Audibleblog just announced Project Hail Mary as best audiobook of 2021. Told it was good.

@Bill Lambrecht She had confidence indeed! When her dad failed at farming he took to touring as a gambler, she wrote a book about him titled “Lost Traveler.” Guess they had a contentious relationship and I think he developed a drinking problem, too. I’ll read it, of course. I’m almost done with her novel “Whose Names Are Unknown.“ it’s good and often gut-wrenching. Her experience growing up in a dug-out, and especially her experiences from working in dust bowl refugee camps, really added authenticity to her writing. I‘m finding her book more concerned with personal families so far. It’s been decades since I read Grapes of Wrath, (or watched Henry Fonda’s movie) but it seems Steinbeck dealt with generalized society more and individual families and typical day to day living less. Just too bad Sanora’s came out so much later. There‘s a book published 2021 titled “Unknown No More: Recovering Sanora Babb.” It’s a collection of her essays and poems on gender, race and environment or something close to that. She was ahead of her time, that’s for sure—inter-racial marriage before it was legal, fought blacklisting, and had numerous diverse affairs with fellow writers. Apparently she fell hard for William Saroyan. He didn’t return the romantic interest, but they were good friends with years of correspondence.. From what little I read about him, Saroyan gambled, abused alcohol and ended up broke several times. Freud whispers in my ear that perhaps Ms. Babb was attracted to W.S. trying to resolve her old daddy issues. Haha! Who knows, it’s really too audacious of me to speculate on dead peoples’ motivations for romantic entanglements. (Though it’s safe to do since they’re aren’t around to accuse me of slander. haha) I’m really hoping the 2021 compilation book is good reading. 🤞🏼Will let you know, as I’m now completely smitten with Sanora. (And more than a little jealous that an Indian Chief liked her enough as a young one to give her a cool Indian name! How cool is that?!)

Sandra, Yes, please, add me to any lists available. I’ll like hearing what’s shaking at New Bay Books. Alas, I have no shirt-tail relations in the Maryland region, so I have no ties. I just love natural spaces and good /writing reading. I ordered Dawn Anyway yesterday with high hopes. Glad you were able to use some of my comments about Arpeggio of Redwings for New Bay communications. It deserves a wide readership. Really sorry the author didn’t see the book, but how wonderful her family ultimately made her dream come true. It’s a great way to live beyond the shabby short human lifespan.

By Kogan, Rick Kogan. Wish I could edit my mistakes here, as I am embarrassingly prone to them. I beg the kind reader’s mercy—and if not that, at least a little tolerance.

Copy and paste paste link in your browser to read more about Edith by Rogan published in the Chicago Tribune.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ent-edith-mccormick-revealed-kogan-0206-20220202-5wqrbbwbyvc7xiru7k637y2mve-story.html?fbclid=IwAR1xzwQ7XTMzezD3x2GkR6cEq__Sjv8a1zciwsYBwILoX-sZgMW128uNP7E

I remember Steven Roberts‘ journalism mostly from PBS Washington Week in Review way back when Paul Duke was moderating. (I think It was during Duke’s time.) Was more impressed by Cokie. In the book Steven says Cokie said she never entered politics because her husband was a journalist and she thought it would be a conflict of interest for him. As to her pop, I imagine you’re right, she was probably always waiting for that call. But if no crash site was found, do we know if the guys didn’t just runaway to party in the South Pacific?

It was my pleasure, Sandra. I posted it on my FB page, too. Here’s a response I think you and the family will like. And thanks fir the backstory on the book’s creation! From my friend Laura: “ Yes, thank you for your review, Karen. It speaks to me so much! My ancestry is from that region going back to the 1600s, and I love it there. I was happy to see the book available and inexpensive online. I’ll have my copy tomorrow. 😍”

https://www.bing.com/fd/ls/GLinkPing.aspx?IG=A0FF9649A6914E9B9B25F118FB98CAFF&&ID=SERP,5134.1&SUIH=__8_v4WLDNxyqGlkExnMaw&redir=aHR0cHM6Ly9wYW50YWdyYXBoLmNvbS9tZXRyb3BvbGUtcG9vbC1oYWxsL2ltYWdlX2UzMDYwODI0LTk4N2UtNTYxOC04NWZhLTY2ODdjMzU3ZjMwMS5odG1s

A book set in contemporary times that explores similar ethical issues is My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. (Washington Square Press 2004, 2005.) It’s worth a read, too. Picoult has a mixed-bag of books out, but this is my favorite by her.

😄😄 Re: Free love in “Edith.“ Don’t worry, nothing R-rated to offend your delicate sensitivities. Better off skipping bits about the arrogant father! What a hypocritical sexist, conservative jerk of a dad. He did give a lot to non-profits, though, which Edith emulated. How do I know “Edith’s” author? I met Andrea Ross in the late 1990’s. She was the right-hand staffer for George Raab— Brookfield (IL) Zoo’s Executive Director and long-time world-wide Zoo guru in the animal conservation movement and promotion of naturalized wild animal exhibits. I was consulting with a team of others on the initial plans for Brookfield Zoo’s new “Hamill Family Play Zoo.“ It opened 2001. (A mini-play zoo within the zoo designed to encourage young children’s compassion and interest in nature through hands-on developmentally appropriate play. ) Andrea was a key staffer assigned to coordinate the new feature’s planning. (And I’m betting assigned to keep George in the loop.” So lucky me! I got to know Andrea through a mutual love of animals and children and we’ve kept touch. She‘s a librarian now and does lots with animal rescue. I haven’t asked her if she’s working on a new book. With “Edith“ paperback release, she’s been doing a lot of promotion work In the Chicago area. Sounds like she’s enjoying it. Oh, and during Andrea’s time at Brookfield Zoo she wrote her book “Let the Lions Roar: The Evolution of Brookfield Zoo.” ( Chicago Zoological Society, 1997.) And, of course, in that book she wrote a bit about Edith Roosevelt McCormick since Edith donated land and $$ for the founding of the zoo. However, unlike her hands-on approach to opera houses she founded, Edith was never “hands-on” with the Zoo‘s development. No muck-raking for Edith, she left that got the tabloids of her time. 😄 I’m not sure if Andrea became enamored with Edith during her research on Brookfield Zoo or not. But it’s likely. On a related note (pun intendEd) Andrea’s brother (Peter Friederici—I think) also has been published. He wrote “Suburban Wilds,” a good while ago. it was good non-fiction, but I haven’t kept up to see if he wrote subsequent books. So little time, so much to read. Don‘t you just love how one thing leads to another in surprising ways! Kind of similar to you editing “To Hell with the Lid Off.” I haven’t gotten around to reading that, but will soon. 🪶

Full disclosure: Author is a long time friend, but please don’t hold that against her.

The audio just went on sale on Audible for $5. Ends 1/12/22. Good deal.

I’m surprised at the amount of response I received from a FB post I made on this book. One reader said the writing was so vivid she could taste the dust. Gee, wish I’d written that because it’s true.

Weak book. Didn’t think much of it.