Peacefield

It's perfect here, IMO! 78f (26c) and partly sunny :D

I haven't heard of that one, Anna, but I will definitely check it out! Thank you!

Yay, Noll! My first thought was Tracy Chevalier but like you said you've read many of hers. If you haven't read her most recent, The Last Runaway, I would highly recommend it. It's set in the US but involves an English Quaker and the Underground Railroad. I'd also say The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Have you read any books by Katherine Howe? The Lost Book of Salem is excellent, and her YA novel Conversion is as well. They are both about the Salem Witch Trials but from very different perspectives. Oh! And have you read any Alan Bradley? There's a thread here on his Flavia de Luce series which is one of my favorites. They are set in 1950's England and are very funny. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is the first in the series. Oh my goodness I forgot! There is an excellent series by Kate Ross that's quite a few years old but that I've read several times. It's set in the Regency time period in England and they are mysteries involving an English dandy detective. The first one is called Cut to the Quick.

May I ask why you avoid the historical fiction genre, Anna? Just curious I have not read any of Philippa Gregory's books. I bought Armada for myself yesterday and I can't wait to read it! Ernest Cline's second book. I loved his first! I feel like I've asked you this before, Noll, but have you read his first book Ready Player One? I know it would be right up your alley!

Love this thread! Here's what I could come with so far, but I'm sure I'll be back Fiction: The Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas The Shining – Stephen King The Dante Club – Matthew Pearl The Lady and the Unicorn – Tracy Chevalier A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens Instance of the Fingerpost – Iain Pears The Secret History – Donna Tartt The Goldfinch – Donna Tartt The Historian – Elizabeth Kostova Girl with a Pearl Earring – Tracy Chevalier Circle of Friends – Maeve Binchy The Fountainhead – Ayn Rand Ordinary People – Judith Guest To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee My Name is Asher Lev – Chiam Potok The Outsiders – SE Hinton Ready Player One – Ernest Cline The Last Runaway – Tracy Chevalier Fiction Series: Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery Julian Kestrel mysteries – Kate Ross Flavia de Luce – Alan Bradley Jonathan Argyle mysteries – Ian Pears Thursday Next – Jasper Fforde Non-Fiction: Close to Shore – Michael Capuzzo Land of the Burnt Thigh – Eudora Edith Khol Bring Warm Clothes – Peg Meier The Art Spirit – Robert Henri How to Lose Friends and Alienate People – Toby Young Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder (fiction or non-fiction?)

Congrats on the job panel hire, Noll! I'm very glad it worked out for you Great news about your husband being at home for good, Virginia! And I hope he's okay since he had a neurology appt? It's the middle of yet another busy week for me. Every night after I work I'm either at the gym , running various errands or cleaning around the house. My family is coming this weekend for a month-long visit and I can't wait! Especially since I'll be able to spend half of it with them at the cabin when I go on my 2 week vacation

I believe the terms the weather people have used these past couple of days here in the upper midwest have been 'oppressive' and 'unbearable.' They are spot on! When you're nearing 100f with a dew point of 70%, it's downright miserable stepping outside. We also had some really bad storms roll through town last night but thankfully no tree damage.

Me too, Athena! I LOVED Ready Player One and can't wait for this new one I'm also excited for the new Lauren Groff. Thanks for posting the link, Pontalba!

Exactly! Or like varsity hockey vs the second string

Silly bears, Muggle! We've had that problem at the cabin. My mom will find the hummingbird feeders miraculously empty some mornings. They do like the sweet stuff.

Sharks have always been fascinating to me, Muggle. I wonder why the attacks are happening so frequently right now in NC? It must just be a perfect storm of big beach-going numbers and temps, maybe? A lot of news here is about how 2 Canadian wild fires are causing such poor air quality around my state. Today is the exception, but it's been very hazy here ever since they started.

Hmmm... tricky stuff! In no particular order: 1. Stephen King 2. Donna Tartt 3. Matthew Pearl 4. Iain Pears 5. Alexandre Dumas 6. Jasper Fforde 7. Alan Bradley 8. Kate Ross 9. Tracy Chevalier 10. Elizabeth Kostova B-squad would have to include Deborah Harkness, Ransom Riggs, Rick Yancey, LM Montgomery, Charles Dickens... Yeah this is just too hard to choose only 10

^ That's what it looks like here, today, Noll. But with summer temps - warm and humid! My least favorite!

I haven't had to put a book in a backpack for a couple of decades, Sousa, so I'm not sure of the secret! Is it a hard cover or soft cover? I had a busy holiday weekend which of course made it fly by. The mini road trip I took on Friday with my friends was a blast and the weather was perfect. We revisited the site of Laura Ingalls Wilder's birthplace in Pepin, WI and sat in the replica 'Little House in the Big Woods' that they have there. We also shopped at little places along the river and wandered around a lot. The fireworks were extra loud this year and my cat wasn't too thrilled with it all. This is the first 4th of July holiday that I've had him so I'll have to remember that for the years to follow. Poor Odin! My car is making suspicious noises so I'm back to the garage with it this afternoon. Hopefully it doesn't result in more repairs! Have a great week everyone!

Great news, Muggle!! Thanks for sharing! I like Sam Mendes so it'll be interesting to see what he does.

<--- Proud Alan Bradley series recommend-er

Hello and welcome, Anna! I'm a big fan of historical fiction as well

Happy July! Today is my Friday since I'm off tomorrow for the Independence Day holiday. Tomorrow morning me and a couple of friends will be taking a day trip and driving south along the Mississippi River on the Wisconsin side down to Lake Pepin. There's a cidery/winery along the way and we'll be stopping at some little towns and eating dinner on the lake. Should be fun! Saturday I'll be watching fireworks somewhere, either nearby or down in the city. I hope everyone has a great weekend ahead of them .

Boo, I hate muggy, Raven! It's supposed to be partly cloudy and 77f (25c) here today. Perfect in my book!

Weird is Wes Anderson's middle name, Noll, but that's why I love his films! I liked The Royal Tenenbaums a lot but not as much as some of his other films. I highly recommend trying more! Last weekend I watched The 100 Foot Journey and it was pretty good. Made me want to visit France even more!

Yes, good luck Noll!! Sending all kinds of disco-y and sparkly vibes your way! I'm working a short day from home today and then will be hitting the gym for another Zumba class. Tomorrow morning I'm running to the farmer's market since more veggies/fruits/flowers will be making an appearance. I went to a nutrition/metabolism seminar at the gym last night so I'm excited to put what I learned into practice. I'm also meeting my friend for lunch tomorrow and on Sunday am helping a friend cook up a big Lebanese meal. Apparently I'm an 'expert' so I volunteered to help

"An evil hand has invaded our blessed community!" Puritan Witch: The Redemption of Rebecca Eames by Peni Jo Renner

Thanks for reviving this thread! I too am a huge fan of Alan Bradley and Miss Flavia I've read all of them in the series and am looking forward to many more! Muggle, I have an extra paper back copy of Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie that I'd be happy to mail to you if you'd like it. I'm attempting to collect them all in hard cover so I have an extra of that title.

Um, YEAH! Of course You know me too well. I'm very close to finishing Puritan Witch: The Redemption of Rebecca Eames. After that I can get back into The Song of the Quarkbeast

I'm SO pleased that you are enjoying the Flavia de Luce novels, Muggle!! I keep meaning to check and see if there is a thread devoted to this series but I haven't gotten around to it. If there isn't I'd be happy to start one. We need to share the Flavia love!