Member: msf59

Hey Mark;
I agree with you 1,000% on the success of the group read of POTB.
Great Job there!~!~!
And I think that "Midnight's Children" would also be a resounding success. I have heard nothing but good stuff from discussions about that one. (I, personally, know nothing about the book, but it is already on my list of books to order next month) But I trust the readers as a whole on L.T. and all remarks seen have been positive.
My father-in-law didn't have a stroke; they are not sure what happened. But I believe the incident itself was early Saturday morning. He was pretty much out of it all day Sat and Sun A.M. Then Sunday afternoon he was carrying on lucid conversations with the family, nurses, and his doctors; had a horrible night Sunday night, began hallucinating about where he was, what he was doing and who was there and has been in that state ever since. My sister-in-law from Kentucky was not able to get a flight out and arrive until Monday morning so of course dad has not even been able to acknowledge her presence. Her heart is just broken. She is the eldest and the "go-to" gal when things in the family happen. It has never been planned that way. That is just the way the family logistics have always fallen. It has always worked fine that way; then when things are over she goes quietly away for a few hours, has herself a good cry and talking to and comes back and we go on from there. This time isn't quite the same. I think that all of us realize that dad may remain in this state as it has now been 4 1/2 days. He did go through something really similar after (I don't know why I say similar, because it was exactly the same) they did one of his carotid arteries. That time it was a reaction from the anesthesia and it lasted 10 days. This time he had taken nothing to put him in this state that they know of. The only med he has had since he has been there other than what he takes on a regular basis is Dilantin for seizures. When they ruled out stroke, they thought he might have had a small seizure. His brain looks clear and there are no bleeds, but the only place they cannot see is the brain stem. (He cannot remain still enough for them to do an MRI) And they think perhaps some placque broke away from the carotid artery he would not let them do after the first one and hit there and caused a small seizure. So they really don't know.
Anyway, a lot of family discussion going on at this time as he has not been good for about 5 years now and mom has had 2 open heart surgeries herself, 1 heart attack, and several small strokes with 1 major one. I am staying away from the "meetings" unless the hubby specifically requests me to go with. And when I do go, I just say nothing unless my opinion is asked. I know how hard these things are on a family and the less interference from the "in-laws" the better. So right now, I visit dad and am here to support hubby and just do what they ask of me. I'm cooking and taking, cleaning, and that type of thing, but those tasks do not interfere with the decision making process.
It's is just very, very difficult Mark. And Roger (the hubby) is so sad all the time. He is much better when the grandsons are here so I have been trying to keep that happening as much as I can. One stayed again last night. (and I'm sure is in trouble with his teacher and his mother because he forgot his Math book at nanny and papa's house.)
Thanks for you constant support. I know it's always there and appreciate it so much.
big hug,
belva

posted by nannybebette at 1:41 pm (EST) on Nov 19, 2009

Thanks Mark. Glad you liked "A Little Piece of Another Life." People always seem to enjoy it.

A few years ago I was taking a class on writing sci-fi taught by, you guessed it, Jim Sallis. He gave us an assignment to write a few paragraphs about someone taking out the garbage and told us to throw in (pun intended!} something of the fantastic. The story grew from that. Writers sometimes talk about stories that were a "gift," meaning a story that was super easy to write, almost like someone was dictating it to you. This story was, and remains, the only "gift" I've ever gotten.

posted by CharlesBoyd at 5:36 pm (EST) on Nov 18, 2009

Hey Mark,
Cool that you are looking into Krueger and Johnson. I like them both (rural, cold, murky locales...I'm a sucker for)-- but I think I like Craig Johnson much better; much more grittier and snappy dialogue. The opening scene in Krueger's "Purgatory Ridge" is quite awesome. (You'll never see in my reviews or correspondence any plot summaries or spoilers. Talk more about style. Don't want to give things away, so I hope to convey I style and mood to the works and hope this is will interest readers.) Said something in a review of first Johnson book, "A Cold Dish."

Yes, I have read "Jar City." Absolutely loved it. I am into Scandinavian crime fiction. Once again, it is the cold, somber, murky feel to them. Have you tried "The Redbreast" by Jo Nesbo. Check that out too.

take care, my friend.
ans

posted by magnumpigg at 8:52 pm (EST) on Nov 17, 2009

Hi Mark,
Yes, hard-hitting crime is my favorite genre. Have been reading Huston since his first book came out--though I must say am not too fond of Joe Pitt books. As to Coleman (Mo Prager)can't say enough good stuff about it. Mo is one of the most fleshed-out, complex characters out there.

I tend to like books where the main character is one of these: criminals, hitmen, the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time (Huston's Henry Thompson, right?), a complex cop or PI faced with difficult dilemmas (not a wild maverick, rogue cop bucking the system--how cliche)...(But complex like the DEA agent in Winslow's "Power of the Dog"). If the books have dark humor, better yet.

Off the top of my head, here are some of my favorite books, authors, and small presses(where I think some of the best stuff out there can be found):

Author: Victor Gischler, all good stuff; crime ones are:
* Gun Monkeys
* Pistol Poets
* Shotgun Opera
* Suicide Squeeze
* The Deputy (printing in 2010 by Tyrus Books)

Author: Don Winslow; 2 favorites:
* Power of the Dog -- one of my all-time favorites
* The Winter of Fankie Machine -- about a retired hitman

Author: Robert Fate--the Baby Shark Series--currently my favorite series. From Capital Crime Press.

Also from Capital Crime Press that is very good:
* "The 47 Rules of Highly Effective Bank Robbers" and "The One-Minute Assassin" both by Troy Cook.

If you like, check out my tag "small press"--a lot of good stuff in there.

Could go on like this all night...but for now, good night.
Stay in touch. And thanks for contacting me. This is fun stuff.

ans

posted by magnumpigg at 7:41 pm (EST) on Nov 8, 2009

Merry Christmas to you too, Mark!! I heard the Chicago area was supposed to get more snow today and O'Hare was a mess. I'm sure that makes your job even harder - yikes, but it is pretty. We were supposed to get a few inches of snow yesterday but it missed us - the Rockies make for a pretty big snow fence. With all the holiday extra chores, fun things to do and my mom visiting from NJ, I don't think I've read more than 20 pages of my current book in the last 5 days. Oh well - I'll make up for lost time next week (I hope!). My Nov ARC (Etta) came in the mail a couple of days ago and I can't wait to start it. I guess Santa will need to stop here soon so it's back to work for me! I hope you and your family and friends have a wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year full of great books! Joanne

posted by coppers at 12:18 am (EST) on Dec 25, 2008

Hi Mark...and Merry Christmas to you and your family as well. A Chicago mailman, huh? Are you crazy? Just kidding, you have my respect. I think our country's mail service is one of the things that still works well. Keep up the good work. I was particularly happy with my mail service this week when my first ARC in quite awhile came. I will be reading Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet early in January. I read and reviewed 6 ARC's in '08. I will recommend my favorite of the group: Gardens of Water by Alan Drew. It didn't quite make my Top Ten list, but it was close. My kids (30-somethings) are here from Denver. We will have a full house when the Grands come down from Kansas City on Friday. No reading for me for awhile!
Thanks for your good wishes. ~Donna~

posted by Donna828 at 7:04 pm (EST) on Dec 23, 2008

Hi again - Colorado is great but the front range has been pretty hot for the last few weeks. At least it's a dry heat. I'm from NJ originally so I know about humidity! Did you know Kate Atkinson has another book coming out in a few months - same detective character - I can't wait. We have a branch of our library near the house and another close to where I work so I'm at the library a couple of times a week. I love to buy books but they can get a little out of control. Trade paperbacks are hard to resist - I actually prefer them to hardbacks since they're easier to carry around. Got to run - have a good night!

posted by coppers at 10:37 pm (EST) on Aug 3, 2008

Re: Housekeeping - I have it on my shelves :) Bought it after I read "Gilead" but since she only wrote two books and since the people who raved about Gilead rave about Housekeeping as well, I'm saving it. I'm quite proud that I still haven't cheated and just started a page or two. Beside it is Gruber's "Book of Air and Shadows" and a couple of others that I've also put by. I get to read them in Sept this year - if I've met my deadlines and all is going well :)

And here, as I write this, it's Monday morning, 8:46, cold and clear and as always very very dry :)

Have a nice Sunday!

posted by mccardey at 6:47 pm (EST) on Jul 20, 2008