Only one thing missing in that illustration

So, now where am I with my books? Oh,yeah. I finished the audiobook I was listening to, but have not yet picked another. Also, I am almost finished reading The Ghost Map after which I will get back to reading Gladius. The other day I started a scifi series, Blackstar Command. It is okay enough to keep going with if for a while, but nothing special.

I am contemplating weaning myself off the Kindle merry-go-round a little by buying another dedicated Ereader, possibly a Kobo. I understand the Kobo includes a link to Libby and one of the other online Libraries (forget which just now), and you can listen to audio books on it. Anyone want to comment on Kobo?

Currently, I am trying to find a way to install Libby on my Kindle HD8's. I can't download the Libby app on them like I did with the old 8.9HDX and my HD10. I have to do more investigating on that because I would like the app on one of the newer 8's at least.   

The Old 8.9HDX is beginning to lose its' ability to hold a charge for long, so I might experiment with changing the battery. There are videos on YouTube on how to do it. The battery is not easy to get to. You have to very carefully remove the casing, take out a bunch of tiny screws and unhook wiring before replacing. Once the casing is apart, you have to be very careful that you don't accidentally short out the circuit boards inside. Static electricity is not your friend. Time, patience and nimble fingers are required. Maybe it is worth the effort, maybe not. It just annoys me that I feel like I have to trade in my old Kindles for a new one just because the battery doesn't hold charge after a few years. Seems like a bit of a racket regarding the tablets. My Paperwhite, on the other hand is at least six years old and is still pretty good at holding a charge even though I often use it for hours almost every day.

Hi to all my book and e-reader friends!   I haven't posted in a few weeks.  My eyes are in dire need of an ophthalmologist, which I will finally be seeing the first week in March.   Also, still unable to hold a book or Kindle in my left hand, while I turn a page or scroll, with my right. My hand surgery is taking a long time to heal!   Fortunately, my eyesight is fine for TV viewing, so I spend way too much time there. 
I also sit too long at the computer,  mostly just reading my favorite web sites - but rarely adding much of a response.

Phyllis -  I'm in full agreement with you, regarding  "Yellowstone"!   Last night we watched episode 7 or 8, in Season #2.  It was absolutely shocking!   The most horrifying, violent scene I have ever had the misfortune to  view on a TV show  or a movie.  We talked about it when it was over, as to why, WHY the series shows are becoming so incredibly  violent . . .  Filled with psychopaths, committing unspeakable acts.   He thinks it's because that's what sells, and what people want to see!  Unfortunately, I'm afraid he is right.  Shows like that are extremely popular.  No wonder our country has become so overrun with hate, and with people committing horrendous crimes, shooting and violence of all kinds.   Anyway, that episode did it for me - I will never watch "Yellowstone" again.

Callie -  The new season of  "Mrs Maisel"  has arrived, and not a moment too soon!   It will be so nice to see something funny!   Let me know  what to look for, so I won't miss seeing Miss Ellen?

Love reading all of your messages, and will post more soon.

Marilyne, Ellen has naturally red hair.  I think she's the "Nanny wheeling a baby carriage across the park" in episode 7 or thereabouts.  Don't know which one has the Carnegie Hall scene.  I know she's wearing a blue dress in that one.

Off to see if Amazon web site has a "Free Trial"

Edit"  Web site says Season 4 of "...Mrs. Maisel" doesn't begin until February 18.     I know Ellen was an Extra in Season 3 but don't know exactly what scenes she was in..

Morning all. Here is my new reading update.

I dropped the last SciFi series I started. The story was just okay, some of the characters were likeable, but the sentence structure seemed a bit "off" and some words were misused. Once I think I caught a passage that contradicted something written earlier, but I didn't try to go back and find it. Now I am wondering if I had the series name wrong, or got the thing from somewhere other than Amazon. I deleted the book and now I can't find it anywhere. I don't even know who wrote it; it was a new author to me. Oh, well.

So, now I am reading another of Rich Partlow's book series, this one is a precursor series to two others I have already read. So far, the characters are not as personable as the other books, but the story is good and gives background to what follows in the other books.

Master and Commander vol. 1 is started on audio book, but so far, I am not warming up to main character (or who I assume is the main character) as yet. He seems stuffy or stiff, and egotistical to go with his calculating ambitiousness. So far, the character seems rather "flat". I am only to the point where he gets word of receiving command of a ship, so I will continue with it for a while to see if he becomes more well rounded personality-wise. Perhaps I would be better off watching Russel Crowe's movie.
 

Sent back Master and Commander, just didn't take to it.

I am continuing with Rick Partlow's Holy War series. This is the third series I've read that is set in the same universe, during the same wars, etc., but on different campaigns or at different times. Only a couple of the characters get a mention in the other series, and then only briefly. Well written.
 
I am also reading Alastair Reynolds' House of Suns. It is a bit surreal, about a long lived family line of clones. Enjoying it.

My audio book is Stephen Fry's Troy. It is the third of his mythology series. The first didn't appeal, the second I skipped, but his telling of the Troy myth is, well, pure Stephen Fry. Loving it.

Even so, I still feel like I am being a slug with my reading lately. Well, there are other things that need doing after all.

Marilyne, how is your hand doing? My sister has a flexible floor stand to hold her tablet so she can read without holding it. There are a bunch of them out there, including table top models. I've considered getting one myself, but so far I have resisted.

It is mighty lonely over here.

I just finished Stephen Frys' audio take on the Trojan War. Troy, the third book of his Mythology series, is highly entertaining IMO. One of the most interesting bits was the explanation for the word Murmidones  which referred to the army accompanying Achilles in battle. The word is from the Greek mýrmēx. Fry referred to Achilles army as Ant People. Well, I can picture that. Hordes of soldiers swarming across the plain towards your castle might appear  like an army of ants, especially from a distance. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. Highly recommended for those who enjoy Mythology. I wonder if he plans on doing more myths, Norse certainly, but maybe some of the lesser known myths from around the world.

I have yet to pick out my next audio listen and I am almost done with Alastair Reynolds House of Suns which will launch a search for my next library borrow. Another break from reading SciFi, I've just started a Western novel called 1874: Columbia River Posse by R. J. Bessonette. Bessonette made a lovely dedication to his maternal grandmother who had passed on her experience and knowledge of those times. It is a murder mystery set in Washington state.

Okay, speak up. Who is reading what these days?

My currents are:

Remains by Jason Anspach and Nicholas Cole. It it the latest of the main sequence Galaxy's Edge series.

Reality is Not What it Seems by Carlo Rovelli. Nonfiction, it is about Quantum gravity physics. I remain determined to understand at least a smidgeon of what quantum physics is about.

Red Notice by Bill Browder. What I thought was going to be a novel based on a real event is actually the real deal written by the financier involved.

BTW, I really enjoyed 1874: Columbia River Posse. It is a novel about what might have been one of the last posse's of the old west on the hunt for a murderer. Forming up near the Colombuia River, the ride ends in Boise Idaho.

I like to buy cooking, baking, and computer books and magazines. I'm currently reading:

The Science Of Good Cooking: by America's Test Kitchen. It's all about the science of cooking and how to achieve the correct textures, etc. for foods.

Skhilled, my last foray into reading about cooking was Ken Albala's lectures from Great Courses called Food: A Cultural History. Very interesting and enjoyable.

TomeReader, I think your are the one that has been reading Mick Herron's Slough House series. His newest, Bad Actors, is due to release on May 10. Can't wait.

I dropped Red Notice already. I might try it later in Ebook form rather than via the audio book I borrowed. It might have been partly because the narrator used a constant voice of disgust or if being ticked-off. Well, I suppose I would be too had I had something like that happen to me. Then again, the subject matter is not something I want to deal with right now. It turns out that the author is the grandson of Earl Browder who was General Secretary of the Communist Party USA for fifteen years. The author himself is a financier and political activist.

Skhilled - Welcome to Library~Bookshelf.   Hope you return often and keep us posted on any good reading suggestions.   

Mars - Of the books you've recently listed,  "1874: Columbia River Posse", sounds like one that would enjoy.   Another classic Western that you've probably read, is  "The Ox-Bow incident".  The book was written in 1940, by Walter Van Tilburg Clark, and was made into a movie in 1942.    The movie is also excellent - starred Henry Fonda, and lots of other actors who later became famous.

I'm still having problems with my eyes, so haven't done nearly as much reading as in the past.  The most recent book I've read, is "The Things They Carried", by Tim O'Brien.   It's a memoir, about his time served  in Vietnam.   Not the usual War stories, but more of a personal account of what it was like for him, and for the men in his unit.     

Marilyne, I was the one reading "Slough House".  I can't remember why now but I didn't finish it before it went back to the library.  I ought to check it out again and try to get to the end.

I just finished "Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone".  The latest in the Outlander series by Gabaldon.  It was just OK.  Not great.  I'm finding I am less and less interested in this series. It has gone on much too long, IMO.

Sorry about your eyes.  I can sympathize with you.  Mine aren't doing so great either.  I must get to the eye doctor soon and see if she can help me.

No, MarsGal, it wasn't me, but Phyllis who was reading SloughHouse.

Oops! Sorry, Phyllis. I thought there was someone who was pretty close to caught up to me on reading the series.

I settled on a mystery to replace Red Notice. I forget the title just now, but it is one of Lindsey Davis's series, not Falco, but the following series featuring his daughter.

Reality is Not What it Seems is still interesting and readable. But then, I am still reading the historical background chapters, so my brain isn't twisted into knots yet. 

Time to update my current reading.

I am still reading Reality is Not What it Seems. Yesterday I picked it up and put it down again after a paragraph or two. It wasn't a day for concentrating on the subject matter.

I started and rejected a couple of SciFi novels. Right now, the one I am reading is rather strange. The prolog indicates that there is an ecoterrorist about to blow up a space station, but the first chapter is set in the US and involves a mining operation. And, of course, it is a first of series. It is puzzling enough at the moment to keep me reading to see where it leads.

In audio books, I just finished a murder mystery set in Rome during Domitian's reign. It was okay, not great. I liked Lindsey Davis's Falco series, but this series featuring his daughter is not as interesting. Or at least this one wasn't. I read the first of this series quite a while back but must have missed a book or two in between it and this one. I have not decided on my next audio book.

John Scalzi's latest book, The Kaiju Preservation Society, released a day or so ago. I checked my online library the same day and they already had it listed. That was fast. What was even faster were the number of people placing holds on the thing. Six months I will have to wait to read it. Sigh! Anyway, it is about an out of work guy who signs up to work for this animal preservation society. Only after he is hired on, does he discover the animals and preserve are off-world. It looks to be another great, snarky spoof type book like his Agent to the Stars and Redshirts. "Agent..." was the book that hooked me on Scalzi's books. It was his first, offered free online before he went 'big-time" with the likes of his Old Man's War series. BTW, if you didn't know, he and Wil Wheaton are longtime friends. Remember him from Star Trek's Next Generation series? Wil narrates most of Scalzi's audio books.

Marilyne, I recently bought a non-fiction audio book titled All the Wild That Remains: Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner, and the American West by David Gessner. I do not remember reading any of Edward Abbey's work. Abbey wrote both fiction and non-fiction.

I just finished Donna Leon's latest "Give Unto Others". This is her 31st book with Guido Brunetti and I enjoy these books as much as ever.  There was an interesting twist to the story that made it a little different.

Gosh, I am sooooo behind in reading the Brunetti series. I got away from them quite a while back and never got back to them. I stopped after reading #12, Uniform Justice. Didn't care for that one. I will be downloading #13 shortly. Thanks for the reminder, FlaJean.

I read a strange but interesting book over the weekend:   Running, by Randolph Rhett.   I had read a review on line . . . a personal account of a Millennial age man,  (mid 30's), and how the reality of how his life and the lives of his friends had turned out,  did not meet their high expectations. 
It was written in story form , starting with his education at Yale, his law degree, girl friends, etc.  It held my interest throughout, although hard for someone my age to relate to  people in that age group? 

After reading the review, I was interested enough to look on Amazon, and saw that it was free Kindle or Audio, (don't remember which), but I ordered the soft cover book instead.  Don't know if it was worth $9.99, but I will pass it along to my daughter-in-law.   They have two adult kids in their mid/late 20's, so she may be able to relate?       

Marilyne, I'm still having a hard time relating to people in their 50's.

Yea! My online library got five more of John Sclazi's new book, so now I only have about a six week wait instead of six months.

Reading: The Last Monument by Michael C, Grumley - the first of a mystery series where the protagonists an agent of the NTSB.

Listening to: Ancient Empires before Alexander, a Great Courses lecture series by Robert L. Dise, Jr. He speaks with humor; it is quite entertaining as well as informative.

Shortly, I am about to embark on another library read, but haven't quite decided yet. However, The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel and Embers of War (non-fiction) by Fredrik Logevall have been on my wishlist for quite some time and are beckoning.

 

Finished "The Last Bookshop in London", by Madeline Martin.  Loved it!

Started "The Lincoln Highway", by Amor Towles.  Not liking it too much so far but will keep trying for a little bit longer.  If it doesn't get better, back it goes to the library.  Callie, you were right.....not much about the Lincoln Highway in this book.

Phyllis, it's a fairly good story - as long as you're not expecting anything about the highway!  Can't figure out why he used that title - unless it refers to the original plan that goes astay. 

New housecleaner due momentarily.  Will be back later. 

I think The Last Bookshop in London is in my library wish list. I'll have to double check.

A few comments on current TV shows:

Callie - We've been watching Season #4 of "Mrs Maisel", and so far, have not seen Miss Ellen.  There have been two scenes showing Nannies or Mothers pushing baby buggies.  One was a blond, and the other was a brunette, so I'm still looking for a redhead?     We only have a couple of episodes left, so I'm hoping I didn't miss her.  She was easy to spot in the other seasons, because of her hair.   
So far, I'm not enjoying the show, as much as I did in earlier seasons.  I think they might have run out of steam with the original comedienne story, and have now resorted to adding new actors and trite, boring, overworked storylines. Not nearly as good as before.   

Has anyone else been watching "The Gilded Age", on HBO?  I'm really liking it a lot, and in my opinion, is by far the best new series in a long  time.  The sets, the clothes, the actors, the story  . . .  all perfection! ❤️

Marilyne,  Ellen and the baby buggy were just barely visible in the distance. If she hadn't sent a clip pointing to herself, I wouldn't have seen her.
 I think she was most visible in episode 4.  Mrs. M and her friend walked into a bar and passed directly behind Ellen just before they sat down.  She is standing facing the camera and looks as if she's "talking" to someone at the table. Very quick but you can see her face- and her red hair.
She said she's not really visible in the Carnegie Hall audience but she's in the "blue group".  She said different groups wore different colors and they were moved around so it wouldn't look like the same view of the audience every time.

Yes, I have watched every episode of "The Gilded Age" and enjoyed it a lot. I recognized "Mrs. Fain" was Kelly O'Hara, an Oklahoma product, but it took me a while to be sure of Nathan Lane!  Season 1 ended this past week and I've read that there will be a Season 2 but don't know when.   

New housecleaner worked out well but I still haven't had a chance to gather together comments on books I've been reading.  On my ToDo list - as soon as I find that particular Round Tuit.   

Callie,  you're usually the only member here, besides myself, who watches the AA show every year.  Just wondering if you tuned in last night?     Hasn't been so much excitement since the 1970's, when the "streaker" ran across the stage! 

Marilyne,  I didn't watch the AA this year; didn't know any of the nominated actors and the nominated movies didn't sound like anything I'd be the slightest bit interested in.  Also am tired of listening to what is now called "humor". 

The news media will have a hey-day about the excitement. 

Can you tell I'm cynical about certain attitudes/behavior in today's world? 

Callie - Like you, I didn't know any of the people nominated, nor had I seen any of the movies.  The only reason I decided to watch, was because I had heard that  "King Richard", the story of the incredible Williams sisters, was up for Best Picture, Actor and Actress.  I admire Serena and Venus very much, and have read that it was because of their father, that they both became tennis champions.  Well yes, Will Smith got the Best Actor Award, but as you know,  it was tainted because of his juvenile and violent behavior.  Disgusting is the word! 

However, I still plan to see the movie, which is available on Amazon Prime.  I think it's a pay-per-view, at $5.99, but I don't mind paying for something I really want to see.  Besides, Jeff Bezos needs my money!      

I wonder if my sister saw King Richard. She loves watching the tennis matches.

I sent The High Mountains of Portugal back to the library. After I got into it a bit, I realized I read it before, at least the first bit. It turns out that this book is actually three separate, but very loosely connected stories.  As I recall, I didn't care much for the second part.

The Last Monument, which I did finish was okay, but it has a definite Indiana Jones feel to it. That shouldn't be surprising since the old notes that they were following were from a real time explorer who was the inspiration for Indiana Jones series, The Lost City of Z, and some believe the inspiration for H. G. Wells, The Lost World. Anyway, after a while the main characters became a little bit annoying. They supposedly have expertise in their chosen fields but are all too gullible even after a number suspicious coincidences which they acknowledged by then completely ignored. I may or may not read the second at some point to see if it improves.

I am still listening to the Great Courses Ancient Empires before Alexander. It is a two part course so it is quite lengthy. Next up will be one that is going off my free listen list at the end of May, Living History: Experiencing Great Events of the Ancient and Medieval Worlds. Hopefully, I will get that one all listened to by then.

My regular e-reading involves a book of SciFi short stories and yet another Galaxy's Edge universe series.

More than enough to keep me for a while. My reading has slowed down somewhat this last month for some reason.