Hey Carmen, good to hear from you. Thanks Stella is a good dog … though her appetite for more food is never-ending, ha. Yeah it’s hard to review 5 books at once — but I was behind so it’s an instant catch-up. Variety reads are always sort of good for me. It’s sounds like you are doing a lot of advance copies … don’t think I’ve read any books from 2020 yet, hmm. Next week we break out of the deep freeze here! Good luck in your area.

Hey Deb, yeah it takes a long time to adapt to Canadian winters here. But even this deep freeze is much more than usual, argh. And while I’m glad The Yellow House received recognition, I wonder if it was a bit over-hyped. Still it’s good to find new voices out of New Orleans.

Your comment about The Yellow House reminds me of my thoughts about many books these days. Books often seem to be published before they are carefully worked over. Everyone is in too much of a hurry, I suppose.

Stay warm.

Hey Catherine: yes I think we felt the same way about the novel Queenie. I felt I was too old for it, ha. But I did try to hang in there though it wasn’t really for me. The cold here right now really has been record breaking and staggering. The coldest since I started coming here in 2005. If I survive till Sunday, next week is supposed to be a lot better.

Reading about your weather fills me with terror. I feel as if it’s inevitable, but can’t imagine it. Groan…

Judy: this deep freeze has been the coldest since I started coming to Canada in 2005, but if we make it to next week, temps should be totally improved. I’m glad you’ll mix in Old with New books …. my reading seems a bit all over the place. I agree we read wherever our mood takes us!

Thanks Diane. Stella is a good dog, funny too. I hope this freezing weather system doesn’t reach you out East. It sounds mild out your way.

Hi Dorothy, yeah this deep freeze here is terrible this week. Next week should be better. It is sort of a weird range of books reviewed, ha I don’t know why but I’m a bit all over the place with my reading these days. I’ll definitely stop by your site to see what you think of A Kind of Freedom. I might need a New Orleans reading break for a little while but I’m interested in Sexton’s writing.

Hey Ti – thanks our dog Stella is a cute girl with a fun personality. We are trying to get through this week with these extreme temps — but it’s hard to think. I think you would like the novel After the Flood … fairly fast-paced even if a bit long, good post-apocalyptic story. I’m glad you warned me about the novel Bunny. Ugh too bad. I won’t go there. Did you say: Book 8?! Wow what to go!