What’s blooming - My planters and flower boxes and pots this week

I think we planted on 5/31. I photographed all my planters and flower boxes and pots this week. They are growing.

 

The Moon is Down (1942) and Burning Bright (1950) by John Steinbeck

The “Play Novelette” format is discussed in the foreword to Burning Bright. 

Steinbeck says he experimented with the Play Novelette form in three works -

Of Mice and Men

Burning bright 

The Moon Is Down

He said he finds it hard to read a play in the traditional play/script format. He prefers to write Play Novelettes that are easy to read in story format, but can easily be turned into a play (or film) by utilizing the dialogue. These are very short books. 

The Moon is Down selection was quickly available on Libby. I believe it was both a book and a film. I found it listed under Steinbeck’s list of plays (bottom of this post). 

There were two people waiting after me, so I finished it quickly, an easy task since it was only four hours long. The 1.2 speed did not distort the narrator’s voice (4/1.2 = 3.333).

Reading The Moon is Down (1942), a propaganda piece about a realistic invasion, I immediately thought of Lampasas, Texas and their mock invasion mentioned in the novel The Briar Club.

https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/how-one-texas-town-fell-to-communist-rule-in-the-1950s/

I liked this unusual piece. The Moon is Down is well written and thought provoking. There is a very good essay at the end of the audio book, explaining the history of the novel, The Moon is Down.

Burning Bright was listed under Steinbeck’s novels (bottom of this post). But it is actually “a play in story form”. It was also short at just under 3 hours. I had to buy from Audible, it was not available thru any of the library systems.

This was not my favorite, but was interesting. The story is centered in the infertility of the man in a happy marriage. 

I maintain accounts on GoodReads and StoryGraph, thanks to youngest getting me organized. 

StoryGraph - 

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. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.

Blooms - planters and flower boxes

This past Saturday we planted all the containers. 

My husband prepped all the containers, getting them in place and filled with dirt. 

He helped me plant everything. 

He got the hoses hooked up so I can water easily. 

My 100’ expandable cord hose from last year sprung a leak. I replaced it with a 150’ expandable hose, so I can get to all containers (front and back) with one hose. This 150’ hose is attached in the backyard. I can get all the way to the end of the driveway with it.

Irises in bloom

Irises have been blooming in multiple beds for the last couple weeks. I finally took some photos, just in time, they are nearly spent.

Blooms - Peonies

I could change the name to Books and Blooms because that is likely the theme around here for most of the summer. 

Today’s photos are middle’s peonies. One was a hand-me-down from a neighbor. The other she purchased to blend from our favorite local nursery. 

Those are Red Huskers in the background.

May StoryGraph Stats

I am doing a very good job in staying current/up-to-date on Goodreads, StoryGraph and my book blog posts. I am logging and posting as soon as I finish each book. 

At the end of each month, I am excited to see my StoryGraph stats (below). It is fun.

I knew my numbers would have a significant % of nonfiction this month. Between assigned nonfiction books and my listening to the rest of Daniel James Brown‘s nonfiction books, it was a good nonfiction month. 

Note - A couple of the books included in my total count, 19, were 3 hours or less.

Steinbeck’s short books - The Pearl (1947), Of Mice and Men (1937), The Red Pony (1933), The Forgotten Village (1941)

Normally I read authors works in publication order. With all the Steinbeck titles having wait lists on Libby, I read as they became available. Yes, it was very flexible of me. 

These (below) were all very short Steinbeck books, under 3 hours each. One was readily available on Libby.  The rest I purchased from Audible, because they were not on the Libby or Hoopla system. 

I finished all of these (below) before the end of May and they are included in my May StoryGraph Charts, tomorrow’s post.

Oh my goodness, The Pearl was a very good story, but quite sad. Extremely well written with very unusual/interesting characters and setting. I listened via Libby.

I had read Of Mice and Men previously, but did not remember much about the plot. This was a sad one too, but such a well told story. Also a Libby listen.

I decided to forego The Red Pony. I avoid animal stories. I am confident I read it previously, because it is in my Audible library.

The Forgotten Village is a book and a film. I would have liked to watch the film, but I could not find it. So I listened to the audio book. I also picked up the hardback book from the library so I could look at all the photos.

   

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. I use this website because there are no spoilers. But if I need a description, I can click over using the links, easily. There are also author bios.