Member: BookBully

Hello Bully - I just finished reading Ann Pancake's book about the rape of the WV mountain region by Big Coal. Beautiful writing but depressing subject. And if you live in Portland, you should be reading Portland's own Molly Gloss. She is a fantastic writer!. We correspond and have even swapped a couple books. Keep on reading and be well. - TimBazzett

posted by TimBazzett at 9:14 am (EST) on May 2, 2009

Hey BB,
Yes Ottawa can choke the very breath & life out of a person at times. So much politics in one very small place.. (is that correct grammar?)The town for once came alive when President Obama came to town a couple weeks ago. Obama for Prime Minister! I love him, all day at work, I was kicking myself that I should have been downtown. He said he would be back after the thaw.. I have met our Prime Minister and he's a dud.
Oh it's so very cold here right now. -25C in the mornings. It's been so cold this winter that I broke my car door handle off, and my windshield has a big crack. I am almost missing the rain of the west coast.
Thanks for the book group recommendations. My group is in a library so anything I choose has to have at least 10 copies of it within the library system. I have read good reviews of the 10-yr nap. And I do like memoirs, one of my faves is "A Girl Named Zippy". Lots of fun, try it,Haven Kimmel is a darling. I find that recommendations on LT are the very best. I trust them more than anything else so I will be adding yours to my 'Books To Get' list that I carry around with me at all times.
Cheers from a very COLD Ottawa!
Clamato

posted by clamato at 8:20 pm (EST) on Mar 3, 2009

Hi BB
I used to live in Vancouver, BC and drove thru Portland going to/from The Gorge one time. Very beautiful area! I never got to explore Oregon unfortunately but spent a lot of time in the Seattle area. I do miss the west coast so!
Been in Ontario now 6.5 yrs and am bored and frustrated with it. Not at all what I expected. But am very involved with books! I work on two book sales per yr, one of which is coming up shortly. And run a book group at a public library that will celebrate it's 5th anniversary in 2 weeks! I'm so proud of that. It's my show and I love it! I have found what you've posted to be interesting and because I'm always on the look out for new book ideas for my group, I pay close attention to what people are adding to their libraries. I am open to suggestions! However, I have to make sure the branch has enough copies to chose it which more often than not, they don't which is so frustrating!
Anyhow, I hope winter is winding down for you in your area. We have a little bit of snow on it's way overnight tonight, but I almost smelled spring this afternoon after work! Yay! I can't wait for things to start growing again!
Bye for now,
Clamato

posted by clamato at 11:30 pm (EST) on Feb 25, 2009

Hi Ellison. I am about halfway through The Condition. Jennifer Haigh is certainly gifted, and I think this is the best of the three she's written. I came upon a cache of books I'd forgotten I had, so am trying to catalogue them and will then take them to the library sale. Wonder what else is lurking in another closet? I shudder at the mere fleeting thought of ever moving from this house and unearthing the "treasures." What a great idea to be an official BookBully - sign me up immediately. With your publishers' connections, it could be a simply wonderful opportunity to know what's recent and noteworthy. Let me be your southern p.r. representative...

Your mom - what a wonderful woman and how fortunate you were to have her(and she to have you). Do you have siblings? Do you feel her presence? I am always in awe of the very real evidence of the amazing grace and love that we all have in our lives. I am a child advocate in juvenile court, which entails reviewing cases in foster care with all the parties involved in the case and making recommendations to the judge for resolution of the case. There are so many times when I despair about the lives of desperation that many of these dear children lead with people who never should have had children. Then, there is a resolution that guarantees they will be safe, and despair turns to hope.

Kris' kidney stone is evidently afloat. She sees the urologist on Friday, so will know more then. They are moving on Wednesday, and bringing their horses to their place from where they are being boarded. I just wish her excitement weren't tempered by not knowing about treatment for the kidney stone. I have a bag packed and am ready to go. We had Margot, our 3-year old granddaughter, this weekend. She is such fun and has no doubt that her opinions on all matters are correct. Her mantra should be "frequently wrong, never in doubt." Every age is special, but this is one of the very best.

Take care - if you have finished The Condition, what's next? Also, what are you reviewing? I am green thinking of your wonderful position as an official reviewer, and so glad you're my LT friend.
Pat

posted by pdebolt at 9:58 pm (EST) on Jul 27, 2008

Hi I am Michael, sort of a slow afternoon at work, so I am exploring librarything, I enjoy doing this, looking for hidden treasures and found your profile. Another Portland person, yea! You also seem to be intested in Wallace Stegner. I love his writings. I just finished a bio on him what I found interesting is that as teacher at Stanford he influced so many important post ww 2 American writers. He had conflicts with both Ken Kessey and Gary Synder, he thought they were excellent writers, but it seemed to be a generational conflict that many of us had in the 60's. He was the authority figure they were the new kids on the block. I am just about to finish War and Peace, for the second time, it is better the 2nd time around. Best wishes
Michael

posted by michaelbartley at 5:05 pm (EST) on Jul 17, 2008

i was referring to all of the lists for every year since they started :) i have looked back at the archives for the last ten years. i am addicted to the website as well. i usually love their choices and find my tastes very similiar.

right now, i am reading the 'septembers of shiraz' by Dalia Sofer. i just finished 'a thousand splendid suns' and plan to tackle a few of the orange prize winners next, such as 'unless' by carol shields, 'we need to talk about kevin' and 'the inheritance of loss. feel free to drop by anytime you have a recommendation!

posted by amanaceerdh at 4:20 pm (EST) on Jul 17, 2008

hi there. just curious if you read the books that are on the new york times notable book list....i have been tagging my books that are on that list and your name came up repeatedly, giving most of the books high ratings. you may want to check their list out if you haven't already!

posted by amanaceerdh at 8:53 am (EST) on Jul 17, 2008

Your reviews are really helpful, generous and honest. Thanks for the great insights! and now I have many more books on my pile to read.

posted by elduque at 1:20 pm (EST) on Jul 16, 2008

E-okay, it's official: you are now my official book guide. Trevor's book is on my list and I am looking forward to it. I finished Crossing to Safety and sat for a long time just thinking about how it had touched my heart. As anticipated, my next book,an ER "grab," suffered disproportionately, although I know I wouldn't have liked it anyway. I almost felt guilty starting another book after Crossing to Safety - sort of like when a beloved family pet dies, and the ensuing guilt of thinking about getting another. Take care, Pat

posted by pdebolt at 11:16 am (EST) on Jul 12, 2008

Ellison-I am nearing the end of Crossing to Safety and really hate to see it end. This is like leaving dear friends, so I am savoring every sentence. This is a book I will read again. Wallace Stegner's writing is a gift. Whatever I read next will certainly suffer by comparison.
Pat

posted by pdebolt at 2:47 pm (EST) on Jul 11, 2008

Ellison-thank you so much for your author recommendations. I plan to add more than a few to my list. Haven't yet read any Elizabeth Taylor books I've added, but plan to do so. Have you read Skeletons at the Feast by Bohjalian? It's very good. When I first saw your name "Book Bully," I thought you might be one of those egregious people at the library who barge in while I'm in front of the recent fiction stack. You decidedly are not one of those, so I'm adding you to my friends list, too. :)
Pat

posted by pdebolt at 9:02 pm (EST) on Jul 8, 2008

Hi BB - thanks for adding my library. We do share many books, so hope you don't mind my adding you to mine. I love the pacific northwest, and I know it is more delightful outdoor reading weather there than it is here in Atlanta now. I am currently reading Wallace Stegner's Crossing to Safety and enjoying it very much. I plan to peruse your library from time to time, but please let me know if you find anything noteworthy to share. Who are some of your favorite authors? The only genre I generally avoid is SF. LT has allowed me to clear my desk and every other area in the house of endless lists of recommended books, and now I'm totally addicted to the site. I have a friend who is married to a guy who grew up in Aiken - George Coker. Wouldn't it be a small world if you know him??
Pat

posted by pdebolt at 3:56 pm (EST) on Jul 8, 2008

i am already dying to read "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle," i have heard nothing but great things about it. i just got "the laments" from bookmooch actually. i have had the "confessions of max tavoli" forever and never got around to reading it. i actually saw where you had added "what was lost" and checked it out because of that :) i am loving the new home page/connections features! i am reading history of love right now and really enjoying it! thanks for all your tips. will let you know when i get around to reading the books mentioned above. and come back anytime you have recommendations. happy reading!!!

posted by amanaceerdh at 1:29 pm (EST) on Jun 24, 2008

you have quite an impressive library! i added about 15 or 20 of your books to my neverending"books i want to read" pile. if you read anything great, feel free to share! :)

posted by amanaceerdh at 9:54 am (EST) on May 22, 2008

Thanks for giving a name to what I am: book bully. Wonder what happens when one unknowingly confronts another? Could be messy :-)

posted by book_up at 10:53 am (EST) on Dec 13, 2007

Thanks for becoming a friend!

posted by lisaunger at 12:08 pm (EST) on Nov 8, 2007

BookBully...thanks for the response. Betty Jo

posted by bettyjo at 2:44 pm (EST) on Nov 3, 2007

Hiya BookBully,
Thank you so much for your suggestions a few of them I know.

You have astutely spotted I like trilogies I will definitely be checking out the one you recommended.

Best Regards

posted by AnneBoleyn at 5:17 pm (EST) on May 3, 2007