Hi Jane, thanks. The reffing gigs are a bit rewarding helping out & trying to keep things on track and fair for the teens.
You should add a pic of your dog. I have yet to see him/or her. Willow would rather just eat sticks, grass, or birdseed than really help in the garden. lol.
It’s hard to believe but I have yet to read Ivan Doig after all these decades; I will have to remedy that. I hope you’ve liked his books. I look forward to your reviews of this one. Cheers!

Coincidently, I am reading a novel set in Butte, MT just after WWI (Work Song by Ivan Doig), so I may have to look into The Heart in Winter. The other books also sound great, especially The Book of Days (my wheelhouse) and Glorious Exploits (anything ancient hooks me).

Hope reffing the tennis for teens was a fun gig.

Thanks Erin, our Willow is a funny dog but she’s up for almost anything, lol. I’m back home resting now after that weekend. The hours were too long!
I’m a bit curious of The Land in Winter too … it sounds bitterly cold. I can probably only read that in summer, ha. Have a great week.

Hi Marg, that’s too bad you are missing The Safekeep author. There’s an outside chance I might hear the author at the Sun Valley, Idaho writer’s conference in July … but we will see if I can get in there. It sold out in minutes. My sister has us on the wait list now, lol. I’m envious you live in or near Melbourne — seems such a great city. I have not been to Australia yet.
I’m resting up after reffing the weekend, thanks. Enjoy your week too.

Hi Rachel, ha funny to hear you are addicted to chapstick. I think I am too. I use it many times a day. I also use eyedrops a lot for dryness & allergies too.
Too bad you’ve been cold & rainy there. It’s been up & down here. We had 75 degrees then the next day it snowed! Crazy. Keep going with the puzzles. Luckily I’m back home now. The reffing job was exhausting but it came off successfully. These books could’ve been better. Have a good week too.

Hi Helen, that’s a bit gloomy weather for April. I’ll be going back to SoCal for about 5 days in May for a celebration for my Dad … hope it’s nice.
Yeah these books didn’t do it for me. I’m glad you’re enjoying the John Green book. I need to find out more about it. I have read one of his. Have a great week.

Wow Deb, you already have things in your garden for picking? That’s amazing. We haven’t even put ours in the ground yet, lol. But we have planted seeds in trays in our sun room. Not sure they’re doing too great. But will plant mid-May.
Neither of these books were as appealing as I had hoped — and maybe it’s my headspace now. So I can understand that you’re having trouble finding novels that work right now. Older novels might be the right ticket for me as well. Thx for the tip. Have a great week.

Hi Tracy, thanks, Yeah I’ll have to get Stella back in the next dog photo. She is our golden girl.
I have yet to read Kevin Barry and I’m also curious a bit of Night Boat to Tangier. I will get to him sometime. Wild Dark Shore … is a bit of a twisty tale towards the end … sort of a (crazy) thriller if you like those sorts. I will write a review soon.
Enjoy your week.

Hi Joy, thanks. It was exhausting. Luckily I’m back home now resting up. I guess I like giving back to the kids and the sport, so in that way it is rewarding … though some of the kids get crazy competitive and don’t always act so well.
Enjoy your week.

Hi Carmen, yeah maybe it was the timing of these novels — both Kang’s and Beartooth didn’t really appeal to me as much as I thought they would. But my mind has been sort of fried and sad for the past month. I just looked up The Unworthy. I hadn’t heard of it. Wow I look forward to hearing what you think of it after, looks a doozy. I recently finished Wild Dark Shore and thought it was entertaining and liked the setting but still had some quibbles, still it was fast. I will write a review of it soon. The Scrapbook by Heather Clark (coming in June) is pretty good. Spring is busy here but the reffing is done and I’m back home so I need to get organized again. Have a great week too. Happy reading.