Hi all. I hope you are well. I had my first bike ride here of the season on Saturday and took this photo. It was great to be outside and about though my new replaced knee wasn’t fully ready yet for my road bike with clip-in pedals, so I used a mountain bike with regular pedals and raised the seat in order to be able to bend the knee in a circular motion. Apparently my recovery has been slow (now five months post-surgery) due to old scar tissue in the knee (Grrrrr), but I’m still working with a physio. It’s been quite frustrating, the first knee was so much easier. I don’t have time to waste with spring coming. I have hopes to get back to gardening, golf, and tennis pretty soon now. I sound like a geezer, lol. I’m part metal, part plastic, and part wishfully bionic lol.
The weather has been fluctuating wildly, we hit 60F degrees for two days this week and now it’s snowing again this morning. There’s no rhyme or reason to it, lol. But it’s nice to see spring and the azaleas at the Masters golf tournament we’ve been watching from Augusta, Ga. Today will be a nail biter on who will win. Rory McIlroy lost a 6-stroke lead yesterday at the end of Round 3. It was crazy. We will tune in again today.
Meanwhile in shows, we’ve been dipping into The Lincoln Lawyer lately. We’re only at the end of Season 1 … and currently they’re in production of Season 5. Yikes, we will last that long? Bosch was a great show based like this one on Michael Connelly’s crime books, but we’re still feeling our way a bit with this series. Any fans out there of this show?
And now in book news, let’s see what I finished in March. I got to two memoirs (Joyride and Fly, Wild Swans) and three novels (pictured below). I liked them all pretty well except for Tinkers, which lost me a few times. It’s hard to pick a favorite as they all had their moments. I liked the narration in Train Dreams and the memoirs — one serious and impactful (Fly, Wild Swans) and one lighter and a bit humorous (Joyride) were especially good. I’ve finished five nonfiction so far this year and I think I’ll surpass the 10 measly nonfiction books I read all of last year. We can only hope.
- Joyride by Susan Orlean (memoir, audiobook) – 2025
- Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild (debut novel, audiobook) – 2025
- Train Dreams by Denis Johnson (novel) – (novella, audiobook) 2011
- Fly, Wild Swans by Jung Chang (memoir, hardback) – 2025
- Tinkers by Paul Harding (novel, paperback & audio) – 2009
And now here’s a review of what I finished this past week.
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan / Random House / 453 pages / 2025
4+ stars. This is a long yarn of a story, which I was happy to read at the same time with Tina at the blog Turn the Page. It was a good one to read and discuss together. If you like multigenerational family (period) dramas, then you’ll need to get to this one.
It covers 40 years in the lives of two American families — from near the end of WWII through the Vietnam War — who live in a small town in Ohio and become entwined through circumstances. It’s better to go into this novel blind without knowing too much about it if you can … as the characters’ wrongful turns and secrets play a big part of it. I won’t divulge those here but just give a general plot outlook.
At the beginning Cal Jenkins is preoccupied that he can’t enlist in the war since one of his legs is longer than the other. He’s married to a local girl Becky and works at his father-in-law’s hardware store. Then one day with the radio news of Germany’s surrender, he’s kissed impulsively by a stranger in the store named Margaret Anderson. She’s had a rough childhood as an orphan but is now married to Felix, a good looking man who’s an executive at the aluminum plant. Cal and Becky have a young infant son Skip, and two years later when Felix comes home from war in the Pacific, he and Margaret have Tom. The sons become friends and later they face the impending draft of the Vietnam War.
The novel with couples Cal & Becky and Felix & Margaret goes into their backstories and perspectives of their lives and times. Becky is a bit unique in that she can sometimes communicate with the dead. She starts inviting clients to their house where she holds seances to try to reach clients’ loved ones from beyond the grave. Cal is none too happy — nor is a firm believer in this, but he lets Becky conduct her business. Later you’ll see how it ties in with the rest of the book.
On the plus side, the novel was an immersive read as I got into the characters, each of whom is both sympathetic and also a bit maddening. They are a bit complex in that regard, which made it a better story. I also liked the historical and cultural aspects mentioned amid the decades along the way and how the themes of love and forgiveness tie together near the end. There’s not a ton of action (mostly Felix’s war experiences), but it’s mainly a character study of how they all relate and mix, sometimes consequentially. I only had a couple nitpicks about how Margaret’s character goes and whether some parts later on seemed fully realistic, mostly regarding attitudes towards Felix. Still this novel kept me readily turning the pages and I’ll be thinking about it for some time in retrospect. It’s a long yarn that has an impact.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read this one and what did you think? Or what are you reading now? Cheers.
I have a friend who is having a slower recovery than anticipated from knee surgery. I’m wishing both of you better days ahead!
Hi Joy, thanks. That’s very nice of you. I’m hoping slow but steady small progress will do the trick. Godspeed to your friend. We have to stay patient and keep on with the knee exercises. Have a great week.
Great photo and I hope you enjoyed the bike ride. You’ll get there, the scar tissue is the impediment but…eventually!
I very much enjoyed Buckeye and discussing it with you. I’m in the middle of a short review for it I hope to get on Goodreads today. Your review covers it so well. Margaret is one of those characters I had empathy for as well irritation. I love a multi-generational saga.
I started Astral Library by Kaye Quinn but it’s not rocking my boat. I’ve read 4 of her previous books and liked them but this one doesn’t grab me.
Chat with you soon!
Thanks Tina. I need to keep my eye on the ball with the knee & keep all the exercises going. Just takes so long.
I agree our Buckeye read-along went so well this time. I’ll look for your review.
Are you going to stick with Astral Library? I have trouble reading fantasy & magic kinds of books but that’s just me. I hope it picks up.
Have a great week and i’ll chat soon.
Hi. I sent you an email last night about that no comment thing, but i was on my phone so goodness knows if that made it through.
No, I abandoned Astral Library. I liked The Midnight Library by Matt Haig and thought this may be similar. I’m not much of a fantasty reader either but I do like that Haig book. I’ve read lots of otheer titles by Kate Quinn and liked the historical fiction but this one is a DNF for me.
Just started Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green. A short nonfiction.
You are doing well with the knee! Keep it up. I will write later.
Thanks for the encouragement re: knee. Need to make sure I don’t give up on it.
And too bad about Astral Library … I’ve read two of Quinn’s books the Alice Network and The Rose Code. Some parts of her books I like (historical) … and other relationship-y parts I find get a bit crazy for me.
I hope you enjoy the John Green book. Plenty of info there from what I’ve heard. Cheers. talk later.
I’ve been so curious to find out how both you and Tina enjoyed Buckeye. I found a used copy of it at the library sale, and I’ve been thinking about reading it ever since. So thanks for letting us know what you think. I’m sorry your knee has been slow to heal. My dad’s wife at 97 is using the walker now after her hip replacement, and I’m amazed.
Hi Deb, that’s great about your dad’s wife’s recovery. New hips can be a blessed improvement. I hope her a speedy healing experience. And thanks, my new knee will eventually get there (they say).
It’s terrific that you found a copy of Buckeye … it’s such a recent book to find at a library sale, how surprising. See what you think of it … whenever you get there. It’s a long and winding road. Have a great week.
“Buckeye” sounds very interesting. I think I might give it a read later this year. I’m sorry to hear that your recovery from knee surgery has been bumpy. Here’s hoping things smooth out for you in the months ahead.
Thanks Dorothy. I hope the knee cooperates in the long run. See what you think of Buckeye … it has some family secrets about it. Enjoy your week & garden.
I hope you recover fully from knee surgery in due time. It must be frustrating, considering the other one healed faster. Fingers crossed! Glad you liked Buckeye a great deal. I loved it. Gave it 5*, so it made more impression than it did you. Margaret’s attitude towards her son frustrated me but, considering her upbringing, it’s not only credible but understandable. I cried with this yarn. It left me in pieces.
Hi Carmen, thanks. Eventually I hope the knee will get there. It has been very frustrating, but I’ll try to keep patient & the eye on the ball … so to speak.
I liked Buckeye quite well but you probably liked it even more. I did think Margaret was credible (though I wished she softened more to Tom) but I wasn’t sure about everyone being so understanding about Felix’s orientation (though it was nice they were). Back then it seemed people thought it pretty abhorrent and it often caused great family rift. But here Margaret’s error seems more the focal point …. due to the child. Still I like seeing how all the dynamics played out in the novel. It’s a good discussion kind of read. I’m glad you talked it up. & I got to it. Enjoy your week & happy reading.
Sorry the knee recovery is going slowly. I assume your physical therapist can advise about not overdoing it.
I have been interested in Buckeye but may wait until it is in paperback.
I haven’t seen any of the Michael Connelly TV adaptations except the one about Renee, his female spinoff. I saw the first episode and meant to continue as I like the books about her.
Hi Constance, thanks … I need to stay patient and make steady small progress on the knee … though such patience is not my strong suit. lol.
See what you think of Buckeye … when you get to it.
Yes we liked the Renee Ballard TV spinoff. You should continue with it. We are awaiting Season 2 of that … which should come late this year. The Renee show has a bit more action than Lincoln Lawyer … but I’m starting to like that series too. Bosch though was the best of all these. I was addicted to that show & its many seasons, lol. Have a great week.
Great post and glad to hear you have started biking. I hope the new knee replacement gets better each day with the physical therapy. I have confidence it will.
Haven’t seen the Netflux series The Lincoln Lawyer but I am now on book two of the novels and Brass Verdict is well worth a read.
Thanks Kathy, that’s nice of you to say. I hope I can bike better soon with the new knee. I need to stay focused on all the rehab … I am closer than I was.
& Glad to hear you are reading The Lincoln Lawyer books … I’m starting to like the TV series. Mickey Haller and his family & associates seem to be good characters. I wonder if it follows the books well? Happy reading. & Have a great week.
I’m sorry you are finding recovery slow, don’t push too hard though, you don’t want to have to start again.
I watched the first two seasons of The Lincoln Lawyer but while it’s still on my watchlist I haven’t felt drawn back to it yet.
I’m glad your nonfiction reading has been successful, keep up the momentum!
Wishing you a great reading week
Thanks Shelleyrae, you’re right about the knee … I need to manage it but not go overboard too quickly. Just the rehab seems so long at this point. ho hum.
Glad to hear you’ve watched Lincoln Lawyer. We’re near the end of Season 1 and I’m liking it better now. Mickey seems a good character.
I’m reading another nonfiction this week, lol. A good start to the year with these. Thx for hosting the challenge. Cheers. Enjoy your week.
I’m glad you figured out a work-around for your cycling. It was probably very frustrating not to do it for so long and will take a bit to get back, but you’ve got this!
Thanks Jeanie. I appreciate the sentiments. Spring is coming here and I want to be ready with the new knee, but it seems to be taking a while longer. Slow & steady gets the worm perhaps. Hope your recovery comes along soon too. Have a great week.
Well, Rory pulled out the win! I’m happy for him, and I wish I could have watched it.
I have watched a few seasons of Lincoln Lawyer and liked it better once I got into it, so I suggest sticking with it for the first season and see how you like it. I also liked Bosch.
I do hope your knee begins to cooperate with your efforts to heal and get back in tennis/golf shape. I swear, once we reach 60 the body does seem to rebel a bit more.
Hi Helen, yes Rory did come back and win. It was impressive how he was able to manage that. We were quite glued to it, lol.
I am liking The Lincoln Lawyer series better now … glad to hear you’ve liked it. Bosch was so good … I’m sure I had high expectations. The Renee Ballard show is a pretty enjoyable spinoff too.
Thanks for your words. I need to stick with all the knee rehab … but it does get old … and the body doesn’t seem to cooperate at 60. Sigh. Gotta keep it going.
Enjoy your week.
Lovely photo of the mountain range! Sure would love to plan another trip up your way, but it’s definitely not happening this year with the cost of fuel. Glad you had a good bike ride. I should take mine out for a spin. It’s been a few years…
Your weather sounds like ours. Typical April, though. I’m hoping to get some plants in pots later this month now that the risk of a freeze is behind us. Our azaleas look fabulous, and one of the rhoddie’s is blooming, which is fun to see.
We enjoyed The Lincoln Lawyer, but stopped after the second season. It felt a little too light/silly with the first episode of the third.
I’m glad you and Tina enjoyed Buckeye. It’s one I’ll read in the fall with my book group. I skipped reading your summary and will come back after I read the novel. I tend to go into books blind and I don’t even want to know the general plot. Lol!
Sorry your knee recovery is going more slowly than the first time around. Good that you’re sticking with the PT. Have a nice week, Susan!
Thanks Lesley. Yes, you might have to temper your road trips this summer & fall with the crazy price of gas. It looks like it’ll go through the roof even more. Grrr.
Your flower blooms seem terrific there now, wow! I miss that. Take pics.
Good to know about Lincoln Lawyer … we are liking end of Season 1. But had no idea they’re onto Season 5 … we’ll definitely need breaks away.
It’s good to go into Buckeye completely blind. I pretty much did too. It seems a good one to read with a book group … good for discussion. See what you think.
And thanks for your words about the knee. I’m just impatient this time around. Someday someway I’ll get there. Have a great week too.
Sorry to hear that your recovery is going slower than you’d hoped. I know how frustrating that must be, because it seems to be such a hit-and-miss thing. I have a couple of friends who both just sailed through it, and one who actually seems worse off than he was before the surgery. That’s kind of scary for those of us on the brink of similar operations.
My reaction to The Lincoln Lawyer is much like yours, even when it comes to the novels. They are generally good, but they just don’t hit me the way that the Bosch novels and episodes do. I like the Lincoln Laywer novels best when Bosch is included as one of the main characters, but I don’t think the video series does that – unless it’s in the later seasons. I suppose it depends on which book is being adapted for that season.
Thanks for your review of Buckeye. I’m definitely going to be moving Buckeye to the top of my TBR list now because of what you say about the well developed characters.
Hi Sam, thanks for words about the knee. It has been frustrating, especially since the first knee I sailed through, but this one has been much different. Darn. I hope if you have a replacement yours cooperates much better.
Interesting to hear your reactions to Lincoln Lawyer … you know the books so well. It’s cool that Bosch appears in some of these. I don’t think he will in the TV series — which is too bad because I really liked the Bosch series …. but I’m starting to warm to the Lawyer series a bit. Mickey Haller seems a pretty good character. As good as he might get … he’ll never be Bosch, lol.
See what you think of Buckeye … you might like it – you might not … family dramas are either hit or miss for readers. This novel has a lot of exposition writing and not a lot of dialogue — so it took a while to get used to that.
Cheers. Have a great week.
First of all, gorgeous picture! Have I said (yes, over and over) how much I love your mountain shots. Keep sharing them with us, please! Will keep hoping that your recovery continues, though I know it has been slower than you wished. We seem to know a bunch of people these days who are having some kind of joint surgery. Guess we’ve hit that time of life. Anyway, our spring has been odd. Our late winter was odd. And our winter/spring pollen seasons have sort of overlapped and that has been mostly horrible for many (me included!). Do you know they are still getting cedar pollen numbers and those usually stop in early March. Hey – it’s April – cedar, cedar go away!! Hope your week is good, Susan!
Thanks Kay … you are my big photo fan which is nice to hear. Appreciate the words on my recovery too, argh it’s been slow. But I need to keep going.
Sorry to hear about all the pollen there. That is strange … how late the cedar pollen is going. Allergies can be such a nuisance. I hope you find relief soon. I’ll send you a snowball on Thursday … as we’re forecasted to have some flakes. Cheers, have a good week too!
Haven’t seen any episodes of The Lincoln Lawyer, though I do love the book and the movie. Though anything with Matthew McConaughey in it. And I wish I was bionic. I grew up watching The Bionic Woman and it’s always made me a little sad I can’t leap onto rooftops or squish a tennis ball with my bare hand. ;D
Hi Lark, it’s funny you should mention the Bionic Woman show … we watched that too back in the 1970s … and now they’re airing reruns here of that old show. Ha love it! Lindsay Wagner was so awesome as Jamie Sommers.
And I’m trying to recall if I’ve seen the movie of The Lincoln Lawyer with McConaughey …. I’m not sure but he seems very different than who they have playing Mickey Haller in the series now. But I’m starting to like his role. I might need to find the movie. Enjoy your week.
Big fan of both the Lincoln Lawyer books and TV series. I just finished the most recent book, and I consider it the best of the bunch. Interestingly, while Bosch appears in the books occasionally, he’s not in the TV series because Netflix bought the LL rights and Amazon Prime bought the Bosch rights.
Buckeye does sound good–I will add it to Goodreads and opt for it when I am up for a long, immersive read.
Sorry to hear the second knee is slow to come on board. That’s rough, but hopefully the PT will get you were you want to be. I envy you your spring snow. It has been lovely and warm, but the ground is so parched and I hate to water this early in the season.
Hi Jane, Glad to hear you’re a big fan of L.L. and interesting to hear why Bosch doesn’t appear in the series. I did see him a bit in the Renee Ballard spinoff series, which was cool. And I’m liking the end of Season 1 of Lincoln Lawyer. Mickey and his ex-wives seem good characters. I’m getting into it.
See what you think of Buckeye … it is pretty immersive.
And thanks for your words about the darn knee. I’ll eventually get there — I hope. We are still getting some winter … but I’m thinking Thursday might be our last snow day. I’ll send you a snowball, lol. I hope you get more rain, so you don’t have to water. Enjoy your week.
I’m sorry your knee isn’t progressing as fast as expected. Seems great you are out riding your bike. My husband and I enjoy The Lincoln Lawyer. We are waiting for season 5.
Hi Olivia … thanks I’ll just have to stay patient with the knee rehab exercises. The weather here has not been cooperating for more follow-up outside bike rides. Waiting on that.
Glad to hear you’ve watched Lincoln Lawyer that many seasons … true fans! We are enjoying the end of Season 1. Enjoy your week.
So far this month I have read two mysteries and one spy fiction book, and I am currently reading a mystery and another spy fiction book, so not much variety in my reading. I count spy fiction as mystery. At least I am reading an ebook right now, my second of the year.
I was glad to see your review of Buckeye. I am interested in that book because Glen is from Ohio and because of the multigenerational aspect. Maybe I can pick it up this year at the book sale.
I am hoping that your recovery from knee surgery speeds up. I would miss it if I could I could not do gardening although unfortunately we are off and on gardeners. We were out in the front area again this morning. Glen and I are geezers and we have a hard time getting down in the dirt, weeding and potting plants. We have some lovely new zonal geraniums (pelargoniums) to pot soon. And we have two cupheas that will do a lot better if we pot them soon.
Hi Tracy, good to hear of your reading. I will like to hear of the spy fiction book in particular and will look for your review when you finish it.
I think Buckeye will interest you. And it’s set mainly in a small fictional town in Ohio in the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s …. though it doesn’t seem to get too deeply into the state … but mentions characters lives who go to Columbus and Toledo. Still you get a feel for it perhaps. See what you think whenever you get a copy.
I’m glad to hear you are out planting and gardening. The pelargoniums are so pretty. Not sure if I know the cupheas. But I’m sure you’ll love it when the pots are full and colorful. Good luck with making your front area look nice … I can relate to the hard work of it. May & June are big gardening times here but we can’t do any in April … since we still get snowstorms. Have a great week.
I’m sorry to hear your knee recovery is slow this time and guess it’s even more frustrating since you sailed through it pretty easily last time. Stick with the therapy and you’ll get there… it took my sister a long time, too.
Buckeye definitely sounds like my kind of book and I’m glad you and Tina enjoyed reading and discussing it! I’m still exhausted from Sonia and Sunny, so will read a few shorter books before attempting another chunkster. First up is a short Rosamunde Pilcher novel!
Hi JoAnn, thanks. Yes, it’s been really frustrating since the first knee was so much easier. I will try to stick with the exercises & PT … though my patience has waned at times. lol.
You cracked me up … a short Pilcher novel? That’s a first eh? I can see where anyone would need a break after Sonia & Sunny … I’m a bit intimidated by it, lol. You will like Buckeye … it’s not as exhausting as S & S. Just a regular family drama. See what you think when you get there. Cheers. & have a great week.
Lincoln Lawyer is a really fun show. Lot of crazy things happen.
Hi Hena, thanks for the word on Lincoln Lawyer. We’re liking the end of Season 1. The actor who plays Mickey Haller … seems pretty good and the character too. We will see about Season 2. Cheers!
We had some unexpected snow at our house, too! Our poor plants. It broke several branches on our rose bushes, but other than that not too much damage. Our tomatoes actually survived. Yay for getting out on a bike ride! Hope your PT helps with getting back to 100%. I’m sure it would be frustrating. I haven’t watched the Lincoln Lawyer, but I’ve heard good things.
Hi Rachel, That’s unreal you got some snow there … sorry to hear it broke some branches on your beautiful roses, but glad it’s not too bad otherwise. We had another snowstorm yesterday. April turning into a snowy month!
I’m keeping on with the PT … though my patience is wearing thin.
We’re starting to get into the Lincoln Lawyer … we finished Season 1 … and likely will check out Season 2. Cheers. Enjoy the weekend.