Hi Constance, yeah I liked her novel Horse in some parts more than others. I especially liked the Black jockey parts of him racing in New Orleans. The memoir is quite moving.
I hadn’t heard that story of the flowers before — Wow! That’s a great story … would’ve loved to have met Geraldine & Tony. That’s a nice mistake.

I may have shared the story of how my friend once came home from a vacation to find a bouquet of dead flowers stuck inside her storm door with a card that said, “Congratulations on your Pulitzer!” Puzzled, she called the florist and found out that Geraldine and Tony were renting a house several doors down the street. She went down to explain and Tony invited her in for champagne, as they were still celebrating!

Hi Lesley, yes you must have passed the mountain road Hwy 40 when you came up 22 and passed Longview and went into Black Diamond. So that photo is taken up Highwood Pass off 40. It’s a neat place to see wildlife and often has bears.
I’ve seen some mixed reviews for Pick a Colour so I will downplay my expectations till I read it, but when it won the Giller Prize Canadians got on the library list for it. So it’s in high demand here.
I’m glad you liked Memorial Days too. I thought it was well done & heartfelt and true. Like your loss, hers was so sudden and overwhelming …. it seems a must to get away somewhere at some point. I’m glad your trip helped. I think Memorial Days has stayed with me a bit. I both read it and listened to it …. so I gather I got stuff from it. Thx for your comments. Wishing you a peaceful & happy December.

Willow looks like she’s ready to drive the mower! I’ll bet she and Stella love living in the country.

Whoa! 349 people waiting for Pick a Color?! I’ll be eager to hear your thoughts.

Excellent review of Memorial Days. I loved that memoir. I’m glad it helped you through some of your grief after losing your dad. Wow. You met Brooks? I wonder what it was like for her to go on tour for Horse so soon after losing Tony. Those first couple of years are brutal. Like you, I’m glad she was able to go to Flinders Island and spend time alone in her thoughts and grief. Rod & I went on a 2-week “cruise” on my dad’s cabin cruiser through the San Juan Islands after couple of years after losing our daughter. It was very healing. Great quote, by the way. Gave me goosebumps.

Hi Tina, no problem. Glad you liked the Memorial Days review, thanks. See what you think of it.
There’s so much to read right now, right? They keep coming in at the library.
It’s hard to believe Willow is already 5. She assimilated so easily into our family back in Sept. 2021 when we got her. (I had to look up that date.) …
Maybe that mountain photo could be a puzzle … speaking of which how is your puzzle going? Enjoy the sun for me. Cheers.

Happy birthday to beautiful Willow. I am adding Pick a Colour and have just received my library loan eBook of memorial Days. I hadn’t planned on that yet but, now it’s downloaded. Fantastic review, Susan.

That’s a gorgeous photo of the mountains. I’d hang that in the den for sure.

Thanks Tracy, the two photos at top are fun for me to keep and look at.
And I’m impressed you already have a copy of the Raja novel and will look forward to hearing what you think when you get to it.
The Brooks memoir is sad but also moving in an uplifting way. I only lost it once near the end when she talks of her son speaking at her husband’s funeral … that choked me up.
I’m glad you are enjoying the Lucy Foley mystery. Her books are popular and the setting of an island off Ireland sound excellent. I look forward to your review.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. & I hope you will post about your kitty again soon. Cheers.

Hi Helen, I’ll be curious your reaction to Brooks’ memoir. But read it when you’re ready to.
I think the two mountain roads near us are closed Dec. 1 to May & the other till June, so it is nice to have the closures. We like to bike the roads in the spring before vehicle traffic opens! A big plus. Cheers & Happy Thanksgiving.

Hi Jeanie, thanks. I hope to be done with this knee recovery by February. I will try to keep getting out & about despite winter here. I think you’d like the Brooks memoir. It is sincere and heartfelt. Cheers & Happy Thanksgiving.

Hi Kathy, Good idea, I think this is one of Geraldine Brooks’s best books. It’s to the heart and is very real. I’m still shocked by Tony’s passing … he seemed in the peak of his life in ways, which makes me sad for their family. I think you might find wisdom in the memoir. Cheers. Happy Thanksgiving.