each character in his book.

I‘m torn between a pick and so-so. The characters are well-fleshed out and great writing. I can enjoy slow-paced character driven novels but this one felt a little too slow for me. Perhaps more my mood. I just hope it has not out me out the mood for other family drama stories: Ann Patchett‘s new novel Dutch House or An American Marriage which I‘m supposed to read for a book club in a month!

1. Inland Northwest USA. 2. 51
3. Work for a non-profit working to restore wild salmon and steelhead by removing 4 unnecessary dams on the Snake River.
4.??Going on 10 wonderful years with my sweetheart.
5. She/her. 6. Nickname is Sam. Middle is Anne. Sounds like salmon, which I work to protect.

Today, Indigenous leaders of the Yakama and Lummi Nations called for the removal of 3 large dams on the Columbia River to restore salmon and traditional fishing grounds. The press conference occurred here, where the great Celilo Falls existed before Dalles Dam was built in 1967. #indigenouspeoplesday

Two many books already started but have to add another one!

Starting this on this October lake day!

In DC for work. Did two year stints working here and always loved this bookstore. Had to buy 3 books which awarded me a 25 dollar gift certificate for books or bar. No more room for books in luggage so spent it at the bar!

Once again Colson Whitehead packs a punch. The second book I‘ve read by him. I want to read all his books now. Except maybe not the Zombie book. I am so tired of zombies. Should I read the zombie book too?

I love Patti Smith. And I mostly listened to the audio version—read by her. But I‘d only recommend this to Patti Smith fans. More a collection of short vignettes. Some cut-to-the-bone writing about life, loss, mourning, art. Interspersed with the really mundane. She writes about coffee so much I started to laugh. Getting coffee. Making coffee. Drinking coffee. Finding a hard time getting coffee in Japan. Still, it‘s Patti Smith!!

Taking some quiet time before heading after a long work today. Contentment is a book, a beer, burger and my border collie.

I don‘t read much in the genre. But it felt like a good weekend at the lake read after several dense history and literary fiction reads. I got hooked in, but very disappointed in the ending. So many red herrings and dead-end plot devices. Hashtag I‘d rather reed Tana French.

4.5 stars out of 5. If time had allowed I would have devoured this book over a week-end. I loved the setting-kamtchatka. I loved the characters, their stories told in overlapping but stand alone chapters. And I finished it this exquisite morning, looking out at Lake Pend Oreille in north Idaho, contemplating a day of friends, good food and drink, swimming and paddling, and no work or chores. And diving right into The Lost Children Archive!

One of the best novels I‘ve read this year. Only halfway through but beautiful writing and I love the setting—Kamtschatka. A story of fear of change, other peoples, urban vs rural, all told through a story of two missing girls. A great vacation book—each chapter almost stands on its own—each a related but stand alone story focused on one character.

Stealing a half hour between chores and prepping a Sunday dinner in one of my favorite garden spots. Only 25 pages in but this book has me hooked.

This is for you @marleed ! Got myself a Porkchop John‘s porkchop sandwich. Headed to the Main Headframe stage. Will get a nightcap at the Silver Dollar Saloon afterward.

Week-end in Butte Montana for their International folk festival. Beautiful old turn of the century buildings, killer old school bars. Amazing architecture. Fascinating history. Today it is a fraction of the size it was in 1900. And has a big mining pit that consimed a huge part of the town. The pit is full of toxic water that kills birds that land in it. Nonetheless, highly recommend a visit to this town!

“That‘s the trouble with people, their root problem. Life runs alongside them, unseen. Right here, right next. Creating the soil. Cycling water. Trading in nutrients. Making weather. Building atmosphere....A chorus of living wood sings to the woman: If your mind were only a slightly greener thing, we‘d drown you in meaning. The pine she leans against says: Listen. There‘s something you need to hear.” Rereading this fantastic book!

I‘m reading a lot of American history right now. I‘m liking reading Stamped From the Beginning about the origin of racist ideas in America along with a Gordon Wood American history book. And on this particular Independence Day when I can‘t help but dwell on the horrific crimes my country is inflicting on children at the border, American Sonnets makes the perfect trifecta of books for reading and reflection today.

3,5 out of 5 stars. Dennis-Benn is a great writer and she immersed me in Jamaica and the world of a struggling immigrant woman chasing the American dream. A little too tidy of an ending.

Latest New Yorker. LOL. I finished Barkskins but was pissed off at the end.

Quiet contentment on my front porch. Dog nearby. Cocktail in hand. Hummers at the feeder. First sunflower in bloom. Headed to a party later with hubby later but right now enjoying this novel. Descriptive wonderful immigrant fiction. I‘m hooked on this one.

A poem for Trump. Terrance Hayes is my new fave.

“In a second I‘ll tell you how little Writing rescues. My hunch is that Sylvia Plath was not Especially fun company. A drama queen, thin-skinned, And skittery, she thought her poems were ordinary. What do you call a visionary who does not recognize Her vision?”

Book haul today. Two volumes of poetry and a second copy of The Overstory! Lent my out and need to reread!

3.5 stars out of 5. Compelling story set during violent years in Colombia when Pablo Escobar was at his most powerful. A window into the separate worlds of the struggling desperate poor and those who are better off. Violence touched all in Bogota during the 90s.

Now here is a memoir I‘m enjoying. More of vignettes from her life, not in chronological order. Her writing is like spoken word. Listening to the audio—narrated by Patti! I could listen to her world weary gravelly voice for hours. Actually, I am! Just requested a hard copy from the library to peruse as I listen.

1. Fruit of the Drunken Tree—enjoying! Patti Smith‘s The M Train. Stamped from the Beginning:the Defining History of Racist Ideas in America. And Patsy. Too many!
2. Does Black Leopard Red Wolf count? 3. Planting my melon patch and having gin & tonics on my front porch. And a wedding but not necessarily a fun one LOL.

I was first in line at library for this recent release! Excited to dig in this week-end.

I was first in line at library for this recent release! Excited to dig in this week-end.

Just not my cup of tea. Kept thinking I could have been listening to one of Patti Smith‘s memoirs instead. Huge fans of both Amy and Tina Fey but didn‘t really like either book. Have been looking for some lighter fare to balance out all the heavy books I read. But this one just bored me for long stretches.

A combination of prose and poetry, an amazing memoir. Best book I‘ve read this year. I live on the Spokane Tribe‘s ancestral lands and work to restore salmon so it particularly hit home. I hope that there is some path towards appropriate reconciliation in the wake of the #metoo allegations and Alexie publishes again.

Do others have a hard time, feel overly critical reading novels set in a place or time that you know/knew intimately? I know the novelist has license to change facts and timelines. But It remained one of my issues with this novel. Parts just not believable, timelines wrong. I didn‘t have to read the author bio to know he might live there now, but he did not grow up in the place like I did. Do others have such reactions to books?

1. You Don‘t Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie. Close on its heels is The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai and Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon.
2. The Unwinding of the Miracle.
3. Ninth Street Women. First 100 pages fantastic but got distracted by “required” book club books. Disappearing Earth. Stamped from the Beginning. Patti Smith‘s Just Kids.
4. Goal 55 books, 26 read!
5. If you want, take part!

Listening to this heartbreaking memoir as I drive up the Columbia Gorge from Portland to Spokane. I often stop here, at what was Celilo Falls until it was destroyed by Dalles Dam in the 60s. Once one of he most important salmon fishing and gathering places for Northwest Tribes.