Thursday Thirteen #422

Making laundry Real Simple. I wouldn't go so far as to say I enjoy doing laundry, but it is the one domestic chore I'm good at. Just because I'm good doesn't mean I can't get better, and I found these laundry tips on the Real Simple website.

1. Choose a top-loading washer and leave lid up between uses to help reduce prevent mildew.

2. Clean the lint trap after every dryer load. This will improve air flow, making your dryer more efficient. Never let the lint trap become full, because that can be a fire hazard. 

3. Pre-treat stains ASAP, especially if you aren't going to wash the item for days. This way you won't waste time trying to remove a set-in stain.

4. Read garment labels. If it says "dry clean only," then take it to the cleaners. If it's "dry clean recommended" or "dry clean" without the "only," then you may be able to hand wash.

5. Always wash and dry your towels separately. They shed lint, which can cling to your clothes.

6. Always wash bras in a mesh bag. It's not only better for the bra, it's safer for the washer. If the underwire happens to come lose, the mesh bag will help prevent it damaging the washer drum.

7. Mesh bags are good for socks, too. It helps keep them together and helps prevent being stuck with those lonely single socks.

8. Change your sheets at least once/week – more often if you sweat at night. Even if they still look clean, your sheets and pillowcases are collecting sweat and oils from your skin and hair.

9. Wash blankets at least every other week. Heavier fabric retains food crumbs, pet hair, etc.

10. Wash your bath mat weekly. They can quickly become breeding grounds for germs and mildew.

11. Unless there's a visible stain on the lap or one of the legs, turn your jeans inside out before you wash. This will help keep your jeans looking better longer.

12.  Wash your bathing suit after each use. Beach salt, pool chemicals and sunscreen can damage swimwear. 

13. Wash mittens, scarves, and gloves at least 3 times each winter.

WWW.WEDNESDAY

 

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

PS I no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.

1. What are you currently reading? Dark City Dames: The Women Who Defined Film Noir by Eddie Muller. Eddie is TCM's Czar of Noir (and, sigh, my TV boyfriend) so it's hard to imagine a better host as we meet 15 of the most influential actresses in the genre of film noir.

 

When as a teenager I discovered film noir, I dismissed it as misogynistic. The femmes fatales were all so dark, so hostile. In my enthusiastic but unsophisticated feminism I missed an important point: the films themselves were violent and cynical by definition, and within the world created by film noir, these women had clear power, motivation and agency – dimensional qualities they often don't have in sunnier comedies and musicals of the 1940s and 1950s. Today I'm more receptive to learning about these actresses, their films and their lasting cultural impact, and not just because I'm in love with Eddie.

2. What did you recently finish reading? The Guest List by Lucy Foley. Oh, what a thrill ride this was! A rich, beautiful and ambitious publishing exec is about to marry her rich, handsome and ambitious reality TV star fiance in an exclusive wedding on a secluded Irish island. On the surface, it looks perfect. The closer we look, the more fissures we see, and the more dangerous the wedding becomes.

Someone has been sending the bride anonymous warnings not to marry the groom. Who? Why? The groom is concerned that his best man is a bit too much of a loose cannon and too fond of booze and coke for such a high-profile role. For his part, under his hard partying facade, the best man is jealous of the uber-successful groom. The bridesmaid is beautiful but achingly fragile and as she tries to overcome trauma in her recent past, she's afraid she could crack under the pressures of her wedding party role. The "plus one," her husband a close friend of the glamorous bride, feels miserably out of place in this fast company. The wedding planner is valiantly trying to keep this disparate group on track. 

Then a storm hits. The generator goes out. It's hostile and windy outside, pitch black and maybe just as dangerous inside. One of the waitresses screams that there's just "so much blood." Is someone dead? Who? How? Is there a killer loose? So many suspects, so many motives.

I really enjoyed this worthy homage to Agatha Christie. 

3. What will you read next? I don't know.

 

 

 

I am a lucky gal

When I heard the news during tonight's game, I cried. The emotions stirred by Ryne Sandberg's death were powerful, but not all bad.

I was fortunate to see him play. He was so good, so reliable I took him for granted. MVP, 10-time All Star, Hall of Famer. 

What's more, my favorite grandmother loooved Ryne Sandberg. He was not only her favorite Cub, he was one of her favorite people on the planet. I enjoyed watching baseball with her and when she would get started on her Ryno, I'd tease her. "You like me, but you love him." OR "If Ryno and I were both drowning and you could only save one of us, I'd be dead, wouldn't I?" How she'd laugh. "Oh, Gal!" she'd say. "But that's not a denial, Grandma." She'd laugh some more.

I love this memory. I love thinking of Grandma finally getting to meet her Ryno in heaven. And yes, I am certain both my Grandma and Ryno are in heaven. I know that just like I know the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

I am a Cub fan. I am a Christian. I am lucky that I have things in my life I love this much, even if they make me cry once in a while.  

 

Sunday Stealing

Living in the World, Not on It

1) You're on a trip taking a tour through the jungle. You have a backpack with some food, first aid supplies, a pocket knife, a flashlight and a couple bottles of water. Somehow, you get separated from your group. By night fall you haven't found your group and haven't heard them looking for you. How long do you think you would be able to survive on your own? I struggle with hypotheticals like this because I promise you, there is no way I would ever be in this situation. This old gal is never going to hike through the jungle, dependent on the contents of a backpack. That said, I like to think I'd survive until my group finds me. I remember what they taught us at Girl Scout camp, "If you get lost, stay put because you're easier to find if you're not moving." 

2) Do you think it's okay to lie to spare someone's feelings? Why? Yes. If it's something that doesn't really matter and it makes the other person feel good, why not? BTW, my friend Elaine never does this. Example: We met for lunch after I'd completed a dental adventure. She knew how expensive, painful and time consuming it had been. I proudly asked, "How do you like my beautiful new smile?" She shrugged and said, "It's OK, I guess." I know if I needed help, there is nothing Elaine wouldn't do for me. Except lie. 

3) If a talking doll were made to resemble you, what 3 phrases would it say? First: The thing of it is ... Second: Oh, hell! Third: I'm such an idiot.

4) If the super power to be able to read minds at will was possible, do you think it would be... cool and helpful, intrusive and wrong, manipulative or maddening? Well, not maddening because it's "at will" so I can turn it off when I don't feel like reading minds. I think all the other adjectives would be true at times. 

5) Are drunk confessions things people can't bring themselves to say sober or just the crazy ramblings of an influenced and intoxicated mind? I don't think you say things that haven't ever occurred to you, just because you're drunk. I recall reading something the blogging buddy of a Sat9er said in her comments about Mel Gibson, that Hollywood had turned its back on him because he's a Christian. Well, no. It was because of his sexist, anti-Semitic drunken rants. I know Mel maintains that insulting female cops and blaming Jews for all the wars in the world was just the result of "a bunch of tequilas" and shouldn't define the rest of his life. Maybe the latter is true and he should be allowed to rehabilitate his career and image. But the former is not. 

 

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Rhythm of My Heart (1991)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Rod Stewart sings that the words "I love you" roll off his tongue. When did you most recently say, "I love you?" Last week, on the phone with my oldest friend.

 

2) In "Rhythm of My Heart," he recalls running down the alley with his lady love. Does your neighborhood have alleys? My neighborhood does, but not my block. We're mostly multi-unit buildings with parking lots behind the buildings, butting up against one another.

 

3) Rod is well known for his coif. Are you having a good hair day today? Yes.

 

4) Rod was the youngest of 5. He remembers that, as a family, they enjoyed singing with Al Jolson records. Did your family have singalongs? Nope.

5) He is proud of his luxury car collection, which includes a Rolls Royce, a Ferrari and the one rumored to be his favorite: a classic mid-70s Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopio. Looking back on years as a driver and a car owner, which vehicle is your all-time favorite? I don't drive and don't have a personal favorite car, but I fondly remember my uncle's 1963 Mustang convertible. I have wonderful memories of him taking little me places in that car.

 

My uncle's Mustang was blue w/a canvas roof

6) Rod turned 80 this year and he's still touring. Once known for his hard partying, he takes better care of himself now and rides a stationery bike every day. What steps do you take to keep fit? I stretch each morning, do yoga once a week, and try to drink more water.

7) In 1991, when this song was popular, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry died. Do you have a favorite Star Trek character? Nope. 

8) Also in 1991, Seinfeld was a big deal on network television. Today the entire series is available to stream and on DVD. When you binge a show, are you more likely to pop in a disc or turn to a streaming service? I'm most likely to watch a marathon on a cable channel.

 

9) Random question: Have you ever cared for a hamster or a gerbil? (Extra non-existent Saturday 9 points for its name.) Nope.

 

 

A tale of two conversations

 

I like talking on the phone. It lets me hear inflections, so I don't need emoticons. It helps me feel connected. I had two nice, long talks this week and they made all the difference to my peace of mind.

Violet likes hexagons. My niece and I facetimed as she gave her baby a bottle. I was thinking about my niece a lot because her maternity leave is up and I wondered how she was transitioning from stay-at-home mom to working mom. She shares a warm relationship with her in-laws and she is happy that Grandma and Grandpa are providing loving – and no-cost – in-home daycare. I got to see 6-week-old Violet and listen to her mewl. Her eyes are very big, round and brown. She's lost some of the hair she had at birth. One of my niece's cats kept photo bombing and he looked so confused when I called out to him. "Where's that noise coming from?" Both Violet's parents and grandparents read to her all the time and she likes the high contrast books best. My niece says that black-on-white and white-on-black hexagons seem to appeal to her most. She's completed 70 books and earned her first-ever award from the local library for the latest, which was in both English and Spanish. It's important Violet be comfortable with Spanish because of Grandpa Marco. He's the birth mother's father and the only one of her family interested in having a relationship with Violet. Grandpa Marco was born and raised in Mexico and my niece and her husband want Violet to feel that connection to him.

My oldest friend sounds good. I am concentrating on the vibe of the call, not the content. She was friendly and engaged, which is good to hear. But her cognition is wacky. For example, when we were talking about my upcoming Paul McCartney concert and the demand for tickets. She told me that when she saw Ringo play Ontario, CA, back in 2023, the hall was completely sold out. I recall that particular concert made national news because no one showed up. There were several things she said that were similarly untrue, but I let them go. It disturbs me, of course, but doesn't really matter, does it? The important thing is that she wasn't drowning in the blues.

There's no real substitute for conversation, is there? 

Get ready for Joy 2025

Every year I take the August Happiness Challenge. Here's a brief explanation of the Challenge: "Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world."

 You're invited to join me. Visit me with a link to your daily August happy, and I'll come read it. I've found that experiencing other peoples' everyday pleasures is a great mood lifter.

It helps if your August Happiness Challenge posts are marked with an icon. Just something that means "happy" to you. Here's a pair of my past happys.

THE HAPPY BEGINS AUGUST 1!

Thursday Thirteen #421

 Thirteen Jackies. Next week, on July 28, we'll see the 96th anniversary of Jacqueline Bouvier's birth. No other First Lady has had her pop culture impact. 31 years after her death, she's still fascinates. Producer Ryan Murphy recently made news by announcing his Jackie, the actress who will play John Kennedy, Jr.'s mother, in his upcoming mini-series about JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.

Murphy decided on Oscar and Emmy nominee Naomi Watts. Here are 13 other actresses who have also portrayed the former First Lady.

1. Jaclyn Smith. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (1981).

2. Blair Brown. Kennedy (1983).

3. Roma Downey. A Woman Named Jackie (1991). This mini-series got tepid reviews at the time, but I was pleasantly surprised by Downey's performance (if not the series' Lifetime/Hallmark tone).

4. Joanne Whalley. Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (2000).

5. Stephanie Romanov. 13 days (2000).

6. Jill Hennessey. Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot (2001).

7. Jeanne Tripplehorn, Grey Garden (2009).

8. Katie Holmes. The Kennedys (2011). If you're watching for iconic hair and clothes, this is a good choice.

9. Minka Kelly. The Butler (2013).

10. Kat Steffens. Parkland (2013).

11. Ginnifer Goodwin. Killing Kennedy (2013).

12. Natalie Portman. Jackie (2016). I believe she did the best job. She also had the best script and the most innovative director.

 13. Jodi Balfour. The Crown. (2017).

I close with the genuine article.

 

 

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

WWW.WEDNESDAY

 

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

PS I no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.

1. What are you currently reading? The Guest List by Lucy Foley. A thrilling homage to Agatha Christie. An ambitious publisher and her reality TV star boyfriend are getting married in style on a secluded Irish island. She's beautiful, he's gorgeous, they're rich and in love. What could go wrong? HA! Soon enough they wedding is plagued by a massive storm that sweeps in spotty internet and power outages ... and a lot of blood.

 

We have a variety of narrators: the bride, the wedding planner, the best man, the bridesmaid, and the "plus one." None is as they seem. The way Foley lets the story unfold, we're not initially sure who the victim is until it's too late to help, which makes it even more involving.

 

I like that it's set in the old UK, where names like Aiofe and Angus are as commonplace as Emma and Ethan would be here. It adds a little extra dollop of charm. 

2. What did you recently finish reading? The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz. Spellman Investigations is a family firm. Mom, Dad and their two daughters handle the cases together, with an occasional assist from Uncle Ray. When the oldest daughter, Isabel, begins doggedly working a very, very cold case, the family finds itself in peril. Obviously it's retribution for Isabel sticking her nose where it doesn't belong, right? 2 + 2 = 4. Yet it's not that simple ...

While everything I wrote above is true, it doesn't come near capturing the charm and readability of this book. The Spellmans are warm, loving, funny and beyond wacky. They take eccentric to another level. This is Book #1 in this entertaining series, and I know I'll revisit other "cases."

3. What will you read next? Dark City Dames: The Women Who Defined Film Noir by Eddie Muller.

 

 

Sunday Stealing

Stolen from Follow That Dream

1. My bestie and I once ... laughed for hours on end. I miss that.

2. When I'm nervous ... I fidget. Also when I'm bored.

3. My hair ... is a little too short right now, but it will grow.

4. When I turn to the left, I see ... the TV

5. My favorite aunt ... has no competition because she is my only aunt. 

6. I have a hard time understanding ... conspiracy theorists. I hear what they believe, shake my head, and wonder how they can be so gullible. Example: Epstein died in prison in 2019. Donald Trump was President, Bill Barr was Attorney General. Yet conspiracy-loving Trump supporters believe "they" (the Deep State, the Elites, the Democrats, etc.) killed Epstein and "they" covered it up. Um ... In 2019, "they" would have had to include Trump and his Department of Justice. BTW, I don't believe Epstein was murdered. Suicide is not uncommon in our prison system, especially among convicted sex offenders. QAnon is nonsense. 9/11 was not an inside job. Trump lost in 2020. Barack Obama was born in Hawaii. Some people have a psychological need to believe these conspiracy theories. I suppose I should feel sorry for them, but I don't understand them. 

7. You know I like you if ... I make time for you. I think availability is important.

8. When I was 5 years old ... I had a bright red jacket with a hood that was lined in white.

 

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: It All Depends On You (1959)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Shirley Bassey sings that she could be happy or sad. As you answer these questions, do lean more toward happy or sad? Happy. Or, I suppose, it would be more precise to borrow from the sailors and say I'm on an even keel.

 

2) She tells us that she can save money or spend it. Do you try to stick to a budget? I try. I'm not always successful, but I try.

 

3) By the time Shirley Bassey recorded "It All Depends on You," it was already an oldie, written back in 1926. Can you think of a song, book, or movie that you enjoy today that you believe audiences will relate to 2125? As long as kids continue to play with Barbie dolls, I bet the Barbie movie will endure. I get such a kick out of Ryan Gosling's performance. He's Kenough! 

 

 

 

4) Though she has risen to the title Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE), her childhood allowed her little education. She dropped out at 15 and got a factory job to help her family. How old were you when you got your first full-time job? What was it? At 17 I got a job as a secretary (this was before "administrative assistants").

5) A favorite of the Royal Family, Shirley performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Party at Buckingham Palace. How would you like to celebrate your next anniversary or birthday? Are you in the mood for a big blow out, or would you prefer something low key? This year, Paul McCartney is coming to Chicago to celebrate me. I think that qualifies as a blow out. 😉

 

6) Madame Tussaud's has two wax figurines of Shirley – one in London and a second in Las Vegas. Do you enjoy wax museums, or do you think they're creepy? I think they're creepy, and I enjoy them anyway.

7)  In 1959, when this song was popular, most women wore nylons on a daily basis and the average price per pair was $1. What socks or leg wear – if any – do you have on right now? I'm barefoot.

8) Also in 1959, Alaska became our 49th state. Today, cruise lines showcase Alaska on 4- or 7-night cruises. What do you consider the perfect length for a vacation trip? Is a 3-day weekend too short? Are two weeks away from home too long? What's your ideal? I think 4 or 5 nights away is perfect. 

 

9) Random question: Which cable channel would you watch more often – one that shows nothing but classic sitcoms, or one that shows nothing but new movies? Classic sitcoms.

 

 

 

Thursday Thirteen #420

Preparing for tariffs. While President Trump insists that, over the long term, his new tariff policy will result in a stronger economy, most experts agree that short-term we can expect to see higher prices. After tooling around the internet, I've found 13 items we may wish to stock up on now, before retailers have to restock and reprice to reflect the cost of the tariffs.

Check the expiration date on the items you currently have on hand. If they are going to expire anytime in 2026, it's worth your while to replenish your personal supply now. 

1. Batteries

2. Toothpaste

3. OTC pain killers and cold meds

4. Rice

5. Canned soup

6. Coffee

7. Olive Oil

8. Laundry detergent 

9. Body wash 

10. Light bulbs 

11. Toilet paper/paper towels

The following items don't expire but are likely to climb in price when tariffs go into effect 

12. Small electronics, like blenders, microwaves and portable hair dryers

13. Hardware and tools, like flashlights, nails, nuts and bolts

 

PS I'm not suggesting hoarding. Just use your at-home storage space wisely and take advantage of pre-tariff prices when you still can.

 

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

 

 

I'm in!

 

Paul McCartney will be ending his North American tour in Chicago on November 24 and 25. My birthday is November 22. I take this as a sign from the universe that I must be in attendance for one of those shows. 

There was a lot of stress involved in getting me a ticket yesterday. But – spoiler alert – I'm in.

Days ago I requested a pre-sale code for each night, which arrived on my phone at 9:00 AM yesterday. I logged in with one on my laptop and the other on my phone. The pre-sale started at 10:00 and here's the message I got on my laptop. The one on my phone said I was 37000+ in line. I was not hopeful. The United Center has a capacity of less than 25,000 for concerts.

 

The ticket prices – which hadn't been announced before Tuesday – ranged from $40.60 to (gulp!) $4,135.90. For 50 minutes, I watched the queue number tick down oh-so slowly. I did yoga stretches as my eyes darted from phone to laptop and back again. I listened to Paul songs and wondered how I was going to pay for my ticket in the unlikely event I got one. I looked at the pad of lined paper on my coffee table that has an overview of my finances. I have a "slush fund" that I started back in March, seeded with money from my tax refund. 

My "slush fund" is different from my "household fund," which is money I have earmarked for sudden home expenses (like a broken window or a new refrigerator). It's not my "emergency fund," which is a 120-day CD and saved for unexpected taxes or a medical bill for me or the cats. I had unspecified plans for the "slush fund," adding $10 to it here or there, working toward hazy dreams of a someday kitchen remodel. 

On Tuesday morning, my "slush fund" had $815. Right now? $27.46.

Both my phone and my laptop let me in to the sale at the same time. I don't understand how that happened. I was so very far back. I can only imagine that many other fans had their credit cards rejected or choked when they saw the price of the seats that were left. I had an advantage. I only want one seat.

I opted for "best available" on both screens. Under $1,000 for two reasons: I didn't want ground floor in front of the stage because I'm too short to see anything and because, well, I don't have it. 

I got section 101, lower level, left of stage. 24 hours later, seats in my section are selling for $2,500+ each on Vivid Seats. 

I forget how popular Paul McCartney is. I have loved him since I was 6 years old, the same way I love blue skies and a cat's purr. It's basic and consistent and forever. It never occurs to me that other people love him, too. So the ticket demand and the price did surprise me.

But I am going. He is 83 and I am 67. I am aware that time is running short. My knight will be here for my birthday, and I will be there to see him. 

WWW.WEDNESDAY

 

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

PS I no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.

1. What are you currently reading? The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz. Our narrator, Isabel Spellman, is the oldest daughter in a family of private investigators. She lives in the upstairs apartment of her parents' home/office and so she spends most of her time in the nucleus of this dysfunctional – funny and loving but, make no mistake, dysfunctional – world. Izzy tries to successfully move among the rest of us, but she struggles. She is, however, funny and clever and very good at her job. She's also very good company.

Yes, Kwizgiver, this is a reread! When sorting my books, I came upon the Spellman series and found that I remembered little about the mysteries themselves but loved the vibe Lutz created. This inspired me to revisit them one more time before I part with them.

2. What did you recently finish reading? Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden by M.C. Beaton. The 9th book in the series started out promisingly. Agatha has the blues and impulsively decides to take off on holiday. Without doing much research, she chooses a small seaside resort out of season, assuming it would be quiet and relaxing retreat. Instead she's bored. Everything about the hotel is old and dull, including the other guests. She's quickly disenchanted and is about to leave when – guess what – there's a murder in town. She can't resist involving herself. 

That's the thing about our Aggie: she can't help herself. While the mystery itself was pretty good, and the atmosphere at the resort is well defined and seems very real, Agatha does something very hurtful and selfish. Her motives are human: she's vulnerable and needy. But her actions are far from virtuous. Frankly, she reminds me a bit of my oldest friend in real life, and I just wasn't in the mood to justify self-centered behavior.

3. What will you read next? The Wedding Guest by Lucy Foley.

 

 

The view from the top

As we go into the All Star break, my Cubs are in first place. I am, of course, thrilled. I'm also surprised. I knew we were improved over last year, but I didn't expect them to be this good.

 I'm especially happy for our phenomenal center fielder, Pete Crow-Armstrong. PCA! PCA! He's a fan favorite. An all-star who hits, has a terrific arm, and is a demon on the base pads. He's got a relationship with the Bleacher Bums, who paid him this unusual tribute. 19 of them stripped down to spell out his name on their chests in Pantone 294.  (I love the hyphen.)

 

So I'm having fun. I miss Anthony Rizzo, of course. This is the first season since 2012 that I haven't watched him anchor the corner. There's a hole in my heart.

 

Book fair recap

I clocked 7 volunteer hours for this year's annual library book sale. First I built boxes for the book sorters to sort into, later I was reunited with my boxes, now full of fiction, mysteries, sci-fi/fantasy, classics and young adult. I took them out of the boxes and placed them onto the designated sale tables.

These labors earned me the right to peruse the books that were left after the sale and just take whatever I want. I took two oversized books for myself – one about Princess Diana, the other a Frank Sinatra career retrospective – and grabbed a paperback mystery by Karin Slaughter for my aunt.

And now for my annual observation.  Every year there's a book donated in bigger numbers than any other; a book many of my neighbors bought and then decided not to keep. I suspect it's a tome chosen by local book clubs. Without further ado, here's the dubious honor roll:

2025: Living History by Hillary Clinton 

2024: Water for Elephants

2023: My Life by Bill Clinton

2022, 2019, 2018 and 2017: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2016: The Help

2015: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

2014: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2013: The DaVinci Code

2012: Sixkill (a Spenser Mystery)

2011: The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

2010: Scarlett, the Sequel to Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind

2009: My Life by Bill Clinton

2008: The DaVinci Code

2007: The Nanny Diaries

2006: The Corrections