I immediately got out this sea turtle. I love sea turtles. Well, anything to do with the ocean.
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Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I want to thank my friend, Yvensong, and her book club for recommending this book. It was a fun adventure. And it is an adventure. It is nearly too hard to get a good night’s sleep after reading some chapters of this book. Well, I listened to Kirsten Potter, narrator. She did an excellent job. BUT I had times that I got confused. Whose point of view? What part of the history was this part of the story? Happened a lot at first. I think having the physical book would have helped me look it up at the moment.
I love the musical point of view and the performance elements. Yes, we will need to do more than survive if we end up in a dystopian post-apocalyptic world.
I will try to listen to the book again soon, as I will know who is who now. I do have the Audible version, so I can listen when I choose. Give it a try. You might like it, too.
Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This series is so good, I can hardly wait to read the next one. Then I get ahead of my reviews, and I have to read the blurb to remember which book was which. So if you need to, go to Amazon and read the blurb. My quick blurb: Maisie Dobbs must solve the mystery of Indian immigrants in this book. But she has other issues that creep up to take care of. But in her thoughtful way, Ms. Dobbs gracefully finds answers.
You can find this one on Libby. If I had more income, I would buy the whole series. Jacqueline Winspear’s writing and research put her books over the top! In addition to the great stories, Orlagh Cassidy’s narration makes them feel like reality.
I highly recommend this series and this book.
Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh, this was sad. Poor Eddie.
This has a long blurb on Amazon so I suggest you take a look at it.
There are so many issues that we currently face but were surely worse back in 1933. Especially dealt with is how the disabled can live if worked with or can suffer through bullying.
As I’ve mentioned before I love the Maisie Dobbs series. Each book hold a wealth of information in history and psychology as well as a great mystery or two to solve in the process.
Again, I have to praise the writing of Jacqueline Winspear and the talented narration Orlagh Cassidy make these books the best entertainment and bedtime reading.
I feel blessed to have found the series on Libby. If you get the chance, give the series a try! Thank you, Kay for suggesting these.
A Certain Idea of America: Selected Writings by Peggy Noonan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a daytime read. I find it hard to read politics at bedtime. So I listened to the audiobook borrowed from Libby while doing my diamond paintings. I thought the author read this, but Hillary Huber is listed as the narrator. Either way, these are interesting essays.
I have to admit that I didn’t agree with everything, but even when I didn’t, I found something interesting to learn in each one. I do like how Peggy Noonan writes these essays. I felt engaged in the topic, pro or con.
Straw in the country is important. Heck, it’s what keeps our chickens warm. My brother stacked a few bales on the west side of the coop to keep the wind out. He uses it for nesting material in their boxes.
There’s a whole theory of no weed gardening based on piles of straw. It helps keep down weeds around flowers or trees. It breaks down to mulch.
Ah, but here there are too many rodents that eat your plants before you even get started. So mostly you need to build rodent safe raised box gardens. That takes money we don’t have. Lumber isn’t cheap. Maybe someday we’ll get to try it.
Drinking straws have gone back to paper to be good to the earth
But the last straw always is the worst, right?
I have to admit that three furry babies take a lot of time and energy. Even when they are the best audience and supportive friends. I’m surprised at my slow progress on everything.
See what I mean?
So here is the best of my Warts and All. Please don’t feel obligated to listen. I know it’s still way slow and bumpy. I am enjoying learning bluesy songs. Classical is predictable; key signatures make sense, rhythms aren’t wonky. Sure, I still make mistakes but I understand why. Modern, blues, jazz I understand in theory but my hands don’t get it sometimes. It doesn’t flow. Modes instead of major and minor throw me off. The one and three beats of classical are now the second and fourth as main beats. Sorry. A lot of excuses for why I’m not perfect. My purpose of this blog and YouTube is to veer away from perfection that is in our faces everyday. So here is God Bless The Child.
Bless you!
A Lesson in Secrets: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As the next world war is just rumors and philosophical differences, Maisie works for Scotland Yard to help sort things out at a college. She takes the role of a professor to learn what she can.
As usual with this whole series, the story feels immediate, real. Jacqueline Winspear writes with all the research handy and dispels it in all the senses so you feel you are there.
With Orlagh Cassidy’s narration, the scenery and characters are alive.
I highly recommend this series. I can’t review them fast enough. I am already three reviews behind! I have to get into the next one as soon as I finish the first. So I’ve already borrowed #11 from Libby so I need to write these quickly!
Darswords 
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