Joanne's (coppers) Chap 4 - Sum Sum Summertime (Almost)

Naylor Lake, West of Denver, CO

January 2012
1. Tomatoland by Barry Estabrook
2. Cake Wrecks by Jen Yates (nook)
3. Hush, Little Horsie by Jane Yolen (nook)
4.I Thought My Father Was God edited by Paul Auster (audio, reread)
5. Blizzard of Glass by Sally M Walker
6. The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar (Shelf #1)
7. Awkward Family Pet Photos by Mike Bender (nook)
8. The Walking People by Mary Beth Keane (Shelf #2)
9. Flights of Fancy by Peter Tate

February 2012
10. 22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson (sony)
11. The Betrayal of Trust by Susan Hill
12. The Odds: A Love Story by Stewart O'Nan
13. When Parents Text by Sophia Fraioli
14. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt (audio)
15. Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo (sony/nook)
16. The Invisible Ones by Stef Penney (LTER)

March 2012
17. An Available Man by Hilma Wolitzer (sony/nook)
18. The Hangman by Louise Penny (sony)
19. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny (Audio, reread)
20. Don't Look Back by Karin Fossum (Shelf #3)
21. Why Read Moby-Dick by Nathaniel Philbrick (Audio)
22. Force of Nature by C.J. Box (LTER)
23. Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Bolton (Shelf #4)
24. The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths

April 2012
25. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith (Shelf #5)
26. The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith
27. He Who fears the Wolf by Karin Fossum (Shelf #6)
28. The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler
29. Lost Kingdom by Julia Flynn Siler (audio)
30. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (Shelf #7)

May 2012
31. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
32. When the Devil Holds the Candle by Karin Fossum
33. In a Dog's Heart by Jennifer Arnold (Audio)
34. Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen (LTER)
35. Outlander by Diane Gabaldon (Shelf #7)
36. Loud and Clear by Anna Quindlen (Audio)
37. The Lion's Game by Nelson DeMille (Shelf #8)
38. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

June 2012
39. Trophy Hunt by C J Box
40. The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill
41. Stories from the Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McLean (shelf #9)
42. Thirty-Three Teeth by Colin Cottterill

July 2012
43. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
44. Ernie's Ark by Monica Wood
45. The Work of Wolves by Kent Meyers

35. Outlander by Diane Gabaldon

This was pretty good! Maybe a little long-winded at times, but entertaining and fun. I thought there'd be a little more back and forth in time going on, but it was probably better this way. I'll read the next one just not right away. 4 stars

This is book #8 off the shelf. The receipt was still in it - purchased 8/16/09.

Joanne - lovely photo; pretty much what I would expect Colorado to look like but impressive nonetheless! Congratulations on your latest thread and hope you have a lovely weekend.

Hi Joanne- Love the photo. Colorado is so beautiful. I might try Outlander on audio, at some point. Have a great weekend.

Beautiful new thread ! Love mountains :)

I am glad to see that you enjoyed Outlander.. Having read the firest 5 ( 7?) no idea ...
I can tell you that there is one in there that I thought was seriously no fun. On the other
hand, I saw someone here reading it who liked it, so there ya go. For the most part, I
did love the ones I read :)

Beautiful picture Joanne! I feel very fortunate to live in Denver and have easy access to the beautiful mountains.

Hi Joanne, I'm joining in on the "Summertime" chorus. I miss my mountains...and dry Colorado air in the summer. Our humidity has been low lately probably due to lack of rain. It makes for pleasant morning walks.

My niece loved the Outlander series, but told me I wouldn't like them. Maybe it was the "fun" part she knew I would have little patience with? I love that your receipt was still in the book. I may start putting a post-it note with the book's history in my new acquisitions. I have several unread books that I've purchased at Colorado meetups.

Oh, Joanne - your picture up top is SO COLORADO! Just the way I remember it and I love it ;-) I wonder if I'll ever get back there now that my daughter has moved back east? It's beautiful country.

I liked Outlander quite a lot - but the second book, not quite so much. I never got to the third one. I did like the historical aspect and the time traveling.

Hello Joanne, I devoured the first 4 in the Outlander series, but after that she got very long winded and not much seemed to be happening. I think the 2nd, Dragonfly in Amber is my favorite. I still read them to keep up with Jamie and Claire, but it is a struggle. They are one of may favorite fictional couples.

I have read and listened to most of the books. The audio versions are awesome and I found that I was, in my mind, mis-pronouncing many Scottish names and words. So, if you would rather listen than read, I do recommend that format.

HI Paul, Colorado is a pretty state although it certainly doesn't look like that all over. Rainy, cold day today so I spent the morning cleaning and we're off to a movie this afternoon. Hope you have a good weekend as well!

Hi MArk - Hope you ahve a good weekend as well!

Hi Kath, I don't know if I'll get much further than the second book, but you never know.

Hi Callia, It's not a bad place to live, is it? :)

Hi Donna, Rainy today and cold! We get so unused to grey, dark skies...

Hi Cee, I liked the history, too, and the humor. The whippings less so...

Hi Michelle, I'm quite sure I'm mispronouncing a lot of names. I hadn't considered the audio versions. Maybe I should.

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My current read is The Lion's Game (not the abridged...only touchstone available for it...odd) by Nelson DeMille. It's the second in the John Corey series of which I've read the 1st, 3rd and 4th. I forgot how fun his books are...

Joanne, It has it's downfalls, but I wouldn't live anywhere else:)

My former colleague & friend is now a librarian in Colorado. looks like she has the best of all possible worlds!!!

Just popping in to say good morning!

Joanne: Glad you liked Outlander; I had some issues with the violence toward women... Still, an OK summer read.

I don't remember where I read this, but recently someone said he writes the date he acquires a book on the inside cover -- so new books this month would be 5/12.

Beautiful picture -- as always. I loved your Wood and Wyeth this year.

Naylor...I've been there. It definitely is beautiful.

So, how is sweet Copper doing?
Just wondering...

Hi Joanne, I never got into Diana Gabaldon. Probably not my cuppa but fortunately there are lots of other books and many of them reside on my shelves:)

Callia, Like most places, it does have its downfalls. The weather here is nearly perfect so that makes up for a lot. I'm from NJ, so...although NJ has some pretty, pretty spots, too!

I think so, Suz!

Good morning Kath! I hope your Sunday was a good one!

Hi Beth, I had some trouble overall with all the beatings and subsequent medical care. Not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.

Hi Jim, We do have some lovely mountain lakes!

Hi Cee, She had been doing pretty well. We took her for her 6 week xray two weeks ago and all looked really good - she was putting a lot of weight on the leg and we started PT. A week ago she started limping again and toe walking so we're taking her in tomorrow to see what's up. I'll know more then. :(

Hi Bonnie - I'm sure she's not for everyone ans I'm not entirely sure she's for me but I'm trying to branch out a little. Liking everything would be scary...imagine the book pressure!

It is nearly perfect. I love living close to the mountains:)

Agreed! We could use an ocean... :)

Joanne: I know what you mean about pressure; sometimes I feel like I should read more -- and it is immensely stressful. I've decided at my age I can be picky -- for example, no more Moby Dick or James Fennimore Cooper.

Hi Beth, I'm pretty sure I don't have time to read any more than I do although I wish I could read faster! I don't have a lot of patience anymore for reading anything I don't enjoy - thank goodness I'm not a student!

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Cee asked about Copper yesterday and I mentioned she might have a knee problem again. I'm happy to report the issue is musclular and so heat packs and massages are in order while she builds up her leg muscles again. I was afraid that there was a problem with the plate so we are very relieved!

That's what I like about Vancouver -- the sea AND gorgeous mountains on the horizon... (OK, not the real Rockies, but still...) So beautiful there.

Glad to hear the good news about Ms. Copper.

Joanne: I'm happy to hear the good news about Copper. I have Trophy Hunt from the library; are you thinking of reading soon?

Good to hear about Copper's knee!
Gorgeous scenery!!
Gabaldan is the only romance writer that I can read, and I'm way behind on the series. So far #'s 1 and 3 are my favorites. I really didn't like #2, which is Michelle's favorite. Aren't differences fun!?
Do you recall somebody's hot review that decimated Outlander for its offensiveness to women? It got many, many, many thumbs. But really --- it's just a romance.

There is a lot of offensiveness to women but I think in that era there probably was more. I read a book about the lynching of people in the South after the Civil War and someone stated in a review that they thought there was a lot of violence in the book and they didn't like it. Well Duh! look at the subject matter, it was violent!

Nice photo topping your new thread, Joanne. I'm also glad to hear that Copper just needs some TLC and not surgery!

YAY for Copper - I'm much relieved for you both :)
Hugs and TLC for the girl!

Hi Suz, I've never been to Vancouver but I know it's beautiful. I'd love to drive up along the Oregon coast and on into Canada. One of these years!

Me too, Beth! I will probably read Trophy Hunt over the summer but I've got a couple of new series to try first (as if I don't already have enough to read).

Hi Peggy, I didn't remember the review, and yikes, there are 399 of them! But I sorted by thumbs (59!) and there it was. And I think her points were valid, but since I read the book as an historical romance with a little time travel thrown in, I really didn't take any of it seriously. And it really seemed as if the violence was equal opportunity - beatings and abuse for all.

Hi Carrie, Oh I absolutely agree. The time period here was very violent and certainly influenced the attitude toward women. Witch burning, anyone? Good grief! Sometimes I thought Claire got away with way more than a woman in that time period would have, but again, it's an historical romance with a time travel element...I'm not going to complain that something wasn't realistic. :)

Hi Ellen, Thanks!

Hi Cee, I know - YAY! :) And hopefully, she'll feel better soon!

Happy to read that Copper is doing well!

Joanne, if/when you drive up the Oregon coast (and I cannot recommend that too highly -- it's breathtaking!) and north to Vancouver, give us a shout. Seattle LTers will come meet you somewhere.

Me too.. about Copper... they can worry us, they can!

Glad to see that Copper is doing ok! Hope that muscle heals quick

Hi Carol, Kath and Chelle, Thanks for your good wishes! Copper had a laser treatment on Wednesday which I think made her feel a little better. She'll start back on the water treadmill next week. Things are looking up!

Hi Ellen, I know that would be a drive I would love! And meeting up with some LTers would be an especially nice bonus! :)

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I have to brag for a moment - my aspiring writer/college student son, who has been sending off a lot of submissions to literary mags, finally got a "congratulations" response today rather than the "thank you for...". It's the digital version of Crack the Spine and they'll publish the flash fiction he submitted. He was pretty thrilled about it and I'm happy for him! :0)

36. Loud and Clear by Anna Quindlen (audio)

This was a wonderful audio book. It is a collection of Quindlen's opinion columns, the earliest from 1994, from the NYT and, mostly, Newsweek. You'd think some of the topics would be dated by now, but they really weren't. It's amazing that we are still arguing about the same old things we've been arguing about for decades - gay marriage, gun control, school shootings, the NRA, abortion, pay inequity, prayer in schools, welfare. Some were personal essays about growing up, starting out, and raising her children. I'm on her side politically and I like the way she writes so it was easy for me to listen and nod and agree with her. The essays pertaining to 9/11 were particularily poignant and all along I found myself listening for the date of the column and whether they were written before or after that day. I'm sure I would have liked reading this but it really worked for me on audio - I was sorry to have it end. 4.5 stars

You make me want to read the Quindlen book... I used to read a lot of those kinds of anthologies of columns/essays years ago, but fell out of the habit. Off to the library's website...

Congrats to your son - that's wonderful!

Congratulations to your son for sure!!! Will we have access to it? (I don't recognize "Crack the Spine.")

Congrats!
An acceptance! He must be on Cloud 9 :)

I have a reader friend (in her late 70s I would guess) who has a writer son. Everytime he gets a new book published she is so proud of him.
I have only met him once, but I feel I know him by talking to his mother (Jane)... the years he was little and now. So, I get excited too.
Jane herself just published a children's book about a year ago and won a prize for it. So - you're never too old!

Hugs for Copper girl!

Woot!!! Congratulations :) to you and to your son..
This is VERY exciting news.

Who are these people Cee? What are their books?

Congratulations to your son Joanne! How very exciting for him! Yay! Hugs for Copper!

Congrats to your son, and I am happy your sweet dog is going to be ok. I wonder what a water treadmill looks like? My golden won't get in the water. Strange, isn't it? She is all gray in the face, but still my best buddy.

I am always glad to hear good news and I hope this opportunity opens doors for your son.

Just back to Outlander for a moment. I do remember the review and agree about the violence, although is should be noted that the violence was not only against women, but against men as well. If I remember correctly, Jamie was sexually assulted in a violent and truly sick manner.

Hi Joanne- Great news about your son. How exciting. You must be as happy as he is, if not more. Have a great holiday weekend!

Another Quindlen book to add to the list. Congratulations to your son--very exciting!

Wow. Glad you enjoyed Loud and Clear. I think that is a combination that
I would be completely unable to deal with. Not just audio, but a collection of
columns? I am duly impressed.

Wonderful news about your son, Joanne! Congratulations!

Big congratulations to Chris on getting his story accepted. My son was published in the 4th Grade when his story won a contest and was printed in the local paper so I understand how elated you feel. Lol. I hope your son continues with his writing. Is he home for the summer?

More good news about Copper. And a good book listened to. Life is golden some days. Enjoy the glow!

Joanne: Congratulations to your son. You'll have to let us know if we can access it. Good news about Copper, too. I always thought Quindlen's best writing was in her columns -- I never enjoyed her fiction as much as I expected to. This collection sounds great.

>38 Enjoy Suz. I thought it was a good change of pace.

>39 Thanks Amber!

>40 Thanks Peggy. I had to google Crack the Spine Literary Magazine myself just to see what he was getting into. It looks legit... :)

>41 Thanks Cee! But who is this friend's son and what did he write and what did Jane write?

>42 Thanks Kath!

>43 Thanks Bonnie!

>44 Hi BJ I think our goldens look very distinguished when they get the white around their eyes! I think it is unusual that yours won't get in the water but they are all individuals so you never know. The water treadmill - picture the track of a treadmill on the floor of an aquarium tank
that's big enough to hold a large dog.

>45 Hi Michelle - I thought the violent acts perpetuated upon Jamie were horrific and really the worst in the book. I had to skip over the descriptions. I really felt like a lot of it was really unnecessary to the story.

>46 HI Mark, Thanks! We are and hope you are having a good couple of days off!

>47 Thanks Anne. Enjoy!

>48 HI Kath, LOL! I know you don't like audio versions. Listening to these, though, was kind of like listening to good stories on NPR.

>49 Thanks Callia!

>50 Hi Donna, Thanks. And I bet you still have a copy of that newspaper! Chris is home (except when he's not). It's kind of nice. :)

>51 Hi Beth Thanks! I've read some of Quindlen's fiction and liked some (Black and Blue, for instance) but didn't like or couldn't really get into some others (Rise and Shine, to name one). Not liking her books was a disappointment for me because I like her and her columns so much.

37. The Lion's Game by Nelson DeMille (#9 Off the Shelf)

The second John Corey thriller (after the excellent Plum Island). The smart-ass ex NY cop turned anti-terrorist agent versus the Libyan terrorist out for revenge. Notably written in 2000. Quite the page-turner. 3.75 stars.

oh no... I am not going to even look at that series! I am glad that you are enjoying it though :)

Good morning Kath!

Hi -
I kinda thought I was going to have to give you more details.

My elder friend who just wrote her first book: Jane Freeberg - The Scallop Christmas (children's book)

and her son(he writes all NF stuff) : Ernest Freeberg - Democracy's Prisoner (political) and The Education of Laura Bridgman (the one I liked better).

He is supposedly working on a book now about the lightbulb and its impact on the world - or something on that order.

>56 Well sure, Cee, I'm kind of into books... :)

Oh, Eugene Debs, that might be interesting. The Scallop Christmas has a very Maine-like cover.

Hope you had a relaxing weekend!

Hi Joanne! What's happening in your life this week ?

Cee.. the Laura Bridgeman book looks interesting :)

Hooray for your son! That's exciting news. I'm letting Jonah know - he's submitted a poem to a magazine and was discouraged, and I keep telling him you have to persevere.

>58 Good Morning, Kath! Well, this afternoon we will be winging our way to Maui. The good thing about the afternoon flight is we didn't have to get up at 4am today. The kinda' bad thing is we won't get to our condo until around 11pm which will be 3am to us. But by tomorrow, I'll be wriggling my toes in the sand and all will be well!

>59 Thanks Jenn. He's done a ton of submissions and has had a lot of rejections (he keeps everything on a spreadsheet so he can keep track) so tell Jonah to not give up. There will be another magazine out there that will appreciate his poetry! I did notice in his Writer's Market book,one publication specifically said, regarding submissions, "no cat poems". I thought that was pretty funny and oddly specific.

Aloha all! We'll have a lap top with us so I'll try to check in occasionally.

Joanne: Have a great vacation.

A vacation well earned :) enjoy!

Hi Beth! Hi Kath!

I could really get used to this...

eta: I meant to mention how much I'm enjoying The Coroner's Lunch. Thanks everyone for recommending it!

Hope you are enjoying your trip!

Have a great time Joanne! How could you not?

#60 - funny about the cat poems. It reminds me of a sign I saw on a shelf behind the used book buy-back desk in Powell's Books. It said "Chicken Soup for the Soul - No more servings, please."

Hi Joanne, I am woefully behind, so I am thrilled to be here and read all the good news! So glad Copper is feeling better, dear doggie :) Congrats to Chris -- what a wonderful achievement! Hawaii, huh? I hope it is wonderful and relaxing, and that you have an amazing time!

Hi Chelle and Bonnie, Having a wonderful time, thanks!

Jenn, LOL. Immediately brings to mind the "Soup Nazi" Seinfeld episode. No soup for you!

Hi Anne, Welcome back!! Are you on summer break yet?

Hi Joanne, yes, briefly. My last day of school was Thursday 5/31, but I start my summer courses Monday 6/4.

Congrats to your son, and glad Copper is OK.

Hope you're enjoying your vacation!

Aloha, Joanne! Weren't you just in Hawaii? Must be nice to go back so soon. Are you staying in the same beautiful spot? I hope you get lots of reading done...in the airports and on the planes!

Oh my goodness, I had better dust off my sleepy little thread or I won't be able to find it again!

Anne - I know summer can be fleeting, but wow, that was short! Hope you had a good weekend. :)

Hi Terri, Thanks and we did!

Hi Donna, Yes, but you won't hear me complaining about having to go there two years in a row. I really do need my beach fix. We stayed in the same condo, had to look at the same view, hear the same ocean...ah, bliss. I finished 4 books since I last posted, not bad for me.

Welcome back Joanne. I hope all are well. I can't wait to hear about your recent reads.

There you are! Welcome back, Joanne!

Vacation sounds wonderful!
Looking forward to mine in July - in the mountains of VT!

Welcome Back!

Hi Beth, Cee, and Linda,

I'm around less than I expected. I still have books I want to mention!

We adopted a kitten yesterday. The boys had never had a kitten and really wanted one, I had a kitten last in 1981 and really wanted a 1-2 year old. She's pretty cute though. Meet Boomer. BG fans, yes, that's where her name is from.

OMG - what a little cutie!
So very sweet and innocent-looking
Hugs for Boomer ;-)

Good luck to you...

Thanks Cee, I'll need it...! :)

38. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

I finished this just before we left on vacation. I thought it was a little slow and chatty but I appreciated it for being the first of a successful series and for how long ago it was written - the history of it. The only other AC I've read is And Then There Were None. I liked that one much more.

39. Trophy Hunt by C. J. Box

This one didn't really seem to come together for me but it held my interest for the most part. I'll let some time pass before I read the next in the series.

40. The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill

Count me in as another fan of Dr. Siri! This was so much fun with great characters and subtle humor. I couldn't help starting Thirty-Three Teeth.

Awwww, Boomer is a beauty. I love that quizzical expression - as if to say, "Is this really my new home?" Does Copper approve of the new furkid?

I will be jumping on the Dr. Siri bandwagon soon. I bought The Coroner's Lunch on Day Two of the Kansas City meetup. It is so hard to resist LT peer pressure.

Boomer is ADORABLE.

OMG!!! You have been among the lost.. I am so sorry and so grateful to have
been pointed back your way with news of Boomer. Congratulations to all!

I hope that there are more pics in the future?

Joanne - The Cotterill sounds harder and harder to ignore. Trophy Hunt is the next one in the Pickett series for me. I guess I'll wait before I tackle it. Cute kittie.

Lots of congrats in store over here: Yah for Boomer! She's adorable. And another Dr. Siri convert. Double Yah! Careful though, he is highly addictive.
Hope you had a great weekend!

Aww cute kitty! I loved having a kitten (or puppy) to play with! Our pets are older now, still fun but not quite as cute as when they were teeny tiny!

Boomer is adorable Joanne. I'm going to have to break down and get the Dr. Siri books. Everybody seems to love them.

Cute kitty! I have The Coroner's Lunch checked out from the library and hope to get to it myself this month. Dr. Siri Does seem to be a favorite.

Congrats on both the adorable kitty and getting on the Dr. Siri bandwagon. They're both irresistable.

Thanks Donna, Ellen, Kath, Beth, Mark, Chelle, Bonnie, Anne, and Tina for the kitty congrats! She is pretty cute, especially when she finally calms down and crawls unto a lap with her motor running as she falls asleep. She is happily back in her "safe room" (the upstairs bathroom) now. We have a vet visit scheduled for Wed. I called the shelter today and the volunteer who answered the phone was able to give me more info on her and her mother which was kind of nice.

There's always more room on the Dr Siri bandwagon so come you guys, climb on! I really didn't know what to expect, only that everyone who read The Coroner's Lunch seemed to love it. Thirty Three Teeth seems to be shaping up into another winner. Like Tina says - irresistable! Or Mark - highly addictive! Some great book blurbs. :)

I'm finally looking at some vacation pics and thought I'd share a couple...


We had some rain the first few days which meant rainbows. No pots of gold were found.




Literally above the clouds on the summit of Haleakala, looking into the crater and the cinder cones. Our trip that day coincided with the transit of venus and lots of astronomers, volunteers and students were up there with their cameras and sun spotters. It was fun but with 50 mph wind gusts.



Nearly empty west Maui beach.


Ziplining above Kapalua. You can just see the other platform at the end of the lines. That's Molokai across the channel.

Nice pictures, Joanne! Thanks for sharing. Brings back thoughts of our trip to Hawaii.
No thanks on the ziplining though!

SO glad you had a nice vacation - and now more nice memories and pictures :-)

Great pictures, Joanne! Breath-taking. We are attempting to make our 1st trip to Hawaii next year. Yah!

wonderful pics.. sigh.. good thing I can adventure vicariously through my LT friends.

Great pictures! I so want to go to Hawaii some day!

Love the pictures!

So, kitten and puppy? How's that going? LOL

Joanne - love the photos - It's always nice to catch something special like that rainbow so clearly.

Great pictures, brings back wonderful memories of the two years we lived on Oahu, but like someone said above....no thanks on the zip line!

Cee - Thanks, ziplines are fun if you don't mind heights!

That's great, Mark, I hope you do! Hawaii meet-up, anyone? LOL

Thanks Kath! We all do that vicarious traveling - another nice thing about LT.

Thanks Chelle! You get to live in a beautiful place!

Well, so far so good, Jenn. Of course, the puppy isn't here yet.... :)

Hi Paul - Thanks!

Hi Tina, Two years actually sounds like a perfect amount of time to live there. I have a friend whose sons (4 of them) moved to Maui about 15 years ago and they all seem to need to cycle back to CO every few years. I've never been to Oahu but I'd love to. It seems so odd, though, to watch the local news and see actual rush hour traffic and highways.

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My current read is Thirty-Three Teeth.

And on audio, I'm listening to Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake even though I read it not too long ago.

She hopped on my lap, played with the keyboard, worked her way behind me on the chair, climbed up my back, jumped to the floor when I yelled, scrambled up her scratching post, hopped over to the end table, knocked over a picture and settled in for a cat nap. She's on the move again now...

I'm exhausted already. Think I'll need a bit more than a cat nap though. Hope you get some sleep tonight. :)

> 101 - Love Boomer's activity vicariously while appreciating that she is probably a little exhausting in person. Still..... Boomer is adorable! *gentle back of neck scratch*

Kitten and puppy will be lively and fine.. Fun too!

Hi Joanne. Cute kittie. I see you get "Everyday Food", too:) Beautiful pictures from your vacation.

101> oh my, she is so darn cute! You are adding to my current longing for a new kitten for our household.....

And I love the pictures of your vacation --- you zip-lined! Good for you! I think I would enjoy that and may add it to the agenda for our next trip to Kauai.

I'm with you in being a fan of Dr. Siri. I put Thirty-three Teeth on suspended hold at the library; I'm tempted to un-suspend it so that I get it sooner!

Hi Joanne, breathtaking pics from your vacation. I know my daughter and her hubby loved the zip lining they did in Mexico but that would not be something for me for two reasons: not a fan of heights and very little upper body strength. And look at that sweet little Boomer. Just so precious.

I think zip lining is great! For others...... have fun all of you wild women...LOL

Very, very cute kitten -- and she is taking ruthless advantage of the cuteness factor as all kittens must do...

I am impressed that you went ziplining. My sole endeavor in that respect was so terrifying (well, it was on the highest/longest zipline in the Americas, allegedly, and I was strapped in like Superman, in flying position facing downward, rather than sitting up in a sling) that I will never do it again.

As for rejections and publishing -- tell Jonah & any other aspiring writers out there that I'm 50, have been making my living at this for 27 years and STILL get rejections. I still don't enjoy 'em but dealing with them is the real test of whether you'll put up with the other nonsense that goes along with a writing career.

Hi Jenn, Manic behavior coupled with many naps...she sleeps really well all night long, though. Thank goodness.

Hi Lori - Thanks! Nice to see you.

Hi Kath, I think so, too. It'll be good for me to have some youngsters to take care of!

Hi Beth - Thanks! I love Everyday Food but it's one I get from the library. We get three weekly mags (Time, NYer, and EW) which is really too many and I struggle to get rid of them as regularily as possible. (I drop them off at the local hospital's book cart which I figure is better than tossing them.)

Hi Ellen, Oh do try the zip line next time you go. It really is a lot of fun and the views can be incredible.

Hi Bonnie, Well, you have to not mind heights so it'd be best for you to take a pass. The first time we did it, a few years ago, they had a different harness setup and I really had to force myself to step off the platform. No upper body strength necessary, though, I'd have a problem with that, too.

Hi Kath, LOL!

Hi Suz, Thanks, she has to be cute to offset her hellcat moments! Flying position? I'd really have to give that some thought... This place had the leg harnesses that have you in a sitting position which is pretty tame - starting off was like pushing off a swing. The other types we've done, where you are standing, were a bit more exciting, more like stepping into an abyss. Thanks for the encouraging words for the young writers. Chris was just telling me yesterday that he got the quickest rejection ever - 12 hours. He takes them all in stride, thank goodness. But just getting that first one accepted was a goal he was very happy to meet.

41. Stories From the Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McLean

I finished this on the plane on the way home from Maui, probably the only time I've read well into the night on that overnight flight. It was just so entertaining and fun. Humor with a heart and some laugh out loud moments. My favorite story was the last, "Remembrance Day", which was wonderfully poignant and a new addition to this 10th Anniversay Edition. My least favorite was "Stanley". I'd love to hear these on the radio but I guess the books will have to do.

Thanks to vancouverdeb for recommending the Vinyl Cafe books!

So you must have liked it...? How many stars?

So whats on your agenda now? Can you believe that June is nearly over?

I did like it, Kath - a solid 4 star read and I recommend it for anyone who's looking for a light, fun read.

My current book is Gone Girl which I'm enjoying quite a bit - like others have reported, I hate to put it down!

I'm of two minds concerning June - one being, where is the summer going? It can't be almost July. The other thinking how can it only be June when we have temps over 100 degrees for five days in a row...

I love the summer, though. It's my favorite season despite the fact that it's a little TOO warm this year.

Who is vancouverdeb? Never heard of her! Hee hee. Glad you are enjoying Gone Girl. I have a copy and plan to jump in soon.
Have you read the Longmire books? I've been reading The Cold Dish and it's been a terrific start, even surpassing the Joe Pickett books, at least early on.

Hi Mark!

LOL. She's that very quiet LTer from Vancouver... :0) I know she'll come back around someday...

I've looked at the Longmire series but haven't jumped in yet. I will though. I'm finding that the Joe Pickett series is starting to disappoint.

You will LOVE Gone Girl!!

I read on twitter that Whoopi was reading and loving Gone Girl

Great vacation photos. And, I'd love to take Boomer to my house. Boomer seems to be much more docile and well behaved than our new addition Lilly. Lilly the Pilly is her new moniker. She refuses to be trained...pees outside and then comes inside and pees..

She barks if she doesn't get her way.....Oh, but we are having our hands ful.

Hugs

Hi Joanne! Oh, what an adorable kitty! So glad you adopted a kitten -- few things are as fun. I really miss having a cat since Orion went to live at the office.

Love your Hawaii pics -- looks like you had a nice vacation!

Joanne, our local public radio station broadcasts the Vinyl Cafe show, but I've only listened to it a couple of times because of when it's on (Sunday night). They seem to be promoting it as a Canadian Lake Wobegon type show, except funny (that last part is my editorial comment, not theirs). :)

Hooray for some rain and cooler temps tonight! If only we could get a whole day of rain...

Hi Kath, Yeah Whoopi! I've seen it on a lot of lists and it really is a good summer read.

Hi Linda, Good to see you! It sounds like you really have your hands full. Puppyhood can be such a trial. We had a trainer come in for a few months when Copper was a pup - have you tried anything like that? Boomer needs near constant vigilance. I found her on top of a lampshade yesterday and we are going through a lot of Sticky Paws (double sided tape) and bitter apple spray. And having her spend time in her safe room at night is a blessing - she is on the go always.

Hi Anne, Thanks! I missed having a cat, too.

Hi Julia, Sounds like you're not a fan of Garrison Keillor...I can see a comparison but I do think McLean is funnier. I checked on iTunes earlier and found some Vinyl Cafe podcasts that are downloading now. I'm looking forward to listening to them!

Hi Jenn, Even though it's muggy (59% humidity - what's up with that!), it felt good to turn the air conditioner off for a change. It should help the firefighters. More rain would be very, very good! Too bad it's going to heat up again tomorrow...

I seriously do not know how I could manage without my furkids and my books.
I too, am glad you have a kitty. Speaking of kitties, it's nail trim day ..

I agree, Kath. Hope your nail trimming was uneventful!

Just checking in to make sure you're safe there in CO Joanne.

42. Thirty-Three Teeth by Colin Cotterill

This is the second book in the Dr Siri series and was just as good as the first. I hesitate to call this series delightful - I don't want to make it sound like a cute little cozy - but it is delightful, nonetheless. Great exotic location, interesting mystical moments, smartly humorous without being silly, and characters that are getting better and better. 4 happy stars.

Hi Bonnie, Thanks for checking in. It's been a horrific few weeks here for thousands of people but thankfully, we've only been affected by smoke. A friend's husband is a firefighter and another was in a pre-evac zone and I know they haven't slept much these last few days. And it's so much worse for so many others. Today's weather, at least this afternoon, was a little cooler with cloud cover and some humidity, finally.

Hi Joanne!
I loved Stories From the Vinyl Cafe too. I also read Vinyl Cafe Unplugged - another good one! I think there are more and hope to snag them someday.
Have yet to read Dr Siri series...

Kittens are so dang cute - Woolly is getting so old now I hardly remember her kittenhood. And though the cuteness is faded, she is so loyal and warm now. Top of the lampshade, huh? LOL

Joanne- Isn't Dr. Siri wonderful? I think the 2nd one was even better and the 3rd, might even be my favorite. Glad you are firmly a board.

I just finished the latest Dr. Siri= I've read (or listened to) all of them, and each one is getting better. I have his newest one Killed at the whim of a hat -different series set in Thailand== loaded on my MP3 to listen to early next week while I'm in the pool, and just found out yesterday that I got the second one Granddad, there's a head on the beach from this month's Early Reviewer batch. I hope they're as much fun as Dr. Siri.

Siri is very, very popular here! lol

I hope that your friends husband, and all of the firefighters manage to stay safe. It looks
like a scene from Hell.. Poor people ... poor animals.. I wish you would have a ton of rain!

Have not looked at the news much lately and afraid to look at all. I wish you all another ton of rain! Such devastation - it hurts to think about it.
Just the smoke in the air (miles away) is so sad and unhealthy. I hope you are not experiencing that by some stroke of luck.

Catching up after being away. LOVE the Boomer-kitty! Wishing for a quick end to the fire situation.

Hi Cee, I thought Unplugged was funnier but I really enjoyed them both. I have some other McLean books just waiting for me. For a long time we had an elderly cat who loved only to sit on any available lap and so this is pretty different.

Hi Mark, Oh good, I'm looking forward to a series that gets better and better!

Hi Tina, That was the only ER book I requested this month but I didn't get it. Just as well because I would've had to read the first book first. I'll be waiting for your opinion on the series! Happy listening by the pool!

Hi Kath and Cee and Carol, Things are starting to look up on the firefighting front. Our local station had been carrying the news live the night everything blew up. It really was a scene from hell.

Kath - Have you read the Siri books yet?

Carol - Welcome back! Thanks, she's a keeper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My reading time is suffering but I'm about halfway through Gone Girl....

Joanne- I'm starting Gone Girl tomorrow. Have a great weekend.

Joanne - I hope the heavens open and douse that damn fire. Stay safe and have a lovely, smoke free, weekend

Hi Mark - You too! Enjoy the book!

Hi Paul - That would be nice! Have a great weekend yourself!

O, no Siri for me. I am opting out :)

>137 Plenty of other books on the shelf, Kath. :)



43. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl was a thoroughly convincing psychological thriller. It’s also one of those books where the less said about the plot the better. The way the story unfolds is unique and I was kept totally off balance trying to figure out exactly what was going on. And it all seemed so plausible, making it all the more disconcerting. I’m still not sure how I feel about the ending but the more I think about it, the better I feel about it.

This is a fabulous page-turner and a great way to spend a lazy weekend.

4.5 stars

Great review of Gone Girl, Joanne! Your thread is inflating my wish list big time. Hope you're having a good week!

Hi Anne - Thanks! It's quite a story. So far so good on the week - odd having a holiday on Wednesday though...not to mention no fireworks. :(

Have a good one yourself!

Joanne- So glad you loved Gone Girl! I'm sure I'll be right along with you. Love the cartoon. Keep cool.

>141: *snork!* Amen, sister!

Great graphic!

I guess I am going to have to read Gone Girl. Between you and Whoopi, I'm convinced.

Hi Joanne - I liked Gone Girl, too, but I am still not sure about that ending!

love the graphic! :)

Hi Mark, Amber, Kath, Katie and Chelle!

I thought the cartoon was cute! I have two ereaders but I also have four library cards.

I had read earlier last month that Gone Girl was going to be one of those books that everybody would be talking about this summer and I can absolutely see why! Aside from the ending....but really, it works.

I saw this one today. I think Beth had referred to a book hangover after I complained of having a problem starting a new book after finishing Song of Achilles. We're probably all familiar with this feeling:



I like that - "living in the last book's world".

Ha! Another good one! I'm stealing that one for Facebook, pleaseandthankyou!

"aside from the ending" is a wee bit worrisome.. but still..

Wonderful photographs, Joanne! And Boomer is adorable, though I can believe that she's a handful. The photo of her napping reminds me of the feeling watching a child of any variety napping -- so sweet, and thank heavens for a few moments' quiet!


glitter-graphics.com

Joanne, I love the comic in 141.

I have put Thirty-three Teeth on delayed hold at the library. I'm starting to think I need to move it up so I get it sooner.... I think "delightful" is a perfect word (based on having read only the first in the series). Not cozy, as you say, but definitely delightful. :-)

Have at it, Amber - that's where I got it so it's only fair!

Oh no, Kath, that's just my opinion, but it makes sense, really...don't let that put you off.

Hi Terri - Very cute graphic - thanks! And yes, she's sweet and adorable when she's asleep!

Hi Ellen, I may have to read Disco for the Departed sooner rather than later.

44. Ernie's Ark by Monica Wood 5 stars

Solidarity - harmony of interests and responsibilities among individuals in a group, especially as manifested in unanimous support and collective action for something.

Solidarity is the central theme of Monica Wood’s stunning collection of nine interwoven stories of the individuals affected by a 14-month long strike at the local paper mill in Abbott Falls, ME. Husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters – their relationships all richly layered. That the author could make me care so much about her characters in just 182 short pages was wonderfully surprising. Graceful, with some humor and a lot of heart – highly recommended.

I still find myself humming along…

And there are many unions that make us strong.

I discovered this book as a daily find offer on my nook a few months ago. A little LT research, particularly both Richard and Tina’s glowing reviews, prompted me to buy it (thank you both!). Go read their reviews and then find a copy of Ernie’s Ark. It’s quite a good find.

Hi Joanne, The thing about Gone Girl is that nobody seems to not like it. For me, it was such a change of pace from my usual reading and I think I just read it at the right time.

ETA: Ohhhh Ernie's Ark looks really good.

Joanne- Wow! I never heard of Ernie's Ark. It sounds great, just my thing and I've been obsessing over SS collections lately too!
I'm nearly done with Gone Girl, (Another Wow!) and I started and almost finished The Odds, which has also been enjoyable. You read that one too, right?

So glad to see so many Dr. Siri fans!!! I've been avidly reading them for about two years -- one of those cases where once I had read the first, I ran out and bought every successive book and have preordered every remaining one. Siri brightens up my world, along with his coterie of friends and assistants.

OK, I'm obviously going to have to get to Gone Girl. I actually got a NetGalley ARC, but found reading the PDF on my Kindle too tricky.

Joanne....so glad you enjoyed Ernie's Ark. I think it's a real sleeper and I'm always glad when our good Maine authors can break out big time.

Hi Bonnie, Isn't it great when the right book finds you at just the right time? I liked that I really had no idea what Gone Girl was about, other than a missing wife, and also that everyone seemed to be raving about it. I need to read Dark Places.

Hi Mark - Yes, Gone Girl is certainly a wow book. I think you'll really like Ernie's Ark and I hope you can find a copy.

Hi Suz, I'm so glad that I've started the Siri series and I'm sure your reviews and comments helped to lead me to them. Well yes, Gone Girl, hop on that bandwagon!

Hi Tina, It was such a delight! I only wish more people would find it - Ernie's Ark is in less than 50 LT libraries... :( It really deserves more readers. Have you read any of Monica Wood's other books?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My current audio is Wild: From Lost to Found and I think my current read is/will be The Work of Wolves.

The monsoons have arrived. We're finally getting some rain! Flash flood warnings and mud slides in the burn areas, but all in all, the rain is good. 64 degrees - it's almost chilly!

Hi Joanne, I loved your review of Ernie's Ark. I'll add it to my wish list. I hope you enjoy The Work of Wolves. I've had my eye on it since I read and loved The Witness of Combines. Have a great weekend!

Joanne - Ernie's Ark looks intruiging and will go on my hitlist immediately. Have a great weekend.

I liked Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, and loved The Work of Wolves! You have some good reading going on. :)

Loving the rain and humidity! Hoping the next round holds off until after the swim meet. :)

Good stuff here, Joanne. I loved the library card cartoon. So true! And now I have a name for that lingering feeling that follows a great book.mI've had several book hangovers recently.

That is good news about the rain and cooler temps. I think they're both headed our way, although our coolness will be in the upper 80s. Relief!

Anne - I think you'd love Ernie's Ark and although I'm not very far into The Work of Wolves, it's good, too.

Hi Paul - So far so good on the weekend! I hope you can find Ernie's Ark.

Carol - I'm glad to hear you liked The Work of Wolves! Cheryl Strayed's book is growing on me.

Jenn - So far so good with the weather. Not bad, really.

Hi Donna, Nice to see you and I hope our cooler temps start heading your way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm soooo excited - we just got home from picking out our new puppy! She looks like a good one - a middle of the road pup, one of the larger girls, and she seems very sweet. We met her mom and dad. Dad is huge and gorgeous. Mom is smaller and very sweet. She's Copper's half sister but Copper is much bigger. We still have to come up with a name... We pick her up in a week - yikes!

Here's a pic of the current pets taken last night. Copper was pretty much as uncomfortable as she looks but is a very good sport about kitten cuddling.

Oh, a new puppy -- how exciting! Love the photo. Good for Copper -- she seems so sweet.

Love the picture! My cat hates our dog so there is no cuddling, ever
That's exciting that you get a new puppy!

Joanne- Great shot of Copper & the kitty! (Sounds like a good book title). "Wild" on audio, with Strayed's narration was fantastic. I hope you are enjoying it.
And yes, very exciting about the new addition.

Hi Joanne. I just finished The Various Haunts of Men. Wow. A definite book hangover.

I was just thinking that we hadn't gotten a new Copper photo recently, and there she is! That' a really sweet photo.

Awwww! If Copper is that good about kitty cuddling, she'll be a fantastic big sister to the new pup. :)

Hi Anne - It will be pretty interesting around here for the next few months!

Hi Chelle - Copper would prefer a no cuddling policy...

Hi Mark - I think I'll like Wild more once she actually starts on her hike. The beginning was sad.

Hi Jenn - Yay! Another Simon Serrallier fan! The next one's really good, too. And the next and... :)

Hi Julia - Nice to see you. Thanks, she really is a sweetheart.

Hi Carol - Oh, I really hope so! I have my fingers crossed that everybody gets along.

Copper is definitely a tolerant pooch! Too hot for any resident felines to curl up in a kitten puddle, as I refer to it, even if they felt so inclined.

Well, you were right about Gone Girl. Fab. Book read; review posted. I'm now in recovery mode...

164: Awwww...Copper and Boomer look so cozy. Well, Boomer looks cozy, Copper looks tolerant. Her worl will really be rocked by a new puppy. I'm hoping for a happy threesome. Can't wait to see pictures of the new girl!

Hi Joanne! Big doings over here!
Great picture of Boomer and Copper... we have a similar one of our last sheltie and Woolly. But no such cuddling going on with Loki...

I forgot how dangerous your thread was. Things were quiet over here for awhile and now the books you are reading are getting as snuggly as Boomer to me. They want my attention... look good! I'm just now starting to be able to read again after 2 weeks of dizzy. YAY!

Love the book hangover cartoon!

Love the pic ! Good, sweet Copper :) New puppy is yikes! and awwwww and goodie!
Lots of fun ( and a little work ) in your future.

Love the pic of your two cuddlers Joanne. And another nudge towards The Various Haunts of Men. Need to get to that before summer's end, maybe in August as I'm totally booked this month.

Hi Suz - I have yet to see a negative review for Gone Girl (not that I'm looking...).

Hi Donna, It should be pretty lively around here by next week!

Hi Cee - I'm so glad to see you back and that you are feeling better!

Hi Kath, It'll be good. I may not get any reading done, but things will settle down eventually!

Hi Bonnie - August will be a perfect month to read The Various Haunts of Men, not to mention the rest of the series! Doesn't the new Three Pines book come out in Aug too?

Hi Joanne: A lot going on here. I love your cartoon and the book hangover definition. Perfect. I'm trying to resist adding books to my wishlist, but Ernie's Ark sounds wonderful. On it goes. GG is already on the list.

I hope your fires are out and the air is clearing. We even got smoke and haze here. Keep safe.

Hi Beth, Nice to see you. Ernie's Ark is a good one to add!

r-e-a-d-i-n-g ? whatzat?

Hiya Kath!

I'm reading a few things, mainly The Work of Wolves by Kent Meyers which is very good but I wouldn't recommend it for you. It's a western coming of age story but some animals don't fair very well.

I'm listening to Cheryl Strayed's Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Good, gutsy adventure story. She does some stupid things, but then she was young.

I also pulled some puppy books off the shelf - How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With and Golden Retrievers for Dummies, among others. It's been ten years since we've had a puppy so I have some catching up to do!

Glad you are enjoying "Wild". Gutsy and reckless are good words. She's a good writer too!

Hi Joanne - I remember that you loved Witness of Combines. Is The Work of Wolves as good? I reserved Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail from the library. I'm about 20 on the list, so it will be a while before it comes to me.

Good luck with your puppy. They are so much fun.

I am humbled by the bravery of those who bring home puppies.

Hi, Joanne. I'm glad you've been liking the Dr. Siri books, and you've got me intrigued by Gone Girl. Did I see you're reading the Cheryl Strayed book? I really liked it; her damning honesty and the journey caught me up.

Glad to see that you are enjoying "Wild"! I'm still on the hold list for it but looking forward to reading it
Good luck with the puppy training!

Jumping on the bandwagon of those planning to read Gone Girl.

I love the picture of Copper and the kitten. When does the new puppy come home? How will Copper take to having another canine in the house? Might there be pictures? Heh.

As you know, I was visiting cousins in Tennessee, both of whom have lots of animals: Cuz1 has four(!) Dalmatians who do agility trials. I got to watch her work with the three boys Wednesday morning and it was so interesting to see how different each of them is in temperament and training (one of them being only 13 months old, so just getting started). Cuz2 has a dog, a cat, three kittens (fostering those), an outdoor cat (the momma of the kittens, who has settled in on the deck and gets fed twice a day), and three horses. I was in heaven, allergies notwithstanding.

Love the photo of Copper and the kitty! Have a great weekend, Joanne!

Hoping for more photos, soon!

Joanne - Can't imagine having both a new kitten and puppy. We got a lab/beagle mix in mid-May. Sweet little guy, but oh so much energy. Training has helped, but no matter why he is still puppy...

Good luck!

Hi everyone - I'm so happy to see all my visitors!! Thank you so much for stopping by. Please forgive me for not posting individual replies. I tried to post on Saturday morning and had a computer issue but I'm back now and, unsurprisingly, am a little on the busy side! I just wanted to post a quick picture. Meet Skye.

Oh, my goodness gracious! Is it legal for a puppy to be that cute?!

Oh my goodness is he sweet!

Welcome Skye. What a cutie.

Oh, my, Skye is absolutely adorable!

Skye is a major cutie! Thanks for posting the pic and good luck!

Awwwww! She (he?) is so cute!

What a darling dog! Congratulations!

Ohmygosh, adorable!

Skye is adorable. What does Copper think of her? Maybe Boomer will have a new cuddle-mate. Congratulations on your growing family, Joanne!

aww welcome Skye! Such a sweet face!

Hi Julia, Nancy, Beth, Terri, Mark, Carol, Anne, Amber, Donna, and Chelle!

Thanks for stopping by as I show off our new little girl. She is a cutie! Copper is adjusting slowly - we knew that would take a little time. She is getting a lot of extra treats. Skye is good in that when Copper growls at her, she lays right down. Boomer the kitten is another story. I feel like a referee when those two start wrestling. They did cuddle up a bit when they were both in the crate at the same time, but Skye was already asleep when Boomer wandered in.

Skye came to us already knowing to sit for a treat or her food - it's going to be fun keeping up with her.

Of course my reading time is suffering. I love The Work of Wolves and hope to be finishing it in a day or two. I'm working from home this morning and taking a little break (luckily puppies sleep ALOT!). Maybe I can sneak out to the patio and read for a few minutes..

I hope to catch up some on the threads later - hope all is well!

O! O! O!
What a sweet little fluff-ball! Welcome Skye! You chose the right family!

Holy Cuteness! That is the most precious pup I've ever seen! My kids have been pleading for a puppy, but our family life is just so crazy-busy right now it would be a huge mistake. But for that dog....oh my gosh, I would totally rearrange my schedule!

Congratulations on your newest family member. "Skye" -- what a beautiful name!

Oh how I love the vacation photos and the kitty photos!

I am happy to see you and soo so happy to seeyour newest addition.
I am so happy for all of you, furred and un..

Oh my, Skye is absolutely adorable and I've been trying to teach Buddy how to post for a long time so I'm a little jealous that Skye is already mastering the computer.

What a beautiful, beautiful puppy!

Hi Cee - She is a little cutie. Sometimes a devil dog but she can't help herself...

Hi Louanne, Thanks! Busy schedules and puppies don't mix so it's very smart to wait. They have a way of taking over everything.

Hi Linda, Nice to see you as always! My vacation seems like it was months and months ago...time to plan another! As you know, and I am rediscovering, this puppy stuff is not for the weak!

Hi Kath, Thanks!

Hi Bonnie, I think it would be much more likely that the kitten would post on LT as she spends much more time walking over the keyboard... :)

45. The Work of Wolves by Kent Meyers 4.3 stars

The Work of Wolves is a beautifully written modern day western, complete with a cowboy hero and his new-found pals.

The book opens as 14-year-old Carson Fielding, already a smart and talented horseman, negotiates the purchase of a horse from a local wealthy and powerful rancher, Magnus Yarborough. Things go Carson’s way, but already we know Magnus doesn’t like anyone getting the better of him. Magnus, as it turns out, is a cruel, vindictive, and jealous man.

Fast forward 12 years and we meet two teens, Earl Walks Alone, a Lakota determined to get off the reservation and escape the prejudices of the locals, and Willi Schubert, a German exchange student entranced with the west and dealing with his own family’s secrets. Carson, now 26, is a horse trainer and when Magnus needs three horse trained as well as his young wife taught to ride, Carson agrees, if only to help with his father’s finances. A late night discovery soon brings the three young men together.

Initially, I thought Myers may have thrown a bit too much into the background of his characters. Sometimes the thoughts and background of Earl and Willi took me away from the main action, but the writing is eloquent and the characters well drawn and I soon felt engaged with their stories as well. Conflicts abound, some inevitable, and relationships, both good and bad, are at the heart of the story. The beauty and desolation of South Dakota makes for a well-described secondary character.

Fans of modern western/coming of age stories will love this book. A warning for the sensitive, though – this western is not necessarily kind to its livestock.

Like Ernie's Ark, this is another quiet gem that didn't seem to get a lot of attention but is certainly a worthy read.

Joanne- I'm so sorry to hear about the Aurora shootings! So horrible, so sad.

Good review of The Work of Wolves.

Hi Joanne - Nice review. I still have to read The Witness of Combines. It sounds like Meyers is an author to check out.

How's that adorable puppy and big sister?

Hey Joanne, I hope you and yours are all safe.

Love the puppy photos.

Thank you for the warning on the book.. I admit to having been drawn to it a time or two..
the cover, maybe? But always walked away in the end.. glad to know I made the right choice.

I hope that the weekend brings some happy down time your way... I have just skimmed to catch up..
hope you can forgive again :(

Good review, Joanne. Probably not for me, thanks for the warning. I hope you're okay and you have a good weekend.

Thank you, Mark. I have no words for what happened last night. It was horrifying news to wake up to this morning. My son and his friends were at a midnight showing on our side of town and I have to say, this was just way to close. It's just so sad.

Hi Beth, I will definitely be reading more Kent Meyers. I have Twisted Tree on my nook. Furkids are all well - they ALL have vet appointments today!

Hi Jenn, Thanks for checking in. My son and his friends were at the theater in Highlands Ranch last night. It's all so unbelievable. Glad that you are safe, too.

Hi Kath, Always nice to see you, skimming or not! The Work of Wolves does have a lovely cover, as does his Twisted Tree which has a horse on the cover as well.

Hi Joe, Thanks, nice to see you, and thanks for checking in. Have a good weekend yourself!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I said above, really no words for today's news. You go to the midnight showing and it's such an event, with everyone having a great time with friends and family. And something like this happens. And it's all so random. Hug your loved ones...

We're hugging, Joanne! It is so terrifying as a parent, and mine were tucked in safe and sound last night. So glad Chris is safe.

(((Joanne))) When is this going to stop? Just so horrifying and so heartbreakingly sad for those families. My heart and prayers go out to them.

Good morning Anne and Bonnie. It is all so senseless and sad and random.

I think a lot of us know what this is like...

Hi Joanne - Great picture.

Lovely addition to the family in Skye; lovely potential addition to my library in The Work of Wolves - good review and I trust your weekend is going wonderfully.

promptly stole that

Joanne, it must be challenging to read a book with an active kitty around BUT it is mind boggling that you took all the fur kids to the vet at the same time. I hope you had help.

Oh my, that is hitting way too close to home with Chris at the opening of Batman in close proximity to Aurora. Mike lived in that area when he first moved to Denver years ago. The worst terrorists are disguised as our neighbors. Big hugs to you and Chris.

that is hitting way too close to home with Chris at the opening of Batman in close proximity to Aurora.

I'll say that's hitting to close too home!

A number of years ago, there was a multiple shooting (not as bad as the Aurora one) at a McDonald's near Pittsburgh that my husband frequented when doing hospital visits in the city. He missed the destruction by several weeks, and still felt totally creeped out thinking about the fact that it was a place he often stopped.

My heart goes out to every one affected by what happened in Aurora.

Wrote something today about how the prices of gun manufacturing stocks are climbing while those of movie chains are falling. That's kinda chilling, too...

Link Suz?

Hi Joanne!

I would gladly give up some reading time to a pup as cute as Skye. I'm glad the household seems to be adapting (i.e., Copper and Boomer, however slowly). The picture is so adorable!

I'm so very glad your son and his friends are okay, Joanne. It was a terrible occurrence (event? incident? tragedy? what does one call it??); too horrifying for words. So senseless.

I can absolutely relate to 221. :-)

Ditto everything that EBT1002 said!

Skye is a cutie muffin! What fun you must be having.

Hi Beth - I thought so, too!

Thanks Paul, she is a cutey. The Work of Wolves really was excellent. I'm looking forward to reading more by him.

Hi Kath - I knew you'd relate.

Hi Donna - Oh I didn't mean to make it sound like I took them all at once! That'd been crazy. Our appointments were an hour or two apart. Luckily the vet is nearby!

Hi Terri, Sounds like a close call for your husband. Scary world sometimes.

Hi Suz, And not surprisingly, gun sales here were up 43% the weekend after. As if some civilian could have done anything in that situation except add to the mayhem. Link??

Hi Kath!

Hi Ellen, I forgot how all emcompassing puppies can be. Thank goodness they sleep a lot! Skye and Boomer wrestle quite a bit and wear each other out.

Hi Carrie, It is a lot of fun, actually.

Thanks everyone for your kind words...

Skye and Boomer.

Oh my! I'm in love with your critters. The matching collars are a nice touch!

Skye and Boomer are ADORABLE!!!!
P looked at it and, being primarily a cat-lover, noted that Skye might be bowing a bit to Boomer. You know, in deference.... yeah.

Well, hopefully ....you are breathing normally again?
A scarybthing for the whole country, but proximity makes it worse. Having the new furkids and their antics surely helps a little? Good to see a new picture :)

i heard that gun sales went up. There was a lot of shouting and posturing about the second amendment on fb. As if there is any reason in the world for people to own a fully automatic weapon. Mind boggling.

More pics soon :) ?

Take care...

I'm checking in to make sure all is well with you. Such very, very sad news regarding the recent act of violence at a Bat Man showing.

Your new critters are lovely. You are right in stating that raising puppies takes a lot of energy...much more than I anticipated. Lilly is now five months old and continues to be high maintenance...but affectionate, funny and lovely.

all the best,

love the fur kid pictures! I love how your cat is sitting!

Cat: WTF???

Sorry, missed yr message re the link. As you can see, adamant devotees of gun control & opponents are shouting at each in the comments section, not paying attention to (a) the story or (b) each other. Ah, civilized dialog...

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2012/07/24/After-the-Massacre-Guns-Win-The...

I'm starting to think that, except here on LT, civilized dialog is fast becoming extinct.

Hi Donna - You can borrow them anytime (well, the little ones... not Copper...). :) And they have color coordinated toys, too.

Hi Ellen, Thanks! I actually didn't notice that until you mentioned it but it does look that way, doesn't it? That's her boxing position. Pre-pounce.

Hi Kath, Nothing like a houseful of furkids to keep your mind off things. I've never understood the whole gun culture thing. It's all so illogical and automatic weapons serve no good purpose - it really is mind-boggling to me. An aside, when I was in college, I worked summers in a bank. One day we were held up by two Columbians with AK-somethings - I forget now what they were. It was almost a hostage situation. They are horrifying to have pointing at you.

Hi Linda, It's so nice to "see" you and I hope you are feeling well today. Thank goodness our pups are funny and affectionate and lovely - it makes all the work worthwhile! And you know before long, you'll have all that in a calm, sweet dog.

Hi Chelle - Thanks, she's ready to put up her dukes!

Hi Suz - Thanks for the link. Good piece! I have a hard time reading online comments anymore. Conversations devolve into crazy/mean-speak. I was disapppointed but not surprised that Obama and Romney didn't bring the conversation around to at least some minimal changes. Even our dem Gov. Hick stayed off the topic.

Hi Terri, Yes, thank goodness for LT! Even the Pro and Con threads tend to maintain civil tongues.

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Today, Skye actually scratched at the back door and later barked to go out - yay! I think she's getting the hang of outside. We started leash walking around the yard. As long as I have lots of treats, she doesn't chew on the leash. Ah, baby steps... :) I hope everyone has a great weekend!

It's interesting -- a novelist friend of mine has just run afoul of one of the Goodreads reviewer posses for commenting on his facebook page that he was sad he had gotten a negative blog review. He didn't mention the name of the blog or reviewer, but some friends figured out what it was and rallied round to say that the blogger hadn't really understood the book. Next thing you know, he's being told that he is trying to stop the blogger and shut her down, doing all kinds of nefarious things. He's very upset, and I spent 90 mins on the phone with him on Weds evening. He was lamenting that there is no place left to just talk about books, and I reminded him of LT. I said that I thought while not everybody gets along with everyone else, that just means they don't hang out on each others' threads. There aren't feuds, secret groups, middle school cliques.

So thank you all, for helping create that kind of place.

>241 well said. I feel so lucky to be among such a thoughtful, civil group. It's like an oasis in a sea of muck and I am thankful every day.

Joanne - Your new furry critters are so adorable!

Did I share a picture of mine? This is Sam. He is about 4 1/2 months old, and has been with us for two.

This picture is from the day he came home. http://pinterest.com/pin/100557004150222941/

He is a lab mix - we think part beagle.

Thanks for the link Suz...Good article. And I agree with Joanne. People don't discuss, they argue, they fight and they don't look at the evidence that is right in front of their noses. Sorry about what happened with your friend. So many people just purely suck. They are hateful and self righteous and rigid. GAH!

I have to say that after what happened in Crofton yesterday, I feel even more strongly anti gun.
That man lived one bldg over from my son,when I think of what he might have come home to....
my blood runs cold. I am still afraid, wondering what they will do with him... with those guns.

Suz

Your comments ring loud and clear. As I get older I really cannot tolerate people who shout over each other, are ignorant and don't listen to others or who are cruel and middle school like.

Will's cousin is that way, ie he plops himself down on the chair and then spews his opinons for hours. Listening is a foreign concept to him. I no longer sit in the same space as he.

Ah, but he loves to argue and thrives on negativity. Sadly, the world contains lots like him. And then conversely the world contains kind, sensible, intelligent people.

How right you are that LT is a haven.

#243...Oh, how very, very cute!

What a depressingly sad situation for your friend to find themselves in, Suz. Perhaps he'll try LT.

Hi Anne

Hi Nancy - Sam is adorable!! Thanks so much for sharing his picture. He does have a beagle look about him and he's got some big paws to grow into!

And what's almost scarier, Kath, is that some people hear about that and want to buy MORE guns to protect themselves...

Adults do seem to act more like middle schoolers, Linda. Too bad there's no classtime to teach civility in schools for the next generation. Parents don't always seem to be very well equiped to do it...

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Joanne... a few days ago, Dan told his sister that he is thinking of buying a gun. I nearly fainted.
If he tries to, there will be a battle royale here.

Ah, Joanne - all your pets are so dang cute! Great pictures.
#232 Skye does look like he is bowing to HRM Boomer. LOL
Happy to hear Skye is getting the outdoor thing so quickly. You must be a very busy lady with the furkids lately... so much new and exciting to deal with. Enjoy!

I hope that works out OK, Kath...

Cee's back!! Hi Cee! Skye is still "getting" the outside thing. Not quite "gotten". I am happy that she sleeps in her crate through the night. :)

I'm loving my current book, Safe From the Sea.

I love the post regarding thankfulness for difficult people! How very, very true!

Hi Joanne! Hope all is well. Your new furry critters are adorable!!!!!!!!

Hi Linda, I thought so, too!

Hi Callia, Thanks - they are pretty cute but a lot of work still (mostly the puppy). It seems like it was just last week that summer started and now it's almost time for you to start back to school!

New thread time...I'll get working on it

I'm just catching up with all your news and reviews. Love the pics of your new puppy and kitten! Copper is so lucky! lol