What a lovely tribute, BakersDozen. I'm so glad you and your children were able to see Raffi perform. Regards, Kareni

Some bookish posts ~ 100 SF/F Books You Should Consider Reading in the New Year by James Davis Nicoll https://www.tor.com/2018/12/27/100-sf-f-books-you-should-consider-reading-in-the-new-year/ The Tao of Sir Terry: Pratchett and Philosophy by Matthew Reardon https://www.tor.com/2019/03/15/the-tao-of-sir-terry-pratchett-and-philosophy/ 12 Divine Fantasy Novels in Which the Gods Walk the Land by Nicole Hill https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/12-divine-fantasy-novels-in-which-the-gods-walk-the-land/ Five Must-Read Books Inspired by Indian Lore https://frolic.media/five-must-read-books-inspired-by-indian-lore/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Swords and Spaceships Mar 15&utm_term=BookRiot_SwordsAndSpaceships_DormantSuppress 5 Fascinating Uses of Footnotes in Fantasy https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/5-fascinating-uses-of-footnotes-in-fantasy/ Regards, Kareni

As regards souvenirs ~ If you celebrate with a Christmas tree, you might look for ornaments. Sometimes I have converted key rings or cell phone charms into unique ornaments. I also enjoy finding tea towels on our travels. Regards, Kareni

Yesterday I read a novella that I quite liked. I recommend it to those who enjoy fairytale retellings as well as to those who might enjoy reading a male/male romance that has no explicit content. I will certainly be looking to see what this author next publishes. Briarley by Aster Glenn Gray "An m/m World War II-era retelling of Beauty and the Beast.During a chance summer shower, an English country parson takes refuge in a country house. The house seems deserted, yet the table is laid with a sumptuous banquet such as the parson has not seen since before war rationing. Unnerved by the uncanny house, he flees, but stops to pluck a single perfect rose from the garden for his daughter - only for the master of the house to appear, breathing fire with rage. Literally. At first, the parson can't stand this dragon-man. But slowly, he begins to feel the injustice of the curse that holds the dragon captive. What can break this vengeful curse?" Regards, Kareni

I continued reading the Mindspace series and finished Marked by Alex Hughes which I enjoyed. For some reason, my library had only books two and three in this series, so I've requested that they purchase books one and four to complete the series. It may be a while before I can read on. "Freelancing for the Atlanta PD isn’t exactly a secure career; my job’s been on the line almost as much as my life. But it’s a paycheck, and it keeps me from falling back into the drug habit. Plus, things are looking up with my sometimes-partner, Cherabino, even if she is still simmering over the telepathic Link I created by accident.When my ex, Kara, shows up begging for my help, I find myself heading to the last place I ever expected to set foot in again—Guild headquarters—to investigate the death of her uncle. Joining that group was a bad idea the first time. Going back when I’m unwanted is downright dangerous.Luckily, the Guild needs me more than they’re willing to admit. Kara’s uncle was acting strange before he died—crazy strange. In fact, his madness seems to be slowly spreading through the Guild. And when an army of powerful telepaths loses their marbles, suddenly it’s a game of life or death.…" *** I saw that the author has a FREE short work in the Mindspace series. I believe it's set after the first book; however, it would give you a taste of the series. The Kindle book also includes two short stories by the author that are not a part of the series. I enjoyed all three pieces though one of the short stories was decidedly eerie. Rabbit Trick: A Mindspace Investigations Short Story by Alex Hughes "OPEN MINDWhen the cops call me in the middle of the night, I know it’s bad. One of their own is dead, strangled in her car by a professional killer, and it’s up to me, telepath consultant extraordinaire, to pull the rabbit out of my hat and solve the case. Only this time I’m not so sure I can.Homicide Detective Isabella Cherabino is breathing down my neck. The dead cop’s partner is too. Here's the bad news. Turns out the woman's five-year-old was in the car when she got murdered. Here's the worst news. No one can find that kid." *** I read another FREE Kindle work, but it was far-fetched and not a book I'll be rereading (copious adult content). Healing Hands: A SciFi Alien Romance by Stella Cassy "A desperate father.A world in danger. Rothren is a linguistics teacher on his home planet—or he was before the Neff virus took hold. Having lost everything, he hunts down a doctor that may be able to help save those who are left. Yet the universe holds more for them than simple business. Can a heart so broken learn to love again?Marie is one half of a pair of brilliant physician sisters. She works tirelessly to provide excellent treatment to her patients, be they human or otherwise. But she's certainly not expecting feelings to develop after being abducted by a large alien. Love appears in the strangest places. " Regards, Kareni

Has anyone been to Thailand? A few. There are close to 70,000,000 there now but many of them started there. Regards, Kareni

What happy news, regentrude! Thank you for the update. Regards, Kareni

I hope you'll soon be feeling better, Jenn. (And now I'm wondering how the expression 'under the weather' came to be.) No. Sending good thoughts for your mother's recovery. Regards, Kareni

A limited time offer.... Regards, Kareni Download a Free Ebook of John Scalzi’s The Collapsing Empire Before March 16, 2019! Each month, the Tor.com eBook Club gives away a free sci-fi/fantasy ebook to club subscribers. We’re excited to announce that John Scalzi’s The Collapsing Empire, a dauntingly relevant story of the far-future, is the Ebook Club pick for March 2019! Winner of the 2018 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel Finalist for the 2018 Best Novel Hugo Award  The Collapsing Empire is available from March 12, 12:01 AM ET to March 15, 11:59 PM ET Download before 11:59 PM ET, March 15, 2019.

Last week I mentioned having read Clean by Alex Hughes. I continued on with the series and just finished Sharp: A Mindspace Investigations Novel. which I also enjoyed. I saw a review which compared this to a cross between JD Robb's ...in Death series and the Dresden Files. I intend to continue on with the series. "HISTORY HAS A WAY OF REPEATING ITSELF, EVEN FOR TELEPATHS.… As a Level Eight telepath, I am the best police interrogator in the department. But I’m not a cop—I never will be—and my only friend on the force, Homicide Detective Isabella Cherabino, is avoiding me because of a telepathic link I created by accident. And I might not even be an interrogator for much longer. Our boss says unless I pull out a miracle, I’ll be gone before Christmas. I need this job, damn it. It’s the only thing keeping me sane. Parts for illegal Tech—the same parts used to bring the world to its knees in the Tech Wars sixty years ago—are being hijacked all over the city. Plus Cherbino's longtime nemesis, a cop killer, has resurfaced with a vengeance. If I can stay alive long enough, I just might be able to prove my worth, once and for all... " Regards, Kareni

Some bookish posts ~ Nobel Foundation Confirms It Will Award 2 Literature Prizes In 2019, With Changes https://www.npr.org/2019/03/05/700388717/nobel-foundation-confirms-it-will-award-2-literature-prizes-in-2019-with-changes 16 NONFICTION BOOKS FOR FICTION LOVERS https://bookriot.com/2019/02/28/nonfiction-books-for-fiction-lovers/ The Strange Things I've Found Inside Books https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2019/02/27/the-strange-things-ive-found-inside-books/ 5 Books for the Fantasy Naturalist by Melanie R. Meadors https://www.tor.com/2019/03/08/5-books-for-the-fantasy-naturalist/ Regards, Kareni

My daughter used the following materials in 7th grade which covered the time period up to 500AD. Yes, she did read all of these books; however, she was and is a voracious reader. We are also quite liberal, so some of these materials might not work for others.  Selections from The Kingfisher Illustrated History of the World by Charlotte Evans et al. The Young People's Story of Our Heritage: The Ancient World, Pre-history to 500BC by V. M. Hillyer and E. G. Huey The Young People's Story of Our Heritage: The Ancient World, 500BC to 500AD by V. M. Hillyer and E. G. Huey  A Bone from a Dry Sea by Peter Dickinson Cave of the Moving Shadows by Thomas Milstead Spirit on the Wall by Ann O'Neal Garcia Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw Pharaoh's Daughter by Julius Lester Video: David Macaulay's World of Ancient Engineering: Pyramid Black Ships before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff Dateline: Troy by Paul Fleischman Inside the Walls of Troy by Clemence McClaren The Curse of King Tut by Patricia Netzley The Golden Fleece by Padraic Colum Escape from Egypt by Sonia Levitin Troy by Adele Geras The Wanderings of Odysseus by Rosemary Sutcliff  The Cat of Bubastes by G. A. Henty City of Gold and Other Stories from the Old Testament by Peter Dickinson Gods and Goddesses by John Malam The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone by James Cross Giblin Selections from Cultural Atlas for Young People: Ancient Greece by Anton Powell Selections from Then and Now by Stefania and Dominic Perring  Selections from Usborne Book of Famous Lives Selections from Heroines by Rebecca Hazell Selections from A Picturesque Tale of Progress, Volume 2 by Olive Beaupre Miller The Story of the World, History for the Classical Child: Ancient Times by Susan W. Bauer  Niko: Sculptor's Apprentice by Isabelle Lawrence How Would You Survive as an Ancient Greek? by Fiona Macdonald Calliope Magazine: Taharqo Calliope Magazine: Ancient Celts Alexander the Great by Peter Chrisp Video: Alexander the Great (The History Makers)  Men of Athens by Olivia Coolidge Selections from Mathematicians are People, Too by Luetta and Wilbert Reimer Science in Ancient Greece by Kathlyn Gay Selections from A Day in Old Athens by William S. Davis Your Travel Guide to Ancient Greece by Nancy Day The Librarian who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky The Emperor's Silent Army by Jane O'Connor Selections from Ancient Japan by J. E. Kidder  Hannibal's Elephants by Alfred Powers The Story of the Romans by H. A. Guerber Galen: My Life in Imperial Rome by Marissa Moss Caesar's Gallic War by Olivia Coolidge Selections from Ancient Inventions by Peter James and Nick Thorpe  Video: Anthony and Cleopatra (Royal Shakespeare Company, 1974) Videos: I, Claudius (Volumes 1-7) Augustus Caesar's World by Genevieve Foster City by David Macaulay The Wadjet Eye by Jill Rubalcaba Video: David Macaulay's World of Ancient Engineering: Roman City Song for a Dark Queen by Rosemary Sutcliff Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfield Video: Ancient Mysteries: Pompeii, Buried Alive The Capricorn Bracelet by Rosemary Sutcliff The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff  Selections from Wonders of Ancient Chinese Science by Robert Silverberg The White Stag by Kate Seredy Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges  Selections from The Dark Ages by Tony Gregory Lady Ch'iao Kuo: Warrior of the South by Laurence Yep The Dancing Bear by Peter Dickinson Video: Africa (Ancient Civilizations for Children) The Cartoon History of the Universe II, From the Springtime of China to the Fall of Rome by Larry Gonick  Regards, Kareni

Here is what I handed to my daughter in 7th grade. I will list the resources we used in the next post. "History and Reading The plan: To study history chronologically from prehistory to about AD500. The means: We'll use Hillyer and Huey's two books Young People's Story of the Ancient World as well as numerous other books and resources. Typically each week there will be a list of required reading. There will generally be a novel to be read pertaining to the time period. There may also be some myths and legends to be read. There will also be non-fiction books or selections to be read and perhaps a website to visit or a video to view. You will need to locate any places mentioned on the map, in a historical atlas and on the globe (if we obtain one). Each week you will make two pages for your Book of the Centuries. These pages should be work you can be proud of! They should be well planned, edited and neat. They can be in your best cursive or done on the computer. All art work should be done with care. The pages should pertain to the time period being studied. Each page should be titled. Pages might cover such topics as: A people A great man or woman (a ruler, artist, explorer, scientist) An artifact (tools, buildings, type of writing) A religion An event A discovery or invention A war or battle The daily life of a people A map (route of an explorer, location of a people) An imaginary encounter between two historical personae ??? You might find information on these topics at home or you may need to do additional research at the library or online. Maps should include a legend (which may be printed) in addition to the title. In addition to your two pages, you should also note five to ten important dates in your Book of the Centuries." Regards, Kareni

When I first read Lake Silence, it struck me as pretty silly; however, with each reread I've grown to like it more. (And my husband and I routinely joke about Sproinger happy faces.) I think my feelings were also colored by the minimal connection to the first five books. I didn't object to the parallelism in Wild Country; I rather liked the connection to the greater world of the Others. Like you, I think I'd read Wild Country before Lake Silence when rereading all the books. To date, Lake Silence seems to be only slightly connected to the other books. Regards, Kareni

Some bookish posts ~ Five Fictional Books Inside of Real Book by K Chess https://www.tor.com/2019/03/05/five-fictional-books-inside-of-real-books/#comment-793431 From the Word Wenches site: En Garde! https://wordwenches.typepad.com/word_wenches/2019/03/en-garde.html Forbes recommends ten audiobooks every entrepreneur should listen to https://www.forbes.com/sites/alejandrocremades/2019/02/28/10-audiobooks-every-entrepreneur-must-listen-to/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Audiobooks&utm_term=BookRiot_Audiobooks_DormantSuppress#6d176ab5286c 11-Year-Old Boy Lands Book Deal About Crocheting After His Creations Go Viral https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelkramerbussel/2019/02/26/jonah-larson-crochet-book-deal/#75670bb5f131 Regards, Kareni

Given the recent mentions of Milkman, some here might be interested in today's Kindle deal Milkman: A Novel by Anna Burns for $3.99. Get it here. Regards, Kareni

I happily read Anne Bishop's newest book Wild Country (World of the Others, The Book 2) This book had a large cast of characters; I'd describe it as a busy book, but I enjoyed it. I'll doubtless be rereading it soon since I zipped through it on this first reading. "In this powerful and exciting fantasy set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Others series, humans and the shape-shifting Others will see whether they can live side by side...without destroying one another.There are ghost towns in the world—places where the humans were annihilated in retaliation for the slaughter of the shape-shifting Others.One of those places is Bennett, a town at the northern end of the Elder Hills—a town surrounded by the wild country. Now efforts are being made to resettle Bennett as a community where humans and Others live and work together. A young female police officer has been hired as the deputy to a Wolfgard sheriff. A deadly type of Other wants to run a human-style saloon. And a couple with four foster children—one of whom is a blood prophet—hope to find acceptance. But as they reopen the stores and the professional offices and start to make lives for themselves, the town of Bennett attracts the attention of other humans looking for profit. And the arrival of the outlaw Blackstone Clan will either unite Others and humans...or bury them all. " I'll be curious to hear what others (a pun!) think of it. Regards, Kareni

I agree about that journal. It's impressive already that's she's a writer, and then we see that she's an artist, too. After winning a book yesterday, I have 5992 books on my Kindle or in the cloud. The vast majority of those (5000-plus) were free books, others were won or bought on sale or gifts, and about two hundred belong to my sister; only a dozen or two were bought at full price. Regards, Kareni

While it is fiction, Andy Weir's The Martian contains a lot of science. The book contains: weather, computers, science, and (potato) gardening. Regards, Kareni

Years ago a friend shared a technique that I still use. It does require a wristwatch though perhaps you could substitute something else. Now when I need to remember something, I turn my watch around and say aloud what it is that I need to remember. Later I notice that my watch is turned around and (most of the time) I remember what needs to be done. Good luck finding a technique that works for you. Regards, Kareni

I just finished Clean by Alex Hughes which I enjoyed. I would happily read on in the series. "A RUTHLESS KILLER— OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND I used to work for the Telepath’s Guild before they kicked me out for a drug habit that wasn’t entirely my fault. Now I work for the cops, helping Homicide Detective Isabella Cherabino put killers behind bars. My ability to get inside the twisted minds of suspects makes me the best interrogator in the department. But the normals keep me on a short leash. When the Tech Wars ripped the world apart, the Guild stepped up to save it. But they had to get scary to do it—real scary. Now the cops don’t trust the telepaths, the Guild doesn’t trust me, a serial killer is stalking the city—and I’m aching for a fix. But I need to solve this case. Fast. I’ve just had a vision of the future: I’m the next to die. " Regards, Kareni

I read about a third of Karen Rivers'You Are The Everything before it got a bit odd, and I simply skimmed to the end. This was my second book by a Karen in as many days. "Can you want something—or someone—so badly that you change your destiny? Elyse Schmidt never would have believed it, until it happened to her. When Elyse and her not-so-secret crush, Josh Harris, are the sole survivors of a plane crash, tragedy binds them together. It’s as if their love story is meant to be. Everything is perfect, or as perfect as it can be when you’ve literally fallen out of the sky and landed hard on the side of a mountain—until suddenly it isn’t. And when the pieces of Elyse’s life stop fitting together, what is left? " Regards, Kareni

And I just finished the sixth book in Alex Bledsoe's Tufa series. This wasn't my favorite book in the series though all of them were good reads; it did a good job of tying up loose ends. The Fairies of Sadieville: The Final Tufa Novel by Alex Bledsoe "Charming and lyrical, The Fairies of Sadieville continues Alex Bledsoe's widely-praised contemporary fantasy series, about the song-wielding fairy descendants living in modern-day Appalachia. “This is real.” Three small words on a film canister found by graduate students Justin and Veronica, who discover a long-lost silent movie from more than a century ago. The startlingly realistic footage shows a young girl transforming into a winged being. Looking for proof behind this claim, they travel to the rural foothills of Tennessee to find Sadieville, where it had been filmed. Soon, their journey takes them to Needsville, whose residents are hesitant about their investigation, but Justin and Veronica are helped by Tucker Carding, who seems to have his own ulterior motives. When the two students unearth a secret long hidden, everyone in the Tufa community must answer the most important question of their entire lives — what would they be willing to sacrifice in order to return to their fabled homeland of Tír na nÓg? " Regards, Kareni

Yesterday I read Karen Lord's science fiction The Best of All Possible Worlds: A Novel which I enjoyed. "A proud and reserved alien society finds its homeland destroyed in an unprovoked act of aggression, and the survivors have no choice but to reach out to the indigenous humanoids of their adopted world, to whom they are distantly related. They wish to preserve their cherished way of life but come to discover that in order to preserve their culture, they may have to change it forever. Now a man and a woman from these two clashing societies must work together to save this vanishing race—and end up uncovering ancient mysteries with far-reaching ramifications. As their mission hangs in the balance, this unlikely team—one cool and cerebral, the other fiery and impulsive—just may find in each other their own destinies . . . and a force that transcends all." ** I also reread SK Dunstall's Alliance and Confluence yet again. Regards, Kareni

You might take a look at Hoagland's The Way Life Works: The Science Lover's Illustrated Guide to How Life Grows, Develops, Reproduces, and Gets Along Regards, Kareni