I’m having a wonderful birthday week with a luncheon with my close friends and two nights out to dinner in a couple of days. Feeling the love!

Yes, it’s rainy and very windy here. We had gusts up to 75 mph today and five trees came down in our neighborhood. Thankfully, nobody was injured and I think they all fell away from homes.

Stay warm and thanks for the birthday wishes!

Hi Lesley, I hope you’re having a bash for your 60th …. or at least a really nice bday treat. We’re all getting there. Time flies and it’s a bit hard to believe. How is your cove these days? Rainy? Winter is starting to kick in here … and now lower temps after a mild Oct. & Nov. Glad you have the trees up … we have a tree but hope to decorate it on the weekend. You sound ahead of the game on Christmas … I’m behind as usual. The water at the OC in Calif was cold but was doable only b/c it was so hot out. I think I went in only once but just wanted to know I did it for that late in the season. Have a great bday!! and take pics.

We’re getting into the Christmas spirit. Both trees (my mom and I each put one up every year) are up and decorated and I’m finished with my shopping. Now to start wrapping the gifts and sending out a few Christmas cards. I don’t send as many as I used to. I don’t think many people do anymore, which is kind of sad. It’s not quite the same to read a holiday greeting on Facebook or Instagram.

I’m getting excited about my “Best of 2021” list. I had a few 5-star reads this year, which is always nice.

Hmmm, you may have convinced me to watch King Richard. I’m not a tennis fan (don’t dislike it, but don’t follow all the pro matches), but I do like Will Smith.

Have a good week! I’m getting ready to head out for the first of three birthday celebrations. I turn 60 next Monday. Eeek!

Thanks for these lists. I plan to arrange my TBR list accordingly. I enjoyed Klara and the Sun quite a bit though others didn’t like it as much I did. Hmm. I have a few of these that I haven’t gotten to yet, but will get to in 2022. The reading year got away from me a bit. I wonder when WEB Dubois will publish there? Have a great week.

Thanks Gretchen. It was a good trip. Do you ever get out to L.A.? Now we are back in the cold north. I havent gotten to many on these Best Of lists but I still plan to. I seldom read really long novels but I’m thinking about reading the Dubois sometime. Hmm. Have a great week too.

🙂

Oh, I’ve realised that The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois isn’t even out in the UK yet, so that explains why no one is talking about that ! 😉

I don’t think we have a list comparable to The New York Times’ but Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/dec/04/best-fiction-of-2021) and WaterStones (https://www.waterstones.com/blog/the-best-books-of-2021-fiction) have recently published Best Fiction 2021 lists. Some of the most hyped books in UK include Rooneys Beautiful World, Where Are You, Patricia Lockwood’s No One is Talking About This, Klara and the Sun and to some extent The Promise.

I like the sound of King Richard. Will Smith usually puts on a good performance.

I saw that you mentioned you were at Newport and Huntington Beach. I have spent a little time at both. I live in the cold midwest, but have relatives in the LA area. I’m glad you enjoyed your trip.

Have a good week!

Hi Sam, I think you are right. Canadian fiction is sometimes hard to find in the U.S. It’s usually delayed from its publication date in Canada and by the time a Canadian book comes out in the U.S. it can get buried. Atwood or Emily St. John Mandel being exceptions. British novels seem to receive a bigger splash, right? Not sure what it’s about or if it’s just a perception. I need to read more Canadian fiction – being here. Have a great week.