In other news, I went to book club tonight and left Tilly home alone for the first time, for over two hours. Big risk.

However there is no evidence that she did anything other than sleep on the futon, which is great.

A question that came up during book club: If you were to walk down the beach with a pile of books to give people (this is a thing that Oprah did recently), what book would it be?

Answers from my book club: Jane Eyre, The Thief (by Megan Whalen Turner), Pride & Prejudice, The Game of Kings (by Dunnett), Sword at Sunset (by Rosemary Sutcliff), Crime & Punishment, and Lessons in Chemistry.

What book would you force on random people if you could?

Ooh interesting idea Connie! I’d have to think about that one…if Oprah personally gives you a book you kinda have to read it, don’t you?

Made it back home around 530 with dog and made it to dancing which was good after all day in the car (half of that working, thanks to the hotspot that came with my friends’ Rivian!)

What book would you force on random people if you could?

I suspect the Dunnett was your suggestion.

To me the question is not the book That Needs To Be Read but rather more practically The Book That Is Widely Accessible But Still Rich In Depth.

Because what's the point of assigning Jane Eyre to some fratboy that won't finish it?

My first thought (best thought?) was An American Childhood by Annie Dillard. (Flea might have an opinion on this selection, IIRC.)

It's a Pulitzer prize winning author who writes fantastically well, but it's a very closely observed memoir about growing up in Pittsburgh, PA which is funny, memorable, affecting and grounded in middle America.

I recently, um, pressed a book on a co-worker. The Inheritance Games. It's technically YA, but it's got lots of plot, lots of twists and turns and a more or less happy ending (with three sequels).

Sheryl, I’m so sorry.

I LOVE The Game of Kings but don't know that I'd hand it out to some unknown on a beach. Beach reading needs to be accessible and popcorny. For one thing, it's going to get water on it, so not an all-time keeper.

{{{Sheryl}}}

I was having similar thoughts, bennet. Handing books out at the beach is different from handing books to people at a coffee shop or something. Still mulling over what would be a good choice, but the first thing that pops into my head is Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds possibly because a recent conversation about something else entirely brought it to mind, but it is a book I love.

oh, I love that too!

You are all making my to be read list longer. I have to make notes so I have something to recommend next book club meeting.

I'll be in NY for my next FL book club meeting so I have to set up a remote system soon. I attend remotely via Zoom for the NY book club most of the year, but the librarian sets that up.

Yes, I am avoiding trip prep, why do you ask?

Do people follow Andy Borowitz? He lifts my spirits on a regular basis. I'm always forwarding his newsletters to my sisters. So he had a Trump haiku contest, the winner of which amuses me today. The winning entry, and the author's notes.

I write the best haikus

You've never seen anything like these

Counting syllables is for losers

"I am flattered to be chosen as the winner. I actually love haiku in its original form, but when given the directive to write a Trump haiku, I just knew he would break it as he breaks everything. I wanted to write something that would obviously and intentionally break rules while also staying in character (exaggerating greatness, insulting others smarter than him). Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for voting for me, I’m going to treasure my autographed book!"