Saturday, May 29, 2021

And a PS to the Etc

 Dear Joared and DKZ

Your blogs kick me out after I comment which is very frustrating. Can't figure out why this is so. Can you figure it out? Other blogs do not do this, much to my relief as I could become quite paranoid.

I've been tossing books lately with a DNF* note in my book journal. I resent the time I spend on them before this act as I could have been reading a good book. Know what I mean?

I'm into fiction in a big way. I like the escapism provided by a good author. Good in my estimation, maybe not in yours.

I persist sometimes when the books are both gifts and best sellers as these last two were.



But finally I just threw in the towel on both and picked up my emergency Michael Connolly who never lets me down when Bosch is involved. And PS I can't abide the actor portraying him in the Bosch series on Prime.


I will update my 2021 Books Read Page soonest as I have enjoyed some smashing reads this year.

And I will mention now, albeit with connection to reading, that my right eye, one day after the hospital procedures has gone semi-blind. A grey fog has descended. What next, I think, sitting on my pity pot. I have an appointment with my eye guy first thing Tuesday and we'll take it from there. 

But at least the left eye is behaving itself. And there have been no alarming calls after two biopsies on last Tuesday.

And, I always think, and I pass this on, who would trade places with me right now? So many worse off, so many in desperation and pain. So many, and I know one dear one, who are facing their own mortality.

*Did Not Finish.

40 comments:

  1. I am soooooo glad your biopsies did not show anything negative. I too like fiction to escape a bit. I'm keeping everything crossed your eye appointment will go well...obviously, it's always a little frightening to have these health problems at our ages, isn't it? Take care. Hugs.

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    1. Thank you Regina, the downsides of old age can seem like an infestation at times! I am overdue to have some upsides to health. Fingers crossed.

      XO
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  2. I must have just deleted my comment! Again . . .
    I too hope your eye appointment goes well. I just had mine and am due to return soon for another look at my right eye. One always wonders what new thing might have popped up. I admired the whale drawing by your daughter, very nice.
    And goody that you'll be updating your book list, I'm always interested in your selection, it seems we have pretty much the same likes.

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    1. Oh good to know Marge about your book tastes I will update shortly. Some marvelous reads this year.

      Fingers crossed on Tuesday. It's quite alarming.

      XO
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  3. Oh, sorry about your eyes. I hope the eye doctor knows what ails you!
    I had something similar, and it was harmless but persistent (and to be cured with easy to find remedies). DNF books are bad. I normally toss them afer persistently reading one, fuming all the way ... and now I do not even remember the ending. Argh!

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    1. I wish I could tell at a skim of a book whether it was worth persisting. But normally I can't and I never read endings. The Big Drift was 600 pages of tight print and I got about 1/3 of the way through with multiple characters and no depth to any of them. Amd rave reviews. I don't understand it but I must climb aboard Good Reads and see what gives with it.

      XO
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  4. I'm enjoying Anne Tyler's Breathing Lessons at the moment.
    Fiction but with such an authentic feel.
    Characters showing pain and truth.

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    1. I adore Anne Tyler Anne and have read most of her work. Never a false move.

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  5. For a very long time I completed every book I started (albeit with some skimming). No longer. Life is tooooo short.
    I do hope that the eye doctor has some solutions. So much.

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    1. Me too EC, life is too short to waste it on a dismal slog of a book indeed!

      Thanks for the good wishes.

      XO
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  6. Sometimes I get kicked out of your blog after commenting. It only happens when I’m using my iPad, so I have to remember to go back on my laptop to comment, sometimes days later.

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    1. I wonder what the hell is going on Annie, your blog treats me well however!

      XO
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  7. There are surgeries for such eye maladies.
    Your grandaughter or you should also let the person who did the procedure to cause it know asap.
    They should have fixed it or gotten you sent somewhere immediately.
    Do not do anything lifting any weight during your wait to see him. It sounds like a detached retina. and can be fixed.
    Needs immediate attention.
    Did you tell your eye guy what was happening. if not, do so, you need the operation as soon as it can be done. It is a laser surgery and will cause you no pain. Don't dread it is an easy fix if done soon.

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    1. No , not a doctor here , but have been through enough to know symptoms of some things. AND I care about you.

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    2. I don't see the connection between my procedures and my eye but it could be stress related perhaps. Tuesday will tell. I won't jump the gun and Dr. Google my brains out :)

      XO
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  8. Just finished two books by Mary Lawson. Please do try them as I am sure they will resonate with you.

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    1. Love Mary Lawson Chris, years ago since I read them now. As the
      Crow Flies being one title that comes to mind. Has she got newer works?

      Another writer you might enjoy is Helen Humphries. She is brilliant.

      XO
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  9. Since I stick to non fiction, I'm no help in recommending. I would recommend and by Alexandra Fuller, a couple of which I've reread recently. But, her life is more strange than fiction.
    I am rooting for your doctor to lift the eye fog come Tuesday.

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    1. Thank you Joanne. I do read memoirs but am quite selective in whose. May Sarton's being the last I believe.

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  10. I agree with you about the Prime series named Harry Bosch. To me totally different from the books. I have read every one of the books; some more than once. Now, when I learn of crooked stuff going on with law enforcement, and coverups, I say, "just like in Harry Bosch!"

    My favorite author is Louise Penny. A Canadian. I just finished listening to her entire series of 16 books for the SECOND time. And, if I live a while longer, there may be a third time. My knitting group educated me as to the benefits of audio books. Amazing
    How many things I can do while I listen. Also, particularly with Penny's books, the readers make the books even more wonderful. I seem to be hard to please. Don't finish---in fact barely start many books. Shallow plots, too much gore, too far out from reality. And, to quote Carl Sandburg, "Time is the coin of your life". Too precious to waste.

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    1. I find there's a kind of low life edge to Welliver's acting which puts me off. I prefer the image of Bosch I have in my head, kind of rumpled and sympathetic with blazing intelligence.

      I tried to get into Penney many times and couldn't, so many of my friends like her. Audio books are great and I must do more of them as I knit.


      I love the quote.

      XO
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  11. So sorry to hear about your eye, perhaps a speedily growing cataract?
    I have a few books that I never finished, they're in the "give away" pile and will be going to the local thrift store soon. I've gotten used to Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch, but I agree they could have chosen someone better, but who? I prefer fiction too.

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    1. It might be a tiny cataract I had going out of control very rapidly but that doesn't seem feasible.

      I was thinking Gerard Butler maybe for the role?

      XO
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  12. I wondered what DNF meant. LOL. I hope your eye improves. Too bad you can't see the eye doctor sooner.

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    1. I was hoping sooner too Gigi. Thanks for your good wishes.

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  13. Hmmm, I too am a Michael Connelly fan, but just don't like the streaming version. The problem: I like the Bosch I have in my mind better than the one they picked.

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    1. Exactly Tom. My sentiments too. I want to keep my own Bosch so I can't watch the series.

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  14. I've had books recommended by friends who loved them, and I can't get to the end of the first chapter. Always disappointing because I have such high hopes. There's no accounting for taste except that it's probably more to do with what speaks to each of us at different time in our lives.
    I can't think of even one time that the opening paragraphs of a novel have moved me to excitement the way some biographies and other non-fiction have. I love that feeling and it's too damn rare.
    I order a lot of books through our library system after hearing their authors interviewed about them, and then the books SUCK. The writers and their ideas about the books are far more captivating than the books themselves. -Kate

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  15. I hear you Kate. I like to be gripped from the first paragraph or page. Michael Connolly does that. Before you know it you are immersed. Anne Patchett likewise. Sue Monk Kidd, etc.

    XO
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  16. Hope you get some answer on your eye issue — the sooner the better.

    I have no idea why your comments on my Blogspot are being erased before publishing. Sorry to hear that, but don't know what to do as I haven't changed anything. I’ve have trouble with some WP blogs that use some Asnimet co., or however it’s spelled. That suddenly became a problem for me, especially on Gigi's blog, but seems better just as suddenly the last few times I went there — hope it lasts.

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    1. I just put a test comment through Joared and it seemed to accept it. I'll revisit you later.

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  17. I too love fiction. Reading is something that kept me sane in a bad marriage, before I could get my kids and I out. Not sure people who have not experienced such things can truly understand what reading (and escapism) means to some of us.

    My no-way-did-they-cast-him is Tom Cruise for Jack Reacher. Jesus. What a ridiculous choice.

    Hope your appointments go well. I had a retinal detachment; sounds very similar. Hope today you get some answers.

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    1. Not retinal detachment Elle, spent an hour with my eye doc and he is baffled so tests are being scheduled at the Health Science Centre.

      Another awful casting for me was Kevin Spacey in The Shipping News which called for a great hulking man rather than the shrimp he is.

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  18. I read the Jennifer Egan book some time ago and also wondered why it had so much praise that it didn't seem to deserve.

    I hope you can sort out your eye problem. Odd that the grey fog appeared so suddenly.

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    1. Truly baffling Nick. I'm glad we see Jennifer Egan eye to eye! I passed it on to Grandgirl thinking it might be a generational thing....

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  19. Just found this1 I was actually looking for your 2021 reading list to see what you thought of some books I've read recently if you'd also read them. You're right of course - if it doesn't snag me I the first 30 - 50 pgs I toss it. Too many other great books to read! Hope your eye has improved. Such a gift, eyesight, that we hardly appreciate 'til it goes. My favorite aunt was a brisk, energetic woman, a golfer and a talented artist. It was total heartbreak to see her go blind.

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  20. So sorry to hear about your aunt, Molly. I must update my list.I used to persist in my younger days with bad books but no more. Life is too, too short. I am reading an amazing Cork writer at the moment and will do a review. It is absolutely lyrical.

    XO
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  21. My brother raved about the author Jo Nesbo and his "Harry Hole" detective series, so I bought a few books on ebay. They're quite long around 500+ pages each and I tried the first one and put it down several times until I ran out of other books, then I had another go. The writing style is different to what I'm used to, but after 100 pages it had my attention. I'm quite liking the story and looking forward to reading the rest. I only bought four but there are more than that in the series. They're set in Norway.

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  22. I read a variety of stuff, and if something loses me, like you, I designate as DNF and move on.

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