Play Book Tag discussion

Happy May! Happy Spring! We had a doozy of a thunderstorm early yesterday morning. The thunder was so loud and went on so long it woke me up and had me fearing that my bedroom window was imploding! I have never heard thunder so loud, not even when living in the country!

I was wondering about something -- has anyone else experienced a rediscovery of authors while participating in challenges that you may have read long ago but have not read in a very long time? I certainly have.

For WPF challenge, for example, I went through my TBR -- ebook especially but also print to a lesser extent (requires a lot of physical searching and takes longer, lol) - and pulled out every book I have by the authors. Now some I did not get to before they were chopped, but others I've been reading and enjoying.

P.D. James - I read most of her books when I was in my 20s and 30s - when they first came out. but I had collections of her short stories here that I had not read. What pleasure I got from them and in fact I'm planning at some point to read her essay on detective writing should she move forward into the next round. I likely will at some point re-read some of her detective books. I'd forgotten just how good she is in her genre.

Now I'm reading several Barbara Delinsky novels I for some reason had in my TBR - probably because they were deals of the day and had a premise that I tend to read -- i.e. an old family property that has to be developed. I do read romance and what is called women's fiction these days. But Barbara Delinsky was only ever an occasional read not someone whose books I read heavily. I actually quite liked the more contemporary one I read - - published only a few years ago -- as it centered on the relationship of a mother/daughter and its evolution during a time of upheaval and change for both. I also really enjoyed the republished trilogy from 1990 I just read - the Crosslyn Rise trilogy. I'm currently reading a couple more of Delinsky's republished romances -- they are fun but less successful I'm finding as they really are more standard romances from 1986. I like something more to the plot than just a love story as a general rule these days. But they are still fun with interesting characters and settings. Perfect for the stressed out mind that's reading right now.

Another author that I have pulled back into my life is Robert Hellenga -- I had lost track of him years ago but his The Sixteen Pleasures remains one of my top recommendations to read. I have also found a new appreciation for Ray Bradbury. I credit that more to my exposure to SciFi and Fantasy through Feminerdy Book Club than WPF, but the challenge pushed me to read him sooner.

Lastly, an author I have always enjoyed but had not read much in years mostly due to my having read her entire opus, some multiple times - Agatha Christie - and I have truly developed a renewed appreciation for her work. I of course have a LOT of her books having read them all at some point - mostly as a teen but also in my 20s and 30s. I never was a huge Poirot fan, preferring her standalones or Tommy & Tuppence or even the Miss Marples. But I have now read several again, from more mature perspective. My appreciation has risen, in truth. Not all are great - I tend to find those she wrote in her later years less engaging, less successful, especially as she attempted to incorporate modern themes. But those written during her prime? Such variety - some serious, some more humorous and farcical, some more espionage than detective or mystery, but all filled with complex layered mystery that isn't so easy to figure out even with all the clues present - at least not completely. It's not always about identifying the murdered, but also the motive and often a side story or two. Plus her settings and characters are usually quite engaging. There is also a timelessness to most of her works even though they are set very much in their time period. It's no surprise that when crime fiction authors are asked what writer had the greatest influence on their own writing of crime fiction, the overwhelming majority say one name: Agatha Christie.

Next week we'll talk about the authors we have discovered through WPF and other challenges. But what authors have you rediscovered?

My circle back around to Liane Moriarty was a delight. I had kept meaning to read more of her books, but it took like 7 years for me to read a second one! My reading pace is really quite slow... I don't often seek out more books from an author unless they are writing a series, and I think I need to work on changing that.

I had started & DNF two books by Louise Erdrich many years ago. Since then I have like a couple others but now am hoping to read quite a few more. Also I had read a couple of Lois McMaster Bujold and now am reading the whole Vorkosigan series in order.

I found that so many of the authors picked, had things that were already on my TBR, so I went for those and have been delighted to Trim the thing down. My only problem, is that there were authors that I did not expect to be eliminated, and the only authors I have left on tap, well like every single one of them are Bracket B. I haven't really re-discovered anyone. But I have dented my TBR delightfully.

Theresa, I just loved Harmony at the Little Yiddish Theater, It was SOOO good. You have less than two weeks to get down there, and it was so worth the trip!

Ah, Amy, I keep looking to see where in my packed schedule I can fit it in!

Amy wrote: "I found that so many of the authors picked, had things that were already on my TBR, so I went for those and have been delighted to Trim the thing down. My only problem, is that there were authors t..."

This is what I've been doing, as well, Amy. Reading from my tbr. Ideally, some will fit my monthly challenges, but even if not, I decided I would pick one each month. Of course, of the ones I still have to get to, I'm hoping they continue through!

I too have been reading only from my TBR or even, in some cases, treasured read books I still own, in WPF but also for other challenges. One reread for another challenge. was Madame Bovary but it was the first time in English, and a particularly well reviewed translation by Lydia Davis. It was wonderful rediscovering Flaubert.

Amy wrote: "My only problem, is that there were authors that I did not expect to be eliminated,"

Oh, I'm having that problem too! And for some reason I didn't think the next voting round was until June. I'm about to start The Pillars of the Earth for a book club read and I was like, OH NO, if Ken Follett gets eliminated before I tackle this chonker, it's gonna be tragic.

Can I admit that I have so few books left to read for this challenge that I voted to keep a couple of people in where I was 50-50 anyway, just so I had the shot to read the book? Other than Lincoln Highway, I have an Elizabeth Strout and an Ann Patchett out from the library, and a Ken Follett waiting and that's it for me from my TBR or my interest. I think in one case, two of those were up against each other. But we shall see. Three of my four authors are still in the running.,

Amy wrote: "Can I admit that I have so few books left to read for this challenge that I voted to keep a couple of people in where I was 50-50 anyway, just so I had the shot to read the book? Other than Lincoln..."

I actually did the exact same thing! "Well, I definitely won't get to them this round, hopefully, they'll be around next round..."

I also abstained from a few votes because I couldn't decide who I wanted to read more, so I left it up to fate.

Theresa wrote: "I was wondering about something -- has anyone else experienced a rediscovery of authors while participating in challenges that you may have read long ago but have not read in a very long time? I certainly have...."

Mine has been more of a discovery than rediscovery. I am very much enjoying books by Robert Hellenga and John Boyne. I had never read Hellenga before. I can recommend Love, Death & Other Books and The Sixteen Pleasures.

And for Boyne, I had only read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, which is not his best IMO. I can recommend: The Heart's Invisible Furies, A Ladder to the Sky, The House of Special Purpose, and The Absolutist. A couple of these are still in progress but I'm enjoying them very much.

I did it! I spent half the day on my sofa, and another hour cozy in front of the electric fire at Cafe Nero, but I finished the Diamond Eye with just about an hour to spare! I had two patients, a school council meeting, and 210 pages. But wow - what a fabulous great book! And I consider it an honor to be able to connect with Kate Quinn tonight. Just in time. I am about to write my review. And then begin the Lincoln Highway, at a less frenetic pace.

Oh, wish I'd been reading all afternoon (or even a portion).

Took my oldest cat (19) to the vet today. Just a 6 month checkup. Some of you might know/recall that he's had kidney disease for 3 years now, and he was getting worse at the start of it while in the hospital. So, I didn't think I'd have much time at all with him when he came home.

The past couple of months, I've had him to the vet twice for something going on with his eye. I just thought it ws related to congestion. Antibiotics helped get rid of it last time, though.

And we'll start him on antibiotics again, but once we get his blood tests back, we'll discuss a referral to a specialist. Well, the referral already went in - to get a few days' head start if we keep the appointment. But there is a possibility this might be a tumor.

It's actually not his eye that is the issue. His eyelid is swollen. To me, it looks like a boyle or something - slightly red. Anyway, the bone underneath apparently feel soft in comparison to the bone on the other side. But only a specialist will be able to say better what might be happening. May take a CT scan or a biopsy. But we will wait to look at his test results first. Then most likely we'll see a specialist and go from there.

And did I update on me? I can't remember the last I mentioned.

I have an excision biopsy scheduled... well, I believe it will be May 31. They need to schedule an additional appointment in the AM first to put a wire in so the surgeon knows where to go, so I haven't received confirmation for sure that this is when it will be, but it's likely.

They will remove the entire lump/cells and they will retest. With the bit they took out in March, it came back benign, but they still want to remove it in its entirety and retest it.

Oh Cindy! Sending you healing vibes for your housejold!

LibraryCin wrote: "And did I update on me? I can't remember the last I mentioned.

I have an excision biopsy scheduled... well, I believe it will be May 31. They need to schedule an additional appointment in the AM ..."

Good vibes for both you and Io. Good luck with your procedure.

Cindy, prayers for you and the kitty too!

Cindy, I am thinking of you and your cat. Wishing you both well.

Good thoughts to you both, Cindy!

I'm so sorry Cindy. i know you're stressed out to have to wait for definite news on your pet's health and your own at the same time. My son's beautiful dog, my grand-doggy, was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after I was. i'm sending hugs, prayers, and good thoughts your way.

Oh, Cindy ... you definitely do not need more health issues for Io in addition to your own. Sending you both healing thoughts / prayers.

Thank you all! I'll keep you updated. <3

Cindy - sending positive thoughts and prayers to you and your kitty!

Our chat threads aren't as chatty anymore!

Anyway, update on me this time. I have my excision biopsy now booked for May 31. The will retest it once it's out in its entirety, and my follow up will be June 14.

Cindy, I want to crawl though the interweb's wires and give you a big hug! So sorry you are going through all of this. I hope you have a good vet who is helping you through your cat's illness, what ever the result. And I've very happy that your first biopsy was negative and hope the second one will be also - so that can just put that behind you. I'll be thinking of you and holding you both in the light.

Cindy - keeping fingers crossed for you and Io.

Thank you, both! And virtual [[[[HUGS]]]] back to you, Lynne. (I'm not a hugger IRL, so virtual is fine, and I appreciate the thoughts!)

My vet has been good. My previous vet moved, but we've switched to someone new (maybe a year or so ago?), and she's very good.