The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The Color Purple by Alice Walker (1982) was an assigned title from one of my recent book groups. 

We had great discussion over this book. 

I think this book is now labeled a classic. 

I thought I had read this book. I had not. I had seen the movie. 

The movie, as famous as it is, does not do the book justice, in my opinion. The book is really terrific. Extremely well written. 

The author, Alice Walker, reads the audio version. Normally I am not a fan of authors reading fiction pieces, but she is most excellent. Perfect in fact.

Ms Walker is currently in her 80’s. 

I looked it up, this book is rated a 4 (4th grade) in the Accelerated reader system. So this means simple words were used to tell the story. It is adult content, but easy vocabulary.  Normally I would complain about lower reading level, but I am not. The book is perfect just the way it is. 

I did not know The Color Purple by Alice Walker is the first book of a trilogy (list at the bottom of this post). Only the first two titles are available in audio format, the third is not. I tried the second book, The Temple of My Familiar, and could not read it. In my opinion, it needed rearranged in editing. It was too much of a jumble. It did not need the words changed, but the order/structure needed work. I did not try the third.

I knew The Color Purple won a Pulitzer. 

I did not know it won a National Book Award (1983, hardcover fiction). 

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.

A lot of plumbing

Earlier in the summer, a lot of things were replaced at my mother’s house. 

It started with an outdoor spigot. 

It moved to the water shut off valve for her house, her bathroom sink drain, and her hot water heater. 

There might have been more, that’s what I can remember. I scheduled all those repairs and met the plumber and the city water department guy at her house. They were not on the same day. I think it was three appointments. 

This week, the water spout in her bathtub and her bathroom sink faucet were replaced. They were both leaking fiercely. 

In process, the plumber discovered the shut off valve under the bathroom sink did not work. He replaced it. And while he was there, we had him install a handheld wand in the shower. 

I booked the plumber and bought all the fixtures. She wanted as close to what she had as possible. Lowe’s carried what we needed. 

I met the plumber at her house at 8:30am this past Thursday. We quickly realized he needed one more part. I ran and bought it quickly. I stayed long enough for him to verify he had what he needed and then went to my book group. 

He was there until 10:30am or so. He had the replacement water valve on his truck. 

What is going on? 

I think the lifespan of the builder grade plumbing fixtures has been met. Things have worn out simultaneously. There may well be more. 

The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck

The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck (1961) is the last Steinbeck novel of my Steinbeck Summer 2025 project. 

I enjoyed The Winter of Our Discontent very much. It was nice to end on a positive note. It is also very nice to be done. 

The Winter of Our Discontent was set in the early 1960’s. The story was linear, it was easy to follow. I liked and could easily keep track of the characters. 

I was able to increase the audio speed to 1.20 which brought the very slow pace up to normal. This faster pace helps reading Steinbeck tremendously. I highly recommend it.

I mentioned before - there were waiting lists on Libby for almost all the Steinbeck titles. As I finished each book, there were people waiting. This is just a little crazy to contemplate. Clearly I was not the only person reading Steinbeck this summer. 

Steinbeck was a worthy summer reading endeavor for me.  This project gave me *structure and a book list. 

*One of my book groups did not meet all summer. Dropping from four groups to three groups (plus Youngest’s group) made me feel like I had almost no book groups. I realize that makes no sense. But, I needed more assigned titles. Focusing on one author filled my summer reading list easily. I was not scrambling for books. As I finished each selection, I knew what I was reading next. 

I most definitely needed to tackle Steinbeck as a focused/set project, with a deadline, in order to finish. I was done a couple weeks before Labor Day, the end of summer, I completed Steinbeck easily.

I plan to do this same project with other authors, in future summers. Gretchen Rubin also focuses on one author each summer. This philosophy would work in the winter too. 

Did I read every single Steinbeck title? No, but I stuck with almost all of them, finishing the majority. I read 18 Steinbeck pieces with this project.

What would I recommend? Doing what I did, coming up with a list, working your way through them, skipping things as needed. 

Here is someone  who recommends 15 of Steinbeck’s works. This blog post includes nonfiction pieces too -

https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/john-steinbeck-books

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

StoryGraph - 

Note -  I did not re-read The Red Pony which I had read previously. I skipped The Gift. I marked off a short story already included in one of the collections I read. Zapata was not available in audio format. I did not finish The Acts of King Arthur.  I, still, do not plan to read his nonfiction nor the rest of his short stories as part of this project. So, I am done with Steinbeck for now. 

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.

Shout out to Rex Parker

 I started doing The NY Times daily crossword puzzle earlier this year.

Yes, I do it every day. It is a very pleasant part of my life now. 

Early in the week, I complete the puzzle from start to finish in the wee hours of the morning. These are shorter/easier puzzles. 

Over the weekend, I often start the night before and then finish them in the early morning hours the next day. I am a very early riser. I try to stay in bed and quiet so my husband can sleep. 

Very often, I have an error somewhere and use Rex Parker’s completed puzzle to find my correction(s). For me, this is usually a typo or a spelling error. These can be tricky to find. I take a screen shot of my puzzle and screen shot of Rex’s puzzle, and compare them in “photos” on my phone. I turn my phone sideways, so I can see both photos at the same time. It took a bit to work out the logistics of reading the fine print of both cross word puzzles at the same time. I scroll up and down to read the lines.

Rex has become an important blogger for me. In addition to utilizing his puzzle, I really enjoy his writing. He analyses The NY Times Crossword puzzle each day. 

This is a nice bit of intellectual connection for me. I know of no one else who does the puzzle each day and then wants to discuss it. (Youngest got me started in this daily habit, but then bailed.)

I do not complete the puzzle in the traditional crossword format. I utilize the option to view the puzzle in a list format. I switch to list and the scroll to the “down” section and work on the “down” clues first. 

Why do I do this? I find it easier to think when all the words are horizontal. 

To a God Unknown by John Steinbeck

To a God Unknown by John Steinbeck (1933) is my next to last Steinbeck book. 

What a project! 

With To a God Unknown by John Steinbeck, the story is linear, that helps. There are clearly defined locations and characters, so it is easy to follow. 

Oh my goodness what a (crazy) story. The strong perspectives definitely apply to modern times. I read it with that viewpoint.

I was able to increase the speed to 1.35 which brought the very slow pace up to normal. This helped a lot. Normally I have only increased the Steinbeck novels to 1.2. I was able to do this one faster and it still sounded normal. No chipmunks.

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

StoryGraph - 

Note - I am skipping The Gift. I marked off a short story already included in one of the collections I read. Zapata is not available on audio.  I, still, do not plan to read his nonfiction nor the rest of his short stories.

One more fiction novel to go! 

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.

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck (1976) was published posthumously. 

Like the rest of the Steinbeck audio pieces, I was able to increase to 1.20 which brought the very slow pace up to normal. 

I expected to love this book. I absolutely did not. 

In fact, I did not finish it. 

I listened to the first 3.5 hours and then stopped. 

I returned my copy to Audible for a credit refund. 

What I do love, on this same subject, is Mary Stewart’s collection. 

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

StoryGraph - 

Note - in my summer of 2025 Steinbeck project, I am skipping The Gift. I marked off a short story already included in one of the collections I read.   Zapata is not available in audio. I, still, do not plan to read his nonfiction nor the rest of his short stories. 

Two more fiction novels to go! 

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.

Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck

Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck (1935) is very much in the same vein as The Cannery Row duo. 

Like the rest of the Steinbeck audio pieces, I was able to increase to 1.20 which brought the very slow pace up to normal. This helps immensely. 

I enjoyed the characters and the stories. 

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

StoryGraph - 

Note - I am skipping The Gift. I marked off a short story already included in one of the collections I read. Three more fiction novels to go!  I, still, do not plan to read his nonfiction.

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.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) was an elective read for me. I suspect I heard this title via Nicole Reed on Reeding Between the Lines podcast.

I was on the waiting list on Libby for quite a while, this book must be popular.

I enjoyed it. I thought it was clever. 

Lots of characters! Multiple timelines!  But I had no trouble keeping it all straight, I did not need a character nor notes.

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.

Three tree stumps

Our next door neighbors had tree work done recently. Four trees were removed. Three of these were in danger of falling on their house. One was an eyesore. 

A tree guy ground down all their stumps. He did a beautiful job, cannot tell their trees were ever there. 

He ground down three stumps in our front wooded area too. 

Two of these stumps were a bit of a challenge. Our high school helper snd my husband had tried to dig them out, no luck. The lawn guys had tried to pry them out with machinery, no luck. This guy cut them out with a very strong round blade that goes down into the dirt. 

He did our yard on a day he was already coming to the neighbors. I paid him cash. I saved his name and number. 

Re-reseeding.

 July 25, 2025

Our front lawn was very uneven, I was afraid of falling or twisting an ankle. 

A crew came in and leveled the front yard, it took a full truck load of dirt. 

This (below) is what the yard looked like at the end of that day, leveled, seeded and strawed. 

My husband watered while I was gone. 

The backyard did well. I posted photos 8/7/25. 

The front yard did not do as well. 

Very little grass came in, and the weeds multiplied hugely because of all the watering. 

Sorry no weed picture. 

I checked with the yard guy who had leveled and seeded. And he said NOT to spray the weeds in such close proximity to the new grass. 

I realize the error of my ways. We had done no lawn treatments, spring 2025, because we were not sure when the yard guys were coming. I should have made them give me a date. I should have found out how to get rid of every weed before we seeded/watered. 

8/10/25

On this day, my husband and I pulled masses of weeds, stretching from the sidewalk to the middle of the yard. I pulled by hand, he used a three pronged rake. It was quite the job. We got 95% of the weeds removed. 

He raked up the old straw, there wasn’t much, you can see the small piles on the driveway. All the old straw was reused.

He mowed around the edges. 

This was all prep work for re-reseeding. 

This photo is the front area stripped bare. 

8/10/25

This second photo, below, is the area deweeded, reseeded and restrawed. All the seeded areas are where the dirt was filled in to even out the low spots. There were a lot of them.

My husband also overseeded the backyard on 8/10/25. He scattered grass seed among the baby grass. He reseeded/strawed all the bare spots. 

I helped where I could, but stayed away from the grass seed and straw, this is the time of year when my respiratory system is the most vulnerable. 

My husband was out working in the yard the entire day. And then he watered. 

I am on watering duty this week. All the hoses and sprinklers are in place. I just have to turn things on and off. We water at least twice a day. 

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021) was on two of my “To Read” lists. 

This title was on Youngest’s 2024 book group list. She had read and recommended it to her group. It was their backup book last year. They did not read it as a group. 

It is also an assigned book for one of my book groups. My group meets in a few weeks.

Unusual for me, I started this book well in advance of my group’s meeting date. I knew starting early meant I would need to listen to the SuperSummary review just before my meeting. I am fine with that.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, in audio format, appears to only be available (in English) on Audible. It was not on Libby in audio/English, only Spanish and ebook. My husband is listening to it also, so it was a happy/willing Audible purchase. 

I was able to listen to Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir at 1.2 speed. Normal speed was too slow. 1.2 sounded normal. 

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is an excellent book. Extremely well written, well edited, well read/recorded/audio, and very creative. 

The story is linear, with *flashbacks. 

*I took my time. I did not rush. I had to pay closer attention than usual as I listened. In audio format, the flashbacks were a bit sudden, not much pause between sections. 

There are very few characters. There is a clear main character who I liked. 

Project Hail Mary is science fiction with lots of science and math, but it is all very easy to understand. The science did not bother me at all, I took it in stride. I just let it flow over me. 

I did not stop to look up anything. I did not call youngest for explanations. 

Youngest read all three Weir books in paper form and loved them. She is a chemical engineer. Andy Weir is not an engineer. He is not even a college graduate. (This is surprising.)

But in Youngest’s opinion, the science/math/fact BASE is fairly correct in these books, then stretched/expanded to a science fiction level to tell the stories. Skill. 

It will be interesting to see what the rest of my group thinks. (I have some level of an engineering brain.)

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.

Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin

Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin (2023) is a recent book group assignment. This is the group middle and I attend together. 

This nonfiction audio book is read by the author, who did a good job writing and reading.

I enjoyed the book. Middle liked it too. 

This memoir is based in Detroit, Michigan. I am in Indiana and have been to Detroit several times. I also watched Rehab Addict with Nicole Curtis. So I could identify, a tiny bit, with the Detroit location. 

Middle’s best friend, from college, has a husband who grew up in Chinatown in Chicago. His parents owned a prominent business in their community. While far removed from me, that felt a tiny bit relatable as I read.

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.

Grass seed progress, backyard

The landscape guys were here on 7/24/25 grading and seeding the backyard. 

I took these photos (below) today, showing the backyard progress. 

The utility box cover/planter is in each photo for reference.

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal (2015) is my third read by this author. To the best of my knowledge I have now read all of his books (3).

I read these books out of order. The middle book was assigned for one of my book groups. Then I read the latest. I read the original/first book last. 

All three books had strong female characters and a good female “voice”. These were written by a male author.

This book, Kitchens of the Great Midwest, had none of the confusion of the first two books. There were a lot of characters, but they were clear and wrapped up by the end. Thank heavens, the timeline was much more linear, so the book was not confusing.

I enjoyed it. I recommended it to my husband.

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

StoryGraph - 

J. Ryan Stradal was not listed on my normal website https://www.bookseriesinorder.com

I think these are all his books -

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club, published by Viking / Pamela Dorman Books in April 2023

The Lager Queen of Minnesota, published by Viking / Pamela Dorman Books in July 2019.

Kitchens of the Great Midwest, published by Viking / Pamela Dorman Books in July 2015.

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal (2023) is my second read by this author. 

The first, The Lager Queen of Minnesota, was a book group assignment. My group liked this book. I liked this book. But those of us that listened, found character and timeline switches were confusing in audio format.

I started Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal on a long flight with patchy WiFi. 

The character and timeline changes were very confusing on this second title too. I very much needed a character list, but could not get one because of the poor inflight WiFi.

At my connection, I compiled a list. 

Here are the characters with no spoilers -

Betty:
The matriarch of the family, known for her ability to find the good in difficult situations. 

Florence:
Betty's daughter, who initially struggles with her mother's optimism and later navigates her own challenges with her daughter Mariel. 

Mariel:
Florence's daughter, who grapples with her complicated relationship with her mother. 

Julia:
Mariel's daughter.

In summary - I liked this book very much, but it was confusing in the beginning. Once I got into it and had good WiFi to get a character list, it was much better.

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

StoryGraph - 

J. Ryan Stradal was not listed on my normal website https://www.bookseriesinorder.com

I think these are all his books -

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club, published by Viking / Pamela Dorman Books in April 2023

The Lager Queen of Minnesota, published by Viking / Pamela Dorman Books in July 2019.

Kitchens of the Great Midwest, published by Viking / Pamela Dorman Books in July 2015.