What did you read in ~~ August 2022

[Alias Reader]

Here is the Folder to tell us what your monthly reads for August 2022 were.

Please provide:
~ A GoodReads link
~ A few sentences telling us how you felt about the book.
~ How would you rate the book

[Alias Reader]

This wasn't a great reading month for me. I already groused extensively about these books during the month, so I spare you and be brief in my monthly round-up. There was only one book that I really enjoyed. Oh well, on to September !

My August reads:

The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin by Masha Gessen
Non Fiction
eBook
Rate 2/5 - did not meet my expectations
This book was published in 2012. So it's dated. Still, the background it provides about Putin's rise is useful.

I was looking for a biography. Unfortunately, this is not one. It's more about the author who is a journalist and her personal experiences with the politics in Russia. Putin is discussed but not as much as I would have hoped for given the title of the book. Still, what she writes about Putin is chilling.

Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris
Rate 4/5 - exceeded my expectations
Audio Book - Read by Author

This audiobook was the highlight of my month. I think with his books, audio is the way to go. When he reads his works it adds something special to it.

As with most of his books this one is short vignettes that range from laugh out loud funny to poignant tales.

I gave it a 4/5 rating. If you are a fan of Sedaris I think you will enjoy his latest offering

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old by Hendrik Groen
Rate 2/5 Did not meet my expectations
eBook and Audio Book

Hendrik Groen, pseudonym of Peter de Smet, is a Dutch writer. The book is translated into English by Hester Velmans. The novel is written in a day by day diary form. This is book 1 of 3.

I started to listen to the audio. The narrator is Derek Jacobi . He is a British classical actor. He is very good. However, the volume for the audio book is wildly inconsistent and made it impossible to listen to. If there was a sound engineer he/she was MIA. I had to switch to the eBook. Which is unfortunate as Derek Jacobi really brings the main character to life.

This book is a one year diary about Hendrik's stay in a nursing home in Holland. I found the story to be very poignant. There are some heavy topics such as Alzheimer, stroke, diabetic amputation and euthanasia .

Hendrik is grumpy but spunky. He bands together with a handful of other folks in the nursing home. They call their group the Old-but-Not-Dead Club. The group does their best to be there for each other in their time of need. if I ever find myself in an assisted living situation, I hope that there is a Hendrik Groen there with me.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Rate 2/5 Did not meet my expectations
eBook
This book is super popular right now. Unfortunately, I am not usually a romance / chick lit reader and this one didn't turn me into one.

The plot is pretty basic. Nora is a book agent in NYC. She has a married sister, Libby, who has two kids and one on the way.

The thin plot starts when Nora is 7 minutes late for a lunch with an editor named Charlie. Due to miscommunication, this is a big deal and they don't talk for years. Libby, decides she needs a 3 week vacation in the small town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. Nora is the agent for an author who sets her book in that town. Off they go. Of course Nora meets Charlie there and you can guess the rest. The constant quips between Charlie and Nora are exhausting. Who talks like this all the time? Libby's big mystery is why she is here without her husband. I found her character childish and so annoying I didn't care why he wasn't there.

Finally, the book is around 400 pages and just drags on and is repetitious . For a book that discusses book editing a lot, the one for this book seemed to be MIA.

[Petra]

Alias, I hope September is a stellar month for your reading.

I'm most disappointed in the Putin book. It would be interesting to learn more about the man and his thinking.

I'll stay away from Book Lovers. I'm not into romance books either. Thanks for that heads up.

[Petra]

Here are the books that I read in August:

Our English and French Watering-Place - (4-star) two short essays memorializing two favourite vacation locations of Charles Dickens; one in England, one in France. His descriptions, humour and love for these two towns comes through strongly. The essays made for wonderful Summer reading of beach town resorts and the vacations one takes there.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Push - (4-star; audio) A young mother questions her parenting skills and observations. The story gets chilly and, as a reader, one is never quite certain what is happening.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (very short; the less one knows going in, the better the story will be)

The Last Graduate - (4-star; audio) The second book of a trilogy. I enjoyed the first, A Deadly Education, a lot. The second book did not disappoint and continued the story along very well. I am looking forward to reading the third book.
This trilogy is light, interesting, humorous, unique and highly entertaining.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Woodlanders - (4-star) It's been probably 40 years or so since I've read a book by Hardy. I had forgotten how atmospheric his writing is. One is very immersed into the woods and forests around this little village.
The story of the woodlanders is interesting and surprisingly modern. There are questions about gender inequality & choices, Societal rules/standards, and one's happiness in Life. Well told, well written and interesting throughout.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Alias Reader]

Petra wrote: "Alias, I hope September is a stellar month for your reading.

I'm most disappointed in the Putin book. It would be interesting to learn more about the man and his thinking.
."

Deb, read it and liked it more than I did. It just wasn't what I was looking for. I wanted a biography of Putin.

Thanks for the good wishes for September. Right back at ya !

[Alias Reader]

Petra, I've put The Push and Our English and French watering place on my TBR list. Thanks !

I see that The Push has over 32,000 reviews on Amazon and was a Good Morning American book club pick. How did I miss this one ?
Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[madrano]

Alias Reader wrote: "This wasn't a great reading month for me. I already groused extensively about these books during the month, so I spare you and be brief in my monthly round-up. There was only one book that I really..."

It was a down month for you, Alias. I contributed with the Gessen book, i fear. Still, it fit what i wanted. It’s all I can do to read good bios of US Presidents at this point.

[Alias Reader]

madrano wrote:
It was a down month for you, Alias. I contributed with the Gessen book, i fear."

No, don't feel that way, It's not the book. It just wasn't what I was looking for. I also selected it as it was one of the shorter books on Putin.

[madrano]

Petra, your review for Push is tempting. Oddly, when i clicked on the Hardy review a warning appeared and i couldn’t continue. I’ve never seen that on GoodReads.

As a fan of Hardy’s novels, your description of instant immersion is perfect. It’s been too long since I’ve read his work. Thanks for the nudge.

[madrano]

I had a busy reading month, primarily working on the 100 Challenge. As I have discussed these books elsewhere on these Book Nook pages, i’ll mainly just link to the GR blurbs.

The Outsiders--S.E. Hinton. An excellent YA, wearing well after all these years.

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism--Robin DiAngelo. Talks to white people about our unacknowledged prejudices. I’m still not sure how i feel about this book. Most of her points were well taken and i particularly appreciated suggested approaches to address racial issues between individuals.

All the Horses of Iceland--Sarah Tolmie Short adventure story, somewhat based on a myth, about how famous Icelandic horses arrived there. Enjoyable.

The Premonitions Bureau: A True Account of Death Foretold--Sam Knight. This is really more a bio of a doctor in the UK who tried to better understand premonitions of large events. This was a mixed bag but i liked learning more about the medical angles of the brain.

Should We Stay or Should We Go--Lionel Shriver. A novel with varied endings, approaching the way an 80 yr. old couple address their end—mutual suicide?

Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster—Svetlana Alexievich. Excellent presentation from survivors of the nuclear disaster, in their own words. Parts were quite graphic but needed to make the tragic points.

Five Little Indians—Michelle Good. Novel about five children who were sent to schools designed to educate Indigenous away from their tribal identification. Now adult, how do they cope?

Butcher's Crossing—John Williams. Basically, a western but with the thoughtful premise of a young man wanting to connect with nature. While i liked the information and story, I felt dissatisfied with the ending.

The Blackhouse—Peter May. Good mystery with numerous layers. A local man returns to the northern island of his youth to solve a murder. I didn’t see the outcome, at least not as presented.

[Alias Reader]

madrano wrote: "I had a busy reading month,..."

You certainly did, deb. Also a very eclectic selection of books. Thanks for sharing !

[Petra]

madrano wrote: "Oddly, when i clicked on the Hardy review a warning appeared and i couldn’t continue. I’ve never seen that on GoodReads. ..."

Thanks for letting me know, Deb. I tried the link, too, and got the same warning. I edited the link and it seems to be working now.
Very odd.

[Petra]

Deb, you have some interesting books on your list.

I am intrigued by White Fragility. It would be nice if there could be a way to become more aware of our ingrained prejudices so that we can start to overcome them.

Five Little Indians is on my radar, too. Thanks for the reminder to get to this book soon.

[Petra]

I don't think I've ever read The Outsiders. It was required reading for my brother, but I don't think my class read it.

[madrano]

Petra, thanks for repairing the link. I like reading what others write about books & authors i’ve read. Knowing Hardy considered this is fav makes sense to me. While i feel close to nature in most of his novels, this one went further. Closer.

[madrano]

Petra wrote: "I don't think I've ever read The Outsiders. It was required reading for my brother, but I don't think my class read it."

It wasn’t even written when i was in school but it would have fit in with what we teens were experiencing. Last weekend i saw the last hour of the filmed version. While full of soon-to-be Stars, it didn’t live up to the book. I hope it inspired many to read the book.

[madrano]

Petra, a person reading DiAngelo’s book needs to be prepared, as she states whites are prejudiced without any hesitation. As a workshop leader, she jumped right into illustrations and examples, which were innocent sounding. For me, i found the latter part more beneficial, as she gives specific do & don’t words to use. But it was good to hear this, as a white woman, from a white woman.

[Michele]

I read some of these books and listened to others. I always remember more about the books I read, but continue to listen anyway!

Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution. Elie Mystal. I would like to write a thoughtful review but my reply has disappeared twice. Taking no chances and forced to skimp for lack of time left in my day, just know the main thing about this book is that it will reintroduce you to what the Constitution really says, rather than what Republicans insist that it says. They're wrong, and we can restore the common sense guidance the Constitution offers without amendments--in fact, don't bother with amendments, they never work. There is a recipe for recovery, so don't get mad, get the REAL Constitution back.

WildlandWildland: The Making of America's Fury by Evan Osnos. Foreign correspondent returns to America after a long absence and asks WTF happened here? Between 9/11 and Jan. 6, the nation changed profoundly. Osnos takes us to Greenwich CT (billionaires). Clarksburg, WV (prosperous, middle class working people) and Chicago (increasingly hopeless, isolated and desperate people of color). When you get back, you will understand that a profound change in the mindset of the wealthy, and a surprising acceptance of same by everyone else, has cause a dangerous imbalance that we must address now. 5 stars

I Will Die in a Foreign Land|57064835] by Kalani Pickhart. This is a novel about a war in Ukraine- the 2014 Revolution that set the stage for all that followed. It reminded me of Anthony Marra's War in a Time of Love and Techno (an approximation of the title because if I leave the page to find it, I will lose everything again) or The Tigers' Wife, whose name I can't remember, about the Balkans and include some mysticism. It follows the lives of four intertwined characters, describing the emotional wreckage and the endurance of the people, mixing a little mysticism in with all the heroism and suffering. I loved it. 5 stars

Into the Abyss: How a Deadly Plane Crash Changed the Lives of a Pilot, a Politician, a Criminal and a Cop by Carol Shaben. Not a book I would normally pick up, but I enjoyed the straightforward story of four survivors of a small plane crash in northern Alberta. The plane went down at night, and was discovered later the next day, but the hours the survivors spent together that night changed them-or did it? There was the tired, overworked pilot, the straight-laced cop, his prisoner, and a well-known local politician. The book tells the backstory of each, and follows the for 20 years into the future. Things changed, but maybe not so much. I enjoyed the story and the ending. 4 stars

Blood in the Garden: The Flagrant History of the 1990s New York Knicks by Chris Herring. Great read if you like basketballl, but good character sketches and sports action anyway. It is the story of how the Knicks, hapless and hopeless for a generation, revived the franchise and contested for the championship year after year. The coach was Pat Riley; the players included most prominently Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Charles Oakley, and Anthony Mason. The theme was 'you can do it if you're willing to work harder, be meaner, play dirtier than anybody ever has as a group.' It took a toll on everyone involved, but the Knicks of the 1990's achieved a grudging respect in the end. 4 stars

The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis. One thing you can count on in an emergency is that somebody always knows what to do. The trick is in finding them in the first place and believing in them in the second place. Lewis examines the science project of a 13-year-old girl who works on a project with her father that ends up being the perfect way to predict how an airborne virus will spread. If you can get anybody to look at it. The second heroine is the public health officer of a small community in California, who had been doing the best work against all odds for years before Covid19. She came to the attention of Gavin Newsome, gov of CA, but was given a boss that sidelined her egregiously until she quit the job. She kept following Covid until she was finally discovered by a group of dissident doctors who called themselves the Wolverines, who had the answers and the means to slow covid, but could not find a person in the Trump administration who would give them permission to implement their plan. So they worked to mitigate the worst aspects. Typical Michael Lewis, Fascinating, true slice of a big, big story. 5 stars

Enjoying everybody's reading vicariously. Thanks
Michele

[Alias Reader]

Michele you August reads sound so interesting. I'm adding Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution Wildland: The Making of America's Fury and Into the Abyss: How a Deadly Plane Crash Changed the Lives of a Pilot, a Politician, a Criminal and a Cop to my TBR list.

I believe other here also have read and enjoyed The Premonition: A Pandemic Story

Congratulations on an excellent reading month !

[~*Kim*~]

Finished 2 books in the month of August, both were 4 star ratings.
Read:

and

I might have gotten one more finished, but I was moving last month and also visited my mom for a long weekend, so I went a little over a week without doing any reading at all.

[madrano]

Michele, great reading month for you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the titles read, particularly the Mystal book.

You wrote a good description of the Lewis. I read it, liking it very much and learning much.

[Alias Reader]

~*Kim*~ wrote: "Finished 2 books in the month of August, both were 4 star ratings.
Read:

and

I might have gotten one more finished, but I wa..."

Moving is a major project. I'm amazed you found time to read anything ! Glad the two books were winners for you.

[~*Kim*~]

Alias Reader wrote: "Moving is a major project. I'm amazed you found time to read anything !"

Well, my move wasn't too major. I am currently traveling with my boyfriend (he's a travel nurse) and we have an RV. So there wasn't too much packing involved. LOL! It was mostly small stuff and then the 2 day drive and a couple of days to recover from the drive.

[madrano]

Driving can be an energy sucker, too. Our days from Dallas to Oregon were draining despite not getting out of the car much. Here’s hoping you have more reading pleasure in September, Kim.

[John]

A bit later than usual, but here are mine from August ...



Housebroken: Admissions of an Untidy Life by Laurie Notaro ⭐⭐

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...



In Pursuit of Jefferson by Derek Baxter ⭐⭐⭐

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Adventures on the High Teas: In Search of Middle England by Stuart Maconie ⭐⭐⭐


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...



Death and the Conjuror by Tom Mead ⭐⭐⭐⭐


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Caught in the Light by Robert Goddard ⭐⭐⭐⭐


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "

Housebroken: Admissions of an Untidy Life by Laurie Notaro ⭐⭐

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"

Anyone who treats people who work in the service industry poorly gets a big no vote from me.

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "A bit later than usual, but here are mine from August ..


I enjoyed reading your reviews, John. I'm a bit disappointed that the Jefferson book didn't get a higher rating. I am starting it now. I'll give it a short leash. If it doesn't grab me quickly, I'll pass. Though I have to say my friend enjoyed it quite a bit.

[John]

Alias Reader wrote: "John wrote: "A bit later than usual, but here are mine from August ..


I enjoyed reading your reviews, John. I'm a bit disappointed that the Jefferson book didn't get a higher rating. I am startin..."

I think you might like it more than I did. I was disappointed because it wasn't what I expected, the writing itself was fine.

[madrano]

I, too, am sorry the Jefferson book wasn’t as good as desired. It sounded neat, imo.

I might still give the British book a try. Towns blur for me anyway, so that shouldn’t refrain me. Cute title.

Thanks for sharing about these books, John. It’s never too late to share them!

[Alias Reader]

In Pursuit of Jefferson-Derek Baxter

madrano wrote: "I, too, am sorry the Jefferson book wasn’t as good as desired. It sounded neat, imo.
..."

I've read about 100 pages and I am enjoying it. I love going to YouTube and seeing travel videos on the various places he goes to. YouTube really brings my reading to life and expands my knowledge. Love it !

I also am enjoying his writing and humor.

Though the chapter on vineyards and wine didn't really interest me as I am not a wine drinker.

[madrano]

Thanks for your thoughts on the book, Alias. I can see how YouTube would enhance the experience. One thing i like to think about as we travel is about famous (and not so famous) people who have walked the same roads, aisles and paths we are walking. It’s a way to look at the landscape with a different eye. That is what i thought this book would be like.

[~*Kim*~]

John wrote: "A bit later than usual, but here are mine from August ...

Housebroken: Admissions of an Untidy Life by Laurie Notaro ⭐⭐

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"

Have you read any of her other books? The others are really good. This one was a low rating for me, too.

[Lindsey]

Late to the party :) Here's my list from August:

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam M. Grant
5 stars - everyone could benefit from reading this book.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
by Robin Wall Kimmerer
5 stars - but only if you love plants. I happen to love plants and was also fascinated by the science interjected into each chapter.

What Happened To You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry & Oprah
5 stars - this book was fascinating.

A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
4 stars - 4.5 really. I loved this book, but it was a bit hard to get into in the beginning (every single chapter was a different place in time with a different narrator/point of view - it was tough to keep up. Once it got going, I loved every bit)

Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver by Jill Heinerth
2 stars - couldn't finish this one. I may try again at some point. This was one of those memoirs that I wish had been written as a biography - by someone who could really capture her adventures and cave diving from a true author's perspective.

Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin
3 stars... I know a lot of people love this book. It wasn't quite for me. The story was lovely, but some of the affairs felt forced and the flowery writing verged on too much (never ever thought I would say that)

[John]

~*Kim*~ wrote: "John wrote: "A bit later than usual, but here are mine from August ...

Housebroken: Admissions of an Untidy Life by Laurie Notaro ⭐⭐

https://www.goodreads.com/review..."

I think I've read all if them. Here, it's as though she's ground out her final "humor memoir" obligation.

[madrano]

Lindsey, thank you for sharing your August reading recap. I read the Heinerth memoir and agree with you, a biography would have pulled her history together better. However, i stayed with the book because underwater exploration has fascinated me for decades, with few books written about it. Her experiences were varied enough that i continued to appreciate what she was sharing, despite feeling a more published author would have accomplished more.

I appreciate your comment about the Mizra novel, too. Knowing you liked it upon completion after a rough start is helpful

[Alias Reader]

Lindsey wrote: "Late to the party :) Here's my list from August:

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam M. Grant
5 stars - everyone could benefit from readi..."


I totally agree. I read the eBook. However, I've toyed with buying the paperback for my personal library. It's a book I would absolutely re-read. I also gave it 5 stars.

Thanks again for joining BNC, Lindsay. I also appreciate you joining in the discussions.

[Alias Reader]

~*Kim*~ wrote: "John wrote: "A bit later than usual, but here are mine from August ...

Housebroken: Admissions of an Untidy Life by Laurie Notaro ⭐⭐

https://www.goodreads.com/review..."

I've not read this author. Thanks for the heads-up that this is not the one to start with.

[Marie]

August was a great month for me!

The Garden of Bewitchment by Catherine Cavendish - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Backwater by Tom Deady - 3 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Night Stalks the Mansion: A True Story of One Family's Ghostly Adventure by Constance Westbie - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Soul Catcher by Anthony M. Strong - 5 stars.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Combustion by Justin Boote - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

At Your Service by Caleb C.W. - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Exorcist's House by Nick Roberts - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

What Vengeance Comes by Anthony M. Strong - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Protector by Andy Peloquin - 3 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

99 Coffins by David Wellington - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Donn, TX 1865 by Eric Butler - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Summer I Died by Ryan C. Thomas - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

So that is my wrap up for August reads.

Most surprising find was the series by Anthony M. Strong. I have read his books before in horror but this series has struck a great chord with me as it is crime and horror mixed so I am planning on reading the rest of the series at some point.

The other surprise was the spooky book by Nick Roberts - The Exorcist's House - that was a great haunting read and not only that I have learned through social media there will be a movie for it eventually. This book is scarier than the actual book The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty. It will scare you out of your skin! :)

[Petra]

Lindsey wrote: "Late to the party :) Here's my list from August:

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
by Robin Wall Kimmerer
5 stars ...."

Lindsey, thanks for sharing. I also gave Braiding Sweetgrass 5 stars. I liked how Robin Kimmerer combined plants, science and community together.

[Petra]

You had a terrific month of reading, Marie.

[madrano]

Marie, what a good reading month you had. I noticed your attraction to the Anthony Strong books. I can see why they appeal. Thanks for that.

Nick Robert’s novel sounds great, knowing there is a filmed version ahead is encouraging.

The “mind debates” in the Protector would drive me crazy. I quickly become impatient with that, unless it’s quite informative for both “characters”.

I am intrigued by how many horror novels feature archeologists, as that’s my favorite profession to explore in books. Thanks for sharing so many along that line.

[Alias Reader]

Marie wrote: "August was a great month for me!

The Garden of Bewitchment by Catherine Cavendish - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[book:Ba..."

Very nice, Marie !

[Marie]

Petra wrote: "You had a terrific month of reading, Marie."

Thank you, Petra! :)

[Marie]

madrano wrote: "Marie, what a good reading month you had. I noticed your attraction to the Anthony Strong books. I can see why they appeal. Thanks for that.

Nick Robert’s novel sounds great, knowing there is a fi..."

Thank you, Deb! :)

There really isn't a whole of archeologists in horror books. But I searched something for you and found you a Listopia list on here of fiction books for archeology. A lot of these sounds fun which I might check them out myself.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

The author that I recognize the most from this list is Douglas Preston as he writes horror/thriller books with Lincoln Child.

The only thing that surprises me about this list is that it is missing a book by Douglas Preston. His book (The Relic Relic) should be on that list as it does deal with something that was dug up from an archeological site and was going to be displayed in a museum.

So now you have some books to pursue! More on the TBR! lol :)

[Marie]

Alias Reader wrote: "Marie wrote: "August was a great month for me!

The Garden of Bewitchment by Catherine Cavendish - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......

Very nice, Marie !"

Thank you, Alias! :)

[madrano]

Wow, Marie, thanks! I was familiar with some names (even if i hadn’t read them) but found one up my latest Fascination Alley”, unknown to me—Chronicle of the Mound Builders: An Angela Hunter Mystery—Elle Marie! The Cahokia Mounds are fascinating. Thank you.

[Marie]

madrano wrote: "Wow, Marie, thanks! I was familiar with some names (even if i hadn’t read them) but found one up my latest Fascination Alley”, unknown to me—[book:Chronicle of the Mound Builders: An Angela Hunter ..."

You are welcome, Deb! :) Happy Reading! :)