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The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods was a current book group assignment for me. The story mentions the Bronte sisters. A list of their books is at the bottom of this post.

The calendar aligned so I had two groups meet on the same day this week. This means two book deadlines for the exact same day. This happens. I roll with it.

I read both books and attended both meetings. I like both groups. But I had to make a choice. I read this book first. 

I was on hold, Libby, for quite a while for this book (many weeks). I checked Hoopla, long waits there too.

I never panic. Usually the hold becomes available in time. If not, Audible is my backup plan, instantly available. 

In this case, I needed Audible, the hold did not come thru in time. 

I started this book and frankly was not quite sure what was going on, so I looked up the description. 

To be very honest, the book was not captivating to me. It combined three genres that are not my favorites - magic, romance and historical fiction. It also had two timelines. 

The first 20 chapters dragged for me. If I got the slightest bit distracted, I was in trouble. So I was never sure if I was following the two stories very well. 

I used SuperSummary to make sure I was on track. So I read the book, while simultaneously reading the chapter notes in my SuperSummary app. I used the SuperSummary app as sort of a rudder to make sure I did not get off course. This worked really well for me until I git well into the book. Then I no longer needed the summary.

I am not saying the book was confusing. I don’t think it was. I think I was easily distracted because the book did not hold my interest as books usually do. 

I felt ambivalent about this book. If it had not been an assignment, I would have moved on to the next book on my list. 

My guess going into my meeting was that everyone else would love it. 

https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/evie-woods/

I am piecing the third and fourth Lottie

 This is my kitchen table, right this moment.

My leftover gray and gold Lottie blocks turned into two quilt tops, Lottie 3 and Lottie 4.

The blocks are stacked two high in the photo above. The blocks in the stacks are nearly identical. I am making two quilts simultaneously. Middle and I both love these gray and gold Lottie blocks.

I am using a large piece of white fabric to create a uniform background. That is my kitchen table with two card tables and boards to extend it. It is like a flat flannel design board for me. 

I make one block each day. It is slow but steady progress.

I stare at the colors and the blocks each time I pass through the kitchen. I like the staring. I like the slow pace. 

We were at my mother’s for lunch on Sunday. She is making a quilt top with leftover fabric from her doll clothes making days. 

Sorry, I did not think to take a photo. Think true scrap quilt with every color used, on an off white background.

She is an experienced seamstress (people clothes, doll clothes), but not a quilter. She commented piecing blocks is very different than sewing clothes. 

She is making disappearing 9-patch blocks. 

I was not familiar with that block. She found it on Facebook and read the directions. 

By some miracle, her pattern is based on 5” cut squares.  My Lottie blocks start with 5” squares. I have leftover squares. 

She mentioned, in particular, she needs browns. I have browns left from the quilt top I just finished for Youngest’s friends. 

I also realized I have a bin of 5” cut squares in my studio. Those are too bright for her project, but give me somewhere to put my extra squares without feeling like I have to use every single leftover piece from my Lottie quilts.

The second Lottie

 I finished this quilt top (below) early Wednesday February 12, 2025. It is the earthy Lottie Quilt for a close friend of youngest. 

In the photo (below) the quilt is laying on its own backing fabric. I always measure to make sure everything is the right size. My long arm quilter requires at least 5” extra all the way around of both batting and backing fabric.

This quilt top ends with sashing and corner stones. I purchased the sashing fabric specifically for this quilt. The blocks were made with fabric I had on hand. 

I did not make this quilt any particular size. I just made it proportional and as wide as I could based on the flannel backing fabric (108” wide flannel, Joann’s). 

I am very pleased with this quilt. It is very cohesive. 

It is not in colors I would make for myself, but it is beautiful. 

I think my maternal grandmother would have loved the colors in this quilt. It makes me think of her house in the 1970’s.

The batting and flannel backing are ready too. It is ready to go to my long arm quilter and then my binder. 

There are two of my quilts in front of it, in line, at my long arm quilter’s. But there is no deadline for this quilt. It is a gift, but not for a specific event.

The quilt (above) has 12 blocks/sashing/corner stones. 

Below is the first Lottie, made for middle’s bed, light and airy, with 9 blocks/sashing/corner stones/borders, for comparison. It is still at the long arm quilter’s. 

Snow plow problems

 

The Rosie Project Series by Graeme Simsion

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. 

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion was a current assignment from one of my book groups. 

I listened to it on Audible last week. The author bio, bottom of post, is also from Audible.

This book had two strikes against it.

First, I had to pull myself out of my Paulette Jiles immersion to listen to it. 

Second, I caught a glimpse of the word “hilarious” in a review. This is never a good sign for me, but usually means the rest of my group will love it.

I was pleasantly surprised. After I got past the beginning, where the author was establishing the main character, I liked the book. 

I went on to listen to the next two books in the series, The Rosie Effect and The Rosie Result, because I had time just before my group meeting and that is how I roll. 

I found both of these books (2nd and 3rd) on Libby with no wait. 

All three books were read by the same person, Dan O’Grady. He did a good job. 

The second book, The Rosie Effect, suffered from second book (or second season) syndrome in my opinion. I was not a fan of roughly half the book, it dragged. I liked parts of it, when it picked up the pace and was more interesting. 

Then I went on to read the third book in the series, The Rosie Result. The third book was just as good as the first, in my opinion. 

After I read all three books, I realized three reasons why the second book, The Rosie Effect, was not a favorite for me. 

- The pace was slow for parts of the story.

- I like a good project. I thrive on organization. The project focus was weak in the second book. (The “project” element of the first and third books was strong.)

- There was a character in all three books that I did not like. He represented chaos to me. His presence was strong in the second book. 

So, I finished all three books just before my meeting. 

As I suspected, the group liked The Rosie Project. Everyone read the book. Everyone liked the book very much. There was quality discussion. One other person had read all three books. 

https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/graeme-simsion/

Immersion method of reading

My style of reading is now very defined in my mind. I think of myself as an immersion reader.

A recent installment of Reeding Between the Lines, mentioned at the top of yesterday’s post, clarified this for me. 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reeding-between-the-lines/id1744436935?i=1000688346807

Sara and Nicole think that pre Internet, people found an author they loved and then read that author’s works. That is still my method. 

They think that now, people are always reaching for the next bright shiny object (new books) which are readily shown in many formats. That is not me.

But I am exposed to a wide variety of books and authors through the assigned books for my book groups. I think of this as a culled list. The librarians are picking key books for a variety of reasons.

I also now have a very organized and specific to read list based on past books from Youngest’s very good book group. 

As I find authors I like, thru assigned books or my to read list, I listen to their other works. I think of this as the immersion method of reading. It is also how I quilt.

Enemy Women by Paulette Jiles

In each book post, I utilize https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/

This is a wonderful website that helps clarify the publication order of books and verifies book series. 

Note - Sara and Nicole did a review of favorite authors on their podcast, Reeding Between the Lines. I will talk most about this in tomorrow’s post. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reeding-between-the-lines/id1744436935?i=1000688346807

I skipped Paulette Jiles very early works which are not available in audio format. I read her latest three works, all post Civil War Texas, first. These were definitely a series, with over lapping characters/events, even though the books are not marketed that way. 

I started with The News of the World because it was the first book on my Master To Read list, compiled off books read/considered by Youngest’s book group. Then I read Simon the Fiddler and Chennville. These three books are definitely a series. The characters and plot over lap.

I am currently reading the four books in the middle. 

The first of the four middle books is Enemy Women, set in Missouri, during the Civil War. The main character is an 18 year old female. This book is fiction. 

Non-fiction pieces are read at the beginning of each chapter. These are all related to the time/events/area. They are very interesting and add much to the story of women in Missouri during the Civil War.

The writing is certainly good, the story is compelling.  Enemy Women was a NY Times best seller. 

But it is not quite as strong as Paulette Jiles’ most recently published three books, all based on post Civil War Texas, which I read first. 

The writing got better as the book progressed. 

It will be interesting to see when she hit her stride. 

I have no idea of the topics of the next three books, Stormy Weather, The Color of Lightening, Light House Island. The titles sound as if they might go together. But I very carefully did not research. I will be inter weaving them around my book group assignments. I had one book group meeting yesterday and I have two this upcoming week.

I very much like having a quilt list and a book list and my assigned book group titles. I like being able to move from one to the next with no wasted time.

Simon the Fiddler and Chennville by Paulette Jiles

Please note, I did not realize when I started, these three books are absolutely written as a series. Must be read in order. They are terrific. 

News of the World, 

Simon the Fiddler,  

Chennville 

Notice the three book covers are beautiful and in the same style.

 

I rolled from News of the World (above) right into Simon the Fiddler (below), both on Libby, both read by Grover Gardener. I clearly like Paulette Jiles’ writing style. I very much like the audio reader Grover Gardener.

News of the World is 6 hours 42 minutes  Simon the Fiddler is 11 hours 39 minutes. 

These books take place in Texas, end of the Civil War era.

I finished Simon the Fiddler over the course of 4 days. It was as good as News of the World. Really great book. 

I rolled right into Chennville, also by Paulette Jiles, also read by Grover Gardener. 

Chennville was 11 hours 49 minutes. I devoured it in three days. Just as good as the first two. 

It was great to listen to these three books, News of the World, Simon the Fiddler, and Chennville as an immersion, one right after the other. Texas, end of the Civil War era, is a very distinct point in time. 

https://texasourtexas.texaspbs.org/the-eras-of-texas/civil-war-reconstruction/

As I said, I discovered, at the very end of Chennville that these three books are absolutely a series, must be read in order. 

Trimming my address book on Shutterfly

I use Shutterfly for my family photo holiday cards each year. 

Starting November 2024, I used Shutterfly’s free service to print mailing addresses on the envelopes for me. I had the envelopes printed with our return address too. 

Youngest helped me with this project when I was at her house Thanksgiving week. We cut a dozen or more names off our list at that time.

As other people’s cards arrived in our mailbox, November 2024 - January 2025, I paid attention to the senders. 

We received more cards this year than previous years. They were better quality cards this year. Most had pictures and information. There were very few store bought cards with just a signature. 

I deleted at least a half dozen additional people off my Shutterfly address book in February 2025, while it was all fresh in my mind. 

Why February? I had one of our holiday cards from November 2024, show up in my mail box on February 7, 2025. It was marked as “no longer at this address”.

So some of my deletes were our cards that came back, people had moved, I have not heard from them, so I don’t have a new address. 

Other deletes were people that we no longer hear from, have slipped away. 

When I did the first holiday card mailing in 2020, I cast a wide net. I sent to people we had not contacted in a long time. Five years later, 2025, it felt like it was time to cull that list.

So I now have a very up to date address book online at Shutterfly. I will be in good shape to order pre addressed holiday cards November 2025. 

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Note - I read another book about a girl who was returned to her family after many years with the Indians, her return did not go well.  I think it took place on the east coast. Youngest read this book also. We can’t think of the title nor the author. It might have been YA. 

Another note - Youngest is set up so she can get on my Goodreads account. She suggested loading the books from my Master To Read List (yesterday’s post) to the Want To Read category on my Goodreads account. 

I did not load all of them, but I loaded the first set (13 books, below). Thirteen feels like a very manageable number. 

News of the World by Paulette Jiles is the first book from my To Read Master List, yesterday’s post. This first book was a big success for the effort/organization of this list. 

On Libby, News of the World by Paulette Jiles was a quick listen at just under 7 hours. I listened straight thru, only pausing to answer the phone or talk to the dogs.

It was most excellent. One of the best books I have read in a long time. Great story, great characters, extremely well written.

I mentioned this book to my husband, he listened to it also, same thing, straight thru in one day, really liked it.

I am staying on this author and listening to her other recent fiction pieces. 

I am reading Simon the Fiddler and Chenneville first, which will complete her most recent works. They are read by the same person, Grover Gardner, in audio format, and sort of go together. Simon the fiddler is a character from News of the World. 

Then I plan to read Enemy Women, Stormy Weather, The Color of Lightening, Lighthouse Island. 

Her early works and non-fiction (full list at tge bottom of this post) are not readily available in any form and not in audio, I am skipping them.

Below is the nonfiction title, Captured, mentioned at the end of the News of the World audio book. When Youngest’s group read this book, the leader of that month’s meeting, the book’s sponsor, read Captured too. The group spent a lot of time talking about this book and the concept of the reclaimed children. 

It is available in audio format  - 

 Paulette Jiles -

My TO READ MASTER BOOK LIST

The days aligned so I was facing another week and a half break between book group assignments. I called youngest, looking for ideas. 

It gets old, scrounging for book ideas between my assigned books. We created a long list, today’s post, that should carry me through 2025 and into 2026.

First, we turned to Youngest’s book group lists from 2024 and 2023 for ideas. We analyzed these lists over the phone. She remembers what I have read, shockingly well. 

A check mark means I am positive I have already read the book. 

I line through it means I am choosing NOT to read it. 

A dash in front of the title means I don’t think I have read it, and I plan to read it. If I start and realize I have read it, will simply add it to my Goodreads and move on to the next book.

I will be caught up with youngest when I finish these two lists. She started with her book group sometime in 2023. We discuss books a lot. It is fun to shadow her group.

Next, at her suggestion, I typed the list of book Youngest’s group considered for 2025, that were not selected. 

(The ones that were selected for her group for 2025 are already on my calendar.) 

The ones I have already read are marked with a  ✔️  below.

The Marriage Portrait                       

by Maggie O’Farrell                                       

Novel

All That is Mine I Carry with Me

by William Landau

Mystery

Wicked

by Gregory Maguire

Novel

Circe

by Madeline Miller

Fiction/Greek re-telling

West with Giraffes

by Lynda Rutledge

Historic Fiction

 

Portobello Road

by Ruth Rendell

Thriller

Crippen

by John Boyle

A Novel of Murder

 

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store

by James McBride

Novel

 

The Shadow of the Wind

by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Novel 

Waterloo

by Bernard Cornwell

Historic Fiction

 

Dead Man Walking

by Sister Helen Prejean

Non-fiction

 

 ✔️ Winesburg, Ohio

by Sherwood Anderson

Modernist literature (awful book)

The Warning

by AJ Wills

psychological thriller

 

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

by Jonas Jonasson

 

 ✔️ The Dutch House

by Ann Patchett     

Novel

The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet

Reviewed by John Green

 

Les Miserables

by Hugo ( abridged version)

Classic

 ✔️ Uncle Tom’s Cabin Harriet

by Beecher Stowe

Classic

 ✔️ Ender’s Game

by Orson Scott Card

Science Fiction

 

We Begin at the End

by Chris Whitaker

Novel

 

A Darker Shade of Magic

by V. E. Schwab

Novel

 

Mistborn  

by BrandonSanderson

Fantasy

 

The Kite Runner

by K. Hosseini    

Novel  

 

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

by David Mitchel

Novel

Then, also at Youngest’s suggestion, I typed a list from my DIL. These were all suggestions, from DIL to youngest, as possibilities for Youngest’s book group. 

The ones I have already read are marked with a  ✔️ below.

Thank You for Listening 

by Julia Whelan

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

by James McBride

 ✔️ Please Don't Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes: Essays

By Phoebe Robinson 

Kindred

by Octavia E. Butler

Convenience Store Woman 

by Sayaka Murata

Kim Jiyoung, born 1982

by Cho Nam-Joo

Rabbit Cake 

by Annie Hartnett

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki

by Baek Se-hee

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

by David Grann

The Fox Wife

By Yangsze Choo

Dava Shastri’s Last Day

by Kirthana Ramisetti

The Plot (Books series, 1)

By Jean Hanff Korelitz

I Have Some Questions for You

by Rebecca Makkai

The Great Believers

by Rebecca Makkai